22 Sep

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

40 PAGES

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

Hundreds protest in Cairo against ‘hereditary’ presidency

SHAWAL 13, 1431 AH

NO: 14857

Airlines can be fooled by pregnant women

Twitter under attack by ‘mouseover bug’

Iraqi wheelchair tennis thrives in wake of war

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150 FILS

Afghan chopper crash kills 9 GIs

Panel warns Sheikh Jaber

2010 deadliest year of war

Interior minister slammed over no-show • MPs vow to pursue Habeeb’s backers

KABUL: Nine US troops were killed in a helicopter crash in the insurgent heartland of southern Afghanistan yesterday, making 2010 the deadliest year for international forces since the war began. The Taleban, who have been waging an increasingly deadly insurgency against the Afghan government and foreign troops since the 2001 USled invasion ousted them from power, immediately claimed responsibility. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the cause of the crash was “under investigation”, adding: “There are no reports of enemy fire in the area.” The helicopter came down in the Daychopan district of Zabul province, said

provincial spokesman Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar.

“We don’t know the cause of the crash or the number of casualties,” he said.

Taleban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said the insurgents shot the helicopter down and killed “more than 10 foreign soldiers.”

The militia routinely exaggerate their claims. Another NATO soldier, an Afghan soldier and a US civilian were injured, ISAF said, but it did not identify the nationalities of the dead troops. A US defence official told AFP in Washington all nine of the dead were Americans. The official, who did not wish to be identified, added there was no sign that the helicopter had come under attack.

Continued on Page 14

Distrust of Iran leads to Shiite clampdown DUBAI: Distrust is rising in the Gulf as Sunni-ruled monarchies impose a raft of constraints on the region’s Shiites in a bid to halt the rise of an Iranian “fifth column”, analysts said yesterday. Restraints have been imposed in the past months against Shiite communities in Bahrain and Kuwait, as Gulf states are fearful of “terrorist” attacks in response to any military strike against Iran. “I think the resurgence of tensions is linked to Iran and threats by Tehran to retaliate in neighbouring countries in case of confrontation with the United States,” Abdul Khalek Abdullah, a professor at United Arab Emirates University said.

At the same time, “Iran has entitled itself as a defender and protector of the world’s Shiites, increasing the fears of Gulf countries about their Shiite citizens”.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action against their archfoe Iran, which they suspect of using a civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop atomic weapons, a charge

Tehran denies. But Bahrain itself came in for criticism from global rights watchdogs for a “clampdown” in which the Gulf kingdom charged 23 Shiite activists early this month with forming a “terror network” aimed at bringing down the government.

Amnesty International also urged Bahrain to reconsider the decision to suspend the board of a prominent human rights organisation that criticised authorities in the Gulf state. Bahrain also barred religious candidates from preaching in mosques ahead of its Oct 23 general elections in what was seen as a measure to reassert control in places of worship in the Sunni-ruled but majority Shiite kingdom. And just this week, Bahrain stripped a prominent Shiite cleric of Iranian origin, Ayatollah Hussein Mirza Najati, of his citizenship for “violation” of the law, media reported.

Similarly, Kuwait stripped Shiite fugitive Yasser AlHabeeb of his citizenship on Continued on Page 14

By B Izzak KUWAIT: The National Assembly’s interior and defense committee yesterday warned the interior minister for failing to attend its investigation over releasing two Iranian drug dealers while the country remained engaged in the aftermath of stripping Shiite fugitive Yasser AlHabeeb of his citizenship.

Rapporteur of the panel MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri warned Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled Al-Sabah that the committee will prepare its report without the opinion of the minister if he insists not to attend its meetings.

The lawmaker said that invitations were sent to the minister but he never attended and similarly he has so far failed to answer a number of questions on the issue. Just before the close of the previous Assembly term, MPs asked the interior and defense committee to investigate allegations made by MP Mussallam Al-Barrak that the minister personally ordered the release of the two Iranian drug dealers. Barrak had also claimed that the two men were caught red-handed and instead of referring them to the public prosecution for trial, they were directly referred to the deportation center in order to be deported.

But the two men were later freed and Barrak said it was the interior minister who authorized their release.

During the session, the minister acknowledged the incident and said he did so after he considered a mercy letter from their Kuwaiti sister. MP Muwaizri said the committee will hold another meeting tomorrow and hoped the minister will attend. The committee is also investigating claims that the two brothers had forged documents and worked as doctors.

In another development, the aftermath of the Cabinet decision to strip Habeeb of his citizenship continued to dominate local politics as Sunni Islamist MPs vowed to press for an investigation of Continued on Page 14

NEW DELHI: Indian workers stand at the scene of a bridge collapse near Jawaharlal Nehru stadium yesterday. — AP

Delhi Commonwealth Games in crisis 27 injured in bridge collapse • Athletes’ village slammed as ‘uninhabitable’ NEW DELHI: The Delhi Commonwealth Games were plunged into crisis yesterday 12 days from the start after the athletes’ village was described as “uninhabitable” and a footbridge collapsed at the main stadium.

Adding to the sense of chaos that has enveloped an event India hoped would project its new economic power on the international stage, a leading Australian athlete pulled out of the competition because of security fears. Organisers scrambled to contain the damage, fearful that a pullout by a major team could wreck the Oct 3-14 multisport showcase that has long been dogged by delays, corruption allegations and anxiety about safety.

Mike Hooper, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, led stinging criticism about the athletes’ residential towers, which will embarrass the gov-

ernment that has admitted the country’s prestige is on the line. “They’re filthy. You can’t occupy them. They need a deep clean. There’s builders’ dust and rubble in doorways, shower doors the wrong way round, toilets that don’t work,” he said just two days before athletes begin arriving. There was also “excrement in places it shouldn’t be”, he said - referring to problems thought to be the result of thousands of labourers using the toilets in the “certainly uninhabitable” residential complex.

Complaints about cleanliness, plumbing and electrics were also made by other countries that have sent advance parties to the Indian capital, including Scotland which described the village as “unsafe and unfit for human habitation”. “The reality is that if the village is not ready and athletes can’t come, the implications are that it’s not going to happen,” New Zealand

Syria father and son narrate age-old tales

DAMASCUS: Famous Syrian hakawati (storyteller) Rashid Hallak tells a story at a Ramadan tent on Aug 25, 2010 during an evening organised by the Spanish cultural centre. — AFP

DAMASCUS: When Rashid Al-Hallak was a boy, all of the coffee shops in the Syrian capital had their own storytellers or hakawatis who would recite tales deep into the night of great deeds and heroes of the past. But now the age-old art of public storytelling that he keeps alive is dying out, as young people shun a craft that attracts little money. Hallak bristles with excitement for his subject, and says he has 180,000 stories in his repertoire, including the epic tales of Antarah ibn Shaddad, famous for his pre-Islamic era poetry, adventures and romantic trysts, and renowned King Zahir Baybars who battled the Crusaders and the Mongols.

“Narrating a story is about acting and attracting, not just reading,” says the sexagenarian storyteller, also known as Abu Shadi. He held his own against television soap operas during the recent holy month of Ramadan, and all year round he draws the attention of foreign visitors as he stabs his baton to punctuate war scenes and the stilted Continued on Page 14

chef de mission Dave Currie told New Zealand commercial radio. “It’s pretty grim really and certainly disappointing when you consider the amount of time they had to prepare.”

Currie said New Zealand would consult with other countries before making a final decision on whether it will take part in the games. “That’s not a decision that we’ll make (alone), but there are some realities,” he said. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key also weighed in. “The areas (of concern) aren’t insurmountable although there are real concerns about whether they can be achieved in the timeframe,” he said, adding that it was “unlikely that New Zealand would make a call that other countries weren’t prepared to make”.

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Spies spill secrets in official MI6 history

TEHRAN: This photo released yesterday shows the upgraded surface-to-surface Fateh-110 missile at an undisclosed location. — AP

Guards get new missile Ahmadinejad warns of war with ‘no limits’ TEHRAN: Iran’s defense minister has said the country’s powerful Revolutionary Guard has received its first batch of new missiles with enhanced guidance systems to hit ground targets. Gen Ahmad Vahidi says the Defense Ministry supplied the Guard with the upgraded surface-to-surface Fateh-110 missile, which was successfully test-fired last month. The weapon was developed by Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization.

Iran has been pushing to upgrade its missile arsenal, which is already capable of hitting

Israel and other parts of the region. Vahidi says Iran will further develop the Fateh-110. He gave no details of the missile’s capabilities but earlier versions had ranges of up to 193 km.

Vahidi’s remarks were published yesterday on the website of state TV. Separately, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned yesterday that an attack on his country’s nuclear facilities could spark a war with “no limits,” US media reported. He also suggested that the Holocaust had been Continued on Page 14

LONDON: It’s James Bond, with bureaucracy and cramped office space. The first-ever official history of MI6 reveals that Britain’s foreign spy agency debated assassinating Nazi leaders, landed a spy wearing a wetsuit over his tux at a casino by the sea and experimented with exploding filing cabinets - but also wrangled with other government departments and had to make do on a shoestring budget. The book, published yesterday, tells a story of plots, paperwork, duplicity and derringdo that takes in fears of a Nazi anthrax attack, crossdressing secret agents and worries about the safety of the prime minister’s milk supply.

“The real James Bonds are more interesting than the fictional James Bond,” said author Keith Jeffery, a historian at Queen’s University Belfast, who had access to previously secret files in the MI6 archive. “They are male and female. They are real people. They have real frailties and real courage.”

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LONDON: Professor Keith Jeffery poses for photographers with his book “MI6 - The History of the Secret Intelligence Service 1909-1949” after a press conference to launch the book at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office yesterday. — AP

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NATIONAL

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Testing times for education

kuwait digest

‘Difficult options’

By Dr Shamlan Yousef Al-Essa

T

he government is working so hard these days. It is trying to demonstrate that it has control of the country by dealing with those defying the ban on sectarian seminars and gatherings.

What options do the government have if it is a constitutionally legal state that does not mix religion with politics?

The first option, or scenario, involves banning sectarian seminars at any cost. This means challenging and confronting tribal MPs, Islamist MPs and blocs that openly defy the government. MP Jaman AlHarbash, of the Constitutional Movement, recently announced that the movement will hold its meeting at former MP Mubarak Al-Duailah’s Diwaniya without asking permission from anyone.

He also described the government’s decision to ban sectarian gatherings as unconstitutional.

However, Constitutional Movement members changed their mind and cancelled the meeting.

This shows that their threats are hollow as many of their threats are mere attempts to intimidate the government. The real question here is whether the government has the power to impose its will or if it will ‘chicken out’ whenever an MP starts acting up. The second option would be for the government to demonstrate leniency and accept parliamentary demands to withdraw Yasser AlHabib’s citizenship and allow tribal and religiousaffiliated MPs hold their own sectarian conventions.

This would increase political tension and causes the government to lose control. If held, gatherings to defend and support the Prophet’s (PBUH) wife, Ayesha, are not as Constitutional Movement members claim. They are only attempting to regain the popularity they lost with the last round of elections. They are trying to enhance sectarianism and criticize the government so they can win over public opinion by claiming they are preserving the nation’s principles.

The government will only acquire new problems if it gives in to MPs’ demands. Shiite MPs will turn against the government and MPs such as Hussein Al-Qallaf, Saleh Ashour and Adnan AlMuttawa have already expressed their intentions to hold counter demonstrations. This means that both Shiite and Sunni MPs are ready to escalate the situation if they find that the government’s decisions are not satisfactory.

Finally, we have to focus on who got us this far. Some may argue that tribal and Islamist MPs are responsible. As a matter of fact, we, the Kuwaiti people seem to have lost political awareness when we elected them. However, thank God that the Prime Minister and his deputies belong to the ruling family as they are the only ones capable of running this country. We urge them to defend and protect Kuwait by stopping any turmoil and by showing more of a commitment to the constitution, no matter how loud the mob’s demands are.

— Al-W a ta n

kuwait digest

‘We are not stupid’

H

as our society lost track of its sensibilities in order to be provoked by a radical’s statements that defy public consensus? Does this mean that the public disregards the viewpoints put forward by religious scholars that preach different doctrines, in favor of ludicrous statements? Do citizens turn their attention away from the logical and intellectual statements, and instead focus on devilish voices that instigates sectarianism between followers of the same religion who are only superficially different.

Haven’t we learned from past experiences which have proved that every bout of sectarian tensions is stirred up to promote a hidden personal agenda?

The answer to all these questions is, No. We are not so weak and dim-witted, despite the fact that social coherence and national unity has be not been its best shape yet. We are aware of the fact that perpetrators of recent tensions who are currently happy to see that the road is being paved for their personal interests to be fulfilled. We do believe in the necessity of respecting everybody’s beliefs.

However, we are not slow in the head in order to allow this to happen. Therefore, we should exercise our points of strength as the tensions have exposed our points of weakness.

We must wake up and act against our country turning into a communal region.

Let’s stop making fools of ourselves by falling for the

trap set that has been set for us by lunatics who try to show us we are superficial or driven into turmoil by pointless hearsay. We are not ‘stupid’ enough to fail to realize that sectarian tensions have robbed the spotlight from the country’s main issues, including financing the development plan as well as the sports crisis, or perhaps the notion that these problems deviated attention from serious developments taking place in neighboring countries like Lebanon, Iraq and Bahrain.

Had the Cabinet taken a decisive, preventive measure by enforcing the law, the situation would not have deteriorated to this level we have became the subject of mockery. Furthermore, our political powers, mainly religious, are responsible for containing and stopping the sectarian tensions; not fueling more. Our country’s destiny can handle election competition based on sectarian differences.

In addition, the media also shares a part of the responsibility by refraining from publishing material that offend national sentiments. We live in a modern civil country in which all rights are protected.

Enforcing a firm law is required the most at this point, as it is the only way to fix the current turmoil while disregarding the law that causes further instability.

We find ourselves waiting for the government to take decisive actions that eliminate sectarian strife, as long as these actions are lawful .

— Al-Qa bas

School hours extension prompt a national debate

KUWAIT: A concrete mixer truck overturned at the King Fahad highway after the driver lost control of the steering while trying to avoid collision with a vehicle that had swerved into his path. —Photos

by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Fatal accident A Kuwaiti teenager was killed and three others were badly injured in a car accident on Gulf Road, reported Al-Watan. The accident occurred when the driver lost control of his vehicle while trying to avoid a reckless driver. The car then flipped over several times, resulting in the death of a 17-year-old citizen. The three youths injured in the accident were brought to a nearby hospital by paramedics. An investigation was launched in search of the driver who caused the accident.

Committee probing ‘violations, favoritism’ Al-Barrak expresses deep disappointment KUWAIT: The parliamentary committee investigating claims of ‘violations and favoritism’ at the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) met recently to finalize the details of its report, which is to be submitted to the parliament before the deadline at the end of the month. MP Musallam Al-Barrak who originally made the allegations attended the recent meeting, providing testimony to the committee members, fellow parliamentarians Dr Rola Dashti, Ahmad AlSaadoun, Khalid Al-Sultan and Dr Yousef AlZalzalah.

The committee is still awaiting a response from finance minister Mustafa AlShamali on questions put to him concerning

the accusations, reported Al-Rai. The minister has been invited to attend a special committee meeting tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss the case and provide his testimony, along with his cabinet colleague Ahmad AlHaroun, the Minister of Commerce and Industry.

Any failure on Al-Shamali’s part to provide answers to the 38 questions put to him by the committee is likely to be mentioned in its final report as a failure to cooperate with the investigation. During Monday’s meeting, Al-Barrak reportedly expressed “deep disappointment” at what he described as “the minister’s disregard for the committee’s inquiries.” He further indicated that

while the KIA’s chairman had denied media allegations, his denials in fact further support suggestions of the claims’ validity, especially since they first arose two months ago.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary interior and defense committee received an official response from interior minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah to a request to attend a meeting held on Monday, declining the invitation. The meeting was held to continue the committee’s investigation into the release of two Iranian men accused of drug dealing on the orders of the ministry. This issue was also brought to the committee’s attention by MP Musallam Al-Barrak.

AOU students protest KUWAIT: A number of students at the Arab Open University’s (AOU) Kuwait branch on Monday held a sit-in at AlMadina Tower, where Kuwait’s Universities Council is based, to demand that the university council help resolve their problems with various decisions made by the university’s management. The stu-

dents said that the university management had offered no assistance in resolving their problems and demanded a meeting with Dr. Farida Al-Ali, the Universities Council’s Secretary General.

The students told Al-Anba that they were holding the sit-in to protest against AOU decisions which had hurt students’

interests, as well as contradicting University Council regulations. They urged the council’s administration to review the decisions and build a better relationship with students in order to find out about their problems and needs, especially since the majority of students at the university are also employed.

KUWAIT: A decision issued by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Education to extend school hours for the coming academic year has prompted a national debate over the future of education in the Gulf state. The questions being raised are especially significant given that the World Bank expects, a 23 percent rise in the population of 15 to 24year-olds over the next 15 years.

The Kuwait Teachers Association (KTA) has been a vocal critic of the proposal, saying that “the Education Minister [Moudhi Humoud] has failed to reason out, according to documented historical and scientific evidence against extending school hours. We wonder if the minister really understands the extent of destruction to the standard of education, based on her failure to make the right decisions.”

Despite such opposition, the move is likely to be welcomed by the development community. In July 2009, the World Bank warned that if the government cannot reform the education system, international academic institutions may cease to recognize Kuwaiti high school certificates. The bank’s chief concern was the number of school days: the state system averaged just 528 teaching hours in 2005/06, well below the OECD average of 800 hours of primary-level education per year.

As in many other Gulf states, the quality of Kuwait’s educational system is a sensitive subject. Despite the fact that a commitment to education has always been a significant component of the comprehensive welfare system, indicators suggest that the Gulf state could perform better. The most recent World Bank data available (2006) also shows that Kuwait’s expenditure per student as a percentage of GDP per capita has reached 11.1 percent, 14.6 percent and 82.8 percent respectively at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

However, a KD30 billion development plan released in February 2010 has bolstered the country’s basic economic indicators, while literacy rates

are high and enrolment levels are climbing steadily. The plan designated a significant amount for education, in addition to the KD1.23 billion allocated to the sector in the 2009/10 budget.

According to a survey by the World Bank, in 2008, gross primary enrolment was at 95.5 percent, a rise of nearly five percentage points on the previous year. The country ranks in the middle of education levels for the region above Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria and Lebanon but below the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan.

While spending on education may be increasing, questions over the quality of teaching have been raised by international surveys. In the 2007 Trends in Maths and Science Study (TIMSS), which measures countries against international education benchmarks, Kuwait’s 8th graders averaged a score of 354. This was the fifth lowest score in the 8th grade section of the survey and the third lowest in the region, above only Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It was also well below the international median level of 500. It was this poor performance that initiated the present period of debate as to the most effective way to reform the ailing education system.

This debate is critical, given the prevailing demographic conditions. According to the most recent census, conducted in 2005, the school-age population of Kuwaiti nationals represent 40 percent of the total population, or 426,000 people. This is well above the average for OECD countries such as France or Germany. The percentage of school age population stood at 21 percent and 18 percent, respectively.

The burgeoning school-age population might burden the educational system, but it also presents an opportunity for human capital development and economic growth. The outcome of the school hours debate may prove particularly significant in determining whether eventually there are enough competent graduates to meet the demands of the local and international labor markets.

— Oxford Business Group

EPA: Kuwait coral reefs destroyed KUWAIT: No more than 20 percent of Kuwait’s coral reefs have been destroyed by the natural phenomenon, known as ‘coral bleaching,’ according to local state, private and voluntary sector experts. Speaking at a meeting held on Monday, the experts further revealed that between 40 and 60 percent of the reefs have turned white due to the effects of the phenomenon, which has been seen elsewhere in the Gulf and worldwide.

Speaking at the special meeting held at the Environmental Public Authority (EPA) headquarters, which was attended by experts from the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), the Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS) and the Kuwait Dive Team (KDT), the authority’s director Ali Haidar attributed the coral bleaching seen in Kuwait’s offshore reefs to the recent high water temperatures, which reached 35 degrees Celsius. Haidar also revealed that specialist teams are currently examining coral specimens, along with samples of water and seabed

soil, and a number of sea creatures to measure pollution and contamination rates and assess whether the phenomenon has its origins in origins in causes other than temperature.

The EPA head also strenuously denied recent reports that 90 percent of Kuwait’s coral reefs had died, reported Al-Watan. He urged all local bodies working in the area of the marine environment to be cautious when making statements including scientific environmental information which has been worked out without first conducting the proper scientific research and studies.

Also during the meeting, the head of the EPA’s environmental control division, Mohammed AlAhmed, announced the creation of a special team to monitor the coral bleaching phenomenon and officially catalogue their findings.

Another speaker, KISR researcher Dr. Shaker Al-Hazim, described the coral bleaching phenomenon as a “disaster,” but voiced hope that it would start to diminish shortly as temperatures fall with the coming of autumn.

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of Slovakia Dr Ivan Lancaric held a reception on Monday 20th September at Crown Plaza Hotel to celebrate the Slovakia’s National Day. A large number of dignitaries and diplomats attended the event. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

NATIONAL

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Lawmakers push for servicemen wage raise KUWAIT: Two more MPs have urged the cabinet to provide parliament with its proposals to increase servicemen’s salaries and allowances, saying that the issue should be discussed and resolved as soon as possible so that the legislation can be quickly approved once parliament reopens in October. The parliament must endorse the Supreme Defense Council recently approved increase to servicemen’s, firefighters’, police officers’ and National Guard personnel’s salaries and allowances before it can be passed into law, reported AlQabas.

Speaking to the press, MP Askar Al-Enezi called the cabi-

net’s delay in passing the proposals to the parliament unjustified, especially since they were approved by the defense council following intensive study and have met with widespread approval from both government and parliament. Fellow MP Salem Al-Namlan also stressed the need for parliament to endorse the salary increases as quickly as possible, saying that the current pay and allowance levels for those affected are incapable of allowing servicemen to properly perform their duties. Al-Namlan also called on the cabinet to include retired servicemen among those entitled to the increases, which would augment their pensions.

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Water crisis deepens MEW to use strategic water reserves KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) plans to use its strategic water reserves in order to meet the unexpected rise in the demand for water.

According to a ministry official, water consumption rates are at par with daily production rates of desalinated water. This now touches 400 billion imperial gallons during summer.

Following the end of the holidays season, with citizens returning to the country after vacations and the start of school year, consumption rates have slightly exceeded daily production rates. This has forced the ministry to resort to the use of strategic reserve that amount to approximately 2,700 million imperial gallons.

The official who spoke on the condition of anonymity warned that the ministry

might face serious troubles while trying to meet an increasing demand if the current situation continues.

He further criticized the fact that the ministry has not taken an tangible steps to increase daily production of desalinated water by establishing extra plants, noting that the problem is bound to escalate as consumers have been wasting a lot of water, reported Al-Qabas.

The Minister of Electricity and Water, Bader Al-Shuraian recently headed the periodic meeting held by the committee in charge of electricity and water conservation at state facilities in 2010.

Representatives from ministries and other public firms, in addition to a number of undersecretaries from the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) also took

part in the meeting. Al-Shuraian acknowledged the efforts put in by each directorate towards controlling consumption, and the positive approach adopted in helping the ministry cope with the problem of meeting increasing demand.

On a separate note, the ministry is believed to be preparing to proceed with a project to build units at power plants that treat emissions by the percentage of sulfur that are produced during fuel combustion process.

The ministry is also said to be studying the option of providing south Zour power plant with purification natural gas units, which is the fuel used to run gas-fueled turbines, reported Al-Rai. This process will help enhance the quality of fuel and efficiency of the turbines.

in the news School CCTV cameras KUWAIT: The Central Tenders Committee (CTC) recently approved recommendations that were suggested by the Education Ministry on the first phase of a project to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, reported Al-Watan.

MoE’s Assistant Undersecretary for Planning, Dr Khaled Al-Rasheed said, “This project is one of MoE’s ambitious developmental projects,” He added that the project would secure the environment where school pupils and students study.

New license plates From Sunday, motorists in Kuwait will be able to replace their old vehicle license plates with new ones based on their address and vehicle details. The move comes on the orders of Major General Mahmoud AlDousari, the Ministry of Interior Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs, reported Al-Rai. In order for the license plates to be replaced, the vehicle insurance must be fully valid, while those motorists wishing to obtain European-style rectangular license plates will need to pay an additional KD15. The ministry also announced that applicants will need to pay an additional KD5 to replace damaged license plates, and KD10 for those which have been lost.

Anti-sectarian messages Undersecretaries at the Ministry of Information recently met to discuss the creation of a strategy to disseminate media awareness of the need for national unity, following calls from Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah to shun sectarianism. According to the Assistant Undersecretary for Television Affairs, the ministry is currently working on plans to create TV programs and public service messages stressing the need to reject practices which increase tensions and divisions between different groups in society.

These will be distributed to be broadcast after news reports, as well as in the breaks during cultural and religious programs, reported Al-Qabas. The moves come at the behest of the Minister of Information and of Oil, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.

Circulars issued to clergymen Circulars have been issued to Imams with an added emphasis on strengthening national unity, fight sectarian strife in the country, said Dr Adel Al-Falah, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. He said that Kuwait’s citizens have always lived harmoniously, and that no one has ever heard of a differentiation between Sunnis, Shiites, bedoon and city dwellers.

“We have inherited this from our fathers and forefathers, and we shall protect it for our children,” the statement read. Al-Falah denied that a Sunni-Shiite problem exists, reported Al-Anba. “All problems can be effectively resolved through dialogue.

All Shiites have condemned Yasser Al-Habeeb.”

Ministries to provide their own coverage The Ministry of Information has informed other ministries and public sector bodies wanting TV

coverage of their activities that they must provide the necessary material since the ministry does not possess such footage. The information ministry’s lack of material and recording equipment has led to complaints previously about its inability to cover important events and activities in Kuwait, reported Al-Rai. Several key ministries, including the Ministry of Oil and the Ministry of Finance, as well as the National Assembly (parliament) have been forced to provide their own footage of recent events in the last few years since the information ministry does not have suitable material which can be used instead.

PAAET to stage strikes The Secretary of Teaching Staff at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) Dr Ahmad Al-Mutairi has threatened to stage a full strike that will paralyze the authority unless the education and training sectors are not separated. He criticized the decision makers for postponing the matter. He explained that some influential individuals oppose this move in order benefit from it at private universities, without taking the state’s interest into consideration.

Al-Mutair pointed out that studies made by international consultancy offices support the segregation. However, decision makers have been deliberately delaying procedures, reported Al-Shahed.

He added separating the two sectors will thwart influential personalities’ business interests.

UNITED NATIONS: His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad Al-Sabah on Monday night chaired the second round table on the themes of health and education as part of the high-level meeting on the subject of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), which is currently being held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 65th session of the General Assembly.

Acting as the representative of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, HH Sheikh Nasser, co-chaired the round-table meeting with Guatemala’s President Alvaro Colom, commenting specifically on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s ‘Keeping the Promise’ report, with particular regard to education and health.

Among the issues he highlighted were the positive progress achieved in addressing the global rates of HIV infection (AIDS) as shown by the worldwide 17 percent reduction since 2001 in the level of new infections, as well as the progress made in the field of delivering medicines to poor and developing nations.

On education, HH Sheikh Nasser praised the “remarkable progress” made since 2000 towards achieving the goal of universal primary education, reflected in increasing high school enrollment figures in many developing countries, with ratios reaching 90 per-

cent of all children, in addition to a reduction of the gender gap in enrollment in primary education.

HH the Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of taking note of the part of Ban Ki-Moon’s report which underlines the need to strengthen national education systems through introducing better infrastructure and human resource development.

The second round table on education and health is among the most important of the meetings taking place to discuss a total of four of the eight MDGs, as the second of the goals targeted for achievement by 2015 is the achievement of universal primary education.

There are also three health-related MDGs; a reduction in child mortality numbers, improving mental health and combating HIV (AIDS), malaria and other diseases.

According to numerous studies conducted by the UN and its various bodies, women and children in poor countries and rural areas and areas affected by conflicts and wars are worst affected by the lack of a suitable learning environment.

These studies have consistently called on states to work on creating a strong political commitment to ensuring that all children receive education, as well as monitoring school enrolment levels and secondary education completion levels. — KUNA

Housing: Citizens asked to complete documentation

Great support for PAB name change The Popular Action Bloc (PAB) has announced a number of measures to publicize its official change of name to the Popular Constitutional Movement (PCM), saying that the move has received an overwhelmingly positive response. “We received a great number of phone calls from supporters asking about the name-change,” said Saad Al-Ajmi, a member of the PCM’s founding board, indicating that this widespread interest reflects the tremendous popularity enjoyed by the bloc both formerly and currently. Al-Ajmi also told Al-Rai that the members of the founding board are in close contact with the PAB members, as well as meeting regularly with them to finalize the PCM’s policy program, which is set to be completed within the next couple of weeks.

‘No shortage of land’ A senior Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) official said on Monday that there is no shortage of land suitable for building new residential areas, revealing that there is already enough empty space in Kuwait to easily allow the construction of a further 7,887 housing units.

Sobhie Al-Mulla, the Deputy Director of the PAHW’s Applications and Allocations Affairs department and the head of the authority’s committee for surveying potential construction sites, also told Al-Watan that the committee would be distributing a further 465 plots of land, each of 400 square meters, during the second quarter of next year. He explained that all applicants wishing to receive one of the sites would be allocated the land regardless of their application’s priority.

PM chairs UN education and health round table

KUWAIT: As schools resume one thing remains the same - traffic jams near schools—as parents scramble to make it on time to their work, after dropping off their children. — by photo Fouad Al-Shaikh

KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has recently asked citizens who have submitted applications to receive government housing at the Jaber Al-Ahmad and Sabah Al-Ahmad residential areas, to report to the authority’s headquarters in south Surra to provide necessary documents.

Citizens who have applied to receive housing plots in Jaber Al-Ahmad dated June 30, 1995, and those have forwarded applications to receive housing plots in Sabah AlAhmad dated until June 30, 2001 were asked to submit salary certificates from their employers.

They are also required necessary certificates from the Saving and Credit Bank, and a new cadastre issued by the Ministry of Justice. They are also asked to provide photocopies of civil identification cards, as well as identification cards of family members, and necessary documents to prove divorce or second marriage.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Civil Services Department at the PAHW announced that citizens that wish to submit housing care applications can do so during a recently commenced evening shift.

This step was taken in order to facilitate the application process as major housing projects have been planned for the future, including housing plot distribution at four new residential areas, reported Al-Qabas.

In a separate note, PAHW officials are expected to discuss during a meeting this week, the concept of increasing the area of a housing plot (piece of land or a constructed house) in the Mutlaa residential area to cover more than the current 400 square meters.

The number of allotted housing plots in the area have reached 25,000 in number after the Kuwait Municipality recently approved to add 7,000 more plots. This has caused an average maximum area of each plot to be reduced from 600 square meters to 400 square meters, Al-Rai. Many citizens have expressed their disappointment at this reduction.

4 Al-Shaye slams Safar KUWAIT: The Municipal Council’s second session commenced with a severe criticism of the Minister of Public Works and the Minister for Municipal Affairs, Dr Fadhel Safar, led by the Council Deputy Chairman, Shaye Al-Shaye. Speaking during the session, Al-Shaye denounced the manner in which the minister had handled accurate and false information. He also defended the Deputy Director for Mubarak Al-Kabeer and Hawally Osama Al-Duaij against accusations that ques-

tioned his professionalism and capability as a leader.

Al-Shaye also criticized Safar for favoring some officials at the expense of others, reported AlWatan. The session also discussed various issues like converting an open yard near Kuwait Hospital in Salmiya to a multi-floor parking building.

Also, Block 4, Subhan will be converted to a warehouses area after obtaining permission from the Civil Aviation and Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD).

in the news Alcoholic gum?

KUWAIT: An amount of gum products were seized from grocery stores across the Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorate when it was discovered that they contain alcoholic ingredients, reported Al-Watan.

Inspectors from the Ministry of Commerce launched the campaign to confiscate the products when the information was confirmed.

Meanwhile, authorities are searching for similar products.

Woman commits suicide An Asian woman was killed after ingesting pesticide with her Asian boyfriend in an attempt to commit suicide, reported AlAnba. The incident occurred in Kabad where paramedics responded to the emergency call. Paramedics found the woman dead but were able to save the man’s life after bringing him to a nearby hospital. Police are waiting for the man’s condition to stabilize before questioning him.

Murder attempt A young Kuwaiti woman was injured after she was deliberately struck by a car in Kaifan, reported AlQabas. According to eyewitnesses, the woman was struck by a car that was following her in the parking lot of the Kuwait Sports Club.

Police and paramedics responded to the incident and brought the 21-year-old victim to Razi Hospital. At the hospital she informed authorities that she was kidnapped but managed to escape from her assailant when he stopped his car in the sports club’s parking lot.

She added that while she was trying to get away the man physically assaulted her and then hit her with his car.

The suspect, an officer with the Ministry of Defense, told police that he was in a relationship with the woman and that she willingly entered his vehicle. He added that he hit her with his vehicle by mistake. He was referred

to the public prosecutor and faces kidnap and attempted murder charges.

NATIONAL

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Panel to discuss new food safety monitoring system MPs eye third airport KUWAIT: The parliamentary public facilities committee is set to discuss a number of issues at its forthcoming meeting tomorrow, including the establishment of a proposed food safety monitoring system. Among the other issues under discussion will be a proposal to create a third airport for Kuwait, the current bill to create a public authority for communication and two further proposals, one concerning the erection of tents and marquees for public and private events and the other related to the regulations governing diwaniyas in private homes.

Speaking to the press on Monday, committee member MP Faisal AlDuwaisan voiced hope that there would be sufficient time during the meeting to confer on all the issues scheduled for discussion, adding that the proposed establishment of a new communications authority would be given the highest priority. Al-Duwaisan explained that the proposal for a new food safety monitoring system had been put forward by fellow parliamentarian Naji Al-Abdulhadi with the objective of protecting consumers and ensuring that foodstuffs are stringently assessed for safety.

He said that the proposal on the erection of tents and marquees had been submitted by MP Ali Al-Deqbasi, explaining that it calls for a ban on erecting tents outside homes unless a license to do so has been obtained previously from the Kuwait Municipality. Al-Duwaisan also revealed that the bill on regulating the laws governing diwaniyas, originally put forward by MP Shuwaib Al-Muwaizri, was also to be prioritized after being approved by members of the parliamentary legislative and legal committee, while a similar bill has already been proposed to the Municipal Council.

Body found Police responded to a phone call informing them that the body of an Indian man was found in his apartment in Salmiya, reported Al-Watan. The authorities were called when the man’s neighbors noticed a foul odor coming from the apartment. Upon breaking into the apartment they discovered that the 46-year-old man had died in his bathroom.

Drug dealer caught A Bangladeshi drug dealer was arrested by authorities and found with nine bags of marijuana. He was referred to the proper authorities, reported AlWatan.

Sexual assault Two members of the National Guards were arrested and charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting an Asian woman, reported Al-Rai. The victim informed authorities at the Abu Halaifa police station that she was assaulted by the two men after accepting a ride from them to her country’s embassy after escaping from her employer.

She added that instead of bringing her to the embassy they brought her to Abdullah Port and raped her.

Police discovered the identity of the assailants and placed them under arrest.

They were referred to the proper authorities.

Theft The janitor of a building in Salwa transferred the KD 2,800 in rent he collected from tenants to his bank account in his home country before reporting it stolen, reported Al-Rai. While investigating the case, police grew suspicious of the man’s recent monetary transaction and confronted him. When questioned, he admitted to stealing the rent. He was referred to the proper authorities.

Kuwait to host summit on investment in Syria DAMASCUS: Director General of Syria Investment Agency Dr Ahmad Abdulaziz said that Kuwait will host a conference on investment in Syria on October 21 and 22. The conference will be organized by the agency in cooperation with the council of Syrian businessmen in Kuwait on the sidelines of the meetings of the higher Syrian-Kuwaiti committee.

Abdulaziz said, at a meeting held at the agency to prepare for the conference, that the agency will present at the conference 165 investment opportunities in difference Syrian governorates and industrial areas.In addition, it will present successful experiences of Kuwaiti investors in Syria, he said.

Kuwaiti investments in Syria are in different fields including economy, tourism, infrastructure, banking, health, agriculture, transport, and oil services, he added. There are 35 Kuwaiti projects in Syria, with a total value of SYP 37.192 billion, he said. He noted that the agency will organize a campaign on available investment opportunities and on the good investment environment in Syria to encourage Kuwaitis and Syrian investors in Kuwait to invest in Syria.

Syria witnessed economic and legislative reforms, pointed out.

On his part, representative of Syrian businessmen in Kuwait Thaer Al-Lahham stressed on the importance of the conference. Ten percent of Syrians in Kuwait are investors, he pointed out. The Syrian-Kuwaiti business council and Syrians in Kuwait will launch a Syrian holding company in the sidelines of the conference, he said. The company will invest in one of the projects, which will be presented at the conference, he noted. One Syrian pound equals about $0.0215. — KUNA

MGRP targets 80,000 more Kuwaitis in public sector KUWAIT: The Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) aims to help more than 80,000 more Kuwaitis to secure public sector jobs by 2014, according to a senior MGRP official.

MGRP Secretary General Dr Walid Al-Wuhaib revealed that the body is working to devise a strategy to allow it a greater role in developing Kuwait’s human resources, in order to help it achieve this objective.

Such a strategy would also “help to reinforce the MGRP’s work and improve its ability to coordinate with various public sector bodies that support its efforts to help citizens find jobs in the private sector,” he told Al-Qabas.

The MGRP is also working to establish a new authority for national manpower, with senior officials holding a series of meetings with Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr. Mohammad Al-Afasi to coordinate on deciding the new body’s policies, which will be established in compliance with the recently passed labor legislation. AlWuhaib insisted that the creation of such an authority is essential to provide the MGRP with the necessary flexibility and freedom to take major decisions.

The MGRP head assert-

ed that the MGRP needs more support in order to remain effective in helping Kuwaitis to find and retain public sector positions, which he said could be achieved by introducing regulations to ensure that they receive greater financial incentives.

Al-Wuhaib further noted that encouraging Kuwaitis to seek employment in the private sector is not as difficult as it seems, adding that the national manpower support legislation has helped to drive 65,000 Kuwaitis to take jobs in the private sector within the past ten years.

This allows those Kuwaiti private sector employees to receive financial support from the government, in addition to their salaries and other financial incentives which the companies employing them are compelled to pay.

The MGRP head also stated that the principal obstacle faced by the MGRP has lain in the comparative lack of government support for private sector staff as against its backing for public sector workers.

He acknowledged the benefits introduced by the recently introduced labor law, however, in its insistence that companies must employ a minimum number of Kuwaiti employees or face penalties.

MoC staff protest

KUWAIT: A visiting security delegation from Jordan seen at the Interior Ministry’s General Department for Information Systems.

Jordanian delegation visits Information Systems dept KUWAIT: The members of a visiting Jordanian security delegation yesterday toured the Department of Information Systems, where they were received by the Acting Director General, Colonel Ali Al-Meili, along with department heads and other senior officials. The delegates listened to a detailed talk from the director of information systems Meshary AlMutairi on the department’s strategic objectives in creating an e-government infrastructure for the Ministry of Interior.

The delegates also received detailed information about the technology used to assist local police, including security monitoring equipment and other systems.

Later in the day, the delegation visited the National Security College, where the delegates were received by its Director General, Major General Mohammad Rafi’a AlDihani, and other senior officials there, and were familiarized with the college’s national security faculty. — KUNA

Kuwait to get 4 air ambulances

By A. Saleh

Charities’ violations could damage Kuwait reputation KUWAIT: According to a Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) insider, a number of local charities have been discovered violating fundraising regulations, which the insider said could seriously damage Kuwait’s reputation internationally.

The MSAL worker told Annahar that 90 percent of the receipts issued for donations given to just one of the chari-

KUWAIT: More than 60 Ministry of Communications staff held a sit-in protest in front of the government workers’ union’s headquarters yesterday to voice their objection to the union’s practices and to question the legitimacy of its management board’s members’ positions.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one MoC worker said that the union’s working methods are murky and obtaining membership is extremely difficult, if not actually impossible, further claiming that the union has become the “private realm” of some employees who believe themselves above the law.

The worker said that the MoC union must be the only one in Kuwait whose management board had remained unchanged for over 15 years, adding that since the government workers’ union is the principal supervisory body accountable for such bodies, it should assume full responsibility for resolving these problems.

“We objected in court to the [union management board] elections that were held in secret last January,” said the worker, adding that a further court hearing is scheduled to be held next Sunday to consider the case. The MoC staff member further told Al-Jarida that a group of disgruntled ministry personnel had earlier met with the chairman of the government workers’ union, who had promised to study their complaints. “We hope that we will receive justice quickly, especially since the union has made no significant changes in the past few years,” the worker concluded.

ties in question were invalid, adding that these and other violations could see Kuwait’s international image damaged and the country’s efforts to regulate fundraising work returning to square one.

“This could jeopardize Kuwait’s image with international bodies like the US Treasury delegation which is due to visit Kuwait in mid-October to evaluate

the performance of Kuwait’s charity regulation bodies,” the insider warned. The MSAL insider also claimed that the ministry’s failure to obtain a technical report prior to beginning the construction of a social care center in Sulaibikhat, thereby violating the official regulations, has led to massive delays, with the contractor unable to start work until the report is completed.

KUWAIT: Minister of Health Dr. Helal Al-Sayer is reportedly in the final stages of negotiation with a specialist European firm to purchase four air ambulances for Kuwait. The helicopters will enable medics to fly seriously injured casualties directly to hospital without having to negotiate traffic jams or other road traffic problems, explained a senior health ministry official. The European firm, which acts as an agent for American air ambulance manufacturer Bell Air, will provide two ambulances to hospitals in northern Kuwait and two to other hospitals in the south.

All the hospitals will be provided with rooftop helipad facilities.

Commercial agencies Following discussion of the government’s bill to regulate ‘commercial agencies,’ the parliamentary finance committee has granted the government further time to amend the proposed legislation and give the private sector a greater role. MP Yousef AlZalzalah, the committee chairman, said that the committee

had requested that the government amend the proposal to more strongly reflect the objectives of the national development plan. The committee head also revealed that the members had requested final evaluations from the ministers of finance and commerce of recent plans for the Kuwait Investment Authority, adding, “If we don’t receive a reply, the committee will complete its final report and submit it to the National Assembly.”

No new fees for Hajj convoys The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is not introducing any new conditions for Hajj convoys this year and will not increase the financial deposits charged to the organizers. A ministry insider said that the MAIA fees will remain the same as last year due to the after effects of the global economic crisis.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has instructed all convoy organizers to provide both male and female doctors and nurses for each convoy, with the names of those selected to be submitted to the ministry for approval by October 7 at the latest.

SAB promotes activities of ARABOSAI, INTOSAI KUWAIT: Undersecretary of the State Audit Bureau of Kuwait (SAB) Abdulaziz Al-Roumi said yesterday the SAB was working with the Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI) and the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) to promote the auditing work in the Arab region and beyond. “Our cooperation

aims to provide all factors of success to the auditing institutions on the local, regional and international levels,” Al-Roumi said. He made the remarks while inaugurating a workshop titled “leveraging the international auditing standards across the supreme financial and audit institutions.”

“The three-day event falls in the

framework of the guidelines outlined

by INTOSAI’s Professional Standards Committee,” he pointed out. “The SAB is keen on putting all its resources at the disposal of the friendly peer institutions to ensure the success of the activities. It is also keen on ensuring the convenience of participants in the workshop and the success of the event,” Al-Roumi affirmed.

“Kuwait plays host to the event in response to the request of National Audit Court (NAC) of Bahrain which represents the ARABOSAI at INTOSAI’s Professional Standards Committee,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Tunisia’s Court of Accounts Nour-Eddin ElZawali praised the role of SAB in backing the auditing work in the Arabian

Gulf region and the Arab region in large. “The current workshop aim to build the capacity of Arab auditors and promote knowledge about International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAI),” he revealed.

INTOSAI’s subcommittee delivered a report to the INTOSAI XIX Congress which adopted the report

and included it in the Mexico Declaration on the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) Independence, the INTOSAI Guidelines and Good Practices Related to SAI Independence, and case studies illustrating SAI independence. The documents were issued as the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAI). — KUNA

5

NATIONAL

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

KUWAIT: Plants that patrons buy from one of Kuwait’s nurseries in Al-Rai. — Photos by Ben Garcia

Veggies growing abundantly in Kuwait Planting at home reduces the grocery budget

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Who says vegetables can’t be grown in Kuw ait? Creating a garden or growing any veggies in the backyard or even at home could be the last option for residents in Kuwait - a country w ith a dry and hot climate for over eight months a year. Contrary to this expectation, Meshary, an agriculturist based in Al-Rai, an area in Kuw ait w here nurseries are located, said that grow ing any kinds of veggies in Kuw ait is quite easy, possible and an enjoyable activity, “There are many people coming from other countries who don’t want to engage in the gardening business in Kuw ait,” he says, providing the reason that the climate is not suitable. “Until you try, you w ouldn’t know ?” Meshary quipped. “In Kuwait, it’s just a matter of spending a little time in your garden; if you plant something, try to spend time looking after it,” he says.

Meshary, who admittedly says that gardening has been his life, provides advice to newbie gardeners, “Water is one important aspect, sun is also needed but too much of it would be harmful too. So, I advise customers to put some protection or a shade on their veggies,” he said.

At his nursery in Al-Rai, Meshari sells plants that can survive the hot weather. He also reveals that there has been a growing interest in gardening or growing vegetables, “There are customers who like to purchase seeds, but there are individuals who want to buy seeds that are ripe to be planted,” he explained. Taking the point further, he explained that his nursery grows various kinds of herbs, cabbage, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, chilies, okra, corns, and cauliflowers. “Customers like these kinds of vegetables here because it’s easy to grow and it takes short time to ripe before they harvest them,” he said. These, he observed, are all-season veggies.

Another tip for the amateur gardeners

that Meshary provides, is to buy ready-toplant vegetables, and plant them in a better space where they can grow. Good soil and enough water is the key to good harvest, he says. According to him, a balcony is a good nursery for those who want to grow veggies.

There, placed in improvised containers or clay (mud) pots plants can grow, “I have seen many people doing that in Kuwait; a general rule is the bigger the plant-the bigger the pot or container to be used,” he says, adding that soil is very important to grow vegetables. He noted, “Spend a little for a good quality of soil and you can grow vegetables and make your own garden within reach in Kuwait.”

Successful gardener (enthusiasts) Marivic, an employee at a kindergarten school in Salmiya enjoys her free time planting vegetables. She uses her extra time planting veggies at her accommodation and school backyard where she works as assistant teacher.

Fire ravages apartment

By Ha na n Al-Saa doun KUW AIT: A Fire occurred a t 2:00 a m on the ninth floor of a 10 floor apartment building in Haw a lly. Fire departments in Haw ally and Sa lmiya responded to the emer-

gency and found three people tra pped on the ninth a nd tenth floor. The three w ere rescued a nd trea ted a t the site for smok e inha lation a nd heat exhaustion by para medics. Firefighters extinguished the blaze before it could sprea d.

GDDC ho s ts co urs e fo r anti -narco ti cs o ffi ci al s An intermediate level course for antinarcotics officials from all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations is currently underway under the patronage of Major General Sheikh Ahmad AlKhalifa Al-Sabah, the head of Kuwait’s General Department of Drugs Control (GDDC). Brigadier Saleh Al-Ghanim, the GDDC’s Assistant Director General, explained that the course aims to facilitate the exchange of information between anti-narcotics officials in the region and to help ensure that any loopholes that could potentially be exploited by drug dealers are closed. The course is set to conclude on September 30.

“I used to planting anything here; I enjoy growing vegetables. I have plenty of space in front of my house too given to me by the building owner,” she said. “He even provided me with seeds to plant at first; so I am enjoying it right now but also I’m happy because it reduces my budget for buying vegetables,” she claimed.

Sitting in front of a three-storey building where she lives in a studio on the ground floor, the building reminds one of early Kuwaiti structure. She has planted a huge Moringa tree on the side which produces tons of leaves and fruits which she also shares with her friends and sometimes sells them in front of the Catholic Church in Kuwait City. The Moringa tree is a kind of vegetable labeled by many scientists and experts as a ‘miracle tree’ as it contains a number of great nutrients which are said to miraculously improves people’s health. “I got this tree from my boss. It was just very small then,” she said.

Marivic worked with her sponsor as a

housemaid in Rumaithiya, many years ago, and when she decided to leave her sponsor’s house in exchange for a new job at a nursery school; the sponsor provided her with comfortable accommodation that also had a small garden where she used to cultivate and continue her hobby of planting vegetables.

“Now, I am taking care of the tree (moringa), and also planting vegetables around it,” she said.

Anne from Ahmadi also grows all kinds of vegetables at her employer’s backyard. She alternates okra, water spinach, sweet potatoes and eggplants in summer; but during winter she grows lettuce, carrots and potatoes. Her boss’s villa is also surrounded by some Moringa trees. She usually distributes its leaves with some of her friends in Kuwait come harvest time. “My boss usually buys compost soil from the green market in AlRai and buys seeds there as well. I have ‘a green thumb’ and so our surrounding is practically green the whole year round,” she said.

IKEA launches 60th catalogue

By Rawan Khal i d KUWAIT: IKEA announced the launch of their 2011 catalogue and their new offers for the year at a press conference on their premises yesterday. The 2011 catalogue, which features the slogan ‘hooray for the everyday,’ will be distributed throughout the residential areas of Kuwait in a period of two weeks.

This year’s catalogue focuses on giving every individual the ability to create exactly the home they desire. The catalogue is full of inspirational ideas and solutions for every person, regardless of the size of their wallet. It serves as a reference for contemporary home furnishing and can be used as a handbook on how a person can create a functional and beautiful low cost home. “The catalogue not only inspires customers but

also lowers the prices of larger home furnishings,” said Adel Al-Shamali, IKEA’s General Manager. “Styles that suit everyone, wonderful additions to everyday life and products at prices that are within everyone’s reach is IKEA’s main focus this year.”

The catalogue allows customers to come up with innovative ways to design their own homes. It has informative sections full of product information and vibrant images to support every imagination. “There have been 198 million copies of the 60th IKEA catalogue printed,” said Emile Shaar, IKEA’s store Manager. “It was published in 28 different languages in 54 editions and was read by more than 400 million people in 38 different countries. The catalogue contains 4,000 IKEA products including dozens of products with new, lower price.”

Chi l d res cued A one-year-old Kuwaiti child was rescued from drowning and brought to Adan Hospital in good condition.

Car acci dent Two Indian females were injured in a car accident on Fourth Ring Road Monday evening. Both were brought to Mubarak Hospital. Meanwhile, a 33-year-old Egyptian suffered a broken right foot when a car hit him on Salmy road. He was brought to Jahra Hospital. In an unrelated incident, a 31-year-old Egyptian received a severe head wound following a motorcycle accident in Salmiya on Baghdad Street. He was brought to Adan Hospital.

In another incident, an 18-year-old Kuwaiti sustained a fractured left thigh and a 27-year-old bedoon suffered a dislocated shoulder during a car accident in Yarmouk. Both were brought to Mubarak Hospital. Meanwhile, a car accident on Sixth Ring Road left a 55-year-old Kuwaiti with a cut on his forehead. He was brought to Farwaniya Hospital. Injured in another collision were two Kuwaiti women who complained of back and chest pain following a car accident on Seventh Ring Road. Both were brought to Adan Hospital.

Wo rk i njury A 28-year-old Egyptian cut his right hand while working at a cafe in Salmiya.

He was brought to Mubarak Hospital.

KUWAIT: Charred remains of the properties in an apartment ravaged by fire. — Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

Po i s o ni ng A 36-year-old Sri Lankan was rushed to Jahra Hospital after ingesting insecticide.

KUWAIT: Adel Al-Shamali, General Manager of IKEA (left) and Emile Shaar, Store Manager of IKEA with the 2011 Catalogue. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

‘No more swine flu outbreaks’ KUWAIT: There has been no further outbreak of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus in Kuwait, with the two isolated cases, both in maids, discovered during Ramadan both having been successfully treated, said a senior health official yesterday. Dr Jamal AlDuaij, the Director of Kuwait’s Infectious Diseases Hospital, told Al-Jarida that there are currently no cases of swine flu at the hospital, adding that after being diagnosed

during Ramadan, the two women had been kept in hospital for a further five days, but were now fully cured.

He also revealed that the hospital had earlier been put on alert after two cases of cholera were diagnosed in Pakistan to ensure that Kuwait would remain free of the highly infectious disease. He stressed that all the necessary measures had been taken to ensure that there would be no pos-

sibility of either swine flu or cholera having any chance to spread in Kuwait. Dr AlDuaij also revealed that the hospital now has a hi-tech X-ray system using digital equipment and linked to doctors’ computers, which will be of great use in quickly diagnosing conditions. He explained that funding for the system had been generously donated by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs (MAIA).

6

NATIONAL in my view

Regional partners and the threats

By Fouad Al-Obaid

T

he famous phrase once said by a character on a TV show, “friends become enemies, enemies become friends,” seems to be the modus operandi for the region. In this region there are various sorts of gatherings: partnerships of peace, others of war, some of need, others made out of desire.

The overlying issue is that they all tend to be murky and, depending on the situation, change drastically. From a calm summer to an IsraeliLebanese war, or from a calm truce to a revival of sectarian tensions, all commentators and analysts seem to be waiting for the next worst-case scenario to happen.

When looking into the case of our beloved country it seems as though we are going to be dealing with increased local and regional challenges. I believe this will either force us to mature and develop - by professionalizing the civil service corps - or we will remain victims of nepotism. We need to realize that the greatest dangers civilization faces are not external.

While dangers from other states remain on the minds of most leaders, this is not currently a major threat to the nation or the status quo. The greatest threat comes from within. A state’s careless management can lead to corruption and such an act could lead a society into the sinkhole of history!

Alas, in our region we

have witnessed many recent wars and broader border skirmishes have erupted. A fundamental shift in alliances seems to be in the making and it is pushing undecided neutral states into situations where serving an empire or engaging in a war may become very possible solutions. The ancient paradigm of infringing upon a states sovereignty and territorial aggression is no longer possible. Some countries are not hesitating to shift away from the past order and move into a new one where smaller states enter into the realm of a regional iron curtain.

Each day is growing closer toward a dreaded reality; a standoff between various nations in the region will no longer become uncommon.

Exasperating the situation is the desire of big boys to acquire big toys.

Countries today consider mega-armament deals in the hopes that a militarization of the region will lead to an eventual war.

Without focusing too much on the war scenario, I for one hope that our country, which is considering entering into the era of nuclear energy, be able, ready and capable of handling such a source of energy with proper regulation, maintenance and upkeep. If the Mishref sewer treatment plant is a benchmark, God save us from the insanity that ignorance may bring in the name of enlightenment. foua d@kuw aittimes.net

in the news New KSE manager KUWAIT: The Finance Minister and Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mustafa Al-Shemali recently issued a ministerial decree number 338/2010. According to it, the former Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) vice manager for companies sector and the Acting Assistant Manager for Financial and Administrative Affairs, Ibrahim Hamad Al-Ibrahim will be appointed as the KSE’s Manager. He will replace incumbent Manager, Saleh Al-Falah, reported Annahar. Commenting on Al-Ibrahim’s appointment, KSE officials asserted that he has over 30 years of work experience.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

MPs back govt over Habeeb Lawmakers express reservations on public gatherings’ ban

By A Saleh KUWAIT: The 11 MPs who met a few days ago to coordinate efforts in defending the sacred name of Um Al-Momineen (Aisha, the wife of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) have praised the government’s decision to rescind the citizenship of Kuwaiti fugitive Yasser Al-Habeeb, although they said that the decision was “too late.”

In a joint press release issued yesterday, the MPs expressed reservations at what they said was the government’s unconstitutional ban on public gatherings, calling this a violation of civil liberties. The parliamentarians added, however, that despite their condemnation of the government’s “laxity”

in confronting the “strife” caused by AlHabeeb’s alleged statements, they were appreciative of the decision taken by the cabinet over the issue on Monday, withdrawing Al-Habeeb’s citizenship.

They asserted that the calls to withdraw the Shiite cleric’s citizenship were due to his clear violation of the laws in this area since, by insulting ‘the Mother of Believers’ and the Prophet’s (PBUH) companions, AlHabeeb had insulted Islam and all Muslims.

“The country’s security makes it imperative for all authorities to confront other issues, such as how the criminal [Al-Habeeb] managed to escape from prison and from Kuwait. [They also need to look into] his partners in forming his Takfir [apostatizing]

committee, his financing and his websites that remained open for years.

We will certainly follow this issue closely, using all the constitutional means, such as parliamentary questions and the establishment of a parliamentary investigation committee, as well as legislation, because we are sure that the criminal and those supporting him will not stop their destructive plans at this point.” The MPs’ statement continued, “Despite the rejection by both Sunnis and Shiites of the fugitive criminal’s actions, we express our astonishment at the false outrage and note that some have worked to increase the tensions by making provocative statements that should not have been made.”

