6 Sep

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

40 PAGES

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

RAMADAN 27, 1431 AH

105 Filipino housemaids deported

Basque separatists Declares ETA ceasefire

PAGE 3

PAGE 9

NO: 14843

A rising Turkey without Europe PAGE 13

150 FILS

Alabama starts college title defense with win PAGE 20

Fugitive’s comments provoke MPs Shiite activist accused of insulting Prophet, wife

ramadan kareem

‘Night of Power’ - II

By B Izzak

A

KUWAIT: Arguments resurfaced yesterday between Sunni and Shiite lawmakers over “provocative” statements made last week by fugitive Kuwaiti Shiite activist Yasser Al-Habeeb who has been living in London for the past several years after he fled Kuwait to escape a 10year prison term. The main attack came from the Islamist Reform and Development Bloc which said it was holding an urgent meeting to study government actions against Al-Habeeb who was accused of issuing highly provocative statements against Prophet Mohammad’s wife Aisha.

Spokesman for the Bloc MP Faisal Al-Muslim said the bloc is extremely infuriated because the government has not taken any action against Habeeb who has slandered the honor of the Prophet (PBUH) and his wife despite repeated parliamentary and popular appeals. Several years ago, Habeeb was sentenced to 10 years in jail for slandering the Prophet’s companions and also Aisha. By mistake, his name was included on the annual pardon list and was released before authorities realized the mistake. However, Habeeb had fled the country before police could arrest him.

MP Muslim said the bloc will take a decision at the meeting regarding the issue without providing more details.

Continued on Page 14

s far as determining the Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) is concerned, it has been reported to be during one of the odd numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, ie 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. It has been emphasized that it is most likely to be the 27th night.

Signs of Lailatul-Qadr 1. The sun rises early in the morning without rays.

2. Rain may fall either during the night or during the day of that night.

3. During night the sky will be lightly foggy.

4. The sky will be slightly lighted without reflections and without rays.

5. The angels and Gabriel all descend down onto earth for many purposes.

If you are interested in living the Night of Power, some of the things that you might have to do are; 1. Try to observe it during the last ten days of Ramadan, at the time of sunrise, during the days and the nights.

2. On the nights one may spend the time collectively and/or individually observing the following activities: a. Recitation of the Ouran. b. Prayers-Nafl after Taraweeh. c. Remembrance of Allah or zikr d. Supplication or Du’a for you and for others. e. Pondering and contemplating into the universe, the creation of the Heavens and the Earth: “...and they contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heaven and the earth....”(3:191) f. Reading books of Hadeeth so as to enjoy the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). g. Reading Tafseer of Quran. h. Giving charity to others if you can afford it. i. Trying to explain Islam, if you know something about it, to those next to you so they will benefit from you.

The Night of Power is a very important occasion in Islam. Everyone is asked to live it and to enjoy it. This Night is a night of Mercy, a night of Blessing, a night of Peace and a night of Guidance. It is a night of Unification between the finite world of ours and the Infinite Universe of the Unseen.

Anyone who is interested in attaining the Mercy of Allah will strive very hard to look for the Night of Power. Anyone who is interested in receiving the blessings of Allah on the Blessed Night will work very hard to enjoy the Night of Power. Anyone who is interested in attaining peace of mind, peace of body and peace in society, he has to look for this Night and to live it.

May Allah give us the strength, the power, the courage and the effort to do our best to obey Allah and to follow His teachings.

May Allah guide us and may Allah strengthen our Iman. May Allah help us to live another year with sincerity and devotion.

May Allah make us realize that one year of our life is over and that we are one year closer to our graves. Let us wake up and do our best to please Allah in our daily life. Let us ask Almighty Allah forgiveness. Ameen — www.itsislam.net

Blair issues warning over ‘radical Islam’ WASHINGTON: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned yesterday that the roots of radical Islam are far deeper than we think and said Al-Qaeda would have killed 300,000 on September 11, 2001 if they could.

“This is actually more like the phenomenon of revolutionary communism,” Blair said in an interview with ABC News, commenting on the reach of Islamic extremism.

“It’s the religious or cultural equivalent of it, and its roots are deep, its tentacles are long, and Continued on Page 14

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

03:57 04:07 05:28 11:46 15:19 18:05 19:23

MAKKAH: A picture shows tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims moving around the Kaaba inside the Grand Mosque during the last week of Ramadan. — AP

UAE banks stop transfers to Iran Central bank freezes 41 bank accounts

DUBAI: A man cycles past a branch of Dubai’s Islamic Bank.

Most banks in the United Arab Emirates, an important trading partner for Iran, have stopped money transfers to Iran after the latest round of sanctions. — AFP

DUBAI: Most banks in the United Arab Emirates, an important trading partner for Iran, have stopped money transfers there after the latest round of sanctions on the Islamic republic, bankers said yesterday. A Dubaibased Iranian businessman said that the latest sanctions have halved trade with Dubai, an impor tant reexpor t centre for Iranian goods. “We stopped transfers to Iran in all currencies in July,” an executive from an inter national bank, who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

The UN Security Council imposed a fourth round of

sanctions on June 9 over Iran’s controversial program of uranium enrichment, which many Western states believe may be a covert bid to make a nuclear bomb, a charge Tehran denies. The United States and European Union have since unilaterally imposed even tougher punitive measures, which contain provisions to penalize Tehran’s trading partners.

A banker with an Emirati bank said that transfers to Iran in dollars and euros are now forbidden, and have become “very difficult, if not impossible, in dirhams,” the UAE’s currency.

Continued on Page 14

Taboo-breaking soap causes Ramadan stir DAMASCUS: A Syrian soap opera that tackles such taboos as homosexuality, corruption and extra-marital sex in the predominantly conservative Muslim country is proving hugely popular during Ramadan. The TV drama “Ma Malakat Aymanukum,” which takes its name from a verse in the Quran that loosely translates as “What your right hand possesses,” depicts the lives of young women struggling to cope in a male chauvinist society.

Leila, who wears the Islamic niqab, or full-face veil, is torn between virtue and vice. She eventually gets murdered and her body is found mutilated. Alia ends up selling herself to help her family,

while Gharam’s husband encourages his wife to forge ties with men in high places.

The program is being aired for the first time during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when many families spend the evening watching television after iftar, the meal that breaks the dawn-to-dusk fast.

But far from avoiding religious subjects, the soap opera confronts them head on, denouncing suicide attacks and satirizing the power of Muslim clerics-some of whom give religious classes to women while intruding on their private lives. Nor is it sparing on violence, with scenes of stabbing and physical abuse.

Continued on Page 14

KNPC chief Zanki named KPC CEO KUWAIT: The chairman of Kuwait National Petroleum Co (KNPC) Faruq Al-Zanki has been selected by the oil minister to lead the national oil company, Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC), a top oil executive said yesterday.

“The decision of Zanki’s appointment as CEO of KPC is expected to be announced within a few days,” the executive said requesting anonymity.

Zanki will replace current chief executive officer Saad Al-Shuwayeb who completes his three-year term later this month, and whom the government decided not to reappoint. The Kuwaiti cabinet is expected to confirm Zanki’s appointment soon,

another source said. The USeducated Zanki has been the head of KNPC, the KPC’s refining subsidiary, since 2007.

Before that, he served as head of Kuwait Oil Co, KPC’s exploration and production arm, for several years. KPC was established in the early 1980s to oversee the emirate’s oil industry at home and overseas. Along with its several subsidiaries it controls close to 100 billion barrels of crude reserves. The fifth largest producer in the OPEC oil cartel, Kuwait currently pumps around 2.3 million barrels per day. Oil income accounts for about 94 percent of the country’s total revenues. — AFP

Islamic finance ‘should diversify’

DAMASCUS: Syrian actor Mustafa Al-Khani pictured during a scene for the television series “Ma Malakat Aymanukum”. — AFP

KUWAIT: Islamic finance, which prohibits charging interest, is set to double in size in five years, but the one-trilliondollar industry must diversify and regulate to realize its full potential, analysts and economic reports say. Diversification into new territories is also necessary to reduce the risk of exposure and utilize their full potential, they add. Islamic law not only forbids charging or paying interest, but also bans speculation and investment in sectors deemed haram (prohibited), such as pornography, gambling, arms, alcohol and pork products.

Perhaps the most popular product is Murabaha, which is used to finance a variety of

consumer purchases from cars to houses. Sukuk is the equivalent of bonds used to raise funds for large-scale investments. Under a product called Musharaka, which means partnership, the bank provides the funds to enable the customer to buy an asset, with the two parties agreeing a profit or equity sharing ratio for that asset. Losses are shared on a similar basis.

The broader principle of Islamic finance is based on sharing risk as well as profit.

Despite the number of products offered, Amrith Mukkamala, director of asset allocation at Kuwait and Middle East Financial Investment Co Continued on Page 14

2

NATIONAL

Monday, September 6, 2010

Kuwaitis satisfied with quality of education Salary expectations differ KUWAIT: Nearly all Kuwa it respondents (95 percent) sa id they w ere satisfied w ith the quality of college education they ha ve received/ are receiving a ccording to the latest: “Where are the Middle East’s Fresh Gra duates Hea ding?” research survey.

The survey conducted by Bayt.com in conjunction with research specia lists YouGov Sira j, found that 34 percent of Kuwa it respondents w ere very satisfied, 35 percent sa tisfied, 26 percent somewha t sa tisfied. Only 4 percent w ere dissatisfied and 2 percent were very dissa tisfied. Overall in the region, 27 percent of respondents were very sa tisfied, 40 percent satisfied, 24 percent somew hat sa tisfied, 7 percent dissa tisfied a nd 2 percent very dissa tisfied w ith the quality of their college educa tion.

KUWAIT: Workers loading the Kuwaiti relief supply for victims of the devastating floods in Pakistan.

More Kuwaiti aid for Pakistan flood victims KUWAIT: A Kuwait cargo aircraft took off from the Abdullah AlMubarak Airbase yesterday loaded relief supply for victims of the devastating floods in Pakistan.

This is the 9th Kuwaiti aircraft to be dispatched to Pakistan since the disaster erupted last month, a KRCS statement said, noting that the air supply campaign would continue as long as aid was needed.

The assistance followed directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to render urgent support to flood victims in Pakistan, the statement said, noting that the KRCS bears a significant role in stressing Kuwait’s humanitarian action worldwide.

In the meantime, a KRCS team in cooperation with the Kuwait embassy staff is continuing its field work in Pakistan distibuting relief supply to needy people there the statement said. — KUNA

Respondents in Tunisia and Lebanon reported the highest satisfaction with their education with 39 percent and 38 percent respectively saying they were very satisfied. Egypt and Morocco reported the largest number of “very dissatisfied” respondents with each country reaching levels of 4 percent.

When asked about the impact of their education on their career development, 22 percent of Kuwait respondents said that their educational background has completely prepared them to target their industry of choice, 28 percent said to a large extent, 29 percent said only to some extent. Only 12 percent said their educational background hardly prepared them and only 4 percent said not at all.

Overall in the MENA region, 21 percent of respondents said that their educational background has completely prepared them to target their industry of choice, 22 percent said to a large extent, 33 percent said only to some extent, 9 percent hardly and 6 percent said not at all.

Among the countries surveyed, Qatar had the highest level of satisfaction with 29 percent of respondents saying that their educational background has completely prepared them to target their industry of choice and 26 percent saying to a large extent.

“The figures are interesting because they show that against the current backdrop of challenging economic conditions, respondents are still very satisfied with the education they are receiving.

This can be an indication of many things including higher quality education systems, increased alignment of the region’s higher education institutions with the needs of the local workplace and a sharper focus by students on studies that directly correlate with the local workplace” commented Rabea Ataya, Chief Executive Officer, Bayt.com.

According to the report, the most appealing industries to respondents from a career point of view were Banking/Finance (20 percent), IT (20 percent) and Engineering (16 percent) followed by Business Management (14 percent), Telecommunications (14 percent), Education (13 percent), Oil & petrochemicals (13 percent).

Human resources (10 percent), Electronics (10 percent) and Airline (9 percent) were also listed. In Kuwait, the most appealing were Banking (27 percent) and Business/Management Consulting (20 percent). The least appealing were the Airline (9 percent) and Electronics (8 percent) sectors.

Overall, the report found that the top three industries hiring the most were

Banking/Finance (27 percent), IT (18 percent), and Education Institutions (15 percent). The least was the Business Management Consultancy sector (8 percent). In Kuwait, the top recruiting industries were Banking/Finance (37 percent) and Oil & Petrochemicals (25 percent). The least recruiting were the Military/Defence/Police (8 percent) and Government/Civil service (11 percent) sectors.

The report found that the majority of MENA respondents (72 percent) were looking into opportunities for further education. To pursue their education, most respondents considered going to the UK (33percent), the US (31 percent), and Canada (29 percent). In Kuwait, the majority (31percent) considered going to the US followed by 27 percent who considered going to the UK. “We see more and more people in the MENA region looking to further their education. This is an indication of the region’s development. As countries evolve, their citizens seek to further improve themselves and put more emphasis on education” commented Sundip Chahal, Chief Operating Officer of YouGov Siraj.

The report also found that 4 out of 10 respondents (currently employed) found a job within 3 months of completing their education. The majority of respondents (77 percent) were willing to consider relocation for employment purposes. The most preferred relocation countries were the UAE (56 percent), followed by KSA (45 percent), Qatar (38 percent) and Kuwait (32 percent).

Of those surveyed, 65 percent were considering setting up their own business in the future. Higher consideration was seen amongst respondents in Syria (81 percent) followed by Oman (78 percent). Of those considering setting up their own business, overall the preferred sectors were IT (13 percent), Engineering/Design (9 percent), and Business/ Management Consultancy (8 percent). In Kuwait, 67 percent of respondents were considering setting up their own business.

When asked about benefits expected from a job, respondents in the MENA region answered that apart from basic salary (78 percent), bonus (45percent) and personal medical insurance (40 percent) were expected. In Kuwait, salary expectations (76 percent) were at the top followed by bonus (49 percent) and personal medical insurance and traffic allowance, both at 30 percent.

Salary expectations differed in various countries. Respondents in the UAE and Qatar expected a much higher

salary in comparison to others, with 24 percent and 27 percent respectively expecting USD 2,001 to USD 3,000 salaries as opposed to only 10 percent of countries expecting that range overall.

Egypt and Jordan had the lowest expectations with both countries indicating only 3percent of respondents expecting salaries in that range.

The report also found that the majority of respondents (87 percent) in the MENA region were optimistic that they would find a job.

However, the report also found that most colleges (70 percent) do not provide suitable job opportunities for their students. More than half of respondents (62 percent) were also reported to have acquired previous work experience during or before their college years with 34 percent having experience of more than 24 months.

When asked about what skills were required to succeed in the work place, respondents stated that linguistic skills (40 percent) were the most important, followed by computer skills (26 percent) and leadership skills (24 percent).

Analytical (22 percent), communication (22 percent) and interpersonal (16 percent) skills were also on the list. In Kuwait, the highest rated skills were linguistic (30 percent) and analytical/problem solving (26 percent).

Overall, 67 percent of MENA respondents were optimistic that today’s generation has more career and education opportunities than their parent’s generation.

“We conducted this report to chart the region’s current level of education and also to study what fields are perceived to be the best in terms of chances for employment.

This report provides information that is crucial for fresh graduates, academicians, and employers alike, in that it gives fresh insights into the needs, preferences and opinions of the region’s latest graduating classes as they pertain to entry into the professional workforce.

Apart from giving employers a unique glimpse into the mindset of their freshest pool of recruits in the MENA region, it is also a great tool for education institutions to rate their services and adapt their curriculums to today’s job markets,” concluded Ataya.

Data for the research report was collected online between 25 July to 15 August 2010 with 5,996 respondents from the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Pakistan. Students and fresh graduates aged over 18 years old, of all nationalities, were included in the survey.

Monday, September 6, 2010

3

NATIONAL

Kuwait govt grants free tickets

105 Filipino housemaids repatriated from Kuwait

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: A total of 430 a irpla ne tickets w ere provided by the Kuwa iti government for the ma ss repatriation of Filipino runaw ay housemaids who were sheltered at the emba ssy in J a briya. The tickets provided by the Kuwa it’s Ministry of Socia l Affairs and La bor were handed over to the Philippine Emba ssy so a s to help reduce the number of housed runawa y maids.

Yesterday morning, a total of 105 housemaids left Kuw ait a s part of the mass repa tria tion program. They were escorted by some officials from the Philippine embassy to a Gulf Air flight bound for Manila. This w as the third batch of Filipino domestic helpers to be repa tria ted since the progra m began in J une.

KUWAIT: Filipino embassy officials including Ambassador Shulan Primavera, right, talking with the housemaids before departing for the airport yesterday.

Three bedoon drug dealers busted

By Hanan Al -S aadoun KUWAIT: Authorities arrested three young bedoon men, one of whom works as a reporter to a local daily, after they were found in possession of two kilograms of hashish and a pistol in their possession.

An investigation revealed that the hashish confiscated by authorities was only part of the nine kg of hashish the suspects originally had. When questioned, they explained that they sold six-and-half kg of hashish before they were caught. The driver who brought the hashish from Iraq was also held by authorities for questioning. An official security sources said that the hashish caught on them is very pure and is part of a new brand on the market called Alzahef. The men were arrested

after authorities received a tip informing them that a journalist was selling drugs. He was arrested in Oyoun with a bodyguard after he unknowingly sold half a kg to an undercover police officer. The journalist was arrested after he pulled a gun on the police officers, briefly scuffled with them and attempted to escape. When questioned, he explained that he bought the drugs from a bedoon person living in Jahra and that he kept additional drugs on his farm in the desert. He added that all of the hashish came from Iraq.

Authorities arrested the journalist’s supplier but found him without any drugs in his possession. When authorities reported to the farm, they confiscated an additional two kilograms of hashish.

MoI denies reports on PoW remains KUWAIT: A senior Ministry of Interior (MoI) official stressed on Saturday that the ministry has not received any notification on the discovery of 200 Kuwaiti prisoners of war’s remains in Iraq.

Reacting to local press reports, which suggested that the remains had been identified, Major General Dr Fahad Al-Dousari, Director General of the Ministry’s Criminal Investigation Department, said that it had not received any information on the subject.

local spotlight

Mini vacation time

By Muna Al-Fuzai

T

he work undertaken in the government sector during Ramadan ( the holy month for work-related activities, praying and pretending to be a better person) in reality is quite miniscule - like taking a mini vacation, not an official one! The public find it difficult to complete their work at many government departments as the number of staff employees have reduced to a minimum. Those that are caught up in the office cannot bear ‘work pressure’ as they are fasting! Of course, at places where six or more ladies are employed, you will find one or two perform the job on behalf of six or more employees who get paid for a job they don’t actually do! So there are employees who fail to put in any effort during working hours and yet, be the first ones to ask for a salary raise and days off?

And what about doing some work in return for the money you earn? Last week, I went to a government hospital. Patients had been waiting there since early morning to consult doctors. After my consultation was complete, I went to the pharmacy and was surprised to find only one pharmacist’s kiosk open to serve all the outpatients. I could see many pharmacists inside the chamber chatting away and wondered why they could not open the other kiosks to serve more patients. Funnily, the solo pharmacist was annoyed at the large number of patients who were eagerly awaiting their turn. It is not their fault that someone in that pharmacy does not want to serve more people as he or she has been fasting.

Does observing fasts mean that one should be rude and helpless?

Notably, all government employees working in an air conditioned, temperature controlled atmosphere. They do not suffer from heat strokes or dehydration. The working hours of government departments last for only about four hours. So, I think they have no excuses to give.

Ramadan will be over and we will only have to think about the issue until next year. When we learn that fasting is not only about eating or drinking but to be better human beings. muna@kuw aittimes.net

Most of these Filipina women ran away from their abusive sponsors’ households and sought the embassy’s assistance. They stayed at the embassy for months and even for years. Their complaints ranged from non-payment of salaries, over-work, lack of food - some were physically and verbally abused.

The Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera expressed his gratitude to the Kuwaiti government for their generous support and humanitarian gesture.

The repatriated women, he said, are runaway housemaids, “Their employers have filed cases against them although they are minor ones but the government of Kuwait has been very helpful and they have been assisting us all the way,” Primavera said. In a brief message to the departing workers, Primavera appealed to use their previous experi-

KUWAIT: The departing housemaids queuing outside Philippine Embassy yesterday to one of four busses transporting them to the airport. — Photos by Ben Garcia ences here as guiding principles for their next endeavor.

The Philippine Labor Attache to Kuwait, Vivo Vidal, explained that the mass repatriation was not an amnesty but a joint program of the Philippine and the Kuwaiti governments that aims to decon-

gest the shelter and alleviate the suffering of domestic helpers.

“This mass repatriation program was offered to us by the Kuwaiti government; they had given us free tickets. They continuously assist us in our effort to repatriate our runaway

housemaids. We still have about 250 allocations (reserved tickets) which we intend to use soon,” Vidal said.

He admitted though that the embassy still houses about 170 housemaids, “The problem is that we regularly repatriate workers, but we are also

receiving tens of workers daily,” Vidal disclosed.

Vidal has also thanked the Al-Dacnan Agency which provided transportation (buses to the airport) and the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity for helping them load and unload the luggage of departing housemaids.

NATIONAL

4

Monday, September 6, 2010

‘Think outside the box’ Melodrama and social satire

By Hussain Al-Qatari

S

cene A: Enter X, cheating husband and father of three, guilt-ridden yet masking his guilt with a smile, holding a bag of groceries. Y, the wife, meanwhile helps the kids do their homework. At night, after preparing dinner, the wife is exhausted of working at both work and home. While she prepares to sleep, her husband X prepares to get dressed to go meet his mistress or as he prefers to put it, to go “visit his friend’s diwaniya.” If you watch Kuwaiti dramas, a scene like this must be familiar. On a TV series, of course, the exhaustion of the wife is magnified, the sinister smile on the husband’s face is more apparent than in real life and the suspenseful background music makes the scene much more dramatic than it actually appears to be in real life. The bottom line is, this could happen everywhere.

A number of Kuwaiti TV dramas this year have caused an uproar among the audience.

Accusations of false portrayal of society, negative depiction of holy matrimony and falsely depicting men as conniving, diabolic cheaters were made. If you follow the comments and reactions made by some people, you would think the screenplay writers of these series have committed a cardinal sin and must be prosecuted.

Phrases like “she is negatively affecting young men and women,” have been making the rounds. There are numerous reasons why I find this to be a problematic statement: not only does it belittle people and insult them by claiming that they are easily swayed from and affected by anything they watch on TV, but it also gives a TV drama series, which is meant to entertain and raise issues, more importance than it deserves.

The question to pose however is, does our society really need reform? Are there men who cheat on their wives, women who cheat on their husbands, kids who are gender confused, and in-laws who destroy the household of their sons and daughters? Are there people who marry out of greed, and are there problems with marrying outside one’s class or sect?

Divorced mother of two Dalal, a 33-year old Mathematics teacher says that these issues certainly exist in our society, and while they need to be addressed, there needs to be a proper method of addressing them. Kuwaiti dramas might be successful in certain fields, like addressing some taboo subjects

rather boldly but they fail to complete this with a realistic approach,” she says. She explains that the employment of melodrama succeeds in garnering a lot of response and getting a lot of reaction because of the way it banks on emotional, hysteric characters. “In reality, though, it is in no way a sophisticated method of criticizing society. There is perhaps only one or two TV series this year that do not use this cheap method of everyone-gets-a-nervous-breakdown-in-each-episode to attract audience, which is sad.

The rest are all about fragile women getting beaten up by their husbands,” she adds. The excessive tear-jerking, heartbreaking dramatic escalation results in such substance-less criticism, she muses in conclusion.

Salah, a 28-year- old Kuwaiti strongly believes in banishing drama from Kuwaiti TV, “There is enough drama to deal with everyday. You just have to watch the news. If you want to entertain people, you should focus on producing comedy series. Social satire in a comedic manner is much smarter and sophisticated than melodramatic criticism which only makes things worse,” he says. Salah adds that issues like cheating spouses and affairs are not ‘flashing news’, so they do not need to be blown out of proportion by being placed as the epitome of escalating drama in a series, “It’s not like this is something nobody has heard of.

It is there and we all have heard stories and met people who have gone through such experience,” he says.

Echoing Salah’s belief in the importance of method of delivery, Amani, 32, claims that her frustration is not caused by the fact that Kuwaiti men on this TV series cheat, “They cheat in real life; my own husband used to cheat on me and I found out about it later. The issue is with how the problem is depicted. TV series in Kuwait capitalize on the cathartic cliff-hanger endings very much, and the dialogue they employ is quite unnerving. The reactions of characters to issues such as cheating, gender confusion and class issues is either unrealistic, as in cold and almost nonchalant, or overly magnified and melodramatic,” she says.

Amani thinks that denying the existence of the issues is not realistic. “We all know they are there, somewhere in our society at least — that is if we haven’t experienced such issues. There is no point in denying its existence. However, the method of criticism these shows use is very unrealistic,” she adds.

KUWAIT: The Coptic Church in Kuwait recently held its annual Ramadan ghabqa which demonstrated the high level of tolerance and harmony between followers of different religions in the country. This year’s event was attended by head of the Kuwait Ideal Family Society, Sheikha Fareeha Al-Sabah as well as members of the Mary Murqus Orthodox Church in Egypt.

NBK hosts Ramadan banquets KUWAIT: In a gesture that reflects the involvement and dynamic interaction of NBK’s Management with public and social concerns, NBK’s Vice Chairman Naser Musaed Al Sayer, CEO Isam Al Sager and Deputy GM-Consumer Banking Group Abdulla Al-Najran Al-

Tuwaijri accompanied by a host of high ranking officials have recently visited the Ramadan tent located near the bank’s head office where they joined the fasters at the fastbreaking banquets hosted by NBK. Commenting on the occasion, NBK Public Relations Officer

Abdulmohsen Alrushaid said “NBK’s involvement and dynamic interaction with public and social concerns has always been a management priority and a part of the bank’s culture throughout its history that dates back to more than half a century”. Alrushaid added “the

“Do Good Deeds In Ramadan” philanthropic campaign, which has become a tradition observed annually by NBK, comes within a wellmapped social program that features the spirit of social solidarity and interaction through providing financial and moral support for the

KUWAIT: Al-Sayer, Al-Sager, Al-Tuwaijri and NBK volunteers at NBK Ramadan tent.

various institutions along with conducting regular visits to the underprivileged communities such as elders, orphans, special needs people and patient children residing at NBK Hospital, in addition to organizing girgian for kids at NBK branches”.

In light of the remarkable success NBK’s Ramadan Iftar Banquets witnessed during the last two years, the bank decided this year to take in advance preparations necessary for the successful hosting of this campaign within an extensive Ramadan social program

that comprises a multitude of philanthropic activities. Last year, NBK’s Ramadan Iftar Banquets had set a record number of more than 150,000 Iftar meals offered to fasters and it is expected that a new record number will be set this year as well.

KUWAIT: NBK PR team joins fasters at the bank’s Ramadan banquets.

Monday, September 6, 2010

NATIONAL

KUWAIT: The Oil and Petrochemical Industries Trade Confederation recently held its annual Ramadan ghabqa. The event was hosted at the Hilton Hotel in Mangaf. The Minister of Oil and Information Sheikh Ahmad AlAbdullah Al-Sabah graced the occasion. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Why an Islamic Calendar?

By Hassan Taha

S

ince before the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born and until the era of Abu Bakr (the first Caliph of Islam), Arabs would measure the passage of time in relation to the important events of their communities. For example, it is recorded that the Prophet Muhammad was born in 'the Elephant's Year,' during which a great army accompanied by elephants and led

by Abraham marched from Yemen to Mecca to destroy the Kabbah - an attempt that was foiled by God. Therefore, it was natural for early Muslims to chronicle their events according to the first year of Prophet Muhammad's emigration to Medina (Hijra or Hegira).

Like today, Arabs of the past followed the lunar calendar. The names and order of the months have not changed since before the prophet's time. Although the prophet arrived to Medina on 12 Rabi Al-Awwal, or the third lunar month of the Hijri calendar, for consistency's sake, it is chronicled back to Muharram, the first month of the Arab Lunar Calendar.

Why the Hijri Calendar?

It was during the reign of Umar bin Al-Khattab (Islam's second caliph), that many events occurred that were worth recording. A more accurate calendar was also needed to facilitate planning. As a caliph he would often issue decrees and rulings to his governors and viceroys throughout various parts of the Muslim world. These rulings would be followed up by explanatory letters or orders to ignore them for one reason or another. Governors and viceroys became confused as to which order the letter were sent so the Islamic Calendar was created to simplify the matter.

Chronicling of the Islamic Calendar There were many suggestions regarding the event to which the Islamic Calendar should be chronicled. Some of Umar's companions, friends and great thinkers suggested chronicling the calendar either back to the birth of the Prophet, the beginning of the prophet's mission as a messenger, his emigration to Medina or his death.

The majority of Muslims were of the opinion that the Islamic Calendar be chronicled back to the year Muhammad emigrated to Medina. Of the many reasons for the decision, the most prominent of which was the tremendous achievements of the Prophet Muhammad and Muslims in Medina. The Islamic Calendar marks the birth of an Islamic community with political, economic and legislative autonomy under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar months and are either 29 or 30 days. As such, it is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian Solar Calendar. — Courtesy of the AWARE Center

5

6

NATIONAL

Monday, September 6, 2010

MP Al-Mulla holds discussions with PM

Al-Harbash questions interior minister

By A Saleh KUWAIT: MP Saleh Al-Mulla commented on his recent meeting with HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad AlAhmad Al-Sabah. Al-Mulla appreciated his discussions on the country's Constitution as being 'pleasant.' However, he pointed out that improper law enforcement on the minister's part contradicts with the prime minister's views and that practices are unconstitutional. He added that discussions did not cover subjects that were out of the ordinary. Al-Mulla said that he is not optimistic about the country's future, especially with regard to the sporting scenario and development plan.

On the Prime Minister's declaration of cooperation between both authorities, Al-Mulla told the prime minister to "take leave of words and come back to work". With regard to the prime minister's respect on the Audit Bureau, Al-Mulla said, " There are mistakes that are repeated every year by the Audit Bureau in its reports on ministries. " In another development, MP Jumaan AlHarbash posed a question to Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah. He queried if any government party had made an official report on Yasser Al-Habeeb who had made emphatic statements on religion and society values. He also asked about the official security measures that the Ministry of Interior had taken against him.

MP Waleed Al-Tabtabae said that people are

kuwait digest

How did we get to this point?

By Riyadh Al-Sanea

I

n my law articles I usually write an introduction so that a reader can understand the point I am trying to make. In this article however, I shall start with two questions. Has a person’s home become a place any detective can walk into at night? Has it become normal for a woman to be gazed upon at night by detectives under the excuse that they are suspects? I recently read an article in Al-Rai Daily about ten armed men raiding the

home of an elderly citizen a week ago, scaring his daughters and messing up his house without reason. The detectives then took him away without explaining to his wife or daughters what was happening, without showing a warrant and without giving any sort of explanation.

The 60-year-old man was arrested for seven days without the right to see a public prosecutor or detectives for an explanation. When authorities discovered that they had no case against the man they released him, again without a full explana-

tion. After reading the article I felt bitter and wondered how we have come to this point. Authorities can raid the house of and arrest an old man without an explanation while several influential politicians openly commit crimes, break the law and urge others to break the law as well.

If an old man is arrested for a crime then someone must explain his offense.

What is his crime? Why had he not been sent to court? Those who are responsible for this offense should be held accountable.— Al-Anba

furious at the government's silence on the individual who abused Ayesha, an Islamic mother figure revered by Muslims.

He added that he has learnt that Yasser AlHabeeb's passport was renewed six months ago, and would inquire with the Parliament on the subject.

In other news, officials said that technical glitches and uneasy security and political situations have posed a hindrance to Kuwait-Iraq agreement on sharing oil wells. Both countries have expressed concern over the situation.

Kuwait's Oil Minister Sheikh Ahmad AlAbdullah Al-Sabah said, "the agreement includes an international company's decision to drill oil at the joint wells' location for the benefit of both countries." However, he explained that no company has been assigned the task.

Officials said, "any understanding on border oil fields, if political and security obstacles can be overcome, will face many technical complications that cannot be resolved, except by displaying a high degree of trust and understanding." They added, "Kuwait's experience in the similar ventures with Saudi Arabia, a country that it shares good relations with, cannot be compared with that of Iraq."

Iraq has recently signed agreements with foreign companies to develop its oil fields located to the south of the country, including the British Petroleum (BP). Kuwaiti officials said that BP, two years ago had consulted with Kuwait. Officials explained that oil companies that operate in Iraq has sought the Kuwait government's help to create a special border entry point that is accessible only to its personnel.

in my view

Rebranding Islam to version 2.0

By Fouad Al-Obaid

A

t a time when media is present with us 24 hours of the day and 7 days of the week, it becomes that much more complicated, especially with the advent of information communication technology (internet, blogs, mobile devices) to control the flow of information. With this reality, solidly marking the global 21st century realm, it is up to people to adapt and live and interact with this new paradigm that helps people, nations, and companies rise and fall.

Religion is a matter that many people the world over take to heart. Regardless of their individual faith as a collective human component necessary to the fulfillment and satisfaction of oneself, religion plays a great role in shaping the lives of billions of people. In sticking with Islam, one has come to see over the past few centuries generally, and the last few decades and years more specifically, the increase in both misunderstanding and apprehension of people that are Muslim. It is arguably understandable that when a small minority decides to perpetuate - to our great disdain - acts of violence to fellow human being in the name of the one billion plus community, people will assimilate Islam with violence, terrorism and atrocities of various natures.

In similar fashion to a public relation consultancy firm, this article will attempt to highlight what could be done to improve the image of Islam and or Muslims in general, along with recommendations of how to clean up a house that has been damaged by some from within. The ideal venue or organization to launch such a campaign would be the Organization of Islamic Countries, for such a group encompasses the countries that are at a majority Muslim - countries that have to deal internationally with the negative PR made possible by a few thugs!

Preachers, who ask of their followers to focus mainly on religious matters, easily sway people. Among these preachers - the Ministry of Islamic Endowment is to be blamed - take the time of actually make the weekly gathering useful by imparting a faithful a message of peace and tolerance, coupled with a message that highlights the importance of continuous education in fields that are necessary for life in the contemporary world.

Instead of shouting and highlighting the various failures, they ought to promote good practice and positive outlook so as to inspire people to once again believe in the greatness of a religion that calls on people to be knowledgeable.

Extremism is an issue, though not limited to one particular religion, people that claim that they are Muslims and that carry out various atrocities in the name of religion tarnish the image of billions for by not denouncing such acts people are subtly acknowledging their approval. If one goes

around and insults people tarnishing your name, I doubt that you will remain mute!

Alternatively, moderation should be promoted, for it strives to reach a just middle path that takes into consideration, the various paradigms and realities of our contemporary world.

At the macro level, a dual campaign needs to be launched - one targeted at the global audience highlighting that Muslims are people like all others. At the microlevel, a new set of priorities should be highlighted and promoted, creating awareness at the local level by helping people realize that they are actually blessed with a source of wisdom, and that they ought to use it, even be galvanized by the challenge laid by God to build this earth and to make it a haven for all humanity. No longer should we accept pathetic edicts as maxims, rather as mere recommendations that are not binding and should certainly not be the reason why people engage in carrying out such recommendation without researching the issue independently and thoroughly.

I believe that there is so much potential to be unleashed should we regain our ability to build a community of nations that work together rather than murder one another. Should we finally push for reason over ignorance, leadership over subservience, innovation over tradition, we would be able to build a brave new world that focuses on the betterment of every man, woman and child. fouad@kuwaittimes.net

464 Egyptian, Syrian teachers arrive KUWAIT: A recent study showed that 464 teachers entered Kuwait from Egypt and Syria at of the end of August, reported AlQabas. The arrival of so many teachers is part of the Ministry of Education's plan to recruit new teachers to teach in public schools this upcoming school year.

Of the newly arrived teachers, 235 are male while 229 are female. The male teachers include 19 physics teachers, 15 for chemistry, five for biology, seven for geology, 45 for electronics, 18 for mathematics, 13 for English and 10 for religious studies. As for female teachers, 38 teachers were hired for English, 22 for French, 54 for mathematics, 39 for musical studies, 17 for electronics and seven for religious

studies.

In other education related news, the Minister of Education Dr Moudhi AlHmoud requested to be briefed on the latest plans to provide students with laptop computers in the future, reported AlWatan. According to the Undersecretary Assistant for Planning and Information, Dr Khalid Al-Rusahid, the budget allocated for the project has reached KD 23 million and can be used to purchase 71,000 laptops.

The ministry plans to experiment on the project by providing laptops to students in two schools in each of the country's six educational zones at first.

Meanwhile, a ministry official denied reports suggesting that an increase is

expected for a charity fund used to help provide students with financial aid. The official noted that the ministry has yet to receive confirmation to increase the KD 4 million budget by an additional one million.

The head of the private education department, Mohammad Al-Dahis further indicated that the number of expatriates who updated their data in the fund reached 6,200 of the total 8,600 registered.

Also, the ministry allocated KD 551,000 to cover the expenses of conferences that will be held during the 2010 - 2011 fiscal year. The conferences include several local, regional and international events, including the 50th anniversary celebration of Kuwait's membership to UNESCO.

Burgan Bank opens branch in Al-Salam

360 Mall sponsors 'Al Heroof' Islamic arts exhibition KUWAIT: 360 Mall, Kuwait's latest and most exciting shopping centre announced that it is sponsoring the 'Al Heroof' Islamic arts exhibition, from Sept 2 to 8. The exhibition, which has been organized by Al Heroof Centre, aims at shedding light on Islamic decoration and art work that have been completed by renowned local as well as regional calligraphists. Mohammed Al Marzouq, Chairman of Tamdeen Group officially inaugurated the exhibition.

Claudia Lopusinska, 360 Mall's marketing manager said: "We are delighted to support Al-Heroof Centre and promote, through our sponsorship during the holy

month, the finest of Islamic penmanship and decoration. The exhibition includes work that has been completed by a range of renowned calligraphists and artists. Their work aims to preserve Islamic culture, which includes authentic Arabic handwriting and calligraphy, an important feature of Islam.

Nedal Abdel Majeed, Al-Heroof Centre's manager said: "I would like to thank 360 Mall's management for facilitating necessary procedures, and making this exhibition happen for Islamic and Arabian culture enthusiasts. 360 Mall has been constantly supportive, and its sponsorship of the exhi-

bition has helped us promote and generate more awareness on preserving our Islamic culture and arts.

'Al Heroof' exhibition is part of 360 Mall's comprehensive Ramadan activities that include a charity event for Bayt Abdullah's Hospice, White Expo 2010, in addition to popular Girgian celebrations.

360 Mall has been created to give its visitors a uniquely sophisticated and elegant retail experience in the heart of Kuwait.

With 113 opened stores, this landmark destination is fast becoming known as the most exciting luxury retail choice for visitors across the country.

KUWAIT: Taking a new step towards its customer-centric strategic approach, the Retail Banking Division of Burgan Bank, one of the leading commercial banks in Kuwait, opened a new financial center in Al-Salam. The branch will provide Burgan Bank customers with exceptional service and products.

It was officially inaugurated by the Governor of Hawally Abdullah Al-Fares, Majed Essa Al-Ajeel, Chairman of Burgan Bank and attended by board members and senior management of the bank as well as VIP clients and media representatives.

Commenting on the retail banking strategy and the significance of the opening of the AlSalam branch, Majed Essa AlAjeel, Burgan Bank Chairman said, "I am extremely delighted at the opening of the new financial center in Al-Salam, where our customers will be offered comprehensive banking solutions. The vision behind this expansion is to highlight our ongoing commitment to provide superior services and products

to all our clients. Since we launched the new expansion strategy, the feedback has been very positive. Burgan Bank's branch segmentation strategy aims to meet every client's needs and expectations."

Shedding light on the branch expansion strategy, Muneera Al-Mukhaizeem, Chief Retail Banking Officer said, "The new branch segmentation and revamping focuses on redecorating the branches with modern and comfortable setting to provide our clients with exceptional banking experience. Our

professional banking executives at the new financial center will provide services to premier banking clients as well as to the rest of our individual and corporate clients, the opening of the branch reflects the modern and progressive vision of Burgan Bank which was launched and implemented in all the banking operations and services, including revamping and redecorating the new branches and providing them with the latest modern banking solutions. These branches are serviced by our professional and experienced

staff to facilitate the best banking solutions that meet our clients' daily needs."

With the opening of this new center, the branches network of Burgan Bank in Kuwait now total to 24 - located in the most active residential and commercial areas in Kuwait. The new financial center is located in Al-Salam area, Block 4, and will provide services to its clients from 8:30 am till 3:30 pm during the week days from Sunday to Thursday, while during the holy month of Ramadan the working hours will be from 10 am to 1:30 pm.

international

Monday, September 6, 2010

7

US likely to keep thousands of troops in Iraq after 2011 WASHINGTON: The United States likely will need to keep thousands of troops in Iraq beyond 2011 to keep a lid on sectarian tensions and to bolster Baghdad’s fledgling military, experts and former officers say.

American officials privately acknowledge that the US military presence in Iraq will almost certainly be extended, even though a security agreement in force requires all US forces to depart by the end of 2011. The US military will be needed not only for technical tasks to keep the Iraqi armed forces afloat, but as a reassuring presence for Iraqis fearing a revival of sectarian and ethnic bloodshed, analysts said.

Baghdad’s military remains heavily dependent on US logistical support, air power, equipment and expertise, while most

Baghdad politicians are anxious to retain American troops as a peacekeeping force in reserve. “The more pressing requirement is less teaching them how to use weapons and more providing reassurance to threatened internal communities that they won’t be exploited by their erstwhile internal rivals,” said Stephen Biddle of the Council on Foreign Relations. “What you’re trying to do is make the size of the troop presence proportional to the residual fear that the groups feel towards each other,” Biddle said.

Delivering technical help while playing a limited peacekeeping role would require a relatively modest number of troops, perhaps as few as three brigades or roughly 10,000 troops, several former military officers said.

“I think it could get down to even less than

10,000 and still be viable,” John Ballard, a professor at National Defense University and a retired army officer, told AFP. Nearly 50,000 US troops are now in Iraq under an “advise and assist” role, after President Barack Obama on Tuesday declared a formal end to the US combat mission.

The White House, keen to wind down the US role in Iraq, has played down the possibility of a large US force. Vice President Joe Biden’s national security advisor, Anthony Blinken, has said only “dozens or maybe hundreds” of troops could remain.

But Iraqi army chief of staff General Babaker Zebari told AFP last month that his country’s forces would require US support for another decade, while some analysts in Washington argue for keeping about half of

the current force after 2011.

Iraq’s “leaders are likely to ask that tens of thousands of American troops stay on for an extended period,” Richard Haas, a top diplomat during George W Bush’s presidency, wrote Thursday. Beyond 2011, the US military would be needed to provide badlyneeded logistical support for an army that has been designed mainly as a counterinsurgency force. The United States would provide some fire power, helicopters, fighter jets to defend a country with virtually no air force, naval defenses for ports and coveted intelligence collected from unmanned robotic planes.

The mission likely would include US special forces assisting Iraqis in manhunts of AlQaeda figures, according to James Danly of

the Institute for the Study of War, who served in Iraq as an officer. Apart from operational and tactical support, a US force also would have to be prepared for possible worst case scenarios, Danly and other analysts said. If relations between the country’s Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds threatened to spiral out of control, or if vital oil or other infrastructure came under threat from within or outside Iraq, Baghdad could turn to the US force for help, he said.

In addition to soldiers in uniform, US officials are planning to employ thousands of private contractors to take up security duties formerly performed by troops. Any talks on the future of the US presence will have to wait for a new government in Iraq, where politicians have failed to agree a

power-sharing deal since parliamentary elections in March. Forging agreement on a post-2011 US mission would present a delicate political challenge for Iraq, as leaders there privately back a continued presence but are reluctant to publicly endorse it. “It’s going to be very hard for any government in Iraq to negotiate anything sizable or enduring,” said Ballard. “This puts us in a difficult situation.”

The current security accord signed in 2008 was negotiated under a shroud of secrecy, he said, and a follow-on mission also would have to be agreed discreetly, perhaps without a detailed, long-term agreement. “There’s a need, there’s a rationale.

But it’s going to be difficult to put it in any sort of formal way.” —AFP

Suicide attack kills 12 at Iraqi army complex Five bombers involved in assault

BAGHDAD: As many as five suicide bombers killed 12 people yesterday at an Iraqi army complex, the military said, in the first major strike in Baghdad since the US army declared an end to combat operations last week. The coordinated attack occurred in the morning at the rear gate of Rusafa military

JERUSALEM: This image made available yesterday by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) shows Palestinian Ahmad Qaraen (back) moments before he was shot and crippled in both legs by an off-duty Israeli soldier after intervening in a confrontation between the soldier and his sons in Sept 2009. — AFP

Israeli police fail to protect Palestinians JERUSALEM: An Israeli rights group yesterday accused Jerusalem police of failing to protect Palestinians in annexed east Jerusalem from hardline settlers residing in neighbourhoods heavily populated with Arabs. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) report said confrontations are common and that police “practice selective law enforcement and fail to provide even the most minimal protection to Palestinian locals.” “Law enforcement authorities have become complicit in violating Palestinian rights; in many cases, they do not enforce the law or do so only in a discriminatory manner.”

A police spokesman refuted all the allegations.

“The Israeli police patrol those areas on a 24/7 basis,” Micky Rosenfeld told AFP. “We respond to any incident that takes place ... including making arrests whenever necessary.” The report, posted online at www.acri.org.il, said police rarely investigate incidents in which Jewish settlers harass or assault Palestinians and that when they do they frequently blame the victims of such attacks.

Among several cases the group documented is that of Ahmad Qaraen, who was crippled after being shot in both legs by an off-duty Israeli soldier after intervening in a confrontation between the soldier and his sons last September. The soldier also shot a 15-year-old boy in the leg during the incident, but was detained for just 24 hours after telling Israeli police that he shot Qaraen in self-defence after the Arab tried to steal his M-16 assault rifle. The police questioned Qaraen in hospital but did not press any charges in the case.

“Despite the fact that the incident was recorded by security cameras installed in the City of David

and despite the abundance of witnesses, the police decided to close the investigation because of ‘lack of evidence,’” the report said. It said Qaraen had filed an appeal to reopen the case.

The report also documented what it called a “disturbing picture” of Arab minors being arrested in the middle of the night and subjected to physical abuse in police stations. In one such case, a 12-year-old boy said he was arrested at his home at 3 am and placed in a stress position at a police station cell for more than two hours, during which time an interrogator had slammed his face into a wall.

Rosenfeld insisted that in all cases where a minor was arrested, it was the result of hard intelligence and the correct procedure was followed.

“When they were arrested their parents were brought in with them, meaning their fathers,” he said. “They were escorted by their fathers during questioning and later released.” Rosenfeld said that in every case the youngsters confessed to offences and were subsequently charged.

Israel occupied east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it to its capital in a move not recognised by the international community. The Palestinians have demanded the mainly Arab eastern half of the city as the capital of their future state, and Jerusalem’s status has been one of the most intractable issues in past rounds of Middle East peace talks. About 200,000 Israeli settlers reside alongside 270,000 Palestinians in east Jerusalem. The vast majority live in large, mostly Jewish settlements. But small groups of hardline settlers have moved into crowded Palestinian neighbourhoods in and around the Old City in recent years, heightening tensions. —AFP

Israel appoints Gaza war commander as new chief JERUSALEM: The Israeli cabinet yesterday confirmed as armed forces chief Major General Yoav Galant, who directed Israel’s 20082009 Gaza war, the prime minister’s office said. “The government approved his appointment as chief of staff for a period of three years, with a possible extension to four years in exceptional circumstances,” it said in a statement.

“Yoav Galant has proved himself in the course of 33 years of service in the front line of the Israel Defence Forces,” the statement quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying.

He is to take over the post from Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi in February after the latter’s term expires. The appointment required approval by the cabinet, which held its regular weekly meeting yesterday. Defence Minister Ehud Barak announced his nomination last month in the wake of a controversy over the circulation of a forged document aimed at discrediting Galant that kicked off the so-called “battle of the generals”.

The document, which lobbied for Galant’s appointment while smearing his rivals and was reportedly prepared by a public relations firm hired by the general, was

Yoav Galant leaked to a television channel.

Ashkenazi has said no member of the general staff was involved and police found that the document was a fake. As head of the southern command, Galant oversaw the devastating Dec 2008-Jan 2009 war in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that cost the lives of 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

A subsequent investigation by the UN Human Rights Council found that both Israel and Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the 22-day offensive aimed at halting rocket attacks from the territory. Israel slammed the so-called Goldstone report, which it said was biased against the Jewish state. But following Galant’s nomination the Israeli

human rights group B’Tselem called for a thorough review of his role in the fighting.

Other leading candidates for the military’s top job were Major General Benny Gantz, Ashkenazi’s deputy, and Major General Gadi Eizenkot who heads the army’s northern command. “The decision was a hard one,” Barak’s office quoted him as telling cabinet colleagues before the vote. “All the candidates are worthy, talented, deeply experienced; men of the highest attributes.” Ashkenazi, the current chief of staff, was appointed in Feb 2007 in the wake of Israel’s disastrous 2006 war on the Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon. Galant was born on November 8, 1958 in the mixed Arab-Jewish neighbourhood of Jaffa, which now forms part of Tel Aviv.

He joined the navy’s Flotilla 13 commando unit, rising through the ranks to become its commander from 1994 to 1997. The unit carried out the May 31 raid on an aid ship bound for Gaza in which nine Turkish activists were killed. In 2005, Galant was appointed to head Israel’s southern command. He is married with three children and holds a degree in business and financial management. —AFP

“One of them stepped out of the minibus, and security forces fired at him and he exploded,” Baghdad operations command said in a statement. “Two others fled to a nearby building, and the minibus exploded with the two remaining terrorists inside.

Security forces cordoned off the building and traded fire with the last two terrorists until both of them blew up.” A policeman who was wounded at the scene of the attack told AFP he had seen one vehicle bomb and a suicide attacker blow himself up, as well as gunfire between insurgents and security forces.

Baghdad operations command, which is also based in the complex that was attacked, put the toll at 12 dead and 36 wounded from the attack. A defence ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that 11 people had been killed. It was unclear how many of the victims were soldiers. “I was waiting with three of my colleagues near an armoured car (when the attack occured),” a policeman told AFP on condition of anonymity from the hospital, slumped against the wall of the emergency room with bandages covering gunshot wounds to both of his legs. “I was shot in two places, and I tried to hide behind the car. When I looked for my colleagues again, they were not there - all I saw was blood and the vests that they had set aside.”

The policeman, visibly shaken, added that the vehicle that exploded was a red car that passed through a preliminary search before exploding at a second checkpoint. “It was a suicide attack,” he said, noting that he had also seen gunmen fire at soldiers and a suicide bomber blow himself up. The largest blast sent plumes of smoke into the skies over the capital, with nervous soldiers frisking any civilians who crossed Bab Al-Muatham bridge, which connects the west side of Baghdad to Rusafa in the east.

The explosion caused extensive damage to nearby buildings and Dr Adil Saloom, director of the hospital’s emergency department, said 20 patients had been treated. Adil Kadhim, an emergency room nurse, said most of the victims had suffered fractures, gunshot wounds and trauma.

Soldiers refused to allow people to pass by the site of the attacks, reporting a persistent stream of single gunshots in the area, which they described as sniper fire.

The Rusafa military headquarters, responsible for security on the eastern side of Baghdad, was being used as an army recruitment centre on August 17 when a suicide bomber detonated his payload, killing 59 people.

Yesterday’s explosion was the biggest to hit Baghdad since the recruitment centre attack and it came four days after US forces officially transformed their role in Iraq from a combat mission to “advise and assist” operations.

While nearly 50,000 US troops remain stationed in Iraq, US Vice President Joe Biden launched the new mission while visiting Baghdad last week, opening up a fresh phase in a seven-year deployment that has cost the lives of more than 4,400 American troops.

He said in a speech on Wednesday that violence in Iraq was now at its lowest level since the war, but that same day official statistics said 426 people died in unrest last month, underscoring insurgents’ continuing ability to kill. The apparent spike in violence - July was Iraq’s deadliest month in more than two years comes amid a political impasse in which no new government has been formed since a general election in March. —AFP

command headquarters in the centre of the capital, which only three weeks ago was hit by a massive suicide bombing that killed dozens. Accounts varied between witnesses and security force members, but the capital’s security command said five suicide attackers had approached the compound in a minibus.

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi man chants anti-US slogans as followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr crowd a street as they attend open air prayers in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City. — AP

UPS plane had smoke in cockpit DUBAI: The cockpit of a United Parcel Service 747 cargo plane filled with smoke as pilots fought to maintain altitude and return to Dubai, where the plane crashed and both crew members died, a civil aviation statement said yesterday. The United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority said in the statement that investigators have recovered a cockpit voice recorder from the aircraft, which went down on Friday inside a military base. Twentytwo minutes after takeoff, “information was received from Bahrain that the aircraft was returning to Dubai Airport with smoke in the cockpit,” the GCAA statement said. The plane was “unable to maintain altitude and requested the airport for landing,” it said.

The aircraft’s approach, however, was high, and it flew over the airport and made a right turn. It then quickly shed altitude and radar contact was lost around 7:42 pm (1542 GMT), less than an hour after the plane had departed, the GCAA said. “The investigation team recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) approximately 6 hours after the accident,” it said, and the team “is continuing the recovery effort to locate the digital flight data recorder

(DFDR).” Both pilots were killed in the crash, UPS said. Just over 20 minutes into the flight, air traffic controllers in Dubai received word from officials in the nearby Gulf nation of Bahrain that the plane was on its way back after reporting smoke in the cockpit. The jet was “unable to maintain altitude,” the report said. Crewmembers were unable to speak directly with air traffic controllers in Dubai as they attempted to land, however, because the pilot had already switched his radio to a different frequency and for some reason couldn’t switch it back, Saif Al-Suwaidi, the GCAA’s director-general, told AP. “What we know is the pilot couldn’t change the frequency ... so the only solution was to relay the messages from Bahrain to Dubai,” Al-Suwaidi said.

