NYT Global Update -September 29, 2012-: Sole Canadian Held at Guantánamo Bay Is Repatriated

September 29, 2012 Global Update   TOP NEWS Sole Canadian Held at Guantánamo Bay Is Repatriated By IAN AUSTEN Canada's government had vigorously resisted calls and a court order to bring back Omar Khadr, who was 15 years old when he was captured by American forces in Afghanistan. In Syria's Largest City, Fire Ravages Ancient Market By ANNE BARNARD and HWAIDA SAAD A vast and well-preserved labyrinth of storehouses, schools and courtyards in Aleppo was damaged on Saturday as fierce clashes between security forces and insurgents continued. Better Off Than They Were Nine Years Ago, Georgian Voters Ask: At What Cost? By ELLEN BARRY The parliamentary election has become a referendum on the trade-offs of the so-called Rose Revolution.  Slide Show Global Edition Home Page »

World Slide Show: Georgians Confront Revolution's Legacy in Vote Nine years after reformers took power, Georgians are gearing up for parliamentary elections on Monday. Related Article Opinion Op-Ed Columnist 40 Days of Night By CHARLES M. BLOW The problem for Republicans that has led to President Obama widening his lead in the polls has a name: Willard Mitt Romney. Columnist Page

WORLD Fleeing Syrians Struggle in Countryside Amid Indiscriminate Violence By C. J. CHIVERS Unable to pursue the rebels on the ground through the farmland and mountains of Idlib and Aleppo Provinces, government forces drop bombs and shell villages where rebels are active, endangering civilians. Bahrain Faces Riots After Boy Dies in Protest By REUTERS The riot police sought to subdue protesters hurling stones as a funeral march for a young demonstrator killed the day before turned violent. Pope's Former Butler on Trial In Theft of Personal Papers By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO The trial of Paolo Gabriele comes as the Roman Catholic Church is racked by a pedophilia scandal, internal disputes and challenges to preserve its moral authoritativeness within rapidly changing societies. More World News » BUSINESS A Guitar Maker Aims to Stay Plugged In By JANET MORRISSEY Fender, the guitar company made famous by the likes of Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, is facing big challenges amid the fickle tastes of Wall Street and the music industry. Slide Show: Keeping the Music Alive | Video Bound to Sea but Buried in Debt, Spain's Fishermen Blame Bloc's Policies By RAPHAEL MINDER A decline in fish stocks, rising operating costs and a sharp economic downturn have devastated much of Spain's coastal economy and intensified criticism of subsidies. Meg Whitman's Toughest Campaign: Retooling H.P. By QUENTIN HARDY The former eBay chief and gubernatorial candidate has found her Act III at Hewlett-Packard. But the challenge of re-energizing the company for a new information era is daunting.  Video: Hewlett-Packard Looks for a Turnaround More Business News » TECHNOLOGY Apple Apologizes for Misstep on Maps By NICK WINGFIELD and BRIAN X. CHEN The problems with Apple's new mobile maps were embarrassing, but the company has a tendency to bungle services that rely heavily on the Internet. Bits Blog As Apple's Maps Stumbles, AOL's MapQuest Flourishes By JENNA WORTHAM Apple's map application debacle has been a boon for MapQuest, which had been eclipsed in the era of in-car GPS and smartphones. Australians Surge in Quest for New Class of Computer By JOHN MARKOFF Teams based at the University of New South Wales have made advances toward building a quantum computer, which could help tackle a new class of problems. More Technology News » SPORTS Soccer Roundup Spanish Connection Sparks Chelsea By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Chelsea remained unbeaten in England's Premier League after Saturday's 2-1 victory at Arsenal. Americans Keep Rolling In Morning Foursomes By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY Encroaching on traditional European territory, the United States, helped by another victory by Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, took a commanding 8-4 lead. Rookies Give Americans an Early Edge By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY Strong showings from Keegan Bradley, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson helped the United States take a lead over Europe at the Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club. More Sports News » U.S. NEWS Supreme Court Faces Crucial Rulings in Coming Term By ADAM LIPTAK The justices, starting on Monday, are expected to take up same-sex marriage, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and affirmative action in higher education. Political and Class Issues Complicate a Colorado Land Dispute By JACK HEALY Bill Koch's effort to acquire some public land, including a piece that cuts through his 4,500-acre ranch, has run into hostility from his neighbors.  Slide Show San Francisco's New Archbishop Worries Gay Catholics By NORIMITSU ONISHI Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, who will be installed on Thursday as the leader of the San Francisco Archdiocese, led the fight against same-sex marriage in California. More U.S. News » OPINION Op-Ed Columnist The College Rankings Racket By JOE NOCERA The U.S. News & World Report's annual list promotes status at the expense of affordable education. Columnist Page Op-Ed Contributor When the Music Changed By KYLE JARRARD Mom urged me to fill the moral vacuum with piano lessons and endless hours of practice. That was fine by me. More Opinion »

