subsidy distorts market price

VOL. 35 NO. 57 | PAGES 32 | BAISAS 200
SUNDAY | JANUARY 10, 2016 | RABEE AL AWWAL 29, 1437 AH
P28 Investors eye China, geopolitical tensions
P17 Masirah Island: A must visit place in Oman
P23 Blatter, Platini now free to appeal bans: Fifa
Inside
Vietnam warns China over air safety Sri Lankan president pledges reforms Crisis looms in Haiti as campaign begins 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
Sohar Airport to be
ready in two years
MUSCAT: Larsen & Toubro has
confirmed that its Oman subsidiary has
bagged an order worth $93.1 million
to construct a regional airport in Sohar,
said the company in a statement. The
Sohar Airport was partially opened for
traffic in 2014 with Oman Air operating
scheduled flights to the city. The
company statement said the project
will be complete in 24 months and the
scope of works includes construction
of passenger terminal building, ATC
complex, cargo and other service
buildings including mechanical,
electrical and plumbing (MEP) works,
special systems and external works.
REPORT ON P4
REGION
Air strike kills
39 in Syria
BEIRUT: An air strike reportedly killed
dozens of people in a rebel-held town in
Syria on Saturday as a UN envoy visited
Damascus to advance preparations for
peace talks planned this month despite
opposition misgivings. Agreement was
also reached for aid to be delivered on
Monday to an opposition-held town
besieged by pro-government forces
where United Nations says there have
been credible reports of people dying of
starvation, sources said. REPORT ON P13
EUROPE
Merkel now wants
tougher asylum laws
MAINZ: Chancellor Angela Merkel
said on Saturday she wants stricter
asylum laws, after a series of assaults
in the western German city of Cologne
shocked the country. “What happened
on New Year’s Eve are despicable
criminal acts that demand decisive
answers,” Merkel said after a meeting
among the top ranks of her Christian
Democratic Union. She said changes to
the current law would be “in the interest
of citizens, but also just as much in the
interest of the majority of refugees.”
REPORT ON P15
INSIDESTORIES
P7
P9
LACK OF ACTION MAY EMBOLDEN OREGON PROTESTERS
P14
MEXICO DRUG LORD
BACK IN JAIL AGAIN
WEATHER TODAY
MAX: 250C
MIN: 170C
SALALAH
MAX: 290C
MIN: 210C
PRAYER TIMINGS
NIZWA
MAX: 270C
MIN: 150C
SUNRISE 06.51 AM
FAJR: 05:31
DHUHR: 12:19
ASR: 15:22
MAGHRIB: 17:42
ISHA: 18:57
SUBSIDY DISTORTS MARKET PRICE
FUEL PRICES: Revision of energy subsidy will benefit economy by reducing risks and ensuring financial stability
MUSCAT: Revising the energy subsidy
and lifting of fuel subsidy will have a
positive effect on the Omani economy,
as providing subsidy to energy creates
undesired social and economic effects.
Lubna Abdulatif, an expert to the
World Bank at the Ministry of Finance,
said that the Ministry of Finance in
collaboration with the World Bank has
updated the operations for preparing
and implementing the state budget in a
bid to enhance the efficiency of public
expenditure, reduce financial risks and
affirm financial sustainability.
She said that some believe that
welfare economy philosophy is the
one which provides subsidy on energy.
Experience has proved that subsidy
for education, health and economic
diversification has greater effect on
enhancing social welfare.
She said that revising public
expenditure policies is very important
as it gives priority to the policies
which enhance the welfare of the
Energy subsidy
in the Middle East
region
stood at
RO 91.25
BILLION
48%
of the total
subsidy at the
world level.
The equilibrium
price for a barrel
of crude in 2015
for Bahrain
and Oman, as
estimated by the
World Bank, is
more than $100
GDP paid of
their revenues
for subsidy
22%
Omani family, promote economic
diversification, develop the private
sector and generate jobs.
In the medium and long run subsidy
contributes to exacerbating financial
imbalances, have negative effect on the
priorities of the public expenditure and
deforms the allocation of resources by
encouraging excessive consumption,
encouraging capital-intense industries
and accelerating the exhaustion of
natural resources, Lubna said.
She said that studies conducted
by the World Bank between 2012
and 2014 pointed out that the energy
subsidy needed revision and that
lifting of such subsidy would be good
for the society as a whole.
“The World Bank studies also
pointed out that the value of energy
subsidy in the Middle East region
stood at $237 billion (RO 91.25 billion)
which represents 48 per cent of the
total subsidy at the world level. The
Middle East countries paid almost 8.6
per cent of their GDP or 22 per cent of
their revenues for subsidy; a very high
level compared to the world average,
which ranges between 0.7 per cent to
2.1 per cent respectively,” she added.
“Oil-exporting countries in the
Middle East have borne the biggest
share of this cost, which affected their
abilities for financial sustainability and
made them bear great financial risks.
The equilibrium price for a barrel of
crude in 2015 for Bahrain and Oman,
as estimated by the World Bank, is
more than $100,’ she added.
TURN TO P5
RETAILERS TOLD NOT TO RAISE PRICES
NEED TO STRENGTHEN TAX MOP-UP SYSTEM
KABEER YOUSUF
MUSCAT
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
Jan. 9: The Ministry of
Commerce and Industry
and the Public Authority for
Consumer Protection have
told major retailers in Oman to
adhere to pricing strategy and
maintain status quo in prices of
commodities even after the raise
in fuel prices.
“No unjustifiable raise in
prices will be allowed as we
introduce new fuel prices on
January 15, and in coordination
with the authority, the ministry
will make sure that prices are
not increased without notifying
the ministry of valid reasons for
the rise,” Dr Ali bin Masoud al
Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce
and Industry, told the Observer.
He hoped that there wouldn’t
be a steep hike in the cost of
goods, but only a minimum as
there can be a cost addition in
the construction sector.
REPORT ON P3
Concert organisers told to pay fee
Municipality warns
violators of action
SAMUEL KUTTY
MUSCAT
PAKISTAN TO HOST ROAD
MAP MEETING FOR TALKS
MUSCAT
[email protected]
Jan. 9: Close on the heels of measures
being announced by the government
to keep its coffers strong, Muscat
Municipality too started taking steps to
strengthen its revenue collection.
The civic body, in a recent circular,
asked organisers of concerts and
other entertainment events, if they
are conducted with tickets, to pay the
due fees to the municipality before
conducting any such programmes.
“Muscat Municipality would like
to inform all organisers that all tickets
should have our stamps and its due
fees must be paid before the event,” the
circular said.
The circular issued just before the
new year, also warned that companies
or organisations which violate the order
will face tough action.
“In case of violation, the Muscat
Municipality has the right to take
necessary action against the organisers
including cancellation of the licences
and fines,” the circular said.
According to an official at the civic
body, the circular is issued in view of the
mushrooming number of events being
conducted without paying the fees and
with a purpose of raising money.
“The modus operandi of many
organisers is that they take permission
from the municipality, but do not get
seals stamped on all tickets. Hundreds
of tickets are sold without stamps,
evading fees, which run into huge
amount,” the official said.
Referring to the circular, Ahmed
The modus operandi
of many organisers
is that they take
permission from the
municipality, but do not get
seals stamped on all tickets.
Hundreds of tickets are sold
without stamps, evading
fees, which run into huge
amount
AN OFFICIAL
Muscat Municipality
Aboudzahra, General Manager of
Arabesque International, said it is a
right move by the municipality.
But he said, “if a concert or
an entertainment programme is
conducted as part of cultural activities
and is without tickets, they should
be exempted from any fee, as is being
done.”
He is of the opinion that the
municipality has the right to take
fees for any event that is held with a
commercial or monetary purpose.
Reacting to the circular, head of
an event management company, said
that the move by the municipality
will definitely prevent individuals
conducting programmes using the
licence of some registered companies.
“It has become a lucrative business
that some individuals bring artists for
stage programmes with tickets.”
Jan. 9: Said bin Saleh al Kiyumi,
Chairman, Oman Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (OCCI),
has underlined the importance
and role of the private sector
in the wake of economic crisis
witnessed by the countries that
depend heavily on oil to generate
revenues. In a statement issued
yesterday, he said the private
sector has stepped up its efforts
in the current situation to raise
its contribution to the national
income and minimise the effect
of shortfall in revenues. He said
that for the private sector to
raise its performance and ensure
GCC backs Saudi Arabia in
diplomatic row with Iran
RIYADH: Foreign ministers of the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
on Saturday expressed their “total
support” for Saudi Arabia in its
diplomatic row with Iran. The GCC
“forcefully condemns the attacks on
Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran”,
said a statement.
The statement, following an
extraordinary ministerial meeting
of the six-member group, criticised
“Iranian interference in Saudi Arabian
affairs” over its denunciation of Nimr
al Nimr’s execution a week ago.
It said Tehran’s criticism had
“directly incited the aggressions
targeting Saudi diplomatic missions”.
The GCC “totally supports decisions
taken by Saudi Arabia to combat
terrorism” and “has total confidence
in the independence and integrity of
Saudi justice”.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it
was considering new steps against Iran
amid a sharp dispute between the two
countries. “Saudi Arabia is looking
into additional measures against Iran
if it continues its aggression,” Foreign
Minister Adel al Jubeir said without
giving details.
Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic
relations with Iran, angered by Tehran’s
vehement criticism of the execution
and the storming of its embassy in
Tehran.
“Iran is used to interfering in affairs
of its neighbours,” he said at a press
conference in Riyadh.
Arab League foreign ministers are
due to meet in Cairo on Sunday to
discuss the Saudi-Iranian tensions.
PICTURE ON P4
a stable economic growth,
the government should offer
more initiatives through better
regulations and confidencebuilding measures. Al Kiyumi said
that the chamber is not against
taxes imposed on companies if
they are reasonable, well-thoughtout and implemented through in
phases. REPORT ON P3
Three held
for duping
businessman
ALI AL KASBI
MUSCAT
Jan. 9: The Royal Oman Police (ROP)
have arrested a three-member gang
which has allegedly tried to dupe an
Oman-based expatriate businessman
to the tune of RO 23,000 through a socalled money multiplication scam.
The trio reportedly persuaded the
victim to partner with them in setting
up a new company dedicated to the
import of fruits and vegetables from
Africa. The two sides had agreed to
meet at a city hotel to formalise the
deal. However, during the meeting, the
victim discovered that currency notes
amounting to RO 23,000 representing
his investment in the new company were
replaced with fake notes. TURN TO P3
SALIM BAHWAN TO ACT IN MALAYALAM MOVIE
KABEER YOUSUF
MUSCAT
Jan. 9: Acclaimed Omani actor, Salim
Bahwan will soon be sharing screen
with some of the known names of
Malayalam film indusrty, it is learnt.
He will be donning a lead role in
Vallyuppa, a full-length feature film
directed by T A Razak, a popular name
among movie buffs in Kerala.
“I am really excited to be a part of a
Malayalam movie,” an elated Salim told
the Observer. “This gives me double joy
as most of the scenes of the film will be
shot in one of my dream destinations,
Kerala,” he added.
The film’s scriptwriter said that the
story of Vallyuppa revolves around
the old seafaring relations between
Kozhikode and Sur which is said to
have laid the foundation for human
relations between the two places.
The story revolves around a boy
who sets out of his home in Kozhikode
in search of his roots which takes him
to the Gulf, Dubai and Oman.
“I act as the father of the boy whose
grandfather is somewhere in an Arab
village. I really liked the plot, script and
production,” Salim adds.
Salim has visited Delhi, the Indian
capital, Mumbai and the south
Indian state more often than western
destinations and has fallen in love with
the landscape and hospitality.
“I have been watching Indian
movies since my childhood, and now
I am becoming a part of the same,” he
said.
2
‘GOOGLE CLASSROOM’ WORKSHOP HELD
S U N DAY l J A N U A R Y 1 0 l 2 0 1 6
OMAN
The Professional
Development and Scientific
Research Committee in CAS
Nizwa organised a workshop
titled: “Make your life easier
with Google Classroom”. It
dealt with implications of
Google Classroom, especially
for educational needs used
in CAS Nizwa.
POWER, WATER OUTPUT UP
More than 28,000.42 gigawatts of
power per hour was produced in the
Sultanate by the end of last October
last year. This was 8.11 per cent
more compared to the same period
last year. A total of over 249 million
gallons was water was produced
till the end of September last year,
an increase of 6 per cent compared
with the same period of 2014.
Fifth Sharqiyah Fisheries
Festival opens today
EAT MORE FISH:
Festival aims
to promote the
consumption of
sardines among
local residents
SUSHIL KUMAR SHARMA
SUR
Jan. 9: With a view to spreading
awareness and to promote the
consumption of sardines among the
local residents, the Directorate of
Fisheries, South Sharqiyah governorate,
under the administration of Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries, is organising
the 5th Sharqiyah Fisheries Festival at
Sur. This festival would help to promote
the consumption of sardines among the
local residents, and help them manage
their budget economically.
“Sardines are considered among
the healthiest food in the world. They
are very good for the heart, bone and
overall health. Sardines are rich source
of protein and vitamins. They are good
for eyes too. Sardines contain Omega
-3 fatty acids. As compared to other
popular fishes in the area, sardines
come very cheap also. Fortunately,
Sharqiyah governorate is blessed with
plenty of sardines,” says, Abdullah
Mohammed Al Haddabi, DirectorGeneral of Fisheries, South Sharqiyah
governorate, under the ministry of
Agriculture & Fisheries.
Interestingly tuna fish is much
in demand in South Sharqiyah
governorate. After tuna, next popular
fish is King fish among the local
residents. But these fishes are very
expensive. Contrary to this practice
in Sharqiyah governorate, sardines are
very cheap in this area and they provide
the same health benefits which are
contained by any other fish.
“We plan to distribute the mouse
pad-printed with sardine fish and its
benefits, among the school kids, college
goers, and Internet cafe user,” says
Abdullah Mohammed.
Abdullah mentioned the following
scheme of events for five-day Sharqiyah
Fisheries Festival:
Different stakeholders of the fisheries
sector such as fishermen, fishing and
marking companies, marine students,
researchers, government officials and
local community people are expected
to participate in the festival.
AWARENESS
WEEK
JAN 10: Cleaning of harbour area.
JAN 11: Opening the fisheries
festival by Governor of Sur, Shaikh
Abdullah Shimas. Release of
booklet on Sardines.
JAN 12: A workshop on
“Challenges and opportunities in
the fisheries sector in Oman” at Al
Ashkhara, under the patronage of
Wali of Jalan Bani Bu Ali.
JAN 13: A workshop on “Effects of
illegal immigrants in society and
fisheries sector in Oman in the
Wilayat of Jalan Bani Bu Hasan”,
under the patronage of Wali of
Jalan Bani Bu Hasan.
JAN 14: A seminar on “Realities
of fisheries sector: Scope for 2040
— strategies for future”, under the
patronage of Wali of Sur.
Royal Decree to develop Marfa
Daris Garden in Nizwa hailed
AMAL AL RIYAMI
NIZWA
Jan. 9: His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos honoured residents of
Nizwa by issuing a Royal Decree
No 3 2016, regarding improving
and developing “Marfa Daris
Garden” in Nizwa. The Royal
decree was issued in the public
interest on January 1, 2016.
Commenting
on
this
decree, Hamdan bin Nasser
al Romaithi, Shura Council
member in Nizwa, said: “This
demonstrates the importance
of historical and cultural sites,
especially because the site
contains one of the largest aflaj
in the Sultanate — Falaj Mafra
Daris.”
“The site also attracts people
of Nizwa and surrounding
areas who come there to relax.
During vacation time most of
the citizens spends their time in
this park. As the place provides
a tranquil atmosphere, apart
from its historical importance,
it attracts visitors from other
regions too. The visitors, from
both inside and outside Oman,
have expressed satisfaction with
this site.”
Al Romaithi hailed HM’s
decision to develop the garden
saying: “On behalf of myself
and all the people of Nizwa, we
have the highest gratitude and
appreciation to the HM”.
In recent times, the garden
was getting deteriorated due
to neglect. Trees that were
once lush green were simply
getting dried up due to lack of
maintenance. The land became
barren after the green grass
lawns vanished.
A relaxation spot in the
Wilayat of Nizwa, which is in
the centre of Al Dakhiliyah
Governorate, is greatly needed.
The facility will provide
a suitable place for social
gatherings too for all the people.
In addition, this will add a touch
of aesthetic and development of
the state.
OMAN
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
Retailers told to maintain
reasonable prices
KABEER YOUSUF
MUSCAT
Jan. 9: Ministry of Commerce and
Industry (MoCI) and the Public
Authority for Consumer Protection
(PACP) have urged major retailers in
the country to adhere to their pricing
mechanism and maintain status quo
even after the forthcoming fuel price
hike.
“No unjustifiable hike in prices will
be allowed as we introduce new oil prices
on January 15. In coordination with the
PACP, the Ministry will make sure that
prices are not hiked without notifying
the Ministry by providing a valid reason
for the same”, Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidi,
Minister of Commerce and Industry
told the Observer.
He hoped that there wouldn’t be a
steep hike in the cost of goods but only a
minimum. There can be a cost addition
in the construction sector.
“I don’t think there would be any
big hike in cost of goods as the cost of
transportation is comparatively less than
what the actual costs are. But having said
that, in some areas such as construction,
where mobilisation of resources and
materials add to cost, there could
be an effect”. Hypermarket chains,
supermarkets and leading shopping
malls have confirmed that they received
notices from the PACP and MoCI to
this effect, some of the leading retailers
confirmed.
“We have received a letter from the
concerned authorities regarding prices
post January 15. We will abide by the
ministerial decisions and support the
authorities at times like these”, a top
management at Lulu Hypermarket
chain told the Observer.
Transportation is a crucial factor for
retail business and a major component
of the final price. If the transportation
cost is going to be high, the additional
costs will have to be absorbed at some
level of the pricing mechanism, the
retailers said.
“We never hike prices unless there is
a nod from competent authorities. Even
if our suppliers bring a confirmation
letter, our policy lets us reconfirm with
the authorities before giving effect to
it”, representative of another major
hypermarket chain who preferred to
remain anonymous said.
“We will maintain our prices to what
they are now and will not raise unless
we are forced to. But any decision will
be in accordance with the ministry’s
instructions”, Abdul Nasser, MD of
Karama Hypermarkets said.
PACP had earlier said that hefty fines
would be imposed on companies found
violating Oman’s fair trade practices
under the guise of the general state
budget.
“We have enhanced our market
watching mechanism and strict
measures are in place to make sure that
prices of essentials are not increased
without any reason and that beyond any
acceptable limit. Our teams are working
in two shifts keeping vigil on the market”,
Hilal bin Saud al Ismaili, Head- Market
Regulation and Control section at the
Consumer Protection Department at the
PACP said. “Fines will be a maximum of
RO2,000 and can be levied upon erring
companies or individuals”, he added.
He hoped that all the traders are aware
of the market situation and no one will
take the budget as an excuse to increase
prices of essentials creating chaos in the
market.
Need to strengthen tax collection system
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
Jan. 9: Said bin Saleh al Kiyumi,
Chairman, Oman Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (OCCI), has underlined
the importance and role of the private
sector in the wake of economic crisis
witnessed by the countries that depend
heavily on oil to generate revenues. In a
statement issued yesterday, he said the
private sector has stepped up its efforts
in the current situation to raise the level
of its contribution to the national income
and minimise the effect of shortfall in
revenues. He said that for the private
sector to raise the level of its performance
and ensure a stable economic growth,
the government should offer more
initiatives through better regulations and
confidence-building measures.
Al Kiyumi said that the chamber is
not against taxes imposed on companies
if they are reasonable, well-thought-out
and implemented through in phases.
These taxes should be in exchange
for some of the business-friendly
policies with regards to the termination
procedures, permits and licenses.
He suggested some more investorfriendly measures such as ease in
bureaucratic procedures, issues related
to multiple permits and overlapping
of jurisdictions between government
institutions. He suggested that it will be
advisable to maintain the corporate tax of
12 per cent for the year to come, as there
are some deficiencies in the current tax
collection mechanism.
There must be regulations and
legislations to contain tax evasion.
Speaking about regulations and
legislation that limit tax evasion, he
said that according to the available
information there are 4,000 companies.
And only 300 out of around 1,000
companies registered with the chamber
are committed to payment of taxes,
which confirms the deficiency in the
current tax collection system.
Al Kiyumi stressed on the issues
of privatisation of some public sector
companies, transfer of ownership
and management rules in the private
sector and restrict the activities of parttime owners. He hailed the measures
introduced to regulate the mining sector.
The statement said the taxation of
the net profit should benefit the country
and its citizens and added that serious
initiatives are need to solve the challenges
facing the sector.
It also highlighted the importance
of training programmes that will help
increase productivity.
omandailyobserver
3
‘Google Classroom’
workshop conducted
AMAL AL RIYAMI
NIZWA
Jan. 9: The Professional Development
and Scientific Research Committee
in CAS Nizwa organised a workshop
titled: “Make your life easier with
Google Classroom”. Edward Moseley
and Melissa Valeen from the English
Department conducted the workshop.
The workshop dealt with educational
implications of Google Classroom,
especially for educational needs used in
CAS Nizwa. The workshop addressed
the different facilities offered by Google
Classroom — starting from creating
a class to adding students to assigning
homework and assignments and so on.
The audiences were academics from
the different departments in addition to
some administrative staff. The audience
enjoyed this hands-on session and
interacted with the presenters.
3 held for duping businessman
FROM PAGE 1
He then lodged a complaint with
the Bausher Police Station of Muscat
Governorate Police Command.
During investigations, the ROP
confiscated suspicious packages
containing an unspecified chemical as
well as black carbon paper, that was
believed to be used by the gang in their
money multiplication operation. Mobile
phones used in the crime were also
seized.
The alleged swindlers were referred
to the Public Prosecution for further
investigation, pending trial. The Economic
Offences Directorate also assisted
Bausher police in cracking the case. In a
statement, the ROP thanked a number
of people who cooperated with the
authorities in investigate the case. They
urged the general public to report any
suspicious activity to the nearest police
station or call the emergency toll-free
number 9999.
In a further word of caution, the
statement advised general public to
keep away from the scene of a crime, and
to await the arrival of the police, in the
interest of their safety and well-being.
4
omandailyobserver
OMAN
GCC EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
CRIME BEAT
Maid caught
for stealing
jewellery, cash
from employer
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
LOCAL CHAMPION
IS WINNER OF FIRST
RB PLAYER ONE
ALI AL KASBI
MUSCAT
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdullatif bin Rashid al Zayani, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Shaikh
Sabah al Khalid al Sabah, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Khaled al Attiyah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf bin Alawi
bin Abdallah, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed al Khalifa and UAE’s
Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan pose during an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh. — Reuters
Sohar Airport to be
completed in two years
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
Jan 9: Larsen & Toubro has confirmed
that its Oman subsidiary has bagged an
order worth $93.1 million to construct
a regional airport in Sohar, said the
company in a statement.
The Sohar airport was partially
opened for traffic in 2014 with Oman
Air operating scheduled flights to the
city.
The company statement said the
project will be complete in 24 months
and the scope of works includes
construction of passenger terminal
building, ATC complex, cargo and other
service buildings including mechanical,
electrical and plumbing (MEP) works,
special systems and external works.
This is the third airport project to be
executed by L&T in Oman.
Sohar Airport situated around 10
km northwest of the city is expected
to provide an alternative, quicker
route for travellers wishing to the north
of Oman.
The airport will serve as a new
gateway for cargo and courier traffic
in northern Oman and, will serve as
an emergency alternative to Muscat
Airport. The airport is being built
within the proximity of the major
commercial, industrial and economic
centres of Sohar including the Port of
Sohar Special Economic Zone.
The airport will have a capacity of
250,000 Passengers per Annum (PPA)
and can manage up to 50,000 tonnes of
cargo per annum.
The company is executing the work
the passenger terminal for Duqm
airport, which began last year.
Jan 9: A housemaid who allegedly
decamped with RO 10,000 worth of
gold jewellery and RO 2,000 in cash
from her employer was nabbed by the
Royal Oman Police (ROP), along with
an expatriate who helped her stash
away the stolen property.
Following a complaint lodged by
the Omani employer, who reported
the domestic help missing along with
the jewellery and cash, the alleged
theft was investigated by the Ruwi
Police Station of Muscat Governorate
Police Command.
Investigations led the detectives to a
location in the Wilayat of Al Musannah
in Al Batinah North Governorate,
where the maid, a national of an
Asian country, was holed up with a
compatriot. The latter was charged
with abetment and possession of
stolen property, an official source said.
Both suspects have been handed
over to the Public Prosecution for
investigation pending their trial.
In a statement, the Royal Oman
Police voiced appreciation for
those who had cooperated with the
investigation in nabbing the suspects.
The ROP has urged citizens and
residents to report any suspicious
activity either by dialing the emergency
toll free number 9999. They have
advised witnesses to keep a safe
distance from the scene of a crime, and
to await the arrival of the police. As a
precaution against potential break-ins,
the authorities urged homeowners to
secure their valuables, notably jewellery
and cash, in a safe place.
Mahmoud Ahmed (far left) was announced as the winner of Red Bull Player One
MUSCAT: For the first time, Red Bull
Player One crowned a local champion
at the weekend, as Mahmoud Osama
Ahmed took home first place in front
of a hyped crowd of local gaming
enthusiasts.
Talking immediately after his win,
‘Player One’ Ahmed said: “I still can’t
believe it; I’ve never experienced
anything like this before. It is amazing
to feel like I could be one of the best.
I am friends with a lot of the other
participants and they’re all at a very
strong level.”
He added: “I’ve been playing this
game for four years and finally it paid
off. To be honest I really didn’t think I
would win, but I had hope.”
The E-Sport event consisted of a fastpaced, competitive online game that
blends the technicality of a real time
strategy. Red Bull Player One is a 1V1
player format that challenges in-game
heroes across a variety of battlefields,
maps and game modes.
Players must move quickly, plan
their attack and outwit their opponent,
avoiding their special skills, and then
plan every move. Without the support
of the team, gamers cannot rely on
support elsewhere; it is every player for
themselves.
Only the top 16 gamers made it
through to the Red Bull Player One
Final to play live one-on-one matches at
VOX Cinemas, City Centre Muscat on
January 7.
Prior to the final, the 16 qualifiers
went
head-to-head
with
112
other local gamers during the
qualification stage which took place
from December 18-22.
OMAN
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
SUBSIDY DISTORTS
MARKET PRICE
FROM PAGE 1
“Subsidy distorts the market price and affects proper
allocation of resources. It encourages smuggling
of fuel, which may lead to a shortage of subsidised
products. It is also a universally acknowledged
truth that subsidy leads to excess consumption,
streaming resources away from the alternative uses
and consequently affects expenditure on education,
health and infrastructure. It also leads to low energy
efficiency and encourages capital intense technology,
which in turn have a negative effect on the growth of
employment opportunities.”
The World Bank expert affirmed that in the medium
and long term lifting of subsidy has a positive effect on
growth and efficiency, which helps in absorbing the
possible effects of inflation in the short term.
High fuel prices encourage companies to generate
job opportunities for youth and encourage the growth
of SMEs.
Moreover, it encourages companies to rely on more
efficient technology to address price hike.
The initial research pointed out that there is a
statically significant relationship between fuel price
and the growth in per capital income in the short and
long terms.
As per the simulation model provided by the World
Bank to Egypt in 2014, reducing energy subsidy by 25
per cent increases job opportunities and wages by 1 per
cent. The experiences of many countries point out that
subsidy is not an effective tool for the distribution of
income in the society because energy subsidy benefits
the rich and major consumers more than those with
less income and small producers. This means that the
large chunk of subsidy goes to the categories which
can live without it.
In other words, ceasing open subsidy policy for all
and streaming the revenues from lifting of the subsidy
to meeting the social needs will have a better effect on
society.
Moreover, rationalising energy and its
consumption will alleviate pollution, congestion and
water exhaustion.
The expert affirmed that the Sultanate’s government
revision of the energy subsidy and introducing
spontaneous mechanism for pricing are very
important in liberalising the general resources and in
streamlining them to achieve bigger benefits for the
wider sectors of the Omani society as such revision
comes at a time when the oil prices are falling sharply.
— ONA
omandailyobserver
Cybercriminals can
target you for sharing
details on social network
HORSE GAMES FESTIVAL
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
The Oman Equestrian Federation organised the second traditional horse games festival in the Wilayat of
Manah under the auspices of Shaikh Thabit bin Hamad al Majaali, State Council Member.
Jan 9: More than
30 per cent of social
network users share
their posts, check-ins
and other personal
info with everybody
who is online — not
just their friends and
this is paving way
for cybercriminals to
attack the users easily, according to a
study.
Adding more and more strange
friends too can pose dangers to one’s
virtual existence, the Kaspersky Lab
study further revealed.
To ensure that your social network
sharing doesn’t leave you exposed
to danger, the study advises Internet
users to be cautious about whom they
befriend and trust on these sites, as all
might not be as it seems. If in doubt,
don’t accept a friend request or click
on a link that you are not expecting.
It is also essential that privacy settings
within social network accounts are at
their highest, to ensure it is only your
real friends you are sharing your status
updates with.
“Sharing personal details and
other information online or on social
media can leave the door wide open
for cybercriminals to attack, as users
remain unaware of just how public their
private information can be on these
channels”, says David Emm (pictured),
Principal Security Researcher at
Kaspersky Lab.
“Social network users are playing
a dangerous game by not being cybersavvy and essentially giving strangers
easy access to their personal details and
private information. With social media
Ghedex, career fair to begin on April 19
India Edu Fair on Jan 18, 19
MUSCAT: The Global Higher Education
Exhibition— Ghedex and the Omanisation
Career Fair-OCF 2016 will kick-off on April 19
at the Oman International Exhibition Centre.
The three-day exhibition is organised by Oman
International Trade and Exhibition (OITE).
A number of leading universities from the
United Kingdom, the United States, Malta, and
Pakistan will participate in the exhibition, as well
as some of the educational institutions in the
Sultanate.
The exhibition aims to provide an opportunity
for Omani and expatriate students seeking quality
education and opportunities for evolvement
through internships and related career planning
programs to pursue their higher education
goals.
The exhibition is the only platform that
provides for all the companies the opportunity to
interview job seekers from all disciplines under
one roof. It also provides an opportunity to new
MUSCAT: A free for all educational
fair is organised to meet with the
experts and other college and university
representatives along with career guides
on January 18 and 19 at Hotel Haffa
House in Muscat.
NRI students and parents will get an
opportunity to interact with academic
heads of various institutions across India
from 3.45 pm to 9.30 pm. Information
on more than 100 highly sought after
courses, life in these cities and availability
of scholarships are on display during the
event. Organised by Lynx Ads which is a
part of Molecules International Group,
the Fair will also have training and
demonstrations which makes the expo a
highly useful educational event in NRIs
calendar.
Side by side the two day event, there
will be face to face interaction with
graduates and other professionals the possibility
of developing their careers by working in major
private and public companies operating in the
Sultanate.
Last edition of Ghedex breaks 16 years record
by attracting over 25,000 visitors, over 200 topnotch universities and colleges from over 23
countries, as well as 170 educational bodies
and institutions accounting for international
participation and 30 for local participation.
The latest version of Omanisation Career Fair
witnessed a large turnout. It was visited by 5000
male and female job seekers. — ONA
academic heads and professors about
the courses available, fee structure, job
opportunities and placements which
will help the parents and students decide
their suitable university and college.
Some of the colleges and universities
who are present at the Fair include
Anna University, Manipal University
India, SRM University, Hindustan
University, Dr DY Patil University,
Datta Meghe Medical University, KJ
Somaiya Institutions, MVJ Colleges,
Thapar University, NITTE University,
Jain International School, SDM Group,
Ramdeo Baba Engineering College, and
Sona Engineering College. Molecules
is a leading business group and the
largest Indian exhibition organiser with
many events under its belt for NRIs. The
exhibition in Oman is being organised
by Lynx and Indus Group, India.
Chairman of Kidney Federation of India shares his experience during his Salalah visit
Sharing and caring for the humanity
Fr Davis lives for a mission
called ‘people to people
interaction to reduce
conflict and encourage
‘sharing’ as
much as possible
KAUSHALENDRA SINGH
SALALAH
Jan 9: This man has devoted his life for
creating awareness for strong human
values. The values which cannot be
separated and go beyond the limits of
preaching and assurances.
Action is the key word for him,
an action that not only raises rays
of hope but also makes the world a
better place to live with the idea of
sharing.
Father Davis Chiramel, parish
priest of the St Francis Xavier Church
in the coastal village of Vadanappally
in the Indian state of Kerala, got this
realisation after sharing his kidney
with an unknown person of another
community. Working as Chairman of
Kidney Federation of India, Fr Davis
was in Salalah recently for some
community service.
In an interview with the Observer
Fr Davis admitted that his experience
after the sharing was so thrilling and
requests for more such sharing was so
high that he ended up establishing the
Kidney Federation of India in 2009.
He started convincing people to share
their kidneys with people in need.
“The response is so tremendous that
number of people who have shown
interest in sharing their kidneys went
up to 600,000 till the end of 2015,”
said Fr Davis.
“Being a priest people from
different backgrounds would come
daily to me for some solution or the
other. But an unusual problem came
one day when a group of people came
to me seeking my help in arranging
5
kidney for one Gopinath. I requested
them to look for some solution and
come back to me if they do not get
any… Since Gopinath’s friends failed
to get any solution, I shared my
kidney and here was born the Kidney
Federation of India,” said Fr Davis
briefly summing up the great journey.
Now working as the chairman
of the Federation, Fr Davis lives for
a mission called ‘people to people
interaction to reduce conflict and
encourage ‘sharing’ as much as
possible. He dreams for a day when
there would no war, no conflicts in
the name of religion and the people
around the world live happily with
the value of ‘sharing.’
He finds something missing that
cause conflict and that missing link
is ‘sharing’. “If people start giving
importance to this small thing, the
problems would automatically go and
bonhomie would erupt. Here I am
not preaching, I am telling what I am
experiencing. My sharing not only
gave a happy life to someone, it also
spread a strong message and there are
600,000 people who have shown their
interest with the Kidney Foundation
of India to share their kidneys.”
“Do what you preach… I did it
before telling people to share. I visit
around the world to propagate the
cause of sharing and getting very
good response,” said Fr Davis.
He expressed happiness over
good rate of voluntary sharing in the
Indian state of Kerala where 70-80
people have shared their kidneys to
strangers.
profiles containing a
raft of insight — from
birthdays through to
addresses and holiday
plans — It wouldn’t
take much digging for
a cybercriminal to find
and exploit valuable
information, or steal
your identity for their
own gain. This is even
easier if you have
unwittingly made them your friend,” he
added.