Air traffic controllers informed the crew that all runways had been cleared for landing, but the plane came in “too high and too fast” and couldn’t maintain the correct angle for approach, al-Suwaidi said. It passed over the airport before making a right turn toward the desert, then rapidly lost altitude and disappeared from the radar. The plane - which has a wingspan of 64.6 m and length of 70.7 m -

went down at 7:42 pm, about 50 minutes after takeoff, in an unpopulated area between two major highways.

“UPS can now confirm that two of our crewmembers, Captain Doug Lampe of Louisville, Kentucky, and First Officer Matthew Bell of Sanford, Florida, lost their lives in the crash of Flight 6” in Dubai, the company said. Lamp had worked for UPS since 1995, while Bell was with the company since 2006, it said. There have been no reports of casualties on the ground. Some areas around the military base where the plane crashed were uninhabited, but the death toll could have been much higher if the plane had come down in a nearby residential area.

The UPS statement said the aircraft, a Boeing 747-400, was three years old and “was up to date on all maintenance, having just completed a major inspection in June 2010”. The company has dispatched a team to Dubai that “will cooperate with authorities in the investigation,” it said. The GCAA statement said that a US National Transportation Safety Board team would arrive in the UAE on Sunday to assist with the investigation. —Agencies

Gaza smugglers killed in strikes GAZA CITY: Israeli aircraft bombed three Gaza tunnels, killing two Palestinians and wounding a third, Hamas security officials said yesterday. Two more Palestinians were missing following the late Saturday airstrikes, which the Israeli military said was retaliation for Hamas shooting attacks. The officials identified all five men as smugglers working in one of the many tunnels used to ferry goods under the Gaza-Egypt border.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because authorities had not officially released the information.

The Israeli military said aircraft attacked two smuggling tunnels and a third that was intended to allow militants to infiltrate into Israel. The military said the strikes were retaliation for attacks against Israelis over the last week. Last week, two Hamas attacks targeting Israeli cars on West Bank roads killed four residents of West Bank settlements and wounded two others. The spike in violence came as Israelis and Palestinians relaunched direct

BUREIJ, Gaza Strip: A Palestinian man touches the head of 22-year-old Suleiman Al-Hatab during his funeral in this refugee camp. —AP peace negotiations in Washington after a hiatus of nearly two years.

Israel usually retaliates promptly for attacks, often by bombing smuggling tunnels. The response appeared to be delayed this time to avoid disrupting the talks, which began after months of diplomatic efforts by the US. The strikes also followed the launch of

a rocket into Israel from Gaza by militants earlier Saturday. There were no injuries in that attack.

Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed a desire to reach an agreement, but gaps remain wide. The two leaders are slated to meet again in Egypt next week.

The most recent Hamas attacks served as a reminder that militants can try again to sabotage negotiations, as they have done repeatedly in the 17 years since the signing of the first IsraeliPalestinian agreement in 1993.

Hamas, which rejects any compromise with Israel, overran Gaza in 2007, wresting it from Abbas and leaving him only with limited governing power in the West Bank under Israel’s overall security control. Since the takeover, Abbas’ forces have cracked down on Hamas in the West Bank.

Following last week’s deadly shooting attack, Palestinian security forces rounded up hundreds of Hamas activists. Abbas’ prime minister, Salam Fayyad, said he would do his utmost to prevent further attacks. “We believe this is dangerous to our people and we will not permit it,” he said. Fayyad also said he believes chances for success of the talks were slim.

“The elements of failure for these negotiations are much more than the elements of success,” Fayyad told reporters late Saturday. He did not elaborate. — AP

international

8

Monday, September 6, 2010

Sarkozy pensions plan faces angry French street

PARIS: President Nicolas Sarkozy faces protests this week against pension reform plans as he limps into the last two years of his first term weakened by scandal and disastrous opinion poll ratings. French unions have called a national day of strikes and rallies for Tuesday, when Sarkozy’s embattled labour minister Eric Woerth is due to present a draft pension reform law to parliament. The bill would increase France’s minimum retirement age from 60 to 62 by 2018, which would still leave it low by international standards but would reverse a cherished and emblematic Socialist reform.

French voters do not appear to oppose the reform en masse. A poll by the Ifop institute published on Sunday found that a nar-

row 53 percent majority found it at least “acceptable”. But support is ebbing away the same survey found that 58 percent backed raising the retirement age in June and 70 percent of respondents backed the labour unions’ day of action against the government.

And on the same day, another poll found Sarkozy’s personal approval rating has slipped to only 32 percent, its lowest ever level since he took office in 2007 and a severe blow to his 2012 re-election hopes.

“This autumn is a key moment, because it is now that everything falls into place for 2012,” said political scientist Pascal Perrineau. Sarkozy hopes to make pensions reform the key measure of the final two

years of his first mandate and the start of his electoral fight back, but it comes after a politically disastrous summer.

Woerth, the minister tasked with pushing the bill through parliament, has been weakened by a series of allegations surrounding his links to France’s richest woman, L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt. The president has stood by him publicly, and the minister denies any wrongdoing or conflict of interest in his role as ruling party fundraiser, but the scandal rumbles on and several judicial probes are underway.

The French leader has also courted international outrage and incensed the French left and human rights groups with a

crackdown on Roma immigrants and threats to strip foreign-born criminals of French citizenship.

Here again, voters tell pollsters they approve of the crackdown, but again this has failed to translate into a fillip for Sarkozy’s own ratings. Sensing weakness, the unions are determined the day of strikes and street rallies will be seen as a massive rejection of pension reform and predict disruption to transport, government, industry, banks and postal services. More than 190 marches are planned, and unions hope for a bigger turnout than for a similar protest on June 24, when between 800,000 and two million people marched, according to police and organisers’ estimates.

“Depending on how many come out on Tuesday, the government will advance or not advance this reform,” said Francois Chereque, leader of the CFDT, part of a broad coalition of France’s main labour organisations backing the strike. “The only chance today, since dialogue will not allow us to do it, to change the reform, to make it more fair, is to be numerous in the street on Tuesday. It’s a crucial moment,” he warned.

But there is little sign Sarkozy is ready to back down, even if his chief of staff Claude Gueant appeared on Europe 1 radio Sunday to say the government would propose amendments to the law this week. Gueant said changes could be made to the rules to take into account the circumstances of those

in difficult jobs, but that “the fundamentals of the reform can’t change ... because this reform is necessary.”

France is running a huge public deficit and government thinks raising the retirement age could save Ä70 billion ($90 billion) by 2030.

A minimum retirement age of 60 is well under the average of 64 in the OECD group of wealthy industrialised democracies, despite France having one of the world’s longest life expectancies. This translates to French men spending on average 24 years in retirement and French women 28, compared to an OECD average of 18 and 23, according to a report last year by the organisation. —AFP

Five killed, scores hurt in Dagestan suicide bombing Bomber attacks Russian military unit in North Caucaus MAKHACHKALA, Russia: A suicide bomber rammed into a Russian firing range killing five people and wounding scores yesterday in the volatile North Caucasus region of Dagestan, law enforcement sources said. The explosives-packed car attacked a military base used by the motor rifle brigade at Dalny near the city of Buynaksk, some 40 km

west of the local capital Makhachkala, said the sources, who refused to be identified. “Five people are dead. Three of them died on the spot and another two in hospital,” a law enforcement source told AFP, adding that the blast had hurt at least another 35 people, two of whom were in critical condition.

BUINAKSK: A Russian soldier carries a flag yesterday at a military base used by the motor rifle brigade at Dalny near this city west of the local capital Makhachkala, after a suicide bomber in an explosives-packed car rammed into it. — AFP

Mozambique family still struggles to eat MAPUTO: Ernestina Palmira Cuna and her family watched the riots in Mozambique on television from their tin-roof house, afraid to go outside and get caught in the violent price protests raging around them. Palmira Cuna lives in Benfica, an impoverished neighbourhood of sandy streets and precarious shacks on the outskirts of Mozambique’s capital. The area was one of the last in Maputo to return to calm after violent protests Wednesday and Thursday left 10 dead and hundreds wounded as police clashed with demonstrators rioting over sharply rising prices.

The day the protests began, Palmira Cuna, a 34-year-old cleaner at a recordkeeping company, walked to the main road where she usually catches a mini-bus to work. The normally busy road was blocked off with burning tyres, lifeless except for a group of soldiers patrolling the area. She rushed back to the cinder-block house she shares with her six-month-old son, mother, two sisters and nephew. Soon after, the clashes began. “We heard gun shots. People screaming,” she said. “We were afraid. Who

wouldn’t be in that situation? Even if you stay home, there are stray bullets.”

Palmira Cuna, who single-handedly supports her family on a minimum-wage monthly salary of 2,500 meticals ($68), said she doesn’t approve of the protesters’ violence but understands their complaints all too well. “Life is very expensive here in Mozambique. The 2,500 meticals they pay for the minimum wage doesn’t help us at all,” she said. “With 2,500, you can’t do anything. That’s why they protested. But the bad part is the killing, destroying property, burning things. We don’t support that.”

The carefully-spoken new mother pays 750 meticals each month for a 25-kg bag of rice - a 50 percent increase since this time last year, she said, and almost a third of her salary. A five-litre bottle of oil costs another 12 percent of her monthly income, so she usually makes due with less. “If I buy five litres of oil I can’t buy anything else,” she said. “I can buy maybe two litres of oil and three kilogrammes of sugar. “But not because that’s enough for the whole month.

Life is very expensive. It’s difficult. More

difficult all the time.” Since its 16-year civil war ended in 1992, Mozambique has experienced rapid economic growth, fuelled partly by a commodities boom that has seen international mining groups invest billions to exploit some of the largest coal reserves in the world. The economy grew an average eight percent a year during a decade-long period after the war, and is projected to grow another 6.3 percent this year. But the prosperity has not reached most of the country’s 20 million people, 65 percent of whom live in poverty. The situation has grown worse over the past year as the metical has fallen 43 percent against the South African rand, leaving residents of the import-dependent country struggling to buy basic necessities. Last week’s riots erupted on the day a 17-percent increase in the price of bread took effect. The protests are a crisis for the government of President Armando Guebuza, who swept to victory in a 75-percent landslide in elections last year, but whose ruling Frelimo party has been unable to stop the currency’s slide, or its devastating effects on people’s lives.— AFP

Moldova votes to end impasse

CHISINAU: Moldovan acting-president Mihai Ghimpu casts his ballot at a polling station yesterday. — AFP

CHISINAU: Moldovans voted yesterday on whether to elect their president directly, a change that Moldova’s West-leaning ruling coalition says could bring an end to chronic political paralysis. Opinion polls suggest a strong vote in favour of ditching the present system, under which the head of state is elected by parliament, despite a call by the opposition Communists for a boycott of the referendum. The Communists saw early signs of a low turnout below the 33 percent required for the poll to be valid and claimed the boycott call by Communist leader Vladimir Voronin had had an effect.

But the Central Election Commission said just over 17 percent of the electorate had voted by 3 pm and the turnout threshold was still easily within reach. Most Moldovans, traditionally, go to vote in the second half of the day. Polling stations were due to close at 9 pm. Moldova has had no fulltime president for 18 months, with its ruling four-party Alliance for European Integration unable to muster enough parliamentary votes to install a head of state despite ousting the Communists from power in July 2009.

The Alliance says this has held up reforms that are urgently needed to bring the ex-Soviet state, one of Europe’s poorest, into the mainstream. It promises direct elections for president and parliament on Nov. 14 if the referendum succeeds. Moldova, a country of 3.5 million people tucked between Romania and Ukraine, has an unresolved 20-year-old standoff with separatists on part of its territory, and is on poor terms with Russia, which supplies most of its oil and gas.

The average income is about $270 per month and more than 430,000 Moldovans work abroad to support families back home. The EU says Moldova needs major reforms to be eligible for bloc membership.

Corruption is rampant, the judiciary, state security and police are politicised and the media tends to toe the line of whoever is in power. — Reuters

Russia’s defence ministry promptly imposed a state of heightened security at military installations in its Southern Military District - made up of the mainly Muslim regions along Russia’s southern flank.

However, it put the death toll from the blast at three and said 33 people were wounded. “A heightened security regime has been ordered for the duty officers and guards at all the military installations in the district,” ministry spokesman Colonel Alexei Kuznetsov said, quoted by Russian news agencies. He added that the ministry had dispatched a special commission led by the acting Southern Military District commander to the site of the terror attack.

When the suicide bomber struck at about 00:30 am (2030 GMT Saturday), guards at the base opened fire on the explosive-laden car and blocked its fullspeed accelerations into the center of the base with a truck, Kuznetsov said. “After firing several warning shots, soldiers guarding the field camp opened fire on the terrorist’s car,” he said, quoted by RIA Novosti.

“The suicide bombers’ uncontrolled vehicle drove into a military truck that blocked off the entrance to the camp. The blast occurred on the outskirts of the camp, which prevented a larger death toll. The blast was followed by a second roadside explosion that targeted investigators on the way to the scene, but there were no casualties, Russian agencies said.

Dagestan has become arguably Russia’s most violent region hit not only by growing Islamic militancy but also deeprooted mafia problems, clan rivalries and socio-economic stagnation.

Local President Magomedsalam Magomedov said the latest attack underscored just how vulnerable the region still is to militant strikes. “Today’s terrorist attack shows that the rebel underground in the republic still has the power to carry out such foul acts,” Magomedov was quoted by Interfax as saying.

The Dagestani leader added that while security forces had recently carried out a series of “successful operations”, they needed to bolster efforts to hunt down militants. Shootings and bomb attacks have become a near-daily occurrence in the North Caucasus, where the proKremlin authorities are battling an increasingly deadly Islamist insurgency. Also on Saturday in another Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, a policeman was shot dead by a man whom he had stopped because he carried a suspicious bundle, Russia investigative committee said in a statement. Upon inspection, the package proved to contain a homemade bomb, it said.

Analysts say poverty and corruption create a fertile ground for violence and help Islamist militants recruit young people in the region, where Russia fought two wars against Chechen separatists since the 1991 Soviet collapse. In the deadliest recent attack in Dagestan, two suicide bombers detonated explosive belts outside a police station in the town of Kizlyar on March 31, killing 12 people, including a local police chief. In 1999, Buynaksk was the scene of a suicide bombing on apartment building housing soldiers’ families that killed 68 and injured more than 100. The attack was the first in a series of apartment bombings across Russian cities that were cited by Russian authorities as part of the argument for the second Chechen war in 1999. — AFP

DAKAR: In this photo taken on Aug 31, 2010, a student sleeps with his begging bowl covering his face in the unfinished first floor of a building which serves as both classroom and living space for his Quranic school in the Fadia neighborhood. — AP

US pressure leads to ban on Dakar beggars CAMBERENE, Senegal: Abdoulaye Ba, 10, looked right, then left, before timidly approaching the taxi and holding out his hand.

A 10-year-old begging is nothing new in this destitute African country, but the fear in his eyes is. A few days ago police chased him away from the intersection in Dakar, the Senegalese capital a 40-minute drive away, where he used to approach tourists. Now he hangs around a gas station in this downtrodden suburb outside the police’s radar, where he says he earns half of what he got before.

Like most other child beggars here, he brings the money back to his Islamic boarding school. “My teacher told me that if I see a policeman I should run,” says the boy. “But he still makes me beg. At night he counts the money and I get in trouble if I don’t bring back 500 francs (around $1).”

For the first time in recent memory, the streets of Senegal’s capital are largely free of beggars following a police crackdown last week, when the government announced it was banning begging in an effort to comply with the wishes of international donors.

Senegal’s penal code outlawed begging years ago, but officials say they recently felt pressure to impose the law because the US has threatened to cut off aid if Senegal does not address human trafficking. Although they say numerous other donor countries as well as the World Bank have also pushed Senegal to address child begging, a letter from the US Embassy made it clear they needed to take action now.

“We are trying to do what our partners have asked us to do - like the US,” said Abdoulaye Ndiaye, the deputy to the ministry of justice, who said the letter explained the economic sanctions the country could face if it fails to address its trafficking problem, which includes child begging. For the past two years, Senegal has been cited on the US State Department’s trafficking ‘watch list,’ in part because of the number of children forced to beg by religious teachers known as marabouts. If the country is listed for a third consecutive year, the US could halt bilateral aid to Senegal.

In 2009, Senegal received more than $85 million in economic aid from the US, according to the US State Department’s website.

Senegal is set to start receiving a $540 million aid package through the US Millenium Challenge Corporation. It is unclear what portion of this aid could be cut off as a result of failing to improve the trafficking problem. US officials say the way to show improvement is not by rounding up beggars but by prosecuting those who force them to beg.

“We consider the beggars to be victims of trafficking,” said Robin Diallo, spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Senegal. “What we have recommended is the prosecution of the traffickers - and the beggars are not the traffickers.”

At least seven marabouts have been arrested, according to press reports, but the ban has mostly focused on those doing the begging. Trucks began crisscrossing the capital last week. They rounded up the children, who were driven to a police station, scolded and released, said Doudou-Sarr Niang, a spokesman for the prime minister.

Aid groups and human rights organizations

estimate that as many as 100,000 children in this nation of 13.7 million are forced to beg every day by marabouts. Families do not object to their sons begging because it is seen as a tool for building character and instilling humility, but rights groups say the system has become one of economic exploitation and physical abuse.

Boys as young as 3 were until last week sent out into Dakar’s chaotic traffic and required to bring back a daily quota of change or face a severe beating. Critics, however, say the government’s crackdown is merely a cosmetic gesture which has at best succeeded in moving the child beggars to a different part of the capital and fails to punish the traffickers.

“What is frustrating is that this effort does not appear to be motivated by a desire to protect kids from forced begging ... but rather by an attempt to gloss over the problem and appease donors, particularly the US,” said Matthew Wells, a researcher for Human Rights Watch who authored a recent report on the abuses faced by the talibe, or pupils forced to beg by Quranic instructors in Senegal. In the alleyways of Camberene, where many of the daaras, or religious schools, are located, the marabouts say they will simply find other ways to make the children in their care beg. In a sandy pit on Road 123 that serves as one marabout’s ‘classroom,’ boys no older than 7 sit on a mat and try to recite verses from the Quran as flies land on their shaved heads.

“My children will still go beg. If they can’t beg in public places, then I’ll send them to make the rounds of people’s homes,” says their marabout, Yahya Diamanka. A few miles away in a dilapidated three-story building, another marabout coordinates the daily begging schedule of the more than 60 children in his care. “How dare they say that we cannot send our children to beg because of what another country wants?” said 58-year-old Oustaz Dia. “Nobody tells me what to do in my house.”

Caught in the dragnet are the handicapped adults who used to line their wheelchairs along a stretch of the boulevard leading to the presidential palace in downtown Dakar.

The government acknowledges that they are not victims of trafficking, but Niang argues that if the anti-begging law is to be applied, it should be applied to all. When the truck pulled up last Friday, the beggars tried furiously to roll their wheelchairs away, but police chased them down. In all, around 200 beggars have been arrested. Most were jailed and are now awaiting trial. On Rue de Roume, only one beggar remained on a recent afternoon.

He pulled himself on all fours across the pavement, his atrophied legs curled underneath him, and held out his hand. Since losing the use of his legs to polio, Mor Fall has positioned himself on this 50-yard stretch of road flanking several banks. He evaded the police because he is so low to the ground they failed to see him.

“I cry sometimes and ask, ‘Why did God make me like this?”‘ says Fall, who stresses that he will starve if he is not allowed to beg.

“I have a gun at home. Sometimes I put it to my head and hold it there. I wish I had the courage to pull the trigger.” —AP

INTERNATIONAL

Monday, September 6, 2010

9

US farms prosecuted for importing Thai workers HONOLULU: Two prominent, popular brothers who operate the second-largest vegetable farm in Hawaii will be sentenced in federal court this week on human trafficking charges - they pleaded guilty - but two former state governors, community groups, fellow farmers and other supporters are trying to keep them out of prison. The brothers were convicted of shipping 44 laborers from Thailand and forcing them to work on their farm, part of a pipeline to the United States that allegedly cornered foreign field hands into low-paying jobs with few rights.

Aloun Farms may be too important to fail in an island state that once relied on pineapples and sugar cane but grows less than 15 percent of the food it consumes, according to supporters of defendants Alec and Mike Sou. “The incarceration of Alec and Mike Sou would threaten our food security and could endanger our future sustainability on Oahu,” wrote Kioni Dudley, president of the community group Friends of Makakilo, in a letter asking US District Judge Susan Oki Mollway for leniency. “Find some method of

punishment which allows them to stay in their positions at Aloun Farms.”

The Sou brothers are asking for a light sentence with little or no jail time based in part on the idea that their farm is too valuable to the islands’ food supply to let it go untended. The plea deal they agreed to in January called for up to five years imprisonment. Prosecutors accuse them of manipulating the Thai workers by promising at least a year’s employment at pay of $9.42 an hour, but instead delivering only a few months of work for little pay.

If the workers complained, Mike Sou threatened to send them home without any way to repay recruitment fees exceeding $20,000 that they borrowed from Thai money lenders to pay for their jobs, federal authorities claim. The workers were trapped on the farm, forced to choose between long hours with low wages and an unpromising future in Thailand, said former farm worker Somporn Khanja, who arrived at the farm in 2004.

“I’d been lied to, but I couldn’t do any-

thing about it,” the 45-year-old Khanja said through his wife, acting as an interpreter. “I hope justice is being done. I believe in American law. It takes so long, but it’s good.

In America, we have to wait.” In about 120 letters to the judge supporting the Sou brothers, community members praise their importance to Hawaii’s agriculture industry, their ability to provide up to 200 jobs at a time and their character.

Former Democratic Gov. Ben Cayetano called the Sou family’s immigration from Laos and creation of a farm a “remarkable success story.” Former Democratic Gov. John Waihee commended the Sous’ skill in transforming sugar fields into diversified farming.

Others who offered support to the brothers include the former head of the state Land Board, the state Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Foodbank, competing farms, two banks who are owed money from the farms and former Aloun employees. The Kapolei-based company grows a variety of foods including cantaloupe, lettuce, zucchini, apples, bananas, parsley,

onions, watermelon, beans, eggplant, cabbage and pumpkin. Alec Sou is the farm’s president and general manager, and Mike Sou is its vice president and operations manager.

Human trafficking opponents say they deserve more than a slap on the wrist for enticing foreign workers with pledges of steady work and then revoking that offer after the laborers were already indebted and flown to the United States. Federal authorities and some of the workers also have said they were housed in cramped mobile storage containers, told not to leave the farm after work and denied any pay at all for months. The Sous contested those allegations. “This is America, and that kind of thing should not be allowable,” said Kathryn Xian, spokeswoman for the Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery in Honolulu. “They’re basically ripping off the American way of life and exploiting it to the ultimate worst.”

The brothers acknowledge they failed to pay for the workers’ airfare as required by the US agricultural guest worker program,

and that employment contracts called for employment exceeding allowable time granted to foreign workers, according to court documents. But they deny refusing to return passports, telling employees their contracts “were just a piece of paper used to deceive the federal government” and threatening deportation. “Our people got caught up in something which they admit to. They wish they hadn’t done this, and they’re sorry for getting involved,” said defense attorney Eric Seitz, who represents Mike Sou. “Nobody was tortured, nobody was abused, nobody was physically threatened in any manner.”

Crackdowns on labor importation crimes are growing, as shown by last week’s federal indictment against employees of Los Angeles-based labor recruiting company Global Horizons Manpower Inc, which the FBI says is the largest human trafficking case ever charged in US history. Global Horizons is accused of enticing 400 workers from Thailand to US farms based on false promises of lucrative jobs. Instead,

recruiters allegedly confiscated the workers’ passports, disregarded employment contracts and threatened deportation claims similar to those in the Aloun Farms case. Nationwide, between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked to the United States annually, according to an estimate by HumanTrafficking.org, which is managed by the Washington-based Academy for Educational Development, which works to improve global education, health and social and economic development. The brothers have steadily grown in prominence since their parents started the farm in 1977. After starting with a small 5-acre plot of land, the Sous have since extended their growing capacity and crops.

Today, the farm’s 3,000 acres are the most productive in the islands. In Hawaii’s mild climate, they grow crops year-round.

The Sou family also has made political contributions, and Alec Sou sits on boards for homeless advocates and for the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. — AP

ETA declares ceasefire in struggle with Spain Hooded, black-clad figures appear in video MADRID: Basque separatist group ETA declared a ceasefire yesterday in its bloody 42-year campaign for a homeland independent of Spain, vowing to give up guns and bombs to seek a democratic solution. ETA, blamed for the deaths of 829 people in attacks on Spanish targets, said it decided several months ago that it “will not carry out armed offensive

COPIAPO, Chile: Trapped miner Claudio Yanez talks to his relatives during a video conference at the collapsed San Jose mine on Saturday. —AP

A month on, Chile miners face uncertain rescue date

COPIAPO, Chile: Chilean miners trapped deep below ground mark a grim milestone yesterday - a full month since a cave-in cut off their escape route to the surface. But officials warned it may take even longer to rescue them. On Saturday, the 33 men for the first time got to speak to their families by closed-circuit videolink, which relays images one way only, from the underground shelter to the surface. The families said they would mark the one-month anniversary of the Aug 5 cave-in sounding horns and whistles at 2:30 pm (1830 GMT) yesterday. “We’ve also got songs for them,” Elizabeth Segovia, whose brother Dario is stuck underground, told AFP. Over the last month the miners have become national heroes and symbols of survival since rescuers made contact with them. In Chile and abroad, audiences are following their progress in minute detail. Rescuers and relatives who had held out hope steadily grew to fear the worst, with no word from the men for more than two weeks after the collapse at the San Jose mine in Chile’s remote Atacama desert. But on Aug 22, a drill bit reached the underground shelter where they had managed to take refuge, surviving by rationing cans of tuna while they awaited rescue workers.

The men attached a note to the drill, which carried it to the surface, where Chilean President Sebastian Pinera read it aloud: “All 33 of us are well inside the shelter.” Jubilation followed, with relatives of the men who had set up camp by the San Jose mine site cheering and celebrating the “miraculous” discovery. Video images of the miners in their underground bunker - shot with a camera sent down a narrow supply shaft - were quickly broadcast around the world, further lifting hopes of their rescue.

But the euphoria was dampened by the news that rescuing the miners - 32 Chileans and one Bolivian - could take up to four months, leaving them to survive some 700 m below ground potentially until Christmas. A 30-ton drill that can exca-

vate up to 20 m per day began work Monday, with pauses to allow the bore hole walls to be cemented. The painstaking process is the primary rescue route for now, but engineers have also two backup options.

The first involves a faster drill that arrived at the mine site Friday. It will initially be used to widen the supply shaft so that larger items can be sent down, with engineers later considering whether it could be enlarged further to provide a quicker exit route for the miners. The second option involves a football-pitch-size oil drilling platform, which Pinera said was expected to begin work on a third shaft by Sept 18 - Chile’s Independence Day. The ambitious rescue task, code-named “Operation San Lorenzo” after a martyred Christian saint, has received help from the US space agency NASA, with its experience in keeping astronauts healthy and sane during long periods in small spaceships.

The only other miners to have spent almost as long trapped underground were three Chinese men rescued in July last year after spending 25 days in a flooded shaft, chewing on coal and surrounded by their 13 dead colleagues. The Chilean miners’ story has inspired songs and is already being turned into a movie, despite criticism that such a project is exploitative. The men themselves, though still trapped in dank, difficult conditions, have learned of their new-found fame. They have spoken to President Pinera and received soccer jerseys signed by the national team; an eccentric mining magnate has even pledged 10,000 dollars for each of them.

On Saturday, the mining region was visited by four of the 16 survivors of a 1972 Andes plane crash, who endured extreme elements for 72 days before being rescued. Their improbable story was turned into a best-selling book, “Alive,” and then a 1993 movie. The four Uruguayan men said they had brought a message of hope for the trapped men. —AFP

Food fight breaks out as locavores defend ground WASHINGTON: A new food fight has stirred up the locavore movement, which promotes eating of local products, after fresh challenges to the assumption that the practice promotes environmental sustainability. The locavore movement, which has been gaining steam rapidly since emerging in California in 2005, is now boiling over following a commentary last month suggesting that the “math” underpinning the practice is flawed. Author and journalist Stephen Budiansky stirred up the pot with a piece appearing in the New York Times arguing that locavores are mistaken on the notion that local food is better for energy conservation and the environment.

“Words like ‘sustainability’ and ‘food-miles’ are thrown around without any clear understanding of the larger picture of energy and land use,” Budiansky wrote. Budiansky has his own vegetable garden, but argues that on a commercial scale, large farms are far more energy-efficient than small ones and that transportation energy costs are often overstated by local food advocates. “It takes about a tablespoon of diesel fuel to move one pound of freight 3,000 miles by rail,” says Budiansky, who calls the transportation fuel costs “a negligible amount in the overall picture”. “The real energy hog, it turns out, is not industrial agriculture at all, but you and me. Home preparation and storage account for 32 percent of all energy use in our food system, the largest component by far,” he said in the commentary titled “Math Lessons for Locavores.”

Budiansky added that “eating food from a long

way off is often the single best thing you can do for the environment, as counterintuitive as that sounds.” He said that “the relative pittance of energy we expend on ‘industrial’ agriculture... pays huge environmental dividends which the organic and local gurus always ignore.” The comments heated up the debate about the locavore movement, which has been gaining ground among groceries, restaurants and consumers in the United States and elsewhere, based on a philosophy of using more foods produced closer to home.

Elanor Starmer of the watchdog group Food & Water Watch says Budiansky misses the point, and that locavores want more diversity in the facing of growing concentration of the food chain in the hands of multinational companies. “When I buy local food, energy use is not the driving rationale (no pun intended),” Starmer says in a blog posting. “I buy from a variety of local farms when at all possible because if I don’t, I will probably be eating from a stream of food that has passed through the hands of a tiny number of massive companies.” Kerry Trueman, cofounder of the website EatingLiberally, points out that “energy efficiency is only one small part of the equation when you add up the reasons to buy local”. She said factors include flavor and nutrition, support for ecological farming practices, avoidance of pesticides and more humane treatment of livestock and workers. Dave Love of the Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future, was incensed by Budiansky’s argument. —AFP

Listed as a terrorist group by the United States and European Union, ETA has not staged an attack on Spanish soil since Aug 2009, and the authorities in Spain and France have arrested much of its top leadership. “ETA confirms its commitment to finding a democratic solution to the conflict,” said a woman sitting in the centre. “In its commitment to a democratic process to decide freely and democratically our future, through dialogue and negotiations, ETA is prepared today as yesterday to agree to the minimum democratic conditions necessary to put in motion a democratic process, if the Spanish government is willing.”

The Spanish government reacted cautiously. The Interior Ministry was still examining the declaration, a spokesman said. The ministry had spoken to parliamentary groups including the opposition Partido Popular, he said.

Government officials were quoted in the El Pais newspaper as saying the declaration was a move in the right direction but ETA must still definitively abandon the armed struggle. The paper quoted unidentified anti-terrorist sources as saying the ETA statement did not go far enough. “They do not announce the surrender of weapons nor the end of violence; it is not enough,” one source was quoted as saying.

ETA, which was founded July 31, 1959, had been under pressure from its political allies to declare a truce. Its political wing Batasuna plus its ally, the Eusko Alkartasuna party, had called on ETA to agree to a “permanent ceasefire under international verification” in a document outlining a “road map” for a peace process, Spanish media reported Friday. Eusko Alkartasuna’s secretary general, Pello Urizar, confirmed Saturday that it had made the call.

ETA, which carried out its first deadly attack on June 7, 1968, announced a “permanent ceasefire” in March 2006 but months later reversed course and in Dec 2006 set off a bomb at a car park at Madrid’s international airport.

After ETA formally called off the peace process in June 2007, the Spanish government stepped up its campaign with arrests over the past three years of its leaders believed to have severely dented its operations.

Since the start of this year alone, Spanish police working with other forces including in France have arrested 68 suspected ETA members.

Spanish media say Batasuna, which has been banned from running for office since 2003 because of its ties to ETA, hoped to return to the political game ahead of local elections in 2011. —AFP

actions.” It did not specify if the ceasefire was temporary or permanent.

ETA made the announcement in a video sent to the BBC and pro-independence Basque daily Gara, showing three people in berets and yellow hoods sitting at a table flanked by Basque flags and an ETA symbol on the wall behind.

GUERNICA, Spain: A screen grab taken from Gara website displays an image of ETA armed Basque group members declaring a ceasefire yesterday in this northern Spanish Basque town. — AFP

Who is a US native Indian?

SAN FRANCISCO: For more than two hours on the night of May 16, 2007, Shane Maggi terrorized a Native American couple at their home on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, pistol whipping them and firing bullets above the husband’s head. Maggi, who suspected the couple had stolen his drugs, was convicted by a federal jury in 2008 and sentenced to more than 42 years in prison.

But an appellate court here found Maggi did not meet its definition of a Native American and, as a result, had been prosecuted under the wrong federal statute. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Maggi’s conviction in March.

The case illustrates a hazard of the complex legal system used to mete out justice on American Indian reservations a system that relies largely on race to determine jurisdiction, and then charges police and prosecutors with the sometimes delicate task of determining a person’s race. “The whole flaw in the system is that it’s premised upon being an Indian defendant or Indian victim, and yet we have no clear-cut definition of who an Indian is,” said BJ Jones, director of the Tribal Judicial Institute at The University of North Dakota law school.

In most states, federal and tribal authorities can arrest and prosecute Indians on Indian lands. But criminal offenses by non-Indians are handled by federal or state authorities, depending on whether the victim is Indian. That means when a crime is committed on Indian lands, authorities must determine the suspect and victim’s race before they can answer fundamental questions like which agency can make the arrest and try the case, and

SUQUAMISH, Washington: In this Sept 3, 2010 photo, Mike Lasnier, Chief of the Suquamish Tribal Police, poses on the Suquamish Reservation. —AP sometimes which law applies.

Tribal officials and legal experts say this process creates confusion that can lead to delayed cases and even overturned convictions on reservations, which already endure high crime rates and shortages of law officers. “Everybody in law enforcement wants to do the right thing,” said Sen. Byron Dorgan, chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. “It’s just, you have this very complex, Byzantine jurisdictional system that impedes effective law enforcement.” Legislation introduced by Dorgan and signed into law in July aims to increase the powers of those tribal police who are unable to arrest non-Indians on their reservations.

Tribal officials say enrollment cards generally make it clear who is a tribal member, but difficulties can arise when that identification is lacking.

Matters also can be complicated by intermarriage with other races and the movement of Indians to other tribes’ reservations. “We’ve had people claim to be Native that weren’t and

people say they weren’t Native that were,” said Mike Lasnier, chief of police for The Suquamish Tribe near Seattle, Washington.

It’s not clear how many cases similar to Maggi’s have come through the courts. The 9th Circuit has overturned at least three others in the past several years on grounds the defendant’s Indian status at trial was incorrect. The issue has surfaced in still two other cases before the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, Missouri. “It seems to me the question is coming up increasingly,” said 9th Circuit Judge William Canby, an Indian law expert. “It’s become a cumbersome system.”

Congress has not established a universal definition for who is an Indian, and tribes have varying requirements for who constitutes a member. Courts have generally held that a person is Native American if he or she has Indian blood and is enrolled in a federally recognized tribe. But other factors can come into play.

In the 8th Circuit cases, both involving assault, the court

found that although the defendants were not enrolled in a tribe, they were Indian because they had Indian blood, held themselves out as Indians and lived on a reservation. Their convictions were affirmed.

In Maggi’s case, however, the 9th Circuit rejected a similar set of circumstances and concluded he was not Indian because he was not enrolled in the tribe. “The most basic issue in any kind of legal proceeding is jurisdiction,” said Troy Eid, former US attorney for Colorado.

“If you don’t know jurisdiction at the outset, the parties who prosecute can be totally different.”

Eid recalled a 2006 case on the Southern Ute Indian reservation in Colorado where a nonIndian driver allegedly high on marijuana slammed head-on into another vehicle, killing an elderly woman and her 8-year-old granddaughter.

The federal government, rather than tribal or state authorities, has jurisdiction over crimes committed by nonIndians against Indians on reservations. But prosecuting this case presented difficulties.

Although the elderly woman was clearly Indian, it took months of study by the tribal council to determine the girl was not Indian, Eid said.

That meant state, rather than federal, authorities had to handle prosecution for the girl’s death. In the end, the driver wound up in different courts for different victims in the same crash. In federal court, he was sentenced to 31/2 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the grandmother’s death. In state court, he received three more years after pleading guilty to criminal negligence and other charges in the 8-year-old’s death. —AP

INTERNATIONAL

10

Monday, September 6, 2010

N Korea could be mother of all insurgencies QUANTICO, Virginia: North Korea’s regime has long defied naysayers by persevering through famines, floods and global opprobrium. But what would happen if the upcoming power transition marks the beginning of the end? In the view of one US military strategist, a collapse of North Korea - a dirt-poor nation with an indoctrinated population and nuclear-armed military - could result in no less than the greatest world crisis in modern times.

Colonel David Maxwell, who heads the Strategic Initiatives Group at the Army’s Special Operations Command, said that the United States needed to invest more time planning for the most dire scenario, even if it does not transpire. US troops have been stationed in South Korea since the 1950-53 war to guard against attack. A North

Korean advance could easily hit densely populated Seoul, just an hour’s drive from the frontier, and would send shockwaves through economic powers Japan, China and South Korea.

“I believe a conventional attack by the North would be the worst crisis that the international community has faced since the end of World War II,” Maxwell said in a presentation at the Marines Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. “But I think the real worst case would be regime collapse,” said Maxwell, who stressed he was speaking in a private capacity.

Questions have been rising about North Korea’s stability since Kim Jong-Il apparently suffered a debilitating stroke in 2008.

Last year, the government faced unusual public resistance after a bungled currency

revaluation sent prices skyrocketing.

The ruling party is expected this month to anoint Kim’s youngest son as his successor, marking the hermetic regime’s second hereditary change of power. Kim Jong-Un is in his 20s and is not known to have experience in governance. If the regime collapsed, foreign forces would likely face a major threat from insurgents whose belief in the Kim family’s philosophy of “juche” or self-reliance - resembles religious fanaticism, Maxwell argued. “The North Korean people will not welcome the South Korean military, international forces or anybody outside of North Korea,” Maxwell said. “We made that assumption recently that we would be welcomed as liberators and we know how that turned out,” he said, referring to the 2003 US-led invasion of

Iraq. And an insurgency in North Korea would be “far more sophisticated than what exists in Iraq or Afghanistan now,” Maxwell said. He said an insurgency could tap into North Korea’s military might.

Despite its meager economy, North Korea has more than one million standing troops one of the largest forces in the world along with nuclear weapons. North Korea also has elite Special Operations Forces who are among the world’s most committed units, with members forming suicide pacts, said Joseph Bermudez, an expert on Pyongyang’s military who has spoken to defectors.

“They literally sit in a circle, they put their gun to the person’s head in front of them, they yell, ‘Long live Kim Jong Il!’ and they pull the trigger,” said Bermudez, a

senior analyst at Jane’s Information Group.

Maxwell recommended that the United States develop a plan to quickly engage and reassure North Koreans in the event of a regime collapse - particularly second-tier military officers who may wind up in charge of the country. He also urged a close eye on overseas businesses by North Korean officers, who have developed networks trafficking everything from weapons to knockoff Viagra that could eventually go to fund an insurgency.

Not all Korea experts are convinced by Maxwell’s views. L Gordon Flake, who heads the Mansfield Foundation thinktank, questioned whether average North Koreans had a “guerrilla ethos” that would survive the fall of the top leadership.

“North Korea is a society that is specifical-

ly designed to avoid initiative at the local level,” Flake said. Pointing to the resistance to the currency revaluation, Flake said: “To assume that guerrilla ethos continues, you almost have to assume that there’s been no impact over the last two decades from famine, economic collapse, government graft and a tremendous increase in information flows.”

While supporting greater US planning for a collapse, Flake said that South Korea should take the lead. South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak last month proposed a tax to finance reunification of the peninsula, which researchers believe would cost trillions of dollars. Lee called for greater planning on reunification - and voiced hope that it can be achieved peacefully. — AFP

NZ cleans up after quake that ripped new fault line Christchurch braces for more destruction CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand: The powerful earthquake that smashed buildings, cracked roads and twisted rail lines around the New Zealand city of Christchurch also ripped a new 3.5 m wide fault line in the earth’s surface, a geologist said yesterday. At least 500 buildings, including 90 downtown properties, have been designated as destroyed in the 7.1-magnitude quake that

struck at 4:35 am Saturday (1635 GMT Friday) near the South Island city of 400,000 people. Most other buildings sustained only minor damage. The quake cut power across the region, roads were blocked by debris and gas and water supplies were disrupted, but Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said services were being restored yesterday.

CHRISTCHURCH: A search dog is used to try and find a person reported missing amongst the rubble of a building after Saturday’s earthquake at the corner of St Asaph and Barbadoes Streets yesterday. —AP

Strict standards behind quake ‘miracle’ WELLINGTON: While New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says it is “a miracle” no one was killed in the Christchurch earthquake, experts believe it was the country’s strict building codes that prevented mass fatalities.

The 7.0 magnitude quake brought down building facades, buckled train lines and caused damage estimated at more than a billion dollars in New Zealand’s second largest city, but did not result in the high death tolls seen in similar disasters worldwide.

The statistics just this year make grim reading: at least 220,000 dead in a 7.0 magnitude quake in Haiti last January, more than 2,000 killed when a 6.9 magnitude tremblor struck northwest China in April and more than 500 lives lost when an 8.8 mega-quake hit Chile in February. Officials say Christchurch residents were lucky the quake occurred before dawn on Saturday, when most were asleep in the relative safety of their homes. A few hours later and the streets would have been thronged with Saturday morning shoppers.

But they have nevertheless expressed amazement that no one died when such a powerful seismic jolt struck so close to a city of

340,000. So far, there have only been two reports of serious injuries. “The only conclusion you can draw is that it’s a miracle nobody was killed,” said Key. “Parts of the city look like they’ve been put in the tumble dryer.”

New Zealand, which sits at the junction of two tectonic plates, is no stranger to earthquakes and experts said it had learned harsh lessons from a 1931 disaster at Napier, when a 7.8 magnitude tremor killed 256 people at Hawke’s Bay. The director of the Joint Centre For Disaster Research at Wellington’s Massey University, David Johnston, said that resulted in the implementation of stringent building standards. “There’s no doubt it’s a very, very significant reason why there wasn’t more destruction,” he told AFP. “In developing countries we’ve seen the wholescale collapse of buildings. In Christchurch, it’s been the older buildings on the outskirts of the CBD that have been worst affected but the vast majority of structures have maintained their integrity. It’s a testament to the efforts in New Zealand since 1931.”

Pieter Burghout, chief executive of BRANZ, an industry-funded construction safe-

ty research body, said the most severely damaged buildings in Christchurch were made of bricks and mortar, materials that do not cope well with earthquakes. He said modern homes in New Zealand were mostly constructed around light timber frames, which provided flexibility when a quake hit. “I’ve seen pictures of a house in Christchurch which fell off its foundations but it was still structurally sound,” he said. Burghout said New Zealand was among the world leaders in earthquake-resistant design and BRANZ had a large research facility in Wellington where a full-scale house could be built so testers could “shake it to bits” in a simulated tremor. He said new office blocks in the country were built on isolated foundations, meaning they rest on a bed of rubber shock absorbers or ball bearings “so they can wobble around a bit if the big one comes”.

Many historic buildings have been retro-fitted with earthquake dampening devices, a measure the Anglican Dean of Christchurch Peter Beck said paid off when the city’s Anglican cathedral escaped with only minor damage on Saturday. “Thank God for earthquake strengthening 10 years ago,” he told national television. —AP

Police kill top Abu Sayyaf commander

MANILA: A boy eats spaghetti handed out by US Navy servicemen of the visiting USS George Washington Nimitz-class aircraft carrier at a Manila slum yesterday. The carrier is in Manila for a four-day goodwill visit to carry out humanitarian projects. —AFP

MANILA: Philippine police commandos killed an Abu Sayyaf commander linked to last year’s kidnapping of Red Cross workers and gunned down two other militants in a clash in the south, officials said yesterday.

Police went on full alert after the killings to guard against any retaliatory attacks. Gafur Jumdail and two of his men were killed late Saturday near Maimbung town on Jolo island after clashing with commandos tracking a Malaysian militant and allied Filipino fighters, Jolo police chief Senior Superintendent Joseph Ramac said.

The death of Jumdail, who had been accused of several high-profile abductions including the January 2009 kidnappings of three Red Cross workers from Switzerland, Italy and the Philippines, is the latest blow to the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf. Still, the group remains a major security threat in the Philippines, and national police placed the entire force in the southern Mindanao region on full alert yesterday to brace for any possible retaliatory attacks over Jumdail’s death.

In Saturday’s clash, commandos assaulted a house in a remote village in an attempt to arrest Jumdail, his elder brother, who is also an Abu Sayyaf commander, and Zulkifli bin Hir, a Malaysian militant wanted by Washington for alleged terrorist involvement, according to a police report. As they raided the house, about 20 other Abu Sayyaf militants armed with rifles and grenade launchers opened fire nearby, sparking a 15-minute gun battle. When the militants withdrew, police found the bodies of Gafur Jumdail and two other militants in the house, the report said. — AP

Power was back to 90 percent of the city and water supply had resumed for all but 15 to 20 percent of residents, he said.

Portable toilets had been provided and tanks of fresh water placed around the city for residents. Parker said it would take a long time to fully fix some core services such as water and sewerage. “Our first priority is just people,” he said. “That’s our worry.” Up to 90 extra police officers had flown in to Christchurch to help, and troops were likely to join the recovery effort yesterday, he said.

Civil defence officials warned the emergency was not over, as more than 30 aftershocks had hit the region within 24 hours of the main quake and were likely to continue for several weeks. A storm was also likely to bring fresh challenges with wind gusts up to 130 km an hour expected yesterday night and heavy rain to follow today.

As night fell, the storm hit Dunedin, around 400 km south of Christchurch.

Yesterday, specialist engineering teams began assessing damage to all central city buildings, said Paul Burns of the city’s search and rescue service. Officials said schools across the region would remain closed for the next two days to allow time to check whether they were safe. Only two serious injuries were reported from the quake as chimneys and walls of older buildings were reduced to rubble and crumbled to the ground. Prime Minister John Key said it was a miracle no one was killed. Part of the reason the city escaped major injuries was because the quake happened before dawn, Key said. “If this had happened five hours earlier or five hours later (when many more people were in the city), there would have been absolute carnage in terms of human life,” he told TV One News yesterday.

Canterbury University geology professor Mark Quigley said what “looks to us that it could be a new fault” had ripped across the earth and pushed some surface areas up. The quake was caused by the ongoing collision between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, said Quigley, who is leading a team trying to pin down the source of the big quake. “One side of the earth has lurched to the right ... up to 11 feet (3.5 m) and in some places been thrust up,” Quigley told National Radio. “The long linear fracture on the earth’s surface does things like break apart houses, break apart roads. We went and saw two houses that were completely snapped in half by the earthquake,” he said.

Roger Bates, whose dairy farm at Darfield was close to the quake’s epicenter 30 km west of Christchurch, said the new fault line had ripped up the surface across his land. “The whole dairy farm is like the sea now, with real (soil) waves right across the dairy farm. We don’t have physical holes (but) where the fault goes through it’s been raised a meter or meter and a half,” he told National Radio.

“Trouble is, I’ve lost two meters of land off my boundary,” he added. —AP

CHRISTCHURCH: A man on a pushbike passes a damaged building in New Zealand’s second largest city yesterday. —AFP

NZ quake victims remain positive amid destruction CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand: The response among New Zealanders to the most devastating quake in decades has been “tremendous”, with an “astonishing atmosphere of resilience” among affected communities, politicians and media said yesterday. The government said it had turned down international offers of aid after Saturday’s 7.0 magnitude quake, as people pulled together to help those left without shelter, food or water. Civil Defence Minister John Carter said the disaster, which cut a swathe through Christchurch and the Canterbury district, had brought out the best in people.

“It has been tremendous to see the people of Canterbury rally around each other in this disaster and this has certainly reduced demand on the welfare centres,” he said. “It is a great testament to our country that Kiwis can call on family, friends and neighbours, and even in some cases strangers, in times of emergency.”

Although the streets were strewn with rubble and shattered glass, and large holes and fissures had appeared in main roads, officials yesterday said they had the situation under control. Offers of help from the United States military and from various United Nations programmes were refused, civil defence director John Hamilton said, with the nation of four million able to fend for itself. “I suppose they’re probably surprised that we turned down their offers of assistance because in most cases an earthquake of the magnitude that we’ve experienced would inevitably result in high casualty numbers and the need for humanitarian assistance,” he said. “We’re very grateful that the offers were made and fortunately we were able to say ‘not required’.”

A state of emergency declared soon after the quake would be reviewed today, officials said.

Saturday’s earthquake caused a mess of crumbled buildings, crushed cars and mangled roads which

Prime Minister John Key described as looking like parts of the city had been “put in the tumble dryer and been given a darn good shake”. But after the initial shock, New Zealanders quickly set about providing food and accommodation for those who had lost their homes.

With electricity and water supplies cut, neighbourhood barbecues were organised as families pooled food and water supplies. In rural areas, farmers set up a network of generators to ensure all milking would be completed as quickly as possible. Opposition leader Phil Goff said he was amazed at the attitude of a couple he met removing possessions from their house, which was only fit for demolition. “They were saying things like ‘well, it could be a lot worse, think of the people in Pakistan where their homes and property have been destroyed, they have nobody to help them out, their kids are suffering from disease’.”

Throughout the day the media arrived to collect stories of survival and found “an astonishing atmosphere of resilience”, the Sunday Star-Times reported. “Christchurch took on a carnival atmosphere as strangers compared notes. “A community rallied and shared its bottled water with its neighbours... even those who had lost almost everything were remarkably upbeat.” Roderick Smith and partner Nina refused to let the earthquake interrupt their wedding day and used the destruction as a backdrop for their wedding photos.

“All the places we were going to do photos were blocked (so) what we’ve been doing is driving around and finding nice looking rubble and making the most of a bad situation,” Nina told the Stuff website. The chapel where they held the wedding was unscathed but the reception venue was unusable so the party packed into a coffee shop instead. —AFP

Conservative’s final plea in Australia political impasse SYDNEY: Australia’s conservative leader Tony Abbott told three minority MPs who will decide if he should become prime minister that he was offering a “fresh start” in an 11th-hour plea for their support. Last month’s inconclusive elections left both Abbott and Prime Minister Julia Gillard short of the 76 seats needed to claim victory, and the question of who will govern rests with three independent rural lawmakers. The undecided trio - Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and outspoken maverick Bob Katter - are due to make their decision within days, and Gillard boosted her case Sunday by signing off on a request for political reforms.

But a defiant Abbott warned the men that a vote for Gillard’s ruling Labor party was “endorsing factional warlordism and... incompetence”, referring to Gillard’s ruthless axing of former PM Kevin Rudd shortly before the polls. “Fourteen million Australians have given the (opposition Liberal/National) coalition the most seats and the most votes,” Abbott wrote in an open letter published by the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. “But the election now turns on the decision of just three independent MPs.” Abbott touted his party as more sympathetic to the needs of people in rural electorates, despite reports that Windsor backed Labor’s plan for a National Broadband Network to connect country areas to high-speed Internet. He said: “Australia is far more likely to get a fresh start from a new government than from a Labor Party that’s humble only because it has no choice.”

But Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said

Abbott was trying to bully the independents, and said they were “people of integrity” who would make a decision in the national interest. “The coalition has become increasingly shrill, have increasingly gone from a position of talking about parliament being a more gentle place and there being more co-operation, to one of almost trying to intimidate people into making a decision in their favour,” Albanese told commercial television.

He also accused Abbott’s side of “dragging its feet” on the reforms, agreed to by Gillard, which include time limits on questions and answers in parliament and 24 hours’ notice of a no-confidence vote.

Put forward as a condition of Oakeshott’s backing, the reforms also guarantee that the independents will only support a no-confidence motion against the government under “extraordinary circumstances”. The coalition objects to a number of the measures and is yet to give them the green light. Abbott staged a dramatic comeback at the polls and needs three seats to fall over the line; Gillard has won over the lone Greens lawmaker, Adam Bandt, and another independent, Andrew Wilkie, and needs just two.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon said 76 seats would provide only “fragile” support and it would be preferable to have 77, but the public had spoken and it was now up to lawmakers to deliver stable government with the numbers it had. Katter told Dow Jones Newswires they were down to “last-minute negotiations”, while Windsor said it would “all be over” by tomorrow. —AFP

INTERNATIONAL

Monday, Septenber 6, 2010

11

Floods give renewed clout to Pakistan Army MULTAN, Pakistan: The message in black Urdu lettering on a white sack of supplies for flood relief says it all: “In tough times, the Pakistan Army is with you”. The powerful military has taken the lead in providing relief - dwarfing the civilian government - and in doing so has greatly enhanced its prestige and influence. And while nobody expects it to take over, the renewed clout of the army is perhaps the biggest political change brought by the floods, one likely to define its relationship with, and leverage over, the civilian government for years to come.

“The military has in fact expanded its interests through the distribution of relief aid,” said defence analyst Ayesha Siddiqa.

“There is nothing today which does not fall within the military’s purview.” The army, which became deeply unpopular in the final years of former president Pervez

Musharraf, who seized power in a coup in 1999 and stepped down in 2008, had already clawed back considerable influence over foreign and security policy. But in the flood relief it has become very visible as the only national institution with the manpower, the organisational skills and the equipment - including helicopters and boats - to help some 20 million affected by the floods.

