options drive people to shop outside oman

WEDNESDAY | MARCH 11, 2015 | JUMADA AL ULA 20, 1436 AH
P17 National Transport Model for Oman on the anvil
VOL. 34 NO. 117 | PAGES 32 | BAISAS 200
P32 Bird watching, hunting boost nature conservation
P25 Dhawan hits hundred as India crush Ireland
Inside
Chief Executive Officer
DR IBRAHIM BIN AHMED AL KINDI
Editor-in-Chief
ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI
Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising
PO Box 974, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
www.omanobserver.om
FOLLOW US ON:
OMAN
HM thanked by
Prince Muqrin
[email protected]
GRIT AND DETERMINATION
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has
received a cable of thanks form Prince
Muqrin bin Abdulaziz al Saud in reply
to His Majesty’s cable of greetings on
the occasion of him being appointed
as Crown Prince and Deputy Prime
Minister in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In his cable, Prince Muqrin expressed
his thanks for His Majesty the Sultan’s
generous feelings and sincere prayers,
wishing His Majesty good health,
happiness and the Omani people further
progress and prosperity.
KABEER YOUSUF
MUSCAT
Russia ‘single greatest
threat’ to Britain
INSIDESTORIES
WHAT THE EUROPEAN
ARMY IS FOR?
P8
CRASH KILLS THREE
FRENCH SPORTS STARS
P12
MUSCAT: The first screening of the
fantastic cave climbing expedition
of intrepid German adventurists and
mountain climbers Stefan Glowacz and
Chris Sharma, as they became the first
to physically climb up Majlis al Jinn, one
of the world’s biggest caves, was shown
at a special preview yesterday. The great
mental and physical determination of
the climbers, who are amongst the best
in the world, was apparent as they spent
13 gruelling climbing days — daily from
early morning to evening — climbing up
the wondrous cave pitch by pitch.
In comments given to the Observer,
Stefan said, “I heard about this enormous
cave in Oman about three years ago
from some base jumpers, who said it was
possible to use the natural structures of
the rock to climb.”
REPORT ON P6
Motorists, public told to
be cautious during rains
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
March 10: Motorists are strongly
advised to exercise caution during the
next three days as a deep depression
system is expected to affect northern
parts of the Sultanate, said a statement
issued by the Public Authority for
Civil Aviation (PACA), yesterday.
The weather system is expected
to bring moderate to heavy rains
in northern governorates of the
Sultanate as well as poor horizontal
visibility.
The statement advised motorists
not to cross overflowing wadis and
sea-goers to put off any sea-related
adventures and activities until the
weather has settled. It also advised
public to follow weather updates
issued by the Met office.
Low pressure systems are
common during this time of the
year, and they can bring heavy rain
and thundershowers accompanied
by active winds and hail which is
why everyone is required to take all
necessary precautions and safety
measures until the weather condition
is back to normal, the statement
said, however, it gave no mention to
emergency measures.
Call for fair competition
P13
IRAQI TROOPS, FIGHTERS
RETAKE STRATEGIC TOWN
WEATHER TODAY
MUSCAT
MAX: 280C
MIN: 180C
SALALAH
MAX: 280C
MIN: 200C
SUNRISE 06.20 AM
PRAYER TIMINGS
FAJR: 05:05
DHUHR: 12:22
ASR: 15:46
MAGHRIB: 18:19
ISHA: 19:29
NIZWA
MAX: 330C
MIN: 170C
OPTIONS DRIVE PEOPLE
TO SHOP OUTSIDE OMAN
GREAT IMPACT: Economy hit as country loses huge business
EUROPE
LONDON: Russia could pose the “single
greatest threat” to Britain, Foreign
Secretary Philip Hammond warned in a
speech yesterday. Hammond accused
Russian President Vladmir Putin of
“subverting” international rules which
keep the peace between nations and
said his actions in Crimea and eastern
Ukraine “fundamentally undermine”
the security of eastern European
states. Hammond said that Moscow’s
“aggressive behaviour” offered “a stark
reminder that it has the potential to
pose the single greatest threat to our
security”. REPORT ON P12
Pakistan lifts death penalty moratorium Tsunami victims frozen in tragedy India okays land acquisition bill STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
March 10: It is time for us to expedite
the setting up of cooperative societies
in all governorates of the Sultanate,
and they should be supported by the
government and the private sector,
Said bin Saleh al Kiyumi, Chairman of
the Oman Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (OCCI), said yesterday.
Speaking
to
Oman,
sister
publication of the Observer, he spoke
of the violations committed by various
commercial complexes which harm
both consumers and Omani products,
and felt that some consumer goods
should be exempted from local duties.
Al Kiyumi stressed the principle
of equal opportunities and fair
competition as well as empowerment
of local investors and national
products as part of the framework of
economic approach adopted by the
Sultanate.
He called for allocation of
suitable lands in all governorates for
establishment of cooperative societies,
in addition to facilitate procedures to
get loans and other financial assistance
from funding agencies.
He called upon Omani investors
and importers to support the
cooperative societies as they are pure
Omani investments.
SOLAR IMPULSE HEADS TO INDIA
The Solar Impulse 2,
claimed to be the
world’s only solarpowered aircraft, took
off from Muscat
International Airport,
yesterday to head for
Ahmedabad in western
India, launching the
second leg of its epic
bid to become the first
such plane to fly
around the world using
clean energy.
REPORT ON P3
(Photo by
Badar al Ruzaiki)
March 10: Shopping while holidaying
in another country is undoubtedly a
priority in the list of things to do for
most of us while chalking out a trip. But
shopping while holidaying has become
a new fad among the youth and has a
huge economic impact for the country
in the long run. This fast-catching trend
is sufficient to drain supplier confidence
while millions of rials is siphoned off to
other countries.
Planning a holiday in neighbouring
countries just with the aim of shopping
has become a ‘mantra’ of modern life for
most of the local families. This is doubly
justified whenever there is a special
occasion such as a wedding or setting
up a new house or even a milestone
birthday, confess many whom we spoke
to. Be it for buying a used car or for a
wedding, or housewarming or a class
birthday bash, most of the families
„ Price always
determines shopping
and people look at
value for money.
„ Shopping while
holidaying has
become a new fad
among the youth.
„ Whenever a new
product is launched,
the craze to get it first
is always there.
cannot settle for lesser than indulging
in a shopping spree in neighbouring
countries. When the recent iPhone6
was launched in Oman and even before
that, Omani customers rushed to a
neighbouring country for, first to secure
the most-awaited piece and secondly, to
enjoy comparatively cheaper prices.
“We go very often to Dubai for
shopping whenever there is a family
occasion, and we just wait for such a
ceremony to travel,” Zainab al Gathami,
a working woman in Muscat, said. “We
cannot come back before filling the
family SUV stacked with things,” she
adds.
TURN TO P5
2
OMAN OIL PRICE DECLINES $1.9
W E D N E S DAY l M A R C H 1 1 l 2 0 1 5
OMAN
Dubai Mercantile Exchange
said that Oman oil price
(May delivery) has reached
$56.26. The price declined
$1.9 over Monday’s price of
$57.35. The average price
of Oman oil (April delivery)
has stabilised at $56.21, thus
$9.48 per barrel higher than
March delivery
MEET ON BIOETHICS CONCLUDES
The 1st International Conference on
Bioethics, which was organised by Sultan
Qaboos University in collaboration with
The Research Council and the Unesco
concluded at SQU today. The conference
recommended creating mechanisms,
laws and legislation that keep pace with
the rapid scientific development while
taking into consideration the peculiarity
of each society.
Foreign Ministry
Sec-Gen receives
Swiss officials
Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Secretary-General of
Foreign Ministry with Swiss officials in Muscat on Tuesday.
— ONA
MUSCAT:
Sayyid Badr
bin Hamad al Busaidi,
Secretary-General
of
Foreign
Ministry,
on
Tuesday received Wolfgang
Amadeus
Bruelhart,
Assistant State Secretary in
the Swiss Confederation,
who is currently visiting the
Sultanate.
The guest conveyed
greetings and appreciation
of the Swiss Government to
the Sultanate for its efforts
and support in succeeding
the arrival of the Solar
Impulse 2 (Si2) at Muscat
International Airport on the
first leg during its aroundthe-world-flight.
The meeting discussed
relations of the existing
cooperation between the
two countries and means of
promoting and enhancing
them in various fields, besides
exchanging viewpoints on a
number of current issues at the
regional and international level.
The meeting was attended
by
Christian
Winter,
Swiss Ambassador to the
Sultanate, Youcef Fartas,
Honorary Consul General of
Switzerland in the Sultanate,
Shaikh Hilal bin Marhoon al
Maamari, Head of the West
Europe Department and a
number of officials at the
Foreign Ministry. — ONA
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
OMAN
Alawi meets Mauritania, Somali counterparts
omandailyobserver
Solar Impulse 2 leaves Muscat
MUSCAT: The Solar Impulse 2, claimed to
be the world’s only solar-powered aircraft,
took off from Muscat International Airport
on Tuesday to head towards Ahmedabad in
western India, launching the second leg of its
epic bid to become the first such plane to fly
around the world using clean energy.
The aircraft with its pilot Bertrand Piccard
CAIRO: Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign
Affairs, held separate meetings in Cairo with Fatma Vall bint Soueina,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania and Abdisalam Omar Hadlie,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia on the sidelines of the 143rd session
of Arab Foreign Ministers Council. The two meetings reviewed the good
relations binding the Sultanate and the two countries and means of enhancing
cooperation in various fields, in addition to exchanging viewpoints in
various regional and international issues of common concern. — ONA
Interior minister
heads delegation
to Algeria meet
MUSCAT: Sayyid Hamoud
bin Faisal al Busaidy,
Minister of Interior, left here
on Tuesday to Algeria to lead
the Sultanate’s delegation in
the 32nd session meetings of
the Arab Interior Ministers
Council, due to begin on
Wednesday.
The two-day meetings will
discuss a number of security
themes, most importantly the
security strategy to combat
terrorism, drug trafficking
and psychotropic substances
and the Arab security service
project, in addition to plans
of the Arab security media to
raise the awareness and the
prevention of crime.
During the meeting,
Sayyid al Busaidy will be
accompanied by a delegation
comprising Maj Gen Hamad
bin Sulaiman al Hatmi,
Assistant Inspector General
of Police and Customs for
Operations, Nassir bin
Saif al Hosani, Sultanate’s
ambassador to Algeria and
a number of officials at the
Ministry of Interior and
Royal Oman Police.
He was seen off by
Shaikh Said bin Mohammed
al Braiki, Advisor at the
Ministry
of
Interior,
Mahanad Saleh, appointedambassador of Algeria to
the Sultanate and a number
of officials at the Ministry of
Interior and ROP. — ONA
RAO Open Day on Traffic Week
MUSCAT: The Royal Army of Oman (RAO) on Tuesday
organised an open day on the occasion of the GCC Traffic
Week, themed “Your Decision Determines Your Fate,” under
the patronage of Maj Gen Mattar bin Salim al Balushi, RAO
Commander. The open day included a number of programmes
that included a lecture by an officer from the Royal Oman Police
(ROP) reviewing statistics of traffic accidents.
On this occasion, the RAO Commander distributed cups and
awards and honoured distinguished drivers.
At the end of the open day, the chief guest and attendees
toured the traffic safety exhibition, which was organised by
the Sultan Armed Forces Transportation School. The ceremony
was attended by a number of RAO senior officers, a number of
commanders of brigades and formations, RAO commissioned
and non-commissioned officers and personnel. — ONA
3
of Switzerland took off from Muscat at 6:35
am and is expected to land in Ahmedabad
after flying nearly 1,465 km over the Arabian
Sea in about 16 hours. Bertrand Piccard
replaced his compatriot Andre Borschberg
who piloted the plan for 13 hours and two
minutes from Abu Dhabi to Muscat on
Monday.
— ONA
4
OMAN
omandailyobserver
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
Career & Opportunity Fair opens at SQU
GROWTH PLATFORM: Event will help participating companies to accelerate their Omanisation programme
CCE to host
Career Fair on
March 16-17
MUSCAT: The 16th Edition of the
SQU Career & Training Opportunities
Fair (2015), organised by the Centre
for Career Guidance at Sultan Qaboos
University, commenced on Tuesday
under the patronage of Abdullah bin
Nasser Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower.
As many as 60 prospective employers,
both from the public and private sectors,
are participating in the three-day
career fair. The Minister of Manpower,
congratulated SQU for organising the
career fair on a big scale attracting great
participation of employers and jobseekers. He extended all support from
the ministry to this endeavour.
The Career Fair aims to provide
jobs and training opportunities for
SQU students and graduates in order
to enhance their abilities, develop their
skills and prepare them for the labour
market. The Fair is considered to be
an excellent opportunity for students
who are in the stage of choosing their
academic specialisations to be exposed
to the ones most in demand in the
Omani labour market and the career
paths associated with them. The fair,
also, helps the participating institutions
to accelerate their Omanisation
programme through direct contact with
more than 3,000 graduates with diverse
educational backgrounds.
The ongoing fair is expected to
attract around 15,000 visitors from
all over Oman. The total number of
vacancies reported by the participating
employers is 1,647. The number of
training opportunities this year is 1,006.
According to information from the
Centre for Career Guidance at SQU, all
participating organisations are carefully
chosen according to certain criteria such
as the availability of outstanding quality
MUSCAT: Caledonian College of
Engineering (CCE), a leading provider
of engineering education, will hold a
careers fair on March 16 and 17 from
10 am to 5 pm at the college’s Al Hail
Campus.
The event will be inaugurated on
by Jokha Abdullah Al Shukaili, DG
of Private Universities and Colleges,
Representative of the Ministry of
Higher Education in the Sultanate
of Oman. With over 18 years of
experience in the higher education
sector, CCE has cooperated with a
wide range of employers to ensure
professional workforce contributes
to the ongoing social, economic and
industrial development and prosperity
of Oman. The college’s annual Careers
Fair is organised with the view to
provide opportunities for graduates
to come face-to-face with a range
of employers to discuss and explore
career options in one location on the
same day.
CCE’s Careers Fair has become a
highly-regarded annual event with
many public and private industries
representing construction, oil & gas,
automobile, environment, telecom and
IT sectors. The first day of this two-day
event is open only to CCE graduates
and students. As part of CCE’s
commitment to social responsibility,
the second day of the fair is open to
students of other college or school in
Oman.
Speaking on the past success of
this event, Dr Ahmed Hassan al
Bulushi, Dean of CCE, said: “Helping
our students land great jobs after
graduation is a huge priority for us.”
This year’s fair will be marked by the
diversity of industries featured,” he
added.
and quantity of offered jobs and training
opportunities.
This year, the Fair is gaining special
attention due to the presence of the
Entrepreneurship Corner which seeks
to encourage Omani youth to start their
own businesses and be self-employed.
The event is accompanied by lectures
and talks on topics related to job search
such as skills required for workplace,
preparing for interviews, and so on. The
booklet containing relevant information
about the Career Fair is distributed by
the organisers.
The Fair will continue till March 12.
On Wednesday only females will be
allowed to visit the job fair from 2 pm
to 5 pm.
SNAPSHOT OF CAREER FAIR 2015
y 15,000 visitors from all over Oman expected to attend the fair.
y 1,647 openings offered by participating employers
y 60 employers from public and private sectors participating
y 1,006 training opportunities on offer
y Entrepreneurship Corner seeks to encourage Omani youth to start their own businesses
and be self-employed
y Fair reserved for women from 2 pm to 5 pm today
Customer care meet to OSC, Outward Bound Oman sign training pact
focus on services sector
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS
Marc Karschies
Usman Zafar
Ian Benfield
Carlo Pignataro
Joe Tawfik
Fatima Hayat
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
March 10: One of the major
catalysts of any economy, the service
sector, will receive its due attention
at the third Oman Customer Care
Conference that is scheduled to take
place from April 7 to 8, 2015 under
the theme “Empowering the Human
Factor of Customer Service”.
Organised by Intevents, a range
of speakers and other experts in the
field of Customer Care will share
their insights on the latest trends,
challenges and opportunities in
customer care, customer-centric
organisation strategies, customer
service innovations as well as
solutions to maximise customer
experience.
Confirmed speakers for the
Conference include Dr Usman
Zafar, CEO, DUC Consulting
International; Joe Tawfik, CEO
of Kinetic BPO; Marc Karschies,
Customer Experience and Service
Quality
Strategy
Consultant,
Karschies, Ceron and Alred
(KCA); Carlo Pignataro, CEO
and Master Trainer, SSE Training
Solutions; Ian Benfield, Director
of Customer Affairs, Authority for
Electricity Regulation; and Fatima
Hayat,
International
Business
and Marketing Consultant, DUC
Consulting International. Senior
representatives from the Public
Establishment
for
Industrial
Estates’ (PEIE) will also present
their case study on Customer
Services Experience in PEIE at the
Conference.
“The Oman Customer Care
Conference will give attendees an
opportunity to learn new and unique
concepts as well as strategies that will
transform their customer experience
drive
customer
management,
loyalty, improve service delivery
and increase their organisations
bottomline. Expected to attract
over 300 delegates, the Conference
offers businesses an opportunity to
enhance their ‘customer experience’
and gain competitive edge so that
they can retain and grow their
market share”, says Hiryan Borade,
Conference Producer, Intevents.
The event is supported by the
Oman Ministry of Commerce
and Industry; and the Public
Establishment for Industrial Estates;
with Bank Sohar as Banking Partner;
Eye of Riyadh as Online Media
Partner; and Oxford Business Group
as Research Partner.
MUSCAT: HH Sayyid Faisal bin Turki
al Said, patron of Outward Bound Oman
(OBO), and Oman Shipping Company
(OSC) Deputy CEO Tariq bin Mohammed al Junaidi, signed an official Patrons
Company agreement at the OSC offices
on Tuesday.
As part of their innovative approach
to Corporate Social Investment, OSC
was officially inducted into Outward
Bound Oman’s ‘The Patrons Company,’
a select group of companies that contribute to the OBO’s initiatives in challenging and strengthening young people
in Oman through challenging outdoor
journeys in the mountains and deserts
of Oman, so developing the next generation of leaders for the nation.
Al Junaidi, said: “The history of Outward Bound is very much in sync with
our maritime operations, and we hope
to use this support to provide training
for young people who are considering
a career at sea with an organisation like
Oman Shipping, providing them with
the skills they need to grow into responsible employees and leaders”.
“With this generous support, Oman
Shipping Company is recreating history,” said Mark Evans, General Manager
of Outward Bound Oman.
He added: “We may be only 6 years
old in Oman, but Outward Bound began in the UK in 1941, at the start of the
World War-II, when lots of young sailors were losing their lives. Initially it was
set up as a survival training school for
young sailors, but over the last 73 years
has developed into the world’s most
powerful outdoor training organisation.
Each year, 250,000 people undertake
an Outward Bound course in one of 32
OSC and OBO aim through
this partnership to provide
four courses each year, for
three years; each course will
last for four days and three
nights in Oman’s deserts
and mountains.
countries”.
Both OSC and OBO aim through
this partnership to provide four courses
each year, for three years; each course
will last for four days and three nights
in Oman’s deserts and mountains. Social
investment programmes is considered
a major part in OSC, which incorporated in 2003 and owned by the Government of Oman through the Ministry
of Finance (80 per cent) and Oman Oil
Company (20 per cent). OSC was established to transport the Sultanate’s Oil
and Gas products to world markets, providing Omani shipping services to the
country’s trade partners in other commodities, and to re-vitalise Oman’s long
standing and proud seafaring tradition.
OSC aims to have a fruitful partnership with Outward Bound Oman, which
was launched in May 2009 by the Minister of Education and established by
ministerial decision in 2014. Outward
Bound was initially set up with the support of Shell, Dentons and Shaikh Suhail
Bahwan. Oman remains the only nation in the Arab world to challenge and
develop its young people in this way,
reflecting the innovative approach His
Majesty’s Government has towards developing the youth of Oman.
Islam Message from Oman opens in Skopje
SKOPJE: “Islam Message from Oman” The exhibition includes 48
exhibition opened in the Macedonian
paintings that will be on
capital Skopje, under the auspices of Dr
Zoran Ilievski, political advisor to the display in Macedonian and
President of the Republic of Macedonia. Albanian and 20 pictures by
The exhibition is on till March 19.
Omani photographers about
The opening ceremony was held in
the Macedonian National Museum. The life in Oman and paintings
exhibition aims to spread the umbrella from the Omani Fine Art
of the values of understanding, coexistence, dialogue among peoples of and Calligraphy
the world, focus on common humanity,
renounce all forms of extremism,
The exhibition included global
violence and hatred and calling for
messages, a global media campaign
respect for sanctity and prophets.
designed to spread the culture of coShaikh Benyamin Idris, head of
existence, peace, tolerance and harmony
the Islamic civilisation centre in the
through the spread of cards that reflect
Republic of Macedonia, expressed his
these values in social media and websites
thanks to the Sultanate for conducting
in various languages.
this exhibition in collaboration with
‘Do Something for Tolerance’
the Islamic civilisation centre in
campaign was launched in the opening
Macedonia, stressing the role of these
ceremony in addition to a global
activities in reminding the humanity
competition to collect the largest
of the importance of co-existence,
possible number of posts in order to
understanding and tolerance.
spread the culture of coexistence.
Among the main activities of the
The Omani Book Corner was held on
exhibition, Professor Fred Mouhic
the sidelines of the exhibition. The books
presented a paper on the Philosophical
focus on civilisational communication,
Vision on the East and West.
deepening of common understanding
The exhibition includes 48 paintings
of human values, including al Tafahum
that will be on display in Macedonian
(Understanding) magazine issued by the
and Albanian and 20 pictures by Omani
photographers about life in Oman and Calligraphy, in addition to showcasing of life in the Sultanate in the past and Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs
paintings from the Omani Fine Art and some of the Omani artifacts and features present.
in the Sultanate.
— ONA
OMAN
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
Singaporean experience to
enlighten Oman vision 2040
SHARING SUCCESS: Supreme Council for Planning hosts Singapore expert who
explained his country’s successful development plans and methodology followed there
ZAINAB AL NASSRI
MUSCAT
March 10: The General Secretariat at
Supreme Council for Planning hosted
on Tuesday Peter Ho, a senior adviser
to the Centre for Strategic Futures,
in Singapore to enrich Oman 2040
vision project with Singaporean
experience.
The event was held under auspices
of Sultan al Habsi, Secretary General
of the Council with presence of
technical committee members of
Oman vision 2040, and a number
of decision makers, economists,
businessmen and investors.
Commenting on the event,
Talal al Rahbi, Deputy Secretary
General, said that hosting such
events are significant due to various
global experiences which are being
discussed and brought to public.
“The
world
is
changing
continuously and many scenario
plans emerge. We need to focus on
implementing plans and learn from
them ” he pointed out, affirming that
the Council is looking forward to
host experts and hold workshops to
frame the ninth five-year plan 20162020.
Peter Ho
During his presentation, Ho
explained the success of Singapore’s
development plans. “What makes
our experience special are three
main reasons; thinking of long-term
investments, integration of various
sectors and strict implementation.”
He said the planning officials
must take into account public opinion
before designing and implementing
plans, and finding the right balance” .
Ho elaborated on the planning
methodology
followed
by
Singaporean government. “Having a
plenty of scenarios in a society gives
the government the chance to interact
with issues that need to be considered
in future.
This kind of thinking is important
to meet sudden and nontraditional
needs. It also allow the government to
predict potential impacts before they
happen.”
Ho said if governments have
planning strategy, which factor in
future trends, it would help to avoid
impact of unforeseen events. Giving
examples like terrorism, cyber
threats, epidemic diseases and climate
changes, he said “this also will save
the country millions of dollars which
may be spent on solving the crisis”.
Talking about Singaporean path
on strategic planning, he indicated
that Singapore has started thinking
of future since the 80s. It established
Risk Assessment Office in 2004 to
look into solutions to avoid crisis.
The government also established
an Office for strategic Policies in
2008 and another one for Strategic
planning in 2009.
“There must be a national
agreement regarding the society
needs. Comprehensive planning must
be considered. Yet the government
opinion should be heard as it tries
to contain new ideas and work to
develop them” he said. Peter Ho is
also a Senior Fellow at the country’s
Civil Service Council.
Options drive people to shop outside Oman
FROM PAGE 1
For Maryam al Busaidi, a lecturer
with a leading college, it is not just
a passion to shop in neighbouring
countries. It is triggered by two major
reasons the first being price and the
second, choice.
“Prices always determine my
shopping and I find I can save a huge
sum of money if I shop in Dubai or
Sharjah where my brother has a flat
and we camp there whenever we
travel. Also, for me, I need a variety
of options to choose from which we
don’t have here”.
According to these women,
majority of shopping is done for
housewares, clothes, used cars,
mobile phones, accessories, fashion
products, furniture and decorations.
This trend has a hard-hitting
impact. The existing businesses in
Oman are feeling the pinch of this
trend and are reluctant to stack
their shelves with newer additions
as the risk involved is high. The new
entrants who are all set to make a
mark in the market are willing to
bring in such classy products and
services to Oman, but are doubtful
of changing the ultimate consumer
attitude.
“I have a shop that sells electrical
fittings which are second to none in
the region as we spend more money
and manpower in sourcing the best
and the latest from various markets.
But little do the people know that we
can very much get the same quality
here in Oman and instead, they catch
the next flight to the neighbouring
countries”, Haridas Kapadia, manager
of a leading chain of electrical
equipment, said.
“I came to Oman recently, studied
the market and set up a satellite
office here”, key representative of a
global chain of housewares based in
Dubai, said. “We need to educate the
consumer but convincing them is a
great task and I don’t think we will
take up this task”, he added.
Experts say the problem starts at
the import of goods itself. The charges
and delay at the local port is a major
reason for high prices.
“In other ports in the region, we
can clear a consignment just by sitting
in front of a computer or using your
mobile phone by giving instructions
to the port authorities, and it takes
10 to 20 minutes maximum. Here,
you need to go to the port personally
and identify and get the goods cleared
which takes a solid day from your
schedule”, a British shipping expert
who has been a part of the National
Logistics Policy, commented.
The ‘feel good factor’ in shopping
outside the country is not limited to
consumer goods alone. Advertising
and public relations industry too is
feeling the heat as many big Omani
companies entrust an outside agency
to be their mouthpiece to the public.
As a result major chunk of leading
companies in the Sultanate are getting
their advertisement, designing and
even printing works done from
across the geographical borders of the
country.
Oman is losing on several millions
of rials to its neighbouring countries
each year on this account.
SME Authority, Al Rafd join hands
to support artisans in Dhofar
KAUSHALENDRA SINGH
SALALAH
March 10: Artisans in Dhofar got
a boost after two major authorities
decided to join hands with the
Public Authority for Craft Industries
(PACI) to give a boost to them
working in different wilayats of the
governorate.
The good news was communicated
to the artisans, who had gathered in
large numbers at the annual meeting
of the PACI Dhofar Governorate
branch yesterday at Salalah Rotana
Resort.
The meeting was held marking
Handicraft Day, celebrated every year
on March 3.
The meeting was held under
the auspices of Mandar Ahmed
al Marhoon, Wali of Thumrait in
presence of Abdullah al Dawdi, PACI
chief in Dhofar, Mohammed Ahmed
al Sanah al Mushaikhi of Al Rafd
Fund and Mohammed Ahmed Al
Ghassani, incharge of newly
established
Salalah chapter
of the Public
Authority
Small
for
and Medium Mohammed Ahmed
E n t e r p r i s e s Al Ghassani
(SME).
Giving an insight into PACI
activities in Dhofar, Amer Tabook of
PACI, Dhofar said there were more
than 5,000 registered artisans in
Dhofar.
“Most of them are women and
take active participation in training
programmes, awareness drives and
other such activities being taken by
several authorities from time to time.”
He also said that there were about
18 ‘house museums’ operational in
Dhofar and served the twin purposes
of marketing and exhibition.
“Most of them are full time
artisans operating from their homes
and supplying products to several
shops, showrooms and festivals being
organised from time to time. To
ensure that they do not have to bother
about marketing, PACI buys their
products and sells them in Muscat
from where they are distributed at
many places,” he said.
PACI provides craft care and
support initiatives that include
providing artisans with modern craft
equipment, as well as contributing
to the marketing and promotion
of the outstanding craftsmen and
engage them in local, regional and
international exhibitions.
The Crafts Authotity supports
craftsmen according to their
geographical
environmental
needs through the development of
specialised crafts in the wilayats.
There are craft training and
production centres in every wilayat
to support the artisans.
Al Ghassani, SME in-charge of
Dhofar, said modalities were being
formulated to support the artisans
in terms of training, technical and
policy supports.
The Public Authority of SMEs,
according to him, has been evolving
ways to make the craft business
professionally functional with need
based national and international
exposure.
“We are planning to have dedicated
committees to boost the handicraft
movement, which is a major link
between our past and present as also
a supplementary source of income
for the artisans and their families,”
said Al Ghassani and promised all
possible support to the sector.
Al Mushaikhi of Al Rafd Fund
reiterated his commitment to
strengthen the handicraft sector by
offering loan and all possible support
before and after the commissioning
of the project.
omandailyobserver
5
HM AWARD
Film on environment
preservation at Unesco
GENEVA:
The Sultanate’s permanent
delegate to Unesco presented a special film
on Sultan Qaboos Award for Environment
Preservation at the special event which was
held in the Diplomatic Club at Unesco in
Paris in response to an invitation from the
Lithuanian Ambassador and Chairman of
the Unesco Diplomatic Club, Ambassador Dr
Moosa bin Jaafar, Advisor to the Sultanate’s
Permanent delegate to Unesco and SecretaryGeneral of the Diplomatic Club.
The event, which was organised
in coordination with Dr Samira bint
Mohammed bin Moosa al Moosa, the
Sultanate’s Permanent Delegate to the
Unesco, was attended by Irina Bokova,
Unesco Director-General, Shaikh Humaid
bin Ali al Maani, Sultanate’s Ambassador
to the French Republic, members of the
Permanent Delegate, the Military Attaché
Col Said bin Khalfan al Nabhani and the film
director, as well as a number of permanent
delegates to the Unesco.
Unesco Director-General delivered a
speech where she highlighted the status of
the Award since inception and its positive
effect on environment, which has become a
hot issue for researchers and governments,
especially it is the biosphere of man.
The attendees expressed their appreciation
for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos for dedicating
this award and its great effect in protecting
global environment. The film included
sceneries from the Sultanate, the countries
that won the Award earlier and an interview
with Dr Madiha bint Ahmed al Shibaniyah,
Minister of Education on the award, its
importance and selection process. They also
hailed the Sultanate’s efforts in protecting the
— ONA
environment.
Majlis takes up several issues for discussion
MUSCAT: Majlis Ash’shura Office on Tuesday
held its 8th sitting of the fourth session of the
7th term under the chairmanship of Khalid bin
Hilal al Maawali, Chairman of Majlis Ash’shura.
The Office discussed a number of issues
including the letter submitted about the
termination of service of some employees by
one of the companies operating in Muscat and
Salalah Airport Development project due to the
termination of the company contract with the
Ministry of Transport.
It also discussed a number of letters of
inquires for some ministers and reviewed
the reply of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries, as well as the circular of the
Secretariat General of the Arab Parliament.
The office looked into the letter of the
chairman of the fact-finding committee
about its study on Oman Air. It also looked
into the letter of the Head of the Health and
Environment Committee on the executive
programme to study evaluating the status of
health services in the Sultanate.
The meeting also reviewed the letter of the
Head of the Education and Scientific Research
Committee about re-opening of the colleges of
education.
During the meeting, the members reviewed
a number of inquiry requests by some Majlis
Ash’shura members to the Minister of Higher
Education on the admission standards at the
higher education institutions and the status
of the higher education institutions in the
Sultanate. — ONA
6
OMAN
omandailyobserver
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
GRIT AND DETERMINATION: German mountain climbers Stefan Glowacz and Chris
Sharma become the first to physically climb up the world’s biggest caves
Crude, condensates
output drops in Feb Film on scaling Majlis Al Jinn ready
MUSCAT: The Sultanate’s crude oil and
condensates production in February
2015 amounted to 26,811,761 barrels,
an average of 957,563 barrels a day (bpd)
— a decline by 0.29 per cent compared
to January 2015 when calculating the
daily average.
The monthly report by the Ministry
of Oil and Gas said that the total
exported crude oil in February 2015
amounted to 26,160,089 barrels, an
average of 934,289 bpd, and a 14.83 per
cent rise in comparison with January
2015 when calculating the daily average.
The Asian markets, as usual, have
the biggest share of the Omani oil
exports. Despite the decline in China’s
imports of Omani crude oil by 7.41 per
cent, it is still topping the list of Omani
crude oil importers, which reflects the
continuous and strong demand of the
Chinese consumers for the Omani
crude.
In Contrast, the percentage of the
imported quantities by Taiwan hit 18.75
per cent, a rise by 1.4 per cent. It is
noted in this month the return of South
Korea, India and Tanzania to the list of
countries importing Omani oil with a
different percentage amounts.
It is worth mentioning that the
imported quantities by Japan and
Thailand declined to remain at the
previous low levels. The average price
for American crude oil in New York
Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) in
February 2014 amounted to $51.32 per
barrel, indicating a $3.70 rise compared
to the trading of the January 2015.
The North Sea (Brent) basket in ICE
in London averaged $59.32 per barrel,
comprising a rise by $9.26 compared to
the trading of January 2015.
It is worth mentioning that the
ALI AHMED AL RIYAMI
MUSCAT
settlement prices for most world crude
oils during February 2015 witnessed
a remarkable upswing compared to
the settlement prices in January 2015
due to the push from the US dollar
deprecation, as well as the remarkable
decline in the number of US oil
exploration platforms, which means
that the small producers and high cost
oilfields have been negatively affected
by oil price decline.
The reduction in production
forecasts helped in making slight
improvement in the supply and demand
balance.
Meanwhile, Oman oil price (April
Delivery 2015) stood at $56.21,
comprising a rise by $9.48 compared
to March delivery 2015. The trading
of Oman Crude Oil Future Contract
at Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME
Oman) witnessed a rise in price in the
same month, as it has been the case
with other crude oils due to the abovementioned factors. It averaged between
$59.31 and $49.63 per barrel during
February 2015. — ONA
March 10: The first screening of the fantastic cave
climbing expedition of intrepid German adventurists,
mountain climbers Stefan Glowacz and Chris Sharma,
as they became the first to physically climb up Majlis
Al Jinn, one of the world’s biggest caves, was shown at
a special preview at the Cave Restaurant in Darsait on
Tuesday.
The great mental and physical determination of the
climbers, who are amongst the best in the world, was
apparent as they spent 13 gruelling climbing days —
daily from early morning to evening — climbing up
the wondrous cave pitch by pitch.
You don’t have to be a rock climber to appreciate the
true grit it takes to achieve such a feat that had plenty
of tense, nail-biting moments and tumbles, which
fortunately were not serious thanks to the safety ropes.
The ropes were used for protective purposes only and
in no way assisted them in their upward climb, but
did help to prevent what would have been very nasty
accidents.
