Move to regulate drones

MONDAY | APRIL 4, 2016 | JUMADA AL THANI 26, 1437 AH
P20 Tata may combine EU steel business with Thyssenkrupp
VOL. 35 NO. 142 | PAGES 32 | BAISAS 200
P29 ‘Ž‹–‡‡••†‘‡•ǯ–”‡ϐŽ‡…–‹–‘†ƒ›ǯ•–‹‡ǣƒ…Š…Šƒ
P25 Morgan sends Leicester 7 points clear
Inside
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:
[email protected]
Oman, Iran finalise gas pipeline route
OMAN
HM greetings to
Senegal President
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has
sent a cable of greetings to President
Macky Sall of Senegal on the occasion
of his country’s National Day. In his
cable, His Majesty expressed his sincere
greetings along with his best wishes
of good health and happiness to
President Sall and his country’s friendly
people further progress and prosperity.
Meanwhile, His Majesty has received
a cable of thanks from President
Pranab Mukherjee of India in reply to
His Majesty’s greetings cable on the
occasion of the 67th Republic Day.
ASIA
Power outage hits
Manila airport
MANILA: A rare power outage plunged
a major section of the Philippine capital’s
main airport into darkness overnight,
forcing flight cancellations that stranded
thousands on Sunday. As many as 78
flights by the country’s largest carrier
Cebu Pacific were cancelled, affecting
nearly 14,000 passengers, the company
said in a statement. Flag carrier
Philippine Airlines also said some of its
flights were cancelled or delayed but
could not immediately say how many.
REPORT ON P6
MH370 debris to be examined 8,000 Pakistanis in jails abroad Nagorny Karabakh clashes continue SAJJAD AMIRI
TEHRAN
PHOTO BY MOHAMED AL RASHDI
HM gets message from Morocco King
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has received a written message from King
Mohamed VI of the Kingdom of the Morocco. The message was received by
HH Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council
of Ministers, when he received Fouad A’li al Hemmah, Adviser of King, who
conveyed the greetings and best wishes of King Mohammed VI to His Majesty
the Sultan and for the Omani people further progress and prosperity.
REPORT ON P2
April 3: Oman and Iran has finalised
the route for export of Iranian gas
to the Sultanate after studying four
possible paths. Tehran will export its
gas to Oman through a 176- km gas
pipeline and it could plunge as deep as
290 metres from the sea surface before
reaching Oman’s shores.
In 2013, the Sultanate and Tehran
has signed a contract to export gas
to Oman. The $60 billion contract
was for a duration of 25 years and
the two countries have signed basic
agreements based on which Iran will
export a daily amount of 28 million
cubic metres of gas to the Sultanate.
Almost a third of the gas will
be used in spare liquefaction at the
Sultanate’s Qalhat plant and the rest
will be consumed in the domestic
market. The Qalhat plant has the
capacity to liquefy 10.4 million tonnes
of LNG per annum.
The Iranian Offshore Engineering
Move to regulate drones
and
Construction
Company
(IOECC) completed the draft study
of the Oman-Iran gas pipeline and
started producing basic engineering
documents related to the land part of
the project.
TURN TO P3
3.6%
Last year, summer saw temperature shooting up to as much as 39.2 degrees
Celsius while the minimum recorded was 27.4. People of the Sultanate
enjoyed a blissful winter last year with temperature in the range of 18.9-29.8
degrees Celsius. Winter humidity averaged 52.2% while it was 44.7% in
the summer of 2015. Also, last summer received average rainfall of 46.3
mm compared with 37.4 mm in winter. Notably, the winter of 2014
experienced a markedly higher amount of rain
averaging 53.8 mm.
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
2015
EUROPE
28.7
28.2
27.7
Flights resume at
Brussels Airport
JAPAN SUB MAKES FIRST
CALL TO PHILIPPINES
HALF OF CANDIDATES OUT OF
CHAOTIC PERU ELECTION
INDIA, SAUDI REVIEW
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
P9
P10
WEATHER TODAY
MUSCAT
MAX: 290C
MIN: 180C
SALALAH
MAX: 350C
MIN: 260C
SUNRISE 05.56 AM
PRAYER TIMINGS
FAJR: 04:40
DHUHR: 12:15
ASR: 15:42
MAGHRIB: 18:29
ISHA: 19:40
NIZWA
MAX: 330C
MIN: 180C
27
2011 - 2012
RELATIVE HUMIDITY
48.5%
52.2%
2014
2015
54.3%
2013
136mm
MAI AL ABRIA
MUSCAT
P6
2013
2014
BRUSSELS: A Brussels Airlines flight to
the Portuguese city of Faro became the
first plane on Sunday to take off from
Brussels Airport since its departure hall
was wrecked in IS suicide attacks 12
days ago. In an emotional ceremony
at the airport, tearful employees and
government officials marked the
departure with a minute’s silence and a
round of applause. On the tarmac, fire
engines and police vehicles lined up on
either side of the aircraft to form a guard
of honour for the plane. REPORT ON P15
INSIDESTORIES
RISE IN 2015
TEMPERATURE
April 3: Oman’s authorities
are moving to clamp down on
unauthorised drone activity in the
Sultanate, citing privacy, safety and
wider security concerns.
Of late, drone usage has
skyrocketed in the Sultanate
with growing numbers of these
gadgets, the majority of them fitted
with cameras, being operated by
enthusiasts for aerial photography
and other pursuits.
But complaints from members
of the general public, claiming
that drone users are invading
their privacy, has spurred calls for
regulation of drone activity. Joining
the clamour are various authorities
warning that unregulated drone
use is imperiling aviation safety
and security.
DOMESTIC
Drones could
pose threats to
manned aircraft
if they get within
the zone of manned
aircrafts and also can
be used politically for
spying
OFFICIAL
Royal Oman Police
According to the Royal Oman
Police (ROP), unauthorised drone
usage not only threatens privacy,
but also poses a significant safety
and security risk. “Drones can
become dangerous in the hands of
an inexperienced or unprofessional
operator. They could pose threats
HELPS
Indonesia may review ban
KABEER YOUSUF
MUSCAT
April 3: Indonesia is planning to revise its earlier decision to
ban female workers from accepting jobs as domestic helps
overseas, and a decision is expected in the coming months,
according to the country’s director of Overseas Workers.
Speaking to the Observer on the sidelines of a business
conference in Muscat, Drs Anjar Prihantoro, Director of
Promotion at National Board for Placement and Protection
of Indonesian Overseas Workers, said that there has been a
moratorium preventing Indonesian women from leaving the
country on housemaid visas and the same has been issued
to protect them from possible exploitation. TURN TO P3
to manned aircrafts if the drone
gets within the zone of manned
aircraft and also can be used
politically for spying,” an official
said.
“Although it has been illegal
to acquire drones, some people
have managed to get hold of such
gadgets. We have registered a
number of complaints from people
claiming that their privacy has
been infringed by operators using
drones to take photographs or
videos of them. These complaints
have highlighted the need for
tighter control of drone activity,”
the official stated.
Accordingly, drone acquisition
and operation is now a licenced
activity,
the
official
said.
Applications for licences will
be considered by a specially
constituted panel comprising
COUNTDOWN BEGINS
People shout
slogans at the port
of the town of
Chios where
refugees. Under a
European Union
deal with Turkey,
refugees arriving
after March 20 are
to be held in
centres set up on
five Aegean
islands, and sent
back if their
asylum pleas are
not accepted.
REPORT ON P15
representatives from the ROP,
Royal Air Force of Oman (Rafo),
and the Public Authority for Civil
Defence, among other agencies.
“Licenced
drone
activity
consists of two types: amateur and
commercial. Hobbyists are barely
regulated. Commercial operators
have to undergo an onerous review
before they can put drones in
the air. The licence is valid for a
specific period of time estimated
by the committee, and upon the
end of the mission, the licence is
withdrawn.”
“Registration gives us an
opportunity to work with these
users to operate their unmanned
aircraft safely. After all, when
drone usage impinges on national
security, it can cause enormous
damage if not regulated,” the
official added.
50.2%
51%
2011
2012
RAIN
98mm
83.7mm
92.6mm
71.4mm
decline of -14.6%
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
WIND
6.6
knots
6.8
knots
8.3
knots
7.2
knots
7
knots
2015
20
15
2014
20
14
2013
20
13
2012
20
12
201111
20
„ Last year The
Governorate of South Al
Sharqiyah received the
highest average rainfall
at 116.5 mm in June
while average monthly
humidity peaked in
August at 73% in Dhofar.
REPORT ON PAGE 3
„ Last year the highest
average temperature was
recorded in the Governorate
of Al Buraimi at 37.9
degrees Celsius in July. The
Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah
experienced the coolest
month of 2015 with an
average temperature of 18.3
degrees in January.
GRAPHICS: OBSERVER
West Indies win T20 title
KOLKATA: West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite hit England’s
Ben Stokes for four successive sixes to snatch a thrilling
four-wicket win in Sunday’s World Twenty20 final as
the Caribbean side became the first team to win the title
twice.
Needing 19 off the last over sent down by Stokes,
Brathwaite exhibited nerves of steel to complete the chase
in stunning style and trigger wild celebrations amongst
his jubilant team mates who invaded the Eden Gardens
pitch.
England’s death overs hero Stokes was left distraught
after failing to contain Brathwaite, who had a memorable
night having scored 34 with the bat after earlier claiming
3-23 with the ball to restrict England to a modest total.
2
MOU TO BOOST JUDICIAL COOPERATION
M O N DAY l A P R I L 4 l 2 0 1 6
The Higher Judiciary
Institute Council (HJIC)
yesterday agreed to
sign a memorandum of
understanding between
HJIC in the Wilayat of
Nizwa and Algeria National
Judicial Institute to
boost cooperation and
experience exchange.
OMAN
WRITTEN MESSAGE FOR HM
FROM MOROCCAN KING
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has received a written
message from King Mohamed VI of Morocco.
The message was received by His Highness Sayyid Fahd
bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council
of Ministers, yesterday upon receiving Fouad A’li al Hemmah,
Advisor of King of Morocco, who conveyed the greetings and
best wishes of King Mohammed VI to His Majesty the Sultan
and for the Omani people further progress and prosperity.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the existing
deep-rooted bilateral relations between the two brotherly
countries and means for enhancing and developing
cooperation horizons between them. They also reviewed
a number of regional and international issues and
developments, as well as issues of mutual interest.
HH Sayyid Fahd requested the Advisor to convey His
Majesty’s greetings and good wishes to the King of Morocco
and for the Moroccan brotherly people further progress and
prosperity.
The meeting was attended by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad
al Busaidi, Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, and
Tariq al Hasisin, accredited Ambassador of Morocco to the
Sultanate. — ONA
French rear admiral received
MUSCAT: Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al
Busaidy, State Minister and Governor of
Muscat, received in his office yesterday
Rear Admiral Antoine Beaussant,
Commander of French Forces in the
Indian Ocean and the commanders of
some French naval ships.
The two sides discussed means
of enhancing the existing relations
between the Sultanate and France in all
fields.
The meeting was attended by the
French ambassador to the Sultanate
and the Military Attaché at the French
Embassy in Muscat.
Earlier, Real Admiral Abdullah bin
Khamis al Ra’eesi, Commander of the
Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), received
Rear Admiral Beaussant.
The two sides reviewed the march
of the good bilateral relations binding
the Sultanate and France to serve the
joint interests and develop military
cooperation. — ONA
MSM MARGINALLY UP BY 21 POINTS
CBO issues RO 100m
development bonds
MUSCAT: The Central Bank of Oman
(CBO) announced the 49th issue of
government development bonds (GDB)
worth RO 100. The size of the new issue
is fixed at RO 100 million with a maturity
period of seven years and interest rate of
5 per cent per annum.
The issue settlement date will be
open for subscription on 25 April.
Interest on the new bonds will be paid
biannually on October 25 and April 25,
every year until maturity date on April
25, 2023. Investors may apply for these
bonds through the competitive bidding
process only. Investors may submit bids
through commercial licensed banks
operating in the Sultanate of Oman.
Investors with applications of RO 1
million and above can, if they so wish
submit to their bids directly to CBO after
getting them endorsed from their banks.
Prospectus and application forms can be
obtained from any commercial licensed
bank operating in the Sultanate.
Muscat Securities Market (MSM) general
index 30 on Sunday added 21.5 points
comprising a rise of 0.39 per cent to
close at 5488.93 points compared to the
last session. The trading value stood
at RO 2,230,441 comprising a decline
of 32.88 per cent compared to the last
session which stood at RO 3,323,072.
The market value rose by 0.12 per cent
to reach about RO 16.46 billion.
Nearly 210,000 Omanis
work in private sector
TOP EARNERS: 7,778 employees earn more than RO 2,000 and
19,627 draw salaries ranging between RO 1,000 and RO 2,000
HAMOOD AL MEHRIZI
MUSCAT
April 3: Recent official statistics showed
that the number of insured Omanis
employed in the private sector who earn
salaries ranging between RO 325 and
RO 400 account for 65,000 or 31 per
cent of the total number of Omanis in
the private sector by end of February.
According to the National Centre
for Statistics and Information (NCSI),
728 nationals were employed in the
private sector bringing the total number
of Omanis in the private sector to
210,000.
Of those, 7,778 Omani employees
earn more than RO 2,000 and 19,627
draw salaries ranging between RO 1,000
and RO 2,000. Ensured Omani women
employed in the private sector account
for 32 per cent (51,000).
The NCSI statistics showed that 14
per cent of the employees in the private
sector haven’t had their information
updated which is considered to be a
violation on the part of some enterprises.
The Public Authority for Social
Insurance (PASI) has taken protect the
rights of insured employees based on
a ministerial decision issued in 2014
regarding the update of information for
the private sector employees.
The number of expatriate employees
in the private sector has risen by 1 per
cent by end of February to reach 1.731
million compared with 1.697 million
at the end of last year. The majority
of expatriates in the private sector
don’t hold university degrees and are
employed in the sectors of construction,
manufacturing, retail and wholesale
trade and automotive repair.
Gulf quality and patient safety committee meets
MUSCAT: The Gulf Quality and Patient
Safety Committee of the GCC Health
Ministers’ Council’s Executive Office,
hosted by the Sultanate currently, held
a meeting at the Park Inn Hotel on
Sunday.
The two-day meeting highlighted
subjects related to the general framework
of the Gulf Healthcare Quality and
Patient Safety Strategic Plan 2016-2020,
and followed up the last strategic Plan
2011-2016 and implementation.
Further, the meeting discussed the
establishment of unified standards
to improve private Medical Sector
performance within the national
health system through updating
and developing the surveillance,
supervisory, and auditing tools
and
mechanisms
that
comply
with the national and international
requirements.
The meeting was attended by Dr
Said Harib al Lamki, Director General
of Primary Health Care at the Ministry
of Health and member of the Executive
Board of the GCC Health Ministers’
Council, and Dr Ahmed Salim al
Mandhari, Director General of Quality
Assurance Centre. — ONA
OMAN
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
omandailyobserver
Cooler days ahead, dust storm likely
LAKSHMI KOTHANETH
MUSCAT
April 3: Summer could begin this month, but
Oman is yet to experience a few more days of
pleasant weather, and if everything goes well a
bit of rain as well.
In the next three days no rains are expected
but the cloud advection from West to East
will bring in high and medium clouds. This
indicates stable weather but the advection of
clouds over the Sultanate from Iraq, Saudi
Arabia and the UAE will make it cooler. There
are chances of rising dust over the desert and
open areas.
The North West wind will now be mainly
light to moderate occasionally fresh. If the
North West winds are strong reaching up to 25
-30 knots it is called Habub.
“At present the weather has been moderate to
cool however it has been dry and it is the lack of
moisture that causes the dust to rise,” explained
Jaifer al Busiady, the Weather Forecaster at
Public Authority for Civil Aviation.
The places, according to Al Busaidy, that
usually see the dust rising are Nizwa to Salalah
road, and the Wusta governorate in general. The
petrol stations in the area tend to experience the
dust rise, he pointed out.
“The other areas will not experience the
dust rise because the mountains will deflect the
winds,” said Al Busaidy.
So are we heading for a cool summer?
The global models show an above average
summer, yet these are only expectations. “The
temperatures are rising all over,” explained the
Weather Forecaster to Oman Observer.
This winter Oman experienced many rains
and troughs. And if the predictions are for
above average summer, the weather forecast
is also predicting weather that could still give
a few more days of cooler days. By April 7
another trough is expected. If the wind by then
changes from North West to South East, which
would bring in moisture in the air then rains
can be expected.
“After three days if the winds blow from
from the Arabian Sea rains can be expected
with the trough. Moisture is like fuel to the
rain. All the levels of the air should have a high
level of moisture,” said Al Busaidy.
Temperature rises 3.6 per cent in 2015
MUSCAT:
The
Sultanate’s
average
temperature registered a 3.6 percent rise in
2015 compared with that in 2014, with the
mercury touching 28.7 degrees Celsius in
2015 as against 27.7 degrees recorded in the
prior year.
Over the five-year period starting in 2011,
the average temperature hovered at over 27
degrees during the first two years, then shot
up to 28.2 degrees in 2013 only to cool down
to 27.7 degrees in 2014, before scaling up to
28.7 degrees last year.
These interesting details about the
Sultanate’s weather over the 2011-2015
period are found in the latest climate statistics
bulletin published by the National Centre for
Statistics and Information (NCSI).
Relative humidity, on the other hand,
decreased -7.1 per cent to 48.5 per cent in
2015 compared with 52.2 per cent in the
previous year.
Over the aforementioned five-year
period, 2015 was the only year when relative
humidity fell below 50 per cent. The highest
humidity was recorded in 2013 at 54.3 per
cent while in 2011 and 2012 the figures stood
at 51 per cent and 50.2 per cent respectively,
the NCSI report said.
Significantly, last year the Sultanate
received considerably less amount of rain at
Oman, Iran finalise gas pipeline route
FROM PAGE 1
The company announced that it held
meetings with contractors and reviewed
the technical proposals on survey
operations to finalise the route for laying
the pipeline.
A South Korean company had shown
its readiness to carry out the offshore
pipeline work of the project and has
even told Iran that it will be ready to
fund the whole operations itself.
In another related development,
India is all set to sign a deal to have a
direct undersea gas pipeline from Iran
circumventing Pakistan.
India will fund a rail link between
the Iranian port city of Chabahar and
city of Zahidan, located on the tri-
junction of Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan.
The rail link, when concluded, will
join Chabahar Port with international
North-South transport corridor to
provide direct access to Central Asia.
The $4.5 billion gas pipeline project
will bring 31.5 million standard
cubic metres gas per day to India’s west
coast.
1.1 million
travelled in
Mwasalat
buses
MUSCAT: Mwasalat
announced that it
has carried 1.1 million
passengers since the
launch of its operations
on November 22, 2015,
until the end of March
this year.
Ruwi-Al Mabela
route carried the
highest number of
passengers at 580,000,
followed by Ruwi-Wadi
Al Kabir route with
393,000, Ruwi-Wadi
Adai 127,000.
Mwasalat said in
a statement that the
demand for bus service
is higher than expected
and the demand came
from expatriates of
various nationalities.
The company urged
everyone, especially
citizens to use public
transport because of
the economic benefits
to the individual and
the society in terms of
reducing congestion,
noise and harmful
emissions.
It is worth
mentioning that
Mwasalat launched a
new route linking RuwiAl Amerat on Saturday.
This month it will
launch Ruwi-MuttrahMuscat route and Al
Khoudh-Sultan Qaboos
University-Burj Al Sahwa
by the middle of this
year. — ONA
83.7 mm, marking a decline of -14.6 per cent
as against 98 mm of rain registered in 2014.
Year 2013, again recorded the highest rainfall
during 2011-2015 at 136 mm, showing a
whopping 90.5 per cent surge over prior
year’s 71.4 mm. The precipitation in 2011
stood at 92.6 mm.
Meanwhile, last year was relatively less
windy, with wind-speed coming down nearly
-3 percent to 6.6 knots compared with 6.8
knots in 2014. As with humidity and rain,
year 2013 witnessed the highest wind-speed
during the five-year period at 8.3 knots. Wind
speed in 2012 recorded a 3 percent rise over
that of the prior year to reach 7 knots. — ONA
3
Indonesia may
review maid ban
FROM PAGE 1
“We realised that we cannot impose a 100 per cent ban
on recruitment but revision is possible for the welfare of the
workers,” he said, adding that a final decision should come
from the government.
Accordingly, the work contract should be signed by
the authorised agency assigning better accountability of
recruitment on themselves including the welfare of the
workers and not by the respective family which is intending
to employ Indonesian workers. The company will have the
sole responsibility of recruiting and offering services of
Indonesian domestic helps to the needy families.
“We had internal debate regarding the issue and a
decision will be announced soon as we are aiming at skilled
workforce
to
represent
the
country.
No
foreign employer
will be able to
recruit
these
workers
and
with the new law
which is expected
soon, they will
be able to recruit
through
an
agency.”
However, those who are directly recruited by the families
and currently working in the country wouldn’t be affected
till next two years, until they complete their contract.
“They too will have to be channelised through an
authorised agency after the expiry of their contracts,” Anjar
added.
Earlier last year, the government has decided to stop
sending female workforce as domestic helps and the
decision was termed “to preserve the country’s dignity”. The
government had also instructed the manpower ministry to
come up with a strategy to end the practice of sending female
domestic workers abroad. Although the country planned to
stop sending maids abroad only from 2017, certain incidents
prompted the ministry to accelerate the plan.
Although the exact number of Indonesian women
working as maids abroad is not clear, as many as 2.3 million
Indonesians are working abroad, mostly in Malaysia,
Singapore and Gulf countries. Of this number, 1.2 million
are illegal workers (mainly in Southeast Asia, fewer in the
Gulf) and more than half are believed to be working as
maids.
4
Number of urological
cases on the rise
OMAN
omandailyobserver
ACTION: Over 250 urologists from across the world evaluating
clinical practices and key research projects in the field
KABEER YOUSUF
MUSCAT
April 1: There has been a steady increase
in the number of urological cases in the
country and according to available data
the number of End Stage Renal Disease
(ESRD) patients has been rising since
the last 10 years due to the lifestyle and
busy schedule.
From 49 patients in 2005, the number
of end stage renal disease patients gone
up to nearly 200 in 2015 and the villain
is said to be aplenty, according to an
international conference held in Muscat.
While hypertension causes 33 per
cent of end stage renal disease cases,
diabetes mellitus contributes 13 per cent
and lupus erythematous (SLE or lupus)
5 per cent, polycystic kidney disease
with 3 per cent and urinary tract disease
2 per cent.
This was revealed at the international
conference on Urology organised
by Oman Urological Society in
collaboration with pharmaceutical
companies at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel
from April 1 to 3.
Held under the auspices of Dr
Hilal al Sabti, Executive President of
Oman Specialty Board, as many as
250 urologists from across the world
attended the conference which saw
various brainstorming sessions with
experts in this field.
Oman Urological Society was
formed a year ago bringing together all
the urologists from Ministry of Health,
Sultan Qaboos University Hospital,
Armed Forces Hospital and leading
private hospitals operating in the
country.
“It was a cutting-edge conference on
urology providing critical assessment
of clinical practices and key research
projects. It presented the most current
topics in various formats including
state-of-the-art
lectures,
video
surgery
sessions,
round
table
discussions, cross-fire debates, poster
sessions and panel discussions”, Dr
Sameh Kuzman, President of the OUS
commented.
Experts opined that a number of
psycho-social factor related to one’s
psychological
development
and
interaction with a social environment,
behavioural factor is the range of actions
and mannerism made by systems or
artificial entities in conjunction with the
environment and environmental factor
relates to physical and biological factors
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
Ancient inscriptions, writings
exhibition opens in Dhofar
SALALAH: Personal exhibition of Ali bin Ahmed al
Shahri, researcher in archaeology and ancient writings
and inscriptions, titled “Ancient Inscriptions and Writings
in Dhofar,” was opened at the Omani Society for Fine
Arts of the Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and
Science in the Governorate of Dhofar on Sunday under the
auspices of Shaikh Khalid bin Omar al Marhoon, Minister
of Civil Service.
The 10-day exhibition included the old models of
the inscriptions, writings and drawings that refer to the
civilization of Dhofar and the Arabian Peninsula during
the pre-Islam period.
Ali bin Ahmed al Shahri said that the exhibition
contains 15 paintings; each offers simplified explanation in
Arabic and English and includes ancient inscriptions and
literature before Islam. — ONA
along with their chemical interactions
that affect an organism.
“Some of the most common
causes of urological disorders include
diabetes, pregnancy or childbirth,
overactive bladder, enlarged prostate,
weak bladder muscles, weak sphincter
muscles (muscles supporting the
urethra), urinary tract infections, and
diseases including Parkinson’s and
multiple sclerosis.” Some of the specific
topics included Robotic surgery in
management of prostatic disease and
the current treatment of bladder cancer
and kidney stone diseases.
The aim of the conference was
to update the knowledge and skills
of the urologists in the country and
elsewhere and to encourage research
as well as promote collaboration with
other international and local urological
societies.
TOP STUDENTS HONOURED
Next-gen IT systems for Ibri College
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
MUSCAT: Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education, honoured a group of students who achieved
advanced places in the external competitions held in the academic year 2015-2016. The honouring took place at the ministry
of education in the presence of the ministry’s under-secretaries, advisers and director-generals.
April 3: Oman LNG has
signed an agreement to
finance the development and
implementation of Virtual
Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
in the laboratories of the College
of Applied Sciences in Ibri.
The deal commits Oman
LNG to funding the next
generation
of
desktop
computing platforms that
offer
increased
flexibility
in
computing
resources
and security. The College
accommodates 1,200 students
annually, teaching skills and
competencies associated with
Information Technology (IT)
Over 100 firms from Sultanate will display their products and services in Addis Ababa
OPEX 2016: Key step forward to promote
Omani products in African continent
MUSCAT: Preparations are all set for
OPEX 2016 to be held from April 11 to 14,
in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, under the
auspices of the Ethiopian Minister of Finance
and Economic Development and in the
presence of Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy,
Minister of Commerce and Industry, in
addition to officials from related government
bodies.
Ayman al Hasani, Vice-Chairman for
Economic and Branches affairs at Oman
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(OCCI), and Head of the OPEX Organising
Committee, said that more than 100 Omani
firms are set to participate in OPEX 2016
representing various industries including
natural resources, minerals, wood products,
manufacturing products, furniture, food,
medical and pharmaceuticals, fertilizers,
plastic and metal equipment, perfume,
leather, and logistics.
Al Hasani added that OPEX will be held
for the first time outside the GCC countries
following the success of previous OPEX
events held in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE.
“An integrated plan has been put in place
The study indicated that there
are significant opportunities
for Omani exporters to
benefit from in the
fast growing
Ethiopian market.
to facilitate logistics, customs and other
related issues for the participants,” Al Hasani
affirmed. “This event represents one of the
major steps to promote Omani products in
the African continent.
The Organising Committee aspires to
promote the Sultanate’s industrial sectors in
Ethiopia and Africa through strengthening
partnerships with various regional and
international institutions. Additionally, the
Committee seeks to play a pivotal role in
stimulating trade movement between the
Sultanate and Ethiopia, which eventually
develop businesses of local companies and
and designing. As part of its
community service initiatives,
the College also delivers courses
and workshops to different
segments of the community.
Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed
al Sarmi, Under-Secretary of
Ministry of Higher Education,
signed the agreement with
Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah al
Massan, Chief Executive Officer
of Oman LNG Development
Foundation. “Through these
initiatives we hope to provide
support where communities feel
it is most needed”, said Shaikh
Khalid. “Our aim is to serve the
community and contribute to
all segments of society wherever
possible.”
expand their trade to various regional and
global markets,” he pointed out.
Al Hasani added, “OPEX 2016 seeks
to develop mutual objectives of the two
governments and deepen comprehensive
partnership, in addition to opening up
prospects for further cooperation among
similar companies in Oman and Ethiopia,
and increasing the volume of trade exchange
between the two countries.”
Nasima al Balushi, Ithraa Director General
of Export Development, emphasised that
Addis Ababa was chosen to be the destination
of OPEX 2016 following studies been
conducted to determine the added value
and the advantages of East African markets
in general and the Ethiopian market in
particular.
“Ithraa, which is one of the bodies that
form OPEX Organising Committee, in
addition to OCCI and PEIE, has implemented
a marketing study on the Ethiopian market to
provide comprehensive facts on the market
in order to familiarise the Omani exporters,
and on the other hand brief the exporters in
Ethiopia on the promising Omani products.
The study indicated that there are significant
opportunities for Omani exporters to benefit
from in the fast growing Ethiopian market,”
Al Balushi said.
Al Balushi explained that based on the
results of the study, an Omani trade delegation
held b2b meetings, in Addis Ababa in an
effort to strengthen and develop the volume
of Omani non-oil exports to the Ethiopian
market, find promising opportunities and
deals, and boost trade relations with Ethiopia
in line with the plan to develop non-oil
Omani origin products.
“A group of Omani companies, which
participated in these meetings achieved a
number of deals. Around 50 per cent of
Omani exporters assigned a commercial
agent for their products in Ethiopia on day
one of the b2b meetings. Besides, one of the
companies signed a MoU with one of the
major importing Ethiopian companies for
foodstuff. These positive results following
the b2b meetings have encouraged OPEX
Organising Committee to choose Addis
Ababa as the destination of OPEX 2016,” Al
Balushi noted. — ONA
‘Hidden beauty’
campaign
AMAL AL RIYAMI
NIZWA
April 3: Public relations students in the Faculty of Applied
Sciences in Nizwa has launched a campaign entitled “Hidden
Beauty” under the slogan “Oman, live the moment of the
place”, to introduce and promote unknown tourist places.
The launching ceremony, under the auspices of Dr Said
bin Khalaf al Nabhani, Dean of the college, included a video
presentation of the campaign slogan prepared by students of
public relations.
Varghese Joshua, Faculty member in the department of
Mass Communication, said: “The theme of the campaign
is to stimulate internal tourism in the Sultanate by drawing
attention to the beautiful places.”
The two-day campaign on April 17 and 18 will include
a variety of events at the college and an exhibition at Grand
Mall Nizwa.
OMAN
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
omandailyobserver
TRC committee meet discusses
research, innovation in Oman
5
IN BRIEF
Belarus university seeks SQU support in
promoting Arabic and Islamic studies
FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE: Members to make field visit to Innovation Park Muscat
MUSCAT: The International Consultancy
Committee of The Research Council (TRC) held
its 9th meeting under the chairmanship of Dr Hilal
bin Ali al Hinai, Secretary General of TRC.
The two-day meeting discussed topics related to
research and innovation in the Sultanate, as well as
the quarterly report and the development budget
for TRC. It also reviewed the replies of the TRC
Board on the minutes of the previous meeting.
The meeting also included presentations on
the proposed operational models for the TRC
affiliated research centres, such as Oman Animal
and Plant Genetic Resource Center and the
Advanced Technologies Integration Institute and
a presentation on the program for supporting the
acclimatization towards sustainable development
and the environmental excellence centre which
was approved by the TRC Board during its last
meeting.
Members of the International Consultancy
250 schools to take part in SAI
Essay & Poster Competition
Committee of TRC on Monday will visit the
Innovation Park Muscat (IPM) and the Research
Chair for Nano Technology for Water Desalination
at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). It will also
discuss the proposed operational plan for IPM.
It should be noted that the International
Consultancy Committee of TRC includes a
number of experienced scientists from different
research and scientific fields from Oman and other
countries.
— ONA
Muscat: Dr Ali bin Saud al Bemani, the Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University,
yesterday received in his office, Mihail Zhuravkov, the Minister of Education of Belarus,
and accompanying delegation. The two sides discussed on promoting ties between SQU
and higher educational institutions in Belarus through exchange of students, faculty
members, and researchers and collaborative research.
The minister was accompanies by several high level officials from his ministry and
higher educational institutions in the country. The officials from SQU and Belarus
stressed on activation research ties in various fields of science and engineering including
information technology, telecommunication and renewable energies. The Belarusian
State University is planning to start a new centre for Arabic language. The Belarusian
officials evinced interest in SQU’s support in promoting Arabic and Islamic studies in BSU
other educational institutions in the country.
SQU has signed an agreement of scientific and academic exchange with Belarus
State University. It aims to encourage communication and exchange of visits between
academics and students to conduct research and conduct join activities in technical
education.
University of Washington students get
lessons in Islamic banking, finance
Omani women to be trained in
use of recycled paper products
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
April 3: More than 3,000 schoolchildren from over 250
schools across the Sultanate are expected to participate in
the thirteenth edition of the Open Essay and Poster Making
Contest 2016 due to kick off next week. The annual event is
organised by SAI Oman in cooperation with the Ministry
of Education. The theme is: ‘Spreading the Light through
Human Values’.
Phase 1 of the competition opens at Indian School al
Ghubra on Saturday, April 9 from 10 am to 12 noon for
Omani government and private schools (including Arabic,
bilingual and global, International and Special Education
schools) of Muscat Governorate. Hamed Musallam Saif,
Director General of Curriculum Development, Ministry of
Education, will be the Chief Guest at the event.
The second phase will be held on April 16 for schools in
Sohar, Ibri and Nizwa, while the final phase opens on April
23 for schools in Sur, Salalah and Buraimi. Inaugural events
will be held at the Indian Schools in these locations. The
deadline for registration is April 4 for Muscat governorate,
April 11 for the areas covered in Phase 2 and April 18 for the
areas covered in Phase 3. Schools and participating students
are advised to check the website www.saivaluesoman.org for
the topics and other details.
April 3: The Petroleum Development Oman
(PDO) has signed an agreement to provide
vocational training for 20 women to design
and produce recycled paper products and
packaging.
Under the terms of the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with the Omani
Women’s Association (OWA), the onemonth course will equip the ladies from
Muscat with the practical and theoretical
skills to find employment or start their own
businesses. The training will enable them to
make a range of environmentally friendly
goods, including boxes, notebooks, cards,
files and bags.
The scheme will be run as part of PDO’s
Banat Oman social enterprise which has so far
provided vocational training for more than
300 women from low-income backgrounds
in skills such as tailoring, embroidery and
dairy product manufacture.
The signing of the MoU took place at
an official ceremony at PDO’s Knowledge
World attraction in Al Qurum between
Wafa al Amri, President of the OWA Al Seeb
branch, and PDO External Affairs and Value
Creation Director Abdul-Amir al Ajmi.
He said: “We have a strong relationship
with the OWAs across the country and are
pleased to be able to partner with the OWA
in Al Seeb on this training initiative which
will provide a great opportunity for women
to learn new vocational skills.
“PDO is a committed supporter of social
investment and community development
and is placing a greater emphasis on recycling
materials to reduce waste, energy use and
ecological harm.
“This agreement embraces both economic
and environmental sustainability and I am
confident it will give the women on the course
a helping hand to make a decent living.”
Wafa al Amri said: “The training will raise
the standard of living for the women and their
families in that it will enable them to convert
recycled paper into beautiful merchandise
which can be sold to support them.
“We hope that this project will be good
start for the women to establish their own
small businesses.”
The training will take place at Al
Nawakhdha Training Services at Al Mawaleh.
Muscat: A group of 20 students from the University of Washington visited Bank Nizwa
head office to learn about the bank’s successful experience in Islamic banking, as well
as the industry’s principles, development and unprecedented growth in Oman. The visit
included a series of interactive meetings and discussions with the bank’s experts as the
students had the opportunity to learn about both the theoretical and practical aspects
of Shari’a-compliant banking and finance.
The delegation, which was comprised of a mixture of undergraduate and
postgraduate students, visited Oman as part of a program dedicated to learning
about the economics of the GCC region. They were handed brochures identifying the
bank’s operations and the differences between Islamic banking products and their
conventional counterparts, while their questions and inquiries were answered in the
expanded discussions.
“The visit of students from the University of Washington, one of the top American
universities in economics, accounting and finance, was a great opportunity to touch
upon a series of timely topics in the global economy, while focusing on the growth of
Islamic Finance globally and in particular in the Omani market,” said Dr Ashraf Nabhan al
Nabhani, General Manager Corporate Support at Bank Nizwa.
He added, “These educational tours are aimed at proactively sharing best practices,
knowledge and expertise with educational institutions in Oman and beyond. We are
confident such initiatives will create new prospects for our industry, while catering to the
aspirations of graduates and future professionals.”
Since opening its doors three years ago, Bank Nizwa has been committed to
spreading awareness of Islamic finance through dialogue, seminars and roadshows. The
bank has launched the ‘Islamic Finance Knowledge Series’ to educate local communities
across the Sultanate on the benefits of Islamic banking and this visit is a continuation to
its strategy to grow the industry and understanding of its core principles to audiences in
Oman, the region and internationally.
Students discuss how engineering can be applied to improve solutions and enhance use of resources
Zero harm, zero waste and zero emission
MUSCAT: The four-day seventh
Engineering Students’ Gathering,
organized by the Engineering
Society of Sultan Qaboos University,
commenced yesterday under the
auspices of Salim bin Nasser al Aufi,
Undersecretary at the Ministry of
Oil & Gas, and in the presence of
Dr Ali bin Saud al Bemani, the Vice
Chancellor of SQU.
