Senegal has been held up as one of Africa's model democracies. It has an established multi-party system and a tradition of civilian rule.

The 40-year rule of Senegal's Socialist Party came to a peaceful end in elections in 2000, which were hailed as a rare democratic power transfer on a continent plagued by coups, conflict and election fraud.

Senegal is on the western-most part of the bulge of Africa and includes desert in the north and a moist, tropical south.

Slaves, ivory and gold were exported from the coast during the 17th and 18th centuries and now the economy is based mainly on agriculture. The money sent home by Senegalese living abroad is a key source of revenue.

A long-running, low-level separatist war in the southern Casamance region has claimed hundreds of lives. The conflict broke out over claims by the region's people that they were being marginalised by the Wolof, Senegal's main ethnic group.

The government and rebels signed a peace pact at the end of 2004, raising hopes for reconciliation.

On the world stage, Senegal has sent peacekeeping troops to DR Congo, Liberia and Kosovo.

War talk, it seems, is all the rage in China at the minute.

Yes, there are serious people in serious publications seriously advocating war.

You might have missed it during all the fuss about Chen Guangcheng, but, for a month now, China has been embroiled in an increasingly bellicose dispute with the Philippines.

So what is going on? Well, strange as it may seem, the two stories may be connected.

At the heart of the issue is what is called Scarborough Shoal by the Philippines and Huangyan Island by China, a little more than 100 miles (160km) from the Philippines and 500 miles from China.

The names are a bit misleading because this is a series of rocks, reefs and small islands stretching across an area of about 150sq km (58 sq miles) of the South China Sea, claimed by both the Philippines and China.

You can see what one "island" looks like here, a screenshot taken from a Chinese TV report yesterday – that is the reporter posing on the rock, and then planting the Chinese flag on it, which gives an insight into the way the issue is being played by China's media.

For a month now, there has been a standoff between Chinese and Philippine fishing and coastguard vessels near the outcrops.

The Global Times, a highly nationalistic English language paper produced by the Communist Party's People's Daily Group, has a useful map that shows how far China's territorial claims extend, on this special page it is now devoting to this 'conflict'.

On Tuesday, China's Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying summoned a Philippine diplomat for the third time in this standoff, and delivered a warning, that China has "made all preparations to respond to any escalation of the situation by the Philippine side".

On Wednesday, the Global Times helpfully explained in its editorial that Ms Fu's "remarks are seen as China sending a sign that it will not rule out the use of force".

The paper explained: "The Philippines needs to be taught a lesson for its aggressive nationalism. For China, the standoff over Huangyan Island is a matter of sovereignty. And now Manila needs to be defeated in this area… If the standoff escalates into a military clash, the international community should not be completely surprised".

For China, sovereignty is one of the key issues it says it will not compromise on, so it is sending strong signals but also boxing itself in.

Unlike the Chen Guangcheng case, which has been heavily censored, China's internet is full of coverage of this story (for a taste, here is the special page created by sohu.com) which says China's sovereignty has been challenged and the Philippines is creating problems.

So it is fair to believe all this coverage is officially approved.

The odd thing here is that the Philippine navy consists of just one proper ship and that is an ancient US Coast Guard cutter which is hardly a match for China's navy, as this online commentary by "The Comparativist" makes clear.

The Comparativist writes: "I think this is happening because the Philippines is so weak. The Chinese government can beat the war drums all they want, and as loud as they want, and no war is going to happen. It's akin to bullying someone in a wheelchair that you know can't punch back."

That's one possibility. China, and its foreign ministry in particular, have been at the receiving end of intense criticism recently, whether over the Chen Guangcheng case or the Bo Xilai scandal.

So building up a row with the Philippines may be a way of trying to look tough, distract public attention, and hype a bit of nationalist fervour.

But there are dangers here too. The president of the Philippines has tweeted this statement this week, making clear that the Philippines believes America will help protect it from any Chinese aggression. So a dispute could lead to a very tense situation.

China's policy in the South China Sea is not a simple matter, directed clearly from the top as the International Crisis Group has detailed, but affected by many different players.

And now we have more escalation. China is now piling commercial pressure on top of the diplomatic and military pressure, halting tourism to the Philippines, tightening inspections of fruit imports and warning its citizens to be careful of their safety during demonstrations planned for Manila on Friday.

It's a dangerous dynamic that could escalate much further yet. We will keep watching.

By MD HUMAIDAN

Published: May 12, 2012 01:01
Updated: May 12, 2012 01:08

Jeddah: It is evident from the huge number of beggars who swarm the city streets, public squares, mosque courtyards, and souks in Jeddah and other cities in the western region that there are some serious shortcomings in the Kingdom’s mechanism to combat this growing phenomenon.