Their entire Omani expedition with focus on
their Majlis Al Jinn (Cave of Spirits) documentary —
supported by the Ministry of Tourism and hosted by
Red Bull — will be premiered here at VOX Cinemas at
the end of this month. The documentary has already
been screened for audiences in various European
countries.
In comments given to the Observer on the occasion,
the three time winner of the renowned Rock Master
title and second World Champion 1993, Stefan —
who was accompanied by Thomas Ernst, Head of
Production for the documentary — said, “I heard
about this enormous cave in Oman about three years
ago from some base jumpers, who said it was possible
to use the natural structures of the rock to climb.
“So, this is what we did last year. We rappelled
down, over 100 metres in one go, to the ground and
then we tried to find a way to climb up again, but
without artificial devices, only using natural rock
to climb and the rope for protection. This became a
was very difficult; in the different scales of climbing
reflecting difficulty, this is at the top of the scale,”
adding that the cave, “at the deepest point is 120 metres
from the surface, but the whole climb was more than
300 metres.”
Stefan pointed out, “It is the first time in climbing
history a route has been established out of the earth
and into the light.”
Commenting on how he became a mountain
climber, he said, living in southern Germany, in Bavaria,
he lived very close to the mountains and his parents
used to take him mountain climbing in the summer
and skiing in the winter. He added, “This (mountain
Management and Head of Production Thomas Ernst
and climbing Icon Stefan Glowacz return to Oman
climbing) is my profession; I’m a professional rock
climber and I train and workout nearly every day and
very unique climb for us and, in the general climbing twice a year I go out on an expedition.”
A question and answer session followed the
community, a very unique project. It became the first
screening followed by a book-signing session for
climb ever up Majlis Al Jinn.
With regard to the degree of difficulty, he said: “It Stefan and Chris’ publication ‘Into the Light’.
54 students receive degrees at Modern College Analytical services lab
MUSCAT: Fifty-four students of the
Class of 2015 at the Modern College of
Business & Science (MCBS) received
their bachelors and associate degrees in
various disciplines at the college’s 19th
graduation ceremony held at the Al
Bustan Palace Hotel on Monday.
The ceremony was held under the
auspices of Prof Thomas George, the
Chancellor of University of Missouri, St
Louis, USA, and in the presence of many
dignitaries.
The highest number of bachelors
were from Business Administration
stream (19) followed by Science
(12 in Airport Management, and 4
in Information Systems). Nineteen
students were conferred Associate and professional skills and contribute
Degrees in Business Administration and to building beneficial structures
ICT. One of the graduates in Business compatible with Islam.
The degrees were conferred by Dr
Administration bagged the highest
19TH GRADUATION CEREMONY
Latin honour “summa cum laude”, while
seven graduates received “cum laude.”
In his address, Dr Khalfan al Asmi,
Assistant Dean at MCBS, appreciated
the successful academic association
the college has had, since its inception,
with the University of Missouri. He
exhorted the graduates and the student
community in general to develop
humane values along with knowledge
Joel Glassman, Associate Provost at
University of Missouri and presented by
Dr Muneer bin Mohammed al Maskery,
founder and Executive Chairman of
MCBS, along with Prof George.
Prof George in his keynote speech
hailed MCBS as one of the foremost
centres of academic excellence in the
Middle East, adding the college is fully
prepared to assume a leadership role in
the region. He specifically mentioned
the innovative and highly job-oriented
airport and aviation management
programmes offered at MCBS, saying
the rapidly growing transport and
logistics sector in the Middle East offers
great employment potential.
He called on the graduates to become
citizens of the world. MCBS started
functioning in 1996 as the first private
higher institution in Oman in affiliation
with the University of Missouri St. Louis.
It is the first private college in Oman
to have been provisionally accredited
(in 2004) by the Oman Academic
Accreditation Authority (OAAA).
Its MBA programme, in association
with Franklin University, USA, is the first
ever American Graduate Programme to
be offered in Oman. The college has a
separate wing called the MCBS Center
for Graduate & Professional Studies
which offers a range of professional
development programmes in Aviation,
Marketing, and Technology.
MCBS students have the choice of
transferring their credits to countries
including USA, UK, Australia and
Malaysia. Similarly, students from
abroad may also transfer their credits to
the MCBS programmes and complete
their education at the college.
Online, up-to-date and real-time information accessible by students, parents and teachers
Tech-savvy HEIs deploying ERP solutions
HASAN KAMOONPURI
MUSCAT
March 11: To meet expectations
for improved performance, Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs) in Oman
have started deploying enterprise
resource planning (ERP) solutions
so that their people, processes and
technology can work together more
efficiently to support institutional goals.
Waljat College of Applied Science
(WCAS) has deployed Academia
ERP Solution, while the German
University of Technology (GUtech)
has selected complete ERP software
of PowerCAMPUS UDC to help it
meet growing demands for improved
accountability,
performance
and
productivity.
The ERP solution used at the
University of Nizwa has transformed
all its administrative and business
processes into fully automated
procedures, in addition to ensuring
complete integration between its
administrative and academic segment.
In much the same manner, most
colleges and universities in Oman are
going in for ERP solutions. Prof Dr S L
Gupta, Dean, WCAS, says HEIs go in
for ERP solutions in order to improve
their operations and make them
manageable and more transparent.
WCAS is now using an ERP system
because it is committed to providing a
higher education environment that is
consistent with world-class standards
and best practices.
Other academicians say the
ERP system, a
web-based college
management
system, is used to
not only to handle
administrative
Prof S L Gupta, tasks, such as billing,
Dean, WCAS
student registration,
document tracking
and many other processes. College
ERP software is becoming an essential
component of the education and
learning system as it gathers all the
useful information needed to the
management in a few clicks. Since
all the stakeholders of the education
domain are interconnected on the
single platform, it is boon for all users.
A professor at another college
says ERP system helps HEIs create an
education community where students
can have the services they demand,
where faculty can facilitate teaching
and learning in the classroom or online,
and where departmental staff across the
institution have the information and
support they need to be more effective.
An ERP solution keeps all stakeholders
connected, he adds.
In Oman and the Gulf region, a
growing number of HEIs are leveraging
the power of the ERP software as
its helps improve efficiency and
flexibility by fostering secure, real-time
availability of information for better
decisions.
inaugurated at SQU
Dr Ali bin Saud Al Bimani, the Vice Chancellor of SQU inaugurating the Central
Analytical and Applied Research Unit at Sultan Qaboos University on Tuesday.
MUSCAT: The Central Analytical and
Applied Research Unit (CAARU) at
Sultan Qaboos University, was officially
opened on Tuesday under the patronage
of Dr Ali bin Saud Al Bimani, the Vice
Chancellor of SQU. The unit which is
under College of Science Dean’s office
has established itself on the basis of
having expertise in the field of advanced
instrumentation and developing the
capabilities with the most cutting edge
technologies.
Ahlam Al Azkawi, Head of CAARU,
said that the idea of the unit was first
proposed in 2004 with an aim of
centralising the different instruments
in College of Science that could
be for multidisciplinary use. Since
then, the college has purchased new
instrumentations and replaced the old
ones to cover the general research and
industry demand.
To insure proper operation and
good maintenance of the instruments,
the College has also identified some
technical staff from each contributing
department to be well trained and
dedicated to instrumentation and
analysis. CAARU was officially
integrated in the university structure in
December 2012 and all instrumentation
was physically moved to the new
location in the College of Science new
building by end of 2013 with welltrained dedicated staff.
CAARU consists of over 16
instrumentations covering different
type of analysis from different field of
sciences and 10 application specialist
assisted by 5 qualified technical staff.
CAARU is having its own expert team
to guide research projects and help
with the selection of the instruments,
analysis and interpretation.
CAARU provides different services
and consultancy to undergraduates,
postgraduates and researchers within
and outside SQU. Its services have also
expanded further to include industry,
public and private sectors. Some of
the instruments are even utilised for
diagnostic purposes by providing
services to SQUH and Ministry of
Health. “Usually all clinical cases
submitted to CAARU are critical
cases where the routine laboratory
procedures fail to give diagnosis”,
Ahlam Al Azkawi said.
Saif al Mamari, Application
Specialist at CAARU and the Material
Sciences team leader said that most
of industrial samples we receive at
CAARU are from oil field companies.
“We have gained the trust of the private
sector in providing quality analysis
and we insure data not to be released
to customer unless crossed checked
with different instrumentations to have
confirmative results”.
For the past few years CAARU
received various samples from different
colleges of SQU, academic institutes
around Oman and several companies
and ministries.
TOKEN ‘REPAYMENT’ OF AID
Protestors in Jakarta on Tuesday
presented bags of coins to the Australian
embassy in a token repayment of aid
money, amid the row over the impending
execution of two Australian drug
smugglers. The move was a symbolic
response to the suggestion by Australian
Prime Minister Tony Abbott that
Indonesia should reciprocate the financial
aid from his country by sparing the pair.
PROSPECTOR FINDS 2.7 KG GOLD NUGGET
W E D N E S DAY l M A R C H 1 1 l 2 0 1 5
A prospector in
Australia found a gold
nugget weighing
2.7 kilograms, a
Melbourne-based
newspaper reported.
Mick Brown dubbed
it “Fair Dinkum.” The
nugget is estimated to
be worth $103,400.
ASIA
Abe vows five-year plan to rebuild from 2011 disaster
TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe on Tuesday vowed to
draw up a new-five year plan to speed
rebuilding from a massive 2011 tsunami
and the world’s worst nuclear disaster
since Chernobyl that have left thousands
still homeless.
Abe spoke ahead of the fourth
anniversary of the devastating March
11 earthquake, which set off a massive
tsunami that ravaged the Pacific
coastline, killing nearly 20,000 and
causing explosions and meltdowns at
the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Much remains to be done, with many
towns struggling to provide jobs and
permanent housing for thousands of
residents, Abe told a news conference,
adding that the government would
prepare a new five-year reconstruction
plan by this summer.
“We in the Abe government will
provide all the support needed for the
people in the devastated areas, who are
working so hard to rebuild their lives
and move ahead,” Abe said.
“The current intensive five-year
reconstruction plan expires next March,
but we will draw up another for the next
five years by this summer,” he added.
He declined to give any details of the
budget, apart from saying it would be
decided in talks with local governments.
It is estimated that the government
has paid out as much as $50 billion to the
three regions hardest hit by the disaster.
We in the Abe
government will
provide all the
support needed for
the people in the devastated
areas, who are working so
hard to rebuild their lives
and move ahead.
Abe added that the government
SHINZO ABE
Japanese Prime Minister
would continue to spearhead efforts in
dealing with contaminated water from
the wrecked Fukushima plant, as well as has allocated more than $15 billion
its decommission.
to an unprecedented project to lower
Since the 9.0 magnitude quake, Japan radiation in towns near the plant, with
irradiated trash piling up in 88,000
temporary storage facilities nearby.
Tokyo plans to build a more
permanent storage facility in several
towns abandoned due to the accident,
despite opposition from some residents,
a decision Abe alluded to by thanking
those in agreement with the plan.
“We in the government will continue
to do everything possible to deal with
the issue of irradiated water as well as
decommissioning the plant,” he said.
“It may only be by slow steps, but
reconstruction is definitely moving into
a new stage.”
Abe, along with Emperor Akihito,
will attend Wednesday’s ceremonies to
mark the quake anniversary. — Reuters
PAKISTAN LIFTS BAN
ON DEATH PENALTY
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: Politicians say fast-track executions are
vital to reigning in militant attacks in the country
Student protesters fight with police while trying to break a police line in Letpadan,
Myanmar, yesterday.
— Reuters
Police arrest scores in
violent student rally
LETPADAN: Scores of Myanmar
protesters were arrested when batonwielding police dispersed a student rally
on Tuesday, as the second crackdown in
days deepens fears that authorities are
returning to the repressive reflexes of
the junta era.
Two large truckloads of protesters
were taken away after riot police
violently broke up the rally in the
central town of Letpadan, according
to a reporter on the scene, ending
over a week of stalemate between the
authorities and students calling for
education reforms.
The Ministry of Information said
127 people, including 20 women, were
arrested in a statement posted on its
website.
A senior police officer confirmed
protesters had been injured. “Some
were injured and taken to hospitals
for treatment,” the police official said,
adding that some 16 police officers
were also hurt by rocks thrown by
demonstrators.
The crackdown has intensified
concerns that authorities are resorting
to the repressive tactics of the previous
authoritarian regime, as the nation
stumbles towards a general election
Western powers urge
patience, compromise
and restraint on path
to democracy
slated for the end this year.
It also comes just days after
authorities used violence to end a
supporting rally in the commercial hub
of Yangon, prompting condemnation
from rights campaigners.
Criticising the use of “excessive
force” in Letpadan, Phil Robertson of
Human Rights Watch said the “disguise
has come off and we are back to the bad
old Burma of yesteryear,” referring to
the country by its previous name.
The embassy of Britain tweeted
that it was “deeply concerned”
about Tuesday’s events, while its US
counterpart also took to Twitter urging
“patience, compromise and restraint”
on Myanmar’s path to democracy.
Myanmar’s
quasi-civilian
government, which replaced outright
military rule in 2011, has ushered in
a number of major reforms that have
lured foreign investment back into the
— AFP
isolated nation.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will begin
executing criminals on death row whose
appeals have been exhausted, an interior
ministry spokesman said on Tuesday,
reversing an earlier announcement that
only those convicted of terrorism would
be executed.
“It applies to all (on death row),
irrespective of the nature of the crime,”
said the spokesman, who said the
order was given late on Friday but not
publicised.
There are more than 8,000 Pakistanis
on death row.
But the country had a de facto
moratorium on executions in place from
2008 until December, when Taliban
gunmen massacred 134 children and 19
adults in the worst militant attack in the
country’s history.
Politicians say fast-track executions
are vital to reigning in militant attacks in
the nuclear-armed nation of 180 million
people.
So legislators voted in sweeping
powers allowing the military to try
and execute civilians, arguing that
the country’s civilian courts were
too intimidated and inept to convict
militants and murderers.
Human rights groups warned that
convictions were highly unreliable and
the Pakistan criminal justice system
barely functioned.
But the government promised only
those convicted of militant attacks
would be executed and regular convicts
on death row would be spared.
Since then, 24 people have been
executed, including two men who
were not involved in a militant attack,
according to legal aid group Justice
7
Legislators voted in
sweeping powers allowing
the military to try and
execute civilians, arguing
that the country’s civilian
courts were too intimidated
and inept to convict
militants and murderers.
Pakistani paramilitary soldiers patrol on
motorcycles outside the central jail in
Karachi where authorities are said to
have executed a prisoner.
— AFP
Project Pakistan.
The group produced research in
conjunction with US university Yale
Law School documenting nearly 2,000
cases of torture in the eastern Pakistani
district of Faisalabad.
Interviewees said police routinely
manufactured
evidence,
tortured
suspects and botched investigations.
Torture is recognised as such a
widespread problem that any confession
a suspect gives to a policeman is
inadmissible in court.
Lawyers are often also inept or
corrupt, witnesses are frequently bribed
or murdered and judges are threatened,
the group says.
Police say that although torture used
to be common, it is rarer these days.
Many of those on death row were
children when they were arrested
and say they were tortured into
confessing, the group said, citing the
case of a man who was 14 years old
when he was sentenced to death ten
years ago.
“We’ve seen time and time again
that there is immeasurable injustice in
Pakistan’s criminal justice system, with
a rampant culture of police torture,
inadequate counsel and unfair trials,”
Sarah Belal, the executive director
of Justice Project Pakistan, said in a
statement.
“Despite
knowing
this,
the
government has irresponsibly brought
back capital punishment.”
Sarah Belal of the Justice Project
Pakistan (JPP) rights group condemned
the move to extend executions as
“irresponsible”, saying it put the lives of
vulnerable citizens at risk.
“We’ve seen time and time again
that there is immeasurable injustice in
Pakistan’s criminal justice system, with
a rampant culture of police torture,
inadequate counsel and unfair trials,”
she said in a statement.
— Reuters
SHOW OF SUPPORT
Malaysia MPs
shave heads
to call for
Anwar release
KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysian
opposition legislators on Tuesday
shaved off their hair outside parliament
to demand the release of their leader
Anwar Ibrahim, who is serving a fiveyear prison sentence.
Member of parliament Nik Mazian
Nik Mohamad said he shaved his hair
to dramatize the call for the release of
Anwar, 67.
Anwar should be allowed to attend
the parliament session that started
on Tuesday, said Mahfuz Omar,
information chief of the opposition
Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS). The
opposition leader is still waiting to
hear back from the king regarding his
request for a pardon; as such, his trial
is not concluded and he should not
lose his rights as a parliamentarian,
Anwar’s supporters say.
The prosecution considers Anwar
a convict and subject to the rule that
says any lawmaker sentenced to a year
or more in prison loses his or her seat.
On Saturday, thousands of
opposition supporters marched in
Kuala Lumpur to demand his release,
after the Federal Court last month
upheld his conviction of assaulting his
— dpa
former aide in 2008.
Bomb threat forces
HK jet to make
emergency landing
HONG KONG: A bomb threat to a
Hong Kong-bound flight with nearly
300 people on board forced the jet to
make an emergency landing in China
on Tuesday, Hong Kong Airlines said.
“Hong Kong Airlines was notified
of a suspected bomb threat onboard
its flight HX337 from Beijing to Hong
Kong, after the plane had taken off,” a
spokeswoman from the airline said.
The captain of the Airbus A330-200
decided to divert “in order to ensure
the safety and security of the passengers and crew” and landed the plane
at around 2:30 pm local time (0630
GMT) in Tianhe International Airport
in the central city of Wuhan, she said.
The precise nature of the threat was
not immediately known.
“All 295 passengers and crew members of the flight have since safely disembarked,” she said.
A spokesman for Wuhan airport’s
police said that the airport was investigating the incident, without providing
any further information.
Hong Kong international airport
said the flight, which was originally
scheduled to land in the afternoon,
would arrive at 14:30 GMT. — AFP
Bangladeshi actress said she had decided to forgive her former boyfriend who starred in a dramatic victory over England
Happy expresses happiness, drops charges against World Cup hero
DHAKA: A Bangladeshi actress who Although victims of alleged
filed a rape case against cricket star
rapes are usually entitled to
Rubel Hossain said on Tuesday she was
withdrawing the charges against the fast anonymity, police waived
bowler, a day after his match-winning reporting restrictions after
heroics at the World Cup.
Happy told the Bangladeshi
Naznin Akter Happy, 19, made the
rape allegation earlier this year after media that she would drop
claiming 25-year-old Rubel had reneged the allegations if Rubel
on a promise of marriage that he made
agreed to marry her.
while they were having an “intimate
affair”.
The allegation had threatened to
scupper Rubel’s chances of appearing in
the World Cup after he was remanded in “national interest” as he was a key
custody by a court in Dhaka.
member of Bangladesh’s team.
But he was later granted bail until
In the latest twist of a saga which has
the end of the World Cup in view of gripped the country, Happy said she had Bangladeshi cricketer Rubel Hossain and actress Naznin Akter Happy.
decided to forgive her former boyfriend
who starred in a dramatic victory over
England on Monday.
“I’ve forgiven him. I am not going
to continue the case against him,”
Happy told Channel 24 television on
Tuesday.
“I am not going to give any testimony
or evidence against (him). And if I don’t
carry on with the case, then there is no
case.”
Her move came hours after her
lawyer, Debul Dey, said he would no
longer represent Happy as he did not
want to put Rubel under pressure
while he was representing his
country in Australia and New
Zealand.
Rubel took four for 53 in the win over
England in Adelaide, which enabled
Bangladesh to qualify for the World Cup
quarter-finals for the first time.
Although victims of alleged rapes
are usually entitled to anonymity, police
waived reporting restrictions after
Happy told the Bangladeshi media that
she would drop the allegations if Rubel
agreed to marry her.
Rubel has consistently rejected the
allegation of rape or claims that he
had offered to marry Happy, instead
accusing her of “blackmail”.
Happy became a household name
for her debut movie “Kichu Asha
Bhalobasa” (Some Hopes, Some Loves)
which hit cinemas in 2013. — Reuters
8
ANALYSIS
omandailyobserver
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
WARTIME APOLOGY
CAN MEND FENCES
P
rime Minister Shinzo Abe risks further alienating Asian neighbours China and
South Korea if he does not stick to the substance of a 1995 apology for wartime
aggression, the man who issued the landmark statement two decades ago said.
Former prime minister Tomiichi Murayama, a socialist, was head of an
unwieldy coalition with the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) when
he made the “heartfelt apology” for the wartime damage and suffering caused by
Japan. Abe, then a LDP lawmaker, was one of those who opposed the move.
Now premier for a second time, Abe’s conservative agenda includes adopting
a less apologetic tone towards the past and revising the post-war, pacifist
constitution.
Abe has said he intends to uphold past apologies, including Murayama’s, but
has signalled he wants to issue a forward-looking statement in his own words.
“If you listen to what Mr Abe has said so far... it appears he wants to water down
the facts of the past somewhat,” Murayama said at the headquarters of the tiny Social
Democratic Party, successor to the Socialist
Party he once led.
Abe’s anniversary
“Depending on the content, this could reap
the mistrust of Asia and the world,” Murayama comments will be
said. “There is great concern (overseas) that closely parsed in
Japan is diluting its remorse towards the past
China and South
and is lurching to the right. I worry about that.”
“It is all right to change the wording, but I Korea, where bitter
want him to avoid mistaking the fundamental memories of Japan’s
attitude and understanding (of the Murayama
past militarism run
Statement).”
Abe’s anniversary comments will be closely deep, and by Tokyo’s
parsed in China and South Korea, where bitter close ally the US,
memories of Japan’s past militarism run deep,
reports LINDA SIEG
and by Japan’s close ally Washington.
Feuds over wartime history as well as
territorial rows have frayed Tokyo’s ties with
Seoul and Beijing in recent years.
Sino-Japanese relations have thawed a bit since a leaders’ summit last November
but ties with Seoul remain frosty.
Abe’s apparent reluctance to apologise over the war dates back to his early days
as a lawmaker.
In June 1995, when parliament’s lower house adopted a watered-down
resolution of “deep remorse”, he was among those who absented themselves.
More recently, he has said there is no internationally agreed upon definition of
“war of aggression”, raising doubts over whether he will include key phrases from
the Murayama document such as “colonial rule” and “aggression” when he makes
his own statement.
Murayama, a spry 91-year-old who lives on his lawmaker’s pension on Japan’s
southwestern island of Kyushu and who is famed for his trademark bushy white
eyebrows, has retired from politics.
But his comments are garnering widespread attention at a time when liberal
voices in Japan have become more muted.
Recalling the fraught process of crafting his apology and gaining agreement
of conservatives in his cabinet, Murayama said when the statement was read out
to his cabinet ministers, there were no remarks at all — neither for nor against.
“I was relieved,” he said.
Murayama also expressed concern over what Abe calls his push to “escape
the post-war regime” — a legacy of the US occupation that conservatives argue
deprived Japan of national pride and weakened traditional mores.
“If you judge overall from what he has said, it seems he feels individual
rights have been over-emphasised and public morality has been made light of,”
Murayama said.
Abe has made clear that his goal is to revise the constitution’s pacifist Article 9
but Murayama said that Japan’s public would not easily agree to change a clause
that he and other proponents say has kept the country at peace since 1945.
“Mr Abe stresses the dangers in Asia and is trying to create an environment for
revising the constitution, but the people as a whole will not agree,” Murayama said.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Japan to resolve issues
surrounding Tokyo’s system of wartime slavery, her second foray into the delicate
issue of East Asia’s history.
Winding up a whirlwind visit to japan, Merkel met Katsuya Okada, head of
the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan and said Tokyo should “go ahead
with reconciliation” with South Korea over what Japan euphemistically refers to
as “comfort women”.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker addresses the media in Brussels, in this file photo. — AP
What European army is for?
E
uropean Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker’s call member countries to reverse years of spending cuts and
for an EU army to counter a more assertive Russia is commit to a defence budget equal to two per cent of annual
impractical and will face strong resistance from many economic output within 10 years.
It has also sent troops and equipment to its East
member states, analysts said.
The idea is initially attractive because “pooling and European allies to reassure them of Nato’s commitment to
sharing” would spread the defence burden at a time their defence at a time when many fear Russia wants to rewhen government finances everywhere are under intense establish its Soviet-era sphere of influence.
EU leaders at a December 2013 summit endorsed
pressure, they said.
But in practice, it begs the question of how to reconcile further steps towards greater defence cooperation, citing
the interests of 28 very different member states on the core the need to make tight budgets go further. But a suggestion
sovereign “no-go” area of national defence, not to mention the EU consider obtaining its own military capabilities was
shot down by British Prime Minister David Cameron.
a possible overlap with Nato.
“It makes sense for nation states to cooperate over
“I see lots of loose ends in this proposal which do not
fit together,” Markus Kaim of the German Institute for matters of defence to keep us all safer... but it is not right
for the EU to have capabilities, armies, air
International and Security Affairs in
forces and the rest of it,” Cameron said at
Berlin said.
A European army
the time.
“A European army has nothing to do
has nothing to with
“We have to get that demarcation
with Russia. What the additional benefit
correct, between cooperation which is
of a European army would be in this
Russia. What the
right but EU capabilities which is wrong.”
context is known only to Juncker.”
additional benefit of
Britain in 2010 signed a wide-ranging
Former Luxembourg prime minister
this is known only
defence cooperation deal with France,
Juncker, no stranger to controversy, was
which included the ability to use French
clear in what he saw as the benefits.
to Juncker, writes
aircraft carriers while it waited for its own
“A common army among the
MARTIN TRAUTH
new ships to enter service.
Europeans would convey to Russia that
Kaim, the German analyst, said
we are serious about defending the values
Cameron may have appeared outspoken
of the European Union,” Juncker told
at the time but many other EU states are happy to see
Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
It would also be more cost effective and help drive the Britain take the lead.
“I think a lot of countries are comfortable in hiding
EU towards a common foreign and security policy, he said,
behind Britain. Anything which smacks of a real deepening
downplaying concerns it might undercut Nato’s role.
Europeans could save up to 120 billion euros ($135 of (EU) integration does not have a majority, not only in
billion) a year, Juncker’s spokesman Margaritis Schinas Britain but also in Germany or France.
“Smaller states count on Nato as well. They do not want
said on Monday, stressing that Juncker had previously
to rely on the imponderable EU,” he said.
mentioned the plan.
Janis Emmanouilidis at the European Policy Centre in
Of the EU’s 28 members, 22 also belong to Nato, the
US-led military alliance set up in 1949 to protect Western Brussels said Juncker was grandstanding on the issue.
“Juncker likes to show that he can put issues on the
Europe from the Soviet Union.
In response to Russia’s intervention in Ukraine and its agenda and that the Commission is a political actor but I do
annexation of Crimea, Nato has marshalled its own 28 not think this will stay in the public arena for a long time.”
AAP’s travails confirm the corrosive influence of power
F
or the Aam Admi Party (AAP) to begin
falling apart less than a month after its
famous victory in the Indian capital Delhi’s
election will be a cause of surprise and
disappointment to its legions of followers
in the national capital and outside.
Surprise will be felt because it was
believed that the party had learnt the right
lessons from the suicidal tendencies which
it displayed after its electoral success last
year. The need for piping down was evident
from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s call
for eschewing arrogance during his speech
after being sworn-in.
Yet, it cannot be anything other than
hauteur along with personal animus which
pitted Kejriwal against the two stalwarts,
Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.
However, it was a skirmish which was
waiting to happen because the grouse of the
two against their chief was an old one — the
innate authoritarianism of the seemingly
humble leader.
In setting his house in order, Kejriwal
displayed a previously unsuspected trait
of deft manoeuvring by letting the AAP’s
national executive oust Yadav and Bhushan
from the political affairs committee by
a majority vote while the chief minister
himself stayed away.
By demonstrating that the national
executive will be able to read his mind in his
absence, Kejriwal removed all doubts about
his total control over the party.
To prove his point, the national executive
also rejected his offer to resign from the
party’s convener’s post, another manoeuvre
which showed that he is learning the tricks
of the trade — fake resignations and pulling
the strings from behind to make followers
in the party dance to his tune. However,
only the naive will believe that the eviction
of Yadav and Bhushan marks the end of
dissension. In a way, their departure is
only a continuation of other farewells by
important party members like Capt G R
Gopinath, Shazia Ilmi and Madhu Bhaduri
and the marginalisation of others like
Shanti Bhushan and Santosh Hegde.
All of them severed their links with
the AAP because they felt that the party
wasn’t democratic enough. The difference,
however, between their departures and
the ouster of Yadav and Bhushan is that
the former psephologist and the Supreme
Court lawyer are a great deal more canny
By demonstrating that the
national executive of AAP
will be able to read his mind
in his absence, Kejriwal
removed all doubts about his
total control over the party,
notes AMULYA GANGULI
than the others.
They are also unlikely to walk quietly
into the sunset or join a rival party as some
of the others have done. Instead, they are
expected to wait for an opportunity for
Kejriwal to stumble before launching a
frontal attack in the name of saving the
party.
They have already received some
help from an AAP blogger, Mayank
Gandhi, who has revealed the “secret”
deliberations of the national executive,
which had apparently made up its mind
to punish the two dissenters because of the
“irreconcilable” differences between them
and Kejriwal.
How the differences assumed such
proportions within weeks of the party’s
stunning success is something which is
likely to come out in course of time because,
as Yadav has said, the truth will ultimately
prevail.
On his part, Kejriwal cannot but miss
Yadav’s and Bhushan’s plain-speaking advice
which he may not receive from factotums
like deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia
and others. But, as someone who appears
to favour following his own counsel, the
chief minister may not be too regretful.
There is little doubt, however, that the party
will suffer as it is reduced to be exactly the
kind of organisation which Kejriwal used to
criticize for their “high command” culture.
Supporters of Aam Aadmi Party cheer during an election rally addressed by their
leader Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi on February 3. — AP
ANALYSIS
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
9
Indonesia’s Alcatraz highlights death penalty divide
N
usakambangan, dubbed Indonesia’s “Alcatraz”, is
known internationally as a grim prison island and
execution site.
But inside the country, many see it as a proud
symbol of the fight against drugs.
Last week the two Australian ringleaders
of the so-called “Bali Nine” heroin smuggling
group, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran,
were transferred to the island and will soon face
the firing squad despite a wave of international
criticism.
At home the island is not only a key part of
the country’s battle against drugs, but some even
believe its macabre reputation poses no challenge
to a future as a top tourist spot with idyllic beaches.
Nusakambangan highlights the gulf in views
between Indonesia, where the death penalty for
drug traffickers has solid public support, and some
of the countries whose citizens will soon be put to
death, in particular neighbouring Australia.
“Nusakambangan is not just a point of pride
for the people of Cilacap, but all Indonesians,” said
gemstone trader Edy, who like many Indonesians
goes by one name, referring to the Javanese port
town that is the gateway to the island.
“Indonesians think executions are a good way
to fight drugs.”
Despite his image as a reformist, new President “Go to hell drug traffickers”, and urging foreigners
Joko Widodo has made the campaign to execute not to interfere in Indonesia’s judicial system.
The policy shift signals that Nusakambangan is
drug traffickers a key policy, a populist move
analysts say is aimed at showing he is a tough likely to become the site of regular executions.
Despite repeated appeals from Canberra, Chan
leader.
He says Indonesia is facing an “emergency” due and Sukumaran were brought there under heavy
military escort last week.
to rising drugs use, and has
They are expected to be
won the backing of key groups
put to death in the near future
such as the Muslim-majority
The island is not only
at the same time as drug
country’s two biggest Islamic
a key part of the
convicts from France, Brazil,
organisations.
country’s battle against the Philippines, Nigeria and
The first executions during
Ghana, although no date has
his presidency were in January,
drugs, but some even
been set.
when six drug convicts,
believe its macabre
As the executions draw
including five foreigners, were
reputation poses no
closer, the convicts’ families
put to death — unleashing a
diplomatic furore.
challenge to a future as have been making the short
ferry journey from Cilacap
While there are dissenting
a tourist destination,
to see their loved ones on
voices, notably from academics
reports NICK PERRY
jungle-clad Nusakambangan,
and rights groups, and no
which has served as a
comprehensive studies have
penal colony since Indonesia’s
been conducted, the policy has
won broad public backing and there has been only then Dutch rulers began detaining prisoners there
more than a century ago.
muted political opposition.
Today those colonial jails, long decommissioned,
Moments before legal and diplomatic teams
visited the Australians last week, protesters can still be seen by visitors to the island.
The modern prisons make up a sprawling
descended on Cilacap port with signs declaring,
complex across the island’s interior, seven facilities
ranging from maximum security to an “open”
prison where inmates work in fields and carve
gemstones for jewellery.
Many of the country’s most notorious murderers
and militants have been sent to Nusakambangan.
Imam Samudra, Amrozi and Mukhlas, who
carried out the 2002 Bali bombings that killed
202 people, mostly foreign tourists, were executed
there in late 2008.
For those on death row in Indonesia,
Nusakambangan is normally the end of the road.
Seventy-two hours before being executed,
condemned inmates are taken to an isolation cell
where they wait until being led — chained and, if
desired, blindfolded — outside the jail to nearby
jungle clearings.
There, they are tied to a post and shot by a 12man firing squad.
The local view of Nusakambangan is a million
miles from that of a dark, foreboding execution
island, however.
It has a budding tourist industry, with boat
operators at Cilacap’s main beach saying they take
up to 100 — mainly Indonesian — visitors each
Sunday across the narrow strait to explore the
island’s white-sand beaches and caves.
DONORS UNFAZED
MICHELLE CONLIN AND AMANDA BECKER
T
op Democratic donors say they are unfazed by the disclosure that Hillary
Clinton conducted State Department business on a personal email
account, although several said she could fend off Republican criticism
by addressing the issue head-on and announcing her candidacy for
president.
The presumed front-runner for the Democratic Party’s 2016
presidential nomination had generally avoided controversy until the
email issue emerged.
It has sparked Republican claims that she was being secretive and
could have posed a security threat.
“Do I think it will affect her fundraising? I doubt it,” said Miami
physician and Democratic bundler J P Austin. “She’s the front-runner.
She’s still the person to beat.”
Lena Kennedy, a Pasadena donor and bundler, added: “I just think
Hillary needs to address the questions, and then we need to move on.”
Clinton is expected to address the issue publicly this week.
Last week, as the tempest over the emails grew, the former secretary
of state announced on Twitter that she had asked the State Department
to release the 55,000 emails she had previously turned over as a part of
the Department’s request for records from all former secretaries of state.
On Monday, Reuters interviewed 13, randomly selected political
activists who are among the Democratic Party’s top donors and
bundlers — donors who gather other donations together to amplify the
funding impact.
Half were avowed Clinton supporters, two hope Massachusetts
Senator Elizabeth Warren would run, and the remainder were
undecided. Although they acknowledged the e-mails could potentially
contain surprises, none felt Clinton’s reputation would be damaged by
what has been disclosed so far.
Democratic donors said their view of Clinton had not been affected.
Nearly all said that although they preferred a contested primary
because it strengthens the eventual victor, they still believed Clinton
would ultimately secure the Democratic presidential nomination for
2016. Most also said it was unlikely that a strong enough challenger
would emerge who could siphon away a significant amount of cash
from Clinton.
