SUNDAY | APRIL 19, 2015 | JUMADA AL THANIA 29, 1436 AH
P17 G20 prods US over stalled IMF reforms
VOL. 34 NO. 156 | PAGES 32 | BAISAS 200
P30 The Love of Chunhyang
P26 Kuznetsova puts Russia into the lead
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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OMAN
Real estate deals
touch RO 1.03 bn
MUSCAT: The value of real estate
transactions in Oman by the end of
February stood at RO 1.03 billion, a
growth of 137.8 per cent compared to
that in 2014. The fee collected on these
transactions stood at RO 7.7 million, a
growth of 26.2 per cent, while the value
of the sale transactions fell by 2.4 per
cent to record RO 179.4 million. The
number of transactions also declined by
12.2 per cent to record 12,962 compared
to 14,759 during the same period in
2014. The value of mortgage contracts
increased by 241.6 per cent to hit RO
849.3 million compared to RO 248.6
million during the same period in 2014.
REPORT ON P3
INSIDESTORIES
WAR GAMES UNDER
CHINA’S SHADOW
SUICIDE BLAST KILLS 33
WORKERS IN AFGHANISTAN
LABOUR TO TACKLE
EXPLOITATION OF MIGRANTS
P6
P7
P14
WEATHER TODAY
MUSCAT
MAX: 380C
MIN: 280C
SALALAH
MAX: 300C
MIN: 250C
SUNRISE 04.44 AM
PRAYER TIMINGS
FAJR: 04:21
DHUHR: 12:05
ASR: 15:32
MAGHRIB: 18:29
ISHA: 19:59
NIZWA
MAX: 410C
MIN: 250C
Anger drives South Africa attacks Rahul back to work after vacation Canary Islands face major oil spill editor@omanobserver.om
NEW CURBS ON VITAMINS
RESTRICTED: Private doctors have to refer patients to nutritionists for supplements
SAMUEL KUTTY
MUSCAT
April 18: Private sector doctors in
Oman can no longer prescribe vitamins
or other supplements to the patients.
According to a circular issued by the
Ministry of Health, “all doctors working
in private health establishments should
not write vitamins or other supplements
in prescription to patients. If needed, a
patient can be referred to nutritionists
after investigation”.
Although the rationale behind such
a decision is not known, doctors say “it
cannot definitely be agreed to”.
The Observer spoke to doctors
specialised in different fields of
healthcare. They said the decision is
neither viable nor feasible. It is very
‘sensitive’.
As usual all the doctors did not want
their names to be revealed.
“A vitamin is mandatory along
with antibiotics. A patient always feels
lethargic or deficient of energy while
on antibiotic treatment. We generally
A vitamin is
mandatory
along with
antibiotics. A patient
always feels lethargic
while on antibiotic
treatment.
A PRIVATE DOCTOR
prescribe B-complex group of vitamins
along with antibiotics. These are
definitely required to avoid stomach
upset and development of mouth ulcers.
They have no effect on hormones”, said a
doctor practising general medicine with
a leading hospital in Ruwi.
27 killed in fighting
in Yemen’s Taez
ADEN: At least 27 people were killed
in the Yemeni city of Taez in clashes
between loyalist forces and rebels as
well as coalition air raids, medical
sources said yesterday.
Residents said the city in southwest
Yemen was rocked by explosions and
gunfire overnight as the coalitionbacked forces of President Abedrabbo
Mansour Hadi battled Houthi rebels.
Nineteen rebels, four soldiers of
a mechanised army unit loyal to the
president and four other pro-Hadi
fighters were killed, a medical source
said.
Last Friday, coalition warplanes
carried out heavy air strikes on a
presidential palace in Taez, Yemen’s
third largest city, and of positions held
by special forces units loyal to former
president Ali Abdullah Saleh who has
sided with the Houthis.
Hadi has left for Saudi Arabia last
month as the Houthis closed in on his
refuge in the southern city of Aden,
having advanced from their stronghold
in northern Yemen last year to seize the
capital Sanaa.
Residents and security sources said
rival fighters clashed last Friday night in
districts of Aden, while pro-Hadi forces
with the support of air strikes held off
rebels battling for the past week for
control of Aden’s refinery, 15 km to the
west of the port city.
“In total, 13 civilians including three
women and three pro-Hadi fighters
have been killed since Friday in Aden,”
regional health chief Al Khadher
Lassouar said.
SEE ALSO P13
UNDERWATER WHEELCHAIR
A team of students from the Higher College of Technology designed an underwater wheelchair to enable the disabled to
experience deep-sea diving. The students modified a normal wheelchair by adding two wings connected with a control
stick used for up and down movement, and engines fixed on an aluminium pane to move sideways. SEE ALSO P2
Many of the accident victims brought
to a hospital generally have their bones
broken.
Vitamin
D
and
calcium
supplementation, after surgery, can
ensure optimal recovery and survival,
especially in hip fractured patients.
“In these cases, whether the doctor
or the nutritionist, who decides about
the vitamin to be administered to the
patient?”, asks an orthopeadician at
another hospital.
Vitamin D, through its action on
calcium metabolism, is essential for
bone physiology. It’s also required in
a wide range of biological systems to
act modulating the proliferation and
inducing terminal differentiation of a
variety of normal cells.
“Doctors are aware of what
complementary medicine has to be
offered”, asserts another doctor.
In most hospitals or clinics the
services of a nutritionist are not
available.
“Also it is not viable that injured
patients are taken to a nutritionist and
make beeline before a nutritionist”, he
comments.
According to another doctor who
practises at a leading hospital in Seeb,
the decision makes sense in cases of
diabetics.
TURN TO P2
Minor tremors
felt in Muscat,
tsunami ruled out
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
April 18: A minor earthquake
measuring around 3.07 on Richter
Scale was recorded on Saturday
afternoon by the Seismological
Centre of Sultan Qaboos University.
The tremors were felt near the Sea
of Oman and Iran, but the Oman
meteorology department said that
according to the National MultiHazard Early Warning System there
are no fears of tsunami near the Omani
coast following the tremors.
TURN TO P2
2
JOB SELECTION TESTS HELD IN IBRA, SUR
S U N DAY l A P R I L 1 9 l 2 0 1 5
OMAN
The Ministry of Civil Service
conducted job tests for the jobseekers. As many as 179 national
job-seekers from North Al Sharqiyah
Governorate competed for 21 job
vacancies in the Wilayat of Ibra. In the
Wilayat of Sur in South Al Sharqiyah
Governorate 299 job-seekers took
tests to secure government jobs from
among 28 job vacancies available.
OMANI ARTIST HOLDS ART EXHIBIT IN DUBAI
“Preeminence”, Alia al Farsi’s first solo
show at the Empty Quarter Gallery
in Dubai presents a journey of works
including some of the highlights of her
career. Portraits form a major part of the
current selection and showcase the artist’s
spiritual journey with motifs reflecting
her Omani heritage. Alia has previously
exhibited in Stockholm, Tokyo, Berlin,
Shanghai, Abu Dhabi and Geneva.
New regulations
on vitamins
FROM PAGE 1
“A nutritionist’s role is important as
far as vitamin supplements in diabetic are
concerned”, he said.
Still, he said, “those whose medical
conditions require a restricted diet, such as
people with certain food allergies, kidney
disease or diseases of the gastrointestinal
tract that interfere with nutrient digestion or
absorption”.
In addition to being important for
maintaining healthy bones, vitamin D may
play an important role in blood glucose
control.
“If your doctor finds that your overall
health and hormonal balance could be
improved through vitamins and supplements,
they will prescribe them to you. What harm
does it make”, he asks.
When the circular was brought to the
notice of a diabetic patient, Hameed al
Wahaibi, he reacted with annoyance.
“Does it mean that now I have to hunt for
a nutritionist to get the vitamin tablet I take
to counter the effect of other medicine that I
take”, he asked.
It is not the question of the integrity of
the ministry is issuing such a regulation in
view of drugs which are highly sensitive
being easily thrown off balance, said another
doctor.
True, some dietary supplements can
interact with medications and alter the way
they work in the body, making the drugs
either more or less effective, or increasing
certain side effects, the doctor said.
“Many people think that supplements
aren’t really medicine. Many of the vitamins
aren’t listed in the drugstore’s over-thecounter medication area. This tendency,
instead, should be stopped,” she said.
Minor tremors felt in Muscat
FROM PAGE 1
A resident of Al Khuwair said he felt
the tremors for two to three seconds in the
afternoon, while a few residents of Azaiba
and Muttrah also reported of feeling the
tremors.
By and large, the minor tremor went
unnoticed unlike the one of May 2013, when
a large number of people had come out of
their homes to the streets. In fact, another
resident of Al Khuwair said that he did not
feel the tremors at all.
One resident said: “It might depend on
how many floors you are from the ground.
I was on the ground floor of my home and
certainly felt it.”
Underwater wheelchair
helps the disabled
experience diving
MUSCAT: A student team from the Higher College of
Technology invented an underwater wheelchair designed to
enable the disabled to experience deep-sea diving.
Riyadh Ashour Kaskas, one of the students involved with
the project, said the idea of the diving wheelchair emerged
in January this year after a group of five students become
interested in the disabled sports that required free physical
movement such as diving. The team began searching the
Internet to get insight into how to implement the project
and they found one similar invention designed for a British
disabled girl who had an underwater wheelchair invented
for her after becoming particularly interested in diving.
The students managed to modify a normal wheelchair by
adding two wings connected with a control stick used for up
and down movement, and engines fixed on an aluminium
pane to control sideways manoeuvres.
They also fixed a shelf beneath the chair for the oxygen
cylinder, the buoyancy control device and the diving
regulator, Kaskas said adding that the pieces that were added
to the wheelchair are available in the market but they are
too costly which is why the team leased equipment from the
Oman Dive Club. It took the team two months to implement
the project at a cost of RO 300. — ONA
OMAN
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
Industries’ upward
trajectory to continue
MUSCAT: From the start of this
year, Oman has doubled gas tariffs
for industrial producers, with the
move expected to squeeze margins
for operators. However, the higher
prices may spur a move towards greater
efficiency, which could benefit the sector
over the long-term.
Approved in January, the price of
natural gas to companies has doubled
from a rate of $1.50 per million British
Thermal Units (BTU) to $3 per million
BTU, with the provision for annual
increases of 3 per cent in subsequent
years. The raise is in part a response from
the authorities looking to bridge some
of the gap in the national budget left by
weaker hydrocarbons revenue.
But the increase has led to those
in the industrial sector warning that
the Sultanate’s competitive edge will
be dulled by higher costs, and could
stoke inflation. The two main cement
producers, Raysut Cement and Oman
Cement, have said that production costs
will increase dramatically under the new
price scheme, with officials from the
two firms quoting increases in expenses
of RO 4.5 million ($11.8m) and RO 6.6
million ($17.1m), respectively, after the
hike was announced.
Weaker oil prices are set to have
a significant impact on Oman this
year, pushing both the budget and
current accounts into a possible deficit,
according to a report by the US-based
Institute of International Finance (IIF)
released in March. This will be partly
offset by growth in the non-oil sector
and possible cost-cutting measures by
the government.
The non-oil sector, driven in part
by industry, is pegged to lead growth
in 2015, with non-hydrocarbon GDP
forecast to rise by 4.8 per cent, compared
to a 4.5 per cent increase for the broader
economy according to the IIF report.
These figures fall short of the 7.2 per cent
non-oil growth estimated for 2014 and
10.8 per cent recorded in 2012.
According to the IIF, one upside to
a drop in energy revenue for countries
like Oman is an acceleration of moves
towards economic diversification and
greater energy efficiency. “Prospects
further out remain bright,” the report
noted. “Industrial development and
economic diversification should continue
to bear fruit and will be supported by a
sharp increase in gas production over
the next five years, which is critical as a
feedstock for downstream projects being
developed at Duqm and Sohar.”
In early March the IMF’s country
head, Ananthakrishnan Prasad, said that
Oman needed to implement reforms to
keep its deficit in check, with the scaling
back of gas and energy subsidies at the
top of the list of priorities.
12pc rise in inbound tourism
MUSCAT: Tourism indicators report
issued by the National Centre for
Statistics and Information (NCSI)
showed that the number of visitors
coming to the Sultanate, inbound
tourism, until the end of February
reached 390,000 a rise of 12 per cent
compared to the same period of 2014.
Non-Omani Gulf ranked first during
the month of February, reaching 54,000
visitors, accounting for 28.1 per cent
of the total visitors, followed by Indian
visitors 18,396 with a rate of 9.5 per cent,
followed by German visitors 17,976, the
British visitors 14,888 accounting for 9.3
per cent and 7.7 per cent respectively.
The number of visitors departing,
outbound tourism, until the end of
February reached 834,000 a rise of 13.6
per cent compared with the same period
of 2014.
Omani departing visitors accounted
for 64.7 per cent of the total outbound
tourism during the month of February.
The number of visitors on board
of cruise ships docked in ports of the
Sultanate during the month of February
reached 27,600. The Europeans
accounted for 85.9 per cent of the total
visitors on board of cruise ships with
23,725 visitors. The German visitors
10,772 topped the European visitors,
accounting for 39 per cent followed by
3
GHEDEX, TRAINEX and JOBEX
from Monday till Wednesday
MUSCAT: The higher education,
training and job opportunities —
GHEDEX, TRAINEX and JOBEX
(GTJ) 2015 will take place from April 20
till 22 at Oman International Exhibition
Centre. The opening ceremony of the
three-day event, being organised by
OITE Trade Fairs, will be held under
the patronage of Yahya bin Said al Jabri,
Chairman of the Special Economic
Zone Authority of Duqm (SEZAD).
Over 200 universities from 23
countries will present the latest higher
education programmes at GHEDEX.
Out of these 170 educational bodies and
institutions account for international
participation while 30 accounts for local
participation.
“This year GHEDEX receives strong
presence of institutions from the
Sultanate, Ireland, UK and US. We are
also pleased to announce that Brunei,
Finland, Lithuania and Pakistan are
exhibiting at GHEDEX for the first
time,” said Tariq Ali, General Manager
of Trade Fairs, OITE.
Participating countries at GHEDEX
include the Sultanate, Australia, Austria,
Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Finland,
France, Germany, India, Ireland,
Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland,
Pakistan, Turkey, UAE, UK and US.
Ashit Barnes, Exhibition Director
of OITE Trade Fairs, said a new feature
will be introduced at GHEDEX this
23 US universities to participate
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
April 18: Students from all over the
Sultanate will have the opportunity
to meet US university representatives
with valuable information on their
institutions of higher education at
this year’s Global Higher Education
Exhibition (GHEDEX) fair, which
will be taking place during April
20-22 at the Oman International
Exhibition Centre in Muscat.
Each year, the United States
welcomes nearly a million college
students from across the globe,
including thousands from the
Sultanate of Oman. International
students come to the United States
to pursue a variety of degrees,
certificates, and programmes.
“As an Ambassador of the United
States, and a graduate of terrific
American institutions, I am proud of
year, namely a GHEDEX Career
Guidance Centre powered by the Talent
Enterprise. The Talent Enterprise will be
presenting the Youth Thriving Index™
(YTI), a career guidance psychometric
assessment to assess a student’s strengths
our academic tradition of excellence.
I encourage prospective students
and their families to visit the booths
of US colleges and universities at this
year’s GHEDEX higher education
fair, and to put American schools at
the top of their list,” said Ambassador
Greta C Holtz.
A diverse group of 23 US
university representatives will be
participating in the fair, giving
students here in Oman ample
opportunity to find the right
university and programmes that
suit their talents and professional
goals, the US Embassy said in a press
statement.
It added that its educational
adviser will participate in GHEDEX
to answer questions about degree
programmes, the college admissions
process, applying for financial aid
and scholarships, English language
study, and other general information.
and work orientations.
OITE announced that the GHEDEX
Conference will take place for the first
time on April 20 and 21 under the
theme “Entrepreneurship and Higher
Education”.
COMEX TO BEGIN ON APRIL 27
MUSCAT: IT, Telecom and Technology
Show (COMEX 2015) will kick off on
April 27 under the sponsorship of the
Information Technology Authority
(ITA).
The five-day show is organised
by Oman International Trade and
Exhibition (OITE). This year’s show
where more than 150 companies will
take part, focuses on the modern and
emerging trends in ICT that includes
fiber optics, cloud computing and
integrated ICT solutions.
Tariq Ali, General Manager of OITE,
said that COMEX 2015 will display the
latest innovations and best practices.
He added that the local and regional
companies will benefit from the new
ideas and technologies, as well as the
chances of extending communication
networks provided by COMEX.
Omantel wins Best Contact Centre award
this award is another milestone achievement
MUSCAT: Omantel contact centre has won the
by the company as we bear the fruits of our
‘Best Contact Centre Experience’ award at fourth
innovative customers’ experience programmes
annual “Customer Experience Management in
that encompass all customer touch points which
Telecoms Middle East Summit, held in Dubai
contact centre is among them”.
from April 12-14.
The award is presented to recognise
“Sincere efforts were made to provide our
achievements and innovation shown by customer
customers with better and high quality services.
experience and marketing professionals who are
We are proud of this award, which definitely
making the biggest difference to their customers.
motivates us to always exceed expectations in
Commenting on the winning, Hamed al Mur al Ghabshi, providing high quality customer experience’ Al Ghabshi
Senior Manager of Omantel Contact Centre, said “Winning further pointed out.
the Italian visitors 4,271 with 15.5 per
cent.
The number of American visitors
were 2,171, the Africans 1,381, Asians
139 and 194 Oceania visitors.
With regard to accommodation
services, the 3-5 star hotel revenues
during February amounted to RO
18,374,000 compared to RO 18,600,000
during the same period of 2014, a
decline of 1.2 per cent.
The number of hotel guests during
the month of February amounted to
120,708 compared to 109,358 during
the same period of 2014, an increase of
10.4 per cent.
Occupancy in the abovementioned
hotels reached 70.8 per cent, compared
to 73.4 per cent during February 2014, a
drop of 3.5 per cent.
Europeans accounted for the
largest number of hotel guests during
the month of February, with 49,926,
Omanis 33,073, Asians 13,083, other
Gulf countries 8,455 guests.
Other Arab hotel guests were 4,377,
Americans 4,292, Oceania guests by
1,207.
— ONA
RO 1.03 billion
worth real estate
transactions
Irish university keen to
establish ties with SQU
MUSCAT: A multidisciplinary research
team from the Dublin City University
(DCU)
visited
Sultan
Qaboos
University with a view to enhance ties
between the two institutions through
collaborative research and student, and
faculty exchanges.
The Irish researchers met officials of
the Office of International Relations at
SQU, delivered a seminar at the College
of Agricultural and Marine Sciences,
and held face to face discussions
omandailyobserver
with faculty members from different
specialisations.
The DCU delegation was made
up of Prof Brendan O’Connor
(Biotechnology), Prof Dermot Walls
(Genetics & Cell Biology), Prof John
Gallagher (Applied Chemistry), and
Prof Brian Kelleher (Environmental
& Soil Sciences). Commenting on the
outcome of their visit, Prof O’Connor
said that they hope to promote research
collaboration between DCU and SQU.
MUSCAT: The value of real estate
transactions in the Sultanate by the
end of February 2015 stood at RO
1.03 billion; a growth by 137.8 per cent
compared to 2014.
The fees collected on these
transactions stood at RO 7,700,000; a
growth by 26.2 per cent. The value of
the sale transactions declined by 2.4
per cent to record RO 179.4 million.
The number of sale transactions
also declined by 12.2 per cent to record
12,962 compared to 14,759 during the
same period in 2014.
The value of mortgage contracts
increased by 241.6 per cent to hit RO
849.3 million compared to RO 248.6
million during the same period in
2014.
The value of swap transactions as of
the end of February 2015 stood at RO
2.1 million; a growth by 110 per cent
compared to the same period in 2014,
which stood at RO 1 million. — ONA
4
omandailyobserver
OMAN
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
10m passengers to
travel via Muscat
airport this year
KABEER YOUSUF
MUSCAT
Oman Air and Cargolux sign
joint venture agreement
OPPORTUNITIES
FOR FREIGHT:
Muscat International
Airport will serve as
logistics hub for air
cargo between India,
China, Africa, Europe
and the US
MUSCAT: Oman Air has signed a Joint
Venture agreement with Luxembourgbased Cargolux Airlines International
SA, Europe’s leading freight carrier and
one of the top ten freight carriers in the
world. The Joint Venture will create new
opportunities for both companies in
markets around the world.
The agreement was signed at a
ceremony which immediately followed
the arrival in Muscat on Thursday April
16 of the first Cargolux flight to operate
under the agreement.
The ceremony was held onboard the
carrier’s B747 Full Freighter which was
located in front of Muscat International
Airport’s VIP building.
The Chief Executive Officer of Oman
Air, Paul Gregorowitsch, and the Chief
Executive Officer of Cargolux Airlines
International, Dirk Reich, were joined by
a range of guests, including dignitaries,
stakeholders and media representatives.
VIPs included Darwish bin Ismaeel
al Balushi, Minister Responsible
for Financial Affairs and Chairman
of Oman Air, François Bausch,
Luxembourg’s Minister for Sustainable
Development and Infrastructure, Paul
Helminger, Chairman of Cargolux
Airlines International, and Juma bin Ali
Al Juma, Chairman of Oman Airports
Management Company (OAMC).
The joint venture will enable Oman
Air and Cargolux to jointly access new
freighter destinations and contribute
to the development of Oman’s logistics
hub. In addition, it enables Oman Air to
further expand its cargo operation and
build on the range of cargo initiatives and
innovations the airline has introduced
over recent years.
Furthermore, the agreement will
provide Cargolux with access to the
belly capacity of Oman Air’s fleet and
create new opportunities for freight
transportation from Oman’s modern
port facilities. It is also anticipated that
the Joint Venture will deliver significant
benefits for the economy of Oman.
Following the signing ceremony,
Gregorowitsch, said: “We are delighted
to have entered into this Joint Venture
agreement with Cargolux Airlines
International.
This will be the first full freighter
service to have been launched from
Oman and it will enable us to jointly
deploy significant and commercially
attractive freighter capacity throughout
Oman Air’s network. In doing so, it
will provide significant support for the
expansion and development of Oman
Air’s cargo operation. It will also enable
Cargolux to make use of Oman Air’s
rapidly expanding freight capacity, as
well as the outstanding cargo facilities at
Oman’s airports.
“Our product advantages include the
carriage of project cargo, livestock, cargo
aircraft-only freight, odd size cargo,
vehicles and aircraft engines. Oman Air
has considerable experience of safely
shipping such freight to locations around
the world.
“And, vitally, this joint venture will
bring significant economic benefits
for the Sultanate of Oman, building
on Oman Air’s already considerable
social and financial contribution to the
nation.”
Cargolux CEO Reich added: “We
believe that this new Joint Venture with
Oman Air will bring important benefits
for Cargolux’s customers in Oman,
including fast and reliable connections
across Oman Air’s worldwide network.
It will also enable us to proceed with our
planned expansion of air freight services
in 2015 from Oman to China, Europe,
Africa and the United States.
Furthermore, the Joint Venture will
give Cargolux the opportunity to utilise
Oman Air’s experience of flying to 11
destinations in India, as well as to East
Africa.”
April 18: The Muscat International
Airport which is to launch the
newer terminals soon, is expecting
10 million passengers, including
both transit and transfer, to pass
through the airport this year,
according to a key executive.
The airport terminal number 1
which too is undergoing various
renovation and modification
programmes to accommodate
increasing number of passengers
had recorded a 5 per cent increase
in the number of passengers and
volume of cargo transported last
year.
“We are expecting 10 million
passengers to make use of the
Muscat International Airport this
year till December 2015”, Juma
bin Ali Juma, Chairman, Oman
Airports Management Company
(OAMC) told the Observer, adding,
“With the newer facilities and other
advantages of less time of transfer
and many more, we are quite sure
of achieving this milestone”.
“The newer terminal will be
open next year while the new
terminal at the Salalah Airport will
be operational this year itself ”, he
added in an exclusive interview.