VIENNA: Secretary of the Kuwait National Nuclear Energy Committee (KNNEC) Ahmad Beshara (left) and the head of Rosatom Sergei Kiriyenko sign Monday a memorandum for nuclear cooperation for peaceful purposes with attendance of officials from the two states. — KUNA

Kuwait, Russia ink nuclear deal KUWAIT: Kuwait and Russia have signed a memorandum of cooperation for peaceful use of nuclear energy generation in the Gulf Arab state, state news agency KUNA reported, following similar deals with Japan and France.

“The memo ... stipulated training cadres, exploration for metals, establishing a network of nuclear reactors in Kuwait and building a relevant infrastructure,” KUNA reported late on Monday, citing Ahmad Bishara, the secretary general of Kuwait’s National Nuclear Energy Committee. It said the arrangements were for a five-year period.

Gulf Arab states including Kuwait fear that Iran’s nuclear energy program could lead to the country becoming a nuclear weapons state and dominant power in the region. Kuwait has also sought assurances from Iran about the safety of its new, Russian-built Bushehr

KUWAIT: A team from the security media department led by First Lieutenant Heba Al-Khalaf recently visited the Qurtoba kindergarten where they distributed awareness brochures to the teaching staff and students. This visit comes as part of the department’s campaign to spread traffic awareness among students.

MPs probe fra nchise bill Chairman of Kuwait parliamentary committee on financial and economic affairs MP Dr Youssof Al-Zalzalah said yesterday the committee discussed the draft bill on franchises tabled to the National Assembly in 2004. “The bill in question had not been probed by previous parliamentary committees since then though the parliament approved draft laws running counter to it,” Al-Zalzalah told reporters. “The government stated that it gave priority to the draft bill, so the committee decided to give the government more time to further review it.” While reviewing the bill, the government has to take into account three main points; firstly, protecting the consumers; secondly, giving the youths access to franchises; and thirdly, satisfying the needs of the country,” he added.

nuclear power reactor, where loading of fuel began in August.

Earlier this month, Kuwait, the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter, said it had decided to build four nuclear reactors by 2022, each with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts.

The announcement came days after Kuwait and Japan signed a cooperation agreement to expand the nuclear capacity in the OPEC member.

Kuwait also signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with France in April.

So far there is no indication of who might build the plants. Kuwait is looking to boost oil output capacity to 4 million barrels a day (bpd) by 2020 and gas output to 4 billion cubic feet per day (cfd) by 2030.

It has relied on oil exports for more than 90 percent of state revenues. Current oil production capacity is 3.1 million bpd. — Reuters

Stability of Iraq means ‘stability for neighbors’

Kuw a it to set up new tra nsport a uthority Kuwait is in the process of establishing a new transport authority, which will be wholly responsible for regulating all transport-related issues in the country. The news was revealed by Ministry of Communications (MoC) Undersecretary Mohsen Al-Mazaidi shortly after he opened Kuwait’s first Transport Exhibition on Monday. The senior MoC official stressed that Kuwait has already accomplished a great deal in terms of plans for the Metro project, adding that the ministry is currently in close consultation with the project advisor on the standards and specifications.

Fares Al Mehri wins Mercedes Coupe SLS AMG with NBK cards KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the leading bank in Kuwait and highest rated in the Middle East, recently conducted the final draw for the cards summer campaign in which Mr. Fares Ahmad Abdulla Al Mehri won the Grand

Prize Mercedes-Benz Coupe SLS AMG. NBK cardholders got the chance to win one of three luxurious Mercedes-Benz cars by using their NBK cards overseas or in Kuwait from 1st June until 14th September.

NBK credit cards give customers opportunities to win exciting and valuable prizes by way of participating in promotional campaigns. NBK Consumer Banking Group Deputy General Manager, Abdullah Al Najran Al Tuwaijri

KUWAIT: The winner Fares Al Mehri receives the car key from NBK Consumer Banking Group Deputy General Manager, Abdullah Al Najran Al Tuwaijri.

said: “We were very excited about this campaign and we always strive to exceed our customers’ expectations. “NBK has pioneered many firsts in both local and regional markets by offering innovative products and value added services”, con-

cluded Al Tuwaijri. The Grand Prize winner Fares Al Mehri expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation for NBK, saying: “I’m really proud to be an NBK customer as no other bank offers me promotions that are as rewarding as this one”.

KUWAIT: The winner Fares Al Mehri seen near his brand new Mercedes car.

Kuwait Minister of Interior leaving for Iraq KUWAIT: Interior minister Lieutenant General Sheikh Jaber Khaled Al-Sabah (Retd) said yesterday that the countries neighboring Iraq seek to preserve its security and stability, noting Kuwait’s enthusiasm to coordinate and cooperate with Iraq over border security. “Stability of Iraq means stability for all the [neighboring] countries, which are keen to help it be in control of its internal affairs,” Sheikh Jaber told KUNA before leaving for Bahrain for the seventh meeting of Interior Ministers of the countries neighboring Iraq, which begins today.

Sheikh Jaber said there was constant cooperation and coordination between Kuwait and Iraq over all issues, including border security, emphasizing the importance of the Bahrain meeting since the region is currently passing through “decisive and historic” changes.

Iraq’s neighboring countries are coordinating and cooperating closely with each other, said Sheikh Jaber, to protect and strengthen Iraqi security, as well as to confront all forms of terrorism, cross-border smuggling, organized crime and drug trafficking.

He added that all the region’s

countries share a common interest in security. Today’s meeting will feature the interior ministers of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey, as well as representatives of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Arab Council of Interior Ministers.

Kuwait-Iraq to redraw borders Fresh efforts will be made to demarcate the borders shared between beginning next week , an Iraqi government official. Ahmad Rashid also stated that trade relations between both countries have improved considerably. He told Kurdistan News Agency (KNA) that Iraq has informed Kuwait about redrawing the borders. The official added that Iraq has received Kuwait’s approval, and work will be undertaken next week under the supervision of the United Nations Organization.

Meanwhile, a member of the a political group Wael Abdellatif said, “Law and logic has granted Iraq the right to demand to the United Nations the borders between Iraq and Kuwait be redrawn.” — Agencies

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Iran highlights lack of protest over looming US execution TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has highlighted the lack of protest over the impending execution in the US of a female murderer, which he said contrasts with the “storm” surrounding a woman sentenced to be stoned in Iran.

“A woman is being executed in the United States for murder but nobody protests against it,” Ahmadinejad told a group of Islamic figures in the United States on

Monday, according to IRNA, Iran’s official news agency.

He was referring to Teresa Lewis, 41, who is due to be executed in the state of Virginia on Thursday despite her supporters arguing that she has diminished mental faculties.

Iran has been under international pressure to spare the life of 43-yearold mother Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in 2006.

Iran’s judiciary says it has sus-

pended the stoning sentence but that Mohammadi Ashtiani is also guilty of participating in the murder of her husband and that a final decision about her verdict is still pending.

Ahmadinejad denounced the “Western media storm” in Ashtiani’s case.

“There are 3.7 million Internet pages about this woman. Her case is not final yet but Iran is being heavily attacked,” he said.

Unless the US Supreme Court

intervenes, Lewis will die by lethal injection on Thursday, the first woman to be put to death in Virginia since Virginia Christian, a black 17year-old who died in the electric chair in 1912.

Abolitionists paint Lewis as a classic example of why capital punishment is flawed, saying the mother and grandmother has diminished mental faculties and was taken advantage of by smarter accomplices.

But with an IQ hovering at 70 or

above, Lewis was considered fit for trial in Virginia and she pleaded guilty to hiring two men to murder her husband and stepson to pocket their 350,000-dollar life insurance policy.

The Supreme Court has ruled against the execution of the mentally impaired under the US Constitution, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

But both the Virginia Supreme Court and a federal appeals court

have ruled that Lewis could function normally in society.

Lewis’s lawyers argue that new evidence, including her low IQ, has appeared since her trial that should prevent her execution.

Several Iranian MPs have protested in past weeks against her imminent execution and accused Western governments and media of “double standards” in their approach to the fate of the two women.

The United States is among the

countries that execute the most people each year, along with China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

Iran, which says the death penalty is essential to maintain public security and is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings, has executed more than 110 people so far this year.

Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are all punishable by death in the Islamic republic. —AFP

Arab states want Israel to join anti-nuclear arms pact

Israel warns on being singled out at UN body VIENNA: Israel said yesterday an Arab-led campaign to single it out at the UN atomic watchdog could undermine any arms control measures in the Middle East. The warning highlighted US concern that the Arab drive at the

CAIRO: Egyptian activists struggle with anti-riot soldiers during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday. Egyptian police beat and arrested anti-government activists demonstrating outside the downtown presidential palace against a possible fatherson succession in the country. —AP

Police beat anti-govt protesters in Egypt CAIRO: Police beat a handful of demonstrators with batons yesterday at a protest of about 200 Egyptians gathering against what they said were plans to hand power to the president’s son.

President Hosni Mubarak, 82, in power since 1981, has not said if he will run in the 2011 election. But persistent rumours about his health have helped fuel talk he could hand power to his politician son, Gamal, 46. Both deny any such plan.

Though small by international standards, protests have become more frequent with a parliamentary election in November and the presidential vote next year.

“No, no to succession. No to Mubarak, no to Gamal, no to Alaa,” the protesters shouted, naming the president’s two sons.

“Down, down with military rule,” they also chanted. Mubarak, like other presidents since the king was toppled in 1952, held a senior military post before becoming president.

Police in riot gear confronted the protesters near Abdeen Square in central Cairo, close to the former king’s palace.

The protest was organised by April 6 Youth Movement, Kefaya (Enough) and other groups who regularly arrange demonstrations.

Security forces are usually swift to contain protests and are often heavy handed, tending to limit protest numbers to no more than a few hundred.

Analysts say the opposition has yet to show it can rally mass protests in a country of 78 million to force change on a government that has huge security forces at hand. But protests are drawing unwelcome international attention, they have said.

The United States, an ally, criticised Egypt after police clashed with demonstrators in Cairo on April 6. Egypt said the remarks interfered in its domestic affairs. —Reuters

Israel under pressure to extend settlement freeze JERUSALEM: Israel does not expect Palestinians to wage a new uprising if US-backed peace talks launched this month fail, its top general said yesterday.

“We are ready for all options,” Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi, chief of staff of the armed forces, told a parliamentary committee, according to an official who briefed reporters on the session.

But Ashkenazi added, referring to a Palestinian uprising that began a decade ago: “If the talks were to fail, we do not forsee that we would return to the situation in which we found ourselves in September 2000.”

More than 500 Israeli civilians died in 140 Palestinian suicide bomb attacks from 2000 to 2007. More than 4,500 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the same period.

The Palestinians have threatened to drop out of the direct talks, launched on Sept. 2 with US backing, unless Israel extends a 10-month moratorium, expiring at the end of the month, on housing in its settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would not extend the limited freeze, despite international pressure to do so.

Among Palestinians in the West Bank, there appears to be little appetite for widescale antiIsraeli violence should negotiations be halted, and many question what the last Intifada, or uprising, achieved.

The area, where Westernbacked President Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian Authority holds sway, is enjoying economic growth and Palestinian security forces have been praised by Israel for taking measures to curb militants.

But the settlement issue has long stoked Palestinian anger.

They view settlements, built on land Israel captured in a 1967 Middle East war and which they want as part of a future state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as a threat to establishing a viable and contiguous country.

Netanyahu has said Israel could limit some construction but he has resisted declaring any new official ban, a move that could shake the governing coalition, which is dominated by prosettler parties including his own right-wing Likud.

Some 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 conflict. The areas are home to 2.5 million Palestinians.

Later in the day, the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators will call on Israel to extend the moratorium, saying the measure has had a positive impact as the two sides seek to resolve major issues of their conflict within a year, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters.

The group-the main guarantor of any future Middle East peace deal-is comprised of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations. —Reuters

Arab states have put forward a non-binding resolution at this week’s annual assembly of the 151-member IAEA calling on Israel to join a global anti-nuclear arms treaty, seeking to repeat a narrow diplomatic victory from last year’s meeting.

Israel, widely believed to have the region’s only nuclear arsenal, says it won’t consider joining the NonProliferation Treaty until there is comprehensive Middle East peace. If it signed the NPT, it would have to forswear nuclear weaponry.

Arab states say there cannot be peace in the Middle East until Israel gives up nuclear arms. Israel has never confirmed nor denied having atomic bombs, under a policy of ambiguity to deter its Arab and Islamic adversaries.

Director General Shaul Chorev of Israel’s Atomic Energy Organisation condemned what he called “continuous ill-motivated efforts to single out and to condemn the State of Israel,” in his speech to the IAEA gathering.

He said the “proposed resolution is incompatible with basic principles and norms of international law.”

“Any approach that...singles out the State of Israel not only weakens the ability of the international community to confront (nuclear) proliferators and violators but also defeats the prospect for advancement of arms control measures in the Middle East region,” Chorev said.

The United States and its allies have urged the Arab states to withdraw the draft

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would upset a plan to hold a conference in 2012 towards establishing a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction.

PARIS: Palestinian and Israeli high school students pose after a joint visit to the National Assembly in Paris, yesterday, as part of France’s efforts to encourage peace. Valerie Hoffenberg, France’s envoy for economic aspects of the Mideast peace process is urging Israel to extend its freeze on Jewish settlement-building, and says the United States needs European help to broker peace. —AP resolution, saying it could undermine the Egyptian-proposed 2012 conference and also send a negative signal to the revived IsraeliPalestinian peace talks.

US officials have suggested that Israel would be unlikely to attend the conference if it was targeted at the IAEA. Israel and the United

States regard Iran as the Middle East’s main proliferation threat, accusing it of seeking to develop atomic weapons in secret. Tehran rejects the charge.

Israel has condemned the

Arab resolution as a politically motivated manoeuvre by foes that question its existence to divert attention from what it sees as the region’s main proliferation risks-Iran and Syria.

“Iran continues its relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons in complete disregard of all relevant resolutions taken by the international community,” said Chorev. —Reuters

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Airlines can be fooled by pregnant women MADRID: If a woman really wants to get around the rules barring her from flying in late pregnancy, there’s little an airline can do to stop her. Investigators believe that a Filipino maid who gave birth in an airplane toilet two weeks ago deliberately wore baggy clothes and some sort of girdle around her stomach to conceal her pregnancy, Gulf Air spokeswoman Katherine Kaczynska said yesterday.

It’s not clear how far along the Filipino woman was in her pregnancy when she boarded the 10-hour Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Manila, the spokeswoman said. The airline has procedures to identify pregnant women checking in for flights, “but if someone conceals the pregnancy, it’s difficult and nigh on impossible for us to tell,” Kaczynska said.

While the vast majority of women

heed airline rules against flying during the last four or five weeks of pregnancy or comply with requirements about providing a medical certificate from a doctor, some manage to conceal their condition or lie about how far along they are so they can get where they want to go.

United Airlines flight attendant Sara Nelson says she raised eyebrows last year when she flew while eight months pregnant. She was legal but looked ready to give birth at any moment.

“I got reactions everywhere, because I really think it is quite rare that you see people flying so advanced in their pregnancy,” said Nelson, who is also the spokeswoman for the United Airlines branch of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “I probably scared people a little bit.” In-flight births are so infrequent they aren’t tracked by airline

associations. Much more common are passenger medical emergencies like heart attacks and anxiety attacks, or travelers who pass out after taking tranquilizers or drinking alcohol.

The Filipino woman says she had been raped and impregnated by her employer in Qatar, then forced by her employer’s wife to return home. She managed to hide the pregnancy to board the plane, then went into labor, giving birth in the packed jet’s toilet without any other passengers or the flight crew noticing. She abandoned her six-pound, nine-ounce (three-kilogram) baby boy in the trash, saying she feared what her family would say. The child is doing fine under the care of authorities and the woman could face child abandonment charges.

Apparent bloodstains on a seat are

being tested for DNA to make absolutely sure the baby was born on the flight and the woman is the mother.

A Samoan woman on a flight to New Zealand gave birth the same way last year - again without anyone noticing.

That child was also saved from the trash and survived, and the woman was convicted of abandonment and deported.

Since 2007, babies have also been born aboard planes flying from Chicago to Salt Lake City; on a domestic flight in Malaysia; and on long-haul flights from the Netherlands to Boston, from Hong Kong to Australia, and from Germany to Atlanta.

But even when gate attendants question how pregnant a passenger is, they usually have no choice but to let the woman fly if she says she has not reached the airline’s cutoff date and is

showing no sign of physical distress, said Dr. Fanancy Anzalone, president-elect of the Aerospace Medical Association in Alexandria, Virginia. “The rules now are based on honesty and (the idea) that a pregnant mom is going to protect her unborn,” Anzalone said.

If gate attendants believe a pregnant woman is farther along than allowed or showing possible signs of labor or distress, they can call medical personnel to determine whether she has the necessary medical documentation and is fit to fly, Anzalone said.

Randy Petersen, the editor for the US-based Inside Flier magazine, said busy gate attendants face a diplomatic nightmare when asking about pregnancies because all women show the condition differently and heavy women can look pregnant when they are not.

“The person could be overweight.

That is a faux pas that could happen that could lead to uncomfortable situations,” Peterson said. “It is an honor system, and if a lady is willing to take a risk _ and a lot of things can go wrong _ that’s their liability, not an airline liability.” Putting new airline rules in place would be difficult, experts say.

“Ultimately, you are legislating the unlegislatable. If a passenger doesn’t tell you their condition, you have no way of knowing,” said David Henderson, spokesman for the European Association of Airlines. Medical experts say the main reason very pregnant women should not fly is because there is no guarantee of adequate medical care on a plane.

Doctor, nurses or other health care professionals are frequently aboard as passengers and flight attendants with

onboard medical kits can use satellite phones to call for help. But international flights can be hours from an airport and no flights have the sophisticated medical equipment needed for labor emergencies. “(An airplane) is not a very clean environment and it’s just not the place to deliver a child,” said Jeffrey Sventek, the Aerospace Medical Association’s executive director.

Flight crews always note where pregnant women are sitting and tell the rest of the crew, said Capt. Tom Walsh, a pilot who flies international routes. “They will keep an eye on them, they will let us know and usually it’s not a problem,” he said. “But it’s so easy to hide the fact you are pregnant.” It’s also a mystery how no one noticed anything amiss when the Filipino woman was giving birth in the bathroom. —AP

NATO chief wants Russia to be included in plans to build an ‘inclusive’ missile shield

NATO, Russia to take stock of ties at New York meeting BRUSSELS: NATO and Russia will take stock of their warming ties when foreign ministers meet in New York today with missile defence, mutual threats and Afghanistan tipped to be on the agenda. The meeting of the

NATO-Russia Council on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly comes as the 28-nation Atlantic alliance waits for Russia to respond to an invitation to a summit in Lisbon on November 20.

GOTHENBURG: Demonstrators gather, in Gothenburg, south west Sweden, Monday, against racism and the far-right party that has been voted into pariament, following the results of Sunday’s national election. A farright group’s election breakthrough has shattered Sweden’s self-image as a bastion of tolerance, somehow inoculated against the backlash on immigration seen elsewhere in Europe. —AP

Swedish govt may yet get majority in final count STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s centre-right government stands a good chance of winning an outright majority after all when the final count including early ballots and postal votes is made this week, a senior academic said.

The preliminary result of Sunday’s general election left Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt’s centre-right alliance just short with 172 seats in the 349-member parliament after the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats won their first seats.

Reinfeldt noted on

Monday that he was beaten by just over 7,000 votes, when the tally of the centreleft opposition and the Sweden Democrats were combined, out of more than 5 million valid ballots cast on the day.

However Olle Folke, a Swedish political scientist at Columbia University, told public radio on Tuesday the counting of votes cast before election day and of postal ballots could change things back in favour of Reinfeldt’s coalition.

“There is quite a big likeli-

hood the Alliance will get a majority,” he said, adding there was a 50 percent chance of this happening if the distribution of other votes was the same as at the 2006 election.

The Swedish currency, the crown, appreciated against the euro despite the inconclusive election result, with investors focussing on strong economic fundamentals. It remained at near three year highs at 9.13 to the euro yesterday.

A spokeswoman at the election authority said rough-

NEW YORK: Abdullah Gul (L), President of Turkey signs a guest book before a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (R) during the Millennium Development Goals Summit yesterday at United Nations headquarters in New York. —AFP

ly 60,000 overseas votes remained to be counted. In addition, some of the ballots handed in at post offices rather than at polling stations had still not been counted.

Political leaders stayed behind closed doors, making few comments before the final count, which is usually conducted on the Wednesday after the election, but could be delayed until tomorrow, the election commission said.

Some of the uncertainty is due to the electoral system, which allocates seats according to a method combining both constituency and nationally allotted seats.

“If the outcome becomes more proportional than the election night result (which is probable), the Alliance will probably get more seats. The situation is tense since only three more seats are needed for a full majority,” Gothenburg University Political Science Professor Henrik Oscarsson wrote on his blog.

Another academic was not so sure.

“One is nearing the point where one must start reasoning around the idea there may be a minority government,” said Umea University political scientist Magnus Blomgren.

“But I don’t think they (parties) will draw any hasty conclusions and begin talks between the parties yet, but rather wait until the definite election result is clear at the end of the week, because things could still change.” —Reuters

“The foreign ministers could discuss the prospect of cooperation in anti-missile defence, the evaluation of common threats to their security and Afghanistan,” NATO spokesman James Appathurai told AFP. Russia’s ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, said the Russian national security council would examine the summit invitation announced

by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen last week.

NATO and Russia held their last meeting at the level of heads of state and government in April 2008 in Bucharest.

The Lisbon meeting would take place after NATO leaders hold their own summit in the Portuguese capital November 19-20.

Russia and Western nations remain divided over the disarmament of conventional weapons in Europe, the situation in Georgia following the August 2008 Russian-Georgian war and NATO’s eastward enlargement.

But the two sides have identified common interests in the face of threats such as terrorism, nuclear proliferation and drug trafficking as they gingerly revive ties that had sunk to a new low following the war in Georgia.

On the Afghan front, Russia cooperates in the fight against drug smuggling and allows the transit of supplies, except weapons, for NATO troops through its territory. NATO wants Russia to provide helicopters to the Afghan government.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said last week that NATO should invite Russia to cooperate on a missile defence system at the Lisbon summit.

The NATO-Russia Council was created in 2002 as a forum for the two former Cold War foes to hold a dialogue on security issues.

“The record of the past eight years shows how far we’ve come,” said Rasmussen, who has championed improved relations with Moscow since he took the helm of NATO in August 2009.

“We disagree every once in a while, and fundamentally on some issues, such as over Georgia,” Rasmussen said.

But he added: “We’ve learned not to let that overshadow the importance and the potential of this relationship, to make us all safer.”

The NATO chief wants Russia to be included in plans to build an “inclusive” missile shield.

“If Russia and other countries feel like they are inside the tent with the rest of us, rather than outside the tent looking in, it will build trust,” he said in Rome.

Anti-missile defence systems already in place within the NATO alliance fall under a US shield that has missile interceptors in the United States, Greenland and Britain.

Plans under the previous US administration for it to be extended into eastern Europe, notably with installations in Poland and the Czech Republic, drew strong protests from Moscow. —AFP

CHICAGO: This is a Tuesday, May 10, 2005 file photo of Sara Nelson Della Cruz, spokesperson for the Association of Flight Attendants as she talks to the media before a hearing at the federal courthouse in Chicago Illinois. United Airlines flight attendant Sara Nelson raised eyebrows in 2009 when she flew at eight months pregnant. She was legal, but looked more like she was ready to give birth at any moment. —AP

Somali PM Sharmarke resigns, insurgency rages MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke resigned yesterday, paying the price for the government’s failure to rein in an Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands of civilians.

Thousands of African Union peacekeeping troops have been sent to support the interim administration, but hardline militants now control much of the capital Mogadishu and huge swathes of the country’s south and central regions.

Politicians loyal to President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed quickly said Sharmarke’s departure would put an end to the internal divisions that have beset the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and slowed government business to a crawl.

Ahmed said he welcomed Sharmarke’s decision to quit and said he would nominate a new prime minister as soon as possible. It was not immediately clear who would be candidates for the post. Some Horn of Africa analysts, however, said the change of leadership would be seen as a propaganda coup by Islamist militants and change little as long as the divisions of power between the president and prime minister were poorly defined.

“This is an attempt by Ahmed and his allies to re-invent the TFG but this cannot be achieved by changing an individual, said Rashid Abdi, a Nairobi-based Somalia analyst at the International Crisis Group.

“It is a problem with the hybrid system (of governance) which ... is supposed to bring checks and balances but Somalia’s culture of a strong leader lags behind that system.”

Abdi said the beleaguered Ahmed, a former

Islamist rebel, was looking for a scapegoat as he tried to reassert his authority over a brittle administration and disillusioned nation.

The Sufi militia group Ahlu Sunna Walijamaca, which earlier this year signed a power-sharing deal with the TFG, warned Sharmarke’s departure would only worsen the insecurity.

Flanked by Ahmed, the outgoing Sharmarke said he was stepping down in the light of the crisis within government and escalating violence in Somalia.

Last week, Ahmed criticised Sharmarke for failing to resolve the conflict and said numerous cabinet reshuffles had yielded no improvements.

“This could be a good opportunity for the transitional government. It could generate new political capital if the new PM is competent and gains the support of the Somali people,” said Afyare Elmi, a Somali professor of politics based in Dohar.

Whether the leadership shuffle steadies the interim administration, whose mandate is expected to expire in August 2011, will depend on who replaces Sharmarke, a diplomatic source said.

The al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants have stepped up their offensive to topple the government in the last six weeks. A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the presidential palace compound on Monday night, wounding two peacekeepers.

The rebels have used suicide bombers to devastating effect over the past two years, killing five government ministers and dozens of AU peacekeeping troops. Al Shabaab was also behind attacks in Uganda in July that killed at least 79 people. —Reuters

Romania, Britain, Germany see European future for Moldova BUCHAREST: Europe ministers from Romania, Britain and Germany yesterday said there was a European future for Moldova and called on Russia to help solve the conflict in the breakaway region of Transdniestr.

“There is a European welcome and a European future for Moldova if that is the course its people wish to take,” British minister for Europe David Lidington said at a press conference in Bucharest.

Lidington, who made a two-day trip to Moldova along with his German counterpart Werner Hoyer, said the visit “sought to demonstrate the importance which both our governments give to the process of democratic and economic reform in Moldova.”

While he recognized the “difficulties and obstacles” to which the ruling democ-

ratic forces are confronting there, he said he was “optimistic” ahead of the elections scheduled in November, after a constitutional referendum was declared invalid earlier this month.

Lidington and Hoyer said they hoped that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit in December in the Kazakh capital of Astana would lead to progress on the issue of Transdniestr.

Russian troops are still stationed there, despite Moscow’s commitment to withdraw them, under a treaty signed in 1999.

The Russian-dominated province of Transdniestr declared independence from Romanian-speaking Moldova in 1990, but it has never achieved international recognition.

“The United Kingdom looks to the Russian government to demonstrate that its promise of cooperation and goodwill is meaningful in practice,” Lidington said.

“Progress on Transdniestr would be a wonderful signal for future cooperation with Russia in difficult security fields,” Hoyer added.

Romania’s minister for Europe Bogdan Aurescu called for the resumption of negotiations on the separatist region in the “5 + 2 format” (Moldova, Transdniestr, Russia, Ukraine, OSCE, plus the US and the EU as observers).

He said that this was the “only formula likely to lead to a viable solution while preserving Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” —AFP

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Wisconsin governor says he’s troubled by ‘sexting’ DA MADISON: The governor of Wisconsin, who made a long political career as a no-nonsense prosecutor standing up for victims, now must deal with what to do about a district attorney caught sending racy text message to a domestic abuse victim.

Jim Doyle, governor of the midwestern US state, said Monday he would start the process to consider removing Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz and he hopes to make a decision in a month. Doyle, speaking at a news conference five days after The Associated Press reported the messages, said any prosecutor who had behaved that way on his watch would have faced repercussions.

“I consider this to be a very, very, very serious issue,” said Doyle, a former district attorney and attorney general.

“It’s one that personally strikes to a lot of things I have worked very hard on in my career: crime victims’ rights and domestic violence. It troubles me deeply that somebody turns to the criminal justice system for help and receives the kinds of texts we have seen.” The two-term Democrat said that, as soon as he received a complaint from a local taxpayer required under the law, he would hold a public hearing, and make a decision on whether to remove Kratz. He promised to move “very, very quickly.” Kratz has acknowledged sending 30 text mes-

sages in three days last year to a woman while he was prosecuting her ex-boyfriend in an abuse case. In the messages, Kratz asked whether the woman was “the kind of girl that likes secret contact with an older married elected DA,” and called her a “tall, young, hot nymph.” Doyle also made public a letter sent last week from a second woman who says Kratz abused his position in seeking a relationship with her earlier this year. The woman claims she met Kratz through an online dating site and eventually went out to dinner with him.

The woman said Kratz talked to detectives about a high-profile missing woman investigation in front of her.

She said he later invited her to the slain woman’s autopsy “provided I act as his girlfriend and would wear high heels and a skirt.” Doyle called Kratz’s behavior related to the autopsy “unimaginable” if true. “To have an autopsy be used as a premise for a social engagement is just beyond anything anybody could imagine,” Doyle said. Kratz, 50, apologized for the text messages last week and said he would get therapy. He announced Monday that he was going on medical leave indefinitely. He did not return phone messages seeking comment on the second woman’s claims.

Kratz has rejected calls to resign.

He has been the district attorney in the

rural eastern Wisconsin area since 1992. He is not up for re-election until November 2012. His attorney, Robert J. Craanen, said Kratz was not charged with a crime, did not violate rules governing attorney conduct and has been a successful prosecutor for 25 years.

“This is just a really inappropriately bad mistake by this DA after many years of commitment to the community,” Craanen said. “It’s got nothing to do with evidence, with misdoing, he was never charged with anything. ...

He’s the first to admit this was quite a mistake, but it shouldn’t really define his career.” According to records obtained Monday by AP, Kratz started sending the texts minutes after he told

the woman, Stephanie Van Groll, he was considering reducing the charge against her ex-boyfriend — a move she did not support. Kratz was prosecuting Van Groll’s ex-boyfriend, Shannon Konitzer, for felony strangulation and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Authorities say Konitzer grabbed her by the neck and threw her to the ground in a jealous rage, got on top of her and strangled her with both hands. She eventually got away and called police. Van Groll told state investigators the text messages started coming after she met with Kratz to be interviewed about the case. She said she thought it was odd he asked at the end whether she would mind if he

reduced the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor, according to the Division of Criminal Investigation records.

Van Groll’s attorney, Michael Fox, said the discussion of a lesser charge gave the subsequent text messages greater impact. Van Groll told police she felt pressured to bow to Kratz’s wishes or worried he’d retaliate.

“She was frightened that, to the extent she didn’t at least be civil to this district attorney, that charge might be lessened and her greatest fear was that it would be dropped altogether,” Fox said. “Whether intended or not, it amplifies the harmful nature of the statements he made to her.” —AP

Journalist granted political asylum in US

Mexico govt rejects drugs war truce call MEXICO CITY: Mexico’s government has scoffed at the idea of a truce in the country’s drugs war after a newspaper which has seen two of its journalists shot dead pleaded with the cartels to name their terms. President Felipe

NEW YORK: Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa, left, meets with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New York, yesterday. —AP

Igor skirts east Canada, Tropical Storm Lisa forms MIAMI: Hurricane Igor raced past the southeast tip of Newfoundland in Canada yesterday, buffeting offshore energy operations, while Tropical Storm Lisa ambled in the far eastern Atlantic after forming as the 12th named storm of the busy 2010 Atlantic season.

A hurricane watch was in effect for part of the coast of Newfoundland. Igor whipped up winds and waves and brought rain to the Grand Banks region, where offshore oil platforms are located, but it was not expected to cause damage to facilities designed to withstand extreme weather.

At the other end of the Atlantic, Lisa, carrying top sustained winds of 45 miles per hour (75 kph), was moving slowly northwards about 530 miles (850 km) west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands and posed no immediate threat to land or energy assets.

Meteorologist Jeff Masters of private US forecaster Weather Underground predicted in a blog posting that Lisa was not likely to intensify into a

hurricane or threaten land.

Igor, which has been a large hurricane and over the weekend pounded Bermuda on its northwards path, was still packing winds of 75 mph (120 kph) as it sprinted northeast at 46 mph (75 kph), the US National Hurricane Center said.

The center added that forecast models showed Igor gradually weakening as it moves closer to Greenland further north.

Forecasters were also closely watching a tropical wave in the southeastern Caribbean that was producing showers and thunderstorms over much of the Windward Islands as it moved westwards.

Although the hurricane center gave this a low chance for the moment of becoming a tropical cyclone, Masters called it “potentially dangerous” and said it could develop into a Caribbean tropical storm or hurricane late this week.

But it was too early to say with certainty what its eventual path might be. —Reuters

HOUSTON: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White, center, is greeted as he arrives at the Arab-American Voters forum yesterday, in Houston. —AP

Bid to end ban on gays in US army before Senate WASHINGTON: Senators were yesterday taking up a bid to lift a ban on gays serving openly in the US military, after a plea by pop sensation Lady Gaga not to bog down the move with political maneuvering.

The call to repeal the controversial policy, known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” has been attached to the annual military spending bill, with the Senate to vote later Tuesday on formally opening debate on the legislation.

The rule requires gay military personnel to hide their sexual orientation or face dismissal-an approach critics charge has harmed US national security by forcing out some 14,000 qualified, committed troops.

Lady Gaga on Monday threw her full star power behind the efforts to repeal the 1993 policy-a compromise introduced by former president Bill Clinton-at a rally which drew several hundred

people in Portland, Maine.

“Equality is the prime rib of America,” she told the crowd.

“But because I’m gay I don’t get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat my country has to offer.”

“I’m here because ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is wrong, it’s unjust, and fundamentally it is against all that we stand for as Americans.”

She targeted the northeast US state of Maine, home to moderate senators Olympia Snow and Susan Collins, hoping to persuade them to break with the Republican party and vote with the Democrats.

With less than two months before November mid-term elections, polls show overwhelming US public support for ending the ban.

But some opponents have vowed a pitched battle in the US Congress, and Tuesday’s first key hurdle-a vote to open the debatelooked likely to be close.

Leading Republican senator John McCain has threatened to use a parliamentary delaying tactic known as a filibuster to halt proceedings indefinitely.

Democrats would require 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate to overcome the filibuster.

McCain, a former naval officer with strong ties to the military, has said he is not opposed to ending the ban, but does not want it repealed before a study is conducted on its impact on military effectiveness and morale.

“It’s the most politicized defense bill I have ever seen,” he told reporters Monday, adding: “I encourage the debate and discussion.”

“But to use the defense bill that has to do with defending our national security interests when we’re in two wars to pursue a social agenda and a legislative agenda to galvanize voting blocks I think is reprehensible.” —AFP

“It simply is not appropriate in any way shape or form, for any party to try to make agreements with, promote a truce with, or negotiate with criminals,” Alejandro Poire said on Monday.

In its front-page editorial, the El Diario de Juarez said the cartels should lay down its rules on what should appear in the papers.

“You are the de facto authority in the city now,” the editorial said, referring to warring drug cartels that have killed over 2,000 people in Ciudad Juarez alone so far this year, despite the presence of some 4,500 federal police and military.

“We ask you to explain what you want from us, what you want us to publish or stop publishing.”

The editorial was prompted by an attack by unidentified gunmen on two El Diario photographers last Thursday. One of the victims, 21-year-old Luis Carlos Santiago, died and his colleague Carlos Sanchez was seriously wounded.

Santiago was the second journalist from El Diario to be killed in less than two years.

Mexico is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists, according to rights groups.

More than 30 journalists have been killed or gone missing as violence has surged since Calderon launched a military crackdown on organized crime in 2006, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

According to a report by LaPolaka.com, the US government has granted political asylum to Mexican reporter Jorge Luis Aguirre, who has been living in exile for two years in El Paso, Texas, after receiving threats on his life, which he attributed to authorities from the border state of Chihuahua.

It would be the first instance of a Mexican journalist given US political asylum, according to the media outlet. The US embassy in Mexico City told AFP it could not confirm the information because the case was confidential.

The spike in violence has caused many newspapers to censor coverage of the brutal drug war, sometimes omitting the names of cartels or ignoring certain attacks.

The Sinaloa and Juarez cartels are engaged in a bitter fight for control of this city of 1.3 million across the border from El Paso, Texas, one of the main points of entry for illegal drugs into the United States.

Some 28,000 people are believed to have died in drug gang-related attacks since 2006. —AFP

Calderon’s spokesman for security matters insisted there could be no negotations with criminals after a Ciudad Juarez-based newspaper said it regarded the drug lords as the northern city’s effective rulers.

TEGUCIGALPA: Firefighters surround a cab with its killed driver after part of the stands of Tiburcio Carias Andino national stadium fell off, in Tegucigalpa, yesterday. At least one person was killed, six were injured and six vehicles were destroyed after the main sports infrastructure of the country collapsed due to heavy rains. —AFP

FBI overstepped in probing terror links after 9/11: Review WASHINGTON: The FBI overstepped its authority in investigating left-wing domestic groups after the September 11, 2001 attacks and then misled Congress about its actions, an inspector general’s report said Monday.

The report said the FBI improperly used the cover of “terrorism” to investigate a number of domestic activist groups from 2001 to 2006 including Greenpeace, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the pacifist Thomas Merton Center.

The Justice Department inspector general’s report, requested by Congress four years ago, said the FBI classified these investigations as “domestic ter-

rorism cases” but had little to back this up.

It said this was based on “potential crimes” including trespassing and vandalism “that could alternatively have been classified differently.”

The report also said the FBI “made false and misleading statements to Congress” about the investigations including surveillance of an anti-war rally, and said that the agency should review whether “administrative or other action is warranted” for this.

The inspector general concluded that these were a number of specific cases rather than a bureau-wide policy.

“The evidence did not indicate that the FBI targeted any of the

groups for investigation on the basis of their First Amendment activities” or expressed political beliefs, the report said.

“We concluded that in several cases, the FBI predication was factually weak and in several cases, there was little indication of any possible federal crime as opposed to local crime.”

It said that the FBI went to observe a 2002 protest by the Merton Center, a group based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that says it is dedicated to peace and social justice.

“We found no evidence that the assignment was made pursuant to a particular investigation or in response to any information suggesting that any particular ter-

PANAMA CITY: Weapons seized during a police operation last Saturday and Sunday are displayed at the police headquarters in Panama City, Monday. During the operation 550 kilograms of cocaine and 14 weapons were seized and 6 people were detained. —AP

rorism subject might be present at the rally,” the inspector general stated.

“The FBI stated in a press response and (FBI) Director (Robert) Mueller stated in congressional testimony that the FBI’s surveillance at the event was based on specific information from an ongoing investigation and conducted to identify a particular individual. These statements were not true.”

The American Civil Liberties Union said the report showed the FBI “improperly spied on American activists involved in First Amendment-protected activities and mischaracterized nonviolent civil disobedience as terrorism.”

ACLU policy counsel Michael German said the FBI “has a long history of abusing its national security surveillance powers, reaching back to the smear campaign waged by the American government against Dr Martin Luther King.”

He added that “we are all in danger of being spied on and added to terrorist watch lists for doing nothing more than attending a rally or holding up a sign.”

FBI spokesman Paul Bresson said however that the lengthy review “did not uncover even a single instance where the FBI targeted any group or any individual based on the exercise of a First Amendment right.”

Bresson added that the report “disagreed with a handful of the FBI’s investigative determinations over the course of six years, (but) it has not recommended any significant modifications to the FBI’s authority to investigate criminal conduct or national security threats.” —AFP

10

INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Thai schools caught in Muslim insurgency BANGKOK: Schools are set ablaze and teachers are murdered by Muslim insurgents in southern Thailand partly because soldiers use the schools as military bases that turn them into targets, according to a human rights report released yesterday.

Some teachers protect themselves by carrying guns and in some cases are provided bullets free of charge by local authorities in Thailand’s restive south, Human Rights Watch said in a 111-page report on how the insurgency by Muslims who apparently want their own state affects schools. The New York-based group called on the Thai government to prohibit the military from occu-

pying school grounds, saying that sending troops into schools creates an “immense disruption” to children’s education and can put students in danger.

The Muslim insurgency that flared in 2004 has left at least 4,200 people dead in Thailand’s southernmost provinces. The three provinces affected by the insurgency — Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat — are the only Muslim-majority areas in the predominantly Buddhist country. The violence has resulted in 327 arson attacks on government schools and left at least 135 teachers and school workers dead, the report said. “The insurgents’ practice of shooting teachers and burning schools shows

incredible depravity,” said Bede Sheppard, the group’s senior Asia researcher for children’s rights. “It’s cruel and immoral and robs children of their education and their future.” Public school teachers are viewed by insurgents as government collaborators who impose Buddhist culture through the school system. They are targeted along with soldiers, civil servants and local officials. The southern insurgents have made no public pronouncements, but are thought to be fighting for an independent Muslim state. Their attacks — which include drive-by shootings and bombings — are believed intended to frighten Buddhist residents into leaving the southern

provinces.

“Being a teacher in southern Thailand really means putting your life on the line and (on) the frontlines of the conflict,” Sheppard said.

Students interviewed by the group’s researchers expressed fear that “the presence of security forces would invite an attack by the insurgents and there would be students or the teachers caught in the middle,” Sheppard said. Teachers are provided military escorts to and from school, but an attack earlier this month prompted teachers to request round-the-clock security. On Sept. 7 a husband and wife, both teachers, were shot and

killed in Narathiwat province during an early morning ride to a market, becoming the latest victims of educating children in the danger zone. The deaths prompted several schools in the province to shut for several days.

Other disruptions to students’ lives and education occur when schools are burnt down and children are required to study in tents that become stifling hot in the tropical heat, Sheppard said.

Apart from targeted assassinations, teachers have also been harassed through the use of pamphlets, anonymous telephone calls and, in one incident, the placing of a bounty on one teacher’s head, Sheppard said. — AP

China slams arrest of boat captain as ‘illegal’

China rejects fence-mending meeting with Japan’s premier BEIJING: China yesterday ruled out prospects for fence-mending talks betw een its premier a nd Ja pa n’s leader this w eek in New York as the w orst diplomatic crisis in years between the Asian pow ers deepened. J apan urged a ll players in the dispute-sparked by the arrest of a Chinese boa t ca ptain w hose traw ler collided with tw o Japanese

vessels in disputed wa ters-to a void resorting to “extreme nationalism”. China has denounced the capta in’s arrest a nd repeatedly dema nded his unconditiona l relea se, summoned Tokyo’s ambassa dor no few er tha n six times, and called off several officia l visits a nd planned negotia tions.

HONG KONG: Taiwanese veteran soldiers and anti-Japan protesters hold banners reading: “National Crisis,” top, and “Protect Diaoyu Islands” during a demonstration in Hong Kong yesterday. Japan warned yesterday against fanning “extreme nationalism” in a diplomatic standoff with China over the detention of a Chinese fishing captain after his boat collided with Japanese vessels near disputed islands. — AP

Indonesia hunts terror suspects after deadly raids MEDAN: Indonesian police said yesterday they were hunting terrorists who escaped a series of raids on the weekend targeting a group blamed for a spate of holdups carried out to fund future attacks. The country’s USbacked anti-terror police shot dead three suspects and arrested 15 others in operations Sunday on Sumatra island as part of ongoing investigations into bank robberies and terror-related activity.

Police said agents opened fire and killed two militants when they tried to use women and children as human shields after security forces surrounded a house in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra province.

A third terrorist was killed in a separate raid, police said. The operations also netted three kilogrammes (6.6 pounds) of TNT explosives and weapons including an assault rifle.

Members of the elite Detachment 88 counter-terrorism squad would remain in and around the North Sumatra capital, Medan, where 15 militants who escaped the raids were believed to be at large.

“We believe that they are still in North Sumatra province,” police chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri told reporters in Medan.

The Islamic militants are

linked to regional extremist network Jemaah Islamiyah and unidentified foreign groups that are plotting attacks in the mainly Muslim archipelago, police said.

The group was also connected to militants who were discovered training in Aceh province, northern Sumatra, in February, leading to the killing and arrest of scores of suspects.

Police said they were behind crimes including a bank robbery in Medan on August 18 in which heavily armed gunmen escaped with around 40,000 dollars.

“They committed the robbery to collect funds to buy firearms, grenades and other weapons to commit terror acts in Indonesia, especially North Sumatra,” Danuri said late Monday.

“We’ll continue to investigate but we suspect they’re supported by overseas networks,” he added when asked if there was a link to Al-Qaeda.

Wearing motorcycle helmets and using hand signals to coordinate their movements, 16 gunmen killed a police officer and wounded two guards during the Medan heist, the most spectacular of a series of recent armed robberies. Police said the thieves showed a level of training, discipline and ruthlessness that raised suspicions about links to terrorist groups. — AFP

JAKARTA: Indonesian militant suspect Bahrudin Latif, center, known as Baridin, who is also the father in law of slain terror leader Noordin M. Top, is escorted by plainclothes police officers prior to his trial at a district court in Jakarta, yesterday. Prosecutors demanded six years in prison for Baridin who is accused of harboring Top. — AP

Philippines rejects hostage phone hogging allegations MANILA: A Philippine radio station yesterday rejected accusations that its live interviews with a hostage-taker holding a busload of Hong Kong tourists had prevented a negotiator from contacting him.

Aquilino Pimentel, lawyer for Radio Mindanao Network, criticised an official inquiry’s call for three of its staff to be prosecuted for holding phone interviews with the hostage-taker. Eight tourists were killed in the fiasco.

The probe accused the radio station of monopolising the phone link to the hostage-taker and stopping a police negotiator from getting through to him to put forward a deal. The hijacker began shooting shortly afterwards.

“The interview by (radio reporter) Michael Rogas gave the hostages an extra few hours to live,” Pimentel, a former senator, told the station.

The official inquiry into the disaster, released Monday, also called for the country’s top three television networks to be punished, saying their reports allowed the hijacker to follow police movements on the bus television set.

The networks declined immediate comment on the inquiry, which recommended prosecutions against 13 people including police officers, government officials, and media employees deemed culpable for the bloodbath.

Media associations warned against charging journalists, saying this would result in journalists muzzling themselves.

“There is a risk here that journalists and media organisations may be made scapegoats,” the AsiaPacific office of the International Federation of Journalists said in a statement.

The inquiry’s findings also presented a scathing indictment of the police response to the August 23 hijacking, accusing the force of negligence, insubordination and failing to gather intelligence as the crisis unfolded.

Ex-Manila policeman Rolando Mendoza hijacked the busload of tourists in central Manila, aiming to force the government to give him his job back after he was sacked for alleged extortion.

Eight of the tourists and the hostage-taker were killed and seven other hostages were wounded after day-long negotiations broke down. The bungled police rescue bid was aired live on global television.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who headed the inquiry, said that her panel had recommended specific charges against the officials and broadcasters but that the type of charges were not being made public.

This would give President Benigno Aquino more leeway to act upon them, possibly rejecting charges or even seeking stronger penalties than those recommended, she said.

Retired national police chief Jesus Verzosa, one of the officials mentioned in the report, is confident that he will not be found liable, his spokesman Benjamin de los Santos said. —AFP

On the cultural front, China has now cancelled an invitation to about 1,000 Japanese youths to the World Expo in Shanghai, and two concerts at the Expo next month by Japanese pop band SMAP have been cancelled.

“Obviously the atmosphere is not suitable for such a meeting,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters, when asked if Premier Wen Jiabao and Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan could meet at the UN this week.

“The issue has severely hurt bilateral relations. In order to prevent a further deterioration of the situation, the key is that Japan should let the captain return immediately and unconditionally,” Jiang said.

“Japan should understand the situation clearly.” In Tokyo, top government spokesman Yoshito Sengoku emphasised the importance of keeping nationalist sentiment at bay, after small groups of antiJapanese demonstrators protested in three Chinese cities at the weekend.

“What is more important than anything is that government officials in charge should be careful not to arouse narrowminded, extreme nationalism in Japan, China and other countries,” said Sengoku, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary.

Striking a more conciliatory tone, he stressed that a healthy relationship between China and Japan was indispensable for Asia’s growth.

“We want to use all possible channels not to escalate the issue and to solve it for the sake of development in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region,” Sengoku told a regular news conference.

In a similar vein, Japan’s Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said: “We must not escalate this emotionally. We should stay cool-headed, not let this issue influence economic relations.”

The flare-up started with the September 7 collisions of a Chinese fishing trawler and two Japanese coastguard vessels near a disputed island chain that lies in rich fishing grounds and near possible oil and gas fields.

Japan arrested the captain, Zhan Qixiong, 41, early the next day, citing its domestic law. On Sunday, a court extended his detention until September 29, when he must be either indicted or released.

Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara on Sunday described the collisions as “gu-hatsuteki”, a Japanese word which can be translated as incidental or unforeseen-softer language than had been used before.

But Tokyo’s outspoken conservative Governor Shintaro Ishihara said he would nevertheless cancel a scheduled October 12-13 visit to Beijing when the Chinese capital hosts a forum of mayors from 45 cities worldwide.

“I won’t go. No matter what they (China) say about this, I won’t go,” he told reporters. Jiji Press reported he also likened Beijing’s strong reaction to the captain’s arrest to “what yakuza mobsters would do”.

China has slammed the arrest as “illegal”, and the dispute has highlighted broader tensions over the disputed island chain in the East China Sea, as a newly assertive Beijing flexes its diplomatic muscles.

Wen and Kan are due to meet separately with US President Barack Obama, whose government has called on China and Japan to resolve the issue through dialogue.

US Vice President Joe Biden on Monday sent a warm message to long-time ally Japan, stressing that Washington’s ties with Tokyo were at the centre of US foreign policy in Asia.

“There is an emerging relationship that we have to get right between the United States and China... frankly, I don’t know how that relationship can be made right other than going through Tokyo,” Biden said.

Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said the flare-up was “unfortunate” in light of efforts by China and Japan to repair relations in recent years.

“Good relations between China and Japan are in our interest.

It’s in the interest of everybody else in the region,” he said. — AFP

SYDNEY: Police block refugee supporters from entering the area where nine Sri Lankan asylum-seekers were threatening to jump off the roof of the Villawood detention centre during an immigration protest near Sydney yesterday. The protest follows the death of Fiji’s Josefa Rauluni, age 36, who leapt from a roof at Villawood after receiving deportation orders on September 20. — AFP

Protesting asylum-seekers threaten Sydney rooftop plunge SYDNEY: A group of asylum-seekers threatened to leap from the top of a Sydney detention building yesterday if their cases are not reviewed, in a tense standoff a day after a Fijian man plunged to his death.

Nine Sri Lankan Tamils had spent more than 24 hours on the steep-roofed, two-storey building at Villawood detention centre, which houses hundreds of asylum-seekers fleeing conflict and economic hardship, as darkness fell. An Iraqi and one other man of unknown nationality came down from the roof at about 4:25 pm (0625 GMT).

But the Tamils’ self-imposed deadline of 5:00 pm to take further action came and went, as the protest looked set to go into a second night. One of the Tamils came down from the roof after the deadline had passed, but the other eight remained.

Bala Vigneswaran of the Australian Tamil Congress, who knows the men and has been in contact with them, said they feared torture if sent back to Sri Lanka and had threatened to jump “if the worst comes to the worst”.

“Jumping is only a start,” he told AFP. “If that happens, people at the bottom will go out of control.” He said the protesters were deeply traumatised by Monday’s death of Fijian Josefa Rauluni, 36, who leaped from a roof in front of horrified onlookers shortly before he was due to be deported.

“Some of them talk about sacrifice for their brothers who are here, to show how committed they are and how worried they are about going back (to Sri Lanka),” Vigneswaran said.

TV footage showed protesters angrily remonstrating with negotiators as they teetered on the roof in windy conditions, while guards placed large blue cushions on the ground. Activists said four protesters deliberately slashed themselves.

Meanwhile, scores of demonstrators gathered outside the facility in the west of Sydney, and about 10 activists chained themselves up at the

city’s main immigration office in a show of support.

Australia has a policy of mandatory detention for asylum-seekers while their claims are processed, and generally holds detainees on remote Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

But increasing numbers of illegal immigrants arriving by boat-more than 4,000 this year-have forced the reopening of mainland centres, including Villawood which houses about 300 people.

On Monday, Fijiian Rauluni jumped from a different building at Villawood after earlier threatening suicide if sent back to the Pacific country while it remains under military rule.

“I would rather you put me on a raft and usher me down to the South Pole,” he wrote in a letter dated a day earlier, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“If you want to send me to Fiji, then send my dead body.” Activists said the incident had terrified fellow inmates, who are usually detained for months as their fate hangs in the balance.

“The first person I spoke to, he was a babbling mess and just ended up crying and wasn’t able to say anything other than ‘I saw it, I saw it, I saw it’ and just kept bawling his eyes out,” refugee advocate Brami Jagen told public broadcaster ABC. Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor described the death as a “tragedy” and said private security firm SERCO would provide a full report.

Vigneswaran said the protesting Tamils had been in Australia for about a year after fleeing ethnic conflict in their home country, and that they feared torture and death if sent back.

The men have reportedly refused food and water for more than 24 hours. Vigneswaran said their asylum claims were being processed.

Earlier this month, about 80 Afghan asylumseekers broke out of a centre in the northern city of Darwin to protest over conditions after days of riots blamed on Indonesian people-smugglers held at the same facility. — AFP

Philippines unveils three-year plan for troubled south COTABATO: The Philippines is to offer money and jobs to its militant-hit southern communities amid peace talks with Muslim rebels, an aide to President Benigno Aquino said yesterday.

The programme would give tens of thousands of war-displaced people access to basic infrastructure and health services as they rebuild homes, Aquino’s peace adviser Teresita Deles told reporters.

“We seek to close the gap between what happens on the negotiating table and what happens in the communities affected by armed conflict,” Deles said during consultations with development agencies in the southern city of Cotabato.

Deles said the government has already completed the list of its peace negotiating panel and is just awaiting word from Malaysia as to when it can host the resumption of talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Malaysia, a long-time ally of Manila, has been brokering the talks. “Hopefully between October and November,” Deles said when asked about the specific dates.

The 12,000-member MILF has been waging war for an independent Muslim homeland in the southern third of the largely Catholic country since 1978, in a conflict that has left some 150,000 dead.

The latest round of heavy fighting in August 2008 saw over 750,000 people displaced and nearly 400 people killed. About 60,000 people are still in evacuation centres or staying with relatives, relief workers said.

On the second day of the two-day “peace summit” in Cotabato, Deles said the government would put in place an employment guarantee scheme for one member of every

household affected by the conflict, while skills training would be offered to other adults.

She would not say how the programme was to be funded.

“As peace negotiations are pursued, the critical work on the ground-particularly in conflict-affected areas-resumes immediately,” Deles said.

“The recovery programme has a timeframe of three years... intervention of less than three years will not be enough, but more than this will not be sustainable,” she said.

“By January 11, we hope the programme will be in full blast.”

The MILF has agreed to take part in further Malaysian-brokered peace talks, but declined to attend Monday and Tuesday’s consultations-despite being invited-citing scheduling conflicts, organisers said.

MILF units have also been staging an increasing number of small-scale attacks on remote military positions in the south, including a Sunday offensive against an army detachment near Cotabato on the eve of the “peace summit”.

Apart from the security threats, Deles said unnamed political opponents of Aquino who have vested interests in the south may also try to sabotage the talks.

“The reality is, there are many personalities and parties who want to see the government fail,” Deles said.

Malaysian ambassador Ibrahim Saad, who also attended the consultations, said Prime Minister Najib Razak has vowed to fast-track the Manila-MILF negotiations.

“I think there is political will to get this done,” Saad said of Aquino’s fledgling government. — AFP

11

INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Afghan warlords hedge bets, contest elections JALALABAD: Dozens of candidates in Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections represent a party linked to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former prime minister with ties to al-Qaeda who is believed to be a mastermind of attacks on US troops.

Hekmatyar, thought to be in Pakistan, is the most feared and notorious of various warlords who supported candidates in last Saturday’s balloting. Observers allege they engaged in widespread intimidation and vote-buying. While analysts say it’s important to give such groups a way into the mainstream, they suspect warlords like Hekmatyar will use parliament seats to consolidate control over certain regions — setting the stage for more violence and possibly even civil war when international forces eventually depart.

A successful showing by warlord-backed candidates could also stymie attempts to root out corruption and find a consensus for talks with the armed opposition, both of which are necessary to pave the way for a US withdrawal. Nader Nadery, whose Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan sent thousands of Afghans throughout the country to monitor the vote, told The Associated Press “it is always good to have those who have been involved in violence enter into the political process.” But an impotent vetting process has let in candidates with blood on their hands and “who still have links to those armed groups,” he said, including warlords allied to Hekmatyar and others who fought bitterly against him.

Their bloody four-year civil war killed an estimated 50,000 people, mostly civilians, according to the Red Cross, and destroyed giant swaths of Kabul. It ended in 1996 when the Taleban took power.

In Hekmatyar’s battlefield history spanning nearly four decades, he has been an onagain, off-again ally of the United States. He was a key beneficiary of the US in the 1980s

during the fight against invading Russian soldiers. Osama bin Laden also came to prominence during that war, also with funding from Washington, funneled by Pakistan’s intelligence service.

Hekmatyar fled to Iran for five years when the Taleban took power, but after the Taleban’s defeat, he returned — some say to Pakistan — to wage a war to oust foreign troops from Afghanistan.