“I think the big takeaway from my conversations has been a general
feeling amongst the network of which I’m a part that she should hurry
up and announce,” said Allan Berliant, a Cincinnati bundler who has
been talking with potential donors.
Takayuku Ueno stands in front of an alter for his deceased family at his house in Minami-soma. — AFP
Japan’s tsunami victims frozen in their tragedy
I
n cold drizzle Takayuki Ueno combs a
desolate winter beach for the bones of his
three-year-old son, unable to move on in his
grief until he finds the remains of a boy killed
by Japan’s monstrous tsunami four years ago.
Only the ageing of his daughter, born
six months after disaster struck, marks the
passage of time for a man who can find no
closure until he finds the bodies of the dead
— one of thousands of living victims of a
disaster that is still playing out.
“My daughter Sarii will start going to
kindergarten this April, start doing things
that her brother couldn’t,” he said.
“I can’t help thinking how short his life
was, only three years.”
March 11, 2011 is engraved on Japan’s
collective psyche; the day a terrifying 9.0
magnitude undersea earthquake sent the
ocean barrelling into the coast.
The roiling black waters killed almost
19,000 people as they flattened communities
and poisoned farmland.
They also set off the worst nuclear
catastrophe in a generation, pushing reactors
at Fukushima into meltdown and spewing a
pall of invisible — but toxic — radiation into
the air, leaving a vast area out of bounds.
“No one came here to help. I was the only
thing moving in this whole area,” Ueno, 42,
said on the barren shore at Minamisoma, on
Japan’s northeast coast.
“As soon as the first reactor explosion hit,
everyone disappeared. So I started searching
for the missing by myself,” he said.
“We desperately needed help, with so
many people missing. But no one came. It
was 40 days after the tsunami — April 20 —
when troops came to search,” Ueno said.
“It was the nuclear accident. That’s why
they came so late and left so quickly.”
The body of his eight-year-old daughter
Erika was found close to the family home,
which lies slightly north of the 20-km
exclusion zone thrown up around the
battered plant. His dead mother, 60, was also
found nearby.
By the end of March 2011, Ueno and
a small band of volunteers braving the
radiation had worked their way through the
gutted shells of broken buildings to the beach,
where they chanced upon seven bodies
almost immediately.
Over the following months, they
discovered several dozen more corpses. But
three-year-old Kotaro was not among them.
“I could hold Erika and say I am sorry,” he
said. “I’ve wanted to gather Kotaro too in my
arms and say sorry.
I’ve wanted so much to find him.”
Ueno is one of thousands of people
afflicted by the tsunami unable to turn the
page on the horror of 2011.
For them, grief is frozen in time because
they cannot find the bodies they need to
mourn. For others, who may have lost no-one
to the waters but were made homeless by the
disaster, there are other challenges.
While the exclusion zone around
Fukushima Daichi has shrunk, tens of
thousands of people remain unable to return
to their homes because of worries over
elevated radiation levels there.
“There has been considerable progress in
overall recovery from the devastation,” said
For some, grief is frozen in
time because they cannot find
the bodies they need to mourn.
For others, who were made
homeless by the disaster, there
are other challenges of life,
reports HARUMI OZAWA
Tadateru Konoe, President of the Japanese
Red Cross (JRC).
“However, there have been critical delays
in rebuilding communities. Particular
attention must be given to the needs of many
elderly and other vulnerable people who have
been unable to get back on their feet.”
The JRC says while many of the largescale facilities such as hospitals or nursery
homes are finished, there is a go-slow on
the rebuilding of permanent homes for the
displaced, who live in temporary housing, or
are crammed in with relatives.
“Whereas the living conditions of younger
generations have by now mostly returned
to normal, the situation is more serious
for a large number of elderly people who
lack a supporting family network and have
not yet been able to restore their lives,” the
organisation said in a statement.
For Ueno, the invisible poison of the
battered nuclear reactors hangs over his head
like a cloud as he gropes for an end to his
personal tragedy.
On a miserably cold morning a few
days ahead of the fourth anniversary of the
tsunami, he and several others scoured a
beach 17 km from the stricken plant.
“Late last year, a human body was found
in this area, the upper body and lower body
severed,” Ueno said. “But the head is still
missing.”
There are occasional glimmers of hope;
DNA tests on bone fragments found in
nearby Namie last November were identified
this week as belonging to a 13-year-old girl,
missing since the waves swept in, the Asahi
Shimbun reported. Despite knowing that he
has been exposed to fallout from the plant, he
will not stop.
“Somebody needs to do this, walking
along the shore, otherwise there is no
possibility that anyone will be found,” he said.
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omandailyobserver
INDIA
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
DEADLOCK: The old legislation has tied up billions of dollars in infrastructure and industry investments in red tape
BEST HUBS
Lok Sabha okays land bill, oppn protests
Gujarat, HP,
Delhi good
for business
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday
finally passed the land acquisition bill,
which is under attack from farmer and
civil society activists, brushing aside
protests by the opposition.
The proposed legislation removes
the need for obtaining the consent of
landowners and carrying out Social
Economic Assessment (SIA) for
acquiring land under certain categories.
The Right to Fair Compensation,
Rehabilitation and Transparency in
Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and
Resettlement Bill, 2015, was passed
after nine amendments brought by the
government.
The bill will now be taken up by the
Rajya Sabha where the Narendra Modi
government is in a minority.
The Congress, the Samajwadi Party
and the Left walked out before the
voting took place. The Biju Janata Dal,
which withdrew amendments moved by
it, also staged a walkout.
The government earlier sought to
break a political deadlock over reforms
that would make it easier to buy land, in
a test of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
Changes — including
restoring a diluted consent
clause for landowners — to
placate critics who say the
bill as it stands now risks
being branded ‘anti-farmer’.
An engineer walks on an iron structure at the construction site of a railway bridge in
Kouri in the Reasi district.
— Reuters
ability to steer his business-friendly
agenda through parliament.
In a day of hectic parliamentary
dealings, leaders from Modi’s ruling
party proposed changes to soften the
impact of the reforms in an attempt to
secure the passage of a law that would
replace a temporary government order
now in force.
“The government will move
amendments — there may be six to
seven amendments,” said a senior
Current account deficit falls to
$8.2 billion, 1.6pc of GDP
An employee poses with the bundles of rupee notes inside a bank in Agartala.
— Reuters
NEW DELHI: India’s current account
deficit narrowed in October-December
from the previous quarter on the back
of slumping oil price and analysts said it
should move into surplus in early 2015
for the first time in eight years.
The deficit reached $8.2 billion, or
1.6 percent of gross domestic product,
in the October-December quarter.
That was lower than the deficit of $10.1
billion, or 2.0 per cent of GDP, in the
previous quarter according to Reserve
Bank of India data on Tuesday.
Although wider than the $4.2 billion
deficit, or 0.9 percent of GDP, seen a
year earlier, analysts said the continued
slump in oil prices could see India post
a current account surplus as early as the
January-March quarter.
That would be India’s first since
January-March of 2007 and mark a
remarkable comeback from the record
high current account deficit of 4.8 per
cent of GDP in 2012/13, which helped
spark the country’s worst currency crisis
in more than two decades.
“India’s external sector has improved
significantly now,” said Saugata
Bhattacharya, chief economist at Axis
Bank in Mumbai.
“We will see some volatility in the
exchange rate going ahead as there is lot
of uncertainty over Fed rate hikes. But
overall India will be less impacted than
other emerging markets as external debt
is contained, macro fundamentals are
better, and forex reserves are relatively
high.”
Hopes for economic reforms by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
government and the Reserve Bank of
India’s efforts to contain inflation have
sparked a surge in foreign inflows into
India.
The inflows have been accompanied
by lower oil prices. Brent crude futures
fell 39 per cent during the OctoberDecember quarter and remain under
pressure, a key factor for a country that
imports nearly 80 per cent of its oil
requirements.
However, one uncertainty to
the current account balance is gold
purchases, after India eased restrictions
on gold imports in November in a bid to
cut down on smuggling.
India is the world’s largest consumer
of gold. India has yet to release official
data although analysts widely expect an
increase in gold imports.
Other data on Tuesday showed
India’s balance of payments stood at a
surplus of $13.2 billion during OctoberDecember, a fifth consecutive quarter of
surplus.
The capital and financial account was
also in surplus at $10 billion, according
to the data.
Meanwhile, the trade deficit in the
October-December period widened
slightly to $39.2 billion from $38.6
billion a quarter ago.
— Reuters
strategist from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP), who requested anonymity
due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Modi wants to overhaul a land
acquisition act passed by the last
government which, his backers say,
has tied up billions of dollars in
infrastructure and industry investments
in red tape.
Yet although Modi’s nationalist party
won a sweeping lower-house mandate in
last May’s general election, he lacks the
votes in the upper house to put those
changes permanently onto the statute
book.
Modi issued an executive order in
December to exempt projects in defence,
rural electrification, rural housing and
industrial corridors from provisions of
the 2013 law requiring 80 per cent of
affected landowners to agree to a deal.
He also scrapped the need for
companies to conduct a social impact
study for such projects, a process
requiring public hearings that can drag
on for years.
Failure to pass the law in both houses
would lead the executive order, or
ordinance, to lapse when the current
session of parliament ends.
That in turn could open the way for
Modi to convene a rare joint session of
parliament, where his coalition would
have a majority on paper, to pass the
land law. Strategists from Modi’s BJP
say the joint session route is viable but
caution that it could cause political
friction to escalate both inside and
outside parliament.
They are therefore proposing changes
— including restoring a diluted consent
clause for landowners — to placate
critics who say the bill as it stands now
risks being branded “anti-farmer”.
— IANS/Reuters
KOLKATA:
Gujarat,
Himachal
Pradesh and Delhi are the most
entrepreneur-friendly
states,
according to a recent survey.
The survey on entrepreneurship
conducted by direct-selling FMCG
company Amway and market
researcher Indicus Analytics has found
that Gujarat, Delhi and Karnataka
provide good infrastructural support
for entrepreneurs to grow their
business.
Furthermore, the nature of
governance in all these states supports
entrepreneurial activities.
However, Karnataka ranked far
below when it came to the question of
attitude to opt for a business venture
while Himachal Pradesh topped the
chart on this parameter followed by
Bihar and Jharkhand.
The data used for index
computation of the survey was
collected through a primary survey
of over 5,000 respondents in 20
states encompassing 50 cities across
India. — IANS
DAILY LIFE IN DELHI
A resident uses a bicycle to carry gas cylinders as he negotiates traffic at an intersection in a neighbourhood of south New
Delhi yesterday. — Reuters
Maharashtra beef ban to boost chicken sales
MUMBAI: Poultry firms expect demand
to pick up after a ban on beef in India’s
western state of Maharashtra, with other
states ruled by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s party also aiming to toughen
laws on livestock slaughter.
India is the world’s second largest
beef exporter and fifth biggest consumer,
although its majority Hindu community
views cows to be sacred, and Modi’s
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is pushing
for legal steps to “protect and promote
the cow”.
Maharashtra, which has a population
of about 110 million, and sprawls over
an area roughly the size of Italy, widened
its ban this month to cover meat from
bulls and bullocks.
The northern states of Jharkhand
and Haryana, also ruled by the BJP, are
looking for ways to discourage slaughter
of livestock.
Such curbs, which critics call the
outcome of Modi loyalists pushing a
Hindu agenda, will cost jobs and hit
India’s exports, but spell good news for
many poultry farms.
India consumed 2.3 million tonnes
of beef last year until October — higher
than for the whole of 2013 — while
exports were 1.95 million tonnes in the
same period.(http://1.usa.gov/1f09u8I)
“We
are
expecting
chicken
consumption to increase in Maharashtra
after a month, as it is a direct alternative
to beef,” said Prasanna Pedgaonkar,
deputy general manager at chicken
processor Venky’s.
— Reuters
Hollywood A-listers, including Meryl Streep, raise voice against violence and discrimination in India at US premiere
Social activist arrested after screening banned film
LUCKNOW: A social activist told on
Tuesday how he had been detained by
police and had his computer equipment
impounded after organising a public
screening of a banned documentary
about a savage rape.
Plans by the national NDTV
network to broadcast the “India’s
Daughter” documentary on Sunday to
mark International Women’s Day were
thwarted when authorities obtained a
banning order on the grounds the film
risked fuelling public anger.
But Ketan Dixit, an activist and filmmaker who has campaigned extensively
against acid attacks on women, decided
to put on a screening in a village near
the Taj Mahal city of Agra on the same
evening as an act of defiance.
Dixit was subsequently arrested by
police and questioned for several hours
before being finally released without
charge.
“The police official told me that he
was letting me off as he did not have any
document on the basis of which I could
be arrested,” Dixit said.
“However he seized my laptop,
projector, and other equipment for some
investigation.”
Akhilesh
Bhadoriya,
deputy
superintendent of police in Agra,
confirmed that Dixit had been arrested.
“The action was in response to the
screening of this documentary which
has been banned by the government.
We have seized the screening
equipment of Ketan Dixit and are
probing the case.”
student who was attacked on a moving
The documentary by award-winning bus in New Delhi in December 2012.
British filmmaker Leslee Udwin focuses
The Indian government reacted
on the murder and rape of a 23-year-old furiously when it emerged that Udwin
On Monday, Hollywood A-listers
including actress Meryl Streep raised
their voice against violence and
discrimination against women at the
US premier of the documentary India’s
Daughter. Stars showed their support for
the documentary by Udwin.
Actresses Freida Pinto, Dakota
Fanning and Marcia Cross joined Streep
on stage before the screening to light
candles in remembrance of the 23-yearold female student who died days after
she was brutally raped and beaten on a
bus in India.
“What we’re dealing with is worse
than violent murder during the course
of rape,” Streep said. “What is worse
had managed to interview one of the than brutality that dehumanizes girls
convicted rapists, who blamed the and women? Tolerance for it is worse.
victim for the attack which caused mass Acceptance of it.”
Udwin, who spent two years in India
protests at the time.
shooting the documentary, said that the
US screening also marks the beginning
of a global campaign to eradicate
violence against women.
“Change of mindset is probably the
biggest ask that we can make,”
Udwin said.
“I do believe you can move mountains
with films ... I think this film has the
power to do that.”
Udwin said a complete change of
societal mindset is needed to stop
violence.
The film was shown in several
countries worldwide on Sunday night
to mark International Women’s Day.
In India, a leading television network
originally set to broadcast it halted all
programming for an hour in protest
after the government banned showings
of the documentary.
— AFP/dpa
INDIA
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
Yadav, Bhushans worked against AAP
CONSPIRACY: Kejriwal loyalists allege trio attempted the party’s defeat in the February 7 Delhi assembly polls
The widening internal rift in the AAP again came to the fore on Tuesday with
the party top brass launching a scathing attack on senior leaders
Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.
PM says three-nation
tour shows priorities
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said he hoped
to strengthen India’s “important
relationship” with Seychelles,
Mauritius and Sri Lanka as he left
on Tuesday evening for the three
Indian Ocean island nations.
This will be the first bilateral
visit by an Indian prime minister
since 1981 to Seychelles, located
3,800 km away closer to Africa,
and the first since 1981 to Sri
Lanka, separated from India by a
narrow strip of sea.
“I am keenly looking forward
to my tour ... March 10-14,” Modi
said in his departure statement.
“We have a strong, multifaceted
and important relationship with
each (country) and they all occupy
a very important place in our
foreign policy.
“My visit to the three Indian
Ocean Island countries reflects
our foreign policy priorities in
India’s immediate and extended
neighbourhood.
“India attaches paramount
importance to strengthening
relations with this region, which
is vital for India’s security and
progress,” he said.
In the Seychelles, his first stop,
Modi will get a unique welcome
from the NRIs in that country.
Modi said: “India’s relationship
with Seychelles has been built on
the foundation of mutual trust and
shared values. I am keenly looking
forward to my meeting with
President James Michel, a great
friend of India.”
On March 11-12, Modi will be
in Mauritius, where he will be the
chief guest at the Independence
Day celebrations on March 12.
He will also speak at the national
assembly of Mauritius.
“I will be participating in the
joint commissioning of Indiabuilt Offshore Patrol Vessel
Barracuda, and in the beginning of
construction work for the building
of World Hindi Secretariat.”
On the last leg, Modi will be in
Sri Lanka on March 13 and 14 when
he will hold talks with President
Maithripala Sirisena and Prime
Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
“My visit to Sri Lanka will be the
first standalone prime ministerial
visit to Sri Lanka since 1987,” the
year India and Sri Lanka signed a
pact to end Tamil separatism.
After being quietly supportive
of Sri Lanka’s efforts to militarily
crush the Tamil Tigers, who were
vanquished in 2009, India-Sri
Lanka relations went into a spin
after then president Mahinda
Rajapaksa began building up
multi-faceted ties with Pakistan
and China.
In an oblique reference to India,
Rajapaksa alleged an international
conspiracy after he was defeated in
the January presidential election
that brought Sirisena to power.
Modi pointed out that his
meeting with Sirisena would be
their second summit in a month.
President Sirisena came to India
last month, making New Delhi
his first foreign destination after
taking office.
China, which has been locked
in territorial disputes with many of
its neighbours, has built highways,
power plants and seaports in all
the three countries that Modi is
visiting.
— IANS
NEW DELHI: The AAP crisis worsened
on Tuesday, with four leaders known to
be close to party chief Arvind Kejriwal
accusing senior colleagues Yogendra
Yadav and Prashant Bhushan of having
attempted the party’s defeat in the
February 7 Delhi assembly polls.
The allegation was levelled in a
statement by deputy chief minister
Manish Sisodia, minister Gopal Rai
and two other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
leaders Pankaj Gupta and Sanjay Singh.
It prompted Yadav to say that he
hoped the charge would lead to an
“open, transparent dialogue” for the
truth to prevail.
Prashant Bhushan said: “Time has
come for the country to know the whole
truth about the matter and the truth will
come out soon.”
In a joint statement, the four leaders
on Tuesday said the AAP National
Executive decided on March 4 to
“release” Bhushan and Yadav from the
Political Affairs Committee (PAC) — the
party’s highest decision-making body
Time has come for
the country to know
the whole truth
about the matter and the
truth will come out soon
PRASHANT BHUSHAN
AAP founder member
— and assign them new responsibilities.
“While all workers were struggling
to ensure the party’s victory, the trio —
Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav and
Shanti Bhushan — were making all-out
efforts for the party’s defeat (in Delhi),”
the statement said.
“The PAC did not publicise the
reasons behind the move as it could
affect the senior duo’s reputation,” it
said, in reference to Prashant Bhushan,
an AAP founder member and a senior
Supreme Court advocate, and Yadav,
widely seen as a leading political expert.
Shanti Bhushan is Prashant Bhushan’s
father and also a leading advocate.
“But the manner in which an
atmosphere has been created that the
National Executive was undemocratic
and irresponsible, and the questions
raised in the minds of the AAP
activists, we are compelled to give this
explanation,” the statement added.
The statement further said that not
only did Prashant Bhushan openly
support AAP’s breakaway group which
maligned the party with the backing of
the BJP, he threatened to sabotage the
party’s poll preparation by holding press
conferences.
The
statement
came
after
Maharashtra AAP leader Mayank
Gandhi, in his blog, questioned the
wisdom of sacking Yadav and Prashant
Bhushan from the PAC when they were
ready to leave with an honourable exit
route. Gandhi later said he was being
targeted over his remarks.
AAP’s National Council meeting is
slated to be held on March 28 where
several raging issues are likely to be
discussed, a party leader said. — IANS
IN MEMORY OF UPRISING
apex court noted that neither the brother
officer nor his wife ever complained
about the explicit messages sent to her
by Kumar.
Kumar was commander when he was
sacked from the navy on May 7, 2013.
While discharging him from
service, the government said it had
sufficient material that he indulged
in a promiscuous and extra-marital
relationship that was unbecoming of
an officer and maintained unauthorised
contact with foreign nationals.
“Exchange of explicit photos, email
massages is between two individuals.
If the lady had complained, we can
understand. Nor anyone else has
complained. How such conduct
would affects internal security,” Chief
IN BRIEF
AGI’s office
comes under
RTI: Court
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court
on Tuesday held that the office of
the Attorney General of India (AGI)
carries out public function and it
comes within the ambit of the Right
To Information (RTI) Act.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru also said
that the top law officer performed
public functions and his appointment
was governed by the Constitution,
and so it falls under the RTI Act.
“The office of the AGI is an office
established under the Constitution
of India. The incumbent appointed
to that office discharges functions
as provided under the Constitution.
Article 76(2) of the Constitution
expressly provides that the AGI
would perform the duties of a legal
character and also discharge the
functions conferred on him under
the Constitution or any other law in
force,” the order said.
“It is not disputed that the
functions of the AGI are also in
the nature of public functions. The
AGI performs the functions as are
required by virtue of article 76(2) of
the Constitution,” said the court.
“... A Constitution bench of the
Supreme Court held the office of the
AGI to be a public office. In this view
also, the office of the AGI should be a
public authority within the meaning
of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.”
It also said that only those
documents which fall under section
8 (exemption from disclosure of
information) of RTI are excluded
from disclosure.
The court’s order came on two
pleas filed by RTI activist Subhash
Chandra Agarwal and R K Jain
seeking to declare the Attorney
General’s office as a public authority
under the RTI Act on the ground that
the top law officer’s appointment was
governed by the Constitution.
Former UP
MP gets life for
Tibetan exiles demonstrate in New Delhi yesterday. Hundreds of Tibetan exiles on Tuesday marked the 56th anniversary of the
Tibetan uprising.
— Reuters
No separatist will be freed:
Sayeed assures Rajnath
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief
Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed
(pictured) on Tuesday assured Home
Minister Rajnath Singh that no
separatist would be henceforth released
without taking the BJP into confidence.
Sources in the Peoples Democratic
Party said Sayeed spoke to Rajnath
Singh on the phone and assured him
that no separatist leader would be
released from custody by the state
government without taking the PDP’s
alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata
Party, into confidence.
“This was done by Mufti sahib to
clear the confusion created by some
people over Masrat Alam’s release,” a
PDP source said.
“The chief minister assured the
union home minister that no separatist
would be released on its own by the
state government, except when it
becomes necessary because of a court
order.”
A serious crisis had developed
between the PDP and the BJP after the
chief minister ordered the release of
separatist leader Masrat Alam without
taking the BJP on board.
The PDP also clarified on Tuesday
that Alam’s release was ordered by the
state home department in February
when the state was under governor’s
rule.
“A communication was sent by the
state home department to the Jammu
district magistrate who had ordered
detention of Masrat Alam under the
Public Safety Act (PSA).
— IANS
Meeting foreigner not ground to dismiss army officer
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on
Tuesday said an armed forces officer
sending explicit messages to the wife of
a brother officer and also meeting the
foreigner wife of one of his friends were
not grounds for dismissal from service.
“Inviting her (foreign national) for
breakfast with her husband, would it
be misconduct? Merely because he did
not report the meeting (over breakfast),
could it be a case of dismissal,” asked the
bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu, Justice
Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya and
Justice Arun Mishra.
Dismissing the plea by the central
government against naval officer N
Kalyan Kumar whose reinstatement
in service was ordered by the Armed
Forces Tribunal on June 25, 2014, the
11
“Merely because she ate
dosa in his house (over
breakfast), can you dismiss
him from service?
Being a high-ranking
officer meeting a foreign
national is not a taboo,”
the court said.
Justice Dattu asked, brushing aside the
contentions by Attorney General Mukul
Rohatgi.
Rohatgi told the court that “there was
no compliant from the husband about
explicit messages being sent to his wife
(by Kumar). They came to know about it
from intelligence sources”.
He said that in the “armed forces
highest standards of morality have to be
maintained”.
The court then further asked:
“Mixing with foreign national, will it
amount to serious misconduct affecting
national interest? One can understand
if your charge says that he was passing
sensitive material to that lady. That is not
your allegation. Then how could it be
detrimental to national security?
“Can you say that though she was
married to an Indian, don’t bring your
wife (for breakfast) because she is a
foreign national? Though she is a foreign
national, she continues to be a part of
the Indian system (being a wife of an
Indian). Maybe she has a white skin,”
the court observed, while declining the
government’s plea against the AFT order
of reinstatement of Kalyan Kumar.
“Merely because she ate dosa in his
house (over breakfast), can you dismiss
him from service? Being a high-ranking
officer meeting a foreign national is not
a taboo,” the court said.
“In a society where we respect
freedom, can we say that he should not
meet a lady with foreign nationality? Is
it such a big sin that you throw him out
of service,” the court said, dismissing
the Centre’s plea and saying that the
AFT was justified in its order directing
reinstatement of Kumar.
The foreign national is the wife of
a co-instructor of a yoga class run by
Kalyan Kumar’s wife.
— IANS
Bhati’s murder
DEHRADUN/GHAZIABAD: Mafia
don-turned-politician D P Yadav
was on Tuesday sentenced to life
imprisonment by a CBI court for
his involvement in the 1992 murder
of former legislator Mahendra Singh
Bhati. Yadav’s three accomplices —
Karan Yadav, Pal Singh alias Pala
alias Lakkad as well as Praneet Bhati
— were also sentenced to undergo
life imprisonment.
Fines ranging from Rs 45,000 to
Rs 1.17 lakh were imposed on them.
D P Yadav surrendered to the
court in Dehradun on Monday but
excused himself from the proceedings
on Tuesday, citing ill health.
The other three, who had
surrendered on February 28, were
in the court when the sentence was
pronounced. Four other accused died
during the prolonged trial.
Prior to his surrender, D P
Yadav had tried to evade the court
hearing on medical ground. After
announcing he was guilty, the court
asked the CBI, which probed the
murder, to arrest him. — IANS
Bangkok’s Indian
restaurant is
Asia’s best
BANGKOK: The Bangkok restaurant
of Indian-born Gaggan Anand
clinched the top award at Asia’s 50
Best Restaurants late on Monday.
The restaurant, which describes
its cuisine as progressive Indian,
was selected by the William Reed
Business Media group for its modern
interpretations, with the panel citing
its “contemporary techniques” and
“playful” dishes.
Rounding out the top 3 were
Narisawa in Tokyo and Ultraviolet
in Shanghai. The group also runs
the award for World’s 50 Best
Restaurants and Latin America’s 50
Best Restaurants.
— dpa
EUROPE
12
FRANCE’S LE PEN RAPS EU FRAUD PROBE
W E D N E S DAY l M A R C H 1 1 l 2 0 1 5
ROMANIA SAYS SORRY TO GERMANY FOR GAFFE
French far-right leader Marine Le
Pen accused opponents of “political
manipulation” on Tuesday after the
European Parliament launched a
fraud investigation into her National
Front party. She said the decision was
orchestrated by France’s socialist prime
minister Manuel Valls and EU parliament
president Martin Schulz, a German
socialist, ahead of local elections.
WORLD
Romania’s Foreign Minister
Bogdan Aurescu (right) has
apologised to his visiting
German counterpart for
handing him a booklet that
mixed up a map of Germany
with one of France. FrankWalter Steinmeier paid a
one-day visit to Romania on
Monday.
Copters collision kills 10 including two Olympians
TRAGIC REALITY: The collision was the second time in two years that a reality show produced by France’s ALP for TF1 had been hit by tragedy
BUENOS AIRES/PARIS: Three French
sports stars — Olympic swimmer
Camille Muffat, yachtswoman Florence
Arthaud and boxer Alexis Vastine —
were among 10 people killed when two
helicopters collided in Argentina on
Monday during the filming of a reality
TV show.
Authorities said it was still unclear
what caused the accident in the rugged
western province of La Rioja, near the
Andes Mountains. French media citing
Argentinian sources said the helicopters
were flying through clear skies at an
altitude of about 100 metres when they
hit each other around 5.15 pm
local time (2015 GMT).Amateur
footage showed dozens of people rushing
through heavy undergrowth toward the
helicopters’ burning wreckage.
“The sudden death of our fellow
French nationals is a cause of immense
sadness,” French President Francois
Hollande’s office said in a statement.
Preparations were being made to
recover the bodies from the mangled
wreckage, said local mayor Andres
(from left) French Champion sailor Florence Arthaud , Olympic gold medallist
swimmer Camille Muffat , and French Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine
Navarrete. He described flying
conditions at the time of the accident as
“ideal”.
“Some of the bodies can be seen and
others are buried under the charred
mass of metal,” Navarrete said, speaking
by telephone from the crash site.
Two pilots and several members
of the ALP-TV production company
involved in filming the adventure show
“Dropped” for private TV station TF1
were among the dead, officials said.
As part of the show, other contestants
were standing blindfolded on the
ground a few hundred metres from the
helicopters’ flight path, French media
reported.
They ran to the crash site but could
not extinguish the fire, a contestant’s
assistant told French broadcaster RFI.
“The whole of French sport is in
mourning because we have lost three
huge champions,” Thierry Braillard,
junior minister for sports, town and
HELLO ROBO
Men work amid the wreckage of two helicopters which collided mid-air near Villa
Castelli, in the Argentine province of La Rioja, on Tuesday
— AFP
youth affairs, told RTL radio.
“Florence Arthaud we all knew her
as the ‘Fiancee of the Atlantic’,” he said,
referring to a nickname she earned
through her many daring voyages
including a 1990 record for the fastest
solitary crossing of that body of water.
TF1 issued a statement expressing
solidarity for the victims’ families.
French media said filming had been
suspended and the crew and other
contestants were heading back to France.
“We have no details on the exact
circumstances at the moment,” TF1
Chief Executive Nonce Paolini said.”All I
can say at the moment is that we are in a
state of complete shock.”
“Dropped” involves contestants
being left in the wilderness and using
their skills to find their way back to
civilization.
The collision was the second time in
two years that a reality show produced
by ALP for TF1 had been hit by tragedy.
In April 2013 the doctor charged
with looking after contestants in the
long-running “Koh-Lanta” endurance
show committed suicide after one of the
competitors died following one of the
tests, complaining of heart pains.
Arthaud, 57, was one of the first
women to carve a place for herself in
the top levels of sailing. She had a brush
with death in 2011, when she fell off her
boat into the Mediterranean. Rescuers
whisked her out after she called her
mother by mobile phone.
Muffat, 25, won 400 metres freestyle
gold at the 2012 London Olympics.
Vastine, 28, won bronze at the Beijing
2008 Olympics. “I am sad for my friends,
I’m shaking, I’m horrified, I can’t find the
words,” Sylvain Wiltord, an ex-footballer
for English Premier League club Arsenal
and fellow cast member tweeted.
The victims included the helicopters’
two pilots, both of whom were militarytrained, according to Argentine daily La
Nacion. “There were no survivors,” La
Rioja’s security chief, Cesar Angulo, said.
— Reuters
Russia could be single the greatest
threat to Britain: foreign minister
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R), escorted by Mamoru Mori, executive director of the museum and former astronaut,
looks at Asimo, a bi-ped humanoid robot developed by Honda Motor , while visiting National Museum of Emerging Science
and Innovation in Tokyo on Monday.
— Reuters
LONDON: Russia could pose the “single
greatest threat” to Britain, Foreign
Secretary Philip Hammond warned in
a speech on Tuesday, while criticising
“apologists” for IS group militant
nicknamed “John”. Hammond accused
Russian President Vladmir Putin of
“subverting” international rules which
keep the peace between nations and
said his actions in Crimea and eastern
Ukraine “fundamentally undermine”
the security of eastern European states.
Hammond said that Moscow’s
“aggressive behaviour” offered “a stark
reminder that it has the potential to
pose the single greatest threat to our
security”.In a speech at British defence
think-tank RUSI, the foreign minister
sharply criticised those who he said
sought to excuse the actions of “John”,
the IS radical identified by media as
Mohammed Emwazi, who grew up in
London.
That was seen as a criticism of
British civil rights group Cage, which
worked with Emwazi for over two
years before he went to Syria. “We are
absolutely clear — the responsibility
for acts of terror rests with those who
commit them,” Hammond said. “But a
54-year old to spend 10 days in space in September after paying a reported $52 million
People stand in formation to recreate the Ukrainian state emblem as they hold
placards depicting notes and sing the national anthem Lviv, western Ukraine on
Tuesday. Some 3,000 people took part in the event marking the 150th annivertsary
of the first rendering of the Ukraine national anthem.
— AFP
huge burden of responsibility also lies
with those who act as apologists for
them.”
Cage has drawn sharp criticism
in recent days for suggesting that
the actions of British intelligence,
who apparently tried to recruit him,
helped radicalise Emwazi. In a rare
speech focusing on the activities of the
intelligence services, Hammond said
that gathering intelligence on Russian
capabilities would be a “vital part of our
intelligence effort for the foreseeable
future”.
— AFP
BATTLE FATIGUE
Space soprano plans first duet from ISS
LONDON: British singer Sarah
Brightman said on Tuesday she was
planning a duet when she becomes the
first soprano to board the International
Space Station later this year after
paying a $52-million (48-million euro)
ticket.
The singer, who has been learning
Russian and survival skills for her trip,
said that she was working with exhusband Andrew Lloyd Webber on the
song to be performed with a singer on
Earth.
“We’re working on the music at the
moment,” she said at a press conference
in a hotel in central London.
“It’s finding a song that suits the idea
of space and something that is incredibly
simple,” said the singer, who scored a
British top 10 hit with I Lost My Heart
To A Starship Trooper in 1978.
She admitted that her space flight —
the first “space tourist” trip since 2009 —
We’re working on
the music at the
moment...It’s finding
a song that suits the
idea of space and something
that is incredibly simple...
SARAH BRIGHTMAN
British singer
seemed “unrealistic and crazy”, but said
that watching the first Moon landing in
1969 when she was nine years old had
been “a pivotal moment” in her life.
The soprano, known for her starring
roles in West End musicals composed
by Lloyd Webber, is due to spend 10
days in space in September after paying
a reported $52 million to become the
eighth space tourist in a flight arranged
by US firm Space Adventures.
In January she began training at the
legendary Gagarin cosmonaut training
centre in Star City outside Moscow.
In pictures of the survival course
released by the training centre,
Brightman is shown in a snowy forest of
fir trees, lashing tree trunks together to
make a shelter while wearing waterproof
jacket and trousers and a winter hat.
Brightman, 54, is in training with
cosmonauts and astronauts from NASA,
the Russian space agency and the
Japanese space agency, as well as with
a Japanese businessman who will take
over as her replacement on the space
flight if she has to drop out.
On the survival course Brightman has
to spend 72 hours outside and construct
a wigwam shelter using branches
and a parachute, while knee-deep in
snow.
The team members are issued with
rations of dried prunes, powdered
cottage cheese, biscuits, chocolate, as
well as coffee, tea and sugar.
“Cosmonauts and astronauts have
to battle freezing temperatures and the
harsh conditions of our winter and keep
up their morale for many hours,” the
training centre said. — Reuters
German Bundeswehr armed forces snipers with the 371st armoured infantry
battalion at the barracks in Marienberg on Tuesday. The 371st armoured infantry
battalion is part of the NATO Response Force (NRF) and Very High Readiness Joint
Task Force (VJTF). — Reuters
REGION
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
Iraqi forces retake strategic town
PRESSING ON WITH OFFENSIVE: Capture of Al Alam paves way for assault on the city of Tikrit
AL ALAM: Iraqi troops and militias
drove IS insurgents out of the town of
Al Alam on Tuesday, clearing a final
hurdle before a planned assault on Tikrit
in their biggest offensive yet against the
ultra-radical group.