Despite over three quarters (78 per
cent) of internet users having a social
media account, the study showed a
distinct lack of awareness among social
media users. One in ten (9 per cent)
quiz respondents didn’t think people
outside of their friends list could be
seeing their pages and posts, making it
easy for their personal information to
fall into the wrong hands, or even be
used by criminals for identity theft and
financial fraud.
The research found that users are
putting themselves in danger when
adding friends, with a surprising 12 per
cent admitting adding anyone to their
list — regardless of whether they know
them or not. A third (31 per cent) of
users will also accept connections from
people they don’t know, if they have
mutual friends in common, although
this could expose them to more
unknown people — even advertisement
agents or cybercriminals. When it
comes to trusting their “friends”, a
quarter (26 per cent) of those surveyed
would have no hesitation to click on
a link sent by a friend without asking
what it is, or considering the possibility
that the sender’s account has been
hacked.
6
INDONESIA VOLCANO ERUPTS
S U N DAY l J A N U A R Y 1 0 l 2 0 1 6
CHILDREN’S DAY IN THAILAND
Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung
volcano spews lava and
ash during an eruption as
it is seen from Tiga Pancur
village in Karo, North
Sumatra province, on Friday,
according to this photo
taken by Antara Foto. The
volcano has been inactive for
more than 400 years.
ASIA
Children play in a
military vehicle during
the Children’s Day
celebration in Bangkok,
Thailand on Saturday.
Army barracks opened
their doors to children
to interact with their
weapons and vehicles as
part of the celebration.
South pushing situation to brink of war: N Korea
BLAME GAME: Head of the ruling North Korean Workers’ Party propaganda department blames South Korea’s campaign
SEOUL: South Korea’s loudspeaker
broadcasts aimed at North Korea push
the rivals to the “brink of war,” a top North
Korean official has told a propaganda
rally, in the isolated country’s first
official response to the sonic barrage
across its border. North Korea’s fourth
nuclear test on Wednesday angered both
the United States and China, which was
not given prior notice, although the US
government and weapons experts doubt
the North’s claim that the device it set off
was a hydrogen bomb.
In retaliation for the test, South Korea
on Friday unleashed a ear-splitting
propaganda barrage. The last time South
Korea deployed the loudspeakers, in
August 2015, it triggered an exchange of
artillery fire.
“Jealous of the successful test of our
first H-bomb, the US and its followers
are driving the situation to the brink
of war, by saying they have resumed
psychological broadcasts and brought in
strategic bombers,” Kim Ki Nam, head
of the ruling Workers’ Party propaganda
department, said at Friday’s rally.
State media published images of the
rally which appeared to show thousands
of people gathered in central Pyongyang,
holding signs glorifying leader Kim Jong
Un, whose birthday was also on Friday.
Kim Ki Nam’s comments, which are
in line with routine propaganda rhetoric,
were the North’s first official response
to the South’s broadcasts, which it
considers insulting. The broadcasts, in
rolling bursts from walls of loudspeakers
at 11 sites along the heavily militarised
border, blared criticism of the North’s
Pyongyang points to former Middle East
leaders’ fate in nuclear test defence
A joint army-civilian meeting for welcoming Juche Korea’s first successful H-bomb test took place on Friday in this photo
released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang on Friday. — Reuters
regime and “K-pop” music. North Korea
later responded with its own broadcasts.
A South Korean military official said
Seoul and Washington had discussed the
deployment of US strategic weapons on
the Korean peninsula after the test, but
declined to give details. Media said these
could include B-2 and B-52 bombers,
and a nuclear-powered submarine.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State
John Kerry said he had told Chinese
Foreign Minister Wang Yi that China’s
approach to North Korea had not
succeeded. Wang also held talks with his
South Korean counterpart, Yun Byungse. Yun pushed Wang to “sternly punish”
North Korea over the test, the South
Korean foreign ministry said. China
is North Korea’s main economic and
diplomatic backer, although relations
between them have cooled in recent
years.
South Korea’s nuclear safety agency
said it had found a minuscule amount
of xenon gas in a sample from off the
country’s east coast but needed more
Vietnam warns China over air safety threat
HANOI: Vietnam’s civil aviation
authority has accused Beijing of
threatening regional air safety by
conducting
unannounced
flights
through its airspace to a disputed reef
in the South China Sea, state media
said on Saturday. The Civil Aviation
Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) warned
that the unannounced flights “threaten
the safety of all flights in the region,”
according to a report in the Tuoi Tre
Daily newspaper.
In quotes published in Vietnamese
official online newspaper Zing.vn
late on Friday, CAAV director Lai
Xuan Thanh said a protest letter about
the flights had been sent to Beijing,
as well as a complaint to the United
Nations’ International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO).
“Chinese aircraft have ignored
all the rules and norms of the ICAO
by not providing any flight plans or
maintaining any radio contact with
Vietnam’s air traffic control centre,” he
added.
In the seven days to January 8,
Vietnam logged 46 incidents of Chinese
A China Southern Airline passenger
plane lands at a newly-built airport
during a test flight in Yongshu Reef
island, also known as Fiery Cross Reef,
South China Sea, on Wednesday, in this
picture released by Chinese official
Xinhua News Agency. — Reuters
planes flying without warning through
airspace monitored by air traffic control
in the southern metropolis of Ho Chi
Minh City, according to civilian aviation
authorities quoted in the Tuoi Tre Daily
newspaper report.
Chinese state media on Wednesday
said two civilian planes landed on
an island in the Fiery Cross reef in
the contested Spratly Islands, which
have long been at the centre of bitter
wrangling between Vietnam and its
giant neighbour.
The two “test flights” on Wednesday
followed an initial aircraft landing on
Saturday, which prompted the first
formal diplomatic complaint from
Hanoi. The Spratlys are claimed by
Hanoi but controlled by Beijing, which
has ramped up activity in the area
by rapidly building artificial islands,
including airstrips said to be capable of
hosting military jets.
The recent flights, slammed by Vietnam
as a “serious violation” of its sovereignty,
have sparked international alarm, with
the United States warning on Thursday
that the move would raise tensions in
the disputed waters.
The Philippines has also said it would
file a protest.
China asserts ownership over
virtually all the South China Sea, putting
it at odds with regional neighbours the
Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei
and Taiwan, which stake partial claims.
Several of these nations, including
Vietnam, have also built facilities on
islands they control, but at a significantly
slower pace and smaller scale than
Beijing. — AFP
analysis and samples to tell if the trace
came from a nuclear test.
South Korea said TV footage released
by the North on Friday of what appeared
to be a submarine launch of a ballistic
missile was probably manipulated.
The deployment of such a weapon is
some years away, said a military official
who asked not to be identified.
The images showed Kim Jong Un on
the deck of a vessel watching a missile
emerge from the water in a short and
heavily edited clip. — Reuters
SEOUL: North Korea has defended
its latest nuclear test, citing the fate of
two toppled Middle East leaders, while
flexing its military muscle by showing TV
footage of a submarine-launched missile
test. A commentary published by the
official KCNA news agency late Friday
said the fate of Saddam Hussein in Iraq
and Muammar Ghaddafi in Libya showed
what happened when countries forsake
their nuclear weapon ambitions.
The commentary said Pyongyang’s
fourth nuclear test was a “great event”
that provided North Korea with a
deterrent powerful enough to secure
its borders against all hostile forces,
including the United States.
“History proves that powerful nuclear
deterrence serves as the strongest
treasured sword for frustrating outsiders’
aggression,” it said. North Korea said
the test was of a miniaturised hydrogen
bomb — a claim largely dismissed by
experts who argue the yield was far too
low for a full-fledged thermonuclear
device. “The Saddam Hussein regime in
Iraq and the Ghaddafi regime in Libya
could not escape the fate of destruction
after being deprived of their foundations
for nuclear development and giving up
nuclear programmes of their own accord,”
the commentary said.
Both had made the mistake, the
commentary argued, of yielding to
Western pressure led by a United States
bent on regime change.
Asking North Korea to give up its
nuclear weapons was as pointless as
“wishing to see the sky fall”, it said, adding
that the entire country was proud of its
“H-bomb of justice”. In addition to the
KCNA commentary, the state Korean
Central TV late Friday released video
footage of a purportedly new submarinelaunched ballistic missile (SLBM) test.
But South Korean media suggested
the footage was an edited compilation
of the North’s third SLBM test, conducted
last month in the Sea of Japan, and a
different ballistic missile test from 2014.
The undated footage shows leader Kim
Jong-Un, on board a military vessel in a
winter coat and a fedora hat, looking on
as a missile is launched vertically from
underwater and ignites in mid air.
The video then cuts to a rocket flying
through the clouds, suggesting the
missile was able to reach such altitudes.
But South Korean media said the
images of a rocket rising through the
clouds were in fact taken from footage of
a SCUD missile test broadcast in 2014.
North Korea first announced in May
that it had conducted a successful SLBM
test, a claim accompanied by pictures of
Kim pointing at the missile as it blasted
out of the water at a 45-degree angle.
A second SLBM test was carried out
off the southeastern port of Wonsan in
November but this was apparently a
failure as only debris from its casing was
seen in the sea and no traces of the flight
were detected. South Korean military
officials say the North is continuing to
actively pursue the development of
SLBMs, which would take its nuclear
threat to a new level. The defiant
message and video footage came as the
international community scrambled to
respond to North Korea’s N- test. — AFP
IN BRIEF
Great white ‘Jaws’
shark dies in Japan
TOKYO: A great white shark which
was captured and exhibited in a
Japanese aquarium, one of only a
few such sharks to ever be displayed
in this way, has died just after three
days, the facility said on Saturday.
The shark, about 3.5 metres in length,
was trapped in a fisherman’s net and
taken to an aquarium on the southern
Japanese island of Okinawa on
Tuesday. It was exhibited in the Sea of
Dangerous Sharks section at Okinawa
Churaumi Aquarium, but died on
Friday, according to the facility.
The aquarium, popular for its giant
tanks where it exhibits whale sharks,
said it is investigating what caused
the death of the fish — of the same
species as that featured in Hollywood
buster “Jaws”. “It is very difficult to
keep great white sharks,” said Keiichi
Sato, an expert in cartilage fish, of the
Okinawa Churashima Foundation.
Two aquariums in the United
States, including Monterey Bay
Aquarium in California, have had the
species in captive for short periods in
the past, he said.
A Shinto believer pours cold water over herself to purify her body and soul as
part of an endurance show at the Kanda Shrine, known as ‘Kanda Myojin’ in
Tokyo on Saturday. As many as 36 believers aged between 19 and 63 took
part in the annual new year event. — AFP
Two killed as bus plunges into ravine
KUALA LAMPUR: Two Indonesian workers were killed on Saturday when the bus
they were riding plunged into a flood drain on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, a rescue
official said. Eight other Indonesian passengers of the chartered bus were seriously
injured in the accident shortly after dawn in Kuala Selangor, state fire and rescue
department operations director Mohamad Sani Harul said. He said the bus was
carrying 47 Indonesian passengers en route to Bagan Datoh jetty in the nearby state of
Perak. The migrant workers were returning to Indonesia when the accident occurred.
Police investigators were still determining the cause of the accident. — dpa
A record 556 hopefuls are also running to become legislators in parliamentary elections which coincide with the presidential vote
Taiwan candidates get theatrical in packed election race
TAIPEI:
From rock concerts to
yellow
rubber
ducks,
Taiwan’s
parliamentary candidates are going to
great lengths to stand out with a week
to go in the island’s tightest ever race for
seats.
The vote for president on
January 16 is grabbing the biggest
headlines, and Saturday sees a “super
weekend” of rallies by rival leadership
candidates.
But a record 556 hopefuls are also
running to become legislators in
parliamentary elections which coincide
with the presidential vote, with just 113
seats up for grabs.
The embattled ruling Kuomintang
(KMT) risks losing its parliamentary
majority this time, with the main
opposition Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP) hoping to reap the benefits.
But 26 smaller parties, many of them
new on the political scene, are also
gunning for glory and are pulling out the
stops to garner attention.
Rocker and social activist Freddy Lim
of the newly formed New Power Party
wooed thousands of supporters when
he sang on stage with his heavy metal
band ChthoniC in a recent free concert
in Taipei.
The NPP, which grew out of the
student-led Sunflower Movement that
occupied parliament in 2014 over a trade
pact with China, will enlist a theatre
group to stage short plays, including the
story of Don Quixote, in a campaign
rally on Saturday night.
Other candidates and their campaign
teams have dressed as cartoon characters, Three models wear element of Taiwan’s national flag during an election campaign in
or even stripped, for attention.
Taipei on Saturday. Chu was a reluctant candidate for the leadership as the KMT is
Liu Shu-fang, an independent widely expected to lose the presidency. — AFP
candidate in southern Kaohsiung city,
removed her dress to expose a red bra at
one public event.
At other events, campaign teams
appeared as Japanese cartoon characters,
Hollywood animated movie “Minions”,
and the messaging app LINE’s famous
rabbit and bear.
Candidates are also turning to free
gifts and memorabilia to get their
message across.
Lee Yen-jong, standing for the new
Green Party-Social Democratic Party
Alliance, has been promoting safe sex.
Meanwhile, mainstream candidates
are also trying an extra flourish.
DPP candidate Lai Jui-lung decked out
his campaign truck with yellow rubber
ducks — a reminder to voters of his role
in Kaohsiung city government when
a giant inflatable duck, created by utch
artist Florentijn Hofman, drew four
million visitors to the southern city in
2013.
“The number of contestants in this
parliamentary election is a historic
high and some candidates are using
gimmicks to get more media exposure
for their campaign,” said Chen Chaochien, a commentator at Ming Chuan
University.
This year also sees more niche parties
trying their luck — the Peace Pigeon
Union is campaigning to promote
“peaceful land and sea pigeon racing as
a legitimate entertainment” to dispel the
stigma around the sport.
Pigeon racing is popular in Taiwan
but has been linked to criminal
activity such as gambling, race fixing
and even the kidnapping of pigeons for
ransom. — AFP
SUBCONTINENT
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
Reconstruction
and repairs to
start in Nepal
KATHMANDU: Nepal will start
repairs and reconstruction next week
for nearly a million homes damaged
by last year’s deadly earthquakes, the
head of a state agency said on Saturday,
nearly nine months after the disaster
left hundreds of thousands homeless.
Two tremors last April and May
killed 9,000 people, injured more than
22,000 and damaged or destroyed
more than 900,000 houses, forcing
many to brave freezing temperatures
living in temporary shelters made
from tarps and corrugated iron sheets.
“We realise that the victims are
very much in trouble. We’ll start the
reconstruction work from January 16,”
Sushil Gyewali, chief of the National
Reconstruction
Authority,
told
reporters.
The agency was launched in
September but political squabbling
has delayed the deployment of $4.1
billion pledged by foreign donors for
reconstruction.
Unicef estimates that more than
200,000 families affected by the quakes
are still living in temporary shelters at
an altitude above 1,500 metres (4,920
feet), where harsh winter conditions
will continue through February.
The delay has been blamed for more
than a dozen deaths since the onset
of winter, mostly of people over 65,
according to domestic media reports.
Gyewali said the agency would
start training engineers, masons and
other technicians and dispatch them
to districts ravaged by Nepal’s worst
disaster on record.
— Reuters
Blast kills
two Pakistani
coastguards near
Iran border
QUETTA: At least two Pakistani
coastguards were killed and three
others wounded on Saturday when
their vehicle hit a landmine close to
the Iranian border in southwestern
Balochistan province, officials said.
The coastguards’ vehicle hit the
explosives in Koldan town, near the
Iranian border and some 80 kilometres
(47 miles) from Gwadar, a seaport
managed by Beijing.
“The coastguards’ vehicle was
part of a convoy which brings
drinking water for them from Koldan
town to the port of Gwadar daily,”
said Muhammad Anwar, a senior
administration official in the area.
“Five guards were injured when
their vehicle hit the landmine and two
of them succumbed to their injuries
later,” he said.
Another
government
official
confirmed the incident and causalities.
Gwadar port is being developed
under Beijing’s ambitious $46 billion
infrastructure plan called the China
Pakistan Economic Corridor, to link
China’s western city of Kashgar to
the Pakistani port of Gwadar on the
Arabian Sea.
— AFP
A SHORT WALK
omandailyobserver
TOWARDS
7
PEACE
Sri Lanka president
pledges reforms to
prevent ethnic war
An Afghan burqa-clad woman walks with a child along a street on the outskirts of Herat. — AFP
Pakistan to host meeting
for Afghan, Taliban talks
FUTURE HOPE: The talks are designed to find a way to revive
the peace deals, but the main goal is for the Taliban to participate
KABUL: Talks designed to find a way
to get Taliban militants and the Afghan
government to the peace table have
been set for Monday in the Pakistani
capital Islamabad, according to Afghan
officials.
The four-way talks between
Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the
United States are designed to find a way
to revive the peace talks, but the main
goal will be finding a way to get the
Taliban to participate in the future.
“Taliban representatives will not be
present in this round of talks,” said Javid
Faisal, a spokesman for the Afghanistan’s
chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah said
on Saturday.
“We hope that Taliban will be
united and represent the group in the
next round of peace talks,” said Abdul
Hakim Mujahid, the deputy chair of
Afghanistan’s high peace council and
a former Taliban representative to the
United Nations.
The concern is that recent infighting
between Taliban factions will prevent the
group from sending any representative
who can speak for the entire movement.
“I do not think the split between the
Taliban will affect the peace talks since
negotiations for uniting the group again
has born some fruit over the past two
weeks and we have not seen any armed
combat between rival groups,” said
Mujahid.
Meanwhile, Taliban militants gain
more ground in Afghanistan each day,
with Afghan security forces on the
defensive.
“We are trying to change our
security force strategy from defensive
to offensive,” Masoom Stanakzai, the
acting defence minister for Afghanistan,
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s President
Maithripala Sirisena marked his
first year in office on Saturday with
a pledge to introduce sweeping
constitutional reforms aimed at
preventing the island returning to
ethnic war.
Sirisena told parliament he
wanted a new statute to guarantee
the country will not see a repeat of a
bloody ethnic conflict that claimed
over 100,000 lives between 1972 and
2009.
“We need a constitution that suits
the needs of the 21st century and
make sure that all communities live
in harmony,” Sirisena said, adding
that he was ready to shed executive
powers in favour of a strengthened
parliament.
“The extremists in the (Sinhalese
majority) south and the (minority
Tamil) north have caused the loss of
thousands of young lives,” Sirisena
said.
“We must ensure reconciliation
and harmony so that we will never go
back to war.”
However the president — seen as
a unifying figure in the until recently
conflict-torn island since taking over
from strongman leader Mahinda
Rajapakse last year — acknowledged
the difficulty in crafting a constitution
that would satisfy both sides.
Hardline Sinhalese oppose a
federal system that would ensure
more political power for minority
Tamils, he said.
But minorities fear that a “unitary”
constitution would see them lose out
to the majority Sinhalese.
Prime
Minister
Ranil
Wickremesinghe
on
Saturday
announced a planned “Constitutional
Assembly” made up of legislators,
who would seek public input and
make recommendations for a new
constitution.
In an interview this week, Sirisena
We need a
constitution that
suits the needs of
the 21st century
and make sure that all
communities live in
harmony
MAITHRIPALA SIRISENA
President of Sri Lanka
said he was keen to abolish the island’s
all-powerful executive presidency
and go back to a parliamentary-style
democracy, which Sri Lanka had till
1978.
The new statute would be put to
a nationwide referendum with hopes
to complete the process early next
year, he said in the interview.
Tamils who claimed they were
discriminated against in education
and employment took up arms in
1972 and battled against successive
Sinhalese-dominated governments.
While many of the grievances
were addressed over the years, the
militancy grew into a full-fledged
guerrilla war with Tamil Tiger rebels
controlling a third of the country’s
territory before they were eventually
crushed in May 2009.
The offensive that defeated the
rebels prompted allegations of
widespread war crimes, including
accusations that at least 40,000 Tamil
civilians were killed by government
forces.
Sirisena came to power partly on
the back of support from the minority
Tamils after pledging reconciliation
and promising investigations into
war-time atrocities.
He has spoken of political powersharing as a means to address Tamil
demands for autonomy. — AFP
Pakistani Taliban fighters, who were arrested by Afghan border police, stand during
a presentation of seized weapons and equipment to the media in Kabul. — Reuters
The concern is that recent
infighting between Taliban
factions will prevent
the group from sending
any representative who
can speak for the entire
movement
told media on Saturday.
It is unclear when this strategy will
be put to implementation and if it will
have any success at all.
Stanakzai said, “The change in
weather has not brought any differences
on the level of intensity of the fight in
some areas of the country.”
Stanakzai is referring to previous
years when Taliban militants decreased
the level of attacks in country during the
winter.
The newest effort at peace talks
comes after representatives of the four
countries met on the sidelines of the
Heart of Asia conference in Pakistan
and set a coordination committee for
the revival of peace talks in December
of last year.
The last round of peace talks between
the Afghan government and Taliban
militants was scheduled in late July with
the help of Pakistan.
It collapsed after news of the death
of Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah
Mohammad Omar surfaced.
Faisal said Hikmat Khalil Karzai,
the deputy minister of Afghanistan’s
Foreign Affairs Ministry, will represent
Afghanistan on Monday. — dpa
Sri Lankan President
Maithripala Sirisena
Camp Phoenix, a former training camp, will take in around 1,000 addicts who will receive food, medical attention and treatment
Afghanistan turns Nato camp into drug treatment base
KABUL: Afghan officials have opened
a new drug treatment centre in an
abandoned Nato military base in Kabul,
in an attempt to stamp out the country’s
massive problem of drug abuse.
Afghanistan is one of the world’s
biggest sources of opium, producing
around 3,300 tonnes last year, despite a
drop of 48 per cent in output.
With the economy in ruins after
decades of war and unable to provide
jobs for young Afghans, demand for the
temporary relief provided by drugs is
high.
Camp Phoenix, a former training
camp on the edges of Kabul set up by
the US army in 2003, will take in around
1,000 homeless drug addicts who will
receive food, medical attention and
treatment, said Public Health Minister
Ferozuddin Feroz.
“We give them a proper shave, they
will take a shower, winter clothing and
treatment will follow,” he said, showing
reporters around the facility, which
offers a 45-day course of treatment for
homeless addicts.
“We will return them as normal
members of society.”
The effort is the latest in a long
series of anti-drug initiatives backed by
the government and its international
partners, but it is only a very small step
to tackle a sprawling problem, and many
remain sceptical.
Police regularly round up addicts who
shelter in areas such as the Pul-e Sokhta
bridge in the western part of the capital,
but successive governments have been A drug addict speaks to a doctor at a newly-opened treatment centre at Camp
Phoenix, in Kabul, Afghanistan. — Reuters
powerless to resolve the problem.
In May, a report said around 1.9
million to 2.4 million Afghan adults may
be drug users, from among a population
of about 30 million, with drugs found in
more than 30 per cent of homes.
To counter this situation, the country
has just 123 treatment centres, sufficient
to treat just over 10 per cent of opium
and heroin users.
But even addicts who go through the
centres often fall back into drug use.
“I have received five rounds of
treatment already, but am still using,”
said Sayed Dawod, one of the addicts
at the new centre. “There is no proper
treatment in Afghanistan.”
Ministers say they are aware of the
threat from the drug problem, not just
to public health but also how it feeds
endemic corruption in the government,
from police officials on up.
Feroz was himself attacked on Sunday
by a dealer who tried to stab him with an
infected needle during an operation to
collect addicts and take them to the new
centre for treatment.
But officials have only limited
ability to curb a billion-dollar industry
protected by powerful regional interests
and controlled in part by warlords and
Taliban militants who use the proceeds
to fund their insurgency.
“Leaders of the unity government
know the threat illegal drugs pose to
our society and they are committed to
dealing with this,” said Salamat Azimi,
the counter narcotics minister.
The failure of past efforts of the Afghan
government leaves many uncertain of
success this time, however. — Reuters
8
ANALYSIS
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
INTERNSHIP, BOON
FOR JOB-SEEKERS
ABDULAZIZ AL JAHDHAMI
[email protected]
G
etting a job has never been easy and having a degree is not enough to make this dream
comes true. In today’s job market, undergraduates, who leave their high schools
armed only with educational degrees, may not be so lucky to get hired if they lack
experience.
As Benjamin Franklin said, “Tell me I forget, teach me I may remember, involve
me and I learn”. The competition to get a good job is still going on; every graduate
has to simply be more qualified than others in order to win the employment contest.
In this regard, going to a college or a university is an essential step, but classroom
learning shall be enhanced by gaining real world experience.
Here comes the significance of internship opportunity which undergraduates
highly call for. It’s the internship that distinguishes the graduates’ competency from
each other. Internship is the gateway for undergraduates towards speedy job hunting
after graduation as it enriches their knowledge and interpersonal skills.
As practice makes perfect, students are in need of training and internship
opportunities so they can implement the theoretical part of their learning at schools.
This will enlighten them with the real work environment where knowledge and
practice are converged.
In addition to the great experience, internship allows undergraduates to build up
their personal portfolio and resume of educational and work experience.
Any kind of exposure added to the resume is helpful, but career-relevant internship
will make a better impression on employers.
This will grant undergraduates a plus point upon graduation and when applying
for a job. Likewise, internship is an opportunity
for undergraduates to build their network with
As practice makes
employers and gain new resources.
Everyone an undergraduate meets during perfect, students are
the duration of internship could be a potential in need of training
contact for his network and someone can call
and internship
upon for advice and referrals while seeking a
job. Lot of advantages could be acquired from opportunities so that
internship, but unfortunately undergraduates they can implement
are not given enough opportunities to test the
the theoretical part
water of real life.
As a matter of fact, most of the higher of their learning
education institutions in the country are not at schools.
giving high importance to this matter, although
it’s of great value to students.
Some of those institutions, especially private, are only concerned about the
quantity more than the quality of their outcome.
Generally, the benchmark of any college or university lies in the success and
quality of its graduates. To boost the chances of success, institutions should promote
internship programmes for students. Dedicated employees shall be assigned to
support students get internship opportunities each based on his/her field of study.
For some specialisations, completing certain hours of internship is a must and a
prerequisite for some courses. Therefore, colleges and universities should facilitate
internship opportunities for the undergraduates.
However, sometimes undergraduates are even getting surprised by a last-minute
request to get an internship at a very short notice.
In such unplanned case, students will get trapped between the must-to-do
internship and short period of time to get the internship done.
It would be a real challenge indeed. Instead of the faculty supporting the students,
they threaten them that no courses would be registered if internship is not completed.
Mutual coordination should be maintained between higher education institutions
and employers from both the government and private sectors.
Besides getting a foot in the door of a potential employer and looking good on a
résumé, internships have other advantages to undergraduates.
Through internship, students can get a first-hand experience of the real life and
work environment. Dear graduates and undergraduates, the internship experience is
what will separate you from your peers when seeking a job! So get in there and mingle
Online slur in South Africa
A
slew of racist comments on social media in South Africa dignity of others), against both Sparrow and Hart — but not
have unleashed outrage and exposed deep hostility in the
Khumalo. “We opened and laid charges against the people
“Rainbow Nation” as it struggles with its demons 22 years who originally started making these offensive statements,”
after white-minority rule ended.
party spokesman Zizi Kodwa said.
Irritated by rubbish left on a beach following New Year’s
“These individuals must be punished because they are
Day celebrations, Penny Sparrow, a white real estate agent taking South Africa back... South Africa has never been so
from the eastern coast province of KwaZulu-Natal, wrote a polarised as it is today racially.
savage comment on Facebook.
“Khumalo reacted to an offensive comment which was
“From now I shall address the blacks of South Africa as made against black people.”
monkeys as I see the cute little wild monkeys do the same
Steytler slammed the ANC for “unacceptable
— pick and drop litter,” she said, in a posting that soon went discrimination” over its decision not to pursue charges
viral. The following day Chris Hart, an economic analyst against Khumalo.
often quoted in the media, came under fire for comments
In 2000, 72 per cent of South Africans were reported to
on Twitter about a growing “sense of entitlement and hatred believe interracial relations were improving.
towards minorities” in South Africa.
By 2012, that figure had dropped to 39
He has since been suspended from
per cent, according to a government report.
The posts touched
his position at Standard Bank, which
The ANC has also floated the idea of laws
off a vicious cycle of criminalising “any act that perpetuates
said there were “racist undertones” in his
comments.
racism and glorifies apartheid”. But
hatred in a country
The posts touched off a vicious cycle
criminalising racism is not necessarily the
still traumatised by
of hatred in a country still traumatised by
solution, said Nelson Mandela Foundation
discrimination under CEO Sello Hatang.
decades of finely-tuned discrimination
between the races under apartheid rule.
He quoted the late president Mandela,
apartheid rule, writes
“I want to cleanse this country of all
saying: “In the end, reconciliation is a
BÉATRICE DEBUT
white people... We must act as Hitler did
spiritual process, which requires more
to the Jews,” Velaphi Khumalo, a local
than just a legal framework. It has to
government employee, wrote on another
happen in the hearts and minds of people.”
viral Facebook message as the war of words worsened.
A clumsy attempt to apologise by Sparrow only stoked
He too has since been suspended by the Gauteng public anger after she appeared to blame her diabetes for her
provincial government department, which condemned his outburst.
“barbaric and racist utterances”.
And the country’s largest opposition party, the
Soon after Andrew Barnes, a white TV news anchor, Democratic Alliance, which has long been trying to shake
was taken off air by local channel eNCA after mocking the off its reputation as a “white party”, was left red-faced when
pronunciation of a black government minister.
it was revealed that Sparrow was a member.
The flood of insults “has shone a light on the amount of
The party fought to defend itself, lashing out at Sparrow
work that still needs to be done to bring true reconciliation
for “dehumanising black South Africans” and expelling her.
to South Africa,” Mienke Steytler of South Africa’s Institute
Khumalo, too, presented his apologies, but the
of Race Relations (IRR) said.
explosion of vitriol across social media continued unabated
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has filed — reflecting often-unspoken tensions within South
charges of “crimen injuria” (intentionally impairing the African society.
Jeb Bush now races to salvage his presidential campaign
J
eb Bush’s US presidential bid is boiling
down to early voting New Hampshire,
some associates say, while others envision
his protracted battle for the Republican
nomination stretching deep into the spring.
Either way, supporters and analysts
agree it will be difficult for Bush, a former
Florida governor and son and brother of
two presidents, to emerge as the nominee
given American conservatives’ current
appetite for anti-establishment candidates
and the roiling ethno-nationalism of erratic
frontrunner Donald Trump.
Bush launched his campaign as the
prohibitive favourite, his main hurdle
being overcoming foreign policies of his
presidential brother George W Bush.
Jeb’s team, and a supporting SuperPAC,
a fundraising entity allowed to raise an
unlimited amount of money, raked in a
stratospheric $100 million in early months.
Today his poll numbers are in single digits
and other campaigns appear to count him
out. He is mocked relentlessly by Trump,
who tweeted last Friday that new figures
showing his rival’s poor favourability were
“not good news for Jeb Bush.”
Despite his command of the issues,
Bush has appeared stiff and frustrated at
Republican debates.
In private, according to one major donor
and acquaintance, Bush has expressed
exasperation at the state of the race, and
how a bullying tycoon with a tenuous
grasp of foreign policy has commandeered
the primaries. “He’s said he can’t quite
understand this phenomenon,” the donor,
who spoke under anonymity so he could
discuss the campaign more freely, said.
It has been distressing, the donor said, for
Bush “to see someone like Trump rewarded
for so many intolerant, outrageous, false
statements that he says all the time.”
With Bush running sixth out of 12
Republicans, averaging 3.3 per cent in polls,
his campaign reportedly has now cancelled
television ads in Iowa which votes on
February 1.
Instead he redeployed many staffers to
New Hampshire to blanket the state until
the February 8 primary, members of his
state leadership team said.
“I’ve now come to a recognition that
New Hampshire is probably do or die for
Jeb,” the donor said.
“I never would have thought that,” he
Bush launched campaign
as the prohibitive favourite,
his main hurdle being
overcoming foreign policies
of his presidential brother
George W Bush, notes
MICHAEL MATHES
added. “But he has put so many resources
into New Hampshire, it’s like he’s pushing
all the chips into the centre of the table.”
Bush is not alone. Fellow establishment
candidates like New Jersey Governor Chris
Christie and Ohio Governor John Kasich
are crowding in for town-hall events as
they make their stands in the all-important
Granite State.
“It certainly doesn’t look wonderful for
Jeb Bush,” observed Steffen Schmidt, an
Iowa State University professor who has
analysed presidential races for 40 years.
“When you were supposed to be
the establishment guy and now you’re
languishing at the bottom of the polls
with Mike Huckabee and a bunch of other
losers, it’s tough.”
And yet Schmidt insisted a long-term
path exists for Bush beyond Iowa and New
Hampshire, provided he does not tank
there. Wins in those early states carry huge
psychological boosts, but the primary race
is about winning enough overall delegates
to earn the nomination.
Schmidt notes that Republicans in
several large states like New York, Illinois,
Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which
vote in March and April, and California
and New Jersey in June, are more moderate
and less likely to support Trump or today’s
number two candidate, conservative
Senator Ted Cruz.
US Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush pauses while speaking at a Forum
on Addiction and Heroin Epidemic in Hooksett, New Hampshire.
— Reuters
ANALYSIS
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
omandailyobserver
9
Talk the talk, or walk the walk? It’s your choice
J
RAY PETERSEN
[email protected]
ane Austen, in Sense and Sensibility wrote, “It isn’t
what we say or think that defines us, but what we
do.” While other related quotes are, “You can talk the
talk, but can you walk the walk?” And, a really good
one is, “Words can lie, but actions always tell the
truth.” At the end of the day, talk is cheap! Let’s begin
2016 by being realistic, practical, and being effective.
Almost every day, our news media carries
stories and announcements concerning the growth
of tourism in Oman, which are always positive,
and rarely exercise caution.
Ghasi Al Humaid al Hashmi, Deputy DirectorGeneral of Tourist Promotion, at the Ministry of
Tourism, has gone on record praising the “creation
of more job opportunities.” Wael al Lawati, former
CEO of Omran, has announced “good growth” in
the tourism sector that will continue to generate
jobs, while Maitha al Mahrouqi, Under-Secretary
for the Ministry of Tourism, stated earlier this year
that their policies will continue to “create new jobs.”
It is both their jobs, and in their best interests
to stay positive.
But what really irritates me, is that they should
be talking about creating jobs for Omanis.
There are an awful lot of jobs in tourism that
should be done by Omanis, and are not. Putting
aside Omanisation policies for a while, which
appear ineffective in this job sector, the tourism
industry needs to look at pathways to integrate
more locals into entry, front of house, and customer Britain to meet the British, France to meet the
French, and so on.
service positions.
Why would you want to come to Oman, if not
I’m an inveterate tourist! I love travelling,
looking at, seeing and doing things, and then in to meet Omanis? Now, all that said, the Omanis
the evening, relaxing and enjoying all the comforts then have to do ‘their bit,’ and be what the job
requires, and not what they want it to be.
of the 21st century.