The advantages, according
to Juma, varies from expanded
services and tie up with
international brands for promotion
and quality travel-related services.
This include services by the stateof-the-art lounges, publicity by
leading French brand JCDecaux
and baggage wrapping by Dutch
brand Seal & Go, among other
attractions.
To improve the passenger
experience the existing terminal
was upgraded with 1,800 seats,
retail product counters and food
and beverage outlets.
A new pier with eight new bus
boarding gates was built on the
ground floor. The pier can now
accommodate more than 3,000
passengers, with 160 seats at each
of the 21 boarding gates.
“We are on the path of
modernising the services in
an attempt to offer services of
international standards while
keeping the local value intact.
Making the airports better
profitable is also the aim of such
standardisation”.
As
many
as
7,955,483
passengers passed through the
Muscat International Airport
last year compared to 7,578,022
passengers for the same period in
2013, marking a 5 per cent increase.
The number of arrival
passengers rose by 5 per cent to
3,982,125 passengers last year
comparing to 3,809,809 passengers
for the same period of the year
2013.
The number of departing
passengers has also increased by
6 per cent to 3,941,684 passengers
comparing to 3,726,037 passengers
for the same period of the year
2013.
The increase in arrival and
departure traffic into Muscat
International Airport which is
undergoing major facelift these
days is attributed to the increase
in the number of flights operated
by existing airlines, such as Fly
Dubai, Air India Express, Pakistan
International Airlines and Air
Arabia.
Nizwa Capital of Islamic Culture in documentary
NIZWA: The Wilayat of Nizwa in the
Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah is one of
the most important centres for science
and scholars in the Sultanate through
the ages. It is famous for its mosques that
cohorts of scholars and thinkers, writers
and Jurists (Fuqaha’a) had graduated
from.
Nizwa also contributed a vital role in
the prosperity of the scientific movement
in the Sultanate and building of the
Islamic civilisation. It had a clear activity
in various fields of science through its
important position in the history of
Oman being the capital of the country
starting from the second AH Century
and for a period of time.
The cultural influence of the City
of Nizwa is reflected on the majestic
archaeological landmarks and historic
castles, like Nizwa Castle and its fortress.
The Ministry of Heritage and Culture
is currently implementing within the
framework of its activities and events,
celebrating Nizwa capital of Islamic
Culture 2015, a filming project and
the production of four documentaries
on the City of Nizwa that tell stories
happened in the city and highlight the
aesthetics of its historical and cultural
landmarks through the training of 20
artists and amateurs in the field of film
directing by four professional directors
who trains four 5-member teams for one
month. They will produce 7-10-minute
documentaries to be completed in April.
It is expected that some of those
documentaries to be presented in
September talk about the City of Nizwa.
There will also be a photo gallery and
distribution of its publications written
in Arabic and English. The event will be
overseen by a number of members of the
technical committee of the Ministry of
Heritage and Culture.
The project includes a seminar
to familiarise the participants with
advertising and promotion of their
documentaries,
the
development
of special publications for those
documentaries, writing the summary
and the promoting expression and
the important information in Arabic
and English about the documentaries,
in addition to visiting the Wilayat of
Nizwa to familiarise themselves with
the archaeological sites and historical
attractions in the wilayat and the Niyabat
of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, so that students
can develop appropriate ideas for their
films that they will write and direct.
— ONA
OMAN
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
Private deposits up by 11pc
MUSCAT: The total value of private deposits at
the commercial banks in the Sultanate, as of the
end of January 2015 rose by 11.1 per cent to RO
11,325.6 million compared to RO 10,195.2 million
in the corresponding period in 2014, according to
the monthly statistical bulletin published by the
Central Bank of Oman (CBO).
The gross value for these deposits as of the end
of January 2015 includes the time deposits which
stood at RO 3,175.9 million, RO 4,037.2 million
saving deposits and RO 3,902.5 million on demand
deposits.
The bulletin pointed out that the total value for
these deposits include RO 10,498.1 million and RO
827.5 million in foreign currencies.
As for the banking indicators for the commercial
banks as at the end of January 2015, the bulletin
said that the broad money and clearance to the
deposits in Riyals was 13.7 per cent.
The combined money and clearance to the gross
deposits was 13.9 per cent.
The total percentage of loans to liabilities was
97.2 per cent.
The rate of foreign currency deposits to the total
deposits was 11.1 per cent.
The rate of foreign assets to the total assets
was 15.2 per cent. The foreign liability to the total
The gross value for these deposits as
of the end of January 2015 includes
the time deposits which stood at RO
3,175.9 million, RO 4,037.2 million
saving deposits and RO 3,902.5
million on demand deposits.
liabilities was 10.5 per cent.
The on-demand deposits to the total private
deposits was 34.1 per cent.
The capital and reserves to the total deposits was
18.6 per cent.
The rate of allocations and the retained interests
to the total credit was 3.5 per cent.
— ONA
GCC industrial investments hit $23 billion
DOHA: According to the Gulf Organisation for
Industrial Consulting (GOIC) IMI Plus data,
there were about 232 joint industrial projects with
exclusively Gulf capitals in 2013.
The cumulated value of these investments was
estimated at about $23 billion and they offered jobs
to about 59.2 thousand workers. On the other hand,
there were 3,015 joint Gulf-Arab-foreign projects
with cumulated investments worth about $150.8
billion and employing around 360,000 workers.
Joint Gulf ventures constitute about 7.1 per
cent of the total joint industrial projects, and the
cumulated Gulf capital invested in joint Gulf
projects is estimated at 13.2 per cent of the total
invested funds in industrial projects.
The data reveal that the United Arab Emirates
and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have scored the
highest share of joint Gulf industrial projects (42.7
per cent and 25 per cent, respectively), followed by
the Oman (12.5 per cent), Qatar (11.2 per cent),
the Kingdom of Bahrain (7.3 per cent) and Kuwait
(1.3 per cent).
As to investments in joint Gulf projects, Saudi
Arabia had the highest share (37.6 per cent),
followed by Qatar (19.5 per cent), Bahrain (18.8
per cent), Oman (13.9 per cent), UAE (8.9 per cent)
and Kuwait (1.3 per cent). Saudi Arabia also had
the highest share of employments (about 37.1 per
cent) followed by UAE (35.2 per cent) and other
GCC countries. Most of the operating factories
were in the fields of chemicals and plastics. There
were 65 factories operating in these areas (28 per
cent of the total joint Gulf factories), followed by
construction materials industries with 43 factories
(18.5 per cent), food and beverage industries (14.2
per cent), manufactured metal products (11.6 per
cent), basic metals industries (6 per cent) and other
industries (21.7 per cent).
The total cumulated investments in joint Gulf
companies were worth about $23 billion in 2013,
not more than 13.2 per cent of the total invested
funds in joint industrial projects. The chemicals,
rubber and plastic sector had the biggest share of
investments worth $11.2 billion (48.7 per cent),
most of them in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, followed
by the basic metals industry with investments
worth about $7.2 billion (31.2 per cent), most of
them in Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia, and
then construction materials industries (7.7 per
cent), food and beverage industries (4 per cent)
and other industries.
In this regard, GOIC Secretary-General
Abdulaziz bin Hamad al Aqeel stated: “GCC
governments were particularly interested in
encouraging joint Gulf projects. The GCC unified
economic agreement’s 12th article had highlighted
the importance of undertaking necessary measures
to finance and establish joint private and public
ventures, similarly to what was mentioned in the
GCC unified industrial development strategy”.
Al Aqeel added that there are undoubtedly
many economic benefits to these joint industrial
projects that include providing necessary capital to
start industrial projects, notably megaprojects, as
one state or one investor is incapable of launching
such a venture on its/his own.
Oman to
participate
in Geneva
meeting
MUSCAT: The Ministry
of
Commerce
and
Industry will take part
in the 15th session of
the Development and
Intellectual
Property
Committee (DIPC) to be
held in Geneva on April
20-24.
Ahmed
bin
Mohammed al Saeedi,
Director of Intellectual
property at the ministry of
Commerce and industry,
said that the meeting
will discuss Evaluation
Report for the Project on
strengthening the capacity
of national IP government
and
stakeholder
institutions to manage,
monitor and promote
creative industries, and to
enhance the performance
and network of copyright
collective
management
organisations.
He
added
that
the meeting will also
discuss
the
patentrelated flexibilities in
the multilateral legal
framework and their
legislative implementation
at the national and
regional Levels, WIPO
general assembly decision
on CDIP related matters,
report on the WIPO expert
forum on international
technology transfer, in
addition to matters related
to intellectual property,
tourism and technical
assistance provided by
WIPO.
— ONA
omandailyobserver
5
Social responsibility
conference on April 29
MUSCAT: A conference on social
responsibility will be held at the Omani
Woman Association in Muscat on April 29
under the auspices of Shaikh Mohammed
bin Said al Kalbani, Minister of Social
Development. The conference will be
organised by the Arab Woman Media.
The conference will witness presentation
of four sessions.
The first session, themed “Social
Responsibility: Culture and Concept,” will
touch on the Sultanate’s efforts in relation
to cementing the principle of corporate
social responsibility (CSR) and its role
in the development in a bid to find a new
definition for social responsibility in the
Sultanate.
The second session themed “Social
Responsibility in Oil and Gas Sectors,” will
touch on obstacles of activating CSR in oil
and gas sectors, in addition to presenting
two experiences for one of the oil companies
in social responsibility and another one in
the gas sector in the Sultanate.
The third session titled “Social
Responsibility in Social Sector,” will touch
on social responsibility in the higher
education sector and its role in promoting
the culture of the community and CSR
towards greater role for NGOs.
The fourth session themed “Social
Responsibility in Telecom Sector,” will
discuss the role of media in enhancing CSR
and pioneering projects in telecom sector
in social development towards a new vision
for entrepreneurship.
A specialised exhibition will be
organised on the sidelines of the conference
where specialised companies in social
responsibility will take part to highlight
their leading role in the community.
The exhibition will include the latest
methods and technologies that can be
benefited from educating the companies
on how to develop social responsibility.
Specialised seminars will be also held on
social responsibility.
— ONA
6
JAPAN POPULATION FALLS TO 15-YEAR LOW
S U N DAY l A P R I L 1 9 l 2 0 1 5
CHINA’S XI URGES YEMEN RESOLUTION
Japan’s population has shrunk for the
fourth year running, falling back to a
level it was last at in 2000, with more than
one in four people now aged 65 or older,
the government said. The population
dropped by 0.17 per cent, or 215,000
people, to 127,083,000 as of October 1
last year, according to the data released
on Friday. The figure includes longstaying foreigners.
ASIA
Efforts should be stepped up to seek a
political solution to the crisis in Yemen,
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Saudi
Arabia’s King Salman in a telephone call,
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
A Saudi-led coalition began an air
campaign on March 25 after Yemen’s
Houthi rebels closed in on the southern
port city of Aden and forced the Saudibacked president to flee to Riyadh.
Five youths arrested for Australian holiday terror plot
MELBOURNE: Teenagers inspired They planned to kill
by the hardline IS planned a major
terrorism attack in the Australian city people during a ceremony
of Melbourne to mark the centenary commemorating soldiers
next week of the ANZAC landings at who have fought and died
Gallipoli during World War One, police
during second world war
said on Saturday.
Five men aged 18 and 19 were
detained in the city’s southeast in the Operation Rising.
early hours of Saturday in a series of
Senior police officials said they were
raids, police said, as the culmination of confident the threat had been contained.
a month-long operation code-named
They gave few details of the plan, but
said the initial target was police officers,
referring to potential use of “edged
weapons”. It clearly took inspiration from
the IS, Acting Deputy Commissioner
Neil Gaughan of the Australian Federal
Police said. He told a news conference
in Melbourne that the plan targeted
“ANZAC Day activity in Melbourne
which included targeting police officers”.
ANZAC Day, on April 25, is a major
annual holiday in Australia and New
Zealand marking the date of the first
CHECK ON BEIJING: This time it will involve double the number
of soldiers as last year in a sign of their expanding military partnership
Gallipoli landings in 1915, in which
large numbers of Australian and New
Zealand troops fought and died.
The run-up to this year’s centenary
has been marked by numerous television
programmes about the campaign, fought
against the Ottoman Empire in what is
now western Turkey.
Concerns have risen in recent
weeks that IS militants might use the
anniversary to carry out attacks on
Australian targets.
Around 200 police officers were
involved in the raids in Melbourne,
Gaughan said, and enquiries were
ongoing.
Police said the alleged plot could have
been executed any time in the next week.
In a statement, police said two
18-year-old men have been arrested
regarding alleged terrorism-related
offences.
A third 18-year-old has been arrested
in relation to alleged weapons offences,
while two other men aged 18 and 19
were in custody and assisting police with
their enquiries.
All five men are from suburbs in the
city’s far southeast.
Australia has recently sent hundreds
of soldiers to Iraq to help train forces
fighting the IS. Australians have been
recruited to both sides of the conflict,
and some have been killed, despite a
government ban on Australians fighting
on either side. — Reuters
SPRING IN THE AIR
War games between US &
Philippines from Monday
Members of Bayan Muna (Country First) Party List group display placards during a
picket rally over territorial dispute with China in South China Sea, outside the
Chinese Consulate in Makati, Metro Manila.
— Reuters
MANILA: Thousands of American and
Filipino soldiers on Monday will kick
off expanded war games, showcasing
a deepening defence alliance as alarm
bells ring over China.
The 10-day exercises in the
Philippines are an annual affair between
the longtime allies, but this time they
will involve double the number of
soldiers as last year in a sign of their
expanding military partnership.
The Philippines is seeking more US
military and diplomatic support to fend
off China’s increasing forcefulness in
its bid to assert sovereignty in disputed
areas of the South China Sea.
In an interview with AFP last week,
Philippine President Benigno Aquino
said the two militaries operating sideby-side should offer a “deterrent aspect
to any entity, be it a country or radicals”.
Aquino insisted the Balikatan
(Shoulder-to-Shoulder) war games
starting on Monday were not directed
at China, pointing out they were annual
exercises, but he discussed at length
the Philippines’ reliance on the United
States. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert
del Rosario also said last week the
Philippines planned to ask Washington
for extra help in containing China.
“We are, at this point, seeking
additional support from the US in terms
of being able to take a stronger position,
in defending our position, which is to
uphold the rule of law,” del Rosario told
local broadcaster ANC.
Beijing claims sovereignty over
most of the strategically important
South China Sea, including areas just
off the coasts of other Asian nations,
using vague demarcation lines that first
appeared on Chinese maps in the 1940s.
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia,
Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping
claims. China has sought to expand its
presence in disputed parts of the sea
in recent years, including by taking
control of a shoal that is a rich fishing
ground within the Philippines’ exclusive
economic zone.
It has also embarked on giant
reclamation works on reefs and islets,
turning some into islands capable of
hosting military aircraft landing strips.
The Philippines has been the most
vocal of the rival claimants to express
alarm over China’s moves.
Aquino warned that the world
should fear China’s actions in the South
China Sea.
US President Barack Obama
also expressed concern this month,
criticising China for “using its sheer
size and muscle to force countries into
subordinate positions”.
“Just because the Philippines or
Vietnam are not as large as China,
doesn’t mean that they can just be
elbowed aside,” Obama said.
China has repeatedly insisted it has
sovereign rights to the contested areas,
so criticism of its reclamation and other
activities in the area are baseless.
The US has been looking to re-build
its military presence in the Philippines,
a former colony where it had naval and
air bases until the early 1990s, as part of
Obama’s “pivot to Asia”.The two nations,
bound by a 1951 mutual defence treaty,
last year signed another pact that would
allow more US forces in the Philippines,
although the Supreme Court in Manila
still needs to ratify it.
Even without the implementation of
the new pact, more than 12,000 soldiers
from both sides will be involved in this
year’s Balikatan exercises, double last
year’s number.
On Tuesday, marines will conduct
beach landing exercises from a naval
base facing the South China Sea just 220
kilometres from the Philippine-claimed
shoal that China has controlled since
2012. Aside from the naval base, live fire
and disaster response drills will also be
held in various military camps outside
Manila.
— AFP
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) poses with members of Japanese idol group Momoiro Clover Z and other show
business celebrities at a cherry blossom viewing party at Shinjuku Gyoen park in Tokyo on Saturday. Thousands of people
including entertainers, athletes and politicians were invited to the annual party hosted by Abe. — Reuters
Indonesia suspends local association, risks Fifa wrath
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s youth
and sports ministry on Saturday
suspended all activities of the local
soccer association (PSSI), setting the
stage for further tension with world
governing body Fifa.
The ministry said the sanction
will take effect from Saturday and a
transition team will take over PSSI’s
duties, as the association had failed
to respond to three warning letters
from the ministry.
“PSSI was clearly proven to
have ignored and violated the
government policy through those
warning letters,” the ministry said in
a statement.
The ministry and PSSI have been
at loggerheads for weeks over the
eligibility of two clubs to compete in
the Indonesia Super League.
The Indonesian Professional
Sports Agency (BOPI), sanctioned
by the ministry, wanted Persebaya
Surabaya and Arema Indonesia to be
blocked from playing, but PSSI had
resisted.
Fifa had threatened the country
with a ban over BOPI’s meddling in
their affairs and said only the PSSI
was recognised to make decisions.
The world governing body
takes a dim view of government
interference in football affairs and
a ban could prevent Indonesia
from participating in the qualifying
tournaments for the 2018 World Cup
and 2019 Asian Cup.
As a result of the dispute, the
Indonesia Super League, which
kicked off on April 4, was suspended
after just two games, prompting
Fifa to ask the minister of youth
and sports to stop meddling in the
running of the local football league.
“We will communicate with Fifa
about this issue.
We won’t be surprised if Fifa has
a different view on this,” Gatot Dewa
Broto, an official at the ministry, said.
— AFP
China can’t simply engineer its way out of water crisis with mega-projects that will never be big enough to keep pace with rising demand: Experts
Water shortage looms large over energy and food security
DAEGU: Way back in 1999, before
he became China’s prime minister,
Wen Jiabao warned that water scarcity
posed one of the greatest threats to the
“survival of the nation”.
Sixteen years later, that threat
looms ever larger, casting a forbidding
shadow over China’s energy and
food security and demanding urgent
solutions with significant regional, and
even global, consequences.
The mounting pressure on China’s
scarce, unequally distributed and
often highly polluted water supply
was highlighted in a report released at
the World Water Forum this week in
Daegu, South Korea.
Published by the Hong Kong-based
NGO, China Water Risk (CWR),
it underlined the complexity of the
challenge facing China as it seeks to
juggle inextricably linked and often
competing concerns over water, energy
supply and climate change.
“There are no one-size-fits-all
solutions to China’s water-energyclimate nexus,” the report said.
“More importantly, China’s energy
choices do not only impact global
climate change, but affect water
availability for Asia,” it said, warning
of the danger of future “water wars”
given China’s upstream control over
Asia’s mightiest rivers.
The Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is
essentially the world’s largest water
tank and the origin of some of Asia’s
most extensive river systems including
generation is water-reliant.
“Chinese officials are starting to
say water security comes first,” the
report’s author Debra Tan said in
Daegu. “Because without it, there is no
energy security and, of course, no food
security.”
Agriculture accounts for between
65 and 70 per cent of China’s water
use and vast amounts are wasted by
inefficient irrigation.
This is especially true in northern
regions that, despite being some of
the most arid in the country, are the
Visitors on top of the Danjiangkou dam, at Danjiankou in China’s central Hubei
production focus for water-hungry
province. The height of the dam was raised to increase the size of the Danjiangkou
reservoir as part of the South-North Water Diversion Project, which will provide water crops like corn and wheat.
from central regions of China to Beijing. — AFP
Efforts to change the crop mix
the Indus, Brahmaputra and Mekong. nexus the report describes is the fact have included a recent campaign to
The most significant link in the that 93 per cent of China’s power promote the harvesting of potatoes,
which require far less water.
Given
the
traditional
taste
preference for rice and wheat, the state
broadcaster CCTV has tried to prod
things along by publishing recipes on
its Weibo account, including one for
Kung Pao potato.
Northern China’s thirst for water
— the coal industry is centred there as
well — extends to its rapidly growing
and increasingly affluent urban
populations.
The need to meet the rising
demand from these cities resulted
in one of the world’s most ambitious
engineering
projects,
with
an
overall estimated cost of more than
$80 billion.
—AFP
SUBCONTINENT
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
omandailyobserver
7
Afghanistan blast kills 33, targets govt workers
TALIBAN DENIES: IS claims responsibility for deadly Afghan bombing, says President Ghani
JALALABAD: A bomb blast in
Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad
killed 33 people and injured more than
100 on Saturday outside a bank where
government workers collect salaries, the
city’s police chief said.
Police were investigating whether
there was a second explosion after
people rushed to the scene to help, the
police chief, Fazel Ahmad Sherzad, told
a news conference.
“It was a suicide attack,” Sherzad said,
adding police had yet to determine if the
attacker had worn the explosives or had
placed them in a car.” It is early to say
what kind of suicide bomber.”
Taliban
insurgents
denied
responsibility. The militants, who were
ousted from power by a US-led invasion
in 2001, rarely claim attacks that kill large
groups of civilians, saying their activities
are restricted to foreign or Afghan
military and government targets. “It was
an evil act.
We strongly condemn it,” the
militants’
spokesman,
Zabihullah
Mujahid, said.
Police said another blast that shook
Jalalabad was a controlled detonation
after experts discovered a further bomb
close to the scene of the first explosion.
Local media reported a former
spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban
claimed responsibility for bombings in
the eastern city on behalf of the IS in
both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The spokesman could not be reached
and his connection to the group could
not be verified.
Elsewhere in the east, the Taliban
announced the execution of three men
accused of murdering a couple during a
robbery, saying they had been tried by a
court.
The killing was carried out in front
of a crowd by Taliban fighters who fired
at the men with AK-47s, according to a
witness.
Afghanistan’s parliament approved 16 ministers
nominated by the government. Nominees for the
ministries of water and power, education, higher education,
agriculture, commerce and industries, information and
culture, urban development, and labour and social
affairs were approved
Afghan security personal look on at the scene of an attack outside a bank in Jalalabad. — AFP
Footage show the men were made
to sit on the ground with their eyes
blindfolded and their hands tied at the
time of their execution.
“(They) killed a female doctor and her
husband...inside their house and then
they took all their assets, jewellery and
cash,” the Taliban said in a statement.
The executioners, one stood behind
each man, also had their faces covered,
and were dressed in white salwar kameez
and turbans.
After the initial shots were fired, one
continued to shoot at the bodies while
the crowd of villagers cheered.
This is the first year Afghan forces
are facing the Taliban with very limited
international support on the ground,
A FRIENDLY PARTNER
although help with intelligence and
special operations will continue through
2016.
The IS group claimed to have
carried out a deadly attack in eastern
Afghanistan that killed at least 33 people
and injured more than 100, Afghan
President Ashraf Ghani said, in what, if
verified, would be the first major attack
COMBAT
More than
200 killed in
Myanmar
clashes
A Pakistani resident crosses a road in front of welcome banners ahead of the forthcoming visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping
in Islamabad. Pakistan needs a “huge amount of financing” for infrastructure and energy projects and China is ready to
announce help when President Xi Jinping visits next week, a foreign ministry official said. — AFP
The festival marks the beginning of the Burmese New Year
11 killed during Myanmar water fest
YANGON: At least 11 people
were killed and 134 injured during
Myanmar’s annual four-day Thingyan
Water Festival which started earlier this
week, sources said.
The festival marks the beginning of
the Burmese New Year and is observed
as the public holiday.
People of Myanmar believe that
celebration of the water festival can
wash away evils and sins, and prepare
them for a prosperous year ahead.
The casualties were in connection
with 50 accident cases triggered by
overload, drug and alcohol consumption
and over-speeding, Xinhua news agency
reported on Saturday.