From their mountain hideouts, Hekmatyar’s men lay bombs, plant improvised explosive devices and shoot at Afghan and NATO soldiers.

But Hekmatyar’s men have also been fighting Taliban militants in recent months in eastern Nangarhar province, and Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar was said to despise him.

Earlier this year, representatives from Hezb-i-Islami held direct talks with President Hamid Karzai, who has been seeking ways to forge peace with his militant enemies as the Taliban-led insurgency enters its ninth year. Full preliminary results of the elections, in which 2,500 candidates sought 249 seats, are not expected until next month, so it’s too early to tell whether candidates from the Hekmatyarlinked Hezb-i-Islami party will be among the winners.

Hezb-i-Islami candidates, while renouncing violence, generally do not disavow their links to Hekmatyar. Most party members consider Hekmatyar their leader, if not officially, then in spirit.

Party candidate Fazil Mawla Laton said the only reason Hekmatyar isn’t the head of their officially registered party is “because he is out of the country. But we would hope that one day he will come back and he will be the leader.” Abdul Ghafur, another Hezbi-Islami candidate, said the party is headed

by Hekmatyar’s former deputy, Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, the economic minister in

KABUL: An Afghan election worker carries a ballot box at the warehouse of Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission in Kabul, Afghanistan yesterday. Dozens of candidates in Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections represent a party linked to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former prime minister with ties to al-Qaeda who is believed to be a mastermind of attacks on US troops. — AP Karzai’s government. He is considered one of Hekmatyar’s closest allies, although he too has publicly distanced himself from the Hezb-i-Islami founder.

Ghafur once fought alongside Hekmatyar, and this month four workers from his headquarters in the Nangarhar provincial capital of Jalalabad were arrested

by US special forces for alleged involvement in a roadside bombing. One is still in custody, according to provincial officials.

“There’s always the question of how and

whether the legal and insurgent wings have links, and then there is the Afghan assertion always that there is no such thing as an exHezb-i-Islami — once in, you are ideologically changed for life,” said Kate Clarke, Afghan-based senior analyst for the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent policy research organization.

“Hezb, in general, are everywhere, always,” she said. Christine Fair, a political scientist at Georgetown University’s Center for Peace and Security Studies, called the

parliamentary elections “an important chance” for groups like Hezb-e-Islami to exert political influence. Juan Zarate, a senior counterterrorism official in the administration of President George W. Bush, said he didn’t expect a political insurgency by Hekmatyar but that elections could provide a means of gaining local power. “Those with connections to him — past or present — are likely trying to take advantage of opportunities they see for power locally,” Zarate said.

Laton, who ran from Nangarhar province, said most of the dozens of Hezb-i-Islami candidates had waged “jihad” with Hekmatyar before the Taleban’s collapse in 2001. Laton joined Hekmatyar after graduating from Kabul University and has worked for the party’s information wing. The party’s widespread involvement in the election campaign underscored a growing sense of dread among Afghans about what their country will look like when Western military commitment ends. Afghan security officials say privately that they worry that the creeping political influence of insurgent groups like Hekmatyar’s will leave them vulnerable to retribution attacks. “The leaders are not honest with the people.

They just want power, and when the foreigners leave they will leave the parliament and start fighting each other,” said Rahimullah, a 27-year-old mechanic in the Afghan capital. Gen. Abdul Manan Farahi, former anti-terrorism chief, warned that Afghanistan would descend into chaos and civil war if the US and NATO move quickly to leave Afghanistan. “We know if the foreign forces leave today, of course, there will be a civil war again,” he said, arguing for another five years of international troop deployment to allow time for the Afghan National Army and police to develop into a capable fighting force.

Nangarhar Gov. Gul Agha Sherzai rejected reconciliation with either Hekmatyar or the Taliban. He said both are enemies of the country and blasted the notion of having former Taliban and Hezb-i-Islami members in parliament. “They are there just to take benefit for themselves,” he said in an interview Saturday with the AP. Rahimullah, the mechanic, feared a return to Afghanistan’s decades of warfare. “I really feel that civil war will start when the foreigners leave Afghanistan,” he said. — AP

Pakistan facing acute shortage of energy

China, Pakistan in talks on new nuclear plant KATHMANDU: A Nepalese woman carries her daughter dressed in the outfit of a Kumari - living goddess -during Kumari Puja rituals in Kathmandu yesterday. Around 504 baby girls under the age of nine from across the country were brought to the temple for mass worship and protection from evil and good luck in the future. Nepal’s oldest living Kumari, the living goddess Dil Kumari Shakya, 90, also attended the function. — AFP

Nepal’s ex-king barred from traditional ceremony KATHMANDU: Nepal’s government stopped the country’s deposed king from attending a traditional ceremony yesterday, the first time authorities have prevented the former monarch from taking part in a religious ceremony or making a public appearance.

Former King Gyanendra was scheduled to be blessed by a girl who is revered as Nepal’s living goddess to mark the beginning of a festival season, something he had continued to do even after being dethroned in 2008. Home Ministry spokesman Jayamukunda Khanal said the decision was made for security reasons, but he refused to elaborate.

Pro-democracy protests in 2006 forced Gyanendra to give up his authoritarian rule and restore democracy. Two years later, the Constituent Assembly voted to abolish the centuries-old monarchy and Nepal was declared a republic. Gyanendra was to be blessed yesterday by the Kumari, or living goddess, at the temple where she lives in the capital, Kathmandu. The blessing, which is made at the start of the week-

long Indra Jatra festival, is made to help ensure prosperity for the king and his subjects. The government decision was condemned by the former king’s supporters.

Rajan Maharjan, a priest at the temple where the Kumari lives, accused the government of striking at tradition and religion.

“These evil forces are trying to hamper the tradition and our right to religion. Only the kings are allowed to start the ceremony,” he said, adding that the people still believed kings are the reincarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu.

The Kumari is a young girl chosen through a series of ancient ceremonies and worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal. She is supposed to have perfect hair, eyes, teeth and skin, and have no scars, and cannot be afraid of the dark.

During the Indra Jatra festival, which is celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists, the living goddess is taken around the main parts of Katmandu in a wooden chariot pulled by supporters. Indra Jatra marks the end of the monsoon season and beginning of autumn. — AP

GARHI DUPATTA: Pakistani Kashmiri women mourn alongside the bodies of young school-children who died when a minibus plunged into the Jhelum river in Garhi Dupatta, 28 kilometres (17 miles) from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir yesterday. A school bus carrying up to 35 children plunged into a river in Pakistan-administered Kashmir yesterday, killing at least 15 pupils, an official said. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakista n yesterday implicitly confirmed it is holding talks with China to build a new nuclear pow er plant in the energy-sta rved South Asian nation. “We have an ongoing civil nuclea r cooperation agreement w ith China w hich is a ccording to our respective interna tional obliga tions for peaceful

purposes under the IAEA safeguards,” foreign office spokesma n Abdul Ba sit told AFP, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Wa ll Street Journal reported that China ’s main nuclear pow er company is in talks w ith Pa kistan to build a one-gigaw att nuclear power plant.

Pakistan’s atomic activities have sparked concern in the United States and India, which fear that nuclear material could fall into the hands of Taleban extremists operating near the Pakistani border with Afghanistan.

China has already built a 300megawatt nuclear power reactor at Chashma in Punjab province and another of the same capacity will be operational later this year or early next year, an official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

China has also been contracted to build two more reactors at Chashma, the official said. The Wall Street Journal reported that the state-run China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC), plans to export another plant to Pakistan.

“Both sides are in discussions over the CNNC exporting a one-gigawatt nuclear plant to Pakistan,” company vice president Qiu Jiangang was quoted as saying by the WSJ. In Beijing officials at CNNC had no immediate comment when contacted by AFP. Pakistani nuclear expert Shahidur Rehman told AFP that talks have been going on to acquire a new nuclear power plant from China.

Pakistan, facing acute shortage of energy, plans to produce 8,000 megawatts of electricity by 2025, he said adding that it would need Chinese help to achieve the target.

The United States has conveyed its concerns to Pakistan over the contracts for the third and fourth reactors at Chashma, saying such plans required special approval from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

The group brings together nuclear energy states that forbid exports to nations lacking strict International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

But the Pakistani official who did not wish to be named said the reactors do not require approval from the NSG. “They are under a memorandum of understanding signed before China joined the NSG,” the official said. China joined the NSG in 2004. Pakistan has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Pakistan says its nuclear power plants meet IAEA safeguards. The country is able only to produce about two thirds of its required electricity, and daily power cuts hit homes and businesses nationwide.

Power outages fuel discontent, have helped to cripple industry and have triggered violent protests, particularly in the sweltering summers.

Western fears about nuclear proliferation from Pakistan spiked when scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan confessed in 2004 to sending nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea, although he later retracted his remarks. Khan, who is revered by many Pakistanis as the father of the country’s atomic bomb, was pardoned in 2004 but continues to face restrictions on his movement. The United States has warned that he still represents a nuclear proliferation risk. — AFP

authorities to investigate the killings and order government forces to stop the use of lethal force against demonstrators.

Kashmiri separatist leaders met some of the visiting lawmakers on Monday, but they dismissed the twoday visit as grandstanding by the Indian government. A group of local residents assembled by local politicians met Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram yesterday in the town of Tangmarg, the scene of a massive protest last week in which security forces shot and killed at least six people. Despite a strong military presence in the area and an ongoing curfew, a group of protesters gathered on a highway outside the town and held up posters with anti-India slogans.

Other lawmakers were able to meet with local Kashmiris during a visit to a revered shrine in the region. “We plainly told them to stop atrocities in Kashmir and we want freedom from India,” said Ghulam Rasool, a local who spoke with the delegation.

Since 1989, a violent separatist insurgency and an ensuing crackdown

SRINAGAR: Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram (in white) and Jammu and Kashmir state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah (in tweed jacket) visit Tangmarg north of Srinagar yesterday.

Indian lawmakers visiting Kashmir cut short a hospital tour after being heckled by protesters and patients’ relatives demanding independence for the violence-hit Muslim-majority region. — AFP

Kashmiri protesters jeer visiting Indian lawmakers SRINAGAR: Protesters jeered a delegation of Indian lawmakers who made a hasty exit from a hospital in Indian-controlled Kashmir yesterday after trying to visit patients wounded in a crackdown on civil unrest in the disputed region.

The lawmakers are part of a group of 40 politicians from all major Indian national parties visiting the region to find ways to address long-standing demands for self-rule or a merger with predominantly Muslim Pakistan. The crowd met the politicians at the government-run hospital in Srinagar with chants of “Go India, go back” and “We want freedom” before police used batons to clear the area. Police detained at least two protesters, according to a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

The lawmakers were able to visit two patients before leaving. Kashmir has been rocked by widespread protests against Indian rule since June, with at least 106 people killed in clashes with security forces — mostly teenage boys and young men. Human rights group Amnesty International has urged Indian

by Indian forces have killed an estimated 68,000 people, mostly civilians, in Kashmir. The insurgency has waned in recent years, but street demonstrations have picked up.

On Monday, five members of the delegation met with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, all key separatist leaders, in the presence of journalists.

Geelani said talks with India could only be held if it accepts that Kashmir is an international dispute, releases all political prisoners and starts the withdrawal of hundreds of thousands of troops from the region. The lawmakers said they would formally convey Geelani’s proposal to the federal government.

Farooq and Malik proposed setting up committees comprising leaders from both India and Pakistan as a way forward in resolving the decades-old Kashmir dispute.

Kashmir is divided between the neighboring countries and is claimed by both. India’s did not immediately respond to the proposal. — AP

opinion

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

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issues

Land rights should be addressed in Pak

By Syed Mohammad Ali

P

akistan is presently caught in the midst of devastation on many fronts: floods, terrorism, sectarianism and street vigilantism. Yet there is another issue that is critically important for Pakistan’s stability: land rights, which are rarely given serious thought beyond Pakistan’s borders.

If the Pakistani government, with help from the international community and donor agencies, addresses this problem, they could take a strong step forward in reducing further suffering, as well as mitigating the risk of further destabilisation within the country.

This link between land rights and conflict is coming to the international community’s attention. A USAID brief issued earlier this year, “Land tenure and property rights in Pakistan”, asserts that the Taleban is keen to garner support amongst the poorer segments of the population who are angry over unequal distribution of land and unfair owner-tenant contracts in rural areas.

And a recently released Woodrow Wilson Center report warns of militant forces tapping into the anti-elite sentiments of poor Pakistanis to recruit new suicide bombers and further destabilise the country.

Where governments have failed to introduce land reform, time and again it has led to uprisings and civil war. Rural discontent fuelled the communist overthrows of regimes in Russia, Vietnam and China. And more recent conflicts in Sudan, Nepal, Zimbabwe, El Salvador and Peru further illustrate how discontent over land tenure and ownership can be used to incite ethnicand class-based violence.

The situation is similar in Pakistan.

Militant groups are exploiting deep resentment over glaring inequalities in property ownership rights to gain recruits and secure support for their cause.

Landlessness is an undisputable reason for poverty and hunger in the rural areas of Pakistan. Almost 70 per cent of the rural population owns no land, while a minuscule percentage of landowners control large amounts of cultivable land.

Under British rule, private property rights were given primarily to landlords in the Indian subcontinent to gain their support, and the laws of postindependence Pakistani governments continued to favour elite landholders, many of whom have become prominent politicians. It is unsurprising,

then, that attempts at land reform have been sporadic and ineffectively implemented.

Adding to this disparity is the fact that agricultural subsidies, improved irrigation benefits, access to fertilisers and improved seed varieties have also benefitted wealthy farmers in Pakistan disproportionately. The government’s inability to administer justice and provide basic infrastructure for clean drinking water, sanitation, quality education and healthcare result in an even worse standard of living for poor families in rural areas.

A sluggish economy, the energy crisis, ongoing conflict and natural disasters have also eroded the overall food security of the country. Nearly half the population in the country is estimated to be confronting varying levels of hunger, according to a Swiss study earlier this year.

US President Barack Obama’s National Security Strategy, which outlines the current US administration’s overall approach to security matters, claims that hunger can no longer be treated merely as a humanitarian issue, as it is also a direct cause of conflict. USAID and other major donors must therefore reassess how their pledged support to Pakistan can promote efforts that overcome the growing divide between the minority of haves and the majority of have-nots.

These organisations should consider focusing more attention on landless farm workers, who work in the fields and raise livestock but have no assets.

The Pakistan government must also recognise that top-heavy models of development have not trickled down to Pakistan’s poorest and most in need.

Although the situation looks dire, there is also an incredible opportunity right now to implement redistributive strategies using incoming international aid to help landless farm workers purchase cultivatable land, and bolster support services like microloan programmes that benefit these workers directly. National and international initiatives like these could go a long way in promoting more sustainable development, easing widespread discontent and financial disparities in the country - and helping create a more secure and stable future for Pakistan.

NOTE: Syed Mohammad Ali is a development practitioner and columnist for The Express Tribune and The Friday Times in Pakistan —CGNews

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

The changing generations of Syrians in Israel T he drive to Majdal Shams, the center of Druze life in the Golan Heights, is aesthetically spectacular. An expansive town on the rolling foothills of Mount Hermon, the view from Majdal Shams is full of green: apple and cherry orchards; expansive vineyards; Israeli army outposts; and grazing sheep. “On the other side of this mountain is Lebanon - here we are in Occupied Syria and down there is Palestine,” says 68-year-old retiree Abu Jabal Hayil Hussein. “They offered us Israeli citizenship and we refused, so we are considered temporary residents with Syrian citizenship. I am Syrian, I was born in Syria and I want to continue to be Syrian.”

While Majdal Shams has been on the Israeli side of the de facto border between Israel and Syria for over 40 years, one is hard pressed to find someone in Majdal Shams who has something nice to say about Israel. “Israel is a thief,” says Abu Jabal. “Israel is not serious about peace. We are Syrian Arabs under occupation and this situation can’t continue.”

Majdal Shams, the village featured in the award-winning 2004 film The Syrian Bride, is the largest of four remaining Druze villages in the Golan Heights: a lush, mountainous region in Israel’s northwest captured from Syria during the 1967 war. The rest of the Druze villages that existed before the war have been destroyed, or taken over

by Jewish Israeli villages like Neve Ativ, just a couple miles down the road.

“I was there when they built it,” says Dr. Nissar Ayoub, Director of the Majdal Shams-based human rights organization Al Marsad. “It was built on part of the cemetary of a Syrian village called Jubatha Izzeit. You could see bones in the bulldozers.”

Indeed, on the northern side of a small resort called Rimonim that is

located inside of Neve Ativ, one finds an overgrown Arab cemetary just beyond the pool. “More than 95 per cent of the population in the Golan was forcibly transferred out,” Dr Ayoub claims. “If Israel hadn’t ethnically cleansed the Golan, instead of having half a million refugees in Syria you would still have them in the Golan and the same problem as the Palestinians.”

There were some 150,000 Druze residents of the Golan Heights in 1967.

Today, the vast majority of the 18,000 or so that remain refuse Israeli citizenship. “Israel has a security problem,” says Salman Sakheraldeen, coordinator of Al Marsad. “It’s a settlement on someone’s land and you can’t live quietly in such a situation.” The center of Druze life in the region, Majdal Shams residents hold Syrian citizenship, often go to Syria for university studies, and consider the Golan Heights to be illegally occupied territory. “The Israelis who settled in the Golan will have to leave and it will be the Israeli government’s responsibility,” says Hussein.

“Some of us work with them in agriculture but there is no friendship beyond work relations.”

About half of the village’s income comes from labor for Jewish Israelis.

But residents claim that despite amicable relations with their Jewish neighbors, Israeli authorities treat them like second class citizens. “We built the roads, the schools, the water system,” says Sakheraldeen. “We pay local taxes but in return they just collect the trash and fix the roads once in a while.” “If the police are angry with the village they put checkpoints on the outskirts of the village and give people tickets,” adds Hussein.

The village is still reeling from an incident earlier this summer in which Israeli special forces raided the home of a local family. “My son Anas and I were

home when the police came with a search warrant,” says Muna Al-Sha’ar, sitting beside her 15-year-old son Anas.

“They said forced their way in and locked the door. There were nineteen of them and then another three joined.”

“They made a huge mess and beat up my son,” she alleges. “The phone rang and when Anas tried to answer it they smashed it and threw all the cables on the floor. They were drinking our water and breaking the glasses and they smashed all the lamps on the wall.

They even stole our two computers and stole two cellphones.”

“Then we started hearing firing outside and they closed all the windows,” Muna remembers. “If you use water with tear gas it burns your face so my son heard them telling each other in Hebrew not to touch the water. Then they told us to wash our faces.”

The incident caused an impromptu mass protest outside the family’s home. The police accused the crowd of imprisoning them in the house, while village leaders accused the police of unjustified aggression. Indeed, a police commander in the nearby Israeli town of Katzrin is said to have criticized the special forces for the way they handled the case. “They accused us of a relationship with the Syrian security services,” Muna says. “My former neighbor Midhat Saleih went to Syria and became a parliamentarian. I am still in touch with him. My son was studying in Damascus and knew him.”

Muna’s son Fida was arrested the same day at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport upon returning from overseas. Muna, her husband, daughter and other son were all jailed by the police. Fida and his father remain in prison, and the family now has no income. “It’s Israeli paranoia,” says Sakheraldeen of the raids. “Today for Israel, any Arab person is suspi-

cious. It’s just cheap hate.”

The Al Sha’aer family’s story mirrors those of many village residents, who claim Israeli police regularly accuse locals of being spies for Syria, or cooperating in some way or another with Syrian intelligence. “We are not spies and we are not a Syrian investigative unit,” Hussein says. There are many stories in Majdal Shams of people allegedly being arrested for just going to a demonstration. “My crime was the same as everyone else: we protested,” says a man named Busaid, who asked that his family name not be printed.

“There was no violence on the side of the protesters yet they arrested eighteen of us for six months. Hundreds of people in this village have been arrested for participating in demonstrations over the years. Our only crime is having an opinion.”

But while Busaid claims to have been arrested for simply sticking to his opinion, others admit to taking their opinions much further. Last month the village held a large march to mark the 26th anniversary of the imprisonment of Sudqi Almakit, who has spent over half his life in an Israeli prison. “We were a group of twelve arrested, and we were all sentenced to 27 years for militant resistance to the occupation,” says 45-year-old Bishir Suleiman Almakit, who was arrested along with his brother Sudqi 26 years ago. “It was for an action against the army - I don’t want to get into it, but my brother is the only one left in prison.”

But after a bit of pushing, Bishir, who was released last year, admits he and his brother were involved in militant activities. “We stole mines from the army’s ammunitions depots and mined the army roads,” he says. “The purpose wasn’t to kill a specific person, the purpose was to fight the occuptation and in a war soldiers die.” “Did

anyone die?” I ask. “I don’t know,” he answers. “They didn’t tell us.”

But spend more than a day in this expanding Druze community and one finds a bit less talk of occupation, police brutality and colonialist hegemony, and more talk of designer jeans, the best place to get a macchiato, Israel’s top universities and money. “I’m not a political person, all I can say is it’s fine living here,” says Ihab Zahoa, a 29 year old car assessment agent. “There’s no big money here but it’s like anywhere in the world - you can do whatever you want as long as you stay away from the country’s security. If you don’t make trouble nobody will bother you. “I don’t feel like I want to be in Syria because I was never there,” he says. “I was born in Israel so I cannot tell you if Syria is a better place or not, but the elders have seen both countries and they say Syria is better so that’s why they are demonstrating. The only problem is I can’t see my family and I miss them,” Ihab continues. “All my aunts and cousins - I don’t know them - so I just want peace and the ability to go there when I want and to be here when I want.”

While Israel grants special permission to some 150 to 200 residents of Majdal Shams to study in Syria each year, family unification, or the ability of Majdal Shams families to meet their relatives on the other side of what is for them an artificial border, is a major local issue. For decades families would meet once a week and shout to each other through megaphones at the ‘Valley of Tears’, a depression between two opposing hills known by Israel as ‘The Shouting Hill’. Today cellphones, Internet and family reunions in Jordan or Turkey have taken over, and the Valley of Tears is only used for the occasional joint protest. —Media Line

Optimism, worries amid new rush to tap oil in West

By Mead Gruver

A

well named Jake and a controversial drilling technique are fueling a Western oil rush, raising hopes for economic revival and questions about the environment - and who’s going to share in the wealth. Not many wells have been drilled yet, but just about everything else is in place for an oil boom in eastern Wyoming, northern Colorado and western Nebraska, where the Niobrara Shale and its hard-to-tap crude lay nearly 3 km underground.

Preliminary work is under way to map underground geological formations to figure out the best places to drill. Oil prospectors are poring over courthouse records to see who holds mineral rights so they can negotiate deals.

Companies large and small are betting millions that the Niobrara holds gobs of recoverable oil like the similar - and booming - Bakken Shale field in western North Dakota. With oil money leading the way, North Dakota has coasted through the recession with 3.6 percent unemployment, lowest of any state, and a budget surplus of over $500 million.

Wealth like that could transform Cheyenne, a wind-swept state capital with too many vacant old buildings, and other parts of the exploration area with more jobs, more tax revenue and bustling support businesses. Surely everyone is excited, right?

Not exactly, not with so many questions still to be answered. “I’ve got mixed emotions about it, really. In the

A rig drills an oil well for Rex Energy about 15 miles east of Cheyenne on Aug 4, 2010. —AP past, it’s just been a farmer community,” farmer Todd Martin said as he unloaded wheat from a truck to a bin in Carpenter, a town with dirt streets and maybe 100 people 40 km southeast of Cheyenne.

“It’s going to change some people’s lives, if they hit.” Hardly anyone outside the industry talks about the oil rush for long without mentioning, apprehensively, the Gulf of Mexico catastrophe. Such a difficult-to-end spill would be hard to imagine happening here.

That doesn’t mean an oil boom couldn’t create a booming headache.

Even minor spills would be a very upclose-and-personal problem for homeowners, particularly in the wide ring of

fairly new homes on some lots surrounding Cheyenne. “That Gulf deal makes you a little uneasy,” said Paul Terry, a former Oregon logger who moved to his house on 4 hectares north of Cheyenne a couple years ago. “If I had them messing with my stuff, I’d want some ground rules. I’m not against it, but I’m not saying give them a free hand.” He said three companies have approached him in the last few months about possibly drilling beneath his property. As in the Bakken, drilling in the Niobrara wouldn’t be profitable without hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which some have blamed for groundwater contamination. It involves

pumping a pressurized mix of water, sand and chemicals underground to crack open fissures and improve the flow of oil or gas.

The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in June passed a range of tougher state rules for oil and gas drilling, including fracking. Martin said he researched fracking online and believes it’s probably safe enough for his farm on the ColoradoWyoming line. “If they cut corners, then sure, it can contaminate the groundwater,” he said. “You hope they do it the way they’re supposed to.” The situation is complicated by the fact that many people don’t own the rights to minerals beneath their land. Whoever does has a right to put an oil well in your yard, with or without your permission, and doesn’t have to share the profits - just the pollution.

Even among those who own their minerals, not all are daydreaming much about getting rich. “Beverly Hillbillies, rags to riches, we’ve got oil? Not necessarily,” said Diane Bishop, who owns 28 hectares near Cheyenne. She and her husband, Rick, who are moving here from Texas and plan to build a log home on their land later this year, own the mineral rights beneath half of their property. “We’ll be lucky to get enough money to pay the taxes on our property out there,” Bishop said. Companies intend to drill not only downward to the Niobrara but also horizontally, sometimes half a mile or more, after reaching the formation. That means one well

could cross beneath several properties.

Anyone who owned less than a substantial chunk of land - upward of a square mile - would have to divvy up royalties with at least one and possibly several neighbors.

Big-time landowners, mainly cattle ranchers who own their minerals, would be in the best position to strike it rich. All of this speculation began with Jake. The well in far northern Colorado was yielding 1,770 barrels of oil a day eye-popping production for this region after it was drilled and fracked for Houston-based EOG Resources last fall. Jake’s production has tapered off significantly, as usually happens, but not before other companies took notice.

An old-fashioned land rush was on.

So far this year, more than 100 drilling permits have been granted in southeast Wyoming, far surpassing all previous activity in the area. Meanwhile, Wyoming has reaped a record $101 million since May by auctioning off rights to drill on state land, the vast majority of it in the eastern part of the state.

Nebraska and Colorado have set similar records. The big question is how much oil is down there, and all eyes are on the next wells to be drilled. As soon as this fall, they could show whether a wide swath of the Niobrara covering hundreds of square miles is likely to be as productive as the Bakken, said Bruce Hinchey, president of Petroleum Association of Wyoming. “If they come in pretty good, I think next year is going to be a barn-burner,” he said. —AP

analysis

Wednesday, september 22, 2010

13

Rousseff inner circle hints at pragmatic Brazil govt

By Stuart Grudgings and Natuza Nery

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razil’s presidential front-runner Dilma Rousseff is likely to choose cabinet ministers who are pragmatic, trusted by investors, and who broadly favor fiscal discipline, allaying concerns she might steer Latin America’s largest economy to the left. With Rousseff holding a dominant lead in polls ahead of the Oct 3 election, the capital Brasilia is already buzzing with talk of who will get key posts in the cabinet of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s former chief of staff.

The cabinet will have a familiar look to Lula’s, analysts and sources close to Rousseff say, sharing its preference for a strong state role in key economic areas such as finance, energy, and infrastructure. While public spending will be controlled, neither is the new government seen making market-pleasing cuts at a time when Brazil’s economy, on course to grow 7.5 percent this year, badly needs fresh investment in roads, ports and energy.

Rousseff, Lula’s former chief of staff, is seen as sure to recruit two men viewed by investors as crucial for keeping public spending and leftist elements in the ruling Workers’ Party in check. Antonio Palocci, Lula’s finance minister for three years until he quit over a bribery and sex scandal in 2006, has run Rousseff’s campaign and is widely expected to take an influential role in her administration.

As the architect of budget and debt cuts that helped tame inflation and bolster growth in the first years of Lula’s presidency, the 49-year-old former physician is seen as crucial to easing any market nerves over Rousseff, a former leftist militant.

The other key figure is Luciano Coutinho, the respected head of the

Brazil’s Workers party presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff holds up a cup of coffee at a coffee shop during a campaign rally in Rio de Janeiro Monday. —AP BNDES, Brazil’s state-run development bank. He was Rousseff’s economics professor, and sources say he is favored as finance minister. “As long as they are part of the mix it will help all of us sleep easier at night,” said Nick Chamie, RBC Capital Markets’ global head of emerging markets. What remains unclear is how the key jobs will be dealt out - something that could decide how strongly Rousseff moves to tackle growing market concern over loose government spending.

She is expected to make improving Brazil’s patchy infrastructure and dismantling bureaucratic obstacles to growth a priority, and will move to put ministries such as Mines and Energy and Transportation under the control

of the ruling Workers’ Party as opposed to other coalition parties.

“There is one clear goal in the mind of Dilma Rousseff in my view-invest to improve the country’s infrastructure,” said Alexandre Marinis, a political and economic analyst at the Mosaico consultancy in Sao Paulo. “The other goal is to continue what Lula did.”

Wall St favorite Palocci would be completing a remarkable comeback after he left government in disgrace four years ago, sparking a sell-off of Brazil’s currency. But the whiff of scandal that still follows him may mean that Rousseff prefers to keep him at arm’s length, some observers say. A case known as the “Garbage Mafia” in which Palocci was alleged to have received bribery money from a

trash collection firm in his home state of Sao Paulo is still running its way through Brazil’s legal system.

Rousseff and the Workers’ Party are also concerned about giving Palocci too much power, sources said.

The chief of staff job, seen as second only to the president in influence, could therefore go to Paulo Bernardo, the current planning minister. That could mean Palocci, who helped launch Rousseff’s rise to minister level by alerting Lula to her qualities, could be the government’s liaison with Congress, central bank president or go to the health ministry. The latter would fit his medical background and has a high profile in Brazil, but could raise concerns he is being distanced from economic policy.

“He clearly has her confidence but I don’t think he’s going to be an economic minister,” said Christopher Garman, a political analyst at Eurasia Group in Washington. “He will not be the face of her administration on economic policy. I think Luciano Coutinho is going to be the face.”

Coutinho, 63, is an advocate of a strong state role in industry and has presided over a doubling of state-subsidized loans by the BNDES since the financial crisis in 2008. But he is seen as a relative fiscal conservative who is concerned that Brazilian industry is being hurt by the strong currency.

“He is her dream finance minister,” one high-ranking source in the Workers’ Party said. But he may also face an obstacle becoming finance minister - namely the incumbent Guido Mantega, who is reportedly campaigning to stay put but could carry less clout than Coutinho would have in a Rousseff administration.

Central bank governor Henrique Meirelles, widely praised for navigating Brazil through the global financial crisis, is expected to be shifted to a ministry if his PMDB party, a partner in the ruling coalition, nominates him.

One rising star set for promotion is Secretary of Economic Policy Nelson Barbosa, who is close to Rousseff and has played a key role in major policy initiatives in recent years. He is one of several ministers who favors strong state intervention in key economic areas. Lula launched a harsh austerity program when he came to power in 2003, but Rousseff has denied reports she plans a similar entrance and even called such spending cuts “a crime”. “I don’t see her doing something similar to what Lula and Palocci together with Meirelles did in 2003,” said Marinis. “The market is not requiring it, the economy is not requiring it and the world is not requiring it either.” —Reuters

Fed mulls trillion-dollar policy question

By Kristina Cooke

H

ow much of a boost to the US recovery could another trillion dollars or two buy?

That’s a tricky question for the US Federal Reserve when it meets to debate what would warrant pumping more money into the financial system. To battle the financial crisis, the Fed bought $1.7 trillion of longer-term Treasury bonds, supplementing its pledge to keep interest rates near zero for a long time.

All told, it helped stabilize a collapsing financial system and to avert what could have been a second Great Depression.

Now, faced with a 9.6 percent jobless rate and below-target inflation, Fed policymakers are trying to gauge how much they could achieve if they resume massive quantitative easing. Few analysts expect the Fed to launch a new round of bond buying this week, and uncertainty over the impact of fresh moves may be a factor keeping the central bank on the sidelines. “I think part of the hesitancy of the committee to use quantitative easing a second time

around relates to views of its effectiveness,” said Vince Reinhart, a former Fed staffer.

At the Fed’s August meeting it decided to reinvest maturing mortgage-debt in Treasuries to keep its balance sheet steady, a move many analysts saw as a precursor to more easing. Proponents of a relaunch of large-scale bond-buying say it will help prevent inflation expectations from falling and spur growth by further reducing borrowing costs for consumers and businesses. Skeptics say the economic recovery has just hit a weak patch. They argue that more easing could be ineffective in helping the economy, potentially damaging Fed credibility.

An incremental drop in long-term yields may not be enough to force banks to stop hoarding safe-haven Treasuries and make loans to businesses instead, some analysts warn.

Some policymakers worry that more easing could fuel market imbalances or sow the seeds of sky-high inflation ahead. There is also the risk that the Fed spooks investors. “My own view is that any radical balance sheet program would be seen by

many as an act of desperation which would dampen business sentiment and depress non-financial borrowing even more,” said Wrightson ICAP Chief Economist Lou Crandall.

Fed bond purchases can have two effects. They can increase liquidity in strained markets and, by lowering yields, force investors to look for returns in riskier asset classes, helping to boost the supply of credit in the economy. In addition, some officials believe bond buying helps solidify trust among investors that the Fed will keep policy easy for longer, further helping to lower borrowing costs. The New York Federal Reserve Bank estimates that the $1.7 trillion of purchases lowered the yield on the 10-year Treasury note by between 30 and 100 basis points.

The estimate is based in part on the sharp drop in yields that occurred when the Fed first announced its large-scale bond-buying program. But this “announcement effect” approach does not show how yields acted over the course of the program and may not appropriately capture the impact,

analysts say. It is tough to gauge how much of a move in yields can be tied to the Fed’s actions after the fact, and it is also extremely difficult to predict the impact of another move. When it comes to the benchmark overnight federal funds rate, “you can come up with rough orders of magnitude of the impact, but with quantitative easing there is so much uncertainty, you can’t calculate it with any type of precision,” said Dino Kos, former head of the New York Fed’s markets group and a managing director at Portales Partners LLC. The success of the first round of purchases may have been amplified by the stressed nature of markets at the time, as well as the fact that the purchases were focused on the smaller, less-liquid agency mortgage-backed securities market. “If you show up and purchase assets when markets are stressed, you are not pushing back against much conviction so you can move prices more easily,” said Reinhart, the former Fed staffer. To get a significant effect in the Treasury market where any new round of purchases

would likely be centered - could be harder, says Mark Gertler, a professor at New York University.

“Evidence suggests it would take a huge purchase of long-term government bonds, maybe the whole market, to really have any effect, and the effect would be quite uncertain.”

Rather than announcing such an eye-popping amount upfront, the Fed could decide to buy Treasuries in smaller steps, calibrated to the economic outlook at each meeting.

Forecasting firm Macroeconomic Advisors estimates each $100 billion in asset buys could lower the yield on the 10-year Treasury note by 0.03 percentage point. That is a marginal move that could go unnoticed, though if Fed buying helped nudge up the inflation rate it could get a bit more of a bang for its buck on real rates. Even a small amount of easing is not to be sneezed at, says Michael Feroli, chief US economist at JPMorgan Chase. “If you have a headache and only one aspirin left, do you decide not to take it because you wish you had two aspirins?” —Reuters

UK coalition looks set to survive storms

By Keith Weir

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ritish Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg urged his Liberal Democrat party this week to stick with a coalition government with the Conservatives for a full five years and his wish is likely to be granted. Analysts say it would be suicidal for either party to pull out of the coalition in the short term, when poll ratings are collapsing under the pressure of unprecedented spending cuts. However, they warn that the Lib Dems, the junior partner in a Conservative-led coalition, will ultimately be pushed back to the margins of British politics unless they stamp their mark on the alliance more clearly.

The centre-right Conservatives joined forces with the libertarian Lib Dems after an inconclusive election in May, an unlikely partnership that formed Britain’s first coalition in 65 years since World War Two. The coalition has made cutting a record peactime budget deficit their priority, with spending cuts of 25 percent in many departments to be unveiled next month. Lib Dem activists are queasy about the apparent zeal with which the party leadership has signed up to such cuts, worrying that the poor will be hit hardest by austerity measures.

However, media anticipating a mutiny at the party’s

annual conference this week have been disappointed. Most delegates were prepared to give the leadership the benefit of the doubt, pleased to have cast off decades of irrelevance.

“Clegg has been up front about the challenges ahead. We need to give it a chance and see how things are going 3 or 4 years down the line,” said JamesElsdon Baker, a 27year-old who joined the party a year ago.

Delegates voiced their opposition to the government’s plans for school reform, but dissent has otherwise been muted. “Expectations of a massive punch-up here were overblown,” said Andrew Hawkins of pollsters ComRes. The Lib Dems are polling only around 15 percent, down by a third since the election. Hawkins said he expected the Labour party, which lost power in May after 13 years in May, to overtake the Conservatives as the

leading party in polls soon.

He said neither coalition party could afford to scuttle the alliance while austerity measures were denting their ratings. “That pressure will keep the coalition together, to pull it apart would be mutually assured destruction,” he added. That analysis is shared by Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem deputy leader, who is seen as speaking for the left of the party. “We did a five-year deal. The deal is not for unstitching. Bluntly, it would not be in our interest to do so,” said Hughes, seen as a spokesman for the left of the party.

The Lib Dems gained support for their outspoken opposition to the Iraq War. They take a strong line on civil liberties and decentralisation and also talk tough on making banks pay for the financial crisis and helping the poor pay less tax. Worried by market jitter, the two parties put together the coalition agreement in just five days breakneck speed compared with long, tortuous negotiations in some continental European countries. Analysts note areas of disagreement over

the construction of new nuclear power stations and the renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system, both of which Lib Dems oppose.

The coalition faces a divisive referendum next year on reform to the voting system - a long cherished Lib Dem goal, but something the Conservatives will campaign against. The referendum is likely to be held in May to coincide with local elections in England and voting for devolved governments in Scotland and Wales. A poor Lib Dem showing and a referendum defeat would lead to intense soul searching about the merits of the coalition.

John Curtice, a professor of politics at Scotland’s Strathclyde University, said electoral reform would be a difficult issue but would not break the coalition. “My best bet is that they survive for five years,” he said. Clegg has ruled out a pact with the Conservatives at the next election, pledging his party will field its own candidates. Tim Bale, a political scientist at Sussex University, thinks the Lib Dems face long-term dangers, not least because the coalition structure makes it hard for them to claim credit for successful policies.

“The coalition agreement is very unusual in that it does not give them control of major ministries.

They have people dotted all over the place,” he said. He added that the coalition partners would diverge as the next election appears on the horizon. “In four or five years’ time, the Conservatives won’t be looking to throw the Lib Dems a lifeline.” — Reuters

focus

Third world Britain? It should be an aspiration

By Priyamvada Gopal

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ast week, when papal aide Cardinal Walter Kasper suggested that the pope’s plane would be landing in a “third world” country, he could have shown several precedents for this contemporary view of Britain. Heathrow has been described as a third world airport in the Daily Telegraph. The British National party’s website will guide you on the “third world colonisation of Britain”. As this recession began, the ever apocalyptic TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson identified Britain’s “useless” banks, late trains, clogged roads and complicated tax system as hallmarks of a third world country, prophesying that Britain would sink into “poverty as fast as the far east rises”.

In the US, the right has long lamented the dwindling from economic superpower to basket case - exemplified

by Pat Buchanan’s polemic, State of Emergency: the Third World Invasion and Conquest of America (as opposed, presumably, to the European conquest and extermination of Native Americans). But the trend has gone bipartisan. Third World America, the new book by the liberal Arianna Huffington, draws attention to the assault on the American dream of middleclass prosperity in “the slow slide to third world status”.

Huffington believes that a rah-rah recuperation of the forward-looking attitude encoded in the US’ “cultural DNA” - as opposed to third world defeatism - will “keep America a first world nation”.

It seems that “third world” has become little more than a term of abuse.

But this was not always so. It started life as a unifying rubric for a coalition of former European colonies unwilling to ally with either the western capitalist (first) or Soviet (second) worlds in the cold war.

As its usage expanded to encompass nearly all of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East, the noun morphed into an adjective that suggested darker peoples, malnourished children, dread diseases, broken infrastructure, failed states and corrupt leaders. The Bush administration’s failure to respond forcefully to Hurricane Katrina elicited accusations of third world governance.

From referencing economic inadequacies in the developmental hierarchy of global capitalism, “third world” was transformed into an index of cultural backwardness. Cardinal Kasper “might have had a point”, Sarah Vine of the Times believes, because by allowing cosmetic surgery Britain is failing to live up to the standards of a “sophisticated, civilised society” that protects women.

Applied pejoratively to nations accustomed to affluence, “third world” also betrays an outraged sense of entitlement. As long as widespread poverty was something in distant lands, it was a lamentable but acceptable part of the natural order, acknowledged by a few million in aid or a guilty goat at Christmas. Third world countries, like poor people everywhere, are assumed to have brought poverty upon themselves through selfdestructive behaviour.

Both aid for poor countries and welfare for the needy in the first world elicit the moralising charge of preying on guilt - or what the British deputy prime minister Nick Clegg calls a “giant cheque written by the state to compensate the poor for their predicament”.

Mainstream accounts of poverty deliberately avoid a historical understanding of

how the poor came to be poor, and structural analysis of the clear relationship between the concentration of wealth and the diffusion of deprivation.

In the postwar era, workers in affluent countries were afforded better living standards. The labouring poor in countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh and Kenya took the hit in sweatshops and fields as corporations roamed further afield to maximise profits from cheap labour and lax regulations.

Apparent miracles of globalisation like India’s economy are marked by corporate attempts to displace poor people from their land for mining or car factories.

Increased middle class prosperity has not eradicated chronic hunger, particularly in rural areas blighted by the suicides of farmers who lose out to agribusiness. Yet, as Indian billionaires climb global rich lists and millions of Americans head into mass unemployment, the poverty curtain separating third world squalor from everyday life in the first may be opening.

Real poverty, not so much absent as invisible in the west for decades, is becoming harder to ignore. A report published last week shows the sharpest increase in the US poverty rate since 1994, with one in seven now living in poverty. Kirsten Arianejad, a flight attendant, was recently fired for giving a television interview admitting that she, like many working people, used food stamps to make ends meet.

In Britain, the coalition government’s cuts will make for similar scenarios as household income for the poorest declines by 20 percent.

While it is politically impossible for poverty in the west to reach the scale of deprivation in even the bustling economies of India or Brazil, the brute material realities of a skewed economic system are coming home to roost. As governments use deficit hysteria to collude in protecting private profit above all else, neither nationality nor geography will ultimately provide safeguards. Though hardly a crisis of third world proportions, not even the American dream of private home ownership is safe, never mind the European welfare state.

Eliminated livelihoods, stolen savings and pensions, withdrawn social provisions and the privatisation of the planet’s natural resources all indicate an economic war waged by a wealthy global elite against everyone else.

Everyone is not in the same boat yet, but being poor won’t always be someone else’s destiny. In The Darker Nations: A People’s History of the Third World, the historian Vijay Prashad reminds us that, as liberation struggles won out over colonialism, the third world represented less a region than a positive aspiration. For many, including Pablo Neruda, Jean-Paul Sartre and Nelson Mandela, it was the possibility of a socially and economically just world.

The young Mandela called for a rejection of the continuation of imperialism by “big and powerful trade interests”. Beleaguered attempts were made to create a cooperative economic order giving poorer countries a greater say in their destinies. This vision was ultimately defeated and betrayed by some of its proponents. If we can recover something of it alongside Martin Luther King’s view that we only “civilise ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty”, then becoming third world may be less a nightmare than an idea whose time has come.

NOTE: Priyamvada Gopal teaches in the faculty of English at Cambridge University —Guardian

NEWS

14

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Guards get new missile Continued from Page 1 exaggerated as a “pretext for war,” during a New York meeting with US media owners and editors. “The United States doesn’t understand what war looks like. When a war starts, it knows no limits,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying in response to a question about any USsupported strike by Israel on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“The United States has never entered a serious war, and has never been victorious,” the Atlantic magazine’s online edition quoted him as saying. “Do you think anyone will attack Iran to begin with?” he said, according to the monthly’s website.

“I really don’t think so. The Zionist regime is a very small entity on the map, even to the point that it doesn’t really factor into our equation.”

The UN Security Council has imposed four rounds of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program and the United States and its allies have called for stringent application of the measures. The western powers accuse Iran of trying to develop a nuclear bomb. Ahmadinejad denies the

charge. He is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly as well as the UN summit against poverty and hunger.

The Iranian leader said he was ready for nuclear talks with US President Barack Obama’s administration, but said “the whole outlook has to shift”, ABC News reported. The UN sanctions had damaged the chances for an improvement in USIranian relations.

Ahmadinejad was again questioned about the killing of millions of Jews in Nazi death camps during World War II. He described it as “a historical event used to create a pretext for war”. “The question is, why don’t we allow this subject to be examined further.... It is incorrect to force only one view on the rest of the world,” he was quoted as saying. “We need to ask, where did this event occur, and why should the Palestinian people continue to suffer for it? I am not an antiSemite. I am anti-Zionism,” he said.

Ahmadinejad denied that Iran’s opposition movement faced persecution.

“Those individuals face no problems, no difficulties,” he said. “They are all free in fact.”

Ahmadinejad went on to give a chaotic speech at the UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals in which he blamed capitalism for the world’s ills but no one except the controversial leader and his delegation were really sure what he said. Ahmadinejad broke off one minute into his presentation to complain about the translation to the UN assembly presidency. The president carried on again but at the end, the UN interpreters said they were only “reading from a translated text” and not following Ahmadinejad’s comments.

The assembly hall was half empty, but Western delegations did not boycott the speech as they have done in previous years. According to the translated text, Ahmadinejad called for fundamental reform of “the undemocratic and unjust” world order. “Demanding liberal capitalism and transnational corporations have caused the suffering of countless women, men and children in so many countries,” he was quoted as saying. UN officials said that Farsi is not an official UN language and that Iran had not provided an official translator. — Agencies

DHAKA: Commuters walk across a floating boat bridge on the Buriganga river yesterday. Water hyacinth has hampered the movement of boats on the river so boats are tied together to form a temporary bridge. – AFP

Delhi Commonwealth Games in crisis Continued from Page 1 Other countries also voiced concern about the athletes’ village.

Commonwealth Games Scotland said the area allocated to the team was “unsafe and unfit for human habitation,” while Commonwealth Games England said “there is a lot to be done in the village and this needs to be done with some urgency so that it is ready for the arrival of our first athletes on Friday”.

Australia’s chef de mission, retired marathon runner Steve Moneghetti, said that Indian organizers “have got two days to do what’s probably going to take about two weeks”.

Thousands of workers have been labouring around the clock to finish sports facilities and the athletes’ village, as well as to clear up piles of building rubble that still litter large parts of the capital. At the main Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which will host the opening ceremony and athletics, a footbridge that was under construction collapsed yesterday injuring 27 labourers, four of them seriously, police said. The approximately 100-m bridge, previously suspended by cables from a large steel arch, fell down as workers were paving it, a witness told AFP near the crumpled sections of the structure. “I saw several people with bleeding arms and injuries on their bodies being taken away,” construction worker Zakir Hussein said.

The government blacklisted PNR Infrastructure, the company that was constructing the bridge, and ordered an investigation by a two-member committee, the Press Trust of India reported.

But building work for the games, expected to draw 7,000 athletes and officials from countries and territories mostly from the former British empire, has been severely delayed and doubts had already been raised about the quality of the construction. India’s chief anti-corruption body found a host of problems with construction work in a July investigation, including dubious contracts and the use of poor quality materials. The other main worry ahead of the games has been the risk of attacks by militant groups that target India, with anxiety raised at the weekend after a gun assault outside Delhi’s main mosque left two Taiwanese men injured.

Australian discus world champion Dani Samuels pulled out yesterday because of security and health concerns, her coach

was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press. “Dani is extremely distressed about it all,” Samuels’ manager Hayden Knowles told the agency. “The situation in Delhi has been bothering her for some time...But the events over the weekend made it real,” he said. Samuels, 22, won the gold medal in discus throwing in the 2009 World Championships in Germany. Other star athletes such as Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt have already decided not to attend.

The president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Michael Fennell, opened the criticism yesterday with a damning statement that said several nations had been “shocked” by the “seriously compromised” games village. The Indian organising committee attempted to reassure athletes. Lalit Bhanot, organising committee secretary-general and official spokesman for the games, said the village was “probably one of the best ever”. “The athletes will arrive here from the evening of Sept 23 and we are doing our best to clean the entire village well in time,” he said. “Everyone has different standards about cleanliness. The westerners have different standards, we have different standards.”

Other officials also remained upbeat.

“I am as confident and as cool as ever about our organizing. These are all minor hiccups,” Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy told reporters. Dismal preparations have, for many, underscored the out-of-touch, slow-paced leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Congress government, raising questions how a graft-ridden, inefficient state can hope to compete with China. The government’s pro-poor voter image may suffer from tales of billions of wasted dollars. A perception of India’s entrepreneurial prowess threatening Western jobs may slip if roofs leak and journalists wonder where the Wi-Fi is.

“Fingers crossed, India may pull off a miracle,” said Boria Majumdar, a sports historian who has written the book ‘Sellotape Legacy: Delhi and the Commonwealth Games’. “But it will have to be a miracle. No doubt about that”.

The Games village and security - construction delays mean venues have been locked down by police only two weeks before the Games - are the two major weakness of the Games, Majumdar said.

Some four or five accommodation towers at the Games village are still unfinished, lacking facilities such as wireless

Internet, fitted toilets and plumbing.

Rubble, unused masonry and discarded bricks litter the unfinished gardens.

A crude cement slope appeared to be an unplanned fix for disabled athletes requiring access to one apartment block.

The athletes’ training centre was still to be fitted out. The water in the training and recreational swimming pools was dirty, with insect larvae breeding on the surface. “There have had some delegations staying there and they have been reporting constantly about the filth in the village,” Fennell told CNN-IBN TV. Organisers say there is no question the Games will be put off, but the nightmare is that one delegation exits and that leads to an avalanche. And the problems are not receding. With the $6 billion Games way behind schedule, there have been worries stagnant puddles in construction sites have proved breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Hundreds of Delhi residents are hospitalised in one of the worst dengue epidemics in years.

With costs running 17 times more than original estimates, the government’s anti-corruption watchdog identified 16 projects with suspect financing.

The insistence to hold the Games in October has led to some athletes pulling out due to conflicts with Olympic qualifiers. October also means the opening ceremony may be ruined by rains. But many venues, including the main Jawaharlal Nehru stadium have been praised as world class. Other events like the 2004 Athens Olympics were dogged by problems but turned out fine. Beijing was hit by worries over the torch relay and Tibet protests but ended in media glory.

Some officials say foreigners do not understand how India works. Sport Minister Manohar Singh Gill said it is like an Indian wedding where chaos ends in a well-planned ceremony. But scandals have sent shivers down the government that since the summer has effectively replaced many organisers with top civil servants, giving the Games access to more funds.

However, the Congress government was late getting involved, highlighting its slow pace in dealing with issues ranging from economic reforms to separatist violence in Kashmir. “It’s just one of so many goofups,” said Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, a political economist. “This will not do the government any good. When you have a big bash and benefits are minimal it sharpens and widens the inequalities in India.

People notice.” — Agencies

Panel warns Sheikh Jaber Continued from Page 1 Habeeb’s backers. Eleven MPs issued a joint statement after a meeting in which they praised the government’s action to withdraw the citizenship “although it came too late”. The statement insisted that the withdrawal of nationality was not because Habeeb held another citizenship but because of forming an extremist organization outside of Kuwait which threatened the security and stability of the nation. By working against Kuwait and calling for making the country a part

of a larger Shiite state in the Gulf, Habeeb committed “high treason” and deserved the punishment, the statement said.

The lawmakers also vowed that they will continue to pursue other issues related to Habeeb including those who smuggled him out of jail and then out of Kuwait, identifying his partners in establishing the extremist organization and funding sources. They said they will press to know all these matters through parliamentary questions and forming probe committees.

Among those who signed the statement are Khaled Al-Sultan, Dhaifallah Buramia,

Faisal Al-Mislem, Ali Al-Omair, Mohammad Hayef, Mubarak Al-Waalan, Waleed Al-Tabtabaei, Salem Al-Azemi, Jamaan Al-Harbash, Al-Muwaizri and Falah Al-Sawwagh.

Meanwhile, Shiite MP Saleh Ashour said he will pursue the issue of Mubarak Al-Bathali, a Salafist activist who was questioned and then released by the state security after criticizing Shiites on YouTube last week. Ashour said he will inquire if authorities are going to press charges against Bathali and if not, he will sue him in his capacity as a Kuwaiti citizen.

Afghan chopper crash kills 9 GIs Continued from Page 1 The incident brings to 529 the number of foreign troops killed this year, according to an AFP tally based on the count kept by icasualties.org, surpassing the previous record of 521 deaths in 2009. A total of 2,097 coalition troops have now died since the US-led invasion of 2001, which ousted the hardline Islamist Taliban regime and set off a brutal insurgency which has also killed thousands of Afghans. The US Marines and US Army dominate the foreign forces concentrated in hotspots of the southern provinces of Helmand, Kandahar and Zabul.

After only nine months, 2010 has now become the deadliest year of the long war, with the extra deployment of international forces to nearly 150,000 drawing more battlefield engagements and leading to a spike in casualties. June was the deadliest month of the war for coalition troops, with 103 fatalities, the tally shows. Ten foreign troops, mostly

American, were killed in a series of attacks across the country on June 22, and another 10 ISAF soldiers died in bombings in the south and east on June 7.

Until recently NATO identified American casualties, while leaving coalition partners to identify their own dead separately. That changed earlier this month and US casualties are no longer revealed. The United States and NATO are almost at full capacity of 150,000 troops trying to quell the insurgency, which has spread across the country with the Taleban now present in almost every one of the 34 provinces. NATO has still to deploy 2,200 troops and the United States a “few hundred”, an ISAF official has said.

The Americans are bearing the heaviest burden of the war, accounting for at least 20 of this month’s 39 troop deaths, according to icasualties.org. The United States took responsibility Monday for one of the most volatile regions of Helmand as part of a pullback and redeployment by

the British, who have lost 337 troops since the Taleban were overthrown.

NATO said an air strike and ground clashes killed 14 insurgents in an operation in Helmand’s volatile Nad Ali district on Monday. Taleban influence is strongest in the south and the eastern provinces which border Pakistan, where the insurgent leadership is said to be taking refuge, and from where attacks on Afghan targets are planned and funded.

US President Barack Obama ordered up an extra 30,000 forces in December as part of a renewed counter-insurgency strategy focusing on the south. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last week that US strategy appeared to be working and that he was cautiously optimistic about signs of progress. Obama has issued a deadline of mid-2011 for United States forces to begin drawing down, adding a sense of urgency to such tasks as training of Afghan forces so they can take over responsibility for the country’s security. — AFP

Spies spill secrets in official MI6 history Continued from Page 1 They are, often, larger than life: figures like Wilfred “Biffy” Dunderdale, a Russian-speaking MI6 agent in Paris between the world wars, whom Jeffery said had “a well-known penchant for pretty girls and fast cars, and terrific savoirfaire”. He was a friend of James Bond creator Ian Fleming, and a possible model for the suave secret agent. In old age he became “an incorrigible raconteur” who would claim to recognize his own exploits in the 007 stories.

There is also Dudley Clarke, an agent arrested in Madrid in 1941 “dressed, down to a brassiere, as a woman”. The Spanish fascist authorities, confused about whether he was a spy or simply a crossdresser, eventually released him. Jeffery says he “went on to have a brilliant career in deception”. There is also agent Pieter Tazelaar, put ashore beside a Dutch seafront casino one night during World War II, “in full evening dress and smelling of alcohol, wearing a specially designed rubber oversuit to keep him dry while landing”. On the beach, a colleague “sprinkled a few drops of Hennessy XO brandy on him to strengthen his ‘partygoer’s’ image.”

The book tells the story of an agency founded in 1909 with a staff of one, Mansfield Cumming, who recorded his first day in his diary: “Went to the office

and remained all day, but saw no one, nor was there anything to do there.” It quickly got more interesting, although Jeffery writes that for decades, MI6 “had to operate on a shoestring” and was perennially short of office space. The book reveals that its agents included well-loved authors W Somerset Maugham, Graham Greene and Arthur Ransome, who spied in the Soviet Union and whose mistress was Leon Trotsky’s secretary.

It recounts how MI6 spied actively on the US during the 1930s before deciding that “it was more productive to be friends with the United States than continue to treat it as an intelligence target”. Around the same time, MI6 was worried about looming war with Germany, particularly the possibility the Nazis would use biological weapons, possibly exposing anthrax on the London Underground. A memo also asked whether the prime minister’s milk supply was secure, as “milk bottles on doorstep can be tampered with”. Some of the revelations are sensitive even now.

The book includes an account of Operation Embarrass, in which British agents blew up ships in Italian ports to deter postwar Jewish refugees from sailing to Palestine, then under British control.

