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SUNDAY | MARCH 22, 2015 | JUMADA AL THANIA 1, 1436 AH
P17 SEZAD awards RO 22.3m contracts for new projects
VOL. 34 NO. 128 | PAGES 32 | BAISAS 200
P31 The power of a tragic genius
P25 —’–‹ŽŽ•‡‡•‡™‡ƒŽƒ†‹–‘•‡‹ϐ‹ƒŽ•
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
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Indonesia has third-highest emissions Pakistan launches open skies policy Is time running out for Greece? [email protected]
ROYAL ORDERS: Sultanate airlifts British diplomats and the injured from Yemen
OMAN
Good response to
CEO programme
MUSCAT: The website for the Public
Private Partnership Work Team, under
the national programme for the
CEOs, started receiving applications
for nomination for the first batch (30
participants). The nominations, which
opened on March 17, has been receiving
good response. The selection process
for the programme, which was blessed
by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and
which is supervised by the Competence
Development Institute at the Diwan of
Royal Court, has been designed in a way
to be transparent and fair.
REPORT ON P5
ASIA
Neighbours vow
to end conflicts
SEOUL: The foreign ministers of South
Korea, China and Japan pledged to
set up a trilateral leadership summit at
“the earliest” opportunity as they met
in Seoul yesterday for the first time in
nearly three years. The talks were an
effort to calm regional tensions stoked
by territorial disputes and historical rows
with roots in Japan’s colonisation of the
Korean peninsula and occupation of
parts of China before and during World
War II.
REPORT ON P6
EUROPE
French Atlantic coast
braces for giant tide
MONT SAINT MICHEL: Towns on
France’s North Atlantic coast braced for
their first giant tide of the millennium
yesterday as the full moon and last
week’s solar eclipse combined to create
an ocean surge not seen since 1997.
At the picturesque Mont Saint Michel
island where some of the biggest tides
in the world occur, visitors gathered to
watch the tide disappear out of sight,
exposing areas of beach and rock visible
only every 18 years. The next peak tide is
not due until 2033.
REPORT ON P14
INSIDESTORIES
GIRLS SHOULD HOLD
LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE
P6
TERRORISTS NEUTRALISED
IN INDIAN KASHMIR
P10
Hadi declares southern base capital
MUSCAT/SANAA: In compliance with
the Royal orders of His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos, the Sultanate in coordination
with authorities in Yemen evacuated
British diplomats on humanitarian
grounds, said an official source at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.
The evacuees were flown by a Royal
Air Force of Oman (Rafo) helicopter
to the Sultanate and they will be later
transported back to their home country,
the official added.
On Royal orders and in response to
a humanitarian request made by Yemen,
Oman yesterday received 40 Yemenis
including children who sustained
injuries in Friday’s suicide bombings for
medical treatment in the Sultanate.
Meanwhile, US military personnel
stationed at Al Anad airbase in southern
Yemen have been evacuated over
security concerns, a Yemeni military
source said yesterday amid fighting
involving Al Qaeda militants nearby.
The troops left late on Friday for an
“unknown destination”, the military
source at the Yemeni base in Lahj
province said. Members of Yemen’s anti-
American
personnel
gathering
intelligence for drone strikes on Al
Qaeda are deployed at Al Anad.
Yemeni
President
Abd-Rabbu
Mansour Hadi accused forces that
controls the capital Sanaa of staging a
coup against him, and said he would
“raise Yemen’s flag” in the Houthis’
northern stronghold.
In a call to arms from the southern
city of Aden, where he fled last month
after escaping house arrest by the
Houthis, Hadi called on them to pull
their forces out of state ministries, return
weapons seized from the army, and quit
Sanaa.
“We shall deliver the country to safety
and raise Yemen’s flag on Mount Marran
in Saadeh,” he said in a televised speech,
his first since reaching Aden.
Hadi’s flight to Aden last month
has now raised the prospect of
armed confrontation between rival
governments based in north and
Anti-Houthi protesters demonstrate in southwestern city of Taiz yesterday.
— Reuters south Yemen, while the Yemeni-based
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
terror units, which are trained by US
At least 29 people were killed on included both Al Qaeda members and (AQAP) exploits the chaos to launch
attacks abroad. — ONA/Agencies
forces and based at Al Anad, have also Friday in clashes between Yemeni separatists, in Lahj.
SEE ALSO P13
been evacuated, the source added.
security forces and gunmen who
Yemen has acknowledged that
Crackdown on abandoned cars
SAMUEL KUTTY
MUSCAT
March 21: The civic authorities have
started cracking down on owners
who abandon their vehicles on
parking areas, roadsides or in areas
which have no enclosures or fences.
According to a warning
notification issued by the Muscat
Municipality, if vehicles are found
abandoned on public places and not
claimed within the period of notice,
they will be confiscated. The number
of vehicles being abandoned on the
streets and the car parks including
those in the residential areas in the Vehicles are abandoned for a variety of reasons.
capital city is on the rise, causing
problems for the residents and
I think there are a “the vehicle is then confiscated and
away to the scrapyard. They
blocking traffic movement.
number of reasons towed
can be reclaimed after paying the
Many of these vehicles have their
people don’t
necessary fine, that too for a limited
roofs rotten away, interiors piled
full of discarded coffee cups and reclaim their cars. In many period”.
Vehicles can be left at various
beverage bottles and other trash.
locations for a variety of reasons
While giving time duration, the cases they are quite old
without being abandoned.
warning from the civic authorities and need repairing
Residents may leave vehicles
asks the owners “either clean, repair
or take away their vehicles under
AN OFFICIAL while they are out of the area or they
Muscat Municipality may be unable to return to their
Article 5 of Municipal Cleaning and
vehicles because of illness.
Organised Use of Public Places”.
TURN TO P2
If the owner does not respond,
Kerry stresses
unity over Iran
nuclear deal
LONDON: US Secretary of State John Kerry
yesterday said he and counterparts from
Britain, France and Germany were “united”
on seeking a nuclear deal with Iran, while the
Iranian president said there was “nothing that
cannot be resolved”.
Kerry was due to hold talks in London
later with British Foreign Secretary Philip
Hammond, France’s Laurent Fabius,
Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier and EU
foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, in a
brief stopover amid reports of disagreements
over their negotiating position.
The London gathering comes one day
after the latest round of talks between
Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers
(Britain, China, France, Russia and the United
States plus Germany) ended without a
breakthrough.
Kerry, speaking in Lausanne before
heading to London, said that there had been
“substantial progress”, while Iran’s President
Dr Hassan Rouhani declared separately that
“an agreement is possible” and “there is
nothing that cannot be resolved”.
Kerry insisted world powers were “united”
in their talks with Iran.
SEE ALSO P15
The event precedes the earliest known tsunami dating back to 1945
Was Muscat hit by a tsunami in 1723?
P13
45 DEAD IN SYRIA AS KURDS
MARK NEW YEAR
WEATHER TODAY
MUSCAT
MAX: 350C
MIN: 240C
SALALAH
MAX: 310C
MIN: 240C
SUNRISE 06.10 AM
PRAYER TIMINGS
FAJR: 04:54
DHUHR: 12:19
ASR: 15:45
MAGHRIB: 18:23
ISHA: 19:34
NIZWA
MAX: 360C
MIN: 230C
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT
March 21: Was ancient Muscat harbour
and its environs pummelled by a giant
tsunami as far back as in 1723?
It’s a question that international and
regional experts will discuss — among
a host of other seismic-related issues
— at a regional conference entitled,
‘Reducing Tsunami Risk in the Western
Indian Ocean’, which opens here today.
The two-day conference has
been jointly organised by the
Intergovernmental
Oceanographic
Commission of Unesco and Oman’s
Directorate-General of Meteorology
(Public Authority for Civil Aviation).
The event will provide a backdrop for
potential
weather-related
perils,
including tsunamis and sea-level related
threats.
Experts will discuss a growing body
of research into the tsunami risk from
the Makran Subduction Zone — a
subsea area along the southwestern
coast of Balochistan (Pakistan) and
Iran, where the oceanic crust of the
Arabian Plate is subducting beneath the
continental crust of the Eurasian Plate.
They will also study the technologies
behind hazard warning strategies
adopted by littoral states of the western
Indian Ocean, including the Sultanate
of Oman, in mitigating impacts from
the official launch tomorrow of the System (NMHEWS), which will serve potential tsunamis.
TURN TO P3
National Multi Hazard Early Warning as Oman’s first line of defence against
PROMISING
RO 500 million
to develop
fisheries sector
MUSCAT: The government has
allotted RO 500 million to finance
strategic plan (2013-2020) for the
development of fishing sector in the
Sultanate as the sector is one of the
promising ones in diversifying sources
of national income, generating job
opportunities and ensuring high
added value.
The Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries has already started
implementation of the plan. The
2015 Budget gave priority to two
major fisheries projects namely fish
processing complex in Duqm and
infrastructure development to increase
the production of aqua farming.
The RO 53 million worth finance
agreement has been signed last week
with the Saudi Fund for Development
to finance construction of fishing port
and fish processing complex in Duqm.
The agreement affirms the Omani
government’s commitment to enhance
natural resources use in the Sultanate
especially in the field of fisheries and
development of infrastructure.
The government’s investments in
fishing port and the fish processing
industries in Duqm is expected to hit
RO 80 million, including investments
on the fishing port, which will be the
biggest port along the Omani coast.
The infrastructure for fish
processing
complex
includes
internal roads, electricity, water and
communication networks, as well
as rehabilitating 60 land plots for
investments.
The Sultanate’s fish production from
the sea and aqua farms, which now
stands at 210,000 tonnes, is expected
to gradually reach 0.5 million tonnes
by the end of 2020 when the ministry
completes the implementation of its
strategic plan. The contribution of
fisheries sector during the 9th-fiveyear plan (2016-2020) is expected
to increase to 3 per cent by the end of
the plan.
— ONA
2
SEMINAR ON FINANCIAL DISTRESS
S U N DAY l M A R C H 2 2 l 2 0 1 5
GCC PETROLEUM MEDIA FORUM
Zubair Small Enterprises Centre
(Zubair SEC) will organise a seminar
on the importance of sound financial
management and distress risk
management on Monday. The subject
of financial distress is worrying to many
small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) globally and locally as this
distress has a negative impact on
several economic and social standards.
OMAN
Oman wins best Smart App award
The Sultanate, represented by
the Ministry of Oil and Gas, will
take part in the activities of the
2nd GCC Petroleum Media Forum
and its accompanying exhibition
which will open in Riyadh today.
The Sultanate will present several
working papers on Transparency
and Information in the Gulf
Petroleum Media during the event.
A HOUSEMAID RETURNS FROM HER VACATION
E-SERVICES: National Centre for Statistics and Information and the Ministry of
Manpower also get prizes for their smart applications
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
media field at the Arab e-government
shield’ competition in Kuwait.
The National Centre for Statistics
March 21: Oman Arabic daily, sister
publication of the Observer, won the and Information (NCSI) also won an
award for the best Smart App in the award in the NCSI-Oman statistical
category. The Ministry of Manpower’s
smart application also reaped best
application award.
The award ceremony was held at
the Symphony Style in the Kuwaiti
capital under the auspices of Shaikh
Mohammad Abdullah al Mubarak al
Sabah, Minister of State for Cabinet
Affairs.
Abdallah al Ruzaiqi from
Oman newspaper said the Oman
newspaper’s smart application allows
the users to access all the stories and
news that are published in the paper
print as well as the supplements.
The application was launched in
September last year and has been
highly commended by readers for
its user-friendly features and also for
being a free-of-cost media services
that enables the reader to follow the
news and keep update.
The Oman Establishment for
Press, Publication and Advertising
(OEPPA), publishers of Oman Arabic
daily and its sister publication the
Observer, is gradually transforming
itself to fully-fledged e-services. The
application can be downloaded on
Android and iOS operating systems.
Responsibilities of e-media to be addressed
MUSCAT: The 1st Oman E-Media
Conference organised by Future Event
Management Company (FEMC), in
collaboration with the Information
Technology Authority (ITA), will kick-off
today at Crowne Plaza Hotel Muscat.
The three-day conference will be opened
under the auspices of Shaikh Khalid bin
Omar al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service.
Ali bin Rashid al Meta’eni, CEO of FEMC,
said that the conference aims to highlight
the latest developments in e-media in the
world and on how to take advantage of those
changes, raising awareness of how to use
the e-media and addressing the challenges
it faces, as well as highlighting the national
and social responsibility of the e-media in the
Sultanate.
— ONA
TRADITIONAL BOAT RACE
The traditional boat race organised by the Directorate of Sports Affairs in South Al Sharqiyah kicked-off under the auspices of Salim bin Mohammed al Ni’aimi,
Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, yesterday. — ONA
Abandoned cars
FROM PAGE 1
They may also park up vehicles that are awaiting repair or
have been involved in an accident.
Abandoned vehicles are generally in a poor condition
although this is not always the case. Even the finest
automobiles ever made are now being abandoned by citizens
and expatriates. “We don’t consider expensive or inexpensive
vehicles while removing them — they are all abandoned,” said
an official at the municipality.
The official said it was difficult to explain the reasons behind
the recent increase in vehicles being abandoned, but he felt his
department had become more efficient at locating and towing
them away. With big loans to repay to the financial companies
and banks, many car owners abandon their vehicles catch the
next flight never to return.
According to an executive at the recovery section of leading
financial company in Muscat, there are several cases when cars
are abandoned for failing to repay loans.
“We confiscate those cars, if located, with the help of the
Royal Oman Police. But there are also several cases of missing
cars which are not traced. They remain as unclaimed and
abandoned”, he says.
An official at the ROP Public Relation Department said,
“the police take action against owners if cars are found parked
or abandoned at roadsides hindering traffic. Also we act when
we receive complaints from residents about these kinds of
vehicles.”
Wadi Kabeer is becoming the prime location where the
highest number of abandoned vehicles are found for its
proximity to auto workshops.
Residents complain about the unsightly vehicles hogging
parking spaces at various areas in the city.
Unwanted vehicles are a big problem, especially if they
have been left in allocated parking spots or are dumped in
full view of the community, said Abdul Waheed al Lawati, a
resident in the area.
“Many times these cars have been there so long that the
tyres have lost air and they are caked in dust. Then it’s only a
matter of time before someone scribbles something offensive
on the windscreen,” he added.
OMAN
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
omandailyobserver
3
Was Muscat hit by
a tsunami in 1723?
FROM PAGE 1
RO 100,000 to boost Oman
Down Syndrome Association
LAKSHMI KOTHANETH
MUSCAT
March 21: The Parent Support Group for
Children with Down Syndrome officially
became an association registered by the
Ministry of Social Development on the
Global Day for Down Syndrome.
The logo and the website were
launched at a function held at the Al
Sawadi Beach Resort and Spa, Barka,
under the auspices of His Highness
Sayyid Asaad bin Tareq al Said, the
honorary Chairman of Oman Down
Syndrome Association.
Speaking on the occasion, HH Sayyid
Asaad announced the donation of RO
100,000 for the welfare of the Association.
“It was a wonderful surprise for all of
us and a great boost for the association.
He said the donation is to kick start the
work for the association. There is also a
plan for all the other regions to have mini
centers connected to the association
in their own wilayats,” said Ahmed bin
Mohammed al Jabri, the head of the
newly formed Oman Down Syndrome
Association (ODSA).
The focus is now to build the center
complete with furniture and equipment.
The emphasis is on specialists for
various therapies such as speech and
occupational as well as helping children
with learning difficulties.
“We need to see the adults with Down
Syndrome as well. We meet every year
when we celebrate March 21st. We have
met twins who are 27 years old, and
others in their 30s and 40s. We need
them to be in our association because we
need to learn from their experience.
We do not know if they have had early
intervention or maybe they coped on
their own with family support, but they
can also benefit from the association,”
added Al Jabri. Hatim al Abdulsalam,
from Oman LNG, Corporate Social
Responsibility, has been inspired by
the association, said: “To support the
community is extremely important. We
would like to be part of the journey from
the very beginning.
It is important that we are able to give
to an association in whatever way even
when we do not personally require their
assistance. I met a lot of people today
who do not have children with Down
Syndrome but they are here to support
the association.”
The parents are relieved that at the
center the children’s need is in focus.
“We want to give the children the
fundamental support because the aim
is not keep them in the center alone.
Our aim is to help them enter mainstream
schools because we do not want them to
be isolated from rest of the community.”
Lack of opportunities hamper children’s rehabilitation
KABEER YOUSUF
MUSCAT
attain adulthood.
“Some of our kids do have excellent
IQ and special skills but nobody is
March 21: While considerable attention willing to accommodate them with a
job and this scenario is hampering our
to physically disabled individuals
rehabilitation process,” says Shantal Abi
is being paid to, mentally disabled
Chebel, who runs the Hams al Atheer
children are facing a bleak future as
they are clueless how to earn a living to Rehab Centre in Muscat.
Speaking to the Observer on the
sustain life.
sidelines of the World Down Syndrome
Lack of employment opportunities
and established mindset of the society Day celebrations at Golden Tulip
Hotel yesterday, she added that these
are hampering the rehabilitation of
skills can be better utilised if they are
children with Down’s Syndrome in
offered a job with minimal supervision.
Oman, according to an expert.
Shantal herself is a mother of a Down
Although most of the kids with
Down’s Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy do Syndrome child. The Centre owned by
possess special skills and better IQ, they Khalid al Balushi accommodates 82 kids
with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy
find being left out as no employer is
willing to offer a placement when they and Autism.
“The only exception is a biscuit
manufacturing company which came
forward to offer job to a 16-year old
Omani boy with a regular job,” she
added.
She further noted that more
attention to these kids who are born
slow learners will help them lead a
better life.
“I am receiving no help or support
from the outside world for my three
Cerebral Palsy children aged 16, 12 and
6 and I am devoted to the daily affairs
of my kids,” Makkiya Saeed Abdullah,
mother of three kids suffering from CP
said.
The event was supported by Golden
Tulip, OBM, Mini’s Boutique, and Dried
Lemon.
SOHAR rail and cargo plans gather pace
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
March 21: Plans for a world-class rail
terminal and rail links that will connect
global supply chains with SOHAR
Port and Freezone via the GCC Rail
project, have received widespread praise
from among thousands of government
officials, rail operators, and contractors
at this year’s Middle East Rail Exhibition,
the largest railway expo in the MENA
region, SOHAR Executive Commercial
Manager Edwin Lammers announced.
The efficiency and integration
of supply chains and the benefits of
transporting cargo through SOHAR
were also the subject of approvals and
praise from participants engaging with
the Omani port at The Cargo Show
MENA 2015, according to Lammers.
Both events were held simultaneously
at the Dubai International Convention
Centre, and drew large crowds of
admirers interested to find out more,
Lammers explained.
“The GCC Rail project has received
worldwide coverage in the media
and attracted the gaze of government
planners and railway developers from
around the world. This was reflected in
the high levels of interest in the terminal
planned for SOHAR at the Middle East
Rail Exhibition, and as the gateway
to the Gulf, many of the expo’s 6,000
visitors were keen to find out how they
can utilise the terminal to boost their
business.”
The Oman leg of the GCC Railway
will connect all of the Gulf state’s
logistics hubs but will be predominantly
used to get goods in and out of
consumer markets in UAE and Saudi
Arabia, through SOHAR. The main
rail section from SOHAR will stretch
across 6 viaducts, 2 tunnels, and 122
kilometres of track before reaching
UAE. Meanwhile, as one of the world’s
largest port and freezone development
sites, Lammers noted, the multimodal
nature of SOHAR and its position
outside the Strait of Hormuz proved to
be a point of interest.
“We have been inundated with
enquiries from both shows. Participants
were particularly interested in the
time and cost savings associated with
distributing cargo from outside the Strait
of Hormuz, the status of the hundreds
of kilometres of expressways being built
across Oman, and how each element
of our multimodal infrastructure at
SOHAR will offer access to the region’s
big consumer markets.
“While faster road and new air
transportation links are now available
after the opening of Sohar Airport,
rail holds the most promise in terms
of cargo volumes and efficiency. When
fully operational, the transport time for
cargo departing SOHAR railway station
for the UAE border will be fixed at
around 1 hour,” he said.
Of significant interest to experts will be a paper detailing
newly unearthed evidence of a monster tsunami that may
have battered the ancient coast of Muscat in 1723. The paper
is based on research jointly conducted by Prof Thomas
Vernet of Institut des Mondes Africains (Université Paris)
and Prof Goesta Hoffman of the German University of
Technology in Oman (GUtech). Citing recent research into
Portuguese and French archival records, the paper reveals
that a powerful natural disaster may have hit the port of
Muscat and its vicinity in August 1723.
Ships are known to have sunk amid heavy destruction
wrought along the coast as a result of flooding triggered by
a rise in sea levels.
The records also associate this event with an earthquake
which destroyed villages, it said.
“Thus the evidence strongly suggests that a tsunami – so
far unrecorded — occurred at that time. Yet the reliability
needs to be discussed from a historical point of view and
in the light of recent geological research on paleo-tsunami
in Oman, as well as climatic data on tropical storms in the
North-western Indian Ocean,” the researchers stated.
Stressing the need for further studies into the event, the
paper added: “Geological evidence of past extreme wave
events mainly relies on fine grained overwash deposits as
well as boulder deposits along the shore. Dating of these
deposits is associated with uncertainties that complicate a
direct correlation with historical evidence.
For the moment we do not have a direct correlation of
the 1723 event with the geological record. We therefore
conclude that the preservation potential of tsunami
deposits is limited and that palaeo-tsunami research
requires a trans-disciplinary approach.”
The 1723 event precedes the earliest known tsunami
dating to 1945 when a major earthquake in the eastern
part of the Makran Subduction Zone caused hundreds
of confirmed fatalities in what is now Pakistan, while
triggering a sea surge off Oman’s eastern coast centring on
Sur.
In addition to Makran tsunamis, Oman is also subject to
far-field tsunamis from the Sunda Trench, tropical cyclones,
and flash floods. Tropical cyclones in Oman caused more
than 60 fatalities in 2007 (Gonu) and an estimate 727
deaths in 1890, according to experts.
To help guard against water-related hazards, a number
of coastal sea level gauges have been installed at major ports
around the Sultanate as part of the National Multi Hazard
Early Warning System Network.
Survey unearths marine artefacts
in Oman’s northern coastal area
MUSCAT: The team conducing marine and coastal survey
has concluded the first phase of its mission at Al Duqm in
January this year.
The marine and coastal survey project is overseen by the
Ministry of Heritage and Culture in cooperation with the
maritime archaeologists from the Western Australian Museum and the University of Southampton.
The survey targeted area adjoining the Special Economic
Zone Authority of Duqm (SEZAD) and it has resulted in
the discovery of several archaeological sites in the northern
coastal area and to the south of SEZAD.
— ONA
4
omandailyobserver
OMAN
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
Passenger traffic at Muscat
and Salalah airports soars
BOOMING CITIES: The increase in arrival and departure is attributed to the
rise in number of flights operated by existing airlines
Conference to showcase readiness
to shift to new Muscat airport
MUSCAT: The total passenger traffic
(including transit & transfer passengers)
through Muscat International Airport
has increased by 8 per cent to 1,597,660
passengers until February 2015
compared to 1,474,451 passengers for
the same period of 2014.
Statistics show an increase in the
arrival passengers by 8 per cent to
809,283 passengers until February this
year comparing to 747,361 passengers
for the same period of the year 2014.
The number of departing passengers
has also increased by 8 per cent to
778,092 passengers until February this
year comparing to 720,046 passengers
for the same period of the year 2014.
The increase in arrival and departure
traffic into Muscat International Airport
Salalah Airport has
witnessed an increase by 11
per cent in the total number
of arriving and departing
passengers to 145,947
passengers
is attributed to the increasing in the
number of flights operated by existing
airlines, such as Fly Dubai, Fly Emirates,
Pakistan International Airlines and Air
Arabia.
In terms of air cargo traffic at
Muscat International Airport, aviation
statistics indicate an increase in the
total unloaded and loaded freight by 6
per cent, with total shipment (19,419
tonnes) compared to (18,268 tonnes) in
the same period in 2014.
Salalah Airport has witnessed an
increase by 11 per cent in the total
number of arriving and departing
passengers to 145,947 passengers until
February 2015 compared to 131,025
passengers for the same period of 2014.
As for the movement of air cargo
at Salalah Airport, cargo traffic has
increased by 14 per cent, bringing the
loaded and unloaded cargo to (246
tonnes) until February 2015 compared
to (216 tonnes) in the same period in
2014.
— ONA
MUSCAT: The Sultanate will host an
international conference on operational
preparedness and shifting to new
airports on March 25.
The conference will bring together
companies involved in the management
and operation of some of the best regional
and international airports to review their
experiences and benefit from the success
factors that ensured smooth shift to new
airports.
The conference will also review the
challenges, difficulties and gaps that led
to failure in shifting to actual operation
of some airports.
The idea of the conference emanated
from Oman Airports Management
Company’s (OAMC) desire to review
similar international experiences.
OAMC seeks to achieve the maximum
benefit from this conference by reviewing
these experiences, enhancing the strength
areas and eliminating the weakness areas
by developing preset plans that ensure
smooth shift to actual operation stage,
full readiness and sustainable success of
the different aspects of operations.
The conference provides an ideal
opportunity to exchange expertise
among participants who represent new
and under way airports.
It will also display its readiness to
OAMC seeks to achieve the
maximum benefit from this
conference by reviewing
these experiences,
enhancing the strength
areas and eliminating
the weakness areas by
developing preset plans
that ensure smooth shift to
actual operation stage
start actual operations of the airport,
its experiences and the developments it
has made in terms of rehabilitating its
human resources and using of the best
technologies in the world in the airport
management field. It will also review the
programmes it has implemented and its
experiences in general to get feedback
from participants.
The conference combines the
international and local experiences
together. The aviation and airport world
has become an important industry
interested in opening new airport
operations. OAMC will be involved in
the management of five new airports in
the Sultanate, some have been completed
and some are under way.
A number of executives from elite
international airports and airport
management companies will take part in
the conference alongside with a number
of international civil aviation consultants,
public officials and air carriers operating
in the Sultanate.
There is a confirmation for
participation from a group of officials
and companies operating several global
airports, such as officials from Heathrow
Airport in London, Munich Airport
and Berlin Airport in Germany, Zurich
Airport in Switzerland and Dublin
Airport in Ireland, as well as speakers
representing regional airports from
Dubai Airport, Abu Dhabi Airport and
Doha Airport, in addition to speakers
from Delhi Airport in India.
— ONA
The village of Miqel hosts several tourist sites, such as Miqel Cave which is one of the rare and famous caves in the Sultanate
Ponds in Wadi Bani Khalid attract tourists year-round
WADI BANI KHALID: The Wilayat
of Wadi Bani Khalid hosts various
tourism sites that attract tourists yearround. The weather is cold in winters
and mild in summers.
The ponds located in the village
of Miqel, which lies 8 km away from
the centre of the Wilayat of Wadi
Bani Khalid, are a tourist destination
throughout the year.
The ponds have become the emblem
of the Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid.
The ponds are more than 100 metres
in length and more than 8 metres in
depth in some places.
Several Aflaj “traditional irrigation
system or water channels” of the
ponds branch to water many farms
and pass through the channels up to 4
kilometres in length.
The water in the ponds is
inexhaustible, forming permanently
flowing rivers. The ponds are a
favourite place to swim and dive.
The village of Miqel hosts several
tourist sites, such as Miqel Cave, which
is one of the rare and famous caves in
the Sultanate.
It is approximately 1 mile walk from
the ponds. There is a rock in the cave
in the form of a ship called the “Noah’s
Ark.”
During the Blessed Renaissance
of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the
Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid, which
is 220 kilometres away from the
Governorate of Muscat, enjoyed like
all wilayats of the Sultanate, care and
attention through the provision of
services needed by the people of the
wilayat, such as hospitals and roads,
the most important road is the one
connecting the wilayat to Bidbid-Sur
main road.
Talal bin Khalfan al Shu’aibi,
Acting Director of the Department of
Tourism in the North Al Sharqiyah
Governorate, told Oman News Agency
(ONA) that there is a remarkable
increase in terms of tourists visiting the
ponds. In 2014 some 115,058 tourists
visited the spot compared to 110,538
tourists in 2013. The tourist peak is
usually during holidays.
— ONA
OMAN
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
UNIQUE EXPERIENCE: The national programme for CEOs to provide Omani private
sector with qualified and knowledgeable leaders
Omanising senior positions
contributes to labour market
MUSCAT: The website for the Public
Private Partnership Work Team,
under the national programme for
the CEOs, has started receiving the
applications for nomination for the
first batch 30 participants.
The turnout for application, which
is open from March 17 to April 11, has
been beyond expectations.
The selection process for the
programme, which was blessed by His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos, and which
is supervised by the Competence
Development Institute at the Diwan
of Royal Court, has been designed in
a way to be transparent and fair.
Before inviting applicants to have
interviews with the expert panel, the
application passes through many
stages including the first validation
stage to ensure that it meets the
requirements.
The programme provides unique
learning experience for the targeted
audience. It aims at providing the
Omani private sector with qualified
and knowledgeable leaders. The
programme comes in a bid to enhance
the performance and activate the role
played by the private sector in the
growth of the national economy. It
also aims at enhancing the efficiency
of the national manpower who hold
senior and decision-making positions.
The national programme for the
CEOs uses three main methods.
The first one is a twelve-month long
theoretical programme, divided into
six training units, that covers the
latest ideas and researches related to
leadership.
The second method includes
practical application of the theoretical
study. This application focuses on
developing draft strategic projects for
the Sultanate.
The third method provides
a platform through which the
programme’s participants and others
can exchange ideas and views that
may develop this promising sector.
— ONA
24 UK universities to take part in GHEDEX
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
March 21: Encouraging the students
from Oman to opt the United Kingdom
as their education destination, more
than 24 Universities from UK have
confirmed their participation at
Global Higher Education ExhibitionGHEDEX to be held under the
patronage of the Oman’s Ministry of
Higher Education from April 20 to 22
at the Oman International Exhibition
Centre (OIEC) Seeb.
The
Confirmed
universities
include the University of Strathclyde;
University of Bristol; University of
Stirling; University of Portsmouth;
University of Reading; University
of Bradford; Into University
Partnerships UK & USA; University of
Leeds; University of York; University
of Lincoln; Newcastle University;
University of Wales Trinity Saint
David; Cambridge Education Group;
University of Exeter; Queen Margaret
University, Edinburgh; University of
South Wales; University of Derby;
Cardiff Metropolitan University;
Southampton Solent University;
University of East London; Liverpool
John Moores University; Student
Connect
Solutions;
Coventry
University and Oxford Brookes
University.
Students seeking to pursue a UK
degree and enhance their career
prospects must make it a point to visit
GHEDEX, Oman’s premier exhibition
for opportunities in higher education,
a press note has said.
“We have over 200 programmes
at the University of Lincoln, UK,
and we benefit from very high
student satisfaction rates in the UK.
Consequently, we have programmes
at Undergraduate and Postgraduate
levels [both taught and research
based]. Our university offers a really
good chance for students from
Oman to come and study in the UK.
The University of Lincoln, UK, also
offers international scholarships for
postgraduate students. Students are
welcome to learn more about our
Global Postgraduate Scholarships and
International Alumni Scholarships
at GHEDEX”, Andrew Reader,
International Officer, and University
of Lincoln.
Last year, over 490,000 students
from 200 nations studied in the UK
for their higher education. Figures
released by UCAS towards the end of
January this year, also indicated that
the number of international students
applying to UK undergraduate
courses is rising. Overall, there were
592,290 applications — the highest
number ever recorded. Keeping these
figures in mind,
“Education and training are
increasingly important to Oman,
as the nation pushes ahead with
Omanisation and efforts to diversify
the economy away from dependency
on Oil & Gas. This presents many
opportunities for UK educational
institutes to support some of these
objectives through the provision of
top quality education and training.
The warm and close friendship which
the UK and Oman enjoy today is,
in no small part, due to the many
educational and training exchanges
between the two countries down the
years,” says Lola Lam, Commercial
Attaché, UK Trade & Investment,
British Embassy in Muscat.
Adding more to this view, Raihan
Alavi, MA; MBA, Educational
Strategist (London) & Director,
Student Connect Solutions (UK) Ltd
said that collaboration programmes
should be more global in their
functionality.
“There should be a willingness
for global leaders in education to
work more closely with established
institutions in developing countries.
This is a broader topic of discussion
and we can be approached directly in
this regard.”
Malayalam Wing elects
new executive body
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
March 21: Malayalam Wing,
a linguistic socio-cultural
body under the umbrella of
Indian Social Club (ISC),
has elected a new 9-member
body of executive members
for the year 2015-2016.
The
new
members
include
Gopalankutty
Karnavar (Convener); K A
Thajuddeen (Co-Convener);
Sreekumar S (Treasurer);
Hema
Malini
Suresh
(Secretary - Women’s Wing);
Sreekumar P (Cultural
secretary), Pappachan P
Daniel (Literary and Social
Welfare Secretary); Sunil
Kumar K (Music and Drama
Secretary); Babu Thomas
(Entertainment and Sports
Secretary); and Pranadeesh P
(Children’s Wing Secretary).