Social,
economic
and
environmental sustainability is the
focus of the gathering being held
under the theme ‘Zero’. It discusses
how engineering can be applied
to improve solutions and achieve
a better use of energy resources
allowing future generations to meet
their own needs. The theme ‘Zero’
stands for zero harm, zero waste and
zero emissions.
At the gathering, the students
express their ideas through
presentation of their projects. Panel
discussions, lectures and engineering
related workshops are also on the
agenda. Around 70 students from
local colleges and universities and
GCC and Arabian countries are
participating in the event where 45
projects are presented.
Deans and faculty members
from the colleges of engineering,
architecture, planning, and computer
science at various GCC countries
attended the event.
Apart from students from SQU,
engineering students from many
local and regional universities
have brought their projects and are
actively participating in the event.
The
participating
local
institutions include the universities
of Sohar, Buraimi, Nizwa, and
Caledonian College of Engineering,
German University of Technology,
Waljat College of Applied Sciences,
Middle East College and the
International College of Engineering
& Management. In addition, several
universities from Saudi Arabia,
Qatar, Bahrain and Egypt are also
represented.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof
Dr Abdullah al Badi, Dean of the
College of Engineering, said that
the gathering, which has attracted
engineering students from the
Sultanate and abroad, seeks to
promote innovative skills and
creativity of the students and make
them capable to meet the future
challenges in engineering. “This will
be achieved through presentation
of student projects, competitions,
and exchange of experience through
interaction among students. The
event will help to boost the ties
between SQU and other higher
educational institutions in the
Sultanate and abroad,” he observed.
NRI from Oman wins award
at Norway Tamil Film Festival
MUSCAT: Tasleem Khan, An Indian expat living in Oman
hails from Tamil Nadu has won Special Jury award for his
acting performance in a short film “Vettenapesel — An
Evening appointment” in 7th Norway Tamil Film Festival to
be held in Oslo, Norway from April 28th – May 1st.
Vettenapesel is a story about two friends Vikram
and Prabhu who scheduled to meet in evening in a
restaurant and Vikram comes late for the meeting and
what happens after that is the interesting part of the film,
says director Anirban who also played the character of
Vikram. Tasleem played the role of Prabhu with ease and
lived the character in outstanding manner & I am very
happy that he has got the Special Jury Award in such a
big international festival for his stellar performance in the
film and he won best actor for same film at film festival
organized by ISC Tamil wing last year, Anirban added.
Tasleem said, I am really happy and don’t have
any words to explain my joy and excitement & will be
representing India & Oman. Norway Tamil Film Festival
is such a prestigious film festival and getting an award
is a great achievement. I am really thankful to the
director, costume and make up designer Yamuna and
my whole family for this award. We are also happy that
the my other movie “Mezhugu – The candle” which I had
directed has also been selected for screening along with
“Vettenapesel”
Norway Tamil Film Festival organizes this international
film festival every year and awards best feature films,
director, actor, actress, music director, singer and life time
achievement award in Tamil film industry, said Vaseeharan
shivalaingam, festival director.
We are very happy to inform that we are honoring
Dr Kamalhassan for life time achievement award for his
all round performance in film industry in this 7th Year
Norway Tamil film festival added Vaseeharan.
6
FUNDING HOLLYWOOD FILM DENIED
M O N DAY l A P R I L 4 l 2 0 1 6
MOUNT BROMO A TOURIST DRAW
Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia
Development Berhad (1MDB) on Sunday
denied reports that it had provided
funds to finance the 2013 Hollywood film
The Wolf of Wall Street. The Wall Street
Journal reported on Friday that global
investigators believe much of the funds
used to make the film were diverted from
1MDB, whose advisory board is chaired
by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
ASIA
A visitor takes
photographs of
Mount Bromo, an
active volcano and
popular tourist
destination, in
Probolinggo, East
Java province,
Indonesia, on
Sunday.
AVIATION MYSTERY: A hotel owner on the island who saw the debris said it looked like it was from the inside of a plane
‘MH370 debris’ found in Mauritius to be examined
SYDNEY: Australia said that a piece of
suspected aeroplane debris found east
of Africa on a Mauritian island will be
examined to see if it is part of Malaysia
Airlines Flight 370, which went missing
two years ago in one of the world’s
greatest aviation mysteries.
A hotel owner on the island who
saw the debris said it looked like it was
from the inside of a plane, with what he
thought was a wallpaper “design”, which
if confirmed, would be the first piece of
interior debris from the plane yet to be
found.
Australia has led the search for the
plane, which went missing in March
2014 with 239 people on board on a
flight from the Malaysian capital, Kuala
Lumpur, to Beijing, and Transport
Minister Darren Chester said the debris,
found last week, was an “item of interest”.
“The Malaysian government is
working with officials from Mauritius
to seek to take custody of the debris and
arrange for its examination,” Chester
said in a statement.
He did not say from what part of
the missing Boeing 777 the debris was
suspected to have come.
“...Until the debris has been examined
by experts, it is not possible to ascertain
its origin.”
The Malaysian government could not
be immediately reached for comment.
William Auguste, who owns the
Mourouk Ebony Hotel on Rodrigues
Power outage cripples Manila
airport, thousands stranded
Passengers wait outside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal
3 following a power outage at the airport terminal in Manila early on
Sunday. — AFP
MANILA: A rare power outage
plunged a major section of the
Philippine capital’s main airport
into darkness overnight, forcing
flight cancellations that stranded
thousands on Sunday.
As many as 78 flights by the
country’s largest carrier Cebu Pacific
were cancelled, affecting nearly
14,000 passengers, the company
said in a statement.
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines
also said some of its flights were
cancelled or delayed but could not
immediately say how many.
The blackout hit Terminal 3,
which services mostly domestic
flights, late on Saturday and power
was not restored until before dawn
on Sunday.
Exhausted passengers sprawled
on the floor as check-in counters
and luggage carousels shut down.
Long queues formed outside the
terminal as entrances were closed
until power was restored.
Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino
International Airport, named
after the assassinated father of
incumbent President Benigno
Aquino, handles an average of 350
domestic and international flights
daily, according to data from the
transportation ministry.
It is one of four terminals in a
complex that was once dubbed
by the travel website Guide to
Sleeping in Airports as the world’s
worst due to leaking toilets and
creaking facilities.
“We are looking into the root
cause of this problem,” Terminal 3
general manager Octavio Lina told
DZMM radio.
Manila power retailer Meralco
said a transmission line tripped
briefly but was restored in minutes,
suggesting that the problem could
be with the airport’s systems.
The four Manila airport terminals
were designed for 17 million
passengers annually, but overuse
has made the airport notorious for
flight delays.
Plans to build a new airport
outside Manila have not
materialised under Aquino.
— AFP
was wallpaper inside of the plane, you
can see this design and part of it is still
there.”
Auguste said the wreckage was taken
to police.
Last month, Australia said debris
found in Mozambique was “almost
certainly from MH370” and in 2015
French authorities said a wing part
found on the Indian Ocean island of
Reunion was part of the plane.
DARREN CHESTER
Australia said that more than
Australian Transport Minister
95,000 square kilometres of a 120,000
square kilometre target zone had been
The Malaysian government is working with officials from Mauritius to seek to take
searched and that the entire zone would
custody of the debris and arrange for its examination.
be covered by June, when the search is
aeroplane - it looks like it’s from the scheduled to end.
Island, about 560 km east of the main was found by guests.
— Reuters
island of Mauritius, said the wreckage
“For sure it looked like part of an inside part of it,” Auguste said. “...there
The Malaysian
government is
working with officials
from Mauritius to
seek to take custody of the
debris and arrange for its
examination
Japan sub makes first call to Philippines
in 15 years amid China tensions
SUBIC BAY, Philippines: A Japanese
submarine made a port call in the
Philippines, the first in 15 years, on
Sunday in a show of growing military
cooperation amid tension triggered by
China’s growing assertiveness in the
South China Sea.
One of the newest and largest
submarines in the Japanese navy, it was
escorted into the former US Navy Base
at Subic Bay by two Japanese destroyers
on a tour of Southeast Asia.
“This is just an exercise and the
main objective is to train the officers,”
Captain Hiraoki Yoshino of Japan’s
Maritime Self-Defence Force told
reporters.
“We don’t have any message to any
country,” he said, adding the ship visits
were aimed at boosting confidence
between the Japan and the Philippines.
China claims almost all the South
China Sea, where about $5 trillion
of ship-borne trade passes every
year.
Brunei,
Malaysia,
the
Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also
have claims.
Japan and China also have
conflicting claims over islets in the
East China Sea. Japan is increasing
its presence in the South China Sea,
sending more ships and planes to allies
in Southeast Asia, like Vietnam and the
Philippines.
The Philippines and the United
States start military drills on Monday,
including simulating the retaking an
island seized by an imaginary enemy in
the South China Sea, an exercise likely
to rile China.
Crew members of Japanese submarine Oyashio stand on the deck as they arrive at the former US naval base in Subic bay, on
Sunday. — AFP
Japan has offered to help the
Philippines boost its capability in
monitoring what is going on in the
South China Sea by leasing three TC90 surveillance planes, a deal that could
be sealed late this month.
“The visit is a manifestation of
a sustained promotion of regional
peace and stability and enhancement
of maritime cooperation between
neighbouring navies,” Philippine Navy
spokesman Commander Lued Lincuna
said.
Raids followed the arrest of a woman seen posing with a bowl in photos on social media
Thousands of ‘political’ red bowls seized
BANGKOK: Thai authorities have
confiscated some 8,000 red bowls
bearing a message from an ousted
ex-premier, police said on Sunday,
in the junta’s latest attempt to block
the resurgence of the political party it
toppled.
The raids followed the arrest last
week of a woman seen posing with one
of the bowls in photos on social media.
She has been charged with sedition,
a move slammed by a rights group as
absurd.
The plastic scoops, used for pouring
water in Buddhist ceremonies during
Thailand’s upcoming new year, bear a
note signed by former prime minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, whose political
bloc has spent the past decade vying for
power with a military-backed elite.
Thaksin was ousted in a 2006
coup and now lives in exile, while the
government run by his sister Yingluck
was toppled by the current junta in 2014.
The bowls — cast in the Shinawatra’s
signature red colour — were first
distributed at a temple fair last week in
the northern province of Chiang Mai.
The message printed on the side
reads: “The situation may be hot, but
brothers and sisters may gain coolness
from the water inside this bucket.”
On Saturday police and soldiers
raided homes and offices of three former
MPs from the Shinawatras’ Puea Thai
Party in the northern province of Nan to
seize the bowls.
“If we allow these bowls to be
distributed, it could benefit some
political parties or result in losses
to others,” said officer Prayoon
Chamnankong, who led one of the raids.
In a social media post on Sunday
Thaksin urged the junta to focus on
more important matters.
“I’ve done it (given out bowls) several
times in the past and it never posed a
problem to national security,” he wrote,
A supporter holds a small heart-shaped
placard with a picture of former Thai
premier Yingluck Shinawatra and her
brother, former prime minister Thaksin
Shinawatra. — AFP
suggesting the junta spend its time
tackling other issues such as an ongoing
drought and a simmering insurgency in
the far south.
The woman arrested last week
could be jailed for up to seven years if
convicted of sedition.
Human Rights Watch called the case
evidence that the junta’s “intolerance of
dissent has reached the point of absolute
absurdity”.
“When military courts try people for
sedition for posting photos with holiday
gifts from deposed leaders, it’s clear
that the end of repression is nowhere
in sight,” said Brad Adams, HRW’s Asia
director.
The junta has outlawed all political
activities since its power grab, pledging
to heal the kingdom’s bitter divides.
But critics say the generals are chiefly
bent on crippling the Shinawatra clan,
who are wildly popular with their rural
supporters in the north and northeast
but hated by the Bangkok-centric
military and royalist elite.
A similar attempt to quash the
siblings’ enduring popularity was
made earlier this year when authorities
banned a calendar featuring the pair in
an embrace. — AFP
The Ariake was equipped with an
anti-submarine helicopter, according
to an AFP photographer at the scene.
Seriously outgunned by its much
larger rival China, the Philippines has
turned to allies like the United States
and Japan to upgrade its armed forces
in recent years. In February, Japan
agreed to supply the Philippines with
military hardware, which may include
anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft
and radar technology.
Tensions in the South China Sea —
through which one-third of the world’s
oil passes — have mounted in recent
months since China transformed
contested reefs into artificial islands
capable of supporting military facilities.
Japan and China are locked in a
separate dispute over an uninhabited
island chain in the East Sea.
The Philippines has asked a United
Nations-backed tribunal to declare
China’s Sea claims as illegal and the
government expects a decision this
year.
— Reuters/AFP
IN BRIEF
3 dead after Thai train crashes into bus
BANGKOK: Three Thais were killed on Sunday when a train crashed into a doubledecker bus carrying holidaymakers as it was crossing the line, police said.
The bus was taking a group of workers from a nearby factory in Nakhon Pathom
province west of Bangkok to the southern island of Koh Samui for a holiday trip,
according to local police officer Thanachot Shinwongsa.
“Three have been reported dead, all Thais. The number of those injured is not yet
confirmed,” he said. “The scene was cleared and the train is back in service.”
Video footage of the accident in Nakhon Chaisri district showed the bus slowly
crossing the railway when a train ploughed into it at full speed, whipping the vehicle
around. There appeared to be no lights or other warning devices at the intersection,
a common failing at many unregulated railway-road junctions in Thailand.
Other cars were seen driving over the tracks alongside the bus just seconds before
the collision. Thailand has the world’s second most dangerous roads in terms of per
capita deaths. The World Health Organization estimates about 24,000 people die each
year in road traffic accidents. — AFP
Former partner gets court nod to sue LVS
HONG KONG: A Macau court has ruled that a former business partner of Las Vegas
Sands Corp, the world’s biggest casino company, can proceed with a lawsuit seeking
billions in damages for breaking the terms of their former partnership agreement.
In a filing made on March 16, a court in the Chinese southern territory denied
Las Vegas Sands a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which alleges that the company,
headed by US billionaire Sheldon Adelson, misused trade secrets obtained during
their venture.
The former partner, a company called Asian American, which is headed by
Taiwanese businessman Marshall Hao, is asking for just over 70 per cent of
Las Vegas Sands’ profits from 2004 to 2022. Even before taking into account future
profits, that would exceed $8 billion on reported profits to 2015, according to
calculations. — Reuters
SUBCONTINENT
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
omandailyobserver
7
MEDIA GAG
Maldives arrests
16 journalists
after stir against
crackdown
Pakistani vendors and resident gather in flood waters that rushed through a market area on the outskirts of Peshawar on Sunday. — AFP
Heavy rains take 36 lives in north west Pakistan
PESHAWAR: At least 36 people were
killed and 27 injured after heavy rain
across northwest Pakistan caused the
roofs of dozens of homes to collapse,
officials said on Sunday.
The deaths were reported in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province during a
downpour that began Saturday night, a
provincial disaster management agency
spokesman said. The number known
to have died had now risen to 36, the
spokesman said, adding reports were still
awaited from a few more remote areas.
The worst-hit area was Kohistan
where 12 deaths were reported, followed
by Shangla district where rains and
landslides killed 10 people.
Poorly-built homes, particularly
in rural areas, are most susceptible to
collapse during heavy spring rain. Heavy
rains have killed at least 121 people,
injured 124 and damaged 852 houses
since March 9 across Pakistan, according
to the National Disaster Management
Authority. It said landslides and collapsed
roofs caused most of the fatalities.
Severe weather hits the country every
year, with hundreds killed and huge
tracts of prime farmland destroyed in
recent years.
During the rainy season last summer,
torrential downpours and flooding killed
81 people and affected almost 300,000
people across the country.
— Agencies
8,000 Pakistanis in jails abroad
CALL FOR LEGAL AID: 2,800 of them in Saudi on charges of human trafficking, narcotics
Bangladesh
former PM to
seek bail in fire
bombing case
DHAKA: Bangladesh’s former Prime
Minister and main opposition leader
Khaleda Zia is expected to appear in
court and seek bail after she was issued
with an arrest warrant over a deadly
firebombing attack, her lawyer said on
Sunday.
A court in Dhaka issued arrest
warrants on Wednesday for Zia, 70,
and 27 leaders and activists of her
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in
connection with a petrol bomb attack
on a bus in January last year during a
deadly anti-government campaign.
“Most likely, Madam will appear
before the court on April 5 and will
seek bail,” Khaleda’s lawyer Sanaullah
Miah told reporters.
The BNP called for a countrywide
protest on Monday against the arrest
warrant, saying it was politically
motivated.
More than 120 people were killed
and hundreds injured early last year
in political violence during transport
blockades and strikes aimed at
toppling the government of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladeshi politics has been
mired for years in rivalry between
Hasina and Khaleda.
Prime Minister Hasina has
blamed the rising tide of violence
on the opposition BNP and its key
ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, many of whose
leaders are being prosecuted for
war crimes during the 1971 war of
independence.
— AFP
KARACHI: While around 8,000
Pakistanis are currently behind bars
overseas, with most of them in the jails
of Saudi Arabia, followed by the United
Arab Emirates, India, Malaysia and Iran,
there is a need to send lawyers to the
Pakistani embassies in these countries
to provide legal assistance to them.
This was highlighted at a dialogue on
‘Pakistani citizens imprisoned overseas’
organised by the Pakistan Fisherfolk
Forum (PFF) in collaboration with
Lawyers Congress (LC) at a hotel on
Sunday. “Being imprisoned in another
country is like being buried alive,” said
Lawyers Congress president Zulfiqar Ali
Jehangir at the event.
He said: “Ironically, India and
Pakistan has a judicial commission in
place but when the judges visit each
other’s countries to meet the prisoners
they don’t do much other than see how
they are doing.”
About the Pakistanis imprisoned
abroad, he said around 2,800 of them
were behind bars in Saudi Arabia on
charges of human trafficking, narcotics
or because of overstaying and visa issues.
Some 500 Pakistanis
are locked up in India
where it is most
difficult to follow
up cases due to political
situation. Iran, too, has a
limited scope of human
rights, and you can’t do
much there either
ZULFIQAR ALI JEHANGIR
President of Lawyers’ Congress
Next in line is the UAE where 1,900 of
our nationals were imprisoned, followed
by India, Malaysia, Iran, etc.
“There are some 500 Pakistanis
locked up in India where it is most
difficult to follow up cases due to our
political situation with that country.
Iran, too, has a limited scope of
human rights, and you can’t do much
there either,” he said.
“There is a need to send lawyers to
our embassies to help our people who
have had the misfortune of getting
arrested on foreign soil,” he added.
Supreme Bar Council Secretary Asad
Manzoor Butt lamented that Pakistani
embassies set up with our tax money
had been failing Pakistanis abroad on
many counts and those unfortunate
enough to be in jail in another country
were the worst hit.
“Actually, we have laws that can help
them, we just lack the will to help them,”
he said. Human rights activist and law
teacher Abira Ashfaq said that when she
was practising law in the United States
around the time of 9/11, she saw many
Pakistanis being locked up for little
things as a result of the Patriot Act for
registering and profiling of foreigners,
especially those from Muslim countries,
there. According to her, involving law
students could help such cases if the
embassies couldn’t help.
Executive director of Pakistan
Institute of Labour and Education
Research (Piler) Zulfiqar Shah said that
sadly whereas others who were in jails
abroad might have been involved in
some kind of a violation, the fishermen
arrested at seas were not criminals.
“They are just victims of the two
countries that don’t see eye to eye. We
need institutional mechanisms to help
them within the legal framework,” he
said. According to Pakistan Fisherfolk
Forum chairman Mohammad Ali Shah,
when Pakistan issues a fishing licence to
a deep sea trawler from China and if that
accidentally violates Indian waters, it is
informed about its offence and allowed
to turn back.
— Internews
PRAYER FOR PEACE
People light candles
during a vigil to pay
tribute to the victims
of a suicide bombing
in Lahore on Sunday.
A Taliban suicide
bomber targeting
Christians over
Easter killed more
than 70 people,
including many
children, in a park
crowded with
families in Lahore.
— AFP
MALÉ: Maldives police arrested 16
independent journalists on Sunday
while breaking up a demonstration
against an alleged crackdown on
freedom of speech in the politically
troubled nation, private media outlets
reported.
Police used pepper spray and
roughed up reporters who were staging
a sit-in protest outside President
Abdulla Yameen’s office in the capital
Male, according to several outlets
including the Maldives Independent
website.
The protest was aimed at forcing
the government to withdraw its draft
criminal defamation bill, which
protesters fear will be used against
private media as well as political
opponents of the government.
Demonstrators
were
also
attempting to pressure authorities
to investigate the whereabouts
of a reporter who disappeared in
mysterious circumstances, and were
denouncing a court decision to
temporarily close a newspaper over an
ownership dispute.
Ongoing political unrest in the
Maldives, a nation of 1,192 tiny coral
islands, has dented its image as a
peaceful paradise for well-heeled
honeymooners and upmarket tourists.
“The latest protest follows a series
of moves by the government and the
judiciary to restrict free speech and
media freedom in the archipelago,”
a journalist from the Haveeru
newspaper said, adding that six of his
colleagues had been detained.
The Maldives Independent said five
of its journalists were arrested, while
three taking part in the protest were
pepper-sprayed at close range and had
to be taken to hospital.
Private TV stations also said five of
their reporters had been arrested.
The state controls the main
radio and TV stations but not the
newspapers.
There was no immediate comment
from the Maldivian police.
Western leaders have said there
are worrying questions about
freedom of speech, rule of law and
the government’s commitment to
democracy in the nation.
Many opposition political leaders
have either been jailed or forced into
exile by Yameen’s government, which
faces mounting international criticism
over its treatment of dissidents.
Political unrest has escalated since
the toppling four years ago of the
country’s first democratically elected
leader, Mohamed Nasheed, in what he
claimed was a coup.
Nasheed, whose conviction and
jailing last year on terror-related
charges has been widely criticised,
is now in the UK for urgent medical
treatment after being given prison
leave.
— AFP
Lanka detains 14
foreigners over
$7.5m drug bust
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has detained
14 foreigners after seizing 110
kilograms of heroin worth $7.5 million
from an Iranian fishing trawler in the
country’s biggest drug bust for nearly
three years, police said on Sunday.
Ten Iranians, two Pakistanis, one
Indian and one Singaporean were
remanded in custody after appearing
in a magistrate’s court in Colombo on
Saturday, police spokesman said.
“They have had Sri Lankans
involved
in
this
smuggling,”
Gunasekera said. “We are hopeful
of arresting them (Sri Lankans) very
soon.” Acting on a tip-off, police and
the navy boarded the trawler off the
south coast on Wednesday.
They arrested the crew — the 10
Iranians and one of the Pakistanis —
after discovering the 110 kilogrammes
(242 pounds) of heroin that authorities
estimate was worth 1.1 billion rupees
($7.5 million).
— AFP
8
ANALYSIS
omandailyobserver
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
FAT YEARS AND
LEAN YEARS...
ALI AL MATANI
[email protected]
T
he call to the government to diversify sources of income and reduce dependence on
oil as a major source of income, a call stemming from love of this country, coincides
with the endeavours of all state bodies in this regard.
This is not new, but rather began with the blessed renaissance.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos directs towards diversification of sources of income in
his speeches and his meetings with officials and citizens.
The government works to ensure the success of these policies in all ways through
plans and operational mechanisms aimed at achieving economic diversification.
However, we must agree that this needs a long time and faces many challenges at
all levels, whether societal or natural. However, development in the Sultanate in the
recent stages is concentrated on completion of infrastructure for growth, cultural,
social and economic services and this is evident in every inch of this dear homeland
under the wise leadership of His Majesty the Sultan.
We must agree that policies to diversify sources of income cannot succeed unless
essential services, such as roads, ports and the other utilities are available for public
and private investments. These should be spread throughout the Sultanate to facilitate
domestic and foreign investments.
This also requires development of human resources which can steer economic
diversification in the country, and have scientific capabilities and expertise that
qualify them to contribute to development.
This is achievable only through continuous development of human resources and
facilities which need lot of effort and time. This was the focus of attention in the recent
stages of development, which is still on track to achieve the specified goals.
Nonetheless, we should know that
diversification policies could enrich national
Diversification
economy through self-sufficiency, energising
economic sectors, employment of nationals and will not succeed
galvanising the market, and thus contributing to unless essential
the gross national product.
services, such as
However, they do not fulfil the state
treasury requirements of cash flows to meet the roads, ports and
increased spending on the ongoing projects. The other utilities
government would like to have direct and huge
are available for
cash flow at the same time, which come from oil
public and private
revenue and non-oil revenues.
However, when the oil prices fell to $30 a investments.
barrel, while our needs require a price not less
than $85 to harmonise revenues and spending
without budget deficits, how can the government fill the deficit, and improve the
management of state resources with high efficiency? This prompted the government
to take fiscal measures, like removal of subsidies on some commercial services,
stopping bonuses and other special allocations and other measures to rationalise
unnecessary expenses.
Citizens should understand that this stage requires all us to tighten our belts and
exert concerted efforts to get out of the crisis.
We have important details in this regard in the 2016-2020 Five-Year Plan, which
includes more than 500 programmes and policies through which the government
seeks to diversify national economy and focus on sectors, such as manufacturing,
mining, transportation and tourism.
The plan also aims to reduce the contribution of oil sector to the GDP from 44
per cent to 22 per cent and that of natural gas from 3.6 per cent to 2.4 per cent. The
average annual investments will reach about 28 per cent of GDP.
The investments over the coming five years are expected to reach RO 41 billion
($106 billion) compared to RO 38 billion during the previous five-year plan.
However, we have to realise that the plan assumes that the average price of a barrel
of oil would be $45 in 2016, $55 in 2017 and 2018, and $60 in 2019 and 2020, provided
oil production in the Sultanate remains stable at 990,000 barrels per day on average.
Many people do not understand that the results of economic diversification do not
appear overnight, not only in the Sultanate but also in all the GCC countries which
are facing the same challenges.
A popularity test for Modi
N
For its part, the BJP, which is exuding confidence
ever since its historical elections in the 1970s — the peak
of the Assam students’ movement — has the northeastern following a favourable opinion poll earlier this week, hopes
to reap dividends from voters’ disenchantment in traditional
Indian state generated so much interest in its polls nationally.
Among the five states going in for assembly elections in Congress seats, including at least five districts where Muslims
April and May, the battle for Assam is turning out to be the are in sizeable numbers.
According to the 2011 census, nine out of Assam’s 27
mother of all elections for 2016, in more ways than one.
It’s a battle of prestige for both the Congress and the districts have substantial presence of Muslim voters — who
can tilt the balance either way. With AGP and Bodo People’s
Bhartiya Janata Party.
With the so-called ‘Narendra Modi phenomenon’ having Front (BPF) won over as allies, BJP thinks it has an advantage.
Dissension and desertion has hobbled the Congress.
failed the party in bringing any electoral success in 2015 in
There is also usual allegation of promotion of dynasty in
Bihar and in Delhi, Assam would be keenly watched to see
whether the prime minister’s image would sway the electorate. the Congress even at the block and assembly segment levels.
For the Congress, which has just lost power in two states In Aamguri, Ankita Dutta, daughter of state unit president
— Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — to political Anjan Dutta, has been fielded while in Sarupathar, ticket went
to Rosenila Tirkey, daughter of sitting MLA
manipulations, a win would be an immense
Aklius Tirkey.
booster. In a peculiar turn of events, both
Among the five states
Moreover, they say, BJP is trying to make
the Congress and the BJP face similar
going to polls, the
inroads into the hubs of smaller tribals
challenges. In no other state where elections
including Manipuris to wrest Lakhipur seat
are being held in this round are the two
battle for Assam is
in Cachar valley. Manipuris in Lakhipur,
major national parties vying for power in a
turning out to be
Sonai and Udharbond constituencies have
direct contest.
the mother of all
already given the visiting BJP team from
Both face internal dissension in the
Manipur a warm welcome.
run up to the polls and need to improve
elections for 2016,
The saffron party’s chief ministerial
their performance in the regional
writes NIRENDRA DEV candidate, Sarbanand Sonowal, belongs to
bastions of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)
the Kachari scheduled tribe.
and All India United Democratic Front
But there are factors which pose a
(AIUDF). Congress insiders say the
party’s revival in national politics would largely depend on challenge to the BJP-led saffron alliance.
“In many constituencies, BJP is still considered a party
its performance in Assam, because this will show whether
it has been able to retain the party’s traditional hold among of traders and will not be acceptable to a large section of the
Assamese electorate,” says Assam Pradesh Congress Chief
minorities and tribals.
“The Congress party’s success in Bihar was only symbolic Anjan Dutta.
The BJP is playing national security card to the hilt and has
as the entire credit for it was stolen by the caste combination
of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav. Assam would is the pledged efforts to seal the borders with Bangladesh to prevent
infiltration. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP riding on
real challenge,” a key Congress leader from Assam said.
The leader admitted that the party faced a strong anti- the Modi wave, won seven of the 14 seats in Assam and had
incumbency wave in several seats it had won in Assam in increased vote share to 36.6 per cent, Sonowal said.
“The alliance now expects that in the upcoming polls, the
2011 and the bigger challenge would be to make a dent in the
support base of regional outfits — the AGP and pro-minority BJP’s vote share in Assam will jump to 44-45 per cent,” said
BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya.
AIUDF of perfume-baron Badruddin Ajmal.
Uncertainty reigns a day before migrants are to be returned
L
ess than 24 hours before Greece is due to
begin returning migrants to Turkey, little
sign of preparation is evident on Lesbos,
the island through which hundreds of
thousands of people have poured into
Europe since last year.
A few signs Turkey was getting ready for
the migrants could be seen on Saturday. Two
room-size tents were set up on the pier of
the cramped port at Dikili, where migrants
being returned from Lesbos were to be
taken. Two portable toilets were installed.
The return of the migrants is a key part
of an agreement between the European
Union and Turkey aimed at ending the
uncontrollable influx into Europe of
migrants and refugees fleeing poverty and
war in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Under the agreement, those who cross
into Greece illegally from Turkey from
March 20 will be sent back to Turkey
once their asylum applications have been
processed. Turkey’s interior minister,
Efkan Ala, was quoted by the progovernment newspaper Aksam as saying
500 people were expected in Turkey from
Greece on Monday.
Afghans, Iraqis and Pakistanis would be
deported to their countries, he said.
More than 6,000 migrants and refugees
have been registered on Greek islands since
March 20.
While returns are due to begin on
Monday, where they will start from and
how many will be returned remains unclear.
“Planning is in progress,” said George
Kyritsis, a Greek government spokesman for
the migration crisis.
The Athens News Agency reported over
the weekend that the returns would begin on
Monday morning on two Turkish passenger
ships chartered by Frontex, the EU border
agency.
The ships will sail from Lesbsos across to
the Turkish coastal town of Dikili.
Some 250 people would be returned each
day through last Wednesday, the report said,
without citing sources.
Greek officials would neither confirm
nor deny the report.
A police spokesman on Lesbos said the
force was still awaiting instructions.
Arrivals to the islands remained steady
on Sunday, two weeks since the cut-off date,
with 514 migrants, including many Syrians
and Iraqis, crossing from Turkey through
Many were unaware they
would be sent back to
Turkey. Last Friday, Greece’s
parliament passed an asylum
amendment bill needed to
implement the agreement,
notes KAROLINA TAGARIS
Sunday morning. Of those, 364 arrived on
Lesbos, authorities said. In previous months,
arrivals averaged 1,000 to 2,000 a day.
Bad weather and gale-force winds have at
times hit the Aegean Sea in the two weeks
since the agreement. Arrivals fell, then rose
again, and have held around 300 to 500 a day
for the past few days.
Many were unaware they would be
sent back to Turkey. Last Friday, Greece’s
parliament passed an asylum amendment
bill needed to implement the agreement.
The legislation does not explicitly
designate Turkey as a “safe third
country” — a formula to make any mass
returns legally sound.
The United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) and human rights
groups have denounced the agreement as
lacking legal safeguards.
Amnesty International has called it “a
historic blow to human rights” and said
it would sent a delegation to Lesbos and
nearby Chios on Monday to monitor the
situation.
“We feel there’s still gaps in both countries
that need to be addressed,” said UNHCR’s
spokesman on Lesbos, Boris Cheshirkov,
referring to Greece and Turkey.
“We’re not opposed to returns as long
as people are not in need of international
protection, they have not applied for asylum
and human rights are adhered to.”
A Syrian holds a child carrying a placard as refugees who left the Chios registration
camp protest and camp out in the port of Chios.
— AFP
ANALYSIS
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
omandailyobserver
9
Property price in Britain continues to escalate
P
ANDY JALIL
Foreign Correspondent
[email protected]
rice of property in the UK has been a major issue
for years and now the gulf between supply and
demand has created new record highs over the
last twelve months in the price of both houses and
apartments for sale.
The month of March saw the average price
break through the £300,000 mark for the first
time as property rose from £299,287 in February
to £303,190. The asking price now has risen 50
per cent higher than ten years ago when it was
recorded at £200,980.
It shows the increasing affordability gap at
present affecting increasing numbers of househunters and particularly first-time buyers.
Housing market analyst and director of online
property company Rightmove said: “While the
start of 2016 has seen an encouraging but modest
uptick in the number of properties coming to
market, demand and momentum have combined
to push prices over £300,000.
“On average 30,000 properties have come to
market each week over the month of February, up
by 3 per cent on this time last year., but there are
insufficient numbers of newly-listed properties in
many parts of the country.
“Visits to Rightmove website were up by 14 per
cent in early March compared to the same period
in 2015, so it’s no surprise that those buyers who
can borrow more or can find some extra cash are lagging well behind house price growth.
However, stronger growth in average
keeping the price merry-go-round spinning, even
though increasing numbers of aspiring home- earnings would not have helped the situation
as it would simply have enabled buyers to bid
movers cannot afford the ride.”
Against the backdrop of the property price rise, prices up even higher, chasing the limited supply
the average salary growth of 22 per cent over the of suitable houses.”
He added: “In the recent Budget the chancellor
last ten years has failed to keep up with consumer
could
have
encouraged
price index inflation of 26.8
landlords and second home
per cent which highlights the
owners to sell their properties
much talked about issues of
improve supply if he had
raising a deposit and affording
The increased demand and
extended the reduction in
a mortgage.
and the shortfall in
Capital Gains Tax to include
The rebound from the
those transactions. With no
housing market downturn
housing supply have
other significant propertyhas been driven by underlying
caused insufficient
related new measures in the
demand, greater availability
availability of affordable Budget it at least allows time
mortgage lending, and the
for his raft of recent initiatives
economic recovery that the
properties in several
to bed in.”
UK has seen.
areas in Britain.
Last month’s national
The increased demand
average 1.3 per cent jump in
and the shortfall in housing
the price of property coming
supply have caused insufficient
to market is the secondavailability of affordable
highest at this time of year since the credit crunch
properties in several areas.
Shipside said: “More first-time buyers and eight years ago.
The break through the £300,000 mark is not
would-be trader-uppers are finding themselves illequipped to cope with current house prices given being pushed by the capital city, where prices are
the tighter lending criteria and average earnings at a standstill.
Upward price momentum and stretched
affordability are progressing north and west, with
six out of ten regions achieving record asking price
highs.
All four southern regions are joined by the
West Midlands and the North West, with the East
Midlands being only £373 shy of an all-time high.
Shipside commented: “Three out of the top four
risers last month were northern regions, with the
West Midlands, the North West, and Yorkshire and
the Humber being tucked in the slip-stream of the
South West and ahead of all the other southern
regions.
“London is the shadow of the former price-rise
power-house that has driven up national averages
over the last five years, and is now a myriad of
different local markets with some boroughs
dramatically up or down, but overall cancelling
each other out.”
Furthermore, there are no signs this spring
in the overall London market, with the price of
property coming to market at a stand-still at zero
per cent. The average price of a newly-marketed
home is now £644,045.
While this equates to a nil percentage increase,
it is £202 more than February, so in terms of
pounds it is a new record high as it slightly
beats the figure of £643,843 in February.
A MURDER BAFFLES
FRANK CHRISTIANSEN
A
Peru’s presidential candidate of the Frente Amplio leftist party, Veronika Mendoza, during a press conference in Lima.
pril 1, 1991, just before midnight Detlev Karsten Rohwedder, 58, is
sitting in his pyjamas at his desk in his villa in the western German city
of Dusseldorf. As he gets up, he is shot in the back and dies.
Rohwedder was the head of the Treuhand agency overseeing the
controversial privatisation of German state property in the country’s
former communist east when he was killed by leftwing terrorists of the
Red Army Faction, fighting what they saw as the “imperialist system.”
The shot was fired from a rifle at a distance of 63 metres
through a window on the first floor.
The murder weapon was never found, the killers remain
unknown to the authorities.
But among the evidence left at the scene were three cigarette butts,
which may yet hold the key to the killer’s identity.
