RI PT IO N BS C SU THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF
40 PAGES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2010
Brutal La Familia cartel chief killed PAGE 9
MOHARRAM 6, 1432 AH
NO: 14936
Holder defends US anti-terror stings
Bill’s back: Clinton commands stage at White House
City maintain title charge, sink Hammers
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150 FILS
Areva OKs KIA stake
Amir to meet chief editors KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is expected to meet the chief editors of Kuwaiti national newspapers early today, it was announced here yesterday evening. — KUNA
US, Europe target new sanctions against Iran WASHINGTON: The Obama administration and its European allies are prepared to impose additional sanctions on Iran if the Islamic Republic does not meet international demands to prove its nuclear program is peaceful, a senior US official said yesterday. Gary Samore, the White House coordinator for arms control, told a Washington think tank that the United States and its partners will keep up pressure on Iran to come clean about its nuclear ambitions by maintaining and expanding existing sanctions that American officials believe are taking a toll on the Iranian economy. “We and our allies are determined to maintain and even increase pressure,” Samore told a conference on “Countering the Iranian Threat” hosted by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Continued on Page 14
PARIS: Areva’s supervisory board approved a 900 million euro ($1.19 billion) capital increase that will see Kuwait taking a near 5 percent stake in the Continued on Page 14
Storm wreaks havoc in Lebanon Kuwait flight forced to land in Damascus BEIRUT: Heavy winds and rain whipped across Lebanon yesterday, grounding flights, knocking down billboards and causing nationwide traffic jams in the first storm to hit the country after months of drought. Four small planes parked at Beirut international airport were destroyed by the wind yesterday morning, which topped 100 kilometers an hour, an airport official said. Several flights were grounded as one flight arriving from Kuwait was forced to make a detour and land in neighboring Damascus due to the rough weather. Waves along the Mediterranean coast reached five meters in height, an AFP photographer said, crashing over traffic that had come to a standstill in knee-high water on the seaside road in Beirut and other highways. The winds also knocked down several billboards across the main coastal highway, many of which crashed into parked cars. No one has been reported injured. And in the traditional seaside town of Jbeil, north of Beirut, fishermen were struggling to keep their boats tied down as cafe and restaurant staff strove to salvage chairs and tables from flooded terraces. The storm comes af ter a drought of nearly eight months which led to fires that ravaged forests and left farmers struggling to survive in a country envied regionally for its abundance of water resources. Until yesterday’s storm, Lebanon had 51.2 millimeters of rain since September, drastically down from 214.8 millimeters during the same period last year, according to the national meteorology bureau. — AFP
BEIRUT: A man checks damaged pilot training planes at the tarmac of Beirut Airport, Lebanon, yesterday. An airport official says a heavy rain storm has seriously damaged four small training planes that were parked on the runway of Beirut’s Rafiq Hariri airport.— AP
Oppn vows to grill PM Main political blocs to file grilling request today by B Izzak KUWAIT: The three main political blocs in the National Assembly are today scheduled to file a request to grill the Prime Minister for the police crackdown on a public rally last Wednesday as trade unions, civil society groups and leading figures continued to condemn the attack. The ministry of interior meanwhile used the state-r un Kuwait Television to deny allegations that they beat up a number of MPs and citizens and accused rally organizers of provoking the police crackdown. The opposition meanwhile decided to temporarily suspend further rallies in support of the constitution for the sake of preserving the safety of citizens. MPs Jamaan Al-Harbash from the Islamic
Reform and Development Bloc, Mussallam AlBarrak of the Nationalist Popular Action Bloc and Saleh Al-Mulla of the Liberal National Action Bloc have been selected to file the grilling. The three groups consist of 14 MPs in the 50member house and are solidly backed by at least six more. Another five MPs have expressed their support to the idea of the grilling but nothing is certain. Two members of the Islamist Salaf Alliance, MPs Khaled Al-Sultan and Ali Al-Omair and their ally MP Mohammad Al-Mutair have not yet made a decision as they requested time to meet with their group. The grilling, to be based on one issue; police crackdown on citizens and suppression of public freedoms, can be debated either on Tuesday or after two weeks depending on the prime minister. The
debate could lead to 10 MPs filing a non-cooperation motion which requires 25 votes to pass. If passed, the issue will be referred to the Amir who will decide to either sack the prime minister or dissolve the assembly and call for fresh elections. Parliamentary sources believe that any noncooperation vote against the prime minister is expected to gain at least 20 votes. The decision of the Salaf MPs is very crucial and any decision in favor of the motion could encourage other MPs to join. The opposition MPs made the decision to grill the prime minister on Thursday, one day after the elite Special Forces used batons to beat up MPs and citizens at a public rally at the diwaniya of MP Harbash in defense of the constitution. More than a dozen people, including four MPs, have been hurt. Continued on Page 14
Climate talks win a lifeline Nations set up global climate fund
CANCUN: A man walks next to Greenpeace activists who form the word hope as a question with their bodies, next to a giant life saver, during a demonstration near the site of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. — AP
CANCUN: Almost 200 countries agreed yesterday to modest steps to combat climate change, including a fund to help poor nations, but they put off tough decisions on cutting greenhouse gas emissions until next year. The deal includes setting up a Green Climate Fund to give $100 billion a year in aid for poor countries by 2020, measures to protect tropical forests and ways to share clean energy technologies. Thrashed out in a marathon session of talks in the Mexican
beach resort of Cancun, the agreement also sets a target of limiting a rise in average world temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6F) over pre-industrial times. There was, however, no major progress on how to extend the Kyoto Protocol, which obliges almost 40 rich nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It is also not yet clear how the $100 billion a year for the Green Climate Fund will be raised. Continued on Page 14
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NATIONAL
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Continuation of Gitmo ‘disgrace’ to US justice Kuwait supports Obama decision KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Sabah on Friday described the continued presence of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp as "a disgrace" to the US justice system. The minister's outburst came whilst he was responding to reporters' questions before leaving for Bahrain to attend meetings of the joint KuwaitiBahraini Committee. Commenting on the US Congress' decision to reject President Barack Obama's proposal to close the facility, jeopardizing the fate of imprisoned Kuwaitis there, Sheikh Mohammad asserted "As we have said time and time again, the detention facility is a disgrace to US justice." There were initially 12 Kuwaiti detainees in Guantanamo, with four of these still remaining. He expressed his belief that Obama's decision to close the facility had been the right one, explaining the facility "reminds us of World War II and detention camps made by the Nazis and fascists." He also warned that "the US is endangering its international reputation, while this illegal state of imprisonment continues." Asked about Kuwaiti moves on behalf of its imprisoned nationals, Sheikh Mohammad replied, "I prefer not to talk
about this, because we are discussing the situation." On the upcoming joint Kuwaiti-Bahraini meeting, Sheikh Mohammad said that it will be the fifth of its kind, commending the relations between the two neighboring countries and revealing that there are a number of joint projects in the pipeline. He also noted that the recent Abu Dhabi Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit had ushered in several crucial economic
decisions, including equal treatment of other GCC nations' companies and their local equivalents in each member nation. He described the issues scheduled for discussion with the Bahrainis as being "of an economic, cultural and educational nature," adding that the Kuwaiti delegation attending the meeting consists of representatives from the foreign ministry, the private sector, and the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry. — KUNA
in the news
KUWAIT: A car accident on the Fourth Ring Road, yesterday, in which the driver was seriously injured. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh
NDA supports PM's interpellation motion KUWAIT: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has announced its decision to back anti-government MPs' decision to file an interpellation motion against His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlSabah. The incident took place during a seminar that was held at the diwaniya of MP Jamaan Al-Harbash on Wednesday. Special forces used force to dis-
perse the crowd that had gathered outside the diwaniya. "The unjustified use of force by security officials as per direct orders from the Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber AlKhalid Al-Sabah against unarmed citizens is a serious setback in the history of political Kuwait," the NDA issued a statement that was made recently to the press, reported
Al-Qabas. "[The incident] is also a setback to the way in which officials deal with citizens who do not break any law, and have a right to opinion and expression as stipulated in the Constitution". Moreover, the NDA rejected the "governmental approach in using violence against citizens and parliamentarians," calling
the incident as being both insulting to the personality of the people attacked, as well as to the entire public "due to the attack on representatives in the Parliament." Furthermore, the NDA held the Cabinet accountable for the 'assault on citizens and MPs,' as well as the interior minister for "irresponsible actions that caused grave bodily harm."
kuwait digest
What a shame! By Ghassan Al -Otai bi
Faisal Al-Qanaei
KJA condemns attack on journalists KUWAIT: The secretary general of the Kuwait Journalists Association (KJA) expressed 'deep remorse' at the attack that Al-Seyassa editor Mohammad Al-Sandan was subjected to by special forces. He was reporting on the seminar that took place at MP Jamaan AlHarbash's diwaniya on Wednesday night. Faisal Al-Qanaei made these comments in a press statement that was released after leading a team from the KJA's board. Members of the press in Kuwait visited Al-Sandan at Al-Sabah hospital where he is recovering from serious head and spinal injuries. Moreover, Al-Qanaei conveyed the KJA's resentment against the inhuman treatment meted out to journalists while carrying out their duties, including editor Jarrah AlMutairi from Al-Watan.
always believed that our societies are still immature to practice democracy. The more time flies past, more incidents that support this notion take place. These are in sharp contrast to our claims that we in Kuwait have leaped ahead of our neighbors in terms of democratic practices. In reality, our failed application of democracy has caused us to lag behind our neighbors. One of the incidents I am talking about is the brutal assault of Mohammad Al-Juwaihel during the seminar held at the diwaniya of MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun. Al-Juwaihel was knocked down unconscious and lay in a pool of blood. All this took place before the ‘MPs of Democracy,’ including Al-Sadoun, Faisal Al-Mislem and others. After Al-Juwaihel was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, the seminar went on Regardless of the circumstances that led to
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Al-Juwaihel’s attack, whether it is following a provocative action or not , it is illogical that differences in opinion are received with violence. Is this the kind of democracy that we talk about? Isn’t respecting different opinions a part of the principles of democracy? On the contrary, it appears that differences in opinion are tolerated in this country any more. Remaining adamant on one’s own opinion destroys all chances of conducting serious dialogue. Human beings are different by nature, and it is wrong to insist that all people follow a single ideology of belief , let alone insist on an opinion that is wrong. Al-Saadoun and his fellow MPs should lead the public by example. When the attack on AlJuwaihel took place, the MPs who were present at Al-Saadoun’s diwaniya should have protected him even if he had insulted them. They should have halted the seminar to maintain people’s respect. — Al-Qabas
'Cabinet must step down' KUWAIT: The National Action Bloc has not backed down from participating in the interpellation motion announced by the coalition of antigovernment parliamentarians, which is due to be presented today in cooperation with the Popular Action Bloc (PAB) and the Reform and Development Bloc (RDB). During a recent televised interview, NAB member Abdurrahman Al-Anjari asserted that the bloc is convinced that His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-
Mohammed Al-Sabah is responsible for the actions of his government, and subsequently the Ministry of Interior (MoI). He called for the premier to step down "after the dignity of the public and their representatives was humiliated," referring to special forces officers' violent dispersal of people, including MPs, attending a seminar at MP Jamaan AlHarbish's diwaniya last Wednesday. Al-Anjari was among the MPs who were subjected to physical assault during the incident, reported
Al-Rai. In the interview, he explained that he had been struck by the officers on one side of his body, then on his right knee whilst in the garden of Al-Harbish's home. He added that he had also seen 25 special forces officers there "barbarically beating up civilians," adding that the violence continued despite the officers' knowledge of his status as a parliamentarian and even after they were informed that the seminar had been concluded as they requested.
Expired food seized KUWAIT: An emergency team of inspectors from Kuwait Municipality's Mubarak Al-Kabeer branch have seized 2.5 tons of expired food items from a warehouse that belongs to a food processing factory in Subhan. The operation targeted factories in Al-Subhan, during which tons of expired frozen meat were located. Several kilograms of grains were confiscated and disposed properly. Sharida AlMutairi, Manager of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Municipality further announced that the campaigns resulted in the removal of 500 advertisements. Also, 20 citations were issued to hawkers, reported Al-Qabas. Team leader Abdullah Al-Miea asserted that citations were issued against the violating company that stored and traded in food items that are unsuitable for human consumption. He further asserted that inspection campaigns are conducted as per certain regulations which ensure that all factories and warehouses are included. Judicial studies HQ KUWAIT: The construction of the Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies' headquarters is already underway, according to one of the senior staff working on the major project. The KD13.45 million venture is being launched on a massive site in Jublaa in the heart of Kuwait City measuring 408,337 square meters, said Manal Al-Attar, the senior engineer managing the project, which he revealed is scheduled for completion by March 2013. The 24-floor state-of-the-art headquarters building will encompass various offices, a library, conference suites, a cafeteria, a rooftop helipad and three parking garages with space for 250 vehicles, she revealed. MoH to expand premises KUWAIT: As part of plans undertaken to expand the Ministry of Health's premises, a new Administrative Affairs block will be built, including an additional one for architecture. In a statement made recently to the press, Samir Al-Asfour, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Services and Maintenance Affairs said that these plans were made due to an increase in the number of staff members at the ministry, reported AlRai. Moreover, Al-Asfour announced that "overhaul infrastructure maintenance operations" will be carried out at the ministry's building. At the same time, he announced that the project to expand the Intensive Care Unit at Al-Adan hospital will increase the unit's capacity to 40 beds.
KUWAIT: Firefighters in action after a fire broke out in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh yesterday. — Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun
11 hurt in road accidents By Hanan Al -S aadoun KUWAIT: A 23-year-old Kuwaiti woman was rushed to Jahra Hospital after sustaining head and spinal injuries in a car accident on the Fifth Ring Road. In another accident on the Fifth Ring Road, a 25-year-old Kuwaiti man suffered fractures to both legs in a crash near the Omariya turnoff. He was taken to Farwaniya Hospital. In a separate incident, a 50year-old Egyptian man was taken to Farwaniya Hospital after suffering a fracture to his right thighbone when he was knocked over while crossing Mohammed Ben Al-Qasen Street in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Meanwhile, a 57-year-old Kuwaiti man sustained a broken right thighbone in a crash on the Fourth Ring Road near the Hadi Hospital. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital. In another case, two Somali girls were taken to hospital after sustaining various injuries in a car crash near the Granada Cinema crossing in Khaitan. Both were taken to Farwaniya Hospital. In a separate incident, a 28year-old Egyptian man suffered injuries to one knee, while a 57year-old Iranian man sustained
a broken left leg in a collision on the Fifth Ring Road heading towards Jahra. Both men were taken to the Amiri Hospital. In a seventh accident, an 18-yearold Kuwaiti youth was taken to the Amiri Hospital after complaining of pain in his left leg after his all-terrain vehicle was involved in a crash on the Second Ring Road near the Mansouriya turnoff. Meanwhile, a 24-year-old Lebanese man slipped and fell while getting off a bus at a stop on the Third Ring Road opposite the London Supermarket, suffering various injuries. He was taken to Sabah Hospital. In another incident, a 61year old Saudi lorry driver tripped and fell while getting out of his truck at the Nuwaiseeb border checkpoint, sustaining a fracture to his left shoulder bone. He was taken to Adan Hospital. Jleeb blaze Firemen from Jleeb AlShuyoukh and Ardiya were quickly at the scene after a blaze broke out in a two-floor house in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. While tackling the blaze, the firefighters discovered that the ground floor was being illegally used as an upholstery and car-
pentry workshop, while the rooms on the first floor were being sublet, also illegally. The fire was brought under control with no casualties being reported, and an investigation is underway into the illegal activities being conducted in the house. Two hurt in fights A 24-year-old Iraqi man was rushed to Adan Hospital after being stabbed in the chest during a fight near the Juliaa Clinic. In another fight, this time in Ahmadi, a 26-year-old Syrian man suffered a broken nose. He was taken to Adan Hospital. Drunk in Qadisiya A 70-year-old Kuwaiti man was found in a drunken stupor opposite the Al-Qadisiya Club, with police taking him into custody to sober up. Building site fall A 45-year-old Egyptian construction worker fell from a high building he was working on opposite the Commercial Bank of Kuwait in Ahmadi, suffering fractures to his left foot and left leg, along with a number of other injuries. He was taken to Adan Hospital.
Rising fodder costs global: PAAAFR KUWAIT: Recent increases in animal fodder prices in Kuwait are a result of a global rise in costs, with the manufacturing firms sustaining major losses due to climactic changes and natural disasters, according to a senior Kuwaiti official. Responding to recent complaints from farmers about the fodder price rises, Dr. Nabila Al-Ali, the Assistant Deputy General
Manager for Livestock Affairs at the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources, further asserted that the PAAAFR's role is to ensure that the subsidies provided to the suppliers and livestock farmers are paid by the end of the financial year, adding that any increased costs should be covered by the farmers themselves. The farmers have expressed concern
that the rising animal fodder prices will lead to increased livestock prices, reported AlQabas, but Dr. Al-Ali insisted that the Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakery Company, the country's principal supplier of animal fodder, has been able to stockpile sufficient supplies to cover a ten-month period, helping to prevent local fodder costs from increasing too sharply.
NATIONAL
Sunday, December 12, 2010
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Better time management skills needed
Kuwait’s private universities offering more student choice By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The increasing number of private universities opening in Kuwait has provided more academic opportunities for those who didn’t have this adva ntage in the pa st. Previously the only university available here w as This meant that poorer students often looked for a job after graduating from high school to help their families and build their own one. It was also uncommon previously for Kuwaiti university students to hold down jobs whilst studying. However, with price rises in all essential products and services in recent years and no increase in student grants, this situation has changed, with more students now working whilst at university. Some students work to gain experience in the subject they’re studying. “With work experience I will have a better chance of getting a good job in my field,” Bader, a 22-year-old Business Administration student, told the Kuwait Times. “I don’t care much about the salary, but I can prove that I can be selfreliant and have my own income even if it’s not much. After graduating from uni-
versity I can add my work experience to my CV, in addition to my degree, which is better for me.” Busy students also tend to have better time management skills, said Bader. “I’m a full-time student at Kuwait University and I work as a part-timer in the afternoon,” he explained. “I do this instead of hanging out daily with my friends. And also the company where I work has offered me a full-time job after I graduate. I advise students to do the same thing, as this way they will invest their free time in something useful.” Other students are full-time employees who fit their studies around their work commitments. “It was hard for me to go to study abroad, as my family won’t let me go alone as a girl,” said 25-year-old Lebanese expatriate Hana. “Also as an expat I couldn’t join the KU as I didn’t have full marks.
Kuwa it University (KU), w hich ha d a limited student ca pa city. The law forbade the opening of priva te universities in the country, so those who didn’t attain high ma rks a t high school weren’t accepted a s students at KU a nd had to look for a university abroa d. Ma ny fa milies couldn’t afford to pay the expensive fees charged by these universities. So I had to start working as a secretary in an private company. Still I aimed to get a degree in business, so I joined a private university in Kuwait.” Hana continued, “Although the university fees aren’t very high comparing to other universities here and abroad, I still can’t ask my father to pay it. For this reason I’m working so I have some savings to spend on my studies. The company where I work has promised to promote me and increase my salary after I get my degree. I’m now in the last semester, and will graduate soon.” Some are dissatisfied with their current degree and job and want to change course. “After I graduated from high school, I continued at the [Public Authority for Applied Education and Training’s] Tourism Institute,” said 27-year-old Aisha, a Kuwaiti who’s now taking steps towards
a career change. “After I graduated it was hard to find a suitable job in my field. After I stayed in one company for a year, I left it for another which I thought would be more in the [tourism] field. Now I’ve been working for three years in the same company, but still I’m not completely satisfied.” Aisha decided to be proactive in changing her situation. “I have ambitions and I’d like to advance in my career,” she explained. “So I decided to join a private university and study Business Administration. Now I’m in my second year and I hope that I’ll get a better job after I graduate. “I don’t think it’s hard to study while working as I don’t have to attend the university every day; I only go twice or three times a week, then I sit an exam at the end of the semester. You have to work hard at the beginning so that life will be easier later on.”
local spotlight
Some tips to do business in Kuwait By Muna Al-Fuzai
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KUWAIT: The outgoing Ambassador of South Africa Ashraf Suliman hosted a reception at Radisson Blu Hotel on Wednesday. High-ranking officials, diplomats and media persons attended the reception. — Photos by Joseph Shagra
hile doing business in Kuwait is not an easy, fool-proof task. But it is a very rewarding experience, provided that parties can come up with an effective, practical business plan. Any enterprise must lay down clear-cut objectives and possess an understanding of local customs; however enigmatic these may appear and be different from the common practices of their home countries. It is important to take into account two important dynamics of doing business in Kuwait. First, one must consider the existence of well established local ‘merchants’ with a long history of participation in a wide range of business sectors. These business owners have a deeprooted understanding of how things are accomplished in Kuwait; they simply have the advantage of having been
around for many generations. They are well-connected and can get work done in days or weeks, where others might toil for months or years. Secondly, while Kuwait is undoubtedly a relatively small market, there is an unwritten protocol that make efforts either fail or succeed. Attempting to circumvent local rules or ignorance of such rules typically spell an end to a company’s reputation and make it unlikely that a respected local company can enter into business partnerships with such parties. New companies need to prepare well and study their objectives in the local market before establishing businesses, and incurring the usual start up expenses such as renting offices and hiring staff. Retaining a local consultant is advisable to avoid unnecessary expenses and other mistakes that may prove dear. It is also important to bear in mind that the process of doing business varies depending on the size of the project or undertaking. Small businesses will not get the government or parliamentary backing that is usually reserved for large projects of national importance. Another hurdle that foreign entities need to cross
while setting up a business in Kuwait is to appoint a local Kuwaiti sponsor/ partner. Clearly, it is important to choose the right local partner whose corporate and business philosophy is aligned with yours, and who you believe can add value and help you achieve your objectives. Not all sponsors are alike and some are better than others. Governmental rules are a challenge when it comes to establishing a business in Kuwait. It is essential to understand local government regulations in Kuwait. Finally, any new business should consider Kuwaiti consumers and recognize that they are quality-sensitive and have an array of products as well as markets from where purchases can be made. Challenges encountered by businesses can be a burden to any new or well-established enterprise. It is particularly advisable for fledging companies to prepare a strategy and create clear objectives when it comes to doing business in Kuwait. In this manner, challenges can be converted into opportunities. muna@kuw aittimes.net
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NATIONAL Ahmadi leak: Expert takes samples to US for testing
KUWAIT: The Minister of Information and oil Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah AlSabah inaugurated a music exhibition held at the Discovery Place of the Scientific Center on Wednesday. —Photos by Fouad Al-Sheikh
KUWAIT: The efforts to trace the reason behind the Ahmadi gas leaks have taken an even more mysterious turn, with the American expert brought in to assess the situation apparently set to return to the US today with soil samples from the area which he has reportedly said need to be tested there. This has led to some speculation and concern about the true seriousness of the situation, with some suggesting that local authorities may be attempting to cover up the true reasons behind the recent leaks, feeling that this might explain the need to conduct the tests in the US rather than in any of Kuwait's laboratories. Meanwhile, officials from the team assigned by the government to determine the reason behind the gas leaks and devise solutions have reportedly abandoned their initial conclusion that the leaks had been caused by ageing gas pipelines, with the latest reports suggesting that they now believe that the leaks may have emanated from a recently laid pipeline network that was installed to replace the old one. However, over a month since the team began working in the area, no official statement has been released regarding the real reasons behind the leaks, helping to perpetuate the popularity of the numerous conflicting alternative explanations which have continued to circulate. The latest of these suggest that the leaks are emanating from a number of underground chambers housing specialist equipment installed specifically to protect oilfields, where large quantities of leaked gas were detected. It's been pointed out, however, that the gas leaks have continued to affect the area, even after the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) shut down the entire network of pipes. The American specialist consultant, who arrived in Kuwait on December 4 at the team's invitation, had conducted several field tours and held a number of meetings with members of the team to discuss the various issues, reported Al-Qabas. After his departure was announced by the working team's official spokesman, Major General Jassem Al-Mansouri, the Kuwait Fire Services Directorate's (KFSD) Managing Director, the already-intense speculation about the gas leaks went into overdrive, particularly concerning the reason behind the secrecy surrounding his visit. With no media outlets being invited to cover any of his activities during his visit and no statements from the still-unidentified expert himself, the specialist consultant's need to take the samples back to the US for testing at the more advanced laboratory facilities there has led to concern that the problems may be worse than was initially believed.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Buramya blasts MoI press conference of falsification Attempt to mislead the public KUWAIT: MP Daifallah Buramya has accused the Ministry of Interior (MoI) of "leading a serious campaign that aims to violate the constitution and the law, which has dangerous effects on Kuwait's democracy." The parliamentarian also referred to the press conference called by the interior ministry over its handling of last week's controversial attack by security officers on a number of people attending a seminar, including MPs, as "a press conference of falsification." In a statement released to the press on Friday, Buramya said that some MoI security officials who accompanied the security officers during the operation, in which they violently dispersed crowds outside MP Jamaan Al-Harbish's diwaniya where the seminar was taking place, were carrying video cameras on which they recorded the entire attack.
Buramya further indicated that using footage taken from Al-Jazeera TV instead and airing selected parts of the operation "proves [the MoI's] attempt to mislead the Kuwaiti public." The MP also condemned the ministry officials who held the press conference for "insulting the Kuwaiti people by depicting them as troublemakers for the sole purpose of protecting
themselves and their minister from accountability," reported Al-Watan. "If [the ministry officials] were honest, they would've aired all the footage which their own forces took," he continued, challenging the ministry to screen any footage in which citizens can be seen fighting back or clashing with any official during the melee.
"The ministry believes that citizens are naive enough to fail to understand its falsification of facts," said the MP who was present throughout the incident. He added that footage "showing the brutality of officials against unarmed citizens gathered at a peaceful meeting" has already been posted online and broadcast on several satellite TV stations.
'No exaggeration in KOC car deal' KUWAIT: The Minister of Oil, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah recently asserted that the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has not made any exorbitant demands by requesting to purchase a fleet of cars by floating a tender. He explained that same conditions were spelled out in the tender, in line with the company's previous
practice. The minister was speaking in response to a question posed by MP Adnan Abdulsamad. He explained that the KOC had come up demands conformed to minimum standards set by the Interior Ministry, reported Al-Qabas. Moreover, Sheikh AlAbdullah Al-Sabah - who also acts as the
minister of information - further explained that the KOC approved to drop a specification; to provide vehicles with unlocked doors and a mechanism to halt engines automatically during accidents. This decision was taken based on a recommendation put forward by the Central Tender Committee .
NBK participates in Kuwait Motor Show KUWAIT: The National Bank of Kuwait, the leading bank in Kuwait and the highest-rated in the Middle East, has announced that it is the Platinum sponsor of the Kuwait International Motor Show. It will be organized by the Kuwait International Fair Company from Dec 12 to 18, and that it will prominently showcase its unique suite of consumer products and exclusive financing offers. "Sponsoring and participating in Kuwait International Motor Show is consistent with our endeavor to support public events and to effectively raise public awareness on the advantages and benefits associated with our unique suite of banking products and financing solutions that are tailored to meet clients' needs," said Abdulla Al-Najran, NBK Deputy General Manager, Consumer Banking Group. Al-Najran stressed that NBK has consistently endeavored to sponsor, support and participate in such events and functions, taking into consideration the added value it brings to clients in addition to the opportunities it provide to discuss and present the latest products and financing solutions devised by NBK. He added that the Kuwait International Motor Show is undoubtedly one of the biggest events of the auto industry that has regularly been held in Kuwait. It is characterized by remarkable participation on the part of both major companies and the public, as it features the latest developments and models of the globally known automotive brands as well as the latest services and financing products offered by banks and other financial institutions.
KUWAIT: NBK Deputy General Manager Consumer Banking Group, Abdulla Al-Najran and Sales and Marketing Officer at Kuwait Motor Show Company, Mishal Mohammed Al-Rashid are seen during the signing ceremony.
Wataniya sponsors comedy show at GUST KUWAIT: Wataniya gave people another reason to smile by sponsoring a comedy show with a popular Lebanese stand-up comedian Nemr Abu Nassar, in Kuwait on Dec 9 and 10. This laugh riot was hosted at the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) and was open to everyone who was looking to enjoy an evening full of jokes and witty humor. Abdulaziz Al-Balool, Public Relations Manager at Wataniya Telecom enthusiastically expressed, "Events like this help people forget about their troubles. By becoming the Golden Sponsors of the Nemr Abu Nassar show, we had an opportunity to share some laughs with our customers. At Wataniya, we like to sponsor events and create products that are unique, and bring joy into the lives of our customers." Wataniya had set up a booth at the venue of the show so that attendees at the event were able to learn about the latest Wataniya products and services. Here, Wataniya also promoted and created awareness about its latest voice plan InTouch, designed specifically for those who make many international calls. InTouch is a unique postpaid plan that gives its customers 30 free international minutes every month to a growing portfolio of countries which are: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Iran, India, Pakistan, Syria, Bangladesh, Lebanon, USA, UK and Jordan, along with 150 to 1,200 local minutes depending upon the plan they choose and a silver number
Abdulaziz Al-Balool free of charge. To top it all, customers have the flexibility to change their chosen country as per their convenience. To learn more about the InTouch voice plan or any of the other Wataniya services, call Wataniya's customer care at 121 or visit www.wataniya.com Wataniya Telecom was commercially launched in 1999 as the first privately owned operator in Kuwait. In March 2007, Qatar Telecom (Qtel) acquired 51 percent of Wataniya Telecom shares. Wataniya is a customer driven company that aims to provide product and service excellence that is leading to a real customer value. The company has been a driving force in increasing the mobile market penetration in Kuwait (over 80 percent) Wataniya Telecom has grown rapidly through acquisitions and enjoys a remarkable expansion in MENA and ASIA. Driving operations in Kuwait, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria and in Palestine.
NATIONAL
Sunday, December 12, 2010
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Premier ready to face interpellation motion No plans for more public rallies KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah will face an interpellation motion that will be initiated by the opposition bloc in the Parliament today, as long as the motion complies with constitutional regulations. The Cabinet has begun coordinating with parliamentarians with the aim of garnering maximum support. Meanwhile, the opposition bloc has announced that no further public rallies will be held.
HO CHI MINH CITY: Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah posing for a group photograph with Kuwaiti and Vietnamese officials during his visit to Ho Chi Minh City over the weekend. — KUNA
Ahmadi governor concludes visit to Vietnam HO CHI MINH CITY: Governor of the Kuwaiti district of Ahmadi, Sheikh Ibrahim AlDuaij Al-Sabah, ended yesterday a five-day official and fruitful visit to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. The visit resulted in signing a Memo of Understanding (MoU) between the Governorate of Ahmadi and Ho
Chi Minh City, said the governor, who had met a number of officials to push interaction and discussed issues of common interest. The Ahmadi Governor praised the noticeable development in Ho Chi Minh City, namely in the investment, economic and commercial fields,
thus attracting interest of great economic countries, also lured by its economic stability and security. Sheikh Ibrahim expressed his appreciation to Ho Chi Minh city Governor for expressing keenness and interest for promoting joint cooperation between the two countries,
adding that he had also delivered an invitation to the Governor to visit Kuwait. He also praised the efforts of Kuwait's Consul General in the Vietnamese city of Ho Chi Minh, Najeeb Al-Bader, for enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields. — KUNA
"[HH the PM] has assured us on his commitment to the law and Constitution," an official close to the premier said, referring to his willingness to face the motion and address the incident in which special forces violently dispersed the crowd that has gathered outside the diwaniya of MP Jamaan AlHarbash on Wednesday night. Several citizens including lawmakers were injured. A seminar was hosted during the event, where anti-government MPs discussed the aftermath of lifting the immunity of MP Dr Faisal AlMislem as per the Public Prosecution Department's request. The Interior Ministry explained that special forces were issued orders to ban any public gathering, in accordance with the laws that restrict the holding of seminars indoors. The same official questioned the motives behind the grilling motion -as forwarded by a coali-
tion of the Popular Action, Development and Reform, and National Action Blocs - being filed against the premier, instead of the interior minister. He further indicated that "if some MPs are pushing for the dissolution of the Parliament, they should know that HH the Prime Minister is not taking the same route." The Cabinet is trying to quiet the political situation in the country following last Wednesday's clashes, according to officials who indicated that ministers are holding hurried consultations with MPs to prevent majority support from deviating to the grilling motion initiators. Meanwhile, officials noted that some pro-cabinet MPs criticized the way that the Interior Ministry treated citizens and MPs during the clash, which placed them under intense scrutiny. This incident gave the opposition, "a way out that they could never have dreamt of." The
Cabinet can understand if procabinet MPs support the grilling motion, but voting for a noncooperation motion will result in more instability. At the same time, it has been reported that the Cabinet has been focusing on maintaining the support of Salafist MPs Khalid Al-Sultan and Ali Al-Omair, as well as MP Mohammad Al-Mutair. Their support of the interpellation motion could threaten the Cabinet's chances and force them to change strategies, reported Al-Qabas. According to the same officials, the Cabinet's strategy calls for the pro-cabinet MPs to be classified into two: One that objects the interpellation motion and the other that supports it while votes against the noncooperation motion. "Either way, the Cabinet is confident as long as the [non-cooperation motion] signees don't exceed 20," official added.
These developments resulted while members of the opposition coalition group announced that "seminars will not be held until the interpellation motion is presented. At least three other seminars were held within the confines of the law." This announcement was made by MP Jamaan Al-Harbash in a press statement. He explained that the decision was made "in order to protect the safety of citizens following the incidents that happened during [Wednesday's] seminar." Based on this decision, a seminar which was scheduled to be held today (Sunday) at the diwaniya of MP Mubarak AlWaalan was canceled, according to Development and Reform Bloc member MP Dr Waleed AlTabtabae, reported Al-Rai. In a press statement, he stated that, "the Cabinet is more likely to resign instead of facing the interpellation."
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NATIONAL
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Two brothers injured in fight
Traffic accidents claim six lives in Kuwait KUWAIT: Five Kuwa itis and a Syria n expatriate w ere killed in separate accidents over the pa st few days in Kuw ait. In the first accident, a Kuwa iti motorist in his thirties w as pronounced dead a t the scene follow ing a collision betw een his In another accident, a Kuwaiti man who was helping another motorist whose car had broken down on Wafra Road was killed when he was hit by a speeding vehicle. His body was removed for autopsy and an investigation is underway to trace the driver responsible. Meanwhile, a 32-year-old Kuwaiti man died shortly after his car overturned on Abdaly Road when he lost control of the steering. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics and the body was removed for autopsy. In a separate case, another Kuwaiti man was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics and his body removed for autopsy following a car crash on Kabad Road, which left him with fatal head injuries. In the sixth fatality on Kuwait’s roads in recent days, a 55-year-old Syrian expatriate died when his vehicle collided with another car on the Sixth Ring Road near the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh turnoff. The body was removed for autopsy and an investigation is underway into the cause of the accident.
kuwait digest
‘Tolerance’ for unconstitutional practices By Wal eed Al -Rujai b
D
uring the trial of a mafia mob in a murder case, in the United States, the suspect claimed to not have stabbed his victim to death, but apparently lost his life after falling onto the knife. The judge then asked him, “did the victim fell onto the knife seventeen times?” to which the suspect answered, “Yes, It’s possible.” This joke came to my mind while I was attending the press conference held by the Interior Ministry, during which officials denied beating up MPs during a violent crowd management exercise outside the diwaniya of MP Jamaan AlHarbash last Wednesday. They explained that the bruises that MPs sustained took place after they fell on the ground during a stampede. The pictures published in newspapers and the video footage broadcasted prove otherwise. It is sad to see unarmed citizens and
their representatives in the Parliament being subjected to physical assault in Kuwait, at the hands of Kuwaiti security forces. The scenes were disturbing and sad. It took place in a country whose citizens have always made sacrifices to protect their motherland, sovereignty and constitutional system. Meanwhile, the ugly scenes that took place outside Al-Harbash’s diwaniya, is not any less horrid than the chaotic incidents that blighted MP Ahmad AlSaadoun’s rally, where activist Mohammad Al-Juwaihel was beaten up for whatever reasons — his provocative actions or assertion of a different opinion. Had there been true enforcement of democratic and parliamentary practices by both authorities, had the Constitution been protected from abuse, MPs would not have resorted to voters to express their point of view and protect freedoms and constitutional gains. Everyone would
have had time to focus on implementing development projects and fight corruption, had the Cabinet refrained from targeting oppositionists. For decades, the government has tolerated unconstitutional practices. They allowed the illegal by-elections to take place, and overlooked incidents of public funds embezzlement as well as corruption, which led ‘wasta’ (influence), nepotism and corruption to thrive . Moreover, the government failed to take a serious stance contain sectarianism which has divided Kuwaiti society along tribal fault lines. In light of this ‘tolerance’ and laxity in reinforcement of democratic principles, unruliness is soon becoming the norm spreading, along with feuds, between sectors of the society. Instead of holding offenders accountable, we see that law is being enforced on unarmed civilians and their representatives in the Parliament. — Al-Ra i
Brotherly ha te Two brothers were hospitalized following a brutal fight over the proceeds of their criminal steroid-selling enterprise. The two Bedoon (stateless) men who coown a bodybuilding gym in Waha had been using the facility to sell banned musclebuilding steroid injections, reported AlWatan, with an argument arising between them over splitting the proceeds. After a frantic call by their mother to the emergency services to report that they were
ca r and another vehicle on Mutlaa Road. A few hours a fter this, another collision on the same road cla imed the life of another Kuw aiti ma n, also in his thirties. Both bodies were removed for autopsy follow ing the accidents.
brawling with each other, police and paramedics were quickly at the scene, with both brothers being rushed to Jahra Hospital, where one was taken straight to the Intensive Care Unit. Dead baby retrieved Crime scene investigators have retrieved the body of an aborted baby buried in Farwaniya after being removed in an illegal abortion performed by a six-person gang who charged between KD350 and KD700 per operation. Police recently arrested the six abortionists, who admitted to offering abortions to women, informing the officers where they could find the fetus in question, which had been buried there after being removed in one of the operations. They also provided the interviewing officers with the identity of the woman who underwent this abortion, a Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh resident working as a prostitute, reported Al-Rai. The woman was quickly arrested, admitting that she had used the gang’s services while seven months pregnant to abort her baby. The gang members are still being questioned in order to obtain the names of more of the women who used their services. Suicide attempt An inmate at Central Prison was rushed to Farwaniya Hospital after being found bleeding heavily from his wrists following a suicide attempt. The prisoner, who is serving a 13-year jail term, was found unconscious in his cell, having slashed his wrists with a razor blade, reported Al-Rai. An investigation has been launched into the
incident at Sulaibiya police station. Drunk driving Ahmadi traffic patrol officers recently arrested a Kuwaiti man in his forties who was driving under the influence of alcohol, reported Al-Watan. The arrest took place on a road in the Abdullah Port area, where the suspect was pulled over after he was spotted driving erratically. He was referred to the relevant authorities for further action. Brothel busted Hawally police recently raided a flat in the area being used as a brothel, arresting five Asian female prostitutes and nine men, also Asian, who admitted to working as the women’s pimps. All those arrested were taken into custody at Nugra police station, pending further action, reported Al-Rai. Dea lers caught Police have arrested two Bangladeshi drug dealers who were working for another dealer currently serving a sentence in Central Prison. The two men were caught in a sting operation after agreeing to sell 150 grams of marijuana to an undercover officer. Following the arrest, officers found a further two kilograms of marijuana in the men’s home in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Both were referred to the Public Prosecution Service on charges of drug possession and trafficking, reported Al-Anba. Meanwhile, police have already begun interviewing the prison inmate who the men claimed they were working for.
NA delegation arrives in Istanbul ISTANBUL: Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi along with his accompanying delegation arrived here yesterday within his current official visit to Turkey. Al-Khorafi described-in a statment upon his arrival in Istanbul’s airport-his previous talks with Turkish officials as positive and constructive, adding that such talks focused on consolidating bilateral ties between the two countries.
Al-Khorafi also said that his talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan clearly manifested that both countries see eye to eye regarding several regional and international issues. At the end of his statement, the Kuwaiti top parliamentarian also expressed his utmost thanks and appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality he received in Turkey, hoping that both countries will make
use of the outcomes of this visit for the benefit of their mutual interests. It is scheduled for Al-Khorafi to meet with Istanbul’s governor Avni Mutlu. Al-Khorafi was received upon his arrival in Istanbul by dean of the consular corps and Kuwait’s General Consul in Istanbul Sheikh Fahad Salem Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, members of the Kuwaiti consulate in Istanbul and a number of Turkish officials. — KUNA
ESG participates in hospitals exhibition KUWAIT: The “Engineering Systems Group”, ESG, announced its participation in “Kuwait — Modern Building of Hospitals Exhibit & Conference”. The Conference is to be held during the period on Jan 17 and 18 at the Convention Center in the Movenpick Hotel. Free Zone. It will he held under the auspices of the Minister of Health Dr Hilal Al-Sayer in cooperation with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and the Department of Civil Engineering in Kuwait University and it will be organized by the “Universal International” for Exhibitions and Conferences. ESG General Manager Ahmed Al-Bader Al-Essa said that this conference will encourage local and international companies specialized in building and equipping hospitals to review their achievements and their experiences before officials of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Works as well as the private medical sector, stressing that the participation decision made by the group reflects the company’s belief that these development projects can be seen as the primary backer of the implementation of the Kuwait Development Plan which has been approved by both the legisla-
tive and the executive authorities following the directives of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait. “This participation goes along with the Groups efforts to achieve its objectives, namely improving the level and quality of its engineering services, contributing to the transfer of advanced technology, highlighting its competitive advantages as being able to provide a range of integrated professional engineering and management services, engineering and integrated management”, he added pointing out that this contributes to boost the local economy, provides employment opportunities for local staff and expands and develops the Group’s activities at the local, regional and global levels. Talking about the technologies to be displayed by the group during the exhibition, Al-Essa explained that the company will review the rapid building technique using pre-cast units which proved global success due to its positive aspects in time and effort saving, especially in this area, pointing out that managing medical projects will follow different untraditional methods and systems depending on principles and standards appropriate for the newly introduced patterns.
KUWAIT: Dr Fadhel Safar, Minister of Public Works and Municipality Affairs felicitated a number of officials and inspectors from the Kuwait Municipality over the weekend. A special ceremony was held in honor of their efforts to seize and destroy expired food items by conducting raids around the country. — Photos by Joseph Shagra
InternAtIOnAL
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Somalia mulls privately trained anti-piracy force NAIROBI: Somalia is considering allowing a private security company to train a 1,000man anti-piracy force in the capital of Mogadishu, a Somali official said Friday. It would be the second such unit funded by an unidentified country, a project that has raised eyebrows in Washington and at the UN. The security company, Saracen International, is already training a different 1,000-man force in Somalia's northern region of Puntland. The project is being funded by an unknown Muslim country that those involved, including a former US ambassador and a former CIA officer, will not name. Somali Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nur told The Associated Press the Mogadishu force would hit the pirates on land, where their havens are out of reach of a multinational naval armada that has tried to protect international shipping. The Somali government will decide in the next three weeks whether to have Saracen train the anti-piracy force in Mogadishu, Nur said. Another program to train up to 300 men for the presidential guard is also being considered. If approved, that could mean up to 2,400 men would be trained by Saracen International. The mystery donor also has promised to pay the men and equip them with everything except arms. The total cost of the project is unclear. A European Unionled program to reform the Somali army is training and paying for 2,000 men at a cost of around $13.2 million, indicating that at such a level of expenditure, the anonymous donor nation has deep pockets. The donor insists on keeping its identity secret, citing concerns over terrorism, according to a presentation about the company given to Nairobi-based diplomats on Friday and provided to the AP. Somali pirates have never
been known to retaliate against nations that have sent warships to patrol the Somali coast, but the Al-Qaeda-linked Somali insurgency launched suicide bombings in Uganda that killed 76 people in July. Uganda is a main contributor to an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia. The mystery donor is paying for the services of a former American ambassador for war crimes, Pierre Prosper, and a former CIA deputy chief of station, Michael Shanklin. Prosper is being retained as a legal adviser to the Somali government on issues of transparency and anti-corruption, and Shanklin is a security adviser. Prosper and two other Americans, former army officer Michael Newton and lawyer Robert O'Brien, gave a presentation Friday to the international community about the proposed projects. But diplomats said the presentation raised more questions than it answered. They said they didn't know how the force would be deployed, how it would be integrated with current efforts to reform the security forces or how it would work with international anti-piracy navies. The chain of command and the role of proposed embedded foreign mentors was also unclear. The diplomats did not want to be identified because they are not authorized to appear in the press. Nur said the donor country would be willing to pay the salaries of the recruits but he did not know for how long. Regular payments are vital to ensure recruits do not desert to the insurgency, a problem that has dogged previous programs. Theoretically, Somalia already has a navy. The government inaugurated a force of 500 men last year under the leadership of Admiral Farah Ahmed, who said they were armed with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns,
and hoped to get tanks and warships. But when asked what had happened to that force and their weapons, Nur said that there was no anti-piracy force in Mogadishu "that I'm aware of." Other Somali officials were not available for comment and it was unclear what happened to Ahmed's force. Nur said the new Saracentrained anti-piracy forces would go after pirates "on land." Mogadishu is not known for being near pirate havens but Nur said there were pirates to the north and to the south. Puntland officials have said the same thing, and said that six aircraft also would be provided by the donor. The anti-piracy forces would fall under the Ministry of Defense, Nur said. It's unclear how any of the Saracen-trained forces will be supplied with arms and ammunition. Nur said the projects would be careful to obey a UN arms embargo on Somalia and not import weapons, but the arms embargo also forbids the provision on military services to any faction unless it has been cleared with the UN sanctions committee. The committee has not received any notifications so far. In a seemingly related development, a plane that landed in the northern Somali town of Hargeisa on Friday was impounded. The minister of information in the breakaway region of Somaliland, Abdillahi Jama Osman, said the plane was carrying mine-detecting equipment and military uniforms. Six Russians and two South Africans were on board, he said. The flight originated in South Africa, stopped in Uganda, where Saracen International is based, and was due to go to Bosasso, the capital of Puntland. The plane had to land in Hargeisa because of mechanical problems, Ahmed said. — AP
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Kurd leader: Kirkuk belongs to Kurdistan Maliki says Iraq government will be formed by deadline ARBIL: Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani said yesterday that his semi-autonomous region has the right to self-determination and to the disputed city of Kirkuk, which is located above some of Iraq's largest oil reserves. The fate of Kirkuk is one of the main issues of contention between the Kurdish region and the central government in Baghdad, which are locked in disputes over land and some of the world's richest oilfields. Barzani told a congress of his Kurdistan Democratic Party in Arbil that Kurdistan's right to Kirkuk was non-negotiable. "The Kurdish identity of Kirkuk is not a matter of bargaining," he said. At the same event, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said he would meet the constitutional deadline to form Iraq's new government. He was charged on Nov 25 with putting together a cabinet and had 30 days to deliver. Iraq has been without a new government for more than nine months after a March election failed to produce a clear winner. Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish factions squabbled for months over position and power before finally reaching a compromise last month that would include all the major political blocs in the next government. Barzani's region and Iraq's central government have argued for years whether Arbil had the right to sign oil development contracts with foreign oil companies. Baghdad says Iraqi oil resources are under its jurisdiction and calls the Kurdish region's contracts illegal. The disagreement shut down oil exports from the region last year and they have yet to restart, although the oil ministers of both sides have said recently that exports should begin early next year. Central to the territorial disputes is the fate of Kirkuk, which U.S. officials say may be sitting on 4 percent of the world's reserves. The city's
population is a mix of Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and others. Iraq recently postponed a national census that could determine what percentage of Kirkuk's population is Kurdish, a key step toward resolving whether the city should be part of Kurdistan. Tensions surrounding the census have escalated recently. Some Arab families have said they are being ordered to leave the city before the population count. Barzani sought to dispel concerns about Kirkuk's future. "If there were fears that the Kurds would rule unilaterally in case Kirkuk is joined to Kurdistan, I would like to reassure everyone that we want to make Kirkuk an example of coexistence," he said. While previous party congresses had discussed and "confirmed the right to selfdetermination" for Kurdistan, Barzani said this year it would be a fundamental issue on the agenda. Maliki's pledge to name his new government by the constitutional deadline could be a sign of the difficulty of reaching agreement with rival political blocs on specific nominees for cabinet posts. He had previously said he would name a cabinet by midDecember. Reuter "The government will see the light in this constitutional period and before the limit of 30 days," Maliki told the KDP congress. "I call upon all the blocs to accelerate submitting their nominees and not to stop long for minor issues," he said. — Reuter
GAZA CITY: Palestinian women sing while waving red flags at a rally marking the 43rd anniversary of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), in Gaza City yesterday. —AP
'Eye-for-an-eye' justice in Iran TEHRAN: Iran's supreme court has upheld a sentence of blinding with acid for a man who blinded his lover's husband, under the Islamic "eye-for-aneye" justice code, a government daily said yesterday. The convict, named only as Mojtaba, 25, threw acid in the face of Alireza, 25, a taxi-driver in Iran's clerical hub city of Qom, after an "illicit affair" with the victim's wife, Mojdeh, also 25, said the
newspaper Iran. The supreme court has upheld a lower court ruling that Mojtaba be blinded with drops of acid, in line with Islamic justice, which allows for "qisas,' or eye-for-an-eye retribution, in cases of violent crime, it said. Qom prosecutor Mostafa Barzegar Ganji said the victim had used his right to qisas. "We have asked for forensic specialists to oversee the blinding of
the convict," he said, quoted in Iran. Several acid attacks have been reported in Iran. In February 2009, Majid Movahedi was sentenced to be blinded in both eyes for having hurled acid in the face of a university classmate, Ameneh Bahrami, who refused a marriage proposal. There has been no reported confirmation that the sentence was carried out. — AFP
internAtiOnAL
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
Isolated Gbagbo courts defiant Ivory Coast rivals ABIDJAN: Laurent Gbagbo wants to “sit down and talk” with his internationally-backed rival for power in Ivory Coast, reports said Friday, as he faced growing isolation after disputed polls. With world institutions freezing him out as he clings defiantly to power, newspaper reports indicated Gbagbo had made the first sign of a move to tackle the potentially violent standoff. “Let’s sit down and talk,” Gbagbo was quoted as saying by papers including state daily Fraternite Matin, in a nod to Alassane Ouattara, who has declared himself president based on a UN-endorsed vote-count.