“We have a lot to go in
terms of social and cultural
activities and we will try
our level best to impart the
best possible service to the
community in particular
and the various societies
in general,” Gopalankutty
Karnavar told the media.
Apart from the various
annual socio cultural events,
the new committee will be
identifying various areas
where it can be a name to
reckon with, according to the
new members.
A massive blood donation
campaign and medical
checkup will be conducted on
May 1 to support the Bausher
blood bank while the annual
youth festival with various
entertainment and other
activities will be held in May
where more than 1,500 adults
and children will brush their
talents at this mega event.
The Onam celebrations
will be held on September
17, 18 and 19 with a gamut of
colourful events and a grand
feast where celebrities from
India will be the chief guests,
the committee members
further said.
omandailyobserver
5
Eurodiet medical conference
tackles weighty problems
Dr Dominique Calvao,Thomas Pinon and Thanae Pachiyannakis.
MUSCAT: The well-attended Eurodiet
Medical Conference held recently at the
Crowne Plaza Muscat attracted doctors
from Oman’s public and private healthcare
facilities.
As KIMS Oman hospital was the first
Eurodiet centre in Muscat, the organisers
invited specialists in internal medicine, Dr N
S Joseph and Dr Shashiraj Eswarappa, who
have been prescribing Eurodiet for the past 2
years, to their patients.
Medical Director, Dr Dominique Calvao,
from the head office in Luxembourg, a
specialist in nutrition and hydrology and
a graduate of psychology and sociology,
was the speaker at the event — focusing
on weight loss and management utilising
the unique and only medically supervised
programme of its kind in the Gulf ‘The
Eurodiet Method’. He was accompanied by
Thomas Pinon, Global Managing Director of
Eurodiet, and Thanae Pachiyannaki, General
Manager — Oman.
Dr N S Joseph
Dr Joseph noted, “We have had hundreds
of patients on Eurodiet who have lost up
to 30kg in 5 months with no side effects,
but on the contrary they have improved
and controlled blood pressure, sugar and
cholesterol.”
Rawad al Sakakiny, a Eurodiet patient,
of Dr Eswarappa from KIMS, said, “My
biggest problem with other dieticians and
centres was that they could not help me with
vegetarian meals and due to being a multiple
sclerosis patient with limited mobility, I was
having trouble losing weight. I have lost 20
Kg with the Eurodiet method and I loved it.”
In attendance from KIMS was Jishy
Seby, Clinical Dietician, who supports and
prescribes Eurodiet.
The new centre in Adaiba, Hatat Polyclinic,
has resumed. Dr Anindya Choudhury,
senior dermatologist, and his team will be
prescribing the Eurodiet method for people
within that location. The main office is
located in Al Qurum Gardens Complex.
Rawad al Sakakiny, a Eurodiet patient.
6
INDONESIA’S WIDODO TO VISIT JAPAN, CHINA
S U N DAY l M A R C H 2 2 l 2 0 1 5
Indonesian President Joko Widodo will
kick off a visit to Japan and China at the
weekend, an official said Friday, seeking
fresh investment from Asia’s two biggest
economies to boost slowing growth.
Widodo, who took office in October, will
arrive in Tokyo on Sunday for a four-day
state visit, during which he will meet
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as well as
Japanese businessmen.
ASIA
Singapore on edge as Lee Kuan Yew’s condition worsens
Singapore: The health of independent
Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew
has worsened, the government said on
Saturday as one of the foremost figures of
20th century Asia struggled with severe
pneumonia.
The 91-year-old, widely credited with
transforming the city-state into one of
Asia’s wealthiest economies, has been
in the Singapore General Hospital for
more than six weeks and is being aided
by mechanical ventilation, a form of life
support.
“Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s condition has
worsened,” the office of his son, Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said in a terse
midday statement.
The government said earlier in the
week that he was already critically ill.
Floral tributes and cards dedicated
to Lee have started to pile up outside
the hospital as Singaporeans showed
affection for the authoritarian leader who
modernised Singapore but is criticised by
rights advocates for his iron-fisted rule.
“I cannot bear just sitting at home and
listening to the news, not being able to
do anything,” retiree Phua Siew Lian, 88,
said as she set a bouquet of sunflowers
at a designated spot outside the hospital
building where Lee is being cared for
under tight security.
Lee was prime minister from 1959,
when colonial ruler Britain granted
Singapore self-rule, to 1990. He led
Singapore to independence in 1965 after
a brief and stormy union with Malaysia.
His deteriorating health has cast a pall
ABE FIRST JAPAN PM TO ADDRESS US CONGRESS
over preparations for the city-state’s
50th anniversary of independence on
August 9, an event known as “SG50”.
Some Singaporeans were also seen at the
hospital saying quiet prayers after leaving
flowers. The prime minister posted the
latest health bulletin on his Facebook
page and was immediately flooded with
messages of support for him and his
father. He visited a community centre
where residents offered tributes and
encouragement for the patriarch to fight
on. “Dear Papa, Hope you get better!,”
he wrote on a banner. On the elder Lee’s
watch, Singapore became a financial hub
and high-tech industrial centre despite
its lack of natural resources, and Western
leaders often sought his views on Asian
politics.
— AFP
Shinzo Abe is expected to become the
first Japanese prime minister to address
a joint session of the US Congress next
month, crowning a visit focused on
deepening trade and military ties.
Abe is due to make the speech during
a trip to Washington at the end of next
month, diplomatic and legislative sources
said, with an official announcement
expected soon.
Beijing says Winter Olympics
bid a spur to fight worst smog
BEIJING: Beijing’s bid to host the 2022
Winter Olympics will spur the city in
its fight against a serious air pollution, a
senior official said on Saturday, putting
an overall figure of $7.6 billion on efforts
to tackle the issue.
While Beijing made strenuous efforts
to clean up its air in time for the 2008
summer Olympics, the city still suffers
from terrible smog, so bad on occasion
that it forces the airport to shut and
envelops everything with a thick,
choking haze.
“I think this is a fact — Beijing’s air at
the moment has a problem.
We all know it. This is a problem
that we have great determination to
resolve,” Wang Hui, spokeswoman
for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter
Games Bid Committee, told a news
briefing. “The measures we have taken
are the toughest,” she added, speaking
ahead of a visit to China next week by The govt is spending $7.6
an International Olympic Committee billion to fight smog, an
(IOC) evaluation team.
official said added, without
The government is spending 47
billion yuan ($7.6 billion) — organisers providing a timeframe or
later said the figure was actually 48 linking it directly to the bid
billion yuan — to fight smog, she added,
without providing a timeframe or
linking it directly to the bid.
“Applying for the Winter Olympics in Beijing, and this will be conducive to
will promote the tackling of air pollution our bid,” Wang said.
PITCH FOR PEACE: Summit soon to calm regional tensions rooted in territorial and historical disputes
S Korea, Japan, China agree to resolve row
SEOUL: The foreign ministers of South
Korea, Japan and China agreed on
Saturday that a summit meeting of their
leaders, on hold for nearly three years
because of tensions over history and
territory, should be held soon to mend
the countries’ ties.
The ministers were meeting, also
for the first time in three years, in a
bid to restore what had been a regular
forum to discuss cooperation until it
collapsed over what Seoul and Beijing
saw as Japan’s reluctance to own up to its
wartime past.
“Based on the accomplishments
achieved through this meeting, the three
ministers decided to continue their
efforts to hold the trilateral summit at
the earliest convenient time for the three
countries,” a joint statement after the
meeting said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
said at a joint news conference much
depended on Japan proving it was
push to recast Japan’s war record in a
less apologetic tone as an attempt to
whitewash history, and have urged him
to uphold former leaders’ statements of
apology.
Abe has recently shown signs of
softening his stance, helping to ease
relations.
Meeting on the sidelines earlier, Wang
expressed hope South Korea would join
the China-led Asian Infrastructure
Investment Bank (AIIB), and South
Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se
said Seoul was reviewing its options, a
South Korean official told Reuters.
Japan has yet to show serious intent
(R-L) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byungof joining the institution, Wang said.
se and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida during the 7th trilateral foreign
“It’s an Asian infrastructure investment
ministers meeting in Seoul on Saturday. The foreign ministers of South Korea,
China and Japan met for the first time in nearly three years in Seoul.
— AFP bank, and Japan is an important part
of Asia,” he told reporters. “We can
serious about recognising its wartime the past,” he said referring to the end of cooperate together.”
Japan and South Korea, major
past. “The war has been over for 70 World War Two.
years, but the problem with history
South Korea and China see regional US allies along with Australia,
remains a present issue, not an issue of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s are notable absentees from the bank.
FESTIVAL CHEER
Japan says it is reviewing the prospect
of joining.
The United States, worried about
China’s growing diplomatic clout,
questions whether the bank will have
adequate governance and environmental
and social safeguards.
Japan-China ties remain frosty
despite Abe meeting Chinese President
Xi Jinping for the first time last
November.
South Korean President Park Geunhye has yet to have a two-way summit
with Abe.
Both China and Japan claim a tiny
group of islets in the East China Sea,
while South Korea and Japan have a
separate island dispute.
South Korea’s foreign ministry said
after Yun’s two-way meetings with Wang
and with Japan’s Fumio Kishida that
they agreed to cooperate on “cutting
off advances in (North Korea’s) nuclear
capability.”
— Reuters
Average levels of hazardous airborne
particles known as PM2.5 stood at
85.9 microgrammes per cubic metres
in 2014, down four per cent compared
with the previous year, but still far
higher than the national air quality
standard of 35 microgrammes.
Beijing plans to bring readings
down to 60 by 2017, the municipal
environmental bureau said earlier this
year. However Wang denied that the
government had taken any special
measures to ensure clean air for the
IOC team’s visit, such as ordering an
emergency shut down of factories,
which often happens over important
international events in Beijing.
“I think this is a rational assumption,
but it’s not the case.
When the IOC evaluation team
come, we want them to see a natural
Beijing and Zhangjiakou,” she said,
referring to the nearby city jointly
bidding with the capital for the Games.
With South Korea’s Pyeonchang hosting
the 2018 Winter Games and Tokyo the
2020 Summer Games, the odds of Asia
getting a third successive Olympics had
initially seemed remote.
But only Beijing and Kazakhstan’s
Almaty have been left in the 2022 race
though neither city is a winter sports
powerhouse.
— AFP
Indonesia source
of third-highest
emissions globally
JAKARTA:
Indonesia’s
high
deforestation rate, land clearing and
fires have led to carbon emissions
that rank third-highest in the world,
a United Nations official said on
Saturday. Indonesia is experiencing
deforestation rates of about 680,000
hectares per year and high rates of
biodiversity loss, the UN’s Food
and
Agriculture
Organisation
representative said.
Mark Smulders said Indonesia’s
forests cover half of the country’s land
surface, it played a critical role in the
country being more resilient to climate
change. Smulders said Indonesia’s
alarming deforestation is drawing
international attention as it contributes
significantly to the world’s supply of
oxygen. The government pledged in
2009 to cut greenhouse gas emissions
by 26 per cent unilaterally and by 41
per cent with international support by
2020.
— dpa
“When girls get educated... that gives them the tools to speak up”
Michelle urges Cambodian girls
to hold leaders accountable
Residents fly a kite depicting a dragon to celebrate the Longtaitou Festival, at a park in Shenyang, Liaoning province on
Saturday. Longtaitou, which means dragon raising its head, is a traditional Chinese festival held on the second day of the
second month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which falls on Saturday this year.
— Reuters
SIEM REAP: Michelle Obama called
on schoolgirls to stay in school to push
for equality and hold their leaders
accountable on Saturday during the
first trip by a sitting US president’s wife
to Cambodia.
The First Lady is visiting Cambodia
— ruled by strongman Prime Minister
Hun Sen for the last thirty years — to
highlight what she has described as a
“crisis” in women’s education with 62
million girls around the world denied
schooling, primarily for economic or
cultural reasons.
“When girls get educated, when
they learn to read and write and think,
that gives them the tools to speak up
and talk about injustice and demand
equal treatment,” she said in a speech
to Peace Corps volunteers in Siem
Reap.
— AFP
US First Lady Michelle Obama with a guide during her visit to Angkor Wat temple
in Siem Reap province on Saturday.
— AFP
SUBCONTINENT
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
Kabul, IMF agree on vision for
overhauling Afghan economy
WASHINGTON/KABUL:
Afghanistan agreed with officials from the
International Monetary Fund on the
country’s plans to boost tax revenue,
fight corruption and build a stronger
financial system, the IMF has said.
The agreement does not entail
financial assistance but shows that
officials in Kabul and the IMF are on the
same page over targeted policy changes,
from better control of the budget to
stronger bank supervision.
Afghanistan’s government relies
heavily on foreign donors and an IMF
official said the plans aim to improve
economic stability and “facilitate
international donor support.”
“Substantial
grant
financing
from donors will be needed over the
medium term to finance Afghanistan’s
development and security needs,” Paul
Ross, who led the IMF’s mission to
Kabul, said in a statement.
Many Afghan institutions have
struggled over the last year amid
a months-long election crisis and
uncertainty
over
whether
the
withdrawal of most foreign combat
troops will lead to more violence and
territorial gains by the Taliban.
Meanwhile, Col Brian Tribus, a
spokesman for Resolute Support, the
new non-combat Nato mission that
launched in January, said the United
States’ use of air power in Afghanistan
in the first two months of 2015 was
its lowest in five years, as the reduced
international military coalition sharply
cut battlefield aid to Afghan security
forces.
The reduction reflects the smaller
US role in its longest war, even as
Washington mulls slowing down
the planned drawdown of American
troops.
None of the 503 air support sorties
by American air assets this year have
been flown to support Afghan security
forces in battle, a coalition spokesman
said.
CALL TO STOP VIOLENCE
“The vast majority of those missions
were in support of the US counterterrorism mission,” Col Brian Tribus
wrote in an e-mail.
The US-led coalition recorded
36 “weapon releases” by aircraft in
February and 40 in January. That
compares with a peak of 1,043 weapon
releases in October 2010, military data
show.
Of the roughly 10,000 American
troops left in Afghanistan, most are in
a training and advising role, with about
1,800 designated for missions to hunt
down al Qaeda and other militants.
The reduced US air support puts
pressure on the fledging Afghan Air
Force, which has just a fraction of Nato’s
former air power, to support Afghan
ground troops.
Afghan security forces faced heavy
casualties last year, and are bracing for
their first spring fighting season after
Nato’s 13-year combat mission officially
— Reuters
ended in December.
omandailyobserver
7
RINGING IN NEW YEAR
Afghans celebrate Nowruz to mark the Afghan New Year in Kabul on Saturday. Nowruz, one of the biggest festivals of the warscarred nation, marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year according to the Persian calendar.
— AFP
Sharif launches open skies policy
INCENTIVES: Govt announces zero taxation on investments in aviation sector
People protest on Saturday against what they believe to be violence inflicted on
students who were demonstrating against an education law at Letpadan on March
10 in Mandalay, Myanmar.
— Reuters
ISLAMABAD: The government of
Pakistan on Saturday launched what
it called a “liberal, bilateral open skies
national aviation policy”, announcing
various incentives to investors — among
them is zero taxation on investments in
the sector.
Under the National Aviation Policy
2015, launched by Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif, paid-up capital for an
airline operations has been enhanced
from Rs 100 million ($1 million) to Rs
500 million ($5 million) with an aim to
attract financially-sound investors in the
aviation sector.
A minimum of three airworthy
aircraft have been fixed for domestic and
five planes for international operations
for any airline company to operate.
Sharif termed it “a forward-looking
policy”, which will attract foreign
airlines and investment in the country’s
aviation sector.
Under the new regime, the maximum
aircraft age at the time of induction
has been fixed at 12 years. Any aircraft
reaching the age of 20 would have to be
replaced.
Inclusion of so many words on the Net in a single day is a new record
Bangladesh to add 400,000
new Bangla words to Google
DHAKA: The Bangladesh government
will add 400,000 new Bangla/Bengali
words to Google Translate on its
Independence Day on March 26 in a bid
to enrich the language on the Internet,
media reported on Friday.
“To put Bangla on top of everything,
we’re going to create history on the
Independence Day,” said State Minister
for Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed
Palak, according to a bdnews24.com
report.
“We’ll take Bangla on top by adding
400,000 words to Google Translate
on March 26 with participation from
everyone from home and abroad,” he
said.
The initiative, christened “Banglar
Jonnyo Char Lakh” (400,000 for
Bangla), is being jointly organised by
Bangladesh’s ICT division, Bangladesh
Computer Council and Google
Developer Group Bangla.
Palak said that the inclusion of so
many words on the Internet in a single
day would be a new record.
The state minister said that 65,000
Bangla words were added to Google
Translate on February 21, the second
highest after Spanish on that day.
Bangladesh Open Source Network’s
general secretary Munir Hossain said
that anyone could add new words or
sentences to it by going to the Google
Translate website.
“To put Bangla on top
of everything, we’re
going to create history
on the Independence
Day,” said State Minister
for Information and
Communication Technology
Zunaid Ahmed Palak. “We’ll
take Bangla on top by
adding 400,000 words to
Google Translate on March
26,” he added.
Google Translate is a free online
language translation service that
supports 90 languages, according to
Google Inc.
Palak said that about 4,000 people
would directly work at more than 50
points across Bangladesh on March
26 to add Bangla words to Google
Translate.
Volunteers from Australia, Portugal,
the US, Britain and other countries will
also join the effort.
Those interested to join the efforts
will have to get themselves registered.
Anyone who could add 1,000 new
Bangla words would get an electronic
certificate from Google, Palak said,
adding that the search engine giant
would publish the number of Bangla
words added to it on March 26.
Moreover, Google will also take the
person, who will add the maximum
number of Bangla words between
February 21 and April 14, on a threeday study tour to its Singapore office.
“(The) collection of Bangla words on
the Internet is not that rich even though
it is the seventh most spoken language
in the world,” Palak said.
“We can easily enrich Bangla on the
Internet by adding new words to Google
Translate,” he added.
— IANS
The government has also increased
the period of aircraft on wet lease
from 90 days to 180 days. However,
it has put a bar on the number of wetleased aircraft; stating that it should not
exceed more than 50 per cent of the fleet
capacity of the airline.
Finance minister Ishaq Dar, who was
present at the launching ceremony, said
that it has been decided in principle that
revenues will be taxed but, there would
be no taxes on investments in the sector.
The final decision will be taken in
the next budget due in June this year,
he added. Captain (Retired) Shujaat
Azeem, Special Assistant to Prime
Minister on Aviation, delineated the
salient features of the policy, which
included improving aviation safety and
security oversight, level playing field
for national airlines, open sky policy on
principle of reciprocity and outsourcing
terminal side of airports.
It also included making safety
Investigation Board independent,
establishment of cargo villages,
providing incentives on socio-political
routes and building state of art
infrastructure at all airports.
He said the government has tried to
give top priority to safety and security
of passengers, while making travel
affordable and easier.
In order to ensure effectiveness
and oversight of aviation safety and
security, regulatory and service provider
functions would be made independent
of each other in both Pakistan Civil
Aviation Authority and Airports
Security Force.
Safety Investigation Board would
be made independent and report to
Minister of Aviation to ensure that
findings and safety recommendations of
an investigation remain unbiased.
According to the draft of the policy,
airport infrastructure shall also be
modernised to meet future needs of
aircraft, passenger and cargo traffic.
It includes refurbishment of airport
buildings and rehabilitation of airside
infrastructure.
Chief Operating Officers (COO)
would be appointed at major airports.
The operational control of all agencies
working at airports like ANF, Customs,
and Immigration will be placed under
COO for efficient airport operations.
Scheduled routes to politically and
socially deprived locations have also
been mentioned in the new policy. The
operators will be offered an incentive by
waived-off fees and other allied charges
while operating to and from these
locations to make these routes feasible
for private sector.
The policy also puts emphasis
on up-gradation of air navigation
infrastructure and effective utilisation
of satellite based technology to improve
safety standards and future capacity
needs of air traffic.
— Internews
8
ANALYSIS
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
JOB HUNTING WAS
NEVER BEEN EASY
ABDULAZIZ AL JAHDHAMI
[email protected]
M
aking a living has never been an easy matter in life, especially nowadays as people
are struggling to get a decent job. Being an employee today is of high significance
as other life necessities which people cannot live without. It is as crucial as that is!
However, work is more than just about making a living; it’s fundamental to human
dignity, to people’s sense of self-respect as useful, independent and free people.
The real truth is that people make a living by what they get, but they make a life
by what they give. Having a job is a means to justify an end which is making a living
for people and their families. Making a living is always regarded the top priority in
our life in order to be man of dignity.
Today, getting a job is a big challenge for many young Omanis, both men and
women. Though there are thousands of vacancies, the competition among jobseekers is very tough indeed. Not only fresh graduates, but experienced ones, who
are not satisfied with their current jobs, are struggling to get rescued too by shifting
to another profession. Although they are more experienced employees, they strive
hard to get a substitute job.
Most of the employers claim that priority
Today, getting a job
is accorded to the job-seekers and fresh
graduates; it is really thrilling and appreciated is a big challenge
gesture. Undoubtedly, it is fair enough to offer for many young
the job-seekers a priority when conferring job
Omanis, both men
openings.
However, the number of jobs on offer is not and women. Though
equal to the number of job-seekers whom have there are thousands
spent years in the job hunting competition.
of vacancies, the
Thus, people are getting killed to get a job!
Sometimes, most of the presented jobs competition among
are insufficient to the job-seekers; either they job-seekers is very
are disqualified or over qualified for. The job
tough indeed.
conditions are sometimes not suitable and
ill-specified to match the specialisations of
graduates. For example, some grades allocated
for fresh graduates, but certain years of experience is required. How come an
employer looking for a fresh graduate seek experience. In contrast, employers
looking for experienced candidates, but offering low grades and unattractive
packages.
Such cases of job appointments are inconsistent and unjust. Accordingly, job
hunters sacrifice getting a better opportunity and accept such kind of unmerited
chances or keep their journey of chasing their dream jobs. Likewise, employers
might return empty handed as applicants reject the offered openings because of the
unappealing or unfair packages.
What is really worse when it comes to recruitment is the “Scratch my back,
I scratch yours” policy which is very common these days. Unfortunately, it’s
happening a lot as people are becoming more materialistic and dishonest. It’s really
injustice what we see very often; I wonder how they dare to deprive people from
their rights to get the job and get it to those disqualified ones or they play immoral
games among applicants.
I’m sure they get into such dirty games out of respect to other unfortunate
applicants; employers will never realise this unless they get into the shoes of those
applicants. Such employers carelessly lose and sacrifice qualified and honest
people for those ineligible ones who are given the rights and opportunities of
others. Unfortunately, such cases are being implemented when recruiting in both
government and private sectors.
Dear job-seekers, never say die to challenges no matter how hard they are; what
doesn’t break you, makes you strong. Have faith and confidence in yourself and
grab every opportunity emerges to you with both hands. Remember that
opportunities are never lost; someone will take the one you miss. It is true what
Alexander Graham Bell said: “When one door closes, another opens; but we often
look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one
which has opened for us.”
Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at a news conference during a summit in Brussels. — AFP
Time running out for Greece
G
The government’s cash balance slumped into a deficit in
reek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is set to make what
will likely to be the most difficult mission so far of his two the first two months of this year, according to data released
months in government when he travels to Berlin tomorrow by the country’s central bank this month.
Athens needs to have its new reform plans accepted by
for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Tsipras’ first visit to Berlin since winning power in its European partners to secure the remaining 7.2-billionJanuary comes amid signs of growing impatience among euro tranche of its international bailout to avert a default,
euro zone creditors regarding Greece’s bid to renegotiate its which would force Greece to exit the euro.
“We are taking (the Greek government) at its word,”
rescue package.
The Greek leader’s trip follows weeks of escalating Merkel said. “We will see what comes.”
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and
tensions between Germany and Greece after a war of words
that featured Athens’ demand that Berlin compensate the his Greek counterpart, Nikos Kotzias, are also to meet in
cash-strapped country for costs dating back to the Nazi Berlin today in an attempt to ease the tensions between
their two nations ahead of Monday’s talks between Merkel
occupation.
Tensions were ramped up even further last week after and Tsipras.
Merkel’s somewhat muted public
a German TV programme broadcast
stance on Greece is in contrast with the
a two-year-old video of Greek Finance
Greek Premier Alexis hardline position expressed by leaders of
Minister Yanis Varoufakis — who was
Tsipras makes his
her conservative-led coalition.
not in office at the time — graphically
“There can be no concessions,”
showing how indebted countries should
first visit to Berlin on
declared the parliamentary leader of
give Germany the middle finger.
Monday for talks with Merkel’s Christian Democrats, Volker
Varoufakis insisted it was a fake — a
German Chancellor
Kauder this week. “Greece has to pay its
claim denied by the producers of the
programme. But as Monday’s meeting
Angela Merkel, writes debts.”
Kauder’s remarks were also a sign of
with Merkel drew nearer, signs of a
ANDREW MCCATHIE how the political mood in Germany has
more conciliatory tone emerged from
shifted against Greece, with opinion polls
Athens as its government tries to lower
showing a majority of voters wanting
the temperature in fraught ties with the
Athens to exit the euro zone.
biggest European contributor to its bailout.
A poll released this month by Germany’s public
Merkel told the German parliament last Thursday she
broadcaster ZDF showed that 52 per cent of respondents
was looking forward to Tsipras’ visit to Berlin.
“We will have time to talk to each other in detail and believe Greece should leave the euro zone, while only 40
per cent say that it should remain.
perhaps also to argue,” she said.
An overwhelming majority of Germans, 80 per cent,
Tsipras, for his part, promised to draw up a new set of
reforms during a late night on Thursday meeting in Brussels said that Tsipras’ left-right government was not acting
“sincerely” in its dealings with European partners, while
attended by Merkel and other top European leaders.
However, the German chancellor said she did not expect only 11 per cent said the opposite.
For many Germans, Greece is a spendthrift southern
Tsipras to arrive in Berlin with the proposals.
After leaving the meeting in Brussels, Tsipras said he European state that, unlike them, has failed to face up to the
was now “more optimistic.” But pressure on Athens is often painful reforms needed to restructure its economy
and to knock its finances into shape.
mounting.
Beijing’s South China Sea strategy sparks US concern
C
hina’s construction projects to expand
small islands that it claims in the South
China Sea has provoked new discussion
in Washington. After several US senators
in a letter expressed alarm about China’s
actions earlier last week, the US State
Department agreed last Friday that such
action is destabilising.
The senators’ letter said China has been
reclaiming land in the Spratly archipelago
at an “alarming scope and pace” and
called on Secretary of State John Kerry
and Defence Secretary Ashton Carter for
a comprehensive US strategy to slow or
stop the work.
They wrote that China’s actions on
multiple islands “are a direct challenge
not only to the interests of the United
States and the region, but to the entire
international community.”
The reclaimed land gives China the
potential to expand its military reach,
including in the areas of command and
control and surveillance from the new
land features, the senators said.
The Philippines Star newspaper
reported
yesterday
that
Chinese
construction work is well advanced on at
least six Spratly reefs and includes ports
and fuel storage depots and possibly two
airstrips.
Four leading Republican senators,
including John McCain, chairman of
the Senate Armed Services Committee,
signed the letter.
State Department spokesman Jeff
Rathke said a response to the letter would
be forthcoming.
“We have consistently and frequently
raised with China our concerns over
its large-scale land reclamation, which
undermines peace and stability in
the South China Sea and more broadly in
the Asia- Pacific region,” Rathke said.
He said that the US was strengthening
its role as an Asian-Pacific power and
was taking “additional concrete steps” —
diplomacy, increased maritime security
cooperation and support for Southeast
Asian “claimants” — to support peace and
stability in the South China Sea.
The senators said they believed most of
China’s reclamation work had been done
in the past 12 months.
They referred specifically to Gaven
Reef, saying it had been expanded by
The letter said China has
been reclaiming land in the
Spratly archipelago at an
“alarming scope and pace”
and called on John Kerry for
a comprehensive strategy,
notes GRETEL JOHNSTON
114,000 square metres since March
2014, and to Johnson Reef, saying it was
previously a submerged feature and now
stands as a 100,000-square-metre island.
Fiery Cross Reef increased in size more
than 11-fold since August, they said.
Their letter acknowledged that other
states have built on existing land masses,
but said China is changing the size,
structure and physical attributes of land
features.
“This is a qualitative change that
appears designed to alter the status quo in
the South China Sea,” the letter said.
The senators suggested the US to
suspend some cooperation with China if
land reclamation activities don’t cease.
The senators wrote that the reclamation
complicates disputes over the archipelago
and runs contrary to calls from the US
and Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (Asean) for parties to exercise
self-restraint.
China claims nearly the entire South
China Sea, including several parts
administered by its Southeast Asian
neighbours.
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia,
Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping
claims on the potentially oil-rich islands.
China says its construction work “does
not target or affect anyone,” according to
the senators.
A file photo shows a Chinese fishing vessel sails by Fiery Cross Reef, background,
of the Spratly Islands in South China Sea. — AP
ANALYSIS
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
omandailyobserver
9
Exreme-ly Entertaining: Extreme Sailing in Oman!
O
RAY PETERSEN
[email protected]
ne of the things to be appreciated about Oman is that
there are a great many sporting and entertainment
opportunities for the sporting and social minded
among us. Since coming here we have been
entertained by Tom Jones, Westlife, Jose Carreras,
Bryan Adams, and most recently, the immensely
talented Ed Sheeran. That’s also ignoring the many
cultural performers seen on the busy Opera House
schedule.
My real passion though is sports, and over recent
weeks even, we have seen the Trans Hajar Mountain
Bike Challenge, and the road cycling Tour of Oman.
Both of these significant events in their respective
codes, as athletes vie for ranking points, and
performances, heading towards the Rio Olympics
next year.
I really like my golf! Love the Ryder Cup. Like
the fact that New Zealand now has a couple of
golfers fulltime on the United States PGA Tour, one
of whom, Danny Lee, is in the top 50 at present.
Of course, we also have Lydia Ko, the number one
ranked female golfer on the planet, and at just 17
years of age is in-Ko-mparable.
So it was no surprise to my family when a surprise
day out, with the promise of ‘doing something
different,’ saw us rock up at the Almouj Golf Club
last weekend. The big surprise was that it was not to
play golf, caddy for me, or wait while I played golf! only a few hundred yards away was soooooooooooo
It was a wee giveaway with all of the signboards and good!
The colours, and livery, of the yachts, especially
the hoardings, but all I got were questions such as
the globally recognised Red Bull, their massive sails
“What’s extreme sailing?”
I would love to play golf at the Wave links, but bursting with wind as they charge around a course
I can’t afford it. It’s a bit beyond my pay grade. But that is always within a stone’s throw. ‘Foiling’ on
only one hull, as they get up to
it definitely does appeal as a
maximum speeds, which on
neat little course, and of course,
this occasion were in the 16designed by the iconic Greg
Sure enough, the
18 knot range. You are simply
(the Shark) Norman, it’s never
Almouj GC was the
encouraged by your sense of
going to be too easy. One of the
spectator venue for
adventure to choose a team to
amazing things to consider is
support.
that it is constructed on such a
some of the most
I chose Gazprom (Team
narrow strip of land. It all looks
watchable, exciting
Russia) as they have a Kiwi,
pretty amazing though, and I’m
and intensely beautiful Phil Robertson, a Monsoon
sure I’ll get around to playing
it one day. Hmmm, maybe my
sporting events you are Cup, single-hulled champion,
as their helmsman. Meanwhile,
editor would like to “shout” me
ever likely to see.
Sasha chose The Wave, Muscat
a round?
(Omansail) because they had
Anyway, I digress. Sure
the only female involved, dual
enough, the Almouj GC was
Olympic Medalist Sara Ayton
the spectator venue for some of
the most watchable, exciting and intensely beautiful as their tactician. Most of those around us, among
sporting events you are ever likely to see. Extreme the spectators, appeared to have their loyalties firmly
Sailing by name, and often by nature is just simply so established as they sported caps, polo shirts and the
appealing! Perched on the foreshore, with the sleek like, identifying their allegiances.
I loved it! I want more of this! I held my breath
40ft catamarans, and slick crews strutting their stuff
in race one as Gazprom attacked the twin markers
out in front of us, then uttered a muted oath as SAP
(Denmark) with their orange and grey sail charged
across, forcing Robertson to take the then unfavoured left hand side back up to the top mark. All
team’s supporters would have had similar experiences
throughout the day, and that’s what makes this great!
Team Muscat possibly benefitted from some local
knowledge to take the overall Muscat event, but were
incredibly consistent, and fully deserved their result.
It also appeared however that a number of these
Formula One’s of the waves, have different optimum
conditions, as wind changes played havoc with the
efforts of some. I thought the craft were amazing, and
to see them close-up in the Wave Marina, was a real
eye-opener.
Sasha thought the ‘yachties’ were ‘extremely fit’
and as a former “topper Class’ sailor herself, was
able to appreciate the intensity of the sailing and
the competition, and has made me promise to keep
taking her out to sea. For me, as a former “X-Class”
competitor, it was a vicarious experience. One I can
easily get used to.