At a boys’ college turned warehouse in Multan, the main city in south Punjab, soldiers work around the clock to assemble packages of emergency relief. With leave cancelled and rations donated to the cause, the sense of pride is palpable.

The commander in charge of the area has been on the go since the floods hit a month before, says Major Farooq Feroze, the officer in charge of public relations in Multan. “He is supervising each and every

movement,” he says.

“He keeps us all alert. He himself is sleepless.”

That is in stark contrast to the sluggish response of the civilian government, and the departure of President Asif Ali Zardari on a visit to France and Britain when the floods began. Technically, the army is working on the orders of the government, and at the operational level, civilian and military authorities are working together closely. “There is cooperation going on at every level,” says Brigadier Zahid Usman at a field turned helicopter base in the town of Jampur in south Punjab. “We know where they are going; they know where we are going.”

But the subtlety of that message is often lost in a country where much of the media is sympathetic to the army and where security officials grumble privately about the

failings of democracy and the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The army has no incentive to take over when the country faces so many problems, and it also benefits from having a civilian face authorising military operations against Taliban militants, for which public support is essential, analysts say.

One security official noted that the situation was considerably better than in Afghanistan, where US-led troops are trying to defeat an insurgency by military means, without the political infrastructure needed to win over the people. “There is a government here,” he said. “It’s not ideal.

It has great room for improvement, but it is functional, working and in power legally.

It’s better than the political dispensation in Afghanistan.” Yet at the same time, the army is in a stronger position to call the shots if the government is seen to be weak,

and to deflect any attempt by civilian authorities to limit its power.

According to defence analyst Siddiqa, the army was deliberately stressing the inefficiencies of the government to keep it, and Zardari, on the back foot.

“It is not because they want to get rid of him, they want to send a message,” she said. “It’s more of a warning shot right now.” “This is almost like pre-poll rigging.

Let the government serve its term. You destabilise it and keep it destabilised.”

The next election is not due until 2013 and the main opposition leader, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has shown no inclination to try to take power. He also has reasons to be wary of the military - he was ousted in the 1999 coup. But in the meantime, some officials speak privately about the possibility of a realignment among political parties to weaken Zardari, who

cannot be dismissed by constitutional means. In the absence of a coup, therefore, the only way to weaken him would be if the PPP itself were either split or sidelined through a rebellion by political allies and opponents, or possibly even through a vote of no confidence in the government.

In a country rife with rumour and conspiracy theories, it is impossible to predict exactly how the politics will play out. What is clear, however, is that the popular refrain in the last years of Musharraf’s rule - that “the worst democracy is better than the best dictatorship” - has lost its sheen. And the army, which has ruled Pakistan on-andoff since independence in 1947, has been able to present itself again as the saviour of the country. Or as a banner says on one of the colourfully painted trucks packed with relief supplies: “The Pakistan Army and the people are together.” — Reuters

Floods sweep towards another Pakistan town Survivors decry slow aid efforts KARACHI: Pakistani authorities were yesterday trying to protect another town from floodwaters in southern Sindh province, as the nation continues to grapple with its worst natural disaster in living memory. A month after mon-

SRINAGAR: Chairman of a moderate faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addresses an anti-India rally yesterday. — AFP

Afghan captors release veteran Japan reporter TOKYO: A Japanese journalist who was abducted by apparent Taleban militants in Afghanistan five months ago has been freed by his captors, reports said yesterday. Kosuke Tsuneoka, a freelance journalist and veteran of war zones, was released Saturday night in good health and was at the Japanese Embassy in Kabul, Kyodo News agency cited government sources as saying. Japan’s Foreign Ministry and its embassy in the Afghan capital declined to comment. Tsuneoka’s mother told Kyodo that her 41-year-old son had called home from the embassy after being released in the Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province.

Tsuneoka’s captors apparently decided to release him because he is a fellow Muslim, Kyodo said.

According to his personal website, Tsuneoka converted to the religion in 2000 while in Moscow. Tsuneoka had been missing since April 1, when he posted a message on Twitter saying he had traveled to a Taleban-controlled area in northern Afghanistan. Friends later received word that he had been kidnapped. Hopes for his release grew over the weekend after two new messages in English suddenly emerged on his Twitter account. He assured his followers that he was alive and in jail in Kunduz. It was not clear how or why the messages were sent.

This isn’t the first time Tsuneoka has been abducted. He went missing in Georgia in 2001 and was held for several months by unidentified indi-

viduals, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. He was freed during a Georgian military operation.

Tsuneoka is the latest of more than half a dozen foreign journalists kidnapped in Afghanistan, including two French reporters who disappeared after being seized last December in Kapisa province just outside Kabul. The two are believed to still be in captivity.

A New York Times reporter, David Rohde, escaped last year along with an Afghan colleague seven months after being kidnapped while interviewing insurgents in the eastern province of Logar. The pair, along with their Afghan driver, were held in numerous compounds in Afghanistan and Pakistan while their captors dithered over a ransom. Shortly after Rohde’s escape, another New York Times reporter, Stephen Farrell, and his Afghan translator were kidnapped by Taleban insurgents in Kunduz. The British-Irish Farrell was rescued soon after in a raid by British commandos in which the translator and a British commando were killed.

In Oct, 2008, Canadian Broadcasting Corp reporter Mellissa Fung was seized at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Kabul. She was released four weeks later after being held in a pit, chained and blindfolded. Around that time, Dutch journalist Joanie de Rijke was held for a week after being seized in the Surobi area east of Kabul. — AP

Taleban death threats hang over Afghanistan elections KABUL: Taleban insurgents appear to be making good on threats to kill candidates in Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections, adding a grim dimension to the ambitions of political hopefuls in the war-torn country. In recent weeks, three candidates and at least seven campaign workers have been killed, and many others kidnapped and injured, in attacks blamed on the Taleban, according to officials. More than 2,500 candidates will contest 249 seats in the lower house of the Afghan parliament, the Wolesi Jirga, in the country’s second parliamentary elections scheduled for September 18.

The attacks are part of the Taleban’s plan to disrupt the poll, said a spokesman for the group, deriding the election as “a process orchestrated by the foreign occupiers, for and in the interest of the foreign occupiers”. “We urge people not to participate in the election. Everything and everyone affiliated with the election is our target - candidates, security forces, campaigners, election workers, voters are all our targets,” spokesmen Zabiullah Mujahid told AFP, speaking from an undisclosed location.

The United States and NATO have almost 150,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, fighting an insurgency that has become increasingly virulent since the Taleban’s 1996-2001 regime was toppled in a US-led invasion. Taleban leaders at the grassroots have taken the directive to heart, with one commander in northern Balkh province evoking Mullah Omar, the one-eyed Taleban leader believed to be in Pakistan, to justify the violence.

“Such elections don’t have any legitimacy for us, since our leader Mullah Omar has already called for a boycott,” Mullah Saheb Khan said.

As the vote nears, and the pace and ferocity of the attacks intensifies, election officials have conceded that security in some areas is so poor they will not be able to get out the vote. The Independent Election Commission (IEC), which oversees the poll, has said that about four percent of the polling centres, mainly in the south and east where the war is fiercest, will not open because security cannot be guaranteed. Candidates and their supporters have been bombed, kidnapped, shot and, in one case in troubled Ghazni province south of Kabul, beheaded.

In the latest incident, 28 IEC employees were

reportedly kidnapped on Thursday in northern Baghlan province, and released after the intervention of tribal elders. News reports said they had been tortured by their Taleban captors and warned not to work for the IEC. Their ordeal followed the kidnap in eastern Herat a week earlier of 10 people working for candidate Fawzya Galani. Five were killed. The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in Washington, citing at least two kidnappings, said deteriorating security in the formerly peaceful north “has prevented campaigning and voter education programs in certain districts”.

The violence drew condemnation from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who called for security measures “that allow candidates and voters, particularly women, to fully participate”. US monitoring group Democracy International called on the Afghan government “to show that it has the ability to protect candidates and their supporters from enemies of a democratic Afghanistan”. The Taleban waged a similar anti-vote campaign against last August’s presidential elections, with hundreds of people killed or injured across the country.

That poll was bankrolled by the international community, including the United Nations’ mission in Afghanistan, which marked it as a vital step on the country’s path to becoming a fully-fledged democracy. This time, the UN, the European Union and members of the international community and NATO have been silent, preferring to characterise the election as “Afghan-led,” said a Western diplomat who asked not to be named. “It became so embarrassing last year that no one is willing to be associated with what could well be another debacle,” he said, referring to the violence and massive fraud that marred the presidential poll.

Nevertheless, candidates have signed up knowing they are in the Taleban’s sights. Janan Mossazai, a 30-year-old first-time candidate who recently returned to Afghanistan after studies in central Asia and Canada, said: “I’m aware of the risks and dangers that are out there that threaten every individual candidate. “I made my decision to run with that awareness. Afghans who want to make a better future for Afghanistan have to make sacrifices.” — AFP

Surging floodwaters continue to threaten towns in southern Sindh, where 19 of its 23 districts have been deluged and more than one million people displaced. “We are trying our best to protect Johi town, threatened by ravaging floodwaters,” district administration chief Iqbal Memon told AFP. The town, which is 315 km north of Karachi, has a population of 60,000 and officials fear that floodwaters will breach surrounding embankments unless they are quickly strengthened. “The floodwaters are fast heading towards Johi town after inundating most parts of Khairpur Nathan Shah town and Mehar town and several surrounding villages in Dadu district,” he said. “We are right now employing all available means to strengthen the protective embankments around Johi but the threat still remains,” he said, adding that 70 percent of the town’s population had already fled to safer areas.

Memon said 90 percent of the people of Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar town and surrounding villages, which had a joint population of around 300,000 had fled to nearby towns that have been spared by floods. “However, a few thousand people who remain stranded in Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar town and surrounding villages are being evacuated to safety by naval boats and helicopters”.

“I have been stranded here with at least 10 other villagers since yesterday after water inundated our village and we immediately need help and food,” Usman Qureshi, resident of a small village near Khairpur Nathan Shah village, said. Qureshi told AFP by mobile phone: “We need help, water and food... We beg you to please contact rescuers and ask them to evacuate us,” said Qureshi, who took shelter at the lone two-storey building in the village.

Meanwhile, army troops rescued 300 people from the flooded Jati town and 47 from Khairpur Nathan Shah to safer places, the military said in a statement.

While the international community has donated $700 million, domestic anger has been mounting against the widely unpopular civilian government, which has come under fire for its handling of the crisis. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday told the lower house of the federal parliament that relief efforts would be extended to six months.

He said that early recovery phase shall be completed by Dec 30, while damage and need assessment by World Bank and Asian Development Bank would be completed by Sept 30. The World Bank has raised flood aid to Pakistan to one billion dollars, while the IMF has approved 450 million dollars in emergency financing to help the nation cope.

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference on Thursday appealed to Muslims everywhere to direct their zakat tithes - donations required under Islam - to relief for Pakistan, rather than leave Pakistanis “alone to their fate”.

However, the UN has warned that the slow pace of aid pledges could impede relief operations and says Pakistan faces a triple threat to food supplies - with seeds, crops and incomes hit. The floods have ruined 3.6 million hectares of rich farmland, and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said farmers urgently needed seeds to plant for next year’s crops.— AFP

soons caused devastating floods throughout the country, submerging an area the size of England, eight million people remain dependent on handouts for their survival, which many say are too slow coming.

KHAIRPUR NATHAN SHAH, Pakistan: Pakistan flood survivors evacuate the flooded area of Khairpur Nathan Shah yesterday. —AFP

Nepal again fails to elect new PM KATHMANDU: Nepal’s parliament failed for the sixth time to elect a prime minister yesterday, as the house speaker warned of a “serious crisis” if a new government is not in place soon. The country has been without a government since June 30, when former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal stood down under pressure from the opposition Maoist party to pave the way for a new power-sharing administration. Since then, political leaders have been unable to agree on the shape of the new administration and five earlier votes to try to select a new prime minister have failed.

The Maoists, who fought a decade-long civil war against the state before transforming themselves into a political party ahead of 2008 elections, hold the largest number of seats in parliament, but not enough to govern alone. Party leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda, is standing against Ram Chandra Poudel, chairman

of the second-largest party in parliament, the centrist Nepali Congress. But neither candidate has been able to secure the backing of the rival parties they need to form a new coalition government.

The Maoists are in talks with a grouping of four small parties that collectively hold 82 of the 601 seats in parliament, but no deal has yet been done. Dahal secured 240 votes to Poudel’s 122 in yesterday’s poll, in which the third-largest party, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), remained neutral. It has called on both candidates to withdraw from the race and for the parties to open negotiations on forming a power-sharing government.

In the meantime, the country is being ruled by a caretaker government with limited powers, a situation that has delayed much-needed public spending in one of the world’s poorest countries. Before the vote,

the speaker of the house Subas Nembang said people were growing increasingly frustrated by the stalemate and warned of a “serious crisis” if it persisted.

“The impasse has raised questions about the democratic system,” he told AFP. “The country has been ruled by a caretaker government for two months, resulting in a delay to the annual budget, and it is heading towards a serious crisis.”

Nepal’s parliament, or Constituent Assembly, was elected in May 2008 with a two-year mandate to complete the country’s post-war peace process and draft a new national constitution. But it has failed to complete either task, hampered by disagreements between the Maoists and their rivals.

Lawmakers voted on May 31 to extend its term to give them time to complete the constitution and the peace process but little progress has been made since then. — AFP

in the news India tests cruise missile NEW DELHI: India successfully tested yesterday a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile as part of ongoing trials to fine-tune its ability to hit targets, an official said. Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan regularly test missiles, and normally only give each other advance notice for long-range launches. It was not immediately clear whether India informed Pakistan ahead of Sunday’s test. The missile was fired from the country’s testing range in the eastern state of Orissa, a defense official said. He said the BrahMos can be used for surgical strikes, such as targeting terrorist training camps or underground bunkers. The missile can fly at 2.8 times the speed of sound and can be launched from land, ships, submarines and aircraft. It can carry conventional warheads weighing 280 to 300 kg and has a maximum range of 290 km. The BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, has already been deployed by one army battalion. However, Indian defense research scientists frequently conduct tests of the missile to improve its performance, including its ability to hit targets, the official said. The BrahMos is named after India’s Brahmaputra and Russia’s Moskva rivers.

Two NATO soldiers killed

CALCUTTA: Nuns of Missionaries of Charity sing hymns during a feast day to mark Mother Teresa’s 13th death anniversary yesterday. — AFP

KABUL: NATO yesterday announced the death of two foreign soldiers, one of them American, in Afghanistan’s insurgent heartland as the Taleban was blamed for attacks that wounded civilians across the country. One soldier whose nationality was not given, died Sunday in an insurgent attack, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement. Another, confirmed as an American, died Saturday following a Taleban-style bomb attack, ISAF said.

opinion

12

Monday, September 6, 2010

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher

YOUSUF S. ALYAN Editor-in-Chief

ABD AL-RAHMAN ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24835619 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait.

E MAIL :info@kuwaittimes.net Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

issues

Mideast: At least they are talking

A

fter nearly three decades of failed peace negotiations, Israelis and Palestinians are understandably dubious about the prospects for success of the latest round of talks, this one between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, starting in Washington on Thursday.

President Obama had to drag the leaders to the bargaining table after a 20-month hiatus in face-to-face contact between the two sides. And although Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II are jetting in for the launch, Hebrew and Arabic media already have dismissed the event as a "photo opportunity," a "mirage" and a meeting to give the "impression" of peacemaking.

Obama has set a deadline of one year to reach a comprehensive peace deal, but Middle East-watchers are asking if the talks will last even one month in light of the Sept. 26 expiration of Israel's moratorium on settlement construction, which Netanyahu has said he will not extend. Abbas has said he'll withdraw from negotiations if settlement expansion resumes.

Abbas' rivals in the Islamic movement Hamas, of course, have branded the talks "illegitimate"; they're not even invited to the table.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu's right-wing coalition partner, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of the religious Shas party, said Saturday

that Abbas "and all these evil people should perish from this Earth." And Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman suggested that what was needed in lieu of a one-year deadline were "lower expectations."

No one has illusions that making peace in the Middle East will be easy. Obama is investing significant political capital in getting the two sides together, but even he understands that talking is not necessarily the same as negotiating, let alone negotiating in good faith, and it's not yet clear which this will be.

Yet Obama is right to push.

What alternative is there?

Besides, talking might eventually lead to serious negotiations if the US government is serious about reaching a deal and is willing to take political risks to get there. Both sides know the issues - the borders of a Palestinian state, the future of Jerusalem, what to do about settlements and what will become of the Palestinian refugees.

The contours of a deal also are generally understood.

Obama's challenge is to press both sides at the table to make the painful concessions necessary to reach an agreement that creates a sovereign Palestinian state while also guaranteeing Israeli security, and to bring the outliers on board. Whether this can realistically be done in a year is certainly debatable, but this much is clear: Talking is better than not talking, because in the Middle East, the alternative is fighting.— MCT

Faux exit from Iraq

By Charles V Pena

W

hen the US Army's 4th Stryker brigade combat team crossed the border into Kuwait last month, President Obama hailed the occasion as the end of an era. "We are keeping the promise I made when I began my campaign for the presidency," the president proclaimed.

"By the end of this month, we will have removed 100,000 troops from Iraq and our combat mission will be over." And on Tuesday night, he drove the point home in his address to the nation. The president was technically correct.

But the story is far from over. The stated rationale for the US withdrawal was to avoid "an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences." With 50,000 US troops still there, however, the withdrawal is a faux exit.

Until all US troops - combat or otherwise - have vacated Iraq, we are left with an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs and undetermined consequences. To begin, 50,000 soldiers is not insignificant. That's roughly the equivalent of three divisions or 10 brigades. They may not be designated as combat troops, but they still wear uniforms and carry weapons, which will not be lost on the civilian population. Imagine if there were 50,000 armed foreign soldiers in the United States. It's not likely the American public would take kindly to such an occupation. So why should we assume the Iraqis will?

The truth is that occupation is

occupation - it doesn't matter if it's 50,000 troops or 150,000 troops.

And the president hasn't set a timetable for when the residual military advisers will be out of the country. Until then, they will continue to be a lightning rod - not just for Iraqi insurgents, but for radical Islamists everywhere. One of the most important lessons of 9/11, which we apparently still haven't learned, is that the United States was targeted, Osama bin Laden has claimed, because US military forces were in Muslim countries (at the time, 5,000 US troops in Saudi Arabia).

Continuing to occupy Iraq - no matter how "small" the force gives credence to the accusation that we are waging a war against Islam. This rings especially true to many Muslims with the surge in Afghanistan bringing troop strength there to more than 90,000. It would certainly be better for the Iraqi people if their country was not plagued by violence. But local threats to the Iraqi government are not threats to the United States. Insurgents and terrorists in Iraq do not have the global reach Al-Qaeda had on 9/11 when it attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Moreover, the United States is not the target of Iraqi violence.

And while it might be preferable for Iraq to be a stable democracy, the only requirement for US national security is that the Iraqi government - whatever its form and composition - not harbor or give aid to Al-Qaeda or any other terrorist organizations that would and could attack the United States. —MCT

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.

Many desperate Pakistanis still wait for flood aid

By Ravi Nessman

A

bdul Rehman and his family live under a tree next to a pile of rubble on a newly created island where his house used to be. In the month since his home was destroyed in the raging floodwaters that inundated Pakistan, he has gotten no aid of any kind from the government or private aid groups to help him survive, he said. Frustrated and desperate, he joined a protest with dozens of other villagers that blocked the main road in this area 10 days ago.

In response, police opened a criminal investigation against him, he said.

And he still hasn't gotten any food or even a tarp to shield his family of six from the blazing summer sun, he said. More than 3 million people have yet to receive desperately needed food aid, according to the UN, and the Pakistani government says nearly 1 million people have received no help of any sort. "They need everything," said Ahmad Kamal, spokesman for Pakistan's disaster management agency, who appealed to international donors to send tents, ambulances, mobile clinics and hygiene kits.

The lack of aid has led to anger against an already-fragile government that is seen as a key US ally in the battle against Islamic extremists along the frontier with Afghanistan. The anger itself is hampering relief efforts,

with the Red Cross twice halting distributions after being confronted by mobs of people upset they were not getting enough aid, the organization said Thursday. Part of the problem is simply the scale of the crisis. The floods that began their slow wave of destruction across Pakistan at the end of July swamped as much as one-fifth of the country, leaving 8 million people dependent on aid, according to the UN. And that number keeps growing as more areas are affected. "This seems to be a never-ending disaster," said Stacey Winston, a UN spokeswoman.

But many of those affected also blame the problem on corruption by local government officials, who steer aid to their supporters and withhold it from others. Of the 32 families in Daira Dinpanah, about 90 miles west of the city of Multan, only seven who have ties to local political leaders have received aid of any kind, said Khalid Iqbal, 35, who stands on the side of the road clutching a list of all those needing assistance, waiting for an aid group to pass by. The remainder have survived by scrounging meals at the local mosque, or, like Rehman, temporarily bouncing between relatives' houses before returning home.

A month after the flood hit, the village's fields are still filled with water and its roads are a muddy swamp.

Rehman's house is surrounded by

floodwaters and reachable only by a makeshift bridge of two steel girders laid end to end, held aloft in the middle by a bed sunk in the water. His snack shop on the road is gone and even the ledger where he recorded the debts his customers owed him was destroyed.

"There is nothing for us beside these broken homes," the 30-year-old said, surveying the piles of mud and brick where his house once stood.

"We left this area in the night, at 2 am, with only the clothes we were wearing. We still have only the clothes we were wearing. "The government should give us shelter, give us money to rebuild our houses and to buy some food. If it can't do that, than at least it should give us tents so that our children live in respectable conditions.

Here we are living in the open sky.

How can we survive like this?" he said.

Ghulam Mustafa, 30, said he only received food once, a package of flour and other relief goods sufficient to feed a family of six for a week, but only enough to sustain his family of 10 for a few days. When he later appealed to local officials for more food, they sent him away, he said. "We are running behind the (aid) trucks, but they give us nothing. They are not listening to us," he said. "Nobody even came here to ask us, 'What do you need?"'

Without the tent Mustafa said he des-

perately needs, he, his wife and his eight children are sleeping in the rubble of their house under a blue tarp borrowed from a neighbor. "But he keeps asking for it back," Mustafa said.

Local opposition politician Javed Akhter said the vast majority of the government aid is being funneled to the supporters of the local administration, and rued that his relatively well off region has been reduced to a town of beggars. Kamal said workers from the disaster management agency sent aid to the affected areas but could not monitor how it was distributed. Malik Ahmed Hunajara, the local representative to the provincial assembly, denied political favors were influencing aid distribution.

"This is not true," he said. "There is a huge population that is affected and the government cannot give to everybody." Local and international aid organizations were trying to meet the shortfall.

The army was as well. Lt Iqbal Khizar and his unit have been roaming remote parts of Muzaffargarh district with trucks filled with aid in recent days, giving emergency help to those that have fallen through the cracks.

In other places, Islamist groups some with ties to extremists - were filling the vacuum. The only source of food for the Tibba Jamal Wala tent camp along the side of the road in

Muzaffargarh is the Islamic group Falah-e-Insaniat, which is believed to be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the banned group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

"We have to provide food for people in the far areas where no one is going," said Hijrat Khan, a relief official with the group. He overseas dozens of people cooking meals of rice and potatoes that are then shoveled into plastic bags, stacked in vats, loaded on trucks and delivered to flood victims every evening. The group has provided cooked meals to 1.5 million flood victims, treated more than 300,000 patients and given rations to 85,000 families, Khan said.

At the camp, residents said the government had given them tents, but nothing else, since the camp was established three weeks ago. Three children died from untreated diarrhea, residents said. The chief minister of the province came recently, said the government was trying its best, but he brought no aid, said Aijaz Hussein, 27. On Wednesday, the residents held a protest blocking the road. On Thursday, some government officials came to take a survey of the camp, but again brought no aid. "I don't know what they are thinking, what is in their minds. They provide us nothing," Hussein said. "Now we will not support the government. Whoever helps us we will support." — AP

World cannot afford to shun Pakistan

By Michael Nazir-Ali

T

he world must not abandon Pakistan to the religious extremists, says Michael Nazir-Ali. On a recent Pakistan International Airlines flight from Karachi to Lahore, a local - and somewhat revealing fashion show played out on the TV screens. Among those having to watch were a large number of people returning from the hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah.

This scene is but a microcosm of contemporary Pakistan.

On the one hand, there are signs everywhere not just of personal piety but of a narrow and intolerant ideology based on religion, and, on the other, of people, especially the young, straining to break through the barriers of convention. The clash is evident everywhere, with the same newspapers, magazines and television channels carrying Islamic revivalist messages and permissive films.

How this clash is resolved will be a clue to the destiny of the country.

This destiny is one that, in the medium term, is fraught with difficulty. The noted journalist Ahmad Rashid has said that Pakistan is going through political, economic and terrorist crises simultaneously. It is impossible in these circumstances to be ambitious, for example, about infrastructure and the urgent energy needs of the country. The confidence of international financial institutions is being bought by the strict and immediate implementation of harsh IMF policies, especially the removal of subsidies on domestic gas and electricity consumption. Needless

to say, this has huge political implications in terms of public unrest.

The political situation remains very fragile, with the parties, the judiciary and, of course, the military all, publicly

or privately, jockeying for power. Although there are encouraging signs, levels of violence remain obstinately high.

There are daily reports of suicide bombings, political assassinations and kidnappings. There

is evidence that attacks on minorities, such as Christians, Shiite Muslims and the Ahmadiyya are a deliberate attempt by the Pakistani Taleban and their related "lashkars" - tribal militias - to

widen the conflict in the area.

Independent surveys show that over 90% of Pakistanis believe that religious extremism is the greatest single threat to the country. As someone said to me recently: "It seems that an

SINDH: Pakistan army soldiers help a woman to a boat in Khairpur Nathan in Dadu district of Sindh province in Pakistan. The floods, spawned by heavy rains weeks ago in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and elsewhere in the mountains of northern Pakistan, have killed more than 1,600 people and affected about 20 million people. — AP

extremist 3% are holding the other 97% to ransom." A close encounter with extremism and terrorism has made even previously sympathetic Pakistanis realize the mortal danger they are in. This must be taken into account when assessing the effects of the "war on terror" on Pakistani public opinion. It may not be as uniformly hostile to combating terrorism as is sometimes made out by the press.

The means used and the time taken, as well as civilian casualties, are crucial in determining the direction in which public opinion will go.

For these reasons Pakistan should not be isolated from the mainstream of the international community. It is important also to make sure that ordinary Pakistanis remain in contact with the outside world. The response by the international community to the earthquake in Kashmir in 2005 was hugely appreciated by ordinary people in Pakistan. A generous and timely response to the recent floods is yet another sign that the world has not abandoned Pakistan, whether to natural disaster or to extremists.

Pakistan will be a litmus test as to whether the international community and the Muslim world can halt the advance of extremist ideologies based on religion. It is vital for us to cooperate with those in Pakistan and elsewhere who have similar aims. These may be NGOs, universities, the media, women's and minority groups and, indeed, progressive elements in government. The world needs a stable, strong and moderate Pakistan, and so do its own citizens. — Guardian

analysis

Monday, september 6, 2010

13

A rising Turkey without Europe?

By Fadi Hakura

I

n the midst of European antipathy regarding Turkish accession to the EU, Turkey is attempting to chart an alternative path to secular democracy and economic prosperity. Yet Turkey should go one step further and question the unbridled axiom that, without Europe, it is destined to the scrapheap of Muslim radicalization or unrepentant nationalism. Since the end of the Ottoman Empire, the conventional wisdom that Europe is Turkey's ultimate savior implies that Turkey is unable or unwilling to become a liberal democracy absent of external agency. This fallacy is not rooted in cultural or political realities, but is an accident of history.

While the European Union accession process is comatose, Turkish society is undergoing a transformation to greater democracy, secularism and socio-economic rejuvenation.

Surveys indicate that Turks favor a more spiritual vision of Islam, greater public accountability of government officials and state institutions, and a deeper engagement with the global economy. Not dissimilar to Western democracies, the population wants civilian authorities to deliver employment opportunities, high quality education and a world-class healthcare system. The ideological battles of yesteryear attract scant attention at best.

India's economic success offers a sobering challenge to the belief that a Turkey unaffiliated with Europe is doomed to eternal stagnation. Only three

ISTANBUL: Irish band U2's singer Bono (left) is greeted by Sumeyye Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's daughter in Istanbul yesterday. U2 will give a concert on Monday in Istanbul.

Erdogan is seen in the background. — AP decades ago, it was fashionable to envision India as an economic basket case condemned to low annual growth rates. Hindu culture was falsely seen as antithetical to economic growth, in sharp contrast to the galloping economic expansion of nonHindu Southeast Asia.

Replace Hinduism with Islam and Turkey finds itself in a similar position to India.

Culturally, the unspoken assumption goes, Turkey does

not have the wherewithal to resolve the Kurdish problem, embrace a new civilian and democratic constitution, solidify secularism among a Muslimmajority populace nor accept social freedom as a bedrock of society. Yet, this viewpoint betrays the achievements of nation-building after only 87 years of Turkey's existence, a mere drop in the ocean of history. In fact, unlike the Balkans, Turkey has largely succeeded in

integrating a diverse group of ethnicities after the disintegration of former Ottoman glory. It is also establishing a functioning legal system, entrenching quasisecular and democratic traditions, and forging a class of entrepreneurs who are making waves in markets in Europe, Middle East, Russia, Central Asia and Africa in the areas of construction, agriculture and textiles. This in no way suggests that Turkey does not face

major challenges. It surely does.

To start with, Turkey has failed to adequately address the disenchantment of a significant segment of its Kurdish population over cultural rights and poverty.

Its winner-take-all politics, which is dismissive of minority views; reactive nationalist sentiments; mistrust of nonMuslims; and enduring obsession with social control at the level of the ruling elite are at variance with a diversifying and

modernizing Turkey. In other words, Turkey's society and business community are uncharacteristically steaming ahead of its politicians in terms of adopting modern political and social values. Urbanization, economic globalization and democratic progress are changing societal outlook and traditions.

Despite its forward, albeit sometimes halting dynamism, Turkey is still categorized as a conflict-ridden country whether between Turks and Kurds, Islam and secularism, or East and West. Witness the raging debates over Turkey's alleged abandonment of Western alliances in favor of an Eastern orientation. These debates ignore public opinion, which surveys suggest prefers international cooperation with Europe, and particularly Germany, rather than with Saudi Arabia, Iran or Russia. So, there is little risk of an Eastward-looking or a religiously politicized Turkey in the absence of a credible EU accession process. Europe is committing a major error in casting Turkey aside. Turkey stands out as a real beacon of hope and inspiration to many countries, both Muslim and non-Muslim, fashioning a future relying on its own wits. For Turkey, however, a reduced dependency on the European Union will finally debunk the myth that only Europe can spur the liberalization of Turkey and, by extension, of the Arab countries of the Middle East.

Fadi Hakura is a specialist on Turkey at Chatham House and a United Nations Global Expert.—CGNews

Heavy price to ending birthright citizenship

By Julie M Weise

W

e can already see the future of our nation if it renounces birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants, and it isn't pretty. Dragging economies, new forms of fraud, a disenfranchised underclass, children deported to places they have never even visited - countries that do not have birthright citizenship have experienced these problems and more, and have been forced to reconsider their practices. Germany, Israel and Japan are just three of those countries, and their experiences have much to teach us.

The current debate about the future of the Constitution's 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship for all born on US soil, centers on the question of individual fairness: Should these children have the right to US citizenship although their birth on US soil was the result of their parents' unauthorized presence here? The debate is really about what citizenship and belonging mean in the United States profound and important issues but not ones that draw easy consensus. But if

we ask what will happen to our society as a whole if we eliminate birthright citizenship, the facts become easy to see.

Since the birth of modern Germany, that country has followed the jus sanguinis, or "right of blood," principle of citizenship, in which any German descendant could claim German citizenship while the children of foreigners - even legal immigrants - born in Germany could not. To meet labor needs while keeping Germany as German as possible, the government implemented guest-worker programs to bring in foreigners for temporary stays.

But things did not work out as planned. Some guest workers remained, and as the economy grew and the workforce aged, immigrants kept coming - both inside and outside the law. Their German-born noncitizen children began to form a vast underclass. These children had known only Germany and German in their young lives but were stuck in a no man's land as people without a country.

So in 2000, Germany made its citizenship laws just a little more like ours. Children born on German soil

could claim German citizenship, but only if at least one of their parents had lived in the country legally for eight years. The children born in Germany of two undocumented parents still are not German citizens at birth. The result is an underground market in fraudulent paternity, in which German men who are citizens - derogatorily known as imbissvaeter, or fast-food fathers - claim to be a child's father in exchange for a fee, thus enabling the child to be a German citizen.

Far from promoting the rule of law, Germany's approach to citizenship has created a mess. Unless the US implemented mandatory DNA testing, which many would consider an invasion of privacy, it is likely that a similar black market in paternity would emerge here if birthright citizenship were eliminated. Over its 60 years of existence, Israel also has had a jus sanguinis system, in which Jews the world over and the descendants of Israeli Arabs can claim citizenship but the children of foreign workers born on Israeli soil cannot.

Like Germany, Israel sought to meet labor needs by importing temporary workers - largely from Asia and

Eastern Europe - who did not end up being so temporary. The result: The Israeli government announced in August plans to deport 400 Israeli-born children of non-Jewish immigrants.

These are children who speak Hebrew, have always expected to perform the obligatory military service that Israel requires of its citizens and know Israel as their only home.

The controversy is dividing Israel.

The national organization of Holocaust survivors has called for a halt to the deportations, expressing its sense of shame that "a Jewish government could operate without a conscience and in such an inhumane way." Israelis have taken to the streets to demand that their system move just a step toward the U.S. system and at least grant these children legal residency status.

Some say birthright citizenship motivates immigration, and thus a country without it will attract fewer immigrants. Well, not in Japan. Japan is an island nation, has never had a large guest-worker program and does not confer birthright citizenship. But in recent decades, these policies became a drag on the economy, creating labor

shortages and making it difficult to attract high-skilled immigrants.

Change has been slow, but Japan is reexamining its approach to immigration and has given residency status to tens of thousands of "foreigners" born on Japanese soil. Though Japan has fewer immigrants than most developed countries, in 2008 more immigrants than ever before - including 100,000 undocumented immigrants - lived within its borders. In recent decades, other countries such as Australia and Britain that once conferred automatic birthright citizenship have added limitations for the children of undocumented immigrants. They too found that restrictions on birthright citizenship did not slow undocumented immigration. Americans will have different opinions on what is fair to taxpayers or innocent children, to would-be immigrants waiting "in line" abroad or undocumented parents already here, to low-skilled American workers or striving newcomers seeking the American dream. What we have seen, however, is that when a country does not offer citizenship to all born on its soil, society as a whole suffers the consequences.—MCT

Trying to make sense of North Korea I

f extraterrestrial creatures ever land on this planet and an intermediary is needed to meet with them, earthlings could do worse than to send former President Jimmy Carter. After his latest trip to Pyongyang to negotiate with the North Korean government, he is well-equipped to try to decipher the motives of strange aliens who do not behave according to our ideas of rationality. Carter was able to persuade the regime of Kim Jong Il to release American Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labor for entering the country illegally.

The harsh penalty may be attributable to the North Koreans' alarm at anyone lunatic enough to want to sneak in rather than out.

The odd thing about this visit - well, odder than most visits to the Hermit Kingdom - was that Carter came at the invitation of Kim, who apparently didn't think his visitor was important enough to stick around for. He took the occasion to absent himself to China. As with most events involving the regime, there was a lot of idle speculation about Kim's reasons, but no useful information. One possibility is that Kim, who at age 68 is believed to be in failing health, was in a hurry to introduce his Chinese benefactors to his heir apparent, Kim Jong Un, who happens to be the Dear Leader's third son.

Apparently, the dictatorship of the proletariat relies heavily on family connections. It might surprise Karl Marx to learn that in the 21st century, rulers who claim him as inspiration, such as Kim and Fidel Castro, operate

CHILGOK: South Korean soldiers play the roles of South Korean forces and invading North Korean soldiers during a re-enactment of the 1950 battle of Nakdong River, during the first year of the 1950-53 Korean War at Waegwan in Chilgok, about 290 km southeast of Seoul. The Korean peninsula remained tense in the wake of the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in March blamed on North Korea and subsequent US-South Korean naval exercises in the Yellow Sea, denounced by the North as a preparation for war. —- AFP like medieval monarchs in transferring power. Why Kim would pick his third son to succeed him rather than either of his first two is another mystery. One may have disqualified himself by traveling to Japan on a counterfeit passport, allegedly in an effort to visit Disneyland. Another has a

reputation as "girlish." Son No. 3, thought to be about 27, is young, but is said to resemble his father in physique and viciousness.

The latter trait matters greatly to a regime that specializes in thuggery and threats. The latest example: the reported sinking of a South Korean naval vessel last

spring in South Korean waters, an unprovoked act of war.

Although everyone knows it was the work of a North Korean submarine, hardly anyone has the stomach for military retaliation.

The maddening thing is that North Korea would undoubtedly be pulverized in a war with South

Korea and the United States, but the damage the nuclear-armed state could inflict while losing is too high to pay.

So unless China is uncharacteristically willing to economically squeeze its client state, North Korea will probably get off easy, as it often does. Xenophobic, bel-

licose and clinging to a form of government that the 20th century exposed as criminal folly, North Korea's leaders may not understand many things about the modern world. They do know the one thing they care about: how to keep their power and survive in it.—MCT

focus

Foreign women are treated like slaves

By Frida Ghitis

W

hen Mrs L P Ariyawathie showed up at the hospital in the town of Kamburupitiya, near the southern tip of Sri Lanka, few could imagine that the 49-year-old mother of three would make headlines across the world. Normally, the news from Sri Lanka fails to garner much international attention.

Ariyawhathie's story, however, managed what decades of civil war, suicide bombings and last year's bloody end to a brutal war failed to do: It made the world pay attention.

At first, the woman whose eyes still radiate intense sadness told a story almost too bizarre to believe, except that Sri Lankans have already heard disturbing tales from poor friends traveling to strange lands to earn a living. Those stories are often most outrageous when they describe the experiences of women traveling to Saudi Arabia, as Ariyawhathie did.

In May, she started working as a housekeeper with a Saudi family. The suffering began immediately, with cruel mockery by her employer every time she tried to speak the few words in Arabic she had learned in preparation to leave her home and her family and travel to the mysterious kingdom.

Before long, the taunts turned to torture. Then one day, after she accidentally broke a plate, her boss asked if she was blind, aiming his hand toward one of her eyes. When she raised her arm over her face, the first nail went in. By the time she made it back home to Sri Lanka and arrived at the hospital, her Saudi employer had hammered 24 nails and needles into her hands, legs and forehead.

This is not another story about the unspeakable sorrow that poverty inflicts on its victims. It's about how some of the wealthiest, most privileged people on Earth fail the most basic test of humanity, and how the time has come for the Saudi government, which never tires of proclaiming its piousness - to make reforms aimed at protecting the most vulnerable in its midst.

Saudi Arabia hosts 8 million

foreigners, mostly poor people from Asia and the Middle East, desperate for work. Hundreds of thousands are women employed as domestic workers, living in conditions that are often no better than slavery.

Some 400,000 Sri Lankans live there, mostly women working in private homes. Too many of them experience horrific abuse, including beatings, rape and even murder. Sri Lankan politician Ranjan Ramanayake says he frequently receives pleading calls from relatives of workers in the Gulf. "Saudi Arabia is the worst," he noted. "It is followed

by Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and Abu Dhabi. Our mothers, sisters and daughters undergo unspeakable harassment."

Under a Saudi system called Kafala, workers become practically property of employers, surrendering their passport on arrival, becoming trapped in a country where law and culture leave laborers, especially foreigners, with few rights. The situation for migrant women impossible as it would seem - is far worse. Nonpayment of wages across the board has been thoroughly documented by human rights and labor organizations, as have harsh working and living conditions. But nothing compares to the plight of South Asian women in Saudi Arabia, and for that matter in much of the Middle East.

There is no shortage of examples. Earlier this year, 26year-old Balakrishnan Dharshan, who had left the Sri Lankan city of Kandy to work in Saudi Arabia, was found dead, her body covered with burn marks. A 25year-old Indonesian housekeeper lost fingers, toes and part of a foot after her employer kept her tied in the bathroom. A Saudi paper reported last year that the Sri Lankan embassy receives 10 runaway maids every day. The situation is so desperate that India and Nepal have already banned their women from accepting placements in Saudi Arabia, following thousands of abuse reports. Kafala ensures that workers have practically no recourse and often no way out.

Attitudes toward women, nonMuslims, foreigners and workers in menial occupations set the stage for brutality and impunity.—MCT

Mixed report card for Hungarian new govt

By Janos Gal

A

t home at least, the popularity of Hungary's new Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who secured an historic two-thirds majority in general elections in April, remains unbroken. With the government marking its 100th day in power on Monday, opinion polls show support for the charismatic leader still at an astonishing 64 percent, making the 47-year-old the country's most popular premier ever. In key municipal elections coming up next month, Orban and his centreright Fidesz party look certain to consolidate their power even further.

Nevertheless, outside Hungary, the premier's image is much less positive, as a result of his perceived attempts to curtail media freedom and renege on Budapest's commitments under a multi-billion-euro (-dollar) rescue package agreed with the International Monetary Fund and the European Union back in 2008. Analysts see Orban's first 100 days as a series of blunders and misshaps. Orban and Fidesz "have improvised their way through most of the first 100 days, largely in an effort to keep their awesome popularity intact long enough to win the October municipal elections," said Political Capital analyst Alex Kuli.

"But improvisation has caused some serious missteps ... giving the appearance that there is nobody in the driver's seat." Orban won his landslide victory on a popular backlash against the drastic belt-tightening that the previous Socialist administration had embarked upon in order to meet the conditions of the IMF and EU bailout.

In return for that 20-billion-euro (25-billion-dollar) financial lifeline, Budapest agreed to curb its huge public deficit, slash public spending and get its finances and economy in order.

But Orban has failed to come

up with clear and convincing policies so far, analysts said.

Instead, he has opted to play the populist card and be seen as a strong man who insists that enough is enough with regard to spending cuts. He effectively binned the pledge to bring the government deficit to below 3.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) next year and repeatedly accused the IMF of meddling in Hungary's domestic affairs.

Doubts about the new administration's competence in economic matters arose very early on when, in a major communication blunder, a top official sent the forint into a tailspin by likening Hungary's situation to that of Greece. "They didn't realize that it's OK to say this kind of thing when you're in opposition, but not when you are running the country," said Kuli at Political Capital. A proposed financial sector tax to plug the gaping hole in Hungary's purse only served to cement such doubts.

The government hopes the levy will raise 650 million euros, sorely needed if Hungary is to bring down its public deficit ratio to 3.8 percent this year as promised. But the tax has come under fire not least from the IMF and the EU, which believe it will harm the investment climate and hit economic growth.

Peter Tolgyessy, a former Fidesz member and now a political analyst and constitutional expert, said Orban was not cutting taxes, as promised during the election campaign. "Rather, he's hiking them with the bank tax which will be passed on to customers." Orban had not even started "to solve the problems in strategic areas such as the railway, education or healthcare. The country is at the nercy of the global economy and the financial markets," Tolgyessy complained. It was in fact the bank tax that led to the collapse of talks with IMF and the EU in mid-July. —AFP

NEWS

14

Monday, September 6, 2010

Russia struggles to stem stubborn Islamist insurgency MOSCOW: Yesterday’s suicide bombing in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan showed how vulnerable it still is despite Moscow’s decades-long fight to stem an Islamist insurgency, officials and analysts said. A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into an army base, killing five people and wounding dozens more yesterday.

Russia’s defense ministry swiftly imposed a state of alert at military installations in the country’s mainly Muslim southern regions after the attack.

And the region’s leader Magomedsalam Magomedov called on security forces to bolster efforts to stamp out the insurgency.

“Today’s terrorist attack shows that the rebel underground in the republic still has the power to carry out such foul acts,” Magomedov was quoted by Interfax as saying. Despite a recent surge of successful operations to hunt down rebels, he said, greater efforts were required from the security forces. Russia’s leaders have long seen the the Caucasus as the country’s weakest point. The poverty and staggering jobless rates there have helped drive youths into the arms of the Islamist rebels.

Clan rivalry, corruption and heavy-handed tactics by the security forces have also fueled the discontent and violence. President Dmitry Medvedev himself last year admitted

BUINAKSK: A foot of a victim from the suicide car-bomb attack, at the blast site at a Russian base, in the city of Buinaksk in the violence-plagued republic of Dagestan yesterday. — AP

Iran threatens to ‘eradicate’ Israel DOHA: Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ruled out an attack on the Islamic republic over its nuclear program, during a visit to Qatar yesterday, because any such action would result in Israel’s destruction. “Any act against Iran will lead to the eradication of the Zionist entity,” he told a joint news conference in Doha with Qatar’s Amir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, after their talks.

Israel, the region’s sole if undeclared nuclear power, has not ruled out a military strike to prevent Iran acquiring an atomic weapons capability, an ambition its archfoe Tehran strongly denies. “The Zionist entity and the US government would hit any country in the region whenever they are able to do so, and they will not wait to get permission. But (at the moment) they cannot,” he said. “Iran has the ability to retaliate, strong and hard,” warned Ahmadinejad, whose comments in Farsi

were translated into Arabic.

Iran’s hardline president said the talk of war against Iran to halt its controversial nuclear program was aimed at putting psychological pressure on Tehran. “There will be no war against Iran. What could take place is a psychological war,” he said. In renewed criticism of the relaunched direct peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel, Ahmadinejad charged that the “decaying” Jewish state was hoping to “revive” itself through the talks. “The Zionist entity is decaying. It is in a critically difficult state, and hopes to revive itself through an unfruitful dialogue,” he said.

Ahmadinejad had on Friday said the Washington-sponsored talks were “doomed” to fail, and infuriated the moderate Palestinian leadership by slamming it as unrepresentative. “Who gave them the right to sell a piece of Palestinian land?

The people of Palestine and the people of the region will not allow them to sell even an inch of Palestinian soil to the enemy,” he said at an annual pro-Palestinian rally.

Unlike other Arab states in the Gulf that have echoed Western suspicions about Iran’s nuclear program and its ambitions in the region, Qatar has maintained friendly relations. In May when the United States was pushing for a new round of UN sanctions against Iran, Qatar backed Turkish and Brazilian efforts to broker a deal that would avoid further punitive measures.

But Qatar is also a staunch US ally and hosts two American military bases. AsSayliyah base served as the coalition’s command and control centre during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, while the US air force used Al-Udeid airbase in the 2001 war in Afghanistan and in the aftermath of the Iraq invasion. — AFP

Blair issues warning over ‘radical Islam’ Continued from Page 1 its narrative about Islam stretches far further than we think into even parts of mainstream opinion who abhor the extremism, but sort of buy some of the rhetoric that goes with it,” he added.

Blair said he didn’t understand fully the phenomenon at the time of 9/11, when AlQaeda operatives hijacked planes and crashed two of them into the World Trade Center in New York, killing about 3,000 people. “If these people could have killed 30,000 or 300,000, they would have,” Blair warned. The former British prime minis-

ter’s remarks came just a week before the ninth anniversary of the attacks, which he said changed his outlook and led to perhaps the most controversial decision of his tenure-his support for the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

Blair said he felt “an enormous responsibility” for the lives lost in the conflict, which was fiercely opposed by many in Britain.

But he said sanctions aimed at crippling Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein were “crumbling” and there were real fears that his regime could help terrorists acquire weapons of mass destruction. “My view was in the circumstances after 9/11, you

have to send such a strong signal out on this issue,” he said.

The former leader took a similarly hard line on Iran, which many in the international community fear is seeking nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear energy program. “I would tell them they can’t have it, and if necessary, they will be confronted with stronger sanctions and diplomacy. But if that fails, I’m not taking any option off the table,” he said. Blair said he did not favor war with Iran but added: “I’m saying I think you cannot exclude it because the primary objective has got to be to prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon.” — AFP

Taboo-breaking soap causes Ramadan stir Continued from Page 1 One episode shows Leila’s fundamentalist brother beating his sister and her friend, despite outwardly condemning such behavior by others.

In another, Leila is whipped on the orders of the Sheikh for having a sexual liaison. But there are tender moments too, as when she meets her lover in a disused apartment and lifts her veil, revealing long black hair. The serial has been controversial as much for the subjects it tackles, and the religious and sexual taboos it challenges, as for the relatively startling scenes and explicit dialogue. “It is a soap opera that damages Islam. It shows that veiled women get punished,” said Motassem, a 30-yearold technician.

But many Syrians are delighted by the new program. “It is rare to show such daring scenes on Syrian television,” said Rouba, 50, a dermatologist. “The question I

asked myself during the first few episodes was, is this really a Syrian program?” said Najiba, a teacher. She particularly appreciated the way it exposed what she called a society “dominated by money and hypocrisy.” That is exactly what the series aims to do, said its director Najdat Anzur.

He says he wants “to shed light on the negative aspects” of society, like oppressive religious attitudes, corruption and violence. “My role is to offer a forum for the moderates,” Anzur added, rejecting the accusations that he is undermining Islam.

“We are tackling taboos. It’s not the clothes we’re interested in, but human behavior,” he said. Fayez, a 50-year-old journalist, agreed. It is a work that “defends moderation” and “denounces the rise of extremism,” he said.

The director said religious critics, who include well-known Damascus cleric Sheikh Said Ramadan Al-Buti, have even preached sermons urging Muslims to boy-

cott the show and calling for it to be banned on Arabic TV networks. Sheikh Buti, who added his voice to those calling for it to be suspended, accused Anzur of committing “gross errors” and of choosing the title of his series in order to ridicule the Quran. The Quranic verse used for the title refers to slaves, or to people under one’s guardianship, and lays down rules on men having sex with such people, but its meaning is the subject of much debate among Muslims.

The program is currently broadcast on the state-owned Syrian satellite channel and Lebanon’s Al-Mustaqbal. In Syria, which has a largely Muslim population but a secular constitution, the authorities encourage a moderate and apolitical form of Islam. They recently ordered 1,200 teachers wearing the niqab to be transferred to other public sector jobs and banned the full-face veil in universities. — AFP

“Transactions by Iranian clients are closely monitored,” the banker said, adding that certain activities by Iranian clients, such as transfers to Asia to purchase goods, are sometimes blocked. “We used to deal with some banks in Tehran, but now it is almost impossible,” the banker said.

Bank accounts of some Iranian clients have been closed recently, he added.

“The volume of trade between Dubai and Iran has been reduced by 50 percent compared to before the latest round of

sanctions, mainly due to bank restrictions,” said Morteza Masoumzadeh, vice president of the Iranian Business Council in Dubai.

“There are more restrictions, and things are getting more complicated” because of the latest sanctions, he said.

For example, businessmen can no longer “open a letter of credit to overseas suppliers if the port of discharge is an Iranian port,” he said. UAE officials said last month that the country was implementing sanctions against Iran. It reportedly began taking steps to implement the latest UN sanctions against the Islamic

Barely a day later however, the rebels hit back, killing six policeman in a shoot-out in an attack on the home village of Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, as the proMoscow leader visited.

Moscow last year ended a decade-long anti-terror regime in Chechnya, where it fought two wars against separatists since the 1991 Soviet collapse. And in July, rebels also briefly took control of a hydroelectric plant in another Caucasus region, Kabardino Balkaria.

“Such a scale of attacks has not been seen for a long time,” Alexei Malashenko, an expert on the North Caucasus at Moscow’s Carnegie Center said. “Those who carry them out are very strong. They have a strong support system... and the Kremlin strategy to battle them has not had any positive results.”

Nevertheless, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin this week ruled out a fresh war in the North Caucasus, playing down the threat from the insurgents. “Today they are capable of carrying out isolated terrorist acts... They are capable of shooting from round the corner (or) blowing up something. “But they have neither strength nor money for a war,” Putin said in an interview with the Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda. “No-one who would like to unleash something large there, has the strength for it,” he said. — AFP

Internet an equalizer for people with disabilities SAN FRANCISCO: Sally Harrison is developmentally disabled, but on Facebook the 35year-old woman is just like anyone else. Victor Tsaran scours the Web at lightning speeds and loves his touch-screen iPhone in seeming contradiction to the fact that he is blind. Internet gadgets and software are creating a virtual world of equality and opportunity for a large segment of the population once marginalized due to physical or mental impairments.

“It is not about being able to do everything; it is about being able to do what you possibly can given your condition and the technology available,” said Tsaran, a project manager at Yahoo! ‘accessibility lab.’ For Harrison, Facebook was part of transition that took her from highly-supervised confines of a group home to getting a job and moving into her own apartment. “She started to blossom after that,” said Lisa Giraldi, executive director of Pacific Diversified Services (PDS), an organization devoted to ‘true community inclusion for adults with developmental disabilities.’

“For Sally, it has been fantastic.” Facebook privacy controls were set tightly and Harrison’s family signed on as “friends” and watch over her at the online social networking service. Harrison said that she has 83 Facebook friends and tries to check her online profile daily. “It has helped me a lot,” said Harrison, who grappled with low self esteem when she was first taken on as a client by PDS. “It is important to me because I get to connect with friends I haven’t seen in a long time.” PDS believes in people with disabilities living as independently as possible in communities, and Internet services such as Facebook,

email, and online chat help clients stay connected. “They communicate with each other on Facebook, which is really neat,” Giraldi said. “Then, they can make friends with other people’s friends the way the rest of us do... it’s a social equalizer in a way.”

Facebook pictures, comments and other posts capturing people with disabilities out enjoying their lives can help dispel stereotypes. “Social networks shield you from the initial first impression people get of a person with a disability,” Tsaran said. “With social networking, you can create a shield around you so people don’t judge you first by your disability.