Ouattara’s camp showed no sign of compromise, however. “By next week I will be moved into my offices” as the country’s prime minister, said Guillaume Soro, the former rebel whom Ouattara has named to head his government, at a news conference Friday at his base in an Abidjan hotel. “The process underway to settle this is irreversible,” he said, making no comment on the reports citing Gbagbo. Fraternite Matin quoted Gbagbo as telling traditional leaders that “there will be no war” in Ivory Coast, despite widespread warnings that his standoff with Ouattara could
erupt into unrest. Election-related clashes left at least 20 people dead, according to Amnesty International. The UN refugee agency said Friday some 2,000 people fearing violence had fled west from Ivory Coast to neighboring Liberia and Guinea. The refugees said their move was “precautionary, prompted by fears of instability and violence as the political deadlock persists,” said UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic in Geneva. Soro, 38, says his government aims to secure authority over Ivory Coast within days and upped the ante late Thursday by issuing a statement
demanding the military and civil service switch allegiance to Ouattara. Gbagbo still has nominal control of the national military while Soro has a smaller army of several thousand northern New Forces (FN) troops behind him. Soro, who was formerly Gbagbo’s prime minister under an earlier peace deal, has warned the FN could mobilise if Gbagbo does not budge but stressed he is still seeking a peaceful solution. The FN control the north of the country since a 2002 civil war that split the country in two. For now, “the New Forces are vigilant, but they are not making any move,”
said one Western military source. But an official close to Ouattara told AFP: “Time is against us,” as Gbagbo continued to occupy the presidential palace in Abidjan and life on the streets ostensibly returned to normal after days of disruption. Key international players have demanded Gbagbo step aside, with the United States intensifying threats to squeeze him with sanctions. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said Friday they were looking for ways to increase the pressure on Gbagbo to step down. Gbagbo has “the opportunity to be a statesman” by peacefully handing power over to
Ouattara, who was elected democratically, Crowley said. The African Union (AU) has suspended Ivory Coast from its ranks until Ouattara is formally in charge, and the UN Security Council made a joint statement in his favour. The 53-nation AU’s decision capped Gbagbo’s growing diplomatic isolation, while key African players Kenya and South Africa also threw their weight behind Ouattara. France said it was on alert to evacuate thousands of its nationals from its former colony if the situation turned ugly. The United Nations has already ordered 460 non-essential staff out of
the country and foreign companies have evacuated expatriates. Gbagbo has held power for a decade in the West African nation, the world’s top cocoa producer. He remained president after his term expired in 2005 as elections were postponed six times. The second-round runoff was finally held on November 28. The electoral commission results, endorsed by the United Nations, gave Ouattara victory, but Gbagbo’s allies overturned them, alleging irregularities. Both men then declared themselves president and formed rival governments. —AFP
Move done for his own safety: Authorities
WikiLeaks’ Assange moved to isolation in British jail LONDON: WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange was in an isolation unit of a London jail yesterday, as new leaked US diplomatic cables revealed a row between the Vatican and Ireland over a child abuse inquiry. The 39-year-
old Australian had been transferred from the main section of Wandsworth prison to an isolation unit, Jennifer Robinson, one of his legal team, said Friday. “The prison authorities are doing it for his own safety, presumably,” she told AFP. Assange is due to appear in a London court for a second time Tuesday after being arrested on a warrant issued by Sweden. Prosecutors there want to question him about two women’s allegations of rape and sexual molestation. WikiLeaks insists the allegations are politically motivated because the whistleblowing website has enraged Washington and governments around the world by releasing thousands of classified US diplomatic cables. Robinson complained that Assange was getting no recreation time in the prison and was having difficulties getting phone calls out. “He is on his own,” she said. The former computer hacker was not allowed to have a laptop in his cell, but his lawyers have requested one. “We are trying to prepare a legal appeal and he has difficulties hand writing, so it would be much easier in order to assist us in the preparation if he had a laptop,” Robinson said, without explaining why he had difficulty writing. Assange was in “very good” GLASTOBURY: Local residents view the vandalized Glastonbury Holy Thorn Tree which has was hacked down spirits but “frustrated” that he could not answer the allegations and reduced to just a stump in Glastobury western England Friday. —AP that WikiLeaks was behind cyber attacks launched on credit card firms that have refused to do business with the website. “He told me he is absolutely not involved and this is a deliberate attempt to conflate WikiLeaks, which is a publishing organisation, with hacking organisations which are not,” she said. The websites of the Dutch prosecuLONDON: Legend has it that the rare thorn Europe. It typically lives about 100 years, but motive. No arrests have been made. The tor’s office and police became the tree on a hill in southern England had ties to Gorbing said locals have kept Glastonbury once-proud tree provides Glastonbury latest target of cyber attacks the earliest days of Christianity, and pilgrims Holy Thorn Tree going by taking grafts and believers with what legend says is a signifiFriday, “probably” linked to the often left offerings at its base. In more recent clippings from it to plant new trees when the cant link to the early days of Christianity in arrest of a 16-year-old times, local children honored its current existing one neared the end of its natural life. England. WikiLeaks supporter, officials Religious tradition holds that the original incarnation each year by cutting sprigs to “It’s a sacred tree,” she said. “Not only for said. place on Queen Elizabeth II’s Christmas din- the Christian church, but for many other peo- tree was planted by St. Joseph of Arimathea , Assange’s lawyer however ing table. Now British police want to know ple.” The tree itself, located near the summit the wealthy merchant who volunteered his denied reports that his legal who sawed the limbs off the Glastonbury of Wearyall Hill, is visible from many parts of prepared tomb to Jesus , after he first made team believed a US indictment Holy Thorn Tree, reducing it to a stump. rural Somerset. Coles said the nighttime landfall in England some 2,000 years ago. over WikiLeaks was imminent. attack came between Wednesday and The chopped-down tree is thought to be And they want to know why. But she added: “Our position is “I’ve just driven past the site, and people Thursday shortly after he, the local vicar and descended from the original. It blooms twice that any prosecution under the are coming out in tears,” said Glastonbury schoolchildren participated in the annual a year , during the Christmas season and espionage act would be unconMayor John Coles. “I’ve never seen a sadder sprig cutting for the queen’s Christmas table. again around Easter. stitutional and call into question “The story goes that Joseph of Arimathea The sprig is sometimes visible during her sight, or a more serious act of vandalism, in First Amendment protections my 60 years in Glastonbury.” Glastonbury, televised Christmas broadcast to the pushed his staff into the ground and profor all media organizations.” 125 miles (200 kilometers) west of London, Commonwealth , and the queen always sends nounced it to be weary , that’s why it’s Assange’s mother said she was is best known for its annual rock music festi- a letter of thanks, he said. Coles believes known as Wearyall Hill,” said Coles. “The worried for her son because val, which has drawn artists such as Bruce that someone who saw the sprig ceremony tree is said to have grown from the staff. It’s “massive forces” were ranged Springsteen since the 1960s. Its mysterious on local television , or who witnessed it in something you can’t prove or disprove.” against him. landscape , including the Glastonbury Tor person , decided afterward to chop down the Some people believe the growth of the woodChristine Assange dismissed hill, which is believed by some to have magi- tree, which did not have any security cam- en staff into the tree was a full-fledged mirathe rape accusations, but told cle, while others believe it was left standing cal qualities , has drawn pagan worshippers eras nearby. Australia’s Seven Network she “It could be an anti-monarchist, an anti- in a boggy area for months and eventually for many years. was concerned about what would Katherine Gorbing, the director of Christian, or someone who’s an atheist,” sprouted, said Susan Strong, an education happen to him. “Julian, rape? Glastonbury Abbey, said the tree originally Coles said. “We don’t know whether it’s one officer at Glastonbury Abbey. “You can take Straight out of my guts-no way. came from the Middle East and is a type of person responsible or a group.” Avon and the miraculous approach or the pragmatic Julian would not rape,” she said, thorn tree common in Lebanon as well as in Somerset police would not comment on the approach,” she said. —AP adding: “It’s a worry, of course. I am no different from any other mother. “These massive forces have decided they are going to stop him and they are not going to play by the rules.” LONDON: British police began a and tried to storm the finance wide-reaching probe yesterday ministry after the government US cables released by into a recent wave of student narrowly won a parliamentary WikiLeaks Friday showed the protests, after the latest culminat- vote on raising university fees. Vatican refused to cooperate with ed in a mob attack on a car carryClarence House, the royal an Irish probe into child sex ing Prince Charles and his wife couple’s official residence, would abuse by Catholic priests in Camilla. Prime Minister David not comment on newspaper Dublin because the requests Cameron said he was “very con- reports that Camilla had been hit were not made through official cerned” by the royal security in the ribs by a stick shoved channels. Requests for informalapse, which occurred Thursday through one of the car windows tion by the government-appointduring the most violent of a string which was accidentally opened in ed 2009 Murphy commission of protests against his coalition the melee. “But what we are “offended many in the Vatican... government’s plans to raise uni- saying is that both their royal because they saw them as an versity fees. highnesses were unharmed and affront to Vatican sovereignty”, Charles, the heir to the neither received any medical said a cable from the US embassy throne, and his wife looked attention,” a spokesman told in Rome, leaked by WikiLeaks. shocked as rampaging demonstra- AFP Friday. Cameron said The Murphy commission’s tors broke a window of their Rolls those who attacked the car had findings, published in November Royce and spattered the car with to be punished. “We want to 2009, caused shock across paint. They intercepted the car as learn the lessons from that but, the couple travelled to a theatre in above all, we want to make sure LONDON: Forensic police carry out investigations in Ireland and the worldwide community by detailing London’s West End. At the same that the people who behaved in Parliament Square in London, Friday. A student Catholic time, across the city in these appalling ways feel the how Church authorities covered protest Thursday over a tuition fee increase caused up for paedophile priests in Westminster, thousands of angry full force of the law of the land,” youths clashed with riot police he said. —AFP damage around Parliament. —AP Dublin for three decades. —AFP
Famous Christian landmark tree chopped down in UK
Police probe protests after royals attacked
PERUGIA: US student Amanda Knox (C) arrives in court before the start of the second hearing of her appeal trial in Perugia courthouse yesterday. —AFP
Knox makes emotional address in Italy appeal PERUGIA: Convicted murderer Amanda Knox broke into tears yesterday as she made an emotional address to an appeals court in Italy, saying she was the innocent victim of an “enormous mistake” and that her life had been “broken” by three years in jail. In her address to the court, the 23year-old American reached out for the first time to the family of Meredith Kercher, the British girl she was convicted of killing and sexually assaulting in 2007 when they were roommates on a student exchange program in Perugia. Knox denied being the “dangerous, diabolical, jealous, uncaring, violent” person described by the prosecution. Last year, Knox was convicted and sentenced to 26 years in prison. Also convicted of the same charges was Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian who is Knox’s former boyfriend. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Both deny wrongdoing, and have appealed the verdict. The appeals trial formally opened last month but that hearing was immediately adjourned. With yesterday’s hearing, the new proceedings got into full swing. “I am innocent. Raffaele is innocent. We did not kill Meredith,” Knox said during her 20-minute address, speaking Italian, and her voice breaking. “It doesn’t’ do justice to Meredith and her loved ones to take our lives from us.” Silence fell on the courtroom as Knox started speaking, with her stepfather Chris Mellas and her university friend Madison Paxton in attendance. Paxton, who was crying during her friend’s speech, said later she had never been “so proud of anybody in my life.” Knox had addressed the court in the pre-
vious trial but never for as long or as passionately. She said she regretted not being able to fully speak her mind before, saying that words don’t come easily to her and that she has a difficult time standing up for herself. In the United States, the coverage of the case has been largely favorable to the American and critical of the Italian handling of the case. Some raised doubts over the investigation and the collecting of forensic evidence allegedly linking Knox and Sollecito to the crime. “I stand here more scared than ever, not because I am or I have ever been afraid of the truth,” she said, “but because the truth has not been recognized.” She was in tears as she said she thinks of Kercher as a dear friend she is “grateful and honored” to have met. In the previous trial, Knox had described Kercher as a friend whose death had shocked her. Yesterday, she turned her thoughts to the victim’s family. “I’m very sorry Meredith is no longer living,” a tearful Knox said. “I too have little sisters and the idea of their suffering, their loss, terrifies me.” “What you are going through, and what Meredith was subjected to, is incomprehensible and unacceptable,” she said. “You are not alone as you remember her. ... My heart is shattered for all of you.” Kercher’s family did not attend. Their lawyer, Francesco Maresca, left the courtroom as Knox spoke, saying later that he “didn’t want to have to listen to these statements, which came too late, are inappropriate, devoid of any significance and only intended (to impress) the appeals court.” —AP
Anti-Catholic fury feared over Anglican conversions PARIS: London’s Vatican ambassador feared antiCatholic violence in Britain after Pope Benedict offered to accept traditionalist Anglicans into the Roman Catholic Church, according to a US diplomatic cable obtained by WikiLeaks. Catholic-Anglican relations faced their worst crisis in 150 years because of the offer, which undercut the authority of Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the cable quoted Ambassador Francis Campbell as saying after the offer last year. Five Anglican bishops in Britain announced last month that they would join the Catholic Church early next year, in response to the offer made in October 2009 to Anglican clergy opposed to the ordination of women bishops in the Church of England. The cable, dated Nov 30, 2009 and published by the Guardian
newspaper in London yesterday, reflected concerns that have since eased. Tensions that it predicted for the pope’s visit to Britain in September this year did not materialise. The confidential cable, signed by US ambassador to the Vatican Miguel Diaz, said Campbell noted that England’s Catholics were a minority and mostly of Irish origin. “There is still latent anti-Catholicism in some parts of England and it may not take much to set it off,” it said, paraphrasing his words. “The outcome could be discrimination or in isolated cases even violence against this minority.” Speaking after the two churchmen met at the Vatican last month, Campbell said the pope had “put Williams in an impossible situation” and the archbishop’s cautious reactionmeant to avoid harming relations with Rome-angered some
Anglicans. Diaz ended the cable asking “whether the damage to inter-Christian relations was worth it-especially since the number of disaffected Anglicans that will convert is likely to be a trickle rather than a wave.” Another cable dated Nov 9, 2009 said Campbell told Diaz that the Catholic Church would face “unforseen obstacles” if many traditionalist Anglicans took up Benedict’s offer. “A large transition of Anglican converts could overwhelm the financial resources of many dioceses,” it cited him as saying. The Anglicans most likely to make the switch were the most conservative, he said. “In uniting traditionalist Anglicans with the Catholic Church, the pope is bringing together two groups strongly committed to defending Europe’s Christian heritage-a theme he strongly champions,” it added. —Reuters
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Killing sparks roadblocks; civilian, police casualties
Mexican evangelical drug boss killed in raid APATZINGAN: Mexican security forces killed a top leader of the cult-like La Familia drug cartel, the government said on Friday, after a days-long shootout brought chaos and escalating violence to western Mexico. Nazario Moreno,
APATZINGAN: Federal police agents and Army personnel stand next to the body of an alleged drug cartel member, killed during a gun battle in Apatzingan, Mexico on Friday. —AP
Chavez seeks decree powers amid floods CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Friday he would seek fast-track decree powers from the National Assembly for the fourth time in his controversial 11-year rule due to a crisis caused by flooding. Chavez said the move was a response to rains that have made more than 120,000 people homeless in the South American nation — but it also appeared to be an attempt to outwit Venezuela’s opposition before a new parliament convenes on Jan 5. An opposition coalition made big advances in a September legislative election and hopes to put a brake on Chavez’s selfstyled “21st century socialism” when it takes up 40 percent of seats in the new National Assembly on Jan. 5. The current legislature is dominated by the ruling party, and opponents of Chavez, who they say is imposing Cuban-style communism on the OPEC member nation-had feared he would rush through laws in the outgoing parliament’s final days. “I am going to request a
facilitating law from the National Assembly. We are going to need billions of dollars extra,” Chavez said on state TV. “There’s no time to lose, not a second.” Chavez said his Cabinet would send the request on Monday and hoped the first decrees could be issued by the end of the week. To obtain the fast-track powers, he needs approval by three-fifths, or 99, of lawmakers in the 165-seat assembly which has been a rubber-stamp for Chavez in recent years. In the past, Chavez has used decree powers for controversial measures such as nationalizing parts of the oil sector or to increase the number of Supreme Court judges. In his comments on Friday, Chavez did not specify what decrees he was considering but said they would cover rural and urban land, plus the constitution. “There are a series of laws that I want to decree on the 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th of December right in the middle of Christmas ... and the New Year,” he said.
Visiting flood zones in recent days, the president has said frequently he will not hesitate to confiscate land needed to build housing for the poor-and challenged the “bourgeoisie” to “open their golf courses.” He has also threatened to expropriate any bank that stands in the way of plans to finance homebuilding. Chavez has taken personal charge of rescue efforts, wading through water, addressing refugees by megaphone and allowing dozens to take temporary refuge in his Miraflores presidential palace. At least 34 people have also died in the rains. Earlier on Friday, Chavez, 56, said he would govern temporarily from a tent given him by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to make more room for the homeless. As Chavez was making his comments about wanting decree powers, parliament approved several laws giving more power and funding to grass-roots community organizations known as “communes” which are generally loyal to him. — Reuters
Judge dismisses part of challenge to Arizona law
Fort Hood shooter can avoid death penalty
PHOENIX: A federal judge has dismissed parts of the US Department of Justice’s challenge to Arizona’s new immigration law. US District Judge Susan Bolton’s ruling on Friday struck down the federal government’s challenge to the portion of the law that prohibits the transport of illegal immigrants. But Bolton’s ruling didn’t have any effect on the portions of the law that she previously prevented from taking effect, including a requirement that immigrants get or carry immigration registration papers. In that ruling in July, Bolton let other portions take effect, including a ban on obstructing traffic while seeking or offering day-labor services on public streets. Bolton on Friday denied Gov Jan Brewer’s request to dismiss challenges to the law’s most controversial sections. —AP
TEXAS: An army psychiatrist accused of a deadly shooting spree on a Texas base is almost certain to face a capital murder trial, but his defense has various options to save him from execution, analysts say. A military judge is still deciding whether Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who was paralyzed from the chest down in the incident on November 5, 2009 in which 13 people died, should face a courtmartial and the death penalty. But analysts said there are ways he could avoid execution. A variation of the “naked plea” is one. It allows a defendant to admit guilt without cutting a deal with prosecutors, and could send the trial directly into the punishment phase. That’s a high-wire legal act because Hasan cannot offer a guilty plea under military law and has to hope a jury of military officers would show him mercy. “It’s the best evidence of contrition because you argue to the jury that he got nothing in exchange for pleading guilty. He’s doing it because of his genuine regret, his remorse,” said
Geoffrey Corn, a professor at South Texas College of Law in Houston. “He doesn’t want to put the victims through any more testimony. He doesn’t want to put the government through any more expense. He is ready to accept responsibility,” Corn added. “I think it’s incredibly unlikely, but it would be a bombshell, right?” Hasan, charged with killing 13 people and wounding 32 others, was examined this week by a panel charged with evaluating his mental state to determine if a trial is to go ahead. His attorney, John Galligan, would not discuss possible strategies but said no trial should be ordered until he receives key evidence that includes a declassified presidential intelligence inquiry and a probe into how Hasan was handled by his superiors at the Walter Reed hospital in Washington. “You’re seeing the worst of the military justice system playing an evil hand in this case,” said Galligan, a retired Army colonel. —AFP
“Diverse pieces of information obtained during the raid all indicate that Nazario Moreno Gonzalez was killed yesterday,” national security spokesman Alejandro Poire said. Morenodubbed by officials as “the spiritual leader” of the cartel-ran La Familia with a pseudo-religious philosophy preaching Bible scripture mixed with self-help slogans to prevent gang members from abusing drugs. The group promotes the idea that it protects the local population from other traffickers and gives gifts to the poor. Founded in 2000 under a different name, the cartel is also known for its brutality, first bursting onto the public stage four years ago by tossing severed heads into a disco in the town of Uruapan. Violence flared on Wednesday night in Michoacan when federal police and security forces streamed into the town of Apatzingan, responding to an anonymous call reporting the presence of armed men. At least 11 people were killed as security forces fought cartel members in ensuing street battles, including five police officers and three drug traffickers. The authorities did not specify exactly where Moreno was killed and said gunmen were retrieving the bodies of dead and wounded cartel members, making the number of casualties unclear. Three civilians, among them an 8-month-old baby and a teenager, died in the clashes that brought a new level of violence to Michoacan, where Calderon first launched his army-backed drug war in late 2006. Some 33,000 people have been killed in drug violence over the past four years across Mexico, worrying Washington and some investors who are freezing investment just as the country pulls out of a recession. Dozens of cars and buses were set on fire to create roadblocks around the state capital of Morelia and shops and schools closed in Apatzingan as scared residents stayed inside. On Friday, some 300 heavily armed marines moved into the remote areas around Apatzingan, the scene of some of the worst violence, but the town was largely quiet by the evening, witnesses said. Michoacan’s governor called for calm as police towed charred vehicles away from roads. “The advance of federal forces has sent the criminals into retreat,” Poire said. An evangelical Christian, Moreno, 40, was born in Apatzingan and was one of the original founders of La Familia, responsible for dozens of murders, according to official data. He was believed to own several properties in the region and have businesses in Reynosa, across from McAllen, Texas. The gang was involved in a network of black market businesses, including pirated merchandise and the illegal sale of iron ore for export to countries like China. With a $2.4 million bounty on his head in Mexico and wanted in the United States, Moreno is the second drug kingpin to be killed in just over a month. —Reuters
known as “The Craziest One,” was killed late on Thursday in Calderon’s home state of Michoacan where La Familia (The Family) controls methamphetamine trafficking and marijuana fields and operates extortion rings.
Boyfriend arrested in NYC designer’s death NEW YORK: The son of an Oscar-winning songwriter was arrested Friday on charges of choking his Peruvian-born girlfriend, a fashion designer found dead and half-clothed in a bathtub overflowing with water in a posh hotel, police said. Nicholas Brooks, 24, was arrested on charges of attempted murder and strangulation in the death of Sylvie Cachay, who was discovered around 3 am Thursday at the Soho House hotel. He has been at a police precinct more than a day and was cooperating with investigators, who obtained a search warrant to take swabs from under his fingernails. Police said the death was ruled a homicide, but the medical examiner’s
office has not determined a cause of death pending toxicology test results after an autopsy was inconclusive. The results could take days. Brooks, the son of “You Light Up My Life” writer Joseph Brooks, has an attorney, but police didn’t know the lawyer’s name. His father, who is in unrelated legal trouble, has not commented on the case and doesn’t know who is representing his son, according to the elder Brooks’ attorney. The 33-year-old Cachay, wearing a black top and underwear, was found submerged in the oval tub, face up, after hotel staff noticed the ceiling below her room was leaking. She had red marks around her neck and a bite mark on her hand, investigators said. A bot-
tle of prescription pills was found in the room, but no illegal drugs were found. Before the body was found, Brooks was seen leaving the hotel, then returning and leaving again. According to police, he told investigators he ran into a friend at the lobby, and the two left to get drinks. He returned around 3:30 a.m. to find police in the room. Cachay lived in an apartment in Manhattan’s West Village and had a membership to the Soho House, an exclusive club frequented by celebrities. That meant she had access to the rooftop pool, where “Sex and the City” episodes were filmed, and could rent one of the 24 guest rooms at a discount. —AP
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
China protests Japanese visit to disputed islands BEIJING: China yesterday denounced a visit by two Japanese local lawmakers to disputed islands in the East China Sea at the heart of a territorial row between the two Asian powers. The chain of isles, known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, has been an integral part of China since ancient times, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement. “The misdeed by the two local Japanese representatives violates China’s territorial integrity,” she said in the statement on the ministry’s website (www.mfa.gov.cn). “China has made a solemn representation and a strong protest to Japan.” The lawmakers, who went to the islands
by boat on Friday, are members of the Ishigaki city council in Okinawa, Japanese broadcaster Fuji TV said. Ishigaki city is, according to Japan, responsible for the administration of the uninhabited isles. Japan’s policy is not to allow anyone to land on the islands, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku told reporters on Friday, adding that the coast guard was looking into it. Ties between Asia’s two biggest economies chilled in September after a Chinese fishing trawler collided with Japanese patrol vessels near the isles, which are close to potentially vast oil and gas reserves.— Reuters
78,000 tons of debris fished from China’s dam SEOUL: Anti-war protesters shout slogans during a rally against South Korea’s policy for North Korea in Seoul, South Korea yesterday. —AP
N Korea sends diplomat to Russia amid tensions
BEIJING: Workers in central China have fished 78,000 tons of debris out of the water at the Three Gorges Dam since October, state media said. The clean-up, which began on October 26 when the water level in the dam’s reservoir hit its maximum capacity, has involved more than 68,000 workers in nearly 21,000 boats, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The report cited Wang Yuankai, a Chongqing municipal work administrator, as saying the raised water level made it easier for boats to navigate but also increased the workload for those collecting debris. It consists mainly of tree trunks, branches and straw, according to previous state media reports. Household garbage is also a problem, as more than 150 million people live upstream from the dam, and waste is sometimes dumped directly
into the Yangtze river because nearby municipalities are unequipped for waste disposal. China considers the 22 billion-dollar Three Gorges Dam a modern wonder. Since its completion in 2008, it has pumped out much-needed hydroelectricity, increased shipping on the Yangtze and helped reduce flooding. In August, heavy rains and floods in the area washed a lot of debris into the Yangtze, China’s longest waterway, causing concern as it created a pileup threatening to jam the dam. It was so thick in parts of the river that people could walk on the surface, state media reported at the time. Critics charge that the dam has caused ecological damage and increased landslides in the area. About 1.4 million people were displaced by the dam, the construction of which put several heritage sites deep underwater.— AFP
North claims US, South Korea pushing situation on peninsula SEOUL: North Korea warned yesterday that it is ready for an all-out war even as it dispatched its top diplomat to Russia amid a flurry of regional diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions over the North’s deadly artillery attack on South Korea. North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun left for Russia, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said in a one-sentence report. No details were The North’s National Peace Committee also claimed that the US and South Korea are pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula close to all-out war. “The army and people of the (North) are ready for both escalated war and an all-out war,” the committee said in a statement carried by KCNA. “They will deal merciless retaliatory blows at the provocateurs and aggressors and blow up their citadels and bases.” The harsh rhetoric comes two days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Il met in Pyongyang with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Beijing’s top foreign policy official. The two reached consensus on the situation on the Korean peninsula during candid and in-depth talks, China’s official Xinhua News Agency said, without elaborating. It was not clear whether the two discussed the North’s Nov 23 artillery attack on a South Korean island near the
Koreas’ disputed western sea border. The barrage killed four South Koreans, including two civilians. China has been under intense international pressure to use its diplomatic clout to rein in North Korea, its ally. On Friday, China briefed South Korea on Dai’s meeting with Kim through a diplomatic channel, a South Korean Foreign Ministry official said yesterday, noting that North Korea’s position appeared to remain unchanged. He did not elaborate and asked not to be identified because of the issue’s sensitivity. In Beijing, top Chinese nuclear envoy Wu Dawei gave his Japanese counterpart, Akitaka Saiki, a “detailed” briefing about Dai’s talks with Kim, Japan’s Kyodo News agency reported, citing Saiki. Saiki declined to give further details, Kyodo said yesterday. Meanwhile, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is to visit
given, but Pak accused South Korea and the United States on Friday of pursuing a policy of hostility and confrontation and reiterated that North Korea needs its nuclear program to fend them off. “We once again feel convinced that we have made the right choice in strengthening our defenses with the nuclear deterrent,” the Russian news agency Interfax quoted him as saying in an interview. North Korea this coming week, raising the prospect of a diplomatic resolution to the tensions. He is to depart from the US on Tuesday. The diplomatic troubleshooter has made regular visits to North Korea and has also hosted North Korean officials in New Mexico. He helped win the release of Americans held in North Korea in the 1990s and traveled to Pyongyang in 2007 to recover remains of US servicemen killed in the Korean War. The flurry of diplomacy comes as South Korean President Lee Myung-bak expressed optimism during a trip to Malaysia that the reunification of Korea is drawing near. “North Korea now remains one of the most belligerent nations in the world,” Lee said in an interview published Friday in The Star, a Malaysian newspaper. But, he added, it’s a “fact that the two Koreas will have to coexist peacefully and, in the end, realize
reunification.” In a speech Thursday night, Lee made similar remarks, saying North Koreans have become increasingly aware that the South is better off. He did not elaborate on how their knowledge has expanded, but said it was “an important change that no one can stop.” “Reunification is drawing near,” Lee said, according to the president’s website. He also called on China to urge North Korea to embrace the same economic openness that has led millions of Chinese out of poverty, and said that North Korean economic independence was the key to reunification. Lee didn’t give a specific timeframe for the reunification of the Korean peninsula, which was divided after the end of Japanese rule in 1945 and officially remains in a state of war because the Koreas’ 195053 conflict ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.—AP
Nobel Peace Prize a bid to embarrass China: Media BEIJING: China’s state media yesterday lashed out at the Nobel Peace Prize committee for the “political farce” of recognizing Liu Xiaobo, after an empty chair stood in for the jailed dissident in Oslo. Beijing said Friday’s ceremony in the Norwegian capital, where the prize was presented in absentia to the imprisoned democracy activist, was “political theatre” and a product of a “Cold War mentality”. “Honoring someone the government dislikes may serve to embarrass China in this year’s case, but that is almost all,” the China Daily, an English-language government mouthpiece said in an editorial on yesterday. “Embarrassing as it may be, the fanfare in Oslo offers a rare opportunity to update and enrich the diplomatic outlook of ordinary Chinese. Not everyone in the world wants China’s social and political stability to continue.” Liu, a writer who has advocated political reform in China for more than two decades, was jailed in December 2009 for 11 years on subversion charges after co-authoring Charter 08, a bold petition calling for change. Beijing has reacted with fury to the award, describing the Norwegian Nobel Committee as “clowns” and threatening that countries would face unspecified “consequences” if they did not stay away from the ceremony. It also barred the jailed dissident or a representative from travelling to Oslo to receive the award. The China Daily editorial played down the prize’s significance, saying the award was “hardly worth the fuss and hoopla”. “Quite a few Westerners cherish the naive hope that the prize will ‘enlighten the Chinese on human rights’ and instigate the changes they wish to see in the country,” the editorial said. “They have been too preoccupied with their own fantasies to realize what is happening in the real world,” it added. In a commentary yesterday, the official news agency Xinhua cited a midOctober poll by the Communist Party’s Global Times newspaper that indicated
HONG KONG: Protestors hold a vigil for Nobel winner Liu Xiaobao in Hong Kong on Friday. China clamped down on dissidents, the Internet and the media as the Nobel committee readied to honor peace laureate Liu Xiaobo, in Oslo. —AFP
77.1 percent of respondents did not know who had won the peace prize.It did not mention, however, the poll-whose questions did not name Liu was conducted after a week-long state media blackout on reporting about the award. “The whole event has become an out-and-out political farce,” the Xinhua commentary said. “It’s unimaginable that such a farce, the like of which is more commonly seen in cults, is being staged on the civilised continent of Europe,” the Global Times said in an earlier commentary. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, speaking as the ceremony to award the 2010 Peace Prize to Liu was taking place in Oslo, said the event “cannot represent the overall majority of the people of the world”. She reiterated Beijing’s insistence that the award to Liu was an attempt to foment unrest in China and bring political instability to the world’s most populous nation. “This kind of political theatre will never shake the determination and the confidence of the people of China to uphold the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland placed this year’s peace prize on an empty chair Friday as last year’s laureate US President Barack Obama led calls for Liu to be set free. It was only the second time in the history of the prize that no one had been at the ceremony to collect the award. The first time was in 1936 when German journalist and pacifist Carl von Ossietzky was locked up in a Nazi concentration camp. On mainland China, authorities blacked out coverage of the event, cutting off live broadcasts of the event by CNN and the BBC. Many activists and dissidents were either unaccounted for or under strict surveillance before the ceremony, rights groups said. Among them was lawyer Mo Shaoping, whose firm represents Liu. He was taken from his office on Friday to a detention centre outside Beijing, Chinese Human Rights Defenders said in a statement.—AFP
SEOUL: South Korean runners wearing Santa Claus costumes stretch before taking part in the Santa Marathon race in Seoul, South Korea yesterday. Christmas is one of the biggest holidays in South Korea where over half of the population are Christians. —AP
Couple jailed for exploiting Filipinos WASHINGTON: A Florida couple was sentenced to several years in prison Friday for exploiting dozens of Filipino migrants they lured here with lies and forced to work under threat in service jobs in Florida, the Justice Department said. Sophia Manuel and Alfonso Maldonado “pleaded guilty to conspiring to obtain a cheap, compliant and readily available labor pool by making false promises to
entice the victims to incur debts to pay up front recruitment fees,” the department said in a statement. Manuel, who was also found guilty of making false statements to obtain foreign labor certifications and visas under the federal guest worker program, was sentenced to sixand-a-half years behind bars, and Maldonado to four-and-aquarter years. Approximately 39 Filipino migrants were
brought over by the Quality Staffing Services Corporation the couple owned, and “compelled... through threats to have the workers arrested and deported” to work in country clubs and hotels in southeast Florida, the department said. “These defendants exploited vulnerable individuals for their own financial gain, depriving the victims of their civil rights,” said Thomas Perez, an assistant attorney general.— AFP
Gates to visit China next month BEIJING: China says US Defense Secretary Robert Gates will visit next month as the two militaries exchange high-level visits to boost communication following recent tensions. The state-run Xinhua News Agency yesterday cited a China military spokesman as saying Gates will visit Jan 1014. The report said Chen Bingde, chief of the general staff of the People’s Liberation Army, will visit the United States next year at “a mutually convenient date.” Gates had planned to travel to China during an Asia visit earlier in the year but China declined to officially invite him at that time, when relations were strained over recent US sales of defense items to self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory. Guan Youfei, deputy director of the foreign affairs office of China’s national defense ministry, made the comments Friday during the 11th China-US deputy ministerial-level meetings in Washington.
The US military chief, Adm. Mike Mullen, on Thursday announced the exchange of visits with no specifics. China suspended military-to-military contacts in January over the US sale of $6.5 billion worth defense items to Taiwan. But ties have slowly improved over recent months, and Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie met in October with Gates at a regional meeting of defense chiefs in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. Recent military talks between the two sides have touched on the tensions on the Korean peninsula, security in the South China Sea and nuclear issues relating to North Korea and Iran. “One of the very difficult parts of the China-US relationship right now is we have no military-tomilitary ties,” Mullen, who is chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday. “I don’t understand much about what they are doing and why they are doing it.” — AP
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Roadside bomb kills 15 Afghan civilians Suicide attacker in north uses police vehicle KANDAHAR: Fifteen Afghan civilians died when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan and seven road construction company employees were killed in an airstrike in an eastern province, authorities said yesterday. The deaths were the latest in an upsurge of violence that has made this year the deadliest for both Afghans and foreign troops since the 2001 overthrow of the Taliban.
SRINAGAR: Activists of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front hold torches during a protest march to mark International Human Rights Day in Srinagar, India on Friday. —AP
Police arrest Kashmir teacher over 'anti-India' exam paper SRINAGAR: Police arrested an English teacher in restive Indian Kashmir on accusations he set an exam paper aimed at fuelling separatist sentiment in the volatile region, authorities said yesterday. The local teacher asked college students to translate into English an Urdu passage that talked about the killings of youngsters, including girls, by armed troops during recent popular unrest. Noor Mohammad Bhat was arrested on Friday under the "Unlawful Activities Act and suspicion of intent to provoke the masses by causing riots", police superintendent Hazratbal Maqsood-ul-Zaman told AFP. Armed rebel violence in Indian Kashmir has eased since rival India and Pakistan launched a peace process in 2004 over the disputed region. But popular pro-independence protests since June have left more than 110
protesters and bystanders-many of them teenagers and young boys-dead. The unrest, in which protesters hurled stones at police, sometimes drawing police fire in return, has left authorities grappling for solutions in Kashmir, where popular desire for independence remains strong. The teacher set students at the state-run college in Srinagar questions such as: "Are the stone-pelters the real heroes" of the unrest this year? The exam also asked students to translate into English: "Kashmir is burning again. Bullets are being pumped into the chests of even girls and women. Rulers continue in a deep slumber." The exam paper "carried objectionable text against the establishment", said the police official, terming it "anti-India." Another senior police officer was quoted by local media as
saying police had to detain the teacher to ensure "separatist politics don't become part-andparcel of the educational curriculum". The teacher's arrest drew shock from his colleagues, who said Bhat was not known for having strong political views. "Bhat is innocent," said Kashmir College Teachers' Association President Tariq Ashai. "He is a teacher, a literary personality who keenly observes the happenings of his surroundings, so when he was asked to set the paper, he translated his observations and feelings on paper," Ashai added. Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan each hold part of Kashmir but claim it in full. India says Kashmir, where an insurgency has been underway against New Delhi's rule for more than two decades, is an "integral part" of the country. — AFP
India says 43 militant camps in Pakistan: Cables SINGAPORE: India has told the United States there were 43 militant camps in Pakistan, including 22 in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and that little had been done to permanently shut them down, the latest set of leaked US diplomatic cables showed. The allegation was made during a conversation in June last year between then US National Security Adviser General Jim Jones and Indian Defence Minister A K Antony, according to the cables released by WikiLeaks and published by Britain's Guardian newspaper. Indian army chief General Deepak Kapoor, who attended the meeting, said that Pakistan had raided the camps following the Mumbai attacks in 2008 but some of them had since resumed operations. Kapoor also told the US delegation that militants continued to infiltrate into Indian-administered Kashmir across the Line of Control and that it would not be possible without "some kind of assistance, and or/degree of support that is institutional", the cable said. He said India had improved its preparedness on the borders and estimated that about 15 to 20 percent of those trying to cross the border succeeded. "If we can catch them, why can't the Pakistani military," he asked. Jones, according to the read-out of the meeting, said he would take up the issue of militant training camps with Islamabad.
At one stage during the meeting, he asked the Indian army chief about the prospects of upgrading India-Pakistan military talks to discuss Indian concerns. But the Indian defence minister Antony interjected, saying dialogue with Pakistan was difficult until it had acted against those responsible for the Mumbai attacks. Pakistan has rejected Indian accusations that it continues to support militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir and instead sought talks to resolve the long-running dispute over the Himalayan region. It has, however, acknowledged that the Mumbai attacks was plotted and partly launched from its soil and put seven suspects linked to the Laskar-e-Taiba group on trial. India says it is not satisfied with the pace of the Pakistani investigation. Jones said the worst thing for the region would be another Mumbai-style attack and that "we cannot let the terrorists play us off against each other". The two sides also discussed Afghanistan, where New Delhi said it had a vital stake and the international operation must succeed "because India cannot imagine for a moment a Taliban takeover of its extended neighbour". India, along with Russia and Iran, supported the Northern Alliance faction during the civil war in Afghanistan is deeply suspicious of any dialogue with the Taliban, which it sees as closely tied to Pakistan. — Reuters
Scandal-hit politician pledges cooperation NEW DELHI: A former Indian minister at the heart of a telecom scandal promised yesterday to "cooperate fully" with authorities investigating what could be the country's biggest corruption case. Police raided the homes and offices of ex-telecom minister A. Raja this week, along with those of senior aides, as part of its probe into the 2008 sale of mobile phone licenses, which resulted in massive losses for the government. "I will fully cooperate with the (Central Investigation Bureau) agency. Whatever the procedure is, I have to comply with it," Raja said in the southern city of Chennai in televised remarks. "I will prove my innocence." A spokesman for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) declined to say when the politician, who has denied all wrongdoing, might be questioned, but another official said it would be soon. Raja was forced to quit last month following accusations by the national auditor that his ministry's handling of the sale of the mobile licenses at knock-down prices cost the nation up to 40 billion dollars in lost revenue. The scandal has cast a cloud over
India's "telecom revolution" that has made the country the world's fastest-growing mobile market with 700 million users. It has also raised doubts about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's political judgment in not acting faster against Raja after concerns about the sale first surfaced. Raja's comments came after the CBI, the federal police force, questioned officials who had been raided, gathering information they said would form the basis for interrogating the politician. The Congress-led government is under fierce attack from opposition parties for the rockbottom prices at which the second-generation (2G) licenses and radio bandwidth were awarded, in what analysts called the "deal of a lifetime." Parliament has been paralyzed by opposition demands for a cross-party probe with power to question ministers, and the winter session, which ends Monday, has been lost, dashing government hopes of passing key land reform and other bills. The coalition government has resisted the call for the all-party inquiry, saying other investigations are sufficient. — AFP
There was also a suicide bomb attack yesterday in northern Kunduz province, one of several areas that were relatively peaceful for many years but where the insurgency is now spreading fast. It is also used as a springboard to launch other attacks. The attacker was driving a police vehicle and targeted an Afghan National Army convoy, wounding five soldiers and three women who were in the area, said Char Dara District Chief Abdul Wahid Omakheil. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group carried out the attack. US president Barack Obama is expected to unveil a review of his Afghanistan war strategy next week, although officials have said they do not expect it to result in major policy shifts. Obama has pledged to start bringing home US troops-the majority of a 150,000-strong international force-from next year, but not yet decided on the pace of the withdrawal, which many commanders and officials say should happen gradually. According to UN figures, 1,271 civilians were killed in the first six months of this year, a 21 percent jump on the same period in 2009. And around 680 troops have died so far in 2010 around a third of the total deaths since the start of the war. The 15 civilians were killed on Friday in the Khan Neshin district of Helmand province, said provincial spokesman Dawud Ahmadi. No further details were available. "It was a newly planted mine," said Ahmadi. The road construction company employees were killed in eastern Paktia province in an airstrike by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) overnight, said Paktia Deputy Governor Abdur Rahman Mangal. He said the employees were in roadside tents near the Paktia provincial capital of Gardez. No further details were available. "The company had recently begun its operations," Mangal said. An ISAF spokeswoman said they were looking into the incident but declined further comment. Last month, NATO leaders agreed to hand control of security in Afghanistan to Afghan forces by the end of 2014 and said the NATO-led force could halt combat operations by the same date if security conditions were good enough. But some US and NATO officials have said the spike in violence and problems in building up a capable Afghan army and police force to take over could make it hard to meet the 2014 target date set by President Hamid Karzai. — Reuters
India protests envoy's US airport security check NEW DELHI,: The Indian government made an official protest to Washington yesterday over the security frisking of its envoy at a US airport and hinted it could lead to tit-for-tat action, a report said. Donald Lu, deputy chief of the US embassy in New Delhi, was summoned to the Indian foreign ministry, the Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted officials as saying. Lu was told the airport check was "contrary to the normal diplomatic practice and inconsistent with the excellent relations that India and the US enjoy", the national news agency quoted an unnamed official as saying. Last week, India's envoy to the United States, Meera Shankar, was pulled out of the security line at a Mississippi airport and subjected to a "rigorous pat-down", according to Indian officials. Protocol normally exempts envoys and other dignitaries from such searches. PTI said India's protest was conveyed by senior ministry official Javed Ashraf. "She had pointed (out) her diplomatic identity but had to undergo the security checks because, as we have been
informed, she was wearing a sari," PTI quoted Ashraf as telling the US diplomat. "We understand and respect every country's security procedure but we also expect normal diplomatic privileges and courtesies are extended to the ambassador and diplomats," he said. "Such incidents naturally lead to calls for a review of privileges and facilities given in India (to foreign diplomats)," Ashraf added, without elaborating. In September, Shankar suffered a similar experience at a Chicago airport. Mumbai-based Daily News and Analysis (DNA) newspaper quoted US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as expressing concern over the latest incident. "We will be looking into it and trying to determine both what happened and what we could do to prevent such incidents in the future," Clinton said. Last year, America's Continental Airlines apologised to former Indian president Abdul Kalam for frisking him before he boarded a US-bound flight. Officials at the US embassy were not immediately available for comment. — AFP
KABUL: Afghan traffic officers check the engine which is all that remained of the vehicle used in a car bomb explosion, beside a damaged vehicle, after an explosion in Kandahar south of Kabul, Afghanistan on yesterday. — AP
Hijacked Bangladesh ship reaches Somalia DHAKA: A Bangladesh-flagged ship hijacked by pirates in the Arabian Sea off India's coast has reached the Somali coast, but there has been no contact yet with its captors, the vessel's owner said yesterday. The M V Jahan Moni, which has 25 Bangladeshi crew and the wife of the chief engineer on board, was captured on Sunday 550 kilome-
tres (340 miles) off the coast of Cochin in southern India while sailing to Greece. "The vessel anchored along the Somali coast after Friday midnight. But we have not been able to restore communications with the hijackers or any of the ship's crew," Mohammad Shahjahan, the owner of the vessel, told AFP. Shahjahan said no group has
claimed responsibility for the hijack and there has been no demand for a ransom. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has assured "all-out" support to free the vessel and crew, he said. A senior Bangladesh Shipping Ministry official confirmed the berthing of the ship in civil war-torn Somalia, saying the vessel's location had been
confirmed through satellite tracking. The government was trying "all routes" to talk to the hijackers, the official said, without elaborating. "Our first priority is to bring back the lady as soon as possible," he said, referring to the wife of the chief engineer. He asked not to be named due to the sensitive nature of the hijacking. — AFP
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Tough Merkel stance pushes Sarkozy behind By Daniel Flynn resident Nicolas Sarkozy has let German Chancellor Angela Merkel do most of the talking on the euro crisis, but is working behind the scenes to moderate Berlin and avoid scaring financial markets, French officials say. Normally the more outspoken half of Europe's Franco-German motor, Sarkozy has largely kept quiet in recent months to avoid clashing with Merkel, who has taken a tough line in demanding that the private sector share the pain of future bailouts. Paris has sought instead to soften Germany's stance to reassure investors about the solidity of the single currency bloc and keep any concerns at bay about the safety of its own cherished AAA credit rating. "France has the G20 presidency and we cannot afford to fall out with our main partner," said one government source, adding: "We realize that the Germans have problems with public opinion, but this flurry of public comments has not helped." With German taxpayers angry at the prospect of bailing out spendthrift European partners, Merkel's insistence on the need for the private sector to share part of the pain has rattled not only financial markets but some of her European colleagues. Ireland's prime minister blamed her for aggravating Dublin's debt crisis and Greece's premier said her stance could "break backs" and force countries towards bankruptcy. A deal struck by Merkel and Sarkozy in Deauville in October on a permanent debt resolution mechanism that might eventually force private sovereign bondholders to take losses was a key factor in sending Ireland's borrowing costs through the roof. With a fresh FrancoGerman summit on Friday, the last thing Paris wants is fan another brushfire in markets. So aside from a few generic statements on the euro's credibility, Sarkozy has kept an unusually low profile in recent days. "The FrancoGerman alliance was the genesis of the EU and the driving force behind so many of its accomplishments so France's relative silence at such a crucial time is a little bit surprising," said Larry Hatheway, global chief economist at UBS. Sarkozy appeared to have won a victory in Deauville when he secured Merkel's agreement to retain some political discretion over sanctions on governments that break EU deficit limits, reducing any risk of Brussels meddling in French fiscal affairs. He was caught on the hop, however, when their joint plan for an EU crisis resolution mechanism led to a widening of euro zone bond spreads,
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including France's. French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said Sarkozy had succeeded in convincing Merkel to drop her insistence on automatic private sector involvement any financial rescue after 2013. Instead it will be subject to case-by-case assessment. "France is trying and succeeding in being Germany's partner," said Jean Pisani-Ferry, director of the Bruegel economic think tank in Brussels and a former French adviser. "But it doesn't take the initiative, it moderates German ideas." FRANCE MORE MARKET SENSITIVE? Sarkozy and Merkel, who have conferred frequently by telephone throughout the crisis, will meet on Friday in the western German town of Freiburg, ahead of a European leaders summit in Brussels next week due to discuss the EU budget. For Henrik Uterwedde, deputy head of the Franco-German Institute, while there is broad agreement on the need to strengthen the euro zone, differences in approach persist. Germany strongly rejected calls for an increase in the 750 billion euro EU-IMF stabilization fund (EFSF), although French officials appear more open to it. "Anything that reinforces the means of expression of our financial solidarity in Europe is good," said another source close to the French government, asked about an increase in the EFSF. "It would also mean the IMF would contribute more." Paris, which lobbied successfully for the inclusion of southern European countries when the euro was launched in 1999, sees itself as a link between the interests of these Mediterranean countries and the group's northern core. Germany's robust post-war growth and strong deutschemark meant it never had to face fierce market pressures, while French officials still remember battling the markets in the 1990s in the run up to European monetary union. "Germany has never had to justify itself to the markets in this way. The French are much more sensitive to the markets," said Gilles Moec, senior European economist with Deutsche Bank. Despite differences, both governments recognize they need each other to make Europe succeed. Speaking at the presentation of an economic award to German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble in Paris recently, Lagarde noted the single currency was not just an economic project but a political one. "Sarkozy and Merkel are not a dream team, far from it," Uterwedde said. "But they share a vision of a strong Europe and they know that if they do not stick together, if they are not able to compromise, then Europe will not work." — Reuters
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Beijing residents wonder: Liu Xiao who? By Ben Blanchard iu Xiaobo may be lauded by the international community for his tireless efforts to promote human rights and democracy in China, but the jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner's ideals remain a mystery to many in Beijing. Ask a person the street what he or she thinks of Liu, whose award will be formally bestowed in Oslo on Friday, and the first reaction is often: "Who?" That response is testament to the effectiveness of government efforts to erase the memory of the bloody crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrators around Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, an event seminal to Liu's life. "I think I saw something about that on television, but I'm not sure," said businesswoman Ma Junpeng when asked about Liu. Ma shrugged her shoulders upon being told he had won the prize for his efforts since 1989 to push for greater political freedom in China. "It's not rational to reward a man like that," she said, shivering in the Beijing cold. "Everything is different now since the revolt of 1989. People's ideas have changed. China has changed. People like Liu are irrelevant." China jailed Liu last Christmas Day for 11 years for subversion of state power and for being the lead author of Charter 08, a manifesto calling for democratic reform in the one-party state.