Tikrit is the focus of a counteroffensive against IS by more than 20,000
troops and militias known as Hashid
Shaabi, backed by local tribes.
If Iraq’s government is able to retake
Tikrit it would be the first city clawed
back from the insurgents and would give
it momentum in the next, pivotal stage
of the campaign — to recapture Mosul,
the largest city in the north.
A Reuters photographer saw dozens
of families, who earlier fled Al Alam
to escape IS rule, return to the town,
celebrating and slaughtering sheep for
the victorious forces.
“I announce officially that the town A member of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces looks at a cloud of smoke rising from buildings in a village east of the northern
— AFP
is under the total control of security Iraqi city of Kirkuk as they secure the area during the ongoing battle against IS group fighters.
forces, the Hashid Shaabi (Popular
the past few months has gradually lost which backs the militias and has sent an
Mobilisation) units and local tribal The Iraqi army and militias
ground in Iraq to the army, militias and elite Revolutionary Guard commander
fighters,” said local mayor Laith al- now control the two towns
Kurdish peshmerga forces, backed by air to oversee part of the battle.
Jubouri. “We rejoice in this victory and
The Iraqi army and militias now
strikes carried out by a US-led coalition
we want Al Alam to be the launchpad to the north and south of
of mainly Western and allied Arab states. control the two towns to the north and
for the liberation of Tikrit and Mosul,” Tikrit along the Tigris River
United States says Baghdad did south of Tikrit along the Tigris River
he told Reuters by telephone.
and appear ready to move notThe
seek aerial backup from the coalition and appear ready to move on the city
Mosul in the far north is the largest
itself.
in the Tikrit campaign.
city held by the ultra-radical IS, who on the city itself.
Security officials said the assault
Instead, support on the ground
now rule a self-declared cross-border
has come from neighbouring Iran, could start as early as Wednesday,
regions of Syria and Iraq.
Washington’s longtime regional rival, although the 10-day campaign has so
But the ultra-radical group over
LIFT THE BLOCKADE
EU to host Iran
nuclear talks
in Brussels
Palestinians await permission to enter Egypt as they gather at the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday.
Egypt is due to reopen its Rafah border crossing with Gaza for two days, for the fourth time since it was closed after a
bombing in the Sinai Peninsula in October 2014.
— AFP
Egypt police foil tanker bomb attack
CAIRO: Egyptian police on Tuesday
foiled an attack by militants who tried
to ram an explosives-laden water
tanker into a security base in the Sinai
Peninsula, authorities said.
Troops guarding the entrance to
the base in the provincial capital Al
Arish opened fire on the tanker as it
approached, said General Ali al Arazi,
the security chief of North Sinai
province.
The gunfire caused the tanker’s
estimated 10-tonne load of explosives
to blow up, killing the would-be
bomber and a civilian driving nearby,
Al Arazi said.
About 35 policemen were injured
by debris, he said.
Residents reported a massive
explosion that blew out the windows
of their houses. Police in the nearby
village of Sheikh Zuwaid last month
frustrated a similar attack with a
tanker truck.
— dpa
BRUSSELS: The European Union
will host talks in Brussels on Monday
with the British, French, German and
Iranian foreign ministers on Tehran’s
contested nuclear programme as a
deadline at the end of March nears.
EU foreign affairs head Federica
Mogherini will lead the talks, a
statement said, one day after US
Secretary of State John Kerry meets
his Iranian counterpart Mohammad
Javad Zarif in Switzerland as part of
continued Western efforts to ensure
Tehran does not acquire a nuclear
weapon.
“It is the first time talks at this
level are being held in Brussels,” a
Commission spokeswoman said.
“They are part of the effort (with)
the deadline approaching; we are doing
everything we can,” the spokeswoman
said.
British Foreign Secretary Philip
Hammond and his French and
German counterparts Laurent Fabius
and Frank-Walter Steinmeier are also
due to attend an EU foreign ministers
meeting in Brussels.
The EU has helped mediate talks
between the five UN permanent
Security Council members — Britain,
China, France, Russia and the United
States — plus Germany and Iran. They
began in late 2013 after Iran agreed to
initial limits on its nuclear programme
in return for an easing of some of
the damaging economic sanctions
imposed by the West.
— AFP
Country is split between internationally recognised authorities in Tobruk and rivals in Tripoli
Libya strongman criticizes UN talks
ROME: The international community
should ditch United Nations peacebrokering efforts and give more arms
to troops fighting for the army loyal
to Libya’s internationally recognised
government, said that side’s military
leader on Tuesday.
Libya is split between internationally
recognised authorities in the eastern city
of Tobruk and rival institutions in the
capital Tripoli, backed by militias.
Those militias have launched several
sensational attacks in recent months,
increasing concerns about the region.
“We are also fighting for you [the
West], and if we were to fail, Italy would
the next target for the terrorists,” General
Khalifa Haftar, recently appointed the
head of the Tobruk-based government’s
army, said in an interview with Italian
news agency ANSA.
Haftar claimed that his forces were
all that is standing against Libya being
overrun by extremists affiliated to the IS,
which would only increase the group’s
potential to strike at Europe and the
West.
He appealed to Italian Premier Matteo
Renzi “to convince the international
community to lift the arms embargo [on
the Tobruk government] and help us
fight for a Libya free of extremists,” and
noted that rival militias receive “arms
and funding” from overseas.
Speaking on the eve of the expected
resumption of UN-mediated talks
between Libya’s warring factions, Haftar
said it was wrong to push Tobruk
towards reconciliation with Tripoli.
“The UN and Europe cannot force
us to sit at the table with terrorists and
extremists,” the general said. “Forming
a unity government as proposed by
mediators would mean jeopardising all
efforts to preserve Libya as a democratic
country,” he added.
Haftar also said that, if Tobruk
were to prevail against its enemies, it
would rein the inflow of boat migrants
from Libya to Italian shores, which has
surged to record levels and is a cause for
concern in Rome and other European
capitals.
“I know that you are very worried
about clandestine immigration in Italy,
which at the moment we cannot control
since extremists use human trafficking
to finance themselves,” the general told
ANSA.
“We would like the old agreements
that are now being neglected to be
respected and strengthened, but for that
to happen we need the international
community to quickly intervene in
support of the legitimate government of
Tobruk,” he said.
Haftar — who is fighting radicals —
was formally sworn in as commander of
the Tobruk army on Monday.
His appointment was seen as
potentially inflammatory, because of his
hardline positions. — dpa
far been marked by gradual and steady
advances rather than rapid attacks.
Security officials said IS fighters blew
up a bridge over the Tigris on Tuesday,
aiming to hinder any advance.
Both al-Dour and Al Alam lie on the
east bank of the river, opposite Tikrit.
But the army has a large military base
on the same western side from which it
could send forces into Tikrit.
Hundreds of army recruits who
abandoned the Speicher military base
last June were shot dead in one of the
biggest mass killings carried out by IS
fighters.
There have been fears that the security
forces and militia would seek revenge on
local residents for the Speicher killings.
In the nearby village of Albu Ajil,
local officials said houses had been set
on fire by the militia.
Some houses were also set alight in Al
Alam, but local tribal fighters said they
belonged to security force members and
government workers and were burnt by
the retreating insurgents.
A local official said security forces
and militias had regained control over
the Ajil oilfield northeast of Al Alam,
but other sources said the situation was
still unclear.
Black smoke columns could still be
seen rising from the area and Jubouri,
the Al Alam mayor, said IS set ablaze at
least 10 wells in the oilfield. — Reuters
13
COLOUR FIGHT
Cleaners to bin
orange jumpsuits
over IS videos
Jordanian city cleaners in their orange
jumpsuit uniforms working on cleaning
snow from the streets of Amman.
AMMAN: Jordan’s capital Amman
said on Tuesday it is replacing the
orange jumpsuits worn by its city
cleaners because of their similarity
to those of hostages murdered in IS
group videos.
The jumpsuits — believed to be
meant as a symbol of the US detention
facility at Guantanamo Bay — have
been worn by hostages killed by IS in
grisly videos, including a Jordanian
pilot burned alive last month. Starting
from March 20, Amman’s more than
6,000 street cleaners will trade in
their orange jumpsuits for turquoise
uniforms, city authorities said. — AFP
Warning of possible
civil war in Yemen
Supporters of Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, the son of Yemen’s former President Ali
Abdullah Saleh, stand on the monument of the Unknown Soldier in Sanaa
yesterday, during a demonstration to demand for presidential elections be held
and for him to run for presidency.
— Reuters
TEHRAN: Iran warned on Tuesday
of possible “disintegration or civil
war” in Yemen, criticising President
Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi for leaving
the capital Sanaa and basing himself in
the southern city of Aden.
The comments, by deputy foreign
minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian,
came after GCC agreed to Hadi’s
request to host talks in Riyadh aimed at
pulling Yemen out of political crisis.
Abdollahian told the ISNA news
agency: “Sanaa is the official and
historical capital of Yemen and those
in Aden who back disintegration
or civil war are responsible for the
consequences.
“Yemen’s outgoing president would
have done better to stay in Sanaa and
keep to his resignation letter and not
lead the country into crisis.”
Iran is accused of having contributed
to the seizure of power in Sanaa by
Houthi militia, but Tehran has rejected
accusations of interference.
Tehran “supports the unity,
independence and a wide national
dialogue in Yemen,” Abdollahian said.
Hadi tendered his resignation to
parliament in January but parliament
never convened and he withdrew it after
escaping to Aden last month, saying he
quit under duress from the Houthis.
Hadi asked the Gulf countries to host
talks after failing to reach agreement
Sanaa is the official and
historical capital of Yemen
and those in Aden who
back disintegration or civil
war are responsible for the
consequences. Yemen’s
outgoing president would
have done better to stay
in Sanaa and keep to his
resignation letter and not
lead the country into crisis.
with the militia and their backers on a
venue inside Yemen.
The six Gulf states are deeply
suspicious of the Houthis, fearing they
will take Yemen into Iran’s orbit.
UN-brokered reconciliation talks,
which had been taking place in Sanaa,
broke down after Hadi’s flight to Aden.
Yemen, on the frontline in the US
war against Al Qaeda, has been gripped
by unrest since longtime president Ali
Abdullah Saleh stepped down in early
2012 after a bloody year-long uprising.
Several Gulf states, led by Saudi
Arabia, have moved their embassies
to Aden after an exodus of foreign
diplomats from Sanaa in February over
security concerns.
— AFP
14
UK PRESS DIGEST
omandailyobserver
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
Tory election campaign faces Cabinet backlash
ANDY JALIL
Foreign Correspondent
[email protected]
A dramatic collapse in levels of home
ownership among the young has been
mirrored by a rise among older people. In England, the proportion of 25
to 34-year-olds who were homeowners dropped from 66.5 per cent in 2003
to 36 per cent in 2013. Meanwhile, the
own their own home rose from 62.3
per cent to 77.1 per cent. The report
warns that a “perfect storm” has left
young people and those on lower incomes paying the price for the UK’s
“broken housing market”, with more
than a third of property-based wealth
in homes where the head of the household is 65 or older.
would push ahead with his flagship
education policy at the same rate as in
this Parliament if re-elected.
A report has found that struggling
schools in areas where a free school
had opened nearby had improved up
to twice as fast as the national average.
The analysis from Policy Exchange,
the think tank, appeared to disapprove
critics’ claims that free schools sucked
talent from competitors and undermined standards, providing the first
real evidence that free schools — set
up by parents, teachers or third parties
outside council control — had a wider
positive effect on standards.
T
he Tory election strategy is
facing a growing Cabinet and
backbench backlash with ministers worried the party is pumping
out an aggressive and uninspiring
message to voters. Alarm is growing among Conservative MPs
that they have failed to open up a
lead in the opinion polls and they
fear the party’s “competence not
chaos” mantra is not winning over
voters as it lacks optimism. Some
ministers fear the bellicose language alienates women. Criticism
has been aimed particularly at
Lynton Crosby, the election campaign director.
The Australian strategist has
total control of the Tory campaign
and put the “long-term economic
plan” at its heart, warning a Labour victory in May will jeopardise the recovery. One minister said
tensions are growing around the
Cabinet table. “Lynton keeps saying the polls will pick up and we
need to hold our nerve,” the minister said.
Younger people
‘locked out by
older generation’
B
aby-boomers who have benefited from rising property
prices are fuelling the housing crisis by buying up properties to rent
out to young people who cannot
afford to purchase, a new report
warns. Britain’s stark housing divide is no longer based on class
and income but is largely between
the generations, according to the
Chartered Institute of Housing.
Loans to small firms
rises sharply as
confidence improves
L
ending to small firms has risen considerably in the past 12
months, with 60 per cent of loan applications approved in the past three
months compared with 45 per cent
a year ago. The Federation of Small
Businesses (FSB), which surveyed
1,635 members, said the sharp rise
had boosted confidence.
An increase in peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding has helped to
increase the glow of finance and high
street banks, the traditional source of
small business finance, also appear to
be more willing to lend. John Allan,
FSB national chairman, said: “These
are promising signs – but there are still
large numbers of businesses. Especially sole traders and micro businesses
that are not aware of their finance options and as a consequence don’t get
the finance they need.”
Tories promise 500
new free schools to
push up quality
A
t least 500 additional free schools
will be built if the Conservatives
win the election, David Cameron has
said, as a study suggested that the establishments drive up local education
standards. The Prime Minister said
only the Tory party was “committed”
to expanding free schools and that it
Ed will have to dance
to Scots’ tune, says
PM Cameron
D
avid Cameron puts the prospects of Alex Salmond ‘calling
the tune’ in a deal with Labour at the
centre of the Tory election campaign.
As he launched a poster showing a
tiny Ed Miliband in Salmond’s pocket, the Prime Minister warned of the
‘chilling and real prospect’ of Labour
being propped up in government by
the Scottish National Party. His offensive comes after a day in which four
members of Labour’s shadow cabinet
refused repeatedly to say whether
they would do a deal with the SNP in
the event of a hung parliament. Polls
last week, suggested the nationalists
could win 56 out of the 59 Westminster seats in May, including those seen
as the safest Labour strongholds such
as Gordon Brown’s in Kirkcaldy. This
would sink any prospects of Miliband
winning a Commons majority.
No handouts ban for
new EU migrants,
post Universal Credit
N
ew EU immigrants will not be
able to claim any handouts until they have started work when Uni-
versal Credit comes in, ministers announced. The government has spent
£700 million on Universal Credits and
says that it is working. Critics point
out that it is behind schedule and has
suffered expensive write-offs on failed
IT systems.
At present, new arrivals from the
continent can claim the dole without
tests for three months. But under EU
rules, the Government can be tougher
with the new benefit system — due
to begin nationwide by 2016. Work
and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan
Smith said: “Our new rules will ensure
people cannot claim means-tested
benefits until they have worked.
Budget expected to
deliver tax cuts, but
poll sops unlikely
G
eorge Osborne is drawing up
plans for a pre-election budget
designed to lift the Conservative
party’s fortunes by combining moraleboosting tax cuts with fiscal rectitude.
The chancellor will unveil his plans
this week and, despite insisting there
will be no “pre-election giveaway”,
Treasury sources have failed to quash
speculation that he will use an increase
in the income tax allowance to deliver
a headline tax cut to 27 million voters.
Osborne is expected to take some
of the final decisions at a meeting
of the coalition’s “quad” with David
Cameron, Nick Clegg and Danny
Alexander later this week. The income tax allowance is due to rise
from £10,000 to £10,600 in April, but
Osborne is reportedly planning to
increase this figure by at least £200.
Assuming the benefit is passed on to
higher-rate taxpayers, this would cost
the Treasury £1.3billion.
Osborne’s growth
vouchers to boost
small firms fall flat
A
£30million government scheme
designed to boost growth at
20,000 small businesses has handed
out only £3.6million with just weeks
to go before it closes, dealing a blow
to George Osborne as he prepares
his pre-election budget. The growth
vouchers scheme, which was launched
last year, was branded a “huge disappointment” by Labour after it was
revealed that little more than a tenth
of the cash available has been spent
ahead of a 31 March closing deadline.
The Chancellor has made small
businesses the centrepiece of his
growth agenda and devoted much of
his time to promoting family firms
and the technology sector — which is
dominated by smaller firms — as the
backbone of Britain’s future success.
Shadow business secretary Chuka
Umunna said: “It is hugely disappointing that barely 10 per cent of the
vouchers have been used so far.”
UK can’t stop
migration as EU
member
B
ritain has no hope of stopping the
free movement of migrants while
in the EU. But the UK can negotiate
reforms to limit benefit claims and use
of the NHS, the Foreign Secretary said.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr
show, minister Philip Hammond, said
the Tories must make EU reforms
“deliver on our agenda — and on migration what the people want to see is
a reduction in the number of people
coming here”.
The number of Romanians and
Bulgarians registering to work and
receive benefits in the UK has jumped
from 27,700 in 2013 to 187,370 in
2014 since immigration rules were relaxed figures show.
Prostate provides
clue to breast cancer
among women
W
omen who have close male relatives with prostate cancer are
more likely to develop breast cancer,
a study suggests. Doctors should
ask women about the history of all
cancers in their family to predict
their risk of breast tumours, said
researchers. Women with breast
cancer and prostate cancers among
their immediate relatives were almost twice as like to develop cancer themselves, the study, in the
journal Cancer, found.
Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer, from
the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detriot, who led the
study, said: “These findings support clinicians collecting a complete family history of all cancers.”
Cancer histories could help more
accurately predict risk, she said,
adding that doctors could warn
patients that opposite-sex relatives
might be at risk to encourage them
to have checks.
Smallest army in
250 years warning
over MoD funding
T
he British Army could be reduced to just 50,000 — its
smallest size in 250 years, a report
has warned. Troop numbers will
already be slashed from 102,000 to
82,000, but Royal United Services
Institute report suggests a further
30,000 could be cut after the election as part of a continuing austerity drive. Author and special
advisor to the Joint Committee on
National Security Professor Malcolm Chalmers said: “The Government is not yet convinced strategic
security risks are high enough to
justify an exemption for defence
from austerity.”
David Cameron is facing a
revolt by up to 30 backbenchers
this week after refusing to rule
out more Ministry of Defence
cuts. The Tory rebels demand that
the UK honour its Nato pledge to
maintain defence spending at 25
per cent of GDP. Defence Secretary
Philip Hammond said: “We will
have a strategic defence and
security review at the beginning of
the next parliament.”
INTERNATIONAL
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
15
CIA sought to hack Apple iPhones for nearly a decade
FRANKFURT: CIA researchers have
worked for nearly a decade to break
the security protecting Apple phones
and tablets, investigative news site
The Intercept reported on Tuesday,
citing documents obtained from NSA
whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The report cites top-secret US
documents that suggest US government
researchers had created a version of
XCode, Apple’s software application
development tool, to create surveillance
backdoors into programmes distributed
on Apple’s App Store. The Intercept
has in the past published a number
of reports from documents released
by whistleblower Snowden. The site’s
editors include Glenn Greenwald, who
won a Pulitzer Prize for his work in
reporting on Snowden’s revelations,
and by Oscar-winning documentary
maker Laura Poitras. It said the latest
documents, which covered a period
from 2006 to 2013, stop short of proving
whether US intelligence researchers
had succeeded in breaking Apple’s
encryption coding, which secures user
data and communications.
Efforts to break into Apple products
by government security researchers
started as early as 2006, a year before
Apple introduced its first iPhone and
continued through the launch of the
iPad in 2010 and beyond, The Intercept
The effort began in 2006
as Apple was preparing
to launch its first iPhone,
Investigative news site
Intercept citing documents
leaked by US whistleblower
Edward Snowden.
said. Breaching Apple security was
part of a top-secret programme by
the US government, aided by British
intelligence researchers, to hack “secure
communications products, both foreign
and domestic” including Google
Android phones, it said. Silicon Valley
Maduro seeks decree powers to face US imperialism
technology companies have in recent
months sought to restore trust among
consumers around the world that their
products have not become tools for
widespread government surveillance
of citizens. Last September, Apple
strengthened encryption methods
for data stored on iPhones, saying the
changes meant the company no longer
had any way to extract customer data
on the devices, even if a government
ordered it to with a search warrant.
Silicon Valley rival Google Inc said
shortly afterward that it also planned to
increase the use of stronger encryption
tools. Both companies said the moves
were aimed at protecting the privacy
of users of their products and that this
was partly a response to widescale US
government spying on Internet users
revealed by Snowden in 2013. An Apple
spokesman pointed to public statements
by Chief Executive Tim Cook on privacy,
but declined to comment further. “I want
to be absolutely clear that we have never
worked with any government agency
from any country to create a backdoor
in any of our products or services,” Cook
wrote in a statement on privacy and
security published last year.”We have
also never allowed access to our servers.
And we never will.”
Leaders including US President
Barack Obama and British Prime
Minister David Cameron have expressed
concern that turning such privacyenhancing tools into mass market
features could prevent governments
from tracking militants planning attacks.
The CIA did not immediately reply to a
— Reuters
request for comment.
Cuba slams Obama
for Venezuela sanctions
DIPLOMATIC TENSION: EU said it has no plans to follow US lead
A man rides a
motorcycle past a
graffiti that reads,
“Gringo, respect
us!” in Caracas on
Monday. — Reuters
CARACAS: President Nicolas Maduro
was seeking special decree powers from
Venezuela’s parliament on Tuesday in
response to new US sanctions, drawing
opposition protests of a power-grab. If
as expected the government-controlled
National Assembly approves his request
for an “Enabling Law”, it would be the
second time the 52-year-old successor to
Hugo Chavez has gained these expanded
powers since winning election in 2013.
“I’m going to ask for an anti-imperialist
Enabling Law ... to preserve the nation’s
peace, integrity and sovereignty,” Maduro
said in a speech late on Monday night,
without specifying further what decrees
he might use it for.
Opposition leaders slammed
Maduro, saying he was using the worst
flare-up with Washington of his nearly
two-year rule to justify autocratic
governance, sidetrack parliament and
distract attention from Venezuela’s grave
economic crisis.
“Nicolas, are you requesting the
Enabling Law to make soap, nappies and
medicines appear, to lower inflation?”
satirised opposition leader Henrique
Capriles. “It’s another smokescreen.”
—Reuters
HAVANA: Cuba rallied behind
Venezuela on Tuesday, offering its
closest ally “unconditional support” after
US President Barack Obama authorised
new sanctions against officials of the
turbulent South American oil producer.
The Cuban reaction marked its first
public confrontation with the United
States since the two countries began
discussions in December on fully
restoring diplomatic relations.
Cuba joins other leftist regional
governments in closing ranks with
Caracas in the deepening US-Venezuela
row. An official statement published
in the island’s state-run media called
Obama’s executive order implementing
the sanctions “arbitrary and aggressive.”
“Cuba
again
reiterates
its
unconditional support and that of our
people for the Bolivarian Revolution,
the legitimate government of President
Nicolas Maduro, and the heroic
brotherly people of Venezuela,” the
statement said.
As Venezuela’s economy spirals and
Maduro cracks down against dissent,
friendly nations said they would not
tolerate foreign interference.
Ecuador’s Foreign Minister warned
Monday that the Southern American
bloc UNASUR would not allow foreign
intervention or a coup in Venezuela.
The European Union said Tuesday it
For each dollar that oil falls, the govt loses about $120 million in revenue
How is Venezuela a
threat to America?
A thousand miles
away, without
strategic weapons or having
the means or staff to plot
against the American
constitutional order, the
declaration sounds barely
credible
CUBA
has no plans to follow the US lead and
impose sanctions on Venezuela.
“We are following the situation in
Venezuela quite closely (but)... no we
are currently not considering restrictive
measures,” European Commission
spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told
reporters. “Venezuela is confronted by
political challenges, by serious economic
and security problems (which) need to
be addressed,” Kocijancic said.
The European Union had expressed
its concern in the past and called on
all parties to work together, avoiding
violence, she added.
Venezuela’s economy is in crisis, with
soaring inflation and many basic goods
unavailable or out of reach of most
pocketbooks on the black market.
In activating the sanctions, Obama
called the situation in Venezuela “an
extraordinary threat to the national
security” of the United States.
The sanctions targeted Venezuelan
officials who the United States said
were linked to human rights abuses,
including a crackdown on antigovernment protests last year that left
43 people dead.
US bank accounts and property of
seven officials, including a police chief
and intelligence chief, were frozen by the
sanctions. They extend and implement
other penalties against the Venezuela
adopted by the US Congress last year.
“No one has the right to intervene
in the internal affairs of a sovereign
state or to declare, without foundation,
someone a threat to national security,”
Cuba said.
“How is Venezuela a threat to
America? A thousand miles away,
without strategic weapons or having
the means or staff to plot against the
American constitutional order, the
declaration sounds barely credible,” the
Havana statement said.
Cuban
leader
Fidel
Castro
congratulated Maduro on his “brilliant
and brave” stance against the US in a
letter also published Tuesday by the
Cuban press. —Agencies
RALLY AGAINST ABUSE
Colombia gets crude awakening
as oil price slump hits economy
Ivory Coast’s
‘iron lady’ likely
to get pardon
Abidjan: Ivory Coast may pardon
former first lady Simone Gbagbo in a
gesture of national reconciliation after
she was sentenced to 20 years behind
bars Tuesday over deadly post-election
violence.
With her husband — ex-president
Laurent Gbagbo — still awaiting trial
on crimes against humanity charges
and no rival leaders prosecuted
over the 2010-2011 violence that
killed nearly 3,000 people, Simone
Gbagbo’s hefty sentence has provoked
complaints the verdict smacked
of “victor’s justice”.Ivory Coast
President Alassane Ouattara raised
the possibility of a pardon in January,
as Simone Gbagbo’s trial was under
way for “undermining state security”.
“Once the verdict is in, obviously the
head of state has a certain amount of
authority in terms of pardons and
amnesty to propose to the National
Assembly,” he said. — Reuters
PUERTO GAITAN: As fewer and fewer
oil trucks roll through the streets of
Puerto Gaitan, Mario Romero crunches
the numbers.
Unless crude prices pick up and
Colombia’s oil firms invest again in
exploration and production, his hauling
company will soon go bust.
Just six months ago, Transportes
Paraiso Regional had 320 drivers
moving oil, machinery and personnel
around Colombia’s booming energy
industry. Now, his 16 remaining drivers
are looking for jobs.
“I told my staff we can hold out two
months, and if things don’t improve, I’ll
let them go,” said Romero, 49, in Puerto
Gaitan, the nearest town to oilfields
operated by Pacific Rubiales and other
producers. Romero is far from alone.
In a town until recently awash with
cash to pave roads and host pop stars
like Marc Anthony and Daddy Yankee,
many businesses are now shuttered.
The mayor’s office says Puerto
Gaitan, home to 45,000 people and
set along the lazy Manacacias River in
central Colombia, will see oil royalties
fall by about two-thirds this year.
The entire oil industry chain — from
drillers and engineers to geologists
and hotels — is in trouble, threatening
consumer spending, tax revenue and
Colombia is not a major
producer — it has less than
seven years of reserves — but
oil is its largest export and
typically accounts for about
20 per cent of government
revenue.
broader economic growth.
Colombia is not a major producer —
it has less than seven years of reserves
— but oil is its largest export and
typically accounts for about 20 per cent
of government revenue.
Security gains against Marxist rebel
groups drove a decade-long boom
as areas previously too dangerous to
operate in were opened up.
The industry pulled in $34.6 billion
of foreign direct investment in the last
10 years, up from just $3.1 billion in the
previous decade, and oil output doubled
to about 1 million barrels per day.
That helped fuel economic growth
at or above 4 per cent in all but two of
the last 10 years. Latin America’s fourthlargest economy probably grew at least
4.5 per cent in 2014 but a 50 per cent
plunge in oil prices since June has taken
a toll and economists expect growth
to drop as low as 3.3 per cent this year
and 2.6 per cent in 2016. Producers like
state-run Ecopetrol and Canada-based
Pacific Rubiales are Colombia’s biggest
source of tax and export revenue but
have had to slash investments, stall
exploration projects, lay off thousands
of contract workers and tell employees
their jobs may not be safe.
Union leaders estimate as many
as 25,000 jobs, or 20 per cent of the
industry, could be lost in coming
months. Ecopetrol has cut overall
spending by 26 per cent to $7.9 billion
for 2015 and Pacific Rubiales has
reduced its by 27 per cent to $1.1 billion.
Nearly a dozen contractors have
sought bankruptcy protection since
January, regulators say, and half of all
oil firms have canceled or reduced
exploration.
A fifth have cut production.
“Colombia is getting hit by a
tsunami,” said Sergio Clavijo, head of
economic think tank Anif.”We’re seeing
the havoc of the first wave.”
For each dollar that oil falls, the
government loses about $120 million in
revenue.
It has already cut $2.4 billion from the
budget this year and royalties — which
help fund education and healthcare
in the $375 billion economy — could
shrivel 40 per cent. — Reuters
June Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, during a discussion on her book
Reeva, a Mother’s story released last year, on Tuesday at the University of
Johannesburg in Johannesburg. June Steenkamp, whose daughter Reeva was
killed by her paralympian boyfriend Oscar Pistorius, said on Tuesday she was
launching an anti-abuse organisation in her daughter’s memory. — AFP
16
omandailyobserver
PANORAMA
A horse pulls a
sledge during
a winter
competition as
part of the
annual ice
festival on
Khuvsgul
Lake,
Mongolia.
— Reuters
A customer shops for shoes at a mall in Hefei, Anhui province, on Tuesday. — Reuters
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
WEDNESDAY | MARCH 11, 2015 | JUMADA AL ULA 20, 1436 AH
P19
P20
P21
Inside
Omani products expo in Sohar Dollar high on hopes for US rate hike Fidelity tech fund trounces all rivals FOLLOW US ON:
www.omanobserver.om
[email protected]
National Transport Model
for Oman on the anvil
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT
March 10: Oman’s Supreme Council for
Planning plans to commission a nationwide survey that will help in the development of a National Transport Model
for the Sultanate. The survey is an integral part of a broader initiative launched
by the government to create the foundations of a long-range planning system
that will help guide the future direction
of the nation’s development strategy.
The landmark initiative, dubbed
the Oman National Spatial Strategy
(ONSS), is currently being formulated
with the assistance of an international
consulting firm, Consatt Ltd, as the
project’s Main Consulting Engineer.
Given the ambitious scope of the
study, which also requires the preparation of Regional Strategies covering all
11 governorates of the Sultanate, a tender has been floated for the selection
of consultancy firms that will serve as
subcontractors to Consatt Ltd. The tender will lead to the appointment of four
firms, each receiving a brief to prepare
regional spatial strategies for 3 – 4 governorates, as well as to contribute data to
the National Transport Survey.
For illustration only
Importantly, the development of
the Oman National Spatial Strategy requires the creation of a national transport model, and this in turn requires a
whole-traffic-demand dataset as an origin/destination matrix, based on traffic
counts, on-road interviews, interviews
in public transport, household travel
behaviour surveys, and non-household
travel behaviour surveys.
A framework created for the National Transport Survey envisions, among
other things, traffic counts covering
public, passenger and freight transport
in each governorate, a broad review of
the transportation network (covering
roads, public transport and seaports),
household surveys, and face to face interviews with individuals in companies,
hotels and assorted enterprises.
The framework prescribes a transport behaviour survey of a representative sample of 350-400 households in
each governorate. Questionnaire will
seek to elicit information on the profile
of the household (including the number
of household members, age, profession,
literacy levels, Omani/Non-Omani, average working time per day, driving licence and car ownership); Internal Migration: length of residence at this place,
previous place of residence, reasons for
moving, intentions to move;
TO PAGE 20
China Feb
consumer
inflation
rebounds
BEIJING: The pace of Chinese inflation unexpectedly
picked up in February, but
producer prices continued
to slide, underscoring the
intense pressure on profit
margins at Chinese companies and adding urgency to
policymakers’ efforts to find
new ways to support growth.
The producer price index
(PPI) declined 4.8 per cent
in February, the National
Bureau of Statistics said yesterday — the most negative
reading posted since October 2009 — extending a
long-running factory deflation cycle that began in 2012
to nearly three years.
Economists
and
policymakers worry that the
risk of deflation is rising for
the world’s second-largest
economy, as drag from a
property market downturn
and widespread factory
overcapacity is compounded
by an uncertain global outlook and soft commodity
prices.
China’s statistics bureau
attributed the 1.4 per cent
rise in consumer prices to
higher costs for vegetables
and fruit, while the decline
in PPI — which analysts
had expected to come in at
minus 4.3 per cent — was
blamed on sliding prices for
global commodities which
have undermined profitability at China’s industrial
heavyweights. — Reuters
Sultanate ranked among top OIC
countries in investment potential
SAMUEL KUTTY
MUSCAT
March 10: Based on the country’s investment potential,
the Sultanate of Oman has been ranked 14th in the Islamic Growth Markets Investment Index, which ranks
countries’ investment potential relative to other members
within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The Index is based on a set of nine metrics covering the categories of a country’s growth fundamentals,
growth momentum, investment momentum and relative
country risk.
“A rich mix of corporates from Islamic growth markets are fast maturing and ripe for growth investments”,
said Rafi-uddin Shikoh of DinarStandard, which prepared the Islamic Growth Markets Investment Report
2015 in partnership with Thomson Reuters. The index
highlights zero percentage relative country risk for the
Omani market.
The report, which was presented during the Global Islamic Investment Gateway conference in Bahrain, finds
Indonesia showing the strongest growth fundamentals
among the top three having the highest population and
GDP. Among the Gulf Cooperation Council economies
led by UAE are also on the top 10 list including Qatar
and Saudi Arabia. In order to leverage this widely dispersed yet connected opportunity landscape, the report
presents DinarStandard’s OIC Industry Clusters Model
that is a sector based investment strategy. It identifies
unique region-wide roll-up, carve-out, growth, operation-value-creation and alliance opportunities across a
sector’s value chain. The top
OIC sector clusters identified are: Energy, Food & Agriculture, Electronics, Travel
and Transportation, Metals,
Chemical & Allied, Plastics/
Rubber, Textiles & related,
Infrastructure and Construction, and Health Products and Services.
The opportunities cover
greenfield project investments as well in fast maturing domestic companies
across these sectors.
18
omandailyobserver
OMAN
Omani products expo in Sohar
MUSCAT: Shaikh Muhanna bin Saif al
Lamki, Governor of North Al Batinah
Governorate, officially opened an
exclusive Omani products Exhibition
yesterday at Oman International
Exhibition Centre, Sohar, under the
auspices of Public Establishment for
Industrial Estates (PEIE).
The exhibition, which lasts till
March 12, offers a perfect gateway to
reach the highly potential markets
of North Al Batinah Governorate
especially Sohar, nearby areas of UAE
and holds tremendous prospects of
excellent business opportunities, new
collaborations and strategic tie ups due to the
proximity.
The exhibition will provide an excellent platform
to the Omani business houses including SMEs to
introduce and launch their quality products and
services.