Despite the relentless efforts exerted by the agencies concerned in cooperation with the media to rein in beggary over the last decade, it still remains a headache and a threat to the security agencies as some criminals disguise themselves as beggars to engage in organized crimes.

Even though anti-beggary cops nab scores of beggars on a daily basis, there has been a rising tide of beggars in Jeddah. The official figures from the Ministry of Social Affairs and other authorities indicate that Saudis make up more than 20 percent of beggars. However, we can see most of the street beggars are from other Arab countries as well as from some Muslim countries of Africa and Asia. Saad Al-Shahrani, head of the Office to Combat Beggary in Jeddah, said that nearly 99 percent of beggars in Jeddah are non-Saudis.

 

No accurate figures of beggars available

Speaking to Arab News, a number of academics said that there are no accurate statistical figures about the actual number of beggars in the Kingdom. This is mainly because of the number of beggars being smuggled into the Kingdom from neighboring countries through land and sea routes. According to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Interior, the numbers of smugglers netted by the authorities in last Shaaban and Ramadan alone were 56,791 and 35,566 respectively.

There were several studies and surveys about this phenomenon in the last decade, the latest of which was carried out by a research team from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, headed by Musaed Al-Hudaithy. The study came to the conclusion that the major reasons for the spread of beggary were poverty, unemployment, acute financial problems, ineffective mechanisms to prevent begging as well as the presence of overstayers and gangs who supervise this lucrative illegal business especially by exploiting children.

According to the study, most of the arrested beggars were aged 16 to 25 and over 46. A majority of them were illiterate men with limited incomes. Many married and unemployed men also resort to beggary to feed their large families. The study also showed that beggars use various ploys to seek alms — exploiting children, impersonation, deception and cheating, pretending to be physically or mentally disabled, and showing fake documents and medical certificates.

 

Social, economic,

security impact

Most of the studies highlight the negative impacts of beggary in the social, economic and security realms. These include the spreading of fraud and theft, forging documents, abuse of children, parents encouraging children to beg, increased drug smuggling and sale, rising rates of immoral acts, kidnapping of children, illegal marriage, illegal transfer of money outside the Kingdom and facilitating money laundering.

Speaking to Arab News, several social researchers and academics underlined the need for reviewing the mechanism to combat this dangerous phenomenon. Noted researcher Yousuf Ibrahim said that a major section of society and the authorities concerned are not aware of the serious social and economic fallout of this undesirable practice. He stressed the need for a total revamp of the present system to combat beggary through plugging loopholes and introducing an effective working mechanism to eradicate this problem.

 

Types of beggary,

ploys of beggars

On a tour covering various parts of the city, Arab News saw several beggars roaming about city streets and public places, and employing various ploys in their thriving business. They included many disabled people who sneaked into the Kingdom from some African countries. Their dialect and accent of talking in Arabic showed that they are newcomers to the Kingdom. Some of them pretend to be disabled by using canes, medical splints and wheelchairs. Arab News followed a beggar who seemed to be facing much difficulties in walking even after relying on a walking stick, and seeking alms in Al-Rawdah district. When he was alone, he started walking normally.

There are some beggars who are engaged in selling toys, chewing gum, towels and bottled mineral water as well as a number of duplicate goods at traffic signals. Some local residents noted that beggars use various ploys to cheat the public and grab money from them. They drew attention to the practice of some beggars who travel together with their family members in luxurious cars and approach people claiming that they are coming from outside the city and that they desperately need some money to fill their car tanks.

Arab News also witnessed some cleaning workers hired by the municipality or contracting companies engaged in beggary at traffic signals. Replying to queries, one of them said that their miserable condition forced them to beg. “My monthly salary is SR 800, and most often I received salary only after a few months. I did not receive salary for the last two months,” he said. The worker pointed out that he was struggling to make ends meet and support his family back home. Therefore, he was forced to beg at traffic signals and he saw it as a thriving business for him. “Most often I get a huge amount of money in alms ranging up to SR200 per day,” he said.

 

Kubri Murabba haven of beggars

The Kubri Murabba, the main intersection of Madinah Road and Prince Muhammad Road (Rawdah Street), is a major center for beggars in Jeddah city. Arab News saw a number of beggars, including women, children, and young men, frequenting the traffic signals most of the day and during the night. The majority of them are Arab nationals, and it seemed that they are part of an organized gang engaged in beggary.

