ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Thursday 17 October 2013 12 Dhul-Hijja 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5855 Price: QR2 Twitter picks Pakistan NYSE for sense win in IPO listing Abu Dhabi Business | 14 Sport | 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Senate leaders Eid festivities at Souq Waqif strike deal to avert default US stalemate ‘a shameful chapter’ WASHINGTON: US Senate conservatives who had demanded leaders took a giant step yes- changes to President Barack terday toward averting a global Obama’s healthcare law before fiscal shock by unveiling a plan they would agree to fund the to raise the nation’s debt ceil- government. ing and end the government “Our drive to stop the train shutdown. wreck that is the president’s The deal between Senate healthcare law will continue,” Majority Leader Harry Reid Boehner said in a statement, add- and Republican leader Mitch ing the House had fought Obama McConnell gives President “with everything it has” and he Barack Obama most of what he would not block the bipartisan had demanded for months: A Senate agreement. straightforward debt limit hike Republican Senator John and government funding bill. McCain of Arizona called the With the government’s borrow- political stalemate, which rattled ing authority set to run out today, financial markets and partially Thousands of visitors watching performers from ‘Circus: Mother Africa’ at the outdoor theatre near Al Souq Street on the first day of the Souq Waqif House of Representatives Speaker shuttered the federal government, Eid Al Adha Festival yesterday. Visitors witnessed an eclectic mix of performances by various artistes at several venues around the souq. John Boehner said he would allow “one of the most shameful chap- See also pages 2 & 3 ABDUL BASIT the deeply divided House to vote ters I have seen in the years I’ve on the Senate plan for a short- spent in the Senate”. term increase in the debt limit Lawmakers are racing to pass a and a government reopening. It deal before the US Treasury hits is expected to pass with mostly its $16.7 trillion borrowing limit, Iran talks serious Pilgrims stone Democratic votes. which is expected by the end of India tops Global The agreement would extend the day today. The government and candid: US US borrowing authority until will have enough cash on hand to the devil as February 7, although the Treasury meet its obligations for a few more GENEVA: The United States Department would have tools to days, but officials have warned an described two days of nuclear Haj nears end temporarily extend its borrow- economically devastating default talks with Iran as the most seri- Slavery Index ing capacity beyond that date if could quickly follow. ous and candid to date after MINA: Throngs of pilgrims Congress failed to act early next Democratic leaders said House diplomats said Tehran hinted it LONDON: An estimated 30 of children — human trafficking took part in the symbolic ston- year. The agreement also would Democrats would provide the was ready to scale back sensitive million people worldwide are and forced labour. ing of the devil ritual for a fund government agencies until votes necessary to get the agree- atomic activities to secure urgent living in modern-day slavery, The countries with the high- second day yesterday in Mina January 15, ending a partial gov- ment passed even if a majority sanctions relief. according to the inaugural est prevalence of modern slavery Valley, as the Haj neared its end. ernment shutdown that began with of House Republicans oppose it. “I’ve been doing this now for about Global Slavery Index published were Mauritania, Haiti, Pakistan, Pilgrims said the stoning ritual the new fiscal year on October 1. In the House, there now are 232 two years,” a senior administration yesterday. India, Nepal, Moldova, Benin, had proved easier to perform this The Republican-controlled Republicans and 200 Democrats, official said. “And I have never had The index, compiled by the Ivory Coast, Gambia and Gabon. year due to the lower numbers. House and the Democrat- with three vacant seats. A bill such intense, detailed, straightfor- Walk Free Foundation (WFF), Moldova was the only European The head of the hi-tech controlled Senate were expected needs 217 votes to pass. “We’ll get it ward, candid conversations with the said that while India by far had nation in the top 10. Command and Control Centre to approve the fiscal deal soon, done,” Democratic Representative Iranian delegation before.” White the largest number of enslaved The index describes Mauritania for Hajj Security, Major General clearing the way for Obama to Steve Israel of New York, head of House spokesman Jay Carney ech- people, the problem was most as a nation with “deeply Abdullah Al Zahrani, said two sign