new law to boost competitiveness

TUESDAY | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | DHUL HIJJAH 29, 1436 AH
P20 . China leads Asian market rally
VOL. 34 NO. 333 | PAGES 32 | BAISAS 200
P31 . New playgrounds and luxury at sea
P27 . Dutch face exit as Euro hopes slump
Inside
Chief Executive Officer
DR IBRAHIM BIN AHMED AL KINDI
Thai court issues warrant for Thaksin 
Nepal’s new prime minister takes charge 
India invites Sudan president for summit 
Editor-in-Chief
ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI
Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising
PO Box 974, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
www.omanobserver.om
FOLLOW US ON:
OMAN
HM ISSUES
Muharam moon
sighting unlikely
MUSCAT: Astronomical calculations
conducted by the Ministry of Endowments
and Religious Afairs indicate that the
sighting of Muharam crescent today
will be diicult in all governorates of the
Sultanate as it depends on the weather
conditions and only by using telescopes.
In Muscat Governorate the moon is visible
23 minutes after the sunset. In Salalah
the moon is visible at 6:27 pm and sunset
occurs at 6:04 pm, at the point of sunset
the moon will be 13 hours and 58 minutes
of age. The moon will be better sighted in
the southern part of the Sultanate by the
use of telescopes in the event that the sky
is clear.
[email protected]
2 ROYAL DECREES
Decree promulgates Muscat Municipality Law
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos
yesterday issued two Royal Decrees.
Royal Decree No 38/2015 promulgates
Muscat Municipality Law.
Article 1 of the Royal Decree states
that Muscat Municipality Law attached
to this Decree shall be applied.
Article 2 stipulates that the Chairman
of Muscat Municipality shall issue the
regulations and decisions necessary for
the implementation of this law.
Till such time that these bylaws are
issued, the regulations and decisions in
force shall continue to be applied without
prejudice to the provisions of this Decree
and the attached law. Article 3 cancels
the Muscat Municipality Law issued
under Royal Decree No 8/92, as well
as all that contradicts this Decree (No
38/2015) or the law attached herewith or
contravenes their provisions.
Article 4 says that this Decree shall be
published in the Oicial Gazette and be
enforced on the day following its date of
publication.
Royal Decree No 39/2015 approves
the Organisational Structure of Muscat
Municipality.
Article 1 stipulates that the
organisational structure of Muscat
Municipality shall be approved in
accordance with the Annex attached to
TO KEEP TEMPO AGAINST INDIA
Expatriates make up
44.4% of population
WORLD
Poverty expert wins
Nobel Economics
STOCKHOLM: US-British
microeconomist Angus Deaton won the
Nobel Economics Prize on Monday for
groundbreaking work using household
surveys to show how consumers,
particularly the poor, decide what to buy
and how policymakers can help them.
“By emphasising the links between
individual consumption decisions and
outcomes for the whole economy, his
work has helped transform modern
microeconomics, macroeconomics and
development economics,” the Royal
Swedish Academy of Sciences said.
REPORT ON P12
REGION
Haj tragedy toll
crosses 1,600
RIYADH: The death toll from last month’s
stampede at the Haj has risen to at
least 1,608, according to tallies given by
foreign oicials, making it the deadliest
incident in the pilgrimage’s history.
Hundreds of pilgrims have also not been
accounted for following the September
24 stampede at the Haj, one of the
largest annual gatherings in the world.
But many foreign governments have
provided numbers on pilgrims killed
from their countries and an AFP tally
shows the death toll has overtaken the
earlier igures. SEE ALSO P13
INSIDESTORIES
P7
TALIBAN CAR BOMB TARGETS
BRITISH MILITARY CONVOY
P9
WITH RENEGOTIATION AHEAD,
BRUSSELS ‘WAITS FOR DAVID’
RO 130m
Musandam
Power Project
launched
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
Oct. 12: Musandam Power Company
(MPC), a joint venture between Oman
Oil Company (OOC), holding a 70 per
cent stake, and LG International Corp,
holding a 30 per cent stake, laid the
foundation-stone for the construction
of Musandam Independent Power
Plant (Musandam IPP) worth RO 130
million in Tibat, Wilayat of Bukha, in
Musandam Governorate.
Speaking on the occasion, Isam bin
Saud al Zadjali, Chief Executive Oicer
of Oman Oil Company, said: “his is a
signiicant step for Oman Oil Company
as we continue to expand our projects
locally, which have been instrumental
to generate multi-regional industrial
hubs across the Sultanate. Our strategy
comes along with the government’s
vision of diversifying the economy
resources and support the development
plans. his new plant, which is expected
to be commissioned by end of 2016, is
part of a major integrated development
comprising the development of
Musandam Governorate.”
REPORT ON P17
UPBEAT: Steps to promote Oman as business destination
VINOD NAIR
MUSCAT
Oct. 12: Key areas of concern and
curiosity for investors coming to
Oman are issues related to ease
in doing business, especially with
regards to quick approvals, visa
clearances and ownership rights.
he new investment law which
is expected to be unveiled soon
will help aggressively improve
the Sultanate’s competitiveness
as a business destination, besides
boosting facilities like online
registration of companies.
His Highness Sayyid Faisal
bin Turki al Said, Ithraa’s
Director-General for Investment
Promotion, said “to promote
Oman and package the country
to investors, we must be
able to present details about
the investment climate and
opportunities for which we are
closely working with diferent
port and airport authorities and
industrial estates.
“As we visit any country to
To promote
the Sultanate
and package
the country
to investors, we must
be able to present
details about the
investment climate and
opportunities.
MUSCAT
0
HH SAYYID FAISAL
Ithraa’s Director-General
promote Oman, we ensure that it
is always followed up by trying to
know about the serious investors
and whether they match our
requirements and propositions. I
would always want to how much
serious our investors are about
coming to Oman.”
He said the challenge investors
face or worry about is not peculiar
to Oman and some of them
0
MAX: 32 C
MIN: 250C
NIZWA
MAX: 40 C
MIN: 250C
SUNRISE 06.01 AM
PRAYER TIMINGS
FAJR: 04:45
DHUHR: 11:52
ASR: 15:13
MAGHRIB: 17:42
ISHA: 19:12
0
Y | SEP
TUE SDA
Oct. 12: Against a recent revelation that a
fast food chain uses cooking oil for three
days, the health department at the Muscat
Municipality has said that using edible oil for
more than three times is a punishable ofence.
Any fast food joint or eateries found to be
violating this rule will be booked and slapped
with a ine ranging from RO 200 to 500 and
other legal actions upon repetition of the
ofence.
he Observer has earlier reported that a
fast food chain is using oil for three days ater
chemically enhancing its longevity and the
P20
TEM BER
29, 201
HIJJAH 15,
5 | DHU L
s for
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es
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MUSCAT:
more cable
President d
received al Adha from
Mohammeent of
Eid
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Presid
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d
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the Unite of Dubai, Shaikh
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Supreme the
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Zayed
bin
i and Depu Forces in
of Abu Dhabr of the Armed d al Jaber al
Commandeh Nawaf Al Ahme it, Tammam
UAE, Shaik n Prince of KuwaLebanese
Sabah, Crow Minister of the llah, Chief
llah Abdu Nabil
Salam, Prime
Dr Abdu
Dr
Republic, of Afghanistan, l of the
enera
Executive
Madani,
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al Araby e and Iyad Amin on of
Leagu
Organisati P2
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eneral of
RT ON
Secretary-G eration. REPO
Islamic Coop
NORTH AL BATINAH
467,224 223,556
SOUTH AL SHARQIYAH
190,118 88,958
AL DAKHILIYAH
325,247 96,056
NORTH AL SHARQIYAH
164,534 87,195
AL DHAHIRAH
143,695 49,992
AL WUSTA
23,018 18,421
DHOFAR
198,318 194,199
MUSANDAM
26,468 15,063
AL-BURAYMI
52,005 51,588
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occu
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oil
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SALALAH
CRACKING
THE WHIP
ON ERRING
EATERIES
KABEER YOUSUF
MUSCAT
GROWTH 0.7%
cannot be changed overnight.
“he current crisis that we face
due to our over-dependency on
oil ofers a golden opportunity
to diversify the economy and we
must ease the process of doing
business here.”
HH Sayyid Faisal was
speaking to the Observer on the
sidelines of the meeting held for
Indian investors visiting Oman.
“he scale of foreign investment
interest we are seeing from India
is a vote of conidence in Oman’s
long-term economic plan.”
Investment
lows
between Oman and India
are demonstrated by the fact
that there are over 1,500 joint
ventures in the Sultanate with
an investment of $7.5 billion
of which Indian investment is
estimated to be at $4.5 billion.
Bilateral trade between the two
countries reached $5.7 billion
during 2013-14, an increase of 25
per cent over the year.
TURN TO P2
14
WEATHER TODAY
4.254 MILLION
NEW LAW TO BOOST
COMPETITIVENESS
SEE PAGE
P15
MUSCAT: The population of Oman stands at 4.254
million as of September, logging a growth of 0.7 per
cent compared to that in August, according to data
released by the National Centre for Statistics and
Information (NCSI), the Sultanate’s oicial statistical
agency.
Expatriates make up 44.4 per cent of the total
population with their numbers crossing 1.888 million,
while the Omani population edged past 2.365 million.
The highest population density was recorded in
the Governorate of Muscat with over 1.320 million,
comprising an increase with 0.7 per cent. The number
of expatriates in the Governorate of Muscat reached
828,510, compared to 491,954 Omanis.
The expatriates outnumbered Omanis by a
signiicant margin of 336,556. Notably, the Governorate
of Muscat is the only governorate having an expatriate
population which exceeds nationals.
The statistics show that the Governorates of Al
Dakhiliyah, South Al Sharqiyah, North Al Sharqiyah, Al
Dhahirah South Al Batinah and Al Wusta recorded also
a growth rate of 0.4 per cent for each governorate.
TURN TO P2
Oman captain and star goalkeeper Ali al Habsi is hoping to maintain the confident style of play, that his side put out against Asian giants Iran, in the
India’s match at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher today. The match will kickoff at 6.30 pm. Ali al Habsi thanked the fans and the country
for the big backing during the World Cup qualifier against Iran. Oman held Iran 1-1 in the match while even threatening to take full points after
taking the lead.
REPORT ON P25
VOL . 34 NO.
UK POLICE END ASSANGE
EMBASSY GUARD
this Decree.
Article 2 cancels all that contradicts
this Decree or contravenes with its
provisions.
Article 3 says that this Decree shall
be published in the Oicial Gazette and
enforced from the date of its issue.
— ONA
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same has been sold to middlemen who sell it to
smaller restaurants.
“Cooking oil cannot be used for more than
three times and not three days and anyone
violating the law will be punished,” Sulaiman
al Shaksi, Assistant Director of Health
Department, told the Observer.
“Ater using the oil three times, it can be
sold to vehicle garages for the use and the
municipality has approved it; but not for
human consumption,” Al Shaksi clariied.
Medics and health experts have said that
reuse of heated oil is highly detrimental to
health and can cause diseases including
cancers.
TURN TO P2
2
MSM GAINS 30 POINTS
OMAN OIL DECLINES 66 CENTS
MUSCAT Securities Market (MSM) general
index 30 added 30.9 points, comprising a
rise by 0.52 per cent to close at 5,963.11
points, compared to the last session, which
stood at 5,932.20 points. The trading value
stood at RO 7.16 million, comprising a
rise by 49.80 per cent compared to the
last session. The report released by MSM
pointed out that the market value rose by
0.32 per cent.
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 1 3 l 2 0 1 5
OMAN
DUBAI Mercantile Exchange (DME) said
that Oman oil price (December delivery)
reached $49.81. The DME statement
said that the price of Oman oil declined
66 cents from the price of last Friday,
which was $50.47. The average price
of Oman oil (September delivery 2015)
has stabilised at $56 and 33 cents, thus
$5.51 per barrel lower than August
delivery 2015.
Medical education ties with Alawi receives credentials copies
of Qatar, Cyprus ambassadors
Nicosia varsity discussed
MUSCAT: Yusuf bin Alawi bin
Abdallah, Minister Responsible for
Foreign Afairs, received copies of
credentials of Ali bin Fahad al Hajri,
appointed-ambassador of the sisterly
State of Qatar to the Sultanate and
Andreas
Panayiotou,
appointedambassador of the friendly Republic
of Cyprus to the Sultanate. his came
when Alawi received them in his oice.
Alawi welcomed the ambassadors
and wished them a pleasant stay and
success in their tour of duties as their
countries ambassadors to the Sultanate.
He also wished the good relations
between the Sultanate and their
countries further progress and growth.
— ONA
PROPHET HIJRA ANNIVERSARY
MUSCAT: Dr Rawya bint Saud
al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher
Education,
received
yesterday
Professor Dr Andreas Charalambous,
Vice-President for Enrollment and
Development and Executive Dean of
the Medical School at the University of
Nicosia in the Republic of Cyprus.
he meeting discussed the possibility
of allocating seats for Omani students at
the Medical School at the University of
Nicosia, due to the need of the Sultanate’s
labour market for medical and technical
qualiied personnel.
he meeting also discussed the
possibility of sending Omani students
to study medicine and clinical
pharmacy at the university and to
make the University of Nicosia as
a new scholarship destination for the
ministry.
he meeting also discussed the
cooperation in the ield of medicine in
Nicosia University, besides cooperation
with the higher education public and
private institutions in the Sultanate.
— ONA
Agreement with NRAA to
document civil sector book
MUSCAT: Shaikh Khalid bin Omar al
Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service, and
Dr Hamad bin Mohammed al Dhoyani,
Chairman of the National Records and
Archives Authority (NRAA) yesterday
signed an agreement at NRAA for the
cooperation in documenting a book
titled he Evolution and Development
of the Civil Service Sector, which was
published by the Ministry of Civil
Service in 2014.
Shaikh Al Marhoon said that the
agreement with NRAA documents the
eforts done to produce the book on
the evolution and development of the
civil service sector. he book provides
the phases of developments witnessed
by the civil service sector since the
beginning of the blessed Renaissance,
under the wise leadership of His Majesty
Sultan Qaboos.
Dr Hamad bin Mohammed al
Dhoyani said that the Authority will
take over the task of developing the book
which was initiated by the Ministry of
Civil Service.
he Authority will monitor all
developments related to archiving and
documentation therefore will provide
a comprehensive methodology in
coordination with the Ministry of Civil
Service to monitor this development.
As per the agreement, NRAA will
receive a sot copy from the book to
update the data, the names and pictures
of the oicials mentioned in the book
every three years to ensure that it keeps
pace with the development witnessed by
the civil service sector.
— ONA
Cracking
the whip
FROM PAGE 1
“We have a range of
gadgets to check the life
of cooking oil being used
at the eateries and other
equipment to assess if the
food is stale. he degree
of punishment increases
upon recurrence of the
same,” Khalid al Amri,
Head of Food Inspection
Department, said.
here are more than
15,000 eateries, including
international chains as
well as small restaurants in
Muscat.
Roughly 3,000 eateries
operate in Greater Muttrah
alone.
On the other hand,
less than 20 inspectors are
assigned with inspection
jobs of these eateries.
“Although we are understafed, we try to attend
to all these joints and
restaurants regularly to
ensure proper measures are
in place to safeguard public
health,” the oicial added.
MUSCAT: The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, celebrated the Prophet Hijra (Peace Be
Upon Him) anniversary yesterday at the theatre of the College of Islamic Sciences in Al Khuwair. The ceremony was held under
the auspices of HH Sayyid Taimur bin Asaad bin Tareq al Said in the presence of a number of their excellencies and invitees.
The celebration included a number of performances that highlighted the importance of this event in the Islamic history.
The celebration also included a poem on the event by Ali al Ghanbousi and a video clip on Hijra Anniversary. — ONA
Pact signed to set up autism, rehab centre
SOHAR: he Ministry of Social
Development and Jusoor Foundation
signed two agreements for the
establishment of Autism Centre in the
Wilayat of Sohar and Rehabilitation
Centre for Disabled Children in the
Wilayat of Liwa.
he signing ceremony was held
yesterday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
Sohar under the patronage of Shaikh
Mohammed bin Said al Kalbani,
Minister of Social Development. he
two projects are subsidised by Jusoor
Foundation.
he two agreements were signed
by Aamer bin Mohammed al Hajri,
Director-General of the DirectorateGeneral for Social Development
in North and South Al Batinah
Governorates on behalf of the Ministry
and Shaikh Ali bin Saleh al Hashar CEO
of Jusoor on behalf of the Foundation.
he signing ceremony was attended
New law to boost
competitiveness
FROM PAGE 1
Jitendra Jain, CFO, Corporate
Finance, GMR, said that his company
has entered into an agreement for
training employees of new Salalah
airport. He said that Oman with its
infrastructure projects ofer enormous
opportunities to the company like
GMR especially in the area of airport
infrastructure.
A representative of India’s Aditya
Birla Group said that his company’s
decision will depend a lot on the assured
long-term supply of gas for the factory
that we may like to have in Oman.
“According to oicial sources, the
natural gas availability depends on
regions and this is the area where
we face problems that needed to be
addressed.”
It was revealed that in the economic
free zones, foreign investors can have
ownership of even up to 100 per cent
and labour laws are also more relaxed
compared to those in the rest of the
country.
by Shaikh Muhanna bin Saif al Lamki,
Governor of North Al Batinah, a
number of walis, members of Majlis
Ash’shura, and a number of government
and private institutions directors.
Expats make up
44.4 per cent
FROM PAGE 1
he Governorate of North Al
Batinah remained second in the list
of the governorates with the largest
number of people. he residents in
the governorate hit 690,780 with
an increase rate of 0.4 per cent. he
Omanis residing in the governorate
stand at 467,224, compared to 223,556
expatriates.
he population in the Governorate
of South Al Sharqiyah reached 279,076,
including 190,118 Omanis, while the
Governorate of Al Dhakhliyah reached
421,303, including 325,247 Omanis,
compared to 96,056 expatriates.
he population in the Governorate
of North Al Sharqiyah reached
251,729, including 164,534 Omanis,
compared to 87,195 expatriates.
In the Governorate of Al Dhahirah,
the population reached 193,687,
including 143,695 Omanis; in
addition to 49,992 expatriates; while
the population of the Governorate of
Al Wusta reached 41,439, including
23,018 Omanis, in addition to 18,421
expatriates.
he residents of the Governorate of
Dhofar logged a 0.6-per cent increase
by reaching 392,517, including
198,318 Omanis.
— ONA
OMAN
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
omandailyobserver
3
The Military Technical College (MTC) celebrated the start of its third academic year under the auspices of Mohammed bin Nasser al Rasbi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence, and the Chairman of MTC Board of Directors. — ONA
Higher ed exhibition opens
MUSCAT: he Higher Education,
Training and Career Exhibition (Edu
Trac Oman-2015) began at Oman
International
Exhibition
Centre
yesterday under the patronage of Shaikh
Khalid bin Omar al Marhoon, Minister
of Civil Service, in the presence of
Abdulaziz bin Mohammed al Rowas,
Adviser of His Majesty the Sultan
for Cultural Afairs and a number of
oicials.
he 3-day exhibition is organised
by Al Nimr International Exhibition
Organisers.
More than 180 companies and
institutions are participating in
the exhibition, which provides an
ideal platform for local and foreign
universities and leading training
institutions to communicate and
interact with the students, parents
and executives interested in various
education and training levels.
he exhibition provides good
opportunities to learn about the
providers of higher education and
training to enhance their presence in
the active education sector in the
Sultanate.
he exhibition includes a special
pavilion to serve job-seekers, giving
them opportunities to meet with
oicials of the human resources of the
various industrial sectors, government
institutions
and
private
sector
companies that ofer jobs coupled with
training opportunities to potential
candidates.
It also includes a special pavilion for
banking and inancial institutions, which
provides employment opportunities in
the inancial and banking sector and to
work as entrepreneurs, where they can
get information on funding to start their
new business.
— ONA
Real estate deals stand
at RO 291m in Sept
MUSCAT: Abdallah bin Salim al
Makhini, Secretary of the Real Estate
Registry, at the Ministry of Housing
stated that a total of 29,802 transactions
worth RO 291,292.488 were conducted
in the real estate sector during
September 2015, while the fee collected
amounted to RO 4,299.000.
he contracts included inheritance,
donation, mortgage and mortgage
redemption.
A total of 6,394 sale contracts worth
RO 82,998.998 were signed in all
the governorates with RO 2,464.204
collected from fees, he said.
Al Makhini added that the
Governorate of North Al Batinah
recorded the highest rate of real estate
sale contracts with 1,329 contracts
followed by the Governorate of Muscat
with 1,224 contracts, 1,044 sale contracts
were signed in the Governorate of
South Al Batinah, 759 in the
Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah,
468 in the Governorate of North Al
Sharqiyah, 457 in the Governorate of
Dhofar, 392 in South Al Sharqiyah
Governorate, 336 in the Governorate
of Al Dhahirah, 215 in the Governorate
of Al Buraimi, 151 in the Governorate
of Al Wusta and 19 sale contracts in
Musandam.
He explained that a total of
1,890 mortgage contracts worth RO
203,079.770 were signed across the
Sultanate with RO 986,245 in fees.
He said that the total title deeds
issued for GCC nationals, as per
the real estate possession regulations
in the Sultanate, during September
amounted to 138 with UAE on top
with 80, followed by the Kuwaitis
43, Bahrainis 9, Saudis 3 and
Qataris 3.
— ONA
Scientiic day
on food safety
organised
MUSCAT: The Oman Specialised Nursing
Institute represented by the Community
Health Nursing Programme organised
yesterday a Scientiic Day entitled “Food
Safety towards a Healthy Community” at
the Health Science Institute in Wattayah.
The event was attended by Dr
Abdullah al Saadi, World Health
Organisation representative to the
Sultanate.
Over 300 personalities from medical
ield and allied health professions
participated in the event.
The scientiic event aimed at
updating the healthcare professionals
about food safety procedures in the
community.
As part of the campaign on food
safety, a two-day outreach programme
will be organised to raise the community
awareness on the importance of health
diet and various aspects of food safety at
Al Bahja Centre.
— ONA
4
omandailyobserver
OMAN
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
Conference on improving
public, pvt services held
SHOOTING COMPETITIONS CONCLUDE
PRIME ISSUE: Expert calls for highest level of service among employees
Royal Oman Police (ROP) shooting competitions, 2015 concluded a the Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police Sciences in Nizwa
under the auspices of Lt Gen Hassan bin Mohsin al Shraiqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs, yesterday. — ONA
Boost to
cybersecurity
with
Malaysia
MUSCAT: he Sultanate and
the Republic of Malaysia signed
on hursday a Memorandum
of Understanding in the ield of
cybersecurity.
Dr Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO
of the Information Technology
Authority (ITA) and Dr Amirudin Bin
Abdul Wahab, CEO of Cybersecurity
Malaysia, signed the agreement on
behalf of the two countries.
his agreement comes to continue
the distinguished relations between
the Sultanate and the Republic of
Malaysia aiming to promote and
develop cooperation in the ield of
cybersecurity.
As agreed, the two sides will
exchange experiences and information
to raise the level of cooperation in
cybersecurity incidents and responses,
as well as cooperation in the analysis of
digital forensics and cybercrime. he
agreement also allows cooperation in
the ield of cybersecurity threats, risk
management and the protection of
sensitive infrastructure organisations.
his is in addition to cooperation in
training, education and research.
Fusion of ilm, classical
dance on October 17
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
Oct 12: ‘Bhavalayam 2015’, an evening
spiced up with a locally made movie
and dance performances with the
lead performance of ace danseuse
and Bharatanatyam expert Padmini
Krishna Moorthy will be held at 7 pm
on October 17 at Al Falaj Hotel.
Organised by ‘Bhavalaya’, a nonproit global platform for promotion
of art and culture and Muscat Unique
Diamond Entertainment, the evening
will be presided over by Indra Mani
Pandey, Indian ambassador to the
Sultanate while Dr Khalid Abdul
Rahman al Zadjali, Chairman, Oman
Film Society, will be the guest of honour.
he movie To Be Or Not To Be
which talks about the atrocities against
children around the globe and the
importance of nurturing childhood
skills will also be premiered at the
event. he movie, which talks about the
global issues from the point of view of
a visually-challenged Omani boy, Ali
has already received rave reviews well
before it is launched to the masses. he
ilm is produced by Dr J Retnakumar
and scripted and directed by Kabeer
Yousuf, a journalist with the Observer.
“October 17 evening will be a unique
fusion of the premiere of a completely
Omani movie as well as the dance
drama performance by Bharatanatyam
expert Padmini Krishna Moorthy and
other local talents,” Dr Retnakumar,
founder and chairman, Bhavlaya told
the media.
he event will also see the honouring
of renowned television serial director
— K K Rajeev, who will be presented
with the Bhavlaya 2015 Award while
Padmini will be bestowed with the
‘Natya Kalaratnam Award’.
“he movie, produced by Bhavlaya
sheds light on protecting our children
and keeping them away from hatred,
violence and intolerance that engulf the
world today”, Retnakumar added.
A galaxy of artistes give life to
diferent characters in the thoughtprovoking 45-minute ilm To Be Or
Not To Be. he movie comprises an
ensemble cast of actors with the lead
role of Ali played by the talented Rabah
Zayed bin Kabeer. Veteran theatre
person Girija Baqer is in the role of
Ali’s grandmother while the graceful
Azra Aleem dons the greasepaint as the
mother while Dr Retnakumar portrays
the role of a child psychiatrist.
MUSCAT: he second annual
conference titled “Art of Improving
the Services in the Public and Private
Sectors” was held at Al Bustan Palace
Hotel yesterday. he one-day conference
was organised by Asayel Group for
Event Management under the patronage
of Shaikh Saad bin Mohammed bin Al
Mardhoof al Saadi, Minister of Sports
Afairs.
Shaikh al Saadi said that the theme
of the conference is an important
issue, whether for the public or private
sector, wishing that all participants of
the conference to take advantage of the
skills that would be highlighted in this
conference.
In response to a question about the
projects implemented by the Ministry
of Sports Afairs, he explained that
the ministry is exerting great eforts
to complete the projects currently
being implemented, including sports
complexes in various wilayats of the
Sultanate, stressing that the projects will
be completed as scheduled.
Mohamed bin Isa al Fairuz said in
his opening speech that the conference
aims to raise the level of provided
services, and that statistics show that would increase customers and raise the
most popular institutions in the world interest rate.
are those which ofer good services,
Ahmed al Ban’a, CEO of Omani
adding that improving the services Asayel Group for Event Management,
Sixth Graduation Day at
CAS Sohar on Nov 4
SOHAR: College of Applied
Sciences Sohar is gearing
up for its sixth graduation
ceremony on November
4 under the patronage of
Dr Essam Ali Al Rawas,
Vice-President
of
the
Public Authority for Crat
Industries. Dr Abdullah al Sarmi,
Under-Secretary of the Ministry of
Higher Education and Dr Ali al Lawati,
Dean of CAS-Sohar will be present on
the occasion.
he students of Information
Technology
and
Engineering
programmes are graduating from CASSohar.
Students huraya Abdullah Al
Zaabi, Iman Juma Al Futaisi, Mustafa Al
Nabhani from engineering,
and Abir Nasser Al Yahyai,
Moza Salim Al Maamari,
Tahani Mahfouz Al Amri,
Samah Humoud Al Maawali
from the IT programmes
will be felicitated for their
academic achievements.
Dr Ali Al Lawati, Dean of CASSohar, says that this stage is a celebration
in the life of the students as they will be
celebrating the moment of all the eforts
they have put in during the period of
their study.
As the students are equipped
with knowledge, he advices them to
contribute to nation building thought
their talents and creativity, rather than
waiting for jobs.
explained that in light of the economic,
political and social challenges faced
by the Gulf region and the Sultanate,
these countries are required to improve
their services, both government and
private sector services, noting that
sophisticated buildings and tools are
not enough without excellent services.
Ron Kaufman, an international expert,
spoke during the conference.
he conference highlighted the
fundamental principles that must be
applied by all employees in companies
and institutions to provide the highest
level of service to customers and visitors
and overcome their expectations.
— ONA
Telugu community
in Oman to organise
Bathukamma fest
MUSCAT: The Telugu
community in
Oman is celebrating
‘Bathukamma’ (a
traditional festival
of Telangana state)
and Navarathri
festival at Al Masa Hall in Ruwi on Friday.
The festival usually falls in SeptemberOctober and as per the lunar calendar.
Bathukamma is celebrated for
nine days during Navrathri days
and represents the cultural spirit of
Telangana. Bathukamma is a beautiful
lower stack, arranged with diferent
unique seasonal lowers most of
them with medicinal value, in seven
concentric layers in the shape of potter’s
clay like a cone.
In Telugu, ‘Bathukamma’ means
‘Mother Goddess Come Alive.’
Dar Al Atta funds 6 preschool classrooms in remote areas
MUSCAT: Given the importance of
developing preschool and basic skills in
children’s lives, Dar Al Atta Association
has adopted the needs of several schools,
in remote areas in particular, where
kindergartens are not facilitated within
elementary schools.
he project is coordinated by Dar
Al Atta since 2010 and is based on the
voluntary eforts of school principals
and teachers in each region of the
Sultanate. he Association has funded
6 preschool classrooms in 5 schools in
each of 2 classes in Saia Al haqaia
Elementary School in the Wilayat of
Liwa, Al Batinah North Governorate,
and one class in each of Al Jeela
Elementary School, Wilayat of Samayil
in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, Al Lakby
School for Elementary Education,
Wilayat of Al Jazir in the Central
Governorate, Malik lbn Anas School for
Elementary Education in the Wilayat of
Al Buraimi and Wadi Al Meeh School
for Elementary Education in Wadi Al
Meeh, Muscat. he association has
provided furniture and supplies to
classrooms in the mentioned schools
ater coordinating with the personnel in
charge.
hese supplies included chairs,
tables, storage units, mobile desks, tables
for storing art supplies, separators,
curtains, PCs, copy machines, carpets
and educational school bags. he cost
for equipping the classrooms was RO
13,720. Says Maryam al Zadjali – DAA
Chairperson: “We are happy to support
an initiative that targets kids from KG
classes because we believe that ofering
the right environment for these kids
and extend my thanks to the sponsors
the Dutch community in Muscat and
Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa.
Islamic perspective of stem cells and Oman’s experience in cell research were also discussed in the forum
National bioethics panel addresses stem cell research
MUSCAT: he sixth forum of the
National Bioethics Committee with
the theme “Stem Cells: an Overall
Approach” was held yesterday at Sultan
Qaboos University under the patronage
of Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al
Salimi, Minister of Awqaf and Religious
Afairs.
he forum included two sessions
focusing on stem cell research, ethical
aspects of stem cells preservation,
Islamic perspective of stem cells and
stem cell research, Oman’s experience in
stem cell research, treatment and future
perspectives, and other related topics.
Speaking at the opening ceremony,
Shaikh Dr Kahlan bin Nabhan al
Kharousi, Assistant Grand Muti of the
Sultanate and Vice-Chairman of the
National Bioethics Committee, said
that the aim of the forum was to ensure
that stem cell research is practiced in
proper manner for protection of human
health the well-being of the society.
Stem cell research, a fast developing
area in medical science, can potentially
help treat a range of medical problems.
It could lead humanity closer to better
treatment and possibly cure a number of
diseases. he forum would pay for more
comprehensive vision on the ethical and
practical aspects of stem cell research
and treatment,” Shaikh Kahlan said.
Prof Lucio Luzzatto, Professor in
Hematology and Scientiic Director,
Istituto Toscano Tumori, Florence,
Italy, gave the irst talk on the usage of
stem cells in research and treatment,
and the ethical dilemmas of stem cells
preservation. He detailed on diferent
sorts of stem cells and diferent stages of
their development, methods of obtaining
stem cells, diferent sorts of ethical issues
in stem cell research and treatment,
biological potential of embryonic stem
cells, and how stem cell research can
potentially help treat a range of medical
problems including Parkinson’s disease,
myocardial infarction, etc.
Prof Abdullah Ali Al Bar, Director
of Medical Ethics Research Centre,
International Medical Centre, Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia, gave a talk on medical
and Islamic perspective of stem cells.
Prof Taher Ba Omar, Academic Afairs
Adviser to SQU Vice-Chancellor
moderated the session. In the second
session, moderated by Ahmed Al
Badawy, a panel discussion on Oman’s
experience in stem cell research,
treatment, and future perspectives, was
held.
Prof Salam al Kindi, Senior
Consultant Hematologist at SQU, Dr
Sultan Al Maskari, Senior Consultant
in Orthopedic Surgery, Dr Samir Al
Azzawi, Senior Consultant Hematologist
at Muscat Private Hospital, Prof
Jayakumar Dennison, Senior Consultant
Hematologist at SQU Hospital, and Dr
Sabria Al Hashmi, Director of Blood
Bank Services at the Ministry of Health
participated in the panel discussion.
he session concluded with Shaikh Dr
Kahlan’s talk on “an Islamic view of stem
cells”.
OMAN
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
omandailyobserver
Duqm Reinery launches
‘Wadhah’ initiative
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
Seminar to tackle crime,
human trafficking held
STRATEGIES: Six working papers were presented in two sessions
AMAL AL RIYAMI
NIZWA
Oct 12: he Ministry of Justice, in
collaboration with Higher Judicial
Institute organised a seminar on “united
legislation and procedures to combat
human traicking and crime” in Nizwa.
he seminar was held in the presence
of Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidy,
Secretary-General of Foreign Ministry,
Shaikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah
al Khalili, Minister of Justice, and
members of the National Committee to
Combat Human Traicking.
he symposium activities included
presenting six working papers by
diferent agencies in two sessions.
he irst session was moderated by
Shaikh Hamad bin Issa al Azri, UnderSecretary of the Ministry of Justice, who
pointed that the seminar highlights
some of the eforts to combat human
traicking at the national level in the
Sultanate.
He emphasised that success by
highlighting a number of internal laws
and the Royal decrees relevant to this
aspect.
he irst working paper was presented
by Capt Mohammed bin Shahdat al
Balochi, Head of Legal and Technical
Afairs in the General Administration
of Inquiries and Criminal Investigation,
on behalf of the Royal Oman Police.
His working paper was on research,
investigation and collection of evidence
in the case of human traicking and the
stages of the crime and its elements.
he second working paper by Dr
Nasser bin Abdullah al Riyami, Assistant
prosecutor, was on behalf of Public
Prosecution. He talk about the role of
the public prosecutor in addressing this
phenomenon.
On the other hand, Dr Hamad bin
Khamis al Jhuari, Judge in Appeal
Court and he President of the General
Administration of Courts, in his
address said: “here is no doubt that
contemporary to the crime of human
traicking take a broader concept
than those which known before,
from where it is relected in various
patterns of crime and its victims along
the globe.”
In the third working paper by
Qasim bin Zahran al Amrei, Head
of Protection Mechanisms in Family
Protection Circuit, pointed the role of
the Ministry of Social Development in
the ight against human traicking.
He also explained some of the
economic and social reasons behind the
spread of this phenomenon.
On his part, Dr Hamdi bin
Mahmoud bin Mohammed from the
Higher Judicial Institute spoke about
the impact of international treaties
and conventions on the Omani penal
legislation on combating the crime of
human traicking in the fourth working
paper.
he ith working paper was by Dr
Nasser bin Saif al Shamsi on behalf of
he National Commission for Human
Rights.