Arab News observed a number of elders positioned below the stairs of the overpass surveying the surroundings in order to alert beggars in case any anti-begging squads were coming to catch them. These beggars who are familiar to each other usually gather below the overpass to take their lunch. It was understood that most of these beggars are living in some underdeveloped districts in the city, including Bani Malik and Aziziya. Most of the child beggars are from Yemen and they are unaccompanied while African children engage in begging in the company of their mothers. There are some Afghan children who are accompanied by a male guardian.

Earlier this month, Jeddah police arrested an agent who was allegedly involved in arranging the transportation and distribution of beggars, especially children and the elderly at various spots on Jeddah Corniche as well as at famous commercial malls. The man, a legal resident in the Kingdom, arranged residential facilities for the beggars and collected their money at the end of every day. At a location behind a famous restaurant on Tahliya Street, Arab News saw a number of women beggars from an Arab country. They reach the spot and return home by cab every day.

A number of local residents told Arab News that beggars started regrouping at mosques and their courtyards after a gap of a short period. The mosque authorities recently tried to strictly enforce a directive from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to ban all types of beggary at mosques throughout the Kingdom.

According to the latest report from the shelter home for child beggars at Al-Birr Charity Society, Jeddah, the shelter entertained as many as 8,551 child beggars ever since it started functioning in 2003. The center has so far deported 6,912 inmates while another 1,613 children were handed over to their relatives. Most of these child beggars came from Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Egypt, Nigeria and Yemen.

 

Need to empower relevant agency

Speaking to Arab News, a number of citizens and foreigners criticized the Office to Combat Beggary in Jeddah for the rising tide of beggars in the city. However, Saad Al-Shahrani, head of the office, said it is not the lone responsibility of his office but rather the collective responsibility of a committee comprising officials of eight government agencies. “The office is also not responsible for the beggars without valid iqamas (residence permits). We hand over the arrested beggars to the Passport Department to complete their deportation formalities,” he said, adding his office deals with Saudi beggars, who are very few compared to foreign beggars.

The officials concerned stressed the need to extend more support to the office to fulfill its responsibilities effectively. The responsibilities of the office is not restricted only to handling cases of beggars but also those of housemaids arrested by the Passport Office for illegal acts in addition to housemaids stranded at King Abdulaziz International Airport because sponsors failed to pick them up after their arrival in the Kingdom.

Prominent academic and economic consultant Hamed Muhammad Hunaidi underscored the need for extending much support to the offices to combat begging by making available material and moral support to them.

“The offices would be strengthened with more staffers including officials as well as young Saudi volunteers to carry out an intensive clampdown on beggars. Moreover, stringent punitive measures such as jail terms, flogging, fines, in addition to deportation will be taken against beggars,” he said, underlining the need for ensuring that these deportees would not come back again into the Kingdom. Hunaidi also called for stepping up a massive campaign aimed at raising public awareness about this uncivilized practice and to discourage people from giving alms to beggars.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Wall Street may have lost its most potent spokesman against Washington reforms.

JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon has parlayed his bank’s reputation as a white knight during the financial crisis into a position as the champion of a beleaguered industry fighting against excessive post-crisis regulation.

But the revelation of a shocking trading loss of at least $2 billion from a failed hedging strategy diminishes Dimon’s credibility, and is already unleashing calls to get tougher on big banks.

“The argument that financial institutions do not need the new rules to help them avoid the irresponsible actions that led to the crisis of 2008 is at least $2 billion harder to make today,” said Democratic U.S. Representative Barney Frank, who co-authored the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law.

Details are still emerging about the trading loss, the amount of which could still grow, and about the underlying transactions that Dimon said were done to hedge the firm’s overall credit exposure.

Analysts said it is not yet clear if the trades would have violated the forthcoming Volcker rule reform.

Dimon has been critical of the Volcker rule, a provision in Dodd-Frank that will ban banks from proprietary trading, or trades that are made solely for their own profit.

Regulators are still working to finalize the rule – an initial proposal was released in October – and to define an exemption for hedging.

They have struggled with how to keep the exemption broad enough to allow for bona fide hedging yet narrow enough to ensure that banks cannot pass off speculative bets as hedges.

On Friday, Democratic senators Carl Levin and Jeff Merkley, who wrote the legislative language on the Volcker rule, said the outstanding proposal is flawed because it would give banks the latitude to hedge against portfolio risk as opposed to individual positions.

“That’s a big enough loophole that a Mack truck could drive right through it,” Levin said during a conference call.

Levin and Merkley said the final rule should reverse course and narrow the exemption in light of JPMorgan’s disclosure that the trades gone bad were hedges against its overall credit exposure.

