ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Sunday 11 November 2012 26 Dhul-Hijja 1433 - Volume 17 Number 5515 Price: QR2 Qatar capable Al Shamal stun of facing shale Al Wakra; Qatar gas challenges SC thrashed Business | 21 Sport | 29 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Kuwait marks 50 Khalfan fires years of charter KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait yesterday marked the golden jubilee of its constitu- tion with a spectacular $15m fireworks fresh salvo at display which earned the state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. “I am happy to verify that with 77,282 fire- works, a new Guinness world record has been set tonight” in Kuwait City, a representative Brotherhood of Guinness World Records announced on Kuwait television at the end of the display. On November 11, 1962, the late Emir Islamist body ‘dividing Sunnis’ Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah promul- gated the constitution for Kuwait to become DOHA: Controversial Dubai leader of one of the biggest the first Arab state in the Gulf to issue a Police Chief Dhahi Khalfan Arab countries, who should constitution and have a parliament. has fired a fresh salvo at the actually be opposing Israel, is The Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Muslim Brotherhood and said fondly describing its president Al Sabah reiterated in a televised speech the that while Ayatollah Khomeini as ‘dear friend’.” government’s unwavering commitment to divided Muslims along sectar- Taking another dig at Mursi democracy and called for national unity as ian lines (Shias and Sunnis), and his Brotherhood-led rule the state goes through a bitter political crisis. the Islamist body was creating in Egypt, the Dubai police chief Fireworks light the sky near the Kuwait Towers during celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, called for a wedge within the Sunni sect said Jerusalem was still occupied Kuwait’s constitution, in Kuwait City, yesterday. Kuwait marked the celebrations with a spectacular Kuwait to revoke a ban on demonstrations and of Islam. by Tel Aviv and Israeli flags were respect the people’s right to peaceful assembly. $15m fireworks display which earned the state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. In a bitter Brotherhood- flying in some Arab capitals. See also page 10 bashing which seems to be his “This was understandable favourite pastime, Khalfan said during the former regimes (a on his Twitter account yesterday reference to Hosni Mubarak’s that he expected the Islamist government), but Islamists are organisation to face popular in power now and that they are revolt after two years. reconciling to the situation is Labour complaints drop sharply in Qatar Daring country heads of something baffling.” the Brotherhood (known as Brotherhood operatives are DOHA: A senior official of the following intervention by the benefits, air tickets or non-pay- the Ministry in just three min- Murshids) to set foot on the using Twitter to communicate Ministry of Labour has said Ministry and only 10 percent are ment of salaries. “We can access utes. There is no much waiting, Gulf soil, he said they would be in the GCC but the latter would that the number of complaints it referred to the court, he added. data about any worker using his despite that the Ministry receives taken into custody the moment never ever fall into their hands, received from expatriate workers Most companies and employers are ID or visa. All the data related between 1,500 to 2,000 contracts they arrive here. “They are mafia Khalfan said on the Twitter. has dwindled significantly and a now showing readiness to resolve to foreign workers are saved daily at its various branches. bosses and so they shouldn’t be “Where is Libya’s petrol wealth majority of the disputes are now the disputes at the Ministry. electronically and can be easily “We continuously hold meetings spared.” going?” he asked, sarcastically, being resolved amicably. Only few of them are not respond- accessed when necessary,” said with firms and businessmen to raise Khalfan pooh-poohed Egypt’s launching a veiled attack on the The Ministry currently ing positively and that too due to the Al Shawi. awareness on workers’ rights. We Brotherhood rule and taking aim Brotherhood which is in com- receives 350 to 400 complaints financial or other problems they are The ministry provides interpret- also work jointly with the Qatar at President Mohammed Mursi, mand in Libya as well. “It’s a from workers every month. facing, said the official. Once the ers to assist the workers to lodge Chamber with this objective,” it but without naming him, he said simple question,” he said. “Earlier we used to get a about Ministry receives a