My wife met up with a bus load of tourists at the
That being so, I get to stay at many of the
Sultanate’s premier hotels however few actually old village of Birkat Al Mouz last week, and was
appalled to be told that they
appear to embrace a policy of
didn’t know where they were!
the employment of Omanis in
Their driver/guide (!) spoke
their workforce.
There are an awful lot
limited, and very poor
The exception, in my
of jobs in tourism that very
English, mostly limited, they
experience, lies at Mussanah
should be done by
said, to “stopping, off now, sura,
where Maurice de Rooij
manages the Millennium Omanis, and are not. The sura,” and later, “khalas, going,
now.” They explained that
Mussanah Resort, and appears
tourism industry needs now,
they had made a bit of a game
to not only actively encourage
to look at pathways to
out of discovering what the
an Omani presence among the
words meant.
staff, but to engage with them
integrate more locals
wanted to have a good
positively, breaking down that
into entry and customer lookThey
around, but were told no,
traditional Omani reserve.
service positions.
quite sharply.
In doing so, he is able to
Talking to my wife before
release the joy and humour
they boarded reluctantly, they
of the individuals, which in
turn creates a tangible cultural awareness and told of being shepherded in this manner “all the
time,” and were especially disappointed to be taken
appreciation among his hotel’s guests.
Tourists to Oman actually want to interact with so quickly from a place they would have enjoyed
exploring.
Omanis.
Rude, aggressive and untrained tour guides
After all, you go to India to meet Indians,
will do this country no good, and tourism growth
will definitely not continue until Oman’s tourist
hierarchy rationalises what the Sultanate has to
offer, and matches it with what the tourists want.
For a start, they don’t want to be ignored.
They have paid good money to come here, and
their needs must be met, or they will stop coming.
Happy tourists spend more money too!
Tour group’s needs, and wants, must be agreed
by a tour organiser, a liaison between the group
and their driver, and in the case of bus transport,
should either have a fluent guide/driver, or a guide
in addition to the driver.
The guide should be able to work within a ‘fluid’
timetable, so that the group can do the things they
want, and like.
It’s their time, and their money.
I do fear for the industry in Oman, because it all
seems very haphazard, with no clear dress code for
guides or drivers, no evident code of conduct, and
no evidence of tourism training.
Given the climate, all Oman has to offer in
terms of culture, heritage, coastline and tourist
experiences, this sector should be the economic
salvation for the nation and its younger generation.
Oman’s tourism sector must improve the tourist
experience in 2016, it must “walk the walk,” and
provide higher levels of service, more interaction,
and tailor packages to meet their needs.
A POLITICAL CRISIS
MARIA ISABEL SANCHEZ
V
Leader of a group of armed protesters Ammon Bundy talks to the media at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon.
enezuela plunged into a confusing political deadlock last week, as the
opposition took control of the country’s legislature but the socialist
government vowed to block its reforms.
After 17 years in control, President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist PSUV
party has lost the National Assembly legislature to the centre-right
opposition, which is vowing to get rid of him and reform the economy.
But Maduro is seen as holding sway over the Supreme Court, where
a legal battle is likely to play out.
His side has applied to it to annul the assembly’s reforms.
“The government has chosen the path of outright confrontation,
raising once again the prospect of serious political violence,” wrote Phil
Gunson, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.
Meanwhile skeptics say Maduro’s appointment of socialist hardliners
to economic posts in a cabinet reshuffle this week bodes ill for change.
The military could hold the key to resolving deadlock in a country
prone to unrest. The defence minister and head of the armed forces,
General Vladimir Padrino, pledged the military’s “absolute loyalty and
unconditional support” for Maduro.
“The armed forces is a complex institution and its behaviour in the
event of a political crisis of such scale is difficult to predict,” said Diego
Moya-Ocampos, a London-based Venezuelan analyst with research
group IHS Country Risk.
“The armed forces will play a key role behind the scenes. Crucially
they will prevent any confrontation between Venezuelans or between
pro-government and opposition groups.”
The opposition coalition MUD swore in a two-thirds majority in the
assembly after winning December’s elections.
However, Maduro supporters say that “supermajority” — which is
large enough to give the opposition the power to launch constitutional
measures to oust the president — is not legitimate.
Their claim is based on the fact that the Supreme Court has
suspended three opposition lawmakers pending allegations of
electoral fraud.
“The institutional crisis between the government and the legislature
will escalate further as the MUD and the PSUV struggle to control the
Supreme Court,” said Moya-Ocampos.
He said the deadlock will likely cause instability and a worsening of
economic hardship for ordinary Venezuelans.
December’s vote was widely seen as punishment for the government
by an electorate fed up with economic chaos.
— Reuters
Lack of action may embolden Oregon protesters
A
s the armed occupation of US federal buildings
in rural Oregon drags on, some blame the
US government for failing to arrest antigovernment lawbreakers in western United
States after the last big standoff in 2014.
Some former federal officials and
lawmakers say they believe anti-government
lawbreakers have been emboldened by the
Justice Department’s failure to prosecute
rancher Cliven Bundy, whose 2014 standoff
with the government over Nevada grazing
rights ended with federal agents backing down
in the face of about 1,000 armed militiamen.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has
been building a case against participants in
that dispute, according to federal and local
officials. But prosecutors have yet to bring
charges and no arrests of Bundy, his family or
others have been made.
Bundy’s sons, Ammon and Ryan Bundy,
are now leading a small group of armed
protesters in rural Oregon who seized a federal
wildlife centre last Saturday in an attempt to
win greater local control over federal land.
“If people feel like there’s no repercussions
for their actions, especially if they’re acting
illegally, it does embolden them,” said Bob
Abbey, who led the US Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) from 2009 to 2012. “Two
years should be sufficient time for bringing
people to justice.”
Cliven Bundy’s long-running dispute
with the BLM over grazing fees turned into a
rallying point for the far right in 2014, when
hundreds of heavily armed paramilitary
activists flocked to his Nevada ranch to
prevent federal agents from seizing his cattle.
Bundy’s sons were also photographed
participating in the dispute.
Bundy’s perceived victory energied a farright citizens’ militia movement that has
waxed and waned in the United States over
several decades.
The Department of Homeland Security
predicted in an intelligence report that it
would inspire other acts of violence.
The BLM said it was still pursuing the
Bundy case through the legal system. “Our
primary goal remains to resolve this matter
safely and according to the rule of the law,”
spokesman Tom Gorey said.
The FBI, the Department of Justice and
the US Attorney’s office in Nevada declined to
comment.
Former federal officials say the Justice
Department, on the whole, is quick to handle
criminal cases involving public lands. But
many BLM agents have expressed frustration
that the government has not yet brought any
charges related to the 2014 standoff, said Ed
Shepard, a former BLM Oregon state director
who stays in touch with current employees at
the agency.
“It’s a violation of law and they should be
held accountable for it,” said Shepard, who
as president of the Public Lands Foundation
represents retired BLM workers.
In recent years, federal officials have
taken a cautious approach when dealing with
armed extremists to avoid a repeat of the
1993 siege of the Branch Davidian compound
in Waco, Texas, that left more than 80 people
dead.
The hands-off strategy averts bloodshed,
but has enabled participants in the 2014
In recent years, federal officials
have taken a cautious approach
when dealing with armed
extremists to avoid a repeat of
the 1993 siege of the Branch
Davidian compound in Waco,
Texas, reports ANDY SULLIVAN
standoff to scatter across the country.
Two people involved in the standoff went
on to kill two police officers and one civilian
in Las Vegas in June 2014, less than two
months after the Nevada standoff at the
Bundy ranch ended.
Others have discussed plans to seize land
and attack federal convoys and helicopters,
according to the Homeland Security report,
which was released in July of that year.
One man involved in the standoff,
Washington state resident Schuyler Barbeau,
was arrested in a separate incident in
December on charges of attempting to sell an
unregistered firearm.
He told an informant that it was his duty
to “lynch” public servants he deemed to be
unworthy, according to the charges.
Armed members of the Oath Keepers, a
paramilitary group involved in the standoff,
gathered at mines in Montana and Oregon
last year at the request of owners who said
they worried the government was going
to seize their properties. Both disputes are
pending in court.
In Oregon, Cliven Bundy is advising his
sons by telephone from Nevada, according to
Reuters reporters on the scene.
An Arizona rancher and friend of the
family involved in the Oregon standoff, LaVoy
Finicum, told a local TV station he would no
longer pay grazing fees.
The April 2014 standoff also led to an
increase in threats and security risks for the
federal employees who police rangeland,
deter trespassers and round up stray livestock
on public land in the western United States,
former officials say.
Archaeologists, biologists and others who
often work alone far out in the wilderness
were required to travel in pairs for safety, and
the agency carefully tracked who was in and
out of the office said Palma, now retired.
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10
INDIA
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
PM Modi lauds brave forces
for Pathankot response
SENSITIVE: Modi flew in brushing aside criticism over the handling of the counter-offensive
Noted with satisfaction the
decision-making and its
execution, the considerations
that went into our tactical response.
Also noted coordination among
various field units. Lauded bravery &
determination of our men & women
on the ground. They are our pride
NARENDRA MODI
Prime Minister of India
An army soldier watches from a truck on the perimeter of an airforce base in Pathankot last week, during
an operation to ‘sanitise’ the base following an attack by gunmen. — AFP
PATHANKOT: Brushing aside criticism over
the handling of the counter-offensive against the
terrorist attack on the Pathankot IAF base, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, who flew in there on
Saturday, a week after the attack, said that he
was satisfied with the “decision-making and its
execution”.
“Noted with satisfaction the decision-making
and its execution, the considerations that went into
our tactical response,” Modi tweeted through his
PMO India Twitter handle.
The prime minister, who arrived on Saturday
morning, was briefed by senior defence and
security officers about the terrorist attack, carried
out by suspected Pakistani terrorists, on the
Pathankot Air Force Station (AFS). Soon after
landing at the air base, targetted exactly a week ago
in a pre-dawn attack, Modi met senior Indian Air
Force (IAF) and army officers.
Modi was accompanied by National Security
Assault victim seeks President’s
permission for mercy killing
PATNA: An assault victim in Bihar has asked President
Pranab Mukherjee for permission for mercy killing, saying she
has been denied justice for nearly three months, police said
on Saturday.
The woman in her early 20s, who is a resident of Saflapur
village in Arwal district, has sent a letter to Mukherjee in this
connection.
“The assault victim has sought permission of the president for
mercy killing as she was denied justice in her case despite knocking at
the doors of all concerned officials,” a relative said.
In her petition to President Mukherjee, the woman alleged that
police were not playing their role in arresting the accused.
A medical test on the woman confirmed the assault, police said.
A first information report was lodged against the accused — said to
be a defence personnel and posted outside Bihar — at an all-woman
police station in Arwal in October 2015.
As per the police complaint, the victim said she was assaulted by a
close relative from her father’s side on October 22.
But the woman said the accused has not been arrested so far and
his family members have repeatedly threatened the victim’s family to
withdraw the case or face dire consequences.
Arwal woman police station officer in charge Kumari
Babita said over phone that investigation was on, but no arrest has
been made. — IANS
Adviser Ajit Doval.
The Indian Army chief, General Dalbir Singh,
and the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha
were also present at the air base during the visit.
“Visited Pathankot air base today. Had a detailed
briefing from senior leadership of Army, Air Force,
NSG & BSF,” Modi tweeted.
“Was briefed in great detail on how our forces
neutralised such a serious terrorist attack,” he said.
“Also noted coordination among various field
units. Lauded bravery & determination of our men
& women on the ground. They are our pride,” he
added.
Tight security arrangements were in place for
the prime minister’s visit. No one was allowed to
enter the area near the Air Force Station (AFS),
located 250 km from Chandigarh.
The prime minister was taken around the air
base by the defence and security officers.
Since the base is a frontline and sensitive one,
no live telecast of the visit was allowed.
The media were kept away from the air base.
Six terrorists and seven security personnel were
killed in the attack.
Security forces repulsed the attack and the
terrorists were unable to harm any of the IAF’s
critical assets, including fighter aircraft and attack
helicopters. — IANS
Nine injured in
Meghalaya blast
SHILLONG: Nine people were injured
when Garo militants triggered a bomb
blast on Saturday in Williamnagar, the
district headquarters of East Garo Hills in
Meghalaya, police said.
The Garo National Liberation Army
(GNLA) militants planted the bomb at a
store at the Williamnagar market, Director
General of Police Rajiv Metha said .
“Nine people, including a woman,
were injured. Three of them are in critical
condition and have been rushed to the Tura
Civil Hospital in West Garo Hills district,”
Mehta said. He said police evacuated
the market area and launched a search
operation to look for any other explosives.
“The GNLA’s attack on civilians is an act
of cowardice and desperation. The GNLA
has been experiencing a series of desertions
in the recent past due to intense police
operations,” the police chief said.
Mehta said one of the perpetrators has
been identified as Ajan Ch. Momin alias
Jimmy, who was directed by Sohan D.
Shira, the self-styled military wing chief of
the GNLA. — IANS
A protester throws a stone towards the police during a protest in Srinagar. — Reuters
PDP, BJP dismiss any
differences over future
power sharing in Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Both the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), who were in a coalition in Jammu and
Kashmir, on Saturday dismissed rumours of
any rift between the two over future power
sharing.
Following Mehbooba Mufti’s refusal to take
oath as the new chief minister in succession
to her late father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
before the traditional four day period of
mourning ended, speculations were rife in
the state that serious differences had surfaced
up between the PDP and the BJP over future
power sharing.
Talking to some media persons, BJP’s
state unit chief Sat Pal Sharma said: “There
are certainly no conditions from our side
and there was no meeting of our leaders on
government formation.
“We respect the right of the bereaved
family of Mufti Sahib to mourn his death.”
Sharma confirmed he had received a
letter from Governor NN Vohra on future
government formation, adding the party will
take a decision on it only after the mourning
for Sayeed is over.
He said the BJP was interested in peace
and development in the state and his party
wants to continue the coalition to continue
on the path shown by Sayeed.
Senior PDP leader and former education
minister Naeem Akhtar also dismissed
rumours about any conditions set forth by
either his party or the BJP for forming the
new government.
“Mufti Sahib was not only her father but
guide, mentor and inspiration. We are not
in any condition to discuss government
formation at this moment. She (Mehbooba
Mufti) is in mourning right now,” he said.
He said the party leadership including
the president will discuss and decide on
government formation at an appropriate
time. — IANS
YOGA SESSION
Schoolchildren attend a yoga session at a camp in Ahmedabad on Saturday. — Reuters
Proposals have come from a wide range of sectors like mining, textile, power, IT and telecom, urban development, housing, tourism and education
Business summit nets proposals worth over $37 billion
KOLKATA: The two-day Bengal Global
Business Summit organised by the
West Bengal government concluded
on Saturday attracting investment
proposals worth at least Rs 2,50,104
crore ($37 billion), Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee announced here.
Addressing industrialists on the
summit’s concluding day, she said
the manufacturing sector has drawn
proposals valued at Rs.1,16,958 crore.
Banerjee said the proposals have
come from a wide range of sectors like
mining, textile, power, IT and telecom,
urban development, housing, tourism,
health transport and education.
“Many MoUs have been signed and
many are in the process. We are yet to
make detailed estimates of the proposals.
The investment proposals are not less
than Rs 2,50,104 crore,” she said.
The previous edition of the BGBS
had netted investment proposals of
Rs 2,43,100 crore, of which proposals
worth Rs 95,000 crore have taken off
and the rest are under process, the chief
minister told the media.
Describing the latest summit as a
total success, she exuded confidence
that thousands of crores of additional
investment will come to the state in the
near future through ancillary industries.
She enumerated the achievements of
her government since coming to power
in 2011 and projected Bengal as the
ideal destination for investments. “Our
aim is to make Bengal the number one
destination for business.”
Among the sectors which got the
largest chunks of investment are urban
development (Rs 29,000 crore), mining
(Rs 23,300 crore), transport (Rs 9,384 and medium enterprises (Rs 50,000 would pump in Rs 20,000 crore, while
China’s Zhongtong Bus Holding
crore), IT and telecom (Rs 8,650 crore), crore over the next three years).
In manufacturing, the TCG group Company injects Rs 1,500 crore, and
power (Rs 8,462 crore), and micro, small
Describing the latest
summit as a total
success, Banerjee
exuded confidence that
thousands of crores of
additional investment
will come to the state in
the near future through
ancillary industries.
Great Eastern Rs 1,700 crore.
Banerjee said the Deocha-PachamiDewanganj-Harinsingha coal mine
in Birbhum district, that envisages an
investment of Rs 23,000 crore, would be
inaugurated on January 18.
In the IT and telecom sector, Airtel
would invest Rs 3,500 crore, while ITC
Infotech has come up with a Rs 1,650
crore proposal.
HP, Oracle and Erricson would be
partners in the Smart City project, while
the state transport department has
inked a MOU with the Calcutta Goods
Transport Association for setting up a Rs
5,000 crore logistics hub at Baidyabati in
Hooghly district. The hub would provide
employment for 10,000 people.
A freight terminal would come up
in Howrah at an investment of Rs 2,000
crore.
In education sector, Amity University
would pump in Rs 2,000 crore.
Bhutanese
airlines
Drukair
entered into an MOU with the Bengal
Aerotropolis Pvt Ltd (BAPL) to use
India’s first private Greenfield airport
at Durgapur in Burdwan district for
technical stoppage or refueling.— IANS
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
INDIA
NEW HEIGHTS
Artistic creativity and freedom
should not be curtailed: Jaitley
Diaspora ties
deepened during
NDA rule
NEW DELHI: External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday
said India’s ties with its diaspora have
deepened greatly ever since the NDA
government came to power at the
centre 19 months ago.
“Since our government came to
office, contacts with you have become
very deep and very close,” Sushma
Swaraj said in her keynote speech
at the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
(PBD), the annual conclave of the
Indian diaspora.
“It is our effort now to reach out
to the maximum number of the
diaspora,” she said.
She said Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and his government has taken
engagements with the diaspora to a
new level.
Starting with the Madison
Square Garden event in 2014 where
Modi addressed a huge gathering
of the Indian diaspora after much
scepticism, Sushma Swaraj said the
prime minister has made a number of
addresses in public gatherings of the
Indian diaspora across various parts of
the world.
— IANS
PLATFORM: The Shyam Benegal committee will study the procedure followed by CBFC
MUMBAI:
Information
and
Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley said
here on Saturday that there is a need
to ensure that artistic creativity and
freedom should never get curtailed while
certifying films and documentaries.
Stating that the film certification
guidelines
needed
contemporary
interpretation, Jaitley, who is also the
union finance minister, said these
should be made as non-discretionary as
possible.
On Saturday, Jaitley met members
of the committee, recently constituted
to look into the revamp of the Central
Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The committee is headed by eminent
film-maker Shyam Benegal while the
other members include film-maker
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman
Piyush Pandey and film critic Bhawana
Somaaya.
The committee, which has been asked
to submit its report in two months, also
includes National Film Development
Council Managing Director Nina Lath
Make betting legal in
sports: Legal luminaries
NEW DELHI: Former Chief
Justice RM Lodha committee’s
recommendation to make betting in
sports legal has triggered a debate
on the issue’s ethical dimensions, but
most legal luminaries said it might
be a good rather than a bad thing for
the sport.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal,
Harish Salve, CA Sundaram, Supreme
Court Bar Association President
Dushyant Dave and lawyer Prashant
Bhushan all favoured legalising
betting as it would only legalise
something which already existed
and help in regulating it.
Salve described it as an excellent
idea. “If it is legal then it can be
regulated. Otherwise it goes on
repentantly.”
Former law minister Kapil Sibal,
who appeared for former BCCI
chief N Srinivasan in the long battle
seeking court intervention to clean
up the cash-rich BCCI, agreed, saying
unauthorised betting would hold the
fort in absence of legal betting.
He hailed Justice Lodha’s
recommendation to give it a
statutory standing. “My personal
view is that if betting is not made
legal through a transparent process,
then underground betting will take
over.”
Bhushan also said that
Justice Lodha must have some
omandailyobserver
good reasons to make the
recommendation and noted that
absence of a law to regulate an
activity only gives rise to a mafia.
“There must be a good reason for
Lodha Committee to recommend
that betting should be made legal.
It is taking place de facto. Betting
under an illegal situation gives rise to
a mafia,” Bhushan said.
Such is the force of moral and
conservative inhibition in permitting
betting and gambling, that
gambling is prohibited by all states
except Goa and Sikkim.
A 148-year-old act, the Public
Gambling Act, 1867 still survives, as
it was adopted by many states.
However, some states have
changed their laws to keep abreast
of changing times, but these are still
way behind the rest of the world.
Addressing the ethical qualms
over permitting betting, Dave said:
“This is hypocrisy. Virtually in every
other democratic country betting
is legal. Making it legal would
remove unnecessary evils and false
persecution and prosecution. It
would generate a healthy trend
towards gaming and will be well
regulated.”
He brushed aside suggestions
that betting, if made legal, would
cloud the credibility of the popular
sport that is cricket.
— IANS
Stating that the film
certification guidelines
needed contemporary
interpretation, Jaitley,
who is also the union
finance minister, said
these should be made
as non-discretionary as
possible.
Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay
Murthy.
Shyam Benegal, on the occasion,
said: “There is a need to move towards a
new system of grading films in terms of
age, maturity, sensibility and sensitivity
instead of censorship.”
According to the information and
broadcasting ministry, the Shyam
Benegal committee will study the
existing procedure being followed
by CBFC for certification of original
films, their dubbed versions as well as
recertification of films for screening on
other media platforms.
The committee will also study
various directives of courts as well as
notifications issued by other government
agencies like the ministry of health and
family welfare, ministry of environment
and forests, Animal Welfare Board of
India etcetera, which have a bearing
on the process of film certification. The
staffing pattern of CBFC would also be
looked into to recommend a framework
which would provide transparent and
user friendly services.
— IANS
ROUTE MARCH
11
IN BRIEF
Odd-even
scheme not to
be extended
NEW DELHI: Delhi Transport
Minister Gopal Rai said on Saturday
that the odd-even car restriction
scheme would not be extended
beyond 15 days and termed as “false”
reports saying it could go on.
“News reports that Delhi
government may extend odd-even
formula trial beyond January 15 are
false,” Rai said.
“We will be examining trends
and data collected during trial
period after January 15 and the
trial period won’t be extended,” he
added.
On Friday, senior counsel
Harish Salve, who appeared for
the Delhi government in the
high court to defend the scheme,
said the curbs had “a definite positive
effect” and “may be continued after
this two weeks (planned 15 days)
period.”
After the Delhi High Court
termed the national capital akin to a
gas chamber, the Delhi government
had announced this scheme,
beginning on January 1, for even
numbered four wheeled vehicles to
ply on even numbered dates and viceversa.
Girl falls into
rocky sea while
taking selfie
The band of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) take part in the ‘Shrung Ghosh Path Sanchalan’ (Route March by Brass Band)
by RSS cadets in Bangalore on Saturday. The march was part of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Akhil Bharatiya Shrung Ghosh
(Brass Band) four-day Shibir ‘Swaranjalj.’ — AFP
MUMBAI: A college girl who
fell into the swirling Arabian
Sea while clicking a selfie off a
rocky beach here on Saturday
was untraced as well as a youth who
plunged into the water to save her,
police said.
The girl, identified as a teenager
named Tarannum, slipped while
clicking a selfie with her mobile
phone on the rocky beach of Bandra
Bandstand.
On hearing the screams of her
two friends, local youth Rajesh
Walunj jumped into the rising tidal
waters to rescue her.
Both were not found till late
Saturday afternoon.
Police, fire brigade and the
fishing folk from Worli were helping
in the search operation in the area
near the Rajiv Gandhi Bandra Worli
Sea Link.
The three girl college students,
hailing from Bainganwadi in
Govandi suburb, had come to
Bandra for a weekend picnic, senior
police inspector R Dhavle told media
persons.
Dhavle suspects that Tarannum
and Walunj may have been swept far
away from the shore.
— IANS
January 11 marks the 50th death anniversary of the country’s second prime minister whose demise still remains shrouded in mystery
Time to bury all controversies over the death of Shastri
NEW DELHI: India’s second prime
minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who
succeeded Jawaharlal Nehru in June
1964, died in Tashkent soon after signing
an agreement with president Ayub Khan
of Pakistan, with Soviet prime minister
Alexei Kosygin playing the mediatory
role.
January 11 will mark the 50th death
anniversary of Shastri whose demise still
remains shrouded in mystery.
A few months ago, on September 26,
2015, in an interview to a TV channel,
Anil Shastri, senior Congress leader and
the elder surviving son of Lal Bahadur
Shastri, demanded a thorough probe
into the death of his illustrious father.
Earlier, his younger brother Sunil
wrote to union home minister to
make public the files relating to the
circumstances leading to the sudden
death of their father.
The suspicion of Shastri dying an
unnatural death would seem ridiculous.
His family members only need
to read the accounts of the Tashkent
talks by the persons who had
accompanied Shastri to the capital of
Uzbekistasn.
A day-to-day account of the Tashkent
parlays and Shastri’s engagements has
been recorded in great detail in books
authored by CP Srivastava, the joint
secretary to the prime minister and
Shastri’s information adviser Kuldeep
Nayar, as also Inder Malhotra and Prem
Bhatia, who were among the eminent
journalists who were part of the Indian
entourage to Tashkent.
Shastri died in Tashkent at 1.32 am
(2.02 am IST). According to Srivastava,
on January 10 Shastri seemed to be
particularly pleased with everything that
had happened.
At 4 pm he had signed the Tashkent
declaration with Ayub Khan.
Srivastava left Shastri at 10.30 pm
to attend a press conference which had
been convened by the Indian delegation
to explain the Tashkent declaration to
Indian and foreign correspondents.
After this, he had just returned to
his room when a call came from the
prime minister’s PA Jagannath Sahai,
A few months ago, in an
interview to a TV channel,
Anil Shastri, senior
Congress leader and
the elder surviving son
of Lal Bahadur Shastri,
demanded a thorough
probe into the death of
his illustrious father.
informing him that Shastri had been
taken seriously ill.
When he reached there, the prime
minister was already dead.
In order to secure a first-hand version
of what had happened in the prime
minister’s villa after his departure at
10.30 pm and his passing way at 1.32 am
— three hours later — Srivastava had
long and detailed conversation with
Sahai and MMN Sharma, members of
his personal staff, who were both present
and were attending on Shastri until the
moment of his death.
According to Srivastava’s account,
Sahai left Shastri’s room at about 11.30
pm and then Ram Nath, the personal
attendant, brought some milk which the
prime minister drank.
Ram Nath stayed on in Shastri’s
bedroom until half past midnight and
left the room when the prime minister,
who was already lying in bed, said that it
was time for him to sleep.
Sahai and Sharma were about to
retire when, suddenly at 1.20 am, the
prime minister appeared at the door
of their bedroom and asked: ‘Where is
the doctor?’ Jagannath Sahai answered:
‘Babuji he is asleep right here. You may
kindly return to your bedroom. I will
bring the doctor immediately.’
Sharma and another man got up to
accompany Shastri back to his room.
They both held the prime minister’s
arms but the prime minister walked
back on his own.
When about half way there, he
began to cough and thereafter went on
coughing incessantly.
When they got to his bed, they asked
the prime minister to lie down, which he
did.
Dr Chugh and Sahai came running
in, the doctor carrying his medicine
cases.
He checked the prime minister’s
pulse and gave him an injection.
At the same time the doctor uttered
the following words in deep anguish and
despair: ‘Babuji, aap ne mujhe mouka
nahin diya.’ (Babuji, you did not give me
a chance).
Dr Chugh continued massaging his
chest and gave him artificial respiration,
but nothing proved to be of any avail.
Kuldip Nayar said he met Shastri
for the last time on January 10 at the
reception given by the Indian Embassy
in the prime minister’s honour.
Shastri told him that the return
journey would be early because Ayub
Khan had invited him to have tea with
him at Rawalpindi.
According to Nayar’s autobiography,
Shastri had asked him to ascertain
the reaction of the Indian press to the
Tashkent Declaration.
At the press conference earlier, he
had been ‘rudely’ questioned on why he
had agreed to hand Hajipir and Tithwal
back to Pakistan.— IANS
12
PROTEST AGAINST MEDIA CURBS
S U N DAY l J A N U A R Y 1 0 l 2 0 1 6
ZUMA AT ANC ANNIVERSARY
Tens of thousands of people took to
the streets in cities around Poland on
Saturday to protest against a new law
giving the conservative government
control of state media. The biggest
demonstration took place in the
capital Warsaw where around 20,000
protesters gathered outside the
public television headquarters,
according to city hall estimates.
WORLD
Fire breaks out at Kosovo
govt HQ as protests flare
AGREEMENT
Catalan
separatists reach
deal to form
regional govt
BARCELONA: Catalonia’s separatists
have struck a last-minute agreement to
form a new regional government that
will work towards independence from
Spain, with controversial secessionist
leader Artur Mas stepping aside to seal
the deal.
“Together for Yes and the CUP have
reached a deal to form a government
and this will not go to (new) elections,”
a senior regional government source
said. “There is an agreement. We will
have a government and stability,”
Jordi Sanchez, president of the proCatalan
National
independence
Assembly group, said on Twitter.
In September, Mas’ “Together for
Yes” secessionist alliance and the more
radical, far-left CUP party together
won a majority of seats in the 135-seat
parliament in the wealthy, 7.5-millionstrong northeastern region.
But the honeymoon was short-lived
as “Together for Yes”, which won 62
seats, battled with the CUP to form
a government over the issue of Mas’
leadership.
Despite more than three months of
intense negotiations, the small party
that got 10 seats refused to give Mas
their backing, resenting the austerity
measures he implemented and
corruption scandals linked to his party.
If a deal had not been reached by
midnight on Sunday, Mas would have
had to call fresh elections, which would
have come as a major setback for the
region’s independence drive. — AFP
PRISTINA: Demonstrators in Kosovo
fought running battles with police and
set fire to the government’s headquarters
on Saturday as anger simmers in the
young Balkan country over an accord
with former ruler, Serbia.
The seat of government in the capital,
Pristina, briefly caught fire after it came
under a hail of petrol bombs. Firefighters
quickly doused the flames and police
used tear gas to drive back several
thousand opposition demonstrators.
They were protesting a European
Union-brokered deal to give Kosovo’s
ethnic Serb minority greater local
government powers and the possibility
of financing from Belgrade. Opposition
leaders say the government should
resign over the accord and call an early
election.
Police said 14 people were hurt in
Saturday’s unrest including 10 police
officers and two journalists. Two dozen
protesters were arrested and others
A Kosovo government building is set on fire by protesters during clashes in Pristina, Kosovo, on Saturday. — Reuters
gathered into the evening, some still
throwing fireworks at police.
Earlier in the day, demonstrators
hurled petrol bombs, stones and bottles
and set light to several armoured
police cars. Kosovo’s president, Atifete
Jahjaga, condemned the unrest, which
was the most serious since the bilateral
agreement was signed in August.
“Setting fire to the country’s
institutions is totally unacceptable,” she
said in a statement. “I condemn the
vandalism against the public property
and the use of tools that put in danger
the life of the citizens and security
forces.”
Kosovo, which is majority Albanian,
declared independence from Serbia
with Western support in 2008, almost
a decade after Nato air strikes drove out
Serbian security forces accused of killing
and expelling civilians from the ethnic
Albanian majority during a counterinsurgency war.
— Reuters
Muslim woman ejected from Trump rally
WASHINGTON: A Muslim woman
was kicked out of a Donald Trump
presidential campaign rally after
staging a silent protest against the
Republican frontrunner, who has
called for a ban on Muslims entering
the US.
Television footage from the event
in South Carolina shows the woman,
named as Rose Hamid, a 56-year-old
flight attendant, wearing a head scarf
and loose fitting green shirt reading
“Salam. I come in peace.” She stood in
silence looking at the podium as the
rest of the crowd sat.
Later, she was escorted out as Trump
supporters wave placards bearing his
name in her face and chant for him.
Hamid said one supporter of the
billionaire real-estate mogul bawled
at her: “You have a bomb, you have a
bomb.”
“The ugliness really came out fast
and that’s really scary,” Hamid told
She was considered a powerful force behind her brother
CNN after Friday night’s rally.
Trump, who leads the polls for
the Republican nomination for
the White House, ignited a global
firestorm last month when he called
for the temporary ban on Muslims
entering the US, following an attack
in California by a radicalised Muslim
couple that left 14 people dead.
“There is hatred against us that is
unbelievable,” Trump told the rally,
according to CNN, after Hamid and
General Assembly for more than a
decade.
On Saturday, IRNA, Iran’s official
news agency, said she headed the
country’s human rights committee, was
chief of the Women’s Organisation of
Iran and its representative to the UN
human rights commission.
The princess basked in her privilege
and wealth, often pictured at the
gaming tables of European casinos,
but experienced family tragedy and
survived an assassination attempt.
Shahriar Shafiq, her son from a
second marriage was gunned down in
front of the princess’s home in Paris in
1979.
Two years earlier, she walked away
unhurt after her lady-in-waiting was
killed and her driver wounded when
gunmen fired on her Rolls-Royce as she
left a casino in Cannes.
In “Faces in a Mirror: Memoirs
from Exile”, she revealed an unhappy
childhood, saying she was overlooked.
Instead, she said her sister, Princess
Shams, was more cherished by her
parents and her brother was coveted, as
he was destined for the throne.
In the book, published in 1980, she
described herself as a rebel with a quick
temper.
— AFP
a statement carried by US media.
Muslims in the United States
have faced a backlash following the
November terror attacks in Paris and
the San Bernardino attack in California
on December 2.
Critics of Trump’s bombastic run
for the presidency accuse him of
fanning the flames and Democratic
frontrunner Hillary Clinton says he is
the “best recruiter” for the IS extremist
— AFP
group.
Bushfire kills two in Australia’s south west
Dutch ‘no’ to
Kiev-EU accord could
trip crisis: Juncker
A file picture dated in 1928 shows Reza Khan Pahlavi Shah surrounded by his children,
Mohammad Reza (L), Princess Schams (C) and Princess Ashraf Pahlavi. — AFP
several others were ejected.
“It’s their hatred. It’s not our hatred.”
But a prominent Muslim advocacy
group, the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR), condemned
Hamid’s removal and called on Trump
to apologise.
“The image of a Muslim woman
being abused and ejected from a
political rally sends a chilling message
to American Muslims,” CAIR
executive director Nihad Awad said in
AROUND THE GLOBE
Ashraf Pahlavi, twin sister of
Iran’s last shah, dead at 96
NEW YORK: Princess Ashraf Pahlavi,
the twin sister of Iran’s last shah, who
has died at the age of 96, was a trailblazer
for women’s rights who lived an opulent
life that was never far from controversy.