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro, whose agency is among the regulators finalizing the Volcker rule, said on Friday that regulators are monitoring the JPMorgan situation.

“I think it’s safe to say that all the regulators are focused on this,” Schapiro told reporters after speaking at an Investment Company Institute conference in Washington.

Regulators are already getting some heat, particularly since the Federal Reserve recently conducted stress tests to gauge the strength of U.S. banks, which resulted in JPMorgan being allowed to increase its stock dividend.

Terry Haines, an analyst with Potomac Research Group, said it’s a safe bet that the 2013 stress tests will come with much more scrutiny of investment banking activities.

Republican Senator Bob Corker on Friday called for a hearing into JPMorgan’s trading loss, saying policymakers need to know whether the trades in question were bona fide hedges or poorly managed proprietary trades.

PUSH TO GO FURTHER

The trading loss emboldened others to call for even more dramatic reforms than those currently being carried out as part of Dodd-Frank.

The 2010 law stopped short of dismantling the biggest banks or bringing back the Glass-Steagall law that separated federally insured banks from investment banks and insurers.

Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher, who has advocated the breakup of the top five U.S. banks, said on Friday he is worried the biggest banks do not have adequate risk management.

“What concerns me is risk management, size, scope,” he said at a Texas Bankers Association meeting in answer to a question about JPMorgan’s trading loss.

The issue quickly became political with Democrats pointing out that Mitt Romney, the presumed Republican nominee for president, has called for repealing Dodd-Frank.

Andrea Saul, a Romney spokeswoman, noted that JPMorgan’s investors, not taxpayers, will incur any losses from the hedging strategy. “As President, Gov. Romney will push for common-sense regulation that gives regulators tools to do their jobs, and that gives investors more clarity,” she said.

It is unclear if the calls for tougher regulation will translate to anything substantive.

Jaret Seiberg, a senior policy analyst with Guggenheim Securities, said the fact that the bank is able to handle the loss without major damage to its balance sheet is evidence that large banks can handle these types of risks.

JPMorgan is the largest U.S. bank with roughly $2.3 trillion in assets.

“We doubt, however, that many in Washington will share our positive take on the losses,” Seiberg wrote in a note.

A BLACK EYE

JPMorgan emerged from the 2007-2009 financial crisis with the best reputation among big U.S. banks for identifying risk and for staying away from the pitfalls, like too much exposure to the subprime housing market, that damaged its rivals.

With that credibility in tow, Dimon has been vocal with his view that excessive regulation such as stringent capital standards would make it harder for banks to provide loans and help drive economic growth.

“Has anyone bothered to study the cumulative effect of all these things?,” he asked Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in June at a banking conference in Atlanta. “Do you have a fear, like I do, that when we look back and look at them all that they will be a reason it took so long that our banks, our credit, our businesses and most importantly, job creation, started going again?”

While the industry’s all-out lobbying and pressure campaign to soften the impact of Dodd-Frank rolls on, Dimon was quick to admit on Thursday that in the case of the trading loss, mistakes were made and bank executives have “egg on our face.”

The mea culpa, however, does not soften the shot to his reputation.

“This is a black eye and it’s acute because Jamie has been so critical of Dodd-Frank and the regulatory response to the financial crisis,” said Brian Gardner, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. “It undercuts his credibility at least in the short term.”

(Reporting by Dave Clarke, Mark Felsenthal, Alexandra Alper and Steve Holland; Editing by Karey Wutkowski, Tim Dobbyn, Gary Hill)

The Maldives is made up of a chain of nearly 1,200 islands, most of them uninhabited, which lie off the Indian sub-continent.

None of the coral islands measures more than 1.8 metres (six feet) above sea level, making the country vulnerable to a rise in sea levels associated with global warming.

With its abundant sealife and sandy beaches, The Maldives is portrayed by travel companies as a tropical paradise.

The economy revolves around tourism, and scores of islands have been developed for the top end of the tourist market.

Aside from the island capital Male, outsiders are only permitted onto inhabited islands for brief visits, thereby limiting their impact on traditional Muslim communities.

Most tourists are taken straight to their island hideaway by seaplane or speedboat, where they are free to drink alcohol and get luxurious spa treatments, insulated from the everyday Maldives, where alcohol is outlawed and skimpy beachwear frowned upon.

Many Maldivians live in poverty. However, the country has developed its infrastructure and industries, including the fisheries sector, and has boosted health care, education and literacy.

The Maldives was hit by the December 2004 Asian tsunami. Homes and resorts were devastated by the waves, precipitating a major rebuilding programme.

There is a fear that as sea levels rise, island countries such as the Maldives, and some Pacific territories, will simply be swamped and disappear.

