Gaza rockets target Jerusalem and Tel Aviv - Kuwait Times

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JERUSALEM: Gaza militants fired rockets at both 

Jerusalem and Tel Aviv yesterday, aiming for Israel’s 

political and commercial hearts, prompting Israel to 

call up thousands more reservists in readiness for a 

potential ground war. The military wing of the 

Islamist Hamas movement which rules Gaza said it 

fired the rocket at Jerusalem, the first to strike the 

outskirts of the Holy City in the history of the Israeli- 

Palestinian conflict. 

It marked a major escalation by the territory’s 

Hamas rulers in the face of a deadly pounding since 

Wednesday by Israeli aircraft that has killed 23 

Gazans and sparked outrage across the Arab and 

Islamic world. Neither rocket caused any casualties or 

damage, police said, but they sowed panic in both 

the state’s main population centres setting off warning 

sirens and sending people scurrying to shelters. 

One hit a Jewish settlement bloc in the occupied 

West Bank just south of Jerusalem 

which is home to many commuters. 

“A rocket fired from Gaza hit an 

open area outside of Jerusalem, 

causing no injuries or damage,” an 

army spokesman told AFP. Police 

said it hit in the Gush Etzion bloc of 

settlements that stretches south of 

Jerusalem past Bethlehem from just 

five kilometres beyond the city limits. 

A second rocket crashed into sea 

off Tel Aviv “some 200 metres” from 

the beachfront US embassy, sending 

beachgoers fleeing, an eyewitness 

told AFP. 

The two rockets were the farthest 

Gaza militants have ever fired into 

Israel, exceeding even the 60 km 

achieved by a rocket that hit the sea 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2012 MOHARRAM 3, 1433 AH No: 15630 

Petraeus testifies 

before 

11 

lawmakers 

on Benghazi 

Qatar Airways 

lands 

45 

on 

Barcelona shirts 

Gaza rockets target 

Jerusalem and Tel Aviv 

Egypt PM visits Gaza as Israel mobilizes troops 

off Jaffa, just south of Tel Aviv, on Thursday. As the 

rockets hit, the first of 16,000 reservists already called 

up by the Israeli army were joining their units but in 

their wake Defence Minister Ehud Barak ordered 

thousands more to turn up for duty. “The defence 

minister has this evening ordered the mobilisation of 

new reserve forces,” his spokesman Josh Hantman 

told AFP as warnings intensified of a looming 

ground offensive to root out the rocket launchers 

that now have most of Israel’s population in their 

sights. 

An AFP correspondent on the Israeli side of the 

Gaza border reported seeing tanks massed along the 

frontier, and a steady stream of reservists arriving for 

duty. Speaking before the latest rocket fire, senior 

cabinet minister Moshe Yaalon warned that Israel 

was already poised for a major ground offensive like 

that which it launched in Dec 2008-Jan 2009. “We are 

preparing all the military options, including the possibility 

that forces will be ready to enter Gaza in the 

event that the firing doesn’t stop,” he said. 

As ground troops massed, there was no let up in 

the Israeli air offensive on Gaza. A child was among 

the two latest victims reported by the territory’s 

emergency services, who were both brought in to 

Gaza City’s Shifa hospital as Egyptian Prime Minister 

Hisham Qandil toured the wards on an unprecedented 

solidarity visit to the Hamas-ruled territory. 

Israel denied its aircraft had killed the pair but Qandil 

leant forward and kissed the dead body of four-yearold 

Mohammed Yasser voicing outrage at his loss. 

“What I saw today in Gaza, at the hospital, with the 

martyrs, cannot be met with silence,” the Egyptian 

premier said. “This tragedy cannot be tolerated, and 

the whole world bears the responsibility to stop the 

aggression.” 

Max 27º 

Min 12º 

(Left) Gaza’s Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya (right) and Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil hold the body of a Palestinian baby boy who was killed in an Israeli air strike yesterday 

during a visit to the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. (Center) Explosion and smoke rise following an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, seen from the Israel- Gaza border in southern 

Israel yesterday. (Right) The mother of 10-month-old Palestinian girl Hanen Tafesh, killed the day before in an Israeli air strike, is comforted by her husband and relatives as she 

mourns before her funeral in Gaza City yesterday. — AP/AFP (See Pages 8, 9 and 14) 

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti protesters including former Islamist MP Jamaan Al-Harbash (right) carrying Palestinian flags and scarves 

take part in a gathering in solidarity with Gaza in front of the US Embassy in Bayan yesterday. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat 

Egypt’s Islamist President Mohamed Morsi hammered 

home the message of support soon after his 

prime minister ended the lightning visit. “Egypt will 

not leave Gaza on its own... What is happening is a 

blatant aggression against humanity,” Morsi said. 

The overthrow early last year of veteran strongman 

Hosni Mubarak, a staunch supporter of Egypt’s 

three-decade-old peace treaty with Israel, has cast a 

chill over the already lukewarm relationship 

between the two neighbours. Morsi, who like Hamas 

has his roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, has moved 

to establish closer relations with the Gaza authorities. 

Tunisia’s foreign minister was due to visit Gaza today 

“to provide all political support for Gaza” the 

spokesman for the Tunisian president, Moncef 

Marzouki, said in a statement. 

World governments concerned about the 

upsurge of violence had appealed to Egyptian leaders 

to use their influence with 

Hamas to prevent any fresh downward 

spiral. US deputy State 

Department spokesman Mark 

Toner said he hoped the Egyptian 

prime minister would deliver a message 

to halt the rocket fire. President 

Vladimir Putin told Morsi in a telephone 

call that Russia supported 

Egypt’s efforts to halt the upsurge in 

violence since Israel killed Hamas 

military chief Ahmed Jaabari in an air 

strike on Gaza City on Wednesday. 

But as Qandil arrived, Hamas 

announced it had fired a new salvo 

of rockets at the Jewish state despite 

Israel’s offer of a temporary truce for 

the brief visit. — Agencies

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2012 

local 

GCC Neurology Congress begins 

KUWAIT: Neurology experts from 

across the Gulf descended on Kuwait 

this weekend as part of the biannual 

GCC Neurology Congress, where speakers 

and participants are set to tackle 

challenges in the field of neurological 

disorders such as multiple sclerosis 

(MS), stroke, epilepsy etc. As many as 

150 local and regional doctors and 

healthcare practitioners were expected 

to attend the Neurology Congress, 

according to President of the Kuwait 

Neurology Society (KNS) Dr Abdulaziz 

Ashkanani. 

“Every two years, the GCC countries 

come together to exchange knowledge 

and best practices that help them 

remain at the forefront of diagnosis and 

treatment for neurological disorders in 

the Gulf. It is imperative that we share 

information and keep pace with new 

data to ensure the best possible outcomes 

for our patients,” said Dr 

Ashkanani. 

Neurologists within the Gulf are a 

scarce human resource, with only a 

handful of them in each of the GCC 

countries, according to Dr Khalid Al 

Hassan, Specialist Neurologist at Al 

Amiri Hospital and Vice President of 

the KNS. Therefore, a cross-institution- 

UNITED NATIONS: Kuwait expressed 

hope current session of the United 

Nations General Assembly would witness 

tangible progress in efforts for 

reforming and expanding and boosting 

performance of the UN Security Council. 

Although there is great need for boosting 

process of reforming the UNSC and 

unanimous support among the council 

member states for principle of such a 

process, there have been no tangible 

al, regional approach is important. MS 

will be a key focus area at the event as 

the number of MS patients in Kuwait is 

Dr Khalid Al-Hassan 

estimated anywhere between 1,000 

and 1,400 as per unofficial sources 

since no up-to-date epidemiological 

studies are available. 

“We established a registry in 2010 and 

we are trying to accurately measure the 

actual prevalence and incidence in the 

country. Preliminary data suggests that 

since the last data for Kuwait was published 

in 2005, incidence has almost 

tripled from around 30 cases per 100,000 

people to approximately 80 people per 

100,000, a number consistent with the 

global figures,” said Dr Raed Al- 

Roughani, Neurology Consultant in Al 

Amiri Hospital and a leading specialist in 

the treatment of MS in the country. “By 

the end of next year we should have the 

full registry data available to determine 

the real number of sufferers of MS in the 

country, which is likely to be even higher 

than our current estimates,” added Dr 

Roughani. 

Over the last few years there has 

been a lot of education and awareness 

raised about MS, added Dr Al Hassan, 

mainly due to the immediate access to 

information, especially given that MS 

tends to hit at an early age of around 20 

years. “While MS is not a curable disease, 

it is treatable, and the problem is 

not availability of medication but compliance 

with the prescribed treatment 

regimen. We need to focus on improving 

the adherence rate so that we can 

hold off the disease’s progression,” 

Kuwait renews call to 

reform, expand UNSC 

Kuwait wants Security Council restructured 

steps in this respect, said the deputy 

permanent delegate of Kuwait to the 

UN, Abdul-Aziz Al-Jarallah. 

Jarallah was addressing the 76th session 

of the UN General Assembly during 

a debate on just representation at the 

council, prospects of increasing its 

members and relevant issues. The 

Kuwaiti diplomat affirmed necessity of 

reaching an agreement regarding 

expansion and reforming the council. 

NEW YORK: Deputy permanent delegate of Kuwait to the UN Abdul-Aziz Al- 

Jarallah addresses the 76th session of the UN General Assembly. —KUNA 

Even though 20 years have passed since 

start of discussions aimed at increasing 

membership of the council and improving 

its methods of action, and despite a 

series of initiatives and proposals in this 

respect, “this issue continues to stumble, 

thus its tackling would require political 

will to harmonize views to reach the 

aspired goal”. He also indicated that 

greater effort and collective action were 

needed at this level. 

Rapid developments facing the international 

community warrant greater 

determination for sake of activating the 

UNSC so it may become more capable 

of facing challenges, and to broaden 

states’ representation in it, noted 

Jarallah in his appeal to the member 

states to exert more effort for concrete 

steps in this regard. Kuwait believes that 

the council should be restructured in a 

manner that would develop its coordination 

with the other UN agencies and 

bodies without meddling in jurisdictions 

of these bodies, he added. 

On veto power enjoyed by the five 

permanent members of the council, 

Jarallah called for trimming such prerogatives 

and make them restricted to 

issues that fall under Chapter VII. Jarallah 

also indicated that the expansion of the 

council should result in giving a chance 

to small, Arab and Muslim nations to 

have a chance for representation. He 

congratulated the new non-permanent 

members of the council - Australia, 

Luxembourg, South Korea, Rwanda and 

Argentina on their election last month 

for the 2013-2014 term.—KUNA 

Roughani said. 

Published research figures show MS 

affects around 25 to 50 people in 

100,000 in Arab populations and about 

100 per 100,000 among Northern 

Europeans who display the highest risk 

of MS across the world, with prevalence 

seeming to increase with further distance 

from the equator. MS is a nervous 

system disease with no known cause 

that affects the brain and spinal cord. It 

damages the myelin sheath that surrounds 

and protects the nerve cells, a 

process that slows down or blocks messages 

between the brain and the body, 

leading to the symptoms of MS. These 

include visual disturbances, muscle 

weakness, trouble with coordination 

and balance, sensations such as numbness, 

prickling, or “pins and needles” 

and thinking and memory problems. 

Globally, MS affects women more 

than men and often begins between 

the ages of 20 and 40. The disease can 

be mild but some people lose the ability 

to write, speak or walk. There is no cure 

for MS but medicines can slow the disease’s 

progression and help control 

symptoms. The Congress is taking place 

in the Al-Hashemi Ballroom at the 

Radisson Blu Hotel on Nov 16-17, 2012. 

BUENOS AIRES: Kuwaiti Ambassador in Argentina Saud 

Abdulaziz Shamlan Al-Roumi meets Argentinean Tourism 

Minister Carlos Enrique Meyer on Thursday. —KUNA 

Kuwait envoy to 

Argentina meets 

tourism minister 

BUENOS AIRES: Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps and 

Kuwaiti Ambassador in Argentina Saud Abdulaziz Shamlan Al- 

Roumi met on Thursday with Argentinean Tourism Minister 

Carlos Enrique Meyer on the outcomes of the minister’s visit 

to Kuwait last May. A statement by the Kuwaiti Embassy said 

that the Argentinean minister expressed during the meeting 

pleasure for the warm welcome he received during his visit, 

stressing the importance of bilateral relations, in particular 

cooperation between his ministry and Kuwaiti ministry of 

information. 

The statement noted Kuwaiti Minister of Information 

Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah’s interest 

in holding joint meetings of both countries’ tourist companies, 

which left a good impression to all Argentinean visitors 

to the country. They also discussed ways to ease visa restrictions 

for Kuwaiti development, tourism, and Kuwaiti tourists 

planning to visit Argentina. They further tackled issues concerning 

bilateral relations and a proposal to open up an 

Argentinean tourist attraction center in Kuwait in collaboration 

with the Argentinean Embassy here. —KUNA


KUWAIT: Amid efforts to follow up on 

developments in Jordan - where riots 

over fuel price hikes have left one person 

dead and 71 wounded - particularly 

of Kuwaiti students and citizens 

there, Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said 

late Thursday that it has set up two 

emergency operation rooms, one in 

Kuwait’s Embassy in Amman, and the 

second here in the ministry. The ministry 

said in a statement that the two 

rooms will be working around the 

clock to help families and Kuwaiti citi- 

VADUZ, Liechtenstein: Kuwait’s Ambassador to 

Switzerland and Liechtenstein Suhail Shuhaiber 

presents his credentials to the Hereditary Prince of 

Liechtenstein and Count of Rietberg Alois Philipp 

Maria. —KUNA 

zens in the Jordanian capital.Unrest in 

Jordan erupted on Tuesday night in 

response to a 53 percent increase in 

the price of household gas and a 12 

percent rise in petrol. 

The ministry also called on Kuwaiti 

students in Jordan to continue their 

contact with the Kuwaiti embassy 

through the following numbers: 

00962777997997, 00962776006003 

and 00962796726600. The statement 

also noted that the ministry’s setup 

room numbers are: 97650892, 

97650684 and 97650867. Kuwaiti 

Ambassador to Jordan Dr Hamad Al- 

Duaij urged Kuwaitis in Jordan to limit 

their daily outings and avoid locations 

of demonstrations. He also advised 

them to keep in contact with the 

embassy and keep a close watch on 

the local situation. 

Saudi Arabia also urged its citizens 

to stay away from public gatherings 

and universities in Jordan, state news 

agency SPA reported. The kingdom’s 

embassy in Amman “warned Saudi 

LOCAL 

Kuwait warns citizens to avoid Jordan demos 

Shuhaiber named 

Kuwait ambassador 

to Liechtenstein 

VADUZ, Liechtenstein: Kuwait’s appointed its first ambassador to the 

tiny landlocked nation of Liechtenstein, with Suhail Shuhaiber presenting 

his credentials for the post, to follow his status as Ambassador 

to Switzerland. Shuhaiber reported the greetings of HH the Amir 

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the Hereditary Prince of 

Liechtenstein and Count of Rietberg Alois Philipp Maria. In a meeting 

with the prince, he also pointed out to the Amir’s keenness on 

expanding bilateral ties between both nations and his best wishes of 

growth and development for the European country. 

Kuwait and Liechtenstein share similar characteristics as they are 

both constitutional states with a democratically-elected parliament, 

with draft laws raised by parliament only passed after full approval by 

the two countries’ leaders, Shuhaiber told KUNA. Shuhaiber noted 

that Liechtenstein is one that is known for its adept banking and international 

investment management sectors. It is also the least indebted 

nation in the world and has the second least unemployment rate of 

1.5pct, after Monaco. For his part, Prince Alois expressed to the Amir 

like sentiment, hailing Kuwait’s “exceptional” democratic experiment, 

and ruling families around the world as “symbols that the people can 

turn to”. The two nations signed an agreement to establish diplomatic 

ties in 2008. —KUNA 

JEDDAH: Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and 

Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Sabah 

addressed the 39th meeting of the foreign ministers 

of countries of the Organization of Islamic 

Cooperation (OIC), being held in Djibouti till 

today. Among principal issues he talked about 

was the deteriorating crisis in Syria, lamenting the 

lack of cooperation from the Syrian government 

in implementing the UNSC resolutions nos.2042 

and 2043 and in responding favorably to the 

efforts of the Arab League and UN envoy to Syria 

Lakdhar Brahimi. 

Sheikh Sabah, however, welcomed the decision 

by GCC states and the Arab League to support the 

employees and students in Jordan 

from going to public squares or 

approaching sites of gatherings and 

demonstrations,” SPA said late on 

Thursday. It also warned them from 

going to schools “to preserve their 

security after earlier clashes between 

security forces and students at universities”. 

Jordanian Prime Minister 

Abdullah Nsur has said the increases 

are necessary to help reduce a projected 

budget deficit this year of 3.5 billion 

dinars ($5 billion). —Agencies 

Constitution in tune with 

human rights conventions 

Kuwait promotes human rights globally 

UNITED NATIONS: Kuwaiti constitution, 

which was adopted 50 years ago, 

is in keeping with the principles of 

human rights, a Kuwaiti diplomat said 

Thursday. Kuwait pays great attention 

to the issues of human rights and 

spares no effort in defending human 

rights at all international forums, said 

Abdullah Al-Asfour Al-Hajeri, member 

of Kuwait delegation to the 67th session 

of the UN General Assembly. He 

was delivering Kuwait’s speech to a 

plenary meeting during the session on 

the Report of the Human Rights 

Council. 

Kuwait backs the sincere efforts 

being made by UN agencies, and the 

international government and nongovernment 

organizations to promote 

human rights across the world, he 

underscored. The Kuwaiti constitution, 

adopted in 1962, is in tune with the 

principles of human rights enshrined 

in international conventions and regulations; 

it guarantees the right to 

decent life, the freedom of belief and 

expression, equality and solidarity 

among all citizens, and social justice, 

Hajeri said, citing articles 7 and 29 of 

the constitution. 

Article 31 provides for protecting 

man from torture and maltreatment, 

thus contributing to the popular participation 

in the political decision-making, 

democratization, prosperity and 

stability. Article 35 provides for 

absolute freedom of belief and encourages 

the activities to promote the culture 

of tolerance and understanding 

through dialogue, he said, reminding 

of the initiative of HH the Amir Sheikh 

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to 

Syrian National Coalition bloc as the legitimate representative 

of the Syrian people. He also dealt in his 

speech to the OIC foreign ministers with the 

Palestinian aspirations for a permanent homeland, 

urging in that regard complete support to the 

notion of accepting Palestine’s request to be recognized 

as a state with no membership privileges in 

the General Assembly of the United Nations. 

He stressed the imperative to have a lasting 

peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, based 

on the creation of an independent Palestinian state 

with June 4, 1967 borders and East Jerusalem (or 

Al-Quds) as the recognized capital. The Kuwaiti foreign 

minister furthermore agreed with Palestinian 

launch the global moderation center 

“Wasatia”. Kuwait, out of belief in the 

role of the civil society institutions, 

adopted a range of regulations for the 

freedoms of the press and expression 

including Act No 3 for 2006 and 61 for 

2007. The two laws regulate the activities 

of the audio-visual mass media in 

an open and democratic atmosphere 

which address all social, economic and 

political issues, Hajeri added. 

Kuwait contributes to the international 

efforts to promote peace and 

security worldwide, combat violence 

and respect human rights; the country 

enhanced its annual financial contributions 

to the multi-national organizations 

such as the UN Commission 

NEW YORK: Abdullah Al-Asfour Al-Hajeri, member of Kuwait delegation 

to the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, speaks at a plenary 

meeting during the session on the Report of the Human Rights 

Council. —KUNA 

wishes that the current OIC meeting issue a condemnation 

of the Israeli attacks on Gaza. 

Turning to the plight of the Rohingya Muslim 

minority in Myanmar, Sheikh Sabah alluded to 

Kuwait’s efforts to have humanitarian relief reach 

these afflicted people, reminding OIC members of 

the commitment they made in the summit meeting 

they held recently in Makkah to assist the 

Rohingya people expeditiously. The Kuwaiti official 

stressed his country’s conviction of the importance 

of development and growth in improving the 

quality of life for all peoples, noting among other 

things that Kuwait, for instance, allocated $300 million 

during the recent Asian cooperation and dia- 

on Human Rights (UNCHR). The 

Kuwaiti diplomat thanked the UN 

member states for electing Kuwait as 

a member of the UN Human Rights 

Council for 2011-2013, renewing 

Kuwait’s commitment to the global 

effort to combat racism, intolerance 

and discrimination. —KUNA 

Foreign Minister attends OIC meet in Djibouti 

logue summit held in Kuwait - to support development 

and economic growth projects in Asian countries. 

And its contribution of $150 million to boost 

research in energy efficiency, climate change, and 

the environment, he said. 

Sheikh Sabah concluded his address to his colleagues 

by emphasizing the absolute need to promote 

justice, equality, and human dignity and to 

reject vehemently religious extremism and harming 

others. The meeting of the OIC foreign ministers 

is being held this year under the banner 

“Together for sustained development.” Sheikh 

Sabah arrived in Djibouti yesterday at the head of a 

delegation to the meeting. —KUNA


KUWAIT: A collision between a car and a jeep resulted in 

several causalities in Wafra. The jeep contained two families 

consisting of 11 persons including women and children 

who were injured. Their ages varied between 1 and 

50 years and they were all taken to hospital in five ambulances. 

— By Hanan Al-Saadoun 

Bridge contract 

labeled ‘theft 

of the century’ 

KUWAIT: Two days after the Jaber bridge bridge which will 

cost KD 730 million was signed, the deal is facing a court case 

over a previous rejection of the project by concerned authorities 

and the lack of feasibility after the development project of 

the current Jahra Road. Municipal council member Eng 

Ashwaq Al-Mudhaf said she will file a complaint against 

awarding the Jaber Bridge project and described it as the 

“theft of the century”. 

She said she will submit documents to the public prosecution 

showing the project was rejected twice by the Audit 

Bureau as well as the Environment Public Authority (EPA) for 

its harmful effects on Kuwait Bay. Mudhaf said she is against 

the project as it is no longer needed after the start of development 

of the Jahra Road, adding that Jaber Bridge will only 

save 28 minutes to Subbiya, and “this is a time not worth KD 

730 million”. 

“I believe that it is more beneficial to spend KD 800 million 

on housing than on a bridge that saves 28 minutes,” she said, 

adding is not related to the project nor those in the tender, 

rather she is seeking public interest and is ready to confront 

any similar project. She said the project remained rejected 

until recently, “but they regretfully awarded it two days ago”. 

Mudhaf said “ministers confirmed to me two weeks ago the 

project was rejected”. 

KUWAIT: An Egyptian expat accused his 

Kuwaiti wife of beating him, and she justified 

that by saying “he does not listen to her”. The 

expat told Salmiya police that he was beaten 

by his wife, a citizen, and asked them for protection. 

Police asked him for a medical report 

which he brought and filed a case. The wife 

said her act was because her husband does not 

listen to her. When policemen asked him if he 

wanted to divorce her, he refused, but he still 

wants to get his rights for being beaten. Police 

are investigating. 

Iraqi drops dead 

The body of an Iraqi expat was recovered 

by the coroner to determine the reasons of 

death, after collapsing in a camp while in the 

company of a citizen. A security source said the 

Iraqi 42, who worked as a company manager, 

was with a Kuwaiti in a Salmi camp. After eating 

meat at around 3:00 am, the Iraqi felt pain 

in his stomach and fell unconscious. The citizen 

rushed his friend to Jahra hospital, where he 

was pronounced dead. Investigations are 

underway. 

Pharmacist sworn at work 

A pharmacist filed a complaint against a 

patient for insulting her while at work as he 

objected to the medicine she dispensed to 

him. The patient who brought the prescription 

did not like the medicine she gave him and 

started swearing at her, without paying attention 

to what she said that she cannot change 

what the doctor wrote. 

Graves desecrated 

Jahra police arrested 32 persons who dug 

up 20 graves in Al-Khuwaisat area and claimed 

they were filming a drama. The suspects 

include 15 citizens, 11 bedoons, 4 Iraqis and 2 

Eritreans. A security source said the arrested are 

aged between 8 and 38 including women and 

children who claimed to be filming a drama 

with cameras found with them. Investigations 

are underway. 

Man held in transit 

An Egyptian transit passenger arriving by a 

KAC flight from Bangkok en route to Cairo was 

detained at Kuwait International Airport for six 

days without any charges being pressed 

against him, security sources said. The man’s 

troubles started when the one of his bags was 

sent by mistake to the arrival lounge baggage 

carousel where it was not claimed by any arriving 

passenger. Customs staff put the suspect 

bag through x-ray and found it full of gold. A 

check revealed the owner as being a transit 

passenger waiting to resume his journey to 

Cairo. The customs inspectors wanted to arrest 

him but the passport section staff refused to 

allow him into Kuwait since he did not have 

any visa. The customs inspectors then insisted 

on detaining him at the airport itself and 

refused to let him fly. 

Hunt on for conman 

Detectives are currently trying to track 

down a professional fraudster holding dual citizenship 

of Kuwait and another GCC state for 

committing a KD 10 million scam, security 

sources said. The sources said that the suspect 

used to write cheques to pay for goods and 

collect down payment and rent from people 

after letting out other people’s property posing 

as the real owner. Sources also revealed that 

the suspect used his two passports alternately 

to get in and out of Kuwait. This strategy pro- 

vided him with an alibi, should anyone complain 

about a bounced check, that he was not 

in the country on the said date and time when 

the cheque was issued. He also signed most 

documents when no one was watching him. 

Actually, he would get someone else to sign for 

him and later refute that he ever signed any of 

them. A number of victims have filed cases 

about the fraudster’s activities and further 

investigations were still on. 

Diplomat threatened 

A diplomat at a foreign embassy in Kuwait 

recently filed a complaint at Faiha police station 

accusing an unidentified person of sending 

him an email threatening to kill him, said 

security sources. The complaint was referred to 

the cyber-crimes detectives to identify the 

sender and find out whether the email was 

sent from within Kuwait or abroad. 

Killer camp thieves at large 

Unidentified thieves who killed an Egyptian 

camp keeper recently also stole goods from 

several other camps, security sources said. A citizen 

reported that his camp in Kabd was burgled 

while the keeper was asleep. The citizen 

said that his camp keeper called him to tell him 

about the theft. When he went to the spot, he 

found that the robbers had stolen electric 

gadgets and other camp equipment worth KD 

900. “I was asleep,” the keeper said when the 

owner blamed him. A case was filed. 

Abduction claim 

A citizen was arrested for attempting to 

abduct a girl with whom he had earlier tried to 

flirt, security sources said. Case papers indicated 

that a girl reported that someone tried to kid- 

local 

Kuwaiti woman beats 

up Egyptian husband 

nap her at a shopping mall’s parking lot in 

down town Kuwait City. The suspect was arrested 

after searching through the mall but he 

denied the kidnap attempt. He said he was 

merely trying to flirt with the girl and backed off 

when she rejected his advances. “Had I tried to 

kidnap her, I would have left the mall immediately,” 

the suspect argued. A case was filed and 

further investigations are on. 

Man assaults ex-wife 

A citizen assaulted his divorced wife inside 

the Ali Sabah Al-Salem’s police station, security 

sources said. Case papers indicated that the 

man, who shared the same house as his 

divorced wife and lives on the ground floor, 

filed a complaint accusing his former spouse of 

deliberately damaging the air conditioning system. 

She, however, denied the accusation and 

said the system was out of order at her floor 

KUWAIT: Three Arabs are seen after being arrested with the possession of 

drugs and other psychotropic substances they traded in, said security sources. 

After close surveillance, one of the suspects was arrested with the possession 

of 14 hashish bars and a large quantity of tramadol tablets. The first suspect 

led the police to his supplier - the second suspect who was also arrested with 

the possession of the same drugs, who in turn led to the third suspect. 

—By Hanan Al-Saadoun 

too. However, when the police officer in charge 

left the couple in his office so that they could 

discuss their problem, he heard the woman 

screaming for help and the man charging at 

her, messing up the officer’s desk and office furniture. 

A case was filed and the woman requested 

the men on duty to testify in her favour. 

Unstable arsonist 

A mentally disturbed citizen was arrested 

for starting a fire outside two houses in 

Shamiya, then holding a hammer and threatening 

to hurt himself if anyone approached him, 

said security sources. Case papers indicated that 

the owners of the two houses outside which he 

lit the fire called the police to report the matter. 

A case was filed and the suspect was referred to 

the relevant authorities.


KUWAIT: According to the independent 

rating agency, Capital 

Standards, “There are a total of 100 

investment companies operating 

in Kuwait, with 54 operating within 

the confines of the Islamic sharia 

provisions and the rest operating 

as conventional investment companies.” 

We have a very positive 

outlook about the future. A lot of 

good things will happen. There is a 

very high interest in coming to 

Kuwait, as the previous three years 

have shown. There have been a lot 

of enquiries and visits.” 

A random walk down Kuwait 

City reveals indeed a wide range of 

companies who have money to 

spend on foreign projects, on foreign 

companies or sometimes on 

talent at home. “The Capital Market 

Authority (CMA) was created by a 

parliamentary bill approved in 

February 2010. Today, it is on the 

right track, but it will take time to 

implement the laws and look at the 

legal position of the commissioners,” 

said Majdi Gharzeddeene, 

Head of Investment Research at 

KAMCO Research. “During this year 

there should be full implementation 

of the laws, and they will issue 

new regulations, and clean up the 

market. The government didn’t 

intervene in the market; rather, 

they intervened in Oct 2008 once 

they guaranteed all deposits with 

the banks for unlimited time 

because of the Gulf Bank crisis, in 

which they lost around $3.6 billion,” 

he added. 

But for an investor from outside, 

an engagement in the oil-rich 

sheikhdom is more difficult than it 

looks at a first glance. The Kuwait 

Stock Exchange (KSE) saw its golden 

times after the fall of Saddam 

Hussein’s regime. In recent years, 

however, the KSE Market Index 

decreased in the wake of the financial 

crisis. “One of the repercussions 

of the financial crisis on Kuwait was 

that the investment sector - consisting 

of listed companies - lost 

approximately KD 864 million in 

2009, which followed losses of KD 

927 million in 2008, and record 

profits of KD 903 million in 2007,” a 

report by Capital Standards said. 

Commenting on the situation in 

the investment sector, Faisal Ali Al- 

Mutawa, Chairman and Managing 

Director of Bayan Investments 

adds: “Just to give you an idea, 

from the beginning of the international 

financial crisis that happened 

in 2008 until now, the Kuwaiti stock 

market lost something in the vicinity 

of 34 billion KD, which if you 

multiply by about 3.6 to get to the 

dollar rate: more than $120 billion 

worth of losses in the Kuwaiti stock 

market alone. 

Since the financial crisis, many 

countries in the world have taken 

several steps to decrease its ramifications, 

with the exception of 

Kuwait. Kuwait is among the very 

few countries that have huge surpluses 

but has done nothing so far. 

It also has a major daily income of 

$300 million from 3 million barrels 

of oil produced every day at a value 

of around $100 approximately. 

This is in a country of about 1.1 

million citizens and 2.2 million 

expats in a geographical area of 

not more than 16,000 square kilometers. 

Since the financial crisis, 

Kuwait’s income has increased 

while the Kuwait investment sector 

has deteriorated; as we can see, so 

many countries have issued bonds 

or borrowed money to tackle the 

financial crisis in their domestic 

economies, while Kuwait has totally 

neglected the internal situation 

and done nothing.” 

Kamco Research 

Meanwhile, the financial crisis 

and the effects of the Arab Spring 

seem to be issues of the past. In the 

first quarter of 2012, Kuwait’s equity 

gauge jumped 3.73 percent. 

From January to May this year, the 

KSE Market Index advanced 6.53 

percent supported by rallying oil 

prices. However, the sharp fall of 

the “black gold in May due to the 

escalation of the euro zone, dampens 

the outlook for the second half 

of 2012. The majority of KSE-listed 

firms are not traded on a daily 

basis. Only a dozen of shares dictate 

the index movements, among 

which are the largest lender, 

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), telecom 

operator Zain, and Islamic 

financial institution Kuwait Finance 

House. 

Commenting on local lenders, 

KAMCO Head of Investment 

Research Gharzeddeene said that 

“During 2011, the sector did well, 

with a significant growth in profitability. 

Provisions were less than 

in 2010. Banks were cutting costs 

and cleaning up their balance 

sheets.” Another challenge when 

investing in Kuwait is the power 

and influence of family businesses. 

According to Garry Walsh, CEO of 

diversified food company Mezzan 

Holding, “the strategic challenge at 

hand is the transfer from generation 

to generation. Because if you 

look at most of the family-owned 

businesses in Kuwait - the large 

ones - they’re in the second generation 

and are coming to the end of 

it. Really, that transition from the 

second generation to the third 

across the world, is when businesses 

fall apart.” 

Real Estate Sector in Kuwait 

Regarding the real estate sector 

in Kuwait, Kuwait does not have a 

freehold concept like Dubai, where 

foreigner can buy properties in dedicated, 

and even obtain a residence 

visa, simply by putting money into 

a property. Secondly, the chances 

of generating increasing value over 

time remain uncertain. According 

to Capital Standards, “The real 

estate sector in Kuwait experienced 

unparalleled growth during 2000- 

2007. Post 2007, however, performance 

in the sector has remained 

lackluster.” NBK declared as late as 

Sept 2011 that although parts of 

the sector remain sluggish there are 

reasons to be optimistic. “The 

Government of Kuwait through its 

investment arm Kuwait Investment 

Authority (KIA), announced that it 

will invest $3.6 billion (KD 1 billion) 

in the local commercial property 

sector. Though there has been an 

increase in the total sales of Kuwaiti 

commercial and investment properties 

by 114.5 percent from 2009 

to 2010, the sector is still under 

pressure and requires further support.” 

NBK added that “at the beginning 

of 2011, total sales per month 

were KD 269 million, compared to 

KD171 million for the same period n 

2010, indicating a flourishing year 

for the real estate sector.” 

Eng Rawaf I Bourisli, General 

Manager of Action Real Estate 

Company and Chairman of Kuwait 

Dynamics, follows a different strategy, 

which includes looking abroad. 

“The office is basically because of 

the oversupply and decreasing 

demand because of the financial 

meltdown,” he told Marcopolis, 

LOCAL 

Investment environment 

to remain challenging 

Kuwaiti stocks and properties: 

Long-term prospect or Russian roulette? 

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti trader follows the market’s movement at the stock exchange in this Feb 19, 

2012 file photo. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat 

adding that “The strategy we 

adopted from the beginning is a 

mid-market strategy whether it is 

our hospitality industry or our real 

estate industry. That sector has not 

been affected so we didn’t really 

have to revise fiercely but we did 

actually relook at our development 

plan outside of the region and 

decided to concentrate only in the 

region and in Australia.” 

Bourisli is convinced that Action 

Real Estate is positioned well. “As 

for Kuwait Dynamics, our ambition 

is to continue developing our logistics 

department, and we are building 

up a joint venture with international 

companies for construction 

as well. Since we are classified as a 

grade A contractor in Kuwait, we 

are beefing up about the construction 

division to activate it and be a 

major player within the construction 

market in Kuwait with the support 

of international companies 

that we are in discussion and building 

up relations with.” 

In relation to ongoing challenges, 

Bourisli explains that “right now we 

have three risks: construction, marketing 

and operational because your 

tenets are actually not sustainable. 