He spoke about combating the
crime of human traicking from
the perspective of the National
Commission for Human Rights and the
National Committee to Combat Human
Traicking.
he inal working paper from
Ministry of Justice was presented by
Dr Ibrahim bin Yahya al Abri, Assistant
Director-General of the Directorate
General of the Legal work and
International Cooperation, which noted
the role of the Ministry of Justice in the
Sultanate eforts to combat crimes.
He mentioned that crime is not as
oten disturbing, even though they exist
in some places and oten appears in
diferent ways.
However specialised agencies play
their role in addressing it.
Oman at
Doha Visual
Arts Forum
MUSCAT: The Ministry
of Heritage and Culture,
represented by Theatre,
Cinema and Fine Arts
Department will take part in
activities of the Visual Arts
Forum, due to be organised
in the State of Qatar, during
October 13 to 20. The
participating delegation
will be led by Diana bint
Abdulamajid al Zadjaliyah,
and the membership of a
number of ine artists.
GCC Arab
education
meet in Riyadh
MUSCAT: The Sultanate,
represented by the Ministry
of Education, is taking part
in the 80th session meetings
of the Executive Council of
the GCC Arab Education
Oice, being held in Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia. The Sultanate’s
delegation is being led by
Dr Hamoud bin Khalfan al
Harthy, Under-Secretary of
the Ministry of Education for
Education and Curricula.
— ONA
Corrigendum
WITH reference to the
report ‘Lives put in peril’
published on Monday
(October 12), the
photos used are only for
illustrative purpose and
does not refer to any
particular company.
Oct 12: Duqm Reinery in
partnership with the Omani
Women Association in
Duqm launched ‘Wadhah’
initiative that is designed
to support all the projects
aimed to empower and
build the capacity of women
in Duqm and Al Wusta
Governorate.
he launch of the
initiative involved delivering
two training workshops for
80 women from the local
community in the areas
of landscape art and local
handicrats/ jewellery design
that will last for a week and is
facilitated by subject matter
experts Omani women.
he workshops aim to
maximise the potential
of local women and
provide them with up to
date skills and techniques
in
handicrats
design,
marketing and packaging.
It also compliments the
association’s
eforts
in
supporting the local women
in developing handicrats
products through enriching
them in a way that is more
attractive and competitive.
he artwork and products
produced by the women
during the workshops will
be exhibited in Crown Plaza
Duqm the following week.
Nasha Al Fallahi, Duqm
Reinery’s corporate afairs
general manager, said,
“Wadhah Initiative is part
of the social investment
programme to empower
and support local women.
his initiative comes in line
with His Majesty directives
to empower women so they
can actively participate in
the sustainable development
of their communities and
the Sultanate.” She further
added, “Our CSR approach
is driven by our vision to
fuel economic growth in
Duqm as well as signiicantly
contribute to prosperity”.
Duqm Reinery recently
delivered a number of CSR
initiatives that include an
essential IT training program
for 200 women from
Wilayats of Muhoot, Duqm
and Al Jazir in partnership
with ITA, delivered “Tahadi
programme” for 100 students
in Duqm in partnership with
Outward Bound Oman,
launched innovation camp
for 600 students in Al Wusta
in cooperation with Injaz
Oman, as well as supported a
number of higher education
scholarships
for
local
students.
5
6
GERMAN PRESIDENT IN SOUTH KOREA
AERIAL WATER BOMBING MISSION
German President Joachim Gauck was
given a full military reception by his
South Korean counterpart Park Geun Hye
on Monday, ahead of meetings in Seoul
focusing on business and ties. Addressing
the parliament later Gauck called on
South Korea to promote a continuation
of international talks with North Korea,
despite the communist regime’s nuclear
armament.
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 1 3 l 2 0 1 5
ASIA
Allies of disgraced China
security chief get jail
A Royal Singapore Air Force
chinook helicopter carrying
crew of Singapore military
and civil defence personnel
takes of from the haze
covered Indonesian air base in
Palembang located in Sumatra
island on Monday for their irst
aerial water bombing mission
over agricultural and forest ire.
HOMAGE TO BALI BOMBING VICTIMS
WAR ON CORRUPTION: Jiang Jiemin, former head of top energy
group CNPC, has been jailed for 16 years for bribery and abuse of power
BEIJING: Chinese courts sentenced
two key allies of disgraced former
security chief Zhou Yongkang to jail
on Monday, one for 16 years and the
other for 13, ater inding them guilty of
corruption, the latest oicials felled in a
sweeping anti-grat campaign.
President Xi Jinping has spent the
past three years waging war on deepseated corruption, saying it threatens the
very survival of the ruling Communist
Party.
Scores of senior oicials in the party,
the government, the military and stateowned enterprises have been brought
down, including Zhou, jailed for life in
June ater a secret trial in China’s most
sensational grat scandal in 70 years.
A court in Hanjiang in the central
province of Hubei jailed Jiang Jiemin,
the former head of state-owned China
National
Petroleum
Corporation
(CNPC), the country’s top energy
group, for 16 years for bribery and abuse
of power.
Another court in a diferent part
of Hubei called Xianning sentenced
Li Chuncheng, who was a deputy
Communist Party boss in the
southwestern province of Sichuan, to 13
years in jail on the same charges.
Jiang Jiemin, former chairman of China
National Petroleum Corporation. — Reuters
he announcements came on the
courts’ oicial microblogs.
Jiang was a close associate of Zhou,
the once-powerful domestic security
chief and a former member of the
elite Politburo Standing Committee,
the most senior person to have been
charged with corruption in Xi’s antigrat campaign.
Zhou had also been at CNPC, the
parent company of PetroChina Co Ltd,
having risen through the ranks to serve
as general manager from 1996 to 1998.
State television showed pictures of a
grim-faced Jiang, who also ran the state
asset regulator for ive months before
being sacked in September 2013, sitting
in the dock with a policeman at each
side.
Jiang took more than 14 million yuan
($2.21 million) in bribes between 2004
and 2013, and with Zhou’s connivance
broke rules to provide assistance to
others in their business dealings, the
court said without elaborating.
Jiang admitted his guilt and provided
evidence of his crimes and so received
a more lenient sentence, the Hanjiang
court said, adding he would not appeal.
He had served as CNPC chairman
from 2011 to 2013 and had gone on trial
in April. It is not clear why the verdict
took so long to come out.
he former senior Sichuan oicial Li
took 19.8 million yuan in bribes, but also
got a lighter sentence for his confession
and cooperation, the court said.
While the statement did not use
Zhou’s name, Li was mentioned in
Zhou’s trial as someone who used his
inluence to help others’ illegal business
activities. Li also went on trial in April.
Zhou was party boss of Sichuan from
1999-2002 and it became one of his
powerbases.
— Reuters
Arrest warrant issued for Thaksin over court no-show
BANGKOK: A Thai court on Monday
issued an arrest warrant for fugitive
former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra after he failed to turn up for
a defamation case iled against him by
the army.
The ruling would appear to mean
little as Thaksin lives abroad anyway to
abroad to avoid a jail sentence handed
down in 2008 for graft, but it is another
setback for the former telecoms tycoon
with some seeing it as the latest
attempt to ensure he never returns to
power.
Three governments backed by
Thaksin have been forced to step down
by the courts or military since 2006.
Thaksin is accused of defaming the
military during interviews given to a
South Korean newspaper in May that
were later posted on YouTube.
In rare comments to foreign media,
Thaksin accused the military of being
part of a conspiracy that overthrew
Thaksin’s sister, former prime minister
Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2014, days
before a bloodless military coup.
“The accused did not come to
the meeting so a warrant was issued
as the court saw he was not in the
country even though an appointment
was made for the irst hearing,” Major
General Sarayuth Klinmahom, director
of the Oice of the Judge-Advocate of
the Royal Thai Army, told reporters.
Thaksin himself was ousted by
the army in 2006. Since then, the
country has been divided between his
supporters and the Bangkok-based
elite which sees him as a threat to the
old royalist-military establishment.
For more than a decade, the country
has seen at times violent street protests
from both Thaksin supporters and their
opponents.
Thaksin, whose parties have won
every election since 2001, tapped
into the changing aspirations of the
working class.
— Reuters
People release 88 doves as political leaders and families of victims of the Bali bombings gathered on Sydney’s Coogee Beach
on Monday to mark the 13th anniversary of the terrorist attack that killed 88 Australians. Twenty locals from the eastern Sydney
suburb died in the bombings at Kuta in 2002. — AFP
GRAFT
CHARGES
Senior politicians unite
against embattled PM
KUALA
LUMPUR:
Inluential
former Malaysian premier Mahathir
Mohamad and some key ruling party
members demanded on Monday
that embattled Prime Minister Najib
Razak answer a barrage of corruption
allegations.
On the same day, a whistle-blower
and his lawyer detained for their eforts
to expose grat allegations against
Najib were charged with attempting
to “sabotage” the country’s banking
sector.
Critics want Najib to explain
massive sums allegedly missing from
state-owned development company
1MDB which he launched, as well
as the revelation in July that nearly
$700 million in mysterious transfers
had been made to his personal bank
accounts.
“Unless somebody speaks up, the
government will get away with doing
all kinds of wrong things,” Mahathir
told a press conference, according to
he Star newspaper.
“So they may take action against
me or any one of us but somebody has
to take the risk to voice our disquiet,
anger and feeling that the government
is not looking ater the interests of this
Former Premier Mahathir Mohamad
country.”
Joining
Mahathir,
Malaysia’s
leader from 1981-2003, at the press
conference were several heavyweights
from the ruling United Malays
National Organisation (UMNO),
which has held power since 1957,
including party deputy president and
the country’s former deputy premier,
Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin who has repeatedly
called for Najib to shed light on the
corruption allegations, was stripped
of his deputy premier title by Najib in
July.
— AFP
The start of a week-long registration process began on Monday for more than 18,000 positions up for grabs
Philippines’ turbulent election season kicks of
MANILA: he Philippines’ election
season kicked of on Monday with
politicians registering for thousands of
posts, launching a typically raucous and
deadly seven months of campaigning in
a famously chaotic democracy.
A successor to President Benigno
Aquino will be chosen in the six-yearly
polls, with the frontrunners a savvy
politician accused of corruption, the
adopted daughter of a movie star and
a low-key stalwart of the ruling Liberal
Party.
Aquino, who has won international
plaudits for tackling systemic corruption
and for his solid economic stewardship,
is imploring voters to choose longtime
ally Mar Roxas to continue his “straight
path” style of governance.
“his is a campaign to continue
the straight path, a campaign to make
our hopes possible, a campaign that
will continue the heroic story of the
Filipino people,” Aquino said at a rally
to announce the Liberal Party’s Senate
ticket.
But Roxas has struggled in opinion
the presidency down to village captain
level — in the May elections.
Binay, a former Aquino ally who now
heads the main opposition party, was the
irst of the major candidates to register
at election headquarters in Manila on
Monday morning.
Binay had been a clear leader in
opinion polls until the Senate and
ombudsman began investigating him for
alleged corrupt activities when he was
mayor of Makati, the inancial district in
the Philippine capital.
Binay has insisted on his innocence,
maintaining the allegations are part of a
political smear campaign.
he Philippines, a former US colony
of 100 million, has struggled to establish
a stable democracy, with many of the
Vice-President Jejomar Binay (2nd L) eats a ‘boodle style’ breakfast with supporters
before filing the Certificates of Candidacy (CoC) with his running mate Gregorio
problems blamed on dictator Ferdinand
Honasan (not in picture) for president and vice-president in the 2016 national
Marcos’s rule from 1965-1986.
elections, at the Commission on Elections in Manila on Monday. — Reuters
But his son and namesake is running
for the vice presidency next year as an
polls and is facing strong challenges riding on her late father’s popularity.
independent, insisting his late father’s
from Jejomar Binay, the current vice
he start of a week-long registration rule was benign and that voters will
president who is being investigated for process began on Monday for more than focus on present problems rather than
grat, and Grace Poe, a political novice 18,000 positions up for grabs — from the past.
“here are corrupt Filipinos... within
and outside the government who are
killing our economy and keeping us
poor,” Marcos, 58, said at a weekend
rally alongside his controversial mother
and former irst lady Imelda.
Another feature of the Philippines’
democracy has been politicians
resorting to violence to eliminate rivals
or cheating to rig polls.
he most infamous incident occurred
in 2009, when the warlord family of a
southern province allegedly massacred
58 people to try to stop a rival registering
his candidacy for provincial governor.
While some members of the
Ampatuan
family
accused
of
orchestrating the massacre are behind
bars and on trial for the murders, many
others are expected to compete in the
polls.
hese include Sajid Ampatuan, who
has been charged with murder but was
allowed to post bail this year.
Pre-election violence had already
lared before this week’s registration
process.
— AFP
7 Indonesians
on trial over
alleged IS links
JAKARTA: Seven Indonesian men
went on trial on Monday accused of
links to the IS group, and could face
the death penalty if found guilty of
breaking anti-terror laws.
hey were all charged with being
part of an “evil conspiracy” and accused
of a range of crimes, from trying to aid
acts of terror to supporting IS, which
has been banned in the country since
October last year.
hree of the accused — Ahmad
Junaedi alias Abu Salman, Ridwan
Sungkar alias Abu Bilal, and Helmi
Muhamad Alamudi alias Abu Royan
— allegedly went to Syria to join IS last
year and received military training,
prosecutors said. “Not only has the
defendant declared that he joined IS,
he also joined military training in
ISIS camps,” prosecutor Teddy Irawan
told a Jakarta court, opening the case
against Sungkar.
“he defendant was aware that
the objective of the training was
preparation to launch acts of terror,”
he added. One defendant, Tuah
Febriwansyah alias Muhammad
Fachry, was accused of running
websites with pro-IS content. — AFP
hai insurgent
group rejects
peace talks
BANGKOK: One of the largest
insurgent groups from hailand’s
troubled south walked out of peace
talks on Monday in protest at being
called separatists by the government.
he Barisan Revolusi Nasional
(BRN) said it would come back to the
table only if Bangkok agreed to refer
to it as an anti-occupation movement,
saying the label of separatists was
“political subterfuge.”
“hailand has never accepted
the fact that the root cause of the
Patani problem is occupation and
colonisation,” it said online. BRN also
called for international observers to
mediate any future talks.
he government has consistently
denied the independence claims of the
three provinces in the very south of the
country. Yala, Patani and Narathiwat
were part of the Sultanate of Patani
for several hundred years, which like
several parts of present-day hailand
was nominally an independent state
but paid dues to Bangkok.
In 1909 the territory was divided
between then British Malaya and
hailand, in a treaty that formalised
its northern part as hailand’s three
southernmost states.
— dpa
SUBCONTINENT
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
omandailyobserver
Taliban car bomb targets British convoy
EMBOLDENED ARMS: The insurgents have stepped up attacks since they launched their annual offensive
KABUL: A Taliban suicide car bomber
struck a British forces convoy in central
Kabul on Sunday, triggering a powerful
explosion in an attack that comes two
weeks ater the resurgent militant group
overran a key northern city.
he rush-hour bombing, which sent
a plume of smoke into the sky, wounded
at least three civilians including a child,
as the Taliban ramp up attacks on
government and foreign targets.
he intensity of the blast sent an
armoured vehicle crashing into a
sidewalk, its front end badly mangled,
and let the area littered with charred
pieces of twisted metal.
“he incident took place while
a suicide car bomber detonated an
explosive-packed car in the Joy Shir area,
in Kabul city,” the interior minister said.
“he targets of the attacker were the
foreign forces convoy,” he added.
Security forces cordoned of the
area as ambulances with wailing sirens
rushed to the scene, but the ministry
said the human toll of the blast was
limited.
“he ministry of interior condemns
in the strongest terms the suicide attack
which resulted in the wounding of three
civilians,” the agency said.
Police authorities said the wounded
included a woman and a child.
he British defence ministry
conirmed that their military convoy
came under attack in Kabul but said the
explosion was caused by an improvised
explosive device.
“here were no (British) casualties,” it
said in a statement.
he emboldened insurgents have
stepped up attacks around Afghanistan
since they launched their annual
The seizure of the provincial
capital for three days was a
stinging blow to Westerntrained Afghan forces, who
have largely been fighting
on their own since the end
of Nato’s combat mission in
December.
Afghan security personnel keep watch at the site of a suicide car bomb blast in Kabul, Afghanistan.
summer ofensive in late April.
he Taliban captured the northern
city of Kunduz on September 28, their
most spectacular victory since being
toppled from power in a 2001 US-led
invasion.
he seizure of the provincial capital
for three days was a stinging blow to
Western-trained Afghan forces, who
have largely been ighting on their own
since the end of Nato’s combat mission
in December.
he Taliban said the bombing
was carried out to avenge the recent
“barbaric bombardment in Kunduz that
martyred our civilians and doctors”.
Nato forces are under ire ater a
US air strike on October 3 pummelled
a hospital in Kunduz run by Doctors
Without Borders (MSF), killing at least
12 staf and 10 patients.
he medical charity shut down the
trauma centre, branding the incident
a “war crime” and demanding an
international investigation into the
incident, which sparked an avalanche of
— Reuters
global condemnation.
he Pentagon announced on
Saturday it would make compensation
payments for those killed or injured
in the strike, while suggesting that US
forces in Afghanistan could also pay for
repairs to the hospital.
But MSF said it had oicially not
received any compensation ofer, adding
that it would not accept funds for repairs
in line with its policy of rejecting support
from governments.
“he ofer of compensation at this
stage cannot preempt the result of
present and future investigations, nor
preclude any further claims or rights of
those afected by the US air strike,” the
charity said. “MSF reiterates its call for
independent investigation.”
President Barack Obama has
apologised over the strike, with three
diferent investigations — led by Nato,
US forces and Afghan oicials —
currently under way.
he Afghan government claims to
have wrested back control of Kunduz
city but sporadic ire-ights continue
with pockets of insurgents as soldiers
conduct
door-to-door
clearance
operations.
As ighting spreads in neighbouring
Badakhshan, Takhar and Baghlan
provinces, concerns are mounting
that the seizure of Kunduz was merely
the opening gambit in a new, bolder
strategy to tighten the insurgency’s grip
across northern Afghanistan. Most Nato
combat troops pulled out of Afghanistan
last year but a small contingent focused
on training and counter-terrorism
operations remains.
— AFP
Nepal’s new prime minister sworn in Maldives warns India over
KATHMANDU: KP Sharma Oli was
sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister
yesterday, tasked with unifying
the quake-hit country ater a new
constitution triggered deadly protests, a
border blockade and a nationwide fuel
shortage.
Oli, a former deputy prime minister
who heads one of Nepal’s main
communist parties, is credited with
having pushed through a deal on the
constitution ater years of disagreement.
Ater his election on Sunday he
urged political unity to try to resolve
the stand-of with protesters from the
country’s Madhesi minority, who say
the charter’s terms will exclude them
from power in the national assembly.
Yesterday, Oli appointed two deputy
prime ministers from parties that
opposed elements of the constitution
passed in September
hey are Kamal hapa, head of the
royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal
(RPP-N), and Bijay Kumar Gachhadar
who leads one of Nepal’s Madhesi
parties.
Nepal’s Maoists, who fought a 10year civil war with the state that led
to the fall of the monarchy, have also
joined the ruling coalition government,
meaning they will serve alongside
hapa’s royalist RPP-N.
he country’s largest party, the
Nepal’s newly elected Prime Minister
Nepali Congress is expected to form the
Khadga Prashad Sharma Oli (R) speaks
with Nepal’s President Ram Baran Yadav opposition ater its candidate, former
after administrating the oath of office in premier Sushil Koirala, lost out to Oli in
Kathmandu, Nepal.
— Reuters the election for prime minister. — AFP
The polling day saw unprecedented discipline and relative calm
Peaceful elections in Lahore
under army impress voters
LAHORE: Unlike previous elections
in Lahore, the NA-122 constituents
were visibly happy while casting their
votes in what they called a “hassle-free
environment” and expressed their desire
that all future elections in the country
should be held under the supervision of
the army.
he polling day saw unprecedented
discipline and relative calm, said most
voters. Women voters were feeling more
‘protected and conident’ while heading
towards their polling stations under the
security cover.
Inside most polling booths the
environment was quite ‘voter-friendly’.
here were queues which no one
dared jump. And the election staf and
polling agents seemed more focused
and ensured that the process continued
without hiccups.
“here was a queue of about 50
people when I reached the Shadman
polling station. It did not take much for
me to get my turn to cast the vote due to
army presence,” said Usama Ahmed. He
suggested that such a discipline should
be maintained in future elections too.
“Owing to the army’s presence the
ruling party cannot do anything wrong
An army soldier stands guard as a man prepares to drop his ballot in a ballot box
for the by-election of a seat in the National Assembly, in Lahore, Pakistan. — Reuters
in the polling booths but it is not clear
whether the same transparency is
maintained at the returning oicers’
oices,” a resident of Ichhra said.
Unlike the past practice, the lawenforcement agencies had placed
barricades at quite a distance from the
polling booths. he traic was diverted
from these points by the wardens.
It was a day of enthusiasm and
celebration for a large number of people
who saw a tough contest for the NA-122
by-election between PML-N’s Sardar
Ayaz Sadiq and Abdul Aleem Khan of
the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. he voters
never shied of disclosing their loyalty to
a party.
Faisal Aziz, an IT technician, said:
“We want change and have voted for
it. Even if we don’t win today’s poll, we
will not give up and rather focus on next
elections.”
— Internews
pressure to free Nasheed
MALE: Maldivian President Abdulla
Yameen (pictured) warned India’s
foreign minister against external
interference in the islands’ afairs, his
oice said, as international pressure
mounts to release his jailed predecessor.
he president told Foreign Minister
Sushma Swaraj that all nations should
respect Maldives’ sovereignty, during
her oicial visit to the capital Male to
strengthen ties between the Indian
Ocean neighbours.
“President Yameen stated that this
government will not tolerate foreign
parties to interfere with the country’s
domestic issues,” his oice said.
Yameen also “underscored that
a country’s integrity and national
sovereignty must be respected by
all”, the statement said. However, he
made no reference to the controversial
conviction this year of former president
Mohamed Nasheed and his jailing for
13 years on terrorism charges. — AFP
7
IN BRIEF
Rare picture of
Mullah Omar
surfaces
ISLAMABAD: he Afghan Taliban
have released a striking new picture
of late founder Mullah Omar from
his days as a religious student, the
only known image of the reclusive
leader before he lost his right eye in
a battle.
he picture, taken in 1978, was
irst posted on the Taliban’s oicial
website.
A clearer scanned copy shows
a youthful, thickly-bearded Omar
wearing a green turban and a
waistcoat over his traditional Afghan
tunic, as he stares directly into the
camera.
A senior Taliban oicial who sent
the picture said it was originally a
black-and-white image that was later
colourised.
he life and death of Omar remain
shrouded in mystery and the new
image may be one of only two veriied
photographs.
— AFP
Five killed
in helicopter
crash in Kabul
KABUL: Five members of Nato’s
international support mission in
Afghanistan were killed and ive
were injured when a British military
helicopter crashed in the capital,
Kabul, oicials said yesterday.
Nato’s Resolute Support mission
said in a statement that two British
service members, two US service
members and one French contracted
civilian were killed as a result of
Sunday’s crash at its headquarters in
Kabul.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence
said on its website that two Royal
Air Force personnel had been killed
when a British Puma Mk 2 helicopter
crashed while landing at the base.
“We were deeply saddened by
the loss of our teammates,” Brig Gen
Wilson A Shofner, deputy chief of
staf for communications, said in the
Resolute Support statement.
In a separate incident, two Afghan
pilots were killed and ive people
on-board were injured when a
small Afghan army plane crashed in
Bamyan province on Monday, said
Abdul Rahman Ahmadi, provincial
governor spokesman.
— Reuters
8
ANALYSIS
omandailyobserver
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
INDIA’S MODI SEEKS
TO CEMENT POWER
I
ndian state of Bihar began voting on Monday in a high-stakes election which
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hopes will help his government push through a
faltering reform drive.
he Indian leader, who has promised billions of dollars for development in
Bihar, urged people to come out and vote “in large numbers” as polls opened in
the irst phase of the election.
“I want jobs for the young people of Bihar,” he told a campaign rally on Monday.
“Bihar must become the strength of our nation.”
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a landslide victory in general
elections last year, but its promised reforms have been blocked in the upper house
of parliament where it lacks a majority.
Modi’s ruling coalition, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, is hoping to
take control of Bihar, where two-thirds of people lack access to electricity.
“What is most important for us is jobs,” college student Sangeeta told reporters
outside a polling booth. “If there are jobs, the youth won’t have to leave the state
and go elsewhere for employment.”
he prime minister has personally addressed 10 major campaign rallies,
going all out to secure victory in the populous eastern state that would give his
government some of the extra seats it needs to break the current logjam.
he BJP needs a win ater sufering a humiliating defeat in February elections
for the Delhi state assembly at the hands of a ledgling anti-corruption party. But
experts and opinion polls indicate the result is too close to call.
Modi is up against an unlikely alliance of two powerful local leaders, Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar and his predecessor Lalu Prasad Yadav, who has served
time in prison for corruption.
heir rivalry goes back decades, but both men — who command widespread
support among the lower castes — have put
their diferences aside to try to thwart Modi.
Kumar, a long-time critic of Modi, is The BJP needs a
credited with kick-starting development and win after suffering a
quashing corruption and is seeking a third
humiliating defeat
term. His tenure contrasts sharply with that of
his predecessor Yadav, a sharp-witted former in February elections
railways minister who presided over years of for the Delhi state
stagnant growth and spent time in prison for
assembly at the
embezzlement. Bihar has long been notorious
hands of a fledgling
for corruption.
As the irst phase of voting got under way anti-corruption party,
on Monday, Kumar’s party was forced to drop
reports AGNES BUN
a top-ranking minister ater he was caught on
camera apparently accepting bundles of cash
from a businessman.
he campaign has also been dogged by
religious tensions ater a man was lynched by a mob in the neighbouring state
of Uttar Pradesh last month over unsubstantiated claims that he was eating beef.
Ater 10 days of silence on the killing, Modi last hursday used an election rally
in Bihar to appeal for unity.
Parts of the state are also in the grip of Maoist insurgents who have a history
of trying to intimidate voters, but local media said Monday’s voting passed of
peacefully.
Voting will be held in ive phases, with results due on November 8.
Nearly 10 million are eligible to vote in the irst phase and there are 583
candidates.
Bihar, India’s third-most populous state, has never been ruled by BJP on its
own, with elections traditionally won by regional parties and alliances. Many of
its 104 million people still vote along caste lines.
Some observers say Modi delayed pushing through contentious reforms
including a land acquisition bill before the polls for fear of losing votes.
“If the BJP wins, it will be a great morale-booster and help them push their
economic agenda,” analyst K G Suresh said.
“he BJP had to roll back on certain reforms like the land bill, fearing popular
backlash ahead of the Bihar election.”
While growth is now purring along at around seven per cent, complaints have
been mounting about Modi’s failure to secure major reforms.
he BJP has a majority in the lower house of the parliament, but only about a
quarter of the 245 members in the upper house, where seats are distributed based
on the strength of political parties in state assemblies.
hat has allowed the opposition parties to block the government’s land,
taxation and other legislative reforms needed to overhaul the economy.
A history of business links
W
hen German families spend cosy nights in their gas-heated
On completion of the new pipeline, the partners’ natural
homes this winter, they can once again thank the natural gas transport capacity is expected to double.
gas ields of northern Russia. Some 4,000 km away in
Earlier this month, BASF and Gazprom agreed on a
western Siberia, German and Russian irms are jointly at huge exchange of shares in a deal set to give the German
work to produce and transport fuel. It is a vital source for irm further stakes in the gas ields of western Siberia.
Germany from the country’s largest energy supplier.
he Russians gained Wintershall’s gas storage and
Last year, Russian imports covered 31 per cent of trading business, a move which places one full quarter of
Germany’s oil and gas needs at a cost of 22 billion euros German storage capacity in Russian hands.
($25 billion). Energy cooperation is the backbone of
he politically sensitive deal had been put on ice in
German-Russian economic ties and is largely independent 2014 because of sanctions imposed over Russia’s military
of the two countries’ oten strained political relations.
presence in eastern Ukraine,
Despite sanctions imposed on Russia over Moscow’s
but was later revived, bringing Gazprom boss Alexei
role in the Ukraine conlict, several mega deals in 2015 Miller one step closer to holding the complete operational
have bolstered the energy cooperation. At the centre of chain — from production in Russia to the end user in
such deals are a few actors who enjoy a
Germany.
long history of doing business together.
Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman
Russian-German
Natural gas began lowing to Germany
has emerged as a newcomer in Germanenergy cooperation
from the former Soviet Union in 1970.
Russian energy dealings.
In St Petersburg on Monday, the
Last year, he paid 5 billion euros ($5.7
goes back a long
German chemical giant BASF and its
billion) to take over the German irm
time, and remains
subsidiary Wintershall is to celebrate the
DEA, a subsidiary of the energy utility
vital part of the two
25th anniversary of their partnership
giant RWE, in a deal that assured him a
with Russia’s state-owned company
countries’ ties, writes one-ith share of Germany’s oil and gas
Gazprom.
FRIEDEMANN KOHLER production.
Wintershall and Gazprom are linked
Now Fridman’s irm, LetterOne,
in a joint venture called Achimgaz that
is negotiating with Eon to buy up
produces natural gas near the city of Novy
the company’s oil and gas ields
Urengoi. Wintershall is also a stakeholder in the nearby gas in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, according to
ield of Yuzhno Rosskoe, where the German energy utility press reports.
Eon owns a share.
he Kremlin has repeatedly pointed out Russia’s
In addition, Gazprom, BASF and Eon are partners reliability in meeting its supply obligations to
in the Baltic Sea pipeline project to link the Russian Western Europe.
town of Wyborg to the north-eastern German state of
Amid disputes with the West, President Vladimir
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Putin has announced aims to re-direct the country’s
he pipeline can transport up to 55 billion cubic metres business towards China, which has nonetheless been slow
of gas annually.
to get of the ground.
In early September, these partners agreed on the
Business with Germany and the European Union is
construction of a second pipeline in the Baltic, a project much simpler.
which also brings the Netherlands’ Shell, Austria’s OMV
Russia is also keen to eliminate the need for Ukraine as a
and Engie of France to the table.
transit country through pipeline development.
With UK renegotiation ahead, Brussels ‘waits for David’
D
avid Cameron will have an expectant but
not especially patient, or even attentive,
audience when he meets fellow European
Union leaders at a summit in Brussels at the
end of this week.
“Waiting for David” has become
something of a catchphrase among
diplomats and oicials, who say the
British prime minister is frustrating them
by not yet detailing his demands for new
EU legislation ahead of the membership
referendum he plans to hold within the
next couple of years.
But as ‘In’ and ‘Out’ campaigns gear up,
a fear of partisan leaks in the boisterous
British media means the other 27 EU
governments are still waiting to see written
drat proposals from London.
And without that “trigger”, EU oicials
say, real political negotiations cannot start.
“hey need leaks like a hole in the head,”
said one person close to “technical talks” in
Brussels in which EU and British oicials
have been mapping out procedures for a
negotiation.
he drat agenda for hursday and
Friday includes a brieing by summit chair
Donald Tusk “about the process ahead”
concerning the British vote, which is
expected between early next summer and
an end-2017 deadline.
But few expect to hear much more
during a meeting that will be dominated by
the Syrian refugee crisis, including relations
with Turkey and Russia, and by proposals
to bolster the euro zone following the latest
chapter of the Greek debt crisis.
Cameron’s spokeswoman said a
“more substantive discussion” on Britain’s
demands was expected at the next regular
summit in mid-December, by which
time, she said, there would have been
“more detailed discussions” with the other
member states.
“David Cameron is very discreet — and
I can understand why,” a senior EU oicial
said ater Cameron’s last visit two weeks
ago, when he met Tusk, president of the
European Council.
British voters’ perceptions of whether
Cameron has succeeded in his negotiations
will be crucial — making it important to
manage appearances of what he will ask for
and what he achieves.
And it is too early to assess what other
leaders will accept.
The draft agenda for Thursday
and Friday includes a briefing
by summit chair Donald Tusk
“about the process ahead”
concerning the British vote,
which is due next year, notes
ALASTAIR MACDONALD
British oicials note that, since his reelection in May, Cameron has set out broad
areas where he wants change: relations
between London and the euro; a more
eicient, less federal EU; and, critically,
curbs on immigration by EU citizens.
At a summit in June, EU leaders agreed
to discuss the issue in December, raising
expectations that by then the negotiations
among ministers and oicials would be well
advanced.
But with Cameron in charge of the
vote timing, and refusing to prejudge
negotiations by backing an ‘In’ vote, his
Europe minister played down expectations
of a December deal during last week’s
annual Conservative conference.
“If you want a deal, you have to write
things down,” a second senior EU oicial
said. “And no one wants to write things
down because everything leaks.”
A third senior oicial said having a
substantive discussion at December’s
summit may mean having “a starting point,
a paper” by early next month to set out all
the issues for member states.
Some of the loudest ‘Out’ voices are
within Cameron’s own party and, with
the Conservative conference over, he
may be readier to set out more detail,
knowing that whatever he asks for will be
condemned as too little by some, and too
much by others.
Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron waits to greet German Chancellor
Angela Merkel ahead of their meeting in London last week.
— Reuters
ANALYSIS
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
omandailyobserver
9
To fulfil your potential make some adjustments
W
ALI AHMED AL RIYAMI
[email protected]
hile we can comprehend the saying that ‘old
habits die hard’ and that among these old habits
are those bad habits that we just can’t seem to
shake of, it doesn’t mean that we can never
change and that we cannot improve ourselves.
By ridding ourselves of bad habits once
and for all, we can make the necessary lifestyle
adjustments that can make all the diference in
the way that we, and others see, ourselves.
It doesn’t take that much efort to do so, giving
us good life changing results that can work to
better prepare ourselves for our own future
requirements and for what is expected of us
by all of those who are dependent on us, at
home and at work.
In making these few necessary adjustments,
in a timely fashion, we can seek to avert
undesirable consequences, which, depending
on the circumstances, may be injurious
to our health, have adverse efect to those
nearest and dearest to us and to others whom
we interact with.
We know ourselves better than anybody
else can; we know our own laws, character
traits, likes, dislikes and deiciencies, which
makes us best at knowing what is good and you or your future.
bad for us and what we need to do to improve
We can always ind excuses why we are unable
ourselves, allowing us to work on those things to change and improve ourselves, some point to
that will help us achieve the improvements we the fact that we are predestined to become who
wish to make.
we are — what fate has dictated and ordained
Of course, there are those
cannot be changed how ever
who always think they know
hard we try.
what’s best for you and what In making few necessary
Yes, the nature of fate is
you need to do and should
adjustments, in a timely predetermined, however,
be doing, but given that
our freewill means that it is
fashion, we can seek
we know ourselves better
constantly being rewritten,
to avert undesirable
than anyone else can, it
so to speak, and in this way
would be wisest to make
it is changeable; for the better
consequences, which,
our own decisions on what is
or for worse, depending on
depending on the
best for us.
our own predisposition.
circumstances, may be
It is true that when you
Change is inevitable, and
are young and relatively
injurious to our health, as we grow it can seemingly
inexperienced you should
be in a constant change
have adverse effect
seek advice before making
of lux, due to forces and
to those nearest.
changes or adjustments
circumstances beyond our
to your lifestyle, which
control; such is the nature of
should come from those
youth.
who care about you and your future, rather
Hopefully, we grow up wiser and more
from any Tom, Dick or Harry, or from determined and are, hence, more able and
know-it-alls who couldn’t care one iota about capable of inluencing the direction and low of
our growth, which, in turn, allows us to achieve
our aims, reach our goals and positively impact
on all those around us.
