Excelsior... Nation

UAE committed to OPEC output cuts

DUBAI, Nov 2: The UAE will comply with the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) directive to reduce its output by 1 million barrels a day, from the official quota of 28 million barrels, Minister of Energy Mohammed bin Dhaen Al Hameli said.

"The UAE is starting, as from today, to decrease output by 100,000 barrel per day in compliance to the agreement reached by OPEC on October 19 in Doha, Qatar," Al- Hameli said on the sidelines of "International Energy 2030 Conference on Energy Resources and Technologies," which opened here yesterday,

On whether OPEC needs yet another cutback, he said, "We are going to discuss this issue in Abuja, Nigeria, next December. The UAE continues to develop and boost its production capacity which is expected to go up to 3.5 million barrels per day by 2010."

"OPEC estimates growth in demand over the period 2003-2004 at 1.5 per cent per year pushing the world demand for oil in 2030 at 121 million barrels per day. More than three quarters of this increase will come from developing countries whose consumption is expected to double," Al- Hameli said. (PTI)

Surgical gauze found in the abdomen of Malaysian woman

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2: A Malaysian woman plans to sue her doctor after finding that a peice of surgical gauze left in her abdomen during ovarian surgery caused her pain for three months.

Lim Que Moi had the surgery at a private hospital in Malacca in February this year. However, she felt severe pain and went back to her surgeon seven times, but the specialist dismissed her pain as a viral infection and gave her antibiotics, New Straits Times newspaper said.

Lim said she consulted another doctor after finding her abdomen swollen and fluid oozing from the surgical scar. After an X-ray, they found a piece of surgical gauze of 30cm wide and 30cm long left behind when she was stitched up after the surgery, the paper said.

Showing the blood-stained piece of gauze that was removed after a second operation, Lim said she had spent over RM 12,000 (more than Rs one lakh) in medical costs, including RM 5,000 for the original ovarian surgery.

"For three months I suffered excruciating pain all because of the negligence of the surgeon in Malacca," the paper quoted her as saying.

"I went for follow-up check-ups no less than seven times. How could she not sense something was amiss? She did not even bother to send me for an X-ray. I am shocked at the apathy shown by the doctor and the hospital," Lim asked.

The surgeon and the director of the private hospital could not be reached for comment, the paper said. (PTI)

Iran fires ballistic missiles in war games

TEHRAN, Nov 2: Iran fired its first ballistic Shahab-3 missiles carrying cluster bombs at the start of war games today, Al-Alam television reported.

"Shahab missiles, carrying cluster warheads, with a reach of 2,000 kilometres were fired from the desert near (the clerical epicentre) of Qom," 120 kilometres south of Tehran, the report said.

The air, land and naval maneuvers take place in 14 provinces starting today "with the focus on the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea," army chief General Rahim Safavi had been quoted by television as saying yesterday. (AFP)

Reeve's children continue his mission to conquer paralysis

LOS ANGELES, Nov 2: Christopher Reeve's children are carrying on their dad's crusade: finding a cure for paralysis.

Alexandra and Matthew Reeve both serve on the board of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, which Reeve established to fund research for therapies and a cure, People magazine reports in its November 13 issue.

"Our dad's accident really did connect usto this community: 4 million people in the US who are suffering from paralysis," Alexandra Reeve tells the magazine. "We understand how important it is not only to find a cure but also to improve qulity of life."

She and brother Matthew will join their stepbrother, Will Reeve, 14, at the foundation's annual gala on November 6 in New York.

Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in 1995 in a horse-riding accident. He died in 2004 at age 52. His wife, Dana Reeve, died of lung cancer earlier this year.

Asked about how her stepbrother, Alexandra responds, "Wills doing well. He loves school. He is playing hockey and football and keeping busy with friends." (AP)

Japan hoping to forge economic ties with India, Gulf states

TOKYO, Nov 2: Japan will push forward with talks to create economic partnerships as soon as possible with India, East Asia and the Gulf states, the government's chief spokesman said today.

Japan and Vietnam have agreed to start talks in January on an economic partnership agreement, and negotiations with India are expected to start soon, said chief Cabinet spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki. He said initial talks to form an economic partnership with the Gulf states began in September.

"The government as one will actively and speedily carry out the EPA negotiations," he said.

The EPAs envision a broader range of cooperation than free-trade agreements and are intended to enable smoother economic relations among the members, while enhancing Japan's presence throughout the region. Japan is also considering creating a regional economic policy think tank modeled on the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development to promote policy coordination.