One possible motive may have been the breakdown of the eastern
German economy after the country’s reunification.
Rohwedder was in charge of some 8,000 companies of the former
GDR, many of which had to be liquidated.
He was considered one of the most at risk people in Germany.
The police issued a red alert only minutes after the attack, but the
killers managed to escape.
It was the final assassination carried out by the RAF, who killed at
least 34 people over the years and injured around 230. The left-wing
terrorist group dissolved in 1998.
Among the suspects in Rohwedder’s murder case is Wolfgang
Harms, whose hair was found on a towel left at the crime scene. Only
ten years after the incident could his DNA be identified.
Harms himself was killed after GSG9 anti-terror police tried to
arrest him and his girlfriend Birgit Hogefeld at a railway station in the
eastern town of Bad Kleinen in 1993.
Police said Grams shot himself in the head as he fell backwards onto
railway tracks.
However, Hogefeld was released from prison in 2011 after 18 years.
They are said to have committed several crimes together.
At their last assassination, the RAF terrorists left behind a plastic
chair, binoculars, three bullet casings, a towel and a letter claiming the
killing. The cigarettes had been smoked by someone of blood type A,
according to a saliva analysis, meaning Harms cannot be the smoker.
Could Harm’s girlfriend Hogefeld be the blood-type-A smoker?
The public prosecution has declined to comment, as the investigation
is still ongoing.
— AFP
Half of candidates out of chaotic Peru election
H
alf of the candidates in peru’s presidential
election have abandoned or been banned
from next week’s polls and one of the
leading contenders may follow, plunging the
South American country into political
uncertainty.
An electoral law in force since January
has ruled several candidates out of the
running in the April 10 contest. One is even
running his campaign from a jail cell.
And further disruption could come
if accusations of vote-buying lead to the
elimination of banker and economist Pedro
Pablo Kuczynski, who is running second
in the polls to the conservative Keiko
Fujimori, daughter of peru’s jailed ex-leader
Alberto Fujimori.
Their faces are already printed on 20
million ballot papers, but they have each
been accused of handing out money or gifts
to voters during their campaigns.
The new law passed in January cracks
down on such activities.
The 40-year-old Fujimori was spared on
Friday when the National Electoral Board
ruled her candidacy could move forward.
A local electoral court is hearing
charges against 77-year-old Kuczynski. A
ruling is due soon.
Critics complain the new rule is being
applied arbitrarily.
“We are the only country in the region
with a law that allows for candidates to be
banned from an election,” said electoral
expert Fernando Tuesta.
He said that had not happened since
1950 when the country was under a
military dictatorship.
The president of the electoral board,
Francisco Tavara, insisted its judges
were impartial.
The law originally aimed to strengthen
the multi-party system by eliminating vote-
buying, said Tuesta.
But lawmakers toughened it so that now
a candidate can be excluded even at the last
minute before voting starts.
“It has brought us to a dead end,” Tuesta
said. Electoral observers say the law sows
uncertainty among voters.
“It allows for candidates to be excluded
at a very late stage in the electoral process.
That is a problem — it affects candidates
and citizens,” said Renate Weber,
head of the European Union’s observation
mission.
The election race started with 19
candidates. Five were banned or dropped
out before ballot cards were printed, and
four more have given up since.
Centrist economist Julio Guzman was
barred for irregularities in party primaries.
Another previous favorite, millionaire
former governor Cesar Acuna, was banned
for giving out money at a rally.
Of the remaining 10 contenders, leftist
former governor Gregorio Santos is
campaigning from jail where he is being
held over corruption charges.
And an investigation was launched on
Friday into former president Alan Garcia,
who is running fifth in the polls.
Organization of American States head
Luis Almagro wrote on Twitter last Friday
— after meeting with Guzman — that
An electoral law in force
since January has ruled
several candidates out of
the running in the April 10
contest. One is even running
his campaign from a jail cell,
reports MOISES AVILA
election officials should let the candidates
kicked off the ballot run to avoid a “semidemocratic” election.
The elections are a decisive moment
for peru, one of the fastest-growing
economies in Latin America. While several
of its major neighbors have slowed down,
its economy grew by more than three per
cent last year.
President Ollanta Humala, who took
office in 2011 and has seen his popularity
plummet, is barred from standing
for re-election, while his Nationalist
Party has pulled its presidential and
congressional candidates because of little
support.
By law, if a group does not receive
at least five per cent of the vote they will
no longer be formally recognised as
a political party.
The state ombudsman warned of
“tension and mistrust with regard to
the current electoral process,” blaming
“last-minute”
amendments
to
the
electoral law.
Analysts say it is the most turbulent
election since 2000, when Alberto Fujimori
was accused of cheating in his failed bid to
win a third term.
Alberto Fujimori, 78, who also holds
Japanese citizenship, is in jail for human
rights crimes. He was convicted in 2009
for several crimes including his role in
the killings of supposed guerrillas by a
death squad in the 1990s, and is serving a
25 year sentence.
Despite that history, his daughter is
polling as favourite to become Peru’s
next president.
A survey by pollster Datum published
on Friday showed that Fujimori had 36
per cent support in a first-round vote, and
would then win a run-off, set for June 5.
ESTABLISHED ON 15 NOVEMBER 1981
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Abdullah bin Salim al Shueili
HEAD OFFICE
ADVERTISING
Tel: 24649444, 24649450,
24649451, 24604563, 24699437
Fax: 24699643
AL OMANEYA ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS, P.O. Box 3303,
P.C. 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman
Tel: SWITCHBOARD: 24649444
DIRECT: 24649430/24649437/24649401
Fax: 24649434
SALALAH OFFICE
Tel: 23292633
Fax: 23293909
NIZWA OFFICE
Tel: 25411099
P.O. Box 955, P.C. 611
Website: omanobserver.om
DISTRIBUTION AGENT
Al OMANEYA for Distribution & Marketing, P.O. Box 974,
P.C. 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Tel: 24649351/24649360
Fax: 24649379
e-mail: [email protected]
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising
P.O. Box 974, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
[email protected]
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these pages are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the opinion of the Observer.
10
omandailyobserver
INDIA
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
PM hails all-women IT centre as ‘glory of Saudi Arabia’
FORCE OF CHANGE: Modi says that the atmosphere he witnessed appears to be a harbinger of a positive force for the world
GST will be rolled out
soon, says Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a photograph with employees during his visit to Indian company Tata in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. — Reuters
RIYADH: Prime Minister Narendra
I am meeting those
Modi on Sunday described an allprofessionals who
women IT centre set up by India’s Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS) here as the
are now the glory of
“glory of Saudi Arabia”.
Saudi Arabia. This
“I am meeting those professionals
who are now the glory of Saudi Arabia,” atmosphere I am witnessing
said Modi in the first engagement of the
here today has the potential
second and last day of his bilateral visit
to give a strong message to
to Saudi Arabia.
“This atmosphere I am witnessing the world
here today has the potential to give a
strong message to the world.”
NARENDRA MODI
Modi said that in today’s
President
competitive world “we have to unite
our strengths, both natural and human,
He said that when women power
for optimum progress”.
becomes part of the development
journey, it gathers fresh momentum.
The prime minister said that
the
atmosphere
he
witnessed
at the all-women’s centre on
Sunday appeared to be a harbinger of a
positive force for the world.
He invited the women IT
professionals to visit India, and said
their visit would make a huge impact
even in India. Modi emphasised the
role of technology in governance, and
said e-governance, for him, meant easy
governance, effective governance, and
economic governance.
He invited them to see the “Narendra
Modi App” and even share their views
on women empowerment in India.
“Vande Mataram. Matri Devo
Bhavah (Salutations to Mother. Mother
be the god)” wrote the prime minister
on the message board at the centre.
Earlier, Modi was welcomed with
cheers by the employees as he entered
the centre. Some of them took selfies
with the prime minister.
The centre, opened three years back,
initially had 80 people. The number has
now grown to over 1,000.
Eighty per cent of the employees are
local Saudi women. It is also the first
BPO to be opened by any company
in the world in Saudi Arabia and the
significance is more so because it is run
entirely by women. Over 60 per cent of
Priest kidnapped in Yemen ‘could be freed soon’
MUMBAI: An Indian priest abducted
by gunmen in Yemen last month
is safe and could be released soon,
a Catholic group said on Sunday,
quoting the Indian External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Father Tom Uzhunnalil was
captured from the southern Yemeni
city of Aden by gunmen who killed at
least 15 people at an old people’s home
in an attack that was condemned by
Pope Francis.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of India said a delegation met Indian Father Tom Uzhunnalil
Chandy has his way,
Congress agrees to five
disputed names
NEW DELHI: The Congress high
command on Sunday agreed to the
demands of Kerala Chief Minister
Oommen Chandy and gave its nod to
five candidates for the assembly polls
though their selection was opposed
tooth and nail by state party chief VM
Sudheeran.
The party high command agreed to
the five names after almost a week of
numerous rounds of talks at various
levels.
Since the time the state’s top
leadership reached the capital on
March 27, Sudheeran had been
strongly opposing the re-nomination of
Excise Minister K Babu, who is facing
allegations in the bar scam, Revenue
Minister Adoor Prakash, who is
embroiled in a row over land transfer,
Culture Minister KC Joseph, who has
been a legislator since 1982, Benny
Behanan for allegedly having links with
solar panel scam accused, and five-time
legislator and former minister Dominic
Presentation.
Even after two rounds of talks with
party president Sonia Gandhi, Chandy
stood his ground and said if any of the
five is dropped, he will not contest the
polls.
Sources said former defence minister
AK Antony, who is also a former
chief minister of Kerala, stepped in on
Sunday morning and persuaded both
party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi
and Sonia Gandhi to allow Chandy the
freedom.
Sudheeran, before returning to
Kerala on Sunday, told reporters in
Delhi that he has assured the party high
command that he will not put pressure
on it for the selection of candidates.
“I have assured the high command,
I will not stand in the way of whatever
decisions they take. It was not with any
personal grudge, that I opposed a few
names,” said Sudheeran.
Chandy also left for Kerala on
Sunday.
After arriving in Kochi, he visited
his home turf Puthupally. Asked by
the media if he was happy that he was
able to “pressurise” the party high
command, he said: “All what you are
hearing in the news is baseless.”
“No one can ever get the better of
our high command. All what you hear
is not true. We all said what we had to
say and the final decision would be that
of the high command,” Chandy told
reporters in Puthupally.
Polls for the Kerala assembly will be
held on May 16. — IANS
External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj who said the government was
working to secure the priest’s safe
return.
“She has assured us Father Tom
is safe and negotiations are on for
his release which could happen very
soon,” said Father Joseph Chinnaiyan,
Deputy Secretary of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of India.
Media reports last week said the
priest was killed by IS militants on
Good Friday, although no one has
claimed responsibility for last month’s
attack in which gunmen killed four
Indian nuns, two Yemeni female staff
members, eight elderly residents and
a guard.
Father Chinnaiyan said the reports
were inaccurate.
Aden has been racked by
lawlessness since Hadi supporters,
backed by Gulf Arab military forces,
drove fighters of the Houthi group
from the city in July last year.
Foreign aid groups have pulled
most of their foreign staff from Yemen
due to security concerns. — Reuters
RIYADH: Assuring Saudi and Indian
business leaders that his government
is working to set up a predictable longterm taxation regime, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Sunday said the
long-awaited Goods and Services Tax
(GST) would soon be implemented in
India.
“Don’t worry... GST will happen,
it will be a reality soon,” Modi said,
addressing the gathering at Saudi
Arabia’s Chamber of Commerce here.
“Retrospective tax is a matter of the
past.
My government will continue
to work towards establishment of
a predictable long-term taxation
regime,” he added in a reference to
recent disputes involving Indian tax
authorities and multinationals like
Cairn and Vodafone.
The Goods and Services Tax
(GST) Bill, to implement a pan-India
tax for a complete overhaul of the
extant indirect tax regime, has been
approved by the Lok Sabha.
It is currently stalled in the Rajya
Sabha, where the ruling Bharatiya
Janata Party-led National Democratic
graduates in Saudi Arabia are women.
Saudi Arabia is the third and last
leg of Modi’s five-day foreign tour
which also took him to Brussels and
Washington, DC.
This is the first prime ministerial
visit from India to the oil-rich Saudi
Alliance (NDA) doesn’t enjoy a
majority.
The government hopes the next
biennial elections in the Rajya Sabha
will give it enough seats in the upper
house to pass the GST Bill.
Modi, who is undertaking a threenation tour, landed in Saudi Arabia on
Saturday on the last leg.
He urged the audience to move
beyond the traditional bilateral
trading relationship.
“Let us move beyond merely the
export-import relationship.
Joint investment, technology
transfers are areas that we should
explore,” Modi said.
Listing petroleum, renewable
energy, infrastructure, defence and
agriculture, as areas ripe for expanding
cooperation, the prime minister said:
“India and Saudi Arabia should look
at working together for building a
dynamic global management sector
for the cyber world.”
“India and Saudi Arabia are old
friends, but we are ready to take bold
new steps into a golden future,” he
added. — IANS
kingdom since the visit of Manmohan
Singh in 2010.
The prime minister will leave for
India on Sunday evening after talks with
Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz al
Saud and signing of agreements between
the two sides. — IANS
Four Indians arrested in Syria freed
NEW DELHI: India has secured the
release of four Indians arrested in
Syria for entering the war-torn nation
without valid travel documents.
External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj welcomed the freed Indians
home and expressed gratitude to the
Syrian government for their release.
“I had requested Deputy Prime
Minister (Walid Al Maoulem) of Syria
for their release during his visit to India
in January this year. Thank you, Syria,”
Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
“Welcome home Arun Kumar
Saini, Sarvjit Singh, Kuldeep Singh and
Joga Singh,” the minister wrote on the
micro blogging site, adding that she
appreciated “the officers who facilitated
their journey from Syria to India”.The
Syrian government arrested the four
Indians on the suspicion of joining the
Islamic State terror group after crossing
“over from Jordan to Syria”.However,
the Indian government in February
denied that the arrested Indians wanted
to join the Islamist group that rules
large parts in Syria and Iraq.
The government in reply to a Rajya
Sabha question said the four travelled
to Syria without a valid visa and were
arrested as “illegal immigrants”. They
had gone to Jordan and entered Syria on
their way to Lebanon for employment,
the government said.
— IANS
Over 40 lakhs voters are eligible to decide the fate of 133 candidates across 4,203 polling stations
Bengal’s first phase poll today as
TMC faces Left-Congress combine
KOLKATA: Under the shadow of the
purported Narada sting operation and
the city flyover tragedy, the month-long
West Bengal assembly polls kick-start
on Monday with the Mamata Banerjeeled ruling Trinamool Congress facing
a challenge from a newly-stitched
Congress-Left Front alliance.
The staggered six-phase elections for
294 assembly seats are spread over seven
polling dates and will continue till May
5.
The other six polling dates are April
11, 17, 21, 25, 30 and May 5.
On Monday, amid the roar of
choppers, drones and presence of
central paramilitary troopers and state
policemen, 18 constituencies in western
districts — nine in Purulia, three in
Bankura and six in West Midnapore —
would go to the polls.
In 13 Maoist-affected constituencies,
polling will end two hours early at 4 pm
Over 40 lakh voters are eligible to
decide the fate of 133 candidates across
4,203 polling stations comprising 4,945
booths — of which 1,962 are designated
as critical.
Five years back, Banerjee’s Trinamool
captured power in alliance with the
Opinion polls predict
yet another victory for
Trinamool, but the forecast
of a narrow margin in
the vote share between
the ruling party and the
Congress-LF alliance has
prompted analysts to dub
the assembly battle as the
toughest challenge so far for
Banerjee’s party.
Mamata Banerjee addresses a crowd in Jhargram.
Congress and the Socialist Unity Centre
of India (Communist) in a historic
election that toppled the 34-year-old
Left Front rule — the world’s longest
serving communist government in a
multi-party democratic set-up.
The Trinamool had then won 184
seats, the Left Front 62, and the Congress
42. The Bharatiya Jananata Party (BJP)
drew a blank, while other parties and
Independents grabbed six seats, as the
results paved the way for the state to
have its first woman chief minister in
Banerjee.
Since then, the Trinamool has fallen
out with the Congress and its other
erstwhile partners, but still managed to
decimate the opposition in subsequent
elections to the Lok Sabha, panchayats
and municipal bodies, though the
opposition complained of large-scale
electoral malpractices and violence.
The charges have, however, prompted
the Election Commission to tighten its
grip on the conduct of the poll.
It has deployed around 75,000
central police force personnel, besides
announcing a slew of measures to
ensure free and fair elections.
Opinion polls predict yet another
victory for Trinamool, but the forecast
of a narrow margin in the vote share
between the ruling party and the
Congress-LF alliance has prompted
analysts to dub the assembly battle as the
toughest challenge so far for Banerjee’s
party. — IANS
INDIA
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
Police say NIA officer
killing pre-planned
NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh police are
working “on all angles” to find out the
motive behind the killing of NIA officer
Tanzil Ahmad, who was shot 21 times
in an attack by unidentified assailants
post-midnight on Saturday.
The shooting in Uttar Pradesh’s
Bijnor district took place when the
officer was returning from a wedding
with his wife and children.
His wife Farzana got four bullet
injuries, but his children were
unharmed.
Ahmad, 48, known for undercover
operations, joined the National
Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2010.
“The assailants came on motorbikes
and opened fire from a close range on
Ahmad near Sahaspur town,” NIA
spokesperson Sanjeev Kumar told
reporters here earlier Sunday.
“He was inspector with National
Investigation Agency but back with
BSF he was assistant commandant.”
Tanzil Ahmad’s wife is undergoing
treatment at Fortis Hospital in Noida.
“Nothing can be ruled out now until
and unless we get absolute concrete
evidence. We have to work on all angles.
We have to see it from all the sides and
work out the case,” Daljit Chowdhary,
additional director general of police,
Uttar Pradesh, said on Sunday.
He said borders have been sealed,
nearby areas are being searched and
senior officials from Anti-Terrorist
Squad (ATS) have been put on the job
to track the assailants and probe the
attack.
“I am very hopeful that we will work
out the case and arrest the accused.
It looks like a planned attack. It was
definitely not a robbery,” Chowdhary
said.
The NIA has also termed Ahmad’s
killing as a “planned attack”.
“A planned attack took place on him
when he was fired upon and killed,”
NIA spokesman Kumar said.
“He
(Tanzil)
was
assistant
commandant with BSF and currently
on deputation with NIA. He was with
us for last six and half years.”
The premier investigating agency is
trying to find out how he was tracked
by his assailants.
“The patient has been brought in
a critical condition. Our doctors are
providing the best medical treatment to
treat the patient. As a matter of patient
confidentiality we cannot comment
anything further,” a statement from the
Fortis Noida said.
Ahmad was pronounced dead on
being taken to a medical facility in
Moradabad.
His body is being brought to the
capital, Delhi.
Before joining the NIA, Ahmad
was part of the in-house team of BSF,
providing vigilance cover. He also held
tenures as instructor at BSF Academy
at Tekanpur, near Gwalior, and training
centre at Hazaribagh.
— IANS
Kejriwal: Excise duty will
bring back Inspector Raj
BURDENED: The chief minister says the tax will give rise to corruption
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal (pictured) on Sunday
said imposition of excise duty on
jewellery items will bring back Inspector
Raj in the country.
“The excise duty is sought to be
introduced without consulting the
jewellers. I have written a letter to the
prime minister that the government is
not going to benefit by this tax. Rather,
it will give rise to corruption. The
excise inspectors will ask for bribes
from the jewellers,” Kejriwal said while
addressing the protesting jewellers at
Jantar Mantar here.
He said he met President Pranab
Mukherjee to discuss the issue.
“When the United Progressive
Alliance government was in power,
Pranab Mukherjee as the then union
finance minister had also introduced
the same tax in 2012.
However, the then Congress-led
government had to roll back the tax
after resistance from the jewellers.
The president also agreed with the
view that it will bring the Inspector Raj
back in the country,” Kejriwal said.
The chief minister said Modi himself
had opposed the excise duty on jewellery
when he was Gujarat chief minister.
“In 2012, Modi also wrote that the
excise duty will bring Inspector Raj.
IAF to participate in US air combat training exercise
JAMNAGAR: The Indian Air Force is all set to participate in an
advanced aerial combat training exercise ‘Red Flag-Alaska’ with
eight of its frontline fighter jets taking off from the Jamnagar
airbase on Sunday all the way to Alaska.
Four Sukhoi 30-MKI fighters and four Jaguars, along with
two military transport C17 Globemasters, and two IL 78 mid-air
refuellers will represent India at the exercise.
The aircraft fleet is accompanied by around 200-member
IAF team, flying to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska in the US, via
Bahrain, Egypt, France, Portugal and Canada, a senior IAF official
said.
India last participated in a similar exercise in 2008, when the
omandailyobserver
IAF joined Red Flag exercise at the Nellis airbase in Nevada, US.
The Indian participation at that time cost around Rs 100 crore.
Red Flag-Alaska is a 10-day air combat training exercise of the US
Air Force which is held up to four times a year.
It is held at the Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force Bases in
Alaska. The first exercise of this year is set to be held from April
28 to May 13 as per the website of the Eielson Air Force Base.
Originally named ‘Cope Thunder’, the exercise was moved
to the Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska from the Clark Air Base,
the Philippines, in 1992 after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo
on June 15, 1991, forced the curtailment of operations. ‘Cope
Thunder’ was re-designated Red Flag-Alaska in 2006. — IANS
In 2012, Modi wrote
that the excise duty
will bring Inspector
Raj. But now, as
prime minister, Modi has
imposed the same tax he
opposed as chief minister.
What has changed now?
But now, as prime minister, Modi has
imposed the same tax he opposed as the
chief minister. What has changed now?”
Kejriwal said if the central
government was so keen on increasing
its revenue it should recover the money
lent to big corporate houses.
“The banks have failed to recover
Rs 7.3 lakh crore lent to 10 big
corporate houses in the country. Those
businessmen were not even paying any
interest.
The government will not have
ARVIND KEJRIWAL to impose unnecessary taxes on the
Delhi Chief Minister
common man if it manages to recover
the money,” he said.
— IANS
11
Odisha traders
suspend strike
over VAT issue
BHUBANESWAR: The Federation
of All Odisha Traders’ Associations
(FAOTA) on Sunday announced
suspension of its strike on the VAT
issue and decided to resume buying of
essential food items from other states.
The traders went on strike on April
1 to protest against the five percent
Value Addition Tax (VAT) levied
by the Odisha government on the
purchase of pulses, wheat and wheat
products from other states.
The traders took the decision on
the strike’s suspension after a meeting
with the government on Saturday.
“We have got a written government
assurance that it will consider our
demands. So, we suspended our strike
till May 26 when the assembly budget
session will end,” said FAOTA general
secretary Sudhakar Panda.
He said the traders will consider
their future course of action if the
government failed to act on their
demands by then.
Finance Minister Pradeep Amat
said the Biju Janata Dal government
will discuss the demands with FAOTA
after the assembly session ended.
The FAOTA said 25 states had
exempted pulses, wheat and wheat
products from VAT.
The state consumes about 67,000
tonnes of pulses and 12,000 tonnes
of wheat products every month, with
a large chunk bought from other
states.— IANS
After ‘desi’, Bihar bans sale of toddy
PATNA: After thousands of ‘desi’
liquor shops were closed in rural Bihar
following a partial liquor ban effective
on Friday, the Nitish Kumar government
has banned sale of ‘toddy’ also.
For millions of people in rural Bihar
— where toddy, locally called ‘tadi’, is
considered the poor man’s beer — it
came as a bad news.
For ages, toddy has been a favourite
of villagers as a natural drink from the
palm tree. With reports pouring in from
across the state that a large number of
people, including alcoholics, thronged
toddy shops after the government
banned ‘desi’ or, country-made liquor in
rural areas, a fresh directive of banning
sale of toddy is likely to trigger protest.
According to the Nitish Kumar
government’s decision, anyone found
selling toddy would be arrested.
But the government has no objection
if anyone is skilled enough to tap toddy
on his own for self-consumption.
Meanwhile, former chief minister
and president of Hindustani Awam
Morcha Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday
opposed the latest ban, saying it was
wrong to ban sale of toddy in Bihar after
banning countrymade liquor.
“Toddy is also consumed as medicine
and even I have consumed toddy for 15
days. It is not proper to ban its sale. Most
of the people in toddy business are from
the Dalit community and poor people.
The state government should reconsider
the ban on its sale,” Manjhi said.
He said Rashtriya Janata Dal chief
and former chief minister Lalu Prasad
had declared toddy tax-free in Bihar
to help people engaged in its business,
particularly the ‘Pasi’ caste.
Unlike urban localities, the liquor
ban has come into effect in entire rural
Bihar as shops of ‘desi’, or country-made
liquor, in 45,000 villages closed down
late on Thursday night.
The Bihar government has banned
country-made and spiced liquor, which
had high consumption in rural areas.
Indian-made foreign liquor, however,
will be available for sale at governmentrun shops in urban areas.
The Bihar assembly last week
unanimously passed the Bihar Excise
(amendment) Bill, 2016, banning
country-made liquor and vends and
providing for death penalty for those
found violating the ban on manufacture
of and trade in illicit liquor in the event
of a hooch tragedy.
In a first for Bihar, all members of
the Bihar assembly and the legislative
council also unanimously adopted a
resolution that they would not consume
liquor.
The state cabinet on late Thursday
evening approved the new amendment
and the state government formally
issued a notification in this regard, an
official in the Chief Minister’s Office
here said.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who
announced the alcohol ban from April
The Bihar assembly
last week unanimously
passed the Bihar Excise
(amendment) Bill, 2016,
banning country-made
liquor and vends and
providing for death penalty
for those found violating the
ban on manufacture of and
trade in illicit liquor in the
event of a hooch tragedy.
1 during campaigning for the 2015
assembly elections, was upbeat after the
Bihar Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2016,
was passed. He termed it a historic day.
Kumar has repeatedly said his
government would do everything to
discourage the drinking habit as it
severely hits the poorest of the poor.
The poor consume liquor, leading
to family problems including domestic
violence, affecting their children’s
education. “Women are suffering more
than anyone else due to increasing
liquor consumption,” he said.
According to officials, the ban
decision is expected to impact the state
government’s financial health.
Bihar got an annual revenue of
around Rs4,000 crore from liquor sales
in 2015-16. — IANS
Three senior BJP ministers who held key portfolios are likely to be dropped and new ones brought in to replace them
PDP, BJP may axe important faces in new government
JAMMU: As officials at the Jammu
and Kashmir Raj Bhavan and the civil
secretariat skipped their Sunday holiday
to address protocol and legal issues
related to Monday’s swearing-in of an
elected government, intense speculation
did the rounds on who will get a berth or
will be axed in new council of ministers.
Governor NN Vohra formally
invited Mehbooba Mufti, the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) chief, on
Saturday evening to be sworn-in as
the new chief minister of the state on
Monday.
Initial reports about the composition
of the council of ministers said both
the PDP and the ally Bharatiya Janata
party would field the same faces for the
25-member council of ministers which
was headed by the then chief minister
Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
Political circles were abuzz with
speculations on Sunday that Mehbooba,
who arrived in Jammu, has decided to
drop some of the senior leaders who held
important portfolios during her father’s
10-month chief ministerial tenure.
Sayeed passed away in New Delhi on
January 7 following multi-organ failure.
“At least four senior PDP leaders are
on the ‘hit list’ of Mehboobaji. They held
important assignments in the council of
ministers of her father,” a source said.
“None among the previous lot of
PDP ministers has so far received a
formal word from her to be in readiness
for tomorrow’s oath taking ceremony as
a minister,” the source added on Sunday. People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti (R) is accompanied by her
“But she is holding a meeting here at mother Gulshan Ara Nazir (L) and a security official as she walks from an aircraft
4.30 pm today and things will become upon her arrival in Jammu on Sunday. — AFP
Initial reports about the
composition of the council of
ministers said both the PDP
and the ally Bharatiya Janata
party would field the same
faces for the 25-member
council of ministers
which was headed by the
then chief minister Mufti
Muhammad Sayeed.
clear after that,” the source said.
Similarly, three senior BJP ministers
who held important portfolios in the last
council of ministers are also likely to be
dropped and new faces brought in to
replace them.
“Out of these three likely to be axed,
at least two are definitely being dropped,”
revealed a BJP source.
The new council of ministers headed
by Mehbooba will be sworn-in at the
state’s Raj Bhavan in Jammu city at
11.30 am on Monday. The oath taking
ceremony is to be a low-key affair.
Previously, it was said union Home
Minister Rajnath Singh would attend
the function, but now union Law and
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah
Naidu will attend the function.
Union minister of state (PMO)
Jitendra Singh is also scheduled to
be present during the swearing-in
ceremony. He represents the KathuaUdhampur constituency from the state
in the Lok Sabha.— IANS
12
JAZZ GREAT ‘GATO’ BARBIERI DIES
M O N DAY l A P R I L 4 l 2 0 1 6
WORLD
MACRI REPEATS CLAIM TO FALKLAND ISLANDS
Argentine-born jazz saxophonist Leandro
“Gato” Barbieri, who won a Grammy for
music in the 1972 film Last Tango in Paris,
died on Saturday, New York’s Blue Note
Jazz Club said. He was 83. “Today we’ve
lost an icon, pioneer and dear friend,”
the legendary club said in a statement
posted on Twitter. “Gato’s significant
contributions to music and the arts were
an inspiration to us all.”
President Mauricio Macri repeated
Argentina’s claim to the Falklands, on the
anniversary of the 1982 invasion of the
South Atlantic islands by the country’s
then-ruling military junta, which set off
a war with Britain. “These islands, with
which so many memories are bound,
belong to us,” he wrote on Saturday on
Facebook. “We will return there, using the
power of dialogue, truth and justice.”
SPORADIC SHOOTING: Armenian forces insisted clashes were continuing
Azerbaijan announces unilateral
Nagorny Karabakh ‘ceasefire’
Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump delivers a speech at a
campaign town hall event in Wausau, Wisconsin. — Reuters
Trump bashes US-Saudi
relations, slams Nato allies
MILWAUKEE: Republican presidential
front-runner Donald Trump has
questioned the United States’ protective
relationship with Saudi Arabia and
again accused US allies of not pulling
their weight in the Nato military alliance
despite mounting bipartisan pressure on
Trump to soften his tone.
The billionaire businessman told
a campaign rally in Racine, Wisconsin
that allies in the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation “are not paying their fair
share” and called the 28-nation alliance
“obsolete.”
“Either they pay up, including for past
deficiencies, or they have to get out. And
if it breaks up Nato, it breaks up Nato,”
Trump said.
Trump has frequently criticised
Nato in recent weeks as the race for the
Republican nomination for the November
8 election has heated up.
At a campaign stop in Wausau,
Wisconsin on Saturday, Trump expressed
concerns over the United States’
relationship with Saudi Arabia, which
Trump accused of not pitching in fair pay
for US defence.
“We take care of Saudi Arabia. Now
nobody’s going to mess with Saudi Arabia
because we’re watching them,” he said.
“They’re not paying us a fair price. We’re
losing our shirt,” he said.
On Friday, Obama cast doubt on
Trump’s fitness for office after the former
reality TV star refused to rule out using
nuclear weapons in Europe and said
Japan and South Korea might need
nuclear arms.
“The person who made the
statements doesn’t know much about
foreign policy or nuclear policy or the
Korean peninsula, or the world generally,”
Obama said, warning that the world is
closely watching the US election rhetoric.
“I’ve said before that people pay
attention to American elections. What we
do is really important to the rest of the
world,” Obama said.
Trump’s comments on Nato have
also sent ripples through the Republican
Party, which has traditionally promoted a
muscular foreign policy.
Tuesday could be a turning point in
the Republican nomination race, when
Wisconsin hosts its nominating contest.
Trump, 69, trails his leading rival, US
Senator Ted Cruz, 45, of Texas in the
Upper Midwestern state.
— Reuters
TERTER, Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan on
Sunday announced a unilateral ceasefire
after the worst outbreak of violence
in decades over the disputed Nagorny
Karabakh region, but Armenian forces
insisted clashes were continuing despite
international pressure to stop the
fighting.
The defence ministry in Baku said
“Azerbaijan, showing good will, has
decided to unilaterally cease hostilities”,
but threatened to strike back if its forces
came under attack.
Baku also pledged to “reinforce”
several strategic positions it claimed
to have “liberated” inside the
Armenian-controlled region, which is
internationally recognised as part of
Azerbaijan.
The Armenian-backed separatist
defence ministry in Karabakh — which
claims independence but is heavily
backed by Yerevan — said they were
willing to discuss a ceasefire but only if it
saw them regain their territory.
A spokesman for the Karabakh
presidency, David Babayan, said that
fighting had not halted along the
frontline.
“Fierce fighting is under way on
southeastern and northeastern sectors
of the Karabakh frontline,” he said.
Armenian
defence
ministry
spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan also
dismissed the Azeri ceasefire claim as a
“trap that does not mean a truce”.
A photographer in the Azerbaijani
Canberra has been under pressure from rights groups to release kids
Armenian artillery units are seen in the town of Martakert in Armenian-seized Azerbaijani region of Nagorny Karabakh on
Sunday. — AFP
town of Terter — some 10 kilometres
from the frontline — reported hearing
sporadic shooting on Sunday afternoon.
Men carried a coffin draped in
Azerbaijan’s flag through the streets as
the funeral of an Azeri soldier killed
in the clashes was held. At least three
houses were destroyed by shelling
and women and children had been
evacuated.
Fierce clashes left at least 18
Armenian and 12 Azerbaijani soldiers
Two reported dead as US train derails
Parliament to
debate Zuma
impeachment
motion tomorrow
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told
reporters in Brisbane.
“It’s been a significant achievement.”
Deputy Labour opposition leader
Tanya Plibersek welcomed the news
but said there had “been a massive
expansion of time that people stay in
detention in Australia”.
The average time for people being
held in mainland detention facilities is
at its highest level — 464 days — since
records were kept from January 2012,
according to immigration department
figures.
Meanwhile, another 50 children
were still being held at the Nauru camp,
according to the latest figures from
Australia’s immigration department,
although the Pacific government said
in October the asylum-seekers there are
free to roam around the tiny nation.
The announcement came as refugee
advocates said the 267 asylum-seekers
due to be deported to Nauru following
a court ruling in February were still in
Australia in what they claim as a success
for their #LetThemStay campaign.
The asylum-seekers, including
children, had been brought to Australia
from Nauru for medical treatment.
There have been numerous protests
against the deportations under
the #LetThemStay campaign, with
Australian church leaders also vowing
to defy the government’s immigration
rules, offering sanctuary to the asylumseekers.
Greens Senator Sarah HansonYoung called on Dutton to take a step
further and rule out sending children
back to Nauru.
“Peter Dutton should allow these
families and children to apply for visas
in Australia, so that they can get on with
rebuilding their lives in safety,” HansonYoung said in a statement on Sunday.
Turnbull said the government’s
policy of not allowing asylum-seekers
who arrived by boat to settle in Australia
had not changed.
“That is why as part of our exercise,
we are working with other countries in
the region to resettle people who are on
Nauru or indeed (PNG’s) Manus so that
they settle somewhere else,” the prime
minister said.
— AFP
Azerbaijan said one of its helicopters
was shot down as its forces took control
of several strategic heights and a village
in Armenian-controlled territory.
Karabakh forces on Sunday claimed
they took back the strategic Lala-Tepe
height in Karabakh which was captured
by Azeri troops on Saturday.
Baku denied the report, saying that
the height remained under its control
and that rebel troops sustained “serious
manpower losses”.
— AFP
AROUND THE GLOBE
‘All asylum children freed
from mainland detention’
SYDNEY: The last asylum-seeker
children in Australian mainland
detention have been freed, the
government said on Sunday, although
dozens of others are still being held on
the remote Pacific island of Nauru.
Under Canberra’s harsh immigration
policy, asylum-seekers who try to reach
Australia by boat are turned back or
sent to Pacific camps in Nauru and
Papua New Guinea where they are
held indefinitely while their refugee
applications are processed.
They are blocked from resettling in
Australia even if found to be refugees.
Canberra has been under pressure
from rights groups to release children
from the centres, with doctors and
whistleblowers saying the detention of
asylum-seekers has left some struggling
with mental health problems.
“We’ve succeeded since the change
of government (in September 2013)
not only in stopping the boats but we’ve
also succeeded... that there are now no
children who’d arrived unlawfully by
boat in detention,” Australian Prime
Minister Malcolm Turnbull told Sky
News.
“It’s always been a goal of the
immigration minister... to get kids out
of detention.”
The
announcement
means
the children have been moved to
community detention, where asylumseekers waiting for their refugee
applications to be processed live within
the community. They are usually
allowed to move around freely.
Detention levels for asylum-seeker
children in immigration centres have
fallen from a record number of almost
2,000 in June 2013.