A plethora of local companies including Al Ahlia
Converting Industries Co SAOC; Al Asr Electrical
& Electronic Industries LLC; Al Balowra National
Trading; Al Hilal Plastic Industries LLC; Al Iftikhar
Media; Al Shumookh Plastic Products LLC; Arabian
Industries Manufacturing LLC; Areej Vegetable
Oils and Derivatives; Barzman Foods LLC; Carma
Trading and Converting Industry; Decorstone
International LLC; Dhofar Cattle Feed Co; Export
Credit Guarantee Agency Oman; Global Gypsum
Board Co LLC; Golden Towel Factory; Gulf Acrylic
Industries LLC; Hadid Majan LLC; Jotun Paints Co
LLC; Jyoti Sohar Switchgear; Majid Water Cooler &
Air Conditioning LLC; Modern Concrete Products
LLC; Munanoor Plastics Industries; Muscat Heaters
Ind; The National Detergent Co SAOG; National
Heaters Industry; National Plastic
Factory; Nizwa Furnishing Industries
& Projects LLC; Oman Cables Industry
SAOG; Omani Korean Company LLC;
Public Establishment for Industrial
Estates; Reem Batteries & Power
Equipment; Shamal Plastic Industries
LLC; Sharq Sohar Steel Rolling Mills LLC;
Sohar Poly Industries LLC; Sohar Port
and Freezone; Special Oil Field Services
Co LLC; Sun Packaging Co LLC; Sur
United International Co LLC; United
Plastic Manufacuturing Co LLC; United
National Factory for the Fiber Glass LLC;
Waleed Associates LLC; Windows 2000;
Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles; and Sohar Beach Bakery
and Stores LLC are present at the three days’ Expo.
The main objective of organising the exhibition
is to project Oman of 21st century capable of
supplying quality machinery, products, services and
technology of international standard at competitive
prices and thus to further enhance the existing
Oman GCC bilateral relationship
Organised by Silver Star Corporation LLC the
expo is open from 10 am to 1 pm and from 5 pm to
10 pm on all three days.
New headquarters building in Ruwi to house all divisions of the group
Al Hajiry’s strategy is to chart
its own growth path: MD
MUSCAT: The inauguration of new headquarters
of Al Hajiry Companies, spread over 6,357 sqm,
is special moment and a matter of pride, said Sam
Varghese, managing director.
Speaking to Oman Daily Observer, he said
the company has been only getting stronger over
the last two decades and is one of the leading
diversified groups in the country today. He added
that the new HQ that will place main divisions of
the group under one roof. “It is also part of a longterm strategy to be self-sufficient and do things
ourselves.”
He said though the mechanical engineering
is the bread and butter or the core division of
the company, it has been diversified into various
divisions successfully. He said some of the
upcoming projects include a mosque in Qurum,
an international school for the PDO and the Duqm
Permanent Accommodation for Contractors
(Duqm PAC) projects.
He said the company has around 16 land
properties valued to be around RO 9 million, which
will be mainly used for its own purposes. “We are
not into the real estate business at the moment.”
On Omanisation, Varghese said that the
challenges are similar to ones faced by any other
companies in the private sector. “We have been
trying to maintain the minimum percentage as
required by the government, but a training centre
to meet the growing needs of skilled workforce is
part of the plans for the future.”
Another core business of the company which
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
BUSINESS ALERT
Kia Sorento digital contest
MUSCAT: Visitors to http://www.kia.com/
om/experience/promotion.html are treated
to an exciting digital contest!!!
Promising an online gift voucher up to
RO 100 from Roumaan, the ‘New Sorento
Quiz Contest’ has been running for 3
weeks. “In the first 3 weeks,” explains the
spokesperson, “the focus was on unique
features of the New Sorento (Adaptive Front
Lighting System, Smart Tail Gate, Blind Spot Detection), and now in the last week, the
quiz is on New Sorento.”
The spokesperson spelt out the exciting mechanism of the contest, “For the contest,
a picture of a body part of the vehicle is put as a jigsaw puzzle. When a user answers a
question correctly, a jigsaw piece falls in place. When all questions are answered, all the
pieces are in their correct places and the full picture reveals itself!”
After answering the quiz, participants are given an option to earn additional points
by visiting any of the Kia showrooms, taking a Selfie with a Kia and posting it on the
contest page. “The Selfie they take with Kia gives them additional points — if it is as
per terms & conditions”, says the spokesperson, “The showroom visit also enables the
digital participants to engage with the Kia team,” he adds.
Users’ points get added in a Leaderboard. “As this is the last week, we advise all Kia
enthusiasts to try their luck and do their best to win the gift. Good Luck!,” adds the
spokesperson. People can also go to these alternate links to take part in the contest:
www.kiaOman.com and www.gct.om/kia/NewSorentoContest.
KR supports Dar Al Atta’a event
THE KR Group participated in the third Annual
Charity Treasure Hunt conducted by Dar Al
Atta’a as part of its efforts to support the local
community. Chief among the objectives for
the event was a partial scholarship covering
transportation and housing expenses for
underprivileged college students.
“We have always focused on providing
community support to NGOs and other
organisations engaged in social development. This partnership aims to empower
societies by building a strong foundation for education. The Khimji Ramdas group has
been involved with Dar Al Atta’a on various projects that target improvement of local
communities,” said Malvika Khimji, Director, Khimji Ramdas.
Shatha Abbas, a Board member from Dar Al Atta’a expressed gratitude towards
the KR Group for its consistent support, which sets a precedent of engaging corporate
Oman in nation building activities such as this. “We would like to thank the KR Group
for their unconditional and full support of all our initiatives. The company has been
one of our strongest supporters and we appreciate their involvement in events that help
build better societies,” said Shatha.
Sporty, elegant, versatile and connected
has seen demand growing in Saudi Arabia is the
process of making camps. “This business may
require setting up a unit in the Saudi Arabia
because shipping from here can be expensive.”
He also the process of starting a rent-a-car
business in the UAE is in the final stages.
Varghese said the company’s divisions are
performing well as independent units and there are
no plans to go the stock exchange as now.
The new HQ is made of strong steel fabrication
at the cost us RO 2.5m. “Around 50 people worked
round the clock since 2011 for the construction of
this building. It will be lit up with LED lights which
have been supplied and most of the floors are
occupied by our various departments like trading
room, business development offices and facilities
office.”
One of the main challenges faced during
the construction of the building was during the
levelling phase as the site is located next to the
mountains. The building is located centrally
behind the Sheraton Hotel has parking space for
around 160 vehicles.
The Audi prologue Avant show car
with its stretched roof which the
brand is presenting at the Geneva
Motor Show gives a look into the
future — with the new and emotion
filled design language that Audi has
initiated with its study in the coupé,
the prologue.
In November 2014 at the
Los Angeles Motorshow, Audi
presented the Audi prologue concept car, giving a look to the brand’s future design
language. Only four months later, the premium manufacturer is showing a variant of
its visionary concept at the Geneva Motor Show. The Audi prologue Avant combines
dynamics, form and function in a perfect synthesis. With a length of 5.11 metres and
a width of 1.97 metres, the five-door car with its pioneering body concept positions
itself clearly in the luxury class. At the same time, it offers unmistakable sportiness and
variability. Technology is becoming an experience, both outside and inside:
The driver and up to three passengers can enjoy a luxurious interior and are digitally
connected thanks to a state of the art infotainment architecture and connect technology.
The luxurious interior is kept in dark shades. Here as well, the show car offers a new
experience: The straight lined architecture forms one whole with its display and control
concept. The consistent front of the dashboard is composed of three touch displays.
Moreover, the driver and up to three passengers can establish a digital communication
via two OLED displays made from organic LEDs.
A’Saffa Barbeque Challenge 2015
OMAN’S most prestigious barbecue cooking competition
— the ‘A’Saffa BBQ Challenge’ will see 25 families battle it
out at the Civil Aviation Club on March 13, 2015. A terrific
opportunity to showcase one’s barbeque culinary skills for a
truly appetising family barbeque getaway. The teams will be
judged by Oman’s celebrated master-chef Issa al Lamki and
his team of chefs and will also declare the winner, 1st runners
up and 2nd runners up. Tune into Oman TV and Radio
Shabab FM from 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm for Live telecast of the
competition as it unfolds on March 13.
Three fully-dressed chicken will be provided to each team
by A’Saffa at the competition. For their own convenience, participants have been asked
to bring their own barbeque sets, coal, fuel, skewers, spices and culinary ware.
The families will receive points based on: Taste, Recipe Innovation, Recipe
originality, Cooking Hygiene and preparation, and Presentation. The event will also
provide a special A’Saffa food fare for kids. Special events for the kids, such as a —
Magic Show, Games and DJ have also been organised.
Paediatrician joins Lifeline Medical Centre
LIFELINE Medical Centre, Darsait, has welcomed paediatrician Dr
Rohini Joshi to their medical team. After specialising in paediatrics
with top honours in 1985, Dr Rohini has worked as a paediatrician
for over 30 years (20 years in Oman) and has a rich experience in
clinical and preventive paediatrics. She is known in the local medical
fraternity as an astute clinician with excellence in medical judgment.
Apart from treating infectious as well as non-infectious ailments,
Dr Rohini has in depth knowledge in vaccinology and is well versed with Ministry
of Health policies regarding EPI. “With her expertise and experience, Dr Rohini is
able to guide parents in monitoring the growth and developments of their children
along with helping them understand appropriate dietary or exercise requirements. Dr
Rohini’s pleasant personality and friendly nature with children has made her a favourite
amongst children and parents alike. We are extremely happy to have her on board and
welcome her to the Lifeline family of medical care and expertise”, said Retnakumar
Janardanan, CEO of Lifeline Hospital Group in Oman.
OMAN
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
19
Malabar Gold to Bank Sohar announces weekly draw winner
open another
outlet in Salalah
MUSCAT: Driven by the increased
demand for high quality gold and
diamond jewellery in international
designs, Malabar Gold & Diamonds,
one of the leading jewellery retailers
announced the opening of its 128th
outlet in Oman, which will be
inaugurated by prominent Indian
actress Preity Zinta tomorrow (March
12) at 5 pm.
This elegant showroom conveniently
located at Al Salam street, Salalah, will
be their 2nd showroom in Salalah, 7th in
Oman and 48th in the Middle East. Like
all other Malabar Gold & Diamonds
outlets, this showroom will also
display a significantly large collection
of traditional as well as contemporary
jewellery in gold, certified diamonds,
platinum and precious stone jewellery
from across the world that can hold you
spell-bound with their awe-inspiring
beauty.
To celebrate this occasion, the group
introduced fabulous inaugural offers for
their customers. With every purchase
of diamond jewellery worth RO 500,
the customers will get a 1 gm gold coin
absolutely free and the customers can
also avail a free gold coin with every
purchase of gold jewellery worth RO
300. These offers are valid at their outlet
in Salalah until 31 March 2015.
One of the most important
factors driving the group’s success are
innovation in their strategies, designs,
promotions and the trust Malabar Gold
& Diamonds evokes. With a rich mix
of traditional and trendy jewellery in
gold, diamond and platinum, Malabar
Gold & Diamonds is one of the most
preferred destinations for quality
jewellery. The combination of purest
jewellery and cutting edge designs
combining unmatched grace and style
makes their jewellery unique.
The branded jewellery segment
of Malabar Gold & Diamonds that
includes Ethnix — Handcrafted
Designer Jewellery, Era — Uncut
Diamond Jewellery, Mine — Diamonds
Unlimited, Divine — Heritage Indian
Jewellery, Precia — Precious Gem
Jewellery and Starlet — Kids Jewellery
are renowned globally for their flawless
craftsmanship and the impeccable style.
Sandstorm fails to
disrupt Amal West
solar steam generation
GlassPoint’s solar EOR pilot with PDO produced 50 tonnes of steam per day
during recent sandstorm
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
Mar. 10: GlassPoint Solar, the leader
in solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR),
recently achieved an impressive
performance milestone at its pilot
project with Petroleum Development
Oman (PDO). The solar steam
generator operated without fail during
a two-day sandstorm that hit PDO’s
Amal West oilfield.
Even with peak winds reaching
53 km/h (33 mph), the solar field
successfully produced more than 50
tonnes of steam each day, exceeding
rated capacity. The sandstorm
performance
demonstrates
the
robustness and reliability of GlassPoint’s
enclosed trough technology.
A fully automated washing system
was deployed at night to restore optical
efficiency. When wind speeds returned
to normal the following day, the solar
field produced 76 tonnes of steam,
achieving 100.4 per cent of modelled
performance.
GlassPoint’s
technology
was
designed to overcome the harsh
desert operating challenges common
throughout Gulf oilfields. The mirrors
and other vulnerable components are
sealed inside a glasshouse structure
to protect them from wind, sand and
dust. Other solar technologies with
exposed mirrors require expensive
cleaning processes and risk degrading
the mirrors in severe storms.
GlassPoint’s pilot project with PDO
has been operating successfully since
late 2012 and continues to exceed
contracted performance targets. The
system serves as an operational baseline
for large-scale projects in Oman and
throughout the region.
GlassPoint is exhibiting at the
Middle East Oil & Gas Show (MEOS)
this week in Bahrain. A model of its
enclosed trough technology is on
display at the event.
MUSCAT: Bank Sohar continues to offer more chances,
more winners and more prizes for its customers as part
of the 2015 Al Mumayaz Saving Scheme. In its most
recent weekly draw, Bank Sohar announced Shamis al
Ghammari from its Al Amerat Branch as the RO 5,000
winner and Jokha Al Alawi from Bahla Branch as the
RO 1,000 Branch Dedicated Weekly winner.
The fifth prize draw event was held at the bank’s
Bahla branch under the auspices of Salim Mohammed
al Adawi, the Engineering Project Expert at the
Ministry of Sports Affairs, and was attended by Mazin
Mahmood al Raisi, AGM and Head of Marketing
and Publicity, and Thuraiya al Hashmi, Manager
of Liabilities from the Head Office. In attendance
from the Branch were Ghadhiya Said al Hinaai, the
Assistant Manager of the Bahla branch, together with
other Bank Sohar senior staff amidst a number of
customers. The event was inaugurated with a welcome
speech by Ghadhiya Said al Hinaai followed with an
overview of the 2015 Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme by
Thuraiya al Hashmi. Following the presentation, the
Chief Guest announced the names of the two winners.
The event concluded with the handover of a token of
appreciation to Salim Mohammed al Adawi on behalf
of the bank.
Following the success and popularity of last year’s
Savings Scheme, the bank has improvised the scheme
to provide even better incentives to save by offering
significantly more chances, more winners and more
prizes. In addition to continuing with its hourly prize
draws of RO 1,000 each from Sunday to Wednesday;
the bank will undertake a branch-wide tour conducting
the weekly draw at each of its branches throughout
the year where one winner will win RO 5,000. The
bank will also conduct a dedicated branch draw every
week worth RO 1,000 specifically for customers of the
branch in which the weekly draw event is held. In total
the weekly draws will see more than 70 winners before
the end of the year.
The monthly draw will witness over 80 winners
throughout the year; where each month five winners
will each receive RO 10,000, while five minor account
holders will win RO 1,000 each. Furthermore, the
bank is also proud to announce its half yearly prize
draw worth over RO 150,000 where two winners
will receive RO 50,000 each, one minor account will
receive RO 5,000, and one exclusive draw winner will
receive RO 50,000. Meanwhile, the Year-End Prize
Draw boasts a prize pool of over half a million rials for
more than 30 winners, with one lucky saver winning
RO 450,000, one exclusive winner receiving RO 50,000
and one lucky minor receiving RO 5,000. In addition,
as part of the Year-End Prize Draw, the bank will also
be conducting a special branch-wide draw for the first
time where one lucky winner from each of the bank’s
branches will win RO 5,000.
MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET
20
omandailyobserver
OMAN/INTERNATIONAL
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
Asian markets fall as China data disappoints
OIL PRICES MIXED: US benchmark West Texas Intermediate gained one cent to $50.01 while Brent eased 16 cents to $58.37
HONG KONG: Asian shares brushed
off a positive Wall Street lead to retreat
for a second-straight day yesterday,
while official data pointed to further
weakness in China’s economy.
The euro continued to flounder
against the greenback a day after the
European Central Bank launched its
stimulus “bazooka”, although the dollar
pushed towards an eight-year high
against the yen as dealers bet on a US
interest rate hike.
News that China’s consumer price
inflation rebounded in February
from a more-than-five-year low was
overshadowed by a steep drop in
consumer prices, indicating more
softness down the line.
In afternoon trade Hong Kong was
0.77 per cent lower and Shanghai gave
back 0.34 per cent.
Tokyo fell 0.67 per cent, or 125.44
points, to 18,665.11 and Seoul shed
0.40 per cent, or 8.05 points, to end at
1,984.77.
However, Sydney was flat, edging up
2.9 points to 5,824.2.
The losses came despite a positive
day in New York, with the three main
indexes ending higher after Apple
launched its long-awaited watch, while
GM announced a $5 billion share
buyback.
The Dow rose 0.78 per cent and the
S&P 500 gained 0.39 per cent. The techrich Nasdaq advanced 0.31 per cent.
In China, the National Bureau of
Statistics said consumer inflation hit 1.4
per cent in February, well up from 0.8
per cent the previous month and much
Dollar hits 8-year high
on hopes for US rate hike
Employees of a foreign exchange trading company work under monitors displaying the Japanese yen’s exchange rate against
the US dollar (top) and Japan’s Nikkei stock average in Tokyo yesterday. — Reuters
better than the 1 per cent forecast.
However, the NBS also said the price
of goods at the factory gate slumped 4.8
per cent, the worst result since October
2009, driven by falling energy prices.
The data come after authorities cut
interest rates in November as well as last
month.
“Today’s data showed that China is
in danger of deflation,” said Christopher
Wong, a Singapore-based senior
investment manager at Aberdeen Asset
Management.
“The economic situation there is
very tough while the relaxation of its
monetary policy is still behind the
curve.”
Tokyo’s Nikkei was Asia’s best
performer in early dealing as exporters
were supported by the weakening yen.
The euro bought $1.0795 and 131.45
yen on Tuesday against $1.0854 and
131.49 yen.
The ECB kicked off its 60 billion-
BankDhofar’s weekly draw winners
BURAIMI: In continuation of the
success of its flagship savings scheme,
BankDhofar recently conducted the
weekly prize draw at Buraimi branch
under the auspices of Shaikh Abdullah
Ahmed Mashari al Shamsi, Member of
State Council.
One lucky BankDhofar customer
from MBD branch won the Weekly
General Draw of RO 20,000, while
five lucky winners from MBD, Rustaq,
Al Ees Sur, Maabelah, Al Amerat and
Muscat Grand Mall branches wining
RO 2,000 each as part of the Daily
General Draw.
Khalid al Amri, Head of Retail
Products, Business and Segments
Department
at
BankDhofar,
commented on the weekly draw:
“Since the launch of the savings scheme
we have witnessed an increasing
participation
from
BankDhofar
customers across the Sultanate. The
automated draw system used in our
draws ensures transparency of the
process and is fully compliant with the
regulations.”
“This scheme was introduced
to cater for our customers’ needs
and requirements, and we pledge to
provide them with the best customer
experience through a wide array of
innovative products and creative
services,” he added.
BankDhofar customers who save a
minimum of RO 100 in their accounts
are eligible to enter the Daily General
Draw and have a chance to win a
share of RO 10,000 cash prize (RO
2,000 each). Customers who keep a
minimum balance of RO 100 for a
week also have the opportunity to
win a cash prize of 20,000 (one weekly
winner) as part of the Weekly General
Draw.
BankDhofar has been investing
millions of Omani Rials to enrich
the lives of customers and promote a
culture of saving among all members
of society. To further enhance their
customers’ banking experience, the
bank has an extensive network of
branches across the Sultanate, in
addition to ATM and CDM facilities
located in all parts of Oman.
The company developed the system quickly in the last six months
US aerospace firm Exelis to
offer drone-tracking system
NEW YORK: US aerospace company
Exelis Inc is close to unveiling a lowaltitude surveillance system for drones,
the latest sign of how a “highway in the
sky” is likely to evolve.
The system, whose existence has not
been previously reported, shows how
Exelis and other companies are racing
to create technology that enables drones
to safely fly over long distances to do
everything from inspections of remote
pipelines to surveys of crops or delivery
of packages.
The
US
Federal
Aviation
Administration recently proposed
regulations that largely ban unmanned
aircraft systems from many of those
tasks by requiring that remote pilots
keep the drones in sight.
This is giving foreign companies
the chance to leap ahead of the US in
figuring out how to best exploit drone
technology.
But the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (Nasa) is working
with Exelis and other companies,
universities and government agencies,
to develop an air traffic management
system that could persuade the FAA to
allow flights beyond the line of sight,
provided the operator is using such a
tracking system.
Exelis’ products, called Symphony
UAS-Vue and RangeVue, are significant
because Exelis has a head start on
competitors: It has the exclusive right
to use a data feed it already supplies the
FAA to track manned aircraft, using 650
ground stations.
It will augment the feed with
lower-altitude data that pinpoint
drone locations, says Exelis, which is
being taken over by communications
company Harris Corp in a $4.75 billion
deal.
“For any drone that needs to go
beyond line of sight, this is a potential
solution,” Edward Sayadian, vicepresident of civil aerospace systems
at Exelis, said. Exelis said it plans to
announce the products this month and
make RangeVue available this summer
at some of the six sites the FAA has set
up to test drones.
The company developed the system
quickly in the last six months, and hasn’t
yet set prices. While Exelis sees potential
markets overseas, it is focused initially
on the US, where it can leverage its
ground stations and FAA feed.
It also wants to be part of whatever
overall system the FAA adopts after
Nasa finishes work on the prototype in
three to five years.
In the meantime, Exelis said it plans
to market its UAS-Vue and RangeVue
directly to companies that want to
operate drones commercially in the US
Nasa and the industry face steep
challenges overcoming fears of thousands
of drones crisscrossing the skies, crashing
— Reuters
into planes and people.
euro-a-month asset-buying scheme on
Monday hoping it will fend off deflation
in the euro zone and also kick-start
economic growth.
However, there remain worries
about Greece’s bailout extension as it
starts technical talks this week with its
regional partners.
Oil prices were mixed. US benchmark
West Texas Intermediate gained one
cent to $50.01 while Brent eased 16 cents
to $58.37.
— AFP
TOKYO: The dollar hit a near eightyear high against the yen yesterday
on mounting speculation that the
Federal Reserve will lift interest rates
by mid-year as the US economy picks
up strength.
In Tokyo, the greenback briefly
surged to a high of 122.02 yen in
mid-day trading, around levels not
seen since July 2007.
The dollar later settled back to
121.68 yen, but was still up from
121.15 yen in New York.
The euro was hovering around
11-year lows on the dollar as the
European Central Bank embarked
on its long-awaited bond-buying
stimulus programme. The single
currency slipped to $1.0797 from
$1.0854 in US trade, and to 131.39
yen from 131.49 yen.
“The US economy is moving in
the right direction, and expectations
of a rate hike should continue until
the Fed’s meeting next week, which
means the yen could continue to
weaken against the dollar,” Toshihiko
Matsuno, chief strategist at SMBC
Friend Securities, told Bloomberg
News.
Friday’s jobs data added to
growing evidence that the US
economy is the recovery track and
fanned expectations that the Fed will
lift rates as early as June.
On Monday, Dallas Fed President
Richard Fisher warned of a recession
risk if a rate hike was delayed.
“Fisher’s comments have added
spice” to the dollar rally, said Daisaku
Ueno, chief currency strategist in
Tokyo at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan
Stanley.
The dollar has surged after the
Fed wound up its bond-buying
quantitative easing (QE) in late 2014.
That came just as the Bank of
Japan stepped up its own similar
programme, while on Monday, the
ECB embarked for the first time on
QE as it tries to fend off deflation
in the euro zone. Investors are
also keeping an eye on Greece as
it prepares for technical talks on
extending its crucial bailout today.
The Greek government on
Monday outlined reforms demanded
by lenders in exchange for further
cash at a meeting of euro zone finance
ministers in Brussels.
— AFP
National Transport McDonald’s marks National Breakfast Day
McDonald’s Oman (Al Daud
Model for Oman MUSCAT:
Restaurants LLC) gave away over 10,000
FROM PAGE 17
Seasonal Mobility: moves between
residences or districts; and the mobility
pattern for persons older than 6 years:
trip data, including the start and end
points, departure and arrival times,
kinds of activity at the destination,
transport mode, trip length, costs.
There will also be questions related
to the transport system, such as
comments on the transport situation,
points of criticism, and suggested
improvements. Comments relating to
the environmental quality of the place
of residence, such as noise pollution,
air pollution, distance to local services
(public transport, shops, childcare and
schools) will also be elicited.
A similar format will be applied
in surveys targeting employees of
hotels, firms and organisations aimed
at assessing feedback on businessrelated transport demand, leisure,
mobility and freight transport. The
results will be used to establish the
origin/destination matrix for business
and leisure related transport and
freight transport.
The transport
behaviour surveys in households and
organisations will also be designed
to provide a baseline for surveys
conducted (with smaller samples) at
regular intervals of five to ten years,
to monitor transport behaviour and to
evaluate the effectiveness of transport
measures and initiatives.
Additionally, the survey calls for a
comprehensive inventory of the road
network in each governorate aimed
at assessing current characteristics
and functions of each stretch of road.
Surveyors will classify all roads based
on their respective functions (National,
Arterial or Secondary), posted speed
(80/100/120 km/h), lane width (3.5 m
/ 3.65 m / 3.75 m, etc), number of lanes
(1/2/3/4) each direction, width of
right of way (ROW) (50 m/60 m/100
m/120m, etc.), junction type (gradeseparated/roundabout/traffic signal,
etc), carriageway (single/dual), surface
type (paved/unpaved), median width
(2.5/5/12m), and shoulder width (o.6/
1.0/2.5/3.0 m) inner and outer.
At seaports, the surveyors will
gather data with regard to freight
traffic flows separated into flows
of bulk goods, general cargo, and
number of containers per year (origin/
destination of traffic flows, import,
export, transship). Availability of
public transport facilities, including
bus-lines, air transport and ferries, will
be documented as well.
Free Egg McMuffins on March 9 as part
of the brand’s third annual National
Breakfast Day (NBD). Each McDonald’s
restaurant serving breakfast in Oman
took part in giving away 1,000 free Egg
McMuffins on a first come- first serve
basis, from 6 am to 10 am.
McDonald’s Oman is among more
than 6,000 McDonald’s restaurants in Asia,
Middle East and Africa celebrating the
brand’s National Breakfast Day 2015.
Breakfast provides the body and brain
with fuel after an overnight fast — hence
the name. Nutritionists eagerly stress on
breakfast being the most important meal
of the day and strongly advise on having
a balanced one. McDonald’s provides a
range of balanced breakfast choices to its
customers. “We at McDonald’s recognise
the value of a nourishing morning meal,
and we are proud to serve our high
quality breakfast menu daily. Offering a
Ali K Daud with a customer
range of products, McDonald’s breakfast
caters to a wide variety of customers
looking for balanced choices, whether
they are on the go, or looking to enjoy a
relaxed and satisfying start to the day”,
said Ali K Daud, Development Licensee
and President of McDonald’s Oman.
McDonald’s famous ‘McMuffin’
breakfast range bears the ‘Egg McMuffin’,
the ‘Sausage McMuffin and Egg’, and the
‘Sausage McMuffin’ all brought together
with freshly toasted English muffin for a
morning boost.
People work at the assembly line of the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus
Corporation (MFTBC) factory in Kawazaki, south of Tokyo. — Reuters
Simon makes hostile bid for Macerich
NEW YORK: US mall king Simon Property
made a $16 billion hostile offer for
Macerich, after failing for four months
to engage the smaller shopping centre
operator in friendly merger talks.
Simon offered $16 billion, or $91 a
share, in cash and stock that represented
a 30 per cent premium to Macerich’s price
just before Simon disclosed a 3.6 per cent
shareholding in November. It was about
five per cent above the company’s closing
price on Friday. Simon put the total
value of the offer at $22.4 billion, when
including Macerich’s $6.4 billion in debt.
Simon warned the company not to
try to block the offer, after having failed
several times to convince Macerich’s
board to negotiate.
“We urge Macerich to forego
entrenching defensive tactics that
obstruct the will of its shareholders and
instead engage in serious discussions
with us,” said David Simon, Simon’s
chairman and chief executive, in a
statement.
“It is our strong preference to work
with Macerich to reach a mutually
beneficial agreement, and we are
available immediately to meet with
Macerich and its advisers.”
The deal would combine the country’s
largest shopping centre operator,
with about 182 million square feet (17
million square metres) of leasable space
in 109 properties, with the mid-sized
Macerich, holding 55 million square
feet of property in 60 properties. Simon
owns the Premium Outlets and Mills
chains of suburban malls; Macerich’s
mixed properties are mainly in California,
Arizona and the New York region.
Macerich shares were up 6 per cent in
early trade at $91.93, while Simon shares
added 0.7 per cent at $181.75.
— AFP
PERSPECTIVE
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
SHADOW
omandailyobserver
21
BANKING
Inspectors beckon shadow lenders into the light
B
ank inspectors beckon
Ireland’s shadow lenders
into the light By Carmel
Crimmins and Padraic
Halpin Fresh from
putting the squeeze on
banks to behave themselves, regulators
are now scrutinising so-called shadow
banks, alternative lenders like investment
funds that are doing big business out of
countries such as Ireland.
The third biggest shadow banking
market in the euro zone behind
Luxembourg and the Netherlands,
Ireland has amassed 2.9 trillion euros
of assets, according to data from the
European Central Bank (ECB), by
way of business-friendly laws and tax
exemptions.
It’s also the euro zone’s largest centre
for what are known as financial vehicle
corporations, holding companies for
assets that investors set aside with a view
to re-selling.
These were used by banks during
the financial crisis as a way to offload
dangerously creaky US subprime
mortgages.
Non-bank lenders are a growing
source of credit in the wake of the euro
zone debt crisis, when banks cut off
lending to meet strict new rules on risk
and interest rates plumbed record lows.
While some funds now make loans
directly to businesses, most buy loans
and securities from banks and companies
as a way of passing on credit to them.
The ECB is not unhappy with the
sector’s development and indeed wants
to develop more of this US-style marketbased funding to reduce the zone’s
reliance on banks.
But with shadow banking more than
doubling to 23 trillion euros over the past
decade and likely to outgrow the regular
banking industry within five years at that
pace, the ECB also needs to make sure
that it isn’t hiding any risky practices that
could destablise the financial system.
As a result, Ireland has started to
probe an area hitherto largely uncharted.
“We do have a team of economists
that is looking at what I would call the
regulatory perimeter — activity that
is not quite in the regulatory spotlight
but is in the penumbra,” said Gareth
Murphy, head of markets supervision
at the Irish central bank and responsible
for overseeing investment funds in the
country.
“We are a good way down the road in
terms of understanding the challenges of
mapping this area.”
Just defining the shadow banking
industry is difficult.
Nearly half — around 44 per cent —
of what would be deemed shadow banks
in the euro zone belong to institutions
for which there is no detailed balance
sheet information.
The ECB believes that a large
chunk of those institutions are holding
companies based in Luxembourg and
the Netherlands that are unlikely to even
be involved in lending.
In continuing its efforts to better
define the industry, European regulators
are also hoping to better trace risk
between trading partners.
While it may be able to quantify
an entity’s assets, the accompanying
risk exposure can still be hard to assess
because these lenders often filter that
through derivatives.
They also may have links outside
the euro zone to groups for which no
Ireland’s Minister of State for Finance Simon Harris poses for a picture in front of Leinster House in Dublin recently. — Reuters
information is available.
Yet even when financial entities
are compelled to report information,
problems arise.
New rules for reporting derivative
trades came into effect in Europe last
year with over 4.5 billion individual
pieces of data collected in the first six
months from February, a source with
knowledge of the operation said.
But many of the data fields were
returned blank, the source said, meaning
regulators still don’t have enough
information to make a thorough analysis.
ESMA, the regulator tasked with
implementing the reporting regime for
derivatives, declined to comment.
Another attempt at finding clarity is
regulators’ demand since last year that
European hedge fund managers report
their exposures and risk profiles.
Non-bank lenders are a
growing source of credit in
the wake of the euro zone
debt crisis, when banks
cut off lending to meet
strict new rules on risk and
interest rates plumbed
record lows
And under more new European
rules, funds that lend securities or cash
via repurchase agreements will have to
report details of those trades from 2017.
However, while Ireland’s central
bank tries to sketch the true profile of
some 7,000 funds and financial vehicle
corporations already in the country, the
MARKETING
government continues to try to attract
more.
Over the years Ireland has already
adapted laws and taxes to make itself
a location of choice for these types of
lenders, which can load up on debt with
minimal amounts of equity.
Now it plans to unveil a new strategy
next week to raise the numbers employed
by what’s known as the International
Financial Services Sector (IFSC) by
10,000 over five years from 35,000
currently.
Simon Harris, the junior minister
of finance who will make the
announcement, rebuffs any suggestion
that the presence in Ireland of “brass
plate” style companies with no staff or
offices, makes it a weak link in global
financial stability.
“The type of stuff that we are trying
to attract into this country I don’t believe
there are any kind of regulatory concerns
with,” said the 28-year-old, Ireland’s
youngest member of parliament. “We are
talking about jobs with substance.
We are talking about well-regulated
products.”
Other Irish politicians say more needs
to be done, and point to the fact that
Dublin-based off-balance-sheet vehicles
were a key link between Europe and the
US subprime crisis.
IKB, a German small-business lender
became the first European bank to topple
due to losses accumulated in a Dublinlisted conduit which invested in US
subprime mortgages.
SachsenLB, another German bank,
also ran aground after failing to refinance
a Dublin-based structured investment
vehicle.
IKB and SachsenLB were regulated
in Germany and cost German taxpayers
billions of euros when they fell.
Since then, banks have been forced
to hold much more capital to cover risky
investments.
But tougher rules on what kind
of lending they can undertake have
encouraged money to flow into the
shadow banks instead.
“The suggestion is that our regulation
is a lot tighter and that is true for the
banks but it is not true for the IFSC,”
said Pearse Doherty, finance spokesman
for Sinn Fein, Ireland’s most popular
opposition party.
“We need a proper open debate
about what kind of investment strategy
do we want. There is no point doing
this when things go belly up, if things
go belly up, because that is what will
happen.”
— Reuters
INVESTMENTS
Rebranding, restyling, revamping, renaming Fidelity tech fund
trounces all rivals
without holding Apple
T
STEFANO VIRGILLI
[email protected]
I
RECENTLY came across a
classified ad selling a second
hand car.
The title said: “Chinese car
with Mercedes engine”. I stopped
and pondered about the choice of words.
Then I came to the conclusion: “A
weak brand is such when you own stuff
that you can only qualify by bringing in
a more famous name”. Recently I was
contacted by a Government organisation
to consult over rebranding.
Unfortunately the meaning of
branding has somehow changed in the
past decade.
Last time I checked they were still
teaching it correctly in colleges and
universities.
However it seems like fresh graduates
tend to mutate branding into other
terms once they secure a job.