According to Yangon region’s traffic
police office, during last year’s water
festival in the former capital, 15 were
People of Myanmar believe
that celebration of the water
festival can wash away evils
and sins, and prepare them
for a prosperous year ahead
killed and 178 injured.
There were over 200 big and small
water-throwing pandals erected in
Yangon this year along major roads,
including Pyay, Kabaraye Pagoda and
Kandawgyi Lake roads Police forces
and security personnel were deployed at
larger and medium pavilions to ensure
the safety of all revellers during this
year’s water festival held between April
13 and 16.
The Burmese New Year Water
Festival and usually falls around midApril (the Burmese month of Tagu). It
is a Buddhist festival celebrated over a
period of four to five days culminating
in the new year.
Formerly the dates of the Thingyan
festival are calculated according to the
traditional Burmese lunisolar calendar,
but now fixed to Gregorian calendar
13 to 16 April; it often coincides with
Easter. The dates of the festival are
observed as the most important public
holiday throughout Burma and are part
of the summer holidays at the end of the
school year. Water-throwing or dousing
one another from any shape or form of
vessel or device that delivers water is
the distinguishing feature of this festival
and may be done on the first four days
of the festival.
— IANS
YANGON: Combat
between the military
and ethnic rebels in
north-eastern Myanmar
has claimed more than
200 lives since the
beginning of the year,
the government said
Saturday.
State-run media
claimed control of
strategic hilltops in
the Kokang region
of Shan state, after
more than 250 armed
clashes with ethnic
Kokang rebels of the
Myanmar Nationalities
Democratic Alliance
Army.
At least 126 soldiers
were killed in the
renewed fighting, it
said here yesterday.
But a rebel spokesman
claimed that his forces
were still in control.
“We also lost at
least 90 members in
the fighting since early
January, but we can still
control our region,”
Htut Myat Lin said. The
government imposed
a state of emergency
and martial law in the
Kokang region shortly
after the fighting broke
out.
The United
Nationalities Federal
Council, an alliance of
16 ethnic armed groups,
urged the government
to find peaceful
solutions to the conflict
in the Kokang region.
— dpa
claimed by the group in the country.
“Who claimed responsibility for
horrific attack in Nangarhar today? The
Taliban did not claim responsibility
for the attack, Daesh (IS) claimed
responsibility for the attack,” President
Ghani said on a visit to northeastern
Badakhshan province.
A person purporting to be an IS
spokesman said in a call to AFP that
the group claimed responsibility for the
bombing outside a bank in the eastern
Afghan city of Jalalabad.
An online posting allegedly from
the group made the same claim, which
could not be immediately verified.
“Thirty-three dead bodies and more
than 100 wounded were brought to the
hospital,” Dr Najeebullah Kamawal,
head of the provincial hospital, said.
Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, a provincial
government spokesman, confirmed the
attack — the deadliest since November.
“The explosion happened outside the
bank when government employees and
civilians were collecting their monthly
salaries,” he said.
The UN gave a higher toll, saying 35
people had been killed.
President Ghani strongly condemned
the attack, which saw children among
those killed, his office said in a statement.
“Carrying out terrorist attacks in
cities and public places are the most
cowardly acts of terror by terrorists
targeting innocent civilians,” President
Ghani said.
The scene of the attack showed the
gruesome scale of the carnage with
people lying in pools of blood and body
parts scattered across the ground.
The bombing comes as Afghanistan
braces for what is expected to be a
bloody push by the Taliban at the start of
the fighting season.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, parliament
approved the nomination of 16
ministers, leaving only the position of
defence minister vacant because the
president and his coalition have been
unable to agree on a candidate.
The vacancy has frustrated military
officials who say the army has been
left rudderless in the face of escalating
violence by the Taliban.
Nato, which at its peak had 130,000
soldiers in Afghanistan, has only a small
contingent of around 12,000 troops left
and most are involved in training.
Nominees for the ministries of water
and power, education, higher education,
agriculture, commerce and industries,
information and culture, urban
development, and labour and social
affairs were approved.
Lawmakers also voted for the heads of
the ministries of transportation and civil
aviation, women’s affairs, public works,
counter-narcotics, justice, frontiers and
tribal affairs, telecommunications and
information technology as well as the
economy.
The nominees for the ministry
of defence, attorney general and
the Supreme Court have yet to be
introduced.
— Reuters
8
ANALYSIS
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
IRRESPONSIBLE AND
ARROGANT DOCTORS
ABDULAZIZ AL JAHDHAMI
aljahdhami22@gmail.com
D
octors, are they different from other human beings?! Perhaps they are created with
distinctive characteristics that make them superior and arrogant! Are they abnormal
creatures in way they regard themselves as superlative. Some doctors usually look at
others and treat them with inferiority, especially their patients. I’m not sure why they
have this conception in their mind!
Is it because they are called doctors or they are highly paid? Maybe because people
believe in doctors and consider them genius and with magical hands to cure people.
Being a doctor doesn’t mean that you are different as a human being; no it’s just
profession that is different and distinguishes you. Remember it’s just a profession you
practice and a responsibility you shoulder in your lifetime.
Excuse me doctors! You are no more than a servant to your patients. They trust
you with their life and secrets, thus you have to respect them and bring about your
best to serve their needs. As mentioned in one of the Quran’s verses that people have
been created to serve one another in this life. As doctors’ services and expertise are
necessary needed by other people, doctors also
need the services of others around them.
Being educated as a
I’m saying this not because I hate doctors, but
it’s a hidden personality of doctors which some doctor doesn’t mean
of you might have found. Attitudes of some that one has the
doctors are really frustrating nowadays. It’s really
right to misbehave
strange to meet doctors with negative attitudes;
arrogant, irresponsible and inconsiderate. I don’t with others. Doctors
know why they behave like this!
should always be
Being educated as a doctor doesn’t mean that
respectful, passionate
you have the right to disgrace people. It is not a
self-selection of which people could be to have and kindhearted
power and authority over others. What are the especially with their
consequences for the patients? Doctors always
patients.
should be respectful, passionate and kindhearted
especially with their patients.
What urged me to touch on this issue is the
bad attitudes I have encountered with some doctors; in particular those working in
government hospitals. Imagine that you had an emergency case and you get into a
government hospital to meet an extremely arrogant Omani dentist who tells you:
“Why are you coming here? Why don’t you go to a private clinic?!” I was really
shocked; the nurse too. In fact, my three-year-old daughter was referred from a health
centre after giving an appointment with him. He didn’t like to be approached for such
a case of sickness although he is a specialised child dentist.
I just wondered what mistake we have done to get this response and bad attitude
from him. He did not have the right to say this to any patient with that attitude of
arrogance. I could have reported that to the hospital’s management, but I didn’t like to
bother myself with such ill-mannered people who have respect for none.
As long as he agreed to be a doctor, he has to serve each and every patient who
approaches him. What he could do is proposing another appointment, but we
intentionally skipped it. Thanks Allah we didn’t need his services at all; getting to that
hospital and meeting that doctor was just a need occurred due to an emergency. This is
just one such situation and evidence of many others that people come across every day.
On the other hand, private healthcare institutions welcome patients with open
hearts and outstanding service to please their patients. Although, it’s just businessoriented attitudes, they dedicate some respect and significance to their patients.
Usually, the medical staff at private health institutions are more devoted to help
patients more than the ones at the government hospitals, unfortunately.
Dear arrogant doctors, patients do not care about your education and knowledge;
what matters to them is, can you cure them? Your support to the patients is what
would be really appreciated and grateful for. Thus, do not show your disability of
bad attitudes to your pathetic patients who seek your assistance with their sickness.
Studies attribute that psychological comfort of patients is half of the treatment; hence
doctors’ attitudes make a difference.
Children the worst hit in war
C
hildren are the worst hit of any armed conflict with their rights world”, says the agency.
Yemen’s power struggles have bled the country. Hospitals
being denied or violated. Very often they are confronted with
physical harm, violence, danger, exploitation, fear and loss. are struggling to treat large numbers of wounded with
insufficient supplies and some medical facilities have come
Thousands of children witness the cold-blooded killings of
their loved ones and become orphans. Many of them are under attack. At least three health workers, including an
forced to flee their home countries. Above all, some are even ambulance driver, have been killed in attacks, the agency
said. In addition to the violence, already high malnutrition
forced to pull the trigger themselves.
The neighbouring Yemen is no different. Political turmoil levels in Yemen are expected to soar. Rampant food
since 2011 has left thousands of children suffering from insecurity means many children do not know when their
malnutrition and equal numbers are underweight for their next meal will be.
Things are particularly hard for girls in Yemen, who are
age. It is the most impoverished country in the Middle East,
and among its grim distinctions is having one of the highest worse off for almost all indicators. Yemeni girls traditionally
marry young exposing them to different forms of genderrates of child malnutrition in the world.
According to Daniela D’urso, the head of the European based violence.
“We are going to see a spike in
Commission’s humanitarian aid office in
malnutrition
in
coming
weeks.
Yemen, one million children younger than
Political turmoil
Unfortunately, that is something we
five, roughly a third of the age group in
in Yemen has left
are sure of,” Julien Harneis, Unicef ’s
Yemen, are suffering from life-threatening
malnourishment.
thousands of children representative in Yemen.
International agencies report heartNearly 60 per cent of Yemeni children
suffering from
rendering scenes from different parts of
suffer from stunted growth, according
malnutrition and
Yemen.
to public health workers, who in the
In a clinic in East of Milah, in a valley
past few months have noticed other
equal numbers are
in the district of Al Maqatirah, Nada
worrying trends, with rise in maladies like
underweight.
Abdullah, 22, watched as a doctor weighed
tuberculosis.
her skinny two-year-old boy, Abdul
The ongoing war adds to the everRahman, whom she took to the clinic after
ending saga of their sufferings. Many
children and their families are displaced, having no homes he stopped eating. It had taken them five hours to get there.
He was malnourished, hovering somewhere down the
or services to return to after years of struggle.
According to Save the Children, an international aid line towards a life-threatening condition.
According to his mother, she knew what to feed the boy
group in Yemen, boys and girls are growing up in this
poorest country with little opportunity for education and — her mother had taught her about a balanced diet that
included fruits and vegetables — but her generation seemed
development.
In the war-torn north, children suffer from malaria, somehow less able to care for its children than the last.
She recited a familiar list of luxuries, like chicken and fish,
diarrhea and other illnesses. Others have been separated
from their parents, emotionally scarred by the conflict and affordable once a week.
As a consequence of conflict, children and young people
troubled by upheaval in their lives.
“In Yemen, a key factor contributing to poverty is the can lose their confidence, their trust in others and their trust
SAMUEL KUTTY
lack of education. Despite recent gains in enrollment, school in the future. They often become anxious, depressed and
18samkutty@gmail.com statistics in Yemen remain among the lowest in the Arab withdrawn, or rebellious and aggressive.
In Labour’s Scottish bastion, nationalists prepare for an upset
I
n Scotland’s biggest city, nationalists have
triggered a once-in-a-century shift in
political loyalties that could dash Labour
leader Ed Miliband’s dreams of winning
the May 7 election and thrust secessionist
‘kingmakers’ to the heart of British power.
The shifting currents in Glasgow, the
citadel of Scottish socialism for more
than a century, show the seriousness
of the nationalists’ bid to end Labour’s
dominance of Scotland, a significant
change in recent British political history.
The nationalist challenge could trigger
events after the election that threaten the
future of the United Kingdom and possibly
its membership of the European Union.
Scots voted to preserve the United
Kingdom in a September 18 referendum
but the once marginal Scottish National
Party (SNP) has spent two decades
persuading Scots that it is a worthy
alternative to Labour, which many voters
say has abandoned its Scottish heritage.
“We’re recovering from a period where
the Scottish Labour party wasn’t strong
enough, and it wasn’t good enough.
And that takes time,” said Jim Murphy,
leader of the Scottish Labour Party.
“We’ve got less than three weeks to
turn it round but I’m confident that we
can,” said Murphy, a 47-year-old teetotal
vegetarian who opinion polls show has so
far failed to stem a flood of support from
Labour to the SNP.
The destiny of Glasgow’s once safe
Labour seats will show whether Labour has
lost Scotland, a defeat that would scupper
Miliband’s bid to win an overall majority
in the 650-seat London parliament and
potentially give the SNP a kingmaker
position from which to bargain for more
powers for Scotland.
The loss of Glasgow, a party stronghold
for so many decades, would symbolise
the extent of Labour’s decline in Scotland
and the emerging supremacy of the
nationalists.
Labour won all seven of Glasgow’s
seats in the British parliament in the 2010
election with apparently unassailable
majorities of up to 16,000 votes.
Now all but one are threatened by the
SNP, according to John Curtice, professor
of politics at the University of Strathclyde
and Scotland’s most respected opinion
poll analyst.
The nationalist challenge
could trigger events after
the election that threaten
the future of the United
Kingdom and possibly its
membership of the European
Union, notes ANDY BRUCE
“Glasgow North East is the safest
Labour seat in the country and nobody
has yet come up with an opinion poll that
suggests it could be lost,” he said. “But
everything else in the city is absolutely up
for grabs.”
From the banks of the River Clyde,
Glasgow’s merchants earned fortunes
in the 18th Century from tobacco
from America and after the American
Revolution disrupted trade, they imported
sugar from the West Indies.
Glasgow became one of Europe’s
biggest shipbuilding centres by the 19th
Century but by the early 20th Century, the
docks of “Red Clydeside” were breeding
a radical socialism that spooked Britain’s
leaders during World War One.
Labour became Scotland’s biggest party
in the British parliament in 1922 and the
last time it lost Scotland in a national
election was in 1955.
By 2014, 45 per cent of Scots would
vote for independence.
In a small campaign office in a block
of council flats, the SNP candidate for
Glasgow Central, Alison Thewliss, is
trying to sow the seeds of Labour’s defeat.
Asked why so many Scots were turning
away from Labour, she said: “They saw
Labour joining up with the Tories during
the referendum, and it’s hurt people
actually.”
The leader of the Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon campaigns alongside former
leader and local candidate Alex Salmond in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. — Reuters
ANALYSIS
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
omandailyobserver
9
If you want the rainbow, you must put up with rain
I
RAY PETERSEN
petersen_ray@hotmail.com
t’s definitely getting hotter! And with hotter
temperatures come the two conflicting, fairly
understandable, human behaviours.
Of course, even if you are a tolerant and
accepting individual, when you get hot and
bothered, you will become less tolerant of others,
their behaviour and actions, if it does not conform
to your expectations at the time. Similarly, it
doesn’t matter what job you have, or what task you
must complete at any given time, you will be less
inclined to do it as thoroughly as you usually do or
sometimes, even to do it.
I understand! Such temperatures as we
encounter for large parts of the year are testing.
They test our resolve, our fitness, our good nature,
and even our integrity. Fortunately, and this is
part of our resilience, we can respond effectively,
or we can, ‘back off, slow down and take it easy.”
The problem if we do the latter is that our job
descriptions have no respect for our climate, and
therein lies a teensy-weensy problem.
I’m a teacher, and my students, as good as they
are, will always try to secure an early finish to
classes as temperatures rise. “Teacher, it’s very hot.”
“Teacher, we are very tired, because it’s very hot.”
And so on. I do explain to them that whether it is
the government, or their parents, who have paid
for their education, neither would be very happy if of manual and menial tasks, or service, in the retail
I said, “Okay, you are tired, you can go and have a and service sectors. To be fair, it is understandable
sleep.” When I ask them to see the situation from if the commitment and diligence undergo some
Mum and Dad’s perspective, I always get nods of relaxation when you are out of the public eye, or
your presence and attention are not immediately,
agreement, and murmurs of understanding.
Then, 10 minutes later I get the same question. or directly required.
The challenge then, for
You gotta smile! Maybe I
those who are the ‘face’ of,
do look really old, and they
or the direct link between
think I might have forgotten
Compare it with no
retailers or businesses, and
that I just said no! What do
greeting, a frown,
their clientele, is to be pleasant
you think? I think it’s because
possibly even talking
at all times. Personally, I
they think, “If we pester him
enough, he’ll say yes just to
to someone else while think it’s the least you can
do… especially if you are
shut us up and get some peace
actually dealing with
taking my money! Tellers,
and quiet.” Sorry, but it’s not
your issues. That brief
cashiers, checkout staff, pump
gonna happen!”
attendants, secretaries and
I can imagine my boss, in
interlude will leave a
assistants, all have the
an apoplectic state if I said to
lasting impression, and shop
perfect position to initiate
him that I, “Let the students
not a good one at that! contact, and to do so in such
finish class early because they
a manner as to make the
were tired.” He’s an Omani,
experience a pleasant and
and not a bad bloke, but I
think a decision like that might just challenge his interactive one.
It may be that I am the one hundred and sixty
good nature beyond the realm of acceptability. To
first customer you have served today, but if you
say the least!
So then, to the workplace, and the possibility of take the initiative, you may make me feel like I
some reduction in either productivity, in the case am the first, and certainly the most important!
Smile, even if only briefly, make eye contact, and
say “good morning, good afternoon,” or “good
evening.” In that moment, you have taken the
lead. Having been greeted in this way, I will feel
that I should respond in the same way, and a
harmonious transaction, or enquiry, can then take
place.
Compare that with no greeting, a frown,
possibly even talking to someone else while
actually dealing with your issues or transaction.
That brief interlude will leave a lasting impression,
and not a good one at that!
I do understand that some may feel
disappointed, or bitter about doing a ‘boring,
repetitive, submissive’ type of job. However
the best way to show that you are ready for the
next step up, is to demonstrate a willingness
to contribute and go the extra mile, a cheerful
manner (sometimes in the face of adversity), and
to be the best you can be!
Yes, it is getting hot, but we can’t change
that. The best we can do is ensure that we adapt
to, and be mindful of, the frustrations and
demands that the temperatures make on all of us.
As the fabulous Dolly Parton said some time ago,
“If you see someone without a smile, give them
one of yours!”
A HUNT FOR CASH
LEFTERIS PAPADIMAS AND DEEPA BABINGTON
G
reece will need to tap all the remaining cash reserves across its public
sector — a total of 2 billion euros — to pay civil service wages and
pensions at the end of the month, according to Finance Ministry officials.
Barring a last-ditch deal with its creditors, that is likely to leave no
money to repay the International Monetary Fund almost 1 billion euros
due in the first half of May, although Greece has said it wants to honour
its debt obligations.
Athens’ scramble for basic funds shows how extreme the financial
constraints on Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras have become as he
tries to convince sceptical foreign creditors to extend his country new
financial aid.
Greece’s finance ministry denied that it would need to tap remaining
cash reserves to meet salary payments, without providing any figures.
“News agencies’ reports that refer to the state’s cash reserves are
groundless, we categorically deny them,” the ministry said in a short
statement last Friday.
Officials from Greece and the lenders are meeting in Brussels on
Saturday for a new round of negotiations ahead of a key euro zone
finance ministers’ meeting in Riga on April 24.
“This is the last bit of cash that the Greek state has,” a senior finance
ministry official, who requested anonymity, said.
Euro zone officials have voiced scepticism about previous Greek
warnings of empty coffers, although even they acknowledge a crunch
is nearing. The Bruegel economic think-tank said in an analysis that the
government’s financial assets could buy it more time.
“Given the huge stock of financial assets the Greek government has,
I am always cautious about reports that it will soon run out of cash,”
Bruegel analyst Zsolt Darvas wrote.
For months, the government has been borrowing from different parts
of the state administration, including the Athens subway system, to pay
the wages and pensions of public sector workers.
Now, however, it is reaching the end of the line.
Finance Ministry officials say the state’s cash balance will be negative
from April 20 if the government does not extract the 2 billion euros in
cash deposits remaining in various public bodies, including a handful of
pension funds and regional administrations.
Without that money, the state would be 1.6 billion euros short of what
it needs to pay month-end salaries and wages.
Regular tax revenues, which start flowing in early in the month,
should help the state’s financial position of course.
A local gestures as he holds a stick and a shield outside a hostel during anti-immigrant related violence in Johannesburg. — Reuters
Anger drives South Africa xenophobic attacks
H
igh unemployment and a failure to address
growing inequality are to blame for a wave
of anti-immigrant attacks in South Africa,
say analysts.
“We believe that the cause of the
xenophobic attacks is policy failure by the
government,” said Mienke Mary Steytler, of
the South African Institute of Race Relations.
“High unemployment and inequality are not
being tackled.”
The violence has left at least six dead
and more than a thousand displaced since
the beginning of the month, with attacks
spreading from the east coast city of Durban
to parts of the economic hub, Johannesburg.
“The root of this problem lies in our
inability to bring about economic growth
and decrease the inequality that plagues
our nation,” said the main opposition
Democratic Alliance’s leader in parliament
Mmusi Maimane.
“It is the hopelessness that results from
unemployment that drives drug use and
criminality in these communities, and
underlies xenophobic attacks.”
In January, foreign shopkeepers in and
around the vast township of Soweto, south
of Johannesburg, were forced to flee and six
were killed as looters rampaged through
the area. And in 2008, 62 people were killed
in xenophobic violence across the city’s
townships. The current outbreak has been
largely blamed on a speech last month by
King Goodwill Zwelethini, traditional leader
of the Zulus, in which he blamed foreigners
for South Africa’s high crime rate and said
they must “take their bags and go” — to loud
applause.
The king has since said his words were
misinterpreted, but for some, Zwelithini
simply articulated what many were feeling.
“People are frustrated,” said Braam
Hanekom, Director of Passop (People
against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty),
a Cape Town non-profit organisation that
supports asylum seekers, refugees and
immigrants.
“It’s hard to fight for jobs. It’s hard to fix the
economy. It’s hard to create opportunities.
It’s very easy to blame someone, but it’s hard
to blame the elected leadership who have the
majority of support on the ground.
“It’s much easier to find a soft target to
express your frustrations, whatever those
frustrations are, and foreign nationals are
the soft target that frustrated communities
have chosen to pick on.”
Accused of flooding the country,
foreigners in fact make up just one per cent
of the working population in KwaZuluNatal province — where the latest violence
began — and only four per cent nationally,
according to a study released last year by the
Wits University-based Migrating for Work
Research Consortium.
The researchers also found foreign
workers were more likely to take jobs South
Africans are not willing to do, or to start
their own business: 21 per cent were selfemployed, 11 per cent were employers.
In downtown Johannesburg earlier this
week, as foreign traders closed shop and
clustered anxiously on the sidewalk, South
African Eveline Mangani elbowed her
way in front of a camera and began loudly
In January this year, foreign
shopkeepers in and around the
vast township of Soweto, south
of Johannesburg, were forced
to flee and six were killed as
looters rampaged the area,
reports KRISTEN VAN SCHIE
decrying the anti-immigrant sentiments.
“I’m very hurt by people saying they
must be kicked out of the country, because I
survive thanks to them,” she said.
“I get all my stock to resell from them. So I
can put food on the table so that my five kids
can survive. Now the shops are closed and look
at my bag: it’s empty. I want the shops to open
and I want them to be protected — Somalis,
Ghanaians, Ethiopians must be protected.”
The commercial success of foreigners
running small general stores can be a sore
point — and a cause for envy, said Paul
Ngema, provincial general secretary of the
National African Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (NAFCOC).
“When you look at people, they derive
their income from running ‘spaza’ shops.
Most of these foreigners, they come and also
run the same small businesses — and they
happen to do it better than the local ones.
You may call it perhaps jealousy.”
In January, Small Business Development
Minister Lindiwe Zulu was accused of
fuelling anti-immigrant sentiment when she
said foreign shopkeepers must share their
trade secrets.
“Foreigners need to understand that
they are here as a courtesy and our priority
is to the people of this country first and
foremost,” she was reported as saying at the
time. “They cannot barricade themselves
in and not share their practices with local
business owners.”
But as the violence has continued the
message from government has changed.
“Many (foreigners) are in the country
legally and contribute to the economy and
social development of the country.
Many bring skills that are scarce that help
us to develop the economy and are most
welcome to live our country,” President Jacob
Zuma said in parliament last Thursday.