GATA | THE GATA DISPATCH -September 29, 2012-: Qatar worried about value of dollar and euro

Qatar worried about value of dollar and euro

Submitted by cpowell on 01:36PM ET Saturday, September 29, 2012. Section: Daily Dispatches By Angus McDowall
Reuters
Saturday, September 29, 2012

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/29/us-qatar-investment-idUSBRE88S...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Wealthy Qatar, a major investor in U.S. and European assets, worries that haphazard attempts by countries to shore up their economies could weaken the dollar and the euro, its prime minister said.

"What should happen is we should have a full package with a full strategy to solve the problems," Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, who also heads the country's sovereign wealth fund, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), told U.S. financial broadcaster CNBC in an interview aired on Friday.

This month the U.S. Federal Reserve announced a program of heavy purchases of mortgage-backed securities in an effort to boost employment, but the U.S. government has so far failed to reassure financial markets that it has an effective plan to cut its budget deficit and boost economic growth.

The European Central Bank has also said it will buy bonds to protect economies from the euro zone debt crisis, but governments of weak countries such as Greece and Spain have not persuaded investors their debts can be cut to safe levels.

Sheikh Hamad said the central banks were right to act to prevent worse crises, but added: "With more printing money, without having a strategy, I believe the value of the money will go down very soon."

He did not give details of the economic measures which he believed Western countries should be taking, but said the risk of further volatility in markets was making investors such as Qatar cautious. Analysts have estimated the size of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund at around $100 billion.

"There are some questions with no answer up to now," he told CNBC.

However, Sheikh Hamad added that Qatar would retain holdings of strategic stocks and buy when prices dropped, and that it would continue to make new investments in promising assets.

He said he was optimistic about the longer-term future of the banking industry, since better regulation and capital-raising would strengthen banks after some years. He noted that QIA had a strategic stake in Credit Suisse and owned about 1 percent of Bank of America and 5 percent of Santander Brasil among other banks.
The gas-rich Gulf state has bought more than $5 billion or $6 billion of real estate assets over the last four to five months, mostly in the United States and Europe, Sheikh Hamad said. "If there is some good opportunity, why not?" he said of investing in crisis-hit Europe.

Qatar, which owns just over 12 percent of Xstrata (XTA.L), will help to determine the success or failure of Glencore's $32 billion offer for the miner.
Glencore was forced earlier this month to raise its bid price, offering 3.05 new shares for every Xstrata share instead of 2.8, after Qatari pressure. As a condition, however, Glencore imposed its own chief executive and largest single shareholder, Ivan Glasenberg, at the head of the combined group.

Xstrata's directors face a Monday deadline to decide their position on Glencore's higher offer.
Sheikh Hamad told CNBC: "We have no problem with the new price," but added, "Other aspects (of the proposed deal) have to be studied." He declined to elaborate.

This week Reuters quoted banking sources as saying Qatar Holding, one of the country's investment vehicles, was in advanced talks to buy a 49-percent stake in Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista's gold firm AUX for about $2 billion.

Qatar Holding subsequently issued a statement denying that such talks had taken place.
However, asked about Qatar's intentions towards AUX, Sheikh Hamad told CNBC: "We're studying it. Still there is no commitment from our side." Details of the proposal need to be presented to the board, he added without elaborating.