It can work in bettering ourselves, our
communities and society as a whole.
hat is why we owe it to ourselves - not only
to ourselves but in a much wider context also and should encourage ourselves to strive for it
and make those changes and adjustments that
can make it possible.
I remember having listened to a story about
an old family retainer, who ater a lifetime of
devoted service was about to retire.
In his relection about his life and life’s
accomplishments, he comforted himself by
noting that all the mistakes he had made had
been his own.
What struck me so much about his selfreassurance, was that he took comfort from the
fact that his mistakes where his own and not due
to someone else’s bad advice or misdirection.
Indeed, we all make mistakes and
anyone can take good comfort in, at least,
knowing the mistakes they have made have
been their own.
NEW CRISIS BREWS
WERNER HERPELL
t’s just a matter of waiting and hoping now. German Defence Minister
Ursula von der Leyen is awaiting the outcome of an oicial plagiarism
inquiry at the Hanover Medical School concerning her doctoral
dissertation in medicine that will determine whether she may keep her
doctor title.
It’s possible she will get of with a reprimand, or a request to rework
the dissertation. It can only be speculated what an outright withdrawal
of her doctoral title would mean for her career in the German cabinet
and her party, the Christian Democrats (CDU). Beyond that, there is
the question of whether Chancellor Angela Merkel will stand by her
amid the turbulence.
What is indisputable is that two previous plagiarism cases under
Merkel’s rule — former defence minister Karl-heodor zu Guttenberg,
and former education minister Annette Schavan ended badly.
But there is also hope, if one looks to state-level politics and the case
of former Lower Saxony education minister Bernd Althusmann.
his case from 2011 is a prime example of disastrous crisis
management. Guttenberg, an up-and-coming star of the CDU’s
Bavarian sister party, the CSU, had to step down in early 2011 ater
Bayreuth University withdrew his doctoral title as allegations about his
political science thesis turned up true,
showing that entire portions were copied without attribution.
Initially, Guttenberg dismissed the allegations as “abstruse.” hen, bit
by bit, he conceded some missteps as the evidence piled up.
In the end, it was not just the plagiarism itself, but his denials that
damaged his image beyond repair within the party.
As Berlin media scholar Joachim Trebbe points out: “People with a
doctor’s title can pursue a career more easily than people without one.
You can hardly separate the title from the oice.”
Annette Schavan, whose job also made her minister of research, had
her 1980 doctor’s title from Dusseldorf University withdrawn, in efect
depriving her of any academic qualiications.
It was a drawn-out process before the deputy CDU party leader,
and close ally to Chancellor Merkel, inally stepped down. In her case,
Schavan steadfastly denied any plagiarism or attempts to deceive, but
then, ater many weeks, she began to concede she had made some
errors out of haste in writing her education thesis.
She stepped down on February 9, 2013, and is now Germany’s
ambassador to the Vatican, albeit without a doctoral title. he
Schavan afair triggered a debate about a statute of limitations on
academic plagiarism.
I
Relatives mourn near the coffin of a victim of the twin bombings in Ankara, during the funeral in Istanbul.
— AFP
Fury towards Erdogan grows ater attacks
A
nger towards President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan over Turkey’s worst-ever terrorist
attack intensiied as authorities raced to
identify the two male suicide bombers it
blamed for the bloodshed.
he streets of Ankara illed with antigovernment and pro-Kurdish protesters
accusing the government of responsibility
for the blast that ripped through a peace
rally a day earlier, with several shouting
slogans against the government.
In Istanbul on Saturday, a 10,000-strong
crowd accused the government of failing to
protect citizens by providing security for the
event, carrying placards reading “the state is
a killer” and “we know the murderers”.
As tributes poured in from world leaders,
Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the Peoples’
Democratic Party (HDP), was cited as saying
“State attacked the people. Condolences
recipient should be the people not Erdogan”
on the party’s Twitter account.
In an emotional address to mourners in
Ankara, Demirtas said that citizens should
aim to end Erdogan’s rule, starting with the
upcoming legislative elections.
“We are not going to act out of revenge
and hatred. But we are going to ask for
(people to be held to) account,” he added,
saying the vote would be part of a process to
“topple the government.”
he party believes the death toll now
stands at 128, higher than the 97 people the
prime minister’s oice said were killed when
the bombs exploded on Saturday morning as
letist and pro-Kurdish activists assembled
by the city’s main train station.
he oicial toll also said 507 people were
wounded, with 160 still in hospital and 65 in
intensive care in 19 hospitals.
he government, which has denied any
responsibility in the incident, is attempting
to identify the two male suicide bombers it
blamed for the bloodshed, but the strike has
not yet been claimed by any group.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
groups including IS ighters, the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the farlet Revolutionary People’s Liberation PartyFront (DHKP-C) were capable of carrying
out such an attack.
“Work is continuing to identify the
corpses of the two male terrorists who
carried out the suicide bombings”, his oice
said on Sunday.
An AFP correspondent said the scene
of the blast was littered with ball bearings,
indicating the explosions were intended to
cause maximum damage.
he attack came just under three months
ater a suicide bombing blamed on the IS
group in the town of Suruc, on the Syrian
border, killed 33 people. It also targeted
peace activists.
he bombings have raised tensions
in Turkey just three weeks before snap
elections are due on November 1 and as the
military wages an ofensive against IS and
Kurdish militants.
With the country on edge, Erdogan issued
a statement condemning the “heinous”
bombings and cancelled a planned visit
to Turkmenistan but he has yet to speak
in public since the attack that shocked the
nation.
The streets of Ankara filled
with protesters accusing the
government of responsibility
for the blast that ripped
through a peace rally in
Ankara a day earlier, reports
FULYA OZERKAN
Even before the attacks, the president
was under immense political pressure ater
his Justice and Development Party (AKP)
lost its overall majority in June 7 polls for
the irst time since it came to power in 2002.
Coalition talks failed and Erdogan called
new elections.
But to the disappointment of the AKP,
opinion polls show the outcome may be
little diferent to the previous ballot.
he Ankara death toll surpasses that of
the May 2013 twin bombings in Reyhanli
on the Syrian border that killed over 50
people, making the attack the deadliest in
the history of the Turkish Republic.
As investigations into the identity of the
perpetrators continue, NTV television said
the Suruc and Ankara attacks were similar
both in style and the type of bombs used.
he same forensic experts sent to Suruc
are now working in Ankara.
he Hurriyet and Haberturk dailies
reported that the elder brother of
Abdurrahman Alagoz, who carried out the
Suruc suicide bombing, could be implicated
in the Ankara blasts.
he Suruc bombing caused one of
the most serious lare-ups in Turkey in
recent times as the PKK accused the
government of collaborating with IS and
resumed attacks on the security forces ater
an over two-year truce.
he military hit back, launching a “war
on terror” against the Kurdish militants.
he PKK on Saturday unexpectedly
announced it would suspend all attacks —
except in self defence — ahead of the polls.
But the Turkish army kept up its campaign
with more air raids on southeast Turkey and
northern Iraq, killing 49 suspected militants
over the last two days, the oicial Anatolia
news agency reported.
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10
MISSILE
INDIA
omandailyobserver
CLUB
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
Sena blackens face of Kasuri
book launch organiser
Wide support at
MTCR, but no
membership
INK ATTACK: Nationwide outrage against Shiv Sena hooliganism
NEW DELHI: India has failed in its maiden attempt
to win consensus support for its entry to the Missile
Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
But, inspiring hope for India, the outgoing
Norwegian chairman of the grouping, Roald Næss,
tweeted ater the meeting concluded on October 9:
“Broad support for Indian membership in MTCR, but
regrettably no consensus yet. I remain optimistic.” he
34-member voluntary grouping ended its 29th annual
session in the port city of Rotterdam without any
decision on India’s application for membership.
India had formally submitted an application
in June 2015 with active support from the US and
France. Although an odd country may have opposed
India’s proposal, there is considerable victory for
the country insofar as most members of the various
denial regimes have
come to appreciate
Although an odd
New Delhi’s persistent
n on - prol i fe r at i on country may have
policies on nuclear opposed India’s
weapons and missiles.
proposal, there is
E x t e r n a l
afairs
ministry considerable victory
spokesperson Vikas as most members
Swarup observed that
have come to
India’s
application
was “received well appreciate New
and it remains under Delhi’s persistent
consideration”.
non-proliferation
Although
India
was the target of policies on N-arms
some of these denial and missiles.
regimes right ater
its irst nuclear test
in 1974, New Delhi indicated its willingness to join
them ater its second nuclear tests in 1998. In April
2012, then foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai told
strategic experts at the Institute for Defence Studies
and Analyses (IDSA) in New Delhi that it was time for
India to join these four regimes, beginning with the
NSG.
his was the irst formal, and categorical, move by
India, and ever since, diplomats handling disarmament
at the external afairs ministry have successfully
engaged various capitals.
he MTCR holds its plenary session in October.
Whether India’s application will now be considered a
year later next October, or sometime before that, is to
be seen.
— IANS
MUMBAI: Belligerent Shiv Sena
activists abused and blackened the
face of veteran journalist and L K
Advani’s former aide Sudheendra
Kulkarni to protest his organising
the launch of former Pakistani
foreign
minister
Khurshid
Mahmud Kasuri’s book here on
Monday but the event went on
ahead amid high security.
he
incident
generated
a nationwide outrage with
condemnation from all major
political parties including the
state’s ruling Bharatiya Janata
Party, which is in alliance with
the Sena in both the centre and in
Maharashtra.
Taking the Sena’s challenge
headlong,
Chief
Minister
Devendra Fadnavis assured that
the function would be held and full
security would be provided to the
event and the visiting dignitary.
he state government ensured
tight security at the venue, Nehru
Centre in Worli, where “Neither
a Hawk Nor a Dove: An Insider
Account of Pakistan’s Foreign
Policy” was released peacefully
without any untoward incident in
the presence of a large number of
dignitaries.
he attack happened when
Kulkarni was leaving his home in
Sion in south-central Mumbai,
when a group of around a dozen
Sena activists accosted him.
hey shouted slogans and asked
him to cancel the event and then
smeared him with black ink.
A shaken but determined
Kulkarni, chairman of think-tank
Observer Research Foundation
(ORF), told media persons that the
Shiv Sena had repeatedly warned it
would not permit the event and if
the ORF failed to comply, the party
would disrupt it in “Shiv Sena
style”.
IN BRIEF
New Delhi to
host Sudan
president
NEW DELHI: India has invited
Sudan’s President Omar Hassan
al Bashir to a summit, despite
charges of war crimes brought
against him by the International
Criminal Court, news reports said
on Monday.
India is not a member state of
the ICC in he Hague and is not
expected to arrest Al Bashir as the
court has requested, government
sources told the Indian Express
newspaper.
“We will be compliant with
our statutory international legal
obligations,” Foreign Ministry
spokesman Vikas Swarup told the
Hindu newspaper.
Non members are not legally
obliged to obey the court.
New Delhi has invited Al
Bashir among the 54 heads of state
to attend the third India-Africa
summit from October 26.
he ICC has issued warrants for
the arrest of Al Bashir and other
top Sudanese oicials on suspicion
of genocide, war crimes and crimes
against humanity.
— dpa
Sudheendra Kulkarni, whose face was blackened by ink in an alleged attack, holds a copy of a book by former
Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri (R) during a news conference in Mumbai yesterday. — Reuters
“he Shiv Sena has no authority
to impose such a ban... We have
taken a principled stand and shall
not cancel the event,” asserted
Kulkarni, who did not wash of the
ink for several hours, Kasuri said
he was “saddened and unhappy
by this attack on Kulkarni whom
I have known for many years”
and condemned it. “...the right to
protest must be peaceful and these
people must change their tactics
of protest,” he said at a hurriedly
convened press conference here
following the incident.
“I have come with a message of
peace... An overwhelming majority
of people in both countries want
peace between the two countries...
But, there are some who don’t want
India-Pakistan peace,” he said.
Senior BJP leader Advani in
New Delhi and party spokesman
minced no words in protesting
against the Sena actions, while
social networking sites condemned
what many termed “Shiv Sena
HISTORIC VISIT
hooliganism”.
Several top Congress leaders
including state party chief Ashok
Chavan, leader of Opposition
Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, city
chief Sanjay Nirupam, senior state
leader Sanjay Dutt also condemned
the attack.
hough virtually isolated, the
Sena appeared undeterred by the
backlash and vowed to continue its
anti-Pakistani protests in diferent
forms.
“You have witnessed what is
going on since today morning.
Kasuri has arrived in Mumbai for
the function arranged by Pakistai
‘agent’ (Kulkarni) — You have
also seen the Shiv Sena’s reaction
and how their faces have been
blackened,” Shiv Sena MP and
spokesperson Sanjay Raut told
media persons.
“We are not concerned by who
is condemning the action. Our
agitation will continue. It is not a
political agitation, but a patriotic
one against the forces attempting
to break and divide the country,”
he said.
Warning the Sena would not
tolerate any talks which was “antiIndia” or “anti-Indians”, Raut said:
“During his tenure as foreign
minister, Kasuri worked actively
against India. He invited antiIndian separatists in Jammu and
Kashmir and instigated them to
unite against India. his is the same
Kasuri whom they are welcoming
with a red carpet.”
He said the Sena has sent a
report listing all of Kasuri’s antiIndia activities during his tenure
as Pakistan foreign minister, and
urged Fadnavis’ intervention to
cancel Monday’s function.
he Monday incident came
close on the heels of last week’s
threats by Sena leading to
cancellation of two concerts — in
Mumbai and Pune — by renowned
Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam
Ali.
— Agencies
Singapore opens
exhibition on
Indian culture
FRANKFURT: Holidaymakers in
Singapore can now visit a museum
about Indian culture.
he Indian Heritage Centre in
the Little India district is dedicating
a permanent exhibition over four
loors to the topic, including an
exploration of the cultural interplay
between India and South-East Asia.
Indians make up the third
largest ethnic group in Singapore
and have had a signiicant impact
on life in the wealthy city state.
he museum opened in May.
— dpa
India, US, Japan kick of naval
drills likely to annoy China
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee review the honour guard upon Mukherjee’s
arrival at the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday. — Reuters
NEW DELHI: India, Japan and the
United States will hold joint naval
exercises each year, Indian government
sources said on Monday, as the three
countries kicked of the irst such drills
in the Bay of Bengal in eight years, a
move likely to concern China.
he last time New Delhi hosted
multilateral drills in its waters in 2007
prompted disquiet in China where
some saw it as a US-inspired security
grouping on the lines of Nato in Europe.
But Prime Minister Narendra Modi
has signalled a more robust security
policy, seeking stronger strategic ties
with the United States and Japan while
keeping a lid on border tensions with
China.
he United States is deploying the
aircrat carrier, USS heodore Roosevelt,
and a nuclear-powered submarine in
the week-long exercises that the Indian
navy said will cover the full spectrum of
manoeuvres.
“hese
exercises
are
allencompassing, starting from one
spectrum to the other including antipiracy operations, board, search and
seize and humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief,” said Indian navy
spokesman Captain D K Sharma.
he decision to expand the Malabar
exercises that the US and India conduct
each year to include Japan comes days
ater a Pentagon oicial said it was
considering sailing warships close to
China’s artiicial islands in the South
China Sea.
he Financial Times newspaper last
week cited a senior US oicial as saying
US ships would sail within 12-nauticalmile zones that China claims as territory
around islands it has built in the Spratly
chain, within the next two weeks.
India has kept away from the
tensions in the South China, but has
stood with the US in calling for freedom
of navigation in the region.
Tokyo has been involved in the
drills of and on in recent years when
these have held in the Paciic, but the
three governments had now agreed to
formalise it, Indian defence sources said.
he Indian navy is deploying a
submarine to the Malabar exercises
along with surface ships and maritime
surveillance aircrat, but neither of its
two aircrat carriers will take part.
Japan has sent a lone destroyer.
— Reuters
Village of widows: Since the road was built in 2006, some 25 male residents have been killed trying to reach the other side
Highway through village leaves just one man in Peddakunta
PEDDAKUNTA: For developing India,
dangerous and potholed roads have
long been a way of life.
But one highway running through a
village in the southern state of Telangana
has gained a dire reputation, blamed for
the deaths of scores trying to cross it.
A bypass road of national highway
44 snakes through Peddakunta village,
cutting of the community from its
headquarters on the other side.
Since the road was built in 2006,
Peddakunta has been dubbed the
“village of highway widows” with only
one male adult let among the huts of 35
families.
he rest of the village comprises
women, children and the elderly.
Some 25 male residents have been
My husband died in a
killed in Peddakunta trying to reach the
bypass road accident
other side, locals say.
“My husband died in a bypass road
and so did my brother
accident and so did my brother and my
and my father. There
father.
here are no men to look ater us in are no men to look after us
the family,” Kurra Asli, 23, said, holding in the family
up a faded photograph of her husband.
Another widow held up a black and
KURRA ASLI
white printout of her dead husband, his
Widow
body laying on the bypass, his let foot
crushed.
Locals have demanded a foot
bridge or tunnel so they can safely
cross the four-lane stretch to reach villages.
the headquarters to collect monthly
But widows say their demands have
pensions or ind employment in other been ignored.
“No one will help us. Everyone will
come, take photos and videos and go
of,” said K Maani, 38, as she cooked
over a stove made of mud.
“I do not have a gas stove or even a
bathroom, no one is there to help us,”
said the mother of three.
India has some of the world’s
deadliest roads with more than 230,000
fatalities annually, according to the
World Health Organization.
Transport analysts attribute the huge
number of accidents to poor roads, illtrained drivers and reckless driving.
he national government has put
forward proposals for new legislation to
make roads safer by stifening lax traic
regulations.
— AFP
Students prepare to cross National
Highway 44 to go to school in the
village of Peddakunta, some 56
kilometres from Hyderabad. — AFP
INDIA
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
omandailyobserver
11
First phase of battle Bihar ends, 57 per cent voting
CRUNCH TEST: Two main BJP-led NDA and JDU-led Grand Alliance claim victory; Rajnath says Modi still popular
PATNA: Around 57 per cent of 13.5
million electorate voted on Monday in
49 of the 243 constituencies in the irst
round of battle for political power in
Bihar. he two main fronts soon claimed
victory.
It marked the start of an intense ivephase contest that will end on November
5 and whose outcome — to be known
three days later — will prove whether
Prime Minister Narendra Modi still
retains his charisma or not.
he Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led
NDA is determined to oust the ruling
Janata Dal-United (JDU) and its allies,
the RJD and Congress who had formed
a Grand Alliance.
Additional Chief Electoral Oicer R
Lakshaman said the election passed of
peacefully, with 57 per cent voting. It
was nearly 51 per cent in 2010.
Defying Maoist calls to boycott the
elections, millions of men and women
in both urban and rural areas trooped to
polling booths in the 49 constituencies
spread over 10 districts, oicials said.
Barring stray incidents, the balloting
was largely peaceful. he Bihar battle is
the biggest popularity test in the country
ater the Delhi election in February in
STAR
The Bihar battle is the
biggest popularity test in
the country after the
Delhi election in
February in which
the AAP routed the BJP
which the AAP routed the BJP.
Unidentiied men ired at Lok
Janshakti Party (LJP) candidate Vijay
Kumar Singh in Jamui but he was unhurt.
Police arrested one of the attackers.
Lakshaman said that women voters
outnumbered males in some placs.
As the voting progressed, Home
Minister Rajnath Singh said that Modi’s
popularity had not waned, at least in
Bihar. “I am campaigning in the whole
of Bihar. I see no dent in the prime
minister’s image. he people of Bihar still
have conidence in him,” the former BJP
president said, adding he was conident
of a BJP victory.
BJP leader Sanjay Mayunkh said that
the NDA will emerge a big winner in the
irst round of polls. “here was a clear
wave in our favour.”
Chemists across the country to go on strike
STRIKER
Legendary Brazilian soccer player Pele smiles after unveiling his own statue during
an interactive session with the students at the NSHM Knowledge Campus in Kolkata
yesterday. — Reuters
No intention to be Fifa
president, says Pele
NEW DELHI: Football legend Pele
said on Monday he had no intention to
head the sport’s governing body Fifa,
that is engulfed by a crisis that has led
to the suspension of its president Joseph
Blatter. “No, I do not have any intention
to be president of Fifa,” Pele, a threetime World Cup winner, said in a press
conference in Kolkata.
Fifa last week banned Blatter and
UEFA chief Michel Platini for 90
days in connection with a criminal
investigation in which Blatter is
suspected of mismanagement and
Platini is named as a recipient of a
“disloyal payment” from Fifa.
Fifa’s senior vice-president Issa
Hayatou of Cameroon is the acting
president. Pele, 74, on a week-long
visit to India, also said he considers
Argentine striker Lionel Messi ahead of
Cristiano Ronaldo.
“In the last 10 years, I think for me,
Messi was the best player who I saw,”
Pele said. “Lots of people compare
Messi with Ronaldo. But they are two
diferent kind of players. Both players
are fantastic,” he said.
Pele arrived in the eastern Indian
metropolis to an ecstatic welcome by
frenzied fans on Sunday.
On Tuesday, he will attend an Indian
Super League game between defending
champions Atletico de Kolkata and
Kerala Blasters, where he will be
the guest of honour. he legendary
Brazilian, the only player to feature in
three World Cup-winning teams, also
said that Brazil still produces the world’s
best footballers.
— Agencies
GOA EX-CM, TOP OFFICIAL
GET BAIL IN BRIBERY CASE
PANAJI: Former Goa chief minister
Churchill Alemao and former project
director of the compromised JICA
funded project Anand Wachasundar
were granted bail by a special court
here on Monday in connection with
the Louis Berger bribery case.
Both Alemao, also a former public
works department minister, and
Wachasundar were incarcerated for
more than two months for allegedly
receiving, along with others, bribes
to allot the Rs 1,031 crore JICA
project consultancy project to Louis
Berger.
The two have been released on a
personal bond of Rs 5 lakh each and
have been directed not to leave the
country during the investigation.
Former Goa chief minister
trying to dislodge the ruling JD-U. he
BJP alliance also includes the Hindustani
Awam Morcha and the Rashtriya Lok
Samata Party.
Voters in most polling booths said
they would vote for development. “It
is the only agenda that attracted me,”
said voter Suman Kumar in Bhagalpur
district. Giridhari Yadav in Khagaria
said he would vote for Nitish Kumar.
“Why should I vote for the BJP when
we have tested Nitish Kumar? He has
constructed roads, provided electricity,
and set up schools and hospitals in rural
areas,” he said.
Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria,
Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Lakhisarai,
Sheikhpura, Nawada and Jamui districts
voted in the irst phase.
he second round of polling will be
held on October 16.
he heavyweights in the fray on
Monday included state LJP president
Pashupati Kumar Paras, BJP ally HAM
state president Shakuni Choudhary and
Women wait in a line to cast their vote outside a polling station in Samastipur district in the eastern state of Bihar yesterday.
Congress leader and former speaker
— Reuters Sadanand Singh.
But JD-U spokesperson Nawal lines. We will sweep the irst phase.”
districts.
he JD-U and the Rashtriya Janata
Sharma said the people had voted for
Minor incidents of violence came
he BJP-led NDA alliance, which has Dal came together for this election ater
the Grand Alliance. “It was on expected from Banka, Jamui and Bhagalpur three other parties including the LJP, is years of hostility.
— IANS
Digambar Kamat, along with then
state PWD minister Churchill Alemao
and other government oicials, has
been accused of allegedly accepting
a $976,630 bribe in 2010 from
oicials of US-based Louis Berger
construction consultancy irm to
secure contracts for the water and
sewerage augmentation project in
Goa worth Rs 1,031 crore funded
by the Japan International CoOperation Agency (JICA), which was
cleared in 2010 by a Congress-led
coalition government.
Kamat is currently out on
anticipatory bail. Police have already
charge sheeted the case naming
Alemao and other oicials while
Kamat himself has been listed as a
suspect but not charge sheeted yet.
NEW DELHI: Over eight lakh chemists
across the country will shut their shops
for a day on Wednesday to oppose the
central government’s alleged move to
regularise the sale of medicines through
e-pharmacies on the Internet.
hey also warned of an indeinite
strike if the government failed to address
the issue within a week.
“Internet pharmacy is a new platform
for the sale of medicines for the last one
year. It is completely illegal and we have
even apprised higher authorities that
such sale of medicines is a violation of
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which
talks of proper prescription by doctors,”
All India Organisation of Chemists and
Druggists (AIOCD) President J S Sinde
said at a media brieing here.
A delegation of AIOCD has
submitted a memorandum of demands
to several authorities, including the
Prime Minister’s Oice, the health
ministry, the Drug Controller General
of India and state authorities, he said.
Shinde said the online sale of
medicines increased the risk of adverse
drug reactions/side efects and would
enable the entry of unbranded and
spurious medicines.
“It poses a big threat of irrational use
of medicines, leading to drug addiction
among the youth, afect availability of
medicines in rural India and prove a
setback to the 800,000-plus chemists
and pharmacists employing nearly eight
million people across the country, he
added.
Speaking about why e-pharmacy
was successful in developed nations,
including the US, AIOCD secretary
Suresh Gupta said there were proper
laws to govern online sale of medicines.
“Presently,
online
pharmacies
accessible on the Internet supply I-pills,
MTP kits, anti-depressants, cough
Internet pharmacy
is a new platform for
the sale of medicines
for the last one year.
It is completely illegal and
we have even apprised
higher authorities that
such sale of medicines is
a violation of Drugs and
Cosmetics Act
J S SINDE
AIOCD president
syrups etc. without conirming the
authenticity of prescriptions or the
patients,” Gupta said.
Meanwhile, following the call for the
October 14 strike, government hospitals
in all states, especially in the national
capital, have decided to replenish their
stocks of medicines.
“I have already instructed oicials to
ensure adequate medicines and a proper
back-up for October 14. In case of a
major shortage, we will see how to tackle
it,” said A K Rai, medical superintendent
of Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital.
A senior oicials from All India
Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
said: “he AIIMS pharmacy has enough
stocks of medicines. We will try our best
to handle the patients rush on October
14. However, such strikes are against
humanity.”
Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital and
AIIMS outpatients’ departments witness
daily arrival of around 8,000 and 10,000
patients respectively.
Meanwhile, chemist associations
from several states have conirmed they
would participate in the proposed strike.
In July, a Mumbai woman who flew to Chicago was found to have drug resistant TB
Hospital staf deaths put TB in spotlight
MUMBAI: Campaigners and a
former oicial overseeing Asia’s largest
tuberculosis hospital in Mumbai say staf
deaths there are being under-reported,
highlighting India’s growing struggle to
contain multi-drug resistant forms of
the contagious, airborne disease.
Many of India’s toughest TB cases
end up in the metal cots of the state-run
Sewri Hospital, where on a recent visit
open wards were lined with emaciated
patients, many let alone by families
scared by the disease and its stigma.
Medical Superintendent Rajendra
Nanavare, Sewri’s top doctor, says an
average of six patients a day die at the
1,200-bed hospital.
Nanavare says a dozen hospital
workers had also died from TB in the
last ive years.
But others say the real number of staf
deaths is higher — although they could
not give a precise igure — pointing to
a public health crisis at the heart of one
of the world’s most densely populated
cities.
“A lot of class 4 workers like the
sweepers and the cleaners at the hospital
leave work ater they get the infection,”
said Prakash Devdas, president of the
local workers’ union.
“We don’t know if they’re alive with
the infection or dead. Nobody tracks
them. hat’s why I said the actual
number would be much higher.”
Campaigners blame weak infection
controls, poor oversight and infrequent
checks on workers in a country where
the shame of TB alone drives people to
suicide.
“here is so much interaction
between the patients and staf. hey
Over 10,000
dengue cases
in Delhi highest
in 19 years
A security woman stands guard outside the Group of TB Hospitals in Mumbai.
— Reuters
become more vulnerable... especially
if they have weak immunity,” said
former TB oicer Mini Khetarpal, who
supervised the hospital for Mumbai
authorities until earlier this year.
Nanavare said 69 employees has been
diagnosed with TB since 2011, of whom
12 had died while 28 had been cured.
A lot of staf continue to work at the
hospital long ater being infected.
India has the world’s largest number
of TB patients — an estimated 2.6
million Indians live with the bacterial
lung disease, which is spread through
coughs and sneezes.
he country is second only to China
in the number of patients with drugresistant TB, a major threat to TB control
with repercussions well beyond India.
In July this year, a Mumbai woman
who lew to Chicago was found to have
the extremely drug resistant TB (XDR
TB). She has since been quarantined and
is under treatment there.
NEW DELHI: With 10,683
dengue cases reported till
October 10, Delhi has recorded
the highest number of patients
of the viral disease in 19 years,
health authorities said.
The last time dengue cases
crossed the 10,000 mark was
in 1996, when the capital city
reported 10,252 patients.
The number of dengue cases
reported from Delhi’s adjacent
areas — suburban Ghaziabad in
Uttar Pradesh, and Gurgaon and
Faridabad in Haryana — stood
at 646. According to the igures
released by the Municipal
Corporation of Delhi, as many as
3,077 new cases were detected
in the last one week.
Areas under the South
Delhi Municipal Corporation
witnessed the highest 2,432
cases while in the East Delhi
Municipal Corporation areas
witnessed the lowest 1,413
cases. The North Delhi Municipal
Corporation recorded 2,307
cases in the last one week.
According to civic authorities,
the oicial toll due to dengue
in the national capital was 30,
though the unoicial igure rose
up to over 85
12
CANADA POLL CAMPAIGN HOTS UP
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 1 3 l 2 0 1 5
BUHARI SUBMITS CABINET NOMINEES’ LIST
CANADA’S Prime
Minister and
Conservative leader
Stephen Harper speaks at
a campaign event at the
Martin Family Fruit Farm
in Waterloo, on Monday.
Canadians will go to
the polls for a federal
election on October 19.
WORLD
NIGERIAN President Muhammadu
Buhari has submitted a second list of
candidates for his cabinet to the upper
house of parliament for approval,
Senate President Bukola Saraki said on
his Twitter feed on Monday. He did not
disclose the 15 names but is expected to
read them out in parliament on Tuesday.
Buhari submitted a irst list with 21
names to the Senate earlier this month.
CAUGHT BETWEEN THE GIANTS
Poverty expert wins
Nobel Economics Prize
A young girl sits with giant pumpkins during the 42nd annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off Contest in
the World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay, California, on Monday. The championship is offering a special $30,000 megaprize for the world record breaking pumpkin at the prestigious Half Moon Bay event. — AFP
Trapped thief
calls police
for help
DUESSELDORF, Germany:
A trapped thief in Germany
called the police for help,
oicials
reported
on
Monday.
he man had broken into
a house in Bonn in the state
of North Rhine-Westphalia,
but then got stuck in a storage
room when the door slammed
shut behind him.
He was forced to call the
police, who freed him from
his unexpected prison before
delivering him temporarily to
another.
he unlucky would-be
thief was already known to
the police, was booked before
being released on his own
recognisance.
— dpa
Merkel steps up plans
to set up transit zones
BERLIN: Border transit zones have
emerged as the latest issue splitting
Germany’s ruling coalition, as the
country seeks to ind a way to grapple
with the press of people seeking entry
amid Europe’s refugee crisis.
Social Democrats (SPD) expressed
misgivings Monday ater a spokesman
for Chancellor Angela Merkel hinted
the zones might be necessary to
streamline the processing of people into
groups of potential asylum-seekers and
those whose claims to enter Germany
required additional review or merit
rejection.
Talks within the coalition — where
the SPD is a junior member to Merkel’s
conservative Christian Democrats
(CDU) — on creating such zones
should start “as soon as possible”, the
chancellor’s spokesman, Stefen Seibert,
said on Monday.
Under the transit zone plan, asylum-
seekers travelling from a country
deemed safe or who are not carrying
identity papers or who are considered
to have false identity papers would be
detained at centres set up along the
border.
“We urgently need more order
concerning the entry of refugees, but
I reject the establishment of detention
centres for thousands of asylum-seekers
on the border,” said SPD parliamentary
faction leader homas Oppermann in
Berlin.
Oicially, Berlin expects the
numbers of refugees arriving in
Germany this year to be about 800,000,
with a large proportion of the asylumseekers coming from war-ravaged
nations such Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq
and Eritrea.
However, some German state
governments believe that the number
could be 1 million or more.
— dpa
Zimbabwe drops case against US
dentist who killed Cecil the lion
HARARE: Zimbabwe on Monday
abandoned its bid to press charges
against a US dentist who killed Cecil
the lion, saying his papers “were in
order” and that he did not know he was
committing any ofence.
he black-maned lion was shot dead
with a powerful bow and arrow in July
by US trophy hunter Walter Palmer in a
hunt that provoked worldwide outrage.
Palmer paid $55,000 to shoot the lion
on an expedition led by professional
Zimbabwean hunter heo Bronkhorst.
he hunt provoked a storm of
criticism ater it emerged that Cecil was
a well-known attraction among visitors
to the Hwange National Park and was
wearing a tracking collar as part of an
Oxford University research project.
But a Zimbabwean government
minister on Monday said they would
not pursue any legal proceedings against
Palmer.
Environment
Minister
Oppah
Muchinguri told reporters Palmer’s
“papers were in order” when he came
to Zimbabwe. “We are now going to
review how we issue hunting quotas,”
Muchinguri said.
“he documents were there... he
problem now remains internal.”
he dentist was welcome to return
to Zimbabwe but “not for hunting”, she
added.
Muchinguri had previously called
for Palmer to be extradited from the US.
Palmer was hounded on social
Walter Palmer arrives at the River Bluff Dental clinic in Bloomington, Minnesota, in
this file photo. — Reuters
media over the killing and, ater
demonstrations outside his dental
practice in Minnesota, went into hiding
for weeks. He later apologised for killing
Cecil, a 13-year-old male renowned for
his distinctive black mane.
Palmer said he believed it was a legal
hunt and appeared to blame Bronkhorst
for misleading him.
Muchinguri said Honest Ndlovu, the
local landowner, did not have a hunting
quota for a lion but that the rural district
council covering the land did have one.
Bronkhorst has been charged with
“failing to prevent an illegal hunt” and is
due back in court on hursday when the
judge is due to decide on his application
to have the case against him thrown out.
Bronkhorst has always denied any
wrongdoing, saying he had obtained all
the permits required to kill an elderly
lion that was outside the national park
boundaries.
When Palmer returned to work in
September, a handful of protesters stood
outside his dentist practice holding
signs declaring “Stop Trophy Hunting”
and “Animals Not Trophies.”