That does entertain at 3 risks right 

now involved in any real estate operation, 

just not only the construction 

or the leasing part but the operation 

itself.” KAMCO’s Head of Investment 

Research Gharzeddeene also warns 

of complacency in the sector, saying 

that “Certain segments of real estate 

are still suffering. The commercial 

segment is really suffering, because 

there is huge over-supply and minimal 

demand. Prices are at rock bottom.” 

Economic Outlook and FDI 

Regarding the economic outlook 

for the entire economy, Gharzeddeene 

said that “The IMF estimates that the 

real GDP will grow at 4.5 percent in 

2012. Hopefully, the new government 

will cooperate to implement the 

development plan.” For Sheikh Dr 

Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al Sabah the 

slogan for investors shall be ‘now or 

never’: “We have a very positive investment 

outlook. A lot of good things will 

happen. There is a very high interest in 

coming to Kuwait, as the previous 

three years have shown. There have 

been a lot of enquiries and visits.” 

Sheikh Meshaal concluded: 

“Many people think of Kuwait as 

a hope for their projects, as an 

emerging market much like Iraq 

and Iran. There is a project under 

way of a railway that connects 

the country with the northern 

part of Asia; there is also a harbour 

project that is aiming to 

reduce costs for investors to put 

their products in manufacture in 

Kuwait.” — Marcopolis


NBK celebrates Children’s 

Day at Bayt Abdullah 

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) 

organized a carnival celebrating 

Universal Children’s Day at children’s 

hospice project Bayt Abdullah. 

Shaikha Al-Bahar, NBK- Kuwait Chief 

Executive Officer, Dr Hilal Al-Sayer, former 

Minister of Health and President of 

Kuwait Association for the Care of 

Children in Hospital (KACCH), Margaret 

Al-Sayer, the Founder and Director of 

KACCH, and the NBK family shared happy 

moments with children suffering 

from permanent and incurable ailments. 

“We take great pride today in celebrating 

Universal Children’s Day with 

our children at Bayt Abdullah,” said 

Bahar. “NBK has always considered sup- 

porting the children an essential part of 

its social and philanthropic outreach.” 

Bahar added: “Since its establishment 

60 years ago, NBK has been at the forefront 

of supporting Kuwait’s community 

through a range of education, health, 

sports and social initiatives. The establishment 

of the NBK Children Hospital 

at Al-Sabah medical area stands as one 

of many NBK initiatives for children. 

Earlier this year, NBK donated KD 4 million 

to build an independent cancer 

center in order to expand the hospital’s 

capability to treat children with cancer 

and blood diseases.” 

NBK has undertaken several initiatives 

to support the healthcare sector in 

Kuwait, including the establishment of 

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s tallest tower, Al-Hamra 

tower, and the famous Kuwait Towers were 

among six of the country’s most iconic buildings 

that turned blue as part of World 

Diabetes Day celebrations on Wednesday, 

Nov 14. As part of the International Diabetes 

Federation’s global ‘Stop the Clock on Type 2 

Diabetes’ campaign, the Kuwait Diabetes 

Society (KDS) urged locals to act on reducing 

the incidence of diabetes in the country. 

KDS has also announced the involvement 

of their diabetes youth group, Blue Circle, for 

the first time - a volunteer group consisting 

of youth and young adults working with the 

support of KDS to raise awareness on all matters 

relating to diabetes, and to reach and 

NBK’s Children’s Hospital at Al Sabah 

Medical Area, which provides medical 

care to underprivileged children. The 

hospital houses a number of clinics specialized 

in leukemia treatments, neurology, 

psychiatry and pediatrics as well as 

surgeries and operating theatres. 

Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice 

was designed to accommodate the 

needs of children with life-limiting and 

life-threatening conditions and their 

families, in Kuwait. The hospice is part 

of a continuum of care that offers children 

and their families the maximum 

freedom of choice without compromising 

the quality of that care, whether at 

home, in hospital or within the hospice 

itself. 

support the population of youth living with 

diabetes. “I am proud to see Blue Circle 

progress from just an idea to an active group 

of volunteers who want to make a change, 

and who want to prove to the world that 

young people with diabetes can be empowered 

to make a difference,” said Dr Thaier Al- 

Muaili, General Secretary of KDS. 

Other KDS activities taking place from 

mid to end November to mark World 

Diabetes Day in Kuwait include lectures at 

universities and schools, a walkathon, a 

dhow cruise and screenings. Type 2 diabetes 

affects more than 21 percent of Kuwait’s 

population aged 20 to 79 years and is commonly 

caused by obesity; another major 

News 

LOCAL 

in brief 

X-ray solution eyed 

KUWAIT: Informed health sources said health ministry is 

formulating a plan to solve the problem of long appointment 

dates in x-ray departments in various ministry hospitals 

and reduce them to the shortest possible time. 

Sources said there are many plans including working 

extra time in the evening form 12-6 pm and 6-10 pm. The 

sources said the plan was tried in one of the hospitals 

and proved successful, and added the ministry intends to 

solve the x-ray dates problem and will open x-ray departments 

during holidays and Saturdays. The same sources 

said a specialized and integrated diagnosing radiology 

building will be built which a government department 

has donated. 

Meat self-sufficiency sought 

KUWAIT: A source at the Public Authority for Agriculture 

and Fish Resources (PAAFR) said the authority has allocated 

a plot of one million meters squared to public livestock 

and poultry farms paid for by cooperatives in order 

to implement the food security policy and provide meat 

and poultry products in co-ops to combat artificial crises 

by some businesses. Cooperative sources welcomed the 

decision, adding that the project will bring stability to 

prices and break the monopoly of some traders and 

reduce imports until a point of self sufficiency is reached. 

Sources said the project will take cooperative societies 

from being consumers to producers of many consumer 

products since the private sector is unable to provide all 

the necessary quantities demanded by the local market. 

The sources said the farms will include amusement parks 

for children and adults and shareholders who do not 

have their own farms. 

Kuwait skyline turns blue to mark World Diabetes Day 

health problem in Kuwait where around 23 

percent of males and females are classed as 

overweight or obese, according to World 

Health Organization data from 2000 and 

2006. 

Symptoms of hypoglycaemia include 

nervousness, sweating, intense hunger, 

trembling, weakness, palpitations, and sufferers 

often have trouble speaking. In severe 

cases people require hospitalisation and it 

can even lead to coma and death. The cost 

implications of severe hypoglycaemia are 

also important for healthcare organisations 

to note, with each hospital admission for a 

severe case estimated to cost in the region of 

£1,000 (KD 430).


Protesters across Mideast 

denounce assault on Gaza 

8 

Obama to showcase US 

clout in Southeast Asia 

11 

Protest at Irish embassy 

in India over abortion row 12 

AMMAN: Thousands of Jordanian protesters march in Amman during a demonstration against hikes in fuel prices yesterday. Thousands of angry Jordanians made unprecedented 

calls for Jordan’s King Abdullah II to go, as police blocked them from heading to the royal palace to vent their anger over sharp hikes in fuel prices. — AFP 

Angry Jordanians call for king to go 

Muslim Brotherhood urges monarch to cancel price hikes 

AMMAN: Thousands of protesters chanted the Arab Spring 

slogan “the people want the downfall of the regime” in 

Jordan’s capital yesterday, as demonstrations against rising 

prices gather force in a country so far spared the brunt of 

Middle East unrest. 

The mainly urban Muslim Brotherhood joined hitherto 

largely rural protests that have erupted in the last few days, 

raising the spectre of lasting instability in the kingdom, a 

staunch US ally with the longest border with Israel. 

Yesterday’s demonstration near the main Husseini Mosque 

in downtown Amman was peaceful, with unarmed police separating 

the demonstrators denouncing King Abdullah from a 

smaller crowd chanting in support of the monarch. 

“Go down Abdullah, go down,” the main crowd of about 

4,000 protesters chanted as police, some in riot gear, largely 

stayed away from crowd. Protests have turned violent in 

impoverished towns across the kingdom since Wednesday 

when the government imposed a hike in the price of fuel. 

Unemployed youths and demonstrators have attacked police 

stations, closed roads with burnt cars and torched government 

buildings. 

One protester was killed on Thursday as a crowed tried to 

storm a police station in the northern city of Irbid. The 

provinces appeared to be quieter yesterday. The Brotherhood’s 

decision to back yesterday’s demonstration adds the voice of 

the country’s best-organised opposition movement to the 

protests, although top Brotherhood figures did not appear in 

person. “King Abdullah should take note of the situation by 

going back on the decision to raise prices. The Jordanian people 

are unable to shoulder more burdens,” Brotherhood leader 

Sheikh Hamam Said said in a statement ahead of the protests. 

Instability in Jordan would come at a dangerous time for 

the region, when Syria’s war risks leaping borders and Israel is 

bombing Islamist-run Gaza. 

The slogan “the people want the downfall of the regime” 

has emerged as the main chant of Arab Spring demonstrations 

that toppled autocrats from Tunisia to Yemen, in many cases 

bringing to power elected Islamists allied to the Brotherhood. 

In Jordan, an opposition of liberals and Islamists has generally 

sought reforms, rather than the overthrow of the 50-year-old 

king, in power since 1999. 

A friend of the West, the monarch is seen by many 

Jordanians as a bulwark of stability, balancing the interests of 

tribes native to the east of the Jordan river with the increasingly 

assertive majority of Jordanians of Palestinian origin. 

Abdullah accepted constitutional changes in August that 

devolved some of his powers to parliament and paved the way 

for a prime minister emerging from a parliamentary majority 

rather than one handpicked by him. 

However, urban politicians say he has been too slow to 

adopt reforms, constrained by a tribal power base which sees 

change as a threat to political and economic benefits such as 

state jobs. The Brotherhood is planning to boycott a parliamentary 

election set for January, arguing that rules were 

designed to safeguard tribal power by giving too many seats 

to rural areas. 

Like many Arab states, Jordan has used government subsidies 

to appease the masses with cheap food and fuel, only to 

court unrest when the cash runs out. Lifting the subsidies 

“deprives Jordanians of the minimum requirements of a 

decent living,” Said said. “The King should speed reforms that 

restore power to the people to allow it put the corrupt on trial 

and restore embezzled money to the people.” — Reuters


PARIS: Israel was condemned by much of the Arab world 

while securing Western backing and pressing its biggest 

air assault on Gaza for years amid a wave of Palestinian 

short-range rocket fire. Iran and Egypt-its new Islamist 

leaders under pressure to build closer ties with the 

Palestinians at the cost of a 30-year peace deal with the 

Jewish state-led the angry protests against strikes that left 

19 dead. “The Israelis must understand that we do not 

accept this aggression, which can only lead to instability in 

the region,” Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi said in televised 

remarks. Iran-accused by Israel of being the Gaza 

militants’ main supplier of rocket power-branded the 

Israeli strikes as “organised terrorism” conducted by “criminal... 

Zionist (Israeli) military forces”. 

Tehran called on the United Nations and the European 

Union to halt the “barbaric” offensive against the Gaza 

Strip. “Immediate and serious action by international 

(organisations) is needed to end the military campaign 

against the people of Gaza,” Foreign Minister Ali Akbar 

Salehi said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news 

agency. The call was made in separate letters to UN chief 

Ban Ki-moon, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton 

and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretary 

General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, IRNA reported. 

And the increasingly influential Arabian Peninsula 

state of Qatar warned starkly that the “vicious attack (on 

Gaza) must not pass unpunished” and demanded urgent 

action at the United Nations. An emergency UN meeting 

concluded Wednesday without a decision and clear signals 

of concern over the first escalation of Middle East violence 

since the 2011 Arab Spring altered the political map 

of the historically volatile region. The United States called 

Thursday on Egypt, Turkey and European powers to press 

Hamas to end bloodshed in Gaza, putting the onus on the 

Islamist movement to end rocket attacks on Israel. 

The White House said it was in close contact with Israel 

about its military campaign into the Hamas-controlled territory, 

in a conflict that officials said has killed 16 

Palestinians and three Israelis. British Prime Minister David 

Cameron told Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu he 

INTERNATIONAL 

Gaza strikes expose new global divide on Mideast 

Netanyahu facing 

acid test in Gaza 

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 

major offensive on the Gaza Strip-his first as premier-could 

boost his political standing, but it could also backfire with 

January elections looming. 

Netanyahu, who first served as premier between 1996-1999 

and won a second term in 2009, has carefully nourished his 

image as a bellicose leader, in the belief that tough talk and a 

projection of “strength” prevents wars. 

That has been particularly evident in his approach to Iran, 

which Israel accuses of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon-a 

charge Tehran denies. The US-educated Netanyahu, who during 

his military career served in the Sayeret Matkal special operations 

unit, is a loner with few close friends in the political 

establishment. 

His defence minister, Ehud Barak, was a commander in the 

same unit. The Gaza offensive began on Wednesday when an 

Israeli air strike killed top Hamas commander Ahmed Jaabari, 

sparking a rolling series of air raids Netanyahu called “a clear 

message to Hamas and other terrorist organisations.” And 24 

hours later, with no end in sight, he warned that Israel was 

ready to “significantly expand” its campaign against Palestinian 

militants in Gaza. 

“Jaabari is Netanyahu’s Osama Bin Laden,” wrote Amir Oren 

in the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper. “It is living-that is, deadproof 

of his success in hunting down a senior terror organisation 

leader.” Netanyahu boasted in a speech to parliament last 

month: “During my term in office we did not engage in any 

unnecessary wars. “In the seven years that I served there was 

no war and the level of terror went down. There was no war 

because we broadcast strength.” 

These remarks were aimed at his predecessor Ehud Olmert, 

who in 2006 launched a 34-day war against the Shiite 

Hezbollah militia which left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon 

and 160 in Israel. And in late December 2008, just six weeks shy 

of general elections, Olmert launched a 22-day operation in 

Gaza to stamp out persistent rocket fire, which claimed the 

lives of 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis. 

Olmert, who retired in a corruption scandal which has largely 

been cleared up, has been mulling a return to political life in 

a move which could weaken Netanyahu. But with the start of 

“Operation Pillar of Defence,” Olmert said he was postponing 

his decision. 

For Gaza analyst Mukhaimer Abu Saada, the latest Gaza 

operation is a sure-fire way for Netanyahu to clinch electoral 

success. “Netanyahu is basically trying to win the next elections 

in Israel and now he has a big ticket in his hand,” he told AFP. 

Polls published last Friday showed that an electoral pact 

between the parties of Netanyahu and Foreign Minister 

Avigdor Lieberman, designed to strengthen both in January’s 

election, could have the opposite effect. A survey by Smith 

Research for the Jerusalem Post indicated that if the election 

were held now, Netanyahu’s Likud and Lieberman’s Yisrael 

Beitenu would win a combined 37 seats in the 120-member 

parliament, compared with a current 42.—AFP 

CAIRO: Thousands of people across the Middle East protested yesterday 

against Israel’s aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip, with 

some chanting “death to Israel” and others calling for the bombing 

of Tel Aviv. In Cairo, several thousand protesters gathered outside 

Al-Azhar mosque after weekly Muslim prayers and chanted “We will 

go to Gaza in our millions,” swearing to “sacrifice ourselves for you, 

Palestine.” “It’s the least we can do,” protester Ahmed Selim told 

AFP. “We need to show Israel our anger.” 

President Mohamed Morsi himself branded the Israeli assault in 

which 23 Palestinians have been killed as a “blatant aggression 

against humanity and promised that “Egypt will not leave Gaza on 

its own,” MENA news agency said. He sent Prime Minister Hisham 

Qandil to Gaza yesterday, where the premier vowed to intensify 

Cairo’s efforts to secure a truce and end Israel’s “aggression.” “Egypt 

will not hesitate to intensify its efforts and make sacrifices to stop 

this aggression and achieve a lasting truce,” he said. 

Before the Cairo demonstration, influential Egyptian-born theologian 

Yusuf al-Qaradawi said in a sermon at Al-Azhar that the 

“Muslim nation should join ranks.” “Our umma (the worldwide 

Muslim community) is the strongest of ummas,” he said. “Israel the 

arrogant cannot humiliate it, despite its missiles and its arms.” 

One demonstrator, Mohammed al-Masri, said “what we want is 

to break relations with Israel.” Egypt became in 1979 the first Arab 

country to sign a peace treaty with the Jewish state. In the central 

West Bank city of Ramallah, more than 1,000 protesters shouted slogans 

of support for Gaza’s Hamas rulers and waved the Islamist 

movement’s green flag, AFP correspondents said. 

“Hamas, bomb Tel Aviv!” they chanted a day after a rocket from 

was “extremely concerned” by violence in Gaza and urged 

him to do all he could to avoid civilian casualties. 

French President Francois Hollande meanwhile held 

talks with Morsi on the phone, expressing France’s “deep 

concern” and calling for “restraint”, the president’s office 

said. He “stressed the role Egypt could play to cut the tensions,” 

adding: “All efforts by the international community 

must converge to avoid any unilateral initiative and any 

provocation that could worsen the situation.” 

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged both 

Netanyahu and the Palestinians to avoid escalating the 

violence as Moscow worried about the fighting spreading 

to other regions of the volatile Arab world. “The president 

of Russia called on the parties to exercise restraint and 

avoid the path of escalating violence, whose victims 

include civilians, and to do everything to return the situation 

to its normal course,” the Kremlin said following a 

telephone conversation between Putin and Netanyahu. 

But Moscow also criticised the “disproportionate strikes 

on Gaza” while calling for cooler heads.—AFP 

RAMALLAH: Palestinian Hamas supporters carry obituary posters of Hamas mastermind Ahmed Jabari and Hamas flags as they 

march in support of the people of the Gaza Strip and against Israel’s military operations, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, 

yesterday. — AP 

Protesters across Mideast 

denounce assault on Gaza 

‘Blatant aggression against humanity’ 

Gaza struck the sea just by sprawling coastal city, with a second 

landing on Friday in an attack claimed by militants from the ruling 

Islamist movement. In Lebanon, thousands turned out for demonstrations 

in Palestinian refugee camps in the north and south of the 

country in outrage at the assault, echoing the calls from Ramallah. 

“O Qassam, O beloved, bomb and destroy Tel Aviv,” they shouted 

in reference to the rocket and the armed wing of Hamas of the 

same name. Demonstrations in Tehran and 700 other Iranian cities 

after Friday prayers, called for by the authorities, saw crowds chanting 

“death to Israel” and “death to America,” according to news 

agency ISNA. 

“One must salute the Palestinians’ popular resistance and the 

response they have given to the Zionist regime (by firing rockets 

into Israel),” Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said at the weekly prayers in 

Tehran, IRNA news agency said. “Your method is good and you can 

bring the Zionist regime to its knees,” he added. In Tunis, 3,000 to 

4,000 people demonstrated after Friday prayers in the centre of the 

capital in protests called by the ruling Islamist party Ennahda, 

according to an AFP photographer. “Gaza, symbol of freedom” and 

“struggle for independence,” they chanted on a march from the 

Fatah mosque to Human Rights square. Meanwhile Tunisia’s 

President Moncef Marzouki expressed “solidarity with the struggle 

of the Palestinian people” and denounced “a barbaric aggression by 

Israeli aviation,” ahead of today’s visit to Gaza by Foreign Minister 

Rafik Abdessalem. Israel continued its bombardment yesterday and 

said it was considering launching a ground offensive into the 

Hamas-controlled territory. A total of 23 Palestinians and three 

Israelis have died in the tit-for-tat violence. — AFP


GAZA CITY: Egyptian Prime Minister 

Hisham Qandil’s solidarity visit to Gaza 

yesterday quickly brought him face-toface 

with the reality of Israel’s assault 

on the Palestinian territory. Hisham 

Qandil, travelling with a delegation of 

ministers and presidential aides, 

crossed the border from Egypt into the 

southern Gaza town of Rafah after a 

night of incessant Israeli bombardment. 

He was greeted by a delegation 

from the ruling Islamist Hamas government 

that escorted him on the drive 

north to Gaza City where he emerged 

from his car to cheers, surrounded by 

Egyptian bodyguards in olive green 

flak jackets. 

Assembled at government headquarters 

and waiting to greet him were 

rows of Hamas members, led by prime 

minister Ismail Haniya. 

It was the first time many of them 

had been seen in public in Gaza since 

Israel’s Wednesday afternoon targeted 

killing of a senior Hamas commander 

drove much of the group’s leadership 

underground. 

Ahead of the visit, Israel said it 

would cease fire for the duration of the 

trip-if Gaza militant groups stopped firing 

rockets into the Jewish state. But 

Hamas and other organisations issued 

no reciprocal ceasefire statement, and 

as Qandil arrived in Gaza, Hamas’s 

armed wing said it had fired into Israel. 

Palestinian security and medical 

sources said Israel responded with an 

air strike on northern Gaza, killing two 

people, including a child. 

The Israeli military denied carrying 

out a raid. Then Haniya and Qandil 

went to Gaza City’s Shifa hospital, 

where hundreds of Palestinians 

crushed around him, held back by 

armed Hamas security personnel wearing 

blue camouflage uniforms. 

Well-wishers tried to offer the prime 

minister bunches of flowers as he 

toured the facility, greeting patients 

and listening to hospital staff. And then 

suddenly the throng of cameras 

accompanying the visit swung around 

towards a man bearing the body of 

four-year-old Mohammed Yasser, his 

orange cardigan open over a green 

shirt. The boy had been killed in the 

strike on northern Gaza. 

The man pressed forward towards 

Haniya and Qandil, pushing the body 

towards them. Qandil leant forward 

and kissed the child’s head. 

“The Egyptian Prime Minister 

Hisham Qandil and I held the body of 

the martyred child Mohammed Yasser 

in our hands,” Haniya said in brief 

remarks to reporters afterwards. 

“What I saw today in Gaza, at the 

hospital, with the martyrs, cannot be 

met with silence,” Qandil added. “This 

tragedy cannot be tolerated, and the 

whole world bears the responsibility to 

stop the aggression.” The crowd 

around responded with chants, led by 

Haniya. “Long live Egypt, free and 

INTERNATIONAL 

Sobering solidarity trip for Egypt PM in Gaza 

GAZA STRIP: Israeli anti-riot policemen detain a Palestinian 

man during a protest in Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old 

City yesterday against Israel’s military operation in the 

Gaza Strip. Thousands of angry Palestinians rallied across 

the West Bank, urging Hamas militants to “bomb Tel Aviv” 

as Israel pursued a relentless air campaign on the Gaza 

Strip. — AFP 

Iran arrests 

bomb plotters 

DUBAI: Iran’s Intelligence Ministry has arrested people planning 

bomb attacks with the support of Western and Israeli spy 

agencies in the oil-producing province of Khuzestan, state television 

reported yesterday. Khuzestan, in Iran’s southwest, is 

home to a large population of ethnic Arab Iranians, also 

known as Ahwazis, who have long complained of economic 

deprivation and systematic discrimination by the authorities. 

The region has occasionally suffered violent action by militants. 

Iran has in the past accused Western intelligence agencies 

and the Israeli Mossad of carrying out attacks against its 

nuclear scientists. “In the last few days a number of terrorist 

elements connected to foreign intelligence services ... were 

identified and arrested along with a significant amount of 

explosives materials and items sent from a country in the 

Persian Gulf area,” the Intelligence Ministry statement said, 

according to Iranian state television’s website. 

“These elements, led by Western-Zionist intelligence services, 

sought to commit other acts of sabotage, which were 

foiled.” The statement said the individuals, who it did not otherwise 

identify or give details on, had planned to blow up parts 

of Khuzestan’s energy infrastructure. Five Iranian scientists and 

academics have been killed or attacked since 2010, in incidents 

believed to have targeted Iran’s disputed nuclear programme, 

which the West says is aimed at producing a bomb, a charge 

Iran denies. The United States has denied involvement in the 

attacks, while Israel has remained silent. Ten Iranian Arabs 

were sentenced to death in July 2006 in Ahvaz, the capital of 

Khuzestan, for a series of bombings. — Reuters 

JERUSALEM: Israeli tanks and troops 

massed outside Gaza and the military 

said yesterday it was calling up 16,000 

reservists, signs of a possible imminent 

invasion of the Palestinian enclave after 

48 hours of air strikes. 

Israel’s warplanes, drones and helicopters 

appeared to shift focus from 

suspected Palestinian rocket sites to the 

northern Gaza frontier, where their 

bombs created incursion corridors by 

clearing landmines or guerrilla gun 

nests. The mobilisation was anything 

but secret and details put on social 

media by the Israeli military appeared to 

be a clear warning to the Hamas 

Islamists that govern Gaza to push for a 

truce. “It is not our intention to go to 

war, and we are hopeful that this operation 

will not take a minute more than 

required,” Israeli President Shimon Peres 

said. Since being fought to a standstill in 

its 2006 war against Lebanese Hezbollah 

guerrillas, Israel has been honing the 

training of its regular troops and could 

mount a land invasion of Gaza at short 

notice. Public statements by Prime 

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggest 

such an escalation has preliminary cabinet 

approval. 

Among units already garrisoned outside 

Gaza is Israel’s paratrooper brigade 

whose commander, Colonel Amir 

Baram, said last month that in planning 

tactics he had studied World War One 

skirmishes in Gaza between British 

forces and the Ottoman Turks. 

Should his troops be ordered in, 

Defence Minister Ehud Barak told 

Channel 2 television, “they will need to 

go house-to-house, and then we will 

need the lessons of the past”. 

Among those lessons learnt has been 

that Gaza’s impoverished population of 

1.7 million is vulnerable to humanitarian 

crises, which could spell international 

controversy for Israel. Since the last 

Gaza war, of 2008-2009, the army says it 

has assigned some of its regiments with 

Arabic-fluent “relief officers” to direct 

Palestinian civilians away from danger. 

To judge from the pace of the previous 

offensives in Lebanon and Gaza, it 

could take several more days for Israel to 

train and equip reservists for action. The 

military declined to give details on 

where the reservists would serve, but 

Israeli media said they included personnel 

from homefront units that sound 

sirens during rocket attacks from Gaza 

and advise the public on where to shelter. 

The reservists being called up yesterday 

were among a total of 30,000 

whose draft was authorised by the 

Defence Ministry. The scale of the 

potential mobilisation prompted one 

Arab!” they shouted. Elsewhere across 

the impoverished Palestinian territory, 

some residents hailed Qandil’s visit as a 

strong show of solidarity. 

“We as a people consider this to be 

a historic visit, a show of solidarity that 

lifts our spirits in the shadow of the 

attacks we are facing from Israeli warplanes,” 

said 31-year-old Ahmed 

Khatib, who owns a shop selling 

mobile phones. 

“We hope that all the Arabs will 

make visits like this during wartime.” 

But others called for more from Cairo, 

which is reportedly working behind 

the scenes to negotiate a ceasefire that 

could bring an end to the violence that 

began with Wednesday’s killing of 

Hamas commander Ahmed Jaabari. 

“All the visit does is offer moral support 

to Hamas and Gaza,” said 

Mohammed Abu Taha, in southern 

Khan Yunis. “We want real pressure 

from the Arabs and Egypt on Israel to 

stop the aggression.” — AFP 

Massing troops, 

tanks near Gaza 

Israel says wants no war 

commentator on Israel’s Army Radio, 

who half-joked on air that so many 

troops would risk “falling over each other” 

in Gaza. 

Interviewed by the station, Vice 

Premier Silvan Shalom was asked if Israel 

was preparing the military for possible 

flare-ups on other fronts, such as 

Lebanon, which the Jewish state has 

watched with concern given conflict in 

neighbouring Syria and furore over the 

nuclear ambitions of Hezbollah’s patron 

Iran. “We are taking everything into consideration,” 

Shalom said, without elaborating. 

Veteran commanders say around 

30,000 troops altogether took part in 

the 2006 Lebanon war and 20,000 in the 

2009 Gaza invasion. The number of garrisoned 

troops always stationed outside 

Gaza is a state secret. — Reuters 

CAIRO: Protesters chant slogans against the Israeli invasion of Gaza, as they 

march from Al-Azhar mosque to Tahrir square after yesterday’s Friday prayers 

in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday. In his Friday sermon at Al-Azhar, influential cleric 

Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, not shown, said the Islamic world would not be 

silent in the face of Israel’s military operation in Gaza. — AP


Putin, Merkel seek 

to soothe tensions 

German lawmakers urge for more democracy 

MOSCOW: German Chancellor Angela 

Merkel was to meet Russian President 

Vladimir Putin yesterday with the two 

sides seeking to soothe tensions over 

Berlin’s recent criticism of Moscow’s 

rights record. 

On the eve of the visit, German lawmakers 

from Merkel’s coalition urged the 

government to push for more democracy 

in Russia as they expressed concern 

over a crackdown on civil society since 

Putin’s return to the Kremlin in May. 

German government sources said on 

Thursday that Berlin would emphasise 

that a thriving free civil society was a 

chance for Russia rather than a threat. 

However Merkel, accompanied by eight 

ministers and a dozen business leaders, 

did not feel herself obliged to raise all 17 

demands on Russia formulated in the 

German parliament resolution, a source 

in Berlin added. 

Merkel must tread a fine line between 

expressing rights concerns and the need 

to protect Berlin’s economic interests as 

a top client of state gas giant Gazprom 

as well as a leading investor in the overhaul 

of Russian infrastructure. 

An official at the Russian Railways 

company, speaking to AFP off the 

record, said the company later yesterday 

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and German Chancellor 

Angela Merkel attend a Russian-German business forum in the Grand Kremlin 

Palace in Moscow, yesterday. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that her 

government is committed to the development of strong ties with Russia 

despite concerns about the situation there. —AP 

planned to announce a framework deal 

to buy around 700 locomotives from 

Siemens. Spokespeople at Russian 

Railways and Siemens declined to comment 

but analysts say the deal could be 

worth several billion dollars. 

A week before the talks, German lawmakers 

passed a resolution co-authored 

by Andreas Schockenhoff, the govern- 

ment’s coordinator for German-Russian 

relations, urging the government to 

push for more democracy and warning 

of a “confrontational course towards 

government critics” in Russia. 

Moscow has been particularly needled 

by the public comments of 

Schockenhoff, who has shown no fear in 

taking issue with the Russian rights 

record and will accompany Merkel to 

Moscow. But on the eve of the talks, the 

Kremlin showed little appetite for confrontation 

and dismissed any possible 

criticism as pre-election rhetoric. “We 

know that as in all the other countries, 

someone there (in Germany) too will for 

sure seek to exploit relations with 

Germany’s closest partners to win extra 

points,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry 

Peskov told Russian journalists. 

“We would not want Russian-German 

relations to be used in this way,” he said 

in reference to next year’s general election. 

The talks are due to get under way 

at around 1200 GMT and wind up with a 

news conference in the Kremlin at 1500 

GMT. 

A fluent German speaker who spent 

five years as a KGB agent in Dresden, 

Putin has long prided himself on building 

a solid working relationship with 

Merkel, even though it has lacked the 

camaraderie he cultivated in his ties with 

her predecessor Gerhard Schroeder. 

He conspicuously made Berlin his first 

European destination after his inauguration 

in May. Putin’s spokesman Peskov 

has told AFP that energy and the euro 

zone crisis will be among top issues, noting 

that Russia holds a large chunk of its 

foreign reserves in euros. 

The European Union’s ongoing probe 

into Gazprom over concerns it was hindering 

competition in Europe is expected 

to be addressed, too. Addressing the 

criticism of Kremlin’s rights record, 

Peskov said that Moscow also had questions 

for Berlin over Germany’s rights 

record. —AFP 

Britain holds ‘encouraging’ 

talks with Syrian opposition 

LONDON: British Foreign Secretary William Hague indicated he 

would decide within days whether to officially recognise the 

new Syrian opposition after “encouraging” talks with its leaders 

in London. 

Hague said he had pressed Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib and his 

two deputies, who are on their first visit to a Western capital 

since a united Syrian opposition was formed last weekend, on 

the need to be inclusive and to respect human rights. 

“I’m encouraged by what I’ve heard and seen from the leaders 

of the coalition,” he said after meeting the trio at the Foreign 

Office, adding that he would make a statement to parliament 

on the issue next week. 

Earlier, Hague said in a BBC radio interview that Britain was 

re-examining a European Union embargo that prevents the 

arming of the opposition, but stressed that London was currently 

only offering non-lethal support. France, Turkey and the Gulf 

states have so far granted official recognition to the new Syrian 

grouping and Hague said Britain was inclined to follow suit. 

“We would like to be able at an early stage to recognise them 

as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people,” he 

told reporters. “I wanted to meet them myself before the United 

Kingdom takes that step. We need their assurances about being 

inclusive of all communities, we need to see that they have genuine 

support within Syria.” 

Hague said he had stressed the importance of respecting 

minority rights, of committing to a democratic future for Syria 

and of taking a stand against the “abuse, violence and rape” 

committed by the Assad regime. 

“I’m encouraged by their response to that... and we’ll continue 

to work on this over the next few days. I will make a further 

statement to our parliament about this next week,” he said. 

Hague’s talks with Khatib and his deputies Riad Seif and 

Suhair al-Atassi was followed by a broader meeting involving 

Western and Gulf powers. 

Khatib then heads to Paris today for a meeting with French 

President Francois Hollande. Britain is pushing for a new international 

approach to the conflict, in which more than 39,000 

people have died since the uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s 

regime erupted 20 months ago, the Syrian Observatory for 

Human Rights said. —AFP 

INTERNATIONAL 

THE HAGUE: Lawyer Luka Misetic, left, and Gotovina’s 

American lawyer, Greg Kehoe, second right, talk to the 

media outside the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal (ICTY) in 

The Hague, Netherlands, yesterday. The ICTY appeals 

judges overturned the convictions of two Croat generals 

yesterday for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed 

against Serb civilians in a 1995 military blitz. —AP 

UN war crimes court 

frees Croatian generals 

THE HAGUE: A UN court yesterday acquitted Croatian ex-generals 

Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac of war crimes during 

the bloody 1990s breakup of Yugoslavia, to shouts and tears of 

joy from their supporters and outrage in Serbia. 

The packed public gallery at International Criminal Tribunal 

for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) erupted in cheers and applause 

as Judge Theodor Meron read the acquittal. Many people burst 

out in tears and hugged Markac’s wife, Mirjana, who was at the 

hearing, as supporters outside uncorked champagne bottles. 

But Serbia, which still has military and political leaders 

including Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic on trial at the 

court, was furious over the acquittal. “The UN war crimes court 

has lost all credibility,” minister Rasim Ljajic, responsible for the 

country’s cooperation with the tribunal, told the Beta news 

agency. 

“Today’s decision is proof of selective justice which is worse 

than any injustice,” he said. Gotovina and Markac, considered 

heroes in Croatia, were last year jailed for 24 and 18 years 

respectively for the murder of Croatian Serbs during their country’s 

struggle for independence and the bloody, ethnically driven 

break-up of Yugoslavia. But the court rejected the premise 

on which the initial convictions had been based, namely that 

any artillery that landed on Serb-inhabited towns and was more 

than 200 metres (yards) from a military target amounted to an 

attack on civilians. Judges therefore also overturned the finding 

of “a joint criminal enterprise whose purpose was the permanent 

and forcible removal of Serb civilians from the Krajina 

region.” 

Gotovina, dressed in a light blue suit and dark blue tie, listened 

intently as Judge Meron read the verdict, sometimes tapping 

his fingers on the table. As the judges left the courtroom, 

he smiled and shook Markac’s hand. “We’re absolutely elated 

with the verdict,” Gotovina’s lawyer Gregory Kehoe told AFP. 

“I’ve been working on this case for six years. This is a great day.” 

“Mr Gotovina has gone back to the detention unit to pack his 

things-he has been there since December 2005 so you can 

imagine he has accumulated quite a few things,” Kehoe said. 

