17th Nov 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

New clashes in Tripoli as death toll tops 40

Cameron puts Sri Lanka on notice over war crimes

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MUHARRAM 13, 1435 AH

3D printing has potential ‘to change the world’

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Beckham lines up long shot: Founding Miami football team

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Kuwait refutes damning NYT report on charity No ‘illegal substances’ seized • Some roads to be closed conspiracy theories

Easy to blame

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

I

read an article in the New York Times in which the journalist who reports from the Middle East focused on the financing of the opposition in Syria.

It seems that the writer, just like all of us, is worried about the chaos that is going on in Syria. Especially when you see the suffering of innocent people and refugees daily.

We all know that the West trumpeted the war in Syria and supported and created the armed opposition. The West even pushed some countries in the region to support the opposition openly and to topple Bashar Al-Assad’s regime. This has been going on for more than two years and was a setback for the opposition. So far they failed to topple Assad despite all the help and the arms which were sent to them in addition to the money and facilities provided. The West and most of the Arab countries, except for Russia and China, contributed to the assistance for Syria’s opposition.

There were hundreds of conferences held under different names - Friends of Syria, Supporting Syria, The Refugees of Syria, etc, etc- which were consented by the governments of many countries in the region under the supervision of Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany and others. It is surprising to me that the journalist seems to blame the failure of the opposition on individual donors - of course most of them as we all know are from the Gulf. Having said that, I would like to say that I am neither pro-Assad nor pro-military action in Syria by anybody - opposition or Bashar.

In the New York Times article, the Kuwaiti side bore the brunt of the blame. If the American journalist is backing his government in toppling the regime in Syria, why is he against personal donations from people? Who can openly donate anything in the world without the consent of the United States? After 9/11, the United States forced banks to monitor and provide US intelligence with information on money transfers as part of a counter-terrorism funding law. I am not here to discuss this law, though it harmed many innocent remittances which used to reach people in need around the world. Still, this law did not stop terrorism in the world. Sometimes the people who support terrorists are untouchables. The writer of the article, I am sure, knows this.

It is wrong to blame the state of chaos in Syria on some private individual funding from the Gulf or Kuwait. I expected the writer who sounds like a political reporter to blame the chaos in Syria on the countries that supply arms to people on the street and not to find a scapegoat for the failure of the opposition to unite.

I would think the blame lies with countries who send mercenaries to join the opposition in Syria without planning, without knowing that these untrained groups might stray and take matters in their own hands. We have heard many horrible stories about some factions of the opposition killing people at random or for trivial, stupid reasons. Do not put the blame on the little funds coming from Kuwait.

Throw the blame on the big countries who caused the chaos in Syria and are now retreating.

KUWAIT: A dance troupe from South Africa performs at Souq Sharq on Friday, part of cultural activities before the Africa-Arab Summit. An Egyptian troupe also gave a performance. — Photo by Joseph Shagra (See Page 2)

Max 26º Min 14º High Tide 12:29 & 23:20 Low Tide 06:03 & 17:43

KUWAIT: Kuwait will respond to a story published in the New York Times which raised doubts over charity operations in the country, a senior official said, noting that charity organizations were abiding by laws. “Kuwait acts in a transparent manner with regards to charity, which is organized by laws and regulations,” Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah said. “There is an accurate follow up of money (of charity) and this operation is not happening randomly,” Jarallah told KUNA following a meeting of senior officials preparing for the 3rd AfricaArab Summit due here on Nov 19-20. Kuwait’s diplomatic missions in the US would react to these charges in the same newspaper, he said.

Separately, a spokesman of the Africa-Arab Summit denied yesterday news reports of “illegal substances” seized from a foreign minister of one of the participating countries at a hotel in Kuwait City. “News reports broadcast by a local messaging services said that an expatriate had been arrested trying to bring in illegal substances to a foreign minister of one of the participating countries in the Afro-Arab conference at a hotel in the capital,” the spokesman said in statements to KUNA. The spokesman called on the media to ensure the accuracy of news prior to publication of such stories.

Meanwhile, several roads were to be closed just before midnight yesterday amid tight security aimed at ensuring the safe arrival of summit delegates, said a senior security official. “The Traffic Department will be closing the Subhan route starting from the Seventh Ring Road to King Faisal and Riyadh motorways (opposite Yarmouk),” said Director of Public Affairs and Moral Guidance and Acting Director of Security Media Col Adel Al-Hashash.

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Kuwait to get wet and windy KUWAIT: Director of Metrological Center at Kuwait Civil Aviation Directorate Mohammad Karam expected the country to witness unstable weather conditions starting today for the next few days, with a chance of thunderstorms and rain. He predicted moderate rain today mostly in southern areas, adding that a cloud cover will develop during night hours today and tomorrow morning, increasing the chances of thunderstorms.

The unstable conditions will intensify tomorrow as the seasonal Sudan depression advances towards Kuwait, helped by the presence of a cold air mass in the higher atmospheres. The meeting of this

depression which is relatively warm and loaded with moisture will form more thunderous clouds causing rain that may be strong in some areas tomorrow morning.

Karam said unstable conditions are expected to continue until Wednesday before conditions start to improve. He advised citizens and expats to monitor these conditions closely, adding the weather department will be on alert and will issue reports continually. Weather and environment expert Essa Ramadan said rain may start falling at dawn today over Kuwait, southern Iraq and Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. He forecast rain to continue until Wednesday. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Two people under an umbrella struggle against the rain in this file photo. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Brotherhood offers talks to end crisis CAIRO: An Islamist coalition led by the Muslim Brotherhood yesterday offered negotiations to end the deadly tumult since Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi’s overthrow, without explicitly insisting on his reinstatement. The coalition “calls on all revolutionary forces and political parties and patriotic figures to enter a deep dialogue on exiting the current crisis,” it said in a statement. The proposal is the Islamists’ most flexible yet made in public, and comes “with no conditions”, a coalition official said.

The coalition, which has organised weekly protests despite a harsh police crackdown, insisted in its statement on keeping up “peaceful opposition”, but said it wanted a “consensus for the public good of the country”. The proposal comes after more than 1,000 people, mostly Morsi supporters, have been killed in clashes with police and thousands more have been arrested. Much of the Brotherhood’s leadership has been put on trial, including Morsi himself. “We have no conditions, and neither should they,” Imam Youssef, a leader of the Asala party, which is part of the Islamist coalition, told AFP. But he added that the talks must lead to a “democratic” solution, and the coalition wanted them to start within two weeks. The coalition was prepared to

discuss “all solutions that lead to stability”. The Islamists were prepared to respect the demands of the millions of protesters who took to the streets calling for Morsi’s ouster, Youssef said. “We want a democratic solution, and it does not necessarily mean we have to be in power,” he added. Asked if the coalition would insist on Morsi’s return to office, he replied: “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”

A senior member of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) said the statement did not mean the Islamists dropped their demand on Morsi’s reinstatement, but were open to discussing how he could constitutionally resign. “The range is there and there are disagreeing visions,” he said, adding some insist Morsi must complete his term, while others would accept he resign immediately and give his powers to a prime minister. “As for the details, if they are in accordance with legitimacy and the constitution, the (solution) would be okay,” said the official, who requested anonymity. The talks proposed yesterday were aimed at political parties, he added. “We can have a conversation with the coup authorities, but only if they accept the framework.”

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Tearful Tendulkar bids farewell MUMBAI: Sachin Tendulkar struggled to hold back the tears as he soaked up the unconditional veneration of an Indian crowd for the last time when the sun set on the master batsman’s glittering 24-year career yesterday. After his side completed the formalities of an easy victory over West Indies, Tendulkar collected a stump as a memento and slowly made his way through a mobile guard of honour formed by his teammates, head bowed and struggling to hide his emotions. As television coverage broadcast images of a huge banner in the stands proclaiming “Legends Never Retire”, the 40-year-old Tendulkar shook hands with opposing players and staff before climbing the stairs leading to the dressing room.

Tendulkar later returned with his wife Anjali, daughter Sara and son Arjun to make a moving and humble farewell speech at the presentation ceremony before completing a lap of honour on

the shoulders of his teammates. “All my friends settle down, let me talk. I will get more and more emotional,” he said, his voice almost drowned by chants of “Sachin, Sachin” reverberating around his hometown Wankhede Stadium. “It’s getting little difficult to talk but I’ll manage.” A solemn Tendulkar spoke for more than 20 minutes as the 32,000-strong crowd listened intently with hands folded as if in prayer and eyes moist with tears.

A day after the anniversary of his international debut against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989 as a mop-haired 16-year-old, Tendulkar finished his career as the sport’s most prolific international run-scorer. He leaves the game after playing more test matches (200), scoring the most test (15,921) and one-day international (18,426) runs, and compiling more test (51) and one-day (49) hundreds than any other player in cricket history. “My life’s been 22 yards for 24 years. It’s hard

to believe that wonderful journey is coming to an end,” he said, going on to thank his family, friends and all the people associated with his career.

A perfect role model for the country’s youth and the sport worldwide with his impeccable image on and off the field, Tendulkar offered a rare glimpse into his fiercely private family life through the speech. “The most beautiful thing happened to me in 1990 when I met my wife Anjali,” Tendulkar said, addressing his wife as she wept uncontrollably. “I know Anjali being a doctor, there was a wonderful career in front of her.

When we decided to have a family, Anjali took the initiative to step back and say that ‘you continue with your cricket and I will take responsibility of the family’. Without that, I don’t think I would have been able to play cricket freely and without any stress. You are the best partnership I’ve had in my life.” — Agencies (See Page18)

MUMBAI: Fans of Indian cricket player Sachin Tendulkar walk with a banner after his last international match at Wankhede Stadium yesterday. — AP

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

LOCAL

Afro-Arab Summit preparations successful on all spectrums Amir, CP pay inspectional visit KUWAIT: Preparations for the African-Arab Summit held for the first time outside Africa are going smoothly as the Kuwaiti government has so far provided several activities on the cultural and economic spectrums and has already hosted talks at the senior-level. A number of events that were planned ahead of the Nov 19-20 summit have already come into fruition, as officials, experts and media from both regions began arriving in the country since early last week.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has taken it upon himself to make certain these preparations are successful and the complete relaxation of the visiting delegates is ensured.

Accompanied by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, he paid an inspectional visit to the conferences hall at Bayan Palace, and expressed his delight and satisfaction at what he had witnessed of preparations made to host the summit.

On security arrangements, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak AlHamad Al-Sabah paid a visit to the Ministry of Interior’s central command centre, where he expressed satisfaction at what he witnessed of preparations for the 3rd AfricaArab Summit and the ministry’s coordination with the military, National Guard and fire and ambulance emergency units.

These arrangements had been made clear on various occasions by Col Adel Al-Hashash, the Acting Director of Public Relations and Moral Guidance and Security Media Department, who also stressed the readiness of logistical capabilities to accept the incoming visitors.

Amid other arrangements made to ensure the flow of traffic on the summit day, the Cabinet made the decision to announce a public holiday for government employees on Tuesday.

Also on ports security, the Ministry of Interior’s Assistant Undersecretary for Ports Security Affairs Maj Gen Anwar Al-Yaseen said that the sector is actively involved in the implementation of security measures.

On media capabilities, the Minister of Information Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem AlHumoud Al-Sabah-also the State Minister for Youth Affairs-stressed last Monday that the ministry had already started to provide internal and external coverage in its bulletins and its radio and TV political programmes of presummit functions and will continue to do so until the end of the event.

Four days later, Assistant Undersecretary for External Media at the Information

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah accompanied

by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, pays an inspection visit to the conferences hall at Bayan Palace yesterday.

Ministry Tareq Al-Mezrem said that the summit’s press centre will officially open its doors a day later under the auspices of State Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Health Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah AlMubarak Al-Sabah.

One of the centre’s halls has been equipped with latest high-tech equipment, including free to use PCs, internet, TV and radio studios, group-conferencing, security and medical emergency preparations and around-the-clock hospitality for visiting media, he added.

A second hall includes a press conference podium hosting a team of translators fluent in English, French and Portuguese in addition to a trained set of information ministr y employees ready to assist visiting journalists.

The ministry has also set up field visits to cultural and tourist destinations in the country for the visiting journalists.

These locations include the cultural centre Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah, the Fishermen’s Village, the Scientific Centre and Souq AlMubarakiya two days ahead of the summit.

Invitations have been handed out to over 300 media personnel, including 100 from Africa, 100 Arab and 40 from the Arab Gulf region, along with several international journalists, he also revealed.

The centre also groups several Kuwaiti bodies like the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic and Development, Kuwait News Agenc y, the Kuwait Red Crescent, the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, along with charity organisations in Africa.

On Sunday, Kuwait News Agency issued a book titled ‘The Arabs and Africa’ which documents historical events between the two regions and contains 240 pages of fine print.

The agency said that it was keen on translating the book, which had so far been written in Arabic, into English and French.

Meanwhile, senior Arab and African officials held preparatory meetings ahead of Tuesday’s summit which will continue for a third day, including dual troikas of Arab nations Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq and Benin, Ethiopia and Chad from Africa, along with the Arab League General Secretariat and the African Union Commission.

The meeting, chaired by Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah, is expected to draft several resolutions, the Kuwait Declaration and a report on the main joint activities of the African Union Commission and the Arab League General Secretariat and will propose measures to enhance institutional capabilities for the implementation of the 2011-16 African-Arab

work plan. The officials are also discussing two reports on the second meeting of the Arab-African ministers of agriculture and food security, and on the performance of the African-Arab Cultural Institute.

They are also discussing the establishment of a mechanism to finance joint projects and the recommendations of the Arab-African Economic Forum, which concluded on Tuesday.

The Africa-Arab Economic Forum encouraged national and regional financial institutions to continue their support of socio-economic development including on achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and beyond, especially on financing relevant projects in the sectors of agriculture, education, health, energy, drinking water and other social services.

Both the African Union Commission and the General Secretariat of the Arab League were called on to organize a forum for financial institution banking systems, investment agencies and investment funds to periodically discuss investment perspectives in the Arab and African regions, along with regular workshops for investors and entrepreneurs.

On food security, they called to adopt and cooperate on policies aimed at achieving food security based on sustainability in agriculture, livestock and fisheries.

On trade exchange, they called to remove obstacles and difficulties like tariff barriers that hinder the flow of goods and produce between the two regions and to establish African-Arab free trade zones and joint transportation networks to promote bi-regional investment and trade.

They also called for the exchange of information, data and regular trade expos in order to introduce commodities and produce available for import and export, along with innovative mechanisms needed to implement the Arab-African Summit decisions related to Arab African economic cooperation, with a view to support sustainable development.

The forum was attended by ministers, diplomats, high-level officials, international organizations, intellectuals, academics and private sector and civil society employees from both regions.

The forum witnessed sideline meetings which included the signing of several loan and assistance agreements between the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and a number of African nations worth a total of around KD 28.5 million..

These include a loan to Rwanda worth KD 3.6 million to contribute to the construction

of a major hospital, a loan to The Gambia worth KD 6 million for a contribution to logistical support, a loan to Burkina Faso worth KD 5.8 million to fund the Ouagadougou Airport project, a loan to Sudan worth KD 13 million to finance the launching of an integrated mining project and grant to Somalia worth KD 3 million for the funding of small and micro projects in agribusiness.

Kuwait and Kenya also signed two agreements on the avoidance of double taxation and the encouragement of the reciprocal protection of investments on Tuesday.

The huge event is also being accompanied by many cultural activities, including an art gallery, a crafts exhibition and displays of traditional dance troupes from countries in the two regions.

The modern art gallery, organised by Kuwait’s National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, brought together fine arts from Arabia and Africa depicting the history of these cultures. Art on display featured artists from Egypt, Morocco, Senegal and Sudan.

Exhibits also included a photograph exhibition organised by the Arab world’s renowned Kuwait-based cultural magazine, Al-Arabi, with the theme of these pictures shedding light on Africa.

The galler y was inaugurated by Madagascar’s Minister of the Crafts Industry and African regional representative to the World Crafts Council Elisa Zafitombo Alibena, along with National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters Secretary General Ali Al-Yoha.

The event will continue for a week’s time, coinciding with the African-Arab Summit among its various supplementary functions.

The gallery was shortly followed a day later by a crafts exhibition, held at Kuwait National Museum, which was inaugurated by State Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Health Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah AlMubarak Al-Sabah.

The exhibition brought together 24 Arab and African nations, including 54 craftsmen from around the world.

Meanwhile dance troupes invited to the country from all around have been plying their trade across shopping centres and cultural venues around Kuwait, including the Avenues Mall and Sharq Mall to name a few.

All of these arrangements which follow the wise directions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah have been extremely welcomed and highly valued by a host of the visiting delegates, who in interviews with Kuwait News Agency and Kuwait TV, all stressed their delight and satisfaction with the huge efforts. — KUNA

Duo held for drug abuse

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Two citizens were arrested and sent to the narcotics department for possessing hashish packets and joints. Both were also charged with resisting arrest and attempting to escape.

The two were arrested during a routine checkpoint stop, when policemen suspected both suspects were under the influence of drugs.

The two sped off at high speed prompting a police chase before being arrested.

Separately, a citizen was banned from leaving Kuwait for being under the influence of drugs.

When he was searched at Nuwaiseeb land border center, police found drugs on him.

Waha fight A bedoon man, 26, was admitted to Jahra Hospital ICU after being shot during a fight in Waha, a security source said. The source said the fight was due to family disputes, and the suspect, a 30-year-old bedoon, was arrested.

MP: Reaction to husseiniya tents removal ‘overblown’

By A Saleh and agencies

KUWAIT: Traditional dance troupes from South Africa and Egypt perform at a shopping centre in Kuwait.

Pre-summit cultural events host African dance troupes KUWAIT: As part of cultural activities supplementary to the Africa-Arab Summit, two traditional dance troupes from South Africa and Egypt performed at a shopping centre in Kuwait on Friday night.

The performances are part of a sequence of pre-summit functions held ahead of the Kuwait-

held Nov 19-20 summit on the cultural and economic domains.

Organised by Kuwait’s National Council for Culture Arts and Letters, the event was open to the public at Souq Sharq Mall.

The troupes performed dances akin to their culture, donning their traditional dress to the

delight of crowds who gathered to witness the shows. As for the Egyptians, a dance known as ‘Tannoura’ was performed — the dance known for its Sufi origins.

The dance portrays the belief by Sufis that the universe starts at one point and ends at the same point. — KUNA

KUWAIT: MP Hmoud Al-Hamdan said that reactions to removal of ‘unlicensed properties’ around husseiniyas on Friday were ‘overblown’, adding that the Kuwait Municipality’s decision was “timely” and “as part of efforts to remove properties set up illegally and without a license”.

“The state has the right to remove properties set up on state property - the same way it removes diwaniyas and tents set up illegally,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He urged Shiite lawmakers to have ‘selfcontrol’ and avoid sectarian instigations.

MPs Faisal Al-Duwaisan and Abdullah AlTamimi separately announced plans to file grilling motions against Minister of Housing and Minister of State for Municipality Affairs Salem Al-Othaina over what they described as ‘attack on Shiite beliefs’ even after the minister announced that a committee was formed to investigate the issue. Fellow lawmaker Maasouma Al-Mubarak demanded a ‘televised official state apology’ from the prime minister.

Al-Rai daily offered two explanations on the issue, including one in which a Kuwait Municipality official said that the municipality removed catering booths at places licensed to set up tents, which violates licensing regulations. Other sources indicated in the meantime that the municipality personnel ‘mistakenly’ removed licensed properties while removing unlicensed ones. Hundreds gathered in Rumathiya in protest after the removals on Friday, but they were dispersed after special forces intervened.

In other news, sources revealed that the

Cabinet plans to submit a request to the parliament to merge MP Safa Al-Hashem’s grilling of Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah with MP Riyadh AlAdasani’s grilling of the premier, and another request to merge Hashem’s grilling of Minister of Development Rola Dashti with MP Khalil Abdullah’s grilling of the same minister.

Al-Anbaa daily yesterday quoted a Cabinet insider who indicated that ministers were given instructions to prepare to face grilling motions “or resign if they find themselves unable to fend off interpellations”.

Separately, the parliament’s health committee meets today with Minister of Health Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah to discuss the latest developments regarding the discovery of two MERS virus cases in Kuwait, as well as investigations in the transfer of Dr Kefaya Abdul Malek from Amiri Hospital to the Infectious Diseases Hospital.

Meanwhile, the bedoon (stateless residents) committee holds its first meeting today, in addition to the investigations committee that was formed to probe the multimillion-dinar deposits case.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior reportedly summoned spouses of Kuwaiti men to update their information in preparation to grant them Kuwaiti citizenship under article 8. According to sources with knowledge of the case, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Ministry Sheikh Mohammad AlKhalid Al-Sabah expects a list containing the names of women eligible for naturalization in his office “in the first week of December”.

Foreign ministerial meeting kicks off KUWAIT: A joint foreign ministerial meeting which precedes the 3rd Africa-Arab Summit slated for Tuesday kicks off here today.

Agenda of the opening session includes a welcoming speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled AlHamad Al-Sabah, followed by a speech by the Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammad Abdulaziz as the former chair of the 2nd Africa-Arab Summit. Foreign Minister of Gabon Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet will then address the meeting

since his country was the co-chair of the 2nd Africa-Arab Summit. The session also includes a speech by the Foreign Minister and Cooperation of Mauritania and Deputy Chair of the Executive Bureau of the African Union Ahmed Ould Teguedi to be followed by a speech by the Secretary General of the Arab League Dr. Nabil Al-Araby, followed by Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. The participants will then start a closed-door session to be co-

chaired by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and Teguedi where they would approve the agenda and the work plan, and discuss and ratify the report and recommendations submitted by the senior officials, which include the report of the joint activities of Chairman of the AUC and the Arab League Secretary General as well as the proposed measures to bolster foundational capacity to implement the joint work plan between the two sides in 2011-16. The meeting’s agenda will also include a proposal on

rationalizing mechanisms of implementing and following up the joint Arab-African partnership, in addition to the 2nd meeting of African and Arab ministers of agriculture and food security that was held in Riyadh last Oct 2.

It will also tackle a proposal on cooperation between the two sides in the field of immigration, another on the performance of the ArabAfrican cultural institute as well as another on the establishment of Arab-Africa mechanisms to finance joint projects and activities.— KUNA

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

LOCAL

KUWAIT: Thousands of people walking yesterday morning from the Yacht KUWAIT: Some of the officials including organizers and sponsors with the KUWAIT: Saibal Basu (right) awarding Dr Kazem Behbehani (left).

Club to the Green Island on Gulf road. participants of the walkathon.

Overwhelming turnout at Beat Diabetes walkathon Awareness extremely crucial

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Over 7,000 people of different ages came together to raise awareness about diabetes during the 4th walkathon organized by the Landmark Group from the Yacht Club to Green Island yesterday. The Beat Diabetes walk is supported by Ministry of Health and Dasman Diabetes Institute. Many dignitaries joined the 3.2-km walk sporting blue ‘Beat Diabetes’ Tshirts. The weather was ideal for this event and participants enjoyed it and didn’t face any difficulties. At the finish point, participants were given health snack and drinks. The event concluded with a ceremony at Green Island.

Saibal Basu, Chief Operating Officer, Landmark Group Kuwait, said: “The overwhelming turnout that the walkathon draws year after year is truly heartwarming. We are thankful to all the people who continue to support us in our fight against diabetes. Through the annual walkathons, blood glucose tests and other activities that we conduct round the

year, we encourage people to lead active and balanced lives.”

Professional trainers from Fitness First led a mass warm-up session prior to the walkathon.

Participants were also provided with complimentary t-shirts, caps and a healthy breakfast.

Dr Kazem Behbehani, Director-General of Dasman Diabetes Institute, noted that living with diabetes is a daily struggle but can be managed by following a disciplined lifestyle.

“The condition can lead to serious consequences if not detected and controlled at an early stage.

Hence, awareness is extremely crucial. It is really inspiring to see the dedication of Landmark Group and the support they receive from Kuwait residents to spread the message about diabetes,” he pointed out. To reinforce the Group’s core message ‘Beat Diabetes - Take the Test’, free blood glucose testing booths were set up at all Centrepoint stores on Oct 31, Nov 1, Nov 2 and Nov 14.

Since the launch of the Beat Diabetes cam-

paign in the UAE in 2009, the initiative has grown in reach and participation. It currently has a presence across seven countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India.

Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate and currently affects millions worldwide. Landmark Group adopted the ‘Beat Diabetes’ initiative with a focused view to spread awareness on the causes, effects and dangers of the condition. As part of the initiative, Landmark Group conducts year round activities and these cumulate with the Beat Diabetes Walk organized in November - World Diabetes Month.

Last year, the Group organized a series of walkathons in seven countries, which drew the participation of over 45,000 people, and a huge drive to provide free blood glucose tests.

The Group has also partnered with several organizations, including the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and local institutions in every country, to spread awareness about diabetes.

‘Give support to women in real-estate business’ RABAT: The annual international forum MEDays was a good opportunity to emphasize Arab businesswomen’s capabilities in the realestates markets, especially when they were provided by appropriate production, marketing and funding conditions, Secretary-General of the Arab Businesswomen Council Khairiya Abdullah Dashti stressed yesterday. Kuwait’s participation in

the annual international forum MEDays was a success, especially, in highlighting the role played by regional women in various business markets, Dashti said.

Nonetheless, she stressed the importance of supporting businesswomen financially by granting them low-interest loans with easy payment plans to encourage their newly established businesses to

flourish and succeed.

She added that business ladies have gained experiences in the handicraft, mainstream industries and agricultural markets yet they lack the required support to develop their products and introduce them to business markets.

The forum is chaired by Sheikha Hussa Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah and organized by Amadeus

Institute. Over 2,500 figures in the fields of politics, economy, media, and civil society as well as representatives of regional and international organizations are taking part at the annual international forum.

This year’s event highlights the need for a better balance in international decision-making that is less biased against developing nations. —KUNA

Extremism threatens country, society KUWAIT: Former deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Al-Sabah expressed concern over the future of Kuwait’s democracy which he says is threatened by “the language of extremism and sectarianism”.

Speaking to Al-Rai daily from Brussels, where he attended the Arab - European Dialogue Forum, Dr Al-Sabah warned of “real risks looming over Kuwait” which he said “demand that Kuwaitis enjoy immunity from the spread of sectarian conflicts in the region”.

Al-Rai asked Dr Al-Sabah about ‘the effect that the partisanship rhetoric leaves on the Kuwaiti democracy’. “While Kuwait enjoys a distinguished democracy that was able to stand in the face of storms that swept through our country, but it is important to realize that extrem-

ism started spreading after taking strongholds in several regional countries”, he said.

The former minister added that ‘dialogue and cooperation’ are needed in order to avoid risks “that not only threaten Kuwait’s democracy, but also the country’s society and very existence”.

Dr Al-Sabah refused to answer questions about grilling motions filed recently in the Kuwaiti parliament, but reiterated the need to “reinforce the concept of stability on the basis of social and economic security”.

He commented on calls for having an elected prime minister in Kuwait by reiterating “HH the Amir’s exclusive and undisputable right to appoint the prime minister which is guaranteed by the Constitution”.

Riyadh hosts Arab news agencies conference RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Culture and Information and Board Chairman of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohiuddin Khojah is to open the 41st Conference of the General Assembly of the Federation of Arab News Agencies here today.

The two-day conference is expected to consider a number of issues mainly concerning the assessment of the federation’s past work and a future plan for its activities. SPA President Abdullah Bin Fahad Al-Hussein underscored in

a statement the fact that the conference coincides with the convening of the fourth international conference of news agencies due here on Monday. He stressed the need for the active participation of the Arab news agencies in this international conference. He highlighted the federation’s achievements in boosting effective cooperation among Arab news agencies and the programs and activities carried out by the federation, emphasizing the kingdom’s support for the federation.—KUNA

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

LOCAL kuwait digest

In my view

Investment in young people

Our outdated hospitals

By Labeed Abdal

By Abdullah Buwair

local@kuwaittimes.net local@kuwaittimes.net

S

kuwait digest

The welfare curse

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

T

he welfare state, or the rentier state to be more specific, is no longer the same as the one forced upon us by the discovery of oil. It became a weapon that has been effective in containing public anger and influencing the options of voters in specific and the Kuwaiti citizen in general.

Therefore, doing away with the rentier state policy is not only an economic decision, but a political one in the first place that requires social activation.

The rentier policy of the state which was created by the government’s attempt to monopolize power will not be easy to revert unless after full reconciliation between anti-democratic forces in the government, and the principles and requirements of the democratic system. In other words, we need actual reconciliation between everyone - including the people and their rulers - and the democratic system.

Without this or submitting to the requirements of political development, the ‘fake’ forms of welfare will continue sedating citizens and empty their patriotism.

The rentier policy of the state which was created by the government’s attempt to monopolize power will not be easy to revert unless after full reconciliation between antidemocratic forces in the government, and the principles and requirements of the democratic system.

It is believed that in developing non-economically sufficient systems, governments resort to create strong ‘psychological pressure’ on people so that they become too busy with earning their daily bread to follow up with general politics or the government’s mistakes. In Kuwait, the exact opposite happens as a result of oil revenues. Instead of the psychological pressure, citizens are distracted by false welfare, or by leading them to believe that they are partners in corruption by writing off fines, ignoring dues, etc.

The current welfare state for the Kuwaiti citizens is a burden to national income and development. It is also an active means by which citizens are distracted away from addressing the unhealthy situation they are living in. Unfortunately, it appears to them and others as a form of ‘luxury’ and good living, whereas in reality it is a fatal disease that kills the spirit before the body. — Al-Qabas

Al-Anbaa

T

he bad level of service at public hospitals has been the talk of town for a while now, while the Ministry of Health continues to ignore citizens and expatriates’ complaints in that regard.

‘Help yourself’ is the newest motto at the Ministry of Health. A Kuwaiti man told what happened with him at a public hospital when he went for a test.

When he came back later for the test results, he was told that his file had disappeared! The man told me that a hospital employee finally found the file half an hour later after sorting all files by name, civil ID number, etc.

Another story demonstrates how sphygmomanometers (blood pressure meters) and glucometers in public hospitals are faulty. A friend told me that he once got one reading at the doctor’s room, and a different reading at another room in the same medical facility. Bear in mind that diagnoses are made and medications are prescribed based on those readings. This could explain some of the many incidents of wrong diagnoses and errors in prescriptions that happen in Kuwait.

I read a newspaper report recently about the bad experience of a Kuwaiti woman at a public hospital. The woman said that she headed to the hospital in order to get a Pethidine shot, which is normally given by the doctor himself. While she was waiting for the doctor, a nurse came and told her that she is going to give her the injection because the doctor was busy with another patient. But when she gave her the shot, the woman felt extreme pain and asked the nurse what happened.

It turned out that the nurse gave the woman the Pethidine shot immediately, while it should be taken after using a winged infusion set. The woman said that she filed a complaint regarding the matter, and both the doctor and the nurse confirmed during investigations that an error was made.

However, the woman said that she never received any compensation in return.

Those are some of many stories that happen in our public hospitals where a person who walks inside without help can very well come out in a wheelchair.

kuwait digest

Act more, talk less

By Saad Al-Rushaidi

K

uwait follows basic principles that have remained unchanged throughout its history, even when foreign developments necessitated change. Escalated tensions returned to Kuwait’s political scene with three grilling motions filed almost simultaneously against Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Health Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah and Minister of Development Rola Dashti. Of course, filing a grilling motion is an undisputable right of MPs, but the question is always about the timing.

No one can dispute a lawmaker’s right to file a grilling motion, but that does not mean to have interpellations turn into tools to settle personal differences, or to grill ministers over topics that can be resolved through other means with less intensity. A critical review of the grilling motions filed against the prime minister and the health minister indicate that they are based on issues that are not related to desired development or tackle a problem that can send the country into further deterioration.

While signs of a strained relationship between the executive and legislative authorities reemerged locally, Iran’s Foreign Minister Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced that ‘progress’ has been achieved in talks between his country and the West regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. He said that the talks were not ‘easy’, but gave positive signs that the two sides might reach a settlement to end a 10-year conflict between Tehran and the West.

You might ask why I chose to bring up this example. It is to point out that while international powers are working to end deep-rooted conflicts with Iran, our politicians continue to follow the same tradition of keeping an extra watchful eye on the government.

The result is reviving conflict with the government over and over again, mostly for trivial reasons.

Once again, no one can dispute a lawmaker’s right to file a grilling motion, but that does not mean to have interpellations turn into tools to settle personal differences, or to grill ministers over topics that can be resolved through other means with less intensity.

A critical review of the grilling motions filed against the prime minister and the health minister indicate that they are based on issues that are not related to desired development or tackle a problem that can send the country into further deterioration.

MPs returned to the ‘threatening’ and ‘high voice’ rhetoric while the general hope was for cooperation between the parliament and Cabinet to improve the general situation of Kuwait and achieve reform.

Unfortunately, there are chronic issues that political leaders are supposed to shift the focus of their attention to, instead of wasting time on systematic political conflicts raised to serve narrow interests, and can only lead to delay in economic and social reform.

Political forces in advanced societies mostly follow a role which calls for ‘acting more and talking less’ instead of making profuse statements. In order to seek productive democratic life, we need to stop talking a lot about trivial issues and instead achieve a lot of action with little statements. — Al-Rai

everal companies have shifted their attention towards increasing the number of customers while putting little focus on the quality of products that they present. Lack of competitiveness, reasons related to market concentration and other factors play a role in this regard. Interactive voice response, that in most cases would be of no good use, is an example of how companies manage work with indifference to customers’ interest or even making profit.

This situation might be found in some private companies, but has unfortunately become a reality in the majority of state departments. Nepotism, profiteering, etc thrive in state departments where employees have little deterrents when they see their superiors taking advantage of their positions illegally. There are many cases taken to court over forgery, embezzlement, profiteering, etc found in ministries and in which public funds were stolen.

In the meantime, the world is swept by a strong desire to achieve quantum leaps in fighting corruption, improving national stability and curbing both social and economic chaos. This reflects a country’s commitment to factors that sustain its stability, development and very existence.

Kuwait can achieve a similar transformation if it relies on egovernment projects and on the efforts of its young men and women. These factors have what it takes to end corruption and fight attempts by some people who benefit from entrenched corruption to combat change.

Kuwait can achieve a similar transformation if it relies on e-government projects and on the efforts of its young men and women. These factors have what it takes to end corruption and fight attempts by some people who benefit from entrenched corruption to combat change. By opening the door to fresh graduates who’ve studied in advanced countries, Kuwait can finally reap the fruits of decades of spending on government scholarship program. Investment in these young men and women is our hope for a stronger, better and more improved future.

There is a lot of negativity clouding us today.

Many have reached the conclusion that things will never improve, and it is better to take frequent vacations in vastly-developing countries nearby while transactions back home can be done with a few dinars paid under the table. But I believe that putting an end to all the negativity is the first step for Kuwait to become number one.

Can we make this call? Of course; as long as the call is not transferred to the operator!

kuwait digest

Uproot it from Kuwaiti body

kuwait digest

The road to paradise houris!

By Iqbal Al-Ahmad

W

e actually are in need of the Committee for Fighting Alien Phenomena — and I shake the hand of those who came up with it — as we in Kuwait are living in alien phenomena that are threatening the Kuwait society, because these are practices that do not agree with Islamic teachings. Islam rejects everything that harms the Muslim society in the first place. It calls for and urges credibility in work and trust and to be forgiving with others. It calls for cooperation in every job and be committed to the interests of others and not be selfish, behave well with the mutual respect of individuals and law and carry out responsibilities sincerely and honestly.

Corruption is rampant in the country and deep in every ministry and establishment. Corruption has become something normal - bribes filled pockets and turned the law to mere written lines on neglected paper. The bounties that Allah granted us in this beloved country are overused we waste water and electricity because their prices do not affect our pockets.

Lack of honesty is evident in most ministries of the state, where thousands of employees roam in malls and cafes but do not accept one dinar to be cut from their salaries. It is seen in using relations and gifts to travel abroad claiming to be sick, then forging medical reports; the vulgar spread of wasta that neglects the poor and simple and takes care of the influential of all types; violating the environment; audaciously challenging the

law and demanding rights without performing the minimum amount of duties.

These are negative practices that are hurting the Kuwait society without having any committee to counter it and carry out its role of awareness to protect the future of this country. I hope that the Alien Phenomena Committee, which some MPs are calling for, to face all these diseases that have hit the bones of the Kuwaiti body today and transformed the society into a weak body that needs health to stand again - healthy as it was many years ago - after eradicating all these diseases.

Lack of honesty is evident in most ministries of the state, where thousands of employees roam in malls and cafes but do not accept one dinar to be cut from their salaries.

But for such committees to concentrate on Halloween, Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve - it means that the committee itself is an alien phenomenon that needs someone to eradicate it and uproot it from the Kuwaiti body.

— Al-Qabas

By Yousif Abdullah Al-Enaizi

R

ecent years have witnessed an unprecedented race among armed groups that use so many names to describe themselves that are unfortunately related to Islam. Despite their differences, those groups agree that their main goal is the ultimate reward of going to paradise and enjoying the ‘houris’ there. They also agree to do this through ‘jihad’ and fighting infidelity and the infidels who ‘violate sharia’. But what if these groups fight each other, like they occasionally do? Which jihadist will be considered a martyr in such cases and win paradise’s houris?!

In addition, what kind of jihad is this where a Muslim fights other fellowMuslims using all sorts of destructive weapons and tactics? They even do this while shouting “Allahu Akbar” and using rockets and bombs that claim the lives of hundreds of innocent children, women and elderly people. Hence, an endless chain of tragedies starts with women who wear out their eyes with tears for losing their children, fathers who lose their eyesight doing the same, children who lose their guardians and go astray in life, wives who become widowed while still young, siblings who lose their brothers or sisters, etc. Asked who committed this ‘jihad’, or rather say murders, what do you think you will tell Almighty Allah when those victims kneel before Allah conveying their grievances and demanding qisas (retaliation)? Will you dare say that you killed them for the sake of Allah, to win his satisfaction, paradise and the houris?

What kind of reward do you await for claiming the soul entrusted by the Almighty into his worshippers as He said: “And when I have fashioned him and breathed into him of My Spirit” (Sad: 72) or for contradicting the hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who said that ‘pulling Kaaba down brick by brick is easier for Allah than shedding the blood of a Muslim’. What about the blood of thousands of Muslims then?

Why do you accept to be the dagger killing our bothers? Why have you agreed to become a tool carrying out the agendas of those who wish us all evil?

These groups also agree and believe in asceticism of all life’s joys in seeking Allah’s reward of paradise and houris.

This makes one wonder - isn’t there a way other than killing and destruction to win paradise and houris? Why don’t we replace the principle of ‘dying for the sake of Allah’ by ‘living for the sake of Allah’ by using the billions used to purchase weapons to build cities to house the homeless, feed the hungry and dress those in worn-out clothes? It would be great to spend such funds on faminestricken countries including some Muslim ones!

Why should we be ungrateful for Allah’s countless blessings for which we should thank Almighty as He said: “If you give thanks (by accepting faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (blessings)” and “Therefore of the bounty of thy Lord be thy discourse”?

— Al-Jarida

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

LOCAL

Kuwaiti poised to revisit notion of welfare state State must engage in catch-up

NBK welcomes students KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) recently hosted students from Lulwa AlRabeah School for girls, who toured the bank’s head office to learn about the banking industry and the day-to-day work of the bank’s various departments.

NBK Public Relations officers accompanied the students on their tour of the bank’s various departments and gave them a brief presentation about NBK in general and the role of marketing and public relations within the bank.

The students had the chance to learn about the broad range of NBK financial and banking products and services and were par-

ticularly interested in the multi-benefit AlAzraq and Al-Shabab accounts, exclusively designed for high school, college and university students. NBK supports fresh graduates and Kuwait’s youth, listens to their interests and issues and offers a range of products and services to satisfy their needs.

The tour is part of NBK’s ongoing commitment to its corporate social responsibility program and to promoting the education and development of the country’s youth.

Other initiatives include providing summer training programs for students, hiring fresh graduates and offering professional development programs for new hires.

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti authorities seem determined more than ever to revisit the notion of the welfare state as enjoyed by its nationals. The fact that some 90 per cent of citizens work in government departments and state-owned entities says a great deal about the benefits that come with it.

The need for reappraisal was issued by the country’s leadership, including His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah. He warned that the budget could encounter a deficit by 2021 unless measures are taken to limit spending.

Clearly, the warning relates to concerns associated with the current rather than capital expenditure. Current spending relating to salaries and other state-owned benefits made up 91 per cent of total expenditure in the last financial year ending March 2013.

The reference to a possible budgetary shortfall is peculiar, as the country has developed a reputation of posting mega surpluses. In fact, public finance has been posting annual surpluses in sizable figures for the past 14 years, something unusual in today’s world.

For instance, Kuwait recorded a notable $45 billion surplus in the fiscal year 2012-13 on the back of steady oil prices. The surplus represented

some 25 per cent of the country’s gross GDP, certainly something extraordinary in global finance.

Conversely, the Gulf Monetary Union scheme, which went into effect in 2010, stipulates that budgetary shortfalls should be within 3 per cent of the GDP. Without a doubt, Kuwait is doing exceptionally well at the moment... but the future matters.

This level of confidence in public finance won praise from the IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, during a recent speech in Kuwait. Still, she sounded out the need to ensure large investments come on stream to sustain the non-oil GDP growth.

An approved investment plan dating back to 2010 calls for spending some $106 billion on numerous development projects. Among others, the investment scheme calls for $3.2 billion on a new environmental-friendly terminal for Kuwait International Airport.

Happily, Kuwait sits on substantial reserves to meet its investment plans to rejuvenate the economy. The country’s sovereign wealth stands at $386 billion at the latest count.

According to the latest tracking by the Sovereign Wealth Fund, Kuwait’s fund ranks the sixth largest in the world. Within the GCC, only

the UAE and Saudi Arabia command stronger SWFs. In addition to meeting economic growth rates in the non-oil sector, the investments should help Kuwait address other challenges, notably streamlining its performance on international indexes.

Sadly, at the moment Kuwait has developed the reputation of being the under-performer among its GCC partners. For example, Kuwait is the lowest performer in the recent ‘Doing Business 2014’ findings, issued by the World Bank Group.

The report ranks Kuwait 62nd globally among the 189 economies ranked in the survey. This made it the only GCC member state outside of the best 50 performers on the index.

The index provides quantitative comparisons on business regulations and protection of property rights with regard to small and medium enterprises, globally regarded as key sources for producing jobs.

Undoubtedly, Kuwait has the ability to be a standout performer, partly for being a pioneer in the region. Suffice to say that Kuwait was ahead of other GCC states in setting up an authority dealing with its sovereign funds. The Kuwait Investment Authority was set up in 1953.

Kuwaiti philanthropist Al-Hamad honored WASHINGTON: The Middle East Institute (MEI) awarded here at its 67th Annual Awards Banquet the MEI Visionary Award for Director General of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development in Kuwait, Abdulatif Al-Hamad, for his efforts to bring clean water, power and transportation to millions in Africa and Middle East.

Also internationally renowned architect Zaha Hadid was honored in absentia with the Isam M. Fares Award for Excellence for her contributions to the fields of architecture and design. Hadid is the only woman and only Arab to win architecture’s highest honor; the Pritzker Prize.

On this occasion, US National Security Advisor Susan Rice, who was a keynote speaker at the MEI Banquet, said during an address she gave “tonight, we honor two distinguished individuals who have dedicated their lives to changing our world-both literally and figuratively.”

“Abdulatif Al-Hamad has made gamechanging contributions to development in Africa and the Middle East,” she remarked, congratulating both honorees. For his part, the presenter of the Award for Al-Hamad, Richard Debs, said in his remarks that “our guest (Al-Hamad) signifies exactly what a visionary is and the benefits a visionary can bring to his society, our society.”

“It is hard to describe him, but one way to describe him is that he is a legend in his own time,” he remarked. He added that Al-Hamad

Conference for gifted Arab youth in Amman AMMAN: The 10th conference for the care of the gifted and talented youth in the Arab world started here yesterday with the participation of Kuwait’s Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for the Gifted.

Board chairman of the Kuwaiti Center Dr Bader AlOmar said that the Center will submit a research paper to the conference here on the topic of A Crisis among the Gifted and Talented Arab Youth, noting that Kuwait is among the founders of the Arab Council for the Gifted and Talented Arab Youth, which is organizing this twoday conference in Amman.

The Center’s director Dr Omar Al-Bannai said that the center’s participation in the conference here aimed at gaining knowledge from the conferees as well as imparting to them the Center’s well-documented experience in the field of fostering gifted and talented Kuwaiti students.

He said the Center’s activities have expanded exponentially in recent years, so much so that new branches were being considered, at least one branch was definitely planned for opening next year.

Head of the conference Dr Fathi Jerwan indicated that the conference this year was being held at a crucial time when the Arab world was facing great challenges as the wheel of technology and science was spinning at greater speeds than ever before. He said that the gifted and talented Arab youth should be paid great care and attention as they could be the Arab world’s future scientists and inventors.—KUNA

is a “global citizen and global leader indeed,” where is “all his activities and avocations he was a pioneer and he had vision. “I find it very fitting that he is honored as a visionary,” Debs noted.

In his acceptance speech, Al-Hamad, who is regarded as dean of development efforts in the Arab world, said he feels privileged to have had the opportunity “to serve the people of my region and to make a humble contribution to the building of modern, prosperous and hopefully in the near future democratic state in the Arab world.”

He affirmed that “despite the prevailing gloom, pessimism and even despair, the Arab countries have unquestionably made great progress since the 1950s.”

“However development in the Arab world is still a work in progress. It still requires greater wisdom, vision and hard work,” he stressed. “Today I have this rare privilege of being honored for having dedicated my life to helping Arab countries fight poverty and improve their quality of life, “ he remarked. He added “looking back at all this in so many places, I feel overwhelmed by the exceptional luck I had in life to be at the service of people.”

He stressed “but in all humility, no individual, I myself the least, could ever pretend to have accomplished anything of real value in development without the hard work of millions of people. It is they who truly deserve recognition and honor.”—KUNA

Zain honors its product, services partners KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, recently held its quarterly dealers lunch event to honor a number of its authorized service providers for their outstanding performance during the third quarter of 2013.

During the event, Zain acknowledged the outstanding performance of these partners based on several key indicators. ‘Media Phone’ came first in terms of driving revenue to Zain’s value-added services and the lowest number of complaints, while ‘ITG’ came first in overall performance, as well as for acknowledging ‘Concept’, ‘Becell’, ‘BlueTech’, ‘Swiftell’,

‘Aiwa Gulf’, and ‘Qanawat’ for their amazing performance during Q3 of 2013. This event takes place every quarter, allowing distributors to compete fairly with one another and drive more efficiency when offering the best services and products to Zain customers. Nadia Al-Saif, Zain’s Valued Added Services Director commented by saying: “Our partners play a significant role in Zain’s success. Their consistency in providing excellent service for Zain’s customers is critical to the company’s focus on enhancing the customer experience.”

“Zain’s distributors are without a doubt, an inte-

gral part of Zain and a significant element of success that has helped Zain reach the leading position it enjoys today. The company encourages distributors to maintain their performance and continue offering the best services and products to its loyal customers” added Al-Saif.

For more information about Zain’s numerous competitive promotions, customers are advised to visit any of Zain’s branches in more than 80 locations across Kuwait, or visit the company’s website on www.kw.zain.com, or contact its 24 hour call center at 107, or visit the company’s social media channels.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

LOCAL

Asian man found dead in Jleeb apartment Kuwaiti drug dealer caught in Beirut KUWAIT: Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances behind the death of a Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh resident whose body was found in his apartment. Police headed to a building in the area in response to an emergency call reporting that foul odor was emanating from one of the apartments. Police obtained a warrant to break into the apartment and found the Asian man dead inside. Crime scene investigators were called to carry out examinations before the body was taken to the forensic department for an autopsy.

Road accident A man was killed and another was injured in a two-car collision in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh.

Paramedics and police arrived to the scene shortly after the accident was reported, and found that one of the drivers had already succumbed to his injuries. The Jordanian man’s body was taken to the forensic department while paramedics rushed the other driver, a Syrian man, to Farwaniya Hospital. An investigation was opened to determine the circumstances behind the accident. (Rai) Fugitive held Airport officers arrested a Syrian national wanted by Interpol on forgery charges. The arrest happened while officers at the passports counter where checking passports of passengers

who had arrived from Riyadh. The man was placed under arrest after his name was found on the Interpol’s blacklist, and was referred to the Criminal Investigations Department for further action. (Rai) Drug dealer A Kuwaiti man was arrested in Beirut with possession of drugs he reportedly planned to smuggle through Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport. According to Al-Rai, Lebanese officials arrested the man inside the airport Thursday 24 hours after he arrived in Lebanon. Police found 17,000 narcotic pills with the man which he planned to smuggle to Kuwait, according to investigations. (Rai) Drug trade foiled Patrol officers foiled what is believed to be a drug deal in Taima which ended with the escape of a presumed drug dealer and his customer. The officers approached two vehicles that were parked by a street in the area, at which point one of the suspect drove away from the scene while the other ran away on foot and left his car behind. Police found shabu (meth), drug paraphernalia and cash inside the car which led them to assume that it belonged to a drug dealer. Investigations are ongoing in search of the suspects.

Tanker mishap A water tanker driver was hospitalized in a critical condition after he fell from the top of his vehicle while inspecting it recently. The incident took place at the Mutlaa Road where he stopped the tanker after noticing a water leak. He climbed on the tank to inspect the source of the leak when water pressure shattered the tank and threw him to the ground. A case was filed.

Suspended policeman A suspended policeman was arrested on charges of mugging while impersonating police officers. The arrest took place in Nugra as police were monitoring neighborhood where several mugging cases were recently reported. The man was caught red-handed and later identified as a police officer who was suspended for bad conduct.

He was referred to the authorities to face charges.

Drunk driving A fugitive was arrested in Salmiya where he was caught driving while intoxicated and in possession of alcohol. Patrol officers pulled the Bahraini man over before putting him under arrest after they confirmed that he was drunk.

They searched his car and found three imported liquor bottles inside. Furthermore, an identity check revealed that the man is wanted to serve one year in prison over a criminal charge. He was taken to the authorities for further action.

NBK celebrates 61 years in serving Kuwait KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) celebrated on Friday the 61st anniversary of its foundation and day one of operations. NBK was established in 1952 as the first indigenous bank and the first shareholding company in Kuwait and the Gulf.

The commemoration of this inspiring and monumental occasion came as a culmination of a remarkable story of success depicting the evolution of a small bank that started operations in 1952 within a total space of three shops and a handful of employees relying on traditional and manual banking tools to one of one of the largest and most profitable banks in the region.

Today, NBK has the largest local and overseas banking network encompassing more than 170 branches, representative offices and subsidiaries strategically located within the main international and regional financial centers NBK was also recently named among the ‘World’s 50 Safest Banks’ for the seventh consec-

utive time, illustrating the success of the bank’s conservative strategy, prudent risk management dedication excellent customer service.

As a pioneering organization, NBK played a major role in the development and growth of the Kuwaiti economy since it was established after the issuance of the famous Amiri Decree promulgating the incorporation of the first National Bank in Kuwait on May 19, 1952.

The occasion is just but fitting to pay tribute to those who have worked hard to make this dream a reality. The selection of veteran Kuwaiti businessmen who were behind the creation of NBK and constituted its first board of directors: Ahmed Saud Al-Khalid, Khalid Zaid Al-Khalid, Khalid Abdulatif Al Hamad, Khalifa Khalid AlGhunaim, Said Ali Said Sulaiman, Abdul Aziz Hamad Al-Sager, Mohammed Abdul Al-Mohsin Al-Kharafi, Yousif Ahmed Al Ghanim and Yousif Abdul Aziz Al- Fulaij.

On the occasion of NBK’s 61st anniversary of

day one of operations in Nov 15, 1952, NBK has launched the first-of-a-kind Museum presenting Kuwait’s history and the evolution of NBK since its establishment in 1952 as the first indigenous bank and Shareholding Company in Kuwait and the GCC. NBK Museum is the first in the region to use audio-visual and interactive displays to present the history of Kuwait and NBK in an innovative manner.

