World demand for natural gas to exceed demand for oil:Report

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 29: The world demand for natural gas would increase in the coming decades and exceed the demand for oil by 4.4 per cent yearly until 2020,according to a report.

The report, issued by Kuwait-based Global Investment House yesterday also predicted that the proportion of world natural gas to total global energy would rise to 28 per cent in 2030 from 2005's 23.5 per cent.

"Technological progress, specifically in the transport and communication sector, will be a major factor for increased dependence on natural gas as a source of energy in the Middle East area between the years 2003 and 2030," the report said.

It revealed that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states held 25 per cent of the world's proven natural gas reserves as early as the end of 2005.

Four member states of the six-member GCC, namely Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait, were among the 20 largest countries in natural gas reserves worldwide, ranking third, fourth, fifth and 20th, respectively. (AGENCIES)

US probes Chavez link to US voting machine firm-NYT

WASHINGTON, Oct 29: The US Government is probing whether a takeover last year of a leading US voting machine maker by a software company with links to Venezuela gave President Hugo Chavez's leftist government control over its operations, the New York Times reported

on Saturday.

The Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States, a multi-agency panel that approves or rejects foreign takeovers, is conducting a formal inquiry into Smartmatic Corp and its subsidiary Sequoia Voting Systems, which is based in Oakland, Calif, the Times reported in its online edition.

Smartmatic and the Venezuelan government officials have strongly denied that Chavez -- a longtime foe of the Bush administration -- has any role in Smartmatic, the Times said.

A US Treasury Department spokeswoman declined to comment in the Times story on whether CFIUS was conducting a formal probe, but did confirm the panel had contacted the company.

Venezuela hired Smartmatic to replace its election machines ahead of the August 2004 referendum that tapped Chavez as president, the newspaper said.

In March 2005, Smartmatic used the 120 million dollars profit from its Venezuela deals to buy Sequoia, which has installed voting equipment in 17 US states and the District of Columbia, it said.

Before that, a Venezuelan government financing agency invested more than 200,000 dollars in a technology company that had some of the same owners of Smartmatic, which joined Smartmatic as a minor partner in the bid.

In return, the Venezuelan agency took a 28 per cent stake in the smaller company and a seat on its board of directors, the Times said. An unnamed, senior Venezuelan official who had previously advised Chavez on election technology occupied the board seat. (AGENCIES)

Fidel Castro shown on Cuban TV, walking, reading

HAVANA, Oct 29: Cuban leader Fidel Castro defiantly dismissed rumors that he was dead on Saturday in television images showing him walking, talking on the telephone and reading the day's newspapers.

In the first images of him issued in six weeks, Castro said he was taking part in Government decisions, following the news, and making regular phone calls as he recovers from emergency intestinal surgery in late July.

''Now that our enemies have prematurely declared me dying or dead, I am happy to send my compatriots and friends around the world this short film material,'' Castro said.

''Now let's see what they say. They will have to resurrect me,'' the gray-bearded leftist firebrand said.

The images showed a gaunt-looking Castro browsing through Saturday's ruling Communist Party daily Granma, walking slowly out of a lift in a track-suit and talking on a telephone in a loud, clear voice.

A television presenter said the images, aimed to quell rumors of Castro's death started by Cuban exiles in the United States, were recorded yesterday afternoon.

Castro's prolonged absence from public view set off rumors in recent weeks that the 80-year-old leader was dead and change imminent in Cuba, one of the world's last communist-run nations.

The rumor mill was fueled last week by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva when he inadvertently implied Castro was dead and by a Caracas newspaper report that said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Cuba's main ally, had visited Havana secretly to say good-bye to Castro.

Castro was forced to relinquish power temporarily for the first time since his 1959 revolution to his younger brother Raul on July 31 after undergoing surgery to stop intestinal bleeding.

Earlier this month, Time magazine quoted an unnamed US official saying that Castro had terminal cancer.

Cuban officials have denied Castro has stomach cancer and insist he is recovering gradually and will return to lead the country. But they have given no details of his illness, which are a closely guarded state secret.