The New Renault Duster, a strong and reliable SUV with genuine off-road ability, was officially unveiled at the 2011 Dubai International Motor Show by Mr. Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing Renault Formula One driver and Mr. Mustansir Lakdawala, Managing Director of Renault GCC.

The New Renault Duster is a particularly versatile 4×2 and 4×4 vehicle, which combines a spacious interior with saloon-car comfort, while its compact footprint and high ground clearance ensure that it is at home in and about town as it is on country roads or off the beaten track.

The New Renault Duster will be available across the GCC from the 7th of May 2012 in 4×2 4-speed AT and 4×4 6-speed MT versions powered by a 2.0 16V (135 hp) engine, especially tested in the GCC.

To confirm the New Renault Duster’s strength and reliability, the new vehicle covered the equivalent of four million kilometers in a wide range of climates and in particularly punishing conditions. One month of rigorous testing in GCC conditions prior to launch was carried out few months ago to make sure all standards of Renault quality will be met and the vehicle conforms to GCC specifications and requirements

Mustansir Lakdawala, Managing Director of Renault GCC said, “We took into consideration the needs of customers aiming to own a modern car as a badge of social progress, but what they want most of all is a robust, reliable and versatile SUV vehicle they can afford. We had to take GCC extreme climate factors into account, as well as driving conditions that could be rough and varied (long distances, jammed roads)..,so we took on the challenge of offering an all-terrain vehicle that was less complex but still reliable and affordable, that combined the design of a real 4×4 with the comfort of a saloon, it’s a very popular concept specially following the world economic crisis, which hit household budgets hard and made many people think twice before buying a new car.”

Benoit Turibe, Marketing Director of Renault GCC, added, “Duster is enjoying great success everywhere, since it has gone on sale it achieved more than 280,000 units worldwide, it’s present in Europe, Africa, India, South and Latin America. Duster has received more than ten awards from the international trade press. These include the “2011 4×4 of the Year” prizes in France and Argentina, “2011 Car of the Year” in Croatia and Russia, the “Autobest 2011″ prize in Germany and the “Golden Steering Wheel” award in Romania. We took our time to test the New Renault Duster under GCC conditions in order to offer our customer the best level of quality. With its shockingly affordable price tag and its inner qualities, we expect the New Renault Duster to have the same success in this region as it has every where else.”

The New Renault Duster was designed to be versatile and to provide the driver and occupants with the same reassuring ride when it is driven in and about town, on trunk roads and motorways, or when taken off-road.

The New Renault Duster also boasts a spacious, comfortable interior and a high standard of safety.

Today’s all-terrain vehicles are often synonymous with bulk, but the New Renault Duster is an antidote to that idea. With a length of 4.31 metres and a width of 1.82 metres, the New Renault Duster is very compact but roomy.

From the front, it exudes an impression of toughness: the wide wheel-arches, the imposing lines of the chrome grille and the sump guard clearly emphasise the 4×4 DNA of the New Renault Duster. Seen from the side, the high ground clearance, clearly defined wheel-arches and protective mouldings encourage the driver to tackle even the toughest roads and tracks.

Despite its compact footprint, the New Renault Duster is a very spacious car, with five people able to travel in total comfort. Rear passenger headroom (seat cushion to roof) is 895mm, knee room is 183mm and elbow room amounts to 1,438mm, enabling it to comfortably seat three adults at the rear, where there is also ample space to fit child seats.

Depending on version, the New Renault Duster benefits from up to 475dm³ VDA of boot space, which is also very competitive. The practical, modular interior includes a folding rear bench seat, with a 60/40-split function available on certain versions. With the rear bench seat fully folded, carrying capacity is extended to up to 1,636dm³ VDA (depending on version).

There are several pack options available on the New Renault Duster,” The Modularity Pack” on the PE version is meant to enhance the driver’s comfort, as it contains 1/3 – 2/3 split folding rear bench seat, height adjustable driver’s seat, height adjustable (tilt) steering wheel and height adjustment on front seatbelts.

“The Safety Pack” on the PE version is made to keep every Renault Duster passenger safe as it has ABS with Emergency Brake Assist, front passenger airbag (deactivatable), front side airbags and unlock alarm (visual and audible) on front passenger seatbelt.

And for an enhanced appearance the New Renault Duster offers the “Exterior Look Pack” on the SE version; it has satin chrome door mirrors, satin chrome longitudinal roof rails, front/ rear skid plate add-ons with satin chrome appearance paint, side skirt cover with satin chrome appearance paint, extra tinted rear windows, rear quarter glass and rear windscreen.