The book deflates some cherished myths. MI6 agents do not have a “license to kill”, although the agency compiled a list of possible Nazi assassination targets before the D-Day landings. It was judged

that the plan was too risky and might spark bloody reprisals. More happily for spy buffs, Q - the gadget-making superscientist from the Bond films - is based on reality. After World War II, MI6 researchers worked on silent weapons, knockout tablets, safecracking tools and exploding filing cabinets that could destroy secret documents at short notice.

The book follows the publication last year of an official history of MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence service. Jeffery said he struck a “Faustian pact” when he agreed to write the book. He could look at everything in the archives, but MI6 retained the power to censor what was published. The book stops abruptly in 1949, but still represents a change of policy for an agency whose existence was only officially acknowledged in the 1990s. John Scarlett, the former MI6 chief who commissioned the book, said it is intended to “promote well-informed understanding and public debate about MI6”, without compromising current operations or living agents. There is unlikely to be a sequel.

“For MI6 this is an exceptional event,” said Scarlett, who stepped down last year as “C”, code-name for the agency’s head.

“There has been nothing like it before and there are no plans for anything similar in the future.” The book is published in Britain by Bloomsbury as “MI6” and in the US by Penguin as “The Secret History of MI6.” — AP

Syria father and son narrate age-old tales Continued from Page 1 dialogue of imaginary lovers. But he fears he may be the last to practise storytelling in Syria where, without state support and recognition, students show no interest in learning a once-venerated tradition. “You do not eat from this art,” says Abu Shadi. “Who will come and learn?”

The token tips that customers leave at AlNawfara cafe in the heart of Damascus’s old city, where Abu Shadi narrates nightly, come to no more than $120 a month, barely enough to support a family. But this has not deterred the storyteller’s son, 35year-old Shadi Al-Hallak, from choosing a similar vocation - as a shadow puppeteer.

A new campaign, launched by the culture ministry with the cooperation of UNESCO and the EU delegation to Syria, could mean better times ahead for both father and son, however. Imad Abufakher, director of the ministry’s popular heritage department, says the campaign aims to document and preserve less tangible aspects of Syria’s cultural heritage by spotlighting “human living treasures,” in particular those who perform folkloric songs, dances and stories. “We want to make an inventory of the cultural elements threatened with oblivion so they are not forgotten,” says Abufakher.

But while Abu Shadi and his son are

the only hakawati and shadow puppeteer registered in the campaign, neither has been admitted into Syria’s art syndicates as both lack the required academic credentials. “If the state does not give salaries and places to teach this art, the craft of storytelling will vanish,” Abu Shadi believes. His son Shadi says that he cannot perform in any of Syria’s 52 yearly cultural festivals because he does not belong to a vocational syndicate. “This campaign can help us if it leads to recognition and sponsorship,” he says.

After being excluded from official events two years ago, when Damascus was the Arab capital of culture, the son staged his first performance at the Dar AlAssad theatre in July, an event he calls “a breakthrough”. He then spent much of Ramadan in August and early September casting shadows in Doha after dark, and also performed several puppet shows at the Damascus citadel during the Eid AlFitr celebrations at the end of the holy month.

Karakoz and Eewaz are the key characters in his shows, two bickering friends building a mosque in the Ottoman period who are eventually beheaded because of their unproductive but entertaining squabble. During the Ottoman era in Syria, shadow puppets always came on before storytellers in coffee shops, and

their politically charged tales were sometimes codified to protect the narrator.

Shadow puppets often had animal bodies to avoid implicating individuals, and stories that started with Karakoz asleep spoke of the ruler while those that opened with religious rituals relayed official news and military movements.

“The shadow puppeteer was the one in charge,” Shadi says. “He was the messenger between the ruler and the people. He puffed up the king’s image when in court and then punctured it out in the streets.”

He recalls the last Syrian shadow puppeteer, Abd Al-Razzaq Al-Dhahabi, who died in 1994. “When I opened my eyes to this art he had already been dead six years,” he says sadly. Self-taught like his father, Shadi spent four years learning how to turn cowhide translucent and paint it with plant pigment to make his puppets.

During a performance, light is shone through the 25-cm-tall puppets to cast colourful shadows on to a cloth screen.

Shadi now hopes one day to see puppetled tours of Damascus’s old city and other key heritage sites around Syria, such as the Roman ruins of Palmyra in the desert and the imposing crusader castle of Krak des Chevaliers. “When Karakoz and Eewaz are finished touring the planet we will make shadows on the moon,” he says. — AFP

Distrust of Iran leads to Shiite clampdown Continued from Page 1 Monday, accusing him of abusing religious symbols and attempting to trigger sectarian tensions. More than two weeks ago, Habeeb made disparaging remarks against the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) wife Aisha, triggering a sectarian rift between Sunni and Shiite Muslims that prompted the government to ban all public gatherings on Sunday. Shamlan Al-Issa, a lecturer at Kuwait University, believes these developments cannot be isolated from the rise of pro-Iranian Shiite movements in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. But to counter Iran’s influence, “it is necessary to provide Shiites with their rights so that they no longer feel aggrieved,” he said.

Zaidi rebels have been for months

locked in on-off fighting with Yemeni and Saudi troops, while the Sanaa government has repeatedly accused Iran of backing the northern Shiite rebellion. Shiites who make up about one-third of Kuwait’s population of 1.1 million “complain of reduced access to security services and senior state positions,” said Issa. However with nine members in the 50-seat parliament and two members in the emirate’s 16-member cabinet, Kuwaiti Shiites seem more fortunate than their Saudi counterparts.

“There is a crisis of confidence between the region’s regimes and their people, particularly Shiites,” said Ibrahim AlMughaiteeb, president of Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights First organisation. He also called for Shiites to be given their “full rights” in Saudi Arabia, where “it is forbid-

den for a Shiite to be a colonel or in a higher rank”. Amnesty and Human Rights Watch have both criticised Saudi Arabia this year for detaining numerous Shiites in its eastern provinces mostly in connection with their religious practices.

Iraq’s Shiites were “never next to Iran during the Iraqi-Iranian war, on the contrary, they defended their country,” Mughaiteeb said. “But accusing Shiites of being a ‘fifth-column’ is baseless... And if a strike takes place against Iran, then Saudi’s Shiites will be stand alongside their government and not Iran,” he added. Loyal as they are to their countries, fears of Shiites’ allegiance to foreign sides are fuelled by their dependence on Marjaiya (the highest Shiite religious authority), mainly based in Iran’s Qom and Iraq’s Najaf. — AFP

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

15

MLB result/standings Major League Baseball results and standings on Monday: Florida 4, St. Louis 0; NY Yankees 8, Tampa Bay 6; Detroit 7, Kansas City 5; Houston 8, Washington 2; Philadelphia 3, Atlanta 1; Baltimore 4, Boston 2; Minnesota 9, Cleveland 3; Cincinnati 5, Milwaukee 2; LA Angels 7, Texas 4; Oakland 3, Chicago White Sox 0.

America n Lea gue Ea stern Division W L PCT NY Yankees 91 59 .607 Tampa Bay 89 60 .597 Boston 83 67 .553 Toronto 75 74 .503 Baltimore 60 90 .400

GB 1.5 8 15.5 31

Centra l Minnesota 90 Chicago W Sox 79 Detroit 76 Cleveland 62 Kansas City 61

Division 60 .600 71 .527 74 .507 88 .413 88 .409

11 14 28 28.5

Western 83 75 74 57

Division 66 .557 74 .503 76 .493 92 .383

8 9.5 26

Texas Oakland LA Angels Seattle

National League Ea stern Division Philadelphia 90 61 .596 Atlanta 86 65 .570 Florida 74 75 .497 NY Mets 74 76 .493 Washington 62 88 .413

4 15 15.5 27.5

Centra l 85 77 73 69 68 51

Division 66 .563 72 .517 77 .487 80 .463 81 .456 98 .342

7 11.5 15 16 33

Western San Francisco 84 San Diego 83 Colorado 82 LA Dodgers 73 Arizona 59

Division 66 .560 66 .557 67 .550 77 .487 91 .393

0.5 1.5 11 25

Cincinnati St. Louis Houston Milwaukee Chicago Cubs Pittsburgh

DENVER: Carlos Gonzalez No. 5 of the Colorado Rockies singles off of pitcher Aroldis Chapman of the Cincinnati Reds as catcher Ryan Hanigan No. 29 backs the plate in the sixth inning at Coors Field. —AFP

Jeter helps Yankees to victory over Rays NEW YORK: Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees helped honor George Steinbrenner with a monumental win on Monday night.

After the Yankees unveiled a huge monument to their late owner Steinbrenner, Jeter singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Curtis Granderson followed with his second home run of the night, a three-run drive that helped New York to an 8-6 victory over the second-place Tampa Bay Rays in a key AL East matchup.

Winning the opener of a four-game series that started its final homestand, New York (91-59) opened a 11/2-game lead over the Rays (89-60).

After Tampa rallied from a four-run deficit, Jeter’s hit off Matt Garza (14-9) fol-

lowed Brett Gardner’s leadoff infield single and Francisco Cervelli’s hit-and-run single through the vacated hole at shortstop. With New York ahead 5-4, Granderson greeted Grant Balfour with a three-run homer. Chad Gaudin (1-4) won in relief of rookie Ivan Nova.

Twins 9, Indians 3 At Minneapolis, Danny Valencia and Michael Cuddyer hit home runs and Brian Duensing got his 10th win for the Twins.

The victory cut the Twins’ magic number for winning the AL Central to three. Chicago, which is in second place, played later at Oakland.

Cuddyer’s two-run shot capped the

Twins’ four-run sixth after the Indians had closed within 4-3 in the top of the inning.

Duensing (10-2) has allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of 11 starts this season. Jeanmar Gomez (3-5) allowed eight runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings, is winless in his last six starts.

Orioles 4, Red Sox 2 At Boston, Ty Wigginton had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly and Luke Scott followed with an RBI single in the seventh inning, lifting Baltimore over the Red Sox. The Orioles, rejuvenated since Buck Showalter took over as manager Aug. 3, won for the 11th time 15 games. Baltimore won for just the fourth time in their last 21 games in Fenway Park.

David Hernandez (8-8) worked two innings of

relief for the win. Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-6) pitched 6 1-3 innings, allowing four runs, six hits, walking five and striking out four.

Tigers 7, Royals 5 At Detroit, Will Rhymes hit his first major league homer and Alex Avila drove in three runs and made a spectacular defensive play to lead the Tigers past Kansas City. Detroit trailed 5-4 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, then took the lead on Rhymes’ tworun homer off Zack Greinke (9-13). Yuniesky Betancourt matched a career high with four hits for Kansas City, including a three-run homer. Brad Thomas (6-2) earned the win with 1 2-3 innings of shutout relief. Tigers starter Rick Porcello gave up five runs and 12

hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Athletics 3, White Sox 0 At Oakland, Chris Carter finally got his first major league hit as the Oakland Athletics sent the White Sox to their seventh straight loss.

Kurt Suzuki had three hits and two RBIs as the A’s won their third in four games.

Daric Barton also drove in a run.

Andruw Jones doubled and singled for the White Sox, who matched their longest losing streak since April 28 to May 5, 2008.

Chicago is on the brink of being eliminated from the AL Central race. The White Sox fell 11 games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins, who can clinch their sec-

Phillies down Braves

PHILADELPHIA: The Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of an error by right fielder Jason Heyward to beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Monday night, increasing their lead in the NL East to four games.

The two-time defending NL champions won their eighth straight game and improved to 42-15 since July 21, when they trailed the Braves by seven games. Cole Hamels (12-10) allowed one run and six hits, striking out six in eight innings to win his fifth straight start —

a career best. Brad Lidge finished for his 24th save in 29 chances.

Brandon Beachy (0-1) gave up three runs — one earned — and four hits in 4 1-3 innings in his major league debut. He was a late fill-in for Jair Jurrjens, still nursing a sore right knee.

The 24-year-old right-hander was at the Braves’ instructional league program in Florida when he got the call to join the team.

Marlins 4, Cardinals 0 At Miami, Chris Volstad threw a five-hitter for his sec-

ond career shutout and Brad Davis hit a grand slam off Chris Carpenter as Florida dealt St. Louis’ dimming playoff hopes a blow.

The game was a makeup following a rainout on Aug. 8, and the teams needed only 1 hour, 52 minutes to finish — it was the fastest game in Marlins’ history, by 2 minutes.

Davis’ first career slam — the first by a Marlins catcher — came in the second inning, the first allowed by Carpenter (158) in 3,699 at-bats since June 12, 2004. Volstad (10-9) struck out

MIAMI: St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Holliday (7) follows through on a double in the second inning during a baseball game against the Florida Marlins. The Marlins won 4-0. —AP

Angels 7, Rangers 4 At Anaheim, Torii Hunter drove in two runs to back Jered Weaver’s solid pitching as the Los Angeles Angels won, keeping the Rangers’ magic number at six for clinching their first AL West title since 1999. Weaver (13-11) allowed two runs and nine hits over 6 2-3 innings. Despite his won-lost record, which has been undermined by a severe lack of run support, the right-hander is having his best season statistically. Weaver has a 2.99 ERA and 220 strikeouts, second-most in the majors behind Felix Hernandez (222). —AP

Brazil aiming to be in top 10 at Rio Games

three for the Marlins, who lost the first six games of their current homestand. The Cardinals are 12-23 since Aug. 13.

Astros 8, Nationals 2 At Washington, Humberto Quintero and Geoff Blum each homered in a seven-run fifth inning, while Bud Norris won for the seventh time in eight decisions as Houston beat the mistake-prone Washington.

Norris (9-8) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings. The Astros are 10-1 in his last 11 starts, with Norris going 7-1 with a 3.52 ERA during that span. Houston has won six of eight. Washington lost its fourth straight.The Nationals committed three errors leading to four unearned runs in the fifth, when the Astros erased Washington’s 2-1 lead with their highest-scoring inning of the season. Quintero’s two-run homer and Blum’s three-run drive both came off Livan Hernandez (10-12).

The game drew 10,999, the smallest crowd in Washington, D.C., since the Montreal Expos relocated before the 2005 season.

Reds 5, Brewers 2 At Milwaukee, Joey Votto and Scott Rolen homered on back-to-back pitches in the eighth inning to break open a tied game and lead the Cincinnati Reds to victory.

The Reds widened their lead in the National League Central to seven games over the St. Louis Cardinals, who lost 4-0 to the Florida Marlins on Monday.

Cincinnati’s magic number for clinching their first NL Central title since 1995 is six.

Cincinnati’s Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect ninth for his 37th save in 45 chances. —AP

ond consecutive division title Tuesday night with a win over Cleveland and a Chicago loss in Oakland.

MILWAUKEE: Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks (23) jumps over Cincinnati Reds’ Chris Heisey to complete a double play on a ball hit by Juan Francisco during the seventh inning. —AP

BRASILIA: Brazil is aiming to finish in the top 10 in the overall medal count at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, according to the South American country’s top Olympic official.

Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of Brazil’s Olympic committee, announced the target in a meeting Monday with Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. “I am going to set out the goals for the 2016 Olympics,” Nuzman said. “We’re going to work so that Brazil is in the top 10 of the 2016 Olympics.” Silva echoed Nuzman.

“We need to arrive in the 2016 Olympics more prepared than ever before with more athletes and with more possibilities to win medals,” he said.

Countries that host the Olympics usually improve on their previous medal tallies. China won more golds than any other country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but the United States was No. 1 in overall medals won.

Brazil Sports Minister Orlando Silva said the country would have to hugely increase its investment for Olympic sports.

“If we compare Brazil to other countries — like China, the United States, Britain or Australia _ then we are far behind our competitors,” the sports minister said. “To go head-to-head, we must invest three times more than we do now.”

There is a strong connection between the amount invested in preparing athletes, and the outcome with poor countries usually doing very poorly in the Olympics. China lavished $40 billion on the Beijing Olympics, building roads, infrastructure and pouring money into its state-run sports schools.

China’s authoritarian government used the games to showcase its economic progress to the world. At home, the games helped reinforce the authority of the one-party state and built pride among ordinary Chinese.

Brazil has a giant job. In 2008, the country won only three golds in 15 medals to place 17th in the overall total and 23rd in the gold medal standings.

China won 51 golds, while the US claimed 110 overall medals. To reach its goal, Brazil will likely have to win eight to 10 golds and 30 to 40 medals overall. President Silva urged moving quickly. “If we don’t begin right now, we will miss the train,” he said. “First of all, we have to believe that this country is not satisfied with being second, that we are inferior to no one. If we are working to be the fifth economic power in six or seven years, then we can do more on the sporting front.”—AP

SPORTS

16

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

F1 driver Petrov’s home town gets behind him LONDON: The Renault Formula One team have secured their second Russian sponsor with a shipyard from driver Vitaly Petrov’s home town of Vyborg signing up for the final five races of 2010.

The team said in a statement yesterday that Vyborg Shipyard JSC would have its logos on both cars as well as Petrov’s race overalls from Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix onwards.

Former world champions Renault, who arrived in Singapore this time last year with title sponsors ING pulling out early due to the team’s involvement in a race fixing scandal, are already backed by Russian carmaker Lada.

Petrov, dubbed the ‘Vyborg Rocket’ in his homeland, is Russia’s first Formula One driver and has registered four scoring finishes in 14 races with a

best of fifth in Hungary. However, his place at Renault in 2011 is far from secure, with the team demanding that he show consistent points-scoring performances. Polish team mate Robert Kubica has scored 108 points to Petrov’s 19.

Finland’s former world champion Kimi Raikkonen has been linked to a comeback with the team in recent weeks. “He (Petrov) is a good driver and he comes with the added benefit of Russia,” team chairman and major shareholder Gerard Lopez told Reuters after the last Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

“I think we are in a key moment for us economically speaking from a Russian perspective. Now we are trying to see if the Russian market is going to respond but whether the market responds or not we still have to judge him as a driver.

“We have options, preferred options, outside of him if we were not to keep Vitaly,” added Lopez.

“But for now he is our second driver and we are trying to do everything we can to make sure he stays our second driver.”

Meanwhile, Virgin will try out Belgian driver Jerome D’Ambrosio in Friday practice at four of the last five Formula One races of the season, the British-based team said on Monday.

D’Ambrosio, who has been competing in the GP2 support series for the past four seasons, will drive on Fridays at Singapore this week, Japan, South Korea and Brazil.

The 25-year-old, a Renault reserve and test driver, will also take part in a young driver test in Abu Dhabi after the season ends. “The team will be

using this opportunity to evaluate Jerome’s potential,” Virgin said in a statement.

“Jerome will join existing long-term reserve driver Luis Razia who continues in the role,” it added. D’Ambrosio will replace Brazilian race driver Lucas di Grassi in the first Friday session in Singapore alongside Germany’s Timo Glock.

“My ultimate goal has always been to race in Formula One and I am delighted to get a step closer,” said the Belgian. Virgin, one of three all-new F1 teams fighting at the back of the grid this season, have a contract with the experienced Glock for another two years and an option on Di Grassi for 2011.

Meanwhile, a member of the Hispania Formula One team who was injured at the Italian Grand Prix

eight days ago will leave hospital soon and return home to Germany, the team said on Monday.

The radio engineer was still working on Sakon Yamamoto’s car during a pitstop when the Japanese was released and drove off, flipping the man in the air and leaving him crumpled on the ground.

Hispania said in a preview for Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix that he was on the mend.

“The Hispania Racing HRT F1 Team member who was involved in the incident at the pit-stop in Monza is recovering positively,” they said.

“He is supposed to leave the hospital in Italy soon, where he was kept under observation and go back to Germany, his home country.” Hispania were fined $20,000 for the incident. — Agencies

Under investigation, Armstrong stays in public eye AUSTIN: While prosecutors examine his past as part of a federal investigation into drug use in pro cycling, Lance Armstrong is sticking to a relentless public schedule of charity bike rides, speeches, endorsements and meetings with policy groups.

The seven-time Tour de France winner is doing anything but hiding. And that, public relations experts say, is the way to stay popular — or at least, limit the damage to his reputation — even as prosecutors present evidence to a grand jury.

“It’s all the right moves. Other athletes could learn from him” said Gene Grabowski, who guides high-profile figures through public relations crises as a senior vice president with Washington-based Levick Strategic Communications.

Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times after fighting back from testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain.

Since returning from this year’s race, which he says will be his last, he has kept his fight against the disease at the forefront of his public appearances.

Armstrong was scheduled to be in San Francisco on Monday to visit a hospital with Mayor Gavin Newsome. When a federal grand jury considering the investigation meets in Los Angeles today, he’ll be in New York City for the Clinton Global Initiative where he’s headlining a panel on cancer in the developing world. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are scheduled to be at the Clinton event later in the week.

Meantime, Armstrong is constantly updating his 2.65 million followers on Twitter with his musings on life, racing and music.

“We call it ‘brazening it out.’ You act as if there’s nothing wrong,” said George Merlis, founder of Experience Media Consulting Group. “All of these are laudable if he’s doing it for the right reason, such as fighting cancer.”

Armstrong insists there is, indeed, nothing wrong. He has always denied doping allegations that have dogged him for years.

Spokesman Mark Fabiani said there’s no reason for him to back off now.

“This tax-money-wasting fishing expedition _ which continues to drag up nothing but old news _ was started on the word of the disgraced Floyd Landis, so there is no reason why it would distract Lance Armstrong from the vigorous work he has always done on behalf of his foundation, his sport, and his wide range of business partners,” Fabiani said.

In fact, Armstrong’s highly public schedule is nothing new. When he first retired from cycling in 2005, he made regular appearances around the country for charity and cancer-awareness programs.

He also entered the political world. In 2007, Armstrong successfully lobbied state lawmakers to pass a $3 billion cancer research initiative. He also co-hosted televised cancer forums with several candidates for president.

Today, Armstrong still has a dedicated following, the so-called Livestrong Army enchanted by his work fighting cancer and his success on the bike. Just this weekend, a 6-year-old boy in Corpus Christi made local news by raising $150 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation selling lemonade.

And a “Support for Lance” website is appealing to the “millions of Lance Armstrong fans all over the world — it’s time that this international hero gets some support when he needs it most!” (The Armstrong camp says the cyclist is not behind the website and has not been contacted by the site’s operators.)

Armstrong’s corporate sponsors — including Nike, RadioShack Corp., 24-hour fitness and Trek bikes — have stuck with him. He recently shot a new commercial for Michelob Ultra.

Yet analysts are divided over whether Armstrong’s image is taking a hit because of the doping investigation. Armstrong ranked about average in popularity among sports figures, according to a survey conducted by the Q Scores Co. in August and September.

“There’s no indication that his negative recognition has grown at an alarming rate, unlike other athletes like Tiger Woods, where the negatives went through the roof.

He’s nowhere near that kind of disaster,” Schafer said.

But Zeta Interactive, a marketing firm that tracks looks online to see how people are being viewed, found Armstrong has fallen

World number one Lee eyes Japan Open TOKYO: World number one Lee Chong Wei is looking to put last year’s shock firstround exit at the Japan Open behind him as he seeks this week to regain the tournament he won in 2007.

The 27-year-old Malaysian, who has notched a string of wins this year, including the All England Super Series, crashed to Indonesia’s Simon Santoso in the opening round last year after struggling with an injury.

Top seed Lee, who finished runner-up at the Japan Open in 2008, has notched three other Super Series wins in 2010 - in South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia.

He will take on Gurusaidatt Raja Manuri Venkata of India in the first round, and would then face a re-match of the All England final against Kenichi Tago if the Japanese can get past Muhammad Hafix Hashim of Malaysia.

Lee’s first severe test is expected to come in the quarter-finals where he is seeded to meet defending champion Bao Chunlai of China, the sixth seed.

The top half of the draw in the tournament, which starts today, also includes Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand, seeking his first win since the India Grand Prix in 2008.

Beijing Olympic gold medallist and former world number one Lin Dan of China, the fifth seed, is in in the bottom half of the draw, scheduled to meet fourth seed and 2004 Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in the last eight.

Also in the bottom half is Danish second seed Peter Gade, looking to regain the title he won in 1998 and 1999.

He defeated Lin Dan at the All England before losing to Lee in the semi-finals.

In the women’s singles, Chinese world numbers one and two Wang Yihan and Wang Xin, last year’s finalists, will be the players to beat.

The 2008 champion, Wang Yihan, has yet to win a title this season, while Wang Xin has a string of wins under her belt including the Malaysia Open Super Series, the German Open and China Masters.

Fellow Chinese Wang Shixian and 2009 world champion Lu Lan are expected to be a threat in Wang Yihan’s side of the draw.

Yao Jie of the Netherlands and European champion Tine Baun of Denmark, who won the 2007 Japan Open, are potential stumbling blocks for Wang Xin. — AFP

Rangers’ Drury to miss start of season

Lance Armstrong in action in this file photo. far from his perch as one of the most popular athletes the agency has ever tracked. Zeta measured Armstrong at 92 percent popularity in 2008, and he was at 86 percent in July before the start of his final Tour de France.

That number dropped to 51 percent in August when the federal investigation ramped up and has bumped only slightly to 55 percent in recent weeks. “He’s flirting with 50-50,” said Zeta Interactive CEO Al DiGuido.

“For someone trying to build themself as

a brand, that’s not a good place to be.”

Grabowski thinks the decision to pursue Armstrong in court may depend, at least to some degree, on how well he’s able to maintain his public persona as a legitimate Tour champion and cancer fighter.

“There’s an old saying in Washington: You never kick a man when he’s up. When someone’s popular and you take him on, you’re going to lose,” Grabowski said. Merlis isn’t so sure.

“Urine samples from France will deter-

mine that,” Merlis said, referring to the French doping agency’s offer last week to send urine samples from the 1999 tour to US investigators. French sports daily L’Equipe reported in 2005 that Armstrong’s backup samples from 1999 contained EPO — a banned blood-boosting hormone. Armstrong was cleared by an independent panel.

As public as Armstrong has been, there are limits. Because of the investigation, Armstrong’s reps said he would not be available for comment. Armstrong leaves it to

Fabiani, an attorney and public relations specialist, to immediately and aggressively respond to any allegations of drug use reported in the investigation. That’s in sharp contrast to baseball pitcher Roger Clemens, who held a long and combative news conference with reporters to deny allegations of steroid use.

“He has stayed above it all,” Grabowski said of Armstrong. “Image does count ...

Lance Armstrong understands that.”— AP

NEW YORK: New York Rangers captain Chris Drury has suffered a broken finger and will miss the start of the regular season, the NHL said on its website (NHL.com) on Monday.

Drury sustained the injury during a morning scrimmage and is expected to miss four weeks.

The Rangers kick off their season on Oct. 9 against the Buffalo Sabres, and Drury will likely be absent for the team’s first four games. Drury is looking to bounce back after struggling to a career-low 14 goals and 32 points last season. — Reuters

17

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Asif ex-girlfriend receives death threats ISLAMABAD: The former girlfriend of Pakistan’s suspended fast bowler Mohammad Asif was reported in British media yesterday saying she received death threats soon after meeting International Cricket Council officials to discuss match fixing.

Actress Veena Malik told British tabloid The Sun that she received an e-mail saying “don’t talk to the media, keep your mouth shut...I’ll kill you, watch what I do.”

Officials of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit met Ms. Malik earlier this month after she went public with allegations about Asif’s activities.

Asif, test captain Salman Butt and

Mohammad Amir have been suspended by the ICC over spot-fixing allegations. The actresses’ allegations came amid a broadening corruption scandal enveloping Pakistan’s ongoing tour of England.

Asif, Butt and Amir were suspended after allegations that an agent took money for organizing the players to bowl no-balls at prearranged times in order to fix spot betting markets.

The ICC is also investigating new claims that Pakistan players deliberately manipulated the team’s run scoring rate during a portion of its innings in the recent one-day game at The Oval at the behest of bookmakers. PCB chairman Ijaz Butt

countered with his own claims that England players took payoffs to deliberately lose the match.

Butt had also termed the suspension of the three cricketers as a pretext for keeping Pakistan out of next year’s World Cup in the subcontinent. Former PCB chief Shaharyar Khan said that Butt took a “wrong step” and he should not be making such damaging allegations.

“The new comments of Butt is damaging for Pakistan cricket but I hope it will not damage our relationship with ICC,” Khan told the Associated Press.

Khan said the other full members of the ICC like India and Australia do not take

Butt’s statements seriously. Ms. Malik claimed Asif was in contact with someone in India to fix betting markets.

“They were offering Asif 25,000 pounds sterling ($38,849) to play badly but he said he needed 128,000 pounds sterling ($198,935),” she said.

“It was a couple of weeks before Pakistan’s tour of Australia.” Australia routed Pakistan 3-0 in the test series and 50 in the one-day series besides winning the only Twenty20 international.

“One day I told him I was praying for them to win. He replied, ‘Why are you wasting your time? We are not going to win anything until December 2010’. When I

realized what he meant, I told him it was over between us and I decided to talk about it.”

Asif’s career had been dogged by a string of controversies. He was sent home from the Champions Trophy in India in 2006 after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

In 2008 he was suspended from international cricket after he again failed a doping test while competing for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League. He was also detained at Dubai airport for 19 days when opium was found in his wallet, an offense for which he was fined 1 million rupees ($12,250) by the PCB. Ms. Malik alleged

Asif paid bribes to avoid more serious punishments.

“He also told me he handed over money to avoid a lifetime ban after failing a dope test in India,” Ms. Malik said. “He said, ‘Money can buy anything, money can buy everything. I paid the money and now I’m OK’.”

Ms. Malik denied she was making the public allegations to get back at Asif after their relationship failed.

“It’s my moral duty to speak out, it will take a lifetime for fans to trust the players again,” Malik said. “These guys think they are invincible. But they have to be punished.” — AP

World Cup preparation on course, says official

Petrofac wins AMEC Six-a-Side tourney KUWAIT: Petrofac beat Kharafi National in the finals by 29 runs to win the AMEC 6-a-side cricket trophy organized by KOC Cricket Committee at Ahmadi Grounds.

After a grueling day’s cricket, Petrofac International team reached the finals after overcoming Treno Micro, Toyota Al-Sayer Group and Rising star. Kharafi National qualified to the finals by beating top teams like Aroma and Nepesco.

Kharafi National won the toss in the finals and elected to field as they had done on the last 4 previous occasions.

Sajid and Mithun opened the innings for Petrofac but Sajid could not continue the tremendous form which he showed in the quarter and semi finals and was out for just 4 runs in the 1st over of Allywn Patel, the captain of Kharafi National.

Sadiq going next did not last long and at the end of 2nd over, Petrofac were 15 for 2.

Shakti started rebuilding the innings with Mithun and both played well until Shakti was run out for 10.

Mithun held the fort for the Petrofac team, they ending the 3rd over at 36 for 3.

Captain, Raju then partnered Mithun. Mithun scored 17 of the 4th over as he hit the bowlers to all parts of the field and in the last over he hit two 6’s of the first two balls and retired on 35.

Sadiq junior was run out of the 5th ball of the last over allowing Mithun to return to

add 3 more runs of the last ball as he remained not out on 38 with Raju on two. Petrofac scored 72 for 4 in the allotted 5 overs.

Kharafi started their chase on a high note with captain Allwyn Patel scoring 18 runs of the first over bowled by Sajid. Mithun conceded 8 runs in the second over. When Allwyn seemed set batting on 20 with a six and two boundaries, Sadiq junior bowled a match winning over in which he took 3 wickets giving just 4 runs with the priced wicket of Allwyn.

Jayasantha scored nine of

nine balls was the only batsman to provide some resistance. Sadiq senior just conceded 5 runs in the fourth over and Kharafi could only manage 8 runs of the last over bowled by Raju. Damith made 5 and Chamara made 4.

AMEC Project Engg.

Manager, John Lambart gave the winner’s trophy to Petrofac captain, Raju. Allwyn Patel received the runner’s up trophy from Russell Skoyles, AMEC Project Contracts Manager and Mithun was given the man-of the finals by Tom Murphy, AMEC HSEQ

Manager. Shetty presented a memento to Alan Armstrong, AMEC Project Director received by John Lambart.

Iqbal conducted the proceedings applauding the umpires in the finals, Malik Asif and Mohd. Idrees and others who officiated during the day including, Mahmoud Rashid, Yusuf Pachorawala, Azam, Khalid.

The committee members, Mohd. Sarwar, Mohd. Arif, Khalid Arshad and Arshad Mahmoud supervised the day’s proceedings extremely well. All in all, a great day’s cricket.

Imran Khan rejects calls for ban KARACHI: Pakistani sporting hero Imran Khan brushed aside calls to ban his nation from international cricket until corruption allegations are investigated, saying a country cannot be punished collectively.

Former England captains Ian Botham and Michael Vaughan have demanded Pakistan are kicked out of international cricket until a probe into their cricketers has been completed.

Their calls follow allegations of spotfixing against Pakistani cricketers during their ongoing tour of England, which triggered a war of words between cricket officials from the two countries.

Former Pakistan cricket captain Khan said a country cannot be thrown out on the basis of allegations. “In any form of illegal activity you cannot give collective punishment to a country and deprive millions of fans, more so because these are still allegations yet to be proven,” Khan told AFP. Pakistani cricket has been embroiled in the spot-fixing scandal since last month’s News of the World report in which the British newspaper claimed

several players took money to underperform during the Lord’s Test against England.

Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir were provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier this month as British police interviewed the players.

The police completed an initial report and prosecutors are deciding whether to press charges. Khan said the only evidence comes from a newspaper report and its footage.

“The only evidence is that of News of the World footage showing someone (alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed) with money to be given to the players, and on that basis you cannot punish a country,” said Khan, who played 88 Tests and 175 one-day matches for Pakistan.

He said the whole issue should be dealt handled with common sense and urged all parties to refrain from making “inappropriate statements”, referring to comments made by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt.

Butt accused England players of

match-fixing in the third one-dayer across London at The Oval on Friday.

“Butt was wrong in levelling allegations,” said Khan, who now heads his own political party-Tehrik-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice). “Even if any other team is involved that does not absolve you.”

Khan said Pakistan’s cricket team has long been a target of British tabloids.

“Remember they called Wasim Akram and Waqar Younus cheats for ball-tampering when they destroyed England on the 1992 tour and when England won the Ashes series in 2005 the reverse swing became an art and skill.

“There are double standards,” said Khan. “When England had fast bowlers there were no curbs on fast bowling but when the West Indies had a battery of fast bowlers it became a threat and so many curbs were put against fast bowlers like restriction on bouncers etc.” Khan stressed Pakistani cricket “has to put its house in order” adding that, “there should no longer be a PCB chairman nominated by President of Pakistan who is not accountable to anyone.” — AFP

MUMBAI: While India struggle to get ready for next month’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi, organisers for next year’s cricket World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have struck an altogether more confident note. Organisers have targeted the end of November for the final preparations for the venues, tournament director Ratnakar Shetty told Reuters in an interview.

“In some cases it may be extended to the end of December but that is the deadline,” he insisted. “The ICC team and the entire team of organisers will be visiting all 13 venues starting from Nov. 18.”

The quadrennial event will be played across 13 venues with eight in India, three in Sri Lanka and two in Bangladesh, from Feb. 19 to April 2 next year. Three stadiums in Indiathe Wankhede in Mumbai, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the MA Chidambaram in Chennai-are undergoing major facelifts.

“Out of the three venues undergoing development, Kolkata and Chennai already have the playing surface ready.

The wickets are ready so there are no issues,” said Shetty.

“The only concern is how Mumbai comes up with respect to the playing surface. We are looking at the end of November for Wankhede to stage some Ranji Trophy matches.”

Commonwealth Games organisers have come under fire with team officials complaining about sub-standard accommodation facilities for athletes with missed deadlines compounding the problems.

Cricket organisers pledged they will not take any chances.

“We have closed all our logistic issues. We have finalised the airlines, a major concern as teams will be flying in and out of the three countries,” said Shetty.

“The accommodation issues are resolved in all three countries and so also the ground transport. We have closed on all these issues by the end of August.” Shetty strongly defended India’s credentials as hosts. “The country has already hosted two cricket World Cups and a Asian Games successfully. So if anybody has any doubt about India’s ability to host world events, they are living in a fool’s paradise,” he said.

He refused, however, to criticise Commonwealth Games organisers for the sorry state of affairs, with 11 days left for the Oct. 3-14 event.

“We have to be fair to them.

Infrastructure wise, preparations are much different and much larger for the Games as compared to the cricket World Cup. For CWG, they had to start from the scratch,” Shetty said. “If at all there was a problem, I think they started late with the stadiums.” Pakistan were also scheduled to co-host the event but were stripped of the hosting rights due to the deteriorating security situation in the country. Shetty did not deny that militancy posed a serious security threat to the event.

“It’s a problem we are facing particularly in the sub-continent over the years. The focus is on making the participating nations comfortable in terms of our government support,” he said. “Security has become an important part in the organisation of this event and every country has appointed a security advisor. “We are working with the national governments and state governments in each of the venues to ensure that the event takes place in the best manner possible.” — Reuters

LONDON: Pakistan cricket team manager Yawar Saeed (left) and player Shahid Afridi are seen in the reception area of a London hotel before traveling to Southampton for their next match. Pakistan will play the last match of their tour against England at the Rose Bowl near Southampton today. —AP

Redbacks top group after Guyana defeat JOHANNESBURG: The South Australia Redbacks made sure of finishing top of their group when they beat Guyana by 15 runs in a Champions League Twenty20 match at the Wanderers Stadium yesterday.

Callum Ferguson hit 55 and added 88 for the fourth wicket with Cameron Borgas (48) to enable the Redbacks to reach 191 for six after a poor start in which they lost their first three wickets for 41 runs.

Guyana captain Ramnaresh Sarwan hit 70 as Guyana made 176 for seven in reply. The win meant the Redbacks finished top of Group B with four wins from four matches.

Captain Michael Klinger said it was an advantage because they can remain based in Johannesburg for the remainder of the tournament

because they will play in the second semi-final against the runners-up in Group A at nearby Centurion on Saturday.

The final is at the Wanderers on Sunday. If they had finished second in the group the Australian side would have had to travel to Durban to play in the first semi-final on Friday. Klinger admitted that his side had not played as well as they had in earlier matches.

“We need to pick up a little bit before the semi- final but we know that and we’ll work on it in the next few days. Our fielding was a touch down today.”

South Australia were without fast bowler Shaun Tait because of a minor shoulder injury but Klinger said Tait would definitely play on Saturday.

Guyana finished the tournament with four defeats from as many games but they were competitive for much of Tuesday’s game.

“We showed what we are capable of,” said Sarwan. “It’s unfortunate we couldn’t do it throughout the tournament.”

Brief scores in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament Group B match between Guyana and South Australia Redbacks at the Wanderers Stadium yesterday.

South Australia (AUS) 1916 in 20 overs (C. Ferguson 55, C. Borgas 48, D. Christian 23; P. Wintz 2-11, D. Bishoo 229). Guyana (WIS) 176-7 in 20 overs (R. Ramdin 35, R. Sarwan 70, S. Jacobs 32; D. Christian 2-20, D. Harris 3-33) South Australia win by 15 runs. — AFP

JOHANNESBURG: Guyana’s captain Ramnaresh Sarwan (left) leaves the crease after being dismissed as umpire Johanes Cloete of South Africa (right) gestures during the Champions League Twenty20 cricket match against South Australia Redbacks. — AP

SPORTS

18

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Inter and Cesena form strange pair atop Serie A ROME: European champion Inter Milan and Cesena make for a strange pairing as the early leaders in Serie A. Inter is the five-time defending champion of the Italian league, while Cesena is making its first appearance in the top division in 19 years.

With a salary total of euro 121.4 million ($159 million), Inter trails only AC Milan as the biggest spending club, while Cesena has the smallest payroll of euro 8.3 million ($11 million) _ nearly as much as Inter pays its most expensive player, Samuel Eto’o.

Yet through three rounds, Inter and Cesena are level on seven points, one notch in front of three

other clubs. “Inter has confirmed itself while Cesena is showing that the newly promoted clubs can create problems for everyone — especially at the start — if they’re organized well and they have the right enthusiasm,” Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said.

Cesena is the only club that has not allowed a goal and its points have all been hard earned. The Emilia Romagna-based side opened with a 0-0 draw against last season’s runner-up AS Roma, then stunned Milan 2-0 before pulling out a 1-0 win over Lecce last weekend despite having to play with 10 men due to a referee’s error.

The key players so far have been 33-year-old Albania striker Erjon Bogdani, 41-year-old goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli — the oldest player in the league — and promising Italian winger Emanuele Giaccherini — who has earned Prandelli’s attention.

“The club has planned well over the last few years and hasn’t been afraid to take on players that other teams cast off as over the hill,” coach Massimo Ficcadenti said.

Cesena’s 36-year-old president Igor Campedelli pointed to the club’s youth program.

“It’s not just by chance that we’re in first place. We singled out a few

players to develop and we’ve stuck by them,” he said.

The 25-year-old Giaccherini is in his third season with Cesena. He helped the team win the third division in 2008-09 and to a secondplace finish in Serie B last season.

Cesena visits Catania in today’s midweek round and will have captain Giuseppe Colucci available after the league used TV replays to repeal a yellow card that resulted in his expulsion against Lecce.

Colucci was carded for a foul actually committed by Japanese teammate Yuto Nagatomo, prompting referee Gianluca Rocchi to apologize for the error after the game. Inter hosts

Bari after coming back from a goal down to beat Palermo 2-1 with two scores from Eto’o, who has been carrying the squad while fellow striker Diego Milito has been off form.

Eto’o has scored six times in six games in all competitions and is the main reason Inter has weathered a rough start under new manager Rafa Benitez.

The Nerazzurri lost the European Super Cup to Atletico Madrid, opened Serie A with a 0-0 draw at Bologna and were held to 2-2 at FC Twente in the opening game of its Champions League defense, with Eto’o scoring the equalizer.

“Benitez is starting to see the fruits

of his efforts and that has boosted our morale amid a difficult start to the season,” Inter CEO Ernesto Paolillo said. “When a business gets a new manager it takes some time to adapt and it’s the same thing with coaches. Benitez needed time to get to know the players and vice versa.”

Playmaker Wesley Sneijder could return after a foot injury kept him out against Palermo.

Juventus hosts Palermo in Thursday’s lone game, coming off its best performance thus far under its new coach, Luigi Del Neri — a 40 thrashing of Udinese on Sunday that resulted in new Serbia winger Milos Krasic being hailed as the

new Pavel Nedved.

Milan visits Lazio still struggling to put together its new attack with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho.

Roma has also had a rough start, having given up a two-goal lead in a draw with Bologna at the weekend.

Making matters worse, captain Francesco Totti and key midfielder Daniele De Rossi have been left off the squad with physical problems for a visit to Brescia, with a game against Inter looming on Saturday.

Also today, it’s: Bologna vs.

Udinese; Cagliari vs. Sampdoria; Catania vs. Cesena; Genoa vs.

Fiorentina; Lecce vs. Parma; and Napoli vs. Chievo Verona. —AP

Bebe set for United debut in League Cup

LONDON: Manchester United’s Dimitar Berbatov celebrates in this file photo. —AP

Steelers seek win as AFC semifinals loom SEOUL: Title-holders Pohang Steelers will be banking on home support to overturn a 2-1 deficit in the AFC Champions League quarterfinals today as Korean teams battle to stay in the tournament.

The Steelers were beaten

by Iran Pro League leaders Zobahan in the first leg and their former Fulham star Seol Ki-Hyeon is desperate to remain in contention after he missed the group stages and the World Cup with a knee injury.

“I came to the K-League because I really wanted to play in the World Cup, but now I want to win the AFC Champions League with Pohang,” he told the Asian Football Confederation website.

“The team are in good form and every one of us really wants to help Pohang defend our AFC Champions League title.”

Seol will spearhead a three-man attack alongside Brazilians Mota and Almir with a semi-final next month at stake against either Saudi champions Al Hilal or Qatar League winners Al Gharafa.

Hilal, who have been con-

sistently impressive under Belgian great Eric Gerets, visit the Doha club on the back of their 3-0 win in front of more than 53,000 fans at the King Fahd International Stadium last week.

They are expected to welcome back Christian Wilhelmsson to the starting line-up after the Sweden winger missed the first leg through suspension, while Gharafa will be looking to Iraqi striker Younes Mahmoud to produce some magic.

Pohang are among a record four Korean clubs competing in the quarter-finals, but one of three to lose in the first legs.

Seongnam Ilhwa, South Republic’s most successful club with seven K-League titles, were the country’s sole winners after beating Korean rivals Suwon Bluewings 4-1.

They should progress to the last four with towering Montenegrin target man Dzenan Radoncic looking to add to the brace he bagged last week.

Suwon need to score goals, but Jose Mota, the AFC Champions League’s leading scorer with nine goals, was

subdued in the first leg with the team’s best attacks coming through World Cup winger Yeom Ki-Hun. Jeonbuk Motors, the 2006 champions, face a tough mission in Saudi Arabia against Al Shabab, who beat the KLeague champions 2-0 and could be one of two Riyadh clubs to make the final four.

Shabab have been boosted by the signing of Uruguayan striker Juan Manuel Olivera, who helped Universidad de Chile reach the semi-finals of this year’s Copa Libertadores, and he will be hoping to add to his clinical first leg goal.

Jeonbuk’s loss to Shabab was their sixth in eight games in all competitions, a surprising slump following nine straight victories.

But they remain a fierce attacking threat on their day, with Korean legend Lee Dong-Gook keen to make up for his close-range misses last week.

The final of Asia’s top club competition is played at Tokyo’s National Stadium on November 13, with the winner qualifying for the lucrative FIFA Club World Cup. —AFP

LONDON: Bebe will make his highly anticipated Manchester United debut in the League Cup today, more than a month after manager Alex Ferguson signed the unproven Portuguese striker without seeing him play.

Ferguson has been forced to fend off critics who have questioned the wisdom of paying 7.4 million pounds ($11.5 million) for a player who has never featured at a higher level than the Portuguese third division.

The 68-year-old manager didn’t even both watching videos of Bebe in action before the transfer from Vitoria Guimaraes was completed last month, relying instead on the recommendations of former assistant manager Carlos Queiroz and United’s scout.

Some English papers have already branded Bebe an expensive flop based on his appearances for United’s reserve team.

But Ferguson is ready to include Bebe in the first team for the first time as United begins its League Cup defense at second-tier side Scunthorpe in the third round. “A lot of my young players will play. Bebe is training very well,” Ferguson said Tuesday. “He’ll be involved tomorrow night.”

And Lisbon-born Bebe has appealed for patience. “I am going to be a brilliant player for Manchester United,” he said. “After a couple more games I will be better. I have to be fitter because it’s a different type of football in England.”

Bebe left Estrela Amadora three months ago after the team gained promotion to Portugal’s second division, but only featured in six friendlies for Vitoria Guimaraes before being lured to United.

“I can play on both sides, on the left and the right,” Bebe said. “It doesn’t make any difference which side.” The Premier League’s leading teams use England’s secondtier knockout competition to give young players vital firstteam experience.

“It allows me to keep everybody happy in terms of giving people games and we’ve reached the last two finals, which has its obvious advantages,” Ferguson said.

“Playing at Wembley and competing for medals on the big stage is terrific for players’ development.”

United beat Aston Villa 2-1 in last season’s final to win the tournament for the fourth time and the Birmingham club’s third-round match against Blackburn today will see Gerard Houllier take charge for the first time.

Houllier was named Villa manager on Sept. 8 but has had to wait to officially take over because of contractual issues with the French Football Federation. Sol Campbell, the 36-year-old former England defender, is set to make his Newcastle debut at Premier League champion Chelsea.

In another all-Premier League match, out-of-favor Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given is due to make his first appearance of the season at West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool could hand Australia keeper Brad Jones his first appearance since joining from Middlesbrough last month in the home match against Northampton. In yesterday’s other fixture, Wigan hosts Lancashire rival Preston. —AP

MADRID: Barcelona’s David Villa jumps for the ball in this file photo. —AP

Messi-less Barca target first home league win MADRID: Champions Barcelona go in search of their first league home win of the season today when they host Sporting Gijon at Camp Nou. Pep Guardiola’s side lost 2-0 to promoted Hercules in their first home match in the league but have bounced back with a 5-1 routing of Panathinaikos in the Champions League and a fine 2-1 win at rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Barca sit sixth, one point behind Real Madrid and three points behind leaders Valencia, but must do without star man Lionel Messi for the next 10 days after the Argentine damaged ligaments in his right ankle in the final minute of the Atletico win.

Messi was the subject of a robust challenge from Czech defender Tomasz Ujfalusi who was sent off for the challenge which left Guardiola seething.

“We are happy with the Atletico win and it could have finished 5-1 with the number of chances we had,” said Guardiola.

“However, we are sad about the Messi incident. It is not only Cristiano Ronaldo (of Real Madrid) who needs protecting. The referees should protect all the players.”

With Messi out the goals burden falls more on the shoulders of Spanish striker David Villa, a 40-million-euro signing from Valencia, who hopes to add to the solitary league goal he scored on his debut.

It will be a special game for Villa who started his career at hometown club

Sporting Gijon before becoming a world star with Valencia, Spain and now Barcelona.

Villa’s old club Valencia were expected to struggle without his goals but the 2004 league champions top the table on a perfect nine points two ahead of Sevilla and Real Madrid.

Valencia host fourth-placed Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla stadium on Wednesday looking to maintain their flawless start to the campaign.

Atletico have tasted back to back defeats to Aris Salonica in the Europa League and Barcelona in league after a promising start that began with a European Super Cup win over Inter Milan and two league victories.

Both Valencia and Atletico are expected to challenge for the Champions League spots this season and this is a crucial duel as the head-to-head record would count should both sides finish level on points.

Unbeaten Sevilla lie two points behind Valencia on seven points and hope to consolidate their strong start in the league with a home win over Racing Santander on Thursday.

Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid had a brief taste of top spot on Saturday before being replaced by Valencia and hope for another three points at home to Espanyol yesterday. Real were below par in a fortunate 2-1 win at Real Sociedad on Saturday with a deflected Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick gift-

ing them three points.

Mourinho blamed the hectic match calendar for an average performance saying it was unfair to play Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday and then Sociedad three days later, however, there is no respite for his side as they take to the field again late yesterday.

“A draw would have been a fair result,” admitted Mourinho. “However, a team that plays in the Champions League today has to play on Sunday and can’t be asked to play on Saturday.”

Real conceded their first goal under Mourinho at Sociedad and looked vulnerable at the back which prompted Mourinho to smash a water bottle into the glass in the dug-out.

The Portuguese coach watched his side jeered in their last league outing at the Santiago Bernabeu when they defeated Osasuna 1-0 so a polished display against Espanyol is expected from the hard-toplease Real public.

Elsewhere Athletic Bilbao host Real Mallorca on Tuesday with Bilbao’s Spanish international striker Fernando Llorente looking to maintain his goal-a-game record after scoring in all three of Bilbao’s league matches.

In other matches, promoted Levante travel to Almeria today looking for their first points of the season after losing their opening three games. —Reuters

Puel’s job on the line PARIS: Having overseen a nighon disastrous start to the season, Lyon coach Claude Puel will lead his side into Saturday’s derby with Saint-Etienne knowing defeat could cost him his job.

Six games into the campaign, Lyon have just a single victory to their name and currently sit in 17th place in the French first division standings.

Puel presided over another period of significant investment during the summer transfer window but his expensive signings have yet to click and they were well off the pace in the 2-0 loss at Bordeaux on Sunday.

The 49-year-old coach has failed to win a single trophy since arriving from Lille in 2008, when he inherited a team that had been crowned French champions for seven seasons in succession.

Patience among the Lyon fans is beginning to wear thin and reports in the French media on Tuesday suggested Puel could be set for the chop if things go wrong in Saturday’s ‘Derby du Rhone’ at Stade Gerland.

“Lyon didn’t play at Bordeaux like a team prepared to do anything to get out of the crisis,” wrote football correspondent

FRANCE: Lyon’s player Yoann Gorcuff is seen during the French Division One soccer match against Bordeaux in this file photo. —AP Vincent Duluc in L’Equipe sport daily.

“Claude Puel will still be the coach of Lyon this week. But if he loses the derby, it will be something else.” Lyon president JeanMichel Aulas publicly gave his backing to Puel in an interview with L’Equipe on Tuesday, but rumours are beginning to swirl that he has lost the faith of the dressing room.

“If they (the players) have had enough of a coach, he doesn’t stand a chance. And most of the

Lyon players want to move onto something else,” added Duluc.

Lyon have been dogged by injuries this season and Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez, a club record 28 million euros signing from FC Porto last year, will be out for up to three weeks after tearing a thigh muscle against Bordeaux.

Club captain Cris is also currently unavailable, while France international playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, snatched from Bordeaux for 22 million euros last

month, is still finding his feet.

In recent years Lyon would have taken heart from the fact that Saint-Etienne have not won the derby since April 1994, but Les Verts’ approach Saturday’s game buoyed by a 3-0 win at home to Montpellier that took them to the top of the table for the first time in 28 years.

France’s most successful club with 10 league titles, SaintEtienne have had to jealously watch Lyon’s recent triumphs from the lower reaches of the table in recent years.

They have finished 17th, one place above the relegation zone, for the past two seasons, but their encouraging start to the new campaign suggests changes are afoot under coach Christophe Galtier.

“When I go out to buy bread, I can sense the pride of the people,” says Galtier, who was promoted from his role as assistant coach at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard when Alain Perrin was sacked in December last year.

Aulas says he will not assess Lyon’s position until after their 10th league game of the season, at Arles-Avignon on October 23, but Galtier, for one, believes Puel will turn things around. —AFP

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

‘Rebuilding France starts from bottom’

BRAZIL: Combo made of two handout pictures released on Sept 20 showing an aerial view of Mario Filho stadium, better known as “Maracana”, in Rio de Janeiro, as it looks today (top) and how it would look like after alterations (bottom). Maracana is closed for refurbishment in view to the FIFA World Cup 2014 and the Olympic Games 2016 due to be held in Brazil. — AFP

Iran coach targets fifth West Asian cup title TEHRAN: Iranian nation football team coach Afshin Ghotbi has said that he hopes to guide his side to a fifth title win in the West Asia Football Federation (WAFF) championship to be held in Jordan.

Iran, who previously won the title in 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008 are in Group 1 along with Bahrain and Oman. Hosts Jordan are in Group 2 with Syria and Kuwait, while 2002 winners Iraq will play against Yemen and Palestine in group 3.

The tournament runs through September 24 until October 3. “It will be an interesting tournament,” Ghotbi told reporters here shortly before he and his squad left for Jordan.

“We have achieved good results playing against teams from east Asia and we hope to do so with teams from the west of the continent.”

In the buildup to the tournament Iran beat China 2-0 on September 3 and four days later won against South Korea 1-0. Both matches were away from home.

“We are expecting to come home as champions, we have learned to think of winning in all circumstances. I only plan for victory,” Ghotbi said, adding that team spirit in his squad was high.

Ghotbi said that taking part in the WAFF championship would be a good practice for the Iranians ahead of the Asian Cup 2011.

Bento to coach Portugal LISBON: Paulo Bento has been appointed as Portugal’s national coach to replace Carlos Queiroz, who was sacked earlier this month, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) said yesterday.

“Paulo Bento and the rest of the technical staff have signed a contract valid until July 2012,” the FPF said in a statement. The FPF will hold a news conference today to officially unveil the new team.

Former Portugal international Bento, 41, coached Sporting for four seasons before resigning last year. His first Paulo Bento game in charge will be a Euro 2012 qualifier on Oct. 8 against Denmark, with the side needing a win to keep their qualification hopes alive after a dismal start.

Queiroz was sacked in the wake of his six-month suspension for insulting Portuguese anti-doping agents before the World Cup. — Reuters

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His comments on the reason for Team Melli participating in the WAFF’s tournament were echoed by the chairman of Iran’s Football Federation Ali Kafashin.

“We have played against big teams like China and South Korea but we have not played against West Asian nations,” he told the ISNA news agency.

“It will good to gain experience playing against these teams who will be playing against us in the Asian Cup.” Ghotbi previously worked with the US national team before a long stint assisting Dutch coaches Guus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat and then Pim Verbeek with the South Koreans. — AFP

Wenger fined, banned for Sunderland spat LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been fined and given a one-match ban following his spat with a match official at the end of his team’s draw with Sunderland, the Football Association said yesterday.

It follows an incident at the Stadium of Light on Saturday when a furious Wenger remonstrated with fourth official Martin Atkinson after Sunderland had equalised in the fifth minute of injury time.

Wenger appeared to gently push Atkinson on the back after Darren Bent had scored 15 seconds after the end of the allotted four minutes of stoppage time.

Wenger was fined 8,000 pounds and given a one-match touchline ban which will rule him out of the dugout for Arsenal’s League Cup tie with Tottenham later yesterday, a statement from the FA said.

“Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted a charge of using insulting and/or abusive language and behaviour amounting to improper conduct,” the statement said.

“Wenger has accepted the standard sanction of an 8,000 pounds fine and a one-match touchline ban which will be served with immediate effect at Arsenal’s League Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur.

“The charge related to Wenger’s conduct towards match officials at the conclusion of Arsenal’s match against Sunderland on 18 September.” Wenger had complained at the fact that Sunderland’s late goal had come outside the indicated four minutes. “I know the referee can give more than four, it’s a minimum of four minutes, but in the four minutes nothing happened to justify the extension of the time,” Wenger complained. —AFP

MADRID: Rebuilding France after its World Cup debacle means starting from the bottom and changing selection criteria from the youngest players up while looking to Spain as a model, according to coach Laurent Blanc.