I can think of one improvement though from the
spectator’s perspective. Just how amazing would it be
if we could access the telemetry, and digital overview
via an app? Woooooooooo Hoooooooooooooo!
MATTER OF LUCK
BEN SIMON
N
igerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s rise to the top of his country’s ruthless
political world has been described as accidental — or simply a matter of luck.
The 57-year-old southern Christian — the first head of state from the oilproducing Niger Delta — was thrust into the presidency in 2010 following
the death of his predecessor Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a Muslim from the
north. The mild-mannered Jonathan, often seen with his trademark fedora
traditionally worn by Niger Delta natives, is from a family of canoe makers.
He became a zoology lecturer and worked on environmental issues before
entering politics in 1998.
“I personally call him the accidental president. It was chance, good luck,”
said Adewale Maja-Pearce, a Lagos-based writer and contributing columnist
for the New York Times.
“He was plucked from obscurity because he was considered pliable.”
As for his distinctive name, his late father was quoted as saying in a
biography of the president that he “called him Goodluck because although
life was hard for me when he was born, I had this feeling that this boy would
bring me good luck”.
His mother, Eunice, said although she had a history of lengthy labour in
childbirth stretching for several days, Goodluck was born in record time —
the very day she went into labour.
Fortune certainly seems to have favoured Jonathan as he grew older.
An unconfirmed report has long circulated in local media that Jonathan,
elected assistant senior prefect at his secondary school, grabbed the top post
when the head prefect was expelled.
His rise to the top was similarly fortuitous, becoming governor of
his native Bayelsa state in 2005 after his predecessor was impeached over
money-laundering charges in Britain. The night he was nominated by his
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Yar’Adua’s running mate before 2007
polls, many Nigerians had never heard of Jonathan.
In one of the US diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks, Jonathan
purportedly acknowledged his inexperience in a meeting with the US
ambassador while he served as acting president during Yar’Adua’s illness.
“I was not chosen to be vice-president because I had good political
experience,” Jonathan says. “There were a lot more qualified people around
to be vice-president.”
A magazine once described the Nigerian leader as “hardly a man to set
the pulse racing”. Though calm at public appearances, Jonathan heads a
nation plagued by a range of crises. Nigeria is consistently ranked as one
of the world’s most corrupt nations and the north is wracked by the brutal
Boko Haram insurgency.
A boy wounded in one of Friday’s suicide bomb attacks lies in a hospital bed in Sanaa. — Reuters
With Yemen attack, IS aims to eclipse Al Qaeda
B
y claiming its first attack in Yemen the IS
group is seeking to exploit the chaos gripping
the country and siphon support from the
world’s most fearsome al Qaeda branch,
analysts say.
Suicide bombings at two places frequented
by members of the Houthi in control of the
capital killed 142 people and wounded 351
on Friday in one of the deadliest extremist
attacks in Yemen’s history.
IS claimed responsibility, warning it was
“the tip of the iceberg” for Yemen.
In contrast, the country’s al Qaeda branch,
AQAP, issued a statement saying that it
avoided “targeting mosques and markets” to
protect “innocent people”.
The carnage in Sanaa came 48 hours
after IS claimed responsibility for an
attack on foreign tourists at the National
Bardo Museum in Tunis, in which 21 people
died.
Experts said the extremist group may
have been trying to give the impression that
it could launch a coordinated, region-wide
campaign of attacks.
IS “demonstrated in recent weeks its
ability to coordinate a vast expansion
movement, first in Libya, then Tunisia,
and finally Yemen,” said Jean-Pierre
Filiu, professor at the Sciences-Po institute in
Paris. He said the attacks suggested IS “wants
to show would-be fighters its ability to strike
the enemy more violently than AQAP could”.
“Already, whole sections of AQAP are
leaning towards IS,” he added.
Yemen has descended into chaos since
the 2012 ouster of longtime strongman Ali
Abdullah Saleh, and security has broken
down since Houthi fighters swept unopposed
into the capital last year.
The Houthis, allegedly supported by Saleh,
surrounded the presidential palace in Sanaa,
forcing President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi
to flee to the south in what Yemen’s Gulf
neighbours labelled an attempted coup.
The militia has met fierce resistance from
AQAP and tribal fighters after trying to push
further into central Yemen, and clashes have
left scores dead.
AQAP, considered by the United States to
be the network’s most dangerous franchise,
was formed in 2009 and has been responsible
for a string of devastating attacks on Yemeni
security forces in recent years.
It claimed responsibility for the bloody
January 7 attack in Paris on French satirical
magazine Charlie Hebdo.
But analysts say AQAP’s potency in Yemen
may have diminished since the country’s
descent into disarray.
IS, by comparison, has expanded rapidly
after seizing parts of Iraq and Syria last year,
receiving pledges of fealty from various
groups in Egypt and Libya, and now, allegedly,
offshoots in Tunisia and Yemen.
In spite of the severe rift that has formed
between IS and al Qaeda’s Syria branch Al
Nusra Front, AQAP last year called on people
to support IS in the Middle East, seen at the
time as a sign of deference from the Yemeni
organisation. AQAP has also been hit by
defections.
Its fighters from Dhamar and Sanaa
provinces claimed allegiance to IS last month
with the stated intention of attacking Houthis
The carnage in Sanaa came
48 hours after the IS claimed
responsibility for an attack on
foreign tourists at the National
Bardo Museum in Tunis, in
which 21 people died,
reports RENÉ SLAMA
who are viewed by the group as heretics.
“Since the Houthi militiamen took control
of the capital and a good part of the country,
al Qaeda lost credibility, having been unable
to defend some even provinces,” said Mathieu
Guidere, an expert in Islam at the University
of Toulouse.
IS meanwhile “has never hidden its desire
to expand into (the Arabian Peninsula), and
Yemen is a prime target as it is seen as the
birthplace of the Arabs,” he added.
Filiu warned that IS attacks in Yemen and
Tunisia in the space of a few days could be
just the beginning of the group’s next phase.
“My hunch is that this movement (into
the two countries), marked by a significant
acceleration, is the precursor to the resumption
of a terror campaign in Europe,” he said.
Hadi said the bombings that killed were
aimed at dragging the country into “chaos,
violence and internal fighting”.
In a letter to the families of the victims,
which also included 351 wounded, he
condemned the attacks as “terrorist, criminal
and cowardly”.
“Such heinous attacks could only be
done by the enemies of life,” who want to
drag Yemen into “chaos, violence and internal
fighting,” said the letter released by his office
late last Friday.
“Extremism, represented by the armed
militia, and extremism, represented by al
Qaeda, are two sides of the same coin, who
do not wish good and stability for Yemen and
its people,” Hadi wrote.
The Houthis seized Sanaa in September,
and have since tightened their grip on
government installations, aided by forces
loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
But in their push to widen their control
zone to the south, they faced a fierce
resistance by tribes allied with Al Qaeda
fighters, who are active in Yemen.
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10
omandailyobserver
GOODWILL MOVE
Pakistan frees
57 fishing
boats
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistani
authorities on Saturday released
57 Indian fishing boats held for
nearly a year as a goodwill gesture
following a visit by New Delhi’s
top diplomat to Islamabad this
month.
The boats, which were being held
by the Pakistan Maritime Security
Agency (PMSA), were towed to the
two countries’ maritime border
before being taken over by Indian
authorities, Pakistan’s foreign
ministry said in a statement.
“As a goodwill gesture, the
government of Pakistan decided to
release 57 Indian fishing boats,” the
ministry said in a statement.
“While the PMSA had kept
the boats in good condition,
it extended full support to the
visiting Indian team in making
the boats seaworthy after minor
repairs.”
Fishermen
are
frequently
arrested along with their boats
by both India and Pakistan as the
maritime border in the Arabian
Sea is poorly defined, and many
fishing boats lack the technology
needed to be certain of their precise
location.
The fishermen often languish in
jail even after serving their terms
due to poor diplomatic ties between
the arch-rivals which mean
fulfilling official requirements can
take a long time.
Recent talks between the two
countries during Indian Foreign
Secretary
Subrahamanyam
Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad
were hailed as “positive and
— AFP
constructive”.
INDIA
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
2 terrorists ‘neutralised’ in J&K
GUN BATTLE ON: National highway closed; school examinations called off
SRINAGAR: Two militants opened fire
at an army camp in Jammu on Saturday
in the second attack against security
forces in two days, an army official said,
adding to pressure on the government
after it swore to end such violence.
The attack happened on the
Pathankote-Jammu National Highway,
around 20 km from the police station
in Kathua district where six people,
including two militants, were killed in a
militant attack on Friday.
Kathua district is about 15 km from
the border with Pakistan, which has
since long been blamed for pushing
militants into its part of the disputed
region.
A gun battle was underway but there
were no army or civilian casualties, said
army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel
Manish Mehta.
Security agencies believe that the
two militants are part of the same group
that carried out the attack on Friday.
“Terrorists opened fire from the
road and our guard retaliated. We have
cordoned the area and they are hiding
in nearby bushes adjacent to the army
camp,” Mehta said.
The national highway has been
closed and state school examinations in
the district have been called off.
The previous big attack in Kashmir
was in December, when militants struck
at an army camp in Uri, also near the
border with Pakistan but further up the
Kashmir valley.
“If this is indeed a terrorist strike,
it marks a sharp departure from past
attacks. Two attacks in two days in same
area of Jammu is very unusual,” Former
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister
Omar Abdullah said in a Twitter post.
Meanwhile reports from New Delhi
quoted the Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar as saying that two terrorists
who attacked an army camp in Jammu
and Kashmir’s Samba district have been
A security personel on alert during an encounter at Mehasar village in Jammu. — AFP
“neutralised”.
“I think two terrorists have been
neutralised,” Parrikar said, adding that a
search for more militants was still going
on.
Armed militants attacked the Mesar
camp of the 82 armoured regiment in
Samba district in the morning triggering
a gunfight with the security forces.
According to sources, the first
terrorist was killed around 10.30 am,
while the second was killed around 1
pm. The operations are continuing.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines
of a function here, Parrikar said there
were no casualties on the Indian side.
Officials in Jammu, however, said a
MARRIAGE WITH A DIFFERENCE
Brides and grooms take part in a mass marriage ceremony in Ahmedabad. A total of 112 couples took wedding vows during
the ceremony organised by a voluntary organisation. — Reuters
Security agencies believe
that the two militants are
part of the same group that
carried out the attack on
Friday. No army or civilian
casualities were reported
pilgrim and two soldiers were injured.
The minister said that “when the
morale of the opponents is down, they
make such attempts to boost it”.
Parrikar said intelligence has
improved over time and this year the
security forces have killed 26 terrorists
so far, with lesser number of casualties
on the Indian side.
“With such low loss, we inflict pain
on the other side,” he said.
“This is the best figure in many
years. On the army side of LoC (Line of
Control), exchange of fires is also low,”
he said.
The minister indicated these
attempts show desperation on Pakistan’s
side.
The minister argued that since the
region “is not uniform area”, terrorists
could infiltrate using the nullahs, adding
the water bodies make infiltration easy.
— Reuters/IANS
Oil distribution mechanism
impacting trade: Pump owners
KOLKATA: About 25,000 petrol-pump
owners on Saturday complained of the
growing discontent in the distribution
mechanism, with fluctuating oil prices
impacting their trade.
“Normally, oil price changes are
implemented at midnight either on
15th or 31st of every month. However,
in the past instances, the price changes
are happening at random dates flouting
this norm. This is resulting in petrolpump owners across India incurring
losses and shortage of oil supply at
times,” General Secretary of West
Bengal Petroleum Dealers Association
(WBPDA), Saradindu Pal said here.
WBPDA is part of All India
Petroleum Dealers Association, an
industry body representing over 25,000
petrol-pump owners in the country.
He said the procuring cost of oil is
becoming unstable in this process
and petrol-pump owners need to be
compensated.
“We have written a letter to Hindustan
Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum and
Indian Oil to compensate oil dealers in
this regard and awaiting reply,” he said.
He alleged when the oil prices rise,
oil public sector (PSU) companies stops
the supply of oil citing various reasons
but when the oil price decreases, the oil
sellers “forcefully” books an order.
“We demand that credit notes for
purchase made three days prior to price
change should be given”, he said.
Pal also said the ongoing system
of commission from the oil PSUs is
“unrealistic and rigid”.
“It must be transparent, prepared
with realistic figures and must be able
to effect changes without delay. All
businesses in the country today operate
on a percentage basis, taking care of the
changes as they happen like change in
wages, electricity costs, indirect taxes
and cess etc except for petroleum trade”,
he said.
— IANS
Strict law for illegal migration, agents on anvil
March 21: The unscrupulous recruiting
agents, involved in duping gullible jobseekers and sending them abroad with
false, fictitious and illegal employment
and travel documents, often leading to
their arrests, may soon be left facing
jail term up to five years back home
for the criminal offence of “human
smuggling.”
Amid the frequent reports of
maltreatment and exploitation of
migrant workers, often due to their
illegal emigration, the government is
mulling a new law to make recruiting
agents’ acts of sending people abroad on
false, fictitious and illegal employment
and travel documents as an offence of
human smuggling, entailing stringent
fine and punishment, including jail
term.
The new measure to safeguard Officials said the need
the migrant workers interest has to tackle menace of
been proposed in a new bill entitled
unscrupulous recruitment
“Draft Emigration Management Bill,”
seeking to replace the over 32-year-old agencies has been felt due
Emigration Act, 1983.
to repeated complaints
The Ministry of Overseas Indian
of job-seekers facing
Affairs officials said the need to
tackle the menace of unscrupulous exploitation by their
recruitment agencies has been felt in overseas employers or
wake of repeated complaints of jobfalling on the wrong side
seekers facing exploitation by their
overseas employers or falling on the of the law due to illegal
wrong side of the law due to their illegal migration status
migration status.
They said the old law, which the new
draft bill seeks to replace, has failed to
define “human smuggling” giving the
unscrupulous recruiting agents a wide
leeway to escape deterrent punishment crminalise human smuggling and
for heaping miseries on job-seekers.
exploitation of emigrants with stringent
The draft bill, however, seeks to penalties for offences.
Meerut massacre
case: 16 cops
acquitted
NEW DELHI: Sixteen policemen
were acquitted by a court here
on Saturday of the charges of
murder and other crimes in the
1987 Hashimpura massacre case
in which 42 people were killed in
Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut city.
Additional Sessions Judge
Sanjay Jindal acquitted 16
Provincial Armed Constabulary
(PAC) personnel of the charges
dealing with murder, attempt to
murder, tampering with evidence
and conspiracy.
The court gave them the benefit
of doubt and said lack of evidence
has failed to establish their
identification in the case.
There were 19 accused in the
case. However, three of them died
during the trial.
The killings had allegedly
occurred during riots in Meerut
city when the victims were picked
up from the Hashimpura Mohalla
of the city by personnel of the
41st Battalion of the PAC during a
search operation.
The charge sheet in the case
was filed before the Chief Judicial
Magistrate Ghaziabad in 1996. The
case was transferred to Delhi in
September 2002 on the order of the
Supreme Court following a petition
by the families of the massacre
victims and survivors.
A sessions court here in July
2006 framed charges of murder,
attempt to murder, tampering with
evidence and conspiracy against all
the accused.
Pachauri granted
anticipatory bail
NEW DELHI: A court here on
Saturday granted anticipatory bail to
environmentalist RK Pachauri in a
sexual harassment case and rejected
the police plea for his custody.
Additional Sessions Judge Raj
Kumar Tripathi directed Pachauri
to furnish a personal bond of Rs
50,000 and a surety of like amount
as he rejected Delhi Police’s plea
seeking his custody and stay on the
interim protection granted to him
in the case.
The court has earlier directed
him to neither visit the premises of
The Energy and Resources Institute
(Teri), not to leave the country
without permission, not influence
any witnesses in the case directly or
indirectly and join the investigation
whenever required by police.
Pachauri, who had last month
stepped down as chairperson of
the UN Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC), has
denied the allegations against him
but also proceeded on leave from
Teri, where he was director-general.
He is facing a complaint of
alleged harassment by a woman
research analyst who has also
lodged a police case.
— IANS
Bengal farmer
death toll 4
New law in wake of mistreatment of workers in Mississippi labour camp
R A K SINGH
NEW DELHI
IN BRIEF
The new bill has a whole chapter,
spanning three clauses from 3 to 6,
dealing with the menace of “human
smuggling” by recruitment agents,
working for the benefit of their foreign
employers.
The bill defines human smuggling
as “assisting, facilitating or making
arrangements for a person to enter
illegally into another country with the
full knowledge that such entry is illegal,
in order to gain financial or other
material benefit”. Clauses 3 to 5 of the
Bill specifically prohibit such illegal
migration.
The MOIA officials pointed out
that the present Act provides for a
punishment of maximum 1 year
imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000
fine, while the new law seeks to
enhance the jail term for unscrupulous
recruitment agents and their bosses up
to five years and a fine of Rs 100,000,
specially when the victim of human
smuggling is a child or woman.
MOIA officials said the move to
amend the law was mainly due to a
the case of over 500 maltreated Indian
workers held in labour camps by
their US employers. The government
apprised the Parliament last week of the
case in Mississippi in 2008 in response
to a query by Congress MP Jyotiraditya
M Scindia.
On a lawsuit, a US court has ordered
the erring American firm and its Indiabased recruiter to pay damages worth
$14 million to five of the workers, who
had dragged the firm to the court.
Earlier, over 200 fraudulent Indian
firms and people involved in duping
job-seekers, specially to the Middle
East
and
Emigration-ClearanceRequired countries were penalised.
KOLKATA: A potato cultivator
in West Bengal’s Burdwan district
died on Saturday after consuming
pesticide. His family said he took
the extreme step on failing to
recover the cost of production.
So far, four potato cultivators
have committed suicide in the
state this month, after a bumper
production of the crop led to a
steep price fall.
Atul Let, a share cropper from
Jamalpur in the district, died at
the Burdwan Medical College and
Hospital after consuming pesticide
a day earlier, said a police officer.
The victim’s family said he had
taken a loan of around Rs 1 lakh
for cultivating potatoes. Fearing
that he will not able to repay it, he
committed suicide.
While two potato cultivators had
committed suicide earlier in the
month in Bhatar and Mongalkote in
Burdwan, another hanged himself
in Hooghly district’s Khanakul.
— IANS
INDIA
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
omandailyobserver
100 arrested for Bihar exam mess
AS CHEATING CONTINUES: Police fire in the air to disperse large crowd helping students to copy
People climb the wall of a building to help students appearing in an examination in Bihar
PATNA: Cheating in the Class 10 exams
continued in Bihar on Saturday, with
police having to fire in the air and carry
out a baton charge to disperse people
who were helping students to copy.
While nearly 100 people were arrested,
union minister Upendra Kushwaha said
the Centre will seek a report from Bihar
on the cheating. No one was injured in
police firing in Vaishali and Bhojpur
districts, an official said.
The development came just days after
a photograph showing people climbing
a school wall to fling answer sheets to
students taking tests inside went viral
and grabbed national and international
headlines.
Police fired in the air at an
examination centre in Vaishali’s Hajipur
area to disperse a large number of people
helping students to copy, a police officer
Sonia bid to revitalise rural base
BHIWANI/KARNAL: In a bid to
revitalise the rural support base of the
Congress, party president Sonia Gandhi
on Saturday reached out to farmers hit
by crop loss due to unseasonal rain and
hailstorm in Haryana, and appealed to
the state government to give the farmers
“right and timely compensation”.
“I appeal to the government to give
right and timely compensation to these
farmers. That is what the government’s
responsibility is,” Gandhi said during
her visit to a village in Bhiwani district
of Haryana. The Congress president was
on a day-long visit to some of the rain-hit
areas of Haryana.
Along with party leader and former
Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh
Hooda, Gandhi visited around five
districts, including Bhiwani, Rewari and
Karnal.
Haryana
Pradesh
Congress
Committee President Ashok Tanwar said
that Gandhi sought to learn about the
magnitude of the damage and assured
the farmers that her party would raise
the issue of compensation for their loss
in parliament.
“The farmers felt relieved by Gandhi’s
visit and so did the state Congress
workers who felt a renewed sense of
energy within them,” Tanwar said.
The visit came a day after she went
to parts of Rajasthan to meet farmers
affected by the inclement weather last
week. The Congress has been focusing
on farmers’ issues of late, with the
party aggressively opposing the land
acquisition bill, which it has termed antifarmer.
However, the farmers pinned little
hope on the high-profile visit.
Dubbing Gandhi’s visit a “political
stunt”, Purna Singh, village council head
of Barragaon in Karnal district said: “She
did lend an ear to the problems we are
facing due to crop damage and assured
us of putting pressure on the government
for releasing compensation. But we have
little hope because she is not in power.”
Over 60 per cent of the standing crop
has been damaged in Barragaon alone
and more than 40,000 acre land was
thrashed in the entire district of Karnal,
the farmers said.
“But not even a single official has
come to take stock of the situation here,”
said Bhagatram, who lost most of his
ready-to-cut wheat crop.
The personal involvement of Gandhi
in the anti-land bill protests was visible
when she wrote to activist Anna Hazare
assuring that the Congress will oppose
the contentious bill on all fora. — IANS
said.
The police action came a day after
the Patna High Court directed the Bihar
Police chief to deploy adequate security
forces to ensure a check on cheating at
examination centres.
In
Ara,
Bhojpur’s
district
headquarters, police resorted to a
baton charge to disperse people helping
students to copy in the examination.
Nearly 100 people, mostly close
relatives of students, were arrested in
Saharsa district for helping students copy
in the exam.
Over 1.4 million students are
appearing in the Class 10 board
examination.
In a bizarre case, dozens of people
— said to be family members of the
students — were seen climbing the walls
of an exam centre and flinging answer
sheets into various rooms where their
wards were writing the exam in Vaishali
district.
In Patna, Union Minister of State for
Human Resource Development Upendra
Kushwaha said the central government
has taken the reports of rampant cheating
and mass copying seriously, and will seek
a report from Bihar on the incidents of
widespread cheating.
“The central government will demand
a report from Bihar in connection with
reports of widespread cheating in the
Class 10 exam,” Kushwaha told the
media.
“It appears to be a failure of the state
government to check cheating,” he said.
He said the Patna High Court has
rightly pointed out that it was “very
shameful” for Bihar Education Minister
P K Shahi, who said it was not possible
to hold free and fair exams.
“Shahi should resign in view of
the court’s observation against him,”
Kushwaha said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar expressed “pain” over the wide
publicity given to the pictures showing
cheating in the state, and said it had
sullied the image of Bihar.
“The reports of cheating in
examination has given a bad name to
Bihar,” he said.
— IANS
11
DOYEN OF FILMS
Veteran poet,
lyricist Yusufali
Kechery
passes away
KOCHI: Veteran poet and film
personality
Yusufali
Kechery
(pictured) passed away at a private
hospital here on Saturday evening,
said family sources. He was 80.
Since the beginning of this year,
Kechery’s health was deteriorating and
was in the hospital for long.
A poet of the modern era, he had
won several awards for his poetry
which include the Odakkuzhal,
Kerala Sahitya Academy and Vallathol
awards.
He also wrote film lyrics, produced
and also directed Malayalam films.
A multifaceted personality, he began
his career as a lawyer and also did
freelance writing.
Beginning his film career in the
early 1970s, he wore several hats —
of that of a producer, lyricist and also
director.
Winner of numerous film awards,
he also won a National Award for
a Sanskrit song written for the
Malayalam film ‘Mazha’ (Rain)
released in 2000.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy
described Kechery’s death as a loss for
the state.
— IANS
WELCOMING THE NEW YEAR
Woman dressed in traditional attire celebrate ‘Gudhi Padwa’, the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai. The festival marks the
end of a harvest and the beginning of a new one. — AFP
Mamata can’t deny ads State government urged to be vigilant against illegal activities
Goa
mining:
stay
on
green
clearances
lifted
to ‘Ganashakti’: HC
KOLKATA: Observing that “political
affiliation is not an impediment”, the
Calcutta High Court has rejected the
contentions of the Trinamool Congress
government for denying advertisement
to
CPM
Bengali
mouthpiece
‘Ganashakti’.
The Bengali daily had approached
the Calcutta High Court in 2012
alleging discrimination claiming that
the Mamata Banerjee-headed West
Bengal government has refused to give
any advertisement to the publication.
“Political affiliation per se would not
disentitle a newspaper from publishing
itself. The nature of ownership of a
newspaper cannot be criteria to deny
advertisement by a government,” the
bench of Justice Debanagsu Basak said
in its order issued on February 27 but
only made available now.
‘Ganashakti’ had claimed in the
writ petition that advertisements were
denied to the publication since May
20, 2011 after the Trinamool came in
power in the state.
The affidavit filed by the state
government did not deny the claim, but
defended its decision on the grounds
that the newspaper was owned and
published by the West Bengal state
committee of the Communist Party of
India-Marxist (CPM) and giving it ads
would amount to funding a political
party by the government.
‘Ganashakti’
counsel
Bikash
Ranjan Bhattacharya argued that
the newspaper was accredited by the
Indian Newspaper Society (INS) and
recognised by the central government’s
Directorate of Advertising and Visual
Publicity (DAVP) so the right to free
speech was a fundamental right.
— IANS
PANAJI:
The Ministry for
Environment and Forests (MoEF) has
formally lifted its 2012 order holding all
environment clearances (EC) granted
to Goa’s iron ore mines in abeyance,
clearing the way for resumption of
mining in Goa, while also asking the
state government to be vigilant against
illegal mining.
The order was issued a few days
after MoEF Minister of State for
Environment and Forests Prakash
Javadekar told the media in the
national capital, that his ministry
had resolved to lift the three-year-old
abeyance order.
“State government of Goa shall
develop and implement a credible
mechanism to regularly monitor and
ensure that capping of 20 million
metric tons on mining leases in State
of Goa is implemented as per the
directions of the Supreme Court,” the
order dated March 20 reads.
The order, while classifying Goa’s
mining leases into three sections,
indicated that 72 mining leases, were in
a position to start mining operations,
after obtaining required permissions
from state government agencies.
Eighteen other mining leases have
been identified as being in proximity
to forest areas, therefore requiring
new forest clearances, while 22 more
mining leases were in eco-sensitive
areas and needed permissions from the
Supreme Court, which is also hearing a
petition in connection with a Rs 35,000
crore illegal mining scam.
In September, 2012, Jayanthi
Natarajan, the then MoEF minister
in the United Progressive Alliance
government
had
suspended
Environment Clearances granted to 93
The order was issued a few
days after Minister of State
for Environment and Forests
Prakash Javadekar told
the media in the national
capital, that his ministry had
resolved to lift the
three-year-old
abeyance order
operational mining leases at the time.
Her decision had come only days
after then chief minister Manohar
Parrrikar had already temporarily
suspended
mining
operations
following the revelation of a Rs 35,000
crore illegal mining scam by the Justice
M B Shah Commission.
Goa`s mining sector has been non-
operational for more than two years
because of the three successive actions,
which include temporary suspension
of mining permission by the then
Parrikar-state government, a revocation
of green clearances by the Natarajanled MoEF and then a subsequent ban
by the Supreme Court following the
mammoth illegal mining scam.
While the state government lifted
the temporary suspension last year,
and the Supreme Court lifted the ban
in April 2014, the MoEF decision now
clears the last technical hurdle vis-a-vis
resumption of mining.
While lifting the ban however, the
apex court had fixed a cap of 20 million
metric tonnes for ore extraction from
Goa’s mines. The state had exported
nearly 57 million tonnes of iron ore in
the financial year before mining was
banned.
— IANS
AMERICAS
12
WHITE HOUSE STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL
S U N DAY l M A R C H 2 2 l 2 0 1 5
US President Barack Obama
points to the shirt of actor
Joe Morton, which features
a drawing of Obama as
a superhero, during the
second-annual White House
Student Film Festival in
the East Room of the White
House in Washington, DC, on
Friday.
WORLD
Mexico gang
ambush kills
11, including 5
federal police
GUADALAJARA: A gang ambush on
federal police in western Mexico killed
five officers, three suspects and three
bystanders in the deadliest day for the
country’s new gendarmerie.
The attack took place late on
Thursday as seven vehicles carrying
the paramilitary gendarmerie officers
were on patrol in Ocotlan, Jalisco state,
federal police said.
Eight other officers were wounded,
including one in serious condition in
the town of 93,000 people.
It was the deadliest shooting for
the gendarmerie, a 5,000-strong unit
modeled after European military-like
police forces that President Enrique
Pena Nieto launched last year to
protect key economic sectors from
organised crime.
“We have regrettably had minor
losses of one officer in some other
events,” but never so many in a
single attack, a federal official said. A
gendarmerie commander deployed in
Jalisco said the officers were checking
on reports of an attack on municipal
police when they were ambushed.
A police statement said the
officers were on patrol around 9:15
pm (0315 GMT) when a pick-up
truck approached the convoy and
“without uttering a word, one of the
individuals pulled out a large weapon
and shot at the federal agents.” The
officers shot back but more gunmen
arrived in about 10 other vehicles.
The gendarmerie commander said the
shootout lasted 30 minutes and took
place on several streets.
— AFP
NEW YORK HOUSE FIRE
Night view of the Villarrica
volcano showing signs of
eruption, from Pucon, some
800 km south of Santiago,
on Friday. Earlier this month,
in its first major eruption in
15 years, the Villarrica forced
the evacuation of thousands
of people amid a shower of
fire and ash.
7 children die as broken
heater sparks blaze
Firefighters stand near the site of a home fire in the Midwood neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday. — Reuters
NEW YORK: Seven children from the
same family died on Saturday when
their New York home was engulfed
in flames after a portable cooker
malfunctioned, authorities said.
The so-called hot plate, which is a
small electrical heating element, may
have been left on to keep food warm,
New York fire commissioner Daniel
Nigro told a news conference. “This is
the largest tragedy by fire that this city
has had in seven years,” Nigro said in
comments reported by The New York
Times.
“It’s a tragedy for this family, it’s
a tragedy for this community, it’s a
tragedy for the city.”
Firefighters were called to the blaze
in the home in the borough of Brooklyn
shortly after midnight. The victims
were aged between 5 and 15.
A 45-year-old woman thought to
be their mother and another girl, 14,
escaped by jumping out of windows
and were being treated in area hospitals
in critical condition.
“I heard a woman yelling, ‘My kids
are in there. Get them out, get them
out!’” a neighbour, Nate Weber, told the
New York Post.
Weber saw children being taken
from the home on stretchers and “I
knew it was bad news... I just turned
away. I didn’t even want to look,” he
said.
The mother and the eight children
were in at least five upstairs bedrooms
when the fire broke out in the kitchen
downstairs.
“To find a house full of children that
can’t be revived, I’m sure this will take
its toll on our members for quite some
time,” Nigro said, according to CNN.
The victims were three girls aged
eight, 12 and 15; and four boys aged
five, six, seven and 11.
— AFP
US man shot after machete attack at airport
WASHINGTON: New Orleans police
shot a man three times at the Louis
Armstrong International Airport on
Friday after he attacked border agents
with a machete and wasp spray, officials
said.
The suspect, Richard White, stormed
a security check point and struck one
border agent with a machete, cutting her
right arm, and targeted two other agents
with pesticide spray, Jefferson Parish
Sheriff Newell Normand told reporters.
A police officer shot White three
times as he tried to run away, striking
him in the chest, face and thigh.
Newell said White was in hospital
where he remained unresponsive.
The three Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) agents were
attacked at the pre check-in line while
screening boarding passes, sparking
panic among travelers who scrambled as
shots were fired.
One passenger was injured with a
graze on the arm during the incident,
while others sustained minor cuts.
US lawyer on rights campaign
argues chimps are people too
Nonhuman Rights Project President and Attorney Steven Wise poses for a photo in
Vancouver, Canada.
— AFP
VANCOUVER: Attorney Steven Wise
is on a crusade to prove that, as a matter
of law, chimps are people too.
For that matter, so are dolphins,
elephants, gorillas and orcas.
Wise made his argument at the
TED Conference that wrapped up in
Vancouver, Canada on Friday.
“I had to invent the field of animal
juris prudence,” Wise said at TED.
“Coming here is implicit affirmation
that people are interested in what we
have to say.”
Wise argued that apes, chimps,
elephants and orcas are as entitled to
the rights of “persons” under law as are
people or corporations.
Legal systems around the world have
granted rights of personhood to holy
scripts, companies, and even a river.
“Personhood is not a biological
concept, it is a public policy concept,”
Wise said.
“The legal system decides it; human
being is not synonymous with person.”
He has devoted decades to the cause,
which is now making its way through
courts in the US state of New York.
Wise, President of the Nonhuman
Rights Project, is hoping a legal tactic
successful in getting a slave legally
transformed from property to person in
CHILE VOLCANO ERUPTS AGAIN
Wise made his argument
at the TED Conference that
wrapped up in Vancouver,
Canada on Friday. “I had to
invent the field of animal
juris prudence,” Wise said
a historic case in Britain will do the same
for chimpanzees and other animals.
He will use the writ of habeas corpus,
in which judges order prisoners or
detainees brought before the court.
Such writs, by definition, assign rights
of personhood to those targeted.