The Museum presents the evolution of NBK from a small bank that occupies the area of three shops and a handful of employees relying on traditional and manual banking tools to one of the largest and most profitable banks in the region. It also shows how Kuwait’s economy developed from the pre-oil period towards today’s economy. The Museum accommodates different specialty sections for Kuwait history, currency, Souk Al-Manakh crisis, Iraqi invasion in addition to other features.

Kuwait eyes closer co-operation with UNESCO PARIS: Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs Sheikha Al-Zain Saud Al-Sabah yesterday said Kuwait seeks closer cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to harness youth skills.

“We are living in the era of globalization which requires cooperation among youth groups from across the globe-to spread the success stories,” Sheikha Al-Zain told KUNA following her meeting with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova at the UN organization HQs. She stated that talks with Bokova focused on the role played

by UNESCO Commission for Social and Humanitarian Affairs to support world’s youth and help develop their capabilities. Sheikha AlZain pointed out that Kuwait is interested in embracing youth initiatives and projects to apply it

worldwide through partnership with UNESCO. The meeting was also attended

by Permanent Representative of Kuwait to UNESCO Ambassador Ali Al-Tarrah.

Earlier Sheikha Al-Zain delivered Kuwait’s speech at the meeting of the UNESCO Commission for Social and Humanitarian Affairs. In her speech, she highlighted the government efforts to empower youth, upgrade their skills and enrich their experience. On the sidelines of the currently held here the 37th General Conference of UNESCO, Sheikha Al-Zain met with Director of Knowledge Societies Division at UNESCO Information and Communication Division Indrajit Banerjee. The meeting discussed aspects of cooperation between Kuwait and the international organization in information and communication sectors. —KUNA

UAE urges Iran to tackle regional issues DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates said over the weekend it hoped Iran would address issues straining ties with Gulf Arab countries as well as its nuclear row with the West following the election of President Hassan Rouhani.

The UAE and Iran, rivals for regional influence, both lay claim to the islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunb at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 40 percent of the world’s seaborne oil exports flow. “We have a hanging issue with Iran - Iran still occupies after 42 years three of our islands,” UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah

bin Zayed told a news conference in Abu Dhabi. The islands have been held by Iran since 1971, shortly before the seven Gulf emirates gained full independence from Britain and formed the UAE, now allied with Washington.

“We hope of Iran that as much as it is taking the nuclear issue seriously, it be serious on reassuring the surrounding region,” Sheikh Abdullah told a joint news conference with visiting German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. “I hope with the Rouhani government there is a fresh start. But this needs time, effort and hard work between us and Iran.”

KUWAIT: The Environment Voluntary Foundation welcomed 100 Indian nationals who volunteered to take part in the ongoing cleaning campaign at the Kuwait Towers beach. This is the first activity in which the EVF agreed with embassies to have volunteers sign up for the campaign that is carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Kuwait Municipality, Touristic Enterprises Company and other state departments.

KUWAIT: Central Bank Governor Dr Mohammad Al-Hashel welcomed the bank’s bowling team which placed third in the KBC Bowling League, first in singles and doubles competitions as well as third in the Masters’ tournament. The honored team members are Reem Al-Wuqaiyan (supervisor), Badr Al-Khubaizi, Maytham Qassem, Musaed Al-Mahboub, Yousuf Baqer and Tariq Al-Buaijan.

Zain major sponsor of International Invention Fair KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, announced yesterday its major sponsorship of the 6th International Invention Fair Middle East, organized by the Kuwait Science Club. The exhibition will be held between Nov 18 and 21 at the Kuwait Science Club premises, under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

This prominent fair will bring together some of the world’s best-known inventors, providing them with an opportunity to display their state-of-the-art inventions.

Additionally, the fair aims to place the State of Kuwait and the Arab world as a whole on the scientific and technological map through the participation of the largest number of Kuwaiti and Arab inventors.

Commenting on the company’s participation, Omar Al-Omar, Zain Kuwait’s Chief Executive Officer said: “Zain’s sponsorship of this important exhibition, is in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility strategy that aims to foster young talent. We believe that the current generation is in vital need of support from leading companies and governmental entities in order to highlight their capabilities in the fields of science and creative inventions.”

Al-Omar went on to express his confidence that this year ’s International Invention Fair Middle East would draw and empower some of the brightest inventors in the region and that such an event would

Omar Al-Omar give rise to solutions to some of the Arab world’s technical challenges. As a leading telecommunications company, Zain will continue sponsoring initiatives that both align themselves with its overall interest in youth development as well as those that provide assistance to young people showing promise in their chosen areas of development.

The 6th International Invention Fair Middle East is one of the most important international conventions that is held in Kuwait, and is hosted in cooperation with the Patent Office, which represents the GCC countries. The Patent Office’s participation in the event is to promote a healthy culture of intellectual property rights. The event also provides an opportunity to establish harmonious relations between investors and inventors to commercialize unique ideas and inventions.

Will Gulf airline bubble burst?

DUBAI: The spectacular rise of Emirates and its Gulf rivals confounded the expectations of mature carriers in the US and Europe. These fifth- and sixth-freedom carriers have limitless ambitions and enjoy the revenues won through hydrocarbon abundance to back them up. But personalities have also played a role and one thing is sure: the ruler of Dubai has made himself a pivotal player on the world’s aviation stage.

It was at the 2003 Paris Air Show that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum served notice to the global aviation community that things were about to change.

Availing himself of the last global downturn, he placed an order-at the time the largest in aviation history-for $19 billion worth of cutprice aircraft. A string of record-breaking widebody jet deals later and the transformation of the Dubai Airshow into one of the world’s top four aviation shows has vindicated the ascetic sheikh.

Emirates Group announced its 25th consecutive year of profitability in May, after it made net income of $845 million in the year ending March 31. Group revenue was $21.1 billion, a 17-percent increase on the year earlier figure. That month it also announced that its all-widebody fleet had reached 200 aircraft. On Aug 1, Emirates celebrated the fifth anniversary of delivery of its first-ever A380, and claimed to have carried 18 million passengers to 21 destinations.

At 90 aircraft, Emirates has firm orders for nearly four times as many A380s as its nearest rival, Singapore Airlines; it took delivery of its 35th A380 on July 15. The airline is no shrinking violet: it is also the leading customer for the world’s other mainstay, the Boeing 777-300ER. As of late September, Emirates held a staggering 90 in the fleet with a further 61 on order. Not even the humble Dubai-Lusaka-Harare route is too trivial to benefit from the Boeing workhorse’s qualities.

On Sept 19 the airline announced that is has added Boston as its eighth US route. It plans launches later this year to Conakry (Guinea), Kiev in Ukraine and Sialkot in Pakistan, as well as its own dedicated Milanto-New York/JFK route. In 2013, Emirates has launched, or planned to launch, several new destinations: Warsaw, Algiers, Tokyo Haneda, Clark International (in The Philippines) and Stockholm.

Emirates is seeing continuing growth in headcount and said it is aiming to recruit 5,000 to 6,000 new employees this financial year (2013-14). It has also taken a leaf out of Qatar Executive’s book by launching privatejet charters through Emirates Executive. The fleet initially comprised a solitary ACJ319, but the airline was coy about when or if it would add new planes.

Sports sponsorship continues to be a major field of endeavor for the airline, as evidenced when it announced a new Real Madrid shirt sponsorship deal May 30, granting it logo and hospitality rights until the 2017-18 season. Last November it also signed a £150 million, five-year extension to

its deal with Arsenal Football Club. Arsenal FC, AC Milan, Paris Saint Germain (PSG), Hamburger SV and Olympiacos FC shirts all bear the “Fly Emirates” logo. “We continue to see immeasurable value in our global sports sponsorships,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates CEO and chairman.

Many analysts question whether Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways will have to merge one day, given the fact that having three of the world’s biggest airlines operating from hubs situated within 250 miles of each other should not, on the face of it, be viable. By way of response, Abdul Wahab Teffaha, secretary general of the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), told a conference in Dubai in 2012 that the viability of the Gulf region’s “Big Three” airlines is not in doubt.

“The hubs of the twenty-first century in the Gulf are irreversibly established,” he asserted.

But as their inexorable rise continues, competition between the three is heating up.

It is clear who is leading the race, but whether the leader can retain its position of preeminence is open to debate.

“Emirates has always been the leader in terms of brand name, overall size and experience,” said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at the Teal Group of Fair fax, Virginia. “Etihad is less aggressive and more conservative [and] Qatar is doing its best to catch up.

“It’s a good indication of the difference between Abu Dhabi and Dubai: Dubai is the brash, aggressive emirate, while Abu Dhabi is somewhat more conservative,” Aboulafia told AIN. “This reflects the economic reality. In Dubai, everything depends on commerce, as it has no natural resources; Abu Dhabi has the luxury of abundant oil and gas. Emirates has distanced itself by adding very large aircraft. It’s not just destinations, but traffic.”

The analyst does feel that the shake-up in global aviation brought by the Gulf carriers has been beneficial. “On the positive side, and not to denigrate the ‘cowboys,’ more competition in international traffic is very welcome. These guys do a great job. Air France and Lufthansa need shaking up. The days of the chummy flag-carriers secure with home traffic...that didn’t do any favors to passenger service...these guys have done quite a lot of good. The reality is that something could bite back.”

Aboulafia is referring to Emirates’ predilection for the A380, which he fears could come back to haunt the airline, given the very low likelihood that anyone will want them when Emirates is finished with them.

“The A380 is a very good tool to add market share up front. But for future growth and profitability, it’s probably going to be the wrong jet . “Emirates’ fleet strategy is extremely diverse: seeing what planes work on its routes. The biggest number of planes in the fleet is [of ] the 777. It has increased the -300LR emphasis. Qatar is looking at the A350. They will just wait and see how it plays out. If an airline wants planes, it orders them.

If it keeps wanting them, it takes delivery. A lot can change in 18 months.”

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

Iraqi Kurdish leader, Erdogan bolster ties

Crisis-hit Maldives holds run-off election Page 11

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NOOSH ABAD: Thousands of Iranian Muslim Shiites gather to watch the annual religious performance of "Tazieh" in the Iranian town of Noosh Abad, near the central city of Kashan, on November 15, 2013, marking the mourning period of Ashura which commemorates the killing of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein. Across the country, ritual processions as well as Tazieh, or street performances re-enacting the events of Karbala, and narrative poems, tell the story of Hussein's martyrdom and how he stood his ground against the tyrant. — AFP

Iran, P5+1 ‘near’ nuclear deal Obama urges skeptical lawmakers not to impose new sanctions in the

news

2 die as copter crashes SEOUL: A helicopter plunged to the ground in Seoul yesterday, killing the two pilots after its propeller clipped the side of a 38-story luxury apartment building. Fire official Cha Yang-oh told reporters that the helicopter crashed in the upscale Gangnam district in southeastern Seoul. The helicopter belonging to the LG Electronics was on its way to a nearby landing field where it was scheduled to pick up LG employees and head to a Korean city in south. Cha said 57-year-old captain Park In-kyu died. A 36-year-old vice-captain survived the crash, but died later in a hospital. LG Electronics Inc. said the two were company employees. Cha said no one was hurt in the apartment tower.

The I-Park building is one of the most expensive apartment buildings in Seoul. “I heard a blast sound while I was sleeping, so I ran out. The boom sounded like a war had started,” said Jeong Young-woo, 54, an apartment tower resident. TV footage showed shattered windows on the upper levels of the building.

The helicopter was nearly destroyed save for its tail section.

WASHINGTON: Major powers and Iran are getting closer to an initial agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program, a senior US official said, adding it is “quite possible” a deal could be reached when negotiators meet Nov 20-22 in Geneva. But the official and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi both said they expected next week’s talks to be “tough”, and Araqchi said that there would be no deal unless the Iranian people’s “rights” were guaranteed.

“For the first time in nearly a decade we are getting close to a first-step ... that would stop the Iranian nuclear program from advancing and roll it back in key areas,” the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

“I don’t know if we will reach an agreement. I think it is quite possible that we can, but there are still tough issues to negotiate,” the official said. The official said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif were to meet on Nov 20 in Geneva. They will be joined later the same day by a wider group known as the P5+1 comprising Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. The talks are likely to last through Nov 22, the official said.

Araqchi, a senior member of Iran’s negotiation team, was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency, “The expectation is that we will have tough talks, and unless the rights of the Iranian people are guaranteed, an agreement will not be reached.” The talks will seek to finalize an interim deal to allow time to negotiate a comprehensive, permanent agreement that would end a 10-year deadlock and provide assurances to the six powers that Iran’s atomic program will not produce bombs. Iran has denied that it wants to develop atomic weapons capability and insists its nuclear ambitions are limited to the peaceful generation of electricity and other civilian uses. Negotiations last week in Geneva ended without an agreement, although the sides appeared to be close to a deal. US President Barack Obama has urged skeptical US lawmakers not to impose new sanctions on Iran while talks continue and called for a pause in US sanctions to see if diplomacy can work.

WHITE HOUSE APPROACH In addition to lobbying lawmakers, the White House this week also contacted progressive groups supportive of diplomacy with Iran to make sure they stay aligned

with the Obama administration’s approach, a source close to the matter said. Senior administration officials told supporters that they are guardedly optimistic about reaching an interim deal with Iran in Geneva and that the P5+1, including the French, are ready to present a unified position there, the source said.

The senior US official who met with reporters on Friday said that published estimates of direct sanctions relief being offered under a preliminary deal - which have ranged from $15 billion to $50 billion - were “wildly exaggerated”. “It is way south of all of that and quite frankly it will be dwarfed by the restrictions that are still in place,” the official said, saying to impose more sanctions threatened the negotiations not only with Iran but also among the six powers.

“The P5+1 believes these are serious negotiations. They have a chance to be successful,” the official said. “For us to slap on sanctions in the middle of it, they see as bad faith.” A senior administration official said that Iran has about $100 billion in reserves, the vast majority of which is held in overseas bank accounts, which it has limited or no access to. US-imposed sanctions

have hit Iran’s economy hard. US officials estimate that it contracted by more than 5 percent last year and its currency has lost about 60 percent of its value against the US dollar since 2011.

Global oil prices slipped lower on Friday on the reports that Western powers may reach a deal but then rose slightly as markets weighed Libyan supply outages.

Commenting on a UN inspection report released on Nov 14 that said Iran had stopped expanding its uranium enrichment capacity, the official said the development was “a good thing” but did not resolve fundamental questions and concerns. “We appreciate the step but the reason for our negotiation is to get at certainty that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon and we are a long way from that,” the official said. Western diplomats said one of the sticking points during talks was Iran’s argument that it retains the “right” to enrich uranium. The United States argues Iran does not intrinsically have that right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The official dismissed suggestions that the issue could be a deal breaker. “I think there is a way to navigate that,” the official said. “We each understand where each other is and what is possible, and what is not.”— Reuters

Truck crash kills 22 BANGALORE: A truck packed with laborers flipped over on a southern Indian highway yesterday, leaving at least 22 people dead, including women and children, police said. The small truck carrying some 35 laborers, overturned early in the morning near Belgaum, about 500 kilometers from the Karnataka state capital of Bangalore. “The mini-truck overturned after the driver lost control and hit a roadside median on the state highway,” Belgaum police chief Chandra Gupta said. One of the survivors said that the driver was drowsy at the wheel. Twelve people injured were in hospital, while police filed a case against the driver for rash and negligent driving, Gupta added. Last month, a speeding bus exploded into flames when it hit a highway median in southern India, burning 45 passengers to death. Around 140,000 people died in road accidents in India in 2012, according to the government’s National Crime Records Bureau.

Cyprus mourns ex-leader NICOSIA: Cyprus’ government has declared a threeday mourning period for late former President Glafcos Clerides. Government spokesman Christos Stylianides said after a Cabinet meeting yesterday that the respected politician’s state funeral Tuesday will be held with honors befitting a sitting president and will be a public holiday. Flags will fly at half-staff at all public buildings and schools and all public events will be cancelled over the mourning period. Clerides’ body will lie in state at the Orthodox Christian Cathedral of the Lord’s Wisdom in Nicosia until his funeral. Clerides, who died Friday, was widely regarded as a world-class statesman who guided Cyprus into the European Union. He strove for most of his five-decade long political career to reunify the ethnically split country, but an accord eluded him.

Israel, US fall out over Iran JERUSALEM: Israel and its US ally have hit a troubled patch in their close relationship, caused by differences over Iran’s nuclear plans and peace with the Palestinians. In a highly public spat, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama are each seeking to directly address the other’s public. At the moment, Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennett is campaigning in Washington, while the US ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, has been making his case in the Israeli media. “I’m not telling the Americans what they should do; I just give them the information, it’s for them to decide,” Bennet, who heads the far-right Jewish Home party, told Israeli public radio by telephone on Friday.

“It’s not really lobbying, more a dialogue between friends,” he said of his meetings on Capitol Hill and a speech to the Brookings Saban Center for Middle East Policy. Meanwhile, Shapiro told public radio the highprofile war of words over a nascent deal Western powers are negotiating with Iran, which would see some easing of sanctions against the Islamic republic, was regrettable. “It would be preferable if our differences were addressed in private, but sometimes that’s not possible,” he said.

In a speech to North American Jewish leaders in Jerusalem this week he said Obama “has made it crystal clear that he will not permit Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, period, and is prepared to use all elements of our national power to ensure that we are successful.”

Despite such reassurances, Israeli media speak of a trans-Atlantic crisis of confidence over what Israel and the US say are Iran’s plans to develop a nuclear weapon.

A second element involves increasingly fragile peace talks with the Palestinians amid an Israeli West Bank settlement drive, which has come in for sharp US criticism.

On Friday, left-leaning daily Haaretz cited an unnamed senior Israeli minister saying that Secretary of State John Kerry “can no longer serve as an honest broker between Israel and the Palestinians”. Israeli Home Front Minister Gilad Erdan lashed out at Kerry on Thursday for slamming Netanyahu’s intensive campaigning against the emerging nuclear deal with Iran. “I was astounded to hear John Kerry’s remarks about why the prime minister is criticizing the agreement being formulated in Geneva without waiting for it to be signed,” Erdan told an Institute for National Security Studies conference in Tel Aviv.

“When we’re dealing with a country that wants to destroy Israel and the conditions that will enable it to carry out its wishes, what do they expect from the Israeli prime minister? Not to cry out when they’re holding the knife, but only when it’s at our throat?” he asked. Last Monday, Kerry had said Washington had Israel’s interests at heart and that he shared Netanyahu’s “deep concerns” about Iran. “But I believe the prime minister needs to recognize that no agreement has been reached about the endgame here that’s the subject of the negotiations,” he said.

Netanyahu has repeatedly warned world powers against striking a “bad and dangerous” deal with Iran that fails to bring its alleged military nuclear program to a complete halt. On Wednesday, he warned that a “bad deal” could result in war. Israel, the region’s sole if undeclared nuclear power, views a nuclear Iran as an existential threat and has said it will not be bound by any deal with its arch-foe, refusing to rule out military action to halt its program. Netanyahu’s hard line has the backing of the Israeli public, according to an opinion poll published on Friday that showed 65.5 percent of Jewish respondents opposed to a deal with Iran. — AFP US Secretary of State John Kerry

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

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

Syria’s Assad gains ground in civil war BEIRUT: Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad have firmly seized the momentum in the country’s civil war in recent weeks, capturing one rebel stronghold after another and triumphantly planting the two-starred Syrian government flag amid shattered buildings and rubble-strewn streets.

Despite global outrage over the use of chemical weapons, Assad’s government is successfully exploiting divisions among the opposition, dwindling foreign help for the rebel cause and significant local support, all linked to the same thing: discomfort with the Islamic extremists who have become a major part of the rebellion.

The battlefield gains would strengthen the government’s hand in peace talks sought by the world community. Both the Syrian government and the opposition have said they are ready to attend a proposed peace conference in Geneva that the US and Russia are trying to convene, although it remains unclear whether the meeting will indeed take place. The Western-backed opposition in exile, which has little support among rebel fighters inside Syria and even less control over them, has set several conditions for its participation, chief among them that Assad must not be part of a transitional government - a notion Damascus has roundly rejected.

“President Bashar Assad will be heading any transitional stage in Syria, like it or not,” Omar Ossi, a member of Syria’s parliament said. The government’s recent gains on the outskirts of the capital, Damascus, and in the north outside the country’s largest city, Aleppo, have reinforced Assad’s position. And the more the government advances, the easier it is to dismiss the weak and frac-

tious opposition’s demands.

“Assad wants to go to Geneva with credit, not debit,” said Hisham Jaber, a retired Lebanese army general who heads the Beirut-based Middle East Center for Studies and Political Research.

“He is trying day after day to gain on the battlefield, and when he goes to Geneva he can say, ... ‘OK, here’s the situation we are strong on the field. What do you have?’” The government has made its biggest gains in the suburbs south of Damascus, where army troops backed by guerrillas from the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah group and Shiite militants from Iraq have captured five towns since Oct 11.

The latest to fall was Hejeira, which army troops swept through Wednesday, just days after capturing the adjacent suburb of Sbeineh. The troops were quickly followed by state television cameras eager to broadcast the victory: a two-starred government flag triumphantly planted amid bombed-out buildings, twisted rebar and rubblestrewn streets. In northern Syria, Assad’s forces have captured two towns this month - Safira and Tel Aran, southeast of the battlefield city of Aleppo - and have retaken a military base near Aleppo’s international airport.

Aleppo, the country’s largest city and former commercial capital, is a major prize in the war. Assad’s military and the rebels have been battling over it since the summer of 2012, carving it up into rebel- and government-held areas and leaving much of the city in ruins. In some ways, the recent run of government victories fit into the regular backand-forth rhythm of the conflict over the past nearly three years, with the pendulum swinging in Assad’s favor at the

moment. But the government advances around Aleppo hold greater trouble for the opposition since they suggest the rebels’ grip on the north - much of which fell to anti-Assad fighters over the past year - is far more tenuous than once believed. A confluence of factors has increasingly hampered the opposition’s war effort in the north. The rebels have been crippled by infighting since the AlQaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant aggressively pushed into rebel-held areas of the north this year.

Fighters from the extremist group, most of them foreigners, have clashed repeatedly with more moderate rebel brigades, leaving scores dead on both sides. Rebel groups, particularly the Islamic State but more mainstream factions as well, also have been engaged in a brutal side conflict with Syria’s Kurdish minority, which has a large presence in the northeast and parts of Aleppo province. Combined, these two warswithin-a-war have sapped the opposition’s strength and undermined the effort to oust Assad.

They have also provided an opening for the Syrian leader to exploit. “Fighting among ourselves has done a lot of damage,” Abu Thabet, the commander of the Aleppo Swords Battalion, said by telephone. “Six months ago, the regime was always on the defensive and we would attack first. Now, after we started infighting, the regime is always on the offensive. They attack, and we defend.” Abu Thabet spoke on condition he be identified only his nom de guerre to protect his security.

Rebels also have been frustrated by US President Barack Obama’s decision to seek a diplomatic path to disarming Damascus of its chemical weapons. After

ALEPPO: A Free Syrian Army fighter aims his AK-47 as he takes his battle position in Aleppo, Syria. — AP an Aug 21 chemical weapons attack on rebel-held suburbs of Damascus that killed hundreds, Washington accused Assad’s forces of carrying them out though his government denied it. The US then threatened military strikes against Syrian forces. The strikes were averted when Russia brokered a deal to destroy Assad’s chemical arsenal by mid2014. Many in the opposition had held out hopes that American military intervention - even if limited in scale - would help tip the scales of a deadlocked civil war in the rebels’ favor. Compounding their disappointment, many rebels saw the diplomatic deal as a giving green light to Assad to continue killing people with conventional weapons, as well as effectively making the Syrian leader a

partner with the international community at least until the arsenal is destroyed.

At the same time, the flow of weapons and ammunition from across the border in neighboring Turkey to fighters inside Syria has slowed to a trickle, rebels say, as Ankara has grown increasingly concerned about the prominent role of Islamic extremists. “Support from the military council of Aleppo and its suburbs has stopped completely,” said Abu Thabet, referring to the rebel body that coordinates the weapons flow from Turkey to rebel battalions doing the fighting. “This has all stopped,” he said.

“I’m on the ground, I really don’t know what’s going on with Turkey or the council, all I know is that we’re not getting anything.” — AP

Iraqi Kurdish leader, Erdogan bolster ties Kurdistan, Turkey share concern on Syria

JERUSALEM: A woman walks past a souvenir shop in Jerusalem’s Old City displaying t-shirts picturing French President Francois Hollande (center left) wearing the traditional Arab Keffiyeh head scarf and late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. — AFP

French leader set for red carpet welcome in Israel PARIS: French President Francois Hollande is set for a red carpet welcome when he visits Israel and the Palestinian Territories this weekend amid renewed efforts by the West to curb Iran’s contested nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is “impatient” to meet Hollande, who arrives today in the midst of negotiations to resolve the impasse over the nuclear issue.

“The French president is a close friend of the state of Israel and I look forward to hosting him... at a time when the major powers, including France, are discussing ways to halt the Iranian nuclear program,” Netanyahu said. In an interview with Le Figaro newspaper published yesterday Netanyahu added: “We hope France will not yield”. “For us, the United States remains an important ally, the most important ally. But our relationship with France is also very special,” he said.

“On the Iran issue, our countries have defended common stances for years, regardless of the party in power, and we are maintaining this vital partnership with President Hollande,” he said. “We welcome his coherent and resolute stance on the Iranian issue.” Israel and world powers suspect the Islamic republic’s program of uranium enrichment to be a covert drive to acquire a nuclear weapons capability, an allegation vehemently denied by Tehran.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, a major participant at grueling talks on finding a deal to the Iranian nuclear impasse which ended in deadlock last weekend, is accompanying Hollande.

Western diplomatic sources say the two sides were close to a deal in Geneva but Iran backed off because it was unhappy with some of the wording in the text. Some reports say this was due to reservations expressed by France which were subsequently adopted by other powers. The talks will resume in Geneva next week.

The P5+1 negotiating with Tehran is made up of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council-Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States-plus Germany. Hollande’s office said although France’s “tactical approach” on Iran was different from Israel’s bellicose stance, both wanted an end to Tehran’s nuclear military drive. A highly placed French source said

that Paris’s objective was “not to please this country or that but based on a clear principle, civilian nuclear energy, yes; atomic bomb, no”. Apart from Iran, the other main issues during the trip are the stalled Middle East peace process and stronger trade ties with Israel. Hollande, whose delegation includes business leaders including the heads of firms such as Alstom, Arianespace and Vinci, wants to boost the level of bilateral trade, which stood at 2.3 billion euros ($3 billion) in 2011.

“Israel is a rich country and at the cutting edge of innovation but our trade is mediocre,” said a French official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The French leader, apart from holding talks with Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres, will also go to Ramallah for discussions with Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas. French sources said he would encourage both sides to make the necessary compromises and efforts to overcome the obstacles to peace talks.

Hollande will make a series of highly symbolic gestures during his trip, where he will place a wreath at the grave of Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism, and place a stone at the grave of slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and his wife Leah. On Monday, Hollande will meet French priests in the Church of Saint Anne in Jerusalem’s Old City, a building which the Ottomans donated to France in 1856.

He will also visit the grave of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died in 2004 in France in a hospital and whose remains were recently examined for traces of poisoning. On Tuesday, Hollande will visit the graves of four of the victims of Al-Qaedalinked gunman Mohamed Merah who went on a shooting spree in and around the southern French city of Toulouse in March 2012, k illing seven people.

Netanyahu enjoyed close ties with Hollande’s right-wing predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy until a G20 summit in November 2011 when Sarkozy branded the Israeli leader “a liar” in a private conversation with US President Barack Obama. But Hollande in private remarks criticized Netanyahu for transforming a memorial service last year for Jews slain by Merah into a campaign meeting ahead of this January’s legislative polls.—AFP

DIYARBAKIR: The president of Iraqi Kurdistan visited southeastern Turkey for the first time in two decades yesterday, a trip meant to shore up support for a flagging Kurdish peace process there and bolster Turkey’s influence across its troubled southern borders.

Thousands gathered as Masoud Barzani arrived in a long convoy of cars, a police helicopter buzzing overhead, in Diyarbakir, the main city in Turkey’s Kurdish-dominated southeast, for a meeting with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

Crowds waved green, white and orange Kurdistan flags ahead of ceremonies due to include a performance by Kurdish poet and singer Sivan Perwer, who had fled Turkey in the 1970s, and a mass wedding of 300 couples. “We will see a historic process in Diyarbakir this weekend,” Erdogan said ahead of the visit, billing the event as the “crown” on efforts to end a threedecade insurgency by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants which has cost 40,000 lives.

Kurds, often described as the world’s largest stateless ethnic group, number about 30 million, concentrated in parts of Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq. While they have had partial autonomy in Iraqi Kurdistan since 1991, nationalist movements have long been suppressed in Turkey, Syria and Iran.

Turkey’s efforts to make peace with the PKK has been given a fresh sense of urgency by Syria’s 2-1/2 year civil war, in which Kurds have made major territorial gains in recent weeks, paving the way for their long-declared plans for independent governance in parts of Syria just over Turkey’s southern border. Erdogan is keen to press the peace process in the run-up to municipal elections next March, with his ruling AK Party looking to tempt Turkish Kurds away from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), which shares the same grassroots support as the PKK and currently governs Diyarbakir. But peace moves have stalled since a ceasefire declaration in March, with the PKK saying a package of reforms announced by Ankara last

DIYARBAKIR: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (3rd left), Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani (center) and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu walk in Diyarbakir yesterday. —AFP month, meant to boost Kurdish Iraqi Kurdish officials in Arbil have riated Baghdad, which fears the rights, had fallen well short of criticized the declaration, which break-up of Iraq, and has also lays out plans for a regional govern- raised concerns in Washington. The expectations.

On the eve of Barzani’s visit, the ment similar to that of Iraqi semi-autonomous region has finalTurkish army said Kurdish militants Kurdistan, seeing it as part of a deal ized a package of deals with Turkey attacked a military convoy near the with Syrian President Bashar Al- to build multi-billion dollar Syrian border with rifle fire and a Assad. Syrian Kurds themselves are pipelines to ship its oil and gas to rocket-propelled grenade, one of divided over the political group world markets, sources involved in the most serious breaches of the 8- whose militias are behind the the negotiations told Reuters last month old truce. In a residential advances, the Democratic Union week.

But in a delicate foreign policy part of town, hundreds attended a Party (PYD), which has links to the counter rally by the BDP, which has PKK and is seen by Iraqi Kurdistan balance, Ankara has at the same dismissed Barzani’s visit as a show as a rival for transnational leader- time been seeking to restore relations with Baghdad, which claims staged by the AK Party. “Barzani, ship of the Kurds.

Critics of the PYD also accuse it the sole authority to manage Iraqi will you be a candidate for the AKP in Diyarbakir?” read the banner on a of getting help from outside pow- oil, vowing to respect Iraq’s territoparty bus. “Barzani should take into ers - namely the regional Shiite rial integrity and offering to set up consideration the sensitivities of power Iran and Iraq’s Shiite-con- an escrow account through which the Diyarbakir people,” BDP official trolled central government, which oil revenues could be shared. “The Mehmet Amin Yilmaz said in an are both allies of Assad. “Erdogan most critical issue is how to set up a address to the crowd. “Erdogan has needs to strengthen his hand with new balance in the Ankara-Arbilnot taken concrete steps for the Barzani in Turkey’s own Kurdish Baghdad triangle,” columnist Fehim problem and in developments with Tastekin wrote on Middle Eastern rights of the Kurdish people.”

Barzani’s visit is about much Syrian Kurds,” wrote columnist news website Al-Monitor ahead of more than local politics. Turkey and Cengiz Candar in Turkey’s Radikal Barzani’s visit to Turkey. “ What Iraqi Kurdistan share concern about daily. “But Barzani also needs to get (Erdogan’s) dancing with Erbil and the growing clout of Kurdish mili- Turkey’s backing in Iran, Syria and Baghdad at the same time promises to the three parties is simple: if tias in Syria, particularly after their Baghdad,” he said.

Turkey ’s courtship of Iraqi oil and natural gas flow through announcement this week of an interim administration that aims to Kurdistan, in particular its efforts to pipelines with an agreement carve out an autonomous Syrian help the region develop an inde- among the parties, all three will Kurdish region. Both Turkish and pendent oil industry, has long infu- win.”— Reuters

UN mulls peacekeepers for Central African Republic UNITED NATIONS: Violent attacks by mostly Muslim and Christian militias on each other’s communities in Central African Republic are spiraling out of control, setting the stage for “large scale massacres and counter-massacres,” said Human Rights Watch’s UN director. Philippe Bolopion, who has just returned from Central African Republic, said no one seems to be pursuing any real political or religious agenda - the warring parties are just looting, raping, killing and razing villages. Now villagers have formed vigilante committees called the anti-balaka, meaning “anti-machete,” to defend themselves-but too often to retaliate against Muslim civilians, Bolopion said, leading to the prospect of “largescale massacres.”

“We have entered a cycle of massacres and counter-massacres by two armed forces who almost never face each other, but who kill civilians from communities they associate with their ene-

mies,” he told The Associated Press on Friday.

Secretar y-General Ban Ki-moon, in a repor t released Friday, urged the Security Council “to explore the option of a possible United Nations peacekeeping mission in that country,” in additional to an African Union force already in the country.

One of the world’s poorest countries with a long history of chaos and coups, Central African Republic has been in turmoil since a coalition of rebel groups joined forces to overthrow the president in March and put their leader in charge.

Since seizing power, the Seleka rebels have plunged the country into a state of near-anarchy.

They have also been accused by human rights groups of committing scores of atrocities, of widespread looting, killings, rapes and conscription of child soldiers. About half of Central African Republic’s 4.6 million people are Christian, and 15 percent Muslim, with the others following indige-

nous religions. In October, the Security Council unanimously backed a new African Union peacekeeping force and called for free and fair elections within 18 months. The AU force was established in July and currently has about 1,900 troops. Central African Republic borders some of the most tumultuous countries on the continent, including Congo and Sudan, and some diplomats have expressed concern that even when it reaches its full strength of 3,600 troops the AU force would not be large enough to deploy beyond key population centers. “It is clear that the African peacekeepers who are currently on the ground have not succeeded in stopping a cycle of vicious abuses committed by ex-members of the Seleka, as well as more recently activated anti-balaka militias,” Bolopion said. “ The deployment of a wellequipped and strongly mandated UN force would go a long way in bringing back a measure of protection for civilians.”— AP

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

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

Obama struggles to save his cherished health law WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s health care law risks coming unglued because of his administration’s bungles and his own inflated promises. To avoid that fate, Obama needs breakthroughs on three fronts: the cancellations mess, technology troubles and a crisis in confidence among his own supporters. Working in his favor are pentup demands for the program’s benefits and an unlikely collaborator in the insurance industry.

But even after Obama gets the enrollment website working, count on new controversies. On the horizon is the law’s potential impact on job-based insurance.

Its mandate that larger employers offer coverage will take effect in 2015. For now, odds still favor the Affordable Care Act’s survival.

But after making it through the Supreme Court, a presidential election, numerous congressional repeal votes and a government shutdown, the law has yet to win broad acceptance. “There’s been nothing normal about this law from the start,” said Larry Levitt, an insurance expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. “ There’s been no period of smooth sailing.”

Other government mandates have taken root in American culture after initial resistance. It may be a simplistic comparison, but most people automatically fasten their seat belts nowadays when they get in the car. Few question government-required safety features such as air bags, even if

those add to vehicle costs. Levitt says the ACA may yet have that kind of influence on how health insurance is viewed. “An expectation that everybody should have health insurance is now a topic of conversation in families,” he says.

That conversation was interrupted by news that the HealthCare.gov website didn’t work and that people with coverage were getting cancellation notices despite Obama’s promise that you can keep your insurance. Obama maneuvered this past week to extricate Democrats from the cancellations fallout.

The president offered a one-year extension to more than 4.2 million people whose current individual policies are being canceled by insurers to make way for more comprehensive coverage under the law. This move by the White House was intended to smooth a disruption for which his administration completely failed to plan.

But it also invited unintended consequences, showing how easily the law’s complicated framework can start to come loose.

State insurance commissioners warned that the president’s solution would undermine a central goal of the law, the creation of one big insurance pool in each state for people who don’t have access to coverage on their jobs.

Fracturing that market could lead to higher future premiums for people buying coverage through the law ’s new insurance exchanges, which offer govern-

ment-subsidized private insurance. That Obama is willing to take such a gamble could make it harder for him to beat back demands for other changes down the line. On the cancellations front, the president seems unlikely to break through. He may yet battle to a political draw.

Obama realizes it’s on him to try to turn things around, and quickly. In the first couple of weeks after the website debacle, Obama played the sidelines role of “Reassurer-in-Chief.” Now he’s on the field, trying to redeem himself. “I’m somebody who, if I fumbled the ball, I’m going to wait until I get the next play, and then I’m going to try to run as hard as I can and do right by the team,” Obama said Thursday at a news conference.

Making sure the website is running a lot better by the end of the month may be his best chance for a game -changing play. Although only 26,794 people signed up in health plans through the federal site the first month of open enrollment, 993,635 applied for coverage and were waiting to finalize decisions.

For many it took hours of persistence, dealing with frozen screens and error messages. When states running their own sites are included, a total of 1.5 million individuals have applied.

The law’s supporters believe that’s evidence of pent-up demand, and so far the insurance industry agrees. Public criticism of the administration by industry

leaders has been minimal, even though insurers also have been on the receiving end of the website problems. Compounding the lower-than-expected sign-ups, much of the customer data they got was incomplete, duplicative or garbled. Insurers, eager for the new business expanded coverage would bring, are pressing the administration to clear a route for them to sign up customers directly. Such workarounds may put Obama back on track toward his goal of signing up 7 million people for 2014. Medicaid expansion, the other arm of the law’s push to cover the uninsured, signed up 396,000 people last month, a promising start.

With the website troubles, a national effort to promote insurance enrollments has been dialed down. Groups ranging from liberal activists and civic clubs to health promoters were mobilized and waiting. But there was little they could do.

Advertising campaigns have been postponed. As the year-end holidays approach, both volunteers and the people they would be trying to reach have other priorities. Whether enthusiasm among the rank-and-file supporters of the law will come surging back is one of the big unknowns for a president who has acknowledged the need to restore his credibility on health care.

“I think people have lost confidence in the ability of this working,” said Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger.

WASHINGTON: In this Nov 14, 2013 photo, President Barack Obama pauses while speaking about his signature healthcare law in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. — AP “And we’ve still got the antiObamacare folks out there taking full advantage.” Praeger is a Republican who believes her state should have helped implement the law. Skittishness among supporters was evident in the 39 House Democrats who Friday bolted their party to vote for Republican legislation on cancellations, ignoring Obama’s veto threat.

Politics is not the only consideration. The people who are signing up now are likely to be those

with unmet medical needs.

Younger, healthier customers probably don’t see much reason to spend their time tangling with the website. To hold down costs, the law aims for a mix that includes a hefty proportion of younger enrollees whose medical expenses are low. “Everybody said the website would be up and running the first day,” said Praeger. “The longer it takes, the more people are going to question whether this is going to work.” — AP

Revival of Islamists in Mali tests France and UN nerve Al-Qaeda-linked groups replace leaders

TORONTO: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is surrounded by the media as he leaves his office at Toronto City Hall. — AFP

Media can’t get enough of Toronto mayor antics TORONTO: While Rob Ford’s antics are the focus of a spiraling scandal gripping Toronto, the infamy of his misdeeds has only been made possible by the phalanx of journalists covering his every move.

Reporters, cameramen and producers from around the world have for 10 days been packed into the narrow secondfloor corridors outside Ford’s office at City Hall.

It started when the mayor admitted to once smoking crack cocaine in a “drunken stupor.” He then waded into deeper trouble with his revelations of driving drunk and mingling with a suspected prostitute. When he attempted to dispel the allegations he made an obscene outburst. And through it all he has refused to quit. What had been the beat of a handful of local politics reporters is now making headlines worldwide. “There are crime reporters in the lobby,” one councilor complained.

American television networks have broadcast Toronto city council meetings live, while elected officials gave interviews to global news outlets. Canadian newspapers such as The Globe and Mail and the National Post assigned teams of reporters to cover Ford’s downward spiral. International coverage has come from Britain and from the US late-night talk show circuit. “God bless Canada, what a gift the Canadians have given us,” said “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno as part of his Thursday night monologue.

“Late Night” host Jimmy Fallon quipped: “It’s official, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is the best.” For Canadians, the world spotlight is unfamiliar. “We’re not used to that, having our mayor on the front pages of papers around the world,” said Andrew Coyne, a political columnist for the National Post daily who was on hand at City Hall to provide commentary for CNN. “This is world-class levels of dysfunction in a person to begin with, and obviously it’s fodder for the late-night comics.

“For the world, it’s the combination of extraordinary levels of misbehavior on the part of the mayor and the seeming inability of City Hall to come to grips with

it. It’s unusual that somebody with that level of dysfunction would continue on, would refuse to go, and could not be removed. So it becomes almost like a hostage -taking.” Robyn Doolittle, a Toronto Star journalist who helped break the story after watching a video where Ford was seen smoking crack, said international fascination with the story comes from its unbelievably salacious character.

“A lot of people have been saying that if someone wrote this as a fictionalized account of life at City Hall, people would think it was too surreal to be possible,” she said. “This encompasses all the hallmarks of a scandal: you’ve got allegations of prostitution, drug use, lies, abuse of staff, and Rob Ford is a larger-than-life character.” Others say Ford’s raw style has broad appeal, or that his refusal to step aside is as incomprehensible as it is intriguing. Inigo Gilmore of British public broadcaster Channel 4 said the international fervor for the story “speaks for itself.”

“Humans in power doing crazy things and yet defiantly in denial,” he said. In a way, the media has also become part of the coverage. On Tuesday, a cameraman was knocked to the ground by the mayor, who was sprinting up to his office.

Over the course of the week, Ford supporters have come to City Hall to heckle the media throng, criticizing them for hounding the mayor, and saying that the coverage has only served to fuel their support. The mayor has profound disdain for the media and reporters’ growing scrutiny, once calling them a “bunch of maggots.”

But he has not shied away from the spotlight, giving one-on-one interviews to both CNN and NBC television networks this week, in addition to his gaffefilled scrums and press conferences. “This isn’t the media hounding, this is the media doing their job,” said Coyne. “And frankly, some sections of the media I think gave him a free ride for far too long.” Doolittle stressed that journalists were just doing their job by following the news. “If this isn’t news, I don’t know what is,” she added.— AFP

DAKAR: Nine months after they were scattered across the Sahara by waves of French air strikes, Islamists in Mali are making a comeback naming new leaders, attacking UN peacekeepers and killing two French journalists. Their return is making it harder for the west African country’s new president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and his foreign backers to stabilize the northern desert despite the incentive of more than $3 billion in international aid for the area.

Mali imploded last year when Tuareg separatists tried to take control of the north. Their rebellion was soon hijacked by better-armed and funded Islamic militants linked to AlQaeda before the French intervention in January. Increasingly blurred lines between the Islamist militants, separatist rebels and gangs of smugglers has complicated the task of calming the area and Keita’s party has allied itself with leaders of some armed groups in a bid to wield influence.

Experts are starting to worry that France will get bogged down in an open ended war if UN peacekeepers cannot pick up the baton. “Mali is entering a guerrilla war, waged by sleeper cells and fighters who returned from southern Algeria, Libya and Niger,” said a French former diplomat and counter-terrorism expert who blogs under the name Abou Djaffar. Last month, two Chadian UN troops were killed in a suicide attack in the remote town of Tessalit.

Gao, the largest city in northern Mali, has been hit by a series of rocket attacks, while French special forces have taken action against Islamists north of Timbuktu for the first time in months. But it was the killing of two French journalists, seized in broad daylight in the northern town of Kidal on Nov 2, which sent shockwaves through France. Al Qaeda-linked fighters said the killings were a response to France’s Mali operation although analysts say it may have been a botched kidnapping.

France dispatched reinforcements to Kidal after the journalists’ deaths but insists it will not further delay its plan to reduce its 3,200 troops in

KIDAL: Soldiers of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) stand near a machine gun at their headquarters in the northern Malian city of Kidal. — AFP Mali to 1,000 by February, already is going to be back in place. I didn’t ther blurs the line between rebels two months later than originally expect it to happen quite so quickly with a political agenda and Islamists.

They are due to hold talks with the scheduled. “We are conscious that it and so openly.”

The journalists’ killing highlighted government about a solution to the will take a long time to eradicate the terrorism threat in the Sahel (desert),” the gaps in foreign military cover in a problems in the north. Under a June a French diplomat said. “Of course, country twice the size of France. peace deal to allow presidential electhere is Serval (the French operation) French troops in Kidal had to call in tions to go ahead, the three groups and MINUSMA (the U.N. mission), but helicopters from Tessalit, 250 km agreed to confine their troops to barlong-term efforts will be needed and away to try and track them down. racks. Many have not and in Kidal, a deep regional coordination to com- France has just 16 in all of Mali. Five where there is little army presence, pletely kill the terrorism threat in months into its mandate, the UN gunmen slip in and out of the town, Mali.” Donors are once again disburs- mission is only at half strength. avoiding checkpoints along sandy ing aid after Keita’s election in Regional militar y power Nigeria tracks that fan out into the desert.

“Kidal is worse because the armed August restored a legitimate govern- pulled its troops out and Mauritania, ment. Military officers seized power Mali’s western neighbor with long groups are no longer in control but in March 2012 in anger at President experience fighting Islamists, has the government is not in control either,” said an official at the UN misAmadou Toumani Toure’s handling of refused to join.

The bills are mounting at a time sion. Underscoring these shifting the Tuareg rebellion.

Keita won power with a pledge to when Paris is under pressure to cut alliances, the main suspect in the remove the web of corrupt elites that defense spending. According to a killing of the French journalists is rotted the state under Toure. But Senate report on the defense budg- linked to both the MNLA and AQIM. with parliamentary elections on Nov et, the Mali operation will cost 650 The hit-and-run attacks by the 24, Keita’s party has allied itself with million euros in 2013. Add the sup- Islamists mark a return to ‘business some leaders of armed groups who port for African allies and the final as usual’, said Yvan Guichaoua, Sahel the previous government sought for amount will be much higher. expert at the University of East Angering many in Bamako, France Anglia. France’s offensive killed hunwar crimes.

“They are reverting to the same refused to carry out military opera- dreds of Islamists. Al Qaeda’s North old practices,” said Wolfram Lacher, tions against Tuareg separatist MNLA African wing, AQIM, was hardest hit, an associate at the German Institute rebels in Kidal, saying the govern- losing Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, its for International and Security Affairs. ment should open a political dia- senior leader in the zone, and several “The whole complex of drug traffick- logue. A fusion of the MNLA with other key figures. But the group has ing, organized crime and warlordism one Arab and one Tuareg group fur- been busy restructuring.—Reuters

Brazilian former party leader surrenders to serve jail term BRASILIA: The former chairman of Brazil’s ruling Workers’ Party surrendered to police Friday after a court ruled that those convicted in a corruption scandal should serve their terms immediately. Jose Genoino was one of 25 party associates linked to the 2005 “Mensalao” kickbacks scandal, which reached the highest echelons of the party of then president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Genoino turned himself in following a landmark judgment Wednesday by Brazil’s Supreme Court which upheld more than a dozen jail terms handed down in the scandal after a trial last year.

Brazilian news broadcasters showed him leaving his house accompanied by his wife. He did not speak but published a letter on his web-

site saying he was “indignant-and I reiterate I am innocent; I have not committed any crime.

“There is no proof for what they are accusing me of,” Genoino said, insisting he had been a victim of a media-driven witch hunt because of his position in the party. “I consider myself a political prisoner,” he declared.

The court has ordered the arrest of 12 of the 25 accused. Of these, nine have voluntarily surrendered to the police so far. Several figures who recently wielded considerable political influence, including Genoino and Lula’s former chief of staff Jose Dirceu, face detention under a semiopen regime, allowing day release but requiring him to spend nights in the cells. Dirceu was sentenced to seven years and 11 months in prison

for corruption for orchestrating a vast vote-buying scheme benefiting party lawmakers during Lula’s first term in power between 2003 and 2006.

Dirceu faces further charges next year, and if his total sentence surpasses eight years, he could be required to remain in jail around the clock. “I shall keep fighting to prove my innocence and to have this spurious sentence annulled,” he said in the statement published by the Folha de Sao Paulo. Former party treasurer Delubio Soares also faces time behind bars.

Kickbacks allegedly distributed to opposition lawmakers to back government bills led to the scandal being dubbed “Mensalao” or monthly allowance.—AFP

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

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

Street sweepers’ strike hampers Madrid tourism MADRID: A street-sweepers strike in Madrid has left streets strewn with paper, broken glass and other litter, dealing a blow to the Spanish capital’s image when it is already suffering a tourist slump. “Today I was told of the first cancellations. If the strike continues in the coming days, there will be serious repercussions on tourism,” said the secretary general of the Madrid Association of Hoteliers, Antonio Gil. With the walkout in its second week, images of residents of the city of 3.2 million people making their way beside piles of cardboard boxes and torn garbage bags have been broadcast by newspapers and TV stations around the world. “Madrid looks like a garbage dump,” said the president of the Madrid Confederation of Commerce, Hilario Alfaro. “This comes at the worst moment. We hope that this is resolved before the start of the Christmas season, which begins at the end of November.”

Street sweepers and gardeners at public parks began an open-ended strike on November 5 against plans to cut their salaries by up to 40 percent and slash 1,135 jobs out of a total of around 7,000. The private companies that provide cleaning services to the city already laid off 350 workers in August. They said cuts were necessary since the city hall, under pressure to reduce costs like public authorities around Spain, was spending less on cleaning. The strike comes as Madrid is suffering a drop in international visitors even as visitors to Spain overall are up.

During the first eight months of the year Madrid

received 2.76 million foreign visitors, a 7.7 percent drop over the previous year. Foreign visitors to Spain rose 4.5 percent during this period. The alarm of the tourist sector was fuelled by news that in August Madrid airport suffered the biggest slump in passenger numbers among Europe’s major hubs and for the first time in history was not Spain’s busiest airport, having been surpassed that month by Barcelona’s airport. The capital has since regained its title as Spain’s busiest airport but the statistic drew attention to Madrid’s failure to market itself effectively as a tourist destination.

The city’s confidence over its standing in the world took another hit in September when Madrid lost its bid to host the Olympics for the third time in a row. “We are going through a low point in Madrid, it is an accumulation of situations which are hurting Madrid’s development,” said Alfaro. Madrid Mayor Ana Botella received a barrage of criticism over her English-language presentation to the selection committee for the 2020 Olympics and her unmistakable Spanish accent as well as some surprising phrases, especially her assertion: “There is nothing quite like a relaxing cup of cafe con leche in Plaza Mayor”.

Botella, the 59-year-old wife of former conservative Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar, now finds herself under fire over her failure to end the streetsweepers’ strike. Madrid city hall announced Sunday that it was boosting municipal police patrols to ensure that workers were able to carry out minimum services, which were set at 40 percent for street sweepers and

MADRID: People walk past rubbish in the centre of Madrid during an open-ended strike by street-sweepers against layoffs and salary cuts. — AFP 25 percent for garden workers. Botella on Wednesday accused some striking street-sweepers of preventing minimum services to be carried out and said this amounted to “vandalism and sabotage”.

She also threatened to hire a public firm to carry out the cleaning of the streets of Madrid if the private companies which currently provide cleaning services do not reach an agreement to end the work stoppage within

48 hours. Madrid residents “do not have to endure the blackmail of a strike that has taken them hostage”, Botella told a televised news conference. “For now it is ok still but they have to do something because soon it is going to start to stink,” said Anna Schultz, a 20-yearold German student who was on holiday in Madrid, in the central Plaza de Sol square, which was covered with paper, empty cans and bottles. — AFP

Albania ‘no’ deal a blow to Syrian weapons plan Refusal marks break from usual allegiance to US

PRAGUE: A man sitting in a rowing boat fishes on Vltava river during a sunny autumn day in Prague. Prague castle is seen in background. — AFP

Czech party leader haunted by ghosts of communist past PRAGUE: Unwelcome spectres are coming back to haunt Czech billionaire Andrej Babis, who emerged as a power broker in recent elections but is facing allegations he collaborated with the communist-era secret police. His populist ANO party sprung out of nowhere to finish a close second in the fragmented vote last month, sending Babis into coalition talks with the victorious Social Democrats and the seventh-place Christian Democrats.