Palmer, 55, said the ordeal had
afected his wife and daughter, who
had been threatened on social media. “I
don’t understand that level of humanity
to come ater people not involved at all,”
he said in an interview.
— AFP
STOCKHOLM: US-British economist
Angus Deaton won the Nobel
Economics Prize on Monday for
ground-breaking work using household
surveys to show how consumers,
particularly the poor, decide what to buy
and how policymakers can help them.
“By emphasising the links between
individual consumption decisions and
outcomes for the whole economy, his
work has helped transform modern
microeconomics, macroeconomics and
development economics,” the Royal
Swedish Academy of Sciences said.
“To design economic policy that
promotes welfare and reduces poverty,
we must irst understand individual
consumption choices. More than anyone
else, Angus Deaton has enhanced this
understanding,” it said.
Deaton, 69, is a professor at Princeton
University in the United States and
described winning the prize as a little
like being struck by lightning.
“If you’re my age and you’ve been
working for a long time you know this
is a possibility,” he said on Princeton’s
website.
“But you also know there are a huge
number of people out there who deserve
this. hat lightning would strike me
seemed like a very small probability
event. It was sort of like, ‘Oh my
goodness, it’s really happening’.”
Deaton was honoured for three
related
achievements:
developing
with his colleague John Muellbauer
around 1980 a system for estimating
Angus Deaton
the demand for diferent goods; studies
of the link between consumption and
income that he conducted around 1990;
and work he carried out in later decades
on measuring living standards and
poverty in developing countries with
the help of household surveys.
He is “an economist who looks
more closely at what poor households
consume to get a better sense of their
living standards and possible paths
for economic development. He truly,
deeply understands the implications
of economic growth, the beneits of
modernity, and political economy,”
Tyler Cowen, an economics professor
at George Mason University in
Washington, said on his blog Marginal
Revolution.
His research has shown how the
clever use of household data can shed
light on issues such as the relationship
between income and calorie intake —
increased income does indeed lead
to more calories being consumed.
It also showed the extent of gender
discrimination within the family —
girls are discriminated against when
households have to tighten the belt.
“Deaton’s focus on household surveys
has helped transform development
economics from a theoretical ield based
on aggregate data to an empirical ield
based on detailed individual data,” the
Academy said.
Deaton is optimistic about economic
progress in the world. In his 2013 book
he Great Escape he outlined how
overall human welfare — especially
longevity and prosperity — has risen
spectacularly over time, even though
the inequality gap between rich and
poor has widened. Speaking to reporters
at the Nobel press conference by video
link, Deaton said he believed poverty
would continue to decline.
“I do foresee a decrease. I think we’ve
had a remarkable decrease for the past
20-30 years. I do expect that to continue,”
he said, noting however that there were
still 700 million extremely poor people
according to the World Bank, “so we are
not out of the woods yet.”
Deaton said reducing poverty
would for example resolve the current
migration crisis which has seen more
than 630,000 people landing on Europe’s
doorstep this year.
— AFP
AROUND THE GLOBE
Trailblazing trial for brittle-bone disease
Oscar Pistorius
Tenants make
‘bizarre’ video of
crime house
JOHANNESBURG: Two South African
men who rent the house where Oscar
Pistorius shot his girlfriend have made
an Internet video of the room where
the crime took place and boasted of
the property’s potential for holding
parties.
Local media reported on Monday
that David Scott, 33, and Kagiso
Mokoape, 23, were business partners
who leased the large house in
Pretoria where Pistorius killed Reeva
Steenkamp in 2013.
“This is deinitely an entertainer’s
house. Oscar built this house to
entertain,” Scott said on the YouTube
video.
“Every weekend it is going to go
down here,” Mokoape added.
Pistorius was found guilty last year
of culpable homicide — a charge
equivalent to manslaughter — after
saying he mistook Steenkamp for an
intruder.
The two men were ilmed standing
in the bathroom where Pistorius
shot Steenkamp through a locked
toilet door, with Scott giving his own
version of the killing.
“They had a ight... he went after
her, she ran away, locked herself in the
bathroom,” Scott said. “(She) said she is
going to phone someone and he shot
her. That’s what happened.”
The Star newspaper said that
Pistorius family spokeswoman
Anneliese Burgess described the
video as “bizarre”. — AFP
PARIS: Foetuses burdened with a crippling form of brittle bone disease will receive
stem-cell treatment early next year in a pioneering trial, British hospitals participating
in the study said on Monday. Stem cells will be injected into the foetuses to help
strengthen bones so frail they may break before birth, the researchers said, and into
stricken newborns to compare the results.
Children with severe forms of the condition, called osteogenesis imperfecta, sufer
repeated fractures of bones throughout the skeleton, leading to painful disability and,
in some cases, death in early infancy.
Other symptoms include brittle teeth, hearing loss, and breathing diiculties due
to malformed rib cages. There is no cure. Genetic in origin, brittle bone disease afects
about one in 25,000 people of European descent.
The condition is caused by a defect in a gene that produces collagen, a ibre-like
protein crucial for strengthening bone, much in the way steel rods reinforce concrete.
The trials, coordinated by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden where the stem-cell
treatment was developed, will involve a group of foetuses and a group of newborns.
Each group will receive injections of stem cells specialised in boosting collagen
levels in infants’ growing bones.
— AFP
Peter Sahlas (L) and Jean-Pierre Mignard (R), lawyer of Kazakh opposition
figure Mukhtar Ablyazov, and his daughter Madina Ablyazov give a press
conference on Monday in Paris. The French government has given the green
light for the extradition of Kazakh tycoon and opposition figure Mukhtar
Ablyazov to Russia, where he is accused of embezzling billions of dollars, his
lawyer said. — AFP
Final report on downing of MH17 today
AMSTERDAM: The Dutch Safety Board on Monday was winding up its investigation
into the downing of Malaysia Airlines light MH17 over Ukraine which killed all 298
people on board. The report, to be presented on Tuesday at the military airport of
Gilze-Rijen in the country’s south, is to answer whether the Boeing jet was struck by a
Russia-made ground-to-air Buk missile.
The aeroplane was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur at the time of the
July 17, 2014, crash. The Netherlands has taken the lead in the investigation, since
most of the dead were Dutch nationals.
Relatives of the dead are to be informed irst of the report’s conclusions.
Investigators have long said it is most likely that the Boeing 777 was shot down
by a missile over eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have fought
Ukrainian forces for more than a year.
Rocket parts found in August appeared to belong to a Buk missile. The safety board
however will not reveal who was responsible for the crash, which is instead expected
to be revealed by a Dutch-led legal investigation in the coming year.
— dpa
REGION
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
omandailyobserver
SYRIA ADVANCES WITH RUSSIAN HELP
FIERCEST FIGHTING: EU demands immediate halt to strikes on moderate rebels as Russian air force
struck 53 targets in 24 hours; Iraq investigating reports IS chief wounded in raid
BEIRUT: Syrian troops aided by Russian
air strikes fought their iercest clashes with
rebels in weeks on Monday, as Europe’s top
diplomats demanded that Moscow stop
targeting opposition, non-rebel ighters.
Meeting in Luxembourg, European Union
foreign ministers also said lasting peace in
Syria was impossible without a transition
from President Bashar al Assad’s rule.
Baghdad, meanwhile, said it was trying
to conirm reports that IS group leader Abu
Bakr al Baghdadi had been wounded in an
Iraqi strike on his convoy.
On the ground in Syria, the army command
said regime forces had captured Kafr Nabuda
village in central Hama province, extending
their advance in the region around the
strategic Damascus-Aleppo highway.
Regime forces have been pushing an
ofensive on both sides of the highway
towards the town of Khan Sheikhun, just over
the provincial border in Idlib.
he Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
monitor said clashes were ongoing in Kafr
Nabuda, adding that Russian warplanes had
carried out at least 20 strikes in and around
the village.
“he clashes are the iercest since the
Russian air campaign began on September
30,” Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman
said.
Many of Russia’s air strikes so far have
been focused on the area where Hama, Idlib
and Latakia provinces meet.
Latakia province on the Mediterranean
coast is a stronghold of the regime and the
home of Assad’s ancestral village.
Idlib province is controlled by the powerful
Army of Conquest rebel alliance which
includes al Qaeda ailiate Al Nusra Front.
In recent months, the alliance has sought
to expand from Idlib into Hama and the
strategic Sahl al Ghab plain between the three
provinces in a bid to target Latakia.
Abdel Rahman said the rebels were
US-led coalition drops ammo to anti-IS rebels
A man removes belongings from his damaged house that was hit by a barrel bomb
dropped by Syrian forces in Deraa province yesterday. — Reuters
WASHINGTON: US-led coalition forces have
parachuted ammunition to rebels ighting IS
in northern Syria, a US military spokesman
said on Monday.
The move follows the Pentagon’s
announcement last week that it would pause
a programme to train moderate rebels, and
instead focus eforts on equipping screened
rebel leaders from groups ighting IS.
“Coalition forces conducted an airdrop in
northern Syria to resupply local counter-IS
ground forces as they conduct operations
against IS,” US Central Command spokesman
sending reinforcements to Kafr Nabuda to
battle the regime, which was also shelling
other parts of Hama and Latakia provinces.
Syria’s army command also reported
advances in northern Latakia province and
said regime forces had taken control of the
Turkey PM says IS
prime suspect in
deadliest attack
ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on
Monday said the IS extremist group was the prime suspect
in the double suicide bombings in Ankara that killed 97 and
sparked anger over the authorities’ failure to ensure security.
In his irst interview since Turkey was scarred on Saturday
by its deadliest ever attack, Davutoglu insisted that a snap
election would go ahead as planned on November 1 despite
the bloodshed.
he attack on a peace rally of letist, labour and Kurdish
activists ratcheted up tensions to new heights in Turkey as
the government wages a relentless campaign against Kurdish
militants and also battles IS extremists.
“Looking at how the incident took place, we are probing
Daesh as our irst priority,” Davutoglu told NTV television.
“We are close to a name (for one bomber). hat name
points to an organisation,” he said.
Davutoglu however remained cautious, saying that
authorities were also investigating the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) and the far-let Revolutionary People’s
Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) as “potential suspects”.
But this has sparked an angry reaction from the proKurdish Peoples’ Democracy Party (HDP), which strongly
disputes the oicial death toll and has released the names of
120 victims, claiming eight more have yet to be identiied.
Turkey was long accused by its Nato allies of not taking
a tougher line against IS as the group seized swathes of
northern Iraq and Syria and battled Kurdish militias.
However ater months of Western pressure, Turkey is
now a full member of the US-led coalition against IS and
allowing American jets to use its Incirlik air base for raids,
making it possibly more vulnerable to attack.
With international concern growing over Turkey’s
stability, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was to visit
Sunday to discuss Turkey and Syria, a spokesman said.
Rallies in the wake of the bombings have been
hugely critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with
demonstrators accusing the government of failing to prevent
the attacks.
— Reuters
Women mourn during the funeral of one of the victims of
Saturday’s bomb blasts in Ankara. — AFP
Colonel Patrick Ryder said in a statement.
“The aircraft delivery included small arms
ammunition to resupply counter-IS ground
forces so that they can continue operations
against IS.” The drop included 50 tons of
ammunition.
Ryder said the ammunition was for the
groups whose leaders were “appropriately
vetted by the United States and have been
ighting to remove IS from northern Syria.”
The US is leading a coalition of some 60
nations that has carried out more than 7,000
drone and plane strikes against IS. — AFP
“duty free zone” outside Aleppo city in the
north.
he city is divided between rebel control in
the east and government control in the west,
while the situation is largely the reverse in the
countryside around Aleppo.
A military source said the advance by
regime forces would help protect territory it
holds in the area, including the Sheikh Najjar
industrial area to the city’s northeast.
Moscow said Monday its air force had hit
53 targets in Syria in the past 24 hours, in
Hama, Homs, Latakia and Idlib provinces.
Citing a military source, Syria’s state
television said on Monday that Russian strikes
had targeted command centres and training
camps, including one that had as many as
1,200 “terrorists” inside.
Russia’s air strikes in Syria began on
September 30, with Moscow saying it was
targeting IS and other “terrorists”.
But rebels and their backers accuse
Moscow of focusing on moderate and
opposition ighters, rather than extremists.
he EU on Monday expressed “deep
concern” about the focus of Russia’s strikes.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini
called Russia’s military intervention in Syria a
“game-changer” that jeopardised peace eforts
and risked clashes with Western aircrat also
targeting IS.
“he recent Russian military attacks that
go beyond IS and other UN-designated
terrorist groups, as well as on the moderate
opposition, are of deep concern and must
cease immediately,” the EU’s 28 foreign
ministers said in a statement.
he statement also reiterated the need for a
political transition in Syria to end the conlict
that began with anti-government protests in
March 2011.
“here cannot be a lasting peace in Syria
under the present leadership,” the ministers
said.
More than 240,000 people have been killed
in Syria’s conlict and upwards of four million
Syrians have become refugees.
In Baghdad, security services said on
Monday they were checking reports that
IS chief Abu Bakr al Baghdadi had been
wounded in a strike on his convoy. — AFP
13
Saudi plans tripling of
Umrah visas: reports
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is planning to triple the
number of visas it issues for the umrah pilgrimage,
newspapers reported on Monday, more than two
weeks ater a deadly Haj stampede.
he Saudi Gazette and Okaz newspapers quoted
Haj Minister Bandar al Hajjar as saying that as many
as 1.25 million pilgrims are expected to arrive each
month starting next year.
hat compares with 400,000 a month now, the
reports said. he new system would allow full use of
massive expansion projects at the kingdom’s holy sites,
Hajjar was quoted as saying.
Umrah is a lesser pilgrimage carried out any time
during the year.
he major Haj pilgrimage, which all Muslims with
the means are expected to complete at least once in
their lives, this year drew about two million faithful.
he number had declined, particularly because of a
multi-billion-dollar expansion which began four years
ago at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site.
he 400,000-square-metre Grand Mosque
enlargement is the equivalent of more than 50 football
pitches, and it will allow the complex to accommodate
roughly two million people at once.
A crane working on the expansion collapsed into a
courtyard of the mosque on September 11, killing at
least 108 people including foreign pilgrims, just before
Haj.
An even greater tragedy, the worst ever in the
history of the pilgrimage, occurred on September 24
during a stoning ritual at Mina, near Mecca.
he stampede killed at least 1,608 people, according
to tallies issued by foreign oicials in more than 30
countries. Saudi Arabia has yet to provide an updated
death toll ater saying two days ater the stampede that
769 Muslim pilgrims had died. Saudi authorities have
also not provided a breakdown by nationality.
A formal Saudi inquiry is under way into the
stampede.
Eforts to identify the dead continue at a health
ministry facility guarded by security oicers in the
Mecca suburb of Muaissem, sources say.
Representatives from foreign consulates are
allowed in to the single-storey building to try to
identify bodies through albums of photographs, said
a source familiar with the operation.
— AFP
Opposition slams ‘coup’
in Iraqi Kurdistan
IN SOLIDARITY WITH REFUGEES
Iraqi Christians attend a ceremony during French Prime Minister Manuel Valls’ visit to meet with Iraqi refugee families at the
Latin Patriarchate Church in Amman yesterday. — Reuters
SULAIMANIYAH: Several Iraqi Kurdish politicians were
barred from reaching their oices on Monday, in what the
opposition called a “political coup” by the autonomous
region’s president.
he crisis came ater days of violent protests against
acting president Massud Barzani, whose mandate expired in
August. His camp has accused the opposition Gorran party
of inciting unrest.
Yusuf Mohammed, the speaker of the regional parliament
and a Gorran party member, was stopped on the road to
regional capital Arbil by security forces loyal to Barzani.
Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) controls
the west and north of the region while opposition parties,
including Gorran, have most of their support base in the
south.
“Everything that happened today and yesterday is
a dangerous development for the political process in
Kurdistan,” Mohammed told reporters in Sulaimaniyah, the
main city in the south.
Five Gorran MPs were with him when KDP security
forces blocked them on the road to Arbil.
— AFP
Video clips exhorting attacks, often spiced up with animation and catchy tunes, are popular on social media
Smartphones lend new dynamics to conlict
JERUSALEM: Surrounded by Israeli police,
Israa Abed holds a knife in one hand and a
cellphone in the other before shots ring out
and she falls to the ground.
he incident, ilmed by passersby on their
smartphones, has been viewed thousands of
times since it was posted online last Friday,
one of dozens of such videos encapsulating
a new dynamic in what looks like a third
Palestinian uprising, or intifada.
Four Israelis and 25 Palestinians have died
in 12 days of bloodshed partly fuelled by
agitation over high-proile Jewish visits to a
contested holy site in Jerusalem.
Video clips exhorting attacks on Israelis
—and oten spiced up with animation, catchy
tunes and the Twitter hashtags “Jerusalem
Intifada” or “Intifada of the Knives” — are
popular on Palestinian social media, as is
whatever footage emerges of the violence
when it happens.
hat, in turn, can inlame resentment
further, especially if Palestinians see in Israel’s
response a demonstration of Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu’s vow to crack down on
unrest that has simmered since peace talks
collapsed a year ago.
“Today we’re in a diferent era, in which
a great, great many people are incited by
publications on their personal smartphones
and end up making individual decisions to go
out and stab, to go out and blow themselves
up with gas balloons,” Security Minister Gilad
Erdan told Israeli Army Radio on Monday.
Police said Abed, an Arab Israeli, was
being treated in hospital having been shot
four times in the legs ater she tried to stab a
security guard at a bus station in the northern
Israeli town of Afula, and ignored orders to
disarm.
Some Palestinians circulated rumours she
was dead rather than in hospital.
According to a report by the news website
Al Wattan Voice which was shared 3,500
times over Facebook, Abed, 30, was making
a distress call when she was shot. “Dad, I
don’t want to die!” it quoted her as saying —
suggesting she might have surrendered.
Individual words are drowned by the
hubbub of shouts on the video’s soundtrack.
he woman’s father, Zeidan Abed, said he
received no call from her, declining to discuss
the incident any further.
Another video, showing police shooting
dead a Palestinian suspected in an October 4
stabbing in Jerusalem, has been cited by the
Protesters run amidst tear gas smoke during
clashes with Israeli security forces near the
Jewish settlement of Beit El, just north of the
West Bank city of Ramallah, yesterday. — AFP
minority rights group Adalah in its demand
for a Justice Ministry probe.
It argues the Palestinian posed no danger
and police may have been egged on by
pedestrians seen chasing him.
here was a similar outcry ater a woman
was accused by Israel of attempting to
detonate a makeshit car bomb — potentially
a major escalation — when police pulled her
over on a West Bank road into Jerusalem on
Sunday.
Unconscious in hospital with burns,
the woman could not immediately be
interrogated, police said.
Her family denied the Israeli account,
saying a malfunction had set of a ire in
the car. Images showing minimal external
damage to the vehicle circulated among
Palestinians, who said it showed Israel was
exaggerating the threat.
Having long relied on its advanced
eavesdropping apparatus and Palestinian
informants to thwart militant organisations,
Israel is scrambling for a response to the
latest violence, which has been made up
predominantly of “lone-wolf ” attacks.
Palestinian activists and the Hamas
group complain of having Facebook and
YouTube accounts being shut down as a result
of requests iled with the irms by Israel’s
government.
Israeli security sources said they were
working to expand keyword-search and other
surveillance technologies in hope of being
able to spot, in good time, suicide notes on
social media by Palestinians who are about to
carry out violence.
heir surveillance eforts may have been
helped, inadvertently, by those Palestinians
who take selies at rock-throwing protests and
post them online.
— Reuters
14
#ICYMI
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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OCTOBER 13 l 2015
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‘OMAN’S MESSAGE OF ISLAM’
REACHES UNESCO
TURKEY SEES IS HAND IN
BOMBING
ON YOUTUBE: TEDX IN MUSCAT
SERIES
‘Oman’s Message of Islam’ exhibition was
launched at the headquarters of Unesco in Paris
after touring 72 countries. Find out what this
exhibition hopes to accomplish.
Despite the deaths of 128 people during the
#Ankara bombing, the Turkish government
made clear that elections set for November 1
would go ahead.
Alok’s architecture irm takes simple ideas
and combines them with innovative building
solutions bringing radical change in the social
infrastructure of a community. Listen to his talk
on how they accomplish their goals.
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MuslimFace.com, social site
adhering to Muslim values
O
ut of 25 countries surveyed, Oman is ranked third
among countries with citizens most at ease with
their weight and body image.
Conducted by Yougov.com, a pioneer organisation for
online market research, covering the period from April
28 to May 13, 2015, the survey result showed that 70 per
cent of Omani respondents for both men and women were
happy as to how they look.
Yougov reported that “Of the twenty-ive countries
surveyed, Indonesians are the most positive about their
body image overall, with more than three quarters (78%)
claiming they are happy with their body weight and shape.
Residents from Saudi Arabia (72%), Oman and Qatar
(70%) are the next happiest with their body image overall.”
On the same survey, Yougov noted that older
respondents were more accepting and at ease with their
body image and weight.
It also noted, “In seventeen of the
twenty-ive countries surveyed more
than half of responders think that
As a result of falling oil prices, the expatriate community in
Oman has come under the grip of fear that many of them
may lose their jobs in the coming months.
YOUGOV NOTED THAT OLDER RESPONDENTS
WERE MORE ACCEPTING AND AT EASE WITH
THEIR BODY IMAGE AND WEIGHT
celebrity culture has a negative impact on young people”
adding that “In general, the countries surveyed in the
Middle East and Asia Paciic have a more positive view of
the impact of celebrity culture on young people. Around
a third in the UAE (34%) and Qatar (31%) think celebrity
culture can have a positive efect, along with 41% in
Mainland China and over one in three (34%) in Malaysia
and hailand.”
Yougov operates an online panel of over 3.3 million
respondents worldwide representing all ages, socioeconomic groups and other demographic types which
allows them to create nationally representative samples
online and access both consumer and professional hard to
reach groups.
Fear of job loss grips expats
Comment of the Day
Technology and social media platforms are growing by leaps
and bounds everyday. It is dizzying to keep track on everything that is going on.
facebook.com/omanobserver
If you are already aware of this social networking site, then
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Have you registered for this site? Let us know in Facebook or
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LIVES PUT IN PERIL (OCTOBER 12, 2015)
he report ‘Lives put in peril’ calls for the importance
of following the fundamental in safety at building
construction sites.
here seem to be lack of basic safety awareness among
construction establishment regarding proper construction
site operation. Due to the absence of experts and training
to relevant employees, the ignorance of workers oten lead
to risky situations. Precautionary measures must always
be followed especially when a company operates heavy
equipment.
It is quite unfortunate that ield workers become victims
of accidents due to lack of safety measures in their
workplace. A dedicated staf must be put in place to do
safety checks to avoid similar incidents from happening
in the future. he safety norms to be followed by
construction establishments must be veriied by relevant
authorities.
We must realise that a simple regret or sorry cannot
compensate for the loss of life.
Best regards,
Ramachandran Nair
Ruwi
Source: Yougov.com
UK police end round-the-clock
Assange embassy guard
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gestures as he speaks from the balcony of
Ecuador’s Embassy, where he is taking refuge as a police officer stands guard
beneath, in London in this file picture. — Reuters
LONDON: British police on Monday
said they will no longer stand guard
outside
London’s
Ecuadorean
Embassy where WikiLeaks founder
Julian Assange took refuge in 2012,
but will strengthen a “covert plan” to
prevent his departure.
Britain’s Foreign Oice later
conirmed that it had summoned the
15
Lukashenko looks to
eased EU sanctions
EUROPE
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
Ecuadorean ambassador to “register
once again our deep frustration at
the protracted delay” in extraditing
Assange to Sweden to face questions
over a rape allegation.
he Metropolitan Police Service
(MPS) said on Monday that it had
“today... withdrawn the physical
presence of oicers from outside the
embassy.
“he operation to arrest Julian
Assange does however continue and
should he leave the embassy the MPS
will make every efort to arrest him.
“Whilst no tactics guarantee
success in the event of Julian Assange
leaving the embassy, the MPS will
deploy a number of overt and covert
tactics to arrest him,” police said in a
statement.
Swedish prosecutors want to
question Assange about a rape claim,
which carries a 10-year statute of
limitations that expires in 2020.
Assange, who faces arrest if he
tries to leave the embassy, denies
the allegation and insists the sexual
encounter was consensual.
he Foreign Oice said on Monday
that the head of the diplomatic
service, Simon McDonald, had
summoned Ecuadorean Ambassador
Carlos Abad Ortiz to insist on a
resolution to the impasse.
“he UK has been absolutely clear
since June 2012 that we have a legal
obligation to extradite Assange to
Sweden,” said the ministry statement.
“hat obligation remains today,”
it added. he 24-hour guard outside
the embassy in central London has
cost British taxpayers more than £10
million ($15.4 million), the source
of much criticism in austerity-hit
Britain.
“Like all public services, MPS
resources are inite. With so many
diferent criminal, and other, threats
to the city it protects, the current
deployment of oicers is no longer
believed proportionate,” police said
on Monday. — AFP
omandailyobserver
LANDSLIDE WIN: The Belarus leader won the poll, but OSCE said
the ballot’s integrity had been undermined by ‘significant problems’
MINSK: Belarus strongman Alexander
Lukashenko looked on Monday to the
EU to ease sanctions against his regime
ater a landslide electoral win, but
international observers said the poll was
tainted by irregularities.
Once dubbed “Europe’s last dictator”
by Washington, Lukashenko, 61, won
a ith consecutive term on Sunday,
picking up 83.5 per cent of the vote,
according to oicial igures.
But observers from the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) on Monday said the ballot’s
integrity had been undermined by
“signiicant problems”, especially during
the counting of the votes.
“It is clear that Belarus still has
a long way to go towards fulilling
its democratic commitments,” Kent
Harstedt, head of the OSCE mission,
said in a statement.
In Luxembourg, EU foreign
ministers were set to consider liting the
Belarussian sanctions, with a decision
to be taken before October 31, when the
measures expire.
“As far as we could observe from
Berlin, there has not been as much
repression around the elections as
previously,” German Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier said as he
arrived for the meeting.
Steinmeier said the vote had brought
few surprises but added that Belarus was
changing, pointing to the “liberation of
political prisoners” before the elections.
EU diplomats had said that Brussels
was ready to reconsider sanctions
It is clear that Belarus
still has a long way to
go towards fulfilling its
democratic commitments,
Kent Harstedt, head of the
OSCE mission, said.
against Lukashenko’s regime provided
the polls passed of without major
protests and in an “acceptable climate.”
A shrewd operator who has played
Brussels against Moscow, Lukashenko
has recently raised his standing with the
EU by seeking to distance his ex-Soviet
nation from Russia.
Current EU sanctions imposed for
rights abuses involve travel bans and
asset freezes against Lukashenko and
around 170 other individuals and 14
groups.
Some of the other sanctions against
his regime date back to 2004.
In an attempt to assuage Western
criticism, ahead of the vote Lukashenko
released from jail six opposition leaders
and won some praise for hosting
international peace talks.
“Lukashenko won but mass protests
and arrests of the opposition did not take
place this time,” Alexander Klaskovsky,
an analyst with Belapan think tank, said.
“It would be enough to conirm
minimal progress in these conditions
for the normalisation of ties with the
United States and the EU to continue.”
In power since 1994, Lukashenko
unleashed a crackdown on the
opposition ater thousands took to the
streets to protest his disputed re-election
in December 2010.
Belarus’s former Soviet master
Russia, which props up Lukashenko’s
regime inancially, has been warily
eyeing the ever-opportunistic leader’s
attempts at rapprochement with the
West.
Shortly before Moscow’s tensions
with the West climbed to new heights
over the Kremlin’s bombing campaign
in Syria, Russian President Vladimir
Putin reiterated his interest in setting up
an airbase in Belarus.
In a phone call on Monday, Putin
congratulated Lukashenko on a
“convincing victory,” expressing his
readiness to ramp up ties. — AFP
16
omandailyobserver
PANORAMA
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
Girls wearing turbans wave as they take part in celebrations to mark the International Day of the Girl Child at a school premises in Chandigarh, India yesterday. — Reuters
An autonomous self-driving vehicle picks up people during a demonstration at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Singapore unveiled its public transport future yesterday,
it was a vision of passengers commuting in driverless buses along roads and freeways populated by platoons of autonomous trucks following a single driver. — Reuters
Cambodian villagers ride buffalos during the Pchum Ben festival, the festival of
death, at Vihear Suor village in Kandal province yesterday. Thousands of
Cambodians descended on the small village northeast of the capital to cheer on
the annual water buffalo and horse race that marks the end of the 15-day festival
for the dead. — AFP
Fireworks light up the Almuneda Cathedral in Madrid marking the celebrations for
Spanish National Day or Hispanic Day. — AFP
Fireworks explode during celebrations for the founding of the ruling Workers’
Party in this photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
in Pyongyang yesterday. — Reuters
Circus Knie grooms Gaby Dober and Flurina Juffer walk their horses into lake
Leman on an autumn morning in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday. The Swiss
national circus has been presenting it’s show for the 97th year throughout
Switzerland from March to November 2015. — Reuters
A reveller dances during a “pow-wow” celebrating the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Festival
in Randalls Island, New York. The festival is held as a counter-celebration to Columbus
Day and is to promote Native American culture and history. — Reuters
A tourist poses for photographs in front of the rising sun at a tourist resort in
Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region,
China. — Reuters
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | DHUL HIJJAH 29, 1436 AH
P19
P20
P21
Inside
BP shares vision for Oman, Mideast 
VW to recall nearly 2,000 cars in China 
Saudi, Norway sovereign funds selling shares 
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Bank Sohar posts net Musandam Power Project launched
proit of RO 21.29m FUELLING GROWTH: Stone laid for 120 MW plant that will run on natural gas or diesel
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
Oct. 12: Bank Sohar recorded a net proit
of RO 21.29 million for the nine months
ending September 30, 2015 against RO
23.98 million, (a fall of 10.3 per cent) in
the same period last year.
However, on a quarterly basis,
the bank’s net proit, according to
preliminary report, improved by 1.8
per cent to reach RO 7.42 million in the
third quarter from the RO 7.29 million
reported in the second quarter of the
current year. According to a research
report by Al Maha Financial Services,
although the net proit increased on a
quarter-on-quarter basis, Bank Sohar’s
operating proit declined by 5.7 per cent
during the same period from RO 10
million to RO 9.43 million.
On a year-on-year basis too, the
Bank reported a drop in its operating
proit by 9 per cent to RO 27.65 million
during the irst nine months of 2015 as
compared to RO 30.39 million recorded
in the corresponding period last year.
“he decline in operating proit was
due to increase in operating expenses of
the Bank”, the report points out. Gross
loans and advances of the bank grew by
17.8 per cent on a year-on-year basis to
reach RO 1.71 billion as of September
30, 2015 from RO 1.45 billion a year
ago. On a quarter-on-quarter basis,
credit grew by 5.4 per cent from the RO
1.62 billion reported at the end of Q2
2015. Customer deposits stood at RO
1.56 billion at the end of Q3, increasing
by 16.7 per cent y-o-y and remaining
almost lat on a q-o-q basis.
Currently, Bank Sohar trades at a
Price to Book Value of 1.05 and at a
Price to Earnings Ratio of 9, which is at a
premium to its historic quarterly average
PE multiple of 8.7.
Oct. 12: Musandam Power Company
SAOC (MPC), established in 2014
as a joint venture between Oman Oil
Company SAOC, the Government’s
investment arm in the energy related
sectors, holding a 70 per cent stake, and
LG International Corp, holding a 30
per cent stake, on Monday celebrated
the foundation-stone laying for the
Musandam Independent Power Plant
(Musandam IPP) in Tibat — Wilayat of
Bukha in Musandam Governorate.
he ceremony was held under the
auspices of Sayyid Khalifa bin al Murdas
al Busaidy, Governor of Musandam, and
attended by number of oicials from the
Government and representatives from
the private sector.
Commenting on this occasion, Isam
al Zadjali, Chief Executive Oicer of
OOC, said: “his is a signiicant step
for Oman Oil Company as we continue
to expand our projects locally which
have been instrumental to create
multi-regional industrial hubs across
the Sultanate. Our strategy comes
along with the Government vision of
diversifying the economy resources
and support the development plans.
his new plant, which is expected to
be commissioned by end of 2016, is
part of a major integrated development
comprising the development of
Musandam Governorate. Musandam
IPP will play an essential role in
delivering lexible and sustainable
energy to the Governorate. he project
will be able to meet the power needs of
the current and upcoming projects in
the region as well as expecting to beneit
the local community”.
Al Zadjali added: “OOC will continue
investing in projects that will support
the development of the Governorate
through upcoming projects in the
energy value chain.”
Jeong, Vice President of LGI, added:
“LGI believes that the Musandam IPP
could be a sustainable power source
to contribute the overall economic
development of Musandam. With trust
and solid cooperation between OOC
and LGI, LGI will continue in eforts to
support beneits to the local community
by successful commercial operation of
Musandam IPP in near future.”
“he project provides further
proof of the competitiveness of engine
power plants compared to traditional
technologies. he power plant will
ofer operational lexibility, reliability
and lifecycle value — not to mention
eiciency in harsh conditions,” said
Upma Koul, Business Development
Manager at Wärtsilä Energy Solutions.
he engines are attuned to maintain
top fuel eiciency in conditions of high
humidity and extreme temperatures of
up to 50 degrees.
MPC is developing the Musandam
IPP, in the Governorate of Musandam
with a capacity of 120 MW, based on
high and world-class standards and
technology.
MPC has selected dual fuel
Reciprocating
Engines
(RE)
coniguration for the project, following
a competitive pre-qualiication and
tendering process to deliver lexible,
lowest life cycle costs and sustainable
energy to the Governorate.
TURN TO P19
18
Bank Muscat wins Best Bank for Liquidity
Risk Management award by Asian Banker
OMAN
omandailyobserver
MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the lagship inancial
services provider in the Sultanate, has won
the Best Bank in Middle East and Africa for
Liquidity Risk Management award by the Asian
Banker. he bank is the irst in the region to win
this prestigious award from the Asian Banker.
he Asian Banker Risk Management Awards
programme is designed to identify emerging
best practices and outstanding achievements of
the best run risk management teams in inancial
institutions.
he awards are benchmarked globally by
tracking developments around the world. Risk
management is at the heart of decision making at
inancial institutions and its importance has been
underscored in the atermath of multiple global
inancial crises.
In this context, the prestigious award comes
as a testimony to the superior risk management
practices adopted by the bank and the investment
it has made over the years in developing its risk
management as an area of core competence.
AbdulRazak Ali Issa, Chief Executive, said:
“Bank Muscat is proud to be the irst in the region
to win the liquidity risk management award
which endorses the global best practices adopted
BUSINESS ALERT
Bank Sohar supports
handicapped children
MUSCAT:
Further
reinforcing
its
commitment to the
community,
Bank
Sohar is pleased to
extend its support to
the Association for the
Welfare of Handicapped Children for the 6th consecutive
year. his donation will contribute towards the purchase
of essential equipment for the children’s classrooms at the
Association, allowing the Association to take one more step
towards achieving their objective of ofering handicapped
children the required education and training.
he donation cheque was handed over at the Association’s
head oice to Dr Mohammed Redha Sulaiman, Chairman
of the Association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children,
by Mazin Mahmood al Raisi, Senior AGM - Marketing and
Customer Experience at Bank Sohar.