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Liu, who was earlier jailed for 20 months for taking part in the Tiananmen Square incident, told his wife, Liu Xia, the Nobel prize was a tribute to those killed when troops moved in to crush the protests. Yet China's tightly controlled state-run media has not scrubbed out Liu's name, ensuring people are at least aware of him via the government's strident denunciations against the recognition of a man it calls a criminal and a subversive. "I am Chinese and that's why I support the Chinese government," said Beijing resident Lao Jiang. "It doesn't matter what the international community says, he has violated Chinese law and after I heard the news, it really shocked me." One Beijing street vendor confused Liu's name with the title of a magazine, and then said she had never heard of him. But another woman working at a newsstand piped up: "Yes, I've heard of him. I think he's terrific." DOWN WITH RUNNING DOGS Chinese internet users have taken to the Web with gusto to denounce "interference" in the country's affairs from people in the West who laud Liu, especially in the United States, though any messages of support would likely be swiftly removed. "This is a gross interference in China's internal affairs, the Chinese people resolutely oppose it, and it will fur-
ther arouse the anger of all the Chinese people all over the world against the US and Obama and other running dogs of the US!" wrote one user on the popular portal sina.com. People like Zhang Xianling, however, who lost her son in the Tiananmen protests, are unperturbed by the apparent
lack of interest or knowledge of Liu in China today, where the economy is booming and enriching what was once a dirtpoor nation. "Though someone may be blinded by money, people with a sense of justice are the majority," she told Reuters from the southwestern province of Yunnan, where
authorities took her this week to try to prevent her talking to reporters. And Liu has managed to prompt self-reflection for at least a few Beijingers. "We are living the novel '1984'," bemoaned one Beijing college graduate, who asked only to be identified by his family name of
Li. "George Orwell probably had no idea that what he wrote would end up being the reality of China now." Orwell's novel, published in 1949, described life under a totalitarian government, which put its people under pervasive surveillance to ensure that they were always controlled by the state. — Reuters
Obama-Republicans deal marks fast turn By Tom Raum o much for slashing those soaring US budget deficits. Less than a week after his bipartisan deficit commission offered a package of tough tax increases and spending cuts to stem the flood of government red ink, President Barack Obama cut a deal with Republicans that would add a whopping $900 billion to the nation's debt over the coming two years. When the bold deficit-slashing measures were greeted last week with widespread praise, Democrat Erskine Bowles, the commission's co-chairman and a former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, cheerfully exclaimed, "The era of deficit denial in Washington is over." Well, apparently not quite yet. Bowles said this week that he was "deeply disappointed" by the sweeping Obama-Republican deal, complaining that the plan was not linked to any long-term restraint. If the plan is enacted, as generally expected it will be, the United States will become the only major industrialized economy not to move toward fiscal curbs next year, even though Congress is considering legislation that would move in the other direction. That effort involves freezing the budgets of most Cabinet departments and
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cutting nearly $46 billion from the president's spending requests. The House of Representatives passed the measure 212206 on Wednesday and sent it to the Senate. The outcry over ballooning deficits was crucial in last month's midterm elections, which handed majority control of the House to Republicans and gave them added clout in the Senate. The issue was a rallying point for the ultraconservative tea party movement, credited with a large part of the Republican election victory. A flock of new legislators will take office in January having campaigned for smaller government and fiscal discipline. That Obama could pivot so quickly from emphasizing the need for deficit reduction he revealed last month a plan to freeze the pay of most executive branch employees to endorsing a Republican-backed plan to extend Bush-era tax cuts for all income brackets, plus a host of other costly measures, took much of Washington by surprise. No one was more surprised than many in his own party, who promptly revolted. On Thursday the House Democratic caucus voted against the tax deal in a nonbinding voice vote. That raised the prospect that the legislation could pass the House with more
Republican than Democratic votes, a first for Obama's presidency. The tax deal has more support among Democrats in the Senate, where a test vote is set for Monday. Republicans embracing the deal have been doing some fancy footwork themselves, making deficit reduction a top political priority while also supporting deficitbloating tax cuts for those in all income brackets, as well as the new spending items in the package. They argue that, even though voters may have chosen them for their vows to make the government smaller, low taxes can produce growth, which in their thinking will bring jobs to kick-start the weak economy. With unemployment stuck near 10 percent, now is not the time to raise taxes on anyone, they argue. Obama's original plans would raise taxes on Americans who earn more than $250,000 a year and reduce taxes for everybody else. Even as Congress hashed over the costly new package, the Treasury Department said Friday the government spent $150.4 billion more than it took in during November, a 25 percent bigger deficit than in November 2009. If the tax-cut deal is enacted, the federal deficit for the budget year that began Oct. — AP
After diamonds, iron foments Sierra Leone tensions By Simon Akam n the civil war of the 1990s, rebels in Sierra Leone went into battle singing "Mr President, where are our diamonds?" Eight years after the end of hostilities that claimed 50,000 lives and rocked a fragile region, Sierra Leone faces new tensions over its resource riches. This time around, the controversy surrounds not gemstones but iron ore. In a country where average income is $340 a year, emotions run high over a resource wealth which if managed properly could allow Sierra Leone to put its painful past behind it and enjoy some semblance of prosperity. But local disappointment over employment pledges that have yet to come true and resentment over special tax treatment given to international mining firms are becoming a political hot potato for President Ernest Bai Koroma's government. Police used teargas and live rounds last month to break up a protest by locals in the central Tonkolili district after a land dispute over the mining site of London-listed African Minerals turned nasty. Security forces say they merely fired
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warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd. But several people were badly beaten and in the days that followed, the thatched-roofed village of Kemedugu was like a ghost town as its men fled. "African Minerals do not consider us as human beings," said Tamba Turay, one of the arrested villagers, stripped to his underpants in a stinking holding cell at Mena Police Station in the town of Makeni, 50 miles from Kemedugu. African Minerals wanted to construct a dam on a nearby area of farming land outside their lease agreement that included the villagers' "sacred bush". Locals objected, and when African Minerals vehicles tried to reach the site they barricaded the road, taking drivers and expatriate staff hostage. That same night youths went to the mining site and torched a $400,000 drilling rig belonging to the company, destroying it. DUE DILIGENCE The African Minerals' project at Tonkolili is the bigger of two large-scale extraction leases with British companies pushed through parliament by the government this year. The other is London Mining's redevelopment of an
abandoned mine at Marampa outside the town of Lunsar. African Minerals' Executive Chairman Frank Timis hails the the Tonkolili find as the world's largest deposit of magnetite, with 10.5 billion tons of the ore. Yet a proposed $1 billion-plus investment in the project by Shandong Iron and Steel has been repeatedly delayed, as the Chinese firm asks for more time to conduct due diligence. Mindful of the impact that mining revenues could have on the country's finances, Sierra Leone last year drew up a new mining act in a bid to ensure they were used properly. But although the ink is barely dry on the new law, optouts mean that neither the London Mining nor African Minerals deals conform to its provisions or preceding tax legislation. At the time the deals were struck Sierra Leone specified a corporate tax rate for mining companies of 37.5 percent. Yet London Mining is initially paying six percent, and is exempt from royalty payments when in a tax loss position. African Minerals is paying 25 percent tax. TRADE OFF Last month Sierra Leone's environ-
mental protection agency announced London Mining's operations were suspended due to failure to comply with environmental requirements. Yet by the end of the day the head of the agency recanted and the company announced work was going on as usual. "The mining companies are so powerful," said Abu Brima, the executive director of the Network Movement for Justice and Development, a civil society group in Freetown. "They have the money, they are taking advantage of the poverty and vulnerability of the Sierra Leoneans and their institutions," he said. That view is strenuously countered by the companies, who maintain that their special treatment is justified given the challenges of investing in a country like Sierra Leone. "In 2009, the Government of Sierra Leone and London Mining agreed a fiscal package that attracted investment by an international company into a country perceived globally as having a high investment risk, during a period of economic depression," a spokesman for the company said in a statement. "These incentives allow for an economically viable operation to be started quickly which meets the needs of the
region, economy and country." African Minerals' Frank Timis is equally staunch in defense of his company's agreement, noting the lease won parliamentary approval. "I don't agree that we got any preferences," he said in a telephone interview. "I am not aware of any company director or employer who has ever been asked for a bribe or paid a bribe." It is hard to overestimate the importance of such projects to the local economy, with an estimated 800,000 youths without full employment out of a total population of just six million. African Minerals plan to ship iron ore from late 2011 and Timis says sales revenue at maximum would be in the region of $3 billion per year-six times annual state revenues. Tonkolili could provide 10,000 jobs, according to some figures quoted. Village chiefs insist they have yet to see much evidence that locals are being employed at Tonkolili, but government officials urge patience and defend the concessions as necessary to lure investment to a country where road, energy and other infrastructure remains weak. "Attracting foreign investment in a fragile economy like Sierra Leone is not easy," said Finance Minister Samura Kamara. "It's like a trade-off." — Reuters
analysis
sunday, December 12, 2010
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Lebanon needs unity and justice Dr James J Zogby ebanon and its friends around the world are on edge waiting for indictments to be issued related to the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. The investigators working on this case are apparently nearing the completion of their inquiry and are preparing to submit their findings to the International Tribunal-possibly within a matter of days. Based on what are claimed to be “leaks”, there have been suggestions that the indictments will charge members of Hezbollah in the crime. In response, there has been a flurry of diplomatic activity in an effort to calm tensions, while Hezbollah, for its part, has paralyzed the work of the government and issued vague, and not so vague, threats saying that they will not allow any of their cadres to be charged. This has roiled the country with many fearing a return to civil strife or worse. Before any more threats are issued, fingernails are bitten, or antianxiety pills are swallowed, let us consider a few points. First, no one knows what the investigators may have found. We do not know whom they will indict or what evidence they will present to back up their findings. All that is being discussed right now are rumors, from a variety of questionable sources, based on information claiming to come from “leaks”. Given this, it is not the Tribunal but the campaign to discredit the work of the investigators that must be questioned. How and why, we must ask, is there such an intense effort to denounce what we still don’t know? Since no one has yet been indicted, and the evidence is still unrevealed, mobilizing a campaign against the Tribunal is, at best, premature, and, at worst, risks raising suspicions about the motives of the campaigners, themselves. It is important to also remember that indictments, when they are issued, are just that, indictments - not judgments or verdicts. The sealed work of the investigators will go to a pre-trial judge who will then take between six to eight weeks to review the findings and then make a
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RAMALLAH: Palestinian security officers march next to Yasser Arafat’s mausoleum in the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she is frustrated by the latest setback in efforts to get Israel and the Palestinians back to the peace table, but she insists the Obama administration will keep pushing. —AP
Madoff trustee takes on banks, deadline looms By Grant McCool or nearly two years, lawyer and court-appointed trustee Irving Picard has hounded hedge funds, banks and individual investors worldwide to recover money from Bernard Madoff’s epic fraud. With $2.6 billion collected in settlements and asset sales, Picard has so far recouped just a fraction of the tens of billions of dollars lost in the biggest financial fraud in history. A recent flurry of new cases against big banks such as UBS AG and HSBC could sweeten the recovery pot, but the companies have vowed to fight the lawsuits. So far, Picard has sued an array of defendants for a total of about $32 billion and is seeking nearly $20 billion from the banks alone. Under the twoyear statute of limitations for such lawsuits, he cannot file any more after Dec 15. When the FBI arrested Madoff on Dec 11, 2008, US prosecutors estimated that as much as $65 billion flowed through the firm over decades. The disgraced money manager, now 72, pleaded guilty in March 2009 to running the fraud and is serving a 150-year prison sentence. Picard’s lawsuits against the banks accuse them of allowing money to flow through them by way of derivatives into Madoff’s international network of feeder funds. He also contends they ignored warning signs that Madoff was running a Ponzi scheme. in which early investors are paid with the money of new clients. “(Picard) has gone after the biggest fish he can find, and he has gone after a couple of smaller fish, but my sense is there are a couple of additional targets that he could have had with more years,” said William Prickett, partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Boston, who has represented some wealthy individuals and nonprofit organizations in the Madoff matter. Bank defendants include JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup Inc’s Citibank, Natixis, Fortis Prime Fund
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Solutions Bank (Ireland) Ltd, ABN AMRO Bank NV, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, Nomura and Merrill Lynch, owned by Bank of America since Jan 1, 2009. Some defendants have denied wrongdoing and vowed to fight the charges. A few settlements have been reached, including one on Monday with private Swiss bank Union Bancaire Privee and a related Cayman Islands-based fund, M-Invest Limited, which agreed to forfeit $500 million. Some of the complaints in US Bankruptcy Court in New York were filed under seal, so specifics of the allegations are not available. As the liquidator of Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities LLC to recover money and return it to swindled investors, Picard is short more than 40 percent of the money needed to pay the claims of former Madoff customers he has so far approved. The amount of approved claims was worth $5.8 billion as of Friday, compared with the $2.6 billion recovered so far plus $766.5 million that the Securities Investor Protection Corp has committed to cover them, according to figures on the website. SIPC is the entity established by Congress to help investors of brokerages that fail. Investors are also challenging the trustee in court over his method of calculating the socalled “net winners”- clients who took out more than they deposited. Some of them lost their life savings, but Picard is still suing them in so-called clawback lawsuits, because according to his calculations, they made more over the years than they lost. Madoff victims complain that Picard is undervaluing their losses, and an appeal of his methods is pending. “Why is it necessary to also sue innocent people, who often are aged, many who are suffering tremendous economic stress and emotional distress, and cannot even afford lawyers?” said Ron Stein, president of the Network for Investor Action and Protection advocacy group. Picard declined
to comment beyond a series of press statements outlining the higher-profile complaints. The lawsuits against those he says knew or should have known about the fraud include cases against Madoff’s wife, brother, two sons, a niece and extended family. Picard sued five of Madoff’s grandchildren to get millions purportedly transferred from a firm account to them. Most defendants Picard alleges helped further the fraud are in the United States, Britain, Switzerland, the British Virgin
Islands or Cayman Islands. Some investors have welcomed Picard’s most recent lawsuits. Others will not be satisfied unless the trustee also sues the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the market regulator that missed red flags waved about Madoff. “The victims believe that Picard also has the obligation to pursue the SEC for complicity,” Ronnie Sue Ambrosino, coordinator of Madoff Victims Coalition, said in a statement. “Picard has proven that he can
win many uphill, even preposterous battles,” she wrote. “It is my fear, however, that he will miss his deadline to file suit against the SEC.” Among the trustee’s successes have been a $625 million forfeiture announced on Tuesday from Madoff associate Carl Shapiro; the $500 million Union Bancaire Privee and M-Invest Limited settlement; and a $220 million payment by the family of longtime Madoff friend and client Norman Levy. Picard has said he is negoti-
ating with some other defendants, including Fred Wilpon, owner of the New York Mets Major League Baseball team. But at least in the case of the Madoff family, that appears not to be so. “We have been in touch with each defendant and their counsel, seeking a prompt settlement of these claims and an out-ofcourt resolution,” Picard said. “However, as these attempts have not reached a satisfactory conclusion, we are moving ahead with litigation.” —Reuters
Cyber attack protection not worth the cost for most By Georgina Prodhan and Marius Bosch rganizations can protect themselves to some degree against cyber attacks like the ones WikiLeaks supporters have carried out against Visa and Mastercard but it’s a costly and constant race against time. Most companies have no protection at all against distributed denial-ofservice (DDoS) attacks, which put computer servers out of action by overwhelming them with requests-and most will never become targets. But for those who are attacked, the consequences can be huge the loss of a single day’s pre-Christmas sales could easily cost hundreds of millions of dollars for an online retail giant like Amazon, which has been targeted by activists this week. The activists, a loose Internet grouping calling themselves Anonymous, failed to attract enough firepower this time to bring down Amazonone of the world’s biggest webhosting providers as well as a retailer-but have not given up. They are enraged at the efforts of mostly US-based organizations to disrupt the online activities of WikiLeaks, which has sparked fury in the United States by releasing a torrent of confidential US diplomatic cables. Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer of Finnish
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software security firm FSecure, says even the biggest and best-protected companies can be vulnerable. “If an attack is large enough, anything can be taken down. Even Google itself went down under a DDoS attack caused by a Mydoom worm variant couple of years ago,” he says. Commercial offerings do exist to minimize the effects of DDoS attacks-provided by the likes of Prolexic, Akamai or Verisign. These intercept and analyze traffic to a site and divert it if it appears suspicious, for example, if a user seems to be visiting a site 100 times per second. “This is only for people who are under heavy attacks. You can do it but it costs a lot of computation,” says Michiel Leenaars, strategy director at Internet technology fund NLnet. “A denial-of-service attack is asymmetric because the person on the other side has to do a lot more work than you, which makes it easy to flood him, because otherwise it would be very hard to take down these websites because they’re very big.” Alternatively, owners of websites who fear attack can increase their capacity, outsource work to hosting companies or change their server architecture to distribute incoming traffic more efficient-
ly, to avoid being overwhelmed so easily. The question is simply one of cost and risk assessment, says Sarb Sembhi, chairman of the security advisory group of ISACA, a non-profit global association that advises companies on information technology. “These companies that are being attacked are being attacked for a reason, which is that the attackers are taking what they believe is revenge. The chances of you or me getting involved in this are slim,” he says. Nonetheless, the use of DDoS attacks as a method of protest rather than by criminals for financial gain-is on the rise, and ordinary people can take part by downloading a piece of software from the Internet. According to leading opensource software distributor SourceForge, the piece of software-known as a low orbit ion cannon-has been downloaded more than 50,000 times, with 20 percent of the downloads to the United States. “Anonymous is not a group of hackers. We are average Internet citizens ourselves and our motivation is a collective sense of being fed up with all the minor and major injustices we witness every day,” the group said in a statement on Friday. DDoS attacks are clearly against the law in most countries, although for many protesters that may be an academic
question, says Peter Church, a lawyer specializing in technology, media and technology at law firm Linklaters in London. “It’s not a pure law issue. It’s a question of actually, how do you track these people down? How do you secure a conviction to criminal standards of proof?” he says. A 16-year-old boy suspected of involvement in the online campaign has been arrested in the Netherlands and is due to appear in court later on Friday. DDoS attacks have been used previously in real conflicts. In 2007, a series of attacks targeted websites of the Estonian parliament, government ministries, banks and media organizations, sparked by a row between Russia and Estonia over the removal of a Soviet World War Two memorial. And during the brief 2008 war between Georgia and Russia over breakaway South Ossetia, attacks disabled and took offline websites in all the countries involved. Leenaars doubts that the WikiLeaks supporters have enough support to cause such widespread damage, unless the situation escalates further. “The more attackers you have, the easier it becomes-but you have to have something that’s really a social subject. I’m not sure that the WikiLeaks cause has the power to attract enough people, for now.” —Reuters
WikiLeaks servers safe in Stockholm nuclear bunker By Rita Devlin Marier n a main street in one of Stockholm’s hippest areas, a snow-covered hill topped by a church conceals a nuclear-proof bunker, home to a futuristic data centre holding 8,000 servers-two of which belong to WikiLeaks. “All the global fuss is made by these two little boxes,” said Jon Karlung, chairman and founder of Bahnhof, one of the companies providing server space to the whistleblowing website. Karlung is crouched on the floor, pointing to two slim black plastic boxes surrounded by wires. Each blinks with a blue light, indicating that they are active. The servers are kept in a locked white cabinet along with rows and rows of others in a large room with stone
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walls-it has been carved directly into the mountain. The vault buzzes with the sounds of the servers and the fans needed to cool them down. The besuited businessman closes the white cabinet door, and continues his guided tour of the data hall, the centre of much attention since WikiLeaks, a client since October, started releasing a slew of secret US embassy cables. By the chairman’s own admission, the data centre is essentially like any other, and WikiLeaks is treated just like any other client Bahnhof provides server services to. But the place looks like something straight out of a science-fiction or espionage film, reflecting the secretive character of its most talked-about tenant, WikiLeaks’ enigmatic leader Julian Assange. Assange is now sitting in jail
in London pending a hearing on extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over sexual assault allegations. Until Interpol sent out a notice for his arrest, even his exact date of birth had been kept secret. A visitor enters the data hall through sliding glass doors, engulfed in the steam caused by the evacuated heat of the servers, on the side of Vita Berget (The White Mountain) in a trendy corner of the Soedermalm borough of Stockholm. Once inside, the heat and humidity are stifling as a slightly slanted ramp leads into the hall itself, the wall flanked by almost tropical plants that would never survive the chilly temperatures outside. Code-named “pionen” (the peony in Swedish) the bunker was first designed in the mid-1940s, then
refurbished as a nuclear-attack proof civilian defense shelter at the height of the Cold War. The large hall was used for different purposes-at one point in the 1990s it was an exhibition space, until being taken over a few years ago by Bahnhof, a large company with four other-far more ordinary-data centres. The company is also an Internet service provider. The bunker provides extra security for WikiLeaks, Karlung jokes, but the real threat is not really a physical one. “We are very well protected for physical attacks, but that is not going to happen. The real threat is maybe legal and probably cyber attacks,” he says. In an office next to the server room, he proudly points to a screen showing a graph of the traffic on the WikiLeaks servers. “Up to now, no attack has hit
us directly. We have seen effects from other attacks, but no attack on this facility or the services they have here,” he says. WikiLeaks, Karlung explains, also has servers elsewhere. “They don’t have all their eggs in the same basket.” When asked about the political turmoil unleashed by cablegate, Karlung says his clients can use their servers for what they want, as long as they do not break Swedish laws. “The only thing that would jeopardize their servers here is if they had illegal material ... They must pay their bills, their material must be legal in Sweden.” Hosting a server, he says is “just like the mail service.” Asking him what his clients use their servers for is “like asking the mailman if he opens the mail,” he says.—AFP
determination as to whether or not they create sufficient grounds to merit prosecution. Only if the judge agrees to proceed will arrest warrants be issued. Note that it is only at this point that the names of those to be indicted may become official and public. What should then follow is a trial at which time the prosecution will reveal the evidence on which the indictments have been based, and the indicted individuals will be able to contest all this either by challenging the prosecution’s evidence or presenting evidence of their own in an effort to prove their innocence. This is the process that should be followed. It is open, transparent and fair, providing justice for the society at large and guaranteeing the rights of the accused to confront and challenge in open court the charges against them. Fearing the worst, there are those in Lebanon who suggest that the country cannot afford to allow the work of the Tribunal to proceed. They say that Lebanon must make a choice between unity and justice. This, I believe, is a false choice, since Lebanon must have both if it is to survive as a nation and flourish as a democracy. With the memory of Lebanon’s long war still too fresh to be forgotten, and with too many Lebanese leaders having been assassinated in just the past few decades, the threat of violence or bullying cannot be allowed to define the way the country resolves its disagreements. If Lebanon is to remain whole and prosper, it must put away threats and agree to resolve differences in public debate, through the ballot box, or in open court. Our polling clearly establishes that most Lebanese, across factional and sectarian lines, agree. They seek national unity and reconciliation, and they demand justice for the killing of Rafiq al Hariri, those who lost their lives with him, and those who were murdered in the years that followed. The people are right. The slogan “unity or justice” should be rejected as establishing a false dichotomy. Lebanon needs both.
Ghana to avoid oil curse: World Bank By Hereward Holland ommercial oil production in Ghana is unlikely to fuel inflation, heighten corruption or wreck democratic progress in the short-term, the World Bank said as the West African state prepared to turn on the spigot next week. Unlike many other oil-producing African nations whose oil sectors dominate the economy making them central to conflict and corruption, Ghana’s oil, due to start Dec. 15, will be dwarfed by established cocoa and mining industries and be managed by one of the region’s most stable governments. “It’s a bit of oil, not a whole lot, so it’s not enough to give you the Dutch disease and a curse,” World Bank country director Ishac Diwan told Reuters in an interview late on Thursday, referring to a Dutch discovery of gas in the 1960s that boosted the currency, undermining other exports. “Oil is not so big that it could just shift this country into a different political path. It’s not a tsunami,” he said. Ghana expects to produce an average 120,000 barrels per day from its off-shore Jubilee field with reserves estimated at 1.5 billion barrels. Production is expected to increase to 250,000 bpd after three years-about an eighth of what nearby Nigeria produces now - operators of the field led by UK-listed Tullow Oil have said. Ghana is keen to avoid the problems oil has brought to Nigeria, where rebels in motorboats have repeatedly attacked pipelines and platforms in the Niger Delta over the years, saying they are fighting against the theft of the country’s oil wealth. In November traditional chiefs of towns in Ghana’s western region
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demanded a 10 percent share of oil revenues when crude starts flowing just offshore from their homeland-a demand that was rejected by parliament. Diwan said a militant insurgency was unlikely given Ghana’s record for negotiation to reduce tensions. “If a warrior emerges I don’t think this person would have a following because there are reasonable chiefs that have managed to voice reasonable demands,” he said. “Institutions (in Ghana) are quite evolved and civil society is very vibrant and aware of the dangers,” Diwan said. “I just can’t see big corruption happening. Hidden bank accounts in Switzerland and lots of money disappearing-this is not Ghana. I’m broadly optimistic.” Parliament is considering a Petroleum Revenue Management Bill aimed at ensuring the sector benefits ordinary Ghanaians over the long-term and at providing a strong regulatory framework as firms explore other blocks off Ghana’s coast. In its 2011 budget, Ghana forecast the estimated $400 million of oil proceeds next year would account for only six percent of all domestic government revenues. Diwan said government had a good system of checks and balances and that the private sector had reached an important critical mass. However, the need to shift from subsistence to commercial agriculture in Ghana is acute as the oil industry has the potential to trigger inflation, making local products uncompetitive with imports. “There is a lot of potential in agriculture with future prices expecting to rise and a lot of land here and the fear that agriculture can be hurt by the exchange rate appreciation due to oil,” he said. —Reuters
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
Bill’s back: Clinton commands stage at White House WASHINGTON: No comment? No way. You don’t stop Bill Clinton when he’s back at the White House with something to say. Well, OK. He and President Barack Obama, two of the most famous men in the world, did need a little help getting a door unlocked first. But then it was on. The former president came before surprised reporters to let it be known that he endorsed the tax deal that Obama cut with the Republican Party, even though many Democrats were raising a fuss about it. That was the news. But it wasn’t the story. What had the West Wing buzzing was the scene itself: Clinton in his element, like he had never left. And almost like he wasn’t going to leave this time. For one remarkable half hour, Clinton turned a seemingly slow Friday afternoon into his stage. He tutored in loving detail about economic theory and nuclear disarmament. He was short on time, yet somehow found some for just one more question. He bit on his lip and spread his arms as he spoke and did all those other familiar gestures. In a town of scripted rollouts and talking points, the way this event unfolded was refreshingly and remarkably impromptu. There was to be no press coverage allowed of Obama’s meeting with Clinton.
No photos, no questions, not even a written statement about what happened. That changed when Obama and Clinton wrapped up their private meeting in the Oval Office. Clinton wanted to publicly endorse the tax package. Obama is welcoming all the help he can get. So the two presidents headed straight for the famous briefing room with no warning. Except they couldn’t get in. The door was locked because press staff members were at their holiday party in the Executive Mansion. Obama and Clinton went back up a hall and found a press aide at her desk. “Do you know how to open up the briefing room?” Obama asked. Press secretary Robert Gibbs heard the voices outside his office, walked out and saw the two presidents. “What are you guys up to?” Gibbs recalled saying. “We’re looking for some reporters,” the presidents told Gibbs. So the White House press staff scrambled, summoning all available media to the briefing room and setting up a live feed for the networks in minutes. The presidents stood waiting, behind a closed door, until Gibbs stalled long enough to let correspondents take their spots. Obama introduced Clinton lightly as “the other guy” and recalled how Clinton had overseen heady
economic times. Obama warned that he wouldn’t be staying long - another White House Christmas party was waiting, as was his wife, Michelle. And so it became clear pretty quickly that this was Clinton’s show. “I feel awkward being here, and now you’re going to leave me all by myself,” Clinton said from the stage of the White House briefing room. Not that awkward. Clinton comfortably outlined how the pending package of tax cuts, business incentives and unemployment benefits would boost the economy - even though it included tax help for the wealthy that Obama had to swallow. “There’s never a perfect bipartisan bill in the eyes of a partisan,” Clinton said. “But I really believe this will be a significant net-plus for the country.” When he finished his pitch, Clinton played the role of humble guy, saying, “So, for whatever it’s worth, that’s what I think.” “It’s worth a lot,” Obama insisted. Clinton was asked what advice he had for Obama, given the context of the times: the current president has to deal with a Republican Party that just won a convincing victory in the midterm election and will soon grab control of the House. Clinton faced the same halfway through his embattled first term in 1994,
worked some major deals with the opposing party and rebounded to re-election. “I have a general rule,” Clinton said, “which is that whatever he asked me about my advice, and whatever I say should become public only if he decides to make it public.” Obama didn’t provide that permission, saying: “I’ve been keeping the First Lady waiting for about half an hour, so I’m going to take off.” The current president left it to Gibbs to decide when Clinton’s questioning would be cut off. Yeah, right ... Gibbs couldn’t cut off Clinton, and neither could Clinton’s own aide. Only Clinton could stop Clinton. The former president spoke about credit markets and Haiti and principled compromise and structural deficits. Clinton was asked if he was happier being in the White House as a guest speaker than as president. “Oh, I had quite a good time governing,” a smiling Clinton said. “I am happy to be here, I suppose, when the bullets that are fired are unlikely to hit me.” When it was over, Obama aides and others in the room wore the look of those who couldn’t believe the glimpse of political Americana they just saw. “It was,” said Gibbs, “as spontaneous as it could be.” — AP
WikiLeaks reshapes diplomatic landscape PARIS: Was the WikiLeaks cable release a stone thrown into the waters of US diplomacy, causing waves that will eventually calm, or a brick through the window of the State Department, causing irreparable harm? With only 1,200 of the quarter million stolen US diplomatic telegrams so far released, it is perhaps too early to understand all the repercussions for the sole superpower’s international standing and for current crises. But it is already possible to see certain diplomatic realignments-some aspects of foreign relations may never be the same again. One of the early surprises was the revelation of the extent to which Arab fears of a future nuclear-armed Iran have put them on the same page as their traditional foe Israel in pushing for military action against Tehran. Washington’s inability to keep its secrets secret has seen it lose face with rising rival China, and Beijing has been careful not to let its own guard down, giving a careful response to leaked criticisms of its policy. European governments have denounced the documents leak as irresponsible and dangerous, and some leaders have been embarrassed by the often frank opinions US diplomats have of them, but most denied the slow dump has harmed ties. But some have been upset, such as Poland, which since the end of the Cold War has invested much in what it thought were warm ties with its US saviour, only to find out through
WikiLeaks the affection was not entirely mutual. “We have a really serious problem,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters, after learning that the US has no plans for a permanent military garrison in Poland. “It’s the problem of losing illusions over the character of relations between different states, including allies as close as the United States and Poland,” he said. A senior European diplomatic source said he thought Poland would now concentrate more closely on its ties within Europe, and spend less time courting Washington. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the leaks “show the entire extent of the cynicism of these evaluations, these judgments, that prevail” in United States policy. The cables paint Medvedev as playing Robin to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s Batman, while Putin himself is described as an “alpha dog” and a “behind the scenes puppeteer” dissatisfied with his role. So far, the US memos that have been published dress far from flattering pictures of several other leaders. But again, it will be some time before the repercussions for relations between heads of state emerge, if ever. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is deemed “risk averse and rarely creative”, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is “thinskinned and authoritarian”, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is “feckless, vain,” and British Prime Minister David Cameron is “lacking depth.”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is guided by an “iron ring of sycophantic (but contemptuous) advisors,” US diplomats wrote, while his Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is “exceptionally dangerous.” Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi praised WikiLeaks for exposing US “hypocrisy”, saying the cables prove that “America is not what it has led allies and friends to believe it to be.” Gaddafi said the website’s role was “very important in revealing the plots which are hatched behind the curtains against persons and peoples,” but warned it could lose credibility if it started “to damage people’s image.” Former South African president Thabo Mbeki, currently mediating an election crisis in the Ivory Coast on behalf of the African Union, does not escape the US diplomatic pen, being portrayed as “irrational” and “hypersensitive”. And in the Middle East, where the leaked memos led to “misunderstandings”, they gave Arab leaders’ private words a rare public airing. Saudi and Bahraini leaders called for a US military strike on Iran over its controversial nuclear program, with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah asking Washington to “cut off the serpent’s head.” Israel congratulated itself on what it said was the vindication of its own calls for action against Iran. Tehran told its Arab neighbors not to fall into the “trap” set by WikiLeaks, a “project of Iranophobia and disunity.” — AFP
Vatican Bank mired in laundering scandal VATICAN CITY: This is no ordinary bank: The ATMs are in Latin. Priests use a private entrance. A life-size portrait of Pope Benedict XVI hangs on the wall. Nevertheless, the Institute for Religious Works is a bank, and it’s under harsh new scrutiny in a case involving money-laundering allegations that led police to seize $30 million in Vatican assets in September. Critics say the case shows that the “Vatican Bank” has never shed its penchant for secrecy and scandal. The Vatican calls the seizure of assets a “misunderstanding” and expresses optimism it will be quickly cleared up. But court documents show that prosecutors say the Vatican Bank deliberately flouted anti-laundering laws “with the aim of hiding the ownership, destination and origin of the capital.” The documents also reveal investigators’ suspicions that clergy may have acted as fronts for corrupt businessmen and Mafia. The documents pinpoint two transactions that have not been reported: one in 2009 involving the use of a false name, and another in 2010 in which the Vatican Bank withdrew $860 million from an Italian bank account but ignored bank requests to disclose where the money was headed. The new allegations of financial impropriety could not come at a worse time for the Vatican, already hit by revelations that it sheltered pedophile priests. The corruption probe
has given new hope to Holocaust survivors who tried unsuccessfully to sue in the United States, alleging that Nazi loot was stored in the Vatican Bank. Yet the scandal is hardly the first for the centuries-old bank. In 1986, a Vatican financial adviser died after drinking cyanide-laced coffee in prison. Another was found dangling from a rope under London’s Blackfriars Bridge in 1982, his pockets stuffed with money and stones. The incidents blackened the bank’s reputation, raised suspicions of ties with the Mafia, and cost the Vatican hundreds of millions of dollars in legal clashes with Italian authorities. On Sept 21, financial police seized assets from a Vatican Bank account at the Rome branch of Credito Artigiano SpA. Investigators said the Vatican had failed to furnish information on the origin or destination of the funds as required by Italian law. The bulk of the money, $26 million, was destined for JP Morgan in Frankfurt, with the remainder going to Banca del Fucino. Prosecutors alleged the Vatican ignored regulations that foreign banks must communicate to Italian financial authorities where their money has come from. All banks have declined to comment. In another case, financial police in Sicily said in late October that they uncovered money laundering involving the use of a Vatican Bank account by a priest in Rome whose uncle was
convicted of Mafia association. Authorities say some §250,000 euros, illegally obtained from the regional government of Sicily for a fish breeding company, was sent to the priest by his father as a “charitable donation,” then sent back to Sicily from a Vatican Bank account using a series of home banking operations to make it difficult to trace. The prosecutors’ office stated in court papers last month that while the bank has expressed a “generic and stated will” to conform to international standards, “there is no sign that the institutions of the Catholic church are moving in that direction.” It said its investigation had found “exactly the opposite.” Legal waters are murky because of the Vatican’s special status as an independent state within Italy. This time, Italian investigators were able to move against the Vatican Bank because the Bank of Italy classifies it as a foreign financial institution operating in Italy. However, in one of the 1980s scandals, prosecutors could not arrest then-bank head Paul Marcinkus, an American archbishop, because Italy’s highest court ruled he had immunity. Marcinkus, who died in 2006 and always proclaimed his innocence, was the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola’s character Archbishop Gilday in “Godfather III.” The Vatican has pledged to comply with EU financial standards and create a watchdog authority. — AP
US, Europe target new sanctions against Iran C o nt in u e d fr om Pa g e 1 “We need to send the message to Iran that sanctions will only increase if Iran avoids serious negotiations and will not be lifted until our concerns are fully addressed.” His comments came three days after a last round of inconclusive talks among top officials from the United States, the European Union, Britain,
France, Germany, Russia, China and Iran. The group agreed to meet again next year, but Iran’s president has said his country will not bow to pressure, and the talks will fail unless sanctions are lifted. Iran currently is under four sets of UN Security Council sanctions and subject to additional penalties imposed separately by the United States, European countries and others. The most recent
round of Security Council sanctions were adopted in June. Samore said Iran could come out from under sanctions, but only by cooperating. “Iran can gain much by fulfilling its international obligations or it can continue to pay an increasing price by continuing its pursuit of nuclear weapons,” he said. “The choice is ultimately Iran’s, but we must force Iran to make that choice.” — AP
LOFER: A man and a boy clear snow from street in Lofer in the Austrian province of Salzburg, yesterday. The weather forecast predicts heavy snowfall and cold temperatures for the next few days. — AP
US Holder defends anti-terror stings SAN FRANCISCO: US Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday strongly defended undercover sting tactics like those used last month to capture an Oregon man charged with trying to plant a fake bomb at a holiday festival. “These types of operations have proven to be an essential law enforcement tool in uncovering and preventing potential terror attacks,” Holder told the annual dinner of San Francisco Bay Area community group Muslim Advocates, according to a prepared text of his remarks. The comments came in a speech broadly focused on a call for better relations between Muslims and law enforcement and a promise to prosecute hate crimes. Somali-born Mohamed Osman Mohamud, 19, was charged last month
with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction after he tried to blow up what he thought was a car bomb, supplied to him by undercover agents. Mohamud’s lawyer has said agents were “grooming” his client for arrest and seeking publicity, a position which taps into concerns that Muslims in the United States are being targeted and stereotyped by authorities and average Americans. “I make no apologies for how the FBI agents handled their work in executing the operation,” Holder said in the remarks released before he spoke. “Those who characterize the FBI’s activities in this case as ‘entrapment’ simply do not have their facts straight-or do not have a full understanding of the law,” he added. A Baltimore man also was arrest-
ed earlier this week on charges he plotted to detonate a vehicle bomb at an Armed Forces recruiting center in a separate case involving an undercover FBI agent. Holder acknowledged that some Muslims and Arab Americans felt they were not being treated respectfully by authorities and Americans, and said the government should reach out to those communities even as it pursues “potential terrorists.” The government has increased prosecution of hate crimes, but in some parts of the country “We know that we have more work to do to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and those in Muslim and Arab-American communities,” he said. — Reuters
Oppn vows to grill PM Co nt in ue d f rom Pa ge 1 Senior officers of the interior ministr y however strongly denied that police have beaten up MPs or citizens. Using the state-run Kuwait Television, the officers said the police force was provoked by participants at the rally and that organizers have turned a deaf
ear to repeated warnings that no people were allowed to stay outside the diwaniya. It was the second TV appearance by the interior ministry officers following the assault. MPs Waleed Al-Tabtabai and Mubarak Al-Waalan, who were both hurt and hospitalized by police beatings, said the officers were giving false
accounts. Several MPs on Thursday charged that the police assault on the rally was deliberate. In another development, MP Barrak charged that the information ministry threatened a local private TV company to stop transmitting an interview for him on Al-Jazeera TV. The interview was eventually conducted by phone and without pictures.
with Areva, which plans to build a third of all new nuclear reactors worldwide by 2030. Areva lost a landmark $40 billion nuclear deal to South Korea’s KEPCO in Abu Dhabi a year ago, and is now turning its eyes to other potential clients in the region. France and the KIA agreed on a shareholders’ pact, under which KIA has to remain in Areva’s capital for at least 18 months and the French government commits to floating ordinary shares on the market during the first half of 2011. Chief Executive Anne Lauvergeon has been pushing for a stock market listing for years. Plans for a partial privatization were shelved in 2005 by then Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, a rival in the same party as current President Nicolas Sarkozy. About 4 percent of Areva’s capital currently trades on the Paris stock exchange in the form of investment certificates that give their holders no voting rights. The KIA will not sit on Areva’s supervisory board, said Areva, adding the deal
will be put to vote at a special shareholder meeting on Dec 23. Areva also confirmed its 2012 financial goals for sales of 12 billion euros, double-digit operating margin and “significantly” positive free operating cash flow. The French government has direct and indirect stakes amounting to just over 90 percent of Areva, which was created from a merger in 2001 of state-owned uranium mining and enrichment firm Cogema and nuclear reactor maker Framatome. The 900-million-euro rights issue is expected to be followed by a second capital increase in the first half of 2011, which Areva hopes will raise some three billion euros in total. Areva has separately sold its power transmission and distribution business (T&D) to Alstom and electric equipment company Schneider Electric for 4.1 billion euros. It also raised one billion euros by selling its stakes in oil major Total and French utility GDF Suez, and sold its stake in French defense group Safran for a reported 600 million euros. — Reuters
Areva OKs KIA stake Continued from Page 1 state-owned French nuclear reactor maker. Yesterday’s decision concluded months of talks plagued by political and industrial setbacks as France weighed its funding options for a state-controlled company it regards as a showcase of the country’s technological expertise. Areva’s board members formalized proposals announced by the French government on Friday, which will see the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) invest 600 million euros and France inject another 300 million euros in the nuclear group. This should help Areva fund a 12billion-euro investment plan needed to develop a new generation of nuclear reactors and expand its operations worldwide at a time when higher oil prices have led several countries to reconsider nuclear power plans. Kuwait is among Gulf countries which are considering developing nuclear power to meet demand for electricity and water desalination. It has already held talks
Climate talks win a lifeline Continued from Page 1 The first round of Kyoto expires in 2012, it does not include China and the United States — the world’s two biggest emitters — and there is no consensus over whether developing countries should also have binding targets to cut emissions or whether rich countries have more to do first. The main success in Cancun after two weeks of talks was simply to prevent the collapse of climate change negotiations, bolster support for a shift to low carbon economies and rebuild trust between rich and poor countries on the challenges of global warming. Major players were relieved there was no repeat of the acrimonious failure seen at the Copenhagen summit last year, but they warned there was still a long way to go. “The most important thing is that the multilateral process has received a shot in the arm, it had reached an historic low. It will fight another day,” Indian Environment Minister Jairam Rameshtold Reuters. “It could yet fail.” “We have a long, challenging journey ahead of us. Whether it’s do-able in a short
period of time, to get a legally binding deal, I don’t know,” the European Union’s climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard said of a deal beyond 2012. Carbon offset markets worth $20 billion depend on Kyoto emissions caps to drive developed countries to pay for cuts in greenhouse gases in developing nations as a cheaper alternative to cutting their own greenhouse gases. The Cancun agreement would “build upon” such markets, giving them some support despite the doubt over Kyoto itself. The agreement reached yesterday set no firm deadlines for an elusive legally binding accord on Kyoto, and the next major global climate talks will be in South Africa at the end of 2011. Many of the accords from Cancun simply firm up nonbinding deals from Copenhagen, which were endorsed by only 140 nations. “The Copenhagen Accord was a foundational document and it continues to be so but it wasn’t adopted,” said US climate envoy Todd Stern. Japan, Canada and Russia had earlier insisted at the talks that they would not extend Kyoto, demanding instead that all major emitters including the United
States, China and India also join in a new global deal. But developing nations say that rich Kyoto countries, which have burned the most fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution, have to extend the agreement beyond 2012 before the poor agree to measures to curb their emissions. Britain’s energy and climate secretary, Chris Huhne, said that Cancun made it more likely that the European Union would toughen cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, to 30 percent below 1990 levels from a current 20 percent. “I think it definitely makes an agreement on 30 percent in the EU more likely,” he said. Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa banged down her gavel on the accord she helped broker yesterday despite objections by Bolivia, which wanted to demand far deeper cuts in greenhouse gases by rich nations and accused them of “genocidal” policies causing 300,000 deaths a year. Under the UN-led negotiations, all agreements are supposed to have consensus support but Bolivia was sidelined yesterday with the accord simply noting its concerns. — Reuters
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NHL results/standings Results and standings from NHL games on Friday. Detroit 4, Montreal 2; Ottawa 3, New Jersey 2; Colorado 4, Atlanta 2; Dallas 2, Carolina 1 (SO); Edmonton 4, Tampa Bay 3 (SO).
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Pittsburgh 20 8 2 96 69 42 Philadelphia 18 7 5 103 75 41 NY Rangers 17 12 1 88 80 35 New Jersey 8 18 2 52 84 18 NY Islanders 5 16 5 55 88 15 Northeast Division Montreal 18 9 2 77 58 38 Boston 16 8 3 80 54 35 Buffalo 12 13 4 76 79 28 Ottawa 13 16 2 68 92 28 Toronto 10 14 4 62 85 24 Southeast Division Washington 18 9 3 96 82 39 Tampa Bay 15 10 4 89 102 34 Atlanta 15 11 3 90 84 33 Florida 13 14 0 71 69 26 Carolina 11 12 4 76 86 26 Western Conference Central Division Detroit 18 6 3 92 72 39 Chicago 16 12 2 95 87 34 St. Louis 14 9 4 71 73 32 Nashville 13 8 6 68 70 32 Columbus 15 11 1 71 75 31 Northwest Division Vancouver 15 8 3 85 68 33 Colorado 14 10 4 98 88 32 Minnesota 12 11 4 66 78 28 Edmonton 11 12 5 76 99 27 Calgary 12 15 3 81 89 27 Pacific Division Dallas 17 9 2 81 75 36 Anaheim 15 13 4 81 96 34 Los Angeles 16 10 0 71 62 32 Phoenix 13 8 6 76 75 32 San Jose 14 10 4 86 83 32 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)
ANAHEIM: Bobby Ryan No. 9 of the Anaheim Ducks is pursued by Alex Tanguay No. 40 of the Calgary Flames for the puck in the third period at the Honda Center. The Ducks defeated the Flames 3-2 in a shootout. —AFP
Oilers slip past Lightning in shootout EDMONTON: Jordan Eberle and Linus Omark — making his NHL debut — scored in a shootout, and Nikolai Khabibulin stopped both Tampa Bay attempts in the tiebreaker, to give the Edmonton Oilers a 43 win over the Lightning on Friday for their fifth victory in six games. Khabulin made 38 saves in regulation and overtime. Tampa Bay outshot Edmonton 17-1 in the third. Stamkos tied it midway through the third, ending a six-game goal drought with his 22nd of the season. Ryan Malone and Randy Jones also scored
in regulation for the Lightning. Rookie Taylor Hall scored his 10th goal for Edmonton, and Magnus Paajarvi and Tom Gilbert added goals.
his back on PK Subban’s shot off a rebound with 2:39 left. Travis Moen and Benoit Pouliot scored for Montreal. Carey Price stopped 28 shots.
Red Wings 4, Canadiens 2 At Detroit, Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and an assist and Jimmy Howard made 36 saves to help Detroit beat Montreal. Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall and Patrick Eaves also scored for Western Conferenceleading Detroit. Howard made a spectacular glove save while flat on
Avalanche 4, Thrashers 2 At Atlanta, Milan Hejduk gave Colorado the lead 42 seconds into the third period, and Craig Anderson stopped 24 shots to help Colorado end a five-game road losing streak. Tomas Fleischmann and Greg Mauldin also scored and the Avalanche ended the Thrashers’
home winning streak at six. Niclas Bergfors and Bryan Little scored for Atlanta. Stars 2, Hurricanes 1 At Dallas, Brad Richards converted in the second round of the shootout, and James Neal scored in regulation as Dallas edged Carolina. Richards got the puck past Cam Ward after a series of head fakes, and Stars goalie Andrew Raycroft denied Eric Staal in the third round to secure the extra point. With No. 1 goalie Lehtonen out with lower back
stiffness, Raycroft made 22 saves. Raycroft also is expected to start Saturday night at Phoenix. Jiri Tlusty scored in regulation for Carolina. Ducks 2, Flames 2 At Anaheim, California, Jonas Hiller made 37 saves, and defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky had a goal and an assist as Anaheim beat Calgary in a shootout for its 12th straight home victory over the Flames. Dan Sexton also scored for the
Ducks. Olli Jokinen and David Moss scored third-period goals for Calgary. The Flames have won only once in their last 22 games at Anaheim, including three ties. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry scored in the tiebreaker for Anaheim. Calgary’s Rene Bourque had a chance to extend it to a fourth round, but Hiller thwarted him to put a damper on Bourque’s 29th birthday. Senators 3, Devils 2 At Ottawa, Milan Michalek
Khan pays tribute to trainer Roach on eve of title defence LAS VEGAS: Amir Khan has credited trainer Freddie Roach for the turnaround in his career as he prepares to defend his WBA light welterweight title late yesterday. American Roach, who suffers from Parkinson’s Syndrome, began working with Khan after the Briton was humiliated in a firstround knockout defeat by unheralded Colombian Breidis Prescott two years ago. “I used to make mistakes before, never listen to instructions in the corner, never listen to my trainer’s game plan,” Khan told Reuters ahead of yesterday’s fight against Marcos Maidana of Argentina. “But with Freddie I believe in everything he says. I listen to his instructions and I’ve never put a foot wrong. Since I’ve been with him, I don’t think I’ve lost a single round in a fight, in the last five fights.” With Roach’s help, Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) has registered five straight victories, including a first-round knockout of his own, and won the WBA title. “My dream has always been to fight in Vegas, have my name lit up on the Strip,” Khan told reporters this week. “And that day has come. This is my time now.” Roach, who has been named Trainer of the Year four times by the Boxing Writers’ Association of America, mostly for his work with Filipino Manny Pacquiao, has suffered from Parkinson’s Syndrome for 20 years. Although doctors have told him that he probably had a genetic disposition towards the condition, the 50-year-old Roach acknowledges that his own boxing career-in which he went 40-13 between 1978 and 1986 and continued to fight after his own trainer had urged him to quitalmost certainly played a considerable role. Roach is in almost constant pain from the condition and has Botox injections three times a year to ease the muscle spasms in his neck. “I have the smoothest neck in Los Angeles,” he frequently jokes. The most powerful remedy, however, appears to be his work. This week, Roach’s tremors were evident as he wrapped Khan’s hands in preparation for a public workout. Once he stepped into the ring with his fighter, however, his movements were fluid and his condition barely evident. “Once I step between the ropes and put the mitts on, the tremors go away and everything is back to normal,” he said. —Reuters
and Jarkko Ruutu scored for Ottawa 2:16 apart midway through the second period to spoil Martin Brodeur’s return to New Jersey’s lineup. Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist and Pascal Leclaire stopped 29 shots for Ottawa. Brodeur made 26 saves in his first appearance in eight games following a right elbow injury. Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus had power-play goals for New Jersey. The Devils have lost four straight. —AP
Wales, NZ, Fiji & S Africa top pools at SA Sevens
LAS VEGAS: WBA super lightweight champion Amir Khan of England attends the official weigh-in for his fight against Marcos Maidana of Argentina. —AFP
GEORGE: New Zealand powered to a 20-7 win over England at the South Africa Sevens on Friday to send last week’s Dubai winner into a quarterfinal against host South Africa. England hasn’t beaten New Zealand in South Africa since 2003, and the Kiwis were highly motivated to avenge a loss to the English in the semifinals of the IRB Sevens Series season-opener in Dubai last weekend. As winners of Pool C, New Zealand will face Argentina in late yesterday’s quarters. Defending series champion Samoa gave up a 14-0 lead with a minute remaining to draw 14-14 with Fiji, who took top spot in Pool B. Fiji faces Australia in the last eight while Samoa, the losing finalist in Dubai, plays Pool A winner Wales. South Africa beat Argentina 29-5 in Friday’s final game for a 3-0 record in the pool stage and a meeting with early series leader England in the pick of the last-eight matchups in George. New Zealand, which had brushed aside Kenya 47-0 and Russia 33-7 in its earlier pool games, raced into a 10-0 lead over England with tries by Declan O’Donnell and Frank Halai. England hit back after a minute of the second half through Dan Norton, but captain DJ Forbes pressed home New Zealand’s dominance and Jackson Ormond pounced on an England mistake for New Zealand’s fourth try. Samoa let its advantage slip in a bruising Pacific Island encounter in the final match of Pool B. Following a scoreless first half, Samoa wrestled control with converted tries from Fautua
Otto and Simaika Mikaele. But Josefa Bole hit back with a minute to play and Seremaia Burotu then broke clear from near halfway after the final hooter had sounded to put Fiji within two points. Nikola Matawalu’s crucial conversion from in front of the posts was first judged to have gone under the crossbar by the touch judges, but referee Nick Briant ruled it good to put Fiji top of the pool on points scored. The Fijians earlier beat Namibia 47-7 and the United States 43-5. Samoa had looked offform in its opening match in South Africa’s Western Cape, trailing the U.S. 10-0 before a second-half revival gave it a narrow 24-22 win. It then beat Namibia 43-0. Wales overran Australia 33-15 in the tournament’s opening match, and added a 19-7 win over Scotland and a 29-12 win over France — where Aaron Shingler scored four tries for the 2009 Sevens World Cup winner. South Africa opened with a 38-0 rout of Portugal. The host then saw off African neighbor Zimbabwe 33-7 and was too good for Argentina in the day’s 24th and final match. Paul Delport put the home team into an third minute lead, tricking Argentina’s defense with a clever change of direction. Further scores from Sibusiso Sithole (2), Bernado Botha and skipper Kyle Brown pushed South Africa 29-0 ahead. Santiago Bottini touched down for a late consolation for Argentina. Scotland play Namibia, Portugal face Kenya, Russia play Zimbabwe and the US line up against France in late yesterday’s Bowl quarterfinals. —AP
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Tinning retires with win DUBAI: Danish veteran Iben Tinning ended her career with a victory at the Dubai Ladies Masters yesterday, clinching the win with a birdie on the last hole to hold off Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist. The 36-year-old Tinning, who is retiring after 15 years on the tour, shot a 3-under 69 in the final round to finish with an 11-under total of 277. She was a shot ahead of the 16th-ranked Nordqvist and England’s Melissa Reid going into the 18th hole and managed to get safely on the green to knock down a birdie putt for the victory.