Members of the project found
chimpanzees in abysmal conditions in
several parts of the state of New York,
then filed for writs of habeas corpus
in respective courts to get the animals
moved to a refuge.
Reactions from judges have been
mixed, with even sympathetic members
of the bench averse to breaching the
legal wall separating people from
animals, according to Wise.
“Even in America, no judge wants to
be the first to make this leap of faith,” the
animal rights champion said.
Wise, author of Rattling the Cage and
other works defending animal rights,
has been waging this legal battle since
the early 1980s.
“They truly are slaves,” Wise said of
chimps, bonobos and other animals
proven to have feelings, memories,
language, foresight and other traits
considered human.
“I realised there was no one looking
out for their interests and they were just
being exploited.”
He recalled being met with hostility
and ridicule early in the battle. Rival
lawyers would bark when he walked
into courtrooms.
After decades of laying groundwork
and gathering allies, Wise and his team
filed an opening salvo of lawsuits in
New York about two years ago.
“We are going state by state, animal
by animal and we are going to lose a lot
before we start to win,” he said.
“I expect to win, and not all that far
into the future.”
Victory would come in the form
of a non-human animal being legally
recognised as a person for some
purpose, no matter how limited.
“Once that wall is pierced, judges
will realise that they have to make more
nuanced, rational decisions,” Wise said
of establishing that some animals have
a right to be treated better than mere
property.
Wise is working with lawyers in
Europe, Argentina and other parts of
the world.
“I think there is a tide of history and
judges need to swim with it and not
against it,” Wise said.
“Orcas, apes, chimps and elephants
should at least have the right to bodily
liberty. I am not talking the entire
animal kingdom, but lines have to be
drawn.”
The Nonhuman Rights Project is
looking to hit US courts with its next
case, on behalf of circus elephants, late
this year.
— AFP
It was not clear whether White was
a passenger or what his motivation was,
Normand said.
“We have no information at the
present time... of any connection
between the perpetrator and anyone
here at the airport,” he said.
“We don’t know whether or not
this individual was a member of the
travelling public, we suspect not.”
White had worked as a taxi driver,
had recently received his chauffeur’s
licence and had “little or no criminal
history,” according to Normand.
Boston Globe journalist Farah
Stockman was at the airport when
White stormed the check point and
described scenes of panic as travellers
sought cover and said White body was
covered in blood.
“People had heard gunshots.
Everyone was hiding behind chairs
and in doorways. Made our way to exit.
Body was lying in a pool of blood,” she
posted on Twitter.
“Lots of terrified people. Women
crying. Someone apparently fell down
and that created panic. Cops ran in,
creating more panic,” she added.
Stockman posted a photo of a
handcuffed White on his stomach as
medics treated a woman’s arm nearby.
Photos elsewhere on social media
showed White being taken away on a
bloodied gurney. New Orleans Mayor
Mitch Landrieu said the situation was
under control after the incident and
that the area where the attack occurred
would re-open later on Saturday. — AFP
IN BRIEF
Girl tries to poison mum for taking iPhone
Ali anoints Prince
Charles as ‘the
greatest’
WASHINGTON: Muhammad Ali
hailed Britain’s Price Charles as “the
greatest” on Friday as the heir to the
British throne wrapped up a US tour
with a visit to the boxing legend’s
hometown.
Charles, accompanied by his wife
Camilla, fulfilled a packed schedule
in the Kentucky city of Louisville
that reflected his keen interest in
agriculture and the environment.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess
of Cornwall were also treated to
performances at a cultural festival at
the city’s Kentucky Center for African
American Heritage. But the warmest
welcome no doubt came in the
form of a letter from Ali, a Louisville
native and three-time heavyweight
champion widely regarded as one of
the greatest boxers of all time.
“We are honoured that you have
come to explore, share and learn
about new sustainable initiatives that
are so close to your hearts,” Ali wrote
to the royal couple.
“As you travel back to your
homeland, we hope you know how
much this city respects and admires
the many contributions you have
made in the world. We think you are
the greatest,” he added.
The letter was read to Charles
and Camilla by Louisville Mayor Greg
Fischer, and posted on the Instagram
account of the prince’s official resident
Clarence House. Ali, 73, famously
nicknamed “The Greatest,” has been
battling Parkinson’s disease for years,
and in December checked into
hospital with a bout of pneumonia.
— AFP
DENVER: Police on Friday arrested a 12-year-old Colorado girl accused of trying to kill
her mother twice by poisoning her with bleach for taking away her iPhone, authorities
said. Boulder County Sheriff’s Commander Heidi Prentup said in a statement that the
mother drank the caustic fluid on one of the two attempts, which both happened
within a week this month.
On March 2, the girl poured bleach into a breakfast smoothie that she had prepared
for her mother, Prentup said.
“Mom noticed an odor of bleach in the drink and thought her daughter had
cleaned the glass prior to making the beverage and did not rinse all the bleach out,”
the police statement said.
The woman, who was not named by the authorities, was treated at a local hospital
and released. Four days later, the girl allegedly poured bleach into a water carafe her
mother kept in her bedroom. When the woman smelt bleach, she became suspicious
and confronted her daughter.
“This is when she learned her daughter had developed the plan to kill her for taking
away her iPhone,” police said. Prentup said the mother reported the girl to police, and
that investigators then gathered enough evidence to take her into custody. — Reuters
Britain’s Prince Charles speaks with presenters at a display of technology at
the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage in Louisville, Kentucky on
Friday. Britain’s Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are on a four-day
trip to the United States.
— Reuters
Mexican woman dies at 127: Govt agency
MEXICO CITY: A woman has died at the age of 127 in western Mexico, a government
agency that verified her age said on Friday.
Leandra Becerra was born in the northern border state of Tamaulipas on August 31,
1887, and died on Thursday morning at her home in Zapopan in the western state of
Jalisco, Mexico’s National System for Integral Family Development, or DIF, said.
Becerra has not been included in lists of the world’s oldest people because she had
not previously had official documentation.
The DIF did not give the cause of death. Her grandson, 70-year-old Samuel Alvear,
said she simply stopped breathing, having developed problems with her lungs a few
months ago. He said she used to regale him with stories about the Mexican Revolution,
which began in 1910, when she would make tortillas for the soldiers.
“She met Pancho Villa,” he said she had told him, referring to the revolutionary
general. Guadalupe Diaz, the head of the metropolitan center for the elderly in
Zapopan, said Becerra had five children, who had all died, adding that by 2011, she
had 161 descendents. Alvear said Becerra would be cremated on Saturday. — Reuters
REGION
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
NEW HOPE
omandailyobserver
13
45 dead in attacks on Syria
Kurds celebrating new year
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy chairperson Pervin Buldan looks on as Turkish parliament member Sirri Sureyya Onder
(R) during a gathering celebrate Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, yesterday. — AFP
BEIRUT: Forty-five people, including
five children, were killed in attacks on
Syrian Kurds as they celebrated their
new year, a monitor said Saturday,
accusing the IS group of responsibility.
The attacks occurred Friday in
what was one of IS’s bloodiest days in
Syria as the extremist group left dead
more than 120 people across the warravaged country.
“There are now 45 dead from last
night’s attacks in Hasakeh, as most of
those who were in critical condition
passed away,” the Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights said, updating
its toll after reporting that 33 were
killed.
Two explosions struck as members
of Syria’s Kurdish minority took part
in festivities on the eve of Nowruz, the
Kurdish new year, in the northeastern
city of Hasakeh.
“They were lighting the candles at
night, and there were a lot children
around,” said Observatory head
Rami Abdel Rahman. There was still
no claim of responsibility, but Abdel
Rahman said that the IS group was
behind the attacks.
According to him, the explosions
were a few hundred metres apart from
each other, with at least one of them
caused by a suicide bomber inside a
vehicle.
Fear of additional attacks dimmed
the spirit of the Nowruz celebrations
in Hasakeh on Saturday. “Today is
supposed to be a day about freedom,
but people were afraid of celebrating,”
Abdel Rahman said.
Hasakeh city is under the control
of the Kurdish People’s Protection
Units (YPG) and regime forces, but
IS militants have launched attacks on
towns nearby.
The opposition offensive has
sparked fierce clashes with Kurdish
militia in the province, which is
strategically located along Syria’s
borders with Iraq and Turkey.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned
the “heinous” attacks, while the
commander of the Kurdish security
forces, Joan Ibrahim, said “the crime
that occurred today in Hasakeh will
not pass without retribution.”
The IS fighters also attacked
government
checkpoints
and
positions in the central provinces of
Homs and Hama on Friday, killing
at least 82 members of forces loyal
to the Syrian regime. Sixty-two of
those deaths were in the province of
Hama alone, where IS attacked regime
points along a key road leading north
to Aleppo.
In the southern province of Daraa,
regime forces struck rebel-held
neighbourhoods of the town of Busra
al-Sham with at least 12 barrel bombs,
the Observatory reported.
— AFP
Fighting near Tripoli with Libya rivals in key talks
CRUCIAL: The Libyan government had launched an offensive to ‘liberate’ Tripoli as ‘decisive’ talks got under way
SKHIRAT, MOROCCO: UN envoy
to Libya Bernardino Leon urged rival
Libyan lawmakers to try to nail down a
political agreement by the weekend as
they began three days of “decisive” talks
Friday.
As the talks got under way in
Morocco, the Libyan government said
loyalist forces had launched an offensive
to “liberate” Tripoli, seized by militia last
summer.
“The government salutes the
operations launched by army units
south of Tripoli which constitute the
start of an offensive to liberate Tripoli
and its suburbs,” it said on Facebook.
The announcement came as the Fajr
Libya militia that controls Tripoli said
it had clashed with a group of gunmen
FATAL ROADS
12 killed in
Egyptian bus
accident
CAIRO: At least 12 workers were
killed Saturday when their bus
plunged into a canal in Giza near
Cairo, the Health Ministry said.
A spokesman for the ministry
told Egyptian TV that 14 others were
wounded.
Initially, medical officials said
35 people died in the crash, which
occurred in the early morning.
The victims are workers at
Orascom,
a
leading
private
company operating in construction
and telecommunications, media
reported.
Footage aired by local TV
stations showed rescuers hauling
up the wreckage of the bus from alMaryutia Canal, west of Cairo.
The bus fell off a bridge into the
canal after its driver lost control due
to an explosion of a front tyre, head
of the nearby Al Haram district,
Ismail Abdul Wahed, said.
Earlier, witnesses said the
accident occurred after several
vehicles crashed on the road, leading
the bus to veer off into the canal.
Fatal road accidents are relatively
common in Egypt and have often
been blamed on poor driving and
bad roads.
It was not immediately known
how many people were inside the
bus. The accident occurred after
several vehicles crashed on the road,
leading the bus to plunge into the
canal, witnesses said.
Nearly 13,000 people die and
60,000 are injured every year on the
country’s roads, according to official
figures.
— Agencies
who infiltrated Aziziya, 35 kilometres
south of Tripoli, and captured a number
of them.
Fajr Libya is an alliance of militias,
including fighters, who have installed
a government in Tripoli opposed to the
internationally recognised legislature
and cabinet based in the east.
Leon deplored the latest clashes as
“unacceptable” and posing “a serious
threat” to reaching a political agreement
at the Skhirat talks, near Rabat.
“The United Nations wants to call on
both political actors and military actors
to stop such actions,” he said.
Leon said talks over the next
three days will focus on security
arrangements, the creation of a national
unity government and confidence-
The latest clashes
are ‘unacceptable’
and pose ‘a serious
threat’ to reaching a political
agreement.”
BERNARDINO LEON
UN Envoy to Libya
building measures.
“By Sunday, we would like to have
these three documents ready and if
possible, published, as already agreed
(as) part of what will be a final package,”
Leon said.
Unrest in Libya and a deadly attack
on Wednesday in neighbouring Tunisia
claimed by the IS group that killed 20
tourists and a policeman “is another
sign of alarm”, he said.
Tunisia said the gunmen who carried
out the attack on the National Bardo
Museum were trained at a militant camp
in Libya. “There is a sense of urgency
and we believe this should be a decisive
round,” Leon said, urging both sides to
work in a “spirit of compromise”.
The UN-mediated talks, between
Hadi calls on Houthis to withdraw
ADEN: Yemen’s President Abd-Rabbu
Mansour Hadi on Saturday called on the
Houthi to leave the capital Sanaa and for
its allied militias to quit government
ministries in his first televised speech
since escaping house arrest last month.
Hadi urged all parties in Yemen to
attend peace talks in the Saudi Arabian
capital Riyadh, but also vowed to
plant the national flag in the Houthi
stronghold of Saadeh, in a comment
the group is likely to interpret as a call
to arms.
The Houthis seized Sanaa in
September and then besieged Hadi’s
residence in January, leading him to
offer his resignation and resulting in
his house arrest by the group before he
escaped to Aden last month.
Hadi said Yemen must return to
the political situation in place before
the Houthis took control of Sanaa,
reinstituting its constitution and
implementing the results of a national
dialogue process.
In his speech, he denounced the
Houthis as “plotters” and said he wanted
to confront sectarianism.
Addressing Houthi accusations
that he planned to back a southern
secessionist movement, he said his flight
to Aden had been intended to preserve
Yemeni unity. Al Qaeda fighters
captured the capital of a province in
southern Yemen, killing about 20
soldiers, before they were driven out by
the army late on Friday, local officials
and residents said.
The fighting came hours after suicide
bombers killed 137 people in the
national capital Sanaa, in coordinated
attacks claimed by IS, an offshoot of al
Qaeda that controls swathes of Syria and
Iraq.
Clashes also took place in the
country’s north on Friday between local
tribes and the Houthi militia, which
controls Sanaa, illustrating the wideranging nature of Yemen’s security crisis.
Yemen has been hurtling towards
civil war since last year when the Houthis
— advanced from their northern
heartland, further undermining the
country’s tenuous internal security.
Western countries and Yemen’s
Gulf neighbours see Al Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) as the most
dangerous Al Qaeda branch after its
efforts to bomb international airliners
and launch cross-border raids.
AQAP fighters captured al-Houta,
capital of the southern Lahj Province,
on Friday but were forced to withdraw
late on Friday after holding it for several
hours, the officials and residents said.
— Reuters
the Tobruk-based parliament and the
General National Congress (GNC)
seated in Tripoli, were delayed for
several days to allow both sides to
prepare, he said. Leon has struggled
to bring the rival parliaments closer
together, with Morocco hosting a first
round of talks on March 6.
On Friday, he warned that failure to
strike a deal could spell danger for Libya
and the region. “It’s not only about Libya
but about the region, the wider region.
But Libya is today a critical case.
So, something has to be done
regarding terrorism,” he said.
“And parties should be aware that
this is the decisive movement and if they
are not able to take the right decisions
Libya will go back to war again and we
know this is a war that nobody can win.”
GNC delegation chief Mohammed
Saleh al-Makhzoum, at the outset of the
talks, renewed his side’s call for direct
negotiations.
“We hold out our hand to the other
side for a direct dialogue. The Libyan
question is not easy, and we need a
comprehensive solution providing
guarantees to the two sides,” he told
reporters.
His counterpart from Tobruk,
Mohamed Ali Chouaib, insisted on the
legitimacy of the parliament elected last
June.
“There is no question of discussing
legitimacy. Parliament was elected
in free elections held according to
international norms,” he said. — AFP
SELFIE ACT
Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi takes a selfie with a man during a visit to
the streets of southern city of Basra yesterday following a meeting with Operations
Commanders to discuss tribal conflicts that took place earlier in the week. — AFP
Hundreds gathered in large numbers for a mass in Tunis, lighting candles to remember the victims
Tunisia arrests suspected fighters after museum attack
TUNIS: Tunisian authorities have
arrested more than 20 suspected
militants following the Bardo museum
attack when gunmen killed foreign
tourists, leading to a nationwide security
crackdown.
Hundreds of Tunisians gathered
for a mass in the cathedral in Tunis on
Saturday, lighting candles to remember
the victims — 20 foreign tourists and
three Tunisians — in a ceremony
attended by government ministers.
Outside, there was a heavy police
presence along the capital’s central
Habib Bourguiba boulevard.
Wednesday’s assault — the most
deadly attack involving foreigners in
Tunisia since a 2002 suicide bombing in
Djerba — came at a fragile moment for a
country just emerging to full democracy
after its pioneering popular uprising
four years ago.
The government said the two gunmen
had trained in fighter camps in Libya
before the attack at the museum inside
the heavily secured Tunisian parliament
compound.
Japanese, French, Polish, and
Colombian visitors were among the
victims.
Authorities have arrested more
than 20 suspected militants, including
10 believed to be directly involved in
the Bardo attack, Interior Ministry
IS fighters have claimed
responsibility for the attack,
but social media accounts
tied to an Al Qaeda-affiliated
group have also published
details purportedly about
the operation
spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui said
on Saturday. “There is a large-scale
campaign against the extremists,” he
said.
The government plans to deploy the
army to major cities to increase security
following the shootings.
IS fighters have claimed responsibility
for the attack, but social media accounts
tied to an Al Qaeda-affiliated group
in Tunisia have also published details
purportedly about the operation.
Whoever was responsible, the
Bardo attack illustrates how opposition
militants are turning their attention to
North Africa, especially in neighbouring
Libya where two rival governments
battle for control allowing IS to gain a
foothold.
The United States is increasingly
worried about the growing presence of
IS militants in Libya.
US officials said that because of its
strategic position, Libya has become a
springboard for would-be fighters from
across North Africa wanting to link up
with IS.
They could travel from there to Syria
for frontline experience.
Four years after a popular revolt
toppled autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben
Ali, Tunisia has completed its transition
to democracy with free elections,
a new constitution and compromise
politics between secular and opposition
parties.
The country is heavily reliant on
foreign tourists to its beach resorts and
desert treks.
— Reuters
14
EUROPE
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
WAITING FOR SUPER TIDE
TO STEM INFLOW
Italy wants Egypt,
Tunisia to rescue
migrants in
Mediterranean
People gather to watch waves breaking on the dyke on Saturday in Wimereux, northern France, as France’s northern coast braces for “the tide of the century”. The high tide due later on Saturday is expected to be
exceptional because of the effects from Friday’s solar eclipse, with predictions that it could reach as high as 14.15 metres (46 feet). — AFP
French Atlantic coast braces for super tide
FULL MOON IMPACT: The largest tidal ranges in the world occur in Canada tides can reach 17 metres in height
MONT SAINT MICHEL: Towns on France’s
North Atlantic coast braced for their first giant tide
of the millennium on Saturday as the full moon
and this week’s solar eclipse combined to create an
ocean surge not seen since 1997.
At the picturesque Mont Saint Michel island
where some of the biggest tides in the world occur,
visitors gathered to watch the tide disappear out of
sight, exposing areas of beach and rock visible only
every 18 years. The next peak tide is not due until
2033. France’s National Hydrographic Service was
expecting to measure more than 14 metres (15.3
yards) between low and high water around the
famous Abbey-topped rock off France’s north-west
coast.
Average tides in the area measure 8.7 metres.
Saturday morning’s high tide was also close to peak
levels as the sea rushed in from over 13 kilometres
(8 miles) out, but calm weather has meant that
some coastal flood preparations looked set to
THINKING ABOUT NEXT MOVE
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev looks at a chess board at the venue of
Women’s World Chess Championship in Sochi on Saturday. — Reuters
prove unnecessary and made the phenomenon less
spectacular than some had hoped. “For the ‘tide of
the century’ I am a bit disappointed,” said tourist
Jean-Bernard Delamarche in Saint Malo further
west along the coast which also has big tides.
“We came one year, we were staying at the
hotel Ibis and we could not get out of the hotel
because the street was flooded. But it’s true that it
is impressive. “It’s almost more spectacular at low
tide in the end because you will be able to walk
kilometres and see some little secret beaches that
will only be revealed at this moment,” said US
student Noah Feingold. The lowest tide measured
from the port of Granville up the coast from Mont
Saint Michel was due at 3:16 pm local time (1416
GMT) with the highest at 8:10 pm.
The largest tidal ranges in the world occur in
Canada at the Bay of Fundy and Ungava Bay where,
according to the Canadian Hydrographic service,
tides can reach 17 metres in height.
— AFP
Asylum applicants to
EU jumps 44 per cent
BRUSSELS: The number of applicants
for asylum to EU countries increased
last year to 626,000, a surge of 44 per
cent fueled by refugees from the civil
war in Syria, the European Union’s
statistics agency said on Friday.
The overall figure for asylum
applicants increased by 191,000 over
the previous year, with the number of
Syrians rising to 122,800 from 50,000 in
2013, Eurostat said.
In 2014, Germany registered the
highest number of requests, with
202,700 or 32 per cent of the total, it
said. It was followed by Sweden with
81,200, or 13 per cent of the total,
then Italy with 64,600 or 10 per cent,
France with 62,800 or 10 per cent, and
Hungary, with 42,800 or seven per cent.
“It should be noted that these five
member states registered different
trends last year,” it added.
Compared with 2013, the number
of asylum applicants in 2014 more than
doubled in Italy, up 143 per cent, and in
Hungary, up 126 per cent. Italy has been
most concerned with a wave of migrants
making dangerous boat voyages across
the Mediterranean, mainly from Libya.
The figure increased by 60 per cent
in Germany and 50 per cent in Sweden,
but decreased by five per cent in France.
“Compared with the population of
each member state, the highest rates of
registered applicants were recorded in
Sweden,” it said.
There were 8.4 applicants per
thousand inhabitants in Sweden, well
ahead of Hungary at 4.3, Austria at
3.3, Malta at 3.2, Denmark at 2.6 and
Germany at 2.5.
“In contrast, the lowest rates were
observed in Portugal, Slovakia and
Romania.
In 2014, there were 1.2 asylum
applicants per thousand inhabitants in
the EU,” it added.
Syria was the main country of origin
for asylum-seekers last year, followed by
war-torn Afghanistan with 41,300, and
poverty-stricken Kosovo, with 37,900.
Out of 360,000 decisions taken by
member states on asylum requests
in 2014, 163,000 were positive, with
the status of refugee or temporary
protection granted.
— Reuters
Karimov faces no meaningful opposition in a vote that would see him win a five-year term
Ageing Uzbek leader dances off ill-health rumours
TASHKENT: Post-Soviet Uzbekistan’s
strongman President Islam Karimov
danced off rumours that ill-health
might derail his imminent re-election
bid on Saturday during Nowruz
celebration marking the beginning of
spring.
The 77-year-old, who has controlled
Uzbekistan for over two decades, has
traditionally used the symbolic event
held in the capital Tashkent to dispel
whispers about his physical frailty,
which have grown louder as he has cut
down on public appearances over the
President Islam Karimov (C) dances during Nowruz celebration in Tashkent. — AFP
years. This Nowruz was no exception
as Karimov moved energetically to
traditional Uzbek melodies, at one
point jogging on the spot as officials
and diplomats also clapped and
danced.
Karimov faces no meaningful
opposition in a vote scheduled for
March 29 that would see him win
a five-year term. “What do Uzbek
people need? We need peace and well
being,” Karimov told audience in a
speech that was also broadcasted via
state television.
—AFP
BRUSSELS: Italy wants Egypt and
Tunisia to play a role in rescuing
stricken migrant vessels in the
Mediterranean,
a
government
planning paper showed, so that
survivors could be taken back to
African instead of European ports.
The plan, which calls for the
European Union to support the
proposed Egyptian and Tunisian
operations, was prepared by the
Italian home affairs ministry and seen
by Reuters. It represents an attempt
to stem the growing flow of people
risking their lives to reach Europe,
most of whom try to get to Italy, often
on overcrowded or defective vessels.
Last April Italy rescued 4,000
migrants from boats trying to reach
European shores in only 48 hours in
a deepening immigration crisis that is
being made worse by the turmoil in
Libya, which has grappled with chaos
and rampant militias since the ousting
of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
In one of the worst such tragedies
in October 2013, a boat carrying
migrants from Libya to Italy sank
off the Italian island of Lampedusa.
The Italian Coast Guard managed
to rescue 155 survivors but more
than 360 migrants drowned. Italy is
already in bilateral talks on sea-rescue
operations with Tunisia and Egypt,
but joint diplomatic action of the EU
is crucial to get them involved, the
paper, said.
According to the plan, Tunisian
and Egyptian naval units would
intervene to rescue migrants in areas
close to Libya, which is the main
departing point for migrants bound
for Europe, but has no effective control
of its territorial waters because of the
ongoing conflict between its warring
— Reuters
factions.
Smog-choked
Paris forces half
of cars off roads
A view of the Eiffel Tower and
Paris’ roofs through a haze of
pollution. — AFP file picture
PARIS: French authorities will on
Monday put in place emergency trafficlimiting measures in Paris, as the City
of Light and much of northern France
suffers from a choking smog.
City mayor Anne Hidalgo had asked
authorities to prevent one in every
two cars from taking to the capital’s
streets and make all public transport
temporarily free in a bid to drive down
pollution. “I am delighted the state has
agreed to put in place a partial driving
ban on Monday, which I have been
requesting for several days,” Hidalgo
wrote on Saturday on Twitter.
Only vehicles with number plates
ending in an odd number will be
allowed to drive, though exceptions
exist for vehicles like taxis, electric cars
and ambulances.
Public transportation is to be free
until at least Monday in Paris and its
surrounding towns in an effort to force
pollution down by coaxing drivers to
give up their cars for a few days.
Similar emergency measures were
last implemented almost exactly a
year ago — on March 17 — during a
particularly bad spike in the pollution
levels. On Saturday, air quality
monitors predicted that concentrations
of potentially dangerous particulates
in the air could again go over the
recommended maximum.
In Paris, authorities measure the
concentration of particulates with a
diameter of less than 10 microns — socalled PM10 — in the air to determine
pollution levels.
These particulates are created by
vehicles, heating and heavy industry,
and include the most dangerous
particles that measure less than 2.5
microns in diameter, which can
penetrate deep into the lungs and the
blood system and can cause cancer.
The safe limit for PM10 is set at 80
microgrammes per cubic metre (mcg/
m3). According to a 2011 World Health
Organisation report, the planet’s most
polluted city was Ahvaz in Iran with an
average of 372 mcg/m3. Beijing had an
average of 121 mcg/m3, while Paris was
measured at 38 mcg/m3.
— AFP
INTERNATIONAL
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
Kerry stesses unity over N-deal
MAJOR STEP: ’Substantial progress’ has been made during the latest round of talks
LONDON: US Secretary of State
John Kerry on Saturday said he
and counterparts from Britain,
France and Germany were “united”
on seeking a nuclear deal with
Iran, while the Iranian president said
there was “nothing that cannot be
resolved”.
Kerry was due to hold talks in
London later with British Foreign
Secretary Philip Hammond, France’s
Laurent Fabius, Germany’s FrankWalter Steinmeier and EU foreign
affairs chief Federica Mogherini,
in a brief stopover amid reports of
disagreements over their negotiating
position.
The London gathering comes one
day after the latest round of talks
between Iran and the P5+1 group
of world powers (Britain, China,
France, Russia and the United States
plus Germany) ended without a
breakthrough.
However on Saturday, Washington
and Tehran both indicated that major
steps had been made towards a
nuclear deal.
Kerry, speaking in Lausanne
before heading to London, said that
there had been “substantial progress”,
while Iran’s President Hassan
Rouhani declared separately that “an
agreement is possible” and “there is
nothing that cannot be resolved”.
Kerry insisted world powers were
“united” in their talks with Iran, amid
rumours of a split with France, and
United States Secretary of State John Kerry delivers a statement about the
recently concluded round of negotiations with Iran in Lausanne, Switzerland.
stressed he would not rush into a bad
deal.
“I emphasise: We are united in
our goal, our approach, our resolve
and our determination to ensure
that Iran’s programme is entirely
peaceful,” he told reporters
France has expressed scepticism
over the speed of a potential deal
in which Iran would place its
controversial nuclear programme
under severe restrictions in exchange
for a stage-by-stage lifting of
international sanctions.
Kerry sought to reassure that
Washington was not trying to
pressure partners into an agreement,
saying “we have worked long and hard
to achieve an agreement that resolves
concerns on Iran’s programme.”
He said Iran still has to do more
to prove that it would abide by a deal
and that “important gaps remain”.
“The stakes are high and the issues
are complicated and all interrelated,”
he said.
“We recognise that fundamental
decisions have to be made now, and
they don’t get any easier as time goes
by.
It’s time to make hard decisions.”
Iran’s President Rouhani declared
Saturday that although differences
remained in nuclear talks with the
West there was no issue that could
not be resolved and that a deal could
be done.
“I believe an agreement is possible.
Namibia’s new president
sworn in after landslide win
Hage Geingob
WINDHOEK: Namibia’s new leader Hage
Geingob was on Saturday sworn in as
president, three months after he was elected
in a landslide victory.
The 73-year-old president marked his
inauguration by pledging to tackle poverty
among the vast desert nation’s 2.2 million
population.
“I am declaring war on poverty and
inequality,” Geingob said in front of a packed
stadium in the capital Windhoek.
Geingob, leader of South West Africa
People’s Organisation (SWAPO), won
the November 2014 vote with 87 per cent
of the vote, to become Namibia’s third
democratically elected leader.
Namibia, which gained independence
from South Africa in 1990, after decades of
German rule, delayed the inauguration to
coincide with its independence day.
The ceremony was attended by several
regional leaders including President Jakaya
Kikwete of Tanzania, President Ian Khama of
Botswana and President Robert Mugabe of
Zimbabwe who has close ties with Namibia.
Geingob admitted in 2012 that the wealth
of the uranium rich country was controlled
by 10 per cent of the population.
He replaces Hifikepunye Pohamba, also
of SWAPO, who served the country for ten
years. Before his election, Geingob served as
Namibia’s prime minister.
Outgoing president Pohamba said he
looked back with satisfaction because his
government had achieved many of its
national development goals during his term
in office.
“There are still many socio-economic
challenges facing our people, especially the
youth, women and vulnerable sections of
our population. Two of the most pressing are
poverty and unemployment,” he said. — AFP
Thousands in Georgia march
call for govt to step down
TBILISI: Tens of thousands of Georgians
joined a protest rally Saturday in the exSoviet republic’s capital Tbilisi to demand
the government’s resignation, claimed it has
mishandled the battered economy.
Protesters packed Tbilisi’s central Freedom
Square after being called onto the streets by
exiled former president Mikheil Saakashvili’s
United National Movement (UNM), before
marching towards the State Chancellery
building, the seat of government.
They carried Georgian flags and placards
demanding the government step down.
Saakashvili addressed the rally by video
link from Brussels as the cheering crowd
chanted his name.
“We are united by our shared task to
liberate Georgia from the government which
destroys our country,” Saakashvili said in an
emotional address.
“We will get Georgia back on a right track.
We will win,” he added.
Saakashvili’s UNM party has accused the
ruling Georgian Dream coalition government
of mishandling the tiny Caucasus country’s
economy that, during the last two years, saw
growth slowdown, a 30-per cent currency
devaluation, and rising inflation and unem
Saakashvili addressed the rally
by video link from Brussels as
the cheering crowd chanted his
name
ployment.
Georgian Dream, assembled by former
prime minister and billionaire tycoon
Bidzina Ivanishvili, came to power in 2012
and ended a decade-long rule of staunchly
pro-Western Saakashvili and his UNM party.
Ivanishvili stepped down in November
2013 to make way for his longtime ally Irakli
Garibashvili, but is widely believed to still call
the shots.
Scores of former top Saakashvili officials
have been arrested over the last two years for
alleged wrongdoing, prompting warnings
from the West over selective justice and
persecution of political opponents.
Accused by prosecutors of abuse of power,
Saakashvili, 47, lives in a self-imposed exile
in Kiev were he has served, since February,
as an aide to Ukraine’s President Petro
Poroshenko.
— AFP
There is nothing that cannot be
resolved and the other party must
make its final decision for this,” the
official IRNA news agency quoted
him as saying.
“In this round of negotiations (in
Lausanne), there were differences on
some issues,” Rouhani said, noting
that “common views emerged that
can be the basis of a final agreement.”
However he admitted: “Some
points of disagreement persist.”
On Friday, Iran and the US
announced that Lausanne talks would
resume on Wednesday or Thursday.
That leaves the two sides less than
a week to meet a March 31 deadline
for agreeing the outlines of a nuclear
deal they hope will end a 12-year
standoff.
The
Guardian
newspaper,
citing diplomats at the talks, said
Washington had proposed a scheme
for a phased lifting of UN sanctions
against Tehran in return for Iranian
action to limit its nuclear programme
— but Paris only wanted a symbolic
easing of the measures.
“The Americans are ready for an
agreement that is far from the goals
that were initially set,” a source close
to the negotiations said. The complex
deal on the table, due to be finalised
by July, is aimed at convincing the
world that Iran will not build nuclear
weapons under the guise of its
ongoing civilian programme.
— AFP
omandailyobserver
15
UN warns of food
shortages in Vanuatu
SYDNEY: Sixteen deaths have been
confirmed from the worst cyclone to hit the
island nation of Vanuatu, the United Nations
said Saturday, as it warned that food and
water reserves will not last more than a few
weeks.