“In 2007... there were no children in
detention. So it’s almost a decade since
we’ve had no children in detention,”
dead on Saturday after the two sides
accused each other of attacking with
heavy weaponry across the volatile
frontline. The Karabakh authorities said
one boy was killed in the fighting, while
Azerbaijan said two civilians died and
ten were wounded.
Armenia’s President Serzh Sarkisian
called the clashes the “largest-scale
hostilities” since a 1994 truce ended a
war in which Armenian-backed fighters
seized the territory from Azerbaijan.
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s
parliament will debate on Tuesday a
motion to impeach President Jacob
Zuma, National Assembly Speaker
Baleka Mbete said, after a top court
ruled the president had violated the
constitution.
South Africa’s constitutional court
ruled on Thursday that Zuma had
failed to uphold the constitution
by ignoring orders from the public
protector that he repay some of the
$16 million in state funds spent to
renovate his private residence at
Nkandla.
Since Thursday’s ruling,
opposition party leaders, ordinary
South Africans and even an antiapartheid activist jailed alongside
Nelson Mandela have called on Zuma
to step down.
Mmusi Maimane, leader of the
opposition party Democratic Alliance
(DA), tabled the motion to have
Zuma impeached, and Mbete told
reporters on Sunday “the debate on
that motion has been scheduled for
Tuesday afternoon.”
The Africa National Congress
majority in parliament will almost
certainly give Zuma political cover
against the attempt to impeach
him. But the judicial rebuke may
embolden anti-Zuma factions
within the ruling party to mount a
challenge.
The unanimous ruling by the
11-judge constitutional court also
criticised parliament for passing a
resolution that purported to nullify
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s
findings on the state spending on
Zuma’s private residence. — Reuters
WASHINGTON: Train service along a stretch of the US northeast ground to a halt early
on Sunday following a derailment near Philadelphia that local news reports said left
two people dead.
US railway service Amtrak said in a statement that the train, the Palmetto, was en
route from New York to Savannah, Georgia when it struck a backhoe on the tracks
south of Philadelphia.
“Northeast Corridor service between New York and Philadelphia is suspended,” read
an Amtrak statement, which said some passengers were injured in the mishap.
Philadelphia ABC News affiliate WPVI said it had confirmed two deaths in the crash.
There was no immediate report from Amtrak about fatalities.
The accident caused the lead engine to derail on the train which was carrying 341
passengers and seven crew members.
“Initial reports are that some passengers are being treated for injuries,” Amtrak said.
“Local emergency responders are on the scene and an investigation is ongoing,” it
added. — AFP
A little girl runs with her dragon kite on the Mall near the Washington
Monument in Washington, DC during the annual Blossom Kite Festival
on Saturday. — AFP
Powerful quake hits off Vanuatu
SYDNEY: A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Vanuatu on Sunday, but a
tsunami threat passed with no immediate reports of major damage along the coasts of
the Pacific archipelago.
The quake, initially reported as 7.2 magnitude, struck at a depth of 35 kilometres,
81 kilometres north-northwest of the town of Port Olry on Espiritu Santo island in
Vanuatu at 0823 GMT, the United States Geological Survey said.
It was 407 kilometres from the capital Port Vila. The USGS said there was a “low
likelihood of casualties and damage”.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre initially cautioned that “hazardous tsunami
waves” were possible along the coasts of Vanuatu, but later updated its advice to say
the threat had “mostly passed”.
Jonathan Bathgate, senior seismologist at government agency Geoscience
Australia, said that while Port Olry residents were likely to have felt “very intense
shaking”, “the likelihood is relatively low in terms of serious damage”.
“I haven’t had confirmation of anything (tsunami) impacting the northern coast of
that (Espiritu Santo) island at this stage, so that’s probably a good sign,” Bathgate said.
He added that Port Vila residents would have “felt a shake but it probably wouldn’t
be damaging at that distance”. — AFP
REGION
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
omandailyobserver
INCREDIBLE WALK
One dead in
Riyadh blast
claimed by IS
17 WOUNDED
Houthi attack
on hospital
kills 3 civilians
RIYADH: An improvised explosive
device planted next to a police station
south of the Saudi capital Riyadh
killed one person, the Saudi Interior
Ministry said in a statement carried on
state news agency SPA on Sunday.
The ministry said at least three
police cars were damaged in the
explosion at a parking lot on Saturday
night that killed an expatriate man,
but gave no further details on who was
behind the attack.
An IS affiliate, calling itself the Nejd
Province branch of the organisation,
claimed responsibility for the blast,
which took place in Al Dilam, a small
city located about 100 km south of
Riyadh.
The group said in a statement
earlier on Sunday it had set off two
explosive devices in front of the police
station and caused damage to vehicles,
but did not specify casualties.
Saudi Arabia has been hit by a spate
of deadly shootings and bomb attacks
since last year, many of them laid at the
door of IS. — Reuters
People watch Lebanese Gino Traboulsi walking on a tightrope over the valley of Afqa, northeast of the capital Beirut, on Sunday. — AFP
Oppn sees US ‘ambiguity’ on Assad future
RECAPTURED: Government forces seize IS-held town near Palmyra after encircling it over the past few days
PAIS/BEIRUT: A Syrian opposition
figure on Sunday criticised perceived
“American ambiguity” on the future of
President Bashar al Assad and urged
Washington to confirm he will not be
“rehabilitated” in a future government.
“We have American ambiguity that is
very damaging for us,” Bassma Kodmani,
member of the main opposition High
Negotiations Committee which attended
last month’s peace talks in Geneva.
The committee has rejected Assad’s
demand for any transitional government
to include his regime as Syria struggles
to emerge from five years of civil war.
The White House last week
indicated Assad should not feature in a
transitional unity administration, White
House spokesman Josh Earnest dubbing
his participation a “non-starter” for
Washington.
But Kodmani said the committee
wanted confirmation of that stance
two days after high level US-Russian
discussions on ways of strengthening a
fragile ceasefire.
“We don’t know what the United
States are discussing with Moscow,”
Assad’s long-time ally, said Kodmani.
“We are awaiting confirmation that
the USA are maintaining their position
to refuse to rehabilitate Assad,” she told
French media.
Kodmani stressed “Assad’s departure
must be negotiated. The end of the
regime must be a controlled, not a
chaotic, transition operation.”
But she warned that if Moscow
“continues to think Assad should
continue to govern then we shall not
have a solution in Syria. He cannot
remain in power.
“The opposition’s position is clear
-- negotiation will occur while Assad is
still in power, but the transition cannot
happen with him.”
UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura
wants fresh peace talks to start next
week in Geneva on ending a conflict that
has killed more than 270,000 dead with
US says it killed militant
behind Marine’s death
BAGHDAD: The anti-IS coalition
conducting air strikes in Iraq and
Syria has killed the IS militant believed
responsible for an attack on US troops
in northern Iraq last month that left a
Marine dead, it said on Sunday.
Militant Jasim Khadijah, a former
Iraqi officer not considered a highvalue target, was killed by a drone strike
overnight in northern Iraq, coalition
spokesman US Army Col Steve Warren
told reporters in Baghdad.
“We have information (that) he was
a rocket expert, he controlled these
attacks,” said Warren, referring to the
shelling of a base used by US troops
13
near the town of Makhmour, located
between Mosul and Kirkuk.
That attack killed Marine Staff
Sergeant Louis Cardin and wounded
eight others, all part of a company-sized
detachment of less than 200 troops.
They provide force protection fire to
Iraqi army troops, who are making slow
progress in a campaign to clear areas
around Mosul, an IS stronghold.
Cardin’s was the second combat
death of an American service member
in Iraq since the start of the campaign
to fight the militant group in 2014.
Warren said five other IS fighters
were killed in the air strike. — Reuters
EMERGENCY LANDING
A police boat patrols near a airplane that made an emergency landing
in the waters of the Mediterranean sea off the shore of Tel Aviv, Israel,
on Sunday. — Reuters
IS executes 15 of its members
BEIRUT: IS has killed 15 of its members in the largest execution of the
militant group’s security services so far in Syria, the Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights said on Sunday.
The killings followed the arrest of 35 members on Saturday in Raqqa,
according to Britain-based Observatory, which monitors the five-yearold Syrian conflict through a network of sources on the ground.
The members were killed in connection with the assassination
of senior IS figure Abu Hija al Tunisi, who died on Wednesday
in an air strike, the Observatory said.
Reuters could not independently verify this information.
a transitional government being formed
in six months to draft a new constitution
ahead of presidential elections in 18
months time.
Also on Sunday, Syrian and allied
forces backed by Russian air strikes
drove IS militants out of the town of
Al Qaryatain after encircling it over the
past few days, Syria’s military command
said.
Surrounded by hills, Al Qaryatain
is 100 km west of the ancient city of
Palmyra, which government forces
recaptured from IS last Sunday.
Al Qaryatain had been held by the
militant group since late August. Assad
has been trying to retake Al Qaryatain
and other pockets of IS control to
reduce the militant group’s ability to
project military power into the heavily
populated western region of Syria,
where Damascus and other main cities
are located.
Syrian state television said the army
and its allies “fully restored security and
stability to Al Qaryatain after killing
the last remaining groups of Daesh
terrorists” in the town, using the Arabic
acronym for IS.
In a statement read out on Syrian
television, the military command said
this was a strategic victory which secures
oil and gas routes between the Damascus
area and oilfields in eastern Syria. It also
disrupts IS supply routes within Syria.
Government forces entered the town
from a number of directions, Syrian
media said.
— AFP/Reuters
ADEN: Three civilians were killed in
east Yemen on Sunday when rockets
fired by Houthis hit a government
hospital, the facility’s director and a
local official said.
The attack wounded 17 other
people, said the director of the Marib
General Hospital Authority, Shawqi al
Sharjabi.
Pro-government forces, backed
by a Saudi-led coalition battling the
Houthis for more than a year, have
retaken most of the eastern Marib
province from the insurgents and their
allies.
However, the rebels still control
northern and western parts of the oilrich province east of the capital Sanaa,
which has been held by the Houthis
since September 2014.
A
government
official
in
Marib city said that rockets were
fired by rebels from the Haylan
mountains overlooking the provincial
capital.
He said the attack, which killed a
doctor, took place during a visit to the
city by a government delegation.
The rebel advance on Sanaa forced
Yemen’s
internationally-recognised
government last year to declare main
southern city Aden a temporary
capital.
But President Abedrabbo Mansour
Hadi and many government officials
spend most of their time in Riyadh as
they struggle to secure Aden and other
parts of the country where rebels have
gained ground.
Sunday’s attack comes as the
warring parties prepare for a UNbrokered ceasefire on April 10
intended to pave the way for peace
talks in Kuwait a week later.
The planned truce was only agreed
by the two sides after months of shuttle
diplomacy by UN envoy Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed.
Previous
UN-sponsored
negotiations between the rebels and
the government failed to make any
headway, and a ceasefire announced
for December 15 was repeatedly
violated and abandoned by the Saudiled Arab coalition on January 2.
The United Nations says about
6,300 people have been killed in the
war, more than half of them civilians.
— AFP
War dominates the campaign for April 13 vote, which has nearly 12,000 candidates in fray
Syria vote campaign on war footing
DAMASCUS: The streets of Damascus
are plastered with campaign posters and
banners as President Bashar al Assad’s
regime pushes ahead with parliamentary
elections despite Syria’s nearly five-yearold civil war.
The war is dominating the campaign
for the April 13 vote, which will see
nearly 12,000 candidates vying for seats
in Syria’s 250-seat legislature.
As with the 2012 parliamentary
election and a 2014 presidential vote,
only Syrians living in government-held
areas will be able to cast their ballots.
“We stand for security,” reads one
campaign slogan. “For the sake of
the children who were killed, we will
continue,” vows another.
One candidate has branded himself
as “the voice of the martyrs and the
injured”, while another claims to
represent “the martyrs of our heroic
army”.
The upcoming vote is the second
legislative election held by the Damascus
regime since the outbreak of civil war in
2011.
A total of 11,341 candidates aged 25
and above are competing.
While Assad has hailed the
“unprecedented” number of candidates
running for MP, Western backers of the
anti-regime revolt have lashed out at the
elections.
French President Francois Hollande,
for one, has branded them “provocative”
and “totally unrealistic”.
On March 10, the domestic
opposition which is tolerated in
Damascus called for a widespread
A general view shows campaign posters for the upcoming parliamentary election
plastered along a street in Damascus. — AFP
boycott, accusing the government of
using the vote to gain leverage in peace
talks.
The High Negotiations Committee,
the main exiled opposition body, has
branded the vote “illegitimate”.
Key Damascus backer Russian
President Vladimir Putin, however, has
shot back saying the planned vote “does
not interfere with steps to build the
peace process”.
The United Nations, for its part, has
called for presidential and parliamentary
elections within the next 18 months as
part of the process.
Syria’s war, which has left over
270,000 dead, has also had a devastating
impact on the economy.
“Together, let’s help the Syrian pound
regain its former glory,” one banner
The upcoming vote is the
second legislative election
held by the Damascus
regime since the outbreak
of civil war in 2011.
reads.
Over the past five years, the exchange
rate has soared from 50 pounds to the
dollar to 500 pounds.
Another poster calls for “eradicating
corruption and building a new Syria”.
Hisham al Shaar, head of Syria’s
electoral committee, said “the elections
will be held everywhere except in
Raqa and Idlib provinces,” both areas
controlled by the IS group and the Al
Qaeda-affiliated Al Nusra Front.
Also excluded are “regions where
there are security problems”, Shaar said,
referring to rebel-held areas.
Residents of the eastern province of
Deir Ezzor, much of which is controlled
by IS, will be able to cast ballots “in
voting stations in Damascus and its
province, as well as in Hasakeh” in the
northeast, he said.
“Together, hand in hand, we will
rebuild Syria,” pledges one banner put
up by a candidate from Deir Ezzor,
which borders Iraq.
Another candidate from the same
war-ravaged
province
proclaims:
“Victorious Syria votes.”
While parliamentary hopefuls are
allowed to hold meetings, distribute
brochures and put up posters and
banners, they are banned from speaking
to the press.
“The aim is to ensure equality
between wealthy candidates who
can afford to pay for advertising in
newspapers and those who can’t,” Shaar
said.
“I’m going to vote for Mohammad
Sadeq Dalawan because he’s a lawyer
and he was my teacher. I’ve met him
several times and I’ve spoken a lot with
him,” said Rihaf Esber, a 19-year-old
student. Mohammad al Khouje however
said he has no plans of voting.
“Neither the candidates, nor the
former MPs, nor those who came before
them have helped us. In the beginning
they promise us the moon, and then
once they are in office they ignore us.
No one deserves my vote,” the 35-yearold cameraman said. — AFP
14
#ICYMI
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
omandailyobserver
PHOTO OF THE DAY
READER’S CHOICE
instagram.com/omanobserver
HOT READ
TRENDING
WHAT’S UP
ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF
SALUT
MASS GRAVE OF VICTIMS OF IS
FOUND IN PALMYRA
BE SEEN. ADVERTISE IN
WEEKEND MAGAZINE
Salut area as mentioned in the history books is the area
where Al Azd led by Malik bin Fahm clashed with the
Persians. It emphasises the depth of ancient Omani
civilisation and its relation to early historical periods.
Syrian troops have found a mass grave containing
the bodies of 42 people executed by IS in Palmyra, as
Washington warned the group’s leader will eventually
“taste justice”. For full story: http://bit.ly/1orSpKz
Make sure your advertisements are reaching your target
audience. Let the Weekend magazine become your
reputable and trustworthy partner in expanding your
brand recall. For pricing inquiries, call +968 2464-9486 or
email [email protected].
Are you familiar with this Oman gem? Thanks to @m6969d for sharing today’s ‘beauty has an
address’ snapshot. Share your weekend adventures with us and have a chance to see it on
this spot by adding us on Instagram or tagging us using #BeAnObserver or #OmanObserver.
#repost #share #followtoday
Twitter
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
Subscribe:
96473232
Stories and more at
www.omanobserver.om
For videos, visit:
omanobserver
Facebook
OBSERVER REPORT
Know a good story ? Submit it at [email protected]
Popular
Newsfeed
Move to link hotel check-ins with
official data system
CelebriTweet
Notification
A system is being developed in which all such facilities are
supposed to furnish check-in details of foreigners and
tourists on daily basis through a website.
Engaging
twitter.com/omanobserver
Members of Indian family killed in
accident
Coming Soon
Would you take the dare
and sleep on an aquarium
with 35 sharks?
W
hat’s the most exotic hotel room you’ve ever been
to? Or forget exotic. Where and what was the
most memorable hotel room you’ve ever checked in?
Probably it’s not going to top this ridiculously
interesting contest prize from Airbnb. A bit of a
background, Airbnb provides list of places like hotels
and homes etc, for rent.
What this is all about? Airbnb in cooperation with
Aquarium of Paris extended its invitation to travellers to
spend a night in a transparent underwater bedroom
surrounded by 35 sharks. The panoramic room is
immersed in a pool of three million litres of water
designed by French designer Ubi Bene. Unfortunately,
the contest already ended April 3, 2016.
Would you have been interested spending a night
on this room?
O
ur goal for this section is to bring you
the most creative, often, other worldly
creations or photographs by designers and
photographers from all over the world.
If there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that every
day, fresh ideas are always introduced, new arts are
produced and artists and photographers are always
coming up with news concepts that can sometimes
drive the internet mad.
Since the inception of the ICYMI page, we’ve
seen so many artists and photographers and we can
definitely say that no two works are the same.
Today, we are bringing you the work of surrealist
Romanian photographer Caras Ionut. Dreamy and
fascinating, each work may have taken a long time to
manipulate digitally.
On his website: carasdesign.com, he wrote, “The
definition of art can be quite broad, however, one
aspect of art that is widely explored is art through
dreams. One’s perception of a dream is vast, which in
comparison to the views of art, it helps to encompass
The definition of art can be
quite broad, however, one
aspect of art that is widely
explored is art through
dreams.
what artists wants from their viewers.”
He added, “Art becomes most popular by both
their similarities in view and also their differences.
After all, that is what art truly can be defined as,
using work in your own life because art is not useful
without personal admiration.”
To check out more of Caras work, visit: http://
www.carasdesign.com.
Four members of an Indian family, including husband and
wife, their younger child and one of the in-laws were killed
in an accident in Al Khuwair in the early hours on Saturday.
Editor’s Pick
Images © Caras Ionut
facebook.com/omanobserver
Letters to the Editor
[email protected]
MEMBERS OF INDIAN FAMILY KILLED
IN ACCIDENT (APRIL 2, 2016)
Accident like this is very traumatic. A
sudden and unexpected death is more world
shattering for those left behind and it’s hard
to imagine what the families are feeling right
now.
I’d like to extend my condolences to the
families of the victims. I also want to offer
comforting words but I know there’s only
very little words of comfort can do. Life is not
always fair and we may ask why bad things
happen to good people but my personal stand
leads me to believe that they are now at a much
better place.
I just hope that the surviving family
member will heal well and that hopefully, his
other family members will come to his aid
especially in this very trying times.
Pratik R, via email
Images © Airbnb | Aquarium of Paris
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
EUROPE
omandailyobserver
15
Brussels Airport reopens to thin stream of passengers
The first plane takes off from Brussels Airport, which partially re-opened following a bomb blast 12 days ago, in
Zaventem on Tuesday. The plane bore a surrealist design of clouds and birds in homage to Belgian painter Rene
Magritte and had only been unveiled the day before the bombings.
— Reuters
British doctor
alleges he doped
150 sports people
LONDON: The British government has ordered an
inquiry into the way the country’s anti-doping agency
handled allegations that a British doctor prescribed banned
performance-enhancing drugs to leading sports people.
The Sunday Times reported that Dr Mark Bonar
prescribed banned drugs to 150 sports figures including
several Premier League footballers.
The paper said Dr Bonar claimed his “clients” included
an England cricketer, British Tour de France cyclists, a
British boxing champion, tennis players and martial arts
competitors as well as
Dr Bonar claimed his
footballers.
“clients” included an
In the past six years
he
England cricketer, British had treated more
than 150 sportsmen
Tour de France cyclists, a from the UK and
British boxing champion, abroad with banned
substances such as
tennis players and
erythropoietin (EPO),
martial arts competitors steroids and human
as well as footballers
growth
hormone,
and the performance
improvements were “phenomenal”, the report added.
The Sunday Times said that during a series of meetings
with undercover reporters, Bonar had spoken about people
he had treated.
The newspaper also sent a sportsman to Bonar’s clinic,
who recorded his appointments with a hidden camera.
Neither the newspaper nor Reuters was able to
substantiate the claims made by the doctor.
Premier League soccer clubs Arsenal, Chelsea and
Leicester City as well as second tier club Birmingham City
issued statements on Sunday denying the allegations made
by the newspaper.
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), Britain’s anti-doping agency,
said it was “deeply concerned and shocked” by the Sunday
Times report.
UKAD Chief Executive Nicole Sapstead said the body had
been aware of allegations against Bonar after a sportsperson
approached them two years ago but had not been able to act
upon them because he was not affiliated to any particular
sport.
“Under current legislation, UKAD has the power only to
investigate athletes and entourage (including medics) who
are themselves governed by a sport,” she said.
UKAD had considered informing the General Medical
Council, which overseas medical practitioners in Britain,
but decided the evidence they had was insufficient for such a
referral, Sapstead added.
Culture, Media and Sport Secretary John Whittingdale
said in a statement that the government had ordered an
inquiry into UKAD’s handling of the allegations against Dr
Bonar and were looking at whether existing legislation goes
far enough.
— Reuters
Greece in countdown for
EU-Turkey migrant returns
LESBOS: Greek and EU authorities were putting the
final touches to an operation that could send hundreds of
migrants back to Turkey on Monday, launching a landmark
deal that has been slammed by rights watchdogs.
The operation is set to begin on the Greek island of
Lesbos where there are over 3,300 migrants, a term that
includes refugees.
But details of how the operation will proceed — and who
and how many migrants will be transferred — are sketchy
and Greek officials on Sunday were tight-lipped.
Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala said his country had
made preparations to receive 500 people on Monday, and
that the Greeks had given the names of 400.
“We have been in touch with the Greek authorities and
said we could take 500 people and they have given us 400
names. Tomorrow it’s possible that this figure could change,”
Ala was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.
The mobilisation could involve other Aegean islands with
major refugee and migrant populations such as Chios, where
agents of EU border agency Frontex were seen arriving on
Sunday, an AFP reporter said.
Greek state news agency ANA, in a report that has not
been denied by the government, has said the first wave could
entail some 750 migrants, who would be sent back between
Monday and Wednesday.
— Reuters
BRUSSELS: Brussels Airport reopened
to a thin stream of passengers on
Sunday, 12 days after suicide bombers
destroyed its departure hall and killed
16 people.
Belgium’s main airport says it aims
to return to maximum capacity before
the start of summer holidays at the end
of June or early July.
The airport had not handled
passenger flights since two suspected
Islamist militants carried out the
suicide attacks.
Those bombs and a separate one on
a metro train in the capital killed 32
people, excluding the three bombers.
On Sunday, the airport handled just
three flights, the first bound for Faro in
Portugal with only about 80 passengers.
The plane bore a surrealist design
of clouds and birds in homage to
Belgian painter Rene Magritte and had
only been unveiled the day before the
bombings. It taxied towards the runway
flanked by an honour guard of staff
and, after a minute’s silence, took off.
Flights were also scheduled to Turin
and Athens later in the day, with three
return flights set for the evening.
The first passengers for nearly
two weeks fed into a vast temporary
marquee housing security controls and
check-in facilities.
Arnaud Feist, the airport’s chief
executive,
described
Sunday’s
reopening as a sign of hope and an
emotional moment for all airport staff.
“We’ve worked day and night,
literally day and night, over the last 12
days to make this moment possible,” he
said.
On Monday, the airport will serve a
wider range of destinations, including
one plane due out to New York and two
more to cities in Cameroon, Gambia
and Senegal.
Many flights have been re-routed
to Belgium’s regional airports or other
nearby hubs such as Amsterdam and
Paris, with high-speed trains to and
from Brussels packed.
— Reuters
16
PANORAMA
omandailyobserver
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
A man takes part in the International Fireworks Fair in Indaparapeo municipality, in Michoacan State, Mexico. — AFP
Bezos praises launch-and-land
rocket test as perfect
Dancers wait to perform after the World T20 cricket tournament women’s final match between Australia and West Indies at the
Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium in Kolkata. — AFP
The New Shepard rocket and capsule blasts off from a launch site in West Texas. — Reuters
SEATTLE:
Jeff
Bezos’
space
transportation company Blue Origin
successfully launched and landed for the
third time a suborbital rocket capable of
carrying six passengers, taking another
step on its path in developing reusable
boosters, the company said on Saturday.
The New Shepard rocket and capsule
blasted off from a launch site in West
Texas on Saturday at an undisclosed
time, and landed minutes later back at a
landing pad, the company said.
The capsule, which was flying
autonomously, parachuted to a nearby
site and was recovered, the company
said.
“Perfect booster landing,” Bezos
wrote on Twitter.
Blue Origin declined to comment on
the test but said on Twitter, “Congrats
Blue team on today’s (flight)!”
Saturday’s flight marks the third
successful launch-and-land for the
rocket, with similar missions completed
in January and November.
Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com
Inc, said earlier this month that Blue
Origin expects to begin crewed test
flights of the New Shepard next year and
begin flying paying passengers as early
as 2018.
Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX
are among a handful of companies
working to develop rockets that can fly
themselves back to Earth so they can be
refurbished and flown again, potentially
slashing launch costs. For now, Blue
Origin is flying suborbital rockets,
which lack the speed to put spacecraft
into orbit around Earth.
The New Shepard rose through
clear skies to an apogee of 339,138 feet
(103,369 metres), the company said.
The engine that powers the pocket
restarted at 3,635 feet (1,108 metres)
above ground level “and ramped fast for
a successful landing,” the company said.
— Reuters
A People for the
Ethical Treatment of
Animals (PETA)
volunteer stands
next to “Ellie”, a lifelike, mechanical
elephant as he
hands out leaflets
outside the Ringling
Bros Circus in
downtown
Washington DC.
PETA is protesting
the use of elephants
in their circus acts,
claiming suffering
and inhumane
treatment.
New cholesterol methods
needed in wake of failed
drugs: Researchers
NEW YORK: New ways of controlling cholesterol, including
possibly directly injecting “good” HDL cholesterol into
patients, need to be studied following the failure of promising
treatments from Eli Lilly, Pfizer Inc and Roche Holding AG,
according to top heart researchers.
Lilly in October halted a 12,000-patient study of its
experimental drug evacetrapib, an oral medication that in
smaller earlier studies slashed “bad” LDL cholesterol and
doubled levels of HDL. But improved cholesterol levels did not
prevent heart attacks and strokes, diminishing hopes for the
approach to treating heart disease — by raising HDL through
blockage of a protein called CETP.
Roche in 2012 scrapped its own CETP inhibitor after it also
failed to help patients.
Pfizer’s similar drug was discontinued in 2006 after being
linked to deaths in trials.
Although Merck & Co continues to develop its own CETP
inhibitor in a 30,000-patient study expected to be completed
next year, researchers on Sunday said the failures of the Lilly,
Roche and Pfizer drugs bode poorly for it.
“Merck’s drug is the fourth shot on goal for CETP inhibitors,
but with disappointment or lack of success for the other agents
you have to be increasingly pessimistic” about the class of
drugs, said Dr Stephen Nicholls, deputy director of the South
Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in Adelaide,
Australia.
He was a lead investigator for the failed trial of Lilly’s drug.
Nicholls and Dr Steve Nissen, the head of cardiology for the
Cleveland Clinic, who co-lead the evacetrapib study, on Sunday
reviewed the baffling evacetrapib data in a presentation at the
annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology
in Chicago.
“This drug lowered LDL by 37 percent and raised HDL by
130 percent and had absolutely no effect” on preventing deaths
and heart attacks, Nissen said in an interview. — Reuters
MONDAY | APRIL 4, 2016 | JUMADA AL THANI 26, 1437 AH
P20
P18
P21
Inside
Ooredoo offers Cloud-based service US auto sales rise in March Big China banks’ profit growth stalls FOLLOW US ON:
www.omanobserver.om
[email protected]
Oman to unveil investment-ready mining blocks
INVESTMENT FACILITATION: Public Authority for Mining launches far-reaching initiative to offer mining leases complete with permits
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT
April 3: The Public Authority for Mining (PAM), tasked with regulating the
Sultanate’s burgeoning mining sector, has
announced plans to offer ‘investmentready’ mining concessions that — for the
first time — will come bundled with all
of the requisite government permits and
clearances.
The move, according to Hilal bin Mohammed al Busaidy, Chief Executive Officer, is designed to address one of the
principal impediments to investment in
Oman’s hugely promising mining sector:
bureaucracy.
The so-called ‘Ready to Invest Mining Blocks’ initiative of the Authority
will help facilitate investment in the sector, said Al Busaidy. “All of the required
permits and no-objections from the relevant government departments will be
arranged up-front and in a professional
way, thereby enabling potential investors
to step in and commence their business
right away,” he explained.
The initiative underscores efforts by
the Authority, which was established by
Royal Decree in 2014, to address what the
CEO described as “challenges” that have
kept potential international investors
away from Oman’s mining and minerals processing industry — one of five key
sectors identified by the government as
engines of economic growth.
Other factors that have hindered investment inflows into the sector are proposed to be tackled via a new mining law
currently under formulation, according
to the official. The draft law, which will
supersede the existing law promulgated
in 2010, aims to, among other things,
mitigate some of the risks that seem to
deter foreign investment in the sector, he
said. The draft law envisages, for example,
longer than usual mining leases to make
it attractive for investors to enter this sector, he said.
It will also incorporate elements
that have helped underpin the successful development of mining sectors elsewhere around the world, he
added, noting however that local content development would be a priority
objective once the new law comes into
TURN TO P19
18
OMAN
omandailyobserver
Omantel partners with Microsoft
VISION: MoU highlights shift towards ‘Internet of Things’
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
April 3: Omantel, the leading provider of
integrated telecommunication services in
the Sultanate, has signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with multinational technology company Microsoft
Corporation. Under the terms of the MoU
the two companies will work to enhance
ICT service capabilities in the areas of
education, healthcare, digital smart home and
business services, underscoring the seamless
integration of smart technologies in everyday
surroundings, which is known as the ‘Internet
of Things’.
The agreement comes after a long history
of collaboration between Omantel and
Microsoft and aligns with the Company’s new
3.0 transformation strategy which maintains
Omantel’s position as the digital partner of
choice for the years ahead.
Commenting on the new MoU, Omantel’s
Chief Executive Officer Talal Said Al
Maamari noted, “At Omantel, we strive to be
innovators and pioneers of new technology in
the Sultanate. As such, it is vital that we create
synergies with industry leaders to deliver a
new generation of services and innovations
for the continued evolution of the Omantel
3.0 transformation strategy.
“The agreement with Microsoft comes
as a part of our objective to deploy new
digital smart home, innovative business and
eGovernment services throughout 2016 and
beyond.”
“We believe that through mobility and
connectivity services, our society can be
transformed. The MoU with Microsoft
represents a further step in the realisation
of our vision for Oman, to become a truly
networked society, where every person and
every industry is empowered to reach their
full potential.” He added.
Highlighting the significance of the
agreement, Todd Dick, VP Corporate
Business Unit for Omantel noted, “It is deeply
pleasing to expand Omantel’s Partnership
Model with Microsoft, one of the world’s
most innovative companies and a global
technology pioneer. We see Microsoft as a
natural partner for Omantel as they bring
a vast knowledge, global expertise, and
experience for enhancing digitalisation, smart
services and customer experience, which are
the pillars of our market strategy at Omantel.”
Thomas Pittschieler, Transformation
Executive Officer for Omantel said, “In
order for us to achieve our strategic goals, we
are teaming up with strategic partners that
accompany us on our transformation journey.
This partnership with Microsoft allows us
to boost our capabilities, catering to the everincreasing requirements of our customers.”
“The fact that Omantel is the preferred
partner for leading international companies
such as Microsoft is a true reflection of the
confidence and trust placed in the company by
the market. We have worked hard to establish
that trust and look forward to continuing
to provide exceptional service to the most
prominent brands and entities across the globe.”
OCEC signs pact for Infra Oman Expo
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
April 3: The Oman Convention & Exhibition
Centre (OCEC) has signed an agreement
with leading exhibition organisers, Al Nimr
International to host major building and
construction expo ‘Infra Oman’, affirming its
commitment to hosting world leading events
in the Sultanate.
As the annual meeting place for the regional
construction industry, ‘Infra Oman’ targets
companies and government departments
involved in energy, water, waste management,
recycling
and
sustainable
solutions,
manufacturing, heavy industries, mining and
petrochemicals and the show attracts in excess
of 200 exhibitors.
“The construction industry is Oman’s
largest sector after oil, and plays a key role in
boosting economic development. In recent
years the government has made significant
investment in infrastructure — airports,
roads, ports, industrial estates, free zones and
technology parks. This powerful combination
of factors makes ‘Infra Oman’ an incredibly
important event for the country,” commented
Trevor McCartney, OCEC General Manager.
He added, “We look forward to playing
our part in maximising the regional and
international impact of this major expo, in
order to realise its full potential and deliver
its biggest and most sophisticated edition to
date. Our 22,396 column free square metres
of flexible exhibition space will provide the
scope to showcase the many and complex
aspects of the construction industry. It is
particularly gratifying to see that thanks to the
OCEC’s space and state-of-the-art facilities, Al
Nimr has been able to add four exciting new
pavilions to its plans for this year — green
tech, fire and security, heating, air and cooling
technologies, and power and electricity.”
According to Salim Al Hashmi, Chairman
of Al Nimr, “Hosting ‘Infra Oman’ at the
OCEC is an outstanding opportunity not only
for the expansion of the event itself, but also
for drawing the international spotlight to the
enormous possibilities generated by Oman’s
incredible infrastructure development. We are
confident that this edition of ‘Infra Oman’ will
be even more successful than its predecessors.
What’s more, while powering the events
industry in Oman, the OCEC is also attracting
the interest of global companies and investors.”
As the OCEC counts down to the August
opening of its Exhibition Centre, the readiness
of various aspects of its five hi-tech Exhibition
Halls and ten exclusive Hospitality Suites is
being scrutinised with a focus on guaranteeing
an optimum visitor experience. With the
launch of phase 1 of the OCEC, Oman will
take its place in the international arena as one
of its most exciting exhibition destinations
and the newest business tourism hot spot.
Phase 2; the convention centre will be ready
for business in the last quarter of 2017.
Diverse range of investment options come with attractive features and benefits
AIB offers investment solutions
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
April 3: Alizz Islamic Bank (AIB) is one of
the first dedicated Islamic banks in Oman in
the Sultanate of Oman, continues its pursuit
to provide its clients with superior financial
solutions through offering a diverse range of
Sharia-compliant savings options. The smart
and profitable investment options offered by
AIB allow its customers to accumulate wealth
through accounts with projected competitive
yields.
One of the financial solutions offered by
AIB is called the Term Investment Deposit
account, which is based on the principle of
‘Unrestricted Mudaraba’. The bank and the
client will sign a Mudaraba contract allowing
AIB to act as a Mudarib — or entrepreneur,
leveraging its financial expertise. The bank
pools all clients’ funds together with its
own funds to provide finance to Shariahcompliant investments for a specific term and
at anticipated profit rates. The earned profit
will then be shared between the bank and
customers according to predetermined and
mutually agreed-upon ratios.
The key features of the ‘Term Investment
Deposit Accounts’ include quarterly profit
payment and flexible tenures; one, three, six,
nine or 12 months. It is available in multiple
currencies and a minimum deposit amount of
as low as OMR 400, with optional automatic
renewal of the principal amount.
AIB also offers Saving Accounts, which
are also managed by the bank under the
Islamic principle of ‘Unrestricted Mudaraba’.
A Mudaraba contract is signed between the
customer and the bank, where the former
acts as a capital provider and the bank as the
‘Mudarib’, leveraging its expertise. The bank
pools all clients’ funds together with its own
funds at Sharia-compliant investments. The
earned profit is shared between the bank and
customers according to predetermined and
mutually agreed-upon ratios. Mudaraba is
a profit and loss sharing product, and hence
the better the bank performs, the higher the
profits earned.
The Saving Accounts have several benefits,
including fast and easy documentation, profit
payment on a quarterly basis and availability
of multiple currencies. In addition, holders of
those accounts will receive a free debit card
– issued and collected on the same day, as
well as an array of free services such as online
banking, phone banking, SMS alerts, and
utility bill payment services. Minors can also
apply for the Savings Account.
In addition, AIB is proud to present the
Current Accounts, which are based on the
Islamic concept of ‘Qard-Hassan’ or interestfree loans. The clients’ funds will be saved in this
profit-free account, with liberty to deposit or
withdraw funds at any given time. This account
is available in multiple currencies: OMR,
USD, Euro, GBP, as well as other GCC and
international currencies. A debit card is issued
for the client upon account set up, as well as an
initial cheque book for OMR accounts.