Dubai Ladies Masters
DUBAI: Denmark’s Iben Tinning with the winner’s trophy, after the final round of the Dubai Ladies Masters held at the Emirates Golf Club.—AP
Gates clings onto lead at the Australian PGA COOLUM: Second-round leader American Bobby Gates shot a 1-under-par 71 in windy conditions to hold a one-stroke lead after the third round of the Australian PGA yesterday. Gates, who will play on the US PGA tour next season after qualifying from the Nationwide tour this year, had a 54-hole total of 12-under-par 204. He made a 10-foot putt for par on the 18th after his approach missed the green. Australian Aaron Townsend, who led for much of the back nine, bogeyed the final two holes to shoot 70 and was level in second with Peter Senior, a regular on the US Champions tour who shot 68. Akio Sadakata of Japan was in a group tied for fourth after a 67, two behind Gates. Gusting winds on the Coolum course kept the scores higher than the opening two rounds, with 42 double bogeys and eight triple bogeys or worse recorded by the cut-down field of 70 yesterday. “This is a course where it’s difficult to avoid bogeys,” Gates said. “The first five holes were tough. I don’t think there was a stage where we knew what the wind was going to do, and if we did, it changed quickly.” A win by Gates today would almost certainly clinch the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Order of Merit, which among other benefits will give him a start in the US Open and two World Golf Championship events. “It felt pretty good,” Gates said. “The wind today made it tougher than the first two days, but I kind of
ground it out again and I never really got anything going. “But it’s kind of the nature of the beast with this sport — you can hit some bad shots and save on par sometimes, so it’s pretty good. I did that today and I’m still in the tournament and still have a good chance tomorrow.” Townsend, who turned professional in 2003, has only two wins on the Australian secondary tour in his career. “There is a lot on the line, this could mean a lot to me for the future,” Townsend said. “Tomorrow is a very important day.” The best round of the day came from Australian Steve Bowditch, who shot 66 and was the only player on the leaderboard who started off the 10th tee. Organizers sent yesterday’s groups off in threesomes off two tees because of threatened bad weather, but outside of a few early showers, the day was free of forecast thunderstorms. Last week’s Australian Open-winner Geoff Ogilvy shot 71 and defending champion Robert Allenby 72. Both were six strokes behind the leader. Gates got an early gift from his two playing partners — Liang Wenchong of China and Australia’s John Senden, who trailed the American by one going into the third round — when both double-bogeyed the par-5 first hole. Senden went into the water that lines the left of the fairway and Liang took two shots to get out of a greenside bunker. Senden shot 74 and Liang 75, with Senden four behind Gates and Liang five going into today’s final round.—AP
COOLLUM: Bobby Gates of the United States watches his shot during the third round of the Australian PGA Championship held at the Hyatt Regency golf course.—AP
Tie at Shark Shootout NAPLES: Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly combined for a 9-under 63 and Dustin Johnson and Ian Poulter matched them to share the first-round lead at the Shark Shootout on Friday. Stricker and Kelly, the defending champions, led for most of the day in the modified alternateshot format. They had a two-stroke lead at 10 under until bogeying the par-5 17th when Stricker knocked his second shot near the lip of a greenside bunker. Johnson and Poulter birdied No. 16 to get to 9 under. The 63s tied the mark for low score in the modified alternate-shot format in the 10 years that the tournament has been played at Tiburon Golf Club. “I think it was a dream start, to be honest,” Poulter said. The overall format record is a 57 by Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd in 1990 at Sherwood Country Club in California. The 12 teams in the tournament hosted by Greg Norman will play better ball Saturday, and a scramble on Sunday in the $3 million event. Mark Calcavecchia and Jeff Overton, who
grabbed the early lead with an eagle-birdie start, and Fred Funk and Kenny Perry were tied for third at 8 under. Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank were fifth at 6 under. Members of those three teams in contention have good records in the event. Calcavecchia, who is playing in his 17th Shootout, has won twice, and so has Perry. Leonard and Verplank lost in a playoff in 2006, and tied for second last year. Norman and partner Matt Kuchar were last in the field after a 72. Both of the leading teams stumbled down the stretch. Sitting at 8-under through 11 holes, Johnson and Poulter bogeyed the par-3 12th and, despite the long-hitting Johnson, the duo parred both the par-5 14th and 17th. “Parring the two par-5s was brutal,” Johnson said. “It was no fun. No. 14 was playing pretty tough, but No. 17 was playing fairly easy. We hit four pretty good shots and we made a 5.” Stricker and Kelly were at 10 under through 15, then bogeyed the par-5 17th after Stricker knocked his second shot near the lip of a greenside bunker. —AP
Tinning hugged her husband Lasse who caddies for her, after Reid made a bogey putt to end up in third place. It was Tinning’s sixth tour victory — and first since 2005 — and will help erase the bad memories of playing here in 2007 when she missed a putt on the 17th and then hit a shot in the water on the 18th to hand the win to Annika Sorenstam. “It’s crazy,” she said with a smile. “I know it’s going through my head now but I can’t believe I won. It was amazing. I just tried to keep strong out there and it was tough sometimes. I cannot believe this. I am so happy.” This time, it was Reid who couldn’t hit the shots down the stretch. Reid took the lead briefly on the front nine only to fall three shots back after she made a couple of bogeys and Tinning countered with two birdies in a row. But the 23year-old clawed a shot back and was in contention before she hit a drive on the 18th into the woods that led to her bogey. “I made two or three stupid mistakes that cost me three shots,” said Reid, who had her first win on the tour this year in Turkey. “All in all, I’m really happy for Iben. It was her last tournament and she played fantastic. She didn’t make any mistakes at all.” American Michelle Wie, struggling with back problems all week, was eight shots behind going into the last round but moved up to a share for sixth place after shooting a 5-under 67 for the best score of the day. “Yeah, I’m just happy to be done. I’m happy I made it through,” Wie said. “It’s been a little bit of a struggle this week but I was really happy to end on a really good note. Things happened a lot better. Just hit a couple of shots closer.” Meanwhile, Lee-Anne Pace won the Tour’s Order of Merit, fending off a challenge from England’s Laura Davies to become the first South African to top the women’s money list. Although she struggled to an 11-over total of 299 in Dubai, the 56th-ranked Pace won her first tournament on the tour in Switzerland in June and then four more to take the money lead. “Really good year, five wins is more than expected,” Pace said. “I really wanted to start off winning in the year and then to get close to the money list in the middle of the year spurred me on a little bit more. To have a different goal and then to do it is an amazing feeling.” Davies, who who finished second on the money list, needed a top-two finish to overtake Pace. But she shot a 3-over 75 on the first day to effectively end the title race. Davies finished with a 1-over total of 289. “The first day killed me. I shot 3 over and could have been 10 over,” Davies said. “I did really well to hang onto anything like a score, and the last three days I did really well. Barring the triple bogey on 8 on the second round, I would have shot under par every round.” Looking back on the year, Davies said she wished she had played more tournaments on the tour but praised Pace as a deserving winner. Davies played eight fewer tournaments than Pace. “She’s the one that when I went ahead of her after Spain, she hit back with two wins and you just can’t say enough about that,” said Davies, a seven-time Order of Merit winner.—AP
CHINA: Germany’s Aliona Savchenko (left) and Robin Szolkowy (right) perform in the pairs free skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating final in Beijing.—AP
American Czisny captures Grand Prix Gold in China BEIJING: American Alissa Czisny protected her overnight lead to take gold yesterday after the women’s free skate program at the Grand Prix final. Czisny, who won this year’s Skate Canada, performed a graceful triple lutz, double toeloop opener followed by a powerful triple flip, double toeloop to George Winston’s “Winter and Spring”. She finished third in the free skate with 116.99 points, giving her a total of 180.75. Czisny had taken the lead Friday with 63.76 points in the short program despite an off-balance trip flip. “I was very happy to be able to stay on my feet today and very happy with my performance,” Czisny said. “Last year, being in this spot was only something I could dream of, but I’m glad I got here and my dream came true.” Despite an ongoing left knee injury, Carolina Kostner of Italy was second with a season’s best 116.47 in her free skate, giving her a total of 178.60. Kanako Murakami of Japan was a close third with 178.59 in her first senior Grand Prix final since moving up from juniors. Patrick Chan of Canada won the men’s competition after a strong performance in the free skate helped him take advantage of a fall by overnight leader Nobunari Oda of Japan. The world silver medalist opened with a solid quad toeloop performing to “Phantasia” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, earning 174.16 points in the free skate and giving him 259.75 overall. “It’s been a dream for me to do well here,” the 19-year-old Chan said. “I’m very happy to be able to skate well here, leading up to (the) worlds. It’s a very big step for me.” Oda won silver with 156.22 points in his free skate, which was marred by a fall during his opening quad toeloop, for a total of 242.81. “I was very disappointed with tonight’s performance because I fell,” Oda said. “I wasn’t satisfied with the performance ... I couldn’t do the last part because I was so late on the music.” Japan’s Takahiko Kozuka came in third with 159.89 in his free skate and a total of 237.79. In the ice dance, American pair Meryl Davis and Charlie White tangoed their way to gold after opening their performance
BEIJING: Akiko Suzuki of Japan performs in the ladies free skating during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2010 in Beijing. —AFP with a graceful straight line lift to music from “Il Postino,” “Payador,” and “Recuerdo.” The duo scored 102.94 in the free skate with a total of 171.58 for their second title. “We feel very good about winning our second Grand Prix final,” Davis said. “We’re excited to see how far we can take it.” The Skate America champions finished ahead of French pair Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian
Bourzat, who took silver with 162.10 points after a free skate program to an upbeat Charlie Chaplin medley. Canadian duo Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier were third with 139.74 for their first medal at a Grand Prix final. German pair Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy took gold in the pairs category with 136.32 in their free skate performance, beating out China’s favorites Pang Qing and Tong
Jian, who scored 189.93 points. The Trophee Bompard and Skate America winners extended their lead from Friday’s short program and impressed judges with a fast-paced performance to music from the “Pink Panther” soundtrack, ending with a total of 210.72. China’s Sui Wenjing and Han Cong were third with 179.04 points. The top six skaters in the regular-season standings qualify for the Grand Prix final.—AP
KUWAIT: Al-Nasr Sports Club was recently crowned champions of the Kuwait’s Men’s Taekwondo Clubs Championship, which concluded last Thursday at the Kuwait Judo and Taekwondo Federation’s hall in Sabah Al-Salem. Al-Nasr came first ahead of Al-Qadsiya Club, followed by Al-Kuwait Club in third place. The conclusion ceremony was attended by Assistant Treasurer of the KJTF, Hani AlMurshad.
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Team orders can come out of hiding now LONDON: It is only fitting that Jean Todt should preside over the legalising of Formula One’s controversial ‘team orders’, having triggered the ban in the first place. The Frenchman, now head of the governing International Automobile Federation, was Ferrari boss when that team drew worldwide condemnation and outrage by manipulating the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix in favour of Michael Schumacher. In the years since, team orders have been outlawed but they never really went away. This year’s German Grand Prix furore, again focused on Ferrari and their favoring of double world champion Fernando Alonso over his team mate Felipe Massa, only served to emphasise that fact.
The rule change agreed by the FIA on Friday effectively recognised that team orders are a part of the sport while also conceding that the paying public have a right not to be insulted. “The article forbidding team orders (39.1) is deleted,” the FIA said in a statement. “Teams will be reminded that any actions liable to bring the sport into disrepute are dealt with under Article 151c of the International Sporting Code and any other relevant provisions.” What that means is that timing is everything and teams still risk heavy sanctions for blatant manipulation early in the season, as occurred at Austria 2002 and Hockenheim 2009.
Ferrari were fined $100,000 this year for effectively telling Massa to move aside and let Alonso win. Both men were still in contention but what upset viewers far more was the fact that Massa was denied an emotional victory on the first anniversary of an accident in Hungary that almost killed him. In 2002, when Brazilian Rubens Barrichello dominated all weekend but had to let Schumacher by at the last corner, there was nothing the FIA could do about what happened on the track as nothing illegal had happened. Instead, Ferrari were hammered for a breach of podium protocol and fined $1 million, with half the amount suspended for a year. The outrage festered on, mainly
because Barrichello had played loyal number two on so many occasions and Schumacher had won four of the five previous races. The German ended that season with 67 points more than anyone else. Team orders were banned after Austria by then FIA president Max Mosley but everyone in Formula One knows there are plenty of ways to get around that. Drivers know well enough what the team expects them to do without obvious instructions. Should there be any difficulties, a team can easily reduce the revs on a car or ‘fluff’ a pitstop or switch their strategy. One only has to think back to 2008, when Brazilian Nelson Piquet crashed to order at the Singapore Grand Prix to bring out the
safety car and allow Alonso to win, for a particularly extreme example. That incident only came to light a year later when Piquet, by then dropped by Renault, turned whistleblower. Some purists will argue that deleting the team orders ban realigns the 60-year-old championship with its glorious past and the days when the likes of the late great Juan Manuel Fangio pulled rank on team mates. Others will argue that the teams pay the bills and the drivers’ wages and how they run their operation is their own business. Still more will be equally adamant that the sport is called motor racing for a reason and the modern spectator wants to see free and fair competition rather than the driver with
the better contract being handed victory on a plate. They could also argue that had Red Bull ordered Sebastian Vettel to let Mark Webber win in Brazil and Japan this year, when the German led the Australian in a one-two finish, Formula One would not be celebrating its youngest ever champion this season. There is however nothing in the rules that says teams have to embrace team orders, and Red Bull have made clear it is not their nature to do so. What Friday’s change does do is rid the sport of the charade of teams pretending that there are no orders at a point in the season when logic dictates that there must be-when one of their drivers is chasing the title and the other out of contention. — Reuters
Ligety wins giant slalom
FRANCE: Leicester Tigers’ Thomas Waldrom (center) is tackled by Perpignan’s David Marty (left) and Florian Cazenave during their Heineken European Cup rugby match. — AP
Perpignan edge Leicester PARIS: Perpignan edged Leicester 24-19 in a European Cup thriller yesterday as Italian newcomers Aironi pulled off a massive shock by pipping last year’s losing finalists Biarritz 2827. In southeastern France, Perpignan had Cameroon lock Robins Tchale-Watchou and the rest of the pack to thank for a dominant display over the former two-time champions, who left with a bonus point for losing by less than seven points to remain atop Pool 5 by one point. The visitors opened with an early Toby Flood penalty, while Jerome Porical got Perpignan on the scoreboard in the 18th minute after the Leicester pack crumbled in their own 22m area. Flood regained the lead for the visitors with his second three-pointer as Porical failed to make Leicester pay after another scrum infringement with a second miss. Centre David Marty then saw yellow after his lazy running saw a potential try-making pass from Ben Youngs bounce off his back, Flood making it 9-3 with the resulting penalty.
Porical hit back with a penalty after more scrum troubles. With Perpignan camped out on the Leicester line, hookers Marius Tincu and George Chuter were both sin-binned for repeatedly popping up as Irish referee Allan Lewis struggled to control the front-fives. The home side then struck, scrum-half David Mele just falling short, but from the resulting ruck, Laharrague spotted space and an inch-perfect cross-kick saw winger Adrien Plante cross for a try Porical converted and a 13-9 lead. Perpignan opened the second period in strong fashion, Porical touching down a try he could not convert. Geordan Murphy was on hand to round off a smart mismove by Kiwi winger Scott Hamilton, Flood nailing the touchline conversion. The England outside-half then missed a tricky penalty but Porical made no mistake with a further penalty to stretch the home team’s lead. Aironi’s home victory over Biarritz opened up Pool 4, where Ulster beat Bath 22-18. — AFP
KUWAIT: (Left to right) Dr Shiltagh Al-Mayyah, Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah and Obeid Al-Osaimi.
Basra Governor visits Kuwait Shooting Ranges KUWAIT: Basra Governor Dr Shiltagh Abboud Al-Mayyah visited Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Olympic Shooting Ranges. He was received by President of Kuwait and Asian Shooting Sport Federations and Vice-president of International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, and Arab and Kuwait Shooting Associations Secretary General Obeid Munahi Al-Osaimi. Dr Shiltagh toured the ranges including the 10m, 25th, and 50 meters bullets ranges, he also
visited the shotgun fields as well as the sporting and archery facilities. Dr Shiltagh expressed great appreciation of what he saw and lauded the support the Kuwait shooting receives from the state. He said the achievements and leadership Kuwait shooting has around the world is the result of efforts exerted by Sheikh Salman AlSabah to develop the sport of shooting. He congratulated Kuwait shooting on its six medals during the 16th Asian Games.
VAL D’ISERE: Ted Ligety is well on his way to earning a third World Cup giant slalom title, dominating his rivals yesterday to clinch a second straight race victory in the discipline. Now he’s trying to carry his success over the slalom as well. The American beat Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway by more than a second in the French Alps resort for his seventh career victory in his favorite discipline. But to achieve his goal of one day challenging for the overall World Cup title, Ligety knows he needs to see a vast improvement in his slalom results this season — starting with a race today. “I’m definitely working hard to have my slalom back to where it was four years ago, or even a couple of years ago,” Ligety said. He claimed six World Cup podium finishes in the discipline between 2006 and 2008 but struggled over the last two years. To break out of his slump, Ligety switched skis during the offseason and said he made a lot of testing with his new supplier to find the perfect setup for slalom. “Slalom is so difficult, it’s so tight,” he said. “The equipment setup makes it a lot easier, so we’ll see. It’s not easy to be fast in slalom right now but I feel like step by step I’m getting closer to where I was.” In giant slalom, he’s looking better than ever. Coming off his GS win at Beaver Creek last weekend, Ligety had a flawless first leg on the Face de Bellevarde and then pulled out a bold second run to win in the combined time of 2 minutes, 26.26 seconds.
Super-G race called off ST MORITZ: Snowfalls forced organisers to abandon a women’s World Cup SuperG race in St Moritz yesterday. The start, scheduled for 1130 local (1030 GMT), was postponed by an hour with snow and strong winds considerably reducing the visibility on the Swiss piste. The race did eventually get underway but had to be stopped after two of the six skiers who started crashed because of the conditions. — Reuters Svindal was 1.05 seconds behind while Massimiliano Blardone of Italy was third, 1.21 back. “I was very impressed by what Ted did today,” said Svindal, who leads the World Cup standings ahead of Ligety with 236 points, 15 more than his American rival. “When you’re pulling out two clean runs like he did today, this is normal to have such big margins,” Svindal said. “He has been very clean, with no big mistakes. It’s hard to get those good results without making mistakes.” US head coach Sasha Rearick couldn’t hide his admiration after seeing Ligety tame the daunting slope with such authority. “I’ve been coaching Ted a long time and I’ve never seen him just find this kind of confidence,” Rearick said. “He did a great job winning the first run and then in the second run it was the same thing, just perfect execution, true champion style.” Ligety, who won the GS crystal globe last season and in 2008, took bronze on the same course in 2009 at the world championships. “It’s certainly nice to get two races in a row,” Ligety said. “It’s definitely pretty exciting to be able to do that in such difficult conditions. I’ve had a lot of podiums, but not a lot of wins. It’s a nice little confidence booster for the start of the season.” Most of his competitors struggled on the Face, with 20 skiers failing to finish the first run. Bode Miller of the United States skied out after just a few gates in the morning run while local favorite JeanBaptiste Grange of France was also eliminated when he went out after three gates. —AP
FRANCE: Ted Ligety of the United States speeds down the course on his way to win the men’s World Cup giant slalom race. — AP
Ancelotti expects Chelsea to survive testing times LONDON: Carlo Ancelotti insists Chelsea will use today’s crucial London derby at Tottenham to show they can emerge unscathed from the woeful run that threatens to ruin their defence of the Premier League title. Ancelotti has presided over the worst run of results since Blues owner Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003 and Chelsea are in danger of being cast adrift in the title race unless they can end that dismal sequence of four defeats in eight matches. The champions have slipped to third place and trail leaders Arsenal by two points going into a three-game stretch that Ancelotti admits will define their season. After the trip to in-form Tottenham, the Blues host Manchester United and then take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. That would be a testing sequence at any
time, let alone during Chelsea’s current crisis, yet Ancelotti takes heart from the way he survived a similiar run during his time at AC Milan. “I had this difficult moment in 2003,” Ancelotti said. “We didn’t start well, we lost the top of the table, the fight for the title. But I managed to maintain my job and we won the Champions League. “A bad moment is the same in Italy or England. I know how to manage my team.” From the brutal dismissal of his assistant Ray Wilkins, Frank Lampard’s long spell on the sidelines due to injury, Didier Drogba going through a barren run in front of goal and John Terry and his defenders struggling to keep clean sheets, it must seem to Ancelotti that he has been beset by a new problem every day. And, despite his claims that he still has
Abramovich’s complete support, Ancelotti must be aware that more poor results will leave his job under threat given his employer’s habit of sacking managers at a moment’s notice. Publicly at least, Ancelotti shows few signs of being affected by the pressure and he cut a relaxed figure as he called on his squad to show they have the character to fight through their problems and get back on track. “At this moment, experience, personality and character are the most important qualities. Everyone can do more to help the team to move on, not just the most important players,” Ancelotti said. “At this moment you die or you improve your relationships and show character. That is what happened last year after we lost to Inter Milan in the Champions League. —AFP
MONACO: 2010 Formula One World Champion Sebastien Vettel (left) of Germany and Red Bull team manager Christian Horner (right) of Great Britain pose with FIA President Jean Todt (second left) and Great Britain’s Bernie Ecclestone, president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration during the 2010 FIA Prize Giving gala. — AFP
Vettel handed trophy, Korean F1 GP wins promoter award LONDON: This year’s inaugural Korean Formula One Grand Prix, up in the air only weeks before the race due to construction delays, has won an award for best promoter of the season. Red Bull’s 23-year-old German Sebastian Vettel also finally got his hands on the championship winner’s trophy at the same International Automobile Federation (FIA) awards ceremony in Monaco on Friday night. The promoters’ award was collected by Chung Yung-cho of the Korea Automobile Racing Association. “I sincerely thank all of the
people who helped to make the event such a success,” he told the audience. The race at Yeongam was in danger of being cancelled only weeks before its Oct. 24 date and ended almost in the dark on the day after a long delay due to heavy rain. “Considering what it was and what they’ve had to do, and it’s not been easy to do this event, I think they’ve done a good job,” Formula One’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said at the time. “The award recognises the state-of-the-art Korean International Circuit,” the FIA said in a
statement. FIA President Jean Todt handed Vettel, the sport’s youngest ever champion, his trophy. “This is an amazing evening for me and for the Red Bull Racing team,” said the German driver. “I’m thrilled to be here to collect the Driver’s Championship Trophy, something I have dreamt of since I started racing. “Winning the championship is unbelievable; it marks an incredible season for us, with many ups and downs. We kept believing in our team, in our car and enjoyed every race.” — Reuters
SPORTS
18
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Nuggets down Raptors, Heat beat Warriors Thunder 97, Hornets 92 At New Orleans, Russell Westbrook had 29 points and 10 assists, and Kevin Durant scored 25 points as Oklahoma City beat New Orleans. Westbrook scored 16 points in the second half, including an 18-foot jumper as he was fouled by Chris Paul to give the Thunder a 93-87 lead with 1:41 to go. Serge Ibaka had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Jeff Green added 13 points for Oklahoma City. David West had 24 points, 13 rebounds and four steals for the Hornets, but scored only six in the second half. Paul had 18 points and five steals, and Marco Belinelli scored 15, but missed a 3-point attempt that could have tied it with a little more than 10 seconds left.
TORONTO: George Karl earned his 1,000th coaching victory, as Al Harrington scored a season-high 31 points and Nene added 26 to help the Denver Nuggets hold off the Toronto Raptors 123-116 on Friday night. The seventh coach in NBA history with 1,000 wins, Karl also notched his 900th in Toronto, a 114-107 victory on Dec. 31, 2008. Chauncey Billups scored 21 points and Gary Forbes had 15 in place of injured Carmelo Anthony as the Nuggets snapped a two-game skid. Ex-Nugget Linas Kleiza set season highs with 26 points and 12 rebounds, but Toronto lost its fourth straight. Andrea Bargnani scored 24.
PHOENIX: Portland Trail Blazers Brandon Roy drives past Phoenix Suns’ Jared Dudley (left) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game. The Trail Blazers won 101-94. — AP
NBA results/standings Results and standings from NBA games on Friday: Indiana 100, Charlotte 92; NY Knicks 101, Washington 95; Denver 123, Toronto 116; Oklahoma City 97, New Orleans 92; Chicago 88, LA Lakers 84; Minnesota 109, Detroit 99; Milwaukee 97, Houston 91; San Antonio 108, Atlanta 92; Portland 101, Phoenix 94; Utah 117, Orlando 105; Miami 106, Golden State 84.
Boston New York Toronto Philadelphia New Jersey Chicago Indiana Milwaukee Cleveland Detroit Miami Orlando Atlanta Charlotte Washington
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division 18 4 .818 15 9 .625 8 15 .348 7 15 .318 6 17 .261 Central Division 13 8 .619 11 10 .524 9 13 .409 7 15 .318 7 17 .292 Southeast Division 16 8 .667 15 8 .652 15 9 .625 8 14 .364 6 16 .273
4 10.5 11 12.5 2 4.5 6.5 7.5 .5 1 7 9
Western Conference Northwest Division Utah 17 7 .708 Oklahoma City 16 8 .667 Denver 14 8 .636 Portland 12 11 .522 Minnesota 6 17 .261 Pa cific Division LA Lakers 16 7 .696 Phoenix 11 12 .478 Golden State 8 15 .348 Sacramento 5 15 .250 LA Clippers 5 18 .217 Southw est Division San Antonio 19 3 .864 Dallas 18 4 .818 New Orleans 14 8 .636 Memphis 9 14 .391 Houston 8 14 .364
1 2 4.5 10.5 5 8 9.5 11 1 5 10.5 11
Heat 106, Warriors 84 At Oakland, California, Dwyane Wade had 34 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and LeBron James added 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as Miami won its season-best seventh straight game with a victory over slumping Golden State. Miami also established a franchise best with seven consecutive wins by double digits. The Heat moved into first place in the Southeast Division for the first time all season. Monta Ellis had 20 points and seven assists in Golden State’s season-worst sixth straight loss. Chris Bosh added 16 points and seven rebounds in the Heat’s fifth consecutive win over Golden State, mired in a 1-11 stretch. The Warriors dropped their fifth straight at Oracle Arena after beginning the season 5-0 at home. They haven’t won on their own floor since Nov. 15 against Detroit. Knicks 101, Wizards 95 At Washington, Amare Stoudemire had 36 points and 10 rebounds to help overcome his 11 turnovers as New York beat Washington for its seventh straight victory. Stoudemire posted his seventh straight 30-point game. Willie Naulls is the only other player in franchise history with such a run — and he accomplished it way back in 1962. Gilbert Arenas scored 20 points to lead the Wizards. Bulls 88, Lakers 84 At Chicago, Derrick Rose had 29 points and nine assists as Chicago held off a late rally by the Los Angeles Lakers to match a season best with its fourth straight victory. The Bulls hit eight 3-pointers, three by Rose, who made the shot a key part of his game during the offseason. Reserve swingman Kyle Korver connected on a trio of 3s and scored 13 points for
Bucks 97, Rockets 91 At Milwaukee, Andrew Bogut had 24 points, 22 rebounds and five blocked shots to lead Milwaukee over Houston. It was Bogut’s fourth 20-20 performance of his career and his best rebounding effort since dislocating his right elbow, breaking his hand and wrist in an eyeaverting fall last April. Spurs 108, Hawks 92 At San Antonio, Richard Jefferson and Manu Ginobili scored 18 points each as San Antonio won its fourth straight to keep the NBA’s best record, beating Atlanta. Tony Parker added 17 points for the Spurs. DeJuan Blair had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Jamal Crawford led the Hawks with 23 points.
OAKLAND: Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade shoots against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA basketball game. — AP Chicago, which held a 26-13 edge in bench points. The 84 points marked a season low for the Lakers. The two-time defending NBA champions were led by Kobe Bryant’s 23 points, though he shot just 9 for 23 from the floor. It was the Bulls’ first win over the Lakers in nearly four years. Pacers 100, Bobcats 92 At Indianapolis, Danny Granger scored 18 points to help Indiana beat Charlotte. Brandon Rush added 16 points and Mike Dunleavy 15. Roy Hibbert had 13 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks for the Pacers. Gerald Wallace led the Bobcats with 26 points. Ex-Pacer Stephen Jackson had 15 points and eight assists, but he shot 7 for 17 from the field and committed seven turnovers.
T’wolves 109, Pistons 99 At Minneapolis, Kevin Love had 27 points and 18 rebounds, and Darko Milicic blocked a career-high seven shots against the team that drafted him No. 2 overall in 2003, leading Minnesota over Detroit. Luke Ridnour had 20 points and 10 assists, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter to help the Timberwolves to just their sixth win of the season. Richard Hamilton scored 26 points and rookie Greg Monroe grabbed 15 rebounds in his first career start for the Pistons, who fell to 2-12 on the road. Love had his NBA-leading 18th double-double and grabbed at least 15 boards for the ninth straight game, the longest streak since Ben Wallace did it in 14 consecutive games in 2002-03.
T Blazers 101, Suns 94 At Phoenix, Marcus Camby had 16 points and 18 rebounds, and Brandon Roy added 26 points as Portland beat Phoenix for its fourth straight win. LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 points and Wesley Matthews scored 14 of his 16 in the first half for Portland. Steve Nash had 24 points for the Suns and Grant Hill added 17. Jazz 117, Magic 105 At Salt Lake City, Deron Williams had a season-high 32 points as Utah beat Orlando, scoring the most points that the slumping Magic have allowed all season. CJ Miles scored 19 of his season-high 26 in the fourth quarter for the Jazz, who swept the Magic this season. Paul Millsap had 22 points and Andrei Kirilenko added 17 to help the Jazz complete a 4-2 homestand. Jameer Nelson scored 19, Brandon Bass had 18 and Vince Carter 17 points in the Magic’s season-high fourth straight loss. — AP
Beer unqualified for Ashes job, says shocked MacGill SYDNEY: Shock call-up Michael Beer is simply unqualified to play for Australia in the third Ashes test this week, according to former test spinner Stuart MacGill. Despite having played just five first class matches, left-arm spinner Beer was included in the 12-strong squad for the Perth test as Australia overhauled their squad in the wake of an innings and 71-run defeat to England in Adelaide. “I am gobsmacked, shocked, I honestly cannot believe it,” MacGill told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph. “The team will have to change again after the next test,” he added. “Good on Michael Beer, good bloke and good player, but look at this as a job interview and show me his qualifications to get this job. “He doesn’t have any. He is not qualified for the job they have given him. Sending him out there next week, what are they trying to do?” MacGill’s opportunities to play test cricket were severely limited by playing at the same time as Shane Warne but he did manage 208 wickets in 44 tests from 1998 to 2008. The leg spinner said the selectors were reeling from one bad decision to another having replaced Nathan Hauritz, who has 63 wickets from 17 tests, with ineffective debutant Xavier Doherty for the first two tests. “Xavier Doherty was out there, too, to be honest,” MacGill said. “They are clearly telling Nathan Hauritz, ‘you are never playing test cricket again’. I don’t understand that. Xavier Doherty should never have played the first two tests. Michael Beer shouldn’t be playing this one.” The fact Beer has taken only 16 first class wickets at an average of just under 40 since he moved from Victoria to Western Australia indicated that chief selector Andrew Hilditch was out of touch, MacGill said. “To be honest, from Andrew Hilditch’s comments, he doesn’t
even really know who Michael Beer is. He said he’ll bowl well in Perth because it’s his home ground. “I’m not sure Andrew thought those comments through before he made them. “Look, Andrew Hilditch is a lovely bloke but someone needs to tell him Michael Beer has not spent his career playing at the WACA. “Three games there and nothing better than a three-for. Honestly, there is no big picture here.” Meanwhile, Ricky Ponting may be just one test defeat away from becoming the first Australian captain in 120 years to lose three Ashes series but he is not entertaining any retirement thoughts. Ponting, who turns 36 on Dec. 19, has not been at the top of his form with the bat while his team trail England 1-0 in the five-match series with three tests remaining. “My absolute focus is on all the things within my control, preparing the team and myself to perform at our very best in Perth, Melbourne and then Sydney over the next three tests,” Ponting wrote in the Australian newspaper yesterday. “I have not stopped for one moment to consider retirement. The question of my future as captain is ultimately a decision for Cricket Australia and categorically the future of Australian cricket must come first. “I have every confidence in my ability to score runs and be the experienced batsman and leader that my teammates can rely on.” “As captain, I am accountable for the performance of my team and I accept that our most recent results mean that I am being assessed more critically than at other times in my career as captain. “The team is my priority, not my own ego or the status that comes with being the captain of the Australian cricket team.” Ponting conceded England had dominated the series so far. — Reuters
AMMAN: Jordanians carry a football fan injured during clashes following the Jordanian professional league football match between Al-Wehdat and Al-Faisali in Quweismeh. Jordan has launched a probe into clashes that injured dozens of people as a stampede caused an iron railing to collapse at the match. — AFP
Jordanian, Palestinian football fans clash
AMMAN: Fans of rival Jordanian football teams clashed after a match, injuring 250 people in violence that pointed to the deep divisions between the nation’s native Bedouin clans and its Palestinians. Most of the injuries occurred when a large metal fence separating spectators from the playing field in the Amman stadium collapsed during Friday night’s unrest between fans of national teams Wehdat and Faisali, said police spokesman Col. Ahmed AbuHamad. Thirty policemen were among the injured, he said. There is a long history of violence between supporters of the two teams, stemming in part from the
decades of tension with Jordan’s large Palestinian population, which includes an estimated 1.8 million refugees displaced after Israel’s 1948 creation and their descendants. Most of Faisali’s players and fans are from native Jordanian Bedouin tribes. Most of Wehdat’s players and fans are Palestinian. Although most of Jordan’s Palestinians — excluding natives of the Gaza Strip — carry Jordanian passports and enjoy citizenship rights unmatched by other Arab host governments, many of them complain that they are barred from taking up security and army posts or holding other top positions in the Jordanian government. Native Jordanians feel the Palestinian refugees
have no allegiance to the country. In a match last year between the same teams, Faisali fans chanted slogans deriding the Palestinian origin of King Abdullah II’s wife, Queen Rania, and their son Crown Prince Hussein — an episode that even got a mention in one of the US diplomatic memos released by the WikiLeaks website. In the document, American diplomats said they were “puzzled” by the king’s failure to respond to the “verbal attack on his family.” Yesterday, police questioned a dozen people suspected of sparking the clashes. The violence broke out after Wehdat beat Faisali 10 in a crucial qualifying game for the national league.
Faisali’s supporters left the stadium first and began hurling bottles and stones at Wehdat’s supporters from outside the stadium, triggering a stampede, said witness Ali Qasrawi. Qasrawi, who was at the match, said police sealed off the stadium’s exits, trapping Wehdat supporters inside, and fired tear gas. “That triggered the collapse of the large metal fence, which fell on people and police forces under it,” he said. Abu-Hamad, the police spokesman, said the injured were taken to a hospital, some with serious injuries to the head and body. He declined to provide other details. — AP
SPORTS
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Bayern up to fifth in Bundesliga
Soccer results/standings Aston Villa 2 (Downing 25, Heskey 80) West Brom 1 (Scharner 89); Everton 0 Wigan 0; Fulham 0 Sunderland 0; Stoke 0 Blackpool 1 (Campbell 48); West Ham 1 (Tomkins 89) Man City 3 (Y.Toure 30, Green 73-og, Johnson 81); Newcastle 3 (Nolan 15, Barton 80, Carroll 90) Liverpool 1 (Kuyt 49). Playing later Newcastle v Liverpool Playing today Bolton v Blackburn; Tottenham v Chelsea; Wolves v Birmingham. Playing tomorrow Man Utd v Arsenal English Football League results Championship Barnsley 1 Sheffield Utd 0; Bristol City 2 Derby 0; Burnley 2 Leeds 3; Leicester 5 Doncaster 1; Middlesbrough 1 Cardiff 0; Norwich 0 Portsmouth 2; Preston 1 Ipswich 0; Reading 0 Coventry 0. Postponed Scunthorpe v Nottingham Forest
Cheltenham 1; Stevenage 0 Northampton 1; Stockport 3 Crewe 3; Wycombe 1 Bury 0. Postponed Lincoln v Oxford Scottish Premier League results Hearts 5 (Templeton 5, Skacel 9, 58, Elliott 51, Novikovas 78) Aberdeen 0; Inverness CT 1 (Hayes 31) Rangers 1 (Miller 57); St Mirren 1 (Higdon 62) St Johnstone 2 (Parkin 53, Craig 90). Postponed Celtic v Kilmarnock; Dundee Utd v Motherwell; Hamilton v Hibernian. Scottish Football League results First Division Dunfermline 1 Queen of the South 0; Morton 0 Dundee 1; Partick 1 Ross County 1. Postponed Cowdenbeath v Falkirk; Stirling v Raith. Second Division East Fife 6 Stenhousemuir 0; Peterhead 0 Brechin 5.
Playing later Crystal Palace v Hull
Postponed Airdrie v Dumbarton; Forfar v Alloa; Livingston v Ayr.
Played Friday QPR 1 Watford 3; Swansea 1 Millwall 1
Third Division Montrose 0 Elgin City 1; Stranraer 1 Berwick 1.
Division One Bournemouth 0 Hartlepool 1; Carlisle 0 Dagenham and Redbridge 2; Colchester 0 Yeovil 0; Huddersfield 2 Brighton 1; Notts County 2 Milton Keynes Dons 0; Plymouth 2 Exeter 0; Sheffield Wednesday 6 Bristol Rovers 2; Southampton 0 Brentford 2; Tranmere 1 Leyton Orient 2.
Postponed Albion Rovers v Arbroath; Annan Athletic v Clyde; East Stirling v Queen’s Park.
Postponed Oldham v Swindon Playing today Charlton v Walsall
German league results Bayern Munich 3 (Hamit Altintop 16, Lahm 71pen, Ribery 79) St. Pauli 0; Hamburg 2 (Vidal 48og, Elia 79) Bayer Leverkusen 4 (Sam 30, Vidal 61, Renato Augusto 66, 78); Hoffenheim 1 (Compper 55) Nuremberg 1 (Eigler 87); Cologne 1 (Clemens 56) Eintracht Frankfurt 0; Kaiserslautern 0 VfL Wolfsburg 0. Playing later: Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen
Played Friday Peterborough 2 Rochdale 1 Division Tw o Barnet 2 Accrington 0; Bradford 1 Hereford 0; Burton 3 Southend 1; Chesterfield 1 Torquay 0; Macclesfield 1 Gillingham 4; Morecambe 1 Port Vale 0; Rotherham 1 Aldershot 0; Shrewsbury 1
Playing today Freiburg v Borussia M’gladbach, Mainz 05 v Schalke 04 Played Friday Hanover 96 2 (Konan Ya 35, 76) VfB Stuttgart 1 (Niedermeier 74)
English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): English Premier League table Arsenal 16 10 2 Man City 17 9 5 Man Utd 15 8 7 Chelsea 16 9 3 Tottenham 16 7 5 Sunderland 17 5 9 Bolton 16 5 8 Newcastle 17 6 4 Liverpool 17 6 4 Blackpool 16 6 4 West Brom 17 6 4 Stoke 17 6 3 Blackburn 16 6 3 Aston Villa 17 5 5 Everton 17 3 9 Birmingham 16 3 9 Fulham 17 2 10 Wigan 17 3 7 W’hampton 16 3 3 West Ham 17 2 6
4 3 0 4 4 3 3 7 7 6 7 8 7 7 5 4 5 7 10 9
34 24 35 30 24 20 28 27 21 24 24 21 21 19 18 17 16 13 17 15
18 13 16 11 21 18 23 26 22 29 29 22 25 28 20 19 20 28 30 30
32 32 31 30 26 24 23 22 22 22 22 21 21 20 18 18 16 16 12 12
English Football League tables Championship QPR 20 Cardiff 21 Swansea 21 Leeds 21 Coventry 21 Norwich 21 Derby 21 Watford 21 Burnley 20 Barnsley 20 Millwall 21 Portsmouth 20 Leicester 21 Reading 20 Nottingham 19 Doncaster 20 Bristol City 20 Ipswich 21 Hull 19 Sheffield Utd 20 M’brough 21 Scunthorpe 20 Crystal Palace 20 Preston 21
11 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 7 8 7 8 8 6 6 7 7 7 5 6 6 6 6 5
8 4 4 5 4 6 3 6 8 5 7 4 4 9 9 6 5 3 7 4 3 2 2 4
1 6 6 6 7 6 9 7 5 7 7 8 9 5 4 7 8 11 7 10 12 12 12 12
36 35 28 37 28 33 34 38 32 25 25 28 31 28 21 31 24 22 17 16 20 23 24 25
12 22 18 35 23 29 27 33 26 29 22 27 35 22 17 34 28 30 23 28 30 35 37 39
41 37 37 35 34 33 30 30 29 29 28 28 28 27 27 27 26 24 22 22 21 20 20 19
Division One Brighton Sheffield Huddersfield Charlton Bournemouth Colchester Oldham Peterborough Southampton Brentford Carlisle Hartlepool Exeter Milton Keynes Plymouth Leyton Orient Swindon Rochdale Notts County Tranmere Bristol Rovers Dagenham Yeovil Walsall
10 10 10 9 8 7 7 9 8 8 7 7 7 8 7 6 6 5 7 6 5 4 4 4
6 3 2 5 6 9 8 2 4 4 6 5 5 2 4 6 6 7 1 4 7 6 4 2
3 7 7 4 5 3 3 8 7 7 6 6 7 9 8 7 7 7 10 9 7 9 11 12
31 33 31 31 36 25 27 38 26 23 26 21 27 25 25 27 30 27 23 20 23 21 20 17
15 16 21 24 21 23 21 40 18 21 20 24 33 32 29 26 33 26 28 28 34 32 36 32
36 33 32 32 30 30 29 29 28 28 27 26 26 26 25 24 24 22 22 22 22 18 16 14
Division Two Chesterfield Port Vale Bury Rotherham Shrewsbury Wycombe Torquay Cheltenham Crewe
19 20 19 18 19 19 18 19 19 19 19 18 19 19 19 19 19 19 18 19 19 19 19 18
19 19 19 19 19 19 19 18 19
11 10 10 9 9 8 7 7 6
5 6 4 7 6 7 7 6 8
3 3 5 3 4 4 5 5 5
39 26 36 32 32 28 29 26 40
23 10 22 23 19 21 21 27 28
38 36 34 34 33 31 28 27 26
19
Macclesfield Stevenage Burton Albion Gillingham Bradford Northampton Oxford Utd Aldershot Accrington Morecambe Southend Stockport Lincoln City Barnet Hereford
19 19 19 19 19 20 19 19 19 19 18 20 18 20 19
7 5 6 6 7 6 6 5 4 5 5 4 5 5 3
4 9 6 6 3 6 5 7 9 6 5 8 4 4 6
8 5 7 7 9 8 8 7 6 8 8 8 9 11 10
23 20 26 25 17 23 21 16 26 23 19 19 14 24 19
28 16 23 28 20 29 23 23 29 29 23 39 26 37 36
25 24 24 24 24 24 23 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 15
1 2 4 4 5 7 5 8 8 9 9 12
35 35 27 27 22 24 15 12 17 15 11 15
16 12 13 19 16 18 20 23 25 28 29 36
38 35 29 26 23 20 19 18 15 13 10 10
Scottish Football League tables First Division Dunfermline 14 9 2 3 Raith 13 8 3 2 Dundee 14 6 5 3 Falkirk 13 7 1 5 Q of South 14 6 2 6 Cowdenbeath 13 5 1 7 Ross County 14 3 5 6 Partick 14 4 2 8 Morton 14 3 4 7 Stirling 13 3 3 7
27 18 19 28 18 20 10 12 11 13
15 8 14 14 18 25 16 21 14 31
29 27 23 22 20 16 14 14 13 12
Second Division Brechin 14 Livingston 13 Ayr 13 Alloa 14 Forfar 13 East Fife 14 Airdrie Utd 13 S’housemuir 14 Peterhead 15 Dumbarton 13
7 8 7 6 6 4 4 3 2 3
6 3 2 4 3 4 4 3 6 1
1 2 4 4 4 6 5 8 7 9
28 22 23 23 22 34 19 13 17 12
13 12 22 22 18 28 19 21 29 29
27 27 23 22 21 16 16 12 12 10
Third Division Stranraer 14 Albion 12 Berwick 13 Arbroath 13 Elgin 14 Athletic 12 Montrose 14 East Stirling 13 Queens Park 13 Clyde 12
7 8 5 7 7 5 3 3 3 1
6 2 7 1 1 5 4 2 1 3
1 2 1 5 6 2 7 8 9 8
29 23 29 26 24 22 25 8 15 12
20 15 17 27 25 15 26 18 21 29
27 26 22 22 22 20 13 11 10 6
Scottish Premier League table Rangers 15 12 2 Celtic 15 11 2 Hearts 15 9 2 Inverness CT 16 7 5 Motherwell 14 7 2 Kilmarnock 15 6 2 Dundee Utd 14 5 4 St Johnstone 16 5 3 Hibernian 15 4 3 St Mirren 16 3 4 Hamilton 15 2 4 Aberdeen 16 3 1
German league table Dortmund 15 13 Leverkusen 16 9 Hanover 96 16 10 Mainz 05 15 10 Bayern Munich 16 7 Hoffenheim 16 6 Freiburg 15 8 Eintracht 16 7 Hamburg 16 6 Nuremberg 16 5 Bremen 15 5 K’lautern 16 5 Wolfsburg 16 4 St. Pauli 16 5 Schalke 04 15 4 Cologne 16 4 Stuttgart 16 3 M’gladbach 15 2
1 5 1 0 5 6 0 2 3 4 4 3 6 2 4 3 3 4
1 2 5 5 4 4 7 7 7 7 6 8 6 9 7 9 10 9
37 33 24 26 26 30 20 23 25 19 22 25 22 14 21 18 29 25
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40 32 31 30 26 24 24 23 21 19 19 18 18 17 16 15 12 10
BERLIN: Bayern Munich went up to fifth in the Bundesliga yesterday as they beat ten-man St Pauli 3-0 while midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger announced he will stay in Munich until at least 2016. With Schweinsteiger’s contract set to expire in 2012, the 26-year-old has signed a four-year extension and looks set to end his career in Munich as he will be 31 when the new deal expires in June 2016. With reports a host of European clubs were interested in signing him, including Real Madrid, the Germany vice-captain said his heart is in Bavaria. “It would be nicer to win the Champions League here then with Real Madrid,” Schweinsteiger told the fans at Munich’s Allianz Arena after the match. “This is the best long-term solution. “My heart is here, my heart is red!” The win and news of Schweinsteiger’s extension had coach Louis van Gaal beaming. “I am a coach who has long-term goals,” said van Gaal who guided Bayern to the domestic double and Champions League final last season. “So the signing of Bastian Schweinsteiger was important. “It is a very good sign when this world-class player wants to stay with Bayern. “The game was very difficult for us even though we played very well. “I am very satisfied, even if we have wasted several scoring chances.” Bayern sealed the win when France midfielder Franck Ribery rounded St Pauli’s reserve goalkeeper Mathias Hain to score in the 79th minute. Bayern were always in control and took the lead in the first half when Turkey midfielder Hamit Altintop scored an impressive individual goal. Germany defender Philipp Lahm then netted a spot-kick after St Pauli goalkeeper Thomas Kessler was sent off on 68 minutes for fouling namesake Thomas Mueller in the penalty area. Ribery proved his ankle injury is behind him when he wrapped up the win with a well-taken solo effort which leaves his side 14 points behind leaders Dortmund who play Werder Bremen late yesterday. Leverkusen are second in the table after they won 4-2 at Hamburg whose coach Armin Veh is in everincreasing danger of losing his post. Two goals by Brazil midfielder Renato Augusto did the damage as Jupp Heynckes side picked up their third straight win as Mainz drop to fourth. Teenage midfielder Christian Clemens scored his first Bundesliga goal yesterday when he netted in the 56th minute as Cologne picked up a rare win with a 10 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. The win lifts Cologne up to 16th in the table. Hoffenheim were held to a 11 draw by Nuremberg while Wolfsburg had a goalless draw at Kaiserslautern. On Friday, Hanover went third in the table after a 2-1 win over Stuttgart, which looks to have cost Stuttgart coach Jens Keller his job. The defeat leaves the 2007 German champions 17th-one from bottom-in the league and Stuttgart are widely expected to replace Keller with ex-Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia. The win came at a price for Hanover as match-winner Didier Ya Konan is out until next year as the Ivory Coast striker damaged knee ligaments after scoring both goals. Friday’s win leaves Hanover third in the table as Ya Konan sealed his side’s fifth straight win in the league. The 26-year-old has now scored nine goals this season, but needs an operation on his right knee on Sunday and will be out until at least mid-January when the Bundesliga returns after the winter break. Ya Konan is the league’s joint third topscorer. —AFP
GERMANY: Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger (right) and St. Pauli’s Fabian Boll challenge for the ball during the German First Division Bundesliga soccer match. — AP
Pinilla inspires Palermo to victory ROME: Mauricio Pinilla came off the bench to inspire Palermo to a 3-1 win over Parma yesterday to bring the Sicilians to within a point of the Champions League places. Palermo were a shadow of their normal selves as Alessandro Lucarelli gave the visitors a first half lead but Pinilla equalised after the break and then teed up Fabrizio Miccoli to smash home the winner before Cristian Zaccardo’s late own goal added gloss to the result. The victory puts Palermo fifth ahead of Sunday’s games and just a point behind Juventus and Napoli in the last two Champions League qualification positions. But such an outcome looked unlikely in a first half in which the hosts seemed clueless. Parma-for whom assistant boss
Massimo Mezzini was on the bench as coach Pasquale Marino was missing following the death of his mother-were ahead on seven minutes as Lucarelli headed home Sebastian Giovinco’s corner, unmarked from eight yards out with Federico Balzaretti ball-watching. It could have been worse on the quarter hour as Antonio Candreva cut in from the right and tried his luck from 20 yards but Salvatore Sirigu palmed the ball away and then blocked Giovinco’s follow-up. Still Parma threatened and on 36 minutes Angelo dragged his shot just wide of the far post on the counter after Hernan Crespo set him up. Palermo had enjoyed a lot of possession but created nothing and coach Delio Rossi
took no time to react as he hauled off playmaker Javier Pastore for Pinilla at half time. The move paid instant dividends as the Sicilians were level on 51 minutes. Antonio Nocerino drove forward from midfield and played a one-two with Josip Ilicic, retrieving the Slovenian midfielder’s brilliant backheel before shooting on goal. Antonio Mirante saved the shot but Nocerino prodded the follow-up to Pinilla to fire into the empty net. Ten minutes later and the turnaround was complete as Dorin Goian launched a long ball forward and Pinilla won it in the air, knocking the ball down to Miccoli to volley home. Sirigu was called into action to tip a Crespo header over the bar while Mirante made a flying save to deny substitute Pajtim Kasami. But a minute from time Zaccardo-a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006 when playing for Palermo-headed Ilicic’s cross past his own keeper under pressure from Kasami. In the day’s other early match Udinese also came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Fiorentina. Mario Santana gave the visitors a first half lead but second-half strikes from Pablo Armero and Anotnio Di Natale gave Udinese the points. —AFP
Matches on TV (local timings) English Premier League Bolton v Blackburn ................. 16:30 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 4 Wolves v Birmingham ............ 16:30 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 6 Tottenha m v Chelsea ............. 19:00 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5
ABU DHABI: South Korea’s Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma soccer player Choi Sung Kuk scores a goal against Al Wahda during their FIFA Club World Cup qualifying soccer match at the Zayed Sports City. —AP
Seongnam set-up Inter clash ABU DHABI: Asian champions Seongnam Ilhwa of South Korea crushed local side Al Wahda 4-1 yesterday to set-up a Club World Cup semi-final showdown with European champions Inter Milan. Mauricio Molina, Asian player of the year Sasa Ognenovski, Choi Sung Kuk and Cho Dong-Geon were all on target with Fernando Baiano hitting the Gulf team’s consolation. The South Koreans were ahead after just four minutes when a mix-up between Hamdan Al Kamali and goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani allowed Colombian midfielder Molina to score into the unguarded net from 20 yards.
