Incorrect figures

Dear Sir,

The report, “High incidence of colon cancer among Qatari population”  (Gulf Times, October 27) makes alarming reading.

But, it appears some figures stated in the report do not tally and seem incorrect.

It is stated 20.8% of male Qataris have colon cancer. How can it be when only 396 Qatari males were recorded to have cancers in the Cancer Registry between 2003 and 2007.  May be 20.8% of male Qatari cancer patients have colon cancer.

Similarly, the statement “breast cancer affects 45.7% Qatari female population” is incorrect since only 459 patients are recorded in the Cancer Registry between 2003 and 2007. This statement may have to be changed as “45.7% of Qatari female cancer patients have breast cancer”

P S Pai, PO Box 2642 Doha

The next superpower

Dear Sir,                    

China will be the world’s next superpower by 2016. Following the Fukushima disaster in Japan, scientists in China made a staggering announcement that they had developed a different type of nuclear reactor, one that did not rely on conventional fuel rods but instead thousands of billiard-ball-sized fuel elements, coated in graphite, each meant to do a fuel rod’s work, but also to ensure that in a nuclear emergency, there would be no meltdown.

The International Monetary Fund now says that in 2016 China will be the world’s largest economy. It has built and deployed the world’s fastest computer and the world’s fastest long-distance train. China’s military capabilities are being enhanced every day. This includes electronic and cyber communications.

It was Napoleon who once said, “When the Chinese dragon awakens, the world will tremble”.

Farouk Araie farouk.araie@telkomsa.net

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