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INDIA
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
Protester killed in Kashmir police firing
ARRESTED: Yasin Malik, Swami Agnivesh taken into preventive custody
SRINAGAR: A teenager was killed in
Kashmir during firing by security forces
who battled stone pelting protesters on
Saturday, the day hardliner separatist
Yasin Malik and social activist Swami
Agnivesh were taken into preventive
custody as they headed to the village
where violence broke out.
Kashmir was on the boil for the
second day on Saturday.
Suhail Ahmad Sofi was killed when
the security forces opened fire while
tackling protesters in Narbal village of
Badgam, 18 km from here. The fierce
protest took place on the road that
connects Srinagar with the popular
tourist resort of Gulmarg.
Police, in a statement, admitted
that the standard operating procedure
(SOP) were violated by those security
personnel who opened fire at the mob in
Narbal village.
The protesters smashed vehicles
plying on the road, police said.
After batons and tear-gas failed to
quell protesters, security personnel used
fire-arms against them, police said.
Sofi suffered a gunshot injury and
was taken to the Jhelum Valley Hospital
in Srinagar where doctors pronounced
him dead, a senior police officer said.
Protesters blocked the SrinagarGulmarg road, squatting with the body
of the slain youth. They refused to
bury the teenager’s body unless those
responsible for the firing incident were
identified and brought to justice.
Tension gripped Narbal after the
news about the teenager’s death spread
in the area.
The protest was staged in the village
following a call for shutdown in the
Kashmir Valley against the arrest of
separatist leader Masrat Alam.
Protesters clash with police in Narbal in the outskirts of Srinagar. — AFP
Just a day earlier, over two dozen
people, including security personnel,
were injured in Srinagar where violence
broke out after Friday prayers over
Alam’s detention.
Earlier in the day, Malik, who heads
the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front
(JKLF), and Agnivesh sat on a symbolic
hunger strike in Maisuma locality of
Srinagar city along with activists of JKLF
against the government’s proposal to set
up composite townships for migrant
Pandits in the valley.
In the afternoon, they decided to
proceed to Narbal village where the
teenager died in firing by security forces
earlier in the morning.
“Yasin Malik and Swami Agnivesh
have been taken into preventive
custody to maintain law and order in
the city. They have been lodged inside
the Kothibagh police station,” a senior
Govt in no hurry to enact law
for NRI voting facility
R A K SINGH
NEW DELHI
April 18: Prime Minister Narendra
Modi might have become cynosure
of expatriate Indians’ eyes all over the
world, but his government appears to be
in no hurry in enacting a law to facilitate
non-resident Indians to exercise their
franchise in the country of their stay.
Widely expected to be amended in
the second half of the Budget session of
Parliament, the relevant law is unlikely
to become a realty anytime before the
monsoon session between late July and
early September.
The government’s lack of enthusiasm
and earnestness in having the
Representation of the People Act 1951
amended at the earliest to enable NRIs
to vote from their countries of stay itself
was evident early this week during the
hearing of a lawsuit seeking provision
for voting facilities for migrant workers
from one state to another in their new
state of stay.
As the apex court bench of Chief
Justice HL Dattu and Justice Arun
Mishra made a cursory query on the
legislative steps being taken by the
government to enable NRIs to cast their
votes for any elections in India from
the countries of their stay, Additional
solicitor general P S Narasimha
effectively told the bench that the matter
was stuck in bureaucratic red-tapes.
Narasimha told the court that a
proposed Cabinet note for amending
the RP Act, 1951 to enable NRIs to cast
their votes in elections in India from the
countries of their stay itself has been
circulated among different departments
to elicit their suggestions.
“After we get their response and
suggestions, a final Cabinet note on
the subject will be prepared and placed
before the Cabinet for a decision to
amend the Representation of People
Act, 1950,” he said.
As the court adjourned the hearing
on the lawsuit demanding voting
facilities for migrant workers in new
states of stay and work, the government
counsel specifically asked the bench
if it had any deadline on its mind for
completing the legislative process to
facilitate voting by NRIs abroad.
At this the bench, which had
adjourned the hearing for eight weeks,
said, “We are not fixing any deadline for
the legislature to complete the process of
conferring voting rights in this period.
We just want to be informed about the
progress after eight weeks.”
This implies that the government is
under not under any court-imposed
compulsion either to enact the relevant
law within the next eight weeks by when
the second half of the budget sessions is
set to end.
Earlier on January 12 this year, on a
lawsuit by Dubai-based NRI Shamsher
V P in the apex court, the government,
on recommendation by an electoral
laws expert committee, had agreed to
have an e-cum-postal balloting system
for the NRIs to vote from abroad itself
for elections in India.
The apex court had then adjourned
the hearing for eight weeks on the issue
of facility for NRIs to vote from abroad,
expecting the government to do the
needful within next two months.
Faced subsequently with the need
to change the law, the government had
set up another panel of electoral law
experts under the chairperson-ship of
Deputy Election Commissioner Sudhir
Tripathy to suggest the relevant changes
in the RP Act.
The panel has already suggested the
government to amend Section 60 of the
RP Act, 1951 to provide for the new
voting mechanism for the NRI.
police officer said here.
Swami Agnivesh, however, said that
he and Malik were “not arrested, but
only detained for 10-15 minutes”. He
said he will leave for Delhi by evening.
“I don’t know why the media called it
an arrest,” he said.
The police statement, issued after the
Narbal youth’s death, said police along
with paramilitary police were deployed
to contain the situation. The deployed
forces came under heavy stone pelting.
“To control the situation, they fired
a few rounds,” resulting in injuries to
Sofi. “Unfortunately the injured later
succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
We regret the unfortunate incident.”
It said that “preliminary inquiry
conducted in the matter indicates
that the forces deployed have acted in
violation of the laid down SOP.”
— IANS
Reliance to restart all petrol
pumps by fiscal end
MUMBAI: Reliance Industries, the
$66-billion oil refining to retail trade
giant, hopes to re-start by the end of this
financial year all its 1,400 retail outlets to
sell petroleum fuels. In a presentation on
the company’s corporate results for the
financial year ended on March 31, 2015,
Reliance Industries said it has already
re-started 320 ot its petrol-diesel pumps,
following the complete de-regulation of
transport fuels.
The company also said it has founded
consistent customer experience across
all the touch points, and added the
next step will be to: “Fleet management
programme, providing better fleet
control, cash flow management and
cashless transactions.”
This is to help bulk customers.
Another facet will be: “Target aggressive
volumes in the bulk HSD (high-speed
diesel) market, post de-regulation.”
Under the previous fleet management
scheme, bulk operators like truckers
were provided smartcards which their
drivers could use to buy fuel at Reliance
stations. This scheme helped the owners
as it not only checked pilferage but also
allowed online verification of supplies.
Reliance Industries closed all its 1,400
retail pumps by March 2008 after the
government’s decision to regulate retail
RIL closed 1,400 retail
pumps after government
decision to regulate retail
prices of petroleum fuels
which left oil marketing
companies
prices of petroleum fuels which left oil
marketing companies (OMCs) to bear
some amount of fuel subsidy from their
own account. Reliance Industries and
the Essar Oil, which also was operating
such vends, suffered substantial losses
and closed shop. Before that, these two
companies had captured a 15-17 per
cent market share even though this was
the turf of state-run companies.
The international ratings agency Fitch
had said following the de-regulation
in diesel prices that the private firms
such as Reliance Industries and Essar
Oil are likely to restart idled diesel
retail operations, and should ultimately
become more significant players.
“By allowing diesel to be marketed
profitably, the sector will once again be
attractive for private companies that had
left when price restrictions were put in
place,” the ratings agency had said.
— IANS
IN BRIEF
Showcause
notice ‘a joke’:
Yogendra Yadav
NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) rebel leader Yogendra Yadav
on Saturday called the show-cause
notice served to him by his party
“a joke”. “It’s funny. ‘Sources’ leaked
content of my show cause notice
even before I received it. The notice
charges me with leaking news!”
Yadav said in a tweet.
In a Facebook post, giving a
chronological sequence of events,
Yadav said: “It is afternoon. TV
channels quote a party leader (who
is not a member of the Disciplinary
Committee) that we are to be
served Show Cause Notice in the
evening.”
“That’s a joke, I thought,” Yadav
said in a Facebook post.
Yadav said he spoke to AAP
disciplinary committee chief Dinesh
Waghela, who was out of Delhi.
“He (Waghela) said he was not in
Delhi and had no idea of a possible
show cause notice to us except from
TV news! He couldn’t have dashed
down from Goa for Disciplinary
Committee Meeting, received the
complaint and come to a conclusion
within the last 12 hours, I thought,”
said Yadav.
“I was wrong. By 8 pm media
told us that the notice had finally
been issued and was being hand
delivered. I did not believe it, till
we learnt that Prof Anand Kumar’s
notice was delivered at his home,”
he said.
Yadav “wondered” who kept the
media informed of the details.
World Bank
praises Jan
Dhan Yojana
WASHINGTON: World Bank
(WB) Chief Jim Yong Kim has
praised the ‘extraordinary Indian
effort’ to open millions of bank
accounts under Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s Jan Dhan Yojana.
“This is an extraordinary
Indian effort,” Kim said at a
panel discussion, organised on
the margins of the annual Spring
meeting of the International
Monetary Fund and the World
Bank, referring to the 140 million
new bank accounts opened for
financial inclusion in India.
“We have set a hugely ambitious
goal of universal financial access by
2020 and now we have evidence that
we’re making major progress,” he
said. “This effort will require many
partners — credit card companies,
banks, microcredit institutions, the
UN, foundations, and community
leaders. But we can do it, and the
payoff will be millions of people
lifted out of poverty.”
The panel discussion included
SBI
Chairman
Arundhati
Bhattacharya, who was also in the
US capital, where Finance Minister
Arun Jaitley was leading the India
delegation to the G20 finance
ministers’ meet and the World
Bank-IMF conference.
— IANS
The walk covered various places in different parts of the vastly spread Heritage sites
World Heritage Day celebrated with walks, exhibitions
NEW DELHI: With a photo exhibition of
historical baolis (stepwells), heritage walks
to acquaint people here with the city’s
plural culture and complex history —
the national capital celebrated the World
Heritage Day with great enthusiasm.
The heritage walk was organised at
Purana Qila, the oldest fort of Delhi, on
Saturday by Delhi Tourism in association
with Delhi Heritage Management
Secretariat to make people aware of the
city’s rich past through not much heard
but interesting tales.
Delhi’s Law and Culture Minister
Jitendra Singh Tomar flagged off the
event, saying the heritage walks will also
be popularised among school children.
“The initiative is to spread awareness
about the rich heritage of the capital.
Besides, heritage walks promote a healthy
habit of walking to stay fit. We will
continue similar events and we are soon
going to start these walks in entire Delhi,”
he said.
The walk started with the Bada
Darwaza and covered various places in
different parts of the vastly spread ancient
fort like baoli (step well), Sher Mandal
(double-storeyed octagonal tower),
Hammam (the royal bathroom) and
concluded at the Qila E Kohna Masjid
(the mosque).
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Employees take part in a ‘Heritage Walk’.
Delhi Chief Secretary K K Sharma, on
this occasion, said the “walks help people
to see Delhi’s heritage wealth”.
“People are busy in their day-to-day
lives, they should also take out time to
experience wonder, beauty, architecture
and vivid history associated with such
places.”
On the similar lines, Delhi Metro
in association with Delhi Walks — an
organisation that holds guided tours
— also organised a heritage walk from
Chawri Bazar to Chandni Chowk in old
Delhi. The participants covered Jama
Masjid, Red Fort, Gauri Shankar temple,
Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and the popular
Paranthe Wali Gali.
Also, to commemorate this special
day and promote adventure and sports
activities among its employees on
this occasion, the Delhi Metro Rail
Corporation (DMRC) launched the
Metro Adventure Club (MAC) initiative.
“This is an initiative to promote
adventure and sports activities among
our employees. We are carrying out
construction activities in all parts of
Delhi and such walks are aimed to instill
awareness among the employees about
the rich culture and heritage of the city,”
said DMRC’s Managing Director Mangu
Singh.
— IANS
INDIA
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
omandailyobserver
11
Second half of budget
session set to be stormy
LAND BILL: To convert an ordinance that amended the 2013 version
NEW DELHI: The second half of the
budget session which kicks off next
week is all set to be a stormy affair with
the government determined to push
through the land acquisition bill and the
opposition making all efforts to stall it.
Besides the land bill, parliament is
also scheduled to take up other important
bills like the Real Estate (Regulation
and Development) Bill, the Goods and
Services Tax Bill and the Undisclosed
Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition
of Tax) Bill, also called the anti-black
money bill.
The land bill seeks to convert an
ordinance that amended the 2013 version
of the bill passed by the UPA government.
The ordnance was re-promulgated last
month. This was because the bill was
passed in the Lok Sabha in February but
was not brought to the upper house as
the government failed to convince the
opposition parties, who have opposed it
tooth and nail.
While the NDA has a brute majority
of 335 in the Lok Sabha, it is numerically
much weaker in the Rajya Sabha with just
When the bill
will be brought
in parliament,
discussions will take place
and suggestions will be
taken.
M VENKAIAH NAIDU
Parliamentary Affairs Minister
63 seats.
The Janata Parivar has 15 members
in the Lok Sabha and the Congress 44.
In the upper house, the Congress has 70
members.
While government sources hinted that
a joint session might be called to get the
bill passed, officially the NDA maintained
that there would be no need for this.
“As of now, we are not discussing
a joint session,” Minister of State for
Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas
Naqvi said.
The opposition to the land bill will
begin from April 19 itself when Congress
Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, addresses
a farmers’ rally at the Ramlila Ground in
the national capital.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M
Venkaiah Naidu has said: “When the bill
will be brought in parliament, discussions
will take place and suggestions will be
taken.”
“I appeal to the opposition to not
obstruct. Land bill is being brought after
much deliberation and consultation with
all stake holders,” he added.
Senior Congress leader Anand
Sharma, who is also a member of the
Rajya Sabha, said the Congress was
determined to oppose the bill.
“We are determined to oppose. They
will face a brick wall of opposition,”
Sharma said.
“There will be stiff opposition on this
(land bill) and all other issues where
there are concerns of the people, we will
oppose. Because we are the opposition it
is our duty to do so,” he said.
Asked for his party’s views on a joint
Rahul back after vacation
NEW DELHI: Congress Vice-President
Rahul Gandhi, who returned home two
days ago after a 56-day leave of absence,
met farmers here on Saturday.
The farmers who met Gandhi said
they discussed the land acquisition bill,
which they described as anti-farmer.
The farmers also discussed the
“mammoth” crop damage caused by
unseasonal rain and hailstorms.
This was Gandhi’s first public
interaction after his sabbatical.
The 44-year-old Gandhi scion is
scheduled to meet about half-a-dozen
groups of farmers from Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and
Madhya Pradesh at his residence later
in the day.
The meetings are being held a day
ahead of a Congress rally to be held at
the city’s Ramlila Ground on Sunday.
Rahul led a ‘padyatra’, a protest
march in Bhatta Parsaul in 2011 against
the then Mayawati government’s land
acquisition in Uttar Pradesh.
He was not seen in public for nearly
two months since the budget session
of parliament began on February
23. He returned on April 16 from an
undisclosed destination where he was
said to have retreated in a leave of
absence from politics.
On the eve of the second half of the
budget session set to reconvene on April
20, farmers will converge here to attend
the rally at Ramlila Maidan, where most
political protests in the capital are held.
The Congress, which has been
strongly opposing changes in the
original legislation on land acquisition
brought by its government in 2013,
Congress Party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi speaks to farmers outside his residence
in New Delhi. — Reuters
is protesting the dilution of the
original consent clause which makes
it mandatory to secure 80 per cent
approval of those dependent on the land
being procured.
The Congress is “determined to
oppose” the land bill that will be
introduced in the Lok Sabha for the
second time in the upcoming session,
said Congress leader Anand Sharma.
“They will face a brick wall of
opposition,” he said, adding that Rahul
Gandhi is likely to address the Lok
Sabha on the issue this time.
Congress spokesperson Randeep
Surjewala said the rally is being
organised at a mammoth scale to protest
the Narendra Modi-government’s “antifarmer and anti-poor” policies.
Following a trail of destruction
caused by unseasonal rain and hailstorm
across the agrarian states in the country,
the partially damaged crop lying in
wholesale is yet to be picked up by the
government.
“We would raise the issue at the rally
since the government is rejecting that
crop on the plea that it has 14 per cent
moisture content. But even the good
crop would have some. Where would
the poor farmer go for help,” asked
Surjewala.
A 17-coach ‘Kisan Express’ train will
carry farmers from Jaipur to Delhi on
Sunday. Huge billboards dot the streets
of the national capital and radio spots
publicise the rally.
Following a stormy first half of the
budget session that witnessed multiple
walkouts by the opposition in the Lok
Sabha over the land acquisition bill, the
Congress has sought to up the ante by
protests against the land bill issue.
— IANS
A farmer looks at his wheat crop grown on the land acquired by the government in the village of Kanjhawala north-west of New
Delhi. — AFP
session, Sharma said: “We will take the
call when it is to be taken. Yes, we will
remain opposed to what we will feel is
principally wrong.”
Sharma hinted that Rahul Gandhi
might also lead the Congress charge in
the Lok Sabha on the land bill.
CPI leader D Raja also said his party
would oppose the bill tooth and nail.
“Land bill is going to be the issue
in this session of parliament. Passing
finance and money bills is a constitutional
DOCUMENTS LEAK
Chargesheet
filed against
13 persons
NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on
Saturday filed in a court a chargesheet
against 13 accused in the petroleum
ministry documents leak case.
The charge sheet was filed before
Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain,
who marked it for consideration
before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate
Sanjay Khanagwal for Monday.
Police have formally charged 13
accused under various sections dealing
with cheating, forgery, trespass,
theft, common intent and criminal
conspiracy.
According to sources, provisions of
the stringent Official Secrets Act have
not been invoked against the accused
but further investigation is on. Police
have cited 42 prosecution witnesses in
their 44-page chargesheet.
Delhi Police also registered a first
information report for the leak of
classified documents related to various
ministries, including of petroleum and
natural gas, on February 17.
Five corporate executives are
among the accused in the case. They
are RIL Corporate Affairs Manager
Shailesh Saxena, Jubilant Energy
Senior Executive Subash Chandra,
Essar Deputy General Manager Vinay
Kumar, Reliance ADAG Deputy
General Manager Rishi Anand, and
Cairns India General Manager K K
Naik.
— IANS
obligation, other than that, as far as
legislative business is concerned, land bill
is the main issue and we will oppose it,”
he said.
While the Lok Sabha will reconvene
on April 20 as scheduled, the Rajya Sabha
which was prorogued in order to repromulgate the land ordinance will begin
its sittings from April 23.
Some of the other important bills
that the government plans to move are
the GST bill, real estate development
and regulation bill, undisclosed foreign
income and assets imposition of tax bill
2015, warehousing corporation bill and
regional rural banks bill.
Some of the other bills lined up for
debate are arbitration and conciliation
bill, constitutional scheduled castes
order amendment bill, warehousing
corporations
bill,
payment
and
settlements systems bill, repeal and
amending bill and the Delhi High Court
— IANS
bill.
60pc voting amid violence
in Kolkata civic polls
KOLKATA: Amid claims of widespread
violence by the opposition and rebuttal
by West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool
Congress, polling for the 144-ward
Kolkata Municipal Corporation on
Saturday witnessed around 60 per cent
turnout at the close of voting.
Calling the polls a “farce”, the
Communist Party of India-Marxist
led Left Front, the Bharatiya Janata
Party and the Congress all charged the
Trinamool with unleashing violence
and adopting unfair means. But the
Mamata Banerjee led party asserted the
elections were peaceful, free and fair.
“At 3 pm, the scheduled close of
voting, 59.20 per cent polling was
registered. The percentage may slightly
go up with some of them still in the
queues,” a West Bengal State Election
Commission official said.
“We have received many complaints
of violence and are verifying them from
our poll observers and police officers.
Most of the complaints are from the
opposition parties. There have also been
claims for re-polling in certain booths,
we are looking into that,” the official
added.
Alleging widespread violence, the
Left Front led by the CPM said the
election was being “controlled” by the
TMC and not by the poll panel.
“Since the start of polling, there
has been widespread violence. The
Trinamool has unleashed violence in
at least 30 wards where it knows it will
not win. At least 75 people have been
injured but the Election Commission
is keeping mum,” CPM leader Sujan
Chakraborty said.
“We have filed 14 complaints with
the commission, but no action has been
taken. The poll is controlled not by the
election commission but by outside
elements of the Trinamool,” added
Chakrabarty.
CPM leader Fuad Halim filed a
police complaint alleging the TMC
activists fired at him, but the bullets
missed the target.
Congress leader Santosh Pathak,
too, made similar accusations, claiming
three of his party men received injuries
after TMC goons hurled crude bombs
at them.
The BJP filed complaints accusing
the TMC polling agents of resorting to
unfair means and influencing voters.
“Trinamool unleashed terror to
intimidate voters, polling agents of
opposition parties were assaulted and
driven away, booths were captured.
Even the media was not spared. The
polls were nothing but a farce,” BJP’s
state unit president Rahul Sinha said.
Covering the polls, several media
persons came under attack.
Two polling agents of the TMC were
caught on camera directing voters to
vote for their party.
Slamming a section of media
and the opposition for spreading
misinformation, the Trinamool claimed
the polls were free, fair and peaceful.
— IANS
Tamil Nadu criticised for opposition without reason or jurisdiction; train flight services remain unaffected
Shutdown in Karnataka in support of dam across Cauvery
BENGALURU: A 12-hour dawn-todusk shutdown was underway across
Karnataka on Saturday in support of
building a reservoir dam across Cauvery
river at Mekedatu for hydro-power
and drinking water supply in the old
Mysore region. “The shutdown has been
peaceful since morning, barring stray
incidents of some activists forcing shops
and small eateries to remain closed in a
few residential areas in the city,” a senior
police official said.
The state government’s plan to build
the dam at Mekedatu in Kanakapura
taluk, about 100 km from Bengaluru, is
facing opposition from Tamil Nadu, the
southern riparian state, which shares the
river water as per the tribunal award.
The 800 km-long Cauvery river,
which originates at Talakaveri near
Kodagu in the rich biodiverse Western
Ghats region, flows southeastwards to
Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and
finally joins the Bay of Bengal.
As the shutdown, called by about
70 Kannada organisations and regional
parties, is being observed largely
in the old Mysore region spanning
Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Mandya and
Mysore districts, normal life has come
to a standstill, with schools, colleges,
markets, hotels, malls, petrol bunks and
movie theatres closed.
Though
state-run
transport
corporations have not joined the
shutdown, buses are not operating in
the city or across the old Mysore region.
Private buses, maxi-cabs, taxis and
autorickshwas have also kept off the
roads in support of the shutdown.
Train and flight services, however,
remained unaffected though hundreds
of passengers faced hardship in
commuting from railway stations and
the airport in the absence of public or
private transport. Emergency services,
hospitals, medical shops, supply of milk,
vegetables and essential commodities Activists of a pro-Kannada organisation carry the Karnataka flag during a protest rally in Bangalore. — AFP
were exempted from the shutdown.
Hundreds of Kannada Vedike
Parishad activists and members of
the Kannada film fraternity, cadres of
the Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha
(KCVP), a state political outfit, and
various social and cultural organisations
are participating in the day-long
demonstration at the Freedom Park in
the city centre amid tight security.
About 10,000 people, including
women, took out a mile-long procession
from Town Hall to Freedom Park in
support of the project and criticised the
Tamil Nadu government for opposing it
without reason or jurisdiction.
“The Tamil Nadu government has
no moral or legal right to oppose the
project, as its location is within our
state and is meant to generate power
and supply drinking water to Bangalore
urban and rural districts, including
Kanakapura and Ramanagara,” KCVP
President Vatal Nagaraj said. — IANS
12
SUPPORT FOR TUNISIANS
S U N DAY l A P R I L 1 9 l 2 0 1 5
MIDST OF CAMPAIGN TIME
Tunisian Tourism Minister Selma
Rekik with French Minister of Culture
and Communication Fleur Pellerin
(L) during a meeting at the Carthage
Palace in Tunis. A month after the
March 18 gun attack on the capital’s
Bardo National Museum, Fleur
Pellerin is on an official visit to express
her support to the families of the
victims and to the Tunisian people.