Raul Castro, 75, has not been seen in public for three weeks. Camera-shy and less charismatic then his brother, Raul hosted a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement of developing nations in September when the president failed to appear.

Cuba has remained calm in Castro's absence. Most Cubans expect their leader to appear in uniform on December 2 for a military parade marking the 50th anniversary of his landing with a handful of guerrillas to start an armed uprising in the Sierra Maestra mountains of eastern Cuba.

Castro called the rumors of his death ''foolish'' and said they stimulated him to continue ''working and fighting.''

He ended his video message with his usual slogan ''Patria o muerte, venceremos!'' (Fatherland or death, to victory). (AGENCIES)

Punjabi Society honours NRI filmmaker Jas Phander

LONDON, Oct 29: An organisation representing Punjabis here has honoured NRI film producer Jas Phander for his film 'Indian Babu'.

At a function to celebrate Diwali here last night, British Minister for Prisons and Security in the Home Ministry, Tony McNulty presented the award to Phander.

Phander produced 'Indian Babu' in 2002 followed by Shikar in 2005. His latest Punjabi film 'Rabne Banaya Jodiya' (God has created the pair) will be released worldwide on November 10.

The Punjabi Society of British Isles also honoured Mangat Lamba, Chief of Gaylords restaurant, for his contribution to the food industry and making Indian food popular in the UK.

Baroness Sandip Varma and Mohammed Sheikh were honoured on their appointment as members of the House of Lords.

Speaking on the occasion, McNulty praised the NRIs for their economic success and the way they had integrated with the British society.

Dignitaries present on the occasion included Madhav Chandra, Minister (Political) in the High Commission, Rami Ranger, NRI industrialist and philanthropist and R N Bindra, president of the Society. (PTI)

Al-Qaeda terror suspect released without being tagged

LONDON, Oct 29: An Al-Qaeda terror suspect, who is absconding after being released from a prison here, was not electronically tagged to monitor his whereabouts, a report said here.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was picked up in Pakistan and deported here. He is one of two alleged terrorists who had absconded while under control orders, The Observer stated.

Control orders are methods imposed on terror suspects by the British Government to restrict their movements and other liberties outside conventional prisons to prevent any unlawful activity.

The other absconder, an Iraqi, was tagged and placed under a strict reporting regime because he was deemed a threat to national security.

However, security sources said that the untagged man was not considered a significant risk because he was allegedly seeking to kill British troops in Afghanistan and not attack domestic targets.

"It is up to the intelligence services, not the police, not the Home Office, to identify who should be placed under a control order. It has to be proportionate and necessary," a security source said.

The unidentified man was picked up in Pakistan by the country's intelligence service ISI in 2005 and questioned over several months by Mi6, the British intelligence service, before being deported to Britain, where he was first considered a sufficient security threat to be imprisoned in Belmarsh maximum security prison. (PTI)

Bush tries to shift campaign focus to taxes ...

WASHINGTON, Oct 29: President George W Bush, struggling to boost Republicans at risk of losing control of the US Congress, has said his tax cuts were spurring vibrant economic growth and accused Democrats of wanting to raise taxes.

''Cutting your taxes worked,'' Bush said in his weekly radio address. ''Unfortunately, the Democrats are still determined to raise your taxes, and if they gain control of the Congress, they can do so without lifting a finger.''

In a campaign dominated by growing concerns about the unrelenting bloodshed in Iraq, Bush has had trouble gaining traction for his economic message.

Polls show Democrats have a good chance of seizing control of the House of Representatives and possibly also the Senate in the November 7 election.

Democrats contend Bush's cuts in tax rates on income and investments have overwhelmingly favored the wealthy.

They say Bush's economic policies have racked up huge deficits, while failing to help middle-class Americans struggling with lackluster wage gains and rising costs for health care and college tuition.

Bush said the tax reductions were helping families achieve ''the American dream.''

Many of Bush's tax cuts are schedule to expire in 2010. Democrats say they favor tax relief for the middle class.

While the US economy grew briskly in the first half of this year, fresh data from the Commerce Department showed it slowing down amid a cooling off in the once-sizzling housing market.