The 59-year-old wooed voters with promises of prosperity and squeaky clean politics at a time Czechs are reeling from a spy and bribery scandal that toppled the previous government and led to the early polls. But just as his name is being floated for ministerial posts, Babis has been hit with accusations of having collaborated with the Statni Bezpecnost (StB) secret police before the fall of communism in 1989 reports that could jeopardize his political future if true. The StB was a reviled institution used by the totalitarian state to control and terrorize its citizens.

Former StB agents and collaborators are now banned from government, according to a law passed in 1991 designed to allow the country to turn the page on its painful past. While Babis’s name appears in StB files, he insists he was registered as an informant without his knowledge. “I never collaborated with the StB. Even the fabricated records clearly show that I provided no information to the StB,” the tycoon turned political sensation said. Babis launched a lawsuit against the Nation’s Memory Institute (UPN) in his native Slovakia, requesting that his name be struck off the list of collaborators.

Founded in 2003, the UPN houses files on StB agents from Slovakia, which has been independent since the former Czechoslovakia split in half in 1993. With a net worth of $2 billion

(1.5 billion euros), Babis is the second-wealthiest person in the Czech Republic and ranked 736th on this year’s Forbes list of world billionaires. He owns both the Agrofert food and chemical conglomerate and the Mafra publishing house that produces two major broadsheets, the DNES and Lidove noviny.

A court hearing on Babis’s murky past is set for January. President Milos Zeman has meanwhile made it known that he will ask every candidate for a ministerial post to prove they did not collaborate with the StB. The UPN regards StB archive documents as being “authentic and credible”, the institute’s spokesman Tibor Ujlacky said without elaborating.

Prior to 1989, Babis worked in foreign trade, a sector in which communist party membership and StB contacts were essential to piercing the Iron Curtain in order to work abroad in a capitalist country. Babis does admit he was once contacted by an StB department charged with “protecting the economic interests” of the country. He says the officers invited him out for coffee several times in the 1980s to try to obtain information on his boss’s private life and on issues related to phosphate imports from Syria. “I obviously disclosed everything to my boss,” he says in his biography. “I am certain that the court will rule in my favour. I still believe in the independence of the judiciary,” he added Thursday. But opinion appears divided among the 47 ANO deputies in the 200-seat lower house of parliament. “If evidence emerges that Babis collaborated with the StB, I will quit ANO,” deputy Ivan Pilny, former head of the Czech branch of Microsoft, told Dnes.

Meanwhile fellow deputy Martin Komarek said: “I’m convinced Andrej Babis isn’t lying when he says he never signed anything nor denounced anyone.”—AFP

Britain’s PM puts Sri Lanka on notice over war crimes COLOMBO: Britain’s David Cameron put Sri Lanka on notice yesterday to address allegations of war crimes within months or else he would lead a push for action at the UN. Speaking at a troubled Commonwealth summit in Colombo, the British premier warned his hosts that pressure over alleged abuses at the end of Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict was not about to go away.

But a Sri Lankan minister said Colombo would “definitely” not allow international investigators to conduct a probe on its soil.

Cameron, who made an historic visit to the former war zone on Friday, also told of how he had “frank” exchanges with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on his return.

“The Sri Lankan government needs to go further and faster on human rights and reconciliation,” he told a press conference.

“Ultimately all this is about reconciliation and closure and healing to this country, which now has the chance, if it takes it, of a much brighter future but that will only happen by dealing with these issues and not ignoring them. “I’m hugely optimistic about the country’s future. The message I have is that this issue will not go away and needs to be pursued vigorously.” The UN and rights group say as many as 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the final stages of the war in May 2009 when Tamil Tiger rebels were routed. However Rajapakse has denied any

civilians were killed and has also blocked all calls for an independent probe into claims of war crimes committed by government forces against the Tamil population in the Jaffna region. Cameron said Rajapakse wanted more time to address the claims but put him on notice to deliver by March or else he would push for an international investigation through UN human rights bodies. “Let me be very clear, if an investigation is not completed

by March, then I will use our position on the UN Human Rights Council to work with the UN Human Rights Commission and call for a full, credible and independent international inquiry.”

Cameron upstaged the first day of the three-day meeting Friday by travelling to Jaffna which bore the main brunt of the 37year war, meeting local ethnic Tamils who lost loved ones or were left homeless. He was the first foreign leader to visit Jaffna since Sri Lanka, a former British colony, gained independence in 1948. While Sri Lanka had hoped the summit would showcase its revival since troops from the mainly Sinhalese government crushed the Tigers, Cameron’s visit and boycotts have torpedoed its strategy.

In an interview with AFP, Rajapakse’s brother Basil-who is also the economic development minister-thanked Cameron for at least attending but rejected any idea of an inquiry by foreign investigators.—AFP

THE HAGUE: Albania has rejected a US request to host the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, dealing a blow to a US-Russian accord to eliminate such arms from the country’s protracted civil war. Negotiations went down to the wire as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague hit the deadline on Friday for a stepby-step plan to get rid of 1,300 tons of Syria’s sarin, mustard gas and other agents. After the Albanian decision, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning body adopted a plan on Friday night that set out deadlines in the destruction process but did not name a host country for the effort or provide details on security arrangements.

Albania’s refusal marked an unprecedented break from its traditionally staunch allegiance to NATO ally Washington and may make it hard to meet destruction deadlines. It followed a storm of protest in the Adriatic republic, where protesters complained of exploitation. “It is impossible for Albania to get involved in this operation,” Prime Minister Edi Rama, just two months in the job, said in a televised address to the nation. “We lack the necessary capacities to get involved in this operation,” he said, following days of growing protests outside government buildings.

Hundreds of demonstrators, including students skipping school classes, gathered earlier on Friday to denounce the plan for Albania to host the destruction of the Syrian weapons, “NO” painted on their faces. In Washington, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki sought to downplay the Albanian decision, saying several other nations “are seriously considering ... hosting the destruction efforts.” She did not identify these but said the United States expects that the timelines for the destruction of the Syrian weapons would be met despite the Albanian refusal.

There was no immediate indication where the United States or Russia might look next to dispose of thousands of tons of toxic waste.

One source briefed on the discussions said Washington had bet on Albanian cooperation.

Faced with the threat of US missile strikes, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in September agreed to destroy his entire chemical weapons stockpile following a sarin gas attack that killed hundreds of people in Damascus on Aug 21.

Washington said only Assad’s forces could have carried out the attack, a charge the Syrian leader denied.

TIGHT DEADLINES The plan adopted by the OPCW on Friday called for the “most critical” chemicals to be transported out of Syria by Dec 31, with the removal of all declared chemical substances and precursors, except for isopropanol, one of two key ingredients for sarin, no later than Feb 5. Under the plan, Syria’s chemical weapons facilities would be gradually destroyed between Dec 15 and March 15, while the destruction of the priority chemical weapons would be completed outside Syria by March 31. All other declared chemical materials would be eliminated by June 30. “The plan provides a clear roadmap. It sets ambitious milestones to be met by the government,” OPCW Director General Ahmet Uzumcu said in a statement.

“This next phase will be the most challenging, and its timely execution will require the existence of a secure environment for the verification and transport of chemical weapons.”

“Continuing international support and assistance for this endeavor will remain crucial,” he said. Saying it respected Albania’s decision, the United States said the deadlines could still be met. “The United States will continue to work with allies and partners as well as the OPCW and the United Nations to ensure the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons program,” the US embassy in Tirana said in a statement. “We remain confident that we will complete elimination of the program within the timeline agreed upon.”

Still to be worked out is how to safely transport the chemical weapons through contested territory to a port in northern Syria to be shipped abroad. Once the chemicals are safely out of Syria, the pressure will be off for them to be destroyed in the short term, but diplomats are concerned they could be targeted by militants or stolen and sold on the black market. — Reuters

TIRANA: A man wearing a gas mask joins Albanian environmental activists as they take part in a protest in front of the Prime Minister’s office in Tirana, over the possibility of the Republic of Albania processing and destroying 1,000 tons of chemical weapons from Syria in its military facilities. — AFP

GOP infighting fierce even in Western strongholds MONTPELIER: Republicans have made the Mountain West a stronghold, which is why brewing party brawls in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah are bedeviling loyalists who yearn for GOP unity. Closely watched elections this month in Virginia and New Jersey did little to resolve the growing struggle between tea partyers and the Republican establishment. Now, some of the sharpest infighting is shifting to the rugged Big Sky region, where the tea party scored its first major victory, ousting a veteran Republican U.S. senator in a Utah party convention three years ago.

“We have to have this fight,” said US Rep Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican facing a tea party challenger next May as he seeks a ninth House term.

The struggle will continue well into the next presidential race, he said. Simpson and three-term US Sen Mike Enzi from neighboring Wyoming are chief targets of tea party and anti-establishment groups that prize ideological purity above all, even if it leads to legislative defeats. It’s not enough, these groups say, that both men hold top ratings from conservative organizations such as the National Rifle Association.

Republicans run little risk of losing congressional races to Democrats in Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. But if longtime incumbents such as Simpson and Enzi can fend off their GOP challengers next year, the results conceivably could lessen the tea party’s zeal and reputation nationwide. That might encourage mainstream Republicans such as New Jersey Gov Chris Christie who are considering running for the White House in 2016. On the other hand, a new string of tea party victories could ignite a full-blown Republican civil war and embolden anti-establishment champions such as US Sen Ted Cruz of Texas.

All across the country, Republicans are watching to see where big donors, especially from the business world, will put their money and energy. In Idaho, the Club for Growth is backing Simpson’s challenger, lawyer Bryan Smith. The group helped topple GOP incumbents last year, including longtime US Sen Richard Lugar of Indiana, whose seat eventually fell to a Democrat. The US Chamber of Commerce, which sometimes spars with the Club for Growth, has yet to say which candidates it will support. Simpson, however, was a featured speaker at a chamber event this month in Washington, DC. If nothing else, next year’s congressional elections in the Rockies hold the potential for fierce, even nasty confrontations between elected Republicans and their challengers. In Wyoming, “it’s time for a new generation of leaders,” says Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Her differences with Enzi, 69, seem largely stylistic and generational. She calls Barack Obama the “most radical” president ever. The soft-spoken Enzi rarely employs such bombast, even if he rou-

tinely opposes Obama’s initiatives.

Cheney’s decision to oppose Enzi has dismayed many prominent Republicans and opened painfully personal rifts. Her father is a hero to many Wyoming conservatives. But many other well-known Republicans, including US Sen John Barrasso and former US Sen Alan Simpson, have rallied to Enzi’s side. Enzi’s supporters call Cheney, who lived for years in Virginia, a carpetbagger and opportunist.

They gleefully point to her early missteps, including a late property tax payment and a $220 fine involving her application for a fishing license reserved for longtime state residents.

Cheney is airing a TV ad that calls her five children “fifth-generation Wyomingites.” In Idaho, Mike Simpson is a burly, cigarette-smoking dentist whose district sprawls eastward from Boise to the Wyoming-Utah border, nearly 300 miles away. Snowstreaked mountains tower above hard-pressed former railroad towns and tourist-driven ski and snowmobile resorts. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney beat Obama here by a 2-to-1 margin in 2012. Simpson, a more gregarious talker than Smith, likes to say, “I’ll put my conservative credentials against anybody’s.” He notes that he voted 40 times to halt or delay Obama’s health care law. But unlike Idaho’s other three members of Congress, Simpson didn’t vote to continue last month’s partial government shutdown beyond 16 days. Tea partyers insisted the shutdown go on, even though it was hurting the Republican Party’s image. They also note that Simpson joined House GOP leaders 11 months ago in backing a resolution that raised taxes on the rich, but not on the remainder of Americans.

Those were common-sense agreements that averted worse outcomes, Simpson said at a suburban coffee shop in Boise, the state’s biggest city.

Because nearly all Republicans strongly oppose higher taxes, increased regulations and the president’s health care law, he said, the party’s split “is over strategy, not philosophy.” The next two elections, Simpson said, will determine “whether the Republican Party is going to be a governing majority, or whether we’re going to resign ourselves to be an ideologically pure minority.” That sounds like surrender to Smith.

The incumbent, he says, is part of Washington’s “go along to get along” crowd. In interviews and public settings, Smith sticks to tea party talking points. On a recent blustery night in a bare-bones meeting hall in southeastern Idaho, Smith told a small gathering it’s impossible to defund the health law as long as Democrats control the Senate and White House. Nonetheless, he said, he proudly sides with those “who are willing to stand up and fight for conservative principles,” even if their efforts have no legislative chance.—AP

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

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

Russia hands India long-awaited aircraft carrier MOSCOW: Russia yesterday ceremonially handed over a refurbished ex-Soviet aircraft carrier to India after a refit that overran by five years and went vastly over budget, damaging ties between the countries. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Indian Defense Minister A K Antony took part in a ceremony at the Arctic port of Severodvinsk yesterday morning, Russian television reported.

“What happened today is a demonstration of the readiness and restored ability of our country to build warships of such a class,” Rogozin told journalists in televised comments from the shipyard.

Russian sailors lowered their national flag on the ship and the new owners raised the flag of the Indian navy in its place as the Indian crew in full

parade uniform stood on board on a chilly blustery day. The wife of the ship’s captain broke a coconut against the side of the carrier. Russia, which is India’s largest arms supplier, carried out a major refit of the aircraft carrier, which joined the Soviet navy in 1987 as the Admiral Gorshkov. It has now been renamed the INS Vikramaditya after an Indian emperor. The original deal signed in 2004 saw Russia agree to modernize the mothballed carrier for $771 million (571 million euros) by 2008. But costs ballooned to $2.3 billion, according to Indian media reports, as the deadline was regularly extended.

Russia says that the original deadline was based on an incorrect assessment of the amount of work that needed to be completed by its Sevmash ship-

yard, which specializes in nuclear submarines. The refit included extending the flight deck. The ship’s captain, Suraj Berry, and the deputy director of Russia’s arms export agency, Igor Sevastyanov yesterday signed the final papers handing over the ship. The ship is due to set sail on November 30 and arrive in India early next year. It will have a team of Russian experts on board who will monitor and assist their Indian counterparts during the home journey.

Five warships will escor t the unarmed Vikramaditya due to security issues as it passes through a classified route, an Indian defense ministry official who did not want to be quoted said.

The refurbished ship is 284 meters long and is designed to carry 30 aircraft including MiG-29K

fighters. Its crew numbers 1,600 and the 44,500 ton-carrier has even been adapted to dish out Indian food. The aircraft carrier will become India’s second, intended to shore up the country’s defense capabilities as it seeks to counter a military buildup by an increasingly assertive China.

India in August unveiled a domestically produced carrier that is under construction. Russia’s long-delayed upgrade could damage its prospects as a supplier to India, the world’s largest arms buyer, which has recently turned to Israel, France, Britain and the United States. India’s already depleted naval force received a major setback in August when a Russian-made submarine the INS Sindhurakshak exploded in a Mumbai dock, killing all 18 crewmen on board. — AFP

Bomb hits Afghan capital before talks on US deal Elders to debate future of US-Afghan pact

MALE: Former Maldivian president and presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed smiles as he walks outside a polling station during election day in Male yesterday. — AFP

Crisis-hit Maldives holds run-off poll MALE: Voters in the Maldives thronged to polling stations yesterday to choose a new president, hopeful that the run-off election resolves a two-year political crisis which has hit the vital tourism sector in the island paradise. Three previous attempts to elect a new leader have been annulled or postponed in as many months, as narrow election favorite Mohamed Nasheed and the parliament have clashed with a political old guard backed by the Supreme Court.

Tattered pink and yellow party banners were suspended above the capital Male’s narrow streets, providing shade from the hot tropical sun. Voters queuing up outside the Kalaafaanu School voiced unease about the outcome of the ballot, after an aggressive campaign by the two candidates contesting the second round and following sporadic violent protests in recent months. “Today is absolutely critical for democracy and the future of our country,” said 48-year-old Fareesha Abdulla. “It will determine whether we become a democracy or a dictatorship.”

Nasheed, who became the Maldives’ first democratically elected president in 2008, left office last year in what he says was a coup. He won 47 percent of first round votes a week ago, short of the 50 percent needed to avoid a run-off. He is up against Abdulla Yameen, a half-brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled for 30 years and is considered a dictator by opponents and rights groups.

Polls close at 4 pm and Election Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek told state television that the final results would be announced early on Sunday.

The term of the incumbent president, Mohamed Waheed, expired on Nov 11, but when the Supreme Court delayed

the second round of voting following demands by Nasheed’s rivals, Waheed extended his term to fill a constitutional void. Waheed, whose decision drew international condemnation, left for Singapore on Friday, saying: “I do not think there is much I can do from here, things that I cannot do over the phone.”

The Maldives’ political upheaval has hit tourism, a vital source of foreign currency, resulting in the idyllic Indian Ocean archipelago being unable to import all of its fuel needs. Political analysts say the crisis may continue even if Saturday’s vote goes smoothly, after a bitter election campaign centering on the future role of religion in a largely Muslim state where Islamist ideology is on the rise. Nasheed did not comment as he cast his ballot at the Centre for Higher Education in Male. But addressing a final rally on Thursday, he said his opponents were using Islam as a weapon, after they accused him and his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of being too secular and close to Western countries. An MDP government would “build a completely new nationhood based on Islam, human rights, social security and economic opportunity”, he said.

Yameen, backed by resort tycoon Gasim Ibrahim who was eliminated in the first round of voting, said he was confident of winning between 55 and 60 percent of the vote. “I come to vote absolutely confident, because we have a grand coalition,” he told reporters.

“Except for the MDP, all other political parties and leaders are together with us.”

During final campaigning, Yameen had asked voters if they “want Islam in the Maldives or do you want to allow space for other religions?” — Reuters

Protesters barricade the streets in Guinea CONAKRY: Anti-government demonstrators barricaded roads and threw stones in Guinea’s capital yesterday in protest at a Supreme Court ruling handing September’s controversial elections to the president’s governing party. Groups of protesters chanting “No to the electoral stitchup” and “Death to the Supreme Court” burned tyres, overturned bins and stopped traffic on the main road into central Conakry, forcing traders to close their shops, an AFP reporter saw.

Riot police were deployed in large numbers to trouble spots across the city but there had been no major clashes with protesters and no reports of serious injuries by midday. The court confirmed the results late on Friday of parliamentary elections that handed power to President Alpha Conde’s party, rejecting a challenge by his rivals. Provisional results published on October 18 had given Conde’s Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) party 53 seats in the national assembly.

The outcome gave the RPG together with its allies an absolute majority in the 114-member parliament. But the September 28 polls have come under

heavy criticism from opposition parties, which won a total of 53 seats. The opposition coalition alleged “massive fraud”, claiming the polls were marred by irregularities including ballot stuffing, voter intimidation and minors casting votes.

International observers also said serious flaws had affected the credibility of the vote. Opposition leaders were due to meet to decide how to proceed after the Supreme Court’s ruling.

In 2010 Conde became the first democratically elected president of the west African country, which has a long history of political and militar y turmoil and bloody crackdowns on protesters.

Legislative elections should have taken place within six months of his inauguration in December 2010. But they were pushed back, with opposing factions unable to agree on conditions for the elections, leaving the role of parliament to be played by an unelected National Transitional Council. The last parliamentary elections in Guinea took place in June 2002 during the dictatorship of General Lansana Conte, who died in December 2008 after 24 years in power. — AFP

KABUL: A suicide bomber rammed his car yesterday into an Afghan army vehicle providing security for a compound where Afghanistan’s political and tribal elites are due to gather next week to debate a vital security pact with the United States. The attack took place just hours after Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on the Taleban to take par t in the Loya Jirga assembly which convenes on Thursday to decide whether to allow some US troops to stay in Afghanistan after 2014.

The blast occurred shortly after 3 pm, less than 100 meters from a huge tent where more than 2,000 prominent Afghans are due to gather, a Reuters witness said. “One of our soldiers was martyred and three wounded when a suicide bomber in a car rammed our Humvee...,” said General Zahir Azimi, an Afghan defense ministr y spokesman. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. A man fleeing the bombing, Mohammad Amin, looked dazed and was covered in blood and dust as he described seeing a White Corolla vehicle speed towards a police checkpoint and explode.

Amin said he was standing across the street from the explosion, behind his parked car when the blast occurred. “Thank God my car protected me because it was so close. My ears are still ringing,” Amin said. A Reuters reporter saw at least six wounded people, as well as a large unchecked fire and numerous smashed cars. A Kabul police spokesman, Hashmat Stanekzai, said there were at least 15 dead and wounded as a result of the attack, but could not immediately provide more detail.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY A loya jirga is a traditional Afghan meeting convened to debate matters of national importance and includes thousands of tribal elders, politicians and other elites. For almost a year,

KABUL: Afghan fire fighters clear the site of a suicide attack in Kabul yesterday— AFP Washington and Kabul have been seeking to conclude a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) that will help determine how many US soldiers and bases remain in Afghanistan after most foreign combat troops exit by the end of next year.

The lack of agreement has raised the prospect that Washington may yet pull out all of its troops next year unless differences are ironed out. Senior US and NATO officials said last month they were confident Afghanistan’s elders and parliament would back the deal allowing American troops to stay there after 2014. Two years ago, the United States ended its military

US urges support for Afghan women WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry has joined forces with his predecessor Hillary Clinton to urge that hard-won gains for Afghan women since the fall of the Taleban be protected. They were joined by former first lady Laura Bush, in a powerful plea to ensure that the rights of women in Afghanistan are not eroded as US and international forces prepare to leave the country next year.

“We all know that creating opportunities for women is not just the right thing to do. It’s also a strategic necessity,” Kerry told a symposium at Georgetown University. “There’s no question in my mind that investing in Afghan women is the surest way to guarantee that Afghanistan will sustain the gains of the last decade and never again become a safe haven for international terrorists.”

Citing examples of Afghan women entrepreneurs, police officers, teachers and students, he said the women of Afghanistan never wanted to go back to the dark days of rule by Islamic Taleban militants when they were barred from going to school and from having jobs. “Societies where women are safe, where women are empowered to exercise their rights and to move their communities forward - these societies are more prosperous and more stable - not occasionally, but always,” Kerry said.

And he insisted that it was not just up to the women-their menfolk also had to stand

up for their rights. “It will take the courage of every man who defends his daughter’s right to an equal education; it will take the courage of every brother who challenges a law that keeps his sister from owning property or opening a business; and every husband who not only promises that the cycle of domestic violence can stop with him, but who actually proves it,” Kerry said.

Clinton, who has long advocated for the rights and empowerment of all women, said that with 2014 looming Afghanistan stood at “a serious turning point.” She called on Georgetown students to discuss what they could do to support the young people of Afghanistan through virtual contacts and exchange programs. “I’m so worried that once our troops leave no-one will pay attention again to Afghanistan,” Bush told the audience.

“I want the people of Afghanistan to know that the people of the United States are with them and do support them.”

In an op-ed in the Washington Post Friday, Bush warned that although 2.4 million girls were enrolled in schools by 2011 compared to 5,000 under the Taleban, the group’s legacy has lingered. “These gains are fragile, and there is a real danger that they will be reversed,” Bush wrote. “I worry that the message we are sending to Afghan men, women and children is that their lives are not worth our time or attention. That message must change. We cannot abandon them.” — AFP

WASHINGTON: US Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (right) and former first lady Laura Bush participate in an event to honor the women of Afghanistan, at Georgetown University. — AFP

mission in Iraq with a similar “zero option” outcome after the failure of talks with Baghdad.

Earlier yesterday Karzai called on the Taleban, who have been waging an insurgency against his government and US-led forces for over a decade, to put down their guns and participate in the assembly. “We hope by all means that they participate in the Loya Jirga,” said Karzai, who is keen to find a negotiated political solution to years of fighting with the Taleban.

“They are our countrymen and they have the right to be part of such meetings.” “I once again invite them to please come and participate in the people’s national meeting.” — Reuters

Pakistan calls troops after violence kills 10 RAWALPINDI: Pakistan called in its army yesterday to quell sectarian unrest in three cities, after nine people were killed and nearly 90 wounded in violent attacks across the country, according to officials. Authorities imposed a curfew in the city of Rawalpindi, where sectarian clashes on Friday left nine people dead and more than 60 injured, and spawned retaliatory violence in at least two other cities. Fighting erupted in the garrison-city, which neighbors the capital Islamabad, when a procession by Shiite Muslims to mark the most important day of the mourning month of Muharram coincided with a sermon at a nearby Sunni mosque.

“A curfew has been imposed in Rawalpindi city to avert further violence following the incidents on Friday,” Waseem Ahmed, a police official said. “The curfew will remain until midnight yesterday. The whole city has been closed down,” he said. Deeba Shehnaz, a spokeswoman for rescue services said: “According to the latest figures, we can now confirm the death of nine people from the sectarian violence on Friday.

At least 68 others were wounded during the clashes.”

Angry Shiite protesters attacked the Sunni mosque and seminary, torching its building and an adjacent cloth market, where workers yesterday were still battling to extinguish the fire completely. Rival groups then attacked each other, TV cameramen and security forces and also fired gunshots. The authorities deployed large numbers of troops in the city and later imposed a full curfew as soldiers patrolled the streets to stop protesters coming in from other cities. Violence also erupted in the southern city of Multan and Chishtian town, where civil authorities called in troops to maintain law and order.

A senior police official in Multan said that at least 12 people were injured when Sunnis took to the streets to protest the Rawalpindi incident, leading to clashes with Shiites who fired warning shots in the air. In neighboring Chishtian, a Shiite mosque was partially damaged and several shops were destroyed when Sunnis torched it in retaliation for the violence in Rawalpindi. All entry points into Rawalpindi were blocked, resulting in traffic chaos yesterday morning that choked parts of the highways leading to Islamabad.

Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab province, of which Rawalpindi is a major city, told an official meeting following the clashes that the government ensure the culprits for the clash are brought to justice. “We condemn the act of violence in Rawalpindi and sympathize with the aggrieved families. We will take the culprits to the task,” he said in his statement. But one local legislator, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who is a member of the lower house of the parliament from the area said that violence there was the result of local administration’s failure.

“I declare the local administration responsible for Friday’s violent acts. They failed to control the situation,” Ahmed told a news conference. Pakistan is rife with sectarian clashes, with Sunni militant groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban often attacking gatherings by Shiites, who constitute some 20 percent of the country’s overwhelmingly Muslim population. Pakistan had deployed heavy security all across the country for 10th of Muharram on Friday-which is the death anniversary of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed-to avert any terrorist attack on the mourning processions of Shiites. — AFP

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

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

Aid flows to typhoon survivors; Philippines struggles to rebuild Reports of desperate exodus from Ormoc city

BEIJING: Visitors to the forbidden city carry children holding the Chinese national flags in Beijing yesterday. — AFP

Easing of China policy may not result to baby boom BEIJING: Don’t expect a new Chinese baby boom, experts say, despite the first easing of the country’s controversial one-child policy in three decades. Some 15 million to 20 million Chinese parents will be allowed to have a second child after the government announced Friday that couples where one partner has no siblings can have two children. But the easing of the policy is so incremental that demographers and policymakers are not anticipating an influx of newborn babies at a time when young Chinese couples are already opting for smaller families, driving the country’s fertility rate down to 1.5-1.6 births per woman.

“A baby boom can be safely ruled out,” said Wang Feng, professor of sociology at the University of California Irvine. Wang noted that although Chinese couples where both parents have no siblings have for some time been allowed to have a second child, many have elected to have only one. “Young people’s reproductive desires have changed,” he said.

Xia Gaolong and his wife are among those who will be allowed to have a second child as a result of the new policy, but he said he has no intention of giving his 10-year-old son a sibling. Xia, who runs a tour bus business in the thriving city of Nanjing in eastern China, said the high cost of living and fierce competition for schools and jobs would deter him from bringing another child into the world. “No way will I have another child,” said Xia, who is in his late 30s. “There are so many pressures in life in today’s society, and our children will only face more pressures.”

Experts estimate that the new rules allowing couples where one partner is an only child to have a second baby will result in 1 million to 2 million extra births per year in the first few years, on top of the 16 million babies born annually in China. Cai Rong, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said the figure could be even lower because of the growing acceptance of small families. In an unscientific survey on the Chinese-language social media platform Sina Weibo, more than 60 percent of those who self-identified as being eligible for the new exemption from the one-child limit said they would have a second child.

“A second child is absolutely necessary, and

we thank the new policy,” said May Zha, 34, of Beijing, the mother of a 3-year-old. Zha said that her husband is an only child, making the couple eligible for the new exemption, and that they plan to have another baby as soon as possible. “Time does not wait,” she said. Still, experts say an onslaught of newborn babies is unlikely because couples will have different time plans for the second child, and not all intentions will become reality.

The central government apparently does not want to see a spike in births, even regionally. Wang Pei’an, a deputy director of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said China is opting for the incremental step because a universal two-child policy would result in a major fluctuation in population, putting pressure on basic public services. Some demographers, however, have argued that even a reversal of the one-child policy would not result in a spike in births because of fundamental changes in the public’s reproductive behaviors.

Faced with a growing population, China’s government began to implement birth planning policies in the 1970s and placed a de facto one-child limit in 1980. It eased restrictions four years later to allow many families to have two children - including couples who do not have any siblings and rural couples whose firstborn is a girl. Millions of Chinese families also have managed to have additional children by paying fines or - in recent years - by giving birth outside China. On Friday, three days after China’s top leaders concluded a meeting to hash out upcoming policies, Beijing announced the new exemption to the onechild policy, which will largely benefit urban couples.

Though the limited easing in the one-child policy is unlikely to address China’s demographic concerns, experts see it as a meaningful step toward reversing the strict family planning and returning the reproductive rights back to parents. “It is a decisive shift away from the onechild policy,” Wang Feng said. “At least, it is not putting oil to the fire, which is the low fertility rate.” “The significance of this is that it is the beginning of what I would expect to be a very speedy abolishment of the policy overall,” Wang said. “China is testing the water now.” — AP

TANAUAN: Long-delayed emergency supplies flowed into the typhoon-ravaged central Philippines yesterday, reaching desperate families who had to fend for themselves for days, as the United Nations more than doubled its estimate of homeless to nearly two million. The aid effort was still patchy, with relief officials reporting a surge in desperate, hungry survivors trying to leave the coastal city of Ormoc, 105 km west of Tacloban, the worst-affected major city.

More than a week after Typhoon Haiyan killed at least 3,633 with tree-snapping winds and tsunami-like waves, hundreds of international aid workers set up makeshift hospitals and trucked in supplies. Helicopters from a US aircraft carrier ferried medicine and water to remote, battered areas. Residents of Tanauan, a fishing town about 15 km southeast of Tacloban, said they only started receiving substantial aid on Friday after being forced to survive on biscuits and dispose of dead bodies on their own for days.

More than 60 people were buried behind the municipal office in the district of 50,000 people.

Down the road, dozens of corpses were interred under a roundabout. “I think (the response) was quite slow. This town was isolated. Media didn’t come here. We were out of circulation for three days,” said Penny Tecson, the wife of the district’s mayor. She was running the recovery operation while her husband, Pel Tecson, was in Tacloban to coordinate the district’s first large-scale delivery of aid from the national government.

In one ward of Tanauan, neighborhood chief Cecilio Yepes Jr estimated his community lost nearly 10 percent of its 1,176 residents. Here, the storm surge has transformed an entire swampy plain into a rubbish pile of trees and debris.

Locals have recovered and buried 30 bodies.

Another 98 remain somewhere in the vast wasteland that stretches on either side of the road. At least 800 people died in the district of Palo, which lies between Tanauan and Tacloban, national authorities said.

In Tacloban, work crews and heavy equipment cleared debris from roadsides, but side streets remained piled with the sodden, tangled remains of homes which city officials fear could reveal hundreds more bodies when they are eventually cleared. There are 1,179 people missing, according to the national count. The official death toll only rose by 12 yesterday, giving hope that initial local estimates of 10,000 dead were overblown.

In front of Tacloban’s San Fernando Elementary School, government workers distributed sacks of aid to a restless crowd of hundreds who had spent the last week camped in shattered wooden classrooms or in a main school building with floors covered in wet black sand. Nearby, about a dozen body bags were neatly lined up by the roadside.

Rica Mobilla, an 18-year-old mother of one, said local authorities showed up two days after the disaster, handing out four kilograms of rice and a few packs of noodles for her family of thirteen. The family stretched this out with onions and garlic bought from the market. “I’m upset.

I’m not blaming anyone. If there’s aid there to give out we’ll receive it,” she said.

President Benigno Aquino, caught off guard by the scale of the disaster, is scheduled to visit

Vietnam court sentences 2 businessmen to death

TANAUAN: A typhoon survivor repairs his destroyed house in Tanauan, on the outskirts of Tacloban yesterday. — AFP

Beijing’s meager typhoon aid a ‘diplomatic misstep’ BEIJING: China’s clumsy response to the typhoon in the neighboring Philippines shows that the Asian giant is still struggling to find its role on the world stage, analysts say, burdened by history and its own self-image. Initially the Chinese government offered only $100,000, and while later donations have swelled Beijing’s aid to $1.8 million that falls far short of Japan’s $30 million, $20 million from the US, and even Swedish furniture group Ikea, which gave $2.7 million through its charitable foundation to the UN children’s agency Unicef for relief efforts in the storm-hit area. Beijing is embroiled in a diplomatic row with Manila over disputed islands in the South China Sea, and the weight of history bears heavy on the region.

A tiny piece of the havoc wreaked by the typhoon was a fallen statue at the Leyte Landing Memorial close to Tacloban, where American general Douglas MacArthur strode ashore in 1944 on his mission to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation. The island was one of the biggest battlegrounds of World War II and the naval battle of Leyte Gulf one of the largest sea engagements in history, with dozens of ships lost and Japan using kamikaze suicide pilots for the first time.

US forces suffered 15,584 killed and wounded, with Japanese casualties estimated at 49,000. A plaque at the tribute site displays MacArthur’s proclamation urging Filipinos to

“rise and strike” against the Japanese. But almost seven decades later, Tokyo is preparing to send as many as 1,000 members of its SelfDefense Forces, Japan’s de facto military, to the disaster zone, their first active return to Leyte, where they will work hand-in-hand with the US military presence.

In contrast, China refers constantly to its past as a victim of Japanese aggression in its row with Tokyo over another set of disputed islands. At the same time the 19th-century colonization of parts of China by foreign powers looms large in its history, despite its rise to become the world’s second-largest economy.

Jim Schoff, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and an expert on disaster relief in Asia, explained there was sometimes still a mindset in China that “‘We’re a developing country, too, and we have natural disasters, too.’”

“There’s a little bit of tight-fistedness that remains from that,” he said. “It’s the nexus of humanitarian relief and self-interest, and I think it’s taking China a while to figure out where that point is.” Nonetheless, he pointed out: “The Chinese like to complain about US Cold War thinking when we reach out to allies to build these alliances. “If they want to talk about a new great power relationship or a new great nation relationship, it assumes they’re a great nation and they have this relationship with the US as a peer,” he said.—AFP

HANOI: A Vietnamese former banker and his business associate have been sentenced to death for embezzling $25 million by a court in Ho Chi Minh City, state media said yesterday.

The pair were among 11 defendants in the nine-day trial in the country’s southern business metropolis, in a case that has highlighted Vietnam’s efforts to show it is stamping out graft in the face of widespread public anger over the issue.

Vu Quoc Hao, 58, the one-time chief of a finance subsidiary of state-owned giant Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) and construction firm boss Dang Van Hai, 56, were sentenced to death on Friday, according to state television.

“They were given the sentences for embezzlement of assets, mismanagement, abuse of power and fraud, causing serious consequences to the state,” it said.

The other nine defendants were jailed for between three and 14 years for violating state economic management regulations, the report added. The group was accused of embezzling more than $25 million of state money between April 2008 and March 2009 by falsifying financial leasing contracts, according to earlier reports on state media. Vietnam is rated one of the world’s most corrupt nations and graft is a top concern for many ordinary people.

The communist government has vowed to clamp down on the issue. “There will be strict punishment for state cadres and officials who received bribes,” warned Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at an anti-corruption dialogue held in Hanoi Tuesday, according to the government’s website. The one-party state has been rocked by a number of high-profile corruption scandals in recent years, with graft and huge debts at giant state-run companies accused of fuelling the country’s economic woes. The country is now gearing up for a number of major corruption trials, including a case involving top bankers and a former minister accused of the theft and illegal deposit of $34 million. Another trial is also set to probe shipping giant Vinalines, which defaulted on payments of some $1.1 billion. Vietnam resumed executions by lethal injection earlier this year, drawing criticism from the UN’s human rights office.— AFP

typhoon-affected areas on Sunday. He has been criticized for the slow pace of aid distribution and unclear estimates of casualties, especially in Tacloban, capital of hardest-hit Leyte province.

In Tacloban the death toll is written on a whiteboard at City Hall and bodies have been buried in mass graves since Thursday. Tacloban mayor Alfred Romualdez said many people may have been swept out to sea after the tsunami-like wall of seawater slammed into coastal areas.

REBUILD, HOMELESS RISE The Philippines Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman acknowledged in a radio interview that the national relief response had been too slow to reach many areas. “We will double our efforts to distribute relief goods because we’ve been hearing complaints that a lot of people have yet to receive relief goods,” she said. Arnaldo Arcadio, an emergency responder with the Catholic Relief Services group, said desperation over conditions in remote rural areas had led people to surge into Ormoc in hope of fleeing the city by ferry. “People are fleeing in mass numbers and

US AID RELIEF EFFORT British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday pledged 30 million pounds ($48 million) for international aid agencies working in the Philippines. Japan plans to send 1,180 troops to the Philippines, its largest oversea deployment for disaster relief. Japanese destroyer Ise and transport vessel Osumi will leave for the Philippines in a few days carrying helicopters to deliver aid. But the patchy initial aid response highlighted the need for international agencies and local governments to prepare for more frequent, more devastating natural disasters, said Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

“This is a mindset change that must happen if we want to be able to stand up to this trend,” she told Reuters in Tacloban. US military assistance has been pouring into the Philippines since Thursday when the USS George Washington aircraft carrier and accompanying ships arrived off eastern Samar province, carrying 5,000 crew and more than 80 aircraft. The Philippines is one of Washington’s closest allies

TANAUAN: The corpse of a victim of Typhoon Haiyan floats on a river in Tanauan, on the eastern island of Leyte yesterday. — AFP

coming to Ormoc, where they stand in line all day to get on a ferry only to be turned away,” he said.

“Ormoc is teeming with people who haven’t eaten in days. They’re hungry, thirsty and tired.

They want to get out.” Across Tacloban, survivors have begun to rebuild. The sounds of hammers ring out. Men gather in groups to fix motorbikes or drag debris off splintered homes and wrecked streets. Most have given up searching for lost loved ones. The number of people made homeless by the storm rose to 1.9 million, up from 900,000, the United Nations’ humanitarian agency said. In Tacloban, at least 56,000 people face unsanitary conditions, according to the United Nations’ migration agency.

in Asia and a crucial partner in President Barack Obama’s strategy of rebalancing U.S. military forces towards the region to counter the rising clout of China.

The Pentagon said on Friday that US Navy amphibious ships will leave Okinawa in Japan “in the coming hours” carrying an additional 1,000 marines and sailors who will provide engineering equipment, relief supplies, and medical support. The US military estimates that it delivered some 623,000 pounds (283,000 kg) of US relief supplies to the Philippines so far. The American military also estimated that it had moved nearly 1,200 relief workers into Tacloban and airlifted nearly 2,900 displaced people from affected areas so far. — Reuters

End to China labor camps cheered - but what next?

BEIJING: Stripped naked and beaten, Peng Hong’s memories of his time in a Chinese “reeducation” labor camp are dark-but even so, he greeted Beijing’s abolition of the widelyloathed system with only cautious optimism.

The closure announcement came in a package of reform pledges by the ruling Communist Party three days after a key gathering called the Third Plenum, and one year after new leaders under Xi Jinping took power.

But as with other sweeping pledges revealed late Friday-including changes to the one-child policy, farmland ownership rules, and access to urban social services-implementation will be key. “Abolishing it is better than not abolishing it,” former prisoner Peng, 38 said by phone. “I am cautiously optimistic.” Under “re-education through labor” citizens could be sentenced to labor camp for up to four years by a police panel, without appearing before a judge.

The system-introduced in 1957 to deal with minor offenders faster-became rife with abuse.

Some local officials used it to silence “petitioners” seeking to complain about them to higher-level governments, along with others perceived as undermining the ruling party’s control on power. Peng was sentenced to two years in 2009 after forwarding a cartoon online mocking a crime crackdown launched by Bo Xilai, the then-powerful head of his southwestern hometown of Chongqing.

Police visited him one evening and six days later he was standing naked and bent over before stick-wielding guards who beat anyone who looked up. His only daughter was born five months into his term, with family visits just every few months. “I have very bad memories from that time,” Peng said. “If I go back and think about it then my whole mood changes, those times were so dark.”

Pressure for reform has been building for years, and the problem was driven home in August last year when Tang Hui, a mother in the central province of Hunan, was sentenced to 18 months after petitioning repeatedly for justice for her daughter, who in 2006 at age 11 was kidnapped and forced to work as a prostitute. Following a public outcry, Tang was released after just over a week, and earlier this year won 2,941 yuan ($483) compensation.

Even before her case erupted, “I think a lot of people already knew that the system was

unfair,” she told AFP Saturday, adding she was “happy” it would end. Those who would have been eligible for the camps will still face punishment in future, said Randy Peerenboom, a Beijing-based law professor with La Trobe University in Melbourne, perhaps through other systems such as 15-day administrative detention or the criminal code.

“I don’t think it’s going to have any major changes on the fates of the majority of people who were subject to re-education through labor. They are still likely to be detained and subject to some penalty or the other,” he said.

China’s criminal code now allows for courts to impose lighter punishments suitable for petty offenders, from three to 24 months’ house arrest and one to six months in a police detention facility, the official Xinhua news agency said. Beijing-based rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang said the criminal system would be “relatively a little better”. “Before there was absolutely no legal basis and no need to go to trial,” he said.

“You could have them gone in a week, never mind letting them see a lawyer. “Now if you detain people you have to hold them and find a charge,” he said. Yet China’s legal systemdespite improvements towards the often-stated national goal of establishing the rule of lawremains riddled with abuses, from confessions extracted through torture to lack of legal aid to wrongful judgments.

Party leaders at the Third Plenum pledged to work on those issues as well “to improve human rights”, Xinhua said. The US-based campaign group Human Rights Watch warned against exchanging re-education through labor for another problematic scheme. “This important step will only be meaningful if the government ensures that what comes after it does not institute another system of detention without trial,” Asia director Brad Adams said in a statement on Saturday.

But he also acknowledged that “the Chinese government has finally responded to years of international and domestic criticism”. Since taking power a year ago, the new Communist leadership had hinted at changes to re-education through labor. But they have also tightened control of public voices that they felt threatened by, Pu said, calling the trend “pretty disappointing”. “It will be a long road to building a country that follows the rule of law,” he said.— AFP

NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

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ANALYSIS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

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Washington Watch

Fantasy vs reality

By Dr James J Zogby uring the Bush Administration I would often criticize the neo-conservative ideology suggesting that it was, in many ways, a secularized version of fanatic and fundamentalist Millenarian Christianity. Both shared a Manichean world view characterized by the belief in the inevitable clash between good and evil. Both were absolutist, seeing compromise as a sign of weakness and surrender to evil. As a consequence both saw violence as necessary and desirable. And both believed in an apocalyptic end in which, despite the damage done, good would be victorious and evil would be vanquished.

Guided by this ideology, the neo-conservatives, rejecting compromise, proceeded to dismantle the architecture of diplomacy that had been evolving since the end of the Second World War In particular, they cast aside the post-Cold War efforts made by former Presidents George H W Bush and Bill Clinton who used limited force only when absolutely necessary, and who otherwise built coalitions in an effort to negotiate solutions to regional conflicts.

Across the Middle East the consequences of this neo-conservative ideology were devastating, especially in Iraq and Lebanon and in the effort to salvage Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. This “neo-con” absolutist approach to politics, of course, wasn’t unique to the United States and didn’t end with the passing of the Bush Administration. It remains alive and well in America and across the Middle East and is at work today prolonging conflicts in Egypt, Syria, Israel-Palestine, and Iran. The notions that violence is the first resort, that negotiations are equivalent to surrender, that compromise is weakness, and that what is identified as evil can and must be destroyed are on display in each of these settings. As a result, actors on all sides have overreached and the conflicts in which they are engaged have been prolonged and aggravated.

The lesson that should have been learned from past tragedies is that the victor/vanquished scenario is a destructive fantasy with only the religious or ideological fanatics still believing that the fight must go on until the enemy is ultimately eliminated. That is why groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, despite repeated catastrophic failures, continue to reject peace negotiations and insist on the use of violence until the final victory is won. It is why the regime in Damascus has, from the beginning, refused to consider the concerns of their opponents and now dismisses them all as “terrorists”.

And it is why hard-line Israelis continue to maintain that their dispossession of Palestinians and control over all of the land of Mandatory Palestine is right and will ultimately be victorious. It is also why Iran’s religious leaders long insisted on maintaining their meddlesome and messianic export of revolution. And it is why the Muslim Brotherhood overreached in their efforts to consolidate their control over all the reins of state power and their drive to Islamize Egypt.

But it is also true of those who refuse to see that negotiations with Iran, if successful, can be beneficial to the region’s security, or those who reject national reconciliation as the way to advance Egypt’s new democratic experiment, or those who reject participation in Geneva II as a necessary step to ending the horrific bloodbath that has become Syria. In each case, parties on all sides continue to overreach operating under the illusion that through the application of more violence the “other side” can be destroyed once and for all - with good triumphant over evil.

In reality, what recent history has taught us is that there is no ultimate victory, just an exacerbation of tensions. Each new dose of violence only adds fuel to the fires that continue to rage. Fifteen long years of civil and regional proxy war in Lebanon resolved nothing. Similarly, decades of Israeli and Palestinian conflict neither ended the occupation, nor defeated the resistance to the occupation. And the same is true of the conflict that has torn Syria asunder.

The way forward out of the messes created by the absolutist fantasy of victor/vanquished is to recognize that as long as violence is seen as the first resort, conflicts will continue without resolution. Negotiations are necessary and compromise is the only way forward. Efforts like: the IsraeliPalestinian peace process, the P5+1 negotiations with Iran, Geneva II, and efforts to achieve national reconciliation in Egypt - all should be supported. Pressure, when necessary, must be applied. And compromise is a must. The solutions reached will neither be perfect nor will they resolve all differences. But at a minimum they will stop the hemorrhaging, end the waste of human life and treasure, ease tensions, and provide the space for needed change to occur.

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NOTE: Dr James J Zogby is the President of the Arab American Institute

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.

Obama tries to climb out of healthcare hole

By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason ormally brimming with self-confidence, President Barack Obama showed an emotion on Thursday he rarely shares with Americans: humility. He strode to a White House podium with a jarring admission: He believes he has lost the confidence of the American people and deserves the blame for the rocky rollout of his signature healthcare law. The concession was indirect, to be sure, as he spoke of “winning back the confidence of the American people,” but nonetheless was unusual in the history of the American presidency, let alone in modern, never-admit-amistake Washington. “There are times I thought we were kind of slapped around unjustly,” Obama said, referring to previous criticism aimed his way over the past five years.

“This one’s deserved.”

The healthcare law known as Obamacare - seen as Obama’s biggest domestic policy achievement - was designed to bring affordable health insurance to millions of uninsured Americans. But the launch of a government website to enable people to obtain insurance policies has been marred by technical problems that have often rendered it inaccessible. In addition, insurance companies have canceled millions of existing policies that failed to meet the law’s requirements.

Obama’s comments came as he announced a fix designed to stem the wave of cancellations. Left unspoken was what sort of fix Obama might make in his staff or in how he advances policy objectives with three years left in office and many legislative priorities still unfulfilled, including immigration reform. Obama admitted that he was never

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“informed directly” about looming problems with the website launched on Oct 1. There was no doubt, he added in yet another remarkable mea culpa, that his oft-repeated promise had turned out to be not accurate - that under his law Americans would be able to keep their health insurance plans if they liked them.

If the first step on the road to redemption is an acknowledgment of the problem, Obama did himself a favor. “It’s very striking to hear a president talking that way,” said presidential historian Michael Beschloss. “Usually it’s a JFK saying he was ‘the responsible officer of the government’ after Bay of Pigs,” the botched CIA-sponsored invasion of Cuba in 1961 during John F. Kennedy’s presidency, he added. “Or Nixon, after Watergate began, that he would ‘accept’ responsibility,” Beschloss said, referring to the scandal that led to President Richard Nixon’s 1974 resignation.

“Presidents are reluctant to say they’re sorry,” added presidential historian Thomas Alan Schwartz of Vanderbilt University. “I think he’s hurt by the perception of incompetence. That’s not good for any president to look incompetent.”

Obama has drawn criticism in recent weeks for an inability to ensure that his policies are being properly implemented. “I think it was necessary to do that,” said Democratic strategist Bob Shrum, referring to Obama’s mea culpa.

Obama was forced to make his public appearance in part by Democrats who see the problems with the implementation of a healthcare law that they backed in Congress as damaging their re-election chances in the Nov 2014 mid-term elections. Public opinion polls have caused alarm bells to ring among congressional Democrats, notably a Quinnipiac

University survey this week that put Obama’s approval rating at 39 percent.

The party that holds the White House typically loses congressional seats during mid-term elections, and the risk rises if a president’s job approval rating is below 50 percent.

Obama’s 39 percent rating put him at the same level that his Republican predecessor George W Bush experienced at the same point in his presidency. “President Obama’s misstatement, ‘If you like your health plan, you can keep it,’ left a bad taste with a lot of people,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Nearly half of the voters, 46 percent, think he knowingly deceived them.”

Obama said he felt personally responsible for the political challenges his fellow Democrats face. “There is no doubt that our failure to roll out the ACA (Affordable Care Act) smoothly has put a burden on Democrats, whether they’re running or not, because they stood up and supported this,” he said. “I feel deeply responsible for making it harder for them, rather than easier for them, to continue to promote ... the core values that I think led them to support this thing in the first place,” Obama added.

Behind the scenes at the White House, the problems with the healthcare law consume meeting after meeting.

Administration officials are trying to assure Obama’s allies that they know they have to get the problems ironed out by the end of the year. The mood behind the scenes, said one Democratic official with close ties to the White House, was one of sober determination. “They know they don’t have an easy haul here. There’s no sense of panic. There’s a sense that they got to be on top of the execution day after day, that they can’t screw anything up,” he said. — Reuters

In Texas court, battle resumes over race

By Joan Biskupic ast June the US Supreme Court faced a question it has wrestled with repeatedly for more than a generation: When may universities consider a student’s race in making admissions decisions? The justices did not provide an answer. Instead they returned the case, Fisher vs University of Texas at Austin, to the lower court that had previously upheld a University of Texas affirmative action program. They instructed it to rule on whether the university had adequately considered other methods that did not use race, such as those more focused on family income, in its efforts to diversify the student body.

On Wednesday, just a mile south of the sprawling flagship campus here, the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit once more became ground zero for a crucial battle over race. And again it seemed that the opponents of affirmative action could lose at this level - potentially sending the deeply fraught issue back up to the Supreme Court. Just as they did last year at the high court, two lawyers from powerful Washington firms squared off. Bert Rein, whose fee was largely covered by a conservative group, challenged the university’s admissions policy. Greg Garre, hired by the public university, defended it.

“If you’re going to use race as a tool,” Rein said after he stepped to the podium, “then you have certain obligations that have to be met.” He said the university would have to offer more evidence that it tried race-neutral methods of diversifying its student body. Any kind of discrimination on the basis of race - even when minorities benefit - faces a high bar under the US Constitution. Garre said the university already had offered sufficient evidence. In fact, he said, it had demonstrated that percentages of minority freshmen had dropped during a period of several years when the admissions office stopped considering race. “African-Americans suffered considerably,” Garre said.