Born in Tehran, she was considered a
powerful force behind her brother and a
sometimes fierce critic of him in private,
playing an important role in domestic
and international politics.
An official with the office of the shah’s
son, her nephew Reza Pahlavi, said in a
statement the princess died in Monte
Carlo on Thursday, noting that she had
long suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
Iranian media confirmed the death,
with several outlets posting unflattering
accounts of her private life alongside
details of official posts she held under
her brother’s rule.
The Islamic revolution of 1979
that toppled Shah Mohammad Reza
Pahlavi transformed Iran and meant
the princess never returned, a fact she
had reflected on in her final days, her
nephew said.
“She was thinking about Iran till the
very last moments of her life,” wrote
Reza Pahlavi in a Facebook tribute.
“May her soul find joy and the
memory of her kind image last forever,”
he said, noting her efforts for women’s
rights, social welfare and campaigns for
literacy in Iran and abroad.
“With a heart full of affection for
her country, she made outstanding
efforts,” added Pahlavi, who lives near
Washington.
Three-times married, the princess
is survived by a son, Prince Shahram,
five grandchildren and several great
grandchildren.
From exile she supported cultural,
literary and artistic heritage projects.
In the royal era, the princess was
regarded as a talented diplomat, leading
Iran’s delegation to the United Nations
South Africa’s President
Jacob Zuma, who is also
the president of the
ruling party, the African
National Congress (ANC),
waves with his cap as he
arrives for the party’s
104th anniversary
celebrations in
Rustenburg on Saturday.
THE HAGUE: European Commission
chief Jean-Claude Juncker urged
Dutch voters on Saturday not to
oppose an EU cooperation deal with
Ukraine, saying such a move “could
open the doors to a continental crisis”.
A citizens’ campaign in the
Netherlands spearheaded by three
strongly eurosceptic groups garnered
more than 300,000 votes needed to
trigger a non-binding referendum on
the deal, three months from now.
Observers said the vote, set for
April 6, pointed more towards broader
euroscepticism among the Dutch
than actual opposition to the trade
deal with Kiev, which fosters deeper
cooperation with Brussels.
A Dutch ‘no’“could open the doors
to a continental crisis,” Juncker told the
authoritative NRC daily newspaper in
an interview published on Saturday.
“Let’s not change the referendum
into a vote about Europe,” Juncker
urged Dutch voters, adding: “I
sincerely hope that (the Dutch) won’t
vote no for reasons that have nothing
to do with the treaty itself.”
Should Dutch voters oppose the
deal, Russia “stood to benefit most,” he
said. The 2014 association agreement
provisionally came into effect on
January 1 and nudges the former
Soviet bloc nation towards eventual
EU membership.
On a visit to the Netherlands in
November, Ukranian President Petro
Poroshenko hailed the deal as the start
of a new era for the Ukraine.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte
has said his government was bound
by law to hold the referendum, and
would afterwards assess the results
to see if any change in policy was
merited. — AFP
PERTH: Two people have been killed, at least one other remains unaccounted for and
more than 121 buildings have been destroyed by a bushfire that continues to burn out
of control in Western Australia, police said on Saturday.
The remains of two men were found by authorities searching burnt-out buildings
in the historic timber milling town of Yarloop, 120 km south of the capital, Perth, which
was destroyed by the fire on Thursday, police confirmed. The men, both believed to be
in their 70s, haven’t been formally identified.
A state of emergency has been declared and residents evacuated from five nearby
towns in the major beef and dairy farming area. Dairy farmers near the fire have been
forced to dump thousands of litres of milk since Thursday as road closures prevent
tankers being able to reach farms and power cuts prevent production.
Holiday makers in nearby coastal resorts have also been evacuated by ferry as exit
roads remain cut and damaged by the fire.
The fire, ignited by a lightening strike on Wednesday, has now burned through
some 67,000 hectares of land, is uncontained and has a 222 km perimeter. Firefighters
have flown in from New South Wales to relieve fatigued local crews. Another large fire
in the state’s south east, west of the town of Esperance, is also burning out of control
and threatening homes. — Reuters
Protesters take part in a demonstration against the proposed cancellation of
bursaries for student nurses, in London, Britain on Saturday. — Reuters
Yemen reverses decision to expel UN envoy
UNITED NATIONS/CAIRO: Yemen’s government has reversed a decision to expel a UN
human rights envoy after the original announcement caused an unnecessary “fuss”,
according to a letter from the Yemeni mission to the United Nations.
The foreign ministry had declared the representative of the UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), George Abu al Zulof, persona non grata on
Thursday over what it called unfair statements.
“Because of the fuss created around the matter and caused by media reports ... the
Yemeni government has decided to give more time to review the relationship with the
OHCHR, in order to uphold the values of human rights,” said the letter from Yemen’s UN
mission to Ban, seen by Reuters on Saturday.
“For more cooperation between the government of Yemen and all organs and
bodies of the United Nations, the government has decided to maintain the status quo
of the country representative of the OHCHR representative in Yemen,” it said.
The letter was dated on Friday. A senior Yemeni official told Reuters on condition
of anonymity that the reversal came in response to an appeal from Ban to Yemen’s
government.
REGION
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
omandailyobserver
13
RELIEF FOR THE BESIEGED: Aid to be delivered to besieged town and two blockaded villages on Monday
ROW OVER ATTACK
39 killed in Syria as UN envoy arrives
Iraq denies
Erdogan claim
of IS attack
near Mosul
BEIRUT: An air strike reportedly killed
dozens of people in an opposition-held
town in Syria on Saturday as a UN envoy
visited Damascus to advance preparations
for peace talks planned this month despite
opposition misgivings.
Agreement was also reached for aid to
be delivered on Monday to an oppositionheld town besieged by pro-government
forces where United Nations says there
have been credible reports of people
dying of starvation, sources said. Aid will
be sent simultaneously to two villages
blockaded by dissidents.
The Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights said at least 39 people were killed
in the air strike, which hit a court house
and adjoining prison in the town of
Maarat al Numan in Idlib province. It did
not say whether the air strike was carried
out by Syrian or Russian jets, which have
both bombed the area.
Russia has been staging air strikes
in Syria in support of President Bashar
al Assad since September. The building
was struck with four missiles and the
number of dead could increase due
to the large number of wounded, the
Observatory said. Syrian officials could
not immediately be reached for comment.
The war has raged on since last month
when the Security Council endorsed a
plan for peace talks, a rare case of USRussian agreement over a conflict that has
killed 250,000 people. The talks are due to
begin on January 25 in Geneva.
The Syrian government told UN envoy
Staffan de Mistura on Saturday it was
ready to participate but wants to know
who would take part from the opposition,
Syrian state media reported.
Foreign Minister Walid al Moualem
also said it was important to see a list
of groups that would be classified as
terrorists as part of the new diplomatic
process, flagging another potential
complication.
Damascus views all the groups fighting
to topple Assad as terrorists, including
Residents carry an injured woman on a stretcher in a site hit by air strikes carried out by the Russian air force in the dissident-controlled area of Maarat al Numan town in
Idlib province, Syria on Saturday. — Reuters
dissidents who support a political
solution and are represented in a recently
formed opposition council tasked with
overseeing the negotiations.
A statement from de Mistura’s
office described Saturday’s meeting as
useful and said the envoy had outlined
preparations.
“The Special Envoy is looking forward
to the active participation of relevant
parties in the Geneva talks. He will
be continuing his consultations in the
region,” it added.
UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura,
Syrian dissidents and opposition speaks to journalists at his hotel in
politicians have expressed doubts over Damascus on Saturday. — AFP
whether the peace talks will begin
as planned. Their concerns over the
diplomatic bid include the absence of any
mention of Assad’s fate.
Earlier this week, they told de Mistura
that before negotiations the Syrian
government must stop bombing civilian
areas, release detainees and lift blockades
imposed on opposition-held areas.
“Can the international community
achieve the implementation of this prenegotiation stage in the few remaining
days? If it can, there is no problem. But
I doubt they can,” Riyad Naasan Agha, a
member of the opposition council, said.
Two Palestinians shot dead by Israeli soldiers
NABLUS: Two Palestinians tried to stab
Israeli soldiers manning a checkpoint
in the occupied West Bank on Saturday
before being shot dead, the army said.
The attack occurred in the north
of the Jordan Valley, according to a
spokeswoman, who confirmed that the
bodies of the two assailants were handed
over to Palestinian authorities.
Twenty-two Israelis and an American
have been killed in Palestinian attacks
including stabbings, car rammings and
gunfire targeting security forces and
civilians since October 1. An Eritrean was
also killed.
At the same time, 146 Palestinians
have been killed by Israeli forces, most
while carrying out attacks.
The mother of Palestinian Mohanad al Halabi stands next to her house after it was demolished by Israeli troops in the village of
Israel has employed a raft of security Surda, near the West Bank city of Ramallah on Saturday. — Reuters
and punitive measures in a bid to stem
east Jerusalem, which he said were “one of critics claim amounts to collective
attacks. Overnight, the army demolished rabbi, the spokeswoman said.
In November, Prime Minister the most efficient tools” in discouraging punishment, is widely used in the West
a house in the West Bank village of Surda
belonging to a Palestinian who was shot Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to expedite Palestinian attacks.
Bank and resumed in east Jerusalem in
dead on October 3 after killing an Israeli house demolitions in the West Bank and
The controversial practice, which November after a five-year hiatus. — AFP
Egypt hotel attack victims stable
HURGHADA, Egypt: Three European
holidaymakers wounded in an attack
in an Egyptian resort were in stable
condition on Saturday, as a witness
recounted how the assailants burst into
the hotel and stabbed guests.
An elderly Austrian couple and a
young Swedish man were hospitalised
after the assault on Friday at the Bella
Vista hotel in the Red Sea resort of
Hurghada.
Egypt’s Tourism Minister Hisham
Zazou said on Saturday that the
government will announce additional
security measures to safeguard tourists.
“The welfare of the tourists visiting
Egypt is of the greatest importance to us
and will continue to be so. No stone will
be left unturned to ensure their security,”
Zazou said. Zazou said the assailants
appeared to have been acting alone,
while the hotel described them as
“drugged young men”.
Police shot dead one of the knifewielding attackers and wounded
another, saying one of them was also
Sammie Olovsson, a 27-year-old tourist
from Sweden, at the Nile hospital in
Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Hurghada on
Saturday. — AFP
carrying a “sound gun”.
A Swedish man who identified
himself as the father of one of the
victims, 27-year-old Sammie Olovsson,
said they were sitting in the hotel
restaurant when the assailants burst in
and stabbed his son.
“My son and me were eating in the
restaurant and having a discussion,” he
said in the Hurghada hospital.
The two men rushed into the
restaurant “very fast,” he said. “They
took knives and they tried to get Sammie
here,” he said, pointing to his chest.
“Then (they) said ‘down on the floor’
and we do that,” he said, adding that he
told his son, who was bleeding, not to
move.
“I get up two times and they stayed
there with the guns. When I got up later
on they were not here,” he said, speaking
in English.
On its Facebook page, the hotel
posted pictures of the two other victims,
spelled in hospital records as Renata
Weisslen and Wilhem Weislan, both
smiling.
“They are ok now,” it said in a post.
A doctor at the hospital said they were a
couple, both 72.
Zazou said that the two attackers
were “not part of an organisation”.
It was “an individually motivated
attack. This is the initial finding,” said
Zazou, who was in Hurghada to visit the
victims, adding that the investigation
was still ongoing.
— AFP/Reuters
Another opposition official said on
Friday the opposition would not name
its negotiating team until the government
did so. The outlook for the talks has been
further clouded by increased tensions
between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which
back opposing sides in the conflict.
Tensions have risen since Saudi Arabia
executed cleric Nimr al Nimr.
The aid deal agreed on Saturday will
result in humanitarian supplies being sent
to the opposition-held town of Madaya at
the Lebanese border, and to two villages
in the northwestern province of Idlib that
are blockade by dissidents. — Reuters
BAGHDAD: Iraq on Saturday denied
claims made by Ankara that its
soldiers on a controversial base near
the northern city of Mosul killed 18
militants after coming under attack.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan himself announced on
television on Friday that the IS group
had tried to infiltrate the base in the
Bashiqa area.
He said Turkish troops there to
train Iraqi forces repelled the attack,
killing 18 IS members.
The Joint Operations Command
in Baghdad however flatly denied any
such thing had happened.
“It also denies any terrorist attack
on Turkish forces by Daesh (IS) forces
in the Bashiqa area,” a statement said.
A colonel in the Kurdish peshmerga
forces that control the area, speaking
on condition of anonymity, also
denied the Turkish base had come
under attack.
He said IS had fired some mortar
rounds in the area but not at the base
specifically and that the response to
that routine attack was handled by the
peshmerga.
Iraq argues that Turkey deployed
troops and hardware in Bashiqa
without asking Baghdad in what
was therefore a violation of national
sovereignty.
The Mosul frontline is controlled
on the anti-IS side by the peshmerga
forces of the autonomous region of
Kurdistan, with which Ankara has
very close ties.
Turkey’s military presence has
become a bone of contention, with
Baghdad accusing Ankara of using
the pretext of training to increase its
influence in northern Iraq.
— AFP
Turkish army says 18 Kurdish
fighters killed in southeast
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey: Turkish
security forces have killed 18 Kurdish
fighters in southeast Turkey, the
military said on Saturday, in the latest
clashes to blight a region still reeling
from the collapse of a two-year ceasefire
last summer.
Security sources said five people,
four of them soldiers, had also been
wounded in separate gun and bomb
attacks in Diyarbakir, biggest city in the
mainly Kurdish southeast.
The armed forces said in a statement
that 16 PKK fighters had been killed
on Friday in the town of Cizre, near
the Syrian border, and another two
dissidents had been killed in the
historical Sur district of Diyarbakir.
In Sur, one soldier was shot while
another three soldiers and a public
sector worker were also wounded in
a bomb attack on Saturday, security
sources said.
In the town of Silopi, near the Iraqi
border, security forces seized 24 fighters
seeking to leave the town with local
citizens, the military statement said.
The army said a total of 426 fighters
have been killed in the towns of
Cizre, Silopi and the Sur district of
Diyarbakir — all subject to a roundthe-clock curfew — since security force
operations began there around a month
ago.
Turkish security forces have been
battling fighters of the Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK) since 1984 in a
conflict that has cost more than 40,000
lives.
A recent shift in fighting from
the countryside to urban centres has
left civilians caught in the middle.
According to figures from the proKurdish HDP party, 72 civilians in
the three southeastern towns under
the curfew have been killed since
December 14.
Thousands of people have left their
homes in the towns. Residents complain
of indiscriminate operations and say
the curfews have even prevented the
sick from getting to hospital.
President Tayyip Erdogan has
said 3,100 PKK members were killed
in operations inside and outside the
country in 2015.
— Reuters
Police officer and
soldier shot dead
CAIRO: Armed men shot dead
a police officer and a soldier on
Saturday while they were in their
car in the Giza area, on the outskirts
of Cairo, Egypt’s state news agency
said.
“Immediately after the
incident several moving and fixed
checkpoints were deployed in the
Muneeb area in order to crack down
on the attackers and catch them,” a
security source was quoted as saying
by the state news agency.
IS militants claimed responsibility
for the attack in a statement posted
on messaging service Telegram.
Egypt is fighting a wave of
militancy against security forces
which started in the remote regions
of the Sinai, but is increasingly
spreading closer to the capital and
focusing on targets previously
considered safe such tourist resorts
on the Red Sea. — Reuters
Kurdish women shout slogans while demonstrating in Paris on Saturday to
commemorate the killing of the three top Kurdish activists Sakine Cansiz, Fidan
Dogan and Leyla Soylemez and to ask for “justice”. — AFP
14
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AMERICAS
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
BIG CATCH: In a major boost for US-Mexico relations, Guzman was captured at roadside motel after chase
‘HELPING’ SON
Mexican drug lord ‘El Chapo’ captured
LOS MOCHIS: Mexico recaptured
the world’s top drug lord Joaquin ‘El
Chapo’ Guzman in a pre-dawn shootout
and chase through drains on Friday,
returning him to the same prison he
escaped from six months ago, in a boost
for the beleaguered government.
The head of the powerful Sinaloa
Cartel was captured in a car wearing a
filthy vest after fleeing through tunnels
and drains from a raid on a safe house
in the city of Los Mochis, in his native
northwestern state of Sinaloa.
“Mission accomplished: We have
him,” President Enrique Pena Nieto said
on his Twitter account. “I want to inform
all Mexicans that Joaquin Guzman
Loera has been arrested.”
For Pena Nieto, the capture of a
trafficker who twice slipped out of
Mexican prisons is a sorely-needed
victory after his presidency was
tarnished by graft and human rights
scandals and the shame of the kingpin’s
flight from the maximum security
Altiplano prison in July. It also provides
relief to US-Mexico relations, strained
by suspicion of high-level collusion
given the apparent ease with which
Guzman gave Mexican authorities the
slip after the United States requested his
extradition.
Guzman now faces possible
extradition to face trial in the United
States. That process could take months,
although US Republican party
presidential hopeful Marco Rubio was
among those calling for Washington to
immediately pursue extradition.
Once featured in the Forbes list of
billionaires, Guzman led a cartel that
has smuggled billions of dollars worth
Recaptured drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman is escorted by soldiers during a presentation in Mexico City, on Friday. — Reuters
of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and Once featured in the
methamphetamines into the United
Forbes list of billionaires,
States and fought vicious turf wars with
Guzman led a cartel that has
other Mexican gangs.
He was caught early on Friday smuggled billions of dollars
after Mexican marines raided his safe
worth of drugs into the US.
house, killing five and capturing six of
Guzman’s henchman. They pursued the
drug lord through the northern city’s through the outskirts, Attorney General
drains and caught him after a car chase Arely Gomez said. He was flown to
N Dakota man who plotted Obama
dognapping faces weapons charge
WASHINGTON: A North Dakota man
who allegedly plotted to kidnap one
of the Obama family’s pet Portuguese
water dogs was arrested with guns
and ammunition at a downtown
Washington hotel and is facing a
weapons charge, The Washington Post
reported.
The man, Scott D Stockert, 49, of
Dickinson, North Dakota, first came to
the attention of the Minnesota field
office of the US Secret Service, which
learned of his intention to kidnap Bo or
Sunny, the Obamas’ two dogs, the Post
said, citing a court filing.
When Stockert drove his
pickup truck from North Dakota to
Washington, Secret Service officers
located him at a Hampton Inn near
the Convention Center in downtown
Washington, close to both the White
House and the Capitol building, the
filing said.
Agents found a 12-gauge shotgun
and a 22-caliber rifle in Stockert’s
vehicle, along with 350 rounds of
ammunition, a 12-inch (30-cm)
machete and a billy club, the Post
reported. The court documents said
Stockert was not registered to own a
gun and was arrested.
The Secret Service said in a court
document that when he was arrested,
Stockert made a series of outlandish
claims to the agents, including that he
was the son of John F Kennedy and
Marilyn Monroe and that he planned to
run for president. — Reuters
Bo (L) and Sunny, the Obama family’s new puppy, are pictured on the South
Lawn of the White House in Washington. — Reuters
Mexico City and later transferred in a
naval helicopter back to the Altiplano.
Guzman, whose nickname means
“Shorty”, first escaped prison in 2001
by bribing prison officials, and went on
to dominate the world of Mexican drug
trafficking.
He was recaptured by Pena Nieto’s
government in 2014 but escaped in July
by capitalising on the drug-tunnelling
‘Affluenza’
mother enters
no plea at Texas
arraignment
skills his cartel honed on the US border.
A mile-long tunnel equipped with
electric lights, rails and a motorbike
came out directly into the shower of his
prison cell and he simply slipped away.
The escape heaped embarrassment
on Pena Nieto, who had resisted a US
request to extradite Guzman and had
said previously that an escape would be
“unforgivable.”
Dozens of people were arrested
over the jailbreak, though details of
who Guzman bribed and how his
accomplices knew exactly where to dig
into the prison remain scarce.
His recapture on Friday involved
Mexican marines, the US Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA)
and US Marshals, a senior Mexican
police source and a US source said.
After stopping his getaway car, the
Marines took Guzman and waited for
reinforcements at Hotel Doux, a love
motel on the outskirts of town that rents
out rooms by the hour.
Los Mochis residents described
gunfire and explosions from about 3:30
am (0930 GMT). Schools were closed as
helicopters clattered overhead.
“The teachers were coming out
terrified because they had heard the
rumours that he was fleeing in the
city’s drains,” said Ana Bertotti, 30, a
housewife who crossed town to find her
child’s kindergarten closed.
One photograph widely circulated
on social media, but that could not be
independently verified, appeared to
show Guzman sitting handcuffed on
a hotel bed, in a room that resembled
those shown on the Hotel Doux website.
— Reuters
FORT WORTH, Texas: The mother
of the Texas teenager ridiculed for
his “affluenza” defence in the killing
of four people while he was driving
drunk, did not enter a plea at her
arraignment in a Fort Worth court
on a charge of helping her son flee
to Mexico after he was suspected of
violating probation.
Tonya Couch, 48, could face up
to 10 years in prison if convicted of
the charge, a third-degree felony, of
aiding her son, Ethan, 18, after he was
suspected of violating a deal that kept
him out of prison.
The court on Monday is expected
to consider a motion by her lawyers
to reduce the $1 million bond that
she is being held on. Her lawyers want
$15,000.
The judge said if she is released
on bond, she would be required to
surrender her passport and wear a
monitor on her ankle.
Couch, wearing a yellow jail jump
suit, told the court she did not have a
passport because it was not returned
to her when she was deported from
Mexico.
Couch is being held at a
maximum security unit of the Tarrant
County jail. She spent a restless
night and complained about her
accommodations, County Sheriff Dee
Anderson told reporters at the court.
“This is a jail, not a resort,” he said
he told her.
— Reuters
IS sympathiser shoots cop in ‘chilling’ ambush
NEW YORK: A man claiming
allegiance to the IS militant group shot
and seriously wounded a police officer
in Philadelphia, opening fire multiple
times at point-blank range with a stolen
police gun before he was arrested,
officials said on Friday.
The apparent assassination attempt
comes amid heightened security —
and paranoia — in the United States
following last month’s assault by a
radicalised Muslim couple in California
that killed 14 people, and the November
terror attacks in Paris.
Policeman Jesse Hartnett, 33, was
shot three times in his left arm as he sat
in his patrol car late on Thursday in the
northeastern city. “I’m shot. I’m bleeding
heavily,” he yelled in a dispatch call.
Authorities said they were astonished
he survived.
Philadelphia police commissioner
Richard Ross called the attack
“absolutely chilling” and described the
officer’s injuries as “very, very serious.”
Stills
captured
from
video
surveillance and released to the press
show the suspect — named by police
as Edward Archer, 30, a local man —
opening fire as he walked towards the
patrol car, extending his arm into the
vehicle and then continuing to fire as he
flees on foot.
Police Officer Jesse Hartnett
“If that doesn’t just make the hairs on
your neck just rise when you see that, it’s
scary,” Ross told reporters.
The officer got out of his vehicle,
despite being injured, and managed to
return fire, hitting the suspect, who was
quickly arrested.
“He stated that he pledges his
allegiance to IS... and that is the reason
he was called upon to do this,” homicide
police Captain James Clark told a news
conference.
Police said Archer has a criminal
record, but that it was unclear whether
he acted alone or as part of a wider
conspiracy.
“He doesn’t appear to be a stupid
individual, just an extremely violent
one,” Ross said.
Ross added that he was “absolutely
Police said it was unclear how the
suspect obtained the firearm, which was
stolen from police in October 2013.
“That is one of the things that you
absolutely regret the most, that an
officer’s gun is stolen and it is used
against one of your own,” Ross said.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney
praised Hartnett’s bravery but urged
people to draw no link between the
criminal act and Islam.
“That is abhorrent, it’s terrible and
it does not represent the religion in
any way, shape or form or any of its
teachings,” Kenney said.
“This is a criminal with a stolen gun
trying to kill one of our officers. It has
nothing to do with being a Muslim.”
Thursday’s shooting is likely to
raise further concerns about the threat
posed by homegrown extremists within
the United States, inspired to act by IS
militants based in Iraq and Syria.
A combination of still images from
Muslim community activists have
surveillance video shows a gunman
already decried what they call an
approaching a Philadelphia Police
unprecedented anti-Muslim backlash in
vehicle firing a handgun and running
away in which officer Jesse Hartnett was the wake of the Paris attacks.
shot. — Reuters
House
Homeland
Security
Committee chairman Michael McCaul
amazed” that Hartnett, an officer with told reporters: “Once again we have
four years’ experience, had survived. a radicalised individual in the United
“This man fired at least 11 shots from a States trying to kill law enforcement.”
nine millimetre at close range,” he said.
— AFP
Haiti has endured years of political crisis aggravated by its attempt to recover from the massive January 2010 earthquake
Crisis looms as Haiti presidential campaigning kicks off
PORT-AU-PRINCE: Campaigning for
the second round of Haiti’s presidential
election opened on Friday, with the
opposition candidate refusing to
participate without sweeping reforms to
the process.
Haiti, the poorest nation in the
Americas, has endured years of political
crisis aggravated by its attempt to
recover from the massive January 2010
earthquake that claimed some 200,000
lives.
Candidate Jude Celestin “will not
launch his campaign and will not
participate in the January 24 voting” until
recommendations that an independent
electoral commission presented earlier
are fully implemented, his campaign
spokesman Augustin Jinaud said.
Celestin, the runner-up in Haiti’s
first-round vote in October, had
earlier refused to campaign until an
independent electoral commission was
established to study voting problems.
That commission issued a series of
recommendations that included an
end to voting in private homes and the
use of indelible ink on voter’s thumb
to prevent multiple voting. Not all of
the recommended measures have been
implemented.
President Michel Martelly “has not
held elections in five years and now
he urges us to join in this electoral
masquerade, which we cannot condone,”
Jinaud said.
Meanwhile Celestin’s governmentbacked rival, Jovenel Moise, was out
campaigning on Friday in the affluent
Port-au-Prince suburb of Petionville.
“An election belongs to the people
and we must work for their confidence,”
campaigning, because he has gone back
and forth across the country,” Moise said.
In the October 25 first-round election,
Moise drew 32.8 per cent of the vote
against 25.3 per cent for Celestin, who
dismissed the results as a “ridiculous
farce.”
The contested result sparked angry
and sometimes violent street protests,
with several opposition candidates
sharply criticising the Provisional
Electoral Council (CEP).
Meanwhile, the second-round vote
was delayed from December 27 to
January 24.
In its report the independent
commission said that the first round
Demonstrators shout during a protest near the Parliament in Port-au-Prince on
of voting was marred by fraud and
Friday. — AFP
irregularities, and said that 60 per cent
Moise said. “My strategy is to go out and with it, talk with the public.
of poll workers could not do their jobs
make contact with the population, walk
“But in my opinion, (Celestin) is also properly.
Noting that some Electoral Council
members have been accused of
corruption, the commission added that
the CEP “is not listening to the Haitian
people, for whom it works.”
Several
hundred
opposition
supporters marched Friday in Portau-Prince against what they said was
“an electoral coup” and called for “civil
disobedience.”
The march ended outside parliament,
which is scheduled to reconvene on
Monday.
The international community, which
has largely bankrolled the elections, has
called for the process to continue.
Washington renewed its support
for the process after Thomas Shannon,
a counsellor to the State Department,
visited Haiti on Wednesday and
Thursday.
— AFP
EUROPE
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
omandailyobserver
15
POST-COLOGNE IRE: Protesters take to the streets against a shocking rash of assaults blamed on migrants during New Year’s festivities
Merkel wants expulsion rules toughened
COLOGNE,
Germany:
German
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday
backed a toughening of expulsion rules
for convicted refugees, as protesters took
to the streets against a shocking rash
of sexual assaults blamed on migrants
during New Year’s festivities.
Both women’s groups and supporters
of the xenophobic PEGIDA movement
mobilised in separate rallies in Cologne,
as Merkel declared that refugees found
to have committed a crime — even those
who have not been given jail terms —
should be required to leave Germany.
“If the law does not suffice, then the
law must be changed” she said, vowing
action to protect not just German
citizens, but innocent refugees too.
Outrage is growing in Germany over
the revelations that hundreds of women
ran a gauntlet of groping hands, lewd
insults and robberies in mob violence
last week in the western city.
Most of the assailants were of
Arabic or North African background,
according to eye-witnesses, police and
media reports.
The majority of suspects identified by
federal police are also migrants, adding
fuel to criticism of Merkel’s liberal
migrant policy — which brought 1.1
million new asylum seekers to Germany
last year.
Waving German flags and signs
meaning “Rapefugees not welcome”,
“Germany survived war, plague and
cholera, but Merkel?”, hundreds of
PEGIDA supporters shouted “Merkel
raus” (Merkel out).
In response, counter-protesters,
separated by police, chanted “Nazis
A man holds up a sign reading ‘No violence against women’ as he takes part in a demonstration in front of the cathedral in
Cologne, western Germany, on Saturday. — AFP
raus” at the site, where earlier, some 500
protesters, mostly women, had held a
noisy rally against sexist violence.
Banging pots and blowing whistles,
demonstrators waved signs in German
meaning “No violence against women”
and “No means no! It’s the law!” while
others read: “Protect our women and
children.”
Ahead of the afternoon rally, Lutz
Bachmann, co-founder of PEGIDA
(“Patriotic Europeans Against the
Islamisation of the Occident”) posted a
photo of himself online wearing a T-shirt
saying “Rapefugees not Welcome”.
In a similar vein, the populist rightwing Alternative for Germany party,
which polls show as having 10 per cent
support ahead of state elections this
year, claimed the violence gave a “taste
of the looming collapse of culture and
civilisation”.
Russia blocks transit of goods: Kiev
KIEV: Russia has blocked the transit
of Ukrainian goods heading to other
countries, Kiev officials said on Saturday
after the two neighbouring nations
imposed food embargoes in their
mutual trade war.
“The transit of Ukrainian goods
has not yet begun”, having been
blocked since the start of the new
year, the spokeswoman for Ukraine’s
infrastructure
ministry,
Kristina
Nikolayeva, said.
The ministry said that since January
1, under new Russian regulations,
Ukrainian goods headed for Central
Asia or China can only enter Russia via
Belarus. They must also be sealed to
prevent them from being unloaded in
Russia.
A Russian embargo on Ukrainian
food imports took effect on January 1,
with Kiev issuing mirror sanctions in
response.
Moscow has also barred Ukraine
from a free trade zone linking numerous
ex-Soviet countries.
Russia introduced the latest measures
on transit of goods without explaining
how they should be implemented, with
officials absent during public holidays
lasting until Monday, said Nikolayeva.
“They brought in these transit rules
but didn’t prepare a mechanism for
how exactly this will work: what kind of
seals are needed, what kind of control
measures are needed. As a result Russia
is not letting Ukrainian trucks across its
border,” she said.
At present, “we are recommending
our carriers not to send anything in that
direction,” Nikolayeva added.
Ukraine’s
trade
representative
Natalia Mykolska has complained that
the transit problem is holding up trade
WINTER BICYCLE PARADE
with partners such as Kazakhstan,
Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan
and Mongolia.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy
Yatsenyuk on Wednesday discussed the
problem with his Kazakh counterpart
Karim Massimov, the government press
service said.
Yatsenyuk said he would inform
the World Trade Organisation of
the “unlawful actions of the Russian
Federation regarding the transit of
Ukrainian goods” and would ask the
global trade body to “respond to such
actions.”
Kiev
meanwhile
is
seeking
alternative transit routes for its goods
that bypass Russia. Ukraine intends to
ship a test delivery to China on Friday
across the Black Sea and then via
Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan,
the infrastructure ministry said. — AFP
The mob violence has played into
popular fears, and threatened to cloud
what had been a broadly welcoming
mood in Germany where crowds
cheered as Syrian refugees arrived by
train in September.
Germany’s conservative Die Welt
newspaper said on January 6, the day
the scope of the violence became clear,
“marks the beginning of a change
in immigration policy” in an article
outlining both “the benefits and the
dangers of mass immigration from
Muslim countries.”
“Cologne has changed everything,
people now are doubting,” said Volker
Bouffier, vice president of Merkel’s CDU
party at a meeting late on Friday.
Details of what happened in the
frenzied crush remain hazy.
Germany’s federal police have
identified 32 suspects, 22 of whom are
asylum seekers, in connection with
76 offences, 12 of which had a sexual
character, the interior ministry said on
Friday.
Cologne police, which has around
100 investigators scanning some 350
hours of video, says it has identified 16
suspects.
It was unclear how many of the
suspects were veteran migrants or
belonged to a scene of drug dealers and
pickpockets known to lurk around the
railway station, and how many were
newly-arrived asylum seekers.
On Friday, criticism over the police’s
failure to stop the violence claimed the
scalp of Cologne police chief Wolfgang
Albers in a bid to “restore public
confidence”.
Cologne police were slow to reveal
the extent of the violence — and the
politically-charged fact that many in the
hostile crowd were migrants.
Critics have also accused the media
of seeking to cover up the incident in a
bid to be “politically correct”.
Merkel, who has so far refused to
abandon her welcoming stance towards
refugees, on Saturday had tough words
for law-breakers.
If the law does not
suffice, then the law
must be changed
ANGELA MERKEL
German Chancellor
Even those given suspended
sentences should be required to leave
Germany, she said.
“If a refugee flouts the rules, then
there must be consequences, that
means that they can lose their residence
right here regardless of whether they
have a suspended sentence or a prison
sentence,” she said after a meeting with
the top ranks of her CDU party.
Under current laws, asylum seekers
are only deported if they have been
sentenced to jail terms of at least three
years, and if their lives are not at risk in
— Reuters
their countries of origin.
Denmark deports top foreign student for working too hard
COPENHAGEN: Denmark has kicked
a foreign student out of the country
for exceeding hourly part-time work
regulations, despite Aarhus University’s
efforts to hang onto one of its top
students, the school said on Saturday.
Marius Youbi, a 30-year-old
engineering student, flew home to
Cameroon on January 7 under an
expulsion order requiring him to leave
Denmark by January 8.
The Scandinavian country has
some of Europe’s strictest immigration
policies, and has repeatedly tightened
its regulations in recent months to deter
foreigners from seeking a new life in the
country.
Working part-time as a cleaner to
help pay for his studies, Youbi was found
to have occasionally exceeded the 15
hours he was allowed to work per week.
“We disagree with this decision
from the Danish immigration service,”
university spokesman Anders Cornell
said.
The school’s rector sent a letter
to the immigration service’s Agency
for Recruitment and Integration on
December 23 asking it to reconsider
its decision, but the letter was not
answered, Cornell said.
“Marius Youbi is one of the most
talented students we have... the agency
is able to reverse its decision and to
not do so would be unfortunate,” rector
Brian Bech Nielsen wrote in the letter,
a copy of which was sent to this news
agency.
“The country’s laws should of course
be respected, but the ‘punishment’
does not meet the ‘crime’ in this case,”
he wrote.