That is a big one for me.” Teaching clients basic computer skills such as downloading digital pictures or buying songs for iPods at Apple’s online store iTunes has become standard at PDS. “It really adds to their sense of acceptance in the community,” Giraldi said. “It makes them feel a level of independence that really makes them feel good. Twitter will probably be the next thing.” Tsaran’s team at Yahoo! is devoted to getting engineers and designers to remove barriers that people with disabilities might face when visiting any of the California Internet firm’s websites. Yahoo! has a second accessibility lab in India. Approximately 60 million people in the United States have disabilities and their combined annual income tops a trillion dollars, making them valuable customers.

The number of people living with disabilities worldwide is 650 million, according to statistics released recently by the White House.

Technology on display in the lab included Web

pages with coding in pictures so descriptions of what might be seen on monitors was spoken aloud by “screen reader” programs used by the blind. Software let people with varying degrees of paralysis control computers with a tap of a finger, a puff of air, the turn of a head or the clench of a jaw.

Apple has made a priority of building “universal access” into its devices, according to Brightman, who worked for 14 years at the California firm that makes iPods, iPads, iPhones and Macintosh computers. “The iPhone is the most popular smartphone among the blind population, because accessibility was part of Apple’s view and was built in,” special communities senior policy director Alan Brightman said. “To this day, I watch Victor use an iPhone and think it is amazing.”

Accessibility features are also designed into Windows software at the heart of the majority of the world’s computers. Third-party software makers are also gearing technology for the disabled. For example, AssistiveWare on Thursday released a Proloquo2go update that lets people with trouble speaking use iPad tablet computers to act as their voices by touching symbols on the screens. People with disabilities are also benefiting from slick new gadget features such as software that converts spoken words into written text in smartphones running on Google-backed Android software.

“We are really about independence and choices and participation,” Brightman said of efforts at the lab and elsewhere in the technology community. “You ought to be able to do anything anyone else can do; you just have to do it your way.” — AFP

Islamic finance ‘should diversify’ Continued from Page 1 (KMEFIC), believes they are still limited. “The products (of Islamic finance) that are available for investors are still very limited ... compared to high demand,” said Mukkamala, adding that the field of derivatives should be explored seriously.

For his part, Kuwaiti economist Hajjaj Bukhdur believes there are enough products, and that even greater expansion has been subdued by a lack of both sufficient regulation and management skills. “Islamic finance already has around 30 different types of products and instruments, giving it a large degree of flexibility to meet investors’ demand and continue to expand rapidly,” Bukhdur said. “But it has two major shortcomings: there are different regulatory systems ... and managements have been less competent to realize the full potential,” he said.

Assets of Islamic financial institutions increased five-fold to around one trillion dollars (787 billion euros) between 2003 and last year, but Moody’s Investors Service believes the full potential is at least five trillion dollars. But for now, it only makes up around five percent of the global financial industry. In May, speakers at a forum on challenges facing the sector, said it took 40 years to reach one trillion dollars in assets, but now it will take just five years to double.

The number of Islamic financial institutions and banks grew from just a few in the mid-1970s to several hundred now operating in more than 50 countries across the

world, and with leading global banks getting into the business. The International Monetary Fund said last month that the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and a sharp rise in oil price and revenue have greatly helped the rise of Islamic finance because more Muslim investors wanted to keep money at home.

In a report in April, Moody’s urged the Islamic finance industry to innovate, particularly in the area of risk hedging, if it is to really thrive. The combined use of securitization and derivatives “offers considerable scope for reducing the risk exposures of Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) and thus improving their overall creditworthiness,” the agency said. “If employed with care, derivatives can enhance efficiency in IFIs through risk mitigation, thereby making them more competitive as well as appealing to customers,” it said.

However, their application in Islamic finance is “highly controversial for reasons of speculation and uncertainty, two practices forbidden under Sharia,” or Islamic law, Moody’s said. “Islamic financial institutions have to be much more aggressive ... as there is a huge potential for growth. So far, they have been far less active than conventional finance,” Mukkamala said.

The 2009/2010 World Islamic Banking Conference Competitiveness Report, produced in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, said Islamic banks must determine their future course of action by exploring new key areas. “They should enhance and diversify their business mix, by tapping into new growth business lines, such as per-

sonal finance, asset management and various areas of investment banking,” it said.

The report, released in December, said that during the global economic downturn, Islamic banks have outperformed conventional units but were not immune from the fallouts. A number of Islamic banks have also been more strongly affected by nonperforming loans than conventional banks, and they also continue to have greater exposure to real estate assets, it said.

Bukhdur attributes much of the impact to slow response by managements to the crisis.

“Islamic financial units were less impacted by the global crisis than conventional banking industry,” he said. “But conventional banks have reacted quickly, and most of them are almost out of the crisis.

On the contrary, the response by Islamic firms was very slow, resulting in a magnified impact. Many Islamic firms have not yet recovered.” The need to harmonize regulations is also a major issue.

Each Islamic financial unit is normally advised by a Sharia board, which is responsible for interpreting Islamic jurisprudence.

That has resulted in somewhat different interpretations by various boards. The leading regulatory bodies have all been working towards aligning Sharia law principles towards a consistent basis to ensure uniformity. Bukhdur said Islamic finance will continue to expand, but he believes the main expansion will come from the Islamic units of leading international banks rather than in new independent Islamic financial units. — AFP

Fugitive’s comments provoke MPs

UAE banks stop transfers to Iran Continued from Page 1

that “clans, thievery and bribes” were aiding the regional separatists. The rebels want to impose their vision of Islamic Sharia rule across the region in a so-called “Emirate of the Caucasus”. Dagestan, a land that stretches from the peaks of the Caucasus Mountains down to the Caspian Sea, is arguably Russia’s most violent region.

The economically stagnant region is wracked not just with the toxic mix of an Islamist insurgency but with deep-rooted problems caused by the local mafia.

Assassinations of local officials, suicide bombs and gun fights in the outskirts of the capital Makhachkala have become an almost daily occurrence over the last months. All this has given a rather hollow ring to the much-touted recent a string of victories against the Islamist insurgents. The violence has even reached the heart of Russia, hitting the Russian capital in March with twin bombings in the Moscow metro.

The double bombings, carried out by two female suicide bombers on the Moscow metro on March 29, killed 40 and wounded more than 100. The head of the FSB secret services (ex-KBG) Alexander Bortnikov was bulling in August, when he announced that 30 rebels had been slain in the region that month. “This is a good result,” he insisted.

“Heavy damage was inflicted on the rebels.”

republic in June.

The UAE central bank ordered the freezing of 41 bank accounts because of the sanctions on Iran, according to the Emirates Business 24/7 website. Dubai, the UAE’s business and aviation transport hub, has also closed down the offices of 40 firms suspected of breaching the sanctions, the Gulf News daily reported.

Iran is a significant UAE trading partner, with trade volume between it and Dubai alone estimated at about 10 billion dollars (7.7 billion euros) a year, mostly imports to the emirate. There are about 400,000 Iranians living in the UAE. -— AFP

Continued from Page 1 Bloc’s member MP Jamaan Al-Harbash asked the interior minister if any government authority has filed a lawsuit against Habeeb for insulting the Prophet’s wife. He also inquired about security and official measures taken by the interior ministry against Habeeb.

Islamist Salafi MP Ali Al-Omair also asked the interior minister about the efforts it exerted to arrest fugitive Habeeb since he fled the country several years ago.

Omair also asked the communications minister why the ministry has failed to block Habeeb’s website after his insults on the

Prophet’s wife. MP Mubarak Al-Waalan called on the interior minister to issue a warrant of arrest through the Interpol to extradite Habeeb, and then launch a probe into how Habeen mange to flee the country.

Meanwhile, Shiite MP Faisal AlDuwaisan said that “provocative” statements by Habeeb outside of the country should not be exploited to incite sectarian tensions inside the country. Duwaisan said that Habeeb only represents himself and that Kuwaiti Shiites extend the olive branch for their Sunni brethren, and urged all parties to be wise in dealing with the issue.

In another development, liberal MP

Saleh Al-Mulla praised statements made by the prime minister during his televised interview but added that such statements must be implemented to measure the performance of the government. Mulla said that the actions and practices of the government and ministers are contradictory to the statements calling for the rule of the law, which means the government actions contradict statements made by the prime minister. The lawmaker said that he likes when he hear the prime minister talk about the constitution and the rule of law, but “I am very pained because of the violation of the law in sports, development plan and tenders”.

SPORTS

Monday, September 6, 2010

15

MLB results/standings Major League Baseball results and standings on Saturday: Chicago White Sox 3, Boston 1; NY Yankees 7, Toronto 5; Oakland 3, LA Angels 1; Minnesota 12, Texas 4; Chicago Cubs 5, NY Mets 3; Baltimore 8, Tampa Bay 4; Philadelphia 5, Milwaukee 4; Washington 9, Pittsburgh 2; Chicago White Sox 3, Boston 1; Detroit 6, Kansas City 4; Atlanta 2, Florida 0; Cincinnati 6, St. Louis 1; Houston 6, Arizona 5; Colorado 6, San Diego 2; Cleveland 4, Seattle 2; San Francisco 5, LA Dodgers 4.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT GB NY Yankees Tampa Bay Boston Toronto Baltimore

86 83 76 69 50

50 52 60 66 86

.632 .615 .559 .511 .368

2.5 10 16.5 36

.581 .556 .500 .415 .404

3.5 11 22.5 24

.556 .496 .478 .390

8 10.5 22.5

.581 .574 .507 .485 .426

1 10 13 21

.585 .526 .467 .459 .434 .333

8 16 17 20.5 34

.567 .551 .526 .507 .412

2 5.5 8 21

Central Division Minnesota Chicago White Sox Detroit Kansas City Cleveland

79 75 68 56 55

57 60 68 79 81

Western Division Texas Oakland LA Angels Seattle

75 67 65 53

60 68 71 83

National League Eastern Division Atlanta Philadelphia Florida NY Mets Washington

79 78 68 66 58

57 58 66 70 78

Central Division Cincinnati St. Louis Houston Milwaukee Chicago Cubs Pittsburgh

79 70 63 62 59 45

56 63 72 73 77 90

Western Division San Diego San Francisco Colorado LA Dodgers Arizona

76 75 71 69 56

58 61 64 67 80

ST LOUIS: Cardinals’ Matt Holliday (left) is out at second as Cincinnati Reds shortstop Orlando Cabrera turns the double play to end the sixth inning.—AP

Rookie Wood steers Reds past Cardinals ST. LOUIS: Rookie pitcher Travis Wood hit his first homer and allowed just one unearned run over seven innings to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League on Saturday.

Wood (5-2) bettered St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright (17-10), who lost a career-worst fourth successive decision, giving up seven hits in five innings. The Reds moved eight games ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central, having made up nine games in the standings since being swept by the Cardinals early last month.

Rockies 6, Padres 2 In San Diego, the hosts slumped to their ninth straight defeat — their longest skid in seven years — with a loss to Colorado.

The NL West-leading Padres hadn’t lost more than three in a row all season before this slump, during which they’ve gone from

having the best record in the NL to having the third-best.

A pregame players-only meeting could not pull the Padres out of their tailspin. NL batting leader Carlos Gonzalez had three hits and two RBIs for the Rockies. Colorado starter Jason Hammel (10-7) held San Diego to two runs in 6 2-3 innings.

Braves 2, Marlins 0 In Miami, Jair Jurrjens pitched seven scoreless innings and earned his first victory in 10 road starts this season as Atlanta downed Florida.

With the Braves clinging to first place in the NL East, Jurrjens (7-4) matched a career high by winning his fourth decision in a row.

He struck out seven. In a matchup of JJs, Florida starter Josh Johnson (11-6) came out on the short end. He tied a career high with 12 strikeouts in six innings but also gave up eight hits and left trailing 2-0.

Giants 5, Dodgers 4

In Los Angeles, Juan Uribe hit a goahead, two-run homer in the ninth inning and Brian Wilson escaped a jam in the bottom half to preserve San Francisco’s thrilling win over Los Angeles.

Uribe was hitless in three at-bats before sending a Jonathon Broxton (5-5) pitch into the left-field pavilion with one out. Broxton was back at closer for the first time since Aug. 21, but blew his sixth save in 28 chances.Los Angeles put runners on first and third with one out in the bottom half but Wilson elicited a fly out and a fielder’s choice to end the game and earn his 39th save. San Francisco erased a 4-0 deficit and moved within two games of NL West-leading San Diego. Giants reliever Jose Lopez (4-2) pitched a perfect eighth to get the win.

Phillies 5, Brewers 4 In Philadelphia, Placido Polanco hit a

tying sacrifice fly and Wilson Valdez hustled home with the go-ahead run on an errant throw on the same play, lifting Philadelphia over Milwaukee.

Polanco’s fly ball to left with the bases loaded in the seventh inning scored Carlos Ruiz. Ryan Braun’s throw sailed behind a sliding Ruiz and hit the backstop, allowing Valdez to slide home. Phillies starter Roy Halladay (17-10) pitched seven innings and took the win despite giving up four homers for the first time in 342 career games. Brad Lidge worked the ninth for his 20th save.

He allowed four hits while improving to 4-0 in six starts since his latest return to the starting rotation, another twist in a wild season that has seen the volatile ace bounce back and forth from the bullpen and get suspended for a dugout confrontation with former teammate Derrek Lee. The recent success comes while he’s dealt with a seriously ill nephew back home in Venezuela. Starlin Castro became the first Cubs rookie in at least 66 years with six straight multihit games.

Cubs 5, Mets 3

In Phoenix, Carlos Lee hit a three-run homer in Houston’s four-run eighth inning and also singled in a run in the first, leading the Astros over Arizona. With two outs in the eighth, Jeff Keppinger kept the inning alive with a base hit and moved to third on Hunter Pence’s double before Lee drove Aaron Heilman’s (5-6) next pitch out to left.

In Chicago, Carlos Zambrano passed Kerry Wood on the Cubs’ alltime strikeouts list as Chicago beat New York. Zambrano (7-6) moved into third on the club’s strikeout list with 1,411 — four more than Wood — after registering eight over seven innings.

Astros 6, D’backs 5

Yankees down Jays as Twins triumph NEW YORK: The New York Yankees made it a season-record eight straight wins by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 in the American League on Saturday.

With scores tied in the bottom of the seventh, Toronto pitcher Jason Frasor (3-4) retired his first two batters before Robinson Cano singled.

Marcus Thames then drove a pitch to the back of the Blue Jays’ bullpen in left-center for his 11th home run, snapping a 1-for-14 skid. With the best record in baseball but only a slim lead in the AL East over Tampa Bay, the Yankees improved to 6-0 in their 10-game homestand.

Twins 12, Rangers 4 In Minneapolis, Jim Thome homered twice for Minnesota, moving past Mark McGwire for ninth place on baseball’s all-time homer list and powering the Twins past Texas.

Thome went deep for the 583rd time in his career leading off the third inning, a shot to the second deck above right field estimated at 449 feet. Then with two on and two outs in the fourth, Thome’s fullcount drive into the bullpen behind left-center made it 9-0 and gave him No. 584.

After six straight one-run games, the Twins let loose against slumping Rangers starter Colby Lewis (9-12) and the AL West-leading Rangers.

Minnesota gave starter Carl Pavano (16-10) plenty of support and kept its AL Central lead over

White Sox 3, Red Sox 1

Orioles 8, Rays 4 In Baltimore, the hosts beat Tampa Bay to give manager Buck Showalter his 900th career win.

Showalter became the 64th manager in big league history to reach the mark, and improved to 18-13 with lowly Baltimore since his debut a

Nationals 9, Pirates 2 In Pittsburgh, John Lannan allowed only one run for the second consecutive start, guiding Washington past Pittsburgh.

Lannan improved to 5-1 with a 2.93 ERA in seven starts since returning from a sixweek stint the minor leagues. Ivan Rodriguez had three hits and four RBIs, homering for the 308th time in his career in the fifth, an inning after hitting a two-run single off the wall as part of the Nationals’ five-run fourth inning. It was his first fourRBI game since 2007. Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Maholm took over the NL lead in losses with 14. —AP

Badminton star Zhou banned for doping

Chicago at four games.

In Boston, Chicago won both game of its doubleheader against Boston with identical scorelines. In the opener, new Chicago acquisition Manny Ramirez singled twice in his return to Fenway Park. The White Sox signed Ramirez from the Los Angeles Dodgers, hoping he could help in their quest to make the playoffs. In his first games for Chicago, he had come up against two of his old teams, Cleveland, now Boston.

Manny Ramirez, in his first games against his former team since joining Chicago on waivers Tuesday, went 2 for 4 in the first game and 1 for 4 with two strikeouts and a soft lined single to right in his last at bat in the second.

John Danks pitched seven solid innings for the White Sox in the opener, and Gavin Floyd (10-11) six in the late game, as Chicago extended its winning streak to five straight.

Carlos Quentin hit a double and triple in the late game for Chicago, which gained half a game in the AL Central to trail division leader Minnesota by 3-1/2 games.

The burly slugger has 34 RBIs in his past 34 games. Houston reliever Mark Melancon (20) pitched a scoreless inning to get the win and former Diamondback Brandon Lyon worked the ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances this season.

NEW YORK: Yankees’ Derek Jeter scores on a Robinson Cano single as Toronto Blue Jays catcher John Buck, right, takes the throw during the third inning of a baseball game.—AP month ago. Nick Markakis homered and scored twice for the Orioles, who won their first game in four. Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie (9-13) allowed two runs in seven innings, walking just one and striking out seven. Since the All-Star break, he’s 6-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 starts. The Rays dropped 2-1/2 games behind the Yankees in the AL East.

Athletics 3, Angels 1

Tigers 6, Royals 4

Indians 4, Mariners 2

In Oakland, Trevor Cahill pitched six scoreless innings to become Oakland’s first 15-game winner in three years with a victory over Los Angeles. Cahill (15-6) allowed only one runner past second. Angels starter Jared Weaver (11-11) walked three and allowed six hits in seven innings. He is winless in five starts.

In Kansas City, Austin Jackson hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning for his third hit of the game, lifting Detroit over Kansas City. Jackson also hit a solo homer in the fifth for the Tigers, who have won three straight to reach .500 for the first time since Aug. 24. Tigers starter Rick Porcello (8-11) pitched seven innings to earn the win.

In Seattle, Mitch Talbot pitched into the seventh inning to help Cleveland beat Seattle. Talbot (9-11) allowed an unearned run in 6 2-3 innings to pick up his first win since June. He was 0-5 with a 6.23 ERA in his previous nine starts. Mariners starter David Pauley (2-7) gave up four runs in six innings.—AP

HONG KONG: Former world No. 1 female player Zhou Mi has been banned for two years by the Badminton World Federation after testing positive for clenbuterol.

A urine sample taken from the Hong Kong player in late June tested positive for the drug, the governing body said in a statement on Saturday.

Zhou said she took the drug — used by asthma sufferers or as a weight-loss aid — unknowingly, as it was contained in a Chinese medicine to treat a fever.

Zhou’s ban rules her out qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics, but was expected to appeal.

Badminton World Federation chief operating officer Thomas Lund said in a statement it was the body’s first drug ban in recent years.

“The case sends a strong message to elite athletes in the sport, who need to be aware of prohibited substances and the consequences of taking these — either deliberately or inadvertently,” Lund said.

The Hong Kong Badminton Association said Zhou took the Chinese medication for a fever while training in Singapore in June.

“She was not aware of the prohibited substance possibly in the medication,” the statement said. Zhou, currently ranked world No. 13, plans to appeal, Hong Kong’s Ming Pao Daily News reported yesterday.

“I passed all my drug tests in past 20-plus years. I have never thought about using improper methods to improve my results,” the newspaper quoted Zhou as saying at a press conference on Saturday.

The 31-year-old from the southern Chinese city Nanning won bronze for China at the Athens Games in 2004 but moved to Hong Kong in late 2006. This former British colony is a semiautonomous Chinese territory that fields separate teams at international events.—AP

SPORTS

16

Monday, September 6, 2010

Jimenez clinches European Masters

SWITZERLAND: Miguel Angel Jimenez from Spain kisses the trophy after winning the 2010 Omega European Masters Golf Tournament in Crans Montana. —AP

Snedeker, Day lead in Boston NORTON: Jason Day and Brandt Snedeker played in far different conditions Saturday and wound up with a share of the lead halfway through the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Tiger Woods, meanwhile, kept his playoff hopes alive with a 6-under 65. One day after he bogeyed four of his first six holes, he birdied four of his first seven to not only make the cut, but give himself thoughts of winning.

He was seven shots behind at the halfway point. Snedeker went from the rain showers of Hurricane Earl to breezy conditions Saturday morning in his second round and had a 7-under 64. The wind got stronger throughout the afternoon for Day, who did well to shoot 67 and join Snedeker at the top of the leaderboard.

“I wasn’t liking my odds in the draw when I teed off yesterday,” Snedeker said. “That being said, I think it’s going to end up working out exactly the same. I think these guys in the afternoon are going to have the tough conditions we had yesterday afternoon.”

Woods turned his game around at the right time. In danger of missing the cut and missing out on the rest of the FedEx Cup playoffs, Woods didn’t hit a bad shot through six holes and played bogey-free for the first time in more than a year for a 6under 65 that left him in the middle of the pack. Woods, who started in a tie for 87th, moved up to a tie for 29th.

“I had to shoot a good one if I was going to move on,” Woods said. “And I was able to do that today.” Day, in the 36-hole lead for the second straight week in these playoffs, and Snedeker were at 12-under 130. They were one shot ahead of FedEx Cup leader Matt Kuchar (65) and Charley Hoffman (67), with Luke Donald (67) another shot

behind.

Defending champion Steve Stricker made it through another round without a bogey and was at 9-under 133, while Phil Mickelson started hitting fairways and making putts and was in the group at 8-under 134 that included Ryder Cup hopeful Stewart Cink, Hunter Mahan, Zach Johnson and Andres Romero, who only got into the 100-man field by making a 40foot birdie putt on the final hole last week.

The top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings advance to the third round next week outside Chicago. Fifteen players were eliminated by missing the cut, including Chad Campbell under bizarre circumstances. He was disqualified Saturday morning when officials realized he had never registered for the tournament, a simple formality.

“Just can’t believe you make a mistake like that,” Campbell said. Snedeker hardly made any mistakes in beautiful morning conditions, except for a bogey on his opening hole. He responded with a birdie on the par-3 11th, then really took over on the easy stretch of holes to start the front nine, which includes a reachable par 5 and a driveable par 4.

Snedeker made four birdies in a five-hole stretch. “Two or three birdies is realistic to expect,” Snedeker said. “But you can’t get down on yourself if you don’t make birdies.” Day also had a dubious start. The wind was blowing so hard that a tee shot he thought was in the middle of the fairway turned out to be in the rough, and he played a 9-iron to move 10 yards to the right. Instead, it shot well over the green. Day chipped that in from 60 feet for birdie, then birdied the next hole. He didn’t make another birdie until two at the end.

The 14 pars in between were

equally impressive in these conditions. “It was a little tougher out there today,” Day said. “It wasn’t as fun as yesterday, I’ll tell you that much.”

Woods hit a 3-wood and a 9iron on the 12th hole during the opening round in the rain. He reached the 469-yard hole just as wind was starting to blow and had to hit driver and 6-iron. For some players, such as Johnson, it was a 3-wood to the green.

This is the 10th tournament in which Mickelson has had a mathematical chance to replace Woods at No. 1, and he hasn’t taken advantage too often. The only other time he was in contention was at Firestone, when he went into the weekend one shot behind and closed with a 78. Lefty has not finished in the top 10 since the US Open, and he missed the cut last week.

But he went home to San Diego to hone his game with swing coach Butch Harmon, worked on a new driver and likes what he sees.

“I got my game dialed in, and so I was pretty excited about this week,” Mickelson said.

“But again, you don’t know until you get out here, and you’ve got to shoot the numbers.

Yesterday I didn’t quite post the number I wanted to, but today I was able to do that.” Snedeker is No. 53 in the standings and appears to be on his way to Chicago.

The idea is to take the drama out of it, and Snedeker has had enough of that. A year ago, he needed only a bogey on the last hole to get into the final round of the playoffs at the Tour Championship, and wound up four-putting from 12 feet.

“That’s what makes the FedEx Cup great,” he said. “It has those kind of stories. You put a little bit more extra pressure on yourself than you normally should, and I learned from that last year.” —AP

NORTON: Jason Day, from Australia, hits his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round at the Deutsche Bank Championship golf tournament. —AP

CRANS MONTANA: Miguel Angel Jimenez won the European Masters title yesterday to become the fifth member of Europe’s Ryder Cup team to clinch a title in the last month.

The 46-year-old Spaniard defeated Ryder Cup teammate Edoardo Molinari by three shots, overcoming a late scare when the Italian slashed his lead from six to one stroke over the last seven holes.

However, Molinari’s challenge fizzled out with a bogey at the 16th while Jimenez closed with par-birdie-par to seal his 18th career title, 11 of which have come since he turned 40.

His win follows moraleboosting wins for Ryder Cup teammates Ross Fisher at the Irish Open, Martin Kaymer in the US PGA Championship, Peter Hanson at the Czech Open and Molinari in last week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Jimenez finished with a four under par 67 and 21 under total of 263 for his third title of the season. “I made a good recovery at the 16th that was probably the key to the day,” said Jimenez who hit the trees with his drive.

“I love to come here. It’s not only my two times second, it’s the amount of times I have finished top ten and been in contention, so it means a lot.”

Molinari’s 17-year-old compatriot Matteo Manassero came third on 16 under following a 68 and secured a European Tour card for next season in six starts as a professional.

“I am a full member for the first time. It was my goal and what I wanted to do and now I am here,” said last year’s British Amateur Champion.

Teenage South Korean star Noh Seung-yul produced an impressive fourth place finish to widen his lead on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

The 19-year-old carded a four-under-par 67 for a 13under-par 271 total, eight shots behind Jimenez. Noh, who impressed Australian legend Greg Norman after playing together in the first two rounds, shot seven birdies against three bogeys and finished four shots ahead of second-ranked Marcus Fraser of Australia, who settled for joint 16th place in the event cosanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Meanwhile, teenager Ryo Ishikawa won his eighth career title on Japan’s professional tour with a playoff win at the Fujisankei Classic tournament yesterday.

The 18-year-old beat former high school teammate Shunsuke Sonoda on the fourth playoff hole after both players finished on nineunder-par 275 at Yamanashi’s Fujizakura Country Club.

Defending champion Ishikawa two-putted for par on the 18th before Sonoda’s short par putt lipped out to hand the teenager his second victory of the season. —Agencies

Schulz ahead at First Tee Open PEBBLE BEACH: Ted Schulz shot an 8-under 64 — his best competitive round in nearly 20 years — at Pebble Beach on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead at the Champions Tour First Tee Open.

The 50-year-old Schulz, a two-time PGA Tour winner who has only conditional status on the Champions Tour, had nine birdies — all from 15 feet or closer — and one bogey in the second round to reach 12-under 132 in the dual-course event. First round-leader Mark Calcavecchia followed his opening 64 at Del Monte with a 71 at Pebble Beach.

He was tied for second with Tom Kite, who shot a 68, also at Pebble Beach. “I’m getting in more tournaments than I thought I would,” Schulz said. “My game is getting better. I really haven’t played much tournament golf and I haven’t putted well in the past few weeks, but I putted well the past couple of days.” Schulz, the director of golf at the University of Kentucky, his alma mater, hadn’t shot a competitive round as low as 64 since the 1992 Walt Disney World Open. —AP

TWICKENHAM: Australia’s Tobie McGann (second right) breaks a tackle from France’s Sandrine Agricole (right) during the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 third place playoff match. Australia won the game 22-8. —AFP

Beale’s kick thwarts stirring Springbok rally BLOEMFONTEIN: Fullback Kurtley Beale struck a dramatic long-range penalty with his only kick of the match to give Australia a 41-39 win over South Africa in a magnificent Tri-Nations clash on Saturday.

Beale’s nerveless goal in the final 30 seconds from 55 metres climaxed a game which see-sawed dramatically after the Wallabies had run the Springboks ragged in the first quarter.

It also atoned for two previous mistakes

by Beale who had thrown a wild pass that went out touch-in-goal to give South Africa a five-metre scrum, from which centre Jean de Villiers scored.

Beale then slipped when he tried to field a kick. The ball rebounded off his head to Springbok outside centre Jaque Fourie, who sparked an attack that led to flyhalf Morne Steyn’s 77th-minute penalty which gave the home team a 39-38 lead.

“There were a lot of nerves but the boys wanted me to take the kick so I just stuck to the process and told myself not to worry. I knew I had hit it well,” Beale told a news conference.

The match began at a frentic pace with Australia scoring four tries in the first 26

minutes to lead 31-6 through some exhilarating broken field running.

Beale, wing James O’Connor, hooker Stephen Moore and flanker and captain Rocky Elsom scored tries, all of which were converted by Matt Giteau.

The Springboks struck back with a converted try by Fourie on the stroke of halftime to cut the deficit to 31-13.

They then dominated most of the second half through converted tries to prop Gurthro Steenkamp and de Villiers plus three penalties by Steyn to take the lead in an astonishing comeback.

Wallaby wing Drew Mitchell then flew through the defence for an impressive try with O’Connor’s conversion returning the lead to the Australians.

It was not to last as Steyn succeeded with another penalty with three minutes remaining, which looked like proving the match winner.

But flanker David Pocock forced a ruck penalty and, after some deliberation, Beale was given the ball for the kick which was to break Springbok hearts at the end of a miserable Tri-Nations season following their 2007 World Cup triumph and last year’s

series win over the Lions.

They end bottom of the standings with only one win in their six matches to finish behind Australia and champions New Zealand, who meet next Saturday in the final match of the tournament.

Australia coach Robbie Deans, whose team let slip a winning position last week, said he had had every confidence in Beale’s ability to convert an ultimate pressure kick.

“He’s that sort of player who has a point of difference about him, I knew the prospects were good. He stepped up really well because it’s pretty humiliating for the ball to hit you in the forehead in a place like Bloemfontein in front of that crowd,” said Deans.

Springbok captain John Smit said the stirring fightback had done little to soothe the pain of defeat. “We don’t want to be showing character every week, we can’t afford to keep playing catch-up rugby.

There are no excuses, we were off our best. It’s unacceptable that we work so hard on our defence all week and then let ourselves down like we did today,” he said. —Reuters

Chasing pack closes gap in S Africa’s Currie Cup BLOEMFONTEIN: The chasing pack closed the gap in the Currie Cup as leading pair the Sharks and Western Province both lost in round nine of South Africa’s domestic rugby competition.

The Sharks of Durban threw away an 11-point advantage to fall 40-34 to the defending champion Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

Western Province’s slump continued after flyhalf Elton Jantjies masterminded a comefrom behind 46-28 win for Johannesburg’s Lions on Friday, Province’s third straight loss after winning its first six games.

Western Province, the Blue Bulls and Free State Cheetahs are all tied for second on 28 points after the Cheetahs edged Griquas 33-28. Leaders the Sharks have 36 points with five rounds of the regular season remaining.

Trailing 24-13 at halftime, the Blue Bulls turned in a powerful second-half performance at their Loftus Versfeld stadium to move back into semifinal

reckoning and send the Sharks to their first loss since the opening round.

Scrumhalf Ruan Snyman, replacement prop Jaco Engels and center Wynand Olivier scored after the break, to add to lock Juandre Kruger’s firsthalf try. Wing Lwazi Mvovo and center Stefan Terblanche had put the Sharks in control before the Blue Bulls reverted to a forward-orientated game plan and came charging back.

Sharks second rower Alistair Hargreaves crashed over late on to claim a bonus point for the leaders for losing by seven points or less.

“I’m bitterly disappointed with the result,” Sharks captain Terblanche said. “It’s getting pretty competitive on the log, and the teams are hungry because it’s getting to the business end of the tournament.”

Western Province’s woes continued at Ellis Park as it also lost its way in the second half against a resurgent Lions outfit under new full-time coach John Mitchell, who com-

mitted to a three-year contract on Thursday. Province led 2110 and then 28-19, but 20year-old Jantjies inspired the home team with a 31-point personal haul that included a try, six penalties and four conversions.

Wing Michael Killian grabbed the second of his two tries, and flanker Derick Minnie also went over as the Lions launched length-of-thefield counter attacks late in the match.

Jantjies capped a superb individual performance when he forced his way over near the posts for the bonus-point try. Having lost four of their first five games, Mitchell’s Lions have now won four in a row and are just three points off the playoff positions.

“It’s a family show so I’m not going to mention what John Mitchell said at halftime,” Lions captain Franco van der Merwe said. “I’m very proud of the boys. I think they showed brilliant character ... and it is an awesome feeling.

“The semifinals are in the

back of our heads but we are just focusing on game after game.” The Cheetahs rode a late fightback from home team Griquas in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, to put themselves in a three-way tie for second place. No. 8 Ashley Johnson and wing Jongi Nowke (2) touched down for the visitors.

Captain Naas Olivier, Cecil Kemp and Burger Schoeman scored for Griquas, but Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom kicked 15 points and Meyer Bosman added a penalty to see them home 33-28.

In the battle of the Currie Cup Premier Division’s bottom teams, the Pumas held off a fast-finishing Leopards team to clinch a one-point, 27-26 win.

The visiting Pumas played the final nine minutes in Potchefstroom with 14 men after flanker Jaco Bouwer was yellow-carded and despite a late try by speedy winger Dumisani Matyeshana, the Leopards fell just short in their hunt for a first win of the season. —AP

CROATIA: Greek Evangelos Delekas fights for the ball with a Russian player in Zagreb during their group match of the Water Polo European Championships. —AFP

SPORTS

Monday, September 6, 2010

17

Castroneves stretches fuel to win Indy 300

SPARTA: Helio Castroneves of Brazil, driver of the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara Honda celebrates with the trophy after winning the IndyCar Series Kentucky Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway. — AFP

Hamlin grabs pole position HAMPTON: Denny Hamlin showed signs of turning around his midseason slump by claiming pole position Saturday for late yesterday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

Hamlins edged consistently strong qualifier Ryan Newman, who’ll start from the outside of the front row.

The rest of the top five for the Emory Healthcare 500 was Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart.

“I’m a very bad qualifier,” Hamlin said, “so I’ll take it.”

He claimed the eighth pole of his career and the 50th for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Hamlin has five wins this season, but it’s been nearly three months since his last victory. He’s coming off a 34th-place finish at Bristol and is fifth in the point standings.

While that’s still safely within the 12-driver Chase

for the Championship, which will be set at Richmond next week, Hamlin wants to recapture the dominance he showed over a 10-race stretch that included five wins and two other top-five finishes.

“I feel like the last 10 races have definitely been up and down for our team,” he said. “We were on such a hot streak there.

We kind of got spoiled.

The regular season was kind of irrelevant at that point because we knew we were going to get in the Chase.”

Hamlin said the team started racing for victories instead of points.

“We’re going to treat these next two weeks as if we’re Chase racing,” he said.

“We found ourselves going for wins so much, going allout for wins, that it probably hurt us in the long run. These next two weeks, we’re going

back to points racing.”

Hamlin wanted to get that new attitude started with a strong qualifying run, and that’s just what he got from his No. 11 Toyota Camry.

“We brought our best stuff,” he said. “I’m trying to get cautiously optimistic, but that’s the fastest car I’ve ever had on the race track. It was very, very, very good.” If all goes according to plan, Hamlin will have a couple of high finishes — maybe even another win or two — heading into the 10-race Chase.

“I’m trying to do the best I can to pretend the Chase starts here,” he said.

“Hopefully, we can start some momentum now, so we’re really hitting our stride when the Chase starts.”

Failing to make the 43-car field were Jason Leffler, Landon Cassill, Scott Riggs and Todd Bodine. — AP

HAMPTON: Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 60 Fastenal Ford, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Great Clips 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. — AFP

SPARTA: Helio Castroneves won the Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, squeezing the last 53 laps out of one tank of fuel and then taking advantage when the leaders were forced to make lastsecond pit stops to fill up. It was the second victory of the season for Castroneves, at least officially.

Unofficially, he considers it his third. He led the field to the wire at Edmonton in July, but was dropped back to 10th after officials penalized him for blocking with a couple of laps to go.

Castroneves was fined $60,000 and placed on probation for manhandling an IRL official after that decision, and being stripped of that win clearly still grates.

Introduced to the media in Victory Lane, Castroneves couldn’t help but correct the moderator. “Just a little correction, it was the third win,” he said, laughing.

He also considered Saturday’s win as making up for the events here in 2008 when he was yards away from winning only to run out of fuel exiting Turn 4, allowing Scott Dixon to steal the win.

Not this time. While the leaders zipped around the track, Castroneves slowed down after pitting on lap 147 when race strategist Tim Cindric suggested he could win if he went a little easy on the throttle.

Castroneves was skeptical at first, but it turned out to be a masterstroke. When the leaders took turns heading down pit road for splash-and-go stops with a handful of laps left, Castroneves steadily made up ground.

In the end, he had more than enough to ease past pole-sitter Ed Carpenter, who matched a career-best with a second place finish.

Dan Wheldon was third, followed by Tony Kannan and Dario Franchitti.

Points leader Will Power led 83 laps but slipped to eighth after a late-race slip.

The bobble allowed Franchitti to draw within 17 points with two races remaining. The series races in Japan on Sept. 19.

“We finished ahead of Will, which was one of the things we needed to achieve, but it would have been nice to have finished a little further up,” Franchitti said.

A week after a pit road gaffe cost Power a chance at his first oval victory, a slight bobble while getting up to speed shortly after exiting the pits cost him.

Power dominated the middle of the race but briefly got loose while heading into Turn 3. He narrowly missed the wall, but the break in momentum prevented him from making inroads on the leaders, meaning the roadracing star will have to wait a little longer to breakthrough for an oval win.

“I’m going to get it one day,” Power said. “We led plenty of laps. We’ll get there.” Carpenter was making just his third start of the season, after signing a deal last month as part of a collaboration between Vision Racing and Panther Racing.

“Dan and I can say we probably had the best cars in the race, but the best car doesn’t always win,” Carpenter said. “That’s racing ... it was (Castroneves’) night. It was meant to be.

But I am a little bummed out.” Danica Patrick was ninth.

Defending race champion Ryan Briscoe, who edged Carpenter by 0.0162 seconds last year, finished 24th after getting collected in a three-car pileup with Vitor Meira and Simona de Silvestro. — AP

ITALY: Spain’s Dani Pedrosa (right) steers his Honda on his way to win a San Marino Moto GP followed by second placed Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo of Spain at the Misano circuit. — AP

Pedrosa wins tragic San Marino Grand Prix MISANO: Spain’s Dani Pedrosa led from the start to win yesterday’s San Marino MotoGP Grand Prix on another sad day for the sport after Japanese rider Shoya Tomizawa died following a crash in an earlier race.

Honda rider Pedrosa, second in the overall standings, finished ahead of championship leader and compatriot Jorge Lorenzo of Yamaha to cut the gap at the top to 63 points with six races remaining this season.

Tomizawa died in hospital after suffer-

ing a shocking crash in the earlier Moto2 race when he was hit by two other bikes.

Pedrosa was in no mood to celebrate.

Race marred by death “Now my head is away from the race.

There are no words,” he told Mediaset television. “For the race everything was perfect but now I’m totally shocked.”

A 13-year-old also died in a minor race before the Indianapolis MotoGP Grand

Prix in the dangerous sport’s last outing in August.

Pedrosa kept pulling away from Lorenzo from the start and the outcome of the race was never in doubt. World champion Valentino Rossi came in third on his Yamaha having overtaken Casey Stoner three times during an engaging duel in the middle of the race.

Stoner, who will be replaced by Rossi at Ducati next year, slipped further back and finished fifth behind Andrea Dovizioso. —Reuters

ROSARIO: Argentina’s Luciana Aymar (left) vies for the ball with China’s Song Qingling during the Women World Cup 2010 field hockey Group B match. — AFP

Argentina and England secure semi-final places ROSARIO: Argentina and England qualified for the women’s hockey World Cup semi-finals with a match to spare on Saturday ahead of their clash today to decide the Pool B winners.

Hosts Argentina, who beat China 2-0, have a maximum 12 points with England, 2-1 winners against South Africa, on 10. South Korea are third with five points

after being held 2-2 by bottom team Spain. China and South Africa have three points each.

Argentina finally broke down a stern Chinese defence in the 51st minute with a penalty corner goal by their specialist Noel Barrionuevo, whose tally is now four.

They went further ahead when captain Luciana Aymar,

six times world player of the year, scored a brilliant second goal after dribbling her way through the Chinese defence to also take her tournament tally to four.

“I was marked all match and then I saw the gaps and said to myself ‘why don’t you score too’,” said Aymar on Argentine television of her run before steering the ball past goalkeeper Li Dongxiao

from a narrow angle.

England beat South Africa 2-1 with Helen Richardson scoring a first-half field goal and converting from a second-half penalty corner to take her tournament tally to three.

Pietie Coetzee replied late for South Africa deflecting the ball in from a penalty corner for her third goal. — Reuters

18

SPORTS

Monday, September 6, 2010

New allegations deepen Pakistan fixing scandal LONDON: The crisis surrounding Pakistan cricket deepened Saturday when a teammate of the three players suspended on corruption charges reportedly claimed that players on his team have been fixing “almost every match.”

The News of the World newspaper’s Sunday edition quoted opening batsman Yasir Hameed as saying Pakistan players are throwing matches.

“They were doing it in almost every match,” Yasir was quoted as saying. “God knows what they were up to. Scotland Yard was after them for ages. “It makes me angry because I’m playing my best and they are trying to lose.” Yasir played in last week’s fourth test against England, in which Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir are alleged to have deliberately bowled no-balls in conspiracy with bookmakers.

The News of the World also quoted Yasir as saying he been offered up to 150,000 pounds ($232,000) to throw a match. If Yasir did not report the approach, he could be charged by the International Cricket Council under its anti-corruption code.

The ICC suspended Asif, Amir and test captain Salman Butt this week while it investigates them for various offenses under the sport’s anti-corruption code.

The News of the World said the trio face a total of 23 charges from the ICC, and alleged that at least 10,000 pounds ($15,400) of marked bank notes it handed to a middleman in exchange for the no-balls has been recovered from Butt’s locker.

The tabloid also claimed that a fourth Pakistan player is being investigated by the ICC, but that he cannot be named for legal reasons.

The ICC said it had no comment on the

report. The lawyers representing the three Pakistan players are unaware of any wish by police to speak to a fourth player. Yasir was quoted by a private television channel in Pakistan — Dawn News — denying the claims, which the News of the World says he made to an undercover reporter.

“I have not given any interview,” Dawn News quoted Yasir as saying. “All the claims of newspapers are false.

I can’t think of giving any statement like this one. Whatever the newspaper has written, it’s their own. “I have not alleged any Pakistan player of match fixing.” Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed told The Associated Press that the player denied speaking with the paper, which goes on sale the same day as Pakistan’s first Twenty20 international against England.

“I have just spoken to Yasir and he did deny it,” Saeed said. “I said ‘if you have not

Scandal-hit Pakistan beaten by England

CARDIFF: Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar (center) is congratulated by captain Shahid Afridi (left) after taking the wicket of England’s Ravi Bopara during their first international Twenty20 cricket match. —AP

SCOREBOARD CARDIFF: Final scoreboard in the first Twenty20 international between England and Pakistan at Sophia Gardens here yesterday: England Pakistan C. Kieswetter c K Akmal b Akhtar 6 Kamran Akmal c Yardy b Bresnan 6 S. Davies c Riaz b Gul 33 Shazaib Hasan st Davies b Swann 21 R. Bopara c Yousuf b Akhtar 11 Mohammad Yousuf c Morgan b Swann 26 P. Collingwood b Afridi 4 Fawad Alam c and b Yardy 20 E. Morgan not out 38 Umar Akmal not out 35 L. Wright b Afridi 0 Shahid Afridi not out 16 M. Yardy not out 35 Extras (lb1, w1) 2 Extras (lb1, w1) 2 Total (5 wkts, 17.1 overs) 129 Total (4 wkts, 20 overs) 126 Did not bat: Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Wahab Did not bat: T Bresnan, G Swann, S Broad, R Sidebottom Riaz, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Kieswetter), 2-42 (Bopara), Fall of wickets: 1-13 (K Akmal), 2-50 (Yousuf), 3-55 (Collingwood), 4-57 (Davies), 5-62 (Wright) 3-56 (Shahzaib), 4-88 (Alam) Bowling: Razzaq 2-0-20-0; Akhtar 4-1-23-2 (1w); Bowling: Sidebottom 4-0-32-0 (1w); Bresnan 3- Riaz 2-0-11-0; Afridi 4-0-27-2; Gul 2.1-0-17-1; 0-18-1; Broad 4-0-32-0; Swann 4-0-14-2; Yardy Ajmal 3-0-30-0.

Result: England won by five wickets 4-0-21-1; Collingwood 1-0-8-0.

Champions Spain and Serbia reach last eight ISTANBUL:- Holders Spain and dark horses Serbia reached the world championship quarter-finals, winning in contrasting fashion on Saturday to set up a repeat of the 2009 European final.

Spain, who beat Serbia comfortably last year to capture their first European championship, will start as favourites again after coasting to an 80-72 victory over Greece, the team they beat in the 2006 world final.

Serbia’s young team, though, will be brimming with confidence after a dramatic 73-72 triumph over Balkan neighbours Croatia took them into the last eight in only their third major tournament as an independent nation.

Captain Nenad Krstic scored 16 points and guard Aleksandar Rasic added 15 with three assists to lead Serbia to an emotional victory in an enthralling rollercoaster game where the lead changed hands 13 times.

Dropped for last year’s European championship, Rasic was the architect of his team’s win with cool shooting from the foul line in a heart-stopping last minute after counterpart Marko Popovic missed an important free throw at the other end. “I know people back home are sick and tired of our narrow defeats in big games but we left everything on the court and all I can say is I am sad we didn’t win,” a dejected Popovic told Croatian television after recording a game-high 21

TURKEY: Greece’s Ioannis Bourousis drives past Spain’s Jorge Garbajosa during their World Basketball Championship round of 16 match in Istanbul. —AP points. Krstic, who suffered a career-threatening knee injury in 2006, said Serbia would not rest on their laurels. “We have to forget this match as soon as possible and focus on the next one which is going to be even more difficult,” he said. “But we have nothing to lose because what we have already achieved is tremendous. It would have been very painful to lose to Croatia and watching the lastminute drama on the bench was sheer anguish.”

After losing two of their five Group D games in the preliminary stage, Spain were back to their best

against Greece as they overcame a jittery start to underline their title credentials.

Both teams played exceptional basketball, ranging from exquisite set plays to slam dunks and lethal three-point shooting, before Spain took control in the fourth quarter and Greece ran out of steam.

The Greeks led 54-52 early in the final period but there was no way back for them after an 18-6 run, spurred by brilliant long-range shooting from guards Juan Carlos Navarro and Rudy Fernandez, gave Spain a 70-60 advantage with two minutes left.—Reuters

CARDIFF: Pakistan’s latest match in their controversial tour of Britain ended in a five-wicket Twenty20 defeat by world champions England at Sophia Gardens here yesterday. England, set a seemingly modest 127 for victory, collapsed to 62 for five.

But left-handers Eoin Morgan (38 not out) and Michael Yardy (35 not out) saw England to 129 for five with an unbroken partnership of 67 as they won with 17 balls to spare.

Victory, in their first match in this format since they beat Australia in the World Twenty20 final in Barbados in May, put England 1-0 up in this two-match series ahead of the second match here on Tuesday.

This was Pakistan’s first fixture since Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were suspended by the International Cricket Council after newspaper allegations the trio were involved in a betting scam that saw noballs deliberately bowled in last week’s fourth Test at Lord’s.

There had been concerns about possible spectator reaction to the tourists in the light of the revelations. But Pakistan were well-received by a crowd of just under 11,000 at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens with the only jeers coming as a result of misfields.

However, England dropped three catches in Pakistan’s innings and then lost four wickets for 20 runs in 25 balls to be 62 for five. Off-spinner Graeme Swann led England’s attack with two wickets for 14 runs And with Yardy returning figures of one for 21 it meant England’s eight overs of spin yielded three wickets for just 35 runs. Pakistan found runs hard to come by after losing the toss and only managed eight boundaries in their innings. But England’s batsmen stuttered too.

Ravi Bopara, in for the dropped Kevin Pietersen, began the slide when he was well caught

by Mohammad Yousuf, running back from mid-on, off fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi then had a wicket in his first over with a quick legspinner that opposing captain Paul Collingwood could only edge onto his stumps.

Steven Davies made 33 at better than a run-a-ball before whipping seamer Umar Gul off his pads straight to Wahab Riaz.

And England lost another wicket when Luke Wright missed an intended sweep off Afridi and was bowled for a second ball nought.

Pakistan should really have had a sixth wicket when Morgan on 13 reverse-swept Afridi only for Akhtar to somehow drop the simple chance at short third man.

They didn’t help their cause with a batting order that saw Afridi (unbeaten on 16) not come in until the 15th over while dangerous all-rounder Abdul Razzaq did not bat at all. Their total would have been a lot worse had Umar Akmal, who top-scored with 35 not out, been caught on five.

Swann took his knack of taking wickets early in a Test spell into Twenty cricket with a burst of two for five in seven balls that reduced Pakistan to 56 for three inside nine overs.

He had Yousuf (26) well caught by Morgan, running in from midwicket and then beat Shazaib (21) in the flight with wicketkeeper Davies completing a neat legside stumping. Tim Bresnan though reprieved Umar Akmal when he dropped a headhigh catch at short midwicket off Collingwood.—AFP

said these things, why are they saying this?’

Again he said ‘I have not said it.’ “That’s all I can say. Let’s wait and see what happens.”

England and Wales Cricket board chairman Giles Clarke said Saturday the match will go ahead despite the latest allegations.

The ICC is refusing to discuss the case or detail the charges, which followed a sting operation detailed in last week’s News of the World that alleged that a middleman accepted payment in exchange for the deliberate no-balls in the match at Lord’s _ which Pakistan lost by an innings and 225 runs for its worst ever test defeat. The ICC has called it the biggest fixing scandal to hit cricket for a decade.

The captain of Pakistan’s limited overs teams has apologized to cricket fans for the controversy. Shahid Afridi said Saturday that the players in the squad for the remaining two Twenty20 and five one-day match-

es against England were upset by the allegations. “On behalf of these boys — I know they’re not in this series — I want to say sorry to all cricket lovers and all cricketing nations,” Afridi said.

“It’s very bad news,” Afridi said ahead of Sunday’s first Twenty20 in Cardiff. “It’s a big challenge for me as captain but we’re all ready. The coach and I are not talking about the issue — we are here to play cricket.”

Butt, Asif and Amir were released without criminal charge after being questioned

by London police on Friday but could be banned from cricket for life if found guilty.

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s legal adviser said Saturday that the trio have denied knowledge of any alleged wrongdoing by the middleman, agent Mazhar Majeed.

“The players have informed the police that the man was their agent, but they had no knowledge,” about his alleged wrongdo-

ing, Tafazzul Rizvi told private television channels in Pakistan.

The News of the World has accused Majeed of acting as a middleman, accepting money in exchange for getting Asif and Amir to bowl intentional no-balls.

“I’ve told the boys, ‘don’t read the newspapers,”‘ Afridi said. The News of the World also claimed in its Sunday edition that it had proof that Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan was mistaken in his assertion that the paper recorded Majeed discussing the timing of the no-balls after they were bowled on Aug. 26. The newspaper says it has timed evidence from e-mails, text messages, phone records, videos and receipts.

Hasan, Pakistan’s top diplomat in Britain, has accused the ICC of bias for banning the players while police are still looking into the case.—AP

SPLIT: Britain’s David Greene celebrates his victory in 400 meters hurdles during the IAAF Continental Cup.—AP

Americas lead after first day of Continental Cup

SPLIT: Bernard Lagat, Jeremy Wariner and Tyson Gay helped the Americas team to a first-day lead at the Continental Cup. The Americas lead by nine points from Europe after winning eight of 20 competitions on the opening day of the two-day meet, which also features regional teams from Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

Lagat, the 2007 world champion, won the 5,000 in 13 minutes, 58.23 seconds.

Wariner, a three-time Olympic champion, took the 400 in 44.22 seconds.

The 4x100 relay team led

by Gay finished first, as did Dwight Phillips in the long jump and Christian Catwell in the shot put.

Gay, the fastest man this season at 100 meters, was unable to run the individual race because he missed the USA Nationals this season and Continental Cup regulations require that an athlete must have competed in their nation’s individual championships.

However, he combined with Daniel Bailey, Wallace Spearmon and Churandy Martina to win the sprint relay in 38.25 seconds.

In Gay’s absence, Christophe Lamaitre of France won for Europe in the 100 in 10.06 seconds, followed by Bailey for Americas in 10.10. Britain’s David Greene added another victory for Europe at 400 hurdles, finishing in 47.88 seconds.

Two other Americas victories in men’s competitions came from the triple world champion and 2004 Olympic medalist Phillips, who scored another victory in long jump with 8.34 meters, while Christian

SPLIT: Rashid Ahmed Al-Mannai of Qatar competes in high jump during the IAAF Continental Cup in Split. Al-Mannai won the event. —AP Catwell, current world champion, won again in shot put, throwing 21.87.

Tomasz Majewski, 2008 Olympic champion, was second with 21.22. In women’s races, Olympic silver medalist Janeth Jepkosgei

Businei of Kenya won the 800 for Africa in 1 minute, 57.88 seconds. She was followed by Kenia Sinclair, running for Americas, 0.28 seconds behind.

Jepkosgei is having a winning streak lately, hav-

ing beaten both European leader Mariya Savinova and Caster Semenya a week ago in Brussels.

The African team is third with 148 points and AsiaPacific is last with 134 points.—AP

Lopez clinches Tour of Spain stage ALCOY:- Spain’s David Lopez took a solo win in the mountainous ninth stage of the Tour of Spain cycle race yesterday.

Second behind the Caisse d’Epargne rider was Czech Roman Kreuziger, some six seconds back, while Italy’s Giampaolo Caruso was third.