Gross domestic product grew at sluggish 1.6 per cent in the three months ended in September, the government said.

Bush said the slower pace of growth had been expected but added, ''The evidence still points to a vibrant economy.''

In the final 10 days before Election Day, Bush plans a blitz of campaign appearances. He was headed on Saturday to Indiana for a campaign rally and to South Carolina for a fund-raiser and a speech to troops at Charleston Air Force Base.(AGENCIES)

Japan,US, Canada, EU to take WTO action against piracy in China

TOKYO, Oct 29: Japan, the United States, Canada and the European Union will take concerted action against China at the World Trade Organization to press Beijing to crack down on illegally copied and pirated products.

Washington is expected to bring the case to the global trade body as early as next week.

Tokyo, Ottawa and Brussels will later join the dispute as third parties, the officials said yesterday.

Businesses in these countries claim to be suffering huge losses due to illegally copied DVDs, CDs and fake brand products sold in China.

Hence, their governments have decided to file a complaint with the WTO, arguing Beijing is suspected of violating the WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual P roperty Rights, or TRIPS, they said.

The upcoming action will spell increased international pressure on China over the piracy issue.

Japan, the United States and some European countries have begun preparatory work to create an international convention intended to prevent the spread of illegally copied and pirated products.

Chinese authorities impose no criminal penalties on those who make or sell counterfeit goods if the total value of confiscated products is less than a certain amount.

In the planned action at the WTO, the United States and other countries will urge China to broaden the subject of its criminal prosecution in dealing with piracy.

Under WTO rules, the countries will first hold consultations with China after filing the suit. (AGENCIES)

Tycoon Henry Fok dies at 83

HONG KONG, Oct 29: Hong Kong tycoon Henry Fok has passed away in Bejing after a long battle with cancer. He was 83.

Fok, who was dignosed with cancer in the early 1980s and again in 2003, died yesterday. He had been hospitalised in Beijing for several months to receive treatment from the country's top medical experts. Fok was also vice-chairman of a top government advisory body.

The family was sad about the loss, said his son, Hong Kong lawmaker Timonthy Fok in Beijing today.

"It came quite suddenly last night. The only comforting thing is the family was with him. Some state leaders were also able to bid farewell to him," he said, adding that the funeral would be simple and held in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang also expressed his condolences to the family.

"The passing away of Mr Fok is a sad loss to the country and to Hong Kong," Tsang said in a statement.

Born to a poor family, Fok had become a successful businessman after the Second World War with investments in property, hotel, restaurants, casinos, hotel and petroleum. He had also invested in piers and port facilities in his home town in the Nansha Island and the city of Panyu, near the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

The tycoon had also made sizeable financial contributions to support sports on the mainland.

Fok was a member of the China's legislature, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, from 1988 to 1993, and became vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in 1993. (AP)

Imam sex row could hurt Muslims in Australia, PM warns

SYDNEY, Oct 29: Prime Minister John Howard warned today comments by Australia's top Islamic cleric about women and rape could do lasting damage to the Muslim community's relations with the rest of the nation.

Howard was speaking against a background of spiralling protest and anger over the cleric's description of immodestly-dressed women without an Islamic headscarf as "uncovered meat" inviting sexual attack.

Riot squad officers were among a strong police force dispatched to a major Islamic festival to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan in Sydney today, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The cleric, the Mufti of Australia Sheikh Taj Aldin al-Hilali, cancelled his planned appearance at the festival, which was expected to draw up to 35,000 people, in the wake of the uproar over his remarks.

Howard said he did not have the power to sack the Mufti, but called on Islamic leaders to deal with him.

"The responsibility to resolve this matter sensibly rests with the Islamic community," Howard told reporters. "I don't appoint him, I can't dismiss him."

He urged the Islamic community "to resolve this matter in a way that promotes the interests of harmony in our community and promotes the view Islamic Australians are fully integrated into Australian society.

"If this matter is not properly handled by the Islamic community I am concerned that their failure to do so will do lasting damage to the perceptions of that community within the Australian community," Howard said.

"His remarks were totally unacceptable -- full stop." (AFP)

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