Youbi “has paid back the money he
earned for those extra hours and he paid
the fine as well. The Danish immigration
service therefore considers that he has
accepted his penalty,” Cornell said.
A spokesman for the Danish agency,
Jesper Wodschow Larsen, said the
decision “was taken in line with the rules
in place.”
Youbi, who was studying towards
a bachelor’s degree in engineering,
still needs to write his thesis and do an
internship with a Danish company in
order to earn his degree, Cornell said.
Speaking to Danish Radio just before
his departure, Youbi said he was “sad and
disappointed, my work is wasted.”
“This is four-and-a-half years that
have gone up in smoke,” he said.
“I built up something here in
Denmark. I’ve made many friends here, I
have family here that I’m leaving behind.
It’s hard to say goodbye to so much.”
Youbi said he was still hopeful he
could return to Denmark to resume his
studies.
“I hope I’ll be able to come back...
First I’m going to go home and wait.
Then I’ll hope for the best,” he said.
— AFP
One year on, homage paid to four hostages killed at kosher supermarket in Paris
Hundreds of French mosques opening
their doors to the public for dialogue
People ride bicycles along an embankment of the Moskva river during the
so-called winter bicycle parade, with the Kremlin seen in the background, in
central Moscow, Russia, on Saturday. — Reuters
PARIS: Hundreds of French mosques
are participating in a major open-house
event this weekend, offering visitors the
opportunity to come in for tea and a
chat about Islam in a country shaken by
militant attacks.
Organised by the country’s leading
Muslim body, the French Council of
the Muslim Faith (CFCM), it aims to
stimulate dialogue about Islam and
create a greater sense of “national
cohesion”, a year after 17 people were
killed in militant attacks in Paris
targeting satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo
and a Jewish supermarket.
“The objective is to create a space
where people can be together and meet
normal Muslim worshippers and all of
our fellow citizens,” CFCM president
Anouar Kbibech said.
The idea is to use the anniversary
of the January 7 attacks to “highlight
the real values of Islam, to set straight
the cliches about links to violence
and terrorism,” he said, describing the
venture as a “gesture of openness”.
“Instead of dwelling on these
tragic acts, it seemed more useful and
important to celebrate ‘the spirit of
French President Francois Hollande (2nd R) and mayor of Montrouge Jean-Loup
Metton (R) lay a wreath of flowers honouring late policewoman Clarissa JeanPhilippe in Montrouge south of Paris, on Saturday. — AFP
January 11’,” he said, referring to the
date when millions of people took to the
streets in a mass show of solidarity.
Following the November attacks,
France declared a state of emergency
which has seen police staging around 20
raids on Muslim places of worship. At
least three have been closed on suspicion
of radicalising their members.
Dubbed “a brotherly cup of tea”, the
initiative will take different forms with
local mosques handing out hot drinks
and pastries, offering guided visits,
putting on debates and calligraphy
workshops, and even inviting people to
attend one of the five daily prayers.
Although not all of France’s 2,500
mosques and places of worship are
taking part, the most important ones
are, including the Grand Mosque of
Paris.
The event comes after a year which
saw a surge in anti-Muslim acts in
France, some of which targeted places
of worship, although the number
was much lower after the November
bloodshed than after those that took
place in January.
Also on Saturday, France paid
homage to four Jewish hostages killed
at a kosher supermarket in Paris a year
after a spate of militant attacks.
Tributes were also paid to Clarissa
Jean-Philippe, a young policewoman
who was also killed by the gunman who
went on to carry out the supermarket
siege, with President Francois Hollande
unveiling a plaque in her honour in the
Paris suburb of Montrouge where she
died.
A total of 17 people were killed
in the January 2015 attacks which
rocked France and touched off a wave
of violence that reached a head in
November when a group of gunmen
and suicide bombers unleashed
mayhem in Paris, killing 130. — AFP
16
omandailyobserver
PANORAMA
EL NINO WAVES
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
Wikipedia founder wishes
for 15 more free years
A surfer enters the water at El Porto Beach as big waves from El Nino storms continue to affect Los Angeles, California. Drought affected California is bracing for more El
Nino storm weather over the next three months. — AFP
Pilot completes Britain-Australia
flight in 1942 vintage plane
BERLIN: On January 15, 2001, Jimmy
Wales and programmer Larry Sanger
created Wikipedia with the lofty goal
of making a comprehensive collection
of the world’s knowledge available to
everyone.
Nearly 15 years later, he hopes to
keep that goal alive — and keep it free.
When asked if he can make it another
15 years as an Internet encyclopedia
free of charge, Wales said, “I hope so.
We don’t have any plans to change.
We’re very content as we are.”
The online reference platform,
which has more than 37 million articles
in nearly 300 languages, is financed
entirely by donations, rather than
relying on income from advertisements.
Wales said he doesn’t regret keeping
Wikipedia free, even as he’s watched
other Internet founders become
billionaires.
“I’m very pleased with the outcome.
I have an amazing life and I enjoy every
minute of it,” he said in an interview on
Friday.
Despite effectively replacing the once
omnipresent hardcopy encyclopedia,
Wikipedia still faces several challenges
in the near future as it seeks to remain
free.
Like
many
technology-based
companies, Wikipedia is struggling to
recruit females.
“We’re really always looking for
more female contributors.”
About 15 per cent of the global
voluntary contributors to the website,
known collectively as “the community,”
are female, Wales said.
“The community is really passionate
about changing, but changes come
The online reference
platform, which has more
than 37 million articles
in nearly 300 languages,
is financed entirely by
donations, rather than
relying on income from
advertisements.
slower than we would like.”
In addition to focusing on female
recruitment, the online reference
work hopes to expand its influence to
growing populations that are rapidly
gaining access to the Internet.
“We’re in a period where the
number of people who are online in the
developing world is really skyrocketing
and correspondingly usage of Wikipedia
in those countries is skyrocketing.”
Wikipedia will focus more on the
user experience of its mobile products
to reach clients as they migrate to
mobile devices, Wales said.
“We need to really focus a lot of
attention on making sure that our
mobile app is good and our mobile
participation is good.”
To reach the goal of making a
complete collection of the world’s
knowledge available to everyone, the
company will need to keep up the pace
with digital trends, Wales said.
“The ongoing march of technology is
a really powerful force in helping people
to get online and meet other people and
learn things and share things.” — dpa
LOOKING THROUGH
SYDNEY: British aviator Tracey CurtisTaylor flew her open-cockpit biplane
across Sydney Harbour and landed at the
city’s international airport on Saturday,
completing a three-month journey from
England to retrace a pioneering feat of
early aviation.
The 53-year-old aviator set out from
Farnborough on October 1 to follow
the flight path of legendary aviator Amy
Johnson, who in 1930 became the first
woman to fly solo between Britain and
Australia.
“I need a drink,” Curtis-Taylor told
waiting media as she climbed from her
1942 Boeing Stearman and was handed
a glass of champagne.
“Seeing all the most iconic
landscapes, geology, vegetation, just the
best view in the world,” she said.”Very
few people get to fly it like I just did.”
Braving sea spray and smog in her
“Spirit of Artemis”, a reconditioned
piston-engine plane, Curtis-Taylor
crossed 14,000 miles (22,000 kilometres)
and 23 countries using 8,000 litres (2,100
gallons) of fuel.
She had struggled to secure supplies
of “avgas”, or aviation gasoline, not
British aviator Tracey Curtis-Taylor celebrates her arrival at Sydney’s International
Airport in an open cockpit biplane. — Reuters
readily available at many modern
airports, and relied on a support plane
that followed behind.
“In doing something like this you
have to be absolutely self-sufficient,”
Curtis-Taylor told Reuters in an
interview before her arrival.”We have
Thai skin whitening ad provokes
outrage on social media
BANGKOK: A Thai company pulled
an advert for skin lightening pills
following an outcry on social media
over a product sold with the tagline
“white makes you a winner”.
It is the latest marketing gaffe
to draw accusations of racism in a
kingdom obsessed with skin colour.
The advertisement for Seoul
Secret’s ‘snowz’ supplement pills
featured a veteran Thai celebrity
attributing her professional success to
her pale complexion.
“It’s not easy to stay at this point
for a long time,” the 35-year-old Thai
model and actress, Cris Horwang, says
in the video.
“If I stopped taking care of my body
and white complexion, all that I have
invested will be gone.”
The model is then shown in black
make-up, casting an envious look at
a second woman with light skin who
appears by her side.
“A newcomer will replace me and
turn me into a dark star,” she says in
the video, using a Thai idiom to refer
to her fame fading.
Whitening creams and pills are
wildly popular in Thailand, where
pale skin is upheld as the standard of
beauty in the media and among many
Thais who comment freely on the
complexion of others.
Advertisements for the products
done something like 54 stops and that is
what takes the time.”
Her challenges included scrounging
for fuel with the help of Aborigines after
an impromptu landing in the Australian
outback, and spending a day scraping
salt off her propellers after flying over
the Timor Sea.
In the post-9/11 world of aviation
security she also encountered wary
airport officials, especially after the Paris
attacks in November and the downing
of a Russian airliner in Egypt the month
before that.
“Everything is in high alert,” CurtisTaylor said.
Bad weather in Romania held the
flight up for days, and she had to fly
around war-torn Syria.
She has met royalty and took a Saudi
princess for a spin in the aircraft.
In Jordan, underprivileged girls she
met were amazed by her audacity at
undertaking the journey at her age.
It is a far cry from the world of 1930.
At that time, most of Johnson’s stops
lay within the British empire.
Red tape was minimal.
Johnson was just 26 and her flight
ended in Darwin, Australia, which her
successor Curtis-Taylor reached on
January 1 this year.
This week marked the 75th
anniversary of Johnson’s death, at the
age of 37, in a flying accident in England
during World War II. — Reuters
A man walks past street arts along a main road in Detroit, Michigan. — AFP
SPIRIT OF THE PEACOCK DANCE
Wattanapak Jinsirivanich, managing
director of Yulihan Group, the
company that produces Seoul Secret
beauty products, poses during an
interview in Bangkok. — Reuters
are standard fare on billboards and TV
spots, but some companies have faced
a backlash in recent years for going
too far.
Before its removal, the Seoul Secret
video received more than 100,000
views on YouTube, as well as enquiries
on the company’s Facebook page
about how to order the product.
But other social media sites drew
posts railing against the advert for
being racially offensive and reinforcing
the country’s narrow beauty ideals.
“It indicates that dark skin people
are losers, and this is clearly racist,” a
Thai commentator Tammaijang wrote
on the web forum Pantip. — AFP
Chinese dancer Yang Liping performing the ‘Spirit of the Peacock’ dance during the ‘Dynamic Yunnan’ show. The show is a
large dance drama and depiction of the life of the ethnic people of Yunnan province, which was choreographed by Liping,
famous for her imitation of a peacock in her dance.— AFP
Doctor caught
flooring patient
with deadly punch
MOSCOW: Russia opened an
investigation on Saturday after a
hospital doctor was captured on video
punching a patient with a blow that
killed him instantly.
The shocking incident in the
southern city of Belgorod raised
questions over a cover-up culture in
state medicine, with the investigation
only opened days later after security
camera footage was released on
YouTube and aired on national
television.
Belgorod’s Investigative Committee
said in the statement released on
Saturday that the incident took place
on December 29.
It gave no explanation for the
apparent delay in investigating the
crime.
It said the doctor was suspected of
causing death through negligence, for
which he could serve up to two years
in jail.
In the video, the strongly-built
doctor in medical clothing drags the
barechested male patient from the
examination table, asking him “why
did you touch the nurse?” and pushes
him out of the doorway.
— AFP
SUNDAY | JANUARY 10, 2016 | RABEE AL AWWAL 29, 1437 AH
P18
P19
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Inside
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MASIRAH ISLAND LOCATED OFF THE
EAST COAST OF OMAN HAS JUST
OPENED FOR TOURISM. YOU CAN GET
TO THE ISLAND BY FERRY, MANAGED
BY THE NATIONAL FERRY COMPANY
WHICH RUNS SIX TIMES A DAY
BETWEEN SHANNAH TO MASIRAH.
FOR KITE SURFERS, MASIRAH IS AN
ATTRACTIVE SPOT IN SUMMER BECAUSE
OF THE MONSOON WINDS
MASIRAH ISLAND
A must visit place in Oman
T
he Wilayat of Masirah
in the Governorate of
South Al Sharqiyah
has received much
bounties of the blessed
Renaissance in all fields.
It is considered as an important
tourist destination attracting visitors
from inside the Sultanate and abroad.
Masirah Island has recently
flourished as a tourist destination.
It has been frequented by a large
number of tourists who come to
enjoy the weather and beautiful
beaches of the island, most notably
surfing, because the waves there are
of the highest in the Middle East.
Hotels in the wilayat experience
intense turnout of visitors, especially
during vacation days.
The most important of these hotels are
“Masirah Hotel,” “Masirah Resort,” “Dana Gulf ”
and “Serabis Hotel” in addition to a new hotel is now
ready for operation and located in the centre of the city.
There are also many important islands in the Wilayat
of Masirah, perhaps the largest island is (Marsis). It has
a abundant number of birds, and the most famous bird
is locally called “Taraa”. There are other islands, such as
‘Shaanzi’, ‘Kalban’, ‘Sur Masirah’, which is frequented by
foreigners who practice surfing and hold paragliding
competitions.
The tourists are attracted mostly by the turtles
scattered along the beaches of Masirah and that comes
out in the lunar days.
The most famous turtle is ‘Al Rimani’, which lays its
eggs on the sands of soft beach and then returns to the
sea, travelling long distances in the depths of the oceans
and seas, reaching various far countries of the world.
One of the famous tourist landmark in the island is
“Marsis Old Fort”, a witness to the history of the wilayat
since old times.
The fort is located in the village of ‘Marsis’, and it is
one of the most important forts in the island.
An important monuments in the island is an Islamic
cemetery, which is located in the village of “Safaij”, where
the German mission, previously visited the region,
discovered a number of antiquities, reported in a book
about discoveries in the Arabian Sea, island of Masirah
and Al Halaniyat Islands” published in English.
That book is the result of surveys, archaeological
and ethnological studies that compare and analyse
the characteristics of different peoples of the island of
Masirah and Al Halaniyat Islands and the relationship
between them, carried out by the German archaeomining expert Gerd Weisgerber of the German Mining
Museum (Bochum) and Ali bin Bakhit al Shanfari,
former Director of Antiquities at the Ministry of
Heritage and Culture.
The rugged terrain of the island and surrounding
rough coastline has led to the appearance of many
wrecked dhows on the beaches of the island, most of
them well preserved by the salt water and intense heat.
The most famous folk arts in Masirah are ‘Al Masobal’,
played by fishermen carrying nets on board of the ship,
and ‘Al Maqayidh’, which takes place at weddings and
during national events. — ONA
LIFESTYLE
Valuing your time, not money, will bring happiness
I
f you thought money is what ultimately
brings more happiness, you could not be
farther from the truth.
New research suggests that valuing your
time more than the pursuit of money can
make you a lot happier.
“It appears that people have a stable
preference for valuing their time over
making more money, and prioritising
time is associated with greater happiness,”
said lead researcher Ashley Whillans
from the University of British Columbia in
Canada.
The researchers also found that older
people were more likely to say they valued
their time compared to younger people.
“As people age, they often want to spend
time in more meaningful ways than just
making money,” Whillans added.
The findings are based on six studies
involving more than 4,600 participants.
Some of the studies used real-world
examples, such as asking a participant whether
he would prefer a more expensive apartment
with a short commute or a less expensive
apartment with a long commute.
A participant also could choose between a
graduate programme that would lead to a job
with long hours and a higher starting salary or
a programme that would result in a job with a
lower salary but fewer hours.
“Having more free time is likely more
important for happiness than having more
money,” Whillans said.
If people want to focus more on their
time and less on money in their lives, they
could take some actions to help shift their
perspective, such as working slightly fewer
hours, paying someone to do disliked chores
like cleaning the house, or volunteering with
a charity.
“Even giving up a few hours of a paycheck
to volunteer at a food bank may have more
bang for your buck in making you feel
happier,” Whillans noted.
The findings were published online in the
journal Social Psychological and Personality
Science.
‘IT APPEARS THAT PEOPLE
HAVE A STABLE PREFERENCE
FOR VALUING THEIR TIME
OVER MAKING MORE
MONEY, AND PRIORITISING
TIME IS ASSOCIATED WITH
GREATER HAPPINESS’
18
LIFESTYLE
omandailyobserver
HACKING THE BRAIN
NEW WAVE IN TECHNOLOGY
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
SAYEH WOODMAN
[email protected]
Losing perspective
on daily problems
H
Q ROB LEVER
T
he next frontier for the tech sector is the
human brain. A new breed of neuro-hacker
is finding ways to capture and manipulate
brainwaves to improve health, with
potential to help the severely handicapped.
A number of the innovations were
on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las
Vegas, where computer scientists and biomedical experts
showcased ways to tap into and use brain signals.
The “mind control” headband unveiled by startup
BrainCo effectively hacks into brain signals with a range of
possible applications — from helping to improve attention
spans, to detecting disease, controlling smart home
appliances or even a prosthetic device.
The device “translates your brainwaves into electronic
signals,” said the Boston-based firm’s Zenchuan Lei.
At CES, BrainCo demonstrated how a person could use
the headband to manipulate a prosthetic hand — a potential
life-changer for those paralysed or missing limbs.
“These signals can be used to control objects like a
prosthetic hand,” Lei said. “You can turn the lights on or off
just by focusing on that.”
The device designed by scientists from Harvard and
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology employs “neuro
feedback,” a means of allowing people to control their brain
waves for various purposes.
It is expected to be sold later this year for less than $150.
Lei suggested the device could also help people with
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder because “it teaches
you to enhance your focus and concentration.”
A similar project on display from New York-based
OpenBCI (which stands for open-source brain-computer
interface) seeks to create a platform for applications of the
technology in healthcare, education or other fields.
OpenBCI uses a 3D-printed helmet which captures
brainwaves from various sectors of the brain.
BrainCo CEO wears the BrainCo Focus 1 to use bio
feedback to try to concentrate and manipulate a mechanical
hand using his brain. — AFP
MUSE HEADBAND USES SENSORS ON
THE FOREHEAD AND BEHIND THE EARS
TO MEASURE BRAIN SIGNALS, AND
ADVISE USERS HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR
MEDITATION TECHNIQUE. ‘WE ACCESS
THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND IT
JUST TICKLES THE NERVE TO REMIND THE
BRAIN TO RELEASE DOPAMINE’
Russomanno.
The technology also offers a potential for so-called
“neuro-marketing” which tests new products and services
on the basis of sensory and cognitive response.
South Korean startup Looxid Labs unveiled a headset
that tracks both brainwaves and eye movements, claiming
this provides more accurate insights into the mind.
‘Neuro-marketing’ potential
“No other device that I’m aware of combines these
things,” said Looxid chief business officer Alex Chang.
“This can be used to help people with ALS (amyotrophic
With the headset attached to a computer, “you can roll
lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease) or quadriplegics your eyes to scroll the mouse, and click on a button by
communicate,” said OpenBCI chief executive Conor blinking,” Chang said.
The headset is being launched in July as a developer kit,
with scope to build applications for controlling physical or
virtual objects, communicating, analysing a user’s mood or
mental health, or verifying their identity.
“We also see this as having potential in gaming because
you can control things with your eye,” Chang said.
“When you concentrate you can stop the bullets.”
He added that for neuro-marketing applications,
“we can show someone an ad and we can see where the
eyes are focused. We can scan emotions and understand
how someone is responding.” Other exhibitors at CES
demonstrated wearable devices that block pain signals to
the brain, as an alternative to medications with side effects
for people who suffer from debilitating pain.
Meditation aid
The neuro-feedback technique is being applied as a
meditation aid by Canadian-based Interaxon and its Muse
headband. Muse uses sensors on the forehead and behind
the ears to measure brain signals, and advise users how to
improve their meditation technique.
The coaching app helps people achieve a level of
consistency in their meditation efforts.
“It’s like going to the gym. The muscle doesn’t get
stronger unless you do it over and over again. It’s the same
with your brain,” said Muse marketing manager Tracy
Newsom-Rosenthal at the CES show. One startup at CES
was showcasing a technique to deliver pleasure signals to the
brain via music, by triggering the release of neurotransmitters
such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin.
The hand-held device from Florida-based Nervana
allows users to plug in a music player into the $299 device
and get the pleasurable signals delivered by its headphones.
“We send a signal into the vagus nerve which produces
dopamine, and that relaxes you,” CEO Ami Brannon said on
the show floor.
“Some people describe the sensation as euphoric.”
But Brannon said the technique “is not really hacking
the brain.” “We access the central nervous system and it just
tickles the nerve to remind the brain to release dopamine,”
she said. “People who practice yoga or meditation can
already do this.” — AFP
aving no WiFi, satsumas with pips in, and calls
from unknown numbers have emerged on a list
of the most common first world problems, despite
other things happening in the world. The Brits certainly like
to moan, and what with it being the New Year, you would
think that most would have their positive heads on, far from
it. I carried out some research last week, what with it being
the New Year, new you and being happy, strong and going
for it. I decided to eavesdrop this week to see what we really
moan about!
Having a runny nose, being left on hold when making
a telephone call, and having to pay 5p to carry your own
shopping home also made the list of commonplace
frustrations, as well as people who ignore queuing etiquette
and receiving a ‘we missed you card’ for a failed parcel
delivery.
There’s even more moans on the way, that we love to
complain about, here they come... more grimble grumbles...
that are relatively... really... trivial matters...
Door-to-door salespeople, not being able to find the
end of the sellotape and running out of milk also bother
us Brits. While wanting to log into an account but being
unable to remember the password, and having to use a tin
opener when the tin doesn’t have a ring pull irritate millions
of adults. What else, did I hear, leaving the toilet seat up,
being home late, not buying the gifts they want, not helping
with the kids, always ‘working’ are just some of the ladies
complaints about the other half!
The only complaints I heard from children were, can
I have something to eat or drink, or daddy why are you
always on your phone?! Reflects on today’s parenting really
doesn’t it!!?
It’s so easy for us to complain, anyone and pretty much
everyone does at some point, but more so than ever we
British have been tainted with that moany brush. And from
doing my research I can really understand why. Everyday
problems seem like a big deal, and most people in Britain
admit to losing perspective at times and exaggerating
problems and situations too.
When you are caught up in a frustrating situation —
such as waiting for a late train or being unable to use your
phone due to a bad signal — it can often seem like the end
of the world. But come on... is it really? Get a grip I say!
To put it blunt! These sorts of irritations really are so trivial
compared to the problems faced daily all around the world.
How did I undertake my research to get all those moans?
The past week I sat in the same place in a particular coffee
shop every day for a week. I sat near the till, but also close
enough to other seats to eavesdrop. I listened to people
in the queue. I listened in to friends having coffee and
nattering away, colleagues having meetings. It was quite
funny, I felt like a detective. But it is sad to hear people
moan so much. Don’t be a moaner, be marvellous instead.
RESEARCH
‘Selfish’ genes tell us to
stay home when sick
FITNESS
Watching fitness DVDs
at home harms you
U
sing exercise DVDs to work out at
home may sound like a good idea
but these DVDs may have negative,
hyper-sexualised imagery and demotivating language, says a new study.
“The findings showed that imagery in fitness
videos may be perpetuating and reinforcing
hyper-sexualised and unrealistic body images,”
said Brad Cardinal, a Kinesiology professor at the
Oregon State University.
De-motivating statements that could reduce
the effectiveness of the workout — diminishing the
user’s hope and potentially causing psychological
harm — were also found in the fitness DVDs.
For the study, the researchers reviewed 10
popular, instructor-led fitness DVDs, evaluating
both the imagery used in the videos as well as the
motivational language used by the instructors.
The goal was to better understand the visual
and auditory messaging and how it might affect
users.
According to Cardinal, fitness DVDs are a $250
million industry but there is no scientific evidence
about their safety, thereby raising concerns and
DE-MOTIVATING STATEMENTS
THAT COULD REDUCE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
WORKOUT — DIMINISHING THE
USER’S HOPE AND POTENTIALLY
CAUSING PSYCHOLOGICAL
HARM — WERE ALSO FOUND IN
THE FITNESS DVDS.
effectiveness or the accuracy of the information
contained in them.
The findings urge fitness DVDs consumers to
be mindful of the potential pitfalls of the product
when selecting and using exercise videos.
The findings are forthcoming in the Sociology
of Sport Journal.
T
here are some “selfish” genes which tell you to
stay in bed whenever you feel sick, your nose
is stuffed and your headache is spreading to
your toes — only to save others from infections, say
researchers.
Along with the symptoms, the sick individual can
become depressed and lose interest in social and sexual
contact, limiting opportunities to transmit pathogens,
they noted.
According to them, feeling sick is an evolutionary
adaptation and evolution is functioning on the level of
the “selfish gene”. Even though the individual organism
may not survive the illness, isolating itself from its social
environment will reduce the overall rate of infection in
the group.
“From the point of view of the individual, this
behaviour may seem overly altruistic.
But from the perspective of the gene, its odds of
being passed down are improved,” said lead researcher
Keren Shakhar from Weizmann Institute of Science in
Israel.
The scientists went through a list of common
symptoms, and each seems to support their hypothesis.
Appetite loss, for example, hinders the disease from
spreading by communal food or water resources.
Fatigue and weakness can lessen the mobility of
the infected individual, reducing the radius of possible
infection.
SPOTLIGHT
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
omandailyobserver
19
QUEENSTOWN:
PICTURESQUE HAVEN FOR ADVENTURE JUNKIES
WHETHER IT’S SAILING,
HIKING, WHITE WATER
RAFTING, JET BOATING,
BUNGY JUMPING, SKYDIVING,
PARAGLIDING, CANYON
SWINGING, SKIING,
MOUNTAIN BIKING... OR
WHATEVER MORE TO GET
YOUR ADRENALINE PUMPING,
THIS RESORT TOWN, NESTLED
IN THE SOUTHERN ALPS OF
NEW ZEALAND, IS A PERFECT
STAGE FOR IT ALL
Q RADHIKA BHIRANI
T
he land, rivers, mountains and
sky — Queenstown serves up
adventure
pursuits
aplenty,
everywhere.
Be there, and just go for it.
Whether it’s sailing, hiking,
white water rafting, jet boating, bungy jumping,
skydiving, paragliding, canyon swinging, skiing,
mountain biking... or whatever more to get your
adrenaline pumping, this resort town, nestled in the
Southern Alps of New Zealand, is a perfect stage for
it all.
Setting sight on the hustle-bustle of activities
happened as soon as I drew the curtains apart in my
hotel room, which gave me walking access
to the front of the glistening Lake
Wakatipu.
It was visibly dotted
with sails, kayaks and
boats.
The backdrop was
the Remarkables mountain
range, and it was sunset.
“Oh my god, if only I could settle here!”
Queenstown can do that to you.
It has a compact town centre, where everything
is within walking distance, including about 100
places to dine — which are often alive during the
day and night with live music — and a beauty that’s
remarkably picture postcard perfect.
What’s more? You can see it from every height
and angle. Ask those why skydive from 15,000 feet!
Alas, it was a case of ‘Been there, not done that’
for me at the world-famous Nzone Skydive, New
Zealand’s first Tandem Skydive operation.
Safety is priority here, but what it takes is courage
— lots of it. “Take the plunge, take the plunge,”
people kept urging me.
My heart said ‘No’. Missing the skydive, especially
after daring to bungy jump during a past trip to
New Zealand, will remain a regret.
So, hey, if you’re there, just do it.
Let the experts and parachutes take care of the
rest.
Queenstown is a resort town in the south-west of
HERITAGE
A magnificent villa with an intriguing history
Q KIRSTEN BAUKHAGE
T
he idyllic lake setting less than 40
kilometres north of Berlin, along
with its grand, historic buildings,
should make Bogensee a valuable
property, but the fact that Hitler’s propaganda
chief Joseph Goebbels held court here casts a
long shadow.
“We can’t sell it,” says Birgit Moehring, the
head of the real estate agency that manages
the property portfolio of the city of Berlin.
Berlin has tried to sell the estate for years,
but changed its mind after the third attempt
fell through last year.
The problem is the Goebbels villa, built
shortly before World War II at the centre of
the estate covering some 16.8 hectares.
Roberto Mueller, who looks after the
crumbling buildings and has worked at the
site since 1984, has at times wanted to quit his
job in despair.
“You ask yourself: what’s the point?
Why put in all the work and passion, when
everything is decaying all around you?” says
the 61-year-old caretaker, recalling the postwar days when the site was home to East
Germany’s FDJ youth organisation.
The lecture halls — built in the early
1950s in the Stalinist “Zuckerbaecker” style
of monumental buildings with classical
adornment — were a showcase project for the
young communist country.
During its glory years the site hosted
around 500 students a year from all over the
world, but the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
brought an end to the FDJ, and since 2000 the
buildings have stood empty.
The pale yellow paint is now peeling and
the plaster crumbling from the walls as the
elements take their toll on the unheated
buildings. Roofs and balconies no longer keep
the rain out, the parquet floors are ruined and
the walls are showing signs of mould.
Mueller continues to do his best, but he
knows he is fighting a losing battle. “I’m the
Don Quixote of Bogensee,” he says as he
CASH-STRAPPED BERLIN
HAS LONG BEEN TRYING TO
DISPOSE OF A MAGNIFICENT
VILLA WITH AN INTRIGUING
HISTORY SET ON THE SHORES
OF AN IDYLLIC LAKE. BUT
RAPID DECAY AT THE ESTATE
AND ITS CONNECTION WITH
HITLER’S PROPAGANDA CHIEF
IS PROVING A HURDLE.
hacks back the undergrowth. “If I had a wish,
a whole lot of people would move in here
quickly and revive the estate.”
In the 1990s, the buildings were occupied
by a German social work and youth
organisation, which used them to provide
skills training for socially disadvantaged
young people.
There was also a conference centre with
accommodation and restaurants, but this all
closed down at the end of 1999 when it was
clear that the maintenance and renovation
costs could not be covered.
Bogensee’s modern history begins in 1936,
when Berlin gave a lodge built of wood on the
site to Goebbels on the occasion of his 39th
birthday.
He had earlier been appointed Gauleiter —
politics chief -of the German capital.
The Nazi propaganda chief used it as his
love nest for entertaining the actresses he
came into contact with, but he soon found it
inadequate to his needs.
The villa was built with funds provided
by the UFA film studios and others, with 30
guest rooms, 40 service rooms, garages and a
cinema.Three picture windows, which are still
there, opened up the view onto the lake.
Berlin is now worried that neo-Nazis could
acquire the estate through an agent to create
a shrine to the Third Reich. “Our problem is
that we would be able to stipulate its use for at
most 10 years after sale,” Moehring says.
Under East Germany’s communist
government, Goebbels’ wood-panelled living
room served as a bar, and the guest rooms,
with their own bathrooms, were let out to
paying customers.
There were even telephones in the rooms
— a rarity in those days.
The Stasi, the East German state police,
was also present, maintaining a listening post
in a cellar with a direct line to the Interior
Ministry.
Now the aim is a long-term leasing
arrangement for the villa, which is a protected
building, but something has to be done soon
or the building will no longer be worth saving.
Mueller casts his mind back to better days.
“There were youngsters from all over the
world, from African and Arab countries, and
later from the West, from Scandinavia and
even from West Germany,” he recalls.
The caretaker points to the high standard
of the technical equipment,which was well
above that available to most East Germans of
the day.
In 1981 the lecture hall, with its translation
facilities, was used as the press centre when the
West German chancellor, Helmut Schmidt,
met East German party chief Erich Honecker.
“I don’t like to go in there any more,
because the damage is beyond repair,” Mueller
says. “It hurts.”
Vandalism is a major problem, as the estate
is not fenced. Windows have been smashed
and all that can be carried off has been, even
rare plants like Japanese azaleas.
Moehring acknowledges the problem.
She hopes that an arrangement can
be struck with a future tenant to split the
renovation costs with the city.
“Personally, I would prefer to tear the
Goebbels villa down.
Not every protected building has to be
kept,” Moehring says. — dpa
New Zealand’s South Island, some 900 km from the
capital Wellington.
It has its own airport.
For many Indians, the first glimpse of the town’s
beauty came through the Bollywood blockbuster
“Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai”, starring Hrithik Roshan and
Ameesha Patel, which was partially shot here.
Even the 2010 release “I Hate Luv Storys”,
featuring Sonam Kapoor and Imran Khan, captured
its beauty. But a live experience is of course, always
hard to match.
On another day, we were to traverse the infamous
Skippers Road, a mostly one-way, narrow and steep
way said to be one of the world’s most dangerous
roads some 25 minutes away from Queenstown.
Scenes from “Lord of the Rings” came alive in the
mind as we crossed some breathtaking locations, at
parts of which the iconic movies were shot.
Our destination was the Shotover river, which
the guide told us, is the world’s richest gold bearing
river of its size.
We were going jet boating, with the impressive
company of cricket greats Stephen Fleming, Simon
Doull and Scott Styris.
With the cold wind slapping us in the face, eyes
barely open, jet boating can turn out to be quite a
joyride as you feel your adrenaline surge when you
speed through the narrowest canyons, often taking
180-degree spins just inches from the canyon walls.
Look up at the sky during the ride, and you’ll
spot the deadly Kawarau Bridge bungy site — the
world’s first commercial bungy operation.
Must be something to just jump off from there...
And no, I wasn’t going to even try.
Also, if you find some time, do take a ride on
Queenstown’s ‘Lady of the Lake’, which was first
launched in 1912 — the same year as the Titanic left
shore.
One of the oldest tourist attractions here, and
said to be only remaining passenger-carrying coalfired steamship in the Southern Hemisphere, it
takes you on a mesmerising tour.
Have some hot chocolate while you’re aboard,
and soak in the beauty of the landscape.
Queenstown can make you forget your worldly
worries.
Good enough reason to go there. — IANS
Longer working hours don’t
kill romance in your life
T
urning conventional wisdom on its head,
a new study has found that there is in fact
no negative association between the hours
worked and relationship satisfaction.
“Our research questions the assumption that
working longer hours is hazardous for all romantic
relationships,” the study said.
Conventional wisdom and research seem to suggest
that partners in dual career-couples — relationships
where both partners pursue their careers — have to
decide whether they would rather risk their careers or
their romantic relationship.
“Our study attempts to help answer the question
of whether dual-career couples should be hesitant
to devote many hours to their work when they fear
negative relationship consequences,” the researchers
noted.
In the study, 285 couples took part to determine the
effect of working hours on relationships.
As the researchers explain:
By examining the associations between participants’
working time, private lives and happiness in their
respective relationships, the team of researchers
from Switzerland and Germany found that couples
compensated for the time lost with their partners by
making the most of time they have after work.