Blanc said yesterday that France’s current criteria would mean even Spanish standouts like Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta would have trouble coming up the ranks.

“Criteria choice is important and they are not the same in Spanish football as French football.

Players like Xavi and Iniesta, in France they would have a hard time getting through,” Blanc said.

“Selection criteria (in France) at one time was for (physically) big players while in Spain, it’s the football that counts, the technical qualities.

“The criteria is not good enough in France — we need other ones.” Germany coach Joachim Loew and Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk agreed with Blanc that Spain was world and European champion in part to its decision to put trust in young players, and the healthy state of the country’s club football.

“It’s a good example to follow for all football nations, to have the same policies as them, and if everyone manages to have the same players as them then everyone would be happy,” said Blanc.

He reminded that France was also a model following its World Cup and Euro 2000 double. “(But) selection criteria in Spain is not the same as in France. The choice of criteria is what is important. They are not the same in Spanish football as French football.” The three coaches were in the Spanish capital until Wednesday to participate in a UEFA European coaches conference.

Loew expected Germany World Cup standouts Mesut Oezil and Sami Khedira to grow as players — and benefit their home country — by playing in Spain under Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.

“If you see the football here in Spain, the league here, they have a lot of high quality teams. I love the way (coach Pep) Guardiola and these Barcelona people play — very good technically, very fast, very offensive style,” said Loew, whose trust in a youthful squad took Germany to the semifinals, where it lost to Spain.

“Young players are very good because they have a very good education these days ... and are very strong in their mentality.” Loew commended new Italy coach Cesare Pranelli for placing faith in a young team after a poor showing in South Africa this summer, but the coaches said patience was also key.

“You need time. There are cycles and you have to be patient,” Blanc said.

“The problem is all nations want to win. Now it’s a Spanish (cycle).” England coach Fabio Capello said success for any coach was impossible without one key ingredient: Players. “You can’t create players,” the Italian said. “They are either born or not.”—AP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

English League Cup Chelsea v Newcastle .................................... 21:45 Aljazeera Sport + 8 Scunthorpe v Ma n United ................................21:45 Aljazeera Sport + 3

MADRID: Laurent Blanc, coach of France’s national soccer team, talks to reporters during the UEFA European coaches conference. —AP

UEFA to discuss allocation of Euro 2012 matches BERNE: European soccer’s governing body UEFA will discuss for the first time next month which cities will host the quarter-finals and semi-finals at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, a spokesman said yesterday.

The executive committee meeting in Minsk on Oct. 4 will also discuss whether all eight chosen venue cities have made enough progress to keep their status as hosts and talk about the allocation of matches for the group stage.

Preparations for the tournament have been plagued by delays in the buildings of stadiums, roads

and hotels, especially in Ukraine.

“So far, all that has been decided is that Warsaw will host the opening match and Kiev is scheduled to host the final,” UEFA spokesman Rob Faulkner said.

Faulkner said a final decision on the schedule-and with it the confirmation of which cities will be included-could be announced a few days afterwards in one of the host countries, although it could take longer.

Warsaw, Poznan, Wroclaw and Gdansk in Poland and Kiev, Lviv, Kharkiv and Donetsk in Ukraine are due to host matches at the 16team tournament.

Last year, UEFA became so frustrated with progress in Ukraine that it refused to confirm the four cities as venues, instead giving the country six months to get work back on schedule.

In December, UEFA gave Ukraine the green light, saying all four cities would host matches and confirmed that the final would be in Kiev.

Despite this, more doubts surfaced this year with Ukraine again being told to speed up work.

However, in August UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said he was confident work would be completed on time. —Reuters

NORTH KOREA: Middlesbrough Ladies football team players watch a North Korean schoolboy during a training session. The Middlesbrough team is in North Korea on a four-night stay which includes two friendly matches against the North Korean women’s team. —AP

English women’s team beaten again SEOUL: The Middlesbrough women’s team took a second thrashing yesterday on their “friendship football tour” of North Korea, state media in the isolated country said.

North Korean side Kalmaegi triumphed over the visitors 5-0 after another team of Koreans, called April 25, beat them 6-2 on Sunday.

The matches were arranged to mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between the communist North and Britain. April 25 is the anniversary of the founding of the North’s powerful military.

The games “marked a good occasion in invigorating exchange and cooperation between the two peoples and developing physical culture”, the North’s official KCNA news agency said.

An unlikely bond was formed with the English town when North Korea beat two-time world champions Italy 1-0 in Middlesbrough at the 1966 World Cup, creating one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history.

The Middlesbrough women arrived in the capital Pyongyang on Saturday for the tour, which was due

to end today.

Middlesbrough Ladies coach Marrie Wieczorek earlier said North Korean officials had invited the team to Pyongyang on a sporting and cultural exchange, during which they would play two local teams.

The visit was also to include dinner at the British embassy with surviving members of North Korea’s 1966 World Cup squad, who are still feted in the reclusive nation, where football is hugely popular. Members of the 1966 North Korean squad visited Middlesbrough, in northeast England, in 2002. —AFP

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Iraqi wheelchair tennis thrives in wake of war BAGHDAD: As a girl, Zainab Khadim Alwan cut school to watch American tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams play, imagining herself some day becoming just like them. Even the rocket that blew off her legs four years ago hasn’t dampened her desire to play the game. It’s just that she now does so in a wheelchair.

Alwan is among a growing number of young Iraqis who have turned to competitive sports to learn to live with the physical scars and emotional trauma of the 2003 US-led invasion and sectarian bloodshed it unleashed. It’s not easy in a country still suffering from daily violence, and limited help for handicapped people. Alwan and others like her are determined to persevere.

“I choose tennis because it’s a difficult game,” Alwan said. “I wanted to prove despite losing my legs, I haven’t lost my mind.” About 2,000 Iraqi athletes with disabilities compete in swimming, track and field, fencing, volleyball, shooting, weight-lifting and tennis.

More than 20 percent lost their arms and legs in suicide bombings, shooting attacks, roadside bomb explosions and as a result of mortar or rocket fire, according to Iraqi officials. “It was one minute and it all changed,” Alwan said, recalling the day she lost both legs.

That was in 2006, and her 10 brothers and sisters, her parents, nieces and nephews gathered in the house to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Fighting between Shiite and Sunni militias for political dominance was raging across Baghdad, killing dozens of innocent civilians each day on both sides of the sectarian divide.

The family was talking when rockets started to rain down. The first fell near the house. The second landed in their backyard. The third hit their house. Everyone fled as the home collapsed, seeking safety in the front yard. It was there that the fourth rocket hit. “Those rockets, (they fell) as if they were following us,” Alwan said wiping tears off her face with one hand and gently stroking her tennis racket in the other. “I lost consciousness for a few seconds, then I woke up and saw both my legs were gone.”

She almost gave up on life after the attack that killed her sister and sister-in-law. She dropped out of school, endured eight surgeries and distanced herself from her family, friends and neighbors.

“I could not cope with reality and for a long time I tried to convince myself it was all a bad dream,” Alwan said. With the support of her brothers and her father, who refused to go with the social flow of hiding their disabled sister and daughter from the outside world, Alwan got fed up with despair, joined a club and signed up for the sport she liked before the attack. “Tennis relieved Zainab’s suffering,” said her father, Kadhim Alwan Jassim. With Iraq’s violence down from its mid-decade peaks, Iraq’s sports clubs have stepped up efforts to show a new generation of disabled athletes that they can still train, compete and triumph. “We try to convince the handicapped people that it’s not the end of the world and that life with disability has a lot of potential,” said Ahmed Flaih Ajaj, president of Al-Thura Sports Club, specifically created in 2003 for handicapped athletes.

The club now has 100 athletes playing basketball, track and field, fencing, table tennis, tennis, weight lifting, swimming and volleyball.

The athletes are mostly young and predominantly male, Ajaj said, adding most struggle emotionally before embracing life with disability. “We offer some counseling, but mostly try to convince the handicapped people that sports is the best way to regain physical strength, overcome isolation and start winning again,” Ajaj said.

Alwan now walks with artificial legs she covers with long, colorful skirts. She practices tennis three days a week and hasn’t missed a single training session in two years. She trains in a club with nine men, most of whom also lost their legs in attacks. They take off their artificial limbs, line them up against the metal fence at the tennis court behind Baghdad’s biggest soccer stadium and use wheelchairs to play tennis. Of 11 players on Iraq’s wheelchair tennis national team, Alwan is the only woman, although there are other women who play around the country in wheelchairs. She won the national title twice, in 2008 and 2009, and in May marked her first international success in a tournament in Turkey, finishing third.

“After 2003 a new generation of crippled athletes began to emerge,” said Qahtan Tayeh alNaeimi, the president of the Iraqi National Paralympic Committee. The generation before them was made up of veterans of the Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s.

The reintegration into society of those who lost their limbs on the Iran front was a priority for Saddam Hussein after the eight-year war, turning Iraq into one of the Middle East’s most advanced countries in dealing with disabilities. Rehabilitation centers and sports clubs mushroomed around the country in an attempt to integrate veterans into society and the work force. Tennis — Saddam’s favorite sport — was especially popular.

Iraq’s wheelchair tennis players have benefited from a two-year program by the sport’s international governing body to develop wheelchair tennis in Iraq, providing training and supplying athletes with tennis equipment, including specially designed wheelchairs for the game. But Iraqi officials who work with handicapped athletes today say the biggest problem is not the social stigma, lack of funding, or continued violence but the fact that they rarely can attend competitions in Europe and the United States because athletes are denied visas.

Only six of 16 athletes on the volleyball team were issued visas to attend the Wheelchair Volleyball Championship in the US, sparking an official complaint by Iraq to the sport’s governing body.

“How long are they going to treat Iraqi athletes as terrorists while they are victims of terrorism?” said Karim Abdel Hussein, the president of Iraq’s Wheelchair Tennis Federation that was established in 2003 and joined the International Tennis Federation two years later.

Alwan and another top player chosen to participate in a tournament in London earlier this year could not go because the British government refused to issue them visas, Hussein said.

For Alwan, training abroad and competing in an international tournament were huge confidence boosts that prompted her to go back to school and even reconsider undergoing more surgery she’d been avoiding.

“I’ll do it, if will make my game better,” she said.

“I am determined to win an international tournament one day.” —AP

IRAQ: Zainab Khadim, 21, returns the ball during a training session at Al-Sha’ab stadium in Baghdad, Iraq, Zainab is among a growing number of young Iraqis who have turned to competitive sports to learn to live with the physical scars and emotional trauma of the 2003 US-led invasion. —AP

Saints beat the 49ers with last-second kick SAN FRANCISCO: The New Orleans Saints maintained their winning start to the season when Garrett Hartley kicked a last second 37-yard field goal to lift the defending Super Bowl champions over the San Francisco 49ers 2522 Monday.

The Saints held an eight-point lead but a seven-yard rushing touchdown by Frank Gore capped an impressive eightplay, 82-yard drive before a two-point conversion brought the 49ers to a 22-22 tie with one minute 19 seconds left.

The conversion was initially ruled out but with the referee adjudging that tight-end Vernon Davis caught the pass from quarterback Alex Smith after leaving the end zone.

That on-field decision was overruled after a video review however, raising the prospect of over-time if the 49ers could keep out the Saints.

But New Orleans, who were handed four turnovers in the game from San Francisco, marched 51 yards to set up Hartley’s game winner.

A false start led to a five-yard penal-

ty, adding to the pressure on Hartley, who was forced to kick in windy conditions. But Hartley, whose overtime field goal secured the Saints their first-ever Super Bowl appearance a year ago, nailed the kick.

It was not a vintage display from the Saints, who beat the Minnesota Vikings in week one, nor was it an entirely discouraging evening from the 49ers who now stand at 0-2 but showed plenty of grit. The night began in disastrous fashion from San Francisco with a snap that flew over quarterback Alex Smith’s head and was pushed out for a safety by David Baas-an early two point gift for the Saints.

Saints running back Reggie Bush than raced over for a six yard touchdown before the 49ers fought back with touchdowns from Gore, on a 12 yard Smith pass, and Anthony Dixon on a two yard run.

A David Thomas touchdown got the Saints ahead and although they were restricted to two field goals from Hartley, those scores created the eight

point lead before the late drama.

Saints head coach Sean Payton said he was proud of the way Hartley, who missed two field goals against the Vikings, had handled the pressure.

“He has done a good job for us. He is a good kicker and I am just proud of the way he responded, it was a big play, the conditions were windy,” Payton told reporters.

The major worry for the Saints was a leg injury to Bush which took him out of the game and to hospital for tests.

San Francisco coach Mike Singletary was angry about his team’s errors, particular the turnovers.

“We had to try and overcome some of the things we did to ourselves, that were self-inflicted..in this league it is very difficult to win football games when you are laying the football down, when you are giving the football up..we have to learn how to protect the football consistently. “When we do that then I think we will give ourselves the chance to be a good football team,” he said. —Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO: 49ers wide receiver Josh Morgan (84) is tackled by New Orleans Saints cornerback Jabari Greer (33), but not before gaining a first down in the second quarter of an NFL football game. —AP

NFL results/standings NFL result and standings on Monday: New Orleans 25, San Francisco 22.

American Football Conference AFC East W L T PF PA PCT Miami 2 0 0 29 20 1.000 NY Jets 1 1 0 37 24 .500 New England 1 1 0 52 52 .500 Buffalo 0 2 0 17 49 0 AFC North Pittsburgh 2 0 0 34 20 1.000 Cincinnati 1 1 0 39 48 .500 Baltimore 1 1 0 20 24 .500 Cleveland 0 2 0 28 33 0 AFC South Houston 2 0 0 64 51 1.000 Tennessee 1 1 0 49 32 .500 Jacksonville 1 1 0 37 55 .500 Indianapolis 1 1 0 62 48 .500 AFC West Kansas City 2 0 0 37 28 1.000 San Diego 1 1 0 52 34 .500 Oakland 1 1 0 29 52 .500 Denver 1 1 0 48 38 .500

National Football Conference NFC East Washington 1 1 0 40 37 Philadelphia 1 1 0 55 59 NY Giants 1 1 0 45 56 Dallas 0 2 0 27 40 NFC North Green Bay 2 0 0 61 27 Chicago 2 0 0 46 34 Minnesota 0 2 0 19 28 Detroit 0 2 0 46 54 NFC South Tampa Bay 2 0 0 37 21 New Orleans 2 0 0 39 31 Atlanta 1 1 0 50 22 Carolina 0 2 0 25 51 NFC West Seattle 1 1 0 45 37 Arizona 1 1 0 24 54 St. Louis 0 2 0 27 33 San Francisco 0 2 0 28 56

.500 .500 .500 0 1.000 1.000 0 0 1.000 1.000 .500 0 .500 .500 0 0

Kawy takes Egypt into final SHARM EL SHEIKH: Omneya Abdel Kawy became the first Egyptian woman ever to reach a World Open squash final when she beat the new French sensation Camille Serme in straight games in a slightly colorless semi-final by the side of the Red Sea. Kawy’s 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 win over Serme gives her the chance to emulate the many male legends of Egyptian squash over 70 years, two of whom, Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour have been dominating recently.

The 25-year-old from Cairo did that by again showing that she has creative racket skills unequalled in the women’s game, as well as an improved ability to cover the court and to play out the longer rallies when necessary. Only when Serme made a push to reach 6-5 in the second game, and then 5-3 in the third, did it seem that she might make trouble for Kawy.

She too had the ability to open up the court with disguised changes of direction and clinging drops, but looked a little sluggish compared with her surprise wins over Laura Massaro and Jenny Duncalf, and may well have been tired.

“It was the first time I had even been in the World Open semi-final, and I was really focused,” said the fourth-seeded Kawy. “I put the pressure on myself to deliver and it worked.

“I am higher ranked, this is my home, my family, my friends, my coaches and my supporters were all here-so I have to win. There could be no excuses.”

And Kawy has rarely played better. She moved from 4-3 to 8-3 with an ominous sequence of winners, two of which went to a perfect length and two into the

sidewall nick, rolling dead.

It was a hot, humid night on the Sinai peninsular, and that may have contributed to the ninth-seeded Serme’s relatively patchy performance.

She placed a drop into the tin to go 8-3 down, and another to go game ball Omneya Abdel Kawy down at 8-4.

She often attempted the right things, trying to play on Kawy’s suspect mobility with sudden cross courts and cleverly masked drives, and her run from 2-5 to 65 in the second game was encouraging.

But she then put a forehand volley out of court, and thereafter her length was sometimes indifferent, and mistakes crept into her play at unfortunate moments.

One of them, a backhand faded boast off the sidewall, faded too much and dropped into the tin, giving Kawy game ball at 10-6, an advantage the Egyptian converted amidst chants and flag-waving two rallies later.

Serme surged to 3-0 in the third game, suddenly playing very well again with three colourfully produced winners, but it was a deceptive burst and from 5-3 up she lost five points in a sequence which effectively ended the match. —AFP

Gulf Bank congratulates 100 iPad winners

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More chances for everybody with monthly draw!

IATA triples 2010 airlines’ profits to $8.9bn

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

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Asia richer, still leads world in poverty EU offers $1.3 billion to reduce poverty UNITED NATIONS: Asia has slashed the number of people living in extreme poverty, but leads the world in malnourishment and is struggling to meet ambitious development goals set at the United Nations, a UN report said yesterday.

“One of the region’s greatest MDG successes has been a reduction in the number of people living on less than $1.25 a day from $1.5 billion to $947 million between 1990 and 2005,” the UN report on Asia’s progress in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) said.

“However, the region remains home to two-thirds of the world’s poor and hungry, with one in six malnourished, and it has been slow to reduce child mortality and to improve maternal health.”

The report was issued at a three-day summit attended by more than 140 heads of state or government at UN headquarters in New York five years before the MDG deadline of 2015.

Noeleen Heyzer, executive secretary of the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, said the region had “indeed made impressive progress.”

“The region is on track to meeting the target of halving the number of people living in poverty,” she said. But the failure to reduce hunger, child mortality and poverty among women created “a mixed and worrying picture.” Asia-Pacific faces a “race against time,” she said. Eight Millennium Development Goals were launched at a UN summit in 2000, including halving the number of people in extreme poverty, cutting by two thirds the number of children dying before five years of age, and spreading the availability of Internet facilities.

European leaders have offered one billion euros ($1.3 billion) at the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) summit here, amid mounting calls for money to pay for the battle to cut extreme poverty.

The huge sum was offered late Monday

by EU commission president Jose Manuel Barroso at the end of the first day of a summit on the goals, knocked off track by the international financial crisis.

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero earlier stepped up a push for a new global financial tax, raising pressure on the world’s wealthy countries at the three-day summit to contribute more in the drive to eradicate poverty and improve child and maternal health.

African nations in particular are calling for more action and the West can expect little sympathy when the likes of Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speak yesterday.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the struggling effort to reach eight key development goals by 2015 could still be met if world leaders provide the necessary money and political will.

The aims include cutting the more than one billion people living on less than a dollar a day, reducing by two-thirds the number of children who die before the age of five, seeking fairer trade, and spreading the Internet to the world’s poor.

While spectacular progress has been made in some areas, most experts say none of the goals will be reached by the target date. The international financial crisis has cut off badly needed funding.

Sarkozy said: “We have no right to shelter behind the economic crisis as supposed grounds for doing less.”

“Finance has globalized, so why should we not ask finance to participate in stabilizing the world by taking a tax on each financial transaction.”

Sarkozy vowed to press for a global tax when France is head of the Group of 20 and Group of Eight countries next year.

“While all developed countries are in

Property stocks lift Dubai index to 21-week high MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Property stocks lifted Dubai’s index to a 21week high yesterday, but the market is likely to correct, analysts said, with little substance behind its rally. Other Middle East markets also rose, tracking gains on global bourses. Dubai’s Arabtec rose 1.6 percent to 1.93 dirhams after a broker gave the builder a buy rating and a target price of 2.4 dirhams. Union Properties climbed 1.5 percent.

Property stocks are typically the most volatile on markets in the United Arab Emirates and so tend to overshoot on the way up and down, attracting speculators. “Real estate stocks are doing well because of the (share) price factor,” said Vyas Jayabhanu, head of investments, Al Dhafra Financial Broker. “They have dropped quite a lot and so you have a rally. However, it’s improbable that it will sustain. Dubai needs an inflow of funds.”

The index rose 0.6 percent to its highest close since May 18, taking its September gains to 14.7 percent as traders bet a post-Ramadan rally, often a feature of regional markets, can be sustained. Yet the benchmark is down 5.7 percent in 2010 and 73 percent below a 2008 peak as the emirate’s property crash and its estimated $110 billion of debts weighed on stocks.

“Dubai’s real estate sector will take a long time to solve its structural issues and rebalance the supplydemand equation,” said Shahid Hameed, Global Investment House head of asset management for the Gulf region.“The UAE, and Dubai in particular, was a real estate play, either directly or indirectly, and the economy has to find a new growth engine, which I don’t see happening at present. Hence, I wouldn’t think equities can make a sustained rally - current gains are more of a dead cat bounce.”

Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical index hit a threemonth high. Product prices are up 5 to 8 percent this month as unscheduled plant shutdowns squeezed supply, said Ankit Gupta, senior research analyst at Securities & Investment Company (SICO) in Bahrain.

“Although demand hasn’t picked up significantly, lower than expected supplies...support global prices,” said Gupta. “So, (it’s) good for producers who are operating at the expense of producers who faced such shutdowns.”

Gupta is cautious about the sector’s prospects.

“We remain neutral due to lack of near-term catalysts, limited incremental cost pressures and the expected new supplies during the fourth quarter,” added Gupta. “We favour Tasnee, SAFCO and Advanced Petrochemicals in the short-term.”

Tasnee, also known as National Industrialization Co, fell 0.3 percent, easing from Monday’s 20-week high. SAFCO (Saudi Arabian Fertilizers Co), fell by the same margin to end slightly below this week’s six-month peak, while Advanced Petrochemical Co rose 0.8 percent. Commercial Bank of Qatar rose 1.3 percent, helping Doha’s index reach a 21-week high.

“Qatar is outperforming, led by banks, which have very good valuations,” said Rami Sidani, Schroders Middle East head of investment. “Some Q3 results are expected soon from the banking and petrochemical sectors which will impact the market.”

In Egypt, Talaat Moustafa, rose 2.5 percent, but pared early gains after Egypt’s cabinet delayed a meeting that was expected to resolve a land dispute involving the firm. The country’s index hit a fourmonth high. — Reuters

deficit, we must find new sources of financing for the struggle against poverty, for education and for the ending of the planet’s big pandemics.”

Sarkozy also said that France would increase its payments to the UN fund on AIDS and malaria by 60 million euros a year to 360 million euros ($470 million).

The Spanish prime minister also took up the bank tax campaign. “We must launch a tax on financial transactions to complete the MDGs and my government has promised to defend them and to put them into practice.

This will be at all international meetings.”

Barroso, confirming what he called “Europe’s commitment to the challenge,” said the international community needed to produce “more effective results because time is running out.”

UN officials estimate that at least $120 billion will have to be found over the next five years to hope to meet the eight goals.

Aid groups, however, say much more will be needed and have expressed doubts about the political will to meet the goals, set in 2000.

Politicians have also indicated some doubts. At a meeting on the summit sidelines, Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said: “We’re on track not to reach any of the development goals. We need more finance and better strategies. If we are going to mobilize more money we have to make more sure to spend it more wisely.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also said at the meeting that not all the targets would be met in all countries by 2015. Africa made increasingly strident criticism of wealthy nations. Georges Rebelo Chukoti, Angola’s secretary of state for external relations, said: “The fight against poverty cannot be won only with the holding of conferences and summits to negotiate more commitments to development. — Agencies

MANILA: Homeless mother Myrna Botongan shares a meal given by good Samaritans with her children Almira (right) and Minerva on a street in the Quiapo area of Manila. As the UN holds a September 2010 summit to review progress in helping the world’s have-nots, the good news is a sharp decline in Asian poverty rates, thanks largely to robust economic growth in China and India. — AP

Swiss private bank Lombard Birmingham eyes asset sales, Middle East cash Odier seeks Mideast growth DUBAI: Swiss private bank Lombard Odier aims to more than double its business stemming from the Middle East and is considering local partnerships to that end, a senior executive said.

Lombard Odier has had ties to the oil-rich region since the 1970s but only opened a representative office in Dubai in 2007.

Until recently, it was less aggressive than some of its competitors such as Credit Suisse and Julius Baer in targeting the region’s wealthy individuals.

“We have not developed at the same pace over the last 10 to 15 years as some of our competitors,” Arnaud Leclercq, head of the bank’s private clients business in eastern countries and the Middle East, told Reuters.

“We have decided we wanted to widen our client base, it is not only wealthy sheikhs and people involved in oil and gas anymore, there are also very successful entrepreneurs.”

The Geneva-based group, one of the world’s oldest private banks, has 150 billion Swiss francs ($149 billion) in assets under management, of which less than 10 percent comes from the Middle East — a proportion the bank is trying to raise to 20 percent in the next three to five years, Leclercq said.

“We are quite bullish but we will do it at our pace, a mix between organic and sustainable growth,” he added. The bank, whose roots go back to 1796 and which is still an independent family house, is in early discussions with an unnamed local entity that would help the bank tap other lucrative markets in the region such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

“We are in talks, in the early stages of discussing such cooperation, it tends not to be a JV (joint venture) but more a cooperation agreement,” Leclercq said, declining to give more detail as the discussions were confidential.

In addition, the private bank is mulling a partnership with a sharia-compliant fund to start developing Islamic finance products in the region.

“Instead of building our own (sharia) board we would rather go to the people who are the best specialists,” he said. Lombard Odier’s Swiss rival Sarasin in November 2009 became one of the first foreign private banks to launch an Islamic product offering. Lombard recently hired two senior bankers in the Gulf region, one who worked for Credit Suisse and the other for Lloyds TSB. — Reuters

ST PETERSBURG: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (second left) put his sign on a new car as Chairman of the Hyundai Motor Company Chung Monng-koo (left) looks on at the opening ceremony of Hyundai Motor Co’s first plant in Russia outside St Petersburg yesterday. — AP

BIRMINGHAM, England: Birmingham council leaders are in talks with Middle East sovereign funds, hoping to plug a budget hole selling some of the billions of pounds of trophy assets owned by Britain’s second city.

The NEC-Britain’s biggest exhibition centre, prime real estate and a stake in Birmingham Airport could all be up for grabs, councillors said, as they look to fund big capital projects at a time when the national government is demanding deep spending cuts.

Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council which represents over 1 million people and describes itself as Europe’s biggest local authority, said he had been approached by sovereign wealth funds and was talking with the Abu Dhabi government as he tried to forge closer ties to the Middle East.

“We would allow them to be in partnership with our assets including the National Indoor Arena (NIA), the Symphony Hall, the ICC (International Convention Centre) and the National Exhibition Centre (NEC),” Whitby, a member of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party, told Reuters.

The NEC Group, wholly owned by the council and which groups together the main exhibition centre as well as other venues such as the NIA and ICC, has fixed assets worth about 750 million pounds ($1.2 billion) according to precredit crisis valuations included in the council’s most recent annual report.

NEC made an operating profit of almost 30 million pounds last year, on revenues of 110 million. Whitby said wealthy investors had shown a significant level of interest in the city’s ‘Big City Plan’ redevelopment during a recent trip to Kuwait when he spoke to the country’s chamber of commerce.

Such asset sales and foreign investment show how councils could invest in infrastructure despite expected cuts of 20-30 percent in their budgets, and would help the government towards its goal of using the private sector to lead economic recovery.

Birmingham’s Beorma quarter development, the latest phase in the regeneration of the city centre, has attracted about 200 million pounds from Kuwaiti lead developer Salhia International Investments, Whitby said.

Plans to knock down and relocate the main library and redevelop the site in the heart of the city have also caught the eye of Middle Eastern investors, said Randal Brew, the councillor responsible for finance.

“We have been successful in attracting

quite a lot of Arab money, the leader has gone out and marketed the city,” Brew said during a recent visit to the city by Reuters reporters. “It is important because it is a new source (of investment).”

Elsewhere, the local business community is busy forging ties with Middle Eastern investors, as highlighted by a visit this month from Sheikh Ali al-Hashimi, religious advisor in the United Arab Emirates ministry of presidential affairs.

“We want to see if we can get sovereign wealth attracted to projects in Birmingham,” said Noor Siddiqi, a lawyer, who organized Al-Hashimi’s trip.

“London has the attention of most of the world but other regions like Birmingham have a massive Muslim community and can relate to Muslim countries.”

One Conservative Party councillor, who asked not to be named, said the council could raise funds by selling its 19 percent stake in Birmingham international airport.

Britain’s sixth busiest airport is worth about 870 million pounds, based on the 420 million the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Australia’s Victorian Funds Management paid for a 48 percent stake in 2007.

Such a sale would have long-term strategic and financial implications, however, and Brew was less keen on sales of anything other than real estate assets, saying he knew of no plans to sell the NEC or the council’s airport stake.

“They generate good returns and they have a good asset value... Now is not the time to review those type of assets because you would not get the maximum value,” he said.

Birmingham airport reported a net profit of 0.6 million pounds for the year to end-March, down from 9.9 million in 2008/09. The council earned a dividend income of 0.4 million, down from 2 million.

The council, which according to Brew owns about 40 percent of Birmingham, has a total capital budget for the next three years of just under 1.5 billion pounds.

“We will fund that by a number of means and included in that will be capital receipts from the sale of properties we have that are surplus to requirements,” said Brew.

Other big items sitting on the council’s balance sheet include about 2 billion pounds worth of social housing, equating to a third of its total fixed assets. “We are looking at how we operate,” said Brew. “We are looking a number of situations.” — Reuters

22

business

Wednesday, september 22, 2010

Electricity price hike first sign of huge subsidy cuts

Iranians jolted by power bills as subsidy slashed TEHRAN: Many Iranian householders have been st unned by huge electricity bills after the government suddenly withdrew fuel subsidies without warning exactly when t he cuts would fall. Consumer s said yesterday their bills were as much as 1,000 percent higher t ha n last month-the first hit from President M ahmoud Ahmadinejad’s sweeping plan to save the s tate t he $100 billion it currently pays to subsidize essential goods.

GAPCORP offers 5-year warranty for all Nissan, Infiniti vehicles in Kuwait KUWAIT: GAPCORP, which is recognized regionally as the largest international and local extended warranty provider, yesterday announced an extended 5-year warranty on every new Nissan and Infiniti vehicle in Kuwait.

The extended warranty will come with unlimited kilometers and will cover all mechanical and electrical components, thus will enhance the residual value of the vehicle.

GAPCORP announced that this extended warranty is part of its strategic agreement with Nissan Gulf and Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al Babtain Company, the exclusive importers and distributors of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles in Kuwait.

GAPCORP’s agreement with Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al Babtain Co is integral to its recently signed regional contract with Nissan Gulf to implement extended warranty to all Nissan and Infiniti vehicles across the Middle East and North Africa [MENA] region.

In his comments on the new extended warranty within Kuwait, Martin Warburton,

Vice-Chairman of GAPCORP, said: “We are happy to offer extended warranty on Nissan and Infiniti vehicles in Kuwait, which are integral to our commitment to our customers and offering them unmatched services. This new service will not only enhance our credibility and awareness but also provide the end-buyers with a better resale value.”

GAPCORP, a global leader in extended warranty products, provides a basket of products and services in each of the GCC markets, Europe, South East Asia and the Americas. “The customer will have the same extended warranty coverage anywhere he travels across the Middle East,” added Warburton.

The extended warranty will be a duplicate of the manufacturers’ warranty for electrical and mechanical components and will cover the vehicles during the most crucial time required - after the expiry of the original manufacturers’ warranty.

The company also offers the F&I platform scheme - a mechanism that provides auto dealers with a platform to manage the

needs of their customers by creating a onestop-shop for the consumer at the time of purchasing a vehicle.

GAPCORP already have a joint venture with Zuellig Group - one of the largest privately-held companies in South East Asia covering Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia under Asia Warranty Services and in the Gulf Council Countries under GAPGULF and in Europe through its European arm, the UKbased Euro Warranty.

GAPCORP subsidiary Latin American Extended Services has a joint venture with Mexican conglomerate Qualitas Insurance and Mexbrit and Warrantech in North America.

The Company is also a global implementer for Nissan and Infiniti value added products such as extended Warranty, GAP products and Road Side Assistance. In addition, GAPCORP has a comprehensive client list such as BMW Financial Services, DAIMLER (Mercedes) in KSA, Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Orix Leasing, HSBC, KIA and Hyundai, and many more.

UAE telecom retailer Axiom eyes 2010 IPO DUBAI: UAE-based retailer Axiom Telecom, which is 40 percent owned by a unit of conglomerate Dubai Holding, is eyeing an initial public offering for a listing on Nasdaq Dubai, the first IPO from the Gulf state in two years.

Deutsche Bank is the sole mandated arranger on the deal but other banks could also play a role, a source familiar with the

matter said yesterday.

The deal is expected to be announced next week, the source told IFR, a Thomson Reuters unit, without offering further details. The Dubai-based mobile phone distributor has been eyeing a public offering since at least 2005. In 2007, its chief executive said the firm wanted to float shares by 2010.

Axiom was not immediately reachable for comment.

TECOM Investments, part of Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group (DHCOG), owns 40 percent of Axiom.

DHCOG has interests in several telecoms firms, including a 19.5 percent stake in telecom provider Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Co, also

known as du. DHCOG, itself a part of Dubai Holding, said in June it may resort to asset sales to deal with its debt after posting a $6.2 billion loss for 2009.

Dubai firms, weighed down by massive debt burdens, have been restructuring obligations as the emirate finds its footing after Dubai World’s debt crisis last year. — Reuters

Ahmadinejad calls the subsidy reform “the biggest economic plan in the past 50 years” and while Western economists say it is a necessary step to reduce waste, they have warned that any sudden price hikes risk igniting public unrest.

The president’s political rivals within the conservative ruling elite are also likely to blame him for any backlash over the plan which was meant to start six months ago but was delayed due to disagreements between Ahmadinejad and parliament.

A customer in Tehran was told that her two-month bill had gone from 800,000 rials (around $80) to 5 million rials due to the combined effect of the subsidy cut and a policy of increase charges on high consumers.

A parliamentarian in the north-eastern city of Gorgan said some of his constituents’ bills had increased tenfold.

“According to what parliament approved, the price of goods and services should rise slowly and reach their real price over five years so people don’t feel the pressure on their daily lives,” Abdolhossein Naseri was quoted as saying by the semi-official Mehr news agency.

Iranians had been bracing for fuel and food prices to rise steeply when the subsidy cuts take effect, due to happen during the second half of the Iranian year, which begins on Thursday.

Last week a government official said gasoline subsidies would remain for at least one month beyond that date-a delay some analysts saw as a sign the government might be getting cold feet over the potentially unpopular policy.

Iran’s oil-based economy is already under pressure from sanctions which make it harder for companies to make international transactions and for the Islamic Republic to find foreign investment for its vital energy sector.

Ahmadinejad has dismissed the sanctions-aimed at pressuring Tehran to curb its nuclear program-as ineffective and says the subsidy cuts will also be painless.

Before leaving for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, he said there would be “no negative consequences with this plan” as long as poorer families receive hardship payments he has promised and Iranians acted with a spirit of cooperation. —Reuters

Gulf Bank congratulates 100 iPad winners of third draw Third ‘Summer Surprises’ promotion KUWAIT: Gulf Bank has announced and congratulated the third and final 100 lucky winners of its “Summer Surprises” promotion. The draw was held on September 15, 2010 and each lucky winner received an Apple iPad. Gulf Bank’s summer long promotion offered its credit card customers the chance to win one of 300 iPads (64 GB WIFI). The promotion was open to customers who used any of their Gulf Bank credit cards during the summer season and over the Holy Month of Ramadan, either locally, or abroad.

This is the final draw of the summer long promotion. For each promotional period, 100 new iPads were won. Customers were automatically entered into the draw, with one chance for every KD20 they spend locally and double chances for every KD20 spent overseas.

A Gulf Bank credit card gives customers the freedom to purchase goods and services with exclusive discounts and meet their day-to-day shopping and purchasing requirements in the safest possible way. The summer iPad promotion adds further value to the many existing benefits already enjoyed by Gulf Bank’s credit card holders.

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

.2820000 .4430000 .3720000 .2820000 .2760000 .2680000 .0045000 .0020000 .0776930 .7569390 .4020000 .0750000 .7420460 .0045000 .0500000

US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

CUSTOMER TRANS FER RATES .2862000 .4457660 .3746820 .2844210 .2779570 .0503130 .0411020 .2704450 .0368610 .2148430 .0033450 .0063030 .0025490 .0033570 .0041470 .0779600 .7595400 .4047670 .0763690 .7448170 .0065410

US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals

TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2883000 .4489150 .2864360 .0768560

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.380 6.291 3.355

.2920000 .4530000 .3800000 .2910000 .2850000 .2720000 .0075000 .0035000 .0784740 .7645460 .4180000 .0790000 .7495040 .0072000 .0580000 .2883000 .4489150 .3773280 .2864360 .2799260 .0506700 .0413930 .2723550 .0371220 .2163650 .0033690 .0063480 .0025670 .0033810 .0041770 .0784580 .7643840 .4076350 .0768560 .7495680 .0065870

Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

2.551 3.951 216.190 37.041 4.139 6.531 9.366 0.296 0.310 GCC COUNTRIES 76.705 79.035 747.320 764.000 78.331

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES 52.900 50.401 1.356 198.300 406.200 193.000 6.207 34.352

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 287.530 Euro 377.960 Sterling Pound 449.410 Canadian dollar 280.650 Turkish lire 192.240 Swiss Franc 287.240 Australian dollar 271.720 US Dollar Buying 286.750 GOLD 250.000 127.000 65.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

SELL CASH 274.800 764.410 4.320 282.400 567.300 14.100 51.500 167.800 52.820 380.100

37.710 6.470 0.036 0.284 0.251 3.450 408.180 0.195 95.450 46.000 4.500 212.800 1.959 48.800 746.670 3.510 6.670.530 79.500 76.750 216.810 42.910 2.736 451.600 42.300 288.800 6.400 9.700 198.263 78.430 287.800 1.380

10 Tola

GOLD 1,381.330

Sterling Pound US Dollar

37.560 6.290 0.036

406.300 0.194 95.450 3.990 211.300 746.490 3.350 79.070 76.750 216.810 42.910 2.550 449.600 287.300 6.400 9.530 78.330 287.400

S ELL DRAFT 273.300 764.410 4.140 280.900

216.800 50.442 378.600

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

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

287.500 280.729 449.241 375.734 286.606 704.798 761.106 78.268 78.962 76.649 405.769 50.446 6.214 3.359

2.552 4.152 6.476 3.368 9.278 6.273 3.881

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

Rate per 1000 (Tran) 287.400 3.360 6.310 2.560 4.135 6.565 78.330 76.850 764.000 50.395 452.900 0.00003280 3.950 1.550 408.200 5.750 382.200 284.900

Al Mulla Exchange

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 449.600 287.400

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

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 Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Currency

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

Transfer rate

287.200 378.000 448.600 280.400 3.380 6.280 50.390 2.549 4.129 6.516 3.352 764.000 78.250 76.620

BUSINESS

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

23

KAMCO Monthly Money Market Report

Kuwait money supply drops as liquid deposits slow down KUWAIT: Kuwait’s broad mea sur e of money supply ( M2) dropped significantly during July-10 , reflect ing slowdown in the expansion of liquid deposits along with a fur ther contract ion in quasi money. M2 dropped by KD 3 67 mn to reach KD 2 4.9 bn at the end of July, the highest drop since July-09 when M2 dr opped by KD 548 mn. Such a drop in M2 was in lar ge part attr ibuted to t he fall in quasi money which shed KD 240 mn to r eac h a low of KD 19.46 bn, t he lowest level since February 2009, along with t he KD 98 mn drop in KD sight deposits.

Omar Al-Houti

VIVA Kuwait celebrates with winners of best recipes Facebook drive Awards valuable prizes for delicious food recipes KUWAIT: VIVA Kuwait yesterday announced the first three winners of our Facebook campaign launched during the Holy month of Ramadan, which provided many of our fans with an opportunity to share delicious recipes on VIVA Kuwait’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/VIVAQ8.

Participants were able to combine their interest in social networkingg with the joy of Ramadan by e-mailing their recipes to recipes@viva.com.kw and having fans, friends and families vote on the “Most Liked” recipes.

“We are delighted at the outstanding success of the competition and the huge number of fans who participated,” said Omar Al-Houti, Corporate Communication Manager at VIVA Kuwait.

Lucky winners received IPhone 3GS, courtesy of VIVA Kuwait.

Fed to debate easing but seen likely to hold off WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve yesterday appears set to debate pumping billions of dollars more into the sluggish US economy, but is likely to hold off any action to take further readings on the health of the recovery.

With the unemployment rate at a lofty 9.6 percent and inflation running below levels the Fed would like to see, some officials may argue the case for more easing is already made.

Others have made clear they would view a move as premature. In the absence of action, financial markets will carefully parse the Fed’s post-meeting statement for any clues on how the internal debate is unfolding, and whether the central bank may be moving closer to relaunching purchases of government bonds. The Fed is expected to release its statement at around 2:15 p.m. (1815 GMT). “Conditions have not deteriorated enough to spur a new round of asset purchases now, and we think the Fed recognizes that there is little to be gained by hinting at the possibility of expanding the balance sheet in the future,” Wrightson ICAP Chief Economist Lou Crandall said in a note to clients.

However, few economists expect the economy to suddenly

regain vigor and many believe the Fed will launch another round of asset buying as soon as its next meeting in early November. The Fed opened the door to further easing at its last gathering on Aug. 10, when it announced it would resume purchases of longer-term Treasury securities to prevent its portfolio-and support for the economyfrom shrinking as mortgagerelated debt it holds matures.

After slashing interest rates to zero, the Fed bought up $1.7 trillion in longer-term US government debt and mortgagelinked bonds as a way to further lower borrowing costs.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said in late August that while officials are ready to ease more if needed, they would do so only if the economic outlook deteriorated significantly.

Now, officials will debate whether the economy is at or nearing that threshold. Many of the inflation-focused hawks on the Fed’s policy-setting panel think it is not. Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Lacker, who is not a voter this year, said last week that he would support further easing if deflation were to become a real worry, but he added that the economy is “fairly far” from that now. — Reuters

Since the Beginning of the year, M2 grew by a marginal 0.02 per cent or KD 5.6 mn driven by an increase of KD 719 mn in the KD sight deposits that recorded KD 4.66 bn at the end of July; however, this growth was mainly offset by the drop of 3.6 per cent or KD 722 mn in Quasi money. The growth in M2 since Dec-09 is still much lower than the 12 per cent increase witnessed during the comparable period of 2009. Stock market volatility and low investors’ risk appetite played a key role in accumulating deposits with banks. This is in addition to the lack of viable long-term investment opportunities in the local and regional markets due to the invisibility of corporate earnings that had been hit by the slowdown in economic activity, unfavorable business environment, impairments of investments and high provisioning by the majority of banks.

II Deposits with Local Banks During July total residents’ deposits saw a considerable drop of around 1.7 per cent or around KD 481 mn from the levels recorded at the end of June, the highest drop since June 2008, and ended the month at KD 27.9 bn. This drop is mainly attributed to the rise in investors’ risk appetite and gradual restoration of confidence in the market which resulted in a better than expected performance of the local bourse with KAMCO TRW index adding 4 per cent during July-10. Government deposits dropped by KD 143 mn indicating that local banks have sufficient liquidity to finance new projects and at the same time are adequately capitalized despite the threat of rising non-performing loans and the exposure to real estate sector and stressed nonbank financial institutions. Moreover, private sector deposits dropped by KD 338 mn following the recovery in the local bourse and positive market sentiment driven by the government’s efforts to boost economic growth and restore confidence into the credit market.

During the first seven month of 2009, total deposits with local banks have increased by KD 2.7 bn or 11 per cent mainly on the back of high volatility in stock prices along with dull investment opportunities in the local bourse. On the other hand, deposit figures for the first seven months of the current year recorded a marginal drop of 0.6 per cent or KD 175 mn and hence providing a positive signal that a gradual improvement in investors’ sentiment is on the way despite the lack of various viable investment opportunities in the local bourse coupled with the general risk-aversion and capital preservation preference that has been prevalent in the market as equity markets have witnessed increased levels of risk.

Private sector deposits, which represent a significant portion of local Banks’ deposit base, with a percentage contribution of 86.3 per cent, witnessed a significant drop of KD 338 mn during July while registering a marginal increase of KD 3.8 mn since the beginning of the year to record KD 24.1 bn at the end of July. Moreover, private sector deposits denominated in Kuwaiti Dinar compromised the majority of private sector deposits with a percentage contribution of 92 per cent or around KD 22.2 bn, whereas private sector deposits in foreign currencies constituted the remaining 8 per cent or KD 1.9 bn. Private sector deposits in foreign currencies have been following a downward trend since Dec09 triggered by the volatility in major foreign currencies (USD, Euro and Yen), heightened financial market volatility, US economic softness, renewed global risk aversion and delayed monetary tightening in core advanced economies.

III. Credit Facilities Credit growth during 2010 remains sluggish triggered by the tight credit conditions, unfavorable business environment along with highly indebted financial institutions. Similarly, the latest indicators suggest that conditions remain tight, although the first five months of 2010 indicated that the availability of credit has started to ease gradually; Personal facilities and lending to non-bank financial institutions and various economic sectors had been muted on the back of high default risk prevailing in the local credit market.

More chances for everybody with monthly Wataniya draw!

Abdulrazzaq Al-Lateef is fifth customer to win a MINI COOPER 2011 with Wataniya KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom continues to give out prizes to the winners for its recent monthly draw conducted at the beginning of this month, in which it aims at providing each customer and subscriber with the opportunity to enter the draw if his/her number starts with 6.

Marking this month as the fifth one, thousands of customers have been anticipating the draw results and have been very enthusiastic about it.

Wataniya customer Abdulrazzaq Essa Al-Lateef is the fifth lucky winner who won a MINI Cooper Cab 2011, as the raffle draw took place with the attendance of representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and a number of Wataniya’s leading members.

The rewarding ceremony to deliver the car keys to the winner took place at Ali Al-Ghanim and Sons Showroom in the presence of Abdolaziz Al-Balool Wataniya’s Public relations manager.

On the occasion, Al-Balool congratu-

lated the winner and added: “Our monthly draws have all resulted in great success and attracted a magnificent number of customers which

encourages us to provide them with more offers and promotional campaigns with valuable prizes to our customers in the 7 months to come.”

Abdullah Ghadanfar - ABYAT

ABYAT presents KD10,000 prizes for Al-Roudan football fans and viewers KUWAIT: ABYAT, the largest home improvement and furnishing retail store in the Middle East, yesterday announced it has awarded KD10,000 to Al-Roudan football tournament weekly draw winners. ABYAT was the platinum sponsor of the tournament for the third consecutive year.

Winners received each KD2,500 worth of purchases on ABYAT finishing materials and furniture products that comply with international quality standards and guarantee the best prices.

ABYAT Operations and CRM Director, Abdullah Hussein Ghadanfar, said: “This is the third year that ABYAT unites with the late Abdullah Mishari Al-Roudan football tournament as the platinum sponsor with an ABYAT team par-

ticipation in the tournament. As part of ABYAT’s support towards engaging the viewers and fans of the tournament, we extended an opportunity this year for viewers to improve their homes by providing weekly prizes throughout the tournament duration in Ramadan.”

The winners from the weekly draws were Waseem Abdelghani Al-Ansari, Marzouq Dakheel Al-Azmi and Khulood Fahad Al-Mutairi.

Second week draw winner, Marzouq Dakheel Al-Azmi said: “The timing of winning the ABYAT prize couldn’t be more perfect as I have just been granted a government plot.

I was even more thrilled when I visited ABYAT’s showroom for the first time and saw the magnificent options to choose from to help me

build, design and furnish my house, as well as the services ABYAT provides for its customers, like the seven-years-no-interest loan. ABYAT is truly the home of homes.”

Ghadanfar added: “Al-Roudan tournament attracts the largest number of football fans in Kuwait and is renowned across the country in its ability to bring together Kuwaiti participants, professional players, and companies for an entire month. The tournament has always been able to create sportsmanship and friendly competition on and off the court, between athletes and professional players in Kuwait and across the world.

Al-Roudan continues to unite people and we look forward in continuing to unite with the tournament in its next years.”

Panasonic’s FX series: The ultimate hybrid Slim and stylish digital cameras DUBAI: Panasonic yesterday introduced two new digital cameras, the 14.1 megapixel LUMIX DMCFX700 and DMC-FX75 to compliment the already popular FX series, for the Middle East market.

These new cameras pack a host of advanced functions in a stylish body that also feature a F2.2 super bright 24mm ultra wide angle LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens with 5x optical zoom, making the camera versatile for shooting dynamic landscapes, or moving subject in low-lit situations such as indoors or at night.

The 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens - rare on a compact camera - gives photographers a wider range of composition possibilities with approx.

213% larger viewing space compared to that of 35mm camera. The lens unit consists of 7 elements in 6 groups with 3 aspherical lenses with 5 aspherical surfaces.

In addition to the 0.3mm super thin aspherical lens and 0.3mm thin spherical lens, another aspherical lens is designed to be as thin as 0.4mm, which results in the realization of F2.2 brightness and 24mm ultra wide angle of view at the same time.

“The two new additions to the FX range of LUMIX cameras from Panasonic introduces amazing new integrated technology to make photography even more fun without compromising on picture quality for photos and video recording,” commented Hitesh Ojha, Senior Product Manager AV Categories, Consumer Electronics Department, Panasonic Marketing Middle East FZE. “Panasonic Lumix is a pioneer with the Touch Shutter technology that offers consumers an exciting and new way of taking photo’s that was not possible earlier. The LUMIX range offers a camera for every situation, and budget,” added Ojha. To realize a high speed and accurate image processing, both the image sensor and the image pro-

cessing LSI is re-engineered. The new 14.1-megapixel MOS sensor achieves high speed consecutive shooting and full HD movie recording with high resolution and high sensitivity.

The cameras also feature a new image processing LSI, the Venus Engine FHD, assures high picture quality in both photo and movie recording.

It also compiles the Intelligent Resolution technology to perform the optimum signal processing depending on the part of a picture to give a whole image outstandingly natural clearness with fine details.

The powerful 5x optical zoom* increases its power to 6.5x equivalent with the Intelligent Zoom function taking advantage of the Intelligent Resolution technology maintaining the picture quality even using digital zoom.

The Sonic Speed AF and a quick start-up time gives the cameras super high speed response that helps to catch even the most fleeting photo opportunities. “Panasonic was

Burst mode’, said Ojha.

The newly added Intelligent Burst mode adjusts the frame rate of burst shooting according to the speed of the subject’s movement. If the movement of the subject is not so fast, the camera shoot is at regular frame rate and it moves fast, the camera increases it accordingly.

The Face Recognition function

the first brand to introduce the Intelligent Auto mode in 2007 and now we’ve up’d the antil in the Intelligence with yet another new and exciting feature - the Intelligent

remembers registered faces to give an appropriate AF/AE on the people while removing the unwanted redeye. The Intelligent Scene Selector automatically selects whichever of 6

Scene modes - Macro, Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, Night Scenery and Sunset - that best suits the shooting situation.

Both the new models offer Panaroma assist mode that allows users to take clear and beautiful shots of wide landscapes and scenic urban areas.

The latest version of exciting software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.2 HD Edition comes bundled with the cameras. The PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.2 HD Edition makes it possible to sort and organize photos not only of those newly taken but also of those stored in the PC. Speeding up its processing time, the Face Recognition function that recognizes the faces in the picture and the software automatically sort the photos by the registered faces without picking out each photo one by one.

Users can also enjoy slideshows with a variety of effects by accessing iTunes music library as background music. Motion pictures can be uploaded directly to YouTube using the built-in YouTube uploader even in HD (High Definition) quality.

It also allows users to create a 360-degree rotation panorama file in MOV, which is especially easy if Panorama Assist mode in the camera is used.

24

BUSINESS GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT

KSE rally short-lived KUWAIT: The short-lived rally didn’t last through yesterday with KSE stocks edging lower. All major indices ended the day in the negative territory. The retreat was broad -based with seven out of the eight sectors losing ground.

Investors engage in profit-taking following the run up the KSE witnessed over the last few weeks.

Global General Index (GGI) closed 1.07 points down (0.51 percent) during the day at 209.55 point as the Market capitalization was down for the day reaching KD33.74mn. On the other side, Kuwait Stock Exchange Price Index managed to close down losing a 0.10 point to its value and closed at 6,820.8 point.

Market breadth During the session, 119 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 44 equities retreated versus 36 that advanced, while 131 stocks remained unchanged during the trading session.

Trading activities ended on a positive note yesterday as volume of shares traded on the exchange increased by 28.67 percent to reach 271.46mn shares, and value of shares traded increased by 31.17 percent to stand at KD44.24mn.

The Real Estate Sector was the volume leader yesterday, accounting for 38.30 percent of total shares and the Services Sector was the value leader, with 37.67 percent of total traded value. Jeezan Holding Co was the volume leader yesterday, with a total traded volume of 40.40mn shares. Zain Company was the value leader, with a total traded value of KD10.85mn.

In terms of top gainers, Jeeran Holding Co was the biggest

gainer for the day, adding 15.25 percent and closed at KD0.136.

On the other hand, City Group Company was the biggest decliner, dropping by 7.69 percent and closed at KD0.600.

Sector-wise The advance was broad-based with 7 out of 8 sectors closing in negative territory. Services stocks spearheaded decliners, clocking 0.84 percent in sector losses.

Mobile Telecommunication Co (ZAIN) declined by 1.52 percent, whilst Sultan Center Food Products Co declined by 1.00 percent.

Global Banking Index was the second biggest loser among the

sectors shedding 0.72 percent.

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) declined by 1.75 percent closing at KD1.120.On the up side, Burgan Bank added 1.04 percent closing at KD0.485. Moody’s Investors Service has yesterday assigned a long-term rating of A3 to the ten-year subordinated notes to be issued by Burgan Financial No1 (Jersey) Limited.

The assigned outlook is negative.

On the up side, Global Industrial Index was the only gainer among the sectors clocking 1.16 percent in sector gains.

National Industries Group (Holding) rose by 2.60 percent closing at KD0.0.395. United Industries Co was the major gain-

er in the sector adding 9.26 percent at KD0.118.

Oil news The price of the Kuwaiti crude oil dropped $0.56 in trading on Monday to settle at $73.25 a barrel, compared with last Friday’s price of $73.81, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said yesterday.

Corporate news Soor Fuel Marketing Co reported extending the KD1.50mn agreement signed with the Ministry of Interior for six months. Accordingly, the company will operate, manage and maintain the Ministry’s oil

stations, in addition to supplying them with oil coupons.

National Cleaning Co has received a letter of award for tender No WKM/59/2009-2010 from the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW). Under this agreement, NCC will undertake the cleaning works in Shuaiba power and desalination plants through a 100%-owned subsidiary. The contract worth KD577,853 will extend for three years.

Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) announces that the executive management of Al-Qurain Petrochemical Industries Co (QPIC) denied local press news about the potential acquisition by an international investor.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Solid EU bond auctions lift market sentiment LONDON: Investors breathed a sigh of relief that bond auctions in Ireland, Spain and Greece went smoothly and sent European stocks and the euro higher yesterday while US investors waited for the latest policy statement from the Federal Reserve.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was up 28.74 points, or 0.5 percent, at 5,631.28 while Germany’s DAX rose 32.31 points, or 0.5 percent, to 6,326.89. The CAC-40 in France was 29.03 points, or 0.8 percent, higher at 3,817.04.

Wall Street was poised for a fairly subdued opening following big gains on Monday — Dow futures were down 11 points at 10,660 while the broader Standard & Poor’s 500 futures rose just less than 2 points to 1,138.40. Ahead of the Fed statement, which is due at 2:15 p.m. EDT (1815 GMT), the focus of attention was on a trio of bond auctions, which, had they failed, threatened to reignite the government debt crisis that engulfed the euro-zone earlier this year and raise questions about the long-term viability of the euro currency itself. Relief that the auctions went smoothly solidified stocks in Europe. In particular, investors were relieved that Ireland managed to tap the markets for §1.5 billion by selling four-year and eight-year government bonds, indicating that demand remained firm despite recent concerns that the Irish economy was falling off a cliff as it grapples with sky-high debt levels and a bailed-out banking system.

The amount raised was at the top end of market expectations, and eased fears that Ireland’s government was losing credibility in the international marketplace following rumors last week — since denied — that it would need the help of the International Monetary Fund. However, the Irish government had to offer higher interest rates than its previous equivalent auction to attract investors — 4.76 percent for the fouryear offering and 6.02 percent for the eight-year bond. “At least this auction was placed with consummate ease,” said David Buik, markets analyst at BGC Partners. Fears of an imminent explosion in the government debt crisis were further eased by the news that bailed-out Greece managed to raise §390 million in three-month bills at a slightly lower interest rate than it had to in its previous auction.

Spain also garnered 7 billion euros — the top end of expectations — via the issue of 12- and 18-month bills, but had to pay a moderately higher interest rate to get investors to buy.