WORLD
Mugabe is ‘shocked’ by
anti-immigrant violence
The leader of
the Scottish
National Party
(SNP) Nicola
Sturgeon holds
a baby during
campaigning
in Inverurie,
Aberdeenshire,
yesterday.
BIG DAY AHEAD
SET BACK: At least four people have been killed in the violence
HARARE: Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe on Saturday expressed
shock and disgust at attacks on
immigrants in neighbouring South
Africa and said his government was
working to bring back home affected
Zimbabwean citizens.
At least four people have been killed
in a wave of anti-immigrant violence in
South Africa that started two weeks ago
in the port city of Durban and spread to
Johannesburg.
Mugabe said during a speech at a
football stadium in the capital Harare
to mark 35 years of Zimbabwe’s
independence that all Africans in South
Africa should be treated with dignity.
“I would want now to express our
sense of shock, disgust as we abhor the
incidences which happened in Durban,”
Mugabe said.
“The act of treating other Africans
in that horrible way can never be
condoned by anyone,” said the 91-yearold, speaking on behalf of the regional
Southern
African
Development
Community and African Union, both of
which he currently chairs.
An
estimated
one
million
Zimbabweans live in South Africa
having escaped an economic crisis and
political violence at home over the last
15 years.
Periodic outbreaks of anti-immigrant
The act of treating
other Africans in that
horrible way can
never be condoned
by anyone.”
ROBERT MUGABE
President of Zimbabwe
violence in South Africa have been
blamed on high unemployment,
widespread poverty and glaring income
disparities.
The Malawian government has hired
buses to repatriate 500 of its nationals,
Information
Minister
Kondwani
Nankhumwa said on Friday.
He urged South Africa to provide
greater protection for immigrants,
echoing demands from China and the
African Union.
Mugabe said his government had
put in place measures to bring back its
citizens but did not give details.
The state-owned Herald newspaper
reported that Zimbabwe planned to
repatriate 1,000 citizens and was setting
up a receiving centre at Beitbridge, the
biggest border post with South Africa.
Zuma on Saturday cancelled a state
visit to Indonesia to deal with a wave of
anti-immigrant violence at home.
The unrest which began in the port
city Durban two weeks ago and spread
to Johannesburg, Africa’s economic hub,
appeared to have died down on Saturday
as police patrolled trouble spots.
Thousands of foreigners have sought
refuge in camps set up in Johannesburg
and Durban and the governments of
Zimbabwe and Malawi began bussing
their nationals back home.
“The president once again expresses
his condemnation of the attacks on
foreign nationals and has urged the
police to continue working round the
clock to protect communities and bring
perpetrators to book,” the presidency
said in a statement, adding that Zuma
would visit a displacement camp on
Saturday.
Violence flared after Zulu King
Goodwill Zwelithini said in remarks
widely reported by South African media
in March that foreigners should leave
the country.
He has since said his comments
were misinterpreted and on Saturday
attempted to defuse tensions.
“Anyone who is waiting for an order
from Zwelithini to attack people, no.
No,” broadcaster eNCA reported
the king as saying during a traditional
ceremony in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
— Agencies
AMUSEMENT TIME WITH KIDS
Juha Sipilȴ, chairman of the Centre Party, campaigns in Espoo, Finland, yesterday ahead of the parliamentary elections to take
place on Sunday. Finns go to the polls on Sunday in legislative elections widely expected to oust the country’s left-right
coalition amid growing discontent over a floundering economy undergoing a painful restructuring. — AFP
Putin says ready to work with United States
MOSCOW: Russia has key interests in
common with the United States and
needs to work with it on a common
agenda, Russian President Vladimir
Putin said on Saturday in a television
interview. In his comments to the staterun Rossiya channel, Putin appeared to
soften his anti-American rhetoric after
being highly critical.
Relations between Moscow and
Washington and other Western powers
have soured over the conflict in Russia’s
neighbour Ukraine, sinking to an alltime low. “We have disagreements
on several issues on the international
agenda. But at the same time there is
something that unites us, that forces us
to work together,” Putin said.
“I mean general efforts directed
at making the world economy more
democratic, measured and balanced, so
that the world order is more democratic.
We have a common agenda.”
Putin has in the past fiercely
attacked the United States and the
West in general, blaming them for the
Ukraine crisis, which Russia says was
the result of a Western-backed “coup”
against Ukraine’s former leader Viktor
Yanukovich. — AFP
AROUND THE GLOBE
700 Ebola workers protest for hazard pay
Hollande’s approval
ratings climb off
rock bottom: poll
Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg (C) dances with Hmong pupils at Lao Chai primary school as she visits ethnic Hmong
communities in Vietnam’s northern Sapa district yesterday. — Reuters
Researchers have not been able to explain how the image was created
One million booked for Turin
shroud’s return to public view
TURIN: The Turin Shroud goes on
display for the first time in five years
on Sunday with more than a million
people already booked in to view
one of Christianity’s most celebrated
relics.
Devotees believe the shroud, which
is imprinted with the image of a man
who appears to have been crucified, to
be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ.
Despite their certainty about the
likely age of the most-talked-about
length of linen in history, researchers
have not been able to explain how the
remarkable image was created, leaving
space for theories of some sort of
miraculous process to flourish.
But it does accord the cloth a special
Piero Fassino, the mayor of
the city best-known as the
home of carmaker FIAT and
Juventus football club, said
the shroud was woven into
the city’s identity
status which has helped to sustain its
popularity as an object of veneration.
“What counts the most is that this
shroud, as you have seen, reflects
in a clear and precise manner how
the gospels describe the passion and
death,” said Cesare Nosiglia, the
archbishop of Turin.
Piero Fassino, the mayor of the city
best-known as the home of carmaker
FIAT and Juventus football club, said
the shroud was woven into the city’s
identity.
“Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims
will come to our city over the course
of 67 days,” he said. “We will welcome
them with open arms.”
The shroud’s enduring appeal is set
to be underlined by the huge numbers
of pilgrims and other visitors expected
in the northern Italian city between
Sunday afternoon and June 24, when
it will be exhibited for 12 hours a day
(0730-1930) in the Cathedral of St
John the Baptist.
— AFP
PARIS: President Francois Hollande’s
approval rating has risen, but the
vast majority of French voters remain
unhappy with his performance,
casting doubt on his re-election
chances, said an opinion poll
published on Saturday.
The Opinionway survey in Le Figaro
newspaper said 20 per cent of voters
approved of Hollande, five points up
from the last such poll in October.
However, three years after taking
office, some 79 per cent said they
were dissatisfied with the president.
Hollande’s ratings fell to record
lows for a French head of state last
year, hitting 13 per cent in one
September survey.
His standing was given a boost by
his handling of militant attacks in Paris
in January, but he still has a long way
to go before he can aspire to winning
a second term in office at elections
due in 2017.
The Opinionway survey said that if
a vote were held today, he would not
even make it through to the second
round run-off.
Instead, the poll suggested the
Socialist leader would come in third,
with the candidate for the mainstream
conservative UMP party seen heading
the field and the far-right National
Front chief Marine Le Pen set to take
second place.
Hollande has not yet said if he will
stand for re-election.
The president polled weakest
over the economy, with just 14 per
cent saying he was doing a good job
tackling unemployment.
— Reuters
MONROVIA: Seven hundred Liberian Ebola workers took to the streets of the capital
Monrovia for a second day on Saturday to demand promised hazard pay.
“We took risks so we deserve our benefits,” demonstrators chanted as the protest
began Friday, when they disrupted a ceremony during which French charity Medecins
Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) was to hand over management of Liberia’s
main Ebola unit to the government.
“Tolbert Nyensuah give us our money,” they said, referring to the head of the
government’s Ebola response team.
The workers hired by MSF, which has been in the forefront of the battle against the
west African epidemic, on Saturday again blocked the entrance to Liberia’s — and the
world’s — biggest Ebola facility. The Ebola Treatment Unit, known as ELWA 3, has more
than 400 beds and a work force including 700 healthcare workers hired by MSF.
It was the country’s reference facility during the height of the Ebola epidemic in
Liberia, which has recorded no new cases in several weeks. “We were here when the
heat was on. We took risks, some of our colleagues died, but we continue our work to
save the lives of the thousands of Liberians who had the virus,” a spokesman for the
workers said. — AFP
The replica of the frigate Hermione, onto which La Fayette embarked in 1780
to bring help and support to the American insurgents, spins in front of the
Bourse wharf, upon its arrival in Bordeaux on October 7, 2014. The frigate,
whose construction began in 1997 in Rochefort, reached Bordeaux after
departing from La Roch.
2 UN drivers killed as convoy attacked in Mali
BAMAKO: Two drivers were shot dead in an attack on a peacekeeping supply convoy
in northern Mali, the UN mission said Saturday.
The assailants stopped the convoy some 15 kilometres from the main city of Gao
and “coldly killed two of the drivers” in the attack Friday, the UN Mission in Mali, known
as MINUSMA, said in a statement, adding that a third person was wounded. The
killings come amid continued violent activity by jihadist groups that had previously
taken control of northern Mali before being routed by a French-led international
intervention that began in 2013.
Two civilians were killed and nine peacekeepers from Niger were wounded
Wednesday in a strike by an Al-Qaeda-linked group on the UN’s MINUSMA
peacekeeping mission in Ansongo, in northern Mali.
Earlier this month a civilian was killed in Gao by a rocket attack by presumed
fighters the day after two people were killed by gunmen in another strike. Fighters
have also struck farther south, including in Mali’s capital Bamako. — AFP
13
Saudi vows to cover UN aid call for Yemen
REGION
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
omandailyobserver
HUMANITARIAN: Ordinary families are struggling to access healthcare, water, food, and fuel — basic requirements for their survival
SANAA: Saudi Arabia pledged on
Saturday to cover the entire $274 million
in humanitarian aid sought by the UN
for conflict-torn Yemen, where a Saudiled coalition has been bombing rebels
for three weeks.
The United Nations says hundreds
of people have died and thousands of
families fled their homes in the war,
which has also killed six Saudi security
personnel in border skirmishes.
At least 27 people died in the
southwestern city of Taez during
overnight clashes between loyalist forces
and the Houthi rebels, as well as in
coalition air raids, medical sources said.
That followed strikes by coalition
warplanes on Friday around the Houthi
rebel-held capital Sanaa, where thick
clouds of grey smoke and a fireball rose
from one military post.
Saudi King Salman ordered the
humanitarian pledge following a United
Nations appeal on Friday for $274
million in emergency assistance for the
millions affected by Yemen’s war.
The kingdom “stands with its Yemeni
brothers” and hopes for “the restoration
of security and stability”, the state Saudi
Press Agency said, quoting an official
statement.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator
Johannes Van Der Klaauw said in the
appeal: “Ordinary families are struggling
to access healthcare, water, food and fuel
— basic requirements for their survival.”
Aid has only trickled into Yemen,
largely because of restrictions imposed
by the coalition on its airspace and ports.
The rebels swept into Sanaa last
September from their highland
stronghold and then advanced south
on the port of Aden, forcing President
Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to
Riyadh.
The coalition began its campaign
after Saudi Arabia feared that the
Houthis, allied with army units loyal to
former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Residents said explosions and
gunfire shook Taez overnight during
fighting between Hadi loyalists and the
insurgents.
Nineteen rebels, four soldiers from
a mechanised army unit loyal to the
president and four other pro-Hadi
fighters were killed, a medical source
said. Rival fighters also clashed on
Friday night in districts of Aden, the
main southern city, residents and
security sources said.
Pro-Hadi forces backed by air strikes
held off rebels battling for the past
week for control of Aden’s refinery, 15
kilometres west of the city.
Iran President Hassan Rouhani Remains of the Republican Palace, following an air raid, in Taez. — AFP
PANORAMIC VIEW
said on Saturday that Iran’s military
should not be seen as a threat in the
Middle East. The presence of Iranian
naval ships “in the Persian Gulf and the
Gulf of Aden is intended to ensure the
security of neighbouring countries and
maritime traffic”, he said at an Army Day
ceremony.
On Friday, Tehran submitted a fourpoint Yemen peace plan to UN Chief
Ban Ki-Moon.
It calls for a ceasefire and immediate
end to all foreign military attacks, the
urgent delivery of humanitarian and
medical aid, a resumption of political
talks and the formation of a national
unity government.
In a letter to Ban, Iranian Foreign
Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote
that the international community
must “get more effectively involved in
ending the senseless aerial attacks and
establishing a ceasefire”.
In Riyadh, coalition spokesman
Brigadier General Ahmed al Assiri said
on Friday coalition warplanes “have
started operations in Taez”.
There were 100 sorties in Yemen on
Thursday, he said, indicating no early
end to the operation: “We are not in a
hurry”, he said.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on
Thursday that coalition air strikes which
killed at least 31 civilians at a dairy
factory on March 31 “may have been
indiscriminate or disproportionate”.
A retired Saudi fighter pilot,
however, said on Saturday that the
coalition campaign has been conducted
professionally.
It has been “very precise, (with) good
planning, selecting the right targets”,
Major General Abdullah al Sadoun said.
HRW also accused opposing forces
in the southern city of Lahj, near Aden,
of endangering a hospital.
“Fighters on both sides in Lahj have
unlawfully put a hospital in the middle
of a battle,” said Joe Stork, the watchdog’s
deputy Middle East and North Africa
director.
On Friday, al Qaeda overran a key
army camp in the Hadramawt provincial
capital Mukalla, seizing heavy weapons
and consolidating its grip on the city, an
official and residents said. — AFP
Kurdish party headquarters attacked
ANKARA: Unidentified assailants
opened fire early on Saturday
on Turkey’s main Kurdish party
headquarters in the capital Ankara,
raising tensions ahead of legislative
elections in June, but with no casualties
reported.
“The attackers fired with rifles at
the party headquarters at 4:05 am
from a passing car,” an official from
the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic
Party (HDP) said on condition of
anonymity.
Security guards protecting the
building fired back and the assailants
fled in the car, according to the official.
State-run TRT television reported
that two suspects had been detained.
HDP lawmaker Sirri Sureyya Onder
called the attack a “provocation” in the
run up to the June 7 legislative polls.
“We will not yield,” he tweeted.
The government also condemned
the attack, with Prime Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu assuring that
“everything is being done to capture
those responsible.”
“I condemn the attack targeting the
Palestinians look at a makeshift boat made of plastic bottles on Saturday at the port of Gaza City. — AFP
Extremist groups seek to expand foothold in Iraq’s largest province
Thousands of Anbar refugees
stranded near Baghdad
BAGHDAD: Thousands of people,
displaced by fighting in Iraq’s western
province of Anbar, were on Saturday
stranded on the outskirts of the
capital Baghdad due to government
restrictions, a rights activist said.
IS fighters are pushing deep into
Ramadi, the capital city of Anbar, as
the extremist group seeks to expand its
foothold in Iraq’s largest province.
“Tens of thousands of displaced
civilians have escaped from Ramadi
in the past few days, but on arrival at
Baghdad, they are denied entry unless
they have a sponsor in the capital,”
Masrur Aswad, a member of the
non-governmental group the Higher
Commission for Human Rights, said.
“Now the displaced are staying in
the open air on the edges of Baghdad
without having a shelter and basic
needs,” he said in a press statement.
Aswad reported an unspecified
number of deaths among the refugees
due to the tough journey from Anbar,
At least 27 people died in
the southwestern city of Taez
during overnight clashes
between loyalist forces and
the Houthi rebels, as well as
in coalition air raids,
medical sources said
Officials in Baghdad have
said the restrictions are
part of security measures
to prevent fighters from
entering the city.
located some 118 kilometres west of
Baghdad. Officials in Baghdad have
said the restrictions are part of security
measures to prevent fighters from
entering the city. Some of the Anbaris,
kept waiting for long hours at Baghdad
gates, expressed anger.
“The central government treats
inhabitants of Anbar as though they
came from another country,” said Jamil
Hameed, a displaced resident of Anbar.
“It is as though we were on the Day
of Judgement.
Thousands of families are obliged
to wait on the outskirts of Baghdad
before getting clearance from security
authorities to enter the capital,” the
44-year-old man said near Baghdad.
The Iraqi government on Saturday
sent military reinforcements to Ramadi
to block advances by opposition.
Prime Minister Haider al Abadi, who
is also the supreme commander of the
army, ordered in the reinforcements on
Friday after repeated appeals by local
officials and tribal chiefs in Anbar.
A federal police brigade was sent
to Anbar, a spokesman for the Interior
Ministry, Brigadier Saad Ma’an, was
quoted as saying by the official alIraqiyya television.
Speaker of parliament, Salim al
Jabouri, warned that Anbar’s fall would
put Baghdad in great danger.
“When terrorists reach the farthest
point of Anbar in the east, this means
that they are within a stone’s throw of
Baghdad,” he said in a televised address.
Al Jabouri urged Iraq’s neighbours
to offer what he called “direct and nondirect” support to his country in the
fight against IS fighters.
— dpa
Security guards protecting
the building fired back
and the assailants fled
in the car, according
to the official.
HDP,” Davutoglu wrote on Twitter.
“It is clear that like previous
ones, this attack takes an aim at our
democracy and stability,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin
Akdogan referred to “dirty hands”
trying to “create provocation and stir
up tensions”.
The incident fueled the tense
run-up to the elections in which the
HDP is for the first time trying to
clear the 10 per cent threshold for
entering parliament as a party under
proportional representation.
Success for the HDP could have farreaching consequences for the country,
by preventing the ruling Justice and
Development Party’s (AKP) bid to
win a big enough majority to be able
to change the constitution and create a
Palestinians ‘reach
accord’ on frozen taxes
RAMALLAH: Israel has agreed to
transfer in full hundreds of millions
of dollars in taxes collected for the
Palestinian Authority but frozen in a
row over the International Criminal
Court, the Palestinian premier said.
Rami Hamdallah, in a statement
from his office late on Friday, said Israel
pledged at a meeting with Palestinian
officials to hand over the taxes collected
between December and March,
amounting to almost half a billion
dollars.
Israeli officials on Saturday
confirmed an agreement was sealed
on the taxes, while the media said the
transfer of 1.8 billion shekels would take
place on Monday.
The UN special coordinator for
Middle East peace efforts, Nickolay
Mladenov, welcomed the deal as an
important step “in the right direction”.
The Palestinians had threatened
to turn to the International Criminal
Court over Israel’s decision in
early January to retain the taxes in
retaliation for the Palestinians joining
the ICC.
The monthly funds account for
two-thirds of the Palestinians’ annual
budget, excluding foreign aid.
Israel agreed at the start of April
to release the funds after deducting
debts due for electricity, water and
presidential system.
To make those changes, the AKP
would need the support of two-thirds
of parliament’s 550 members.
The party currently has 312 seats in
the body.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has appealed to his supporters to help
elect 400 AKP lawmakers in June’s
vote, giving him the backing to rewrite
the constitution — and assume full
executive powers himself.
In an interview with AFP this
month, the HDP’s co-chair Selahattin
Demirtas said his party hoped to turn
Erdogan’s political calculations “upside
down” while accusing the Turkish
strongman of seeking “constitutional
dictatorship”.
Onder, who later visited the party
building in the Cankaya district, said
the attack was an attempt to discredit
the HDP party and prevent it from
clearing the 10 per cent threshold.
“We are determined to insistently
advocate peace and democratic
policies,” he told reporters.
— AFP
LIKE A CHAMP
UN special coordinator
for Middle East peace
efforts, Nickolay Mladenov,
welcomed the deal as an
important step ‘in
the right direction’
medical services, a proposal rejected
by the Palestinians who insisted on full
payment.
Hamdallah said the PA, once the
funds are received, will firstly pay the
April salaries of its 180,000 employees,
who have been receiving only 60 per
cent of their wages since December.
The deficit will also be paid “as soon
as possible”, the prime minister said.
Under an economic agreement
signed in 1994, Israel transfers to the PA
tens of millions of dollars each month
in customs duties levied on goods
destined for Palestinian markets that
transit through Israeli ports.
Although transfer freezes have been
imposed many times, they have rarely
lasted more than one or two months,
except in 2006 when movement Hamas
won a landslide victory in Palestinian
legislative polls and Israel withheld the
funds for six months.
— AFP
A handout picture released by the
Turkish Presidential Press Office shows
Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan rides a bicycle based on a
model used by a world biking
champion, during the launch of the
51st Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey
in Istanbul, on April 18. — AFP
14
omandailyobserver
EUROPE
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
UKIP forces poll
focus on EU and
immigration
RIGHT TURN: Conservatives and Labour
parties rethink their stand
British Prime Minister David Cameron works on a speech on the Conservative election campaign bus on Friday near Builth Wells, Wales. The Prime Minister is spending
the day campaigning in the West Midlands and Wales. — AFP
Labour pledges to tackle migrants’ exploitation
LONDON: British opposition leader
Ed Miliband said on Saturday that he
would set up a new government unit
to prosecute employers who exploit
migrant workers if his Labour Party
wins power in the national election on
May 7.
In a major speech on immigration
— a widespread concern among Britons
that has bolstered the anti-EU United
Kingdom Independence Party —
Miliband set out how Labour would try
to ensure immigrants did not depress
British wages.
“We’ll make it a criminal offence
to undercut pay or conditions of local
workers by exploiting migrant workers,”
he said in a speech in northwest England.
More than 600,000 people migrated
to Britain in the 12 months to September,
up from over half a million the year
before, while average wages in Britain
have failed to rise significantly despite
falling unemployment.
The Conservatives and Labour are
neck-and-neck in one of the closest
elections in decades.
Both parties want to regain former
supporters who have drifted to UKIP,
which once attracted about a fifth of
voters but has more recently seen its
own appeal ebb. Labour would set up
a dedicated unit in Britain’s interior
ministry to prosecute employers who
paid migrants less than the minimum
wage or broke other employment laws,
Miliband said.
Opposition Labour Party leader Ed Miliband is greeted by teacher as he arrives at
“This exploitation of the worst kind Pensby High School in Pensby, north-west England, on Saturday during an election
isn’t just bad for those people directly campaign visit. — AFP
A team of specialists were struggling against bad weather to stop the
nearly 1,500 tonnes of oil carried by the stricken Russian trawler
affected, it drives down living standards
and conditions for everybody else,”
Miliband said. Miliband also reiterated
Labour plans to hire an extra 1,000
border staff and ban recruiters from
hiring exclusively abroad, and said that
the last Labour government had erred
by not imposing temporary curbs on
migration from eastern Europe.
Prime Minister David Cameron’s
Conservative Party and United
Kingdom Independence Party leader
Nigel Farage both said on Saturday that
none of these measures would reduce
immigration.
Most economists say increased
immigration has boosted British
economic output since the financial
crisis, and see little evidence that it has
reduced wages in most cases.
Separately,
in
an
interview
with the Daily Telegraph, senior
Conservative minister Michael Gove
said his party would not do a deal
with United Kingdom Independence
Party on a vote-by-vote basis, even if
it failed to secure an outright majority
after May 7. “I don’t want to say anything
disobliging... about people in UKIP,
but I’ve got no appetite, interest or
inclination towards doing a deal with
anyone,” he said.
Pressed on whether the Conservatives
could make agreements on a vote-byvote basis, the Telegraph reported that
Gove said: “No, no, no.
There won’t be.... I don’t think there
will be many UKIP MPs — if any —
after the election.”
—AFP
LONDON: “You’re probably thinking,
there’s that UKIP chap,” parliamentary
candidate Nigel Carter said amid jeers
and mocking laughter from mainly leftwing voters in southern England.
When Carter, a grandfather in his
mid-60s, got to defining what the UK
Independence Party does stand for,
top of the list was its opposition to
the European Union, which he calls a
“nasty little operation.”