The generals will be driven to nearby Rotterdam airport in 

“Croatian government” vehicles, to be flown back in a Croatian 

plane to a hero’s welcome in Zagreb. 

“Right now, Mr Gotovina just wants to go home and spend 

some time with his wife, daughter and young son. Christmas is 

coming up and he might want to take a bit of holiday.” 

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic hailed the acquittals 

but admitted that “the Croatian state” had made mistakes 

during the conflict. “For those wronged by the state of Croatia, 

Croatia will settle its debts. We should not forget in this 

moment that these cases also exist,” Milanovic vowed. Outside 

the courthouse supporters uncorked champagne while singing 

Croatian nationalist songs. “It’s a great day for us,” said Zvonko 

Komsic, 53, as he hugged Markac’s wife while taking a swig of 

champagne. Candle-lit vigils were held the night before the ruling 

around Croatia, which will join the European Union in July, 

having fulfilled the condition of handing over war crimes suspects 

to the court based in The Hague. People cheered and 

broke down in tears in Zagreb’s central square, where thousands 

watched the generals acquitted in a live broadcast. 1995 

offensive shelled four Serb towns-Gotovina, and Markac, both 

57, were convicted last year on nine counts including murder 

and inhumane acts committed against Serbs. —AFP


WASHINGTON: President Barack 

Obama hopes to demonstrate rising 

US clout in Asia on his first foreign trip 

since his re-election, with a tour of 

three countries including a once 

unthinkable stop in changing 

Myanmar. Obama, who has cast himself 

as the first “Pacific president” with 

his roots in Hawaii and boyhood years 

in Indonesia, will head Saturday to 

longtime US ally Thailand and meet 

Asia’s top leaders at a summit in 

Cambodia. 

It will be the first trip by a US president 

spent entirely in Southeast Asia 

since the Vietnam War, part of 

Obama’s effort to focus on the 

dynamic and largely US-friendly 

region where several nations worry 

about a rising China. Obama in his first 

term launched a so-called “pivot” to 

Asia, which included greater military 

cooperation with Australia, Thailand 

and Vietnam and a plan to shift the 

bulk of the US navy to the Pacific by 

2020. 

“Continuing to fill in our pivot to 

Asia will be a critical part of the president’s 

second term and ultimately his 

foreign policy legacy,” Ben Rhodes, a 

deputy national security adviser, told 

reporters. Tom Donilon, the national 

security adviser, said that Obama’s trip 

showed that the United States was 

“not only rebalancing towards Asia; 

we’re also rebalancing our efforts 

within Asia.” Donilon said it was 

“impossible to overstate Asia’s impor- 

tance” to the United States as the continent 

is expected to account for nearly 

half of the world’s economic growth 

outside the United States through 

2017. “The fact is today that there is a 

tremendous demand and expectation 

of US leadership in the region,” 

Donilon said. Virtually no nation has 

seen a greater shift toward the United 

States under Obama than Myanmar. 

The nation formerly known as Burma 

was for years a close ally of China and 

treated as a pariah by Western 

nations. Surprising skeptics, Myanmar 

launched reforms after its nominal 

end to nearly half a century of army 

rule last year. 

President Thein Sein, a former general, 

released political prisoners, 

INTERNATIONAL 

Obama to showcase US clout in Southeast Asia 

NEW ORLEANS: In this Friday, Dec. 2, 2005 file photo, from 

left, Steven Robinson, his wife, Jacqueline, and Patricha 

Franklin take their bicycles from their shed in the Lower 

Ninth Ward in New Orleans, La. An Associated Press analysis 

of outage times from other big hurricanes and tropical 

storms suggests that, on the whole, the utility response to 

Sandy, especially in hardest-hit New York and New Jersey, 

was typical - or even a little faster than elsewhere after 

other huge storms. — AP 

Georgia detains dozen 

interior ministry ‘spies’ 

TBILISI: Georgia has detained 11 senior police and Tbilisi’s 

deputy mayor for alleged cyber spying on opposition leaders, 

in the latest arrest of officials who served under 

President Mikheil Saakashvili, prosecutors said yesterday. 

The officials are accused of using a malware to access 

computers of political parties opposed to Saakashvili, 

whose long dominant party was defeated in the October 

parliamentary elections by a coalition led by billionaire 

Bidzina Ivanishvili. 

Former deputy interior minister and current vice mayor 

of Tbilisi Shota Khizanishvili, an ally of Mikheil Saakashvili, 

and 11 serving interior ministry officials are suspected of 

the illegal surveillance of opposition leaders, chief prosecutor 

Archil Kbilashvili told journalists. 

Using the malware the officials have “been accessing 

computers of different political parties’ and religious 

organisations’ representatives and bugging them,” he said. 

The arrests follow the prosecutions on abuse of power 

charges of former defence minister Bacho Akhalaia and 

army chief of staff Giorgi Kalandadze, the first major cases 

against top officials from the Saakashvili government. 

The suspects are also accused of recording the telephone 

conversations of leaders of Ivanishvili’s Georgian 

Dream coalition and releasing them through the Internet 

in a move aimed at “exciting popular distrust” towards the 

billionaire’s bloc before the polls, Kbilashvili said. 

The recordings of the Georgian Dream leaders insulting 

each other were initially said to have been uploaded to 

YouTube by Ivanishvili’s bodyguard in September. — AFP 

WASHINGTON: Former CIA Director 

David Petraeus was sneaked into the 

Capitol yesterday, away from photographers 

and television cameras, to face 

lawmakers’ questions for the first time 

about the deadly attack on the US 

Consulate in Libya - just one week after 

he resigned over an extramarital affair. 

The retired four-star Army general, formerly 

one of the country’s most 

respected military leaders, entered 

through a network of underground 

hallways leading to a secure room. CIA 

directors typically walk through the 

building’s front door. 

Petraeus is under investigation by 

the CIA for possible wrongdoing in his 

extramarital affair, though that’s not 

the subject of yesterday’s closed-door 

hearings. The Sept. 11 attack in 

Benghazi, which killed the US ambassador 

and three other Americans, created 

a political firestorm, with Republicans 

claiming that the White House misled 

the public on what led to the violence. 

Five days after the attack, the 

administration sent UN Ambassador 

Susan Rice on the Sunday news shows 

to describe it as a spontaneous protest 

over an anti-Muslim video produced in 

the US Rice relied on initial intelligence 

that proved incorrect, and she’s now 

under attack by some Republican senators 

who vow to block her if she’s nominated 

as secretary of state when 

Hillary Rodham Clinton steps down. 

Lawmakers spent hours Thursday 

interviewing top intelligence and 

national security officials in trying to 

determine what the intelligence community 

knew before, during and after 

the Benghazi attack. They viewed security 

video from the consulate and surveillance 

footage by an unarmed CIA 

Predator drone that showed events in 

real time. 

Petraeus was appearing first before 

the House Intelligence Committee yesterday 

and then its Senate counterpart 

and was expected to provide more 

details about the US response. 

“Director Petraeus went to Tripoli 

and interviewed many of the people 

involved,” said Democratic Senate 

Intelligence Committee Chairman 

Dianne Feinstein. “I’d like to get his 

sense of why it took as long as it did to 

get more accurate assessments of what 

took place in Benghazi,” said 

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, a member 

of the House Intelligence 

Committee. As for Petraeus testifying 

shortly after his resignation amid a sex 

scandal, Schiff said, “He’s a tough individual, 

and I am sure he will handle it 

to the best of his ability.” 

Petraeus has acknowledged an 

affair with a woman later identified as 

his biographer, the married Paula 

Broadwell. The resignation of the former 

US commander in both Iraq and 

Afghanistan stunned Washington, 

which once had buzzed with talk about 

a possible run for president in his 

future. The FBI began investigating the 

opened dialogue with ethnic rebels 

and allowed once-confined opposition 

icon Aung San Suu Kyi to enter 

parliament. 

Some human rights groups said 

that Obama should have waited, arguing 

that he could have dangled the 

prospect of a visit as leverage to seek 

more progress such as the release of 

remaining political prisoners estimated 

to number in the hundreds. 

Danny Russel, Obama’s top aide on 

Asia, countered: “This is not a victory 

celebration, this is as barn raising.” “We 

want to show the people of Burma 

that there are benefits to be had from 

the hard work and move some of the 

leaders off the fence and into the 

reform program,” he said. — AFP 

Petraeus testifies for 

Congress on Libya attack 

‘He’s a tough individual’ 

matter last summer but didn’t notify 

the White House or Congress until after 

the Nov. 6 election. 

In the course of investigating the 

Petraeus affair, the FBI uncovered suggestive 

emails between Afghanistan 

war chief Gen. John Allen and Florida 

socialite Jill Kelley, both of them married. 

President Barack Obama has put 

Allen’s promotion nomination on hold. 

Top national security officials were on 

Capitol Hill on Thursday to grapple 

with fallout from the sex scandal as 

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta asked 

service chiefs to review ethics training 

for military officers. Lawmakers went 

forward with a hearing on the nomination 

of Gen. Joseph Dunford to 

replace Allen in Afghanistan. But with 

Allen’s own future uncertain, they put 

off consideration of his promotion to 

US European Command chief and 

NATO supreme allied commander. 

Allen had initially been scheduled to 

testify. — AP 

WASHINGTON: Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., walks to the hearing room 

where former CIA Director David Petraeus will testify before the House 

Intelligence committee on the Sept. 11, 2012 attack in Libya on Capitol Hill 

in Washington, yesterday. — AP


ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities 

have released Anwar-ul Haq Mujahid, 

a Taleban leader, following negotiations 

with an Afghan peace delegation 

earlier in the week, his family told 

AFP yesterday. 

Mujahid, the eldest son of late 

Afghan resistance leader Maulvi Yunus 

Khalis, was released late Thursday, said 

a close relative speaking on condition 

of anonymity. Pakistani security officials 

on Wednesday said authorities 

released at least seven Afghan Taleban 

leaders in a move seen as a potential 

breakthrough in stalled peace negotiations 

before the withdrawal of US-led 

NATO troops in 2014. It is not clear if 

Mujahid was among that group. But 

he is the first Taleban prisoner recently 

released by the Pakistani authorities to 

be identified by name. 

“He was with us last night, he has 

rejoined his family members and his 

health is good,” the relative said. 

Another family member also confirmed 

the release. Mujahid, who is in 

his 40s, had formed his Tora Bora 

Mahaz (front) whose fighters are allied 

with Afghan Taleban. 

Mujahid, who hails from the eastern 

Nangarhar province, named his 

group after Tora Bora valley which 

was bombed by the US air force in 

December 2001 in its pursuit of 

Osama bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda 

fighters. According to Afghan expert 

Rahimullah Yusufzai he had aligned 

his group with the Taleban movement. 

He was arrested from northwestern 

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 

province in 2009. 

Support from Pakistan, which 

backed the Taleban regime that held 

power in Kabul from 1996 to 2001, is 

seen as crucial to peace in Afghanistan 

after the departure of NATO combat 

forces in 2014. 

Kabul had pressed for the release 

of senior Taliban leaders held in 

Pakistan. While no names have been 

officially revealed, local media reports 

mentioned the possible release of 

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a powerful 

Taleban military chief who has 

INTERNATIONAL 

Family confirms release of Taleban leader by Pakistan 

TOKYO: Japan’s main opposition Liberal Democratic 

Party (LDP) leader Shinzo Abe (C) and party lawmakers 

raise their fists in the air to welcome the upcoming 

general election at the party headquarters in Tokyo 

yesterday. — AFP 

Japan’s premier dissolves 

parliament, vote on Dec 16 

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda dissolved 

the lower house of parliament yesterday, paving 

the way for elections in which his ruling party will likely 

give way to a weak coalition government divided over 

how to solve the nation’s myriad problems. 

Elections are set for Dec. 16. If Noda’s center-left party 

loses, the economically sputtering country will get its seventh 

prime minister in six and a half years. 

The opposition Liberal Democratic Party, which led 

Japan for most of the post-World War II era, is in the best 

position to take over. The timing of the election likely preempts 

moves by more conservative challengers, including 

former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, to build electoral support. 

Campaigning is set to begin Dec. 4, but leaders were 

already switching into campaign mode. “What’s at stake in 

the upcoming elections is whether Japan’s future is going 

to move forward or backward,” Noda declared to fellow 

leaders of the Democratic Party of Japan. “It is going to be 

a crucial election to determine the fate of Japan.” 

The DPJ, in power for three years, has grown unpopular 

largely because of its handling of the Fukushima nuclear 

crisis and its recent doubling of the sales tax. Noda’s most 

likely successor is LDP head and former Prime Minister 

Shinzo Abe. He resigned as Japan’s leader in 2007 after a 

year in office, citing health problems he says are no longer 

an issue. 

“I will do my utmost to end the political chaos and 

stalled economy,” Abe told reporters. “I will take the lead 

to make that happen.” The path to elections was laid suddenly 

Wednesday during a debate between Abe and 

Noda. Noda abruptly said he would dissolve parliament if 

the opposition would agree to key reforms, including a 

deficit financing bill and electoral reforms, and Abe 

jumped at the chance. — AP 

NEW DELHI: About a hundred opposition 

protesters held a demonstration 

outside the Irish embassy yesterday 

over the death of an Indian woman 

who died after being refused an abortion 

in the Catholic country. 

The crowd, carrying posters of the 

dead 31-year-old dentist Savita 

Halappanavar and accusing Irish 

authorities of committing “medical 

murder”, were prevented by police 

from getting close to the Irish compound. 

Elsewhere, the Indian government 

cranked up the pressure on Dublin over 

the October 28 death of Halappanavar 

after local politicians expressed their 

concern and urged the government 

to act. 

Foreign ministry spokesman Syed 

Akbaruddin said India’s ambassador 

to Ireland would meet Irish authorities 

yesterday to seek assurances of a 

“transparent” probe. 

“We expect that he will also seek 

reassurance from the Irish authorities 

that they will hold an independent, 

transparent enquiry into the matter,” 

Akbaruddin told AFP. 

“He will request that the Irish 

authorities keep India informed of the 

progress and outcome of the enquiry,” 

he said, adding that the envoy would 

also convey the “concern growing in 

India” over Halappanavar’s death. 

The dentist repeatedly asked staff 

at University Hospital in Galway, west 

Ireland, to terminate her pregnancy 

because she was miscarrying, her family 

said. 

Doctors allegedly refused her 

demand, telling her that “this is a 

Catholic country”. Abortion is illegal in 

Roman Catholic-dominated Ireland 

except when it is necessary to save 

the life of the mother. 

Smriti Irani, president of the 

women’s wing of the main opposition 

Bharatiya Janata Party, was among the 

protesters outside the embassy and 

she was allowed in as part of a four- 

person delegation to meet the ambassador. 

“The Irish ambassador assured us 

that there could be a possibility of 

inviting international experts to be 

part of the investigation and we told 

him that Savita’s husband should also 

be part of it,” Irani said. 

“The ambassador acknowledged 

that there is intense pressure (on 

Ireland) not only from the people of 

India but globally over Halappanavar’s 

death,” Irani told reporters amid 

shouts of “we want justice”. 

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has 

described the death as a “tragedy”, 

while two separate investigations 

have been announced. 

Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid 

expressed regret over her death, saying: 

“It is extremely sad and unfortu- 

been described as the former insurgents’ 

second in command, and ailing 

former Taleban justice minister Mullah 

Nooruddin Turabi. 

A Taleban official has already dismissed 

the deal as insignificant. “All 

those that are being freed are not 

members of Taleban any more, they 

have been dismissed and they’re not 

important,” the Taleban official told 

AFP in northwest Pakistan on 

Thursday. 

He said the Taleban were not in 

contact with the Afghan governmentappointed 

High Peace Council and 

that any negotiations should take 

place between the Taliban and the 

United States. — AFP 

Protest at Irish embassy in 

India over abortion row 

Indian govt cranks up pressure on Dublin 

nate. Whatever the inquiry does, 

human loss cannot be compensated.” 

Indian Communist Party leader 

Brinda Karat said not treating 

Halappanavar’s condition as a medical 

emergency was a “crime”. Ireland’s 

abortion laws have been the subject 

of debate for years. 

Under a 1992 Supreme Court ruling, 

women in Ireland are legally entitled 

to an abortion when it is necessary 

to save the life of the mother. But 

legislation has never been passed to 

reflect this. 

In India, there is a maternal death 

every 10 minutes, according to the 

United Nations, with the country 

accounting for about 20 percent of 

deaths worldwide of women who 

die during or shortly after childbirth. 

— AFP 

NEW DELHI: Demonstrators from India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata 

Party (BJP) shout slogans against the Irish government for the death of 

Indian national Savita Halappanavar, who died in Ireland after doctors 

allegedly refused her an abortion, in front of the Embassy of Ireland in 

New Delhi yesterday. — AFP

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2012


A Tunisian protester shouts slogans during a demonstration 

called by the ruling Islamist party Ennahda in Tunis to 

denounce Israelís ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip. 

Iranians hold anti-Israel and anti-US placards during a protest 

in solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza in Tehran. 

Demonstrations, called for by the authorities, against Israel’s 

military action in the Gaza Strip also took place in several other 

Iranian cities after Friday prayers, with protesters chanting 

‘death to America’ and ‘death to Israel’ in the capital. 

Malaysian students display placards during a march against 

Israeli attacks in Gaza in front of the US embassy in Kuala 

Lumpur. 

Hamas supporters carry an obituary posters of Ahmed Jabari 

reading in Arabic ‘revenge, revenge. West Bank Qassam 

(Brigades)’ as they march in support of the people of the Gaza 

Strip and against Israel’s military operations in the West Bank 

city of Hebron. 

INTERNATIONAL 

Pro-Palestinian protesters hold a rally against Israel’s operations 

in the Gaza Strip outside the road leading to the Israeli 

Embassy in London late Thursday. 

Protesters slam Israel’s Gaza assault 

Protesters chant slogans against the Israeli invasion of Gaza in Al-Azhar mosque, 

where President Mohamed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood called for demonstrations 

after Friday prayers in Cairo. (Inset) Egyptian Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al- 

Qaradawi delivers a sermon at the mosque. — AP/AFP photos 

Palestinian supporters hold a protest against the offensive on 

Gaza by Israel outside the South African Parliament building 

in Cape Town. 

An activist holds a portrait of a blank face signifying all the 

deceased Palestinian people during a rally against Israel’s military 

operations in the Gaza Strip in front of the Israeli 

Embassy in Seoul. The banner reads ‘Stop the military attack 

against Palestine’s Gaza’.

Business 


French fury over Economist ‘time-bomb’ taunt 

Hollande determined to reform at own pace 

PARIS: French officials angrily rejected a charge by 

Britain’s The Economist weekly yesterday that 

France was the “time-bomb at the heart of Europe” 

and a danger to the euro single currency, accusing 

the magazine of sensationalism. 

The Economist’s front cover showed seven 

loafs of “baguette” bread bound together by a 

French tricolour with a lit fuse protruding from the 

centre. Its main article raised concerns that 

Socialist President Francois Hollande’s economic 

reforms are not ambitious enough, warning that 

financial markets could turn against France, and so 

could jeopardize the future of the euro. 

The government retorted that the Economist 

report did not take into account corporate tax 

rebates unveiled last week which amount to a 6 

percent reduction in labor costs, a measure it 

believes will add jobs and reduce a ballooning 

trade deficit. Public spending cuts announced in 

that package, along with existing budget measures, 

should add up to 60 billion euros in savings 

over Hollande’s five-year term, the government 

says, an effort the Economist has not factored in. 

“Their analysis is outdated, it’s not accurate anymore,” 

said Thomas Philippon, an adviser to 

Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici. “Cutting 60 billion 

euros in five years is anything but easy and it’s 

anything but timid.” Ministers slammed the report 

as one-sided. 

“Honestly, The Economist has never distinguished 

itself by its sense of even-handedness,” 

Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg told Europe 

Turkmen gas company 

flows to Iran restored 

1 radio. “It is the Charlie Hebdo of the City,” he said, 

referring to a French satirical weekly which drew 

criticism in September for publishing blasphemous 

cartoons. 

Aside from doubts over the scale of structural 

reforms, EU officials and many economists are 

skeptical Hollande can hit his goal of cutting the 

2013 public deficit to 3 percent of output. 

Failure to do so could prompt financial markets 

to demand higher yields for French bonds, which 

16 Growth and US fiscal 17 India sees task to meet 19 

worries hurt shares 

2012/2013 deficit target 

are currently around record lows of 2 percent on 

the perception that France is, along with Germany, 

a safe haven in the euro-zone. 

Moody’s rating agency is due to update its view 

on France this month, raising the prospect of a second 

downgrade after France lost its AAA-rating 

with Standard & Poor’s in January. Many economists 

believe, however, that another downgrade is 

already priced into the market and see traders 

loath to ditch French debt in favor of lower-yielding 

Bunds or riskier Italian or Spanish paper. 

“What’s keeping French yields low are the woes 

of Spain and Italy,” said Nicolas Spiro at Spiro 

Sovereign Strategy. French public spending 

accounts for 56 percent of gross domestic product, 

the highest level in the euro-zone, and public debt 

reached 90 percent of GDP this year. Hollande’s 

deficit-reduction strategy is based two-thirds on 

tax increases, much of it on businesses, and onethird 

on spending cuts. 

The Economist’s Europe editor, who wrote the 

special report, defended the weekly against accusations 

of being unfair. 

Two previous cover stories this year accused 

France of being “in denial” about economic reality 

and called Hollande “rather dangerous”, endorsing 

his presidential election opponent, conservative 

incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy. “The point of this cover 

and the article is to encourage France,” John 

Peet told the newspaper 20 Minutes. “Other countries 

including Greece and Portugal have conducted 

many reforms. This is not yet the case in 

IMF head says Eurogroup 

deal key to saving Greece 

20 

MADRID: Government employees and civil servants take part in a demonstration against the Spanish government’s latest austerity measures, in the center of 

Madrid, yesterday. Spain announced on November 15, 2012 it has moved into a second year of a job-killing recession, a day after millions joined anti-austerity 

strikes and vast protests. — AFP 

Britain’s The Economist weekly’s cover 

showing the story ‘France was the 

‘time-bomb at the heart of Europe.’ 

France.” Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who 

travelled to Berlin on Thursday to explain France’s 

efforts to boost competitiveness to Chancellor 

Angela Merkel, also denounced the cover. 

“You are talking about a newspaper which is 

resorting to excess to sell paper. I can tell you that 

France is not at all impressed,” he told French TV 

station i>Tele late on Thursday. 

Laurence Parisot, head of the employers’ 

organization Medef which has been lobbying for 

cuts to labor costs, also defended the government 

and said The Economist was behind the times. 

Six months into his term, Hollande’s approval 

ratings have slumped as he battles to both cut the 

deficit and kick start an economy where unemployment 

has risen to a 13-year high. His government’s 

move last week to grant 20 billion euros in 

annual tax credits to companies as a way of lowering 

high labor costs that weigh on industry were 

bolder than many expected but seen by many 

economists as insufficient. 

In the first formal news conference of his presidency, 

Hollande vowed on Tuesday to reform at 

his own pace and asked voters to judge him in 

2017. Peet agreed the government had taken on 

board its competitiveness problem but added: 

“Now they must act.” Hollande had some good 

news this week when data showed the French 

economy grew by an unexpected 0.2 percent in 

the third quarter as households splurged on items 

like clothing, although the risk of recession next 

year is not averted. —Reuters


BREMAN: Model builder Joerg Kolano of the Bremen’s 

model ship club prepares a 700 kg model of a container 

ship for a display in Bremen, northern Germany yesterday. 

The model with a ratio of 1:20 was presented at 

the EuroModell 2012 fair. — AFP 

Oil rises towards $109 as 

Mideast violence rages 

LONDON: Oil rose towards $109 a barrel as a showdown 

between Israel and the Palestinians stoked worries about 

supply, but ample stockpiles supplies and concern about 

the well-being of the global economy tempered gains. 

Investors were concerned that Arab producers may be 

drawn into any possible Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which 

could impact their supply lines. Brent has held above $100 

for most of this year on fears of disruption from the Middle 

East with a weak demand outlook capping further gains. 

Brent crude rose 76 cents to $108.77 a barrel by 1306 

GMT. US oil gained 60 cents to $86.05. 

Analysts said more than adequate supplies of oil have 

prevented crude prices from moving higher on fighting 

between Israelis and Palestinians over Gaza. Samuel 

Ciszuk, analyst with British-based consultancy KBC Energy 

Economics, said there was no current threat to oil supply 

from the Gaza conflict. 

“If we would see protests erupting on a very large scale 

in Egypt, putting pressure on the government to do something 

radical and/or popular protests spreading through 

the region, then we could start saying that risks to supply 

are increasing.” 

The slowing of the global economy continues to pressure 

financial and commodity markets. European shares 

fell for a third day yesterday as the weak outlook and 

uncertainty over US budget talks weighed on investors. 

“This all translates to a slowing of global oil demand 

growth and if it were not for the growing geopolitical risk 

in the Middle East, oil prices would likely be in a much 

steeper downtrend,” said Dominick Chirichella of New 

York’s Energy Management Institute. 

“The bottom line for oil is simply there is a shortage of 

demand versus the growing supply situation.” 

The unrest in the Middle East has resulted in Brent 

futures rising more than the US benchmark, which is 

weighed down by US factors such as higher inventories, 

weak demand growth outlook and a potential financial crisis. 

That widened the price difference between the two 

crudes to $26 a barrel in the previous session, the most 

since October 2011, and the spread may stay wide for 

sometime. It was at around $23 during London trading 

yesterday. 

“While an easing of Middle East concerns will invariably 

lead to a narrower spread, we feel that the extent of this 

narrowing is more limited than a month ago,” analysts at 

Standard Bank said in a report. 

“The main impetus for a sustained narrowing will have 

to come from support in the WTI market - support which 

does not look as promising anymore.” 

US crude inventories rose last week while gasoline and 

distillate stockpiles fell along the East Coast where the fuel 

distribution system was still recovering from Hurricane 

Sandy, the US Energy Administration said. Crude stockpiles 

in the world’s largest consumer rose nearly 1.1 million barrels, 

below estimates for a build of 1.9 million barrels. 

Overall distillate stockpiles fell by 2.54 million barrels versus 

a 1.3 million barrel drawdown forecast. — Reuters 

ASHGABAT: Turkmenistan has 

resumed gas supplies to Iran after a 

brief stoppage for repairs along a 

stretch of pipeline linking the two 

countries, the Turkmen state gas company 

said yesterday. 

Iran buys almost a third of Turkmenistan’s 

exported gas, relying on it for heating 

in winter and using it year round to meet 

industrial demand in regions distant from 

the country’s own fields clustered around 

the Gulf. 

Turkmengaz Chairman Sahatmurad 

Mamedov told Reuters Iran had requested 

the halt. He denied an Iranian news report 

on Nov. 14 that the former Soviet republic 

and Iran were in a dispute over pricing. 

“Supplies were stopped at their initiative. 

The pipeline was repaired and 

put back into operation,” he said on the 

sidelines of an energy conference. 

“We’re now supplying the same volumes 

as before, in line with our con- 

tract.”Turkmengaz later issued a statement 

saying the stoppage occurred 

“several days ago” on a stretch of 

pipeline between Artyk in 

Turkmenistan and Lutfabad in Iran. It 

said there had been no contract dispute 

between the two countries. “Gas 

supplies along the Artyk-Luftabad gas 

pipeline were temporarily halted at the 

request of the Iranian side because of a 

need to carry out repair work on the 

territory of Iran,” the company said in 

the statement. 

“When the work was completed, gas 

supplies were renewed.” Neither 

Turkmengaz nor Mamedov specified 

the contracted volumes or the exact 

dates on which supplies were halted. 

The semi-official Mehr news agency 

had quoted Iranian Oil Minister Rostam 

Qosemi on Wednesday as saying a 

price dispute had led to a halt in gas 

supplies from Turkmenistan. 

business 

Turkmen gas company 

flows to Iran restored 

Turkmen gas heats northeast Iran, feeds industry 

Twinkies maker Hostess 

to go out of business 

NEW YORK: Hostess Brands Inc, the bankrupt maker 

of Twinkies and Wonder Bread, said it had sought 

court permission to go out of business after failing to 

get wage and benefit cuts from thousands of its striking 

bakery workers. 

Hostess, which has about $2.5 billion in sales from a 

long list of iconic consumer brands of snack cakes and 

breads, said it had suspended operations at all of its 

33 plants around the United States as it moves to start 

liquidating assets. “We’ll be selling the brands and as 

much of the infrastructure as we can,” said company 

spokesman Lance Ignon. “There is value in the 

brands.” Hostess said a strike by members of the 

Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain 

Millers International Union that began last week had 

crippled its ability to produce and deliver products at 

several facilities, and it had no choice but to give up 

its effort to emerge intact from bankruptcy court. 

The Irving, Texas-based company said the liquidation 

would mean that most of its 18,500 employees 

would lose their jobs. Hostess had given employee a 

deadline to return to work on Thursday, but the union 

held firm, saying it had already given far more in concessions 

than workers could bear and that it would 

not bend further. Union officials blamed mismanagement 

for the company’s woes. 

The company, which filed for bankruptcy in 

January for the second time since 2004, said it had 

filed a motion with US Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain 

in White Plains, New York, for permission to shut 

down and sell assets. — Reuters 

A photo of a twin pack of Hostess Twinkies and 

CupCakes. —AFP 

Hossein Esmaeili Shahmirzadi, general 

director for Europe, America and 

Caspian Sea countries at Iran’s Ministry 

of Petroleum, said at the same conference 

on Thursday that the Islamic 

republic was receiving gas from 

Turkmenistan. “We have no financial 

issues with Turkmenistan. We are 

importing gas from Turkmenistan,” he 

said. “Perhaps there were some technical 

issues.” 

Iranian imports of Turkmen gas averaged 

just over 1 billion cubic feet a day 

from July 2011 to June 2012, according 

to the US Energy Information Agency, 

but imports are much higher in winter 

and lower in summer. 

Iran has been importing natural 

gas from Turkm-enistan since 1997. 

Western-imposed banking restrictions 

have made it difficult for Iran’s 

suppliers and buyers to trade with 

Tehran. — Reuters 

Afghan workers wait to get paid at the end of their 

workday while standing near an archeological dig in 

Mes Ainak yesterday, an ancient Buddhist site where a 

religious community was set up more than 17 centuries 

ago to exploit the copper deposits underground. — AFP 

Lebanese banks’ Syrian 

losses $400m, says CB 

BEIRUT: Lebanese banks’ operations in neighboring Syria 

have lost a combined $400 million during the 20-monthold 

conflict there, Lebanon’s central bank chief Riad 

Salameh told Reuters yesterday. 

He gave no breakdown for individual lenders, but Audi 

Bank said last month it had seen its asset base in Syria 

shrink by two-thirds since the start of the uprising against 

President Bashar al-Assad. Overall, however, the Lebanese 

bank posted a 14 percent rise in nine-month net profit to 

$309 million. 

Salameh said that the government is also planning to 

exchange $1.5 billion of Eurobond debt when it matures in 

2013, and he said that a public share offering for the Beirut 

stock exchange would be ready in “one or two years.” In 

September, the International Monetary Fund blamed weak 

government policies for a slowdown in investment in 

Lebanon, though many economists also cite the Syrian 

conflict as a factor. 

Salameh said Lebanon’s economy is expected to grow 

by 2 percent this year, marking a sharp slowdown from last 

year. The government says the economy grew 5.2 percent 

in 2011 but economists are skeptical. The central bank 

chief declined to estimate a growth figure for 2013 but 

said that new loan facilities would be available. He said: 

“We want to prop up growth in 2013 as the situation in all 

the Arab World is not really growing.” — Reuters


BERLIN: President of the German Central Bank, Jens 

Weidmann, speaks on the 2nd day of a congress on the 

European economy, organized by the German newspaper 

Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) held at Hotel Adlon in 

Berlin yesterday. About 300 entrepreneurs, politicians 

and scientists discussed issues under the theme: ‘The 

New Europe with a new World Economy’. — AFP 

Euro-zone current account 

surplus shrinks, says ECB 

FRANKFURT: The euro-zone’s current account surplus 

slumped to 800 million euros ($1.02 billion) in September 

from 10.9 billion euros the previous month, European 

Central Bank data showed yesterday. 

The current account on the balance of payments, which 

includes imports and exports in both goods and services 

plus all other current transfers, is a closely tracked indicator 

of the ability of a country or area to pay its way in the 

world. It is crucial for the long-term confidence of investors 

and trading partners. 

Over the 12 months to September, the current account 

showed a surplus of 77.8 billion euros, compared with a 

deficit of 7.6 billion euros in the corresponding period a 

year earlier, the data showed. 

In Brussels, the Eurostat statistics agency said the 17nation 

euro-zone had a trade surplus of 9.8 billion euros in 

September, after 5.2 billion euros in August and compared 

with 1.7 billion euros in a year earlier. September eurozone 

exports fell 1.1 percent from August while imports 

were down 2.7 percent, it said. — AFP 

Mersch to get ECB post 

despite gender row 

BRUSSELS: Luxembourg central bank chief Yves 

Mersch is expected to be named to a top European 

Central Bank post next week after his nomination was 

held up for months by objections that there were no 

women candidates for the job, EU sources said yesterday. 

EU leaders meet Thursday 

and Friday in Brussels for difficult 

talks on the bloc’s 2014- 

20 budget but they will also 

find time to name Mersch to 

the ECB’s all-male executive 

board, the sources said. 

Leaders will “examine the 

nomination of a member of 

the ECB executive board,” one 

source said. “Everything suggests 

that we will take a decision,” 

another source said. 

Euro-zone finance ministers 

named Mersch in July to 

Yves Mersch 

replace Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo of Spain but 

Mersch was fiercely opposed by many in the European 

Parliament who objected that his appointment would 

result in an all-male ECB top management until 2018. 

The situation became more complicated earlier this 

month when Spain blocked the appointment, apparently 

motivated by a desire to regain influence at the 

top of the euro-zone’s central bank. Mersch had been 

named in preference to a male Spanish candidate to 

replace Gonzalez-Paramo, with Madrid said to be 

unhappy at what it saw as a “non-transparent” 

appointment. — AFP 

LONDON: World shares were headed 

for a second consecutive weekly loss 

yesterday as uncertainty over US budget 

talks, a weak economic outlook and 

violence in the Middle East weighed on 

investors. 

Further falls were likely when Wall 

Street opens, according to stock index 

futures, as investors worry about 

progress in negotiations between US 

President Barack Obama and 

Congressional leaders on tax and 

spending measures due later in the 

day. The MSCI world equity index was 

down 0.1 percent on the day at 317.36 

points but has lost almost two percent 

this week and about 4.5 percent since 

the outcome of the US elections raised 

fears of a prolonged fiscal crisis. 

“We need to see signs that it’s going 

one way or another,” Rabobank strategist 

Philip Marey said. “There’s still a 

general perception that they’ll be realistic 

and reach a deal, but if you listen 

to political commentators you may 

think financial markets are a bit optimistic.” 

Persistent worries about the eurozone’s 

ability to deal with its debt 

problems, especially a row over aid to 

Greece, have added to the weakness in 

equity and currency markets. 