Al Wahda were level on 27 minutes when Baiano headed Eisa Ahmed’s cross beyond goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong. But Seongnam were back in front on the half-hour mark when their Australian captain Ognenovski headed in from six yards. That became 3-1 with 19 minutes remaining when an unmarked Choi SungKuk scored following some good work from Cho Dong-Geon. Cho added the fourth, heading in a Molina cross beyond Al Hosani. Seongham Ilhwa will face Inter Milan on Wednesday with Internacional of Brazil tackling African champions Tout Puissant Mazembe on Tuesday in the first semi-final. —AFP
Rangers held after Miller misses penalty GLASGOW: Kenny Miller missed a penalty as Rangers came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle that moves them three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League yesterday. A sensational first half strike by Johnny Hayes was cancelled out by Miller’s 20th goal of the season before the Scotland striker’s penalty nine minutes from time was stopped by the feet of keeper Ryan Esson. Rangers had Allan McGregor to thank for keeping them in the game at stages as Inverness added a point to the one they collected at Celtic Park a fortnight ago. The result ends Walter Smith’s side’s 100 per cent away record this season as they blew the chance to move five points
ahead of Old Firm rivals Celtic, whose game against Kilmarnock was postponed due to the weather. “We started very slowly and didn’t deserve any better than we got in the first-half of the game,” the Rangers boss said. “If we had played the way we had in the second-half I don’t think anyone would have said anything other than we would have gone on to win the game.” Terry Butcher said he was ecstatic about the result. “We have come a long way this season; that’s our second five match unbeaten run that we’re on,” the Inverness boss said. “We are marching up. We like to win games but if you can get bonus points like they are today against the Old Firm then everything is alright.” —AFP
Italian League Bologna v AC Mila n .................14:30 Al Jazeera Sport +1 Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD AS Roma v As Bari .. .............. 17:00 Al Jazeera Sport +1 Cagliari v Cata nia ................... 17:00 Al Jazeera Sport +5 Lecce v Chievo ........................ 17:00 Al Jazeera Sport +10 Brescia v Sa mpdoria ............... 17:00 Al Jazeera Sport +9 J uventus v Lazio ...................... 22:45 Al Jazeera Sport +1 Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD Spanish League Bilba o v Espanyol ................... 19:00 Al Jazeera Sport +6 Sporting v Levante ................. 19:00 Al Jazeera Sport +6 Mallorca v Racing ................... 19:00 Al Jazeera Sport +8 Hercules v Ma laga .................. 19:00 Al Jazeera Sport +10 Za ragoza v Rea l Ma drid .......... 21:00 Al Jazeera Sport +2 Al Jazeera Sport 2 HD Ba rcelona v Sociedad .............. 23:00 Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD Al Jazeera Sport 2 HD
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Perfect start for Pardew as Newcastle sink Reds Newcastle 3
Liverpool 1
LONDON: West Ham United’s Scott Parker (right) goes for the ball with Manchester City’s David Silva during their English Premiership soccer match at West Ham’s Upton Park stadium. — AP
City maintain title charge West Ham 1
Man City 3
LONDON: Manchester City moved level on points with English Premier League leaders Arsenal following a comprehensive victory at Upton Park inspired by Yaya Toure. Toure opened the scoring with a powerful drive and with 17 minutes remaining his shot rebounded off the post and went in off West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green. Adam Johnson, on as a substitute, added a third goal before James Tomkins pulled a goal back for the hosts. Victory for City came without skipper Carlos Tevez as the Argentina striker was suspended for picking up five bookings this season. It meant there was no warm homecoming reception for the player who played a key role in saving West Ham from relegation in 2007. The mention of Tevez was a reminder of how desperate West Ham’s position has
become at the foot of the table, despite a recent victory over Wigan. Scott Parker has been the player they have turned to for inspiration this time around. He had an early volley flash wide and set a chance up for Junior Stanislas that was saved, but City provided a greater threat in the first half. Brazilian striker Jo, Tevez’s replacement, forced Green into an early low save, then he crossed from a similar position on the left channel but Mario Balotelli glanced his finish wide. Midfielder Toure had already had a shot saved by Green after a powerful run past three defenders, then he broke the deadlock after 30 minutes. Gareth Barry set up the goal, although his pass into the penalty area from the left was originally intended for David Silva, with the Spaniard running ahead of the ball. It caught out the West Ham defence and Toure, who escaped the attentions of Jonathan Spector, took the ball into his stride and his finish flew past Green and into the roof of the net for this third of the season. Balotelli could have added
another when he was lef t unmarked from a Silva corner, but it needed Pablo Barrera to hack off the line. West Ham’s response was a shot from Parker that flew wide from 25 yards, and a header from Frederic Piquionne that that just cleared the crossbar. In the second half, Balotelli was booked for dissent. Mancini took the Italian off as it looked like he was poised to get sent off, with the forward heading straight down the tunnel. It meant a row with a player in consecutive weeks for Mancini, with Tevez upset at being taken off last weekend. The hosts thought they had a decent penalty shout when Toure handled in the area - but referee Phil Dowd waved play on. And Toure was celebrating again with 17 minutes left when he breezed past Tomkins on the left before closing in on goal. His finish hit the post and went in off Green so it was an own goal for the keeper. Johnson added the third when Silva sent him through to round the keeper and finish, with Tomkins goal a header from a corner. — AFP
Villa ease pressure on Houllier Aston Villa 2
West Brom 1
BIRMINGHAM: Stewart Downing and Emile Heskey eased the pressure on Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier as their goals clinched a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion yesterday. Downing’s first half strike set Villa on their way to only their second win in 11 matches and helped boost Houllier’s popularity levels af ter his Liverpool love-in. And Heskey notched a fortunate second ten minutes from time at Villa Park to secure a memorable end to a nightmare seven days for the under-fire Houllier, even though there was a late scare when Albion’s Paul Scharner scored in the final moments. Former Liverpool manager Houllier has been subjected to fierce criticism after applauding his old fans and ignoring Villa’s supporters on his return to Anfield in a 3-0 defeat on Monday. He also claimed if he had to lose to anyone it would be Liverpool. Houllier apologised for his disastrous PR gaffe but despite this vital victory there was not a single chant of recognition for the Villa boss. Houllier admitted in his programme notes the defeat at Liverpool had lef t him “very, very hurt”. But it was his own performance at Anfield that had served to pile even more pressure on his shoulders.
LONDON: Aston Villa’s Marc Albrighton (right) competes for the ball with West Bromwich Albion’s Gabriel Tamas during their English Premier League soccer match. —AP The Frenchman made five changes to the team humbled at Liverpool — and appointing Ashley Young as captain suggested a charm offensive. Richard Dunne was dropped to the bench after a string of poor displays while Stephen Ireland didn’t even make the squad. Albion had not beaten Villa since May 1979 but they started brightly. Chris Brunt fired the hosts an early warning when he cut inside the Villa area and screwed a shot narrowly wide. Somen Tchoyi came even closer with a typically mesmerising run in the 21st minute. The Cameroon winger beat Stephen Warnock twice on the edge of the area before bending a spectacular
shot against the crossbar. Villa appeared there for the taking until they took the lead completely against the run of play four minutes later. Marc Albrighton broke down the right and his cross was flicked on by Young to Downing at the far post and he couldn’t miss. The relief was palpable even though Houllier barely flinched on the touchline. Albrighton was inches away from increasing Villa’s lead ten minutes into the second period as he glanced Downing’s cross wide. But James Morrison missed a glorious opportunity to level shortly afterwards, blasting wide after Gonzalo Jara’s scuffed shot created panic in the Villa box. —AFP
NEWCASTLE: Alan Pardew enjoyed the perfect start to his controversial reign at Newcastle as late goals from Joey Barton and Andy Carroll clinched a 3-1 win over Liverpool at St James’ Park yesterday. Pardew replaced the sacked Chris Hughton as Newcastle boss this week and the Toon Army vented their anger at the appointment both inside and outside the stadium with a string of chants aimed at unpopular owner Mike Ashley. The former West Ham and Charlton manager was dismissed by League One Southampton earlier this season and hardly seems to have the track record required for success at a club of Newcastle’s size. But all of that was forgotten when Barton pounced ten minutes from time and Carroll rifled home in stoppage time to crown a memorable debut for the new Magpies chief. Liverpool-born Kevin Nolan had put Newcastle ahead early on before Dirk Kuyt’s equaliser and Newcastle are up to eighth place in the Premier League thanks to those two goals in the last 10 minutes. It was Liverpool who enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and Maxi Rodriguez was first to threaten as he glided infield from the left but failed to trouble Tim Krul with a rising shot from 20 yards. Carroll should have tested Jose Reina when slipped in by Jonas Gutierrez on 12 minutes but the England striker’s touch deserted him and the Liverpool keeper was able to gather. But the towering frontman atoned for that miss just three minutes later with a crucial part in the game’s opening goal. Barton hung a free-kick to the far post where Carroll rose to guide a downward header onto the boot of Nolan, who stabbed home his eighth of the season from point-blank range. The Reds went in search of a response and only a wellpositioned Jose Enrique denied Raul Meireles a leveller when his strike cannoned through bodies only to be hacked from the line by the Spanish defender on 33 minutes. Meireles then presented Newcastle with a chance to extend their lead when his wayward pass was seized upon by Shola Ameobi. The striker advanced before seeing a low drive skid inches wide with Reina wrong-footed by a deflection off Martin Skrtel. Liverpool were back on level terms five minutes after the restart. A harmless ball downfield caused problems for Sol Campbell and when the former England man failed to clear it allowed Kuyt to pounce. The Dutchman strode by the hapless centre-back before seeing a left-footed strike from 12 yards clip off Steven Taylor’s heeel and dribble beyond Krul. Campbell was enduring a torrid time and when he lost flight of Maxi’s centre it presented Fernando Torres with a one-on-one against Krul. But the Dutch stopper came out on top as his left boot denied the striker from just eight yards. Carroll could, and perhaps should, have restored Newcastle’s lead when Barton dropped an inch-perfect cross on his forehead on 56 minutes but the striker flashed his effor t over Reina’s crossbar from six yards out. —AFP
LONDON: Liverpool’s Fernando Torres (center) vies for the ball with Newcastle United’s Cheik Tiote (left) and Jonas Gutierrez (right) during their English Premier League soccer match at St James’ Park. — AP
Blackpool defy pre-season predictions Stoke 0
Blackpool 1
STOKE: Blackpool tore up the Premier League form book once again to score yet another away win with a 1-0 victory over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium here yesterday. A second-half goal from DJ Campbell handed the Tangerines their sixth win of the season and moved Ian Holloway’s men into the top half of the table with 22 points
from 16 games. The result was yet another statement of defiance to the widespread pre-season predictions that the newly promoted minnows would be sent hurtling straight back to the Championship this year. An evenly matched encounter saw Stoke almost take the lead on 36 minutes when Ricardo Fuller smashed a long-range effort off the crossbar. Yet Blackpool kept Stoke on edge and playmaker Charlie Adam created a giltedged opportunity for Elliot Grandin from six yards out only for the midfielder to fail to pounce. Stoke kept pressing for a goal and Rory Delap should
have done better with a headed effort from a Jermaine Pennant cross. Delap thought he had given Stoke the lead shortly afterwards when he had the ball in the net, only for the goal to be disallowed for a shove by Robert Huth on Blackpool keeper Richard Kingson. Stoke started the second half in similar fashion and Dean Whitehead’s shot from the edge of the area flew just over the bar. Instead it was Blackpool who took the lead, with the in-form Adam at the heart of a swift counter-attack which resulted in a clinical finish from Campbell, the striker’s
third league goal of the season. Blackpool could have made it 2-0 midway through the half when Gary TaylorFletcher’s header cannoned off the woodwork. Stoke launched a furious late rally in a bid to grab a share of the points, and Matthew Etherington hit the woodwork on 73 minutes with a sweetly struck free-kick. Kingson then pulled off a reaction save to deny a certain goal from Huth and Stephen Crainey scrambled off the line. Delap hit the post with a late shot to leave Blackpool hearts fluttering but the Seasiders managed to hold on for three points. — AFP
Mignolet saves Sunderland Fulham 0
Sunderland 0
LONDON: A fine second-half performance from Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet earned his side a point at struggling Fulham in their Premier League clash here yesterday as the match ended in a 0-0 draw. The draw kept Fulham — last season’s surprise Europa League finalists — just out of the relegation zone on goal difference while Sunderland remain sixth in the table. While the result means Mark Hughes has never lost to a club managed by former Manchester United team-mate Steve Bruce he will be more concerned that his side has won just once now in 13 Premier League matches. Neither ‘keeper had any opportunity to prove their worth in the first-half but Sunderland manager Bruce showed he was going for all three points by sending on record signing Asamoah Gyan, who is recovering from a toe injury, to partner fellow Darren Bent up front. Perversely this move seemed to galvanise the hosts - who had been booed off at half-time by an increasingly disgruntled home support - as American veteran Clint Dempsey went close to marking his 100th appearance for the club with a goal. Dempsey, leading scorer this term with six goals, five of those in the Premier League, forced Mignolet into a superb save whilst he forced another save from the alert guardian shortly afterwards. Mignolet, though, was thankful to Chris Bardsley as the defender produced a brilliant goalline clearance with his head after Dickson Etuhu’s header had beaten the ‘keeper. —AP
LONDON: Wigan Athletic’s Hugo Rodallega (top) jumps over Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard during their English Premier League soccer match at Goodison Park. —AP
Win-less woe continues for Everton Everton 0
Wigan 0
LIVERPOOL: Everton’s woes mounted at Goodison Park where a goalless draw with struggling Wigan lef t David Moyes’ team without a victory in seven league games and rooted firmly at the wrong end of the Premier League table. Despite enjoying a vast superiority in possession and chances, Everton were unable to find a way past Wigan’s Oman international goalkeeper Ali AlHabsi and a sequence of two victories from nine home league games to date is cause for concern. Everton set the tone for a dominant first-half performance inside the opening minute as
Phil Jagielka’s long pass forward found Tim Cahill who showed superb control to take the ball on his chest but whose shot lacked the necessary power to test AlHasbi in the Wigan goal. England left-back Leighton Baines, in particular, was a constant threat, particularly from set-pieces, and an early free-kick forced Al-Habsi into an important punch to clear from a crowded area. Midfielder Steven Pienaar, also, began to exert some influence on proceedings with his sixth minute cross almost finding Louis Saha who came within inches of connecting with a diving header. Another Baines free-kick found the head of Marouane Fellaini who jumped well but cleared the crossbar with his header while Saha did likewise, this time from a Pienaar cross. But, given Everton’s current plight-a pre-match standing just two points above the relegation places-as they failed to find the
first goal, tension began to build among their supporters. Yet another Baines dead ball, just after the half hour, presented another chance as Fellaini headed across goal for Jack Rodwell to steer his own headed attempt goalwards and Ben Watson to clear off the line. Finally, in the closing minutes of the first half, Fellaini showed neat footwork inside the Wigan area and steered a low, crossshot towards the far post, the ball evading Saha’s lunge and the net by a matter of inches. Respite for Wigan was only sporadic with Hugo Rodallega glancing a header just wide from a Hendry Thomas cross and the lively Charles N’Zogbia delivering a stunning low cross into the area which was missed by friend and foe alike. The pattern continued after the interval, with Pienaar’s wicked 30-yard shot forcing the first real save of the game, from Al-Habsi at the foot of his righthand post. —AFP
Largest and latest Al-Sayer service facility in Ahmadi
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Jazeera leads Kuwait airlines in market share in October
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Stock markets outlook bright, and encouraging
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
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OPEC ministers signal no output shifts QUITO, Ecuador: OPEC oil ministers signaled ahead of a meeting that they see no reason to change output targets given current global economic sluggishness, though they expect demand for crude will continue to grow. “What’s missing right now is equilibrium in the price of oil,” Angola’s oil minister, Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos, said on Friday after arriving in Ecuador’s capital. “I think $90 dollars (a barrel) is a comfortable price.” Four of the 12-nation cartel’s ministers — from Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Nigeria — did not make the trip to the Andean nation. OPEC, which is responsible for 35 percent of global oil production, has not changed its output quotas since late 2008. And last month, Saudi oil minister Ali Naimi said oil between $70 and $90 per barrel was tolerable for consumers. He echoed that sentiment upon arrival in Quito on Friday The 50-year-old cartel has had a good year, with prices hovering in the mid-$80 range and profits up 32 percent over 2009 to $750 billion, according to US Energy Department estimates. Oil reached a two-year high of nearly $91 on Tuesday — as traders gauged the dimensions of 2011 demand and responded to a particularly harsh onset of winter in Europe. The International Energy Agency said Friday that stronger-than-anticipated consumption next year in North America and emerging Asian economies led by China could compel OPEC to boost supply “if prices continue their relentless rise.” Issuing its global oil demand forecast, the IEA said it anticipated a rise in demand next year to 88.8 million barrels a day, 260,000 daily barrels more than previously forecast. The Paris-based agency nevertheless said it expected “quick agreement” from the OPEC ministers to maintain current output targets. OPEC’s monthly market report, released Friday, forecast a boost in demand of 1.2 million barrels per day for 2001 from this year’s levels to an average of 87.1 million. Analyst David Kirsch of PFC Energy in Washington agreed, citing current healthy inventories and continuing global economic uncertainty. “If demand does turns out to be stronger than they’ve expected, there is still a safety cushion out there and they can come back later and increase production,” he told The Associated Press. “Or more likely, what happens is that individual members cheat.” Oil supplies in major industrialized nations and China are currently well above normal, and while OPEC forecast a demand boost in North America and China in the monthly market report it published Friday it believes western Europe’s festering debt crisis will dampen consumption there. OPEC last changed output in late 2008 when it capped a record series of cuts to help boost prices that had plummeted with the global financial meltdown. Some analysts believe conditions are now conspiring against much more upward pressure on prices as the effects wear off from the US Federal Reserve Bank’s decision to issue and buy up $2.3 trillion in US Treasury bonds. The post-meltdown move — essentially printing money — made US exports cheaper abroad and boosted the price of oil. It also encouraged the Chinese to buy and store more oil. Many analysts believes $100 a barrel oil is inevitable in 2011 though it could well take months. “It could be a pretty interesting journey from where we are now, especially given the economic risks that are still present in the market,” Kirsch said. Ecuador, which rejoined OPEC in 2007 after 15-year absence, holds the rotating presidency this year. Iran will take over for 2011. — AP
Global completes first year of its debt rescheduling KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Global Investment House said yesterday it had completed the first year of its debt rescheduling after making a principal payment of $27 million. “With this payment, Global met its first year repayment commitment stated in the debt rescheduling agreement signed with 53 lending banks on 10 December 2009,” the company, one of Kuwait’s biggest investment firms, said in a statement. The company reached a deal with creditors a year ago to reschedule $1.7 billion in debt. “Since signing the rescheduling agreement, Global has made interest payments of $82 million in addition to settling the KD20 million ($71.1 million) bond on its due date of 23 December 2009, less than two weeks after signing the debt rescheduling agreement,” the statement said.— Reuters
Demand for crude seen growing amid global economic sluggishness
TUNIS: People attend the second edition of the Arab-Japan Economic Forum titled ‘A New Chapter for Mutual Prosperity’ yesterday. — AFP
Currency war reveals growing global fissures WASHINGTON: Currency wars, exchange-rate tensions between the United States and China and uncertainty over the euro’s future highlight a widening gap between the struggling developed economies and fastgrowing emerging champions. “We’re in the midst of an international currency war, a generalized depreciation of currencies,” Brazilian Finance Minister, Guido Mantega, said in September. The label caught on. It became shorthand to describe the emerging differences between the leaders of the largest economies that export a lot, like China, Germany and Japan; and those that would like to do more, such as the United States and euro-zone countries. The year’s most important decision-by the Chinese central bank to allow the dollar-pegged yuan to float more freely-just before the Group of 20 summit in Toronto in June, had mixed results.
It did nothing to cool the rhetoric of US lawmakers waging open warfare against Beijing’s currency policy, which they say keeps the yuan undervalued to gain an unfair trade advantage that is siphoning away US jobs. “It is only strong legislation that will get the Chinese to change and will stop jobs and wealth from flowing out of America,” said Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat pushing legislation to slap trade sanctions on China. China, from atop a 10 percent economic growth rate, protested foreign pressure. “China’s currency policy is coherent and responsible,” Chinese President Hu Jintao said. If the yuan is allowed to rise sharply, “a large number of Chinese export enterprises will go bankrupt, the workers will lose their jobs... making it hard for society to remain stable,” said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. In nearly six months, the yuan has appreciated only 2.5
percent against the dollar. The International Monetary Fund said it remains “very much undervalued.” And with the dollar declining against most other currencies, the yuan has weakened against the euro by about 4.0 percent, and the yen by more than 5.0 percent. If there is indeed a currency war, Europeans and Japanese think they are the victims. In the euro-zone, countries that have not seen end of the recession, such as Greece and Ireland, are suffering as they share the euro with Germany, in robust expansion. Unimaginable in 2009, debate on the breakup of the monetary union raged in 2010. Tokyo, intervening in currency markets on September 15 to stem the yen’s rise, drew criticism that spared other countries that were much more interventionist. For nearly 40 years the world has lived in cohabitation with currencies that float freely in the markets, and others that are managed by central banks. But this
dollar-based system appears to have reached its limit. French economist Patrick Artus explained in his book “La Liquidite incontrolable” (Uncontrollable Liquidity) that the monetary system was driving countries to create excessive amounts of money. The United States, he wrote, enjoys the privilege of issuing “without a second thought” a currency for which demand seems insatiable. Against that, central banks are forced to curb the appreciation of their currencies by buying dollars, reinvested in reserves, mainly US Treasury bonds. And for that China issues yuans, Brazil reals, and South Korea the won. This systems seems so unsustainable that the United States itself questions it. “As currently constituted, the international monetar y system has a str uctural flaw,” Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, said in November. — AFP
Afghanistan, Pakistan seek agreement on gas pipeline ASHGABAT: The leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan were in the capital of gas-rich Turkmenistan yesterday to push forward on ambitions to build a pipeline across their countries. The pipeline, which would terminate in India, would bring huge amounts of gas to underdeveloped regions and could earn impoverished Afghanistan hundreds of millions of dollars in transit fees. But it would cross both Talibanintensive stretches of Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan’s unruly tribal areas. The leaders, along with Turkmenistan’s president and India’s oil minister are expected to sign a document expressing support for the project. The next step would likely be to seek proposals and bids from energy companies. Efforts to get the pipeline — called TAPI after the countries involved — under way have intensified in recent months as Afghanistan seeks ways to kick-start its economy, while Pakistan and India explore how to slake their energy thirst.
SERBA JADI: A worker holds a handfull of palm oil seeds in Serba Jadi, East Aceh, yesterday. Rampant deforestation, which makes ways for palm oil and acacia plantation areas, makes Indonesia the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitters, according to some estimates. According to Greenpeace, forests covering the equivalent of 300 football fields are eradicated every hour in Indonesia, which along with Malaysia produces 80 percent of the world’s palm oil, used for among other things cosmetics, food and fuel. — AFP
The project has also won vocal support from the United States, which is strongly opposed to India and Pakistan drawing supplies from Iran through another proposed gas pipeline. Turkmenistan, which is believed to hold the world’s fourth-largest gas reserves, is eager to find new markets for its potentially gargantuan energy exports amid flagging interest from Russia, its traditional client. Plans to build a pipeline transporting the former Soviet nation’s gas to Western Europe to date remain hazy ambitions. The visit by Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari comes after months of technical consultations. India is expected be represented at Saturday’s signing by petroleum minister Murli Deora. The TAPI pipeline would stretch some 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Turkmenistan’s Dovletabad field to the Indian township of Fazilka, just over the border with Pakistan. Its cost is estimated at about $8 billion. Sections of the pipeline’s intended path — across deep Taleban country in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province and then into Pakistan’s restive tribal areas. That raises concern among experts about its near-term feasibility. “The issue is not only security in the sense that you can’t actually guarantee the safety of the pipeline, but actual construction is going to be difficult as well,” said Maria Kuusisto, an Asia analyst at Eurasia Group. With the capacity to deliver more than 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually, TAPI would come as welcome relief for energy-parched nations along the route. According to a preliminary breakdown, India and Pakistan would each stand to receive around 38 million cubic meters of gas out of the 90 million cubic meters shipped daily. Afghanistan would get the remainder. Attempts to build a pipeline through Afghanistan date back to the mid-1990s, when the US-led consortium Unocal was locked in fierce competition with Argentina’s Bridas to win a deal to construct and run the route. But as the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan, those ambitions were shelved and remained so during the next decade’s war. Turkmen President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov has vigorously trumpeted TAPI, which presents an opportunity for to kburnish Turkmenistan’s credentials as a bulwark of stability in the region. Turkmen officials estimate that construction of the pipeline could generate around 12,000 jobs in Afghanistan and earn it several hundred millions dollars annually in transit fees. Turkmenistan has sought to broaden its client base after Russia sharply cut back its imports from the Central Asian nation. A 1,800-kilometer (1,080-mile) pipeline to China began pumping natural gas late last year. — AP
HEFEI: Chinese shoppers gather to buy vegetables at a supermarket in Hefei, east China Anhui province yesterday. China’s consumer prices rose at the fastest pace in more than two years last month, the government said after ratcheting up efforts to contain inflation and rising property prices. — AFP
China’s inflation rises at fastest pace in two years
BEIJING: China said yesterday that inflation topped five percent for the first time in more than two years, a figure analysts said would lead to fresh interest rate hikes as officials battle to curb rising prices. The country’s consumer price index rose a fasterthan-expected 5.1 percent year-on-year in November as food costs continued to soar, compared with 4.4 percent in October, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. It was the fastest increase in consumer prices since July 2008, when inflation hit 6.3 percent, and was well above the government’s full-year target for three percent. Analysts had forecast inflation would be 4.7 percent on year, according to Dow Jones Newswires. “Price rises in November are beyond many people’s expectations indeed,” said NBS spokesman Sheng Laiyun. “It will take some time for the policies (on curbing price rises) to be implemented and show clear effects.” Ever fearful of inflation’s historical potential to spark unrest in China, Beijing has ordered a range of steps to boost supplies of key goods after severe summer flooding and recent cold snaps hit yields and drove up prices. As part of these efforts, the central bank announced in October the country’s first interest rate hike in nearly three years. On Friday, the central bank ordered lenders for the sixth time this year to keep
more money in reserve as authorities struggle to stem the flood of liquidity into the economy, which is fanning the inflation problem. Royal Bank of Canada analyst Brian Jackson said the inflation figure showed Beijing needed to “bring out the big guns” such as further interest rate hikes, with an increase in benchmark rates “any time now”. He predicted China would raise benchmark rates by 25 basis points before year-end with rates rising a further 75 basis points over the next year. While food costs remained the major driver of inflation last month-up 11.7 percent on year-non-food prices also gathered pace, rising 1.9 percent year-on-year compared with October’s 1.6 percent increase. “It is slightly alarming that there is price pressure outside of food,” said Tom Orlik, a Beijing-based analyst with Stone & McCarthy Research Associates. “I don’t think we are going to see rampant inflation but I think 5.1 percent is certainly enough to have the government accelerate its efforts to contain the problem.” There had been mounting speculation that an interest rate hike or tighter lending restrictions were imminent after Beijing pledged last week to shift its monetary policy stance to “prudent” from “relatively loose” next year.—AFP
BUSINESS
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
Kuwait’s MOF sustains revenue growth
KUWAIT: In its monthly follow-up report of the State’s accounts for October 2010, the Ministry of Finance indicates sustained revenues increase during the month. Until 31/10/2010 (7 months of the current fiscal year 2010/2011), overall received revenues scored about KD 11.5355 billion, which is 18.7% higher than the total estimated amount for the entire current fiscal year at KD 9.7193 billion, a noticeable rise by 19.1% over total received revenues during the same period of last fiscal year 2009/2010 in the amount of KD 9.6874 billion. In details, the bulletin estimates actual oil revenues until 31/10/2010 by KD 10.8802 billion, 26.3% higher than estimated oil revenues for the entire present fiscal year (KD 8.6166 billion), or 94.3% of total received revenues due to increased oil prices. Received oil revenues in 7 months of the current fiscal year were higher by KD 1.7426 billion (19.1%) than their counterpart value in the same period last fiscal year. An amount of KD 655.308 million, or a monthly average of KD 93.615 million, was received from nonoil revenues. The total estimated figure for the entire current fiscal year was KD 1.103 billion. Thus, the realized revenues would be very slightly higher for the entire current fiscal year by KD20 million than the estimated amount if non-oil revenues continued at their same current level. Expenditure allocations for the current fiscal year were estimated at KD 16.310 billion. According to the bulletin, KD 5.9416 billion has been actually spent until 31/10/2010, a monthly spending average by KD 848.804 million. We however do not recommend relying on this figure because there are expenditures which have already become due but have not been spent. Besides, spending during late months of the fiscal year is usually higher than in the early ones. Though the bulletin concludes that the budget surplus in the end of these 7 months of the current fiscal year scored about KD 5.5939 billion, we provide it without recommending it because we believe actual surplus in these 7 months will be less than the published figure. The monthly spending average will be ascending as months go by and thus the surplus will be less when the final account is issued. GCC Summit in Abu Dhabi We do not pay much attention to the GCC summit statements, not out of a political position but as an outcome of the experience with the GCC track which does not distinguish between issues and their application. However, we cannot but document what is issued by these summits without recommending taking their application seriously. The final statement of the Summit held in Abu Dhabi, December 67th of 2010 dedicated 6 main headlines but their content does not imply any programmed progress in dealing with these headlines. We shall await the impact of the visions of both the Kingdom of Bahrain and Qatar in developing or effectuating joint work, in the hope that either one might turn headlines into reality. The first issue is the Customs Unification, which is supposed to be put in practice; however, laws of individual countries and decisions still limit its efficiency. What the leaders wanted is to urge the development of its mechanisms and the removal of its obstacles. But we do not know when and how that will be realized. The second issue is the GCC Common Market which is an advanced concept for the Customs Unification. In other words, the Customs Unification should be a phase in the Common Market. What the Summit has decided is granted, namely, the request to allow Gulf companies to open branches in other GCC states and treat them in par with branches of national companies, a matter which is confronted with stringent legislation in individual states. The third
AL-SHALL WEEKLY ECONOMIC REPORT
issue relates to the most important and the more ambitious project, namely, the Monetary Union. The GCC General Secretary preceded the Summit by wishing that UAE would rescind its withdrawal from the project and return to it as it is the second biggest economy in the group. The response of the governor of the Central Bank of the UAE came quickly and decisive that there will be no change in UAE position. Beyond that, there is nothing but some procedural matters concerning steps of establishing the founding monetary council after 10 years from announcing the project. The best title which fits as evidence on lack of seriousness is the announcement of the approval of the long-term, comprehensive and developed development strategy for the member states (2010-2025). We all know that is unreal. Unless there is agreement on easier issues, it will be difficult to announce agreement on the more difficult ones. That applies to the agreement on the framework of the statistical strategy. The last two subjects are the Power Grid which is supposed to have completed among 4 states; the Emirates will be added in 2011 and Oman in 2012. The advantage of the project is limited except in emergencies because consumption peak time is the same in all the 6 states. The last project is the Gulf Railway which is still in the study phase. It is assumed that if implemented after it is proved feasible, it will link Kuwait, which is in the farthest north with Oman in the farthest south in 2017. We however shall wait until its feasibility is completed to judge its economics. We still believe that cooperation among the 6 GCC states is well deserved and should be supported. But in reality it is not functioning even at the minimum when it is compared with other economic conglomerations or even going back 30 years before its establishment. The GCC council needs some quick and sound achievements, even minor, like movement among its member states by the personal identity. Beliefs are solidified by achievements pertinent to the needs of most people even if the GCC abandons the big but hollow titles. The Comparative Performance of Selected Stock Markets By the end of November 2010, one month remains for the current year to end. Two stock markets returned to the negative zone by the end of the month, namely, Abu Dhabi
and Bahrain. Thus the number of losing markets is 6 out of 14 selected ones. The negative impact came mainly from fears from Europe’s sovereign debts crisis associated with disturbances particularly in France. After Ireland stressed it does not need assistance from its colleagues in the European Monetary Union and the IMF, it came back to accept a rescue scheme by about $113 billion with tough austerity measures as a condition. Portugal is a candidate for a similar scenario but genuine fears come from Spain, the fourth biggest economy in the European Monetary Union. Perhaps it would be impossible to endure its rescue costs and Italy might follow suit. During crises, it is not easy to rationally distinguish between what is likely and what is difficult to achieve. The weak level of confidence always doubles the impact of rumors. Four regional markets participated in the positive zone together along with 4 main and emerging ones. The same applies to the negative zone with 3 regional markets and 3 from outside. Kuwait alone participated in the positive zone in the leading position in its weighted index, but belonged to the negative zone with its price index. Despite fluctuations of “Zain’s” deal, the weighted index for KSE remained in leading position of the sample with a positive growth of 20.9% vis-a-vis the end of 2009. The gap is getting narrower between it and its rivals. Doha market index went up to the second position adding 4.4% in November alone making its growth from the beginning of the year 17% exceeding the German market which came third. In the negative zone, the Chinese market went to the rear area. The French and Dubai markets deepened their losses. Dubai market lost 5.4% in November alone. Major losses belonged to the French market which lost 5.8% in November due to the austerity measures demonstrations. We believe fears will subside in most markets and a minimum of two markets will join the positive zone raising the number to 10. (We expected them to become 12 in last month report). The best performing stock exchange in 11 months, i.e. KSE is subject to pressure from two directions. It may lose some points if “Zain” deal went negative. The second is the strong performance of the Qatari market boosted by Qatar winning to be the host for the World Cup in 2022, associated with huge spending.
Kuwait Finance House Financial Results - 30 September 2010 The Kuwait Finance House (KFH) announced its results for the first 9 months period of this year ending September 30, 2010 which indicate that the bank achieved, after due deductions, profits by about KD 97.3 million, a decline by KD 9.04 million (8.5%) from its KD 106.4 million profits for the same period in 2009. Net profit gross rate dropped slightly to 17.04% down from 17.15% for the same period 2009. Total operational revenues of the bank dropped in September 2010 by about KD 49.1 million (7.9%) to KD 571.4 million (KD 620.5 million for the same period last year). Investment income also decreased by KD 93.8 million to KD 45.2 million vis-a-vis
KD 138.9 million for the same period 2009. Financing income item also dropped by KD 13.3 million (3.3%) to KD 388.6 million (KD 401.9 million for the same period 2009). Other income item increased by KD 44.5 million (122.5%) from KD 36.3 million in September 2009 to KD 80.8 million in September 2010. Net profit from foreign currencies rose by KD 13.2 million (344.5%) when it went up from KD 3.8 million losses in 9/2009 to KD 9.4 million profits for the same period this year. Total operational expenses dropped by 2.2% from KD 356.7 million in September 2009 to KD 348.7 million in 9/2010. The bank’s financial statements show that its total assets went up by KD 764.4 million (6.8%) to KD 12055.1 mil-
lion (KD 11290.7 million in the end of 2009). The rise in assets scored KD 963.8 million (8.7%) compared with KD 11091.3 million for the same period 2009. Debtors’ item rose by KD 543.2 million in 9/2010 i.e.10.7% to KD 5633.6 million (46.7% of total assets) vis-a-vis KD 5090.4 million in the end of 2009 (45.1% of total assets) and increased by about KD 598.4 million (11.9%)when compared with KD 5035.2 million for the same period last year (45.4% of total assets). Investments item went up by KD 120.2 million, or 11.5% in 9/2010 to KD 1162.3 million (9.6% of total assets) visa-a-vis KD 1042.02 million in the end of 2009 (9.2% of total assets). Investments item went up by KD 85.9 million compared with the same period of last year which stood at KD 1076.3 million (9.7% of total assets). Results of analyzing financial statements show that most profit indexes of the bank registered slight drop. Return on equities index (equity holders of the bank) (ROE) dropped from 8.6% in the end of September 2009 to 7.7% in the end of 09/2010. Return on assets index (ROA) dropped to 0.7% (0.8% in the end of the 3rd quarter of 2009). Return on capital index (ROC) also dropped to 34% (40.7% for the same period 2009). The bank achieved 39.6 fils earning per share (equity holders of the bank) -EPS(43.2 fils for the same period 2009). Thus the bank achieved 2.8% annual return on the share’s market value (3% in 9/2009). The Weekly Performance of Kuwait Stock Exchange The performance of the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) for the last week was mixed, where the indices of trading volume and the general index showed an increase, while the indices of traded value and number of transactions showed a decrease. AlShall Index (value weighted) closed at 545.1 points at the closing of last Thursday, showing an increase of 8.7 points or about 1.6% compared to previous week’s closing, and increased by 105.5 points or about 24% compared to the year end 2009.
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 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
.2730000 .4400000 .3700000 .2820000 .2750000 .2730000 .0045000 .0020000 .0760540 .7409710 .3900000 .0730000 .7263900 .0045000 .0480000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2801500 .4434770 .3730060 .2850380 .2775270 .0500260 .0409370 .2765080 .0360590 .2139860 .0033450 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0762940 .7433010 .0000000 .0747270 .7278510 .0000000
Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees
ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.399 6.233 3.276 2.533 3.900
.2860000 .4510000 .3790000 .2910000 .2850000 .2830000 .0075000 .0035000 .0768180 .7484180 .4100000 .0780000 .7336910 .0072000 .0560000 .2822500 .4468020 .3758020 .2871750 .2796080 .0504010 .0412440 .2785810 .0363290 .2155900 .0033700 .0063070 .0025430 .0033010 .0040320 .0768650 .7488720 .3992220 .0752870 .7333070 .0064890
Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash
215.740 36.223 3.991 6.436 9.392 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES Saudi Riyal 75.091 Qatari Riyal 77.372 Omani Riyal 731.590 Bahraini Dinar 747.920 UAE Dirham 76.683 ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 51.900 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 48.603 Yemen Riyal 1.321 Tunisian Dinar 195.340 Jordanian Dinar 397.650 Lebanese Lira 187.300 Syrian Lier 6.119 Morocco Dirham 33.954 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 281.480 Euro 375.780 Sterling Pound 448.450 Canadian dollar 282.380 Turkish lire 187.480 Swiss Franc 290.570 Australian dollar 277.260 US Dollar Buying 281.145 GOLD 20 Gram 266.000 10 Gram 135.000 5 Gram 68.000
Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal 10 Tola Sterling Pound US Dollar
SELL CASH 281.500 748.360 4.260 282.300 552.700 14.100 51.300 167.800 51.300
216.380 43.550 2.680 449.000 42.200 290.800 6.200 9.710 198.263 76.780 281.800 1.360
375.000 36.770 6.240 0.032
397.740 0.189 92.310 3.920 213.600 730.760 3.300 6.460 77.410 75.130 75.130 216.380 43.560 2.532 447.000 289.300 6.200 9.550 76.680 281.400
GOLD 1,461.710 TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 447.000 281.400
Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd
Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound
376.500 36.920 6.470 0.033 0.264 0.252 3.460 399.620 0.190 92.310 45.900 4.410 215.100 1.914 48.000 730.940 3.390 6.660 77.840
SELL DRAFT 280.000 748.360 3.990 280.800
216.400 48.652
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
Selling Rate 281.700 282.140 443.690 375.030 284.457 691.011 745.595 76.672 77.353 75.089 397.500 48.755 6.262
Pakistani Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees
3.295 2.531 4.010 6.426 3.356 9.324 6.145 3.903
Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Candaian Dollars
Rate per 1000 (Tran) 281.600 3.290 6.290 2.540 3.995 6.480 76.770 75.295 748.100 48.720 448.500 0.00003280 4.025 1.550 399.700 5.750 381.500 285.700
Al Mulla Exchange US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change
281.350 375.000 444.500 279.900 3.375 6.260 48.725 2.530 3.989 6.450 3.290 749.000 76.600 75.100
BUSINESS
Sunday, December 12, 2010
23
Photos of the event by Yasser Al-Zayyat
New Toyota Service Center
Largest and latest Al-Sayer service facility in Ahmadi KUWAIT: As part of Al-Sayer’s ongoing expansion plans, MNSS is pleased to announce the opening of the latest and most sophisticated Toyota service workshop in Ahmadi. Al-Sayer Service Group is keen to maintain its leading and distinct position catering for best customer service. The Group has been making tremendous leaps and achievements in the quality of its services and facilities providing such services in keeping with the record growth of Toyota sales and continued improvement of customer service. New Ahmadi Service Center is 6 times larger than the old facility, equipped with cutting edge sophisticated service and maintenance equipment reflecting Toyota’s global stringent service standards. The opening ceremony was attended by Naser Mohamed Naser Al-Sayer Chairman of MNSS and other senior managers, guests and press people. This event marks one further turning point in MNSS commitment to provide
the best service to all MNSS customers. MNSS spares no effort to ensure that each service facility has its own smooth supply line of parts with no disruption from its central parts warehouse in Sabhan with a total of about 100,000 parts in stock to ensure adequate and timely supply of service parts. Therefore, it’s no wonder that all Toyota owners in Kuwait are confident that their needs and requirements of Toyota parts are readily available to their expectation. So, the opening of new Ahmadi Service Center is a further indication of MNSS commitment to provide the adequate service and parts locations across Kuwait. Al-Sayer values our customers trust in our ability to provide the best service and maintenance facilities. After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Naser Mohamed Naser Al-Sayer, Chairman of MNSS, emphasized MNSS confidence in the Kuwait economy saying that “under the leadership of HH the
Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Kuwait government, we will not spare any effort to invest in various areas catering for the best service to Toyota customers of all levels by meeting and even exceeding their expectations as key ingredient of a lifelong customer loyalty to our products and services”. He added: “Our trust is translating into concrete actions in our path to more vigilant and farsighted vision in keeping with the development plans of our beloved Kuwait”. New Ahmadi Service center Services and Features: • Oil/filter change in as little as 10 minutes from start to finish 16 hrs/day • Express Maintenance with prior appointment in 60 minutes for passenger cars and 90 minutes for 4WD vehicles. • Regular Quick Service for periodic maintenance 16 hrs/day. • All mechanical and electrical repairs • All body and chassis light, medium
ABK Advantage: Exclusive discounts and offers for ABK customers KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait, a leading financial institution in Kuwait, launched “ABK Advantage” an exclusive instant discounts program for its customers, in collaboration with top Kuwaiti retailers and companies. ABK is keen on providing its cardholders new services and benefits that work to their advantage, thus “ABK Advantage”, the new instant discounts program now available to all ABK credit cardholders as well as to the Prestige debit cardholders. It features exclusive offerings to cater to the multi-faceted lifestyles that customers are leading today. Exclusive retailers in service industries like hotels and resorts, the fashion industry whether watches, jewelry, or lifestyle dominated outlets like travel agencies,
Stewart Lockie, General Manager (Acting) fitness centers and healthcare providers are all a part of this prestigious ABK Advantage program. At ABK we are committed to provide our customers value
added savings, in other words with “ABK Advantage” you save even as you spend. Stewart Lockie, General Manager (Acting) explained, “We do our best to create and develop banking products and services that benefit our clients and give them an edge. With “ABK Advantage”, we formed solid, strategic partnerships with different companies to ensure the offers that reach our clients have a certain appeal, and at the same time, diversity. We are pleased to see the list of participating companies continually increasing, which subsequently, will give our cardholders even more benefits.” All information including the full listing of merchants and their offers is available on the ABK website www.eAhli.com.
flydubai expansion continues with start of 4 new routes KUWAIT: flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, has touched down in four new destinations in a fortnight, just days before it announced its 29th destination - Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. The latest route network expansion began with the Armenian capital, Yerevan on 21 November, Saudi Arabian city of Abha two days later, followed by Sulaimaniyah in Iraq on 24 November. The fortnight of inaugural flights was completed on 30 November when flydubai flight FZ731 arrived in Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat. flydubai CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: “It has been a busy few weeks for us, with the start of flights to four new cities, and now the announcement of another destination. These four services perfectly illustrate what flydubai is all about; opening up new markets for passengers in Dubai, while also offering affordable travel to the UAE for people around the region.” Twenty eight operational destinations
flydubai will operate twice weekly flights to Ashgabat opening up a new destination for travelers with numerous opportunities for business and leisure. flydubai’s daily service to Abha, meanwhile, marked another milestone for the low cost airline as it now serves the entire GCC network. But there was no time to rest between initial flights for as soon as the Saudi service got off the ground, flydubai expanded operations in neighboring Iraq with the introduction of a twiceweekly service to Sulaimaniyah, which is one of Iraq’s largest cities, but much younger than its neighbors such as flydubai’s other destination, Erbil. Rounding off the new routes is the Armenian capital, Yerevan, which is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, with a strong history and much culture to offer, but also boasts modern development, much of which has flourished recently boosted by a construction boom.
and heavy repairs. • All body and paint repairs with top quality materials and latest equipment to global standards. • Electronic Computerized chassis check-up • Comprehensive polish and detailing Service • Two Car auto wash booths (6-10 minutes time) • Genuine Spare parts outlet • Yokohama tyre service center • Al-Sayer Car Rental • Training lectures room • Air conditioned customer waiting lounge serving hot and soft drinks. • Ladies lounge with female service advisor and car delivery • Wireless Internet connection • Direct follow up of customer car service through transparent glass wall. • Highly skilled and trained technicians capable of handling all required repairs in keeping with fast changing and most sophisticated Toyota tech.
Kuwait budget may see KD 3-5bn surplus NBK ECONOMIC REPORT KUWAIT: Oil prices took another leg upwards in the month to early December, albeit after a spell of intra-month volatility. The price of Kuwait Export Crude (KEC) had risen above $85 per barrel (pb) by December 3rd from $79 at the start of November, a rise of 8%. This was the highest level seen October 2008, when prices were collapsing from record highs as the financial crisis struck. The impetus for higher prices came largely from the demand side, including surprisingly strong power-related diesel demand from China and colder-thanexpected temperatures in Europe, which fired up demand for heating fuels. Meanwhile, US crude stock levels although still high on a historic basis - have seen a counter-seasonal decline. Away from the fundamentals, it is also worth noting that the latest rise in oil prices has coincided with a period of untypical strength for the US dollar - or more accurately, a bout of euro weakness. As a result, the price of a barrel of oil in euro terms rose by around eur 8 to eur 64 pb in the month to early December, breaking out of its narrow eur 50-60 pb trading range of much of this year. The dollar’s impact on oil’s performance, however, may not have disappeared forever. Other major global benchmark crude prices enjoyed a similarly positive month. The price of Brent crude breached the $90 pb mark for the first time in two years, standing at nearly $92 in early December. The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) - usually the more expensive benchmark - rose by slightly less to stand at $89 pb. As prices appear to be testing a new, higher trading range, talk is beginning to resurface about 4100 oil. The flattening of the crude futures curve to end-2013 - which has lately inverted for the first time since 2008 - is partly a testament to how rapidly the market is perceived to be tightening. Reports on the recent strength of global oil demand have led to some hefty increas-
es in analysts’ forecasts for oil demand for the year as a whole. Both the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES) now expect demand to have risen by 2.3-2.4 million barrels per day (mbpd) this year, or 2.8%, up 0.2 mbpd and 0.5 mbpd respectively on their previous forecasts. This will make 2010 the second strongest year for global demand in more than 30 years. 2011 is expected to be considerably weaker, with growth of 1.2 to 1.5 mbpd on the back of less inventory restocking, the impact of tighter monetary policy on Chinese demand and almost universally tighter fiscal policy, especially in Europe. Within the overall total, most of the growth is seen coming from emerging markets. Some analysts see demand from OECD countries resuming its structural, year-on-year decline. After stagnating for much of this year, OPEC-11 (i.e. excluding Iraq) crude oil output rose strongly in October. Production increased by 165,000 bpd from September to reach 26.89 mbpd, its highest for nearly two years. Big increases were seen in both Angola (+81,000 bpd) and Nigeria (+97,000 bpd) - already two of the organization’s largest ‘overproducers’ relative to
their official production ceilings. Production changes in other members were mixed. Total OPEC-11 output is around 2 mbpd above quota levels and the cartel will make its next official announcement on quotas at its December 11th meeting in Ecuador. It is likely to maintain a cautious approach, however. In its public statements, the organization continues to say that the market remains well supplied and it is concerned about the durability of the global economic recovery. Moreover, some OPEC members are now said to favor a looser production stance only if oil breaches the USD 100 pb mark - partly due to the effect of the weaker dollar in reducing oil revenues in local currency terms. Our central forecast has oil demand growing by an average of 1.3 mbpd in 2011, following growth of 2.4 mbpd in 2010. Meanwhile, non-OPEC supplies are expected to rise by 0.6 mbpd in 2011, while OPEC’s production of natural gas liquids not subject to quotas - will rise by 0.5 mbpd. The net result of these changes appear to suggest the need for an increase in OPEC output to avoid a stock draw in 2011. A rise in OPEC crude oil production of around 0.5 mbpd - perhaps involving higher production
from rehabilitated fields in Iraq - could be enough to keep prices more or less in check. Under this scenario, the price of KEC remains just above $80 pb in 1Q11 and 2Q11, perhaps drifting higher in the second half of the year. This results in an average price of $77 for FY2010/11 as a whole. If OPEC were to leave its production unchanged from current levels, however either by design or because of Iraqi output not meeting expectations - prices could rise much further. But most of the increase would probably come in the second half of 2011, once still-high stock levels have been whittled down. In this case, the price of KEC would still be around $84 pb in 2Q11, before rising to above $100 pb by 4Q11. Given OPEC’s reluctance to sanction much higher prices, however, it is likely to increase production to prevent such a spike from occurring in the first place. The downside risks to prices come mostly from the threat of lower-thanexpected demand growth in 2011 - not unreasonable given the precarious nature of economic conditions in many countries. If demand grows by just 0.8 mbpd next year, the price of KEC could fall to below $60 pb by end-2011. Again, the bulk of the adjustment in prices comes beyond the current fiscal year. The NBK report concluded: For FY 2010/11, these scenarios yield average prices for KEC within the narrow band of $75-78 pb (although much greater differences would show up the following fiscal year). At this level, the Kuwaiti budget seems almost certain to see another large surplus, despite a big increase in projectrelated spending this year. If, as we expect, actual spending comes in 5-10% below budget, this year’s surplus is likely to be between KD 3.5 and 5.3 billion before allocations to the Reserve Fund for Future Generations. This would be equivalent to around 9-14% of forecast GDP for 2010 and Kuwait’s 12th successive annual budget surplus.
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
KSE closes week in positive territory KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended the week in the green zone, as both market main indices recorded gains. The price index ended last week with an increase amounted to 0.05%, while the weighted index rose with 1.29%, compared to the closings of the week before. Furthermore, last week’s average daily turnover lessened by 13.93%, compared to the preceding week, reaching KD 22.74 million, whereas trading volume average was 133.93 million shares, recording a decrease of 14.55%. KSE performance marked with limited change on its daily performance, which considered as a strong sign for the caution state that spread among the traders. This state was a result of lacking new motivation, as the development plan financing policy is still unclear despite the repeated government announcements about approaching the final decision. Moreover, the news about the deal of Mobile Telecommunication Company “Zain” stocks, made the traders uncertain about the fate of the deal, specially the news about the lawsuit to stop the due
BAYAN INVESTMENT WEEKLY REPORT diligence procedure. On the other hand, KSE managed to keep up with other GCC markets, as all of them ended last week on the green zone, and KSE price index was the latest among them all. By the end of the week, the price index closed at 6,821.4 points, up by 0.05% from the week before closing, whereas the weighted index registered a 1.29% weekly gain after closing at 464.52 points. Sectors’ indices Five of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the green zone, while the other three recorded declines. Last week’s highest gainer was the Insurance sector, achieving 1.21% growth rate as its index closed at 2,629.4 points. Whereas, in the second place, the Banks sector’s index closed at
11,617.9 points recording 0.90% increase. The Services sector came in third as its index achieved 0.55% growth, ending the week at 14,877.1 points. The Investment sector was the least growing as its index closed at 4,868.0 points with a 0.34% increase. On the other hand, the Real Estate sector headed the losers list as its index declined by 2.78% to end the week’s activity at 2,276.9 points. The nonKuwaiti companies sector was second on the losers’ list, which index declined by 0.24%, closing at 7,047.5 points, followed by the Industry sector, as its index closed at 5,302.5 points at a weekly loss of 0.07%.
volume during last week with 184.84 million shares changing hands, representing 34.50% of the total market trading volume. The Real Estate sector was second in terms of trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 27.11% of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 145.22 million shares. On the other hand, the Services sector’s stocks where the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD 28.68 million or 31.54% of last week’s total market trading value. The Banks sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover of KD 19.45 million represented 21.38% of the total market trading value.
Sectors’ activity The Investment sector dominated total trade
Market capitalization KSE total market capitalization grew by 1.29%
during last week to reach KD 32.98 billion, as all of KSE’s sectors recorded an increase in their respective market capitalization except for one sector. The Services sector headed the growing sectors as its total market capitalization reached KD 9.36 billion, increasing by 2.71%. The Investment sector was the second in terms of recorded growth with 1.59% increase after the total value of its listed companies reached KD 2.83 billion. The third place was for the Insurance sector, which total market capitalization reached KD 315.98 million by the end of the week, recording an increase of 1.55%. The Food sector was the least growing with 0.16% recorded growth after its market capitalization amounted to KD 750.83 million. On the other hand, the Real Estate sector was last week’s only decliner as its total market capitalization decreased by 0.88% to reach, by the end of the week, KD 1.74 billion. For further details, please v isit our web site: www.bay aninv est.com. Prepared by the Studies & Research Department, Bay an Inv estment Co.
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Jazeera leads Kuwait airlines in market share in October #1 to Beirut - #1 to Amman - #1 to Damascus - #1 to Alexandria - #1 to Bahrain KUWAIT: Award w inning airline J azeera Airw ays yesterday issued its operationa l performa nce for the month of October 2010, which show ed that it has continued to capture a lea ding ma rket share a mong all Kuwa iti airlines on
Mohammed Hammoudi, Country Manager, Microsoft Qatar, Sadi Awienat, CIO, Qatar Foundation, Eric Swift- General Manager, Product Management Sharepoint, Abdulmumen Miri - CEO Wirestorm Yasir Khokhar- Business Group Lead for information worker in MS Gulf Charles Nahas, Business Group Lead for Information Worker, MEA, Microsoft and Mamoun EregatCEO Afkar.