“We don’t want to be a province of
the EU superstate,” Carter said.
Launching
UKIP’s
election
manifesto on Wednesday, UKIP leader
Nigel Farage urged voters to help him
“set free” Britain from the European
Union.
“Only by leaving the EU can we
control immigration,” Farage said. “We
should govern our own country and
make our own laws.”
Carter was inspired to join UKIP
in 2009 after watching the “brilliant”
Farage’s speeches on television, meeting
him regularly over the next few years.
“I saw him all the time and he is a
lovely bloke... just the way he listens to
everybody,” he said. Like Farage, Carter
sometimes canvasses for votes in pubs
and bars, including those favoured by
Brighton’s large queer community.
UKIP canvassers in the city suffer
frequent abuse and intimidation,
Carter said. “We definitely get on-thestreet, on-the-ground intimidation and
it’s cut back what we can do in terms of
promoting ourselves, and it’s a defeat
for democracy.”
Formed in 1993, the right-wing
populist party has tried to shed its early
association with British nationalism
and xenophobia. It surprised many
people by winning 27 per cent of the
British vote in elections to the European
Parliament last May. It took 24 seats,
more than any other British party.
But that result was skewed by a
turnout of just 35 per cent of voters,
meaning only 10 per cent of eligible
voters backed UKIP, said Matthew
Goodwin, a political analyst at
Nottingham University. Goodwin,
author of last year’s book Revolt
on the Right, calls UKIP “the most
significant new party in British politics
for a generation.” Support for UKIP
appears to have declined slightly since
the European elections but remains
“broadly stable” at about 10 per cent.
It is expected to win two to four seats
in next month’s parliamentary election,
Formed in 1993, the right-wing populist
party has tried to shed its early
association with British nationalism and
xenophobia. — Reuters
Goodwin said. Its success last year
prompted Conservative Prime Minister
David Cameron to tell the BBC he
understood how “people are deeply
disillusioned with the EU.”
“They don’t feel the current
arrangements are working well enough
for Britain and they want change,”
Cameron said.
Opposition Labour leader Ed
Miliband also said he had changed his
party’s position on immigration.
In a seven-way televised debate
between party leaders this month,
Miliband promised restrictions
on immigrants claiming benefits and
support for Britain’s minimum wage,
which he said was undercut by migrant
workers.
Net immigration soared by 42
per cent to 298,000 in the year to
September, the government said,
meaning Cameron failed to come close
to meeting a target set in 2010 to reduce
annual net immigration to below
100,000. Cameron’s election manifesto
includes a promise to renegotiate the
terms of Britain’s EU membership
before holding an in-out referendum
by 2017. UKIP advocates an immediate
referendum on EU membership, a fiveyear ban on immigration by unskilled
workers, and the introduction of an
Australian-style points-based system.
It blames the previous Labour
government’s “open door” policy
before 2010 for allowing hundreds
of thousands of migrants to move to
Britain without any linked programmes
to expand public services and
infrastructure.
The number of foreign-born
residents increased by another 565,000
between 2011 and 2014, with about
two-thirds of the migrants born in
EU countries, according to official
estimates.
— dpa
SEARCHING FOR A NEW HOME
Canary Islands face oil spill
MADRID: Bad weather on Friday
hampered efforts to prevent the
spreading of an oil leak from a Russian
trawler that sank near the Canary
Islands, Spanish rescuers said.
A team of specialists from Spain
were struggling against high winds and
choppy waters to stop the nearly 1,500
tonnes of oil carried by the stricken
trawler from spreading towards the
Mauritanian coast in an area that is
home to whales and other unique
marine life.
A fire broke out on the Oleg Neydenov
last Saturday when the ship was moored
at Las Palmas port on Gran Canaria
island, prompting the 72 crew to be
evacuated.
Fearing that the blaze could spread,
Spanish authorities towed the boat out
to sea where it sank on Wednesday
15 miles (24 kilometres) south of
Maspalomas, another town on Gran
Canaria, Spanish rescue authorities said.
Local media published photos
The Oleg Naydenov, a Russian fishing trawler full of fuel, which caught fire over the
weekend in Gran Canaria’s port of Las Palmas. — Reuters file picture
showing a column of black smoke rising
from the vessel.
Branding the Russian vessel
a
“pirate
ship”,
environmental
organisation
Greenpeace
has
raised
pollution
concerns.
The group said the spill was unlikely to
reach the scale of the 2002 Prestige oil
tanker catastrophe, which saw 63,000
tonnes of fuel spilt into the Atlantic
Ocean off northern Spain, but said there
was still a threat to the environment.
“An oil spill is still an oil spill,” it said in a
statement.
— AFP
An immigrant woman holds a baby as she arrives at the port of Piraeus near Athens on Friday. Since Greece bolstered controls
along its land border with Turkey, along the Evros River, illegal immigrants have turned to the maritime route between Turkey
and the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, notably Lesvos, Samos, Kos and Chios. 2015 started with a major increase in the
number of Aegean crossings: 10,445 against 2,863 in the same period of 2014, according to the Greek port police. — AFP
AMERICAS
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
Druglord’s arrest sparks riots
CARTEL WAR: Terrified residents posted pictures on Twitter of burning vehicles
NUEVO LAREDO: A cartel attacked
Mexican security forces in reaction to a
druglord’s arrest in a city near the US
border, unleashing gunfights that killed
at least three gunmen and wounded
two officers.
The gang torched several vehicles,
including a school bus, and used trucks
and cars to block streets in Reynosa,
sowing panic in the city of 610,000
people across from McAllen, Texas.
Terrified Reynosa residents posted
pictures on Twitter of burning vehicles
and people taking cover on the
ground, while the US consulate urged
Americans to stay indoors.
The firefights began after a leader of
the Gulf cartel was arrested in the city,
two federal officials said on condition
of anonymity, identifying the suspect as
Jose Tiburcio Hernandez Fuentes, also
known as ‘El Gafe’ (The Jinxed One).
His arrest dealt a new blow to the
gang, which holds sway in northern
Tamaulipas state but has seen several
leaders taken down, triggering deadly
internal power struggles that have
surged along the border this year.
The Gulf gang’s violent reaction
echoed similar operations launched
by another criminal group, the Jalisco
New Generation Drug Cartel, against
security forces.
The New Generation launched two
ambushes on federal and state police
in the western state of Jalisco that left a
total of 20 officers dead in recent weeks
in apparent revenge over the takedown
of gang members.
A Tamaulipas security task force
issued a statement saying that army
troops and federal police had detained
an unspecified number of gang
members.
“Resulting from the operation,
members of the same criminal
group reacted by attacking federal
and Tamaulipas forces, setting up
blockades in the city,” the Tamaulipas
Coordination Group said.
“Up to now, three armed civilians
are reported dead, and two members of
A school bus is set ablaze on a street of Reynosa, Tamaulipas state, Mexico. — AFP
the Tamaulipas Force were wounded in
‘Resulting from the
the attacks,” it said.
The city’s mayor said the gun battles operation, members of the
began around noon. Authorities said same criminal group reacted
federal and state force retook control of
by attacking federal and
the situation at 6 pm.
One of the federal officials said Tamaulipas forces, setting
the gang burned several vehicles to up blockades in the city’
terrorise the population and distract
police forces.
“There’s obviously resistance that he expected the situation to calm down
emerges when people of this nature overnight.
The city government issued a “red
are arrested,” Reynosa Mayor Jose Elias
Leal told Radio Formula, adding that light” alert on Twitter, urging residents
to avoid some areas.
The local daily ‘El Manana’ reported
that two US-Mexico border crossings
were temporarily closed.
In a separate operation further west
along the border, federal forces detained
the suspected leader of the Juarez drug
cartel, Jesus Salas Aguayo, alias “El
Chuyin,” in Chihuahua state, an official
said on condition of anonymity.
Authorities believe he succeeded
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, alias “El
Viceroy,” who was arrested in October.
— AFP
Argentina defends legal action over Falklands oil
LONDON:
Argentina on Friday
defended its decision to take legal action
against companies exploring for oil off
the Falkland Islands, the latest twist in
a tense sovereignty dispute with Britain.
Last week, the Argentine
government said it had launched legal
proceedings against three British firms
— Rockhopper Exploration, Premier
Oil and Falkland Oil and Gas Limited —
and two from the US, Noble Energy and
Edison International.
“Argentina will use the full force
of national and international law to
prevent Argentine resources from being
exploited,” Argentina’s Secretary for the
Malvinas Daniel Filmus told a press
conference at the London ambassador’s
residence.
Argentina will
Britain and Argentina fought a 74use the full force
day war over the Falklands in 1982 which
killed 649 Argentine troops, 255 British
of national and
service personnel and three islanders.
international law to prevent
Argentina claims it inherited the
remote South Atlantic islands, which it Argentine resources from
calls the Malvinas, from Spain when it being exploited
gained independence.
But Britain argues it has historically
DANIEL FILMUS
ruled them and that the islanders should
Secretary for the Malvinas
have the right to self-determination.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip
Hammond accused Argentina of
“bullying” by taking legal action Friday. own economic resources,” Hammond
“It is an outrageous piece of bullying told Sky News television.
and threatening against the Falkland
“Argentina needs to stop this kind
Islanders’ perfect right to develop their of behaviour and start acting like a
responsible member of the international
community.”
Filmus and Argentina’s ambassador
to London, Alicia Castro, said they were
shocked by British Defence Secretary
Michael Fallon’s claim last month
that Argentina posed a threat to the
archipelago.
Fallon announced that the Falklands’
military defences would be boosted
with a £180-million ($268-million,
245-million euro) programme over 10
years in response to the “continuous
intimidation” from Argentina.
“Whoever says that Argentina is
posing a threat to the inhabitants of the
Malvinas Islands is lying,” Castro said.
— AFP
The projects remain blocked in Congress, where US legislators object to increased commitments
US vows to implement IMF reforms
WASHINGTON: The US government
is continuing to seek congressional
passage of long-stalled reforms to the
International Monetary Fund, Treasury
Secretary Jack Lew said on Saturday.
Agreed in 2010, the changes to the
IMF’s founding treaty would both expand
the crisis lender’s resources and give
China and other rising economies more
say in the organisation’s governance.
The measure remains blocked in
Congress, where US legislators object to
increased commitments to the IMF, as
well as to diluting the US voting weight
on the IMF board and to expanding
China’s vote, in particular.
President Barack Obama has sought
approval for the reforms this year, and the
administration is “seeking every possible
legislative opportunity to implement the
reforms as soon as possible,” Lew said in
a statement to the twice-yearly meeting
of IMF members.
“We continue to believe that Congress
will soon pass legislation to implement
US Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen chats with IMF official Olivier
Blanchard. — Reuters
the 2010 reforms, which are critical to
US economic and national security and
global economic stability.”
The Group of 20 countries blasted
the United States late Friday for blocking
the 2010 reforms. The finance ministers
and central bank governors of the
world’s leading advanced and emerging
economies said they “remain deeply
disappointed with the continued delay”
in implementing the IMF reforms.
“Recognising the importance of these
reforms for the credibility, legitimacy
and effectiveness of the IMF, we reaffirm
that their earliest implementation
remains our highest priority,” the G20
communique said.
“We continue to urge the US to ratify
the 2010 reforms as soon as possible.”
The G20, in which the US is a member,
proposed an interim solution that
“meaningfully” reallocates IMF shares to
give at least some fast-growing emerging
and developing countries voting weights
that better reflect their importance to the
global economy.
Beijing in particular is frustrated at
Washington’s delays in implementing
the reforms and is organising a
development bank for Asia that has
drawn interest within Asia and from
Europe and Canada. The Asian bank,
due to be established later this year, is
seen by some as a potential rival to the
US-dominated IMF and World Bank,
and the Japanese-dominated Asian
Development Bank.
— dpa
omandailyobserver
15
Climate change greatest
threat, says Obama
WASHINGTON: US President Barack
Obama said Saturday that climate
change poses the world’s biggest single
threat.
“Today, there’s no greater threat to
our planet than climate change,” Obama
said in his weekly address, which had an
environmental theme to mark Earth Day
on April 22.
“Climate change can no longer be
denied, or ignored,” he added, noting
that 2014 was the hottest year on record.
The United States is the second largest
greenhouse gas emitter after China,
and Obama has pledged to reduce US
climate pollution by 26-28 per cent from
2005 levels by 2025.
“This is an issue that’s bigger and
longer-lasting than my presidency,”
Obama said.
“This is the only planet we’ve got. And
years from now, I want to be able to look
our children and grandchildren in the
eye and tell them that we did everything
we could to protect it.”
Obama said he would travel to the
Florida Everglades, a region known for
its tropical wetlands, on Wednesday to
talk about the ways in which climate
change affects the economy.
“Rising sea levels are putting a
national treasure — and an economic
engine for the South Florida tourism
industry — at risk,” Obama said of the
famous wetlands.
Obama, who has made the fight
against climate change one of his
priorities, hopes to help seal a global deal
at an international climate conference in
Paris in December. Kerry to visit Arctic:
Secretary of State John Kerry will visit
the Arctic Circle next week for key
ministerial talks on climate change amid
global concerns about rising seas and
accelerating ice melt.
Global warming is happening twice
as fast in the Arctic than elsewhere
on the planet and many fear not only
devastating impacts of warming but also
from an influx of people and industry on
the pristine environment, wildlife and
Inuit culture.
Kerry will attend a meeting of the
Arctic Council in the northwestern
Canadian town of Iqaluit, on Baffin
Island.
The US on April 24 formally takes
over the two-year rotating membership
of the intergovernmental forum —
comprising countries with territory
within the Arctic — Canada, Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia,
Sweden and the US.
The body aims to promote
cooperation
on
environmental
protection, as well as to help govern
oil and mineral exploitation, shipping,
tourism and fishing.
America’s priorities as the incoming
chairman of the body “include
addressing the impacts of climate
change, Arctic Ocean safety, security and
stewardship and improving economic
and living conditions for people in the
Arctic,” said acting State Department
spokeswoman Marie Harf.
The meeting comes only months
before December’s UN climate talks
in Paris aimed at drawing up a new
international pact to peg global warming
to 2C over pre-industrial levels.
It comes amid further bad news for
the Arctic after US officials last month
said the Arctic sea ice had reached
its lowest winter point since satellite
observations began in the late 1970s.
Among major carbon emitters, the
US, the European Union and Russia
have already put their positions on the
table for the Paris talks, with the US
vowing a reduction of 26-28 per cent
in its emissions of greenhouse gases by
2025 compared to 2005 levels. — AFP
Denver teacher’s third grade
assignment goes viral online
Kyle Schwartz, a 3rd grade teacher, works with students Mckylah (L) and
Juliana in her classroom. — Reuters
DENVER: A Colorado teacher who
posted notes from her third grade
class online and started a social
media whirlwind under the hashtag
#IWishMyTeacherKnew said the
assignment had been a revelation for
her.
Kyle Schwartz, 26, asked the eightand nine-year-olds at her Denver inner
city school to write down something
they wished she knew about them,
partly as a writing exercise, and partly
as a way for her to learn about her
pupils.
Responses included “I don’t have
pencils at home to do my homework,”
and “I want to go to college,” to one
tear-jerker from a girl who said she
had no friends to play with at recess.
When the teacher shared
photographs of some of the notes on
Twitter, similar messages and pictures
came pouring in from other schools
worldwide.
Schwartz, a self-described
suburban girl who has taught at
southwest Denver’s Doull Elementary
for three years, said she has conducted
the exercise each year, in part because
she wanted to underline the issue of
poverty in US inner cities.
About 90 per cent of Doull’s 532
students are Hispanic, and 46 per
cent are classed as English language
learners.
Schwartz said one message that
garnered a lot of sympathy online,
from a girl who said she missed
her father after he was deported
to Mexico several years ago, was
particularly revealing.
“That student comes to school
each day with a smile on her face,” the
teacher said, adding that she would
not have known what the girl was
going through if not for the handwritten note.
She said the pupils were told they
could write anonymously if they
wished, but that most were happy to
add their names and to share their
messages with classmates.
One widely commented upon
note was from a girl who said she had
no friends to play with during break
time.
Schwartz said that message had
been “heartbreaking,” but that she
was gladdened to see how the other
pupils rallied to support the child who
wrote it.
“The next day at recess, all the girls
huddled around her and played tag,”
Schwartz said.
“A lot of what we’re teaching is
how to be a good friend. My students’
emotional needs are just as important
as their academic needs.” — Reuters
16
omandailyobserver
A dancer jumps during a parade
celebrating the coming of spring
in north Lebanon. — Reuters
PANORAMA
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
Participants in the Tweed Run ride their bicycles over Westminster Bridge in central London on Saturday. The Tweed Run is an annual event in which the
participants wear vintage clothing and ride their bicycles through city centres worldwide. — Reuters
A man rides the
newly developed
electric motorcycle
during a test drive at
the Nihon University
in Funabashi in
Tokyo on Saturday.
The motorcycle can
run 160 km after a 4
hour charge and has
a maximum speed of
160kmph. — AFP
Participants wearing
superhero costumes have
their picture taken before
the World DC Comics
Super Heroes event in
San Martin de
Valdeiglesias, near
Madrid, on Saturday. To
celebrate the anniversary
of the publication of the
very first Superman story,
DC Comics are asking
fans to help set a new
world record for the
largest global gathering
of people dressed as DC
Comics Super Heroes.
— Reuters
SUNDAY | APRIL 19, 2015 | JUMADA AL THANIA 29, 1436 AH
P19
P20
P21
Inside
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REFORM: The public and private sectors can work together in the areas of labour, market efficiency, air transport and technological readiness
Oman should ease business curbs: APM Terminals
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT
April 18: Oman should take steps
to simplify the existing business and
regulatory environment in order to
evolve into an investment destination
and regional logistics hub, according
to the head of one of the world’s largest
port and terminal operators.
Kim Fejfer (pictured), Chief
Executive Officer of APM Terminals,
which has operations in 58 countries
including the Port of Salalah in the
Sultanate, said the Omani government
must consider regulatory reforms to
improve the overall competitiveness of
the economy.
Fejfer made the comments in a
keynote presentation at the opening
of the 2nd GCC Supply Chain and
Logistics Conference which was held
at Al Bustan Palace — A Ritz Carlton
Hotel last week. The two-day event was
organised by the Ministry of Transport
and Communications in cooperation
with Al Nimr Conferences.
By virtue of its strategic geopolitical
location and proximity to international
trade lanes, the Sultanate is uniquely
placed to capitalise on the strong
economic
g r o w t h
projected
in
South
Asia,
East Africa and
the GCC as
well, the CEO
said. But for
the Sultanate
to exploit these
opportunities and to realise its “full
potential”, the government must take
steps to further “ease the way of doing
business”, he stressed.
Referring to the World Bank’s Ease
of Doing Business Index for 2015, in
which Oman was ranked a dismal 66th
out of 189 economies surveyed, Fejfer
said he was heartened by the progress
achieved by many countries around the
wider world in improving their overall
competitiveness.
“The good news is that many
countries in the region have shown that
their institutional and legal frameworks
can indeed be put in place to improve
their economies in a speedy way, and
there is no reason why you in this great
county here cannot do the same,” he
remarked.
The CEO went on to list what he
described as “recommendations” that
authorities in Oman should focus on.
They call for a further simplification
of the business and regulatory
environment in order to attract new
business entrepreneurs and capital; a
reduction of barriers to facilitate cross
border trade; and the establishment of
a robust legal framework to protect the
business interests of investors.
“All of this is key to building
confidence in the business community.
While we have no doubt that steps
will be taken to deal with these soft
infrastructure challenges, in terms of
the ease of doing business, there are
also other areas that can be looked at to
further build competitiveness,” he said.
Using the examples of Singapore
(which came first in the global
index) and the UAE (first in the GCC
rankings), he voiced optimism that
the public and private sectors here in
Oman “can work together across many
parameters, particularly in the areas of
G20 prods US over
stalled IMF reforms
IMF chief Christine Lagarde (right) speaks with World Bank
President Jim Yong Kim at the G20 meeting in Washington.
WASHINGTON: The Group of 20 leading economies
discussed ways to raise emerging countries’ voting rights at
the IMF as part of an effort to move past US foot-dragging
on reforms to the institution, but they failed to reach an
agreement.
The IMF’s member countries agreed in 2010 to give more
voting power to countries like China and India, double the
Fund’s resources, and reduce the dominance of Western
Europe on its 24-member board.
But the Obama administration, which supports the
reforms, has been unable to persuade the US Congress to
pass funding changes necessary for the agreement.
The United States can block the IMF reforms because it
holds a controlling share of votes.
To get around the United States, the IMF’s board had
proposed one “interim” plan to raise the voting rights
of some emerging countries under an “ad hoc” increase
without touching US veto power.
That plan was discussed, along with another proposal
to push through the voting reforms without doubling the
Fund’s resources, which would see the loss of the US veto,
according to officials in attendance.
The “ad hoc” interim plan made it into a draft
communique by the G20 finance ministers and central bank
governors, but it was dropped from the final version after
officials failed to come to an agreement.
— Reuters
labour, market efficiency, air transport,
and technological readiness.”
In
his
presentation,
Fejfer
also stressed the need for further
development of Oman’s transport and
logistics infrastructure in order to
cater to anticipated growth in regional
trade. In particular, he underlined
the importance of integrated logistics
complemented by investments in
existing road and sea transport, and the
planned rail network.
Industrial parks and free zones
Stressing the importance of locating
world-class industrial parks and free
zones near maritime gateways, he
said: “There is also a strong need to
strengthen free trade and industrial
zones. Experience has shown how wellexecuted free zone policies can aid very
rapid development of manufacturing
and logistics activities in the economy.
We have seen examples of this in China,
as well as in Jebel Ali (Dubai) and Abu
Dhabi Port and Free Trade Zone.”
Furthermore, labour law reforms
and simplified licensing processes are
imperative if Oman is to emerge as a
strong investment destination, he said,
adding: “We all commend efforts on
skills development to improve labour
productivity. Oman’s emergence as
an investment destination will create
demand for a labour force with diverse
skill sets.”
Commenting on the importance
of technology in business facilitate,
he noted: “We live in an age where
technology plays an integral role in every
thing we do. In recent years we have seen
the rapid strides made by Dubai, and we
cannot see any reason why Oman cannot
do the same to improve the interface
between business and government and
actually set new benchmarks in this area
as well.”
APM Terminals is an international
container terminal operating company
with interests in 64 operating port and
terminal facilities in 39 countries on
five continents, with seven new port
projects in development, as well as
over 160 Inland Services operations
providing container transportation,
management, maintenance and repair
in 39 countries. A part of the Danish
business conglomerate AP MollerMaersk Group, APM Terminals is also a
shareholder and operator of the Port of
Salalah.
18
omandailyobserver
OMAN/INTERNATIONAL
Majlis Meethaq forum hosts ex-SAI president
MUSCAT: Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic
banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, hosted
the second Majlis Meethaq evening, a unique
social forum aimed at facilitating interaction
with prominent personalities sharing
inspirational aspects of their life and career
as well as views and perspective on economy
and important social and cultural issues.
Sayyid Abdullah bin Hamad bin Saif Al
Busaidi, former president of State Audit
Institution, addressed the gathering at Bank
Muscat head office. Dignitaries present on
the occasion included Dr Abdulmunim bin
Mansour al Hasani, Minister of Information.
Highlighting
the
Renaissance
achievements of the Sultanate, Al Busaidi
recalled the various responsibilities handled
by him as former Minister of Housing and
former ambassador to different countries.
He noted that life was challenging in the
early 70s but the inspiration provided by His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos helped citizens to take
up their responsibilities seriously.
Al Busaidi added that the support from
his father played a crucial role in shaping his
character and personality.
Majlis Meethaq is a monthly gathering
in which a well-known economic, social,
religious or cultural persona having influence
on Omani society from the Sultanate or
abroad is hosted. The interaction between the
guest and the audience is aimed at focusing
on aspects of the presenter’s personal life,
success in career and views on issues facing
the country and community.