Europe’s FTSEurofirst 300 index of 

top companies shed 0.3 percent to 

1,074.85 yesterday, putting it on course 

for its worst week since late 

September. London’s FTSE 100, 

Frankfurt’s DAX and Paris’s CAC-40 

were around 0.24 to 0.6 percent lower.The 

euro was down 0.3 percent 

against the dollar at $1.2740 though 

well above Tuesday’s two-month low 

of $1.2661. “I think things are deteriorating 

steadily in Europe,” said Neil 

Mellor, currency strategist at BNY 

Mellon, who expects ongoing weak 

economic data to keep pressure on the 

euro. Greece has taken centre stage in 

the three-year-old euro zone crisis as 

its international lenders squabble over 

how to bring down its debt pile, delaying 

a 31 billion euro aid payment nec- 

essary to keep the country afloat. The 

head of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, 

who has cut short a tour of Asia to 

attend a Eurogroup meeting in 

Brussels on Nov 20 aimed at resolving 

the dispute, said a deal was needed 

that would put the insolvent country’s 

economy on a sustainable path. 

Anxiety over the outcome of those 

talks saw 10-year German government 

bond yields fall half a basis point to 

1.35 percent. Elsewhere in the currency 

markets, the Japanese yen steadied 

at around 81.10 to the dollar having 

fallen sharply this week as investors 

adjusted to the likelihood of a change 

in government and the possibility of an 

easing in monetary policy. Japanese 

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda paved 

the way for a snap election on Dec. 16 

by dissolving the lower house of parliament 

yesterday. Shinzo Abe, leader of 

the main opposition Liberal 

Democratic Party, is widely expected to 

win the vote and has already called for 

the Bank of Japan to adopt interest 

rates of zero or below to spur lending. 

“Only if the BOJ were to ease more 

business 

Growth and US fiscal 

worries hurt shares 

Obama meets congressional leaders on tax 

BANGKOK: Construction of a $7 billion train link between 

Laos and China will go ahead next year after a Chinese 

bank threw a financial lifeline to the stalled project, state 

media reported yesterday. 

The two countries had initially agreed to jointly fund the 

line, which will run from the Chinese border to Vientiane, 

but Beijing pulled out over reported concerns about profitability. 

Chinese state-run EXIM bank has now stepped in 

with a loan offer for Laos, an official from the public works 

and transport ministry told the Vientiane Times, adding the 

pair are “now ironing out the details” of the loan. 

Another official at the ministry confirmed to AFP that 

discussions on the details of the loan were under way 

along with consultations over the route. “The work has not 

started yet, but we plan to finish it in five years,” said the 

official, who did not want to be named. 

A Chinese firm will carry out the construction, the 

Vientiane Times report said, describing the project as the 

aggressively will we see some weakness 

in the yen but it is not yet clear 

when this will happen,” said Marcus 

Hettinger, global FX strategist at Credit 

Suisse in Zurich. 

Earlier, Japan’s Nikkei stock index 

bucked the global trend and rallied 2.2 

percent to a two-week high. The index 

has risen 3 percent this week, helped 

by a 4.2 percent jump in the past two 

days. 

However, most of the market’s 

attention is on Washington and the 

progress in efforts to resolve the so 

called ‘fiscal cliff’ facing the govern- 

NEW YORK: Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange. 

Trading on world stock markets was lethargic yesterday after data showed 

Europe slipped back into recession and several big US retailers disappointed 

investors with weak forecasts. —AP 

ment at the end of the year. Since last 

week’s US election, investors have 

become worried the giant economy 

could be tipped back into recession if 

no deal is reached to avoid the $600 

billion in spending cuts and tax hikes 

due to take effect early next year. 

Some in the markets are worried 

that efforts to reach a deal could result 

in tax hikes on wealthy investors, and 

have looked to lock in profits made 

from strong gains in US share prices 

made this year. — Reuters 

Laos-China rail work to start in 2013 

biggest ever infrastructure scheme undertaken by communist 

Laos. It will be a link in a vast network set to connect 

the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming with Singapore. 

Landlocked Laos, one of Asia’s poorest countries, has no 

railway apart from a short stretch of track near the Thai 

border. Under current plans the new Boten-Vientiane line 

will be 420 kilometres (260 miles) long and require 76 tunnels 

and around 150 bridges to be built as it carves 

through Laos, the report said. 

Passenger trains, which will run at up to 160 kilometres 

an hour, will stop at 31 stations once work is complete, it 

added. The scheme has stirred controversy in Laos with the 

proposed route likely to force thousands of people to 

move from their homes. 

Construction on a separate $5 billion 220-kilometre 

line linking southern Laos and Vietnam is set to start in 

January, the Vientiane Times reported Thursday, after 

financing from a Malaysian investor was secured. — AFP


HEFEI: Laborers working on a construction site in Hefei, central China’s Anhui 

province. China’s new Communist boss Xi Jinping has raised hopes with a 

straight-talking debut, but observers say he may struggle to achieve reforms and 

satisfy growing calls for change in the world’s second-largest economy. — AFP 

Gold dips, heads 

for weekly loss 

LONDON: Gold drifted lower with 

shares yesterday and headed for a weekly 

loss, as investors focused on uncertainty 

over global growth and worries 

over the so-called US “fiscal cliff”. 

Spot gold edged down 0.5 percent to 

$1,706.56 an ounce by 1123 GMT, on 

track for a weekly loss after prices 

climbed more than 3 percent last week. 

US gold was down $6.80 at $1,707.00. 

Gold had slid more than 1 percent to 

a one-week low on Thursday following 

falls in equity markets. European shares 

fell for a third day on Friday as the weak 

economic outlook, uncertainty over US 

budget talks and an upsurge of violence 

in the Middle East weighed on investors. 

Gold edged down as some investors liquidated 

profits from bullion to cover 

losses in other markets such as equities. 

Investors see gold as a risky asset 

similar to other commodities or shares. 

However, gold can resort to being a safe 

haven in times of deep economic uncertainty. 

“Gold is being seen increasingly 

as a source of cash. Liquidation of gold 

can cover losses elsewhere,” said Simon 

Weeks, head of precious metals at Scotia 

Mocatta, referring to Friday’s slippage in 

gold with equities. The gold market’s 

attention is on the budget talks between 

US President Barack Obama and 

Congressional leaders. As the two sides 

prepared for the talks yesetrady aimed 

at preventing the US economy from 

falling back into recession, Democrats 

and Republicans dug in on their longheld 

opposing positions. 

Gold’s safe haven status would shine 

in the case of failed talks and political 

paralysis, while success in avoiding the 

fiscal disaster may dampen sentiment in 

gold, analysts said. Technical analysis 

suggested that spot gold could test 

support at $1,701 an ounce, a break 

below which will open the way towards 

$1,672.24, according to Reuters market 

analyst Wang Tao. Gold has drifted 

around $1,720 an ounce over the past 

week or so as support from US 

President Obama’s re-election faded 

and political uncertainty around the fiscal 

problems kept some investors on 

the sidelines. — Reuters 

SURABAYA: Vendors prepare vegetables and other agricultural produce 

before dawn at Surabaya market yesterday. Indonesia’s Central Statistics 

Agency said that inflation in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy edged up in 

October as the price of processed food, drinks and tobacco increased. — AFP 

LONDON: Hedge fund manager Man Group is selling 

off its legal claims to the estates of defunct US investment 

bank Lehman Brothers in a $456 million deal 

that will boost its net cash position and capture 

attractive gains for investors. 

Hutchinson Investors, managed by the Baupost 

Group, has agreed to buy the portfolio at a 32 percent 

premium to the June 30 valuation and Man may 

receive a further $5 million if future recoveries from 

the claims exceed certain thresholds. 

Man originally acquired the claims in July 2011 

from funds managed by its GLG Partners subsidiary 

for $355 million. GLG was one of hundreds of hedge 

fund and asset managers who had struck trades with 

Lehman that collapsed when the bank faltered in 

2008. Besides sparing GLG’s investors uncertainty and 

BUSINESS 

Man Group sells Lehman 

exposure for $456 million 

Proceeds to boost Man cash position 

possible loss while lawyers pursued compensation, 

Man spotted an opportunity to potentially profit from 

a burgeoning secondary market in the legal exposures 

as investors took bets on the likelihood that 

claims would be paid out, and by how much. 

The sale follows a challenging period for Man 

Group, which has seen clients withdraw their cash in 

droves after poor returns from its flagship AHL fund. 

In October, the former FTSE 100 group posted a fifth 

consecutive quarter of outflows. In an effort to reverse 

its fortunes, the company has made a raft of changes: 

slashing costs, launching new funds and naming 

Jonathan Sorrell, son of WPP CEO Martin Sorrell, as 

finance director. Shares, which have fallen almost 

three-quarters since the start of 2011, were trading 1.3 

percent up at 74.7 pence by 0844 GMT. — Reuters 

Lafarge and Anglo American 

sell UK assets to Mittal 

Shrinking good 

for banks as layoffs 

near 160,000 

LONDON: Major banks have announced some 160,000 job cuts 

since early last year and with more layoffs to come as the industry 

restructures, many will leave the shrinking sector for good as 

redundancies outpace new hires by roughly two-to-one. A 

Reuters analysis of job cuts announced by 29 major banks 

showed the lay-offs were much bigger in Europe than in Asia or 

the United States. That is a particular blow to Britain where the 

finance industry makes up roughly 10 percent of the economy. 

The tally of nearly 160,000 job cut plans, meanwhile, is likely to 

be a conservative estimate as smaller banks and brokers are also 

cutting staff or shutting up shop, and bigger banks have not 

always disclosed target numbers of lay-offs. The tally also does 

not include reports of 6,000 job cuts to come at Commerzbank, 

for example, which the German group would not confirm last 

week. Well-paid investment bankers are bearing the brunt of 

cost cuts as deals dry up and trading income falls. That is particularly 

the case in some activities such as stock trading, where 

low volumes and thin margins are squeezing banks. 

“When I let go tons of people in cash equities this year, I 

knew most would be finished in this business. It is pretty dead. 

Some will just have to find something completely different to 

do,” said one top executive at an international bank in London, 

on condition of anonymity. The job cuts eat into tax revenues 

usually reaped from the sector at a time when the global economic 

recovery is slowing. This year’s tax income from the 

industry in Britain could drop to around 40 billion pounds ($63 

billion) this year, compared to 70 billion in 2007/08, when the 

financial crisis hit, the Centre for Economics and Business 

Research (CEBR) think-tank said this week. 

The job cuts announced since the beginning of 2011 come 

on top of job cuts already carried since 2009. Of the 29 banks, 

from Europe’s biggest bank HSBC to U.S. investment bank 

Morgan Stanley, just over 83,700 net jobs have been lost since 

2009, with 167,200 jobs axed and 83,500 created. Squeezed by 

regulations forcing banks to store up more capital in their trading 

businesses, firms are likely to shrink their investment banking 

units even further, as they overhaul their models to survive. 

“It is structural as well as in response to cycles in the market. 

The market is still over-broked,” said Zaheer Ebrahim at 

recruiters Kennedy Group. Swiss bank UBS last month outlined 

a further 10,000 lay-offs after announcing a plan for 3,500 job 

cuts last year. It said in October it had decided to exit most of its 

rates and debt trading units. Workers in retail banking operation 

will not be immune to job cuts either, particularly in slowing 

European economies. In France for instance, bank executives 

predict retail revenues will falter. —Reuters 

PARIS/LONDON: Cement maker Lafarge and miner 

Anglo American have agreed to sell British 

assets for up to 285 million pounds ($452 million), 

clearing the way for a building materials joint venture 

in the country.The sale, to Indian steel tycoon 

Lakshmi Mittal, was a condition set by Britain’s 

Competition Commission to allow the two firms to 

combine their building materials activities. 

Lafarge and Anglo said yesterday they would 

sell a number of construction materials operations 

in Britain as well as Anglo unit Tarmac’s 50 percent 

interest in Midland Quarry Products, one of the 

UK’s main suppliers of hard rock and asphalts. 

Nomura analysts said the deal could be seen as a 

positive for investors fretting over a potential 

rights issue at the Mittal family’s debt-burdened 

flagship asset, ArcelorMittal , the world’s largest 

steelmaker. “Spending $450 million on construction 

material assets now does not necessarily 

sound like someone who is thinking about imminently 

piling in a few billion dollars into his steel 

business as part of an equity raise,” they said. 

Anglo, refocusing on core mining activities, struggled 

for more than three years to find a buyer for 

Tarmac before agreeing last year to a joint venture 

with France-based Lafarge’s British cement, aggregates, 

concrete and asphalt businesses. 

The price for the assets, which include one of 

the UK’s largest cement plants, includes up to 30 

million pounds contingent on future performance. 

A Lafarge spokeswoman said the company would 

receive around 160 million euros ($205 million) 

from the sale of its British assets, which it would 

use to cut its debt. 

She added that with this deal, Lafarge had 

raised nearly 650 million euros from asset sales 

this year against a target of at least 1 billion euros. 

The French company has been shedding noncore 

assets and refocusing on its cement and concrete 

business after the debt it racked up to 

acquire Middle Eastern cement maker Orascom in 

2007 led to the loss of its investment-grade credit 

rating last year. Britain’s Competition Commission 

began looking into the proposed venture, which 

would have rung up annual sales worth 1.8 billion 

pounds ($2.9 billion) in 2010, after the tie-up was 

challenged by the country’s consumer affairs 

watchdog, the Office of Fair Trading, in 

September last year. Lafarge’s Hope cement 

plant in northern England is one of the largest in 

Britain, and regulators hoped its sale will bring in 

a new player to maintain the current level of competition. 

The UK cement market is dominated by 

Lafarge, Tarmac, Cemex and HeidelbergCement’s 

Hanson. — Reuters


KUALA LUMPUR: A shopper walks through fruit stalls at a 

vegetable market in down town Kuala Lumpur yesterday. 

The State bank of Malaysia announced that the economy 

expanded by 5.2 percent in the third quarter. — AFP 

Malaysian economy 

expands 5.2% in Q3 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s economy grew a better-thanexpected 

5.2 percent in the third quarter as domestic demand 

continued to compensate for a slowdown in exports, the government 

said yesterday. 

The central bank said Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy 

expanded due to private consumption and private and 

public investment in such sectors as transportation, oil and 

gas, and public utilities. 

This managed to offset a further decline in demand abroad 

for the export-reliant country’s goods and services as its key 

partners, such as the US and Europe, are struggling amid the 

global economic crisis. “Going forward, the more challenging 

international environment would present risks to Malaysia’s 

growth prospects,” Bank Negara said in a statement. 

“Nevertheless, domestic demand is expected to continue 

to be the anchor of growth, supported by the expansion in 

private consumption and investment. Public spending and 

investment activity are also expected to lend support to 

growth,” it added. 

Malaysia’s economy grew a faster-than-expected 5.4 percent 

in the second quarter, and a revised 4.9 percent in the 

first quarter. Bank Negara has previously forecast full-year 

growth between four and five percent, slower than the 5.1 

percent seen last year. 

Alan Tan, an economist with Affin Investment Bank, said he 

was revising his expectations for full-year growth to five percent 

as the third quarter figure was better than the 4.9 percent 

that had been expected. “The 5.2 percent is driven mainly 

by healthy domestic demand driven by private investment 

and consumption. We expect this trend to continue into the 

fourth quarter,” he said. 

Inflation moderated to 1.4 percent in the third quarter, 

down from 1.7 percent in the second quarter, the central bank 

said. 

Prime Minister Najib Razak, who must face a strengthening 

opposition in elections by mid-2013, has set a goal of Malaysia 

becoming a “high-income developed nation” by 2020. He has 

previously said the economy needs to expand six percent 

annually to reach that target. — AFP 

YANGON: A Myanmar woman harvesting rice at a paddy 

field on the outskirts of Bago, around 80 km north of 

Yangon. Rice exports from Myanmar may more than double 

to 1.5 million metric tons this year, an industry group 

forecast, highlighting the country’s potential to boost 

overseas trade as its government pursues reform. — AFP 

NEW DELHI: India will struggle to meet 

its already swollen deficit target this 

year after a dismal response to this 

week’s auction of mobile phone licenses 

and a battle to sell stakes in state companies, 

Indian finance ministry officials 

privately concede. 

Global rating agencies have threatened 

to downgrade India’s sovereign 

credit rating to junk if it fails to put its 

fiscal house in order. Analysts said while 

the disappointing auction would likely 

not be a deciding factor, it underscored 

the challenges facing the government in 

trying to slash the deficit. 

Just last month, subdued tax revenue 

and higher spending on subsidies 

forced the government to revise its fiscal 

deficit target to 5.3 percent of gross 

domestic product (GDP) for the current 

financial year from a previous target of 

5.1 percent. In setting the new target, 

the government was banking heavily on 

generating billions of dollars from the 

auction of second-generation (2G) 

mobile phone licenses. But the auction 

this week yielded just under 25 percent 

of the targeted 400 billion rupees ($7.3 

billion), a result that caught officials offguard. 

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram 

declined on Thursday to answer questions 

about the disappointing auction, 

but his officials said it may have pushed 

the government’s already tough deficit 

target even further out of reach. “The 

task has become more difficult. Some 

out-of-the-box measures are needed to 

save the situation,” a senior finance ministry 

official with direct knowledge of 

the matter told Reuters. 

Other finance ministry officials interviewed 

by Reuters this week gave similar 

assessments. The officials declined to 

be identified as they are not authorized 

to speak to the media. 

Seven private economists polled by 

Reuters said they now expected the fiscal 

deficit for the year to end-March 

2013 to slip to 5.5-6 percent of GDP. 

“Slippage is now inevitable. How much 

NEW DELHI: Indian authorities are investigating claims that 

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. violated foreign exchange rules when it 

invested $100 million in a domestic unit owned by its wholesale 

joint-venture partner, a law enforcement official said. 

An Indian lawmaker first raised the allegations in a letter 

to the prime minister in early September, and the complaint 

was subsequently passed from one government department 

to another without action being taken. Wal-Mart, the world’s 

largest retailer, has denied any wrongdoing. The allegations 

relate to the company’s complex investment through 

debentures-which could later be converted to an equity 

stake-at a time when direct ownership by foreign firms was 

prohibited. 

“Yes, the Enforcement Directorate has initiated an investigation 

into the allegations against Wal-Mart,” a senior official, 

who declined to be named, told Reuters yesterday. 

The Enforcement Directorate, an elite agency that falls 

under the finance ministry, investigates financial crimes. 

“The probe is at an early stage and therefore (it is) difficult to 

say what the outcome will be,” the official said. 

slippage happens depends on whether 

they can actually cut down on any 

spending area,” said Sonal Verma, an 

economist at Nomura. 

The government still holds some 

tools to get it closer to its fiscal goal. It 

has an option to sell its stakes in private 

firms such as Axis Bank, infrastructure 

company Larsen and Toubro and hotel 

and tobacco conglomerate ITC . It can 

also ask for special dividends from cashrich 

state-run companies. Besides selling 

still-unsold telecom spectrum, it could 

even consider liquidating its land holdings, 

finance ministry officials said. But 

the officials said it was unclear just how 

much revenue this would all generate 

and whether it would be enough to 

meet the 5.3 percent fiscal target. Last 

year, the fiscal deficit overshot the target 

of 4.6 percent by 1.2 percentage 

points. Another big slippage this year 

could further erode the nation’s fiscal 

credibility. 

“It is not business as usual. Everybody 

is under pressure to meet the (deficit) 

BUSINESS 

India sees task to meet 

2012/2013 deficit target 

Sovereign credit faces rating downgrade 

target,” said a finance ministry official. 

“Time is running out.” 

The government’s battle to mend its 

finances not only undermines the battle 

against high inflation, but it also lowers 

growth prospects as funding the deficit 

from domestic savings crowds out private 

investment. The government is on 

track to borrow 5.7 trillion rupees, 5.6 

percent of GDP, by February. Every 0.1 

percentage point increase in the deficit 

is estimated to result in an additional 

market borrowing of at least 100 billion 

rupees. The response to the 2G auction 

was in sharp contrast with the 2010 sale 

AHMEDABAD: A camel is pictured on a deserted street after sunrise in the old 

city of Ahmedabad yesterday. Widening income gaps and rising numbers of 

unskilled young people could derail India’s economic growth, speakers at a 

high-profile economic conference warned on November 8. — AFP 

of faster third-generation licenses, 

which fetched the government more 

than $12 billion and helped contain the 

deficit that year at 4.7 percent. “We were 

over-optimistic,” a senior economic 

adviser at the ministry conceded. 

Chidambaram pledged last month to 

nearly halve the fiscal deficit by March 

2017. But the plan he presented was 

short on specifics and was panned by 

economists. — Reuters 

India probes Wal-Mart 

over stake in local unit 

News of the investigation comes at a bad time for the 

Congress Party-led minority government, which is preparing 

to do battle with opponents in parliament next week over its 

decision to allow foreign companies into India’s retail sector. 

The furore could derail parliamentary proceedings. 

Parties opposed to the new retail policy, which include 

some government allies, may use the investigation to fan 

suspicion among supporters against foreign retailers including 

Wal-Mart whose entry is seen threatening the livelihoods 

of local mom-and-pop store owners. 

Arkansas-based Wal-Mart has repeatedly denied the allegations. 

“The central government has sought certain information 

and clarification, which has been provided by us. We 

are not in a position to offer further comments as the matter 

is before the courts,” a Wal-Mart spokesman said yesterday. 

India liberalized its retail sector in mid-September to 

allow global superstores to buy stakes in Indian companies - 

one of a number of big-ticket reforms passed in September 

by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to revive a sluggish 

economy. — Reuters


Protesters wearing Zombie masks lie on a pavement at 

a rally near Malacanang Palace in Manila yesterday to 

coincide with a visit by International Monetary Fund 

(IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde. — AFP 

SMS tax could help 

Philippines: IMF 

MANILA: International Monetary Fund chief Christine 

Lagarde urged the Philippines yesterday to tax mobile 

phone messages to shore up state funds in a country 

sometimes called the world’s text message capital. Such a 

tax could boost proceeds from revised “sin taxes” set to be 

passed by the country’s parliament, she told a news conference 

during an overnight visit to Manila. 

Lagarde said Vice-President Jejomar Binay told her telephone 

coverage in the country of nearly 100 million people 

has reached to 112 percent, thanks to the popularity of 

mobile phones for sending short messages cheaply. “(This) 

clearly satisfies one of the two criteria for what we call a 

good taxation... a very broad base,” she told reporters. 

However she said the government must be the one to 

decide what kind of taxes it imposes. 

Surveys have credited the Philippines as being the most 

prolific country in sending SMS messages with the average 

mobile phone user sending 600 messages a month. Each 

message now costs just a peso (2.40 US cents). A hugely 

unpopular bill to levy a five-centavo tax on SMS messages 

has already been defeated in parliament in 2009. The government, 

which hopes to balance the national budget in 

2016, instead turned to proposing higher taxes on alcohol 

and tobacco, which would have the added benefit of combating 

the health hazards of smoking. The government 

says this “sin tax” could be passed next week despite opposition 

stalling ahead of the May 2013 elections. — AFP 

DUBLIN: Increased marketing spending helped Irish 

bookmaker Paddy Power to third-quarter revenues up 

23 percent on last year, while favorable results boosted 

its returns on sports betting. 

The Dublin-based group has been more adept than 

larger rivals at reacting to punters moving to online 

gambling and saw internet sports betting activity 

climb by 28 percent in the three months to Nov 14. 

Trading was boosted by a 74 percent increase in marketing 

spending in the first half, though betting activity 

during the Olympic Games was slower than during 

the Euro 2012 soccer tournament earlier in the summer. 

The group said that it plans to open 45 new 

shops next year in the United Kingdom, where likefor-like 

net revenue was up 5 percent in the third 

quarter. 

Davy Stockbrokers said in a note that higher than 

expected revenue growth of 34 percent in Australia 

made up for slightly weaker than expected revenues 

online and left unchanged its full-year forecast for 18 

percent growth in earnings per share. 

Paddy Power, which has increased its presence in 

Britain as well as Australia, Canada and France in 

recent years, did not give details of its performance in 

the Italian market it entered this year. — Reuters 

MANILA: A crucial meeting of eurozone 

finance ministers next week will 

be key to getting Greece “back on its 

feet”, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said 

yesterday, as she cut short her visit to 

Asia to attend the talks. 

The International Monetary Fund 

managing director told a news conference 

in Manila that the Eurogroup’s 

focus was getting the debt-wracked 

country on a “sustainable” path as 

soon as possible. 

“You know, it’s not over until the fat 

lady sings, as the saying goes,” 

Lagarde told reporters when asked if 

she expected a deal to be forged at 

the meeting next week in Brussels. “It’s 

a question of working hard, putting 

our mind to it, making sure that we 

focus on the same objective, which is 

that... Greece can operate on a sustainable 

basis, can recover, can get back 

on its feet, can re-access markets as 

early as possible,” she said. 

“That is what is driving the IMF’s 

determination.” Eurogroup president 

Jean-Claude Juncker has said he hopes 

the meeting on Tuesday will clear the 

way for it to receive 31 billion euro 

tranche of bailout cash Greece desperately 

needs to avoid default. 

Juncker has clashed publicly with 

Lagarde over extending Greece’s 

agreed debt-to-gross domestic product 

ratio target. Juncker wants the target 

of 120 percent of Greek debt-to- 

GDP ratio by 2020 pushed back to 

2022. It is now at 170 percent. 

Despite two bailouts involving the 

EU, the European Central Bank and the 

IMF as well as a private-sector debt 

cut, Greece is set to enter its sixth year 

of recession in 2013, pushing its debt 

mountain to 190 percent of output in 

2014. The euro-zone slipped back into 

recession for the second time in just 

three years in the third quarter, 

according to data Thursday, raising 

fears it would make the resolution of 

the debt crisis even more difficult. “The 

recession, it is not exactly a surprise. 

We had actually forecasted there 

would be a recession in the euro-zone 

in 2012 and growth will pick up in 

2013,” Lagarde said yesterday. “I certainly 

hope that will be the case in 

2013 if policy makers will actually act 

and do what is necessary and appropriate 

to recover from the crisis.” 

Asked if members needed to contribute 

more to boost the IMF’s 

resources to deal with financial crises, 

Lagarde said the fund’s resources were 

BUSINESS 

IMF head says Eurogroup 

deal key to saving Greece 

Euro-zone finance ministers to meet next week 

HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s economy expanded faster than 

expected in the third quarter, helping the trade-dependent 

territory avoid a recession as its exports and retail sector 

regained traction thanks to a pick-up in the world’s two 

largest economies. 

The global economic turmoil and a slowdown in China 

adequate. “The IMF has the capacity to 

lend ... slightly in excess of $1 trillion, 

which we believe is sufficient, appropriate 

under current circumstances.” 

She added: “You can never say never. 

But, frankly, I hope that this is appropriate 

and sufficient.” 

MANILA: Christine Lagarde (center) International Monetary Fund (IMF) 

managing director, talks with Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima 

(right) and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, after a press conference in 

Manila yesterday. — AFP 

She also complimented Asia for its 

swift recovery from its own financial 

crisis in the late 1990s, saying it could 

teach lessons to other parts of the 

world. Lagarde was due to attend an 

Association of Southeast Asian Nations 

summit in Cambodia, but will now be 

represented at the weekend meeting 

by IMF deputy managing director 

Naoyuki Shinohara, IMF spokeswoman 

Gita Phatt said. — AFP 

Marketing spend lifts 

Paddy Power revenues Hong Kong avoids recession 

HONG KONG: People walk past signage displayed on 

Russell Street in the Causeway Bay region of Hong Kong 

yesterday. The southern Chinese city’s bustling shopping 

district of Causeway Bay has knocked New York’s Fifth 

Avenue off the top of the list of most expensive places to 

rent retail space in the world, new research showed. — AFP 

have weighed on Hong Kong’s economy, but analysts are 

more optimistic about the outlook for the financial centre on 

the back of encouraging data from China and the United 

States. But the Hong Kong government remained cautious, 

saying the outlook was subject to a high degree of uncertainty. 

It revised its full-year 2012 economic growth forecast 

to 1.2 percent from 1-2 percent, down sharply from a 4.9 

percent expansion in 2011. The seasonally-adjusted thirdquarter 

data was stronger than t he average forecast of four 

analysts who expected the economy to grow 0.13 percent 

from the previous quarter, when the economy contracted 

0.1 percent. 

On a year-on-year basis, Hong Kong’s gross domestic 

product (GDP) growth edged up 1.3 percent, compared with 

a 1.2 percent expansion in the second quarter. “The pick-up 

in Hong Kong’s economy is a combination of base effect, 

China recovery, slight recovery in the US as well as iPhone5 

and other technical gadget shipments,” said Citi Group analyst 

Adrienne Lui, who expects full-year growth of 2.2 percent. 

“We do expect a bit more of a recovery at the end of 

the year, as trade gradually recovers in the region, some liquidity 

push to the system and therefore better sentiment,” 

she said. Exports in the former British territory in September 

grew 15.2 percent from a year earlier, recovering from a 

growth rate of 0.6 percent in August as demand from mainland 

China and the United States picked up. — Reuters


www.kuwaittimes.net 

Juanes, 

Jesse & Joy 

take home 

top Latin 

Grammys 

PAGE 27 

Charlie Chaplin hat 

and cane to go 

under hammer 

PAGE 25 

A model wears a creation by Mexico’s 

designer Alejandro Carlin at the 

Mercedes Benz Fashion show in 

Mexico City. — AP


Rihanna holds a 

party on her plane 

The ‘Diamonds’ singer began her “rock ‘n’ roll adventure” on board 

her private 777 Delta Boeing aircraft as she and her guests flew 

from Los Angeles to Mexico City for the first concert of her unique 

run of shows. The ‘777’ tour sees Rihanna perform concerts in seven different 

cities in seven different countries in North America and Europe in 

seven days to promote her new album ‘Unapologetic’. Rihanna, 24, 

greeted her Rihanna Navy fans and invited journalists as they boarded by 

shouting into a microphone: “Hello! This is 777. I love you! We will transform 

this jumbo jet into a tour bus ... We’re practically living on this thing 

for a week: sleeping, partying, all together... it’s going to be a wild ride. “I 

wanted it to be a rock ‘n’ roll adventure, and I think when it’s over it will 

be the coolest thing I’ve ever done.” Before the plane touched down in 

Mexico guests were given a special gift bag personally put together by 

Rihanna, which included flight socks, a T-shirt, perfume and a diamond 

bracelet. She announced: “It looks cheap but if you read the fine print, it’s 

a real diamond. “I don’t want anyone to lose that - and you can’t say 

you’ve never had a diamond in your life.” Rihanna and her 18-strong 

entourage, which includes a massage therapist, various stylists and security, 

were escorted by police to the venue where she performed to a 

crowd of 2,000. Rihanna’s next stop is Toronto, Canada, where she will 

play to an even smaller crowd of 1,400. 

Why isSelena 

Gomez skipping 

the AMA? 

Selena Gomez will not be attending the American Music Awards because her exboyfriend 

Justin Bieber is performing. Justin is set to perform at the ceremony 

today and Selena is not going to make an appearance at the prestigious event in 

Los Angeles because the pain of their recent split is just too fresh. A representative told 

Hollyscoop.com: “Selena has never been confirmed to be at the show.” She is also not 

nominated for any prizes at the ceremony, unlike Justin who is up for three awards, 

including the highly coveted Artist of the Year accolade. Selena and Justin were 

believed to have held crisis talks last weekend to discuss where their relationship was 

going after their split was confirmed last week. A source said: “I saw Selena go into the 

hotel around 5:40 pm and not even three hours later, Justin went in. I saw him leave 

around 11 pm. “It’s not just over for Justin and Selena, whatever happens they have a 

lot to talk about. “They’re both being a bit cagey and stubborn but they’re desperate to 

see one another. This isn’t new for them; they often have a tumultuous relationship. We 

all expect them to work it out.” 

David Walliams, Lara Stone 

expecting first child 

The comic actor has announced his model wife is pregnant and 

insists the couple couldn’t be happier with the news. David wrote 

on his twitter page: “Some wonderful news. My beautiful wife 

Lara is pregnant. We are having a baby! It is due next year and we both 

couldn’t be happier. Dx (sic)” David, 41, and 28-year-old Lara started 

dating in September 2009 and got married in May 2010. Earlier this 

year, Lara revealed she and her husband had been practising for parenthood 

by caring for their pet dog Bert - who they adopted last 

Valentine’s Day (14.02.12). Speaking about their beloved mutt, she jokingly 

said: “We love him. A baby will probably never be as fun as Bert.” 

Lara also recently revealed she thinks she and ‘Little Britain’ star David 

have a great relationship because they share a similar sense of humour 

and are both strong-minded individuals. She said: “I think people like it 

when you have a bit of personality. It helps that I am not afraid to say 

what I want to do and what I don’t want to do.”


Lady Gaga 

he ‘Judas’ hitmaker has revealed the Italian 

Tfashion designer will be giving her stage outfits 

a “face-lift” when her ‘Born This Way Ball’ 

world tour reaches North America in January. 

Gaga tweeted: “THE BORN THIS WAY BALL is 

getting a face-lift for America. I heard rumors 

@Versace IS CUSTOM ESIGNING ALL THE 

CLOTHES AND NEW LOOKS. (sic)” The 26-yearold 

eccentric pop star is a huge fan of Versace’s 

striking designs, and she recently stepped out in 

the iconic safety-pin dress first worn by 

Elizabeth Hurley in 1994. Donatella is known for 

giving garments a feminine and risque flair, so 

Gaga - who has memorably worn a meat dress 

and worn a Kermit the Frog outfit - can expect 

some revealing new stage outfits to show off 

her curvier figure. The musician has put on 

25lbs this autumn and despite some criticism 

from commentators, she insists she feels healthier 

and happier than ever before. Gaga - who is 

in a relationship with ‘Chicago Fire’ actor Taylor 

Kinney - said: “When I eat and am healthy and 

not so worried about my looks then I’m happy. 

I’m happier than I’ve ever been. This is who I am. 

And I am proud at any size.” 

Ben Affleck thinks Kristen 

Stewart is terrific 

The ‘Argo’ director is reportedly set to work with the ‘Twilight 

Saga’ actress in romantic comedy ‘Focus’ and Ben admitted he 

would jump at the chance. He told E! News: “I’m hesitant to get 

into casting stuff because I don’t know what’s finished or isn’t 

because people come in and out of things all the time. But she’s terrific 

and hopefully it will work out.” Kristen recently revealed she is 

desperate to land another role now that ‘Breaking Dawn Part 2’, the 

final movie in the ‘Twilight Saga’ franchise is finished and can’t wait 

to start working on something new. The 22-year-old star admitted: 

“I’m kinda desperate to get a job right now. I’m itching to get back to 

wants Versace to 

reinvigorate her outfits 

The 33-year-old actress thinks it would be fun to get back 

together with the cast of the hit teen drama - James Van 

Der Beek, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson - to film 

a brand new series where the gang go on holiday together. 

Speaking on US chat show ‘Late Night With Jimmy Fallon’, 

Katie said: “I love everyone from the show and we have kind of 

talked about it here and there, but what do you do? 

“Michelle’s character passed away ... Our last episode, we were 

already five years older. Maybe we’ll go on vacation, that will 

be fun-and just film it!” The popular show ran from 1998 until 

The 30-year-old singer - who shot to 

fame after winning ‘American Idol’ in 

2002 - has been romancing Brandon 

Blackstock for eight months and 

insists the romance has completely 

changed her outlook 

on life. She said: “I completely 

fell in love. I did! 

Welcome to Cheeseville! 

I don’t know. Your priorities 

kind of shift and 

you become happier 

and all that stuff. It’s 

probably my best 

accomplishment 

because I think, for me, 

especially, I just didn’t think 

it would happen.” 