SharePoint conference ends on a high note KUWAIT: The 2010 edition of the Middle East SharePoint Conference concluded yesterday in Doha, Qatar with the presence of more than 400 attendees from across 20 countries at the biggest event across the region for technology professionals to learn more about Microsoft SharePoint 2010. Microsoft SharePoint is built as a business collaboration platform to allow people to interact with each other, with content, and with both internal and external data to increase their productivity. As a result, SharePoint helps companies deal with the ever-growing and ever-changing business landscape. According to Mohammed Hammoudi, Country Manager, Microsoft Qatar. “ It gives us great pleasure to have brought this event to Qatar considering the country and the region’s focus on adopting world class solutions in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The conference comes at an opportune time as public and private sector institutions across the region are choosing SharePoint as their platform of choice to run their internal business and processes. It is truly an enabler for them to connect with their partners and customers and it provides a platform for their different business needs.” Addressing attendees at the event, Eric Swift, General Manager, Product Management, SharePoint talked about the significance of SharePoint for Microsoft considering it is a $1.3 billion business for Microsoft. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “From a business collaboration standpoint, SharePoint 2010 delivers the best productivity experience by letting people work together in ways that are most effective for them. It also helps customers rapidly respond to business needs with dynamic and easily deployed solutions.” The experience with SharePoint and the significant benefits was also a subject of discussion with customers like Qatar Foundation and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department who were represented at the conference. A CIO roundtable was also conducted with leading educational institutions from Qatar on how SharePoint helps improve education particularly in the fields of database and informa-
tion management and control, research and social media. “Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Sarwar Warraich, CIO, Texas A&M University at Qatar said, “We believe SharePoint represents a great solution to help academic organizations use the powerful tools available to support the collaborative, mobile, and virtualized work styles that can help our staff and students work together and stay productive anywhere. The roundtable was truly informative and we thank Microsoft for the opportunity.” The Middle East SharePoint Conference 2010 showcased many examples of real world deployments and scenarios in sessions delivered by the most experienced SharePoint experts in the industry. Both private sector organizations and government institutions from across the region used the conference as a great learning opportunity to enable their organizations to be more efficient, have quicker access to data and learn from best practices around the world on how other enterprises have implemented world class productivity platforms and consolidated costs. The SharePoint conference was also a meeting ground for a wide ecosystem of partners who are deploying, customizing and building solutions on top of SharePoint. The number of partners is also increasing across the region as more partners recognize the value of SharePoint and its ease of deployment and developing solutions on SharePoint. Mamoun Eregat, Chief Executive Officer, Akfar Information Technology said, “The conference was superbly organized and a great opportunity for us to network with our customers and organizations from across the region to connect and collaborate on SharePoint.” Abdul Munem Miri (CEO) from Wirestorm said, “SharePoint is an integral part of our company solutions and the conference gave us a great opportunity to showcase our expertise and the potential of SharePoint. I would like to congratulate Microsoft on organizing a great event with relevant content and speakers to provide value to attendees.”
KFH liquidates Turkey’s real estate fund KUWAIT: Kuwait Finance House (KFH) announced yesterday that it liquidated its real estate fund in Turkey for a capital gain of 14 percent and a total net profit of more than $10 million. KFH said in a press release that it decided to distribute 10 percent of the fund’s profit to its shareholders for the months of October and November, hence; they would have a distribution total of 70 percent, plus the capital, over the past six years. The statement quoted the Director of the Financial Services Department, Talal AlNussuf, as saying that the liquidation process was successful and profitable and it came at the end of the fund’s predetermined period of
five years, plus an extra one. The fund was established in 2004. Al-Nussuf added that KHF is considering investing in various profitable projects in the Turkish market through the inception of funds that would focus on building infrastructure projects, real estate, power and automobile developmental projects as well as some insurance fields. Al-Nussuf further noted that the fund, which was incepted by the KFH-Turkey as well as other Kuwaiti and Turkish sharers, invest in renting warehouses near Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport to companies specialized in storage and transportation. — KUNA
The airline also recorded an on-time performance for the month of October of 95%, making it one of the most punctual airlines in the Middle East. The today-issued report is based on data from Kuwait’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA). Jazeera Airways continued to be the airline with largest market share on highly competitive routes in the Middle East, including the KuwaitBeirut route with a 31% market share, the Kuwait-Amman route with a 35% market share, the Kuwait-Alexandria route with a 46% market share, and the KuwaitDamascus route with a 43% market share. The report also showed that Jazeera Airways was the largest operator on leisure and weekend destinations as well, capturing an 13% market share on the Kuwait-Istanbul route, a 48% market share on the Kuwait-Sharm El Sheikh route, and 51% market share on the Kuwait-Luxor route. J azeera Airways market share report for October 2010. Route Jazeera Airways Market Share Kuwait-Alexandria (ALY+ HBE) 46% Kuwait-Amman 35% Kuwait-Aleppo 100% Kuwait-Assiut 71% Kuwait-Bahrain 19% Kuwait-Beirut 31% Kuwait-Damascus 43% Kuwait-Deir Ezzor 100% Kuwait-Doha 7% Kuwait-Dubai 14% Kuwait-Istanbul (SAW+IST) 13% Kuwait-Luxor 51% Kuwait-Mashhad 21% Kuwait-Sharm El Sheikh 48% Source: Kuwait Directorate General for Civil Aviation, October 2010 passenger movement report. Winner of Arabian Business Magazine’s ‘Best in Aviation 2010’ award and Gold Winner of Magnum Opus 2010 awards, Jazeera Airways operates to 17 destinations across the Middle East. Jazeera Airways was established in October 2005 and has a fleet of 11 new Airbus A320s serving 17 destinations across the Middle East and North Africa during the winter season of 2010/2011. To date, the airline has flown over 6.5 million passengers since commencing operations in October 2005. In 2009, the airline carried over 1.8 million passengers, capturing over 22 percent of the market share and making it the largest operator at Kuwait Airport. 2010 passengers’ figures will be announced in February 2011.
Bank Austria says will fight Madoff-related lawsuit VIENNA: Bank Austria will defend itself against a multi-billion dollar New York lawsuit filed over US fraudster Bernard Madoff’s international swindle, a spokesman told Austrian news agency APA on Friday. “We are going to vehemently oppose this lawsuit,” spokesman Martin Halama told the Austrian news agency after Irving Picard, a trustee charged with recovering assets from the massive fraud case, filed the case on Friday. “This lawsuit has not yet been communicated to us and so we cannot comment in detail,” he added, but he repeated the bank’s position that they considered victims of the scheme, and not accomplices. In what is the largest civil lawsuit filed in the case to date, Picard claims Sonja Kohn, who set up the Medici private bank,
collaborated for more than 20 years with Madoff in his massive Ponzi scheme. Medici was set up with the help of more than 50 individuals and firms, including Bank Austria, Italy’s biggest bank UniCredit and others. Bank Austria, which has a 25-percent stake in Medici, is itself owned by UniCredit. Kohn, who says that she was among the victims of Madoff’s fraud, is currently being investigated in Austria for alleged money laundering and embezzlement. The lawsuit came one day before Picard’s deadline to file lawsuits against Madoff’s alleged enablers expires when the statue of limitations kicks in at midnight yesteday. Picard estimated the total money lost in the Madoff-Kohn Ponzi scheme at approximately $19.6 billion in net investor
the majority of routes it served in October 2010, w ith the exception of the Kuwa it-J eddah a nd Kuwa it-Riyadh routes, where it has low er seat-allocation restrictions compared to other Kuw aiti a irlines.
deposits, saying that Madoff had secretly paid Kohn at least $62 million in kickbacks. “Without Kohn’s illegal scheme, the Ponzi scheme could not have continued for as long as it did,” he said. Madoff, who touted himself as one of New York’s most successful money managers, was arrested in early December 2008 for running a pyramid scheme. He was sentenced in June 2009 to 150 years in prison. Madoff’s victims, including charities, major banks, Hollywood moguls and savvy financial players, handed him tens of billions of dollars over more than two decades. Picard has filed in recent days a raft of lawsuits against individuals and banks from the United States, Europe and Japan seeking to recover some of the lost assets. — AFP
Jet Airways wins Global Traveler’s 7th annual readership survey award 2010 Adjudged Best Airline in Central/South Asia and India MUMBAI: Jet Airways, India’s premier airline, has been adjudged the ‘Best Airline - in Central/South Asia and India’ category at the Global Traveler’s 7th Annual Reader Survey Award. Over the past seven years, Global Traveler’s consistent reporting has placed GT Tested Reader Survey among the most highly regarded in the industry. This year, Global Traveler’s distinguished readers recognized airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related
products in 62 categories. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2010 issue. Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways said, “We are proud and honored to receive this international award from Global Traveler in recognition of our best-in-class services. Jet Airways is committed to delivering truly world class service and has worked to continuously enhance the excellent services on ground and in flight. The award is testimony to our commit-
ment to enhance the Jet Airways experience for our guests. We will persist in our endeavor to exceed customer expectations and create benchmarks in service standards for others to follow.” Global Traveler readers are frequent premium travelers averaging 16 international and 16 domestic round-trip flights a year, 78% of the publication’s elite readers regularly travel in first or business class. With 24 international destinations, Jet Airways along
with Jetlite is the largest private airline operator in the country. Jet Airways currently flies to New York (both JFK and Newark), Toronto, Brussels, London (Heathrow), Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Bangkok, Kathmandu, Dhaka, Johannesburg, Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jeddah, Sharjah, Dammam and Riyadh. Milan is the twentyfourth destination recently added in the airline’s international network.
HP announces industry’s first unified system to manage application lifecycle KUWAIT: HP introduced the first unified system to accelerate the reliable, secure delivery of software applications and services across heterogeneous environments. HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) 11 unites and automates the critical activities of modernization applications - from requirements management to quality, performance and release. A recent Forrester Consulting study commissioned by HP shows that 69 percent of IT decision-makers have earmarked a quarter of their annual IT budgets for application modernization, while 30 percent will dedicate more than 50 percent.(1) Application modernization enables organizations to gain control over complex processes and support the transformation of their applications portfolio to deliver an Instant-On Enterprise that boosts enterprise growth, agility and innovation. HP ALM 11 is a role-based system that supports stakeholders in the applications delivery process and integrates with major development tools. It automates workflow processes within and across applications teams, enforcing and accelerating best practice application lifecycle management. Benefits include: * HP ALM 11 Project Planning and Tracking establishes release criteria and manages milestones throughout the process based on real-time visibility into release progress and readiness. * Three-way traceability between requirements, development and quality artifacts for rapid team-wide analysis and execution of application changes. * Flexible methodology support to optimize delivery approach by project type waterfall, custom, Agile - with HP Agile Accelerator 4.0, available in a complimentary basic
edition or advanced edition for a fee. * Lower enterprise risk from application failures due to functional, performance and security defects in composite and rich internet applications. * Reduced costs and delivery time with easy discovery, reuse and sharing of critical application artifacts, including requirements, tests and defects. “Multiple requirements and tests, running across different platforms and coupled with new
Performance Center 11.0. These solutions help simplify and automate application quality and performance validation to lower operational costs, freeing up resources for new applications and services. Benefits include: * Accelerated application deployment by automating manual testing activities such as setting up data and manually driving repetitive tasks across multiple environments with HP Sprinter.
Functional Test and HP Service Test 11. “Organizations rely on applications to perform businesscritical functions. Outdated tools, complex methodologies and ever progressing new technology make it difficult for IT to deliver effective applications,” said Tayfun Topkoc, Middle East Regional Director, HP Software & Solutions. “HP’s new solutions enable clients to accelerate the delivery of applications, lower application costs
technologies can significantly affect application quality,” said Todd Eaton, director, ALM Tools and Services, McKesson. “Implementing HP application modernization solutions across the entire lifecycle helped us realize savings of several million dollars over a three-year period.” HP ALM provides the foundation for the new versions of HP Quality Center and HP
* Improved test creation with HP TruClient, part of HP LoadRunner 11.0, which tests an application’s performance without the need for time-consuming scripting. * Reduction of an application’s functional defects for both GUI and non-GUI testing with a single automated solution for composite applications with the HP Unified Functional Testing 11.0 - a combination of HP
and achieve business alignment without sacrificing quality.” HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Consulting Services enable clients to reduce total cost of delivery, mitigate risk with lower defect rates, accelerate implementation timelines and increase software adoption through expert testing practices, flexible delivery models and education services.
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
Is Santa Claus rally running out of steam? NEW YORK: The December rally may be reaching its climax, with just two weeks to go before Santa Claus makes his midnight run. Dwindling volume, excess optimism, and history all point to a stock market that could be running out of steam. Investors appear to have grown complacent as the CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, has fallen to levels not seen since April. Stocks have made new highs on almost a daily basis. The S&P 500 closed on Friday at its highest level since September 2008 and the Nasdaq scored its best finish since late December 2007, with many expecting gains to run through the end of the year. But Cleveland Rueckert, an analyst at Birinyi Associates in Stamford, Connecticut, believes the year-end rally may be largely done. “The majority of that gain may already have occurred,” he said. “Most people are more likely to be closing out their books at the end of the month and looking for opportunities to open new positions at the start of the next month.” Rueckert said that over the last 65 years, when the S&P 500 has rallied at year’s end, the average gain has been 3.4 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. So far, the index has risen 3.5 percent since the start of the period. “A lot of stocks this year have had very big gains and it really wouldn’t be surprising to see a lot of the managers close out positions and take some vacation time,” he said. When trading resumes tomorrow, that will start the last five-day trading week before Christmas. The following week will be cut short by the holiday. With Dec. 25th falling on Saturday this year, the US stock market will be closed on Friday, Dec. 24th, in observance of the Christmas holiday. Inflation data for November will domi-
nate next week’s economic calendar, with the US Producer Price Index due on Tuesday and the US Consumer Price Index set for Wednesday. Some see signs of the bulls getting into the eggnog. The American Association of Individual Investors’ latest sentiment survey shows bullish sentiment reached a four-week high. What’s more, bullish sentiment has spent 14 weeks above its historical average-its longest streak in six years. That is often seen as a contrarian indicator. Last week, the S&P 500 has broken through closely watched resistance levels and has climbed for six of the last eight days to close at fresh two-year highs. But gains have been accompanied by decreasing participation. Average volume during the last three days of the week was 7.76 billion, well below this year’s daily average of 8.62 billion. “We are entering now the beginning of the seasonal pattern where volume really dries up,” said Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at the ConvergEx Group in New York. “It seems like it’s starting a little sooner than usual. “I don’t think we’re at any risk of a meaningful sell-off into the end of the year, but I think the basic contours of what the economy looks like are pretty well set,” he said. That sentiment was reflected in the VIX, also known as Wall Street’s favorite barometer of investor fear. Although the VIX edged up on Friday, the index has fallen for six of the last nine sessions. It now stands at 17.61 after hitting its lowest since April. The 15-day moving average of the advance/decline ratio on the New York Stock Exchange, a measure of the proportion of advancing to falling stocks, has
WALL STREET WEEKLY OUTLOOK
started to slip and currently stands at around 1.5. It peaked this year in July at about double that, according to Reuters data. In addition, the 3-day moving average of stocks making new 52-week highs has also
turned lower after a spurt at the start of the month. It now stands at around 125, down from more than 250 at the start of the month. The breadth and ratios have not been “on board” this rally of late, according to a report from McMillan Analysis Corp.
Equity-only put-call ratios remain on “sell” signals, the analysts say. Chart-minded investors are bullish. The S&P 500 has closed well above 1,228, the 61.8 percent Fibonacci retracement of the 2007-2009 bear market slide, a key techni-
cal level. “When a market surpasses a certain retracement level, then the probability increases of a rise to the next retracement level, which in this case would be a 76.4 percent retracement and that’s a ways up at 1,362,” said Chris Burba, short-term market technician at Standard & Poor’s. The 1,120 level, the top of a recent trading range, is seen as strong support. On Friday, the S&P 500 closed at 1,240.40 and was up 1.3 percent for the week. The Dow Jones industrial average ended Friday’s session at 11,410.32 and was up just 0.2 percent for the week. The Nasdaq closed on Friday at 2,637.54; for the week, the Nasdaq was up 1.8 percent. An agreement to extend the Bush-era tax cuts over the next two years has started to seem like less of a done deal. The agreement is expected to be approved by the US Senate on Tuesday, but could face a tougher road to passage in the House. If the legislation stalls, resulting in higher capital gains and dividend taxes at the start of next year, then US stock prices could fall. The Federal Reserve’s policy-making body, the Federal Open Markets Committee, will convene on Tuesday for its last meeting of the year. The recent clutch of stronger economic data could spark a debate over how far to stretch the central bank’s $600 billion stimulus plan, designed to keep interest rate low through bond purchases. “The hawkish members on the Fed may seize on this cluster of strong numbers and use them to support the argument against” quantitative easing, said Pierre Ellis, senior global economist at Decision Economics in New York. — Reuters
Consumer confidence improves this month
Sentiment and trade data signal firmer US recovery NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: A rise in US consumer confidence to its highest in six months a nd a much bigger-than-expected contraction in the country’s trade deficit pointed to a firmer economic recovery on Friday. The boost in consumer confidence on the back of an improving jobs outlook w as another indica tion consumers are w illing
to spend over the holida ys while a rise in exports looks set to lift economic growth this quarter. The data fits into a pattern of a n economy tha t is gaining traction after a slowdow n in the summer a nd is likely to intensify the debate over whether the Federal Reserve needs to keep stimula ting the economy through asset purchases.
NEW YORK: Specialist Patrick Murphy (foreground left), directs trading in shares of Citigroup at the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. — AP
Stock markets outlook bright and encouraging NEW YORK: Wall Street stocks ended the week higher as trade was boosted by a brighter outlook for 2011, and with next week expected to see more gains as traders take positions ahead of the year’s end. News on Tuesday that President Barack Obama and his Republican foes struck a deal to extend a controversial tax cuts was greeted with relief on Wall Street, even though the plan still faces massive hurdles in Congress. Economists forecasted the cuts would boost the US economy as Americans will have more money to invest in the market, with many analysts estimating gross domestic product to grow next year by 0.5 to one percentage point to around three percent. Sentiment was further boosted Friday after the Commerce Department reported the US trade deficit surprisingly narrowed sharply in October to the smallest gap since January, thanks to a surge in exports underpinned by a weaker dollar. “These were two data points that merely add to the tailwinds that the market has been experiencing for the last several months,” said analyst Michael James of Wedbush Morgan Securities. “People are coming to the realization that the economy is likely to be stronger next year, and that is why you’ve seen a continued optimism about equities,” he told AFP. “It has been very hard for any data point over the last several weeks to sell the market off, whether it be domestic data points or sovereign debt fears from a couple of weeks ago regarding Ireland.” In the week to Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.25 percent to
11,410.32. The broader S&P 500 index added 1.28 percent to 1,240.40 points, its highest level in more than two years, while the technology-rich Nasdaq composite index rose 1.78 percent to 2,637.54 points, a fresh threeyear high. Next week was expected to see more gains, though volume was likely to remain relatively low, as investors try to make some extra gains ahead of the end of the year. “We continue to be in an uptrend at least till the end of the month,” said James. “There are still many fund managers underperforming the benchmark averages and as a result you are only going to see money continuing to go to work, not taken out of the markets.” In terms of economic data, traders will get November retail sales numbers on Tuesday that will include the unofficial Thanksgiving weekend kickoff of the Christmas shopping spree. The monthly meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee will also draw attention as traders will seek insight on the health of the US economy’s following the central bank’s decision last month to renew massive asset purchases in an effort to prop up the economic recovery. The FOMC was expected to maintain interest rates at their current historic lows between zero and 0.25 percent. “I don’t expect any big surprise from the FOMC. We should focus on the consumer, most notably the retail sales,” said Natixis analyst Evariste Lefeuvre. — AFP
“We are in the gradual recovery camp and are definitely on the upper side of that now,” said Pierre Ellis, senior global economist at Decision Economics in New York. “It adds to a growing number of economic indicators that are looking better than expected.” Consumer sentiment this month rose to its highest level since June and was at its third-highest since the start of 2008, according to a Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan survey. Government data showed US exports in October rose a robust 3.2 percent while imports declined slightly. US stock indexes closed higher, with the S&P 500 at its highest level since the week Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008. US Treasury bond prices lost ground while the dollar gained. The survey’s preliminary December reading for consumer sentiment came in at 74.2, up from 71.6 in November. That was above the median forecast of 72.5 among economists polled by Reuters. Consumers cited a more favorable jobs outlook, chiming with recent data pointing to some improvement in the labor market. But slow jobs growth and high unemployment is still one of the biggest impediments to the recovery. Although the unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent in November, new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week and the four-week moving average slipped to a fresh two-year low. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has hinted that the US central bank may increase its current $600 billion bond purchasing program if unemployment continues to stay high. The sentiment survey’s barometer of current economic conditions rose to its highest since January 2008, just after the economic downturn began. The index for December came in at 85.7, up from 82.1 in November and above a forecast of 83.1. Meanwhile, the US trade deficit for October totaled $38.7 billion, down from a revised estimate of $44.6 billion for September. Analysts surveyed before the report had expected the deficit to narrow just slightly to about $43.60 billion. Record exports to China and Mexico helped push the overall export tally to $158.7 billion, the highest since August 2008. Exports to the European Union and Japan also grew. Despite record exports to China in October, the US trade deficit with that country in the first 10 months of 2010 was $226.8 billion, up 20.3 percent from the year-earlier period. The sharp rise is likely to keep China’s trade and currency policies on the minds of US lawmakers in 2011. The smaller-than-expected trade deficit could boost estimates for US fourth-quarter economic growth because it implies a larger share of US demand is being met by domestic production. “This suggests that the economy is accelerating,” said Neil Dutta, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York, raising his forecast for fourth-quarter economic growth to about 3.0 percent. On an annual basis, the trade deficit has widened sharply this year and could surpass $500 billion when final figures for 2010 are available. Last year, in the midst of the global financial crisis which put a squeeze on world trade, the US trade gap narrowed about 46 percent to $374.9 billion. The United States posted a larger-than-expected budget deficit in November, the Treasury Department said, as President Barack Obama tries to sell a compromise made earlier in the week with Republicans on Capitol Hill over a two-year extension of tax cuts enacted by President George W. Bush. The $150 billion shortfall in November was the 26th straight monthly deficit, the longest streak on record and the largest budget gap for any November. Last week, a bold plan to slash the US budget deficit fell short of winning the support needed to trigger legislative action in Congress, shifting the fiscal responsibility issue to the White House and lawmakers. The grim budget outlook will be a major challenge for House Republicans, who have promised budget cuts when they officially take control of the lower House next month. — Reuters
SEOUL: South Korean labors work on a construction site in Seoulon Friday. South Korea’s economic growth is set to slow to a more normal level of 4.5 percent next year following its strong recovery from the global financial crisis, the central bank said on Friday. — AP
Obama ‘confident’ in tax deal this year WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama predicted in an interview broadcast Friday that lawmakers will ultimately approve his compromise with Republicans to avert a massive New Year’s tax hike despite a Democratic insurrection. “I’m confident that we’re going to be able to get this resolved by the end of the month,” Obama told National Public Radio one day after angry House Democrats rejected the proposal during a closed-door meeting. While that derailed plans for a quick House of Representatives vote on the package in its current form, the US Senate was set to hold a key procedural vote on the measure on Monday. Obama, who has said his plan will boost sluggish US economic growth and lower unemployment now near 10 percent, acknowledged that lawmakers would tinker with his proposal but warned against dramatic changes. “There are going to be discussions between both House and Senate leadership about all the final elements of the package,” Obama told NPR. “I’m confident that the framework is going to look like the one that we put forward.” The deal would extend by two years a series of massive tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 under president George W. Bush with a built-in January 1, 2011 expiration date, and would provide a 13-month extension of jobless benefits. Obama had pushed to let taxes rise on the richest earners, but Republicans refused to budge on their demand to prolong all of the cuts and also won a rollback of the US estate tax on all but a tiny sliver of the wealthiest. Many Democrats have denounced the compromise as an unnecessary giveaway to households that have prospered despite the painful recession and attacked the deal for swelling the already bloated US deficit and national debt. “The agreement they reached is a bad deal for the American people. I think we can do better,” Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who often sides with Democrats, said during an unusual all-day speech on the empty Senate floor. Obama has said he will happily fight Republicans over tax cuts for the wealthy come 2012, when he will all-but-certainly seek reelection, but has called for cooperation on deep cuts in government spending. “This doesn’t need to be Armageddon. This is not a situation where we’ve got to slash and burn everything. It does mean we’ve got to make choices,” the president told NPR. Obama also vowed to push for an overhaul of the US tax code next year, kicking off what he acknowledged would be “a very complicated conversation.” “The idea is simplifying the system, hopefully lowering rates, broadening the base-that’s something that I think most economists think would help us propel economic growth,” he told NPR. “So what I believe is, is that we’ve got to start that conversation next year. I think we can get some broad bipartisan agreement that it needs to be done. But it’s going to require a lot of hard work to actually make it happen.” With fired-up Republicans vowing to roll back Obama’s
ambitious agenda in the wake of their November 2 election romp, the president met Friday with former president Bill Clinton. “I think this is a net plus,” Clinton said of Obama’s compromise in a hastily arranged appearance before White House reporters with the president. Clinton suffered a mid-term election defeat in 1994 but skillfully coasted to reelection in 1996 after tacking to the political center and making the most of Republican overreach-a possible blueprint for Obama. — AFP
Rio Tinto informed on employees to China SYDNEY: Mining company Rio Tinto informed Chinese authorities that it had found unexplained amounts of cash in the homes of jailed employees, according to a US diplomatic cable published yesterday. The cable, one of thousands to be dumped on whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, said the AngloAustralian miner found 4,440 dollars ($4,340) in the room of one of its four employees after they were jailed in China. Written by US government representatives in Taiwan and obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald, the cable said that Rio’s investigators had also found one of its Shanghai staff had received 20,000 dollars in “dividends” from private Chinese steel mills. “Rio’s internal investigations have uncovered no evidence of employees stealing secrets but have found two employees holding relatively small amounts of money from sources they cannot verify,” the cable said. “Rio reported this finding to the Public Security Bureau.” The September 16, 2009 cable does not make clear whether Stern Hu, the only Australian among the four executives, was one of the employees with the cash. The four Rio executives were arrested in July 2009 during contentious iron ore contract talks between top mining companies and the steel industry in China, the world’s largest consumer of the raw material. Hu was jailed for 10 years in March after a Shanghai court convicted him of taking kickbacks worth millions of dollars from Chinese steel firms and stealing corporate secrets during 2009 iron ore talks. Rio sacked the four after the verdict, lamenting their “deplorable” actions. The company said yesterday it would be making no comment on the cable. — AFP
TECHNOLOGY
Sunday, December 12, 2010
27
Cult Apple store lurks in suburban California mall Low-key Apple store becomes unlikely pilgrimage site
This undated image released by Rovio shows a poster of the company’s Angry Birds app. —AP
Angry Birds keeps thriving NEW YORK: Angry Birds, the extremely popular smart phone app, is a pop culture sensation, addicting mobile users at a rate nearly as impressive as the body count that its animated slingshot birds are racking up against their enemy. Some 12 million copies of the 99-cent version of Angry Birds have been downloaded, with another 30 million downloads of its free app, which makes money through advertising. Peter Vesterbacka, head of development in North America for Rovio, the Finnish maker of Angry Birds, says the iPhone version of the game accounts for 65 million minutes of playtime every day - a total, he notes, that rivals the daily US primetime TV audience. Even those who don’t have an iPad or touch-screen phone have likely noticed the Angry Birds infestation by peering over the shoulder of an entranced subway rider or handing out candy on Halloween to a toddler decked out as a curiously irritated avian creature. At a time when few TV shows, movies or albums are able to puncture the increasingly diffuse world of pop culture, a quirky little mobile phone game has become a widespread hit. And its universe is rapidly expanding. On Saturday, the Angry Birds flock will be palpable. The one-year anniversary of the game’s debut has been dubbed “Angry Birds Day.” Around the world, hundreds of people are planning to congregate to celebrate their fondness for a silly diversion where birds do ceaseless battle. “It’s grown to the point where enough people know what it is and have played it. People talk about it. It’s a common point of social interaction,” says Thomas Way, associate professor of computing sciences at Villanova University. “It fulfills some kind of pleasure center in our brain. These days, we’re going through tough times economically. There’s this need for an outlet.” Though seemingly innocuous, Angry Birds has a subtle importance, Way believes. Like the game Pong did for computers, he sees Angry Birds as greasing the wheels for mobile technology. “We are where we are technologically because of games and the games industry,” says Way. “They’ve been the driving force behind technological development.” Rovio, the company behind Angry Birds, was founded in 2003 by three Finnish technology students - Niklas Hed, Jarno Vakevainen and Kim Dikert - who are interested in mobile gaming. They’ve since released more than 30 games, but none are as successful as Angry Birds. Angry Birds began with a kind of mock-up by Rovio game designer Jaakko Iisalo. The company liked his round, cross-eyed bird characters and decided to build a game around them. CEO Mikael Hed knew they had something special when, before the game
was released, his cousin Niklas’ mother became so intrigued, she played it for an hour, delaying her planned dinner party. “We never dared to hope that it would do so well,” says Mikael Hed. Hed believes a number of qualities have led to Angry Birds’ success. It’s colorful and soothing and easily understood. It’s a physics-based game, so movements are consistent. It’s playable in short durations, with dozens of brief levels. Mastering a level wins you three stars, but users can beat a level with less than perfection - just one or two stars. “You don’t have to be very good to feel good about the game,” says Hed. “People love those characters and the Angry Birds world and the sounds that they make.” It’s won some famous fans, too. Before his TBS show debuted, Conan O’Brien made a Web video where he bragged of reaching an early level. On the “Late Late Show,” actor Jon Hamm recommended the game to Craig Ferguson: “Get ready to waste some time, my friend.” Even author Salman Rushdie has said he’s “something of a master” at the game. More than 2.3 million people have watched the YouTube video “Angry Birds Peace Treaty,” a live-action sketch where a lawyer tries to broker a truce between the birds and their enemies, whose antagonism is based on them stealing the birds’ eggs. (As Hamm wryly noted of the game’s narrative: “It makes perfect sense.”) Following a seasonal Halloween version of the game, a Christmas Angry Birds has been released, with each level opened like a day on an advent calendar. An Angry Birds 2 is due soon. It’s moving to consoles like the Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Rovio is also looking into making it available on Windows, the Chrome browser and Facebook. Plush toys of the birds have been released and are selling months ahead of inventory. Rovio now has 40 employees and is hiring more. Rovio is also contemplating expansion into TV and film. Hed says he’s spent a large amount of time “exploring these areas.” “There’s a lot more Angry Birds,” he says. On Saturday, Angry Birds fans will dress up like their favorite characters and share in their mutual addiction. “The game itself is played in a very solitary way,” says Chris Blechschmidt, a Meetup.com “evangelist” who organized the event with Rovio. “It’s an independent game: Play by yourself, block out everything else in the world when you play it, literally designed to make you ignore everything else in your life.” But, Blechschmidt says, people are proud of their connection to the “cheerfulness and frivolity of the game.” “People are latching on to the idea that something can come from nothing. —AP
Xbox 360 leads rebound in US videogame sales SAN FRANCISCO: Sagging US videogame industry revenue rebounded in November as buyers snatched up gesture-sensing control gadgets for Microsoft Xbox 360 consoles, NPD Group reported Thursday. “The Xbox 360 Kinect was the best-selling accessory item in November,” said NPD analyst Anita Frazier. “With one month of sales, it’s the top-selling accessory item in terms of dollar sales on a year-to-date basis.” Overall sales of videogame hardware and software at stores in November tallied 2.99 billion, an eight percent increase from the same month last year. The figure did not include used videogame sales, digital distribution of software or mobile applications. Money taken in from sales of videogame accessories such as Kinect surged 69 percent to 413.3 million dollars, according to NPD. Xbox 360 was the top selling console for the month and Xbox 360 accessories accounted for 60
percent of the revenue in the accessory category. “The 360 platform accounted for over 40 percent of total industry sales driven by the successful launch of Microsoft’s Kinect,” Frazier said. Microsoft reported that it had sold more than 2.5 million Kinect for Xbox 360 devices worldwide in the 25 days after the videogame controllers hit the market in early November. Microsoft is on track to meet its forecast of selling five million Kinect gadgets by the end of the year, according to Don Mattrick, president of Interactive Entertainment Business at the US-based technology giant. Kinect uses a 3D camera and motion recognition software to let people play videogames on Xbox 360 consoles using natural body movements and voice commands instead of hand-held controllers. The standalone Kinect, which works with the 45 million Xbox 360s already sold worldwide, costs 150 dollars. A four-
gigabyte Xbox 360 console that includes the Kinect and the “Kinect Adventures” game sells for 299 dollars. The NPD report did not specify revenue for sales of Move motion-sensing controllers for Sony PlayStation 3 videogame consoles. Nintendo’s handheld DS game gadgets were the top selling systems overall in November, according to NPD. Activision military shooter “Call of Duty: Black Ops” was the top selling title for the month, followed by Ubisoft videogames “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood” and “Just Dance 2.” Revenue climbed in every category, prompting NPD to estimate that the videogame industry could take in between 18.8 and 19.6 billion dollars in the United States this year. Finishing at the high end of that range would result in revenue being about the same as it was in 2009. “Gains in November offset a good portion of the year-to-date declines,” Frazier said. —AFP
GLENDALE: Before there was an Apple, store under a giant futuristic cube near New York’s Central Park or beneath a sleek glass cylinder in Shanghai, there was “store 001” on the second floor of a 70s-era suburban California shopping mall. It may be unassuming and, yes, a bit uncool, but it’s not forgotten, not by Christmas shoppers who flock these days to the Glendale Galleria mall and especially not by Appleheads at the core of the cult brand. Doors actually opened on May 19, 2001, the same day as another Apple store in Virginia’s Tysons Corner, a shopping mecca outside Washington DC. But the one in a brown-brick mall in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale is listed as store 001 in Apple rankings. On a recent Sunday afternoon, many Apple shoppers were surprised to learn of the store’s status. “You’re kidding,” said Mike Morales, 24. “Glendale was first?” asked Margaret Lambert, eyebrows raised high, who described herself as fortysomething. “Here?” asked Robbie Nock, 26. “It’s a horrible mall.” But that’s not how Apple sees it. Several major Los Angeles freeways run nearby, bringing in traffic from a wide area. Shoppers hail from all income brackets, ethnic groups, and levels of tech prowess. Apple braggarts boost status Hard-core Apple fans don’t care about the humdrum surroundings. Abel Keshishian, 23, likes to stop by every couple of months and says he thinks about the store being first every time he steps over the threshold. Staff couldn’t talk officially to a visiting reporter, but they did say they do nothing to encourage the store’s cult status. Nevertheless, every few weeks, die-hard fans stop by and take pictures or engage them in conversation about the store’s pedigree. Some visitors return home and brag online about purchasing gear at the Glendale branch, part of a vigorous game of oneupmanship about the number and quality of the Apple stores they have visited. Perhaps the most talked-about is the new store in Shanghai. To reach it customers traverse a circular plaza, enter a dramatic glass cylinder, and descend a spiral staircase to the sleek sales area underneath. By contrast, to find the Glendale store, customers navigate past a crowded food court, ascend a run-of-the-mill escalator, and search out the familiar silver Apple among neighbors like a discount men’s suit shop and a teen-fashion retailer. But because of its history, Apple retail employees like to work there. Many transfer in from other stores, and some customers say they seem more knowledgeable compared to staff at other branches. At the end of the day, it might not be such a big deal where the stores land. For all the hoopla, they represent just 15 percent of Apple’s total sales. —Reuters
MANILA: In this picture, Philippine computer game developer Niel Dagondon points to his toys on a shelf in his office. —AFP
Philippine game maker lives childhood fantasy MANILA: Inside a brightly painted red and green building in the Philippines’ financial hub work is more like play for a young team making funky electronic games. Niel Dagondon may be the boss, but the 30-year-old is living out his boyhood dream running a company that creates games for iPods and iPads, smartphones and websites such as Facebook, as well as game consoles and personal computers. “I’ve always wanted to make computer games for a living,” Dagondon told AFP in his office that looks more like a children’s play centre. Yet in his playpen, Anino Games, designs and tests game concepts using some of the most expensive threedimensional graphics software in the business and is packed with brilliant young minds. Anino, the Filipino word for “shadow”, has been crafting games since 2003 for many of the world’s biggest entertainment firms such as Walt Disney, Namco, Atari, and Electronic Arts. The company is growing up fast and has 45 developers with an average age of only 25 — a team weaned on all-night computer combat games such as “Counterstrike”, “Warcraft” and “Ragnarok”. Anino’s roots can be traced back to 2001, when Dagondon was a 21-year-old college student trying to turn a game project from his computer science studies into a commercial product. Dagondon eventually burned through about five million pesos (115,000 dollars) of his own money over the next two years as he and seven developers brought the first-ever Philippine-made commercial game to hit the market. He said the product, a role-playing
game set in 16th century Philippines when Spanish colonisers first arrived, was not a major success but it crucially gave his small team experience and contacts to sell internationally. The company releases an average of one game every month and teams are at work on up to five projects at a time. A project can take between four and 10 months to complete. One recent game was adapted from the Hollywood animation film “Despicable Me” for Apple’s iPhones, iPads and iPods. The company also created the popular “Turbo Subs” game and “Mystery of Cleopatra” puzzle for personal computers. Dagondon said his company’s success internationally had a lot to do with the fact that his game makers have grown up absorbed in US pop culture. “The biggest factor that we have is our cultural affinity with most of the markets that we are in,” said the father-ofthree. “Fifty percent of the market is North America, and we watch the same TV shows, the same movies. If they want a game about hamburgers, about cowboys, it’s something we would know, but not a Chinese would know.” Dagondon said the games market has exploded in the past three years as graphics dramatically improved, and females have also started playing-and now make up 45 percent of the market. “My daughter plays iPhone games and people as old as my aunt, who is in her 60s, also plays,” he said. But while Anino Games is growing quickly, it remains a small-time operation in some ways. Dagondon-an endurance sports nut who regularly climbs mountains and competes in triathlons-is the company’s
one-man roadshow, attending international conferences and meeting prospective clients. His wife, Nicole, is the finance, administrative and human resources director. The company’s expansion plans are also somewhat restricted by the fact that game development requires big capital. Some of the software used in the business costs more than 5,000 dollars per desktop. The types of games the company specializes in require budgets of 50-200,000 dollars. But finding investors is an acute problem in the impoverished Philippines, where Dagondon reckons venture capitalists could be counted with the fingers on one hand. And while there are now about 30 game development companies in the Philippines, Dagondon said the country suffers from a lack of imagination and innovation. If one person decided to start a spa, an Internet cafe or a bakery, the entire block would soon be overrun with them, causing most of them to fail, he said. “If a lot more people innovate and are successful then access to capital will improve,” he said. Yet Dagondon is optimistic about the future for his company and other game makers in the Philippines. “It’s still minute, but the growth is there and the potential is there,” he said of the local industry. Eventually, Dagondon hopes his company will become big enough to be able to produce games for itself and not just for third party publishers. “We just want to do great games, and hopefully some of the games we will make will eventually hit blockbuster status,” he said. —AFP
Thai technology pioneer turns waste into wealth
BANGKOK: Paijit Sangchai demonstrates recycling laminated paper at his office. —AFP
BANGKOK: Paijit Sangchai drops a small piece of laminated paper into a jar of cloudy liquid which he hopes will transform his start-up into a multi-million dollar company and help revolutionize recycling. “Now this is the fun part,” he says a few minutes later, holding it under the tap to wash away soggy paper pulp and reveal a clear plastic film. His Thai firm, Flexoresearch, has developed a series of blended enzymes that can recover pulp or fibre from laminated paper such as cigarette packets, stickers or milk cartons that were previously hard or impossible to recycle. First one enzyme attacks the water resistant chemical coating the surface, then others take over and tackle the paper and adhesive layers. The resulting pulp, he says, can be used to produce new paper products-thus saving trees-or turned into building materials that can be used as an alternative to asbestos, which is potentially hazardous to human health. The technique, believed to be the first of its kind, also produces clean plastic that can be recycled and used to produce new products. The firm was recently named one of 31 “Technology Pioneers” by the World Economic Forum, which said its products were “poised to reduce the use of asbestos in the developing world, positively impacting people’s health.” Time Magazine described Flexoresearch as one of “10 start-ups that will change your life”. It is a rare honor to be bestowed on an entre-
preneur in a country hardly renowned for its technological prowess. In developing countries such as Thailand, laminated paper is usually thrown away, Paijit says. “Most people burn it illegally and that causes toxic fumes which harm people’s health,” he tells AFP at his small laboratory in a science park on the northern outskirts of Bangkok. “For people in developing countries who suffer from the fumes and don’t know why they are sick ... it can help improve their lives,” he adds. And while developed countries like the United States are able to incinerate laminated paper such as fast food wrappers safely, they do not have any commercially viable way to recycle it either, he says. “Every country uses laminated paper, in stickers and wrappers of food like McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken. That’s all laminated and people throw it away,” he says. “I think this a global market.” Since winning the Technology Pioneer awardprevious recipients of which include Google and Twitter-Paijit has been flooded with thousands of emails, mostly from venture capitalists interested in investing in his start-up. But the affable company founder and CEO is not interested in borrowing more money or selling stakes to investors. He is looking for people overseas who want to license the technology, which is already attracting interest in countries including Malaysia, Japan, China, South Korea and India. —AFP
health & science
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Drug combo helps women with early breast cancer Main side effect is on wallet: Pills cost $5,000 monthly SAN ANTONIO: New drug combinations are helping women with early breast cancer. Using two drugs that more precisely target tumors doubled the number of women whose cancer disappeared compared to those who had only one of the drugs, doctors reported Friday. However, another study added to
the controversy over Avastin for breast cancer. Most women who received the drug for a few months before surgery fared no better than those who did not, it found. The studies were presented Friday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
MIAMI: Dr Camillo Ricordi, the director of the Diabetes Research Institute and Cell Transplant Center works on embryonic stem cell research at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Ricordi is photographed in front of a projected slide of human insulin producing cells. — MCT
Stem cells research stirs hopes MIAMI: A year after President Barack Obama eased restrictions on research into embryonic stem cells and pledged billions in new stimulus money for it, researchers are almost giddy with enthusiasm about progress in the field. They’re confident stem cells will treat - maybe someday cure - heart disease, diabetes, spinal cord injury and other disorders. But the excitement is not generated by stem cells harvested from human embryos. Instead, researchers are coming to believe they can get results almost as good from adult stem cells taken from the patient’s own bone marrow or belly fat, and even full-fledged adult cells from muscle tissue or skin. “Adult stem cells have more flexibility than we thought,” says Dr Joshua Hare, director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the University of Miami Medical School. “The embryonic stem cell might not be the most valuable property in actual therapy. When you’re treating a heart attack, you might do better with an adult stem cell.” Already at the UM Medical School, adult stem cells have been injected around a patient’s heart to help heal a heart attack, and adult cells are being applied around injured spinal cords in hopes of restoring movement. Another new development exciting researchers is the “induced pluripotent adult stem cell.” Scientists at Harvard and in Japan took cells from the skin on a patient’s arm and genetically reprogrammed them to be almost as flexible as embryonic stem cells - without destroying an embryo. They hope to use them someday to build up entire human organs, cell by cell. “This is really exciting,” says Dr Kenneth Zuckerman, a senior researcher at Moffett Cancer Center in Tampa. “If you need a liver transplant, you can make a liver out of cells from your own body. The same with a heart. It might replace embryonic stem cells in some ways.” Some adult stem cell experiments could get FDA approval for general use within five years; others are expected to take 10 years or longer. Using adult cells avoids the controversy of destroying embryos. And, coming from the patient’s own body, they avoid the
risk of rejection. The excitement doesn’t mean researchers are losing respect for the value of human embryonic stem cells. “The embryotic stem cell is the prototype, the ultimate stem cell,” Hare says. “It has the greatest capacity to become any other type of tissue. It’s essential to work with both kinds of stem cells.” “Embryonic stem cells remain central to our plan,” says Dr Camillo Ricordi, who is studying both adult and embryonic stem cells as director of UM’s Diabetes Research Institute. “Everything we’ve applied to other kinds of cells we learned first by studying embryonic stem cells.” But the process of approving new lines of embryonic stem cells is complex, and is going slowly. The first new line created since Obama’s ruling was approved only in December. Only 50 lines have been approved so far, with 300 more still awaiting action. The NIH has awarded $143 million for the research to universities including Johns Hopkins, Stanford, University of Michigan, UCLA, Harvard and others. Harvard has 70 principal investigators studying embryonic stem cells in treating blood disorders, cancer, diabetes and diseases of the heart, kidney and nervous system. One researcher who has received some of the new cell lines approved by the Obama administration is Paul J Simmons at the University of Texas. He plans to use them first in test tubes, then in lab animals and someday in humans to create blood cells, also to help fight leukemia. But he says: “Most embryonic stem cell research is still very basic. My human tests could be years away.” In January, the FDA approved the first clinical trial using human embryonic stem cells in human patients. Geron Corp., a California biopharmaceutical firm, plans to inject the cells around the severed spinal cords of 10 paralyzed human patients to see if they can repair them. But the trial hasn’t reached the human stage. It was suspended in October over safety concerns in pre-clinical testing in lab animals. The company hopes to resume the trial later this year. At UM’s Stem Cell Institute, researchers
are using both human embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells in studying how to repair the heart after a heart attack. The embryonic stem cells are used in basic lab research in test tubes but not in humans, says Ian McNiece, the institute’s director of experimental and cell-based therapies. Hare, McNiece and colleagues are conducting a clinical trial using adult stem cells to treat 53 human heart attack patients. They extracted adult “mesenchymal” stem cells from the patients’ bone marrow, purified and multiplied them, then injected them into veins in the patients’ arms and legs. The stem cells migrated to the heart, drawn by chemical signals put out by the heart’s damaged tissue. The stem cells appeared to become heart cells, helping to repair the damaged organ. In early results, the mended hearts pumped blood more strongly and had fewer dangerous arrhythmias. At UM’s Diabetes Research Institute, Ricordi and colleagues are using both embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells to seek a cure for diabetes. In a trial with lab rodents, embryonic stem cells were harvested from a human donor, reprogrammed into pancreatic cells and transplanted into the pancreas of a diabetic mouse - with some success. “We’ve shown we can reverse diabetes in rodents. We’ve had them off insulin for a month. In California, researchers have had them off it for a year,” Ricordi says. In another trial, with human patients, adult pancreatic isletcell clusters containing insulin-producing beta cells were harvested from a cadaver’s pancreas and injected into the patients’ pancreas. “We dramatically reduced insulin requirements and got better control of glucose levels,” Ricordi says. At the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, researchers are working not with stem cells, but with fullfledged adult cells called Schwann Cells. They are extracting the cells from muscles in the patient’s arms or legs, injecting them around the injured spine and trying to induce them to turn into myelin, a sheath that wraps around the spinal cord and protects it.—MCT
Reversing the signs of ageing By Lynda Amani Naji s we grow older we can’t help wondering what has become of our once youthful good looks. Young healthy skin is firm to the touch, smooth, vibrant and reflects the image of vitality, but as time goes by biological changes happen inside the body that we can’t change... until now! As a result of more than 10 years of scientific research on Neuro - regeneration and cellular signaling, London University. in coordination with Gerry Pollock (creator of the pacemaker and Nobel prize winning scientist) a truly amazing new technology has emerged called the Iellios. The Iellios is a unique and highly sophisticated device emitting signaling energy. The Iellios produces over 5,500 signals, compatible with the body’s electrochemical energy emitted by our cells. To explain how this technology works you need to understand that our bodies have a complex signaling system composed of proteins, enzymes, the nervous system
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and the brain. Proteins, and the correct balance of calcium in our cells is what gives us our youthful looks, as we grow older there is a deterioration of essential proteins and an imbalance of calcium in the cells which can lead to destruction and death of healthy cells, resulting in degeneration and obvious signs of biological ageing. We can build new proteins by simply changing the instructions of the genome. (a set of chromosomes containing genetic information) Iellios uses futuristic nanotechnology to transport these unique signals through the body’s ion channels increasing essential proteins, rebalancing and sustaining the perfect balance of calcium inside the cells. As a result of the treatment there is an instant and noticeable difference in appearance. Significant increase in collagen and elastin rejuvenates the skin, dramatically reduced lines arid wrinkles and greatly improved tone and texture of the face and neck. A series of five completely safe and painless treatments is all that is required
to reverse some of the obvious signs of aging. People who have had the treatment commented on how the shape have the face had changed, how there was more pronounced cheek bones, lifting of drooping eyelids, firmer more youthful skin with less jowls, lines and wrinkles. The technology behind this machine is astounding, and just as the pacemaker for the heart changed the possibilities in cardiology, signaling energy working through Ion channel gating has the capability of changing the face of anti-aging as we know it. This technology also allows us to treat pain caused by calcium imbalance in the body resulting in bone and nerve related pains, carpel tunnel, sciatica and other related pain can be alleviated by signaling energy. The great thing is the treatment delivers instant and noticeable results our patients love, with no pain, no downtime and only half an hour out of people’s busy schedules. I will be delighted to give a half face demonstration at our derma care center to anyone interested in experiencing this phenomenon for themselves.
The good news study was the first test of Herceptin and Tykerb together for early-stage disease. They aim at a protein called HER-2 that is overproduced in about one-fourth of all breast cancers. Herceptin blocks the protein on the cell’s surface; Tykerb does it inside the cell. Dr Jose Baselga, associate director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, led a study when he previously worked in Barcelona, Spain, that tested these drugs alone and in combination in 455 patients who also were given the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel. The patients were treated for about four months before surgery to remove their tumors and for nine months afterward. Doctors have been testing drugs in advance of surgery to shrink tumors and make the operation less drastic, and to get an idea quickly if these drugs will help a patient. Just over half of the women who received Herceptin and Tykerb were discovered to have no signs of invasive cancer when their surgeries were done, versus only 25 to 30 percent of those given just one of these drugs. Tykerb had more side effects, mostly diarrhea. But the main side effect of combo treatment is to the wallet: Tykerb pills cost $5,000 to $6,000 per month. Herceptin costs more than $4,000 a month plus whatever doctors charge to infuse it. “The possibility that we have here is to enhance the number of patients that are cured” and avoid more treatment down the line that might cost more, Baselga said. However, Dr. Neil Spector of the Duke Cancer Institute said cost “is a real consideration.” Yet he called the results “really exciting” and said the future of cancer care is approaches like this that use targeted drugs well matched to patients’ tumor profiles. British-based GlaxoSmithKline PLC makes Tykerb; Californiabased Genentech, now part of the Swiss company Roche, makes Herceptin. Glaxo helped pay for the study. A second study in Germany pitted the two drugs against each other in 600 women with early breast cancer also getting standard chemotherapy for six months before surgery. Herceptin won: 31 percent saw their tumors disappear versus 22 percent on Tykerb. The Avastin study drew high interest because the Food and Drug Administration is considering revoking the drug’s approval for breast cancer that has widely spread. Evidence suggests it does not meaningfully improve survival for advanced cases. The new study tested it in more than 1,900 women with early breast cancer or large tumors that are not the type that Herceptin or Tykerb can help. All were given standard chemotherapy and half also got Avastin for several months before surgery. Tumors disappeared in nearly one in five women regardless of what treatment they got, said study leader Dr Gunter von Minckwitz of the University of Frankfurt in Germany. One group did benefit: women with “triple negative” cancers those not fueled by estrogen, progesterone or the protein that Herceptin targets. In women with these hard-to-treat cancers, Avastin boosted by 40 percent the number whose tumors disappeared. Four companies that make drugs used in the study paid for the research, and von Minckwitz has been a paid speaker for some of them. Roche sells Avastin wholesale for $7,700 a month, but infusion charges push the tab to as much as $10,000. The FDA approved Avastin for breast cancer in 2008 against the advice of outside experts. In July, an advisory panel voted 12-1 to recommend revoking its approval for widely spread breast cancer, and the agency has said it will decide by next Friday. “There’s a subgroup of women for whom I think it could be highly effective,” but more studies are needed to figure out who they are, said Dr Jennifer Litton, a breast cancer specialist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr Sandra Horning, global development chief of cancer drugs for Roche and Genentech, said results may be better in several other studies under way, including one in women with triple-negative tumors. Nor does the new study affect the drug’s current use in other cancers.-—AP
sunday, December 12, 2010
in the news Pneumonia vaccine project LONDON: A new vaccine against the most deadly forms of pneumonia, one of the world’s biggest killers of children, will be launched in Nicaragua from today as part of an effort to prevent 700,000 deaths in poorer countries by 2015. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization said Nicaragua would be the first developing nation to begin vaccinating children with the pneumococcal shots, made by drugmakers Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline, and another 18 countries will follow in the next few years.
New breast cancer treatment lacks data NEW YORK: A new radiation treatment for breast cancer is becoming increasingly popular despite lack of good evidence, at least among well-insured Medicare patients, US researchers say. According to claims data, use of the therapy, which irradiates only a portion of the breast instead of standard whole-breast radiation after lumpectomy, climbed more than 10-fold for those patients between 2001 and 2006.