* * *
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New Orleans Investment Conference
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New Orleans, Louisiana
http://www.neworleansconference.com/

NYT Politics -September 28, 2012-: Romney Continues to Hit Obama on Defense Cuts and Foreign Policy

September 28, 2012

Politics

The Caucus

Romney Continues to Hit Obama on Defense Cuts and Foreign Policy

By ASHLEY PARKER

Speaking to his second military group in two days, Mitt Romney hammered President Obama over cuts to military spending, as well as of his handling of foreign policy issues.

The Caucus

Debate Challenge? What to Call Your Opponent

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR

Will it be "Mr. President" or "the president" when Mr. Romney refers to his rival? Will Mr. Obama talk about the "governor" or "my opponent"? Or will "Mitt" and "Barack" slip out?

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The Debate Expectations Dance

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Presidential debates are coming up, and it's time to lower expectations for your campaign and raise the bar for your opponent.

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For Americans, Being 'Better Off' Is a Matter of Perspective

By JAMES B. STEWART

Those who have done well don't seem more likely to vote for President Obama, and those with less money appear to be least likely to vote for Mitt Romney.

•  Graphic: Wealth Builds Confidence
•  Video: Are Americans Better Off?

Off the Charts

Viewing the Economy Through Campaign-Trail Glasses

By FLOYD NORRIS

Over the short term, several trends would appear to favor President Obama; longer term, they seem to reflect Mitt Romney's views.

•  Graphic: Off the Charts: Looking Better, or Looking Bad?

White House Move to Give Egypt $450 Million in Aid Meets Resistance

By STEVEN LEE MYERS

Lawmakers in Congress wary of foreign aid in general, and of Egypt's new leadership in particular, protested the infusion of cash.

Petraeus Eyes Presidency of Princeton, Article Says

By SCOTT SHANE

In response to the article in the university newspaper, David H. Petraeus, the C.I.A. chief, issued a noncommittal statement that did not deny an interest.

The Caucus

Frontline Documentary Explores the Lives of Romney and Obama

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

On Oct. 9, PBS will air "The Choice," a Frontline documentary exploring the formative experiences, decisive moments and worldviews of President Obama and Mr. Romney.

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John Sununu's a Teddy Bear

Interview by ANDREW GOLDMAN

Just don't get him started on the president.

FiveThirtyEight

Sept. 27: The Impact of the '47 Percent'

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There's a case to be made that a video of Mitt Romney's remarks to donors did damage his standing some.

Multimedia

Photographs: The 2012 Presidential Campaign, Week by Week

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NYT Global Update -September 28, 2012-: White House Move to Give Egypt $450 Million in Aid Meets Resistance

September 28, 2012

Global Update

TOP NEWS White House Move to Give Egypt $450 Million in Aid Meets Resistance By STEVEN LEE MYERS Lawmakers wary of foreign aid in general, and of Egypt's new leadership in particular, protested the planned infusion of cash, which the Obama administration disclosed to Congress on Friday. Ousted From Party in China, Bo Xilai Faces Prosecution By EDWARD WONG Beijing officials announced Friday that the disgraced politician had been expelled from the Communist Party and would be prosecuted on criminal charges. The state news agency also said the party congress was scheduled for Nov. 8. Government Scientist Raises Doubt on Murder Case Evidence Times Topic: Bo Xilai China Alters Its Strategy in Diplomatic Crisis With Japan By JANE PERLEZ There are hints that the government was tacitly encouraging the nationalistic demonstrations against a former enemy, and has now decided to rein them in. Territorial Disputes Involving Japan Global Edition Home Page »

Arts Video: The Sweet Spot | September 28, 2012 David Carr and A. O. Scott discuss the turmoil that art and speech can create in the world. Opinion Op-Ed Contributor Flexing the Wrong Muscles By NASSRINE AZIMI The Chinese and Japanese don't need to love each other, but pragmatic realism is to their mutual benefit.