However, the ‘Mr Knot It 

All’ hitmaker insists her 

personal happiness 

doesn’t mean she will 

stop writing angry 

songs. She joked: 

“[Brandon’s] totally 

gonna p**s me off at 

some point, right? I’ll 

write about it.” Kelly 

recently admitted she 

wanted to marry 

work.” The actress - whose other new movie ‘On The Road’ also premiered 

in the US earlier this month - has no confirmed projects on 

the horizon, but aid it is possible she might reprise her role in ‘Snow 

White and the Huntsman 2’ despite her fling with director Rupert 

Sanders during the summer. The fantasy adventure movie - starring 

Kristen and Chris Hemsworth as the titular characters - took more 

than $55 million at the US box office over its opening weekend, 

leading to Warner Brothers to green-light a follow-up. 

Kelly Clarkson’s relationship 

is her ‘best accomplishment’ 

Brandon - the son of her manager Narvel 

Blackstock - as soon as they met. She said: 

“We met years ago when I was working 

with Rascal Flatts, and he used to tour 

manage with him. “I didn’t really 

know [Brandon] was [my manager’s] 

son and it was kind of 

weird. I was like ‘dude I gotta 

know that guy. We were just 

in a room together, and then 

he came up and said he was 

from the same home town 

as me and I was like, ‘oh 

we’re so getting married’. I 

was so that girl. When he 

became single, I was on the 

prowl. It’s weird how life 

kind of puts you in certain 

situations.” 

Katie Holmes considering 

a Dawson s Creek reunion 

2003 and afforded Katie her break-out role. The brunette 

beauty - who recently divorced Tom Cruise - is currently making 

a return to acting and juggling rehearsals for Broadway 

play ‘Dead Accounts’ with looking after six-year-old daughter 

Suri. Discussing her new project, where she plays an Ohio 

woman who still lives with her parents whose brother comes 

home after “doing something really wrong”, she said: “It’s a 

comedy, but there’s a lot of heavy themes.” 

— Bangshowbiz


An Elvis Presley tour jacket from his last special tour, worn in Indianapolis, Indiana in June 

1977 and estimated between $750 and $800 on display during a press preview at auction 

house Bonham’s in Hollywood, California. 

In this 1957 photo, clothier Bernard Lansky displays a jacket 

in his high-fashion store in Memphis, Tenn. — AP photos 

Bernard Lansky, the Memphis retailer who helped a young Elvis 

Presley establish his signature clothing style of pegged pants, 

two-toned shoes and other flashy duds in the 1950s, has died. 

He was 85. Julie Lansky, the clothier’s granddaughter, said he died 

Thursday at his Memphis home. Bernard Lansky and his brother Guy 

started a retail business in Memphis in 1946, with help from a $125 

loan from their father, Samuel. After World War II, the store started 

selling Army surplus goods on Beale Street. When the supply dried 

up, they opened a high-fashion men’s store, where Bernard Lansky 

established his reputation as a natural salesman and storyteller. 

Lansky Bros ended up supplying Presley with the pink and black 

shirts and other outfits. “It’s a statement to say that he dressed one 

of the most influential entertainers of all time,” Julie Lansky said in a 

telephone interview. “He knew that for any entertainer, they had to 

look different.” Even though his style of dress changed over the 

years - including sparkling jumpsuits - Presley shopped at Lansky 

Bros. the rest of his life. Presley died at his Memphis residence, 

Graceland, in 1977. Lansky picked out the white suit and blue tie 

that Presley wore when he was buried. “I put his first suit on him and 

his last suit on him,” Lansky was fond of saying. By the early 1950s, 

Lansky’s shop was known as a place where a man with a taste for 

flash could find the styles Lansky referred to as “real sharp.” At the 

time, Beale Street was a hot spot for blues, rhythm and blues and 

jazz, and drew a colorful parade of musicians, gamblers and hustlers 

from the Mississippi Delta. 

Presley began hanging around Beale Street as a teenager and 

Models wear creations by Mexico’s designer Alejandra Quesada at the Mercedes Benz Fashion show in Mexico City. — AP photos 

An Elvis Presley signed photograph, estimated between $100 and $1500, is displayed during 

a press preview. 

picked up quickly on its music. One of Lansky’s favorite Elvis stories 

was how he first met the future King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Presley was a 

teenager working as an usher at a nearby theater and liked to window 

shop at Lansky’s. “He said, ‘When I get rich, I’m going to buy 

you out,’” Lansky said in a standard version of the story. “I said, ‘Don’t 

buy me out. Just buy from me.’ And he never forgot me.” 

Presley made his first record, “That’s All Right,” at the old Sun 

Studio in 1954. Before long, Presley’s star was rising, and he began 

shopping at Lansky Bros. in earnest. The Lansky brothers often 

opened the store at night so Presley could avoid drawing crowds 

and took outfits to Graceland for him to check out. Lansky dressed 

him for the “Louisiana Hayride” and his first TV spots on the Tommy 

Dorsey and Ed Sullivan shows. 

Eventually, Lansky became a favorite of the Elvis faithful who 

flocked to Memphis by the thousands for annual gatherings in 

Presley’s honor. Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., 

described Lansky as “a business and fashion pioneer.” “Bernard 

Lansky will forever be known as the ‘Clothier to the King,’” Soden 

said. Lansky Bros. kept drawing the fans even after moving in 1981 

from the Beale Street entertainment district to the Peabody Hotel, a 

downtown Memphis landmark a few blocks away.—AP


A man walks past a display of promotional movie paintings from the 1930’s, including the 

1934 release on the bottom corner “Hell in the Heavens” with Warner Baxter and Conchita 

Montenegro. 

A Charlie Parker Buescher Aristocrat E-flat alto saxophone, estimated between $22,000 and 

$26,000 is dusted before being placed on display. 

A quilted portrait image of Marilyn Monroe with airbrushed facial features, part of a group of 

Marilyn Monroe memorabilia estimated between $300 and $400, is displayed. 

Jackets worn by Sammy Davis Jr are displayed. 

Bing Crosby’s hats, a set of seven estimated between $500 and $700 are on display. 

Charlie Chaplin’s iconic bowler hat and 

cane are to go under the hammer in 

Los Angeles this weekend, as part of 

an auction which also includes a John 

Lennon nude drawing of himself and Yoko 

Ono. The hat and cane, trademark of 

Chaplin’s Little Tramp character, are in 

“remarkable condition” and are estimated 

to go for between $40,000 and $60,000 at 

the sale by auction house Bonhams today. 

Legend has it that Chaplin came up with 

the tramp persona and wardrobe spontaneously 

one rainy afternoon in February 

1914, seizing various wardrobe items in a 

communal male dressing room at a 

Hollywood studio. These included baggy 

trousers from Fatty Arbuckle, size 14 shoes 

which he had to wear on the wrong feet to 

keep them falling off, the hat belonging to 

Arbuckle’s father-in-law, and a mustache 

intended for another actor. 

The 32-inch (81-centimeter) bamboo 

cane is inscribed “CCLT 36” in black ink, a 

reference to the Little Tramp, Chaplin’s signature 

character. Other items on sale 

include a handwritten letter by Lennon 

with a nude drawing of himself and Yoko, 

sent to an avant-garde magazine publisher 

in connection with the controversial 1968 

“Two Virgins” album cover. 

The letter is estimated to go for between 

$18,000 and $22,000, while several other 

Beatles-related items are also up for sale, 

including a set of autographs of the four 

band members before a 1964 Hollywood 

Bowl show ($4,500 to $6,500). A saxophone 

which once belonged to jazz legend 

Charlie Parker has a reserve price of 

$22,000 to $26,000. Also on sale are various 

items related to Marilyn Monroe and three 

signed, abstract original oil paintings by 

crooner Frank Sinatra. — AFP 

Charlie Chaplain’s iconic bowler hat and 

cane are displayed during a press preview at 

auction house Bonham’s in Hollywood, 

California. — AFP photos 

Two pairs of Bing Crosby’s golf shoes, estimated between $200 and $400 are on display.


4 Latin Grammysto Jesse 

Jose Luis Guerra performs. 

Musician Joy Huerta of Jesse Joy performs. 

& Joy, Juanes wins too 

Mexican brother-sister duo Jesse & Joy and their 

pop hit “Corre!” ran away with four awards at 

the 13th Annual Latin Grammys, but 

Colombian rockero Juanes danced away with the award 

for best album for “MTV Unplugged.” “What a great joy. 

Thank God, and all the fans,” Juanes said Thursday night 

as he dragged Dominican mereguero Juan Luis Guerra, 

who produced the album, to the stage to accept the 

mini-gramaphone for best album at the close of the ceremony. 

The winner for best new artist, the Mexican DJ 

trio 3ball MTY, threw down beats with America Sierra 

and Sky Blu of LMFAO. Pitbull performed “Don’t Stop 

the Party” with dancers in gold spangled bikinis and hot 

pants. Juanes jammed with legendary guitarist Carlos 

Santana. Hosted by actors Cristian De La Fuente and 

Lucero, the ceremony attracted super-stars from across 

the world and from dozens of Latin musical genres to 

the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Just like at a big family 

party, new faces shared the spotlight with older generations, 

and traditional styles mixed with electronica and 

Vegas dancers on stage. 

Traditional Mexico met Las Vegas in a colorful number 

featuring Oaxaca native Lila Downs, Afro-Colombian 

singer Toto la Momposina and dancers in regional costumes, 

Carnival masques and skeleton makeup. Michel 

Telo, the Brazilian sertanejo or country music singer, performed 

his hit, “Ai si eu te pego,”with Blue Man Group. 

Bachata heartthrob Prince Royce sang with veteran 

Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian. But the 

applause was also strong for the 1980s hit, “Yo No Te 

Pido la Luna,” a duet between Spaniard Sergio Dalma 

and Mexican singer Daniela Romo, sporting a short silver 

hairdo following her bout with breast cancer. 

Jesse & Joy also won for best contemporary pop 

vocal album for “Con Quien se Queda el Perro” and best 

short video for “Me vow.” “Thanks to people like Juanes 

and Juan Luis Guerro who have inspired us. Love and 

peace,” Jesse said. Guerra, who came into the ceremony 

as the leading nominee with six bids, won producer of 

the year for Juanes’ album “MTV Unplugged.” 

Guerra performed “En el Cielo No Hay Hospital,” 

which brought the audience to its feet to dance, and for 

a standing ovation. Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Don 

Omar and Uruguayan alt rockers Cuarteto de Nos won 

two Latin Grammys each. Downs won best folkloric 

album for “Pecados y Milagros.” Colombian singer 

Fonseca won for best tropical fusion album, and Los 

Tucanes de Tijuana won best norteno album for “365 

Dias,” the narco-corrido band’s 32nd album. 

Milly Quezada brought home two statuettes, including 

best contemporary tropical album for “Aqui estoy 

yo.” “Long live merengue! Long live the Dominican 

Republic!” she said as she accepted the award. She also 

thanked Guerra, who helped produce the album. 

Cuban-American jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval won 

three Latin Grammys, two for “Dear Diz (Every Day I 

Think of You),” but said these awards was just exciting as 

his first. “The emotion is the same because one puts the 

same effort into each recording and the fact that the 

work is received well and respected by the public is very 

satisfying,” he said. The Latin Grammy celebration kicked 

off Wednesday with a tribute to Person of the Year winner, 

Caetano Veloso, one of the founders of the 

Tropicalismo movement. The Brazilian singer, composer 

and activist sang in Spanish and Portuguese before 

Pitbull and Sensato closed with “Crazy People.” The 

event was broadcast live on Univision. — AP 

Pitbull performs during the 

13th Annual Latin Grammy 

Awards show on November 

15, 2012 in Las Vegas, 

Nevada. 

— AFP/AP photos 

Performers on stage during the 13th Annual Latin Grammy show. Carlos Santana performs. Kany Garcia performs “Alguien”.


Caetano Veloso performs. 

Juanes poses backstage with his awards for 

album of the year and best long form music 

video for “MTV Unplugged”. 

Sergio Dalma (left) and Daniela Romo perform. 

Arturo Sandoval performs. 

Juan Luis Guerra, winner of the awards for producer 

of the year and album of the year for 

“MTV Unplugged Juanes,” poses backstage. 

Kinky arrives for the 13th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. 

Members of the musical group Reik present the award for best tropical contemporary album 

at the 13th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. 

helped produce the album. Cuban-American 

jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval won three Latin 

Grammys, two for “Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of 

You),” but said these awards was just exciting as 

his first. “The emotion is the same because one 

puts the same effort into each recording and the 

fact that the work is received well and respected 

by the public is very satisfying,” he said. The 

Natalie Cole (left) and Pepe Aguilar present the album of the 

year. 

Latin Grammy celebration kicked off Wednesday 

with a tribute to Person of the Year winner, 

Caetano Veloso, one of the founders of the 

Tropicalismo movement. The Brazilian singer, 

composer and activist sang in Spanish and 

Portuguese before Pitbull and Sensato closed 

with “Crazy People.” The event was broadcast 

live on Univision. — AP 

SkyBlu, of musical group LMFAO, is seen backstage.


Forty years after Glenn Frey began crafting 

some of the most memorable rock songs 

ever, the Eagles musician and singer finds 

himself in a new role - college professor. For the 

past few months, Frey has been helping to 

teach a songwriting class at New York 

University’s Steinhardt Department of Music. 

The semester culminated Thursday night with a 

benefit concert by the Eagles at the Beacon 

Theatre, where the opening act was three of the 

class’s students performing their original songs. 

“Their enthusiasm is contagious,” Frey said in 

an interview. He said that working with the students 

has energized him: “It’ll be interesting to 

see where my next batch of songs comes from.” 

The concert was one of a handful of Eagles 

shows this year - the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 

members play Las Vegas today and Dec 30. 

They played an abbreviated, tight set at the 

Beacon, just an hour long, working seamlessly 

through classics such as “The Long Run,” “Lyin’ 

Eyes” and “Witchy Woman.” 

Frey said during the interview there are no 

firm plans for the Eagles to record together or 

do a full tour, but all of that may be in the works. 

He said he expects the band, including fellow 

members Timothy B Schmit, Joe Walsh and Don 

Henley, to gather in the coming days to determine 

the next steps. A documentary about the 

band, Frey said, is slated to premiere at the 

Sundance Film Festival next year. 

“We’re going to set that time aside to talk 

about how we think 2013 is going to unfold for 

us,” said Frey, 64, who released a solo album of 

standards earlier this year. During the concert, 

which raised more than $1 million for scholarships, 

Henley noted the band’s recent 40th 

anniversary. “Hopefully, we’ve got a few good 

years left,” he told the Beacon crowd. The 

Eagles’ 11-song set also included “In The City” 

from the 1970s New York gang film “The 

Warriors,” “I Can’t Tell You Why” and two songs 

with the NYU symphony orchestra, “Take It To 

The Limit” and “Desperado.” Walsh ripped guitar 

solos known as well as many of the Eagles’ lyrics 

while all of the members continued, 40 years on, 

to hit the high notes during their trademark harmonies. 

Frey, who has a daughter at NYU, said he was 

drawn to teaching the songwriting class after 

attending the Country Music Awards a few years 

ago and hearing a series of poorly written songs. 

A mutual friend connected him to Phil Galdston, 

a Grammy-nominated songwriter and 

Steinhardt’s first faculty songwriter-in-residence. 

Sixteen students have been in this semester’s 

class, which wraps up with intensive recording 

sessions for the students - with Galdston and 

Frey as the producers. Galdston said it was Frey’s 

idea that a few of the students perform as the 

opening act. Using a violin, a piano, a cello and a 

guitar, the three students worked through three 

songs that received a warm reception from the 

audience. 

The students and the teachers said the goal 

of the class was not to look for the next big hit, 

but instead how to tell stories through music 

and end up with great songs. Weekly assignments 

included writing a song with no chorus or 

with a limited number of chords, then the teachers 

and the students worked on the songs in 

their next classes. 

Tiger Darrow, a sophomore from Dallas 

studying music composition, said Frey helped 

her focus on the idea of telling a big story into a 

small package - a song. She said she and her colleagues 

weren’t intimidated working with Frey, 

although she got a bit nervous when she realized 

the details of his legendary life. 

Frey explained how songwriting classes 

weren’t available when he was trying to make it 

as a musician, and he instead worked on his 

craft with masters like Joni Mitchell, Neil Young 

and Bob Seger. “We just said, ‘I wonder if they’d 

like this,’” Frey recalled of songwriting with 

those musicians. AJ Smith, a senior studying 

music composition from Washington, DC, said 

Frey helped focus the students on the songwriting 

process and the idea that all parts of their 

songs “should be something someone can feel 

and appreciate.” He also said Frey noted that the 

Eagles even tried to make their guitar solos 

“sing-able” - thus the reason almost everyone 

knows the final minutes of the song “Hotel 

California,” a surefire highlight of Thursday 

night’s show. — AP 

This image shows NYU Steinhardt student songwriters (from left) AJ Smith, of 

Washington, Tiger Darrow, of Dallas, and Peter Wise opening for the Eagles at Inaugural 

Vision Award Gala, Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 in New York. — AP 

This image shows Brian d’Arcy James (left) and Kate Baldwin during a performance of “Giant,” 

at The Public Theater at Astor Place in New York. — AP 

Beware of allowing tradition to 

blind you to the benefits of 

progress. That’s one message 

from the aptly-titled “Giant,” the robust, 

polished, three-hour new musical that 

opened Thursday night at The Public 

Theater. Like its massive setting of Texas 

ranch country and its three-decade time 

frame, “Giant” is presented on a grand 

scale, with a 22-member cast and a 17piece 

orchestra floating above the stage, 

conducted by Chris Fenwick. 

Music and lyrics are by Michael John 

LaChiusa, the book is by Sybille Pearson, 

and direction is by Michael Greif. Lush 

orchestrations are provided by Bruce 

Coughlin and Larry Hochman. The score 

contains a range of musical styles, 

including overtones of country western, 

swing, blues, Mariachi music and jazz. 

“Giant” is based on the 1952 novel 

about the Texas oil boom by Pulitzer 

Prize-winner Edna Ferber. Somehow 

Ferber’s sprawling material has been 

wrangled into a generally cohesive, 

often-eloquent musical that retains her 

concern with social issues while examining 

25 turbulent years. Social and political 

changes overtake several generations 

of American and Mexican citizens 

in what one lovely song deems the 

“Heartbreak Country” of Texas cattle 

ranch life. The story begins with the 

whirlwind 1925 marriage of Jordan 

“Bick” Benedict, a wealthy, stubborn 

Texas rancher (ruggedly and richly 

voiced by Brian D’Arcy James,) and Leslie 

Lynnton, a daydreaming, aristocratic 

Daddy’s girl from Virginia (a tour de 

force performance by Kate Baldwin.) 

The newlyweds are met at the 

Benedict family ranch, Reata (“rope”), 

with the powerful disapproval of Bick’s 

hardscrabble older sister, Luz (a rather 

harsh portrayal by Michelle Pawk) who 

partners with Bick in running the ranch. 

Luz bellows out her anger in the unsubtle, 

“No Time For Surprises,” but soon 

there’s a tragic accident, and Leslie takes 

over with a new, progressive agenda. 

Noted performances include Katie 

Thompson in a lusty portrayal of 

Benedict neighbor Vashti, who hoped to 

win Bick for herself. Thompson richly 

voices Vashti’s heartache in “He Wanted 

A Girl,” and later joins Baldwin in a show 

stopping duet, “Midnight Blues,” about 

the changing nature of married desire 

over the years. 

Lowly, flirtatious ranch-hand Jett 

Rink, played with slithering relish by PJ 

Griffith, is later reborn as a vulgar oil millionaire 

with zero regard for environmental 

consequences. In contrast, John 

Dossett is warmly sensitive as Bick’s 

open-minded Uncle Bawley. Soon oil 

derricks despoil the ranch and foul the 

water, as Rink and others use political 

chicanery and deceitful lobbying to elevate 

petroleum to a patriotic necessity. 

Bick tries to hold onto cherished family 

traditions and honor the land, but he’s 

outnumbered by other relatives. 

In the turmoil, he grows apart from 

Leslie while brooding over unwanted 

changes. Baldwin is feline and sexy as 

she tries to rekindle Bick’s interest with 

the smoothly seductive, “Topsy Turvey.” 

Ever present in the background are the 

Mexican servants and vaqueros (ranch 

hands) and their families, repressed by 

legalized prejudice and xenophobia. In a 

hopeful sign for the future, the second 

act is more focused on the next Benedict 

generation’s absence of prejudice. It’s 

now 1941, and Bobby Steggert and 

Mackenzie Mauzy bring freshness to the 

stage as bright, open-minded Jordy and 

Lil Luz, who are close friends with the 

Mexican kids their own age. 

Miguel Cervantes is scene-stealingly 

dynamic as young Army enlistee Angel. 

Together with Mauzy and Jon Fletcher 

as Luz’s would-be boyfriend, Bobby, 

they animatedly perform the optimistic 

song “Jump!” A wide variety of costumes 

by Jeff Mahshie encompass young 

Leslie’s flapper dresses in 1925, rougher 

outfits for the ranch hands and Mexican 

servants, and glamorous period fashions 

for the wealthy white Texas elite over 

the ensuing decades.—AP


There’s not much Carolee Carmello doesn’t do in 

her new Broadway musical. The Tony Awardnominated 

actress ages 20 years and spends 

much of it dressed like a nurse, except the time when 

she’s dressed like a naughty Delilah. She belts out terrible 

song after terrible song. She faces off against the Ku 

Klux Klan, hands out roses to the audience and endures 

a rain of fake frogs. 

But try as she might - and Carmello was ordered by 

a physician to be put on vocal rest the day before its 

opening night - nothing can save her “Scandalous: The 

Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson,” a musical 

as overstuffed and uninspired as its title suggests. 

An endless - 2 1/2 hours, but seemingly longer - 

biography of the controversial 1920s-era Pentecostal 

evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, the musical has a 

book and lyrics by TV host Kathie Lee Gifford, who 

proves she’s not going to give up her day job anytime 

soon. Music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman is 

almost absurd, linking one overwrought tune to another 

and then stuffing in another. Airport waiting lounges 

have better piped in music. 

The tale of McPherson is something of Gifford’s 

Moby Dick, a project she’s been writing for a dozen 

years. The preacher is certainly a fascinating figure: She 

was a pioneer in radio evangelism who incorporated 

vaudeville elements in her sermons, considered the PT 

Barnum of the pulpit. She fed millions during the Great 

Depression, but also had a mysterious five-week disappearance 

in 1926 that many believed was a fling with a 

married man. She died of a drug overdose in 1944. 

But what opened Thursday at the Neil Simon 

Theatre is insipid and patronizing, a work that seems 

more at home in a church parking lot than on 

Broadway. The most aggravating thing is, at the end, 

the audience is no closer to understanding what really 

motivated McPherson at all. 

Gifford, a proud Christian, says she’s written a wartsand-all 

portrait, but don’t believe it: It’s pure hagiography, 

except when it veers into camp, an endearing 

Gifford quality. (Sample lyric from the ensemble when 

McPherson disappears: “Lost or found?/Is she lost at 

sea/or just fooling around?”) 

It’s also got all the stereotypes you’d expect these 

This photo shows musician and actor Andre Benjamin, 

better known as Andre 3000, during a promotional event 

for Gillette in New York. — AP 

days - a sassy black lady (Roz Ryan, still winning despite 

the sins), blissful tambourine bangers and old timey 

reporters yelling out questions like, “The miracles. How 

do you do it?” They’re not needed, mainly because 

Gifford ladles out huge chunks of exposition as if we 

can’t be trusted to follow the tale. Director David 

Armstrong has apparently decided to allow this 

grotesque mockery of a musical to go on unedited. 

That explains why, instead of one illustrated sermon, 

we get two. And why McPherson’s trial goes on longer 

than most real court cases. One scene has McPherson 

doing a 400word monologue. 

Oddly, the songs and the book seem written by two 

different people since they step on each other’s toes so 

much, usually when one repeats what the other just 

said. Armstrong also has allowed some of the most 

unsubtle dialogue ever heard to clang on stage. “I cannot 

ignore the voice of God. Wherever it leads me,” says 

In order to capture his best version of Jimi Hendrix for an 

upcoming biopic, Andre 3000 said he had to think of him as a 

regular dude and not a rock star. “I didn’t look at him as an 

icon because when you’re in it, you don’t know you’re an icon. 

You don’t know you’re an icon until people say you’re an icon,” 

the 37-year-old said in an interview Tuesday. “So I had to take it as 

a person, you know what I mean? And I just tried to say, ‘Well, 

what would Jimi want people to know that they can’t get off of 

YouTube?’ And that’s how I approached it,” he said. 

Hendrix died at age 27 in 1970. He was ranked No 1 on Rolling 

Stone magazine’s greatest guitarists of all-time list. His band, The 

Jimi Hendrix Experience, is known for iconic albums such as 

“Electric Ladyland” and “Are You Experienced.” “All Is by My Side,” 

which focuses on the early days of Hendrix’s career, will be 

released next year. Andre 3000 is excited to see the film, which 

he’s finished shooting in Ireland. He believes the public “will be 

pleased.” 

Andre 3000, one-half of OutKast with Big Boi, has been out of 

the music scene in recent years, although he’s been featured on 

songs by Beyonce, Frank Ocean, Rick Ross, Ke$ha and Young 

Jeezy. OutKast’s 2006 platinum-selling album, “Idlewild,” which 

accompanied a film of the same name starring the duo, was their 

last album. Their 11-time platinum “Speakerboxxx/The Love 

Below” won the 2004 Grammy Award for album of the year. 

Big Boi, who released a solo album two years ago to welcoming 

reviews, will release a new solo disc, “Vicious Lies and 

Dangerous Rumors,” next month. But Andre 3000 isn’t in a rush to 

record an album. “Some days I feel like I’ll do it, some days I don’t. 

Some days I feel like I don’t need to, some days I feel like I want to 

do it before I die. So, I don’t know where to fall. I am just hoping 

McPherson to her mother. “Even if it means losing your 

mother?” her mother (a valiant Candy Buckley) asks, 

quivering, of course. “Come whatever may,” her daughter 

replies. George Hearn, who plays McPherson’s 

father and later a rival preacher, is excellent and 

deserves better material. But not enough can be said 

about Carmello, who throws all she’s got into this. On 

opening night, a metal hook connected to a section of 

fabric became stuck onstage and it was Carmello - of 

course - who came to the rescue. Pity she couldn’t rescue 

herself from this unholy work. — AP 

This theater image 

released shows Carolee 

Carmello (center) during a 

performance of the musical 

“Scandalous: The Life 

and Trials of Aimee Semple 

McPherson,” at the Neil 

Simon Theatre in New 

York. — AP 

one day I get that inspiration,” he said at an event for Gillette’s 

eMO’gency Styler Tour, which supports men’s health and prostate 

cancer programs. The tour kicked off in New York, with stops 

scheduled in Chicago and Houston. 

“It’s a feeling for me. Like, I can’t just throw out an album to be 

rapping,” he said. “And I don’t even know if it will be rap. I don’t 

even know what it will be.” However, he could find the inspiration 

and complete an album in just a few days: “It could be a rush situation. 

Like if I feel that feeling and I record an album in three days 

and I’m like, ‘This is what I want to say right now’ - that can happen, 

too.” 

He also says he’s constantly writing songs. “I write all the time. 

... I actually stopped typing it in my phone because like a cloud is 

basically reading every thought that I have and I don’t like that,” 

he said. “So I went back to my paper and started writing.” He’s not 

sure fans want a new OutKast album for the right reasons. “Man, 

we’ve had a great ride. ... Like when we got into it when we were 

high school kids and we just wanted to do something fun and 

push it, and if it’s not that then why do it?” he said. 

“I’m not the type that prescribes to nostalgia, and most people 

say they want an OutKast album because they used to love it. Y’all 

don’t even know if y’all still love it. You just know you used to love 

it. But you may not like it now, who knows?” — AP


Smartphones, tablets spark 

‘post-pie’ Turkey Day sales 

Online sales rise 15.6 percent 

NEW YORK: Retailers are targeting “postpie” 

commerce, the jump in shopping 

created by the boom in smartphones and 

tablet computers which Thanksgiving 

dinners grab as they collapse onto the 

couch after eating turkey and pumpkin 

pie. While people relax with family and 

friends or watch football on TV, they are 

increasingly shopping online with these 

mobile gadgets, creating a surge in traffic 

and purchases that retailers are beginning 

to target for the first time this year. 

“This is a new shoppable moment,” 

said Steve Yankovich, who heads the 

mobile business of eBay Inc, operator of 

the largest online marketplace. Before the 

rise of smartphones and tablets, it was 

socially unacceptable to pull out a laptop 

after Thanksgiving dinner, or head to a 

home office to fire up a desktop computer, 

Yankovich explained. “With a tablet or 

smartphone you don’t get that reaction,” 

he added. EBay recently surveyed more 

than 1,000 shoppers in the United States 

about their holiday shopping plans. 

Almost two thirds said holiday sales 

should begin after Thanksgiving dinner 

and respondents said their meals would 

end, on average, at 5:23 pm EST (2223 

GMT). 

Based on that feedback, eBay plans to 

launch 20 mobile-only deals through its 

eBay Mobile application at 5:23 p.m. EST 

this Thanksgiving. The company plans 20 

more at 5:23 pm PST for West Coast 

shoppers. Other retailers including Toys 

“R” Us, HSN Inc , Rue La La and ideeli are 

also targeting mobile shoppers this 

Thanksgiving in the evening. “The iPad 

holiday sales season starts at the point of 

indigestion while you’re sitting on the 

couch after Thanksgiving dinner,” said 

Ben Fischman, chief executive of Rue La 

La, which specializes in online limitedtime 

fashion sales events known as flash 

sales. 

Post-pie commerce is the latest exam- 

ple of how mobile devices, in particular 

Apple Inc’s iPad and iPhone, are changing 

consumer behavior and forcing retailers 

to adapt quickly. The holiday shopping 

season traditionally kicks off with 

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving 

when shoppers use a day off from work 

to head to stores. The following Monday 

became a big online shopping day 

known as Cyber Monday because people 

returned to the office and shopped using 

their office computers. 

Now Thanksgiving is emerging as a 

big new shopping day online. The value 

of e-commerce transactions on Turkey 

Day has surged 128 percent to $479 million 

over the past five years, outpacing 

the growth of Black Friday, Cyber 

Monday and other big holiday shopping 

days, according to comScore Inc. That’s a 

far cry from the $1.25 billion spent online 

This undated image provided by Google shows Google’s new 10inch 

tablet, the Nexus 10. The Nexus, which starts shipping soon 

appears on its face to be a good alternative to Apple’s general-purpose 

tablet, and with a price tag that’s $100 less. —AP 

on Cyber Monday last year, but the 

growth has caught retailers’ attention. 

“It’s still a smaller day, but it is growing 

much faster,” said Andrew Lipsman of 

comScore. “We’re seeing a lot more talk 

about Thanksgiving becoming a more 

important shopping day.” Several big 

retailers, including Target Corp, are opening 

physical stores on Thanksgiving to 

make sure they don’t lose sales to online 

rivals. 

“Consumers that would rather shop 

than watch 12 hours of football on 

Thanksgiving Day should be given the 

chance to shop,” Marshal Cohen of The 

NPD Group wrote in a blog on Thursday. 

“If online is open, why should brick-andmortar 

close just to give away those precious 

shopping hours to the competition?” 

Thanksgiving evening is where 

the action is online. By 3 p.m. EST last 

year online sales were up about 20 percent 

compared to the same period in 

2010, according to IBM Software Group, 

a unit of International Business 

Machines Corp. 

But by midnight PST on Thanksgiving 

2011, online sales were up 39 percent 

versus the same period the previous 

year, IBM data show. Overall, November 

2011 online sales rose 15.6 percent compared 

to the year-earlier period. “Postpie 

shopping this year will be fueled 

mostly by tablet shoppers, especially 

iPad users,” said Jay Henderson, global 

strategy director for IBM’s enterprise 

marketing management business. 

In September and October, the iPad 

accounted for at least 7.5 percent of all 

traffic to retailers’ websites, beating out 

the iPhone with about 6 percent and 

Android devices at just over 4 percent, 

IBM data show. “This is the first time the 

iPad has shown sustained leadership 

over all other mobile devices,” 

Henderson said. 

Last Thanksgiving, retailers were surprised 

by the surge in tablet traffic in the 

evening. They also did not expect the 

devices would be used to complete so 

many purchases, instead expecting 

them to be browsing devices mostly, 

according to Steve Tack, chief technology 

officer for APM Solutions, a unit of 

Compuware Corp. “Tablet users are not 

waiting for Black Friday or Cyber 

Monday to purchase, they are doing it 

on Thursday night on the couch in front 

of the game,” he said. “This is a significant 

new shopping event.” 

This year, retailers are more prepared, 

he added. Rue La La will launch an 

online boutique called “The Holiday 

Dash” at 8 p.m EST on Thanksgiving, 

“specifically to go after the shopper who 

will be sitting at home after dinner on 

the couch,” CEO Fischman said. More 

than half of Rue La La’s sales over 

Thanksgiving, Black Friday and the following 

weekend will come from mobile 

devices. Half of those mobile purchases 

will be on an iPad, he said. 

Fischman said the conversion rate on 

an iPad is close to double the conversion 

rate on a smart phone, meaning 

shoppers are more than twice as likely 

to purchase using the tablet device. 

“The tablet offers the luxury of a larger 

screen with the convenience and portability 

of the phone,” Fischman said. “It’s 

the killer e-commerce device.” Ideeli, a 

rival to Rue La La, plans a “Think Fast” 

online sales event at 6 p.m. EST on 

Thanksgiving to target tablet shoppers. 

Ideeli usually runs sales at noon every 

day. 

Toys “R” Us, the largest toy retailer, 

launched a new tablet-optimized website 

on Tuesday and the company plans to 

make all its Black Friday deals available 

online at 8 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving. 

HSN, which runs the Home Shopping 

Network and has traditionally focused 

on TV sales, on Tuesday unveiled an 

online holiday gift guide designed for 

tablet shoppers. The company plans to 

send discounted deals to mobile shoppers 

on Thanksgiving. “When people are 

done with the holiday meal and go back 

into the screen world, we will have great 

products on sale,” said Jill Braff, executive 

vice president of Digital Commerce 

at HSN. —Reuters 

technology 

In this image released by NASA, a scoop of 

Martian soil collected by the NASA’s Curiosity 

rover is seen. —AP 

Mars rover Curiosity 

to hit the road again 

LOS ANGELES: After playing in the sand, the Curiosity rover is 

poised to trek across the Martian landscape in search of a rock 

to drill into, scientists reported Thursday. The six-wheel rover 

has been parked for more than a month at a sand dune where 

it has been busy scooping up soil, sniffing the atmosphere 

and measuring radiation levels on the surface. Its next task is 

to zero in on a rock and that requires driving to a new location. 

Mission deputy scientist Ashwin Vasavada expected 

Curiosity to be on the move in the “next few days.” 

“It’s the bedrock which really gives you the story of ancient 

Mars,” said Vasavada of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 

which manages the $2.5 billion mission. “The soil is a little 

harder to interpret because we don’t know how old it is or 

where it came from.” The car-size rover touched down in Gale 

Crater, an ancient depression near the Martian equator, in 

August on a two-year mission to probe whether the landing 

site once had conditions capable of supporting microbial life. 

Armed with a high-tech suite of instruments, it’s the most 

sophisticated spacecraft to ever land on the red planet. 