A rapid assessment of 22 islands in the
archipelago showed 166,000 people were
affected by Tropical Cyclone Pam, the UN
office for the coordination of humanitarian
affairs said. It reported extensive damage to
food crops.
The devastation of coconut and banana
plantations would have a significant longterm impact, the agency said.
“Food is planned to be distributed to
162,000 people by 26 March,” it said.
Each household will receive a food
package that will include 25 kilogrammes
of rice, five cans of meat and 10 packets of
noodles, with the rations are meant to last
15 days, the UN said. Food has already been
distributed to 11,800 households, it said.
The cluster of dozens of islands was
hardest hit by the worst storm on record in
the region one week ago.
Winds in excess of 250 kilometres per
hour and heavy rain that caused flooding
destroyed much of the infrastructure in the
capital Port Vila and elsewhere.
The UN office said 3,995 people were
being housed in 39 evacuation centres, while
65,000 were identified in need of temporary
shelter. The country’s biggest aid donor,
Australia, on Friday sent a naval ship to
assist with reconnaissance and to transport
supplies to outlying islands.
“Around 166,000 people, more than half
A women carries a bunch of bananas she
found on the banks of the Noai river, 70
kilometres north of Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila
after Cyclone Pam ripped through the island
nation.
— AFP
of Vanuatu’s population, have been affected
by Tropical Cyclone Pam on 22 islands,” the
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) said in a situation report.
“Food stocks and water reserves are being
exhausted and will not last more than a
couple of weeks across the affected islands.”
The agency said the confirmed death toll
had risen to 16, as aid workers were able to
reach new areas, with completed assessments
covering 15 islands.
Aid agencies have stressed that potable
water, food, shelter and health were a priority
in the aftermath of the storm which hit late
on March 13.
The latest assessment found damage to
food crops was extensive.
“Coconut and banana plantations have
been particularly devastated, which will have
significant longer-term impact,” OCHA said,
noting that most people living on the outer
— dpa
islands grow their own food.
SUNDAY | MARCH 22, 2015 |
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SCOPE: The tenders cover landfills for wastes, superficial sanitary drainage system and levelling of 180 hectares dedicated for heavy industries
SEZAD awards RO 22.3m contracts for new projects
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
March 21: The Tender Committee of
the Special Economic Zone Authority in
Duqm (SEZAD) has awarded contracts
totalling RO 22.3 million for the
implementation of a number of projects,
including landfills for hazardous and
non-hazardous wastes, sanitary drainage
system, and the levelling of 180 hectares
earmarked for heavy industries.
The contracts were announced
at the second meeting of the Tender
Committee chaired by Ahmed bin
Hassan al Dheeb, who is also Member of
the SEZAD Board.
The landfill project includes the
design and construction of integrated
hazardous and non-hazardous wastes
storage and treatment facilities. The
project comes within the efforts made by
SEZAD to reduce the negative effects on
the environment.
The project is also in line with the
efforts made by the Sultanate to limit
the negative health and environmental
effects caused by the traditional landfills.
It also aims at providing environmentfriendly landfills that can handle
different types of wastes safety and
meet the constant growth in volumes of
waste resulting from the construction
activities and population growth. The the wastes that will be generated from
The committee also awarded a project
project is expected to efficiently handle the industries hosted at SEZAD.
to set up Danjrat channels located at the
north areas in Duqm master plan. The
construction of the 11 km long channel
aims at discharging the superficial rain
water at the sea.
The channel will be designed in a
way to ensure having the required slope
that will help the channel discharge the
superficial rain water in the sea very
efficiently and smoothly.
The project is part of a series of
projects that include protection dams,
main and sub discharge channels with
varying capacities. The aim of these
channels is to collect rain water and
discharging them safely through suitable
streams for the expected volumes of
rain. The project will provide protection
for the front-line infrastructure at Duqm
Port and at the heavy industries complex.
It will also ensure safe disposal of rain
water without causing any damage to the
companies operating in the zone.
SEZAD Tender Committee also
awarded the sixth package of the
levelling and superficial water discharge
for the logistic area in Duqm port. The
scope of the project covers the levelling
of the lands on the main road to Duqm
including digging and filling as per the
project plans. The contractor should
ensure that all electricity, water and
communication lines at the project area
are not harmed by the digging and filling
works.
18
omandailyobserver
OMAN
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
Omasco marks year of Business
Excellence at Conference 2015
Sohar Aluminium honours staff
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
March 21: Oman Marketing and
Services Company (Omasco) a leading
trading, property and financial services
company in Oman with key activities
in automotive, marine, electronics,
projects and engineering and industrial
products recently held a special
“Conference 2015 – A year of Business
Excellence’ for its employees at ShangriLa’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. The aim
of the event was to share the vision of
the company with the employees and
empower them with knowledge on the
company’s strategy for the year ahead.
Over 300 employees from across the
Sultanate came together to explore
the culture of the organisation which
endeavours to provide a value based
customer experience with an engaged
workforce.
As part of this conference, Omasco
launched its innovative ‘Afkari’
programme which is a think-tank
for employees across all the Omasco
business
units.
Employees
are
encouraged to think about what is best
for the company and to put forward
their ideas to enhance Omasco to even
greater heights. The programme, which
translates to ‘My Ideas’ in English,
encourages innovation from within and
will ensure the continued success of the
company. This forum was also used to
recognise and honour individuals who
have been with Omasco for over 30
years for their long term association.
Commenting on the event, Hussain
al Lawati, Managing Director, Omasco
said, “Omasco’s mission is at the
forefront of every team members mind.
The principles of choice, value and
engagement comes together to achieve
this”.
He went on to say, “We have a lot
of talent in house and we want to
encourage them to actively participate
in the success of the business.”
Delegates who attended the
conference included
Len Hunt,
President , Al Futtaim Automotive,
Colin Cordery, Regional Managing
Director and
Sandeep Ajgonkar,
Regional General Manager, After Sales.
Omasco has focused plans for 2015 and
is geared to achieve very competitive
results. It has the best team in place to
help it to reach its goals.
Large German presence at trade fair
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
March 21: More than 10 German
companies
specialising
in
the
manufacture of, among other things,
construction
and
woodworking
machinery, concrete block making
systems, solar equipment, and flame
retardants, are due to take part in this
year’s edition of The Big Show, which
will be held at Oman International
Exhibition Centre from March 30 to
April 2, 2015.
Their presence at the 4-day annual
event is backed by the German Federal
Ministry for Economic Affairs and
Energy (BMWi) and the Association
of the German Trade Fair Industry
(AUMA).
Taking part are Breuer & Schmitz
Gmbh & Co (manufacturers of building
hardware), Erkat Spezialmaschinen und
Service (manufacturers of hydraulic
drum cutter attachments for excavators),
Eurobend (suppliers of wire and rebar
processing machinery), Frima (semi
and fully automatic plants for concrete
block production and paving), Top Werk
Group (machines and equipment for
the building materials industry), MASA
(machinery for the building materials
industry), MEA Water Management
(linear drainage systems), Oventrop
(manufacturers of valves and controls
for building services), Prinzing-Pfeiffer
(modular programme for the production
of precast concrete elements), SRSchindler (machines for the production
and surface refinement of pavers, tiles,
wall stones etc), Sunset Energietechnik
(solar systems), Trevira (flame retardants
polyester fibres and yarns), WASA
(fibreglass production boards), and
Zenith Emden (pallet machinery)
Also in attendance will be
representatives of the German Industry
and Commerce Office Oman (AHK)
and NUMOV.
March 21: Sohar Aluminium (SA)
recently held its annual ceremony
‘Mumtaz’ to recognize the efforts
of its employees, and reward them
for contributing to the company’s
achievements in 2014. The event, which
was attended by Said Mohammed al
Masoudi, CEO of SA, SA Executive
Committee (ExCo), Managers as well
as employees who work across different
departments, highlighted some of the
major achievement made in 2014.
Addressing the gathering, Said al
Masoudi said: “Our People’s Passion
for Excellence plays a key role in
achieving our vision to Be the Best,
embodying the values we live by.
Knowing that our business can only
be as good as our people, we dedicate
our success to them.”
“Through competitive benefits,
continuous competency improvements,
strong internal communications and
wide business literacy we seek to achieve
the best business outcomes, and sustain
our position as the Employer of Choice,”
Al Masoudi continued.
Sohar Aluminium fosters an
environment that encourages working
and celebrating success together as
teams thus leading to an excellent
and highly efficient workforce
that continues to achieve new
milestones. The Sohar Aluminium
Mumtaz Scheme is an example of
the harmonious synergy between its
workforce and management, in that
staff who demonstrate outstanding
achievements beyond their call of
duty within the company or their
communities are recognised.
At the event Sohar Aluminium
ExCo also announced the launch of
its revamped Employee Recognition
scheme now called ‘Mumtaz Club’. The
Mumtaz Club has been tailored to fit SA’s
culture and is made to be more dynamic
giving a chance to all employees to take
part in it.
This new scheme has been the result
of many months of preparation that
focused on ensuring that a recognition
scheme brings back value to the team
as well as rewards individual excellence.
A committee was formed to listen and
observe what motivates the employees
to contribute to the success of the
business.
This resulted in revamping the
employee recognition scheme and
amplifying its impact.
BUSINESS ALERT
Genesis earns Kiplinger’s
2015 Best Value Award
MUSCAT: The Genesis — premium series from Hyundai,
won the Best New/Redesigned Car in the Kiplinger’s Personal
Finance annual Best Value Awards at the 2015 Washington
Auto Show. Kiplinger’s took a comprehensive review of
hundreds of vehicles and revealed the best values on the
newest models. Kiplinger’s buyer’s guide sorts the 2015 models by price and category, ranking them for performance,
safety and value.
For nine decades, the Kiplinger organisation has led the way in personal finance and business forecasting in the
US. The Kiplinger Letter, launched in 1923, remains the longest continuously published newsletter in the United
States. In 1947, Kiplinger created the first personal finance magazine in the USA and has been delivering sound,
unbiased advice on personal finance and business in clear, concise language.
The 2015 Genesis — a premium sedan that has been designed to set new standards in its class — is the first
Hyundai to feature the brand’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design concept, while also boasting significantly enhanced
driving performance and state-of-the-art technologies such as a Head-Up Display, Smart Trunk function and
Autonomous Emergency Braking. The 2015 Genesis has already been celebrated for its sleek styling, recently
receiving the internationally acclaimed Red Dot Product Design Award for 2014. .
BP Oman organises beach clean-up
WITH the support of the Environment Society of Oman
(ESO), BP Oman staff participated in a beach cleanup initiative at Al Athaiba beach. This initiative comes
under BP’s commitment to conserve the beauty of Oman
and enhance its environmental status.
Dave Campbell, Chief Operating Officer says, ‘We
have worked extensively with the Government of Oman
to make sure that we manage all the environmental
impacts of our operations and we will continue to do
this. Not only that, we are also aiming to spread the
awareness among different spectrums of the society to
help keep Oman beaches beautiful. BP Oman is committed to its role as a responsible citizen and has been an active
member of the Environment Society of Oman (ESO). A few years ago, BP Oman implemented a Waste Recycling
Scheme in its offices as part of its commitment to preserve the Omani environment.
Through this initiative, BP Oman aims to engage staff into working together to do their community part and
raise health and environmental awareness. Reducing the amount of waste and promoting recycling in everyday life
is one of the key things BP is trying to embed. Nadir al Rawahi, Drilling Engineer says, ‘I feel proud that I have made
an impact and I am looking forward to take part on similar initiatives. ’ The staff disposed approximately 750 kg of
waste including construction waste, drinking cans, bottles and plastic bags, collected from the sea front areas.
McDonald’s introduces new mango Pineapple juice
MCDONALD’S Oman has introduced the all-new
Minute Maid Mango Pineapple juice to its beverage lineup. This tasty tropical fusion joins McDonald’s muchloved apple, orange, tropical flavours for the ultimate
refreshing experience. Ali K Daud, Development
Licensee and President of McDonald’s Oman said: “We
are very pleased to offer this refreshing new treat to our
customers just in time for the warmer months of spring
and summer. McDonald’s is committed to continuously
offering a variety of flavours that meet our customers
evolving tastes, and introducing new products that keep
our menu fresh and exciting.” The Mango Pineapple juice
will be available at McDonald’s for a limited time only.
OMAN/INTERNATIONAL
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
omandailyobserver
19
2nd GCC Supply Chain & Logistics Conference, April 13-16: Al Bustan Palace – A Ritz Carlton Hotel
Supply chains are backbone of international trade
I
mproving only two key
components of trade facilitation
— border administration and
transport and communications
infrastructure — would lead
to an increase of some $2.6
trillion (4.7 per cent) in global GDP and
$1.6 trillion (14.5 per cent) in global
trade, according to The World Bank.
The UN international financial
institution made the assertion in
the fourth edition of ‘Connecting to
Compete: Trade Logistics in the Global
Economy’. The recently published report
features the Logistics Performance
Index (LPI), which the World Bank has
produced every two years since 2007.
The LPI measures the on-the-ground
efficiency of trade supply chains, or
logistics performance.
Oman is ranked 59th among 160
countries surveyed in the Logistics
Performance Index (LPI) for the year
2014. Germany was ranked first,
followed by the Netherlands, Belgium,
United Kingdom, Singapore, Sweden,
Norway, Luxembourg, United States and
Japan.
According to The World Bank study,
a complete worldwide tariff elimination
would only add a further $400 billion (0.7
per cent) to global GDP, or $1.1 trillion
(10.1 per cent) to global trade. The figure
illustrates that reducing supply chain
barriers has a larger effect than removing
tariffs. This holds even in the scenario of
a more modest improvement in trade
facilitation, in which all countries raised
their performance halfway to regional
best practice (as opposed to halfway
to international best practice—that is,
Singapore in the first scenario).
“What lies at the heart of the large
increases in GDP after trade facilitation
reforms? Reductions in supply chain
trade barriers improve the efficiency of
the movement of goods, thus recovering
resources otherwise wasted. By contrast,
most tariff reductions reallocate
resources, capturing only the more
modest inefficiency created by the tax,”
Tim Sebastian to moderate conference
The legendary Tim Sebastian, founder and chairman of
the Doha Debates, will moderate the 2nd GCC Supply
Chain & Logistics Conference due to be held at Al Bustan
Palace — A Ritz Carlton Hotel during April 13–16, 2015.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Transport and
Communications, will showcase the Sultanate’s long-term
vision for growth as a logistics gateway to the Gulf and the
wider Middle East region.
Tim was previously a BBC foreign correspondent, based
in Warsaw, Moscow and Washington, and has reported for
BBC Television from more than 25 countries over a 30year period.
He is perhaps best known for being the first host of the
BBC’s flagship interview programme Hardtalk — for which
he was twice named Interviewer of the Year by the Royal
Television Society. Sebastian has also won the Society’s
Television Journalist of the Year award, as well as a British
Academy award for contributions to factual television. He
holds a BA in modern languages from Oxford University
the report stresses.
A joint foreword by Jeffrey D Lewis
[Director Economic Policy, Debt
and Trade Department — Poverty
Reduction and Economic Management
Network (PREM), The World Bank
Group] and Jose Luis Irigoyen [Director
for the Transport, Water, Information
and Communications Technologies,
and Infrastructure Finance Department
Sustainable Development Network
(SDN), The World Bank Group] stated:
“Supply chains are the backbone of
international trade and commerce.
Their logistics encompasses freight
transportation, warehousing, border
clearance, payment systems, and
increasingly many other functions
outsourced by producers and merchants
to dedicated service providers.
The importance of good logistics
performance for economic growth,
diversification, and poverty reduction is
now firmly established.
“Although logistics is performed
mainly by private operators, it has
become a public policy concern of
national governments and regional
and international organisations. Supply
chains are a complex sequence of
coordinated activities. The performance
of the whole depends on such government
interventions as infrastructure, logistics
services provision, and cross-border
trade facilitation,” they noted.
According to the report, gains in
GDP associated with trade facilitation
would occur in all regions of the globe,
though concentrated in those with the
greatest improvements. In the more
ambitious scenario, these include
Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and
parts of Central and West Asia. Gains
from tariff elimination would accrue
disproportionately to the Russian
Federation, China, and a few other
countries.
Improving logistics performance
is at the core of the economic growth
and competitiveness agenda, says The
World Bank. Policymakers globally
recognise the logistics sector as one
OEPPA, publisher of
Oman Daily Observer
and Oman Arabic, is the
Strategic Media Partner.
A special publication
titled ‘Oman Logistics’
will be launched in
conjunction with the
event. For advertising
queries, drop a mail at:
omanlogistics2015@
gmail.com
of their key pillars for development.
Trade powerhouses in Europe like the
Netherlands1 or in developing countries
like Vietnam or Indonesia2 see seamless
and sustainable logistics as an engine of
growth and of integration with global
value chains.
SOARING IMPACT
Indeed, inefficient logistics raises the
costs of trading and reduces the potential
for global integration. This is a hefty
burden for developing countries trying
to compete in the global marketplace.
Since 2007, the Logistics Performance
Index (LPI) has been informing the
U
Investors fret over
exit as prices for
India’s start-ups soar
A
Ships wait to be loaded at the Port of Los Angeles in Long Beach, California. US exporters and multinational companies are
beginning to feel the pain from a dollar that has hit its highest level in 12 years. — AFP
Convergex.
“If you run a US multinational
company, or own its shares, ‘King
Dollar’ is proving to be a bit of a tyrant.”
Colas pointed out that analysts
are slicing their earnings forecasts for
listed companies. They now predict an
average 1.9 per cent fall in revenue for
the third quarter this year, compared to
predictions of a 1.7 per cent rise just two
months ago. “No company hedges for
revenues so the impact on sales growth
will be fully visible,” Colas said.
Yet so far the strong greenback has
only had a modest impact on the overall
economy, in part because of the very
strengths that underpin its surge.
“The US economy looks pretty good...
That’s driving a lot of investment in the
US as a bit of a safe haven,” noted Chad
debate on the role of logistics for growth
and the policies to support it in such
areas as infrastructure, service provision,
and cross-border trade facilitation.
The results of Connecting to
Compete 2014 point to Germany as the
best performing country with an LPI
score of 4.12, and Somalia as the worst
with 1.77 (on a scale of 1 to 5). (Germany
was also the best performer over 2007–
14) A slightly converging trend from
previous LPI surveys in 2007, 2010 and
2012 is also found in 2014, with lower
performing countries improving their
overall LPI scores more than higher
performing countries.
The modest convergence since 2007
is explained by a perceived improvement
in trade supporting infrastructure in lowand middle income countries — and to
a lesser extent in their logistics services
and customs and border management.
This perceived improvement attests to
the success of developing countries in
closing the transport infrastructure gap
with high-income countries.
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Strong dollar no disaster for economy
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the pain from a
dollar that has hit
its highest level in 12 years.
But analysts say the greenback’s
sharp climb will only slightly slow the
overall US economy.
From farm exporters to the chemicals
industry, the moaning is growing more
audible about losing competitiveness
to competitors in Europe, Brazil and
elsewhere.
On Wall Street, companies like IBM,
Kimberly-Clark, Microsoft, Procter &
Gamble, and Caterpillar have all blamed
slower earnings on the currency.
Earlier this week software giant
Oracle said revenues in its most recent
quarter, at $9.3 billion, were 6 per cent
lower than they would have been if the
dollar had held steady.
In the past year, the dollar has soared
32 per cent against the euro, 39 per cent
against Brazil’s real, 18 per cent on the
yen, 16 per cent on the Canadian dollar,
and 13 per cent against the pound.
Overall, against a trade-weighted
basket of currencies, the rise has been 20
per cent. For US export rivals, that is a
strong gain in their competitiveness.
It gives, for instance, farmers in
Brazil and Canada big advantages.
“It has an especially large impact on
the wheat and cotton sectors, where we
export half of the crops or pretty close to
it,” said Richard Pottorff of farm industry
specialists Doane Advisory Services.
Steve Meyer of Iowa-based consultant
Paragon Economics says US pork and
chicken exporters are beginning to feel
the pain.
“Any time the value of the dollar
goes up it makes our products more
expensive.” The problem is mounting as
well on Wall Street, said Nicholas Colas,
chief market strategist at the brokerage
and is the author of eight
novels and two nonfiction titles.
Conference partners
Working
closely
with Oman’s Ministry
of
Transport
and
Communications in the
organisation of the 2nd
GCCSCL Conference &
Exhibition is the Oman
Logistics
&
Supply
Chain Association (OLSCA), a non-profit grouping of
professionals hailing from all sections of the logistics
and supply chain industry in the Sultanate. Well-known
event’s management firm Al Nimr Expo & Conferences
is providing operational support to the Ministry in
putting together a world-class conference and companion
exhibition.
Moutray, the chief economist for the
National Association of Manufacturers.
Economists say that the economy’s
low dependence on exports also works
to its benefit, in this case.
Exports make up around 10 per cent
of gross domestic product, whereas in a
country like Germany, they are 50 per
cent, noted Nariman Behravesh, chief
economist at IHS.
And with domestic consumption the
primary driver of growth, the stronger
dollar means lower import prices and
so, potentially, more spending power for
American families.
“If you look at the economy as a
whole, the damage is fairly limited,”
Behravesh said.
But if the dollar
continues to climb, the pain could
mount. A surprisingly dovish Federal
Reserve cited the strong dollar’s impact
on exports for its downgrade of growth
forecasts on Wednesday. That send
the dollar sinking four cents to $1.101
against the euro, for example.
But by Thursday it was back to
$1.0665 and experts expect more
strengthening in the coming weeks,
heading toward euro parity.
“This headwind is going to be with
us for a while, this is not temporary,”
said Moutray. “Manufacturers are going
to need to find ways to compete.”
Behravesh, though, notes that the
dollar has swung much more sharply in
the past, and the economy survived just
fine. “Our experience in the US is that,
periods of dollar strength are typically
followed by periods of dollar weakness,”
said Behravesh. — AFP
s billions of dollars flow into India’s booming online economy,
some investors are beginning to fret that soaring valuations
could hamper market listings and limit their options when it
comes to turning paper profits into cash.
India’s rising number of smartphone users, cheaper Internet costs and a
vast middle class have turned it into one of the hottest markets for investors
such as Singaporean wealth fund Temasek Holdings, venture capitalists
Accel Partners and Japan’s SoftBank Corp.
But several advisers and particularly later stage investors say they are
concerned that optimistic estimates and already sky-high prices implied
by privately sold stakes could make initial public offerings hard to pull off.
“Public markets will have a completely different perception to the
excitement in the private market,” said a banker with an Indian firm, which
advises investors in the
online sector. “Investors
are now taking a pause
and asking if these
valuations will stand
the scrutiny of stock
markets.”
Investors
have
pumped $4.5 billion
into the Indian Internet
space in the 13 months
to February, with online marketplaces Flipkart and Snapdeal getting
almost 60 per cent of the funding since 2007, according to Morgan Stanley.
Analysts value Flipkart, India’s biggest e-commerce company, at around
$11 billion. That would amount to roughly three times estimates of their
gross merchandise volume (GMV), or the value of goods they sell.
Snapdeal CEO Kunal Bahl said his company is currently valued at
slightly over $5 billion and is expected to end the financial year with
$3 billion in GMVs. By comparison, e-commerce veteran Ebay trades
at roughly equal to its GMV, according to its website. Flipkart did not
respond to an email and call seeking comment.
Three of the leading brick and mortar retailers in the country — Future
Retail, Shoppers Stop and Pantaloons Fashion and Retail — only manage
a combined valuation of less than $1.5 billion, according to Reuters Data.
“Valuations are obviously quite high,” said Raja Lahiri, a partner at
advisory firm Grant Thornton in India. “If you are a late-stage investor,
then the exit and return risks become higher... The risks are always on
exits.” — Reuters
20
omandailyobserver
TECHNOLOGY
AVIATION
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
OS
AeroMobil self-flying cars by 2017
AEROMOBIL may be ahead of its time, but it
announced that it’s launching a flying car in 2017
and a self-flying car within the next decade.
During SXSW (South by Southwest) in Austin,
Texas last week, AeroMobil CEO Juraj Vaculik
provided more details about his five-year-old startup and its ambitions to move the daily commute into
the clouds. “[Self-driving] technology is coming
to the car, but as an autopilot, it’s already there,”
Vaculik said in an interview. “There are already
systems for taking off and landing automatically.
These two technologies can work together.” Transit
has turned into a prison system that incarcerates
commuters in traffic, in bad infrastructure and in
airports, says the AeroMobile CEO.
“We need another revolution, we need a
revolution in personal transportation,” Vaculik
stated during the music and arts festival.
Yet while technology may exist to make it
happen the revolution may not come quick because
of the costs, Vaculik concedes. AeroMobil’s flying
car prototype is described by its maker as a “Ferrari
with wings” and its prospective customers as
“wealthy supercar buyers.”
But with all tech that lives a full and meaningful life,
the price point eventually comes down. For the price
of self-flying cars to drop far enough for everyone
to enjoy, the technology will first need to rise above
merely serving as a hobby for the super rich.
Advances in self-driving cars will help flying
cars move closer to real-world adoption and the
two modes of transit may find success in the same
model. But right now self-driving, autonomous
vehicles remain at prices that are too high for the
majority of the motoring public.
Google’s vision of self-driving cars may predict
exactly how the world will move from points A,
B and C. The search engine company expects a
decline in individual car ownership and a rise in
ridesharing.
With driverless cars and self-flying vehicles, the
speeds and efficiency at which they travel would
drastically decrease the need for parking and
economise driving through ridesharing, according
to remarks from Google co-founder Sergey Brin at
last year’s KV Summit. Autonomous vehicles could
become like buses and subways, excepted they’d be
much more plentiful, he believes.
Windows 10 to launch
this summer
MICROSOFT has inched closer to announcing an official release date
for Windows 10. The new operating system (OS), which is currently
in a public preview release, “will launch in 190 countries and 111
languages around the world this summer,” according to the company.
Executive Vice-President Terry Meyerson, who runs the Windows
division, made the announcement at the WinHEC conference in
Shenzhen, China, last week. In a separate interview, Meyerson said
that the company plans to deliver free Windows 10 upgrades to all
customers, even those running pirated versions of Windows. “We are
upgrading all qualified PCs, genuine and non-genuine, to Windows
10,” Meyerson said.
Microsoft is promising to decrease the disk requirements, via
compression technology, by as much as 45 per cent, which means
expanded room for data as well as a substantial revamp of its recovery
image process. As one report notes the disk storage change has been
long in coming. In addition to tapping more efficient compression,
Microsoft is eliminating recovery
images that typically gobble up
big space. That move alone could
free up between 4 GB and 12 GB.
When compared to Windows
8.1, Windows 10 will require
6.6GB less room. In addition,
Microsoft is striving to reduce
crapware as well as make reinstall a quicker process with a new refresh and reset approach.
“We are also redesigning Windows’ refresh and reset functionalities
to no longer use a separate recovery image (often pre-installed by
manufacturers today) in order to bring Windows devices back to
a pristine state,” states Microsoft in a blog about its Windows 10
changes. One of the biggest changes though will be the elimination of
having to use passwords for account and security features. Microsoft is
reportedly tapping biometric authentication technology for Windows
10 on mobile devices.
Called Windows Hello, the technology will rely on user ID
verification and use a fingerprint, facial recognition or fingerprint to
open apps, access specific online features or connect with enterprise
content. The goal, according to Joe Belfiore, Microsoft’s corporate VP
of operating systems, is to make the OS more convenient for users and
safer as a system. Microsoft is also pulling in Passport to Windows 10,
a much more secure sign-in technology for admins, app makers and
website owners.
“There is no shared password stored on [Microsoft’s] servers for a
hacker to potentially compromise,’’ explained Belfiore.
TABLET
BlackBerry introduces new high security tablet
BLACKBERRY said it was launching a high-security
tablet, developed with International Business Machines
and Samsung Electronics
Seeking to extend its range of secure mobile devices,
BlackBerry said it was launching a high-security tablet,
developed with International Business Machines and
Samsung Electronics.
The SecuTABLET, based on Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S
10.5 and being presented by BlackBerry unit Secusmart
at tech fair CeBIT 2015 in Germany, reflects the Canadian
company’s stress on secure connections for governments
and businesses as it seeks to preserve a niche market
after a drubbing in recent years at the hands of emerging
smartphone makers such as Apple.
“Security is ingrained in every part of BlackBerry’s
portfolio, which includes voice and data encryption
solutions,” said Dr Hans-Christoph Quelle, Chief
Executive Officer of Secusmart GmbH, in a statement on
the new device.
The device was undergoing certification by the German
Federal Office for Information Security for secure rating,
the statement said, adding that the new tablet used the
same security technology as the Secusmart Security Card.
“Working alongside IBM and Samsung, we have added
the last link in the chain of the Federal Security Network.
Subject to certification of the SecuTABLET, German
government agencies will have a new way to access
BlackBerry’s most secure and complete communications
network in the world,” Quelle said.
AUTOMOBILE
TwinPower Turbo engine
makes the new MINI ‘fun’
The new MINI Cooper S was launched in India at a driving event held at Aamby
Valley, Pune last week. The new MINI Cooper S boasts increased power and
enhanced driving thrills with a formidable beast under its shining bonnet: the
new MINI TwinPower Turbo engine, which offers an entirely new understanding
of driving dynamics. The all India ex-showroom price of the new MINI Cooper S
is Rs 34,65,000. Philipp von Sahr, President, BMW Group India said, “MINI never
stops to surprise you. Just when you thought we could not possibly make the
new MINI any more exciting, we did exactly that. MINIs have always had a knack
for speed and agility and the new MINI Cooper S takes that passion even further.
SMARTPHONE
Microsoft launches affordable Internet-ready Nokia 215
MICROSOFT seems to still have a few
Nokia phones up its sleeves (at least feature
phones), as the company has announced
the affordable Internet-ready Nokia 215 and
Nokia 215 Dual SIM.
The Redmond giant has revealed that
both the Nokia 215 and Nokia 215 Dual SIM
will be initially rolled out in Middle East,
Africa, Asia and Europe in the first quarter.
Both the handsets will be available in “select
markets” at just $29 (In India at Rs 1,838
approximately) before taxes and subsidies.
This makes it perfectly suited for first-time
mobile phone buyers or as a secondary
phone for just about anyone.
The Nokia 215 and Nokia 215 Dual SIM
share common specifications except that the
latter also features dual-SIM support. Both
the handsets support Micro-SIM.
Both the phones features a 2.4-inch
QVGA (240x320 pixels) LCD display
offering a pixel density of 166ppi. They
supports expandable storage via microSD
card (up to 32GB).
The handsets pack an 1100mAh
removable battery. The Nokia 215 can offer
a standby time of up to 29 days and up to
20 hours of talk time on 2G networks. The
Nokia 215 Dual SIM, on the other hand,
offers up to 21 days of standby time and can
deliver up to 20 hours of talk time on 2G
networks.
Both the handsets sport a 0.3-megapixel
fixed-focus camera and run on Series 30+
operating system. Connectivity options on
the handsets include Bluetooth 3.0, GPRS,
and Micro-USB.
The Nokia 215 and Nokia 215 Dual
SIM come with Opera Mini Browser and
Bing Search. The handsets pack a built-in
torchlight and also include stereo FM radio.
Both the feature phones will be available in
a choice of colours, namely — Bright Green,
Black and White.
LEISURE
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
omandailyobserver
21
Online Editor’s Choice
CARTOONS
1
ADAM @ HOME
by Brian Basset
7
8
10
11
14
16
17
19
21
CALVIN AND HOBBES
22
by Bill Watterson
23
26
28
29
30
31
32
33
1
2
GARFIELD
by Jim Davis
3
4
5
6
8
9
12
13
15
STONE SOUP
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
ACROSS
Without the cash, it’s tough getting
promoted (4,2)
Young, possibly nude and needing
fresh gear (5,3)
Oak apple, say, is good for
everybody (4)
As involved when there are holes
in the plot? (6)
Sound line of approach to an
assault (6)
Still backward in being matey (3)
They’re highly likely to have
sloping sides (5)
Behind the right auricle (4)
A summer record for drink (5)
He pretends wild fear about a
shock ending (5)
Having branches in glandular
medicine (5)
The schoolgirl coped without a
piano (4)
She stood high, just about upright
(5)
Catch in possession of cannabis (3)
He’s in stable employment (6)
Trouble in motels (6)
Casually, less than solidly (4)
They give one roundness of vision
(8)
Executing a cut with a swing,
wildly (6)
DOWN
Watch that horse (6)
With much sliding to and fro,
could it be red raw? (6)
To be attractive, turn up with £50
(4)
The real gear? (7)
Alan’s terribly nosy! (5)
Disliked Americans possibly
getting physical (5)
Painter who came to a sticky end
in Goa (4)
Leased with some little trouble (3)
It can show an inclination to be
generous (3)
Can he see rising evil? (5)
Could they be sued about the
finish of a book? (5)
4
5
6
8
9
12
13
15
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
30
CR O SSW O R D
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
30
Rouse to make money (5)
Crush in a major uprising (3)
Guided in a suitable direction (3)
Mere fan, perhaps, not a
committed lover (4,3)
Some rising liabilities can mean
trouble (3)
Naïve, apt to start crying if let? (6)
Serve with honour to the very end
(4)
Seeing someone ascertaining the
age of things (6)
A girl’s bloomers (5)
It’s hard to be a saintly swimmer
(5)
Seem agreeable to no good end (3)
Fail to notice an instance of
inaccuracy (4)
EASY PUZZLE
ACROSS
1 Robber (6)
THURSDAY’S CRYPTIC
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 1, A-M-bit 6, Solve 9,
Salad-in 10, Brood 11, Clink 12, Silky
13, Romance 15, Has 17, E-W-Ôer
18, Basalt 19, Gully 20, G-a-RN-et 22,
Sign 24, Nee 25, Don-ated 26, S-t-aid
27, Bijou 28, A-corn 29, Crack-le 30,
Flake 31, Free-d.