The University of Texas now admits most of its freshmen through a “Top Ten Percent” program that automatically accepts high school seniors in roughly the top 10 percent of their class. The rest are evaluated on factors that include race, socio-economic status, hardships at home and disability. Of the current freshman class of 7,200 students, about 5 percent are black, 23 percent Hispanic and 43 percent white, university officials said.

Behind Rein and his team sat a young white woman with long strawberry blonde hair in whose name the case was being fought. Six years ago Abigail Fisher filed a lawsuit claiming she had been denied admission in favor of lesser-qualified minorities. Now 23 years old, she graduated from Louisiana State University last year and is working as a financial analyst in Austin. She no longer stands to benefit directly from the case but says she wants to help others who would follow her.

Beside Fisher were her parents and the true catalyst of the case, Edward Blum, a conservative advocate opposed to affirmative action. Blum, a friend of Fisher’s father, launched the case after looking for a situation that might win over a conservative Supreme Court, persuading her

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to sue and hiring Rein to represent her. Among the 100 other spectators sat Reva Davis and three other leaders of the university’s Black Student Alliance, attired in black, green-lettered BSA shirts. They were in reserved seats near the elevated bench.

During an hour of arguments, it appeared that the three-judge panel, which previously had ruled unanimously in favor of the university, might splinter. Judge Emilio Garza, an appointee of Republican President George H W Bush, appeared sympathetic to Rein’s claim that the university cannot justify using race in its decisions. Garza repeated a remark made by Chief Justice John Roberts at the Supreme Court last year that the university had failed to specify how many minorities provided sufficient diversity. In legal parlance, that is called “critical mass,” and an overriding dilemma for the university has been how to define that concept without hard-andfast numbers that could become unlawful quotas. Garre said that rather than putting a number on it, the university was seeking an atmosphere that ensures that minorities do not feel racially isolated.

Judge Patrick Higginbotham, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, implicitly defended the university. He pointed to the top 10 percent program as a race-neutral method of attracting more minorities, since it draws in students from urban high schools. He suggested the university should “get credit” for employing that program along with racial considerations. The third judge, Carolyn Dineen King, appointed by President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, offered little clue in her few questions as to whether she might reverse her prior vote for the policy.

A decision is expected within several months. If a majority favors the University of Texas, it is likely Fisher’s lawyers will appeal, and the dispute will be back at the US Supreme Court in a year or two. It is also possible that the court would send the case back down yet another level, to a US trial court, to collect more evidence from the university. In its ruling last June, the Supreme Court said the 5th Circuit should not have relied so heavily on the university’s assertion that it would have to consider applicants’ race to some extent in order to achieve sufficient diversity . The justices did not specify what evidence lower-court judges must demand.

The ruling has been interpreted by supporters of affirmative action, including President Barack Obama’s administration, as making no change in the status quo.

Under Supreme Court rulings tracing back 35 years, race may be considered among many traits in admissions decisions. Rein and other opponents of affirmative action say the high court’s Fisher ruling put a new burden on universities. They say universities must clearly demonstrate, with data or other hard evidence, why alternative programs failed to achieve sufficient diversity. Underlying their argument is broad opposition to affirmative action and a belief that it treats whites unfairly and can stigmatize blacks and other minorities.

Few social policy issues have been as enduringly divisive as affirmative action. The phrase relates to President

John Kennedy’s 1961 order that government contractors take “affirmative action” to hire racial minorities. The US Supreme Court first took on the higher education dilemma in 1978, with the case of Regents of the University of California vs Bakke. The court said universities trying to enhance diversity could consider an applicant’s race as one of several criteria but could not use quotas. In 2003, the court upheld Bakke in a case from the University of Michigan, stressing that programs needed to be limited in the court’s words, “narrowly tailored” - and based on individualized consideration of applicants.

Six years later, a more conservative Supreme Court took up the Fisher case. Then, as now, both sides of the debate are closely watching to see if it ultimately becomes the case that reverses the trend of the last three decades allowing affirmative action. If the high court takes up the Fisher case again, its ruling could significantly affect the fate of affirmative action policies at colleges and universities nationwide.

It is unusual for Supreme Court advocates to stick with a case when it returns to lower courts. The fact that Garre and Rein have stayed on underscores the national stakes involved. One of about a dozen regular private practitioners at the Supreme Court, Garre was a US solicitor general for the George W Bush administration, representing the government before the justices. The university paid Garre’s firm, Latham and Watkins, $1 million for the high court defense that ended last spring. The firm is now under contract for about $250,000 for the 5th Circuit round, university spokesman Gary Susswein said this week.

Rein, who worked for the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan administrations and was a founding partner of Wiley Rein, was enlisted by Blum, a longtime opponent of racial policies. Blum, who runs the Project on Fair Representation, of which he is the sole employee, is financed by a tax-exempt charitable group called Donors Trust. It raises money for conservative foundations. Blum declined to give the specifics of Rein’s fees, saying only that he had paid him “a few hundred thousand dollars” so far.

After the hearing, Fisher said she still hoped to change the University of Texas admissions policy. She said she now has two young nieces who might one day want to attend the school. “It would be really great if they had a new system,” she said. Outside the courthouse, black and Latino students held small, hand-lettered signs that said, “Diversity Matters,” and “UT Needs Diversity”. On campus, admissions officials already were screening applications for next year. They expect a total 40,000 applications by the Dec 1 deadline.

Kedra Ishop, director of admissions, said in an earlier interview that the university had adhered to the same screening process throughout the years of Fisher’s challenge. She said officials do not begin the annual process with numerical goals, but rather with the aim of ensuring students “feel represented and comfortable”. Of the drive for diversity, Ishop said: “That’s the reason we’re in court every year.” — Reuters

NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

Indian Sikh Nihang warriors perform a fire-breathing act during a procession from Sri Akal Takhat to the Golden Temple in Amritsar yesterday on the eve of the 544th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak was the founder of the religion of Sikhism and the first of ten Sikh Gurus. — AFP

Clashes in Tripoli, death toll tops 40 TRIPOLI: Fresh clashes erupted in Tripoli yesterday as the death toll from a shootout at an anti-militia protest rose to 43 and the weak, post-revolutionary government appealed for restraint. More than 450 people were wounded when Friday’s protest sparked clashes in the capital between rival militias that continued through the night, Justice Minister Salah al-Marghani said. Prime Minister Ali Zeidan appealed for “restraint and a halt to the clashes”, warning that the entry of more armed groups into the volatile city could only “further complicate the situation”.

“The coming hours and days will be decisive for the history of Libya and the success of the revolution,” stressed Zeidan, who was himself abducted by militiamen and held for several hours last month. Libya has seen a surge in unrest as former rebels who helped end Muammar Gaddafi four decades of dictatorship have scoffed at government demands to lay down their arms or join the security forces.

The latest violence erupted when protesters carrying white flags marched on a cluster of villas that serve as the Tripoli base of the Misrata brigade - made up of battle-hardened fighters from the western city of the same name - and demanded that they leave the capital. Gunmen opened fire from inside the villas, killing several protesters and prompting rival militias to attack the base,

setting part of it ablaze and briefly expelling the Misrata fighters. The western city of Misrata, Libya’s third largest, saw some of the fiercest fighting of the 2011 uprising, and its fighters eventually advanced to Tripoli as Kadhafi’s regime crumbled.

Reinforcements rolled into the capital overnight from the militia’s headquarters in Misrata, 200 km away, and retook the base in Ghargour as explosions and gunfire echoed across the city. The Misrata brigade attacked an army barracks early yesterday, setting off clashes in which one person was killed and eight wounded, according to Colonel Mosbah Al-Harna, commander of a brigade nominally under the authority of the defence ministry. Harna said the Misrata militiamen then looted the base, taking away vehicles, weapons and ammunition. Another column of Misrata reinforcements tried to enter Tripoli from the east, setting off clashes with rival militias.

Military police restricted access to the Gharghour district yesterday, warning motorists of the risks. “Heartbreaking to hear continuing gunfire. An insult to the memory of the martyrs,” US ambassador Deborah Jones tweeted. The UN mission in Tripoli also condemned the violence, urging Libyans to “exercise maximum restraint and resort to peaceful means to resolve their differences”. — AFP

Brotherhood offers talks to...

Continued from Page 1 The Islamists proposed conditions for the dialogue, including the release of Islamist prisoners and the reopening of Islamist broadcasters shut down after Morsi’s July 3 overthrow by the military.

They also insisted that the military, which has formally handed power to an interim civilian government, must “return to the barracks”. Unlike previous offers, which all hinged on Morsi’s return to power before negotiations, the Islamists were pointedly vague on their end goals. They demanded “a return to constitutional legitimacy and the democratic process with the participation of all political groups, without one group monopolising the process or excluding any group”. The vague formulation allows the Islamists room to manoeuvre. Morsi’s reinstatement is often included in what they describe as “legitimacy”, in addition to that of the suspended constitution and senate. But privately Brotherhood officials have said they might agree to a “constitutional” exit for the president, such as his nominal resig-

nation. The interim government has insisted that the Islamists unconditionally accept its authority and schedule for elections. It says those who have not taken part in violence would be free to stand in the polls.

But a court has banned the Brotherhood, and yesterday a panel of judges also recommended the FJP be dissolved. Such recommendations are nonbinding but often adopted in the final verdict. Morsi himself insisted at the start of his trial on Nov 4 that he was still Egypt’s legitimate president and could only be removed by a parliamentary vote. Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood veteran who headed the FJP before his election, appeared in court to answer charges of involvement in the killings of opposition protesters.

The interim government will organise parliamentary elections in February or March, followed by presidential elections in the summer. The Islamist-dominated parliament had already been suspended by a court before Morsi’s election in June 2012, and the senate was dissolved on his overthrow. — AFP

Kuwait refutes damning NYT...

Continued from Page 1 These measures were to come into effect as of 11:30 pm yesterday, and drivers were advised to use Sheikh Zayed motorway (Fifth Ring Road) instead.

For those intending to exit Kuwait International Airport, Hashash suggested using Ghazali Expressway, while those intending to head to the airport were advised to use either the Fifth Ring Road, the Sixth Ring Road or the Ghazali Expressway. As for the official welcoming schedule of the guests, he said that the timings today would be between 5:30

pm and 7:00 pm, with two periods set for tomorrow - in the morning (10:00 am1:00 pm) and evening (5:30 pm-7:00 pm).

The measures are being implemented according to the instructions of the Deputy Prime Minister and interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Khaled AlHamad Al-Sabah, which have been decided in response to strategies and plans made in advance for the success of this international event, he added.

Hashash urged the public to cooperate with security personnel on the success of the event which, he said, is of huge significance to the nation. — KUNA

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

S P ORTS Szczesny commited to Arsenal

China march into finals

Khedira might miss WCup

LONDON: Poland international goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal, the Premier League club said yesterday.

The 23-year-old, who joined Arsenal’s academy in 2006 from his hometown club Legia Warsaw, made his Gunners debut in 2009 and has played 121 times for the side. He has also played 15 times for Poland. Szczesny told the official Arsenal website (www.arsenal.com): “I am very pleased to have signed a new contract. Arsenal is like my family and I’m so happy to be committing my long-term future here. “I’ve been at this club for over seven years now and I’d just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support towards me during my time here.” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger added: “We’re very pleased Wojciech has signed a new long-term contract. I have always believed he is an extremely talented player, with excellent reflexes and good mental strength.“He continues to grow and improve all the time too, so he has the potential to be even better. He can be an important part of Arsenal Football Club for many years to come.” Szczesny has re-established himself as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper this season, after being dropped by Wenger following a poor spell of form last season.—Reuters

SHANGHAI: It will be an all-Chinese showdown in the men’s singles, women’s singles and double’s finals at the VICTOR China Open Finals following yesterday’s semi-finals. Defending champion Chen Long defeated Malaysia’s Wei Feng Chong 21-17, 21-7 to reach his fourth straight China Open finals. He will attempt to win his third title against 23-year old former World Junior Champion Wang Zhengming who dispatched Kento Momota of Japan 22-20, 9-21, 21-6.

Defending women’s singles champion and top seed Li Xuerui overcame a spirited challenge from Li Han 21-12, 21-19 with the match point coming on a long rally that won the crowd’s approval. She will face seventh seeded Wang Shixian in today’s finals. Wang easily bested fellow Thai Portnip Buranaprasertsuk 21-13, 21-5, a day after causing an upset by knocking out world champion Ratchanok Intanon.

One year after making their return to competition following a controversial Olympic scandal, top seeded women’s duo Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang put on a dominating performance winning in just 17 minutes. It was a good day for China as all three of their women’s teams will play in the semi-finals. The contenders stayed strong in mixed-doubles with topseeded pair Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei of China, second seeds Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia and number four Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen of Denmark all winning.—AFP

BERLIN: Germany and Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira’s World Cup hopes hang in the balance after he was ruled out for around six months with a torn cruciate ligament suffered in Friday’s 1-1 draw against Italy, team doctors said yesterday.

Khedira, who also tore another ligament in his right knee during the incident, will undergo surgery. “He will need to be operated on but we are hopeful he could be fit in time for the World Cup,” team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt said.

Germany take on England at Wembley in another friendly international on Tuesday.

“This is a bitter setback for Sami. But he always thinks positively and that is why I am optimistic he will be ready and fit when the World Cup starts,” coach Joachim Loew said. Khedira had formed a superb holding midfield partnership with Bastian Schweinsteiger, who himself underwent surgery this week for a persistent ankle injury. Schweinsteiger is not expected to return before the end of the winter break in January. Loew said he had decided to travel to London without captain Philipp Lahm, first-choice keeper Manuel Neuer and playmaker Mesut Ozil in order to give other players a chance. “They are absolutely part of the main structure of this team and what is important for me now is to give other players in these key positions a chance to show what they can do against a big opponent like England,” he said. —Reuters

All Blacks maintain winning streak against gutsy England LONDON: New Zealand survived an England fightback to make it 13 wins out of 13 this year with a 30-22 victory at Twickenham yesterday.

The world champions, for whom this win atoned for their shock 38-21 loss at Twickenham nearly a year ago, led by 14 points as early as the 17th minute.

But England recovered to lead 22-20 heading into the final quarter. However, Julian Savea then scored his second try of the match-the wing’s 18th in 19th Testsand the All Blacks saw the game out to keep alive their hopes of a perfect calendar year heading into their final match of 2013 against Ireland in Dublin next weekend.

For 2015 World Cup hosts England, defeat meant they ended their November campaign on a losing note after wins over Australia and Argentina but there was plenty of encouragement for coach Stuart Lancaster in his side’s performance against the self-styled “most dominant team in the history of the world”. An enthralling first half saw New Zealand race into a 17-3 lead but the All Blacks were just 20-16 ahead come half-time.

By then New Zealand star fly-half Dan Carter had gone off injured in his 100th Test. It took New Zealand fewer than two minutes to score the first try of the match through Savea. Ma’a Nonu’s well-judged chip ahead set up a New Zealand line-out five metres from England’s line. All Blacks No.8 Kieran Read then twice did brilliantly to set up Savea’s score. First he took a poor pass from McCaw that bounced in front of him and then delivered a superb inside ball to Savea that took out three covering England defenders.

Savea strolled over and, with international record points-scorer Carter kicking the conversion, New Zealand were 7-0 up. Minutes later England were on the scoreboard when fly-half Owen Farrell kicked a 45metre penalty.

In the 11th minute, England wing Ben Foden thought he’d scored a length-of-the-field intercept try but South African referee Craig Joubert brought play back for a penalty for offside by England captain Chris Robshaw and Carter made it 10-3 to New Zealand.

England were struggling to get their hands on the ball and the All Blacks’ pressure produced a second try, this time for Read, in the 16th minute.

Lock Brodie Retallick’s pass set prop Owen Franks off on a charging run. From the ruck, scrum-half Aaron Smith released full-back Israel Dagg and his pass sent in Read. Carter converted and New Zealand led 17-3.

England did manage to establish some territorial control from the re-start through several close-range scrums before opting for a five-metre line-out after an All Blacks infringement.

After replays were inconclusive as to whether No.8 Billy Vunipola had got the ball down for a try, England struck from a five-metre scrum when lock Joe Launchbury crossed after Read’s knock-on.

Farrell kicked the conversion and England were back in the match at 10-17 down. New Zealand then suffered a further setback when Carter limped off just 26 minutes into his landmark appearance .

Soon afterwards his replacement, Aaron Cruden, kicked a 40-metre penalty, awarded for offside, to extend New Zealand’s lead to 20-10. But New Zealand found themselves a man down when Read was sinbinned in the 33rd minute.—AFP

Sabres and Capitals win BUFFALO: Steve Ott had a goal and an assist, and the Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Friday night in coach Ted Nolan’s first game in 16 years behind the Buffalo bench. Marcus Foligno scored the go-ahead goal, and Christian Ehrhoff sealed it with an empty-netter in the final minute. The Sabres (5-15-1) won their second consecutive game for the first time since closing last season with two victories. They also won their second straight at home after opening the season 0-8-1 in Buffalo.

Ryan Miller stopped 32 shots, and was particularly sharp in the final minute.

The win came two days after Sabres owner Terry Pegula fired coach Ron Rolston and general manager Darcy Regier.

Trevor Smith scored for the Maple Leafs (11-7-1), who dropped to 0-2-1 in their past three - their longest losing streak since going 0-3-2 from March 7-16. Toronto has scored just four goals in regulation in five games.

WILD 3, PANTHERS 2 Charlie Coyle put Minnesota ahead with 8:22 remaining after Florida scored twice in the third period to tie it, and the Wild hung on to beat the Panthers for their sixth win in seven games. After a scoreless second period, the Wild paid for their mid-game sluggishness by giving up goals to Tomas Kopecky and Jonathan Huberdeau about 51/2 minutes apart that gave the Panthers life.

Josh Harding stopped 22 shots to improve to 9-0 at home.

The NHL leader in goals against average has given up two goals or fewer in all but one of his 16 appearances. Zach Parise and Jason Pominville gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead. Tim Thomas made 17 saves for the Panthers.

The Wild improved to 9-1-2 at home this season for 20 points, the most by any NHL team. At 12-4-4, they set a franchise record for most points (28) through 20 games.

JETS 3, FLYERS 2 Dustin Byfuglien had two power-play goals and Bryan Little scored the winner in the shootout to give Winnipeg a victory against Philadelphia.

The Jets extended their winning streak to four games and ended Philadelphia’s at three. Devin Setoguchi scored in the first round of the shootout for Winnipeg.

Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds had goals for the Flyers. Claude Giroux scored in the second round of the shootout. Byfuglien scored during a power-play 5:36 in for Winnipeg’s seventh man-advantage goal this season.

CAPITALS 4, RED WINGS 3 Nicklas Backstrom scored the only goal of the shootout, and Washington rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat Detroit.

Brooks Laich, and Alex Ovechkin added goals, and Michale Latta scored his first in the NHL for Washington. Braden Holtby made 30 saves. Johan Franzen had two goals and an assist, and Danny DeKeyser had a goal and an assist for Detroit, which lost its seventh straight at home and its 11th consecutive overtime decision there. Jakub Kindl had two assists, and Jimmy Howard made 34 saves. Latta tied it 3-3 with 8:06 left in regulation when he poked in a loose puck from just outside the slot.

Ovechkin had brought Washington within 3-2 at 3:19 of the third period with his 15th goal.

KINGS 2, DEVILS 0 Dwight King and Anze Kopitar scored third-period goals, and Ben Scrivens made 26 saves to lift Los Angeles over New Jersey. King’s sixth goal of the season came at 13:08.

Defenseman Jake Muzzin’s drive from the left point was redirected by King, standing in front of goalie Cory Schneider.

Kopitar scored an empty-net goal with 2.9 seconds left.

Schneider made 19 saves. It was the Kings’ first visit to New Jersey since they beat the Devils in the 2012 Stanley Cup finals.

PENGUINS 4, PREDATORS 1 James Neal and Brandon Sutter each had a goal and an assist, and Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Nashville.

Playing in his fourth game of the season, Neal - a former 40goal scorer - netted his first of the season late in the first period to give the Penguins a lead they didn’t relinquish against the road-weary Predators. Nashville lost the final four of a franchise-record, 17-day, seven-game trip. Gabriel Bourque scored 2:28 in but the Predators were held to fewer than two goals for the fourth consecutive game.

Pascal Dupuis and Kris Letang also scored, and Evgeni Malkin extended his point streak to six with two assists for Pittsburgh. Marc-Andre Fleury made 17 saves to improve to 8-2 at home. The Penguins have held opponents under three goals in seven of eight games. Nashville fell to 7-1-2 when scoring first.

SENATORS 4, BRUINS 2 Jason Spezza, Jared Cowen and Bobby Ryan scored thirdperiod goals, and Ottawa earned a comeback victory against Boston. The Senators ended the Bruins’ 11-game winning streak in Ottawa. Chris Neil also scored for the Senators (8-74), who were coming off a 5-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Craig Anderson was solid in stopping 30 shots. Loui Eriksson and Brad Marchand scored for the Bruins (12-6-1). Tuukka Rask made 27 saves.

Ryan had to leave the game with just over three minutes remaining after taking an elbow to the head by Dennis Seidenberg. There was no penalty on the play.

BUFFALO: Phil Kessel No. 81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs controls the puck against Ville Leino No. 23 of the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. — AFP HURRICANES 3, DUCKS 2 Chris Terry scored the winner in the shootout to lift Carolina over Anaheim. Eric Staal and Drayson Bowman scored for Carolina in regulation, and Justin Peters made 28 saves. Peters, filling in for the injured Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin, helped Carolina conclude a 4-0-1 homestand by making 138 saves on 144 shots. Corey Perry had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, and Dustin Penner also scored. In his first game since being activated from the injured list on Thursday, Viktor Fasth stopped 21 shots. After a nine-game stretch in which they went 8-0-1, the Ducks have lost three in a row.

Perry and Carolina’s Riley Nash had scored earlier in the shootout, but Terry won it when he skated quickly and made a move before going to his backhand for the goal.

CANADIENS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2 David Desharnais scored the only goal in the shootout and Peter Budaj stopped all three shots he faced in the tiebreaker to lead Montreal past Columbus.

Montreal’s regulation goals came from Alex Galchenyuk and Lars Eller. Budaj registering 23 stops through overtime. RJ Umberger and Artem Anisimov had first-period goals for the

Vettel on top in Texas AUSTIN: Quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel’s bid for a record eighth straight Formula One race win of the season picked up speed on Friday with the Red Bull driver fastest in free practice for the US Grand Prix. After sitting near the bottom of the timing sheets in a foggy and chaotic opening practice session, the 26-year-old German sizzled under the blazing afternoon Texas sun and lapped the Circuit of the Americas with a best time of one minute 37.305 seconds.

“The circuit was quite slippery today; I was happy with the car but you always know you can improve here and there,” Vettel told reporters. “I think we got through the programme, we were able to test some things, some were good and some not so good, but we will see. “Ferrari looked quick this morning and McLaren could be a surprise here and Lotus and Mercedes will be strong as normal.”

Vettel, who won his fourth successive title in India last month and now has 11 wins this year, was 0.115 seconds faster than Australian team mate Mark Webber who cemented the Red Bull one-two. No driver has ever won eight races in a row in a single season, but Vettel equalled Michael Schumacher’s seven earlier this month in Abu Dhabi and is favorite to win again this weekend.

The two Red Bulls were followed by the two Mercedes drivers with Germany’s Nico Rosberg third and Britain’s Lewis Hamilton, winner of the inaugural race in Austin last year with McLaren, ready for another strong weekend in fourth.

“This track and city are just such a beautiful place to be racing,” said Hamilton. “It was a pretty straightforward day although we still have some work to do to nail the set-up because it’s not quite there yet. “But all of us in the team are focused on ending the season on a high and taking that foundation with us into the winter.” Heikki Kovalainen, the Finn who is replacing compatriot Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus for the last two races after the 2007 champion pulled out to have back surgery, was an impressive fifth fastest in the afternoon.

Blue Jackets. Curtis McElhinney made 38 saves. The game pitted teams that have been struggling. The Canadiens had lost five of six (1-3-2), and the Blue Jackets have now dropped eight of nine (1-6-2).

The Finn’s French team mate Romain Grosjean was eighth in the same session. Lotus are fighting with Ferrari and secondplaced Mercedes for the coveted, and lucrative, runner-up slot in the constructors’ championship already won by Red Bull.

“I didn’t know what to expect to be honest, it was such a short notice so it is difficult to know but overall we had a pretty good day,” said Kovalainen, who only got the call from Lotus on Tuesday evening. “I felt comfortable straight-away in the car. I think we can still improve a little bit tomorrow to stay competitive.” McLaren had another tough day with Jenson Button handed a three place grid penalty for Sunday’s race after stewards ruled the Briton had overtaken a car while the morning session was under a red flag. He was ninth quickest

in the afternoon ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who was given the all-clear to race after a medical on Thursday.

The Spaniard, who hurt his back when he hit a kerb at high speed during the race in Abu Dhabi, had topped the delayed and truncated morning practice session but could not match that pace in the afternoon. “I had no problem being back on track today. My back felt fine and I was able to drive the same as always,” said Alonso. “Compared to last year, the track conditions seemed better.”

Russian Daniil Kvyat made his first appearance for Toro Rosso at a race weekend and was 17th fastest with a lap only 0.202 slower than Australian race regular Daniel Ricciardo, the man he is replacing next season.—Reuters

SHARKS 3, OILERS 1 Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist, and Joe Thornton helped set up three goals as the San Jose Sharks beat Edmonton to stretch their winning streak to three games and extend the Oilers’ skid to six. Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl also scored for the Sharks (13-2-5), who moved one point behind Pacific Division-leading Anaheim. San Jose has one game remaining on a five-game trip, Sunday at Chicago. Nail Yakupov had the lone goal for the Oilers (4-15-2), who are 1-9-1 in their last 11 games. Edmonton has been outscored 23-3 in its last six home contests. The Oilers, 1-7 at home this season, fell behind Buffalo and into last place in the NHL standings. — AP

NHL results/standings Buffalo 3, Toronto 1; Los Angeles 2, New Jersey 0; Pittsburgh 4, Nashville 1; Carolina 3, Anaheim 2 (SO); Montreal 3, Columbus 2 (SO); Ottawa 4, Boston 2; Washington 4, Detroit 3 (SO); Minnesota 3, Florida 2; Winnipeg 3, Philadelphia 2 (SO); San Jose 3, Edmonton 1.

Anaheim San Jose Phoenix Los Angeles Vancouver Calgary Edmonton Chicago Colorado Minnesota St. Louis Dallas Winnipeg Nashville Tampa Bay Boston Detroit Toronto Montreal Ottawa Florida Buffalo Pittsburgh Washington Carolina NY Rangers New Jersey NY Islanders Philadelphia Columbus

AUSTIN: Ferrari’s driver Fernando Alonso of Spain races during a practice round for the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas. — AFP

Western Conference Pacific Division W L OTL GF 15 5 2 71 13 2 5 71 13 4 3 67 13 6 1 57 11 7 3 55 6 10 3 52 4 15 2 49 Central Division 13 2 4 71 14 4 0 58 12 4 4 53 12 2 3 61 10 7 2 56 10 9 2 56 8 9 2 39 Eastern Conference Atlantic Division 14 5 0 61 12 6 1 53 9 5 6 50 11 7 1 53 10 8 2 52 8 7 4 57 4 12 4 42 5 15 1 39 Metropolitan Division 12 7 0 55 11 8 1 65 8 7 4 37 9 9 0 41 6 8 5 38 7 10 3 56 7 10 2 35 6 10 3 48

GA 56 45 63 46 56 71 81

PTS 32 31 29 27 25 15 10

53 37 43 40 55 59 61

30 28 28 27 22 22 18

44 36 55 45 44 58 69 64

28 25 24 23 22 20 12 11

43 58 51 49 48 64 48 56

24 23 20 18 17 17 16 15

Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

S P ORT S Photo of the day

Scott storms clear at Australian Masters

Cyrille Oumedjkane of France dives from the 27 metre platform on Hong Island during the last competition day of the eighth and final stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, Krabi, Thailand on October 26 2013. — www.redbullcontentpool.com

Stenson aims to hold off Poulter in Dubai DUBAI: Henrik Stenson fired a five-under 67 in the third round of Dubai’s $8-million DP World Tour Championship yesterday to retain a one-shot lead, although Ian Poulter who can pip the Swede to Europe’s money-list title - closed to within four shots.

Stenson can win the Race to Dubai, formerly the European Order of Merit, and a $1-million bonus with victory at the tour’s season finale, as can Poulter if he prevails over 72 holes at the Earth course and Stenson fails to finish in the top two.

“I know the guys are going to try their hardest to attack again tomorrow,” said Stenson. “It’s all about being in position on Sunday afternoon. “We’ll have to see coming into the back nine, the last three or four, if I need to make any adjustments.” The 37-year-old sank four birdies on the final five holes to move to an aggregate 17-under 199, while Briton Poulter (66) is on 203.

“I’m right there. I’m hunting,” said Poulter. “If I can get off to a decent start tomorrow, it’s going to be a fun back nine.

If I play like I did today, 62 is realistic.” Sandwiched between them is world number 39 Victor Dubuisson who rattled in 11 birdies as he equalled this year’s best round of 64. The in-form Frenchman, winner of last week’s $7-million Turkish Airlines Open, is on 200, or 16 under, despite making a double-bogey at the par-four 10th.

“I didn’t hole very long putts but I played good between four and 10 feet,” said the 23-year-old. “The last three months I’ve been working very hard on my putting, my short game, the stroke, the way to read the line.”

England’s Justin Rose (68) and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (68), who could also win the money list with victory in Dubai, are off the pace at 11 and 8 under respectively. Going into the tournament, Stenson said he was happy to lead from the front and his confidence was

apparent as he surged to 12 under after two rounds, five shots clear of his closest rivals for the money list crown.

The Swede was less assured as he began his third round under stifling desert skies, missing presentable birdie chances on the par-four first hole and par-five second, lipping the first - a 10-foot downhill putt - and coming up awry on the other from a similar distance.

The crowd was dotted with Sweden flags and Stenson’s home support hoped for something to cheer after the country’s soccer team lost 1-0 to Portugal in the first leg of their World Cup playoff on Friday. He obliged on the fifth, landing his second shot within three foot of the pin and he made no mistake from there to pick up his first shot of the day and move to 13 under.

Playing partner Alejandro Canizares started one stroke behind Stenson and drew level with a four-foot birdie on the second but on the fifth the Spaniard sank a three-putt bogey - his first dropped shot since the same hole of the first round - to leave Stenson two shots clear.

Canizares (70) ended on 203, while Stenson birdied the seventh, bogeyed the 10th and picked up shots on holes 14, 15, 16 and 18 as an afternoon breeze swept the course.

“It was a bit of a tough day for me,” said the world number three. “I was probably in-between clubs a few more times and I just didn’t strike it quite as good.”

Poulter, Europe’s Ryder Cup hero in 2012, sank birdies on the opening two holes and bogeyed the par-three fourth before picking up further shots at holes five and seven. He made four more birdies on the back nine, although another par-three bogey on the 17th blotted his scorecard. “I need to make up ground. I’m being overly aggressive and it’s going to catch you a couple of times but hopefully being aggressive I can take my fair share of birdie putts,” added Poulter, 37. — Reuters

DUBAI: Henrik Stenson from Sweden plays a bunker shot during the 3rd round of the World Tour Golf Championship. — AP

MELBOURNE: Defending champion Adam Scott laid one hand on a second successive Australian Masters trophy yesterday, shooting a five-under 66 to take a commanding four-stroke lead into the final round.

Joint leader with compatriot Nathan Holman overnight, the U.S. Masters champion rolled in seven birdies on another breezy day at Royal Melbourne for a 14-under total of 199, well clear of a four-player group that includes former world number one Vijay Singh.

World number eight Matt Kuchar, warming up for his World Cup title defence with the United States next week, was a further stroke adrift after carding a solid four-under 67.

Scott will be paired up with triple major champion Singh after the Fijian tore up the famed sandbelt course with an eight-under 63 to continue his late-year resurgence after a troubled season marred by a doping controversy. With his driving and iron-play in superb touch, the world number two Australian will be difficult to catch, however. “I just hit my shots today... hit lovely approach shots, made a couple of putts for the first time this week,” Scott told reporters.

“If there’s enough holes with that quality of golf tomorrow, a good score’s going to be out there for me.

“Vijay must have done something like that today.”

Scott’s putter ran hot midway through his front nine as he drained four birdies in five holes, including three in a row from the par-four seventh to charge clear of the chasing pack.

The 33-year-old wobbled with bogeys on 10 and 11 to slip back to a two-stroke lead but recovered with birdies on 15 and 17 to march to the brink of his second successive title Down Under, having won the national PGA Championship in the Gold Coast on Sunday.

Having started with a scratchy first round of 72, Singh shook out the rust with a second round 68 before shifting into overdrive yesterday to post the tournament’s best round.

The 50-year-old hit all 18 greens in regulation and notched seven birdies and an eagle on the par-five 15th to give himself a chance.

Now eligible for the PGA Champions Tour, the big Fijian has not had a win in five years but proved he was far from a spent force with a runner-up finish at the U.S. tour’s season-opening Frys.com tournament last month.

“A couple of weeks ago I was in contention so it’s a good feeling,” he told reporters. “It gets your blood flowing again and, you know, thank God it’s a little warmer (here).

“The first two days were pretty miserable but I play better when it’s warm so hopefully tomorrow is going

MELBOURNE: Adam Scott of Australia rides home a putt during the third round of the Australian Masters golf tournament played at the Royal Melbourne course. — AFP

to be a warm day and I can do what I did today.”

Singh, tied on a 10-under total of 203 with a trio of local players in Holman, Nick Cullen and Matt Griffin, is likely to get his wish with the weather forecast to be a sunny and pleasant 22 degrees Celsius.

A team mate of Singh’s in Presidents Cup campaigns, Scott poked gentle fun at the Fijian after he said he was hoping to avoid playing on the PGA’s Champions Tour if he could help it.

“It’s been a while since Veej and I played together. I don’t see him that much any more now that he’s a senior tour player,” Scott quipped.

Scott remains on track to complete a sweep of Australia’s three marquee tournaments with the national Open to come in Sydney. — Reuters

Shiffrin leaves Levi with a win... and a reindeer LEVI: American teen ski sensation Mikaela Shiffrin dominated the first women’s slalom of the season at the Finnish Lapland resort of Levi yesterday and was awarded a reindeer she named Rudolf for her podium-topping feat.

Shiffrin, 18, gold medallist at the world championships in Schladming in February, claimed her fifth World Cup win in the discipline in a time of 1min 55.07sec.

The American finished a massive 1.06sec ahead of Germany’s Maria Hoefl Riesch to claim 100 points, prize money and the six-month-old reindeer courtesy of the Levi organising committee.

“Who wouldn’t want to get a reindeer?” beamed Shiffrin. “I remember being five years old and Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer was my favorite song.

“I scared him off a bit when I jumped off the podium to meet him but I think we will be getting along. I hope that when he gets older and trained I can go for a ride on a sledge with him.”

Tina Maze of Slovenia was third, 1.61sec off the pace, just ahead of another teenage prodigy in Austria’s Christina Ager, who turned 18 just last week.

Shiffrin was quickest in the first run of the day and was the only woman to go under 58 seconds in both runs. “Maybe I was a little bit lucky in the first run, I can’t even really remember it,” she said.

“I just wanted to take the second run like its own race and really hammer it. I was in the gate and like, ‘No mercy, charge down this course’ and I think I did.”

After finishing sixth in the season-opening giant slalom at Soelden in Austria three weeks ago, Shiffrin went top of the overall World Cup standings thanks to this win, 40 points clear of Lara Gut, who was missing here.

She had finished the 2013 season with a victory in the slalom at Lenzerheide in Switzerland. “There’s definitely some relief there... one of my goals is to keep my slalom standings, and it’s nice to know I’m not that far off,” Shiffrin said.

For Hoefl-Riesch, it was a seventh podium finish at the resort which lies inside the Arctic Circle. The women’s World Cup tour now moves on to the American resort of Beaver Creek for a super-G and giant slalom from November 29-December 1.

The events will be held on the newly-completed Raptor course, which will host all women’s competition during the 2015 World Ski Championships. — AFP

LEVI: Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, celebrates on the podium after winning an Alpine Ski World Cup women’s slalom yesterday. — AP

Real and CSKA lead Euroleague BELGRADE: Eight-times Euroleague winners Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow led the way as the established teams celebrated big victories on Friday halfway through the preliminary group stage of the marathon 24-team competition.

CSKA, who have won six titles, crushed 1992 champions Partizan Belgrade 88-46 to bounce back from successive defeats by Fenerbahce Istanbul and Barcelona thanks to a superb performance by their perimeter shooters.

CSKA’s former NBA forward Sonny Weems nailed 18 points, Vitaly Fridzon added 16 and Serb shooting guard Vladimir Micov contributed 15 as Partizan hit only 16 of

43 field goals in Moscow. “We played great defence, protected the paint and put pressure on their shooters,” CSKA’s Italian coach Ettore Messina told the competition’s official website (www.euroleague.net).

“On the other side, we moved the ball well and quickly and that had a positive effect on our shooting percentage.” Holders Olympiakos Piraeus scraped a 79-77 home win over Polish debutants Stelmet Zielona Gora, stretching their perfect start to five wins on the back of 21 points from Georgios Printezis and 18 by inspirational playmaker Vassilis Spanoulis.

Stelmet threatened to spring a major upset after leading by eight points at the end of the third quarter,

but a strong final period allowed Olympiakos to come out on top.

Russia’s newcommers Lokomotiv Kuban improved their record to 4-1 after edging Spaniards Laboral Kutxa 85-84 at home, with American guard Derrick Brown capping a blistering individual performance with a gamehigh 23 points.

Red Star Belgrade celebrated a second straight win after opening with three defeats, overpowering Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius 88-77 backed by a frenetic 8,000 home crowd in the Pionir Arena.

Double former champions Barcelona strolled to an 8474 win at Budivelnik Kiev and Fenerbahce made it a per-

fect five wins with the 83-66 home defeat of Nanterre on Thursday.

However, their exploits were eclipsed by Wednesday’s effervescent display from Real. The Spanish giants mauled Anadolu Efes Istanbul 103-57 with five of their players finishing with double figures led by Greek centre Ioannis Bourousis who had 17 points and seven rebounds. “Our intensity level was tremendous for the entire 40 minutes and we clearly hurt our opponents with good defence that opened a lot of fast breaks,” said Real coach Pablo Laso. “We played intelligent offence, attacking some rival players we had scouted before the game.” — Reuters

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

S P ORT S

walks into the sunset NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar faded into history on Saturday after a record-breaking career that set new batting standards for 24 years and saw the brilliant Indian batsman leave a legacy to remember. The ‘Little Master’ finally departed the scene aged 40 after playing a record 200th Test match in front of home fans at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium where a stand is named after him.

The most influential contemporary cricketer, and the highest run-maker in history, will be remembered as an icon who was consistently brilliant, universally admired and modest to a fault.

“Cricket will go on and records will be broken, but there will never be a player like Sachin again,” India’s first World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev, himself an icon of

the sport, told AFP. “He was truly one in a billion. We should celebrate his retirement, not regret it.” For more than two decades, Tendulkar grabbed the headlines like no other cricketer and barely put a foot wrong despite years of high-pressure national expectations and fierce media attention.

He remained the smiling, boyish figure he was when he burst onto the world stage in 1989, aged 16, and ended as the world’s leading Test and one-day scorer and the only man to record 100 international centuries.

Tendulkar held almost all coveted batting records except Don Bradman’s career average of 99.94, and Brian Lara’s individual scores of 400 not out in Tests and an unbeaten 501 in first-class cricket. But ever the team

Reactions MUMBAI: Reaction to the retirement of India’s Sachin Tendulkar from cricket yesterday after a glittering career spanning 24 years: DAVID RICHARDSON, CEO of International Cricket Council (ICC): “He was an exceptional cricketer who earned the utmost respect of his peers, team mates, opponents and fans all over the world through his talent, performances and fierce competitiveness.

“His 664 internationals, 34,357 runs and 100 centuries over 24 years not only illustrate his determination and commitment to the game but also his mental and physical toughness which are the vital ingredients to reach the highest pedestal in any sport.

“Sachin always put his team ahead of himself during his illustrious career but he picked up a number of personal accolades which highlights his brilliance.

“Sporting geniuses like Sachin are rare phenomena and we are privileged to have seen him in action. On behalf of the ICC and the entire cricketing family, I thank Sachin for his unprecedented services to our sport and we wish him well in the future.”

JITENDRA SINGH, sports minister of India: “Sachin Tendulkar is one of the finest examples of sportsmen we have ever had with love for the sport, humility, integrity, honesty and pure unbridled talent. His sterling performance across all formats of the game, from Tests, ODIs and T20 over 24 years, is a rare feat of exemplary elegance, earnest application and commitment.”

ANJALI, wife of Sachin Tendulkar: “I have always known, from even before we got married, he is not only mine. Cricket comes first.

He belongs to Mumbai, he belongs to the country and then he belongs to us. “I can imagine cricket without Sachin but I can’t imagine Sachin without cricket.”

ROGER FEDERER, tennis great, on Twitter: “What a remarkable career @sachin_rt. Wish you the very best moving forward #ThankYouSachin” SANIA MIRZA, India tennis player, on Twitter: “So emotional...the whole country is...we will miss u #RESPECT #SACHIN #LEGEND” MICHAEL CARRICK, England footballer, on Twitter: “A true great of sport @sachin_rt retiring, had some innings!! The little master will be missed.”

GRAEME SMITH, South Africa captain, on Twitter: “Sorry I missed @sachin_rt last game.what can you say about a man that did so much for our great game! all the best in

retirement & thank you!”

MATTHEW HAYDEN, former Australia cricketer, on Twitter: “Chase dreams and no short cuts, be a good person #dad patience, prayers and sacrifices #mum whatever you do, do it 100%#brother #Sachin” BRETT LEE, former Australia cricketer, on Twitter: “Congrats to the legend @sachin_rt well done mate on everything you have achieved. A phenomenal career” DARREN LEHMANN, Australia coach, on Twitter: “Congratulations to Sachin on a magnificent career! One of the best of all time in the world of cricket, plenty of memories from him!”

DAMIEN FLEMING, former Australia cricketer, on Twitter: “Well done on a great career #Sachin And #ThankYouSachin all the headaches bowling to you in your prime” TOM MOODY, former Australia cricketer, on Twitter: “Moving & classy speech by the “little master” composed & graceful to the very end. #ThankYouSachin” GRAEME SWANN, England cricketer, on Twitter: “I’m not sure if you heard but Sachin Tendulkar retired today! What a great little player and lovely bloke #ThankYouSachin” LUKE WRIGHT, England cricketer, on Twitter: “Such a honor to have watched and played against Sachin. He is a different class and yet still a great person. #ThankYouSachin” CHRIS GAYLE, West Indies cricketer, on Twitter: “Was absolutely a pleasure being a part of history Sachin Tendulkar 200 Test Match. #legends” VIRENDER SEHWAG, India cricketer, on Twitter: “Been an emotional time for me since the announcement #SRT. Can’t articulate what he means to me, it’s so personal! #ThankYouSachin” SANJAY MANJREKAR, former India cricketer, on Twitter: “He was the first to reach the ground & last to leave for 29 yrs. Don’t think any cricketer will miss the game as much as Tendulkar will.”

AAKASH CHOPRA, former India cricketer, on Twitter: “Damp eyes...lump in my throat. A final goodbye. #ThankYouSachin” HARBHAJAN SINGH, India cricketer, on Twitter: “Let’s salute the master. Cricket won’t be the same without u. For me u r cricket.

Thank u paji for everything” IRFAN PATHAN, India cricketer, on Twitter: “Most emotional retirement of world cricket but Sachin Tendulkar isn’t retiring from our heart, #ThankYouSachin” —Reuters

Factbox MUMBAI: Factbox on India batsman Sachin Tendulkar, the most prolific international run scorer in cricket history, who retired from all forms of cricket yesterday.

Born on April 24, 1973, in Mumbai. Made his test debut against Pakistan as a 16year-old, becoming the youngest Indian test player. A year later, he hit his maiden test hundred in England.

Has played the most tests (200), scored the most test runs (15,921), one-day international runs (18,426), and compiled the most test centuries (51) and one-day hundreds (49).

Has also taken 46 wickets in tests and 154 wickets in ODIs. Had two unsuccessful terms as India captain, the first aged 23 in 1996 before being axed 17 months later after his batting suffered. He was reappointed in 1999 but stood down after a 3-0 test series rout in Australia the following year.

Tendulkar was named player of the 2003 World Cup, scoring a record 673 runs to help India reach the final, where they lost to Australia. In the next year, he equalled compatriot Sunil Gavaskar’s world record of 34 test hundreds while compiling 248 not out, his highest score, in Australia.

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Named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997.

Surpassed West Indies’ Brian Lara as the highest test run-scorer in 2008. Lara had scored 11,953 runs before he retired from international cricket in 2007.

Became the first batsman to score 200 runs in one-day internationals, against South Africa in Gwalior, India in February 2010. He finished on 200 not out off 147 balls with 25 fours and three sixes.

Became the first batsman to score 100 international centuries after stroking a single off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan in an Asia Cup one-dayer against Bangladesh on March 16, 2012.

Announced his retirement on Oct. 10, 2013.

Played his 200th and final test match against West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium, his home ground, in Mumbai from Nov. 14, 2013.

Played his final innings of 74 on Nov. 15, the 24th anniversary of his international debut against Pakistan in Karachi. The 40year-old walked off the field for the final time on Nov. 16, 2013 after India beat West Indies. —Reuters

man, Tendulkar said the crowning glory of his career was India’s triumphant campaign in the 50-over World Cup in 2011 when they beat Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai.

More than his cricketing exploits that earned him demigod status in India, Tendulkar was revered by fans and team-mates alike for his humility and soft-spoken nature.

Born in a middle-class family in Mumbai to Marathilanguage novelist Ramesh and Rajni, Tendulkar was mentored from an early age by elder brother Ajit, himself an enthusiastic cricketer.

Tired of seeing his 11-year-old sibling break window panes while batting in the neighborhood, Ajit took Sachin to renowned coach Ramakant Achrekar to learn the nuances of the sport.

The extraordinary career was launched with a world record partnership of 664 with close friend Vinod Kambli in schools cricket in 1988 when Tendulkar was just 15.

“Sachin’s quick growth as a cricketer surprised us all,” the usually reclusive Ajit said recently in a rare television interview. “For me, Sachin was a millionaire only when he got a hundred.

“All of us in the family dreamt about his cricket. It will now be a different feeling. He is finishing on a happy note. Most of his dreams have come true. I believe he has also fulfilled the dreams of Indian fans.” Tendulkar, who preferred to let his bat do the talking, spoke little about the issues surrounding the game. But he remained influential with those that mattered.—AFP

‘Little Master’s’ work ethic set him apart MUMBAI: Cricket fans across the globe revered him. Teammates in India’s test and World Cup-winning squads were in awe of him. Sachin Tendulkar compiled more runs and posted more centuries in international cricket than anyone, and was the greatest batsman of his generation. He has been compared with the previously incomparable Sir Donald Bradman, the Australian batsman who averaged almost 100 per innings in a long career punctuated by World War II. Tendulkar’s near celestial status meant that his dismissal for 74 in his last innings - at the age of 40 and in his 200th test match - silenced a packed and boisterous crowd at Wankhede Stadium.

But only for a few seconds. Really, they just wanted to see more. He walked off, with raised bat, to thunderous applause and chants of “Sachin, Sa-chin.”

He did not get a second chance to claim a 101st international century, as the test against the West Indies was wrapped up on Saturday, with India winning without the need to bat a second time.

In another sign of how highly he is revered in India, the batsman’s career had hardly ended before he was awarded India’s highest civilian honor.

Tendulkar was bestowed with the “Bharat Ratna” within four hours of the end of the match, becoming the youngest person and the first sportsman to get the award.

Tendulkar’s last day featured a cameo appearance bowling for a couple of overs, and a guard of honor from teammates as he walked from the field for the last time.

The insatiable appetite for runs was only part of Tendulkar’s aura. He’ll be remembered around the cricket world for the numerous batting records he set during a glittering 24-year international career, but he has also set a high benchmark of work ethics for others to follow.

“He has guided youngsters very well, showed them how to lead life after you become successful, and at the same time how you’re supposed to prepare,” India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. “He’s been fantastic and we’ve learnt a lot from him.”

By the time of his retirement he had played a significant role in developing a dynamic, unified Indian squad. “The standards he has set have been benchmarks for us,” Yuvraj Singh said.

“Whether he gets a 100 or no runs, he will hit the same number of balls (in the nets), remain humble.

“Everybody talks about his records, but the standard he set off the field was incredible - how to carry yourself off the field.”

With 15,921 runs in 200 tests and 18,426 in 463 one-dayers, Tendulkar has ended all comparisons with batsmen other than Bradman. Among his other prominent milestones include becoming the first man to score a double-century in limited-overs internationals (200 not out vs South Africa at Gwalior in 2010) and the first to reach 100 international centuries.

Tendulkar was always known for his compact defense, immaculate drives and cunning cuts but he later added the uppercut and paddlesweep to his repertoire and reaped plenty of runs from those.

His 51 centuries in tests and 49 in ODIs are also records and winning the 2011 World Cup was the proverbial icing on the cake.

“Winning the World Cup was a lifelong ambition and it was a matter of great honor that my teammates wanted to do it for me,” Tendulkar said after the victory on his home ground of Wankhede Stadium, which was also the venue of his 200th and last test.

Memories of an emotional Tendulkar being carried around the ground during the victory lap in 2011 will linger long in the minds of Indian fans. The “Little Master” learnt early how to carry the weight of expectations as he became the youngest Indian to debut in international cricket, playing both tests and limited-overs internationals at the age of 16 during a tour of Pakistan in 1989.

Tendulkar had a penchant for performing well against Australia as an intense cricket rivalry between the two nations developed over his career. Among the standouts: his 114 on a fiery test pitch at Perth

in 1991-92 when he was still in his teens; a 241 not out at Sydney in a rare series drawn in Australia in 2003-04; and 155 not out in the Chennai test of 1997-98.

Consequently, some of his best rivalries also came against Australian bowling greats Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, both of whom have been liberal in their praise of Tendulkar after their retirement.Ever since his retirement from limited-overs cricket, the questions about when he’d bring his international cricket career to an end have abounded. At 40, he decided the two-test series against the West Indies would be his last international games, setting the stage for a festival and general celebration across India.

Tendulkar had his share of injuries, mainly to the back and elbow, but he was never a liability to the team and could outplay teammates and rivals half his age with his fast running between the wickets and agile fielding. He was also a useful bowler who could either bowl “seam-up” or legspin. A low period was during 2004-2005 when he once went for 17 innings without a single test half-century, but that was the exception rather than the rule in a glorious career in which he was often heralded as a “God of cricket.” “He has had an absolutely delightful career and changed the outlook of parents and how they encourage their children to play the game,” Dev said about the impact Tendulkar has had on Indian society. “People started saying ‘You don’t need to become an engineer or doctor, that you could (now) become a cricketer.’”

— AP

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

S P ORT S

Pacers and Heat advance

DAMBULLA: New Zealand’s captain Kyle Mills (left) and Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo Mathews (right) hold the trophy after the end of their third and final one-day International cricket match. — AP

Sri Lanka win in the rain DAMBULLA: Tillakaratne Dilshan scored his third consecutive half-century as Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 36 runs under Duckworth/Lewis in the third and final one-day international to clinch a 1-1 series draw yesterday.

The match was delayed due to rain and initially reduced by seven overs before a further interruption during the Sri Lanka innings curtailed it to 33 overs each.

A fine opening partnership of 91 off 86 balls from Sri Lanka’s experienced batters Mahela Jayawardene and Dilshan helped them post a challenging total of 211-8.

Dilshan completed his third half-century of the series scoring 53 off 50 balls, including eight fours, to take the man-of-theseries award.

Jayawardene, promoted up the order to make way for all-rounder Thisara Perera, scored a fluent run a ball 46 with eight fours.