The researchers explained how career driven
people who are investing long hours into work, crucial
in the pursuit of their career goals, are also aware that
they cannot have everything in their private lives.
“There was no negative association between
working time and relationship satisfaction,” the study
said. The findings appeared in the journal Human
Relations.
20
ENTERTAINMENT
omandailyobserver
KATRINA PRAYS ‘DON 3’
‘HAPPENS’ WITH HER
B
TO QUERIES IF SHE WILL BE SEEN IN
KABIR KHAN’S NEXT PROJECT WITH
HRITHIK, SHE SAID: “THESE ARE BOTH
AMAZING FILMS, I PRAY THAT THEY’RE
HAPPENING AND THAT THEY’RE
HAPPENING WITH ME.”
ollywood actress Katrina Kaif neither
denied nor confirmed if she’ll be
opposite Shah Rukh Khan in “Don
3” or Hrithik Roshan in Kabir Khan’s
film but only said she “prays” that
films are “happening with her”.
Asked if she was part of “Don 3”, she said: “That’s
incredible if that’s true. This is all good news to
me.”
To queries if she will be seen in Kabir Khan’s
next project with Hrithik, to be produced by
Sajid Nadiadwala, she laughingly said: “These
are both amazing films, I pray that they’re
happening and that they’re happening with
me.”
Katrina was speaking to reporters at
a radio station where she came as part
of promotions for “Fitoor”. She has
previously worked with “Don” Shah
Rukh in Yash Chopra’s “Jab Tak Hai
Jaan” and has worked with Hrithik
in “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”. There
were initially reports which claimed
that Priyanka Chopra, who was part
of the earlier two films, would be
dropped from the “Don” franchise.
But Farhan had claimed in
November last year that except for
Shah Rukh reprising the character,
nothing had been finalised, not even
the script.
Katrina and Kabir have given hits
like “New York” and “Ek Tha Tiger”
and she had worked in his last film
“Phantom” opposite Saif Ali Khan.
Her chemistry with Hrithik has
been appreciated always as seen in
“Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” and “Bang
Bang”. About a recent report stating that she
spent two hours on “Sultan” sets convincing
superstar Salman Khan to cast her, she denied
it. “Nothing of that sort happened. Actually we
were dubbing for ‘Fitoor’ and Ali Abbas Zafar,
the director of ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’ had
his shooting going on there. And I haven’t
gone on anyone’s set.”
Katrina considers her upcoming drama
“Fitoor” a fresh film despite having
read the Charles Dickens’ novel “Great
Expectations” on which it is based.
“I’ve read the book and I’ve seen the
films that have been made on it.
So when I got the script from Abhishek,
I really just judged it on as an entirely
new movie because most of the people
who’ll see the film will probably not
have read the book,” said Katrina,
who was present with her co-star
Aditya Roy Kapur and director
Abhishek Kapoor to promote the
film at a radio station.
“Honestly, I found it to be one of
the most romantic stories I’ve ever heard
and ever read. For me that was instantly
where I wanted to be a part of it because
I think everybody loves romance and
passion.
And this film just depicted it in a
beautiful, classic way,” she added.
“Great Expectations”, first published
in 1861, has been adapted into various
films, plays and television shows and
even novels.
After adapting Chetan Bhagat’s
“Three Mistakes Of My Life” for “Kai Po
Che”, Kapoor has taken up a novel again.
“I had read the book several years
earlier, during my childhood in school.
The heart and soul of the book is very
basic in any country or place, people are
able to relate to this story because it is
about love and about heartbreak.
“I thought this story will be amazing
for our Indian audiences, who will like
the story. When the story is made for
our people, we need to adapt it slightly
so that it can create the right impact on
them,” he added.
Big B, Ranveer share Justin Bieber expelled from Mayan ruins
J
Best Actor award
ustin Bieber tried to take in a bit too much
culture during his Mexican vacation as the
pop star was kicked out of Mayan ruins
for attempting to enter a restricted area.
The 21-year-old Canadian singer was
visiting the ancient site in Tulum, which
faces the Caribbean Sea, on Thursday
when he sought to “enter an area
prohibited to visitors,” an official at the
National Institute of Anthropology and
History said.
Guards from the institute, which
oversees archaeological sites, stopped
Bieber and “invited him to leave” the ruins,
the official said on condition of anonymity,
confirming an incident that made headlines in
Mexico.
Bieber caused a commotion during a previous visit to Mexico in November
2013, when he claimed on Twitter to have met President Enrique Pena Nieto and
his family at a performance in Mexico City.
The president’s office denied that the meeting had taken place and Bieber later
corrected himself, saying that he had only met with Pena Nieto’s family. — AFP
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
TINSELTOWN
Salma Hayek’s living
‘better life’
A
ctress Salma Hayek
doesn’t envy her prebaby body as her life
is “so much better” ever since
she welcomed her eight-yearold daughter Valentina with
husband
Francois-Henri
Pinault.
Hayek took to Instagram
on Friday to share a throwback
photograph of herself in a
bikini before she gave birth
to her daughter, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
“This was my waist before
pregnancy. Now it’s not the same
but my life is so much better,” she
wrote alongside the image.
The 49-year-old earlier revealed she never exercises.
She said: “I have the bad habit of not exercising and not eating healthy
food. I’m sometimes lazy with the maintenance. Altogether, it’s a lot of work.”
Lovely to be working with Suriya
again: Shruti Haasan
A
ctress Shruti Haasan,
who is shooting for the
third instalment of “Singham”
titled “S3”, says it’s “lovely”
to be working with actor
Suriya again. The 29-yearold actress had previously
worked with Suriya in
“7aum Arivu”
“Back
in
Vizag,
shooting for S3 ! Lovely to
be working with @Suriya_
offl again after 7aum Arivu,
and of course Hari sir too!
#memories
#nostalgic,”
Shruti tweeted.
The shooting of the project
started on Thursday.
Directed by Hari, “S3” also features actress Anushka Shetty in the lead role.
The film will have music by Harris Jayaraj.
Madonna ‘constantly crying’ over
estrangement from son
S
inger
Madonna
is
reportedly “at her wit’s
end” over her estrangement
from her 15-year-old son
Rocco and her ongoing
custody battle with her exhusband Guy Ritchie.
“She has been crying
constantly over what’s
going on with Rocco,” an
insider told usmagazine.
com.
The 57-year-old pop star,
who said that her children
meant the world to her,
was completely unhappy
with the situation.
As previously reported, Rocco
had expressed “very clearly that he
didn’t want to return to New York” and
decided to stay with his father in London.
“Rocco is a typical 15-year-old who wants to do what he wants,” the insider
explained.
Rocco also said that it’s hard for him to stay at Madonna’s house without
his sister Lourdes, who went away to college in Michigan last year.
SHOWBIZ
ANUSHKA TO STAR OPPOSITE SALMAN
B
M
egastar Amitabh Bachchan late on Friday shared the Best Actor
award (male) with Ranveer Singh at the Screen Awards 2016 in
Mumbai.
While Big B was honoured for his role in “Piku”, Ranveer was
adjudged the best actor for his spectacular work in “Bajirao Mastani”. The award
for the Best Actor in female category went to the flamboyant Deepika Padukone
for her stunning performance in “Piku”. Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor was conferred
with the Life Time Achievement award.
Meanwhile, the award for the popular choice in male and female categories went
to Shah Rukh Khan, for “Dilwale”, and Deepika for “Bajirao Mastani” respectively.
Versatile actor Irrfan Khan bagged the Jury Choice Best Actor (Male) and Kalki
Koechlin won the Jury Choice Best Actor (Female).
The red carpet of the gala event witnessed the presence Amitabh Bachchan,
Sonam Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Subhash Ghai, Shabana Azmi and
Rishi Kapoor among others.
ollywood actress Anushka Sharma
has been finalised as the female
lead opposite superstar Salman
Khan for the upcoming film “Sultan”, said
a statement from Yash Raj Films.
Anushka, who made her debut in
Hindi cinema in 2008 took to Twitter, to
share a photograph of herself hugging the
“Dabangg” star.
The “NH10” actress captioned the
image saying: “Sultan”. Produced by Aditya
Chopra and written-directed by Ali Abbas
Zafar, “Sultan”, which has been shot in
Karjat, is reportedly based on the life of a
wrestler.
One of the fittest stars of Bollywood,
Salman has gone through intensive training
for wrestling and mixed martial arts for
Zafar’s directorial with international action
director Larnell Stovall.
“Sultan” is slated to release on Eid 2016.
SPORT
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
omandailyobserver
21
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: Spieth had a 16-under-par total of 130 and a four-shot lead over first-round leader Patrick Reed
Spieth surges ahead in Hawaii PGA event
LOS ANGELES: World number one
Jordan Spieth chipped in for an eagle and
grabbed seven birdies in a nine-under
par 64 on Friday to surge four strokes
clear of the field after two rounds of the
US PGA Tournament of Champions.
After another lovely day on the
par-73 Plantation Course at Kapalua,
Hawaii, Masters and US Open champion
Spieth had a 16-under par total of 130
and a four-shot lead over first-round
leader Patrick Reed, Kevin Kisner and
Argentinian Fabian Gomez.
Reed had four birdies in a four-under
69 for 134, while Kisner climbed up
the leaderboard with an eight-under 65
that included an eagle and six birdies
and Gomez carded a bogey-free 66 that
featured seven birdies.
New Zealand’s Danny Lee was alone
in fifth after a 68 for 135.
Spieth said before the tournament
that he hoped 2016 would prove a
continuation of a stellar 2015 campaign
that saw him grab two major titles
among his five wins and add a runnerup finish at the PGA Championship
and fourth-place at the British Open
as well.
Jordan Spieth
If the 22-year-old Texan claims his
seventh US PGA Tour title this week, he
would match the number Tiger Woods
achieved before turning 23.
He cautioned, however, that with
only 36 holes played in the elite event for
last season’s winners there was “a long
After birdies at five, six and eight, the par-five ninth where he chipped in
He birdied 13, 14 and 15, and added a hung on the lip for a fraction of a second
last birdie at 18 — where his 13-foot putt before falling.
way to go”.
Spieth took command with an eagle at 36 feet.
Warriors trounce Portland Trail Blazers
GOLDEN STATE: Klay Thompson and
Stephen Curry combined for 62 points
as the Golden State Warriors trounced
the Portland Trail Blazers 128-108 at the
Moda Centre.
Thompson bombed in 36 points and
Curry had 26 points to go with nine
assists as the Warriors (34-2) won their
fifth straight game. Draymond Green
had his seventh triple-double of the
season with 11 points, 13 rebounds and
10 assists.
RAPTORS 97, WIZARDS 88
DeMar DeRozan scored a seasonhigh 35 points as the Toronto Raptors
continued their regular season
dominance over the Washington
Wizards with a 97-88 victory.
Lowry had 10 of his 21 points in the
fourth quarter plus 10 rebounds for the
Raptors (23-15), who are 3-0 against the
Wizards this season and have won six
straight non-playoff games in the series.
MAGIC 83, NETS 77
Victor Oladipo scored 20 points and
hit six three-pointers as the Orlando
Magic ended a four-game losing streak
with an 83-77 victory over the Brooklyn
Nets. Nikola Vucevic added 20 points
and 10 rebounds for his seventh game
with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.
It also was his 14th double-double.
Aaron Gordon added 14 and Evan
Fournier contributed 13 for Orlando,
who closed out the game with a 15-9 run
over the final 6:48 to end their longest
losing streak of the season.
PACERS 91, PELICANS 86
Ian Mahinmi scored 17 points,
grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked a
career-high four shots as the Indiana
Pacers overcame a season-high 24
turnovers to defeat the New Orleans
Pelicans 91-86 at the Smoothie King
NBA
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) looks to pass round Portland Trail
Blazers centre Mason Plumlee (24) during the first quarter at the Moda Centre.
— USA Today Sports
Centre.
The Pelicans (11-24) played most
of the game without All Star forward
Anthony Davis, who injured his lower
back diving into the court-side seats for
a loose ball three minutes in.
SPURS 100, KNICKS 99
Kawhi Leonard scored 19 points and
pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds
as the San Antonio Spurs stepped on the
gas at the start of the fourth quarter and
had just enough in the tank to outlast
the New York Knicks 100-99 to remain
unbeaten at home. The Spurs led 7974 after three quarters, but opened the
fourth quarter with seven straight points
to give them some breathing room.
HEAT 103, SUNS 95
Miami guard Dwyane Wade scored
nine of his game-high 27 points in the
final four minutes and Goran Dragic
added 22 in his return to Phoenix as the
Heat withstood a second-half push to
beat the Suns 103-95.
Ex-Sun Gerald Green, also in his
return to Phoenix, added 21 points for
the Heat (22-14), who have now beaten
the Suns 11 straight times overall and
eight straight times at Talking Stick
Arena.
BUCKS 96, MAVERICKS 95
A Khris Middleton layup with 9.1
seconds left and a missed jumper by
point guard Deron Williams sealed the
FA
Milwaukee Bucks’ 96-95 victory over the
Dallas Mavericks at the Bradley Centre.
Middleton had 27 points to lead
Milwaukee, who saw a 16-point halftime
lead disappear in the second half as the
Mavericks finally started to get into an
offensive rhythm after shooting just 31
per cent in the first half.
CAVALIERS 125, TIMBERWOLVES
99
JR Smith scored a season-high 27
points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers
to a 125-99 win over the Minnesota
Timberwolves at Target Centre.
The victory extended the Cavaliers’
winning streak to six games as Cleveland
moved to 2-0 on their season-long, sixgame road trip. Kevin Love, making his
second trip back to Minnesota after a
trade that sent him to Cleveland for
Andrew Wiggins two summers ago,
added 20 points and nine rebounds.
GRIZZLIES 91, NUGGETS 84
Zach Randolph led Memphis with
24 points off the bench on Friday as the
Grizzlies held off the Denver Nuggets
for a 91-84 victory at FedExForum.
The Nuggets led as late as the 5:54
mark in the fourth quarter as forward
Danilo Gallinari (29 points, eight
rebounds) sank a pair of free throws
for a 76-74 lead. The Grizzlies, though,
closed the game on a 17-8 run.
THUNDER 117, LAKERS 113
Russell Westbrook scored 15 of
his 36 points in the fourth quarter,
lifting the Oklahoma City Thunder to
a 117-113 victory over the Los Angeles
Lakers at Staples Centre. Westbrook
also had 12 rebounds and seven assists,
while Kevin Durant had 24 points and
seven rebounds as the Thunder (2611) defeated the Lakers for the seventh
consecutive time.
It looked all but effortless, but Spieth
said a 16-under over the final two days
would be “difficult to duplicate”.
“It just comes down to no bogeys,”
he said. “If I can continue to limit those
or keep a blemish-free card, we’re going
to be in a good position because there’s
enough easy holes to take advantage
of.”
Reed, who had closed with an eagle
on Thursday to seize the overnight lead,
said his ball striking just wasn’t quite as
solid.
“Because of that even though I was
hitting a lot of greens they just weren’t
getting as close as they were yesterday,”
he said. Kisner eagled the par-five fifth
and strung together three straight
birdies from 10 through 12 among his
six birdies.
He is enjoying his first outing at
Kapalua courtesy of his victory at
Sea Island in November — a win that
followed four runner-up finishes in
2015, three of those in playoffs.
Australia’s Jason Day, whose five wins
last season included his breakthrough
major at the PGA Championship,
carded an even-par 73 — dropping three
shots in the last two holes with a bogey
followed by a double-bogey.
His three-under total of 143 left him
tied for 21st in the field of 32.
British Open champion Zach
Johnson was a stroke further back after
following up an opening 75 with a 69.
— Reuters
CUP
Hiddink targets FA
Cup farewell present
LONDON: Guus Hiddink has set his
sights on giving Chelsea the perfect
farewell as the Blues interim manager
sets out on the road to Wembley in the
FA Cup.
Hiddink confirmed this week that
he will step down from his second spell
as Chelsea caretaker once the current
campaign comes to an end, but he
is determined not to leave Stamford
Bridge empty-handed.
With Chelsea’s chances of success in
the Premier League long since ruined by
their miserable first half of the season,
Hiddink, who took charge after Jose
Mourinho was sacked in December,
has circled the dates of the FA Cup and
Champions League finals in his diary.
Hiddink memorably ended his
first spell as Chelsea’s interim boss by
winning the 2009 FA Cup final against
Everton and then flouting Wembley
regulations by smoking a victorious
cigar as the post-match celebrations
began in the dressing room.
Ahead of third tier Scunthorpe’s visit
to the Bridge for Sunday’s third round
tie, the Dutchman admitted he would
relish a similar scenario in May.
“Fourth place in the Premier League
is difficult. Then there are two targets
left and one is the FA Cup,” Hiddink
said. “It’s a big target for this group of
players to get it.
“I’ve put two dates in my mind which
is May 21 and 28 and then it’s finished.
Then I can go home on the 29.
“Those dates are the FA Cup final
and Champions League final.”
On paper, Scunthorpe, currently
15th in League One, should pose little
threat to Hiddink’s dreams of Wembley
glory.
But it was only last year that Chelsea
suffered a humiliating FA Cup fourth
round exit against third tier Bradford at
the Bridge.
MALAISE
Chelsea’s malaise over the last few
months has been so severe that the
minnows will fancy their chances of
causing a famous upset in their first
meeting with the Blues since another
FA Cup third round tie 11 years ago
ended in a 3-1 win for the Premier
League club.
Since
Mourinho’s
departure,
Chelsea have slowly shown signs of
improvement and last weekend’s 3-0
victory at Crystal Palace was both their
most impressive display in Hiddink’s
three matches and their biggest league
win of the season.
The former South Korea coach
knows there is still plenty of work to do
however, largely in calming the troubled
waters caused by the disintegration
of Mourinho’s relationship with
several Chelsea stars. The sight of
Diego Costa and Oscar having to be
separated by team-mates after a training
ground bust-up this week was hardly
encouraging on that front, although
Hiddink downplayed attempts to
interpret the row as a sign of continued
turmoil behind the scenes.
— AFP
Coach Klopp wary as Liverpool workload piles up
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and Exeter City manager Paul
Tisdale (left).
— Reuters
Exeter, United Kingdom: Liverpool
manager Jurgen Klopp bemoaned the fact
that his over-worked team will be required
to play yet another crucial game in January
following the 2-2 FA Cup third round draw
at Exeter City.
The German coach fielded an
unrecognisable, young line-up against the
League Two club, blaming a lengthy injury
list and the need to rest senior players for
what was his team’s fifth game in 14 days.
After Friday’s draw, Liverpool now
face an Anfield replay with Exeter before
a second leg of their League Cup semifinal with Stoke, as well as a scheduled
Premier League meeting against Arsenal on
Wednesday.
Further, next month sees Klopp resurrect
his interest in a fourth competition this
season when Liverpool face German club
Augsburg in the knock-out stages of the
Europa League.
“We have to play again, I can’t believe
that is another game but we will be there,”
said Klopp who admitted that he could not
judge his young players on this one game
alone.
“It can’t be the future. I can’t judge the
young players after this one game, it doesn’t
work like that. However, they certainly
helped us in our situation today but it’s
obvious what we have to learn in the future.
We have to be more robust.
“I think the Exeter players were more
robust than us and we have to work on that.
But we certainly deserved a draw. And that
is what we have got.
“Now we have got another game to play.
But I am not complaining. We have more
games than most teams because we are still
in other competitions.”
Klopp made light of a dreadful mistake
by his back-up goalkeeper Adam Bogdan,
leading to Exeter’s second goal, and claimed
that the fact it was shown around the world
on live television was sufficient analysis of
the incident.
But Bogdan’s display will add to
speculation that Liverpool will be in the
market for a new goalkeeper in the current
transfer window.
“I thought both goals were really
unlucky for us,” he said. “The first goal was
from their first attack and we weren’t awake.
“The second goal ... okay! The BBC
showed it live, the full package, spectacular!”
Klopp changed all 11 players from
Liverpool’s last outing, the League Cup
first leg victory at Stoke, handing out three
debuts among his starting eleven and
naming a side in which just two players
— Jose Enrique and Christian Benteke —
could boast more than four appearances for
the club.
— AFP
22
SPORT
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
FA CUP: Nichols opened the scoring for Exeter, seeking a place in the fourth round for the first time in 35 years
Motta, Maxwell
send PSG 22
points clear
Liverpool survive Exeter scare
EXETER, United Kingdom: Liverpool
were forced to come from behind twice
to draw 2-2 at fourth tier Exeter City
in the FA Cup third round after an
horrendous error by goalkeeper Adam
Bogdan almost gifted the minnows a
shock victory on Friday.
Tom Nichols opened the scoring for
Exeter, seeking a place in the fourth
round for the first time in 35 years, and
after Jerome Sinclair’s equaliser, Reds
boss Jurgen Klopp saw Bogdan’s blunder
allow Lee Holmes’ corner to go straight
into the net.
Australia international Brad Smith
eventually ensured Exeter had to settle
for the consolation of a lucrative replay at
Anfield when he equalised for Liverpool
in the closing stages.
The first tie of the third round
weekend, moved to Friday to
accommodate television scheduling, did
not disappoint with a goal for each team
inside the opening 12 minutes.
The fact that the opening effort
came from the League Two hosts was
not particularly surprising given the
starting line-up selected by Klopp,
a consequence of his team’s current
lengthy injury list and his desire to rest
players for forthcoming Premier League
and League Cup fixtures.
It took just nine minutes for Exeter
to delight the romantics keen for a
memorable Cup upset as Jamie Reid
sped down the right and crossed for
Nichols to sprint ahead of veteran
defender Jose Enrique and slide home
the opening goal.
But, despite that poor defensive effort,
Klopp’s incredibly inexperienced lineup, featuring three debutants and just
two players — Enrique and Christian
Benteke — with more than four
appearances for the club, had started
relatively confidently and required just
three minutes to equalise.
The goal owed much to poor Exeter
defending, notably by Jordan Tillson,
which failed to deal with Ryan Kent’s
pass into the feet of Benteke in the
home area and, after the loose ball broke
kindly for Sinclair, the 19-year-old made
AFRICAN
Liverpool’s Jose Enrique in action with Exeter City’s Tom Nicholls.
no mistake from 10 yards.
INEXPLICABLY
However, in first half stoppage-time,
those errors were forgotten by the home
supporters as Hungarian goalkeeper
Bogdan inexplicably allowed Holmes’
right-wing corner kick to soar over his
head and directly into the roof of the
goal.
Before the goals, Benteke had
already tested Bobby Olejnik in
the home net and the impressive
Portuguese winger Joao Teixeira and
Kevin Stewart both saw shots deflected
HONOUR
Toure blasts ‘indecent’
player of the year snub
PARIS: Manchester City star Yaya
Toure on Friday blasted the awarding of
the African Player of the Year to PierreEmerick Aubameyang as “indecent”
and claimed it brought “shame” on the
continent.
Toure had been favourite to win the
prize for a record fifth successive time
having skippered the Ivory Coast to the
Africa Cup of Nations title but he lost
out to Gabon and Borussia Dortmund
hotshot Aubameyang. “It’s sad to see
Africa react in this way, it does not
give importance to African things,”
32-year-old Toure told Radio France
International (RFI).
“This is what makes the shame of
Africa. To behave in this way is indecent,
but what can we do? We don’t show that
Africa is important in our eyes.
“We give more priority to what is
happening elsewhere than to our own
continent. This is what is pathetic.”
Aubameyang, 26, has scored 18 goals
in 17 Bundesliga games this season.
He earned 143 points in a poll of
African coaches, seven more than
Toure. Ghana and Swansea City striker
Andre Ayew was third on 112 points.
Ayew told lequipe.fr that he too was
stunned by the award, believing Toure
would win and he himself would be
second having been top scorer at the
Africa Cup of Nations where Ghana
were runners-up.
“Attention, Aubameyang is a friend
and he has had a great year,” said Ayew.
“We must respect the competitions.
If we Africans do not, who will? Frankly,
it was Yaya or me this year...”
At the Africa Cup of Nations in
Equatorial Guinea last year, Gabon,
skippered by Aubameyang, were
eliminated in the first round.
Toure even hinted at skullduggery in
the voting process.
“Even Fifa with all of its history of
corruption would not do this,” he said.
Toure added that there would be
similar incredulity if the Ballon d’Or, to
be awarded on Monday, came up with
such a result. “I will give you an example
— Lionel Messi wins all the trophies
but it’s Cristiano Ronaldo who gets the
Ballon d’Or. What would you say? It
would be unfair.”
— AFP
wide of the Exeter goal.
Exeter, 76 places below their visitors
in the Football League pyramid, were
equal to the task, however, and narrowly
missed claiming a second goal from the
best remaining chances of the half.
After 29 minutes, Christian Ribeiro’s
cross found David Noble dead in front
of goal who hurried over his shot from
10 yards under pressure from Liverpool
defenders and, just before the half-time
whistle, an excellent cross from Holmes
was met by full-back Ribeiro who should
have done better than send a bouncing
— Reuters
header wide from the penalty spot.
A goal down on the restart, it took
Liverpool just five minutes to finally
provide service to Benteke, and it
almost brought an equaliser as Cameron
Brannagan’s left-wing centre picked out
the Belgian international, whose closerange header looked destined for the
back of the net until Olejnik produced a
stunning reflex block to keep it out.
After 56 minutes, neat footwork from
Alex Nicholls and Reid almost set up
Nichols for another shooting chance,
while Ribeiro was wide with another
header, again following an excellent
cross from Holmes.
Nichols threatened with a couple
more shots and substitute Arron Davies
just missed the target from 20 yards with
his first touch before Liverpool equalised
for the second time, against the run of
play, after 73 minutes.
Substitute Sheyi Oji probed down the
left touchline and his cross was cleared,
poorly, by Jordan Moore-Taylor, directly
to Smith who drilled the ball into the
back of the net from a dozen yards.
— AFP
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain began
the second half of the Ligue 1
season in comfortable fashion on
Friday, goals from Thiago Motta
and Maxwell seeing Laurent Blanc’s
champions to a 2-0 win over Bastia.
PSG went into the winter recess
boasting a yawning 19 points
cushion — a new record points tally
up to Christmas in France.
And two first half goals moved
them 22 points clear of Monaco and
maintained their unbeaten record in
all domestic competitions since last
March.
“We are the only team which also
thinks a little bit about the future,”
said Blanc as he looked ahead to
the rest of the season which also
includes a Champions League last16 clash against Chelsea.
“There are heavy legs in January
but we have big goals for February,
March, April and May, I hope.
“You have to work hard in
January, the weather conditions
may not be great. This is one reason
why the game tonight gave me
much pleasure.”
Bastia turned up sitting just three
points clear of the relegation zone
but having only lost just one of their
last six games.
As for their well-heeled hosts
PSG had laboured to a 1-0 victory
against
fourth-tier
minnows
Wasquehal in the French Cup last
weekend.
Blanc elected to start Brazilian
winger Lucas Moura instead of
Edinson Cavani and Kevin Trapp
in goal.
For Bastia, Brazilian Brandao
was making his return to the Parc
des Princes where in 2014 he
headbutted Motta for which he
picked up a six month ban.
The visitors began brightly
but as the half hour approached
PSG’s Angel Di Maria sent in a
corner from the right with Bastia’s
bumbling defence allowing Thiago
Silva’s header to be nudged over the
line by Motta.
—AFP
Ledecky shatters 1,500m world record
MUSCAT: The Muscat Pharmacy and
Stores sponsored ‘Premier’ division
match between the Enhance CT and
Sinha took place at the MOS ground
during the morning session on the
8th of January. Enhance prevailed by 7
wickets.
Batting first, Sinha put on 87/10 in
29.2 overs. Zafar Iqbal claimed 4 wickets
for Enhance and Fayaz and Nester
claimed 2 scalps each. In response,
Enhance batted for 23.3 overs to score
128/3 and claim the bonus point too.
Match Summary: Sinha CT: 87 all out in 29.2 overs
(Nalinda – 26; Zafar Iqbal 4/9) lt to Enhance CT: 128/3
in 23.2 overs (Khawar Ali 39; Niluka DIlshan 2-12).
Points: Enhance CT - 3 (BP) ; Sinha CT – 0
OCT AL AMERAT LOSE TO
RENAISSANCE
The Khimji Ramdas sponsored ‘A’
division match between the OCT Al
Amerat and Renaissance took place at
the Municipality 1 ground during the
morning session on the 8th of January.
Renaissance prevailed by 7 wickets.
Match Summary: OCT Al Amerat: 113 all out in 24.2
overs (Abdul Aziz 32; Asmeer 4-35) lt to Renaissance:
115/3 in 11.4 overs (Jahanzer 43, Waruna 32; Nasser
2-38).
Points: Renaissance – 3 (BP) ; Al Amerat – 0
PDO V UDAY KHIMJI (B
DIVISION)
Uday Khimji beat PDO by 4 wickets.
The Al Ansari group of companies
sponsored ‘B’ division match between
Uday Khimji and PDO took place at
the Municipality 2 ground during the
morning session on the 8th of January.
In this fixture, Uday Khimji came out
winners by 4 wickets.
Match Summary:
PDO: 177/4 in 20 overs (Abdul Naveed 121 n.o.;
Faraz Ahmed 3-29) lt to Uday Khimji: 178/6 in 19.2
overs (Adil Abbas 50; Zahir Khan 2-28).
Points: Uday Khimji – 2 ; PDO – 0
AL MARDHUF BEAT OOREDOO
The Raha Poly Products sponsored
‘C’ division match between Ooredoo
‘B’ and Al Mardhuf took place at
the Municipality 3 ground during
the morning session on the 8th of
January. Mardhuf came out winners, by
6 wickets.
Match Summary:
Ooredoo ‘B’: 145/6 in 20 overs (Gaurav – 52; Vijay
2-17) lt to Al Mardhuf: 146/4 in 15.2 overs (Noushad
36, Vishal 34; Vinod 2-21).
Points: Al Mardhuf – 3 (BP) ; Ooredoo ‘B’ – 0
Van Gaal unfazed by impending Guardiola arrival
Newly-crowned African Player of the Year, Borussia Dortmund football player
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (C), holding his trophy, arrives in Libreville on Friday.
— AFP
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom:
Manchester United manager Louis van
Gaal said on Friday he would welcome
Pep Guardiola to the Premier League
and does not fear the Bayern Munich
coach will take his job.
Guardiola this week expressed his
interest in managing in England when
he leaves the Bundesliga champions at
the end of the season.
While he is widely expected to take
over at Manchester City, Guardiola has
also been linked with a move to Old
Trafford, but Van Gaal sees no problem
in the timing of his former Barcelona
captain’s announcement.
“You have to set always your goals, as a
manager also,” Van Gaal told journalists
at his weekly press conference. “He
wants to sniff the culture of England and
I wanted that also.
“I think that it is very good he wants
to do that and I don’t think it will have
an impact on his club. Every manager
has that right to announce that.
“It’s not for sure he will be the
manager of a Premier League club. The
Premier League club are also part of a
contract.
“I’m at the end of my career, so for
me it’s not so interesting. For me it’s
interesting how I take care of Manchester
United and after this season, I still have
one year to go.
“I have received a contract of three
years and these are the same goals as
when I came here.”
Van Gaal’s main goal is to win a
trophy, with United having not claimed
any silverware since Alex Ferguson led
them to the Premier League title ahead
of his retirement in 2013.
United kick off their FA Cup
campaign with a third-round tie at
home to Sheffield United on Saturday
on the back of a first win in nine games
against Swansea City last weekend.
‘SECOND CHANCE’ FOR JANUZAJ’
Van Gaal is expected to name a
strong side for the visit of the third-tier
club, but will not include Adnan Januzaj.
— AFP
SUNDAY | JANUARY 10, 2016 | RABEE AL AWWAL 29, 1437 AH
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INTERNATIONAL
Federer in
repeat final
against
Raonic
BRISBANE,
Australia:
Roger
Federer
steamrolled Austrian challenger Dominic Thiem
6-1, 6-4 in one hour on Saturday to line up a
repeat of his 2015 winning final at the Brisbane
International.
For the second year in succession, the 34-yearold Swiss with a record 17 Grand Slam titles will
take on the big serve of Milos Raonic, after the
Canadian broke Aussie hearts with his 7-6 (7-5),
7-6 (7-5) elimination of Bernard Tomic.
The 11th-ranked Tomic is in line for a possible
seeding upgrade at the Australian Open a week
BAN ISSUES: In December, the ethics tribunal
had banned the Fifa president and vice-president for
eight years over abuse of position
Blatter, Platini
now free to
appeal bans: Fifa
GENEVA: Fifa’s ethics tribunal said on
Saturday it had provided Sepp Blatter and
Michel Platini with the reasons for its
decision to ban them from football for eight
years, clearing the way for them to appeal
against the decision.
“The adjudicatory chamber of the
independent Ethics Committee... has
notified Mr Joseph S Blatter and Mr Michel
Platini of the grounds for the decisions
passed in December 2015,” the body said in
a statement.
Platini’s lawyer Thibaud d’Ales said the
UEFA president had indeed received the
reasons behind the ban.
“We’ll read them, analyse them and launch
an appeal on Monday,” D’Ales said.
In December, the ethics tribunal banned
the Fifa president and vice-president from
football for eight years, saying they had
abused their positions over a $2-million
payment made to Platini in 2011 for work
carried out between 1999 and 2002.
Blatter, who has headed Fifa since
1998, was also fined 50,000 Swiss francs
($50,000/46,300 euros) while Platini, the
head of UEFA, Europe’s governing body, was
fined 80,000 Swiss francs.
At the time of the verdict, which
heightened further the crisis rocking
football’s scandal-plagued world body, the
court insisted there was “no legal basis”
for the payment that Blatter authorised for
Platini in 2011. The tribunal did not provide
further details on Saturday of the reasoning
behind its decision.
Instead it stressed it had now “fulfilled its
commitment to provide the grounds for the
respective decisions to Mr Blatter and Mr
Platini within the first half of January 2016.”
“After receiving the grounds for the
decisions, both officials may lodge an
appeal with the Fifa Appeal Committee,”
the statement said. If that appeal is rejected,
the two men can appeal further to the Court
of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the highest
tribunal in sports.
VOWED TO FIGHT
At the time of the verdict, both men
angrily vowed to fight the bans, which started
immediately.
The tribunal decision promises to end
79-year-old Blatter’s four decades with Fifa
in disgrace.
It also dealt a devastating blow to 60-yearold Platini’s hopes of taking over as head of
Fifa in an election on February 26.
The UEFA president pulled out of the race
earlier this week, saying the ban has made it
impossible for him to put together a campaign
to take on the sport’s most powerful job.
He told French sports newspaper L’Equipe
that he no longer had “the time nor the
means to go to the voters, to meet people, to
fight against the other candidates.
“In withdrawing, I am dedicating myself
to my defence.”
Fifa has since last May be rocked to its
core by a cascade of corruption charges and
arrests that culminated with the implication
of the two long considered world football’s
most powerful men.