On a stage with seven classified climbs, Lopez pulled away from a breakaway group of 10 riders with six kilometres to go. The Tour of Spain ends

on Sept. 19 in Madrid.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Alessandro Petacchi pulled out of the Tour of Spain during the ninth stage due to injury yesterday, a day after he was caught up in a fall involving a number of leading riders.

The veteran Lampre rider abandoned the stage about 50 kilometres into the 187.7km ride between Calpe and Alcoy in southeastern Spain, organisers said.

“I am in pieces. My arm is very sore, I slept badly and my morale is low. I don’t know how far I could go in this stage,” the 36-year-old told reporters before the start of the stage.

Petacchi completed the eighth stage of the Tour of Spain with a badly torn outfit and was able to finish only in 124th place. He won the seventh stage of the race on Friday, the 20th Vuelta stage win of his career.—-AFP

19

SPORTS

Monday, September 6, 2010

Botswana on track to reach first Cup of Nations BLOEMFONTEIN: Unfancied Botswana is on track for its first appearance at the African Cup of Nations while continental heavyweights Cameroon, Ivory Coast and South Africa all won their opening qualifiers on Saturday for the 2012 tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Botswana’s national team, nicknamed the Zebras, continued a dream run when it saw off Togo 2-1 in Gaborone to open a six-point lead in Group K over former African champion Tunisia.

A Samuel Eto’o-inspired Cameroon overpowered Mauritius 3-1 and Ivory Coast relied on three of its English Premier League players to cruise past Rwanda 3-0 in Abidjan. South Africa missed a host of second-half chances and settled for a 2-0 win over Niger.

Jerome Ramatlhakwane hit the winner for surprise package Botswana in the 55th minute, just five minutes after

an equalizer from Togo’s Serge Fiakpe.

Winger Joel Mogorosi had put the home team ahead inside five minutes at the University of Botswana Stadium.

“I have no words to describe my joy,” said Botswana coach Stanley Tshosane as the unbeaten Zebras claimed a third win in four games. Botswana has already beaten Tunisia, away, and Chad earlier in the campaign.

Botswana only won its first Cup of Nations qualifying match in 2002 and finished bottom in its qualifying group for the 2010 tour nament, behind lowly Mauritania and Benin.

Botswana’s position was strengthened when Tunisia, the 2004 African Cup of Nations winner, was held to a 2-2 home draw by Malawi in Rades later on Saturday. Striker Iso Kanyenda scored with a late penalty as the Malawians rallied from 2-0 down to hand Tunisia

another setback in its qualifying effort.

Botswana leads the five-team group with 10 points from four games. Tunisia has four points from three games. The top two teams in Group K will reach the finals.

The group kicked off its qualifiers back in July after Togo was reinstated and added to the original four-team group following a successful appeal against a two-tournament ban. The group winners and two best secondplaced teams from the other 10 groups will also book their places at the finals.

Inter Milan striker Eto’o scored twice in his 100th international appearance as Cameroon made a winning star t in Group E with a 3-1 victory in Mauritius.

Eric Tchoupo Moting added the third from the penalty spot as the Indomitable Lions served up victory for former Spain coach Javier Clemente in his first game

in charge. Clemente had put pen to paper on his Cameroon contract just days earlier.

Trying to forget its disastrous World Cup campaign, where it lost all three matches, Cameroon takes early charge of Group E. Senegal travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the group’s second fixture on Sunday. Even without Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast was too strong for Rwanda in their Group H match in Abidjan _ giving another new coach, Francois Zahoui, a successful start.

Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, Drogba’s Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou and Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue made up for the big striker’s absence to lead the Elephants to a comfortable win.

The Ivorians were 3-0 up through Eboue’s 25-meter (yard) shot in the 39th minute and cantered home. The

vuvuzelas rang out again at Nelspruit’s Mbombela World Cup stadium as South Africa began its campaign by beating Niger 2-0 in its first competitive match under new boss Pitso Mosimane.

Strikers Katlego Mphela and Bernard Parker were on target for Bafana Bafana in the first half, but the host missed a string of chances in the second that would have boosted its goal difference ahead of tough matches against Sierra Leone and defending African champion Egypt later in Group G. “We created a lot of opportunities and at the end of the day I think we must be disappointed we didn’t take our opportunities,” said South Africa’s Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar.

“We are really going to need those goals.” Egypt and Sierra Leone meet late yesterday.

Also Saturday, Cape Verde began

Group A’s action with a surprise 1-0 home win over Mali. Sudan beat Congo 2-0 in Group I with a goal in each half from Mudathir El-Taieb and Mohamed Al-Tahir, and Uganda were comfortable 3-0 winners over Angola in Group J. World Cup finalist Algeria struggled to a 1-1 draw against Tanzania in its Group D opener on Friday as the minnows of African football made their presence felt across the continent.

Tanzania went ahead with a Jerry Tegete goal on 33 minutes. Algeria, semifinalists in the 2010 Cup of Nations earlier this year and 2010 World Cup qualifiers, forced an equalizer through Adlene Guediora just before halftime.

The 2012 African Cup of Nations will feature 14 teams. The 132-match qualifying competition features 44 countries, split into 11 groups and ends in October 2011—AP

Rooney ready for Swiss despite tabloid claims

FRANCE: French national football team’s coach Laurent Blanc (up) speaks to his players during a training session. —AFP

France under pressure after opening defeat

LONDON: France needs a victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina tomorrow to kickstart its European Championship qualifying campaign after the beleaguered team’s World Cup hangover continued with a surprise home defeat to Belarus in its Group D opener.

The French slipped to a demoralizing 1-0 loss at the Stade de France in Laurent Blanc’s first competitive match in charge, further denting confidence in a squad that was already at a low ebb following its dismal showing in South Africa this summer.

A chronic lack of confidence in front of goal is not helping the cause of a team that has won just one of its last nine games — and that was a scrappy 2-1 win over Costa Rica in a World Cup warmup.

“We’re not scoring many at the moment,” said Blanc, who is yet to taste success as France coach since taking over from Raymond Domenech. “You can’t invent scoring goals in the French team and it only underlines the difficulties we are having.”

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema should return from an ankle injury that forced him out of the Belarus match but Blanc is still short up front. Lorient’s Kevin Gameiro and new Lyon signing Jimmy Briand — who have five caps between them — are the only fully fit forwards at the manager’s disposal.

Guillaume Hoarau, Loic Remy and Louis Saha have all been ruled out through injury.

The French are desperate to get back to winning ways to help banish the memory of a World Cup debacle. The team went out at the

group stage after failing to win a match and the squad went on strike during a training session.

With talismanic striker Thierry Henry retired and key players Patrice Evra, Franck Ribery and Nicolas Anelka all suspended for their part in the strike, Blanc’s squad is short of experience.

“I want to put an end to this negative spiral of defeats and rebuild on a solid foundation,” said Florent Malouda, who captained France against Belarus. “There is a lot of expectation at international level and we need to do more.” Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Luxembourg 3-0 on Friday to take early command of the group.

While France’s post-World Cup misery continued, two other countries who failed in South Africa — England and Italy — began the rebuilding process with wins in their first Euro 2012 qualifiers.

England took a giant step forward by beating Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley on Friday and will look to back that result up when it visits Switzerland, which has yet to start its qualifying campaign.

Manager Fabio Capello, who was criticized in the British media during and after the World Cup for his tactics and team selection, said his players are in much better condition now. “The moment is different. The players were fresh and were ... sharp (against Bulgaria). That is so important in modern football,” Capello said. Capello is likely to replace Tottenham center back Michael

Dawson, who sustained a knee injury against Bulgaria, with Gary Cahill and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is set to travel with the squad despite reports about his private life being splashed across British tabloids on Sunday.

Italy, embarrassed at the World Cup when it finished bottom of a group that included New Zealand, gained a morale-boosting 2-1 win at Estonia on Friday and should easily see off the Faeroe Islands in Florence in its second Group C qualifier.

Cesare Prandelli’s first home match in charge will be in the city where he coached Fiorentina, before he took the Italy job in the summer. After a comfortable 5-0 victory over San Marino on Friday, World Cup finalist the Netherlands has center back John Heitinga available after suspension for the home Group E match against Finland but is still without injured forwards Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.

Veteran striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who celebrated his first international appearance since Euro 2008 with a last-minute goal against San Marino, can move equal third with Faas Wilkes on the list of all-time Netherlands scorers with a goal against Finland. Finland will be looking to avoid starting its Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with back-to-back defeats after losing 2-0 to Moldova.

Elsewhere, Portugal visits Norway in Group H, three days after drawing 4-4 at home to Cyprus, while Germany hosts Azerbaijan in Group A.—AP

Villa leads the way as strikers find their feet PARIS: With one sumptuous swing of his right foot against Liechtenstein on Friday, David Villa moved to within one goal of Raul’s all-time goalscoring record for Spain.

Villa’s 25-yard strike in the 4-0 rout was his 43rd in Spain’s colors and, having already inspired his country to victory at Euro 2008 and the World Cup, a goal in the friendly with Argentina tomorrow will further strengthen his claim to the mantle of Spain’s greatest ever striker.

The Barcelona new boy could even have drawn level with Raul in Vaduz after hitting the crossbar in the last minute, but he says he is not preoccupied by his pursuit of the record.

“It will come,” said Villa.

“It’s a shame (not to score) because it was the final minutes but the goals will arrive. I hope that I stay in the national team for many years.”

Spain’s thrashing of Liechtenstein was also an important game for Villa’s strike partner Fernando Torres,

who went some way towards banishing memories of his goalless turn at the World Cup with a clinically taken brace.

Medical staff at Liverpool had claimed Torres will need another month to recover full fitness after an adductor muscle injury, and he was not the only striker to make a mockery of medical forecasts in Friday’s matches.

Jermain Defoe was scheduled to have a groin operation last week but Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp told him to postpone the procedure, and he responded by smashing a hattrick in England’s 4-0 victory over Bulgaria.

Defoe netted one of the paltry two goals that England managed to score in South Africa and his strike partner Wayne Rooney received more criticism than most for an uncharacteristically subdued showing in the tournament.

The Manchester United forward looked close to his best against Bulgaria though, setting up two of Defoe’s goals and a first international strike for

SPAIN: Brazil’s national soccer team player Robinho attends a team training session at the FC Barcelona Joan Gamper Sport center in San Joan Despi. —AP Adam Johnson, and coach Fabio Capello revealed that the secret was a subtle change in tactics.

“I played Rooney in a position different than usual. He did very well. I spoke with him before the game,” said Capello.

“He had to stay just in front of the two central midfielders and from this position to go forward and to be free.”

Holland’s Klaas-Jan

Huntelaar emulated Defoe’s exploits with a triple in his side’s 5-0 demolition of San Marino.

The former Ajax goal machine recently joined German side Schalke in a 14 million euros move and he is desperate to resurrect his career after underwhelming spells at Real Madrid and AC Milan.—AFP

WATFORD: England striker Wayne Rooney will travel to Switzerland as planned for the team’s European Championship qualifier, despite reports about his private life being splashed across British tabloids.

Rooney trained as normal with his England teammates yesterday morning — hours after the News of the World and Sunday Mirror alleged that the Manchester United player cheated repeatedly on his then-pregnant wife last year with a prostitute.

According to the Sunday Mirror, the affair with 21-year-old Jenny Thompson began last June and their last meeting in Manchester was in October, a month before Rooney’s wife Coleen gave birth to their first son Kai. The Rooneys, who married in 2008, have cultivated their fame to become one of Britain’s leading celebrity couples. Coleen has her own TV series and magazine column and is considered a fashion icon.

There was no comment on the allegations from the Football Association or Manchester United, but the Premier League club is willing to provide support to Rooney.

The FA insisted that it is “business as usual” and that Rooney would remain at the team hotel, before flying with the rest of the squad to Switzerland on Monday for Tuesday night’s qualifier.

“He did the full session (on Sunday morning),” midfielder James Milner told reporters at the team hotel near London. “We had our full training session and back to football is what we’re here to do.”

Rooney played a part in all four goals on Friday night as England began its Euro 2012 qualification campaign with a 4-0 victory over Bulgaria at Wembley. “He’s a top, top player and we want to put out the strongest team possible,” Milner said.

The 24-year-old Rooney hasn’t scored for England since last September and endured a lackluster World Cup as England was eliminated in the second round. England fans have turned on the underperforming players since the South Africa letdown and Rooney was booed at times during Friday’s match.

“It’s important we go out and win football matches and control ourselves on the field and off the field as best we can,” Milner said.

“Things are always said in the paper, good things, bad things, about the England team when results are going well and when they’re not going well.

“You have highs, you have lows, and it’s down to us to make sure only thing that matters is on the field, come together and make sure we get the result.”

This is the second time this year that England coach Fabio Capello has had to deal with the fallout of lurid allegations against one of his players.

Capello stripped John Terry of the captaincy in February after newspaper allegations that the defender had an affair with England teammate Wayne Bridge’s former partner. Capello complained that Terry was not setting “an example for the young people — for the children and the fans.” After that scandal, Capello warned the players that their England futures would be in jeopardy if their conduct off the pitch landed them in the media spotlight.

Asked at the time what would happen to players who stepped out of line after he drew up a new code of conduct, Capello said: “The players have to understand what I want if you want to stay with me.”—AP

LONDON: In this file picture taken on March 14, 2010 Manchester United’s English forward Wayne Rooney reacts during the English Premier League football match.—AFP

France under pressure after opening defeat LONDON: France needs a victory against BosniaHerzegovina tomorrow to kickstart its European Championship qualifying campaign after the beleaguered team’s World Cup hangover continued with a surprise home defeat to Belarus in its Group D opener.The French slipped to a demoralizing 1-0 loss at the Stade de France in Laurent Blanc’s first competitive match in charge, further denting confidence in a squad that was already at a low ebb following its dismal showing in South Africa this summer.

A chronic lack of confidence in front of goal is not helping the cause of a team that has won just one of its last nine games — and that was a scrappy 2-1 win over Costa Rica in a World Cup warmup.

“We’re not scoring many at the moment,” said Blanc, who is yet to taste success as France coach since taking over from Raymond Domenech. “You can’t invent scoring goals in the French team and it only underlines the difficulties we are having.”

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema should return from an ankle injury that forced him out of the Belarus match but Blanc is still short up front.

Lorient’s Kevin Gameiro and new Lyon signing Jimmy Briand — who have five caps between them — are the only fully fit forwards at the manager’s disposal. Guillaume Hoarau, Loic Remy and Louis Saha have all been ruled out through injury.

The French are desperate to get back to winning ways to help banish the memory of a World Cup debacle. The team went out at the group stage after failing to win a match and the squad went on strike during a training session.

With talismanic striker Thierry Henry retired and key players Patrice Evra, Franck Ribery and Nicolas Anelka all suspended for their part in the strike, Blanc’s squad is short of experience.

“I want to put an end to this negative spiral of defeats and rebuild on a solid foundation,” said Florent Malouda, who captained France against Belarus. “There is a lot of expectation at international level and we need to do more.” Bosnia-

Herzegovina beat Luxembourg 3-0 on Friday to take early command of the group.

While France’s post-World Cup misery continued, two other countries who failed in South Africa — England and Italy — began the rebuilding process with wins in their first Euro 2012 qualifiers.

England took a giant step forward by beating Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley on Friday and will look to back that result up when it visits Switzerland, which has yet to start its qualifying campaign.

Manager Fabio Capello, who was criticized in the British media during and after the World Cup for his tactics and team selection, said his players are in much better condition now.

“The moment is different. The players were fresh and were ... sharp (against Bulgaria). That is so important in modern football,” Capello said.

Capello is likely to replace Tottenham center back Michael Dawson, who sustained a knee injury against Bulgaria, with Gary Cahill and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is set to travel with the squad despite reports about his private life being splashed across British tabloids on Sunday.

Italy, embarrassed at the World Cup when it finished bottom of a group that included New Zealand, gained a morale-boosting 2-1 win at Estonia on Friday and should easily see off the Faeroe Islands in Florence in its second Group C qualifier. Cesare Prandelli’s first home match in charge will be in the city where he coached Fiorentina, before he took the Italy job in the summer. After a comfortable 5-0 victory over San Marino on Friday, World Cup finalist the Netherlands has center back John Heitinga available after suspension for the home Group E match against Finland but is still without injured forwards Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben. Veteran striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who celebrated his first international appearance since Euro 2008 with a last-minute goal against San Marino, can move equal third with Faas Wilkes on the list of all-time Netherlands scorers with a goal against Finland. —AP

FLORENCE: Italy’s Antonio Cassano (left) and Gianpaolo Pazzini during a training session ahead of tomorrow’s soccer match against Faroe Islands. —AP

www.kuwaittimes.net

Clijsters, Schiavone march into q-finals

NEW YORK: Number two seed Kim Clijsters from Belgium returns against Ana Ivanovic from Serbia during their US Open 2010 match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. — AFP

Federer: Nadal not best ... yet NEW YORK: Roger Federer has warned Rafa Nadal that he must win the US Open to stand any chance of being labelled as the greatest to ever play the game.

Nadal has captured eight grand slam titles and time is on the 24-year-old Spaniard’s side as he bids to catch the record total of 16 won be Federer.

But Federer, who has won each of the grand slams at least once, said Nadal would have to complete the full set before he is included in the discussion about who is the best ever, “Clearly he has a chance because he’s young enough,” Federer said on Saturday after he cruised into the fourth round of the US Open with a 6-4 6-3 6-3 victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu of France.

“Having so many French Open titles to his name, let alone at his age, is an amazing accomplishment.

“Then again, obviously I guess he would need to win the US Open, to put himself there. He’s won the Olympics, done some amazing things. So he’ll have a shot at it, I’m sure.”

Second seed Federer and world number one Nadal could meet in the final in New York and the Swiss maestro reiterated that he has become a better player because of the Spaniard.

Nadal has won five French Opens, two Wimbledons and one Australian Open, but has yet to go beyond the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.

Federer, who completed the full set of all four grand slams when he captured the

French Open in 2009, said he saw some similarities between his quest and Nadal’s bid.

“I won the other three grand slams rather quickly, like he did,” Federer said.

“The only difference so far is that I lost two (French Open) finals before, plus a semi-final, whereas he’s never been in a final here.”

During his match on Saturday, Federer had as much trouble from the gusting winds that swept through Flushing Meadows as he did from Mathieu.

But after saving one break point at 4-3 in the first set, he won three straight games and then eased to victory, with 13 aces helping him in his cause.

“I thought I played great today in the wind,” Federer said. “Once I was able to save the break point and break him, I think it broke his will, maybe.”

Federer then broke twice to win the second set and then in the sixth game of the third and though he fell behind 40-0 when serving for the match at 5-3, he held on to clinch victory in one hour 39 minutes.

The five-times champion, whose winning streak in New York was ended in the final last year by Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, will now play either 13th seed Jurgen Melzer of Austria or Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 22nd seed from Spain. “I came through the juniors with both of those guys,” Federer said. “I will have my hands full. Regardless who comes through I know it’s going to be a tough match.” —Reuters

Verdasco leads Spanish charge

NEW YORK: Fernando Verdasco of Spain serves against David Nalbandian of Argentina during his men’s singles match on day seven of the 2010 US Open. — AFP

NEW YORK: Fernando Verdasco led the way for Spain in the third round of the US Open yesterday, blasting past Argentina’s David Nalbandian 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The eighth seed was one of a record seven Spanish players through in the top half of the draw, where Rafael Nadal was the top seed.

The injury-prone but battle-hardened Nalbandian had been expected to give Verdasco, a quarter-finalist here last year, a tough time of it, and so it turned out initially with Verdasco needing eight break points before moving ahead 3-2 in the first set.

The Spaniard tucked away the set 6-2, but quickly fell 0-2 down in the second before breaking back to love in the third game and levelling at 2-2.

Finding his range, Nalbandian grabbed a second break of serve to lead 5-3 and converted a fourth set point in the next game to level the score. But it was Verdasco who took command in the third set, running off four games in a row from 2-3 down including two breaks of serve.

He then broke Nalbandian again in the third game of the fourth set to lead 3-1 and there was no way back from there for the South American, who was well beaten by the end.

Another Spaniard through to the last 16 was 10th seed David Ferrer, who eased past compatriot Daniel Gimeno-Traver 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 and his reward is a matchup against Verdasco for a quarter-final spot.

Ferrer, 28, reached the semi-final here in 2007, beating Nadal along the way, but he was in subdued form in the US hardcourt buildup series to New York.

Nadal, seeking his first US Open title to complete the career Grand Slam, was scheduled to play Gilles Simon of France later in the day.

British fourth seed Andy Murray was also in action yesterday with a match against Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka, whom he defeated in straight sets two years ago en route to the final. —AFP

N EW YORK : D e fe nd ing c ha mp ion K im Clij s t e rs and reigning French Open c ha mp ion Fra nc e s c a Schiavone advanced to the U S Op e n q ua r t e r-fina ls with straight-set routs yesterday.

B e lg ia n s e c ond s e e d Clijsters needed only 59 minut e s t o e limina t e Serbian former world number one Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-1 for her 18th victory in a row on t he F lus hing Meadows hardcourts, her 2005 and 2009 titles flanking a hiatus.

Clij s t e rs re a c he d he r fifth US Open quarter-final a nd 17t h c a re e r G ra nd Sla m q ua r t e r-fina l b y quickly adapting to breezy conditions.

“I think you automatic a lly d o w e ll in p la c e s where you have done well a nd y ou fe e l g ood , ” Clijsters said. “With the wind you have to adjust. I star ted moving for ward, dictating the points better.

I was playing good defense as well.”

I t a lia n s ix t h seed Sc hia v one ous t e d 20t hs e e d e d Rus s ia n t e e n Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-0 in 68 minut e s , ma t c hing he r b e s t U S Open showing from 2003 in a year that also saw her win her first Slam in June on Paris clay. “ I t ’ s v e r y s p e c ia l, ” Schiavone said. “I’m very lucky to play so well again in a tournament like this. I feel better with my touch.”

Clijsters will next face the winner of a night match between Australian fif th s e e d Sa ma nt ha St os ur, seeking her first US Open q ua r t e r-fina l b e r t h, a nd Russian 12th seed Elena Dementieva.

Schiavone will play for a ber th in the semi-finals against the winner of a later match between US third s e e d Ve nus Willia ms , a s e v e n-t ime G ra nd Sla m champion, and Israeli 16th seed Shahar Peer.

Clijsters, hoping to be the first US Open women’s champion to repeat since Williams in 2001, last year became the first mother to win a Grand Slam singles c row n s inc e Aus t ra lia n Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 at Wimbledon. “ I t b e c ome s e a s ie r, ” Clijsters said. “(Daughter) J a d a is 2 1/2 now. She understands I’m going to practice or I have a match when I leave.”

For mer world number one Ivanovic has struggled s inc e w inning t he 2008 French Open title, having not reached a Grand Slam q ua r t e r-fina l s inc e a nd missing out yesterday on a c ha nc e for he r firs t U S Open quarter-final.

Clijsters broke for a 3-1 e d g e , t he n e x c ha ng e d b re a ks in t he ne x t t w o games before breaking the Serbian to conclude the first set in 31 minutes.

She t he n b roke Ivanovic’s first two service games of the second set for a 4-0 edge. The Serb broke b a c k b ut d oub le fa ult e d a w a y a b re a k t o g iv e Clijsters a 5-1 edge and the Belgian held for the victory.

Ivanovic, 22, was forced to retire from a Cincinnati semi-final against Clijsters last month after only three games due to a lef t foot injury. Clijsters, 27, also won their only other meeting in 2007 at Antwerp.

Pavlyuchanokva, 19, had never reached the fourth round of a Slam before but made 29 unforced errors and dropped the last seven g a me s t o d oom he r chances of advancement.

Sc hia v one b roke Pa v ly uc he nkov a ’ s firs t service game for 2-0 lead and held out from there, w inning t he fina l s e v e n games. — AFP

NORMAN: Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray (right) fights off a tackle by Utah State defender Bobby Wagner (left) in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game. — AP

Alabama starts college title defense with win TUSCALOOSA: Trent Richardson ran for two touchdowns as the University of Alabama began the defense of its national college championship with a 48-3 win over San Jose State on Saturday.

Greg McElroy passed for 218 yards as the Crimson Tide shrugged off the absence of injured Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and suspended defensive end Marcell Dareus in the opening mismatch.

The subs played much of the game, anyway, after the Tide raced to a 31-3 halftime lead over the Spartans.

Florida 34, Miami (Ohio) 12 In Gainesville, Florida, Jeff Demps had a long scoring run as Florida overcame an error-riddled display to beat Miami (Ohio).

John Brantley added a fluky touchdown pass late for the Gators, who used four interceptions, several red-zone stops and two late touchdowns to avoid a meltdown — an unconvincing start to life after Tim Tebow.

Texas 34, Rice 17 In Houston, Tre’ Newton ran for three touchdowns to lead Texas past Rice.

Quarterback Garrett Gilbert was up and down in his first college start for Texas. He threw four interceptions filling in for Colt McCoy in the loss to Alabama in the BCS title game, but he didn’t turn the ball over in this one.

TCU 30, Oregon St. 21 In Arlington, Texas, Andy Dalton ran for two touchdowns and threw for another score to make up for his two interceptions as TCU opened with a win over Oregon State. Dalton became TCU’s winningest quarterback, his 30th victory snapping a tie with “Slingin’ Sammy” Baugh, who had held the mark alone since the mid-1930s until being matched last year after the Frogs’ first undefeated regular season since 1938.

Oklahoma 31, Utah St. 24 In Norman, Oklahoma, DeMarco Murray ran for 218 yards and two touchdowns and converted a key fourth down, helping Oklahoma survive an unexpected scare from Utah State. Jamell Fleming secured the 800th win in the program’s history by intercepting Diondre Borel’s pass in the final 5 minutes.

Nebraska 49, Western Kentucky 10 In Lincoln, Nebraska, Redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez ran for 127 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 136 yards in a sensational debut that led Nebraska over Western Kentucky.

Martinez, the only true freshman quarterback to start a season opener for Nebraska (10), ran 46 yards for a touchdown on the third play from scrimmage.

Iowa 37, Eastern Illinois 7 In Iowa City, Adam Robinson ran for 109 yards and three touchdowns in the first half for Iowa. Senior Ricky Stanzi threw for 229 yards and a touchdown for the Hawkeyes, who won their 10th straight season opener under coach Kirk Ferentz.

Oregon 72, New Mexico 0 In Eugene, Oregon, Kenjon Barner replaced suspended running back LaMichael James for Oregon and ran for a career-high 147 yards and four touchdowns before catching another score.

Quarterback Darron Thomas, making his debut at starter for Oregon, completed 13 of 23 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.

Georgia Tech 41, S Carolina St. 10 In Atlanta, quarterback Joshua Nesbitt ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns as Georgia Tech downed South Carolina State.

Roddy Jones added two scoring runs for Georgia Tech, which showed little sign of missing last year’s top receiver Demaryius Thomas and top rusher Jonathan Dwyer, both gone to the NFL. Arkansas 44, Tennessee Tech 3 In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Ryan Mallett looked like a Heisman Trophy candidate, throwing for 301 yards and three touchdowns to lead Arkansas over Tennessee Tech. The Razorbacks, sporting their highest preseason ranking since 1990, recovered quickly from a sloppy start as Mallett threw an 85-yard touchdown pass to Joe Adams in the second quarter.

LSU 30, North Carolina 24 In Atlanta, against all odds, undermanned North Carolina nearly rallied from a 20-point halftime deficit before losing to LSU. Patrick Peterson had 257 yards on kickoff and punt returns, leading LSU to a 30-10 edge.

Penn St. 44, Youngstown St. 14 In State College, Pennsylvania, freshman Rob Bolden threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns as Penn State overwhelmed Youngstown State. Chaz Powell had a 100-yard kickoff return for a score for Penn State.

Florida St. 59, Samford 6 In Tallahassee, Florida, Christian Ponder threw four first-half touchdown passes as Florida State celebrated Jimbo Fisher’s coaching debut with a rout. Greg Reid returned a punt 74 yards for another score as the Seminoles exploded for 35 points during an 11minute span of the second quarter to build a 42-0 lead in the season opener for both schools.

Auburn 52, Arkansas St. 26 In Auburn, Alabama, Cam Newton ran for 171 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 186 yards and three more scores to help Auburn beat overmatched Arkansas State.

Newton, a junior college transfer who started his career at Florida, dashed up the middle for a 71-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Georgia 55, Louisiana-Lafayette 7 In Athens, Georgia, Aaron Murray passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in his first college game to lead Georgia over Louisiana-Lafayette. Despite the absence of top receiver A.J. Green, Murray completed 16 of 24 passes for 194 yards.

ST LOUIS: Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase (2) fumbles the ball as he is hit by Missouri defenders Andrew Gachkar (6) and Luke Lambert (right) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game. — AP

W Virginia 31, Coastal Carolina 0 In Morgantown, West Virginia, Geno Smith threw two touchdown passes to lead West Virginia past Coastal California.

Noel Devine rushed for 111 yards for the Mountaineers, who didn’t allow Coastal Carolina inside the 20-yard line all game. —AP

Samsung Galaxy Tab opens new chapter

22

LG's smart TV pushes the boundaries of what a TV can do

23

Will German CB uproar sway ECB presidency?

25

Monday, September 6, 2010

UAE's Futtaim, QIB, Aqar T in $1.6bn Qatar project

www.kuwaittimes.net

Weekly Commodity Update

Positive pressure

By Alan Plauhgman

Companies to develop Qatar's largest mixed-use project DUBAI: UAE conglomerate AlFuttaim Group, Qatar Islamic Bank and Qatar's Aqar Real Estate Investment signed a 6 billion dirham ($1.63 billion) deal to develop a large retail and leisure project in Doha.

The project, in line with Qatar's plans to diversify its economy, is expected to become the country's largest multi-purpose complex with construction scheduled to begin in early 2011, the companies said in a joint statement on Sunday.

The planned mixed-use project will include a retail centre, an entertainment park and two hotels, spreading over 433,000 square metres of land.

Completion will take place over three phases with the first retail phase expected to be concluded in the first-quarter of 2012, and the remaining two by 2015.

Qatar, the world's largest exporter of LNG, did not witness the same flawed speculative building model which imploded and caused house prices to tumble some 55 percent from their peaks in Dubai.

Qatar is positioning itself as a cultural hub in the region, building museums and setting aside $20 billion for tourism until 2013.

Al-Futtaim is one of the largest family-owned businesses in the Gulf Arab region, developing large mixed use projects including Dubai Festival City and Cairo Festival City.

Bawabat Al-Shamal, which includes Al-Futtaim Real Estate Services, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Aqar Real Estate Investment Company and a private company-will own and develop the project as well as supply land.

"Qatar has a rapidly expanding population, strong diversified financial standing and its local citizens possess a high level of disposable income," the statement said.

QInvest, the largest Islamic investment bank in Qatar, was appointed as a financial advisor to all parties. Qatar Islamic Bank owns a 49 percent stake in Aqar Real Estate Investment.— Reuters

EL MONTE: Unemployed Americans attend a job fair on the first day of the Labor Day long weekend in the City of El Monte outside of Los Angeles on Saturday. US unemployment jumped to 9.6 percent in August, the Labor Department said, showing the recovering economy is still struggling to create jobs. —AFP

Bumper profits fail to dispel wider worries PARIS: A season of bumper profits for some of the world's biggest corporations provides a shocking contrast to the low rates of growth and high levels of unemployment in most developed economies.

Economists say the divergence is mainly due to a comparison with the worst months of the global economic crisis last year, as well as the ability of multinationals to generate profit in high-growth emerging markets. "People don't have the impression that everything's getting better. There's a huge discrepancy" with some of the recent earnings results, said Franklin Pichard, director of investment service Barclays Bourse in Paris.

Companies listed on the Paris CAC 40 benchmark stock index have seen their profits nearly double this year on a 12-month comparison, while the unemployment rate in the country is still nearly 10 percent. The picture is similar in the United States, where economic growth is under pressure and employment is nowhere near pre-crisis levels.

Karine Berger, an economist at Euler Hermes, a French credit insurance company, said the figures to watch for are those from the small and mediumsized enterprise sector, which gives a truer picture.

"The real economy is small and medium-sized enterprises. Judging the situation by the earnings of major

companies is falsifying the model.

"Many of the profits have been made outside of Europe or the United States. In Europe in particular the level of activity is far below what it was before."

Pichard added: "There's hasn't been a real recovery in activity ... The profits are being realized mainly on economies of scale." Experts said profit margins for big firms are also helped by government stimulus and some of the restructuring programs launched in recent months, which have lowered labor expenses and decreased stocks. Some analysts believe that while profit margins may not reflect the current health of the economy they bode well for the future.

As former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt used to say: "Today's profits are tomorrow's investments and the day after's jobs."

Jean-Luc Proutat, an economist at French bank BNP Paribas, agreed. "In the first stage of recovery, the priority is to rebuild margins ... This is often the preliminary stage to hiring and investing," he told AFP. The big question for economists is what happens over the next few months as governments that have underwritten large amounts of private debt now try and shed some of their own debt with a series of austerity programs. — AFP

Troubled Afghan bank faces another day of long queues KABUL: Queues formed at branches of Afghanistan's biggest bank yesterday as customers clamored to withdraw their savings, though lines were shorter days after corruption allegations appeared in US newspapers.

Security appeared to have been stepped up at the head office of Kabul Bank, with armored vehicles parked outside as crowds thronged the banking chamber.

Many customers said they wished to withdraw their money because they had lost trust in the bank, though others said they simply needed cash ahead of this week's Eid holiday marking the end of the Muslim Ramadan fasting month.

Waheed Shirzoi, 26, said: "I am withdrawing my money because I am taking a trip and I also believe my money will not be safe in this bank.

"I think my money will be safer in the state-run banks," he said.

Privately-owned Kabul Bank has been the subject of reports alleging large-scale corruption by executives, though the government and central bank have said

it is solvent and there is no need for customers to panic.

Banks were closed on Friday for the weekly holiday, providing respite after a day of mild panic following the reports, which saw the Washington Post say Kabul Bank had been taken over by the central bank.

The governor of Afghanistan's central bank, Adbul Qadir Fitrat, said Kabul Bank had not been taken over and along with the finance minister reassured depositors their money was secure.

On Saturday, branches across the country saw huge crowds wanting to withdraw their money, though many were also queuing to be paid, as Kabul Bank handles the salaries of hundreds of thousands of civil servants.

US newspapers, including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, reported on Wednesday that the central bank had replaced the bank's two top executives-chief executive Khalilullah Ferozi and chairman Sher Khan Farnud-and ordered Farnud to hand over 160 million dollars' worth of luxury property purchased in Dubai for himself and for cronies. —AFP

KABUL: Afghan security guards keep watch outside the main branch of the Kabul Bank, in Kabul yesterday. Branches of Afghanistan’s biggest private bank were crowded with government employees lining to be paid and customers wanting to withdraw their money following corruption allegations. — AFP

Agility rises on US report; markets up MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Kuwait's Agility rallied yesterday after a US judge's report favoured the logistics firm, spurring investors to bet on a more positive outcome to a US fraud case that had sent its shares tumbling.

Most Middle East markets rose as upbeat world stocks boosted regional risk taking.

"Global markets over the weekend did well-this was reflected in Saudi Arabia yesterday and so it was natural to see other Arab markets do well today," said Haissam Arabi, chief executive at Gulfmena Alternative Investments.

Agility rose 5.6 percent to its highest close since Aug. 15. On Friday, a US judge said prosecutors had failed to follow the correct process when indicting Agility on fraud charges.

This ruling is unlikely to dissuade the US government from pursuing its overall case, with Agility's shares down 56 percent since charges were brought in November.

Other firms in Sultan group, a major Agility stakeholder, also rose. Sultan Center Food Products climbed 5.4 percent and National Real Estate Co added 6 percent.

Emaar Properties climbed 5.4 percent to 3.50 dirham, helping Dubai's index rise 2.7 percent, its largest gain for 11 weeks. "There was some short covering on Emaar and when the stock broke resistance at 3.40, it brought in more volumes," added Arabi.

Other high volume stocks also prospered, with Dubai Financial Market rising 4.8 percent and Arabtec adding 4.2 percent. Dubai's index is

the worst performer in the Gulf region this year, falling 14.7 percent.

Dubai Islamic Bank climbed 3.7 percent and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank rose 2.9 percent, extending gains for a second session since Goldman Sachs upgraded both UAE lenders.

Saudi Arabian Mining Co (Maaden) rose 2 percent to a four-month high of 20.75 riyals, taking its gains to 22 percent since July 7, when it said a phosphate mine would open in the fourth quarter, earlier than expected.

"Maaden is a stock that should be on everyone's watch list - it's probably the most compelling story in the region in both the short and long term," said a Riyadhbased trader who asked not to be identified.

"The start of operations at its plant will be a big catalyst and interest in the stock will increase as this nears. We see the mid-20s as a medium term target for the stock."

Saudi Arabia's index fell 0.09 percent, easing from Saturday's four-week high, as some investors closed positions ahead of a week-long religious holiday, starting Tuesday.

Industries Qatar rose 5 percent to a 16-week high as Doha's benchmark reached a similar milestone. "Qatar has a lot of good elements to its economy, but it was overlooked for a little while and international cash is slowing returning to the region, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia the main beneficiaries," said Matthew Wakeman, EFGHermes managing director for cash and equity-linked trading. — Reuters

he overall sentiment for this week led most commodities into positive territory. The rally in equities, and selloff in government bonds, helped breathe a sigh of relief for markets in general, which appeared to be over stretched and instilled with some fear. The market appears to have factored in the positive Non-farm payrolls out of the US, however also seems to continuing the positive momentum based on the positive data.

All in all, commodities have been very receptive to the positive data, posting gains in Crude Oil and the grains. However, the previous negative sentiment has put some pressure on gold prices and has led to some profit taking.

The long term daily trend, set back from July, will become significant at the 1.232 USD price level.

As uncertainty leaves the market and we enter into a risk-on type scenario, it is not inconceivable that gold could come under some pressure, albeit it stemmed from positive fundamental data.

Crude oil fought off the weekly lows on the longer term trend to post a positive week. This comes on the back of yet another build in the weekly inventory data.

The stock levels can typically prove to be poor short term indicators for price direction, which can only be confirmed by this week's price action.

The long term remains intact, with the positive equities markets and economic sentiment once again fueling expected future demand.

The unfortunate new fire at a platform in the Gulf of Mexico also provided support for oil prices, adding to the uncertainty to drilling and production practices being safe enough to handle

high levels of capacity utilization.

The move away from the lows beneath $71.00 is a sign of inherent strength for Crude Oil. And it would appear that the next level for resistance should be when the market tests the longer term trend indication using the 50 day moving average, which comes into play at $76.90. A break of this resistance level set up for a move towards $79.20 in the short to medium term. $71.00 remains to be major support.

Much attention has been diverted from the popular gold and oil commodities, with stories developing around a global food shortage. The Russian export ban on wheat over the next year, has put a positive spin to an already bullish market.

The ban on wheat export has increased the ton-mile demand for Panamax dry bulk vessels (mostly used for grains and coal) contributing to the hike in the average daily rate from its recent low below 16000 in mid-July to above 25.000 today. The price is still expected to rise with the fourth quarter futures contract currently trading around 28.000.

Especially corn prices have shot into the air, breaking through key resistance levels at 414.00.

From here it appears to have been one-way traffic, whilst the rest of the world appears to be adjusting to where there future purchases will be coming from.

KFH in talks to invest in Asia KUWAIT: The Malaysian unit of Kuwait Finance House (KFH), the Gulf Arab state's biggest Islamic lender, is having "strategic alliance" negotiations in Japan, a newspaper reported yesterday. "(The Malaysian bank) is negotiating with institutions in Japan regarding a strategic alliance to finalize several Islamic banking deals in Hong Kong, Thailand, India and Indonesia," Kuwaiti daily Al-Anbaa said in an unsourced report.

The report said that KFH Malaysia is interested in China, particularly after making profits from investing $275 million in a real estate project last year.

Kuwait Finance Malaysia was the first foreign Islamic bank to win a license under the Southeast Asian country's Islamic Banking Act. It is the Kuwaiti bank's Asia-Pacific hub and aims to promote business between the region and the Middle East. —Reuters

Dana Gas makes new gas discovery in Egypt DUBAI: UAE-based Dana Gas said yesterday it had made another gas discovery in Egypt, the firm's fourth gas find in the country.

The well, South Abu El Naga-1ST in the Nile Delta region, has preliminary estimated reserves of 50 to 90 billion standard cubic feet of gas, with 1 to 2 million barrels of associated condense, Dana said in a statement.

The well will be further appraised and development options studied, the company added.

"The discovery at the South Abu El Naga-1ST well adds significantly to the company's hydrocarbon reserves," Dana's Egypt president, Hany Elsharkawi, said in the statement.

Dana, the Gulf's only listed natural gas company, also said it started new production from the Sharabas & Faraskur fields in August via its El Wastani gas plant.

Total Egypt production as at Aug. 31 stands at 230 million standard cubic feet per day, plus 7,000 barrels per day of condensate and LPG. Last month, Dana posted a net profit of 33 million dirhams in the second quarter, as its Egypt and Kurdistan operations delivered high output, but the results fell short of analysts estimates.

Dana shares were trading flat at 77 fils at 0700 GMT on the Abu Dhabi bourse. —Reuters

BUSINESS

22

Monday, September 6, 2010

Damas’ Uhdeeki festival showers joy on you this Eid! On the joyous occasion of Eid, show your loved ones that you care by gifting them a beautiful jewel crafted in gold from Damas, the leading international jewellery retailer in the Middle East. Gather with family to rejoice and exchange Eid greetings and make Damas a part of your celebrations to make the occasion of Eid a truly golden one. Uhdeeki means ‘my gift for you’ and as part of its Uhdeeki festival, Damas is introducing three beautiful creations from their renowned inhouse brands - Farfasha, Al Manthourah and Heart to Heart, to proclaim the joy of gifting.

Reflecting deep emotions, Farfasha’s floral motifs use different coloured gemstones and enamel with their colours shining in the most beautiful nuances. The extravagance and beauty of Farfasha’s five piece set comprising a necklace, earrings, bracelet, ring and anklet, crafted in 18k yellow gold, will

leave loved ones captivated by its distinctive colours.

Exuberant and ever so feminine, its youthful design is crafted so well that it appeals to every young and contemporary fashionistas of today.

Bestowing a joie de vivre on its wearer is the three-piece AlManthourah set comprising a necklace, earrings and ring, crafted in 21k yellow gold with zircons and coloured enamel inlays. The Al Manthourah line of jewellery captures the tradition of aesthetic Arabic-inspired design. Its intricacy and fine craftsmanship is a reflection of the classic elegance of Arabian culture.

Make your special moments of Eid even more memorable with the Tennis Bracelet from Damas’ Heart to Heart Diamond collection, crafted in 18k yellow and white gold with diamonds. Reflecting timeless glamour with its sleek and trendy design, this Tennis Bracelet will delight any jew-

ellery lover. The sophisticated design and engineering of this bracelet is highlighted in its flexibility which ensures a superior fit on a woman’s wrist.

One of the ultimate fashion accessories this Eid, the shimmering flex bracelet will add sparkle to you day or night with its multitude of diamonds.

Dhanji Dedhia, Marketing Director, Damas Jewellery, expressed: “This Eid, Damas has launched an exclusive line of gold and diamond jewellery, for its stylish clientele.

Farfasha’s five piece floral motif set, the Arabic inspired Al Manthourah three-piece set and the Heart to Heart Tennis bracelet are enduringly elegant jewels reflecting the joyous occasion of Eid. With these three beautiful lines of jewels, our target is to cater to a wide audience to suit individual needs, with an extensive range of jewellery, so customers can get everything under one roof and cherish it for life.”

Samsung Galaxy Tab opens a new chapter in industry A new smart media device, surpasses mobile boundaries BERLIN: Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd, a globa l lea der in mobile technology, yesterda y announced the launch of the Sa msung GALAXY Ta b (Model: GTP1000). Powered by Android Operating System 2.2, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the first of the company’s ta blet devices, representing a new category of mobile products for Sa msung.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab brings together all of Samsung’s leading innovations to provide users with more capabilities while on the move.

Consumers are able to experience PC-like web-browsing and enjoy all forms of multimedia content on the perfectly sized 7-inch display, wherever they go. Moreover, users can continuously communicate via e-mail, voice and video call, SMS/MMS or social network with the optimized user interface.

“Samsung recognizes the tremendous growth potential in this newly created market and we believe that the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a unique and open proposition to market. There is a new and emerging consumer demand that Samsung can satisfy since mobile is in our DNA. This

demand continues to grow and develop as users tap its limitless potential,” said JK Shin, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung GALAXY Tab has been designed to enable consumers to maximize their online experience wherever that may be. The Samsung GALAXY Tab is pushing the market in new directions and Samsung believes this is only the beginning of its innovations as pioneers in smart media devices.”

A new concept As a new category of device, the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a wealth of mobile experiences. Its striking 7” TFT-LCD display delivers exciting mobile experience for watching films, viewing pic-

tures, e-reading or sharing documents. In design, its light (380g) build provides perfect portability, with its svelte dimensions making it easy to grip and use. Supporting the latest Adobe Flash Player 10.1, the Samsung GALAXY Tab fully supports swift, seamless viewing of every single page of the web.

The ‘Readers Hub,’ Samsung’s unique e-reading application, provides easy access to a vast digital library from classical literature to the latest bestsellers and reference materials. At the same time, Samsung unveils ‘Media Hub,’ a gateway to a world of films and videos, and ‘Music Hub,’ an application giving access to a wide range of music tunes. The Samsung GALAXY Tab has made rich communication truly mobile; it presents a

level of converged technology that moves beyond mobile or PC to an entirely new category. Users have new powers to consume, create and communicate from wherever they are.

Pow erful With 3G HSUPA connectivity, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 3.0, the Samsung GALAXY Tab enhances users’ mobile communication on a whole new level. Video conferencing and push email on the large 7-inch display make communication more smooth and efficient. For voice telephony, the Samsung GALAXY Tab turns out to be a perfect speakerphone on the desk, or a mobile phone on the move via Bluetooth headset.

Powered by a Cortex A8 1.0GHz application processor, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is

designed to deliver high performance whenever and wherever you are. At the same time, HD video contents are supported by a wide range of multimedia formats (DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and more), which maximizes the joy of entertainment.

While the front-facing camera allows face-to-face video telephony over 3G, the rearfacing camera captures still images and video that you can edit, upload and share, all without any hassle. As online content explodes, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the best portable solution for every lifestyle that needs a constant connection.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab will be launched in Europe in mid September, and in other markets including Korea, the US and Asia in coming months.

VIVA Kuwait congratulates winners of Ramadan contest KUWAIT: More than 200 winners celebrated Ramadan with VIVA Kuwait’s valuable prizes on the raffle draw that took place every two hours on Al-Watan TV. The completion was full of useful information and gave participants the chance to answer Ramadan related questions by

sending an SMS to numbers that appeared on their television screens and won prizes like IPhones, golden numbers, and free 1G Internet service.

Kuw ait Winners expressed their delight winning valuable prizes from VIVA

Kuwait while enjoying the competition on Al-Watan TV during the Holy month of Ramadan.

VIVA is the newest, most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider in Kuwait.

Launched in December 2008, VIVA makes things Possible for our customers by transforming communi-

cation, information and entertainment experiences. The company has rapidly established an unrivalled position in the market through our customer and employee centric approach. VIVA’s quest is to be the mobile brand of choice for Kuwait by being transparent, engaging, energetic and fulfilling.

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.283000 .4400000 .3650000 .2810000 .2710000 .2580000 .0045000 .0020000 .0779500 .7594460 .4020000 .0750000 .7445050 .0045000 .0500000

.2930000 .4490000 .3730000 .2890000 .2790000 .2640000 .0075000 .0035000 .0787340 .7670790 .4180000 .0790000 .7519870 .0072000 .0580000

US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2871500 .4425630 .3676540 .2836580 .2729270 .0493860 .0393610 .2604590 .0369320 .2129010 .0034110 .0061750 .0025580 .0033680 .0041610 .0782190 .7620570 .4061090 .0766220 .7472850 .0064160

.2892500 .4456890 .3702510 .2856670 .2748600 .0497360 .0396400 .2622980 .0371940 .2144090 .0034350 .0062180 .0025760 .0033920 .0041910 .0787180 .7669160 .4089850 .0771110 .7520510 .0064620

US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals

TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2892500 .4456890 .2856670 .0771110

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.446 6.164

Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

3.382 2.559 3.860 214.320 37.120 4.152 6.410 9.255 0.296 0.310 GCC COUNTRIES 77.959 79.296 749.790 766.520 78.590 ARAB COUNTRIES 53.400 50.567 1.373 195.310 407.540 193.600 6.164 33.740

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 288.480 Euro 370.990 Sterling Pound 446.280 Canadian dollar 275.530 Turkish lire 190.290 Swiss Franc 286.190 Australian dollar 261.310 US Dollar Buying 287.845

SELL CASH 265.400 786.930 4.350 277.600 586.300 14.100 50.200 167.800 51.840 373.600

10 Tola

GOLD 1,348.140

37.620 6.165 0.035

407.640 0.194 93.670 3.870 208.100

SELL DRAFT 263.900 766.930 4.153 276.100

215.200 50.587 372.100

Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Cyprus Pound Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees

287.000 6.300 9.400 78.590 288.400

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 447.100 288.400

Selling Rate 288.850 273.657 445.790 367.907 282.547 707.989 764.553 78.622 79.319 76.995 407.606 50.697 6.150 3.379

Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees

2.558 4.171 6.362 3.421 9.213 6.301 3.851

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

748.950 3.375 6.400 79.330 77.000 215.200 41.990 2.558 447.100

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash

37.770 6.360 0.035 0.272 0.252 3.520 409.090 0.195 93.670 46.100 4.510 209.600 1.965 46.900 749.130 3.500 6.600 79.760 77.000 215.200 41.990 2.745 449.100 40.000 288.500 6.300 9.530 198.263 78.690 288.800 1.310

Sterling Pound US Dollar

GOLD 245.000 125000 64.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Candaian Dollars

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

288.300 3.385 6.175 2.565 4.155 6.420 78.575 77.090 766.400 50.560 448.900 0.00003280 3.890 1.550 409.500 5.750 374.400 279.600

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000 US Dollar 288.600 Euro 368.000 Pound Sterling 446.000 Canadian Dollar 273.350 Japanese Yen 3.450 Indian Rupee 6.160 Egyptian Pound 50.720 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.563 Bangladesh Taka 4.153 Philippines Peso 6.372 Pakistan Rupee 3.375 Bahraini Dinar 768.000 UAE Dirham 78.600 Saudi Riyal 77.000 *Rates are subject to change

BUSINESS

Monday, September 6, 2010

23

S Africa’s state workers may end strike today Unions to accept government wage offer

LG’s smart TV pushes the boundaries of what a TV can do KUWAIT: At this year’s IFA, LG Electronics (LG) is unveiling its debut contribution to the exciting new realm of SMART TVs with a set that mixes seamless connectivity to the Internet with exceptional ease of use.

With an easy Home Dashboard, intuitive User Interface and User eXperience among other TV applications, LG intends to show just how convenient its SMART TV can be.

LG’s SMART TV exhibit at IFA features four main concepts: Easy, Fun, More and Better. As the name suggests, Easy is about convenience of use, which LG achieves through a convenient Home Dashboard that lets viewers use applications and access a range of premium content all on a single screen. Just like an internet portal, Home Dashboard helps viewers select their favorite content instantly without having to browse numerous websites.

At IFA 2010, LG will be making things even simpler still with its Magic Motion Remote Control, which enables viewers to find the content they want by merely pointing the controller at a list of onscreen options and clicking a single button. Used in conjunction with the Home Dashboard, the remote serves up a truly intuitive interface and experience, making the SMART TV LG’s most user-friendly home entertainment product yet.

Focusing on lifestyle-orient-

ed content, Fun shows how LG’s SMART TVs can deliver entertainment value in real life through TV applications. Use the Magic Motion Remote Control to fill in the pages of a coloring book app or learn about first aid through simulated emergency situations.

Alternatively, they can pick up helpful tips for relaxation and exercise through a yoga app.

More is about consuming digital content and using Media Link to transfer even more content to the SMART TV. Besides instant access to online videos and images, users can easily upload things they’ve created themselves. And with a smartphone, leaving the house doesn’t mean missing one’s favorite program because content can be delivered wirelessly. Whether connecting to an iPad, PCs, personal media players or home theatre systems, LG is expanding the reach of entertainment to every part of people’s lives.

Showing how it will make TV Better, LG is showcasing its quick links to premium content that TV viewers are most likely to use, such as the YouTube, Maxdome, Orange and MLB. On this solid foundation, LG is building a vast selection of online content as it secures deals with some of the internet’s top service and content providers. LG is focusing on forming partnerships with major content providers for maximum entertainment value, including the possibility of Pay

ALLAHABAD: An Indian farmer works in a paddy field in Allahabad on Saturday. India’s economy grew 8.8 percent in the June quarter, its fastest pace in over two years, as good farm and manufacturing output lifted growth back to its pre-crisis trajectory. — AP

Iranian gas exports to Turkey due to restart TEHRAN: Iran’s gas exports to Turkey was to restart yesterday after an explosion halted supplies on Aug 24, an Iranian gas official told a news agency Saturday.

“Gas exports to Turkey will be resumed at 10 am today from the border at Bazargan,” Valiollah Dini told the semi-official Fars news agency.

“The gas exports will begin with 4 to 5 million cubic meteres and it will reach 24 to 25 million cubic metres per day,” Dini said. It was the second time in a little over a month that an explosion halted gas imports from Iran on the key link. Officials did not say which side of the border the blast occurred.

When an explosion on July 21 halted gas flows it took 10 days to fix the pipeline. In both cases officials said the cause of the blasts was unknown. Guerrillas from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have in the past claimed responsibility for attacks on oil pipelines from Iraq and Azerbaijan.