DOWN: 2, Marrow 3, I-so-bar 4, TaD 5, Mar-i-e 6, Sickbay 7, Only 8,
Venial 12, Sco-U-t 13, Reign 14, Met-re 15, H-AB-it 16, Stand 18, Blood
19, Gesture 21, Aerial 22, Saucer 23,
George 25, Ditch 26, Sock 28, Alf.
7
8
10
11
14
16
17
19
21
22
23
26
28
29
30
31
32
33
Predecessor (8)
Gemstone (4)
Designate (6)
Bawdy (6)
Employ (3)
Strong winds (5)
Gaelic (4)
Claw (5)
Fed up (5)
Disgusting (5)
Plunder (4)
Yielded (5)
Faucet (3)
Wore away (6)
Sturdy (6)
Minerals (4)
Juicy (8)
Religious festival (6)
DOWN
1 Horse’s headgear (6)
2 Dethrone (6)
3 Story (4)
THURSDAY’S EASY SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 1, Sweat 6, Steep 9, Decline
10, Bison 11, Onion 12, Avert 13,
Retitle 15, Sip 17, Odes 18, Deduce
19, Regal 20, Matter 22, Teal 24,
Sty 25, Reports 26, Aided 27, React
28, Rapid 29, Habitat 30, Steel 31,
Women.
DOWN: 2, Waited 3, Adonis 4, Ten 5,
Slave 6, Snorkel 7, Tent 8, Erotic 12,
Alter 13, Rooms 14, Testy 15, Super
16, Peals 18, Dated 19, Recital 21,
Attest 22, Tomato 23, Attire 25, Remit
26, Ache 28, Raw.
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:
A plan which
you considered
practicable
and financially
viable may
be out of the
question as a
solo enterprise.
You may
now need to
consider ways
and means of
attracting capital
in order to get
your project
off the ground
during the
coming years.
Minor deity (7)
Take unlawfully (5)
Pokes (5)
Burden (4)
Devoured (3)
Prohibit (3)
Slowly (5)
European capital (5)
Oarsman (5)
Baby (3)
Guided (3)
Plague (7)
Provided food (3)
Tags (6)
Work (4)
Wobble (6)
Stringed instrument (5)
Extinguish (5)
Hill (3)
Flower (4)
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
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
March 21April 20
April 21May 20
May 21June 21
June 22July 21
July 22August 21
August 22September 22
A sudden change in your work may
take you completely by surprise, but
you will manage it more successfully
than if you had the time to think about
it beforehand.
Some good friends are planning
a treat for you in recognition of
your many kindnesses and for being willing to give help without
question whenever it is needed.
A white lie you must tell to spare
somebody’s feelings is entirely justified. The plain truth may hurt the
person concerned without actually
helping matters.
Don’t let a dormant tendency to
gossip get the better of you. There
is not much satisfaction in it and it
may cause some untold harm to the
subject of the rumours.
Through your anxiety to mix only with
people of importance, you have missed
the chance to meet some very pleasant
and interesting people. Widen your horizons while opportunity is there.
Don’t try to start something when
you know beforehand that it would
be beyond your present powers.
You would only lose money and
invite adverse criticism.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
September 23October 22
October 23November 21
November 22December 21
December 22January 20
January 21February 19
February 20March 20
A friendship with a person of the
opposite sex may result from regular attendance at evening classes.
Mutual interests can make for a
binding relationship.
Today should see you achieving
your current objectives. Don’t let
anticipated future setbacks worry
you, your present good luck will
continue for a long time.
If you are sure of your judgement
when it comes to a far-reaching
decision, don’t waste time asking
too many outsiders for their opinion.
By avoiding arguments and
sticking firmly to your conviction, you will be able to persuade
a stubborn person to see your
point of view.
An unfortunate remark made
without thought could lead to
a regrettable misunderstanding
unless you take the trouble to explain your error.
If you take more advantage of a
labour saving device you will have
more time to devote to your personal interests. You deserve to
develop your hobby.
22
CLASSIFIEDS
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
For Sale
2 PRIME Movers
Man 2008 with 40
ton pertrol tank
each working at the
moment in Al Maha.
Price RO 35,000,000
each. 97000155 or
92688692.
QURUM BEACH
·····
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
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& 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)
·····
23, 886 sq mtrs
agriculture land with
water well in Al Salwa,
Barka, RO 260,000,000.
99333479 or
95215360.
·····
3 FLOOR building in
Muttrah behind police,
generating income
of RO 18,000,000
annually, neat and
well maintained.
Built on 197 sq m
land. 2 tailor shops
‘‰”‘—†ϐŽ‘‘”ƒ†͸
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99333479 or
95215360.
·····
Required
Reputed engineering
consultancy firm in
Muscat looking for
following placement:
1. Omani Secretary
(Female)
2. Autocad Technician
(Omani female)
3. Civil Engineer min 5
years experience
having driving
licence
4. Electrical Engineer
degree/diploma min
3 years experience.
E-mail: alfurjar06@
gmail.com/ hope4u99@
icloud.com
·····
For Sale
INDUSTRIAL area
land in Rusayil, 5,000
Sq.mt and building
with 8 shops. Contact
95490842,
92702891.
·····
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.
·····
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.
·····
For Sale/Rent
ȍ͵
VILLAS for sale/
rents Ȁ
),
ȋŠ‘’•Ȁ‘ˆϐ‹…‡•ˆ‘”
rent/ Al Khuwair)
(Flats for rent/Wadi
Kabir).96596348.
·····
CLASSIFIED SECTION
RUWI :
24785668
Situation Vacant
Situation Wanted
Situation Want-
HARDWARE and
Networking Technician
with 6 years experience,
familiar with Security
System and Cabling.
seeks suitable
placement. Contact:
96365220
·····
ACCOUNTANT, A well
experienced Indian
·····
male, M Com, having
INDIAN male, 9+ years
more than 20 years
experience in hard core
experience in accounting
ϐ‹‡Ž†„‘–Š†‹ƒƒ†
Sales and Customer
GCC looking for a job
Service, having driving
as an accountant or
licence from Dubai and
Oman. Looking for better accounts manager in
Oman. Presently in
opportunity in Oman.
India and ready to join
Experience in various
immediately. Contact:
industries, shipping,
99087175
banking, (PPE), safety
·····
products. Preffering for
Sales, Documentation
INDIAN male, 6 years
and Operations,
experience in purchase/
Customer Services.
procurement in Oman
Contact: 97132608.
& GCC. Currently on
remmiejoseph78@gmail. visit visa, looking for
a suitable placement.
com
Please contact
·····
92967443
·····
EGYPTIAN Chemist
with 6 years experience ENGINEERING/
Technical CNC operator
‹†›‡‹‰ϐ‹‡Ž†Š‹‰ŠŽ›
cum programmer,
…‡”–‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‡†‹•…‹‡…‡
Indian, 25 years with
chemistry and
3 years experience in
physics department.
India looking for suitable
Contact: 98832095,
placement. Presently on
00201114640946.
visit visa 98284058,
e-mail: zoomaman88@
93105901, e-mail:
gmail.com
rahul4ramesh@gmail.
com
·····
REQUIRED
Salesman cum
Hardware
Engineer for
Computer Shop
at Ruwi with
minimum 2 years
experience. E-mail:
strns1@gmail.
com 98825805/
98825806.
·····
INDIAN male, 27
years, Electronics
& Instrumentation
Engineer, with 5 years
experience in Oman on
visit visa seeks suitable
placement. Contact:
95483064, e-mail:
nishanthkarottu@
hotmail.com.
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
[email protected].
·····
NEW International School
in Oman begins in Sept
2015. The announced
vacancies are as follows:
1. Principal, 2, Early
Years & Foundation Stage
and Cambrdige Primary
Teachers (Homeroom
and Co-teachers), 3.
Operational Manager,
4. Parents Relationship
Manager, 5. Admission
Manager. Please submit
a resume/CV and open
letters of references to:
[email protected]
[email protected].
kw or contact us on:
0069555789779/
0096894665998.
Situation Vacant
VACANCY — Light driver
(1), Heavy driver (1), and
a diploma holder in Civil
Engineering. Interested
in the vacancies may call .
97299373.
REQUIRED family
driver with valid
Omani driving licence.
Accommodation will be
provided. 92230282.
·····
·····
URGENTLY required
Accountant/Accounts
Executive with 7 to 10
years experience. Send
the CV to hr-gdm@
outlook.com
REQUIRED Public
‡Žƒ–‹‘ˆϐ‹…‡” with
7 years experience.
95955041.
·····
REQUIRED Salesman
ˆ‘”‘‹Žϐ‹‡Ž†•…‘’ƒ›ǡ
must have experience
‘‘‹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.
[email protected]
·····
·····
FILIPINA Housemaid,
with release required
for a family in Medinat
Al Alam. 24704994,
99238012.
·····
·····
Guest House
Situation Vacant
CIVIL Engineer min 4
yrs experience. Send CV:
[email protected]
99194949.
·····
SYRIAN Mashavi Cook
and Moroccan Lady
Cook for Qurum Beach
Hotel.24704994 or
99238012.
HOTEL24564070.
·····
Services
1. AC maintenance
and servicing.
2. Fridge, washing
machine and dish
washer repairing.
3. Painting and
cleaning services. 4.
Electrical, plumbing
and carpentry
work 97014234,
99447257,
24504281.
·····
MAINTENANCE: 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.
·····
WE need HSE personal,
Salesman and Electrical
Supervisor with Omani
Driving licence. Apply to:
grandmuscat@yahoo.
com Contact No: 00968
95714746.
WE offer you the
Business Services:
Maintenance of
buildings and villas for
paint and carpentry
and decoration works
and installation of
material water proof
and cleaning services
building management
and leasing of real
estate (Out motto is
to provide quality
in all our business).
Muscat Renaissance
Development
and Investment.
99070093.
·····
·····
·····
WANTED: 1. A/C
Mechanic; 2. Electrician
plumber; 3. Computer
headwear Tec.
Contact No. 99447257/
97014234 mansur75@
hotmail.co.uk.
·····
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]
SUNDAY l MARCH 22, 2015
[email protected]
www.omanobserver.om
RENT A CAR
z Low Rates
z Wide Range of Cars
z Excellent Service
Contact:
Muscat 24489248,
24489648.
Salalah: 23296246.
E-mail: [email protected]
SPECIAL Rates on
New Cars & 4 WDs
RENTING & LEASING
Tours and Airport Transfer
Tel: 24582663
GSM: 95859497,
Fax: 24582664,
[email protected]
Driving School
SALIM al Ghilani's
Institution for teaching
driving (automatic
gear) in A'Seeb and
Al Khoudh. Contact:
96160828,
92896279.
·····
Supply
of
Pesticides,
Gel (Cockroaches),
Public Health
chemicals,
Agriculture
chemicals,
Snake repellent, Rodent
baits
and
other insect
repellent from
Agropharm
Ltd UK.
PROFESSIONALS
in Pest Control Service,
Bedbug Treatment, Rodent
Treatment, Snake Treatment
and Termite Treatment
(Pre and Post Construction).
Tel: 24787606 / 24787503
Fax: 24787607
E-mail: [email protected]
P. O. Box: 565, Wadi Kabir,
Postal Code: 117,
SULTANATE OF OMAN
FREE INFORMATION
ABOUT ISLAM
If you would like to know
more about
Islam, please call:
Tel : 99425598, 96050000,
99353988, 99253818,
99341395, 99379133, For
ladies: 99415818, 99321360,
99730723
Or visit: www.islamfact.com
Good News
AHAD 2000 for rent car.
93203481, 93204595.
FOR back or neck pain/
discomfort due to injury,
illness, stress or
computer overuse; let
us help you restore your
body & get you back on
track. For more
information contact our
coordinators at:
22094265.
·····
Car for Sale
BMW 745i, 2002, silver
with black, very good
condition, good price.
99328280.
·····
YARIS, 2010, manual,
white, 134,000 km, RO
2,300/- 98423154.
·····
PORSCHE Cayenne
S-2004, white colour,
158,000 km, RO 4,500/96417989.
·····
MERCEDES CT 55,
2001, black colour,
122,000 km, RO 2,900/96417989.
·····
MERCEDES S 55, 2001,
dark blue, 250,000
km, RO 1,900/96417989.
·····
LINCOLN Navigator
4WD, 1998, grey,
335,000 km, RO 1,600/96417989.
·····
·····
DOES your family
member require full
time Medical help?
Dedicated to chronic
care and physical
rehabilitation from
injury or illness;
Rochester Wellness
offers specialised
medical recovery
services. For more
information contact
our coordinators at
22094265.
·····
AYURVEDIC
Treatment, Yoga
Massage &
slimming. Web
address: www.
siddhayur.com
92504980/
24475280.
·····
AUTO REPAIR
CENTRE
Available on UNBEATABLE prices
CAR FOR SALE
As-is-where-is the condition.
Vehicles can be inspected from
Sunday 3.30pm and 6.00pm at
OIG Head Office Building, Wattayah.
Telephone toll free 80076900.
Interested parties may submit quotation
in a Sealed envelope with payment of
RO 50 which will be reimbursed.
Reimbursed conditions apply.
ARE you looking for
a voyage with your
family on a legacyboat, including
buffet? Only with RO
15/-. For more
info@
alainaintourism.
com 92808636.
Sale and Buy
OFFICE & Household
furniture and
electronics items.
99834373,
97102699.
·····
Investment
EXPATRIATE
partner (Omani
partner is already
available) required
to establish a
LLC Company
(Expatriate
investors’ LLC
Company).
Please contact on
99332510.
·····
LOOKING for an
investor for a fullequipped existing
medical complex as
soon as possible in
Wilayat of Haima,
Governorate of Al
Wusta. 92212557,
99242249.
·····
All Cartridges also available
on UNBEATABLE prices
AII HP, Epson, Canon,
Lexmark, Samsung
Cartridges also available
(ROP approved Grade A Workshop)
Ruwi: 24792-792
[email protected]
2 BEDROOMS, 2 baths
and hall apartment for
rent in Al Wattayah,
behind Honda
Showroom.
99428161 (Owner).
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
For Rent
·····
AN apartment located
near Al Ghubra Centre
is for rent at RO 280.
The flat consists of 1
bedroom and a living
room. 95548774.
·····
Umrah/Haj
AL Hikmani for
HAJ and UMRAH
— With a host of
services including
the following: Hiring
luxurious coaches,
arranging weekly
trips, preparing
visas for expats
at cost-effective
price, including
transport, housing,
meals and visits to
shrine locations.
Land and air trips
weekly. (99311310,
24566016, 99361982,
99707248, 99322124.
·····
Lost
TANFEER AHMED has
lost Pakistani passport
No FK 1162341. Finder
please handover to ROP.
·····
CLASSIFIED SECTION:
1510 Printer
RO 11.000 only
HP
Quality Repairs & Maintenance of all
types of Cars and Heavy vehicles
COMPUTER SUPPLIES
For Rent
Tourism
·····
Rent a Car
al-haditha
centre
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
al-haditha LLC
PEST CONTROL
OMAN CO. LLC.
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
Rent-A-Car
SHOP for rent, 200
sq m in Maabela
Industrial. Call:
97314122,
99349878.
·····
For Rent
NEW flat for rent at
South Mabellah, 3
rooms with 3 toilets,
spacious hall, kitchen
and store.
95458433.
·····
A 735 Sq M store in
Bausher, Al Misfah
Industrial is offered
for rent. The premise
is built in accordance
to high standards.
A 3-5 year lease
contract is required
99332902,
99047584.
·····
2
VILLA for rent in Nizwa
Hay Al Ain, 2 floors,
fully furnished with AC,
2 car garage, good
location in town.
Contact: 99365151
Yacob Al Sulaimani.
·····
NEW Air-Conditioned
flats with parking on
the main road in Al
Muhaj, Amerat.
92787863.
·····
ǧfloor house
behind German
University of
Technology in Halban is
offered for rent. The
house contains
4-bedrooms, living
room, a kitchen and 3
toilets.91239119.
·····
VILLA in Bausher (Al
Awabi) consists of
majlis, 5 bedrooms,
5 toilets, 2 living
rooms and external
kitchen 99364586.
·····
AN apartment
consisting of two
bedrooms, sitting room,
toilets, kitchen and
dining room, near
Private Sultan School.
99375655.
·····
VILLA for rent in
Wattayah 3 bedroom,
sitting room, garage.
99071071.
·····
2 BEDROOM flat in Al
Ghubra near Oman Oil
18 November Street,
RO 330 monthly.
99333479 or
95215360.
·····
4 BEDROOM flat with
bathrooms, kitchen,
hall in Al Hail North.
Call 99219596.
·····
Telephone: 24595951/1414, Fax: 24597979.
Manpower
FRIENDS
MANPOWER: Filipino
housemaids and all
kinds of workers.
24489268 Tel:/Fax:
24478153, 92462496.
·····
KHALIFA AlSinani Manpower
— labourers &
housemaid from
Indonesia, Kenya,
Uganda and other
countries. Al Suwaiq.
To communicate
26713500,
26713600.
·····
For Rent
FURNISHED house in
Mabella - 2 rooms,
kitchen, hall and 3
toilets for rent. Call:
99357404.
·····
FLAT in Mabella 3
rooms, sitting room,
hall, kitchen
(spacious) with 4
toilets. Call:
99357404.
·····
2 STOREY villa at
Mabella with 2 sitting
rooms with toilets, 2
halls, 3 bedrooms with
attach toilets (Municipality water
available). Call:
99357404.
·····
1,000 sq m industrial
land in Misfah
Industrial area near to
Khanco, RO 1,500
monthly, electricity and
boundary wall will be
provided. 99333479
or 95215360.
·····
FLAT at Al Khuwair 33,
2 bed+majlis.
99383446.
·····
FURNISHED offices for
rent in prime location
in Ruwi (Mumtaz) with
free electricity, water
and Internet. For lease
long & short term
95950012,
99331181.
·····
1 BEDROOM, 2
bedroom +
showroom, 18
November road, Al
Athaiba.
999565364,
99617786.
·····
G FLOOR, 2 bedroom
flat, near Indian
School, Wadi Kabir,
1st April, RO 300
monthly.
93801805.
·····
VILLA in Al Ansab
consists of 6
bedrooms, 6 toilets
and a large kitchen is
for rent at RO 700/-.
99363504.
·····
ONE B/R flats in
Madinat Al Alam for
executives/ small
family. 99238012/
24704994.
·····
FULLY licenced
restaurant in Qurum
Beach Hotel.
24704994.
·····
RUWI
: 24785668
Behind Royal
Oman Police, Adjacent
to Dhofar Building
Ali al Maashari: 99639264 [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]
Mohammed al Rashdi: 99841230 [email protected]
DIRECT: 24649595 — FAX : 24649590
24
omandailyobserver
OMAN
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
Nissan XTERRA 2015 ‘Desert
Challenge’ a huge success
N
issan’s
2015
‘ D e s e r t
Challenge’
for
XTERRA
customers
was
held
in
association with Guide Oman which
proved to be a unique experience
for all participants as the two-day
initiative was a perfect platform to
demonstrate XTERRA’s superior offroad capability and performance in
the rugged and challenging tracks of
Wahiba sands.
The aim of this challenge was to
interact with customers and provide
a platform for XTERRA owners to
get-together and experience a fun
filled and adventurous weekend.
The convoy was flagged off from the
Nissan showroom in Qurum with
over 40 vehicles and around 100
enthusiastic XTERRA owners along
with their families and Nissan officials
participated in the Desert Challenge.
The convoy took the old Sur
road through Ibra to reach their
destination which was the Al Raha
Desert Camp at the Rimal al Sharqiya
(Wahiba Sands). Customers were
given a unique experience at the
desert as a campfire with live Arabic
music was also arranged along with a
delectable dinner spread.
A senior SBA official commented,
“The Nissan XTERRA has proved
to be the perfect vehicle for such
a desert challenge activity because
of its reliability and versatility in
such terrains. The XTERRA’s dual
capability to deliver in challenging
conditions and also city-drive was
amply demonstrated through this
initiative.”
The SBA Official further said, “The
purpose of this trip was to experience
off-roading capabilities of XTERRA
as the vehicle is known for adventure
and our endeavour is to encourage
people to enjoy the outdoors, go on
adventures and understand the great
capability of Nissan 4X4 vehicles.”
Today the XTERRA has become
an extremely popular wheeling
platform that continues to collect an
enthusiast following. These SUV’s
have gained a respectable attention
from the market. Given the XTERRA’s
popularity, the Nissan XTERRA
community thought it was only fitting
that a Desert Challenge event should
take place.
The event coordinators at Guide
Oman said, “The trip was a great
success, thanks to the brilliant
response of the XTERRA on an
arduous terrain like the Rimal al
Sharqiya. It was amazing to see such a
huge turnout of people, from different
nationalities, coming together to
traverse this challenging terrain. We
are very proud of every one of them,
some of whom had never been to
the desert before, let alone cross it.
We are looking forward to running
this event again and we hope to see
a steady growth in participation
from XTERRA drivers in the next
crossings.”
Nissan Oman strives to achieve
pioneering success through its
services and activities offered to
its valued customers. Through a
relentless pursuit of excellence and
adopting
aggressive
marketing
style with an emphasis on customer
satisfaction, backing it up with strong
after-sales service network across the
Sultanate, Nissan Oman has built a
name on trust, superior customer
services and value for money.
Nissan Oman boasts of a niche
premium
clientele
comprising
of leading corporate houses and
businesses, international businessmen
and tourists visiting the Sultanate
of Oman and thus, the promise of
Nissan XTERRA is to allow a broad
but discerning car buying audience
and tourists visiting the city to
‘experience lavishness’. Many of
XTERRA’s technologies have never
been seen in cars of this class before,
reflecting its aspirational and upscale
SUV positioning.
Comfort and convenience
of XTERRA
Standard interior features include
sporty reclining front bucket seats,
footrest, dual front and rear 20-ounce
cup holders, power windows,
The Nissan XTERRA offers drivers today
a long list of advanced technological
features including a booming sound
system and Bluetooth Hands-free phone
system. Today the Nissan XTERRA has the
technology to keep drivers rocking and
talking no matter where the trail takes.
power locks, power mirrors, remote
keyless entry and cruise control with
steering wheel-mounted controls.
It also comes with driver seat height
adjustment and lumbar support.
Taking into consideration driver
comfort and convenience.
Unique NissanConnectSM
feature of XTERRA
NissanConnectSM uses handsfree technology, smartphone, and
the Nissan’s display screen to help
customers stay in touch with the
outside world from inside their
vehicle. It’s loaded with features and
compatibility with a growing list
of apps that allows customers play
music, keep tabs on social network,
and navigate any city like a local.
Once logged in, customers
have to connect to Nissan through
Bluetooth® or the USB port. The
Quick Start Guide helps to select
from a list of supported apps, and
NissanConnectSM
automatically
installs them.
Striking exterior features
XTERRA’s signature exterior
styling features include large flared
fenders, a versatile roof rack with
latchable lid and a rear bumper
design with side steps for easy access
to the roof rack. It also offers a large,
powerful looking hood and headlights
and Nissan SUV-style angled strut
grille. The vehicle also features
Chrome ORVM and Fr fog lamps.
The new XTERRA looks good on the
road with its enhanced styling that
includes a roof rail with attachments
and side step.
The XTERRA also features a youth
style dashboard, shift on the fly —
4WD System, Navigation, Rearview
camera, a steering switch for
Bluetooth, Audio and Cruise controls.
XTERRA long wheelbase gives a
smooth ride and ample interior room,
yet overall length is highly manageable
due to the short front overhang —
helping to enhance manoeuvrability
in off-road hill climbing and trail
situations.
The new XTERRA is also known
for its other key elements that include
6” Off Road Wheel, Bilstein Shock
For the first time Nissan has created an exclusive
platform to nurture and hone driving skills of
SUV owners in Oman. Also this is first of its kind
off-roading experience wherein auto enthusiasts
and SUV owners will be invited at the specially
created off-road test-track. Under supervision
of experienced trainers the participants will be
taught the basics of off-road driving.
Absorber, Off Road tyre 265/75R16
OWL BFGoodrich, 6 speakers, the
steering wheel comes with audio and
cruise controls, Bluetooth hands free
phone and AUX-in and lastly a rear
diff lock.
XTERRA versatile cargo area is
highlighted by an available Easy Clean
cargo surface and a total of 10 cargo
area utility hooks — six on the floor/
sides and four on the ceiling. There’s
also an available built-in first-aid kit
and space to securely carry jugs up to
a one-gallon size.
Underneath its unique exterior
design, every XTERRA features a
fully boxed, all-steel ladder frame and
a rugged suspension featuring a steel
double-wishbone front suspension
and solid axle leaf spring rear
suspension, with stabiliser bars front
and rear.
Two advanced transmissions
are offered with the XTERRA. An
available electronically controlled
5-speed automatic transmission
with an emphasis on acceleration,
fuel economy and shift quality, or a
6-speed manual transmission tuned
for driving performance and fuel
economy.
Other driveline components
include engine speed-sensitive powerassisted rack-and-pinion steering
and 4-wheel vented disc brakes with
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with
Electronic Brake force Distribution
(EBD).
Wheel and tire packages include
16-inch steel wheels. The XTERRA
Off-Road models feature new
6-spoke 16-inch machine-finished
aluminium-alloy wheels.
The Nissan XTERRA offers
drivers today a long list of advanced
technological features including a
booming sound system and Bluetooth
Hands-free phone system. Today the
Nissan XTERRA has the technology
to keep drivers rocking and talking
no matter where the trail takes.
XTERRA offers unrivalled offroad capability — tested at the
Nissan’s 4x4 Adventure Park
The Adventure Park is built at
the Oman Automobile Association
to address auto enthusiasts across
interest levels and skill sets
through multitude of engagement
opportunities and promote the spirit
of driving a Nissan SUV safely on the
roads.
For the first time Nissan has created
this exclusive platform to nurture and
hone driving skills of SUV owners
in Oman. Also this is first of its kind
off-roading experience wherein auto
enthusiasts and SUV owners will be
invited at the specially created off
road test-track. Under supervision of
experienced trainers the participants
will be taught the basics of off-road
driving.
XTERRA’s performance at the
4x4 Adventure Park has been
impeccable as the vehicle tops the list
of safe manoeuvrability and enhanced
driving techniques like cornering,
braking etc. Cruising comfortably
on the highways, conquering desert
dunes with ease, or manoeuvring
through the city at rush hour, Nissan
XTERRA offers unrivalled off-road
capability and on road handling.
Safety and security
XTERRA’s list of safety features and
equipment includes Nissan Advanced
Air Bag System (AABS) with dualstage supplemental front air bags with
seat belt and occupant classification
sensors and 3-point front/rear seat
belts with pre-tensioners and load
limiters, tire pressure warning system
and adjustable upper anchors.
SBA is largely committed to
supporting Nissan’s growth in the
Sultanate through major emphasis
on customer satisfaction and by
providing world-class after-sales
services in Oman. With a national
network of more than 19 showrooms,
22 Service centres and 35 Spare Parts
outlets, SBA has further built upon
its legacy of trust, excellent customer
service and providing value for money
to each of its customers.
For more local information you
can visit the following website: www.
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SUNDAY | MARCH 22, 2015 | JUMADA AL THANIA 1, 1436 AH
RECORD-BREAKING GUPTILL SEES
NEW ZEALAND INTO SEMIFINALS
BEST
QUOTE
I’m still not really sure
what happened today. It
hasn’t sunk in yet.
— MARTIN GUPTILL
INEW ZEALAND BATSMAN, AFTER
SCORING A RECORD 237 TO
POWER THE CO-HOSTS INTO THE
WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS.
BEST BATTING
237
Martin Guptill
for New Zealand
against West Indies
BEST BOWLING
4-44
Trent Boult for New
Zealand against
West Indies.
WELLINGTON: Martin Guptill’s
record-shattering double century and
Trent Boult’s four-wicket haul sent
New Zealand sailing into the World
Cup semifinals as they trounced
the West Indies by 143 runs on
Saturday.
Guptill, dropped on four by
Marlon Samuels, finished on 237 not
out, the highest individual score in
World Cup history and the second
largest one-day international innings
of all time, as he led New Zealand
to 393 for six in their 50 overs at
Wellington Stadium.
Boult backed up the opening
batsman’s feat by taking four for 44
to move to the top of the tournament
wicket-takers list with 19 as the
West Indies folded for 250 in the 31st
over.
The kept up with the required run
rate, reaching 200 in the 25th over,
but by then they were already seven
wickets down.
Chris Gayle, shrugging off the
effects of a long-standing back injury,
cracked 61 off 33 balls, including
eight of the 31 sixes in the match as
batsmen on both sides plundered the
short boundaries.
New Zealand will now play
South Africa in the first semifinal at
Auckland’s Eden Park on Tuesday,
with fellow co-hosts Australia facing
defending champions India in Sydney
two days later.
McCULLUM SETBACK
New Zealand, favourites for
Saturday’s match after emerging
unbeaten from pool play, had a
rocky start when regular batting
hero, captain and opener Brendon
McCullum, fell cheaply for 12.
But Guptill, coming into form
late in the tournament, took up the
challenge as he blasted his second
successive century after scoring 105
against Bangladesh in New Zealand’s
concluding pool match.
He chewed up the West Indies
attack, hitting 24 fours and 11 sixes
from 163 deliveries faced as he
overtook the previous best World
‘Two Toes’ Guptill races
to World Cup record 237
WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s
Martin Guptill hit the highest
ever World Cup score of 237 not
out against the West Indies in the
quarterfinals on Saturday, the
second highest ODI individual total
of all time.
The 28-year-old opener’s total
surpassed the previous World
Cup best of 215 made by the
West Indies’ Chris Gayle against
Zimbabwe at Canberra last month.
Guptill, dropped on four by
Marlon Samuels, faced 163 balls
as he hit 24 fours and 11 sixes, one
of them a 110-metre rocket that
landed on the roof of Wellington’s
Westpac Stadium.
His innings was also the
second-highest individual score
in the 3,643 match history of oneday internationals, behind Rohit
Sharma’s 264 for India against Sri
Lanka at Kolkata last year.
It is all the more remarkable
because Guptill’s left foot was
maimed in a forklift accident when
he was a teenager, resulting in
the loss of three toes and almost
ending his career before it had
begun.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling to be
fair, but the job’s only half done,”
Guptill said after his stunning
innings helped New Zealand to
393 for six after they won the toss
and elected to bat. The Aucklander,
who scored a century in New
Zealand’s previous match against
Bangladesh, said he had to ignore
the pressure of playing a knockout
match in front of his home fans.
“Obviously there is pressure
when you walk in to bat but you’ve
just got to try to put it out of your
mind and watch the ball as well as
you can, “That’s what I tried to do
today, I’m just lucky it paid off.”
It was just the sixth double
century in an ODI, as Guptill
became the fifth batsman to reach
the landmark -- Sharma has two
one-day international double
centuries to his credit.
Guptill’s innings also saw
him break his own record for
the highest ODI score by a New
Zealander, which had stood at
189 not out and was set against
England at Southampton in 2013.
Cup score of 215 set by Gayle earlier
in this tournament against Zimbabwe.
In all one-day internationals,
Guptill’s unbeaten 237 is second only
to Rohit Sharma’s 264 against Sri
Lanka in Kolkata last year, and broke
his own New Zealand record of 189
not out scored against England in
2013.
Following the fall of McCullum,
Guptill featured in a 62-run
partnership with Kane Williamson
(33) and then added a significant 143
in 135 balls with Ross Taylor (42) for
the third wicket.
In the closing charge, Guptill and
Grant Elliott (27) took 19 balls to
add a further 55, as New Zealand
posted 153 runs in the final 10 overs
to further deflate the West Indies after
McCullum won the toss and opted to
bat.
Jerome Taylor, who had Guptill
dropped in this first over, returned
the best figures for the West Indies
with three for 71, while Andre Russell
took two for 96.
Boult was on the money in his
first over when he bowled Johnson
Charles for three with his second
delivery.
He followed-up with the wickets
of Lendl Simmons (12), Samuels (27)
and Denesh Ramdin (nought) to
have four for 18 after five overs.
Gayle was in a particularly
ferocious mood, belting spinner
Daniel Vettori out of the attack after
one over which cost 21 runs.
In one two-over spell by Tim
Southee, Gayle and Samuels hit 33
runs, leaving New Zealand’s senior
paceman to finish with the less-thanimpressive figures of two for 82.