The US justice department has charged
39 individuals and two companies over graft
within world football going back decades, in
a sweeping prosecution that has sparked an
unprecedented crisis at Fifa.
— AFP
from Monday, due to his performance at Brisbane.
In the women’s final, double Australian Open
winner and former number one Victoria Azarenka
won her first title in almost three injury-plagued
years, beating German fourth seed Angelique
Kerber 6-3, 6-1.
Azarenka won nine of the last 10 games from
3-3 in the first set en route to her 18th career title.
She improved her unbeaten record against Kerber
to 6-0.
Federer, who had looked dodgy to some in
his quarterfinal win the day before, showed no
weakness as he dismantled the game of Thiem, the
20th-ranked winner of his first three career titles
last season.
Federer kept his edge in the battle of the tennis
generations, beating the 22-year-old to lift his
record against players born in the 1990s to 41-3.
He will have a chance to add one more win to that
list when he faces Raonic, 25.
Federer has now played Brisbane finals in each
of his three appearances and is going for the 89th
trophy of his career against Raonic, whom he
leads 9-1 in their series.
— dpa
SUNDAY | JANUARY 10, 2016 | RABEE AL AWWAL 29, 1437 AH
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Oman’s 9th Five Year Plan based on $45-$60 oil range
STRATEGIC SAVINGS: Proceeds from 15,000 bpd of oil sales to be transferred to Oil Reserve Fund starting from 2017
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT
Jan 9: The Sultanate’s 9th Five Year
Plan (FYP), covering the 2016-2020
timeframe, is based on an average oil
price that ranges from $45 per barrel in
2016 to $60 in 2020, analysis provided
by global audit and tax advisory services
firm KPMG has revealed.
Starting from $45 per barrel in 2016,
the 9th Plan envisions an increase
in the average oil price per barrel
to $55 per barrel for the years 2017
and 2018, spiking to $60 for the year
2019 and 2020. This compares with a
corresponding price band ranging from
$58 to $60 during the previous 8th Five
Year Plan, said KPMG.
Importantly, the 9th Plan also
sets aside proceeds from the sale of
15,000 barrels per (bpd) day of oil
to be transferred to the Oil Reserve
Fund starting from the second year
of the Plan. Additional transfers of
oil revenues to other funds may be
mandated if the budget is in surplus,
according to KPMG.
Throughout the Plan, oil output is
projected to remain steady at 990,000
barrels per day, as opposed to the
average production of 900,000 bpd
during the 8th Plan, it said.
Commenting on the 9th Plan,
the KPMG report said: “The FYP9
appropriately reflects the challenging
oil market and is prudently based on
a price of $45 to $60 for the next five
years. Non-essential expenditure has
been curtailed with greater focus on
investment spending and support to the
non-oil based sectors.
The significant fall in commodity
prices should also help in reducing
expenditure. If the government
succeeds in improving the investment
climate and in enhancing the role of the
private sector, as outlined in the plan
and as successfully achieved in the past
particularly in the power, water and
port sectors, there is every reason to
hope that Oman will yet again emerge
successfully from the challenging global
and regional economic environment.”
Total revenues (oil, gas, current and
capital revenues and recoveries) are
projected to rise from RO 8.5 billion in
2016 to 9.8 billion a year later, climbing
further to RO 10.3 billion in 2018 and
somewhat stabilising at RO 11.1 billion
and RO 11.3 billion in 2019 and 2020
respectively. Annual revenues are
expected to average around RO 10.2
billion during the timeframe of the
Plan, with oil accounting for 54 per
cent of total revenues, gas 18 per cent,
and current and capital revenues and
recoveries contributing the balance 28
per cent.
TURN TO P26
Robust US payrolls in December
brighten economic outlook
WASHINGTON: US payrolls surged
in December and the job count for the
prior two months was revised sharply
higher, showing the economy on solid
ground despite a troubling international
backdrop.
Nonfarm
payrolls
increased
by 292,000 last month, the Labor
Department said on Friday, as hiring got a
boost from unseasonably warm weather.
The unemployment rate held steady at
a 7-1/2-year low of 5 per cent even as
more people entered the labour force, a
sign of confidence in the job market. The
robust employment data helped soothe
fears about the economy’s health, and
suggested recent weakness would largely
be contained to the manufacturing and
export-oriented sectors, which have been
hit by a strong dollar and anaemic global
A recruiter from Tesla talks with a job
seeker at a military job fair in San
Francisco, California. — Reuters
demand. Efforts by businesses to whittle
down an inventory glut and spending
cuts by energy companies have also
inflicted pain.
“It gives us a short-term shot in
the arm and pushes back the idea that
we are headed for a global recession or
that weakness in China will sink our
economy,” says David Donabedian,
chief investment officer at Atlantic
Trust Private Wealth Management in
Baltimore.
Slumping oil prices and slowing
growth in China have cast a pall on the
outlook for the global economy.
The upbeat employment report
briefly helped staunch the bleeding on
Wall Street, but was offset by further
declines in oil prices. The dollar firmed
against a basket of currencies as traders
ramped up bets the Federal Reserve
would raise interest rates in March.
Prices for US government debt rose
on safe-haven bids. US payrolls for
October and November were revised
to show 50,000 more jobs created than
previously reported, adding to the
report’s upbeat tone. — Reuters
26
omandailyobserver
OMAN/INTERNATIONAL
Strengthening dollar depletes
India’s foreign reserves: Experts
MUMBAI: A strengthening US dollar
and selling activity by the country’s
central bank plunged India’s foreign
exchange reserves (Forex) kitty by $1.68
billion, experts said on Saturday.
According to the Reserve Bank
of India’s (RBI) weekly statistical
supplement, the overall Forex reserves
stood at $350.36 billion for the week
ended January 1. The foreign reserves’
kitty had swelled by $943.4 million
to $352.04 billion for the week ended
December 25.
Market observers pointed-out that
strengthening US dollar on account of
a recent rate hike by the US Fed and
weak global macros had put pressure on
the Forex treasury. “The forex valuation
seems to have negatively impacted
the reserves. The US dollar index had
risen by around one per cent in that
week,” Anindya Banerjee, associate vicepresident for currency derivatives with
Kotak Securities, said.
In addition, the foreign currency
assets (FCAs) which is the largest
component of India’s Forex reserves
declined by $1.36 billion to $327.82
billion in the week under review.
Apart from the US dollar, the FCAs
consists’ nearly 20-25 per cent of other
major global currencies, securities and
bonds. The individual movements of
these currencies against the US dollar
impacts the overall foreign reserves’
value.
According to other analysts, the
depletion in the FCA can be attributed
to the central bank’s attempts to arrest
the fall in the rupee’s value during the
week ended January 1. “RBI’s selling
activities could have attributed to this
fall. The central bank has been very
active in its attempts to keep the rupee
in a stable range,” an analyst said.
The analyst elaborated that on
a medium term, the RBI is seen
comfortable with the rupee ranging
anywhere between 66-67 to a US dollar.
Anything beyond or below this limit
provokes the central bank to intervene
by either buying or selling the greenback.
Lately, the rupee has been on a
downward trajectory due to heavy
outflows of foreign funds from the
equity and debt markets.
On a weekly basis, RBI’s attempts
paid-off as the rupee strengthened by
7 paise at 66.14 (January 1) to a US
dollar from its previous close of 66.21
(December 23). Besides the overall
Forex kitty, the country’s gold reserves
diminished. It reduced by $303.7 million
to $17.24 billion.
The gold reserves had remained
stagnant at $17.54 billion, since it’s
plunge by $1.14 billion during the week
ended December 4, as international
prices crashed to a new six-year low.
Furthermore, the special drawing
rights (SDRs) were lower by $10 million
at $4 billion. Similarly, the country’s
reserve position with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) slipped. — IANS
Nissan tests self-driving car at Nasa
Mauritius economy
to expand 3.7 pc
SAN FRANCISCO: With the help
from Nasa space technology, automaker
Nissan has successfully test-driven its
all-electric, driverless car at Nasa’s Ames
Research Centre in California last week
that will help scientists send self-driving
vehicles on deeper space missions.
Nissan’s all-electric LEAF performed
safe autonomous drives across the Ames
centre on Wednesday in the presence of
Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of
Nissan and Jose Munoz, chairman of
Nissan North America, Nasa said in a
statement on Friday.
The
drive
demonstrations
were conducted with the Nissan
representatives as well as Ames’ Director
Eugene Tu and associate director Steven
Zornetzer.
The Nissan LEAF vehicle is equipped
with cameras, sensors and cellular data
networking.
It uses robotics software originally
developed for Ames’ K-10 and
K-REX planetary rovers to operate
autonomously.
PORT LOUIS: Mauritius’ Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) will
expand by 3.7 per cent in 2016, the
World Bank has said in its “Global
Economic Outlook” report. The
forecast represents a slight increase
of 0.2 percentage point for the 2015
forecasted growth, Xinhua cited the
World Bank report as saying.
The World Bank was more cautious
than the International Monetary Fund
which estimated that Mauritius’s
economy will grow at four per cent in
2016.
The performance will vary from
one sub-region to the other, and
the two biggest economies on the
continent, Nigeria and South Africa,
will each record GDP growth of 4.6
per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively
(against 3.3 per cent and 1.3 per cent
in 2015).The highest expansion rates
in Africa will be in Ethiopia (10.2 per
cent ), Democratic Republic of Congo
(8.6 per cent ) and Cote d’ Ivoire (8.3
per cent).
— IANS
“This is not only a demonstration
of the transfer of space technology to
industry but also the application of their
research back to our space technology,
with additional uses for our unmanned
aircraft systems research here at Ames,”
said Tu.
“This is a perfect example of
technology literally driving exploration
and enabling future space missions,” he
added.
Last year, the US space agency and
the automaker Nissan announced a fiveyear partnership to build self-driving,
zero-emission autonomous cars for
earth- and eventually space.
The partnership allows researchers to
develop and test autonomy algorithms,
concepts and integrated prototypes
for a variety of vehicular transport
applications.
Nissan is already testing cars that can
navigate urban environments on their
own.
The effort can develop technology
that will be put to use in passenger
vehicles here on Earth and rovers on
planets.
— IANS
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
BUSINESS ALERT
Bank Muscat Al Jawhar Privilege Banking
evokes strong response
MUSCAT: Providing
a distinct banking
experience centred on
the unique lifestyle of
the customer segment,
Bank Muscat Al Jawhar
Privilege
Banking
has evoked a strong
response. In keeping
with the bank’s ‘Let’s Do
Debit
More’ vision, Al Jawhar
is the first-of-its-kind privilege banking service in Oman.
In the vibrant world of privilege banking, the distinctive identity says
it all. Reflecting the elegant lifestyle of clients, Al Jawhar is an affirmation of
the preferential treatment designed around their unique lifestyle and banking
requirements. Customers with a monthly salary of RO 1,000 and above or
savings deposit of RO 10,000 and above can avail Al Jawhar services.
Al Jawhar value proposition is based on three pillars of commitments to
customers — Recognition, Convenience and Experience — that form the
imprint of premium products and services.
The value proposition of recognition places Al Jawhar customers in a league
of their own. Notably, Al Jawhar Platinum debit card is the key to a world of
exclusive services. With worldwide acceptance, Al Jawhar Platinum debit card
has daily cash withdrawal limit of RO 800 in Oman and RO 250 for foreign
transactions outside the GCC. Highly secure, the Platinum debit card features
the Chip and PIN technology, ensuring added security for all transactions.
Al Jawhar Platinum credit card offers 1 per cent cash back on all transactions
in addition to special offers and discounts at select merchant outlets. Adding
value, Al Jawhar credit card benefits include airport lounge access and free travel
insurance.
Designed to elevate privilege banking to unparalleled heights, Al Jawhar
opens a new world of opportunities as preferential treatment and fast track
service in branches make the experience truly rewarding. With the widest
reach in serving customers through a network of 137 branches in the Sultanate,
excellence in service is the hallmark of Al Jawhar experience.
MEC Foundation Programme Admission
ADMISSION
and
registration processes
are going on at the
Middle East College
for the Spring Semester
intake of students to
various
programmes
offered by MEC in
Engineering,
Science
& Technology and
Business Studies. The
Spring 2016 admission
to the General Foundation Programme (GFP) closes on January 28 and the
admission to undergraduate programmes closes on February 18.
MEC offers 19 programmes in both full-time and part-time in various
specialisations like civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electronics and
telecommunication engineering, supply chain and logistics, human resources,
software technology, multimedia technology, database management systems to
name a few. Moreover, the college also offers three postgraduate programmes:
MBA IT, MSc IT and MSc Electronic Engineering.
MEC always seeks to provide the students with the best student experience
through its vibrant campus life, diverse programmes and state-of-the-art facilities.
It is affiliated with Coventry University, UK and University of Wolverhampton,
UK and has collaborations with many educational institutions around the world
for International Student Exchange programmes.
9th Five Year Plan
based on $45-$60
oil price range
FROM P25
Expenditure on the other hand is projected at RO 11.9
billion for 2016, climbing to RO 14.1 billion in 2020 at the
end of the plan period.
Total annual expenditure averages RO 13.180 billion
during the Plan, resulting in an average annual deficit of 29
per cent. As a percentage of total revenue, the deficit will
gradually reduce from 38 per cent in 2016 to 25 per cent in
2020, according to KPMG.
Significantly, the contribution of oil to the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) is projected at 26 per cent in the
9th Plan, down from an average of 44 per cent in the 8th
Plan. Nevertheless, investment in oil and gas production is
projected at an annual average of $2.278 billion during the
Plan.
Non-oil economic activities are expected to receive
further impetus during the Plan, according to KPMG.
“Apart from economic diversification through vertical
expansion in activities dependent on oil, FYP9 focuses on
the development of non-oil sectors such as manufacturing,
transportation and logistics, tourism, fisheries and mining,”
it said.
Additionally, the Plan envisions a heightened role for the
private sector in driving economic development, the report
noted, adding this would be achieved through privatisation
programmes, development of small and medium enterprises
(SMEs), public-private partnerships and an improved
investment climate.
On privatisation, it stated: “The government’s privatisation
programme envisages expanding the role of the private
sector in acquiring, financing and managing government
projects.
Certain government assets are being identified for
privatisation during 2016 immediately upon completion of
a study being currently conducted,” the report added.
INTERNATIONAL
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
China Dec inflation edges up,
producer prices still in deflation
WEAKER GROWTH: Manufacturing sector contracted for a fifth straight month in December
BEIJING: China’s consumer inflation
barely edged up in December while
companies’ factory-gate prices continued
to fall, adding to concerns about growing
deflation risks in the world’s secondlargest economy.
In line with sluggish activity, China’s
consumer inflation quickened slightly to
1.6 per cent year-on-year in December,
as expected, compared with 1.5 per
cent the previous month. The producer
price index was unchanged at minus
5.9 per cent in December, the National
Bureau of Statistics said on Saturday,
slightly above forecasts but marking
a 46th straight month of declines and
highlighting the deeply entrenched
pressures facing China’s manufacturers
as economy cools.
“The inflation profile remains soft and
the continuous PPI deflation suggests
that Chinese companies will have to
reduce their debt as further expansion in
many industries will only lead to more
loss,” wrote Zhou Hao, economist at
Commerzbank in Singapore.
An official survey last week showed
China’s manufacturing sector contracted
for a fifth straight month in December
and factories continued to shed jobs,
dampening hopes that the economy will
enter 2016 on steadier footing.
China Beige Book International
(CBB) said in its latest private survey that
growth in input prices and sales prices
for Chinese firms slipped to record lows
in the fourth quarter.
“For the first time, it looked like
firms were encountering genuinely
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. — Reuters file photo
harmful deflation,” the private survey
said. That opinion was echoed by other
economists. The risk of entrenched
deflation is a nightmare for China, which
desperately wants to avoid becoming
stuck in a trap where falling prices sap
economic vitality.
Deflationary cycles encourage
consumers to hold off from buying and
businesses to hold off from investing
indefinitely, on expectations that prices
will continue falling. Such cycles can
prove extremely difficult to escape,
and Chinese policy makers have kept
a worried eye on the example of Japan,
where a strong currency, distorted
banking sector and muddled monetary
policy combined to suppress growth for
decades.
Given how stubborn deflationary
pressure has proven in China, regulators
appear to be bringing the exchange rate
to bear on the problem. After spending
most of 2014 holding the yuan steady
while other currencies dropped against
the dollar, Beijing since August has let
its currency fall more than 6 per cent
against the dollar, to its weakest level
since 2011. A weaker yuan could help
to fight deflation imported via sliding
commodity prices, while providing
some support to the struggling export
sector and allowing the central bank to
stop drawing down its foreign exchange
reserves to hold the yuan firm against
the dollar.
A rising chorus of policy advisers
and industrial constituencies is lobbying
for an even deeper devaluation to the
currency, by as much as 10 to 15 per cent,
despite the risk of a potential currency
war of competing devaluations in Asia.
China’s consumer price index is
likely to climb 1.7 per cent in 2016 from
last year while its producer price index is
forecast to fall 1.8 per cent year-on-year,
the central bank said in a working paper
last month.
— Reuters
omandailyobserver
Brazil inflation hits 13-yr
high amid political crisis
RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil’s inflation
rate hit a 13-year high in 2015, in what
analysts called payback for years of
economic mismanagement, worsened
by a political crisis in Latin America’s
biggest economy.
Brazil, which hosts the summer
Olympic Games in August, is struggling
through a deep recession and political
instability
after
impeachment
proceedings were launched against
President Dilma Rousseff.
Annual inflation reached 10.67 per
cent in 2015, the government said on
Friday, the highest rate since 2002 and
more than double the government’s 4.5
per cent target.
“An adjustment was necessary after
certain tariffs were frozen over recent
years. But non-regulated prices such as
those for services have also risen, even
in a recession,” said economist Silvio
Campos Neto.
“That shows that the policies of the
past six years have been wrong, and
have been made worse by a bad political
climate which is actually making
consumption fall.”
In recession since the second quarter
of last year, Brazil is suffering rising
unemployment and a drop in investor
confidence fuelled by the impeachment
proceedings against Rousseff and by a
scandal in state oil firm Petrobras.
The IMF expects Brazil will stay in
recession in 2016. The World Bank
on Wednesday forecast a 2.5 per cent
contraction this year.
The government has revised its
2016 budget targets five times. It is now
expected to post a $31 billion deficit.
The political chaos swirling around
Rousseff has added to Brazil’s economic
woes, with the national currency, the
real, down one-third against the dollar
in 2015.
Confederation and cantons.
The central bank’s definitive 2015
figures will be released on March 4.
Friday’s announcement came nearly
a year after the central bank’s shock
decision to halt its pricy three-year-bid
to artificially hold down the value of the
franc against the euro. The decision
to scrap the limit sent the franc — a
refuge currency — soaring in value
against major currencies and unleashed
turbulence on global markets.
Last June, the central bank was
forced to intervene to stabilise the
markets, as investors frightened by the
chaos in Greece flocked to the franc,
hurting Switzerland’s export-oriented
economy by making the country’s
products more expensive.
— AFP
Emmanuel Macron (R), French Minister of the Economy, and Segolene Royal (L), Minister of Ecology tour Apple’s headquarters
in Cupertino, California. — AFP
The report identified the ‘tailwinds’ as rising investments from China under CPEC
Tailwinds pushing Pakistan’s growth: World Bank
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan stands to
benefit from three tailwinds over the
near-to-medium-term, with average
growth projected at 5.5 per cent over the
forecast period, said the World Bank’s
Global Economic Prospects report for
2016.
The report identified the ‘tailwinds’
as rising investments from China under
the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC); the anticipated return of Iran to
the international economic community;
and persistently low international oil
prices. The report also pointed out that
macroeconomic adjustment in Pakistan
under an International Monetary
Fund programme is progressing, while
efforts to crackdown on violent crime
in Karachi, the country’s industrial and
commercial hub, are supporting investor
confidence.
The CPEC agreement, signed in
2015, “has further bolstered investor
optimism, and, if implemented, has the
potential to lift long-term growth,” the
report predicted.
But the World Bank also pointed out
that national elections in Pakistan are
due in 2018, and warned that “hard won
fiscal consolidation gains may be lost if
spending ramps up in the pre-election
period.”
“In addition, sovereign guarantees
associated with the CPEC could pose
Last year’s inflation figure, while
high, was still slightly below market
expectations of 10.72 per cent and the
central bank’s last forecast of 10.8 per
cent.
“Prices were artificially held down,
but prices for services have risen by
nearly nine per cent over the past two
months,” said analyst Andre Leite of
financial group TAG Investimentos.
“That shows that a lack of budgetary
control by the government has ended
up influencing the market.”
Rousseff admitted on Thursday
her government underestimated the
magnitude of the economic crisis over
recent years.
“The biggest mistake was failing to
see that the crisis was so big in 2014,
failing to gauge the magnitude of the
economic slowdown due to internal and
external problems,” she said, as quoted
by the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper.
She cited economic uncertainty in
China and severe drought in Brazil in
explaining the slowdown in her own
country, the world’s seventh biggest
economy. Rousseff ’s approval rating
has slipped to single digits as she faces
calls for impeachment over a public
financing scandal. She said her top
priority this year would be to rein in
inflation and bring Brazil back to a
budget surplus. — AFP
Volvo cars
break annual
sales record
Swiss central bank eyes
$23bn loss for 2015
ZURICH: The Swiss central bank said
it expected to post a loss of 23 billion
Swiss francs ($23 billion, 21 billion
euros) for 2015, hit mainly by the hefty
depreciation of its foreign currency
holdings. The Swiss National Bank said
it had lost a full 20 billion francs on its
foreign currency positions, and another
four billion on its gold holdings.
Those losses were slightly offset by
a one-billion-franc profit made on the
bank’s Swiss franc positions, it said.
Despite the deep losses, the bank
said it would post a balance sheet
profit thanks to a 27.5-billion-franc
distribution reserve. It said it would
therefore be able to dish out a dividend
of 15 Swiss francs per share, and would
distribute one billion francs to the Swiss
27
The World Bank also
pointed out that
macroeconomic adjustment
in Pakistan under an
International Monetary Fund
programme is progressing.
substantial fiscal risks over the medium
term,” the report added.
The report noted that the government
of Pakistan usually refers to growth
in real GDP “at factor cost” for policy
purposes. Real GDP growth at factor
cost is projected at 4.5pc in fiscal 201516.
The report, which described South
Asia as a “bright spot” in next year’s
global economic prospects, noted that
both India and Pakistan have been on a
path of fiscal consolidation over the past
three years, and fiscal restraint is curbing
demand-side pressures.
Lower inflation has enabled central
banks in India and Pakistan to cut policy
rates to support activity. The Pakistani
currency, which had appreciated in real
effective terms since 2013, has stabilised
in recent months.
The current account deficit has
continued to narrow, reflecting lower
oil import cost and strong remittance
inflows.
The report showed that Pakistan
has also made progress in reining in
its budget deficit from 8.4pc of GDP in
FY13 to 5.3pc in FY15.
However, debt levels remain high at
65pc of GDP, the result of years of fiscal
slippages, and interest payment costs are
about 4.4pc of GDP.
Industrial activity has slowed in
Pakistan, while external trade remains
weak. The central bank, with IMF
assistance, is gradually strengthening
monitoring of financial stability risks,
and is in the process of instituting a
modern deposit insurance scheme in
line with international best practices.
— Internews
STOCKHOLM: The Volvo Cars sold
over half a million cars 2015, for the
first time in its 89-year history, the
automaker said.
Volvo moved over 503,000 units in
2015 and said on Friday that its sports
utility vehicle (SUV) model XC90 had
boosted sales towards the end of the
year, Xinhua reported.
“Now, with a successful 2015
behind us, Volvo is about to enter
the second phase of its global
transformation,” Hakan Samuelsson,
Volvo’s chairman of the executive
board, said.
“Once completed, Volvo will have
ceased being a minor automotive
player and taken its position as a truly
global premium car company,” he
added.
Volvo’s sales were boosted by a 24
per cent year-on-year hike in the US
and a 16 per cent surge in Sweden,
according to company figures.
The carmaker sold 198,000 units
in western Europe, it’s largest market.
The XC60 proved its most popular
model, accounting for nearly a third
of total sales in 2015.
In Friday’s statement, the Chineseowned manufacturer issued a sales
target of 800,000 cars annually “in the
medium term”.
Volvo targeted further expansion
in China, where annual sales
remained flat in 2015, and said it
sought to double its market share in
Europe.
Acquired by Geely in 2010, Volvo
Cars posted a 2.3 billion SEK ($269
million) profit in 2014.
— IANS
28
omandailyobserver
AUTOMOBILE
PERSPECTIVE
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
REVOLUTION
Rebranded Saab at centre of China green car push
T
he Swedish automaker
once known as Saab
has emerged as part of
China’s push to make
electric vehicles a massmarket alternative to
petrol cars, after getting a $12 billion
order for EVs.
Chinese-owned National Electric
Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) — the company
that acquired Saab’s assets, though not
its name — said it received an order for
250,000 EVs in December from a little
known Chinese company. The size of
the deal — and the sketchy information
about the companies involved —
prompted some initial scepticism in the
industry over its feasibility.
Yet NEVS is one of a group of
Chinese-funded start-ups that aim to
capitalise on disruption in the auto
industry as governments around the
world create regulatory incentives for
electric or hybrid vehicles. Beijing has
created a range of incentives to both
attract technology-oriented firms into
the EV sector and get the public to buy
them.
NEVS $12 billion order for EV cars
came from a Beijing-based start-up
called Panda New Energy Co.
Jiang Dalong, a 51-year-old Chineseborn businessman who acquired Saab
in 2012, said the deal with Panda New
Energy requires little upfront money
from the start-up. Panda said it plans to
lease the cars for commercial fleets, such
as taxis and courier services.
Jiang owns 43 per cent of NEVS,
based in Trollhattan, Sweden, through
his Beijing-based company, National
Modern Energy Holdings. The city of
Tianjin has a 30 per cent stake through
Tianjin Binhai Hi-tech Industrial
Development Area. The rest is owned
by Beijing State Research Information
Technology
Co
and
Teamsun
Technology Co, an informationtechnology company.
The
Chinese-born,
Swedish
businessman sold his bio-power
generation business in China to help
fund and focus on NEVS. Jiang said he
sees a big opportunity for the technology
given the enormous policy help Beijing
has lined up for it.
“China is going to be the world’s
biggest market for electric cars,” Jiang
said in an interview in his office in
Beijing. “China has no choice. They have
to wean themselves from conventional
gasoline combustion cars,” he added,
describing the recent sharp uptick in
air pollution levels in China’s capital as
“terrible” and “crazy”.
“Big existing automakers are too
big. They cannot stop producing
conventional gasoline combustion cars.
But we can... switch to new energy cars.”
LOW ENTRY BARRIER: Beijing’s
new green car policy is based on the
idea that a low entry barrier for electric
car technology will allow late-comers
to the automotive industry to close a
competitive gap with global rivals who
have a century’s head-start in traditional
combustion engines.
China, a major oil importer and
blighted by air pollution, has offered
generous incentives to the public to buy
green cars and forced global automakers
to share their EV technology.
The policy has helped spawn more
than a half-dozen Chinese-funded EV
NEVS chairman Jiang Dalong poses with an NEVS electric car at its Beijing headquarters building recently. — Reuters
startups in and outside China, whose
financial backers includes Baidu,
Alibaba, Xiaomi and Tencent, as well as
LeTV, a streaming video and Internet
television provider.
Start-up electric car venture Faraday
Future, funded by Chinese Internet
billionaire and LeTV founder Jia Yueting,
on Monday previewed a technologyheavy concept race car. California-based
Faraday hopes to develop it into a range
of battery-powered vehicles that can
challenge luxury rivals such as Tesla
Motors Inc in the growing market for
electric cars.
Jiang said NEVS is exempt from
China’s regulations requiring a foreign
automaker to have a local partner
because it plans to produce only electric
cars for sale in China.
A key question remains
over whether the batterypowered EV is the right path
for the future.
Jiang said NEVS is building an
EV factory in the northeast coastal
metropolis of Tianjin. He said
he expected to soon get an auto
manufacturing licence to start producing
EVs for Panda New Energy.
FINANCING THE DEAL: Panda
New Energy, which is funded by a
Beijing investment fund called Hasun
Asset, won’t have to pony up the whole
$12 billion for the cars, according to
Jiang and Panda’s Sun Wei.
NAVIGATION
The two executives said Panda New
Energy will pay NEVS for the cars from
a four-to-five-year stream of revenue it
expects from leasing those 250,000 EVs.
All Panda New Energy will have to come
up with is a deposit as little as 10 per
cent, Jiang said.
Panda New Energy initially expects
to receive an all-electric minibus that
seats 38 passengers and an electric
commercial van. Jiang said production
of the minibus and the MPV cars are due
to start gradually in 2016 at the Tianjin
factory, which he said is already halfcompleted.
Over the next four to five years, Panda
New Energy will buy 50,000 minibuses
and 50,000 courier vans, Jiang said. Sun
said courier service companies in China,
such as one run by 58.com, will use the
commercial vans. The rest of the deal
— 150,000 vehicles — are all EVs based
on the Saab 9-3, a sedan. Panda New
Energy plans to lease them to taxi-like
chauffeur service companies.
Jiang said NEVS plans to start
shipping those EV sedans to Panda
New Energy in 2017. The sedans will be
assembled at the Tianjin factory.
LARGEST
EV
MARKET:
Government subsidies and other
measures helped all-electric car sales
soar nearly five-fold in China to 113,810
in the first 10 months of 2015. That puts
China on track to soon overtake the
United States as the largest market for
electric cars.
It is unclear, however, how
competitive China’s new EV startups
will be. “Even if technical hurdles can
be overcome, Tesla has significant firstmover advantage, especially in terms
of branding and share of mind as an
innovator in the industry,” said James
Chao, Asia-Pacific managing director
of consulting firm IHS Automotive.
“Others who come later risk being seen
as lagging followers by consumers.”
The chief executive of an auto
company, who did due diligence
for possible investments in China’s
automotive start, said he decided against
it. A key question remains over whether
the battery-powered EV is the right path
for the future.
Japan and its automotive firms, for
example, are jostling for supremacy in
how future electric cars should generate
power. Unlike China, which is pushing
for battery-powered cars, Japan is betting
on other sources of electricity, including
hydrogen fuel cells. — Reuters
MARKET FORECAST
5 ways to be aligned with web evolution Investors eye China,
geopolitical tensions
T
STEFANO VIRGILLI
T
owards the end of
the 90s, when the
Internet was just a
novelty for “geeks”,
the majority of the
world’s population did
not grasp completely the commercial
potential that the cyber world had. Even
less we would have guessed how culture
and society in general could eventually
be affected. The first websites were
rudimental. The main skills required
to design and publish a website were
merely technical. Only later on we
started developing design-minded and
functionality-focused websites.
As the Internet connectivity became
faster and faster, users became more
and more impatient. Average navigation
time dropped drastically as we realised
that if a website did not open up in a few
seconds, another one would have.
Competition became tough. The
forefathers of search engines eventually
Google.
Online
succumbed
to
transactions became more and more
common. Web navigation through
menu and mobile devices defined the
way we browse the Internet today.
Designing and developing a website
has in modern society at least two
separate components which require
completely different skill sets. The first
one is still technical and every year more
demanding to match users’ expectations.
The second one is purely aesthetic and
conceptual-semantic. The latter is no
longer just a matter of colours and fonts,
but also imagery, positioning, browsing
experience and the list goes on.
An interesting project still at
crowdfunding stage is called The Grid.
The founders envision a future where
a website is able to develop and mutate
automatically according to who we are
and what we do. The website colour
scheme adapts to the pictures and not
vice versa. Content is automatically
pulled in through multiple sources. In
a nutshell it is like robotics applied to
web development, or in other words is a
“living” website.
The most important characteristics
of an effective website could be
summarised as the following:
1.Responsive
2.Direct
3.Fast
4.Trendy
5.Connected
1. A responsive website is able to
recognise the browsing device and
display the content differently to
maximise screen size and optimise
loading time. Some developer still
prefer to have two separate versions of
the website (one for computers and one
for hand-held devices). Others prefer to
have a native mobile application to go
along with the website. But by far the
most cost effective way of developing
website is to take advantage of media
queries, so that the content adapts to the
device regardless of its size.
2. A website should be straight to
the point. An increasing trend is to
Designing and developing
a website has in modern
society at least two separate
components which require
completely different skill
sets.
develop websites as one page only (SPA
as in Single Page Application). They
deliver the concept without ambiguity
and capture the audience in a top-todown reading able to address the basic
questions about the product or service
offered. Developers working with small
and medium enterprise often end up in
the home page dilemma. Their clients
rarely have content ready for the home
page, hence the developer plans an
entire menu structure without knowing
what the home page will contain. And
while planning the home page, they
may think of new visitors only instead of
planning content for returning visitors
too. SPA websites solve the dilemma by
placing all the content in one place only.
3. Speed is crucial. A research
theorised that if Amazon took one
single second longer to load a page,
the e-commerce giant would lose up
to $1.6 billions in revenue every year.
Optimising images using photo editing
software is perhaps the easiest way to
make a website “slimmer” and faster.
The server configuration and the agility
of the database framework also speeds
up the accessibility to the website. The
bottom line is that nobody wants to wait
too long for a page to load.
4. We perceive the world around us
based on what sport, business, media,
news and social media show us on a
daily basis. This is the reason why the
same exact car model changes style every
year. This is also why fashion trends are
always on the move. Fonts, colours and
design style are not immune to change.
Google has recently changed their logo.
Nothing stay still in communication,
especially on the web.
5. As much as the characteristics
above are very important, all are in vain
if the website has no visitors. Hence
connectivity is paramount. Attracting
visitors through social media and
search engine is the fastest way to grow
popularity. In the end, every website
must have a growth scope. More visitors
for some, more business for others.
Otherwise what is the purpose of a
private website?
okyo investors will keep a close eye on Chinese markets and
geopolitical tensions after the benchmark Nikkei index started
2016 with a record losing streak. The weak finish marked the
first time the index kicked off a new year with five straight losses.
The blue-chip Nikkei — among the best-performing indices in 2015
— was hammered last week as Chinese share markets went into freefall,
sending shivers across global trading floors. North Korea’s claim to
have detonated a hydrogen bomb this week and growing Middle East
tensions added to the gloom.
“We have to continue to closely watch China-related factors next
week — the yuan, Shanghai stocks and the Chinese economy,” said
Shinichi Yamamoto, a dealer at Okasan Securities. “Volatile trading
is expected to continue for now as players will stay vigilant against a
possible further decline in the Nikkei index. “Among other factors to
watch are crude oil prices, the yen and the situation in the Middle East.”
Also in focus will be US jobs data. Beijing moved to ease the market
panic, removing a mechanism blamed for fuelling sharp sell-offs that
suspended mainland markets early twice in the space of four days.