Meethaq, as part of its social development
commitment, aims to develop the Majlis
forum as an ideal platform to interact with
prominent personalities and learn from their
experiences in achieving success in life.”
Majlis Meethaq will be held every month
in which a well-known economic, social,
religious or cultural persona having influence
on Omani society from the Sultanate or
abroad will be hosted.
The interaction between the guest and the
audience will primarily focus on aspects of the
presenter’s personal life, success in career and
views on important issues facing the country
and community. As the pioneer of Islamic
banking in Oman, Meethaq has adopted the
best practices in Islamic banking and finance
worldwide to combine a robust model which
protects customers and complements the
Islamic banking industry.
Every Meethaq product goes through the
process of Sharia compliance certification by
the Sharia Supervisory Board and is created
in line with the guidelines of the Central Bank
of Oman.
Sohar Port focuses on efficient
operations at Tank World Expo
Oiltanking Odfjell infrastructure crucial in delivering prompt service at Sohar
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
April 18: “Developing an efficient operations
model has proven pivotal in attracting and
retaining tank storage business at the port,
amid uncertain oil and gas markets and as
question marks continue to surround global
storage capacities,” noted Edwin Lammers
(pictured), Executive Commercial Manager
at Sohar Port and Freezone.
Speaking at the Tank World Expo at Dubai
World Trade Centre, Lammers was one of a
number of high profile industry leaders to
address the conference, which focused on
tank storage and its relationship with oil
prices. Following his presentation, he said,
“While oil prices continue to slump and
storage capacities fill, being able to get liquid
bulk on and off ships quickly is something
that will be increasingly important.
“There are conflicting reports about
whether there is a shortage of storage for
oil. In the US, for example, total commercial
stocks of crude oil are said to be close to 500
million barrels,
which is nearly
150 million more
than the average
over the last 5
years. However,
other analysts say
storage facilities
are sufficient.”
“In other regions, there may be genuine
shortages, for example, in China. But
whichever way you look at it, at a certain
point these huge volumes will need to be
transported from storage facilities and that
is where having efficient operations and
transportation comes into play, in terms of
turnaround times and costs.”
Lammers was full of praise for the liquid
bulk terminal operator at Sohar, Oiltanking
Odfjell, and said that the diverse and flexible
terminal facility, which offers 1.3 million
cubic metres in storage for petroleum
products, chemicals, and gases, also benefits
from a direct pipeline to the refinery and
aromatics plants.
“Oiltanking Odfjell has grown throughput
from just over 3 million cubic metres in 2007,
to over 14 million cubic metres today. This
is an indication of how its deep water berths
have been combined with a flexible system
and high pump capacity to offer customers
a quick and efficient vessel turn around,”
he explained, adding that, “As oil margins
continue to be squeezed by issues beyond the
control of port authorities, one thing we can
control is the speed liquids are transported
from ship to shore and the efficiency with
which vessel calls are conducted. As we do so,
we continue to receive very positive feedback
from our growing customer base.”
Tank World Expo is the original and
largest show for oil, gas and chemical storage
in the Middle East and is now in its third year.
With projects in the region valued at over
$100 million, Lammers said, “Chemicals are
also expected to be big business for Sohar
with PE, PP, PET, and PTA production all set
to come online.”
Service helps teach children to manage their finances at an early age
British firm looks to expand
financial services for children
LONDON: Osper, a British company that
provides pre-paid debit cards for children, is
looking for partners and plans to offer new
services and expand into Europe and the
United States, its founder and chief executive
said.
The company, which is backed by
MasterCard, was set up by former maths
teacher and McKinsey consultant Alick
Varma in January 2012 to help children learn
how to manage money at an early age.
Last year, it raised £6 million ($9 million)
from investors including Index Ventures, an
early backer of video-chat service Skype, and
Horizons Ventures, the investment arm of
Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing.
Other investors include Peter Jackson, the
ex-chief executive of foreign exchange firm
Travelex; Darren Shapland, former chairman
of Sainsbury Bank; Samir Desai, co-founder
of peer-to-peer lender Funding Circle; and
British television personality Davina McCall.
Varma said he was open to a collaboration
with a mainstream bank to accelerate the
business’s development.
“I think we are keen to team up with
partners whose core values align with ours.
From a traditional bank’s perspective,
this is about showing they’re differentiating
themselves providing ‘value adds’ to parents,”
he said. As well as a debit card, Osper provides
its customers with a financial app that can be
downloaded by parents and their children
and can be used by parents to transfer money
into their child’s account.
The accounts can be held by children as
young as eight years old. Most customers
hold a deposit between £100 and 200 and
the average age of users is between 11 and 13
years old. Parents can use the app to set an
allowance for their children and are notified
whenever the card is used to make a purchase.
Osper cards, which have been available for
less than a year, have already been snapped up
by more than 10,000 customers in Britain.
The service is provided for free in the first
year and customers are charged a £10 annual
fee thereafter.
The cards are issued by IDT Financial
Services, which also provides pre-paid cards
to firms such as The Money Shop.
Varma, 31, was inspired to set up the
business by his own upbringing during which
his parents, who were chartered accountants,
sat him down at the age of eleven and taught
him to manage a monthly budget with which
he would buy his own clothes and other
essential items.
Varma said Osper was a way of replicating
that experience using digital technology,
helping parents teach their children how to
manage their finances.
“Parents are open to having tools that will
make it easier to teach their children about
handling money.
— Reuters
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
BUSINESS ALERT
Renault’s offer on all-new symbol
MUSCAT: Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, the exclusive
importers and distributors of Renault vehicles in Oman
launched the all-new Renault Symbol — a breakthrough
vehicle in the booming B segment. With their ongoing
‘Fantastic Offer’ that lasts till May 13, 2015, customers can
own a sleek Renault vehicle without any hassle.
The Renault Symbol is a status-enhancing yet affordable
family sedan. Its modern design and attractive equipment
package, combined with its low fuel consumption make
the new Renault Symbol the perfect sedan for families looking for value for money along with status
and style. Competitive advantages such as roominess, boot space, modern equipment and engine
displacement ensure it has everything required to make it a hit with customers in the Region.
Customers purchasing the new Renault Symbol will be entitled to receive free registration, free
periodic maintenance service up to 2 years / 30,000 kms (whichever comes first), free unlimited warranty
period of up to 6 years, AAA road side assistance card and a cash gift of RO 500.
Symbol is packed with topnotch technology and innovation. It offers an enjoyable ride, significant
power while maintaining low levels of fuel consumption. It is fitted with an automatic gearbox and a
1.6L 16V engine; placing it among the highest size of engines available on the B Sedan segment. The
compact sedan offers as well spacious interior with seating for five adults, a 510 Litres bootspace, and the
possibility to increase it up to 1,257 Litres with the rear benchseat folded.
Lexus NX gets NHTSA 5-star safety rating
LEXUS’ all-new segment creator — the Lexus NX has defied
conventions to sport a bold new beginning. The result has
been extraordinary with many fans around the world opting
to their share of excitement by owning the NX. Adding to the
excitement the NX has already generated, another piece of
great news is the receipt of the top five-star safety rating from
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, USA.
The NX scored four stars in the front crashworthiness test,
five stars in the side crashworthiness test and four stars in
the rollover crashworthiness test. This follows the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety naming the Lexus NX a 2015 Top Safety Pick+ and the Euro NCAP
awarding the NX the maximum five star rating for safety.
Having pioneered the luxury-utility crossover category more than a decade ago with the original
midsized RX300, Lexus is poised to disrupt the SUV segment once again with the NX. The turbocharged
NX combines the expertise of racers within the engineering team and the impeccable touch of Lexus
luxury through an exciting and sporty design to set a new benchmark in the automotive world.
In Oman every Lexus vehicle comes with special benefits and privileges such as 6 years unlimited
extended mileage protection and Lexus Prestige Club Card that offers 24 hours on-road assistance from
AAA.
Ooredoo launches ‘Fans Do Wonders’ global campaign
OOREDOO has announced that it will launch a new
global communication campaign with Paris SaintGermain, as the company looks to deploy the power of
football to inspire the next generation. The campaign
will be the largest international media campaign a Paris
Saint-Germain partner has ever executed, and will
generate global recognition for both brands.
In the innovative campaign, called “Fans Do
Wonders,” five of Paris Saint-Germain’s most
recognisable players — forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic,
defenders Thiago Silva and David Luiz and midfielders
Blaise Matuidi and Lucas Moura — will connect with young fans around the world from the team’s Parc
des Princes Stadium, using Ooredoo’s faster networks and the power of the Internet.
The people who send the best messages will win a trip to Paris to watch a Paris Saint-Germain match
and attend a training session. As a bonus, top messages will also be displayed on the stadium’s boards
during several games. A full 360-degree campaign with a strong social media presence will be deployed
to bring “Fans Do Wonders” to a global audience.
Throughout the campaign, Ooredoo will emphasise its data leadership, and the power of its bigger,
faster networks around the world. The company has 4G deployed across five out of its nine key markets,
and is the market leader in data customer share in Algeria, Iraq, Qatar, Tunisia and the Maldives.
Experience Switzerland with Swisstours
SWITZERLAND is blessed with spectacular scenic beauty increasing the popularity of this destination
year after year. This summer travelling to Switzerland will be made more comfortable and stress free
with Swisstours.
The best way to soak in the beauty of Switzerland is through their rail journeys where the journey is
as breathtaking as the destination. Travel in Switzerland
is absolutely stress-free with the Swiss Travel System
that covers 35 cities through a network covering 20,000
kms of train, bus and boat routes. For families travelling
together, the Swiss travel system offers children under
16 complimentary travel when accompanied by at least
one parent holding a valid Swiss pass. For bookings made
before April 20, 2015 and for travel before April 30, 2015,
Swisstours is offering a free upgrade to first class rail.
This year Swisstours is offering a unique itinerary
“The Grand Tour of Switzerland.” Spanning 11 nights
and 12 days this rail holiday takes you off the beaten path.
Starting from and ending in Zurich, the Grand Tour includes a journey to the highest cable car station
in Europe to see the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Enjoy the vintage funicular ride from Stans to Kalti
and an open top double decker cable car to reach Stanserhorn. One can also experience the exciting bus
and train journey from St Mortiz to Lugano via Tirano on the Bernina Express. For bookings and travel
between May 1 until the May 31, 2015, Swisstours is offering a “Buy one and Get one free” promotion
on selected excursions.
CBFS holds CDCS training course for banks
THE College of Banking and Financial Studies (CBFS)
recently conducted a Preparatory Training Course
for the prestigious Certified Documentary Credit
Specialist (CDCS) Certification of IFS, UK which is the
gold standard for trade finance staff of banks.
CDCS is a professional qualification that is
recognised worldwide as a benchmark of competence
for international practitioners. It enables documentary
credit practitioners to demonstrate practical knowledge
and understanding of the complex issues associated
with documentary credit practice.
This qualification was developed by IFS University
College in partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and was designed in
consultation with industry experts to ensure that the qualification reflects best documentary credit
practice. CDCS training enables the documentary credit practitioners to apply the best practices in the
work place to perform at optimum levels.
CBFS launched the training on CDCS for the first time in November 2014, for bankers in association
with BIBF, Bahrain. The participants were put on rigorous training for 5 months to provide sufficient
preparation for the exam in April 2015. The training focused on every aspect of documentary credits,
from issuing to examination of documents and the methodology adopted consisted of multiple choice
questions, case studies, discrepancy checking questions and videos. The candidate’s progress was
monitored through practice questions which were synoptic of the final examination.
INTERNATIONAL
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
omandailyobserver
19
China charge into HK stocks both boon and bane
MONEY MATTERS: The potential for vast and sudden moves of liquidity in and out of the Hong Kong dollar will also complicate monetary policy
SHANGHAI/HONG KONG: Surging
investment from mainland China
has jolted Hong Kong’s stock market
from the doldrums, but the volatility
of such flows, driven by an unfamiliar
breed of investor, presents new risks to
the stability of the city’s economy and
currency.
A Reuters analysis shows that
Chinese investors have moved a net 68
billion yuan ($10.97 billion) into Hong
Kong-listed stocks via the ShanghaiHong Kong stock connect programme
since its launch in November, the vast
bulk of it during just a few days in April.
That new money, plus tens of billions
of dollars from a separate channel for
Chinese institutional investors and
untold flows from Chinese-controlled
offshore funds, has helped push the
market’s capitalisation to HK$28.6
trillion ($3.7 trillion) in April from
HK$25.5 trillion in November.
That is driving profits in Hong
Kong’s financial industry, presenting
opportunities for companies to raise
capital and perhaps boosting consumer
confidence. But this tide of cash can flow
out as quickly as it flowed in, especially if
investors conclude the rally has run too
far ahead of the slowing economies on
both sides of the border.
“With the help of China’s opening up,
Hong Kong’s status as a global financial
centre has been enhanced.
However, its economy is also
entering into a bubble cycle, and it’s just
the beginning,” said Raymond Yeung,
People walk past a panel displaying the benchmark Hang Seng Index during afternoon trading outside a bank in Hong Kong
recently. Foreign investors are jumping on board HK’s record stock market rally signalling growing international confidence that
a bonanza sparked by China inflows is set to continue and could suck-up funds from other Asian markets.
— Reuters
analyst at ANZ in Hong Kong.
The Shanghai Composite Index
has gained over 70 per cent since late
November when the central bank made
a surprise cut to interest rates, and the
rally began overflowing into Hong Kong
stocks in April, pushing the Hang Seng
index up more than 11 per cent so far
this month to a seven-year high.
“(Inflows) will add pressure to the
already high property prices and cause
inflation,” said Yeung. ‘‘It will also bring
more risks when sudden capital outflows
happen.”
According to exchange data, 62 per
cent of mainland Chinese investors
Economic institutes see higher growth
BERLIN: Germany’s leading economic
institutes sharply raised their growth
forecast, predicting Europe’s top
economy will expand 2.1 per cent this
year thanks to cheap oil, the low euro
and strong consumer spending.
The forecast by four research
institutes was sharply higher than the
1.2 per cent growth for 2015 they had
predicted last autumn.
“The low oil price leaves the Germans
more money for consumption, and the
low euro is pushing exports,” said Timo
Wollmershaeuser, Chief Economist at
the Ifo Institute, which took the lead
this year in writing the annual spring
The institutes also forecast
healthy government
finances, with a public
surplus of 21 billion euros
this year, up from 18 billion
euros in 2014.
forecast. The joint paper said that while
“consumer spending is the pillar of
the upswing”, Germany also benefited
from “positive impulses from the rest
of the euro area, so that foreign trade is
contributing to the expansion”.
For 2016, the institutes predicted
1.8 per cent growth in Germany’s gross
domestic product (GDP), as the positive
effects of low energy prices gradually
wear off.
The report comes ahead of the
government’s official forecast to be
released next Wednesday by Vice
Chancellor and Economy Minister
Sigmar Gabriel, which is also expected to
be higher. The German government had
in January predicted 1.5 per cent GDP
growth for the year, after 1.6 per cent in
2014. The researchers expect currently
low consumer price inflation to rise
only slightly to 0.5 per cent this year and
to 1.3 per cent next year.
— AFP
US building permits fall 5.7 per cent, biggest drop since May
Housing starts data underperforms
WASHINGTON: US housing starts
rose far less than expected in March
and factory activity in the mid-Atlantic
region grew modestly this month,
suggesting the economy could struggle
to rebound from a soft patch hit in the
first quarter.
The economy stumbled at the start
of the year under the weight of a harsh
winter, a resurgent dollar, weaker global
growth and a now-resolved labour
dispute at the West Coast ports.
There are expectations growth
will rebound in the second quarter,
but recent lukewarm data suggest the
momentum will probably not be strong
enough for the Federal Reserve to start
raising interest rates before September.
“The economy’s tepid recovery
in March makes it very unlikely the
Fed signals a June rate hike at the
April meeting,” said Steve Blitz, Chief
Economist at ITG Investment Research
in New York. ‘‘If housing doesn’t recover
enough this spring, a September rate
hike likely becomes equally improbable.”
Groundbreaking increased 2.0 per
cent to a seasonally adjusted annual
pace of 926,000 units, the Commerce
Department said. That left the bulk of
February’s decline, which had been
blamed on bad weather, intact.
While starts for single-family homes
rose, the gains made only a small dent
into the prior two months’ losses.
Groundbreaking for the multifamily
segment fell. Economists had forecast
groundbreaking rising to a 1.04 millionunit pace in March.
In a separate report, the Philadelphia
Federal Reserve Bank said its business
activity index rose to 7.5 this month
from 5.0 in March. A measure of orders
for manufactured goods fell to its lowest
level since May 2013, while shipments
remained in contraction territory
despite some improvement.
A report on Wednesday showed
soft factory activity in New York state
in April. “Combined, the April reports
are not signalling that manufacturing
activity is picking up significantly
following the weak first quarter,” said
Daniel Silver, an economist at JPMorgan
in New York.
Manufacturing has been slammed
by the dollar’s 13 per cent appreciation
against the currencies of the United
States’ main trading partners since
last June, as well as the softer overseas
demand. US stocks were slightly lower
as corporate results showed little organic
growth even as they largely beat profit
expectations.
Prices for US government debt fell
and the dollar was a bit weaker against a
basket of currencies. Despite the recent
weakness, the outlook for housing
remains favourable against the backdrop
of a strengthening labour market.
While a separate report from the
Labour Department showed a rise
in the number of people seeking
unemployment aid last week, the
underlying trend continued to suggest
the jobs market is tightening as more
long-term unemployed find work.
Initial claims for state unemployment
benefits rose 12,000 to a seasonally
adjusted 294,000 for the week ended
April 11. But claims tend to be volatile
around this time of the year because
moving holidays like Easter and
the school spring break can throw
off the model that the government
uses to smooth the data for seasonal
fluctuations.
— Reuters
in Hong Kong in 2014 were ordinary
retail investors, who tend to behave
very differently to the institutional fund
managers Hong Kong is accustomed to.
On average, domestic Chinese
investors hold a stock for as little as 24
days, compared with 260 days in Hong
Kong, UBS analyst Lu Wenjie said in a
BIZ BRIEF
Property
writedown to
add to Tesco’s
turnaround
challenge
LONDON: Tesco will point to recent
signs of recovery when Britain’s
biggest retailer reports annual results,
though an expected big writedown
on the value of its stores could
highlight the work still needed to
mend its finances.
Analysts think asset sales,
including perhaps parts of its Asian
and mainland European businesses,
could be on the cards, and that Tesco
may also ask shareholders for cash to
help reduce about £7.5 billion ($11
billion) in net debt and a pension
deficit that may have ballooned to
more than £5 billion.
Hurt by an accounting scandal
and sliding sales due to pressure from
discount rivals, Tesco has already
warned trading profit for the year
ended February would be no more
than £1.4 billion — less than half of
the £3.3 billion made the year before
and a third straight year of decline.
Since joining in September from
consumer goods group Unilever,
Chief Executive Dave Lewis has been
fighting back against discounters Aldi
and Lidl by cutting prices, increasing
product availability and improving
customer service by putting more
staff on the shop floor.
He delivered a much improved
performance in Tesco’s third quarter
and the key Christmas period, while
industry data this year has shown a
return to sales growth and an almost
halting of its market share decline.
That has helped to revive Tesco
shares which, though down 18 per
cent year-on-year, are up 28 per cent
so far in 2015. However, subdued
food price inflation and the growing
popularity of online grocery shopping
and convenience stores make for a
challenging outlook for out-of-town
supermarket chains, and analysts
expect Tesco to follow rivals by writing
down the value of its property —
pushing it to a statutory pre-tax loss.
— Reuters
research note.
“These two groups of investors are
totally different, and there will be certain
chemical reactions as they meet,” wrote
Charles Li, CEO of the Hong Kong
exchange (HKEx), on his blog.
HKEx data for 2014 shows mainland
investors made up only 5.1 per cent of
its total cash market trading by value,
lagging institutional funds from the
UK and United States, which together
accounted for over 20 per cent.
But that equation is changing
rapidly. The stock connect scheme
means Chinese investors can invest up
to 250 billion yuan ($40.3 billion) in
Hong Kong markets, and that quota is
expected to be widened this year.
And the Chinese flows are amplified
by foreign money riding on its coat tails.
All of which has pushed volatility in
the Hong Kong and Shanghai bourses
to record highs, producing wide price
swings.
The potential for vast and sudden
moves of liquidity in and out of the
Hong Kong dollar will also complicate
monetary policy.
Hong Kong operates one of the
world’s last remaining currency pegs to
the US dollar, which means it must buy
or sell dollars when the currency looks
set to exceed its daily trading band.
In recent days, the Hong Kong
Monetary Authority (HKMA) was
forced to intervene multiple times as
demand for Hong Kong dollars spiked.
“Invariably
the
investment
Hong Kong operates one of
the world’s last remaining
currency pegs to the US
dollar, which means it must
buy or sell dollars when the
currency looks set to exceed
its daily trading band.
opportunity at any one time will be on
one side or the other, and this is likely
to create sudden inflows and outflows
that will put pressure on the Hong
Kong dollar peg,” said Francois Perrin,
head of Greater China Equities for BNP
Investment Partners.
Two individuals familiar with the
exchange’s thinking said Hong Kong,
not Beijing, had originally requested the
imposition of quotas for the programme
for fear an exodus of capital into China
could put pressure on the exchange’s
trading system and the dollar peg.
HKEx said the quotas “were mutually
agreed between the regulators and the
exchanges as a means of managing risk
in the initial stages”.
HKMA declined to directly answer
questions related to the impact these
flows might have on monetary strategy,
but reiterated its policy to “monitor
the market developments closely and
maintain the stability of the Hong Kong
dollar”.
— Reuters
$13.6 bn GE loss due to finance sale charges
NEW YORK: General Electric reported a $13.6 billion first-quarter loss on charges from
its plan to sell most of GE Capital as profits rose in four of seven industrial businesses.
The big loss had been expected after GE said a week ago that it would take about
a $16 billion charge due to the GE Capital divestment. GE reported $3 billion in
profits in the year-ago period. The plan to sell most of its finance operations is part
of an overhaul directed by Chief Executive Jeff Immelt to emphasise the company’s
industrial and technological prowess.
In the first-quarter, a big gain in aviation profits and smaller increases in
transportation, appliances and lighting and healthcare made up for lower profits from
power and water and oil and gas. Overall industrial profits rose 8.6 per cent to $3.6
billion.
GE had said April 10 that it would take a charge of about $16 billion in concert with
the GE Capital sale to cover such costs as taxes on repatriated earnings and charges
on businesses held for sale. Friday’s earnings were also held back by the drag from the
strong dollar, which dented revenues by $950 million.
“GE performed well in the first-quarter, in an environment that remains volatile but
with continued growth opportunities in infrastructure,” Immelt said.
The plan to divest most GE Capital assets is “a major step in our strategy to focus GE
around its competitive advantages,” Immelt said. “We are reshaping the company.”
The results translated into operating earnings per share excluding charges of 31
cents, a penny above analyst expectations.
— AFP
Natural gas reservoirs under construction at the port of Sabetta in the Kara
Sea shore line on the Yamal Peninsula in the Arctic circle, some 2,450 km of
Moscow. The Yamal LNG (liquefied natural gas) project aiming to extract and
liquefy gas from the Yuzhno-Tambeyskoye gas field is scheduled to start
production in 2017. Russia’s Novatek holds a 60 per cent stake in the venture.
France’s Total and China’s CNPC hold 20 per cent each.
— AFP
Hunting’s operating profit declines
LONDON: Oilfield services company Hunting Plc said its first-quarter operating profit
fell about 60 per cent, hurt by falling global rig counts and reduced capital expenditure
across the sector. Hunting said its subsea, electronics and tubular component
machining sectors performed better in the quarter compared with last year, offsetting
weakness in its North American drilling tools business.
“The decline of 60 per cent y-o-y headline number looks severe at first glance, but
we highlight this was versus a much stronger environment in the first half of 2014,”
Barclays analyst Mick Pickup said in a note.