The most common mistaken
terms are Renaming, Restyling and
Revamping. Branding is a deep
concept that involves many aspects of
organisational culture.
It is certainly not only a logo and a
new colour scheme to include in the
corporate guidelines booklet for visual
communication.
Which by the way, once produced, a
corporate guideline booklet should not
be locked in a drawer, but rather kept
alive by adjusting it and variating it as
the time goes by. Anyhow branding is all
about perceptions.
If you can see it, it is not the brand.
Also if you can touch it or ear it,
indeed it is not brand.
A brand is manifested in the way you
feel when you use a certain product or
services.
For instance a certain brand of
smart phones make you feel exclusive,
while the car you drive makes you feel
luxurious.
So when you say a sentence such as:
“I love this smart phone because the
camera is so good.” you are praising a
technical attribute, hence marketing.
On the other hand if you say: “The
pictures I take with this phone make me
feel like a professional photographer.” in
that case you are talking about the way
you feel, hence it is branding.
The young illegal worker cleaning
up cars for RO 1 in Madinat Qaboos,
proudly browses the Internet on his
flashy brand new iPhone 6 between a
wash and another. How can he afford
such an expensive phone? All I can think
of, is that he must have washed 333 cars.
It is funny how branding drives our
priorities in life.
For a Government body to rebrand it
means to instil in the citizens a different
perception about the organisation.
If it is just a new logo and new
colours, the facade restyle might not
change people’s opinion very much.
Rebranding is so much harder than
renaming, restyling and revamping.
To make a rebranding exercise
possible, the organisation has to be
willing to include everyone in the
process.
It cannot be dictated from the top.
Every time I worked at “imposed”
Rebranding is so much
harder than renaming,
restyling and revamping. To
make a rebranding exercise
possible, the organisation
has to be willing to include
everyone in the process
rebranding projects there were plenty
of complaints from “below”. A perfect
rebranding involves everyone, even the
coffee-boy.
A few weeks ago I conducted a
workshop hosted in the premises of an
Omani organisations.
The coffee-boy brought me some
tea and proudly told me: “I’ve been
working here for 7 years. I love working
here”. Such inspiring words from such a
humble job position should be treasured
by any CEO.
I wondered how many participants
among the 16 training participants
would have declared their love towards
their company with the same unsolicited
passion.
A company or an organisation can
consider itself successfully rebranded
only when both employees and
customers have developed new positive
feelings and perceptions towards the
products or the services offered.
Ask yourself if you would spend a
night sleeping in front of a store knowing
that the next day a new model of smart
phone will be launched.
If your answer is negative it means
that you probably are an Android user
or simply iPhone is not as attractive to
you as for the thousands that literally
spend the night out waiting for their
new “toy” to be released.
I will be spending the next year
working at a “special rebranding”
project in Oman.
The first few meetings were not so
promising to be honest.
It appeared as if my client has not
yet an in-depth understanding of what
branding actually is.
I will do my best to build up
awareness and direct the efforts towards
something more sophisticated than just
a new logo and a new colour scheme.
Twelve months later we will all
know whether it was true rebranding or
once again just renaming, restyling or
revamping.
he best performing technology fund since the peak of
the dot com boom did it all without owning Apple Inc,
whose soaring stock price has pushed the Nasdaq near
a new record high. The $941 million Fidelity Select IT
Services fund has returned an average of 10.9 per cent a
year since March 10, 2000, when the Nasdaq Composite
hit its record high, according to Lipper data.
That’s more than double any other technology fund tracked by Lipper,
and trounces the 0.1 per
cent a year generated over
the same period by the
PowerShares QQQ ETF,
the most popular exchange
traded fund tracking the
Nasdaq.
“This is a fund that
doesn’t
have
Google,
doesn’t have Microsoft.
This is a wholly different
subset of technology than
most investors are familiar
with,” said Todd Rosenbluth, director of mutual fund research at SP
Capital IQ.
The fund invests at least 80 per cent of its assets in firms that provide
day-to-day services such as payment processing and web hosting, rather
than looking for those with zooming growth, said Kyle Weaver, 38, who
has been lead portfolio manager of the fund since 2009.
The fund has largely kept the same investment approach since its
inception, he said.
“We’re looking for companies that have a high degree of recurring
revenue that aren’t very glamorous and operate in the background of our
lives instead of front and centre,” he said.
Instead of Apple and other big household names of the Nasdaq, Weaver
owns large positions in companies that few lay investors have heard of,
such as Vantiv Inc, a payments processing company, and data analytics
company Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Still, the size of the bets
the fund takes on companies may give investors pause, Rosenbluth said.
“This is a very concentrated fund and while it has companies like IBM
that people have heard of, it has a mixture of small and mid cap companies
that will fly below the radar for most investors,” he said.
The fund charges 83 cents per $100 invested, a level that Morningstar
considers below average.
Its top holdings are Visa Inc and Mastercard, both of which are up more
than 220 per cent over the last five years.
Together, the companies make up about 26 per cent of the fund’s assets.
Neither is the top holding in any other technology fund, according to
Morningstar data.
These “names we know but don’t always associate with technology”
have “been on a tear over the past three years,” said Jeff Tjornehoj, head of
Americas Research at Lipper. Outside of its bets on Visa and Mastercard,
the fund has profited more from its positions in medium and small-sized
companies than from the large companies it holds.
— Reuters
22
LEISURE
omandailyobserver
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
Online Editor’s Choice
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
CARTOONS
ADAM @ HOME
3 Restlessly waits for the belted part
(5)
8 Courtyard made exactly right at No.
10 (5)
10 Not forthcoming with the Tuesday
figures (5)
11 Being backward, she’ll lag (3)
12 Such varnish is soft, with a black
exterior (5)
13 Big Dawn maybe talks too much!
(7)
15 Rotten way to get a fathead tied in a
knot! (5)
18 River in Cyrenaica maybe (3)
19 Someone made a movie out of it (6)
21 Cake made with half raisins,
perhaps (7)
22 Skip back from Baltimore (4)
23 Curve you wouldn’t want to go
round! (4)
24 Not chilled, one observed (7)
26 A singular bandsman? (3,3)
29 Virginia North’s vehicle (3)
31 Plant wild trees elsewhere? (5)
32 Stock farmer who managed a star
(7)
34 Alloy serving a double purpose
round the air terminal (5)
35 Tricked by a possessive person? (3)
36 Joe goes back in the car for a smoke
(5)
37 Like a young colt or horse in Ely,
possibly (5)
38 What a heel did, being far from
upright? (5)
DOWN
1 Villain at the forefront with illicit
gain (5)
2 Angry, spiteful gossip about a strike,
maybe (7)
4 Eager to be a giant figure (4)
5 Where Fingal’s Cave needed a
workforce, note (6)
6 One getting paid for overheads? (5)
7 Copy a few figures (5)
9 From most angles, it looks brown
(3)
12 A Scot removing to Cremona? (7)
14 Good opposition (3)
16 Like an over-exercised dog? (5)
by Brian Basset
CALVIN AND HOBBES
by Bill Watterson
GARFIELD
by Jim Davis
STONE SOUP
16
17
19
20
21
23
24
25
27
28
30
32
33
CR O SSW O R D
ACROSS
17 Fine time to be touring central
Hendon! (5)
19 Hard-hearted competitor who’s just
turned up? (7)
20 Tom changes nothing right — but
wheels? (5)
21 Will he go a long way with a wry
smile? (5)
23 Seats for spare soccer players? (7)
24 The motherly kind? (6)
25 One opened up for a bit of a snack?
(3)
27 Ben’s tangled vines (5)
28 A gong that merely chinks (5)
30 A piece of cheese, perhaps, with
jam? (5)
32 It comes down, but some Spaniards
take it up! (4)
33 She’s in the ditch again (3)
3
8
10
11
12
EASY PUZZLE
ACROSS
Respond (5)
Muscular pain (5)
Regions (5)
Lip (3)
Liquid measure (5)
13
15
18
19
21
22
23
24
26
29
31
32
34
35
36
37
38
1
2
4
5
6
7
9
12
14
YESTERDAY’S CRYPTIC
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 9, A-llot-ment 10, P-aren’tage 12, Site (sight) 13, Rep-air 14, Confirm 15, Over-grown 17, Un-but-tons
18, Tasse-L-s 19, C-re-t-an 20, Mi-mi
(me me) 23, Miniskirt 25, Hands down
26, Nee-D(ecember) 27, Firmly 29,
Bounces 32, Make-shift 34, There-upon 35, Net-ball 36, Grants 37, Stir 38,
Abs-tin-ent 39, Monstrous.
DOWN: 1, Pas-sport 2, Clothes sense
3, Gene-rous 4, Strain 5, Apertu-re
6, Crack-brain 7, In-an-it-y 8, Permission 11, A-MiG-O 16, Grease 19,
C-ot (rev) 21, In occupation 22, Assum-e 23, Monumental 24, Initial-led
25, Hey (presto) 28, M-it-I-gat-e 29,
B-L-eating 30, S-undress 31, A-sia-tic
33, (bac)K-ites 34, Tra-U-m-a.
Unit of heat (7)
Sudden terror (5)
Peculiar (3)
Decrease (6)
Furniture item (7)
Pond (4)
Let it stand (4)
Majestically (7)
Yearned (6)
Shelter (3)
Sum (5)
Historical period (7)
Boring (5)
Vegetable (3)
Brimless cap (5)
Prophets (5)
Prise (5)
DOWN
Order (5)
Wicked (7)
Great Lake (4)
Floor covering (6)
Step (5)
Crazy (5)
Afflict (3)
Restricted (7)
Stroke (3)
YESTERDAY’S EASY SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 9, Volunteer 10, Pineapple
12, Ruin 13, Driver 14, Hotness 15,
Observant 17, Dolomites 18, Edibles
19, Sector 20, Kite 23, Reinstate 25,
Breakfast 26, Legs 27, Stingy 29,
Bewitch 32, Colleague 34, Restricts
35, Ancient 36, Loving 37, Flea 38,
Customers 39, Mistletoe.
DOWN: 1, Evermore 2, Plain sailing 3,
Retreats 4, Cravat 5, Sporadic 6, On the
loose 7, Ragtime 8, Persistent 11, Pleat
16, Relish 19, See 21, Inarticulate 22,
Skewer 23, Reluctance 24, Altogether
25, Boy 28, Needless 29, Business 30,
Hostages 31, Develop 33, Locks 34,
Revamp.
Hospitals
by Jan Eliot
Hospital. . . . . Board . . . . . . . Emergency
Royal . . . . . . . 24599000 . . . 24590491
Health Services Department
‘YO UR STARS ‘
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
Sumayil. . . . . . . 25350055 . . . . 25350022
Izki . . . . . . . . . . . 25340033 . . . . 25340033
IF IT’S YOUR
BIRTHDAY:
Hopefully you
will soon be
able to sign a
most favourable
contract for the
coming year.
Don’t waste
time in idle
speculation,
but face reality
and organise
your work
accordingly.
Your efforts will
be rewarded
towards the
end of the year
with a promising
lifestyle in the
future.
Eccentric (5)
US coins (5)
Entertained (7)
Upset (5)
Nobleman (5)
Track support (7)
Tell (6)
Limb (3)
Seeped (5)
Judge’s hammer (5)
Frighten (5)
Mature (4)
Born (3)
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
Bidiya . . . . . . . . 25483535 . . . . 25483535
Ibri . . . . . . . . . . . 25491011 . . . . 25491990
Saham . . . . . . . . 26854427 . . . . 26855148
Khasab . . . . . . . 26830187 . . . . 26830187
Dibba. . . . . . . . . 26836443 . . . . 26836443
Burkha. . . . . . . . 26828397 . . . . 26828397
Sinaw. . . . . . . . . 25474338
PISCES
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
LEO
February 20March 20
March 21April 20
April 21May 20
May 21June 21
June 22July 21
July 22August 21
You seem to frequently involve
yourself with people’s troubles.
Try not to take them too seriously
as they could cause you unnecessary strain and worry.
At a gathering of some rather sophisticated people you will delight
your hosts by rising to the occasion
and entertaining your friends with
your wit and repartee.
Apply your practical sense to
your partner’s ambitious plan
and combined with his or her
common sense you will soon
find a way of carrying it out.
After a few days of rest and relaxation the nervous tension you have
been feeling of late will soon give
way to a more tranquil and happier
frame of mind.
Once you have decided what
you want to achieve, it is as well
to co-operate with those who
are in a position to help you to get
there.
By concentrating very hard on
a
certain problem and then
leaving it alone for a short while, you
may get a whole new perspective on
it.
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
August 22September 22
September 23October 22
October 23November 21
November 22December 21
December 22January 20
January 21February 19
A weekend trip planned on the
spur of the moment can be more
successful than if you had planned
it long before. A change of scene
will make you forget your daily
worries.
This would be a very promising
time to encourage a friendship
with a person born under the sign
of CANCER. You will find many
common experiences and your
views are very similar.
Avoid futile arguments with a
somewhat vindictive person, who
might be tempted to put difficulties in your way if you better him
in a discussion.
An email from a friend outlining his intention to visit you
for a few days during next month
will cause you to rearrange your
plans.
Keep aloof from petty jalousies
and disputes at the office, and you
will not be wasting your time instead of attending to your work.
Out of a number of casual acquaintances you ought to be
able to select one or two who
would possibly be of a similar
disposition to you and become
good friends.
CLASSIFIEDS
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2 0 1 5
omandailyobserver
23
Situation Vacant
WE Al Mayar Co LLC
are seeking talented
experienced Sales
Executive for the
FMCG, Electrical and
Electronic Sales. The
interested persons
can send thire CV’s to
ultrasales@almayarllc.
com and pnoman@
gmail.com.
FILIPINA Housemaid,
with release required
for a family in Medinat
Al Alam. 24704994,
99238012.
·····
REQUIRED Public
‡Žƒ–‹‘ˆϐ‹…‡” with
7 years experience.
95955041.
REQUIRED Salesman
ˆ‘”‘‹Žϐ‹‡Ž†•
company, must
have experience on
‘‹Žϐ‹‡Ž†•ƒ††”‹˜‹‰
licence. Contact:
alkhatwa2009@
hotmail.com
·····
·····
WANTED Sales
Manager, for a leading
Interior Fitout and
Furniture Supply
Company in Oman.
Experience: 7+ years,
preferably in Oman.
Salary: negotiable.
Preference for Omani
nationals. Interested
candidates may
please forward their
resume to e-mail id:
recruitment.hr73@
gamil.com
SYRIAN Mashavi
Cook and Moroccan
Lady Cook for Qurum
Beach Hotel.
24704994 or
99238012.
·····
REQUIRED family
driver with valid
Omani driving licence.
Accommodation
will be provided.
92230282.
·····
·····
·····
Situation Vacant
WANTED: 1. A/C
Mechanic; 2.
Electrician plumber;
3. Computer
headwear Tec. Contact
No. 99447257/
97014234 mansur75@
hotmail.co.uk.
·····
WE need HSE personal,
Salesman and
Electrical Supervisor
with Omani Driving
licence. Apply to:
grandmuscat@yahoo.
com Contact No:
00968 95714746.
·····
REQUIRED Salesman
cum Hardware
Engineer for
Computer Shop at
Ruwi with minimum
2 years experience.
E-mail: strns1@gmail.
com 98825805/
98825806.
·····
For Sale
Services
INDUSTRIAL area
land in Rusayil, 5,000
Sq.mt and building
with 8 shops. Contact
95490842,
92702891.
·····
1. HOOPOE SMART
CARD SERVICES
2. AL FAHAD
TRANSLATION
SERVICES
STOP!!!
Good News to all our
dear customers: Our
PRO will visit your
‘ˆϐ‹…‡ȀŠ‘—•‡–‘…‘ŽŽ‡…–
documents for typing or
clearing and will deliver
the same on completion.
Our services include
typing all forms
related to Ministry of
Manpower, Immigration,
e.g., visas, renewal
of visas, all services
related to Ministry of
Commerce & Industry,
e.g., reservation of
commercial names,
amendment of activities
of the company and
all services related to
Royal Oman Police;
Cancellation of Visas at
the Muscat International
Airport for repatriation
of employees;
Directorate General
‘ˆ”ƒˆϐ‹…Ǣƒ†ƒ
Chamber of Commerce
& Industry.
Translation of legal
documents. Medical
reports, commercial
agency agreements,
literature, catalogues
(Languages: Arabic,
English, French, Spanish
& Italian)
Our Address: Ruwi,
Adjacent to Gulf
Transport Co. (GTC).
Telephones: 24793331
/24794286
GSM: 99231500
/96777170/ 95959838
Managed by: Salim
Khalfan al Hadi (33
years of experience in
management)
·····
3 BEDROOM house at
Betras Zanzibar RO
90,000. Contact
Owner: 99348943.
·····
SHOP for sale, Beauty
Salon Barka, near LuLu
Hypermarket Centre.
Contact: 97655500.
·····
A 400 sq m residential
commercial building
situated at the first line
of the public road in
Rawdat Samad Al
Shaan. The building is
within 300 m far from
the Imam Noor Al Din
Al Salmi. It houses a
100 sq m 3 outlets.
The remaining 300 sq
m plot is workers residence, a store and a
toilet. The premise is
at RO 55,000 plus 3
per cent commission.
99600909.
·····
USED portacabin (5
Nos) for sale.
Interested parties may
contact Mr Arif on
GSM No 99259157/
92332088 at NTS
Ghala Camp for
inspection. Sealed
offers should be
submitted on or before
17.03.2015.
·····
Tourism
ARE you looking for
a voyage with your
family on a legacyboat, including
buffet? Only with RO
15/-. For more
info@
alainaintourism.
com 92808636.
·····
Situation Wanted
PURCHASE
manager with 14
years experience
in construction
indusrty with valid
D/L & NOC. Contact:
92884811. E-mail:
bati.rajesh@gmail.
com
·····
INDIAN male, postgraduate, 20+ years
experience in
pagemaking/
proofreading/
production dept with
a publishing house
and with valid Omani
driving licence seeks
suitable placement.
NOC available.
98423154.
·····
CA India, CPA (Ausralia),
—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡††‹ƒƒŽ‡
with more than 20 years
experience in Senior
position (12 years in
Oman with valid D/L)
currently on visit,
seeks immediate and
suitable position in a
Dynamic Organisation.
93910095. E-mail:
Reji.Thomas07@gmail.
com.
·····
SMART professional
“—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘ǡ‰Ž‹•Šǡ
11 years Oman
experience in Admin,
operations, Management,
communication,
commercial. Immediately
available, NOC.
98179887.
·····
RESTAURANT/ Catering
- manager - operations
with 21 years experience
out of which 2 years in
Saudi, is available on
visit.98894682.
·····
INDIAN male, having
heavy vehicle driving
licence, 3 years Gulf
experience, looking
for suitable post.
99651214.
·····
INDIAN male, 29
years, Civil Engineer,
diploma holder, 4 years
experience in Oman, 2
years in road division,
looking for placement.
NOC available.
93298395.
·····
CIVIL Engineer, BTech
with 3 years experience,
looking for suitable
placement, on visit visa.
Contact: 98545520.
e-mail: furkanazeem20@
gmail.com
·····
Situation Wanted
INDIAN male — Civil
Engineer — 12+ years
Gulf experience in high
rise building and land
development. MS
Project, Primavera P6,
ˆϐ‹…‡•‹ŽŽǡ
available. Living in
Salalah 94093300,
93884335. E-mail:
asuresh84_2007@
yahoo.com
·····
Situation Wanted
HOUSEMAID with 15
years experience with
European family, seeks
suitable placement.
91216255.
·····
BE COMPUTER Engineer,
4+ years experience,
valid Omani driving
licence with NOC, seeks
suitable placement.
98097727.
CHARTERED Accountant
9 years experience in
Finance — consolidation
as per IFRS, Treasury,
Budget, Investments,
taxation, AP/AR.
Currently working in
Sr Finance position in
Oman. Joining immediate.
NOC available. Contact:
95489269, prds1406@
gmail.com
·····
YOUNG Indian male,
MBA, around 5 years
experience in a
reputed multi national
company as Branch
Head. Well experienced
in management &
coordination. Looking
for suitable position in
Suwaiq & Sohar area.
92700670. E-mail:
[email protected]
·····
IT Professional, 25, Sri
Lankan, BTech- Final,
MCTS, MCP, CCNA,
LINUX having 4 years
experience including
MNC, looking for suitable
position. (Visit visa).
Contact: 93354526,
e-mail: jamsith.pc@gmail.
com
·····
·····
ELECTRICAL Engineer
Sudanese, with 9
years experience and
UAE driving licence.
94429749.
·····
5 YEARS experienced
Civil Site Engineer seeks
suitable placement.
98758539.
·····
INDIAN male 26 years,
MBA - Finance &
Marketing, BCom with
Tally, 2 years experience , currently working in Oman. Contact:
94282980. e-mail:
shirasvelliyath@gmail.
com
·····
SITE Engineer (Civil),
more than 6 years experience with valid Omani
licence, seeks suitable
placement. 95154081.
·····
AN Iraqi electrical engineer, long experience in
construction works and
factory maintenance getting electrical works and
driving licences looking
for suitable replacement.
Contact: 98959043
·····
ARABIC/English
ϐŽ—‡–‡…Šƒ‹…ƒŽ
Engineer, MBA, PMP,
8 years experience,
ͷ›”•‹’”‘Œ‡…–ϐ‹‡Ž†
(management and
supervision), familiar
with Primavera P6.
Contact:
94687010,
e-mail: abdelgader1982@
gmail.com
·····
Lost
MOHAMMED Hafiz Abu
Teeb has lost
Bangladeshi passport
No E-1588540. Finder
please handover to
ROP.
·····
MD Sayed Ahamed
Uzzal has lost
Bangladeshi passport
No AE9953477. Finder
please handover to
ROP.
·····
For Sale/Rent
ȍ͵
VILLAS for sale/
rents Ȁ
),
ȋŠ‘’•Ȁ‘ˆϐ‹…‡•ˆ‘”
rent/ Al Khuwair)
(Flats for rent/
Wadi Kabir).
96596348.
·····
Services
MAITENANCE: 1. A/C
Maintenance & Servicing;
2. Fridge, Washing
Machine & Dish washer
repairing; 3. Painting
& cleaning services; 4.
Electrical & Plumbing
Carpentry work.
Contact: 99447257,
97014234, 24504281.
·····
Rent a Car
AHAD 2000 for rent car.
93203481, 93204595.
·····
Guest House
QURUM BEACH
HOTEL24564070.
·····
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.
·····
Ȉ
Ȉ
Ȉ
Ȉ
Ȉ
Ȉ
ƒ”•ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡
‘””‡–
‘„ƒ’’Ž‹…ƒ–‹‘
Šƒ”‹‰”‡•‹†‡…‡
”ƒ•’‘”–…ƒ”•
‡ƒŽ•–ƒ–‡ȋ•ƒŽ‡Ǧ
”‡–Ǧ‹˜‡•–‡–•
Ȉ ƒŒŒƒ†”ƒ
Ȉ •‡†ˆ—”‹–—”‡ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡
Ȉ ƒ—…Š…‡”‡‘‹‡•‘ˆȋ”‡•–ƒ—”ƒ–•Ǧ
•Š‘’•Ǧ…Ž‹‹…•Ȍ
Ȉ ‘„ƒ†•
Ȉ ‡ƒ…Š‹‰†”‹˜‹‰
Ȉ ‘—•‡•…Ž‡ƒ‹‰Ǧ•‡”˜‹…‡•ƒ†’‡•–
…‘–”‘Ž
For information, please call:
99841230-95919344
92721879 - 99639264
Tel: 24649597, Fax: 24649590
BankMuscat account: 0397003776610011
Bank Dhofar account: 01040141195001
E-mail: [email protected]
WEDNESDAY l MARCH 11, 2015 l JUMADA AL ULA 20, 1436 AH
[email protected]
www.omanobserver.om
RENT A CAR
z Low Rates
z Wide Range of Cars
z Excellent Service
Contact:
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RENTING & LEASING
Tours and Airport Transfer
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WEDNESDAY | MARCH 11, 2015 | JUMADA AL ULA 20, 1436 AH
Bailey wouldn’t
swap Starc for
Steyn or Morkel
BEST
QUOTE
We always believed in
him. But the final step
that needs to be taken is
from the individual and I
felt he prepared well for
these ODIs, and it
obviously takes
time.
— MAHENDRA
SINGH
DHONI,
INDIAN
CAPTAIN,
ON SHIKHAR
DHAWAN’S
MATCH-WINNING
HUNDRED
AGAINST
IRELAND IN
HAMILTON.
BEST BATTING
100
Shikhar Dhawan
for India against
Ireland.
BEST BOWLING
3-41
Mohammad
Shami
India’s Shikhar Dhawan celebrates his century (100
runs) during the Pool B match between India and
Ireland at Seddon Park in Hamilton. — AFP
DHAWAN HITS HUNDRED
AS INDIA CRUSH IRELAND
HAMILTON, New Zealand:
Shikhar Dhawan hit an aggressive
century as defending champions
India recorded their fifth victory
in a row at the World Cup with a
thumping eight-wicket win over
Ireland in Hamilton on Tuesday.
Chasing a modest 260-run
target, Dhawan notched his
second century of the tournament
with an 85-ball 100 as India
lost only two wickets in only
36.5 overs on a batting-friendly
Seddon Park pitch.
This latest victory meant India,
yet to lose at this World Cup and
already into the quarter-finals,
were guaranteed to finish on
top of Pool B ahead of their last
group game against Zimbabwe in
Auckland on Saturday.
Ireland, meanwhile, will likely
need a win against Pakistan in
their last Pool match in Adelaide
on Sunday to reach the last eight.
“We have put in a lot of yards
in the last few weeks. It is all about
being fresh for Pakistan. If you
can’t get up for these games you
won’t be up for any,” said Ireland
captain William Porterfield.
Pakistan, Ireland and South
Africa, who all have six points
in five matches, will vie with the
West Indies (four points) for the
three remaining quarterfinal
spots on offer from Pool B. “Our
bowlers are really doing the job
for us, they’ve stepped up — not
just the three fast bowlers, the
spinners are complimenting them
and when we’ve used part-timers
they’ve done well,” said India
skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Ireland’s Niall O’Brien scored
a run-a-ball 75 while Porterfield
made a solid 93-ball 67 in Ireland’s
259 all out in 49 overs.
India proved their strength in
batting yet again as Dhawan and
Rohit Sharma (64) put on their
team’s best World Cup opening
stand of 174 against a struggling
Irish attack.
Dhawan, who stroked 137
in the win over South Africa,
completed his eighth one-day
international hundred with a
single off Kevin O’Brien to square
leg. He reached three figures off
just 84 balls. But one ball later
Dhawan fell to a loose shot off
Stuart Thompson. In all, Dhawan
hit 11 fours and five sixes.
Rohit was dismissed when
he played on to Thompson after
hitting three sixes and as many
boundaries off 66 deliveries.
India’s previous best opening
stand in a World Cup was the 163
shared by batting great Sachin
Tendulkar and Ajay Jadeja against
Kenya at Cuttack in 1996.
Virat Kohli (44 not out) and
Ajinkya Rahane (33 not out)
wrapped up the chase with a 70run unbeaten stand for the third
wicket to give Dhoni his ninth
straight win in the World Cup, a
run that started with the team’s
march to the 2011 title on home
soil.
Australia’s Ricky Ponting holds
the record for the most consecutive
World Cup wins as captain with
24, while Dhoni and Clive Lloyd
have nine apiece. — AFP
SCOREBOARD
IRELAND
Porterfield c U Yadav b M Sharma 67
P Stirling c Rahane b Ashwin ........ 42
E Joyce b Raina ............................... 2
N O’Brien c U Yadav b Shami ........ 75
A Balbirnie c Shami b Ashwin ....... 24
K O’Brien c Dhoni b Shami ............. 1
G Wilson c Rahane b Jadeja ........... 6
S Thompson (run out) ..................... 2
J Mooney (not out) ....................... 12
G Dockrell c Dhoni b U Yadav.......... 6
A Cusack c U Yadav b Shami.......... 11
Extras (LB-2, W-9) ........................ 11
Total (all out, 49 overs) ........ 259
Fall of wickets: 1-89, 2-92, 3-145,
4-206, 5-208, 6-222, 7-226, 8-227,
9-238
Bowling: U Yadav 4-0-34-1, M Shami
9-0-41-3, M Sharma 6-0-38-1, R
Jadeja 7-0-45-1, R Ashwin 10-1-38-2,
S Raina 10-0-40-1, R Sharma 3-0-21-0
INDIA
R Sharma b Thompson ................. 64
Shikhar Dhawan c Porterfield b
Thompson................................... 100
V Kohli (not out)............................ 44
A Rahane (not out) ........................ 33
Extras (B-4, LB-2, W-13) ............... 19
Total (for 2 wkts, 36.5 overs) 260
Fall of wickets: 1-174, 2-190
Bowling: J Mooney 6-0-44-0, A
Cusack 8-0-43-0, S Thompson 6-0-452, G Dockrell 5-0-44-0, P Stirling 5-036-0, K O’Brien 6.5-0-42-0
HOBART, Australia: Dale Steyn? Morne Morkel?
Well as far as George Bailey is concerned, right now
Australia’s Mitchell Starc is more feared than either
of the South Africa quicks.
Bailey, previously Australia’s one-day captain, has
largely been reduced to the role of a spectator at this
World Cup, with his only appearance coming in the
team’s tournament opener against England before
he was eased aside to let fit-again skipper Michael
Clarke return to the team.
But he has been on hand while left-arm fast
bowler Starc has taken 12 wickets at a miserly
average of just over 10 apiece in four matches at the
World Cup.
Only the New Zealand pair of Trent Boult and
Tim Southee have taken more wickets (13 each) and
they’ve both played one match more than Starc.
Meanwhile Morkel has 11 wickets for the
tournament and Steyn, surprisingly for a bowler of
his class, a mere eight so far.
“I would say he’s more feared,” Bailey said on
Tuesday when asked if Starc was now in the same
bracket as Steyn and Morkel.
“He’s got some really specific skills at the death
that very few guys in the world are able to produce.
“That would be weighing on teams’ minds,” he
added, with Starc’s stunning six for 28 against New
Zealand almost setting up an improbable victory
before Australia lost by one wicket in Auckland.
Bailey added that the 25-year-old Starc, together
with the likes of fellow pacemen James Faulkner and
Pat Cummins had the ability to staunch the flow of
runs when sides were looking to ‘launch’ in the final
15 overs.
“Teams have basically been trying to get through
to that batting power play, about the 35th over,
with as many wickets in hand as they can, and then
launch,” he said.
“As a bowling team the best way to negate that is
to try and get a team five or six down by the time you
get to that 35th over mark and it makes it really hard
for the batting team to know when to launch.”
— AFP
Australia’s captain Michael Clarke (left) is
congratulated by team mate Mitchell Starc for
running out Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene during
their Pool B match in Sydney. — Reuters
Disappointed Ireland rue lack of exposure after defeat
HAMILTON, New Zealand: Skipper
William Porterfield believes a lack
of exposure against the bigger teams
was hurting Ireland after they lost by
eight wickets to defending World Cup
champions India in Hamilton.
The defeat leaves Ireland possibly
needing to beat Pakistan in Adelaide
on Sunday to make the last-eight while
India ensured top spot in Pool B after a
fifth successive win.
“I think exposure is a big thing,” said
Porterfield, after his team’s second defeat
with the first at the tournament coming
against South Africa.
“You probably heard me say it a
thousand times, we’ve played nine
ODIs against the top eight of the top ten
teams in the last four years in between
World Cups, which is not a lot when you
consider a lot of countries are playing 25,
30 plus a year.
“So that’s disappointing from our
point of view to not get that experience
and get those games under our belts,”
said Porterfield, whose team shocked the
West Indies in their opening game.
Indian bowlers led by paceman
Mohammad Shami (3-41) and spinner
Ravichandran Ashwin (2-38) pegged
back Ireland, who won the toss and
batted, after a solid start of 89.
“I think the skill factor is also there.
You have to give a bit of credit to Ashwin.
We lost a couple of quick wickets and
that slowed us down slightly.
Ireland’s Niall
O’Brien plays a shot
against India
watched by MS
Dhoni during their
Pool B match in
Hamilton. — Reuters
“Every time we started to pick up a
bit of momentum we managed to lose a
wicket which kept us back from kicking
on to what would have been a competitive
total and that is disappointing.”
Ireland lost their last seven wickets for
just 53 runs after being well set at 206-3.
That included the wickets of Porterfield
on 67 and Niall O’Brien’s run-a-ball 75.
In reply, Indian openers Shikhar
Dhawan notched an 85-ball 100 and
Rohit Sharma a 66-ball 64 during a 174run opening stand — India’s best in all
World Cups.
Porterfield admitted Ireland did not
have the bowling attack to cut through
the world’s best line-ups.
“Look, we don’t have the lads at the
minute coming in bowling 90mph
(135km/h), which a lot of sides do.”
Porterfield backed out of form allrounder Kevin O’Brien, who was out for
one. O’Brien hit the fastest World Cup
century off just 50 balls in 2011 against
England but has struggled with bat and
ball this time round.
“I think he’s shown glimpses in the
tournament. He came in and got 50 out
of 20 balls early on in the competition,
and he got a quick 20 the other night.
He only faced two, three balls today, and
that can happen.
“With the ball, we’re playing on a flat
pitch so you haven’t got much margin
for error. Tonight I don’t think he was
too far off what he can do.” — AFP
W E D N E S DAY M A R C H 1 1 l 2 0 1 5
26
iN BRIEFS
FEBRUARY 14 TO MARCH 29
AUSTRALIA &
NEW ZEALAND
Injury-hit Sri Lanka seek Scottish balm
SET FOR THIRD SPOT: The Islanders will likely take third place in Pool A if they beat the Scots
Scotland prepare for
Malinga at nets
Hobbling Mortaza
inspires Bangladesh’s
World Cup dream
ADELAIDE, Australia: He is barely
able to run without a grimace, wears
a brace to hold up his creaking knees
and walks gingerly between overs, but
Mashrafe Mortaza refuses to give up on
Bangladesh at the World Cup
The 31-year-old captain and pace
spearhead has led from the front as
the Tigers celebrated their greatest
World Cup moment — a place in
the quarterfinals for the first time
after Monday night’s 15-run win over
England in Adelaide. The only other time
Bangladesh went beyond the first round
was in 2007 in the Caribbean, but that
was into the round-robin Super Eights
following a remarkable win over India in
the league stage.
It will probably be defending
champions India again that Bangladesh
meet in the quarterfinal at the gigantic
Melbourne Cricket Ground on March
19, and Mortaza will eagerly await the
challenge ahead.
Mortaza has missed more matches
than he has played due to various leg,
knee and ankle injuries. At the last count,
he has been sidelined 11 times due to
injuries and undergone surgery seven
times over the last decade. “You have to
bear the pain if you want to perform for
your country,” said Mortaza. “But the pain
goes away when you do well and the
team wins...like against England.” — AFP
Dhoni hails
rejuvenated
Dhawan
HAMILTON, New Zealand: India
captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni
saluted Shikhar Dhawan’s return
to form after the opener smashed
his second World Cup hundred in
Tuesday’s eight-wicket win over
Ireland.