It’s been a while since European bond auctions have attracted so much interest in the markets. Concerns over the summer were some-

what soothed by the 110 billion euros euro bailout of Greece from the country’s 15 partners in the euro-zone and the International Monetary Fund, and a near $1 trillion rescue package to support other euro-zone economies failed to dampen concerns about Europe’s shaky finances.

However, many analysts have argued that the respite would only be temporary given the level of debt in a number of European countries, the rates they are having to pay to attract investors and the savage austerity measures that are being implemented — the impact of the austerity will merely weaken economies and raise deficits and debt, undermining the whole exercise, they argue. “The endgame to the eurozone debt crisis is some form of debt restructuring, which implies an effective default,” said Neil MacKinnon, global macro strategist at VTB Capital.

Now that the bond auctions have come and gone, investors will increasingly start focusing in on the policy statement from the Fed later.

Investors will be looking to see if the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee hints at whether it is moving towards announcing another raft of measures, such as bond purchases, to get the US economy going again — the purpose of this so-called quantitative easing is to lower rates on such debt to stimulate the economy.

Analysts cautioned against expecting anything dramatic from the Fed given a run of strong economic data — last week’s weak consumer confidence survey from the University of Michigan notwithstanding.

“Even if the Fed leaves the door wide open to such measures at the November/December meetings as I expect, they risk disappointing a minority of participants who expect something more immediate, not least because a move later in the year is still data dependent,” said Alan Ruskin, an analyst at Deutsche Bank. The same factors that are dominating stock markets were evident in currency markets too, with the euro benefiting from the successful passage of another batch of bond offerings before the Fed statement.

By mid afternoon London time, the euro was 0.5 percent higher at $1.3136 while the dollar was 0.4 percent lower at 85.37 yen.

Earlier in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock average surrendered early gains to close down 23.98 points, or 0.3 percent, at 9,602.11 as the country returned from a Monday holiday. Investors were keeping watch on rising tensions with China over the detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain near disputed islands. —AP

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

BUSINESS

25

IATA triples 2010 airlines’ profits to $8.9 billion SINGAPORE: The International Air Transport Association yesterday more than tripled its forecast for airline industry profits this year as demand picked up but warned earnings would ease back next year. IATA said the sector would earn 8.9 billion dollars in 2010, well up from its previous prediction of 2.5 billion dollars.

“We are upgrading again our global profit forecast for the world’s airlines,” IATA director general and chief executive, Giovanni Bisignani, told a news conference in Singapore.

“The industry has been stronger and faster than anyone predicted,” he said.

Besides increasing demand for air travel,

better capacity management by the airlines also helped the industry to recover stronger than expected from the global slump, IATA said.

The Asia-Pacific, which has eclipsed North America as the world’s largest air travel market, continues to outperform the rest of the world and will record the biggest profit, of $5.2 billion this year, IATA said. IATA had previously predicted the region would make a profit of $2.2 billion. “The strong improvement is based on strong market growth and yield gains,” the airline trade body said.

“Renewed buoyancy in air freight markets has been particularly important for airlines in this region, where it can

represent up to 40 percent of revenues,” it added. North America would make a higher profit of $3.5 billion instead of the earlier estimate of $1.9 billion.

Europe remains the only region in the red with a projected loss of $1.3 billion, smaller than the earlier estimate of $2.8 billion, the association said.

The Middle East will see a profit of $400 million versus $100 million previously estimated, while Latin America’s carriers will earn about one billion dollars, higher than the earlier forecast of $900 million.

But IATA said in its first estimate of results for the industry next year that profits for the sector, widely seen as an

indicator of general economic activity, would drop to $5.3 billion.

“So it’s a significant improvement, much stronger than forecasted but I would say it’s not time for a big celebration,” Bisignani said.

“The real question in this forecast is how long we see the recovery lasting. It is clear that there will be a slowdown in the fourth quarter,” he said, adding air travel was already tapering off.

IATA represents some 230 carriers that account for more than 90 percent of scheduled air traffic globally, but does not include many of the budget airlines credited with a boom in short and mediumhaul travel in recent years. — AFP

Ireland borrowing costs rise at auction, demand solid

SINGAPORE: Giovanni Bisignani, International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general and CEO talks to reporters during a press briefing in Singapore yesterday. — AFP

Egypt delays meeting on TMG land case CAIRO: Egypt’s cabinet has delayed until early next week a meeting planned for today that had been expected to offer a legal solution to Talaat Moustafa Group’s (TMG) land row, the cabinet spokesman said yesterday.

The government has formed a legal committee to draw up a resolution to the dispute over the state land sale for TMG’s flagship Madinaty project.

Asked by text message if the meeting had been delayed, Magdy Rady said: “Yes, to give more time to the legal committee on Madinaty to finish.”

Shares in Egypt’s biggest listed property firm slipped after Rady’s comment, falling from above 7.04 pounds per share to 6.87 pounds by 1030 GMT. The stock was still up 3 percent from Monday’s close, compared to a 1 percent gain by Egypt’s benchmark share index.

The stock tumbled last week after a court upheld a ruling that a housing ministry body broke

the law by selling land for the company’s landmark project Madinaty without a public auction.

Concern has grown that the dispute will deter potential homebuyers for Madinaty and the case has rattled investors who fear other land deals could be challenged.

The stock has partially recovered as the government sought to reassure investors the dispute would be settled quickly without damaging their interests and that similar cases would not happen in the future. Some analysts are warning that investors hoping for a swift resolution to the TMG dispute might be disappointed due to the legal complexities of the case and the sensitive political environment in the run-up to November parliamentary elections.

The cabinet meeting delay “reflects the massive uphill task that’s going to face the government in trying to resolve this issue in a way which satisfies all parties,” said Mansour Abbas, a senior equity trader at Naeem Brokerage. — Reuters

First trade creditor files suit against Nakheel DUBAI: The first trade creditor has filed a lawsuit against Dubai World’s Nakheel property developer unit with the special tribunal set up to handle disputes over its debt restructuring, which could further delay a settlement.

The tribunal said the suit, filed in midAugust, was served by Dubai-based Construction Delivery Group (CDG). CDG’s lawsuit contends that it is owed 50 million UAE dirhams ($13.6 million) in principal, interest and damages related to a facilities management contract for properties at the Palm Jumeirah, one Dubai’s three artificial palm-shaped islands.

The value of the contract is more than 100 million dirhams, a source familiar with CDG said.

Legal experts have said that creditor claims against Dubai World or its subsidiaries with the tribunal could potentially cause the restructuring to come to a standstill until the matter is resolved in court.

“The companies met time and time again and ultimately agreed to disagree,” said the source familiar with CDG, adding the negotiations had been difficult, in part because employees at Nakheel that worked on the contract were no longer with the developer.

State-run conglomerate Dubai World reached agreement with 99 percent of its bank creditors earlier this month to restructure $24.9 billion in debt.

Under Nakheel’s restructuring plan, trade creditors have been offered 40 percent of what they are owed in cash and an Islamic bond, or sukuk, in lieu of the rest.

CDG does not have an arbitration clause in

its contract, unlike most trade creditors, which has prevented them pursuing a case before the tribunal’s three international judges, who were given the task in December of overseeing the restructuring of the Dubai World group debt and settling any disputes.

The tribunal is as yet an untested entity, which is a matter of concern to CDG, the source said.

“There’s no case history on these guys,” he said. “It’s an unknown.” Nakheel will require approval from 95 percent of trade creditors and 100 percent of bank lenders in order to issue the sukuk promised under the deal, and it had hoped to get consent by an Aug 31 target date.

In June, Nakheel said it had achieved 75 percent approval among trade creditors for its restructuring proposal, allowing it to start making cash payments to large creditors and restart projects put on hold during the downturn.

CDG’s suit raises concerns that negotiations are not going smoothly.

“It’s certainly not good for Nakheel and has the potential to delay the process,” said a source close to Nakheel. He added that if Nakheel felt that many of the creditors were opting to go through the court for repayment, it would consider invoking a voluntary restructuring arrangement.

“But the general feeling is that the company is quietly confident that it has more on board than off,” he said, adding that negotiations were continuing. A representative of CDG declined to speak about the case, and a representative from Nakheel was not available to comment. — Reuters

SHANGHAI: An investor walks past the stock price monitor at a private securities company yesterday in Shanghai. World stock markets clocked moderate gains yesterday as hopes for more action by the Federal Reserve to prop up the US economy extended Wall Street’s rally into a fourth week. — AP

Irish, Spanish, Greek bond auctions placate investors DUBLIN/MADRID: Ireland’s borrowing c ost s jumped at a bond auction yesterday but appetite for it s debt, a nd for separat e Spanish and Greek t reasury bill sales, wa s r obust enough t o lift their bond markets. Despite Ireland’s tough austerity measures invest ors are demanding higher yields on its bonds because of concern about how much it might cost to bail out its banks and the toll that economic troubles could take on tax revenues.

Still, Dublin attracted enough demand for an offer of 1.5 billion euros of four- and eight-year bonds to lift the euro and compress the premium investors demand to hold Irish debt rather than German Bunds.

The yield on the four-year bond fell almost 20 basis points on secondary markets compared to the previous session. “People realized that Ireland does not have a liquidity issue and not much of a solvency issue either,” said Brian Devine, economist with NCB Stockbrokers in Dublin.

“People recognized this is good value at these yields.”

Like Spain earlier this year, Ireland has had recently to deny rumors that it was on the verge of asking for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund or elsewhere.

This has caused Irish debt to perform less well than some others in the euro zone periphery and meant markets had been expecting a rise in average yields at the auction compared to previous tenders.

Ireland placed 500 million euros of four-year bonds with an average yield of 4.77 percent, up from 3.63 percent in the previous auction in August. The average yield on the eight-year bond rose to 6.02 percent from 5.09 percent in June.

But the spread between Irish 10-year government bond yields and German Bunds fell to 402 basis points from the euro lifetime high of 425 basis points set on Monday. The cost of insuring Irish debt against default also fell.

“The results ... indicate that the markets somehow overreacted to the recent rumors that the International Monetary Fund is advancing towards Ireland,” said Sonia Pangusion, senior economist at IHS Global Insight in London.

Ireland’s debt agency said after the auction it hopes yields have peaked and that it will stick to its auction schedule for the rest of the year, with ranges of 1 billion to 1.5 billion euros at each.

“The bulk of this auction, the vast bulk of it, would have gone to overseas hands as with previous auctions,” the agency’s director of funding, Oliver Whelan, said on Tuesday. “Despite all the turbulence, there is very strong demand for our bonds.”

While Ireland’s auction was the main focal point for many investors, good demand at Greek and Spanish sales also helped support euro zone peripheral debt markets. Greece, where euro zone sovereign credit concern originated last year, saw the average yield on the 13week treasury bills it offered fall to 3.98 percent from 4.05 percent in a previous sale in July.

Foreign investors snapped up nearly three quarters of the 390 million euros worth of paper that was sold by Greece, which is barely holding on to its investment grade rating from Fitch as it battles to cut a steep deficit and emerge from recession. — Reuters

THESSALONIKI: Shipping containers are seen lined up in the port of Thessaloniki in northern Greece yesterday. Ongoing protests by Greek truckers have left some 3,000 containers stranded in the port, awaiting hauliers to deliver them. — AP

Greek truckers march on parliament ATHENS: More than 2,000 protesting truck drivers marched toward parliament yesterday, on the ninth day of demonstrations against planned labor market reforms.

Truckers have lined up their vehicles along highways and busy Athens roads since Sept.

13 to protest plans to abolish so-called closed-shop professions, which have jobs protected by fixed fees and rates and strict licensing rules.

The new rules, for which debate started

in parliament yesterday, will eventually affect a number of other professional groups, including pharmacists and civil engineers.

Truck drivers say the changes are too abrupt and will bankrupt drivers who have borrowed money to buy a truck license.

Greece’s promised to reform its labor market as part of austerity measures agreed in return for 110 billion euros in rescue loans from European countries and the

International Monetary Fund. Interest rates remain too high for Greece return to the bond market, but yesterday the government announced another successful sale of shortterm debt. The state debt management agency said it raised 390 million euros by selling 13-week treasury bills. The sale was oversubscribed by 6.25 times, with a yield of 3.98 percent — and together with successful debt auctions in Spain and Ireland, helped ease fears over Europe’s debt crisis. — AP

Greece’s construction sector sputters in economy crisis ATHENS: Greece’s rustic reputation for blue waters and sandy beaches belies the fact that the construction industry has been, alongside tourism, a catalyst of the country’s economic growth for decades.

Loose enforcement of urban planning rules, concern about abundant earthquakes and a tradition of investing family savings in real estate had provided healthy growth for an industry that contributes some seven percent of national output.

But in the midst of an unprecedented Greek financial crisis and a deepening recession, even this once-reliable motor is starting to sputter as a result of austerity measures that have dampened consumer demand in general.

The streets of Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece’s northern metropolis, are now littered with sale and rental signs, graphically betraying the fate of a sector that employs around 700,000 people. “The building industry is going through its worst crisis in a decade,” says Dimitris Kapsimalis, chairman of the confederation of Greek construction firms.

Home demand, he argues, has suffered from the effects of the government’s cost-cutting policies which have plunged the country deeper into recession.

“After pay cuts in the public sector there is also job insecurity, poor bank liquidity and increased property taxes,” Kapsimalis notes. In the second

quarter of the year, construction activity declined by 18.3 percent on a 12-month comparison, compounding a 13.9-percent fall in the first quarter, according to the Bank of Greece.

In the same April-June period, the value of property transactions dipped by 13.1 percent, the Bank added. According to the technical chamber of Greece (TEE), construction revenue declined by 12 percent in June and by 14 percent in July in an

annual comparison.

The number of building permits also fell by 40 percent, the chamber said. The industry has literally gone from boom to bust in six years. In 2004, when Athens hosted the Olympic Games, construction chiefs had orders coming out of their ears as the country ran a last-minute preparation marathon to get its sports venues in place.

The increase in orders had begun some years earlier, after

a 5.9-Richter quake northwest of Athens killed 143 people in 1999, prompting greater safety awareness, says Kapsimalis.

“The earthquake pushed Greeks to invest in new homes more resistant to earthquakes,” he notes. The introduction of the single European currency that replaced the Greek drachma in 2001 gave another boost, adds Yiannis Revythis, head of the Athens real estate association. — AFP

ATHENS: Women walk by a store in a modern building, featuring a ‘For Rent’ sign, on a main Athens avenue. In the midst of an unprecedented Greek financial crisis and a deepening recession, the construction industry, once catalyst of the country’s economic growth, is starting to sputter as a result of austerity measures that have dampened consumer demand in general. — AFP

BUSINESS

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

US exits longest recession since World War II

NEW YORK: Trader Gregg Maloney looks at his screens while working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. Stock futures were trading in a tight range yesterday as investors anxiously waited to see if the Federal Reserve might take actions to try and stimulate the economy. — AP

WASHINGTON: The US economy exited recession in June 2009, the National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday, officially calling the end to the longest downturn in more than half a century.

More than eight million jobs were lost in the slump that was triggered by dodgy Wall Street mortgage investments. President Barack Obama said the end of the “Great Recession” would come as little solace to the millions of people who are still out of work “Even though economists may say that the recession officially ended last year, obviously for the millions of people who are still out of work, people who have seen their home values decline, people who are struggling to pay the bills day to day, it’s still very real for them.”

The NBER, a non-profit research group recognized as the arbiter of US

economic cycles, underscored that slow pace of recovery, as it issued a statement confirming “the recession lasted 18 months, which makes it the longest of any recession since World War II.” “The committee did not conclude that economic conditions since that month have been favorable or that the economy has returned to operating at normal capacity,” it said.

At the same time panel members warned economic activity could remain below normal well into the expansion. Earlier on Monday, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said the US economy would grow at a slower-than-expected rate of 1.5 percent this year.

The Paris-based OECD said US growth would be far less than the 3.2 percent predicted in May and would increase to only 2.3 percent next year

raising the specter of a painfully slow recovery.

“The United States is slowly recovering from a severe recession... with economic growth projected to remain low for some time,” the OECD said.

The body added that “unemployment is likely to stay elevated for a relatively long period.”

“Continuation of targeted support for the labor market may also be necessary until private sector employment picks up more strongly.” The NBER announcement was widely expected by economists.

“What matters now is how long the recovery will take,” according to Augustine Faucher of Moody’s Economy.com. “The odds of a second recession are too high for comfort.”

Despite economists’ warnings of a double-dip recession, the panel said the economy had already recovered enough that any new slide would be an

entirely new recession.

“The committee decided that any future downturn of the economy would be a new recession and not a continuation of the recession that began in December 2007.” “The basis for this decision was the length and strength of the recovery to date.”

Unlike many countries where a recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of shrinking growth domestic product, in the United States it is determined by a seven-member NBER panel.

Although the depth of the crisis had already been clear, the NBER confirmed it was longer than those which began in 1973 and 1981 and which both lasted 16 months.

The NBER announcement gave a boost to US stock markets with the blue chip Dow Jones Industrial Average surging over 145 points, or around 1.4 percent. — AFP

Ambitious plan may be hampered by affirmative action policy

Malaysia eyes developed status, seeks $444 billion KUALA LUMPUR: Ma la ysia ha s set an ambitious ta rget of luring $444 billion of investments over the next decade to become a developed nation by 2020, but some a nalysts w arned the pla ns a re unrea listic a nd ma y be hampered by a long-standing affirma tive action policy tha t fa vors the ethnic Mala y ma jority. Idris J ala , a

minister in the Prime Minister’s Depa rtment, yesterday sa id the government w a nts to blanket Mala ysia w ith broadba nd, develop nuclea r energy a nd build a high-speed rail link to Singapore under a 10-year blueprint to kick-sta rt the Southeast Asia n nation’s drive tow a rd high-income status.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala presents the Economic Transformation Program in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. — AP

BHP’s Potash bid seen running into next year SYDNEY/SASKATOON: BHP Billiton’s $39 billion battle to take control of Canada’s Potash Corp is expected to drag on into next year after it failed to win immediate backing from Canadian authorities.

The Anglo-Australian miner, which wants to use the world’s largest fertilizer-maker as its entry into the global food industry, also said it had no plan to change its $130-a-share offer and shrugged off talk of a China-backed rival bid emerging.

Potash said yesterday an extension of BHP’s offer by a month to Nov 18 did not change its position and again urged its shareholders to reject the “wholly inadequate” offer.

The offer was extended after Canada’s competition regulator sought more information. However, investors said yesterday the delay was expected and could work in the miner’s favor unless a serious rival offer comes up.

“There was always the impression it was going to be a long-winded process and at this point in time we have not had any competing bids yets,” said Peter Chilton, an analyst at Constellation Capital Management, which owns BHP shares.

“To some extent the longer it drags on, it might be better for BHP because it reduces the tension, although if someone else comes in like the Chinese it is another game.”

A source familiar with the transaction did not rule out further extensions to the offer period if they were necessary to clear regulatory hurdles. There have been indications from some BHP executives that the deal could drag out as far as Easter.

A company with a takeover offer on the table, however, does not want the proposal to sit for too long, as it not only lengthens the time for a rival bid

to emerge but also invites added regulatory red tape and shareholder fatigue.

BHP’s Australian listed shares were flat by 0441 GMT in a steady broader market. On Monday, Potash’s US-listed shares closed at $148.5, a 14.2 percent premium to BHP’s offer of $130-a-share.

There has been speculation of a rival offer after the bid process began.

Media reports early this week included one bolstering the case that China’s Sinochem Group is still hot on the trail. .

Another report said Sinochem executives visited London last week seeking financing for a bid and that Beijing was nearing a decision on whether to make a rival offer.

Analysts and investment bankers say it is still unclear whether a rival bid will emerge. If China does make a run for some kind of offer, it would likely involve a consortium of bidders, which would only add layers of complications that could impede a successful bid.

The premier of Potash’s home province of Saskatchewan failed to give his seal of approval to the deal on Monday, after talks with BHP Billiton Chief Executive Officer Marius Kloppers.

“We’re going to be very careful and deliberate about this,” Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said after meeting with Kloppers. “As of today, I don’t see how Saskatchewan is better with this deal, or frankly a subsequent deal.”

Wall will advise Canada’s federal government on whether to approve a Potash takeover on the basis of net benefit to the nation. Potash employs thousands and produces royalties for the province from sales of potash, a fertilizer that China, India and other

emerging economies need to feed growing populations.

“I would not read too much into it,” Tim Schroeders, fund manager at Australia’s Pengana Capital, said of the regulator’s request and consequent offer extension. “I don’t think we will be putting this (deal) to bed this side of Christmas.”

Kloppers said BHP Billiton had no intention of changing its $130-a-share takeover offer for Potash Corp. At $39 billion, the offer’s value is the highest in any industry this year.

He also brushed aside reports that China was attempting to assemble a rival bid. “We have no plans to change what is currently the only offer on the table,” Kloppers said. “I’ve seen a lot of speculation and rumours (about a China-backed offer) but the reality is there is only one cash bid on the table and that’s ours at the moment.”

In Canada, BHP Billiton may need to address concerns over its potash marketing plans before it can gain political support for its bid.

Saskatchewan province’s chief concern is BHP Billiton’s preference to market its commodities independently, rather than through the Canpotex consortium which sells the province’s potash in foreign markets.

Saskatchewan fears this would lower prices and thus the royalties the province makes on potash sales.

Saskatchewan Premier Wall said Kloppers had repeated his past position on Canpotex in their meeting.

Earlier, Kloppers told reporters BHP Billiton preferred to market its own products but “nothing is static forever”.

Kloppers said he would meet Canadian politicians this week as he sought to build support for his move on Potash Corp. — Reuters

The projects, which number 131 in total and are dubbed the Economic Transformation Program, are spread over 12 areas ranging from oil and gas, palm oil and agriculture to tourism, financial services, education and urban infrastructure.

The blueprint seeks to nearly triple the country’s gross national income from $188 billion in 2009 to close to $523 billion by 2020, and raise per capita income from $6,700 to at least $15,000 — meeting the World Bank’s benchmark for a high-income nation.

“Malaysia has no time to lose. We need a complete, radical economic transformation.

The days of depending on traditional growth engines are over,” Jala said at a roadshow to gauge public response to the plan. Analysts, however, said meeting the investment target would be a tall order.

Foreign direct investment in Malaysia has slumped in recent years, plunging 81 percent to $1.4 billion in 2009 as it lost out to more competitive rivals such as Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. Malaysia’s decadesold system of preferences and quotas for Malay and lack of human capital are often cited as stumbling blocks for investors.

“The expectations appear to be overambitious at this stage. There is nothing in the blueprint which indicates any transformation in policy and practices,” said Ramon Navaratnam, chairman for the independent Center for Public Policy Studies, a think tank.

Jala said 60 percent of the total investment required would come from the private sector, 32 percent from government-linked companies and 8 percent from the government. Some 3.3 million new jobs would be created, of which 60 percent would be in occupations with medium to high-income level salaries. Jala said affirmative action that includes business, education and other privileges for Malays would continue but the government has pledged to make it more transparent and fair.

“We do not pick winners. We will make clear the rules ... so that competition is done on an even keel,” he said. Seven projects worth $37 billion would be inked in the next few months, he said, but declined to give details. Under the economic blueprint, a massive regional oil storage facility will be built in southern Johor state by 2015 to make Malaysia an oil services center in Asia.

Malaysia will have a nuclear plant to boost power generation and become the world’s second largest solar panel maker by 2020.

Urban transportation will be upgraded with plans for a mass rail transit network for Malaysia’s largest city Kuala Lumpur that includes 141 kilometers (87 miles) of tunnels. It also suggests a high-speed rail link from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, a plan proposed a few years ago by conglomerate YTL that failed to take off. Officials said a feasibility study for the high-speed train will be submitted to Cabinet by January. Tourism will be beefed up, with plans to build covered walkways to link Kuala Lumpur’s shopping malls, make Malaysia a duty-free center for goods and building a cultural center based on the “Malaysia Truly Asia” tourism campaign.

Prime Minister Najib Razak is due to launch the blueprint on Oct. 26. Najib, who took office in April 2009, has pledged to reform the economy including rehauling energy subsidies that had bled the government, introducing a new goods and services tax and roll back the affirmative action program for Malays. But he faces enormous political challenges from power brokers within and outside his party, which fears a voter backlash ahead of general elections due in 2013. — AP

TOKYO: Azran Osman Rani, center, chief executive of AirAsia X, a low-cost carrier based in Malaysia, offers one-way campaign price of 5,000 yen ($58.5) during a press conference in Tokyo yesterday to announce the launch of its new route between Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Kuala Lumpur, starting Dec 9. — AP

AirAsia X plans to launch Japan route in December TOKYO: Malaysian long-haul budget airline AirAsia X said yesterday it would enter the Japanese market in December by launching regular flights between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo.

The carrier will introduce three flights a week connecting the Malaysian capital with Tokyo’s Haneda airport, AirAsia X’s chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani said in Tokyo.

It will be the first foreign budget airline authorized to use Haneda, which will begin handling an expanded array of international fights in October when it opens a fourth runway and a new terminal.

Haneda is considered more practical than its sister airport Narita as it is located only 30 minutes from Tokyo. It can take more than twice that time to reach Narita, located 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the capital.

AirAsia X plans to sell a one-way ticket for 5,000 yen ($58) for an economy seat from Japan as an opening discount, compared with economy fares of more than 200,000 yen offered by current route operators. Fares from Malaysia could be as low as 31 dollars, the company said.

“As far as other airports in Japan, yes, we remain very interested,” Azran told a news con-

ference. “We could operate at least three different airports over ... a couple of years.”

Azran also said that his carrier plans to introduce new routes to Australia and China, as well as new destinations in the Middle East and Europe.

AirAsia’s entry into the Japanese market will further boost competition in a space that is set to become increasingly crowded.

Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) earlier this month unveiled plans to launch a low-cost carrier operating both international and domestic shorthaul routes out of Kansai International Airport, Osaka, in the second half of 2011.

Qantas Airways’ budget Jetstar airline already flies between Japan and Australia.

Flagship carrier Japan Airlines, receiving government funds after filing for bankruptcy last year, has also said it is considering launching a budget airline. An affiliate of regional low-cost carrier AirAsia and Virgin Group, AirAsia X was launched in January 2007. AirAsia and AirAsia X have common shareholders, including AirAsia founder and CEO Tony Fernandes. The group currently has 94 aircraft. Azran said it had also placed an order for 25 Airbus A330s and 10 A350s. — AFP

UniCredit CEO could be ousted on Libya, results MILAN: UniCredit Chief Executive Alessandro Profumo could be forced out as head of Italy’s biggest bank yesterday, weakened by a row over Libyan stake-building and results that lag its peers.

Profumo steered UniCredit’s rise from a regional lender to a pan-European player and analysts say his departure would leave the bank rudderless when it is struggling to recover from the financial crisis after a string of acquisitions.

In a showdown over the direction of UniCredit, Profumo was expected to offer to quit at a board meeting set to begin at 6 p.m.

(1600 GMT), two financial sources said earlier yesterday. A source close to the situation later said the board had a shortlist of candidates and could give the chairman three weeks to find an external replacement for Profumo. UniCredit shares came off lows and were down 0.72 percent at 1.925 euros at 1000 GMT after initially losing more than 3 percent amid fears that Profumo would step down. The STOXX Europe 600 banking index was up 0.35 percent.

Some investors believe a replacement for Profumo, one of the longest-serving bank CEOs in Europe, could bring new ideas on improving the bank’s traditional business and cutting bad loan losses, one Milan-based broker who declined to be named said.

Profumo has been accused by shareholders and politicians of letting Libya increase its weight in UniCredit, the Italian bank hardest hit by the financial crisis, without informing

other top managers.

The stake-building-and Profumo’s possible role in it- sparked fear among politically connected shareholder foundations that Profumo was trying to marginalize them.

Libya’s central bank and Tripoli’s sovereign wealth fund have a combined stake in UniCredit of around 7.6 percent.

Profumo’s relationship with Chairman Dieter Rampl has deteriorated over the last six months but the last straw was Profumo not telling Rampl about the Libyan investors, said one source based in Munich, headquarters of UniCredit unit HVB. However, surprises were still possible, the source said, adding: “I would not put all bets on Profumo’s resignation.” Market watchdog Consob and the Bank of Italy have requested clarification on the Libyan stakes and whether the two investors were independent of each other. Bank rules bar a shareholder from having a voting stake of more than 5 percent.

Analysts say Profumo’s support among shareholders overall has been weakened by earnings that have yet to shake off the effects of the financial crisis.

UniCredit’s return on equity is only about half the euro zone sector median, at 2.85 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Pointing to a stubborn recovery from the crisis, its cost of risk-the amount of a loan a bank sets aside and books against profit and loss-was down only slightly in the second quarter. — Reuters

TECHNOLOGY

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

27

AT&T launches satellite enabled smart phones ‘TerreStar Genus’ to help fishermen, forest rangers, emergency crews NEW YORK: AT&T ha s w ea thered plenty of compla ints a bout spotty cell phone covera ge. Yesterda y, it bega n selling its first phone tha t includes a ba ck stop for AT&T’s ow n netw ork , over a satellite. That mea ns blanket covera ge of the US, even in the w ilderness or hundreds of miles (kilometers) offshore. The new phone, the TerreSta r Genus, could be a n important tool for boa ters, fishermen, forest ra ngers, emergency crew s a nd others

FUYANG: In this file photo, people use computers at an Internet cafe in central China’s Anhui province. — AP

Google defends fallen China’s market share BEIJING: Google is hiring dozens of marketing and technical employees in China to defend a shrinking market share against local rivals after closing its Chinese search engine six months ago this day in a dispute over censorship. Mainland users usually can reach Google’s Chinese-language site in Hong Kong, a Chinese territory with no Internet filtering. That has helped Google retain its rank as China’s second-mostpopular search engine but Hong Kong access is occasionally blocked and some users have defected to local alternatives, mostly to market leader Baidu.com. Google Inc has kept a research and development center and advertising sales offices in China and is promoting its Android operating system for mobile phones. It launched what it says is a “large-scale recruiting campaign” for at least 40 posts this summer, from national marketing manager to software designer.

“Our engineering teams in Beijing and Shanghai continue to focus on bringing a steady stream of innovation to our services in China,” the company said in a written response to questions. The hiring has stirred local fans’ hopes the China search engine might reopen, though Google has given no indication of that. None of its job advertisements mentions a connection to the China site, Google.cn. “The signal that Google are on a hiring spree might suggest they are getting a little movement in talks with the government,” said Edward Yu, president of Analysys International, a Beijing research firm.

Google did not immediately respond to questions about its contacts with the government and whether it hoped to reopen the Chinese search engine.

Google’s January announcement that it no longer wanted to cooperate with Chinese censorship and might leave prompted an outcry by local users. The government, startled and embarrassed by Google’s public defiance, didn’t budge and the China search engine closed March 22. Communist leaders promote Web use for education and business but block material deemed subversive or obscene. Google objected to being required to exclude search results for banned sites. China is the world’s most populous Internet market, with more than 420 million people online, but Google has said little about its plans for this country, leaving local users and industry analysts guessing. “I think Google will come back to China,” said Qiao Fan, a 27-yearold freelance website designer. He set up the fan site www.gogogoogle.com to promote Google to Chinese users. “Some Google products you just can’t find on other services,” Qiao said, citing the company’s e-mail and friend-finding features. It also has a music download service in China.

Qiao draws hope from the fact that Google put in the effort to renew its license to operate

Twitter attacked by ‘mouseover bug’ WASHINGTON: Twitter came under attack yesterday as hackers exploited a security flaw to wreak havoc on the microblogging service. Computer security firms said thousands of users, or more, were affected by the bug, which automatically sent out or “re-tweeted” messages from a user’s account simply by rolling over an infected link with the computer mouse.

The San Francisco-based Twitter said on its status blog that it had patched the security problem at 6:50 am California time (1350 GMT). But not before thousands of users saw bizarre strings of computer code in their incoming message feed and inadvertently passed them on to other users in their list of followers. Those hit by the bug included Sarah Brown, the wife of the former British prime minister who has over 1.1 million followers on Twitter, and White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, who has 97,000 followers.

“My Twitter went haywire - absolutely no clue why it sent that message or even what it is... paging the tech guys,” Gibbs wrote on @presssec. “This Twitter feed has something very odd going on,” Brown said on @sarahbrownuk. “Don’t know what everyone else got, but my bug sent me an advert for a weight loss program - as if that would work!” she joked.

Security expert Graham Cluley of computer security firm Sophos said the “mouseover bug” only affected users of the Twitter.com website not third-party programs developed to access the popular microblogging service. Cluley said the bug was activated by rolling over an infected message with a mouse and that a user did not have to click on a Web link to pass it on, as is the case with many hacking attacks.

Some users found that rolling over an infected link caused third-party websites to open in their Web browser including pornography sites, he said.. Cluley said in Sarah Brown’s case her “Twitter page has been messed with in an attempt to redirect visitors to a hardcore porn site based in Japan.” —AFP

Google.cn in July. That site includes a button users can click to reach the Hong Kong site and links to Google services not covered by censorship. “I think because of that, they are making preparations to come back,” Qiao said. Revenues are flowing in from Chinese advertisers that want to reach customers abroad through the company’s US site or mainland users of the Hong Kong site. Google received 24.2 percent of China’s search engine revenues in the second quarter of the year, though that was down from the previous quarter’s 30.9 percent, according to Analysys International. Nearly all that lost business went to Baidu, which raised its market share from 64.2 percent to 70 percent.

Google declined to release sales figures. For now, China provides a small share of its revenues - an estimated $250 million to $600 million of this year’s projected $28 billion total. But the world’s second-largest economy is expected to become more important as incomes rise and more Chinese go online. “On the advertising side we are bullish,” the company statement said. “We have a significant local sales presence in China and remain committed to helping Chinese businesses grow online and responding to the specific needs of our Chinese advertisers.” Mainland users who still turn to Google are better educated, richer and more attractive to advertisers, so revenue per user is higher than average, said Yu. The company is also touting its global presence as a platform for Chinese companies that want to expand their overseas sales.

Still, the lack of a China-based site puts Google at a disadvantage as it competes with Baidu and rivals such as Sogou.com and Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce giant that has added a search service. “The trend (in revenues) is definitely declining because after they migrated their search engine to Hong Kong, there are periodic interruptions,” Yu said. “Users who are not loyal to Google are turning their traffic to Baidu and other services.” This month, 10-yearold Baidu, long seen as a Google imitator, launched a service dubbed Box Computing Open Platform that can run games, electronic books and other applications on its search platform, beating Google’s planned launch of a similar service.

David Wolf, a technology marketing consultant in Beijing, said he expects Google’s market share to decline to 7 to 12 percent in two to three years - ahead of other rivals but farther behind Baidu. Google needs official permission to keep advertising and research operations in China and it is unclear whether it has repaired strained relations, said Wolf, president of Wolf Group Asia. “Regardless of what changes they’ve made, Google has an ongoing government relations challenge here,” he said. “And I don’t know whether they are attending to that.” — AP

AT&T will initially be selling it to professional customers through business channels, but it will be in retail stores later this year, said Chris Hill, the Dallas-based phone company’s vice president for Advanced Enterprise Mobility Solutions. The phone will cost $799 without a twoyear contract, and requires regular AT&T voice and data service plans.

It uses the AT&T network where it’s available. The option to be able to switch over to the satellite costs $25 extra per month, and then 65 cents per minute of calling. Calls won’t be the only way to communicate using the Genus: It’s the first satellite phone that’s also a full-blown smart phone. It runs Windows Mobile 6.5 software and has a full-alphabet keyboard and looks much like a slightly thicker BlackBerry. It doesn’t have a large, protruding antenna, like other satellite phones do. It can send and receive data over the satellite, which means it can be used for e-mail and Web surfing. The cost, like the satellite, is sky-high: $5 per megabyte, or 400 times more expensive than a standard $25-per-month terrestrial data plan.

Text messages, by comparison, are a bargain. They’re 40 cents each, only four times the piece rate for cell phones. The phones will communicate with the world’s largest commercial satellite, owned by TerreStar Corp. It launched last year, and unfolded an umbrella of gold mesh, 60 feet (18 meters) wide, as a dish antenna to pick up the faint signals from phones 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers) below. The giant antenna in the sky means the phones can be relatively small. But it’s uncertain whether TerreStar can avoid the fate of other satellite phone companies, even with a smart phone that’s almost up to date. The industry has suffered a string of bankruptcies, wiping out billions in investor capital.

AT&T and TerreStar said last year that they’d have the phone out early this year, but didn’t provide details like pricing. It was delayed for six months to straighten out the system, Hill said. It’s not the first time a phone company has tried to sell combined satellite-terrestrial phones. Sprint Nextel Corp sold Iridium phones in 1999, and Airtouch, a predecessor of Verizon Wireless, sold Globalstar phones a year a later. “Neither of them had any meaningful success because there just wasn’t mass market demand for the phones,” said Tim Farrar, a satellite industry consultant. Hill said the Genus is a different breed, because it can be used a main phone, with most of the conveniences expected from smart phones, without the bulk of a traditional satellite phone. The cost to include the satellite option is also coming down, which means the feature could show up in more, and cheaper, phones in the near future, he said. — AP

in the news ‘The Situation’ in Apple’s top 10-grossing apps LOS ANGELES: MTV reality star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino’s iPhone application has soared into Apple’s top 10-grossing entertainment apps since its release last Thursday, an Apple spokesman said. The application-appropriately titled “The Situation” and available for $4.99 on iTunes-offers users: a “GTL” finder for local gym, tanning and laundry facilities; a workout routine designed to sculpt Shore-worthy abs; an interactive video game titled “Grenade Dodger”; a soundboard offering Sorrentino’s most memorable quotes; and a link to e-mail “The Sitch” directly. “It’s done extremely well, and we believe it will continue to do so,” Apple’s Adam Matuzich told The Hollywood Reporter. Apple declined to release specific sales numbers. Sorrentino, one of the breakout stars of MTV’s reality smash “Jersey Shore,” is expected to earn upwards of $5 million by year’s end from his various ventures.

But ballroom dancing may not be a growth market for him. He tied for last with actor David Hasselhoff and comedian Margaret Cho in the first episode of the new season of “Dancing with the Stars” on Monday.

Canadian agency beams northern lights over Web OTTAWA: Skywatchers can turn their gaze to a computer for a glimpse of the northern lights: the Canadian Space Agency on Monday launched an online observatory streaming the aurora borealis live over the Internet.

“Armchair skywatchers everywhere can now discover the wonder of the northern lights live on their home computer screen,” Canadian

Space Agency president Steve MacLean said in a statement. “We hope that watching the dance of the northern lights will make you curious about the science of the sky and the relationship we have with our own star, the sun.”

Auroras occur when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere, resulting in a ribbon of lights dancing across the night sky.

Cyber protest disrupts US recording industry website SAN FRANCISCO: Computer security researchers said Monday that an unprecedented mass cyber protest was triggered by efforts by film and music trade groups to close online piracy haunts. Members of 4chan online forum that promotes users remaining anonymous organized distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on websites for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), according to the security firm PandaLabs.

DDoS attacks are efforts to overload websites with so many simultaneous requests that computer servers can’t handle the load and freeze or crash. Attacks on RIAA caused a dozens of interruptions in service, taking down the group’s website for a total of one hour and 37 minutes, according to PandaLabs. Protest organizers gave instructions throughout the weekend at 4chan, providing the online computer address and when to strike, the researchers reported. “The most significant aspect of this event, in addition to the damage caused, is that it could mark the first mass cyber protest of its kind on the Web,” said PandaLabs technical director Luis Corrons.

w ho go outside regula r cellular covera ge. There a re a number of ca vea ts, though. To use the phone, it ha s to ha ve a clear view of the southern sky, w here the sa tellite hovers, w ith no intervening trees, buildings or hills.

That restricts its use to the outdoors. The sa tellite is a imed a t the US a nd doesn’t provide globa l covera ge in the sa me w a y Iridium Communica tions Inc’s sa tellite constellation does.

How the iPad won over an unbeliever finally At first glance, the iPad looked like a heavy, overgrown iPod Touch. After just a few months of use, however, this iPad skeptic realized that it’s so much more: it is one of those devices I always have needed. Those do not come around very often. Most things get less interesting the more examples you see of them. If you’ve never seen a computer before, the first one is a revelation, but each successive model gets less and less remarkable.

Apple Inc.’s iPad is the other way around.

It looks more impressive in light of what has come before it. I’ve seen many tablet computers of different stripes since 2002, when Microsoft introduced Windows XP Tablet Edition. The quality has varied, but they all have failed, even the recent ones. They are a Stonehenge’s worth of near-useless slabs.

The iPad finally fulfills the promise of the tablet computer when it came out in April. It cuts the mouse and keyboard out of the equation, giving us a straight, tactile connection.

While the iPad builds on the iPhone, it feels like a bigger achievement. The first iPhone was a great phone, driven by far-thinking new ideas. But other people had made good phones before. Before the iPad, no one had made a good tablet computer. Even Apple failed with its first attempt, the Newton, back in the 1990s.

When I first got my hands on an iPad for a review, I played games on it for about a month. My favorite strategy game, “Battle for Wesnoth,” was written for the PC, but actually works better on the iPad, thanks to the immediacy of the touch interface. Several other games conspired to suck away my productivity, so it took me a while to realize that the iPad actually fulfills a longtime tablet vision as well: It is like a sheet of paper, electronified.

That is what made me plunk down $499 for one of my own once I was done with the borrowed review unit. I knew I was waiting for a device that could replace printouts, magazines, newspapers and books in my life.

At first, I didn’t think the iPad was it, because it is too heavy to hold comfortably in one hand. In particular, I need one hand free to steady myself on the New York subway.

Better, I thought, to wait for a smaller device, something with a screen that measures 5 to 7 inches diagonally instead of the iPad’s 9.7 inches.

I was wrong. The iPad is not too heavy if I support it on a bag when standing. And the screen is just big and sharp enough to display decently a letter-sized document or a reformatted newspaper page with teasers for a couple of articles. That means the last defenses that kept dead trees relevant to me have been overcome. I canceled the print subscription for one of my newspapers and went electronic. I’ve also started stuffing papers I want to have with me through a sheet-fed scanner and moved the resulting files to the iPad as PDFs. It is like ripping

CDs to get MP3s; the iPad is like an iPod for paper.

Replacing paper was the rationale of Amazon.com Inc’s Kindle e-reader, but the multipurpose iPad beats it at its own game.

The Kindle was revolutionary in its way because it could download books wirelessly, but it has been held back by a screen technology that is slow to react to our commands.

It can display static page after static page, but scrolling and zooming do not really work, so PDF viewing is impractical.

Amazon launched a new TV spot this week, showing a man struggling to read an iPad poolside in bright sunlight, while a bikini-clad woman next to him is reading a Kindle comfortably. It is true that Kindles are more readable than iPads in bright light. What the ad does not mention is that that is the only situation in which you will be happier with a Kindle. By all means, if you spend your days at the pool or beach, get a $139 Kindle and spend the $360 you’ll be saving over the iPad on a lot of sunscreen. Other reviewers have spread confusion about the selection of books available on the iPad. Itis true that Apple’s own iBook store has fewer books than the Kindle store. That does not matter, however: You can buy and read Kindle books on the iPad, along with books from a lot of other retailers, including Barnes & Noble Inc. What about other competing devices? A lot of manufacturers want a piece of the tablet action, and we will see quite a few options in stores this holiday season. For instance, Samsung Electronics Inc has shown off a 7inch (18-centimeter) tablet called the Galaxy Tab, and according to The Wall Street Journal, US wireless carriers will sell it subsidized with two-year data service contracts.

From a hardware standpoint, these could be

compelling options (although a 7-inch screen is now too small for my taste). Samsung and others can take advantage of the same technological advances that helped Apple improve over previous tablets. They also could remedy some of the annoying omissions of the iPad, such as the lack of built-in USB and memory card ports. They will have built-in cameras, too.

The crux, though, is the software.

Competitors are relying on Android, a free software package from Google Inc that has done well in smart phones. It is not intended for tablets, though, and Google does not promote it as such. Apple managed to move the iPhone’s software to the iPad without much trouble, but that transition looks more difficult for Android. It just is not as slick to begin with. That said, Android has some compelling advantages, including PC-like access to stored files and the ability to run Flash on Web pages.

Next year, we may see better software alternatives. Google has another software package called Chrome OS in the works. It is to be designed for netbooks coming out this year and could be used for tablets as well. But it is heavily Web-oriented, and may not provide a lot of functions when used without an Internet connection. Hewlett-Packard Co recently bought Palm Inc and plans to use its excellent webOS smart phone software for a tablet, probably next year. It took competitors a couple of years to start catching up to the iPhone in a serious way. The gap probably will be shorter for tablet computers, but by getting the iPad right on its first try, Apple has real head start. Maybe I am trying to justify my purchase here, but I have a strong feeling there isn’t a lot to be gained by waiting for the others to catch up. — AP

CHIBA: An employee of Japan’s videogame software house Capcom displays the company’s videogame “Street Fighter IV” on Apple’s iPad at the Tokyo Game Show. — AFP

health & SCIeNCe

28

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Dementia costs hit $604 billion in 2010 Dementia care numbers to triple by 2050

LONDON: The w orldw ide costs of dementia will reach $604 billion in 2010, more tha n one percent of global GDP output, and those costs w ill soa r as the number of sufferers triples by 2050, according to a report yesterda y. To show the scale of the problem, a n Alzheimer’s

Disea se International (ADI) report said tha t if the costs of ca ring for an estima ted 35.6 million people with Alzheimer’s disease a nd other dementias were seen a s a country, it w ould be the w orld’s 18th largest economy, ranking betw een Turkey and Indonesia.

KIGALI: Yves Twemerimana, 3, wears an oxygen mask in a bed at the Kigali Central University Hospital, as he is tended to for a severe case of pneumonia. — AFP

Rwanda geared to tackle child mortality numbers KIGALI: With big strides made against both malaria and pneumococcal disease, Rwanda is on track to meet UN Millennium Development Goal number four, the reduction of child mortality, officials say. “Rwanda is one of the few countries in Africa that stands a chance of reaching the MDG targets if the current rhythm is maintained,” said Lamine Cisse Sarr, World Health Organization representative to Rwanda.

“We still have a long way to go but in the last 20 months we have made a lot of progress,” Agnes Binagwaho, a medical doctor and permanent secretary in Rwanda’s ministry of health said. MDG number four provides for the reduction of the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier this month said Rwanda had made “great strides” in working toward the MDGs, “particularly in the area of maternal and children’s health.”

Now that Rwanda has significantly curtailed malaria, the biggest child killer is pneumonia. “Out of every five children that die, one dies of pneumonia. Twenty-three percent of all child deaths in Rwanda are caused by pneumonia,” Unicef Rwanda representative Joseph Fumbi told journalists. Few care givers in the developing world are able to recognise the symptoms of pneumonia-rapid and difficult breathing.

Rwanda has given basic training to lay people at community level enabling them to detect symptoms, administer antibiotics if necessary and transfer complicated cases to hospital. A quasi-obligatory health insurance typically covers 90 percent of treatment costs, leaving just 10 percent for the family. If the family is too poor to cover even that, hospital doctors often chip in. Donata Nyirabahizi, who lives in a small mud-walled hut with panoramic views over Lake Muhazi, learned the hard way how quickly pneumonia can prove fatal.

She lost a baby of 18 months three years ago to pneumonia. He died as his parents carried him to the nearest

health centre. “I realized on Saturday that the baby was sick. When he started having difficulty breathing on the Monday I took him to the health centre.”

She described, eyes downcast, how the child had started gasping and then ceased breathing altogether. “My husband took him off my back and handed him to me. He was dead.” Clementine Mukandori was luckier. The referral system meant that she and her baby son Yves were directed to Kigali’s university teaching hospital (CHUK). Yves sits on a bed with an oxygen mask attached with green tape. He will likely be discharged in five to seven days.

And the situation is set to improve further. In April 2009 Rwanda introduced, with funding from GAVI Alliance, a vaccine against pneumococcal disease-the leading cause of pneumonia, also responsible for other infections including meningitis and sepsis-among the jabs obligatory for babies, becoming the first developing country to do so. GAVI is a public-private partnership that develops and supports innovative ways to increase immunization in developing countries.

Pauline Mukabalisa, a 46-year-old community health worker, says she has already seen an improvement “These days no one is dying from pneumonia,” she told journalists. Rwanda has already made great strides in combatting malaria with the distribution of free bednets treated with insecticide, Florent Rutagarama, a pediatrician at CHUK said.

Whereas prior to the introduction of nets, malaria used to account for one quarter of all hospitalizations, “cases are now very rare. We can go a whole month before getting a positive blood smear in the paedatric wards,” he said. “Now we have good results with pneumoccocal disease, digestive disease is now on top” of our list of priorities, Binagwaho said. Once Rwanda introduces the Rota virus vaccine to fight diarrhoea, its next priority will be the HPV vaccine to protect women against cervical cancer. — AFP

Less invasive surgery India criticized okay for breast cancer over maternal mortality rates

LONDON: Some breast cancer patients may do just as well with a less invasive surgery to remove selected lymph nodes rather than the aggressive operation normally used to remove them all, a new study says.

In the biggest trial yet to compare the two procedures, North American researchers found early breast cancer patients don’t need the more interventionist surgery to live longer.

Most patients with such cancer have surgery to remove the disease.

Doctors sometimes decide to get rid of all the lymph nodes to better control the cancer because if the disease spreads, it usually goes first to the nearby lymph nodes. Experts also think there is a relationship between the number of lymph nodes affected and how aggressive a cancer is.

But the invasive operation, an axillary-lymph node dissection, often comes with nasty side effects like nerve damage and reduced use of the arms and shoulders. Doctors can use another surgery to remove only the first set of lymph nodes, or the sentinel lymph nodes under the arm, but many physicians have assumed the more aggressive surgery gives women a better shot at staying alive.

The study dealt only with victims of early breast cancer, not women needing a mastectomy.

US and Canadian scientists monitored 5,611 early breast cancer patients whose disease had not yet spread to their lymph nodes. About half were assigned to get both surgeries. The other half had operations to remove only some of their lymph nodes. Most patients in both groups also received other treatments like

radiotherapy. After tracking the patients for eight years, doctors didn’t find any difference in the patients’ survival rates. Among the 1,975 women who got both surgeries, 1,660 were alive after eight years.

Among the 2,011 who only got a few lymph nodes removed in the less invasive operation, 1,675 were alive.

The study was paid for by the US Public Health Service, the National Cancer Institute and the Department of Health and Human Services. It was published Tuesday in the journal Lancet Oncology. “This is good for patients because this is a less aggressive technique which could mean fewer patients develop unpleasant side effects (like major tissue swelling),” said Meg McArthur, a senior policy officer at the British charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

She was not linked to the paper.

John Benson of Cambridge University called it a “seminal” paper that should help treat most early stage breast cancer patients. He also was not linked to the research. “It will now be difficult to justify (using aggressive surgery) when there is no marked difference in survival,” he said, adding there may be some cases where using the more invasive procedure is preferable, such as if patients have larger tumors or more advanced disease. Benson said all breast cancer patients need to be carefully monitored after their surgeries. He noted in the study that of the women who had the less invasive procedure, 14 had cancer return in the region of their lymph nodes compared to eight of those who had the more aggressive surgery. — AP

MUMBAI: A leading rights group has accused India of hoodwinking the public over its claims of improving maternal health, as renewed efforts began at the United Nations to cut global poverty. Human Rights Watch said the government in New Delhi was wrong to focus on the number of women who give birth in health facilities as a measure of progress rather than how many survive the delivery and post-delivery period.

The group’s Asia women’s rights researcher, Aruna Kashyap, said in a statement Monday that the authorities were “playing number games with women’s lives” and “dangerously misleading the public”. Reducing maternal mortality is the fifth of the eight Millennium Development Goals adopted by world leaders in 2000 and set to be achieved by 2015. World leaders are in New York to look for fresh ways to meet the targets, which are badly behind schedule. More women-about 100,000 — die during pregnancy and childbirth in India than anywhere else in the world every year, according to the World Health Organization. India says it is “on the right track” to cutting the rate because 10 million women gave birth in health facilities in 2009-10.

The UN’s special rapporteur on health has welcomed progress but said India is unlikely to meet its Millennium Development Goal target and called the rate of maternal deaths “shocking” for a country of its stature and development. Human Rights Watch said the government should focus on quality of care and safe deliveries as a measure of improvement instead of counting only the number of so-called “institutional deliveries”.

The current system fails to take into account women who die because there is no emergency transport to take them to hospital or clinics, while centers themselves were often only able to conduct normal deliveries, the group said. Women requiring emergency obstetric care were often sent from one hospital to another at their own expense.—AFP

“World governments are woefully unprepared for the social and economic disruptions this disease will cause,” said Daisy Acosta, ADI’s chairman, describing dementia as “the single most significant health and social crisis of the 21st century”. The report, jointly authored by Martin Prince of Britain’s King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry and Anders Wimo of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, combined the most up-to-date global data on dementia prevalence with added research from care studies in Latin America, India and China.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a fatal brain-wasting disease that affects memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to handle daily activities.

“Alzheimer’s is not normal aging. It is not just a little memory loss. It is a progressive, degenerative disease... with the high risk factor being age. As that unfolds, we’re going to see dramatic increases in Alzheimer’s,” Harry Johns, president of the Chicago-based Alzheimer’s Association (AA), said in a telephone interview.

ADI predicts that as populations age, dementia cases will almost double every 20 years to around 66 million in 2030 and 115 million in 2050, with much of the rise in poorer nations. Low-income nations currently account for under one percent of total worldwide costs, the report said, but have 14 percent of the cases of dementia, while middle-income nations account for 10 percent of the costs and 40 percent of the prevalence.

In comparison, rich nations accounted for 89 percent of the costs but 46 percent of cases. Around 70 percent of global costs now occur in two regions: Western Europe and North America. A report by the AA in May found that from 2010 to 2050, the cost of caring for Americans over 65 with Alzheimer’s will increase more than six times to $1.08 trillion per year. “The developed world is currently where the bulk of the problem is,” Johns said. “The developing world will be a place where the problem grows dramatically later.”

Only a handful of governments have national dementia or Alzheimer’s policy strategies-France, England, Australia do, but the United States and many developing nations do not.

“Governments really need to wake up to this,” Prince said in a telephone interview. “It’s all very well for some countries at the moment to say we have families who can take care of these people... but that is a very dangerous strategy.”

In the United States, the Alzheimer’s Association is pushing for passage of a bill that would create a government body to focus research efforts and develop a national dementia plan. “This is a disaster that is already happening.

It’s not like the kind of thing that catches us off guard,” Johns said. Despite decades of research into Alzheimer’s, scientists have so-far failed to develop drugs that can halt or reverse the brain-wasting disease. About 100 compounds are being explored in clinical trials as potential future drugs, but some experts say recent failures of experimental drugs in late-stage trials may scare pharmaceutical firms away from Alzheimer’s research. — Reuters

NEW YORK: US singer Jennifer Hudson poses at Public School 111 during the launch of Weight Watchers’ Lose for Good charitable campaign to help fight hunger and obesity in school-aged children. — AFP

Obesity hurts wallet and health WASHINGTON: Obesity puts a drag on the wallet as well as health, especially for women. Doctors have long known that medical bills are higher for the obese in the United States, but that is only a portion of the real-life costs.

George Washington University researchers added in things like employee sick days, lost productivity, even the need for extra gasoline - and found the annual cost of being obese is $4,879 for a woman and $2,646 for a man. That is far more than the cost of being merely overweight - $524 for women and $432 for men, concluded the report released yesterday, which analyzed previously published studies to come up with a total.

Why the difference between the sexes? Studies suggest larger women earn less than skinnier women, while wages don’t differ when men pack on the pounds. That was a big surprise, said study co-author and health policy professor Christine Ferguson. Researchers had expected everybody’s wages to suffer with obesity, but “this indicates you’re not that disadvantaged as a guy, from a wage perspective,” said Ferguson, who plans to study why.

Then consider that obesity is linked to earlier death.

While that is not something people usually consider a pocketbook issue, the report did average in the economic value of lost life. That brought women’s annual obesity costs up to $8,365, and men’s to $6,518. The report was financed by one of the manufacturers of gastric banding, a type of obesity surgery. The numbers are in line with

other research and are not surprising, said Dr. Kevin Schulman, a professor of medicine and health economist at Duke University who wasn’t involved in the new report.

Two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese, and childhood obesity has tripled in the past three decades. Nearly 18 percent of adolescents now are obese, facing a future of diabetes, heart disease and other ailments. Looking at the price tag may help policymakers weigh the value of spending to prevent and fight obesity, said Schulman, pointing to factors like dietary changes over the past 30 years and physical environments that discourage physical activity.

“We’re paying a very high price as a society for obesity, and why don’t we think about it as a problem of enormous magnitude to our economy?” he asks. “We’re creating obesity and we need to do a man-on-the-moon effort to solve this before those poor kids in elementary school become diabetic middle-aged people.” A major study published last year found medical spending averages $1,400 more a year for the obese than normal-weight people.