SE version comes with “Safety Pack” and has front side airbags and pyrotechnic pretensioners on the front seatbelts. It also has a “Leather Safety Pack” with dark leather seats with front side airbags and pyrotechnic pretensioners on the front seatbelts.

A comprehensive range of accessories (including wing extenders, broad side protectors for doors, lateral bars…) will complete this selection of packs.

Inside, the PE trim level is clad with Grey Carbon fabric upholstery, with Dark Carbon trim on the steering wheel, gear knob insert and handbrake console. The central front panel, air vent surrounds and front door handles are in Star Grey tone.

The SE trim level fabric upholstery is Shiny Brown with Shiny Brown accents on the steering wheel, handbrake console, central front panel, air vent surrounds and front door handles. There are Shiny Brown decorative strips on the front door panels. The gear knob insert on the SE is in satin chrome finish.

The New Renault Duster’s dashboard is modern, uncluttered and functional. Particular attention has been paid to its ergonomics to ensure that the controls are conveniently positioned and that driving data is easy to read.

The New Renault Duster was designed to cope with all types of road and track, all over the world. In order to meet these wide-ranging needs, The New Renault Duster will be available in both 4×4 6-speed MT and 4×2 4-speed AT versions. The 4×2 4-speed AT version has been designed for customers who want good ground clearance and a reassuring elevated driving position, as well as loose-surface ability, but who don’t have a real need for all-wheel drive.

The strengthened underside of the New Renault Duster is suitable for loose-surfaces and all-terrain use thanks to:
- High ground clearance of 205mm for the 4×2 4-speed AT version in the urban environment and an equally useful 210mm for the 4×4 6-speed MT version,
- Short overhangs (822mm at the front, 820mm at the rear),
- Best in class clearance angles (30 degrees for approach angle; 24 degrees ramp break over angle for the 4×2 4-speed AT version and 22 degrees for the 4×4 6-speed MT version; 36 degrees departure angle for the 4×2 4-speed AT version and 35 degrees for the 4×4 6-speed MT version).

The New Renault Duster is a vehicle that is easy to use. Combined with compact dimensions, this ensures that the New Renault Duster is particularly agile.

The New Renault Duster is built on the B0 platform which is widely acclaimed for its strength, reliability and durability.
At the front, the suspension is MacPherson-type with rectangular lower arm and anti-roll bar.
At the rear, the suspension on the 4×4 6-speed MT version is MacPherson-type with multi-link, while the rear suspension on the 4×2 4-speed AT version comprises of a flexible H-beam with spiral springs it’s strong and permits a large boot, which is a key consideration for our customers.

Both solutions deliver a comfortable ride and allow high ground clearance.

The New Renault Duster 4×4 6-speed MT version is equipped with a new six-speed gearbox with a short first ratio (5.79kph per 1,000 rpm) which allows the vehicle to travel at very slow speed on uneven terrain, and improves performance as you pull away from standstill with heavy loads or on steep slopes.

This simple, efficient and economical solution was favoured in order to meet the needs of Renault Duster customers.
The TL8 gearbox offers:
- optimized output thanks to a single gearbox and module architecture which limits the number of gears engaged, and thanks to the use of a low-viscosity lubricant;
- compactness: gearbox and gearshift module are positioned alongside each other with a view to freeing up cabin space and keeping interior roominess;
- controlled mass: on the TL8 gearbox, the short first gear, instead of a transfer box, optimizes the number of gears engaged (and thus the mass) for a maximum level of performance;
- a solution to keep the cost down : the TL8 gearbox is derived from the TL4 gearbox which is produced in high volume within the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

The 4×4 control located on the lower part of the centre console allows drivers of the New Renault Duster 4×4 to easily adapt the vehicle’s configuration to their needs.

This control permits three modes:

- In AUTO mode, the front/rear torque split is calculated automatically as a function of available grip. This mode has been developed to provide the best compromise between road holding and traction, no matter what the level of grip may be. In normal conditions, the torque is transmitted through the front wheels only. If traction is lost, or when grip is at a premium, some of the torque is transferred to the rear wheels. This split is performed by an electromagnetic torque converter supplied by Nissan.
- In LOCK mode, the driver electronically locks the transmission in 4×4 mode. In this mode, throttle control and braking are also adapted for 4×4 use. This mode is recommended when grip is low (snow, mud, dirt, sand) and at low speed.
- In 2WD mode, the transmission is locked into two-wheel drive. This mode is suited to driving on good roads and reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The New Renault Duster’s occupants will appreciate the high standard of travelling comfort it provides, whatever the type of road or terrain, thanks to its high ride-height (205mm in 4×2 4-speed AT version and 210mm in 4×4 6-speed MT version) and specific work on its suspension (damper travel, springs and calibration). Comfort is further enhanced by the New Renault Duster’s long wheelbase (2.67m) and big 16-inch wheels, alloy wheels are available.