During the first three months, a weather station aboard 

Curiosity detected brief drops in air pressure, a sign of whirlwinds 

in the region. “These events are starting to occur more 

and more often,” said Manuel de la Torre Juarez of NASA JPL. 

“We expect to see more in the future.” Previous rovers have 

spotted and even recorded dust devils dancing across the 

Martian terrain, but scientists said Curiosity has not yet seen 

evidence that the swirling winds have lifted dust. Curiosity’s 

ultimate destination is a 3-mile-high mountain rising from the 

center of the crater floor that’s rich in mineral deposits. 

Scientists had hoped to drive to the base of the mountain 

before the end of the year, but that doesn’t look likely after 

the extended stay at its current spot. —AP 

Alfred Hitchcock’s 

earliest surviving 

film released online 

LOS ANGELES: The earliest known surviving feature in which 

Alfred Hitchcock is credited was released online on Thursday 

after sitting under the noses of archivists for decades. The 

recovered parts of 1924’s “The White Shadow,” in which 

Hitchcock served as an assistant director among other credits, 

will be streamed for free for the next two months at the US 

National Film Preservation Foundation’s website, the nonprofit 

group said in a statement. 

“The White Shadow,” a silent British melodrama directed 

by Graham Cutts and a financial flop, tells the story of twin sisters, 

one angelic and the other soulless. It stars Betty Compson 

as the twins. The New Zealand Film Archive stumbled across 

three of the film’s delicate nitrate reels in its collection last 

year. No other copies are known to exist. 

The foundation, which supports film preservation in the 

United States, said it was able to stream the film online from 

cash donations and bandwidth donated by the online film 

service Fandor. Hitchcock, who shot to international prominence 

with “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (1934) and “The 

39 Steps” (1935), is additionally credited as writer, art director 

and editor. “The White Shadow” is also believed to be the first 

surviving production that Hitchcock, then 24, worked on with 

Alma Reville, whom he married in 1926. Part of Hitchcock’s 

and Reville’s life together has been dramatized in “Hitchcock,” 

a Fox Searchlight film starring Anthony Hopkins as Hitchcock 

and Helen Mirren as Reville. The film is set to be released on 

Nov 23. —Reuters


LONDON: A woman uses her smartphone in central 

London. —AP 

In UK, Twitter, Facebook 

rants land some in jail 

LONDON: One teenager made offensive comments about a murdered 

child on Twitter. Another young man wrote on Facebook that British 

soldiers should “go to hell.” A third posted a picture of a burning paper 

poppy, symbol of remembrance of war dead. All were arrested, two 

convicted, and one jailed - and they’re not the only ones. In Britain, 

hundreds of people are prosecuted each year for posts, tweets, texts 

and emails deemed menacing, indecent, offensive or obscene, and the 

number is growing as our online lives expand. 

Lawyers say the mounting tally shows the problems of a legal system 

trying to regulate 21st century communications with 20th century 

laws. Civil libertarians say it is a threat to free speech in an age when 

the Internet gives everyone the power to be heard around the world. 

“Fifty years ago someone would have made a really offensive comment 

in a public space and it would have been heard by relatively few 

people,” said Mike Harris of free-speech group Index on Censorship. 

“Now someone posts a picture of a burning poppy on Facebook and 

potentially hundreds of thousands of people can see it. 

“People take it upon themselves to report this offensive material to 

police, and suddenly you’ve got the criminalization of offensive 

speech.” Figures obtained by The Associated Press through a freedom 

of information request show a steadily rising tally of prosecutions in 

Britain for electronic communications - phone calls, emails and social 

media posts - that are “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or 

menacing character - from 1,263 in 2009 to 1,843 in 2011. The number 

of convictions grew from 873 in 2009 to 1,286 last year. 

Behind the figures are people - mostly young, many teenagers - 

who find that a glib online remark can have life-altering consequences. 

No one knows this better than Paul Chambers, who in January 2010, 

worried that snow would stop him catching a flight to visit his girlfriend, 

tweeted: “Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You’ve got a week 

and a bit to get your (expletive) together otherwise I’m blowing the airport 

sky high.” A week later, anti-terrorist police showed up at the 

office where he worked as a financial supervisor. Chambers was arrested, 

questioned for eight hours, charged, tried, convicted and fined. He 

lost his job, amassed thousands of pounds (dollars) in legal costs and 

was, he says, “essentially unemployable” because of his criminal record. 

But Chambers, now 28, was lucky. His case garnered attention 

online, generating its own hashtag - (hash)twitterjoketrial - and bringing 

high-profile Twitter users, including actor and comedian Stephen 

Fry, to his defense. In July, two and half years after Chambers’ arrest, 

the High Court overturned his conviction. 

Justice Igor Judge said in his judgment that the law should not prevent 

“satirical or iconoclastic or rude comment, the expression of 

unpopular or unfashionable opinion about serious or trivial matters, 

banter or humor, even if distasteful to some or painful to those subjected 

to it.” But the cases are coming thick and fast. Last month, 19-yearold 

Matthew Woods was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail for making 

offensive tweets about a missing 5-year-old girl, April Jones. 

The same month Azhar Ahmed, 20, was sentenced to 240 hours of 

community service for writing on Facebook that soldiers “should die 

and go to hell” after six British troops were killed in Afghanistan. 

Ahmed had quickly deleted the post, which he said was written in 

anger, but was convicted anyway. On Sunday - Remembrance Day - a 

19-year-old man was arrested in southern England after police 

received a complaint about a photo on Facebook showing the burning 

of a paper poppy. He was held for 24 hours before being released on 

bail and could face charges. 

For civil libertarians, this was the most painfully ironic arrest of all. 

Poppies are traditionally worn to commemorate the sacrifice of those 

who died for Britain and its freedoms. “What was the point of winning 

either World War if, in 2012, someone can be casually arrested by Kent 

Police for burning a poppy?” tweeted David Allen Green, a lawyer with 

London firm Preiskel who worked on the Paul Chambers case. Critics of 

the existing laws say they are both inadequate and inconsistent. —AP 

WASHINGTON: Katey Klippel makes a 

point of keeping her smartphone in her 

bag when she returns home from a hard 

day at the management consulting firm 

where she works in Washington. That way, 

she can better practice what her employer 

preaches and stop checking her emails 

after hours. “Before, I would take my computer 

home,” Klippel, 26, told AFP. “I 

would pull up my emails to check things, 

or knock off a few extra emails while 

watching TV or cooking dinner. I don’t do 

that anymore.” 

Americans have a reputation for seeing 

work as a virtue in itself, but with technological 

progress shaking up the work-life 

balance like never before, some employers 

are taking action. In September, 

Klippel’s employer The Advisory Board 

Company imposed an “email moratorium” 

over the three-day Labor Day weekend on 

its 1,850 employees from the top brass on 

down. “I found myself looking at my 

iPhone and ready to respond, but I told 

myself, ‘No, let it go’,” said chief executive 

Robert Musslewhite, who has since issued 

guidelines to curb after-hour emailing. 

Email has no doubt helped to speed up 

communication, but Musslewhite sees a 

“growing sentiment” that its growth has 

crossed a stage where it is now cutting 

into productivity. “That’s the part we really 

want to tackle,” he said. “There’s some part 

of email that has gone too far and that is 

now impeding productivity.” Advisory 

Board’s guidelines seem sensible enough, 

such as limiting the number of addresses 

of any given email, summing up the message 

in the subject line, and opting for 

instant messaging. 

Juggling emails or taking phone calls 

after hours adds up to an extra month and 

a half of work every year, according to a 

study by software developer Good 

Technology. Outside the United States, 

some major corporations such as French 

IT services group Atos have virtually 

banned emailing once employees have 

clocked out for the day. “There is a grow- 

ing sentiment that email is not very productive, 

and actually decreases productivity,” 

said Gwanhoo Lee, an associate professor 

of information technology at 

American University in Washington. 

“A typical manager receives hundreds 

of emails a day, and that consumes a substantial 

amount of work hours.” Some 

organizations are trying to move away 

from email in favor of instant messaging 

or social media, added Lee, who has 

worked with several major corporations. 

Nevertheless, “many organizations are still 

expecting their employees to check their 

emails even over the weekend or when 

out of town,” he said. 

According to a study by the Society for 

Human Resource Management, hardly 

one company in five has an email policyand 

out of those, only one in four aims to 

strike a balance between professional and 

technology 

US firms drawing a line 

on after-hours email 

‘Email checking impedes productivity’ 

NEW YORK: A computer outage at United 

Airlines delayed thousands of travelers on 

Thursday and embarrassed the airline at a 

time when it’s trying to win back customers 

after glitches earlier this year. The two-hour 

outage held up a total of 636 of the 5,679 

United flights scheduled for Thursday, the 

airline said. That included 257 planes 

delayed directly by the outage, with the rest 

caused by planes that were late to arrive for 

subsequent flights, the airline said. From 

Los Angeles to London, Boston to San 

Francisco, frustrated fliers tweeted snarky 

remarks about the problem. It was United’s 

third major computer mishap this year. 

“Does anyone have a Radio Shack computer 

or abacus to help United get their system 

fixed?” tweeted Lewis Franck, a motor- 

private lives. Judith Glaser, founder of consulting 

firm Benchmark Communications 

said many employees are consumed by 

emails because they are driven by a need 

to feel part of an organization. 

Workers not copied on an email, she 

said, may suspect an indirect signal from 

their bosses that “you are not important 

anymore in the decision process,” she said. 

The secret is to discuss the expectations of 

each employee and enable them to plan 

WASHINGTON: Robert Musslewhite, CEO of the Advisory Board 

Company, looks at his smartphone in his office. —AP 

sports writer flying from Newark, New 

Jersey, to Miami to cover the last race of the 

NASCAR season. In a subsequent phone call 

with The Associated Press, Franck added: 

“Why is there a total system failure on a 

beautiful day? What happened to the backup 

and the backup to backup?” United said 

the technology problem occurred around 

8:30 a.m. EST and was fixed by 10:30 am. But 

morning delays can ripple throughout an 

airline’s network for the rest of the day even 

after the underlying cause is fixed. That’s 

because once a plane departs late, it can be 

hard to make up for lost time. The glitch 

involved communication between dispatchers 

at the company’s operations center 

in Chicago and planes at airports around 

the world, United spokesman Rahsaan 

to take time off, free of email, “without 

being stressed,” she said. For Klippel, the 

ability to draw a firm line between her 

working and personal life has been a very 

positive change. Now she can go out with 

friends or cook dinner without interruption. 

“If you’re sending emails in the middle 

of the night, people start to worry 

about you,” she said. “It’s encouragement 

for you to shut down.” —AFP 

Computer problems at 

United delay travelers 

Johnson said. Dispatchers communicate 

information such as weight and fuel loads 

to pilots, who need it to operate the flight. 

Johnson said the airline has identified the 

specific problem, and said it won’t happen 

again. 

The stock price of United Continental 

Holdings Inc. fell 47 cents, or 2.4 percent, to 

$19.51 on a day when shares of other big 

airlines rose. United has been struggling 

with technology problems since March, 

when it switched to a passenger information 

computer system that was previously 

used by Continental. United and 

Continental merged in 2010. That system, 

called “Shares,” has needed extensive 

reworking since March to make it easier for 

workers to use. —AP


SHARQIA-1 

SINISTER (DIG) 12:30 PM 

HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) 3:00 PM 




SINISTER (DIG) 12:45 AM 

NO SUN+TUE+WED 

SHARQIA-2 

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING 

DAWN - PART 2 (DIG) 1:00 PM 

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) 3:30 PM 

LEGENDS OF VALHALLA: THOR 5:30 PM 






DAWN - PART 2 (DIG) 12:15 AM 


SHARQIA-3 

FLIGHT (DIG) 2:00 PM 

MISS MOMMY (DIG) 4:45 PM 

JAB TAK HAI JAAN (DIG) (HINDI) 6:45 PM 


FLIGHT (DIG) 12:30 AM 


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Special Show “JAB TAK HAI JAAN (DIG) (HINDI)” for 

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CINEMA 

KNCC PROGRAM FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (15/11/2012 TO 21/11/2012) 

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HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) 12:30 AM 


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360 º- 9(VIP-1) 






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NO THU (15.11.2012) 

Special Show “THE TWILIGHT SAGA 

: BREAKING DAWN - PART 2 (DIG)” 7:00 PM 

THU (15.11.2012) 






360 º- 11 





SINISTER (DIG) 11:00 PM


00:50 Animal Cops South Africa 

01:45 Buggin’ With Ruud 

02:35 I’m Alive 

03:25 Shark Fight 

04:15 Monster Bug Wars 

05:05 Wildest Latin America 

05:55 Wild Britain With Ray Mears 

06:20 Orangutan Island 

06:45 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 

07:35 Wildlife SOS 

08:00 Talk To The Animals 

08:25 Dogs 101 

09:15 Crocodile Hunter 

10:10 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 

11:05 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 

11:30 Breed All About It 

12:00 Natural Born Hunters 

12:25 The Really Wild Show 

12:55 Wild France 

13:50 The Magic Of The Big Blue 

14:45 The Jeff Corwin Experience 





19:20 Wildest Africa 

20:15 Wildest Africa 

21:10 In Search Of The King Cobra 

22:05 Wild France 

23:00 Bad Dog 

23:55 Baboons With Bill Bailey 

00:00 Extreme Makeover: Home 

Edition 

00:45 Come Dine With Me 

01:35 Antiques Roadshow 

02:30 Fantasy Homes In The City 

03:10 Fantasy Homes In The City 

03:55 Out Of The Frying Pan 

04:45 House Swap 

05:30 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 

05:55 Out Of The Frying Pan 

06:50 House Swap 

07:35 Saturday Kitchen 



12:30 Baking Made Easy 

13:00 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 

13:25 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 

13:50 The Hairy Bakers 

14:15 Come Dine With Me 

15:05 Bargain Hunt 



Edition 


Edition 

18:05 Baking Made Easy 



22:00 Cash In The Attic 

22:45 Cash In The Attic 


00:40 Chowder 

01:30 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 

01:55 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 

02:20 Foster’s Home For... 

02:45 Foster’s Home For... 

03:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 

04:00 The Amazing World Of 

Gumball 

04:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 

04:50 Adventure Time 

05:15 The Powerpuff Girls 

05:40 Generator Rex 

06:05 Ben 10 

06:30 Ben 10 

06:55 Angelo Rules 

07:00 Ed, Edd n Eddy 

07:30 Casper’s Scare School 

08:00 The Marvelous Misadventures... 

08:25 Redakai: Conquer The Kairu 

08:45 Grim Adventures Of... 

09:35 Scooby-Doo! Mystery 

Incorporated 

09:55 Level Up 

10:15 Batman: The Brave And The 

Bold 

10:35 Transformers Prime 

11:00 Ben 10: Omniverse 

11:25 Thundercats 

11:50 Regular Show 



Gumball 

13:05 Johnny Test 




15:10 Green Lantern: The Animated 

Series 

15:35 Transformers Prime 

16:00 Angelo Rules 

16:50 Ben 10: Omniverse 

17:15 Generator Rex 

17:40 Eliot Kid 

18:30 Regular Show 



Gumball 

20:10 Johnny Test 

20:35 Ben 10: Alien Force 

21:00 Ben 10: Alien Force 


22:15 Grim Adventures Of... 




00:00 Scream Of The Banshee-18 

02:00 Carlito’s Way-18 

04:30 Disturbing Behavior-18 

06:00 Jackie Chan’s Who Am I?-PG15 

08:00 True Justice: Brotherhood- 

PG15 

10:00 Hackers-PG15 

12:00 Judge Dredd-18 

14:00 True Justice: Brotherhood- 

PG15 

16:00 Anaconda-PG15 

18:00 Judge Dredd-18 

20:00 Machete-18 

22:00 The Speak-18 

01:00 The Artist-PG 

03:00 Garfield’s Pet Force-FAM 

05:00 Happiness Is A Warm Blanket, 

Charlie Brown-PG 

06:00 Unmatched-PG15 

07:00 Every Jack Has A Jill-PG15 

09:00 The Artist-PG 

11:00 Greener Mountains-PG 

13:00 Largo Winch 2-PG15 

15:00 The Vow-PG15 

17:00 Win Win-PG15 

19:00 A Separation-PG15 

21:00 Dirty Girl-18 

23:00 Snowtown-R 

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 

Stewart 

01:00 The Colbert Report 

01:30 Weeds 

02:00 South Park 

02:30 Family Guy 

03:00 Raising Hope 

03:30 Last Man Standing 

04:00 Samantha Who? 

04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay 

Leno 

05:30 Seinfeld 


06:30 Friends 

07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 





10:00 Two And A Half Men 

10:30 Community 


Leno 

12:00 Friends 





14:30 Community 



Stewart 


16:30 Friends 





MACHETE ON OSN ACTION HD 

19:30 Parks And Recreation 


Leno 


Stewart 


22:00 Saturday Night Live 

23:00 Family Guy 


00:00 Parenthood 

01:00 Survivor: Philippines 

02:00 Perception 

03:00 Justified 

04:00 The X Factor U.S. 

05:00 Perception 

06:00 Parenthood 

07:00 Emmerdale 

07:30 Coronation Street 

08:00 C.S.I. New York 

09:00 Glee 

10:00 The X Factor U.S. 

11:00 Survivor: Philippines 



13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 


15:00 Body Of Proof 



17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 


19:00 Bones 

20:00 C.S.I. 

21:00 C.S.I. Miami 

22:00 Breakout Kings 

23:00 Strike Back 

01:00 Burning Bright-18 

03:00 Alien-18 

05:00 Go Fast-PG15 

07:00 Arachnophobia-PG15 

09:00 Boiler Room-PG15 

TV listings 

11:00 Go Fast-PG15 

13:00 Enter The Phoenix-PG15 

15:00 Boiler Room-PG15 

17:00 Kick-Ass-18 

19:00 Botched-18 

21:00 The Speak-18 

23:00 The Shining-R 

00:00 The Men Who Stare At Goats-18 

02:00 MacGruber-18 

04:00 It’s Kind Of A Funny Story-PG15 

06:00 Letters To Juliet-PG15 

08:00 Easy A-PG15 

10:00 Morning Glory-PG15 

12:00 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like 

Son-PG15 

14:00 Life As We Know It-PG15 

16:00 Morning Glory-PG15 

18:00 High Fidelity-PG15 

20:00 Failure To Launch-PG15 

22:00 Super-18 

01:00 Posse-18 

03:00 Eternal Sunshine Of The 

Spotless Mind-18 

05:00 Elizabethtown-PG15 

07:00 Family Gathering-PG15 

09:00 Certified Copy-PG15 

11:00 Tresor-PG15 

13:00 The Greatest-PG15 

15:00 Certified Copy-PG15 

17:00 Bob Roberts-PG15 

19:00 Loosies-PG15 

21:00 Quiz Show-18 

23:15 Patriot Games-PG15 

00:15 Brighton Rock-PG15 

02:15 Honey 2-PG15 

04:15 The Adventures Of Tintin-PG 

06:00 Yogi Bear-FAM 

08:00 Marion Jones: Press Pause- 

PG15 

09:00 Treasure Buddies-PG 

10:45 John Carter-PG15 

13:00 Muhammad And Larry-PG15 

14:00 Rango-FAM 

16:00 Treasure Buddies-PG 

18:00 The King’s Speech-PG15 

20:00 I Don’t Know How She Does It- 

PG15 

22:00 Sucker Punch-PG15 

00:00 Shadows & Lies-18 

02:00 The Winning Season-PG15 

04:00 Josie And The Pussycats-PG15 

06:00 The Eagle-PG15 

08:00 The Smurfs-PG 

10:00 Jack And Jill-PG15 

12:00 Johnny English Reborn-PG15 

14:00 The Cry Of The Owl-PG15 

16:00 The Smurfs-PG 

17:45 X-Men: First Class-PG15 

20:00 I Don’t Know How She Does It- 

PG15 

22:00 The Fighter-PG15 

02:00 Rugby Matchday 

02:30 Rugby Union International 

04:30 Rugby Matchday 

05:00 ICC Cricket 360 

05:30 Trans World Sport 

06:30 PGA European Tour Weekly 


07:30 Futbol Mundial 

08:00 Live PGA European Tour 



13:00 PGA European Tour Weekly 

13:30 NFL Gameday 



17:00 Live Rugby Matchday 

17:30 Live Rugby Union International 






01:00 WWE SmackDown 

03:00 WWE Bottom Line 




07:00 Grand Slam of Darts 


13:00 PGA European Tour 




22:00 Live Grand Slam of Darts 

00:30 Total Rugby 

01:00 Top 14 Highlights 

01:30 Premier League Snooker 


05:30 Golfing World 


07:00 Top 14 Highlights 




11:00 Show Jumping La Baule 

12:00 Asian Tour Golf Show 

12:30 MENA Golf Tour Highlights 

13:30 Live PGA European Tour 

17:30 Premier League Snooker 

21:00 PGA European Tour 

00:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 



04:00 UFC Prime Time 

05:30 UFC Countdown 

06:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 


08:00 Live V8 Supercars 

Championship 



12:00 WWE Vintage Collection 

13:00 NHL 

15:00 V8 Supercars 

16:00 Live Darts Grand Slam 

20:00 UFC Prime Time 

21:30 UFC Countdown 

22:00 V8 Supercars 


00:15 Machines Of Glory 

01:10 World’s Top 5 

02:05 Wheeler Dealers 

03:00 Mythbusters 

03:55 Border Security 

04:20 Scrappers 

04:50 Auction Kings 

05:15 How Do They Do It? 

05:40 How It’s Made 

06:05 Robson Green’s Extreme 

Fishing Challenge 

07:00 How It’s Made 

07:25 Mighty Ships 

08:15 Mega Builders 

09:10 Extreme Engineering 

10:05 Man-Made Marvels China 

10:55 Man, Woman, Wild 

11:50 Gold Rush 

12:45 Machines Of Glory 

13:40 World’s Top 5 

14:35 Wheeler Dealers 

15:30 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 

16:25 Mythbusters Dirty Dozen 

17:20 Mythbusters 

18:15 You Have Been Warned 

19:10 Body Invaders 

20:05 Ultimate Survival 

21:00 Around The World In 80 Ways 

21:55 Deadliest Catch 

22:50 An Idiot Abroad 

23:45 American Guns 

00:40 Gadget Show - World Tour 

01:05 How Tech Works 

01:35 The Colony 

02:25 Building The Future 

03:15 Mighty Ships 

04:05 Weird Connections 

04:35 The Colony 

05:25 Da Vinci’s Machines 



07:05 How The Universe Works 

08:00 Building The Future 

08:50 Brave New World 

09:40 Head Rush 

09:43 Sci-Fi Science 

10:40 Robocar 

11:30 Smash Lab 

15:45 Through The Wormhole With 

Morgan Freeman 

16:35 Things That Move 

17:00 Head Rush 

17:03 Tech Toys 360 

18:00 Through The Wormhole With 

Morgan Freeman 

18:50 Scrapheap Challenge 

19:40 Build It Bigger: Rebuilding 

Greensburg 

20:30 Meteorite Men 



23:00 Meteorite Men 

23:50 Things That Move


SEND US YOUR 

INSTAGRAM PICS 

What’s more fun than clicking a beautiful 

picture? Sharing it with others! This summer, 

let other people see the way you 

see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will 

feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram 

feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, 

email us at 

instagram@kuwaittimes.net 

Write to us 

Send to What’s On 

upcoming events, birthdays or 

celebrations by email: 

local@kuwaittimes.net 

Fax: 24835619 / 20 

Indian Embassy 

Announcements 

Indian Embassy 

passport and visa 

Passports and visa applications can be deposited at the 

two outsourced centers of M/S BLS Ltd at Sharq and 

Fahaheel. Details are available at www.bls-international.com 

and www.indembkwt.org. 

Consular Open House 

Consular Wing is providing daily service of Open House 

to Indian citizens on all workings days from 1000 hrs to 

1100 hrs and from 1430 hrs to 1530 hrs by the Consular 

Officer in the Meeting Room of the Consular Hall at the 

Embassy. For any unaddressed issues, Second Secretary 

(Consular) can be contacted. Furthermore, the head of 

the Consular Wing is also available to redress grievances. 

Indian workers helpline/helpdesk 

Indian workers helpline is accessible by toll free telephone 

number 25674163 from all over Kuwait. It provides 

information and advice to Indian workers as 

regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. 

The help desk at the Embassy (Open from 9am to 

1pm and 2pm to 4:30PM, Sunday to Thursday) provides 

guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, 

employment, legal and other issues. It also provides 

workers assistance in filling up labour complaint forms. 

For any unaddressed issues, the concerned attachÈ in 

the Labour section and the head of the Labour Wing 

can be contacted. 

Legal Advice Clinic 

Free legal advice is provided on matters pertaining to 

labour disputes, terms of contracts with employers, 

death/accident compensation, withholding of dues by 

employers, etc. by lawyers on our panel, to Indian 

nationals on all working days between 1500hrs to 

1600hrs. 

Ambassador’s Open House 

The Open House for Indian citizens by the Ambassador 

is being held on all Wednesdays at the Embassy for 

redressal of grievances. In case Wednesday is an 

Embassy holiday, the meeting will be held on the next 

working day. 

Vanithavedi, Kuwait celebrated 

the 56th ‘Kerala Piravi’ on 2nd 

November 2012 in Kala Centre. 

The function was inaugurated by Vinod, 

President of KALA. The special message 

for the Day was presented by Sumathi 

Babu. Tolly Prakash presented a 

Prabandham about the subject 

‘Sthreekalum Vilakayattavum’ which was 

well appreciated by the audience. The 

relevance of the subject was very much 

reflected in the hot, lively and interesting 

discussion on the prabandham. 

Prasanna Ramabhadran, Valsa Stanly, 

Naganathan, Sam Pynummoodu, Rema 

Ajith, Albert, Saji Mathew, Salim Raj, 

Valsa Sam and Sajitha Skaria spoke on 

the occasion. Santha Nair was the 

what’s on 

Vanithavedi celebrates 56th ‘Kerala Piravi’ 

Kuwait Knanaya Cultural 

Association held a reception to 

Retired Supreme Court Judge of 

India Cyriac Joseph who came on a 

short visit to Kuwait. People spoke on 

the occasion were President Reji 

Kunnasheril, General Secretary Joby 

Pulikolil, Jose Mookenchathiyil and Jt 

Treasurer Reji Azhakedam. 

In his reply address Cyriac Joseph 

spoke about the unique customs and 

traditions of Knanaya community and 

the importance of preserving them 

which they have been following for the 

last 17 centuries as well as answered the 

questions/doubts raised by the audi- 

Moderator. Songs by talented singers 

Aparna Shine and Santha Nair were 

enjoyed by the audience. The quiz led 

by Prasanna was very informative. 

Vanithavedi President Valsamma 

George presided over the function in 

which Subha Shine welcomed the gathering 

and Valsa Stanly rendered vote of 

thanks. 

KKCA reception to Rt Supreme 

Court judge Cyriac Joseph 

ence. Justice Cyriac Joseph who hails 

from Kaipuzha, Kerala has served as a 

Judge in Kerala & Delhi High Courts, as 

Chief Justice of the Uttarakand and 

Karnataka High Courts prior to serving 

as Supreme Court Judge. He is also a 

prominent leader of the Knanaya 

Catholic Community.


Palakkad Pravasi Association of Kuwait 

(PALPAK) celebrated its fifth anniversary 

titled ‘Palakkadan Mela 2012’ as a 

full day socio-cultural event on November 9 

at Indian Central School auditorium, Jleeb 

Al-Shuyoukh. Celebrations were inaugurated 

by chief guest Lal Jose, the renowned film 

director from Kerala, by lighting the lamp. A 

grand welcome in traditional way was 

accorded to the chief guest with thalappoli 

by PALPAK’s ladies wing and chendamelam. 

Chakyarkooth, the famous performing art 

of Kerala, was staged by Kalamamdalam 

Kanakakumar from Kerala. It was a combination 

of the traditional style and current 

socio-political events mixed with instant 

comedy dialogues involving the participation 

of audience. Three types of doll dances 

performed by Kovai Alphonsa were of special 

entertainment to the audience. 

Another highlight of the event was the 

musical orchestra led by the famous playback 

singers Vidhu Pratap and Cicily 

Abraham along with other singers from PAL- 

PAK. 

With the professional training of 

Kalamandalam Priyam Anand and Prathibha 

Menon, PALPAK’s lady members and children 

performed theme dance with PALPAK’s 

title song. Dandia dance, Season dance, clas- 

sical and cinematic dances, Oppana and 

Arabic dance were also presented. 

President P N Kumar presided over the 

inaugural session. Unnikrishnan, SA Homes, 

Askar M Thaklief Asmar,Srilankan Airlines K N 

S Das, Lulu Exchange joined the inaugural 

function as guests of honor and addressed 

the community. Other invited guests 

Sharafuddin Kanneth,(KKMCC), Saji Thomas 

Mathew (KALA Kuwait)and Dili (patron of 

PALPAK) delivered felicitation speeches. The 

souvenir published in connection with the 

Palakkadan Mela 2012 was released by K N S 

Das by handing over the first copy to the 

Souvenir Committee Convener Jaya 

what’s on 

PALPAK celebrates 5th anniversary 

Krishnan. Program Convener Suresh Pulikkal 

welcomed the guests and audience. General 

Secretary Aravindakshan presented the 

report and vote of thanks was delivered by 

Vice President T.M. Mohan. Also a raffle draw 

was conducted and more than 10 fabulous 

prizes were distributed to the winners of the 

draw. Mementos were distributed to all participants 

of the cultural programs in recognition 

of their outstanding performances. 

More than thousand people gathered to 

watch the day-long cultural programs. 

Alumni Association 

of St Stephen’s 

College Uzhavoor 

(Almass, Kuwait) members 

gave a warm welcome 

to Prof Sunny 

Thomas, Indian icon of 

shooting and Ex HOD 

English, St Stephen’s 

College, Uzhavoor at 

the Kuwait 

International Airport. 

Prof Sunny Thomas 

arrived in Kuwait to participate 

in the formation 

of the alumni and 

attend the general body 

meeting of Almass 

Kuwait which was held 

yesterday at Al-Jawhart 

Arabic School 

Auditorium, Near 

Ramada Hotel, Reggai.


Rising obesity strains 

Europe’s health budget 

52% of EU adults overweight 

LONDON: More than half of Europeans 

are obese or overweight, adding significant 

pressure to healthcare costs at a time 

when spending is being cut by governments, 

the OECD and European 

Commission said yesterday. On average 

across the European Union, health spending 

per capita rose by 4.6 percent a year in 

real terms between 2000 and 2009, but 

fell 0.6 percent in 2010. 

In a report on health across the 27-nation 

bloc, the Paris-based Organisation for 

Economic Co-operation and Development 

and the Brussels-based Commission, said 52 

percent of adults in the EU are now overweight 

or obese. The report blamed physical 

inactivity and the widespread availability of 

energy-dense, sugary and fatty foods. 

In 18 countries out of the 27 member 

states, the proportion of overweight and 

obese adults now exceeds 50 percent and 

the obesity rate, at 17 percent on average 

across the region, has doubled since 1990 

in many countries. “(The rise) is a major 

public health concern,” the report said. 

“Because obesity is associated with higher 

risks of chronic illnesses, it is linked to significant 

additional healthcare costs.” 

The report noted that the growing 

cost burden coincided with governments 

around Europe cutting spending to 

reduce the debts left over from the 2008 

financial crisis. “Spending had already 

started to fall in 2009 in countries hardest 

hit by the economic crisis,” it said. “But 

this was followed by deeper cuts in 2010 

in response to growing budgetary pressures 

and rising debt-to-GDP ratios.” 

As a result, EU members spent an average 

of 9.0 percent of their GDP on health 

in 2010, up from 7.3 percent in 2000, but 

down from a peak of 9.2 percent in 2009. 

The Netherlands was the highest, devoting 

12 pct of its gross domestic product to 

health in 2010, followed by France and 

Germany, both at 11.6 percent. 

The rate of obesity in France is close 

to twice what it was in 1990 but at 12.9 

percent it is still less than half the rate in 

Britain of 26.1 percent. The risk of diseases 

such as diabetes, hypertension, 

heart disease, asthma, arthritis and 

some forms of cancer is increased by 

obesity. Although it was affecting all 

populations, obesity tended to be 

worse among the poor and less well 

educated, and was more prevalent in 

women than men. 

People with a body mass index (BMI) 

of 25 to 30 are classed as overweight 

while those at 30 or higher are obese. 

BMI is formula of weight and height that 

differs slightly depending on whether it 

is done in kilograms and metres or 

pounds and inches. Despite the fall in 

health spending, life expectancy in the 

EU continued to rise and stood at an 

average 79 years in 2010, up more than 

six years since 1980. 

This was driven by improved living 

and working conditions as well as better 

access to higher quality healthcare. 

But Yves Leterme, the OECD Deputy 

Secretary-General, and Paola Testori 

Coggi, head of the Commission’s directorate 

for health, had a warning for EU 

governments. “If the report does not 

yet show any worsening health outcomes 

due to the crisis, there is no 

cause for complacency -it takes time for 

poor social conditions or poor quality 

care to take its toll from people’s 

health,” they said in a joint foreword to 

the report. —Reuters 

Population of Africa’s mountain gorillas rises 

KAMPALA: The population of Uganda’s 

mountain gorillas has grown to 400, up 

from 302 in 2006, according to a census 

conducted last year, bringing the total 

number of mountain gorillas in Africa to 

880 and giving hope to conservationists 

trying to save the critically endangered 

species. Uganda is now home to nearly 

half of the world’s mountain gorillas 

remaining in the wild, a source of confidence 

for a country that has come to 

depend heavily on the popular apes for 

substantial tourism revenue. The rest of 

the surviving mountain gorillas - the 

species Gorilla beringei beringei - are in 

Congo and Rwanda. 

“The increase in the population of 

mountain gorillas in Bwindi 

Impenetrable National Park is testimony 

to the sound natural resource management 

policies that are being implemented 

in the protected areas,” Uganda’s 

Ministry of Tourism said in a statement 

received Friday. “This result confirms 

SAN DIEGO: Comfortably curled up in a keeper’s lap, the giant panda 

cub Xiao Liwu received his weekly veterinary exam at the San Diego 

Zoo in San Diego, California. Initially placed on the floor, Xiao Liwu 

kept crawling into the laps of keepers, who were happy to accommodate 

him. —AFP 

beyond reasonable doubt that Uganda’s 

conservation efforts are paying off.” 

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a 

network of forested jungle deep in the 

country’s southwestern frontier, is recognized 

by UNESCO as a heritage site of 

world value. A permit to track gorillas 

there costs at least $500 and the World 

Wildlife Fund estimates that each gorilla 

brings in up to $1 million in revenue 

each year for the East African country. 

The census shows a stunning recovery 

for a species that once faced a real 

threat of extinction. Mountain gorillas in 

the wild still face threats ranging from 

habitat loss to poaching, especially in 

Congo, where lawlessness in the country’s 

vast eastern territory has allowed 

illegal hunters to prosper. Mountain 

gorillas are hunted for their meat in 

Congo, according to the World Wildlife 

Fund. Even a common cold can kill a 

mountain gorilla, as species is particularly 

vulnerable to respiratory diseases usually 

associated with humans. 

The conservation group Gorilla 

Doctors said the population growth was 

partly due to “extreme conservation” 

methods such as daily ranger monitoring 

in the forest. Ugandan wildlife officials 

have been able to build successful 

partnerships with local communities in 

part by pouring some of the revenue 

into local projects, converting previously 

hostile groups into friendly advocates 

for the gorillas’ survival. 