Dhawan hit an 85-ball 100 with
five sixes and 11 boundaries to
anchor India’s 260-run chase in 36.5
overs at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
Dhawan, who also smashed 137
in the win over South Africa, had
suffered a wretched bout of form at
the tri-nations series leading up to
the World Cup, scoring just two, one,
eight and 38. “It is important to back
your players,” said Dhoni.
“We try to do it and I felt that
though he had a tough series, I felt
we had put a lot of effort into him.
“We always believed in him. But
the final step that needs to be taken
is from the individual, and I felt he
prepared well for these ODIs, and it
obviously takes time.”
Dhoni said Dhawan was
capitalising on his good starts in the
five World Cup matches where the
defending champions have barely
broken sweat.
“Overall the difference I’ve seen in
his batting is once he gets a start he
sees it as an opportunity to turn that
start into a big innings, and right from
the first game that’s what he’s done.
“He’s not someone who is happy
getting a 50. He knows that the team
needs him to score big runs. So once
he gets to his 50, he hits the next
milestone which is a hundred.”
Dhoni stressed all of his
players need to contribute at the
tournament. “I think the crucial part
is for everybody to score runs to get
wickets and to bowl well.
Dhoni also praised key off-spinner
Ravichandran Ashwin who took 2-38
to check Ireland’s progress. “Ashwin
is someone who I always love to
have, the reason being I always push
him to bowl in the power plays and
even have used him whenever I’m
in difficult situations. So he is really
confident about his bowling.” — AFP
Sri Lanka players warm
up during a training
session at the Bellerive
Oval in Hobart. — AFP
HOBART, Australia: Sri Lanka will
look to tie up some loose ends ahead
of the World Cup quarterfinals when
the former champions take on winless
minnows Scotland in their last group
match in Hobart on Wednesday.
The Islanders, who have won three
of their five matches, will likely take
third place in Pool A behind co-hosts
New Zealand and Australia should
they win at the at the Bellerive Oval.
Angelo Mathews’ side return to
action just three days after going
down to Australia by 64 runs in
Sydney despite a heroic run chase
led by remarkable veteran Kumar
Sangakkara.
The
37-year-old
left-hander
smashed 104 to become the only
batsman to score three successive
centuries in a World Cup and is the
leading run-scorer in this edition with
372 runs at an average of 124.
Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, 38,
is fifth in the list with 291 runs, but
former skipper Mahela Jayawardene’s
lean patch on either side of a matchwinning century against Afghanistan
will be worrying.
Jayawardene, 37, fell for zero in
the tournament opener against New
Zealand, did not get to bat against
Bangladesh and England, before being
run out for 19 against Australia.
Sri Lanka will need the three senior
pros to fire if they are to repeat their
1996 triumph after losing the last two
World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011.
The batsmen have so far made up
for a wayward bowling attack which
has leaked runs in the final overs to
allow rivals to plunder big totals.
New Zealand took 134 runs from
Sri Lanka, who have already
seen Jeevan Mendis
and batsman Dimuth
Karunaratne depart from
the tournament due to
injuries, suffered another
blow when Dinesh
Chandimal was ruled out
with a hamstring injury
the last 14 overs, England garnered
148 from 15 and Australia smashed
200 in the last 16 overs.
“We have got to improve our
bowling and fielding,” said Mathews.
“If we can keep the opposition to 300,
we can chase it down.”
Sri Lanka, who have already
seen all-rounder Jeevan Mendis and
batsman Dimuth Karunaratne depart
from the tournament due to injuries,
suffered another blow on Tuesday
when Dinesh Chandimal was ruled
out with a hamstring injury.
Chandimal retired hurt after
making a 24-ball 52 against Australia
and has been replaced by left-hand
batsman Kusal Perera, who has played
41 one-day internationals and scored
839 runs with one century.
With a week to go before the
quarterfinals, Sri Lanka may look to
rest tired limbs and test their bench
strength against Scotland, who are
lying at the bottom of the group with
five defeats from as many matches.
Sri Lanka have played the nonTest side just once in a one-day
international, winning easily by 183
runs in Edinburgh in July 2011, and
another one-sided game appears
likely. Statistics reveal the wide gulf
between the two sides.
The combined ODI appearance
total of the entire Scotland squad
is 332 — 114 fewer matches than
Jayawardene’s 446 ODIS, 70 below
Sangakkara’s 402 and just 20 more
than Dilshan’s 312.
Scotland have yet to win a match
in three World Cups, and with
the International Cricket Council
planning to reduce the number of
teams involved from 14 to 10 in 2019,
Wednesday’s fixture could be their last
in the showpiece event. — AFP
HOBART, Australia: Scotland hope
to tackle Sri Lanka’s sling-arm fast
bowler Lasith Malinga in the World
Cup on Wednesday by practising with
Paul Collingwood’s throwdowns at
the nets, according to captain Preston
Mommsen.
Former England all-rounder
Collingwood, who is working with the
non-Test side at the tournament, gave
the Scottish batsmen a taste of what to
expect by simulating Malinga’s unique
action at training.
“We’ve got Colly with us who has
played a lot of cricket against Malinga,”
Mommsen said ahead of the Pool A
fixture at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval.
“He has worked out his action and
throws to us at the nets as if Malinga
was bowling.
“So that way we have been able to
simulate Malinga’s action. Obviously,
it’s something different and something
that we’ve done some fair preparation
on, but we’re expecting to take our
time against him.”
The match holds only academic
interest as Sri Lanka have already
qualified for the quarter-finals and
Scotland are out of the race after losing
their first four matches.
But Mommsen said the team was
excited at the two upcoming games
in Hobart — against Sri Lanka on
Wednesday and Australia on Saturday
— which gives them a chance to play
against established Test nations.
“We don’t get the opportunity to
play against Full Members (of the
International Cricket Council) very
often, so to have two in the space of a
few days is something very exciting for
all of us,” he said.
“Obviously, results-wise it has
not been the most perfect World
Cup for us, but we’ve got two great
opportunities and that’s the way we’re
looking at it.”
Scotland have yet to win a World
Cup match, with this the third edition
in which they’ve competed, but
Mommsen said lack of experience
against top teams had proved to be a
handicap.
“We had a definite goal of winning
at least one game in this World Cup,
but this is something we have not yet
been able to do,” he said. — AFP
Sri Lanka’s Seekkuge Prasanna (left) and Lasith Malinga
(centre) watched by teammate Thisara Perera plays football
during a training session. — AFP
WORLD CUP STANDINGS
STANDINGS (PLAYED, WON, LOST, TIED, N/R, POINTS, RUN RATE)
POOL A
New Zealand
Australia
Bangladesh
Sri Lanka
England
Afghanistan
Scotland
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
3
3
3
1
1
0
0
1
1
2
4
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
10 +3.090 - Q
7 +1.597 - Q
7 +0.211 - Q
6 -0.151 - Q
2 -1.001
2 -1.881
0 -1.423
POOL B
India
South Africa
Pakistan
Ireland
West Indies
Zimbabwe
UAE
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
3
3
3
2
1
0
0
2
2
2
3
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10 +2.157 - Q
6 +1.462
6 -0.194
6 -1.014
4 -0.511
2 -0.595
0 -1.691
NOTE: Top four in each group qualify for quarterfinals. ‘Q’ for qualified
Bashir, who has become a friend of India ‘super fan’ Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary, is a huge admirer of Sachin Tendulkar
Swami Army sweeps up Pakistani recruit
HAMILTON, New Zealand: Three
heart attacks haven’t stopped Pakistan
cricket fan Mohammad Bashir from
following his team around the world.
And if they are not in action, the
Chicago-based Bashir, 62, is more than
happy to watch arch-rivals India.
The proof came in the usually sedate
surroundings of Hamilton’s Seddon
Park, transformed into a riot of colour
and noise by India’s Swami Army of
supporters for the reigning champions
World Cup Pool B match against Ireland
on Tuesday.
Bashir, who has become a friend
of India ‘super fan’ Sudhir Kumar
Chaudhary, is a huge admirer of India
batting great Sachin Tendulkar. “I love
you Dhoni,” shouted Bashir.” Dhoni is
my heart and I hope his team reached
the final and play against Pakistan.”
Bashir said he had no problems
supporting India when not watching a
Pakistan match.
“My wife Rafia is from Hyderabad
Irish fans and Pakistan fan supporting India, Mohammad Bashir (centre), along with
Indian ‘super fan’ Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary during the match between India and
Ireland in Hamilton.
— Reuters
Deccan, India. I love Dhoni. He is my teams (India and Pakistan) when they
hero.”
play the final.”
“I have joined Indian supporters for
Chaudhary, wearing a number ten
this match and hope I support both the shirt in honour of Tendulkar, said he
was excited to be in New Zealand. “It’s
a wonderful country blessed with nature
and I am enjoying the tour with India
looking so solid in their title defence,”
said Chaudhary, who has reportedly
cycled over 15,000 miles to watch
India play at various cities at home,
Bangladesh and Lahore in Pakistan.
Wearing their team’s blue kit and
holding the tri-colour national flag, the
Swami Army were out in force.
The green, orange and white flags
flew in large parts of the stadium, while
fans were also displaying “won’t give it
back” placards, referring to the World
Cup trophy which India won on home
soil four years ago.
Some people brought traditional
Dhol drums, banging them to the
screams of “Jeetay ga bhai jeetay ga,
India jeetay ga (India will win) from the
stands in a festive atmosphere.
“I have brought a group of around
550 fans from various parts of India and
its a two-in-one pack for me as I earn as
well as watch the match on tour,” said
Manas Kolay, who had travelled from
the holiday resort of Goa.
Arun Goyal lives in Hamilton and
any cricket match involving India brings
back memories of his native country.
“I come to watch this match to
remember India,” said Goyal, born and
brought up in Mumbai.
It’s an atmosphere which reminds me
of the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
“I miss my country but for the last
two days I am hosting some friends
from Mumbai and cricket has given me
some relief.”
A handful of Irish fans were also
at Seddon Park, cheering on the nonTest side, who still have a shot at the
quarterfinals but were not expected
to beat India. But don’t tell that to
Ireland supporter Anthea Graham. “I
am following Ireland from Nelson to
Hamilton,” she said.”My team is the best
in the world and they will beat India to
go into the quarterfinals.” — AFP
SPORT
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
27
SERIE A: Juventus’ 18th win of the campaign took their lead over misfiring Roma to 11 points with 12 games remaining in the season
Pogba strike sends Juventus 11 points clear
MILAN: French midfielder Paul Pogba
struck late as Serie A leaders Juventus
boosted their bid for a fourth consecutive
title with a 1-0 win over Sassuolo that
stretched their their lead over Roma to
11 points on Monday.
Juventus looked to be heading
for their first scoreless draw at home
this season after being frustrated by
Sassuolo’s defensive tactics throughout
an intense encounter in Turin.
But Pogba saved the Italian
champions’ blushes in the 82nd minute
when he latched on to Simone Pepe’s
perfect delivery to beat Andrea Consigli
with a dipping half-volley inside the
‘keeper’s near post.
Juve’s 18th win of the campaign took
their lead over misfiring Roma to 11
points with 12 games remaining.
But Pogba was quick to play down his
role, telling Sky Sport: “I don’t feel like
the one who’s decided the title. We won
a difficult game that is important for our
title chances.”
Roma, who suffered their eighth draw
in nine games in Sunday’s stalemate at
Chievo, now look out of the title race
and with Lazio and Napoli only four
points adrift, they will be concerned
about their chances of holding on to the
league’s second automatic Champions
League spot.
But Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri
said nothing is won yet, telling Sky
Sport: “Things are purring along but
there there are still plenty of games to
play.
“Winning the title is our main
objective this season and the Champions
League is a dream.”
Allegri left Spaniard Fernando
Juventus’ midfielder from France Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match at “Juventus Stadium” in Turin. — AFP
Llorente on the bench with Alvaro
Morata partnering Carlos Tevez up
front.
But both strikers were frustrated
throughout as Sassuolo’s defence, and
‘keeper Consigli battled to keep a clean headed over the bar from a corner, the
Argentinian saw a long-range snap shot
sheet.
Tevez fired just over from Morata’s punched out by Consigli.
UNSTOPPABLE
cutback amid a crowd of players on
Pogba came close minutes after the
21 minutes and after Giorgio Chiellini
Wenger thrilled as Welbeck proves point
MANCHESTER,
UNITED
KINGDOM: Arsenal manager Arsene
Wenger said that Danny Welbeck had
been motivated by a desire to prove
Manchester United wrong after he
knocked his former club out of the FA
Cup.
A Manchester-born United academy
graduate, England striker Welbeck
left for Arsenal in a £16 million ($24.2
million, 22.3 million euros) deal last
September after falling out of favour
under new manager Louis van Gaal.
The Dutchman claimed Welbeck was
not good enough to hold down a starting
place at Old Trafford, but his words
returned to haunt him as the 24-yearold earned holders Arsenal a 2-1 win on
Monday that set up a semi-final meeting
with either Reading or Bradford City.
“We want all to do well when we play
against our former club to show that
we are a great player, but it’s not easy
to deal with the mental situation of it,”
said Wenger, whose side had not won at
United since September 2006.
“But he focused just on his game and
didn’t do anything special, just played
football like you want him to play. I
think he has shown mental strength,
because it’s not always easy to deal with
that.”
Wenger added: “He wants to win. He
is a team player. What I like with Danny
is he’s intelligent, he wants to do well for
the team, he’s a great talent and recently
‘We want all to do well when
we play against our former
club to show that we are
a great player, but it’s not
easy to deal with the mental
situation of it’
FA CUP
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger leaves at the end of the first half during the FA
Cup quarterfinal at Old Trafford in Manchester.
— AFP
has done extremely well for the national
team.”
Welbeck was moved on at United
partly to accommodate Radamel Falcao,
who signed from Monaco in a reported
£6 million loan deal with a view to a
£43.5 million transfer.
The Colombia star has failed to
impress in Manchester, scoring only four
goals in 20 appearances, and Van Gaal
offered an unconvincing justification
of his motives for bringing him in at
Welbeck’s expense.
When it was put to him that Falcao
was struggling, he told a journalist: “He
has scored four goals and has three or
four assists, so that is his contribution.
He stimulates also the other players, so
that is an aspect of the profession.
“But it is now easy for you to say that.
You are very happy to say that. I see that
in your face.”
DI MARIA ‘NOT SMART’
To the suggestion that four goals was
a meagre return for a world-renowned
striker, Van Gaal replied: “I cannot
change that. I cannot change facts and
you know that, but you can continue
(asking).”
Welbeck’s 61st-minute goal saw him
seize on a back-pass from Antonio
Valencia before rounding David de
Gea to score, and he celebrated by
clenching his fists in an apparent show
of vindication.
It came after Nacho Monreal’s 26thminute opener had been cancelled out
by a flying header from United captain
Wayne Rooney.
Angel di Maria provided the assist
for Rooney’s goal, but the Argentine’s
night ended in disgrace as he was
booked for diving and then sent off
after tugging referee Michael Olivier’s
shirt in protest. — AFP
restart when he pounced on a poor
clearance to slam a daisycutter towards
goal that Consigli had covered at his
near post.
Tevez then drilled in from the left
ASIAN
side of the area but saw his effort palmed
away by Consigli as Juve upped the
pressure.
Allegri replaced Roberto Pereyra
with Pepe and Llorente came on for
Morata just after the hour, yet it was
Leonardo Bonucci who next threatened
with a dipping, long-range effort that
went just wide of the post.
Just as the match looked to be
heading for a draw, a Juve counter-attack
saw Pepe find Pogba in space and the
Frenchman took a touch before hitting
an unstoppable winner.
Earlier, a late brace by Miroslav
Klose put the icing on the cake as Lazio
outclassed Fiorentina 4-0 to move into
third place level on points with Napoli.
Fiorentina travelled to the Stadio
Olimpico hoping to build on their 2-1
Italian Cup semi-final win over Juventus
in midweek when Egyptian forward
Mohamed Salah hit a brace.
But Lucas Biglia broke the deadlock
after just six minutes with a great volley
from a poor clearance, and Fiorentina
never recovered.
Antonio Candreva doubled Lazio’s
lead from the penalty spot on 65 minutes
and a late Klose double put the match
beyond reach.
Lazio coach Stefano Pioli said the
lure of qualification for Europe was the
spur.
“We have great players with great
qualities and they all contributed to this
win. We are all working hard to get Lazio
back into Europe,” he said.
Fiorentina coach Montella admitted:
“We came up against a side that’s in top
form at the end of what has been a tough
run of games for us.” — AFP
CUP
UAE promises new
stadium, more fans
SINGAPORE: The United Arab
Emirates promised a fitting spectacle
complete with a glittering new stadium
and plenty of fans on Tuesday after
winning hosting rights for the 2019
Asian Cup.
UAE Football Association chief
Yousuf Al Serkal told AFP the Gulf state
could host the regional showpiece “next
week” if it had to, but that it planned to
build a new venue in Dubai.
Games will be played in Dubai, Al
Ain, Abu Dhabi and possibly Sharjah,
in an event which comes just three years
before neighbouring Qatar hosts the
2022 World Cup. But Al Serkal said the
UAE, whose national team finished an
impressive third at this year’s Asian Cup
in Australia, had no plans to bid for a
World Cup of its own.
“Now that Qatar is hosting in 2022,
it will be a long period of time to rotate
and come back to this part of the world,”
he said in a phone interview.
“We will leave it to the coming
generation.”
UAE, chosen ahead of Iran by
the Asian Football Confederation’s
executive committee, has a tough task
in following Australia where the total
attendance soared to 650,000 and games
sold out in all five host cities.
But Al Serkal said UAE drew fans
in 1996, when it first hosted the Asian
Cup, and that it successfully held both
the 2003 U20 World Cup and the 2013
U17 World Cup. “We managed to fill
the stadiums on that occasion (1996),
I think we can do the same (again),” he
said. “It will not be a problem.”
He added: “If we needed to host
the competition starting next week we
could still host it successfully.
“The infrastructure is there, we have
enough stadiums, we have enough
facilities, training fields. Everything is
there.”
UAE’s GOT TALENT
The wealthy state also has some
of Asia’s most exciting young players
including dazzling midfielder Omar
Abdulrahman and Ali Mabkhout, the
Asian Cup’s top-scorer with five goals.
Free-flowing UAE beat Qatar and
Bahrain, and then ousted defending
champions Japan in the quarter-finals
before losing in the semis to eventual
winners Australia. — AFP
Mauresmo elected to Hall of Fame
NEWPORT,
United
States:
Former world number one Amelie
Mauresmo of France, Australian
wheelchair star David Hall and
industry leader Nancy Jeffert
were announced Monday as 2015
inductees into the International
Tennis Hall of Fame.
The trio will be enshrined July
18 during a ceremony at an ATP
grasscourt tournament outside the
Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode
Island, after receiving at least 75 per
cent support from a Hall selection
committee.
“Amelie and David were both
inspiring and highly accomplished
competitors on the professional
tours,” Hall of Fame president Stan
Smith said.
“Nancy’s commitment to tennis
has been integral to the growth of
the sport and will leave a permanent
positive impact on tennis for years
to come.
We look forward to celebrating
their many accomplishments.”
Mauresmo won the 2006
Wimbledon and Australian Open
titles, each time defeating Justine
Henin in the final.
She also made a remarkable run
to the 1999 Australian Open final as
an unseeded player, ousting world
number one Lindsay Davenport
and two other seeds on the way.
The 35-year-old Frenchwoman,
who spent 39 weeks on top of the
rankings, was the Olympic women’s
runner-up in 2004 at Athens.
She won 35 WTA titles and
went 545-227 for her career before
retiring in 2009.
Mauresmo is now a coach,
counting Britain’s Andy Murray
among her charges, and has helped
guide others, notably former world
number one Victoria Azarenka and
compatriot Marion Bartoli during
her run to the 2013 Wimbledon
title.
“I’m honoured and humbled
to be selected,” Mauresmo
said.”Tennis has been my passion
for as long as I can remember. I
extend my gratitude to the selection
committee for recognizing my
career in this way.
It’s an extraordinary honor
to have my career celebrated
alongside the greatest champions
of our sport, people who I have
admired so greatly all my life.”
Hall, a six-time Paralympic
medallist, is the fourth wheelchair
tennis player inducted into the Hall
of Fame and it follows his induction
earlier this year into his homeland’s
Hall of Fame.
Hall, 45, from Sydney, lost his
legs after being struck by a car at
age 16. He won Paralympic Games
singles and doubles gold medals
in 1996, 2000 and 2004. His career
singles record before retiring in
2006 was 632-111. — AFP
28
omandailyobserver
SPORT
Stag Racing field biggest team
ENDURANCE RACE: The team with eight drivers hopes to put up a good show
The 24-hour SWS Endurance Race will begin at the Oman Automobile Association karting track, Muscat Speedway, on Friday.
MUSCAT: Team Stag Racing, the
biggest team in the fray for the 24-hour
SWS Endurance Race, aims to put up a
good show when the event begins at the
Oman Automobile Association (OAA)
karting track, Muscat Speedway, on
Friday.
In fact, the presence of eight talented
drivers give the team management
plenty of options to try out for during
the toughest race that will conclude on
Saturday evening.
Mulham al Rawahi, a senior member,
said the team hopes to make amends to
its performance in the last edition of the
endurance race.
“Our aim is to make podium finish
this year. We will utilise the experience
we gained to achieve our goal. Last year,
we could manage a poor ninth place
finish. So we have decided to push hard,”
he said.
According to Mulham, his team
‘Our aim is to make podium finish this year. We will utilise
the experience we gained to achieve our goal. Last year,
we could manage a poor ninth place finish. So we have
decided to push hard’
has the services of both aggressive and
consistent drivers. “Five members of
the team will go faster during their turn
while the other three will do consistent
driving. It will help us put pressure on
the rivals,” he said.
Mulham believes that endurance race
is a tough test for the drivers who have
to stick to a strategy and avoid penalty
to make the podium finish.
“Despite our poor finish, we didn’t
collect any penalty last year. It was a
huge achievement in an endurance
competition. We hope to maintain the
record intact this year too,” he said.
The youngster said they will push
Sports world mourns
French sport trio
BERLIN: Tributes from athletes and
sports bodies from around the world
flooded in Tuesday mourning the deaths
of three former French elite athletes in a
mid-air helicopter collision in Argentina.
The sports world reached out to
various outlets to express their sorrow
upon hearing about the deaths of former
Olympic swimming champion Camille
Muffat, Olympic boxing medallist Alexis
Vastine and yachtswoman Florence
Arthaud.
The trio were in Argentina taking
part in a reality television show called
Dropped.
The
International
Olympic
Committee announced in a statement
that its Olympic flag would fly at
half-mast for three days at the IOC
headquarters to honour the “great
champions”.
“We are shocked by this sad news.
Our thoughts are with the families and
friends of these great athletes who have
left us,” the IOC said in a statement.
“With them, the world of sport and
the Olympic family have lost three of
their key members. They were all not
only champions in their sport but also
contributed greatly as role models.
Swimming’s ruling body Fina
tweeted: “To Muffat’s family and friends
and to the entire Aquatic community
in France, Fina expresses its deepest
condolences.”
The 25-year-old Muffat won three
medals at the London 2012 Olympics
including gold in the 400m freestyle.
The Nice native, who captured silver
in the 200m freestyle and bronze in the
4x200m freestyle relay, retired from
competitive swimming in 2014.
“It is with dismay that French
swimming learned of the death of
the Olympic swimming champion
Camille Muffat,” the French Swimming
Federation FFN said in an issued
statement. Britain’s Rebecca Adlington,
who lost to Muffat in the 400m final, paid
hard from the start. “It is important to
get a good start and maintain the lead.
We have devised a strategy that will keep
us in the forefront of the competition,”
he said.
MEDICAL TEAM READY
An expert team of doctors, nurses
and paramedics will take care of the
medical emergencies during the 24hour karting race.
“The medical team has been helping
us for quite some time and it will not be
different this time either,” said Suleiman
al Rawahi, Managing Director, OAA.
“We have seen that karting drivers
experience giddiness during the
Trust Oilfield
record thumping
win against MSE
OMAN CRICKET
Three French sports stars (from left)
champion sailor Florence Arthaud,
Olympic gold medallist swimmer
Camille Muffat, and Olympic boxer
Alexis Vastine, are seen in the Argentine
province of La Rioja moments before
they enters a helicopter that crashed
while filming a reality TV show. — AFP
tribute to her former rival, tweeting: “So
sad and shocked to wake up to hear the
tragic death of Camille Muffat. She was
an amazing sportswoman, competitor
and lovely person.
“RIP Olympic Champion Camille
Muffat. You will be dearly missed. X”
Four-time Olympic swimming gold
medallist Janet Evans of the United
States added in a tweet: “Shocked and
saddened to hear of Camille Muffat’s
passing. An incredible athlete and an
inspiration to us all. #RIP”
The International Boxing Association
(AIBA) reached out to express its sadness
at the loss of Vastine.
“My thoughts go out to the family &
friends of Alexis Vastine, a world class
boxer & Olympic Champion. A huge
loss to boxing community #RIP,” tweeted
Karim Bouzidi, the AIBA’s deputy
executive director.
Vastine won bronze at the 2008
Beijing Olympics in the lightwelterweight category. The 28-year-old
was defeated in the quarter-finals of the
2012 Games and it was expected that
he was preparing to compete in Rio de
Janeiro in 2016.
— dpa
MUSCAT: Trust Oilfield Services
recorded a thumping 114-run win
against Mustafa Sultan Enterprises
(MSE) in an Oman Cricket organised
‘I’ Division T20 match during the week
end at the OAC Ground No.3 at Seeb.
Invited to bat, Trust Oilfield
Services piled up 249 for 3 wickets in
20 allotted overs. Opening the batting,
Wajid Akram top scored with 73 (31b,
14x4), while Mushir Nazir Khatib
remained unbeaten on 53 (25b, 4x6,
3x4) and Talal al Balushi scored 46
not out (26b, 8x4), the duo being
associated in an unfinished fourth
wicket partnership of 96 runs.
Requiring 250 to win, MSE could
only manage 135 for 5 wickets in 20
overs with skipper and opener Abdullah
Alam top scoring with 45 (33b, 8x4).
Brief scores: Trust Oilfield Services – 249 for 3
in 20 overs (Wajid Akram 73, Mushir Nazir Khatib
53 n.o., Talal al Balushi 46 n.o., Shahid Mohammed
33, Sayed Azam 33; Hillary D’Souza 2-30) bt MSE
– 135 for 5 in 20 overs (Abdullah Alam 45,
Muhammad Adnan 23, Pratik P Ramesh 20 n.o.;
Shahid Mohammed 2-5, Muhammed Ilyas 2-24);
Points: Trust Oilfield Services - 2 (7 games – 10),
MSE - 0 (8 games – 9)
ATKINS DEFEAT ORANGE MART
In an ‘F’ Division T20 match at
the Municipality Ground No.4 at Al
Amerat, Atkins registered a 5-wicket
win against Orange Mart.
Winning the toss and electing to
bat Orange Mart were bowled out for
110 off 17.2 overs.
Tasleem Khan picked up 3 wickets
conceding 9 runs off 2 overs.
Atkins in reply reached their target
scoring 113 for the loss of 5 wickets off
16.3 overs.
Brief scores: Orange Mart – 110 all out in
17.2 overs (Gopakumar 24; Tasleem Khan 3-9,
Raja Gunasekar 2-15, Michael Ignatius Winston
2-18) lost to Atkins – 113 for 5 in 16.3 overs
(Michael Ignatius Winston 25, Sayyed Waseem
Raja 24; Habib 2-13); Points: Atkins - 2 (8 games
– 7), Orange Mart - 0 (8 games – 5)
competition. The number of cases may
increase as they drive during the odd
hours. So we are ready to face emergency
situations. We have the services of
experienced surgeons to teat injuries
besides nurses and paramedics. We will
work in three shifts from 4 pm on Friday
till the end of the race on Saturday,” said
Issam al Raisi, supervisor of the medical
team.
It may be recalled that the medical
team has been assisting the OAA
in all the events, including the rally
championships and drift events.
“We have provided medical
assistance to OAA in many events. So we
are well aware of the common injuries.
We are also ready to meet emergency
situations,” Issam added.
TEAM STAG RACING: Mulham Al Rawahi, Mukhtar
Al Rawahi, Mannan Al Rawahi, Abdullah Al Maskary,
Adulsalam Al Kitany, Mohammed Al Hunaini, Harith
Al Harthy and Said Marhoobi. Manager: Mohammed
Al Rawahi.
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
Hawks crush Kings to
post 50th win of season
LOS ANGELES: The Atlanta Hawks
turned 50 and showed no signs of
slowing down.
Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll
scored 20 points apiece on Monday and
the hot Hawks picked up their 50th win
of the season, with a 130-105 crowning
of the visiting Sacramento Kings. “Just
a good offensive performance,” said
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer. “The
ball movement was good, the passing
was crisp and we were able to get a
rhythm going.”
Korver was one of three players
rested in Saturday’s surprising 92-84
road loss to lowly Philadelphia.
The night off seemed to benefit the
struggling 3-point specialist, who got
back on track, hitting 6-of-8 triples as
the Hawks set a franchise-record with
20 from behind the arc in the beatdown. “A couple of guys started hitting
and it snowballed for us,” Korver said.
“It’s good to see the ball in the basket
because it’s been a couple of tough
weeks for me.”
Jeff Teague had 18 points with 13
assists, Germany’s Dennis Schroder
added 12 off the bench as East-best
Atlanta (50-13) shot a sizzling 60 per
cent from the field, posted an NBA
season-best 42 assists en route to its
highest scoring game of the year.
“That’s everything as far as the way
we wanted to play,” said Hawks centre
Al Horford, who added 18 points.
“We wanted to have high assists and
that’s Hawks basketball,” he said.
Carroll set the tone pouring in all
his points in the opening half as Atlanta
raced to a 76-54 lead.
The Hawks carried a 105-82 cushion
into the fourth quarter en route to their
13th straight win in the series. Rudy
Gay scored 23 in Sacramento’s (21-41)
fourth consecutive loss.
At Milwaukee, the New Orleans
Pelicans prevailed over Milwaukee Bucks
114-103. Anthony Davis dropped in a
career-high-tying 43 points, including
eight straight in a 14-2 closing run,
sending the visiting Pelicans (35-29) past
the Bucks to eclipse last season’s entire
win total.Giannis Antetokounmpo
scored a career-high 29 points for
Milwaukee (33-30).
At Phoenix, the Golden State beat
Phoenix Suns 98-80. Stephen Curry hit
seven triples en route to 36 points, Klay
Thompson added 25 and the leaguebest Warriors (50-12) dominated the
hosting Suns (33-32), to post back-toback 50 win seasons for the first time in
franchise history. — dpa
NBA RESULTS
Washington bt Charlotte 95-69
Atlanta bt Sacramento 130-105
Boston bt Miami 100-90
Memphis bt Chicago 101-91
New Orleans bt Milwaukee 114-103
Denver bt NY Knicks 106-78
Golden State bt Phoenix 98-80
LA Clippers bt Minnesota 89-76
Atlanta Hawks’ Jeff Teague passes the ball against the Kings. — USA Today Sports
LOCAL FLAVOUR
Bank Muscat joins hands with OFA for HM’s Cup
MUSCAT: Bank Muscat has joined hands with Oman
Football Association (OFA) to make His Majesty’s Cup
football championship a memorable experience for football
enthusiasts in Oman. OFA Chairman Sayyid Khalid al Busaidi
and AbdulRazak Ali Issa, Chief Executive of Bank Muscat,
signed an agreement endorsing the bank as presenting
partner of His Majesty’s Cup. The quarterfinals of the HM Cup
begins in the week ahead with Bank Muscat as the official
partner for the tournament.
Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi said: “The OFA is honoured to
be working with Oman’s leading bank. The partnership has
begun on a high note of optimism with all involved keen to
ensure that the HM Cup is elevated to a new level of football
excitement through Bank Muscat’s support. I convey my
gratitude to the management and employees of Bank Muscat
for their support to His Majesty’s Cup.”
AbdulRazak Ali Issa said: “Bank Muscat is delighted to
partner with OFA in presenting His Majesty’s Cup football
championship. As the nation’s leading financial institution,
Bank Muscat aims to support varied sporting activities to
motivate and provide the required impetus for the country’s
youth to excel in sports and games. Bank Muscat wishes all
the teams participating in the HM Cup good luck in lifting the
game of football to new highs in Oman.”
Shabib al Hosni, CEO of the Oman Professional League,
who was in attendance at the signing ceremony said: “The
HM Cup tournament is open to all Omani teams and the
championship is a unique experience for the people of Oman.”
Towell Engineering win
Shell Rimula tourney
Ram, Girish clinch Audi quattro Cup
MUSCAT: The Oman round of
the Audi quattro Cup was action
packed and concluded with
partners Ram Mohan (course
handicap 27) and Girish Chawla
(course Handicap 29) clinching
the first place (team handicap 27.8
with 40 stableford points). The Audi
quattro Cup is the world’s premier
competition for amateur golfers
and 2015 is the fourth tournament
hosted by Wattayah Motors in
conjunction with the Oman Golf
Committee.
Second place in the tournament
was secured by Kevin D’Amours
(course handicap 10) and Karen
D’Amours (course handicap 25),
with a team handicap of 16 with 37
stableford points. Third place went
to William Welsh (course handicap
20) and Danny Renihan (course
handicap 17), with a team handicap
of 18 with 36 stableford points.
During the prize-giving
ceremony, Ahmed Shariefi,
General Manager for Audi Oman,
congratulated the winning duo on
their outstanding achievement and
thanked all the other participants in
the tournament.
He said: “On behalf of Wattayah
Motors, it is my pleasure to
congratulate the winning team for
proving themselves as champion
amateur golfers. We are grateful
to Almouj Golf and the Oman Golf
Committee for helping us organise
the tournament and we wish Ram
Mohan and Girish Chawla the best
of luck for the World Final in Mexico
later this year.”
MUSCAT: Towell Engineering emerged as the
winner of the fourth edition of the Shell Rimula
annual cricket tournament, while Enhance
finished runners-up with an exciting finale at
the Knowledge Oasis Muscat grounds. The
tournament was organised and sponsored by
Shell Oman.
The Shell Rimula Cricket Cup witnessed the
participation of 16 teams from the transport and
construction sector in Oman and was watched
by hundreds of enthusiastic spectators.
All necessary arrangements were made by
Shell for the participants and the fans to enjoy
every minute of the event. Prizes and trophies
were offered to the winning team by Shell Oman.
“We are proud to have presented cricket lovers in
the Sultanate with the Shell Rimula Cricket Cup
for the fourth consecutive year. It is indeed a great
platform to meet our customers and suppliers
in an informal and fun-filled environment,”
said Mahmoud al Abri, Commercial Lubricants
Marketing Manager, Shell Oman.
ENTERTAINMENT
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
29
TINSELTOWN
Lena Dunham has a
personal ‘tweeter’
A
ctress Lena Dunham says
she no longer handles her
Twitter account and has a
personal tweeter, who posts on the
social media site on her behalf.