Alizz Islamic Bank provides a wide range
of innovative Sharia-compliant financing
solutions that meet customer’s saving needs
and that support early investment, all of
which are approved by the Shari’a Supervisory
Board.
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
BUSINESS ALERT
Al Maha Ceramics receives overwhelming response
MUSCAT: AL Maha Ceramics SAOG,
one of the leading ceramic tiles Producer
in Oman is showcasing its latest range of
designs at the Big Show Muscat Exhibition,
which is being held in Oman International
Exhibition Centre from 28th to 31th March
2016. Big Show is one of the biggest shows
for building materials in the Oman and
offered Al Maha Ceramics to display its
world-class products.
During the event Al Maha Ceramics has
displayed its attractive eye-catching designs of “Digiplus” range of Ceramic tiles using contemporary
Digital printing technology with a variety of shades to suit every décor and cater to the needs of its
customers which are highly appreciated by the visitors.
Commenting on the participation, Arvind Bindra, CEO, Al Maha Ceramics said, “This is our 6th
participation in Big Show Exhibition, We have displayed our highly attractive latest range of digital
machine printed large format Spanish & Italian designs. We are happy that this new modern product
range is highly appreciated by our customers & channel partners.”
JAC Motors – 50 years of
trust, quality and success
JAC Motors, the Chinese automobile manufacturer,
celebrated its 51st anniversary last year. The
company was founded on May 20, 1964 and by
April 1968, the first 2.5 ton truck was developed in
Anhui province of China, filling a gap in Anhui’s
automotive industry.
JAC has since celebrated a number of significant
milestones.
In June 1990, the first Chinese bus chassis was
successfully developed and put into production
by JAC. In 2001, JAC was officially listed on the
Shanghai Stock Exchange.
January 17, 2008: the first JAC sedan rolled off
the production line and JAC entered the passenger
car market, becoming the only comprehensive
automaker covering a full series of commercial
vehicles and passenger vehicles. In 2009, JAC
light-duty trucks were awarded the certification
of Chinese Exemption from Export Inspection,
becoming the first automobile enterprise to receive
the certification in the light-duty truck industry
in China. In 2010, JAC was given the National
Quality Award — the highest quality certification
in China. It is also the first and only independent
brand automobile manufacturer in China to win
this award. More recently, JAC celebrated the two
millionth vehicle to roll off the production lines.
In Oman, Towell Auto Centre (TAC) is the
sole distributor of JAC light-duty trucks. With a
network of 11 showrooms, 13 service outlets and
10 parts outlets spread across Oman, TAC is one of
the leading automobile distributors in the region.
KR to offer Harvard University scholarships for Omanis
THE Khimji Ramdas Group plans to set up
scholarships for Omani students who have
enrolled in various graduate programmes at the
Harvard University. A letter of intent to this effect
was presented to Senior Director of International
Advancement at Harvard University Mr Ben Zoll,
during a two-day seminar organised by the Harvard
Arab Alumni Association in Muscat, recently.
According to the scholarship plan submitted
by KR, the company will set up a $250,000 fund
under Harvard University’s Committee on General
Scholarships to provide financial assistance to
Omani Students pursuing higher education within any of the degree-granting school and institution
at the Harvard University. Recipients of the scholarship will be known as Khimji Ramdas Foundation
Fellows.
Commenting on the agreement, Nailesh Khimji, Director, KR, said, “We are proud to be associating
with one of the world’s best universities to give Omani youth access to the best possible education and
training opportunities. It follows through on our philosophy to support Oman’s youth and provide them
with the most competitive advantages and resources to become successful men and women.”
Land Rover launches first
social mobile application
WITH smart phone penetration in the Middle
East amongst the highest in the world, premium
SUV manufacturer Land Rover has combined its
off-roading heritage and passion for innovation
to create what it hopes will be the first social
mobile application for off-road enthusiasts. The
app, known simply as ‘Ardhi’ or ‘MYLAND’, has
been designed as an essential tool for regional offroaders of any level to chart, save and share their
off-roading adventures, and is available now to
download for both iOS and Android users. Land
Rover developed the Ardhi Mobile App off the
back of growing research which shows that the
region not only has some of the most active and
advanced off-roaders in the world, but also some
of the heaviest users of smart phones and devices
who see them as an essential tool to support
their passions and hobbies. According to recent
research , smartphone penetration in the region
is now at an all-time high, with Qatar at 209 per
cent, followed closely by Kuwait at 192 per cent,
Bahrain at 188 per cent, the UAE at 187 per cent,
and KSA at 181 per cent. Furthermore, with the
region’s continued population growth showing no
signs of slowing down, smartphone penetration is
also projected to increase by a significant almost
40 per cent in the few coming years. The Ardhi
Mobile App includes a whole host of genuinely
useful, engaging and fun features that set it apart
from anything else on the market.
Surprising Toyota offer on Corolla Multi-Drive 7S
TO the many enthusiasts in the automotive
industry, the 11th Generation of the world famous
Toyota Corolla is no less than an icon. Not only
does it have a legendary reputation, it offers a
truly impressive resale value, even after years of
use. The 2016 Toyota Corolla with Multi Drive 7S
transmission has become a favourite of customers
within a short span of its introduction.
From now until April 30, 2016, the coveted 2016
Toyota Corolla with Multi Drive 7S transmission is
available with Summer Surprises offer. During the
period, the Corolla 1.6 Litre comes with a Cash Gift
up to RO 650. In the case of Corolla 2.0 Litre, the Cash Gift is RO 700. Conditions apply. Exact details are
available at the nearest Toyota showroom. The 2016 Toyota Corolla with Multi Drive 7S allows owners to
‘Drive Smooth and Save Smart.’ It does so by delivering a very smooth, yet powerful driving performance;
topping it up with class leading fuel efficiency. “Now there will be more fun-filled driving trips and less
visits to the gas station,” chuckled a proud new owner “It is really a smoother, silkier drive…one that
lasts longer, goes farther on the same amount of fuel…yeah…I am living it and loving it!” In Oman, the
nationwide parts and service network of Saud Bahwan Automotive supports Toyota outstanding product
quality. No wonder then that today, Toyota is one of the most trusted and well-known brands.
OMAN
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
OPAL affirms commitment
to engagement at 14th AGM
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
April 3: Oman Society of Petroleum
Services (OPAL) reaffirmed its
commitment to being fully and
comprehensively engaged with its
members, as well as other stakeholders,
in line with its new mandate to evolve
as the voice of the Sultanate’s oil and gas
industry.
The assertion came at OPAL 14th
Annual General Meeting (AGM),
which was held recently at the Crowne
Plaza Muscat. The event attracted a
large turnout of members representing
all segments of the oil and gas industry,
including
operators,
contractors,
vendors and service providers.
Also in attendance were OPAL’s
Board of Directors comprising Majid al
Toky (Chairman), Dr Amer al Rawas,
Haifa al Khaifi (Treasurer), Mohsin al
Hadhrami, Mundhir al Barwani, Aflah
al Hadhrami, Stephen Thomas and
Musallam al Mandhry (CEO).
In opening remarks, Majid al Toky,
Chairman, gave a brief overview of the
Society’s activities and achievements of
the past year. He noted in particular
OPAL’s efforts to address member
concerns that it was not sufficiently
engaged with the wider fraternity.
Presenting the progress report
for the year, Musallam al Mandhry,
CEO, said the Society’s activities and
initiatives centred around the pursuit
of four principal objectives: Reputation,
Capability Development, Customer
Focus and Change Management.
Notable among its many achievements
was the successful hosting of the Best
Practice Awards event last November
that showcased praiseworthy examples
of best practices embraced by local oil
field companies.
Also as part of its ongoing focus on
human capital augmentation, OPAL
had signed a series of agreements that
enabled the skills development of
around 164 young Omanis who have
since been successfully employed in
various companies across the industry.
Similarly, more than 70 Omanis
attended OPAL-organised Training for
Development Programmes focusing
on HR and HSE certification. Other
training workshops that were well
patronised by the industry related to
Occupational Health and Safety Work,
Rig Development, HSE Road Safety,
and Joint Job Evaluation, the CEO said.
In other significant developments
during the year, OPAL’s involvement
and support helped advance the InCountry Value (ICV) strategy laid
out by the Ministry of Oil and Gas.
Continuing its continuing engagement
with the Ministry of Manpower, the
Society has also made headway in the
preparation of occupational standards
for five key vocational disciplines, he
said.
Oman to unveil investment
ready mining blocks
FROM P17
force. Another key goal of the Authority
is to encourage ramped-up investment
in high-value mineral deposits, as
opposed to the current concentration
of investment in mining and quarrying
activities related to the construction
materials segment of the industry.
In this regard, the CEO identified a
number of metallic and non-metallic
minerals which, he said, hold strong
potential for commercial investment
and development. Notable is copper
ore, which is currently being mined
in some parts of northern Oman. But
with an estimated 50 million tonnes of
ore, much of it of grades ranging from
1 to 1.5, still awaiting development,
investment
opportunities
are
particularly promising in this industry,
he noted.
Chromite ore, while extensively
mined in the Oman Ophiolite area
of the Sultanate, also beckons further
investment, he said, given especially the
commercial grades, ranging from 2040 per cent, of these deposits. Equally
prospective is laterite (iron oxide)
found in abundance in Wadi Naam Al
Qabil, he said.
Commenting on opportunities in
non-metallic minerals development,
Al Busaidy listed limestone, dolomite,
marble, gypsum and silica quartz as
particularly promising for investment.
Ooredoo offers first Cloud
based collaboration service
MUSCAT:
Ooredoo
Business
customers can now stay continually
connected
with
geographically
dispersed audiences, using Ooredoo’s
Conferencing Services; the company’s
first cloud based virtual collaboration
solution. The new service provides users
in Oman with an unmatched online
meeting experience through high
quality audio and HD video capabilities
all on a safe and secure platform.
The Conferencing Service offers
small to large businesses the freedom
and flexibility to establish a telepresence
to allow them to benefit from direct
interactions with partners, clients,
decision makers, and employees, thus
eliminating costly travel. Offering a
broad range of voice, web and video
conferencing features, the cost-efficient
service can be used on various platforms
“Hosted communications is one
of the fastest growing technologies,
dramatically changing the way
companies do business,” said Said
al Shanfari, (pictured) Director of
Business Marketing at Ooredoo.
“Staying connected is an essential part
of modern business life, which is why
we launched a service that delivers
a
consistent
globally-connected
experience to start-ups and large
corporations
alike,
significantly
reducing travel time and costs.
This value added service can boost
productivity across the board with
enhanced, real time collaboration
aligning local, regional, stakeholders
anytime and anywhere.”
“In times of disruptive innovation,
value is migrating rapidly from
conventional telecom services to hosted
collaboration and cloud based services.
In order to keep abreast with the global
trends and standards, we are glad to
introduce our first cloud-based business
collaboration service in Oman,”
Audio conferencing with this
service is accessible through mobile
and fixed telephone lines, while video
conferencing is accessible over the
Internet.
omandailyobserver
19
MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET
20
INTERNATIONAL
omandailyobserver
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
US STOCKS: Regeneron up after eczema treatment found effective * Indexes close up: Dow 0.61pc, S&P 0.63pc, Nasdaq 0.92pc
Investors to sift for clues in Federal Reserve tug-of-war
WALL STREET
WEEK AHEAD
NEW YORK: After enduring several
weeks of conflicting comments by
Federal Reserve officials that whiplashed the US stock market, befuddled
investors could get a dose of clarity this
week on where the Fed stands on its path
towards rate hikes.
Minutes of the Fed’s March meeting
will be released on Wednesday, giving
investors a chance to comb through the
summary for tips on when rate increases
will hit.
If traders believe that less vocal
policymakers will support Fed Chair
Janet Yellen’s expressed go-slow
approach to raising interest rates, they
may bid up stocks further.
Most Wall Street Fed watchers expect
an interest rate hike in June. Yellen has
indicated she would not want to raise
rates unless data, such as increasing
inflation, proved such a move timely.
“If it comes out more dovish, you’ve
got to suspect that the equity markets
would really like it,” said Jeff Weniger,
senior strategist at BMO Private Bank.
Should the minutes show real caution
by other Fed policymakers, energy, gold,
emerging markets and materials could
benefit the most, Weniger said.
Equity markets could suffer if the
Fed shows a more aggressive stance.
Shares of banks and other financial
companies, which have been damaged
by low interest rates, could be the lone
sector to win.
Investors may trade on even the
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. — Reuters
subtlest of information next week as
there is a paucity of big market-moving
events. This week, Fed talk and the
employment report helped markets
rise; later in April, the start of the firstquarter corporate earnings reporting
season likely will drive share prices.
The seven-week US stock market
rally could still have room to run and
beat a record high set by the S&P 500 last
May, in part because the Fed has walked
back from an expectation of four interest
rate hikes this year to two.
The S&P 500 would need to rise less
than 3 per cent to take out its record
closing high.
Stock reacted positively to Chair
Janet Yellen’s cautious tone at the end
of the Fed’s mid-March meeting, with
the benchmark S&P 500 moving into
positive territory for the year.
A series of comments by other Fed
members, however, sent the index
back into the red just days later. Stocks
resumed an upward trajectory when
Yellen reiterated her intentions to
US auto sales rise but miss expectations
NEW YORK: Most leading automakers
reported another month of higher US
car sales in March on Friday, but the
increases were not as big as expected.
General Motors, the largest US
automaker, notched a 0.9 per cent rise
in sales compared with the year-ago
period at 252,128 vehicles, below the
1.8 per cent gain projected by Edmunds.
com.
At Ford, US auto sales came in at
254,711 in March, up eight per cent
from March 2015, but lower than the
9.1 per cent increase expected.
Fiat Chrysler’s sales were 213,187,
an eight per cent rise, but also below
the 13.4 per cent gain expected by
Edmunds. US car sales hit a record in
2015, as low interest rates and gasoline
prices boosted consumer purchases,
with especially strong sales of sport
utility vehicles and pick-up trucks.
Company sales reports on Friday
pointed to continued strong sales for
many of these products, such as the
Ford F-series trucks and Fiat Chrysler’s
Ram trucks. Sedan models with strong
gains included GM’s Chevrolet Malibu.
Most analysts believe the US auto
market will soon level off, although
another strong year is expected in 2016.
GM said the Federal Reserve’s
go-slow signal on future interest rate
increases after a small hike in December
would likely keep sales high.
“We expect historically low interest
rates, strong employment, rising wages
and stable fuel prices to continue for
the foreseeable future,” said Mustafa
Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist.
“The Fed’s decision to delay interest
rate hikes should extend the current
sales cycle, and allow the auto industry
to continue to lead the overall US
economic recovery, as it has throughout
the current cycle.”
Japan’s Toyota, the world’s biggest
automaker, said US sales in March
slipped 2.7 per cent to 219,842 as many
of its best-known brands, including the
Corolla, Camry and hybrid Prius, all
suffered declines.
But Toyota’s Japanese rival Honda
posted a 9.4 per cent rise in year-overyear sales at 138,221 vehicles, with gains
in the flagship Civic and Accord sedans
complementing higher truck sales. — AFP
Tata and Thyssen have been talking for about a year
After UK exit, Tata may combine EU
steel business with Thyssenkrupp
FR ANKFURT/DUESSELD ORF:
India’s Tata Steel and Germany’s
Thyssenkrupp have been talking
about combining their European steel
operations, a person aware of the talks
said.
The source, who did not want to
be named because he is not authorised
to speak publicly, said talks had been
ongoing for about a year but declined to
comment on their current status.
Tata’s announcement last Wednesday
that it plans to sell its cash-bleeding
British unit sparked expectations that
Europe’s battered steel sector would now
undergo a long-awaited consolidation,
starting with a merger of Tata’s Dutch
and Thyssenkrupp’s European steel
operations.
Such a move would create Europe’s
biggest steelmaker after ArcelorMittal
and allow the combined company to cut
capacity, supporting prices in the sector,
which have been crushed by sluggish
demand and cheap Chinese imports.
German newspaper Rheinische
Post reported on Friday that Tata Steel
was in advanced talks to buy a stake in
Thyssenkrupp’s Steel Europe, sending
shares in Thyssenkrupp 5.2 per cent
higher to the top of Germany’s DAX
index. Thyssenkrupp declined to
comment, as did a European spokesman
for Tata Steel.
Analysts at Berenberg said it would
Picture shows Tata Steel’s steel plant in Scunthorpe, north east England. — AFP
make sense for both Tata Steel and
Thyssen’s Steel Europe to sell shares in
an initial public offering (IPO) of any
joint entity because that could translate
into significant financial returns for the
parent companies.
“For Tata Steel, in particular, an IPO
would partly reward the company after
the massive writedown of the UK assets’
book value,” the analysts said in a note
to clients.
Tata, which entered the European
steel market with a $12 billion
acquisition of Anglo-Dutch Corus in
2007, will only produce steel in Europe
in the Netherlands once it sells its UK
business.
It said on last Wednesday it had
extended “substantial financial support”
to its UK business, which employs about
15,000 people, and written its assets
down by more than £2 billion ($2.8 bn).
Thyssen’s Steel Europe unit is
profitable, as are Tata’s Dutch operations,
and a Tata-Thyssen combination
excluding the UK is seen as most likely.
A person familiar with the situation
said that Thyssen’s supervisory board
had not yet discussed the matter, while
two other sources with knowledge of
the matter said that all of Europe’s steel
producers were talking to one another
but nothing concrete was yet in sight.
— Reuters
“proceed cautiously” this week. Eric
Wiegand, senior portfolio manager at
US Bank’s Private Client Reserve in New
York, is one of the many who will be
reading those minutes closely.
“Getting any colour will continue to
be very important and so will getting a
sense of what type of dissent was present
among voting members,” he said.
Wall Street extended a seven-week
rally on Friday after upbeat US jobs and
factory data hinted at stronger corporate
earnings without increasing concerns of
BIZ BRIEF
HSBC comes up
short in money
laundering
vigilance, says US
NEW YORK: HSBC Holdings Plc
has not done enough to thwart
money laundering, despite making
significant progress since reaching a
landmark 2012 anti-money-laundering
settlement with US prosecutors, a
federal monitor has found.
The monitor “remains unable to
certify that the bank’s compliance
program is reasonably designed and
implemented to detect and prevent
violations of AML and sanctions laws,”
US Attorney Robert Capers in Brooklyn,
New York said in a letter filed on Friday
with the federal court there. “Although
HSBC made significant progress last
year, the monitor believes that the
bank continues to face significant
challenges,” Capers added.
The London-based bank has spent
three years upgrading its oversight of
customer transactions, after reaching
a $1.92 billion settlement of US
Department of Justice charges tied to
money laundering. Prosecutors said
HSBC failed to spot suspicious activity
related to Mexican and Colombian
drug cartels, and handled transactions
for customers in countries subject to
US sanctions, such as Myanmar, Cuba
and Iran.
As part of the settlement,
HSBC entered a five-year deferred
prosecution agreement and agreed to
monitoring by Michael Cherkasky, the
executive chairman of compliance firm
Exiger and a former prosecutor.
The Justice Department could
prosecute HSBC or extend the
monitoring if the bank fails to live up
to its commitments. “HSBC remains
focused on fulfilling its obligations
under the DPA and implementing
the most effective standards globally
to combat financial crime,” bank
spokesman Rob Sherman said.
According to Capers, Cherkasky
found that HSBC in 2015 made
“commendable progress” towards
improving oversight, spending more
than $680 million and adding 2,584
compliance personnel, and was
“especially complimentary of HSBC’s
‘tone at the top.’” — Reuters
potential US interest rate hikes.
The Labour Department’s report
showed solid gains in nonfarm payrolls
in March while the unemployment rate
rose to 5 per cent from an eight-year
low of 4.9 per cent as more Americans
entered the labour force.
Along with another report showing
the US manufacturing sector resumed
growth in March, the employment data
suggested the economy is not growing
fast enough to increase concerns about
inflation.
“It’s a very solid number overall, but
I don’t think it changes anything as far
as the Fed’s outlook,” said Jon Adams,
a senior investment strategist and
portfolio manager at BMO in Chicago.
Stock gains were limited by a 1.39
per cent drop in the S&P 500 energy
sector as oil prices tumbled nearly 4 per
cent amid increasing scepticism about a
deal to freeze crude production.
Since mid-February, the S&P has
surged 13 per cent, recovering from
deep losses thanks to a stabilization of
oil prices and reduced concerns about
a stumble in China’s economy and its
potential fallout in the United States.
Wall Street has been concerned
about tepid corporate earnings and will
keep a close eye on the quarterly reports
that start rolling in coming weeks.
Analysts expect S&P 500 companies’
first-quarter earnings to fall 7 per cent
year over year, with energy companies
weighing heavily, according to Thomson
Reuters data.
“We don’t think P/E ratios are going
anywhere,” said Charlie Smith, Chief
Investment Officer at Fort Pitt Capital
Equity markets could suffer
if the Fed shows a more
aggressive stance. Shares of
banks and other financial
companies, which have
been damaged by low
interest rates, could be the
lone sector to win.
Group, adding that he believes the S&P
500 is fairly valued. “For this year, we
think it’s going to be a tough slog.”
The Dow Jones industrial average
rose 0.61 per cent to end at 17,792.75
points and the S&P 500 gained 0.63 per
cent to 2,072.78,
The Nasdaq Composite added 0.92
per cent to 4,914.54.
For the week, the S&P climbed 1.8
per cent, the Dow added 1.6 per cent and
the Nasdaq jumped 3 per cent.
On Friday, eight of the 10 major
S&P sectors were higher. The healthcare
sector rose 1.27 per cent, boosted by
Regeneron.
Although the major indexes closed
higher, declining issues outnumbered
advancing ones on the NYSE by 1,576 to
1,448. On the Nasdaq, 1,591 issues rose
and 1,193 fell.
The S&P 500 index showed 70 new
52-week highs and two new lows, while
the Nasdaq recorded 61 new highs and
20 new lows. About 7 billion shares
changed hands on US exchanges, above/
below the 7.6 billion daily average for
the past 20 trading days, according to
Thomson Reuters data. — Reuters
BlackBerry posts 35 per cent revenue fall
OTTAWA: BlackBerry suffered another loss in its latest fiscal year and now aims
to return to profitability by refocusing on business services, away from consumer
handsets, the Canadian company said.
The Waterloo, Ontario-based firm reported a net loss of $208 million for the year
ended on February 29, while revenues fell more than 35 per cent to $2.16 billion.
The company attributed much of its missed revenue estimates to restructuring
costs.
BlackBerry had hoped that its new Priv handset — its first Android-operating
smartphone, which was launched with much fanfare in November — would help
restore the company to its former glory, after it once pioneered a culture of mobile
users glued to smartphones.
But sales have been lacklustre.
Some analysts had opined that BlackBerry might get out of the phone business
altogether if the Priv — the first not to use Blackberry’s own operating system — failed
to take off.
They had forecast a loss of 33 cents per share in the last fiscal year, compared to the
40 cents per share the company reported.
However, BlackBerry Chief Executive John Chen called the recent performance
“solid,” citing progress on “key elements of our strategy,” which includes growing
software sales. — AFP
A worker harvests sugar cane in a field at Pakchong district in Ratchaburi
province, Thailand. The El Nino weather phenomenon has played havoc with
crops across Southeast Asia and beyond. Thailand, the world’s second-largest
sugar exporter, will ship 20 per cent less of the sweetener to international
markets this year than last, and farmers fear the damage already inflicted on
young cane plants could make next year worse. — Reuters
Data shows Brazil recession deepening
BRASÍLIA: The latest data on Brazil’s industrial production showed deepening
recession in Latin America’s biggest economy, though its trade surplus grew and the
currency is rising on prospects of a new government.
Industrial output shrank 9 per cent over the 12 months leading up to February,
government statistics showed, with the car-making, machinery and electronic sectors
hit the hardest.
The slide appeared to be accelerating with February production 2.5 per cent lower
than in January. Exports also slid, by six per cent in March compared to the same
month last year, according to the trade ministry.
But that was far overshadowed by a plunge in imports which were down 30 per
cent.
That fall was partly due to lower costs for shipped-in fuel — but also because
Brazil’s belt-tightening population was cutting back on purchases of foreign goods.
The result was the country’s biggest monthly trade surplus in 28 years, hailed by
the government as a rare spot of good news.
The national currency, the real, has also risen by 9.5 per cent over the past month,
and posted a further 0.98 per cent gain on Friday, the first day of April.
That, however, has not made up for the ground lost in its 33 per cent dive against
the dollar in 2015.
The uptick reflected investors’ hopes that a change of government may soon
occur as unpopular and beleaguered President Dilma Rousseff struggles to stave off
impeachment. — AFP
PERSPECTIVE
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
BAD
omandailyobserver
21
LOANS
Small change for China’s banks from bad debt fixes
A
s China’s big banks
notch
up
their
weakest profit growth
in a decade, measures
from Beijing aimed at
easing their bad loan
burdens are likely to be of only marginal
help in the near term.
With interest margins shrinking in
the face of successive interest rate cuts
and non-performing loans (NPL) at a
10-year high, China’s Big Four stateowned banks reported near-flat or
falling quarterly profits last week and cut
their dividends.
Industrial and Commercial Bank
of China (ICBC), the world’s biggest
bank by assets, reported no growth in
fourth-quarter profit from a year ago,
while profits for Bank of China (BoC),
Agricultural Bank of China (AgBank)
and China Construction Bank (CCB)
were all up or down just a per cent or
two.
Chinese banks’ NPLs ballooned to a
10-year high of 1.27 trillion yuan ($196
billion) at the end of last year, or 1.67 per
cent of all loans outstanding, according
to data from the China Banking
Regulatory Commission (CBRC).
To address this growing strain on
their balance sheets, policymakers are
preparing to introduce regulations to let
banks convert loans into stakes in the
struggling borrowers.
The central government has also
granted six large banks a total quota of
50 billion yuan to issue asset-backed
securities (ABS) with NPLs as the
underlying assets, Reuters reported last
month.
A third measure under consideration
could cut the level of provisions banks
are required to make against doubtful
loans.
Matthew Smith, a senior analyst
at Macquarie Securities, said the
regulatory measures were net positives,
but expected any impact to take time.
“Things are getting worse not better,”
he said.
Both ICBC and BoC top executives
said they expected net interest margins
to continue falling in 2016.
Investors remain to be convinced,
too. ICBC and CCB are trading at only
70 per cent of the forward book value
of their assets, while BoC and AgBank
are trading at 60 per cent, according to
Chinese banks are required
StarMine data.
SWAPPING BAD FOR BAD: to set aside funds equivalent
Swapping debt into equity in a troubled to at least 150 per cent of
borrower might get bad loans off lenders’
bad loans to cover losses.
books, but as CCB Chairman Wang
Hongzhang warned earlier this month, That loan loss provision ratio
there was a danger of simply converting for the sector as a whole was
“bad debt into bad equity”.
181 per cent at the end of
Edmond Law, banking analyst at
UOB Kay Hian (Hong Kong) Ltd, said last year.
it effectively just delayed recognition of
bad debts and could prove to be a long- tie up more regulatory capital, since
risk-weighting for such assets is between
term drag.
Analysts also note that such swaps four and 12.5 times the risk weighting
ACQUISITION
for corporate loans, leaving banks less
capacity to make new loans to stronger
borrowers.
Although smaller lender China
Merchants Bank (CMB) has set up a
working group to study such swaps,
the scheme is “not a major channel for
commercial banks to resolve NPLs”, its
vice governor Li Hao said.
The second measure, allowing
banks to issue securities backed by
NPLs, adds a new channel for banks to
manage troubled loans, but bankers and
analysts say the programme is small and
problematic.
“Who is actually going to be there to
buy this stuff?” asked Macquarie’s Smith.
“If there’s a legitimate party, they are
going to demand a significant discount.”
While demand could be weak, there
is no shortage of doubtful loans to
feed into them. Special mention loans,
which refer to loans that can quickly
turn sour, rose to 2.89 trillion yuan last
year, pushing total troubled loans in the
banking system to more than 4 trillion
yuan, CBRC data showed.
LOWERING PROVISIONING:
Analysts and bankers say a cut in loan
loss provision requirements, which the
CCB president said last week was being
studied by regulators, would have the
most immediate impact on financial
statements.
Chinese banks are required to set
aside funds equivalent to at least 150 per
cent of bad loans to cover losses. That
loan loss provision ratio for the sector as
a whole was 181 per cent at the end of
last year. The big state banks all reported
lower provision ratios that approached
the 150 per cent threshold, led by CCB
at 151 per cent.
None of the banks disclosed when
regulatory changes might take place,
but finance magazine Caixin reported
last month that seven lenders may have
received permission to start the process.
Though relaxing the provisions will
feed through into higher profits, it won’t
make any difference to the quality of
the loans, and could leave banks underprepared.
“If this buffer is reduced, then it
means the bank’s ability to absorb nonperforming loan losses will decline,” said
Yulia Wan, an analyst at Moody’s.
— Reuters
PAY RISE
Anbang’s Starwood retreat is setback UK’s new minimum
wage feeds in to
for China’s M&A campaign
‘Brexit’ debate
A
nbang
Insurance
Group Co’s unexpected
withdrawal this week of
its $14 billion offer to
buy Starwood Hotels &
Resorts Worldwide Inc is a wider blow
to the unprecedented drive by Chinese
companies to acquire North American
and European assets.
Fresh disclosures by Starwood on
last Friday showed how Anbang’s hardcharging Chairman Wu Xiaohui backed
out of the deal even after calling Starwood
Chief Executive Thomas Mangas as early
as March 29 to assure that the Anbang
consortium needed “a couple of days” to
finalise its proposal.
Instead, on the afternoon of March 31
a representative of Anbang consortium’s
legal counsel Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP delivered the
unexpected news to Starwood’s legal
counsel Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
that the Chinese-led consortium is
abandoning the multi-billion dollar bid
for Starwood.
That brought down the curtains on
two weeks of high drama during which
Anbang and its consortium partners J C
Flowers and Chinese private equity firm
Primavera Capital came within striking
distance of owning some of the world’s
best known hotel brands including
Sheraton and Westin hotels.
“Though Anbang has decided to
withdraw from the Starwood situation,
don’t yet count it out,” Primavera
chairman Fred Hu said.
From semiconductors and industrial
equipment, to financial services and
real estate, China’s insatiable appetite
for Western companies has pushed the
country’s announced outbound crossborder M&A to $101.1 billion yearto-date, nearly surpassing the full-year
record of $109.5 billion set last year.
Yet Anbang’s abrupt move, which
came after Starwood said that the Chinese
insurer’s latest offer was “reasonably
likely” to be superior to a cash-andstock deal with Marriott International
Inc, added fuel to concerns that many
Chinese companies may not be able to
deliver on their acquisition expectations.
M
A woman walks past the ‘W London’ hotel in Leicester Square in central London. — Reuters
“To succeed in the US, Chinese
companies will have to adapt to American
styles of governance and transparency.
It will be difficult to close mega deals
without a more open style, so we may see
more modest deals until China changes,”
said Erik Gordon, a professor at the
University of Michigan’s Ross School of
Business.
To be sure, the largest M&A deal of
this year thus far globally is by a Chinese
company: China National Chemical
Corp’s agreement to acquire Swiss seeds
and pesticides group Syngenta for $43
billion.
Several Chinese companies, however,
are having trouble convincing Western
peers that they are a credible M&A
counterparty.
Anbang’s case could make corporate
boards in the United States and Europe
more sceptical about the ability and
motives of Chinese buyers, investment
bankers and lawyers said.
CONCERNS OVER STARWOOD’S
INTENTIONS: Starwood had declared
Anbang’s previous $78 per share cash
offer superior to Marriott’s on March
18. This meant that Starwood deemed it
to be fully financed, and that it expected
“To succeed in the US,
Chinese companies will
have to adapt to American
styles of governance and
transparency. It will be
difficult to close mega deals
without a more open style,
so we may see more modest
deals until China changes.”
it to clear the Committee on Foreign
Investment in the United States, an
interagency panel that reviews deals
to ensure they do not harm national
security.
Marriott, however, raised its bid on
March 21, and Starwood responded with
a new $82.75 bid disclosed on March 28.
Anbang was expected to firm up that
offer in order for Starwood to deem it
superior.
Anbang said on Thursday that
it withdrew its offer due to “market
considerations”, without elaborating.
One of Anbang’s private equity partners,
Primavera Chairman Hu, said Anbang
walked away to avoid a protracted
bidding war, even though Marriott had
not disclosed a higher offer.
“We have little independent insight
into what happened, but based on what
Starwood has told us, Anbang did not
deliver the same kinds of undertakings
or arrangements that would have allowed
the Starwood board to conclude that they
were credible at $82.75,” Marriott Chief
Executive Arne Sorenson told investors
and analysts on a conference call.
Anbang became concerned that
Starwood had no intention of declaring
its latest offer superior and was stalling
for time for Marriott to come in with a
new offer, according a source close to
Anbang’s consortium.
Sources close to Starwood, however,
said Anbang did not deliver the assurances
on financing its latest offer it had said it
would on Monday, and had since had no
communication with Starwood until its
withdrawal on Thursday.
Chinese financial magazine Caixin
reported last month that China’s
insurance regulator would likely reject
a bid by Anbang to buy Starwood, since
it would put the insurer’s offshore assets
above a 15 per cent threshold for overseas
investments. — Reuters
ore than a million British workers were given a pay rise on
last Friday as a higher minimum wage came into force, an
economic experiment that fed in to a tense political debate
on whether the country should leave the European Union.
Finance Minister George Osborne (pictured) last year announced a series
of increases in the wage that will make it 13 per cent higher than it would
otherwise have been by 2020.
He hopes the change will boost productivity and make work more
rewarding than welfare. But businesses in the typically low-paying
hospitality, retail and social care sectors have said they might cut staff in
response. A government minister who wants Britain to leave the European
Union said on Friday the increase
would make Britain more attractive
for foreign workers at a time when
net migration is running far above
the government’s target.
Britain holds what is shaping up
to be a closely fought referendum
on its membership of the bloc on
June 23.
The country’s independent
budget forecaster, the OBR,
estimates the wage increase will
result in 60,000 fewer jobs and increase business costs by around 1 per
cent of corporate profits.
A survey last year by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation
(REC) said concerns among employers had already contributed
to a slowdown in hiring. But a separate survey by the Centre for
Macroeconomics, a research body, found more than half of 37 leading
economists it questioned saw no significant hit to jobs.
MIGRANT MAGNET: Osborne, whose political standing has been
hurt by two U-turns on planned cuts to welfare payments in recent
months, said the change would mean workers aged over 25 and on the
minimum wage would get a bigger increase in annual pay than any of their
counterparts in the world.
Under the first increase, the minimum wage rose to £7.20 ($10.31) an
hour on last Friday, up from £6.70.
“The National Living Wage will help firms by addressing historic
weaknesses in the British economy,” he wrote in The Sun newspaper. “Low
wages mean little investment in the skills of too many of our workers.”
Britain first introduced a national minimum wage under Labour prime
minister Tony Blair in 1999, when business leaders warned it would ramp
up costs and force companies to hire fewer workers.
Those fears proved wide of the mark, but Culture Minister John
Whittingdale told the Times newspaper the new increase would act as a
magnet for more migrants unless Britain took control of its borders with
a vote to leave the EU.
“Wages in the UK will be so much higher than the rest of Europe,”
he said. The minimum wage has been used by an increasing number of
countries in a bid to boost economic growth, with Germany introducing
it in 2015 and Japan announcing plans to increase its version. — Reuters
22
LEISURE/CLASSIFIEDS
omandailyobserver
FREE
INFORMATION
ABOUT ISLAM
If you would like
to know more
about
Islam, please
call:
Tel : 99425598,
99250777,
99353988,
99253818,
99341395,
99379133, For
ladies: 99415818,
99321360,
99730723
Or visit:
www.11coman.om
www.islamfact.com
Manpower
FRIENDS
MANPOWER:
Filipino housemaids
and all kinds
of workers.
24489268 Tel:/
Fax: 24478153,
92462496.
·····
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.
·····
LEGAL Translation.
91169990.
·····
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.
·····
KHALIFA AlSinani Manpower
— labourers &
housemaid from
Indonesia, Kenya,
Uganda and other
countries. Al Suwaiq.
To communicate
26713500,
26713600.
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.
·····
·····
For Sale
SHOP FOR SALE
Tiles & sanitary
wares showroom,
Rustaq Sanaiya
(before Jabreen
Showroom).
97844477,
97844474.
·····
25 YEAR old well
running clinic in
Amerat for sale.
Someone interested
to invest and run the
clinic may also contact.
99874336.
·····
A SHOWROOM in Al
Qurum in strategic
location with
extravagant interior
design on 280 sqm is
offered for sale at
RO 25,000.
92470024.
·····
RESTAURANT in an
excellent location
in Salalah with
equipment and
workers. 93397812.
USED prop jacks
and Scaffolding.
99433260,
98027800.