Neighboring Iran is Turkey’s second-biggest supplier of natural gas after Russia, sending 10 billion cubic meters of gas each year. Turkey uses gas to fire half of its power plants. — Reuters

TV. “With the introduction of our advanced SMART TV, LG is able to offer a ‘Total Home Entertainment Solution’ enabling consumers to enjoy practically any digital content on any smart device,” said H S Paik, President of LG Gulf FZE. “For consumers who want full control over how and where they get their entertainment with maximum ease and comfort, the LG SMART TV solution may be all they need.”

LG’s advanced and easy SMART TV will launch in early 2011.

JOHANNESBURG: Unions representing South African state workers were expected to announce later whether they will accept a government wage offer they previously rejected and end a strike by 1.3 million employees. Unions have so far turned down the revised 7.5 percent wage increase, which is double inflation, and 800 rand a month for a housing allowance.

“We will make an announcement this afternoon,” Sidumo Dlamini, president of South Africa’s largest labor federation told Reuters.

Unions representing workers including nurses, teachers, prison guards, court clerks and immigration officials have asked for pay rises of 8.6 percent and 1,000 rand a month for housing.

Union sources said even if a decision to accept the revised offer is announced, workers might not return to their posts today.

“It’s more likely that it will be business as usual later in the week,” said a union official who did not want to be named. Government officials have said the state has no room in the budget to increase what it has already offered, which would swell state spending by about one percent.

Pay and benefits are the biggest expenditure category in the state budget.

In 2006/07, about 35 percent of tax revenue went towards it. That rose to about 47 percent in 2009/10. — Reuters

BANGKOK: A Thai worker standing on top of a scaffolding at the construction site of a building in Bangkok. Buoyed by exports, the Bank of Thailand now expects the economy to expand between 6.5 and 7.5 percent in 2010. — AFP

Iowa business leaders say US economy is still unpredictable The latest reading on the economy from the Iowa Business Council is basically unchanged from the first quarter of the year. The council, which includes the top executives of 20 of the largest businesses in the state, the three Regent university presidents, and Iowa’s largest banking association, completed a survey in the second half of August.

The overall Economic Outlook Survey index fell to 61.3, a point lower

than the end of the first quarter, but 12.6 points higher than the second quarter of 2009.

The sales index was two points higher than last quarter and 15 points above the second quarter of 2009. Ninety percent of the chief executive officers expect steady or higher sales over the next six months, while 15 percent are projecting substantially higher sales and 20 percent are predicting no change.

Ten percent of survey respondents expect sales levels to decline. The capital spending index was two points below last quarter, but nine points higher than the same quarter of 2009. Eightyfive percent of the business council members expect steady or increased capital spending levels through February 2011. Fifteen percent of survey respondents expect investments in facilities and equipment to decline.

Tom Aller, chairman of the Iowa Business Council, said the survey results suggest that the economy is still unpredictable. “The question appears to be whether recovery momentum can be sustained,” said Aller, president of Interstate Power & Light. “In essence, is business activity pausing to adjust strategically before continuing forward or has growth peaked and expansion been maximized?” — MCT

24

BUSINESS

Positive news on Agility buoys Kuwait equities Global Daily Market Report KUWAIT: Kuwait stocks enjoyed upward momentum yesterday, backed by positive news from Agility. A US judge's report favors the logistics firm. Agility climbed 5.6 percent to its highest level since August 15, 2010.

Global General Index (GGI) closed 0.45 points up (0.22 percent) during the day at 204.49 point as the Market capitalization was up for the day reaching KD33.80mn. On the other hand, Kuwait Stock Exchange Price Index managed to close down losing a 8.30 point (0.12 percent) to its value and closed at 6,711.5 point.

Market breadth During the session, 104 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 36 equities retreated versus 35 that advanced, while 141 stocks remained unchanged during the trading session. Trading activities ended on a positive note yesterday as volume of shares traded on the exchange increased by 8.83 percent to reach 146.75mn shares, and value of shares traded increased by 9.80 percent to stand at KD42.06mn.

The Banking Sector was the volume leader yesterday, accounting for 27.48 percent of total shares and the Banking Sector was the value leader, with 55.98 percent of total traded value. Gulf Finance House was the volume leader yesterday, with a total traded volume of 14.08mn shares. National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) was the value leader, with a total traded value of KD6.77mn.

In terms of top gainers, Bayan Investment Company was the biggest gainer for the day, adding 9.62 percent and closed at KD0.057. On the other hand, Gulf Bank was the biggest decliner, dropping by 3.70 percent and closed at KD0.520.

Sector-wise The advance was broad-based with 5

out of 8 sectors closing in positive territory. Food stocks spearheaded advancers, clocking 1.25% in sector gains. Danah Al Safat Foodstuff Company and Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana) added 5.00 & 1.28 percent respectively.

Real Estate stocks inched higher by 0.35 percent. National Real Estate Company was the top ganier in the sector ended the day up by 6.02 percent. On the down side, Insurance Sector Index shed 0.85 percent, Gulf Insurance Company was the biggest loser in the sector ended the day down by 1.89 percent.

On the other hand, Global's special indices closed in positive note except

Global Small Cap Index ended the day down by 0.29 percent.

Oil news The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $72.89 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $72.49 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) announced that Agility has sent a clarification on the judgment issued in its favor as follows: A justice of peace in Atlanta handed down a ruling in favor of PWC Agility, stating that the US Department of Justice failed to follow the US laws when

they indicted Kuwait Agility for alleged fraud over multibillion dollar contracts.

The magistrate released a report on Thursday, indicating that the US Department of Justice had failed to prove informing the logistics provider of the bill of indictment. He rejected the government's charge that Agility is a "fugitive" from US justice. This ruling serves as a recommendation to the US district court in Atlanta. The justice stated that he was in favor of affirming the proposal of the US Department of Justice to dismiss fraud charges brought against Agility Holdings Inc; a subsidiary of Kuwait's Agility.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Tester says US stimulus put people back to work NEW YORK: Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont, believes misperceptions persist about the federal stimulus spending and the health care reform, and he discussed soon-to-expire tax cuts along with some of his recent votes during a stop Friday in Kalispell.

Tester told the Daily Inter Lake editorial board that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act often is perceived as accomplishing little more than creating government jobs, but that is not the case.

He said people often overlook the fact that about one-third of the $787 billion stimulus package amounted to tax breaks, and muchneeded infrastructure improvement projects put people in the private sector to work.

Without it, he said, "there's a lot of people who wouldn't have jobs." Tester originally backed the use of stimulus funding for a controversial $8.5 million renovation project at a remote Montana-Canadian border crossing station, but that situation has changed following Canada's decision to close its side of the Whitetail port.

The project since has been suspended and Tester is meeting with Daniels County residents next week to get input on whether the widely criticized project should proceed.

"It's just flat difficult to keep that open if it's a one-way port," he said. "In fact, it's just not going to happen." Healthcare legislation that narrowly passed Congress this year "addresses a situation in this country" that if allowed to continue would have broken businesses, families and individuals, he said. Tester asserted that health-care

reform is a work in progress that will require future adjustments.

Asked if the end-of-year expiration of Bushera tax breaks is having a chilling effect on the economy, Tester said that unpredictability in the tax code does impact the economy negatively.

"If you lay out the groundwork for businesses [for taxes], they can move forward," said Tester, who favors a continuation or expansion of tax breaks that are targeted toward job creation. He cited tax breaks that create incentives for research and development in the private sector as an example. Tester said he does not have a problem with tax breaks expiring for upperincome earners.

Tester defended his vote to confirm Elana Kagan to the US Supreme Court when concerns had been raised about how she would regard gun control and the Second Amendment.

During a discussion with her in his office, Tester said, "we talked about gun rights ... and I didn't feel threatened by her at all.

"I trust my instincts when it comes to people. Elana Kagan is a quality person. When we talked about the issues, she didn't send up any red flags for me." Tester said he would like to see a plan for Afghanistan with benchmarks for success, but he believes they should be effective and reasonable for the military to accomplish. Regarding the federal lawsuits challenging an Arizona state law on immigration enforcement, Tester said he voted to take away funding from the government's litigation efforts. "It's how that law is implemented that counts," he said. — MCT

Beltone says to trade on Egypt bourse by year-end CAIRO: Egyptian investment bank Beltone Financial said yesterday its shares listed on the Egyptian stock exchange would start trading before the end of 2010, part of a strategy that was delayed by merger plans.

Plans to merge with Pioneers Holding, announced in November, had delayed activation of the shares, Beltone head of investor relations Osama Rashad said. The merger plans were

scrapped in July after the companies failed to agree on strategy for the merged firm, and Rashad said Beltone's plans to activate its shares were now back on track. "The (merger plan) with Pioneers delayed the issue, but after the end of the talks, we decided to activate our shares," hes said. Beltone is based in Egypt, with offices in New York, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. — Reuters

business

Monday, september 6, 2010

25

Leadership tussle undermines Japan economy: Analysts TOKYO: A showdown between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and the contender for his job threatens to erode confidence in Japan's ability to address a faltering economy and the world's largest debt, analysts say.

Kan faces controversial veteran powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa in the September 14 vote to select the ruling party leader. If Kan loses, Japan would see its sixth prime minister in four years. Such revolving-door leadership has chipped away at the country's international credibility and raised doubts about its ability to make longterm plans to fix its finances, analysts say.

Defeat for Kan would yet again alter economic policy in a nation saddled by slowing growth, deflation, a strong yen and weak domestic demand.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's warned recently that frequent leadership change "makes it difficult to have confidence in any long-term fiscal rehabilitation programs" for Japan to put its house in order.

Kan's government has focused on ending deflation and cutting the industrialized world's biggest public debt, at nearly 200 percent of GDP, and has suggested doubling consumption tax and cutting spending to do so.

In contrast, Ozawa has opposed raising taxes before the next general election and says the ruling Democratic Party of Japan should see its spending promises through. A brusque and gruff old-school campaigner, Ozawa is aiming to step away from his backroom "shadow shogun" reputation despite a series of damaging funding scandals.

Fears remain that his victory would split the party and add to Japan's debt mountain through costly consumptionlifting measures, sending bond yields higher recently.

"The bond market swayed under the shadow of Ozawa," the Nikkei business daily said in an editorial on Friday.

"The market has started ringing the siren that Mr Ozawa's economic policies could bloat fiscal debts... the Japanese economy could topple, if the long-term interest rate rises on Mr Ozawa's entrance."

With around 95 percent of outstanding government debt owned by Japanese investors, who are deemed unlikely to dump their holdings en masse, analysts say Japan has time to avoid a public debt crisis if it acts soon.

But any sudden rise in borrowing costs could threaten a Greek-style risk of default. "Everyone knows the Japanese

economy and fiscal conditions are at crisis level," said Hidehiko Fujii, chief economist at Japan Research Institute.

"Ozawa has offered no details about his plans, making investors nervous and wanting to avoid risk, leaving the bond market."

Yet fears over Ozawa's fiscal vision are matched by frustration over the Kan administration's inability to tame the yen. Victory for Ozawa is deemed possible. "The market has been sending a signal that it's not good for Kan to continue governing," said Susumu Kato, chief economist at Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank.

The yen recently hit 15-year highs against the dollar, and markets were left unimpressed by the central bank's response in expanding a multi-billiondollar loan scheme and a 920 billion yen (11 billion dollar) government package to boost growth.

"Kan only announced the package because the market pressed him for something," said Taro Saito, a senior economist at NLI Research Institute.

"The market viewed it as too late and there were no surprises."

Tokyo stocks plummeted 3.55 percent on Tuesday. The safe-haven yen's appreciation has put Japanese

exporters at a disadvantage against foreign rivals, particularly electronics makers and shipbuilders in South Korea, which has intervened heavily to depress the won.

A recent government survey suggested many companies were considering moving production overseas if the yen stayed high, endangering Japan's growth, which slowed to an annualized 0.4 percent in the second quarter. For every one-yen rise in the currency's value against the dollar, exporters such as Toyota lose tens of billions of yen earned overseas when repatriated.

With the currency becoming a key political tool, Ozawa has called for government intervention but analysts say Tokyo is hamstrung when dealing with a currency whose strength is derived from dollar weakness.

Solo intervention would be ineffective given that the United States and Europe would be unwilling to lose the trade benefits that their weaker currencies bring. "Japanese forex policy won't change even if a new Ozawa administration takes over, as he will face the same difficulties regarding intervention that Kan has," said Osamu Takashima, chief forex strategist at Citibank Japan.— AFP

TOKYO: Prime Minister Naoto Kan and controversial veteran powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa during an election debate.

Weber's chances rely on government support

Will German CB uproar sway ECB presidency?

FRANKFURT: The uproar sparked by a German central banker's remarks about Jews and Muslims could muddy the waters for Bundesbank chief Axel Weber's bid to become head of the European Central Bank, commentators say. Analysts believe the controversy is a fleeting issue for Weber however, and some say he might have done him-

HAMBURG: German central Bank (Bundesbank) board member Thilo Sarrazin during a television show on German station ARD. — AFP

Anglo Irish says EU wants it to shut down DUBLIN: The European Commission wants to wind down nationalized Anglo Irish Bank while management still believes it would better to keep a rump open, the bank's chief executive said in an interview in the Sunday Business Post.

"The European Commission is saying, 'this bank has dropped 25 billion euros ($33.5 billion) and it doesn't deserve to survive', and they're right. But you have a dysfunctional banking system," Mike Aynsley was quoted as saying in the interview. Investors see the escalating cost of rescuing Anglo Irish and uncertainty over its fate as a major threat to Ireland's creditworthiness and the next potential euro zone trouble spot after Greece.

Science and technology minister Conor Lenihan said on Saturday the bank would be "decommissioned", the latest signal from the government that it is about to bow to growing political pressure to shut down the lender. The Sunday Times said without citing sources that Finance Minister Brian Lenihan would ask in his meeting with European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia on Monday if Anglo Irish could be wound down over a period of up to 15 years, arguing that a quicker closure would be too costly.

Almunia, who will have the final say on Anglo

Irish's fate, said on Saturday he would discuss the matter with Lenihan but did not say what was his preferred outcome.

Anglo Irish CEO Aynsley has proposed carving out a small functioning bank via a "good bank/bad bank" split but there are signs ministers are moving towards wanting an eventual winddown.

Aysnley told the Sunday Business Post the good bank/bad bank split "doesn't look like it is going to happen".

The government-with a wafer-thin parliamentary majority will be hard-pressed to ignore public opinion, already aghast at having to shell out 25 billion euros for the bank's reckless property lending while facing yet another round of tax hikes and spending cuts in this December's budget.

Aynsley told the Sunday Business Post it would be wrong to close the bank entirely as even a gradual wind down over 10 years would cost 4 billion to 5 billion more than keeping part of it open. "From an economic and financial point of view, we are better off to keep it as a stub," he said. The Sunday Business Post said Anglo executives planned to meet members of Irish parliament this week to present arguments in favour of retaining a rump of the lender. — Reuters

Keeping tax cuts bad for US, say experts A friend once defined rich as "someone who has twice as much as I have." Indeed, the psychology of wealth is based on comparisons. That basically is why Congress is in gridlock over whether to make the Bush administration tax cuts permanent, eliminate them or give them a reprieve.

Nobody wants to pay more taxes from the least well-off among us to the super rich. Neither do we want the national debt to keep growing like wildfire. To control debt, the government must cut debt or grow revenue through paring spending or increasing revenue.

In our free enterprise system, some people think there should be no discussion about who has too much, only debate about why some people have too little.

Rich Americans, feel that their personal wealth is none of the government or other people's business and their wealth is theirs to do with as they please. Accumulating wealth is supposed to be a motivator and stimulates the economy.

Unless Congress acts, all Americans will see income taxes go up next year and their wealth

On Thursday, Weber and the Bundesbank board called for the dismissal of Thilo Sarrazin, a Bundesbank director who claims Muslim immigration and a high birth rate among Germany's Turkish residents will undermine Europe's biggest economy.

Sarrazin, who has just published a book, also told an interviewer that "Jews share a certain gene," reviving the specter of claims used to justify their persecution by the Nazis.

Only Germany's president can dismiss a central bank board member however, and Christian Wulff seems set to take the unprecedented action following the bank's recommendation.

Sarrazin has made provocative remarks about immigrants in the past and has fueled an impassioned debate on German attempts to integrate minorities. "A raw nerve has been touched. There is a lot of social psychology involved here," said Irwin Collier, an economics professor at the Free University in Berlin. Some speculate about the affair's affect on Weber, 53, a leading candidate to become ECB president when JeanClaude Trichet steps down in October 2011.

"Weber has not performed well on the matter-the turbulence has revealed his lack of

self more harm in May with outspoken criticism of ECB purchases of public debt as part of a European Union (EU) rescue plan. In the end, Weber's chances of getting the top ECB job probably depend on staunch backing from the German government, and that might have been reinforced by his handling of the "Sarrazin affair."

Bundesbank chief Axel Weber political feel," the business daily Handelsblatt said. "Weber seems passive and driven by recommendations from politicians," the Financial Times Deutschland added.

Trichet and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have both expressed confidence however in Weber's independence and ability to manage the situation. "He has done as people would have expected," Barclays

Capital economist Thorsten Polleit said after the Bundesbank decided to recommend Sarrazin's dismissal.

"The government's backing will not have changed after this decision, rather the contrary," ING senior economist Carsten Brzeski told AFP. "Weber clearly knows that his stock depends on the favor of Angela Merkel and the present government," Collier

added. Merkel has not sought high EU posts for German candidates and many feel she has reserved political capital for Weber's ECB bid.

The next president will be chosen by euro-zone heads of state in a few months and with Germany's economy acting as a locomotive for the rest of the 16-nation bloc, Weber's chances would also appear to be on track. Foreign reaction to the

BP ups asset sale target after massive oil spill

decrease.

Taxpayers making between $40,000 and $50,000 a year would pay an average income tax increase of $923. Those making between $50,000 and $75,000 would see an average increase of $1,126, according to estimates by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation.

President Barack Obama wants to make the tax cuts permanent for middle- and low-income families while allowing them to expire for individuals making more than $200,000 and married couples making more than $250,000. The Joint Committee said that Obama's plan puts 80 percent of the increase on families making more than $1 million.

With the economy still stumbling along the debate, perhaps, should focus on the value of tax cuts to stimulate the economy. President Bush inherited a surplus in the budget, than sponsored the 2001 and 2003 cuts.

He, of course, had to finance two wars, but the deficit soared and the economy soured afterward.

It is politically popular to keep all of the cuts, but they may cause more harm than good. — MCT

Banks must pay for Greece debt crisis: Slovakian PM ATHENS: Slovakian Prime Minister Iveta Radicova, whose country refused to contribute to a 110-billion-euro bailout of Greece, said yesterday banks had to "pay" for the debt crisis that shook the euro-zone.

"We will support proposals to handle the Greek crisis if they include the banks," Radicova said in an interview with Greek daily To Vima. "It is unacceptable if they do not participate in

the financial aid as they are directly responsible for the situation. They must pay," she said.

The parliament of Slovakia, the euro-zone's poorest member, in August voted against contributing to the European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout of Greece agreed in May. According to Radicova, if the country had loaned the 800 million euros ($1 billion) that was

requested, its budget deficit would have reached 9.5 percent of gross domestic product.

The Slovakian premier said blame for the crisis rested with previous Greek governments, as well as "credit rating agencies and the lack of control at European institutions".

The European Commission has expressed its regret over Slovakia's refusal to contribute to the bailout. — AFP

Sarrazin controversy has not laid blame on the Bundesbank president, "and I think that's what matters," Polleit told AFP. "I think outside of Germany this has no further significance," Collier added.

In May however, Weber publicly criticized ECB purchases of government bonds in support of heavily indebted euro-zone states, a rare move by a key governing council member that earned him sharp rebukes. "It was probably counterproductive, that's for sure," Brzeski said. But he added that Weber "is much more pragmatic" than many believe, and that by the time the ECB presidency is settled, "people will have forgotten" or at least have decided to forgive.

Jean Pisani-Ferry, director of the Breugel research institute in Brussels, was not sure all will be forgotten but was also not convinced Weber's action "will weigh decisively in the decision." A key factor will be France, which Brzeski said could face deteriorating public finances next year and might "want to keep the Germans as friends."

"I hear the criticism but simply given the political forces I would still think that it's going to be Weber" at the head of the ECB, he concluded. —AFP

NARATHIWAT, Thailand: A Thai farmer tapping a rubber tree to collect latex in a farm in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat. —AFP

LONDON: Oil giant BP has increased to 40 billion dollars the amount it wants to raise from an asset sale program in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.

The $40 billion (31 billion euro) figure is an increase from the previous goal of $30 billion.

The target figure reportedly includes the planned sale of its $20 billion, 26 percent stake in North America's largest oil field, Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, which is on the market.

"They're being very clear.

For the right price, they'll sell," an unidentified source told the Sunday Times.

The paper also said BP was in talks to dispose of up to $10 billion of international assets to TNK-BP, its Russian joint venture.

BP has spent eight billion dollars battling the huge Gulf of Mexico spill which followed an explosion on an oil rig off the Louisiana coast in April.

The British-based group has forecast that the environmental disaster will cost it a total of about $32.2 billion.

26

BUSINESS

Monday, September 6, 2010

Expiring tax cuts pose dilemma for US lawmakers WASHINGTON: US lawmakers returning from summer recess face a conundrum on tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year, with the economy seemingly sputtering ahead of looming congressional elections.

A fierce battle over taxes is likely with President Barack Obama’s administration pressing for a limited extension of tax breaks for the middle class and Republicans hoping to extend the full range cuts enacted under former president George W Bush.

The Bush-era cuts chopped trillions of dollars in taxes over the past decade, but under budget rules they will expire at the end of 2010, resulting in a hike in many kinds of taxes if Congress takes no action.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that extending all of the original Bush-era tax cuts would cost some $2.56 trillion over the coming decade, which administration officials say would be calamitous for the deficit.

The White House wants to keep the lower income tax rates for all but the top two percent of Americans, to add revenues of some $700 billion over 10 years. It remains to be seen whether the two parties will find a compromise and offer a tax break ahead of the November election, or allow rates to rise and blame each other.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has said that if Republicans continue to press for the full extension of cuts it would be a “$700-billion fiscal

mistake.”

“It’s not the prescription the economy needs right now, and the country can’t afford it,” he said in an August speech. House of Representatives Republican leader John Boehner said that if taxes go up it will be Obama’s responsibility.

Boehner said Obama “should announce he will not carry out his plan to impose job-killing tax hikes on families and small businesses... We will not solve our fiscal challenges until we cut spending and have real economic growth, and we won’t have real economic growth if we keep raising taxes on small businesses.”

Obama says he wants to “keep on pushing” the economy to keep a fragile

recovery on track but also pay more attention to getting debt and deficits under control.

“We’re going to be have to do two things at once. We’ve got to keep on pushing to grow the economy. But we’ve also on the medium term and the long term have to get control of our deficit,” Obama told NBC television.

Lawmakers must decide whether to allow the expiration of breaks, effectively raising the top tax brackets, now 33 percent and 35 percent, back to 36 percent and 39.6 percent, which were in effect in the 1990s. Also at stake are reductions in capital gains taxes.

Many economists say the latest sluggish data highlight the need for

some further fiscal relief but views vary widely. US growth slowed to a weak 1.6 percent pace in the second quarter.

“It seems increasingly likely that Congress will extend most, if not all, of the Bush tax cuts for at least a year or two,” said Howard Gleckman, research associate at the Tax Policy Center of the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution.

“As the economy shows growing signs of softening, lawmakers are less and less likely to take steps that will be seen as ‘raising taxes,’” he added.

“But there is a way Congress could maintain the magnitude of the Bush tax cuts while moving around some dollars to enhance their short-term

economic benefit. The goal of this shift would be to focus tax cuts on those most likely to spend the money.”

Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said the economic recovery is too fragile to allow taxes to rise, and that failure to extend the relief could undermine already weak consumer confidence. “Given the fragile state of consumer confidence and how worried all Americans appear to be in their financial security, tax increases at any income level are probably unwelcome,” Guatieri said.

“There might be a time to raise taxes to address the fiscal deficit, but that time may not be the next few months, because we have yet to see

self-sustaining growth in the private sector.”

Other analysts say that keeping the full rage of tax policies would provide a windfall to the wealthiest Americans with little economic benefit. Nobel economics laureate Paul Krugman of Princeton University says proponents of the full extension “are eager to cut checks averaging three million dollars each to the richest 120,000 people in the country.”

“We’re told that it’s about helping the economy recover. But it’s hard to think of a less cost-effective way to help the economy than giving money to people who already have plenty, and aren’t likely to spend a windfall,” says Krugman. —AFP

Chinese factory workers scramble to pay housing loans

Even ‘low-cost’ housing hard for some to afford SHANGHAI: After months of anxious waiting, Wang Jinxia finally obtained a coveted spot in Shanghai’s trial affordable-housing program, but now the former factory worker is scrambling to pay for it. The 53-year-old divorcee,

who took early retirement years ago, is desperate to move after living eight years in a 60-square-metre (650-square-foot) Shanghai apartment with her octogenarian parents and two other relatives.

“I’ve been stressed out recently. I have many new grey hairs. I will have to pour all of my 70,000 yuan ($10,300) savings into this,” Wang said outside a makeshift centre for mortgage applications at a local school.

She is among the first batch of about 1,940 families selected to buy low-cost housing that is selling for about a third of market prices, as part of a new affordable housing campaign in the city of more than 20 million.

However, Wang and others are finding even “affordable” housing out of reach due to limited financing options for lowincome buyers — a hurdle for government efforts to quell public concern over skyrocketing prices.

China’s public housing programs have been neglected for years as local governments sought to cash in on spiralling property prices with more upmarket developments.

But a growing outcry over the past year has put affordable housing back on Beijing’s agenda.

The stakes in China’s housing program are high not only for low-income people such as Wang, who have been left behind by China’s explosive growth, but for the economy itself. It grew 10.3 percent in the second quarter of this yearslowing from a blistering 11.9 percent in the first quarter-as Beijing took steps to cool soarSHANGHAI: A man crosses a bridge as low-rise and high-rise buildings are seen in the background in ing property prices.

“The social housing proShanghai. Analysts estimate that only about 40 percent of the affordable housing local governments pledged to gram is on track and will constibuild in 2009 was completed and it could rise to 50 percent this year, optimistically. —AFP tute an important cushion for any potential slowdown in private, market-based residential property construction,” Morgan Stanley economist Qing Wang wrote in a note.

Beijing’s ambitious target to build 5.8 million affordable housing units this year is aimed at preventing a hard landing for property investment growth and propping up demand for basic materials such as cement BANGKOK: Noi Jaitang’s voice is laced the people’s lives nor the impact on the before beginning new works. and steel, Wang said.

Eleven of the Map Ta Phut projects with bitter helplessness as he faces the environment,” he said on Friday. But in a If it succeeds, the program reality that his rural Thai village could sign that the focus was already shifting to deemed to have limited environmental could boost China’s economic once again be engulfed with fumes he opportunities presented by resuming impact were later allowed to resume and growth by up to a percentage work at the estate, the prime minister now only two are thought to come under blames for a litany of family illnesses. point or more, according to Bai “I don’t understand why they please also noted Japan’s warm reception of the the new rules requiring them to undergo Hongwei, a property analyst at industry but not the people who were ruling, and signs that it could boost invest- environmental assessments. Businesses China International Capital complained the 2007 regulations were here first. If I could talk to the prime min- ment.

Corp.

Chainoi Puankosoom, president of costly and confusing, and the government ister, I would tell him to sympathize with Only limited and fuzzy offius and see our pain,” the 71-year-old said. PTTAR, part of the industrial conglomer- list is an effort at simplification. cial data have been available, Payungsak Chartsutipol, chairman of A year after legal action halted 76 pro- ate PTT Plc, said the company had investhowever, and the push has jects at the vast Map Ta Phut industrial ed about 130 billion baht ($4 billion) in its the Federation of Thai Industries, said it been blemished by reports of gives firms a regulatory path to follow. estate on Thailand’s eastern seaboard, a 25 Map Ta Phut projects. insufficient land and high“The suspension only damaged the “The ruling is clarity, so now the governcourt dismissed the case on Thursday and income earners exploiting loopopened the way for a full-scale resumption investment atmosphere,” he said. “We are ment, investors and also local organizaholes to take social housing more than ready to resume our operations tions know what to do,” he said. But he of works there. spots.

Industry expressed relief after the as soon as possible.” Thursday’s ruling expressed concern about the level of Analysts estimate only 40 decision, which is expected to end a hiatus said projects would now be subject to a opposition from local communities to new percent of the housing local that froze billions of dollars of investment list of 11 types of industrial activity investment projects. governments pledged to build “If only they would listen with an open and tarnished Thailand’s reputation deemed harmful-including petrochemilast year materialized, as they cals, mining, power plants, dams and air- mind, they could talk to us first before among international investors. continued selling land to develBut the activists and villages behind port runways-announced just two days rejecting us,” he said. The Map Ta Phut opers at market rates, and that case and the strident grassroots movethe action have been left angry and bewil- earlier. amount might rise to 50 perProjects in those categories would be ment around it ruffled feathers in a coundered by a ruling they believe does not cent this year, at best. address health and environmental con- required to have impact assessments. “I try where local voices often appear to go In May, Beijing told local suspected it would end this way, after the unheard. cerns. officials that affordable housing Heavy pollution from the estate was Allegations against the plants from cabinet approved the list,” said Suthi would be part of their perfornearby villages are grave-record cancer Atchasai, an environmental activist with first noticed in the 1980s, but it was not mance appraisals. To qualify for rates and respiratory disease in the area the People’s Eastern Network, based in until 1997 that villagers formed a green Shanghai’s trial project, the movement after children attending a are blamed on a toxic cocktail pumped into Rayong, where Map Ta Phut is located. family’s average annual income The group now wants the list to be neighboring school were taken ill. the air from the estate. per capita must be less than In 2003 the National Cancer Institute Noi, who blames respiratory problems extended or scrapped. Projects were orig27,600 yuan, while each memon the fumes wafting across fields to his inally suspended in September 2009 after found that the highest rates of cancer in ber’s share of floor space in house, said his wife has had cancer of the activists led by Srisuwan Janya of Thailand were in Rayong province. their current residence must be Stop Global Warming Lawyer Srisuwan, who said the action was face twice and that his children have been Thailand’s under 15 square metres. Some sick from acid rain. He said his “heart was Association filed a suit against state agen- funded out of the activists’ own pockets, participants have likened the torn” by the verdict and questioned cies alleging industrial permits were ille- vowed to appeal the ruling. process to winning a lottery.

He believes the court has wrongly whether the Thai premier had betrayed gally issued.

To discourage fraud and corThat court based its decision on rules, applied the list retrospectively and comlocal people in a rush to appease big busiruption, the names and ness. It is a charge Abhisit Vejjajiva has brought in under a 2007 military-backed plained that the Map Ta Phut projects had addresses of those selected are constitution that all firms should carry out been let “off the hook”. “I will not stop denied. published online. —AFP “The government has not neglected health and environmental assessments fighting,” he said. —AFP

Thais voice health fears over industrial pollution

MONTGOMERY: Then-Democratic Congressional candidate Bobby Bright leaves the Newtown Community Center in Montgomery, Alabama after casting his vote. Chances are fading that Congress will allow taxes to rise even for the nation’s top earners. —AP

Future of Australia’s mining tax unclear SYDNEY: Billions of dollars in potential revenue from Australia’s proposed mining tax remain in doubt, analysts say, with the future of the controversial levy in the balance amid a political stalemate.

Embattled Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard has vowed to introduce the tax if she breaks the deadlock to form a government, but her right-leaning challenger Tony Abbott has promised to dump the initiative. As Gillard and Abbott last week negotiated with the three independent lawmakers whose vote is vital to holding a majority in parliament, the resources tax was again up for examination.

“It’s up for negotiation. It’s one of the decision metrics for the support of the independents because not all of them can agree on what it should look like,” UBS economist George Thanerou said.

“It is something which will evolve over the next couple of weeks until we get a decision on which side of politics is going to be in power.”

The mining tax was meant to be the money-spinner that gave Australians a “fair share” of their nation’s mineral resources, as Asian-led demand saw the country stripped of tons of iron ore and coal. —AFP

BANGKOK: A Thai woman walking past a board displaying currency exchange rates in Bangkok. Thailand has staged an economic comeback so vigorous it has surprised even its central bank since anti-government protests ignited into violence in Bangkok earlier this year. —AFP

Two Swiss politicians reveal incomes, assets GENEVA: Two Swiss politicians laid bare their income and assets yesterday as part of their bids for vacant seats in the country’s seven-member cabinet, angering political opponents in a country where discretion in money matters is still seen as sacrosanct even in public office. Opposition politicians testily declined to follow suit, invoking Switzerland’s tradition of financial secrecy that has long allowed citizens to keep details of their wealth under wraps even from the taxman without risking serious repercussions.

The decision by Jacqueline Fehr and Simonetta Sommaruga — both members of the centerleft Social Democrats — to reveal their comparatively modest tax statements to the Sonntag weekly paper comes as the country struggles to embrace the kind of transparency long expected of politicians and officials in the United States and elsewhere.

Sommaruga, an enemy of Switzerland’s powerful banks, went further, suggesting to Sonntag that lawmakers should automatically reveal how much

money they receive from memberships on company boards and other business interests. Such a move could be particularly hard for candidates such as Johann Schneider-Ammann of the pro-business Free Democrats, whose family is estimated by Bilanz magazine to be worth 500-600 million Swiss francs. His fellow party member Karin Keller-Sutter told Sonntag that she favors keeping personal financial matters secret. “I see no reason to disclose my tax information,” she said. —AP

technology

Monday, September 6, 2010

27

Cargo ship embarks on historic Arctic passage OSLO: The MV Nordic Barents is lugging 40,000 tons of iron ore from Norway to China on an Arctic Ocean shortcut through melting ice-and making a little history in the process.

Steaming east along Russia’s desolate northern coast, the ship departed yesterday as the first non-Russian commercial vessel to attempt a non-stop crossing of a route that skirts the receding Arctic ice cap. “We’re pretty much going over the top,” said John Sanderson, the Australian CEO of the Norwegian mine where the iron ore comes from.

By using the northern route from Europe to Asia, the Nordic Barents could save eight days and 5,000 nautical miles of travel thought

to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to the owners of its cargo. While many scientists are alarmed by the widening expanse of open water that the ship will traverse, blaming it on global warming, shippers see a new international route.

Sanderson’s ASX-listed Northern Iron Ltd has sent 15 ships to China since it began mining in the northern Norwegian town of Kirkenes last October. All steamed south, then east through the Suez Canal or around the Cape of Good Hope. To reach Chinese steel mills hungry for ore, they had to brave pirates in the Indian Ocean. The Arctic route is no picnic either. Yesterday the polar ice sheet remained almost as big as the US main-

land. But over the summer it has shrunk about as far from the Russian coast as it did during the biggest Arctic melt on record, in 2007, according to the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center.

And the Russians are waking up to the business potential of a route that was mostly reserved for domestic commercial vessels in the past. “Suddenly there is an opening that gives this part of the world an advantage,” said Felix H Tschudi, whose shipping company is Northern Iron’s largest shareholder.

Willy Oestreng, chairman of research group Ocean Futures, called the trip of the Nordic Barents “historic”. “The western world is starting to show an interest and a capability to

use that route,” he said.

Two days after Russia and Norway agreed last April to settle a 40-year-old dispute over economic zones in the Barents Sea, government and business leaders of the two countries met in Kirkenes to sweep away hurdles to international shipping. Russian law still requires icebreaker escort even where ice danger is small, due to a lack of onshore mechanical or medical support. But fees and rules are starting to loosen.

“Russian companies and Russian authorities are now ready to assist,” said Mikhail Belkinms, assistant general manager of the state-owned Rosatomflot icebreaking fleet.

Lots of Russian vessels have plied the pas-

sage, and two German ships traversed it last year with small cargos delivered to Russian ports. But the Nordic Barents, an ice-class Danish bulk carrier chartered by Tschudi, is the first non-Russian ship with permission to pass without stopping.

Rosatomflot has assigned two 75,000horsepower icebreakers to the vessel for about 10 days of the three-week voyage.

Tschudi won’t say how much Rosatomflot is charging but praised it as “cooperative, service-minded and pragmatic.” “Today the route is basicaly competitive with the Suez Canal, and we can subtract the piracy risk,” he said. Excluding icebreaking fees, a bulk ship that takes the Arctic route from Hamburg to

Yokohama can save more than $200,000 in fuel and canal expenses, Oestreng said.

Belkinms said insurance companies have been the main drag to developing the route.

“The Northern Sea Route is still unfamiliar to foreign ship owners and that’s even more true for foreign insurance companies, which demand very high premiums,” he said. He said icebreakers would meet the Nordic Barents off Novaya Zemlya and stick with it to the Bering Strait. “The hardest part will be around the middle of the route, the Vilkitsky Strait,” he said. “The ice sticks there in a sort of bottleneck.” Sanderson said he could send another four to six shiploads of ore over the top of Eurasia each summer. — Reuters

Western European mobile gaming market to grow

HTML5 jumps into mobile gaming with SPIL Games LONDON: One of the world’s largest ca sual gaming companies yesterda y unveiled HTML5 versions of 47 of its games w ebsites, procla iming that it will be the new sta ndard for ga ming devices w ithin three years. SPIL Ga mes has thrown its considerable weight behind HTML5 and the upw ard trend in casua l gaming, with users now able to pla y its ga mes on mobile brow sers supporting HTML5 (ruling out devices running Android pre-2.0).

Choosing a DAB radio J

on Sawer needs to upgrade his old but dearly loved radio and wants to buy a high-spec DAB radio. I’m about to reluctantly upgrade from my existing extremely old but dearly loved radio.

I’m intending to spend as much as I can afford on a top range, high specification standalone DAB radio. You have in the past published many articles on the subject on the UK DAB radio format and how you consider this to be inferior to the European model being developed, and I don’t really wish to make an error in my purchase when shopping around.

J on Saw er You can’t really buy decent standalone radios any more, unless you want a portable of the sort often called a “kitchen radio”. Above that are “tabletop radios” that usually include other functions. The main features are FM and DAB digital radios, a connection for an MP3 player (often an iPod dock), and internet or Wi-Fi radio. Some have CD players and some have hard drives for storing music files. Finally there are “lifestyle” or microsystems that are actually mini hi-fi units with separate speakers. You’ll have to decide which kind of system best fits your needs, and your budget.

This diversity reflects changes in the way people listen to music.

Radio now comes from a variety of sources, including thousands of internet radio stations.

Also, many people now listen to music files from their portable music players or PC hard drives, not just to CDs and cassette tapes. The most common factor is FM radio, because it’s cheap and because FM radio’s network coverage is still much better than DAB’s.

Portable DAB/FM radios tend to be mono and have “retro” (old fashioned) designs. The top-ofthe-range model in this class is the Pure Digital Evoke-2S (from about £130), which has a smart veneered finish. It’s also a proper stereo radio, although the speakers are too close together to

create much of a stereo effect. It has the usual telescopic aerial but you can unscrew it and use something more capable if you live in a weak signal area.

There’s a very similar Pure Evoke-3 model (from £154), which can record to SD memory cards and also comes with a remote control.

However, it doesn’t say it’s upgradeable to DAB+ (see below), so you’ll need to check. A cheaper alternative is the “piano black” Roberts Sound 80 (£85), which has a downward-facing bass woofer of the sort more common on tabletop designs.

Tabletop radios are trending towards a boxy design exemplified by the Roberts MP43 Sound 43 (CD/DAB/FM/Dock, £180). The Monitor Audio AirStream 10 (£224) is a more stylish and distinctive unit that also includes Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections. Pure’s challenger is the Avanti Flow Table-top Digital Music System (£228), which also has a downward facing 5.25 inch subwoofer.

However, the one to beat is the award-winning Vita Audio R2i (Walnut finish, £280), which has a reputation for its sound quality.

Microsystems attempt to deliver hi-fi, or something close to hi-fi, without the overhead of having a large stack of units and speakers on stands. For a very long time, small silver Denon CD/radio receivers have been the ones to buy, though the line has been challenged by Onkyo and others in the value-for-money stakes. The Denon RCD M38 (up to £300) is the latest model, and it now supports USB playback and DAB+ as well as DAB and FM. It’s also available for £200 without the two small SC-M37 speakers usually supplied.

This allows you to spend a bit more on better speakers.

There are dozens of small bookshelf speakers on the UK market including the Q Acoustics 2010 and 2020, Tannoy F1 Custom, Monitor Audio BR1 and Mordaunt Short Aviano. They are heavily discounted if you shop around, though in the long run, it’s better to buy from a dealer who will let you listen to them first. —Guardian

HTC: iPhone’s ‘quiet’ challenger BEIJING: East Asia is the world’s electronics factory, yet unless they are Japanese, producers are largely anonymous.

Now HTC Corp., a Taiwanese maker of smart phones, is moving out of the shadows and trying to establish its own brand name as it competes with Apple’s iPhone.

HTC supplies US carriers Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile but says a year ago only one in 10 Americans knew its name.

With the help of marketing by cellular carriers and HTC’s own television ads during the baseball World Series, HTC says that number is up to 40 percent. “We want to be one of the leaders,” said John Wang, the 13-year-old company’s chief marketing officer. In trying to establish a global brand, HTC is following in the footsteps of another Taiwanese company, Acer Inc., which is battling Dell Inc. for the title of second-largest personal computer maker.

Other rising Taiwanese technology names include software producer Trend Micro Inc. and Asustek Computer Inc., a maker of PCs and cell phones.

HTC’s path to its own brand has been complicated by US carriers’ preference for many years to market its phones under their own brands.

That started to change in 2007, and the “HTC” brand started showing up on phones, as carriers figured that the company had some cachet among early adopters that they could capitalize on. HTC phones on the U.S. market

include the Droid Incredible, sold by Verizon Wireless, the HD2, sold by T-Mobile USA, and the Hero, sold by Sprint Nextel Corp.

Even now, HTC is careful to avoid straining ties with carriers by promoting its own identity too aggressively.

Such ties are crucial in the United States, Japan and other markets where carriers usually pick which phones to offer.

In Europe and elsewhere, customers pick their own phones and buy service separately.

“I don’t think it should ever become a ‘destination phone,’ because that is very arrogant,” Wang said. The company’s slogan, “Quietly Brilliant,” expresses both modesty and pride.

Apple, of course, is anything but quiet, and HTC sets itself apart from the U.S.-based giant in other ways, too. In contrast to lookalike iPhones, HTC tries to make handsets for every taste, some with slide-out keyboards, others with touch screens. While Apple has its own online store, HTC focuses on phones while carriers pick which music and applications to offer.

“This is positioning the vendor almost diametrically against the increasing perception of Apple as an egotistical and domineering company,” Seth Wallis-Jones, an analyst for IHS Global Insight, said in an e-mail. “This is a contrast to a company that wants to do one phone only and say, ‘This is the one and you are going to love it and if you don’t, there is

something wrong with you,”‘ Wang said.

In the U.S., HTC made a splash this summer by producing the first phone, the EVO 4G, that’s able to use a fourthgeneration wireless data network. It’s sold by Sprint. HTC also manufactured Google Inc.’s first phone, the Nexus One. “These really put the brand into the spotlight in the United States,” said Wallis-Jones.

Still, Apple has a daunting sales lead and HTC also faces competition from South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co., Nokia Corp. and other rivals.

HTC was just behind Apple in the final quarter of 2008, selling 3.7 million phones to its American rival’s 4.4 million, according to Wallis-Jones. A year and a half later, Apple has pulled ahead, selling 8.4 million in the second quarter of this year, while HTC sold 5.4 million. But HTC is seeing its sales jump.

It expects to ship 6.5 million phones in the current quarter, more than twice the number it shipped in the same period last year. HTC cut its teeth on smart phones that used Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile software. But when Google released its Android smart phone software in 2008, HTC was the first manufacturer on board, and that’s paid off. Every U.S. carrier except AT&T, the home of the iPhone, is pushing Android phones as the alternative to the iPhone. —AFP

Previously, mobile visitors would have been taken to the full browser window displayed in Flash - but that would be slow to render with most phone browsers, and incompatible with Apple devices.

But close to a million mobile users try accessing a SPIL gaming website every month, a company spokesman tells us. More than half (52%) of these visits are from Apple devices, 15% from Android, 15% from Symbian (ie Nokia and/or Sony Ericcson) and 6% from BlackBerry devices.

The company, which currently has more than 4,000 games in its portfolio, is offering developers prizes totalling up to $50,000 (£41,000) for the best HTML5 game, encouraging the potential it says is “hampered by different protocols, operating systems, and platform-approval processes within the mobile world”.

An aside: Nick Jones, Gartner analyst, has an interesting take on that very subject: “Native platforms will certainly become less important relative to the web platform because HTML5 supports a wider range of applications than the last-generation web.

“But native platforms can stay ahead by evolving faster than HTML5, and in different directions to HTML5, it’s not hard to outrun a snail driven by a committee. So although HTML5 will be important the native platform will retain a big edge if you want to develop clever apps. And the native platform owners want it to stay that way.”

“Openness is at the core of everything we do,” says Peter Driesson, chief executive of the Netherlands-based company.

“We are aware that HTML5 is still at an early stage, but already developers can use it to make great games, and we are confident that the industry will quickly embrace it. Within three years we expect HTML5 to be the standard in gaming devices.”

Analysts at Forrester predict the Western European mobile gaming market to grow from euro 746m (£616m) at the end of 2010 to Ä1.46bn (£1.2bn) by the end of 2015, due to the growth in paying mobile gamers (31 million to 45 million over the same time frame, Forrester predicts) and a growth in smarphone adoption.

Mark Watson, chief executive of mobile internet specialists Volantis, suggested that the significance of SPIL’s move should not be underestimated.

“With one of the largest providers of mobile video YouTube - and now one of the largest providers of mobile gaming on board, the endorsements for HTML5 are rolling in,” says Watson. “Judging the right moment to move with these trends is always difficult, but our own consumer research, which found that gaming is going to be one of the top drivers of mobile internet take-up in the next 24 months, suggests that SPIL are taking the initiative at the right time.

“Crucially, SPIL’s decision to launch HTML5 versions of their sites shows that the barriers to running mobile games through mobile browsers which existed in the past are now well and truly broken. It is also becoming clear that Flash is only a stop-gap technology when it comes to online gaming - the adoption of HTML5 over Flash is part of a larger developer movement away from proprietary towards open technology.” — Guardian

Casual gaming companies looking to smartphones for next wave of development. — Guardian

Samsung’s new tablet computer takes more than hardware to be successful LONDON: Samsung’s new Android-powered tablet computer, the Galaxy Tab, has been well-received by industry analysts - even though full pricing details have still not been released.

The Tab, launched at the IFA show in Berlin, is expected to herald a charge against the early success of the Apple iPad. Consumers should benefit, with a price war predicted to kick off in 2011.

Here’s some of the early reaction.

Ben Wood, director of research at CCS Insight Apple has legitimised the tablet category with its iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab sees the tier-one brand go head-tohead with Steve Jobs’ creation.

Samsung is betting big on the tablet category with this device. It’s the first major man-

ufacturer to unveil a device targeting this segment but we expect a flurry of further announcement from an array of other players.

The Galaxy Tab signals Samsung’s understanding that it takes more than hardware to be successful. Allowing access to books, music and films is a major step forward as it ratchets up its competitive positioning against Apple.

The 7in form-factor is very compelling. Rumours abound that Apple is evaluating a similar device footprint for future iterations of the iPad to sit alongside its 9.7in older brother.

Success will depend on pricing. If positioned carefully, the Galaxy Tab could emerge as an operator-friendly alternative to Apple’s iPad as it could be subsidised (with a contract) to

extremely ultra low price points in the run up to the lucrative holiday sales season.

This is the first of a torrent of Android tablets we expect to be launched in coming weeks.

At the low end, it’s going to be a complete bloodbath as noname brands race to the bottom of the price curve.

Carolina Milanesi, research vice-president at Gartner The Galaxy Tab builds on the success that the Galaxy S [mobile phone] has been having since its launch in June. With a 7in display, front and back camera, 16GB and 32GB storage plus SD card and a price tag of around Ä600 (£500) before subsidy, the Galaxy Tab offers a good solution for those users that have been thinking about getting a tablet but were waiting for something more price competitive.

Samsung will have about 200 apps at launch that will be dedicated to the Galaxy Tab. All apps in its Markets application store will, of course, run as well. But if the iPad experience is anything to go by, it will be dedicated apps that will make the difference. It will be also interesting to see what will be the consumers’ response to the subsidised model. The flexibility that you can have with iPad where, in the UK, I can buy a day pass for 3G, or a week or a month - has had a lot of success with consumers who do not feel they have signed up their life yet to another contract.

All that said, the recent Ofcom report on the UK shows that the trend for the 24-month contract is growing. Subsidy on hardware is still what consumers see rather than total cost of ownership. — Guardian

The new Samsung Galaxy Tab on show at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin. — Guardian

HEALTH & SCIENCE

28

Monday, September 6, 2010

Abbott abandons plans to sell vaccines business WASHINGTON: Drug and medical device firm Abbott Laboratories said Friday it has abandoned plans to sell its vaccines unit, less than three months after exploring sales talks with rival companies.

Abbott acquired the unit as part of its $6.2 billion purchase of Belgium-based Solvay

Pharmaceuticals in February.

“We explored the option to potentially sell the business and determined it was in the best interest of Abbott and the vaccines business to retain it and integrate it into the company,” said Abbott spokesman Scott Stoffell. Analysts speculated that European vaccine

powerhouses such as GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Novartis AG would have been interested in the business.

Solvay’s flu vaccine Influvac was initially seen as one of the key products in the transaction, giving Abbott an entry into the burgeoning vaccines market, which currently is

dominated by the European companies. Solvay’s vaccine sales topped $197 million last year, according to Abbott. Vaccines, usually given as injections or liquids, rev up the body’s immune system to produce antibodies that can later fight off attempts by bacteria or viruses to infect a person. Glaxo, Merck & Co.

Inc. and other companies have boosted spending on vaccines in recent years to capture business from emerging markets such as China and India. Through the Solvay purchase, Abbott gained access to such markets in Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

Solvay

Pharmaceuticals generated about $850 million in total sales from these and other markets last year. After failing to find an attractive buyer for Solvay’s vaccine unit, Abbott must now integrate the business _ along with a growing number of smaller companies _ into its $30 billion global operation.

Abbott has undertaken an aggressive acquisition campaign in the last two years in an effort to diversify its sales. The company’s best-selling product Humira, which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases, has historically generated more than 30 percent of company revenue. —AP

Spanish researchers open door to definitive treatment of overweight MADRID: A team of Spanish researchers discovered new drugs for weight control and the treatment of obesity as a substitute for traditional diets, which opens the door to what could be the definitive treatment of overweight.

A report published by the Spanish University of Santiago de compostela yesterday explained the new drugs manipulate the action of thyroid hormones in the brain to modulate energy expenditure without altering the pattern of food intake, The key is that spending is modulated and not energy intake, which achieved that an equal amount of food eaten burn more, thus encouraging weight loss.

Although it can get the opposite result, body mass gain, an attractive option for those with hyperthyroidism.

The novelty consists in taking drugs or even through selective

HONG KONG: A woman walks past a poster at the Options for the Control of Influenza conference in Hong Kong yesterday in Hong Kong. Robert Webster, chairman of the Department of Virology and Molecular Biology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., urged health authorities around the world to stay vigilant even though the recent swine flu pandemic was less deadlier than expected, warning that bird flu could spark the next global outbreak. —AP

“We may think we can relax and influenza is no longer a problem”

Leading expert warns of complacency after swine flu HONG KONG: A leading virus expert urged health authorities around the world yesterday to stay vigilant even though the recent swine flu pandemic was less deadly than expected, warning that bird flu could spark the next global outbreak.

A World Health Organization official also defended the UN’s health body against accusations that it wasted governments’ money and enriched pharmaceutical companies with its strong warnings during the swine flu outbreak’s early days last year.

WHO declared the swine flu pandemic over last month. The latest death toll is just over 18,600 _ far below the millions that were once predicted. The head of the global health body has credited

good preparation and luck, since the H1N1 swine flu virus didn’t mutate as some had feared. But speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an influenza conference in Hong Kong, researcher Robert Webster warned against complacency.

“We may think we can relax and influenza is no longer a problem. I want to assure you that that is not the case,” said Webster, chairman of the virology and molecular biology department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Webster predicted that the next pandemic could be sparked by a virus that spreads from water fowl to pigs and then onto humans — such as the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has killed 300 people over the past seven years. He noted that

after several years of decline, the number of bird flu cases in humans increased in 2009, lifted by an uptick of cases in Egypt.

“H5N1 can kill 61 percent of humans infected, but it doesn’t know how to spread from human to human. But don’t trust it because it could acquire that capacity. So we must stay vigilant,” he said.

Sylvie Briand, head of WHO’s global influenza program, said its surveillance has shown that the bird flu strain isn’t capable now of jumping between humans except in rare cases of close personal contact, but echoing Webster, warned: “These are viruses that are evolving. They are changing all the time.” Both experts said it was difficult to predict when — or if — bird flu might set off a new pan-

demic. “We don’t understand enough about the virus to make predictions,” Webster said.

University of Hong Kong microbiologist Malik Peiris said scientists are closely monitoring mutations by influenza viruses — including bird flu viruses — but it’s hard to determine which mutations are most likely to spread among humans.

Briand also defended WHO against accusations that it hyped the swine flu pandemic, saying it was acting with limited information when the virus first surfaced and adjusted its response when it became clear the outbreak wasn’t as serious as expected.

WHO received at least $170 million from member states to deal with the outbreak, some of which

was invested in immunization programs long after the virus strain was known to provoke only mild illness in most of those infected.