Japan currently has two EPAs, with the Philippines and Chile.

Tokyo hopes to begin negotiations in 2008 over a possible East Asian economic partnership association based around a regional free-trade agreement. It has proposed inclusion of 16 nations - Australia, China, Korea, India, Japan, and New Zealand, along with the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (AP)

World has become more dangerous because of Iraq war: VoteVets

NEW YORK, Nov 2: With American elections only days away, an organisation comprising those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan has taken out an advertisement which questions the Bush administration's contention that the attack on Iraq has made the world, especially the United States, safer.

"The world is more dangerous because of Iraq. Because of Iraq, Osama bin Laden is still there. Because of Iraq, the military is spread thin. Because of Iraq, there are more terrorists in the world," VoteVets said.

The advertisement features four Iraq veterans and closes with a general saying that "because of Iraq, America is less secure."

Rand Beers, President of the National Security Network, said, "when those who put their lives on the line for this country are speaking out against a failed policy, it should make us all see that we should be changing direction."

The advertisement comes at a time when violence in Iraq has escalated to record high with October being the deadliest month for Iraqi civilians since the war began and the deadliest month for American troops since January 2005.

US congeressional elections are due on November 7. (PTI)

Annan waives Bahel’s diplomatic immunity

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 2: United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has lifted the diplomatic immunity of the Indian official at the centre of a procurement fraud at the world body, Sanjaya Bahel after requests from US authorities to facilitate legal proceedings against him.

"Today (Wednesday), the Secretary-General received a request from the US authorities to waive Bahel’s immunity from legal process. The Secretary-General confirms that he has waived Bahel’s immunity," a UN spokesman said in a statement issued here last night.

Bahel has been the subject of an internal fact-finding investigation into allegations of misconduct related to his procurement functions, conducted by the Organization’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the spokesman said.

He was formally charged with misconduct by the Organization on August 31 2006 and has been suspended without pay since that time.

The UN provided its final report to the competent authorities of the United States and India, he added.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York commenced its own investigation into the activities of Bahel.

The United Nations has been cooperating fully with the Office of the United States Attorney during the course of its investigation. (PTI)

Sanctions against N Korea to remain: US ambassador

SEOUL, Nov 2: The main US envoy to South Korea today urged all countries to implement UN sanctions against the North for its nuclear test, even after Pyongyang agreed to return to arms talks.

US Ambassador Alexander Vershbow said the UN Security Council resolution condemning the North's October 9 nuclear test "remains in force until North Korea complies with its terms- that is, until North Korea denuclearises."

Vershbow also praised Pyongyang for agreeing this week to return to six-nation arms talks, but said there was a "long way to go" before the crisis is resolved.

He called on the communist nation to abide by a September 2005 agreement in which it pledged to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for aid and security guarantees.

Vershbow also addressed coming changes to Washington's security alliance with South Korea, and plans for Seoul to maintain wartime command of its troops - a role now held by the top US general in the South.

The US has said it could transfer command by 2009, but the South has asked to wait until 2012.

Vershbow said that South Korea should assume its own wartime command "as soon as possible."

He also said Seoul should pay an equal share of the cost of keeping the US presence in the country, noting that the South has developed into one of the world's leading economies.

"The alliance will be stronger and it will be more popular if (South) Korea is an equal partner, and not a junior partner," Vershbow said . "That's a much more healthy relationship than having the United States, 50 years after the Korean War, in a superior position." (AP)

Africa needs more aid, fairer trade and green revolution:Annan

ACCRA, Nov 2: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has stressed on greater international aid, fairer trade practices and green revolution in Africa to improve the continent's agricultural production.

"Africa needs more and better aid, fairer trade, and a green revolution to improve agricultural production and feed its people," Annan said on Tuesday at the Georgetown University in Washington where he delivered the Oliver Tambo Lecture.

"Development remains the foremost African need, both as an end in itself and as a foundation of security," Annan said.

"My fellow Africans justifiably look to their allies in the international community for strong and sustained support," he said.

Africa lags behind in the race to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to slash a host of social ills such as extreme poverty, hunger, maternal and infant mortality, and a lack of access to education by 2015, he added.

Calling for 'democratic transformation' and good governance in Africa, he said, the continent needs more leaders like Nelson Mandela.