·····
Wanted
MEDICAL cader general
physicians, dentists,
nurses, lab technicians,
pharmacists and
gynaecologists. All
the professions are
for both males and
females to work at a
medical complex in
Wilayat Al Amerat in
the Muscat Governorate
provided that they
have a practise licence
from the Ministry
of Health. It is also
requested female
receptionists with good
command of English
language and computer
skills. 90280003,
99270775.
·····
WANTED an investor
for an Arab and non
Arab ladies tailoring
shop. 99361964.
·····
·····
ͳȎ
HALBAN 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.
CLASSIFIED
SECTION
RUWI
: 24785668
·····
CARTOONS
ADAM @ HOME
CALVIN AND HOBBES
GARFIELD
STONE SOUP
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
by Brian Basset
by Bill Watterson
by Jim Davis
by Jan Eliot
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
ACROSS
3 Just the Aegean island for
me and the Spanish (5)
8 Number 100 is simply
unavailable (3,2)
10 Dolly’s possible surname
(5)
11 Garment Adam may have
on the road (3)
12 Big man in movies but
diminutive here (5)
13 Publicity for people in
need (4,3)
15 Might she be burning to go
East with Victor? (5)
18 A measure of resistance (3)
19 To lie about the position
(6)
21 Short film as a vehicle (7)
22 Poetry for love of a boy?
(4)
23 There’s a lion in the room!
(4)
24 Again quoted or trotted
out (7)
26 Out of business, does
wrong for a hundred
pounds (6)
29 A problem, some said (3)
31 A king, but he was given
stick (5)
32 To gather closely round an
extraterrestrial can be
hairy! (7)
34 The bare figures (5)
35 Belonging to us for a time,
it’s said (3)
36 All I see is wild fear (5)
37 Misbehave in dramatic and
superior style? (3,2)
38 Money for perfumes, we
hear (5)
DOWN
1 His land was very
dangerous to cross! (2,3)
2 Having a court indoors,
they listen to complaints
(7)
4 All these are full of eager
attention! (4)
5 Duck liver suits him (6)
6 The rest consists of stewed
eels and a bit of pie (5)
7 They may have a blistering
sort of effect (5)
9 Brown ant, possibly (3)
12 Liked causing terrible
20
21
23
24
25
27
28
30
32
33
CRO SSW O RD
14
16
17
19
20
21
23
24
25
27
28
30
32
33
dread around the
motorway! (7)
It’s exclaimed to be part of
a tomahawk (3)
Broadcast that the school
head was in debt? (5)
A pose as a fabulist (5)
Has another look at one’s
learning (7)
Set fire to the church on
the hill (5)
Singer getting a difficult
note right (5)
Border security was the
death of Socrates (7)
Cut in crude fashion to
start even (6)
Express disapproval that
there’s so little restitution
(3)
In matters of law, it’s OK to
use a legman (5)
Relating to sound
production of coins (5)
In rugby union, an
occasion for ‘bottoms up’
(5)
Was sensitive to certain
material (4)
Extracted from the mouth
(3)
EASY PUZZLE
ACROSS
3 Gossips (5)
Dance (5)
Censure (5)
Under (7)
Term of respect (6)
Hill (3)
M East inhabitants (5)
Cover in oil (5)
Undress (5)
Liberate (4)
Be seated (3)
YESTERDAY’S CRYPTIC
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 8, Present 9, Face
facts 13, Olive 14, Crawl 15,
Page-boy 16, Re-solve 17,
Twain 18, N-ot so 20, Socks
22, B-urn-ed 23, Dog-end 25,
Set-back 27, Partial 30, Carrot
31, Rib-Al-d 32, B-R-eam
35, Spoon 36, A-men-d 37,
Address 39, Lighter 41, Lined
42, Where 43, M-and-ator-y
44, Boulde-r.
DOWN: 1, Trains 2, As well
as 3, Knocked back 4, Call
names 5, See-ping 6, Hanging
out 7, Stab (rev) 10, Courts
11, M-aster-y 12, By-word 19,
The sa-me 21, C-heeri-o 24,
Laid hands on 26, Brown study
28, Fir-e alar-m 29, Han-din-g
30, C-as-tle 32, B-ode w-ell
33, Misses (missus) 34, Par-rots 38, Eleven 40, Go-a-l (rev).
8 Deception (5)
10 Scope (5)
11 Wildebeest (3)
12 Understood (5)
13 Twist (7)
15 Ski-slope (5)
18 Age (3)
19 Metric weights (6)
21 Mixed (7)
22 Merely (4)
23 Greek letter (4)
24 Church (7)
26 Opening move (6)
29 Charged particle (3)
31 Regions (5)
32 Wooded areas (7)
34 Severe (5)
35 Manner (3)
36 Calm down (5)
37 Garret (5)
38 Strayed (5)
YESTERDAY’S EASY
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 8, Reveals
9,
Barbarian 13, Movie 14, Irate
15, Luggage 16, Dangers 17,
Halts 18, Taboo 20, Tipsy
22, Ornate 23, Ankara 25,
Vintner 27, Cardiac 30, Putter
31, Sphere 32, Proof 35, Enrol
36, Horse 37, Panacea 39,
Stammer 41, Fleas 42, Optic
43, Detention 44, Round up.
DOWN: 1, Heaven
2,
Cemetery
3, Plain-spoken
4, Face cloth 5, Abolish 6,
Frightened 7, Lava 10, Amidst
11, Dab hand 12, Fedora 19,
Bravado 21, Painter 24, Water
pistol 26, The slammer 28,
Apart from 29, Referee 30,
Please 32, Pinpoint 33, Fiasco
34, Thirsty 38, Catgut 40,
Amen.
DOWN
1 Gas (5)
2 Sharply (7)
4 Warmth (4)
5 Camera stand (6)
6 Material (5)
7 Gemstone (5)
9 Tavern (3)
12 Passage (7)
14 Mineral (3)
16 Mock (5)
17 Treatise (5)
19 Anxiety (7)
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
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
Situation Vacant
URGENTLY required
experienced MEP
Engineers and
Estimators. Contact
95229608,
93214092 or
[email protected]
·····
WANTED A
Bilingual Sales
Executive, with 3 to
4 years experience
& driving licence.
Should be dynamic
and capable of
planning sales
forecast, calls and
reports. Fluency
in Arabic must.
Email CV to vijay@
bigllcoman.com
·····
REQUIRED: 1. A/C
Technicians,
2. Carpenters,
3. Electricians,
4. Plumbers,
5. Painters,
6. General Helpers.
Contact No: 94147874,
24504281. E-mail:
globalaccessunited@
gmail.com
·····
PRIVATE driver
required 99332463.
·····
PROJECT MANAGER/
CIVIL ENGINEER
WANTED
WANTED Project
Manager for a reputed
construction company,
minimum 10 years of
experience in civil and
valid driving licence
required. Contact
number 95739143.
E-mail: admin@
omanihome.com
·····
LABOUR WANTED
WANTED experienced
masons for a
reputed construction
company, handsome
package is offered.
VISA AVAILABLE
IMMEDIATELY. Contact
number 95739143.
E-mail: admin@
omanihome.com
·····
URGENTLY required
Expatriate Heavy
Duty Drivers, JCB
Operators with valid
Omani licence. Send
your CV to gdsoman@
gdsoman.com.
Contact: 99890076,
93894018, Fax:
24590866.
·····
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
10 YEARS experience
in Procurement,
Tenders, Importing,
marketing and Sales,
Organising Events.
Have car. NOC
available. Contact
94123939
·····
A COMPANY specialised
in pest control seeks to
hire Omani chartered
accountants and
receptionists
with a command in
English language.
99015218.
3-YEARS experience
in teaching, holder of
BA and B.Ed, looking
for a job in Oman,
driving licence.
[email protected]
96330962.
·····
·····
JOB opportunity
in engineering
…‘•—Ž–ƒ…›‘ˆϐ‹…‡ˆ‘”ǣ
- Architect engineer
- Civil/ structural
engineer
- Civil/ supervision
engineer
Experience: 3 years
and more, e-mail CV to:
hr.oman.eng@gmail.
com
·····
A LEBANESE
electrical engineer
for heavy equipment
inspection and repair
through a computer
program especially
CATERPILLAR. 10
year experience in
UAE. Driving licence.
99794846.
HIGH Pressure Trading
ǡ›†”‘ϐŽ‘™ǡ
looking for Accounts
Clerk and PRO with
one or two years
experience in Sohar
kindly send your CV
with expected salary at:
ƒŽœ—Žϐ‹̷‡‹Ǥƒ‡
INDIAN male, 12
years experience in
printing and advt
production and
Marketing, seeks
suitable placement.
92972898.
·····
A NEW medical
complex in Izki
required medical staff:
- 2 General doctors.
- 1 Specialist
obstetrician and
gynaecologist.
- 2 Paediatrician and
specialist.
- 1 Dermatologist.
- 1 Spec phys
otorhinolaryngology.
- 2 X-Ray technicians.
- 2 LAB technicians.
- 2 Pharmacists.
94359172.
·····
A LEADING
international company
‹–Š‡ϐ‹‡Ž†‘ˆ
information technology
headquarter in Ruwi
seeks an Omani
female (secretary)
holder of general
†‹’Ž‘ƒ…‡”–‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‡
and a resident of
Wilayat Muttrah.
The CV is emailed to
rm.allawaty@gmail.
com
·····
URGENTLY required
Building Technician.
98111363.
·····
CLASSIFIED SECTION
RUWI
: 24785668
Behind Royal Oman
Police, Adjacent
to Dhofar Building,
Ruwi.
·····
·····
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: prsabarish@
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.
·····
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
·····
Lost
SHAHID Farooq has
lost Pakistani passport
No BX8968382. Finder
please handover to ROP.
·····
MOHAMMED has lost
Pakistani passport No
AD1307921. Finder
please handover to ROP.
·····
Situation Wanted
INDIAN graduate civil
engineer from Muscat
College in 2015 with
D/L, seeks suitable
placement with
employment visa.
93121505.
omandailyobserver
Situation Wanted
23
Situation Wanted
position in education/
training industry,
communication.
96447091.
fatimahaq24@outlook.
com
INDIAN male, 26 years PAKISTANI graduate
INDIAN male 25, 2
civil engineer +
accountant, 3 years
years experience in
IOSH from Peshawar
experience
in
Oman
UAE. B.Com, good
Pakistan College in
with Omani driving
computer skills,
licence, NOC available 2015, I came here to
looking for suitable
visit with employment
seeking for suitable
position in auto spare
position. 94282980. construction company.
parts/sales. Knows
·····
94119277. E-mail:
E-mail: msjob4578@
all catalogues like
·····
m.nawaz5577@gmail.
gmail.com
BATCHING Plant
Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki
com
Operator, 15 years
etc. Currently on visit.
INDIAN male,
·····
experience in UAE and 909694804. e-mail:
23 years PG Dip
·····
Qatar, seeks immediate fahu.fahadkc56@gmail.
INDIAN female, MBA
in Petroleum
placement in Oman.
com
(25) seeking job in
ACCOUNTANT, Indian,
Engineering and
Contact
for
details:
male, 31 years, 6 years
ƒ”‡–‹‰ǡϐ‹ƒ…‡ǡ
B.Tech in Mechanical
····
experience in Dubai
99264294 Mohanan.
administration,
Engineering
and Bahrain with
Holding UAE driving
knowledge
of
Tally
B.Sc computer
·
·
·
·
·
GCC driving licence.
licence, seeks
ERP 9, having 1
science, Indian male
Good computer skills,
suitable placement
year marketing
ACCOUNTANT (Indian 35 years, total 14
seeking for suitable
immediately.
experience.
Contact
female, 30 years), well years experience in
position. 92791218,
95880127,
95910427. E-mail:
computer Networking
experienced, B.Com
e:mail: vmp2485@
95084905,
ritashivprasad111@
and Hardware, 9 years
with computerised
gmail.com.
vijith2573459@gmail. accounting packages,
gmail.com
expertise in Oman
com
with valid Oman
presently on family
·····
·····
driving licence, seeking
visa,
looking
for
a
job
·····
suitable placement.
BCS civil engineer,
in Salalah. Contact.
INDIAN male 25, 3
96367387.
E-mail:
looking a position
3 years experienced
99087175.
years experience in
anoopfrancis18@
as a civil engineer
Pakistani driver
UAE. B-Com, looking
·
·
·
·
·
gmail.com
with reputed firm,
looking for a job.
for suitable position
two years work
95776320.
as accountant,
EDUCATIONAL
·····
expereince, PM
experience in UAE
Institution interested
·····
within government
INDIAN male, 22 years,
at shipping good
in hiring trainer
project and RE in
mechanical engineer,
INDIAN male, B.Com,
computer skills.
specialist in teaching
resiantial project,
fresher, looking for a
ϐ‹ƒ…‡ƒ†Ǥ English language and
90694804,
computer skills,
placement in
Diploma in logistics
90694804. Email:
must be native English.
fluent in speaking
any mechanical
looking for suitable
fahu.fahadkc56@
To Scheduling an
and writing english.
position. 92501866,
ϐ‹‡Ž†Ǥ‘–ƒ…–
gmail.com
interview please send
90187915, email:
sirajudheenkm.22@
95020044.
your CV to alomani_
alhasan-kh@gmail.
·····
gmail.com
institute1990@yahoo.
·····
com
·····
com
25 years experienced
ASSISTANT purchase
·····
supervisor in
INDIAN Commerce
manager, 9 years
·····
’Ž—„‹‰ƒ†ϐ‹”‡
DRIVING job urgent,
graduate with MBA
experience in Oman
ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ǡƒ˜ƒ‹Žƒ„Ž‡ Pakistani, Omani
INDIAN
male
23,
Finance, having 9
in construction
and driving licence.
BCom, IATA (Cargo),
light driving licence,
years experience
companies. Computer
95912720.
1
year
experience,
5 years experience
seeks suitable
skills driving licence
good
computer
skills,
in Oman preferred
placement. Contact
marketing experience.
·····
looking for suitable
driving job urgently.
0096893655079,
98894178.
93364039,
position in cargo/
00919916317946
INDIAN male
·
·
·
·
·
91709178
admin/accounts/back
(BE) 27 years on
·····
‘ˆϐ‹…‡Œ‘„Ǥ97826180, INDIAN female with
visit visa having 5
·····
nihalsiddheeque@gmail.
SR. Graphic Designer
years experience
nearly 10 years
com
looking for job. 10
in planning,
INDIAN male, 24 years
of experience in
years experience
scheduling and
old, on visit visa, 3
administration
and
·····
full-time. Indesign,
project
management.
years diploma in civil
HR, seeking for a
PhotoShop, Illustrator, MBA, HR Marketing
91714032.
Email:
engineering, 8 years
suitable placement.
QuarkExpress,
ashwani.srvst@gmail. experience. Contact
(male 26), 3 years
NOC available.
DreamWeaver, working experience in
com
98515106.
99242841.
experience in India and Noor Islamic Bank
·····
· · · ··
·····
Oman 95833195.
(UAE), 1 year HR
Coordinator looking
·····
for suitable placement.
MBA marketing and
901462412,
ϐ‹ƒ…‡ǡ†‹ƒˆ‡ƒŽ‡ǡ mabeenkottekaran@
10 years business
gmail.com
and IT experience in
sales and marketing,
·····
consulting, product
INDIAN male,
management rules
B.Tech E&I, 10 years
in banking and
sustainability currently experience in sales,
Ȉ ƒŒŒƒ†”ƒ
Ȉ ƒ”•ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡
procurement &
on visit visa, looking
Ȉ •‡†ˆ—”‹–—”‡ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡
Ȉ ‘””‡–
business development,
ˆ‘”•—‹–ƒ„Ž‡’”‘ϐ‹Ž‡Ǥ
6 years Oman
Ȉ ƒ—…Š…‡”‡‘‹‡•‘ˆȋ”‡•–ƒ—”ƒ–•Ǧ
Ȉ ‘„ƒ’’Ž‹…ƒ–‹‘
95431357.
experience in oil &
•Š‘’•Ǧ…Ž‹‹…•Ȍ
Ȉ Šƒ”‹‰”‡•‹†‡…‡
·····
gas sectors, seeks
Ȉ ‘„ƒ†•
Ȉ ”ƒ•’‘”–…ƒ”•
placement, Omani
INDIAN female BTech
Ȉ ‡ƒ…Š‹‰†”‹˜‹‰
Ȉ ‡ƒŽ•–ƒ–‡ȋ•ƒŽ‡Ǧ
D/L, NOC available.
civil engineer with
97233074.
3 years experience.
”‡–Ǧ‹˜‡•–‡–• Ȉ ‘—•‡•…Ž‡ƒ‹‰Ǧ•‡”˜‹…‡•ƒ†’‡•–
Having sound
…‘–”‘Ž
·····
knowledge of Revit
Stad software on
GULF experienced
family visa. Looking
Indian graphic
for suitable post.
99841230-95919344
designer, familiar in
94537638.
Photoshop, Illustrator,
92721879 - 99639264
InDesign, Coral
·····
Draw looking for
Tel: 24649597, Fax: 24649590
INDIAN female,
immediate placement.
BankMuscat account: 0397003776610011
IT graduate, BE
Contact 96397486.,
(Hons) Systems
www.karloanthony.
Bank Dhofar account: 01040141195001
Administration with
portfoliobox.net
2 years experience in
E-mail: [email protected]
teaching, seeks suitable · · · · ·
For information, please call:
MONDAY l APRIL 4, 2016 l JUMADA AL THANI 26, 1437 AH
[email protected]
‫آي أم ﺳﻲ‬
The Diabetes Package include
investigations for a known Diabetic
patient, covering:
‫اﻟـــــﻤـــــﺮﻛــــــﺰ‬
‫اﻟـﺪوﻟﻲ اﻟﻄﺒﻲ‬
1. Consultations: By 3 specialist Doctors
2. Lab Investigations: Special
Laboratory Tests for Diabetes
3. Vitals – Height, Weight, Pulse Rate,
Blood Pressure
4. Electric Cardio Gram – ECG
5. Fundoscopy – Retina Examination
6. Foot Assessment procedures
As a part of the enhanced services
and the latest inclusions, Apollo Sugar
introduces an exclusively Discounted Diabetes
Package and Special Wellness Program.
RENTING & LEASING
Tours and Airport Transfer
Tel: 24582663
GSM: 95859497,
Fax: 24582664,
[email protected]
·····
RENT a car daily or
yearly. 91169990.
·····
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]
For Rent
FLAT in Al Khuwair, 1
bedroom hall, kitchen,
toilet. 91979580,
98003444.
·····
FOR serious people
ȄϐŽƒ–•‹—–ƒœǡͳ
bedroom, hall, kitchen,
toilet. Way No 3352,
building No 3447 and
3668. 91979580,
98003444.
·····
2 BEDROOMS +
sitting room + 3
toilets + kitchen + Air
conditioners. Al Ansab
(1). 912563401.
·····
3 BEDROOM
apartment in Amerat
Phase One @RO 220.
Contact. 97782228.
·····
A HOUSE in South Al
Maabela is offered for
rent. It suits a small
family. It consists
of 3 bedrooms, a
kitchen, two sitting
rooms and 3 toilets.
The house is on 3rd
ϐŽ‘‘”Ǥ99035510,
94099309, 99556045.
·····
A VILLA in Al Hail
North consists of:
majlis, 4 bedrooms
with toilets, hall and
kitchen. 99700908.
·····
TWIN villa in Al
Maabela south consists
of: majlis, 4 bedrooms
with toilets, two halls
and kitchen, near
area supplied with
government water.
99700908.
·····
FLATS for residency
ƒ†‘ˆϐ‹…‡•‹—™‹ǡ
MBD and Darsait.
94402003
·····
P. O. Box: 565, Wadi Kabir,
Postal Code: 117,
SULTANATE OF OMAN
CLASSIFIED SECTION
Ruwi : 24785668 Behind Royal
Oman Police, Adjacent to
Dhofar Building
Car For Rent
Buttercup
Rent A Car
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.
·····
Al Shorooq Car Rent
location opposite to
Al Nahda Hospital.
99222617.
·····
Guest House
QURUM BEACH
HOTEL24564070.
·····
For Rent
NEW flats for rent at
Darsait near to
Ministry of Sports,
—–ƒœƒ”‡ƒǤŠ‡
flats includes:
™ 1 living room
™ 2 bedroom
™ Kitchen
™ 3 Toilets
™
Every room with
split A/C
™
High quality
ϐ‹‹•Š‹‰
‡–’‡”ϐŽƒ–‹•
RO 340/-. Interested
candidates please
contact: 92225523.
·····
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.
·····
FLATS in Al Ghubra, 2
bedrooms, hall, near
Indian School, Way No.
4039, building No. 4250.
Contact 99341138,
98003444.
·····
Umrah/Haj
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.
Available on UNBEATABLE prices
For Rent
·····
·····
AN apartment consists
of two bedrooms,
two toilets, a kitchen
and a living room is
offered for rent in
Sidab. 99455397,
99181929.
·····
2 BEDROOM flat in
Al Ghubra near Oman Oil
18 November Street, RO
330 monthly.
99333479 or
95215360.
ELFAYED for sedative
investment in Salalah
introduces the best
price and utilities, for
rent: Super furnished
ϐŽƒ–•ǡ†ƒ‹Ž›ǡ‘–ŠŽ›ƒ†
yearly. 98035135/
96177304/ 91788999.
AII HP, Epson, Canon,
Lexmark, Samsung
Cartridges also available
·····
APARTMENT and
shops for rent in
Al Mawaleh near
Al Bayan Hotel.
99387455/
92461818.
2-STOREY villa in
South Al Maabela
consists of majlis, 4
bedrooms with toilets
for each + 2 sitting
rooms and kitchen,
located near a public
water source. Contact
999700908
·····
2 BEDROOMS with
toilets, one sitting room
with toilet. Contact.
993803465.
2BHK ϐŽƒ–•™‹–ŠȀ•ƒ–
Ruwi MBD Area, Way
‘͵ͷʹ͸ǡ‹œœƒ—•…ƒ–
Building. 99333110/
24814853.
·····
A COFFEE shop with all
equipment in South Al
Hail near Hail Al
Awamir School.
99469900.
·····
ǣLAND
industrial shops in
Rusayl. 99323957,
95490842
·····
For Rent
VILLA in North Al Hail
consists of 4
bedrooms with toilet
for each room +
sitting room, kitchen
with airconditioner
and car parking.
99700408.
·····
A FLAT in South Al
Maabellah consists of
3 bedrooms with
toilets for each room
+ sitting room and
kitchen with
aircondition. The flat
is near a public water
surce and in excellent
location. 99700408.
·····
FLAT for rent near
Church Darsait + NIIT
new building.
92107267.
·····
Accounting
WE now offer
discount of 60% for
Auditing, Accounting,
Balance Sheets,
feasibility studies,
taxation services
and free advice.
Hurry pay your taxes
–‘ƒ˜‘‹†Žƒ–‡ϐ‹‡•Ǥ
94652276
·····
·····
2 & 3 BHK flats at
Bausher — near
Atlas Hospital.
99348493/
93200424/ 24502254.
·····
on UNBEATABLE prices
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.
SEMI furnished
All Cartridges also
available
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
·····
VILLA in Al Mawaleh (5),
5 rooms + toilets + majlis
and family living room.
92880977.
RO 10.900 only
[email protected]
FLAT for rent in
Maabela 3 master
rooms. 96088926.
·····
3 in 1 Printer
Ruwi: 24792-792
SHOWROOM in Al
Khoudh Market for
rent. 94887300.
DELUXE flat in Al
Hail South for rent. 2
bedrooms, big family
hall, 3 bathrooms,
A/C and curtains.
95120900.
HP2130
ȍ͵
VILLAS for sale/
rents KABIR/AL
),
ȋŠ‘’•Ȁ‘ˆϐ‹…‡•
for rent/ Al
Khuwair)
(Flats for rent/
Wadi Kabir).
ͻ͸ͷͻ͸͵ͶͺǤ
COMPUTER SUPPLIES
·····
For Rent
For Sale/Rent
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
SPECIAL Rates on
New Cars & 4 WDs
PEST CONTROL
OMAN CO. LLC.
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
Rent a Car
T : +968 24794501/02/03/05
F : 24794506 | M : 97086924
E : [email protected]
www.apollosugarimc.com
Facebook: apollosugarmuscat-IMC
MOH No. 2016/95
www.omanobserver.om
NEW villa in Al Khoudh 6
is offered for rent. The
premise comprises 6
bedrooms, male majlis,
female majlis, a split unit
air-conditioned family
living room and 8 toilets.
99668686.
·····
·····
FLATS for rent in Al
Khuwair, Al Hail, Wadi
Kabir, Al Falaj, MBD and
Muttrah. 99119699/
95250300/
24813002.
2 FLOOR house at
Al Hail North. Each floor:
3 bedrooms,
3 bathrooms, kitchen,
store, 1 sitting
room. 92133551,
95067585
·····
·····
CLASSIFIED SECTION
RUWI : 24785668 Behind
Royal Oman Police, Adjacent
to Dhofar Building, Ruwi.
CLASSIFIED SECTION:
Ali al Maashari: 99639264 [email protected]
Mohammed al Rashdi: 99841230 [email protected]
94501166
DIRECT: 24649595 — FAX : 24649590
MONDAY | APRIL 4, 2016 | JUMADA AL THANI 26, 1437 AH
P26
P27
P28
Inside
Afridi quits as Pakistan captain Higuain turns zero from hero Assarain thrash Al Turki by 7 wickets FOLLOW US ON:
SPORT BRIEFS
www.omanobserver.om
[email protected]
MORGAN SENDS LEICESTER 7 POINTS CLEAR
Gourcuff quits as
Algeria coach
ALGIERS: Christian Gourcuff on Sunday
stood down as coach of Algeria over two
years before the end of his contract.
The Algerian Football Federation
announced his departure on their official
website, saying that they had “ended his
contract amicably at his request”.
The Frenchman had told his bosses of
his wish to leave on Thursday, according
to local reports, on the plane flying back
from an African Cup of Nations match
against Ethiopia.
After three wins and a draw, Algeria
are top of their qualifying group for the
2017 African Cup of Nations, needing
just one win from their remaining games
against Seychelles away on June 3 and
Lesotho at home on September 2 to
guarantee qualification.
The former France international was
appointed in 2014. — AFP
Momota win Indian
Open men’s title
Wes Morgan scores a goal for Leicester
City against Southampton. — Reuters
NEW DELHI: Ratchanok Intanon of
Thailand pulled off an upset win over
China’s reigning Olympic champion Li
Xuerui to clinch the Indian Open super
series title in New Delhi on Sunday.
The world number five Ratchanok,
21, held her nerve in the women’s
singles final at the Siri Fort stadium,
thrashing the world number two 21-17,
21-18 in straight games. In the men’s
singles final, second-seeded Kento
Momota of Japan pocketed the title with
a 21-15, 21-18 win over Denmark’s rising
star Viktor Axelsen.
Li, seeded third, tried to put up a
fight but could do little to stop the Thai
sensation who unleashed cracking shots
on her way to a memorable win, having
lost in the final last year at the same
venue. “Li has good skills, she is a very
attacking player,” an elated Ratchanok
said after the match.
The Indian challenge had ended
Saturday with the shock ouster of
defending champion Saina Nehwal at
the hands of Li in a thrilling semifinal.
Men’s winner Momoto said the
victory would put him in good stead
ahead of the Rio Olympics. — AFP
Clipper sailor
buried at sea
LONDON: An amateur British
sailor who died after being swept
overboard into the Pacific Ocean
while competing in a yacht race
has been buried at sea, organisers
said on Sunday. Sarah Young, 40, a
businesswoman from London, was
washed overboard from the IchorCoal
yacht on Friday while competing in
the round-the-world Clipper Race.
Her body was later recovered
by her crewmates and race founder
Robin Knox-Johnston promised a
full investigation into Young’s death,
saying the key area of concern was
why she was not tethered to the
yacht as required by standard safety
procedures. Darren Ladd, skipper
of the IchorCoal yacht, told the BBC:
“The crew stood on deck with all the
courage and dignity we could muster.”
LEICESTER: Leicester City captain Wes
Morgan scored his first goal in almost a
year as the Premier League title-chasers
edged Southampton 1-0 on Sunday to
establish a potentially decisive sevenpoint lead.
Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-1 draw
at Liverpool on Saturday had given
Claudio Ranieri’s men an opportunity to
strengthen their grip on first place and
they duly took it courtesy of Morgan’s
38th-minute header.
It was Leicester’s fifth 1-0 victory in
six matches and left the east Midlands
club needing 12 points from their final
six games to claim the first top-flight
title in their 132-year history.
“Everyone is expecting something
more for us and we are in the cloud,
but we have to keep concentrating,” said
Leicester manager Ranieri. “I don’t want
to think about champions. I want to
focus on the match. There is a chance for
us to be champions this season, but we
have to be professional.”
Leicester were bottom of the table
a year ago, but are now within sight of
one of the most sensational underdog
triumphs in world football history.
Meanwhile, Southampton manager
Ronald Koeman, whose side remain
seventh, was left to rue two penalty
appeals for handball in each half that
were turned away by referee Michael
Oliver. “This is a big match,” Koeman
said. “It is about the Premier League title
and our ambitions to play in Europe.
“I don’t say they don’t deserve the
victory, that they don’t fight and have
amazing spirit, but if it is a penalty and a
red card, they don’t win.”
With
chairman
Vichai
Srivaddhanaprabha laying on free
doughnuts and bottles of beer for home
fans to mark his birthday and ‘Leicester
City Champions 2016’ scarves for sale on
the walk to the ground, the atmosphere
could barely have been more festive at a
sun-soaked King Power Stadium.
In a bid to counter Leicester’s twopronged strike-force of Jamie Vardy and
Shinji Okazaki, Southampton deployed
a back three and while the home side
made the early running, the clearest
opportunities of the first half fell to the
visitors.
SOUTHAMPTON APPEAL
Their best chance saw Graziano Pelle
free Sadio Mane, who rounded Kasper
Schmeichel and shot, only for the ball to
strike Danny Simpson’s right forearm as
he came across to cover the vacant goal.
Southampton appealed for a penalty,
but the right-back’s arm had remained
close to his body so referee Oliver waved
play on.
Pelle also headed over from a Cedric
Soares cross, while Jose Fonte fully
extended Schmeichel with a rising drive
from 25 yards and Jordie Clasie shot
narrowly over after outmuscling Riyad
Mahrez. But with Southampton poised
to poop the party, Leicester struck,
Christian Fuchs guiding a cross into
the box from the left flank and Morgan
outjumping Clasie to plant a captain’s
header inside the left-hand post.
Dusan Tadic replaced Matt Targett
at half-time for Southampton, who
changed to a 4-2-3-1 system, but they
were almost undone within seconds
of the restart, with Victor Wanyama
booked for putting an arm in Vardy’s
face as the England striker looked to
burst clear.
Just past the hour, it took a superb
one-handed stop from Southampton
goalkeeper Fraser Forster to prevent
Fonte steering Danny Drinkwater’s cross
into his own net.
Ten minutes later Forster was at it
again, parrying from right on the goalline after Simpson took aim at a gaping
goal from Vardy’s low cross.
Koeman had seen his side come from
2-0 down to beat Liverpool 3-2 in their
previous game and he threw caution to
the wind by sending on Charlie Austin
and James Ward-Prowse for Clasie and
Steven Davis.
Seconds after coming on Austin
had a strong penalty appeal when his
shot struck Robert Huth’s outstretched
left hand, but to the frustration of
Southampton — and Tottenham,
Arsenal and Manchester City — Oliver
was again unmoved. Vardy might have
settled the home nerves late on, only for
Forster to repel his prodded effort, but it
mattered not. — AFP
Maldini, the father of 1990s club icon Paolo Maldini, made 412 appearances with the Rossoneri between 1954-966
Milan lead tributes on death of Cesare Maldini
Italy’s coach Cesare Maldini smiles during training in Senlis in this July 2
1998 file photo. — Reuters
MILAN: AC Milan led the Serie A tributes
to former defender and club legend Cesare
Maldini, who died on Sunday at the age of
84.
Maldini, the father of 1990s club icon
Paolo Maldini, made 412 appearances with
the Rossoneri between 1954 and 1966,
winning four league titles including a first
‘scudetto’ in his first season with the club.
Maldini had the honour of lifting the
trophy at Wembley in 1963 when Milan
became the first Italian club to win the
European Cup, with victory over Eusebioinspired Benfica.
He had played 14 times for Italy,
including their 1962 World Cup campaign
in Chile before hanging up his boots in
1966.
Maldini returned to Milan for an illfated spell as a coach, spending less than
one season on the bench in 1973-1974,
when Giovanni Trapattoni was ushered in
to take over for the remaining games that
year.
A minute’s silence was held before the
Udinese v Napoli clash early on Sunday and
was due to be observed in the remaining
seven league games.
Meanwhile, a statement by Milan said:
“President Silvio Berlusconi and the rest of
the club will always remember his charisma,
kindness and warm smile with fondness.
“The club sends its condolences to the
Maldini family and the loss of such a key
figure in Rossoneri history has left everyone
at AC Milan moved and saddened.”
Maldini’s son Paolo followed in his
footsteps and went on to enjoy unrivalled
success at the club during their 1990s
heyday.
Maldini senior eventually returned to
coaching, taking over Italy ahead of the
1998 World Cup in France only to leave his
post under a cloud after the tournament
when his outdated tactics and selection
choices prompted widespread criticism in
the Italian media.
He returned to Milan to take a job as the
club’s chief scout and in March 2001 took
over from coach Alberto Zaccheroni for
the closing stages of the 2000-2001 season,
overseeing the memorable 6-0 victory over
Inter Milan.
Roberto Mancini, the current coach
of Inter who spent his palying days at
Sampdoria and Lazio, was among those
paying tribute to Maldini. “With the loss of
Maldini, Italian football has lost a leading
light. A hug to his son Paolo and to the
family. Ciao Cesare!” — AFP
26
omandailyobserver
SPORT
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
BOOM
BOOM
Afridi steps down as
Pakistan T20 captain
West Indies players celebrate with the trophy after winning the World T20 tournament women’s final against Australia at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. — AFP
KEY PARTNERSHIP: West Indies rode a blistering 120-run opening stand
Windies stun Aussies to claim
maiden women’s T20 crown
KOLKATA: Powerful
half-centuries
from
Hayley Matthews
and
skipper
Stafanie
Taylor fired
the
West
Indies
to
their maiden
women’s World
Twenty20
crown
in
a
thrilling
last-over
win against
Australia in
Sunday’s final
West Indies’
Hayley
Matthews plays
a shot. — AFP
in Kolkata.
Chasing a competitive 149
for a win against the three-time
champions, West Indies rode
a blistering 120-run opening
stand between Matthews (66)
and Taylor (59) to triumph
with three balls to spare.
The Windies won
by eight wickets at
the Eden Gardens
stadium as they
picked up their first
win against Australia at their ninth
attempt.
“Words can’t explain what I’m feeling
right now. Means so much for us and
especially the people of the Caribbean,”
said Windies wicketkeeper Merissa
Aguilleira.
Player of the match Matthews and
Taylor, who looked determined from the
word go, acquired 16 runs off the sixth
over, including a humongous six from
Matthews.
A destructive Matthews clobbered
three sixes and six boundaries during
her 45-ball blitz that made the Aussie
bowling attack appear pedestrian.
Taylor played a more sedate but
commanding innings to lead the
Windies to an historic title after three
previous failed semifinal attempts.
Leg-spinner Kristen Beams got
Mathews caught at mid-wicket in the
16th over and 18 balls later Rene Farrell
saw the back of Taylor but the wickets
only proved to be minor hiccups on the
Windies’ road to victory.
Wild celebrations erupted from the
Caribbean dugout as Britney Cooper hit
the winning runs to script a new chapter
in Windies women’s cricket.
The Caribbean women danced
with their male counterparts, who
play England in the men’s final later
on Sunday. The West Indies men can
now complete a rare hat-trick after the
Under-19 boys lifted the youth World
Cup in February.
Earlier after electing to bat, skipper
Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani helped
Australia post 148 for five against a
sloppy West Indies fielding display.
The Aussies lost opener Alyssa
Healy early but a 77-run second wicket
partnership between Lanning (52) and
Villani (52) set the tone for a formidable
score. Villani’s 37-ball knock was laced
with nine fours as she and Lanning were
helped by some shoddy West Indies
fielding as captain Taylor juggled seven
bowlers.
Medium-pacer Deandra Dottin was
the pick of the Windies bowlers with two
wickets, those of Villani and Ellyse Perry,
the latter of whom chipped in with 28
runs off 23 balls including the only two
sixes of the Aussie innings.
“Full credit to the West Indies they
came out with the bat, did not quite
get the result we wanted,” Lanning said
afterwards. — AFP
ISLAMABAD: Shahid Afridi on Sunday announced he would step down as
Pakistan’s captain in the game’s shortest format following his team’s early exit
from the World Twenty20 in which he was branded “absolutely clueless” by his
manager.
The 36-year-old, nicknamed ‘Boom Boom’ for his fierce hitting, had suffered
a drop in form over the past two years and was unable to steer Pakistan
through the group stages of the competition in India.