Yesterday’s report added mostly work-related costs things like sick days and disability claims - related to those health problems. It also included a quirky finding, a study that calculated nearly 1 billion additional gallons of gasoline (3.8 billion liters) are used every year because of increases in car passengers’ weight since 1960. — AP

California discovers 1.4m year-old fossils RIVERSIDE: A utility company preparing to build a new substation in an arid canyon southeast of Los Angeles has stumbled on a trove of animal fossils dating back 1.4 million years that researchers say will fill in blanks in Southern California’s history. The well-preserved cache contains nearly 1,500 bone fragments, including a giant cat that was the ancestor of the saber-toothed tiger, ground sloths the size of a modern-day grizzly bear, two types of camels and more than 1,200 bones from small rodents. Other finds include a new species of deer, horse and possibly llama, researchers affiliated with the project said. Workers doing grading for the substation also uncovered signs of plant life that indicate birch, pine, sycamore, marsh reeds and oak trees once grew in the area that is now dry and sparsely vegetated.

Researchers say the discoveries will fill in blanks about the area’s climate and ecosystem during the Irvingtonian period, which spanned 1.8 million to 300,000 years ago. The fossils representing 35 species have all been removed from the site and will be on display at the Western Science Center in nearby Hemet starting next year. The bones are about 1 million years older than those found in the famous La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, said Rick Greenwood, a microbiologist who also is director of corporate environment health and safety for the utility, Southern California Edison.

“If you step back, this is just a huge find,” he said.

“Everyone talks about the La Brea Tar Pits, but I think this is going to be much larger in terms of its scientific value to the research community.” Greenwood continued: “Some of the things I personally find fascinating are the prehistoric camels and llamas and horses and deer. I don’t think most people even have the concept that those types of animals were roaming around here more than a million years ago.” San Diego Museum of Natural History paleontologist Tom Demere said the fossil trove cannot be directly compared to the La Brea Tar Pits because they contain different species and shed light on different eras.

Nevertheless, he said the collection could advance scientists’ understanding of life in Southern California 1.4 million years ago. “We have a fuzzy view of what this time period was like in terms of mammal evolution,” Demere said. “A discovery like this - when they’re all found together and in a whole range of sizes - could really be an important contribution.”

The fossils were found in San Timoteo Canyon in a part of the ancient river valley about 85 miles (140 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles. The region is now arid and dusty and shadowed by the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, but it was lush more than a million years ago, said Philippe Lapin, an archaeologist for the utility. The dig started last fall and wrapped up this summer. Southern California Edison spokeswoman Lauren Bartlett said the substation project is moving forward, with completion expected in mid-2011.

Paleontologists studying the dig site believe so many skeletons were preserved because a muddy lake bed or marsh may have trapped animals that came to drink there.

Some animals which became stuck may have fallen prey to others, while some died because they were unable to free themselves.

All the bones have been dated to the Irvingtonian period. The bones found in Riverside County were dated by observing the layers of sediment they were found in and fall at about 1.4 million years ago, experts said. Fossils from this period have been dug up from dozens of sites around California, some more well-preserved than others.

Scientists say the new trove will add important information to what is already known - particularly if it turns out several new species were found. Researchers discover new species all the time, but uncovering so many from a single excavation site is rare, said paleontologist Jere Lipps of the University of California, Berkeley, who was not part of the find. “If they really are new species, that strikes me as something that would be pretty important,” Lipps said. Lapin, the scientist supervising the fossils’ recovery, said the large number of rodent bones found at the site will also tell paleontologists more about how the environment changed during the era.

Because rodents have shorter life cycles, they evolve more quickly to adapt to changes in climate and food sources. By studying the animals’ teeth, scientists can learn more about how their diet was changing as the climate shifted, he said. Their presence also indicates the area was moist and lush at the time, he said. “It’s going to paint a comprehensive picture of what was going on in the area,” Lapin said. “The species that we’re finding haven’t been found before, or they’re very rare, and some of them that we’re finding are more complete than what’s on record now.” — AP

RIVERSIDE: While preparing to build a new substation in an arid canyon southeast of Los Angeles, Southern California Edison has stumbled on a trove of animal fossils dating back 1.4 million years that researchers say will fill in blanks in Southern California’s history. — AP

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

HEALTH & SCIENCE

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Altered salmon raises many doubts: US panel Environmental impact, safety are key concerns ROCKVILLE: The first genetically modified a nima l a imed a t consumers’ dinner plates faces an uncertain future follow ing a federa l advisory pa nel on Monda y tha t ga ve a mixed assessment on w hether such food— a sa lm on — is sa fe to ea t. A number of the Food a nd Drug Administra tion’s pa nelists ra ised concerns a bout the fa st grow ing fish,

NITEROI: Jimmy, a 26-year-old chimpanzee, and Roched Seba, who has been teaching him how to paint, caress themselves as Seba holds a painting made by the chimp at a zoo, Monday, Sept 20, 2010. The monkey’s paintings have been catching everyone’s attention at a Brazilian zoo, and an exhibition for Jimmy the chimp is already in the works. — AP

S Africa reveals massive rhino poaching syndicate JOHANNESBURG: A South African rhino poaching syndicate broken up this week is believed to be a major supplier of illegal horns to the international black market, police said yesterday. Rhino poaching in South Africa has increased this year owing to booming demand and rising prices for rhino horn from increasingly rich Asian markets, where it is used as a medicine. “The products are sold to the overseas market,” said police spokesman Vishnu Naidoo. Nine people were arrested on Monday, including a businessman and two veterinarians who police said were involved in several hundred incidents of rhino poaching over the past years.

“The businessman and the vets are ... considered to be the masterminds of the syndicate,” police said in a statement.

“Detectives have identified other syndicates and are close to bringing more of these culprits to book,” it said. Police said 204 rhinos had been killed so far this year, up from the 122 killed in all of 2009, and despite Africa setting aside more funds for rangers, equipment and policing to crack down on the trans-border crime.

The government has banned the hunting and sale of rhino products in an effort to stop poaching, but with little success. Rhino horn has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine, where it was ground into a powder and often mixed with hot water to treat maladies including rheumatism, gout, high fever and even possession by the devil. In recent years, it has taken on the reputation for being an aphrodisiac and gained in popularity among the newly rich in Vietnam and other southeast Asian states, where it is seen as a cancer remedy, studies have found.

This has caused the price of rhino horn to rise to $56,690 a kilogram, making it far more expensive than gold, according to the International Rhino Foundation. It said the typical adult rhino has about 7 kg (15.4 pounds) of horns, which would translate to about $40 million worth of value being taken by poachers in South Africa so far this year. South Africa was home to about 90 percent of the white rhinos in Africa at the end of 2007 with just over 16,000, conservation groups say. — Reuters

But other panel members argued there was no difference between the altered salmon and its natural counterpart. “I would not feel alarmed about eating this kind of fish,” said Gary Thorgaard, a professor and fish researcher at Washington State University. Aqua Bounty is seeking US approval to market its engineered Atlantic salmon, which contains a gene from another fish species to help it grow twice as fast as normal.

If approved, Aqua Bounty’s salmon would be the first genetically altered animal for human consumption in the United States. The FDA has already allowed modified animals as pets or to help produce biologic medicines. Genetically engineered vegetables such as corn have been on the market for years. Both FDA staff and the company have said the genetically spliced fish appears to be the same as normal Atlantic salmon and poses little threat to the environment or diners.

But nearly a dozen consumer advocates, environmentalists and others protested the move, citing tens of thousands of people who signed petitions or letters backing them up. They say there is not enough data to show that eating the modified salmon does not cause side effects such as allergic reactions or that accidental escape will not harm other fish. “This is not what the public wants,” American Anti-vivisection Society Research Analyst Nina Mak testified.

Overcoming advocates’ complaints and winning the panel’s support is critical for Aqua Bounty, whose shares have more than tripled this year ahead of the FDA’s potential green light. The company has no other approved products and is eyeing the genetic technology for use in other fish like tilapia and trout. Aqua Bounty Chief Executive Officer Ronald Stotish told the FDA’s panel of outside experts that approval could help provide the “healthy kind of diet that Americans are used to” amid threats from overfishing and increased demand. Without it, “it’s hard to imagine how we’ll meet the protein needs of the developing population over the next 20 to 30 years.”

The small Massachusetts-based biotechnology company first sought U.S. approval of the salmon in 1995 and reported a $4.8 million net loss for last year after restructuring in 2008 to preserve cash and focus on approval. Its shares were unchanged on the London Stock Exchange ahead of the panel’s recommendation.

After 11 hours of deliberation, FDA’s panelists did not hand down a clear verdict on whether the salmon was safe to eat, and many said Aqua Bounty’s trials could be better designed. Most panelists did say the company appeared to take appropriate steps to prevent the modified fish from escaping and possibly causing harm. The FDA will weigh the comments before making its final decision, but officials declined to say when

ma de by Aqua Bounty Technologies Inc, saying there w a s not enough data to a nsw er key questions a bout a llergens a nd other potential risks.

“There a re questions that have not been a nsw ered by the data tha t has been presented,” panelist J a mes McKea n, a veterinaria n a nd professor a t Iow a Sta te University, sa id.

that could be.

Increased risk?

Critics, including groups like Consumers Union, the Center for Food Safety and Food & Water Watch, also said Aqua Bounty has not done sufficient studies to prove its fish is safe. They also criticize the FDA for allowing just 14 days for the public to review the data even though the company submitted its bid more than a decade ago.

Last week, various groups protested in front of the White House, urging President Barack Obama to postpone the public meeting or block the potential approval.

Consumers Union “is particularly concerned that this salmon may pose an increased risk of severe, even life-threatening allergic reactions to sensitive individuals,” it said in a statement. It added that fish are already a major allergen and that “this salmon could make the problem worse.”

After the meeting, Stotish said the company has already submitted “extensive” data and that “there was confusion” among panelists about much of the company’s research.

Aqua Bounty has said its fish is the same in every way to other salmon and that taste tests showed no difference.

Stotish said Aqua Bounty plans to sell the eggs to inland fish farmers. The product could eventually boost the United States’ meager domestic salmon farms, he said, even though the company’s first application seeks approval to grow the fish at facilities in Canada and Panama. The United States imports more than $1 billion of Atlantic salmon a year after industrialization knocked out most wild populations in its Northeast region.

Steven Vaughn, director of the Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation at the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said it took the FDA so long to make Aqua Bounty’s bid public because it had to grapple with how to handle the complex science. “This has been very challenging for us as a new technology,” he said. But other genetically altered food animals, including pigs and cows, are in the works. One other engineered fish, Yorktown Technologies LP’s GloFish, is already sold in the United States as a pet.

One concern is whether consumers will know when they are buying genetically modified salmon, if it is approved.

Yesterday, the agency was set to hear public comments on the labeling issues.

Current FDA rules only call for special labels for altered food when there is a “material difference” in the product’s end result. Aqua Bounty and FDA staff both say tests show the salmon’s composition appears similar to normal fish. The company and the industry trade group that represents it, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, do not want products with the fish to point out its genetic differences. “People will perceive a label as some sort of warning,” Stotish told reporters. — Reuters

SEATTLE: King salmon, also known as chinook, sits on ice at the Pike Place Fish Market. — AP

Intelligent parents turn divorce nasty LONDON: Intelligent parents often use their children as “ammunition” and a “battlefield” to carry on their disputes in a legal war after separation, England’s most senior family court judge says. Nicholas Wall, president of the Family Division, said the arguments were rarely about the children themselves and accused divorcing parents of acting unreasonably, and damaging their offspring in the process.

He called for the family justice system to be made less adversarial, but said this would be difficult because of parents’ behavior. “People think that post-separation parenting is easy-in fact, it is exceedingly difficult, and as a rule of thumb my experience is that the more intelligent the parent, the more intractable the dispute,” Wall said in a speech. “Why do we have these endless disputes? The judicial answer is, I think, quite clear. It is because separating parents who are unable to resolve issues between themselves rarely act reasonably.”

There were 121,779 divorces in Britain in 2008, the lowest number for more than 30 years. Almost half of the couples had children aged under 16, involving more than 106,000 youngsters. Wall said separating parents did not

realize the damage to children that their angry battles caused. “Disputes over contact between absent parents and their former partners (married or otherwise) are rarely about the children concerned,” he said.

“Far more often, the parties are fighting over again the battles of the relationship, and the children are both the battlefield and the ammunition. “There is nothing worse, for most children, than for their parents to denigrate each other. If a child’s mother makes it clear to the child that his or her father is worthless-and vice versa-the child’s sense of self-worth can be irredeemably damaged.”

A review of family law is under way and Wall said it might recommend a presumption of shared residence for the children, allowing them to live with each parent for half the time. He also said mediation could be made compulsory before a custody dispute came to court. “Generally speaking, children do better in every way if they have two parents in their lives, and the children of separated families are no exception,” said Craig Pickering, chief executive of the Families Need Fathers charity. — Reuters

WHAT’S ON IN KUWAIT

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Mar Ivanios Onam celebrations

IPC - Islamic courses PC is offering Islamic courses in English (for ladies only). 1. Tilawa Surah Al Imran on Tuesday at 5:30-7 pm on October 5, 2010 2.

Forty Hadith (Part 2) Tuesday from 7-8:30pm on October 5, 2010 Instructor: Sr. Zeinab Hassan Ashry at IPC Women Section AlRawdah - Area 3 - St. 30 House 12. Call 22512257 97290270.

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ssociation of Mar Ivanios College Old Students Kuwait Chapter (AMICOS) will celebrate ONAM 2010 on Friday, October 1, 2010 from 10 am onwards at the Indian Community School, Khaitan.

This Onam celebration is with a ‘difference packed with a lot of entertainment for both and adults and children followed by the traditional Onasadya. Come and enjoy the day. Entry is restricted to members and their guests only with an entry pass.

For more details please contact: Kuruvila - 99849102; Dany 97233841; Sunil - 66582760; Thampi - 99535202

Toastmasters Club announcement o you want to overcome your fear of speaking in public? Do you want to sharpen your presentation skills? Do you want to develop leadership skills?

Do you wish to attend job interviews with confidence? All of these can be achieved for a nominal fee with unlimited opportunities to practice and develop at the new Toastmasters Club (affiliated to Toastmasters International USA), being chartered in Salmiya. If you want to be part of your own chartered club, join us at Bayan Restaurant, Salmiya (next to Red Tag) at 7:45 pm on Friday, September 3, 2010. For free registration contact Vishwanath at 67735024 visragmal@yahoo.com or Xavier at 99850173 xaviermuthu@hotmail.com

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

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Writers’ Forum bids farewell to poet

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t was an emotional evening, brimming with nostalgia as the members of the Writers’ Forum, Kuwait gathered on Friday, September 17 at the residence of Gurbakash Singh Dogra at Fahaheel. This month’s meeting of the Writers’ Forum was in honor of Abdullah Sajid - a renowned poet in Urdu, who, after living in Kuwait for several years, has now decided to return to his homeland. Abdullah Sajid had been one of the pioneers and founder-members of the Writers’ Forum in Kuwait when it was conceived of, and established in 1995. His gentle manners, in-depth thoughts, and emotions of a sensitive heart weaved wonderfully and created beautiful poetry which mesmerized

readers, across countries.

The evening began by paying rich accolades to Abdullah Sajid for his immense contribution towards enriching Urdu literature, by writing poetry that touched hearts and got the readers thinking. He has written and published two books till date. The members of the forum relived their memories of moments and thoughts shared with Abdullah.

The President of the Forum Maimuna Ali Chougle, presided over the session and spoke of how inspiring her association with Abdullah Sajid had been and would be so, always. Others, including Jasbir Singh Dhiman, Gurbakash Singh Dogra, Ali Chougle, Sabir Galsulkar, Shahjahan Jaffery,

Sunil Sonsi, Rajesh Verlekar, Navniit Gandhi, Amir Diwan, Mohan Singh, Mathiyazhagan, Gobind Rani Sethi and Dr M U Beg echoed similar sentiments of how valuable his thoughts and strengths in his personality have been for each one of them. The emotions were mixed, for departure of a close friend and guide is always sad and yet, there is goodwill for his life ahead. Maimuna Ali Chougle; the President of the Forum honored him with a memento, as a token of appreciation and love by all members of the Writers’ Forum. In conclusion, Abdullah Sajid profusely thanked the members for all their warm wishes, goodwill and love which was so graciously showered on him.

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Gulf Voice of Mangalore 2010

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outh Recreation Center (Rising Stars), on the completion of 30 glorious years in Kuwait has organized a maiden/mega Singing Competition, the “Gulf Voice of Mangalore 2008” on October 17, 2008 and Kuwait’s very own voice, Vinay Lewis was declared the winner of ‘Gulf Voice of Mangalore 2008. After the super success of this event we are back again with Gulf Voice of Mangalore 2010’. The auditions/preliminary rounds for Kuwait already held on June 11, 2010 under the leadership of Lawrence Pinto and Louis Rodrigues and 12 semi-finalists (six male and females each) were chosen to compete for the semi-finals in Kuwait on October 8, 2010 at the American International School Hawalli. On this day two finalists, one male and one female each will be chosen to enter the grand-finale. Famous personalities in the music field will arrive from Mangalore to judge the semi-finalists. There will be an entertainment program by visiting artists from Mangalore as well as the local artists, Twelve finalists from six Gulf countries will be fighting for the coveted title in the grandfinale to be held in Dubai on October 22, 2010. For further information about this competition, contact Lawrence - 99803755, Louis 66561184. Wilson - 99719938.

Aware Center announcement

ware Center in cooperation with the American Embassy to Kuwait Presents Randa Kuziez to speak on the topic of ‘Religious Pluralism’ on September 26, 2010 at 7 pm at the aware CenterSurra, Block 3, Surra St, Villa 84.

Randa shares that for some, interfaith and pluralism are scary terms referring to the loss of individual identity, creation of one religion, or acceptance of the theology of others despite disagreements.” Religious Pluralism

describes a community where individuals holding separate beliefs come to respect one another’s distinct religious and philosophical identities, seek mutually enriching relationships and work together for the common good. To learn more about this topic, we welcome your presence at Aware.

Randa is a Muslim-American professional, and holds her degree in History and International Affairs from Saint Louis University, 2007. She was named

SLU’s Woman of the Year and has held various positions including Vice President of the Muslim Students’ Association of the United States and Canada, member of the Muslim Advisory Board for “Malaria No More”, cofounder of Maded, an organization providing resources to those suffering serious physical accidents and recently, Director of Education at Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls of St Louis. Call 2-533-5280 for more information.

Ghada Elsheikh

Maher Ali Sadruddin

Mohamed AdbelFattah

Moaz Anwar

Labeeb Hossain

Osama Oskoura

Qasim Amin

Khalil Zayed

Muhammad Arshad

Mayham Hussain

Omer Hesham

Murtaza Hassan

Hayyan Ahmed

Nourhan

Zain

Nada Khalid Taha

Arpan cancels Onam fest

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rpan Kuwait cancelled this year’s Onam celebration following the sad demise of its founder president and current executive member C Vijyakumar, according to a press release. The executive committee and the program committee for Onam celebration, at an emergency meeting, unanimously decided to call off all Onam festivities and celebrations scheduled to be held on October 1 as a mark of respect to the departed founder president, the press release added.

ISCP announces results

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he journey of success continues after the excellent performance of ISCPIANS in Federal Board of Education, Islamabad. International School of Pakistan, Khaitan announces another landmark of brilliant success of its students in Cambridge and Edexcel examinations of May/June 2010.

In IGCSE examinations, ISCPIANS showed their excellent skills in almost all subjects by securing high ranking grades. The result is 100 percent, however, 74 percent students secured A*, A, B, and C grades. In Edexcel A & AS level examinations also, many students got A*, A and B in various subjects.

Ali Abdel Wahab is on the top of the list among IGCSE students by securing 6A*and 2A. Isra Kamal and Ahmad Mujtaba with 5A*, Mayar Barakat, Nada Ibrahim with 4A*, and Heba Ahmed and Omar Alkholy with 3A*are among the top students.

Ghada Elsheikh, last year topper with 7A* in IGCSE, secured A*, A & B

grades in A-level examinations, other toppers of A-level examinations are Maher Ali A*, 3B, Mohamed Abdelfattah A*, A, Nada Khalid A, C. Moaz Anwar Qureshi and Labeeb Hossain got distinction by securing 3A each in AS level. In AS level examinations, other brilliant performances shown by Osama Oskoura,

Qasim Amin, Khalil Zayed, Maytham Hussain, Muhammad Arshad , Omer Hesham and Murtaza Hassan by securing high ranking grades A, B and C who kept the flag high of ISCP. In a press release, the co-ordinator Muhammad Ali stated that the students did excellent in the exams.

He said that about 30 students are

declared the Stars of ISCPof 2010. He conveyed the heartiest congratulations to the students and their parents. The School Director Nadia AlHufaiti, Principal Anjum Masood and Senior Section In-charge Amjad Latif appreciated the results shown by the students and praised the untiring efforts of the teachers.

Tulu Parba competitions

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n the occasion of Decennial celebration Tulukoota Kuwait invites all Tuluvas to join us for “Tuluparba Competitions” to be held on Friday, October 8, 2010 from 10:00 am5:00 pm at Indian Community School Auditorium (Senior Girls) Salmiya. Join us for an exciting and entertaining day with lots of fun and creativity.

Competitions for various age group planned for the day include: Dance Solo and Group, Fancy Dress Solo and Group; Pick N Speak; Onion Cutting; Ladies Cloth Bag Making; Men -Kenchana Kurlari; Smart Kid Contest; Puzzle and color me contest, “Hiriyerna Udala pathera” for senior citizens. For further details and registrations, please contact Sathyanarayana 66585077; Swarna Shetty: 99006934; Rekha Sachu 65044521 and for more details on the rules and regulations please visit our website tulukootakuwait.org.

Last date for accepting registrations is October 3, 2010.

Esra Ahmed

Saleh Ali

Zainab Mirza

Umer Bashir

Mohamed Nasseef

Waleed Khalid

Menatallah

Neha Amal

Omer Essam

Saima Aslam

Hind

Nadin

Ahmad Ghulam

Ramy Amr

Amira

Rubayada Alam

Ahmad Majid

Adil Asif

Ahmed Yousry

Safir Ahmad

Nada Ibrahim

Heba Ahmed

Omer Alkholy

Hamid Shabbir

Ali Abdel-Wahab

Isra Kamal

Ahmed Mujtaba

Mayar Barakat

Maisum Habib

Ahmad Abdulsalam

Al-Johara

WHAT’S ON IN KUWAIT

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

31 Embassy information

Announcements Theater & Music All level music classes: ‘Treasure of Talents’ (est in 1992) music education program invites all level music classes on piano, theory of music, vocal, flute.

Academic Level teachers help prepare for international exams, children concerts, yearly ‘Treasure of Talents’ Festival and music competitions. Contact Prof Cezary, Tel. 25320427, 66549009 of Ms Yasmeene - Berlitz Institute Tel: 22542212. 22512533 or email: treasureoftalents@yahoo.com treasureoftalents@hotmail.com

EMBASSy OF US

✦✦✦ Call to classical music lovers: Are you a lover of music? Would you like to promote the traditional Indian classical music in Kuwait? If your answer is in the affirmative, please write ton more details to music_karnatic@yahoo.co. in (that is, music underscore karnatic) with your contact details or call 7978286.

SEPT 24 NSS Onam: Nair Service Society (NSS), Kuwait will celebrate Onam on Sept 24, at Cambridge School, Mangaf. South Indian film star and acclaimed dancer Lakshmi Gopalaswamy will perform during the function. Ajai Malhotra, Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, will be the chief guest at the Onam celebration on September 24, which will be followed by a full day variety entertainment program depicting the rich heritage and art forms of Kerala. Muraleekrishnan P, President of Nair Service Society, Kuwait (NSS Kuwait) will preside over the function.The Ona-Sadhya (Onam Feast) will be served in the traditional Kerala style on banana leaf on September 24.

Nair Service Society (NSS) Kuwait, is one of the largest Socio-Cultural Organization in Kuwait formed in year 2001 and now has more than 3000 Indians as members. For more information, contact Anish Nair, NSS Kuwait 9969-1431.

Oct 14 Tulukoota Kuwait announces its “Decennial Parba “on October 14th & 15th. 2010 at American International School Hawally. We invite all Tulukoota Kuwait members to join us for fun filled and exciting events planned to celebrate the milestones throughout Tulukoota Kuwait’s 10 years journey. 14th October Rasamanjari - musical show by Star performer Anuradha Bhatt, Prakash Mahadevan Naveen Koppa & others, Vismaya Jadoo by Mega Magic Star Ganesh Kudroli & troupe. Dr. Mohan Alva Cultural Performances & King of Comedy Navin D Padil presents tulu drama “ Paniyerla aath Panande Budiyerla aath” This is a fun tilled evening for entire family! Join us for a great time. For more information call : Swarna C Shetty - 99006934; Pascal Pinto - 9953 1557; Sathya Narayan 66585077: Suresh Salian - 99161228; Chandrahasa Shetty - 55941955.

OCT 21 Rendezvous 2010: The Kuwait Chapter of the St. Aloysius College Alumni Association (SACAA KUWAIT) have announced that “Rendezvous” their hallmark event will be conducted on 21st October at Asia Asia Restaurant, Souk Al Watiya, Kuwait City from 8 pm onwards.

This year, SACAA Kuwait celebrates five years of its existence in Kuwait. SACAAKuwait has been synonymous with various fund raising initiatives through which they consistently supported various needs of their Alma Mater and its students back in Mangalore, India. Through Rendezvous-2010, SACAA-Kuwait intends to help generate funds for the Poor Students Fund of St. Aloysius institutions where numerous needy students look forward to assistance to subsidize their costs. SACAA Kuwait calls upon all Aloysians, their families and also like minded people to join this noble cause and help make life a little better for those needy students back home. For entry passes and further information, kindly contact - 66731828, 66746425, 66181041, 94093275, 66699857, 66091962.

Members of the Olympic Health and Sports Club pose for a picture at the Kuwait Times office.

Islam Al-Sharaa, the Information Technology Manager answers questions on how to lay out a page for the newspaper.

Islam Al-Sharaa explains color management to the group at the printing press. —Photos by May Islam Al-Sharaa

Sports club visits Kuwait Times

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few members from the Olympic Health and Sports Club paid a visit to Kuwait Times office yesterday to learn more about the intricacies that go into producing a daily newspaper. Islam Al-Sharaa, the Information Technology Manager, explained the workings of the editorial department and the printing press and elaborated on how challenging - and rewarding - journalism can be.

Closing ceremony of Malayalam education program on Sept 24

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he closing ceremony of the free Malayalam education program2010 will be held at Abbasiya Pravaasi Auditorium on September 24 from 4pm onwards as decided by the Maathrubhaasha Central committee. This free education program was organized jointly by Kerala Art Lovers Association (KalaKuwait) and the mathrubhaasha Samithi which included public participation as well.

George Onakoor, a famous novelist, short-story writer, critic, script and travel writer will be the chief guest for the function. The teachers of the Malayalam classes and the kind hearted people who provided their houses for taking the classes will be honored during the session. The prizes for the winners of the quiz competitions organized by Maathrubhaasha Samithi at different regions of Kuwait will also be distributed on the same day followed by a variety of cultural programs by the students of the Malayalam classes. Guests from various socio-cultural fields will also attend the program. To know more details about the program, contact 24317875 and 66656642 as informed by Bhaashasamithi General Convener Sam Painamood.

Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

EMBASSy OF CANAdA Middle East Education Initiative (MEEI) 2010 October 2 to 4, 2010 organized by the Embassy of Canada.

Representatives of leading Canadian universities, colleges and other institutions of higher education will be available to meet students, parents, teachers and guidance counsellors to present the advantages of studying in Canada. On October 4, 2010 a “Study in Canada” exhibition will be being held at the Safir Marina Hotel, Salmiya for potential students and their parents to attend. The Canadian institutions will also be visiting local schools to speak to interested students about opportunities to study in Canada. Please contact the Canadian Embassy in Kuwait for additional information. The MEEI tour will also be visiting the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.

EMBASSY OF INDIA

NSS Kuwait to hold ‘Onam Fest 2010’

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ational Service Society (NSS Kuwait) will conduct its ninth Onam celebrations ‘Onam Fest 2010’ on Friday, Sept 24, 2010 from 9:30 am onwards at the Integrated Indian School auditorium, Abbassia. The organizers have charted a full-day event with a wide range of cultural programs including a musical concert by finalists of Asianet Idea Star Singer Season 4 —

Sreenath, Preethi Warrier, Vidyashankar and Rahul Sathyanath.

Indian Ambassador Ajai Malhotra will be the Chief Guest of the event.

Announcing the program at a press conference NSS Kuwait President N Jayashanker said the traditional caravan to welcome the King Mahabali will include several folk art forms such as ‘kummattikkali’, ‘mayilattom’, ‘theyyam’,

‘karakattom’, ‘karadikali’, ‘pulikkali’, hunter, puppet show and elephant in additional to ‘Thalappoli’ and ‘chendamelam. A sumptuous ‘Onasadya’ will be served during the celebration. Other office-bearers who attended the press conference included Program Convener Jayakumar Kurup, General Secretary Dinachandran, Rajeev Pillai, K S Suresh and K P Vijayakumar.

Radisson Blu Hotel offers sumptuous treat

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he Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait invites you to the special treat of ‘Black Angus Rib Eye Steaks’ along with a choice of tasty side dishes and sauces, all-you-can-eat salad buffet, chef’s special pre-plated dessert, coffee and dates in the diwaniya on the upper deck of the Al-Boom restaurant. Al-Boom Restaurant is an authentic Kuwaiti dhow in dry dock, famed for its nautical ambi-

ence, extensive salad bar and outstanding steaks and seafood.

This Boom, Mohammedi II was built in Calicut, India in 1979 using authentic drawings of Mohammedi I, which was built in 1915, the largest dhow ever built at the time.

Over 17,500 cubic feet of the finest teak wood and 2.5 tons of copper were used in her construction. Every part of Mohammedi II is handmade, even the 8.8 tons of iron

nails. The whole project took 35,000 man days to complete. Join us with your family, friends or business associates and marvel at Kuwait’s maritime heritage while enjoying the outstanding steaks. For more information please call

Radisson Blu Hotel on 2567 3000.

OCT 29 Onathanima tug of war: Thanima is conducting its annual Onam celebrations along with its celebrated tug of war competitions on October 29 at Central School compound, Abbasiya. Cultural procession, concert and other attractive cultural items will add glitter to the evening function in which many prominent personalities are expected to be present. Those teams wishing to participate in the tug of war competition, please contact 99865499 / 97253653 / 66071276 / 99703872.

Nov 17 Trend setter Udupi Restaurant, Kuwait proudly presents “ Gandharva Ganam” a live carnatic classical concert by living legend & maestro Padmabooshan Dr. K.J.Yesudas with his troupe on 17th Nov. 2010 at American International School, Kuwait. Sri. Nagai Murali on violin, Sri. Bakthavalsalam on Mridangam and Sri. Thripunithura Radhakrishnan on Ghatam.

For more details, please contact 66752462 or 66784867.

The United States Department of State announces the increase in various visa fees to ensure sufficient resources to cover the increasing cost of processing nonimmigrant visas (NIVs). US law requires the Department to recover the cost of processing non-immigrant visas through the collection of the application fees. The increased fees are to take effect June 4, 2010. Under the new rule, applicants for all visas that are not petition-based, including B1/B2 tourist and business visitor visas and all student and exchange-visitor visas, will pay a fee of $140. Applicants for petitionbased visas will pay an application fee of $150, as each of the below categories requires a review of extensive documentation and a more in-depth interview of the applicant than other categories, such as tourists.

These categories include: H visa for temporary workers and trainees L visa for intra-company transferees O visa for aliens with extraordinary ability P visa for athletes, artists and entertainers Q visa for international cultural exchange visitors R visa for religious occupations The application fee for K visas for fiance(e)s of US citizens will be $350. The fee for E visas for treaty-traders and treaty-investors will be $390.

The Embassy of India has further revamped and improved its Legal Advice Clinic at the Indian Workers Welfare Center, and made the free service available to Indian nationals on all five working days, i.e. from Sunday to Thursday every week. Kuwaiti lawyers would be available at the Legal Advice Clinic daily from Monday to Thursday, while Indian lawyers would be available on Sundays. Following are the free welfare services provided at the Indian Workers Welfare Center located at the Embassy of India: [i] 24x7 Helpline for Domestic Workers: Accessible by toll free telephone no. 25674163 from anywhere in Kuwait, it provides information and advice exclusively to Indian domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. [ii] Help Desk: It offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal, and other issues (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iii) Labour Complaints Desk: It registers labor complaints and provides grievance redressal service to Indian workers (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iv) Shelters: For female and male domestic workers in distress; (v) Legal Advice Clinic: Provides free legal advice to Indian nationals (Embassy premises; Kuwaiti lawyers 3 PM to 5 PM, Monday to Thursday; Indian lawyers 2 PM to 4 PM on Sunday); and (vi) Attestation of Work Contracts: Private sector worker (Visa No. 18) contracts are accepted at the Embassy; 9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday; Domestic sector worker (Visa No. 20) contracts are accepted at Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO), Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd Roundabout, Al-Abraj Complex, Office No 9, Mezzanine Floor; 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday.

EMBASSY OF turkEY The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey announces that Turkish language course will restart at the Embassy’s Tourism, Culture and Information Office 4 October 2010. The lessons will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. For further details and registration please contact. * The Embassy at Tel: 22531785 (only from 9 am to 3 pm) * Or fill the application form on http://kuweyt.befscnet.net and send it to the email: Turkish_embassy_Kuwait@hotmail.com

Saradhi Kuwait celebrates 11th anniversary and Onam 2010

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aradhi Kuwait, one of the largest socio-cultural organizations in Kuwait among Indian diaspora celebrated its 11th anniversary and Onam on a large scale. The mega event was held at American International School Auditorium, Maidan Hawally last Friday. Indian Ambassador Ajai Malhotra inaugurated the celebrations by lighting the lamp. Saradhi President

N Sasidharan presided over the inaugural function and program committee General Convener Sudhir Sodhar welcomed the gathering. Prominent personalities from various sections of the society joined the celebration. Saradhi General Secretary Deepak Sadanandan, Trust Chairman N S Aravindakshan were felicitated at the program. A colorful souvenir was released by the

ambassador and received by M G Ramesh. Vanithavedi Chairperson Rathidevi Dinesh also spoke on the occasion.

Saradhi Academic Excellence Awards and cash prizes were distributed to the children of Saradhi members during the function. Program committee convener Jithesh delivered vote of thanks. A colorful cultural pro-

gram was organized and was made up by members and children of different units of Saradhi Kuwait. This was followed by a musical extravaganza by famous playback singer, film actor and director Vineeth Sreenivasan, Idea Star Singer fame Roshan, Arun Gopan, Gayatri and Neelima. A grand traditional Onam feast was served during the celebration.

EMBASSy OF THAilANd All foreigners who apply for Tourist Visa at the Royal Thai Embassies and the Royal Thai Consulate General worldwide, including eligible foreigners who apply for Visa on arrival at designated checkpoints, will be exempted from tourist visa fees until 31 March 2011. Such arrangement is for Tourist Visa only.

TV PROGRAMS

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Orbit / Showtime Listings 01:00 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 01:50 House Swap 02:35 Cash In The Attic 03:15 Come Dine With Me 04:05 Daily Cooks Challenge 05:00 10 Years Younger 05:50 House Swap 07:00 Antiques Roadshow 07:50 House Swap 08:35 Bargain Hunt 09:20 Hidden Potential 09:40 Cash In The Attic Usa 10:05 Coastal Kitchen 10:50 House Swap 11:35 Cash In The Attic 12:20 Come Dine With Me 13:10 10 Years Younger 13:55 House Swap 14:40 Coastal Kitchen 15:30 Antiques Roadshow 16:20 House Swap 17:10 Cash In The Attic 17:55 Daily Cooks Challenge 18:50 Come Dine With Me 19:40 Celebrity Masterchef Goes Large 20:10 Glamour Puds 21:00 House Swap 21:45 Cash In The Attic

00:00 Big Love 01:00 House 02:00 Supernatural 03:00 The Invisible Man 04:00 The Ex-List 05:00 In Plain Sight 06:00 Defying Gravity 07:00 Big Love 08:00 The Ex-List 09:00 Criminal Minds 10:00 The Invisible Man 11:00 Inside the Actors Studio 12:00 Defying Gravity 13:00 Criminal Minds 14:00 The Invisible Man 15:00 The Ex-List 16:00 House 17:00 Supernatural 18:00 Big Love 19:00 Defying Gravity 20:00 Lie to Me 21:00 Law & Order 22:00 Criminal Minds 23:00 Saving Grace

00:45 Untamed & Uncut 01:40 Venom Hunter with Donald Schultz 02:35 Escape to Chimp Eden 03:30 Animal Cops Phoenix 04:25 Return to the Wild 05:20 Untamed & Uncut 06:10 RSPCA: Have You Got What it Takes?

06:35 Planet Wild 07:00 Animal Crackers 07:25 Meerkat Manor 07:50 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 08:40 Cats 101 09:35 Planet Wild 10:00 Escape to Chimp Eden 10:55 Monkey Life 11:20 Night 11:50 Animal Precinct 12:45 E-Vets: The Interns 13:10 Pet Rescue 13:40 Animal Cops Philadelphia 14:35 Wildlife SOS 15:00 SSPCA: On the Wildside 15:30 Escape to Chimp Eden 16:25 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 17:20 Britain’s Worst Pet 18:15 Planet Earth 19:10 Rats with Nigel Marven 20:10 Max’s Big Tracks 21:05 Gorillas Revisited with Sigourney Weaver 22:00 Planet Earth 22:55 Animal Cops Philadelphia

00:20 The Weakest Link 01:05 Jane Hall’s Big Bad Bus Ride 01:55 Holby City 02:50 Eastenders 03:15 Doctors 03:45 Only Fools And Horses 04:15 Teletubbies 04:40 Me Too 05:00 Tikkabilla 05:30 Gigglebiz 05:45 Teletubbies 06:10 Me Too 06:30 Tikkabilla 07:00 Gigglebiz 07:15 Teletubbies 07:40 Me Too 08:00 Tikkabilla 08:30 Teletubbies 08:55 Tikkabilla 09:20 Only Fools And Horses 10:25 The Weakest Link 11:10 Innocent 12:00 Doctors 12:30 Eastenders 13:00 Holby City 14:00 Only Fools And Horses 15:30 Innocent 16:35 The Weakest Link 17:20 Doctors 17:50 Eastenders 18:20 Holby City 19:10 Innocent 20:00 The Weakest Link 20:45 Doctors 21:15 Eastenders 21:45 Casualty 22:40 Jane Hall’s Big Bad Bus Ride 23:25 Hyperdrive

00:10 Daily Cooks Challenge 00:35 Daily Cooks Challenge

01:15 High Roller-18 03:15 Jerry Maguire-18 05:30 December Boys-PG15 07:15 Dragon Hunters-PG 09:00 Janis-PG 10:45 Les Miserables-PG15 13:00 The Sun Also Rises-PG15 15:00 2012: Startling New Secret-PG 17:00 Broken Lines-PG15 19:00 Of Mice And Men-PG15 21:00 Quadrophenia-18 23:00 Sexy Beast-18

00:40 Street Customs 01:35 Dirty Jobs 02:30 Worst-Case Scenario 03:25 Mega Builders 04:20 Mythbusters 05:15 How It’s Made 05:40 How Does it Work 06:05 Dirty Jobs 07:00 Fifth Gear 07:25 Mega Builders 08:15 Street Customs 09:10 Mythbusters 10:05 Ultimate Survival 11:00 Worst-Case Scenario 11:55 Border Security 12:25 How Does it Work 12:50 How It’s Made 13:20 Mythbusters 14:15 Miami Ink 15:10 Ultimate Survival 16:05 Dirty Jobs 17:00 Overhaulin’ 17:55 Mythbusters 18:50 Cake Boss 19:15 Border Security 19:40 The Gadget Show 20:05 How Does it Work 20:35 How It’s Made 21:00 Moments of Terror 21:55 Wreckreation Nation 22:50 Mythbusters 23:45 Football Hooligans International

00:30 Mythbusters 01:20 Extreme Engineering 02:10 Da Vinci’s Machines 03:00 GT Racer 03:55 How It’s Made 04:25 Science of the Movies 05:15 Risk Takers 06:10 NYC: Inside Out 07:00 Sunrise Earth: Viewer’s Vote (Part 2) 07:50 Fantastic Festivals of the World 08:40 Science of the Movies 09:30 NYC: Inside Out 10:20 How It’s Made 10:45 Raging Planet 11:35 Deadliest Catch 12:25 Solving History with Olly Steeds 13:15 GT Racer 14:05 Mythbusters 14:55 How It’s Made 15:20 NYC: Inside Out 16:10 Fantastic Festivals of the World 17:00 Chasing Classic Cars 17:50 Twist the Throttle 18:40 American Chopper 19:30 GT Racer 20:20 Ultimate Survival 21:10 Solving History with Olly Steeds 22:00 Chasing Classic Cars 22:50 Twist the Throttle 23:40 Deadliest Catch

00:30 Mighty Ships 01:20 The Gadget Show 01:45 Green Wheels 02:35 Eco-Tech 03:25 How Does That Work?

03:50 Junkyard Mega-Wars 04:45 Robotica 05:40 Weird Connections 06:10 Mighty Ships 07:00 Junkyard Mega-Wars 08:00 Cosmic Collisions 09:00 Space Pioneer 09:55 Stunt Junkies 10:20 Weird Connections 10:50 Mighty Ships 11:45 How Does That Work?

12:15 Mega Builders 13:10 One Step Beyond 13:35 Space Pioneer 14:30 What’s That About?

15:25 The Gadget Show 15:55 Cosmic Collisions 16:50 Mega Builders 17:45 Brainiac 18:40 How Stuff’s Made 19:30 Engineered 20:20 How It’s Made 20:45 The Gadget Show 21:10 Mega Builders 22:00 How Stuff’s Made 22:25 How Stuff’s Made 22:50 Engineered 23:40 Mega Builders

00:15 Leave It To Lamas 00:40 Dr 90210 01:30 Wildest TV Show Moments 01:55 Reality Hell 02:20 E! Investigates 03:15 Extreme Hollywood 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Battle of the Hollywood Hotties 05:30 Streets of Hollywood 06:00 50 Most Shocking Celebrity Confessions 07:45 Behind the Scenes 08:35 E! News 09:00 The Daily 10 09:25 Denise Richards: It’s Complicated 09:50 Leave It To Lamas 10:15 THS 12:00 E! News 12:25 The Daily 10 12:50 Behind the Scenes 13:15 Pretty Wild 13:40 Kendra 14:30 Dr 90210 15:25 THS 16:15 Behind the Scenes 17:10 Holly’s World 18:00 E! News 18:25 The Daily 10 18:50 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 19:15 Pretty Wild 19:40 THS 20:30 Kendra 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:20 Kourtney & Khlo√© Take Miami

00:00 Crossing Borders 01:00 Tread Bmx 02:00 Untracked 02:55 On Any Sunday Revisited 04:05 Fantasy Factory 05:00 Iex 2009 08:00 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2009 11:00 Gumball 3000: 2008 12:00 Fantasy Factory 13:00 Tread Bmx 14:00 On Sight 15:00 Gumball 3000: 2008 16:00 Fantasy Factory 17:00 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2009 20:00 Fantasy Factory 21:00 Gumball 3000: 2008 22:00 On Sight 23:00 Untracked

00:00 Food Network Challenge 01:00 30 Minute Meals 01:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 02:00 Chopped 03:00 Barefoot Contessa 03:30 Unwrapped 04:00 Food Network Challenge 05:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 05:30 Guys Big Bite 06:00 Iron Chef America 07:00 Paula’s Best Dishes 07:25 Good Deal with Dave Lieberman 07:50 Guys Big Bite 08:15 Barefoot Contessa

From Mexico With Love on Show Movies

08:40 Everyday Italian 09:05 30 Minute Meals 09:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 10:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 10:30 Barefoot Contessa 11:00 Unwrapped 11:30 Paula’s Party 12:30 Paula’s Best Dishes 13:00 Good Deal with Dave Lieberman 13:30 Guys Big Bite 14:00 Barefoot Contessa 14:30 Everyday Italian 15:00 30 Minute Meals 15:30 Grill It! with Bobby Flay 16:00 Iron Chef America 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:30 Unwrapped 18:00 Paula’s Best Dishes 18:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 19:30 Good Deal with Dave Lieberman 20:00 Chopped 21:00 Barefoot Contessa 21:30 Everyday Italian 22:00 Food Network Challenge 23:00 Grill It! with Bobby Flay 23:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives

00:30 Dead Tenants 01:20 FBI Files 02:10 True Crime Scene 03:05 Solved 04:00 Forensic Detectives 04:55 Ghosthunters 05:20 Dr G: Medical Examiner 06:10 Real Emergency Calls 07:00 Forensic Detectives 07:50 FBI Files 08:40 Final Days of an Icon 09:30 The Prosecutors 10:20 Forensic Detectives 11:10 Mystery ER 12:00 Real Emergency Calls 12:50 Undercover 13:40 Fugitive Strike Force 14:30 Forensic Detectives 15:20 FBI Files 16:10 Final Days of an Icon 17:00 The Prosecutors 17:50 Forensic Detectives 18:40 Mystery ER 19:30 Real Emergency Calls 20:20 Undercover 21:10 Fugitive Strike Force 22:00 I Almost Got Away With It 22:50 Murder Shift 23:40 Dr G: Medical Examiner

01:00 Sfw 02:35 Assassination Tango 04:25 Wild Orchid 06:15 Galaxy Of Terror 07:35 Interiors 09:05 Once Bitten 10:35 Kuffs 12:15 Uhf 13:50 The Pink Panther Strikes Again 15:30 10:30 P.M. Summer 16:55 Madison 18:30 In The Heat Of The Night 20:20 Love Field 22:00 Captive Hearts 23:40 Beach Red

00:00 Jersey Shore 2 01:00 Nitro Circus 01:30 Busted 02:00 European Top 20 03:00 Music Mix 07:00 Breakfast Club 08:30 100% Mtv 11:00 (P) 10 Biggest  Tracks Right Now 12:00 Nothing But Hits 14:00 Anthems 15:00 100% Mtv 15:30 Teen Cribs 16:00 (P) The Hills Final Season 16:30 My Super Sweet 16   17:00 Room Raiders   17:30 Pimp My Ride 18:00 Made 19:00 Teen Cribs 19:30 My Super Sweet 16   20:00 Room Raiders   20:30 Pimp My Ride 21:00 (P) Hit List Uk 22:00 16 And Pregnant 23:00 The Hills Final Season 23:30 Pimp My Ride

00:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 01:30 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 02:30 Graham’s World 03:00 The Ride - Alaska To Patagonia 03:30 Madventures 04:00 Long Way Down 05:00 Bondi Rescue 05:30 Banged Up Abroad 06:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 07:30 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 08:30 Graham’s World 09:00 The Ride - Alaska To Patagonia 09:30 Madventures 10:00 Long Way Down 11:00 Bondi Rescue 11:30 Banged Up Abroad 12:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 13:30 Banged Up Abroad 15:30 Madventures 16:00 Long Way Down 17:00 Bondi Rescue 17:30 Banged Up Abroad 18:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 19:30 Banged Up Abroad 21:30 Madventures 22:00 Long Way Down 23:00 Bondi Rescue 23:30 Banged Up Abroad

00:00 Community 00:30 Seinfeld 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Boondocks 03:30 Free Radio 04:00 South Park 04:30 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 05:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 06:00 Frasier 06:30 The Drew Carey Show 07:00 Ellen 07:30 Three sisters 08:00 Seinfeld 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:00 Frasier 09:30 The Drew Carey Show 10:00 Will & Grace 10:30 The Office 11:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 11:30 Three sisters 12:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 13:00 Seinfeld 13:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 14:00 Frasier 14:30 Community 15:00 The Office 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 The Drew Carey Show

17:00 Ellen 17:30 Three sisters 18:00 Seinfeld 18:30 Will & Grace 19:00 Modern family 19:30 Modern family 20:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Cleveland Show 22:30 Free Radio 23:00 South Park 23:30 Modern family

00:00 The Martha Stewart Show 01:00 Eat yourself sexy 01:30 Popcorn 02:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 03:00 The Monique Show 04:00 The Tonight show with Jay Leno 05:00 GMA (repeat) 07:00 GMA Health 07:30 What’s the Buzz 08:00 The Martha Stewart Show 09:00 Eat yourself sexy 09:30 Popcorn 10:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

11:00 The View 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 The Martha Stewart Show 14:00 GMA Live 16:00 GMA Health 16:30 What’s the Buzz 17:00 The Tonight show with Jay Leno 18:00 Look A Like 18:30 Look A Like 19:00 The View 20:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

22:00 The Tonight show with Jay Leno 23:00 The Monique Show

07:00 Lazytown 07:25 Imagination Movers 07:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:15 Handy Manny 08:40 Jungle Junction 08:50 Special Agent Oso 09:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:25 Handy Manny 09:50 New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 10:15 Little Einsteins 10:40 Special Agent Oso 11:05 Imagination Movers 11:30 Lazytown 11:55 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 12:20 Handy Manny 12:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 13:10 Little Einsteins 14:00 Higglytown Heroes 14:25 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 14:50 Special Agent Oso 15:05 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 15:30 Imagination Movers 15:55 Little Einsteins 16:20 Handy Manny 16:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 17:10 New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 17:35 Special Agent Oso 17:45 Imagination Movers 18:10 Handy Manny 18:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 19:00 New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 19:25 Handy Manny 19:35 Special Agent Oso 19:50 Jungle Junction

01:00 Golf Central International 01:30 The Golf Channel - TBA 02:00 MLB: TBA at TBA 05:00 Nationwide Tour Highlights: Albertson’s Boise Open Presented by Kraft 06:00 European Tour Austrian Golf Open Final Rd. Vienna, Austria 10:00 MLB: TBA at TBA 13:00 Golf Central International 13:30 PGA Tour Highlights: BMW Championship 14:30 Global Golf Adventure 15:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 15:30 FIM Motocross Lierop, Benelux 16:30 NFL Replay Teams TBA 18:00 MLB: TBA at TBA 21:00 Boxing Programming - TBA 23:00 NFL Replay Teams TBA

00:30 Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead-18 02:30 Beneath The Blue-PG15 04:00 From Mexico With Love-PG15 06:00 A Previous Engagement-PG15 08:00 Bottle Shock-PG15 10:00 Mee Shee-PG 12:00 G.i. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra-PG15 14:00 Bran Nue Dae-PG15 16:00 Bottle Shock-PG15 18:00 Seven Pounds-PG15 20:00 Max Payne-PG15 22:00 Stuart: A Life Backwards-PG15

01:00 Smokin’ Aces-18 03:00 Pride And Glory-18 05:10 The Blackout-PG15 07:00 No Escape-PG15 09:00 Changing Lanes-PG15 11:00 Blood Brothers-PG15 13:00 Arn: The Knight Templar-PG15 15:10 Changing Lanes-PG15 17:00 Donnie Brasco-PG15 19:10 Felon-18 21:00 Severed-R 23:00 Into The Blue 2: The Reef-18

00:00 Rrrrrrr!!!-PG15 02:00 Mama’s Boy-PG15 04:00 The Coneheads-PG15 06:00 Everything’s Gone Green-PG15 08:00 Touch And Go-PG 10:00 Zoolander-PG15 12:00 High School Musical 3: Senior YearPG 14:00 Going Berserk-PG15 16:00 Rrrrrrr!!!-PG15 18:00 The Lonely Guy-PG15 20:00 Doctor Detroit-18 22:00 Play Dead-18

00:00 Scruff Cinderella’s Carnival-FAM 02:00 Madagascar 2-PG 04:00 House Arrest-FAM 06:00 Robin Hood: The King’s ReturnFAM 08:00 Simba The King Lion-FAM 10:00 House Arrest-FAM 12:00 Ulysses —PG 14:00 Madagascar 2-PG 16:00 Legend Of The Titanic-FAM 18:00 Ice Age: Dawn Of The DinosaursFAM

It’s A Free World on Super Movies 20:00 The Wild Thornberrys Movie-PG 22:00 Ulysses —PG

00:00 Ugly Betty 01:00 Ugly Betty 02:00 Private Practice 03:00 ER 04:00 8 Simple rules 04:30 Rita Rocks 05:00 Sons of Anarchy 06:00 Emmerdale 06:30 Coronation Street 07:00 Private Practice 08:00 8 Simple rules 08:30 Rita Rocks 09:00 ER 10:00 Without a trace 11:00 Private Practice 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 8 Simple rules 13:30 Rita Rocks 14:00 Ugly Betty 15:00 Ugly Betty 16:00 Without a trace 17:00 ER 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Coronation Street 19:00 Burn Notice 20:00 Cold Case 21:00 CSI Miami 22:00 Sons of Anarchy 23:00 ER

00:00 AFL Highlights 01:00 NRL Full Time 01:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 02:00 Aviva Premiership 04:00 Masters Football 07:00 Rugby Union ITM Cup 09:00 AFL Premiership 11:45 ICC Cricket World 12:15 Live Cricket One Day International 20:30 AFL Highlights 21:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 22:00 Aviva Premiership

00:30 Brazil League Highlights 01:00 World Pool Masters 02:00 Ladies European Tour Highlights 03:00 Currie Cup 05:00 Super League 07:00 World Pool Masters 08:00 NRL Full Time 08:30 Ladies European Tour Highlights 09:30 ICC Cricket World 10:00 Aviva Premiership 12:00 Futbol Mundial 12:30 AFL Highlights 13:30 Super League 15:30 World Match Racing Tour Highlights 16:30 Ladies European Tour Highlights 17:30 AFL Highlights 18:30 Triathlon 19:30 European Tour Weekly 20:00 Masters Football 23:00 World Match Racing Tour Highlights

00:00 Le Mans Series Highlights 01:00 UFC 119 Countdown 02:00 UFC Unleashed 03:00 UFC Unleashed 04:00 FIA GT1 World Championship 05:30 UFC All Access 06:00 UFC Unleashed 07:00 WWE Vintage Collection 08:00 Red Bull X-Fighters 09:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 10:00 V8 Supercars Championship Series 13:00 Le Mans Series Highlights 14:00 Le Mans Series Magazine 14:30 V8 Supercars Championship Extra 15:00 WWE Vintage Collection 16:00 V8 Supercars Championship Highlights 17:00 Le Mans Series Highlights 18:00 WWE NXT 19:00 WWE SmackDown 21:00 UFC 119 Countdown 22:00 UFC Unleashed

01:00 Hunger-18 03:00 It’s A Free World-PG15 05:00 The Loss Of A Teardrop DiamondPG15 07:15 Shadows In The Sun-PG15 09:00 The Loss Of A Teardrop DiamondPG15 11:00 Momma’s Man-PG15 13:00 The Rocker-PG15 15:00 Living Out Loud-PG15 16:45 The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button-PG15 19:30 Babylon A.d-PG15 21:00 44 Inch Chest-PG15 23:00 The Limits Of Control-18

15:15 Top Gossip 15:17 Playlist 16:00 Sound System 10 16:45 Playlist 17:15 Top Money 17:17 Playlist 18:00 Urban Hit 18:45 Guest Star 19:00 Playlist 20:00 Rnb 10 20:45 Playlist 21:00 Legend 22:00 Playlist 22:15 Monthly Top 22:17 Playlist

00:30 The Korean War 01:20 Nazi Britain 02:10 Egypt: Land Of The Gods 03:00 13 Hours That Saved Britain 03:55 Battle 360 04:50 Battlefield Detectives 05:40 Battle Stations 06:30 The Korean War 07:20 Nazi Britain 08:10 Egypt: Land Of The Gods 09:00 13 Hours That Saved Britain 09:55 Battle 360 10:50 Battlefield Detectives 11:40 Battle Stations 12:30 The Korean War 13:20 Nazi Britain 14:10 Egypt: Land Of The Gods 15:00 13 Hours That Saved Britain 15:55 Battle 360 16:50 Battlefield Detectives 17:40 Battle Stations 18:30 The Korean War 19:20 Nazi Britain 20:10 Egypt: Land Of The Gods 21:00 Clash Of The Gods 21:55 Battles B.c.

22:50 The True Story Of Hannibal

00:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 01:00 Essential 01:30 48 Hours In 02:00 Great Scenic Railways - 175 Years 02:30 Top Travel 03:00 Word Travels 03:30 Culture Shock 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 06:00 Taste Takes Off 06:30 Journey Into Wine-Spain & Portugal 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Travel Oz 08:30 Distant Shores 09:00 Think Green 10:00 Journey Into Wine-Spain & Portugal 10:30 Opening Soon 11:00 Great Drives 11:30 Essential 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Taste Takes Off 13:30 The Thirsty Traveler 14:00 Entrada 14:30 Distant Shores 15:00 Think Green 16:00 Globe Trekker 16:30 Travel Today 17:00 Travel Oz 17:30 Sophie Grigson In The Orient 18:00 Journey Into Wine-Spain & Portugal 18:30 Opening Soon 19:00 Globe Trekker 20:00 Hollywood and Vines 20:30 Sophie Grigson In The Orient 21:00 Culinary Asia 22:00 Planet Food

00:00 Dr 90210 01:00 The Designers 01:30 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 02:00 How Do I Look?

03:00 Split Ends 04:00 The Designers 04:30 Style Her Famous 05:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 05:30 Area 06:00 How Do I Look?

07:00 Millennium Fashion: The Year In Fashion 08:00 My Celebrity Home 09:00 Whose Wedding Is it Anyway?

10:00 Married Away 11:00 Peter Perfect 12:00 How Do I Look?