Exciting beneits on Avalon
THE Toyota Avalon
is a world-class sedan
with an elegant and
reined design. One
of the most upscale
cars in the class, the
Toyota Avalon has the
reviewers raving.
Now, the buzz is around the beneits that accompany
every Avalon. “hose who visit the Toyota showroom can
be part of our Festival of Joy campaign will continue until
November 12;” informs the spokesperson “During this
period, customers can avail of a service package for up
to 3 years or 30,000 kms. (Whichever is earlier), covering
3 services at 10,000 kms service interval for select petrol
models based on normal operating conditions. here also
is comprehensive 1 year Insurance (Oman only) on select
2015 YM models of 2015 production. Insurance beneit
would be given up to the extent applicable for private
vehicles only.
Also available is 1st Year Registration on 2015 YM
models of 2015 production.
All the above beneits are model speciic and may vary
accordingly. Applicability is for all purchases except those
for Government Organisations & Ministries. Conditions
apply. Please visit nearest Toyota showroom for further
details.
by the bank. Risk management function is a core
competence of the bank to ensure maintenance
of risks at appropriate levels, thereby positioning
the bank for optimal growth by maximising
on revenue opportunities. he bank has a risk
appetite framework in place that deines the
enterprise-wide risk capacity, risk appetite and
risk thresholds.
he bank’s long-term growth rests in
achieving a sustainable and consistent return
on equity and proit growth. With this objective
in consideration, the bank deines its business
strategy and prioritises growth areas.”
Geely GC9 Super Sedans to be
launched in Oman soon
GEELY GC9, Geely’s
new premium sedan
will be soon made
available in Oman
exclusively at Towell
Auto Centre. Geely
GC9 is the irst model
to be based on the unusual and futuristic Geely KC concept
that was unveiled at many leading global Auto Shows. In
Oman, this Super Sedan will be made available with 2.4L &
3.5L V6 engine options. Riyadh Ali Sultan, Director of TAC
test drove the Geely GC9 3.5L V6 variant. TAC is currently
testing this model to gauge its performance, limitations and
suitability for local driving conditions. Driving the GC9 for
almost a month now, Riyadh is very happy with its design
and performance. “I am both thrilled and awe struck by
the design and the driving capabilities of the GC9. It is the
irst model that prides itself on the strong Geely - Volvo
partnership and we keenly look forward to its introduction
into the Oman market. Super design, touch controls, multidimensional camera are some of the features that I love.
Its spacious interior and above-class features are worthy
of appreciation and can be compared to the premium car
segment in Oman. Indeed, the GC9 will prove to be the
game changer for the brand. One really needs to drive and
feel the car to understand what I am saying”, says Riyadh.
Omasco Honda launches
unique ‘Limited Period Ofer’
OMASCO,
the
authorised distributors
of Honda vehicles
in the Sultanate has
announced a unique
‘Limited Period Ofer’
on
select
Honda
vehicles till stocks last.
Adil al Zadjali, National Sales Manager, Honda said, “We
have introduced a not-to-be missed ‘Limited Period Ofer’
on the Honda Pilot, CR-V and Civic at unbelievable prices.
his is probably one of the best that we could have ofered
our patrons.” Honda’s premium line up: Honda Civic now
available for RO 6.950 onwards. Honda CR-V now available
for RO 8,750 onwards. Honda Pilot Touring now available
for RO 15,100.
Honda has extended the opening hours for its key Honda
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
he bank’s risk appetite framework is
cascaded top-down to relect in business units
which enables them to manage product pricing
in line with the corporate return-on-equity
objective. In step with the global economic and
inancial developments, the bank maintains an
appropriate risk proile by reducing exposure to
areas of stress.
Bank Muscat considers liquidity risk
management as paramount to its successful
growth and continued value-added customer
service. Being the largest bank in the Sultanate,
Bank Muscat strives to maintain suicient
showrooms across Oman in order to better accommodate
their patrons and enable them to visit the showrooms at a
time that is convenient for them. he extended hours provide
additional lexibility.
Huawei ofers Mate S in Oman
AFTER much anticipation and excitement, the wait is
over. Leading smart communications device manufacturer
Huawei unveiled the highly-rated Mate S in Oman at Lulu
Hypermarket in Bausher. his newest release from Huawei’s
smart tech laboratory features an unbeatable combination of
brilliant capabilities and stunning visual appeal.
Speaking at the launch, Bill Yuzhaoyuan, Country
and good quality liquid assets so as to be in a
position to meet any liquidity condition. he
bank dynamically introduces measures to
mitigate liquidity risk based on evolving market
conditions. he bank follows a stock approach to
hold high quality liquid assets as part of its balance
sheet and a cash low approach wherein the bank
manages its cash and liquid assets position based
on ensuing and forecast cash lows.
he bank has in place a well-oiled liquidity
stress testing and maintains a contingency
funding plan to meet any unforeseen stressed
liquidity situation.
Director of Huawei Tech.
Investment(Oman)LLC
said, “Oman, and the
whole of the Middle East,
is a very strategic market
for our business as the
smart phone revolution
brings in the best in the industry. With the Mate S, we have
taken the smartphone to the next level by ofering a more
personalised experience through the power of touch. We
adopted a revolutionary approach by imagining how people
interact with their devices. In designing the Huawei Mate S,
we have also reinforced our goal to continue to grow and ofer
customers products that enrich their lives.”
OMAN
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
M&A activity in
region slows
down in Q3
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
Oct. 12: he merger and acquisition
(M&A) market in the Middle East and
North Africa (MENA) region witnessed
a slow down during the recent period,
as it fails to redress from the current
lows.
he overall 12-month activity falls
short of any sign of a rebound, enduring
the impact of the regional political
turmoil and the economic spillover
efects of the slump in oil prices which
are among the major factors weighing
on investor conidence in MENA
region.
“Despite the short to medium term
challenges, when thinking long-term,
the region still depicts largely attractive
economic fundamentals to suiciently
propel more transactions going
forward”, said Bureau van Dijk and
MENA Research Partners in a report.
With the total number of completed
deals, generally declining since 2009 yet
slightly improved during the past two
quarters relative to Q1 of the current
year low levels, the announced value of
M&As amounted to less than $3 billion
during Q3 of 2015 which is well below
the average levels of the past six years.
“Such trend has depressed the
average deal sizes although the case of
larger transactions in the coming future
still holds”, the report said.
From a geographic perspective,
while deal activity remains at large
driven by a strong performance in
GCC, the non-GCC countries attracted
during the Q3, 2015 most of the count
and value of completed deals in an
indication of weaknesses witnessed
within the oil exporting countries.
“In fact, the GCC region accounted
during the past 3 months for only 45
per cent and 44 per cent respectively of
the announced value and the volume
of completed deals. his is compared
to a historical share of 63 per cent of
deal values, against 36 per cent of deal
volumes”, the report pointed out.
On the overall, the general trend
prevailing to-date is that of larger
ticket sizes in the GCC, as opposed to a
larger number of smaller deals in other
MENA countries.
Lisa Wright, Zephyr director said:
“he Q3 of 2015 represented a slight
decline on Q2 2015 for the MENA
region as value dropped from $2,999
million to $2,668 million, in line with
the overall global trend for the quarter.
Conversely, volume increased quarteron-quarter from 129 to 163. he
lack of a very high value transaction
appears to be the reason for the drop
in value; Q3’s highest deal value was
$314 million. Compared with recent
quarters, the value of the region’s largest
deal in Q3 was low. Previous quarters
have seen transactions worth in excess
of $2,000 million announced, thereby
highlighting the importance of an
individual deal’s consideration to a
quarter’s overall performance.”
In terms of deal attitude, minority
acquisitions accounted for most of the
number of the regional deals during the
irst 3 quarters of this year, sustaining
their lead over the past years relative
to majority deals. his is in line with
the general perception that regional
investors are less reluctant to give up
control of their business.
BP shares vision for Oman, Mideast
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
low prices putting pressure on costs,
the challenges may have grown. But so
has our ability to meet the challenges of
today and the demands of tomorrow.”
Oct. 12: Bob Dudley (pictured), BP’s
“We can do that by combining the
Group Chief Executive, on Monday shared
complementary strengths of national
BP’s vision for the oil and gas industry
and international oil companies to the
in Oman and the Middle East. Strong
beneit of countries around the globe.
partnerships between international and
Speaking for BP, we have a long history in
national oil companies are the key to
future success in helping to meet people’s Kuwait and the Middle East — and a deep
commitment to its future as one of the
growing energy needs for decades
world’s energy heartlands,” he added.
to come, he said during the opening
In his presentation, Dudley showcased
ceremony of the Kuwait Oil and Gas Show
the history of the oil and gas industry in
of 2015 (KOGS 2015) in Kuwait.
The opening ceremony was attended Kuwait, and BP’s role in the discovery and
the development of those resources.
by key Kuwaiti government oicials
In Oman, BP’s focus has been on
including the Prime Minister and Minister
of Oil, State of Kuwait, as well as Abdallah introducing technology developed in
the US for shale ields and deploying it
Salem el Badri, Secretary-General, OPEC,
in the Middle East to produce gas from
and other international and regional oil
some of the world’s oldest and toughest
and gas leaders.
sandstone — rocks that are as hard as
Dudley said: “With oil and gas
granite at depths of over 5,000 metres.
becoming more diicult to extract, and
Musandam Power
Project launched
FROM PAGE 19
he plant will use clean natural gas as
the main fuel to maintain the stability
of the local electricity supply and
support sustainable development
in the Musandam Governorate
while signiicantly contributing to
the Sultanate’s energy-production
capabilities and long-term economic
diversiication plans. Storage diesel
fuel will be used during emergencies
as the alternate fuel on discontinuation
of natural gas fuel to guarantee the
electricity supply for the Governorate.
he electricity generated from
this project will be transmitted to the
existing medium voltage grid through
the new 132KV transmission lines
being built by Rural Area Electricity
Company SAOC. he generated
electricity will serve the power demand
of the Musandam Governorate in the
future.
Recently, MPC had announced
the execution of a long term Power
Purchase Agreement with Oman Power
and Water Procurement Company
SAOC and a Natural Gas Sales
Agreement with the Ministry of Oil and
Gas, providing for the supply and sale of
natural gas to the company.
As Oman’s irst independent
power project in the Musandam
Governorate, MPC will use natural
gas to be processed by OOC’s wholly
owned subsidiary, Oman Oil Company
Exploration and Production from the
adjacent Musandam Gas Processing
Plant to integrate the value chain and
maximise value from Oman’s resources.
omandailyobserver
19
MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET
20
omandailyobserver
INTERNATIONAL
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
China leads Asian rally, $ retreats on Fed rate bets
HONG KONG: Shanghai led a broad
Asian equities rally on Monday on hopes
of fresh Chinese economic stimulus,
while the dollar sufered more losses on
expectations the Federal Reserve will
delay an interest rate rise until next year.
he greenback had edged up at the start
of the day — clawing back some of last
week’s losses — ater the vice chairman
of the Fed raised the prospect that
borrowing costs could still go up this
year despite a global slowdown.
he recent rally across assets follows
a torrid July-September quarter that
saw trillions wiped of stock valuations
and high-yielding, or riskier, currencies
tumble. Global markets went into
meltdown in August ater China
devalued its yuan currency, fanning
worries about the state of the world’s
number two economy, while traders
were also on edge over the expected US
rate rise.
However, with China due to release
key indicators this week, including on
trade and inlation, dealers are hoping it
will announce more economy-boosting
measures. As well as a range of targeted
stimulus measures for certain sectors
such as property, leaders have cut
interest rates ive times since November
and lowered the amount of cash banks
must keep on reserve three times in
2015. While analysts are hoping for
further reductions in both, a closely
watched gauge of factory activity this
month showed a slight improvement
and suggested a corner may have been
turned. “Given the weakness in the
economy, the expectations are quite
strong about a cut in interest rates and
reserve-requirement ratios,” said Zhang
Haidong, Shanghai-based chief strategist
at Jinkuang Investment Management.
Oil prices extend gains in Asian trade
An investor gestures in front of an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Nanjing, Jiangsu
province, China, on Monday. — Reuters
Talk of further announcements
helped the Shanghai stock market end
3.3 per cent higher on Monday. he
index has risen more than ive per cent
since reopening on hursday ater a
week-long public holiday. However,
it is still down more than 30 per cent
from its June 12 peak, hit by worries
about growth. Among other share
markets Hong Kong inished 1.21 per
cent up, while Seoul ended 0.10 per
cent higher, Taipei surged 1.5 per cent
by the close and Singapore was 1.19 per
cent stronger in the aternoon. However,
Sydney closed down 0.9 per cent ater
rising every day last week.
he dollar started the day on a high
ater Fed vice chairman Stanley Fischer
said on Sunday the bank expected to
stick to its plan to tighten monetary
policy by the end of the year, added
that the plans were an “expectation, not
a commitment”. He said that “both the
timing of the irst rate increase and any
subsequent adjustments to the federal
funds rate target will depend critically on
future developments in the economy”.
While his comments, on the
sidelines of the International Monetary
Fund’s annual meeting in Lima, do not
indicate the Fed will lit rates, they show
that policymakers continue to keep it
under consideration. However the US
unit later declined against some Asian
currencies as expectations of an early US
rate rise faded.
‘No calls in Opec for policy change’
Kuwait’s Oil Minister Ali al Omair (centre) visits a booth at the opening of the
exhibition of the 2nd Kuwait Oil and Gas Show and Conference in Mishref, Kuwait,
on Monday. — Reuters
KUWAIT: Kuwait’s oil minister said on
Monday there were currently no calls
from within Opec to change the oilproducing group’s output policy and that
a market exit by high-cost producers
could help buoy oil prices in 2016.
“Today there are no ideas or demands
from the member states to make any big
change in Opec’s decision,” Kuwait Oil
Minister Ali al Omair said, referring to
Opec’s decision in November 2014 to
keep output unchanged.
“Today there are indications that a lot
of high-cost oil production is starting to
get out of the market and this will help
improve prices,” Omair said. He said
there were also positive signs regarding
global economic growth. “here are
signs that world economic growth could
improve by the start of 2016 and this
would also add to the improvement in
oil prices,” Omair said.
He said any impact on policy from the
return of Indonesia to the Organisation
of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
(Opec) would be determined at the
group’s next meeting.
Global benchmark Brent crude oil
rose 29 cents a barrel to $52.94. US light
crude was also up 29 cents, at $49.92.
Opec Secretary-General Abdullah
al Badri, speaking to reporters in
Kuwait City, said he saw oil demand
improving. “I see a decline in nonOPEC production and I see an increase
in the call on OPEC,” he said, largely
reiterating comments that he made last
week. “So the situation is positive as we
see it at the end of this year and next
year. I think if this situation persists,
stays the same, I think yes, (we) will see
a balanced market (next year).”
Regarding an Opec technical
meeting to be held in Vienna on October
21, Badri said seven to eight non-OPEC
countries plus all OPEC countries had
been invited. — Reuters
VW to recall nearly 2,000
cars in China amid scandal
SHANGHAI: Germany’s Volkswagen
on Monday announced a recall of nearly
2,000 vehicles in China — the world’s
biggest auto market, where it is the top
foreign brand — in a global scandal over
emissions cheating.
he auto giant is facing accusations
that it installed sotware on millions of
diesel cars worldwide to cheat emissions
tests and evade limits on nitrogen oxide
and other pollutants. he Chinese
government took aim at the irm, with the
quality watchdog urging the company to
address the problem as soon as possible.
he quality supervision agency said it was
“highly concerned” about the matter and
warned it could take further measures,
according to a statement posted on its
website on Monday, which gave no details.
China’s environmental protection
agency is also investigating whether VW’s
imported and locally produced vehicles
violate emissions standards, Bloomberg
News reported.
VW delivered 3.67 million vehicles in
Winterkorn to step down from all posts
FRANKFURT: Martin Winterkorn,
the former boss of Volkswagen who
quit last month, will step down
from his remaining posts at the
company, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung
newspaper and TV stations NDR
and WDR reported, without citing
their sources. The resignations are
expected in the coming days, as
soon as a few remaining formalities
have been dealt with, they said,
adding the decision comes after
China last year but the recall afects only
diesel vehicles imported into the country:
1,946 Tiguan compact SUVs and four
Passat B6 cars, the company said in a
statement.
It also repeated earlier statements by
its two main joint ventures in China that
none of the vehicles they manufacture are
afected. Foreign carmakers must enter
into ventures with Chinese companies to
the German state of Lower Saxony,
VW’s second-biggest shareholder,
put pressure on the former CEO.
Winterkorn is chief executive of
Porsche SE, the family-owned
holding company that controls a
majority stake in Volkswagen, as well
as chairman of VW’s lagship luxury
brand Audi, trucks division Scania
and the group’s newly-created Truck
& Bus holding. Volkswagen declined
to comment. — Reuters
sell domestically manufactured vehicles
in the local market. VW will irst notify
the afected owners of the need to ix the
sotware and present detailed measures to
deal with the issue to Chinese authorities,
the statement said. “Volkswagen would
like to sincerely apologise for any
inconvenience caused to our customers,” it
added. VW must recall around 11 million
diesel vehicles worldwide. — AFP
In aternoon trade it was down 0.09
per cent against the Indonesian rupiah,
having shed about eight per cent against
the unit last week. It also slipped against
the Australian dollar, the hai baht,
Indian rupee and South Korean won.
However the dollar tacked higher
versus Malaysia’s ringgit, having lost
almost seven per cent against it so far
this month.
“he only data supporting raising
the Fed funds rate has been (US)
employment, which has begun to shrink
in the last quarter,” Evan Lucas, a markets
strategist at IG Ltd in Melbourne, said in
an e-mail to clients.
“Coupled with increased talks of the
approaching debt-ceiling negotiations,
BIZ BRIEF
Glencore to sell
mines in Chile
and Australia
ZURICH: Mining giant Glencore,
under pressure from a crash in
commodity prices and weighed down
by debt, announced on Monday it
had begun talks to sell copper mines
in Australia and Chile. “The sale
process is in response to Glencore
receiving a number of unsolicited
expressions of interest for these
mines from various potential buyers,”
the irm said in a statement.
It warned that the process “may
or may not result in a sale” of the two
mines. The mines in question are the
Cobar mine in southwestern Australia
and the Lomas Bayas in the Atacama
desert in Chile. The debt-laden Swiss
company, which has been hard-hit by
a commodity price collapse, has faced
wild luctuation in its share price in
recent weeks amid investor fears that
sinking commodity prices will afect
its ability to meet outstanding debt
obligations.
At the beginning of September,
Glencore announced a series of
drastic moves aimed at cutting its
towering $30-billion debt by a third.
Among other measures, the company
has raised $2.5 billion in share sales,
has halted dividend payments until
further notice and has said it will sell
of a number of assets. Glencore has
already mothballed output at two
copper projects in Africa, and closed a
platinum mine in South Africa.
And last week, the mining giant
announced it would slash its output
of zinc by a third by suspending zinc
operations at mines in two mines
Australia and Peru, and cutting
production elsewhere.
Following Friday’s announcement,
the company’s share price surged
seven per cent to close at 129.1 pence
in London trading. But investors
remain concerned that Glencore
might still see its credit rating cut,
which would increase its inancing
costs at a time when the cash-hungry
sector is facing falling prices. The
company said on Monday it would
not provide further information on
the possible copper mines sales
until they had been concluded “or
disclosure is otherwise required.”
— AFP
SINGAPORE: Oil prices climbed in
Asia on Monday boosted by a weaker
dollar and expectations a rise in
demand will ease a global supply
glut, while investors await the release
of key Chinese economic data this
week. Both main crude contracts have
rallied since hitting six-year lows in late
August, with last week seeing healthy
rallies in line with global equities on
waning expectations the US Federal
Reserve will hike borrowing costs this
year, pushing the dollar lower.
A softer dollar makes dollar-priced
oil cheaper, spurring demand.
Comments by Opec secretarygeneral Abdullah el Badri at the
weekend that the cartel sees a “more
balanced” oil market next year also
provided support. In afternoon Asian
trade, US benchmark West Texas
Intermediate for November delivery
rose 0.89 per cent to $50.07 and Brent
crude for November added 0.91 per
cent to $53.13 a barrel.
Attention is on the release of
Chinese trade and inlation data,
which will give a fresh idea about the
state of the world’s biggest energy
consumer. Conidence was given
a lift at the start of the month by a
report indicating the country’s key
manufacturing sector saw a slight
improvement in September.
The news provided some cheer
after a string of igures highlighting a
not to mention the 2016 presidential
elections, all means we are seeing signs
of the (US economy) litof being pushed
back, as inlation remains nowhere to be
seen,” he said, according to Bloomberg
News. he weaker dollar has also
helped rally oil prices in recent weeks
sharp slowdown in Chinese growth.
Fears about the Asian economic
giant were inlamed in August
when authorities devalued the yuan
currency, raising questions about their
grip on the crisis. Bernard Aw, market
strategist at IG Markets Singapore, said
on Monday’s price rise was bolstered
after El Badri said on Sunday: “OPEC
is conident that it will see a more
balanced market in 2016. “In recent
months, there has been a contraction
in production from non-OPEC
producers and an increase in global
demand.” The comments meant the
oil producers’ cartel — which accounts
for about 40 per cent of global
production — “still sees stronger
demand in the medium term”, Aw said.
Despite the recent uptick, oil
prices remain depressed owing to
concerns about demand as the global
economy stutters, a supply glut and
the weakness in China. — AFP
while bets on a pick-up in demand for
the commodity provided further uplit.
Crude prices have risen by more than
a quarter since hitting a six-year low
in August as worries about a stronger
dollar, a supply glut and weak demand
ease. — AFP
UK insurer Hastings shares go below IPO price
LONDON: UK insurer Hastings Group Holdings Plc’s shares fell below the initial public
ofering (IPO) price of 170 pence on the London Stock Exchange on Monday. The
stock, which had debuted in line with its IPO price, was down 1.76 per cent at 167.69
pence. With about 3.3 million shares traded in the irst 20 minutes, Hastings was the
third most actively traded stock on the exchange.
Hastings said on Friday that its IPO had been priced at 170 pence a share, valuing
the irm at about 1.12 billion pounds. The company, which mainly operates in the
UK motor market, ofers private car insurance, home insurance, motorbike and van
insurance and premium inancing and ancillary products. Hastings had said earlier
that it expected to raise gross proceeds of 210 million pounds, which would be used to
reduce debt and strengthen its capital base.
The net proceeds of the sale would allow the group, one of Britain’s fastest growing
motor insurers, to strengthen its capital base for future growth and in advance of the
new Solvency II capital requirements. The company said as on June 30, it had a 5.5
per cent share of the UK private car insurance market and 1.88 million live customer
policies. Hastings said in September that a company comprising Goldman Sachs’(GS.N)
merchant banking division, certain founders and members of management would
remain its largest shareholder. Goldman’s merchant banking division bought a 50 per
cent stake in Hastings in 2013. — Reuters
A teller counts Indonesian rupiah notes for a customer at a currency
exchange in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Indonesian central bank is expected to
make a rate decision this week.
— Reuters
Infosys quarterly proits increase 9.8 pc
BANGALORE: Indian software giant Infosys on Monday reported a 9.8 per cent rise
in quarterly net proit, beating expectations, on the back of a weak rupee and robust
demand from the United States. The country’s second largest IT services exporter said
its proit for July to September increased to 33.98 billion rupees ($524.79 million) from
30.96 billion rupees a year earlier.
The earnings topped a Bloomberg survey
of 14 analysts which forecast a proit of Rs 32.8
billion. “We had strong all-round growth... driven
by recent initiatives around service diferentiation,
improvement in client mining and higher focus
on winning large deals,” chief operating oicer
U B Pravin Rao said in a statement. India has
become a back oice to the world as companies
have subcontracted work to irms such as Infosys,
taking advantage of the country’s skilled English-speaking workforce. The Bangalorebased company is listed in Mumbai and New York and was once seen as the bellwether
of India’s lagship outsourcing industry and the country’s equivalent to Microsoft. But
it is now engaged in a tough battle for market share with rivals TCS and Wipro. Infosys
said it added 82 clients during the three-month period. Total revenue grew 17.2 per
cent year-on-year to Rs 156.35 billion from Rs 133.42 billion a year earlier. However, the
company said it it was pessimistic about the outlook for the global economy, lowering
its dollar earnings forecast for the current inancial year from 7.2 per cent to 9.2 per
cent to 6.4 per cent to 8.4 per cent. Infosys shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange fell
around two per cent on the news as it also announced that its chief inancial oicer
Rajiv Bansal was stepping down. — AFP
PERSPECTIVE
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
FUND
omandailyobserver
21
RAISING
Are Sukuk the best options for financing deficit?
Lo’ai B
Bataineh
T
he Omani government
has taken a bold step
last week when it
oicially announced
it will make its irst
sovereign issue of
Islamic bonds, a RO 200 million ($520
million) issue, by end of 2015 to help
inance a budget deicit caused by the
plunge of oil prices by more than 60 per
cent since the beginning of this year. he
deicit is estimated to be about RO 2.5
billion in 2015 budget and I believe it
will touch RO 4 billion. his deicit will
surely afect the government’s ability to
go ahead with its development plans, as
planned.
here has been a very hot debate
within the society about the feasibility
of issuing sovereign Islamic bonds.
he move has brought to surface many
questions about the efect of such issues
on the sovereign assets of the state. Some
analysts also believed that the issue will
provide new tools for privatisation. he
reply to this is that these Sukuk will
have known maturity dates and will
be repaid and amortised at the end of
2020; as announced earlier. hey may
also be reinanced using traditional and
non-traditional means in case the state
is unable to repay them at the maturity
date; as it is the case with many other
countries.
here have been many arguments
about the role of the Islamic banking
institutions in the Sultanate which have
been operational almost three years
now. Many questioned its ability to
inance the socioeconomic projects and
attract large investors who are interested
to have Sharia-compliant products.
he Sovereign Sukuk (SS), as it is
the case with any other inancial and
investment tool, will be evaluated by
the Omani Rial and listed at Muscat
Securities Market (MSM). It is also
expected that the RO 200 million issue
will be valuated according to the order
structure and auction i.e. the allotment
and pricing will be made later.
he Ministry of Finance said that, the
maturity of the sovereign Sukuk will be
ive years — by the end of 2020 — and
that the proit rate on Sukuk will be
determined according to the standard
price auction. he size of the issue will be
decided ater completing the registration
of potential investors.
Moody’s Investors Services have
been appointed to rate the potential
issue by the Sultanate’s government. It
is expected that the primary rating of
the issue will be A1 (P); in line with the
Sultanate’s credit rating.
he issue of SS move comes ater the
government had made a study on the
Islamic banking sector and how they can
help them by creating and presenting
new tools for managing their liquidity.
his important move is considered a
step on the right direction by the Ministry
of Finance, the CMA and MSM as it will
develop the sovereign and private Sukuk
market in the Sultanate. his in turn will
provide new investment tools for the
inancial and investment organisation
that can replace the traditional tools
such as bonds. It will also augment their
investment and inancial abilities. It
will also foster their abilities to manage
their surpluses and meet the statutory
solvency requirements of the Central
Bank of Oman (CBO).
he introduction of the Islamic
banking in 2013 has been one of the
major developments of the inancial
sector in general and the banking sector
in particular. he experience is still at the
nascent stage therefore we can’t judge by
simply comparing it to the traditional
banking which has been operational for
almost 60 years.
he aim of this SS issue is to meet the
emerging needs of the Islamic banking
in the Sultanate. he Sukuk are local
investment tool that will help in the
management of liquid surpluses. SS
issuance would boost Oman’s ledgling
Islamic banking industry, giving it a
Sovereign Sukuk issuance
will boost Oman’s fledgling
Islamic banking industry,
giving it a badly needed
liquidity tool as well as a
pricing benchmark.
badly needed liquidity tool as well as a
pricing benchmark.
he Sukuk idea is based on the
Sharia Islamic principles such as Ijara,
Selm, Istisnaa, Mudharaba and others.
hese tools were invented to provide
alternative for the traditional inancing
means such as bonds that bear interests.
Many Islamic banks’ customers
believe that Islamic Sukuk are among the
major Sharia-compliant lending tools
which show to everyone that Islamic
has never been a hurdle for economic
China’s plan for troubled economy
BEIJING: China’s Communist rulers
will gather later this month, state media
said on Monday, to set a course for the
world’s second-largest economy over
the next ive years, as slowing growth
raises global concerns.
he Communist Party meeting,
known as the Fith Plenum, is expected
to focus on structural reform and
easing state control — although such
moves have been repeatedly promised
before.
he world’s most populous country
has enjoyed a decades-long boom since
the ruling party embraced market
economics and opened up to the rest of
the world from the late 1970s.
he process has transformed the
livelihoods of hundreds of millions of
people and propelled the country to
global prominence.
But growth has been slowing for
several years, and analysts say the party
needs to embrace further liberalisation
to avoid falling into the stagnation
of the “middle income trap”, when
developing countries fail to fulil their
full potential. he Communist Party
continues to issue regular economic
guidance, including Five Year Plans
and annual targets for the country’s
growth.
he Fith Plenum will be held from
October 26 to 29, the oicial Xinhua
news agency reported on Monday,
citing a statement from the Central
Committee.
It will inalise the 13th Five Year
Plan, which will start next year.
Under President Xi Jinping, who
took power in 2012, the Communist
Party has pledged to give markets a
decisive role in the economy.
But large-scale interventions into
the country’s falling stock market this
summer have called into question the
government’s willingness and ability to
follow through.
Beijing has poured hundreds of
billions of dollars into the market
and cut interest rates, among other
measures, following a rout that saw
the Shanghai Composite Index plunge
from a high of over 5,000 in mid-June
to a low of just under 3,000 in August.
he ruling party has committed
to making China a “moderately
prosperous society” by 2020, when the
plan will complete, a goal that includes
doubling per capita income for urban
and rural residents from 2010 levels.
Continually rising prosperity is a
Container trucks drive past the container area at the Yangshan Deep Water Port, part of the newly announced Shanghai Free
Trade Zone, south of Shanghai in this file photo. China is expected to release trade data this week. — Reuters
key element of the Communist Party’s
claim to legitimacy, but the target has
seemed less and less achievable as
China’s economy has slowed in recent
years, weighed down by overcapacity
and falling exports.
Leaders have regularly promised
a “new normal” of slower but more
sustainable growth, led by domestic
consumer demand, but the transition
is proving bumpy and global markets
have been spooked by recent economic
igures. At the meeting in October,
leaders are expected to discuss reform
of state-owned enterprises that continue
to drag on expansion, and their
conclusions will be formally approved
by the rubber stamp legislature next
year. Plenums are key meetings of
China’s Communist leaders on speciic
issues, such as one last year on the rule
of law, which issued guidelines intended
to centralise the party’s power. — AFP
Ford to invest nearly $2 billion
SHANGHAI: US auto giant Ford will invest nearly $2 billion on research
and development in China, it said on Monday, despite falling sales in
the world’s biggest auto market. The 11.4 billion yuan investment, to be
completed by 2020, will build up Ford’s R&D capability in the country,
especially at an existing engineering centre in the eastern city of Nanjing,
the company said in a statement. “With this investment in research and
development, the next generation of Ford vehicles will be completely
designed around our customers,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president and
chief executive oicer. — AFP
BMW sells more cars to China
MUNICH: German car maker BMW increased sales to China by 10.9 per cent in
September compared to the same period last year, the company announced
in Munich on Monday. Overall, BMW sold 7.8 per cent more cars worldwide in
September, with business going well in Europe and in the US, according to
the car maker.
With its new BMW 7 series, the small SUV X1 and the Mini Clubman, the
company was “on track for another year of record sales in 2015,” BMW sales
director Ian Robertson said. — dpa
growth. Islamic Sukuk are issued against
assets or assets opposite to bonds with
returns or inancial rights. his means
that Sukuk provide more guarantee
compared to traditional bonds.
While Sukuk are investment tools
initiated by Islamic banks or institutions
— as it is the case with any other
investment tool, they have their own
unique features such as providing fair
ownership of the assets.
We are aware that the main aim for
the SS has been and is still providing
the required inance for the government
projects and institutions. he revenues
will be used in inancing the diferent
investment asset of investors looking
for inancing their projects and on the
other hand it provides Sharia compliant
way for investing surplus moneys of the
investors. For long, Sukuk have been
among the major investment tools used
by the Islamic and commercial banks to
manage their investment surpluses.
he returns on Sukuk are secured
through the revenues from the lease
of the assets and the rights inanced
whether they are new or old assets such
as equipment, machinery, vehicles and
aircrats.
One of the main aims of Sukuk
issue is to provide the required inance
and liquidity. It is understood that the
projects are based on commercial and
proit calculating and on Islamic Sharia
basis as well. It is therefore expected that
such projects will secure positive return.
Moreover, part of the proits, will be
distributed to Sukuk holders according
to the pre-agreed terms and rates.
he Sukuk are expected to deepen
the inancial market of the Sultanate
as it will lead to the establishment of
more Takaful companies and Shariacompliant investment funds. hey will
also play a role in diversifying sources
of inance and investment and in
enhancing the ability of the public and
private sectors to attract more regional
and foreign investors and inancing
agencies especially when the government
revenues are under pressure due to the
sharp plunge of oil price; a situation that
will afect the government’s ability to
continue providing its social, health and
education services as well as the subsidy
provided to fuel, electricity, water and
some foodstufs.
To put it in a nut shell, Sukuk is
currently one of the key inancing
tools available to fund the economic
development plans by the private and
public sector organisations. I believe that
Sukuk is the best and ideal option in the
current situation.
CASHINGOUT
Saudi, Norway sovereign
funds selling Euro shares
LONDON: he top three oil-dependent sovereign wealth funds have been
selling European equity holdings since May, a study showed on Monday,
another sign of petrodollars being withdrawn from world markets.
However, Asian funds have continued to add European equities, according
to the data from Nasdaq Advisory Services, which provides analysis on
shareholder and investor activity.
Since May, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority has sold $1.2 billion
worth of equities across Nasdaq’s European client base. hat accounts for
13 per cent of its $9.2 billion holdings in the European companies tracked
by Nasdaq. Norway’s Norges Bank Investment Management has sold
$1.1 billion — around 2 per cent of the $57.5 billion market value of its
holdings. he Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has cut some $300 million
worth of shares from its
$3.6 billion holding.
“Over 2015, the
three
largest
oildependent SWFs have
all been reducing their
equity holdings in the
region, with this trend
accelerating over the
second quarter and into
the third quarter of the
year,” said Alexander Free, an analyst with Nasdaq’s Advisory Services.
he data is based on a sample of 159 European companies, with a
market value of $1.87 trillion, Nasdaq says. hey range from retail and
telecoms shares to inancials and utilities.
Falling oil prices — with Brent crude down over 60 per cent since
summer 2014 — has put pressure on oil producers to rein in spending or
liquidate assets.
Energy-exporting countries pulled money out of world markets last
year for the irst time in almost two decades, halting the “recycling” of
oil windfalls, BNP Paribas has said. he trend would continue as energy
prices stayed under pressure, the bank predicted last year.