“Today I wish to inform my fans in Pakistan & all over the world that I am
relinquishing the captaincy of the T20 Pakistani team of my own volition,” he
said in a statement.
Afridi was appointed T20 captain for the second time in 2014, with his
contract set to expire following the World T20 in India in 2016.
He led the team to the semifinals of the same tournament in a previous
stint as captain in 2010, but was removed a year later.
In 43 matches as captain, he led his team to 19 wins, 23 losses and one tie.
“For me it was a great honour to lead my country,” he said.
“I intend to continue to play the game for my country and league etc., and
request my fans for kindly keep praying and supporting me for my best future
performances for Pakistan (as a player).”
The 2009 champions had been widely criticised by fans for a lacklustre
performance at the World T20 with just one victory, against unfancied
Bangladesh, and big losses to India, New Zealand and Australia.
Afridi’s tactical nous and off-field leadership had come under fire in two
separate post-mortem reports prepared by team manager Intikhab Alam and
head coach Waqar Younis.
“Much to our chagrin (Afridi) was a captain in his farewell event after a
career spanning nearly 20 years, yet absolutely clueless in terms of on-field
tactics and off-field leadership,” wrote Alam in his assessment, which was
widely leaked to the press.
“We lost to New Zealand, Asia Cup and the World T20 due to poor
captaincy. Over several occasions, I had made it clear that Shahid Afridi was
not performing with the bat, ball or as a captain but I was not listened to,” said
Younis in his report.
On Wednesday, Afridi took to Facebook and Twitter to issue a one-minute
video apology to the cricket-mad country but stopped short of announcing
his retirement.
“Today, I, Shahid Afridi, apologise to the whole nation for not being able to
fulfil the hopes of myself and my team,” he said.
Afridi has been a fan favourite since he burst onto the scene in 1996,
striking a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in only his second match to set a
world record that was unbeaten for 17 years.
He became known as a bowling all-rounder in the second half of his career
and was instrumental in Pakistan’s early successes in Twenty20, including their
2009 victory. — AFP
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi bats during a training session at the Punjab
Cricket Stadium Association Stadium in Mohali. — AFP
Azarenka beats Kuznetsova for Miami crown
The Belarus player became only the third woman to sweep the Miami-Indian Wells double in the same season
MIAMI: Two-time Australian Open
champion Victoria Azarenka, who
missed much of the past two seasons
with injuries, is making up for lost
time, winning her third title of the year
Sunday at the WTA Miami Open.
The former world number one
from Belarus beat two-time Grand
Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova
of Russia 6-3, 6-2 for her third Miami
hardcourt crown.
“I have so many great memories
here,” said Azarenka. “It’s always a
pleasure to come.”
Azarenka, who also took the trophy
in 2009 and 2011, won her 20th career
title and added to a 2016 trophy haul
that includes Brisbane and Indian
Wells, where she beat top-ranked
Serena Williams in the final two weeks
ago.
“I definitely had difficulties getting
back with my motivation mentally
but I never had any doubt about my
abilities,” Azarenka said. “The most
important was to get my body healthy
and to go out and get to where I am
today.”
Azarenka became only the third
woman to sweep the Miami-Indian
Wells double in the same season, after
Steffi Graf in 1994 and 1996 and Kim
Clijsters in 2005.
“It’s a lot of work to be able to stay
in the present each day and not be
distracted,” Azarenka said of her 12-0
US run.
Victoria Azarenka celebrates after her
match against Svetlana Kuznetsova in
the final of the Miami Open.
RIGHT: Azarenka with the trophy
— USA Today Sports
Azarenka, 26, will jump from
eighth to fifth in the world rankings
on Monday, her first time in the top
five since March 2014. Kuznetsova, 30,
will rise from 19th to 13th. Azarenka
won her fourth meeting in a row over
Kuznetsova without dropping a set to
seize a 5-4 lead in the career rivalry.
SERVING STRUGGLES ABOUND
Azarenka broke five times in the
first set, including the final game when
Kuznetsova sent a forehand wide to
surrender the set after 40 minutes.
Broken three times herself but
crucially able to hold serve in the
second game, Azarenka had five
double faults and connected on only
48 per cent of her first serves in the
opening set.
“For me it was trying to find how
I was going to turn it around and to
be brave and accept those double
faults,” Azarenka said. “It was a lot of
missed serves. Once I focused on what
I needed to do to make it better, it
started to get better.”
Kuznetsova, while hitting 75 per
cent of her first serves in the match,
won only 45 per cent of those points
and just 14 per cent off her second
serve. “I don’t think we played a great
game, both of us,” Kuznetsova said. “I
was kind of not there with every shot
I had.”
Both struggling players kicked balls
at times in their first-set frustration.
“We both came to the final tired,
a little bit worked out,” Kuznetsova
said. “I don’t think it was unbelievable
tennis. I did what I could. Vika had a
confident game. She went for the shots.
I think she knew if she didn’t go I’d get
better in the rallies.”
In the second set, Azarenka broke
at love for a 3-1 edge and denied
Kuznetsova on a break point in the
seventh game with her only ace of the
match. She then broke for a seventh
time on a backhand winner, her 23rd
against only eight by Kuznetsova, to
end matters after 77 minutes.
“In the second set I served better
and created more opportunities,”
Azarenka said. “She has good defense
and it was important to break down
that defence by going for my shots.”
Both players said they hoped talk
the event could move Orlando, Brazil
or China, which hosts seven WTA
events, was premature. — AFP
Caribbean
Premier League
confirms
Florida fixtures
LONDON: This year’s Twenty20
Caribbean Premier League will break
new ground by staging matches in the
United States for the first time, with
several fixtures in Florida in July.
The games, starting with the night
match between Guyana Amazon
Warriors and the Barbados Tridents
on Friday, July 28, will all take place
at the Lauderhill Stadium in Fort
Lauderdale. All six teams in the
franchise competition will be on show
at the 10,000 capacity stadium across
four days of action from July 28-31.
As well as the likes of former New
Zealand captain Brendon McCullum,
Australia’s Shane Watson and Sri
Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, all of
whom have recently retired from
international cricket, the competition
will also feature South Africa’s AB de
Villiers and Faf du Plessis.
Meanwhile, there will be plenty of
native Caribbean talent on show as
well, including Darren Sammy -- the
captain of the West Indies side that
reached Sunday’s World Twenty20
final against England in Kolkata and
big-hitting team-mate Chris Gayle.
CPL chief executive Damien
O’Donohoe, in a statement issued
by the tournament’s Dublin-based
spokesman, said: “We are delighted
to announce fixture information of
the ground-breaking Florida leg of
the CPL.” — AFP
SPORT
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
27
omandailyobserver
Al Harthy to demonstrate Vulcan Hypercar in Muscat
MUSCAT: Oman’s premier motor racing
export Ahmad al Harthy is to embark on
one of the most prestigious activities of
his career on April 8, in his home city of
Muscat, after being entrusted by Aston
Martin for the second time to showcase
the marque’s incredible Vulcan hypercar.
Following on from last November’s
demonstration of the Vulcan in
downtown Dubai, where the Aston
Martin Middle East and North Africa
ambassador was selected to put the
200mph car through its paces, the
34-year-old will now get back behind the
wheel during a very special event.
As a result of a recently announced
collaboration between Aston Martin
and the Red Bull Racing Formula One
Team, the British supercar manufacturer
is to play a role in the Grand Prix squad’s
first ever street demonstration in Oman
RED BULL
on Friday, 8th April.
Multiple GP winner David Coulthard
will pilot Red Bull’s RB8 car through
the Muttrah Sea Road, one of the most
historic streets in the Sultanate’s capital,
during the free-to-access event with
Al Harthy also showcasing the Vulcan
along the iconic route.
Made possible through the support
of Aston Martin Middle East and North
Africa and the Al Hashar Group, the
official dealer of Aston Martin in Oman,
Ahmad is elated to have the opportunity
to be part of such a high-profile event
in his home city and cannot wait to
drive the Vulcan in front of his many
homegrown fans.
“I am unbelievably excited about
this event, it’s such a huge occasion for
the people of Oman and it’s going to
be something to remember for sure”,
F1 SHOWRUN
Parera wins best art
for Red Bull Helmet
MUSCAT: Seventy people from various
colleges across the Sultanate, along with
several local artists, participated in
the Red Bull Helmet Art competition.
The unique competition will see the
winning helmet design brought to
reality and then worn during the Red
Bull F1 Showrun by David Coulthard
when he takes to the wheel. After the
event, the winner will go home with the
autographed helmet.
Talking about winning the
competition Daniel Parera, a design
student at the Scientific College of
Design in Seeb said: “My concept is
about the locally relevant elements. I
tried to use a few local abstract images in
the artwork. I have mainly made use of
the Oryx, which is the national animal,
which is also an elegant and graceful
animal. I have used other materialistic
elements as well as the khanjar and the
monument.”
The highly anticipated Red Bull
F1 Showrun will be held under the
patronage of HH Sayyid Taimur bin
Assad al Said and in cooperation with
the Ministry of Tourism. Touching
down on Oman sands for the very first
time the Red Bull F1 Showrun is, for
thousands of spectators, a once-in-alifetime chance to experience an F1 car
close up.
The Sultanate will host the first-time
event along the beautiful and iconic
- Muttrah Sea Road. The winning
machine, which can accelerates
from 0-100km/h in 2.4 seconds, will
accelerate past crowds on a 1.1KM strip
past the beautiful Muttrah harbour and
Riyam Park, home to Muscat’s huge
incense burner.
The Constructors’ Championship
winning machine will be driven by
David Coulthard, who will perform
a full repertoire of donuts, burnouts
and speed stretches in front of Omani
racing fans lining the streets during the
90-minute event.
The Scottish driver, dominated
Britain’s junior Formula Ford categories
in 1989 and became the first ever
recipient of the McLaren Autosport
BRDC Award for young drivers.
The Running Showcars have visited
the four corners of the world, visiting
locations that would not normally
host a Formula 1 event and in many
instances giving people their first taste
of Formula 1 in the Flesh.
The hype for the Red Bull F1
Daniel Parera
announced as
the winner of
Red Bull
Helmet Art.
said Ahmad, “I have to say many, many
thanks to Aston Martin for placing trust
in me once again to drive the Vulcan,
and a big thank you as well to Aston
and Aston Martin, this is going to be
the first major event involving the two
parties following the signing of the
partnership. It really is a huge honour for
me to be taking part and to be behind
the wheel of the awesome Vulcan. I
have been part of a Red Bull event in
Oman in the past, so cannot wait for this
upcoming one.”
Over 800bhp is produced through the
rear wheels from the Vulcan’s monstrous
7.0-litre V12 engine, which is front-mid
mounted.
The car also features a six-speed
sequential gearbox, limited slip
differential, Brembo racing brake
calipers and carbon ceramic discs for
Martin Mena and Al Hashar Group for incredible stopping power. Notably,
their support in making this happen.
the car complies with all FIA safety
“Since the recently confirmed regulations for race track use.
collaboration between Red Bull Racing
Looking ahead to the Muscat event
RONALDO ENDS BARCELONA RUN
EL CLASICO: 10-man Real came from behind to end Barcelona’s 39-game unbeaten streak
SPANISH LA LIGA TABLE AFTER SUNDAY’S
MATCHES (PLAYED, WON, DRAWN, LOST,
GOALS FOR, GOALS AGAINST, POINTS):
Shuttling service
on event day
T
he Red Bull event will have
a shuttling service available
for the public on the event
day to ease the flow of traffic and
accommodate spectators eager to
see an F1 car close up.
F1 Fans looking to beat the
traffic can access the event via
Wadi Kabir by taking the Al Bustan
Road (event organisers’ are not
recommending people to travel
on the Muttrah Sea Road). Once
spectators reach the Al Bustan
roundabout they can turn left
and follow the direction signs to
Parking A where a shuttle service
will be available to the event venue
between 12-6 pm.
For those people travelling from
Darsait (which is not recommended)
they will be required to turn left at
the Mina roundabout and follow
directions signs to Jibroo Parking
B, where there will be a shuttle
service available to the event venue
between 12 pm - 2 pm. The service
will resume at 4:20 pm after the
event has ended.
EVENT AND PARKING TIMINGS:
Event timing: 2:30 – 4 pm
Parking A - Open 12 pm to 6 pm
Parking B - Open 12 pm to 2 pm and
resume at 4:15 pm
Showrun will begin a few days before
the main event, when the team’s car
will be displayed and fired up around
various locations in Oman, including
the Omantel headquarters on April 7.
Red Bull Showruns take place at
racing circuits, on city streets, at festivals
and exhibitions. Often playing to crowds
measured in hundreds of thousands,
they give fans the chance to witness the
contained ferocity of a Formula 1 car at
very close quarters. Formula 1 is a great
sport for TV, but there is no substitute
for the ear-splitting roar of the engine,
the haze of tyre smoke and aroma of
burning rubber.
The Showrun Team has been to every
inhabited continent, from cobbled city
streets in Europe to baking deserts in
the Americas. It conquered the highest
road in the Himalayas, skated on frozen
rivers in Canada and drifted across
golden Caribbean beaches.
Red Bull Racing is an Austrian team
based in Milton Keynes, England.
Neil Slade, General Manager for Aston
Martin MENA, said: “All at Aston Martin
are proud and excited to be part of the
Red Bull Racing event, the partnership
with the team is a very important and
high-profile one. Ahmad’s upcoming
demo run at the wheel of the Vulcan is
hugely important for Aston Martin in
Oman, we are all very much looking
forward to it.”
On behalf of Al Hashar Group,
Chairman Shaikh Al Muhannad
al Hashar said: “We are absolutely
delighted to be able to support this
incredible first for Oman. It’s going
to be something very special indeed
seeing the Red Bull F1 car on Muttrah
Sea Road and equally special to see our
motor racing champion Ahmad driving
the Vulcan. We are thrilled to be part of
such a landmark occasion.”
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo scores their second goal — Reuters
BARCELONA: Cristiano Ronaldo
struck the winner as 10-man Real
came from behind to end Barca’s 39game unbeaten run 2-1 in El Clasico
at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Gerard Pique’s towering header
put the hosts in front on the night
they honoured legendary former
player and coach Johan Cruyff.
Yet, Karim Benzema quickly
levelled before Ronaldo fired home
five minutes from time after Madrid
captain Sergio Ramos had seen the
21st red card of his career.
Victory reduces Barca’s lead over
third-placed Madrid to seven points
with seven games remaining.
Atletico Madrid closed the gap
on the leaders to six points with a
5-1 thrashing of Real Betis earlier on
Saturday. “I liked everything from
my players both defensively and
offensively against a great team with
very good players,” said Madrid boss
Zinedine Zidane after a successful
first Clasico in charge.
“When I see the team like this,
fighting for their teammates, it is the
best thing for a coach.”
There was an emotive homage
to Cruyff before kick-off with over
90,000 fans holding up a display
reading “Thank you Johan” alongside
a Barca jersey with the number 14
the Dutch great adorned during his
playing career.
Yet, it was a sad end to a
spectacular run for the European
champions as they tasted defeat for
the first time since losing at Sevilla
in October. “Their first goal damaged
us and disorientated us and caught us
out of position,” said Barca coach Luis
Enrique. “One day it had to happen
and it happened today. Now we
have to prepare for the Champions
League, rest and keep going.”
Barca started by far the better
and only an incredible miss by Luis
Suarez let Madrid off the hook on 10
minutes.
Barca started on the front foot
again after the break and Navas made
a brilliant save to prevent Messi’s
cheeky chipped effort floating in
at the far post. But that save only
momentarily denied Barca as Pique
rose highest to power home Rakitic’s
corner on 56 minutes.
The lead lasted just six minutes,
though, as Benzema swivelled to
blast home Toni Kroos’s deflected
cross into the bottom corner.
The visitors’ hopes of a famous
win looked to have gone when Ramos
was finally given his marching orders
for a second booking after chopping
down Suarez seven minutes from
time. However, just two minutes
later Ronaldo struck the winner as he
controlled Bale’s cross to the far post
before slotting under Bravo. — AFP
Barcelona
Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid
Villarreal
Celta Vigo
Sevilla
Athletic Bilbao
Malaga
Eibar
Deportivo
Las Palmas
Real Sociedad
Espanyol
Real Betis
Valencia
Rayo Vallecano
Granada
Getafe
Sporting Gijon
Levante
31
31
31
30
31
30
31
30
30
31
31
30
30
31
31
31
31
31
30
30
24
22
21
15
14
13
14
10
10
7
10
9
10
8
8
7
7
7
7
6
4
4
6
9
7
9
6
9
8
16
6
8
5
10
10
10
8
7
6
6
3
5
4
6
10
8
11
11
12
8
15
13
15
12
13
14
16
17
17
18
87
51
89
37
44
43
49
29
42
40
34
37
31
28
34
43
33
28
32
28
26
15
29
25
52
35
40
28
42
44
43
41
56
45
38
63
57
54
52
54
76
70
69
54
49
48
48
39
38
37
36
35
35
34
34
31
29
28
27
24
SPANISH LA LIGA RESULTS
On Sunday
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Lekue 27) Granada 1 (Penaranda 77)
Played Saturday
Atletico Madrid 5 (Torres 36, Griezmann 41, 81,
Juanfran 64, Partey 90+1) Real Betis 1 (Ruben Castro
78)
Las Palmas 2 (Viera 50-pen, Mustafi 63-og) Valencia 1
(Rodrigo 3)
Barcelona 1 (Pique 56) Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 62,
Ronaldo 85)
Celta Vigo 1 (Nolito 30) Deportivo la Coruna 1 (Borges
21)
NOTE:
First, second and third place - Automatic
Champions League qualification
Fourth place - Champions League play-off
Fifth and sixth place - Europa League
qualification
18th, 19th and 20th - Relegated
Higuain from hero to zero against Udinese
MILAN: Gonzalo Higuain hit his 30th
Serie A goal then saw red as Napoli’s
hopes of a first title in 26 years were dealt
a blow in a bad-tempered 3-1 defeat to
Udinese.
Napoli, who last won the title when
Diego Maradona played his penultimate
season at the club in 1990, were left with
a six-point deficit to Juventus after the
champions’ 1-0 win over Empoli on
Saturday.
Trailing 2-1 at half-time thanks
to a Bruno Fernandes double which
included a spot-kick and a spectacular
overhead kick, Napoli failed to recover
after falling behind to Cyril Thereau’s
strike just before the hour.
Having seen coach Maurizio Sarri
sent from the touchlines before the
interval for protesting a second penalty
award, Napoli suffered another blow
when Higuain was given his marching
orders in the final quarter hour.
After an angry exchange with the
match referee, the Argentine striker had
to be restrained by teammates as he tried
to remonstrate with Udinese players.
If Napoli fail in their title bid on the
final matchday on May 15, this loss will
be seen as the turning point.
Napoli’s first reverse since a 1-0 defeat
to Juventus two months ago leaves them
second at six points behind four-time
consecutive champions Juventus with
Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain reacts after he received a red card during the Italian Serie
A at Friuli Stadium in Udine. — AFP
seven games remaining.
Roma are away at Lazio in the capital
derby later Sunday looking to close
their seven-point gap to second place
although defeat for Luciano Spalletti’s
visitors would brighten the Champions
League qualifying hopes of both
Fiorentina and Inter Milan, who are five
points further behind.
But Sarri was defiant: “We can’t
take anything away from Udinese, they
played great while we just never got to
play at our usual level.
“The defeat will make us angry for a
day or so, but it will also give us enough
fuel for the next seven games. “We’re
having a great campaign. We have to
pick ourselves up as soon as as possible.”
Juve’s win on Saturday prompted
coach Massimiano Allegri to proclaim:
“I hope Napoli drop points.”
Adding to the pressure, Napoli were
without injured ‘keeper Pepe Reina
(calf) for a fixture they had not won at
the Friuli since September 2007.
Udinese, despite their poor recent
form, had Reina’s replacement, Gabriel,
flapping in the Napoli net soon after
kick-off -- prior to which a minute’s
applause was held and AC Milan legend
Cesare Maldini, who died at the age of
84.
But coach Gigi De Canio affirmed:
“We didn’t turn up here just to make up
the numbers. It was a great performance
against a top side, and one that should
give us the belief that we can do it again.”
Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly
was clumsy with his shoulder charge on
Emmanuel Badu and after the referee
pointed to the spot Fernandes stepped
up to squirm a tame shot under the body
of Gabriel.
Napoli were back on level terms soon
after, Higuain hitting a crisp first-timer
past Orestis Karnezis on 24 minutes
after Jose Callejon’s drive was charged
down.
But less than a minute later, Udinese
earned another penalty when Silvan
Widmer was tripped from behind by
Faouzi Ghoulam.
This
time,
Gabriel
blocked
Fernandes’s poorly-hit shot but the
save did not calm the nerves of Sarri,
whose protestations on the touchlines
prompted his expulsion.
Udinese remained a threat, Gabriel
rushing out to punch at the feet of
former Napoli striker Duvan Zapata
after Badu’s overhead kick had sent the
ball towards goal. — AFP
28
omandailyobserver
SPORT
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
Spurs march on as Raptors clawed Grandstand finish
gives Thompson lead
San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) shoots a jump-shot over Toronto Raptors’ Jonas Valanciunas (17) during the second half at the AT&T Centre. — USA Today Sports
LOS ANGELES: A late points spree by
Kawhi Leonard saw the San Antonio
Spurs preserve their remarkable
unbeaten home record on Saturday
with a 102-95 victory over the Toronto
Raptors.
Leonard weighed in with a careerbest 33 points — including eight in the
final minute — as the Spurs extended
their winning streak at the AT&T Centre
to 39 games this year, 48 unbeaten
overall since last season.
San Antonio’s unbeaten run at home
is the second longest in NBA history
behind the Golden State Warriors’
record of 54, which came to an end
with an upset defeat against Boston on
Friday.
The Spurs have only two regular
season home games remaining —
including one against the Western
Conference leaders San Antonio —
CRICKET
LEAGUE
Powertech
thump DUE
by 69 runs,
L & T win
MUSCAT: Powertech beat
Design
Unit
Engineering
(DUE) by 69 runs in Oman
Cricket League ‘B’ division
match sponsored by the Al
Ansari group of companies at
the Municipality 1 ground on
April 1.
Batting first, Powertech
put on 203-6 in 20 overs.
Manikandan G (73 not out)
and Nishad K (53) were the top
scorers.
In reply, DUE were all out
for 134 in 17.2 overs to enable
the bonus point for Powertech.
Manikandan and Raghu were
the most effective bowlers for
Powertech.
Brief scores: Powertech 203-6 in 20
overs (Manikandan G 73 no; Moshin Raza
4-27-2) bt Design Unit Engineering
134 all out in 17.2 overs (Powertech)
Raghu 3-18-2); Points: Powertech – 3
(BP); Design Unit Engineering – 0
SIX-WICKET WIN FOR L&T
In ‘C’ division, L&T posted
a six-wicket win over Ooredoo
‘B’ in the Raha Poly Products
sponsored match at the
Municipality 1 ground.
Batting first, Ooredoo ‘B’ put
on 173-6 in 20 overs. Gaurav
Suneel top-scored with 46. In
reply, L&T scored 174-4 in 17.2
overs. N Valliappan top-scored
with 66 to enable the win. Noor
Haq claimed 2 wickets for
Ooredoo ‘B’.
Brief scores: Ooredoo ‘B’ 173-6 in 20
overs (Gaurav Suneel 46; Ratna Kumar
4-29-2) lost to L&T 174-4 in 17.2 overs
(N Valliappan 66; Noor Haq 4-29-2);
Points: L&T – 2 ; Ooredoo ‘B’ – 0
which means they will have to wait
until next year for a chance to set a new
record. Leonard’s decisive contribution
came in the closing stages with San
Antonio looking vulnerable as they
clung to an 88-84 lead.
However Leonard’s presence settled
the Spurs, and he nailed two contested
jumpers before sinking four straight free
throws to ensure the win.
San Antonio’s victory saw them
improve to 64-13 for the season,
a franchise record for wins which
surpassed the 2005-2006 team’s previous
best mark of 63-19.
Significantly as they look towards the
postseason, the Spurs have beaten every
team in the NBA this year.
San Antonio’s latest win also saw
LaMarcus Aldridge contribute 31 points
and 15 rebounds while Tim Duncan
made 11 rebounds.
Toronto’s points scoring was led
by Norman Powell with 17, one of six
players to make double figures on the
night.
The Raptors improved to 51-25,
cementing their place as the secondranked team in the Eastern Conference
behind the Cleveland Cavaliers who
lead with 54-22.
Chicago’s hopes of reaching the playoffs receded further after Reggie Jackson
scored 22 points and Tobias Harris 21 to
help the Detroit Pistons to a 94-90 win
over the Bulls at the United Centre.
Detroit are now in control of their
playoff destiny with a record of 41-36 in
the Eastern Conference standings.
The Indiana Pacers occupy the
eighth and final play-off spot from
the conference, moving to 40-36 after
beating the Philadelphia 76ers by 115102.
The Pacers were made to sweat for
the win however, taking the lead with
3:39 left after CJ Miles sunk a threepointer, part of a personal haul of 25
points from the bench.
“We’re satisfied with winning,” said
forward Paul George.
“We’re not satisfied with how we
won. Give them credit. They play hard,
they played us all the way through, made
us win this at the last two minutes.”
Chicago meanwhile are just outside
the postseason places at 38-38, putting
them at risk of missing the postseason
for the first time since 2008. — AFP
LOS ANGELES: Lexi Thompson
conjured up a scintillating finish to
open up a one-shot third-round lead
in the ANA Inspiration on Saturday,
setting up what promises to be a
thrilling final round battle for the first
Major of the season.
The 21-year-old American star —
aiming to repeat her victory in the event
in 2014 — produced back-to-back
birdies on the 15th and 16th to move
within one shot of the lead at Rancho
Mirage’s Mission Hills Country Club.
But Thompson saved her best for last
on the par-five 18th, reaching the green
in two with a superlative shot from the
fairway which left her with a 15-foot
eagle putt which she duly drained.
That gave Thompson a three-underpar 69, putting her on 10-under 206 for
the tournament, one clear of a pack of
three players led by world number one
Lydia Ko, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn
and South Korea’s Chun In-Gee.
“To finish like that really turns
around my confidence. I feel really
good going into tomorrow,” said
Thompson, who battled through a
shaky spell earlier in her round which
saw her bogey the par-three eighth and
the par-four 10th.
“This is probably the best I’ve hit it
this season,” added Thompson.
New
Zealand
prodigy
Ko,
meanwhile, hit a solid if unspectacular
round comprising three birdies and 15
pars as she chases the second Major of
her career following last year’s win at
the Evian Championship.
The 18-year-old attributed her 69
to a more aggressive approach to her
putting as well as her unerring accuracy
off the tee. “I felt like I struck the ball
a lot better today and I hit a few more
fairways,” Ko said. “The less time you’re
spending in the rough the better.”
IN CONTENTION
Thailand’s Ariya meanwhile fired a
five-under-par 67 to remain firmly in
contention on nine under.
The 20-year-old from Bangkok —
who made worldwide headlines in
2007 when she became the youngest
ever player to qualify for an LPGA Tour
event at the age of 11 — carded five
birdies and no bogeys in a flawless third
round.
Chun, who began the day one off the
pace, appeared to be determined to take
sole possession of the leaderboard after
making a flying start with birdies on her
first three holes to move to nine-under.
But the 21-year-old’s momentum
stalled over the remaining holes of the
front nine, with bogey fives on the parfour fourth and sixth holes, followed by
a further bogey on the par-three eighth
which cancelled out her superb start.
Chun however settled back into her
rhythm over the back nine, with birdies
on the 11th, 15th and 18th helping her
to a third straight 69. — AFP
NBA RESULTS
Indiana bt Philadelphia 115-102
Detroit bt Chicago 94-90
San Antonio bt Toronto 102-95
Sacramento bt Denver 115-106
Portland bt Miami 110-93
Lexi Thompson tees off on the second hole during the third round of the ANA
Inspiration tournament at Mission Hills CC — Dinah Shore Tournament Course in
Rancho Mirage, California, USA. — USA Today Sports
Aman hits century in Muscat CT win, Noorul Riaz’s ton for Enhance in vain; NBO thump C&D by 100 runs
Assarain thrash Al Turki by seven wickets
MUSCAT: Assarain thrashed Al Turki
by 7 wickets in the Oman Cricket League
‘Premier’ division match sponsored by
the Muscat Pharmacy and Stores at the
MOS ground on April 2.
Batting first, Al Turki put on 91-9 in
20 overs. Twinkle Bhandari top-scored
with 34. Ahmed Raza and Kaleem Ullah
claimed 2 wickets each for Assarain.
In reply, Assarain scored 93-3 in 13.5
overs to claim the bonus point. Zeeshan
Maqsood (27) and Arun Poulose (22)
were among runs.
Brief scores: Al Turki 91-9 in 20 overs (Twinkle
Bhandari 34; Ahmed Raza 4-16-2, Kaleem Ullah 4-142) lost to Assarain 93-3 in 13.5 overs (Zeeshan
Maqsood - 27); Points: Assarain – 3 (BP) ; Al Turki – 0
THUMPING WIN FOR MUSCAT CT
Muscat CT posted a 7-wicket win
over Enhance CT in another ‘Premier’
division match at the MOS ground.
Batting first, Enhance CT put on 229
all out in 44.1 overs. Noorul Riaz topscored with 107. Rajesh Ranpura was
the most effective bowler for Muscat CT
claiming 4 wickets. In reply, Muscat CT
scored 231-3 in 34.2 overs to claim the
bonus point. Aman Sharma hit a century
(100) and Jatinder Singh remained
unbeaten on 68.
Brief scores: Enhance CT: 229 all out in 44.1
overs (Norul Riaz 107; Rajesh Ranpura 9.1-36-4) lost
to Muscat CT 231-3 in 34.2 overs (Aman Sharma
100, Jatinder Singh 68 n.o.); Points: Enhance CT – 0
; Muscat CT – 3 (BP)
PROFESSIONAL TRIUMPH
In ‘D’ division match, Professional
Trading prevailed over Al Meer by 18
runs in the Enhance sponsored match at
the Municipality 2 ground.
Batting first, Professional Trading
managed 170-9 in 20 overs. Muthu
Murugan top-scored with 41. Puneet M
claimed 3 wickets for Al Meer. In reply,
Al Meer scored 152-9 in 20 overs. Ravi
M was not out on 49. Binu BV claimed 4
wickets for Professional Trading.
Brief scores: Professional Trading 170-9 in 20
overs (Muthu Murugan 41; Puneet M 4-23-3) bt Al
Meer 152-9 in 20 overs (Ravi M 49 n.o.; Binu BV
4-24-4); Points: Al Meer – 0 ; Professional Trading – 2
Muscat CT’s Aman Sharma (left) and Rajesh Ranpura.
ATKINS EDGE ENHANCE
In ‘E’ division, Atkins edged out
Enhance Falcons by 3 runs.
Atkins set a total of 163-7 in 20
overs. Navneeth hit 44 not out. In reply,
Enhance Falcons were all out for 160 in
19.4 overs to fall just short.
TON-UP NAJEEB POWERS BAHIHI
In ‘F’ division, Bahihi posted a 62run win over Khurshid CT. Batting first,
Bahihi scored 230-4 in 20 overs. Shareer
Najeeb top-scored with 108 not out. In
reply, Khurshid CT were all out for 168
in 16.3 overs to enable Bahihi to claim
Brief scores: Atkins: 163-7 in 20 overs (Navneeth the bonus point win.
44 no; Gunal Pandya 4-33-2) bt Enhance Falcons
160 all out in 19.4 overs (Sparsh Agarwal 62;
Tipu Ahsan Ali 3-21-3); Points: Enhance Falcons – 0
; Atkins - 2
3-WICKET WIN FOR AL FAIRUZ
In another ‘E’ division match, Al
Fairuz beat Abu Maather by 3 wickets.
Batting first, Abu Maather scored
161-8 in 18 overs. In reply, Al Fairuz
scored 163-7 in 15.1 overs with Sumesh
scoring 41 not out. Arshad Chowdary
claimed 3 scalps for Abu Maather.
Brief scores: Bahihi 230-4 in 20 overs (Shareer
Najeeb 108 no, Ashok Patel 51) bt Khurshid CT
168 all out in 16.3 overs (Shanavas 39; Kishore
Krishnan 4-30-2, Shaheer Najeeb 4-29-2); Points:
Khurshid CT – 0 ; Bahihi – 3 (BP)
OCT MABELLAH WIN
In ‘G’ division, OCT Mabellah
prevailed over Bank Muscat by 21 runs.
Batting first, OCT Mabellah scored
147-7 in 20 overs. Shabbib Pindook hit
50. In reply, Bank Muscat were all out
for 126 in 17 overs. Shabbib claimed 3
Brief scores: Abu Maather 161-8 in 18 overs wickets for OCT Mabellah.
(Nazim Mohammed 38; Manikandan 3-31-2) lost
to Al Fairuz 163-7 in 15.1 overs (Sumesh 41 no;
Arshad Chowdary 4-31-3); Points: Abu Maather – 0
; Al Fairuz - 2
Brief scores: OCT Mabellah 147-7 in 20 overs
(Shabbib Pindook 50 no; Abbas Balushi 4-37-2)
bt Bank Muscat 126 all out in 17 overs (Yousuf
Rahim 36; Shabbib 3-6-3); Points: Bank Muscat – 0
; OCT Mabellah - 2
MARH POST 2-WICKET WIN
16-RUN WIN FOR RAHRC
Also in ‘E’ division, MARH defeated
In ‘H’ division, RAHRC posted a 16Ibrahim Kishri by 2 wickets. Ibrahim
Kishri set 166 all out in 20 overs. Kamal win over Caledonian College.
Batting first, RAHRC scored 179-9
Joti hit 56. In reply, MARH scored 167-8
in 19.5 overs. Mohmmed Rizwan scored in 19 overs. Sujith Ramesh top-scored
with 45. Saud Zaman claimed 6 wickets
45. Asif Balushi claimed 4 wickets.
Brief scores: Ibrahim Kishri 166 all out in 20 for Caledonian College. In return,
overs (Kamal Joti 56; Muhammed Irfan 3-15-2) lost
to MARH 167-8 in 20 overs (Mohammed Rzwan Caledonian College were all out for 163
45; Asif Balushi 4-27-4); Points: MARH – 2 ; Ibrahim in 17.5 overs. Sujith claimed 4 wickets
Kishri – 0
for RAHRC.
OCT Mabellah beat Bank Muscat by 21 runs in ‘G’ division.
Brief scores: RAHRC 179-9 in 19 overs (Sujith
Ramesh 45; Saud Zaman 4-26-6) bt Caledonian
College 163 all out in 17.5 overs (Israr Akram
38; Sujith Ramesh 3.5-32-4); Points: Caledonian
College – 0 ; RAHRC – 2
100-RUN WIN FOR NBO
In another ‘H’ division match, NBO
thumped Colour & Design (C&D) by
100 runs at the OAC 3 Ground.
NBO scored 198-4 in 20 overs. Khalil
Ahmed (47) and Maanhas Kapoor (43)
were among runs. In reply, Colour &
Design were all out for 98 in 15.5 overs.
Zaheer Abbas claimed 3 wickets for
NBO to enable the bonus point win.
Brief scores: NBO 198-4 in 20 overs (Khalil
Ahmed 47) bt Color & Design 98 all out in 15.5
overs (Zaheer Abbas 3.5-16-3); Points: Colour &
Design – 0 ; NBO – 3 (BP)
10-WICKET WIN FOR KHALSA
In ‘I’ division, Khalsa United thrashed
ISWK by 10 wickets.
Batting first, ISWK were all out for
117 in 19.5 overs. Mohammed Yasser
claimed 3 wickets for Khalsa United.
In reply, Khalsa raced to 121-0 in 13.2
overs to enable the bonus point win.
Sushil Kadam (48) and Rashid Aziz (52)
remained unbeaten.
176-8 in 20 overs with Muhammed Bilal
top-scoring with 54. In reply, Majees
B were all out for 131 in 19.4 overs.
Muhammed Bilal claimed 3 wickets for
Douglas OHI to enable the bonus point.
Brief scores: Douglas OHI 176-8 in 20 overs
(Muhammed Bilal 54; Naushad 4-26-2) bt Majees
‘B’ 131 all out in 19.4 overs (Aneeq Jassimh 32;
Muhammed Bilal 3.4-16-3); Points: Majees B – 0 ;
Douglas OHI – 3 (BP)
BRONZE ROCK TRIUMPH
In ‘J’ division, Bronze Rock beat
Techno Elevators by 19 runs at the SQU
Ground. Bronze Rock scored 146 all out
in 18.3 overs. Vineet Pal top scored with
56. Tasleem Khan claimed 4 wickets for
Techno. In reply, Techno Elevators were
all out for 127 in 18.5 overs. Vineet Pal
and Syed Akbar claimed 3 wickets for
Bronze Rock.