New Zealand faced a tall order on a slow and turning pitch and found themselves in deep trouble when spinners Sachitra Senanayake and Rangana Herath reduced them to 63-6 in 19 overs.

Senanayake who opened the bowling took two top-order wickets for 14 runs to take the man-of-the-match award. Nathan McCullum, in partnership with James Neesham, gave New Zealand some hope with an unbroken stand of 63 off 36 balls.

Yet despite that brave effort, they were still trailing under the D/L method on 126-6 after 25 overs when the umpires called off the game for bad light amid protests from the two New Zealand batsmen. Neesham was unbeaten on 42 and McCullum on 35 off 19 balls. “We had high hopes of winning the series 2-0, but to walk away 1-1, we sort of feel empty to tell you the truth because I felt that we had a great opportunity to win but due to circumstances it wasn’t to be,” said New Zealand stand-in captain Kyle Mills.

“You have a scheduled day’s play for a day game but the scheduled close of the game is after sunset when it is not possible to play.

“It doesn’t sound like common sense to me especially when we fought our way back and got ourselves into a position to potentially win it.

“We were in a better position today than we were in the last game which we won,” he said. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said it was too dark to carry on and his fielders had difficulty seeing the ball. “The light was terrible to be honest, the fielders couldn’t actually pick up the ball,” said Mathews.

“They (New Zealand) obviously wanted to carry on because they wanted to bat through to win but it was getting very dark and unsafe,” he added.

The first match was abandoned due to rain and New Zealand won the second by four wickets under Duckworth/Lewis. The two teams will meet again in a two-match Twenty20 series in Pallekele on Nov. 19 and 21. — Reuters

SCOREBOARD DAMBULLA: Scoreboard in the third and final one-day international between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Dambulla yesterday.

Sri Lanka innings M. Jayawardene c Ronchi b McCullum46 T. Dilshan c Ronchi b McClenaghan 53 K. Sangakkara b McCullum 0 L. Thirimanne c Latham b Mills 23 A. Mathews c Ronchi b McClenaghan 0 D. Chandimal lbw b Neesham 15 T. Perera c Latham b Ellis 8 N. Kulasekara c Mills b Neesham 14 S. Senanayake not out 21 R. Herath not out 17 Extras: (b-1 lb-3 nb-1 w-9) 14 Total: (for eight wickets, 33 overs) 211 Fall of wickets: 1-91 2-91 3-110 4-110 5-144 6-146 7-165 8-184 Did not bat: L. Malinga.

Bowling: Mills 6-1-35-1 (w1), McClenaghan 7-0-34-2 (w3), Ellis 6-0-51-1 (w2, nb1), Devcich 3-0-31-0, Nicol 2-0-17-0 (w1), McCullum 4-0-13-2, Neesham 5-0-26-2 (w2).

New Zealand innings T. Latham lbw b Senanayake 9 A. Devcich c Herath b Kulasekara 5 R. Nicol st Sangakkara b Herath 1 G. Elliott b Herath 3 C. Munro b Senanayake 1 L. Ronchi c Senanayake b Herath 23 J. Neesham not out 42 N. McCullum not out 35 Extras: (lb-1 w-6) 7 Total: (for six wickets, 25 overs) 126 Fall of wickets: 1-12 2-17 3-21 4-22 5-26 663.

Did not bat: K Mills, A Ellis, M McClenaghan.

Bowling: Senanayake 5-1-14-2, Kulasekara 41-20-1 (w3), Mathews 1-0-4-0, Herath 6-0-253, Dilshan 6-0-31-0, Malinga 3-0-31-0 (w3).

Result: Sri Lanka won by 36 runs (D/L method)

INDIANAPOLIS: Roy Hibbert scored 24 points and had eight blocks, both season-highs, leading unbeaten Indiana past Milwaukee 104-77 Friday night.

The Pacers became the first team since the 2002-03 Dallas Mavericks to open a season 9-0.

Indiana has already beaten all four of its Central Division foes and will attempt to stay perfect Saturday night at Chicago. Hibbert had plenty of help. Paul George scored 10 of his 22 points in the third quarter and Lance Stephenson finished with 11 points.

The short-handed Bucks (2-6) spent most of the game playing catch-up. With four injured players sitting out, OJ Mayo led the Bucks with 20 points. Khris Middleton and Gary Neal each had 11 - nowhere near enough to avoid a fourth straight loss.

Indiana took control with two big third-quarter spurts to build a 68-53 lead. The NBA’s best defense limited Milwaukee to a season-low point total.

HEAT 110, MAVERICKS 104 LeBron James scored 39 points, Dwyane Wade had 17 points, eight assists and a careerbest eight steals, and Miami held off Dallas.

James made 14 of 18 shots for the Heat (6-3), while Chris Bosh scored 14 points. Norris Cole and Rashard Lewis each added 11 for Miami, which has topped the 100-point mark in every game this season. Wade became the second player in Heat history with at least eight steals and eight assists in a game; Tim Hardaway did it against Atlanta on Dec. 20, 1997.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points for Dallas (54), while Vince Carter added 21 and Monta Ellis had 20 for the Mavericks. Jose Calderon added 12 for Dallas, which turned the ball over 24 times.

NETS 100, SUNS 98 Joe Johnson tied it in regulation then corralled a loose ball in overtime and dropped in a short jumper as time expired to lift Brooklyn over Phoenix of its first road win of the season.

Johnson with 13 points on 6-of-19 shooting and Brook Lopez scored 25 of his 27 points for Brooklyn in the second half and overtime.

The Suns had tied the game on a lob to P.J. Tucker for a dunk with 57 seconds left in overtime. Tucker scored 15 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and overtime for the Suns, who had been undefeated at home in four previous games.

The Nets lost point guard Deron Williams in the first quarter to a sprained left ankle. Goran Dragic led five Suns in double figures with 19 points.

BULLS 96, RAPTORS 80 Luol Deng had 19 points, Joakim Noah scored 18 and Chicago overcame the absence of Derrick Rose to beat Toronto for its first road win of the season.

Deng and Noah also had nine rebounds apiece as Chicago earned its third consecutive win. Kirk Hinrich started in place of Rose and scored 12 points, helping the Bulls improve to 13 on the road.

Rose, the 2011 NBA MVP, was sidelined by the right hamstring injury that knocked him out in the fourth quarter of Monday’s home win over Cleveland. He will be re -evaluated before Chicago hosts undefeated Indiana on Saturday.

DeMar DeRozan matched his career high with 37 points and Rudy Gay had 20 points and nine rebounds as the Raptors lost for the fifth time in seven games. No other Toronto player reached double figures.

TRAIL BLAZERS 109, CELTICS 96 LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27 points and added 12 rebounds to lead Portland to its first victory in Boston since 2004.

Mo Williams scored 18 with eight assists for Portland, which earned its fifth consecutive victory. Jared Sullinger, who missed the last game with a bruised knee, had 26 points and eight rebounds off the bench for Boston, which has lost two in a row.

It was Aldridge’s fourth straight game with a double-double. Nicolas Batum added 18 points and Damian Lillard had 17 for the Trail Blazers.

Robin Lopez had 10 rebounds.

BOBCATS 86, CAVALIERS 80 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 16 points and Charlotte used a strong fourth quarter to defeat Cleveland and win for only the second time in 16 games at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Bobcats outscored the Cavaliers 29-22 in the final period, when Kidd-Gilchrist had eight points, including a three-point play that gave Charlotte an 81-70 lead with 6:08 remaining.

Ramon Sessions and Kemba Walker hit 3-pointers and Cody Zeller added a three-point play to

SYDNEY: England Ashes Test cricketer Jonathan Trott (center) plays a shot before Cricket Australia Invitational XI’s wicketkeeper Peter Neville (right) during their match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. — AFP

England win warm-up match SYDNEY: Michael Carberry all but sealed his place in the England side for the first Ashes Test against Australia next week when he scored a half century to help the tourists register a seven-wicket victory in their final warmup match in Sydney.

The 33-year-old opener, who has played just one test against Bangladesh in 2010, top-scored in England’s second innings with 50 off 71 balls as the tourists chased down 148 to win their four-day match against an Invitational XI yesterday.

Ian Bell, who belted Chris Tremain’s first delivery of the 39th over for six to tie the scores, smashed another boundary three balls later to take the tourists to a winning 151 for three total.

Bell was 33 not out, while Jonathan Trott was on 38, having shared in 50-run partnerships with both Carberry and Bell.

England had earlier bowled the Invitational XI out for 261 with Aaron Finch top-scoring on 59, while Steven Finn and Boyd Rankin took three wickets apiece.

Finn took eight wickets in the match but was particularly expensive in the second innings and the haul may not have done enough for him to take the third seamer

spot for the test alongside certain starters James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

The match had been badly affected by rain and the England batsmen accelerated the run rate in the final session with threatening clouds on the horizon after the players were forced to take a lengthy weather break at the tea interval.

Carberry is England’s top-scorer on tour having scored 78 in the opening match in Perth and 153 against Australia ‘A’ in Hobart.

The visitors, however, had indicated the left-handed batsman would open the innings in Brisbane along with skipper Alastair Cook when they dropped Joe Root down the order for the latest match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

England’s chief concern in the batting department will be with Kevin Pietersen, who has innings of 8, 57 and 6 on tour, though given his pedigree, is almost certain to start the match at the Gabba, which will be his 100th test. Matt Prior remains the only injury doubt with a calf strain and the wicketkeeper is due to undergo a fitness test on Tuesday to determine his availability for the first Test. — Reuters

INDIANAPOLIS: Indiana Pacers forward David West (center) is fouled after grabbing a rebound between Milwaukee Bucks forwards Ekpe Udoh (left) and Khris Middleton during the first half of an NBA basketball game. — AP spark the Bobcats’ run. Charlotte had five players score in double figures.

Kyrie Irving, wearing a mask to protect a nasal fracture, had 18 points and 10 assists for Cleveland, which lost for the first time in four games at home.

GRIZZLIES 89, LAKERS 86 Zack Randolph scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed 11 rebounds, Mark Gasol had 18 points, eight boards and eight assists, and Memphis edged Los Angeles for its first road win of the season.

Reserve shooting guard Jodie Meeks had 25 points for the Lakers, who have lost four of their last five games without their injured starting backcourt of Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. They are off to their worst start through 11 games since 2002-03, when they began 3-8 following their third straight championship. Lakers center Pau Gasol had 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds playing against his younger brother.

NUGGETS 117, TIMBERWOVLES 113 Wilson Chandler scored 19 points, including a big 3-pointer and three free throws late in the game, and Denver held off Minnesota for its third straight win.

Kenneth Faried added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Denver, and Ty Lawson had 14 points and 10 assists. Lawson then left with 32 seconds remaining when Corey Brewer inadvertently hit him in the eye with his hand as he was defending the guard on a drive into the lane.

Kevin Love led the Timberwolves with 28 points and Kevin Martin, who missed Wednesday’s game against Cleveland because of the illness, added 27 points.

PISTONS 97, KINGS 90 Josh Smith had 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Detroit snapped a fourgame skid by beating Sacramento.

The Pistons built a 10-point advantage after three quarters and their lead remained in double figures for much of the fourth quarter as Detroit won its first road game of the season.

DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Kings, who have lost six of seven games. Isaiah Thomas had 18 points and seven assists and Greivis Vasquez had 13 points.

Rodney Stuckey scored 16 points and Andre Drummond added 15 points and 18 rebounds for Detroit.

SPURS 91, JAZZ 82 Tony Parker scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and San Antonio rallied past Utah to run its winning streak to seven games.

Boris Diaw scored a season-high 17 points and Tim Duncan added 14 for the Spurs in a game that matched the team with the best record in the Western Conference against the team with worst mark in the league.

The Jazz took a 67-60 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Spurs started doing what they do best - driving the lane for layups or hitting the spot-up shooters in the short corners.

Derrick Favors had 20 points and 18 rebounds for Utah, which led by as many 15 points early in the game. Gordon Hayward added 15 points and Richard Jefferson had 14.

HAWKS 113, 76ERS 103 Jeff Teague had a career-high 33 points and 10 assists, Al Horford added 20 points and Atlanta beat Philadelphia for its third win in four games.

DeMarre Carroll finished with a career-high 21 points for Atlanta. Evan Turner scored 27 points, Tony Wroten had 22 points, and Spencer Hawes finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Sixers, who have lost three of four. Hawks guard Lou Williams, returning to the court for the first time since undergoing reconstructive right knee surgery 10 months ago, finished with seven points, three rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes. — AP

NBA results/standings Indiana 104, Milwaukee 77; Chicago 96, Toronto 80; Atlanta 113, Philadelphia 103; Portland 109, Boston 96; Charlotte 86, Cleveland 80; Miami 110, Dallas 104; Denver 117, Minnesota 113; Brooklyn 100, Phoenix 98 (OT); San Antonio 91, Utah 82; Memphis 89, LA Lakers 86; Detroit 97, Sacramento 90.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT Philadelphia 5 5 .500 Toronto 4 6 .400 Boston 4 6 .400 NY Knicks 3 5 .375 Brooklyn 3 5 .375 Central Division Indiana 9 0 1.000 Chicago 4 3 .571 Detroit 3 5 .375 Cleveland 3 7 .300 Milwaukee 2 6 .250 Southeast Division Miami 6 3 .667 Atlanta 5 4 .556 Charlotte 5 4 .556 Orlando 4 5 .444 Washington 2 6 .250 Western Conference Northwest Division Portland 7 2 .778 Oklahoma City 5 3 .625 Minnesota 6 4 .600 Denver 4 4 .500 Utah 1 9 .100 Pacific Division LA Clippers 6 3 .667 Golden State 6 3 .667 Phoenix 5 4 .556 LA Lakers 4 7 .364 Sacramento 2 6 .250 Southwest Division San Antonio 9 1 .900 Houston 6 4 .600 Dallas 5 4 .556 Memphis 4 5 .444 New Orleans 3 6 .333

GB 1 1 1 1 4 5.5 6.5 6.5 1 1 2 3.5

1.5 1.5 2.5 6.5 1 3 3.5 3 3.5 4.5 5.5

Chan grabs Paris title PARIS: World champion Patrick Chan gave his rivals a lesson in skating with a stunning performance that won him a fourth title at the Trophee Bompard figure skating Grand Prix in Paris yesterday.

Three months before the Winter Olympics in Sochi the Canadian followed his record performance in Friday’s short programme with a new world best in both the free skate, 196.75, and overall score of 295.27. The 22-year-old Canadian earned a standing ovation from the crowd and the applause of his rivals after his skate to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Concerto Grosso.

He won by a massive 31.68-margin on second-placed Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan with American Jason Brown winning his first senior medal by finishing third.

Three-time world champion Chan took to the ice last after his rivals had stumbled through their routines and opened with two solid quad jumps, adding a further seven triple jumps and a double axel for good measure at the end of his programme.

Hanyu, 18, was no match as he popped his opening quad jump and fell on his second quad attempt in his skate to Nino Rota’s Romeo and Juliet.

The Japanese champion fought back and completed the remainder of his programme cleanly with an additional eight triples.

Pony-tailed Brown, 19, took bronze as Cup of China winner Yan Han failed to recover after falling on his opening triple toeloop jump to finish fourth.

Both Chan and Hanyu qualify for the Grand Prix final in Japan next month after also finishing 1-2 at Skate Canada. Chinese veterans Pang Qing and Tong Jian won the pairs title on their sixth attempt despite an error-strewn performance.

The former two-time world champions led all the way to seal victory in the free skating final and book their place in ISU Grand Prix final after taking silver in the Cup of China two weeks ago. “This is our last season so to get the gold medal here is very important to us,” said 34-year-old Tong. The pair, who have been skating together for the past 20 years, have chosen ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables for their final season. But it was not a flowing performance with Tong singling his opening double axel and stepping out of the following triple toeloop with Pang two-footing the landing on her triple salchow jump.—AFP

PARIS: Patrick Chan of Canada poses with the trophy and the gold medal after winning the men’s program at the ISU Figure Skating Eric Bompard Trophy. — AP

Pacers and Heat advance

Tendulkar walks into the sunset

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

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Scott storms clear at Australian Masters

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PORTUGAL: Sweden’s forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) vies with Portugal’s defender Bruno Alves during the FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifier play-off first leg football match. — AFP

Ronaldo heads Portugal towards Brazil Sloppy France stunned by Ukraine LONDON: France’s hopes of reaching the World Cup finals are hanging by a thread after a 2-0 first-leg defeat away to Ukraine in their playoff on Friday while Cristiano Ronaldo’s late winner gave Portugal the edge against Sweden.

Ten-man Iceland battled to 0-0 home draw with Croatia in Reykjavic to keep alive their dream of qualifying for a first major tournament while Greece will be confident of finishing off Romania next week after a 3-1 victory in Athens.

Of the eight European nations in the last-chance saloon after missing out on automatic passage to next year’s tournament in Brazil, France are the worst placed going into next week’s second legs after a miserable night in Kiev.

Second-half goals by Ukraine’s Roman Zozulia and Andriy Yarmolenko and a red card for France defender Laurent Koscielny made it a night to forget for Didier Deschamps’ side who need a vast improvement in Paris on Tuesday to repair the damage.

“It’s obviously a very bad result. We have to believe (we can go through) but Ukraine are the team in the best position to qualify,” he said.

France last failed to reach a major tournament in 1994 but Deschamps, who was past of that squad, remained defiant.

“We still have 90 minutes at home,” he added.

FIFA Ballon d’Or nominee Franck Ribery was shackled closely as Les Blues toiled at the Olympic Stadium. A draw would have been a satisfactory result to take home but just past the hour Zozulia squeezed a shot under Hugo Lloris from close range to spark wild celebrations.

Koscielny then fouled Zozulia in the box to allow Ukraine to double their lead and the Arsenal man’s frustration boiled over when he slapped Kucher in the face to earn a red card that will keep him out of the return match in Paris.

Ukraine also finished with 10 men after Kucher was dismissed for a second yellow card for a foul on Ribery. Ronaldo overshadowed Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their playoff match - billed as a clash between two of Europe’s hottest strikers - pouncing late on a tense night in Lisbon.

By a quirk of the draw for the playoffs, one of the biggest names in the world game will be missing next year in South America - a blow for neutrals and sponsors alike.

However, the odds look slightly shorter on Ronaldo gracing the stage after the Real Madrid man, so often the dazzler, proved he will also put his head in the line of danger for his country by stooping to score an 82nd minute winner.

He also struck the woodwork shortly afterwards as Portugal sought the comfort of a second goal. As it is, a workmanlike Swedish side still harbour high hopes of swinging the tie their way.

“We created a great early chance and Sweden hit back. But in the second half it was one way for us,” Portugal coach Paulo Bento told reporters. “It was an important step to reach the World Cup but not yet decisive.”

Iceland played most of the second half with 10 men against Croatia after Olafur Skulason was shown a straight red card in the 50th minute but they hung on stubbornly for a draw.

“To defend for almost 45 minutes with one less man on the pitch... I can’t describe in words what these players have done,” Iceland coach Lars Lagerback said.

Swede Lagerbeck was annoyed by the decision to send off

Nigeria qualify for World Cup finals CALABAR: Nigeria yesterday qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after beating Ethiopia 20 at home in Calabar in the second leg of their decisive play-off to go through 4-1 on aggregate.

Victor Moses gave Nigeria the lead after 20 minutes when he tucked away a penalty after Anyalem Hailu handled the ball inside his box, and substitute Victor Obinna doubled Nigeria’s lead on 82 minutes when he fired home a freekick to kill off the game and the tie. The reigning African champions thus march on to their fifth World Cup finals having also featured at the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010 tournaments. But the Super Eagles’ display yesterday inside the packed 15,000-capacity UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar was laboured and, until Obinna’s late goal, Ethiopia were still in with a chance. CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa said it was a dream come true to qualify for what will be his first World Cup, but he blamed the hot weather for the team’s subdued outing.

“I thank God for the World Cup ticket, it is a dream come true for me. It has been my dream to go to the World Cup and I have made it,” Musa remarked. “We would have done a lot better today but the weather was hot and this worked against us.” Meanwhile, Celtic defender Efe Ambrose now hopes the Eagles shine in Brazil, saying: “I am happy to be part of this history mak-

ing. My target is now to help my country do well at the World Cup.” Ambrose came close for Nigeria right at the start of the game and goalkeeper Sisay Bancha then made a one-handed save from Emmanuel Emenike from 10 yards out as the home team pressed for an early opening goal. Ethiopia’s Saladin Said then saw a shot from a tight angle flash across the face of the goal before Moses calmly dispatched his penalty to put Nigeria ahead after Hailu was penalised.

Only a good Bancha save prevented Moses from scoring another goal half an hour in, and then Brown Ideye came close to doubling Nigeria’s lead when his header off a cutback from the right by Ogenyi Onazi narrowly missed the target.

Bancha again denied Nigeria when Onazi’s left-footed shot in the 43rd minute was kept out by the outstanding Ethiopia goalkeeper and Ideye could not put away the rebound.

Ethiopia had set their stall out to defend in the first half, but they came out of their shell after the interval and had a penalty appeal turned down in the 51st minute before Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama made a brave save at the feet of Shemeles Bekele as they continued to fight for the equaliser.

On the hour, Bancha blocked an effort from Emenike inside the area after the Fenerbahce

Skulason for tangling with Ivan Perisic, while Croatia coach Niko Kovac was also disappointed with his side’s tactics.

“We resorted to playing long balls for too long,” said the Croat. “I expected us to keep it on the ground more and we just didn’t implement the gameplan.”

Kostas Mitroglou struck twice for Greece in Athens with Dimitris Salpingidis also on target against the Romanians who had levelled through Bogdan Stancu.

Several countries spared the ordeal of a playoff were also in action as the build-up to the 2014 finals begins in earnest.

Italy and Germany drew 1-1 at the San Siro where Ignazio Abate grabbed his first international goal for the hosts after Mats Hummels put the visitors ahead on the night their coach Joachim Loew celebrated his 100th match in charge.

England were given a jolt at Wembley as an experimental side were outclassed by Chile, for whom Barcelona striker Alexis Sanchez scored twice in a convincing 2-0 win.

Italin Fabio Capello’s Russia side were held 1-1 at home by Serbia while Switzerland went down 2-1 to South Korea in Seoul. — Reuters

Beckham lines up long shot: Founding Miami soccer team

CALABAR: Nigerian midfielder Sunday Mbah (left) vies for ball with Ethiopian defender Assefa Behajlu during the FIFA World Cup qualifier in Calabar. — AFP striker broke free of his marker.

Ethiopia attacked and played with a lot more urgency in the closing minutes of the encounter, but they lacked the bite to really trouble the home defence, and their hopes were ended when the power on Obinna’s late free-kick proved too much for Bancha. —AFP

MIAMI: From his tattoos to his finely chiseled physique and Armani underwear ads, soccer icon David Beckham oozes Miami-style sex appeal. Blending charisma with a smart business plan, Beckham intends to launch his own professional soccer team in Miami, a multicultural market that has defied major league owners twice before. But Beckham is known for making long shots. Expectation is high that the former captain of the England team, who retired as a player in May, will exercise a $25 million option in his Major League Soccer (MLS) player contract to start a new team later this year and base it in Miami.

The league has confirmed it is in discussions with Beckham but is awaiting a formal bid, including details of the city, the ownership group, and a stadium plan, which is expected before the end of the year. A source close to the negotiations described a financial plan that is well advanced if incomplete.

Beckham declined requests for an interview, but he has been touring Miami and recently said the city was ripe for a new soccer team.

Finding the right location for a stadium and financing is not easy in Miami. Taxpayers have soured on publicly financed stadium deals after a $500 million baseball stadium with a retractable roof for the Miami Marlins failed to draw fans.

The state legislature rebuffed the Miami Dolphins’ request for public funding of a $350

million renovation of its privately owned American football stadium.

Instead, Beckham is assembling a group to invest $150-200 million in private financing for a new soccer stadium in Miami’s urban core by 2018-19, according to the source, who divulged financial details that have been under wraps until now. The same person stressed that the plans are still in the early stages and the cost could vary according to the final site choice. “He will not be asking for taxpayer money,” the source added, noting that Beckham was well aware of local resistance to public financing.

“That is very encouraging, a big boost,” said Chip Iglesias, Miami-Dade County Deputy Mayor who met with Beckham this week after a tour of possible stadium sites. He said the commitment to private financing was bound to create local goodwill. Beckham envisions building the team with veteran players, international stars who, following his own lead when he moved from Real Madrid to Los Angeles, will hang up their cleats in other established markets to finish their careers in America, the frontier of soccer.

“David realizes he needs to create a club in the region that is going to become an international destination for the city that is going to attract the best players. It’s going to be a bridge between Latin America and North America and Europe,” the source close to Beckham’s management said. — Reuters

Business

St Regis Abu Dhabi: Where luxury meets tradition Page 25

NBK voted the ‘Best Managed Company in Mideast in 2013’

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

Page 26

China signals shift to put market in charge of IPOs

flydubai soars to new heights in 2013

Page 22

Page 23

CHONGQING: One of the castles built by eccentric Chinese cake millionaire Liu Chonghua outside China’s southwest metropolis of Chongqing. — AFP (See Page 23)

Boeing holds nearly 40% of ME market ‘6 months’ needed to make Dreamliner as reliable as 777 DUBAI: US aerospace giant Boeing said yesterday it holds nearly 40 percent of the lucrative sales market in the Middle East and aims to increase its share. “Today we probably have close to 40 percent” of the Middle East market, compared with 60 percent for European competitor Airbus, said Marty Bentrott, a regional sales chief for Boeing.

Boeing lagged behind in the region for several years because it had not “realized that this part of the world” could play a key role in the aerospace industry, Bentrott said. “We went through a period of time ... being less competitive than we needed to be and we lost some opportunities,” he told a press conference ahead of Sunday’s open-

ing of the Dubai Airshow. Bentrott also said that while Boeing holds just under 30 percent of the market in medium-haul planes, it was in a “much stronger position” than Airbus in the long-haul sector where it held around 60 percent.

He said Boeing is now “focused” on the region, where experts say the rise in air traffic will be greater than anywhere else in the world over the next 20 years, expecting 7.1 percent compared with 4.7 percent elsewhere.

In Dubai, Boeing will present two versions of the 777-X, updated versions of its bestselling 777. “You are going to see some real success stories with the 777-X,” Bentrott said.

Forbes magazine up for sale NEW YORK CITY: Forbes Media, the family-owned group known for its business magazine which chronicles great wealth, said Friday it is up for sale. Forbes Media chief executive Mike Perlis disclosed that the company, family-controlled since its founding in 1917, had hired bankers to “test the waters regarding a sale” after being approached by potential suitors.

A sale would involve the weekly Forbes Magazine, as well as the company’s digital properties and conference business. Forbes is also known for its annual ranking of billionaires, and other lists, such as most powerful women, and top-earning CEOs. Forbes literature touts the weekly magazine as the country’s “leading business magazine” with a circulation of more than 900,000. It also has international editions in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

Talk of a sale of Forbes comes amid a broader shakeout in the industry that has led to the demise of the print edition of Newsweek and sale of Businessweek in recent years.

But Forbes differs from those publications, which were part of media conglomerates, said Rebecca Lieb, an analyst at the research firm Altimeter Group.

“It’s a bit stunning when a brand as old as Forbes that has been family-held as long as Forbes has opens itself up to a new ownership structure,” Lieb said. “It’s a very, very venerable brand.”

Lieb said Forbes stood out from

The 13th edition of the Dubai Airshow runs until Thursday.

Boeing said yesterday it needs another six months to make its long-awaited 787 Dreamliner, which has been beset by a series of incidents, as reliable as its bestselling 777 airliner. Marty Bentrott, a regional sales chief for Boeing, said the company was “making good progress” in resolving the problems with the Dreamliner, adding the aircraft’s “reliability is improving”.

“Do we have additional work ahead of us? Yes. When do we think those problems will be behind us and the plane will be reliable? I think it’s probably another six months or so,” Bentrott said at a press conference ahead of the Dubai

Airshow, which opens today.

He acknowledged that Qatar Airways, one of the US giant’s main customers in the Middle East, had had difficulties with the Dreamliner but said Boeing was providing support teams. Qatar Airways has ordered 30 Dreamliners for its fleet, of which nine are operational. Bentrott said that technical difficulties were normal after the launch of any new aircraft.

The 787 Dreamliner has encountered several serious difficulties since entering operation two years ago, especially with its batteries, causing the entire fleet to be grounded for about four months earlier this year. — AFP

Burgan Bank Group operating income surges to KD187.3m First nine months earnings

HANOI: A copy of the newly launched Vietnamese version of Forbes Magazine is seen on sale at a roadside newsstand in Hanoi. Forbes Media, the family-owned group known for its business magazine which chronicles great wealth, said in New york it is up for sale. — AFP other prominent legacy-print outlets said, citing people familiar with the in its embrace of “native advertising,” matter.

Perlis said Forbes had done well a growing premium digital advertising product where companies pro- in a shifting media landscape, growvide sponsored content that has the ing its digital revenues over 25 perlook and feel of the host publication. cent by the end of the year. The “Forbes has been the business brand company expects 2013 to be its best that has been perhaps most success- year financially in six years.

Forbes hired Deutsche Bank to ful in not only pioneering native advertising, but also profiting from represent it after receiving a number native advertising,” Lieb said. of informal inquiries from possible Although still family-controlled, suitors in recent months, Perlis said.

Forbes in 2006 sold a minority stake “I’m proud to say that we’ve accomin the company to Elevation plished what no other traditional Partners, an entity whose investors media company appears to have include rock singer Bono. The terms done: established a huge digital were not disclosed. The Wall Street audience by efficiently creating Journal reported Friday that Forbes quality content at scale, and we’re is due to repay $264 million to innovating around new business Elevation over the next several years. models to maximize that relationForbes hopes the sale will yield $400 ship,” Perlis said in a memo to million to $500 million, the Journal employees. — AFP

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank Group announced yesterday the first nine month results for the financial year 2013.

Compared to the same period last year, Operating income surged to KD 187.3 million registering a growth of 35 percent while Operating Profits before provisions soared to register KD 105.4 million reflecting a growth of 21 percent. The solid consistent growth over the past quarters clubbed with the positive leading indicators, enabled the bank to accelerate the reserves build up.

Reserves booked in the third quarter 2013 reached KD 31.3million by which KD26 million as general reserves and KD5.3 Million as specific reserves. The Group’s first nine months of 2013 net profit is reported at KD 17.6 million.

During the third quarter of 2013, Burgan Bank Group achieved an annualized growth of 17 percent in loans and advances as well as a 20 percent increase in customers’ deposits, reflecting the bank’s achievement to previously announced plan of gaining market share in the core market, together with building strong stream of earnings from International operations. Burgan Bank Group’s international operations continue to register a year - on - year profitability and increased contribution to Group’s revenue to reach 53.6 percent reflecting the soundness of the diversification strategy into high growth markets.

MajedEssa Al-Ajeel, Chairman of Burgan Bank Group said: “Once again, the prudent execution of the group strategy yielded good underlying performance. The strong underlying performance is enabling us to parapet reserves to further enhance our asset quality which is a step that is highly encouraged by the Central Bank of Kuwait. Total loan loss reserves reached KD238.3 million with a coverage ratio (net of collateral) of 254 percent.”

“Our leading financial indicators continue to point to the right direction, and once again, we are optimistic about our performance going forward,” added Al-Ajeel.

Majed Essa Al-Ajeel

“On behalf of the board, I take this opportunity to thank our customers and shareholders for their confidence in our capabilities. I would also like to thank our executive management team for their leadership and the excellent execution of the corporate strategy, and to our staff for their continued support and commitment,” concluded Al-Ajeel.

The consolidated financials encompass the results of the Group’s operations in Kuwait, and its share from its regional subsidiaries, namely Jordan Kuwait Bank, Gulf Bank Algeria, Burgan Bank - Turkey, Bank of Baghdad, Tunis International Bank, in which Burgan Bank owns a majority stake. Burgan Bank Group has one of the largest regional branch networks with more than 220branches across Kuwait, Turkey, Jordan, Algeria, Iraq, Tunis, Lebanon and Palestine.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

BUSINESS

China signals shift to put market in charge of IPOs

NEW YORK: The JPMorgan Chase & Co logo is displayed at their headquarters in New York. JPMorgan Chase & Co said Friday it has reached a $4.5 billion settlement with investors over mortgage-backed securities. — AP

JPMorgan Chase, investors reach $4.5bn deal

J

PMorgan Chase & Co has reached a $4.5 billion settlement with investors who said the bank deceived them about bad mortgage investments. The settlement, announced Friday, covers 21 major institutional investors, including competitor Goldman Sachs, BlackRock Financial Management, and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. The mortgage-backed securities were sold by JPMorgan - the biggest US bank - and Bear Stearns between 2005 and 2008.

The deal is the latest in a series of legal settlements over JPMorgan’s sales of mortgage-backed securities in the years preceding the financial crisis. As the housing market collapsed between 2006 and 2008, millions of homeowners defaulted on high-risk mortgages. That led to billions of dollars in losses for investors who bought securities created from bundles of mortgages.

Those securities were sold by JPMorgan and other big Wall Street banks. New York-based JPMorgan has said that most of its mortgage-

backed securities came from investment bank Bear Stearns and savings and loan Washington Mutual, troubled companies that JPMorgan acquired in 2008.

Separately, JPMorgan has been negotiating with the US Justice Department to settle a civil inquiry into its sales of mortgage-backed securities. The bank reached a tentative deal last month to pay $13 billion, but the negotiations have hit a stumbling block.

As part of the $13 billion deal, $4 billion will resolve US government claims that JPMorgan misled mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac about risky mortgage-backed securities. That part of the deal was announced on Oct 25.

Fannie and Freddie were bailed out by the government during the crisis and are under federal control. Still to be decided is whether the Justice Department will file criminal charges against JPMorgan in the mortgage securities debacle. An investigation is under way by the US Attorney’s office in Sacramento, California.—AP

Zain offers discount on Oman calls, SMS KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, has announced that it will offer a 50% discount on all SMS messages and 20% discount on International calls tomorrow to the Sultanate of Oman in celebration of the National Day on the 18th November.

Zain expressed its congratulations on this occasion to the people of Oman, repre-

sented in its leadership, the embassy, and the Omani citizens residing in Kuwait. The company stressed that Zain is a global company which is always keen to participate in the celebrations of nations.

Zain added that the offer is extended to all SMS & International calls sent to Oman only on Monday18th of November for both post-paid and prepaid customers.

Gulf Bank announces winners of Al-Danah daily draws KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al-Danah daily draws on November 10, 2013, announcing the names of its winners for the week of November 3 to November 7. The Al-Danah daily draws include draws each working day for two prizes of KD1000 per winner.

The winners were: (Sunday 03/11): Mohammed Najib Abdulwahab Khalif Makhlouf, Abdulhameed Mohammed Hussein Qabazard (Monday 04/11): Hussain Ziad Saleh AlShawaf, Naeem Masoud Musa ( Wednesday 06/11): Meshar y Saad Mohammed Al-Mutairy, Mohammed Abdulwahab Rasheed Al-Mufte (Thursday 07/11): Nawal Abdulraheem Najaf, Laila Mohammed Khani Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah 2013 draw lineup includes daily draws (2 winners per working day each receive KD1000), as well as three draw prizes per quarter. The final draw will be held on the 9th January, 2014

announcing winners of KD50,000, KD250,000 and the Al-Danah millionaire.

Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah allows customers to win cash prizes and simultaneously encourages them to save money. Chances increase the more money is deposited and the longer it is kept in the account. AlDanah also offers a number of unique services including the Al-Danah Deposit Only ATM card which helps account holders deposit their money at their convenience; as well as the Al-Danah calculator to help customers calculate their chances of becoming an Al-Danah winner.

To be part of the Al-Danah draws, customers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches, transfer on line, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and guidance. Customers can also log on to www.e gulfbank.com/aldanahwinners, to find out more about Al-Danah and who the winners are.

SHANGHAI: China may reduce the influence of the state on stock markets as part of its sweeping reform agenda, including by making it easier for companies to list their stocks and making management of state-owned enterprises more accountable to shareholders. In a pointer to a winding back of government influence in initial public offerings (IPOs), detailed plans released on Friday night included a pledge to “push forward stock issuance registration system reform”-a term previously used to refer to the listing process.

In developed economies, the process largely requires a company to register and go through a rigorous audit before investors make a decision on whether or not to buy the stock.

To list in China requires the approval of the

China Securities Regulator y Commission (CSRC). An early test of the leadership’s commitment to reform will be if it lifts a year-long suspension of new listings in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

While the stated reason for the de facto ban was to clean up fraud by forcing underwriters review the accuracy of IPO applications, it was widely understood to be an effort to prop up the chronically weak stock market by restricting new shares. Lifting the suspension would be a signal that policymakers are willing to cede more control to markets.

Analysts welcomed the plans, but cautioned they still had to be implemented. “A policy document, however weighty and well puttogether, does not in itself change anything on

the ground,” said Mark Williams and Wang Qinwei in a research note.

“We have heard loud call for reform before.

It is not just the speed of reform implementation that matters, but the sequencing.” The government also wants to encourage increased equity financing, which would help wean Chinese firms off an their overdependence on bank loans for funding.

Corporate debt in China has exploded since the global financial crisis, and Fitch estimates that the economy-wide debt-to-GDP ratio will reach around 218 percent of GDP by the end of 2013, up 87 percentage points since 2008.

In July, the IMF warned similarly rapid debt run-ups have been associated with financial crises in other countries.—Reuters

China targets formula firms in anti-corruption campaign SHANGHAI: In the two days after Lucy Yang gave birth at Peking University Third Hospital in August 2012, doctors and nurses told the 33-year-old technology executive that while breast milk was the best food for her son, she hadn’t produced enough.

They advised her instead to start him on infant formula made by Nestle.

“They support only this brand, and they don’t let your baby drink other brands,” Yang recalled.

“The nurses told us not to use our own formula.

They told us if we did, and something happened to the child, they wouldn’t take any responsibility.” For Nestle and other infant formula producers, there is one significant complication for their China business: a 1995 Chinese regulation designed to ensure the impartiality of physicians and protect the health of newborns.

It bars hospital personnel from promoting infant formula to the families of babies younger than six months, except in the rare cases when a woman has insufficient breast milk or cannot breastfeed for medical reasons. Nestle told Reuters it supports this code and has tried to strengthen its implementation. Peking University Third Hospital declined repeated requests for comment. Most women have enough breast milk to feed their infants, scientific studies show. The World Health Organization advocates exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, starting within an hour of delivery.

Breastfeeding leads to better health for babies and mothers, including protection against infection for infants and lower rates of breast and ovarian cancer for women, WHO says. A Reuters examination reveals that global infant formula companies have found ways to skirt and violate the 1995 code, which they support publicly. Reuters interviewed nearly two dozen Chinese women who have delivered babies at hospitals around China over the last two years. Like Lucy Yang, most experienced the aggressive tactics of formula makers.

Until very recently, enforcement of China’s 1995 regulation had been rare. Neither WHO nor UNICEF can point to a single instance where fines had been imposed since it was introduced. Reuters contacted five prominent Chinese law firms and - underlining the regulation’s obscurity in Chinese legal circles - not one was familiar with it. The National Health and Family Planning Commission, one of the government bodies charged with enforcing the regulation, did not respond to a question about its enforcement. Neither did the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, which also has enforcement authority.

But the enforcement climate may be changing.

The new Chinese government that took office this year is in the midst of a widespread crackdown on corruption, and the practices of big formula appear to be in its cross-hairs. On Oct 14, Paris-based Danone Corp said it would replace managers in China after state-owned CCTV broadcast a report that the company’s formula unit - Dumex - had bribed doctors in the northern city of Tianjin to gain better access for its product.

Dumex China expressed “deep regret” over what

it called “lapses” and promised “full accountability.”

The same day, local officials said 13 medical workers in Tianjin had been dealt a range of punishments from warnings to dismissals. Big formula’s practices in China have also caught the attention of US regulators. In August 2012, Pfizer Inc and its unit Wyeth agreed to pay more than $45 million combined as part of separate settlements with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

In its complaint, the SEC charged that between 2005 and 2010, Wyeth paid bribes to officials outside the United States, including those in Chinese state-owned hospitals, to encourage them to recommend Wyeth’s nutritional products and to gain access to records of new births that could be used for marketing, and then disguised these payments as expense claims. Under the terms of the settlement, Wyeth neither admitted nor denied the allegations.

GLOBAL BOYCOTT Infant formula is controversial in many countries, and China is no exception. In the 1970s, growing concern that formula marketed to mothers in developing countries was contributing to malnutrition led to a global boycott of Nestle products. It prompted the World Health Assembly, the WHO’s decision-making body, to pass a code curbing the marketing of baby formula. Since then, 103 countries, including China, have introduced legislation to implement parts of this code.

While campaigns promoting the benefits of breastfeeding have tainted formula’s image in the West, in China, public debate about formula is mostly about safety. In 2004, at least 50 children died from malnutrition after drinking fake infant formula with little nutritive value. Four years later, formula sold by local brand Sanlu - laced with the industrial chemical melamine - sickened nearly 300,000 infants and killed six, fueling national outrage over government food safety controls.

The stain of Sanlu has proven hard to erase.

Because many Chinese parents still doubt the quality of domestic brands, international formula makers can charge a premium to domestic brands.

Foreign formula firms now control about a third of the Chinese market, according to consultancy Euromonitor International. In 2012, two of the three best-selling brands were foreign. Mead Johnson has a 14 percent market share, Danone controls 9 percent and Nestle 7.5 percent.

China is fertile ground for formula makers. A traditional Chinese belief that women should rest for the first month after delivery gives older family members greater say in the feeding and care of newborns. Relatives often prefer formula as it helps babies sleep for longer stretches. Many families, moreover, prize pudgy babies, who are seen as healthier. Formula-fed infants gain weight more quickly, studies show.

China’s high rate of cesarean sections - the world’s second highest at 46 percent of all deliveries - leads more mothers to start their babies on

formula. Mothers fear drugs used in the operation will affect their breast milk. There is also a common belief that China’s chronic air pollution is harming mothers’ milk supply.

Government surveys show a low breastfeeding rate - just 28 percent of Chinese women were exclusively breastfeeding at six months as of 2008, down from 51 percent in 2003. Independent researchers suggest the real figure is much lower.

One study published in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition in 2010 found exclusive breastfeeding rates at six months in parts of China were as low as 0.2 percent.

With infant formula sales in the United States declining because of a falling birth rate and a rise in breastfeeding, developing nations - China foremost among them - are formula companies’ biggest opportunity. In 2008, China surpassed the United States to become the world’s largest formula market. Euromonitor expects sales of infant formula in China to double from $12 billion last year to $25 billion in 2017.

FREE SAMPLES Under China’s 1995 code, companies may not distribute free formula or samples to pregnant women, their families and hospitals. They can’t sell products at a discount. Nor may they offer hospitals funding, equipment or information in order to promote their product. The regulation bars hospitals and academic institutions from accepting gifts or help from formula companies or promoting infant formula products.

It requires medical institutions to “actively advocate” the advantages of breastfeeding. Penalties for violations, however, are lenient - the maximum fine is 30,000 yuan ($4,900). Enforcement is complicated by its division across several government bodies: the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, and the General Administration of Press and Publication.

Public awareness of the regulation is low.

Chinese research firm Beijing Shennong Kexin Agribusiness Consulting counts hospitals as one of the four primary channels for sales of infant formula, alongside supermarkets, baby product stores, and the Internet. Doctors and their recommendations have the largest impact, it wrote in a November 2012 report. Consumers find “organizing activities inside hospitals around nutrition more scientific and persuasive.” Reuters found formula company advertising and promotion commonplace inside hospitals. In August, visitors to the maternity ward at Hangzhou Tianmushan Hospital in eastern China were greeted with banners from Mead Johnson that read: “Healthy babies, happy mothers” and “Give baby the best start in life!” A picture of a baby drinking from a bottle and the Mead Johnson logo adorned the floor guide. On the VIP maternity wing, nurse Xia Lingling - a new mother herself - said Mead Johnson representatives regularly visited to drop off samples for new mothers and to give talks to the staff.—Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.835 4.500 2.640 2.163 2.822 229.680 36.628 3.639 6.518 9.009 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES Saudi Riyal 75.764 Qatari Riyal 78.065 Omani Riyal 738.050 Bahraini Dinar 754.620 UAE Dirham 77.374 ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 40.700 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.500 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.325 Tunisian Dinar 171.600 Jordanian Dinar 401.121 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.906 Syrian Lira 3.080 Morocco Dirham 34.634 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 284.000 Euro 386.130 Sterling Pound 460.850 Canadian dollar 274.740 Turkish lira 140.010 Swiss Franc 313.810 Australian Dollar 268.800 US Dollar Buying 282.800 GOLD 20 Gram 242.000 10 Gram 122.000 5 Gram 63.500 Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal Irani Riyal

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

SELL DRAFT 269.93 274.41 311.82 382.23 283.80 457.48 2.918 3.649 4.469 2.165 2.800 2.647 77.31 755.09 41.17 403.77 737.80 78.34 74.78

SELL CASH 269.000 275.000 313.000 386.000 286.400 458.000 2.900 3.800 4.900 2.600 3.400 2.770 77.600 755.900 41.300 408.800 743.900 78.700 76.000

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat

Selling Rate 283.050 274.435 456.525 381.460 308.775 750.035 77.315 78.870 76.615 400.415 41.181 2.165 4.530 2.643 3.649 6.541 697.685 3.865 10.010

Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit Chinese Yuan Renminbi

Singapore Dollar South African Rand Sri Lankan Rupee Taiwan Thai Baht

3.045 3.815 90.185 47.055

Bahrain Exchange Company CURRENCY Belgian Franc British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Romanian Leu Slovakia Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Turkish Lira Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar Canadian Dollar US Dollars US Dollars Mint Bangladesh Taka Chinese Yuan Hong Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Korean Won Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee Philippine Peso Sierra Leone

BUY Europe 0.007383 0.451630 0.006679 0.047322 0.378183 0.042505 0.081948 0.008162 0.038795 0.303787 0.138797 Australasia 0.258019 0.230839 America 0.266881 0.279900 0.280400 Asia 0.003395 0.045249 0.034543 0.004374 0.000021 0.002750 0.003372 0.000257 0.084809 0.003042 0.002518 0.006458 0.000080

SELL 0.008383 0.460630 0.018679 0.052322 0.385663 0.047795 0.81948 0.018162 0.043795 0.313987 0.146797 0.269519 0.240339 0.275381 0.284250 0.284250 0.003995 0.048749 0.037293 0.004775 0.000027 0.002930 0.003372 0.000272 0.090809 0.003212 0.002798 0.006738 0.000075

Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar Turkish Lira UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

0.224733 0.022050 0.001901 0.009487 0.008751 Arab 0.746859 0.038445 0.000079 0.000184 0.396351 1.0000000 0.000139 0.022761 0.001203 0.731631 0.077298 0.075097 0.002176 0.166958 0.138797 0.076341 0.001290

0.230733 0.030550 0.002481 0.009667 0.009301 0.754859 0.041545 0.000080 0.000244 0.403851 1.0000000 0.000239 0.046761 0.001838 0.737311 0.078511 0.075797 0.002396 0.174958 0.146797 0.077490 0.001370

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

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 283.600 384.500 453.350 272.650 4.475 41.150 2.163 3.646 6.485 2.637 755.000 77.200 75.700

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

BUSINESS

Kuwait household sector remains robust NBK ECONOMIC REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait’s household sector remained a key driver of the domestic economy, maintaining solid growth in 2013. Household debt grew at healthy pace through September and consumer’s card spending growth remained in the double-digits during the first half of the year. The sector has been supported by steady employment growth among Kuwaiti nationals and skilled expatriates.

Consumer’s card spending remained solid with growth remaining in the double-digits. While year-on-year growth in point of sale (POS) transaction slowed to 17.4 percent in 2Q13 compared to the first quarter, it was still relatively strong.

Unlike previous years, 2013 has not seen any major public sector salary hikes which could boost household income.

As such, the fundamentals behind spending have softened, but remain largely supported by solid employment growth and consumer borrowing.

Growth in consumer and installment debt stabilized at 18 percent through September, with outstanding debt reaching KD 7.96 billion. As expected, the pace of growth has tapered off as household have become relatively more extended. The sector’s borrowing could receive a boost from the Family Fund

which will alleviate the debt burdens of some borrowers.

Consumer confidence has moderated somewhat since the start of 2013, though at 114 the level is still relatively high. In September, Araa’s consumer confidence index was still over 7 percent higher than it was a year ago. Weakness since the start of the year has come largely from a drop in consumer’s perceptions of their employment prospects

The latest technology is vital in making the most of resources

By Peter Voser, CEO, Royal Dutch Shell

T

he energy industry in the Middle East is an increasingly vibrant centre of innovation, thanks to burgeoning cooperation between governments and businesses throughout the region.

Technological advances are unlocking new oil and gas resources in the UAE and beyond. This is not only helping to supply the world’s growing energy needs. It is also generating oil and gas revenues that can bring economic, social and environmental benefits to countries across the Middle East.

This week, as Shell participates in the 16th edition of ADIPEC energy conference in the UAE, we are struck by the sense of purpose and optimism in the region regarding its role in the global energy market.

Global demand for energy is set to increase as the world’s population grows and living standards rise, especially in emerging economies. Over the next seven years, the world could generate new energy demand equivalent to China’s entire energy system.

Governments in the Middle East are rightly taking a long-term view. They see how future oil and gas revenues can bring real economic and other advantages.

Importantly, they also recognise the role that innovation in the energy sector can, and must play. It is a fascinating area of progress. As the CEO of Shell, I lead an international energy company that partners with governments and their national oil companies for mutual benefit. Our relationships and local knowledge, formed over many decades in the Middle East, remain essential, while our technology, expertise and largescale project delivery capabilities add real value.

For this reason, we spend more than any other international oil and gas company on research and development - more than $1 billion annually over the last five years, on average. Today, we have more than 14,000 granted patents and pending patent applications. Because our activities span the entire industry, from extracting oil and gas to delivering fuels and petrochemicals, we can bring technologies together to maximize their impact.

The latest innovations can help countries derive more value from oil and gas fields over time, and increase export revenues. But they can also help to strengthen knowledge-based economies and provide sustainable energy policies.

In the Middle East, new technology is already making a tangible impact every day and this will continue. The practice of Well, Reservoir and Facility management (WRFM), for example, is helping countries make the most of oil fields. By integrating surveillance, production and predictive technologies, it can unlock trapped resources, help avoid leaving oil and gas behind unnecessarily, and optimise the lifecycle of a field over decades.

At the Fahud oil field in northern Oman there has been a remarkable turnaround thanks to these techniques. Fahud is operated by Petroleum Development Oman, a joint venture that is majority owned by the Omani government with Shell having a 34% stake.

Despite being one of PDO’s oldest fields, the team applied the latest Shell technology, business processes and continuous improvement principles from across the world. The rate of production decline reduced from 8% to close to zero for the last three years. One tactic was a successful strategy to re-open and better manage several wells that had been closed, leading to 3,500 barrels a day of additional production.

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) also has real potential, especially in mature fields. Many people are surprised to learn that the oil and gas industry typically recovers about 35% of oil from reservoirs, with the rest remaining trapped in rock. Methods to inject gas, heat or chemicals to encourage flow can increase returns. Studies indicate that just a 1% increase in the global efficiency of hydrocar-

and durable goods purchases. By contrast, consumer’s outlooks for their own incomes and general economic conditions held up relatively well.

Kuwaiti employment growth has seen a slight pickup in 2013 following a moderating trend last year. Aggregate Kuwaiti employment saw year-on-year growth accelerate slightly to 3.3 percent from 2.8 percent at the end of 2012.

Skilled expat job growth was also

stronger during the first half of 2013.

Though travel activity has seen a slowing in growth during the last few months, it has improved over a year ago.

In September, the total number of passengers arriving and departing from Kuwait’s international airport was up by 4.5 percent against last year’s 3.3 percent.

We expect consumer spending growth to remain healthy through 2013

and into 2014 albeit at a slowing pace, supported by healthy employment conditions and robust consumer confidence.