Governments spent many times that amount buying vaccines and antiviral medicines that are now being junked. European legislators have repeatedly accused WHO of overstating the danger of swine flu and playing into the hands of the pharmaceutical industry, which has earned millions from the outbreak since it began in April 2009. “We prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. And as the information became available, there was adaptation of the plan and adaptation of the recommendations in order to really tailor the response to the reality,” Briand said. “But it took some time.” — AP

Technical glitch grounds homemade Danish rocket COPENHAGEN: The first launch attempt of a homemade rocket built by two Danes failed yesterday because of a technical glitch, according to Danish media.

Live footage of the launch off the Baltic island of Bornholm appeared to show brown smoke coming out of the rocket after the countdown.

Experts interviewed by TV2 News said the likely cause was a failure of the ignition system.

After an inspection, the builders of the rocket decided against a second launch and did not set a date for a new attempt.

Peter Madsen and Kristian von Bengtsson have toiled for over two years to build the ninemetre (30 feet), 1.6-tonne prototype, which is named after the famous Danish

astronaut Tycho Brahe.

They intend “to show that with little financial means anyone can send a rocket into space, which is a privilege not just reserved for rich countries,” said Madsen before the launch, which was delayed several times because of bad weather.

The prototype, which contained a doll, cost a total of 50,000 euros (63,400 dollars) and was financed mostly by 2,000 individual sponsors and 20 companies.

It had been hoped that the rocket would reach an altitude of between 10 and 30 kilometres (six to 19 miles).

The duo hope to send a person into space within three or four years, which would make Denmark only the fourth nation to do so. —AFP

injections in hypothalamic areas activated or inhibited forms viruses of enzyme AMPK (EMEP kinase), which are those that modulate fat metabolism in the brain, so that it interprets as a satiety signal.

The report explain that such drugs exist in the market but some have been withdrawn because of side effects and others are not as effective as this new path that, as seen in laboratory tests, works powerfully and without adverse reactions or discomfort. Although it may takes years of research to develop drugs to human consumption.

The research which lasted seven years was conducted in cooperation between a team of researchers at the University of Santiago de compostela and the University of Cambridge, researchers believe that this drug would be the final treatment of the problem of obesity and overweight. —KUNA

Cholera outbreak ‘covered up’ in China BEIJING: Authorities in eastern China covered up an outbreak of cholera for 12 days out of fears that publicising the often fatal disease would shock the local population, state press said yesterday.

According to the website of the Anhui province health department, 38 people have contracted cholera since August 16 and the outbreak was under preliminary control with the numbers of cases diminishing.

Five patients remain hospitalised, it said.

Cholera causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to dehydration, and can be fatal if not treated quickly.

It normally breaks out in impoverished regions with poor sanitation.

Although health authorities have not reported any deaths, Internet chatrooms were abuzz with rumours that several people have died from the disease.

At the same time state media criticised the government for covering up the epidemic and refusing to alert the local population.

“On August 16, the Anhui centre for disease control had confirmed the outbreak of cholera, but it was not until August 28 that it was publicised,” the Beijing News said in an editorial.

“The government covered up the outbreak for 12 days.”

The paper quoted Wang Jianjun, the vice director of the Anhui centre

for disease control as saying that local officials were powerless to publicise disease outbreaks and had to wait for approval from more senior officials.

“Besides, if every outbreak of disease is publicised every time, this will easily lead the public to become paralysed in their thinking,” the report cited him as saying without elaboration.

The cholera outbreak has been traced to soybean milk shop in Anhui’s Mengcheng city.

Poor sanitation and a lax food safety regime have repeatedly led to health scares in China.

Last week, 87 children were hospitalised after eating tainted yoghurt at a kindergarten in northwest China’s Gansu, state media reported Saturday.

Also last week a cooking oil company in central China acknowledged it had waited five months before notifying the public that one of its products had been found to contain excessive carcinogens.

In one of the biggest scandals, huge amounts of the industrial chemical melamine were found in 2008 to have been illegally added to dairy products to give the appearance of higher protein content.

The scandal was blamed for the deaths of at least six infants and for making 300,000 others ill in China. —AFP

Bangladesh on alert as anthrax spreads

WUPPERTAL: A keeper feeds two weeks old baby tiger “Schuna” yesterday at the zoo in Wuppertal, western Germany. As “Schuna” was not accepted by its mother “Mymosa”, the animal is bottle-fed and brought up by keepers. —AFP

DHAKA: Bangladesh has put livestock and health officials on high alert after an outbreak of anthrax spread to more districts, infecting 327 people since mid-August, officials said yesterday.

The livestock minister suspended all leave and sent teams to the affected districts, department deputy director Mosaddek Hossain said.

The move comes after health officials confirmed that anthrax has infected people in two more districts in the country’s north and east, taking the tally to five districts. Outbreaks in two more districts await confirmation.

“This is the biggest outbreak of anthrax in the country’s history.

We are very concerned. The government has set up surveillance teams in all the affected areas so that the disease cannot spread to

other places,” Hossain said.

Scores of cows have died in the outbreak, causing panic among farmers.

The situation has been aggravated by eating and handling of diseased cows by farmers, he said.

Anthrax is a potentially lethal bacterium that exists naturally in the soil and commonly infects livestock which ingest or inhale its spores while grazing. It can be transmitted to humans who handle or eat infected animals.

Mahmudur Rahman, a director of health ministry, said 327 people have been infected with the disease since August 18. All the cases are cutaneous, or skin, anthrax which causes wound-like lesions.

“We are battling hard to contain the disease. Still, we are receiving reports of new infections in almost every day,” he said. —AFP

health & Science

Monday, September 6, 2010

29

Pollution and worsening quality focus of World Water Week STOCKHOLM: Increasing water pollution and dwindling water quality around the globe will be the main focus as around 2,500 experts begin gathering in Stockholm yesterday for the 20th edition of the World Water Week.

"Driven by demographic change and economic growth, water is increasingly withdrawn, used, reused, treated, and disposed of," organisers cautioned in their introduction to this year's conference.

"Urbanisation, agriculture, industry and climate change exert mounting pressure on both the quantity and quality of our water resources," they added in a statement on the conference website.

The meeting, which kicks off Sunday and is scheduled to last until September 11, will draw experts from around 130 countries to discuss the theme: "The Water Quality Challenge-Prevention, Wise Use and Abatement."

The picture is bleak, according to the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), which organises the conference each year.

"Water pollution is on the rise globally," the institute said, pointing out that each and every day, approximately two million tonnes

SUDAN: A 180 degrees rotated photo shows Sudanese women and children reflected in a pool of standing water as they stand at a water distribution point in the south central Sudanese village of Guit on November 10, 2009. Oil production in Sudan's Unity state is contaminating water, spreading disease to humans and cattle and threatening the world's largest inland wetlands, according to a survey released on November 16, 2009. Increasing water pollution and dwindling water quality around the globe will be the main focus as around 2,500 experts begin gathering in Stockholm on September 5, 2010 for the 20th edition of the World Water Week. —AFP

US $88bn anti-ageing industry is dangerous NEW YORK: The desire to defy age is as ancient as human history, but in the past 10 years a multibillion-dollar industry has sprung up in America promising decades of extra life and good health beyond your 100th birthday.

However, a new book has revealed a disturbing lack of safety regulation, outrageous unproved medical claims, risky products that could cause serious health problems, and a celebrity-dominated marketing machine promising an extended youth - much of it with little science to back it up.

Arlene Weintraub, who spent four years researching Selling the Fountain of Youth, says the anti-ageing industry has grown from virtually nothing to a staggering $88bn in 10 years, with few products and procedures regulated in the same way as normal pharmaceuticals and medical cures. Much of it is based on replacing the body's hormones as people grow older.

But it also includes extensive use of products such as Botox, vitamin supplements and dietary fads. All have become hugely popular, but there is little proof that they work - or are 100% safe. Some female users of a popular hormone therapy called the Wiley Protocol have complained about their menstrual cycles starting again, with excessive bleeding and hair loss. The creator of the Wiley Protocol, a Californian called Susie Wiley,

Suzanne Somers says she will still be loving and having fun with her husband Alan Hamel when she's 94 - and he's 105. — Guardian was found to have virtually no scientific or medical qualifications. Such alarming reports have not slowed the huge expansion of the industry. The American Academy of AntiAgeing Medicine (known by the acronym A4M) holds annual conferences that attract thousands of businessmen, chemists and physicians, all hawking their wares. Some critics of the organisation have dubbed it "all for the money" and say it has spearheaded the idea that getting old is basically a treatable condition.Across America chains of "rejuvenation centres" have sprung up touting the latest "cures" for getting old.

Weintraub argues that the current demographics of America have made the country especially susceptible to an antiageing message. The "baby

boomer" generation - some 77 million strong - is just hitting the retirement age and millions are looking for ways to prolong their health and lifespan. "This generation, probably more than any before, wants to grow old in a different sort of way," Weintraub said. "Boomers have seen how their parents' generation aged and are trying to avoid that scenario."

She traces the birth of the anti-ageing industry to the discovery that human growth hormones used to treat stunted growth problems in children could also be used in adults, and in many cases appeared to have a rejuvenating impact.

The industry spread to include the use of Botox, derived from the deadly botulinum toxin and originally intended to treat muscle disorders. But anti-age-

ing doctors also frequently prescribe hormones such as testosterone and oestrogen, that are derived from plants such as yams and soy beans. Weintraub has documented cases where people are using such large amounts of these hormones, sometimes as skin creams, that their partners are absorbing them when they lie next to them in bed at night.

She says the main problem is that government regulation is too light and safety rules not as tight as for normal drugs, which require extensive medical trials before they get federal approval.

She also points out that as ageing is not classified as a medical problem - and thus is not covered by insurance companies the anti-ageing industry is largely founded on patients buying treatments from their doctors, which can easily lead to abuse and lax safety standards.

The industry frequently has its products touted on such influential shows as Oprah and The View. It's highest-profile celebrity proponent is Suzanne Somers, a former actress on the sitcom Three's Company, who has written three books on anti-ageing and is a regular on the talk show circuit. All her books promise vastly extended lifespans and good health through anti-ageing treatments. Critics say she ignores the potential health risks of the products she endorses in favour of a vision of prolonged youth. — Guardian

of human waste is poured into rivers, lakes and the sea.

And in developing countries, a full 70 percent of industrial waste is dumped straight into waters without being treated, severely polluting the usable water supply.

Global warming is exacerbating the problem, according to World Water Week director Jens Bergren.

"Climate change is really mainly about water and it has huge implications for water pollution," he told AFP, pointing out that global warming is changing weather patterns and essentially causing massive flooding in some areas and severe droughts in others. This is a big problem due to the way water interacts with pollutants.

"If there is too much water, it flushes out much more in the way of pollutants, spreading them around ... but if there is a drought, there is less water in rivers and lakes to dilute the pollutants there and they do more harm," Berggren said.

"In both cases there is more pollution," he lamented.

The growing pollution in turn leads to a number of very serious challenges and contributes to declining access to clean water around the world, affecting human health

and ecosystems both on land and at sea.

The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that within the next 15 years, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with acute water scarcity, and that a full twothirds of the world's inhabitants could be facing shortages.

But as daunting as the task may seem, Berggren insists the problem of pollution and water scarcity can be solved.

"There is really no physical water shortage in the world," he said, stressing that "there is actually lots of water."

According to Berggren, "it is how the water is managed that is the big problem," and that is something it is possible to change.

Exactly how to bring about change will be a major focus of this week's conference.

Especially important, experts say, is to raise awareness of how inter-connected global water systems are to shine the spotlight on the true effects of pollution.

"There is often a disconnect for people that pollute and the effects of that pollution on people and ecosystems downstream or in other parts of shared lakes and aquifers," SIWI said. — AFP

Stem cell clinics

Experts: Claims of cure are medically unproven LONDON: For the past decade stem cells have sparked huge excitement among scientists, dramatic media coverage about breakthroughs that could mean a cure for some of the nastiest diseases, and hope - sometimes desperate - among patients that the reality will match the hype.

That has fuelled a booming trade in stem cell tourism people heading to clinics abroad and forking out large sums for what are called stem cell treatments but which are unlikely to work and possibly do harm.

It is, as some of the UK's leading stem cells experts warned last week, a world of unproven therapies, patient optimism and predatory clinicians. Despite the lack of reliable evidence underpinning the treatments being offered, the number of people resorting to stem cell tourism is growing.

Experts voiced their fears and frustrations after finding that many patients, often desperately ill, were asking their advice on whether to travel overseas.

"I've made some very strong comments which could potentially land me in court, but people still go to these clinics," said Professor Peter Coffey, director of the London Project to Cure Blindness at University College London. There are now several hundred clinics around the world which claim to have turned the potential of stem cells into effective treatments.

They lure those suffering from

Ampoules containing a medium for stem cell storage. — Guardian diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart failure, Parkinson's disease, autism, HIV, eye problems, spinal cord injuries and much else besides.

Several thousand people from around the world so far are estimated to have spent up to £20,000 or more in such places.

Yet while stem cells could transform medicine, there is as yet scant actual proof of their efficacy. But still the tourists come. The fact that scientists believe it is likely to be 15 to 20 years before the continuing

worldwide flurry of trials and tests results in reliable treatments has not stopped clinics from offering exactly that already. Strong regulation means there are no such places in the UK or America. But the experts did single out the XCell Centre in D¸sseldorf, Germany, and Beike Technology, which runs one in Shenzhen in China.

In 2008 the Multiple Sclerosis Society warned sufferers not to be taken in by Integrated BioSciences, a company registered in the Turks &

Caicos Islands, which had offices in the Seychelles, Persian Gulf and Oxford, because there was no scientific backing for the claim that stem cells could cure the condition.

People's willingness to trust their savings and their health to such clinics recently prompted the International Society for Stem Cell Research to launch a website to educate patients about the risks involved. Anyone thinking about going would be well advised to check it out and think again. — Guardian

WHAT’S ON IN KUWAIT

30

Monday, September 6, 2010

(From left to right) Hassan Bayerli General Manager - Sahara Kuwait Resort, Massimo Moratti, President of Inter Milan Sports Club and Khalid Al Rodhan.

Sahara Kuwait Resort hosts chief of FC Inter Milan Club

S

ahara Kuwait Resort hosted Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti & his delegation that stayed at the luxurious villa which overlooks the scenic greens of the golf course. Moratti praised the elite & exquisite ambiance and also commended the quality of service. Sahara Kuwait Resort has become the choice of prominent international travelers when visiting Kuwait in recent times.

IPC - Islamic courses IPC is offering Islamic courses in English (for ladies only). 1. Tilawa Surah Al Imran on Tuesday at 5:30-7 pm on October 5, 2010 2.

Forty Hadith (Part 2) Tuesday from 7-8:30pm on October 5, 2010 Instructor: Sr. Zeinab Hassan Ashry at IPC - Women Section AlRawdah - Area 3 - St. 30 - House 12. Call 22512257 - 97290270.

Mar Thoma Forum

Kuwait Mar Thoma Senior Forum is organizing a brief pre-school motivation program for the children who are joining school or nursery for the first time. The ezhuthinirutha sisrusha is scheduled to be held at NECK Church & Parish Hall, on Friday, September 10 at 4.30pm. The program will be conducted in the auspicious presence of Kuwait Mar Thoma Parish Vicar, Rev. Thomas Varghese, Assistant Vicars, Rev. A.Y. Varghese and Rev. Genil Abraham. Parish members who have already registered the name of their children are requested to be present at NECK at 4.30pm.

Konni Onam

Konni Nivasi Sangamam, Kuwait will celebrate Onam on September 11 at United

Indian School, Abbassiya from 10 am till 3 pm with variety of entertainments, cultural programs and a banquet to conclude the grant occasion of Onam celebrations. Konni Nivasi Sangamam members may kindly contact 90042777 / 66252930 for further details.

Toastmasters Club announcement Do you want to overcome your fear of speaking in public? Do you want to sharpen your presentation skills? Do you want to develop leadership skills?

Do you wish to attend job interviews with confidence? All of these can be achieved for a nominal fee with unlimited opportunities to practice and develop at the new Toastmasters Club (affiliated to Toastmasters International USA), being chartered in Salmiya. If you want to be part of your own chartered club, join us at Bayan Restaurant, Salmiya (next to Red Tag) at 7:45 pm on Friday, September 3, 2010. For free registration contact Vishwanath at 67735024 visragmal@yahoo.com or Xavier at 99850173 xaviermuthu@hotmail.com

Ramadan exemplary to goodness, fraternity and friendship

T

he grand Iftar summit organized by Indian Islahi Center Kuwait at Jleeb Community hall was inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Ajay Malhotra, he congratulated IIC for their efforts and activities in socio-cultural, moral and spiritual participation of Indian mass in Kuwait and also extended Ramadan Greetings to all Indian and Kuwait Community to enjoy the Ramadan days by keeping its basic concept of goodness, fraternity and friendship. He also declared proudly the satisfaction of Kuwait ruling front including His Highness the Amir regarding the participation of Indian Nationals being the topmost expatriate community of developing Kuwait.

Shaikh Anas Al Qandari - a scholar and orator - asserted the audience to a high level spirit by explaining the facilities organized by the Almighty during Ramadan, that is the month of Qur’an. He explained the HEAVEN opened fully, the HELL closed completely, and the devils are caged precisely for attaining heaven easily for those who utilize Ramadan properly.

Doctor Abdulla Al Farisi - a schol-

ar and orator - emphasized the importance of Ramadan which helps human beings a lot, but unfortunately majority are not aware of the real importance, so that awareness classes of Islam is very much required as IIC is doing nowadays, Dr. Farisi explained.

Brother Mohamed Daniel - a scholar and linguist - explained the word Islam that is peace, stability, submission etc and the salutation of islam “Assalamu alaikum” is a word

applicable to all in all occasions, so that it shall be considered as universal salutation. He also pointed out that the misunderstanding of islam is due to ignorance which shall be cleared by proper propagation among the common mass as the role taken

by IIC in Kuwait.

Janab Abubaker Faisi - a scholar presently visiting Kuwait delivered Ramadan message and ascertained the correct view of islam, and its concept, which is not merely related

to rituals and prayers, but that is totally the relationship with human beings, animals and plants icluding all creatures in the universe, that is why a man taken care of a Dog could go to heaven, a man disturbed the life of a cat had gone to hell, a man went to heaven by clearing the way to walk through without hindrance etc. so that he reinterated to keep good relationship with all others while doing our duties and responsibilities correctly towards Almighty as well as all others, Janab Faisi described on basis of Qur’an and sunnah of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH).

Doctor Mansour Al Fouze, Shaikh Mohamed Al Naqwi, Jb. Muzammil Malik, Dr. Badaruddin (Ottappalam), N.A. Munir, Kunhahamed Perambra, Pastor Alexander, Siddiq Valiyakath, Faisal Manjeri, Fasiulla, Rafi Nandi, Harish, Khalil Adoor, Naushad Changanassery and many other distinguished dignatories participated in this grand occasion.

IIC President Jb. M.T. Mohamed presided the function, Abdul Rahman Thangal, Abdulaziz Salafi, Abdul wahab, Eng. Anwar Sadat etc spoke to the audience.

Celebrate Eid Al Fitr at Sheraton Kuwait & Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait

T

o celebrate the festivities of Fid Al Fitr, Sheraton and Four Points are offering guests a variety of the finest global cuisines to titillate every palate, whilst listening to live music that captures the happiness of Eid. Enjoy refined Italian dining at Riccardo, relish the taste of exotic India at Bukhara, take pleasure in matchless Lebanese cuisine in the warm hospitality of Le Tarbouche and experience extravagant Iranian dishes at Shahrayar. Al Hambra at Sheraton and Asseef at Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait offer spectacular Eid buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For a light snack, coffee or tea in a sophisticated atmosphere, The English Tea Lounge is the perfect venue to head to, available now in two locations namely at the Sheraton Kuwait and at Kuwait’s biggest shopping mall “The Avenues.”

Delicious food & awesome prizes this Eid at Diva’s

D

iva’s Restaurant has announced their preparations for Eid Al-Fitr with the theme of great meals and great service for all.

Chef Wael Saab has been orchestrating the Diva’s kitchen team towards being fully ready to accommodate

the anticipated high traffic of customers during this year’s Eid. Additionally, during every day of Eid, all of Diva’s customers will be eligible to win prizes ranging from mobile phones to plane tickets covering Europe and Bahrain.

Some of the favorite aspects of Diva’s according to its customers are its unique sea-side location on Belajat Street, its rich and flavorsome meals, and its wide selection of unmatched Sisha flavors offered on the first floor and terrace.

Monday, September 6, 2010

WHAT’S ON IN KUWAIT

31 Embassy information

Announcements Sept 17 Onam Fest 2010: ‘Vanithavedi Kuwait’ a leading women’s association will be celebrating Onam on Friday, Sept 17, 2010, from 9 am - 6 pm at the Indian Community School, Khaitan Branch, the program named as ‘OnamFest 2010’ will have the public meeting followed by various cultural programs. The traditional Onasadya will be served. For the successful conduct of Onam Fest 2010, a program committee has been formed. Dr Vasanthy Nair (general convenor), Valsamma George, Dr Mary (Joint Convenors), Prasanna Ramabhadran (Arts convenor), Tolly Prakash (Food convenor), Shiny Ajith (Raffle convenor), Sumathy Babu (Souvenir convenor), Valsa Sam (Publicity convenor), Syamala Narayanan, (Reception convenor), Sharlette Albert (Volunteer captain). For more details, contact: 24342807, 66428433, 66596625, 24331598.

EMbASSy OF US The United States Department of State announces the increase in various visa fees to ensure sufficient resources to cover the increasing cost of processing nonimmigrant visas (NIVs). US law requires the Department to recover the cost of processing non-immigrant visas through the collection of the application fees. The increased fees are to take effect June 4, 2010. Under the new rule, applicants for all visas that are not petition-based, including B1/B2 tourist and business visitor visas and all student and exchange-visitor visas, will pay a fee of $140.

Applicants for petition-based visas will pay an application fee of $150, as each of the below categories requires a review of extensive documentation and a more in-depth interview of the applicant than other categories, such as tourists.

These categories include: H visa for temporary workers and trainees L visa for intra-company transferees O visa for aliens with extraordinary ability P visa for athletes, artists and entertainers Q visa for international cultural exchange visitors R visa for religious occupations The application fee for K visas for fiance(e)s of US citizens will be $350. The fee for E visas for treaty-traders and treaty-investors will be $390.

Theater & Music All level music classes: ‘Treasure of Talents’ (est in 1992) music education program invites all level music classes on piano, theory of music, vocal, flute.

Academic Level teachers help prepare for international exams, children concerts, yearly ‘Treasure of Talents’ Festival and music competitions. Contact Prof Cezary, Tel. 25320427, 66549009 of Ms Yasmeene Berlitz Institute Tel: 22542212. 22512533 or email: treasureoftalents@yahoo.com treasureoftalents@hotmail.com ✦✦✦ Call to classical music lovers: Are you a lover of music? Would you like to promote the traditional Indian classical music in Kuwait? If your answer is in the affirmative, please write ton more details to music_karnatic@yahoo.co. in (that is, music underscore karnatic) with your contact details or call 7978286.

SEPT 24 NSS Onam: Nair Service Society (NSS), Kuwait will celebrate Onam on Sept 24, at Cambridge School, Mangaf. South Indian film star and acclaimed dancer Lakshmi Gopalaswamy will perform during the function. Ajai Malhotra, Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, will be the chief guest at the Onam celebration on September 24, which will be followed by a full day variety entertainment program depicting the rich heritage and art forms of Kerala. Muraleekrishnan P, President of Nair Service Society, Kuwait (NSS Kuwait) will preside over the function.The Ona-Sadhya (Onam Feast) will be served in the traditional Kerala style on banana leaf on September 24. Nair Service Society (NSS) Kuwait, is one of the largest Socio-Cultural Organization in Kuwait formed in year 2001 and now has more than 3000 Indians as members. For more information, contact Anish Nair, NSS Kuwait 9969-1431.

Oct 14 Tulukoota Kuwait announces its “Decennial Parba “on October 14th & 15th.

2010 at American International School Hawally. We invite all Tulukoota Kuwait members to join us for fun filled and exciting events planned to celebrate the milestones throughout Tulukoota Kuwait’s 10 years journey. 14th October Rasamanjari musical show by Star performer Anuradha Bhatt, Prakash Mahadevan Naveen Koppa & others, Vismaya Jadoo by Mega Magic Star Ganesh Kudroli & troupe. Dr. Mohan Alva Cultural Performances & King of Comedy Navin D Padil presents tulu drama “ Paniyerla aath Panande Budiyerla aath” This is a fun tilled evening for entire family!

Join us for a great time. For more information call : Swarna C Shetty - 99006934; Pascal Pinto - 9953 1557; Sathya Narayan 66585077: Suresh Salian - 99161228; Chandrahasa Shetty - 55941955.

EMBASSY OF INDIA

Mahboula branch of Kuwait India International Exchange inaugurated T he Mahboula Branch of Kuwait India International Exchange Company was inaugurated on Wednesday, September 1N.Natarajan, Director, GULFSPIC, in the presence of a large number of well-wishers and customers.

A.P.Vij, an esteemed customer of Kuwait India, for decades, did the honour of inaugurating the cash department.

M.V. Babji Rao, another prominent and highly-regarded person among the Indian diaspora effected the first remittance. K.N.Subramanian (Almeer), R.Pruthivi Rajan (KNPC), G.Nagasubramanian (KNPC), Sethu (Kuwait Airways), Umesh Shetty A(KNPC), G.K.Ramakrishnan (KOT), Natarajan Subbaraman (KNPC), Ramakanth Hegde (KOC), A.V.Murali Manohar (Kalanjali), Senthamil Arasu (Tamil Nadu Engineers’ Forum) and N.C.Mohandoss (Frontliners) among

others participated in the function.

Customers, across all strata, in the hundreds, graced the function.

R.Kuppanna, General Manager, Kuwait India thanked the customers and spoke briefly about Kuwait India: its pre-eminent relationship with State Bank of India, its strong endearance with its customers, the total, dedicated efforts of its key assets - its staff. He narrated with pride and delight that the “average working years” of its staff is over 20 years and that a good number of employees were working since its inception - 1979.

On this important occasion, the General Manager honoured the senior most staff members of the company Hasanudeen (30 years-Abbasiya), Mr. Shaifullah (30 years-Maliya), Abdul Lateef (29 years-Fahaheel) and Mr. Kamaldeen (28 years-Salmiya).

Syed Imteyaz Ahmed (Ph: 90059176)

will be heading the newly opened branch located near Lateefa Towers, Mahboula.

Customers in and near-by Mahboula can

now experience the excellent customer service associated with Kuwait India Exchange Company.

EMbASSy OF bANGLADESH The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait will follow the following office hours during the holy month of Ramadan. Sunday to Thursday: 09:00 - 3:00 pm. Friday and Saturday: Weekly holidays.

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait will remain closed from Thursday, 09 September 2010 to Tuesday, 14 September 2010 on the occasion of HOLY EID-AL FITR. The Embassy will be re-opened on Wednesday, 15 September 2010.

OCT 21 Rendezvous 2010: The Kuwait Chapter of the St. Aloysius College Alumni Association (SACAA KUWAIT) have announced that “Rendezvous” their hallmark event will be conducted on 21st October at Asia Asia Restaurant, Souk Al Watiya, Kuwait City from 8 pm onwards. This year, SACAA Kuwait celebrates five years of its existence in Kuwait. SACAA-Kuwait has been synonymous with various fund raising initiatives through which they consistently supported various needs of their Alma Mater and its students back in Mangalore, India.

Through Rendezvous-2010, SACAA-Kuwait intends to help generate funds for the Poor Students Fund of St. Aloysius institutions where numerous needy students look forward to assistance to subsidize their costs.

SACAA Kuwait calls upon all Aloysians, their families and also like minded people to join this noble cause and help make life a little better for those needy students back home. For entry passes and further information, kindly contact - 66731828, 66746425, 66181041, 94093275, 66699857, 66091962.

OCT 29 Onathanima tug of war: Thanima is conducting its annual Onam celebrations along with its celebrated tug of war competitions on October 29 at Central School compound, Abbasiya. Cultural procession, concert and other attractive cultural items will add glitter to the evening function in which many prominent personalities are expected to be present. Those teams wishing to participate in the tug of war competition, please contact 99865499 / 97253653 / 66071276 / 99703872.

Nov 17 Trend setter Udupi Restaurant, Kuwait proudly presents “ Gandharva Ganam” a live carnatic classical concert by living legend & maestro Padmabooshan Dr. K.J.Yesudas with his troupe on 17th Nov. 2010 at American International School, Kuwait. Sri. Nagai Murali on violin, Sri. Bakthavalsalam on Mridangam and Sri. Thripunithura Radhakrishnan on Ghatam.

For more details, please contact 66752462 or 66784867.

The Embassy of India has further revamped and improved its Legal Advice Clinic at the Indian Workers Welfare Center, and made the free service available to Indian nationals on all five working days, i.e. from Sunday to Thursday every week. Kuwaiti lawyers would be available at the Legal Advice Clinic daily from Monday to Thursday, while Indian lawyers would be available on Sundays. Following are the free welfare services provided at the Indian Workers Welfare Center located at the Embassy of India: [i] 24x7 Helpline for Domestic Workers: Accessible by toll free telephone no. 25674163 from anywhere in Kuwait, it provides information and advice exclusively to Indian domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. [ii] Help Desk: It offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal, and other issues (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iii) Labour Complaints Desk: It registers labor complaints and provides grievance redressal service to Indian workers (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iv) Shelters: For female and male domestic workers in distress; (v) Legal Advice Clinic: Provides free legal advice to Indian nationals (Embassy premises; Kuwaiti lawyers 3 PM to 5 PM, Monday to Thursday; Indian lawyers 2 PM to 4 PM on Sunday); and (vi) Attestation of Work Contracts: Private sector worker (Visa No. 18) contracts are accepted at the Embassy; 9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday; Domestic sector worker (Visa No. 20) contracts are accepted at Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO), Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd Roundabout, AlAbraj Complex, Office No 9, Mezzanine Floor; 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday.

The Embassy of India will remain closed on August 23 and September 2, 2010 on account of ‘Onam’ and ‘Janmashtami’ respectively.

MES conducts iftar meet

M

uslim Educational Society (MES) Kuwait committee conducted Ifthar meet last day at Mughal Mahal Party hallFahahel. MES Family members, well wishers and representatives from all other Muslim Organization in Kuwait are attended.

Shaikh Mohammed Daniel, consultant at the Kuwaiti Ministry of Awqaf and Founding Director of Cordoba Academy, giving the keynote speech during the Iftaar ceremony. Shaikh Daniel spoke and enthused the audience to consider who their role models are, and for them to develop their admiration and love for the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) during the month of Ramadan by implementing

his teachings of peace and mercy.

He gave examples of the immense mercy the Prophet (PBUH) possesed for all of humanity, irrespective of their piety, and that the best way to silence critics is to embody these teachings in our daily lives.

The function was presided by Mr. Mohd. Rafi (President - MES).

Mr. Noushad introduced the Key Note Speaker. Mr. Sadiqe Ali (Convenor, Charity Wish) spoke about the Zakath cell activites.

Overall program controlled by Ashraf Ayyoor (Gen. Secretary MES), Saleh Batha, Dr. Ameer, Zubair M.M, Ibrahim and Basheer Master. Abdul Kader Shihab (Secretary - MES) perfomed the Vote of Thanks.

Tulu Koota merit cum means scholarship

A

pplications are now being invited for “Tulukoota Kuwait Merit Cum Means Scholarship” to be awarded during Tuluparba 2010 scheduled to be held on 14th & 15th October 2010.

The objective of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance and support to deserving meritorious students, to enable them pursue their higher studies.

Applications are accepted from minimum one year valid Tulukoota Kuwait member’s children studying either in the State of Kuwait or in India, and scoring high grades in Xth and XIIth standard Board Examination

held for Academic year 2009-2010.

Copies of marks sheet & proof of income to be submitted along with the application for scholarship to Welfare officer Mr. Ramesh Kidiyoor Tel: 99596457/97204716 Applications will be accepted from 5th September 2010- 30th September 2010. Candidates obtaining high grades but not eligible for merit cum means scholarship shall be honored with Merit Certificate and Medal during Tuluparba 2010, For more information contact: Mr. Ramesh Kidiyoor: 99596457/97204716, Sathyanarayan: 66585077; Chandrahasa Shetty: 55941955.

SOUTH AFrIcAN EMbASSy On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the South African Embassy will be closed from Thursday, 9 September 2010 to Saturday, 11 September 2010. The Embassy will resume it’s normal working hours on Sunday, 12 September 2010, from Sunday to Thursday. Please note that the Working hours will be from 8h00 to 16h00 & the Consular Section operation hours will from 8h30 to 12h30.

EMbASSy OF SrILANKA The Embassy of Srilanka will be closed for public from Thurday, 09th September 2010 to 12th September 2010 in lieu of “Ramadan” festival.

AUSTrALIAN EMbASSy On the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, the Australian Emabssy wishes to advise that it will be closed on Thursday 9 & Sunday 12 September 2010. The Embassy will reopen on Monday 13 September 2010.

TV PROGRAMS

32

Monday, September 6, 2010

Orbit / Showtime Listings

00:00 Mercy 01:00 Royal Pains 02:00 Smallville 03:00 Flash Forward 04:00 Dawson’s Creek 05:00 In Plain Sight 06:00 The Closer 07:00 Mercy 08:00 Dawson’s Creek 09:00 Kings 10:00 Flash Forward 11:00 In Plain Sight 12:00 The Closer 13:00 Kings 14:00 Flash Forward 15:00 Dawson’s Creek 16:00 Royal Pains 17:00 Smallville 18:00 Mercy 19:00 The Closer 20:00 Damages 21:00 Cold Case 22:00 Criminal Minds 23:00 Sons of Anarchy

00:45 Pit Bulls and Parolees 01:40 Shark Shrinks 02:35 Shark Attack File 03:30 Untamed & Uncut 04:25 I’m Alive 05:20 Animal Cops Houston 06:10 RSPCA: On the Frontline 06:35 Vet on the Loose 07:00 Animal Crackers 07:25 Meerkat Manor 07:50 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 08:15 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 08:40 Cats 101 09:35 In Too Deep 10:00 Ultimate Air Jaws 10:55 Gorilla School 11:20 Vet on the Loose 11:50 Miami Animal Police 12:45 E-Vets: The Interns 13:10 Pet Rescue 13:40 Animal Cops Phoenix 14:35 Wildlife SOS International 15:00 RSPCA: On the Frontline 15:30 Cats of Claw Hill 15:55 Britain’s Worst Pet 16:25 Dogs 101 17:20 Cats 101 18:15 Animal Cops Houston 19:10 Weird Creatures with Nick Baker 20:10 Planet Earth 21:05 Sharkman 22:00 Shark Rampage 1916 23:50 Untamed & Uncut

00:25 Hyperdrive 00:55 Live At The Apollo 01:40 Rob Brydon’s Annually Retentive 02:10 Strictly Come Dancing 03:20 Eastenders 03:50 Robin Hood 04:35 Gigglebiz 04:50 Teletubbies 05:15 Tikkabilla 05:45 Gigglebiz 06:00 Teletubbies 06:25 Tellytales 06:35 Tikkabilla 07:05 Gigglebiz 07:20 Teletubbies 07:45 Tellytales 07:55 Tikkabilla 08:25 Gigglebiz 08:40 Teletubbies 09:05 Tellytales 09:15 Tikkabilla 09:45 Strictly Come Dancing 11:00 Doctors 11:30 Doctors 12:00 Doctors 12:30 Doctors 13:00 Doctors 13:30 Robin Hood 14:15 Last Of The Summer Wine 14:45 Last Of The Summer Wine 15:15 Hyperdrive 15:45 Hyperdrive 16:15 Hyperdrive 16:45 Home Again 17:15 Robin Hood 18:00 Casualty 18:50 Casualty 19:40 Strictly Come Dancing 20:55 Strictly Come Dancing 21:45 Home Again 22:15 Home Again 22:45 Waterloo Road 23:35 Waterloo Road

00:10 Come Dine With Me 01:00 Cash In The Attic 03:50 Come Dine With Me 05:30 Rhodes Across China 06:15 Cash In The Attic 07:10 Saturday Kitchen 07:35 Cash In The Attic 11:55 Saturday Kitchen 12:50 Ching’s Kitchen 13:10 Living In The Sun 14:05 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 14:50 The Home Show 15:35 Cash In The Attic 17:05 Ching’s Kitchen 17:30 Cash In The Attic 20:30 Come Dine With Me 21:20 Ching’s Kitchen 21:45 Indian Food Made Easy 22:10 Rhodes Across China 22:55 Ching’s Kitchen 23:20 Coastal Kitchen 23:45 Cash In The Attic

00:05 Cow And Chicken 00:30 Cramp Twins 00:55 George Of The Jungle 01:20 Adrenalini Brothers 01:45 Eliot Kid 02:10 Ed, Edd N Eddy 02:35 Class Of 3000 03:00 The Powerpuff Girls 03:15 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 03:40 The Secret Saturdays 04:05 Codename: Kids Next Door 04:30 Ben 10 04:55 Best ED 05:20 Samurai Jack 05:45 Cramp Twins 06:10 Eliot Kid 06:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 07:00 George Of The Jungle 07:25 Chop Socky Chooks 07:50 Casper’s Scare School 08:15 Ben 10: Alien Force 08:40 Bakugan: New Vestroia 09:05 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 09:30 Alien Force 60 10:30 The Secret Saturdays 10:55 Best ED 11:20 Eliot Kid 11:45 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 12:10 Megas Xlr 12:35 Samurai Jack 13:00 Ben 10 13:25 Codename: Kids Next Door 13:50 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 14:15 The Life And Times Of Juniper Lee 14:40 George Of The Jungle 15:05 Ed, Edd N Eddy 15:35 Chop Socky Chooks 16:00 Robotboy 16:25 Squirrel Boy 16:50 Chowder 17:15 The Secret Saturdays 17:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 18:05 Bakugan: New Vestroia 18:30 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 19:00 Best ED 19:25 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 19:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 20:05 The Powerpuff Girls 20:30 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 20:45 Ben 10: Alien Force 21:10 Ed, Edd N Eddy 21:35 Robotboy 22:00 Camp Lazlo 22:25 Samurai Jack 22:50 Megas Xlr 23:15 Out Of Jimmy’s Head

02:30 Where’s Marlowe?-18 04:15 The Patriot-PG15 07:00 Home Run-PG15 09:00 Les Miserables-PG15 11:15 Northern Lights-PG 13:00 It Might Get Loud-PG15 15:00 The Memsahib-PG15 17:00 Nights In Rodanthe-PG15 19:00 The Timekeeper-PG15 21:00 Intersection-18 23:00 Katyn-PG15

00:40 Serial Killers 01:35 Time Warp 02:30 Brainiac 03:25 Smash Lab 04:20 How Machines Work 04:50 How Does it Work?

05:15 Deadliest Catch 06:05 Mythbusters 07:00 Mean Machines: Transatlantic Challenge 07:25 Wheeler Dealers 07:50 Wheeler Dealers 08:15 Ultimate Car Build-Off 09:10 Construction Intervention 10:05 How Machines Work 10:35 Ultimate Survival 11:30 Deadliest Catch 12:25 Overhaulin’ 17:55 How Machines Work 18:20 Ultimate Survival 19:15 Ultimate Survival 20:05 Time Warp 21:00 Mythbusters 21:55 Wreckreation Nation 22:50 Worst-Case Scenario 23:20 Worst-Case Scenario 23:45 LA Ink

00:30 Engineered 01:20 The Colony 02:10 Nextworld 03:00 Cosmic Collisions 03:50 Da Vinci’s Machines 04:45 What’s That About?

05:40 How Does That Work?

06:10 Building the Future 07:00 Thunder Races 08:00 The Gadget Show 08:30 The Gadget Show 09:00 How Does That Work?

09:25 How Does That Work?

09:55 Catch It Keep It 10:50 Junkyard Mega-Wars 11:45 Junkyard Mega-Wars 12:40 Junkyard Mega-Wars 13:35 Junkyard Mega-Wars 14:30 What’s That About?

15:25 Savage Planet 15:55 Ultimate Power Builders 16:50 Building the Future 17:45 How Does That Work?

18:10 How Does That Work?

18:40 Invisible Worlds 19:30 Sci-Fi Science 19:55 Sci-Fi Science 20:20 Engineered 21:10 Da Vinci’s Machines 22:00 Invisible Worlds 22:50 Human Body: Ultimate Machine 23:40 Extreme Bodies

00:40 Bank of Hollywood 01:30 E! Investigates 02:20 E! Investigates 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Battle of the Hollywood Hotties 05:30 Streets of Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:45 Bank of Hollywood 08:35 E! News 09:25 THS 11:05 Giuliana & Bill 11:30 Giuliana & Bill 12:00 E! News 12:50 Fashion Police 13:40 E!ES 14:30 Kendra 14:55 Kendra 15:25 20 Hottest Women of the Web 17:10 Behind the Scenes 17:35 Kourtney & Khloé Take Miami 20:30 Fashion Police 21:20 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 22:10 E! News 23:00 Chelsea Lately 23:25 The Soup 23:50 Extreme Hollywood

00:00 M1 Challenge 01:00 Breitling Airsports 2008 03:00 08 Winter X Games 12 05:00 Iex 2009 07:00 Sacred Ride 09:30 Sacred Ride 10:00 Quattro Events 2009 12:00 08 Winter X Games 12 13:00 08 Winter X Games 12

14:00 Breitling Airsports 2008 15:00 Breitling Airsports 2009 16:00 Lucas Oil Ama Motocross...

18:00 08 Winter X Games 12 20:00 Eddie Jordan’s Bad Boy Racers 21:00 Disposable Hero The Brian Deegan Story 22:00 Cannonball 8000 22:30 Quattro Events 2009 23:00 M1 Challenge

00:00 Food Network Caters Your Wedding - Special 01:00 30 Minute Meals 01:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 02:00 Food Network Challenge 03:00 Barefoot Contessa 03:30 Everyday Italian 04:00 Iron Chef America 05:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 05:30 Guys Big Bite 06:00 Chopped 07:00 30 Minute Meals 07:25 Good Deal with Dave Lieberman 07:50 Guys Big Bite 08:15 Barefoot Contessa 08:40 Everyday Italian 09:05 30 Minute Meals 09:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 10:00 Guys Big Bite 10:30 Barefoot Contessa 11:00 Everyday Italian 11:30 Food Network Challenge 12:30 30 Minute Meals 13:00 Good Deal with Dave Lieberman 13:30 Guys Big Bite 14:00 Barefoot Contessa 14:30 Everyday Italian 15:00 30 Minute Meals 15:30 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 16:00 Iron Chef America 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:30 Everyday Italian 18:00 30 Minute Meals 18:30 Guys Big Bite 19:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 19:30 Good Deal with Dave Lieberman 20:00 Food Network Caters Your Wedding - Special 21:00 Barefoot Contessa 21:30 Everyday Italian 22:00 Iron Chef America 23:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 23:30 Guys Big Bite

01:00 ACC Football Kick-Off Special 02:00 Big 12 Football Washington St. at Oklahoma St. 05:30 The Golf Channel - TBA 06:30 Golf Central International 07:00 The Golf Channel - TBA 08:30 Champions Tour First Tee Open at Pebble Beach Rd. 2 Pebble Beach, CA 10:30 This Week in Baseball 11:00 MLB on FOX: Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals 14:00 ACC Football Kick-Off Special 15:00 European Tour Omega European Masters Final Rd. Crans sur Sierre, Switzerland 18:00 This Week in Baseball 18:30 Big 12 Football Washington St. at Oklahoma St. 22:00 PGA Tour: Deutsch Bank Championship Rd. 3 Norton, MA

00:30 Crime Scene Psychics 00:55 Crime Scene Psychics 01:20 A Haunting 02:10 A Haunting 03:05 Psychic Witness 04:00 Crime Scene Psychics 04:25 Crime Scene Psychics 04:55 Crime Scene Psychics 05:20 FBI Files 06:10 Real Emergency Calls 06:35 Real Emergency Calls 07:00 Forensic Detectives 07:50 FBI Files 08:40 CSU 09:30 Diagnosis: Unknown 10:20 Forensic Detectives 11:10 FBI Files 12:00 Real Emergency Calls 12:25 Real Emergency Calls 12:50 Final Days of an Icon 13:40 Diagnosis: Unknown 14:30 Forensic Detectives 15:20 FBI Files 16:10 CSU 17:00 Diagnosis: Unknown 17:50 Forensic Detectives 18:40 FBI Files 19:30 Real Emergency Calls 19:55 Real Emergency Calls 20:20 Final Days of an Icon 21:10 On the Case with Paula Zahn 22:00 Disappeared 22:50 Crimes That Shook the World 23:40 I Almost Got Away With It

01:35 Article 99 03:15 Betrayed 05:20 Board Heads 06:50 Be Cool 08:50 Mr. Accident 10:20 The Pink Panther Strikes Again 12:00 The Cutting Edge 13:40 The Boyfriend School 15:20 The Spikes Gang 16:55 Jiminy Glick In Lala Wood 18:25 100 Films & A Funeral 19:50 The Honey Pot 22:00 Oleanna 23:30 Canadian Bacon

Star Trek on Show Movies

00:00 Jersey Shore Before The Shore 01:00 Fist Of Zen 01:30 Fist Of Zen 02:00 World Stage 03:00 Music Mix 07:00 Breakfast Club 08:30 Teen Cribs 09:00 My Super Sweet 16 ¬† 09:30 Jessica Simpson’s The Price Of Beauty 10:00 My Life As Liz 10:30 The Hills Final Season 11:00 The City S2 11:30 (P) Hosted Top 20 13:00 (P) Made Daily 13:30 Teen Cribs 14:00 My Super Sweet 16 ¬† 14:30 Jessica Simpson’s The Price Of Beauty 15:00 My Life As Liz 15:30 The Hills Final Season 16:00 The City S2 16:30 Hosted Top 20 18:00 Made 19:00 Cribs 19:30 Exiled 20:00 Made Daily 20:30 Pimp My Ride 21:00 Taking The Stage 22:00 (P) Jersey Shore 2 23:00 (P) Hard Times Of Rj Berger 23:30 (P) Hard Times Of Rj Berger

00:30 Motorcycle Karma 01:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 02:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 03:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 04:30 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet 05:00 Exploring The Vine 05:30 Banged Up Abroad 06:30 Motorcycle Karma 07:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 08:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 09:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 10:30 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet 11:00 Pressure Cook 11:30 Banged Up Abroad 12:30 Bondi Rescue 13:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 13:30 The Best Job In The World 14:00 Graham’s World 14:30 Banged Up Abroad 15:30 Banged Up Abroad 16:30 Word Travels 17:00 Pressure Cook 17:30 Banged Up Abroad 18:30 Bondi Rescue 19:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 19:30 The Best Job In The World 20:00 Graham’s World 20:30 Banged Up Abroad 21:30 Banged Up Abroad 22:30 Word Travels 23:00 Pressure Cook 23:30 Banged Up Abroad

00:00 Two and a half men 00:30 The Simpsons 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (repeat) 01:30 The Colbert Report (repeat) 02:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 03:00 SNL one hour version 04:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 04:30 Entourage 05:00 How to make it in America 05:30 Just Shoot me!

06:00 Malcolm in the Middle 06:30 The Drew Carey Show 07:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 07:30 Frasier 08:00 The Simpsons 08:30 Just Shoot me!

09:00 Malcolm in the Middle 09:30 The Drew Carey Show 10:00 My Name is Earl 10:30 How I met your mother 11:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 11:30 Frasier 12:00 Best Late night with Jimmy Fallon 13:00 The Simpsons 13:30 Just Shoot me!

14:00 Malcolm in the Middle 14:30 Two and a half men 15:00 How I met your mother 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (repeat) 16:00 The Colbert Report (repeat) 16:30 The Drew Carey Show 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 Seinfeld 18:30 Will & Grace 19:00 Brothers 19:30 Scrubs 20:00 Entourage 20:30 How to make it in America 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (repeat) 21:30 The Colbert Report (repeat) 22:00 Saturday Night Live 23:30 Brothers

00:00 The Martha Stewart Show 01:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 02:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 03:00 The Monique Show 04:00 The Tonight show with Jay Leno 05:00 GMA Weekend (Repeat) 06:00 Parenting 06:30 Job Club 07:00 GMA Health 07:30 What’s the Buzz 08:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

09:00 Moms Get Real / Now you know / Amplified 10:00 The Martha Stewart Show 11:00 The View 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 The Martha Stewart Show 14:00 Parenting 14:30 Popcorn 15:00 GMA Weekend Live 16:00 Ahead of The Curve 16:30 Job Club 17:00 The Tonight show with Jay Leno 18:00 Downsize Me 19:00 The View (repeat) 20:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:00 The Best of Jimmy Kimmel 22:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Best Of) 23:00 Popcorn 23:30 Amplified

00:00 Battlestar Galactica: The Plan-PG15 02:00 Explicit Ills-PG15 04:00 Danielle Steel’s Safe Harbour-PG15 06:00 Bottle Shock-PG15 08:00 Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs-PG 10:00 Nurse.fighter.boy-PG15 12:00 Star Trek-PG 14:15 Motherhood-PG15 16:00 Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs-PG 18:00 Swing Vote-PG15 20:00 Friday The 13th-18 22:00 Max Payne-PG15

01:00 Predator-PG15 03:00 The Grift-PG15 04:50 Die Hard-PG15 07:00 The Italian Job-PG15 09:00 No Escape-PG15 11:00 The Least Of These-PG15 13:00 Noble Things-PG15 15:00 No Escape-PG15 17:00 Twins Effect 2-PG15 19:00 Polar Storm-PG15 21:00 The Betrayed-PG15 23:00 Creature Of Darkness-PG15

00:00 Life-PG15 02:00 Callback-PG15 04:00 Ghostbusters Ii-PG 06:00 Loins Of Punjab Presents-PG15 08:00 Mchale’s Navy-PG15 10:00 First Kid-PG 12:00 Kingdom Come-PG 14:00 Meet The Applegates-PG15 16:00 Life-PG15 18:00 Jason Byrne Live At Vicar Street Theatre-PG15 20:00 Anger Management-PG15 22:00 Lymelife-PG15

RocknRollaon Super Movies

00:00 Barney’s Great Adventure-FAM 02:00 House Arrest-FAM 04:00 The Jungle Book I-FAM 06:00 The Jungle Book Ii-FAM 08:00 Hua Mulan-PG 10:00 The Jungle Book I-FAM 12:00 Zorro’s Secrets-PG 14:00 House Arrest-FAM 16:00 Scooby-doo And The Goblin KingFAM 18:00 Dark Crystal-PG 20:00 War Of The Buttons-PG 22:00 Zorro’s Secrets-PG

00:00 CSI 01:00 Law & Order 02:00 Private Practice 03:00 Ghost Whisperer 04:00 8 Simple rules 04:30 Rita Rocks 05:00 Lie To Me 06:00 Emmerdale 06:30 Coronation Street 07:00 Private Practice 08:00 8 Simple rules 08:30 Rita Rocks 09:00 Ghost Whisperer 10:00 Lie To Me 11:00 Private Practice 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 8 Simple rules 13:30 Rita Rocks 14:00 CSI 15:00 Law & Order 16:00 Lie To Me 17:00 Ghost Whisperer 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Coronation Street 19:00 The Deep End 20:00 Law & Order 21:00 Private Practice 22:00 Lie To Me 23:00 Ghost Whisperer

03:30 Women’s Rubgy World Cup 05:30 Countdown to the Ryder Cup 06:00 Futbol Mundial 06:30 World Sport 07:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 07:30 Live AFL Premiership 10:30 Tri Nations 12:30 AFL Premiership 15:00 Aviva Premiership 17:00 ICC Cricket World 17:30 Live Cricket International Twenty20 21:00 European PGA Tour

01:00 AFL Premiership 03:30 AFL Premiership 06:00 ITU World C’ship Triathlon 07:00 Countdown to The Ryder Cup 07:30 World Sport 08:00 Live NRL Premiership 10:00 NRL Premiership 12:00 Aviva Premiership 14:00 Live European PGA Tour 18:00 NRL Premiership 20:00 Live Masters Football 23:00 Cricket International Twenty20

00:00 WWE Vintage Collection 01:00 WWE Bottom Line 02:00 WWE NXT 03:00 WWE SmackDown 05:00 UFC Unleashed 06:00 UFC Unleashed 07:00 Live NRL Premiership 09:00 WWE Bottom Line 10:00 WWE SmackDown 12:00 WWE Vintage Collection 13:00 V8 Supercars Championship Highlights 14:00 V8 Supercars Championship Highlights 15:00 WWE Smackdown

17:00 Live Aviva Premiership 19:00 Le Mans Series Highlights 20:00 WWE Vintage Collection 21:00 WWE Bottom Line 22:00 WWE NXT 23:00 WWE SmackDown

01:00 Miracle At St. Anna-18 03:45 Malice In Wonderland-PG15 05:15 Leaving Barstow-PG15 07:00 A Dance For Bethany-PG15 09:00 Mama I Want To Sing-PG 11:15 Familiar Strangers-PG 13:00 Hancock-PG15 15:00 Hoot-PG 16:45 Mama I Want To Sing-PG 18:45 Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants 2-PG15 21:00 Rocknrolla-18 23:00 Staten Island-PG15

00:00 Love Is All There Is 01:45 The Screening Room 02:10 Liebestraum 04:00 The Screening Room 04:25 Lost Angels 06:20 The Screening Room 07:00 Somebody Up There Likes Me 08:50 Masquerade 10:30 Cimarron 13:00 Gone With The Wind 16:35 Penelope 18:10 Never So Few 20:10 The Glass Bottom Boat 22:00 The Comedians

00:30 Dogfights 01:20 Modern Marvels 02:10 Evolve 03:00 Titanic’s Tragic Sister 03:55 Deep Wreck Mysteries 04:50 Deep Sea Detectives 05:40 Deep Sea Salvage 06:30 Dogfights 07:20 Modern Marvels 08:10 Evolve 09:00 Titanic’s Tragic Sister 09:55 Deep Wreck Mysteries 10:50 Deep Sea Detectives 11:40 Deep Sea Salvage 12:30 Dogfights 13:20 Modern Marvels 14:10 Evolve 15:00 Titanic’s Tragic Sister 15:55 Deep Wreck Mysteries 16:50 Deep Sea Detectives 17:40 Deep Sea Salvage 18:30 Dogfights 19:20 Modern Marvels 20:10 Evolve 21:00 How The Earth Was Made 2 21:55 Tales Of The Gun 22:50 Investigating History 23:40 Pawn Stars

00:00 Dallas Divas & Daughters 00:30 Dallas Divas & Daughters 01:00 My Celebrity Home 02:00 How Do I Look?