"Now that the tide is turning, and Africans are holding their leaders to account, we have a real opportunity to help Africans help themselves," he said. (AGENCIES)

Bangla adviser flays opposition deadline to prove neutrality

DHAKA, Nov 2: Bangladesh opposition alliance's deadline to the caretaker government to prove its nuetrality by tomorrow has drawn flak from one of the newly-appointed advisers in the interim administration, who said the council does not have any links with politics.

"I'll object to this. We don't have any link with politics. These kinds of statements are very objectionable," Justice Fazlul Haque, who has been alloted Law and Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, said.

"Why would we be under observation? What crime have we done by taking oath for conducting the election in a free and fair manner," Haque said adding such statements were "inviting dangers" to the country.

"These kind of statements are very bad for the country," he was quoted as saying in the local media.

He was reacting to the main opposition Awami League led 14-party alliance's Friday deadline for the caretaker government to prove its nuetrality and meet a set of their demands, including reforms of the election commission.

Awami League leader and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed is scheduled to address a public rally tomorrow when the alliance's ultimatum to the caretaker government expires.

Sources said that the deadline might be extended even as media reports indicated plans of another round of agitation from next week.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's caretaker government headed by President Iajuddin Ahmed took charge of the administration today.

Ahmed allotted portfolios to his Council of Advisors last night, retaining key ministries including home, defence and foreign and the election commission. (PTI)

Iran fires ballistic missiles in war games

TEHRAN, Nov 2: Iran fired its first ballistic Shahab-3 missiles carrying cluster bombs at the start of war games today, Al-Alam television reported.

"Shahab missiles, carrying cluster warheads, with a reach of 2,000 kilometres were fired from the desert near (the clerical epicentre) of Qom," 120 kilometres south of Tehran, the report said.

The air, land and naval maneuvers take place in 14 provinces starting today "with the focus on the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea," the commander of the Iranian elite Revolutionary Guards Corps General Yahya Rahim Safavi had been quoted by television as saying yesterday. (AGENCIES)

Real difficulties in details of Indo-US nuke deal: Jaswant

WASHINGTON, Nov 2: BJP feels that the "real difficulties" in the Indo-US nuclear deal are in its details on restraint on further testing and fissile materials and New Delhi needed to pay special attention to them, its leader and former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh has said.

"The difficulty is not with the direction of the US and India cooperating in nuclear matters but the difficulty is in the details and New Delhi should pay special attention to different aspects of the agreement," he told reporters after a session at the School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University here.

"We must pay attention for example to what was hinted here, to the Nuclear Suppliers Group; the aspect of additional protocol, there is a real difficulty about restraint on further testing, on the question of technological development,"

"There are difficulties on the restraint of fissile materials. Fissile material restraint has to be global and has to be verifiable.These are some of the difficulties," I have no difficulty as long as the direction is correct. But because we did the hard work I also know the pitfalls in the path," the former Minister and Leader of the Opposition maintained.

At the session, Singh partnered with former US deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbot, currently the President of the Brookings Institution, in an 90-minute conversation on the US-India Engagement that took place in the aftermath of the May 1998 nuclear tests of India.

"The US says it (deal) is about non proliferation.The Prime Minister of India says it is about energy. So which of the two is it? These are elementary questions," he said.

Pressed on what is wrong with both being factors in the deal, the former Minister said "If it about both then the Prime Minister must say so to the Parliament".

Singh said India needs to expose long running double standards of the global nuclear regime and yet in exposing joined to share those privileges and thus become partner in double standards.

"India is a part of the solution. India is not the problem and if this is recognized other things ill follow," Singh said referring to the quotation of the former Chinese Prime Minister Chou En Lai, who said "Don’t burn the bridge after you have crossed it".

"The US helped India crossed the bridge to the rest of the world.It helped us do it in 2000...," Singh said.

"The difficulty is not with the direction in which India and the US are cooperating on nuclear matters," Singh said adding "If you pragmatically examine it, there are certain components today of Indo-US relations in which the respective priorities are different.For the US, it is non proliferation.That is not so for India".

Referring to other difficulties, he said "with reference to your climate change, on globalisation, we have difficulties how the USA is an external equaliser when it comes to the neighbourhood of India that is to the detriment of India," the BJP leader said.

"We have to treat (bilateral relations) with a degree of pragmatism.I think the path is correct.Is it a eight lane highway. No it isn’t.You have to negotiate it, you have to manoeuver the path because this is the correct path...It does not mean we will agree on everything all the time.But we must continue to work together," he said. (PTI)