Household borrowing will continue to see healthy growth though we expect the pace to moderate somewhat by the end of 2013. Stronger non-oil GDP growth in 2014 should also boost private sector hiring among both Kuwaitis and skilled expats, providing further impetus to the household sector.

flydubai soars to new heights in 2013 Network expansion, fleet growth, profitability and business class KUWAIT: Dubai-based flydubai shows no signs of slowing down as it continues to challenge conventions within the aviation industry. The carrier, which has become a household name in the region, added a number of milestones this year making it one of the fastest growing airlines in the region.

bon recovery would raise conventional oil reserves by up to 88 billion barrels, which is equivalent to three years of annual production at today’s level.

The Middle East provides much scope for such technology. The ongoing EOR work by Shell with PDO in Oman is seen as a global best-practice reference, and we broke new ground there, developing three new injection technologies.

In December last year, PDO commissioned the Middle East’s first solar EOR pilot project. It uses sunlight to produce steam that is pumped into the Amal West field. The system was built by GlassPoint, a leading solar EOR company in which Shell has invested via its venture capital fund.

And it is not just in extracting, but also in using energy where technology can bring big rewards to governments and their people. Our Pearl gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar is the largest in the world. It turns natural gas into a whole range of liquid products such as cleaner-burning fuels and lubricant base oils - including the capacity to produce enough diesel fuel to fill more than 160,000 cars a day and enough base oil for 225 million car lubricant fills per year. Its size brings economies of scale, and helps the country maximise value from its resources, and diversify its export revenues.

Another area of progress is liquefied natural gas (LNG). The ability to cool gas to a liquid and then transport it in ships to far flung destinations, can increase export opportunities for countries with natural gas resources.

But LNG can also help countries meet rising domestic energy demand with imports, either temporarily or in the longerterm.Dubai, for example, is already taking advantage of LNG imports.

It is now possible to build LNG import facilities in the same two-year timeframe that it takes to build a gas-fired power station. In this way natural gas, the cleanestburning fossil fuel, which is an ideal partner for renewable sources, can help to create long-term, sustainable energy plans.

Working with cutting-edge technology in oil and gas also brings broader economic advantages with the right partnerships. For example, it can benefit future generations of scientists, engineers and senior managers.

In the UAE we have implemented one of the world’s most highly regarded management training programs with our partner, Abu Dhabi’s ADCO. In another program with ADCO, we recently celebrated the graduation of the first group of Emirati drilling engineers to receive certification in the Shell Round 1 and Round 2 programmes. These are globally accredited qualifications enabling them to work on Shell onshore or offshore oil platforms anywhere in the world.

However, such training is not just about progress, but also ensuring the highest possible safety standards. For a company like ours, and the countries where we operate, safety goes hand in hand with innovation.

The selection of Shell by Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC in May to help develop the UAE’s Bab sour gas reservoirs illustrates all these points. Sour gas is a valuable source of energy but contains hydrogen sulfide, which must be carefully removed.

(Russia) are a few of the additions. flydubai doubled its network in Russia to eight points and added its fourth point in Ukraine. The carrier continues to grow its GCC network with additional points in Saudi Arabia, Oman and increased frequency to Kuwait.

Along with adding new routes, the carrier increased the frequency of flights to existing destinations, such as Kiev (Ukraine) and Colombo (Sri Lanka) to a double daily service.

Fleet flydubai’s business model is built on the principles of efficiency by maintaining lower operational costs.

Maintaining a young fleet with a high utilization rate are key factors that contribute to the success of this model. flydubai’s order of 50 Boeing 737800s, placed at the Farnborough Airshow in 2008, is due to be fulfilled by 2015. By the end of 2013, flydubai’s hub at Terminal 2 of Dubai International Airport will be home to a fleet of 35 aircraft, 13 of which will be configured with Business Class.

flydubai CEO Ghaith Al-Ghaith Ahead of the Dubai Airshow, flydubai’s Chief Executive Officer, Ghaith Al Ghaith, commented on the carrier’s achievements in 2013: “flydubai would not have been able to grow and develop so quickly if we did not operate in such a stimulating environment for business as the UAE. Our business model, which was built around our ability to be agile and flexible, has helped change the way people around the region travel and create free flows of trade and tourism.” Less than five years since its launch on 01 June 2009, the airline remains committed to offering passengers convenient and reliable travel services and an unrivalled onboard experience. This commitment was reflected in the developments the carrier has made this year.

Network expansion flydubai continues to grow demand for travel to destinations within a five-hour flying radius from Dubai. Benefiting from Dubai’s efficient aviation hub, the carrier has opened up routes to the primary airports of more than 46 previously underserved markets across Africa, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Europe, Russia, the GCC, Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. flydubai has added 16 new destinations to its expanding network this year, bringing the total number of destinations served to more than 65.

MalÈ (Maldives), Ha’il and Medina (Saudi Arabia), Odessa (Ukraine), Juba (South Sudan), Sialkot and Multan (Pakistan), Volgograd and Krasnodar

Profitability In the past two years, flydubai has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to and has around 1,200 weekly flights. flydubai carried 5.1 million passengers in 2012 and has become the second largest carrier, by passenger numbers, operating out of Dubai International. The success of flydubai’s sustainable business model is evident in its financial and operating performance, which was announced earlier this year. The carrier moved into the black for the second half of 2011, delivering three consecutive sixmonth periods of profitable growth. flydubai announced net profit for 2012 was AED 151.9 million ($ 41.4 million). In a further step to diversify its funding sources flydubai has signed an agreement for $228 million with five regional and international banks to finance six new Boeing 737800 aircraft.

plemented by the convenience offered by Dubai International’s Terminal 2.

“Since day one, flydubai has been committed to delivering a unique passenger experience; we have already differentiated ourselves through our existing product offering, investing in new technologies and therefore it’s the next logical step in the evolution of our business model,” said Al-Ghaith.

Although flydubai’s product offering is quite complete, it continues to invest in enhancing its Economy Class.

Most recently, the carrier started giving passengers the option to pre-book their inflight entertainment and preorder hot meals from 40 AED only on select routes online.

Cargo flydubai Cargo, which began operations in 2012, transports a range of goods including perishable items, textiles, electronics, courier items, pharmaceuticals and general cargo. At the start of 2013, the Cargo Division completed its first successful year of operations with an average of 3,200 tonnes of cargo transported each month, more than double the forecast for 2012. flydubai Cargo services operate

to more than 65 stations across the network, while offering services to another 150 stations through its interline agreements with other airlines.

The flydubai team As the airline matures, it continues to invest in its greatest asset, its people. In 2013, the carrier rolled out a number of programmes to recruit and train staff across the business. flydubai employee numbers crossed the 2,000 mark. Hailing from 97 different nationalities, the carrier’s staff are a reflection of the city it operates from. Along with its ongoing recruitment drive to attract 600 pilots by 2016, flydubai has launched a Cadet programme that trains and qualifies young Emiratis to become licensed pilots. flydubai aims to accommodate up to 100 Cadets in this programme over the next five years. “With the ongoing advancements in infrastructure and regulations in the aviation industry, there is no limit to what we can achieve. As flydubai starts a new chapter in its product offering, we remain focused on fulfilling the vision that has been set for us by our leadership to support the travel, trade and tourism in the UAE,” uded Al-Ghaith.

Business class In June 2013, flydubai announced the start of Business Class services, an evolution of its passenger offering.

The decision to launch the premium service was based on the demand for such a product as many of the routes flydubai serves do not have a Business Class option.

The new service which became available in October on select routes like Istanbul, Juba, Kabul, Kiev and MalÈ has been positively received by passengers, who can now benefit from faster check-in services, a dedicated business team, more comfortable and spacious seating and a variety of internationally inspired menus during their journey. All this is com-

China cake millionaire at home in his six castles CHONGQING, China: As the greatest urbanization drive in history swells China’s cities with ranks of identikit apartment blocks, one culinary businessman is indulging his architectural appetite with a visual feast of extravagant, outlandish castles.

“I don’t have any hobbies, except for planting trees and building castles,” said Liu Chonghua, standing on a crenellated turret atop the largest of the six he has constructed.

Liu, who made millions from feeding China’s growing appetite for cakes and bread, now plans to make his home in the grey stone structure, which resembles Britain’s Windsor Castle and towers above

the surrounding rice fields. His others include a redbrick fairy-tale edifice stacked with soaring spires, which seems to have emerged from Disney’s version of Aladdin, and a white confection with candy-colored towers reminiscent of Neuschwanstein, the hilltop fantasy built by Bavaria’s 19th century ‘Mad’ King Ludwig II. “When I was a child I heard stories about princes and castles,” said Liu, 59, adding that he grew up “with an empty stomach every day” in China’s countryside and was sent to dig ditches during the political upheavals of the 1960s.

After making his fortune, he said, “I wanted to turn the castles of my dreams into something real.”

Liu is one of several Chinese millionaires channelling their wealth into eccentric projects, but his designs have led to death threats and put him on a collision course with local officials in the southwestern megacity of Chongqing.

His designs were stimulated by buildings in Munich and the chateaux of France’s Loire Valley, he said, also citing maverick Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, designer of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia cathedral, as an inspiration. One of his construction workers, former soldier Ma Wenneng, tinkered with a fountain on a balcony and dismissed the challenges of recreating foreign designs on Chinese soil.—AFP

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

BUSINESS

Kuwait stocks come under selling pressure

KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week in the red zone. The price index closed at 7,903.74 points, down by 0.45 percent from the week before closing, the weighted index decreased by 1.51 percent after closing at 459.69 points, whereas the KSX-15 index closed at 1,082.72 points down by 1.79 percent. Furthermore, last week’s average daily turnover decreased by 29.51 percent, compared to the preceding week, reaching KD 23.80 million, whereas trading volume average was 243.73 million shares, recording decrease of 25.66 percent.

The stock market ended the second week of November with a drop in the trading level to all its indices, however remained in the 7900 points level for the second consecutive week, due to the speculative operations that increased the sale-for-profit operations.

In addition, the Weighted Index and KSX-15 index declined throughout all the week session, affected by the selling pressures, especially on Banking sector.

On the other hand, the stock market last week was subject to a natural profit collection operations, which in turn limited the market gains. However, the quick speculative operations were not absent to influence the trading activity, thus the purchasing operations did not go in line with the selling operations during most of the trading periods. As a result, the stock market three indices were pushed to end the week in the red zone, and this explains the speculative activity that controlled the market behavior throughout most of the week’s sessions and included the large-cap and small-cap stocks.

Also, the waiting and watching state of the traders for the listed companies’ 2013 third quarter financial results, which period ends by next Sunday, and their fears from having some companies being stopped from trading, for late announcements; controlled the stock market trading

while five recorded increase, and one remained with no change. The Telecommunication sector headed the losers list as its index declined by 4.46 percent to end the week’s activity at 809.59 points. The Banking sector was second on the losers’ list, which index declined by 1.62 percent, closing at 1,098.83 points, followed by the Insurance sector, as its index closed at 1,145.72 points at a loss of 0.99 percent. The Industrials sector was the least declining as its index closed at 1,199.57 points with a 0.46 percent decrease. On the other hand, the Technology sector headed the gainers list as its index increased by 2.84 percent to end the week’s activity at 1,045.04 points.

The Oil and Gas sector was second on the gainer’s list, which index improved by 2.37 percent, closing at 1,237.26 points. The Consumer Services sector was the least week gainer, which index grew by 0.41 percent, closing at 1,187.64 points, whereas the Basic Materials sector remained at no change.

BAYAN WEEKLY MARKET REPORT

activity and was reflected on the main indices performance, especially by the end of the week, whereas the trading activity declined and the liquidity level dropped by 11.89 percent For the annual performance, the price index ended last week recording 33.19 percent annual gain compared

to its closing in 2012, while the weighted index increased by 10.07 percent, and the KSX-15 recorded 7.30 percent increase.

Sectors’ Indices Six of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the red zone,

Sectors’ activity The Financial Services sector dominated total trade volume during last week with 599.85 million shares changing hands, representing 49.22 percent of the total market trading volume. The Real Estate sector was second in terms of trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 29.59 percent of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 360.63 million shares.

On the other hand, the Financial Services sector’s stocks were the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD 46.15 million or 38.77 percent of last week’s total market trading value. The Real Estate sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover was KD 25.13 million represented 21.11 percent of the total market trading value. -Prepared by the Studies & Research Department, Bayan Investment Co.

Big Retailer is Fixing the world’s metals warehousing: why so long? watching you LONDON: In the mid-1990s the London Metal Exchange was embroiled in a criminal investigation after the discovery that a trader - nicknamed Mr 5 Percent for the share of the world’s copper he reputedly controlled - had spent years manipulating its systems to hoard copper and boost the price. The episode, when Japanese trade house Sumitomo Corp’s head trader Yasuo Hamanaka racked up $2.6 billion in unauthorized losses trying to corner the copper market, plunged the LME into crisis and led to an investigation by the British government.

No criminal charges were ever brought in the UK, but a 1997 probe by former Treasury official Alan Whiting triggered an overhaul of the rule book of the world’s biggest metals market and introduced limits on traders’ positions. While lessons were learned from the incident, a review of the Whiting report and other LME reports spanning 17 years suggests opportunities may have been missed to prevent a more recent controversy. Lawsuits filed by manufacturers in the United States in recent months assert that, enabled by LME rules, banks and traders hoarded metal in warehouses they owned, raising prices.

The firms and the LME say the claims are baseless.

In his report Whiting flagged potential conflicts of interest in the LME’s global metal warehouse system the some 700 warehouses certified by the LME to hold metals that meet its specifications. Whiting highlighted the relationship between warehouse companies and members of the exchange and identified several threats to a well-functioning market the practice of long-term storage, incentives offered by warehouses to encourage storage, the charges levied by warehouse companies to extract stocks and delays in delivery.

The LME, which was sold last year by its member owners to the operator of the Hong Kong stock exchange, is a defendant in the lawsuits accusing Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Glencore-Xstrata of rigging the aluminum market and violating anti-trust laws. The lawsuits accuse the banks and traders of stockpiling metal in warehouses, delivering it out at the minimum pace and driving up the prices of industrial products from soft-drink cans to aircraft.

Plaintiffs argue the LME abetted the scheme by writing rules that made it possible and ignoring calls to change. The LME says its rules were made independently. The lawsuits coincide with a probe by the US Department of Justice into the metals warehousing industry and the ownership of physical assets by Wall Street banks.

The report by Whiting was not the first. A review in 1996 by the-then UK financial watchdog the Securities and Investments Board urged the LME to examine warehousing and raised aspects of the relationship between warehouse companies and LME members which it said were potentially open to anticompetitive behavior. There were several further external and internal reports, complaints and consultations on LME warehousing. In 1998, the LME added to its warehousing rule book a stipulation requiring “Chinese walls” between an LME member and a related warehouse company. But the exchange said UK competition law prevented it from banning LME members from owning warehouse companies.

FIRST STEPS TO A CRISIS A first step in the trading house/warehouse relationship was taken in the late 1980s when one of the

LME’s biggest shareholders at the time, broker Metallgesellschaft (MG), bought British warehousing firm Henry Bath. The LME did not stop the purchase.

“With the benefit of hindsight, the LME should have dealt with it,” said a former LME board member who, like many of the people Reuters spoke to for this story, declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the subject. “If they had, we would have had a different scenario. Once you set a precedent, you can’t stop it being repeated.”

In 1999, some of the 400 industry responses to an LME discussion paper entitled “Warehousing: The Way Forward” raised concerns about high warehouse charges and a few worried about the relationship between LME members and warehouse companies.

Just over a year later, in the first half of 2001, the LME board received “30 official letters of complaint about the way in which LME-approved warehouse companies operate”, according to a report by then complaints officer Oonagh McDonald. Her report suggested that one key issue for the LME was the long-term storage of metal away from areas where it was likely to be of most benefit to consumers.

“Inducements played a part in this and resulted in high out charges,” her February 2002 report noted. “A closer correlation between the location of LME warranted stocks and demand for them could make a significant difference, as could the more efficient movement of metals to lower cost facilities.” At the end of that year, the LME issued a consultation document following a review of slow deliveries out of warehouses, warehousing costs and the location of warranted metal.

In the early 2000s, the LME acted. US warehouse firm Metro was prevented from warranting metal in its Long Beach and New Orleans depots after complaints that it had “failed to demonstrate it can meet acceptable delivery out rates”. It was fined 50,000 pounds. But the complaints about warehousing practices continued, and in 2006 the LME commissioned independent consultancy Europe Economics to undertake a study into the implications of changing all LME metals contracts from delivery “in warehouse” to “free on truck” - so overcoming charges associated with extracting stock from warehouses.

It concluded that changing the LME contracts would not benefit users and in any case, once again, there were questions over the ability of the LME to change its rules because any attempt to regulate prices could contravene competition laws. But Philip Crowson, who chaired the LME committee examining the issue, wrote in a note with the Europe Economics report that this did not mean the status quo on rents and charges was desirable or that the LME should be complacent. He urged the LME to be vigilant over all warehouse rents and charges.

WARNINGS The accumulated warnings about warehouse ownership, rent charges and the concentration of metal in specific locations appeared to go unheeded.

In the meantime, MG had sold Henry Bath to Enron, which in turn sold it to RBS Sempra. And in July 2010, the warehousing firm landed up in the hands of JPMorgan when it bought RBS Sempra Commodities’ global oil, metals, coal and European power and gas assets.

The same year, Goldman bought Detroit-based warehousing firm Metro, and other LME shareholders

and traders soon followed. Glencore bought Pacorini and Trafigura bought NEMS. The wait times that had prompted complaints in earlier years got even longer as the new warehouse owners concentrated metal into depots at single locations and released it only at the minimum daily rate mandated by the LME. Warehouses registered by the LME at ports around the world are supposed to allow companies that need metal to take delivery of supplies against the exchange’s futures contracts.

The lengthening queues, particularly in Detroit, prompted the LME in 2010 to commission a second report by Europe Economics, this time to assess the rate at which warehousing companies were delivering out metal. The full version of the report was not published because it contained proprietary information, the LME said in May 2011 when it released a summary of the findings. The LME adopted recommendations doubling minimum delivery out rates to 3,000 tons per day for warehouses holding more than 900,000 tons of metal per location.

The LME noted at the time that the lengthy queues were specific to aluminum and to one location only. “The LME does not have a systemic issue with its warehouse network,” LME Chief Executive Martin Abbott said then. The problem then spread to other metals, including zinc and copper, in multiple locations from Johor in Malaysia to Vlissingen in the Netherlands and New Orleans in the United States.

Warehouses in New Orleans, for instance, now house 60 percent of the total global LME stocks of zinc.

In 2011, British minor metals merchant Anthony Lipmann, invited to address a UK parliamentary committee on strategically important metals, took that opportunity to question LME-members’ ownership of warehouses used for storing metal traded on the exchange. “My argument is that if you go back to first principles and simply say that a warehouse cannot be owned by someone who has an interest in outcome of price, the conflict of interest at the heart and core of the world’s leading free market in base metals would not have happened,” Lipmann told Reuters.

HONG KONG ERA Having paid $2.2 billion for the LME for a significant commodities foot-print, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing also bought the warehousing conundrum. HKEx Chief Executive Charles Li said warehousing was an issue that could have seen him walk away from the purchase. But he showed no fear about tackling the issue, promising in October last year to aim “a bazooka” at the problem of long queues once he was able to consider the matter fully. “If people have to wait for a year that’s a very big problem, it is a level-one issue. If somehow the LME system is making clients suffer in that way, that is not acceptable,” Li said at the time.

Less than a year later, on Nov 7, the LME unveiled a plan to slash wait time to a maximum of 50 days, give itself powers to act swiftly to prevent abuses of the system and is reviewing its agreement with warehouse companies. But the LME’s new chief executive, Garry Jones, acknowledged last week that the exchange still cannot stop trading companies from owning warehouse firms. Reaction to the new plan has been mixed, but some of the biggest critics of the LME’s policy, including big aluminum users Coca-Cola and brewer and can maker MillerCoors, are already calling for a greater overhaul. — Reuters

BERLIN: The next time you walk into a shop, consider this: You may not be using your phone, but it is giving out a unique signal that the retailer may be monitoring. A face scanner may check your age and gender while sensors pick up your body heat to help locate popular parts of the store. Consumers have become used to players like Amazon closely following their shopping habits online, triggering targeted product recommendations, advertising and offers.

To counter the online threat, bricks and mortar retailers are playing catchup, using increasingly sophisticated technology to improve staffing, layout and marketing. Some people are less comfortable being watched in the offline world, prompting many in the business to promise to use only anonymised and aggregated data unless shoppers explicitly give their permission to be tracked.

But as retailers get more sophisticated and link the data they collect to loyalty card schemes, shoppers are starting to sign up to schemes that follow their movements in return for targeted discounts and apps that help them find products. German fashion house Hugo Boss is using heat sensors to help place premium products. Luxury chocolate store Godiva has installed meters to count shoppers so it can match staffing to peak hours and measure the draw of window displays.

“Our customers are trying to run their stores or malls more efficiently,” said Bill McCarthy, Europe and Middle East head of ShopperTrak, the US firm behind the Godiva counters. “They are just trying to get real smart with data in the way the e-commerce guys are smart with data,” he said. The Chicago-based company says its counters, while not a new idea, helped Godiva’s store in London’s Regent Street improve customer service and hone its window displays, boosting transactions by 10 percent in six weeks.

CONSUMER CONSENT? As retailers seek ever more information, ShopperTrak has been investing in high-tech video and phone tracking systems to analyse how customers and staff behave inside a store. “The information that we collect is strictly anonymous. We make extra efforts to ensure we keep nothing that is potentially personally identifiable,” McCarthy said.

Tesco, the world’s third biggest retailer, drew criticism from British privacy groups earlier this month with plans to scan the faces of queuing customers to determine their gender and rough age to better target adverts. The company, which put the tracking of customer behavior on a whole new level with its Clubcard loyalty card two decades ago, said it would not record images or store personal data.

Its advisers say some other retailers are less responsible. “Too much is happening without consumer consent,” said Simon Hay, chief executive of Dunnhumby, the customer science company owned by Tesco that is behind its loyalty scheme. “You have to be transparent with data, tell people what you’re doing with it and why and give them something in return.” That has long been the philosophy behind loyalty schemes, which are getting ever smarter as retailers link data from more sources. British shoppers now access an average of six loyalty schemes via their mobile devices compared to four in their wallets, a survey by mobile payments firm CloudZync showed.

Even if a customer does not use their smartphone while in a store, retailers can already deploy wi-fi signals to track their location to within three meters, said Darren Vengroff, chief scientist at US data company RichRelevance. “Every retailer wants to better understand their customer,” said Vengroff, previously the principal engineer at Amazon who helps clients like Wal-Mart, Sears and Marks and Spencer provide more targeted offers to shoppers. “The challenge is to make it really personal and not just a bunch of technology like ‘Big Brother’ watching you and ‘Minority Report’ as you’re walking down the street.”

If a retailer identifies that a high-value shopper has just entered the store by their phone signal, it would be better advised to get a member of staff to give them extra attention rather than bombard them with text messages, Vengroff said. Last month, a group of US companies specializing in location data for retailers agreed to a privacy code of conduct which includes signs posted in store to alert shoppers to the use of tracking technology and instructions for how to opt out. “Even in an anonymous state, you can begin to pull together a profile of a customer, when they are coming to store, when they are mobile,” said John Sheldon, global head of strategy at consultants eBay Enterprise. “These are early days for these capabilities,” Sheldon said, adding he expects the advent of wearable computing devices such as Google Glass to accelerate the trend towards more location-based tools to navigate shoppers towards deals. — Reuters

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

BUSINESS

St Regis Abu Dhabi Where luxury meets tradition

By Sajeev K Peter ABU DHABI: The St Regis Hotels and Resorts, Abu Dhabi, part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, offers the bespoke guest experiences and unparalleled luxury for which the St Regis brand is renowned, said Oliver Key, General Manager, St Regis Abu Dhabi. Hosting a GCC media delegation at the St Regis Hotel, Key said, the hotel’s ‘one-of-a-kind’ luxury combines the brand’s unique legacy with its outstanding Arabian hospitality.

Bespoke guest experiences, peerless Arabian hospitality

St Regis General Manager Oliver Key during the interview.

“Fundamentally, we are a hotel that aims to be one of the best hotels in the UAE, best in terms of services and rooms. I’m most proud of the attention to detail in every area of the hotel,” Key said.

“The main differentiator is probably our great location in the heart of the city,” said Key, while talking about the location of St Regis Hotel on the vibrant Corniche in Abu Dhabi.

“One of the first things people comment on when they walk in is our striking lobby and the classic interior,” Key said. Designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) together with local designers, the hotel’s understated interiors were inspired by the region’s rich heritage and the St Regis brand’s legacy: designed with the colors of the local sand, the traditional cuisine and souks in mind, HBA has imagined a luxurious setting in Abu Dhabi that is steeped in a sophisticated art deco past.

The St Regis Abu Dhabi, par t of Nation Towersand, was the third St Regis Hotel to open in the Middle East since the brand was introduced to the region in 2011. The hotel features the world’s highest suspended hotel suite, Gary Rhodes’ first restaurant in Abu Dhabi and first Hommage Gentleman’s Grooming Atelier in the UAE. Butler service One of the hallmarks of the St Regis brand is its signature St Regis Butler Service that provides an ever-present, yet unobtrusive anticipatory service, customizing each stay according to specific tastes and preferences.

“The dedicated butler services are focused on providing an extra level of service to our guests,” Key said. The St Regis Abu Dhabi features 283 sumptuously-appointed guest rooms, including 55 elegant suites, all offering panoramic waterfront views of the Arabian Gulf.

“I never wanted to work in a hotel that is just ordinary,” Key said who helped set up Armani Hotel at Burj Khalifa, Dubai. Key worked for eight years in the UAE hospitality industry. “The St Regis Abu Dhabi is in the third month of opening. We already achieved a lot of success over this short span,” he said.

Culinary experiences The St Regis Abu Dhabi offers eight culinary venues including Rhodes44, which marks the first restaurant in Abu Dhabi by famed Michelinstarred chef Gar y Rhodes. “As the first Gar y Rhodes Restaurant in the UAE, it has really been a standout success,” Key mentioned.

The St Regis Abu Dhabi also introduces Villa Toscana which serves regional specialties from Tuscany, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna in Italy.

Guests may also enjoy unique dining experiences, tea and other fine beverages at Crystal Lounge, Cafe44, The Tea Lounge, Azura and Spa Cafe.

According to Key, a lot of new hotels have opened in Abu Dhabi in a short space of time, creating enormous pressure on the industry.

Key sought to give a comparative overview of Dubai and Abu Dhabi hotel industries. “Dubai has done extremely well over the last 10 to 15 years. It has balanced both business and leisure. It has a strong business clientele, but it has matched it well with leisure business,” Key explained.

“In fact, Abu Dhabi has begun to do that as well though it relied more on leisure industry in the past. The things are changing today and Abu Dhabi has begun to wrest the initiative. More business centers are being set up, economic summits are being held and more shopping malls are coming up alongside mega events like Ferrari World,” he said.

“At St Regis, we have got something to offer to every client. We can offer something new to both business people and leisure travelers, to small and medium-size groups, to oil and gas companies, embassies, government offices and businesses. St Regis Abu Dhabi is ideal for city or beach experiences or conventions or business meetings in elegant surroundings,” he said.

“We have already held a number of conventions successfully here. As far as luxury and quality is concerned, we seek to set the bar a little higher,” he said.

Giving a snapshot of the group’s expansion plan in the Middle East, he said The St Regis brand made its debut in the Middle East in 2011 with The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, also located in Abu Dhabi, and opened The St Regis Doha last year. St Regis will also make its debut in Dubai, Amman, Cairo and Istanbul in the next few years.

“St Regis is enjoying the Middle East in a fairly big way,” he added.

Storied tradition Talking about the storied tradition of St Regis and its inheritance in Abu Dhabi, Key said, “When the owners planned a property in Abu Dhabi, they wanted to have a proper heritage of The St Regis Hotel here. They travelled to Atlanta, Bangkok, Singapore, London and New York. New York had the original St Regis Hotel which opened in 1904.

It was classic and one of the famed heritage hotels in New York City with over 100 years of history. The owners liked the hotel best and wanted to recapture and recreate some degree of it here in Abu Dhabi.

“So you can see these big sweeping staircases, ornate columns, big chandeliers et al with all their original glamour and grandeur of the 1920s,” he explained.

World’s highest suspended hotel suite ABU DHABI: The magnificent Abu Dhabi Suite is the world’s highest suspended hotel suite - loftily positioned 200 metres above ground between the two St Regis Towers and offering magnificent panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf, the Corniche and the city skyline. The 1,085 square metre Abu Dhabi Suite combines contemporary design with a traditional Arabic influence.

The opulent suite will feature cascading strands of crystals, 24-carat gold leaf accents, leather wall tiles, jewel-toned velvet upholstered walls and intricate glass mosaic patterns. The Abu Dhabi Suite will feature three bedrooms, a grand majlis with a soaring ceiling, private elevator access, spa and movie theatre, as well as a kitchen, dining room and a fully-equipped gym.

Rhodes44 The St Regis Abu Dhabi has opened Rhodes44, the capital’s first restaurant by the Michelin-starred chef Gary Rhodes. One of the hotel’s signature restaurants, Rhodes44 offers guests an intimate venue for all-day contemporary dining providing the perfect setting for Rhodes’ masterful reinventions of classic British and European dishes complemented by Arabian influences.

Guests can choose to dine inside the richly colorful restaurant or al fresco in the spacious garden terrace. For private celebrations or corporate affairs, Rhodes44 also offers two private dining rooms, featuring ample lounge space for entertaining.

This spectacular Abu Dhabi Suite is the world’s highest suspended hotel suite - loftily positioned 200 metres above ground between the two St Regis Towers.

Luxury leisure facilities The hotel has over 3,000 square metres of leisure facilities, including the indulgent RemÈde Spa for ladies, two outdoor swimming pools and the first Hommage Gentleman’s Grooming Atelier in the UAE. The Remede Spa at St Regis Abu Dhabi boasts 11 private treatment spas that are exclusive to St Regis Hotels and Resorts and have attained acclaim in the world’s top addresses including New York, Singapore and Bali.

Villa Toscana Guests can enjoy private access to the hotel’s Villa Toscana is the hotel’s artisanal Italian Nation Riviera Beach Club, which is poised to restaurant, a residential dining destination the become one of the most sought-after leisure destinations in Abu Dhabi when it opens later this year. Ideal for special celebrations and functions, The St Regis Abu Dhabi also offers more than 4,800 square metres of state-of-the-art meeting and event space.

“We are delighted to partner with Starwood to offer Abu Dhabi’s business and leisure travellers such an iconic address in the UAE capital,” said Hamad Al-Shamsi, Chief Executive Officer, International Capital Trading. “With The St Regis Abu Dhabi, we will continue to contribute to the growth of the emirate’s travel and tourism sectors, enhancing Abu Dhabi’s expansion plans to realize its vision for Abu Dhabi 2030,” added in a press release.

Starwood currently operates nearly 50 hotels in the Middle East and continues to strengthen its long-established position as one of the leading luxury hotel operators in the region.

Starwood currently has over 30 hotels in the pipeline in the region of which more than 30 percent include hotels under the company’s luxRhodes44 Restaurant: The perfect culinary venue where exquisite Arabian hospitality meets ury brands - St Regis, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels. with unique legacy. — Photos by Sajeev K Peter hotel believes will become a timeless gathering space for the city’s increasingly upmarket patrons and global visitors alike. Serving handcrafted, regional Italian specialties from Tuscany, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna, Villa Toscana’s design creates the feel of visiting the inviting summer home of an Italian noble.

“Villa Toscana is becoming a trusted option for those who prefer exceptional food prepared to exacting standards yet served in an entirely unpretentious manner, often by the chef himself,” said Ruben Gabino, director of Food and Beverage, the St Regis Abu Dhabi.

Intimate recital

S

t Regis hosted an ‘Intimate Recital’ by Korean singer Soprano Hee Jeong Son during a traditional midnight supper, a tradition started by Caroline Astor, mother of the St Regis founder and doyenne of Gilded Age High Society. She established the original after party with legendary events that have become treasured chapters in the St Regis brand’s social heritage. The event was co-hosted

by Abu Dhabi Art Hub and Najim Culture and Events.

A Day of Polo

S

t Regis Hotels and Resorts took the initiative to support the fourth annual ADCB Pink Polo Match, featuring the St Regis Polo team. The match was held at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Abu Dhabi in order to create awareness on breast cancer.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

BUSINESS

Markaz registers net profit of 12fils per share by end of Q3 KUWAIT: Kuwait Financial Centre “Markaz” announced a net profit of KD 5.72 million for the three quarters ending 30th September 2013, a net profit of 12 fils per share as compared with a net profit of KD 2.89 (6 fils per share) during the same period in 2012.

Markaz’s total assets under management (AUM) reach KD1.04 billion, with an increase of 13 percent compared to the AUM as of 30th September 2012.

Markaz Chairman, Diraar Y Alghanim, said “Kuwait’s GDP is expected to grow by 4.5 percent in 2013 and 5 percent in 2014. Growth will be supported by oil prices and the State’s spending on infrastructure projects in Power, Water and Roads sectors.”

Al-Ghanim added “As for GCC States, oil prices remained stable despite the global market’s sluggish growth, in addition to GCC States’ increased production and supply from new shale oil resources. Financial markets in GCC States are expected to witness gains during the fourth quarter of 2013 backed up by stable oil prices and member states spending on infrastructure development projects.”

On the global economy, Al-Ghanim noted that: “The partial shutdown of US government borrowing,

the situation in Syria and challenges being faced by emerging markets have had negative impact on growth internationally. However, it is predicted that the US economy will gain some traction in 2014 as a result of quantitative easing and low interest rates.

Hence, the United States’ GDP is expected to advance to an estimate of 2.6 percent during the coming year.

The euro-zone remains mired by the financial crisis.

The European Central Bank (ECB) lowered interest rates and revised down its GDP forecast for 2013 to 0.6 percent but is expecting a recovery to 1.1 percent growth in 2014.”

Regarding the company’s activities, Manaf Alhajeri, CEO of Markaz said: For the third quarter of 2013, Markaz Islamic fund, focused on the Kuwait market, closed with a gain of 6.6 percent against an increase of 5.5 percent in its benchmark Al-Madar Index while our other Kuwait focused Forsa Fund, the only derivatives fund in the region posted a gain of 10.6 percent. MIDAF and MUMTAZ funds continue to focus on the index heavyweights and blue chip stocks, posting 7.4 percent and 4.5 percent respectively for the same period, against

Diraar Y Alghanim, Chairman, Kuwait Financial Centre, Markaz an increase of 8.4 percent on S&P Kuwait TR. Meanwhile, our MENA focused Markaz Arabian Fund gained 21.4 percent against a gain of 17.5 percent in the benchmark S&P Pan Arab Composite Index.

Markaz is currently seeking regulatory authorities’ approvals to launch Markaz MENA Islamic Fund

(MMIF). This new fund seeks long-term capital growth from a diversified portfolio of equities, funds, and various financial instruments that are Sharia compliant including Islamic investment funds, Islamic Sukuks & bonds. The fund will focus on achieving this objective by investing principally in the MENA & GCC. In addition, Markaz also awaits approvals from regulatory bodies for another new investment fund, Markaz Select Sector Focus Fund (SSFF). This type of investment fund is recognized as an “umbrella multiclass fund”, which has a strategy that consists of issuing and allocating the fund units within separate multiple classes, where each class of units invests in an identified economic sector. The fund’s classes will be comprised of concentrated and actively managed portfolios within the identified performing sectors.

This product has a distinctive advantage where the investor has the option to allocate his units in the various categories/sectors to satisfy his investment needs. The investors will also hold the benefit of deciding if they want to move from one category/sector to another within the specified time limits.

OSN partners with NBK to reward cardholders

flynas targets 20m passengers by 2020 Airline unveils new business strategy KUWAIT: Flynas, Saudi Arabia’s national carrier is set to soar into the future in brand new livery, and with an ambitious new business strategy aimed at hitting the 20 million passenger target by 2020. The Company today announced a complete overhaul of its operations - with the launch of a new brand identity, a new business class offering on all routes and a customer-centric service model set to lead the airline into a new growth chapter in its seven-year history. “flynas has proved that it is capable of creating the impossible through hard work and ambition despite the challenges it faced. The Company has built strong customer appeal and high trust amongst passengers inside and outside Saudi Arabia by attracting frequent travelers, whether businessmen or individuals, who are looking for distinctive services and who appreciate quality. The new brand identity is modern, vibrant and confident and reflects our new strategic direction and brand promise to our customers which is to be ‘Better’,” says Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, CEO Nas Holding.

Al-Hamdan added, “To date, flynas has carried more than 12 million passengers on 110,000 flights, with the highest rate of passenger growth recorded in 2013, with passenger load hitting 3 million during the past 10 months.”

In a move guaranteed to be met with widespread consumer requirements, flynas also announced the launch of its new business class cabin starting January 2014. Business class passengers will be able to enjoy premium seats with a generous 48” seat pitch and extra-wide arm rests in a dedicated Business Class Cabin, greater flexibility for last minute cancellations or flight changes, hot meals or snacks delivered to

their seat, extra hold baggage and free access to Executive Lounges. The Business Class offering will be introduced at competitive prices.

“Through upgrades to our service model including the launch of the business class service and the embracing of smarter technologies, our goal is to make flying comfortable, convenient and cost-effective for our passengers,” added Raja Azmi, CEO of flynas.

The new flynas.com website will also take the ‘Better’ brand promise to the virtual world with a clean, fresh design, user-friendly interface and straight-forward navigation. The clean design extends to mobile apps allowing passengers to easily book, check-in and track flights.

Passengers can look forward to upgrades aimed at enhancing their experience from booking right through to touch down. Adding more value to flynas’ highly affordable fares, all passengers can now enjoy free check-in baggage (20 KG), the ability to pre-order meals online while making the booking and free newspapers provided onboard.

Al-Hamdan continued, “This change represents a new chapter of progress in the history of flynas as we will maintain our current competitive prices with much more variety in our service offering. There are no limits to our ambitions as we have successfully carried 12 million passengers in the past few years despite the challenges.”

Al-Hamdan concluded, “We strive to uplift the capabilities of our agile, progressive, and innovative team that brings together a mix of great experience and fresh ideas - we are all set to take our customers where they want to go,” concluded Al-Hamdan.

KUWAIT: OSN, the region’s leading pay-TV network, has partnered with National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) to reward credit and debit cardholders with exclusive packages and deals on new OSN subscriptions.

The exclusive deal, which starts from 17th November, reinforces OSN’s commitment to widen its reach in Kuwait through premium partnerships providing more value and convenience to subscribers. Maaz Sheikh, Chief Sales and Operations Officer, OSN said: “Kuwait is one of our fastest growing markets and demand for premium entertainment is growing. With nearly 140 channels, OSN has something for everyone. Our exclusive content coupled with state-of-the-art technology and award-winning customer service, makes OSN a leader in the television industry.

“Our partnership with National Bank of Kuwait serves as the ideal platform to reach out to potential customers in OSN’s key market of Kuwait at the same time providing great value to viewers.”

Ahmed Al-Khader, NBK’s Assistant General Manager, Consumer Banking Group said “NBK is committed to providing its customers with the best offers and promotions. Our cardholders will have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive packages and deals on new OSN subscriptions. NBK’s leadership has been established by consistently delivering superior value to our customers.

“This effort also extends to our partnerships as we always strive to develop promotions that are relevant to our client base,” Al-Khader added.

As part of the special offer, NBK cardholders who subscribe to OSN will receive free installation and the latest OSN hardware, so viewers can watch

Maaz Sheikh, Chief Sales & Operations Officer, OSN

Ahmed Al-Khader, NBK’s Assistant General Manager, Consumer Banking Group.

thousands of hours of exclusive content at the touch of a button. NBK cardholders who subscribe to OSN will also get free access to OSN Play, the region’s first online TV viewing platform. Viewers can enjoy their favourite TV shows via OSN Play on multiple devices including PC, laptop, iPad, iPhone, Android tablets and smartphones with Wifi and 3G/4G connections.

OSN subscribers can also register to OSN’s exclusive rewards program, OSN Privileges, which

offers subscribers ‘money can’t buy experiences,’ special offers, and premium prizes all year round.

This special offer is available for all existing and new NBK cardholders who subscribe to OSN from 17th November to 31st December, 2013.

NBK cards are accepted worldwide and are the safest, most convenient and rewarding way to pay.

For more information log onto nbk.com or contact Hala Watani on 1801801, or follow NBK on Twitter and on Instagram @NBKPage.

NBK voted the ‘Best Managed Company in Mideast in 2013’ KUWAIT: For the second consecutive year, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) was recognized as the Best Managed Company in the Middle East for 2013 in Euromoney’s annual survey of the best managed companies in the world. Hundreds of investors and analysts at major banks and research houses in the world have voted NBK as the “Best Managed Company in the Middle East” in the banking and finance sector based on market strength, profitability, growth potential and quality of management and earnings.

NBK ranked first with the highest number of votes from professionals as the best managed company in the Middle East region, followed by HSBC in the second place, then Samba Financial Group in the third place.

NBK has consistently been awarded the highest credit ratings by the major international rating agencies: Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings. The Bank’s ratings are supported by its high capitalization, prudent lending policies, and its disciplined approach to risk management, in addition to its highly recognized and very stable management team. NBK also maintains its position among the 50 safest banks in the world for the eighth consecutive time.

NBK continues to enjoy the widest banking presence with an international network reaching 170 branches worldwide. NBK’s international presence spans many of the world’s leading financial centers including London, Paris, Geneva, New York and Singapore, as well as China (Shanghai). Meanwhile, regional coverage extends to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey.

Malabar Gold and Diamonds wins Retail ME award DUBAI: Malabar Gold and Diamonds, one of the world’s largest jewellery retailer, has won the Retail ME awards for being the ‘Most Admired Retailer’ under the gold and jewellery category. The awards announcement came after weeks of deliberations by a select jury who collectively handed over unanimous verdict to Malabar Gold and Diamonds.

Organized by the RetailME - a monthly retail publication - the annual RetailME Awards recognizes top performing retailers and best retail practices in the industry and rewards excellence across a range of retail categories.

It is the only private sector awards program for the UAE’s retail sector - one of the key contributor to the country’s growing economy.

A jury comprising the most prominent names in the local, regional and international retail industry independently judged all the submissions. The results were audited by Crowe Horwath. The award comes at an appropriate time as the company undergoes the next phase of expansion and development.

“This is a direct testimony of the quality services delivered by the team to our growing customer base,” MP Ahamed, Chairman of Malabar Group, said. “Maintaining strong customer service amid growth could be quite challenging sometimes. However, we have demonstrated that while growing our network.

“Malabar Gold and Diamonds, while expanding our product range as well as our retail network, has ensured that the quality does not suffer amid increased bulk sale across the company’s network. The award is a direct reflection of it.” The news comes weeks after the company announced that it expected its annual turnover to reach $3.5 billion (Dh12.8 billion, Rs220 billion) this year - the company’s 20th anniversary - reinforcing its position among the top jewellery retailers in the world. The company, which has a strong presence in the Gulf and India, also recently announced the opening of its 100th retail outlet - a rare feat - that elevates it’s position among the world’s top three gold and diamond jewellery retailers.

GE Oil & Gas launches training with KOC ABU DHABI: Highlighting efforts to develop the next generation of young engineers and other technical workers for the global oil and gas industry, GE Oil & Gas and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) have launched a new Competency Development training collaboration. KOC is a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Company.

GE and KOC announced their initiative at the ADIPEC 2013 energy conference in Abu Dhabi, which ran from November 10-13. GE also showcased a number of other initiatives, including a Young Engineers Panel (YEP!) session entitled, ‘Powering the Future of the Oil and Gas Industry 2014.’

As part of GE and KOC’s training program, 10 KOC mechanical engineers recently successfully completed the extensive Competency Development Training Path that covers all rotating equipment technologies as well as control and vibration monitoring systems.

GE has developed the customized path through its various training centers in Europe, including the GE Florence Learning Center in Italy; the GE Technical Training Academy and Training facility at the company’s Massa Workshop in Italy; and the GE Training Center in Warrington, UK. The program covered an estimated 100 training days

over a six-month period. Half of the training included hands-on work on GE’s line of gas turbines and centrifugal compressors, in addition to vibration and condition monitoring systems. KOC is confident that the candidates will be able to adapt themselves to handle non-GE make machinery as well, with the theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience acquired during this competency development training.

“This successful first program represents the kick-off of our forward-looking framework in which both KOC and GE are will cooperate on future opportunities in human capital development,” said Hamed Al-Mutairi, Manager Operations (East Kuwait), KOC. The next steps of their collaboration will focus on replicating the blended training approach by integrating theoretical and practical sessions on rotating equipment, vibration monitoring systems and control systems by utilizing the advanced tools and equipment for practical training at GE’s facilities.

During a graduation ceremony that will be held in Kuwait in January 2014, the participants will receive their completion certificates. GE and KOC will also have the opportunity to begin formalizing their training coopera-

tion agreement for future.

Such training initiatives are vital as industry statistics show that up to 50 per cent of the oil and gas sector’s engi-

Rami Qasem, president and CEO GE Oil & Gas, MENAT

neers will be eligible to retire over the next several years.

“The global oil and gas industry faces a growing talent gap as more of today’s workforce retires, creating a demand for a new generation of workers with the skills to address the world’s 21st century energy challenges,” said Rami Qasem, president and CEO GE Oil & Gas, MENAT region. “Developing a highly trained workforce is a top priority, including KOC. This initiative represents our biggest training agreement with KOC for total duration, range of equipment, level of customization on topics covered and the assessment and monitoring of the technical skills improvement.”

GE introduced its YEP! program at the ADIPEC 2012 conference with the goal of engaging in productive and thoughtful dialogue with young engineers regarding career opportunities in the oil and gas industry and gather feedback on their career concerns and priorities.

“Our young engineers panel discussions are important tools to recruit and develop the best and brightest workforce of the future as we explore the interests of engineers students and young engineers and showcase our efforts to fostering local talent in the regions where we operate,” said Qasem.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 , 2013

technology

S Africa cemeteries to microchip tombstones JOHANNESBURG: Amid a rash of tombstone thefts from cemeteries in Johannesburg, a company will be offering relatives of the deceased a high-tech solution: microchips that can be inserted into the memorial that will sound an alarm and send a text message to their cell phones if it is disturbed.

The city already allows microchips to be placed inside graves to help families locate their loved one’s final resting places in the vast grassy spaces. Now, with thefts often carried out at night and the recycled marble or granite tombstones winding up in the hands of crooked stonemasons, authorities are taking technology a step further to foil those who take “graveyard shift” a little too literally.

The new tombstone microchips developed by a private company will be offered at the beginning of next year as part of the city’s “smart” initiatives, said Alan Buff, the manager of Johannesburg City Parks Cemeteries and Crematoriums.

Nearly 20 marble tombstones are stolen monthly from the city’s 36 public cemeteries, despite security guards and perimeter sensors. Buff said the city has allowed two pilot projects at its Avalon and Westpark cemeteries, and will roll out the technology further if it stems the thefts of the valuable items.

“This is peace of mind for the family,” said Buff.

“Tombstones are the property of the owner which is the family member, and you’ll find you cannot insure

a tombstone or it’s too expensive for many. By doing this, it is insured.”

The microchip system is called Memorial Alert, said Mark Pringle, the director of the private company that established the technology. “We place a transmitter unit into the tombstone, so that it is not visible or accessible. Any unauthorized tampering activates a number of alarms,” he said. First, a loud alarm goes off at the cemetery.

“This in itself should be a fair warning to the perpetrators,” he said. Then text messages are sent to the mobile phones of delegated family members and any integrated security companies.

The technology has a provision to put a tracking

device in it, but Pringle said the company is not including that in the first wave of installations because it decreases the battery life and would make it too expensive for many families. Considering that moving the heavy headstone will trigger alarms, Pringle said that should be enough to dissuade thieves from trying to lug it away and he is confident that tracking devices won’t be needed. Memorial Alert has a patent granted in South Africa, where it will officially launch in January, and also a British patent, Pringle said, adding that he hopes the technology will expand beyond South Africa since tombstone thefts are a worldwide issue. A price for the chips and related fees have not yet been set. — AP

‘Almost Human’ Review: R2-D2 in a Sea of Siris NEW YORK: Technology seems designed to make us more reliant on it, and less connected to humans. That’s a good business model - What? You’re still using the iPhone 4? What about Siri? - but it doesn’t do much for the relationships that sustain us. The sleek phones our friends tap on at dinner insult us, no matter how hard we try not to resent them.

“Almost Human” creator J.H. Wyman says the show sprung from his frustration at his 21-year-old daughter texting him instead of calling, so he could hear the tone of her voice. It’s a lovely starting point for a show.

“Almost Human,” debuting Sunday on Fox, makes a strong case for getting off the newer-is-better assembly line and taking a minute to work with the battered machines we already have. Think “Blade Runner” crossed with “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” with a lot more shooting.

It isn’t Luddite. It accepts that some technology is good. But it finds middle ground by suggesting that newer, faster and sleeker aren’t always better. A patchedtogether Millenium Falcon is better than a nasty, efficient fleet of Tie Fighters. The blood, sweat and tears we put into fixing it up and dealing with its quirks imbues it with a little of our humanity. The “Star Wars” analogy is in order because “Episode VII” captain J.J. Abrams executive produces.

But “Blade Runner” is the much bigger influence. The gorgeous look of the Fox cop drama owes a huge debt to the rainy Los Angeles of Ridley Scott’s film, and the show’s cops are an obvious offspring of its human-looking replicants.

The most human of the droids is Dorian, sympatheti-

cally played by Michael Ealy. He’s a dead-end in a line of machines assigned to human partners to help drop a crime rate that, in the near future, has spiked 400 percent.

At one point a bunch of newer model droids crash, and he’s the only one left standing.

“They run on a different frequency from me,” he says.

“Sometimes new technology isn’t better.” “Almost Human” has a lot going on - too much, in the pilot - but works best as a show about Dorian desperately seeking human approval. That’s the best conceit in the show: What if all these new technologies really, really wanted us to like them?

(Siri obviously doesn’t care. She’s particularly prissy when you try to get her to change her name to something a little more fun, like, say, Threepio. Try it.)

I didn’t start to really like “Almost Human” until it’s subtle last line, the one that made me see the show as the story of a robot who wants love. Or at least friendship and respect. Dorian is a loveable R2-D2 in a sea of Siris.

What makes him different is that he’s been designed not just to regurgitate information, but draw conclusions.

To be a detective, in other words. When it comes to sleuthing, there’s a thin line between understanding and empathy. Dorian has empathy, and wants it back.

I’m willing to give it to him. His partner, John Kennex, is more hesitant, thanks to an incident at the start of the show that makes him really hostile to robots. Kennex is played by a very good Karl Urban, the only sane person in a world overrun by machines.

You and me both, buddy. Now to make peace with them. “Almost Human” premieres Sunday at 8/7c. Its second part premieres Monday at the same time. — Reuters

DubaiSat 2 to take off from Yasny launch base in Russia UAE: The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), a strategic initiative to inspire scientific innovation and technological advancement in the UAE, is set to send DubaiSat-2 into space on November 21, 2013 from the Yasny launch base in Russia.

Dubai’s second satellite will be deployed using the Russian Dnepr rocket launcher in cooperation with the Russian International Space Company (Kozmotras).

“EAIST is committed to influencing a comprehensive scientific renaissance in the UAE and be a key player in disseminating information, building capacity, and improving research and development in the fields of outer space technology, satellite manufacturing, space imaging, ground station services, and satellite support,” said Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology.

“The successful conclusion of a series of tests on DubaiSat 2 reflects the experience and dedication of the UAE engineers working on this project.

The team includes 16 Emirati engineers working in collaboration with our strategic partner from South Korea, Satrec Initiative. The main objective of launching DubaiSat 2 is to provide various stakeholders with accurate information and images primarily for peaceful rather than commercial purposes, including disaster and crisis management, urban planning, and scientific research.”