complaint, it a complaint. The complaints re said. The Ministry has distributed it was ironical that he (Mursi) An outspoken Khalfan was, 1,000 complaints monthly,” Saleh tries to find an amicable settlement being received at the main offices a workers’ guide to all the foreign should refer to Israeli President however, soft on Iran and said Al Shawi, public relations direc- in one week. If this fails the case of the Ministry or at its different embassies to create awareness Shimon Perez as ‘dear friend’. whatever “our differences with tor at the Ministry told Al Sharq. will be referred to the court. branches in the Industrial Area, among the foreign workers being “Indeed, we are living today the country, it is after all a neigh- Some 90 percent of the dis- The majority of the complaints Muntazah and Al Khor. recruited to the country before in a world ruled by the Israelis,” bour of the GCC”. putes involving workers and the are from construction workers He said employers can now their arrival in Qatar. Khalfan said satirically, “as the Continued on page 6 employers are settled amicably and are related to end-of-service process contract documents with THE PENINSULA 25m Arab women ‘unmarried’ DOHA: There are an esti- spinsters each of marriagea- a staggering 700,000) account mated 25 million women aged ble age, according to the study for nearly 70 percent of the 24 and above in the Arab world conducted in 14 Arab countries overall local (citizens) female — including the Gulf region in 2010 by ‘Alrai’ newspaper population. — who remain unmarried of Kuwait, the social network- Bahrain with a figure of and large numbers of them ing site said. These are just 450,000 ranks next followed have crossed the marriage- rough estimates and not actual by Kuwait (70,000) and Qatar able age of 35, says a research figures. (30,000). Statistics for Oman whose findings were posted on As for other countries, Syria were not available but rough a social networking site here and Lebanon have a share of estimates suggest the ratio of yesterday. 700,000 and 450,000 each in the women in marriageable age Egypt, the country with the total spinster population. might not be less than 10 per- largest population in Arab Studies conducted in Jordan cent of the country’s female world, alone accounts for more show that the average marriage- population. than one-third (nine million) of able age of women has risen up Kuwait has taken some steps the total number of spinsters in to 30 while the average is 32 in to rectify the situation and nar- Arab world, followed by Algeria the case of men. row the gap with the parliament (four million), Iraq (three mil- Saudi Arabia tops the GCC recommending that state mar- lion) and Yemen (two million). states in terms of the number of riage loans worth 6,000 dinars Countries like Sudan, women aged 24 and above who (QR60,000) be given away to Morocco, Tunisia and Saudi are unmarried. Next is the UAE those eligible. Arabia have 1.5 million where spinsters (estimated at Continued on page 6 New Doha Port US plans $6.7bn jet deal with Saudi WASHINGTON: The United States plans a $6.7bn sale of 20 heavy cargo aircraft and five refuelling planes to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon announced, in a deal to be approved by Congress. The deal includes the cost of training, logistical support, parts and associated equipment for the aircraft. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency said the pro- posed sale of 20 C-130J-30 Super Hercules planes and five KC-130J An aerial view of the QR27bn new Doha port taking shape. Strategically aircraft — an extended-range located between Mesaieed and Wakra, the port will have a new base tanker version of the C-130s— for Qatar Emiri Naval Force and a marine canal for Qatar Economic would sustain Saudi Arabia’s “aging fleet”. Congress has 30 days to raise Zone 3. See also page 6 objections, otherwise the deal will be concluded. AFP SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2012 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Dhow fest from Tuesday DOHA: The second Festival in the region, from Bahrain, Kuwait, The festival will be held annual Dhow Festival the Second Annual the Kingdom of Saudi until November 17, at will open on Tuesday Dhow Festival will Arabia, UAE, Qatar Katara’s Esplanade. under the patronage of showcase over 100 and Oman. Owners and The dhow festival the Emir H H Sheikh dhows which consist crews of the dhows will Committee Manager, Hamad bin Khalifa of 13 different types of be present to meet and Ahmed Al Hitmi, said: Al Thani, Katara, dhows from across the greet visitors, sharing “Building on the success of the Cultural Village Gulf. secrets of the trade in last year’s Dhow Festival we announced yesterday.