“I stopped looking at my
own Twitter. I send the tweets to
someone... and she posts them for
me — she lets me know if there’s
an important response. It became
a little too much,” Dunham said at
Hollywood’s annual PaleyFest at
the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles,
reports femalefirst.co.uk.
The 28-year-old said she used to
dismiss the comments when she read
them, but realised they were affecting
her as she couldn’t stop thinking about them throughout the day.
She explained: “This is advice I would have for everyone — whether
you have a million followers or whether you have seven followers, because
we all deal with the complexity of people being able to say things to you
anonymously from behind the veil of the Internet — which is that you think
you can take it all, like, ‘Oh my god, that’s so funny, somebody called me a
fat cow who deserves to be dragged through the street,’ but it does affect you
internally.
“I was like ‘The spelling’s so bad, I’m not taking these people seriously;
they have eggs for avatars, I don’t care!’
Kevin Spacey is convinced that like the ruthless, morally corrupt politician he portrays in ‘House of Cards’, the anti-hero is here to stay.
Spacey revels in his anti-hero
president in ‘House of Cards’
Q PATRICIA REANEY
F
orget about likeable, upstanding
characters doing what is right.
Kevin Spacey is convinced that like
the ruthless, morally corrupt politician
he portrays in Netflix’s Emmy Awardwinning political drama “House of
Cards,” the anti-hero is here to stay.
“The third season explores what happens to these
people when they suddenly are in the hot, white
spotlight of being president and first lady,” Spacey
said.” That’s a very interesting dynamic to start to
investigate.”
When the third season of Netflix Inc’s online
streaming series premiered on February 27, all 13
episodes were immediately available to subscribers,
enabling millions of fans to binge-watch the show that
follows Spacey as President Francis Underwood and
Robin Wright as his ambitious first lady, Claire.
Like the first two seasons, which saw the couple
destroy anyone who obstructed their path to the
White House, the latest episodes find them conniving
to consolidate their presidential power base.
THE THIRD SEASON EXPLORES
WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE PEOPLE
WHEN THEY SUDDENLY ARE IN
THE HOT, WHITE SPOTLIGHT OF
BEING PRESIDENT AND FIRST
LADY. THAT’S A VERY INTERESTING
DYNAMIC TO START TO
INVESTIGATE, SAYS KEVIN SPACEY.
Underwood embodies the character to whom
audiences are both repelled and attracted.
Spacey, 55, who has won Oscars for “American
Beauty” and “The Usual Suspects,” credited the
groundbreaking 1980s police drama “Hill Street
Blues,” as well as HBO’s “The Sopranos,” with its
anxiety-ridden, overweight mob boss and other shows
for changing television and introducing anti-hero
characters.
“It seem to me the runway had been very well
paved by the time we arrived,” he said. “I think it is
what audiences are demanding, not what we are.
This is what people want.”
“House of Cards” made history in 2013 when it
became the first online series to win three Emmys
and established Netflix as a leader in original
entertainment.
It also provided audiences with a novel way to
watch the series by streaming it online, and gave
writers and actors alike a longer creative arch to
develop characters.
Wright, 48, who directed an episode of the current
series, likened the format to building a 13-hour film.
“It’s a novel that you, the public, can pick up when
you want it, read as many chapters as you want in
whatever format, put it down for six months and then
return to it,” she explained.
And Spacey believes the format is here to stay.
“Creatively, it is the best it can get,” he said. “I also
think that whether people want to admit it or not, the
days of appointed viewing (times) are more behind us
than ahead of us.” — Reuters
REMUNERATION
Women-led films changing trends, says Anushka
A
the difference in the remuneration of
male and female actors in Bollywood.
“Last year, two very great films did
wonderfully at the box office and are
remembered for the value that they
added to our industry and they are
‘Queen’ and ‘Mary Kom’. Both films were
led by female stars and I think those
kind of films are changing trends,” she
added.
The actress was in New Delhi to
nushka Sharma feels that there
is disparity in the remuneration
of male and female actors in
Bollywood, but the actress-producer
thanks films like “Queen” and “Mary
Kom” for bringing a “stable time” for
actresses in the industry.
“There is no doubt that there is
disparity, but I think we are moving
towards stable time,” Anuskha told
reporters when asked about her take on
Murugadoss’s next film with
Sonakshi Sinha set to roll
F
ilm-maker A R Murugadoss’s yetuntitled Hindi outing, an action
thriller with Sonakshi Sinha, is set
to go on the floors this week. The film
will also feature veteran actor Shatrugan
Sinha in an important role.
“The film goes on floors on March
14 here. Murugadoss has also roped
in Sonakshi’s father to essay a brief but
important role,” a source from the film’s
unit said.
The film, which will be produced by
Fox Star Studios, is the official remake of
Tamil sleeper hit “Mounaguru”.
Film-maker Anurag Kashyap has
been roped in to play the baddie in the
film, which marks Murugadoss’s third
venture in the language after “Ghajini”
and “Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off
Duty”. The rest of the cast will be finalised
soon. — IANS
promote her film “NH 10”, releasing
March 13.
Directed by Navdeep Singh, the film
is co-produced by Phantom Films and
Eros International. This is Anushka’s
debut production venture and it also
stars Neil Bhoopalam and Darshan
Kumar.
Anushka feels that it’s time that films
should be remembered for stories and
not for stars. — IANS
Taylor Swift insuring her
legs for $40 million?
S
inger Taylor Swift is reportedly
insuring her legs for $40 million.
It is believed that the 25-yearold’s team looked into how much
her legs were worth in case anything
happened during her routines.
“It seems like a ludicrous sum, but
if something was to happen to her
legs, Swift wouldn’t be able to give her
signature stage performances,” said a
source, reports mirror.co.uk.
“Her $200 million career would be
in big trouble,” added the source.
The singer, who had showed off
her legs in a short suit at The Brit
Awards last month, was believed to
be “embarrassed” once she found out
how much her legs were worth.
“She thought her legs were possibly worth a million. But $40 million
shocked her. She’s even a little embarrassed about it,” said the source. Her
team is now said to be completing the paperwork in time for her world tour,
which begins in May.
Richa heading to New York
for research work
A
ctress Richa Chadha will be
travelling to New York soon to
do research for her upcoming
film “Cabaret”.
Having done theatre here before
moving to Mumbai, Richa is a huge
fan of New York for its thriving culture
of theatre and Broadway.
She will spend two weeks there
understanding the many elements of
being a live dancer performing in front
of a huge audience.
“I am going to New York in April
for work-cum-leisure trip. Hoping the
research goes well,” Richa, who will
be seen essaying the glamorous and
sensual role of a professional cabaret
dancer in the upcoming film, said in a statement. Richa will begin shooting
in May. — IANS
‘Technology widening scope for musicians’
N
ational Award winning musician
Amit Trivedi, who has composed
for films like “Dev D”, “Wake Up
Sid”, “Udaan” and “Queen”, says technology
has enabled composers to explore a wider
range of sounds via computers, and the
effort required has reduced to a considerable
extent too.
“Technology is widening scope for
musicians every now and then.
We are getting a better chance
to explore ideas through new
softwares.
It has provided
more options to us
to showcase our
talent,” Trivedi
said in an
i nte r v i e w
over the
p h o n e
f r o m
Mumbai.
“More of computer-based music is in demand today, and there is special
software through which music is created,” he added.
The 35-year-old recently composed a song for the fourth season of “Coke
Studio@ MTV”. Talking about the platform for experimental fusion music,
Trivedi said: “It’s wonderful. There are no actors involved here for whom we
have to do lip sync. It’s a stage where artists can show their talent without any
involvement of film fraternity. It’s like telling the world about pure music.”
Trivedi is associated with Bollywood, but he has no qualms in admitting that
the popularity of film music in the country has restricted the understanding
of ‘Indian music’.
“Bollywood is a very big platform. Good looking faces (actors) attract
people more, and music is just a part of the film-making process. That’s
why in India, music is restricted to films. “But it doesn’t mean that music is
overshadowed by actors. There are many well-known film stars who have
got recognition through music,” said the singer-composer, who says making
music for films and for albums is incomparable. He is also quick to add that
while rap, hip-hop and item numbers are increasingly getting popular, Indian
classical music will always be part of the country’s core music.
“Classical music cannot deplete from Indian industry. It’s just that there are
new trends coming up. People are widening their choices to new genres. But
classical music, which is the root of India, will never get sidelined,” he said.
“If people like peppy numbers, then such songs have to be catered to them
at regular intervals. — IANS
30
omandailyobserver
LIFESTYLE
HEALING THE MIND
Not alone campaign
Q LAKSHMI KOTHANETH
IN THE PROCESS OF
HER CAREER PATH SHE
QUICKLY IDENTIFIED
CAUSES THAT NEEDED
MORE AWARENESS.
AWARENESS ON
CHILD ABUSE IS A
PET PROJECT. “EACH
CHILD IS DIFFERENT.
LOOKING AFTER THEM
AND THEIR WELLBEING
WOULD MAKE US LIVE
IN A HAPPIER SOCIETY.”
I
t has been a journey of 14
years for Janab Sayyida Basma
al Said, the path has been to
learn about mental health and
practise the profession.
If studying psychology,
practising it at the Sultan Qaboos
University Hospital and now at her own
clinic Whispers of Serenity, “I hope next
it is a health retreat. That is my dream.”
In fact the journey actually became
even before college. “During school days
magazines with mental health topics
were my favourite.”
In the process of her career path she
quickly identified causes that needed
more awareness. Awareness on child
abuse is a pet project. “Each child is
different. Looking after them and their
well-being would make us live in a
happier society. They grow up to be the
men and women of tomorrow.”
“The realisation that the mind is
the fascination began when I used to
purchase books on mental health with
my own pocket money. One of the
important magazines at that time was
a woman magazine called Dharrat al
Khaleej. I remember a segment called,
‘Something from the reality.’ It was
about the doctor answering the queries,”
Sayyida Basma recollected.
But her career actually began in
Information Technology. “When I
started higher studies I started with IT
because my father felt it was a better
option. But soon Psychology attracted
me again. Since then it has been a
wonderful journey continuing with
studying and qualifying till today,” she
said, happy that she took the decision.
Sayyida Basma is a hypnotist and
has just finished her exams to qualify
for level five in Hypnotism. “Once
qualified with level five I can train
others in hypnosis. I do use hypnosis in
the clinic. It helps in treating many cases
and situations. We are even astonished
with the results in treatment. We also
do age regression which takes you back
to your childhood. It is amazing when
you unfold it. Some people do not even
remember something that happened to
them in childhood,” she explained.
Every decade something pops up.
Hypnosis has been there forever. She
is quick to point out, “What we do is
clinical hypnosis not what you see in the
“I hope next it is a health retreat. That is my dream”, says Janab Sayyida Basma al Said
media. It has nothing to do with snapping
of the fingers. Hypnosis
relaxes the client and
makes them talk in a
relaxed manner. They
are taken through
imaginary spaces. We
tape the sessions and
give it to the clients
themselves so that they
know exactly what they
went through. It is better
because they can listen to it
and get used to our voices too.
Hypnosis, also referred
to as hypnotherapy or
hypnotic suggestion, is a
trance-like state in which
you have heightened
focus and concentration.
Hypnosis is usually done
with the help of a therapist using verbal
repetition and mental images. When
you’re under hypnosis, you usually feel
calm and relaxed, and are more open
to suggestions. Hypnosis can be used to
help you GAIN control over undesired
behaviours or to help you cope better
with anxiety or pain. It’s important to
know that although you’re more open
to suggestion during hypnosis, you don’t
lose control over your behaviour.
It is a wonderful feeling that you
realise that you work hard and it is
recognised. It is also a sense of
wanting to do more. Usually people
feel that once you get recognition
it is end of the mountain,
but I feel I need to work
harder.
Feeling Wow:
Feeling recognised
came in when the
GR8 Women Award
for Asia and the Middle
East came to her for her
contribution to the society.
“I think what really
made me proud was
that the ward organisers
had actually read about
me. They read about
Basma’s work.
They
are from outside, not based in Oman.
They researched me and then called
me and said, ‘we want to nominate you,
so we need more information.’ Later I
received the mail from them saying they
appreciated the award and would like
to honour me with the GR8 Women
Award.
They knew exactly what I do. That
made a great difference,” she said.
The Awareness on Child Abuse is
very close to her heart, “Yes I keep on
pushing the cause on child abuse. If we
are able to help them from a very young
age they can lead a normal happy life
this is if we have an early intervention
on mental health. But if we start later
in life it would harder as compared to
when they are younger. A child’s mind
can be molded better compared to an
adult mind.”
When asked if it is true that they cope
faster too, she replied, “You know, when
things like this happens, one does not
forget. One just learns to go on with life.
You might change the environment but
you will always remember.”
From child abuse, to handling loss
is yet another campaign Sayyida Basma
has been spear heading called, “You are
not alone.” Each individual faces this
trauma at some point in their life. This
is where this initiative steps in.
As part of the first phase of the
initiative, an awareness video was made
for the purpose in Arabic with English
subtitles. A cross section of celebrities
and influential personalities volunteered
to prove that what others think might
not be the true facts. The second phase
was the narration of personal stories of
loss of a loved.
All for one cause — mental health.
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
NADA ALI
[email protected]
Prepare your argument
T
here are times in life when you feel that you have been done a
disservice or you have not received the quality of service, or product,
which you are entitled to.
When this happens, many people bottle it up for fear of having an
argument.
However, there is nothing to fear from making your feelings known.
When it is done right, informing the other party of how you feel is actually
doing them a service as they are then in a position to remedy the situation.
In order to make your argument in the proper manner, you must first
prepare your argument.
On many occasions, you will be able to prepare your argument quickly and
attempt to resolve the situation immediately.
However, there will be times when you need to take due care and attention
to prepare your argument thoroughly.
Whichever, situation arises, it is important that you consider some key
criteria when you prepare your argument.
By implementing few steps you prepare your argument and you will have
taken giant strides towards creating a courteous and constructive discussion.
First, identify the appropriate person to talk to, your argument may be
concise, clear and convincing but unless it is delivered to somebody who has
the authority to take the necessary action, your argument will fall on deaf ears.
If you feel that the issue is one which needs to be dealt with by management,
then do not settle for a discussion with a lower-ranked member of the staff.
Also determine the best time to have the discussion; choosing an appropriate
time to have a discussion plays a key role in having a constructive conversation.
For example, if you know that the other person is going to be busy at a
particular time, then that time should be avoided as they will not be able to
give their full attention to the discussion.
Other times which might need to be avoided are directly before lunch or
finishing time.
In these instances their mind and attention have already started to move
to a new location.
Besides that, when you are making a complaint, or argument, it is important
to choose a location where the other person has his/her confidentiality and
dignity respected.
Try to find as private a location as you can to hold the discussion.
More important step: Identify the feelings and emotions you experienced,
It is important to acknowledge your emotions and feelings.
When you bottle them up, it is both unhelpful and unhealthy.
When you can explain your feelings, in a rational manner, it helps the
other person to understand how important the issue is to you.
Nobody can make you feel in a particular way.
Regardless of what has happened, it is you that has chosen your reaction,
that is, your feelings.
Before you can properly explain your feelings to another person, you must
first accept that they are actually your feelings.
It is always best to enter these situations with a positive view of the other
person.
When you do this, you assume that they too will want to resolve the issue.
In order for them to be able to do so, you must first be able to tell them
exactly what it was that you disagreed with.
Be as specific as possible.
Remember, if they do not understand the exact nature of your complaint,
they cannot be expected to resolve the issue.
After all of that decide on your keywords or phrases; it is important that
you do not over-rehearse or script your argument.
Your argument must come across as sincere and genuine if you wish to the
other person to take you seriously.
When your argument sounds too rehearsed, it comes across as fake. Rather
than script the entire argument, note down the key points which you want to
get across and focus on these.
SMART FEEDBACK
Got diabetes? There’s an app for that
U
Q JULIE STEENHUYSEN
S health researchers have said they are
targeting millions of smartphone users with
Apple Inc’s new software tool, hoping to
collect an unprecedented amount of data on major
diseases by tracking their behaviours via iPhone.
The ResearchKit software tool, an open source
platform, allows researchers to design applications
that use built-in sensors on the iPhone along with
data from other wearable devices to gather real-time
health data. Scientists from Stanford University School
of Medicine and Weill Cornell Medical College are
among the first to offer apps for diseases like diabetes
and heart disease.
For example, Massachusetts General Hospital’s
GlucoSuccess app allows diabetics to participate in a
research study that gives feedback on how their diet
and exercise patterns impact daily glucose readings.
It asks volunteers whether they have taken all of their
medications or inspected their feet.
“It’s very hard in practice for people to carry out
all the recommendations and stick with them over
time,” said Dr Stanley Shaw, co-director of the Center
for Assessment Technology and Continuous Health at
Massachusetts General.
Other apps released on Monday involve studies
on asthma, breast cancer and Parkinson’s disease. For
volunteers, the apps are designed to help people with
chronic disease follow through with important health
behaviours.
For researchers, the data improves upon the many
pages of survey questions study volunteers had to fill
out, often based on their recollection of what they ate
in the prior week or how many minutes they put in at
the gym.
THE RESEARCHKIT SOFTWARE
TOOL, AN OPEN SOURCE
PLATFORM, ALLOWS
RESEARCHERS TO DESIGN
APPLICATIONS THAT USE BUILTIN SENSORS ON THE IPHONE
ALONG WITH DATA FROM OTHER
WEARABLE DEVICES TO GATHER
REAL-TIME HEALTH DATA
Shaw said the fact that Apple made ResearchKit
open source will allow “a whole host of medical
researchers” to develop apps for their own research
projects.
“We view this as the opening salvo,” he said.
The MyHeart Counts app will collect data about
physical activity and cardiac risk factors for Stanford
scientists studying heart disease. It allows users to
complete tasks, such as performing a six-minute walk
if they are able, and answer surveys from their iPhone,
and provide them with an assessment of their heart
health and information on how to improve it.
The app can tap into data gathered by other wearable
gadgets such as Jawbone or Fitbit, but it can also be
used with the iPhone, as long as people remember to
keep their phones turned on, said Dr Euan Ashley,
chair of Stanford’s biomedical data science initiative.
Dr Francis Collins, director of the National
Institutes of Health, sees mobile health playing a major
role in the president’s $215 million precision medicine
initiative.
He anticipates tech companies will use large patient
studies as a “test bed for a lot of the technologies they
are developing.”
“The Googles and the Apples and the Qualcomms
are certainly paying close attention to the potential of
this,” Collins said in a recent interview with Reuters.
Researchers say ResearchKit simplifies their
recruiting work. Volunteers can decide how much data
to share directly with the research institutions. “The
data does not go to Apple,” Ashley said.
Dr Eric Schadt, a genomics professor at the Icahn
School of Medicine at New York’s Mount Sinai, used
the platform to develop an asthma app along with
Weill Cornell Medical College and LifeMap Solutions,
a subsidiary of BioTime. The fact that researchers
can recruit, consent and enroll participants remotely
should produce study sample sizes that are “orders of
magnitude” greater than in the past at a fraction of the
cost, Schadt said. — Reuters
American rower eyes finish after
transatlantic odyssey
A
n American oarsman aiming to row across the Atlantic to raise awareness
for HIV/Aids is preparing for the final leg of his odyssey after being
attacked by pirates off the Haitian coast.
Victor Mooney, 49, (pictured right) said he expects to set sail from Miami for
New York within two weeks after the latest setback to his decade-long dream of
rowing from the coast of Africa to New York.
“It’s conceivable within two weeks I should be out of here, all the way to New
York,” Mooney said.
It is Mooney’s fourth attempt to cross the Atlantic in eight years.
His latest effort suffered a setback when his boat, the “Spirit of Malabo” was
damaged by pirates during an attack off Haiti last year.
The boat was later transferred to Miami, where it has been undergoing repairs.
Mooney, whose brother died from Aids in 1983 and who has another brother
infected with HIV, said he hoped his efforts would increase understanding of the
disease.
“I believe a cure is on the horizon for Aids, but until we have a cure, education
and testing is paramount to reach an Aids-free generation,” he said. — AFP
SPOTLIGHT
W E D N E S DAY
MARCH 11 l 2015
THE TITLE OF THIS EXHIBITION,
DROPS, REFERS TO AL MAAMRI’S
PAINTING STYLE, WHEREBY HE
DRIPS PAINT STRATEGICALLY TO
CREATE A STYLISED LOOK THAT
GIVES THE VIEWER A DEEPER
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE. THIS
EXHIBITION SHOWCASES THE
ARTIST’S STRONG TALENT IN
PORTRAITURE, DEMONSTRATING
GREAT SKILL AND ARTISTRY.
DROPS TRULY REPRESENTS
AL MAAMRI’S LOVE FOR HIS
OMANI CULTURE.
Slackening spirit
of socialisation
I
O
world in places such
as Italy, Brussels and
Kuwait. With this
exhibition, Al Maamri
focuses on the human
expressions of Omani
males in traditional,
people.
As an accomplished Omani realistic artist, Mohammed cultural Omani scenes.
The title of this
al Maamri (pictured) has showcased his works around the
exhibition, Drops, refers
to Al Maamri’s painting
style, whereby he drips
paint strategically to
create a stylised look that gives the viewer a deeper emotional
response. This exhibition showcases the artist’s strong talent
in portraiture, demonstrating great skill and artistry. ‘Drops’
truly represents Al Maamri’s love for his Omani culture.
The artist beautifully pauses life’s fast-paced motion in
his paintings, in order to achieve this look. He works from
photographs that he takes while attending many events during
the colourful commemoration of Eid in Oman, as well as
other festive occasions.
Al Maamri tells us that working from photographs of
strangers makes it easier for him to project his own feelings
and emotions into his characters.
The artist aspires to master portraits and to further explore
other possibilities with his own signature style.
This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to see amazing
portraiture of a beloved culture with the concluding day
taking place on April 12.
mani artist Mohammed al Maamri’s
painting exhibition entitled ‘Drops’ will
be inaugurated today at Bait Muzna by
His Highness Sayyid Tareq bin Shabib
al Said. The exhibition seeks to highlight
Oman’s rich culture, traditions and
SHARPENING SKILL S
Esakhelvi enthrals Muscat music lovers
CAS-Nizwa marks Media Day
Q HASAN KAMOONPURI
W
orld renowned folk and ghazal
singer
Attaullah
Esakhelvi
recently performed in Muscat
and enthralled the audience with his musical
mega show. His Highness Sayyid Mohammed
bin Salim al Said, chief of protocol department
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was the
chief guest, while the special guest was Hilal
bin Hamad al Hasani, CEO, The Public
Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE). J
S Mukul, Ambassador of India; Ayaz Hussain,
Ambassador of Pakistan; Azim Nasser-Zia,
Ambassador of Afghanistan; Syed Fayyaz Ali,
Chairman, Syed Fayyaz Group; and Mian
Muhammad Munir, Chairman, Pakistan
Social Club-Oman were the guests of honour
at the function.
The comperes Azra Aleem and Deeba
Hassan started the proceedings by welcoming
the gathering. Pakistani Legal Consultant
Arshad Ali Khan spoke on Esakhelvi’s
successful musical career spreading over half
a century. Esakhelvi sang some of his most
hit and popular songs in his melodious voice
and got big applause. The Grand Hall of Al
Falaj Hotel was packed to its capacity and the
audience fully enjoyed the musical evening.
Fahad Awais Munir, the chief organiser
of the event and Managing Director at
Alpha Events Oman, thanked all sponsors
and supporters for making the event a great
success.
T
he Media Society at the Students’
Services Centre in Nizwa College of
Applied Sciences organised its 6th
Media Day under the patronage of Dr Hilal al
Hadhrami, the Assistant Dean of the College.
The ceremony started with a recitation of
some verses from Holy Quran, followed by a
short video that explained the stages of the
Best Radio Team Competition.
After that, the two qualifying teams
for the final stage of the Best Radio
Team Competition presented their radio
programmes. Each team was given 15
minutes.
Then, the Theatre Society presented a
sketch entitled “mike” showing how some
media channels gain popularity.
Later, Moosa al Lawati, the Supervisor
of the Media Society, presented the closing
speech in which he expressed the goal of
organising such events.
At the end of the ceremony, the best radio
team was announced and the awards were
distributed to the winners.
The Media Society is preparing to
participate in the best radio programme
competition of the Colleges of Applied
Sciences that will be held at the students’
festival which is organised by the Ministry of
Higher Education on an annual basis.
Students try their hands at film-making in workshop
Q MARWA AL ADAWI
T
31
BIMAL SAIGAL
[email protected]
Artist’s tribute to Omani life
MUSICAL EVENING
omandailyobserver
he College of Applied Sciences, Nizwa, represented by
the Career Guide and Training Centre has organised
a workshop on making short films. The workshop
was held for five days with the participation of 48 students
specialising in Digital Media.
The workshop was led by Laith Abdu-Al-Ameer, a filmmaker. On the first day, he explained the aim of organising
the workshop and gave an introduction about short movies.
On the second day, the workshop discussed ways of
forming new and creative ideas.
For this purpose, the students were divided into groups.
After that, the students submitted their ideas with written
The workshop aimed at developing students’ capabilities
scenarios.
the students started shooting their own films and went on to
in film-making and inspiring them to be ready for work after
On the third day, Laith explained the methods of shooting edit the clips on the fourth day.
On the last day, the films were submitted for evaluation.
graduation.
videos and pointed out the mistakes that could happen. Later,
t is the fourth month running that having loosened
from the spin of office-dictated sojourns abroad I
could not find time enough to pay any family visits
to our relatives in Delhi even though I have been meeting
my brothers, sister and their spouses regularly during our
concerted pursuit for medical treatment of our father.
Our brief solitary visit to my parents-in-law, who are also
bogged down by age-related issues, was about a month
after my return when we, taking a detour, stopped by at
their house while going to attend marriage of daughter
of one of my wife’s cousins which came as a reciprocal
compulsion.
The continued busy schedule of our daughter’s
tuitions and that long spell of my wife’s indisposition due
to the season change, and now the onset of the yearly
exams have been the other contributory factors for our
restricted movements.
But this has not been so during the previous
occasions when our returns home during home leaves
or for headquarters stints were served to compensate our
prolonged absence from the scene and we would go and
visit all our relatives, even those located outside Delhi.
And similarly many among them would come to meet
us.
Even though we had at present these apparent
constraints of not being able to move out to meet others,
I disturbingly noticed that the others also seemed to
be too busy in their own circles; may be my wife and
daughter having preceded me by six months the round
of exchange of visits already stood completed. Even
friends from office and colleagues living in the same
society building here seem to have lost the familiar trait
of visiting each other as I had also observed so during my
last posting abroad.
The other day I was pondering over this and
wondering whether it was the slackening spirit of our
socialisation in general or the increasing responsibilities
of many among us that bound us to our routines. There
were times when socialisation was essential and integral
part of our living. With the slow pace of life when women
mostly minded the house and for children school was
only a dull routine, families looked forward to outings on
holidays. Such opportunities came in the form of visiting
relatives and friends, occasional participation in fairs and
festivals or going for picnics at gardens, lakes and resorts.
When I was growing, visiting relatives during
our summer holidays was such a fun that we siblings
desperately looked forward to. But since that opportunity
came only once a year, we would eagerly await weekly
outings when our parents would take us to homes
of office-colleagues of my father and other intimate
acquaintances; there being no relatives since my father
was posted away from his hometown of Delhi.
Such visits included occasional trip to the town’s
solitary Jagat Cinema when a children film would be
screened; to the annual Basant, Baisakhi or Bhadrakali
fairs, or simply to have picnic in the sprawling Shalimar
Gardens or at the Kanjli Lake. Our trips to one family in
whose neighbourhood we had earlier lived was always
a pleasant experience for us siblings. Apart from the
customary treat of snacks for our craving bellies; the
visual treat of eggs and broods of chicks at the pigeons’
nest saddled on the ventilator sill next to staircase; a
mystique cellar; a precarious peep at the floor below
from the grilled courtyard extension, and plucking of
ripened berries from the branches of a tree in the house
formerly with us, kissing their third-floor terrace were
always cherished in addition to the fun we shared with
the children in the house.
While back in Delhi, and a bit grown, we could find
our ways to Kamla mausi’s house to spend time with
four of our cousins. They would also visit us more often.
But then those were the days when not many means
of entertainment were available at home. While in that
small town we still had the not-so-common privilege
of a radio at home and a camera for us siblings to do
photography apart from the company of games like ludo,
carom board and a cricket kit, we saw the bright screen of
a B&W one channel TV only when we migrated to Delhi.
Outings as such still remained attractive. Later, during
my postings abroad and back home we still used to enjoy
visiting relatives and office colleagues and they coming to
us, which was fun then for our children.
Alas, those times have gone. Children now remain
busy with their own affairs and don’t entreat parents
any more to take them out to any relative’s house. Even
when offered to accompany on any social obligations,
they prefer to stay back. They are more comfortable with
their own circle of friends or with their smart phones for
engagements at social networking sites. Perhaps it is also
because of the emergence of nuclear families with selfcentric traits stripping children from the bonding they
earlier enjoyed with cousins in the extended families.
Even near relatives now meet after years at some family
function and sometimes even fail to readily recognise
each other.
Thus the modern introvert societies are losing fast this
wonderful feat of socialising where families and friends
would visit each other more often, strengthening our
family ties and social bondage. As most of us already live
like strangers in our neighbourhood, wonder, where this
weaving of withdrawal to our cocoons would lead us to?
WEDNESDAY | MARCH 11, 2015 | JUMADA AL ULA 20, 1436 AH
P29
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Ethiopia’s ‘Iron
Lion Zion’ cats
fading fast
A BOOMING HUMAN POPULATION,
WIDESPREAD HABITAT DESTRUCTION AND
GROWING LIVESTOCK NUMBERS MEAN THE
ANIMAL THAT ONCE GRACED ETHIOPIA’S
FLAG — AND IS STILL A POTENT SYMBOL FOR
RASTAFARIANS THROUGH THE SONG ‘IRON
LION ZION’ — IS ON THE WANE
Q KARIM LEBHOUR
E
thiopia’s black-maned
lions once represented a
former emperor, “Lion
of Judah” Haile Selassie,
and were immortalised
in a song by reggae
legend Bob Marley. Today, they struggle
for survival.
A booming human population,
widespread habitat destruction and
growing livestock numbers mean the
animal that once graced Ethiopia’s
flag — and is still a potent symbol for
Rastafarians through the song ‘Iron Lion
Zion’ — is on the wane.
They live on in only small pockets
of the Horn of Africa nation, and
conservationists warn that without
action, all that will remain of the powerful
creatures are the stone sculptures and
statues dotted in the flourishing capital,
Addis Ababa.
“There were lions everywhere in
Ethiopia, but their habitat is shrinking,”
said Zelealem Tefera, country head of the
Born Free Foundation, a conservation
group. “Human settlements are
An Abyssinian lion, which was rescued from captivity at an early age, is pictured in the Ethiopian chapter of Born Free, which houses six Ethiopian lions that have been
rescued from captivity from various locations around the country. — AFP
expanding, prey is disappearing and
there is nothing to eat for the lions,” he
said.
In decline across Africa, lions have
been put on the International Union
for Conservation of Nature’s “red list”
of threatened species, but Ethiopia’s rare
lions — seen as unique though debate
continues over their DNA — are even
more vulnerable.
In the past few decades they have
disappeared from much of Ethiopia.
With 96 million people, it is Africa’s
second most populous nation, and the
A lion statue situated near the
Central Train Station in Addis
Ababa. Lions play an important
role in Ethiopian culture. — AFP
number is growing by some two million
people every year.
Conservationists estimate there are,
at most, 1,000 lions left. They are to be
found mainly in remote areas bordering
the war-torn countries of South Sudan
and Somalia, as well as in a handful of
national parks in the centre and east.
“The black-maned lion is very unique
and only found in a few locations in
Ethiopia,” Zelealem said.
“It makes them very important in our
culture. I don’t think the lion population
will completely disappear from Ethiopia
in the coming few years, but if we don’t
protect their habitat there is no reason
why this couldn’t happen,” he said.
In a forest area some 30 kilometres
south of Addis Ababa, the Born Free
Foundation has taken in seven of the
lions, all captured by villagers or soldiers.
Many have suffered physical abuse
— a far cry from how Haile Selassie
used to keep them as palace pets —
and unlike other wild animals seized
from traffickers, such as cheetahs and
monkeys, the lions cannot be released
back into the wild. Their remaining
habitat is very small and the risk of
conflict with humans too great.
One young male, Kebri — a powerful
cat with a dark brown mane just
beginning to appear — is just such a
victim of growing conflict with farmers.
“His mother killed some livestock here
and as a result the local village poisoned
her,” said Derek Bretts, who looks after
the animals at the centre.
“They fed her meat that had been
laced with poison and she ended up
dying,” he said. “We got a call saying that
there was a young cub, so we went and
took him.”
While Ethiopia has a dozen national
parks where wild animals can find safe
havens, pressures on the lions continue
to grow.
“Wildlife preservation is not given
priority in Ethiopia. Not all protected
areas in Ethiopia are actually well
protected,” said Fikirte Gebresenbet, an
Ethiopian lion expert from Oklahoma
State University in the United States.
“People reside in the park for half the
year, or pastoralists come to the park
every now and then to graze their cattle.
And it results in conflict with the lions,”
she said.
The future of the lions of Ethiopia
may lie in the development of tourism,
but it is an industry still in its infancy.
“If we take lessons from Kenya and
Tanzania, the future could be brighter,”
Fikirte said. “We have to convince the
government that people would pay to
see lions in well-protected areas.” — AFP
BE WITH NATURE
Bird watching, hunting boost nature conservation
G
o bird watching and hunting if you want
to support conservation activities, say
researchers from the Cornell University.
All other factors being equal, bird watchers are
about five times as likely, and hunters about four
times as likely, as non-recreationists to engage in
wildlife and habitat conservation.
Both bird watchers and hunters are more
likely than non-recreationists to enhance land for
wildlife, donate to conservation organisations and
advocate for wildlife-all actions that significantly
impact conservation success, they found.
“We set out to study two groups — bird
watchers and hunters — and did not anticipate
the importance of those who do both, and wildlife
managers probably didn’t either,” said lead author
BOTH BIRD WATCHERS AND
HUNTERS ARE MORE LIKELY
THAN NON-RECREATIONISTS TO
ENHANCE LAND FOR WILDLIFE,
DONATE TO CONSERVATION
ORGANISATIONS AND ADVOCATE
FOR WILDLIFE-ALL ACTIONS
THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT
CONSERVATION SUCCESS,
RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND
Caren Cooper from the North Carolina Museum
of Natural Sciences in the US.
“We do not even have a proper name for these
conservation superstars, other than hunter/bird
watchers,” she added.
This survey of conservation activity among
rural landowners considered a range of possible
predictors such as gender, age, education, political
ideology and beliefs about the environment.
As agencies and conservation organisations
ponder how to better work with bird watchers,
hunters, and hunter/bird watchers on conservation,
one message is clear: “The more time we spend in
nature, the more likely we are to protect it.”
The study was published in the Journal of
Wildlife Management.