Experts call for vaccination in Haiti WASHINGTON: Simply setting up clinics to
treat Haitians with cholera is not doing anywhere near enough to tackle the epidemic there, health experts said on Friday, calling for intensive vaccination and more use of antibiotics. Their recommendation, published in the Lancet medical journal, adds to a growing chorus of voices speaking in support of a vaccination program.
Drug labeling issue WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court said on Friday that it would decide whether generic drug companies could be sued under state law over allegations they failed to provide adequate label warnings about potential side effects. The nation’s highest court will consider whether federal law preempted such lawsuits because the drug had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Home monitors aid BP control NEW YORK: Home blood pressure monitors can help people keep their blood pressure in check and possibly cut down on medication-as long as the patients and their doctors put those home readings to good use, a new research review finds.
Cancun decisions at a glance Chief elements of yesterday’s decisions of the annual conference of parties to the UN climate treaty: Green Climate Fund To establish a Green Climate Fund to support developing nations in obtaining clean energy technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to adapt to potentially damaging climate change - by shifting agricultural practices, for example, and building seawalls against rising seas. Richer nations ave promised $100 billion a year by 2020, but the Cancun decision does not identify specific sources of financing, which will be subject to continuing talks. Deforesta tion To promote efforts in poorer nations to protect their climate-friendly tropical forests, with the prospect of financial compensation from richer nations. The final text contained weakened or vague compromise language on financing, monitoring and oversight, requiring still further negotiation on this complex, controversial plan.
Technology transfer To establish a Technology Executive Committee under the treaty to analyze needs and policies for transfer to developing nations of technology for clean energy and adaptation to climate change, and a Climate Technology Center to build a global network to match technology needs and suppliers. ‘Anchoring’ pledges To inscribe in conference UN documents the voluntary pledges made by some 80 nations under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord to rein in their greenhouse gas emissions. The decision also urges developed nations to “increase the ambition” of those targets. Monitoring pledges To strengthen the reporting requirements and review of emissions-reduction actions by both developed and developing countries, to verify they are being carried out effectively. Developed nations also would improve reporting on climate-related financial support to poorer nations.— Reuters
Climate talks agree to pay to protect forests CANCUN: A new climate change deal reached in Mexico has set up a global framework to pay to protect rainforests vital to the ecosystem, but held off on the controversial introduction of a market role. The deal aims to help developing nations fight deforestation by offering incentives to some 1.2 billion inhabitants of worldwide forests, and governments, to preserve their trees. While many factors still remained undefined, including how it will be funded, green groups widely lauded the accord, made as part of a modest package agreed on by more than 190 nations at an annual UN climate conference in Cancun, Mexico. “This decision converts what-up until now-have been piecemeal efforts to address deforestation into a global endeavor,” Conservation International said in a statement Saturday. Deforestation
programs are already in place, with Norway in a billion-dollar plan with Indonesia. The Cancun agreement sets standards on protection of forests, including calling on developing countries to set national plans. Deforestation is blamed for the loss of 13 million hectares (32 million acres) of woods in the world each year-equivalent to the size of England-and around 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere when they degrade. Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia are set to particularly benefit from the new deal, known by its acronym REDD, since they have the world’s largest tropical forests. Many green groups have expressed concern that forest communities are protected. The framework “is the best opportunity to conserve tropical forests in the world and improve the
CANCUN: Members of Greenpeace make a performance using a giant inflatable life ring on a beach during the COP16 United Nations Climate Change conference.—AFP
quality of life of people who live in them,” said Virgilio Viana, director of the Foundation Sustainable Amazonas. Brazil’s state of Amazonas faces widespread logging as farmers and illegal mines take over vast swathes of forest land. Three years ago it set up the Juma reserve, an area of 500 million hectares surrounded by rivers and communities that collectively survive on products from the forest, in a model that is increasingly being tried out across the world. The project receives state aid to preserve the woods, in return for a pledge from local inhabitants not to cut down trees in certain areas, to produce food in an ecological way and send their children to school. Mexico, which hosted the latest UN conference, is promoting similar models. One sticking point at the two-week conference was the possible inclusion of carbon markets to fund the new framework. Some nations, headed by Bolivia, want the funds for REDD to come from governments alone, while others such see money from corporations buying carbon offsets as the main potential funding for the scheme. Some green groups lauded the final agreement for leaving carbon markets out. “Forests can’t be introduced on the market. If they gain value ... indigenous peoples are losing,” said Andrea Carmen, director of the Council of the International Indigenous Treaty. But others said all forms of financing for REDD, as well as for other enormously costly projects to try to slow and adapt to global warming, are inevitable in a tough economic climate. “We would have liked to see the markets included as one of the options, but I think that this is an acceptable way,” said Duncan Marsh, director of international climate policy for The Nature Conservancy. “I think it will become clear as parties move forward that we need all forms of financing for REDD,” he said. The Cancun talks also set up a new fund to manage billions of dollars of overall aid to poor nations as part of the package that urged deep cuts in industrial emissions. —AFP
Sunday, December 12, 2010
HEALTH & SCIENCE
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Pole-dancing is new, exciting form of fitness ‘If shooting can be in Olympics, why not pole-dancing?’ TOKYO: Pole-dancing may have started in the smoky backrooms of adult-only bars—but now performers have lifted the velvet curtain on what they say is a sensual art form and a great workout. After modern belly-dancing took the world by storm, pole-dancing is the latest craze for women who say they do it for their own enjoyment, not that of men drooling over their fleshy curves in strip joints. To be sure, in pole-dancing 2.0, the artistes do keep some of their clothes on, and the new family-friendly form owes as much to circus acrobatics and gymnastics as it does to the seedier red-light variety. “The sport has two streams,” said Tina Burrett, a spokeswoman for the International Pole Dance Fitness Association, speaking at the sport’s third international championship held in Tokyo on
Thursday night. “One is associated with the stripping, but I think today the more dominant stream is actually connected to fitness.” Burrett said that “the reason why it has become so popular with a lot of women is that, not only does it allow someone to express themselves better, but it’s actually an incredible workout too.” “One has to be able to hold one’s body supported with just one limb. It requires stamina as well. A fiveminute performance may seem very short, but actually it requires an incredible amount of energy. “The dancers have a fantastic physique: incredibly muscular but at the same time curvaceous and feminine.” Burrett, a 33-year-old political scientist, said that to her and many other modern women, pole-dancing is not exploitative but liberating. “There are women in my class who are doctors,
lawyers, diplomats. So I think the image of pole-dancing is changing. We do have some way to go, but I think we are becoming a sport that is associated with strong, confident women.” But not just females have latched onto the pole craze-the reinvented version is proudly equal-opportunity. Duncan West, an Australian who won the male category this year in Tokyo, said he is self-taught in “Chinese pole”-a form that he said hails from that country’s ancient circus tradition. “I’m not sort of a natural performer,” he said, adding that supporters had helped him “overcome a lot of shyness... and to just try to have fun and put my crazy tricks in-but without doing anything too silly.” Asked whether everyone at home supports his passion, he confessed with a smile: “I do get a hard time for that... especially
the guys at work, but you know, I can handle it, so it’s not too much of a drama.” In faddish Japan, pole-dancing already has a cult following. “Pole-dancing is popular in Japan now,” said this year’s female winner, Mai Sato, who performs at the Tokyo shows of Canada’s Cirque du Soleil. Asked whether pole-dancing is becoming a real sport, she flashed huge fake eyelashes, flexed her arm muscles and exclaimed “Yes, definitely!” Once the ceiling may have been the limit for a pole-dancing show-but now, say its fans, it’s the sky. Burrett even sees a day when pole-dancers may strut their stuff at the world’s ultimate sporting event. “If things like shooting are considered to be a sport that can be in the Olympics,” she said, “then I really don’t see why pole-dancing can’t.” —AFP
MADRID: A scuba diver installs a nativity scene and other Christmas decorations in an Aquarium at the Zoo. —AFP
WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT
30 Birth of a beautiful baby boy
Sunday, December 12, 2010
KNES has a field day upils from Kuwait National English School at Hawally Al-Farabi Roundabout, P Years 7 & 8 enjoyed a very successful trip to The Scientific Centre on and these select KNES students were fortunate to enjoy a glorious sunny day, filled with fun and learning. The day began in the IMAX 3D cinema, where an informative film was shown about the design and manufacture of the 787 airliners and more in the production, “Legends of Flight”. Set to music also, the 3D effects helped to create a mind blowing insight into how these machines were created and the students from KNES and other schools enjoyed the sensation of flying and the fun of trying to reach out and touch the people and aircrafts that were rocketing toward them. Afterwards, time was given to further
f ever there was a gift from Almighty Allah to show how amazing and beautiful life can be it is a baby. The bounty Allah gives us speaks through children when they stare, wideeyed at the world before them. Each day of their lives is a reminder to those who love them that Allah is great, and babies are His favorite thing to create. Congratulations on the arrival of baby Adam, the new addition to our family. May Allah bless him and assure his parents with his company. Adam, your grand-uncles
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learning in the Discovery Centre where many experiments and games aid learning through trial, error and play. The students (and staff) from Kuwait National English School enjoyed learning in the new installation that explores music, tones, pitch and virtual movement, along with simulations of the blue-screened TV news desk, vacuum lifts and fun mechanical lever games. We all certainly worked up an appetite and after lunch was enjoyed, everyone involved partook in an (almost) relaxing walk along the beautiful promenade along Salmiya’s waterfront, complete with unexpected entertainment from passing jet skiers. It was an exhilarating end to an excellent day that staff and students from Kuwait National English School hope to revisit again soon in a future proposed trip to the Centre’s aquarium.
Mohammad with his son Adam
Adam Mohammad
Children’s day at JIS different kind of Day, a very special day was what the students of A Jabriya Indian School were treated to on Children’s Day. A day that was celebrated with fun-filled activities and various programmes presented by the teachers of the different sections in assemblies conducted throughout the day. Each programme had something unique to present which also conveyed the teachers’ regard and love for their beloved students. To begin with, the tiny tots and the primary children came in colourful dresses who were welcomed by the special guests- Mickey
Mouse and Barney. The children were enthralled by the wonderful magic show, followed by a skit put by the teachers of the KG section based on the nursery rhyme “old McDonald had a farm...’ The highlight of the day’s programme was the ‘Bhangra’ and the ‘Kitchen Orchestra’. It was an incredible experience for the students to watch their ‘serious and strict’ teachers dancing away to the beat of the drums. During the assembly, inspirational speeches by teachers representing different sections gave inspirational
speeches outlining the significance of the day. Mr. Sharad in his speech urged the students to live their dream and let nothing interfere with their conviction in fulfilling their goals, “You are defined by what you stand far”, he told the young listeners. Mrs. Vrinda, Mrs.Ejaz and Mr. Fakruddin in their respective sections addressed the students to give them a glimpse of their ‘Chacha Nehru’ and his love for children and the belief he had in them. In a panorama of song, skits, dance & drama the teachers had their students mesmerized with their perfor-
mances. Song written specially for the occasion was sung most melodiously by the teachers. The sheer variety indeed impressed their students. A perfect day with a perfect setting- an array of snacks and refreshment, candy floss, popcorn, cakes and juices were there for all to enjoy from KG to XII. Students of the primary section went home with little beautiful gifts. indeed the buzz about Children’s Day still seems to be in the air and the students even now are savouring the beauty and excitement of the special Children’s Day -2010 at Jabriya Indian School.
Shivaranjani Fine Arts’ musical night traditional veena. The ored, including Mridungam riday, December 3, 2010 repertoire included a medArtist & Group Organizer saw an amazing night of Fmusical ley of classical to cinematic talent and expertise Mohanaraman, S Navneeth at Carmel School Kuwait. A showcase of South Indian Classical Music from the students of Shivaranjani Fine Arts set the stage for a dramatic climax by the Indian contemporary veena artist Kanchi Kamakodi Peetam Ashtana Vidwan Rajhesh Vaidhya and his troupe, who performed a range of classical carnatic to cinematic pop instrumental pieces. Shivaranjani Fine Arts was then honored to confer the title of ‘Veena Chakravarthy’ to Rajhesh Vaidhya for having given a truly unique and wonderful performance. The stunningly talented troupe members were also hon-
- keyboard, N Subramanian - Vocal & Special Effects, G C Sharma - Ghatam, S Arunkumar - drums. The program began with carnatic pieces from the students of Shivaranjani Fine Arts, ranging from the ages of 6 to 14, and some mature students. Songs included a selection of Geethams, Swarajathis, and Pancharatnam Keerthanais in rare ragas with Chittai and Kalpana Swarams. The night then turned from classical to fusion performed by the ‘Amazing King of Veena’ Rajhesh Vaidhya, known for his contemporary use of electric and amplified strings on the
pieces from maestros young and old with a highlight performance of the piece ‘jazz’ from the album ‘Veena Voyage’. The night was sealed with a breathtaking ‘Thaniavarthanam’ between the jazz drums, mridungam and the young ghatam artist after which Rajhesh Vaidhya accepted as many requests from the audience as time would allow. Shivaranjani Fine Arts would like to thank Rajhesh Vaidhya, his troupe, sponsors, parents and students of the academy, backstage committee members and well-wishers for making it a truly unforgettable and wonderful night.
EMBASSY OF BANGLADESH The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait has taken up an initiative to update the database of Bangladesh nationals residing in the State of Kuwait. For inclusion in the database all the Bangladesh nationals are requested to collect the Registration Form from the Labour Wing of the Embassy. The forms can also be collected sending request to bdoot@kems.net e-mail address. The filled-in forms can also be submitted by hand, by email or by fax (number 2491-3204). The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait will remain closed on Thursday, December 16, 2010 on the occasion of Victory Day 2010. EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, AlMutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday. Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and
assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca.The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca. EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India has further revamped and improved its Legal Advice Clinic at the Indian Workers Welfare Center, and made the free service available to Indian nationals on all five working days, i.e. from Sunday to Thursday every week. Kuwaiti lawyers would be available at the Legal Advice Clinic daily from Monday to Thursday, while Indian lawyers would be available on Sundays. Following are the free welfare services provided at the Indian Workers Welfare Center located at the Embassy of India: [i] 24x7 Helpline for Domestic Workers: Accessible by toll free telephone no. 25674163 from anywhere in Kuwait, it provides information and advice exclusively to Indian domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. [ii] Help Desk: It offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal,
and other issues (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iii) Labour Complaints Desk: It registers labor complaints and provides grievance redressal service to Indian workers (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iv) Shelters: For female and male domestic workers in distress; (v) Legal Advice Clinic: Provides free legal advice to Indian nationals (Embassy premises; Kuwaiti lawyers 3 PM to 5 PM, Monday to Thursday; Indian lawyers 2 PM to 4 PM on Sunday); and (vi) Attestation of Work Contracts: Private sector worker (Visa No. 18) contracts are accepted at the Embassy; 9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday; Domestic sector worker (Visa No. 20) contracts are accepted at Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO), Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd Roundabout, Al-Abraj Complex, Office No 9, Mezzanine Floor; 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday. Embassy of India would like to inform that application forms for passport/visa services and labor contracts that are on its website, www.indembkwt.org, have been upgraded to include the facility for online data entry. Affidavit forms on the embassy website have had this facility since May 6, 2009. EMBASSY OF THE 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 petitionbased, 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 indepth 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. EMBASSY OF GERMANY The German Embassy wished to extend and update its information base on German business in Kuwait. Therefore all Kuwaiti companies representing German companies are invited to register at the embassy. For more information on the registration, please visit www.kuwait.diplo.de.
Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20
WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT
Sunday, December 12, 2010
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AUK hosts Annual Homecoming Week he American University of Kuwait’s Division of Student TAffairs hosted its fourth Annual Homecoming Week with events catering to every segment of the AUK community. From ‘Dinner with the President’ for freshmen, to the annual reception for alumni, the week also featured a Staff/Faculty vs Students soccer
game. Homecoming kicked off with AUK’s Pride Day where the Office of Student Life gave out AUK giveaways during a barbeque that featured a male and female staff/faculty vs students soccer game where staff/faculty came out winners in both occasions. In addition, there was a Dribble, Shoot and Score
competition and in the evening students came out to participate in a karaoke event. The second day, Big Day Out, saw many different activities including painting, board games and carnival games, where the winners received a prize. Approximately 206 students showed up to partake in these
activities. In the evening the Office of Parent Relations and Alumni Affairs (OPRAA) hosted ‘Dinner with the President’ an event that gives Freshmen students and their parents a chance to meet and talk with AUK President Dr Winfred Thompson. The event was attended by more than 40 freshmen and IEP students, their parents and
faculty members. Also in attendance were Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr Nizar Hamzeh and Dean of Student Affairs Dr Carol Ross-Scott. On the last day OPRAA hosted the Senior Launch where seniors gather for the traditional roll call, collection of their AUK senior Tshirts followed by the festivities of
blasting confetti to launch their senior year. The event took place outside near the soccer field and was attended by 94 seniors and their friends and faculty who enjoyed this fun event which included a barbecue, music and a raffle. The week’s events were capped by the fifth Annual Alumni Reception, which gathered AUK
Alums from the classes of ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘09 and the most recent class of 2010. More than 160 alumni attended as well as AUK president and the deans of the college and student affairs as well as faculty and staff. The event included three raffle prizes, an iPod Nano from Digits, a roundtrip ticket to Dubai and a roundtrip ticket to Beirut.
Festive feel at ESF n a sunny morning on December 4, The English O School Fahaheel held their annual Winter Fayre as hundreds lined up to enter the very popular festive event. The crowds were welcomed by Frosty the Snowman Stalls were booked weeks in advance for the event and included Christmas gifts and goodies, Handicrafts, delicious food, jewelry, games and bric-a brac. On offer were invaluable raffle prizes such as air tickets courtesy Air France KLM (Winners were Victoria Haddon and Mishal Shuhaiber), Al-Shaya Office Depot offered a laptop, and Barouie Toys at the Avenues a 12 foot trampoline. MC Andrew Short excelled in keeping the visitors entertained and keeping the excitement going as the final raffle prizes were announced. The ESF Recorder group neatly dressed in their performance outfits performed traditional Christmas melodies. They were followed by the ESF Choir who put everyone in the Christmas spirit with traditional Christmas songs. A big thank you to Grmussa, Ledgard and Wnuk. A big thank you also goes out to the PE Dept which included a number of games and the ESF Houses for carrying out successful fund raising stalls. ESF wishes everyone happy holidays and looks forward to seeing you all at next year’s Winter Fayre!
Nicholson Syrian Girls’ School alumni meeting of the former students of Nicholson Syrian Girl’s High School, Thiruvalla will be held on December 14, 2010 at 6:00 pm at the United Indian School auditorium Jleeb AlShoyoukh. Susamma Mathew, Principal and Susan Varghese, teacher of this school are on a short visit to Kuwait and they will attend this meeting. All former students in Kuwait are requested to be present. Contact number is 24311278/99397630.
A
Career guidance expert B S Warrier accorded a warm welcome on his arrival at the Kuwait International Airport by Indian Doctors Forum.
KES welcomes French Embassy officials n Wednesday, December 8, Kuwait English School O received a visit from officials
Exhibition collection of antique carpets chosen by A carpet collector Aydah Merza will be on display at Tilal Gallery. The opening of the exhibition is today, Dec 12 at 7 pm. The exhibition will be on view till December 15.
Lecture he TIES Ladies Club is TFriday, hosting a women lecture on December
17, from 6 pm to 8:30 pm titled: “Divorce according to the Kuwaiti family code” by guest speaker Dr Eissa Al-Enezi, Head of International Law Dept at Kuwait University. The lecture will be in English.
from the French Embassy. Monsieur Julien Clecíh, the cultural attache and Farida Omar, the French educational officer, visited the school to receive a cheque for the money raised during the schoolís French Day. The money will be donated to the ìMedecins sans Frontieresî, a charity which provides medical equipment and doctors and nurses to needy countries all over the world. Students raised the money with a variety of events. These included selling French croissants, organizing competitions and putting on a French Show. Monsieur Clecíh and Farida were warmly invited by the School Director, Rhoda Mahmoud and the Head of the Senior School, Craig Halsall and the cheque for KD500 was presented by Year 11 students Melina Malliaroudakis and Reda Kohari. After the presentation the two embassy officials were given a guided tour of the school and had the chance to observe some of the French lessons taking place in the school. Before they left, both were presented with a bouquet of flowers.
TV PROGRAMS
32
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Orbit / Showtime Listings
00:00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 01:00 Kathy Griffin: My Life On The DList 02:00 Live Good Morning America 03:00 Burn Notice 04:00 The Invisible Man 05:00 The Philanthropist 06:00 Live Good Morning America 07:00 Private Practice 08:00 Glee 09:00 Psych 10:00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 11:00 The Philanthropist 12:00 The Invisible Man 13:00 Burn Notice 14:00 Glee 15:00 Private Practice 16:00 Live Good Morning America 17:00 Psych 18:00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 19:00 Momma’s Boys 20:00 Eureka 21:00 Criminal Minds 22:00 Happy Town 23:00 The Pacific
00:50 Surviving Sharks 01:45 Untamed And Uncut 02:40 The Most Extreme 03:35 Untamed And Uncut 04:30 Your Worst Animal Nightmares 05:25 Animal Cops Philadelphia 06:20 Untamed And Uncut 07:10 Wildlife SOS 07:35 Sspca: On The Wildside 08:00 The Crocodile Hunter Diaries 08:50 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 09:40 Project Puppy 10:05 Project Puppy 10:35 Planet Wild 11:00 Dogs 101 11:55 Gorilla School 12:20 Sspca: On The Wildside 12:50 Animal Precinct 13:45 E-Vets: The Interns 14:10 Pet Rescue 14:40 Animal Cops Philadelphia 15:35 Wildlife SOS 16:00 Sspca: On The Wildside 16:30 Wildest Africa 17:25 Cats 101 18:20 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 19:15 World Wild Vet 20:10 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 21:10 Shark Family 22:05 Panda Adventures With Nigel Marven 23:00 Whale Wars 23:55 Maneaters
00:15 Taking The Flak 00:45 Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show 01:10 Manchild 02:10 Eastenders 03:40 The Weakest Link 04:35 Penelope K, By The Way 04:45 Teletubbies 05:10 Me Too 05:30 Forget Me Not Farm 05:45 The Roly Mo Show 06:00 Fimbles 06:20 Penelope K, By The Way 06:35 Teletubbies 07:00 Me Too 07:20 Forget Me Not Farm 07:35 Teletubbies 08:00 Penelope K, By The Way 08:10 Me Too 08:30 Forget Me Not Farm 08:45 The Roly Mo Show 09:00 Teletubbies 09:25 Penelope K, By The Way 09:40 Forget Me Not Farm 09:55 The Roly Mo Show 10:10 Teletubbies 10:35 The Weakest Link 11:25 Casualty 13:15 Only Fools And Horses 14:15 Holby City 15:15 Holby City 16:10 The Weakest Link 17:00 The Weakest Link 17:50 Doctors 18:20 Doctors 20:15 The Weakest Link 21:05 The Weakest Link 21:50 Monarch Of The Glen 22:40 Heart And Soul 23:35 Holby Blue
00:20 Masterchef 02:05 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 02:55 Living In The Sun 03:50 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 04:40 The Home Show 05:25 Cash In The Attic 06:15 Fantasy Homes In The City 07:00 Cash In The Attic 13:15 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 13:40 Living In The Sun 14:30 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 15:15 Daily Cooks Challenge 15:45 The Home Show 16:30 Cash In The Attic 17:15 Fantasy Homes In The City 18:00 Cash In The Attic 21:00 Come Dine With Me 23:15 Masterchef
00:00 The Garfield Show 00:25 The Scooby Doo Show 00:50 Wacky Races 01:15 Dastardly And Muttley 01:40 Top Cat 02:05 Popeye 02:30 King Arthur’s Disasters 02:55 Droopy: Master Detective 03:20 Looney Tunes 03:45 The Flintstones 04:10 The Jetsons 04:35 Pink Panther And Pals 05:00 Tom And Jerry 05:25 Popeye Classics 05:50 Scooby Doo Where Are You! 06:15 Tom And Jerry Kids 06:40 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo 07:05 Yogi’s Treasure Hunt 07:30 Tex Avery Show 08:00 The Flintstones 08:25 The Jetsons 08:55 Tom And Jerry 09:20 Looney Tunes 09:45 Paddington Bear 10:10 Pink Panther And Pals 10:35 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo 11:00 The Garfield Show 11:30 Popeye Hour 12:25 Scooby Sandwich 22:00 Yogi’s Treasure Hunt 22:25 Tom And Jerry 22:50 The Scooby Doo Show 23:15 Droopy: Master Detective 23:40 Top Cat
00:15 Out Of Jimmy’s Head 00:40 Chowder 01:05 Cow And Chicken 01:30 Cramp Twins 01:55 George Of The Jungle 02:20 Adrenalini Brothers 02:45 Eliot Kid 03:10 Ed, Edd N Eddy 03:35 Ben 10: Alien Force 04:00 The Powerpuff Girls 04:15 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 04:40 The Secret Saturdays 05:05 Codename: Kids Next Door 05:30 Ben 10 05:55 Best Ed 06:20 Samurai Jack 06:45 Cramp Twins 07:10 Eliot Kid 07:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 08:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:25 Chop Socky Chooks 08:50 Chowder 09:15 Ben 10: Alien Force 09:40 Bakugan: New Vestroia 10:05 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 10:30 George Of The Jungle 11:30 Angelo Rules 11:55 Best Ed 12:20 Eliot Kid 12:45 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 13:10 Megas Xlr 13:35 Samurai Jack 14:00 Ben 10 14:25 Codename: Kids Next Door 14:50 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 15:15 The Life And Times Of Juniper Lee 15:40 George Of The Jungle 16:05 Ed, Edd N Eddy 16:30 Chop Socky Chooks 17:00 Robotboy 17:25 Squirrel Boy 17:50 Chowder 18:15 The Secret Saturdays 18:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 19:05 Bakugan: New Vestroia 19:30 Angelo Rules
20:00 Best Ed 20:25 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 20:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 21:05 The Powerpuff Girls 21:30 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 21:45 Ben 10: Alien Force 22:10 Ed, Edd N Eddy 22:35 Robotboy 23:00 Camp Lazlo 23:25 Samurai Jack 23:50 Megas Xlr
01:00 Normal Life-R 03:00 Drumline-PG15 05:00 Meet Bill-PG15 07:00 Stevie-PG15 09:00 Sticks And Stones-PG 11:00 Einstein And Eddington-PG15 13:00 Not One Less-PG 15:00 Seven Pounds-PG15 17:00 Keith-PG15 18:45 Barbarossa-PG15 21:00 The Waterdance-PG15 23:00 My Own Private Idaho-R
00:00 Open Court 00:30 Cnngo 00:45 Future Cities 01:00 The Best Of Backstory 01:30 World Sport 02:00 World Report 02:30 Inside Africa 03:00 World Report 03:30 Business Traveller 04:00 Your $$$$$ 05:00 Larry King Live 06:00 The Best Of The Situation Room 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Open Court 08:00 World Report 08:30 The Best Of Backstory 09:00 World Report 09:30 Business Traveller 10:00 World Report 10:15 CNN Marketplace Africa 10:30 Cnngo 10:45 Future Cities 11:00 World Report 11:15 CNN Marketplace Middle East 11:30 Open Court 12:00 Political Mann 12:30 Talk Asia 13:00 Larry King Live 14:00 World Report 14:30 World Sport 15:00 World’s Untold Stories 15:30 Inside Africa 16:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps 17:00 State Of The Union With Candy Crowley 18:00 World Report 18:30 Cnngo 18:45 Future Cities 19:00 Open Court 19:30 World Sport 20:00 Prism 20:45 CNN Marketplace Middle East 21:00 African Voices 21:30 Business Traveller 22:00 World Report 22:30 Talk Asia 23:00 World Report 23:30 World’s Untold Stories
00:40 Cook County Jail 01:35 True CSI 02:30 Massive Machines 03:00 Massive Speed 03:25 Motor City Motors 04:20 How Stuff’s Made 04:50 How Do They Do It? 05:15 Deadliest Catch 06:05 Mythbusters 07:00 Fifth Gear 07:25 Wheeler Dealers 08:15 Motor City Motors 09:10 I Could Do That 09:40 I Could Do That 10:05 How Do They Do It? 10:30 Dual Survival 11:25 Deadliest Catch 12:20 The Gadget Show 17:50 How Do They Do It? 18:15 Time Warp 18:45 Time Warp 19:10 Dual Survival 20:05 Deadliest Catch 21:00 Mythbusters 21:55 Wreckreation Nation 22:50 Worst-Case Scenario 23:20 Eyewitness 23:45 Pit Bulls And Parolees
00:40 Nextworld 01:30 Weird Or What? 02:20 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 03:10 Mars: The Quest For Life 04:00 Sci-Fi Science 04:25 Sci-Fi Science 04:50 The Future Of... 05:45 Engineered 06:40 How Stuff’s Made 07:10 Superships 08:00 Junkyard Mega-Wars 09:00 Scrapheap Challenge 10:00 Da Vinci’s Machines 10:55 Brainiac 11:50 Engineered 16:25 Weird Connections 16:55 The World’s Strangest Ufo Stories 17:50 The Gadget Show 18:15 The Gadget Show 18:45 Sci-Fi Science 19:10 Sci-Fi Science 19:40 Real Superhumans 21:20 What’s That About? 22:10 Mission Critical: Hubble 23:00 Creatures Inside Us 23:50 Human Cloning
00:20 Replacements 00:45 Replacements 01:10 Fairly Odd Parents 02:00 A Kind Of Magic 02:45 Stitch 03:35 Kim Possible 04:25 Emperors New School 05:15 Stitch 06:00 Special Agent Oso 06:25 Jungle Junction 06:45 Handy Manny 07:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 07:35 Fairly Odd Parents 08:00 Sonny With A Chance 08:25 Phineas And Ferb 09:00 Camp Rock 4 10:30 Jonas La 12:50 Wizards Of Waverly Place 13:40 Fairly Odd Parents 14:00 Sonny With A Chance 14:25 Replacements 14:50 Phineas And Ferb 15:15 Jonas La 15:35 Fairly Odd Parents 16:00 Sonny With A Chance 16:25 Hannah Montana 17:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 17:30 Jonas La 19:10 Camp Rock 20:40 Hannah Montana 21:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 21:50 Good Luck Charlie 22:40 Sonny With A Chance 23:05 Jonas 23:30 Hannah Montana
07:00 Kid Vs Kat 07:25 Kick Buttowski 07:50 Cars Toons 08:00 Pokemon 08:25 American Dragon 08:50 Phineas & Ferb 09:40 Have A Laugh 09:45 Suite Life On Deck 10:10 Phineas & Ferb 10:25 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 10:50 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest 12:30 Phineas & Ferb 13:00 Up Up And Away 14:15 Phineas & Ferb 14:30 Pokemon 14:55 Cars Toons 15:00 Phineas & Ferb 15:35 Phineas & Ferb 15:50 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 16:15 Phineas & Ferb 16:40 Have A Laugh 16:45 I’m In The Band 17:15 Zeke And Luther 18:05 The Super Hero Squad Show 18:30 Pokemon 18:55 Suite Life On Deck 19:45 Phineas & Ferb 20:10 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 20:35 New Spiderman 21:00 Phineas & Ferb 21:35 Phineas & Ferb 21:50 Cars Toons 22:00 Zeke & Luther 22:25 I’m In The Band 22:50 Cars Toons 22:55 American Dragon 23:20 The Super Hero Squad Show
00:40 Dr 90210 01:30 Too Young To Kill 03:15 Extreme Hollywood 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties 05:30 Streets Of Hollywood 06:00 Ths 07:45 Behind The Scenes 08:35 E! News 09:25 Ths 10:15 Ths 11:05 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane 12:00 E! News 12:50 Fashion Police 13:15 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 13:40 Keeping Up With The Kardashians:... 15:25 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 17:10 E! News 17:35 Behind The Scenes 18:00 E! News 18:50 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 22:10 E! News 23:00 Chelsea Lately 23:25 The Soup 23:50 Extreme Hollywood
Four Christmases on Show Movies
00:00 Fim World Motorcross Mx3 Championships 2009 00:25 Fim World Motorcross Mx3 Championships 2009 00:50 Breitling Airsports 2008 01:40 FIA European Drag Racing Championships 02:05 FIA European Drag Racing Championships 02:30 Fantasy Factory 03:20 Crossing Borders 04:10 Fim World Supermoto Championships 2009 05:00 Fim World Supermoto Championships 2009 05:50 Winter X Games 14 06:40 Winter X Games 14 07:30 I-Ex 09:00 Ride Guide Snow 2009 09:50 Ride Guide Mountain Bike 12:20 Fim World Supermoto Championships 2009 13:10 Fim World Supermoto Championships 2009 14:00 Winter X Games 14 15:40 Fim World Supermoto Championships 2009 16:30 Fim World Supermoto Championships 2009
17:20 Dawn To Dusk - The Uk’s Top Motorcycle Enduro 18:10 Eurodip 1 19:00 Fim World Supermoto Championships 2009 19:50 Fim World Supermoto Championships 2009 20:40 Winter X Games 14 22:20 Fantasy Factory 23:10 Untracked Series 1
00:00 Unwrapped 01:00 Food Network Challenge 02:00 30 Minute Meals 02:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 03:00 Iron Chef America 04:00 Barefoot Contessa 04:30 Unwrapped 05:00 Food Network Challenge 06:00 Good Eats 06:30 Guys Big Bite 07:00 Iron Chef America 08:00 Paula’s Best Dishes 08:25 Good Deal with Dave Lieberman 08:50 Guys Big Bite 09:15 Barefoot Contessa 09:40 Everyday Italian 10:05 30 Minute Meals 10:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 11:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 11:30 Everyday Italian 12:00 Everyday Italian 12:30 Paula’s Party 13:30 Guys Big Bite 14:00 Good Deal with Dave Lieberman 14:30 Paula’s Best Dishes 15:00 Barefoot Contessa 15:30 Everyday Italian 16:00 30 Minute Meals 16:30 Good Eats 17:00 Iron Chef America 18:00 Barefoot Contessa 18:30 Unwrapped 19:00 Paula’s Best Dishes 19:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 20:00 Everyday Italian 21:00 Iron Chef America 22:00 Barefoot Contessa 22:30 Everyday Italian 23:00 Food Network Challenge
00:00 PGA Tour: The Shark Shootout Rd. 2 Naples, FL 02:00 Golf Central International 02:30 Golf Channel - TBA 05:00 The Greatest Seasons 1976 Basketball 06:30 Big Ten Men’s Basketball North Florida at Purdue 08:30 Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Michigan at Michigan State 11:00 World Sport 2010 11:30 Asian Tour King’s Cup 12:00 PGA Tour: The Shark Shootout Rd. 2 from Naples, FL 14:00 Golf Central International 14:30 World Sport 2010 15:00 NFL Game Day 15:30 Big Ten Men’s Basketball North Florida at Purdue 17:30 European Tour Alfred Dunhill Championship Final Rd. Mpumalanga, South Africa 20:30 FOX NFL Sunday 21:00 NFL TBA at TBA
00:40 A Haunting 01:30 Psychic Witness 02:20 The Haunted 03:10 A Haunting 05:00 Psychic Witness 05:55 Crime Scene Psychics 06:20 Ghost Lab 07:10 Real Emergency Calls 08:00 Diagnosis: Unknown 08:50 Real Emergency Calls 09:40 Forensic Detectives 10:30 Solved 11:20 Accident Investigator 12:10 FBI Files 13:00 On The Case With Paula Zahn 13:50 Murder Shift 14:40 Diagnosis: Unknown 15:30 Real Emergency Calls 16:20 On The Case With Paula Zahn 17:10 Forensic Detectives 18:00 FBI Files 18:50 Solved 19:40 Diagnosis: Unknown 20:30 Real Emergency Calls 21:20 Ghost Lab 22:10 Murder Shift 23:00 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 23:50 On The Case With Paula Zahn
00:30 Dennis The Menace 00:45 Nancy Drew 01:10 The Hardy Boys 01:30 Inspector Gadget 02:00 Pelswick Marathon 07:00 New Adventures Of Madeline 07:25 Rupert 07:45 Jass Time 07:50 Dennis The Menace 08:00 Programmes Start At 8:00pm KSA 13:00 Programmes Start At 8:00pm KSA 20:00 Jim Henson’s Jack And The Beanstalk... 21:30 Dennis The Menace 21:45 Sabrina The Animated Series 22:10 S Club 7 In Miami 22:35 Beverly Hills Teen Club 23:00 Jim Henson’s Jack And The Beanstalk...
01:15 Perez Family 03:10 Dead Of Winter 04:50 War Party 06:30 Badlanders 08:00 The 60’s 10:05 Ski Patrol 11:40 World Of Henry Orient 13:25 Horse Soldiers 15:25 Across 110th Street 17:05 Memories Of Me 18:50 Woman In Red 20:15 Garbo Talks 22:00 American Heart 23:55 Seven Hours To Judgement
00:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 00:30 The League 01:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Saturday Night Live 04:00 The Cleveland Show 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Dharma And Greg 06:00 Hope And Faith 06:30 The Drew Carey Show 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Scrubs 08:30 Dharma And Greg 09:00 Hope And Faith
The Eye on Super Movies 09:30 The Drew Carey Show 10:00 The League 10:30 How I Met Your Mother 11:00 Dharma And Greg 11:30 Hope And Faith 12:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 13:00 Scrubs 13:30 Dharma And Greg 14:00 Hope And Faith 14:30 How I Met Your Mother 15:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 The Drew Carey Show 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Will And Grace 19:00 Better Off Ted 19:30 Two And A Half Men 20:00 Entourage 20:30 Curb Your Enthusiasm 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Saturday Night Live (Uncut) 23:30 Better Off Ted
00:00 Taking Woodstock-18 02:00 It Might Get Loud-PG15 04:00 Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen-PG15 06:30 H2O Extreme-PG15 08:00 Everybody’s Fine-PG15 10:00 Eva-PG15 12:00 Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen-PG15 14:30 Four Christmases-PG15 16:00 Everybody’s Fine-PG15 18:00 Genova-PG15 20:00 Outcast-PG15 22:00 Year One-18
01:00 Eden Lake-18 03:00 The Rock-PG15 05:00 Gone In Sixty Seconds-PG15 07:00 House Under Siege-PG15 09:00 Vertical Limit-PG15 11:00 Nightfall-PG15 13:00 Ice Twisters-PG15 15:00 Vertical Limit-PG15 17:00 Ghost Town (TV Movie)-18 19:00 Lakeview Terrace-PG15 21:00 The Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day-18 23:00 Red Sands-18
00:00 The Wedding Singer-PG15 02:00 New York City Serenade-PG15 04:00 The Good Girl-PG15 06:00 Adventures Of Power-PG15 08:00 Lucky Break-PG15 10:00 Dirty Work-PG15 12:00 I Spy-PG 14:00 The First $20 Million Is Always The Hardest-PG15 16:00 The Wedding Singer-PG15 18:00 Callback-PG15 20:00 Yes Man-PG15 22:00 Finding Bliss-18
06:30 Coronation Street 07:00 House 08:00 The Martha Stewart Show 09:00 Downsize Me 10:00 House 11:00 The View 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 The Martha Stewart Show 14:00 C.S.I. 15:00 Damages 16:00 Downsize Me 17:00 The View 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Coronation Street 19:00 C.S.I. New York 20:00 Kings 21:00 House 22:00 The View 23:00 Downsize Me
01:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 01:30 Aviva Premiership 03:30 World Match Tour Racing 05:30 Brazil League Highlights 06:00 Futbol Mundial 06:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 07:00 World Pool Masters 08:00 Brazil League Highlights 08:30 Futbol Mundial 09:00 Aviva Premiership 11:00 The Ryder Cup Official Film 12:30 Live Dubai Ladies Masters 15:30 European Tour Weekly Review of the Year 16:30 IRB Sevens 19:30 European Tour Weekly 20:00 Spirit of a Equestrian 20:30 Spirit of Yachting 21:00 Dubai Ladies Masters
03:00 UK Championship Snooker 07:00 European PGA Tour 11:30 Scottish Premier League 13:30 Live European PGA Tour 17:30 Live Mosconi Cup Pool 20:30 World Sport 21:00 ICC Cricket World 21:30 Futbol Mundial 22:00 Live Mosconi Cup Pool
01:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 02:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter Finale 05:00 Live UFC 124 Prelims 06:00 Live UFC 124 09:15 WWE Vintage Collection 10:15 WWE Bottom Line 11:15 WWE NXT 12:15 WWE Smackdown 14:15 FIA GT1 World Championship 16:00 V8 Supercars Extra 16:30 UFC124 Prelims 20:45 Live European Challenge Cup 23:00 UFC 124
00:00 Scruff In Midsummer Night’s DreamFAM 02:00 The Jungle Book II-FAM 04:00 The Witches-PG 06:00 Bugs Bunny 1001 Rabbit Tales-FAM 08:00 Babar: King Of The Elephants-FAM 10:00 The Jungle Book II-FAM 12:00 Gladiator Academy: The Movie-FAM 14:00 Scooby-Doo! And The Samurai Sword-FAM 16:00 The Enchanted Mountain-PG 18:00 Velveteen Rabbit-FAM 20:00 The Tale Of Despereaux-PG 22:00 Gladiator Academy: The Movie-FAM
01:15 The Eye-R 03:00 Carnera: The Walking MountainPG 05:15 Creation-PG15 07:15 Monsters Vs. Aliens-PG 09:00 Beauty And The Briefcase-PG15 11:00 Flirting Wth Flamenco-PG15 13:00 Harry Potter And The Half - Blood Prince-PG15 15:30 2012: Startling New Secret-PG 17:00 Carnera: The Walking MountainPG 19:15 The Day The Earth Stood StillPG15 21:00 Duplicity-18 23:15 The Waiting City-PG15
00:00 C.S.I. 01:00 Damages 02:00 The Martha Stewart Show 03:00 House 04:00 The View 05:00 Downsize Me 06:00 Emmerdale
01:10 Songwriter 02:45 Some Came Running 05:00 The Screening Room 05:25 Passion Fish 08:00 It Happened At The World’s Fair 09:45 Travels With My Aunt 11:35 Hot Millions
13:20 The Screening Room 13:45 Some Came Running 16:00 Casablanca 17:40 Crazy In Love 19:10 Jailhouse Rock 20:45 Lost Horizon 23:00 2001: A Space Odyssey
00:40 Cities of the Underworld 01:30 Ax Men 02:20 Battlefield Detectives 03:10 Investigating History 04:00 Lost Worlds 04:55 Beyond The Moon: Failure Is Not An Option 06:40 Cities of the Underworld 07:30 Ax Men 08:20 Battlefield Detectives 09:10 Investigating History 10:00 Lost Worlds 10:55 Beyond The Moon: Failure Is Not An Option 12:40 Cities of the Underworld 13:30 Ax Men 14:20 Battlefield Detectives 15:10 Investigating History 16:00 Lost Worlds 16:55 Beyond The Moon: Failure Is Not An Option 18:40 Cities of the Underworld 19:30 Ax Men 20:20 Battlefield Detectives 21:10 Investigating History 22:00 America: The Story of the US 22:55 Life After People 23:50 Pawn Stars
Fashion 00:00 Special Weekend 00:45 Backstage 01:00 Top Brands 01:30 Tendances 02:00 Midnite Haute 03:00 First Face 03:30 Now In Store 03:45 Swimwear 04:00 F Floor 04:30 Swimwear 05:00 First Face 05:30 Fashion Week 06:00 Photographers Night 06:30 Fashion Event 07:00 Top Brands 07:30 Fashion Destination 08:00 Ftv Breakfast 11:00 Photographers 11:30 Fall/Winter 11:45 First Face 12:00 F Men 13:00 Special Weekend 14:00 Tendances 14:30 Models 14:45 Swimwear 15:00 Top Brands 15:30 Fashion Week 16:00 Focus On Designers 16:30 Focus On Designers 17:00 Special Weekend 18:00 I See It First 20:00 Special Weekend 21:00 Focus On Models 21:30 Models Talk 22:00 F Men 22:30 Tendances 22:45 Photographers 23:00 Fashion Week 23:30 Tendances
00:00 Saturday Night Fever 02:00 VH1 Music 06:00 Chill Out 08:00 Smooth Wake Up 10:00 Aerobic 11:00 VH1 Hits 12:00 Music For The Masses 13:00 Top 10 14:00 Cover Power 15:00 Worst And Best Vidoes 2000-2010 Weekend 18:00 VH1 Loves 19:00 The Album Chart Show 20:00 Guess The Year 21:00 Worst And Best Vidoes 2000-2010 Weekend 23:00 Soulstage Jill Scott 23:30 Soulstage India Arie
Sunday, December 12, 2010
33 ACCOMMODATION Separate room available in a C-A/C flat in Farwaniya behind Arbid building. Call 97245851. (C 2981) 12-12-2010 Accommodation available for a small family / ladies / decent bachelors in a two bedroom, 2 bathroom flat in Abbassiya between Paradise Hotel and Queen’s Beauty Parlor from Dec 24. Please contact: 90034820 / 66558927. (C 2973) Single room available in a C-A/C flat in Maliya, Kuwait City behind U.T.C for single executive Indian bachelor or spinster. Rent KD 80.
Call: 65900575. (C 2974) 9-12-2010 Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya for one or two working ladies or married couple with Keralite family. Contact: 66013882. (C 2970)
FOR SALE Toyota Corolla 1.6, model 2009, color white, excellent condition, km done 25000, cash price KD 3,550. Contact: 66211779. (C 2980) 12-12-2010 Prado V6 2007 model CD with wooden interior alloy wheels, white color. Phone: 55605233. (C 2978) 11-12-2010
CHANGE OF NAME I, Shaik Shakeel Ahmed s/o Shaik Emam Sab holding Indian Passport No. G 1349697 permanent resident of 22-7-269 B-1, Noor Mahal Complex, Dewan Devdi, Hyderabad - 500002 at present working and residing in Kuwait have changed my name to SHAIK AAQIL AHMED for all purposes. (C 2982) 12-12-2010 I, Mohammed Ziaur Rehman holder of Indian Passport No. H1118356, hereby change my name to SHAIKH MOHAMED ZIAUR REHMAN. (C 2976) I, Nafees Ansari holder of Indian Passport No. H0869371, hereby change
my name to NAFEES AHMAD KHALIL AHMAD. (C 2975)
MATRIMONIAL Keralite (Ernakulam Dist) Hindu/Ezhava parents living in Kuwait invite proposals for their daughter 26/150cm B.Arch from professionally qualified well placed NRI Ezhava boys. Email: kodanadan@yahoo.com (C 2972) Orthodox parents invite proposals for their son 27/180, fair, B.Tech (course completed) working in Kuwait, from parents of girls working in Kuwait. Contact e m a i l : robsalroy@gmail.com (C 2979)
No: 14936
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161
In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines WAN JZR WAN GFA ETH WAN BBC THY UAE DHX QTR FDB ETD JZR KAC JZR JZR KAC FCX BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE KAC ABY QTR ETD GFA IRA FCX JZR WAN JZR IRC JZR IRA MEA KAC KAC MSR JZR KAC KAC FDB UAL SVA KAC JZR QTR
Arrival Flights on Sunday 12/12/2010 Flt Route 306 CAIRO 267 BEIRUT 434 DAMASCUS 211 BAHRAIN 620 ADDIS ABABA 408 BEIRUT 46 DHAKA / BAHRAIN 772 ISTANBUL 853 DUBAI 370 BAHRAIN 138 DOHA 67 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 207 DAMASCUS 544 CAIRO 223 ALEPPO 555 ALEXANDRIA 546 ALEXANDRIA 201 DOHA 157 LONDON 412 MANILA / BANGKOK 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 332 TRIVANDRUM 676 DUBAI 855 DUBAI 286 CHITTAGONG 123 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI 213 BAHRAIN 603 SHIRAZ 203 DUBAI 787 RIYADH 102 DUBAI 121 BAHRAIN 6801 AHWAZ 165 DUBAI 615 SHAHRE KORD 404 BEIRUT 772 RIYADH 382 DELHI 610 CAIRO 561 SOHAG 672 DUBAI 512 TEHRAN 57 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 500 JEDDAH 562 AMMAN 257 BEIRUT 134 DOHA
Time 0:40 0:45 1:20 1:40 1:45 1:50 1:55 2:15 2:35 2:45 2:45 3:05 3:10 3:50 4:40 5:40 6:00 6:10 6:15 6:40 6:45 7:40 7:45 7:55 8:05 8:10 8:30 8:35 9:05 9:05 9:30 9:35 9:40 10:30 10:55 11:05 11:10 11:15 11:20 11:35 11:55 12:40 12:45 12:55 13:00 13:25 13:40 13:50 14:10 14:30 14:40 15:00 15:00
SYR KAC RBG ETD UAE GFA SVA JZR RJA JZR ABY WAN VOS JZR JZR WAN WAN KAC WAN KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC WAN KAC KAC ALK AFG KAC FDB OMA JAI WAN DHX GFA VOS MEA QTR WAN UAE KAC KAC IAC JZR JZR MSR JZR UAL WAN AXB DLH WAN WAN PIA
341 284 3555 303 857 215 510 213 800 239 127 432 97 177 511 304 204 542 106 618 786 614 744 674 202 166 102 267 405 552 61 647 572 402 372 217 81 402 136 322 859 172 502 981 157 185 612 135 981 186 389 636 422 108 205
DAMASCUS DHAKA ALEXANDRIA ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH DEIREZZOR AMMAN AMMAN SHARJAH DAMASCUS KANDAHAR / DUBAI DUBAI SHARM EL SHEIKH CAIRO JEDDAH CAIRO DUBAI DOHA JEDDAH BAHRAIN DAMMAM DUBAI JEDDAH PARIS / ROME NEW YORK / LONDON COLOMBO / DAMMAM KABUL / DUBAI DAMASCUS DUBAI MUSCAT MUMBAI BEIRUT BAHRAIN BAHRAIN BAGHDAD BEIRUT DOHA SHARM EL SHEIKH DUBAI FRANKFURT BEIRUT CHENNAI / AHMEDABAD DOHA DUBAI CAIRO BAHRAIN BAHRAIN BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE / MANGALORE FRANKFURT AMMAN DUBAI LAHORE
15:05 16:15 16:35 16:50 16:55 17:05 17:20 17:25 17:30 17:40 17:45 17:55 18:00 18:15 18:15 18:25 18:25 18:50 18:55 18:55 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:55 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:50 21:00 21:15 21:15 21:20 21:35 21:40 21:40 21:45 22:00 22:05 22:10 22:45 22:45 22:55 23:00 23:10 23:30 23:35 23:45 23:55 23:55
Airlines
Departure Flights on Sunday 12/12/2010 Flt Route
Time
AXB UAL IAC DLH ETH BBC THY KAC KAC DHX FDB UAE ETD QTR VOS JZR JZR RJA GFA JZR VOS JZR FDB WAN BAW JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY KAC QTR ETD GFA IRA FCX WAN JZR JZR KAC JZR WAN IRC KAC IRA MEA WAN
394 981 576 637 620 46 773 381 283 371 68 854 306 139 98 560 164 803 212 786 94 120 54 641 156 256 671 171 511 771 561 856 124 117 133 302 214 602 204 611 212 510 541 238 321 6802 103 614 405 203
0:40 0:45 0:50 1:30 2:30 3:10 3:15 3:30 3:40 3:45 3:45 3:50 4:00 4:55 5:30 5:55 6:55 7:00 7:15 7:40 8:00 8:20 8:25 8:40 8:55 9:00 9:00 9:00 9:15 9:20 9:20 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:15 10:20 10:20 10:40 11:45 11:45 11:45 12:00 12:00 12:10 12:10 12:15 12:30 12:35 12:55 13:00
COCHIN / KOZHIKODE WASHINGTON DC DULLES GOA / CHENNAI FRANKFURT BAHRAIN / ADDIS ABABA DHAKA ISTANBUL DELHI DHAKA BAHRAIN DUBAI DUBAI ABU DHABI DOHA DUBAI / KANDAHAR SOHAG DUBAI AMMAN BAHRAIN RIYADH DUBAI / KANDAHAR BAHRAIN DUBAI VIENNA LONDON BEIRUT DUBAI FRANKFURT TEHRAN RIYADH AMMAN DUBAI SHARJAH NEW YORK DOHA ABU DHABI BAHRAIN SHIRAZ BAGHDAD ISTANBUL DEIREZZOR SHARM EL SHEIKH CAIRO AMMAN SHARM EL SHEIKH AHWAZ LONDON SHAHRE KORD BEIRUT JEDDAH
Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)
KAC JZR MSR WAN FDB KAC KAC UAL KAC SVA SYR KAC KAC QTR KAC RBG ETD WAN GFA UAE RJA JZR ABY JZR SVA WAN JZR WAN JZR KAC WAN FDB KAC ALK OMA JAI DHX VOS KAC GFA MEA FCX QTR KAC UAE JZR KAC JZR JZR KAC MSR KAC KAC
785 176 611 201 58 551 673 982 617 503 342 501 613 135 743 3556 304 305 216 858 801 184 128 156 511 421 204 107 134 361 185 62 351 267 648 571 373 57 675 218 403 102 137 301 860 502 343 530 554 415 613 563 411
JEDDAH DUBAI CAIRO JEDDAH DUBAI DAMASCUS DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA MEDINAH / JEDDAH DAMASCUS BEIRUT BAHRAIN DOHA DAMMAM ALEXANDRIA ABU DHABI CAIRO BAHRAIN DUBAI AMMAN DUBAI SHARJAH DOHA RIYADH AMMAN DAMASCUS DUBAI BAHRAIN COLOMBO BAHRAIN DUBAI COCHIN COLOMBO MUSCAT MUMBAI BAHRAIN KARACHI DUBAI BAHRAIN BEIRUT BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI DUBAI LUXOR CHENNAI ASSIUT ALEXANDRIA KUALA LUMPUR / JAKARTA CAIRO AMMAN BANGKOK / MANILA
13:40 13:50 13:55 14:00 14:35 14:40 15:10 15:25 15:35 15:45 16:05 16:15 16:20 16:30 16:40 17:15 17:40 18:05 18:05 18:10 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:45 19:15 19:40 20:05 20:20 20:25 20:50 20:55 21:05 21:10 21:15 22:00 22:00 22:10 22:15 22:20 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:30 23:35 23:45 23:45 23:45 23:50 23:55
SPECTRUM
34
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Calvin
CROSSWORD 166
Aries (March 21-April 19) A greater regard for
things of value and even the idea of value itself is the order of this day. You may find yourself really getting into the spirit of the season. You shop, lunch with friends and shop some more—do you have a list? You may find an interest in antiques or some type of artwork. This is a very enjoyable time—one of high energy and high hopes. Perhaps the mall you are visiting has gained more customers than usual because they have figured out performances by local talent gain the attention of the community. Whatever the case, you and your friends enjoy the local talent as you weave in and out of the stores. Make sure to make periodic trips to your car so that you can store your packages in the trunk of your car. Dinner out is fun tonight. Taurus (April 20-May 20) You realize now, it is time to
make some long-needed changes in old habit patterns that you have kept for way too long. Variety can be the spice of life. Keeping busy with new and positive activities is essential to making positive changes in your life. Becoming complacent is conducive to staying in one place too long and requires that your position be rethought. Accruing new information and expanding your way of doing things will be like a breath of fresh air, once you become acclimated to the changes you make. Now is a good time to get in touch with your inner self and understand how you feel about who you are. All those times you held back comments become less and less of a problem—you are learning about a new positive you.