Drivers enjoy a reassuring, high-up seating position which gives them better visibility of potential hazardous situations, while all versions are equipped with safe, precise power steering that delivers a good standard of driving pleasure. Depending on trim level, the driver’s seat comes with height adjustability to help find the ideal driving position. Drivers are also pampered by the height-adjustable steering wheel (Depending on trim level) and user-friendly steering wheel-mounted controls.

Thermal comfort has been engineered to meet the challenge of the GCC punishing climate. Particular care has been taken with the routing of ducts to ensure fast cooling after starting in extreme heat.

The 4×2 4-speed AT and 4×4 6-speed MT versions of The New Renault Duster can be ordered with a 2.0 16V Petrol 135 hp petrol engine, which has already proven itself under the bonnets of numerous other models produced by the Renault group.

This engine delivers less than 200g/ Km of CO2 emission it has low running costs, strength and easy maintenance that Renault customers seek.
The 4×2 4-speed AT version is available in two trim levels, the entry PE and the upper SE. The 4×4 6-speed MT version is available in the upper SE trim level to enhance the off-road versatile driving experience for keen customers.

Like all the vehicles based on the B0 platform, the New Renault Duster has been engineered to deliver the Renault Brand’s hallmark strength and reliability.

Particular attention has been paid to anti-corrosion protection thanks to several measures:

- wax-injected underbody and opening panel hollow sections,
- mastic sealing of exterior joints,
- additional wax treatment of underbody mechanical components,
- stone chip protection for underbody, sills and wheel arches.

The 4×4 running gear uses tried and tested components, sourced from the Renault- Nissan Alliance (Nissan rear axle and coupling, new six-speed TL8 gearbox derived from the TL4 gearbox that has been well-proven in the Renault and Nissan ranges).
In order to underline its high build quality, new Renault Duster is backed up by a standard manufacturer’s warranty of up to three years or 100,000km, whichever comes first across the GCC.

Renault GCC has developed a strong 360 degrees innovative and connected marketing campaign to communicate about the “Shockingly Affordable” positioning of the car. The campaign started the first week of May with a teaser phase on TV and digital landing to a special internet page developed specially for the new Renault Duster, the reveal will follow on the 7th of May in order to engage people on social media and raise attention.

The entire campaign will be supported by local mirror campaign from Renault importers in the region from 7th of May, 2012.

GUNTOWN, Mississippi (Reuters) – The man suspected of killing a Tennessee woman and her teenage daughter in order to kidnap the woman’s two younger daughters has been charged with murder and is now the most-wanted fugitive in the country, officials said on Wednesday.

Adam Mayes, 35, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Jo Ann Bain, 31, and her oldest daughter, Adrienne, 14, on April 27, the day of their disappearance, according to court records in Hardeman County, Tennessee.

Bain’s two younger daughters, Alexandria, 12, and Kyliyah, 8, are missing, and authorities believe they are being held by Mayes, who is considered armed and dangerous.

Mayes’ wife, Teresa Mayes, 30, was also charged with first-degree murder in the case, court records show.

Mayes was considered a friend of the Bain family and was with them at their rural western Tennessee home on the morning of their disappearance, a statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said. Jo Ann Bain’s husband reported the four missing from their home that day.

According to the statement, Mayes killed Jo Ann and Adrienne Bain at their home, and he and Teresa Mayes then drove the bodies and two younger girls to Mayes’ mother’s home near the northern Mississippi town of Guntown, the statement said.

It added that he buried the bodies in a shallow grave behind the house, where they were discovered last weekend.

According to the court affidavits released on Wednesday, Teresa Mayes, who was arrested on Sunday along with Mayes’ mother, Mary Mayes, told investigators that Adam Mayes’ intent was to take the two younger girls from their home. That motive led to the murders. Investigators declined to elaborate.

Investigators said they still believed the two younger Bain girls were alive, which limited how much they can say about the investigation and manhunt.

“We must be cautious not to release any information that could put the lives of these young girls in jeopardy,” Daniel McMullen, FBI special agent in charge, Mississippi, said at a news conference in Guntown.

The FBI has placed Adam Mayes at the top of its “Ten Most Wanted Fugitive List,” partly to draw more resources into the manhunt, FBI investigators said on Wednesday. A total of $175,000 in reward money is now offered for his capture.