The satellite was recently transported from South Korea to Russia under the supervision of EIAST engineers in preparation for its launch

PARIS: Objects in 3 D are displayed in the “3 D Print Show” exhibition in Paris on November 15. — AFP

3D printing ‘will change the world’ Use of 3D printing would be limited PARIS: From replacement kidneys to guns, cars, prosthetics and works of art, 3D printing is predicted to transform our lives in the coming decades as dramatically as the Internet did before it. “I have no doubt it is going to change the world,” researcher James Craddock told AFP at the twoday 3D Printshow in Paris which wraps up later yesterday.

A member of the 3D Printing Research Group (3DPRG) at the UK’s Nottingham University, Craddock nevertheless predicted that use of 3D printing would be limited. “You wouldn’t want to make a cup from a 3D printer because it would probably fall apart, leak or poison you, but you would use it for high-value, beautiful items or replacement parts,” he said.

“The real revolutionary factor is industrial use,” he added. Here is a selection of the potential future uses of 3D printing:

after it underwent a series of tests.

EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 with the goal of promoting a culture of advanced scientific research and technology innovation in Dubai and the UAE, and enhancing technology inno-

vation and scientific skills among UAE Nationals. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development; satellite manufacturing and systems development; space imaging; and ground station services and support for other satellites.

Arms This is one of the more eye-catching prospects and has attracted a lot of publicity. Californian engineering company Solid Concepts said earlier this month it had produced a metal replica of a classic 1911 shotgun.

US entrepreneur and inventor Brook Drumm, however, warned that the process of printing a gun would be slow, expensive and potentially dangerous, requiring lasers at high temperatures, lots of power and hazardous materials.

Drumm set up his firm Printrbot to produce printers costing from $400 that print plastic items. Metal printers can cost around $250,000 (185,000 euros) and “the particulates are so

fine that your skin could absorb them through the pores. The materials are not safe”, he said.

The gun itself-unless made out of metal-would also be unreliable.

“There’s a lot of moving parts in a gun and they need to be precise,” he said, adding that he tried to print a plastic gun but gave up because it took so long. “Time-wise, if I was going to print a plastic gun and you were going to go and buy a metal one, even if it took you two weeks to get approval I probably still wouldn’t have it working first,” he said.

Art Fancy a replica of a Viking helmet or one of the Louvre’s most famous sculptures on the mantelpiece?

American Cosmo Wenman has used thousands of photographs taken in some of the world’s biggest museums to produce exact plastic copies.

Works he has produced include the ancient Greek statue Venus de Milo which is in the Louvre.

“If you look at the small print at museums in terms of taking photographs, they say that you cannot put them to commercial use,” he said. “But from a practical point of view that is not enforceable and for antiquities there is no intellectual property issue,” he said.

Cars Canadian Jim Kor’s 3D Urbee car is made out of plastic and stainless steel. The futuristic-looking threewheeler is electric but uses petrol at higher speeds. Production designer Kor says if a car company mass produced the vehicle it would be possi-

ble to keep the price down to around $16,000 (12,000 euros).

“We want it to be the Volkswagen Beetle for the next century, low cost and long-lasting too,” he said.”It should last 30-plus years. Our goal is that it should be 100 percent recyclable.”

Jewellery Jewellery can made to ensure that each piece is slightly different, known as “mass customisation”.

3D printing can also make the production process far less expensive and time consuming. Dutch jewellery designer Yvonne van Zummeren produces a range of jewellery made out of lightweight nylon polyamide.

“All my designs are based on works of art,” she said holding a bracelet that uses a Matisse motif. “It enables me to be a jewellery designer much more easily. Otherwise I would have needed a factory in China and a minimum order of 20,000,” she added.

“When you are producing something for the first time it means you can adapt and try again very easily until you get the result you want.”

Prosthetics Prosthetics can be custom made to provide the per fect match.

Electronics could be built in allowing the recipient accurate control of the limb. “It would all be printed out at the same time,” said 3DPRG’s Craddock.

Replacement parts One-off parts are needed by everyone from NASA to the person who loses an unusual jacket button. — AFP

New Fujitsu fi-65F scans documents in one second DUBAI: Fujitsu introduces the fi-65F, a new model of the market proven Fujitsu A6 flatbed scanner concept designed to scan identification documents. With a dedicated scan button and USB bus power support, the fi65F supports fast and streamlined operation that allows for high-speed scanning. The scanner is ready for work within a second and needs just one second to scan a black and white document at 300 dpi, helping to quickly and accurately capture information in busy environments such as airport, security and hotel receptions. The fi-65F comes bundled with PaperStream Capture and PaperStream IP image enhancement and processing driver software, the most advanced image processing technology for the fi Series document scanners.

The Fujitsu flatbed scanner is the model of choice for countertop flatbed scanning of passports, driving licences, social security IDs and alike. Post offices, banks, border control and hotel receptions can benefit from its rapid operation and small size, as can users processing supporting documents for mobile phone, car rental and membership applications. The Fujitsu

countertop scanner makes work more efficient and productive while also reducing customer service queues. Enhanced operability and high-speed scanning “Having already sold hundreds of thousands Fujitsu A6 flatbed scanners, our devices are quickly becoming the standard in efficient identity document capture”, says Mike Nelson, General Manager Sales and Marketing for PFU Imaging Solutions Europe Ltd. “Our new fi Series model is ideal for organisations and companies that need to scan identification documents on the spot as part of sign-up and sign-in customer processes,” adds Klaus Schulz, Manager of Product Marketing for EMEA at PFU Imaging Solutions.

Scanning with the fi-65F is extremely fast, helping to cut down waiting periods at reception counters for customers. Ready for use in less than a second, the flatbed scanner is able to digitise a black and white A6-sized document at 300 dpi in 1 second and a colour document in 1.7 seconds. It features both a scan button that provides one touch scanning as well as USB power support that allows the scanner to be used away from the countertop or when AC power supply is not available or limited. Scanning takes just two seconds when the scanner is connected with a bus cable. New PaperStream software for enhanced image processing The fi-65F comes with the latest fi Series software for highest image quality: The PaperStream IP image enhancement and processing software prepares digitised data for subsequent routines and converts every document into a high quality image and connects with standard scanning applications via a TWAIN or ISIS interface. The Paper Stream Capture application software optimises the entire capture process, including image enhancement, auto-correction of skewed documents, profile supported scanning and workflow.

PARIS: A 3 D printer is displayed in the “ 3 D Print Show”exhibition in Paris. — AFP

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Harley Street Clinic opens its doors to Kuwaiti cancer patients KUWAIT: The Harley Street Clinic in London announced yesterday the opening of its bespoke Haemato-Oncology Unit providing world class treatment and care for Kuwaiti children with cancer and benign and malignant blood disorders.

The unit, led by world renowned specialist paediatric oncology consultants, is able to provide support for every step of the child’s cancer journey and, as such, is the first-of-its-kind within the private sector.

“As one of the most prestigious private hospitals in the world, The Harley Street Clinic prides itself on providing exceptional care for children with cancer from many different countries, including Kuwait.” said Neil Buckley, Chief Executive Officer. “Our specialist team provides care which meets the individual needs of each and every patient with a tailored treatment pathway which is holistic and patient centred.”

The state -of-the -art HaematoOncology Unit is able to carry out highly complex procedures, such as bone marrow transplantations both autologous (self ) transplants and allogenic (donor) transplants, including all aspects of preparation and aftercare. The unit has the very latest equipment and comprises four dedicated rooms, two of which offer negative pressure isolation for patients in their more vulnerable phases of care, a treatment room and a separate family

space to offer support and privacy for parents and siblings.

Dr Ayad Atra, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist/Oncologist said: “The most important aspect of the new Haemato-Oncology Unit is that it enables us to provide our young patients with the very best treatment and care available giving them the best chance we can of overcoming their cancer. Their problems are often complex and require specialist knowledge with the support of

US eyes reducing biofuel mandate WASHINGTON: The Obama administration on Friday proposed to reduce the amount of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply for the first time, acknowledging that the biofuel law championed by both parties in 2007 is not working as well as expected. While the proposal highlights the government’s strugg l e to r a m p u p p ro d u c t i o n o f h o m e grow n b i o f u e l s t h a t a re cleaner-burning than gasoline, it is unlikely to mean much for consumers at the pump. The change would reduce by almost 3 billion gallons the amounts of ethanol and other biofuels blended into g a s o l i n e i n 2 0 1 4 t h a n t h e l aw re q u i re s. Th e 2 0 0 7 l aw t r i e d to address global warming, reduce dependence on foreign oil and p ro p u p t h e r u r a l e co n o my by requiring oil companies to blend billions of gallons of biofuels into their gasoline each year. But politicians who wrote the law didn’t a n t i c i p a te f u e l e co n o my to improve as much as it has in recent years, which reduced demand for gasoline. Meanwhile, next-generation biofuels, made from agricultural waste such as wood chips and corncobs, have not taken off as quickly as Congress required and the administration expected.

Pre s i d e n t B a r a c k O b a m a h a s championed biofuels since his days representing Illinois in the Senate, and his administration has resisted previous calls to lower biofuel volumes or repeal the law. EPA officials said they were still committed to alternative fuels as par t of a comprehensive energy strategy. If the EPA stuck to the volumes mandated by law, the amount of biofuel required would generate more ethanol than many engines can safely handle, officials said. “ We have made great progress in recent years, and EPA continues to support the RFS goal of increasing biof u e l p ro d u c t i o n a n d u s e,” E PA Ad m i n i s t r a to r G i n a M c Ca r t hy, referring to the 2007 law called the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Biofuel suppor ters, however, said the proposal marked a departure for the Obama administration. “ Th i s i s t h e f i r s t t i m e t h a t t h e Obama administration has shown any sign of wavering,” said Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Ethanol Council. Bob

Dinneen, the head of the Renewable Fuels Association, the Washington group that lobbies on behalf of the ethanol industry, said the announcement is ill-timed as the country is currently harvesting a record corn crop. He said the industry may sue if the proposal is not altered. “ This is exac tly the wrong time to be reducing the required volumes of renewable fuels,” Dinneen said.

The ethanol mandate created an unusual alliance between oil companies, which have seen ethanol cut into their share of the gasoline market, and environmental groups that oppose planting more corn for f u e l. A re ce n t A P i nve s t i g a t i o n found that corn-based ethanol’s effect on the environment is far worse than the government predicted or admits. The oil industry lobbied hard for a reduction and is pleading with Congress to completely repeal the law.

Jack Gerard, president and CEO o f t h e A m e r i c a n Pe t ro l e u m Institute, said the EPA’s move is a step in the right direction, but “ultim a te l y, Co n gre s s m u s t p ro te c t consumers by repealing this outdated and unwork able program once and for all”. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., said his panel i s wo r k i n g o n “co m p re h e n s i ve reforms” to the law. “The status quo is no longer workable,” Upton said.

A l s o i n t h e p ro p o s a l, t h e requirement for the amount of next-generation biofuels from nonfood plant sources, called cellulosic fuels, has been reduced for the fifth time in five years. The original law required 1.75 billion gallons of this fuel, which offers huge reductions in greenhouse gases compared with oil. For 2014, refiners would be required to blend 17 million gallons. That’s because companies have not yet been able to generate these fuels, which are far more complicated to produce than conventional biofuels, at high volumes. The target for next year does represent an increase from last year ’s 6 million gallons, though, and cellulosic fuels are the only categor y of biofuel to increase under the 2014 proposal. Two new cellulosic biofuel refineries are expected to begin producing fuel early next year. — AP

a wide multi-disciplinar y team of experts. Ensuring that each child is given individually tailored treatment and care in a culturally sensitive environment is at the heart of what we do.”

A large investment has been made in state-of-the-art technology which, along with its ability to access leading drug development and treatment options, makes the Haemato-Oncology Unit the most advanced private facility in Europe.

This, along with the wider support of The

Harley Street Clinic’s paediatric oncology service, including a day care centre and a 13-bedded paediatric intensive care unit, provides parents with the security of knowing that their child is in safe hands whatever the situation or treatment.

With specialist services available to all nationalities, from referral to discharge, The Harley Street Clinic fully understands the needs of patients and their families and has created a caring, culturally sensi-

Profit bonanza eludes firms chasing obesity business Food firms reviewing diet business KALUNDBORG: Steam rises from pipes at a giant industrial complex on the edge of the Baltic Sea whose success is a testament to the world’s diabetes and obesity epidemic. Novo Nordisk’s Kalundborg factory, 100 km west of Copenhagen, makes half the planet’s insulin for diabetics, putting it on a list of global sites the United States sees as vital to its interests, according to a WikiLeaks cable in 2010.

Soaring diabetes rates, driven by increasing obesity, have fuelled profits at the Danish company for two decades. But now the company wants to tackle obesity head on by launching a treatment specifically to help patients lose weight. It would seem to be a no-brainer. Obesity rates suggest a booming market. Yet it is proving surprisingly difficult for both drugmakers and food companies to develop businesses directly addressing the problem.

In a global economic downturn, modestly effective weight-loss drugs and special diet foods are turning out to be a tough sell when a cheaper alternative is to eat less - or do nothing. The first new prescription diet drugs to hit the US market in more than a decade, from Vivus and Arena Pharmaceuticals, have registered disappointing sales and food companies’ diet lines are struggling. Switzerland’s Nestle has all but given up on the diet business, agreeing to sell the bulk of its Jenny Craig weight-loss unit last week to US private equity firm North Castle Partners.

And as Unilever reviews its portfolio of underperforming food assets, analysts say its Slim-Fast brand is one that could come up for sale. Bernstein Research estimates Slim-Fast had 2012 sales of 300 million euros ($402 million), 34 percent lower than when Unilever agreed to buy it in 2000 for $2.3 billion. “The need for the services is increasing, unfortunately, but there are a lot of companies that have not done well,” said Jon Canarick of North Castle, which also bought the firm behind the Atkins diet from its post-bankruptcy lenders in 2007. “I credit most of that to a combination of the economy and the influx of competition.”

Weak economies have curbed demand for pricey, specialist dieting schemes just as competition has exploded from a host of electronic apps that count calories for free - and securing insurance reimbursement has been an uphill fight for new drugs that cost around $160-$200 a month in the United States.

Obesity prevalence has increased by more than 40 percent across the OECD industrialized countries and half of US adults are now forecast to be obese by 2030 unless Americans change their ways. The condition is a major risk factor for heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes, with the latter alone expected to kill more than 5 million people this year. Lars Sorensen, Novo Nordisk’s veter-

an chief executive, hopes the clear medical need will help his firm’s move into obesity, although he acknowledges it will not be easy.

“It is going to be challenging. We need to convince employers and insurers in the United States, which is the biggest market, that this is a problem that can be addressed,” he said in an interview. “It’s been very disappointing in terms of pharmaceutical interventions up to now, but I see that changing.” Certainly, the medical community is taking more notice.

The American Medical Association classified obesity as a disease for the first time this year, while new guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association back more aggressive therapy.

Binge eating disorder, a related problem, has also entered the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the reference book for psychiatry, opening a new opportunity for a drug from Shire. Europe, however, is lagging behind in recognizing obesity and approving new drugs, according to Euan Woodward, executive director of the European Association for the Study of Obesity.

“The US is way ahead. We haven’t had the same discussion in Europe yet,” he said. Yet US-approved diet drugs like Vivus’ Qsymia and Arena’s Belviq are being held back by cost and the modest weight loss they can offer, with safety problems linked to earlier products also making doctors cautious. The popular fenphen drug combination was taken off the market in 1997 for causing heart damage, while Sanofi’s Acomplia was withdrawn in Europe in 2008 after being linked to suicidal thoughts - it never won US approval - and Abbott’s Meridia was pulled in 2010 on heart worries.

As a result, global sales of obesity drugs have halved in the last five years, and even though they are expected to climb again they will remain dwarfed by therapies to treat diabetes, as rates of type 2 disease - the kind linked to obesity - soar. Consensus analysts forecasts suggest obesity drug sales may grow from $300 million to $3.8 billion by 2018, while the diabetes market, worth some $37 billion at present, will reach more than $57 billion, according to Thomson Reuters Pharma. Novo Nordisk hopes a high dose of its injectable medicine liraglutide - the active ingredient in its diabetes treatment Victoza will take pharmacological interventions to a new level, by mimicking the action of a natural hormone. So far, though, clinical trials have underwhelmed analysts and Matthias Tschoep, head of the Institute for Diabetes and Obesity at the Helmholtz Zentrum in Munich, believes a truly effective medicine will need to combine the effects of multiple hormones to achieve reductions in body weight beyond the 5-10 percent seen with

‘Reveal your glow’ with new Nivea natural fairness face care range DUBAI: With over 100 years of sk in care expertise, Nivea’s Natural Fairness Face Care range is formulated with Hydra IQ technology tomoisturize skin deeply, leaving it looking healthy and radiant. All four products contain natural ingredients including liquorice and Vitamin C to gently reduce dark spots and reveal a bright and even skin complexion without dr ying out sensitive skin.

Star t and finish the day with the Nivea Natural Fairness Face Wash, which cleanses deeply and gently and helps reduce dark spots without clogging pores, leaving the skin feeling pure and refreshed.

Regularly removing dead skin cells will help reveal a more radiant, smoother com-

tive and supportive environment in a modern setting. The Harley Street Clinic also understands the importance of privacy and personal space for families and this is reflected in the design of the unit.

To meet our expert multi-disciplinary team who look after children with cancer ever y day, please visit our website http://www.theharleystreetclinic.com.kw . You can also take a look at our worldclass Haemato-Oncology Unit and see inside The Harley Street Clinic.

plexion and the Natural Fairness Exfoliating Scrub does just that, with microbeads designed to thoroughly exfoliate the skin gently and effectively. It is ideal to use twothree times a week after cleansing with the Natural Fairness Face Wash.

N a t u r a l Fa i r n e s s D a y C a r e S P F 3 0 containsHydra IQ technology, which keeps skin intensively moisturized. With Vitamin C, the Day Cream helps inhibit melanin production to prevent skin pigmentation. SPF 30 protec ts your sk in from the sun - the main cause of skin darkening. Dark spots are reduced and skin is thoroughly moisturized to look healthier, fairer, and brighter.

Overnight while your skin is recovering from the sun, air conditioning and humidity,

Natural Fairness Night Careenriched with Pro v i t a m i n B 5 , g e t s t o wo r k re l a x i n g a n d regenerating the skin during the night.

The Nivea Natural Fairness skin care range is available in leading supermarkets and includes a face wash (100mL), a face scrub (100mL), a day creamwith SPF 30 (50ml)and a night cream (50mL) giving consumers naturally fair, protected and well moisturised skin.

Now available in the GCC is Nivea’s latest innovation in skin care with four new face care products added to their already hugely s u cce s s f u l n a t u r a l f a i r n e s s r a n g e. Th e s e include two face creams - a day care cream with SPF 30 and a night care cream - a facial wash and facial scrub.

current drugs. That could be a long haul.

“We need to close the gap between existing drug treatments and a gastric bypass surgery, which makes you lose 35 percent of body weight,” he said. “I firmly believe that within the next 10 to 20 years, we will have very efficient drugs.” The big problem for dieters and drug designers alike is the fact that human evolution makes it very hard for people to curb their appetite and cut calorie consumption. A predisposition to gain weight is hard-wired, with animal experiments showing that consumption of sugary food triggers the brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter also linked to drug addiction.

Weight Watchers, the leading weight loss company in the United States, is finding the going increasingly tough. Revenue has been roughly flat or down during six of the last seven quarters and the outlook for the next four is even worse. Last month, the company said that despite progress on cost-cutting, it expected full-year revenue to fall at a low double-digit percentage rate if recruitment trends failed to improve. Weight Watchers is battling a declining membership base, growing membership at rivals, and the rise of cheap or free smartphone applications and activity monitors such as MyFitnessPal and the Jawbone UP wristband.

There are nearly 2,000 weight-loss apps now available on the iPhone, and Berlinbased market research firm research2guidance estimates that by 2015, 500 million people will be using mobile health applications which cost much less than the packaged meal plans sold by Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem and Medifast that usually cost hundreds of dollars a month in up-front purchases. Analysts say the lion’s share of the world’s dieters use a “do-it-yourself” approach.

“Broccoli and lettuce are good competition for weight-loss shakes,” said Imperial Capital analyst Mitchell Pinheiro. “Dieting is fickle to begin with and trends are fleeting. While the addressable market is enormous and continues to grow, how dieters choose to diet is not consistent and it’s not sustainable.”

Meanwhile, the retail market for meal replacement products such as Slim-Fast bars and Herbalife shakes, is estimated at $7.76 billion worldwide, according to data tracker Euromonitor, up from $5.51 billion in 2008.

I n a ver y competitive market, Euromonitor analyst Ildiko Szalai sees the key to success as transcending the natural stigma and impermanence of dieting. She cited Kellogg’s Special K cereal bars, protein shakes and diet plan, which has briskly moved in as Slim-Fast has retreated. “They made it very successful, positioning the product as a lifestyle and not just something for six weeks so you lose weight,” Szalai said.

“You eat it forever.”—Reuters

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Neurosurgical team at Dar Al Shifa extract 240-gm brain tumor Four-hour surgery Poland seeks to make ‘coal’ a less dirty word at climate talks

KUWAIT: The neurosurgical team at Dar Al Shifa Hospital has succeeded to extract a 240gm brain tumor in a surgery led by Dr. Hassan Khaja, Consultant and Head of Neurosurgery Department at Dar Al Shifa Hospital.

The department received the patient who is in his sixties and suffered from speech and personality disorders, lack of balance, continuous suffering from severe headaches, memory difficulties, and muscle spasms. The patient was sent to the Diagnostic Imaging Center (D.I.C.) at Dar Al Shifa

Hospital to scan his brain with the latest of Kuwait’s most accurate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, in which a tumor was found in the center of the right lobe of the brain extending from the bottom of the brain to the frontal lobe, which pressured the brain cells in the opposite direction.

The neurosurgical team studied the case and took the required tests to check on the patient’s health and his state during the year prior to the surgery. The surgery was then performed using the latest technologies and advanced devices

which rely on 3D technology, through Carl Zeiss microscope, which is considered the latest microscopic device in the private and public sector as well as the advanced Cusa device to suction tumors.

The surgery lasted for about 4 hours during which the tumor was completely eradicated without any complications, and the patient was woken from the anesthesia on the same day and placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital under strict observation to ensure the absence of any hemor-

rhage or complications. The patient was discharged from the hospital a week after the surgery when the team was reassured of the patient’s vital functions and rehabilitation to restore complete motor function.

It is worth mentioning that Dr. Hassan Khaja is considered one of the most renowned Neurosurgeons in Kuwait and holds a PhD in Neuro-Spine surgery, with a sub specialty in Gamma knife and stereotactic surgery, and Sub speciality in Epilepsy and movement disorder surgery.

WARSAW: Poland is struggling to make “coal” less of a dirty word as it hosts UN talks on slowing global warming that usually focus mostly on phasing out fossil fuels in favor of renewable energies such as solar and wind power. Coal-dependent Poland has angered environmentalists and put the United Nations in a quandary by planning a coal industry summit next week on the sidelines of Nov 11-22 UN talks among 200 nations seeking ways to slow global warming.

Warsaw says governments must find ways to cut emissions from coal, a cheap and often highly polluting energy source that generates 40 percent of world electricity, and not pretend that it will simply wither away in favor of greener energies.

“Coal is still the basic source of energy in many countries in the world. So a transition period is needed,” deputy environment minister Beata Jaczewska said of the Nov 18-19 meeting organized by the World Coal Association ( WCA) and Poland’s economy ministry. But many environmentalists say coal distracts from a UN drive to restructure the world economy around cleaner options, from hydroto geothermal power. Some also object to efforts to capture and bury the carbon emissions from coal.

“Coal is not the solution,” said Martin Kaiser of Greenpeace. He called the coal talks a “slap in the face” to developing nations that are suffering extreme weather and want rich countries to take the lead in phasing out fossil fuels. Coal-fired power plants are the biggest single source of manmade greenhouse gas emissions blamed by a UN panel of climate scientists for pushing up temperatures and causing more heatwaves, droughts and rising sea levels.

“We can burn coal more cleanly. It’s not science fiction,” Milton Catelin, head of the WCA, told Reuters, adding that the coal meeting was a “constructive contribution” towards a UN deal, meant to be agreed in 2015, to slow global warming. He said that raising the overall efficiency of the world’s coal-fired power stations to the standards of a modern plant would cut global carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.4 billion tonnes, roughly the equivalent of India’s total emissions. Poland generates 90 percent of its electricity from coal. Among European Union members, it has been one of the most reluctant to toughen the existing goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.—Reuters

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Al Mulla Exchange opens 48th branch in Salmiya

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Announcements Youth Chorus song competition outh Chorus, Kuwait is organizing the 8th Christian Group Song Competition on Friday, 22nd November 2013 at 6.30pm at the United Indian School Auditorium, Abbasiya. More than 10 teams are competing on the same stage. Winners will be awarded with prestigious ever-rolling trophies Mrs. Aleyamma John Pazhayidathu memorial for the first prize, and Mrs. Omana Jose memorial for the second prize and Youth Chorus Trophy for the third prize. Besides this, the winners will be awarded with individual trophies and certificates. All the participants will be awarded with Youth Chorus mementos.

A committee with Thomas Chandy M. L. A as Patron, Santhosh Eayo as Gen. Convener, Tony Mathew as Jt. Convenor, John Abraham, Somu Mathew, Adv. John Thomas as conveners are giving leadership to the program.

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ALMASS-Kuwait anniversary irst Anniversary & Annual General Meeting of ALMASS-Kuwait (The alumni association of St Stephens College, Uzhavoor; Kuwait Chapter) shall be held on Friday November 22, 2013 at 4pm onwards at Indian Community School, Khaitan. Lalu Alex an indispensable part of Malayalam cinema in the past 35 years & a proud alumni of St.Stephen’s College will be the chief guest. Expecting all the former students of St.Stephen’s College- Uzhavoor across Kuwait shall participate in the meet.

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l Mulla International Exchange, Kuwait’s leading money remittance company, inaugurated their latest branch in Salmiya on Thursday, 6 November, 2013. With the opening of this new branch the total number of Al Mulla Exchange outlets has grown to 48, and the number of branches in Salmiya alone now stands at six.

The new branch, which is located on Al-Awazim Street in Ras Al-Salmiya, close to Al-Seef Hospital, in Block 6, Building No. 60, is conveniently situated to provide easy access from surrounding areas.

The opening of a sixth outlet in

Salmiya is an acknowledgement of the steadily growing demand for the tailored service offerings and distinctive customer relations of Al Mulla Exchange in the area, and across Kuwait.

The spacious new branch, which is designed with a focus on both aesthetic and functional aspects, has seven wellequipped counters to offer outstanding customized service. Using a blend of latest technology and experienced staff, the new branch provides customers with a safe, secure and rapid manner of remitting money.

Customers in the area expressed their

satisfaction with the opening of the latest branch in Salmiya, pointing out that until now the neighborhood lacked a professional and reliable money remittance facility. They added that with the opening of this new Al Mulla Exchange, it would enable them to make money transactions easily and at a time convenient to them.

Al Mulla Exchange has, since its inception in 2001, offered innovative customer-centric money remittance solutions. With a fully-automated process that incorporates the latest technological advances in money remittances, the new

branch of Al Mulla Exchange offers one of the fastest and most secure money transfer operation in the business.

Along with speed and security in money transfers, the new branch also offers free insurance and loyalty points on every transaction, as well as SMS confirmation on successful delivery of remittance. In addition to making money transfer a quick, safe and relaxed experience for customers, Kuwait’s premier exchange also offers the facility to send money from the comfort of one’s home or office through their online service at www.amxremit.com

KNES undertakes a job shadow at Alghanim

G Venugopal: 30 years of singing

By Sunil Cherian

G

opinathan Nair Venugopal is completing 30 years of playback singing -and he is writing a book about it. The book to be released by DC Books in mid-January will have stories behind 30 songs Venu has sung from Onnam ragam padi (Thoovanathumpikal) to Verumoru Thaliralla, a song he sang with his cousin Sujatha for the 2013 film Cleopatra under a new music director Surya Narayanan. “The new generation movie makers want songs fit into their way of songs which is rarely beyond the theater”, said Venugopal who was in Kuwait over this past weekend as part of the Palakkad Association (PALPAK) program.

“Last year 133 singers have sung in 140 films”, said Venu who added his 7 songs to the list. (Venu’s would be filmmaker son, Aravind Venugopal has made his presence known in playback singing) “I consider lucky to live to listen and learn the works of masters like Devarajan”, said Venu who has sung for Devarajan (Thirakalkkappuram), K Raghavan (Sasinas), and MK Arjunan (Anamika). Venu also sang for the 2000 KPAC drama of Kaniyapuram Ramachandran Sabko Sanmathi de Bhagavaan where ONV-Devarajan teamed again.

That year Venu bagged the best professional drama singer award. Venu has 3 state awards for playback singing in 1988, 90 and 2004 for the songs Unarumee gaanam (Moonnampakkam), Thane poovitta (Sasneham) and Aadedee (Ullam) respectively.

A former sub editor at Indian Express, Kochi and program executive at All India Radio, Venu is busy with children’s reality shows, stage programs and singing film and non-film songs. He has sung many poems that are now popular mobile phone ringtones. His latest film song is from the yet to be released ‘Flat 4B’ by newcomer music director Nikhil. At 53, with a young voice and a younger look, Venu is ready with his own composed album songs titled Mizhiyariyathe. The songs are penned by Sudhamshu.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

O

n Monday 4th November, 2013 30 students were engaged in a Job Shadow program with Alghanim. This learning process was arranged

by INJAZ Kuwait for our students and Alghanim provided an excellent opportunity for our students to learn and experience business functioning.

Jean Clary (senior manager, Employee

Communications) of Alghanim welcomed the students and provided background information of the Company.

This was followed by visits to different departments and activities that were aimed at developing the analytical skills of students.

The students also were invited to a tour of the Chevrolet Service Station. In short the 4 hours that our

students spent at Alghanim was worth it as one witnessed the students enjoying the day, asking questions and taking keen interest in the day-to-day workings of a large business organization.

MES to conduct free medical screening camp M

ES is conducting free medical screening camp “Care & Aware” in association with Indian Doctors Forum and Malabar Gold & Diamonds on 22nd November 2013 at Indian Central School, Jaleeb Shuwaikh. Medical camp is supporting by Kuwait Medical Association, Al-Rahma Committee for Medical Services, Indian Dental Alliance in Kuwait and Kuwait Heart Foundation.

This is the 13th Consecutive years MES is conducting the camp which have benefited thousands of poor and needy low privilege labor class employees, housemaids and others. This year camp, Malabar Gold & Diamonds is joined hand with MES as a part of their charity campaigns activities, ‘We are very proud to have part of this noble event, said Mr. Afsal Khan - Country Manager of Malabar Gold & Diamonds - Kuwait.

The Medical camp will be held at Indian Central School - Abbasiya from 8 am to 2:30 pm. Specialized Indian Doctors in the area of Gynecology, Cardiology, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Ortho, Surgical, Diabetes, General Medicine ,Skin & Dental will be available for consultation. Expert Paramedical staff will assist the doctors during the consultation. Blood Sugar test, Cholesterol, Foot care, Dietitian Consultation,Scanning and ECG facilities are also arranged for the participants. Application forms are already distributed through Malabar Gold & Diamonds Showrooms, Dress Mart (Fahaheel) Apsara Bazar,

Highland Supermarket, Address Shoppee (Abbasiya) Azeezia Book Shop (Salmiya) Al-Yaqza Book Shop (Kuwait City).

First 800 applications among the registration will be selected on first come first serve basis including study of the case dairy of the patient. If anybody has their

previous medical records i.e. X-ray, Lab Report etc., should bring while coming to the camp. Duly filled applications can be submitted on or before November 15th, 2013 at any of the locations specified in the Application Form or to MES Officials.

W H AT ’ S O N

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

Amir, CP, ministers, MPs attend Fahad Al-Khurainej’s wedding

Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Mubarak Al-Khurainej and the rest of the Khurainej family celebrated the wedding of Fahad Al-Khurainej at the Khurainej dewan in Omariya recently. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, in addition to ministers, MPs, and diplomats attended the wedding. —Photos by Joseph Shagra

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

03:25 Shamwari: A Wild Life 03:50 Shamwari: A Wild Life 04:15 Outback Rangers 04:40 Outback Rangers 05:05 North America 05:55 Animal Cops Houston 06:45 Animal Airport 07:10 Animal Airport 07:35 Call Of The Wildman 08:00 Monkey Life 08:25 Panda Adventures With Nigel Marven 09:15 The Most Extreme 10:10 Baby Planet 11:05 Shamwari: A Wild Life 11:35 Shamwari: A Wild Life 12:00 Animal Cops Houston 12:55 Monkey Life 13:20 Call Of The Wildman 13:50 Swamp Brothers 14:15 Swamp Brothers 14:45 Lion Man: One World African Safari 15:15 Lion Man: One World African Safari 15:40 Shamwari: A Wild Life 16:05 Shamwari: A Wild Life 16:30 My Cat From Hell 17:30 The Most Extreme 18:25 My Pet’s Gone Viral 18:50 My Pet’s Gone Viral 19:20 Growing Up...

20:15 Outback Rangers 20:40 Outback Rangers 21:10 North America 22:05 Shamwari: A Wild Life 22:35 Shamwari: A Wild Life 23:00 Swimming With Monsters: Steve Backshall 23:55 Gator Boys 00:50 Animal Cops Houston 01:45 I’m Alive 02:35 Untamed & Uncut

03:45 04:15 05:00 05:20 05:40 05:50 06:10 06:30 06:50 07:00 07:20 07:50 08:20 Tests 09:15 09:45 10:15 11:05 11:55 12:25 Tests 13:15 13:45 14:15 14:45 15:30 16:20 17:10 17:40 18:10 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:50 21:20 21:45 22:10 23:00 23:30 00:05 00:35 01:25 01:55 02:25

One Foot In The Grave The Weakest Link Me Too! The Green Balloon Club Jollywobbles Tweenies Me Too! The Green Balloon Club Jollywobbles Tweenies One Foot In The Grave Come Fly With Me The World’s Toughest Driving Eastenders Doctors Drop Zone The Weakest Link One Foot In The Grave The World’s Toughest Driving Come Fly With Me Eastenders Doctors The Weakest Link Drop Zone Kidnapped Eastenders Doctors The Weakest Link Keeping Up Appearances The Office Luther Gavin & Stacey The Cafe Gates Daddy Daycare Keeping Up Appearances The Office Gavin & Stacey Luther Eastenders Doctors Daddy Daycare

03:15 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 04:00 The Boss Is Coming To Dinner

04:25 Cash In The Attic 05:10 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 05:40 Bargain Hunt 06:25 Fantasy Homes Down Under 07:10 Chef At Home 07:35 The Boss Is Coming To Dinner 08:00 Bargain Hunt 08:45 Homes Under The Hammer 09:40 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 10:10 Nigel Slater’s Simple Cooking 10:35 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 11:00 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 11:25 Come Dine With Me 12:15 Masterchef: The Professionals 13:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 14:15 Antiques Roadshow 15:10 Holmes On Homes 16:00 Holmes On Homes 16:55 Bargain Hunt 17:40 Cash In The Attic 18:25 Antiques Roadshow 19:15 Homes Under The Hammer 20:10 A Taste Of Greenland 21:00 Planet Cake 21:30 Come Dine With Me 22:20 Antiques Roadshow 23:15 Bargain Hunt 00:00 Cash In The Attic 00:45 Homes Under The Hammer 01:40 Come Dine With Me 02:30 Masterchef: The Professionals

03:00 Mythbusters 03:50 Border Security 04:15 Storage Hunters 04:40 Dirty Money 05:05 How Do They Do It? 05:30 How It’s Made 06:00 Sons Of Guns 07:00 Mythbusters 07:50 Finding Bigfoot 08:40 Overhaulin’ 09:30 Border Security 09:55 Storage Hunters 10:20 Dirty Money 10:45 How Do They Do It? 11:10 How It’s Made 11:35 You Have Been Warned 12:25 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 13:15 Mythbusters 14:05 Border Security 14:30 Storage Hunters 14:55 Dirty Money 15:20 World’s Top 5 16:10 Overhaulin’ 2012 17:00 Ultimate Survival 17:50 Dirty Jobs 18:40 Mythbusters 19:30 Sons Of Guns 20:20 Storage Hunters 20:45 Dirty Money 21:10 How Do They Do It? 21:35 How It’s Made 22:00 Sons Of Guns 22:50 Amish Mafia 23:40 Inside The Gangsters’ Code 00:30 Sons Of Guns 01:20 Amish Mafia 02:10 Inside The Gangsters’ Code

03:10 04:00 04:45 05:30 06:20 07:10 08:00 08:50 09:40 10:05 10:30 11:20 12:10 13:00 13:50 14:40 15:30 16:20 16:45 17:10

Disappeared Deadly Sins Killer Kids Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab Nightmare Next Door Deadly Sins Nightmare Next Door I Was Murdered Stalked: Someone’s Watching On The Case With Paula Zahn Extreme Forensics Dr G: Medical Examiner I Almost Got Away With It Deadly Sins Nightmare Next Door On The Case With Paula Zahn I Was Murdered Stalked: Someone’s Watching Couples Who Kill

18:00 18:50 19:40 20:30 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50 00:40 01:30 02:20

Extreme Forensics Dr G: Medical Examiner On The Case With Paula Zahn On The Case With Paula Zahn I Almost Got Away With It Deadly Sins True CSI Deadly Women Killer Kids Couples Who Kill Ghost Lab

03:45 Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design 04:35 Junk Men 05:00 Junk Men 05:25 Moon Machines 06:15 The Gadget Show 06:40 The Tech Show 07:05 X-Machines 08:00 Junkyard Wars 08:50 Rocket City Rednecks 09:15 Rocket City Rednecks 09:40 The Gadget Show 10:05 The Tech Show 10:30 James May’s Man Lab 11:25 X-Machines 12:20 Junk Men 12:45 Junk Men 13:10 Moon Machines 14:00 Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design 14:50 Weird Connections 15:20 The Gadget Show 15:45 The Tech Show 16:10 Prophets Of Science Fiction 17:00 James May’s Man Lab 17:55 X-Machines 18:45 Unchained Reaction 19:35 Moon Machines 20:30 Weird Or What?

21:20 Prank Science 21:45 Prank Science 22:10 The Gadget Show 22:35 Tech Toys 360 23:00 Weird Or What?

23:50 Prank Science 00:15 Prank Science 00:40 Dark Matters: Twisted But True 01:30 Weird Connections 02:00 The Gadget Show 02:25 Tech Toys 360 02:50 Weird Or What?

03:30 04:25 05:20 06:15 07:05 08:00 08:50 09:15 09:45 10:35 11:30 With...

12:20 13:10 14:05 14:55 15:50 16:45 With...

17:40 18:35 19:25 20:20 21:10 22:05 With...

23:00 23:55 00:50 01:45 With...

02:35

The Fight I Escaped Death Victory By Design Europe’s Secret Earthquakes Timewatch I Escaped Death The Aviators The Aviators World’s Busiest Richard III: The Unseen Story World’s Toughest Expeditions Timewatch Victory By Design World’s Busiest Life On Fire Commander In Chief World’s Toughest Expeditions Timewatch Marine Corps Survival School Daredevils World’s Busiest Victory By Design World’s Toughest Expeditions Daredevils The Fight Most Evil World’s Toughest Expeditions Daredevils

03:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 03:20 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 03:45 Sonny With A Chance

04:05 04:30 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:25 06:45 07:10 07:35 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:05 09:30 09:55 10:15 10:40 11:05 11:25 11:50 12:15 12:35 13:00 13:25 13:45 14:10 14:35 Fairies 15:05 15:25 15:50 16:10 17:00 17:20 17:45 18:10 18:30 18:55 19:20 20:05 20:30 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:10 23:35 00:00 00:20 00:45 01:05 01:30 01:50 02:15 02:35

Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Austin And Ally Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm Jessie Good Luck Charlie Sofia The First Doc McStuffins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm Jessie Jessie Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Shake It Up Shake It Up Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm That’s So Raven Dog With A Blog Good Luck Charlie The Adventures Of Disney That’s So Raven Gravity Falls Jessie Violetta Dog With A Blog Austin And Ally Gravity Falls Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie A.N.T. Farm Violetta Jessie My Babysitter’s A Vampire Good Luck Charlie Gravity Falls Shake It Up Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place

04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 00:00 02:00

Vickery’s Wild Ride Pitch Perfect Rewind Daddy Day Camp Pitch Perfect Interview With A Hitman Rewind Damsels In Distress Carjacked Total Recall Rewind Damsels In Distress

03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 07:00 11:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 01:00

European Tour Weekly Inside The PGA Tour LPGA Tour Highlights Rugby League World Cup Darts Grand Slam Live PGA European Tour Inside The PGA Tour Total Rugby Rugby League World Cup Trans World Sport LPGA Tour Highlights European Tour Weekly Inside The PGA Tour Live PGA Tour PGA European Tour

MR. DESTINY ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY 07:00 Max Steel 07:25 Phineas And Ferb 07:50 Phineas And Ferb 08:15 Crash & Bernstein 08:40 Kickin It 09:05 Ultimate Spider-Man 09:30 Phineas And Ferb 09:55 Phineas And Ferb 10:05 Phineas And Ferb 10:20 Lab Rats 10:45 Lab Rats 11:10 Pokemon Bw: Adventures In Unova 11:35 Max Steel 12:00 Zeke & Luther 12:25 Zeke & Luther 12:50 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 13:15 Scaredy Squirrel 13:40 Pair Of Kings 14:05 Pair Of Kings 14:30 Phineas And Ferb 14:40 Phineas And Ferb 14:55 Phineas And Ferb 15:05 Phineas And Ferb 15:20 Pokemon Bw: Adventures In Unova 15:45 Kickin’ It 16:10 Kickin’ It 16:35 Crash & Bernstein 17:00 Lab Rats 17:30 Kickin It 18:00 Dude, That’s My Ghost 18:25 Camp Lakebottom 18:50 Lab Rats 19:15 Lab Rats 19:40 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 20:05 Ultimate Spider-Man 20:30 Kickin It 20:55 Pair Of Kings 21:20 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 21:45 Phineas And Ferb 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 22:35 Lab Rats 23:00 Kickin It 23:30 Scaredy Squirrel 00:00 Programmes Start At 7:00am KSA

03:15 Style Star 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 E!ES 06:00 THS 07:50 Style Star 08:20 E! News 09:15 Scouted 10:15 Married To Jonas 10:40 Chasing The Saturdays 11:10 Eric And Jessie: Game On 12:05 E! News 13:05 Extreme Close-Up 13:35 THS 14:30 Style Star 15:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 16:00 Kourtney And Kim Take New York 17:00 What Would Ryan Lochte Do? 18:00 E! News 19:00 THS 20:00 The Wanted Life 21:00 Hello Ross 21:30 Fashion Police 22:30 E! News 23:30 Chelsea Lately 00:30 The Spin Crowd 01:25 Glamour’s 20 Wedding Do’s And Don’ts 02:20 E!ES

HIDE AND SEEK ON OSN MOVIES ACTION

04:30 The Three Bears: Dreadful Dangers 06:00 Valentina 08:00 Arthur’s Missing Pal 09:45 Flicka 3 11:30 The Pirates! Band Of Misfits 13:00 Charlie And The Chocolate Factory 15:00 Everyone’s Hero 16:30 Princess Lillifee 18:00 Flicka 3 20:00 Judy Moody And The Not Bummer Summer 22:00 Everyone’s Hero 23:30 Princess Lillifee 01:00 Arthur’s Missing Pal 02:45 Everyone’s Hero

03:10 03:35 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:40 06:30 07:10

Charly’s Cake Angels Unique Sweets Unique Sweets Food Wars Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives United Tastes Of America Chopped Iron Chef America Food Network Challenge

08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:05 10:30 11:20 11:45 12:10 12:35 13:00 13:50 14:15 14:40 15:05 15:30 15:55 16:20 16:45 17:35 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:15 19:40 20:05 20:30 20:55 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50 00:15 00:40 01:05 01:30 01:55 02:20 02:45

Unwrapped Unwrapped Food Crafters United Tastes Of America Extra Virgin Barefoot Contessa Food Network Star Reza, Spice Prince Of India Aarti Party Unwrapped Unique Sweets Food Network Challenge Tyler’s Ultimate Barefoot Contessa Barefoot Contessa Siba’s Table Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Symon’s Suppers Chopped Barefoot Contessa Barefoot Contessa Roadtrip With G. Garvin Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Guy’s Big Bite Reza, Spice Prince Of India Siba’s Table Charly’s Cake Angels Chopped Iron Chef America Amazing Wedding Cakes Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Heat Seekers Meat & Potatoes Outrageous Food Amazing Wedding Cakes

03:00 Delinquent Gourmet 03:30 Eat Street 03:55 Street Food Around The World 04:25 Deadly Arts 05:20 Banged Up Abroad 06:15 The Witch Doctor Will See You Now 07:10 Market Values 07:35 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 08:05 Street Food Around The World 08:30 Don’t Tell My Mother 09:00 Earth Tripping 09:25 Chasing Time 09:55 Eat Street 10:20 Delinquent Gourmet 10:50 Eat Street 11:15 Street Food Around The World 11:45 Deadly Arts 12:40 Banged Up Abroad 13:35 The Witch Doctor Will See You Now 14:30 Market Values 14:55 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 15:25 Street Food Around The World 15:50 Don’t Tell My Mother 16:20 Travel Madness 16:45 Delinquent Gourmet 17:15 Eat Street 17:40 Market Values 18:10 Eat Street 18:35 Street Food Around The World 19:05 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 20:00 Banged Up Abroad 21:00 Eat Street 21:30 Market Values 22:00 Scam City 22:55 Warrior Road Trip 23:50 Ultimate Traveller 00:45 Don’t Tell My Mother 01:10 Deadliest Journeys 01:40 Banged Up Abroad 02:35 Don’t Tell My Mother

03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00

Britain’s Greatest Machines My Brilliant Brain Animal Mega Moves Britain’s Greatest Machines

07:00 Megacities 08:00 Ultimate Airport Dubai 09:00 Banged Up Abroad 10:00 Inside Combat Rescue 11:00 Britain’s Greatest Machines 12:00 The Known Universe 13:00 World’s Deadliest Animals 14:00 Britain’s Greatest Machines 15:00 Megacities 16:00 Ultimate Airport Dubai 17:00 Pirate Patrol 18:00 Machines Of War 19:00 Alaska Wing Men 20:00 A Traveler’s Guide To The Planets 21:00 My Dog Ate What?

22:00 Alaska Wing Men 23:00 World’s Toughest Fixes 00:00 Mad Scientists 00:30 Mad Scientists 01:00 Salvage Code Red 02:00 Wild Russia

03:00 Breaking In 03:30 Last Man Standing 04:00 Seinfeld 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 The War At Home 06:00 All Of Us 06:30 Friends 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Seinfeld 08:30 The War At Home 09:00 Breaking In 09:30 Community 10:00 Happy Endings 10:30 Friends 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 All Of Us 12:30 Seinfeld 13:00 The War At Home 13:30 Friends 14:00 Last Man Standing 14:30 Community 15:00 Happy Endings 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 All Of Us 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Breaking In 18:30 Last Man Standing 19:00 Community 19:30 Happy Endings 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Weeds 22:30 Brickleberry 23:00 Family Guy 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Weeds 02:00 Brickleberry 02:30 Family Guy

03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 01:00 02:00

Treme Perception Warehouse 13 Touch Drop Dead Diva Royal Pains Perception Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Warehouse 13 Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Royal Pains Touch Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Royal Pains The Carrie Diaries The X Factor U.S. Downton Abbey Treme Touch The Carrie Diaries Downton Abbey

03:45 Bunraku 06:00 Ip Man 2 08:00 Beverly Hills Cop 3 10:00 Blackthorn 12:00 Hide And Seek 14:00 Darkman 16:00 Blackthorn 18:00 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part One 20:00 Darkman 22:00 Doom 00:00 A Dangerous Man 02:00 Intruders

04:00 06:00 08:00 10:15 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 00:00 02:00

Virtuosity The Adventures Of Tintin Battleship Soldiers Of Fortune Paycheck Lords Of Dogtown Soldiers Of Fortune Wild Wild West Lords Of Dogtown Layer Cake Mad Max Amphibious

04:00 Celtic Pride 06:00 Bushwhacked 08:00 Police Academy 4: Citizens On Patrol 10:00 Adventures In Babysitting 12:00 Celtic Pride 14:00 Who Framed Roger Rabbit 16:00 Adventures In Babysitting 18:00 Mr. Destiny 20:00 The Angel’s Share 22:00 Reno 911!: Miami 00:00 Slums Of Beverly Hills 02:00 The Angel’s Share

03:00 A Woman 04:45 Catch Me If You Can 07:15 One Angry Juror 09:00 The Forger 11:00 A Woman 13:00 Taken Back: Finding Haley 14:45 Reign Over Me 17:00 The First Grader 19:00 The Memory Keeper’s Daughter 21:00 Martha Marcy May Marlene 23:00 The Bang Bang Club 01:00 The First Grader

03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:15 15:00 16:45 19:00 21:30 23:15 01:00

The Caller Columbus Circle The Trial Earth The Evening Star Courage The National Tree The Evening Star The Flowers Of War Intolerable Cruelty Kill For Me An Officer And A Gentleman

03:15 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 18:45 21:00 23:00 01:00

Midnight In Paris Crisis Point Puss In Boots The Double Midnight In Paris Playdate The Iron Lady The Double The Bourne Legacy Limitless Project X Underworld: Awakening

03:00 UFC Fight For The Troops 06:00 UFC - The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 07:00 International Rugby Union 09:00 Total Rugby 11:30 Rugby League World Cup 13:30 Total Rugby 14:00 Darts Grand Slam 18:00 Futbol Mundial 18:30 NFL Gameday 19:00 WWE NXT 20:00 UFC - Primetime 20:30 UFC - Primetime 21:00 UFC - The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 22:00 Live Darts Grand Slam 02:00 WWE NXT

03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:30 10:30 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 22:30 23:00 01:00 02:00

Top 14 Highlights ICC Cricket 360 World Pool Masters World Pool Masters Golfing World Golfing World Futbol Mundial World Pool Masters World Pool Masters Live Asian Tour Golf Futbol Mundial World Pool Masters Total Rugby European Tour Weekly PGA European Tour Total Rugby International Rugby Union Trans World Sport Rugby League World Cup

04:00 Porsche GT 3 Cup Challenge Middle East 04:30 Ping Pong World Championship 05:30 U.S Bass Fishing 06:30 Mass Participation U.K 07:00 WWE Smackdown 09:00 Ping Pong World Championship 10:00 U.S Bass Fishing 13:00 WWE Vintage Collection 14:00 WWE Bottom Line 15:00 This Week In WWE 19:30 F1 H2O World Championship 21:00 F1 H2O World Championship 22:00 UIM Class 1 Powerboat 22:30 UFC Prelims 00:30 UFC - Belfort vs. Henderson

03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 Rides 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 Rides 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 00:00 00:30 01:00 Rides 02:00 02:30

Off Limits Descending Man vs World Airport 24/7: Miami Airport 24/7: Miami World’s Greatest Motorcycle Globe Trekker Departures Airport 24/7: Miami World’s Greatest Motorcycle Bert The Conqueror Trip Flip The Food Truck The Food Truck Bizarre Foods America International House Hunters International House Hunters Hotel Impossible Destination Weddings Destination Weddings The Food Truck The Food Truck Bizarre Foods America International House Hunters International House Hunters Luxury Uncovered Luxury Uncovered Monumental Mysteries Airport 24/7: Miami Airport 24/7: Miami World’s Greatest Motorcycle Bert The Conqueror Bert The Conqueror

Classifieds SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

Kuwait SHARQIA-1 ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) SHARQIA-2 CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 12:15 AM 12:30 PM 3:15 PM 5:15 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

SHARQIA-3 FREE BIRDS (DIG) 12:30 PM FREE BIRDS (DIG) 2:30 PM FREE BIRDS (DIG) 4:30 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 6:30 PM KALBY DALILI (DIG) 8:30 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 10:45 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 12:45 AM MUHALAB-1 ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) RAM LEELA (DIG) (HINDI) MASALA (DIG) (TELUGU) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) MUHALAB-2 Seats-210 FREE BIRDS (DIG) ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) KALBY DALILI (DIG) ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) MUHALAB-3 CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D)

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 2:00 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:45 PM

FANAR-1 ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 12:45 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 2:45 PM KALBY DALILI (DIG) 4:45 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 6:45 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 8:45 PM KALBY DALILI (DIG) 10:45 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 12:45 AM FANAR-2 ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG)

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

FANAR-3 DJINN (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) RAM LEELA (DIG) (HINDI) RAM LEELA (DIG) (HINDI) ALL IS LOST (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

FANAR-4 THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG)

1:00 PM

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (14/11/2013 TO 20/11/2013) FREE BIRDS (DIG-3D) FREE BIRDS (DIG-3D) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D)

360º- 2 ALL IS LOST (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

360º- 3 FREE BIRDS (DIG-3D) FREE BIRDS (DIG) FREE BIRDS (DIG-3D) FREE BIRDS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG)

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM

MARINA-1 ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 1:45 PM KALBY DALILI (DIG) 3:45 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 5:45 PM KALBY DALILI (DIG) 8:00 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 10:00 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.1 THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG) FREE BIRDS (DIG) FREE BIRDS (DIG) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D)

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-2 THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG) FREE BIRDS (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG)

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.2 ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-3 FREE BIRDS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

AL-KOUT.3 CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG)

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:15 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.4 ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) KALBY DALILI (DIG) ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) KALBY DALILI (DIG) ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG)

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 11:45 PM

2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

BAIRAQ-1 FREE BIRDS (DIG) FREE BIRDS (DIG) FREE BIRDS (DIG) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG-3D) THOR: THE DARK WORLD (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:00 PM 11:30 PM

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:30 PM 9:00 PM 11:30 PM

BAIRAQ-2 ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 1:45 PM ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) 3:45 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 6:15 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 8:15 PM KALBY DALILI (DIG) 10:15 PM ARENA OF THE STREET FIGHTER (DIG) 12:30 AM

FANAR-5 GRAVITY GRAVITY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2 GRAVITY GRAVITY GRAVITY

3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

AVENUES-1 RAM LEELA (DIG) (HINDI) RAM LEELA (DIG) (HINDI) RAM LEELA (DIG) (HINDI) RAM LEELA (DIG) (HINDI) RAM LEELA (DIG) (HINDI)

12:30 PM 3:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-2 ALL IS LOST (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) ALL IS LOST (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED AVENUES-3 ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED 360º- 1 CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 6:15 PM 9:00 PM 11:45 PM

BAIRAQ-3 CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) ROMEO AND JULIET (DIG) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

ACCOMMODATION In Abbassiya, sharing accommodation available for a small family or working ladies, in a C-A/C building with separate bathroom, in Sreeragam furniture building (opposite to “Spencerice bakery) from 1st December. Contact: 99750711, 97168646 or 24348730. (C 4575) 17-11-2013 Sharing accommodation available for decent bachelor non smoking, one big room, Amman street, opposite to Al Rashid hospital.