“The mountain gorilla is the only 

non-human great ape that is actually 

growing in number,” said Mike Cranfield 

of Gorilla Doctors. “The growth of the 

mountain gorilla population can be 

attributed to the intensive conservation 

and collaboration between multiple 

conservation groups and government 

authorities.” —AP 

health 

SYDNEY: Australian Environment Minister Tony 

Burke speaks to the media at the Sea Life Sydney 

Aquarium yesterday. —AFP 

Australia creates world’s 

largest marine reserves 

SYDNEY: Australia yesterday created the world’s largest network 

of marine reserves, protecting a huge swathe of ocean 

environment despite claims it will devastate the fishing industry. 

The announcement, after years of planning and consultation, 

will significantly expand the protection of creatures such 

as the blue whale, green turtle, critically endangered populations 

of grey nurse sharks, and dugongs. The scale of the plan, 

which will cover more than 2.3 million square kilometres 

(890,000 square miles) in six marine regions, was first made 

public in June. 

Environment Minister Tony Burke said of 80,000 submissions 

received, the vast majority supported the proposal. 

“There are very few countries in the world that are as responsible 

for as much of the ocean as Australia is. And our oceans 

are under serious threat,” he said. “There are a range of 

actions that need to be taken to turn the corner on the health 

of our oceans. Establishing national parks in the ocean is a big 

part of that total picture.” 

Burke added that his decision was important for future 

generations. “We need to appreciate that in the years to come 

we don’t want people to only know the magnificence of their 

oceans through aquariums or by watching ‘Finding Nemo’,” 

he said, referring to the animated Disney film. But fishermen 

are furious, claiming coastal communities would be ruined, 

thousands of jobs lost and the Aus$2 billion (US$2 billion) 

aquaculture industry seriously impacted. 

The Australian Marine Alliance, which conducted a cost 

analysis, claimed 60 regional communities would be affected, 

36,000 jobs lost and 70-80 trawler operators displaced, while 

the cost of seafood imports would soar. Burke said he understood 

his decision would have an impact, but claimed it 

would only affect one percent of the commercial fishing 

industry nationally. 

To compensate, he said businesses hurt by the changes 

would be able to access Aus$100 million in assistance. “Even 

though the new marine reserves have been designed in a way 

to minimise impacts on industry and recreational users, the 

government recognises that there will be impacts on some 

fishers and we will support those impacted,” he said. The 

Commonwealth Fisheries Association criticised the amount of 

compensation on offer and Queensland’s Fisheries Minister 

John McVeigh said the plan, which will lock up huge areas off 

the state’s central and north coast, was “madness”. 

“The impact right across our fishing communities will be 

enormous,” he said, warning of job losses. 

“There will be a marked shift to imported seafood-that will 

rape fragile reef and other marine environments overseas 

where there is no proper management.” While some limits will 

be placed on where energy companies can work, tracts of 

coast off Western Australia, where Shell and Woodside 

Petroleum recently won permits, will remain open to oil and 

gas exploration. The Australian Conservation Foundation welcomed 

the initiative, saying it would “go down in Australian 

history as an economically and environmentally sustainable 

decision”. 

But the foundation’s Paul Sinclair said more could still be 

done. “Although the national marine reserve network is an 

achievement for Australians to celebrate, there is more work 

to be done to protect our coastal way of life,” he said. “While 

the reserve network bans oil and gas exploration in the Coral 

Sea and off Margaret River in Western Australia, protecting 

nearby beaches from oil spills, the northwest region, including 

the Kimberley coast, is still vulnerable.” —AFP


Health

CLASSIFIEDS 

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 

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 24874330/9 

Clinics 

Rabiya 24732263 

Rawdha 22517733 

Adailiya 22517144 

Khaldiya 24848075 

Khaifan 24849807 

Shamiya 24848913 

Shuwaikh 24814507 

Abdullah Salim 22549134 

Al-Nuzha 22526804 

Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 

Al-Qadisiya 22515088 

Dasmah 22532265 

Bneid Al-Ghar 22531908 

Al-Shaab 22518752 

Al-Kibla 22459381 

Ayoun Al-Kibla 22451082 

Mirqab 22456536 

Sharq 22465401 

Salmiya 25746401 

Jabriya 25316254 

Maidan Hawally 25623444 

Bayan 25388462 

FOR SALE 

Mitsubishi Galant, 2006 

model, silver color, beige 

interior, 1,25,000 km, serviced 

by dealership, owned by 

American lady, price KD 

1,500/-. Contact: 99405067. 

(C 4218) 

15-11-2012 

Toyota Corolla, 2008 model, 

white color with CD player, 

rear sensor, folding mirror, 

low mileage, well maintained. 

Price KD 2,650. 

Contact: 60099305. 

(C 4212) 

Mitsubishi Pajero 2008, 

model with CD player, alloy 

wheel rim, well maintained, 

low mileage. Price KD 3,950. 

Contact: 66974049. 

(C 4213) 

13-1-2012 

All furniture / appliances of 

1 BHK flat on sale, to be sold 

all together, for family, 

expected price KD 850 or 

best offer. Contact: 

94427060, 66982274. 

(C 4207) 

12-11-2102 

BMW 730 LI model 2008, full 

option, mileage 45000 km, 

BMW service maintained, 

price KD 8300, price negotiable. 

Contact: 97227427. 

(C 4206) 

11-11-2012 


SITUATION WANTED 

Western educated “Project 

Manager” with 2 Engineering- 

Degrees (Civil/Elec.), 4-Master 

Degrees (Project Mgmt/ 

Engineering/ Education & 

Training/ MBA), plus 17-years 

experience in Middle East/ 

Australia, seeking Executive 

Position. Contact: 65695468 

email: rav@engineer.com 

(C 4195) 

11-11-2012 

CHANGE OF NAME 

I, Madhavan, holder of Indian 

Passport No. H5961296, son of 

Muthukrishanan, converted to 

Islam and do now hereafter be 

known by my new name 

MOHAMED SHARIF. 

(C 4217) 

14-11-2012 

I, Mohammed Hameedudeen, 

S/o Mohamed Tajudeen, holder 

of Indian Passport No. 

G6678181, issued in Kuwait on 

18.4.2008 by Embassy of India, 

hereby would like to change 

my name as Mohamed 

Hameedudeen. My present 

address is: 68/1 Umar Street, P. 

Kondhagai 609 703, 

Nagapattinam DT. Attestation 

no.: KWTKC5432412. 08 Oct 

2012. 

(C 4208) 

I, Yalla Srinivasu (Passport No. 

G3438979), S/o Yalla 

Venkateswara Rao, age 36 

years, R/o 1-57, Antarvedi 

Palem, Sakhineti Palli, East 

Godawari Dist, AP, hereby 

declare that with my free consent 

I have embraced Islam on 

13-06-2005 at State of Kuwait 

and I have adopted my name 

as Abdul Rahman. (C 4215) 

I, Rage Nagaraja (Passport No. 

G3636805), S/o Rage 

Nageswara, age 25 years, R/o 

Jandlavaram, Mydukuru, 

Kadapa Dist, AP, India, hereby 

declare that with my free consent 

I have embraced Islam on 

25-05-2011 at State of Kuwait 

and I have adopted my name 

as Abdulla. (C 4214) 

13-11-2012 

I, Jagadhabi Anand, holder of 

Indian Passport No. H1819620, 

Passport issues in Kuwait on 

112 

Prayer timings 

Fajr: 04:51 

Duhr: 11:33 

Asr: 14:32 

Maghrib: 16:53 

Isha: 18:12 

02.03.2009, hereby change my 

name to Jagadhabi Anad Raju. 

(C 4211) 

MATRIMONIAL 

Seeking proposal for daughter 

age 26, Msc., 5.6 heights, 

fair, slim, born & brought up 

in Kuwait, Pakistani Muslim 

family, current Kuwait resident. 

Contact: 

pkproposal22@gmail.com 

(C 4219) 

15-11-2012 

Keralite, B.D.S Doctor girl, 30 

years, born again - Baptized, 

Ornament wearing, seeking 

marriage proposal. Contact 

Email: 

rajangeorge101@gmail.com 

Ministry of Interior 

website: www.moi.gov.kw


Arrival Flights on Saturday 17/11/2012 

Airlines Flt Route Time 

JAI 574 MUMBAI 0:30 

KLM 413 AMSTERDAM 0:30 

THY 772 ISTANBUL 0:35 

JZR 539 CAIRO 0:50 

QTR 148 DOHA 1:00 

SAI 441 LAHORE 1:30 

ETH 620 ADDIS ABABA 1:45 

GFA 211 BAHRAIN 1:50 

UAE 853 DUBAI 2:35 

ETD 305 ABU DHABI 2:45 

OMA 643 MUSCAT 2:50 

FDB 67 DUBAI 3:05 

MSR 612 CAIRO 3:10 

QTR 138 DOHA 3:45 

DHX 170 BAHRAIN 5:15 


JZR 503 LUXOR 5:55 

JZR 555 ALEXANDRIA 6:00 

KAC 416 JAKARTA 6:25 

JZR 529 ASSIUT 6:35 

BAW 157 LONDON 6:40 

KAC 412 MANILA 6:45 

KAC 206 ISLAMABAD 7:40 


KAC 382 DELHI 7:45 

KAC 302 MUMBAI 7:55 

KAC 352 COCHIN 8:05 


KAC 344 CHENNAI 8:40 


KAC 284 DHAKA 8:45 

ABY 121 SHARJAH 9:05 

QTR 132 DOHA 9:10 




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MSC 401 ALEXANDRIA 12:00 

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IZG 4161 MASHAD 15:20 

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UAL 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 17:55 

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UAL 981 BAHRAIN 23:25 


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Departure Flights on Saturday 17/11/2012 

Airlines Flt Route Time 

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UAL 981 WASHINGTON DC 1:10 

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SAI 442 LAHORE 2:30 

ETH 621 ADDIS ABABA 2:45 







QTR 139 DOHA 4:50 

QTR 149 DOHA 6:05 






BAW 156 LONDON 8:45 



KAC 101 LONDON 9:20 





KAC 537 SOHAG 9:50 




DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 

In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation 

of bookings will help other passengers to use seats 

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) 

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QTR 133 DOHA 10:10 


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IRC 6593 MASHHAD 11:10 


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KAC 411 BANGKOK 23:55


PARIS: France will be determined to 

show Coach Philippe Saint-Andre 

against bogey team Argentina in 

Lille today that unlike their predecessors 

they can put together two 

impressive performances in successive 

tests. Their 33-6 defeat of the 

Wallabies last Saturday - their first 

over them since 2005 - saw the 

French fulfill the first part of what 

Saint-Andre hopes will be three victories 

in November and assure themselves 

of one of the top four seedings 

for the 2015 World Cup draw in 

December. 

However, Saint-Andre acknowledges 

the Pumas may present the 

stiffest of their three tests - they 

round off their campaign against 

Samoa on November 24 and not just 

because of their poor record against 

the South Americans which has seen 

the Argentineans win eight of their 

last 12 encounters. For the 

Argentineans, who are a mix of hardened 

veterans and new blood 

brought in since last year’s World 

Cup, produced an impressive performance 

to defeat Six Nations 

Grand Slam champions Wales 26-12 

at the Millennium Stadium last 

Saturday. 

All the more reason why former 

France captain Saint-Andre is looking 

to this French side to produce an 

unstereotypical performance in 

what will be the first rugby test 

played at Lille’s flashy new stadium. 

“We want to see whether we’re able 

to win two very, very high-level 

matches in succession. It’s an enormous 

challenge for the staff and the 

players,” said the 45-year-old, who 

was capped 69 times from 1990-97. 

“In French rugby we are used to producing 

great performances worth 18 

out of 20 and to follow up with an 

eight out of 20. “What we are aiming 

to do now is to be more consistent - 

to put in a good week’s training and 

not to get carried away. To reproduce 

the same physicality and the 

same realism.” 

Saint-Andre, who first made his 

name as a coach in England with 

Gloucester where he had ended his 

playing career, is also at pains to 

keep the pressure off the mercurial 

fly-half Frederic Michalak, who symbolizes 

the French habit of playing 

SPORTS 

Saint-Andre hoping French go against type 

Italy defiant in face of 

revamped All Blacks 

MILAN: New Zealand have made sweeping changes to the 

side that beat Scotland 51-22 last week, but what some 

may see as a charitable move has not been designed to 

give the hosts a fighting chance in Rome. When it comes 

to Italy, still an emerging rugby power, and the All Blacks, 

two-time world champions and the most successful 

national team to have graced the sport, there really is no 

contest. Italy have lost all 11 previous encounters beginning 

with a 70-6 reverse in the 1987 World Cup to a far 

tighter 20-6 test defeat at Milan’s San Siro stadium in 2009. 

Yet their record, and the fact the Azzurri fought their 

way to an edgy 28-23 win over minnows Tonga last week, 

has not dimmed the hopes of Italy coach Jacques Brunel. 

“If New Zealand are the Everest of rugby, we must be ready 

to climb as far and as high as we can and make light of the 

cold and bad weather,” Brunel said yesterday. “Otherwise 

we’re better off staying in the comfort of Mont Blanc.” For 

the growing army of rugby fans in Italy, a much-improved 

performance from last week’s display in windy and rainy 

Brescia would be a good start. While a defiant Tonga side 

were giving Italy plenty of food for thought in Brescia, New 

Zealand were dismantling Scotland 51-22. 

Their win in Murrayfield, however, still left plenty of 

room for improvement, according to head coach Steve 

Hansen. “The team last week put a stake in the ground, and 

while the performance was nowhere near perfect, there 

was some quality rugby played,” he said. “There is now an 

opportunity for this group to build on that.” Intent on making 

sure most of his touring party get involved at some 

stage or another, and ahead of arguably tougher tests 

against England and Wales, Hansen has rung the changes 

for Italy. 

Kieran Read has notably been handed the captain’s armband 

for the first time after World Cup-winning skipper 

Richie McCaw was rested, while star pivot Dan Carter is on 

the bench in favour of understudy Aaron Cruden. Changes 

have been made elsewhere in the team, some enforced: 

Liam Messam has been called in at blindside flanker to 

replace Adam Thomson, banned for one match for stamping 

on the head of Scotland loose forward Alasdair 

Strokosch. However that does not rhyme with lack of 

ambition in what Hansen believes will be a “torrid” 

encounter in the Eternal City. 

“We are expecting another torrid test against the Italians 

in front of their passionate fans,” he added. “They are 

renowned for their forward play so they will certainly be up 

for the challenge and we will have to match that physicality. 

“The team is excited about playing in front of the sold 

out crowd of 80-thousand and this will only add to their 

motivation.”After last week’s performance, Italy captain 

and number eight Sergio Parisse revealed his frustration 

and warned there can be no repeat in Rome. “It’s an 

important week for us, we’ll regroup and train for next 

week in calm conditions but we can’t play like that for 80 

minutes against the All Blacks,” he said. 

Italy have been working on key areas, and Brunel made 

a total of eight changes from the side that started against 

Tonga, notably with Mirco Bergamasco returning to the 

wing from a small injury layoff. In all probabilty, he will get 

his wish to see “in which direction our project needs to go” 

against the “strongest team in the world”. But the bespectacled 

Frenchman-an assistant coach of France when Les 

Bleus beat the All Blacks 20-18 in Cardiff during the 2007 

World Cup - may secretly be hoping for more. “Every game 

is different, but to put New Zealand in trouble we have to 

be in the game,” Brunel said. “The last time I faced the All 

Blacks, as an assistant coach of France, we won. I hope to 

experience more of the same.” — AFP 

ROME: New Zealand All Blacks’ fly-half Dan Carter 

attends a training session at the Olympic Stadium in 

Rome yesterday on the eve of the rugby union test 

match between Italy and New Zealand. — AFP 

brilliantly one week and then 

mediocrely the next. “Talk about 

other players, leave Frederic alone,” 

said Saint-Andre, who will again pair 

Michalak alongside Maxime 

Machenaud as the halfback partnership. 

“He is working hard, he is hungry 

to continue to do so, we are keen 

to continue with Frederic but also 

Francois Trinh-Duc. 

“It is absolutely essential to stop 

putting so much pressure on those 

that play at fly-half. “There is a 

French culture which dictates that 

when one wins, the fly-half is the 

best player in the world and when 

one loses, it is time to burn his effigy. 

“Frederic played well last week, and I 

am not going to put more pressure 

on him than that.” — AFP 

Boks can be beaten, 

Scottish skipper says 

EDINBURGH: Scotland have the game to once again sink 

South Africa in today’s Test match at Murrayfield, but they 

must first shore up their defensive forces, skipper Kelly 

Brown believes. Andy Robinson’s men kicked off the 

November north-south international face-offs by taking a 

51-22 drubbing at the hands of world champions New 

Zealand in Edinburgh last weekend. But they did manage 

to score three tries, the first team to do so against the All 

Blacks this year, and, failing to get over the line has been 

an area which has been the undoing of the Scots recently, 

leading to an early World Cup exit in New Zealand and a 

Six Nations wooden spoon. 

On the down side, the Scottish defensive lines were far 

too easily breached by New Zealand’s array of running talents 

and that is something that Robinson will be keen to 

tighten up. Skipper Kelly Brown, who moves over to 

replace the injured Ross Rennie at flanker, with David 

Denton coming in at No 8 as one of two team changes 

made by Robinson, believes a repeat of Scotland’s shock 

21-17 win the last time the teams met in the corresponding 

fixture here two years ago is on the cards. “There’s no 

doubt it’s possible,” the 30-year-old said. “We know what 

happened two years ago but in saying that, so do South 

Africa. 

“So they will be looking for a bit of payback and it’s up 

to us to make sure we really nail the level of performance 

that we need to be successful. “It was a great win, on that 

day I think it was based on a really solid defensive effort. 

We will need to make sure that we are really tight in that 

aspect of the game and make them work for anything that 

they get, and when we’re on the attack we need to ask 

them questions and put them under pressure.” “There is 

no doubt there is improvement to be made. We have 

looked at the video and we know the areas that we need 

to work on. We have been doing that in training and I’m 

very confident we can put it right today.” 

Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has also made two 

changes to his line-up from the side that came from 

behind last weekend to edge Ireland 16-12 in Dublin. 

Toulouse prop Gurthro Steenkamp takes over from CJ van 

der Linde, while Juan de Jongh gets his first start at centre 

since the 40-7 Tri-Nations loss to New Zealand in 

Wellington last year. Meyer has said that while avoiding 

another loss to Scotland was important, he very much also 

had on his mind his players getting used to the kind of 

damp, heavy conditions they can expect to encounter in 

2015 when England hosts the next World Cup. “Here every 

single facet of play is an unbelievable battle,” he said. 

“These guys scrum for penalties, it’s not just the start of the 

game. 

“One big difference is the breakdown. I think Scotland 

are superb at the breakdown, if you just look at what happened 

against New Zealand. “It’s more fierce, it’s more a 

battle and more physical, I believe, because it’s a little bit 

slower and you need a different type of player. — AFP


NOTTINGHAM: Carl Froch cannot 

help but look ahead to what could lie 

in store for him after his world supermiddleweight 

title defense against 

Yusaf Mack today. Froch makes the 

first defense of the International 

Boxing Federation (IBF) belt in front of 

his home fans at the Capital FM Arena 

in Nottingham and, should he prevail 

against Mack, a rematch against 

Lucian Bute is set for March 30. 

Froch, in his third reign as world 

champion, relieved Bute of the IBF belt 

in brutal fashion last May, overwhelming 

the Canada-based Romanian in 

five rounds. Under the terms of their 

contract, Froch is obliged to give Bute 

a rematch on his adopted home soil 

and Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn 

expects the pair to clash again in 

Montreal. But it is not only Bute that 

Froch has in his sights in 2013. Froch is 

desperate to avenge the two blemish- 

es in a 31-fight professional record, 

after losing on points to Denmark’s 

Mikkel Kessler in 2010 and on points 

to American Andre Ward last year. 

The 35-year-old Froch believes a 

rematch with Ward, the World Boxing 

Council champion and world No 1, is 

the more likely-provided he gets past 

Mack and then Bute. “There is a quick 

turn-around after this fight for the 

Bute rematch and then there is 

potentially a huge fight later next 

year against either Ward or Kessler,” 

Froch said. “I spoke to Kessler on the 

phone recently and he sounded like a 

man who doesn’t want to fight. He 

wasn’t saying ‘let’s do it in the summer’ 

and if a fight isn’t a necessity 

and he’s not a mandatory challenger, 

it won’t happen. 

“He’s thinking ‘why fight Froch?’, 

after seeing what I did to Bute, when 

he could earn a load of money by 

fighting the likes of Brian Magee in 

Denmark. “But the Ward fight will 

happen because he’s got nowhere to 

go and Ward will be confident taking 

the re-match against me.” Despite 

appearing to have his future mapped 

out, former WBC champion Froch 

insists he is not overlooking the task 

ahead of him today posed by Mack, 

who last year was stopped by fellow 

American Tavoris Cloud in a challenge 

for the IBF light-heavyweight title. 

“Mack has fast hands and looks for 

counter-punches,” said Froch. “He has 

got range and good boxing ability. 

“He’s looking to win the fight on the 

outside and I will have to close him 

down to land my shots but not get 

caught. “I need to put pressure on 

him and walk him down without getting 

caught by silly shots, especially 

early on which would give him confidence. 

“He’s not a big and tall light- 

MACAU: Image shows the remains of the motorbike of Portuguese pilot Luis Filipe de Sousa Carreira 

who died in the qualifying session of the 46th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. (Right) Motorbike rider 

Luis Filipe de Sousa Carreira receives medical attention after a racing accident at Fisherman’s Bend. 

Carreira died from injuries sustained in the crash. —AFP 

sports 

Froch eyes Bute re-match despite Mack attack 

Portuguese rider dies 

HONG KONG: Portuguese motorcycle 

rider Luis Filipe de Sousa Carreira was 

killed in an accident during a qualifying 

session for the Macau Grand Prix, organizers 

said. The organizing committee 

said Carreira died from injuries sustained 

in the crash on Thursday afternoon. 

“No other rider was involved in 

the incident, which occurred at 

Fisherman’s Bend ... The qualifying session 

was immediately red flagged,” the 

committee said in a statement. “As a 

result of the doctors’ diagnosis, Carreira 

was immediately evacuated by ambulance 

to the hospital.” The 35-year-old 

from Lisbon died about 30 minutes later, 

it added. “The Macau Grand Prix 

Committee has contacted the family 

and the members of the team, and the 

committee expresses its sincere condolences,” 

it said. 

“In over 60 years of the Grand Prix, 

the record can be considered acceptable,” 

coordinator of the Macau Grand 

Prix committee Joao Manuel Costa 

Antunes told Hong Kong daily newspa- 

per South China Morning Post. “Those 

involved in motorsport and motorbikes 

know exactly what I’m saying,” Antunes 

said, commenting on the Carreira incident, 

the second death of a motorbike 

rider at the track in seven years, and the 

second serious bike accident of the day. 

Organizers did not provide further 

details to AFP. Celebrated Italian motorbike 

rider 24-year-old Marco Simoncelli 

died last year in a crash that resulted in 

the cancellation of the Malaysian 

MotoGP at Sepag. —AFP 

heavyweight, so he could be better at 

super-middleweight. I’m not taking 

anything for granted and I am making 

sure that I do my work right, and that 

will be enough to defend my title in 

style.” 

Mack, 32, has been taunting Froch 

this week by claiming the champion is 

not as good as his fellow Briton Joe 

Calzaghe, the former world No 1 who 

retired without boxing Froch. “He 

wants to be Calzaghe and do all the 

moves like him, but he is a fake 

Calzaghe,” said Mack. “I got under his 

skin with the Calzaghe comment and I 

hope that’s to my advantage on the 

night. “He’s said he’s going to knock 

me out so the pressure is on him to do 

that, and when I’m still standing there 

after the sixth round, when people 

think I’m going to tire, what’s he 

going to do? I don’t fade and he can’t 

beat me.” —AFP 

Guyatt holds 

Masters lead as 

Scott hovers 

MELBOURNE: Surprise leader Matthew Guyatt was two shots 

in front at the halfway stage of the Australian Masters yesterday 

but top-ranked rival Adam Scott was still within reach of 

winning his first title of the year at Melbourne’s Kingston 

Heath. World number five Scott lies in third after he posted a 

second round 70 in difficult, blustery conditions to go seven 

under with 137. Between the two Australians is New 

Zealander Michael Hendry (67-69) who lies in second by two 

strokes, Scott just one stroke behind him. 

Defending champion Ian Poulter of England was two 

shots further back in joint fourth, at five-under, heading into 

the weekend rounds. “I’m in pretty good shape. There’s only 

two people in front of me to get past for me to get the job 

done,” Scott said. He added that the windy conditions 

required conservative play, especially when the small greens 

became rock hard. “It made it difficult to hold your approach 

shots on them. Just getting on the green was a struggle 

today,” he said. 

Scott added that windy conditions over the final two days 

would not worry him. He and leader Guyatt have been rivals 

on the golf course since they were young amateurs but are 

good friends off it. “Matt’s worked hard for a number of years 

and he deserves everything he can get. But I’ll be gunning for 

him,” said Scott. Poulter and Northern Ireland’s Graeme 

McDowell discovered how tricky the relatively short Kingston 

Heath course can be in a challenging southerly wind. Poulter 

had a 72 to be five off the lead and was not pleased with his 

round. 

“I’m not going to stand here laughing. I shot level par and 

I’m disappointed,” he said. McDowell said he lost his rhythm 

after the first three holes. “I got off to a dream start. Threeunder 

after three holes and no comment after that really,” 

the 2010 US Open champion said, after shooting five-over to 

squeeze into the weekend right on the cut. 

McDowell three-putted the fourth hole, was plugged in a 

trap after trying to lay-up at the sixth and then three-putted 

seven. “I just sort of got in a tail spin and lost the feel of my 

swing a little bit and it knocked the wind out of my sails,” the 

2010 US Open champion said. “The harder I tried the worse I 

got. It was just one of those humbling days.” Guyatt, who 

returned to the game in recent years after taking time out, 

said he hoped he was up for the challenge over the closing 36 

holes. “I’m relieved to back up with a 69 and pleased I haven’t 

gone the other way, as so many guys with my experience 

seem to do when they get in contention.” He said he would 

love the opportunity to play with Scott tomorrow. —AFP


LOS ANGELES: James Madison found out early 

on there was no stopping No 13 UCLA. The 

Dukes didn’t reach double digits on the scoreboard 

until 10 minutes into a 100-70 loss on 

Thursday night in regional play of the Legends 

Classic. Rayshawn Goins led James Madison with 

24 points, one off his career best. The Dukes traveled 

across the country to play their first game 

and fell to 0-4 against top-25 teams in season 

openers. “We got our butts kicked,” Goins said. 

“We want to throw the first blow, but they beat 

us to the punch. They outworked us and at the 

end of the day they just wanted it more.” 

Norman Powell scored a career-high 27 

points and Jordan Adams added 25 for the 

Bruins. Adams scored 16 points in the first half 

when UCLA shot 68 percent and led 63-29. The 

Bruins were 6 of 7 from 3-point range and made 

11 of 13 free throws while holding James 

Madison to 34 percent field-goal shooting. “They 

were awesome in the first half,” Dukes coach 

Matt Brady said. “We had a chance to keep it 

close in the first 5-6 minutes but we went 0-4 

from the foul line with two seniors. When you 

miss free throws and give up first shots at the rim 

and second shots on the glass and give up quick 

shots in transition, it’s a really difficult game.” 

The Dukes were 9 of 15 from the free-throw 

line and had 12 turnovers. Adams had 21 points 

in the season opener against Indiana State and 

26 points against UC Irvine on Tuesday, making 

him the first freshman in school history to score 

20-plus points in his first three games. He made 

all seven of his free throws, extending his streak 

to 26 in a row. The Bruins (3-0) next play 

Georgetown on Monday in Brooklyn, NY, as part 

of the Legends Classic. They will then face either 

No 1 Indiana or Georgia on Tuesday. 

Larry Drew II had a career-high 12 assists and 

freshman Kyle Anderson grabbed 12 rebounds 

playing with a bone contusion on his right wrist 

that he sustained against Irvine. The scoreboard 

operator at new Pauley Pavilion had to shrink 

the numbers on the digital board to fit triple digits 

once the Bruins topped 100 points on a layup 

by Tony Parker with 1:21 to play. The only suspense 

in the second half was whether Adams 

could keep his free-throw shooting streak intact. 

With 31/2 minutes to go, one of his attempts 

bounced on the front of the rim before going in 

and he sank his last one before heading to the 

bench shortly after. 

NO 12 ARIZONA BEAT UTEP 

One of Arizona’s strengths this season is supposed 

to be a big front line filled with talented 

young players. The Wildcats didn’t use it to their 

advantage in the opener against Charleston 

Southern. They sure did against Texas-El Paso. 

Dominating UTEP inside with its depth and 

aggressiveness, No 12 Arizona overcame some 

sloppy ball-handling by grabbing 20 more 

rebounds in a 72-51 win over the Miners on 

Thursday night. “Last game, we didn’t get as 

many rebounds as we normally should, so Coach 

got on us,” said Arizona freshman Grant Jerrett, 

who led the Wildcats with seven rebounds. 

“That’s basically it. We wanted to show that we 

could rebound.” 

Arizona (2-0) took care of the ball in its open- 

er against Charleston Southern and shot well 

from the perimeter, but was outrebounded 34- 

31 by the smaller Buccaneers. The Wildcats were 

a little sloppier with the ball this time, turning it 

over 19 times, and fouled a little too much, particularly 

in the second half to let the Miners keep 

it close for a while. They were good again from 

3-point range, going 9 of 18 after hitting 11 

against Charleston Southern, but the real difference 

was on the glass. 

Arizona had a 35-15 advantage in rebounds 

and scored 13 second-chance points off 13 

offensive boards, impressive numbers against 

UTEP’s big front line. Mark Lyons led Arizona 

with 17 points and Solomon Hill added 10. “We 

went against a physical, big team and we were 

able to really hurt them on the glass,” Arizona 

coach Sean Miller said. “That’s a credit to us, not 

a discredit to UTEP.” Despite the rebounding 

issues and trailing by double-digits most of the 

second half, the Miners (1-1) remained aggressive, 

taking the ball to the rim against the big 

SPORTS 

No 13 UCLA overpower 

James Madison 100-70 

UTEP loses 72-51 to No 12 Arizona 

LOS ANGELES: UCLA’s Jordan Adams (center) puts up a shot as James Madison’s Andre 

Nation, (right) defends along with Rayshawn Goins during the first half of their NCAA college 

basketball game in Los Angeles. — AP 

Wildcats. UTEP got to the free throw line 16 

times in the second half and went 14 of 19 

overall. 

The Miners just had trouble making shots 

from anywhere else, shooting 36 percent while 

leading scorer John Bohannon went scoreless 

before fouling out. Julian Washburn and Chris 

Washburn each had 11 points for the Miners. 

“Tonight was very tough, but it’s a learning experience,” 

Julian Washburn said. “Arizona’s defense 

wasn’t smothering, but they really beat us on the 

boards. We didn’t get many rebounds and took 

away our own chance of winning.” Arizona and 

UTEP are no strangers on the basketball court. 

The Wildcats and Miners played in the same conference 

together from 1935-78, first with the 

Border Conference, then the Western Athletic 

Conference. 

They hadn’t met since 1995, though, and 

went in different directions after that: Arizona 

became a national powerhouse in a major conference 

while UTEP scratched its way into the 

NCAA tournament twice. Arizona entered this 

season with some big expectations after Miller 

signed another highly touted recruiting class 

that included four of the top incoming big men 

in the country. They didn’t contribute much in 

the Wildcats’ opener, though, forcing Miller to 

go with his veterans down the stretch in a 

tighter-than-expected 82-73 home win over 

Charleston Southern. Arizona’s young bigs got 

off to a good start against UTEP, with Kaleb 

Tarczewski scoring its first basket on a putback 

and Jerrett hitting a 3-pointer for the next one. 

RENNER LEADS TAR HEELS 

One minute, North Carolina was clinging to a 

20-13 lead, and Virginia was in position to tie the 

game. The next, the Tar Heels’ maligned defense 

had a goal-line stand, and the rout was about to 

be on. Bryn Renner threw two touchdown passes 

in the fourth quarter after a goal-line stand 

preserved the Tar Heels’ lead and North Carolina 

ended Virginia’s postseason hopes with a 37-13 

victory on a cold Thursday night at Scott 

Stadium. “I told the team ... we can make these 

the best two weeks, or the worst two weeks,” 

defensive lineman Sylvester Williams said of the 

final games in a season where the Tar Heels are 

ineligible for the postseason because of NCAA 

sanctions. “Don’t let Georgia Tech best us twice,” 

Williams said he told his defensive teammates, 

referring to last week’s 68-50 home loss to the 

Yellow Jackets on homecoming. “We never lost 

pride because at the end of the day, when you’re 

a good football team, you’ve got to build off the 

losses. Sixty-eight points? That was embarrassing, 

but we built off of it.” The game looked as if 

it might become a classic in the oldest rivalry in 

the south, then turned quickly. The Tar Heels (7- 

4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) stopped Kevin 

Parks for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from 

the 1, then drove 97 yards to Renner’s 23-yard 

pass to a wide open Giovani Bernard over the 

middle for the touchdown. A 5-yard completion 

to Erik Highsmith on fourth-and-2 came on the 

play just before the touchdown pass, and after 

Virginia (4-7, 2-5) was forced to punt on the 

ensuing possession, Renner’s 20-yard TD pass to 

Highsmith finished it. — Agencies


NEW YORK: Miguel Cabrera of the 

Detroit Tigers, the first player to win 

the Triple Crown in 45 years, added 

the American League’s Most 

Valuable Player award on Thursday 

for the 2012 Major League Baseball 

season. Cabrera became the first 

player since Carl Yastrzemski of the 

Boston Red Sox in 1967 to lead the 

league in the three top traditional 

offensive categories with a .330 batting 

average, 44 home runs, and 139 

runs batted in. 

He also became the first 

Venezuelan to win the coveted MVP 

award, getting the nod over Rookie 

of the Year winner Mike Trout of the 

Los Angeles Angels, whose brilliant 

all-around play had made him a serious 

challenger to Cabrera. “I’m very 

excited. I don’t have any words to 

explain how excited I feel,” Cabrera, 

29, said. “I never expected I’m going 

to win because Mike Trout, he got 

an unbelievable season.” Some pundits 

favored the overall talents of 

Trout, making a case that his 30 

home runs while hitting .326 with a 

league-leading 129 runs scored and 

49 stolen bases made him the MVP, 

especially given his defensive brilliance 

in center field. 

Even Cabrera was a fan of the 

Angels’ outfielder, though what was 

expected to be a close race turned 

into a rout as the Venezuelan won 

22 of 28 first-place votes cast by 

members of the Baseball Writers’ 

Association of America. Trout 

received the other six first-place 

votes. Cabrera said the duel 

between him and the 21-year-old 

Trout was good for baseball. “To see 

a player like Trout do the kind of 

stuff he does in the field, people talk 

about that,” Cabrera told reporters 

in a conference call. “People can 

understand how good baseball is, 

how beautiful it is. Hopefully every 

year, players come up and do a better 

job. It’s good for baseball.” 