In July, Saudi Arabia resorted to issuing a bond for the irst time since
2007. he International Monetary Fund has warned of the Saudi deicit —
estimated at around 20 per cent of GDP this year.
he Saudi central bank, which serves as the wealth fund of the world’s
top oil exporter, has been drawing down its reserves since late 2014. Its net
foreign assets fell by $6.6 billion in August as the Saudis liquidated assets to
plug the budget gap. “It’s a pretty dire situation,” Free said.
Norway has announced it will make its irst net withdrawal from its
sovereign fund since it was set up, to help pay for tax cuts designed to
stimulate the economy. Its $830 billion fund is the world’s largest, holding
about 1.3 per cent of global stocks.
In contrast, the three biggest non-commodity driven sovereign funds
have been net buyers of European equities — particularly China’s SAFE,
which holds about $35.6 billion worth of the Nasdaq sample.
SAFE started buying heavily in Europe from the irst quarter of 2015,
acquiring $2.1 billion of the shares tracked by Nasdaq. Singapore’s Temasek
and GIC have also acquired a combined $1.1 billion of European equities
so far this year, Free said.
He suggested their interest may stem from a search for better valuations
as US equity prices surged to pre-crisis levels, while the European Central
Bank’s money-printing programme also lent support. — Reuters
22
LEISURE/CLASSIFIEDS
omandailyobserver
For Sale
STEEL FOR SALE:
Oman made steel
BS4449 GR500 B
available for sale
from 8mm to 32 mm.
Interested parties may
contact. (99104766
·····
DENTAL Clinic (modern
class) at Sohar.
Excellent condition.
(91163316
·····
AUTOMOTIVE batteries
for sale in bulk. Contact
(24794657
·····
RESIDENTIAL land
in Yanqul, Buwairdah
area irst line on the
main road. No 79.
Area 37,947 m2 the
land is near Yanqul,
Buraimi, Sohar and Ibri
crossroad. Preliminary
approval for division
into 51 plots including
8 commercial and
43 residential. In the
process of transferring
it into one commercial
plot. Price RO 240,000.
Approx. RO 6 per
metre. (94056332/
24702522.
·····
For Sale
USED portacabin
(5 Nos) for sale.
Interested parties
may contact
Mr Arif on GSM
No 99259157/
92332088 at NTS
Ghala Camp for
inspection. Sealed
offers should be
submitted on or
before 17.03.2015.
For Sale
DELUXE fast food
restaurant in Prime
location in Muscat.
(99363883.
·····
BRANDED well
maintained Household
items for immediate
sale at throw away
price (99047440
·····
·····
RESIDENTIAL
USED VEHICLES/
commercial plot at
Equipment for sale
Seeb Souq irst line
seater Toyota Coaster
on the main road)
2011 — 12 Nos. MAN area 309m2 No. 157,
open corner from
Prime movers 4x2.
Ton cranes four sides. Permit for
levels
Forklift Fuel Tanker ground loor
penthouse Final
Vacuum Tanker
Price RO 280,000
Ton Mt Pick up
(approx. RO 900 per
Contact (99465358,
metre). (94056332/
99454660.
24702522.
·····
·····
A lANd iN HAlbAN
RESIDENTIAL land
behind GUtech is
in Al Hajir Wilayat
offered for sale. The
Al Amerat square
land enjoys a permit for
(3) plot No. (219),
twin villa
area of 600 square
2) A LAND is for sale
metre price RO
in Al Maabela 8 owner. 6800. (94056332/
(95959166.
24702522.
·····
·····
For Rent
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
For rent
3BHK penthouse flat
with split A/Cs, free
unlimited broadband
WiFi security access
system, Private terrace
and secured car park.
Opposite Kims Hospital
Al Falaj Monthly
rent RO 625. Contact
(99657906 or
24702141.
A FlAT in the ground
floor in Al Amerat 3
with a seperate yard
and a parking lot for
cars s bedroom
toilets big kitchen
dining room and sitting
room with toilets
(99373847.
·····
FlAT for rent in Al
Amerat Al Mahaj, two
bedrooms, living room
and majlis. Contact.
(99425184
LUXURY flats for
rent Rimal Ghubra
bedrooms, 3 toilets.
RO 600. Contact.
(96000082,
993177690.
·····
·····
BRAND new
residential flats in Wadi
Kabir near Muscat
Football Club have
bedroom family hall
toilets kitchen with
split AC for RO 250.
Contact. (95999904,
98585889, 92383886.
2 STOREY villa
in South Al Maabela
that contains one sitting
room, 4 bedrooms with
toilets, 2 sitting rooms
and a kitchen. The
villa is close to a public
water supply. Contact.
(99357404.
·····
·····
·····
RESTAURANT in an
excellent location
in Salalah with
equipment and
workers. (93397812.
FlATS in Mumtaz
and Al Ghubra,
1 bedroom, hall.
Contact. (91979580,
98003444.
2 BEDROOMS with
toilets, one
sitting room with
toilet. Contact.
(993803465.
·····
·····
·····
RESTAURANT for sale
on Shinas Highway.
(99233090.
·····
PRIME location in
Shatti Al Qurum
for Sale. Ideal for
restaurant/ Coffee
Shop Fast Food
(97890657/
E mail
tess29.cayman29@
gmail.com
·····
LAND (Residence)
in Qantab Muscat
governorate irst row
on the beach
m
number
inal
price 280,000
(900 Omani Rial
per square metre).
(94056332/
24702522.
CARTOONS
ADAM @ HOME
1
by Brian Basset
6
9
10
11
12
13
15
17
18
19
20
CALVIN AND HOBBES
22
24
25
by Bill Watterson
26
27
28
29
30
31
GARFIELD
2
3
4
by Jim Davis
5
6
7
8
12
13
14
STONE SOUP
Lost
Buying
USED household and
of ice furniture and
electronics items.
(999834373,
96642500.
MOHAMMED Mamoun
Al Islam has lost
Bangladeshi passport No
AA-3599969. Finder
please handover to ROP.
·····
·····
·····
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
ACROSS
Legendary manuscript about a
girl (5)
Infested vehicle? (5)
Quarrel over a nuclear issue (4,3)
It takes guile to get wonderfully
fat on credit (5)
Try moving east on a Tuesday (5)
Arrest for snuf taking? (5)
Shakespeare character short of an
alibi, in prison (7)
Lay some mousetraps (3)
River duck with a red back (4)
Has she reason to be upset? (6)
A calculating creature? (5)
How to make a start in geology
(6)
he President’s XI? (4)
Vessel used in tuna ishing (3)
here has to be a way to grow it
(7)
Come out in the garden (5)
Poles are quite capable of
catching something (5)
Capricious and silly dig at some
lady (5)
Accustomed to being in
harmony? (7)
Suggest a Chopin piece always
has a key (5)
Cried upon inding me married
(5)
DOWN
Incursion made by Dorian (6)
A fair statement of love? (6)
What the chairman did in a
riotous atmosphere (3)
It’s clear the party leader had
been lying (5)
His provisions are consumed by
many but dear in France (7)
A state of some unreasonable
hauteur (4)
Get together to chew the rag? (6)
Giant animal? (5)
Roll down to the sea (5)
Find there’s a real possibility of
HajjandUmra
Usedfurnitureforsale
Launchceremoniesof restaurants shops clinics
Jobads
Teachingdriving
Housescleaning servicesandpest
control
Carsforsale
Forrent
Jobapplication
Sharingresidence
Transportcars
RealEstate sale rent investments
For information, please call:
99841230-95919344
92721879 - 99639264
Tel: 24649597, Fax: 24649590
BankMuscat account: 0397003776610011
Bank Dhofar account: 01040141195001
E-mail: [email protected]
6
7
8
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
21
22
23
25
26
28
Kitchen appliance (7)
Relax (4)
Approached (6)
Log (5)
Clever (5)
Upright (5)
Mature (5)
Coin (5)
Answer (5)
Love (7)
Young bird (6)
Caustic (6)
Recess (6)
Worked (5)
Layer (4)
Misery (3)
YESTERDAY’S CRYPTIC
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 3, Smite 8, BAs-ic 10,
Oscar 11, P-in 12, Proms 13, Sprites
15, Tac-I-t 18, Mar. 19, Coyote 21,
Maxi-mum 22, AWOL 23, T-old 24,
Edition 26, Vestas 29, Sty 31, Overs(hoot) 32, Les-sons 34, At bay 35, Hot
36, Slice 37, Go for 38, Trip-e.
DOWN: 1, Nappy 2, Mini-Mal 4,
M-a-rs. 5, Tom-tom 6, Es-s-ay 7,
H-a-bit 9, Si-R 12, Periods 14, TA-X
16, Colon 17, Teddy 19, Curtsey 20,
Sal-V-o 21, Morse 23, Toys-hop 24,
E-aster 25, It’s 27, Evils 28, T-rac-t
30, O-n to-p. 32, L-amp 33, O-of.
CROSSW OR D
15
16
18
19
21
22
23
25
26
28
1
6
9
closing down (5)
he city is of a diferent aspect (5)
Letter copied or recorded (5)
It’s in our blood (5)
In a race say, you don’t want to
catch his foot (7)
Growing possibility of Act I
having a poor start (6)
Walk or cycle, perhaps, to the
station front (6)
Dig up some matter that gets the
doctor on edge (6)
Powerful man possibly glum
about nothing (5)
Cereal stuf sited in the barn (4)
he stage manager’s little treasure
(3)
EASY PUZZLE
ACROSS
Bully (5)
Honest (5)
Liken (7)
10
11
12
13
15
17
18
19
20
22
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
2
3
4
5
Reject (5)
Treatise (5)
Tailed star (5)
Particular (7)
Agent (3)
Lake (4)
Dwell (6)
Allude (5)
Clergyman (6)
Pulse (4)
Rubbish (3)
Obviously (7)
Agree (5)
Killed (5)
Bereaved woman (5)
Level of command (7)
Stow (5)
Encouraged (5)
DOWN
Flee (6)
Hard to find (6)
Summit (3)
Reel (5)
YESTERDAY’S EASY SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 3, Wants 8, Ratty 10, Rivet
11, Too 12, Cedar 13, Rampart 15,
Genus 18, Ire 19, Finite 21, Satanic
22, Dean 23, Scot 24, Defence 26,
Carped 29, Mar 31, Treat 32, Capable
34, Resin 35, Pal 36, Relic 37, Depot
38, Steed.
DOWN: 1, Fatal 2, Utopian 4, Abet
5, Tragic 6, Siren 7, Debut 9, Tom
12, Created 14, Art 16, Niece 17,
Seats 19, Fireman 20, Edict 21, Sabre
23, Scraped 24, Detect 25, Nap 27,
Armed 28, Paris 30, Allot 32, Cite
33, Bap.
Hospitals
by Jan Eliot
Hospital
Royal
Board
24599000
Emergency
24590491
Health Services Department
¬ YO U R STA R S ¬
Muttrah . . . . . . . 24797602
Quriyat . . . . . . . 24845001 . . . . 24845003
SQH, Salalah. . . 23211555 . . . . 23211151
Police. . . . . . . . . 24603988 . . . . 24603980
Al Nahda . . . . . . 24831255 . . . . 24837800
Ibn Sina. . . . . . . 24876322 . . . . 24877361
Nizwa. . . . . . . . . 25439361 . . . . 25425033
Al Rustaq. . . . . . 26875055 . . . . 26877186
Samayil . . . . . . . 25350055 . . . . 25350022
Izki . . . . . . . . . . . 25340033 . . . . 25340033
IF IT’S YOUR
BIRTHDAY:
During the
coming year you
will be able to
reap the benefit
of a financial
speculation you
made a while
ago, and your
business and
social life will as
a consequence
show a decided
improvement.
An interfering
relative will
need careful
handling,
requiring all y
our tact and
patience.
LIBRA
September 23October 22
Don’t be nervous about a minor
slip at a forthcoming test as it
will not be important enough
to upset or inluence the inal
favourable result.
Haima . . . . . . . . 23436013 . . . . 23436055
Sohar . . . . . . . . . 26840022 . . . . 26840099
Al Buraimi. . . . . 25650855 . . . . 25652319
Sur . . . . . . . . . . . 25440244 . . . . 25461373
Tanam . . . . . . . . 25499011 . . . . 25499033
Masirah . . . . . . . 25404018 . . . . 25404018
Ibra. . . . . . . . . . . 25470533 . . . . 25470535
Adam. . . . . . . . . 25434167 . . . . 25434055
Bidiyah . . . . . . . 25483535 . . . . 25483535
Ibri . . . . . . . . . . . 25491011 . . . . 25491990
Saham . . . . . . . . 26854427 . . . . 26855148
Khasab . . . . . . . 26830187 . . . . 26830187
Daba . . . . . . . . . 26836443 . . . . 26836443
Bukha . . . . . . . . 26828397 . . . . 26828397
Sinaw. . . . . . . . . 25474338
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
October 23November 21
November 22December 21
December 22January 20
January 21February 19
February 20March 20
he improvement in the health of
a member of the family will gradually free you from your present additional responsibilities. Take your
time to weigh up your leisure time
possibilities.
Try to avoid any money transaction with friends. Even the bet of
relationships can be marred by the
introduction of a commercial element.
Before deciding on a change
of home, make sure that
you have fully discussed and considered the views of other members of
the family.
Owing to your outspoken nature
you may have estranged a friend.
Today you will have the chance to
apologise which will start to heal
the strained relationship.
It would be taking unnecessary risks
to get into a financial transaction
with a stranger. Always think of the
suffering a lost would cause you and
your family.
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
March 21April 20
April 21May 20
May 21June 21
June 22July 21
July 22August 21
August 22September 22
On meeting an opponent unexpectedly face to face, you may
have a good opportunity to discuss your diferences and settle
the issue once and for all.
Owing to your constant readiness
to help others you have created a
lot of goodwill in the past which is
bound to bear fruit in the years to
come.
Don’t be disappointed if a friend
refuses to associate with you on
a business speculation. You have
the choice of trying somebody
else, or going it alone.
Ask a co-operative colleague
to help you inish your work in
time today, in order that you
can keep an urgent personal appointment.
Your impatience in dealing with
detail should prompt you to delegate triling and less important
tasks to those more suited to them.
Don’t be discouraged by having been refused a certain favour. The person in question
will soon reconsider your request and grant it in his own
good time.
CLASSIFIEDS
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
FOR RENT
ROOMS behind Ahli
Bank, Al Khoudh
Commercial St.
(93392462/
99379310.
FURNISHED lats with
daily and monthly rent.
(93204595, 932034812, 24487827.
·····
·····
ROOMS behind Burger
King, Qurum
(96298667/
99379310.
·····
HOUSE 3 apartment in
Muttrah for rent or sale
(94271717.
STORES for rent
at Misfa, 500 to
3,000m2. Contact
(99332291,
96046951
·····
·····
FLAT for rent in Wadi
Al Kabir and also villa
and flat in Al Athaiba
(99388994.
·····
A VILLA in Al Ansab 3,
7 rooms, 7 toilets, two
kitchens, living room +
annex, RO 750.
(99220443.
·····
FLAT for rent in Qurum
16. 4 bedrooms,
kitchen, dining hall and
sitting hall
(93505511.
A FLAT for rent in Al
Ghubra North, adjoined
to Masjid A’Safa —
outstanding location.
The flat after the
·····
crossroad of the Indian
School towards Al
1) 2 bedrooms, 2
Athaiba. The flat, which
bathroom, kitchen,
living room, store with is on the first floor,
consists of 2 vast rooms
split unit Air
conditioner in Ruwi Rex — each with its toilets,
wide/big majlis/living
road.
room with attached
2) Basement 580
toilet. The area and
square metre (new
floor of the building is
building). Contact.
clean and luxurious.
(99833369.
Only for families. Price:
350/-. (99343996.
·····
·····
2 FLOOR house at Al
Hail North. Each floor:
WORKERS’ Campus,
3 bedrooms, 3
shops,
workshops,
bathrooms, kitchen,
stores in a building
store, 1 sitting room.
in Al Misfah, Wilayat
(92133551,
Bausher based in a
95067585
300 square-metre
·····
industrial no-man land
and surrounded with
VILLA next to Lulu,
a street. The building
Sohar (94354993.
includes
lats four
of which have two
·····
bedrooms, sitting
SEMI furnished
room, toilet, kitchen,
BHK flats at Bausher four lats have a
near Atlas Hospital.
bedroom, sitting room,
(99348493/
toilet, kitchen and two
93200424/
lats have a bedroom
24502254.
toilet and kitchen.
(98918090
·····
AN apartment consists
of two bedrooms, two
toilets, a kitchen and a
living room is offered
for rent in Sidab.
(99455397,
99181929.
·····
HOUSING complex
consist of 4 new villas
spacious with high
quality materials in Al
Qurum, with car parks
inside and out, each villa
·····
consists of 4 floors
(basement, ground, first
FAMIly only)
and penthouse). All
Flats in a new building
villas have 8 bedrooms
in Al Hamriya, air+ 2 sitting + 2 living + 1
conditioned (two rooms, dining + 1 large kitchen
kitchen, two toilets) for + preparation kitchen,
RO 220 per month.
overlooking the beach
and Crowne Plaza.
A flat (bedroom sitting
room, toilet, kitchen) for Monthly cost of rent RO
2,900 per villa.
RO 180 per month).
(94056333, 24702522. (94056332, 24702522
·····
·····
URGENTLY REQUIRED
A DOMESTIC COOK of
Asian origin to work at my
residence with a very good
experience and knowledge
of preparation of Asian,
Chinese and Continental
food. Remuneration for this
service is commensurate
with experience.
CANDIDATE MEETING THE
ABOVE REQUIREMENTS
CALL AT 99880712
Situation Wanted
NATIONAL having 5
years experience as
PRO in multi national
companies, looking
for job. Contact:
(92265302.
·····
MECHANICAL Engineer
with 6 months
experience , looking
for placement. Contact:
(94211186. E-mail:
sameemsm2009@gmail.
com
·····
MBA Graduate with
2 years experience
is looking for sales,
marketing or inventory
controller job. Contact:
(90214866. E-mail:
[email protected]
·····
INDIAN male, B.Com,
Accountant with 7 years
experience (5 years in
Oman, 2 years in India)
available in Oman seeks
suitable placement
immediately. Contact:
(94410485, 98008164.
Situation Wanted
ACCOUNTANT, B.Com,
Indian male, 30 years,
having 7 years of
Oman experience in
the ield of Accounts
Finance seeks for better
placement. Contact:
(96143708, 97351786.
·····
11 YEARS experience
in Oman in leet
purchasing,
of ice work hotel
and transport.
10 years Oman
driving licence
seeking immediate
placement.
(94133987
INDIAN male, 26 years,
Business Management,
knows MS Of ice Arabic
5 years in Oman. Contact
(93931935
·····
·····
INDIAN, male, BE
in Electrical and
electronics with
Post Graduate
Diploma in Power
Systems (Transmission
and distribution),
seeks placement.
Presently in Oman
on visit. Contact
(94669679. E-mail:
[email protected]
INDIAN male Accountant
with 15 years
experience in Oman
available for immediate
joining, NOC available.
Contact (99881355,
99720602.
·····
·····
CSIT Computer
Engineering B-Tech
ASIM Ghulam Mohyudin,
presently working as
Pakistani, Light Duty
a Network System
Driver looking for job,
Engineer Having
can speak English,
excellent experience
Arabic and Urdu Contact:
looking for a
(97632729.
placement (968
91006851 Mohd
·····
Nadeem Ullah
Khan. E-mail:
INDIAN male, Light
nadeemkhan126@
Duty Driver looking for
yahoo.com
part-time job. Contact:
(94538445.
·····
·····
MOHAMMED Basil
Sayeedi, male, 28,
3 years experience,
marketing executive.
Valid UAE driving
licence. Education:
BCom, MCom, MBA.
(9968 92871946,
e-mail: sayeedibasil@
gmail.com.
EXPERIENCED
project/ program
manager/
senior inance
professional.
Quali ication
MBA, PMP,
industry, banks,
telecommunication
and transportation.
Canadian
nationality, on visit.
(97203531.
INDIAN male, 28 years
wanted opportunity in
IT Certified in redhat
linux (RHCE) and oracle
DBA, have 3 years of
hand on experience in
Networking, Clisco
routers and swithces,
Outlook, S/W
Installations. Contact
(95406864. E-mail:
[email protected]
·····
·····
INDIAN lady Chartered
Accountant is looking
for part-time job. Having
very good experience in
accounts, audit, banking,
budgeting, project
financing etc. (more
than 7 years experience
in Oman. Visa needed.
Contact: (93134506.
·····
INDIAN male, 26 years
MBA inance accountant
2 years experience
in Oman, currently
working. NOC available.
Contact (95671070.
E-mail: mf960591@
gmail.com
Umrah/Haj
Situation Vacant
Services
AL Hikmani for
HAJ and UMRAH
— With a host of
services including
the following: Hiring
luxurious coaches,
arranging weekly
trips, preparing
visas for expats at
cost-effective price,
including transport,
housing, meals
and visits to shrine
locations. Land and
air trips weekly.
(99311310,
24566016,
99361982,
99707248,
99322124.
OMANI Accountant
with good
communication
computer skills
with 4-5 years
experience required
for immediate
placement in a
reputed Oil
Gas Engineering
Consultancy irm
in Al Khuwair.
Candidates should
have Diploma
in accountancy.
CVs shall be
sent to trejobs@
trengineering.com
1. AC maintenance
and servicing.
2. Fridge, washing
machine and dish
washer repairing.
3. Painting and
cleaning services. 4.
Electrical, plumbing
and carpentry
work (97014234,
99447257,
24504281.
·····
Manpower
FRIENDS MANPOWER
Filipino housemaids
and all kinds of
workers. (24489268
Tel:/Fax: 24478153,
92462496.
·····
KHALIFA
Al-Sinani Manpower —
labourers housemaid
from Indonesia, Kenya,
Uganda and other
countries. Al Suwaiq.
To communicate
(26713500,
26713600.
·····
Good News
AYURVEDIC
Treatment, Yoga
Massage slimming
Web address: www.
siddhayur.com
(92504980/
24475280.
·····
Situation Wanted
INDIAN male, post
graduate, 42 years old
with Omani Driving
Licence, having 5
years experience in
marketing (various
fields) looking for an
immediate placement.
Release available. Call
(91141092.
·····
·····
INDIAN male, 23
years, BBM graduate
with computer
knowledge, having 2
years experience in
accountancy looking for
accounts, admin, stores
or sales. Currently on
visit visa (95356512.
NOC/network
engineer, Indian male,
27 years, having 5
years experience in
the field of network
engineering, seeks
better placement.
Currently on visit
visa, (97663834/
94737033.
·····
·····
·····
·····
YOUNG, motivated
individual having
masters in Computer
Science and diplomas
in Basic computer
hardware and
AutoCad seeks
suitable placement
in Computer Science
ield Contact (968
95590146
BE computer science,
Indian male, looking for
suitable job in the field
of software or in
information technology
having good knowledge
in Java, ASP Net, MSSLL,
MS Word. Contact
(91986191.
dileep2468.a@gmail.
com
INDIAN, female, IT
graduate, BE(Hons) in
Data Communication
and System
Administration with
two years experience in
teaching, seeks suitable
placement in education/
training industry.
(96447091, e-mail:
fatimahaq24@outlook.
com
·····
·····
·····
23
omandailyobserver
INDIAN male, 12 years
experience in printing
and advt production
and Marketing, seeks
suitable placement.
(92972898.
·····
FREE INFORMATION
ABOUT ISLAM
REQUIRED General
Practitioner,
Paediatrician.
Preferably with
MoH licence. E-mail
address: alexcenter@
live.com (24540056.
If you would like to
know more about
Islam, please call:
Tel : 99425598,
96050000, 99353988,
·····
A SIGNAGE company
looking urgently
for Mechanical
Engineer with 3
years experience in
internal and external
signboards, candidate
with knowledge of:
 Estimation/BOQ,
 Autocad 2D/3D,
 Sales experience
will be preferred.
Please send CV to:
rdawwad2@gmail.
com
·····
REQUIRED Executive
Female Secretary
with Sales and
Marketing skills.
Interested may send
their CV’s at
[email protected]
·····
WANTED Filipino
nationality 1. Juice
worker, 2 Car
polishing worker.
(99363984.
·····
GRAPHIC Designer
required in Bausher
with 2 to 4 years
experience, excellent
knowledge in
Coreldraw, Illustrator
and Photoshop. Please
send your resume with
professional portfolio
to: nsralaraimi@gmail.
com
·····
URGENTLY required
Expatriate Heavy
Duty Drivers, JCB
Operators with valid
Omani licence. Send
your CV to gdsoman@
gdsoman.com.
Contact: (99890076,
93894018, Fax:
24590866.
·····
INDIAN male, 24 years
old, on visit visa, 3
years diploma in civil
engineering, 8 years
experience. Contact
(98515106.
SUBCONTRACTORS
required: SME
contractors interested
in telecom side — civil
and underground
telephone cable
laying work — may
contact Mr S Ravi
(99424605 or Mr
Sayed .(99358733
of National Telephone
Services Co LLC
·····
·····
·····
·····
99253818, 99341395,
99379133, For ladies:
99415818, 99321360,
99730723
Or visit:
www.islamfact.com
SAHARY Qurum
Constructions
Commercial Building
and Civil Projects.
(97333357.
·····
WE offer you the
Business Services:
Maintenance of
buildings and villas for
paint and carpentry
and decoration works
and installation of
material water proof
and cleaning services
building management
and leasing of real
estate (Out motto is
to provide quality
in all our business).
Muscat Renaissance
Development
and Investment.
(99070093.
·····
MAINTENANCE: 1.
A C Maintenance
Servicing; 2. Fridge,
Washing Machine
Dish washer
repairing; 3. Painting
cleaning services
Electrical Plumbing
Carpentry work.
Contact: (99447257,
97014234, 24504281.
·····
Situation Wanted
INDIAN male, 22
years, mechanical
engineer, fresher,
looking for a
placement in any
mechanical ield
Contact (95020044.
·····
INDIAN male, B.Tech
E I
years
experience in sales,
procurement
business development,
6 years Oman
experience in oil gas
sectors, seeks suitable
placement, Omani
D/L, NOC available.
Contact (97233074.
·····
TUESDAY l OCTOBER 13 2015 l DHUL HIJJAH 29, 1436 AH
[email protected]
Supply
of
Pesticides,
Gel (Cockroaches),
Public Health
chemicals,
Agriculture
chemicals,
Snake repellent, Rodent
baits
and
other insect
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P26
P27
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Inside
Sania Mirza won’t ‘kill herself’ over gold 
Germany, Albania join Euro 2016 party 
ISM canter to massive 123 run win over BSM 
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SHORT TAKES
I ixed games for
Cairns, says Vincent
LONDON: Former New Zealand cricketer
Lou Vincent told a London courtroom
on Monday that he had helped to ix
matches under “direct orders” from his
captain, Chris Cairns.
Speaking at Cairns’ perjury trial,
Vincent, 36, said that Cairns persuaded
him to take part in match-ixing while
they were playing for the Chandigarh
Lions in the Indian Cricket League in
2008. “I was under direct orders from
Chris Cairns to get involved in ixing,”
said Vincent, who claimed Cairns
promised him $50,000 per game to
under-perform.
Former New Zealand captain Cairns,
who is also accused of perverting the
course of justice, denies the charges
facing him.
The charges relate to a libel case
that Cairns, 45, brought against Lalit
Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier
League (IPL), in March 2012.
Cairns successfully sued Modi for
£1.4 million ($2.14 million) after being
accused of match-ixing on Twitter in
January 2010, but now faces allegations
that he lied during the case.
Vincent, now retired, said he had
rejected a request from Cairns to
support his civil case against Modi
because to do so “would have been a
complete lie”.
Vincent said that after arriving in
India he had turned down an approach
to get involved in match-ixing from an
Indian man who had ofered him cash
and the use of a prostitute.
But he claimed that when he told
Cairns, captain of the Chandigarh Lions,
about the approach, he was told: “You’re
working for me now.”
“Immediately I went to Chris Cairns
and told him what had happened,”
Vincent said. “The deal, the room, the
woman and being ofered the money
and how I went to report what had just
happened.”
“Chris was obviously interested, then
there was a pause for a short period of
time. And then he turned to me, looked
at me and said ‘You did the right thing’
and ‘That’s good cover. Right, you’re
working for me now.’”
Vincent told the jury at Southwark
Crown Court that he deliberately underperformed in four games in 2008. He
said that he had been sufering from
mental health problems and depression
at the time and “felt good to be part of a
gang”. According to Vincent, that “gang”
also included former New Zealand allrounder Daryl Tufey and former India
batsman Dinesh Mongia.
— AFP
Murray up to
second in world
rankings
BERLIN: Britain’s Andy Murray moved
up to second place in the latest tennis
world rankings, released on Monday
by the ATP, while South Africa’s Kevin
Anderson entered the top 10. Murray
remained unchanged on 8,640 points
but Roger Federer dropped to 8,420
and fell to third place as a result.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic continues
to lead the standings with a healthy
lead on 15,785. Anderson moved
up two spots to 10th, his highest
ever career ranking, as Gilles Simon
slipped four places to 14th. — dpa
ATP top 10 as of October 12 (previous
ranking in parenthesis): 1.(1) Novak Djokovic,
Serbia, 15,785 points 2.(3) Andy Murray, Britain,
8,640 3.(2) Roger Federer, Switzerland, 8,420
4.(4) Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland, 6,495
5.(5) Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 4,910 6.(6)
Kei Nishikori, Japan, 4,710 7.(8) Rafael Nadal,
Spain, 4,060 8.(7) David Ferrer, Spain, 3,945
9.(9) Milos Raonic, Canada, 2,770 10.(12) Kevin
Anderson, SA, 2,475
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Oman hope to continue fine form
READY FOR FIGHT: India will give a real fight against
favourites Oman, says coach Constantine
Ali al Habsi
Sunil Chhetri
Paul Le Guen
ANUROOP A
MUSCAT
Oct. 12: On a high ater a sizzling performance
against heavyweights Iran, Oman are looking to
continue their ine form against India, who are
looking for their irst points in Group D of the
World Cup/Asian Cup Qualiiers.
“We are not over conident. We will carry on
with the good efort against Iran,” Oman coach
Paul Le Guen said.
he Frenchman said his team will not under
estimate a much lower-ranked Indian team.
“India is a good side. We are aware that they
will ight hard for a good result. My advice
to the players is to keep their composure and
play to win,” he said at the pre-match press
conference on Monday.
“As a team, we need to improve game by
game and there is no diference in this attitude
against India also,” the Oman coach said.
Oman will have the services of AbdulAziz
al Maqbali for the match, who returned ater
World Military Games in South Korea.
Le Guen said the team will be more or the
less the same which played against Iran, but
didn’t rule out ielding AbdulAziz.
“He is a prominent player in the side and will
be there on the bench for the India match.”
he coach also praised Imad al Hosni for his
hard-working attitude during the last matches.
Le Guen said he will continue with the 3-5-2
formation in the match.
“We have raised our level of football against
Iran and the players are capable to maintain
that standard,” the Oman coach said.
India coach Stephen Constantine said his
players will give a real ight to Oman.
“We are ready to give a tough ight for Oman.
Our players are capable of that,” the English
coach said. “Oman is a quality side and this is
proved with their performance against Iran,” he
said about the hosts.
“Oman is really an under-rated side and the
result against Iran was not surprising for me,”
he added. On Indian side’s inability to taste any
success in their last four matches, Constantine
said the current Indian side is a bunch of
emerging players and they need little more time
to create note-worthy results.
“We have 16 new players, who have less
match experience. hey have the quality to
improve the team’s standard, but it will need
some more time,” he said.
On the impact of the new Indian Super
League (ISL) on the national side and the
country, Constantine said it has both good and
bad factors.
he India coach said football in India was
stagnated in last three to four years.
“It is seeing some improvement now and
I can promise you that it will be better in the
coming years,” Constantine, who is on a second
tenure as India coach, said.
he coach was also optimistic of making
it to the play-ofs to qualify for the Asian Cup
2019 UAE by getting some good results in the
upcoming four matches.
“I believe the team is capable of making it to
the play-ofs for the Asian Cup. We will put all
our hard work towards this goal.”
Indian captain Sunil Chhetri, the lone player
to make an impact for the team, said the boys
will give their best for a positive result.
“We are not weak. We promise a tough ight
against hosts Oman.”
“We have a positive approach and will play
our level best as we had performed well against
Oman in Bangalore,” the forward said.
Stephen Constantine
TEAMS
OMAN: Ali al Habsi, Fayeez
al Rushaidi, Mazin al Kasbi;
Saad Suhail, Ali Salim al Nahar,
Mohammed
Sheiba,
Jaber
al Owaisi, Abdulsalam Amor,
Mohammed al Musallami, Ali al
Busaidi, Mohannad al Hassani,
Azan al Balushi, Ahmed Mubarak
‘Kanu’, Ali al Jabri, Eid al Farsi,
Mohsin al Zawahri, Raed Ibrahim
al Haikal, Mohammed al Mashari,
Qasim Said, Yaseen al Shaeedi,
AbdulAziz al Maqbali, Imad al
Hosni, Said al Ruzaiqi, Mohammed
al Siyabi, Sami Khamis and Saud al
Farsi
INDIA:
Goalkeepers:
Subrata
Pal,
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Karanjit
Singh; Defenders: Dhanachandra
Singh, Aiborlang Khongjee, Arnab
Mondal, Sandesh Jhingan, Rino
Anto, Pritam Kotal, Narayan Das,
Lalchhuan Mawia; Midfielders:
Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Cavin Lobo,
Jackichand Singh, Pronay Halder,
Francis Fernandes, Rowllin Borges,
Sehnaj Singh, Bikash Jairu,
Forwards: Robin Singh, Sunil
Chhetri (captain), Jeje Lalpekhlua
POINTS TABLE
TEAMS
Iran
Oman
Guam
Turkmenistan
India
P
4
4
4
4
4
W
2
2
2
1
0
D
2
2
1
1
0
L
0
0
1
2
4
GF
11
6
3
4
3
GA
2
3
7
6
9
GD
9
3
-4
-2
-6
PTS
8
8
7
4
0
Habsi hopes to keep
tempo against India
SPORTS REPORTER
MUSCAT
Oct. 12: Oman captain and star
goalkeeper Ali al Habsi is hoping
to maintain the conident style of
play, that his side put out against
Asian giants Iran, in the India’s
match at the Sultan Qaboos
Sports Complex in Bausher on
Tuesday.
he match will kickof at 6.30
pm. Ali al Habsi thanked the
fans and the country for the big
backing during the World Cup
qualiier against Iran. Oman held
Iran 1-1 in the match while even
threatening to take full points
ater taking the lead.
“he support we got against
Iran was fantastic. We hope the
same against the India match
too,” the goalkeeper said.
“Oman had the chances to
win against Iran. We played
a great match,” the Omani,
who plays with English
Championship club Reading,
said. Al Habsi said that the next
four matches are very important
for Oman. “We will try to win the
match against India and garner
full three points. his is our main
objective,” the player said when
asked about any strategy for big
margin of goals against India.
he Oman captain said
scoring early will be key for
Oman.
“Oman had some great
starts during the qualiiers with
goals in the early minutes of the
matches. We hope to repeat the
same against India.”