WORLD Aleppo Fight Intensifies, as U.N. Warns of Rising Flow of Refugees By ANNE BARNARD, HWAIDA SAAD and NICK CUMMING-BRUCE The United Nations' human rights body voted on Friday to strengthen and extend the term of the commission gathering evidence of abuses in Syria. Video Feature: Watching Syria's War Man Tied to Anti-Islam Video Held on Probation Charge By BROOKS BARNES The man suspected of making the anti-Islam video that set off deadly protests across the Muslim world is accused of violating an order in a bank fraud case that restricted his use of the Internet. Dozens Escape in Deadly Iraqi Prison Break By TIM ARANGO and DURAID ADNAN A group of militants laid siege to a prison near Tikrit and an ensuing gun battle left at least 15 police officers dead and more than 80 prisoners on the loose, officials said. More World News » BUSINESS Spain Needs $76 Billion for Its Banks, Audit Finds By RAPHAEL MINDER The independent banking assessment was well below the potential 100 billion euros, or $128.6 billion, in bailout money Spain negotiated with the euro zone in June. Despite Public Protests, Spain's 2013 Budget Plan Includes More Austerity Hollande's New Budget Focuses on Cutting France's Deficit By STEVEN ERLANGER Although he was elected on a pro-growth platform, the first budget from President François Hollande instead emphasizes freezing government spending and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Germany and France Join to Support Tax on Financial Trades 3:03 PM ET Stocks Down for the Day, Up for the Quarter By REUTERS Wall Street finished its best third quarter since 2010, but signs of weakness in the economy on Friday pushed stocks lower. More Business News » TECHNOLOGY Bits Blog Tim Cook Apologizes for Apple's Maps By BRIAN X. CHEN Complaints and jokes about Apple's new maps have not stopped since the company released iOS 6 last week, a software update that replaced Google's maps with its own. Now the company's chief executive, Tim Cook, is apologizing. David Pogue: A Map App, as Sleek as iPhone 5, Is Often Off  Slide Show: A Maps App With Problems F.C.C. Approves Auction Process for Spectrum By EDWARD WYATT The rules would let television broadcasters to be paid to voluntarily give up some of their public airwaves, which would then be auctioned to cellphone companies for wireless Internet service. U.S. Is Tightening Web Privacy Rule to Shield Young By NATASHA SINGER Federal regulations intended to curb the collection of data from young Internet users without their parents' permission might cause companies to stop creating child-centric sites. More Technology News » SPORTS On a Familiar Stage, Garcia Hopes to Deliver By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY Sergio Garcia took the golf world by storm when he broke onto the scene in the late 1990s. Little has happened since. But the Ryder Cup has him positioned finally to show off his game. Hamilton Joins Mercedes as Schumacher Departs By BRAD SPURGEON Lewis Hamilton is moving to Mercedes, replacing seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher in a major shakeup that also sees Sergio Pérez going to McLaren. Price Paid for Foreigners Upsetting Some Russian Soccer Players By ROB HUGHES FC Zenit has spent $100 million for two foreign players, causing a stir with its own home-grown players. Other Russian teams are pursuing similar deals to attract international stars. More Sports News » U.S. NEWS Veterans Wait for Benefits as Claims Pile Up By JAMES DAO A crushing inventory of claims for disability, pension and educational benefits has overwhelmed the Department of Veterans Affairs. Pinning Hopes on a Digital Fix for Veterans' Claims  Graphic: Picking Up the Pace, but Still Falling Behind Pinning Hopes on a Digital Fix for Veterans' Claims By JAMES DAO A new technology based on digitized records may help speed the processing of veterans' disability claims. Man Thought to Be Behind Anti-Muslim Film Is Arrested By BROOKS BARNES Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, who has many aliases, prosecutors say, was arrested Thursday on parole violations. More U.S. News » OPINION Op-Ed Contributor When Growth Outpaces Happiness By RICHARD A. EASTERLIN It is startling to find that Chinese people's feelings of well-being have declined in a period of such momentous improvement in their economic lives. Op-Ed Columnist The Psych Approach By DAVID BROOKS There are strong links between our childhood experiences and adult lives. The emotional basis of success should have a bigger role in education. Columnist Page | Blog Op-Ed Columnist Europe's Austerity Madness By PAUL KRUGMAN Here's why the protesters in Spain and Greece are right that inflicting more and more pain serves no useful purpose. Columnist Page | Blog More Opinion »