For all his success with the bat, 

Cabrera said the most impressive 

thing he accomplished for the Tigers 

was his switch from first base to 

third to make room for free-agent 

slugger Prince Fielder in the lineup. 

“I think (Detroit manager) Jim 

Leyland made a good decision moving 

me to third base. He said he 

thinks I had the ability to push and 

work hard, to make it a better lineup,” 

Cabrera said. “The only thing is 

to try to work hard, try to get better, 

try to do everything to win games. I 

think it was the hard thing for me 

this year.” 

Cabrera caught fire at the plate 

late in the season and helped carry 

the Tigers past the Chicago White 

Sox to the AL Central title and on to 

the World Series. Trout’s Angels fin- 

SPORTS 

Detroit’s Cabrera wins AL MVP award 

First Venezuelan to claim season’s MVP honors 

Powell hits century; 

West Indies collapse 

Bangladesh hit back after Powell’s twin hundred 

DHAKA: Kieran Powell notched up his second century of 

the match before Bangladesh brought alive the first cricket 

test by grabbing five West Indian wickets in 13.1 overs yesterday 

to raise the specter of an unlikely victory. The visitors 

will take a 215-run lead into the final day but will 

struggle to add to their tally as the only recognized batsman 

remaining, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, is unwell and 

may not be able to bat. West Indies reached 244-6 at the 

close on the fourth day and the hosts will fancy their 

chances of notching up their first test win against a top 

side having scored their highest ever total of 556 in the first 

innings. Powell became the ninth Caribbean batsman to 

score two centuries in a single test after getting a patient 

110 from 197 balls, adding to the 117 he amassed in the 

first innings. 

He shared a 189-run second-wicket stand with Darren 

Bravo, mainly thanks to the butter fingers of Zunaed 

Siddique who dropped the batsman on 17 at slip. “I am not 

to sure how often it happened but I am happy that it happened 

to me,” Powell said. Bangladesh got an early breakthrough 

when Rubel Hossain had Gayle caught behind for 

19, but Powell and Bravo denied them any chance of gaining 

an upper hand with their prolific stand. Rubel dismissed 

Bravo for 76 before off-spinner Sohag Gazi forced 

Marlon Samuels (1) to loft a catch to Shahriar Nafees at forward 

short leg to trigger a late West Indian collapse. 

Left-arm spinner Shakib Al-Hasan induced an edge from 

Powell to end his knock, which included 12 fours and a six, 

and trapped first innings centurion Denesh Ramdin for five. 

West Indies sent Veerasammy Permaul in ahead of 

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who fell ill after smashing a double 

century in the first innings, and the debutant struck 

two fours in the first two balls he faced to ease some pressure. 

However, Gazi bowled him for 10 on the final ball of 

the day to cap in a remarkable session for Bangladesh. 

Earlier, Bangladesh’s Nasir Hossain missed out on his maiden 

test century when he was out for 96, caught by Gayle at 

slip off Tino Best. “A century is a matter of luck. As it was 

not in my fate I couldn’t do it,” said Nasir. 

Nasir resumed on 33 and added 121 runs for the seventh 

wicket with fellow overnight batsman Mahmudullah, 

who made 62. The duo helped Bangladesh to overhaul 

DHAKA: West Indies cricketer Kieran Powell plays a shot 

during the fourth day of the first cricket Test match between 

Bangladesh and The West Indies yesterday. — AFP 

their previous highest test total of 488 against Zimbabwe 

at Chittagong. Following Mahmudullah’s dismissal with the 

total on 489, Nasir kept his focus and nudged a single to 

take Bangladesh over the 500-run mark for the first time. 

Bangladesh then snatched an unlikely 29-run first-innings 

lead courtesy of Nasir’s 61-run ninth wicket stand with 

Shahadat Hossain, the last man out as Sunil Narine bowled 

him for his third wicket of the day. — Reuters 

ished in third place in the AL West. “I 

think winning the division, winning 

games, helped me to win the Triple 

Crown and the MVP because baseball 

is about winning, not personal 

numbers. I think this MVP is about all 

my team.” Cabrera followed his 

team mate, ace pitcher Justin 

Verlander, as the American League 

MVP winner. He said Verlander had 

cheered him on this season. “He 

said, ‘keep the MVP in Detroit,’” 

added Cabrera. 

Cabrera was also proud to crown 

a terrific year for Venezuelan players 

by becoming the first from his country 

to win the MVP. “Venezuela is 

going crazy right now. I’m getting 

like a hundred calls from back home, 

text messages,” he said. 

A record nine Venezuelans were 

on the rosters of the World Series 

teams, the San Francisco Giants and 

Detroit. — Reuters 

Giants’ Buster Posey 

wins NL MVP award 

NEW YORK: Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants 

added to a career’s worth of accomplishments by winning 

the National League Most Valuable Player award on 

Thursday in just his third season. Yet the humble, 25-yearold 

catcher said what he took away from the 2012 season 

was a heartfelt appreciation just to be able to play. 

Posey had the highest batting average in the major 

leagues at .336 and pounded 24 homers while driving in 

103 to win MLB’s top individual award following a 2011 

season that ended for him after only 45 games in a devastating 

collision at home plate. “I do know that I definitely 

have a deeper appreciation for being able to play baseball,” 

said Posey, who suffered a broken leg and torn ligaments 

in his ankle while trying to block home on a play at 

the plate. “I’ve seen that it can be taken away quick,” he 

told reporters in a conference call. “Hopefully I can continue 

to embrace the game and enjoy it, regardless of outcomes 

and how you do. Just try to appreciate each minute 

you’re out there.” 

Posey has thrived in his brief major league time on the 

diamond. He came up in May of 2010 and helped the 

Giants win a World Series and claim Rookie of the Year 

honors in the process. This season he won his second 

World Series in three years, was a runaway winner of the 

Comeback Player of the Year award, and on Thursday 

became the first catcher in 40 years to win the NL MVP following 

Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds in 1972. “I 

think I’ve been fortunate to play with some really good 

players and play on some really good teams,” the soft-spoken 

Georgia native said. 

One thing Posey is proud of is playing catcher. He was 

determined to get back behind the plate even when it was 

thought he might be shifted to first base or another less 

physically demanding position in coming back from his 

injuries. “I think it’s a position that to start playing it in the 

first place you have to love it,” said Posey. “There’s something 

about being back there behind the plate and working 

with your pitchers. For me, especially, having such a 

good staff in San Francisco...I wanted another opportunity 

to work with those guys. “I’m glad I did. It didn’t take long 

once I was able to get back in a crouch again to get that 

same feeling and remember how much I enjoy doing it.” 

Posey became just the third catcher to win both the rookie 

award and an MVP, following Bench and Thurman Munson 

of the New York Yankees. 

He also became just the third Giants player to achieve 

that double, following Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Willie 

McCovey. — Reuters


MILAN: Lazio’s away-from-home blues 

could be set to continue today when 

they travel to Juventus seeking to overcome 

an unenviable record against the 

champions. Juventus stretched their 

lead over title rivals Inter Milan to four 

points last week thanks to a 6-1 rout of 

Pescara and the shock 3-2 defeat for 

their closest rivals in Atalanta. With 

Inter expected to collect three points at 

home to struggling Cagliari tomorrow, 

Juve know they have to seize every 

possible chance for three points. 

“We’ve started the season well and taken 

a lot of points, but there are still 

plenty of games to play and we need to 

hang in there,” said Ghanaian Kwadwo 

Asamoah. 

Lazio may take heart from Inter’s 

stunning 3-1 defeat of the champions 

two weeks ago, but the form of 

Vladimir Petkovic’s side has been inconsistent. 

Having suffered a first away 

defeat to Napoli, in which Edinson 

Cavani scored a memorable hat-trick in 

a 3-0 win, Petkovic could only look on 

helpless as his side were humbled 4-0 

by Sicilian side Catania two weeks ago. 

That reverse came on the back of a 1-1 

home draw to Torino and a 2-0 defeat 

away to Fiorentina. In all, Lazio have 

amassed only nine points from a possible 

22 on their travels this season-and 

the statistics against Juve do not make 

good reading. 

In a total of 68 matches away to the 

Old Lady of Turin, Lazio have won only 

eight times and drawn 17. In last season’s 

corresponding fixture Juve prevailed 

2-1 thanks to a late freekick from 

Alessandro Del Piero, a result which 

allowed the hosts to retain top spot 

until the end of the season. On paper, 

Juve will be hard to beat but a shock 

defeat would boost both Inter and 

Napoli ahead of their respective match- 

es. Napoli welcome an AC Milan side 

which is enduring its worst start to the 

season in living memory. Napoli, too, 

have suffered their fare share of away 

defeats but rolled up their sleeves to 

secure a gutsy 4-2 win against Genoa 

last week to move to within a point of 

Inter. 

Both AC Milan forward Stephan El 

Shaarawy and Napoli striker Edinson 

Cavani are top of the Serie A scoring 

charts on eight goals apiece and are 

attracting interest from some of the top 

clubs in Europe. El Shaarawy is in rude 

health, having scored Italy’s only goal in 

a 2-1 friendly defeat to France on 

Wednesday, but after 12 games 

Massimiliano Allegri’s men sit 13th on 

just 14 points, 17 adrift of Juventus. 

Inter, meanwhile, will have to get back 

on the winning trail if they are to keep 

pace with Juve and keep Napoli at bay. 

But defender Javier Zanetti believes last 

SPORTS 

ITALIAN LEAGUE PREVIEW 

Cavani hoping to be first to shoot down Juventus 

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham 

Beckham’s team deny 

talk of Australia move 

LONDON: David Beckham’s representatives 

have shot down claims made by the Football 

Federation of Australia (FFA) that they were 

negotiating a move to the A-League for the 

former England captain. According to FFA 

officials, the approach was made in relation to 

the 37-year-old LA Galaxy midfielder playing 

in the A-League during the current 2012-13 

season. “There are absolutely no plans to play 

in Australia,” Beckham’s management team 

said in a statement released to Sky Sports in 

England yesterday. 

“David is completely focused on the MLS 

playoffs and winning another Championship 

with the Galaxy.” That poured cold water on 

the FFA’s statement that they had been contacted 

by the player’s agent and begun negotiations 

with one of the sport’s iconic names. 

“The approach from David Beckham’s people 

is another sign of how much the A-League 

has grown in stature on a global basis,” the 

FFA said earlier yesterday. “Beckham is a 

superstar on the world stage and he would be 

another massive signing for the A-League 

after the arrivals of Alessandro Del Piero, 

Emile Heskey and Shinji Ono.” Local media in 

Australia had reported that Beckham was 

interested in a 10-game deal at the conclusion 

of the Major League Soccer season. 

Beckham’s Galaxy, reigning Major League 

Soccer champions, face the Seattle Sounders 

next week in the second leg of their Western 

Conference final after winning the home leg 

3-0. Beckham is out of contract at the end of 

the MLS season in December and has already 

been linked with the New York Red Bulls by 

American media, who speculate the move 

would allow his former popstar wife Victoria 

to pursue a fashion career. 

Despite the FFA’s disclosure, three 

Australian clubs had already distanced themselves 

from the former Real Madrid, 

Manchester United and AC Milan midfielder. 

“That’s great if he is coming,” Melbourne 

Victory coach Ange Postecoglou told local 

media. “Would we be interested? Nah.” 

Western Sydney Wanderers executive chairman 

Lyall Gorman told Fairfax Media: “If we 

were approached, we would go through the 

normal process. — Reuters 

MADRID: Barcelona have only dropped 

two points so far this season, rolling out victories 

to open up an eight-point lead over 

rivals Real Madrid, but defender Gerard 

Pique admits that they are still vulnerable at 

the back. The Catalan side’s gung-ho style 

under new coach Tito Vilanova, which has 

sometimes left only two in defense as both 

full-backs surge forward, has led to an average 

of more than three goals a game, with 

36 amassed to date. 

But as they prepare to take on Zaragoza 

today, Pique expressed concern that they 

were also conceding goals too easily. “It has 

almost been as though they (opponents) 

score against us every time they attack and 

I am not sure why but it is something that 

we need to think over,” he said. “We are 

also scoring more than last season and so, 

of course, the more attack-minded you are, 

the more you risk, but we need to improve 

at the back.” Barca have leaked 14 goals so 

far-the most at this stage of the season in 

12 years. Injuries have been partly to blame, 

week’s defeat will not define their season. 

“You have to accept the result, 

Atalanta played well,” said the 

Argentinean. 

“They scored their second and third 

goals when we were on top, but that’s 

part of the game and it won’t alter the 

path we’re on.” Cagliari’s last outing 

was a scoreless draw at home to 

Catania but on their last travels the 

Sardinians lost 4-1 to Fiorentina. The 

Fiorentina v Atalanta match, meanwhile, 

could produce one of the tightest 

contests this weekend. Both sides 

have won their last five fixtures, with La 

Viola notably accounting for Lazio and 

Milan and Atalanta claiming memorable 

wins over Inter and Lazio. 

Tomorrow’s late match is the Genoese 

derby between Sampdoria and Genoa, 

who sit fourth and third from bottom 

respectively, and could decide the fate 

of the hosts’ coach Ciro Ferrara. — AFP 

Qatar Airways lands 

on Barcelona shirts 

MADRID: Barcelona, until recently one of the 

few clubs in world soccer whose players did 

not display a corporate logo, will switch to 

Qatar Airways as their official shirt sponsor 

next season, the Spanish club said yesterday. 

The airline’s logo will replace Qatar 

Foundation on the front of their strip, the club 

said in a statement on their website 

(www.fcbarcelona.com). 

The change is part of a controversial sponsorship 

agreement signed with Qatar Sports 

Investment (QSI) last year. Barca signed what 

was then the most lucrative shirt sponsorship 

deal in soccer, worth 30 million euros ($36.5 

million) a year and helping to promote the 

Gulf nation that will host the 2022 World Cup. 

ìQatar Foundation has been the beneficiary of 

the contract (signed with QSI) for the last two 

years and starting from July 1 it is going to 

become Qatar Airways,’ Barca vice president 

Javier Faus told the club’s television channel. 

ìQSI has given the rights of our main sponsorship 

to Qatar Airways. We are happy to 

accept the change. 

They are a global company and we share 

many of the values they have. ‘Beyond that, 

they have expressed their intentions to 

increase their investment in Catalunya.’ As 

part of the deal with QSI, Qatar Foundation 

replaced the United Nations Children’s Fund 

(UNICEF) on Barca’s shirts, with the UNICEF 

logo being relegated to the back below the 

number and player’s name. Barca pay the 

organization 1.5 million euros ($2 million) a 

year to display their name. Barca are one of 

four Spanish top-flight clubs to be owned by 

their members, along with Real Madrid, 

Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna. — Reuters 

Spanish league preview 

Free-scoring Barcelona 

should watch defense 

although Pique returned to the centre of 

defense in last weekend’s win over Mallorca 

and now Carles Puyol is in line for a starting 

place. 

Real Madrid dropped behind after a slow 

start but have now picked up speed with 

Cristiano Ronaldo returning to form but 

Pique believes that Barca are stronger with 

Lionel Messi. “I respect those who believe 

that Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to be 

European Player of the Year but I live with 

Leo and he is like an alien and Cristiano 

would be the best human,” he said. “I was a 

team-mate of Cristiano’s at Manchester 

(United) and he is a hard worker but alongside 

Messi he doesn’t compare. “One day 

Messi will retire and what I believe is special 

about him is that others like Maradona who 

have won world cups have had ups and 

downs. “He (Maradona) was not even half 

as good as Messi when he was at Barca and 

I think that already for what he has 

achieved he deserves to be called the best 

ever.” — AFP


Silverware only measure 

of City success for Milner 

MANCHESTER: James Milner believes Manchester City have to 

repay their loyal supporters by continuing to bring in trophies as 

he nears a return to action ahead of the Premier League match at 

home to his former club, Aston Villa today. Roberto Mancini’s 

men will be looking for three points to keep on the tails of league 

leaders and rivals Manchester United, while City also welcome 

Real Madrid to Eastlands on Wednesday for a must-win 

Champions League group tie. 

Some critics have suggested that winning the Premier League 

last season has quashed some of City’s desire to lift trophies as 

they face a second-successive group exit from the Champions 

League unless they beat Real next week to keep their slim hopes 

alive. But Milner, who thanked fans for their backing while he has 

been out injured, believes the onus is on City to keep rewarding 

loyal supporters who backed the club through its more unsuccessful 

days, and that is what keeps driving them. “I just want to 

go out and play as well as I can for City and our supporters and 

hopefully keep the trophies coming,” Milner said. 

“Our fans turn out in big numbers whether it’s at home where 

the games are always sold out-or away and overseas where they 

always travel in their thousands, so we want to do the best we 

can for them and repay that backing. “They were here when we 

weren’t winning things for so many years, so it’s nice we are now 

and as I say, that’s not a feeling we could ever get tired of.” The 

England international has missed City’s last four games owing to 

a combination of a one-game suspension following a red card 

and then a hamstring injury suffered in the warm-up before their 

clash with West Ham. Milner revealed he is now in full training 

and could face Aston Villa ahead of a big week for the Premier 

League champions. 

Premier League 

hots up at both 

ends of the table 

LONDON: The battle for the Premier League title may be 

compelling, with three heavyweights in contention, but 

the fight to avoid relegation from English football’s topflight 

is nearly as fierce. At the top, leaders Manchester 

United travel to Norwich today with a two-point advantage 

over champions Manchester City, at home to Aston 

Villa. European champions Chelsea, a point further back in 

third, travel to surprise package West Brom, an impressive 

fifth in the table, in a match that pits Blues boss Roberto di 

Matteo and the Baggies Steve Clarke, once an assistant 

manager at Stamford Bridge, against their former clubs. 

In an era where Premier League players are routinely 

criticized for being primarily concerned with their pay 

packets, United veteran Rio Ferdinand said the lure of silverware 

remained as strong as ever. “It doesn’t matter 

how much money you have, at the end of your career, 

what you will be most proud of are your achievements,” 

said Ferdinand. “If you have won things and continue to 

win things for this great club, that is something to talk 

about. I wouldn’t sit down and talk about how much money 

I have.” 

It was a point echoed by City winger James Milner, 

who said: “Our fans turn out in big numbers. “They were 

here when we weren’t winning things for so many years 

so it’s nice that we are now and as I say, that’s not a feeling 

we could ever get tired of,” the England international 

added. There will be plenty of attention at Eastlands on 

City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart, beaten on four 

occasions by striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic during Sweden’s 

4-0 friendly international win in midweek, with the striker’s 

stunning scissor-kick fourth set to become a staple of 

all great goal compilations. But there will be a different 

sort of grim fascination in watching bottom of the table 

QPR welcome second-bottom Southampton to Loftus 

Road as both clubs battle to remain in the lucrative top 

flight. West London club QPR have yet to win in 11 

Premier League matches this season while Southampton 

have just one victory to show for their efforts since ending 

seven years’ of Premier League exile. —AFP 

“I’ve been progressing well and I’m back training so I’m hoping 

to be available for Villa,” he said. “My hamstring was a little 

tight before the game at West Ham and hadn’t felt quite right in 

the days leading up to the game. “I’d had some treatment 

because it happens from time to time-then you play and it’s OK, 

but I went to do a sprint in the warm-up, it didn’t feel right and I 

made the decision not to carry on which I think has been proved 

correct. “If I’d have played, it would have probably gone during 

the game and I could have been out for a lot longer. As it was, it 

was just ten days or so before I started light training again and 

now everything feels fine.” 

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke is hoping to earn the bragging 

rights over Belgium international team-mate Vincent 

Kompany again. The 21-year-old helped his side to a 4-2 victory 

over City in a League Cup encounter in September and is relishing 

the prospect of facing his compatriot in the Premier League. 

“It will be good to come up against Vincent Kompany, who I play 

with for Belgium,” said Benteke. “He is a brilliant central defender, 

one of the very best in the Premier League. I am looking forward 

to playing against him. There won’t be any texting before the 

game though. I am focused on the game for Villa.” 

However, Benteke insists his side will not be thinking back to 

their League Cup triumph to motivate themselves for the game. 

“The cup tie won’t have any bearing on this match,” he said. “In 

football, you have to concentrate on the present-not the past or 

the future. “All you can affect is the present moment. We are 

totally focusing on this match, not looking back at the cup win. 

“We are motivated for every game. It doesn’t matter whether it’s 

Manchester United, Manchester City, anyone, we are going out to 

try and get a good result.— AFP 

Di Matteo defiant 

ahead of West 

Bromwich clash 

LONDON: Roberto di Matteo has already been forced to dismiss 

suggestions Chelsea are heading for yet another November 

slump but there is no doubt his side are in need of three points 

when they visit fast-improving West Bromwich Albion in the 

Premier League today. When the Blues faced Manchester United 

at Stamford Bridge last month, they knew victory would take 

them seven points clear of Alex Ferguson’s team. Instead they 

fell to a defeat that came with the added cost of red cards for 

Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres. 

And, having drawn their subsequent two league games, the 

European champions now lie in third place, three points adrift of 

league leaders United. Already parallels are being drawn with 

last season when Chelsea’s domestic decline continued until the 

New Year and ultimately led to the dismissal of Andre Villas-Boas, 

di Matteo’s predecessor. 

Former Chelsea and Italy midfielder di Matteo is well aware his 

side cannot afford to lose more ground. However, their efforts to 

claim a first win in four league games will not be helped by the 

absence of captain John Terry, who is out for several weeks after 

injuring his knee in last weekend’s draw with Liverpool. Gary Cahill 

and David Luiz are expected to partner each other in central 

defence, but attention will also be focused on Torres after Luiz 

urged the club to recruit Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao. 

The Blues have been strongly linked with the forward who 

scored a hat-trick against di Matteo’s side in the European Super 

Cup in August and is believed to have a buy-out clause in his contract 

worth around £50 million ($79 million). And Luiz was once 

again impressed by the forward during Brazil’s 1-1 draw in midweek 

with Falcao’s Colombia. “He would fit perfectly in to the 

squad,” said Luiz. “We would all be happy (if he signed) because 

Falcao would undoubtedly be a great player for our team. He is 

very difficult to stop. He is an excellent striker.” Frank Lampardwho 

has been linked with a move to Chinese club Guizhou this 

week-and Ashley Cole remain doubtful through injury. 

West Brom’s decision to part company with di Matteo in 

February 2011, has worked out well for both parties according to 

defender Jonas Olsson. The Swede has enjoyed playing for both 

managers but believes di Matteo’s move to Chelsea, where he 

has won the FA Cup and Champions League, combined with 

West Brom’s change in managerial policy has produced dividends. 

—AFP 

SPORTS 

Matches on TV 

(Local Timings) 

English Premier League 

Arsenal v Tottenham 15:45 

Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 


Reading v Everton 18:00 


Newcastle v Swansea 18:00 


Man City v Aston 18:00 


QPR v Southampton 18:00 


West Brom v Chelsea 18:00 


Liverpool v Wigan 18:00 


Norwich v Man United 20:30 



Spanish League 

Osasuna v Malaga 18:00 

Aljazeera Sport +2 

Valencia v RCD Espanyol 20:00 


Barcelona v Real Zaragoza 22:00 


Aljazeera Sport 2 HD 

Real Madrid v Athletic de Bilbao 0:00 



Italian League 

Juventus v Lazio 20:00 



Napoli v AC Milan 22:45 



German League 

Hannover 96 v SC Freiburg 17:30 

Abu Dhabi Sports HD 

Borussia v VfB Stuttgart 17:30 


Eintracht v Augsburg 17:30 


Nuremberg v Bayern Munich 17:30 


Dortmund v SpVgg Gr F¸rth 17:30 


Hamburger SV v FSV Mainz 17:30 


Bayer 04 v Schalke 04 20:30 


French League 

PSG v Stade Rennais 19:00 


AC Ajaccio v FC Sochaux 22:00 

Aljazeera Sport 

Brest v Bastia 22:00 


ES Troyes AC v Nancy 22:00 

Aljazeera Sport 

Valenciennes v Montpellier 22:00 


Evian Thonon v Saint Etienne 22:00 

Aljazeera Sport +4


LOS ANGELES: Leodis McKelvin 

had a 79-yard punt return and Rian 

Lindell booted four field goals as 

the Buffalo Bills defeated Miami 19- 

14 Thursday to kick off week 11 of 

the National Football League season. 

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick 

had 168 passing yards and C J 

Spiller compiled 91 rushing yards 

on 22 carries for Buffalo, who 

snapped a three-game losing 

streak. The Bills also posted their 

first win against an AFC East division 

opponent in four attempts this 

season. 

Miami rookie quarterback Ryan 

Tannehill threw a fourth-quarter 

touchdown pass to Davone Bess at 

Ralph Wilson Stadium. But 

Tannehill was intercepted twice in 

the game’s final two minutes, sealing 

the Dolphins’ third consecutive 

loss. He came into the game needing 

232 passing yards to surpass 

Dan Marino for the most by a rookie 

in Miami history. The Dolphins 

have been very good defensively 

for most of the year but they have 

slowed in recent weeks thanks to 

struggles in their defensive game. 

The win moves Buffalo into a tie 

with Miami for second place in the 

AFC East with a 4-2 record. The 

Pittsburgh Steelers also hope to 

win this weekend to gain a share of 

first in the AFC North. But Steelers 

quarterback Ben Roethlisberger 

went down with a shoulder and rib 

injury in week 10, depriving one of 

the NFL’s most heated rivalries of a 

little of its grandeur. The Steelers 

have decided to go with Byron 

Leftwich at quarterback in the divisional 

matchup against the first 

place Baltimore Ravens on one of 

several key NFL matchups tomorrow. 

Pittsburgh are 0-4 against the 

Ravens without two-time Super 

Bowl winner Roethlisberger. The 

Steelers enter tomorrow night’s 

contest trailing Baltimore by one 

game for first place as Leftwich will 

make his first NFL start since 

September 2009 with Tampa Bay. 

The Ravens are coming off a 55-20 

rout last Sunday of the Oakland 

Raiders. Torrey Smith caught two 

touchdown passes for a total of 67 

yards and Dennis Pitta added five 

catches for 67 yards and a score for 

the Ravens, who established a new 

franchise record for most points in 

one game. 

Indianapolis rookie quarterback 

Andrew Luck will face veteran quarterback 

Tom Brady for the first time 

when the Colts battle the New 

England Patriots tomorrow. Luck 

has guided the Colts to four consecutive 

wins and has won six of his 

first nine career starts, passing for 

2,631 yards and 10 touchdowns 

while running for 159 yards. Last 

Sunday against Jacksonville, Luck 

rushed for two touchdowns in 

Indianapolis’ 27-10 win. Luck was 

the top pick in the 2012 NFL draft. 

The Philadelphia Eagles will be 

without their top quarterback 

Michael Vick when they face the 

Washington Redskins tomorrow. 

Vick suffered a concussion in 

last week’s loss to the Dallas 

Cowboys. Nick Foles is expected 

to make his first NFL start against 

the NFC East-rival Redskins at 

FedEx Field. Foles has hit work 

cut out for him as the Eagles will 

be minus four starters because of 

injuries. Foles made his debut in 

a 38-23 home loss to the 

Cowboys, in which he completed 

22 of his 32 pass attempts for 219 

yards. “Preparation is very important,” 

Eagles coach Andy Reid 

said. “Going against a good football 

team in the Redskins, another 

NFC East rival, a loud place. 

“It’s important that he has a 

silent countdown and understands 

that and that he has his 

fundamentals down and knows 

his game plan.” —AFP 

sports 

Bills shut down Tannehill, Dolphins 

Third consecutive loss for Miami 

MIAMI: The league’s finest young 

quarterback takes on one of the masters 

of the trade when rookie Andrew 

Luck and the Indianapolis Colts face 

Tom Brady and the Patriots in New 

England tomorrow. Luck came into 

the league this year as the number 

one draft pick and with a stellar reputation 

from his college career at 

Stanford. His coming to a young Colts 

team going through a major rebuilding, 

with a new coaching staff and following 

the departure of his predecessor 

Peyton Manning, meant high 

hopes were tempered with calls for 

patience in his first season. 

But the Colts head into tomorrow’s 

game with the same 6-3 record as the 

Patriots and with their young quarterback 

having already thrown for 2,631 

NEW YORK: Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush (center) is tackled by Buffalo Bills middle 

linebacker Kelvin Sheppard (below) and teammate Nick Barnett (above) during the first half of 

an NFL football game on Thursday, Nov 15, 2012. —AP 

Rookie Luck takes on Brady’s Patriots 

yards and 10 touchdowns as part of a 

totally reworked offense. His success 

has not surprised many. “I thought 

that he would come in and do well, it 

is the rest of the rookies on offense 

that have exceeded my expectations,” 

said Colts offensive coordinator and 

interim head coach Bruce Arians. 

“When we played the Dolphins, on the 

game-winning drive, we have eight 

first-year players out there.” 

Brady didn’t start a game in his first 

year, back in 2000, and says he is full of 

admiration for rookies like Luck who 

are able to learn so quickly the 

demands of the pro game. “It’s always 

challenging for those rookies. As a 

rookie I was like fourth-string and eating 

nachos before the game in the 

stands. There wasn’t much of me 

thinking of playing so I always admire 

those rookies who can do it,” he said. 

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has 

been impressed with Luck’s ability to 

improve quickly through his first year. 

“It looks like he is getting better 

and better every week, playing with 

more and more confidence. He’s got a 

great core of receivers to throw it to,” 

he said. “He shows a lot of poise to 

make all those throws and is very athletic 

in the pocket, he can scramble to 

run and can buy more time in the 

pocket to throw the ball down the 

field. “He’s playing like a very experienced 

and poised player.” The 

Pittsburgh Steelers’ ambitions have 

taken a blow with the loss of quarterback 

Ben Roethlisberger to shoulder 

and rib injuries. 

The Steelers will have to rely on 

veteran back-up Byron Leftwich who 

hasn’t started an NFL game since the 

2009 season against the Baltimore 

Ravens this week. The Ravens lead the 

AFC North on 7-2 while the Steelers 

are on 6-3. Injury losses are also likely 

to impact Monday night’s game in San 

Francisco between the 49ers (6-2-1) 

and the Chicago Bears (7-2). Both 

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and his 

49ers counterpart Alex Smith suffered 

concussions last week and are at risk 

of missing the NFC clash with Jason 

Campbell the deputy for the Bears and 

Colin Kaepernick Smith’s substitute. 

The Atlanta Falcons (8-1) look to 

bounce back from their first loss off 

the season when they host the 

Arizona Cardinals. —Reuters


Sports 

DENVER: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Denver Nuggets is charged with an offensive foul as he collides with Shane Battier #31 of 

the Miami Heat at the Pepsi Center. — AFP 

Heat break Denver duck 

Miami win in Denver for first time in decade 

DENVER: The defending champion Miami Heat claimed a rare road 

win over the Denver Nuggets 98-93 on Thursday despite being 

without the services of eight-times All-Star Dwayne Wade. The Heat 

led throughout but needed to survive a late Nuggets rally to claim 

a first victory in Denver since January 2002. Despite trailing by as 

many as 19 points on the night, the Nuggets (4-5) were just one 

behind with 65 seconds remaining but Danilo Gallinari’s wide-open 

three-point shot fell woefully short. Norris Cole then stuck a dagger 

in the home fans heart by nailing a triple of his own just 14 seconds 

later after three-time league MVP and eight-times All-Star Lebron 

James trusted him with the shot and fed him the ball. 

“We just have high self esteem and we have confidence in 

everybody’s ability that is on the floor,” James, who usually loves 

making the clutch plays down the stretch, said of the play. “I was 

happy to see him knock it down. “They made their run, they’re a 

great team at home but we were able to withstand them,” James 

told reporters. Wade sat out the contest at the Pepsi Center in 

Denver after spraining his left foot earlier this week against the Los 

Angeles Clippers but the Heat overcame his absence to move to 7- 

3. James took charge for the Heat, leading the team with 27 points, 

seven rebounds and 12 assists and he was helped by Shane Battier 

(18 points), Chris Bosh (14) and Mike Miller (12) in what was an 

impressive team performance. 

The Heat were on fire from distance, claiming 39 points at 48 

percent from outside the three-point arc compared to the Nuggets 

18 points at 30 percent. But James preferred to talk up a better 

defensive performance by Miami, who have regularly allowed over 

100 points this season. “In order for us to win throughout the 

course of the season we have to defend,” James said. “We’ve had 

some slippage early in the season but the first thing about it is we 

own it and we know it. “It’s not just coming from the coaching staff. 

We know our staple is defense, we know it’s going to give us the 

best opportunity to win, to defend and rebound and I was glad to 

see we got back to that tonight.” It wasn’t all great news for the 

Heat with Mario Chalmers playing just seven minutes for Miami 

before succumbing to injury. 

UNBEATEN KNICKS 

Raymond Felton scored 25 points as the New York Knicks rallied 

to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-100 on Thursday to remain 

undefeated. J R Smith added 17 points, Jason Kidd had 14 and 

Tyson Chandler 13 for the Knicks (6-0), who closed on a 22-11 run 

to remain the NBA’s lone unbeaten team. Tony Parker led San 

Antonio (7-2) with 19 points and 12 assists. Kawhi Leonard added 

16 points and Tim Duncan had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Smith 

and Kidd hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Knicks a 100-95 lead 

with a minute left in the game. 

BROOKLYN 4TH STRAIGHT WIN 

Brooklyn won its fourth straight game after Johnson made the 

tiebreaking basket with 3:03 left, Deron Williams and Brook Lopez 

each scored 24 points in the Nets’ 102-97 victory over the Boston 

Celtics. Williams had eight assists and made all nine free throws on a 

night Paul Pierce had two huge misses in the final minute for the 

Celtics, who played without injured point guard Rajon Rondo. 

Johnson finished with 19 points and eight rebounds for the Nets. 

Pierce scored 22 points and Leandro Barbosa had 17 in place of 

Rondo, who was out with a sprained right ankle. Kevin Garnett 

added 14 points but Boston had its three-game win streak snapped 

and lost to the Nets for just the third time in 21 meetings.— Agencies 

Buffalo Bills shut 

down Tannehill 

NBA results/standings 

Brooklyn 102, Boston 97; NY Knicks 104, San Antonio 

100; Miami 98, Denver 93. 

Eastern Conference 

Atlantic Division 

W L PCT GB 

NY Knicks 6 0 1.000 - 

Brooklyn 5 2 .714 1.5 

Boston 5 4 .556 2.5 

Philadelphia 4 4 .500 3 

Toronto 2 6 .250 5 

Central Division 

Milwaukee 5 2 .714 - 

Chicago 5 3 .625 0.5 

Indiana 3 6 .333 3 

Cleveland 2 6 .250 3.5 

Detroit 1 8 .111 5 

Southeast Division 

Miami 7 3 .700 - 

Charlotte 4 3 .571 1.5 

Atlanta 3 4 .429 2.5 

Orlando 2 5 .286 3.5 

Washington 0 7 0 5.5 

Western Conference 

Northwest Division 

Oklahoma City 6 3 .667 - 

Minnesota 5 3 .625 0.5 

Denver 4 5 .444 2 

Utah 4 5 .444 2 

Portland 3 5 .375 2.5 

Pacific Division 

LA Clippers 6 2 .750 - 

Golden State 4 4 .500 2 

Phoenix 4 5 .444 2.5 

LA Lakers 3 5 .375 3 

Sacramento 2 6 .250 4 

Southwest Division 

Memphis 6 1 .857 - 

San Antonio 7 2 .778 - 

Dallas 5 4 .556 2 

Houston 4 4 .500 2.5 

New Orleans 3 3 .500 2.5 

47

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