Mayes was last seen in Guntown on May 1, and while authorities focus the search on northern Mississippi, they said he had connections in several other states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

“He could be en route to any of those states,” McMullen said.

In addition to the murder charges, Adam and Teresa Mayes are charged with multiple counts of “especially aggravated kidnapping” for the abduction of the younger Bain girls. Mayes’ mother is charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit especially aggravated kidnapping.

Mayes’ wife and mother are in Hardeman County Jail. A preliminary hearing for both is scheduled for May 22.

(Reporting by Emily Le Coz; Writing by Dan Burns; Editing by Paul Thomasch and Xavier Briand)

David Cameron has hailed the coalition's plans for the year ahead as a "Queen's Speech to rebuild Britain".

But Lords reform is likely to prove the most hotly-contested measure, with some Conservative MPs likely to fight plans for a smaller and mostly-elected second chamber.

In a joint statement, Mr Cameron and his Lib Dem deputy Nick Clegg said: "The primary task of the government remains ensuring that we deal with the deficit and stretch every sinew to return growth to the economy, providing jobs and opportunities to hard-working people across Britain who want to get on."

But they insisted pushing ahead with Lords reform was in the best interests of the country.

"We believe that power should be passed from the politicians at Westminster back to the people of Britain, which is why we will keep the promise in our parties' manifestos and reform the House of Lords, because those who make laws for the people should answer to the people."

Labour's Sadiq Khan said it was "not clear" how ministers planned to reform the House of Lords, or whether it remained a priority for the government. He also noted it made no mention of a referendum.

Proposals to give parents the right to request flexible working, such as fewer hours and job sharing, throughout their working lives also appear to have been dropped.

And there was no mention of legalising gay marriage, which will please some Conservative backbenchers who have criticised it as a distraction from fixing the economy, but the Home Office said it remained committed to introducing same-sex civil marriage "by the end of this Parliament" and a consultation was "still ongoing".

Planned reforms to adult social care in England also look a way off after the much-delayed publication of a government White Paper, which is now expected in the summer.

A bill to make it easier for the police and security services to intercept personal data has been published in draft form only, allowing for greater scrutiny before it becomes law, will please Lib Dem and Tory backbenchers angry at what they saw as plans for a "snooper's charter".

There is also a measure to deal with negative headlines generated by Chancellor George Osborne's decision to increase tax on charitable donations from the super rich, announced in last month's Budget.

A Small Donations Bill will provide a top up payment similar to Gift Aid to charities that receive small cash donations of £20 or less, enabling them to claim 25p for every £1 collected in the UK, on up to £5,000 of small donations.

In his Commons response to the speech Labour leader Ed Miliband also questioned why Lords reform was in the speech when senior ministers had said it was not a big priority.

He contrasted it with the absence of other coalition pledges, such as reforming adult social care, enshrining in law a commitment to spend 0.7% of national income on foreign aid and reform of lobbying rules.

He said Mr Cameron's proposals showed the government "just don't get it".

A massive arms cache has been uncovered in eastern Democratic Republic Congo on the farm of renegade soldier Bosco Ntaganda, the army has told the BBC.

CNDP had transformed itself into a political movement and soldiers, led by Gen Ntaganda, were integrated into the Congolese army under a 2009 peace deal.

A recent statement said CNDP has formed a military wing called M23 – under the sole command of Col Sultani Makenga, who has also defected from the Congolese army.

Col Gahizi, who is the army operations commander in North Kivu, told the BBC's Great Lakes Service the move was based on "lies", dismissing it as a way of distancing Gen Ntaganda from the rebellion.

He said three trucks full of machine guns, rifles and grenades had been found by the army in the areas of Singi, Mushake and Kirorirwe.

The army says it has regained control of the entire eastern area of Masisi and has declared a ceasefire, giving the rebels until Thursday to surrender.

Late on Tuesday night, there were clashes in the Kibumba area, which is close to the provincial capital Goma, after Gen Ntaganda tried to cross into the Virunga National Park, Col Gahizi said.

Tens of thousands have fled their homes in the area, after weeks of fighting.

The Congolese authorities say they want to arrest Gen Ntaganda but put him on trial themselves, rather than sending him to The Hague.

As well as Lubanga's UPC rebel group, Gen Ntaganda was also part of the CNDP militia which threatened to invade Goma in 2009, leading some 250,000 people to flee.

He and his troops were integrated into the national army later that year, before defecting in April.

People in and around the town of Goma blame them for persistent unrest – including looting and rape – since the formal end of DR Congo's war in 2003.