The 36-year-old Vettori broke the
Gayle-Samuels partnership when he
flung his 1.91 metre (6ft 3in) frame
into the air to save a six and pull off a
remarkable one-handed catch on the
boundary.
Adam Milne, like Southee and
Boult, was also expensive but had the
satisfaction of bowling Gayle. — AFP
West Indies pay price
for inconsistency,
says Holder
WELLINGTON: West Indies have their
own inconsistencies to blame for being bundled out of the World Cup in the
quarterfinals, captain Jason Holder said
following their 143-run trouncing by New
Zealand.
The class of 2015 fell well short of the
standards set by proud West Indies teams
of the past which have twice won the World
Cup.
They were the last team to qualify for
the play-offs and in their first sudden-death
match in Wellington on Saturday they were
all out for 250 in the 31st over after New
Zealand had posted an imposing 393 for
six.
The New Zealand innings was set up by
a remarkable World Cup record 237 not
out by Martin Guptill, the second highest
ODI score ever, but Holder said that would
not have happened under a better West Indies side. “It was obviously a good innings.
He took the game away from us. But
we put him down early and we had a few
half chances which we could probably have
taken,” Holder said after seeing Marlon
Samuels drop Guptill when the opener had
made just four.
“I think we need to respond a little bit
better when we’re bowling at the death. We
didn’t really land our yorkers and we paid
for it.” — AFP
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand’s
Martin Guptill
plays a shot
during the
World Cup
quarterfinal at
the Wellington
Regional
Stadium in
Wellington.
— AFP
NEW ZEALAND
M Guptill (not out) -------------------------------- 237
B McCullum c Holder b Taylor ------------------12
K Williamson c Gayle b Russell ----------------33
R Taylor (run out)--------------------------------------42
C Anderson c Gayle b Russell -------------------15
G Elliott lbw Taylor -----------------------------------27
L Ronchi c Benn b Taylor-----------------------------9
D Vettori (not out) --------------------------------------8
Extras (LB-2, W-7, NB-1) --------------------------10
Total: (for 6 wkts, 50 overs) ------------ 393
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-89, 3-232, 4-278,
5-333, 6-365.
Bowling: Taylor 7-0-71-3, Holder 8-0-76-0,
Benn 10-1-66-0, Russell 10-0-96-2, Sammy
8-0-38-0, Samuels 7-0-44-0.
WEST INDIES
C Gayle b Milne ---------------------------------------61
J Charles b Boult----------------------------------------3
L Simmons c Guptill b Boult---------------------12
M Samuels c Vettori b Boult ---------------------27
D Ramdin lbw Boult-----------------------------------0
J Carter b Vettori --------------------------------------32
D Sammy c Ronchi b Anderson ----------------27
A Russell b Southee ---------------------------------20
J Holder c Anderson b Vettori ------------------42
J Taylor c Guptill b Southee----------------------11
S Benn (not out) -----------------------------------------9
Extras (W-6) ----------------------------------------------6
Total (all out, 30.3 overs) ---------------- 250
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-27, 3-80, 4-80,
5-120, 6-166, 7-173, 8-201, 9-221.
Bowling: Southee 8-1-82-2, Boult 10-344-4, Vettori 6.3-0-58-2, Milne 4-0-42-1,
Anderson 2-0-24-1.
S U N DAY M A R C H 2 2 l 2 0 1 5
26
iN BRIEFS
McCullum hails
‘sublime’ Guptill
knock
WELLINGTON: New Zealand captain
Brendon McCullum acclaimed opener
Martin Guptill’s World Cup record 237
not out against West Indies on Saturday
as one of the best ever seen in one-day
cricket.
The co-hosts overwhelmed the
twice former champions by 143
runs in the final quarter-final at the
Wellington Regional Stadium to set
up a semi-final against South Africa in
Auckland on Tuesday. “Sublime, just
sublime,” McCullum said at the victory
presentation. “I will never forget it. The
innings we witnessed is probably one of
the best we have seen in this format.
“We wanted to make a real statement
on the back of Gup’s innings and that’s
what we did with the ball and in the
field. We will celebrate Gup’s success,
the team’s success and then turn our
attention to the semi-final.
“It’s pretty hard to compare eras
but certainly among the teams I have
played in, this is the best. No disrespect
to the legends of the past but I am pretty
happy with the current team.”
West Indies captain Jason Holder said
Guptill, who was dropped on four from
the third ball of the match, had played
brilliantly. “A set batman on that pitch is
dangerous. Having said that we didn’t
bowl our yorkers well,” he added.
Guptill said his innings had not quite
sunk in yet. “The boys will have a few
drinks tonight and I’ll probably hear all
about it. In the last 10 overs it was swing
from the hip and I was lucky to get a few
out of the middle,” he said. — Reuters
New Zealand calm
about ease of
West Indies win
New Zealand’s Tim Southee (fourth
right) celebrates bowling out West
Indies’ Andre Russell in their World
Cup quarterfinal in Wellington.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand matchwinners Martin Guptill and Trent
Boult downplayed the ease with
which they rolled the West Indies on
Saturday as they switched attention
to their World Cup semi-final against
South Africa.
Guptill’s World Cup record 237 not
out propelled New Zealand to 393 for
six in their quarter-final against the
West Indies who fell apart in the face
of Boult’s four for 44 and were all out
for 250. The 143-run victory put New
Zealand into the semi-finals for the
seventh time where they will meet
South Africa with neither side having
ever made the final.
Guptill said he was proud of what
he achieved “and hopefully we can
win another game and then another
one after that.”
Boult was reluctant to criticise the
performance of the West Indies, who
have been inconsistent throughout
the tournament, but said he expected
South Africa would be a step up when
they meet in Auckland on Tuesday.
“We knew they (West Indies)
have had their troubles but we knew
they would be competitive. They’ve
virtually got 11 match winners in
their team,” Boult said, overlooking
New Zealand’s thumping victory with
more than 19 overs to spare.
“Now we can focus on the South
Africans and they’re going to be as
equal a challenge if not better.
“We will scout them and prepare
for that game like we have for
every other one, and set the game
plan down and give it our best on
Tuesday.”
— AFP
FEBRUARY 14 TO MARCH 29
Pakistan’s Misbah backs
India against Australia
ADELAIDE: Pakistan captain
Misbah-ul Haq believes India will
start as favourites in Thursday’s
World Cup semi-final against
Australia because of spin-friendly
conditions at the Sydney Cricket
Ground.
Misbah, whose side lost to
Australia by six wickets in a
quarter-final at the Adelaide Oval
on Friday, said the tournament
co-hosts will rue being without a
quality spinner in their last four
clash.
“Playing in Sydney they will
miss a good spinner,” said the
40-year-old Misbah, whose oneday international career ended
after Friday’s defeat by Australia.
“That could be the difference,
because spinners have had a lot
of success in Sydney and Imran
Tahir did well the other day.
Pakistani captain Misbah-ul Haq looks on at the end of the World Cup
quarterfinal in Adelaide.
— AFP
So that could be a problem for
Australia.
“They might just be in trouble
there, although it will be a tough
game because both sides are
playing good cricket.”
Leg-spinner Tahir collected
four for 26 and fellow slow bowler
JP Duminy took three for 29,
including a hat-trick, as South
Africa bowled out Sri Lanka
for just 133 to win Wednesday’s
quarterfinal at the SCG by nine
wickets.
But the bat dominated the ball
in previous World Cup games at
the venue, with Australia piling
up 376 for nine against Sri Lanka
and South Africa smashing 408
for five off the West Indies’ attack.
Defending champions India
have been on a roll with seven
straight wins, defying the form
book after going through a winless
Test and ODI tour of Australia
prior to the tournament.
Australia captain Michael
Clarke conceded playing India in
a semi-final would be a challenge,
but disagreed with Misbah that
spin would be the crucial factor at
the SCG.
“I don’t think a ball spun in our
game against Sri Lanka,” Clarke
said. “It will all depend on what
type of wicket gets prepared. If
there is a bit of grass on it, that will
certainly help our fast bowlers.
— AFP
De Kock emerges from the ‘dark spaces’
SYDNEY: Quinton de Kock’s return to
form in South Africa’s World Cup quarterfinal rout of Sri Lanka was one of the most
pleasing aspects of a convincing victory for
the Proteas, not least for the talented 22-yearold batsman himself.
No one doubts the lefthanded opener’s
talent but producing your best under pressure
at the World Cup is an entirely different
matter, as the players who have taken part in
South Africa’s previous campaigns will attest.
De Kock opened his World Cup with backto-back innings of seven against Zimbabwe
and India and the runs failed to come against
West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan and the United
Arab Emirates either.
Going into the quarter-final at the Sydney
Cricket Ground, he had accumulated just
53 from six innings and both coach Russell
Domingo and skipper AB de Villiers were
subject to questions over the value of
retaining him.
On Wednesday, de Kock repaid their faith
with a couple of excellent catches behind the
stumps and then an unbeaten 78 off 57 balls,
punching the ball through gaps in the field
with alacrity and sealing the victory with his
12th four.
— Reuters
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock hits a
boundary to win the World Cup quarterfinal
against Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground
(SCG).
— Reuters
Pakistan pin hopes on
struggling next generation
ADELAIDE: Pakistan will pin their
hopes on the next generation after
their World Cup campaign ended
with a quarter-final exit to Australia
but with departing skipper Misbahul-Haq warning the team is not up to
international scratch.
Pakistan, the 1992 champions, lost
their first two matches to India and the
West Indies before staging a comeback
with four consecutive wins to earn a
berth in the quarter-finals.
But Pakistan went down by six
wickets against Australia in Adelaide, a
defeat which critics argue exposed the
weaknesses of the players and system.
None of Pakistan’s younger batsmen
— Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal and
Sohaib Maqsood — could match the
guile of 40-year-old Misbah who was
the main run-getter with 350 in seven
matches.
“It’s necessary that the younger
batsmen take responsibility,” said
Misbah, who quit ODI cricket after
Friday’s defeat.
“They are talented players but maybe
they were not made responsible enough
to help the team.”
Akmal is the most talented of them
all but he failed to turn his full potential
into performances, scoring only 164
runs in seven innings.
His dismissal on Saturday, giving a
simple catch to Aaron Finch off parttimer Glenn Maxwell, highlighted his
shortcomings. Shehzad managed 222 at
the tournament while Maqsood scored
124 in five innings.
“If our cricket is to match
international standards then our
youngsters have to work hard,” said
Misbah.
“They are the best performers in
domestic cricket so they have to take the
mantle from us.
“Besides batting, fitness and fielding
are two key areas where our players
have to work very hard because they are
not up to international standards,” said
TEAM TALK
Australia’s batsmen Shane Watson (centre) and Glenn Maxwell celebrate their
victory as Pakistani players walk off the field in the World Cup quarterfinal at the
Adelaide Oval.
— AFP
Misbah.
Pakistan’s preparations for the World
Cup were badly hit by the suspension
of ace spinner Saeed Ajmal for an
illegal bowling action and injuries to
pacemen Umar Gul and Junaid Khan
and spinning all-rounder Mohammad
Hafeez (also suspended for his action).
Former captain Wasim Akram said
the system is so faulty that there are no
back-ups.
“When Ajmal and Junaid were out,
we did not have back-up bowlers and
that hit Pakistan badly,” said Wasim.
“Until and unless we put our house
in order we are not going to stand up
and be counted against top teams like
Australia, India and South Africa.”
The return of Junaid and possibly of
Mohammad Aamir, who started playing
domestic cricket last week after his fiveyear ban for spot-fixing was relaxed, will
strengthen the bowling.
But it’s the batting woes that need
attention, a problem Misbah hoped
would be solved sooner rather than
later.
“Maybe the lack of international
exposure was hurting the batsmen so I
have suggested to the Pakistan Cricket
Board that they arrange more and more
cricket for these youngsters because
batsmen can only get better with
exposure,” said Misbah.
Pakistan’s most pressing task will be
to pick up a new captain for the one-day
team.
Hafeez would be one contender as is
Shehzad but both have their problems
of their own. Hafeez’s bowling action
was deemed illegal in November while
Shehzad has a history of disciplinary
problems. Former captain Shoaib Malik
and senior batsman Younis Khan have
also shown desire to lead Pakistan’s oneday team but the PCB last year said it
wanted a young leader to follow Misbah.
“I think Pakistan should start
building a team for the next World Cup
now,” said Misbah.
— AFP
AUSSIE
AUSTRALIA &
NEW ZEALAND
NEW COACH
Simmons
named as new
Windies coach
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua
and Barbuda: Former
international Phil
Simmons was named
the new head coach of
the West Indies Friday,
just hours before the
team tackled New
Zealand for a place
in the World Cup
semifinals.
The 51-year-old
signed a three-year
deal with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
Simmons coached Ireland at the World Cup and
during his eight-year spell he took the non-Test
playing nation to three World Cups and four World
Twenty20 appearances.
“West Indies have a tremendous history and
prestige in the game, and I am honoured to have
been given this opportunity to be head coach,” said
Simmons whose Ireland side defeated the West Indies
in the World Cup pool stage.
“There is an abundance of young talent coming
through the ranks and to be able to assist with the
development of the future playing talent in the West
Indies is fantastic.
“I can’t wait to begin and I am looking forward to
starting work with the players.”
“I am excited to be beginning this new chapter in
my coaching career and to have the opportunity to
create a winning culture.” The Trinidadian played 26
Tests and 143 one-day Internationals for West Indies
between 1987 and 1999.
His first assignment will be leading the West Indies
into a home series against England next month.
The West Indies, who eventually pipped Ireland for
a quarter-final place at the World Cup on run-rate, are
being coached at the tournament by Stuart Williams
and Andre Coley with ex-captain Richie Richardson as
manager.
“We are thrilled with the appointment of Phil and
we believe he is the right individual for our team
and our region at this time, so we want to welcome
him back home,” said WICB chief executive Michael
Muirhead.
— AFP
BYTE
Australia expecting a
very different India
SYDNEY: Australia skipper Michael
Clarke expects to face a very different
India in next week’s World Cup semifinal from the team they hammered in
a test series and beat comfortably in a
one-day international in January.
Co-hosts Australia reached the last
four with a six-wicket victory over
Pakistan at Adelaide Oval on Friday
to set up the meeting with the reigning
champions at Sydney Cricket Ground
(SCG) next Thursday.
India have won all seven matches on
their way to the semi-finals and, with a
bowling attack unrecognisable from the
rabble who contested the test series, will
be surging with confidence.
“I think they’re obviously playing a
lot better than they were throughout
the start of the summer,” Clarke told
reporters in Adelaide.
“I said that leading into the World
Cup, that I thought India were going
to be an extremely tough team to beat
obviously because they’re a very good
team but (also) because they’ve spent so
much time in Australia they know the
conditions quite well.
“The game on Thursday is going
to certainly be a challenge, and we’re
definitely going to have to be at our best
to beat them.”
Australia lost their only pool match
against their co-hosts in New Zealand
and their familiarity with home
conditions is a considerable advantage
in their quest for a fifth world title.
India have been Down Under
since November, though, and have
been improving gradually under the
guidance of skipper Mahendra Singh
Dhoni. “I think MS Dhoni deserves a
lot of credit the way he’s been able to
turn things around as the leader, as the
captain,” Clarke added.
“They’re playing some really good
cricket, there’s no doubt about it. We
look forward to that challenge. We’ve
got some time now to recover and make
sure we’re fresh and then obviously
train and prepare. “Our attitude will be
exactly the same as it was leading up
to this game. Thursday becomes our
World Cup final. We look forward to it.”
If there was any perceived
weakness in the Australia squad for
the tournament it was the selection of
Xavier Doherty as the frontline spinner.
While the SCG has a tradition for
offering something for spin bowlers,
Clarke said that was not always the
case at his home ground and he was in
any case “extremely satisfied” with his
spinning options.
— Reuters
Australian cricketers Glenn Maxwell (left) and captain Michael Clarke celebrate the
wicket of Pakistani captain Misbah-ul Haq during the World Cup quarterfinal in
Adelaide.
— AFP
SPORT
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
omandailyobserver
27
UPSET WIN: The Canadian blasted 19 aces, hammered a series of thunderous forehands and saved three match points to stun Nadal
Party crasher Raonic in first Indian Wells semi
INDIAN WELLS, UNITED STATES:
Milos Raonic crashed the Big Four party
on Friday with a hard-fought three-set
win over world No 3 Rafael Nadal to
reach the Indian Wells ATP Masters
semifinals.
Canada’s Raonic beat Nadal for the
first time. He blasted 19 aces, hammered
a series of thunderous forehands and
saved three match points to upset the
Spaniard 4-6, 7-6 (12/10), 7-5 and set up
a semifinal clash with Roger Federer.
The 24-year-old’s shocking win over
nine-time French Open champ Nadal
spoils what could have been a semifinal
lineup that featured each of the top four
seeds as world No 1 Novak Djokovic and
fourth seed Andy Murray had already
punched their tickets.
“You just want to prove people wrong
in that sense,” Raonic said of being the
spoiler. “It has some good feel to it.”
Raonic had lost five prior matches
against the swashbuckling Spaniard and
said he had to forget about who he was
playing against and just figure out what
he had to do to play each point better.
He said the key to beating Nadal was
to “not get too caught up in the person
you’re playing and respect them, but
not give them too much overwhelming
respect where it affects your tennis.
‘KIND OF PEACE’
“I think when you have knowledge,
when you have an understanding, it
gives you some kind of peace,” he said.
Friday’s matchup was a classic
contrast in style with the hard-serving
Raonic going up against the tricky lefthander who runs down every ball and
can turn defence into offence.
But Nadal’s defence wasn’t good
enough as Raonic blasted 48 winners
and broke Nadal once in the crucial 11th
game of the third set, setting the table for
himself to serve for the match.
Four-time champ Federer turned in
a textbook performance in just over an
hour showing no mercy with a 6-4, 6-0
win over pesky Czech Tomas Berdych
in a quarterfinal match that took just 68
minutes.
Federer, who has a 15-1 record this
season on the ATP Tour, remained on
course for an unprecedented fifth Indian
Wells title after winning previously here
in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2012.
Raonic and Federer met for the first
time in 2012 here in Indian Wells with
Federer winning in three sets 6-7 (4/7),
6-2, 6-4. Federer is 8-1 in his career
against Raonic, but the youngster is
showing signs of figuring out what it
takes to win on the big stage.
“It’s having a better match judgement
of when to sort of step up, when you can
sort of hold back,” Raonic said.
“It gives you some kind of calm
during a match that you can really
believe and understand what you need
to do to find the solutions.”
Fourth seed Murray advanced on
Thursday with a straight-sets win over
Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, booking a
showdown with defending champion
Djokovic, who advanced by walkover
when Bernard Tomic withdrew
Milos Raonic during his quarterfinal match against Rafael Nadal in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
— USA Today Sports
from their scheduled quarterfinal on
Thursday.
Djokovic will be well rested on record against Murray.
is playing with plenty of confidence right the past. He will be totally fresh as well and if I can keep that level up and for a
and ready for the semis,” he said.
sustained period on Saturday, I’ll have a
Saturday after getting an extra day’s rest
But Murray has had some of his now.
and aiming to improve his 16-8 career biggest career wins against Djokovic and
“He’s played extremely well here in
“But I feel like I played well this week chance.”
— AFP
Ibrahimovic treble lifts PSG to the top
PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic put his
recent disciplinary problems behind
him by bagging a hat-trick to give
Paris Saint-Germain a 3-1 victory over
Lorient on Friday night.
The big Swede was banned for one
Champions League match on Thursday
for his sending off against Chelsea last
week, while he also faces a possible
domestic ban for a foul-mouthed
outburst following PSG’s 3-2 defeat at
Bordeaux last week in which he insulted
both the referee and France.
But he was the champions’ hero
as they went top, temporarily at least,
with a hard-earned win over strugglers
Lorient.
In truth, the game should have
resembled a rugby score before Jordan
Ayew equalised for the visitors at the
Parc des Princes midway through the
second half but Ibrahimovic came to the
Paris rescue with two goals in the final
eight minutes.
PSG went into the break a goal to the
good but it could have been so much
more as they carved open a hopelessly
flawed offside trap.
Time and again, PSG’s forwards
got in behind the Lorient backline and
only some poor finishing, notably from
Ezequiel Lavezzi, spared the visitors’
blushes.
Inside two minutes Edinson Cavani
had sprung the trap but his first time
left-footed volley lacked power and
goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte got down
quickly to save.
Just a minute later, Ibrahimovic
was in behind the defence, only to be
LIGUE 1
Lorient’s Lamine Kone (centre) vies with Paris Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic
(second left) during the French L1 match at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris.
— AFP
clattered by a reckless challenge from
Lecomte.
Lecomte
was
booked
and
Ibrahimovic dispatched the penalty
low to the goalkeeper’s right, although
straight afterwards he limped off to
receive treatment on his ankle, which
twisted badly under Lecomte’s challenge.
Lavezzi was the next to beat the
offside trap from Javier Pastore’s dinked
through ball but the forward’s shot hit
Lecomte’s leg.
Ibrahimovic had rejoined the fray
by now and he was left waving his arms
in frustration after right-back Gregory
Van Der Wiel escaped into acres of
space down the right, only for his cross
to be cut out by Lamine Kone with
Ibrahimovic and Cavani queueing up at
the back post for an easy finish.
Pastore’s vision opened up Lorient
again on 24 minutes but from a tight
angle, Ibrahimovic’s shot was parried
behind by Lecomte.
The Swedish star then put Lavezzi
clean through again with a sublime
back-flick, but the former Napoli
forward wastefully sliced his shot into
the side-netting on the half hour.
PROFLIGACY
Cavani tried to catch out Lecomte
at the start of the second half but his
speculative lob from 40 yards dipped
just over.
Lavezzi then failed to turn in a driven
cross from Maxwell at the near post as
his profligacy continued.
Cavani bent a free-kick just wide as
PSG continued to toil in their attempts
to kill the game.
And they paid for those misses as
halfway through the second period, out
of nothing, Ayew rifled a shot into the
bottom corner from 20 yards.
And four minutes later Ayew was left
unmarked at a corner to fire in a volley
that had goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu
beaten, only for his Italian compatriot
Marco Verratti to head off the line.
Chances were coming thick and
fast as Lecomte tipped a Pastore volley
around the post before blocking
Ibrahimovic’s close range backheel with
his chest.
PSG were given a lifeline, though, as
Kone dived in on Pastore in the box.
The contact seemed minimal but
it was reckless in the extreme and the
referee pointed to the spot for a second
time, Ibrahimovic sending Lecomte the
wrong way this time.
Lecomte still had time to make a
reaction save to deny substitute Adrien
Rabiot before Ibrahimovic sealed the
win in injury time following a defensive
mistake.
— AFP
QATAR
2022
European leagues
threaten legal action
BARCELONA: Europe’s top leagues
could launch legal action against Fifa
over the decision to move the 2022
Qatar World Cup to later in the year,
according to French league President
Frederic Thiriez.
At a meeting in Barcelona on
Saturday, the European Professional
Football Leagues (EPFL) adopted
a resolution slamming the decision
to move the competition from its
traditional dates in June and July to
November and December in order to
combat the searing heat in the Middle
East.
“The EPFL is ready to support any
legal actions that the individual leagues
may take in this respect in the near
future,” said Thiriez.
“The EPFL is very disappointed
with the decision of the Fifa ExCo,
who decided to move the World Cup to
November and December in 2022. This
is seriously damaging to the European
leagues, both from a sporting and a
financial point of view.
“This decision raises serious
questions about the motivations of
many involved in the decision-making
process and further demonstrated
the lack of good governance within
the national football governing
bodies.”
World governing body Fifa
announced on Friday that it will triple
the amount paid to clubs who release
their players for the 2018 and 2022
World Cups to $209 million.
However, Thiriez said that the EPFL
has to look out for the interests of all
clubs, with the vast majority of the
compensation promised going to only
the top clubs in a few leagues.
“The EPFL has the responsiblity to
protect the interests of all clubs, including
those that do not release players for the
national associations’ competitions,” he
said. “Today the interests of those clubs
are not protected.”
The English Premier League,
meanwhile, declared on Saturday
that it was “very disappointed” by the
decision to change the dates of the 2022
tournament.
“While we remain very disappointed
with the process and the outcome for
deciding the timing of the Fifa World
Cup Qatar 2022, at least we now have
fixed dates to work with,” the league said
in a statement.
“The Premier League’s sole focus
now is ensuring that the impact on our
season is as limited as possible. This
means there is still some discussion
and accommodation required over
call-up periods, international dates
and other competition organisers’
schedules.”
Serena withdrew moments before her scheduled semifinal match on Friday night with a knee-injury ending her campaign at Indian Wells
Williams’ injury dashes hope of storybook ending
INDIAN WELLS, UNITED STATES:
Serena Williams pulled out of her Indian
Wells semifinal on Friday, 14 years after
her sister Venus withdrew at the same
stage to spark a fan uproar that led to a
Williams boycott of the event.
Serena withdrew moments before her
scheduled semifinal match on Friday
night with a right knee injury, ending
her hopes for a storybook finish after she
made the decision several months ago to
finally return to the joint WTA and ATP
tournament.
Ironically, Venus also pulled out of
her semifinal match in 2001 with a knee
injury.
Serena strode out onto the court to
deliver the news in person on Friday to
the Tennis Garden fans, who had just
watched Jelena Jankovic beat Sabine
Lisicki in the first women’s semifinal.
“A couple of days ago at my practice
I injured my knee,” Williams told the
crowd. “Today it was a struggle to walk.”
Unlike 14 years ago when she was
heckled and booed in the final against
Kim Clijsters, the crowd stood and
applauded Serena as she spoke. There
were one or two scattered boos, but they
were drowned out by the loud cheering.
Serena said she had an MRI scan and
doctors told her she suffered a strain in
her quadriceps tendon. She tried treating
it with an anti-inflammation injection
but it didn’t feel better Serena said.
“I was just on the practice court
two days ago and everything was going
good,” she said. “I went for a serve and
just felt a super sharp pain in my knee.”
Asked why she couldn’t play through
the pain, Serena said she didn’t want to
risk a long-term injury.
“When you get to a level of pain
where you are at nine or a 10 or even an
eight, you don’t want to push it because
you can actually make it a lot worse,” she
said.
“Weighing all that together it just
wasn’t a good opportunity for me to play.
That being said I think probably five out
of 10 matches I play injured.”
In 2001, Venus Williams pulled out of
a highly anticipated semifinal clash with
her sister at the last minute with a knee
injury. Serena said on Friday she didn’t
see the irony in it.
“I don’t make anything of it. I feel
that was 14 years ago and this is now. I
did the best I could at this event and I
am really happy to have put a lot of that
behind me,” Serena said.
The 2001 controversy began with
Venus’ semifinal withdrawal and then
carried over into the final the next day
when Serena beat Kim Clijsters to win
her second Indian Wells crown.
Because most of the fans had already
taken their seats for the sisters’ semifinal,
many reacted in anger, booing the
announcement, and then Serena was
heckled and booed the next day in the
final. Venus, who attended the final
match with her father Richard, was also
jeered by fans who thought the sisters
just didn’t want to play each other.
Serena denied that in an interview
last week, saying she “has had nothing
but integrity my whole career.” — AFP
28
SPORT
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL: The Northern Irishman had a streak of five birdies in his 66 that moved him to eight-under-par
Hoffmann leads by three, McIlroy lurking
NEW YORK: Overnight leader Morgan
Hoffmann maintained his sublime
form to take a three-shot lead at the
halfway mark of the Arnold Palmer
Invitational on Friday as Rory McIlroy
and defending champion Matt Every
moved into contention.
Hoffmann followed his opening 66
with a sizzling seven-under-par 65 for a
13-under-par total of 131 at Bay Hill.
“It’s been fun out there. Just kind of
being pretty mellow and trying to hit
the middle of greens,” said Hoffmann,
a former junior ice hockey player and
Oklahoma State University golfer
ranked 137th in the world.
Every had five birdies in a row from
the fourth hole on his way to a 66 that
vaulted him into second place at 134,
a total matched by afternoon starters
Harris English (66) and Sweden’s Henrik
Stenson, who birdied his last four holes
for another 66.
One shot further back was Ben
Martin, who shot a 67 for 135.
World number one McIlroy also
had a streak of five birdies in his 66 that
moved him to eight under par for the
tournament alongside Sweden’s David
Lingmerth (67), Australia’s Matt Jones
(65) and South Korean Danny Lee, who
fired a bogey-free 64.
McIlroy, who next month would
complete a career Grand Slam with a
Masters win, started the day at the 10th
and began his birdie blitz at the second
hole. A bogey on his penultimate hole
dropped him to 136.
“I probably wasn’t quite as consistent
tee to green as I was yesterday,” said
McIlroy, who shot an opening 70. “But
the putter is a great equaliser.
“Was good to see some putts
dropping,
considering
yesterday
nothing really dropped for me,” added
the Northern Irishman, who took 34
putts in the first round.
Hoffmann had his own birdie binge,
sinking four in a row from the third
after a bogey on the first and registered
a blistering five-under 31 on the front
nine. The 25-year-old Hoffmann
finished with three birdies and a bogey
on the homeward half.
“I feel great,” said Hoffmann, adding
that he did not feel pressured as he seeks
his first PGA Tour title.
“I’m trying not to think about it. I
know it will come eventually. If this is
the week, so be it.”
— Reuters
Rory McIlroy tees off on the 16th during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. — USA TODAY Sports
Nadeem dazzles in Assarain ‘A’ victory
MUSCAT: Man of the Match
Muhammad Nadeem with 62 runs
(99b, 2x6 an 3x4) and 3 for 24 off 10
overs including 3 maidens with the
ball steered Assarain ‘A’ to a massive
150 run win against a hapless National
Youth Development Team (NYDT)
in a Muscat Pharmacy & Stores LLC
sponsored ‘A’ Division 50 overs a side
League match played on Friday at the
MOS Turf Ground at Al Amerat.
Opting to field first NYDT sent the
top 3 batsmen of Assarain ‘A’ with 49
runs on the board off 8 overs before
an excellent 149 run fourth wicket
partnership between Nadeem and Ram
Kumar 77 (98b, 3x6 and 8x4) helped
the score to 271 for the loss of 9 wickets
off their quota of 50 overs. Opening
batsman Arun Poulose chipped in with
25 (18b, 4x4).
Mohammed Ali Akbar al Balushi
was the pick of the bowlers ending
with figures of 3 for 30 off 10 overs
with support from Sufyan Mahmood
and Wasim Ismail al Balushi claiming 2
wickets each conceding 54 and 85 runs
respective off 10 overs each.
Set a target of 272 for victory NYDT
lost wickets at regular intervals and were
bowled out for 121 off 43.5 overs. Major
contributors were Sufyan Mahmood 30
(62b, 1x6 and 3x4) and Syed Muntazir
22 (59b, 3x4).
Brief scores:Assarain ‘A’: 271/ 9 off 50 overs (Ram
Kumar 77, Muhammad Nadeem 62, Arun Poulose
25; Mohammed Ali Akbar al Balushi 3-30, Sufyan
Mahmood 2-54, Wasim Ismail al Balushi 2-85) bt
NYDT: 121 all out off 43.5 overs (Sufyan Mahmood
30; Muhammad Nadeem 3-24, VS Shiju 2-19, Ahmad
Raza 2-19, Zeeshan Maqsood 2-25)
Points:Assarain ‘A’: 5 points (8 Games – 30 points)
and NYDT: 0.
LPGA
13.4 overs (Khalid Moosa 4-13)
Points: MARH: - 2 points (8 Games – 7 points) and Al
Daam International: 0 (8 Games – 7 Points)
LOCAL CRICKET
RASHID, TAIMUR STAR FOR
TRUST OILFIELD
In a ‘J’ Division T20 match played in
the morning at the adjoining Ground
No 4 at Al Amerat, openers Khuram
Rashid 73 (41b, 13x4) and Taimur Khan
62 (40b, 7x4) put together 121 runs off
11 overs to help Trust Oilfield Strikers
reach a massive 207 for 9 wickets off the
20 stipulated overs.
Waleed Moula Bakhsh bowled
brilliantly to end with figures of 4 for 52
off 4 overs.
Brief scores:Trust Oilfield Strikers: 207/9 off 20
overs (Khuram Rashid 73, Taimur Khan 62, Tushar
Verma 34; Waleed Moula Bakhsh 4-52, Yahya Maula
Bakhsh 2-6) bt OCT Al Nahdha: 104/8 off 20 overs
(Hassan al Balushi 40 n.o.; Neil Paily 2-12, Kamran
Farooq 2-16)
Points: Trust Oilfield Strikers: 2 points (8 Games – 10
points) and OCT Al Nahdha: 0 (8 Games – 1 point).
Muhammad Nadeem (left) poses with Ram Kumar.
out off 19.4 overs (Shameer Thaha 2-17, Muhammed
Mudassar 2-19, Darwish Ellickal 2-25, Laiju Jose
2-27)
Points: Landscape Architecture: 2 points (7 Games –
10 points) and Carillion Alawi: 0 (7 Games – 5 Points)
HUAWEI TROUNCE BAHIHI HEXA
In an afternoon ‘G’ Division T20
match played at the same venue Huawei
trounced a 10 man Bahihi Hexa team by
8 wickets.