Authorities also set the central rate for the yuan currency marginally
higher against the US dollar on Friday, ending eight days of falls that
were also blamed for the global turmoil. Beijing’s “trial and error
experiments” may be doing more harm than good, analysts said, as
fears about the health of the world’s number two economy gather pace.
“Chinese authorities
need to take their
time in maturing their
market, but instead
they’re
continuing
to fumble through
with
trial-and-error
experiments,”
Juichi
Wako, a senior strategist
at Nomura Holdings,
told Bloomberg News.
Despite ending the
morning higher, the
Nikkei fell 0.39 per
cent, or 69.38 points,
to 17,697.96 by Friday’s close. It dropped 7.02 per cent over the first
trading week of 2016. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares
dropped 0.73 per cent, 10.62 points, to 1,447.32. It lost 6.46 per cent
over the week.
Among the biggest decliners, market heavyweight Fast Retailing fell
2.33 per cent to 38,140 yen on Friday as it warned over poor quarterly
financial results tied to weak sales at its Uniqlo clothing chain.
Mobile carrier SoftBank sank 0.97 per cent to 5,695 yen, banking
giant Mitsubishi UFJ dropped 0.79 per cent to 707.7 yen and rival
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group was down 0.78 per cent at 4,309 yen.
Automaker Toyota fell 0.49 per cent to 6,864 yen. A weaker yen — a
plus for major exporters’ profitability — boosted some shares.
Factory robotics maker Fanuc rose 0.98 per cent to 19,125 yen and
Sony rose 1 per cent to 2,824.5 yen. The dollar rose to 118.51 yen from
117.65 yen on Thursday in New York, although it is still well down from
levels above the 120 yen mark seen early last week. — AFP
TECHNOLOGY
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
AVIATION
omandailyobserver
29
GADGET
EHang announces passenger
drone that flies at 95 kmph
The newly-launched
EHang 184 AAV
(Autonomous Aerial
Vehicle) that can
autonomously fly a
human passenger,
programmed with
an app, is displayed
at the CES 2016
Consumer
Electronics Show in
Las Vegas, Nevada.
— AFP
THE company behind the ‘Ghost drone,’ called
EHang, has announced the 184 Personal Flying
Vehicle, or PFV. The drone is about as large as a
small car, and is able to fly a human of up to 260
pounds anywhere within 16 kms. While it’s really a
prototype right now, it is a working prototype.
According to the company behind the drone, it
doesn’t just look like a drone, but it also acts like one.
Passengers will only have a few controls, enabling
them to take off, pause the flight, and land. All users
need to do is push those buttons. Of course, users
also have to tell the drone where to go, although a
flight path is laid out through the smartphone app,
and the drone will take care of the rest.
Of course, there have been other attempts at
personal drones for human travel, but they have, for
the most part, been more home-made rather than
professionally made.
The drone is a one-person pod which has eight
rotors on four arms, hence the name 184, and it is
able to go as fast as 95 kmph in the air. It takes off
and lands vertically, can go as high as 11,000 feet,
and can fly 23 minutes at sea level. It weighs 440
pounds, can carry one person and a backpack, and
has air-conditioning and 4G Wi-Fi Internet.
‘The 184 provides a viable solution to the many
challenges the transportation industry faces in a safe
and energy-efficient way,’ said EHand CEO Huazhi
Hu in a statement. ‘EHang will make a global impact
across dozens of industries beyond personal travel.’
Of course, the real question is whether the drone
is safe. According to EHang, there are a number of
fail-safe systems in place that will help the drone
land if there is a problem, meaning that you won‘t
just fall out of the sky.
It’s important to note that while the drone was
shown off at CES, it wasn’t shown taking off. Only
time will tell if this kind of drone ends up being the
real deal or if it’s just a concept for now.
Flippy: World’s first reversible
micro-USB cable
SMARTPHONE users who get annoyed with ill-fitting USB
connectors, tangled cables and slow data transfer speeds have a
solution in Flippy — the world‘s first reversible micro-USB cable.
Flippy is a patent-pending technology by Dott, an innovative
smart-device accessories brand, that allows users not only to transfer
files at a lighting speed but also charge smartphones much faster than
other USB cables.
What works for the cable?
Firstly, it is pretty with a royal blue colour.
Unlike the other round-shaped cords, the flat designed Flippy is
handy and tangle-free. It has gold-plated USB (that fits into computers
and laptops) and micro-USB (that fits into devices like smartphones)
reversible male connectors. The symmetrical connectors fit seamlessly
and let the user plug into
micro-USB and USB port
devices either way.
With this feature, the user
can charge and sync mobile
devices without the hassle of
worrying about finding the
correct side of the connector.
Flip it this way or that, this
side up or that — it doesn‘t matter. Flippy has oxygen-free copper wire
that makes a connection stable and blazingly fast. With transferring
speeds up to a staggering 480 Mbps, the cable transfers large files
quickly and easily. It copied approximately 16 GB of data in nearly
eight minutes. With its high-quality tinned copper construction —
that allows 2.4 amp fast charging — the cable fully charged a 3,400
mAh battery in approximately 1.25 hours.
The cable is compatible with all devices like smartphones, digital
cameras and MP3 players that have micro-USB connectors.
The thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) shielding and tough mold
makes the cable suitable for secure connections and the reinforced
cable joints reduce the possibility of it getting damaged and exposing
the internal wires. On Amazon, the cable is available in 20 cm, one
metre and two metre lengths. One can also buy the cable from
dottstore.com.
What doesn’t work?
The USB connecter is made of plastic and is very thin, making
it vulnerable to break easily. Verdict: The cable meets all a user’s
requirements as it offers stylish design and colour.
The fast charging and quick data transfer features with reversible
USB and micro-USB (male) connectors makes it ideal for use with
any brand of smartphones, digital cameras and MP3 players that has
a compatible (female) port.
INFOTAINMENT
Harman brings Microsoft Office to your car
HARMAN Connected Car is joining hands with
Microsoft to bring Microsoft Office in their cars.
For the first time in the automotive industry,
Microsoft Office 365, which includes productivity
apps such as PowerPoint, Word and Excel, will be
brought into Harman’s infotainment system as a result
of the partnership. The collaboration between the two
companies was announced during CES 2016 in Las Vegas.
By getting access to Office 365 services, users will
be able to accomplish tasks hands-free, such as hearing
and responding to emails, scheduling meetings and
automatically joining conference calls, thanks to Cortana
integration.
‘Working with Microsoft is a natural fit for Harman
as we continue our track record of making the car
more sophisticated, productive and intelligent,’ Harman
President Phil Eyler says. The company acknowledges that
car owners these days prefer an immersive, personalised
experience in their automobiles. This means the demand
for richer productivity is indeed strong.
Harman claims the partnership will specifically
bring in these nifty functionalities with “great reliability,
security and minimal distraction.” Similarly, Microsoft’s
executive vice-president of business development Peggy
Johnson says the integration of Office 365 into the
connected car systems of Harman is going to offer new
productivity solutions. He also says this collaboration will
considerably transform the driving experience.
LAPTOP
Samsung’s battery-focused
Chromebook 3 unveiled
SAMSUNG has taken a rather quiet approach towards unveiling its new
Chromebook 3, promising better battery life in a more lightweight computer.
The laptop comes in a 2.5-pound case and has an 11.6-inch display with a
resolution of 1366 by 768. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron N3050 processor
and comes with a choice of either 2 GB or 4 GB of RAM. Not only that, but
Samsung promises a battery life of as much as 11 hours, which is quite a bit
more than the 8.5 listed for the Chromebook 2.
According to Samsung, the demand for the Chromebook has slowly been
increasing ever since the first model was released back in 2011.
SMARTPHONE
Polaroid introduces Power, Snap smartphones at CES
POLAROID has launched two new Android
smartphones dubbed Power and Snap at
the ongoing CES 2016 event. The American
company, popular for its Polaroid instant
films and cameras, announced that the
Polaroid Power unlocked smartphone will
be available starting Spring 2016 and will be
retailing at $249.99.
On the other hand, the Polaroid Snap
unlocked smartphone will be available
starting next month and will come in three
models featuring 5, 5.5, and 6-inch display.
The company announced that the Snap
will come at an MSRP (manufacturer‘s
suggested retail price) of $129.99 — $179.99
(approximately based on the different screen
sizes.
Both the smartphones have been
designed and manufactured by Southern
Telecom, which is an authorised Polaroid
licensee. Both the handsets run Android
5.1.1 Lollipop out-of-the-box and are
upgradeable to Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Polaroid however has not revealed any
time-frame for Marshmallow update for the
smartphones.
For specifications, the Polaroid Power
features a 6-inch display with full-HD
screen resolution of 1080x1920 pixels. The
smartphone is powered by an octa-core
processor clubbed with 3GB of RAM. It
comes with 32GB of inbuilt storage. There
is a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED
flash while also sports an 8-megapixel front
camera.
It is backed by a 3000mAh battery and
supports 4G LTE connectivity option. The
Polaroid Snap will be available in three
models based on screen sizes — 5-inch, 5.5inch, and 6-inch. Apart from the screen size,
there is no difference between the models.
The Polaroid Snap phones features a HD
(720x1280 pixels) screen resolution and is
powered by a quad-core processor coupled
with 2GB of RAM.
There is 16GB of storage that can be
expanded via microSD card. The company
on the Snap smartphone’s listing notes that
the handset will also come with 1GB of
RAM and 8GB of storage option; though has
not clarified which model will come with
what RAM and storage capacities.
We expect the company to confirm the
details of each Snap model at launch. It
sports a 13-megapixel rear camera and a
5-megapixel front camera is also on board.
30
LEISURE/CLASSIFIEDS
omandailyobserver
For Sale
DELUXE fast food
restaurant in Prime
location in Muscat.
99363883.
quality PVC
windows and wood
doors. 97333357/
24544119.
·····
·····
LEADEN and Black
4WD Lincoln Navigator
1998 is for sale. Valid
till 25.12.2015, good
condition, 200,000 km,
RO 1,600. 94056332.
·····
AUTOMOTIVE
batteries for sale
in bulk. Contact
24794657
·····
RESTAURANT
in an excellent
location in Salalah
with equipment
and workers.
93397812.
·····
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.
·····
PRIME location in
Shatti Al Qurum
for Sale. Ideal for
restaurant/ Coffee
Shop/ Fast Food.
97890657/
96426312. E-mail:
tess29.cayman29@
gmail.com
·····
Situation Wanted
ͳȎ
behind GUtech is
offered for sale. The
land enjoys a permit
for twin-villa.
2) A LAND is for sale
in Al Maabela 8 owner.
95959166.
·····
Situation Vacant
Situation Wanted
INDIAN male, 26 years
accountant, 3 years
experience in Oman
with Omani driving
licence, NOC available
seeking for suitable
position. 94282980.
E-mail: msjob4578@
gmail.com
FINANCE controller,
17 years experience
in Oman contracting,
consultancy, oil
and gas, trading, IT,
tourism, ETC project
ϐ‹ƒ…‹‰ǡϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ
management,
feasbility ERP, MIS etc.
98571309.
·····
MBA marketing and
ϐ‹ƒƒ…‡ǡ†‹ƒ
female, 10 years
business and IT
experience in sales
and marketing,
consulting, product
management
rales in banking
and sustainability
currently on visit visa,
looking for suitable
’”‡ϐ‹Ž‡Ǥ95431357.
25 years experienced
supervisor in
’Ž—„‹‰ƒ†ϐ‹”‡
·····
ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ǡƒ˜ƒ‹Žƒ„Ž‡
LOOKING for driving
and driving licence.
job experience 3 years.
95912720.
95776320.
·····
·····
CIVIL engineer (13)
INDIAN male,
years experience in
B.Tech E&I, 10 years
constructions and sites
experience in sales,
managment included
procurement & business
2 years in sultanate of development, 6 years
Oman, Iraqi nationality Oman experience in
having Oman driving
oil & gas sectors, seeks
licence. 95525594.
placement, Omani
E-mail: bash_ze@
D/L, NOC available.
yahoo.com
97233074.
·····
·····
BRANDED well
ƒ‹–ƒ‹‡†‘—•‡Š‘Ž†
items for immediate
sale at throw away
price 99047440
INDIAN male, B com,
looking for accounts,
‘ˆϐ‹…‡‡Žƒ”‹‡ƒŽ™‘”ƒ†
sales job now in visit
visa. 98295161.
DOUBLE bedroom
†‡Ž—š‡ϐŽƒ–ƒ†ͳͲͲͲ
m2 showroom Al
Ansab near Park.
99639102.
·····
·····
·····
CALVIN AND HOBBES
GARFIELD
STONE SOUP
- 2 General doctors.
- 1 Specialist
obstetrician and
gynaecologist.
- 2 Paediatrician and
specialist.
- 1 Dermatologist.
- 1 Spec phys
otorhinolaryngology.
- 2 X-Ray technicians.
- 2 LAP technicians.
- 2 Pharmacists.
94359172.
·····
2 BED ROOM ϐŽƒ–ǣ
1. Mumtaz Area new
RO 350/-.
2. Wadi Kabir RO 250/-.
99319482.
PANORAMA. Co. make
all interior & exterior
designs with 3D views,
we have high creative
innovative concept
to perform real life
picture, in addition,
we execute our work
under supervision
‘ˆŠ‹‰ŠŽ›“—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡†Ƭ
integrated engineers.
Contact: 92678037 99734137; 24538723;
24538741. Shams@
vabeneoman.com/ Eng.
[email protected]
·····
FAMILY sharing Wadi
Kabir, 3 BR + hall + 2
Bath, covered parking.
99336206.
·····
ʹϐŽƒ–•™‹–ŠȀ•
at Ruwi MBD Area, Way
No 3526, Pizza Muscat
Building. 99333110/
24814853.
·····
VILLA in Al Mawalih (5),
5 rooms + toilets + majlis
and family living room.
92880977.
GREAT chance! valuable
land for rent (area =
7000 sq.m) located
in the centre of sur’s
old industrial district
valid for all commercial
purposes for more
details. 92510152.
·····
·····
·····
·····
in hiring trainer
specialist in teaching
English language and
must be native English.
AN industrial
land of 200 sqm
is offered for rent
or investment.
99329217.
com
·····
Faruk
has lost Bangladeshi
passport No
AA5924882. Finder
please handover to ROP.
·····
A 2 STOREY villa in south
Al Maabela consists of a
sitting room, 4 bedrooms
with toilets + two sitting
rooms and kitchen,
located in strategic place
and close to a public
water source is offered
for rent. 99700908.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Institution interested
institute1990@yahoo.
accomodation
in Al Khuwair.
99560808.
FOR RENT
EDUCATIONAL
your CV to alomani_
·····
Ȉ ƒ”•ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡
Ȉ ‘””‡–
Ȉ ‘„ƒ’’Ž‹…ƒ–‹‘
Ȉ Šƒ”‹‰”‡•‹†‡…‡
Ȉ ”ƒ•’‘”–…ƒ”•
Ȉ ‡ƒŽ•–ƒ–‡ȋ•ƒŽ‡Ǧ
”‡–Ǧ‹˜‡•–‡–•
Ȉ ƒŒŒƒ†”ƒ
Ȉ •‡†ˆ—”‹–—”‡ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡
Ȉ ƒ—…Š…‡”‡‘‹‡•‘ˆȋ”‡•–ƒ—”ƒ–•Ǧ
•Š‘’•Ǧ…Ž‹‹…•Ȍ
Ȉ ‘„ƒ†•
Ȉ ‡ƒ…Š‹‰†”‹˜‹‰
Ȉ ‘—•‡•…Ž‡ƒ‹‰Ǧ•‡”˜‹…‡•ƒ†’‡•–
…‘–”‘Ž
For information, please call:
LOST
99841230-95919344
92721879 - 99639264
Tel: 24649597, Fax: 24649590
BankMuscat account: 0397003776610011
Bank Dhofar account: 01040141195001
E-mail: [email protected]
·····
CARTOONS
ADAM @ HOME
required medical staff:
interview please send
FOR RENT
·····
complex in Izki
To Scheduling an
·····
2 BEDROOM villa
ƒ–—––”ƒŠǡ‹Žƒ–Ž
Zahiah. 99377249.
A NEW medical
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
by Brian Basset
by Bill Watterson
by Jim Davis
by Jan Eliot
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
ACROSS
4 At wrestling, can they be
dicy? (6)
7 Attractive to six-footed
suckers (2,6)
8 I’m maybe gone on her (6)
10 Some trifle to eat? (5)
13 Keep making a furtive
glance (4)
14 In music, this calls for a bit
of clever phrasing (4)
15 Rent to some sailors (4)
16 Big hit? Yes, for ten! (3)
17 Water said to have scent?
(4)
19 Rear part, possibly of more
than one rabbit (4)
21 Mechanical failure
attributable to nerves? (9)
23 Urgent message about
trouble started by boozers
(4)
24 A father, an artist and a
soldier (4)
26 Girl’s name for the morning
of the 4th of July (3)
27 Tipped for help with the
piano (4)
29 The black mark must be
shifted (4)
32 Special knowledge of a
role? (4)
33 A mate and companion to
a girl (5)
34 Disruptive way to be
thrilled? (2,4)
35 He makes people look
better (8)
36 Jaw about the work of a
composer! (6)
DOWN
1 Is Beethoven’s hot music?
(5)
2 A bid of less than a fiver!
(5)
3 He’s no peasant (4)
4 Judge of an essayist? (5)
5 A powerful piece to take on
board (4)
6 A pest we live to destroy
(6)
9 Adviser with some fellows
to put right (6)
CRO SSW O RD
11 Sort of deal you just
couldn’t cook up? (3)
12 A drink the cox’s left (5)
13 Hat showing imagination?
(4,3)
15 Leaves in the late afternoon
(3)
16 Is up North, something
frowned on to live in (3)
18 Unsuitable person to
manage depots (6)
20 Ah! Was in a nigh sinking
situation (5)
21 At school, to him, botany is
colourless (3)
22 But usually he can add
correctly (3)
23 Glib, perhaps, but debatable
in the hush (6)
25 In the sky, it brightens us
up for November (3)
28 Bad ignition (5)
30 It’s a lot more than a little,
note (5)
31 Derisive letter to a relative
(5)
32 Left the little devil looking
exhausted! (4)
33 It moves when you chew
you chow (4)
11
12
13
15
16
18
20
21
22
23
25
28
30
31
32
33
Rim (3)
Surface (5)
Guest (7)
Untruth (3)
Container (3)
Waterway (6)
Night club (5)
Slippery fish (3)
Weight unit (3)
Mighty (6)
Employ (3)
Regimens (5)
Proprietor (5)
Rubbish (5)
Drag (4)
Ceremony (4)
YESTERDAY’S CRYPTIC
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 1, Cr-aft-y 7, A-fter
al-L 8, Tea-L 10, Avenge 11,
Strata 14, ACE 16, Lemon
(-ade) 17, To-sh 19, J-OK-Ed
21, Valid 22, Named 23, Pest
26, BA’s-in 28, Col. 29, Antler
30, Balsam 31, Aria 32, Canis-ter 33, Tremor.
2,
DOWN: 1, Cob-a-Lt.
French 3, Yale 4, Ne-St.-L-ed
5, M-Adam 6, Clean 8, Teas 9,
Age 12, Red 13, Tones 15, HoL-es 18, Organ 19, Jam 20, Kid
21, Van-essa 22, Nil 23, Police
24, Elsa 25, Timber 26, Baccy
27, S-ton-e 28, Car 30, Bart.
EASY PUZZLE
ACROSS
4 Keepsakes (6)
7 Until now (8)
8 Motorist (6)
10 Inclination (5)
13 Ale (4)
14 Cash register (4)
15 Circuit (4)
16 Section (3)
17 Continent (4)
19 Revise (4)
21 Amuse (9)
23 Nobleman (4)
24 Specks (4)
26 Mountain pass (3)
27 Paradise (4)
29 Price (4)
32 Couple (4)
33 Oarsman (5)
34 Continue (6)
35 Insensitive (8)
36 Delays (6)
DOWN
1 Crate (5)
2 Backless seat (5)
3 Lake (4)
4 Riding display (5)
5 Den (4)
6 Believe (6)
9 Iterate (6)
YESTERDAY’S EASY
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 1, Oracle 7, Strapped
8, Clap 10, Wholly 11, Finite
14, Pal 16, Niger 17, Tier 19,
Repel 21, Bidet 22, Cedar 23,
Food 26, Incas 28, Fop 29,
Dearth 30, Mirage 31, Oral 32,
Attracts 33, Twelve.
DOWN: 1, Outwit 2, Cellar
3, Espy 4, Cabinet 5, Sprig 6,
Adder 8, Cope 9, All 12, Nil
13, Tempo 15, Medal 18, Inane
19, Rid 20, Per 21, Best man
22, Car 23, Forage 24, Opal
25, Dredge 26, Ideal 27, Caste
28, Fir 30, Most.
Hospitals
Hospital. . . . . Board . . . . . . . Emergency
Royal . . . . . . . 24599000 . . . 24590491
Health Services Department
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
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
CLASSIFIEDS
S U N DAY
JANUARY 10 l 2016
Situation Vacant
URGENTLY
required
experienced
Sales Executives
having Fire
Protection System
knowledge. Contact
95229608,
93214092 or
[email protected]
·····
URGENTLY
required
experienced MEP
Engineers and
Estimators. Contact
95229608,
93214092 or
[email protected]
·····
URGENTLY required
Expatriate Heavy
Duty Drivers, JCB
Operators with valid
Omani licence. Send
your CV to gdsoman@
gdsoman.com.
Contact: 99890076,
93894018, Fax:
24590866.
·····
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.
·····
Situation Wanted
Immediate Sale
INDIAN, female, B Tech
in instrumentation &
Control Engineering,
7 years of experience
in IT as lead Engineer
(Aerospace and
Automotive Sectors)
Ǧ‡”–‹ϐ‹‡†Ǥ
Looking for suitable
posts. 93603009,
92434460, e-mail:
aasha1289@gmail.
com
RUNNING plastic
recycling factory
with yard for
immediate sale.
Interested people can
contact Mr Sujith,
GSM: 93221125.
Approximate rate:
RO 80,0000 including
yard, material and
equipment with
‘ˆϐ‹…‡ˆƒ…‹Ž‹–‹‡•Ǥ
·····
·····
CIVIL diploma, 5 years
exp in Oman solid
building construction
+ Autocad. Holding
Omani driving licence.
NOC available, looking
for suitable job.
Contact 99012590,
e-mail: yousaf.
[email protected]
CONSULTANT
engineer, 20 years
experience in
civil engineering.
91177755.
INDIAN male, 24 years
old, on visit visa, 3
years diploma in civil
engineering, 8 years
experience. Contact
98515106.
·····
·····
·····
INDIAN (Kerala) male,
32 years, looking for a
job as accounts asst/
Commercial Asst,
indoor salesman,
having 5 years
experience in Oman,
currently on visit visa.
Contact 94410485,
E-mail: visanthvijay@
gmail.com
SENIOR MEP
engineer with
28 years of
experience in
various MEP
ϐ‹‡Ž†•ǡ’”‘Œ‡…–
management of
giant projects in
the world, with
BSc mechanical
engineering Arabic
ƬϐŽ—‡–‰Ž‹•ŠǤ
91261993.
sabahna2003@
yahoo.com
·····
ACCOUNTANT,
Indian male, 10 years
experience in Oman
(trading, contracting,
fabrication &
manufacturing
Co) 6 years in
India. Tally ERP &
Focus expert, upto
ϐ‹ƒŽ‹•ƒ–‹‘ǡŠƒ˜‹‰
Oman driving licence,
NOC available seeks
suitable placement.
99622639.
·····
INDIAN male, 12 years
experience in printing
and advt production
and Marketing, seeks
suitable placement.
92972898.
·····
31
omandailyobserver
Situation Wanted
·····
INDIAN, HSE
manager, grad
IOSH, IDip NEBOSH
with 18+ years
of experience,
presently working
in Oman, seeking
suitable HSE jobs.
Oman driving
licence and NOC
available. Contact
94401830.
E-mail:
hseoman101@
gmail.com
·····
Situation Wanted
INDIAN male, 22 years,
mechanical engineer,
fresher, looking for
a placement in any
‡…Šƒ‹…ƒŽϐ‹‡Ž†Ǥ
Contact 95020044.
·····
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, 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 switches,
Outlook, S/W
Installations. Contact
95406864. E-mail:
saad.m.ali79@gmail.
com
·····
CHARTERED
accountant, Indian,
9 years + exp (7 yrs)
in Oman + UAE) in
ϐ‹ƒ…‡ǡƒ……‘—–•
& auditing, seeking
suitable position in
Muscat/ Dubai. Can
join immediately, NOC
available. Contact
98707434/
[email protected]
·····
INDIAN male B.Sc,
Clinical Laboratory
Technology, M.Sc,
in microbiology.
Working as associated
”‡•‡ƒ”…Š‘ˆϐ‹…‡”™‹–Š
Christian Medical
College and Hospital
(CMC), Vellore, India
since 2012 (3 years)
currently in Oman
looking for a placement
in microbiology.
94876562/
97626282. E-mail:
[email protected]
·····
INDIAN male,
accountant available
for immediate joining.
NOC available with
Omani driving licence.
Call 99881355 or
99720602.
·····
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 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.
·····
INDIAN CA, 8 years
experience - India and
GCC in audit, AC &
Fin, seeking suitable
senior position in
Muscat.#casmart007@
gmail.com
97144935.
·····
AN MBA with more
than 10 years of sales &
marketing experience
in Gulf and 1.6 years
in Oman in electronics
& appliances division.
Having Omani driving
licence, NOC available.
91298641
·····
INDIAN male, 40 years
(MBA Marketing)
having 18 years of
experience in sales
ϐ‹‡Ž†Ǥͳͳ›‡ƒ”•‹
Oman with valid Oman
driving licence, seeks
suitable placement.
Expected to be in
Oman during last week
of November 2015.
Contact 00968
99664612, e-mail:
barretjohnr@gmail.
com
·····
INDIAN graduate
civil engineer from
Muscat College in
2015 with D/L, seeks
suitable placement
with employment visa.
93121505.
·····
INDIAN male, 26
years, Business
Management, knows
ˆϐ‹…‡ǡ”ƒ„‹…ǡͷ
years in Oman. Contact
93931935
·····
INDIAN male 38
years, 17 years
experience in Oman
two wheeler licence,
own Bike seeks job
as office assistant,
messenger, courier etc.
92287226.
·····
INDIAN male, 23 years
PG Dip in Petroleum
Engineering and
B.Tech in Mechanical
Engineering
Holding UAE driving
licence, seeks
suitable placement
immediately.
95880127,
95084905,
vijith2573459@gmail.
com
·····
A MBA female with
1 year experience in
sale and marketing
in dealing with
customers can do
„ƒ…‘ˆϐ‹…‡™‘”
and secretary.
95910427, e-mail:
ritashivprasad111@
gmail.com
·····
INDIAN male (23), 2+
years work experience
as a D/Civil Autocad,
building construction,
looking for suitable
position. 91146914,
shafnas456@gmail.
com
·····
FINANCE professional,
15 years various
industry experience in
Oman trade finance,
project finance,
accounts, costing ERP,
feasibility, business
plan etc. 98571309.
·····
Situation Wanted
INDIAN female Btech
civil engineer with
3 years experience.
Having sound
knowledge of Revit
Stad software on
family visa. Looking
for suitable post.
94537638.
·····
INDIAN male 23,
BCom, IATA (Cargo),
1 year experience,
good computer
skills, looking for
suitable position
in cargo/admin/
ƒ……‘—–•Ȁ„ƒ…‘ˆϐ‹…‡
job. 97826180,
nihalsiddheeque@
gmail.com
Services
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.
·····
·····
MBA, HR Marketing
(male 26), 3 years
experience in
Noor Islamic Bank
(UAE), 1 year HR
Coordinator looking
for suitable placement.
901462412,
mabeenkottekaran@
gmail.com
·····
ARCHITECTURE
engineer with good
experience in civil
works and had
implemented several
jobs with big world
companies like Shell,
ENI, Schlumberger,
BP, all jobs in Iraq.
009647806448408
mokhalad.farown@
gmail.com
·····
Manpower
AZOOZ
House of Trust
Household workers at
the best prices - house
helper - house cookhouse nurse - drivers babysitter. 24831448,
WatsApp: 92801098/
95330209.
·····
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.
·····
FREE
INFORMATION
ABOUT ISLAM
If you would like
to know more
about
Islam, please call:
Tel : 99425598,
96050000,
99353988,
99253818,
99341395,
99379133, For
ladies: 99415818,
99321360, 99730723
Or visit:
www.islamfact.com
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.
AC Maintenance &
Servicing; 2. Fridge,
Washing Machine
& Dish washer
repairing; 3. Painting
& cleaning services; 4.
Electrical & Plumbing
Carpentry work.
Contact: 99447257,
97014234, 24504281.
·····
SUNDAY l JANUARY 10, 2016 l RABEE AL AWWAL 29, 1437 AH
[email protected]
www.omanobserver.om
SPECIAL Rates on
New Cars & 4 WDs
RENTING & LEASING
Tours and Airport Transfer
Tel: 24582663
GSM: 95859497,
Fax: 24582664,
[email protected]
·····
CLASSIFIED
SECTION
RUWI
: 24785668
Behind Royal
Oman Police,
Adjacent to Dhofar
Building, Ruwi.
Supply
of
Pesticides,
Gel (Cockroaches),
Public Health
chemicals,
Agriculture
chemicals,
Snake repellent, Rodent
baits
and
other insect
repellent from
Agropharm
Ltd UK.
PROFESSIONALS
in Pest Control Service,
Bedbug Treatment, Rodent
Treatment, Snake Treatment
and Termite Treatment
(Pre and Post Construction).
Tel: 24787606 / 24787503
Fax: 24787607
E-mail: [email protected]
P. O. Box: 565, Wadi Kabir,
Postal Code: 117,
SULTANATE OF OMAN
Buttercup
Rent A Car
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.
AMAZING OFFERS
Rent a car for 10
days and get an
extra free day.
Rent for one month
and get 5 days free.
All the cars are
2016 brand new
special prices for
public departments,
companies and longterm contracts.
972494490.
·····
Guest House
QURUM BEACH
HOTEL24564070.
For Rent
ϐŽƒ–•ƒ†
showrooms
for rent in the
commercial area
in Bausher and
Al Mawaleh.
99387455,
92461818.
·····
LARGE size room in
Al Falaj with attached
bathroom for executive
bachelor (non cooking)
with AC. Rent RO 150
inclusive electricity
+ water. Contact
Mr Hari 24821717.
99657906.
·····
1) 2 bedrooms, 2
bathroom, kitchen,
living room, store with
split unit Air
conditioner in Ruwi
Rex road.
2) Basement
580 square metre
(new building).
Contact. 99833369.
For Rent
FLATS for rent at
Darsait near to
Ministry of Sports
interested candidates
please contact:
92225523.
·····
·····
2-STOREY villa in
South Al Maabelah
consists of majlis, 4
bedrooms with toilets
for each + 2 sitting
rooms and kitchen,
located near a public
water source. Contact
999700908
2-STOREY villa in
South Al Maabelah
consists of majlis, 4
bedrooms with toilets
for each + 2 sitting
rooms and kitchen,
located near a public
water source. Contact
999700908
FLATS in Al Ghubra, 2
bedrooms, hall, near
Indian School, Way No.
4039, building No.
4250. Contact
99341138,
98003444.
NEW villa in Al
Khoudh 6 is offered for
rent. The premise
comprises 6 bedrooms,
male majlis, female
majlis, a split unit airconditioned family
living room
and 8 toilets.
99668686.
·····
·····
·····
·····
·····
·····
3 in 1 Printer
RO 10.900 only
All Cartridges also
available
on UNBEATABLE prices
AII HP, Epson, Canon,
Lexmark, Samsung
Cartridges also available
·····
COMPUTER SUPPLIES
Ruwi: 24792-792
[email protected]
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
ROOM for rent Seeb,
1 room + 2 rooms
with all supplemets
including water
electricity and
sewage, also we
provide the following
services free plumber
and electrician,
cleaner for garbage
our price on your
hand, just call:
Farahat 98020768,
Hilal 96541283.
FULLY furnished 3
BHK accommodation with all spacious rooms in a
villa at Darsait near
ISD. 95265289/
96048422.
2 BEDROOM flat in Al
Ghubra near Oman Oil
18 November Street,
RO 330 monthly.
99333479 or
95215360.
2 BEDROOMS with
toilets, one sitting
room with toilet.
Contact. 993803465.
HP2130
ȍ͵
VILLAS for sale/
rents KABIR/AL
),
ȋŠ‘’•Ȁ‘ˆϐ‹…‡•
for rent/ Al
Khuwair)
(Flats for rent/
Wadi Kabir).
ͻ͸ͷͻ͸͵ͶͺǤ
For Rent
ǧfloor house
behind German
University of
Technology in Halban
is offered for rent.
The house contains 4
bedrooms, living room,
a kitchen and 3 toilets.
91239119.
·····
Available on UNBEATABLE prices
·····
·····
For Sale/Rent
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
PEST CONTROL
OMAN CO. LLC.
Umrah/Haj
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
Car For Rent
Rent a Car
·····
2 FLOOR house at Al
Hail North. Each floor:
3 bedrooms, 3
bathrooms, kitchen,
store, 1 sitting room.
92133551,
95067585
FOR RENT
·····
AN apartment consists
of two bedrooms,
two toilets, a kitchen
and a living room is
offered for rent in
Sidab. 99455397,
99181929.
·····
FLATS for rent in Al
Khuwair, Al Hail, Wadi
Kabir, Al Falaj, MBD
and Muttrah.
99119699/
95250300/ 24813002.
·····
SEMI furnished 2 & 3
BHK flats at Bausher near Atlas Hospital.
99348493/
93200424/
24502254.
ELFAYED for sedative
investment in
Salalah introduces
the best price and
utilities, for rent:
—’‡”ˆ—”‹•Š‡†ϐŽƒ–•ǡ
daily, monthly and
yearly. 98035135/
96177304/ 91788999.
·····
·····
·····
FLAT for rent in
Maabela
3 master rooms.
96088926.
·····
Tours
‘Ž’Š‹
ƒ–…Š‹‰‘—”.
Every Day 8 am
and 10 am. For
STORE for rent Alaoha
Industrial Area, 448
metres. 99342341.
booking
94110088/
91162534. E-mail:
·····
coraloceantours@
FOR rent brand new
apartments opp Oman
ϐŽ‘—”‹ŽŽ•—––”ƒŠͳǡ
2, 3, BHK with private
parking, suitable for
bachelors. 95450450.
gmail.com Web:
www.
coraloceantours. com
·····
·····
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CLASSIFIED SECTION:
Ali al Maashari: 99639264 [email protected]
Mohammed al Rashdi: 99841230 [email protected]
94501166
DIRECT: 24649595 — FAX : 24649590