13:00 Clean House 14:00 Clean House Comes Clean 14:30 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 15:00 Jerseylicious 16:00 Peter Perfect 17:00 Jerseylicious 19:00 Split Ends 20:00 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

21:00 Fat Free Fiancés 23:00 Tacky House

00:00 Music For The Masses 01:00 Greatest Hits 02:00 VH1 Music 05:00 Chill Out 07:00 VH1 Hits 09:00 Aerobic 10:00 VH1 Hits 11:00 VH1 Superchart 12:00 Top 10 On The Roof 13:00 Music For The Masses 14:00 VH1 Pop Chart 15:00 VH1 Music 17:00 Music For The Masses 18:00 VH1 Superchart 19:00 Guess The Year 21:00 VH1 Pop Chart 22:00 VH1 Pop Chart 23:00 VH1 Rocks

00:15 Monthly Top 00:17 Playlist 01:00 French Only 01:45 Playlist 02:00 Urban Hit 02:45 Playlist 03:15 Top Mobile 03:17 Playlist 05:00 Focus 06:00 Playlist 07:15 Top New 07:17 Playlist 08:00 Hit Us 08:50 Playlist 09:15 Top Fashion 09:17 Playlist 13:00 Urban Hit 13:45 Playlist

06:00 K9 Adventures 06:25 American Dragon 06:50 Kid Vs Kat 07:15 Phineas And Ferb 08:05 Kick Buttowski 08:30 Pokemon 09:00 Zeke And Luther 09:50 I’m In The Band 10:15 Phil Of The Future 10:40 Suite Life On Deck 11:30 Phil Of The Future 12:00 Phineas And Ferb 13:00 Kid Vs Kat 14:00 The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody 14:50 Zeke And Luther 15:15 The Super Hero Squad Show 15:45 Kick Buttowski 16:15 I’m In The Band 16:40 Suite Life On Deck 17:05 Zeke And Luther 17:30 Zeke And Luther 17:55 Phineas And Ferb

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

33 ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation, one room available for decent working ladies or small family with Indian small family in Farwaniya.

From 1st Oct. 2010. Call: 97823565. (C 2683) 22-9-2010 Room for rent Indonesian/Filipino only. CA/C, separate bathroom, non-smoker, single or couple, Farwaniya behind Crowne Plaza.

Call: 66604286. (C 2677) Sharing accommodation available for decent Indian Christian bachelor or couple in Salmiya, behind Mr. Baker, with dish TV facility. Contact: 66486047 / 25711643.

(C 2681) Room available for small family (without kids) or bachelor in Khaitan area.

Call: 99868113. (C 2680) 21-9-2010 Sharing accommodation available for 1 Keralite bachelore in a C-A/C flat opposite to Jas International Shipping close to Abbassiya police station bus stop.

Please call: 66349475.

(C 2674) One room for family or bachelor in Hawally behind

commercial bank with Mangalorean family. Contact: 22612729 / 97401091.

(C 2675) A small room with bath for rent C-A/C flat in Farwaniya, for working lady / decent bachelor / couple, any nationality but Christian / Muslim. Rent KD 60. Contact: 55437519. (C 2672) 20-9-2010 A separate room in a two bedroom flat in Salmiya (along the road). Please call 97505912 Room for rent in Farwaniya, Block-1, near Canary and fire station. Contact No: 99035093. (C 2670) 19-9-2010

SITUATION VACANT

SITUATION WANTED

Kuwaiti family needs a male Muslim cook who knows Indian, Chinese and Arabic dishes.

Mob: 99779139 / 99629044 / 99876363. (C 2671) 19-9-2010

FOR SALE For sale fridge, bed set, sofa set, microwave, kitchen cupboards, all new items.

Please contact Khaled. Tel: 65603645. (C 2676) 20-9-2010 2006 Toyota Corolla 1.8 XLI, color white, done 61000 km, excellent condition, cash price KD 2450. Serious buyers can contact: 66211779.

(C 2668) 19-9-2010

MATRIMONIAL Two boys - Sunni Muslim Studied in USA (BTECH Comp.) working in New York, Well settled, Aged 27 5ft 6” & 28 yrs 5 ft 4”, looking for suitable match with degree in Eng./Finance etc. from educated / respected / religious family (NRI) preferably from Trichur / Ernakulam Dist. Please contact email: ebmoideen@gmail.com (C 2682) 22-9-2010 Proposal invited from Keralite born again / Pentecost boys above 36 years for a Keralite staff Nurse, MOH, Kuwait. Email: kp4196@yahoo.com (C 2669) 19-9-2010

LOST

I, Mohammed Ameer Ali Chemnad, Civil ID No. 271030305782 hereby notify that I have lost my following documents while traveling from Shuwaikh to Jaleeb Shuyookh. Original B.Com Degree Certificate, Calicut University, Reg. No. 3475, year 1991. Original U.A.E Driving License No. 1006406, Original NOC issued by RTA - Dubai. If anyone found kindly inform me on my cell 97638503.

22-9-2010

Available from India, Goan Roman Catholic full time live out maid for American and European family only.

Experience in housekeeping, baby sitting and looking after pets.

Contact 94005328. (C 2678) 21-9-2010 Indian male B.E (Electronics) + MBA (Marketing + HR), 2 years experience in marketing / sales engineer / Administration / Management. Proficient in all computer applications. Visa - 18, transferable.

Ready to join immediately.

Seeks suitable employment.

Phone: 65170157. (C 2673) 20-9-2010 Certified accountant available on part time basis. Call: 97657257. (C 2660)

No: 14857

CHANGE OF NAME Change in name spelling only. This it to inform that Saniya Pachisa holder of Indian Passport No. H 1115646 and holder of Kuwaiti civil ID 290090501623 will change the name as SANIA PACHISA. (C 2679) 21-9-2010 I Thiru S. Saravanan (Hindu) holder Indian passport No. G 9950267 converted to Islam with the name of S. Sameer Mohammed.

(C 2667) 18-9-2010

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Arrival Flights on Wednesday 22/09/2010 Airlines Flt Route Wataniya Airways 188 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 305 Cairo Wataniya AirwayS 434 Damascus Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 408 Beirut Turkish 772 Istanbul Wataniya Airways 322 Sharm El Sheikh Egypt Air 614 Cairo Jazeera 267 Beirut DHL 370 Bahrain Emirates 853 Dubai FlyDubai 051 Dubai Bulgaria Air 7029 Varna Etihad 305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 138 Doha Air Arabia Egypt 553 Alexandira Kuwait 802 Cairo Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 503 Luxor Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Jazeera 527 Alexandria British 157 London Jazeera 529 Assiut Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Fly Dubai 053 Dubai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 352 Cochin Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 344 Chennai Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 121 Sharjah Qatari 132 Doha Iran Air 603 Shiraz Etihad 301 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 425 Bahrain Iran Aseman 6791 Mashad Falcon 203 Dubai Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 182 Bahrain Middle East 404 Beirut Alnaser 711 Baghdad/Najaf Wataniya Airways 102 Dubai Jazeera 165 Dubai Mahan Air 5066 Mashad Egypt Air 610 Cairo Kuwait 672 Dubai Oman Air 645 Muscat Saudia 508 Riyadh Wataniya Airways 432 Damascus United 982 Washington DC Dulles Jordanian 800 Amman Egypt Air 621 Assiut Wataniya Airways 4001 Cairo Fly Dubai 057 Dubai Kuwait 562 Amman

Time 00:30 00:50 00:55 01:05 01:05 01:15 01:20 02:05 02:10 02:15 02:25 02:50 02:50 02:55 03:20 03:40 04:45 05:25 05:50 06:15 06:20 06:30 06:40 07:20 07:50 07:55 08:00 08:05 08:10 08:20 08:20 08:25 08:40 09:00 09:20 09:20 10:25 10:55 10:30 10:45 10:45 10:50 10:55 11:05 11:15 12:20 12:55 13:15 13:15 13:30 13:35 13:35 13:35 13:40 13:45 13:50 14:20

Saudia Kuwait Cargolux Nas Air Jazeera Qatari Kuwait Kuwait Nas Air Etihad Rovos Emirates Gulf Air Wataniya Airways Saudia Arabia Jazeera Jazeera SriLankan Wataniya Airways Yemenia Kuwait Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Indian Fly Dubai Middle East Rovos Jet A/W Wataniya Airways Egypt Air Wataniya Airways DHL Gulf Air Jazeera Emirates Qatari United Jazeera Lufthansa Jazeera Jazeera Egypt Air Shaheen Air Kuwait India Express KLM Pakistan Wataniya Airways Egypt Air

500 552 792 745 525 134 546 544 703 303 061 857 215 402 510 125 239 493 227 304 824 166 106 502 542 786 618 523 177 614 674 102 774 575 061 402 081 572 642 618 404 372 217 459 859 136 981 449 636 185 429 612 441 548 393 0447 215 108 606

Jeddah Damascus Luxembourg Jeddah Alexandria Doha Alexandria Cairo Riyadh Abu Dhabi Baghdad Dubai Bahrain Beirut Riyadh Sharjah Amman Jeddah Colombo/Dubai Cairo Sanaa/Doha Paris/Rome Dubai Beirut Cairo Jeddah Doha Alexandria Dubai Bahrain Dubai New York/London Riyadh Chennai/Goa Dubai Beirut Baghdad Mumbai Vienna Alexandria Beirut Bahrain Bahrain Damascus Dubai Doha Bahrain Doha Frankfurt Dubai Bahrain Cairo Lahore/Karachi Luxor Kozhikode/Cochin Amsterdam/Bahrain Karachi Dubai Luxor

14:30 14:35 14:50 14:55 15:00 15:05 15:30 15:30 15:45 16:50 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:40 17:40 18:00 18:35 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:50 18:50 18:55 18:55 19:00 19:05 19:20 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:30 20:05 20:20 20:30 20:30 20:45 20:35 20:50 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:35 21:55 22:30 22:30 22:40 22:45 22:55 23:00 23:10 23:10 23:10 23:55 23:55 23:15

Departure Flights on Wednesday 22/09/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 528 Assiut India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode Indian 994 Mumbai/Chennai Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt Pakistan 206 Lahore Turkish 773 Istanbul Egypt Air 615 Cairo DHL 371 Bahrain Emirates 854 Dubai Bulgaria Air 7030 Varna Etihad 306 Abu Dhabi Air Arabia Egypt 554 Alexandria Qatari 139 Doha Wataniya Airways 101 Dubai Wataniya Airways 4002 Cairo Jazeera 164 Dubai Jazeera 422 Bahrain Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 181 Bahrain Jazeera 524 Alexandria Wataniya Airways 431 Damascus British 156 London Kuwait 545 Alexandria Fly Dubai 054 Dubai Kuwait 543 Cairo Kuwait 177 Frankfurt/Geneva Kuwait 671 Dubai Kuwait 117 New York Kuwait 551 Damascus Kuwait 561 Amman Arabia 122 Sharjah Emirates 856 Dubai Wataniya Airways 641 Vienna Qatari 133 Doha Kuwait 117 New York Etihad 302 Abu Dhabi Iran Air 602 Shiraz Gulf Air 214 Baghdad Wataniya Airways 401 Beirut Falcon 204 Baghdad Wataniya Airways 303 Cairo Middle East 405 Beirut Ran Aseman 6792 Mashad Rovos 062 Najaf/Baghdad Jazeera 522 Alexandria Kuwait 541 Cairo Jazeera 238 Amman Jazeera 492 Jeddah Alnaser 712 Najaf/Baghdad Kuwait 103 London Kuwait 501 Beirut Kuwait 785 Jeddah Mahan Air 5065 Mashad Egypt Air 611 Cairo Oman Air 646 Muscat

Time 00:05 00:25 00:50 00:50 01:10 02:15 03:05 03:15 03:45 03:50 04:00 04:20 05:00 06:50 07:00 07:05 07:30 07:45 07:50 08:00 08:10 08:25 08:35 08:40 08:45 08:55 09:00 09:05 09:10 09:15 09:20 09:40 09:45 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:20 11:35 11:35 11:45 11:50 11:50 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:10 12:15 12:15 12:30 13:00 13:30 13:40 13:55 14:15

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Jordanian Wataniya Airways Fly Dubai Egypt Air Saudia United Jazeera Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Nas Air Saudia Jazeera Kuwait Qatari Cargolux Kuwait Nas Air Rovos Etihad Gulf Air Wataniya Airways Emirates Arabia Jazeera Saudia Jazeera SriLankan Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways Yemenia Jazeera Kuwait Jazeera Kuwait Fly Dubai Kuwait Middle East Jet A/W Egypt Air Wataniya Airways Gulf Air Kuwait DHL Kuwait Emirates Jazeera Falcon Qatari Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera United Jazeera Kuwait Egypt Air

801 105 058 622 509 982 176 403 617 547 673 746 501 458 773 135 792 613 704 082 304 216 306 858 126 184 511 448 228 407 107 824 428 283 266 361 062 331 403 571 619 187 218 801 373 675 860 612 102 137 203 301 526 981 502 415 613

Amman Dubai Dubai Assiut Medinah Bahrain Dubai Beirut Doha Sharm El Sheikh/Luxor Dubai Jeddah Jeddah Damascus Riyadh Doha Hong Kong Bahrain Medinah Baghdad Abu Dhabi Bahrain Cairo Dubai Sharjah Dubai Riyadh Doha Dubai/Colombo Beirut Dubai Sanaa Bahrain Dhaka Beirut Colombo Dubai Trivandrum Beirut Mumbai Alexandria Bahrain Bahrain Cairo Bahrain Dubai Dubai Lahore Bahrain Doha Lahore Mumbai Alexandria Washington DC Dulles Luxor Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta Cairo

14:30 14:30 14:35 14:40 14:45 14:50 14:55 15:10 13:35 15:40 15:10 15:45 15:45 15:50 16:05 16:20 16:20 16:20 16:35 17:00 17:35 18:05 18:05 18:05 18:20 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:10 19:25 19:40 19:40 19:50 20:00 20:10 20:20 20:50 21:00 21:20 21:30 21:35 21:35 21:55 22:00 22:00 22:10 22:25 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:20 23:40 23:40 23:50 23:55

SPECTRUM

34

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Calvin

CROSSWORD 88

Aries (March 21-April 19) This is a rewarding

day—any reasonable investment will prove successful. Your friends or co-workers that are above you in the work field are in a position to help you get ahead or give you advice on the best way to handle a business situation today. Do not hesitate to use them when you need them. Your life is fast paced and planning some ways to relieve the stress is a very important part of maintaining good health.

Perhaps a couple of your friends or a family member will meet you after work at a health spa or a gym for an hour of exercise in the evening. This is one good way to bring family members or a loved one into parts of your life outside your private world. A good workout can bring about some inspiring moments.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Routine duties are in for a

change. You contribute a great deal of positive input that helps to bring about new business. Patience is in order now and with time, you may see the purpose in another person?s decisions or plans and that person may also see the advantage of your ideas. If you fight the unavoidable it could make the process of decision making difficult. If you go with the flow, you will find your ideas can be merged with other people?s ideas. You may be sought after for your advice regarding some very personal and emotional issues this afternoon. You will know the right things to say to this person. Someone experienced and wise will help you when you need it this afternoon. A social affair shows you at your best this evening.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. Large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male.

4. Hard white substance covering the crown of a tooth.

10. The rate at which red blood cells settle out in a tube of blood under standardized conditions.

13. Estrangement from god.

14. An industrial city in central Japan on southern Honshu.

15. A branch of the Tai languages.

16. Sweet pulpy tropical fruit with thick scaly rind and shiny black seeds.

18. (Irish) Mother of the Tuatha De Danann.

20. A member of a Turkic people of Uzbekistan and neighboring areas.

22. The network in the reticular formation that serves an alerting or arousal function.

23. Common Indian weaverbird.

24. That is to say.

26. The seventh month of the Moslem calendar.

33. The great hall in ancient Persian palaces.

34. Well matched.

35. (informal) Roused to anger.

36. A ballistic missile that is capable of traveling from one continent to another.

39. Dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top.

40. A particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography).

42. A genus of plants of the family Crassulaceae.

44. A digital display that uses liquid crystal cells that change reflectivity in an applied electric field.

46. Type genus of the Ranidae.

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

51. A small cake leavened with yeast.

55. Having the leading position or higher score in a contest.

56. A ruler of the Inca Empire (or a member of his family).

58. A small piece of cloth.

59. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material.

60. A native of ancient Troy.

62. Goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment.

63. The compass point that is one point east (clockwise) of due north.

64. Having the equatorial diameter greater than the polar diameter.

65. Having undesirable or negative qualities.

DOWN 1. (Old Testament) The eldest son of Isaac who would have inherited the Covenant that God made with Abraham and that Abraham passed on to Isaac.

2. City in northern Austria on the Danube.

3. A rounded projection or protuberance.

4. Half the width of an em.

5. A coenzyme derived from the B vitamin nicotinic acid.

6. Any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent.

7. A constitutional monarchy in a tiny enclave on the French Riviera.

8. An unfledged or nestling hawk.

9. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

10. An inactive volcano in Sicily.

11. A carriage consisting of two wheels and calash top.

12. Large genus of erect or climbing prickly shrubs including roses.

17. Submerged aquatic plant having narrow leaves and small flowers.

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

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

25. One of the evil spirits of traditional Jewish and Christian belief.

27. South American armadillo with three bands of bony plates.

28. Similar to the color of jade.

29. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan.

30. A member of the South American Indian people living in Brazil and Paraguay.

31. Radioactive iodine test that measures the amount of radioactive iodine taken up by the thyroid gland.

32. (cosmology) The original matter that (according to the big bang theory) existed before the formation of the chemical elements.

37. South American palm yielding a wax similar to carnauba wax.

38. Arboreal civet of Asia having a long prehensile tail and shaggy black hair.

39. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

41. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

43. Tag the base runner to get him out.

45. A group of Plains Indians formerly living in what is now North and South Dakota and Nebraska and Kansas and Arkansas and Louisiana and Oklahoma and Texas.

48. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

49. Give over.

50. Cause a floating log to rotate by treading.

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

53. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

54. Advanced in years.

57. Used of a single unit or thing.

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

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You seem to shine today as matters keep coming up in the workplace for you to address. You could call on a creative talent or two. You have suggestions and methods that will cut cost; superiors are listening. You have an easy way with superiors or those in authority and can always manage to get the most out of any skills.

You like work that allows you to be creative. You communicate with gifted skills and others will be able to learn your techniques under your patient tutelage. Your high degree of mental concentration helps you to excel in all types of skills. Your ambitions go hand-in-hand with communication and using the mind and the two should never be far apart. Rest a little and then take some time to enjoy your friends this evening.

Non Sequitur

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today you will need to use tact. You may find dignitaries visiting your company.

Everyone uses his or her best manners. There is an urge to please that is so strong it may be hard to decide the best action. You will balance your day out very nicely and may be asked to share in the responsibility of entertaining. This may only mean that you will quickly do the research and make the reservations. You may benefit from other people?s money, perhaps through a loan or through some investment. This is certainly a time to rejoice, but you may want to reassess your investments. It would be well worth your time to think about some sort of travel or volunteer service that would enhance your understanding of human experiences.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Challenging authority and rocking the boat will likely play a bigger role in your life now. The new broom sweeps clean; old patterns of organization and power are ripe for a creative approach.

There are no arguments, just a new understanding and a reaching out for something new. Radical and inventive ideas hold the key to realizing your ambitions—a shake-up is in the works. There is a chance to understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love this afternoon. General good feelings and a sense of harmony make this a happy time. There is so much living to do and so much to learn—a big world out there to explore and make a part of your experiences. This is this time when more travel opportunities may enter into your life.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You may have a sense of circumstances working against you or feel a lack of support and love from those around you. You could clash with young people or old habits. Your environment or the atmosphere around you just now may feel stressed. Find the cause of the problem so that the whole day is not stressed—show your gratefulness for this person, even though you may not be happy with their actions. This person, or situation is teaching you something great and they do not even know it. You have a strong need for psychological security as well as absolute truth and this cuts through most chitchat and settles on a basic understanding. You could work in law or research. You concentrate on positive changes at this time. Make the evening a special one.

Libra (September 23-October 22) Real insight into your own inner workings could surface today and in a manageable form. You may be in the mood for deep and penetrating conversations or thoughts. You usually have a sense of what the public wants and if you are finding yourself preparing for a conference or lecture, your coordination of events is something to be admired. As you focus in on how much things really mean to you, a financial gain is a bright prospect looming before you now. There may be a tendency to emphasize the material too much, which could lead to the feeling that things you own, own you instead. You will be delighted to know your busy day still has a little time left to enjoy being with a loved one. Your smile is contagious.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Ties between people

become a focus. New business partnerships are entered into; old ones are renewed or else they get left behind.

You will no longer be hampered by dead weight and old issues. A fresh, invigorating quality blows into your life now. You sharpen your critical powers and make them apparent to all. You may gain a chance for a promotion now. You minimize stress with efficiency and could teach others some of your new problemsolving techniques. You need more energy and it makes a lot of sense for you to be sure that you are eating properly. Exercise is also necessary, no matter how little time you have available. If there are young people in your home, now may be the best time to help them create good study patterns.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) This is a very good day for job-related events. Much can be accomplished. You may shine in your particular job or find that promotion or practical insights come with ease. This is a great time to be with others and to work together. You may be sought after as just the person for a particular job. Your management abilities are strong. This is a nice day that should just flow along very well. You will also do well in activities that include children, young people and your home and surroundings.

You could feel real support and harmony from others and you can give others that feeling of support and harmony as well. A cycle of nostalgia and domesticity begins. Family, home, relatives and real estate play a big part in your life.

Yesterday’s Solution

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You

Yester

Yesterday’s Solution

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You analyze things realistically and you teach others to do the same. You take professional problems one step at a time and you look to solve the most complicated problems. Careful—others could lean on you too much in this type of circumstance.

Abundance is in the air—keep thinking positively. You send flowers to a loved one or find some way to express your gratitude for their love. You may find some wonderful surprises will occur from this sort of action on your part. This afternoon would be a good time to tend to a few chores you had previously set aside. One item that you may have forgotten is the need for either new keys or additional keys to your home or vehicle. This could be for safety reasons or perhaps convenience.

INTERNATIONAL CALLS Kuwait Qatar Abu Dhabi Dubai Raas Al Khayma Al-Shareqa Muscat Jordan Bahrain Riyadh Makkah - Jeddah Cairo Alexandria Beirut Damascus Allepo

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may enjoy your own life situation today. Professional challenges and frustrations are easily put behind you, if you will try not to rush through the problem-solving steps too quickly. Trying to solve problems very quickly will create opportunities to return to the problem at another time. Someone may compliment you on your accomplishments this afternoon. At home later today you will find that group activities are where you enjoy putting your energies. There is a yearning to boost your energies, perhaps through a volunteer type of activity. You could be teaching some young person to swim, play a musical instrument or learn math or a language. You have an opportunity to rethink some of your personal goals now.

Word Sleuth Solution

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You can enjoy another high cycle day! Much can be accomplished but if you have no focus or no guide to move you in any particular direction, you could become frustrated with a headache by the end of this day. Make a list of the things you need to accomplish and let that guide you. Try not to overextend yourself, or to push these energies to the extreme. Take your allocated breaks and during the noon hour—make it a point to get outside; weather permitting. You could come up with new solutions or inventions today. This evening you may want to take a little trip or enjoy some social event with your loved ones. It is easy to see what you value and care about—you will find it easy to express your appreciation. This may be a good day to select furnishings.

INFORMATION

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

35 FIRE BRIGADE Operation Room 112 Al-Madena 22418714 Al-Shohada’a 22545171 Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 Al-Nuzha 22545171 Sabhan 24742838 Al-Helaly 22434853 Al-Fayhaa 22545051 Al-Farwaniya 24711433 Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 Al-Fahaheel 23927002 Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 Ahmadi 23980088 Al-Mangaf 23711183 Al-Shuaiba 23262845 Al-Jahra 25610011 Al-Salmiya 25616368

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 HOSPITALS Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

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24849400

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24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

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24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

24874330/9 CLINICS

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22517733

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22549134

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24814764

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22515088

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22532265

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22459381

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22451082

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22456536

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22465401

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25746401

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25316254

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25623444

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25388462

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25381200

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22630786

Sabah

24810221

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24772608

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4892674

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4710044

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4732263

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3900322

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988 AIRLINES

PHARMACIES ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE Ahmadi

PHARMACY Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

ADDRESS Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

PHONE 23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554

EMERGENCY 112

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists: Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea Dr. Masoma Habeeb Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy Dr. Mohsen Abel Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly

25622444 25752222 25321171 25739999 25757700 25732223 25732223

Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT): Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners: Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists: Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Plastic Surgeons: Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari Dr. Abdel Quttainah

22617700 25625030/60

Family Doctor: Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581

Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.

Zahra Qabazard Sohail Qamar Snaa Maaroof Pradip Gujare Zacharias Mathew

25710444 22621099 25713514 23713100 24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians: Dr Adrian Harbe 23729596/23729581 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 General Surgeons:

Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148

(2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535 Dentists:

Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists:

Paediatricians: Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Internist, Chest & Heart: DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Tel: 25339667 Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Consultant Cardiologist Tel: 2611555-2622555 Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

Internists, Chest & Heart: Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3

Physiotherapists & VD: Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Endocrinologist: Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari

25658888

Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr

25329924

Psychologists/Psychotherapists Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677 William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Kuwait Airways Wataniya Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines

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SPECTRUM

36

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Music & Movies

O

US actress Julia Roberts gestures as she walks towards Spanish actor Javier Bardem as she receives the Donostia Award for her contribution to Cinema.(Inset) Julia Roberts reacts after receiving the Donostia Award.

— AP/AFP photos

Release of Bollywood films postponed by religious court case T

he release of two Bollywood films has been postponed amid fears of Muslim-Hindu violence in India following a court ruling on a high-profile religious dispute, the makers have said. Sajid Nadiadwala said the romantic comedy “Anjaana Anjaani” (Strangers), which was due to hit screens Friday, would be put back to avoid any fallout from the long-awaited verdict in

the Babri Masjid case on the same day.

The thriller “Aakrosh” (Anger) has also been postponed from its scheduled October 1 release date, said producer Kumar Mangat. Hindu nationalists razed a 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, in 1992, claiming it had been built on the ruins of a temple marking the birth-

place of the Hindu warrior god, Ram. The destruction led to the bloodiest communal violence since the partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947, leaving some 2,000 people dead and a legacy of mistrust between the two religious groups. A court in northern India is set to rule on Friday which religious group should have ownership of the site.

L

Alabama” and “Freebird.” “I just went along with the flow,” Skinner said of the backhanded tribute during a 1996 interview with Reuters. “There was not a much I could do about it.”

Skinner, who had no memory of the boys at school, reconnected with them as famous alumni during the 1970s when they hung out at a lounge he operated after giving up teaching. He also got a second helping of fame after he started selling property. A lawn sign featuring his name and telephone number appeared among the illustrations on their third album, 1975’s “Nuthin’ Fancy.”

He was soon inundated with thousands of telephone calls from around the world at all hours of the day and night from fans wanting to talk about the band. As the band played up its image as redneck outsiders, Skinner was depicted as its brutish nemesis. Rossington once told Reuters that Skinner “kicked me out of school so many times for having long hair, which it wasn’t long back then.” —Reuters

In this undated photo, Leonard Skinner holds Lynyrd Skynyrd’s album ‘nothin’ fancy’ as he sits in The Still bar which Skinner owned. —AP

Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra while “Aakrosh”, with Ajay Devgan and Bipasha Basu, is billed as the first Hindi-language film to tackle the subject of honour killings. “Aakrosh” will now be released on October 8, Mangat said. “By postponing the film by one week we will be in a better position to market our film as we will have more time on our hands,” he added. —AFP

Son of Aretha Franklin in surgery after attack

This undated photo shows Leonard Skinner, of Jacksonville, Fla, the namesake for the famed Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. eonard Skinner, a highschool gym teacher who became a rock ‘n’ roll footnote by inspiring a group of pupils to name their band Lynyrd Skynyrd, died on Monday in Jacksonville, Florida, af ter battling Alzheimer’s disease, the Florida Times-Union reported.

He was 77.

Skinner earned the disdain of long-haired students at Robert E Lee High School during the 1960s by sending them to the principal’s office, where they were handed suspension notices. One of themhe later believed it was guitarist Gary Rossingtonreturned with his father who protested that his son needed to have long hair so that he could support the family with his earnings from a band that he played with.

The principal was unmoved, suggesting that youngster get a crew cut and a wig. The band later adopted the name Lynyrd Skynyrd and went on to achieve worldwide fame with such southern rock anthems as “Sweet Home

Nadiadwala told a news conference on Monday evening: “The Ayodhya issue is a very big issue and therefore we decided to postpone the film by one week. “Our film is a happy film and we felt it will not be appropriate to release the film on a day when such an important judgment is scheduled to come.” “Anjaana Anjaani” is based in the United States starring Ranbir

T

In a Tuesday, July 27, 2010 file photo, Aretha Franklin performs at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. —AP

he son of soul music legend Aretha Franklin was undergoing surgery yesterday after being severely beaten at a gas station in the northern city of Detroit, Michigan, news reports said. The singer’s spokeswoman Gwendolyn Quinn told MyFoxDetroit television that Eddie Franklin was attacked late Monday by two men and one woman. No information was immediately available about the extent of Franklin’s injuries or the circumstances surrounding the assault. —AFP

Reggae star Buju Banton begins drug trial

S

inger Bruno Mars, whose hit “Just the Way You Are” is rising up record charts, was arrested early Sunday morning in a Las Vegas hotel for cocaine possession. Mars, whose real name is Peter Hernandez, was arrested at 2:40 am pdt after police were called to the Hard Rock Hotel when a bathroom attendant saw a man, later identified as Hernandez, with “a baggy of white powder,” according to a police report.

Police tested the powder and concluded it was cocaine. The report also stated the singer admitted doing a foolish thing and said he had never used drugs before. Earlier this year, Mars broke into the ranks of rising stars with featured vocals on B.o.B’s “Nothin’ on You” and Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire.” Mars is set to release his debut album, “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” on Oct 5. The first single “Just the Way You Are” is currently at No 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. —Reuters

J

amaican reggae star Buju Banton was an established drug trafficker before the singer allegedly tried to buy cocaine from an undercover officer in Florida last year, attorneys for the US government said Monday at the beginning of Banton’s drug trial.

“Do you have any contacts where I can get cocaine?” Banton asked a government informant named Alexander Johnson in a recorded conversation, Assistant US Attorney James Preston told a jury in Tampa federal court. The singer was looking for “more, new and different money through a new conspiracy he was shopping for” in addition to drug deals he already had funded, Preston said.

Banton, 37, whose real name is Mark Myrie, has been held without bail since his arrest in December on charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine and carrying a firearm during the course of a drug trafficking crime. The four-time Grammy nominee faces a possible life sentence if convicted.

Banton’s attorney, David Markus, insisted his client did not participate in any conspiracy to sell cocaine, even if he did talk with the informant about drug deals.

“Yes, Buju talked a lot,” Markus said in opening statements. “Yes, he tasted that cocaine. No, he wasn’t a drug dealer. He wasn’t part of the deal.” Markus said Banton will testify in his trial. “He’s got nothing to hide,” Markus said. —AP

(From left) Shia LaBeouf, Frank Langella, Carey Mulligan and Michael Douglas attend the premiere of ‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps’ at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Monday, in New York. —AP

Michael Douglas attends NYC ‘Wall Street’ premiere

Teacher who inspired Lynyrd Skynyrd band name dies

scar-winning US actress Julia Roberts was on Monday honored with a lifetime achievement award at the San Sebastian film festival in Spain.

The 42-year-old received the festival’s Donostia Award from Spanish actor Javier Bardem, her co-star in her latest movie “Eat Pray Love”, who called her an “extraordinary” and “versatile” actress.

“She touches all genres without any effort. She has the capacity to transmit all types of emotions,” he said. A video shown of highlights from Roberts’ career included scenes from her breakout role as a highclass prostitute in “Pretty Woman” 20 years ago and her turn as an environmental crusader in “Erin Brockovich” for which she won the Academy Award in 2001 for Best Actress.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “I watch all that and I just think what a lucky girl, what a very fortunate woman I have been in my life for such a variety of reasons.” “Eat Pray Love,” based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir of her globe-trotting quest for meaning after divorce, follows Roberts’ character Liz to Italy, India and Indonesia.

It is being screened out of competition at the festival, the oldest and most prestigious event of its kind in the Spanish-speaking world. “‘Eat Pray Love’ was truly an experience that changed my life, I worked harder than I worked in a decade, I made friends for a lifetime,” said Roberts. The Donostia Award has been given out each year at the festival since 1986 to “a great film personality in recognition for their work and career.” Past recipients of the award include Gregory Peck, Bette Davis, Susan Sarandon, Meryl Streep, Richard Gere and Woody Allen. —AFP

By Nicole Evatt

M

ichael Douglas has channeled the confidence of ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko while walking the red carpet at the New York City premiere of his latest film, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.” The Academy Award-winning actor recently announced he’s being treated for throat cancer. He posed for photos Monday night with co-stars including Shia LaBeouf and Carey Mulligan and director Oliver Stone. He didn’t give interviews.

L aBeouf calls the 65-year-old Douglas a “wolf.” He notes Douglas showed no signs of weakness while making the “Wall Street” sequel, which opens Friday. Stone says “it’s a struggle” and “it’s tough,” but Douglas is “fighting.” Stone also directed the original “Wall Street” in 1987. The movie featured Charlie Sheen as a stockbroker hungry for success. Douglas won an Oscar for playing Gekko. —AP

SPECTRUM

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

37

Fashion

By Venetia Rainey

A

s London Fashion Week comes to a close, young designers remain adamant that Britain’s capital is still the best place to get into fashion, with ethical concerns put at the centre of many new collections. Charles Jeffrey is in his second year of studying fashion design with marketing at Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design. The 20-year-old says that whilst his favorite menswear collections are in Paris, he wouldn’t want to study fashion anywhere else.

“London is a creative hub, this is where you come for ideas, where people push the boundaries,” he

said. Despite the economic recession, the fashion industry is still going strong, with a recent report by the British Fashion Council valuing its contribution to the UK economy at 21 billion pounds. That makes it the 15th largest British industry out of 81, similar in size to the food/beverage services and telecommunications industries.

The industry also directly employs around 816,000 people, making it the second biggest employer in the country. David Longshaw is a new designer on the British scene. After graduating from St Martin’s and completing his Masters at the Royal College of Art, he was immediately poached by Italian designer Alberto Ferretti and taken to Milan.

He returned to England last year to start his own label, which was quickly picked up as one of Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s Ones To Watch. This Fashion Week, his new collection is being shown as part of the exclusive BFC/ELLE Talent Launchpad. He says that although he was happy to go abroad to gain more experience in the industry, London is unrivalled in its attitude to young designers. “There is an excitement about them here. People actually come here to look for something edgier, something new. They come here to see what the next big thing is,” Longshaw said.

It could be partly to do with their willingness to explore the next frontier for the industry: eco-fash-

ion. This year, a massive space called Estethica was dedicated to the concept within Somerset House, the main arena for London Fashion Week. Estethica began only four years ago, but already boasts 30 designers who subscribe to its values of sustainability. The BFC initiative promotes alternative choices that can be made at various stages of the production process, including intelligent design, locally sourcing materials, and recyclable products.

Alice Ashby is another St. Martin’s graduate. She is part of a new label called The North Circular, pioneered by models Lily Cole and Katherine Poulton. It aims to provide the essential winter chunky knitwear, but with a twist. Their large-knit scarves

and cardigans are hand-made by older women from across Britain, and modeled by the likes of Cole and Milla Jovovich, giving them the tagline ‘Knitted by grannies, supported by supermodels’. They even source their wool from rescued sheep from a sheep sanctuary in North Yorkshire.

The importance of an eco-friendly fashion footprint has clearly not escaped the attention of up and coming designers like Longshaw. “Ethical design is important for the planet, but for young designers it’s becoming even more important, partly because there is this sense of needing to do something, but also because shops and customers are starting to look for it,” he said. — Reuters

Models display creations by Indian designers Abhi and Rahul on the final day of the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festive 2010 in Mumbai yesterday. The Lakme Fashion Week, held twice annually and now in its eleventh year, features creations by over 70 designers .

— AFP photos

Models display creations

by Indian designer Jatin Varma.

Models display accessories by Indian designer Malini Agarwalla.

By Dominique Muret

M

ilan fashion week, sandwiched between those of London and Paris, opens today with catwalks in the centre of Italy’s financial hub instead of out in the suburbs. No fewer than 78 fashion houses will show their ready-to-wear collections for spring/summer 2011. As the shows move downtown-to the 16thcentury Palazzo dei Giureconsulti and three other venues-they will also be broadcast live on big screens at four locations in the northern industrial city.

The extravaganza that used to be held at an exhibition centre northwest of Milan will cover

six days, contrasting with a frantic long weekend in February, when American Vogue editor Anna Wintour threw organizers into a tailspin by indicating that she could spare only three days for Milan.

Top fashion houses concentrated their shows over those days, leaving smaller outfits in the cold with far less media coverage. At the time, Milan mayor Letizia Moratti huffed: “No one, even if her name is Anna Wintour, can make or unmake our fashion calendar.”

Wintour, the inspiration for the book and subsequent film “The Devil Wears Prada” featuring the fearsome head of a fashion magazine, is regarded by many as the most influential person

in the industry. “People were fed up with this senseless program,” said Mario Boselli, head of Italy’s Fashion Chamber.

“For the first time we managed to get all the designers around a table, including three nonmembers-Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Marniand together we worked out a more balanced week,” he said. Gucci kicks off the pageant today and will be followed by Fendi and Prada tomorrow, Moschino, Gianfranco Ferre and Versace on Friday, Bottega Veneta and Emporio Armani on Saturday, Dolce & Gabbana and Salvatore Ferragamo on Sunday, and Roberto Cavalli and Giorgio Armani on Monday.

Organizers have come under fire for exclud-

ing collections of lingerie, swimwear and other labels designed for larger women. “It was a difficult but necessary decision,” Boselli said.

“Some labels just weren’t in line with what ready-to-wear week should be. We wanted to champion the values of creativity to reaffirm Milan’s role in the world.” Notably, Elena Miro has not been invited to repeat a five-year-old tradition of opening the week with her creations for larger sizes. She staged a show today outside of the official calendar, saying it would be a “first international audition for size 40 (10 US, 12 UK) and up.” Another innovation will be free bike-sharing for journalists covering Fashion Week. — AFP

I

t’s Burberry time at London Fashion Week, and that means lots of stars, lots of glitz, and lots of glamorous clothes. The once-staid London fashion house is now one of the main fashion week draws with designer Christopher Bailey counted on to produce trendsetting designs.

The catwalk show yesterday was expected to draw top Hollywood stars and some of the world’s leading models and fashion editors. Bailey follows Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, Paul Smith and other big names into the spotlight as Fashion Week nears its conclusion with a number of menswear shows set for today. Amanda Wakeley, Jonathan Saunders, Clements Ribeiro and several other designers also had catwalk shows yesterday. — AP

SPECTRUM

38

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Fashion

Designer Paul Smith

goes for masculine look

By Raphael G Satter

W

hat should a woman do if she’s going for the ‘I-borrowed-itfrom-my-boyfriend’ look but doesn’t actually have a boyfriend? Paul Smith has the answer. The British designer showed off his 2011 springsummer collection Monday, and except for a few stylish dresses the clothes could just as easily have suited the men in the audience. The designer told The Associated Press that his collection was based around the idea of “borrowing clothes from your brother or your boyfriend.” It certainly looked it. Women in teddy-boy haircuts took to the catwalk sporting men’s style shirts rolled up over the elbow, green shiny suits, ash-colored waistcoats and serious-looking trouser-skirts. There were touches of velvety purple, a splash of Smith’s flowery prints and some sexy playsuits, but overall the look was androgynous.

Smith is known worldwide for his successful menswear range and often favors masculine clothes in his womenswear shows. Many of Monday’s models-some of whom sported black-rimmed glasses with one wearing a severe sweater-style toplooked as if they just stepped out of the library. Veerle

British fashion designer Paul Smith acknowledges the crowd following his fashion show.

Mayfair’s Claridges Hotel.

Models bumped into each other as they negotiated the narrow door to the catwalk, while the painting which Smith cited as an inspiration for the collection-a multicolored work by artist Alex Echo-was almost completely obscured by a piece of metal scaffolding.

But Smith said the pareddown look was what the public wanted.

“People are looking for clothes they can add to their wardrobes without spending too much money,” he said.

The public seems to bear him out. Smith told the AP that sales were up significantly, while cards distributed to the audience announced the opening of a new womenswear shop at Claridges.

Smith’s show is one of the main draws of London’s Fashion Week, a five-day clothing-and-celebrity extravaganza which features such names as Vivienne Westwood and Matthew Williamson.

Buyers and the media are still waiting to see collections from Burberry’s Christopher Bailey, Jonathan Saunders, Stella McCartney and Scottish style icon Pringle.

Depoorter, a Paul Smith buyer from Belgium, agreed that the designer had gone for a nononsense style. But she defended Smith, who she said has been supplying her store in Leuven, just outside Brussels, for the past 14 years. “He wants to go back to basics,” she said. As for the collection, she said it had a touch of 1950s American office wear.

“It’s ‘secretary,’ but in a cool way,” she said. Her friend Saida Farhat, who sat next to her in the second row, said that the show was “not as spectacular” as some of Smith’s previous offerings.

Recent Smith shows have included a fashion foray into the brightly colored world of suits from Africa’s Bacongo and a green-and-pink homage to the designer’s native Nottingham-complete with jaunty Robin Hood-style feathered caps. Monday’s show-with conventionally cut white striped shirts and sensible shoes — seemed tame by comparison. The show, held on an L-shaped runway on the ground floor of Smith’s London headquarters, also lacked the glamour of previous displays in the ballroom of

CHRISTOPHER KANE 1950s-style twinsets and below-the-knee hem lines were anything but boring at Christopher Kane’s show Monday, as the young Scottish star brought those conservative silhouettes up to date with a combination of crazy neon colors and a floral lace print-on leather. Skirt suits with boxy jackets came in fluorescent green, bright fuschia or orange, all stamped with a retro lace pattern.

Next came a series of dresses featuring a psychedelic, oriental dragon print highlighted with neon stripes. The collection was rounded off with delicate, see-through dresses embroidered with intricate oriental patterns, with a palette of mint green and soft coral. —AP

Models present creations by Paul Smith during a fashion show for the Spring/Summer 2011 collection on the fourth day of London Fashion Week, in London.

—AFP photos

Models present outfits by designer Mark Fast at London Fashion Week.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

SPECTRUM

39

Fashion

Spanish designer Francis Montesinos is congratulated at the end of his show .

—AFP/AP photos

Models display Francis Montesinos design during the Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week Spring/Sum mer 2011, in Madrid, Monday.

By Sylvia Hui

B

eware those impossibly tiny waists and never-ending legs: looking at too much airbrushed beauty in glossy magazines can be hazardous to your health. That, at least, is what campaigners working against eating disorders insist. For years, they have complained that the waif-like, size zero models favored by fashion houses promote an unhealthy dieting culture. But digitally trimmed celebrities and models, they say, are much worse: many people don’t even realize what they see is neither real nor attainable.

Now the British government is taking up their cause. Next month, officials are sitting down with advertisers, fashion editors and health experts to discuss how to curb the practice of airbrushing and promote body confidence among girls and women. If the campaigners get their way, fashion ads and magazines in Britain may soon have to label retouched photos to warn people that the perfect bodies they see are but digital fantasies.

Coming just after London Fashion Week, which is under way, it’s the latest initiative in a long-running battle to force the fashion industry to show more diverse-and realistic-kinds of beauty.

“The trend does seem to be more and more ‘extreme Photoshopping.’

Everybody’s just moving towards Barbie dolls,” said Hany Farid, a professor specializing in digital photo forensics at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

“I don’t think there’s a single photograph in those (magazines) that’s not retouched. They’re all manipulated to hell.” Editors and ad managers have been making use of technology to improve the appearance of photographed models for some time.

Before, it was taming the occasional stray hair or erasing a blemish. These

days much more extensive trickery is approved without anyone batting a lash: flabby stomachs are tightened, necks and legs are lengthened, and bosoms are reshaped. The result: a flawless body shape no amount of dieting or cosmetic surgery can achieve. Health professionals say the government must regulate such practices to stop the relentless pressure on young girls and women-but many others are dubious about the idea that we need the government to tell us what’s real and what’s not. Besides, hasn’t advertising always been about selling dreams, and can a disclaimer change the fashion industry’s aesthetic?

London-based fashion photographer Mark Nolan said that while he avoids and disapproves of extreme airbrushing, magazines are driven by what readers want. The government should stay away

from policing the market, he said. “I think they should back right off. The media is driven by the consumer,” Nolan said. “Magazines should be an icon for looking your best. (Readers) know what they get are the most glamorous, the best looking girls. It’s always been that way.” Experts who work with young people with eating disorders, however, want the fashion industry to take up some social responsibility.

“We know these images by themselves don’t cause eating disorders directly, but they certainly are an influence on people, particularly those already ill, or seriously at risk,” said Susan Ringwood, chief executive of Beat, a British charity for tackling eating disorders that’s behind the campaign to tackle airbrushing.

Digitally sculpted models are particu-

People walk by an advert on a billboards on New Bond Street in London. —AP

larly harmful to girls trying to recover from an eating problem, she said. “They cannot understand why anyone worries about them, when they look around them they see pictures of people who look just like them who are celebrated as successful,” Ringwood said. “It perpetrates their disturbed views that they are right.” Her views are backed by Britain’s Royal College of Psychiatrists, which is also pushing the government to regulate airbrushing. A growing body of research is linking repeated exposure of thin or perfect bodies to a drop in mood, more dissatisfaction in the viewers’ bodies, and drastic dieting behavior, said Dr. Adrienne Key from the group.

Airbrushing disasters have occasion-

ally drawn the public eye to the practice.

Last year the label Ralph Lauren had to publicly apologize when one of its advertisements showed a model whose waist was cropped to look smaller than her head. GQ, the men’s magazine, triggered an early backlash against airbrushing when it acknowledged in 2003 that it altered a cover image of Kate Winslet.

The actress said she was shocked to see herself looking so strangely thin in it.

Still, most people don’t tend to understand the extent of photo manipulation or stop to think about it, Farid said.

Photo tampering is now common even in political campaigns and news media-in a recent cover of The Economist magazine, for example, a soli-

tary President Barack Obama was shown on the Louisiana beach inspecting the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. It turned out that two other officials were edited out of the image to make it more powerful. Details of the British government initiative are still sketchy, but Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone, who is leading the consultations, has indicated that she will push for a health warning on airbrushed photos. But the plan would not be forced on advertisers, who are expected to adjust their practices on a voluntary basis. Similar policies have been introduced in Australia, where magazines that signed up to a code of conduct would refrain from heavy photo tampering.

Magazines that adhere to the guidelines will receive a “body image tick” of approval.

Some advocates, like Ringwood, have suggested that labeling original, untampered-with photos may be easier in practice, as well as send a more positive message. Jill Wanless, an associate editor at Look Magazine, a British weekly, conceded that offering an escape to a more glamorous world is part of the appeal of adverts and women’s glossies. But more and more readers are demanding clothes and models they can relate to, she said. The magazine has responded by using socalled “plus size” models, and it plans to feature curvier girls at its catwalk show during London Fashion Week. They’re not alone: a recent announcement from Marc Jacobs that it would introduce a plus-size line suggests that major fashion houses are finally ready to cater to larger women. “Sometimes readers want hyper-reality in a way-they want to be taken out of their own situation,” Wanless said. “But there’s a line that can be crossed when you alienate them by presenting something completely unattainable.”—AP

www.kuwaittimes.net

Arrest warrant issued for Lohan, jail possible

By Robert Jablon

A

judge issued an arrest warrant for Lindsay Lohan after the actress acknowledged failing a drug test less than a month after she was released from inpatient rehab. Superior Court Judge Elden Fox on Monday also revoked Lohan’s probation in her three-year-old drug case while issuing the bench warrant in Beverly Hills. However, the warrant was stayed, and Lohan was

In this July 20, 2010 file photo, Lindsay Lohan listens during a court hearing in Beverly Hills, Calif. —AP allowed to remain free pending a hearing Friday to determine if she violated her probation. Fox previously threatened the actress with 30 days in jail for each violation.

He must now decide whether to send her back to jail or into treatment.

Lohan must attend the hearing.

A message left with her attorney Shawn Chapman Holley was not immediately returned. The warrant was issued after Fox took over the case last month and laid out a path paved with therapy sessions and 12-step meetings that could

have finally brought Lohan’s drug case to an end.

Lohan confirmed on her Twitter page last week that she failed the court-ordered drug and alcohol screening. “Regrettably, I did in fact fail my most recent drug test,” she tweeted. She also said, “substance abuse is a disease, which unfortunately doesn’t go away over night. I am working hard to overcome it.” Lohan of ten posts updates with the account that’s verified by Twitter as belonging to the actress.

It could not immediately be determined why Lohan was not arrested Monday. A call to Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini seeking additional details about the warrant was not immediately returned. Lohan was released from jail on Aug. 2 after serving 14 days of a 90-day sentence for violating her probation in the 2007 case involving drug use and driving under the influence.

Another judge had required her to begin a three-month stint in rehab at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Fox, however, agreed on Aug. 25 to release her from inpatient rehab after reviewing reports by her doctors and medical records from a three-year period. Despite ordering an intense regimen of counseling and therapy, Fox gave Lohan some incentives to succeed. He dismissed two drug counts to which the actress pleaded guilty in 2007.

Lohan also dropped her $100 million lawsuit over a Super Bowl ad for E-Trade that featured a “milkaholic” baby named Lindsay, according to documents filed Monday in a Manhattan court. The actress withdrew her case against the brokerage, which she had claimed made her the implied target of the joke. E-Trade Financial Corp. spokeswoman Susan Hickey said the case’s end reflected a “simple business decision” for the New York-based firm, but she wouldn’t discuss details. —AP

A woman visits ‘An art exhibition’ by German artist Hans-Peter Feldmann during its opening at the Reina Sofia museum in Madrid, yeesterday.

—AFP

Paris Hilton pleads in Vegas arrest, avoids jail

By Cristina Silva

J

ust a few years ago, Paris Hilton claimed her lawless days were behind her after she served 23 days in jail for violating probation.

These days, however, it’s unclear exactly what the celebrity socialite learned from her time behind bars.

Hilton, whose partying brought her worldwide notoriety, acknowledged in a court appearance Monday that she stashed cocaine in her purse and lied to police during her arrest last month at a Las Vegas resort.

Under the terms of a plea deal, the 29-year-old Hilton pleaded guilty to drug possession and obstructing an officer, both misdemeanors. She must serve a year of probation, complete a drug program, pay a $2,000 fine and serve 200 hours of community service. If she violates her probation, she could get a year in jail.

“Treat this very seriously,” Justice of the Peace Joe M. Bonaventure cautioned Hilton. “The Clark County Detention Center is not the Waldorf-Astoria.” Hilton’s attorney David Chesnoff said she would attend an outpatient substance abuse treatment program. “I know Ms. Hilton is contrite and accepts the responsibility for her actions,” Chesnoff said. Hilton has had encounters with the law since 2006, when she was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of driving

Iraq finds missing artifacts in premier’s storage

M

ore than 600 ancient artifacts that were smuggled out of Iraq, recovered and lost again have been found misplaced among kitchen supplies in storage at the prime minister’s office, the antiquities minister said yesterday. The 638 items include pieces of jewelry, bronze figurines and cylindrical seals from the world’s most ancient civilizations that were looted from the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad after the 2003 US led invasion. After their recovery, the US military delivered them last year to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s office, where they were misplaced and forgotten about.

The artifacts, packed in sealed boxes, were misplaced because of poor coordination between the Iraqi government ministries in charge of recovering and handling archaeological treasures, said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Qahtan al-Jabouri. He blamed “inappropriate handover procedures” but did not go into detail.

Iraqi and world culture officials have for years struggled to retrieve looted

treasures but with little success. Thieves carted off thousands of artifacts from Iraqi museums and archaeological sites in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion and in earlier years of war and upheaval. Many items ended up abroad. Collections that were stolen or destroyed at the National Museum chronicled some 7,000 years of civilization in Mesopotamia, including the ancient Babylonians, Sumerians and Assyrians.

Only a fraction of the items have been recovered. Authorities only realized the items misplaced at the prime minister’s office were missing when they began putting together a public display of recently recovered artifacts in Baghdad on Sept 7.

The prime minister’s office investigated, located the items and handed them over to the Antiquities Ministry on Sunday, alJabouri said. “Sealed boxes were located in a storage among kitchen supplies,” alJabouri said at a news conference. “They were opened and artifacts were found inside.” So far, 5,000 items stolen since 2003 have been recovered. More than 15,000 pieces from the National Museum are still missing.—AP

Paris Hilton arrives with her attorney David Z Chesnoff at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas. — AP/AFP photos under the influence. She later pleaded no contest to alcohol-related reckless driving and was put on probation, which she later violated by driving with a suspended license. Hilton served 23 days in jail because of the violation.

“It was a pretty traumatic experience, something that I really have grown from,” Hilton told CNN’s Larry King. In July, she briefly faced a marijuana case after a FIFA World Cup game in South Africa, but the allegation was dropped when a woman who was with her pleaded guilty to carrying the drug.

Hilton was arrested again on Aug. 26 inside the Wynn resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Police said a small bag containing 0.8 of a gram of cocaine fell from her Chanel purse as she reached for a tube of lip balm in front

Artifacts are displayed at Iraq’s national museum, in Baghdad, yesterday. —AP

By Hamid Ahmed

partner in the venue’s nightclub. At the Las Vegas Justice Court, a gaggle of photographers and onlookers followed Hilton as she climbed into a black Cadillac Escalade after the hearing.

Hilton, wearing a champagne-colored blouse, black pencil skirt and black platform heels, did not address the crowd when she went in or out of court, mouthing “thank you” only after a fan yelled, “You’re beautiful, Paris.” She won’t have to report to a probation officer under the plea

of a police lieutenant.

Hilton told police the purse and cocaine were not hers. “I asked Hilton whose cocaine it was, and she said she had not seen it but now thought it was gum,” Las Vegas police Lt. Dennis Flynn wrote in his report. Hilton had been pulled aside by police after her boyfriend, Las Vegas nightclub mogul Cy Waits, 34, failed field sobriety tests given by a motorcycle officer, the report said.

The couple was stopped in a black Cadillac Escalade after the officer smelled what the report called a “vapor trail” of marijuana smoke.

Waits was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A toxicology report is pending. Hilton was banned from two Wynn resorts after the arrest, and Waits was dismissed as a

agreement. She originally faced a felony cocaine possession charge that also would not have resulted in jail time but could have brought up to three years probation. Hilton’s attorney and a Clark County prosecutor both stressed that a legal red carpet had not been rolled out for the hotel heiress. “She was treated like anybody else would be treated under the circumstances,” Chesnoff said. Hilton plans to continue volunteering with animal advocacy groups and children’s hospitals to complete her community service hours, he said. —AP

Namibians fear dam will wash away honey, ancestors, traditions

By Alexandra Lesieur

N

amibia’s Himba, distinctive for smearing their bodies with red ochre, say a planned dam that will flood the valleys where they live and their burial grounds also threatens their ancient traditions and lifestyle. “We survive from the Baynes mountains. It is where we can move our cattle in spring-time for grazing, where we get the honey sugar. It is our kitchen,” said Muhapikwa Muniombara.

“If they build the dam, they’ll kill us,” said the 35-year-old, who has traditional necklaces and bracelets adorning her ochre-tinged body. The largely nomadic Himba also bury their dead in the arid hills around the Kunene River which forms an oasis in the vast desert and part of Namibia’s northern border with Angola.

Generations of these graves will be flooded by the mooted 1,700gigawatt hydroelectric dam and the Himba worry their ancestors will be

This picture taken on August 20, 2010 shows the Epupa Falls on the Kunene river, Northern Namibia. —AFP

angered and could react badly, causing havoc with their lives. But moving the graves isn’t an option, Muniombara says, pointing to a dozen burial sites in the mountains surrounding her village of Okapare.

“If they move the graves, the whole spirit is going to die,” Muniombara says. “If they remove the graves, everything will get dry, there won’t be more grazing.” The new dam will bring electricity and water to villages like Okapare, which has neither, but this does not convince Muniombara.

“We don’t want the water. We don’t want electricity. We have water at the fountains. We want to live naturally,” she says. The dam, first proposed in the 1990s, was originally meant to have been built farther up the river but it would have swallowed a popular tourist destination-the Epupa Falls, fringed by palm and baobab trees.

So the government decided to move it toward Baynes. “The dam

will not affect the Epupa Falls and is situated in a deep ravine approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) downstream of the falls, with a low population density of Himba,” said Mike Everett of the Environmental Resources Management consultancy that conducted feasibility studies for the dam. Once Angola and Namibia give the final go-ahead to the project, the dam could take seven years to build, he says.

A group of young Namibians at the Epupa Falls are eager, saying it will help to solve chronic power shortages. Namibia imports more than half of its electricity from South Africa, but hopes hydropower, new coal plants or even a nuclear plant could boost supplies and feed its moneyspinning uranium mines.

“I’m for it because we need energy and it will create jobs. People go to school then they go back to the village looking after their parents’ goats again,” says 28-year-old Ratutji Muhenje. —AFP