Pooch Cafe
ACROSS 1. (computer science) Protocol that allows users to copy files between their local system and any system they can reach on the network. 4. Naked freshwater or marine or parasitic protozoa that form temporary pseudopods for feeding and locomotion. 9. A large number or amount. 13. Flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes. 14. (Old Testament) The wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. 15. (Scotland) A slope or hillside. 16. An associate degree in applied science. 17. The amount of money needed to purchase something. 18. A quantity of no importance. 19. Divulge information or secrets. 21. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike. 23. A room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter. 24. A white linen liturgical vestment with sleeves. 27. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. 29. A port city in southwestern Turkey on the Gulf of Antalya. 32. Genus of tropical plants with creeping rootstocks and small umbellate flowers. 36. Diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail. 40. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine. 41. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. 43. An undergarment worn by women to support their breasts. 44. Common Indian weaverbird. 46. (computer science) A coding system that incorporates extra parity bits in order to detect errors. 48. The compass point that is one point west of due north. 49. King of Saudi Arabia since 1982 (born in 1922). 53. A particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography). 56. A state in midwestern United States. 58. Someone who uses a divining rod to find underground water. 60. Have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill. 62. Tropical American trees with palmately compound leaves and showy bellshaped flowers. 63. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots. 64. Chinese fruit having a thin brittle shell enclosing a sweet jellylike pulp and a single seed. 67. Mild yellow Dutch cheese made in balls. 68. (Babylonian) The sky god. 69. United States naval officer and historian (1840-1914). 70. A small cake leavened with yeast. DOWN 1. Loose or flaccid body fat. 2. A bluish shade of green. 3. A city in Tuscany. 4. Of southern Europe. 5. The month following February and preceding April. 6. (Greek mythology) Goddess of discord. 7. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy wall or pericarp. 8. Having the leading position or higher score in a contest. 9. The compass point that is one point north of due west. 10. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa. 11. An informal term for a father. 12. (used especially of vegetation) Having lost all moisture. 20. One of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof. 22. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 25. Being one more than fifty. 26. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group. 28. An official prosecutor for a judicial district. 30. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 31. Distant in either space or time. 33. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart. 34. 4-wheeled motor vehicle. 35. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma. 37. Radiation lying in the ultraviolet range. 38. (`lief' is archaic) Very willing. 39. A rechargeable battery with a nickel cathode and a cadmium anode. 42. Genus of western North American low-growing herbs having linear woolly leaves and large pink flowers. 43. (Greek mythology) Goddess of discord. 45. Type genus of the Anatidae. 47. Colloquial British abbreviation. 50. A person of unquestioning obedience. 51. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables. 52. Type genus of the Bramidae. 54. (used of especially horses) Having a brownish coat thickly sprinkled with white or gray. 55. (Old Testament) The eldest son of Isaac who would have inherited the Covenant that God made with Abraham and that Abraham passed on to Isaac. 57. United States writer (born in Poland) who wrote in Yiddish (1880-1957). 58. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light. 59. Large genus of tropical subshrubs or herbs some of which yield fibers of mucilaginous substances. 61. Any of various trees of the genus Ulmus. 65. (astronomy) The angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing. 66. Not out.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) There may be someone around you who does not appreciate or possibly understand your rather eccentric behavior; a close friend or relative will be supportive. Young people learn from your actions today. Anything uncommon or extraordinary will be what captures your interest. Allowing your creative and intuitive nature to come forth will pay you back in big rewards and dividends. New solutions to long-held problems may be among the benefits. Something very inventive may surface. Allowing variety into your life will help to keep you from feeling bored with your everyday life. Change is inevitable. In your case, change is necessary for self-preservation. Do not allow yourself to become out of touch.
Non Sequitur
Cancer (June 21-July 22) You might like to socialize today—fun will come soon enough. For this morning, responsibilities that you set for yourself are knocking at your door. You will see things through and then be free to enjoy the fun stuff! You may find that you can accomplish quite a lot if you take one project at a time. Understanding your friends and understanding people in general brings about an understanding of yourself. You enjoy the new friends as well as the old ones and you seem to choose the most positive thinking people that come into your awareness. You are comfortable in being a friendly person. This evening you allow yourself to enjoy a fun social opportunity that is available to you. Among your friends, you find opportunities to let your light shine! Leo (July 23-August 22) You may find that there is some important personal business that requires your attention this morning and then you will have the day to do with as you please. An ethnic poet, storyteller or educator that you have been curious about is performing in town. You and perhaps a friend or two should be able to enjoy this endeavor. You may decide to take a neighbor’s child with you. Perhaps this is a way you have of enjoying and sharing with the people around you but sometimes your generosity is just simply enjoying the simple, uncomplicated happiness that comes with youth. A brother or sister, or perhaps your own children, all combine to make a merry little band. This evening you change hats, so to speak, to be with your friends, creating good camaraderie.
Zits
Virgo (August 23-September 22) You should find this a good day for just about anything that your heart desires. Those around you should find you very natural and vital. Communicating with others and getting your message across is at a high. This is a great time to be in the company of other people both personally and in a work situation. Your ability to manage and direct other people puts you in a good position to assume the responsibility for a special job. Perhaps today is more of a volunteer day to help at the local hospital, nursing home, etc. A truly earnest effort, along with your hand and eye coordination, makes just about any task run well. This is a great day for getting things accomplished and for doing good deeds. Emotions are well within your control.
Libra (September 23-October 22) We all behave in rather eccentric ways, from time to time. As strange as you may appear to some around you today—someone understands perfectly and will be more than supportive of your rather eccentric ideas. Your unique and unusual talents could bring you some awesome results in the form of new conclusions or something very inventive. Don’t you know that the great inventors of our time were considered a bit bizarre? They dared to pursue their dreams and hunches and all of humankind benefited because of their dedication. You too, should allow yourself to be creative, when the mood strikes. This evening, a social event will give you ample opportunity to network as well as absorb some of the good energies. A star is shining.
Mother Goose and Grimm
Scorpio (October 23-November 21) To feel cared for and
needed is a comforting thing. You will find that those relationships you hold closest are more powerful and important now. Being alone and lonely is just not your favorite thing to be at this time—you need people around you to help reinforce the feeling of caring and sharing. You could easily find yourself looking for something in the romance department today, or at least finding enjoyment from some emotional release. Feelings and movement are appreciated. You could find a great deal of satisfaction from just getting out and about and walking or exercising. Your ability to communicate with others should be very strong at this time. It is your turn to reach out and touch someone. Plan a get-together with friends. Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) “Happy days are here again,” may be the words to a song, but they are the words that present the feelings of today. This may be because you feel all of the love and affection that surrounds you today. There is a big chance for you to understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love. This is a happy time. You place value on that which is principled and forthright and you have a particular dislike of what is secret, intense or private. People are listening when you talk because of your persuasiveness and eloquent way with words. Selfexpression works well for you just now, lending itself to your ideas and thoughts. Today you look for gifts that fit the needs of the special people in your life. Tonight is a time for visiting.
Yesterdayʼs Solution
Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You may feel that you are caught up in a situation where you must choose a path without knowing any details or circumstances. If you are in a vehicle, you can have a bit of comfort in knowing that one is never really lost—just perhaps on an adventure. Though you would love to be out and among friends socially, your timing could be off just enough to cause you some problems. Why not stop and consider a change of plans—it could be a very positive thing. Let others know what you have decided and then enjoy the rest of the afternoon—perhaps a movie or a bit of shopping. Laugh a little! You have done well this year where finances are involved. This year you did not necessarily make more money, but you were wise with financial decisions.
Yesterdayʼs Solution
Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Your independence will be showing today. You may find yourself drooling over anything new, unusual or different. Your routine may be wearing a bit thin and you look for ways to change some things in your life. You want anything that is different. Although you are a bit restless, you seem to have enough commonsense to create for yourself a timetable within which you can complete all the changes you are wanting: a new apartment or home, perhaps new furniture or somewhere you can have a fireplace or a time-share place in which to vacation. You are tempted to charge your purchases, but instead will hold fast to the reality that anything is possible in time—perhaps not overnight with the flash of a card. You set a good example as you remain in control.
INTERNATIONAL CALLS Kuwait Qatar Abu Dhabi Dubai Raas Al Khayma Al-Shareqa Muscat Jordan Bahrain Riyadh Makkah - Jeddah Cairo Alexandria Beirut Damascus Allepo
00965 00974 009712 009714 009717 009716 00968 009626 00973 009661 009662 00202 00203 009611 0096311 0096321
Tunisia Rabat Washington New York Paris London Madrid Zurich Geneva Monaco Rome Bangkok Hong Kong Pakistan Taiwan Bonn
0021610 002127 001212 001718 00331 004471 00341 00411 004122 0033 00396 00662 00852 0092 00886 0049228
Word Sleuth Solution
Pisces (February 19-March 20) Being calm, cool and collected may take some effort today. You might take a step back to see a particular situation from a different perspective. Perhaps you will see an opportunity to step back and relax in a different environment for a short while. After a break, sensitivities are eased and life returns to some sort of sanity. Perhaps more rest, perhaps clearer conversation, a pause in time is certainly a wise idea. Serious conversations might be better served another day. Being on the go and keeping an ear to the ground help you to feel that you are keeping in touch. Learning and communicating with others delights you. This is a time you may decide to express your creative side. You might share a joke, a puzzle or a poetry book.
INFORMATION
Sunday, December 12, 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
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SPECTRUM
Miller wishes to have Knightleyʼs life
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
he ‘Whip My Hair’ singer whose parents are actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith insists her famous father is always cool and she is even a fan of ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’, the early 90s TV show he starred in. She said: “He’s my father - he doesn’t do anything embarrassing. “I’ve watched him in ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’. It was very funny. I was laughing a lot. I found the words that he said and the clothes he wore really funny. And the jokes that he told too.” Despite achieving worldwide fame at the age of just 10, Willow insists she is still a normal girl. Asked how she spends her time away from work, she said: “I like playing with my friends and just being a kid. We go on the swings, play videogames, read. “I record at 12 o’clock, I do school then I come home and sleep.”
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ienna Miller wishes she had Keira Knightley’s life. The ‘Factory Girl’ star - who is in a relationship with Jude Law - befriended the actress when they worked together on ‘The Edge of Love’ and is in awe of the quiet home life her pal has with boyfriend Rupert Friend. Sienna said: “She and Rupert live a wonderful life. They read books and discuss topics and cook for their friends. “It’s the kind of life I aspire to - I don’t know if they even watch TV. “But don’t be fooled and think she is a goody-goody. She can be a bloody good laugh.” Keira loves spending time at home and admits
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among her favorite things to do is spend hours baking in her kitchen or browsing markets for unique additions to her house. She told Britain’s Vogue magazine: “I really do have baking days. I make all sorts of cakes and breads. “I love going to the markets really early to find things for my house - it’s full of stuff from markets; rugs, tables, chairs, anything I can get my hands on.” Sienna also admitted that Keira is so sensible, she often has difficulty remembering that, at 25, her friend is three years younger than her. She added: “Keira has always seemed so much older and wiser than me.”
Willow never embarrassed by famous dad Scherzinger swears diets don’t work T
Minogue can’t wait to tour K
Kelis improved with motherhood
ylie Minogue thinks performing live again will be “delicious”. The Australian singer - who battled breast cancer in 2005 - is to embark on her ‘Aphrodite - Les Folies’ tour in March 2011 and plans to push herself harder than ever. She said: “The opportunity to perform songs from ‘Aphrodite’ is going to be delicious. It’s my favorite part of what I do. “It’s grueling, but I’d rather have that and the kind of reward it gives me. “I’m not planning an interval this time because we’re having a hard enough time choosing which songs to put in the two-
hour show. And I’m breaking my three-day rule. It used to be that I could only do two shows in a row. Now we are doing three. I feel strong and ready.” As well as loving life on the road, Kylie also spoke about how much she enjoys wearing daring designer clothes. She told Britain’s Glamour magazine: “I wore one of David Koma’s dresses in the video for ‘Get Outta My Way’. It’s black mesh with chains inside. “I also love Mark Fast. I wore his frock on a show and it arrived so tiny I thought, ‘I didn’t order socks?’ His dresses are unforgiving, but hot.”
Gyllenhaal wants to write scripts ake Gyllenhaal wants to write his own films. The ‘Love and Other Drugs’ star is concerned his acting career won’t always be successful but already has a backup plan prepared for when he gets older. He said: “You’re always wondering how long this will last. It’s a piece of being an actor. There’s always someone more talented or younger than you. “But I also like to write. In years to come, I think that will expand. I won’t just be scrapping for the next job. Maybe I’ll create something for myself.” Perhaps Jake
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could consider penning his own comedy after admitting he accepted the role as a Viagra salesman who falls in love with a Parkinson’s disease sufferer played by Anne Hathaway - in ‘Love and Other Drugs’ because he was so tired of a lack of films that combined laughter and emotion. He told Britain’s Glamour magazine: “I’m tired of comedies that make you laugh but you don’t buy the emotional side. “The film has a sense of comedy, but also a sense of something deeper, about the difficulties of being alive.”
elis says motherhood has made her “more selfless and emotional”. The ‘A Capella’ singer - who has 16month-old son Knight with exhusband Nas - never expected to feel as strongly for her baby as she does and believes he has made her a better person. Kelis who split from Nas when she was pregnant - said: “Motherhood has made me more selfless and emotional. Motherhood changes the way you look at people and human life. “Babies make you more human, No matter how much it was explained to me, I didn’t understand the strength of my feelings for him. He literally brings me joy.” Kelis also believes her divorce from Nas whose real name is Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones - after four years of marriage helped make her more prepared for life, as did her varied experiences in the last 14 years. She explained: “I’m more prepared about life, but I don’t just think that’s because of the divorce. I’m a mother, I’m 31, it’s because of all kind of things. “I started in the industry at 17 and I really wanted to be on Broadway, but my career just happened. I took a break after 2006 because I wanted to do other things, like learning to become a chef, because I love having people over and cooking for them.”
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he Pussycat Dolls singer - who is renowned for her stunning slender figure - has tried a number of different strict eating plans but is unable to restrain her urges to eat calorific treats once she relaxes her food rules. She said: “I’ve tried every diet out there and they don’t work, because eventually the diet ends and I want the foods that I restrain myself from eating. “It’s about having everything in moderation as long as you’re staying active. I also try not to eat late at night, not after 7pm if I can help it.” Nicole - who was born in Hawaii and also lived in the US from the age of six - also said she found it difficult being a part of raunchy pop group Pussycat Dolls and wearing revealing outfits because of her strict upbringing. She explained: “I come from a Catholic background that was very conservative, so I wasn’t comfortable showing off my body and was very self conscious about myself. But I learned to deal with that. “I was much harder on myself when I was younger and that’s changed now that I’ve matured.”
Reese Witherspoon ‘probably’ needs a therapist he 34-year-old actress who has two children, Ava, 11, and Deacon, seven, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe - never dwells on any of her problems and moves on from painful experiences straight away, but she is unsure if that is the right approach in life. She said: “My favorite quote is from Martha Stewart, ‘I have a short memory for painful things.’ And I do. I have one of those incredible memories where I just erase painful things. Maybe that’s really unhealthy, and I probably need to see a therapist. But I don’t dwell. You just keep going forward. “Also, I have kids. What are you going to do? Are you going to teach them to be one of those people who keep looking in the rear view mirror, or are you going to
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teach them to be one of those people who go, ‘Tomorrow’s another day’?” The ‘Walk the Line’ star - who is currently dating Hollywood agent Jim Toth - has also admitted she has no regrets about her divorce or any of her other failed relationships because every negative thing that has happened in her life has made her the person she is today. She added in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly magazine: “My divorce definitely sometimes feels like a suit that I wish I could zip off. “But I don’t feel bad about any of the things I’ve gone through, whether it’s divorce or breakups or anything like that, because that’s all part of the life journey, and I have those experiences just like anyone else.”
Ford is directorʼs ʻquintessential cowboyʼ irector Jon Favreau was delighted to sign the 63-year-old actor up to his forthcoming movie ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ alongside ‘James Bond’ star Daniel Craig because he thinks the two stars bring a “different aspect of cool” to the project. He said: “Having Harrison as part of this, it’s like hiring John Wayne. He is the quintessential cowboy. And then Daniel bringing all that credibility from his take on 007 and the work he’s done before, like ‘Layer Cake’. “They both bring a different aspect of the cool, calm, collected leading man - and playing off that dynamic between them has been a lot of fun.” The film’s writer Roberto Orci believes their combined presence on the movie - which sees Daniel’s character Jake Lonergan wake up with no memory and the discovery he has an alien-destroying weapon attached to his hand - means it will be a sure-fire success but if it doesn’t work, he will only blame himself. —Bang Showbiz
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
37
Lifestyle
Wrapped in nostalgia:
What’s new in gift wrap this year? By Stacy Downs
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ackages tied up with strings just might be gift givers’ favorite things this season. Spools of multicolored bakers’ twine decorate the shelves of Anthropology and the pages of the Sundance catalog. Perhaps you remember the candy-cane-like strings, the red and white type fastened around cake boxes back in the day. A resurgence of the humble string can perhaps be tied to our still- lagging economy and renewed interest in handmade gifts. Giant wooden cones wrapped in various hues of the striped string (3,000
gift wrap or natural brown kraft paper and even tied around bottles of wine. Decorative tape also is hot on the scene this season. Last year saw the emergence of Japanese tape designed with mod dots and stripes. But this year, nostalgic Americana motifs such as classic toys and vintage ABCs are rolling out, too. Try these types of tape in lieu of ribbon. Combine several types to create a geometric look on a package. Many are easily removable (and reusable) if you make a mistake. And a rainbow variety of duct tape, also in multiple patterns, is available at craft stores. If people can make duct tape dresses,
This paper is seeded and can be planted once the present is open.
Twine and fabrics in various patterns and colors can be used. but we added our own flair: sparkly pool tissue paper and glittery silver pipe cleaners reminiscent of the spider legs. Fabric fun Wrap a gift in a yard of fabric and the material becomes part of the gift-
Bags that flash or make noise add to the fun.
yards). That’s enough to get you through several holidays and celebrations. “And it’s easy to reuse it,” Hammerpress owner Brady Vest says. Vest also carries a colorful array of hand-woven string from India-in hues including apple green, cornflower blue and orange-as well as balls of white twine, the old-school stuff used to truss a turkey. They look surprisingly stylish on patterned
use it for napkins, coasters and crafting. A scrap piece is an ideal bow, or knot the fabric and tie it with a ribbon. Green fabric and gray fabric azuma, a Japanese-style purse, (Bon Bon Atelier store sample) with green scrap bow . Sack it to me You know the reusable totes you’re always forgetting to take to the grocery store? They make useful and attractive wrap with the handles tied into a bow. And they’re part of the gift, too. Sacks work but require a ribbon closure. Envirosax totes ,
why not wrap an entire package with it? Gift wrap, as we most popularly know it, has Kansas City roots. During the 1917 Christmas season, the Hall Brothers’ store ran out of red, green, white and holly tissue sheets, according to Hallmark.com. Decorative envelope liner papers from France were brought from Hallmark’s manufacturing plant and (quickly) sold for 10 cents a sheet.
with
Plantable paper This is a “growing” category of gift wrap: 100 percent recycled paper embedded with seeds. Keep the paper, dig up a patch of earth in spring and plant it. Corn poppies, red coreopsis, plain coreopsis, blackeyed Susans and baby snapdragons should grow. If you’re into traditional holiday colors, though, this might not be the wrap for you because it comes in pastels. Seeded paper comes with paper, raffia ribbon, six gift tags and planting instructions. Two-inch ribbon made from recycled parachute material and glitter key ornament, pompom garland made by Amanda Tholen Long of Mission. Tape it up Using decorative tape instead of ribbon is gaining a following. Duct tape now comes in a rainbow of colors and patterns and is popular in crafting. US -made tape with toys and ABC motifs , Japanese paper tape in various patterns and colorful Duck Tape. Wood-grain paper, also known as “faux bois” .
Get creative with gift wrapping this holiday season. Using tape rather than ribbon adds to color and whimsy.
Fabric and other materials are pretty and environmentally-friendly.
The next year, the sheets were offered at three for 25 cents, and they again sold out. Soon gift wrap became the first product Hallmark made that was a departure from greeting cards. Today’s consumers are interested in eco-friendly options, including flower-seeded paper, fabric, reusable totes and bags. And they want the wrap to be an experience, part of the gift. Gift bags with lights and sound pique our interest before we even peer inside. Even though some wrapping papers-think glittery and metallic types-can’t be recycled, they can be reused. “Give gift wrap to someone who’s creative and artistic, and they can use it in collage, decoupage and a bunch of other ways,” says Karen Roark, owner of Urban Arts + Crafts at Briarcliff Village in Kansas City. Roark’s top-selling paper this year has a retro vibe, kind of like the bakers’ twine.
Twine in different patterns and colors as well as fabric, letterpressed paper and paper embedded with seeds that can be planted afterwards are available.
orange “Gifted” feed sack embroidered owl ornament .
String along Food gifts including chocolates and homemade infused oils and vine-
gars will be prevalent this holiday season. Tie string over gift wrap or directly on the food packaging. Nostalgic red and white bakers’ twine is popular for holiday gifting, although black and white is charming, too. To fashion a decorative string pompom, cut equal short lengths of string and add a twist-tie to the middle. Hand-woven string in a variety of colors , bakers’ twine and balls of white butchers’ twine . Mod trees wrapping paper. Store-bought simplicity The silver metallic spider (a nod to the giant bronze sculpture by Louise Bourgeois outside the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art) can be reused throughout the year. Megan Mantia, a Museum Shop associate and a Kansas City Art Institute graduate, designed the bags. They’re silkscreen-printed in Kansas City by Printosaurus (www.printosaurus.org). Gift bag (free with museum store purchase). The museum uses silver and royal blue tissue paper and a blue bow for the holidays,
Gag gift boxes from The Onion provide a decoy for the contents inside. —MCT photos
Scavenger hunt It’s difficult to wrap large items such as bicycles and flat-panel televisions. So hide them in your house and make a game out of finding the gift. Just a few years ago, my younger brother had me fetching clues throughout my parents’ house, behind pictures and under booksseven steps in all. The gift was humble, but the experience was unforgettable. Holly leaf cards. Pretty parcel Gift wrap via snail mail doesn’t have to look all cardboard, manila and vanilla. Decorative boxes and tape as well as bubble-wrap envelopes can make the gifts that arrive in your mailbox or doorstep more festive. Shiny red bubble wrap envelope and chartreuse dots bracket labels. Both from Paper Source. Decoy mission Jewelry boxes, DVDs and board games are easy to spot . To take the predictability of the present away, go for the art of disguise. One year, my brother fooled me by halving a basketball that was past its prime and putting my gift inside. The ball was wrapped in foil, which he decorated to resemble a giant ornament. The Onion goes for humor with its annual set of gag decoy boxes. This year’s favorite: “Department of Homeland Security Cologne” with the slogan “If you smell something, say something.” Decoy boxes: Department of Homeland Security Cologne and USB Toaster-other designs available. —MCT
King of Pop photos up for auction in Paris A
collection of photo portraits of Michael Jackson, taken in Paris in 1999 as part of an image makeover for the legend, go up for auction tomorrow along with hundreds of snaps from the photo shoot. Each built around one of four themes-the blue eye, the silver hand, the red curtain and the golden cape-the photos were taken by French photographer Arno Bani, in part to illustrate Jackson’s 2001 album “Invincible”. But the record company finally used other shots for
the album cover and Bani’s pictures were shelved for a decade. Now 12 portraits-three on each theme-are to go under the hammer in Paris along with 55 selected pictures from the photo shoot and 31 contact sheets, a total of almost 700 images of the king of pop. The images went on display yesterday at the Salomon de Rothschild mansion in Paris ahead of their sale by auction house Pierre Berge and Associes. Bids are to start at 1,000 euros (1,400 dollars) for the portraits, and 500
French photographer Arno Bani poses next to a picture of US singer Michael Jackson at the Pierre Berge and Associates auction house in Paris. —AFP
euros for the other items. Michael Jackson photos and memorabilia have racked up top prices at auction since his death from cardiac arrest on July 25, 2009, with a portrait by Andy Warhol selling for 812,500 dollars and a glove for 350,000 dollars. Bani took the shots in a giant studio set up for the occasion in a warehouse near Paris, complete with helipad and access for Jackson’s bullet-proof car.”He gave me complete carte blanche,” Bani recalled of the marathon two-
day shoot. “I even asked him to cut his hair, and he agreed.”One of the themes shows Jackson with a glittering blue make-up circle around one eye, wearing a shiny Yves Saint Laurent dinner suit. A second shows him in a speckled black polo neck, pulled up to below dark shaded eyes, against a backdrop of multicolored dots. Image number three has Jackson standing in front of a red opera curtain, and the fourth shows him wrapped only in a metallic gold cape. — AFP
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
Music
Russia’s Putin sings Armstrong for Hollywood stars ussia’s Vladimir Putin, showing his passion for music extends from favorites of spies and cosmonauts to Armstrong, played the grand piano for a roomful of film stars in a concert lasting into the wee hours of Friday. Guests to the late Thursday charity concert in Saint Petersburg included Sharon Stone, Monica Bellucci, Mickey Rourke and other stars, the government said on its website, where the Russian prime minister was pictured sitting at a table with Italian actress Ornella Muti and several other people. When the host asked if the prime minister would perform a number himself, Putin said: “Like the majority of people I cannot sing nor dance, but still love doing it,” before going to the grand piano on the stage and playing a tune. Putin famously sang the Soviet song “From Where the Motherland Begins” in July with the group of 10 spies who were deported from the United States in a major spy swap. This time he gave a wordless rudimentary piano performance of the song. He then took the microphone and roused the audience from their seats with Louis Armstrong’s “Blueberry Hill” sung in broken English with some piano accompaniment by the jazz band. Television footage also showed the concert’s crescendo finale where Putin and the glamorous crowd joined the Russian band Zemlyane (Earthlings) to sing their 80s hit song “Grass Near My Home”, a favorite of Russian cosmonauts that is traditionally played at Baikonur cosmodrome before blast-off. Putin regularly mingles with celebrities, most recently meeting Leonardo DiCaprio in Saint Petersburg at a forum to protect wild tigers. The two later had tea where DiCaprio said he was halfRussian. — AFP
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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin plays piano during a charity concert in Saint Petersburg on December 10, 2010. — AFP
music artist of 2010
Miley’ image hits a new low, or is it high? ome video of singer Miley Cyrus using a bong apparently to smoke the hallucinogenic herb salvia hit the Internet on Friday, capping a year which has seen the teen star throw aside her squeaky clean Disney image. The video obtained by celebrity website TMZ.com was said to have been shot days after Cyrus’s 18th birthday in November. It shows the star of Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana” giggling and laughing after smoking from a glass pipe, commonly called a bong. TMZ said sources close to Cyrus told the website that the video was shot by one of Cyrus’s friends, but the substance was not marijuana. “Is that me tripping!?”, Cyrus exclaims in the video, after using the bong and mistaking another person at the party for her ex-boyfriend, actor Liam Hemsworth The herb salvia divinorum has hallucinogenic properties but is not illegal in California. According to a 2007 US survey on drug use and health, about one million people had used it that year. The singer’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus, said on Friday he was saddened
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Jazz sax, be-bop legend Moody dies at 85 azz saxophonist and flute player James Moody, who helped create the be-bop style of the 1940s, died Thursday from pancreatic cancer in San Diego, his wife said in a statement. He was 85. “My sweet, darling, precious husband died today at 1:07 pm (2107 GMT) after a 10-month fight with pancreatic cancer,” said Linda Moody. “Because my greatest wish was to ensure that Moody transitioned peacefully and quietly, we have been at San Diego Hospice and Institute for Palliative Medicine since last Monday,” she added. Moody was considered a jazz legend, having assisted the birth of bebop along with other such musical greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Max Roach, Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. Best known for his hit “Moody’s Mood for Love,” he began his musical career playing in the US Air Force band during World War II. After his discharge, he joined forces with Gillespie, whom he called his jazz role model, and recorded his first session in 1948. “Moody had two goals,” his wife said. “One, to go to a special friend’s wedding on 10/10/10, and two, to see his great-grandson born on October 22nd.”He made both of those goals and even came to Thanksgiving dinner long enough to tell the family how much he loved all of them.”A public funeral for Savannah, Georgia-born Moody will be held December 18 at San Diego’s Greenwood Memorial
J Singer Justin Bieber performs at the 2010 Z100 Jingle Ball concert at Madison Square Garden in New York on Friday. —AP By Glenn Peoples ustin Bieber was the world’s most-streamed music artist in 2010, according to numbers shared by video analytics company TubeMogul. Bieber collected 1.07 billion streams through Dec 7. TubeMogul’s figures include streams from YouTube and MySpace for the five biggest publishers of music video content (EMI, Hollywood Records, Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group). Bieber is common on YouTube’s all-time list, too. His video for “Baby,” featuring Ludacris, is YouTube’s all-time most viewed video with 405 million streams through Dec 8. “Never Say Never,” featuring Jaden Smith, is 16th with 118 million views and “Never Let You Go” is 20th with 106 million views. Just as impressive as Bieber’s dominance in 2010 streams is his market share. Bieber’s 1.07 billion streams in 2010 represent an incredible 6.9 percent of the 14.8 billion videos streamed by the top five publishers this year. In other words,
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about one of every 14 streams for the top five publishers was a Bieber video. In a distant second place in 2010 was Lady Gaga with just under 879 million streams and a 5.7 percent share of the top publishers’ total streams. Her video for “Bad Romance” ranks second on YouTube’s all-time list with 316 million views. Eminem was third in 2010 with 709 million streams and a 4.6 percent share of the top publishers’ total streams. He has two videos in YouTube’s all-time top 10: “Love the Way You Lie” is fifth with 228 million streams and “Not Afraid” ranks seventh all-time at YouTube with 163 million. Here’s the entire top 10 list: 1. Justin Bieber: 1,071,022,618 2. Lady Gaga: 878,963,098 3. Eminem: 709,772,549 4. Rihanna: 521,468,879 5. Shakira: 404,118,932 6. Black Eyed Peas: 345,090,199 7. Miley Cyrus: 323,186,543 8. Taylor Swift: 241,860,978 9. Linkin Park: 186,235,206 10.David Guetta: 178,714,947 —Reuters
Miley Cyrus
Bieber is most-streamed
at the video, which quickly made headlines around the world. “Sorry guys. I had no idea. Just saw this stuff for the first time myself. I’m so sad. There is much beyond my control right now,” Cyrus said in a Twitter posting. Cyrus and his wife Tish announced in October that they were divorcing. Representatives for Cyrus did not return requests for comment on Friday. Miley Cyrus has sought this year to distance herself from the “Hannah Montana” character she began portraying in 2006, winning millions of young fans. She played a rebellious teen in romantic movie “The Last Song”, stepped out publicly with Hemsworth, and made two raunchy pop music videos. The new image has dismayed parents of some of the younger fans of “Hannah Montana”, whose final episode does not air until the spring of 2011. The video even caused one betting site, bookmaker.com, to place odds on what might next be revealed about Cyrus. Examples included whether she might attend rehab, or be dropped by her record label. — Reuters
(From left) Marie Osmond and Donny Osmond appear at the curtain call for the opening night performance of ‘Donny & Marie - A Broadway Christmas’ in New York, Thursday. —AP
Eminem’s ‘Recovery’ earns top spot on R&B/Hip-hop charts D uring the past 12 months, the R&B and hip-hop charts have been rife with comebacks, buzz-drawing upstarts and hitmaking assists. Working his way up the comeback trail after the mediocre “Relapse,” Eminem hit a peak with the refreshing sequel, “Recovery” (Web/Shady/Aftermath/ Interscope). Thanks to the popularity of his hit “Love the Way You Lie” featuring Rihannathis year’s chart-topper on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs recap-and his earlier single “Not Afraid,” Eminem ends the year reigning over multiple recaps: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artists, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artists-Male and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album Artists. “Recovery” is No 2 behind Susan Boyle’s “I Dreamed a Dream” on the year-end Top Billboard 200 Albums recap, with 2.7 million in sales,
according to Nielsen SoundScan. It’s a grand return that set the stage for Eminem’s Grammy Award nomination for album of the year. Other members of the 2010 comeback class include Usher and Chris Brown. Usher had not one but two releases to show naysayers he definitely meant business after the lackluster sales of his 2008 album, “Here I Stand.” His new album “Raymond V Raymond” (LaFace/JLG) ends the year at No 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums recap. The set spun off the hit singles “Little Freak,” with the ubiquitous Nicki Minaj; the pop/dancecentric “OMG,” featuring Will.i.am; “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” featuring Plies; and “There Goes My Baby,” which ranks No 2 on the year-end Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs recap
and No. 1 on the Adult R&B Songs tally. Usher’s “Versus” EP came in at No. 45 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums recap. Brown, following his sentence for domestic abuse, worked on resurrecting his career. The tide shifted for Brown in June when he performed a medley of Michael Jackson songs at the BET Awards and broke down during “Man in the Mirror.” Weeks later, Brown’s single “Deuces,” featuring Tyga and Kevin McCall, propelled him to No 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Recorded after the release of his 2009 “Graffiti,” the song no doubt spurred renewed interest in that particular project: the Grammy-nominated “Graffiti” claims a respectable No 28 on the year-end Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums recap. —Reuters
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
39
Movies Review:
‘The Tourist’ a mindlessly enjoyable trip
By Christy Lemire t’s probably best to head into “The Tourist” with the mindset that you’re going on an actual vacation yourself. If you are in the mood for mindless, escapist fun-dazzling scenery, elegant evenings, decadent hotel suites and expensive clothes-you will be fine. There are all the obligatory chases and shootouts you would expect in a romantic action caper, but you never get the sense that anyone is in real danger. There are twists, but they won’t make you think too terribly hard, and in the end you will have devoted fewer than two hours of your life to a decent diversion. Watching Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie bounce off each other isn’t torture. Pretty people went to Venice and made a pretty movie. Joining them will not be thoroughly satisf ying, but it won’t kill you, either. It is probably also best not to let the esteemed pedigree of the people behind the movie trick you
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Actor Johnny Depp attends the World premiere of “The Tourist” at Ziegfeld Theatre on December 6, 2010 in New York City. — AFP
into expecting something way more substantive or meaningful than you are going to get. “The Tourist” is the first Hollywood film from director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, whose debut, the excellent German film “The Lives of Others,” won the foreign-language Oscar in 2007. It comes from a script that is credited to Henckel von Donnersmarck, Christopher McQuarrie (“The Usual Suspects”) and Julian Fellowes (“Gosford Park”). Cinematographer John Seale (“The English Patient”) provides the scenic vistas and intimate views of the exquisite Jolie. Costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Chicago”) dressed the gorgeous superstar. These acclaimed talents, Oscar winners, all, have given us something unabashedly light, frothy and ridiculous, almost knowingly preposterous. But still, fun, so if you feel like shutting your brain off for a little when there is so much heady awards bait out there, this is not a horrible
way to go. Jolie stars as Elise Clifton Ward, an elegant and mysterious Englishwoman (which allows her to dust off that impeccable British accent she did for the “Tomb Raider” movies). Elise is the lover of the elusive Alexander Pearce, who is the target of Scotland Yard for having stolen billions from a gangster. (Paul Bettany gets some dry laughs as the head of the investigative team.) When we first see Elise, she is being trailed by authorities to a cafe in Paris, where she receives a note from Pearce instructing her to take a morning train to Venice. While on board, she is to pick out a man of similar height and build to serve as her companion and confuse her followers. She chooses Depp’s Frank Tupelo, a mild-mannered math teacher from Wisconsin, and after all his recently hilarious flamboyant roles, it is a welcome change of pace to see Depp in an understated mode, to see him a little schlubby and selfdeprecating. Once they arrive in Venice, Elise and Frank find them-
selves being hunted not just by the police but by the angry gangster (Steven Berkoff), who wants his money back, along with his band of hapless thugs. Everyone assumes Frank is Pearce-and even if he’s not, he’s still in trouble (and the score from James Newton Howard tends to play up the madcap hilarity, and the would-be romance, a bit too intrusively). Along those lines, do Jolie and Depp, two of the biggest stars on the planet, have any chemistry with each other? Here and there. They are actually more interesting as individuals, which is not exactly helpful, given that “The Tourist” is meant to be a romance. But Jolie provides the sultry action, and Depp offers some sweet, goofy laughs, and in the end no one got sunburned or suffered from food poisoning. “The Tourist,” a Columbia Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language. Running time: 105 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four. — AP
A file photo shows US actress and UNHCR goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie waving. —AFP
Melissa Leo makes one bad mama in ʻThe Fighterʼ elissa Leo is about to ring some bells. Despite receiving an Academy Award nomination for her raw, memorable turn as a desperate mother in 2008’s “Frozen River,” the actor admits her life didn’t change overnight. “Along the Oscar trail, I learned that I’m known and respected within the industry,” Leo admits. “But to the general public, my name doesn’t really ring bells.” That’s likely to change after her fierce and funny turn as matriarch Alice Ward in the true-life tale “The Fighter,” which opens on Dec 17. Leo is earning raves for the brassy, controlling Alice, the mother of nine children, including boxers Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and Dickie Eklund (Christian Bale). Alice fiercely protects her family but is often misguided in trying to help them. As Micky’s manager, she sends him into fights unprepared and holds him back from pursuing opportunities away from the family. But there is another side to Alice-such as the adoring mother whose eyes fill with tears when she catches her beloved Dickie feeding his habit at a crack house, leading to a tender duet between the two. Or the woman who has learned from a tough life to fight for what she believes in, a trait she
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obviously passes on to her seven daughters. There is also the woman who firmly believes, despite all evidence to the contrary, that her sons are champions. “There aren’t many people who do what Melissa
does,” says “The Fighter” director David O. Russell, who cast Leo on Wahlberg’s recommendation. “She’s the lioness of this family who may commit unlikable acts, but you never question her love for those
kids.” The chameleonic Leo disappears into Alice under a bad bleached-blond hairdo that grew increasingly shorter just before filming began. She says she “begged” for prosthetics, particularly false teeth like Bale and some of her onscreen daughters wore. “That family has appalling teeth genetics,” she says with a laugh. “Lovely family, but weak teeth. I had worked with a false denture once and hoped to for this film because there is a behavior Alice has with her mouth, especially her lips, and some of it has to do with keeping her teeth in her mouth.” Instead, Leo relied on makeup artists Donald Mowat and Tricia Heine to age her for Alice and paint her teeth temporarily dirty. “It brushes off pretty easy, but the residue just isn’t good,” Leo notes. “I think I’m owed a dental cleaning by the film company.” Leo was able to briefly meet the real Alice during the film’s shoot on location in Lowell, Mass, even though Alice was in the hospital with pneumonia. “She opened her room to me, and I met her,” Leo recalls. “Although there’s something so disparate in our foundations, upon meeting her I was immediately brought back to my mother’s mother. —Reuters
Bridges is there, man
Bruce Lee fans won’t get kicks from new biopic he great martial arts star gets upstaged by studio sets in “Bruce Lee, My Brother,” a biopic centered on Lee’s childhood. Anyone raised or interested in Hong Kong won’t want to pull their eyes off the exquisite production design, which captures the colony from the ‘40s to the ‘60s. But period atmospherics and a pageant of who’s who in ‘60s Cantonese cinema are hollow stand-ins for true insight into how Lee’s childhood impacted his character formation and lifelong quests in martial arts and filmmaking.
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Buyers from over 10 territories reportedly scooped up the title at the American Film Marker in Los Angeles before its November release in China and Hong Kong-a sign that worldwide fascination with the star hasn’t subsided since he passed away in 1970. So the likelihood of a sequel is high, even if the direction and writing make the film the least exciting among a slew of homages marking Lee’s 70th birthday. At least, viewers can enjoy the dynamic presence of Aarif Rahman (“Echoes of the Rainbow”), who is arguably the most charismatic impersonator of the star to date. The rest of the cast is also excellent.
The film, co-directed by Manfred Wong and Raymond Yip, is narrated by Lee’s brother Robert, on whose book the film is largely based. Robert also appears in an introduction with elder sister, Phoebe. Both stress that unlike previous biopics that portray Lee as a legend, this is a more personal account that also preserves their family’s history. Maybe that’s why the recalled events have scant entertainment value, even though theirs is surely no ordinary family. Lee’s father, Hoi Chuen (Tony Leung Ka Fai), is a renowned opera star married to Grace (Christy Chung), a Eurasian from a wealthy family. She gave birth to Bruce in San Francisco while Hoi Chuen was on a performing tour in 1940. In 1941, the Lees move back to his ancestral mansion in Hong Kong just before the Japanese occupation. The resplendently lit and decorated interiors overflowing with authentic looking period props help one visualize Bruce Lee’s childhood spent in the company of a traditional Chinese household of 30 members. However, neither his naughty pranks as a boy nor his penchant for street fights as a rebellious teenager are depicted with enough verve. His two smartass sidekicks are unlikeable at best, a plain nuisance at worst. His love problems with the daughters of two famous actors are even more lackluster. Lee’s experience as a child star might have provided a key to understanding his aspirations in the film industry. But instead of exploring how he coped with celebrity status from a tender age, the directors are content to recreate a few scenes from his classic films like “The Kid” and “The Orphan” (albeit done in stylish, authentic-looking black-and-white). —Reuters
Cast member Jeff Bridges arrives at a screening of “True Grit” in Beverly Hills, Calif on Thursday, Dec 9, 2010. —AP
eff Bridges has been reacquainting himself with old friends. First, he follows up on his best-actor Academy Awards win for “Crazy Heart” with “Tron: Legacy,” a return to the glossy virtual reality of 1982’s “Tron.” The movie hits theaters Dec 17. Days later, Bridges stars as boozy, one-eyed lawman Rooster Cogburn in a new take on the Western “True Grit,” reteaming with Joel and Ethan Coen, who directed him in the cult hit of cult hits “The Big Lebowski.” His previous sequel
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completely different than the other one.” Motion-capture, used in such films as last year’s blockbuster “Avatar,” allows actors to render a digital performance that is topped off with computer effects to create finished characters. In “Tron: Legacy,” Bridges not only plays Flynn, but also the villainous computer program Clu, created by digitally erasing 25 years off the actor’s face, then grafting his rejuvenated image on another actor’s body. “I’m just blown away by how
experience also was a long time coming —19 years — with 1990’s “Texasville,” a followup to 1971’s “The L ast Picture Show,” which earned Bridges his first of five Oscar nominations. “Tron: Legacy” took almost a decade longer, and while the original was cutting-edge at the time, its pioneering computer graphics look as quaint as a game of Pong in today’s world of photorealistic digital animation. “It was like a long weekend in a way,” Bridges, 61, said of returning to the role of Flynn, the computer genius who ventures into a deadly computer realm known as the Grid. “Odd, very odd. Of course, then there’s all this new motion-capture technology that I hadn’t experienced. That was
willing he was to try something new. Playing the character of Clu, the technology required to pull that off and the stuff we had to do to him,” said “Tron: Legacy” director Joseph Kosinski. “You’d think a lot of actors would shy away from that, especially someone who’s been working as long as he has. But he embraced it. He wanted to play with the new toys.” The result may be good enough that if Clu could travel back to the mid-1980s, he might fool Bridges’ friends, the actor said. “Maybe so. The big one was my wife. She was very instrumental in the little tweaks, saying my nose should be like this or that,” Bridges said of his wife of 33 years, Susan Bridges. “She
would know.” Bridges got his start as a child actor, taking small parts on “Sea Hunt,” the TV adventure series starring his father, Lloyd Bridges. He has built a wildly varied body of work in populist films (“Seabiscuit,” “Starman,” “The Fisher King”) and smaller tales (“American Heart,” “Fearless,” “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” costarring his brother, Beau Bridges). Usually cast as likable guys, Bridges turned villain for 2008’s blockbuster “Iron Man.” While Bridges had been game to revisit “Tron,” he knew people would have doubts about “True Grit.” The 1969 original is one of John Wayne’s best-known Westerns, earning him an Oscar as Cogburn. Will Wayne fans consider it sacrilege? “I don’t think about that, but that question comes up all the time. ‘How does it feel to fill the Duke’s boots?”‘ Bridges said. “That’s going to be interesting, what the audience does with that. If they’re going to be able to see me as Rooster or they’re going to say, ‘Ahh, that’s not Wayne!’ “But I didn’t let that figure into my doing it or not. The Coen brothers wanted me, man. Come on, I’m there, man.” When he drops the word “man,” it’s like an echo of his laid-back patter in 1998’s “The Big Lebowski,” which did modest business theatrically but gained such a following on video that it has come to define his career, in a way. Jeff Lebowski — “The Dude” — is lovably off in his own world, living for bowling and preserving his middle-aged slacker existence. His declarations include: “The Dude abides,” “This will not stand, man,” and, when someone jostles one of his trademark White Russians: “Man, there’s a beverage here!” There are traces of the Dude in “Tron: Legacy,” as Bridges’ Flynn talks in hippiedippie fashion about “bio-digital jazz” and complains, “You’re messing with my Zen thing, man.” —AP
Van Dyke stepping out of ‘Time’
More Tron? Coens reunion? Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar and actress Kartina Kaif pose for photographs during a press conference to promote their upcoming Hindi film “Tees Maar Khan,” in Calcutta, India yesterday. The film will release on Dec 24. — AP
In this file photo actor Dick Van Dyke is shown during a rehearsal for his upcoming one-man show at the Gefen Playhouse in Los Angeles.—AP
t won’t be such a jolly holiday for “Mary Poppins” star Dick Van Dyke. The 84-year-old stage and screen veteran was forced to pull out of his new career-retrospective musical — “Dick Van DykeStep in Time! — A Musical Memoir” — after just one performance at the Geffen Playhouse in the Westwood section of Los Angeles. According to the theater’s publicist, Allison Rawlings, the Emmyand Tony-winning actor had been nursing an Achilles injury for several weeks and after Wednesday night’s performance, Van Dyke realized he’d be unable to continue on with the show’s monthlong run. Rawlings said there were no plans to reschedule the show, which stepped back in time to review Van Dyke’s half-century career. “I don’t know how it happened, because I never had a career plan,” mused Van Dyke in an earlier interview. “I had kids. And I had to work. And everything just worked out so I not only had a comfortable living, I enjoyed every minute of it-and still am. This is my retirement.” Van Dyke turns 85 on Monday. — AP
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J Crew pink maribou wrap.
Henri Bendel bracelets. — MCT photos
Deena & Ozzy glitter oxfords. By Melissa Magsaysay e’ve all had our slip-ups with self-expression around the holidays. Maybe you doubled up with red and green scrunchies in the ’90s or donned a pair of those flashing “ornament” earrings. Whatever your holiday fashion faux pas, there’s no reason to dress like a Christmas tree — and no need to be overwhelmed with the prospect of having to buy a new outfit for the swirl of social events. By adding an accessory or two, a little black dress or brown v-neck sweater can be instantly transformed into something festive. For this holiday season think about rich fabrics such as velvet or satin, as well as things that shine and sparkle. And use these accessories — a clutch, a brooch, a belt — in small doses. You might start with the easiest (and perhaps least expensive) strategy: A classic red lipstick is one way to add a pop of color to your look. Red lips are big trend this season, and they always brighten up dark colors and heavier fabrics. A color called Le Rouge from YSL Beaute is a true red, and its shiny gold packaging makes for a handsome addition to a vanity. For a little bit of sheen to the eyelid and brow bone, try Bobbi Brown’s Sparkle Glamour Quad (which comes with four palettes of color), which gives a party-goer the option of creating a sexy smoky eye or playing it safe with a glittery champagne eye shadow. Literal touches of sparkle are easy to find this time of year, and a little really does go a long way. Try wearing sequins or glitter by way of a neutral colored scarf, such as the nude version from Tory Burch that features one side of solid wool and the other decorated with a smattering of copper-colored palettes. Henri Bendel offers stackable rhinestone bracelets that are fastened with a velvet bow, a piece that could dress up anything from a black suit to jeans and a sweater. Gentlemen, please ditch the reindeer tie and instead opt for a few dapper flourishes that can, in truth, be worn any time of year. Woolrich and Converse have teamed up for a holiday collection that includes a pair of rugged wool Chuck Taylors. They’re part lumberjack, part creative executive and can be worn with a pair of dark jeans and a solid sweater for work or a private holiday party. For something dressier, the oversized burgundy bow tie from the Lanvin for H&M collection is fun and looks great with a suit or under a V-neck sweater. And for a festive but subtle approach to holiday dressing, try slipping on some bright colored or patterned socks, which can be worn with sneakers and jeans or a suit and oxfords. Paul Smith generally has a wide selection of colorful socks, including a pair in a red and gray harlequin pattern. Top it all off by lighting a scented candle while you’re dressing up at home-or wrap one for a hostess gift. Annick Goutal’s Noel candle and room spray is a subtle mix of citrus and pine and doesn’t overwhelm a room once lighted. So it’s not so difficult to get seasonal, is it? That Christmas sweater can remain in the bottom drawer another year if you follow our basic rule: It’s probably best to sparkle sparingly. — MCT
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Stella & Dot multi strand pearl necklace.
Woolrich for Converse shoes, Urban Outfitters belt, and Camp socks.
Anick Goutal Noel room spray and candle.
Tory Burch sequin scarf.
Bobbi Brown sparkle glamour quad.
Hugo Boss women’s velvet tuxedo jacket and J Crew jeweled gloves.
Casadei jeweled peep toe heels.
YSL pur Couture lipstick.
Vans plaid creeper sneakers.