In Bangalore, Oman’s away
match in southern Indian city,
the Red Warriors had netted a
goal in the 51st second ater the
kickof.
“Such starts are important
and we have players capable
of making it happen again,” a
conident Oman captain said.
At the same time, Oman are
also aware of Indian prowess in
the attack.
“We will strengthen our
defence as Indian team is very
good at penetrating into our
penalty area. We have seen that
during our match in Bangalore,”
the captain said asserting
that Oman team will be well
balanced to take full points from
the qualiier.
26
omandailyobserver
SPORT
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
RUGBY WORLD CUP: The Irish have never previously reached the semifinals but have given themselves every chance this time
Ireland top the group but at a heavy cost
France’s full-back Scott Spedding (left) is tackled during a Pool D match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between France and Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
— AFP
Mirza ‘won’t kill herself’ over gold
BEIJING: India’s doubles world
number one Sania Mirza has promised
to take a measured approach to next
year’s Olympics, promising “I’m not
going to kill myself!” if she fails to bring
home a gold medal.
Excitement over the Rio de Janeiro
Games is already ramping up with
high speculation over who will team
up with Mirza as she seeks to win a rare
Olympic gold for India. Mirza and her
new partner Martina Hingis have cut
a swathe through the doubles circuit
this year, winning Wimbledon and the
US Open among eight titles altogether
including the China Open on Saturday.
he 28-year-old said it would be
“amazing” to win Olympic gold, but
also stressed that it wasn’t the only target
in a sport which has four Grand Slam
tournaments every year.
“It would be amazing. As players
we do want that, but we also have four
Slams a year,” she said in interview at the
China Open in Beijing.
“So it’s not like a lot of other sports
where they get one opportunity
every four years — we kind of get
opportunities every four months. “So
it would be amazing, it would feel like
probably I’ve won everything then if I
win that Olympic medal. But if I don’t,
I’m not going to kill myself. I mean life
goes on.”
India’s Olympic successes have
been few and far between, with only
one non-team gold medal so far at
any of the Summer Games — going to
bespectacled shooter Abhinav Bindra at
Beijing 2008.
MAGIC FORMULA
Victory in Rio would push India’s
Mirza mania to fever pitch, but the
player herself did her best to dampen
growing expectations.
“People kind of expect that if you
don’t have that medal, you’re depressed.
It’s not like that,” she said.
“he last time, I remember we played
the Olympics and before people let
the Olympic village we were already
competing in another tournament.
“hat’s how a tennis player’s life
This photo taken on October 9, 2015 shows Sania Mirza (left) of India speaking to
partner Martina Hingis of Switzerland during their women’s doubles semifinal
against Liang Chen and Wang Yafan of China at the China Open in Beijing. India’s
doubles world number one Sania Mirza has promised to take a measured
approach to next year’s Olympics, promising “I’m not going to kill myself!” if she
fails to bring home a gold medal.
— AFP
really is. It would be amazing to win a
medal and I’ll do whatever I can, but if it
doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.”
Mirza said it was too early to decide
whether Leander Paes — who won
singles bronze at the 1996 Atlanta
Games — or Rohan Bopanna would get
the nod for mixed doubles, India’s best
chance of success.
“Rohan’s been playing really well
obviously and Leander’s won some
mixed (doubles) this year,” she said.
“In a tennis player’s life, eight months
is a long time so we’ll just take a call
closer to the event. All I can say is that
hopefully the best team will be put
forward.”
It is perhaps a shame that Hingis, a
ive-time Grand Slam singles winner,
isn’t Indian ater the two found a magic
formula which has now won them 18
matches in a row.
— AFP
No Euro git for
Norway, says
Italy’s Conte
MILAN: Italy are chasing a seventh
win in 10 Euro 2016 qualiiers when
they host Norway in Rome on Tuesday
hoping to seal top spot in their group,
their coach Antonio Conte has
warned.
Italy, the beaten inalists at Euro
2012, qualiied for next summer’s
showpiece in France thanks to a onesided 3-1 win in Azerbaijan complete
with goals from Eder, Stephan El
Shaarawy and Matteo Darmian on
Saturday.
he win let Italy top of Group H
with a two-point cushion on Norway,
who they face in their inal qualiier
in Rome. But any thoughts Italy might
take it easy at the Stadio Olimpico
were quickly dispelled by Conte ater a
win that provided further evidence the
Azzurri, ater irst round exits at the
last two World Cups, may have turned
the corner. “We will give Norway our
utmost respect: in Rome it will be a
great game,” said Conte.
Despite a few jitters, Italy
dominated Robert Prosinecki’s men
and should have added more to their
goals tally in Baku.
But producing a repeat on Tuesday
could prove more diicult, especially
with Norway yet to seal qualiication
for next summer’s inals in France.
Per-Mathias
Hogmo’s
men
maintained second spot thanks to a
patchy 2-0 win over Malta, but Croatia’s
3-0 rout of Bulgaria means they sit
only two points behind in third place.
To secure the second of two automatic
qualifying spots Norway need to beat
Italy for the irst time since 2000, when
current Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi
Bufon and Conte, playing midield,
were on the end of a 1-0 defeat in Oslo.
Complicating matters for the
visitors is the fact Croatia will be
heavily tipped to claim an away win
at Malta, who sit bottom of the group
with just two points from nine games.
— AFP
LONDON: Ireland beat France 24-9
in a brutal Cardif encounter to earn a
quarter-inal meeting with Argentina,
leaving the well-beaten French the
daunting prospect of facing New
Zealand as the Rugby World Cup’s pool
phase came to a close on Sunday.
In the most eagerly-awaited match
outside of Pool A, Ireland overcame
their Six Nations rivals for the irst
time in four World Cup meetings. But
the win came at a heavy cost, with the
lyhalf Johnny Sexton and captain Paul
O’Connell in danger of missing the rest
of the tournament.
Ireland have never previously
reached the semi-inals but have given
themselves every chance this time,
while France will have to repeat their
stunning 2007 quarter-inal win over
the All Blacks in a game that is also a
re-run of the 2011 inal.
It will not be plain-sailing for the
Irish, however. Argentina warmed up
nicely with a nine-try, 64-19 thrashing
of Namibia and look a considerably
more dangerous attacking side than the
toothless French.
Earlier on Sunday Italy ended their
under-whelming involvement with
a 32-22 win over a spirited Romania
to secure third spot in Pool D and
automatic qualiication for 2019.
he hosts of that tournament,
Japan, signed of from their best-ever
World Cup with a 28-18 victory over
the United States, becoming the irst
team to win three pool games and not
progress — having only ever won one
match in all their previous World Cups.
CARDIFF CRACKER
he game of the day, however, was
in Cardif. France and Ireland had both
cruised through their irst three pool
games with an eye on Sunday’s inale
and the Millennium Stadium produced
an atmosphere worthy of the occasion.
Ireland fans were in the majority
but their faith was severely tested by
early injuries to Sexton and O’Connell,
with the latter likely to be forced into
retirement from international rugby
three weeks earlier than planned ater
109 Ireland appearances and seven for
the British and Irish Lions.
he squad’s strength in depth was
illustrated, however, by the way they
took the problems in their stride to lead
9-6 at the break.
hey then strangled the life out of a
disappointing France in the second half
and underlined their dominance with
tries from Rob Kearney and Conor
Murray.
“I’m incredibly proud of the
performance,” Ireland coach Joe
Schmidt said. “It was a battle that was
attritional but a battle that showed a fair
bit of character in the side.”
Argentina’s inal outing in the pool
phase was a considerably less taxing
afair and nine diferent Pumas players
scored a try.
Juan Martin Hernandez, playing at
lyhalf, Matias Moroni, Horacio Agulla,
Facundo Isa and Lucas Noguera helped
them to a 36-7 haltime lead, with
Matias Alemanno, Leonardo Senatore,
Julian Montoya and Tomas Cubelli
joining in ater the break as the Pumas
turned on the style against the tiring
Africans.
Namibia, as they have all
tournament, showed real grit and were
rewarded with tries for Johan Tromp,
JC Greyling and Eugene Jantjies.
UPLIFTING MOMENT
he largely amateur team also
provided one of the upliting moments
of the tournament when giant prop
Johnny Redelinghuys was given
the chance to convert Jantjies’ lastminute try to mark his 50th and inal
international.
Ater lumbering up, his kick dropped
short and wide but produced smiles
and handshakes all round and earned
the loudest cheer of the day from the
Leicester crowd.
It is easy to forget how dire Japan’s
record was before this year, with their
only win in seven previous tournaments
coming against Zimbabwe in 1991 and
an unwanted World Cup record to their
name when New Zealand hammered
them 145-17 in 1995.
— Reuters
France feel ‘backs to
the wall’ ater defeat
CARDIFF, United Kingdom: French
captain hierry Dusautoir said his side
must quickly “recharge” for their World
Cup quarter-inal against New Zealand
which will be held at a venue holding
bad memories for the defending
champions.
Ireland’s 24-9 win over France in a
bruising encounter at the Millennium
Stadium on Sunday consigned Les
Bleus to face the All Blacks in their irst
sudden-death match next weekend.
France appeared shocked by the
defeat in the inal Pool D game and its
consequences.
“We will talk about the things that
didn’t work, especially the rucks which
were catastrophic, and concentrate
on the (next) match,” said scrum half
Sebastien Tillous-Borde
“We are up now against the beast,
the best country in the world,” added
lock Yoann Maestri.
“We have our backs to the wall
and we will have to see how we pick
ourselves up. For my generation this
will be the biggest match of our lives.”
New Zealand famously beat France
8-7 in the last World Cup inal in
Auckland.
But France have form beating New
Zealand too. And next week will be a
repeat scenario of the 2007 quarter-inal
also played at the Millennium Stadium,
where France equally famously knocked
out the All Blacks.
DEMONS REMAINING
New Zealand see the game as a
chance to exorcise the demons from
that 20-18 loss and they have used the
defeat to map out their blueprint for
this World Cup.
But for Dusautoir, who played in that
momentous clash along with All Blacks
Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, France
must only it is time to look forward
ater the Ireland disappointment.
“Each match is diferent, and this
team has its own history. here’s no
need to refer back to something from
eight years ago,” he said.
“he essential thing now is to
overcome the disappointment and rest
up because we have the match in six
days. We need to recharge mentally and
physically.
— AFP
Ireland’s lock and captain Paul O’Connell (left) tackles France’s fly half Frederic
Michalak during a Pool D match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
— AFP
SPORT
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
omandailyobserver
EURO 2016: The Netherlands are on the brink of missing the European Championships for the first time since 1984
Dark days for Dutch as hopes slump
AMSTERDAM: he Netherlands, who
were within a penalty shootout victory
of reaching the 2014 World Cup inal,
now stand on the brink of missing the
European Championships for the irst
time since 1984.
Winners of their only major
tournament in 1988, when Marco van
Basten and Ruud Gullit inspired them
to continental victory over Russia in
Germany, their fall from grace has been
one of football’s greatest mysteries as
they now stare Euro 2016 elimination
squarely in the face.
Euro semi-inalists in 2000 and 2004,
quarter-inalists in 2008, they were only
beaten by an Andres Iniesta extra-time
goal in the 2010 World Cup inal by
Spain, before their run to the last four
in Brazil, last summer, where Argentina
deied them ater a 0-0 draw ater 120
minutes in Sao Paulo.
Guus Hiddink was the man entrusted
to guide them through qualifying for the
24-team tournament that will feature
in France for the irst time in a format
that seemed to appear a formality for
Europe’s regular contenders.
However two defeats in their three
opening matches against the Czech
Republic and Iceland made their task
diicult and their record of four wins,
four defeats and a draw leaves the Dutch
two points behind Turkey with one
game to play.
he Turks host Iceland and are in
control of their own destiny, to book a
playof spot, while the Netherlands must
beat the Czechs in Amsterdam to keep
their slender hopes alive.
“he whole qualifying tournament
has all been very diicult. We now no
longer have it in our own hands. I feel
terrible, really terrible,” star striker Robin
van Persie said ater the 3-0 September
defeat in Turkey.
AGEING TEAM
Danny Blind has since replaced
the departed Hiddink but the Czech
Republic are guaranteed their place in
France, alongside Iceland, while Turkey
hold a stranglehold on the playof bound
third spot. Only a Dutch win and a
Turkish defeat, at home to Iceland can
rescue a desperate situation.
he team still boasts several
household names such as van Persie,
Wesley Sneijder, injury-prone Arjen
Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar but the
biological clock has been ticking against
WC
Netherlands’s players celebrate their goal during the Euro 2016 qualifying match between Kazakhstan and Netherlands in Astana.
an ageing team that may be past its sellby-date.
he defence has also been called into
question with inexperienced players
such as Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan De
Vrij, Jeremy Bruno, all 23, and 19-yearold Jairo Riedwald, in a reargaurd
described by former Dutch great Johann
QUALIFIERS
Ethiopia, Kenya,
Tanzania advance
JOHANNESBURG: Ethiopia won,
Kenya drew and Tanzania lost on
Sunday in 2018 World Cup qualiiers as
they secured second-round places with
aggregate victories.
A irst-minute goal helped Ethiopia
to a 3-0 second-leg win over minnows
Sao Tome e Principe in Addis Ababa
and a 3-1 overall success ater sufering
a shock irst-leg loss.
Kenya were booed by increasingly
frustrated supporters in Nairobi as
woeful inishing by the hosts allowed
Mauritius to escape with a 0-0 draw
having crumbled 5-2 at home last
Wednesday.
Tanzania conceded a late irsthalf goal to lose 1-0 in Malawi, but
progressed thanks to a 2-0 victory in
Dar es Salaam four days ago.
Ethiopia face Congo-Brazzaville,
Kenya meet Cape Verde and Tanzania
play top-ranked African team Algeria
during November in a second homeand-away qualifying round.
Another 10 second-leg ixtures are
scheduled for Tuesday ater which there
will be 40 African contenders let for
ive places at the World Cup in Russia.
he top 27 ranked African teams
when the draw was made in Saint
Petersburg three months ago received
irst-round byes, including Algeria
and Cup of Nations title-holders Ivory
Coast,
Tanzania dominated the irst leg
against Malawi and could have won
by more than the two goals Mbwana
Samata and homas Ulimwengu
scored.
But the Taifa Stars were soon on
the defensive at the Kamuzu Stadium
in Malawi commercial capital Blantyre
with Ally Mustafa making several relex
saves, and the post coming to his aid.
he goalkeeper had no chance
to preventing the Flames taking the
lead ater 43 minutes, though, when a
delected John Banda shot looped into
the net.
Malawi dominated second-half
territory and possession and Banda
came close several times to snatching a
second goal that would have taken the
tie to a penalty shootout.
Kenyan supporters went to the
Kasarani Stadium expecting to see the
Harambee Stars score goals ater an
unexpectedly easy 5-2 away win over
the Mauritians.
However, a string of brilliant saves
from man-of-the-match Kevin JeanLouis, the woodwork, and some woeful
inishing resulted in a goalless second
leg.
Discontent among the crowd
reached a peak ater 73 minutes when
Kevin Amwayi blazed a half-chance
over the crossbar and calls for his
substitution were heeded soon ater.
Sao Tome created the biggest shock
of the irst legs by snatching a late 1-0
victory over Ethiopia, but surrendered
that advantage when Dawit Fekadu
scored within 60 seconds of the return
game.
— AFP
Cryuf as “astonishingly” lacking in
quality.
Under current Manchester United
manager Louis van Gaal, the team
leaned on a strong defensive foundation
and struck on the counter-attack with
devastating efect that almost carried
them to a irst-ever World Cup.
Hiddink went back to the more
traditional 4-3-3 but it was a disaster
that cost the well-travelled 68-year-old
his job.
At club level, the status of former
European champions Ajax and inalists
PSV Eindhoven has crumbled and a
Champions League quarter-inal place is
— AFP
rare at best.
Elimination on Tuesday will force
reconstruction but it now appears a
certainty that the Netherlands will fail
to qualify for a major tournament for
the irst time since the 2002 World Cup
and irst European Championships since
1984.
— AFP
27
Greeks look
to future ater
woeful Euro
campaign
ATHENS: Greece are looking to turn
the page on a disastrous performance
in their Euro 2016 qualifying group
with hopes that a new coach will steer
them towards a brighter future.
Greece’s 4-3 win at home against
Hungary on Sunday in their inal
match in Group F represented the lone
victory of a campaign which saw the
Greeks inish last, with just six points,
for the irst time in a group stage.
he victory was the irst for Greece
since June 2014 when they beat the
Ivory Coast at the World Cup in Brazil.
In February 2014, Greek oicials
were jumping with joy following the
qualifying draw for Euro 2016 which
saw them placed in a seemingly
straightforward group.
“We went into the group stage
with our noses up high. We thought
it would be very easy, but it wasn’t,”
midielder Panagiotis Kone, who
scored the winner in Sunday’s inale
against Hungary, said in an interview
with Novasports.
Instead Greece are searching for
answers ater a calamitous campaign
that saw three coaches select a total of
53 players but unable to make the team
click. A decade on from their surprise
Euro 2004 success, and ater reaching
the World Cup knockout stages for
the irst time in Brazil, Greece hit rock
bottom ater a pair of defeats to the
Faroe Islands.
“You cannot lose twice to Faroe
Islands. For me it is shameful,
without taking away credit from their
achievement,” said Greece captain
Vasilis Torosidis.
Greece’s interim coach Kostas
Tsanas is optimistic that the new
players he used in Sunday’s win will
help build a new, more successful
team.
“here is time until the 2018 World
Cup qualiiers and enough time to
evaluate all that happened, to ind the
causes that led to bad results and move
forward,” said Tsanas, who followed
the failed reigns of Claudio Ranieri
and Sergio Markarian.
“here are quality players who can
lit the load in this group in the future,”
he added. Midielder Panagiotis
Tachtsidis stressed it was time to leave
the bad performances behind and look
to the future.
— AFP
Germany, Albania join Euro 2016 party
LONDON: World champions Germany
and perennial also-rans Albania do not
share much in common in soccer but
both were united in joy on Sunday when
they qualiied for Euro 2016 in France
along with Romania and Poland.
he World Cup winners, who have
lited the Henri Delauney trophy three
times as European champions, let it late
but sealed their spot with a 2-1 win over
already-eliminated Georgia which gave
them top spot in Group D.
Albania, who have never previously
reached the World Cup or European
Championship since irst entering
both in the mid-1960s as a secretive
state shrouded in hard-line communist
aloofness, secured their place with a
3-0 win over Armenia in Yerevan.
housands of their supporters in
both Albania and Kosovo, where a
number of the Albania players were
born, took to the streets, letting of
ireworks and driving around towns
and cities hooting their car horns in
celebration.
Poland inished behind Germany
with a 2-1 win over Ireland in Warsaw
forcing the Irish into the playofs. he
winner was a stunning diving header
by striker Robert Lewandowski who
took his tally to a record-equalling 13
for a single Euro campaign.
Romania also secured their berth in
France when they won 3-0 in the wintry
Faroe Islands to secure second place
in Group F behind already-qualiied
Northern Ireland. Romania’s victory
lited them to 20 points, one behind the
Irish who inished on 21 ater a 1-1 draw
in Finland, leaving Hungary in third
spot with a place in the playofs.
EXTRAORDINARY GAME
Hungary lost an extraordinary game
4-3 to Greece, the irst time the 2004
Germany’s midfielder Toni Kroos (left) vies with Georgia’s midfielder Tornike Okriashvili during the Euro 2016 Group D match
against Georgia in Leipzig, eastern Germany.
— AFP
European champions had won in all 10
qualiiers, and the irst time they had
scored at home. Sixteen teams, including
hosts France, are now assured of a place
in the expanded 24-team inals.
Along with the four who qualiied
on Sunday, Iceland, Czech Republic,
Belgium, Wales, holders Spain, England,
Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Austria,
Italy and Portugal are also through.
Six teams are sill in contention for
automatic qualiication: Slovakia and
Ukraine from Group C, Russia and
Sweden from Group G, and Norway and
Croatia from Group H.
he marathon week of qualiiers
continues on Monday and Tuesday
with another 18 matches ater which 20
inalists will be known, including the
team that has qualiied with the best
record from the third-placed inishers in
he nine groups.
he other eight third-placed teams
enter the two-legged playofs to be held
in November, with the draw for those
matches scheduled for next Sunday.
— Reuters
28
SPORT
omandailyobserver
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
KEY SUPPORT: Oman Golf Committee’s golf development squad programme gets OmanLNG sponsorship
Oman LNG strengthens bond with OGC
MUSCAT: In a bid to support the
development of golf in Oman, the
corporate giant OmanLNG has come
forward to sponsor the OGC’s (Oman
Golf Committee) development squad
programme yet again.
he director of OmanLNG, Harib Al
Kitani, expressed extreme happiness in
continuing their relationship with the
OGC, saying: “We are more than happy to
take this responsibility. his development
squad is growing very steadily. We have
been sponsoring golf for a very long
time and our association with the OGC’s
development squad is quite long.”
Al Kitani mentioned, “We are sure that
the establishment of the Development
Squad is a major milestone for the rising
sport in Oman, because it is expected to
form the backbone of Oman’s golf supply
line. We want more junior boys and girls
to take up golf. hese kids of the Squad
are now playing in a number of national
and international tournaments these
days which shows we are going in the
right direction.”
OGC Vice-Chairman Ahmed Al
Jhdhamy said, “We express our thanks
and gratitude to Oman LNG. hey
have been very kind in taking up some
inancial responsibilities. It is required
for what we are doing.”
With a mission to professionalize golf
in Oman, the OGC has started a new
year-round project aimed at training
promising junior Omani boys and girls
and turning them into future champions.
he long-term training programme will
continue throughout the year.
here are 18 promising players aged
between 7 to 16 years. he players are
pooled into three groups based on
their skill level. he 3 levels are Novice,
Intermediate and Advanced.
he
Development
Squad
is
undergoing training every week in
Ghala Golf Club under the watchful eyes
of coach Milo Breitenwisher.
Al Kitani is hopeful that kids from
various walks of life will take up golf.
“Who would have thought that girls will
also be playing golf in the Sultanate, but
the OGC has made it possible. It is their
credit and more girls will come up by
watching Asma Al Rashdi and Huwaida
OmanLNG CEO Harib Al Kitani,
Ahmed Al Jhdhamy Vice
Chairman of OGC with the OGC
Development Squad in Ghala.
Al Barwani. I am especially excited
about the programme for girls. And they
are progressing fast,” he observed.
“hrough these initiatives we extend
our contributions to further serve
communities by supporting youth and
sports in Oman while simultaneously
supporting Oman’s aspirations in
tourism”, said Khalid Al Massan,
Chief Executive Oicer of Oman LNG
Development Foundation. “To be part
of this and seeing the enthusiasm of the
youth - we couldn’t be more fortunate”.
Mundhir al Barwani the Chairman
of the OGC, expressed his hope that
the national golf body’s association with
Oman LNG will only grow, saying: “We
are happy that he is here. Oman LNG
has been sponsoring our Development
Squad for a long time. I hope they will
do so in the coming years too. It only
increases our responsibility to work
better with the kids. With the constant
support of the Ministry of Sports Afairs
and OmanLNG we will be able to build a
strong pool of talented golfers.”
Mundhir al Barwani welcomed
OmanLNG’s interest in promoting
golf. “he OGC’s mission is to build
a foundation in golf in Oman that will
give all golfers the opportunity to play
the sport. he Ministry of Sports Afairs
has been our biggest supporter. With
that now we have OmanLNG taking
a keen interest in shaping Omani golf.
With their support we want to create
an environment that allows beginners
to learn and serious golfers to strive to
the top.”
Harib Al Kitani says: “We are deinite
the Development Squad is a major
milestone for the rising sport in Oman,
because it is expected to form the
backbone of Oman golf ’s supply line.”
Al Kitani also said: “We want more
junior boys and girls to take up golf.
hese kids of the squad are now playing
in a number of national and international
tournaments these days which shows we
are going in the right direction.”
Al Kitani visited the Ghala Golf Club
on Friday to spend some time with the
development squad kids. OGC ViceChairman Ahmed Al Jhdhamy was also
present. “We express our thanks and
gratitude to OmanLNG. hey have been
very kind in taking up some inancial
responsibilities. It is required for what
we are doing:” said Al Jhdhamy.
With a mission to professionalize
golf in Oman, the OGC has started
a new year-round project aimed at
training promising junior Omani boys
and girls and turning them into future
champions. he long-term training
programme, which began recently and
will continue throughout the year.
here are 18 promising players aged
between 7 to 16 years. he players
are pooled into three groups based
on their skill level. he 3 levels are
Novice, Intermediate and Advanced.
he Development Squad is undergoing
training every week in Ghala Golf Club
under the watchful eyes of coach Milo
ISM canter to massive 123-run win
ISWK cruised past ISAS by 96 runs in U-19 division; PSM beat GCC by 64 runs in U-16
MUSCAT: ISM thrashed BSM by
123 runs in the Khimji Ramdas
sponsored ‘U-19’ division match
at the Municipality 1 grounds on
October 10.
Batting irst, ISM were 175 all
out in 36.5 overs. Tejesh Bhupendra
top scored with 40. Mahbub Hassan,
Shahriar Fahim and Akram Ul Haq
all chipped in with 2 wickets each
for BSM. ISM completed their bonus
point victory by bowling out BSM
for a paltry 52 in 19.1 overs. Tejesh
once again stood out in the bowling
department, claiming 6 scalps for 18
in 7.1 overs.
Brief scores: ISM 175 all out in 36.5 overs
(Tejesh Bhupendra 40; Shahriar Fahim 2-35
(7)) bt BSM 52 all out in 19.1 overs (Tejesh
Bhupendra (ISM) 6-18 (7.1)); Points: ISM - 3
(BP) ; BSM – 0
ISWK thumped BOC by 8 wickets
in the Al Turki Enterprises sponsored
‘U-16’ A division match between
ISWK and BOC at the Municipality
4 grounds.
Batting irst, BOC posted a meager
Brief scores: PSM 247-7 in 25 overs 66 before being bowled out in 13 overs.
Fletcher
D’souza,
Malik Rasheed and
Jashanth all chipped
in with 3 wickets to
demolish the BOC
batting line up.
Brief scores: ISWK 253 all out in 35 overs
In response
(Ragul Virupak 33; Riyan Sutradhar 3-30
ISWK easily chased
(5)) bt ISAS 157 all out in 30.1 overs
down the score in 6.5
(Mohammed Feshal 44; Hardik Toprani
overs for the loss of
3-43 (6.1)); Points: ISWK - 3 (BP) (Total 5) ;
ISAS – 0
2 wickets, to obtain
PSM DEFEAT GCC
the bonus point too.
PSM were comfortable winners
Rohan Koshy top
over GCC by 64 runs in the Al Turki
scored for ISWK
Enterprises sponsored ‘U-16’ B
with 25 not out.
Brief scores: BOC 66 all
division match at the Municipality 4 (Mohammed Umair 51; Veera Anand 2-37
out in 13 overs (Malik Rasheed 3-10 (4),
grounds.
(5)) bt GCC 183 all out in 21.3 overs (Hasan Fletcher D’souza 3-4 (2), Fletcher D’souza
Put in to bat irst, PSM posted Javed 63; Mohammed Umair 3-25 (5)); 3-4 (2), Jasinth Balu 3-10 (3)) lost to ISWK
247-7 in 25 overs. Mohammed Umair Points: PSM - 2 ; GCC - 0
69-2 in 6.5 overs (Rohan Koshy 25 n.o.);
Points: ISWK – 3 (BP) ; BOC - 0
played a great cameo knock of 51.
ISWK BEAT BOC
all out in 35 overs with 30 runs coming
as a result of ISAS’s breach of the
code of conduct. All ISWK batsmen
chipped in evenly with Ragul Virupak
top scoring with 33. Riyan Sutradhar
was the pick of the ISAS bowlers with
3-30. ISWK completed their bonus
point victory by bowling out ISAS for
157 in 30.1 overs. Mohammed Feshal
top scored with 44.
Hardik Toprani was the pick of the
ISWK bowlers with igures of 3-43 in
6.1 overs.
PSM completed the win by bowling
out GCC for 183 in 21.3 overs. Hasan
Javed top scored for GCC with a
quick-ire 63. Mohammed Umair was
the best PSM bowler with igures of
3-25.
ISM BREEZE PAST SLSM
ISM beat SLSM by 78 runs in the
Al Turki Enterprises sponsored ‘U-16’
B division match at the Municipality
2 grounds.
Put in to bat irst, ISM posted
204-8 in 25 overs. Paritosh Hitesh
hammered 88 runs. Syed Ali took
three wickets for SLSM. ISM
completed their bonus point victory
by bowling out SLSM for 136 in 22.5
overs.
Wikum top scored for SLSM with MUSCAT: ISM thumped PSM by eight wickets in the Al
a steady 38. Vikram was the best ISM Turki Enterprises sponsored ‘Girls U-19’ division match at
bowler with igures of 4-19.
the Municipality grounds.
Brief scores: ISM 204-8 in 25 overs (Paritosh
Batting irst, PSM posted a decent 193-3 in 20 overs
Hitesh 88; Syed Ali 3-30 (5)) bt SLSM 136 all largely due to 82 extras from ISM bowlers. Hira Javed top
out in 22.5 overs (Wikum 38; Vikram 4-19
scored with 43. ISM completed the victory by hauling the
(5)); Points: ISM - 3 (BP) ; SLSM - 0
target in 18 overs for the loss of 2 wickets. Sujana Sundar
ISWK TRIUMPH
remained 69 not out. Amal Saleem was the best PSM
ISWK cruised past ISAS by 96 runs bowler with igures of 2-20.
in the Khimji Ramdas sponsored ‘UBrief scores: PSM 193-3 in 20 overs (Hira Javed 43) lost
19’ division match at the Municipality to ISM 194-2 in 18 overs (Sujana Sundar 69; Amal Saleem
3 grounds.
2-20 (4)); Points: ISM - 2 ; PSM – 0
Put into bat irst, ISWK scored 253
Breitenwisher. he coach is conident
that some of these players will progress
to the next level — the OGC’s Elite
Squad — and in a year’s time, they
will eventually break onto the Oman
national team.
Al Kitani is hopeful that kids from
various walks of life will take up golf.
“Who would have thought that girls will
also be playing golf in the Sultanate, but
the OGC has made it possible. It is their
credit and more girls will come up by
watching Asma al Rashdi and Huwaida
al Barwani. I am specially excited about
the girls’ programme. And they are fast
progressing:” he observed.
Al Barwani expressed his hope that
the national golf body’s association with
OmanLNG will only grow, saying: “We
are happy that he is here. OmanLNG
has been sponsoring our Development
Squad for a long time. Hope they will
do so in the coming years too. It only
increases our responsibility to work
better with the kids.”
Malik ready
for irst Test in
ive years for
Pakistan
ABU DHABI: Former Pakistan
captain Shoaib Malik said he was
well geared up to stage a comeback in
the irst Test against England in Abu
Dhabi starting on Tuesday -- his irst
match in the longer format for ive
years.
Malik played the last of his 32 Tests
in 2010, also against England, before
losing his place to youngsters Azhar
Ali and Asad Shaiq.
Malik was only added to the
Pakistan squad last week as the 16th
member following his excellent
performances in the one-day and
Twenty20 cricket, and then a door
opened for him with a foot injury to
Ali.
Malik said he would do his best to
succeed.
“I will try my best to maintain the
performances I have given in T20s
and one-day matches but Tests are
diferent and more challenging,” he
told reporters.
He accepted that batting at number
three would be demanding.
“Of course, it would be challenging
but that is the requirement of the team
and you need to give it your best shot.
Azhar has done well at number three
so I will try to maintain what he has
done,” said Malik.
Malik said he was tuned up to
playing the longer format despite
mostly playing in the shorter form of
the game.
“Of course, it is challenging to play
the longer forms but I have not missed
any irst class season and being a
professional I know how to cut down
that pressure,” said Malik.
Malik, who made his international
debut in 1999, was made skipper
ater Pakistan’s disastrous World Cup
campaign in 2007.
But in the next two years his career
nosedived and he lost his place in
lineup for Test matches.
Malik said that since he was
dropped the Test team had been doing
well and it had been tough to regain
his spot.
— AFP
LOCAL FLAVOUR
Bharati claims open women’s singles title
MUSCAT: Bharati Ramachandran
used her brilliant form to claim open
women’s singles title defeating Mayaja
Harish seeded No. 2 at the National
Bank of Oman (NBO) – sponsored
annual badminton tournament
organised by the Indian Social
Club Muscat. Bharati enjoyed court
superiority and played with her usual
cool to wrap up the game scoring
21-11 and 21-10 defeating Mayaja.
Both came in to inals defeating
Eva Mongue and Savita Kulkarni
respectively.
In the men’s A doubles semiinal,
Cyril Williams and Sudheer showed an
excellent team work in the victory over
Ronnie Pereira and Kennedy by 21-10
and 21-12. In open men’s doubles
quarterinals, Dipu and Geemon faced
stif resistance before wrapping the
game against favourite Percy Pereira
and PT Francis 17-21, 21-19 and 27-25.
In men’s A singles, Bishen Singh Bhalla
stormed in to inal defeating talented
Niyas N by 18-21, 21-12, 21-12.
In the mixed doubles semiinal,
Ashutosh Pant and Sailee Kerkar
showed brilliant team work to claim
victory over Leon D’souza and
Ashpruha 21-19, 21-16. In the second
semiinal, PT Francis and Bharati
Ramachandran attained victory over
second seeded Percy Pereira and
Nishita Karnik by 21-18, 18-21, and
22-20.
Oman Cricket conducts umpires course
ISM thrash PSM by eight wickets
ISG SINK ISD
ISG recorded a commanding 183-run win over ISD in
the Al Turki Enterprises sponsored ‘Girls U-19’ division
match.
Put in to bat, ISG posted 234-3 in 20 overs largely due to
a brilliant 101 not out by Aditi Bhatnagar. In response, ISD
could only manage 51 in 14 overs, enabling ISG to wrap up
the bonus point win. hara Fatima was the stand out ISG
bowler with 4-11 in 4 overs.
Brief scores: ISG 234-3 in 20 overs (Aditi Bhatnagar 101
n.o.) bt ISD 51 all out in 14 overs (hara Fatima 4-11 (4));
Points: ISG – 3 (BP) ; ISD - 0
MUSCAT: Oman Cricket organised a refresher course for umpires on October
6 and 7 at the Al Falaj hotel from 7pm to 10pm. The course was conducted by
Umpires Educator for Oman and Head of Umpire’s committee, AR Srinivasan and
was attended by 30 active umpires who will all be oiciating in the season that
started from October 9.
The course was divided in to four sessions, two on each day. In the irst session
on the irst day, the umpires shared their experiences of the past season and
expressed their views on areas of development related to oiciating in matches.
The new domestic playing conditions across all forms of the game being
played in the local tournaments were introduced and explained by Srinivasan in
the second session of the irst day. The irst session of the second day involved all
the participants, formed into four groups, asking scenario based questions to the
group next to them.
An examination, based on scenarios that pertain to domestic playing
conditions, was held in the inal session on the second day.