Winning the toss and electing to bat
Bahihi Hexa scored 152 for the loss of 5
wickets at the end of the 20th over.
Huawei got to their target scoring 154
for 2 wickets off 13.2 overs thanks to an
unbeaten 72 (43b, 14x4) from opening
batsman Prasanna Srinivasan.
MUDASSAR SPARKLES
Muhammad Mudassar opening the
batting scored a brilliant 84 (62b, 1x6
and 11x4) and thereafter grabbed 2
wickets conceding 19 runs off 2 overs
to help Landscape Architecture record
a 21 run win against Carillion Alawi.
The Enhance sponsored ‘E’ Division
T20 match was played in the morning
session at the Municipality Ground No
3 at Al Amerat.
MOOSA SHINES WITH BALL
Khalid Moosa with bowling figures of
4 for 13 off 4 overs bowled Moosa Abdul
Rahman Hassan (MARH) to an easy 98
run win against Al Daam International Brief scores:Bahihi Hexa: 152/5 off 20 overs (Aslam
in an ‘F’ Division T20 match played in Khan 32 n.o., Arjun Pradeep 29, Rakesh 26; Syed
Mujtaba 2-23, Nadir Ali Hashmi 2-35) lt to Huawei:
the afternoon at the same venue.
Brief scores:Landscape Architecture: 176/3 off 20
overs (Muhammad Mudassar 84, Prasad Peruli 36,
Darwish Ellickal 34 n.o.) bt Carillion Alawi: 152 all
Brief scores:MARH: 157/9 off 20 overs (Mohammed
Ayaz 49, Lindo Johnson 33 n.o.; Biju Krishnan 3-19,
Umesh 3-20) bt Al Daam International: 59 all out off
154/2 off 13.2 overs (Prasanna Srinivasan 72 n.o.,
Umar Zaman 32, Karthikeyan Jayachandran 25 n.o.)
Points: Huawei: 2 points (7 Games – 7 points) and
Bahihi Hexa: 0 (7 Games – 8 points)
NEWS
Jang grabs lead at
delayed Founders Cup
PHOENIX: Only nightfall could
slow down South Korea’s Jang Ha-Na,
who had seven birdies in 11 holes on
Friday to seize the lead when darkness
halted the second round of the LPGA
Founders Cup.
Jang was 11-under for the
tournament, inching ahead of
clubhouse leader Kim Hyo-Joo, who
carded a three-under 69 in the second
round for a 10-under total of 134.
Stacy Lewis, who led by one when
the first round was completed earlier on
Friday, managed a one-under 71 in the
second round to share third place on
nine-under 135.
Kim Kaufman, who was three-under
par through 12 holes of her second
round at Wildfire Golf Club was also
nine-under for the tournament.
France’s Karine Icher (70) and South
Koreans Lee Mi-Hyang (66) and Lee
Il-Hee (67) were tied for fifth on eightunder 136.
Defending champion Karrie Webb
posted a second-round 70 to head a
group of four players to complete two
rounds at seven-under 137.
Seven more players, including world
number one Lydia Ko, were still on the
course at seven-under when play was
halted. New Zealand’s Ko held a share
of the clubhouse lead when the firstround was suspended on Thursday
night. The tournament had fallen
behind because of a four-hour weather
‘I made nine birdies — it’s
always hard to follow that.
And I knew that going into
it that it was going to be
tough. I didn’t do too much
different other than I just
got on the wrong side of the
hole.. still under par’
delay on Thursday morning.
Ko was overtaken by Lewis, who had
nine birdies in her eight-under firstround effort.
Lewis said she couldn’t be too
disappointed that she didn’t continue
that torrid pace in her second round.
“I made nine birdies — it’s always
hard to follow that,” she said. “And I
knew that going into it that it was going
to be tough.
“I didn’t do too much different other
than I just got on the wrong side of the
hole... still under par. So I mean, I’m
right there.”
For clubhouse leader Kim, it was a
long day. She played the last 12 holes of
a first-round 65, then had four birdies
and one bogey in her second-round 69.
“Last night I was worried about
doing 30 holes,” said Kim, but added it
wasn’t as difficult as she had feared.
— AFP
Portuguese star Ronaldo’s production has dropped to nine in 14 matches in the new year, only three of those from open play in the La Liga
Messi renews Ronaldo rivalry in battle to be world’s best
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (right) reacts next to team-mate Ivan Rakitic
during their training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper in Sant
Joan Despi near Barcelona.
— Reuters
MADRID: Lionel Messi can take his record
tally for Barcelona to a stunning 400 goals
when the Catalans face Real Madrid in one
of the biggest matches in world football on
Sunday.
Here, AFP sports compares the
Argentine’s stats with his eternal rival
Cristiano Ronaldo in the quest to be La
Liga’s top dog.
MESSI LEADS IN LA LIGA
In early January, Barcelona and Messi
appeared to be mired in a crisis after losing
at Real Sociedad, whilst Ronaldo picked
up his third career Ballon d’Or. In less
than three months the tables have turned
significantly as Messi has stormed ahead
of Ronaldo in the race to be La Liga’s top
scorer with 20 goals in his last 17 games.
Ronaldo’s production has dropped to
nine in 14 matches in the new year, only
three of those from open play in La Liga.
Messi now has 32 La Liga goals this
season to Ronaldo’s 30.
THE CHAMPIONS OF CHAMPIONS
At least in goalscoring terms, the story
has been different in the Champions League
as Ronaldo rescued Madrid with three goals
in an unexpectedly tight 5-4 aggregate win
over Schalke to reach the quarterfinals.
Messi’s weaved his magic as Barca
dismissed Manchester City in midweek, but
was unusually wasteful in front of goal and
also missed a penalty in the first leg.
Ronaldo’s treble saw him move level
with Messi on 75 Champions League goals
and set a new all-time record for goals in
European competitions with 78.
MESSI KING OF THE CLASICO
It is Messi who leads the way in the
scoring charts in the history of one of the
biggest fixtures in world football. The
27-year-old has struck 21 times in 29
meetings with Madrid, including two hattricks.
It is Messi who leads the
scoring charts in the history
of one of the biggest fixtures
in world football. The 27-yearold has struck 21 times in
29 meetings with Madrid,
including two hat-tricks
Ronaldo is joint fourth on the all-time
list, tied with Madrid legends Ferenc Puskas
and Francisco Gento and Barca’s Cesar
Rodriguez with 14 goals in 22 Clasicos.
400-CLUB BECKONS FOR MESSI
A third career hat-trick against Madrid
for Messi would also see him reach 400
goals for Barca in all competitions.
Messi currently has 397 goals in 464
official games for the Blaugrana to go with
his 45 strikes in 97 caps for Argentina.
Ronaldo is edging closer to 500 career
club goals as he has found the net 468
times with Madrid, Manchester United and
Sporting Lisbon in 726 appearances.
The Madeira-born star also has a
marginally better international record with
52 in 118 caps to make him Portugal’s alltime leading scorer.
LEADERS OF THE FRONTLINES
Ronaldo and Messi just form part of
their sides’ star-studded, three-pronged
attacks. Madrid’s “BBC” front three of
Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo
have amassed 77 goals and 42 assists this
season with respected transfer website
transfermarkt.com valuing the trio at 250
million euros.
Barca’s South American triumvirate
of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are
fractionally ahead in the stats with 82 goals
and 47 assists between them and in value at
an estimated 260 million euros.
— AFP
ENTERTAINMENT
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
omandailyobserver
‘SHAUN THE SHEEP’
29
TINSELTOWN
‘Home’ made JLo
modelled on silent emotional
movie star
THE RECEPTION FOR
“SHAUN THE SHEEP”,
WHICH STARTED OUT
AS A CHILDREN’S
TV ANIMATION IN
BRITAIN UNDER
GOLESZOWSKI, HAS BEEN
EXTRAORDINARY SINCE IT
STARTED ITS WORLDWIDE
RELEASE LAST MONTH
A
s the studio behind the “Wallace and
Gromit” movies herds its “Shaun
the Sheep” into cinemas worldwide,
the directors revealed that they
modelled their fluffy protagonist
on silent-movie star Buster Keaton
— and also that they are not sorry to see parts of their
stop-frame works go digital.
Richard Goleszowski and Mark Burton, the brains
behind Aardman Animations’ latest stop-frame, nodialogue feature film, made the remarks in Paris ahead
of a new exhibition in the French capital showcasing the
studio’s work.
“Buster Keaton was always a model for us for Shaun,”
said Goleszowski (who directs under the professional
name Richard Starzak).
“I had a picture of Buster Keaton pinned on the
studio door just to remind the animators that they didn’t
have to make (it), bleat too much, or be too physical,” he
said.
Charlie Chaplin’s silent films also added inspiration
for Shaun’s new sidekick in the movie: a streetwise, and
“dentally challenged”, dog named Slip.
“One of the things you note from Charlie Chaplin
films is that there’s often a little orphan girl character,
and so we thought ‘Well, let’s do an Aardman version
of that’. And so we created Slip, and she sort of acts as
Shaun’s guide in the big city,” said Burton.
100 per cent positive reviews
The reception for “Shaun the Sheep”, which started
out as a children’s TV animation in Britain under
Goleszowski, has been extraordinary since it started its
worldwide release last month.
Rottentomatoes.com, which aggregates reviews,
ranks it at 100 per cent positive, with critics praising its
high technical quality and generous humour.
The Australian movie blog Film Ink said, “It serves
as a sweet antidote to the slick, computer-animated
family entertainment of the now”.
The movie’s co-directors (also its writers) appear
thrilled their ovine work has found a place in the sun
away from Aardman’s star duo.
“Wallace and Gromit cast a very big shadow,”
admitted Goleszowski. While he looked forward to a
likely “Shaun” movie sequel, he also hinted that the two
Aardman franchises’ “paths might cross again”.
Part of what makes Aardman’s films distinctive is the
very Britishness of them: the prominence of cardigans,
scones, politeness and preoccupation with the weather,
for instance.
But the men behind Shaun said that was merely the
DNA of the studio’s work and not a conscious put-on.
“We just do what we do and what makes us laugh.
And people tell us it’s very British. And we like that. But
we don’t know what that is necessarily,” said Burton.
“We do put in our own culture,” said Goleszowski,
but added: “I don’t think people are necessarily buying
into the Britishness, they’re buying into the quality of
the story, and the Britishness comes with it because
that’s what we are.”
— AFP
Kelly Osbourne defies doctors Ashley Judd pens violence essay
S
A
inger Kelly Osbourne is defying
doctors’ orders by exercising
as she is determined to “stay
in shape”. The 30-year-old wears a
back brace after suffering a bout of
pneumonia last year and though she
has been told not to exert herself,
she does a bit of it to stay fit, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
“I’ve had pneumonia and was
having back pain so now I wear this
all the time,” Closer magazine quoted
Osbourne as saying.
“I’ve been told by doctors not to
work out but I’m naughty and I still
exercise a bit anyway — I want to stay
in shape,” she added.
Osbourne, who usually does three
sessions of interval training a week, is
desperate for her pain to go away so
she can shed the brace and get back to
her “regular” routine.
She said: “I just want to be well
again so I can exercise properly and
get back to my regular lifestyle.”
ctress Ashley Judd has written
a powerful and moving essay,
condemning online threats
of abuse and violence, after she was
trolled for posting her views on a
university basketball game.
The 46-year-old received abusive
messages, including rape threats,
after she claimed on Tw-itter that the
University of Arkansas were “playing
dirty” when they took on her old
college, the University of Kentucky,
on Sunday. That’s what has led to her
penning her disgust over the incident,
reports femalefirst.co.uk.
The essay, entitled “Forget Your
Team: Your Online Violence Toward
Girls and Women”, enlivens Judd’s
own experience of abuse and incest as
a youngster and the nine-year journey
to recovery that followed.
In a piece published on MIC.com,
she wrote: “The volume of hatred
that exploded at me in response was
staggering.
H
er role as a woman who loses her child in animated film “Home”,
made singer Jennifer Lopez emotional.
The 45-year-old, who has seven-year-old twins, confessed that
while she found it easy to relate to the feelings a mother would have if she
were to lose her child, it was also an emotionally draining experience, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
The singer, who has lent vocals to the upcoming animated film, said: “It
was almost too easy for me to do this voice for the movie, it is a small part but
it’s about being distraught trying to find her child.
“It was easy for me to think about how that would feel.
So I was super emotional through it all.”
The “On the Floor” hitmaker, who would be playing a mother named
Lucy who gets separated from her young daughter, admitted that she found it
exciting to work in a film which her children will be able to watch.
Jamie Foxx denies
dating Katie Holmes
A
ctor Jamie Foxx has shot
down rumours of
dating actress Katie
Holmes.
The actor denied
relationship
claims
when he was filmed in
Westlake, US this week
by a website TMZ,
reports mirror.co.uk.
“Come on, you
guys have been trying
to make that stick for
three years,” he said.
The actress and
Foxx sparked romance
rumours last year after they
were spotted getting cosy at a
number of events.
He went on to explain that
the duo had been working on an
“animation project” together.
“We’re working on that, that’s all it is,” he said.
Holmes, who split from her husband and actor Tom Cruise in 2012 after
five years of marriage, hasn’t been officially with anyone since.
EXHIBITION
New York celebrates ‘Mad Men’ end in style
Q JENNIE MATTHEW
“M
A secretary’s desk at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce
ad Men” captured the
style and drive of New
York’s finest — and
drunkest — 1960s ad men, enthralling
viewers with tales of their creative genius
and tortured infidelities.
That vivid depiction of a bygone
Manhattan won millions of fans around
the world, dozens of accolades and
turned previously under-the-radar
actors into household names since its
debut in 2007.
With the final seven episodes to start
airing on cable network AMC on April
5, fans in the Big Apple can indulge
in cut-price liquid lunches and visit a
beautifully curated exhibition about the
hit television series.
On Monday, AMC will unveil a
“commemorative sculpture” outside the
Time and Life Building, fictional home
to Sterling Cooper and Partners, the
advertising firm at the heart of the show.
Jon Hamm — Don Draper himself
— and co-stars Elisabeth Moss, January
Jones and Christina Hendricks will
attend, and the statue will remain on
display in the plaza through the summer,
the network said.
The Museum of the Moving Image
has mounted an exhibition of sets,
costumes and hundreds of props, and
offers a fascinating glimpse of how
creator Matthew Weiner turned an idea
into a series.
It runs until June 14, but curator
Barbara Miller said it was already
“tremendously popular.”
The museum said the opening
weekend saw nearly 2,000 visitors each
day — more than double its regular
attendance. “It’s bringing new audiences
here that are either ‘Mad Men’ fans or
just intrigued by hearing about it. So it’s
been great,” said Miller.
Visitors can step into Don’s office in
all its 1960s glamour, and his and Betty
Draper’s colonial-style kitchen — so true
to life that even the cheese grater appears
stained by years of use.
‘Million dollar question’
Among more than 30 costumes on
display is the black dress worn by Don’s
secretary-turned-new wife Megan to
sing “Zou Bisou Bisou” and some of the
hourglass attire that has made Hendricks
an international love symbol.
Screens broadcast clips from the
series, showing the objects on display as
they appeared on celluloid.
“It’s the million dollar question —
what makes a fantastic television show
or movie fantastic,” Miller said.
“I think that the visual style of the
series is beautiful and it’s very attractive
to people and it’s sort of like the candy
that gets people involved and it’s very
satisfying.
“But I think all of that without the
strong story structure and the compelling
characters, I don’t know that would have
been enough to sustain a series through
seven successful seasons.”
Other exhibition highlights are
journal entries that Weiner made in the
1990s — 15 years before the series came
to television.
The “Mad Men” writers’ room has also
been partially reconstructed, featuring
the conference table and chairs, trucked
over from Los Angeles where the team
met daily to prep storylines. — AFP
30
LIFESTYLE
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
VIDEOCONFERENCING
to enrich learning experience
The marriage day
Q HASAN KAMOONPURI
A
new trend in recent times
in several Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) in Oman is
that they are using videoconferencing
(VC) technology to provide more
enriching learning experiences to
students.
In doing so, they’re bringing top
experts from faraway places into their
virtual classrooms, and also reviving the
concept of distance education.
In a chat with Oman Observer, Prof
SL Gupta, Dean, Waljat College of
Applied Sciences, who has put in place
a VC facility on the campus, says “It’s
been a while since videoconferencing
has been in education.”
Its results are surfacing now.
Videoconferencing is good a way of
sharing resources between different
universities across the borders in
different continents, he adds.
The use of videoconferencing — not
pre-recorded lectures — is catching up
fast not only in Oman but in several
GCC educational centres, as it allows
online courses, and not webcam video,
which is static and is designed to show
just one person. Videoconferencing
involves
higher-quality
cameras,
larger lenses, and faster compression
for sending the video signal, allowing
for two-way interaction. It’s a concept
often found in the boardroom and now
making a foray in classrooms in order to
further refine higher education.
Videoconferencing
makes
the
experience similar to a face-to-face
I
class. Students go to the same videooutfitted classroom every day and sit
around a table, but on one wall, instead
of a blackboard, there’s a screen showing
the teacher and the students at the other
campus, says a student of Majan College.
There are also computers at the back
of the room equipped with cameras, so
students can do pair work with their
counterparts at the other university.
The HEIs are also introducing tablets
and touch-screens, which allow the
teacher to demonstrate scripts and share
them with both classrooms, and they
use document cameras so students can
submit written work in real time.
Several colleges in Oman have
already seen videoconference seminars
VIDEOCONFERENCING
MAKES THE EXPERIENCE
SIMILAR TO A FACE-TOFACE CLASS. STUDENTS
GO TO THE SAME VIDEOOUTFITTED CLASSROOM,
THERE’S A SCREEN
SHOWING THE TEACHER
AND THE STUDENTS AT THE
OTHER CAMPUS
run successfully, and have recently
upped the ante in the realm of two-way
distance education.
Videoconferencing is a cost effective
way to conduct a meeting between two or
more participants in different continents
by using computer networks to transmit
audio and video data, explains a lecturer
of Middle East College,
Students who have attended
VC
classroom
lectures
say
videoconferencing is blurring the
differences between traditional and
virtual teaching and learning.
Thanks to VC tools, teaching
and learning continues to expand
beyond the boundaries of the university
campus.
Musical Journey to mark Oman-India ties
(From left to right) Mohammed Rafi al Balushi, Amita, Shekar, Haider Naqvi, Murali and Swapna
T
o mark 60 years of Omani-India
diplomatic ties, Talent Hunters
Oman is organising the fourth
edition of its popular ‘Musical Journey’,
which this time around focuses on the
theme of romance. Musical Journey IV
is a musical concert featuring Omani
and resident expatriates artistes. The
event will be held at Al Falaj Hotel,
Ruwi, on April 4, 2015.
According to Dr Sanjay Dalal, Found
and Director of Talent Hunters Oman,
preparations for the concert began in
SAYEH WOODMAN
[email protected]
January with the selection of ‘evergreen
duets’ of Hindi films. Talented singers
have since been hard at work in hopes
of delivering an unforgettable evening of
music. A number of couples who have
completed 50 years of marriage will also
be feted on the occasion.
To enliven the event, the
performances will be complemented
by choreographed dances and video
projections, said Dr Sateja Dalal,
Coodinator.
“Costumes and hair styling will
match the original theme. We have
also requested music lovers to come
wearing costumes befitting the theme of
romance,” she added.
The parade of singers includes
Mohammed Rafi al Balushi — runnerup in Muscat Idol 2006, and Jihad al
Raisi, finalist at Khafeef Youth Icon
2014, who had recently recorded his
own album of Bollywood music.
Also taking part are: Shekar —
Muscat Idol 2006 winner; Nishant
— Muscat Youth Icon 2014 winner,
Akhilesh — Muscat Idol Teen Sensation
2008 runner-up, Megna — Muscat
Youth Icon 2014 Singing runnerup, and Muscat Idol finalists Haider
Naqvi, Sarfaraz, Aishwarya and
Shraddha. Others artistes are Swapna —
professional singer and teacher, Vineet
— ghazal composer and singer, Rose,
Murali, Deepak and Amita.
The show begins at 7 pm, although
gates open at 5.30 pm. Entry is by
invitation only. For passes, write to:
[email protected]
was honoured to be invited to a wonderful wedding that shared
culture and experience during this week. It’s truly amazing how our
beliefs, traditions and religion can make a day so delightful when it
comes together, in marriage.
A day full of love, celebrating love and how that love blossoms and grows
bigger from each day forward of when you get wed. Not just talking about
getting bigger by having a family, but how through thick and thin, those
testing times, a marriage is a pretty awesome commitment, a dedication
to each other.
I didn’t get to experience and celebrate an Omani wedding during my
time in Oman, which I deeply regret. I did get to see lots of amazing photos
of friends that had got married and heard about the traditions.
Wow, the attire of the bride and groom and the decorations also blew
me away. Over the top and just powerful.
So, what’s the difference between a British and Omani wedding, other
than sharing the vows and committing to each other, well there’s quite a
lot. The dresses are very Cinderella like and full of sparkle in Oman. There
are these options for a British wedding, but there’s loads of other styles and
understated dresses.
One tradition that most brides adhere to is the short poem or rhyme
for what they wear during their wedding day... the bride should wear
something old, something blue, and definitely not being seen by the
groom in her wedding dress before the ceremony, which is quite common
in other parts of the world.
The bride and groom shouldn’t see each other the night before the
wedding. In some countries it’s even known for the day or week before.
As this will bring bad luck to the marriage. Also the bride looking in the
mirror twice before she leaves on the day, on the way to the aisle, is seen
as bad luck.
There’s so many dos and don’ts, it’s hard to keep up with them all!
Once the wedding service is completed, and the bride and groom share
their vows and sign their commitment to each other, there is usually a toast
followed by a wedding breakfast. A celebration meal where everyone eats
and continues to be merry. The cutting of the cake is done here too, along
with the speeches.
The first dance, well it’s crucial that the bride and groom start off
dancing together then the others joins in.
With time changing and situations progression, certain traditions
and beliefs unfortunately get dismissed now, due to the next generation
wanting to do things differently.
To be fair the list is endless on traditions and values on how things
should be and shouldn’t be. I believe that as long as you are happy and
your wedding day meets everything you want it to be, then it should be the
perfect day. Too many couples and families get trapped into what should
happen and stress about unnecessary things, when actually the day is
about celebrating and sharing love.
For those planning on getting married... here’s a little rhyme of the days
that are seen to be best to be married... take it or leave it!
Monday for wealth
Tuesday for health
Wednesday the best day of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
Saturday for no luck at all!
Sunday, peace and rest!
So whatever day is your lucky day... may you all live happily married.
Park Inn hotels to take part
in Earth Hour 2015
HEALTH TIPS
Antioxidant that backs up liver during crisis
L
ike a generator kicking in when
the power fails, an antioxidant
system acts as a back up to help
sustain the liver when other systems are
missing or compromised, researchers
have discovered.
The newly found system, reported in
the journal Nature Communications, is
fuelled by methionine, an amino acid
that cannot be manufactured in the
body and does not come from herbal
teas or supplements,
People get it only by eating protein.
Methionine is found in high levels in
eggs, meat, fish, Brazil nuts, sesame
seeds and cereal grains.
“This is an important finding,” said
Ed Schmidt, professor at the Montana
State University.
“It tells us about humans and all
living things.
It is an alternative way to maintain
the balance you need in your cells to be
alive,” Schmidt added.
Some vitamins and supplements act
as antioxidants, Schmidt said.
They help protect cells from the
damage that can lead to ageing, cancers
and inflammatory diseases.
To investigate further, Schmidt’s lab
generated mice whose livers lacked
key components of two known natural
systems in liver cells: the thioredoxin
and glutathione systems.
The mice were not robust. They were
on the brink of failure, Schmidt said.
And yet they survived.
Pursuing the mystery, the researchers
found the third antioxidant system and
said it has broad implications for health
issues in humans.
“Methionine, a sulphur-containing
amino acid that is required in our diet
so our cells can make proteins, is also
a potent, but previously unrecognised
antioxidant that, unlike any other
antioxidant tested to date, can sustain
the liver when the two other systems
are absent or compromised,” Schmidt
added.
— IANS
T
he Park Inn by Radisson Muscat and Park Inn by Radisson Hotel &
Residence Duqm will participate in Earth Hour 2015 which is a united
call for environmental action around the world. Cities in 92 countries shut
off their lights for one hour on March 28 to observe Earth Hour, an annual event
geared at showing support for taking action on climate change issues.
In-house guests at both hotels have been given the option of participating by
switching off the power in their rooms from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm.
In the rest of the hotels, only essential lighting will be kept on with high-level
signage even switched off.
Diners will have their meals by candlelight during that hour.
In-house guests will be invited to spend that time at the Sama Terrazza rooftop
by candlelight.
Meanwhile at the Park Inn Duqm, guests will be invited to spend their time
under the stars at the Pool lounge.
“This annual activity helps us to raise awareness on climate change with our
guests, employees and the community.
A small activity that can make a big impact to the world!” said Rabih Zein,
General Manager.
CULTURE
S U N DAY
MARCH 22 l 2015
omandailyobserver
31
The power of a TRAGIC GENIUS
Q MAURICE GENT
G
aetano
Donizetti
was a composer
with both immense
passion and drive,
which has won him
a unique place both
in the history of opera and music. The
exquisite beauty of his lyrics were heard
at the Royal Opera House Muscat last
week and the sheer lyricism of the music
and the singing will make it an occasion
that will linger forever in the minds of
those who truly love music.
The occasion was a visit by the
Foundation of the Teatro Communale
Di Bologna, Italy to perform one of
the world’s best known operas, Don
Pasquale. The performers sang to a
fully packed audience, who relished
this performance of one of the world’s
best known and cherished operas. It
was composed late in life and is rich
in emotional appearance, the work of
a man, who must have been aware he
probably did not have time to live.
The role of Don Pasquale was played
by Ruggero Raimondi, famed for his
interpretation of Figaro in Mozart’s
Marriage of Fifgaro and many other
leading roles. He has also appeared as
Faust and Attila the Hun, not a singer
to shy away from the most difficult
challenge. In his role as Don Pasquale
he had the role of a man nearing the end
of his life, when he was summoning up
his powers for the last time when in fact
there was much energy left in his mind,
body and spirit.
The soprano lead Roberta Canzian
was trained at conservatories both in
Milan and Venice. In addition she has
a Music Degree from the University of
Venice. Clearly the Foundation from the
Teatro Communale had sent their very
top team. It also included as Conductor,
Guiseppe La Malla, whose experience in
this role goes back over ten years.
Very important to note was that this
Muscat performance was also graced by
Ruggero Raimond, world famous for his
performances in Mozart’s Marriage of
Figaro and many other star roles.
The
audience
was
gripped
throughout the performance well aware
they were listening to superb, world
class voices, who were clearly enjoying
their performance. In one sense it was a
performance of equals with both artists
and audience enjoying a high quality
performance enjoyed by all present.
Young children in the audience were
keen to stay to the end and join in the
cheering.
Donizetti was a child of extreme
poverty. His father was a porter in a
pawn broker shop and his mother a
weaver. He was enrolled in a free music
school and fortunately got by chance the
opportunity to achieve a well deserved
immortality.
One of the few advantages of an era
that saw great riches and deplorable
poverty was that remarkable talent
could sometimes triumph and achieve
fame.
— PHOTOS BY KHALID AL BUSAIDI, ROHM
Donizetti was at least recognised as a
composer of importance and great merit
in the last four to five years of his life.
He obtained a job for six months
a year at the Austrian Court, giving
him an opportunity to work on Don
Pasquale, which was to confirm his fame
as a great composer.
Don Pasquale, first performed in
Paris, was an immediate and much
trumpeted success in the world of music.
But further decline of his condition
was swift and he was soon to be returned
to a family, who cared for him as he
became increasingly disabled in mind
and body. Don Pasquale was thus an
important work in that it underscored
the genius of Donizetti as a major
musical genius before the days of
darkness and death swiftly followed.
Pompeii Villa of Mysteries opens in Italy
Q ELLA IDE
P
A general view shows the Roman Villa of the Mysteries (Villa dei Misteri). — AFP
ompeii’s sumptuous, fresco-adorned Villa of
Mysteries reopened fully to the public on Friday
after two years of painstaking restoration, as
Italy promised an era of ruin and decay at the ancient
city was over.
The villa is just one of dozens of houses, shops and
streets at the complex which have suffered from years
of bad weather and wear, and UNESCO had warned
Italy the site risked being struck off its heritage list.
The ministry released extracts from a recent
UNESCO report which praised the “profound change
in the behaviour” of those in charge of maintaining
Pompeii.
Dionysus frescos
The Villa of Mysteries is renowned for its burnt
orange and red wall-paintings depicting an initiation
into the secret cult of Dionysus, the god of wine.
It is one of the few homes to have survived the
eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD pretty much intact,
and features a series of fine dining and party rooms as
well as a wine-press, indicating the Roman owner was
wealthy.
A plaster of Paris cast of one of the bodies
discovered under the volcanic debris inside the villa
is on display. The restoration project, which began in
May 2013, was carried out in sections to allow parts of
the villa to stay open, and focused on reversing damage
caused during the 1930s when wax was used to cover
and preserve the frescoes.
The site was closed entirely for the last three months
to allow repairs to its mosaic floor.
The giant eruption devastated Pompeii nearly
2,000 years ago but the ash and rock helped preserve
many buildings almost in their original state, as well as
the curled-up corpses of victims.
— AFP
SUNDAY | M A R C H 2 2 l 2 0 1 5
P29
P31
P30
Inside
New York celebrates ‘Mad Men’ end Antioxidant that backs up liver crisis ‘Home’ made JLo emotional FOLLOW US ON:
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The world of Japanese artist Nara
W
hen the quake-tsunami disaster
devastated Japan’s northeast in
March 2011, killing thousands and
sparking a nuclear crisis that is still wreaking
misery today, it also swept away the inspiration of
one of Japan’s most famous contemporary artists,
Yoshitomo Nara.
Known best for his deceptively simple, almost cartoon-like canvasses featuring sometimes
sinister images of young girls and animals, the
55-year-old was so devastated by the destruction
wreaked on his home region he found himself
unable to paint.
Four years later, in his largest show in Asia
outside Japan at Hong Kong’s Art Basel exhibition, his latest works focus on death and the impermanence of life. The title piece, “Life is Only
One,” features his trademark innocent young girl
— this time holding a skull.
Arriving in Hong Kong to open the show,
Nara talked to AFP about the impact of the disaster on Japan’s art scene, his plans to visit Lapland
and a pair of Spock ears given to him by the late
Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy.
Q: How did the Fukushima disaster affect
you on a personal level?
“It made me feel helpless.
I live 100 kilometres from the Fukushima
power plant and I was born in Hirosaki, Aomori
Yoshitomo Nara
prefecture (north of the disaster zone), where my
mother still lives.
People told me to run away to escape from the
place but I preferred to stay there to try to help.
But I felt helpless as an artist, and as someone
from the northeast area, like my art can’t really do
anything for people. “For a while I couldn’t really
focus on painting.
In about six months I did one painting, when
I would normally do more than 10.
Instead, I started to make sculptures.
I wanted to use my hands to touch something
and make a mark.
I went back to Aichi (Prefectural University
of Fine Arts and Music in Nagakute, his alma
mater) where I felt more comfortable: it was a
kind of rehabilitation.”
Q: How did the disaster impact Japanese art
more broadly?
“Part of Japan’s history was lost.
There was a very famous place for making traditional Japanese ceramics where everything was
destroyed.
All the kilns were broken — very, very old tra-
ditional kilns that no one will make again — and
ceramics I had made myself were all destroyed.
There were lots of museums that had very
good collections of traditional works which
were destroyed as well. “But it’s not just art that
was lost: a lot of people lost the images of their
families. If you have lost all of your albums and
videos so you can no longer see your grandpa or
grandma, or your parents — compared with the
loss of culture or art, it’s more sad to lose something like that.”
Q: You have said before you don’t like social
media, but you use it a lot.
What do you think of it?
“For me, social media has limitations.
On it I only show the part I want to show people — there are so many things I don’t show.
Maybe you think I’m a very open, very cool
person, but I’m not! So many people want to look
at me, to know me, on social media I can positively choose what I want to show.”
Q: Do you have a favourite among your
works?
“There’s not a particular artwork that I prefer, it’s more about what I went through when
I painted that work. Artworks don’t just come
from one thing or one particular incident, it’s
like layers of the past.(In my early works) I put
lots of different elements in the painting, which I
thought was more clear.
Now I paint only one thing and it can explain
everything.”
Q: What do you plan to do next?
“Next I want to go on a trip to paint.
My goal is not just to be an artist but to travel,
and to continue to travel as an artist.
I’d like to go to Lapland.
I like the reindeer and I come from the north,
so I like the landscape: full of snow, white.”
Q: You knew the late Leonard Nimoy and he
once gave you some Spock ears.
What will you do with them?
Just pray. (Leonard) was a very kindly nice
person. He also had a childish heart: when he invited me to his house for dinner you could see toy
trains on tracks running along the walls. — AFP