Brief scores: Bronze Rock 146 all out in 18.3
overs (Vineet Pal 56; Tasleem Khan 4-14-4) bt
Techno Elevators 127 all out in 18.5 overs
(Mohammed Amir 31; Vineet Pal 4-10-3); Points:
Bronze Rock – 2 ; Techno Elevators - 0
7-WICKET WIN FOR HFP
In ‘J’ division, HFP thrashed Mani’s
Azad by 7 wickets. Mani’s Azad scored
117 all out in 16.2 overs. Prasobh Mohan
Brief scores: ISWK 117 all out in 19.5 overs and Sreeraj claimed 3 wickets each for
(Mohammed Yasser 4-13-3) lost to Khalsa United
121-0 in 13.2 overs (Sushil Kadam 48 no, Rashid HFP. In reply, HFP scored 118-3 in 10.4
Aziz 52 no); Points: ISWK – 0 ; Khalsa United – 3 (BP) overs to enable the bonus point win.
45-RUN WIN FOR DOUGLAS OHI Prasobh Mohan hit 44 not out.
In another ‘I’ division match, Douglas Brief scores: Mani’s Azad 117 all out in 16.2
overs (Prasobh Mohan 2.2-12-3) bt HFP 118-3 in
OHI beat Majees ‘B’ by 45 runs.
10.4 overs (Prasobh Mohan 44 no); Points: HFP – 3
Batting first, Douglas OHI managed (BP) ; Mani’s Azad - 0
ENTERTAINMENT
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
omandailyobserver
29
TINSELTOWN
I can inspire young
women: Rihanna
R
Peace and
love live
again
as singer Donovan hits the road
Q FIACHRA GIBBONS
T
THE SIXTIES ENDED
NEARLY HALF A
CENTURY AGO BUT
ITS UTOPIAN DREAMS
OF A BETTER WORLD
BURN ON IN THE MAN
WHO PENNED SUCH
PSYCHEDELIC HITS AS
“MELLOW YELLOW” AND
“SUNSHINE SUPERMAN”.
AT NEARLY 70, DONOVAN
IS ON THE ROAD AGAIN,
PLAYING TO AUDIENCES
ACROSS EUROPE IN
WHAT HE CALLS HIS
“RETROSPECTIVE”TOUR.
he folk singer Donovan has a secret plan
for world peace. It involves ukuleles,
meditation and his old friends Paul
McCartney and Ringo Starr. “We are
helping a great guy who is getting Israeli
and Palestinian children together to play
ukuleles for peace,” he said on a visit to the French capital.
“Imagine if we could get them to meditate together too.
That is our secret weapon for peace. We are already doing
it with Catholic and Protestant kids in Belfast.”
The sixties ended nearly half a century ago but its utopian
dreams of a better world burn on in the man who penned
such psychedelic hits as “Mellow Yellow” and “Sunshine
Superman”. At nearly 70, Donovan is on the road again,
playing to audiences across Europe in what he calls his
“Retrospective” tour.
Sitting on stage crossed legged on a pile of sheepskins
with just his acoustic guitar, it is as if flower power had never
ended.“After the concerts people say, ‘But he’s 70. How can
he sit for two hours like that?’”
It is all the more remarkable when you consider that he
spent his childhood battling polio. “There’s a secret,” said
Donovan with an impish twinkle in his eye.
That secret is the transcendental meditation and
other Eastern spiritual techniques Donovan learned in
India at the feet of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
It was Donovan who introduced The Beatles and the
Beach Boys to the guru.
And like the surviving Beatles, he is still a believer.
‘Yellow Submarine’
During that famous 1968 trip to the Maharishi’s ashram
with the actress Mia Farrow, John Lennon wrote “Dear
Prudence” for her younger sister, and Donovan taught him
and McCartney his finger-picking and clawhammer guitar
styles.
Donovan is the first to acknowledge that his sixties
exploits make him look like a musical Baron Munchhuasen.
He helped McCartney finish “Yellow Submarine”,
brought the three founding members of Led Zeppelin
together on his hit “Hurdy Gurdy Man”, and wrote the
famous placards in Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues”
video with the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg.
A friend of Joan Baez, he was once even touted by the
press as a serious rival to Dylan, with the American singer
opening a newspaper in the 1967 documentary “Don’t Look
Back” and declaring, “Who is this Donovan?”
“It was all nonsense. There was no rivalry between us,”
Donovan said.
In fact, it was Dylan who introduced him to The Beatles.
While his friends went on to become musical megastars,
Donovan’s own star waned in the 1970s with his more
mystical style earning him the derision of the punk
generation.
Though the likes of Belle and Sebastian, St Etienne and
Badly Drawn Boy now all cite him as an influence, the
insults clearly hurt.
“They said I was an old hippy — guilty!” he joked,
holding up his hands.
‘I am a poet’
“I didn’t want to be a pop star, or a folk star.
I was a poet and I still am,” the Scottish-born singer
insisted.
Instead Donovan, who today lives in County Cork,
Ireland, returned to his Celtic roots, to the songs he grew up
with in a Glasgow tenement block sung by his Irish mother
and aunts and his poetry-mad father.
“People say I play the guitar like the harp. It is because I
come from the remains of that bardic Gaelic tradition.
“I am a mix of the Irish and the Scots. The Beatles were
the Irish in Liverpool.
Oasis, The Smiths and the Happy Mondays were the
Irish in Manchester, the Everly Brothers learned to sing
from their Irish granny.
Elvis Presley was Scots Irish and Woody Guthrie had
Scottish roots. I am part of that tradition.
We are very strong with the music and the poetry.”
With mindfulness the big new thing and singer
songwriters again at the top of the charts, Donovan feels he
is now swimming with the tide rather than against it.
“People keep asking me, ‘You thought peace and love
would save the world, but it didn’t, did it?’
“But I say, the 1960s were not an answer, they were the
question and it still holds particularly about the way we are
treating the planet,” the singer insisted.
“All the difficulties in the outer world begin in the inner
world. That’s where we need to begin.”
Donovan tours Germany this month before concerts in
London in May and Paris and Ireland in June. — AFP
&B singer Rihanna says she might
ht not
be given the title of a role model
odel
by people, but she feels she can inspire
pire
young women.
The 28-year-old “Work” singerr
received the Rock Star Award at the
BET’s Black Girls Rock! ceremony
in New Jersey on Friday and
she used her acceptance speech
to encourage her fans to love
themselves, reports femalefirst.
co.uk.
“Thank you so much for
celebrating us in a world that doesn’t
ou
celebrate us enough. The minute you
learn to love yourself, you will not want to be anybody else,” she said.
“Role model is not the title they like to give me...But I think I can inspire a
lot of young women to be themselves and that is half the battle.
Hopefully one day I’ll be raising my own little black girl who rocks,” the
singer added. Founder and chief executive officer of Beverly Bond created
Black Girls Rock! to highlight the achievements of black female pioneers in
art, music, philanthropy and community service.
Politeness doesn’t reflect in
today’s time: Bachchan
B
ol
ollywood
megastar Amitabh
Bachchan believes that in today’s
Ba
time, politeness and obligations which
were very prominent in the past as
far aas celebrities’ public appearances
were
wer concerned, are long gone.
Sharing his thoughts on his
blog,
blo the National Award winner
expressed
that “the art of public
ex
aappearance has taken on a select
different engagement. Guided
and conducted by efficient
managers of the talent”. “Artistes
m
now get paid considerations, for
n
their presence. Paid for speeches
th
and visits and so on. That is a given
matter now.”
“Politeness and obligation of the past does not reflect in today’s time. And
there is an instruct for those that manage them to negotiate the value of the
presence. Nothing wrong. But there are some that refrain from it,” he added.
Sharing that most politicians and talented people in the west undergo the
same treatment, Big B added that the source of earning increases “when retired
public figure is invited to functions and events for their very experienced
views on any particular subject or faith”. “It is delicate and sensitive, but also
practical and in the times of today,” he added.
Mariah Carey’s fiance to appear
in her reality TV show
S
inger Mariah Carey’s fiancé is set
how.
to appear in her reality TV show.
Sharing the news, Carey shared that her
n
fiance and billionaire businessman
James Packer had no problem beingg
in front of the cameras, reports tmz.
com.
Although it was previously
claimed that Packer did not want
to take part in the upcoming
show, Carey insisted that he is
happy to be filmed for her new
documented series. “My fiancé
James Packer just came to visit me
m
in Denmark. And he had no problem
being on camera for the show with me. And we had a great time,” she said.
Carey, 45, will star in the eight-episode documented series “Mariah’s
World”, which will focus on her world tour and her upcoming wedding to
Packer. “I’m excited to bring my fans into my life for the next journey I’m
about to embark on. I’m already having so much fun with this documentary
and I know you will too.
FASHION
WHATEVER I AM IS MY USP: LISA HAYDON
Q NIVEDITA
W
ith
her
not-soconventional
looks
and accent, actress Lisa
Haydon says that her USP lies in
her unconventional looks and that
she never considers her attributes a
hindrance.
Asked whether her unconventional
looks restrict roles for her in
Bollywood, Lisa said: “I don’t
necessarily feel that way about it in
that sense. Whatever I am is my USP.
I don’t consider any of my
attributes hindrance.
I feel everyone has got their own
journey, to be honest.”
The model-turned-actress, who
made her acting debut with the 2010
film “Aisha”, made a career-defining
move with the portrayal of Parisbased free-spirited Bohemian single
mom in Vikas Bahl starrer “Queen”.
She later on went on to feature in
“Shaukeens”.
Asked why she hasn’t been seen
more often on the big screen post the
success of “Queen”, Lisa said: “I think
you pick from what you get offered.
I don’t necessarily get offered all the
roles that other actresses get and I
pick from what I get offered.”
However, the dusky beauty has
some interesting Bollywood projects
lined up.
These include Akshay Kumar’s
“Housefull 3” and Karan Johar’s “Ae
Dil Hai Mushkil”.
She says working with Karan is the
best thing that has happened to her
so far. “I thoroughly enjoyed working
with him. It was definitely possibly my
favourite experience on set working
with him.
It’s a very small role, but probably
the best working experience I have
had so far,” she said.
Besides these two projects, Lisa is
also all geared up for her next release
“Santa Banta Pvt Ltd” that stars Vir
Das, Boman Irani and Neha Dhupia
in lead roles.
However, her acting career has
never stopped her from coming back
to fashion runways. She walked the
ramp for designer Monisha Jaising’s
show presented by Magnum.
From being a model in the past to
now a showstopper, Lisa says there is
not much of a change.
“I am now wearing the last outfit.
Earlier it was the middle outfit. I
feel very much the same about it. I
still feel that I am modelling for a
particular outfit and I enjoy doing it
and love it too,” she said.
Meanwhile, Haydon played
a perfect muse for the veteran
designer Monisha Jaising. Haydon
brought a vivacious energy to the
ramp donning a heavy duty, allover textured “Rockstar” gown,
completely hand embroidered
with multiple gold metal elements.
Adding movement in the rich gold
fringing which bleeds from the
texture with strategic star shape cutouts.
“Lisa is hot and she fits into the
perfect definition of today’s modern
women. I think she is perfect and
Magnum was well right on getting
her on,” the designer said.— IANS
SHE SAYS WORKING
WITH KARAN IS THE
BEST THING THAT HAS
HAPPENED TO HER SO
FAR. “I THOROUGHLY
ENJOYED WORKING
WITH HIM. IT WAS
DEFINITELY POSSIBLY
MY FAVOURITE
EXPERIENCE ON SET
WORKING WITH HIM.
30
LIFESTYLE
omandailyobserver
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
LOCAL SCENE
ISD to hold ‘Symphoneve
2016’, a musical night
I
Active neighbourhood can
make you healthier
P
eople living nearby
markets,
public
transport stops and
public parks do more
physical activity in their
neighbourhood and take
up 90 minutes more exercise per week, a
study has found.
According to researchers, creating
healthier cities is an important part of
the public health response to the global
disease burden of physical inactivity.
The four neighbourhood features,
which were most strongly associated
with increased physical activity, were
— high residential density, number
of intersections, number of public
transport stops and number of parks
within walking distance.
“Neighbourhoods
with
high
residential density tend to have
connected streets, shops and services
meaning people will be more likely to
walk to their local shops,” said lead study
author James Sallis from University of
California, US.
“Interestingly, distance to nearest
transport stop was not associated with
higher levels of physical activity, whereas
the number of nearby transport stops
was,” Sallis added in the paper published
in the journal The Lancet.
This might mean that with more
options, people are more likely to walk
further to get to a transport stop that
best meets their needs.
The study included 6,822 adults
aged 18-66 and mapped out the
neighbourhood features from the areas
around the participants’ houses.
Physical activity was measured by
using accelerometers worn around
participants’ waists for a minimum of
four days, recording movement every
THE FOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD FEATURES, WHICH WERE
MOST STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, WERE — HIGH RESIDENTIAL
DENSITY, NUMBER OF INTERSECTIONS, NUMBER OF
PUBLIC TRANSPORT STOPS AND NUMBER OF PARKS
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE
minute.
On average, participants did 37
minutes per day moderate to vigorous
physical activity — equivalent to brisk
walking or more.
The difference in physical activity
between participants living in the
most and least activity-friendly
neighbourhoods ranged from 68-89
minutes per week, representing 4559 per cent of the recommended 150
minutes per week.
Physical inactivity has been linked
to diabetes, heart disease and some
cancers.
“We need interventions to counter
the rapidly growing inactivity that
urbanisation leads to, by providing
environments that change the way we
live our daily lives.
It is high time that built environments
provide the quadruple boost towards
health, environment, equity and habitat,”
Shifalika Goenka from Public Health
Foundation of India commented.
Meanwhile another study reveals
that healthy diet and routine physical
exercise can help older overweight and
obese adults gain benefits, and improve
glucose control, body composition,
physical function and bone quality.
Diet and exercise, known to benefit
patients with type 2 diabetes, are
controversial treatments for older adults
due to concerns over frailty and agerelated loss of muscle mass.
“Type 2 diabetes is highly prevalent
in older adults due to the physical
inactivity associated with advancing
age as well as the obesity epidemic,” said
lead study author Alessandra Celli from
Baylor College of Medicine in Houston,
Texas.
“Obesity worsens the metabolic and
physical complications of ageing that
impair quality of life,” Celli added.
No specific guidance is available for
effectively modifying the lifestyle of
adults with diabetes who are 65 years of
age and above.
Researchers examined the effects of
behavioural weight-loss diet therapy and
exercise training in older overweight
and obese adults with type-2 diabetes.
Over the past six months, they have
been randomly assigning volunteers
between 65 and 85 years of age to receive
either intensive or limited interventions.
Participants in the intensive
intervention group attend 90-minute
aerobic and resistance exercise classes
three times a week as well as a diet class
once a week where they learn healthier
eating habits.
Control group participants are not
given any exercise programme and
receive only once-a-month diabetes
educational sessions.
At the six-month mark, all study
participants have preserved their
lean body mass; but the intervention
group’s body weight and fat mass have
dropped more than the control group’s
and the intervention group’s physical
performance test and peak aerobic
capacity have improved more.
Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), an
indicator of blood glucose control, has
ndian School Darsait to hold ‘Symphoneve 2016 — A Musical Night with
Agam band’ on April 29, 2016.
The school, with the support of parent community and well-wishers,
has been organising fundraising programme for the development of the school,
supporting economically deprived students, funding the Special Education
Centre and installing modern facilities for the quality education.
A press meet was held at the School Auditorium on Saturday to announce
this year’s Musical Night “SYMPHONEVE 2016”. It was attended by the President
of the SMC, Abdul Rahim Kasim; Biju Samuel, Convener; Jaikish Pavithran,
Member of SMC and Chairman of this year’s Carnival Core Committee, Dr
Sridevi P Thashnath, Principal and the Orbit Event Management MD Ramesh
Gopalan along with other Core Committee members including the parents and
teaching staff.
Giving a brief about the earlier events, the school officials informed that the
concept of a fundraising programme for the development of the school evolved
in the year 2012 and until 2014 school conducted this event in the form of
Annual Carnival. The school presented a great musical programme in 2015 titled
‘Resonance with Balabaskar’, renowned musician who stole the heart of the music
lovers of Muscat.
This year, the school is holding its annual fundraising programme as a musical
evening with Agam band, titled ‘Symphoneve 2016’ at the Qurum Amphitheatre,
on April 29, 2016.
Agam is a Bangalore-based Contemporary Carnatic progressive rock band.
The current lineup of the band, formed in 2003, consists 7 male musicians who
were identified by the maestro musician AR Rahman in a band hunt called “Ooh
la lala,” hosted by Sun TV.
Their success in the show brought them into the mainstream and led to many
concerts and music festivals in India as well as abroad.
Travel more to ramp up your love life
A
recent study in Britain suggests that travelling could actually improve your
health, help to lose weight, gain confidence, feel younger and even increase
love drive. According to the survey conducted by Expedia, more than one million
respondents said that travelling increased their love drive.
This is likely due in part to an increase in body confidence and improved mood,
which makes them more predisposed for closeness.
“Travelling can help reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
As stress and anxiety decreases, mood increases — bringing many, often
unexpected, positive benefits in how we perceive ourselves, motivation and
productivity, and our general outlook on life,” Linda Papadopoulos, who worked
with Expedia on the study, said in a statement.
The study also revealed that for more than one million respondents, travelling
helps to reduce weight.
Travelling leads to a short burst of generally healthy behaviour and puts into a
new routine which gives the chance to break unhealthy habits.
“Exposure to a healthy amount of sunshine is also believed to increase the
brain’s release of the hormone serotonin which is associated with boosting mood
and helping a person feel calm and focused,” added Papadopoulos.
The study also showed that more than two million respondents claimed that
travelling made them more creative.
HEALTH
MONETARY INCENTIVES FOR HEALTHY BEHAVIOUR CAN WORK WELL
A
team of US researchers has found that
monetary rewards for healthy behaviour
can pay off both in the pocketbook and
in positive psychological factors like internal
motivation to eat fruits and vegetables, according
to a study.
The study, which encouraged daily
consumption of fruits and vegetables in exchange
for payment, not only showed monetary
incentives worked, but that participants
increased their internal motivation to eat fruits
and vegetables over time.
Increased fruit and vegetable consumption by
participants is linked to more positive attitudes
and self efficacy — the confidence in one’s own
ability to succeed
“While programmes involving monetary
incentives to encourage healthy behaviour
have become more popular in recent years, the
evidence has been mixed as to how they can
be most effective and how participants fare
once the incentives stop,” said lead author Casey
Gardiner from University of Colorado Boulder
in US.
“Some psychological research and theories
suggest that if individuals have external
motivations like payment to perform tasks,
their internal, or intrinsic motivation can be
undermined,” said Gardiner of the psychology
and neuroscience department.
The findings showed that participants who
were assigned to receive payment for eating fruits
INCREASED FRUIT AND
VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION
BY PARTICIPANTS IS LINKED
TO MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDES
AND SELF EFFICACY — THE
CONFIDENCE IN ONE’S OWN
ABILITY TO SUCCEED
and vegetables were still consuming more than
usual two weeks after the study ended.
In the study, 60 adults were randomly assigned
to three different groups.
Individuals in one group received $1 for every
serving of fruits and vegetables they reported
consuming daily over a three-week period.
People in the second group accrued $1 for
every serving of fruits and vegetables eaten, with
the lump sum money delivered at the end of the
study.
Participants in the third group reported their
fruit and vegetable consumption daily for three
weeks with no incentives.
The participants who received daily monetary
incentives had the greatest increase in their fruit
and vegetable consumption.
“This finding highlights the importance of
incentive design in health programmes and
differences in the timing or type of incentive can
alter their effectiveness,” Gardiner stated.
We essentially showed that incentives may
be able to help people to ‘jumpstart’ behaviour
changes, but that changes in key psychological
factors help people maintain the behaviour when
the incentives end, Gardiner noted.
OVERFED FOETUS MAY
BECOME AN OVERWEIGHT
ADOLESCENT
A foetus that is fed with excess nutrition is
likely to become an overweight adolescent, new
research has found, raising the importance of
increasing maternal health before and during
pregnancy to improve the health of the child.
The findings of the study showed that higher
levels of blood markers in the umbilical cord
of the pregnant mother makes the baby fattier,
as well as puts the baby in danger of becoming
obese in late childhood and adolescence.
Higher levels of Leptin and Adiponectin
-- proteins involved in the regulation of fat and
umbilical cord blood markers -- at birth led to
greater fat in the child both at the age of 9 and 17.
“Foetal overnutrition may facilitate foetal
growth and fat accretion, as determined by cord
leptin and birthweight, and may program greater
adiposity in the child that extends into childhood
and adolescence,” said lead author Joy Simpson,
clinical research fellow at University of Glasgow,
in Britain.
Also, being over weight at birth also
corresponded to the increase of fat mass in
children at ages 9 and 17.
Birthweight was positively associated with fat
mass, waist circumference and body mass index
at age 9 and 17,” Simpson added.
The results also showed that leptin was
positively associated with fat mass, waist
circumference and body mass index at age 9 and
17, but that the effect was diminished when they
adjusted for pregnancy characteristics.
Adiponectin was not associated with any
measures at age 9, but at age 17, the cord-blood
protein was positively associated with fat mass
and waist circumference.
Moreover, at age 17, the effect size after
adjusting for maternal and pregnancy
characteristics was strengthened.
SPOTLIGHT
M O N DAY
APRIL 4 l 2016
HOW TO HIDE EARTH FROM ET?
PHYSICIST STEPHEN
HAWKING IS AMONG
THOSE TO HAVE WARNED
THAT ET AND HIS FRIENDS
MAY BE MUCH MORE
INTELLIGENT THAN US,
AND MAY VIEW HUMAN
BEINGS AS LITTLE MORE
THAN TROUBLESOME
BUGS. IF ALIENS SPOT
US, EARTH WOULD BE
A LOGICAL TARGET FOR
ALIEN SETTLEMENT
Q MARIËTTE LE ROUX
T
he fate of humanity if
aliens were to discover
Earth with its balmy
climate and bountiful
resources, has long
been a concern for
scientists — many of whom fear the
worst.
Physicist Stephen Hawking is among
those to have warned that ET and his
friends may be much more intelligent
than us, and may view human beings as
little more than troublesome bugs.
Now a duo of astronomers from
Columbia University in New York have
proposed an innovative method to hide
our planet from prying extraterrestrial
eyes — using massive lasers.
And it’s not a joke, they say.
Alien scientists, argued David
Kipping and Alex Teachey, may be
trying to find habitable planets using
the same technique we do — searching
for a slight dip in light when a planet
“transits” between the star it orbits and
the telescopes watching it.
Planets do not emit their own light
and, if they were visible to the naked
eye, would appear as dark dots tracking
across their bright
stars.
But
these
exoplanets are
too far away
to see, and all
our telescopes
can pick up is a
small decrease in
the starlight emitted
during transit.
If aliens spot us using
this technique, Earth would be
a logical target for alien settlement.
It orbits within the so-called
“habitable zone” — not too close nor
too far from the Sun — where the
temperature is right for liquid water, the
essence of life.
In a paper published last week
in the Monthly Notices of the Royal
Astronomical Society (RAS) in London,
Kipping and Teachey said Earth’s Sun
transits could be masked by shining
huge lasers to cover the dip in light.
Friday. “This is a serious piece of work.”
Humanity’s search for a planet
capable of hosting life remains an
academic pursuit — there is no solar
system near enough to reach without
time travel.
Since its launch in 2009, Nasa’s Kepler
exoplanet-hunting space telescope has
found thousands of candidates.
Astronomers have verified the
existence of nearly 2,000 faraway worlds,
but most of those orbiting in habitable
zones have been gas giants.
Strange but true
“The transit method is presently the
“Despite the timing, it’s really not an
April Fool’s joke,” RAS Deputy Executive most successful planet discovery and
Director Robert Massey assured on characterization tool at our disposal,”
wrote the duo.
“Other advanced
civilisations would
surely be aware of
this technique...”
Within the
wavelength
spectrum of visible
light, the transit
signal could be masked
with a monochromatic
laser emitting about 30
million watts (MW) for 10 hours
at a time, once a year.
One MW can power several hundred
homes for an hour.
A universal cloak effective at all
wavelengths, would require a much
larger array of lasers with a total output
of 250 MW, said the team.
“There is an ongoing debate as to
whether we should advertise ourselves
or hide from advanced civilisations
potentially living on planets elsewhere
in the Galaxy,” Kipping said in a
statement.
“Our work offers humanity a choice,
at least for transit events, and we should
think about what we want to do.” — AFP
Search for alien signals expands
to 20,000 star systems
T
he search for radio signals from
alien worlds is expanding to 20,000
star systems that were previously
considered poor targets for
intelligent extraterrestrial life, US
researchers said last week.
New scientific data has led the SETI Institute to
believe systems orbiting red dwarfs — dim, longlived stars that are on average billions of years older
than our sun — are worth investigating.
“This may be one instance in which older is
better,” said astronomer Seth Shostak of Californiabased SETI, a private, non-profit organization which
stands for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.
“Older solar systems have had more time to
produce intelligent species.”
The two-year project involves picking from a list
of about 70,000 red dwarfs and scanning 20,000 of
the nearest ones, along with the cosmic bodies that
NEW SCIENTIFIC DATA HAS LED
circle them.
THE SETI INSTITUTE TO BELIEVE
To do this, scientists will use the SETI Institute’s
Allen Telescope Array in northern California, a
SYSTEMS ORBITING RED DWARFS —
group of 42 antennas that can observe three stars
DIM, LONG-LIVED STARS THAT ARE
simultaneously. “We’ll scrutinise targeted systems
ON AVERAGE BILLIONS OF YEARS
over several frequency bands between 1 and 10
GHz,” said SETI scientist Gerry Harp.
OLDER THAN OUR SUN — ARE
“Roughly half of those bands will be at soWORTH INVESTIGATING
called ‘magic frequencies’ — places on the radio
dial that are directly related to basic mathematical
constants,” he added. “It’s reasonable to speculate
For a long time, scientists ruled out searching
that extraterrestrials trying to attract attention
might generate signals at such special frequencies.” around red dwarfs because habitable zones around
omandailyobserver
31
There are only 70,000 Parsis
left in India: Penaz Masani
Q BISWAJIT CHOUDHURY
T
here is something highly moving when a woman, whose people face
extinction, sings of unrequited love.
Love, not just for a mortal beloved but also of the mystic kind as in
ghazal singing, that is a male dominated art.
Take a bow, Penaz Masani, the Parsi queen of ghazal.
“There are only 70,000 of us Parsis left in India,” Masani, the only Parsi
who sings ghazals and a Padma Shri awardee, said in an interview, during
a visit for the minority affairs ministry-hosted “The Everlasting Flame
International Programme” to celebrate Zoroastrian culture and the Parsis in
India.
“It was a once-in-a lifetime experience to meet all the Parsis I know in
Mumbai, who had gathered here in Parliament House and later on the lawns
of Lutyens’ Delhi,” she said.
As part of the celebrations, a two-month long exhibition titled “The
Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination”, that started
across three venues in the capital on March 19, depicts the earliest days of
Zoroastrianism to its emergence as the foremost religion of imperial Iran,
followed by the 10th century maritime journey of Zoroastrians fleeing
religious persecution to India, where they came to be known as the Parsis.
As for the rest, the Parsi contribution to their new homeland, both in
material and cultural terms, is history. The minority affairs ministry, along
with the Delhi-based Parzor Foundation, launched the Jiyo Parsi scheme in
2013 to stem the community’s decline in numbers.
Jiyo Parsi has to show 30 babies born since the scheme began, with another
dozen expected, and around 50 couples undergoing fertility treatment.
“The factors that have brought Parsis to this pass are late marriages, not
marrying at all, decline of fertility, emigration and marrying outside the
community,” Masani said.
There has been ferment within at the rigid adherence to tradition in not
recognizing the offspring of Parsi women who marry outside the community.
With the Mumbai Parsis recording 175 births as against 735 deaths in 2013,
and intermarriages climbing to 38 per cent, a Parsi former advocate-general
of Maharashtra raised a furore recently when he argued that Zoroastrianism
being a universal religion, Parsi women married outside the faith and their
children should be permitted to enter the community’s places of worship “If
they have been initiated into the faith through a navjote ceremony.”
On the other hand, the Bombay Parsi Panchayat has waged a long, legal
battle to debar three priests who presided over rituals involving intermarried
couples. Masani is unique as a Parsi who has embraced the ghazal form of
Urdu poetry, a genre that is heavily influenced by Islamic mysticism.
To be the first to take up ghazal in a community where to be cultured
also means to cultivate an ear for Western classical music, with the great
Zubin Mehta as a role model, Masani is indebted to her late father, who was
a Hindustani classical singer in the court of Sayaji Rao Gaekwad of Baroda
in the 1930s.
With her good looks and fantastic voice Masani emerged on the scene in
the 1980s at a time when ghazal as live performance was becoming popular
among the urban middle class.
Ghazal poetry, which is imbued with Sufi love for the divine, had already
entered popular consciousness through Bombay cinema, beginning with the
playback singing of Begum Akhtar, poetry of the likes of the incomparable
Faiz Ahmad Faiz and others like Sahir Ludhianvi, Jan Nissar Akhtar, Hasrat
Jaipuri, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shakeel Badauni, Anand Bakshi and Shailendra,
all of whom have penned memorable film songs.
Masani herself has sung in over 50 films.
“Because I appeared on stage at a time when only male singers were
singing ghazals for the masses that I got this image of a rock star,” Masani said
alluding to the late Jagjit Singh, who was the first to use the guitar in ghazals
and, along with exponents like Mehdi Hassan, Pankaj Udhaas and Ghulam
Ali, did much to popularize the genre post the 1970s.
“Classing me as a pop stylist of ghazal is, however, not correct because I
am faithful to the classical form that I have been trained in,” she adds.
As she walked past Delhi’s Lodi monuments like a priestess of love, Masani
described how in Iran, as a way of reversing the decline in Zoroastrian
population after the 1979 revolution, they have revived the ancient practice
of ordaining female priests, an idea opposed by Indian Parsis.
“I think the terrible conflicts we see around us based on religious identity
wouldn’t happen if we had women leading the institutions,” Masani said,
recalling the priestesses of ancient Greece and Rome, without forgetting the
“devdasis” in the indigeneous tradition. — IANS
WHITE DWARF STAR SHOWS
PRESENCE OF PURE OXYGEN
the stars are small.
Any planets orbiting them would be so close that
one side would be constantly facing the star, making
one side of the planet very hot and the other quite
cold and dark. But more recently, scientists have
learned that heat could be transported from the light
side of the planet to the darker side, and that much
of the surface could be amenable to life.
“In addition, exoplanet data have suggested that
somewhere between one sixth and one half of red
dwarf stars have planets in their habitable zones, a
percentage comparable to, and possibly greater than,
for Sun-like stars,” said the statement. Experts have
been hunting for alien intelligence for six decades,
but have not found any evidence yet. — AFP
R
esearchers have discovered a rare white dwarf star with an atmosphere
dominated by a pure layer of oxygen — a type of white dwarf that has been
theorised to exist but not identified till date.
The finding could challenge the textbook wisdom of single stellar evolution
and provide a critical link to some types of supernovae discovered over the past
decade.
As relatively small stars (those less than 10 times the mass of our Sun) near the
end of their lives, they throw off their outer layers and become white dwarf stars
which are very dense.
The high gravity that occurs under such density causes the lighter elements,
such as hydrogen or helium, to float to the surface of the star, masking the heavier
elements below.
While combing through data from the “Sloan Digital Sky Survey” (SDSS),
Kepler de Souza Oliveira Filho, a Brazilian astronomer primarily known for his
work on white dwarfs, identified a white dwarf with its outer layer of light elements
stripped away, revealing a nearly pure layer of oxygen.
“The identification of this white dwarf provides the first evidence of this
phenomenon. — IANS
MONDAY | APRIL 4, 2016 | JUMADA AL THANI 26, 1437 AH
P29
P30
P31
Inside
‘There are only 70,000 Parsis left in India’ Travel more to ramp up your love life Whatever I am is my USP: Lisa Haydon FOLLOW US ON:
www.omanobserver.om
[email protected]
Dreams of fame at the School of Go
‘Go’ tea
teacher Jo Gyung-Ho (C) watches over students at the Lee Se-Dol School. — AFP
GO ORIGINATED IN CHINA
3,000 YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN
PLAYED FOR CENTURIES MOSTLY IN
CHINA, JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA,
WITH MORE THAN 40 MILLION
FANS WORLDWIDE
‘Go’ pieces are displayed
Q JUNG HA-WON
F
or the past two years,
12-year-old Cho SungBin has spent nearly all
his waking hours focused
on a wooden board
covered with black and
w
white stones, honing the skills he hopes
tto translate into a lucrative career as a
p
professional Go player.
“It’s fun. I never get tired,” said Cho,
o
one of dozens of preteens sitting at rows
o
of desks topped with playing boards at
the Lee Se-Dol School of Go in central
Seoul.
Many spend 12 hours a day practising
match play with each other in the small,
neon-lit, largely windowless rooms of
the school named after the grandmaster
they all hope to emulate.
Already well known in East Asia,
Lee achieved global recognition
earlier this month when he took on
Google’s artificial intelligence AlphaGo
programme in a five-match showdown.
The 33-year-old lost the series, but the
battle gave an unprecedented boost to
the ancient board game’s international
profile.
Go originated in China 3,000 years
ago and has been played for centuries
mostly in China, Japan and South
Korea, with more than 40 million fans
worldwide.
The rules are simple — two players
take turns placing black or white stones
on a square board with a 19x19 grid.
Whoever captures the most territory
wins. But the strategies needed to secure
victory are complex, with reportedly
more possible move configurations than
atoms in the universe.
‘An art form’
“Go is not just an entertainment. It’s
an art form and a natural philosophy as
much as a sport,” said professional player
Seo Kon-Woo.
The game is also seen as a tool to
help children improve their focus, with
hundreds of private Go schools across
Students practice their skills at the Lee Se-Dol School.
POTENTIAL PROFESSIONALS ARE USUALLY IDENTIFIED
WHEN THEY ARE VERY YOUNG, AND THEN PUSHED HARD
THROUGH A RELENTLESS STREAMING SYSTEM THAT
QUICKLY EJECTS THOSE NOT CONSIDERED UP TO THE MARK
school for two years, after begging his
parents to let him go full-time at Lee’s
school. “I meant to stay here only during
school break, but playing Go is so much
fun ... much more than computer games,”
he said.
When his parents gave their consent,
he swapped his home for a school
dormitory he shares with dozens of
other Go-playing children.
All major Go schools in the
South Korean capital run their own
dormitories, allowing them to attract the
best students from around the country.
Cho has already taken a big step
forward after being selected by the Go
Association for an elite league, in which
132 students compete on a weekly basis
and are ranked on their performances.
Those at the top of the table are on
course for professional status, while the
lower ranked players — or those who
turn 19 — are unceremoniously replaced
by better or younger players every two
months.
Crushing pressure
South Korea offering after-hours tuition.
For those who show a special skill
and affinity for the game, Go also offers
a possible career path which, in the case
of top players like Lee Se-Dol, can lead
to fame and fortune. “Many talented
kids are discovered when they are five or
six, and turn pro before they’re even 12,”
said Kim Jung-Youl, a veteran coach and
head of the Lee Se-Dol School.
Considered one of the greatest
Go players of the modern era with 18
international titles, Lee started playing
at the age of five and turned pro seven
years later.
South Korea has around 300
professional players certified by the
national Go association, and even those
who don’t become star names can make
a decent living from tournaments and
teaching.
Dozens of competitions — both for
individuals and “professional teams”
sponsored by companies — are held in
For Jo Min-Soo the expectation to
East Asia each year, with star players perform was so great he almost had a
earning millions of dollars.
mental breakdown after he joined the
elite league aged 12.
Too old at 20
“I couldn’t handle the stress so didn’t
Joining the professional tour requires play well,” he said.
at least a decade of tough training and
Even a prodigy like Lee Se-Dol
the Korean Go Association, which suffered from the pressure — which
only accepts 15 new members each brought on temporary aphasia when he
year, estimates there are around 1,000 was 12, leaving him with a high-pitched
children currently studying in schools shrill voice that made him reluctant to
speak in public for years.
specialising in the discipline.
Jo has dreamed of being a professional
Potential professionals are usually
identified when they are very young, and player since he was six, dropping out of
then pushed hard through a relentless school in 2013 to focus on his training.
But at 18, time is running out — a
streaming system that quickly ejects
point brought home every day by the
those not considered up to the mark.
Those who have failed to break younger kids like Cho he shares a
through by the end of their teenage dormitory with.
years are generally dropped from
“Compared to them, I’m too old...I’m
feeling a bit desperate,” Jo said.
consideration by the association.
“I started this because I love playing
“It becomes nearly impossible to go
pro once you’re aged over 20,” Kim said. the game so much,” he said. “Now I’m
Cho Sung-Bin said he had been not entirely sure...but this is the only
on “temporary leave” from his normal thing I can do.” — AFP