ENTERTAINMENT
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
A whacky comedy on death by
KALKI KOECHLIN
IT’S A COMMENT ON OUR MODERN
LIVES, AND HOW CHEAP AND
AGGRESSIVE LIFE HAS BECOME,
OVERPOPULATION, WAR, DISEASE
HAS ALL CONTRIBUTED TO LIVING
BECOMING MORE ABOUT SURVIVAL
THAN EXPERIENCING LIFE,” SAID
KALKI WHO HAS RECEIVED CRITICAL
ACCLAIM FOR HER ROLES IN
MOVIES LIKE DEV D; MARGARITA,
WITH A STRAW AMONG OTHERS
n PREETHA NAIR
A
s Kalki Koechlin made her
directorial debut with the play “he
Living Room”, the actor, who doesn’t
shy away from experimentation, is
reinventing herself in another role.
he play, which deals with the
perennial debate of life versus death, was staged at
the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi as part of the
ongoing Old World heatre festival.
hough the actor was a bit nervous about the
feedback of the cognoscenti, she was equally excited
about bringing her production to the capital.“I was
very excited to come to Delhi as I have lot of theatre
friends here, whose opinions matter to me.
I was a little nervous about their reaction,” Kalki
said.
Death is real in “he Living Room” as played by
Neil Bhoopalam.
He waits in the living room of Ana Nil (Sheeba
Chadha), to wake her up from sleep.
Dressed in a black coat and his body painted in
blue (wearing a red shoe), death sometimes act like a
fool exhibiting all human fallacies.
He loves to savour ginger cookies, tea and engages
in a conversation with Ana who doesn’t want to die.
Kalki says that the idea came about in a sleepless
night and Woody Allen’s sense of humour was a
driving force.“I couldn’t sleep one night and wrote
a two-page scene between death and an old woman
where she argues with him about life and death.
Woody Allen’s sense of humour has always
attracted me and I love the way he can make life so
meaningful and yet show us what a farce it can be
at the same time,” said the actor, who majored in
theatre from the University of London before her
Bollywood entry.
With death on her bedside, Ana travels back and
forth in time revisiting her childhood to the
present.
hough the play glimpses some
surreal moments with well-crated
montages juxtaposing life and death, it
consciously desists from tackling death
in a philosophical tone.“It is a farcical
comedy.
I always want to entertain people,
not lecture them, although this is far
from a commercial subject, the way
the story is told to make people
enjoy and experience, rather
than objectively sit outside it and
analyse,” Kalki said adding that
her play is a comment on the
society.
“I wanted to convey how
sometimes it takes death for us
to wake up and appreciate the
experience of life.
Death inadvertently helps
Ana live her life one last time.
Also it’s a comment on
our modern lives, and how
cheap and aggressive life has
become, overpopulation, war,
disease has all contributed to
living becoming more about
survival than experiencing
life,” said Kalki who has
received critical acclaim for
her roles in movies like Dev
D; Margarita, with a Straw
among others.
he plot of the play thickens
as Jo (Tariq Vasudeva), Ana’s
estranged lover, and Ana’s rich
godson, Born Kuber (Jim Sarbh),
rushes in for shelter from a wild
storm.
It takes an intriguing
turn
when Dr. Zeus is summoned to investigate
the stranger in the house.
Asked how she managed a highly
talented crew, Kalki replied: “I love
my cast, a bunch of talented and
stubborn actors! Each one of them
has a diferent belief on death, so that
added to the play, rather than having
one point of view, the play ofers
several.
It was diicult for me
to know when to let them
explore and when to rein
things in and edit things
out,” she said.
Feminism is a way
of being for her, airms
the actor as like the
character Ana, who
is strong, stubborn,
and an independent
woman.
Having acted in
plays like “Colour
Blind” and “Skeleton
Woman”,
Kalki’s
connection with stage is
older than movies.
he actor feels that
while she becomes an
introvert in movies going
deeper into the characters,
theatre keeps her alert.“I
love both mediums. heatre
is something that keeps me
very alert and I am actively
creating whether I am on
stage or directing.
In ilms, I feel I become
more of an introvert, going
deeper in the realism of a
character,” she said.
Kalki also vouched that
she will be back in stage
soon.”I’m dying to go back
on stage (pun intended).”
— IANS
29
TINSELTOWN
Need to spread
awareness about
mental health: Deepika
A
ctress Deepika Padukone has raised the importance of spreading
awareness about mental health at the launch of her NGO in Mumbai.
Deepika’s NGO “Live Love Laugh”, which will deal with the issue
of mental health.
“We need to stigmatise mental illness and
spread awareness about mental health.
I know in the current scenario we
lead stressful lives but you have to
keep reminding yourself that it is
important to live, love and laugh.
Ater all that is what life is all about,”
Deepika said during the launch.
“Most importantly for people
like me who have had an experience
with anxiety and depression, I think
it is important to know that there is
hope,” she added.
Deepika also talked about her
depression and how her parents and loved
ones helped her.
Talking about the depression of her elder
daughter, Deepika’s mother Ujjala Padukone said: “I detected
t h e
symptoms in Deepika and I thought it may be due to some boyfriend issue.
But then I knew the depression is due to mental and physical stress and we
realised that we should take help from a psychiatrist”.
Lara Bingle loves
motherhood
M
odel Lara Bingle thinks
motherhood is the “best
thing in the world”.
he 28-year-old and husband Sam
Worthington welcomed son Rocket
into the world in March and she is
relishing the “challenge” of being a
parent every day, reports dailymail.
co.uk.
“It’s deinitely something new. It’s the
best thing in the world.
It’s very challenging, and I’m learning something
new
every day which is awesome,” Bingle said.
And she credits her family unit for helping her create a “beautiful little
sanctuary”.
“I’ve always been a happy girl but I guess I’m a mother and a wife and I
have a beautiful little sanctuary I would call it.”
Rita Ora’s
boyfriend says
‘no’ to lying
S
WHIRLWIND ROMANCE
Sean Penn
wants Charlize
Theron back?
omandailyobserver
Steven Tyler threatens to
sue Donald Trump
inger Rita Ora has lown
39,000 miles in the last
month, but her new
boyfriend Travis Barker hates
planes.
Ora, 24, has been travelling
all over the world as she
balances her music career with
her role as a judge on the British
version of “he X Factor”, yet her
39-year-old boyfriend has refused to
ly ever since he survived a jet crash in
2008 that killed four people, femaleirst.
co.uk.
“Right now, lying is a no. Planes kill people,”
Barker said.
Despite this, Ora earlier attended a friend’s wedding in Kosovo, New York
fashion week and later this month, she will be in Britain for the next stage of
“he X Factor”.
“When the live shows start, she will have to limit her travel to give her
category her full attention,” he Sun newspaper quoted a source as saying.
Gwyneth moves
forward with Brad
A
Actor Sean Penn reportedly wants to rekindle his
relationship with actress Charlize heron.
“Sean’s friends urged him to call her.
He’s called her a few times,” a source told InTouch
Weekly magazine, reports femaleirst.co.uk.
he former couple, who were rumoured to have
gotten engaged in Paris last November, ended their
love in June ater 18 months together, but the “I Am
Sam” actor cannot stop thinking about “Monster”
actress.
“He usually gets over romances quickly, but the
more time that passed, the more he thought about
Charlize.
His ego is taking a big hit,” said the insider.
S
teven Tyler is threatening to sue Donald
Trump over the use of Aerosmith’s song
“Dream on”. On Saturday, the Aerosmith
frontman sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter to the
Republican presidential candidate, demanding
that he stop using the band’s song at campaign
events, reports hollywoodreporter.com.
he letter was actually the second time Trump
has been warned about using the song.
he former “he Apprentice” host was irst
told to not use the song ater an event in Mobile,
Alabama on August 21.
“’Trump for President’ does not have
our client’s permission to use ‘Dream
on’ or any of our client’s other music in
connection with the Campaign because it gives
the false impression that he is connected with or
endorses Mr. Trump’s presidential bid,” the letter
read.
“We are unaware of any public performance
licence granting ‘Trump for President’ the right
to perform ‘Dream On’ in connection with the
Campaign.
If ‘Trump for President’ has any such licence,
please forward it to our attention immediately.”
Trump was given 24 hours to acknowledge
receipt of the letter.
“If ‘Trump for President’ does not comply with
our demands, our client will be forced to pursue
any and all legal or equitable remedies which our
client may have against you,” the legal warning
added.
ctress Gwyneth Paltrow has
reportedly given Brad Falchuk
keys to her house.
he 43-year-old, who has been
dating the “Glee” co-creator for more
than a year, is said to be practically living
with him at her mansion in Brentwood,
California, reports femaleirst.co.uk.
“hey spend every minute together
as it is, so it just seemed silly to not
make it oicial.
Still, this was a big step forward for
Brad and Gwyneth,” Star magazine
quoted a source as saying.
he couple earlier went public with
their romance at the “Scream Queens”
premiere here and Paltrow, who has
daughter Apple and son Moses with Instagram.
former husband Chris Martin, even
“She’s so happy to have found a man
shared a photograph of her “date” on like Brad,” the source added.
30
LIFESTYLE
omandailyobserver
Learn rabic
EVERY TUESDAY WITH
OMAN OBSERVER
ARABIC
TRANSLITERATION
Weyn tesh’ta’ghel?
Ash’ta’ghel mudeer tas’weeq i al’mu’jam’ma al’te’jari
wa ent?
Ash’ta’ghel muha’seb i al’bank.
Hal tu’heb shugh’lak?
Aywa. Ana Oheb al’ar’qam
Wa ent?
Ana ma oheb shugh’li
Leish?
Leána ahya’nan ash’ta’ghel ash’ra sa’at i al’youm
ENGLISH
.
.
.
.
10
.
Andrew: Where do you work?
Majid: I work in a commercial complex as a
marketing manager. And you?
Andrew: I work in a bank as an accountant.
Majid: Do you like your job?
Andrew: Yes, I do. I like numbers.
And you?
Majid: I don’t like my job.
Andrew: Why?
Majid: Because sometimes I work for 10 hours
in a day.
EXTRA VOCABULARY
Hokuma
Shareka
Al’qeta Al’khas
Poor infant sleep may
indicate attention
problems later
Government
Company
Private sector
CULTURAL LESSON: Omani men used to work as divers to collect pearls from the bottom of the sea as a profession. Pearl diving was also popular in
Bahrain. Omanis travelling to Bahrain to work as pearl divers oten went years without returning to Oman.
Expanding Opportunity through
Education and Training
www.amideast.org\oman
INSTANT MESSAGES
invade students’ formal notes
CALL IT A SPELLING ERROR OR
INSTANT MESSAGING ADDICTION;
TEXTING LINGO IS SLOWLY CREEPING
INTO TRADITIONAL SCRIPTS AMONG
THE NEW GENERATION STUDENTS
n SWATI BASU DAS
[email protected]
T
he fast and growing world of digital
communication and social media
has folded up language and words in
acronyms and abbreviated forms.
As technological communication,
WhatsApp in major, has moved into
the educational pipeline more and more students are
using the texting words as it becomes diicult to leave
behind the tech-lingo even in their classrooms.
he use of texting words are showing up more and
more in formal writing among middle and high school
students. “We have seen use of certain abbreviated
word forms most commonly used in texting
communication,” says a language professor in one of
the private colleges in Muscat.
Many middle and high school students accidentally
uses SMS lingos or the texting words in their formal
writing. “he language of mobile phones has invaded
answer scripts, turning “textese” into the examination
sheets,” Debasish Chakraborty, a professor of English
in the city said.
Worried about students’ tendency to break into
instant-messaging language, professors are adopting
ways to discourage the practice — from deducting
marks to stressing the importance of formal writing.
“Sometimes we ind certain words written in SMS
languages in the answer sheets which breaks the
traditional format of the script,” the professor added.
he problem is not limited to colleges only. In fact
some senior schools are also facing the same problems.
Eforts to enhance the ability of students to express
their ideas in clear and grammatically correct English
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
is one of the prime focus in the language centres in
Muscat. “As abbreviated words are used highly in
technical communication be it FB, Twitter or even
Whatsapp, it has made a very sharp entry even in the
formal writing skills. hough not very high yet there
are texting words in a formal writing sessions which
focuses on the SMS lingo exposure,” says a teacher at
the Language Centre.
“It is going to be a hard task if we do not clamp
down on the use of SMS language as a large number
of them even carry mobile phones to private tuition
also. hough we don’t allow children in the schools,
there is very little we can do if they carry in private
tuitions,” Joyshree Mukherjee, a teacher of Indian
School Muscat said.
For a generation that communicates more through
text messages, tweets, posts and status updates,
shortening words and interspersing letters with digits
and signs has become second nature.
“Most forms of written communication are now
electronic, be it text messages or on social networking
sites — both informal modes of communication. So it
is only natural that students tend to slip into that mode
even while writing their exams or class notes,” said
Prof. Debasish.
Not only do students shorten conventional words
— “govt” for government or “prog” for programme
— they also use digits, signs and letters instead of
complete words. So, ‘you’ becomes ‘U’, ‘are’ is ‘r’ and
‘at’ turns ‘@’. ‘Gr8’ (great), ‘thnx’ (thank you), ‘nite’
(night), ‘cud’ (could) and ‘remembr’ (remember) are
some of the other textese that teachers come across.
“I ind these errors mostly in essays and lengthy
comprehensions or when students have to write in irst
person,” teachers say.
Teachers feel the habit could spell trouble for
students and afect their knowledge of spellings and
the language in the long run.
“It is treated as a spelling error. We pre-empt certain
situations and keep telling students the diference
between spoken and written language,” said teachers
of Language Centre. Students admit “the Whats App
and the SMS efect” is hard to resist.
“We converse in text messages because it’s cheaper
and convenient and we have to shorten our text
because of space constraints, and so that we can type
quickly. Even when I am taking notes in class, I use
SMS language,” said a Class X student.
O
ne-year-olds who experience frequent night wakings are more
likely to have diiculties concentrating and to exhibit behavioural
problems at three and four years of age, says a new study.
“Many parents feel that, ater a night without enough sleep, their
infants are not at their ‘best.’ But the real concern is whether infant sleep
problems — fragmented sleep, frequent night wakings — indicate any
future developmental problems,” said lead researcher Avi Sadeh from Tel
Aviv University (TAU) in Israel.
“he fact that poor infant sleep predicts later attention and behavior
irregularities has never been demonstrated before using objective
measures,” Sadeh noted.
he team assessed the sleep patterns of 87 one-year-olds and their
parents.
he researchers used wristwatch-like devices to objectively determine
sleep patterns at the age of one, and in the follow-up visits when the infants
were three to four years old, they used a computerised attention test to
assess attention problems.
hey also referred to parental reports to determine signs of behavioural
problems.
he results showed that infant sleep are linked to toddler attention
regulation and behaviour problems.
“here may be genetic or environmental causes adversely afecting both
the children’s sleep and their development in other domains,” Sadeh said.
“Our indings, however, support the importance of early diagnosis and
treatment of sleep problems in infants and young children,” Sadeh noted.
he indings suggest that early interventions for infant sleep problems
could potentially improve later attention and behaviour regulation.
he study was published in the journal Developmental Neuropsychology.
Kalabhavan to conduct
Vidhyarambam
K
alabhavan School of Music and Arts will be conducting the
Vidhyarambam ceremony in a traditional manner on Friday, 23 October
2015 from 7.30 am to 11 am.
Vijayadasami is a major festival celebrated in India under diferent names
and with regional variations, as the victory of good over evil. It is also known
as Dusserah. Dusserah, the tenth day of Navratri, is celebrated to commemorate
the victory of Rama over Ravana. he irst nine days of the Dusserah Festival is
called Navaratri and the 10th day is known as Vijayadasami. Indians have been
celebrating the Navaratri festival with great zest and fervour from ancient times
as a mode of worship. hey worship the Hindu goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and
Saraswati during those nine days.
On Vijayadasami day, people make an auspicious beginning of art and
learning. People who also want to pursue the learning of any art forms commence
their studies on Vijayadasami. According to Hindu beliefs, Vijayadasami forms
an auspicious day to start any process of learning as it is dedicated to Goddess
Saraswati, the source of all knowledge.
he institution provides training in Vocal Carnatic Music, Indian Classical
Dance, Cinematic Dance, Tabala, Mridangam, Congo, Drums, Electronic
Keyboard, Guitar, Drawing, Karate and Yoga. hose interested to register
for Vidhyarambam can contact 92658113 (Al Ghoubra) / 93599315 (Ruwi) /
98756206 (Al Hail).
MUSIC NITE
Stringstruck-2 to delight jazz lovers in Muscat this weekend
M
usic lovers in the city will
be treated to the sensational
sounds of fusion jazz
performed by some of India’s bestknown musicians. hey come together
this weekend to perform under the
banner of ‘Stringstruck-2’, which takes
place at Muscat Holiday Hotel, Al
Khuwair on October 17.
he concert has been presented by
Minara as part of the ‘October Festival’
of musical entertainment, put together
by Light & Shadow Enterprises LLC.
he month-long festival is being
held as part of celebration marking the
45th anniversary of Oman’s National
Day. Further details about this ‘Entry by
Invitation Only’ event may be obtained
by contacting: 96182080.
Stringstruck-2 takes of from where
Purbayan Chatterjee
Sangeet Haldipur
Anubrata Chatterjee
Sheldon Dsilva
the inaugural edition, Stringstruck-1’,
which was held in Muscat a couple
of years ago, let its indelible mark on
the city as a fusion jazz concert par
excellence. he concert features ive
hugely gited musicians who, although
Indian nationals, are better known
overseas for their prodigious talent than
in their native India. Playing the sitar
is Purbayan Chatterjee, whose music
combines the tone and richness of the
Nikhil Banerjee style and a contemporary
touch of his own urbane sensitivity. He
is recipient of the President of India
award for being the Best Instrumentalist
of the country at the age of 15. Purbayan
is credited with conceptualising the
ground-breaking project Shastriya
Syndicate — the irst Indian Classical
band with a contemporary touch, which
has performed the world over. He is
also acclaimed for his design of the ‘dwo’,
which is a doppelganger of the Indian
Sitar Dwo.
On the drums is Gino Banks, the
son of Louis Banks, India’s legendary
jazz pianist and composer. He toured
Australia and China with his father’s
indo-jazz fusion band ‘Sangam’, playing
percussion when he was just 9 years old.
On the tabla is Anubrata Chatterjee,
who made his debut as an accompanying
artist with the legendary Pt Hari Prasad
Chaurasia and since then, has gone on
to successfully accompany living legends
of Indian Classical Music such as Ustad
Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Rais Khan,
Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ustad Shahid
Parvez, T H Vikku Vinayakram, and
other respected musicians all over the
world. Anubrata has proved himself
both as a soloist and as an accompanist,
by his consummate tabla renditions.
Playing the keyboard at Stringstruck-2
is Sangeet Siddharth is a music composer
duo of brothers Siddharth Haldipur
and Sangeet Haldipur. he duo rose to
prominence with their top-of-the-line
composition ‘Aa Zara Kareeb Se’ from
the movie Murder 2, for which they won
the Big Star Young Entertainer Award
for Best Music Composer in 2012.
Rounding of the team of talented
performers is guitarist Sheldon DeSilva,
who has been part of some of India’s best
known music bands, including SILK,
SiTARFUNK, Louis Banks Matrixx, D
–Company, India’s premier rock band
Indus Creed, and his own well-known
band Nexus. At age 20 he performed
with international legends like George
Duke, Al Jarreau, Ravi Coltrane, Earl
Klugh, and later with greats like Mike
Stern and Trilok Gurtu.
SPOTLIGHT
T U E S DAY
OCTOBER 13 l 2015
omandailyobserver
31
Boy laughing before he
crashes while sledding at
Snow Town
DR RAJAN PHILIPS
[email protected]
Food for hought
A
Energy-guzzling
snow parks boom in
sizzling Thailand
MANY MALLS AND
ATTRACTIONS NOW
OFFER ICE SKATING
RINKS AND WINTER
WONDERLANDS
FILLED WITH
ARTIFICIALLY
CREATED SNOW.
ONE OF SOUTHEAST
ASIA’S MORE
WEALTHY AND
URBANISED
NATIONS, THAILAND
BURNS THROUGH
HUGE AMOUNTS OF
FUEL TO KEEP ITS
MALLS, OFFICES AND
HOMES COOL
n JU APILAPORN
I
n a hall illed with psychedelic
ice sculptures, there are shrieks
of excitement as a toboggan
careers down an ice run, its
occupants snugly wrapped
up against the sub-zero
temperatures.
But this is no fun park in an icy
Siberian wasteland — this is tropical
Bangkok.
“It feels good,” 28 year-old Songphol
Taesinlapasathit says, his breath visible
in the chilled air.
“I want to move here so that I can run
away from the hot weather,” he adds.
Across the notoriously sweltering
metropolis, locals are locking to
a growing number of attractions
ofering hais the chance to experience
something few ever witness at home —
snow and ice.
While foreigners head in droves to
the now military-run nation to soak
up the sun on palm-fringed beaches,
many of those visiting the Harbin Ice
Wonderland on the outskirts of Bangkok
are looking for the exact opposite.
More than 600 tonnes of ice have
been used to create a smorgasbord
of sculptures ranging from colourful
octopuses to a mock Eifel Tower.
Named ater the northeastern
Chinese city that holds an annual ice
sculpture festival, temperatures inside
the frozen hai version are kept at
minus 15 Celsius (ive Fahrenheit), a
whopping 50 C swing from the sticky
Bangkok streets outside.
It is just one of a number attractions
that have sprung up in hailand with an
icy theme.
Many malls and attractions now
ofer ice skating rinks and winter
wonderlands illed with artiicially
created snow.
While foreigners love hailand for
its year-round warmth and the chance
to top up their tans, the tropical sun is
oten a bane to hais in a culture where
A boy pulling his sledge at Snow Town in Bangkok. — AFP
pale skin is prized, especially on women.
Locals routinely carry umbrellas on
sunny days to protect themselves from
the harsh rays and it is not unusual to
spot hais dressed in long sleeves and
wide-brimmed hats during trips to the
beach.
‘Large amounts of electricity’
But inding respite from the heat is
not without consequence.
One of Southeast Asia’s more wealthy
and urbanised nations, hailand burns
through huge amounts of fuel to keep its
malls, oices and homes cool.
Bangkok is a particularly acute
ofender, with residents using up twice
as much electricity on average as their
fellow hais, according to one academic
study from 2013. Malls play a signiicant
role in this consumption.
An investigation last year by Mekong
Commons, a regional environmental
website, found that some of Bangkok’s
biggest malls used up more electricity
on their own than entire rural provinces.
Some fear the latest craving for an
artiicial arctic experience will only add
to this excessive consumption.
“hey deinitely eat up large amounts
of electricity,” Gunn Panprayun, a
professor at Mahidol University’s
Environment and Resource Studies
faculty, said.
“hose ice and skate places will help
destroy the environment for sure as they
use up natural resources,” he added.
It is not just at home though that
hais look for fun out of the sun.
hanks to the huge expansion of
budget airlines across Asia regional
ski destinations are signiicantly more
afordable for middle-income countries
like hailand.
Billboards and travel brochures
routinely tempt hai holidaymakers to
“touch real snow” in the mountains of
northern Japan, South Korea and China.
Since waiving visa requirements in
July 2013, Japan has seen a huge inlux
of hai tourists.
In 2014, 95 per cent of hais travelling
abroad on holiday — 430,000 — headed
to Japan, spending just over half a
billion dollars, according to hailand’s
Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
For those unable to aford a trip
abroad,
hailand’s
northernmost
mountains are the only area of the
country that sees a frost during its brief
winter.
Traditionally, couples go there for
romantic New Year’s Eve breaks — a
chance for a triste away from the heat of
the lowlands. — AFP
bout 842 million people , that is roughly one in every eight
persons on Earth, go to bed hungry each night. his is despite
the world producing enough food to feed all. Lack of food
is responsible for more deaths than malaria, tuberculosis and Aids
combined. A third of all deaths in children under the age of ive in
developing countries is linked to under-nutrition.
hese are disturbing facts that should touch our collective
conscience if we regularly enjoy and take for granted — three square
meals and more every day. he relevance of these thoughts comes in
the wake of the World Food Day (WFD) that is round the corner and
slated to be observed on 16th October.
his annual observance is sponsored by the United Nations (UN)
agency, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and aims to raise
awareness of food security and strengthen the ongoing global ight
against hunger. It was on 16 October, 1945 that FAO was founded.
Some of the related objectives of the Day include enhancing
agricultural food production and empowerment of rural people,
particularly women and other less privileged sections of society.
his year it will be the 35th annual observance of World Food Day,
which will also commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding
of FAO.
FAO assigns a special theme for each year. 2014 theme was ‘Family
Farming: Feeding the world, caring for the earth.’ It recognised the vital
role of numerous small- time farmers who contribute signiicantly to
the world food pool.
he current year’s theme is “Social Protection and Agriculture:
breaking the cycle of rural poverty’. It underlines the role of social
protection in reducing chronic food insecurity and poverty. he
emphasis is on supporting the vulnerable sections of the rural society
and helping them to move out of the sombre zone of hunger and
poverty.
Hunger and starvation remains an unpleasant but unignorable
reality. We ought to strive to eliminate this scourge since access to
adequate food is a basic human right.
Given such a scenario, loss or wastage of food is nothing short of a
grave crime against humanity. Yet, shockingly, 1/3 of food produced
(about 1.3 billion tons) is lost or wasted! We too contribute to this
callous situation, in our own way, at our lavish wedding and other
parties, where a huge quantity of food goes waste.
If we could visualise the starving millions, we would probably
think twice before indulging in such extravagant display of our wealth
and social standing.
he UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon was optimistic that
hunger and starvation deaths can be eliminated in our lifetime if all of
us accept the Zero Hunger Challenge proposed by UN.
Farmers are of course, the key actors in the mission of ighting
hunger. hey carry out the tremendous task of producing safe and
wholesome food for us. hey must then be provided with proper
infrastructure, credit and marketing channels and relevant science
and technology back up.
Yet, it’s a sad irony that the plight of small farmers is quite pathetic
in some regions of the world. hey are themselves victims of poverty
and starvation and in extreme cases, driven to committing suicides.
All of us need to be sensitive to and join the global movement to
end hunger, because when it comes to hunger, the only acceptable
igure is zero. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is UNO’s
Millennium Development Goal No 1.
he World Food Day is an opportune occasion for humanity to
come together to reairm our commitment to eradicate hunger from
the face of the earth. It is a stupendous but achievable mission.
Quotes:
 Feel what it’s like to truly starve, and you’ll forever think twice
before wasting food.
— Criss Jami
 here’s enough on this planet for everyone’s needs but not for
everyone’s greed.
— Gandhi
 If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger.
— Buzz Aldrin
TOURISM
New cruise ships: New playgrounds and luxury at sea
T
n MICHAEL ZEHENDER
he cruise ship business is booming, with
THE OVATION OF THE SEAS
vessels becoming bigger, more luxurious
IS THE THIRD SHIP IN ROYAL
and providing more entertainment.
With more seagoing palaces entering the
CARIBBEAN’S QUANTUM
leets, here is a run-down of some of the new
CLASS ALONG WITH THE
international ships ready to start up operations
ANTHEM OF THE SEAS AND
next year. Royal Caribbean has two new ships
planned to start next year. he Ovation of the Seas
QUANTUM OF THE SEAS. ALL
will be leaving in April 2016 from Southampton
FEATURE MANY OF THE SAME
and stop seven days later in Barcelona.
From there it’s of to Dubai and Singapore
ATTRACTIONS INCLUDING
before reaching its new home port in Tianjin.
THE SKYDIVING SIMULATOR
he Ovation of the Seas is the third ship in
RIPCORD, THE OBSERVATION
Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class along with the
Anthem of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas.
CAPSULE NORTH STAR AND
All feature many of the same attractions
THE SPORTS COMPLEX SEA
including the skydiving simulator Ripcord, the
PLEX WITH BUMPER CARS
observation capsule North Star and the sports
complex Sea Plex with bumper cars and a roller
skating track.
he Harmony of the Seas meanwhile is part the Seas and Allure of the Seas.
of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class and joins her
Among the new features on Harmony are
sisters, the world’s largest cruise ships Oasis of three water slides which sprawl over numerous
decks and a 10-storey slide located at the stern
of the boat.
he Harmony of the Seas heads of to sea in
May with a seven-night trip from Barcelona to
Majorca, Marseille, Florence, Rome and Capri.
Carnival Vista is the 25th ship from the world’s
market leader Carnival Cruise Line.
And Carnival have promised many new
attractions for Vista, including SkyRide in which
“cyclists” are elevated and pedal open-sided cabs
around a 250 metre circuit for panoramic
views of the sea. Vista
will also include the
irst IMAX heater
at sea as
well as
a 139
metre-long rating course. Vista will be the irst at the Lincoln Stage Center and the BB King’s
Carnival ship to travel the Mediterranean in Blues Club. And Koningdam features suites for
three years when it leaves on May 1.
families and persons travelling alone.
he winter schedule has the ship departing
Koningdam’s maiden voyage starts on
from New York. Holland
April 8 in Rome and the
America Line will be bringing
christening
is
Koningdam to the market in 2016.
pl anne d
But Holland America Line
for May
doesn’t focus on
21
in
Rotterdam.
h
e
ship’s home
port will be
Amsterdam
with
cruises around Europe planned
until the winter when Koningdam
heads for the Caribbean. Seabourn Encore
takes luxury to another level.
Seabourn promise their maximum 604
amusement park- passengers plenty of space on the new ultralike attractions. Instead, luxury ship, which is an enhancement on its
they concentrate on luxury and sister ships Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn
music.
and Seabourn Quest with an additional deck and
he 2,650 passengers can expect entertainment enlarged public areas. — dpa
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | DHUL HIJJAH 29, 1436 AH
P29
P30
P31
Inside
A whacky comedy on death 
Instant messages invade formal notes 
Energy-guzzling snow parks 
FOLLOW US ON:
www.omanobserver.om
[email protected]
JEWELLERY
as a fashion
statement
n KABEER YOUSUF
T
hey say art and
mathematics can never
get along as both needs
either side of the brain
to be active and it’s a
rare phenomenon that
both sides of the small brain is actively in
function for an ordinary human being.
he fact is, there are people who
deied the norm and excelled in their
chosen path keeping both art and algebra
and the intricacies of mathematics close
to their heart.
It is also a fact that mathematics
and art are related in a variety of ways.
Mathematics has itself been described as
an art motivated by beauty. Mathematics
can be discerned in arts such as music,
dance, painting, architecture, sculpture,
and textiles.
In the Sultanate of Oman, a local lady
who is also a management graduate from
the SQU but later chased her passion in
art and crat and carved a niche in what
she desired the most. But again, destiny
took her to another level in her career to
be an employee in the Administration
and Finance section with a ministry, yet
never letting her passion die.
Meet Nadiya al Shamsi, a resident of
Qurum who has recently won the title of
being the irst Arab woman to showcase
her works at the International jewellery
expo in London, a rare recognition that
any woman of her age would long for.
She and her brand ‘Mazayen’ which
translates into ‘beautiful girl’ or ‘she
camel’ have so far gained a repute of a
perfect blend of Omani and European
jewellery designs.
“It was a tough task to get an
entry into the London International
jewellery Expo. I wrote to them and
they responded but there was a silence
for some time. Again I had to remind
them and the course of correspondence
took a couple of months and inally they
approved my entry which I feel is a rare
recognition for me as an Omani woman”,
an elated Nadiya spoke to the Observer.
Her idea comes from Oman’s rich
heritage and culture, Arab and Islamic
concepts blended with modern styles
and trends and the idea undergoes a
rigorous cleansing programme before it
is translated into ornaments. She spends
days, weeks and sometimes, months on
a single design in search of perfection.
She has so far participated in several
expos including in the UAE and Kuwait,
besides London.
Nadiya started scribbling and
drawing vague images at a very tender
age and she remembers she always
wanted to draw something or the other.
Her parents and all siblings always
supported her but over a period of
time, her passion grew from drawing
to crating and jewellery making. In the
long course, her strong beacon in life has
been Fatma, her mum.
“I have always been an artist from
childhood who scribbled and jotted
things on whatever object I came across.
All my family members, my four sisters
and six brothers, were supportive and
the support from my mother can never
be replaced”, she recalled.
Ater graduation, she took some
odd jobs and sooner or later, she
joined jewellery designing course in
the UK where she was given to know
the nuances of making jewellery with a
creative touch.
“I learned management from SQU
according to my parents’ wish but later
I found myself more adaptable in arts
and crats and I pursued my wish. I
joined creative jewellery making in
London which cemented my passion for
jewellery”.
She underlined the universal fact that
it is the passion that takes you to heights
by completing the one year course in just
3-4 months.
She sources her materials from
Oman, India and the US and she
remembers that her London visitors said
her works were unique and she should
focus more on taking them across
the geographic boundaries of Oman.
Truly, her jewellery are standalone
pieces in that one cannot ind a similar
one outside her stall. She makes just
3 to 4 items alike, and not more than
that. Today, she is an acclaimed name
among educational institutions as well
for she conducts jewellery workshops
in schools and colleges. As ambitious as
always, Nadiya is planning her presence
felt in the fashion capital of Paris as
well, keeping Oman’s name in fashion
designing high.
Whatever the heights she reached,
she holds the love, care and support her
mother ofered throughout her life and
that is keeping her humble and simple.
Her love for her mother can be spotted
from the small dedication note she keeps
alongside her works on display.
“his collection is dedicated to my
mother, the most beautiful woman I
have ever seen. I git all my success in my
life to her although I know no git can
ever be equal to what she gited me with,
which is life” — Nadia al Shamsi
SOCIAL SOLIDARITY
More ‘global’ people care less about public good
T
he more individuals perceive
themselves as “citizens of the
world”, the less they would
contribute to public goods, says a new
study.
High
level
of
globalisation
increases the likelihood that the
individual would not provide a truthful
report on income, would catch a “free
ride” on others’ contributions, and
would donate less to a charity, the indings
showed.
“Since we found a clear correlation between
the individual’s globalisation level and their
contribution to public goods, above and
beyond the state’s inluence, our conclusion
is that there is a correlation between this
personality characteristic and values such as
social solidarity and social cohesion,” said
researcher Eitan Adres from University of
Haifa.
hese indings from Adres’ doctorate thesis
won him the outstanding study award.
Adres sought to examine the connection
between globalisation and participation in
contribution to public goods.
To this end, he developed a unique index
determining the individual’s globalisation
level, whose impact is not dependent on the
level of globalisation of the state.
Four countries were chosen to
examine this relationship: Germany and
Australia, which both have a high level
of globalisation; Columbia, which has a
low level of globalisation; and in the middle
Israel, which has an intermediate level of
globalisation.
Approximately one thousand participants
in
the
four
countries
participated
in three economic decision games
testing their willingness to contribute to a
public good.
he indings showed that the more
people consider themselves to adhere to
the values of globalisation, consumerism,
and individualism, and the more they
regard themselves as “citizens of the
world”, the less likely they are to contribute
to public goods and the more likely they are to
seek to be “free riders” on the contributions of
others.
As expected, a similar correlation was
found between the level of globalisation
of the country and the participants’
contributions.
he greater the country’s globalisation
level, the higher the average probability that
its citizens would not contribute anything to
the communal pot in the irst experiment, the
study said.