Contact: 66232356.

(C 4570) 13-11-2013 FOR SALE Nissan Pathfinder 2003 model, white. Serious buyer may contact 97277135.

Mitsubishi Galant 2013, silver color, excellent condition, km 11,000, KD 2,950.

Tel: 66729295. (C 4574) 17-11-2013 SUV Trailblazer, 2005 model, white color, price KD 1,300. Tel: 66728911.

(C 4571) 14-11-2013 Well maintained Mitsubishi Lancer car 2000 model, grey color, in Salmiya, 137,000 km run, serviced regularly, single owner, KD 550, negotiable. Call 99860513. (C 4567) 13-11-2013

2003 model, single owned, good condition, white Pathfinder is for sale.

Interested, you may please do contact 66988269.

(C 4565) 12-11-2013 CHANGE OF NAME My wife name in passport Sameera. Sameera is my daughter name. My wife name is Sainaba Mohammed Kunih, P.P.No. F8710673, issued in Kuwait on 16.11.2006, address: Sameera Manzil Poolappe, PO Elambach, Kosaragode Dt, Kerala. (C 4576) 17-11-2013 I, Amira holder of Indian Passport No. Z2519936, issued at Kuwait on June 02, 2013, permanent resident of Clover Village, Rosehill Terrace No. 7, Pune 40, MS and presently residing in Kuwait do hereby change my name from Amira to Amira Sayed, with immediate effect. (C 4566) 12-11-2013 I, Bommry (sur name), Manjunathan, (given name), S/o Bommini Raghava Reddy, date of birth: 24.07.1980, residing at No. 31, Nemilli, Nemili village & Post, Thiruvalluvar District, Pincode-631201, holder of Indian Passport No. J0365702, shall hencefore be known as Bommini (sur name), Manjunathan, (given name) Bommry (sur name), Manjunathan, (given name). (C 4564) 11-11-2013

SITUATION VACANT A Kuwaiti family is looking to hire an Indian driver with Kuwait driving license and knowledge of Kuwait’s streets and areas, transferable visa. Call: 55552782.

(C 4568) Required English speaking maid/nanny. Please call 99824597. (C 4569) 13-11-2013 MATRIMONIAL Orthodox girl 27/160 cm, MDS (Endodontics) working in Health Ministry Kuwait, from PG dentists/ doctors/ engineers or CA. Email: gthomastitty@gmail.com (C 4572) 16-11-2013

SITUATION WANTED M.Com (Finance) graduate 9 years of experience is in company accounts (including 3 years in Kuwait), preparation of financial statements, payroll management, portfolio management, dealing of shares and commodities. Good knowledge of Ms-Office and accounting software packages Tally ERP-9.

Transferable visa, Kuwait driving license. Mob: 65008377. (C 4573) 16-11-2013

112

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is

1889988 Prayer timings Fajr:

04:51

Shorook

06:13

Duhr:

11:33

Asr:

14:32

Maghrib:

16:52

Isha:

18:12

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Airlines JAI THY JZR JZR QTR RJA DLH ETH GFA THY UAE ETD RBG MSR CLX QTR FDB KAC QTR THY DHX FDB JZR BAW KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD FDB IRA GFA IRC JZR MEA IRC JZR UAE MSR KAC KAC FDB

Arrival Flights on Sunday 17/11/2013 Flt Route Time 574 MUMBAI 00:10 772 ISTANBUL 00:45 267 BEIRUT 00:40 539 CAIRO 00:40 1084 DOHA 00:55 642 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 01:05 637 DAMMAM 01:10 620 ADDIS ABABA 01:45 211 BAHRAIN 02:10 764 SABIHA 02:15 853 DUBAI 02:35 305 ABU DHABI-INTL 02:45 555 ALEXANDRIA 02:55 612 CAIRO 03:10 792 LUXEMBOURG 03:40 1076 DOHA 03:45 67 DUBAI 04:00 544 CAIRO 04:20 8524 DOHA 04:40 770 ISTANBUL 05:35 170 BAHRAIN 05:40 69 DUBAI 05:50 555 ALEXANDRIA 06:05 157 LONDON 06:40 412 MANILA 06:45 206 ISLAMABAD 07:40 382 DELHI 07:55 302 MUMBAI 07:55 53 DUBAI 07:50 352 COCHIN 08:10 332 TRIVANDRUM 08:15 362 COLOMBO 08:45 284 DHAKA 08:50 855 DUBAI 08:40 125 SHARJAH 09:00 1070 DOHA 09:10 301 ABU DHABI-INTL 09:20 55 DUBAI 09:40 603 SHIRAZ 10:35 213 BAHRAIN 10:40 6666 AHWAZ 11:00 165 DUBAI 11:30 404 BEIRUT 11:55 6507 SHIRAZ 12:05 561 SOHAG 12:55 871 DUBAI 12:50 610 CAIRO 13:00 774 RIYADH 13:30 742 DAMMAM 13:30 57 DUBAI 13:50

QTR SVA KNE KAC UAE QTR ETD RJA SVA JZR ABY GFA AFG UAL QTR FDB KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC GFA OMA FDB JAI KAC AXB ABY MSR DLH ALK MEA ETD UAE GFA QTR FDB KLM JAI AIC KAC JZR JZR FDB UAL JZR PIA

1078 500 472 788 857 1072 303 640 510 777 127 215 415 982 1080 63 786 177 502 542 166 618 102 674 562 217 647 61 572 514 393 129 606 634 229 402 307 859 219 1074 59 417 576 981 172 239 135 61 981 185 205

DOHA JEDDAH JEDDAH JEDDAH DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI-INTL AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA RIYADH JEDDAH SHARJAH BAHRAIN KABUL WASHINGTON DC DULLES DOHA DUBAI JEDDAH DUBAI BEIRUT CAIRO PARIS DOHA NEW YORK DUBAI AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA BAHRAIN MUSCAT DUBAI MUMBAI TEHRAN KOZHIKODE SHARJAH LUXOR FRANKFURT COLOMBO BEIRUT ABU DHABI-INTL DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI AMSTERDAM COCHIN CHENNAI FRANKFURT AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI LAHORE

13:55 14:30 14:35 15:10 16:40 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:55 17:25 17:30 17:45 18:00 18:40 18:45 18:45 18:20 18:50 18:05 19:10 19:00 19:35 19:25 19:55 19:30 19:55 20:05 20:10 20:45 20:15 20:20 20:45 20:55 21:10 21:20 21:35 21:40 21:45 22:00 22:00 22:05 22:15 22:30 21:45 22:20 22:05 23:00 23:10 23:20 23:55

Airlines AIC AXB UAL JAI DLH ETH THY RBG UAE ETD MSR QTR FDB QTR CLX QTR JZR FDB JZR RJA THY GFA THY FDB BAW KAC KAC ABY UAE KAC KAC ETD QTR FDB KAC KAC GFA KAC IRA IRC KAC JZR MEA KAC IRC JZR MSR UAE FDB

Departure Flights on Sunday 17/11/2013 Flt Route Time 976 GOA 00:05 490 MANGALORE 00:15 981 WASHINGTON 00:55 573 MUMBAI 01:10 637 FRANKFURT 02:10 621 ADDIS ABABA 02:45 773 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 02:55 556 ALEXANDRIA 03:35 854 DUBAI 03:50 306 ABU DHABI 04:00 613 CAIRO 04:10 1085 DOHA 04:15 68 DUBAI 04:40 1077 DOHA 05:15 792 HONG KONG 05:45 8525 DOHA 06:10 560 SOHAG 06:20 70 DUBAI 06:30 164 DUBAI 06:55 643 AMMAN 07:05 765 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 07:05 212 BAHRAIN 07:15 771 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 07:30 54 DUBAI 08:30 156 LONDON 08:45 171 FRANKFURT 09:10 787 JEDDAH 09:25 126 SHARJAH 09:40 856 DUBAI 09:55 117 NEW YORK 10:00 773 RIYADH 10:05 302 ABU DHABI 10:05 1071 DOHA 10:10 56 DUBAI 10:20 741 DAMMAM 10:30 501 BEIRUT 11:10 214 BAHRAIN 11:25 541 CAIRO 11:30 602 SHIRAZ 11:35 6667 AHWAZ 12:00 103 LONDON 12:20 776 JEDDAH 12:25 405 BEIRUT 12:55 785 JEDDAH 13:00 6508 SHIRAZ 13:05 176 DUBAI 13:45 611 CAIRO 14:00 872 DUBAI 14:15 58 DUBAI 14:30

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

KAC QTR KAC KAC KNE SVA KAC JZR ETD QTR UAE JZR RJA ABY SVA GFA JZR AFG JZR JZR UAL FDB QTR GFA KAC FDB OMA ABY KAC JAI AXB MSR DHX ALK MEA ETD GFA KAC FDB UAE KAC KAC KAC KLM QTR JAI KAC JZR FDB KAC KAC

561 1079 673 617 473 503 513 238 304 1073 858 538 641 128 511 216 184 415 266 134 982 64 1081 218 283 62 648 120 361 571 3944 619 171 230 403 308 220 301 60 860 381 205 351 417 1075 575 343 502 62 411 415

AMMAN DOHA DUBAI DOHA JEDDAH MADINAH TEHRAN AMMAN ABU DHABI DOHA DUBAI CAIRO AMMAN SHARJAH RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI JEDDAH BEIRUT BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI DOHA BAHRAIN DHAKA DUBAI MUSCAT SHARJAH COLOMBO MUMBAI KOZHIKODE ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN COLOMBO BEIRUT ABU DHABI BAHRAIN MUMBAI DUBAI DUBAI DELHI ISLAMABAD KOCHI DAMMAM DOHA ABU DHABI CHENNAI LUXOR DUBAI BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR

14:30 14:55 15:05 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:20 16:55 17:35 17:40 17:50 17:50 17:55 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:40 20:15 20:30 20:45 20:55 21:00 21:00 21:10 21:15 21:45 21:50 22:10 22:20 22:20 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:50 22:50 22:55 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:15 23:15 23:30 23:40 23:55 23:55

34

stars CROSSWORD 371

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) Perhaps this is the best time to think and study--you have a real appreciation for ideas and thoughts. You may find yourself enjoying a long conversation with a friend, writing a letter, or making a special phone call. There may be sudden insights and jolts into some of the most sensitive and vulnerable areas of your inner self and psychology. Perhaps now is the time to write some poetry for your very own greeting card--your imagination is at full tilt. Your home environment, friends and surroundings in general get attention and receive encouragement. A wish comes true this evening.

Tonight will probably be spent at home in a relaxing mood. Entertainment is easy to find and conversations are pleasant. Romantic success is likely tonight.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Love is in the air this morning. It is a fine day for all sorts of communications.

You may decide to start the day with a bicycle ride. Later, some real one-on-one conversations with loved ones, particularly children or elderly, will keep difficulties down to a minimum. This open communication helps you to see where you can find help or give aid to others. Today, someone new may come into your living situation or surroundings. This could be a birth or the agreement to have someone in your home for a while. You could discover a young person that opens to you now. Your support system becomes more secure at this time. You are able to dispense with the unessential and develop what is most basic and true in your environment.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. A health resort near a spring or at the seaside.

4. Dark purple edible seaweed of the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America.

12. A master's degree in theology.

15. The fatty flesh of eel.

16. A member of a North American people formerly living in the Colorado river valley in Arizona.

17. An arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line.

18. A motley assortment of things.

20. Make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc..

21. Any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all.

22. A natural talent.

24. Low footwear that can be slip on and off easily.

26. Small creeping evergreen shrubs.

29. (Greek mythology) One of the three Graces.

30. A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms.

32. The compass point midway between east and southeast.

33. A shade of brown with a tinge of red.

35. Mild form of diabetes mellitus that develops gradually in adults.

39. Made agreeably cold (especially by ice).

43. A nucleic acid consisting of large molecules shaped like a double helix.

44. 1 species.

47. A shop selling delicatessen (as salads or cooked meats).

48. A unit of length (in United States and Britain) equal to one twelfth of a foot.

50. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

51. (Irish) The sea personified.

52. A summary that repeats the substance of a longer discussion.

54. The eighth month of the civil year.

56. A genus of orb-weaving spiders including common garden spiders and barn spiders.

58. A hard gray lustrous metallic element that is highly corrosion-resistant.

59. Relating to of containing or affecting blood.

61. A region of Malaysia in northeastern Borneo.

64. Removed from office or power.

67. Pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic.

71. Relating to the blood vessels or blood.

74. Jordan's port.

75. Inquire about.

76. A selfish person who is unwilling to give or spend.

79. Lacking sufficient water or rainfall.

80. Towards the side away from the wind.

81. Small buffalo of Mindoro in the Philippines.

82. Socks and stockings and tights collectively (the British include underwear as hosiery).

DOWN 1. (medieval Europe) A person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord.

2. A deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells).

3. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true stems and roots and leaves.

4. A personal attractiveness that enables you to influence others.

5. The month following July and preceding September.

6. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

7. Having winglike extensions.

8. An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling of light-headedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months.

9. A body of poetry that conveys the traditions of a society by treating some epic theme.

10. One of two flaps attached to a cap to keep the ears warm.

11. Grandson of Amaterasu and first ruler of Japan.

12. Small genus of Eurasian aquatic perennial herbs.

13. A populous province in northeastern China.

14. A Bantu language spoken in southern coastal Tanzania.

19. Having two feet.

23. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

25. A cloth having a crisscross design.

27. A brittle gray crystalline element that is a semiconducting metalloid (resembling silicon) used in transistors.

28. The Magadhan language spoken by the Assamese people.

31. A person who sins (without repenting).

34. Any plant of the genus Erica.

36. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.

37. Fermented alcoholic beverage similar to but heavier than beer.

38. (Apocrypha) Jewish heroine in one of the books of the Apocrypha.

40. A cavity in the mesoderm of an embryo that gives rise in humans to the pleural cavity and pericardial cavity and peritoneal cavity.

41. Fragrant resin obtain from trees of the family Burseraceae and used as incense.

42. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (19021984).

45. A person forced to flee from home or country.

46. Port city of Denmark in eastern Jutland.

49. A two-wheeled horse-drawn covered carriage with the driver's seat above and behind the passengers.

53. A country person.

55. (Old Testament) Wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau.

57. Any of various deciduous or evergreen ornamental shrubs of the genus Abelia having opposite simple leaves and cymes of small white or pink or purplish flowers.

60. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

62. A public promotion of some product or service.

63. An oil port in southern Iraq.

65. Freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort.

66. A Chinese breed of small short-legged dogs with a long silky coat and broad flat muzzle.

68. Edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants.

69. Wading birds of warm regions having long slender down-curved bills.

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

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

73. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

77. A metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram.

78. An uproarious party.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

This day favors making new friends. A visitor from your past may drop by your place today. You may find yourself looking through the old albums and calling up friends. Refinement and relationships are the keys to emotional satisfaction for you now, whether it comes from the past or it has to do with the relationships you have now. You have a clear vision into your own inner sense of values, how you appreciate and love. This is a good time to examine and think about what is important and of lasting value. This is a very nice day, perhaps filled with some renewed appreciation for all that is beautiful and fine. You enjoy life and may want to celebrate with your friends this evening in a nice restaurant. Include your loved one in the fun.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Religious, philosophical and cultural matters are likely to have special appeal just now. A religious or cultural group could be having a big garage sale, bazaar or car wash. If it is your group, make sure you support it and if it is not, you still might check it out--there is a good buy on the horizon. A meeting with someone older or in authority stirs a desire in you to achieve and gain through more education. Your timing should be perfect, for whatever you want to initiate or negotiate today. This afternoon you can relax and just sit back and enjoy what you have--to live life. Your desires are strong and you will want to enjoy yourself this evening. There is a basic drive to appreciate and taste life. Look around--you will see your home is filled with joy.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You are very outgoing when it comes to your feelings and emotions--you wear your heart on your sleeve at times. You could be successful in working with your selfexpression through the arts and theater, in sports, or with the ultimate self-expression-children. Teaching, other than your professional work, may be where you find yourself today. This could be as a tutor or a teacher of some creative subjects--perhaps a tour guide for visiting relatives or friends. Creativity and time to create are important to you. You may find yourself leaving things undone around your living area so that you can complete a craft or art project later today. Your attention may become focused on animals. Music, religion, drama, art or poetry and animals fill your day.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Today, there is a chance to go shopping or stay at home and visit with friends. Since these friends are only in town for a short while, you will probably decide a visit is in order. There is a chance to understand those around you and to have a fun time with friends and family. General good feeling and a sense of support and harmony make this a happy time. A young person may need lessons in managing money and you are ready with a plan. Careful, do not become carried away--he or she will learn about the state of the economy soon enough. Games and some sort of sports activity would not be unusual activities for the group that gathers near you today. You have a great social drive and love to work in a group or with close friends.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) You have a lot of energy for improving your surroundings or life situations.

You are very motivated to improve. This could mean some ongoing work around your living quarters--inside or outside. After your regular chores are completed, friends will probably find you in the hardware store or a nearby nursery, looking for tools that will help you with your projects. A pesky little money problem fades away this evening. Money comes to you at home and you get a good idea for ways to generate extra income. You tend to be radical when it comes to self-analysis, which means health care, food, physical well-being, etc. You put a bicycle on your wish list. Serving and caring for yourself and others are primary sources of inner growth.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You may appear very relaxed this morning. Everything seems to be working together and you may find yourself expressive. In-depth discussions and probing conversations find you at your mental best. Your analytical abilities are at a high point. This afternoon you could find yourself in hobby stores buying parts, games or an addition to your favorite pastime. Before you begin to play with those hobbies of yours, clean out some of the things that do not serve a purpose for you. Some other person may enjoy the items you no longer enjoy--a garage sale or a contribution to a thrift store is in order. Friends will probably visit this evening--you could find yourself involved in the old pick-things-up-before-others-see-the-mess routine, so clean early.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You possess, at your center, an intensity that burns through frivolity, searching for opportunities to face the truth and render the evident to view. This ceaseless analytical activity, while central to your nature, may be the source of discomfort to others. Herein is where you find your energies focused now. Deep conversations may be disturbing but encourage investigation. You enjoy the result of these long talks. You could meet with some opposition. Overall, this can be a great opportunity for all involved to open up to new ideas. Psychic insights, worldviews and impressions from others fill your day. You enjoy the chance to be a little unconventional. You will prosper through new insights, inventions and an independent point of view.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) This is a good time to consolidate and organize your affairs or rearrange your living situation. You could be seen by others as just the person to be put in charge of some project requiring a conservative mind. General good feeling and a sense of support make this a happy time. You have a clear vision into your own goals and how you want to proceed. Take the time this afternoon to relax and examine what is important and of value in your life--an appreciative attitude is easy to find. Friends or relatives visit and call on the phone. This is a time of heightened communication. You could also be working on emotional security, a sense of belonging and nurturing. Have a camera ready for the new traditions that are beginning now.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You may find that you have been chosen or volunteered as a guide for someone or several people that do not come to your town very often.

Smile--this may be an opportunity to grow professionally and financially. Someone may want to invest in real estate. This is generally a fruitful period for real-estate investments and you may want to invest as well. Your most respectable self is showing. You have the ability to communicate well with others. Family, home and the other roots in your life give you a sense of mission. There are growth and gain through family matters. Being appreciated and admired are powerful needs and the chances you take to help people you do not even know will bring big rewards when you least expect it.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) There is a desire to control a negative situation with kids this morning but you may decide to back off and see how their play unfolds. You will probably not need to step in to change things but you will certainly want to teach some problem-solving techniques. This is a priority today because you are good at putting things in balance and in helping others. Some game playing is good with children and will help to get your message across to these young ones. Later today, you tend to the chores and the odds and ends you had previously put aside for a rainy day. A meeting with someone older or in authority is at hand this afternoon--now it is your turn to solve problems for yourself. With a listening and patient attitude, a satisfactory agreement can be met.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

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25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

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22418714

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22545171

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24810598

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22545171

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24742838

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22434853

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22545051

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24711433

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24316983

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23927002

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24316983

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23980088

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23711183

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23262845

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25716707

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22517733

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22517144

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25610011

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24848075

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25616368

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24849807

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24848913

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24814507

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22549134

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22526804

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24814764

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22515088

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22532265

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22531908

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22518752

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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

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24810221

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24770319

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24575755

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24772608

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24775066

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24775992

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24311795

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24884079

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24892674

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24719048

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24710044

Fintas

23900322

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PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

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

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

Nicole Scherzinger doesn’t fancy men who think they are hot

T

he 35-year-old stunner - who split from Formula One racing pro Lewis Hamilton in June - is attracted to someone who is funny, genuine and attentive. She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “If you can make me laugh. I look for a guy who has a great sense of humour and is just cool.

“I don’t like guys who think they are hot that is a turn-off. You just want a guy who is genuine and has got a good head about him.

“And a guy that gives and is attentive.” Nicole is glad her and Lewis are on talking terms since their families bonded with one another during their five-year relationship. She explained: “We’re friends and it’s just nice that we’re talking again. I don’t know what the future holds. “I

think it is always good for people to work on themselves and then their friendships first. Our families are close. “That happens when you are with someone for five years. So it’s good we are friends. “But I am not into dating mode. I have been so focused on work and I don’t know what the future holds.”

Kaley Cuoco wants a dog-shaped wedding cake

T

he ‘Big Bang Theory’ actress only got engaged to tennis player Ryan Sweeting in summer, but she’s already started planning her big day and is keen on having her three pit bull terriers’ faces imprinted on her cake. She said: “I’m obsessed with my dogs, and I wanted to do my cake in the shape of their heads. “The whole farm’s gonna be at our wedding. I’m a big animal freak. I’d rather have the animals there than real people.” However, the blonde beauty insists she’s not going to turn into a spoiled fiancee during the preparations, but she wants to make sure no one upstages her on the day of her nuptials by arriving to the event on a horse. She explained: “I just want everything the way I want it. That’s the way it should be. I might ride in on one of my horses. I secretly kind of want to do that.”Despite the pair only getting engaged after three months of dating, she insists she has loads in common with her soon-to-be husband. Speaking on ‘The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson’, Kaley said: “I actually grew up playing tennis. It’s very strange. It kind of came full circle.” The loved-up couple are yet to set a date for the wedding.

Harry Styles refuses to take up ballet

T

he 19-year-old One Direction star was ordered to learn the popular dance form by his osteopath in a bid to combat his back injury but he opted for yoga instead. Talking on chat show ‘The Jonathan Ross Show’, he said: “I have a bad back and I went to see and an osteopath. He told me to do ballet. But I didn’t. I’m doing yoga instead.” The hunk’s legs are different lengths with one measuring half-an-inch more than the other and this has caused him back pain. His bandmates Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik teased him about the injury which Harry believed was caused by a heavy paper round he did when he was younger. It was previously believed that Harry had taken up ballet to get the moves like The Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger and he decided to copy part of his fitness regime following a chat with the music legend’s long-standing trainer and physio Torje Eike.

Lauren Conrad wants to get hitched next year

T

he former ‘The Hills’ star got engaged to her rocker boyfriend William Tell last weekend after almost two years together, and she’s keen to tie the knot in autumn. A friend told Us Weekly magazine: “She wants to take her time and enjoy the process.” Another pal added: “Lauren would like to get married next year, possible in the early fall.” The 27-year-old beauty took to her blog to share the happy news with her fans, before posting a picture of her classic diamond engagement ring. She wrote: “I am very excited to share with you guys that William and I got engaged over the weekend. I am beyond thrilled! Get ready for lots more wedding content here on LaurenConrad.com as we begin the planning process.”

News of her engagement came just one day after her exboyfriend and ‘Laguna Beach’ co-star, Jason Wahler, married his fiancee, Ashley Slack, in Malibu, California. Lauren has previously claimed she and William are perfect for each other because they have so much in common. She said: “He is very good for me because we have a lot in common as far as where we grew up. It’s the first time I’m with someone and I’m not explaining things. “He also has experience in the entertainment industry, so he understands a lot of things that people don’t always get.”

Lily Allen

is a hands-on mother

T

he singer - who has daughters Ethel, two, and Marnie, 10 months, with husband Sam Cooper - makes sure she is home in good time so she can be a “normal mum”.

She told The Sun newspaper: “I generally try to get back at 4 or 5 pm and do dinner and bathtime and the things that normal mums do.” However, the 28-year-old star admitted she struggled to “connect” with herself after the birth of Marnie and found it more difficult than it was after her first daughter. She added: “It wasn’t until I stopped feeding that I started to connect with myself again. It was much harder than in the past.”

Meanwhile, Lily has had to defend her new single ‘Hard Out Here’ after claims her raunchy new video - which sees a group of black women jiggling their bottoms - is racist, but she has insisted she chose the dangers based on their talent. She recently said: “If anyone thinks for a second that I requested specific ethnicities for the video, they’re wrong. “If anyone thinks that after asking the girls to audition, I was going to send any of them away because of the colour of their skin, they’re wrong.”

Kim Kardashian more professional than real models

K

im Kardashian more professional than real models, according to photographer Bruce Weber. The famed lensman insists the ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ star was “wonderful” to work with and he chose to shoot her for the March cover issue of high fashion magazine DuJour because of her warm persona around staff on set. Weber - who has snapped such icons as Cindy Crawford and the late Elizabeth Taylor - revealed that Kim is more favourable to work with than many other models and celebrities he has shot. Being interviewed for ‘Fashion Icons w/ Fern Mallis’ on New York’s prestigious 92nd Street Y, he said: “At first I wanted to photograph her mom, Kris Jenner. She [Kim] came to the set. I always judge the person I’m going to photograph by how they are with my assistants and my crew - she looked at each one and introduced herself. She was just so personable with everyone. She was wonderful.” Kim - who is engaged to Kanye West, with whom she has five-month-old daughter North - obviously made a stellar impression on the 67-year-old photographer who recently branded Cindy Crawford “rude” after revealing she is the only model he has kicked off a photo shoot when he was working for Revlon over a decade ago. Weber recently told Huffington Post Live: “She was so rude to the whole team and the crew.”

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

Russell Brand wants Jemima Khan to move in with him

T

he 38-year-old comedian wants to prove he is committed to his on/off girlfriend and has reportedly told her he wants her to move to the US. A friend told the Daily Star newspaper: “Russell finally won Jemima back after a rocky start and now he doesn’t want to let her go. “He’s due to be back in LA before Christmas for work commitments and he wants Jemima to go with him so they can spend time at his place in Beverly Hills. “If she likes it, he wants her to move there full-time with him. Russell ultimately wants them to divide their time between LA and London together.”However, Jemima is said to be unsure about leaving the UK because of a “whirlwind romance”, although a recent politically-fueled interview with BBC programme ‘Newsnight’ has helped his case. The insider added: “At the moment Jemima isn’t mad keen on the idea of leaving her life in London on the back of a whirlwind romance. “She told him so too, but Russ is making it sound like an incredibly attractive proposition. He’s slowly changing her mind. “Additionally when Jemima saw how passionate and informed Russ came across when he was recently interviewed by Jeremy Paxman she really started to imagine a serious relationship with him.”

Chris Brown planning to move to Malibu

T

he 24-year-old star has put his $1.5 million Hollywood Hills mansion on the market and has put an offer on a plush beachside property because he’s had enough of his grumpy neighbours. A source told TMZ: “Chris wrote an offer on a house in Malibu in an exclusive, gated community where a bunch of other high-profile celebrities live.” The ‘Fine China’ hitmaker decided to up and leave his stunning Hollywood home after other residents complained to the city officials earlier this year for decorating his house with graffiti. However, Chris had better be on best behaviour when he makes his move as the city of Malibu - where the properties are worth between $3 million to $30 million - have strict laws on violating building codes, including graffiti, and noise restricting rules. Earlier this week, Chris left the rehab facility in Malibu where he was seeking help in order to “gain focus and insight” into his previous behaviour after acknowledging he has a major anger management problem. The R&B singer has had more than one run-in with the law after being involved in a parking lot brawl with singer Frank Ocean in January and getting into a dispute with rapper Drake at a nightclub in 2012. In addition, he was sued by a California woman Deanna Gines who has accused him of battery at a nightclub last June, and he is still on probation for assaulting exgirlfriend Rihanna in February 2009.

Brandon Flowers

Kelly Clarkson’s dog dies

is no good at karaoke

T

he Killers singer claims he has only picked up a mic to sing to a backing track once in his life as a teenager, and at the time his famous vocals weren’t fully formed. He said: “I only ever did karaoke the one time. I sung Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’. I was working at a French restaurant and it was a Christmas party. We went to a Thai restaurant and they had karaoke, so I did it. I was about 18 or 19, and honestly, I wasn’t a good singer.” By the time The Killers got to making their debut album, ‘Hot Fuss’, a few years later, the ‘Somebody Told Me’ star’s voice had strengthened and he was becoming obsessed with David Bowie. He added to NME magazine: “Everybody’s making a big deal out of Bowie’s new stuff, but ‘Heathen’ [2002] is the s**t.

It’s the last great Bowie record - I’m not afraid to say it. It’s awesome. We stole the bassline from ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’ straight from ‘Slow Burn’ and on ‘Everything Will Be Alright’, I was really trying to do a ‘Heathen’-style song.”

T

he 31-year-old star is mourning the loss of her miniature labradoodle, Joplin, who passed away after being diagnosed with cancer. According to GossippingPens.com Kelly shared the sad news with fans while performing at the Hard Rock Cafe for the Musicians On Call: Nashville benefit on when she dedicated ‘Stronger’ to the pooch. Joplin was a cute black dog that Kelly adopted in 2011 however in August 2012 he had a health scare and the blonde beauty took to Facebook to share the news with her fans and urged them to pray for him while he recovered. She previously wrote: “I had the worst day yesterday because my little baby Joplin, one my dogs, almost died and I was a wreck. He is now at a vet hospital and doing better. Please say a prayer for him.” Weeks after Kelly’s post the singer’s fan, Liam KC, took the twitter and claimed Joplin was diagnosed with cancer. She wrote: “Met @kelly_clarkson #adelaide She told me Joplin has terminal cancer when I asked her :’(“

Daniel Radcliffe is good at rapping

T

he ‘Kill Your Darlings’ star is a fan of karaoke and especially likes to take on tracks by Eminem and rock band Queen. He said: “I’m surprisingly good at rapping. And humble too! I did [Queen’s] ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ at karaoke once, and everybody’s had a go at ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.”

While a singing career may not immediately beckon, Daniel is hoping to move into the director’s chair at some point. He added: “I definitely want to direct. I love filmmaking - being involved with every part of making a creative decision.” However, the former ‘Harry Potter’ star is not so keen on the role of producer, adding: “I can almost guarantee you I do not want to be a producer. It’s not worth the hassle!” Daniel, 24, has also got to the point in his career where he doesn’t worry too much about what he looks like on screen. When asked how he sees himself in films now, he added to Shortlist magazine: “I’m never going to be that happy - I still look like myself in it. But there are moments where you’re like, ‘Ah, that looks really cool’.”

Chris Prat

wants more children

T

he 34-year-old star loves being a father to his 15-month-old son Jack - who he had with his 36-year-old wife Anna Faris - and is hoping to give the little one a sibling sometime soon. Talking on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’, he said: “I would like more. I would have another one right away.

We’ve talked about it. He’s pretty awesome.” Chris and Anna have also been subconsciously thinking about becoming parents for a second time and while the hunk was dreaming about having a second child, his wife was dreaming of being pregnant again. He explained: “I did dream the other day that we had another baby. I woke up and Anna said she’d had another dream that she was pregnant, so I was like, ‘Whoa, might you be pregnant?’ I don’t think she is-this is not an announcement or anything.” Jack is currently learning to take his first steps and although Chris thinks it has taken him longer to reach the milestones than other kids he is delighted the tiny tot is healthy. He added: “Jack’s about to walk-he’s 15 months but he was born nine weeks premature. He’s totally healthy and fine, but it takes him a little longer to hit those developmental milestones, so they do the adjusted age. He’s very sweet and adorable.”

— Bangshowbiz

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

lifestyle

Guests participating in a tour walk around the Egyptian Museum after its renovation project.

Guests walk around the Egyptian Museum after its renovation project announcement in downtown Cairo, Egypt. — AP photos

Egypt plans ambitious renovation for Cairo museum

E

gypt unveiled Friday a multimillion dollar renovation project for Cairo’s famed Egyptian Museum, including plans to demolish a scorched building that stands between it and the Nile, in a bid to draw tourists back and restore a sense of normalcy after more than two years of unrest. Organizers said they want to return the dusty 111year-old museum to its former glory by painting the walls and covering the floors in their original colors and patterns.

The lighting and security systems also will be upgraded to meet international standards, Minister of Antiquities Mohammed Ibrahim said, announcing the plan during a news conference in the museum’s leafy courtyard. The displays also will be rearranged, although he did not give details about how. One of the museum’s most famous exhibits, King Tutankhamun’s treasures, will be moved to a new Grand Egyptian museum that is being built near the Giza pyramids. It is scheduled to be completed in 2015.

Along with the overall tourist industry, the museum has suffered in large part due to its location near Tahrir Square, the epicenter of protests and frequent clashes since the start of the 2011 revolution that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

Violence spiked again after the July 3 military coup that ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

But the interim government that has assumed power is struggling to regain control of the streets and bring back the visitors who long made Egypt a top tourist spot. Ibrahim said the ministry’s revenues, including the entrance fees from tourist sites, fell from 111 million Egyptian pounds in October 2010 to 7 million Egyptian pounds ($1.14 million) in October 2013.

“From Tahrir, on a Friday, we are sending a positive message to the entire world: Egypt is doing well,” Ibrahim said on the anniversary of the museum’s inauguration in 1902.

Ibrahim also said his ministry planned to demolish the black-

ened former headquarters of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party, which was burned during the anti-Mubarak uprising and stands between the museum and the River Nile, to create a botanical garden and an open-air museum. He said part of the new exposition area could be dedicated to the country’s popular uprisings.

The minister declined to give an exact figure for the cost of the project, but said it would likely be at least $4.3 million. The renovation project is the result of Egyptian-German cooperation. The head of the Culture and Education department at the German Embassy in Cairo, Ramesh de Sliva, said the renovation master plan was financed by the German cultural preservation fund and the Center for International Migration and Development. De Silva said 12 international experts worked on the master plan.

Riots and killings have delivered a severe blow to Egypt’s tourism industry, which until recently accounted for more

than 11 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and nearly 20 percent of its foreign currency revenues. In August, as violent clashes roiled Egypt, looters made away with more than 1,000 artifacts from the Malawi Museum, in the southern River Nile city of Minya. It was the biggest theft to hit an Egyptian museum in living memory.

During the 2011 uprising, would-be looters managed to enter Cairo’s Egyptian museum, ripping the head of two mummies and damaging about 10 small artifacts before being caught and detained by army soldiers. Dozens of items were stolen from the Cairo museum, with some of them being recovered later. — AP

Afghanistan’s modern artists puzzle and provoke

S

hocking, intimate and often bemusing to outsiders, the modern art produced by a small group of young Afghans would come as a surprise to connoisseurs who stalk the galleries of New York, London and Tokyo.

At work in small studios and spare rooms in Kabul, they make pieces that seem far away from the harsh, practical world outside where many Afghans focus on surviving the bloody 12-year insurgency. Picasso, Damien Hirst and Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei are among their influences, but they also admit that Afghanistan’s long war has had an inescapable effect on their work.

Arif Bahaduri, 22, uses medical plasters to make three-dimensional images at his $100-amonth rented studio in south Kabul, and he is now preparing a 30-minute piece of performance art. “It will be one of the first-ever such events in Afghanistan,” he told AFP, wearing a chic black linen jacket and black T-shirt. “I can’t say exactly how it will go or what will happen, but it is an expression of my deepest inner feelings and identity.”

Bahaduri will present his live show later this month at the Afghan Contemporary Art Prize, an annual competition to encourage local artists to move beyond sketches of marketplaces and landscapes. “My complete wish is to live as a professional artist, but my family is not happy because I took a year out of my psychology course at university to do this,” he said.

“They do not understand.”

“I work with plasters to represent pain and unhealed wounds, and now I hope my performance piece will lead me in a new direction.” From 106 applicants, 10 artists were chosen to compete in the final round of this year’s prize, which is funded by the Turquoise Mountain Foundation, an Afghan arts organisation. The contestants received an intensive two-weeks of workshops and lectures to immerse them in modern art, and then had

Orna

one month to produce a competition piece for an exhibition opening on November 16.

“A lot of what we saw in the workshops was new to me and it had a big effect, and I looked in many books and on the Internet,” said Bahaduri, naming Serbian-born performance artist Marina Abramovic as his current inspiration. Also among the finalists is Orna, who is casting her naked back for her prize entry-an idea that could provoke outrage in conservative Islamic Afghanistan. “The cast is part of a body that I have made that has no arms and no legs,” said Orna, 22. “I was born in exile in Iran and this is my reaction to coming to Afghanistan and seeing so many people missing one foot due to bombs and mines.”

‘Only a few understand’ Orna, who only uses one name, admits that her family does not know anything about her art and that it would perplex many Afghans, but she says there is a strong and supportive community of fellow artists in Kabul. “Some friends worry that it will be a problem for me to have used my own body, but this is what I am determined to do,” she said, citing existentialist author Franz Kafka as a source of ideas.

“Only a few people understand. Many people here are more concerned about how to feed themselves. They don’t think about galleries and they shouldn’t be blamed for that.”

The artists are being mentored by Francesca Recchia, a Kabul-based Italian academic who says the experience has been one of the most rewarding of her decades of working in the arts.

“It has not been easy organising a competition like this in Kabul, but it has been great to see the artists engage with new ideas and question their own artistic language,” she said.

“I have always been critical but helpful, trying to push them forward without telling then where to go. “It is not a matter of this being good enough considering they are Afghans I really think that the work in the exhibition could match international standards.

“Several past entrants in the prize have gone on to study abroad.” One of competition’s more striking entries is a piece by Baqir Ahmadi that consists of a dried cow’s head stuffed with clay and surrounded by piles of human hair. He had never heard of Damien Hirst’s famous work with cow carcasses when he started the project, and has since been researching Hirst avidly.

“The butcher threw me out of his shop when I told him what I was going to do with the head,” Ahmadi said, surrounded by Picassoinspired self-portraits and wooden sculptures in his family home. “My brothers and sisters do complain about the smell sometimes, but actually my mother helped me preserve the cow’s head and is very supportive of my work.” The art prize, which was established in 2008, will be judged by a jury of experts before the exhibition opens, with the winner receiving $1,500 and second place $800. — AFP

‘Kings of Streets’

Models display the ‘Kings of Streets’ collection by designer Vladislav Aksenov during an avant-garde international fashion show contest of the University of Technology and Design at the Peter and Paul fortress in St Petersburg on November 15, 2013. — AFP photos

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

lifestyle

‘Anchorman’ parody of TV news lands at Newseum

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hile Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” movie are prize artifacts at the Smithsonian museum, Ron Burgundy’s burgundy “Anchorman” suit might turn out to be the most popular item at the Newseum. The museum about news and the First Amendment to the US Constitution has opened “Anchorman: The Exhibit,” featuring costumes and props from Will Ferrell’s 2004 movie “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.” The story of a fictional news team’s sexist reaction to the arrival of an ambitious female reporter was a parody of real tumult in the 1970s TV business. For the exhibition created with Paramount Pictures, Newseum curators paired more than 60 costumes and props from the movie with real stories about TV news and the struggle for women to achieve equality in the newsroom.

“In any parody, there’s a kernel of truth, right?” said Cathy Trost, the Newseum’s vice president of exhibits. “There really was a time in news history when men owned the anchor chair and women were a novelty in the newsroom. The movie gets that right, though in a very over-the-top way, and we wanted to show the reality behind the humor.” In addition to Burgundy’s suit, displayed in a revolving case, the museum also exhibits his flute, mustache brush and a reporter’s “Sex Panther” cologne. Costumes in the exhibit include those worn

by Veronica Corningstone, the ambitious reporter played by Christina Applegate. There’s also a replica of the “Anchorman” news desk.

For each detail from the movie, there’s also a dose of reality. The Newseum pulled together stories of women who broke down barriers in television, including a Kansas City news anchor who sued her station after she was demoted for being “too old” and “too unattractive.” In 1972, only 11 percent of US

news anchors were women. That began to change, though, with the advent of the “Eyewitness News” format pioneered by WABC-TV in New York City and many others. The format opened doors for women and minorities in TV as stations used news teams and marketing gimmicks to win over viewers by presenting one big happy family on air.

“News teams replaced anchors and became more like the communities they covered,” Trost said. Ads promoted news shows with such slogans as “Eyewitness News: People like us because we like us.” Curators pulled together clips and marketing reels from local TV history. In San Francisco, one news team dressed up like cowboys in a Western to showcase their folksy charm. The pop culture phenomenon of TV news has been parodied by “Saturday Night Live,” “Murphy Brown,” “The Simpsons,” and other shows, and that’s captured in the exhibit as well.

The exhibit coincides with the release of the sequel “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” which opens in theaters in December. On Dec 17, the Newseum will open a new section with costumes and props from the newest movie.

“Anchorman: The Exhibit” will be on view in Washington through August 2014.

Visitors to the Newseum view the “Anchorman” movie exhibit at the Newseum in Washington. — AP

Gold tablet belongs to German museum: NY court

Signature International Fashion Weekend

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n a ruling rejecting any claims to the “spoils of war,” New York’s highest court concluded Thursday that an ancient gold tablet must be returned to the German museum that lost it in World War II. The Court of Appeals unanimously agreed that Riven Flamenbaum’s estate is not entitled to the 3,000-year-old Assyrian relic, a 9.5-gram (.34-ounce) tablet smaller than a credit card.

“We decline to adopt any doctrine that would establish good title based upon the looting and removal of cultural objects during wartime by a conquering military force,” the court said in a memorandum. “The ‘spoils of war’ theory proffered by the estate - that the Russian government, when it invaded Germany, gained title to the museum’s property as a spoil of war, and then transferred that title to the decedent - is rejected.”

The tablet, inscribed with an exhortation to honor King Tukulti-Ninurta I, was excavated a century ago by German archaeologists from the Ishtar Temple in what’s now northern Iraq.

It went on display in 1934 and disappeared after the start of the war. Flamenbaum, an Auschwitz survivor, brought the tablet to the United States when he settled in New York.

Family lore says he got it by trading cigarettes to a Russian soldier.

The New York court also rejected the argument the Vorderasiatisches Museum, part of the renowned Pergamon Museum, waited too long - more than 60 years - before trying to reclaim it. A judge on Long Island said it had

unreasonably delayed, but a midlevel court last year ruled the other way. “New York has really affirmed its moral leadership in protecting true property owners,” said museumattorney Raymond Dowd. “This decision makes it clear that the rule of finders keepers is not the law in New York.”

The ruling should ensure the safe return of the tablet, Dowd said. The museum has many other pieces still missing since the war, he said, adding that some Holocaust groups filed a court brief supporting the museum’s claim.

Attorney Steven Schlesinger said the family was disappointed and questioned whether the court refused to uphold “title by right of conquest” because it would open the door for those who obtained art looted by Germans during the Holocaust. “You can’t argue that the United States doesn’t recognize the right of conquest when this entire country is the result of the law of conquest,” he said, citing territorial expansion that includes Texas and California and at least 50 Indian land claims in New York.The Court of Appeals said there was no proof that Russia ever possessed the tablet, and that it was the official US policy during World War II to forbid pillaging of cultural artifacts. — AP

Models present creations by London-based designer Mark Fast during the Signature International Fashion Weekend in Mumbai on November 15, 2013. — AFP photos

This photo shows the 3,200-year-old gold tablet at the center of a court case between a Holocaust survivorís family and a Berlin museum in Albany, NY. — AP

How Bob Evans ended Mia Farrow’s marriage to Frank Sinatra

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ia Farrow owes her career to Robert Evans - and he’s not shy about saying so. During a recent Producers Guild of American event, Evans told the story about how, shortly after he took over as president of production at Paramount, he persuaded director Roman Polanski to cast Farrow as the star of “Rosemary’s Baby.” Farrow was a relative unknown at the time, and the movie would not only earn her a Golden Globe nomination but launch a career that spanned four decades.

It would also end her marriage to Frank Sinatra. The legendary singer pressured Farrow to quit the film as their marriage began to suffer, so Evans put together some cuts to persuade Farrow to stay.

“I pulled Mia into a production room, said ‘Mia, you’ll win the Academy Award for this,’” Evans said. “That’s all I had to say. The war began.” Farrow stayed on the movie, and her relationship with Sinatra became so volatile that Sinatra’s lawyer delivered divorce papers on the set of the movie. “She left Frank to play the devil’s mom,” Evans remarked. “It seems like a phony story, but it’s true.” Sinatra and Evans later got in a huge fight in Palm Springs and

Sinatra yelled with such vigor that he injured his vocal chords.

He couldn’t sing for two months.

“Rosemary’s Baby” was one of more than a dozen iconic stories Evans told through film, but the producer of “Chinatown” and “Marathon Man” has even more to say about the making of those movies. Like how he saved “Chinatown.” Now considered one of the greatest movies in Hollywood history, it took some last-minute mischief to make it so.

“When we finished the picture and previewed it, it fell on its ass,” Evans said. He blamed the music even though the score was composed by Krzysztof Komeda, the same man who composed “Rosemary’s Baby.” Evans changed the score three weeks before the movie was supposed to open in theaters, hiring Jerry Goldsmith. Goldsmith composed new music in eight days. It usually takes eight weeks.—Reuters

‘Anchorman’ parody of TV news lands at Newseum

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013

Ker-pow!

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Batkid wins Obama’s praise

5-year-old Northern California boy who has battled leukemia for years became a darling of social media and attracted thousands of fans at home and around the country including the president - as he took on the persona of his favorite superhero. Dressed in Batman’s signature cape and mask, Miles Scott faced foe after foe around San Francisco on Friday, drawing huge crowds and fulfilling his greatest wish in the process.

The White House sent out a tweet encouraging Batkid to “Go get ‘em!” and in a video recording, President Barack Obama said, “Way to go, Miles! Way to save Gotham!” Batkid was called into service by Police Chief Greg Suhr and spent the day zooming from one “crime scene” to the next.

Accompanied by an adult Batman impersonator, Batkid rescued a damsel in distress from cable car tracks, captured the Riddler as he robbed a bank, and saved the San Francisco Giants mascot - Lou Seal - from the Penguin’s clutches.

Miles was able to fulfill his wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the city and volunteers who stepped forward to help. Batkid had a police escort worthy of a dignitary as he sped around the city in a black Lamborghini with Batman decals, with officers blocking traffic and riding alongside him on motorcycles. “I think it might be the first time a Lamborghini had a booster seat,” said Patricia Wilson, the executive director for Make-aWish in the Greater Bay Area.

The crowds grew after each stop, reaching into the thousands by the time Miles got to Union Square for lunch at the Burger Bar atop Macy’s. Spectators climbed trees and clambered up lampposts, and police and organizers struggled to keep a path open for the motorcade, which drove past onlookers lining the streets six deep for several blocks.

At Batkid’s stop in the city’s Russian Hill neighborhood, a woman sat on the cable car tracks in a dress and thigh-high black boots. She had a handkerchief around her mouth, and her hands were bound behind her back.

Batman and Batkid sprang into action, with the aid of a trampoline, as the crowd roared. They rescued the woman and disabled a plastic replica bomb she was tied to.

The two masked superheroes then took off to nab the Riddler as he robbed a downtown bank.

They later jetted to the Penguin’s kidnapping of Lou Seal. The 5year-old at first seemed over-

whelmed by the outpouring, quietly working through each scenario with clenched fists and tight lips amid delirious chants of “bat kid, bat kid.” But by the time he reached City Hall to receive a key to the city in front of the biggest crowd of the day, Miles was all smiles and bravado.

Though he didn’t address the crowd, he raised his fist twice and wore a grin as he was feted with chocolate, an FBI “raid jacket” and a San Francisco Police Department cap. A clothing company donated $10,000 to Miles’ family, and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee proclaimed Nov 15 to be “Batkid Day Forever.” US Attorney Melinda Haag unveiled an “indictment” charging the Penguin and Riddler with conspiracy as the crowd that stretched for blocks roared with delight. Speaking at City Hall, Miles’ father, Nick Scott, thanked the crowd, organizers and the city for showing his son a good time.

“Miles has always been a fighter,” he said. “He fought cancer and beat cancer.” He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 18 months old. He ended chemotherapy treatments in June and is now in remission. “When you have an illness, it’s very important to know you have a support system,” said Gina Futrell, a 51-year-old with multiple sclerosis, who was among a large crowd gathered at Union Square to see the “Batkid” in action. “I have an extremely strong support system, and I hope he does too. He’s such a little hero.”

Miles, who lives in Tulelake in far Northern California, didn’t know what was in store for him and thought he was in San Francisco just to get a Batman costume so he could dress like his favorite superhero. Make-AWish has fulfilled similar wishes across the country. In Anaheim, a child became Batman’s sidekick, Robin; and in Seattle a child was a secret agent, said Jen Wilson, a spokeswoman for the local organization. The San Francisco Chronicle, KGO-TV and thousands of volunteers participated in the event. At Union Square, the Chronicle distributed hundreds of copies of special-edition newspapers with the headline “Batkid Saves City.” “This is offthe-hook San Francisco,” Police Chief Suhr said. — AP

Miles Scott, dressed as Batkid, stands next to Batman as he receives the key to the city from San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee (left) at a rally outside of City Hall in San Francisco, Friday, Nov. 15, 2013. — AP/AFP photos