it into law before the debt the party’s congressional campaign oed the remarks. Follow-up talks prevalent in the west African entrenched hereditary slavery”, factors had played a role. “The ceiling is reached late today. committee, told reporters. between the six powers and Iran will nation of Mauritania, where four while “people in slavery may be reduction in the number of pil- The deal represents a bruising AGENCIES be held in Geneva on November 7-8. percent of the population was bought and sold, rented out and grims and the correct implemen- political defeat for Republican See also pages 6 & 9 REUTERS deemed to be held in slavery. given away as gifts”. Russia came tation of the security plan have The WFF hopes the index will 49th, China 84th, United States contributed to the better organi- help governments to monitor 134th, France 139th and Britain sation of this year’s Haj,” he said. and tackle what it calls a “hid- joint bottom on 160. The centre has installed more Meteorite found den crime”. “A lot of govern- In terms of total numbers, the than 5,000 cameras to monitor all ments won’t like hearing what countries with the most people in the holy sites, including 1,200 at we have to say,” Chief Executive modern slavery were estimated the Grand Mosque. The centre in Nick Grono said. to be India (13.95 million), fol- Mina has a large number of tel- Established in May last year, lowed by China (2.95 million) and evision screens that receive live the WFF is a 20-strong team Pakistan (2.1 million). The report videos round the clock from the based in Perth, founded by phi- estimated that 72 percent of peo- holy sites. lanthropists Andrew Forrest — ple in modern slavery live in Asia. The faithful began the stoning the chairman of Fortescue Metals In India, “by far the largest rituals on Tuesday. Yesterday, Group — and his wife Nicola. It proportion of this problem is the they threw seven pebbles at each has the backing of former US sec- exploitation of Indian citizens of the three pillars in a ritual they retary of state Hillary Clinton, within India itself, particularly will repeat over the next two days. Britain’s ex-prime minister Tony through debt bondage and bonded Authorities announced spe- Blair, current Australian PM labour”, the report said. cial measures to be implemented Tony Abbott and philanthropists Among the top 10, the WFF today around the Grand Mosque, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and said Moldova and Ivory Coast where many of the pilgrims will Mo Ibrahim. were working hard to address have their final circumambulation The foundation’s definition of the issue, but efforts in the top (Tawaf) around the Holy Kaaba modern slavery includes slavery three — Mauritania, Haiti and and start leaving for their home itself, plus slavery-like practices — Pakistan — are “token at best countries. The Haj comes to an A meteorite on display on the bank of the Chebarkul Lake, after it was lifted from the bottom of the lake, 80km such as debt bondage, forced mar- and non-existent at worst”, the end officially tomorrow. AFP west of Chelyabinsk, yesterday. The meteorite exploded over central Russia in February 2013, raining fireballs riage and the sale or exploitation report said. AFP See also page 5 over a vast area and causing a shock wave that damaged buildings and injured more than 1,000 people. Philippine quake toll rises to 151 Suspects in British woman’s murder taken into custody LOON, BOHOL: Survivors of a DOHA: The Ministry of details about the murder, the social media late last Sunday. chose not to carry the report host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. huge earthquake that killed 151 Interior has confirmed that a incident would not have led to This newspaper contacted the with sketchy details and with no Such crimes are taking place people in the Philippines rum- young British woman teacher speculations. Capital Police but they refused to confirmation forthcoming from everywhere in the world so why maged hopelessly through ruins was murdered here and that And the international media either deny or confirm. An offi- either the Qatari authorities or target Qatar alone, questioned for relatives, as rescue work- suspects have been taken into would have in that case relied cial at the police station said the the British Embassy. many commentators. The Qatari ers struggled to reach isolated custody. on factual details of the incident Public Relations Department of Meanwhile, as evidenced from media came in for scathing attack communities. Full report on page 11 The case has been referred to given by their Qatari counterpart. the Interior Ministry should be public reaction in the local social by social media commentators, the Public Prosecution which will A lack of official information contacted for information.