03:00 Split Ends 04:00 Dr 90210 05:00 Kimora’s Home Movies 05:30 Area 06:00 How Do I Look?

07:00 Style Star 07:30 Dress My Nest 08:00 Clean House 09:00 My Celebrity Home 10:00 Dallas Divas & Daughters 10:30 Dallas Divas & Daughters 11:00 Glamour’s 25 Biggest Do’s and Don’ts 12:00 Fashion Police 13:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 13:30 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 14:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 14:30 Kimora’s Home Movies

15:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 16:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 17:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 18:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 19:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 20:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 21:00 How Do I Look?

22:00 Fashion Police 23:00 The Dish 23:30 Tacky House

00:15 Top Fashion 00:17 Playlist 01:00 Sound System 10 01:45 Playlist 02:00 Urban Hit 02:45 Playlist 03:15 Top Money 03:17 Playlist 07:15 Monthly Top 07:17 Playlist 08:00 Africa 10 08:45 Playlist 09:15 Top Sexy 09:17 Playlist 13:00 Urban Hit 30 15:00 Playlist 15:15 Top Mobile 15:17 Playlist 16:00 New 16:30 Playlist 17:00 Focus 18:00 Urban Hit 18:45 Playlist 20:00 French Only 20:45 Playlist 22:15 Top Fashion 22:17 Playlist

00:00 Planet Sports 01:00 Flavours of South Africa 01:30 The Thirsty Traveler 02:00 Planet Food 03:00 Top Travel 03:30 Destination Art 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Planet Sports 06:00 Planet Food 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Swiss Railway Journeys 09:00 Rajasthan - A Colourful Legacy 10:00 PhotoXplorers 10:30 Essential 11:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Intrepid Journeys 14:00 Essential 14:30 Hollywood and Vines 15:00 Flavours of South Africa 15:30 The Thirsty Traveler 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 Culture Shock 17:30 Croissants In The Jungle 18:00 Planet Food 19:00 Great Scenic Railways-Australia 20:00 Culinary Asia 21:00 Word Travels 21:30 Culture Shock 22:00 Travel Notebook 23:00 Globe Trekker

01:00 VH1 Music 05:00 Chill Out 07:00 Smooth Wake Up 09:00 Aerobic 10:00 VH1 Hits 11:00 VH1 Superchart 12:00 Top 10 Queen 13:00 Cover Power 14:00 Smell’s like the 90’s Weekend 17:00 Music For The Masses 18:00 The Album Chart Show 19:00 Guess The Year 20:00 Smell’s like the 90’s Weekend 22:00 (P) Famous Crime Scene Selected 22:30 (P) Famous Crime Scene Selected 23:00 VH1 Rocks 23:30 Smells Like The 90s

Monday, September 6, 2010

33 ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya, 3 bedroom / 2 attached bathroom C-A/C new flat for family (KD 150 for 2 rooms ext.) or one decent working lady (KD 50 for one room) with Keralite couples. Contact: 66013882. (C 2640) 5-9-2010

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

Arrival Flights on Monday 06/09/2010 Airlines Flt Route Wataniya Airways 322 Sharm El Sheikh Wataniya Airways 188 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 306 Cairo Middle East 406 Beirut Bangladesh 045 Dhaka/Bahrain Wataniya Airways 408 Beirut Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Turkish 772 Istanbul Ethiopian 620 Addis Ababa/Bahrain Jazeera 435 Mashad Air Arabia Egypt 551 Alexandria Egypt Air 614 Cairo Jazeera 267 Beirut DHL 370 Bahrain Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 138 Doha Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 637 Aleppo Jazeera 503 Luxor Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Jazeera 527 Alexandria British 157 London Jazeera 529 Assiut Kuwait 204 Lahore Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Fly Dubai 053 Dubai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 352 Cochin Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 344 Chennai Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 121 Sharjah Qatari 132 Doha Etihad 301 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 425 Bahrain Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 182 Bahrain Middle East 404 Beirut Wataniya Airways 102 Dubai Jazeera 165 Dubai Jazeera 447 Doha Iran Aseman 6521 Lamerd Jazeera 171 Dubai Egypt Air 610 Cairo Oman Air 645 Muscat Jordanian 800 Amman United 982 Washington DC Dulles Wataniya Airways 432 Damascus Fly Dubai 057 Dubai Jazeera 257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 332 Alexandria Wataniya Airways 422 Amman Saudia 500 Jeddah Kuwait 552 Damascus Nas Air 745 Jeddah Qatari 134 Doha Kuwait 548 Luxor Kuwait 546 Alexandria Kuwait 678 Muscat/Abu Dhabi Kuwait 118 New York Bahrain Air 344 Bahrain Etihad 303 Abu Dhabi Emirates 857 Dubai Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 402 Beirut Saudia 510 Riyadh Jazeera 493 Jeddah Arabia 125 Sharjah Jazeera 239 Amman Jazeera 367 Deirezzor SriLankan 227 Colombo/Dubai Kuwait 104 London Wataniya Airways 304 Cairo Wataniya Airways 106 Dubai Kuwait 542 Cairo Kuwait 502 Beirut Kuwait 786 Jeddah Kuwait 618 Doha Jazeera 177 Dubai Kuwait 744 Dammam Kuwait 674 Dubai Kuwait 614 Bahrain Kuwait 774 Riyadh Indian 575 Chennai/Goa Fly Dubai 061 Dubai Middle East 402 Beirut Rovos 081 Baghdad Jet A/W 572 Mumbai KLM 0445 Amsterdam Wataniya Airways 404 Beirut Wataniya Airways 632 Rome DHL 372 Bahrain Gulf Air 217 Bahrain Jazeera 459 Damascus Emirates 859 Dubai Qatari 136 Doha United 981 Bahrain Jazeera 429 Bahrain Jazeera 449 Doha Jazeera 185 Dubai Egypt Air 612 Cairo Tunis Air 327 Tunis Lufthansa 636 Frankfurt Pakistan 239 Sialkot Wataniya Airways 108 Dubai

Time 00:10 00:30 00:50 00:40 01:05 01:05 01:05 01:15 01:45 01:45 02:00 02:05 02:10 02:15 02:25 02:55 03:25 05:25 05:45 05:50 06:15 06:20 06:30 06:40 07:10 07:20 07:50 07:55 08:00 08:05 08:10 08:20 08:20 08:25 08:40 09:00 09:25 10:25 10:45 10:45 10:50 11:05 11:15 11:20 11:45 12:40 12:55 13:15 13:35 13:35 13:35 13:50 14:05 14:05 14:10 14:30 14:35 14:55 15:05 15:10 15:30 15:35 16:15 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:40 17:40 17:55 18:00 18:35 18:35 18:45 18:50 18:50 18:55 18:55 19:05 19:15 19:20 19:20 19:25 19:30 20:05 20:20 20:30 20:30 20:40 20:50 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:35 21:55 22:15 22:30 22:40 22:55 23:35 23:45 23:55 23:55

Departure Flights on Monday 06/09/2010 Jazeera 528 Assiut Middle East 409 Beirut India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode KLM 0447 Amsterdam Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt Safi 216 Kabul Indian 982 Ahmedabad/Hyderabad/Chennai Pakistan 206 Peshawar/Lahore Middle East 407 Beirut Turkish 773 Istanbul Bangladesh 046 Dhaka Ethiopian 620 Bahrain/Addis Ababa Air Arabia Egypt 552 Alexandria Egypt Air 615 Cairo DHL 371 Bahrain Emirates 854 Dubai Etihad 306 Abu Dhabi Qatari 139 Doha Wataniya Airways 101 Dubai Jazeera 164 Dubai Wataniya Airways 331 Alexandria Jazeera 422 Bahrain Jazeera 446 Doha Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 181 Bahrain Jazeera 256 Beirut Wataniya Airways 431 Damascus British 156 London Jazeera 170 Dubai Kuwait 545 Alexandria Fly Dubai 054 Dubai Kuwait 677 Abu Dhabi/Muscat Wataniya Airways 421 Amman Kuwait 551 Damascus Arabia 122 Sharjah Kuwait 547 Luxor Wataniya Airways 631 Rome Emirates 856 Dubai Qatari 133 Doha Etihad 302 Abu Dhabi Wataniya Airways 401 Beirut Gulf Air 214 Bahrain Kuwait 165 Rome/Paris Wataniya Airways 303 Cairo Middle East 405 Beirut Kuwait 541 Cairo Jazeera 238 Amman Jazeera 492 Jeddah Jazeera 366 Deirezzor Kuwait 103 London Iran Aseman 6522 Lamerd Kuwait 501 Beirut Kuwait 785 Jeddah Egypt Air 611 Cairo Oman Air 646 Muscat Wataniya Airways 105 Dubai Jordanian 801 Amman Fly Dubai 058 Dubai United 982 Bahrain Jazeera 176 Dubai Kuwait 673 Dubai Wataniya Airways 403 Beirut Kuwait 617 Doha Saudia 501 Jeddah Nas Air 746 Jeddah Jazeera 458 Damascus Kuwait 773 Riyadh Qatari 135 Doha Kuwait 613 Bahrain Kuwait 743 Dammam Rovos 082 Baghdad Bahrain Air 345 Bahrain Etihad 304 Abu Dhabi Gulf Air 216 Bahrain Emirates 858 Dubai Wataniya Airways 305 Cairo Kuwait 543 Cairo Arabia 126 Sharjah Jazeera 184 Dubai Saudia 511 Riyadh Jazeera 448 Doha SriLankan 228 Dubai/Colombo Jazeera 428 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 407 Beirut Wataniya Airways 433 Damascus Wataniya Airways 107 Dubai Kuwait 283 Dhaka Jazeera 266 Beirut Fly Dubai 062 Dubai Kuwait 331 Trivandrum Middle East 403 Beirut Jet A/W 571 Mumbai Wataniya Airways 187 Bahrain KLM 0445 Bahrain/Amsterdam Gulf Air 218 Bahrain DHL 373 Bahrain Kuwait 675 Dubai Emirates 860 Dubai Falcon 102 Bahrain Kuwait 381 Delhi Qatari 137 Doha Kuwait 301 Mumbai Kuwait 205 Islamabad Jazeera 526 Alexandria United 981 Washington DC Dulles Jazeera 502 Luxor Kuwait 411 Bangkok/Manila Egypt Air 613 Cairo

00:05 00:05 00:25 00:30 00:50 01:00 01:05 01:10 01:40 02:15 02:15 04:15 02:40 03:05 03:15 03:45 04:00 05:00 06:50 07:05 07:30 07:30 07:40 07:45 07:50 08:05 08:10 08:25 08:30 08:35 08:40 08:45 09:10 09:10 09:20 09:20 09:30 09:40 10:00 10:10 11:35 11:35 11:45 11:50 11:50 12:00 12:10 12:15 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:30 13:55 14:15 14:30 14:30 14:35 14:50 14:55 15:10 15:10 15:35 15:45 15:45 15:50 16:05 16:20 16:20 16:25 17:00 17:25 17:35 18:05 18:05 18:05 18:10 18:20 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:40 20:00 20:10 20:50 21:00 21:20 21:30 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:20 23:40 23:40 23:40 23:55

MATRIMONIAL

Sharing accommodation is available in a C-A/C flat for decent family or working ladies at Jabriya area 10, near Jabriya Indian school.

Please contact Mob: 99300513. (C 2636) Furnished sharing accommodation available for small family, non-smoking executive bachelor, couples to share with Keralite family in a two bed room flat near Abbassiya super market with immediate effect. Tel: 97647066. (C 2637) 2-9-2010 Khaitan - sharing room / bed space available for decent Indian bachelor in CA/C new building, beside main road and bus stop, near police station round about. Contact: 97523316 / 24745162. (C 2635) 1-9-2010

FOR SALE Household furniture for sale, fridge, cooking range, pressure cooker, cutlery items, big cupboard, single beds, dressing table, side tables, TV with stand, side tables, VCR, computer with table + printer etc. all items 2 yrs old sparingly used.

Contact Tel: 66764062.

(C 2641) 5-9-2010 Mitsubishi lancer EX-GT sport model 2008, black, full option, with alloy ring 38T mileage. Price KD 3500.

Cont: 99489155. (C 2638) 4-9-2010 Toyota Echo 2005, golden color in excellent condition, factory painting, used by a lady. Price KD 1,600.

Please call: 60973490.

(C2633) 1-9-2010

SITUATION VACANT

CHANGE OF NAME

Wanted live in maid with good English. For housekeeping, cooking and child care, good salary, Friday holiday. Mob: 66822337 / 99872345. (C 2642) 5-9-2010

I Natasha Furtado Crystal Joaquina holder of Indian passport No: F6634473, hereby change my name to Crystal Joaquina Natasha Furtado. (C 2639) 4-9-2010

Required driver, cook and maid to work in Kuwaiti home. Tel: 22450617 / 22450618. (C 2627) 30-8-2010

I, Govind Bahadur, holder of Indian passport No. G7938083 hereby change my name to Govind Bahadur Rana. (C 2634) 1-9-2010

No: 14843

Proposals invited for well educated (B-Tech with MBA) Nair girl, 25 years, 160 cm, 54kg, slim, fair, working in Kuwait, from handsome Nair boys well educated Engineers with MS/MBA, Age 27-30 preferably working in Kuwait or abroad with good family background.

Contact: cpvgdeepam@hotmail.com 6-9-2010 Mangalorean RC parents invite proposals for their daughter MBBS, MD working MOH, 28 yrs, 5í3” from RC bachelor doctors, CA, Engineers, Accountants, Post-graduates. Contact: dellrose6@gmail.com (C 2630) 2-9-2010

34

SPECTRUM

Monday, September 6, 2010

Calvin

CROSSWORD 74

Aries (March 21-April 19) Sympathy and understanding come into play today as you interact with friends and family. It's wisdom, not knowledge, that counts now. Coming to grip with the past or getting in touch with the spiritual gives you a sense of completeness. If it makes sense, you love it and if it does not you feel guilty about it: that is what it's like now. A loving attention to details and the satisfaction in doing what is right are some of the qualities that come into play now. You may find yourself mentally planning next weekís schedule in the workplace--relax, enjoy the time away from work for now. Although your energies appear to be in the planning mode, this can be with regard to family instead of work issues. Ask a young person about their plans for the year.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may be very focused on your own activity today. You are in the mood to solve problems, and make things happen. Make a list of the things you want to achieve so that you do not become scattered and forget the important things of the day. There is the possibility of new visions and insights into your dreams. This is a good time to reshape and renew your philosophy or religion. There are breakthroughs in understanding some difficult dilemma. This is a time when the new and unexpected may figure in your living situation or surroundings. An insight about your support system, your mother or other females may be important at this time. You may become curious about other relations that you have never met.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

5. A unit of dry measure used in Egypt.

10. Narrow wood or metal or plastic runners used for gliding over snow.

13. City in southwestern Colombia in a rich agricultural area.

14. A member of the Siouan people of the Kansas river valley in Kansas.

15. A branch of the Tai languages.

16. The fourth month of the Hindu calendar.

18. A metrical unit with unstressed-stressed syllables.

19. (used especially of commodities) In the natural unprocessed condition.

20. (Arthurian legend) One of the knights of the Round Table.

22. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

24. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

27. Distant in either space or time.

28. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

31. A blue dye obtained from plants or made synthetically.

32. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

35. United States writer (born in Poland) who wrote in Yiddish (1880-1957).

36. An associate degree in nursing.

39. One who works hard at boring tasks.

42. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

43. A region of northeastern France famous for its wines.

45. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event.

47. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

51. Type genus of the Carangidae.

54. A graphical recording of the cardiac cycle produced by an electrocardiograph.

55. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

56. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

57. The essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized.

61. A mature blood cell that contains hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the bodily tissues.

62. A soft cotton or worsted fabric with an open mesh.

63. A drug combination found in some over-the-counter headache remedies (Aspirin and Phenacetin and Caffeine).

64. Liquid excretory product.

65. The ability and desire to purchase goods and services.

66. The cry made by sheep.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) This is a time to think about the things that slow your progress and list them one by one. The next project is to cull through all of these things and turn them into more useful subjects.

You will probably do well to scatter this over several weeks. This could mean changing the shelf paper to one of the new bug retard shelf papers or culling through the gift-wrapping paper and clearing away the extra clutter. You may enjoy getting away from the routine of the day and move into a different direction this evening. You feel good about your progress and may decide it is time to relax with a friend or loved one.

You will want to enjoy yourself. Romance is very possible. There is a basic drive to appreciate and taste life. Short travel is also possible.

Non Sequitur

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Travel, education and other ways to add to your experiences in life open new doors of opportunity for you. Religious, philosophical and cultural matters are likely to have a special appeal.

Someone nice says to let others entertain you for a while--and you do. There is much that is also physical--exercise is in order--perhaps a bicycle ride in the park this evening. Viewing the clutter in your neighborhood, you may decide it is time to create a catchy phrase to encourage people to help keep the neighborhood clean. Your emotions and the emotions of those around you are quite clear. This evening is a good time to catch up on family matters and, if needed, improve communications. Laughter is easy to share.

Leo (July 23-August 22) This is a good time to organize your thoughts. If you are in need of a counselor, it would be a good idea to seek out one. A counselor will honor your thoughts and will also be a good listener. If you are not being counseled, you could be counseling others.

Because of your ability to be a good listener, you could certainly help to soothe a frustrated person. You may enjoy a good movie or book this afternoon. There is a feeling of the need to escape from day-to-day realities for a while. Perhaps a drive in the country or to a country vegetable stand would be in order. Do something with that frustrated energy that is enjoyable and as you move toward the end of this day you will have a sense of adventure as well as freedom from the usual.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You make every effort DOWN 1. A narcotic that is considered a hard drug.

2. (law) A comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy.

3. (botany) Of or relating to the axil.

4. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (19021984).

5. A state in northwestern North America.

6. An Indian side dish of yogurt and chopped cucumbers and spices.

7. A nucleic acid consisting of large molecules shaped like a double helix.

8. Electronic warfare undertaken under direct control of an operational commander to locate sources of radiated electromagnetic energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition.

9. A small cake leavened with yeast.

10. Of a pale yellow color like straw.

11. Botswanan statesman who was the first president of Botswana (1921-1980).

12. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in Iowa and Minnesota and Missouri.

17. An expression of greeting.

21. Someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault.

23. Offering fun and gaiety.

25. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

26. The compass point midway between northeast and east.

29. (archaic or Scottish) Faithful and true.

30. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

33. Jordan's port.

34. An official language of the Republic of South Africa.

36. The act of scanning.

37. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

38. A hemoprotein composed of globin and heme that gives red blood cells their characteristic color.

40. Having two axes.

41. Usually Friday night through Sunday.

44. (of skin) Having a tan color from exposure to the sun.

46. A small piece of cloth.

48. Any of various brown and yellow finches of pats of Europe.

49. (Babylonian) A demigod or first man.

50. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.

52. A French abbot.

53. Any competition.

54. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

58. A woolen cap of Scottish origin.

59. A benevolent aspect of Devi.

60. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

today to replenish your relationship people around you through loving acts. By doing this, you teach your friends or the young ways in which to deepen and maintain a good relationship. A new cycle begins for you, signaling a greater than usual interest in relationships, social connections and the arts--on a more intellectual level than in the past.

Seeing both sides of an issue and figuring out resolutions to opposing views take on more importance in your life. You may be determined to find the right path for yourself--where you can see truth and make wise decisions. A young person keeps changing his or her mind today. You may have to step in and encourage this person to be brave and just decide--ride it through or let it go.

Libra (September 23-October 22) You may feel especially kind toward a friend or loved one today. You may decide that now is the time to get this friend or loved one interested in some new clothes, new style or some other change that would help the self-esteem. Someone may compliment you on your tastes. You could find that you are appreciated or valued for your feelings. There is time today to have new thoughts and sudden insights and to get an unexpected boost in the way you think, speak or write. Communications are simplified and connections of all kinds are furthered. There is a chance to understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love. General good feelings and a sense of support and harmony make this a great time.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) It is a super day for travel. Also, good news comes from a trusted friend. Your improved powers of concentration will help you to plan and focus. Others are willing to listen to what you have to say today and getting your message across to others can be successful. Your timing should be perfect and those around you should find you most spontaneous and alive. If your friend says she or he is captivated by a certain person, you may want to give a word of encouragement to take a bit more time before deciding on any changes they want to make in their personal life. A chemical reaction by you or your friend could be mistaken for love. Expect to succeed in any changes you are making now. This could be the purchase of a chair or the advancement of a job.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) This is a busy day and one might find you huffing and puffing often. You can get more done than the average person and some things you have been putting off are included in your rush to ready yourself for the week ahead. Do be careful, however, not to break some prized possession while you are rushing around. Later, this evening, you will be able to relax with friends or a loved one in a quiet place. This afternoon is a good time to write out a list for the personal things you want to accomplish next week. One of the most important things to put on that list would be the appointments that need to be scheduled so you or your family members get regular check-ups-including the family pet. You teach through your actions.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yester

Yesterday’s Solution

To

INTERNATIONAL CALLS Kuwait Qatar Abu Dhabi Dubai Raas Al Khayma Al-Shareqa Muscat Jordan Bahrain Riyadh Makkah - Jeddah Cairo

00965 00974 009712 009714 009717 009716 00968 009626 00973 009661 009662 00202

Alexandria Beirut Damascus Allepo Tunisia Rabat Washington New York Paris London Madrid Zurich

00203 009611 0096311 0096321 0021610 002127 001212 001718 00331 004471 00341 00411

Word Sleuth Solution

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Your inner emotions are accented. You learn to keep a positive frame of mind by asking yourself, if someone could hear your thoughts; would that person be pleased?

This will help you to begin a new habit of creating positive thought patterns. Energy follows thought-think positive. You can expect a sense of support and goodwill from those around you. Correct choices for you may seem a more difficult path for others, but you can do it. Relax; a cycle of nostalgia begins soon and there is an emphasis on a sense of roots. Family, home, relatives and real estate play a bigger part in your life. Phone calls and letters are underway this evening. Pamper yourself--set aside some time to share a massage with someone you love.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You have a fine sense of appreciation and are very attentive to your loved ones. You love to help and take care of others; expressing a first-rate sense of compassion. You possess an almost infinite ability to respond to the needs and demands of others. Your love of truth makes philosophy and religious ideas a life-long habit. You appreciate things of a global or universal level and you enjoy travel. You may even have a little group you enjoy visiting on the Internet. Lovely words and a flair for description entertain neighbors and friends this evening during a social scene. You are artistic in many ways. There is an inner sense of warmth when you and a neighbor decide to monitor the elderly that might need help from time to time.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You could be enjoying a luncheon today with people that are within your spiritual group. Although you may not recognize that you have intuition, it is strong and you often use it in helping others.

You are sensitive, kind and gentle. You are a romantic too, with a tender heart. You always work for a real future, doing what has to be done. You love all that is musical and artistic. Today, you and a friend or relative may decide to do some recording of a piece of music, a story, the voice of some young people in your family or a song for a wedding.

Whatever the case, you and this friend or relative enjoy the interaction that comes of just being with each other. There is a natural appreciation for the past that stands out today as you enjoy the activities.

INFORMATION

Monday, September 6, 2010

35 FIRE BRIGADE Operation Room 112 Al-Madena 22418714 Al-Shohada’a 22545171 Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 Al-Nuzha 22545171 Sabhan 24742838 Al-Helaly 22434853 Al-Fayhaa 22545051 Al-Farwaniya 24711433 Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 Al-Fahaheel 23927002 Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 Ahmadi 23980088 Al-Mangaf 23711183 Al-Shuaiba 23262845 Al-Jahra 25610011 Al-Salmiya 25616368

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 HOSPITALS Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

24874330/9 CLINICS

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

4892674

Al-Omariya

4719048

N.Kheitan

4710044

Rabiya

4732263

Fintas

3900322

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988 AIRLINES

PHARMACIES ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE Ahmadi

PHARMACY Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

ADDRESS Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

PHONE 23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554

EMERGENCY 112

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists: Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea Dr. Masoma Habeeb Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy Dr. Mohsen Abel Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly

25622444 25752222 25321171 25739999 25757700 25732223 25732223

Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT): Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners: Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists: Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Plastic Surgeons: Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari Dr. Abdel Quttainah

22617700 25625030/60

Family Doctor: Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581

Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.

Zahra Qabazard Sohail Qamar Snaa Maaroof Pradip Gujare Zacharias Mathew

25710444 22621099 25713514 23713100 24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians: Dr Adrian Harbe 23729596/23729581 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 General Surgeons:

Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148

(2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535 Dentists:

Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists:

Paediatricians: Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Internist, Chest & Heart: DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Tel: 25339667 Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Consultant Cardiologist Tel: 2611555-2622555 Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

Internists, Chest & Heart: Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3

Physiotherapists & VD: Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Endocrinologist: Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari

25658888

Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr

25329924

Psychologists/Psychotherapists Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677 William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Kuwait Airways Wataniya Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines

22433377 24379900 177 22477631 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22425566 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/2433141 22456700 22412284/5 22453820/1

INTERNATIONAL CALLS Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK)

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345 00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044

Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Holland (Netherlands) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Ibiza (Spain) Iceland India Indian Ocean Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia

00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689 00241 00220 00995 0049 00233 00350 0030 00299 001473 00590 001671 00502 00224 00592 00509 0031 00504 00852 0036 0034 00354 0091 00873 0062 0098 00964 00353 0039 00225 001876 0081 00962 007 00254 00686 00965 00996 00856 00371 00961 00231 00218 00370 00352 00853 00389

36

SPECTRUM

Monday, September 6, 2010

Kourtney Kardashian urged to dump her boyfriend T

he 31-year-old socialite says her fans are desperate for her to end her relationship with Scott Disick - with whom she has an eight-month-old son Mason. But Kourtney refuses to follow their advice. She said: “The other day...

Scott and I were walking down the street in New York and this lady’s like, ‘Kourtney! I love you!’ And then she’s like, ‘Dump him!’ “Scott and I were just like smiling and I was like, ‘OK, I’ll do it for you.’ And then I was like, ‘Obviously I have to do what’s best for me and my family.”

Concerns have grown for Kourtney after Scott was seen on her TV show ‘Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami’ - in which she appears with her sister punching through a mirror and injuring his hand so badly he needed surgery. Although Kourtney accepts the incident was shocking to viewers she insists it happened over a month ago and Scott is actively improving his behavior. He went to a rehab centre to be treated for “alcohol use and psychological issues” after seeing the footage of his behavior. She added to Access Hollywood: “You know, we’re in a really good place right now, luckily.” Kourtney says fans can see her and Scott sort out their problems in the last few episodes of the series, but admits it can be difficult to watch their arguments on TV. She said: “You get the same feelings over again. Sometimes, when you watch the show, it brings up memories, whereas in a normal person’s life you do something and you move on and you don’t have to watch it and have everyone watch it and comment on it.”

Ashley Greene wants her ‘Twilight’ character to start dressing more demurely. The actress - who plays Alice Cullen in the vampire franchise - says she is keen for her alter-ego to take some fashion inspiration from former First Lady Jackie Kennedy and legendary actress Audrey Hepburn. She said: “I want her to have an Audrey HepburnJackie-O mix. I’m a huge fan of the Jackie O Ray-Bans. I love ballet flats for her and leggings.” While she may have expensive tastes in sunglasses, Ashley was recently revealed as the new face of Avon’s affordable beauty brand Mark. The 23-year-old beauty admitted she was “thrilled” to have signed a deal with the cosmetics firm, replacing ‘The Hills’ star Lauren Conrad. Ashley who will appear on a series of TV and magazine adverts - said: “I am thrilled to join the Mark family.”Mark has been on my radar not only because of their great fashion and beauty products, but because the brand inspires young women to feel beautiful inside and out.” Global president Claudia Poccia said: “Ashley has a natural beauty, but I love that she experiments with fashion.”She mixes it up and makes it her own. We have this mission of celebrating young women making their mark on the world. Ashley has set goals for herself and is achieving those goals.”

Rachel Bilson wants a style career like Sienna Miller’s

T

he ‘OC’ actress - who has previously worked on a fashion range with DKNY - admits she would like to continue working on her fashion credentials but only if she could “do it right”. She said: “I would love to do some more designing, but only if I could do it properly.

“I think Sienna Miller’s clothing line with her sister, Twenty8Twelve, is really clever and the Olsen twins make great clothes the The Row and Elizabeth and James. “They are examples of talented people who have done it right. Some people just put their name on stuff, but those guys are authentic and know what they are doing because they have good taste. That’s the difference.”

The 28-year-old beauty also claims she likes to wear clothes that are a little under the radar as well as classic pieces. She told InStyle magazine: “I love finding stuff that is a little less known, you know? But then there are the classics. I am a Chanel girl until I die. I have a real Chanel wedding dress wish. I guess a girl can dream.”

Emma Watson is not the face of Burberry anymore

T

he ‘Harry Potter’ actress has appeared in campaigns for the British fashion house since last year, but now model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley will front adverts for the label’s autumn and winter collections.

The decision to drop Emma, 20, has come as surprise to many as Burberry’s sales were boosted throughout Emma’s stint. A source said: “Emma was a huge success. Everyone expected her to be used again.” However, Burberry bosses haven’t ruled out using Emma again in the future and insist she is still part of their plans. The brand’s creative director Christopher Bailey has previously spoken of his admiration for Emma, saying she was the “perfect” person to advertise the fashion house’s latest campaigns. He said: “I love people like Emma Watson, who are always so excited by life. Our friendship is an organic thing. We had done a few things together and she regularly wore our clothes to events, so for me she was already a part of the Burberry family. “Having her as the face of a campaign felt a natural extension of that. She has a classic beauty and modernity that felt a perfect fit for the brand, and she looks amazing in all of the clothes. But more than that, she’s also charming and intelligent, and we had a lot of fun working together.”

Katie Price to write series of autobiographies

T

he British star releases her fourth autobiography in October but has agreed to pen more tomes on her life after that. She said: “My next autobiography comes out in October and then I start filming my new TV series straight away. So I’m pretty busy as always! Then I’ve got another book deal to do another autobiography.” Katie - who last week released her latest novel ‘Paradise’ hopes to be able to bring out an update on her life story every couple of years because she knows there is huge interest in what she does. The former glamour model - who is married to cage-fighter Alex Reid said: “The publishers might want them yearly, every two years, because they’re big successes and there’s always a story to tell. Everyone will just have to wait and see!” The last two years have seen many changes in Katie’s life with her divorcing Peter Andre in 2009 and marrying Alex in February 2010 in a private Las Vegas ceremony. The couple also had their union blessed earlier this month at a church near their Surrey home. And as well reading about her life, Katie’s fans could soon be about to see her story told on the big screen. The 32year-old brunette beauty - who has three children, Harvey, eight, Junior, five, and three-year-old Princess Tiaamii, from her previous relationships - said: “There are producers who want to start doing the film once the next book is out in October.

I’ve already got a director and producer in America.”

Katy Perry wants to be a British citizen

T

he US singer - who is engaged to English comic Russell Brand - is planning to apply for dual citizenship as soon as she ties the knot because she feels so close to her fiance’s home nation. She said: “When I get married next month, one of the first things I’ll do is apply for dual citizenship. “I’m not too sure if I have to take a test as I’ve not had time to look into it.

But England is like my second home.” Although 25-year-old Katy says she loves the UK, she also has another reason for becoming a citizen. She joked to UK TV talk show host Alan Carr: “I can just pass through Customs real quick. You’ve already kind of adopted me so maybe I don’t have to go through all the paperwork?” Meanwhile it has been revealed that Katy is so close to Russell’s mother Barbara that she has started to call her Mum. A source close to the singer said: “Katy has become close to Russell’s mum. She adores Barbara. They’re in constant contact and speak on the phone most days. “Barbara has introduced her to the UK way of life, hoping Katy won’t feel homesick when she’s over here. “They try and see each other as much as possible when they’re in the same country. Katy joked that she calls her own mother Mom and Russell’s mother Mum.” Katy also buys Barbara presents from around the world while she’s working. The source explained to the Daily Star newspaper: “Sometimes they’re fridge magnets or a tacky souvenir but on Katy’s latest trip to Paris she brought her a very nice saucy night dress.”

Sylvester Stallone has an ‘out-of-body experience’

T

he ‘Rocky’ actor - who was married to the actress Jennifer Flavin from 1985 until 1987 admits he had a “temporary form of insanity” during their relationship. Sylvester has been happily married to former model Jennifer Flavin since 1997, and the pair caught footage of his ex-lover when she appeared reality show ‘Celebrity Rehab with Dr Drew’ in 2008 for problems with alcoholism. He said: “I thought I was watching an old home movie. I sat on the sofa with Jennifer and of course, she pauses it and says: ‘What were you thinking?’ I go, ‘I wasn’t. It was an outof-body experience. I’ve concluded that love is a temporary form of insanity and we should cut each other some slack.’ “I consider my life 10 percent on target, and 90 percent mistakes. But those 10 percent counted.” Despite his past regrets, Sylvester is very settled with current spouse - who he has three daughters with - and has never been happier. He explained to the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “I’ve never had more fun. I learnt that from my wife. I never did learn it from any other relationship. In fact, just the opposite. It took me 19 years to realize she’s always right. I realized that women have a knack, at least Jennifer, for making incredibly erudite, wise, smart decisions. I always leap without looking. She always looks and never leaps.

She’s incredibly safe. So now finally, I say: ‘Honey, you make all the decisions. Done, done, done. I trust you.’ I never had that before. Ever.” Sylvester also has two grown-up sons, Sage Moonblood and Seargeoh from his first marriage to Sasha Czack back in 1974.

Pixie Lott splashes out on £400,000 home

T

he 19-year-old pop star - who has always shared a room at her parents’ house in Brentwood, Essex with her sister - has bought a one bedroom apartment in a trendy area of east London so that she can enjoy some private time with her rumored new boyfriend, model Oliver Cohen. A friend of the ‘Turn It Up’ singer said: “Pixie’s been wanting to move out of her mum and dad’s for ages and now things are going so well with Oliver she thought it was the perfect time. “She thinks renting is a waste of money so she’s bought a gorgeous apartment in Shoreditch as a gift to herself for all of her hard work over the last year. She is massively excited and can’t wait to finally move in next week.” Pixie is particularly delighted by her purchase as it is close to exclusive members club Shoreditch House - frequented by stars such as Madonna, Heidi Klum and Billie Piper - where she loves to party.

The friend added to the Daily Star newspaper: “She thinks Shoreditch is the coolest place to be at the moment and also knows it’s not that far if she wants to pop back to Essex to see her parents. “Pixie can’t wait to just be able to pop to Shoreditch House and hit the rooftop pool whenever she’s got some spare time. —Bangshowbiz

SPECTRUM

Monday, September 6, 2010

This room where Agatha Christie stayed at the historical Pera Palace is seen after restoration.

— AFP Photos

37

The main hall of the historical Pera Palace is seen after restoration.

Landmark Istanbul hotel revives glorious past

By Ni col as Chevi ron

A

The first elevator in service in Turkey is seen in the historical Pera Palace.

favorite of royals seeking luxury, writers looking for the muse and undercover spies, Pera Palace-Istanbul’s hotel of mysteries and pomp-has reopened after a major facelift to revive its past grandeur. Built in the late 19th century for the passengers of the legendary Orient Express, the 115-room hotel has hosted generations of illustrious guests, from King Edward VIII and Queen Elizabeth II of Britain or the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I, to the likes of Alfred Hitchcock or Greta Garbo.

It was the place where crime writer Agatha Christie, one of the hotel’s most ardent visitors, crafted “Murder on the Orient Express”, and where Ernest Hemingway is said to have sipped at a whisky, watching the sunlight play on the waters of the

Golden Horn. Other, more discreet visitors also took up residence in the hotel. Kim Philby, British double agent in the pay of the KGB, is believed to have been among the guests at the end of World War II. He was preceded shortly by Elyesa Bazna, better known by his codename Cicero, in the service of Nazi Germany, says historian Jak Deleon in his book “A taste of old Istanbul”. A stay by iconic dancer and spy Mata Hari, registered among Orient Express passengers in 1897, is also very likely, according to Deleon. The histories of the express, inaugurated in 1883, and the hotel are closely linked.

Carrying travelers of a new kindbusinessmen attracted by the growing Western hold on Ottoman economy, artists and wealthy adventurers in search of the exotic-the Orient Express needed a place to meet the

expectations of its passengers.

Construction started in 1892 and the Pera Palace opened its doors in 1895, becoming Istanbul’s most luxurious establishment.

It was the city’s first building, barring the Ottoman palace, to have electricity, and the only one to provide hot running water to its guests. The hotel’s electric elevator was unprecedented in Turkey. But after 111 years of service, the building needed a serious renovation. It was closed in 2006 for an inventory before renovation work started in April 2008.

“It is the first renovation on such a scale in the history of the Pera Palace.

Anything you can think of-every pipe, every cable-has been changed,” hotel manager Pinar Kartal Timer told AFP. “Our objective was to preserve the nostalgia of Pera Palace while incorporating the technology of the 21st century,” she said. The renovation cost

23 million euros (29.3 million dollars).

But on the ground floor, which is listed as a historical monument, all original pieces were left untouched, meticulously restored by a team of academic experts.

Once the heart of Istanbul’s social life-in the 1920s, people came to dance the foxtrot, drink champagne or attend Turkey’s first fashion showsthe Pera Palace aims to regain its place on the social map of a city now teeming with posh hotels and night clubs. “We would like to revive the traditions,” said Kartal Timer. Next month the hotel plans to stage a “Republic Ball,” an event dating back to the establishment of modern Turkey in 1923.

The hotel’s re-opening last Wednesday coincided with the arrival of an old friend, the Orient Express, which today makes a single annual run from Paris to Istanbul. — AFP

Water parks find business booming in tough economy

By Hugo Martin

T

he gates had not yet opened at Raging Waters in San Dimas, California, on a recent sunny morning, but assistant Girl Scout leader Brenda Mauss was already in the parking lot urging her five charges to slather on the sunscreen. The plan was to be in line for the 10 am opening to wring every drop of pleasure from the day. Admission to the water park - the state’s largest costs $36.99. But Mauss had discount coupons from a fast-food restaurant that knocked 10 bucks off each ticket.

“Everybody is looking for savings and something fun to do,” she said, as swarms of families scrambled past them toward the park entrance. A sluggish economy is buoying business at the nation’s water parks. Though attendance at major theme parks has taken a hit, water parks are seeing an uptick thanks to families on “stay-cation,” relatively cheap admission prices and steady business from summer day camps.

“Surveys have shown that water parks are supported by Joe Lunch Pail and his family,” said William Haralson, a New Mexico-based economics consultant to theme parks, water parks and other attractions. “Water parks compared to a lot of other things are very inexpensive.”

Attendance at North America’s largest theme parks declined 1.3 percent last year, but it was up 3 percent at water parks, according to Aecom, a Los Angeles-based technical and management consulting firm. Growth was even more dramatic before the recession. From 2005

to 2009, attendance at the largest North American water parks swelled by nearly 12 percent, compared with less than 3 percent at big theme parks.

Operators in Southern California declined to reveal exact figures for their individual properties. But they said attendance has remained strong because of good weather so far this summer, relatively low admission prices and multimillion-dollar expansions that have made water parks the hot place to stay cool.

The Southland’s recent heat wave has given an extra boost to the water parks.

The 1,000-space parking lot at Raging Waters has been filling up daily within an hour of the park’s opening, forcing visitors to park in the outlying reserve lots.

As temperatures reached into the 90s in Orange County, California, last week, Knott’s Soak City in Buena Park, Calif., marked the highest attendance numbers so far this season. “When the temperature rises, attendance goes up and we love it,” said Raging Waters spokeswoman Mary Papadopoulos. “We are packed.” Tight economic times also mean more families are staying home for summer vacation. That’s a big plus for water parks, which depend largely on locals.

At Six Flag’s Hurricane Harbor in Valencia, California, 63 percent of the guests live within 15 miles of the park, said park spokeswoman Sandra Daniels.

To attract stay-cationers, Knott’s Soak City has reduced the prices of its season passes, charging $60 for adults and $50 for children younger than 12 - a $15 discount from 2009. That has boosted sales by about 50 percent, said spokeswoman

Nathan Brady, 15, cools in the rushing water in Flow Rider at Raging Waters in San Dimas, California. During the recession, theme parks took a hit while water parks like Raging Water stayed afloat. The reason: water parks charge less, making them the cheaper entertainment alternative.

Jennifer Blazey. “Our numbers have been really good this year,” Blazey added.

Southern California is home to nine water parks, all competing for a piece of the lucrative summer entertainment dollar.

Like traditional theme parks, water parks generate return business by upgrading rides regularly, creating what amounts to a water-park arms war.

At Knott’s Soak City, thrill seekers gravitate to such attractions as Pacific Spin. Built in 2006, the ride hurls up to four people clinging to a raft into what looks like a giant funnel lying on its side.

The combination of rushing water and momentum sends the riders sliding up and down the steep walls of the funnel, much like skateboarders in a half-pipe.

Raging Waters upped the ante this summer by opening Dr Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror. The ride is similar to Pacific Spin, except riders slip and slide in complete darkness. Lindsay Fugate, 24, and three friends from Ventura pulled into the Raging Waters parking lot on a recent morning to test their courage.

Roller coasters and high-tech attractions at other theme parks would be fun alternatives, but she said she couldn’t afford the $72 admission to Disneyland or the $54 ticket to see the new 3-D King Kong attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood. “Those parks cost a pretty solid chunk of change,” she said, adding that she and her friends came across discount coupons for the water park.

Water parks also draw big business from summer camps and day-care operators looking for inexpensive ways to entertain kids. Each summer, more than 300 children enrolled in Los Angeles County’s day camp program in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley areas take field trips to Raging Waters and Hurricane Harbor. “We go because it’s fun and the kids love it,” said Regina Bradley, a recreation services leader for the county. Besides, she said, the water parks offer big discounts for the groups, dropping the admission price to about $20 a child.

Water parks are also generating extra revenue by renting out private cabanas to parents who want to relax in the shade while their kids go crazy in the water.

Knott’s Soak City charges $80 to $125 for cabanas with lounge chairs and picnic tables. At Raging Waters, guests who rent a premium cabana ($150 to $170 a day) can get food and drinks brought to them by a park server. But affordable admission remains the biggest draw.

Raging Waters sells two season passes for $99.99. That works out to less than half the price of season admission to Disneyland, Southern California’s most popular theme park, which charges locals $108 for a pass. “Fifty dollars for a whole summer is really cheap,” said Jayvin Marrs of Orange County, who brought his sons Ashton, 7, and Dylan, 8, to Raging Waters recently.

Some thrifty visitors save on conces-

Jimmy Herrera, 27, rides gushing water in Flow Rider at Raging Waters. — MCT Photos sions by hosting tailgate parties in the parking lot. For water park operators, the cost to expand or build a new park is often only a fraction of the investment required for a traditional theme park, and the payoff can be substantial if the weather cooperates. Six Flag’s Magic Mountain in Valencia spent $10 million in 2009 to build a single roller coaster: Terminator Salvation. Meanwhile, the operators of Legoland built an entire water park for

$12 million on 5.5 acres of property adjacent to the theme park in Carlsbad, Calif.

Adult guests who pay the regular admission fee of $67 at Legoland can get into the water park for an extra $12. The facility has been open just a few weeks, but “so far, the overall reaction has been positive,” said general manager Peter Ronchetti. But profits aren’t a slam dunk.

The operating season is short - typically June, July and August. And bad weather

hurts the bottom line. Last year several East Coast water parks reported a sharp drop in attendance because of unusually cold summer temperatures and frequent storms. So far this year, Southern California’s sunny weather has kept water park operators smiling. “So much of our attendance is driven by the sun,” said Papadopoulos of Raging Waters.

“When I get up in the morning and see the sun, I do my sun dance.” — MCT

Families enjoy cool waters in a wave pool.

SPECTRUM

38

Monday, September 6, 2010

Kuwait Times hosts

The Kuwait Times management team poses for a picture.

The Editorial Department poses for a photo with Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Alyan.

The Weekend staff pictured with Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Alyan.

he Kuwait Times recently held its annual ghabqa during the holy month of Ramadan at the Kuwait Hyatt Hotel. Staff members from all departments attended the event. A welcome speech was delivered by Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Alyan, a gesture that reflected the warm relationship and sense of camaraderie shared

between the company’s staff members and its departments.

Furthermore, staff members who have been employed for 10 years or more were felicitated. They were awarded letters of appreciation and gifts. Attendees took part in competitions that were held as part of the event and won several prizes. Meanwhile, a raffle draw was

organized for the grand prize - a car. Ali Deyab, an employee from the Printing Department claimed it. The event was organized by the Marketing Director Adnan Saad. In addition, guests were given special gifts from Sebamed and others from the company’s Marketing Department.

T

Kuwait Times staff are seen with their families.

A part of the page-making team of Kuwait Times is spending enjoyable time.

A group photo of Kuwait Times staff at the event.

Kuwait Times Copy Editor and columnist Abdullah Alnouri (left) and journalist Abdullatif Sharaa (right) during the event.

Kuwait Times staff are seen cheering a lucky winner.

The audience have enthralled look as they watch the emcee.

IT Manager Islam Al-Sharaa (centre) is pictured with his family at the function.

Glimpse of all the employees and their families having a delightful time at the Hyatt Hotel.

Employees and their families having a delightful time at the Hyatt Hotel.

The emcee throws a quiz question at the editorial department.

Kuwait Times Finance Manager Saleh Abu Sabra is thinking: ‘I wonder how much I have to pay now’.

Weekend newspaper staff are celebrating a win at the raffle draw.

Kuwait Times Human Resources Manager Barrak Al-Said (left) and Kuwait Times Finance Manager Saleh Abu Sabra (second right) pictured at the event.

Kuwait Times Editor Shakir Reshamwala is seen with his family.

A group photo of employees with their families having great time.

39

SPECTRUM

Monday, September 6, 2010

annual Ghabqa for staff A group photo of the Administrative Department with Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Alyan.

The Marketing Department of Kuwait Times poses for a photo with the Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Alyan.

Kuwait Times Printing Press and Circulation Department are seen with Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Alyan.

Kuwait Times management and staff expresses their gratitude to the Kuwait Hyatt Hotel management for hosting the spectacular event on their premises.

A group photo of Kuwait Times staff at the event.

Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Alyan (right) and Kuwait Times Marketing Director Adnan Saad announce the winner of the big prize.

(From left to right) K Saad, General Manager of Kuwait Times Badrya Darwish and Kuwait Times Administrative Director Mustafa Qamhiya, pictured during the event.

A group photo of Kuwait Times staff at the event.

A group photo of Kuwait Times staff at the event.

Kuwait Times IT Manager Islam Al-Sharaa is pictured with his family.

A group photo of Kuwait Times staff at the event.

Dr. Ziad Alyan Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times with Ibrahim Al-Barges.

Kuwait Times Senior Reporter Ben Garcia and Secretary to the Marketing Department Rachel are seen with their families.

Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Alyan is congratulating Kuwait staff member Ali Deyab the winner of the car.

Adnan Saad gives out prizes to Kuwait Times staff.

A group photo of Kuwait Times staff at the event.

Rubina and Rowena are having enjoyable time at the event.

Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Alyan is cheering a sketch by Kuwait Times editor Chidi Emmanuel during the ghabqa.

A group photo of Kuwait Times staff at the event.

A group photo of Kuwait Times staff at the event.

Kuwait Times copy editor Soumya Sukrithan with reporter Ahmad Saeid.

Kuwait Times staff and families are seen enjoying the evening.

www.kuwaittimes.net

Classy khaki flexes twill power

By Adam Tschorn

K

haki is back. But more than that, the humble military-inspired staple of the ‘80s preppy wardrobe - and hallmark of the ‘90s casual Friday era that followed - is marching upmarket. This spring, dusty brown cotton twill has moved far beyond the beige pant, riding the Army/safari trend deep into designer ready-to-wear territory. On the women’s springsummer 2010 runways of New York and Europe were crisp safari dresses and lace-up ponchos at Celine, sleeveless military-officer-style shirt dresses at Chloe and a cornucopia of khaki colors at Alexander Wang, crafted into corsets, pieced alongside leather and heather gray knits in slouchy mixed-fabrication trousers and even shaped into a pretty bellybutton-baring dress.

For men, there were peak-lapel khaki jackets at D&G; sleeveless deconstructed shirts and baggy, lightweight trousers at Dior Homme; and multiple layered pieces in the Versace and John Galliano foreign legion-flavored collections. Even the casual sportswear arena - khaki’s home front - has revisited the tan trouser with fervor. The new LL Bean Signature collection updates the cut of the beige bottoms (lowering the rise a bit - and raising the price tag about $30 in the process), and Banana Republic, which long seemed bent on escaping its jungle safari roots, has returned to them in full force.

“We’ve actually turned it into the center of the (Banana Republic) lifestyle,” said Simon Kneen, the brand’s creative director and executive vice president. “It’s been cool in Europe for a while, and we just felt there was starting to be this kind of cool factor surrounding the chino here.” He pointed out that the latest take on the tan twill includes washing the fabric down to a super-soft hand, crinkling it up by adding metallic threads and offering a platoon of pieces, including militaryflavored jackets, skirts and pants.

Dockers, which helped make the $30 to $60 cuffed, pleated khaki the default casual pant of an entire generation, is trying to kick khakis up a notch. In early April, the Levi Strauss-owned brand launched a collection of khakis at LA’s American Rag boutique that retails for up to $200 and bears the kind of details - abrasions, resin and dye treatments and artisanal-style embellishments, such as seam taping and expensive fabrics, that were once the sole province of super-premium denim.

“There is definitely a resurgence in khaki,” said Macy’s men’s fashion director Durand Guion. “And we’re just at the beginning of it. ...

We’re anticipating that as we go through fall and into next spring, it’s going to be huge.”

David Wolfe, creative director of the New York trend forecasting firm Doneger Group, concurred: “I think it’s going to keep gaining momentum as it goes,” he said. “Probably for the next couple of years.” Why the khaki comeback? And why now? To understand that, here’s a brief primer.

By itself, the word “khaki,” derived from the Hindi word for dust, traditionally refers to a specific color - a shade of tan or beige and the term was used as far back as the 1840s to refer to the cotton twill uniforms worn by British colonial forces in India. (A 1999 book “Khaki: Cut From the Original Cloth,” commissioned by Levi Strauss & Co, goes so far as to anoint British Lt Henry Lumsden as “the inventor of the khakis,” fixing the year at 1846 in Punjab, India.)

The word “chino” can refer more widely to the durable twill fabric. In the US, it often refers specifically to the military-inspired khaki-colored trouser of the same fabric, which “The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion” traces to an early point of origin: before World War I, back when the US Army’s summer uniforms came from China.

Khaki’s first wave of popularity came in the 1950s, when American soldiers returning from World War II helped them make the transition from military barracks to college campuses. After the denim-drenched ‘60s and ‘70s, khaki came back around in the ‘80s as the color-inside-thelines alternative to the jeans worn by counterculture hippies.

Then, in 1986, Levi‘s launched its Dockers brand, which was the khaki equivalent of storming Normandy; the company takes credit - or blame, depending on your point of view - for launching the casual Friday offensive. And to hear Dockers’ current president of global branding tell it, that’s how Dockers ended up hoisted by its own pleated petard.

“From 1990 on, (Dockers) made a huge effort to establish khaki in the workplace - and it worked,” said Karen Riley-Grant, Dockers’ director of global consumer marketing. “After that, khaki never really went away.” But the ubiquity had its downside. “It just faded into the background and became the choice of complacency. You wore khakis because you had to, not because you really wanted to,” she said. “And that’s not a good place to be.”

As the default uniform of the cubicle-dweller, khaki soldiered on through two more decades that pretty much belonged to denim in every incarnation - ripped, abraded, sanded and resin-baked, and made from selvedge fabrics, Japanese fabrics, stretch fabrics and rare dead stock fabrics. Now retailers and trend analysts see the pants pendulum swinging back the other way.

“We’ve been in denim for years,” Guion said. “It’s been as dark as it can be, as light as it can be, it’s had as much stuff on the back pocket as you could possibly put on a pocket, and it’s been deconstructed in every imaginable way. We’ve seen every extreme and back again.”

Though Wolfe agrees that most of khaki’s resurgence can be credited to denim reaching what he calls “an absolute oversaturation point,” he points out a couple of other factors that are helping give khaki its current kick in the pants. “The khaki color is so right because we’re in such a heavy neutral (color) cycle, right now,” he said. “And it solves that male dilemma - it goes with everything. You don’t have to worry about whether you’re wearing it with a white button-down, a polo, a Ted Baker gingham or an Ed Hardy Tshirt. It’s a no-brainer bottom.” (That versatility has an added economic appeal too.)

And Wolfe points out one additional factor: The reputation khaki has earned among the stylish set as the de facto uniform of the uncool kids is now becoming part of its appeal. “There’s also a sort of anti-fashion element to it,” he said. “Right now we’re entering a big time of discontent, disillusionment and burn-out with fashion. There’s a feeling that all the fast-fashion and (cycling) trendiness is too much, and I think people are looking for an antidote.” Which means a crisp, clean pair of khakis could end up being more than popular - they could actually end up being cool - as long as those ‘90sera pleats stay firmly in the past. —MCT

This spring, dusty brown cotton twill has moved far beyond the beige pant, riding the Army/safari trend deep into designer ready-towear territory.

— MCT photos