The company, which provides services and equipment for drilling, completing and
maintaining oil and gas wells, had said in February that it expected the impact of weak
oil prices to show up from the second-quarter.
The faster- and steeper-than-expected fall in North American rig counts
accelerated the impact of the slowdown, specifically the decline in the traditionally
sturdy Gulf of Mexico region, Finance Director Peter Rose said on Wednesday.
“That is an environment where we thought we would have some degree of
protection... but even there we are all seeing some rig contracts being cancelled and
we’re seeing some slowdown there.” Hunting said it had cut about 20 per cent of its
headcount so far this year, more than half of it in the United States, as part of a cost
cutting programme started in February.
— Reuters
20
omandailyobserver
PERSPECTIVE
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
AVIATION CONCERNS
Jumbo jet faces a make or break year at Boeing, Airbus
T
he jumbo jet, for many
years the workhorse
of modern air travel,
could be close to
running out of runway.
Last year, there
were zero orders placed by commercial
airlines for new Boeing 747s or Airbus
A380s, reflecting a fundamental shift
in the industry toward smaller, twinengine planes.
Smaller planes cost less to fly than
the stately, four-engine jumbos, which
can carry as many as 525 passengers.
The slump in sales of the jets has raised
questions over how long manufacturers
can sustain production. It has also fuelled
internal debate in both companies over
the future of the planes, sources said.
The outcome of those discussions
will affect the value of existing fleets
and thousands of production jobs at
the plane makers and their many parts
suppliers. Sales forces at Airbus Group
NV and Boeing Co are fighting for
potential orders plane by plane as they
seek to keep production going beyond
the end of the decade, said other aviation
market sources.
The aircraft makers are offering
discounts of at least 50 per cent from
catalog prices of around $400 million for
a jumbo jet, those sources said. Airbus
has said it is also considering a revamp
to make its ‘superjumbo’ more attractive
to buyers.
Boeing in September plans to slow
the pace of production of its latest 7478 model to an average of 1.3 planes a
month from 1.5 currently. At that rate
the orders it already has in hand will
only keep the production line going for
2 1/2 years.
The crunch, though, will come earlier
because it can take up to two years from
ordering the first part to finishing a jet,
and no one wants to start the process if
it is unclear whether the plane will be
completed and delivered to a customer.
“I can see demand for the 747-8 in
small numbers, but you have got to ask if
they can keep the production line open
if they don’t get some new orders,” said
Tony Whitty, chief executive of UKbased aircraft re-marketing firm Cabot
Aviation, which trades, manages and
leases jets. ‘‘You also wonder at what
price they are selling.”
Use of the 747 has dropped steadily
over the last two decades, reflecting the
rise of two-engine jets that have come
close to matching its range. Over the
same period production of large twinengined jets like the Boeing 777 has
risen seven-fold.
Last year, Boeing booked 283 new
orders for the 777 and now has a backlog
of 547 orders. Airbus is more upbeat
than Boeing about the prospects for
jumbo jets but both now agree it has
become a niche category.
Airlines still need jumbo jets but
only for certain polar flights — where
a two-engine jet may be less safe than a
four-engine jumbo because of the lack
of places for an emergency landing —
and busy routes where landing slots
are scarce. The risk is most visible for
Use of the 747 has
dropped steadily over
the last two decades,
reflecting the rise of
two-engine jets that have
come close to matching
its range.
Old airplanes are stored in the desert in Victorville, California recently. — Reuters
Boeing, where investors could face
a $1 billion accounting charge if 747
production is shut down, according to
company disclosures.
Boeing recently received a highprofile boost with a provisional order for
two new jets to serve as Air Force One
for the US President but the 747’s future
depends a lot more on sales of the muchless glamorous windowless freight
model. That has a unique hinged nose
and can carry very large equipment,
such as oil drilling rigs. So far this
year, Boeing has sold three. Atlas Air
Worldwide recently said it plans to order
more for its cargo fleet, but wouldn’t say
when or how many.
The world’s biggest 747 freight
customer, Cargolux, also says it likes the
plane, but has a pending order for only
three. A sustained upturn in air freight
traffic could secure the 747 a longer
future. International freight traffic rose
4.8 per cent last year, but volume has
only just recovered from a collapse in
2009 during the financial crisis.
THE TOWNTURN
Canada’s oil sands determined
to weather price plunge
F
alling oil prices have
slowed the phenomenal
expansion of Canada’s oil
sands extraction trade
but the industry remains
optimistic it is only a
temporary setback. The price of oil fell
$60 from June 2014 to January 2015,
resulting in a massive budget deficit for
the Canadian province of Alberta which
will receive C$7 billion ($5.7 billion) less
in energy royalties this year, forcing the
local government to hike taxes and cut
services for the first time in a generation.
It has been a tremendous shock for
this oil-rich region after a decade-long
boom that saw home prices soar, a
new car in every driveway and jobs for
everyone.
“The downturn has been brutal,”
said Brad Herald, vice-president of the
Canadian Association of Petroleum
Producers (CAPP).
Oil company executives initially
expected the global energy slump to
be temporary and oil prices to soon
bounce back, but they now admit a
return to prosperity could take longer
than imagined, commented Robert
Schulz, a professor of petroleum land
management at the University of
Calgary.
Herald acknowledged the initial
forecasts were wrong. However, he
added: “We’ve seen ups and downs. If
you look back at the past 30 years, we
had five or six dips in the market, they
all happened because of slightly different
reasons but the fundamentals of supply
and demand usually get restored.”
In the meantime, the industry has
been slimming its liabilities, laying off
workers and putting new mega-projects
on hold.
Over the past six months, Canadian
firm Suncor shed 1,000 jobs in the
Alberta oil sands. American firm
ConocoPhilips and its partner Parisbased Total cut 200; China’s Nexen
slashed 350; and Anglo-Dutch group
Shell announced 300 layoffs.
From September to February, a total
of 20,000 jobs in the oil sands were lost,
according to the Canadian government
statistical agency.
“When companies are taking
Boeing reckons some 143 older
freighters will need to be replaced,
stretching demand for the 747 through
the 2020s, the programme vice
president, Bruce Dickinson, said in an
interview. “We know there is a long-term
market for this airplane and some of
the unique things it can do,” Dickinson
said from his office overlooking the 747
production line at the giant Everett plant
near Seattle.
But Boeing’s effort to sell new 747s is
overshadowed by the many older 747s
MARKETING STRATEGY
China’s DJI drones
flying high among
US companies
C
The Syncrude oil sands mine is seen recently in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Canada is one of the world’s five largest energy
producers thanks to this unconventional sources located in northern Alberta, in the boreal forest.
decisions on personnel, (firing people)
is the last thing they want to do,” Herald
commented.
Total, meanwhile, has suspended
development of two out of four oil
sands bitumen deposits. Chief executive
Laurent Maurel said the two on the
chopping block were simply “not
financially viable” at current oil prices.
In his Calgary office, surrounded by
maps and geological surveys of the oil
sands, however, he insisted that foreign
interest in Canadian oil remains strong.
Each year, global oil reverses diminish
“by 4.5 billion barrels per day, and new
deposits must be mined or extracted to
meet growing consumption,” Maurel
explained.
“The 2015 price of oil is irrelevant.
What matters is what happens in the
long-term,” he said.
Despite recent setbacks, he noted,
Total remains committed to extracting
130,000 barrels of oil per day from the
oil sands by 2018, representing five per
cent of the company’s global output.
The petroleum industry has forecast
Long-term forecasts unveiled
in February, however, point
to a doubling of oil sands
output to about six billion
barrels per day by 2035.
new investment in the oil sands to fall
this year by one-third, to C$46 billion.
Long-term forecasts unveiled in
February, however, point to a doubling
of oil sands output to about six billion
barrels per day by 2035. This year and
next, the industry will likely see small
increases of 150,000 barrels of oil per
day, before it picks up.
The double whammy of low oil
prices and a lengthy delay in obtaining
US permits to build the Keystone XL
pipeline connecting the oil sands to
refineries in the US Gulf Coast, and
other proposed pipelines to Atlantic
and Pacific ports in order to reach
— AFP
foreign markets, are widely seen as
minor obstacles that cannot hold back a
nation hellbent on exploiting its natural
resource wealth.
“When we announced Keystone
in 2008, oil prices were below $40 per
barrel. They rose to $100 and came
down again, so we’re less influenced by
short terms spikes,” said Mark Cooper,
a spokesman for pipeline builder
TransCanada. “Our shippers will remain
committed to Keystone.”
Even as the sector struggles in
landlocked Alberta, it is eyeing another
potential new energy source offshore
and further north.
The US Geological Survey thinks the
Arctic seabed could hold 13 per cent
of the world’s undiscovered oil and up
to 30 per cent of its hidden natural gas
reserves.
Several Arctic oil exploration
expeditions were recently suspended.
But Herald said: “The sector will
remain interested in (the Arctic) for
decades to come given the sheer size of
the potential deposits.”
—AFP
available for lease, which have suddenly
been made more attractive because of a
big slide in fuel prices since the middle
of last year. Leasing companies say there
is scant interest in new 747-8s when 82
freighters are baking in desert parking
lots.
The older planes can be leased for as
little as $400,000 a month, compared
with up to $1.4 million in monthly lease
payments for a new 747-8 freighter,
experts say.
“That’s a pretty big difference,” said
Gueric Dechavanne, vice president at
Collateral Verifications, a Connecticutbased aircraft appraisal firm. Some
companies have extended 747 leases for
three to four years, said Aengus Kelly,
Chief Executive of leasing company
AerCap.
“It’s a challenge to lease a freighter,”
Kelly said. ‘‘It’s definitely a challenge to
sell them.” Airbus’s A380 is a newer plane
— its first flight was almost exactly 10
years ago — and has become a mainstay
of Middle East carriers that offer opulent
suites to first class passengers. — Reuters
hinese drone maker SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd has established
a strong early lead in the US commercial market as companies
turn to its inexpensive, light-weight flying devices for a host of
uses from shooting films to mapping and site inspections. Sixty-one of the
129 companies that received regulatory approval to use unmanned aircraft
are using DJI drones, or 47 per cent, far ahead of its nearest rival, a Reuters
review of federal records as of April 9 shows.
Nearly 400 other companies, more than half of the 695 businesses still
awaiting approval, have applied to use DJI drones. Shenzhen-based DJI,
whose best-selling Phantom 2 Vision+ drone retails for around $1,200 in
the United States, estimates that it already has about 70 per cent of the
commercial market worldwide and a larger portion of the consumer
market. Federal records also suggest that DJI is quickly expanding its US
market share, thanks in part to a new process speeding federal exemptions
for companies that intend to use drones previously vetted by regulators.
DJI accounted for about a third of the roughly 50 exemptions granted by
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from last September through
mid-March.
But it has claimed
just over half of the 89
exemptions received since
then. Industry experts say
basic drones such as DJI’s
are likely to drive the US
commercial market for the
foreseeable future, meeting
business demand for uses
such as aerial photography for site inspections, real estate promotions and
video production.
The market for more sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is
being limited by FAA policy that restricts commercial drone flights to lineof-sight operations at altitudes of 500 feet (152 metres) or less.
Those rules are complicating efforts by e-commerce giants Amazon.
com and Google Inc to develop high-tech drones capable of delivering
packages over long distances.
“Those limitations effectively rule out larger UAVs, which are not going
to be cost-effective with that sort of restriction,” said Philip Finnegan, the
Teal Group’s director of corporate analysis. ‘‘It’s really going to drive things
towards the low end of the market.’’ The Teal Group expects the US market
for commercial drones to reach $5.4 billion in sales by 2023. Founded in
2006 by Chinese entrepreneur Frank Wang, DJI generated nearly $500
million in revenue in 2014, up from $130 million in the prior year.
It expects to exceed $1 billion in sales this year and is in talks with
investors to raise new capital. A person familiar with the discussions said
DJI, valued at $10 billion, is also pursuing partnerships. The emergence of
a Chinese company as a dominant player in a new US technology market
has so far not raised concerns in Congress. Other Chinese technology
companies including telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co
Ltd have been accused by US lawmakers of posing national security risks,
hurting their chances of building a substantial US business.
DJI’s US business customers include American International Group
Inc, Commonwealth Edison Co in addition to a host of lesser known firms
in real estate, insurance, energy, agriculture and film and television.
Due to safety concerns, US companies are banned from using drones
unless they obtain an FAA exemption.
— Reuters
TECHNOLOGY
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
omandailyobserver
GADGET
ROBOTIC KITCHEN
Robotic hands cook any dish
with skill of a master chef
A UK robotics firm has developed a robot that
can help replicate the gastronomical experience of
dining on first-class, professionally-cooked dishes
created by the world’s top chefs.
The all-in-one robotic kitchen invented by
Moley Robotics can create any dish from scratch by
mimicking the actions of a human being preparing
that dish. The first Moley Robotics Kitchen, which
took the audience at the Hanover Messe industrial
festival in awe, demonstrated how it can cook a
crab bisque by copying the exact hand and arm
movements of BBC’s Masterchef winner Tim
Anderson. The new kitchen robot comes with a
set of two very expensive arms and hands that was
developed by Shadow Robot, the same company that
supplies robotic hands for Nasa. Each hand has 24
joints and 20 motors and has access to the robot’s
own built-in sink, hob, oven and work surface.
The demonstration showed the robot adeptly
acting out all the steps in Anderson’s recipe, from
turning on the hob, gently slicing a pat of butter,
blending the tomatoes in a pot and stirring the
tomato in with the other ingredients. It can also
place the finished crab bisque into a clean, white
bowl with no drips.
Moley Robotics plans to sell its new invention
to the UK public by 2017. During the two years
between now and then, the company hopes it can
find a way to mass produce its robots and reduce
the cost to £10,000, or approximately $14,600. That
may seem expensive, but a survey carried out by The
Times shows most Britons spend between £5,000
($7,388) and £20,000 ($29,545) for their kitchens.
Since this kitchen robot already has a number of
kitchen appliances and furniture built in, it is likely
to appeal to homeowners with a bigger budget and
who want to have an automated machine cook
dinner for them while they chill out in the living
room to wait. In the future, Moley Robotics is also
considering adding a dishwasher since right now,
the kitchen robot can only place the used pans and
dishes in the sink.
4K TV
Vizio unveils its new M-Series 4K TVs starting at $600
VIZIO unveiled its new M-Series 4K TVs with
full array backlighting, better image processing for
fast-action scenes, and a spatial scaling engine for
upscaling HD content to Quad HD. The M-Series 4K
TVs start at $600 for the 43-inch version all the way
through $4,000 for the 80-inch TV.
Two things are preventing 4K from going
mainstream. One, the lack of 4K content, which
content providers such as Netflix and Amazon are
working on, and two, the expensive prices of most
4K TVs.
To address the relative lack of 4K content, Vizio
included a spatial scaling engine that will upscale
full-HD content of 1080p resolution and even 720p
resolution images and videos to Quad HD, or two
times the resolution of full-HD. It’s not as good as 4K,
but Quad HD definitely looks good onscreen. Also,
Vizio outfitted its M-Series with support for the most
popular apps with 4K support, including Netflix,
Amazon Instant Video, UltraFix, and ToonGoggles.
Vizio’s M-Series features a slim profile with an
ultra-thin bezel that Vizio says will contribute to an
‘immersive’ viewing experience. The TVs also come
with a two-sided remote with a backlit QWERTY
keyboard, which will make it easier for users to
search for 4K content.
‘‘Ultra HD is here to stay and consumers are
continuing to seek out technologies that deliver a
more immersive entertainment experience,’’ says
Vizio Chief Technology Officer Matt McRae in a
statement.
Asus VivoWatch boasts
stainless steel body and
10-day battery life
ASUS has released a trailer for its second smartwatch offering, called
the VivoWatch, which boasts a classy stainless steel design and
promises a huge 10 days of battery.
The watch follows the Asus ZenWatch, which was considered one
of the better-looking smartwatches at the time of its release.
One of the most interesting things about the new device is the fact
that it does not run Android Wear like its predecessor, instead opting
for an operating system that it developed specifically for the watch.
The new operating system is based on Android, but supposedly offers
a little classier take
on the operating
system.
The device will
be announced at a
full event tomorrow
morning,
which
will take place
during
Milan
Design Week.
It’s
also
interesting to hear
that the VivoWatch
will last a massive 10 days on a single battery charge. In contrast, the
Apple Watch will only last one day on a single charge, making Asus’
offering far better for those who do not like to have to remember to
charge their devices or who plan on taking the watch on things like
camping trips.
On top of the better-than-average battery life the device will also
come with an IP67 rating to help it out against water and dust, about
the same level of resistance as other weather-resistant smartphones
and fitness wearables. For the fitness junkies it will include a heart rate
monitor as well as sensors to enable sleep tracking.
Speaking of the Apple Watch, Asus seems to be competing directly
with Apple, not just in releasing a smartwatch but also in offering a
smartwatch with a stainless steel design. What will likely set Asus’
offering apart from the Apple Watch is the fact that it will likely be
far cheaper, with the Apple Watch Sport starting at $349 and the
standard Apple Watch starting at $549. The ZenWatch currently costs
users $199, and while the VivoWatch will likely cost a little more than
this, it would be hard to imagine the device costing more than $299,
especially as some might be a little cautious about a device that does
not run Android Wear.
AUTOMOBILE
Bajaj Auto introduces
Pulsar AS 200 motorbike
Rajiv Bajaj (R), Managing Director of Indian motorcycle manufacturer Bajaj Auto
Ltd, poses with Pulsar AS 200 motorbike after its launch in New Delhi last week.
The new Pulsar range, aimed at young riders for long-distance weekend
getaway runs, is equipped with a muscular fairing and extended visor. One of
the main attractive features is projector headlamps, which is claimed to be a
segment-first. The Pulsar AS 200 is powered by a 199.5cc triple spark, 4-valve
and liquid-cooled DTSi engine. The Pulsar AS 200 is powered by a 199.5cc
triple spark, 4-valve and liquid-cooled DTSi engine.
SMARTPHONE
Huawei P8 arrives with full-metal case and octa-core chip
CHINESE phone maker Huawei has
unveiled the Ascend P8 smartphone in a bid
to take on the Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6. The
handset was unveiled at an event in London,
and follows last year’s Huawei Ascend P7.
The P8 has a larger 5.2in 1920x1080
screen, which doesn’t quite match the likes of
the Galaxy S6 screen with its 5.1in Quad HD
2560x1440 577ppi Super Amoled display.
The Huawei P8 gives a full metal unibody
case measuring 6.4mm thick.
21
Joonsuh Kim, head of Huawei mobile
design, said: “When users hold the P8,
they can recognise its solid, cutting-edge
technology with premium quality.”
The firm was keen to highlight the P8’s
“completely flat” design and chamfered
edges, which it claims makes the handset
easy and comfortable to operate with one
hand, despite the 5.2in screen.
Huawei claimed that the handset’s camera
is the world‘s first four-colour 13MP RGBW
sensor, offering 78 per cent less colour noise
in low light. This is paired with ‘best in class’
Optical Image Stabilisation, a digital SLRlevel imaging signal processor and two-tone
flash. There’s also an 8MP camera on the
front of the handset, which Huawei said is
perfect for taking group selfies.
The Huawei P8 is powered by a 2GHz 64bit octa-core Kirin 930 processor and 3GB
RAM, alongside 16GB of storage. There’s
also a microSD slot, which doubles as a
second SIM slot.
The handset arrives with Android 5.0
Lollipop and, as is typical with Huawei
smartphones, the firm’s Emotion skin.
There’s also a feature that allows the owner
to shout if it’s misplaced. The P8 responds
through the built-in speaker. The Huawei P8
also ships with 4G LTE support, a 2,680mAh
battery and Signal+ technology. The Huawei
Ascend P8 will be available in champagne,
gold, silver and grey priced from €499.
22
LEISURE
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
Online Editor’s Choice
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
CARTOONS
ADAM @ HOME
3 Something written with diplomacy
about the ruling head (5)
8 Cat man? (5)
10 Pursuit, possibly on a horse (5)
11 A favourite trumpet piece (3)
12 Having it in person may be vital (5)
13 Points a piece of furniture out as
being reasonable (7)
15 Sportingly describable as the
slippery slope? (5)
18 Of Urdu derivation, it means no
good (3)
19 There’s spiritual advice to keep this
up (6)
21 In which girls may be all bent on
playing the game (7)
22 Make a bit healthier! (4)
23 Don’t go to the wrong spot (4)
24 Afoot, a frightening thing to say to
Jim? (3,4)
26 It’s sad when tracks go round an
endless line (6)
29 Terry has little means of
communication (3)
31 To a saint, yes, they can affect
viewers (5)
32 A note one left of negligible
significance (7)
34 Jelly snake, I see (5)
35 Made a hole in the dough? Oh no!
(3)
36 How Moira goes native (5)
37 In school, Derek became so
inevitably (5)
38 Playful talk? (5)
DOWN
1 Swim round the pierhead and drive
off (5)
2 See intricate detail as something
strongly defensible (7)
4 Unusually meaty? (4)
5 A good house converted cheap at
Leatherhead (6)
6 Processed, some nicotine is
medicinal (5)
7 Diminish what the seaman had to
eat (5)
9 Boy in trouble, naturally (3)
12 Men of the traditional school? (3,4)
14 An objectionable word? (3)
16 Slip along and get the fish (5)
17 Burst out with pure nonsense on
finishing last! (5)
by Brian Basset
CALVIN AND HOBBES
by Bill Watterson
GARFIELD
by Jim Davis
STONE SOUP
7
9
12
14
16
17
19
20
21
23
24
25
27
28
30
32
33
CR O SSW O R D
ACROSS
THURSDAY’S CRYPTIC
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 9, Ha-ilsto-rm 10, Intricate
12, Pike 13, Do well 14, Non-iron 15,
Ran-sacked 17, Dispenser 18, Nat-tier
19, C-leave 20, Stay 23, Curling up 25,
Marsupial 26, Made 27, At-home 29,
Cracked 32, N-ectar-ine 34, Minus-cule
35, Bearing 36, Corker 37, C-l(ittl)e-o
38, Con-tinu-es 39, Introduce.
19 Such synthetic stuff can show a split,
note (7)
20 Fragments said to follow fission? (5)
21 Smart refusal to be put out of the
race (5)
23 The way to give the firm support (7)
24 So pigs can spread it? (6)
25 Female always in the news (3)
27 Is it bound to be a salt product? (5)
28 Hotheaded pair of listeners, one
learns (5)
30 Intoxicating Elgar composition (5)
32 That optically disadvantaged trio?
(4)
33 Result of wet weather in Bermuda
(3)
EASY PUZZLE
ACROSS
3
8
10
11
12
Brief (5)
Biscuit (5)
Wear away (5)
Friend (3)
Shut (5)
13
15
18
19
21
22
23
24
26
29
31
32
34
35
36
37
38
1
2
4
5
6
DOWN: 1, Chaperon 2, Sick and tired
3, Co-worker 4, Imp-end 5, Dislodge 6,
Stand’s over 7, P-I-on-eer 8, Penny-royal
11, Ac-R-e’s 16, A-CID-ic 19, Cap(e)
21, Think out loud 22, Mu-RA-ls 23,
Coming back 24, Getting out 25, Mae
(May) 28, Over-cast 29, Converts 30,
Do-es over 31, Pacific (Islands) 33, Chain
34, Martin(i).
Tidied (7)
Narrow (5)
Professor (3)
Stop working (6)
Colonised (7)
Metal (4)
Type of grass (4)
Greeted (7)
Human (6)
Was seated (3)
Take unlawfully (5)
Fantastic (7)
Polite (5)
Kernel (3)
Start (5)
Wonderful (5)
Toy bear (5)
DOWN
Cheerful (5)
Deceived (7)
Grasp (4)
Relaxed (6)
Handle (5)
THURSDAY’S EASY SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 9, Agony aunt 10, Nectarine
12, Dole 13, Female 14, Unaware 15,
Capricorn 17, Transient 18, Puppets
19, Tennis 20, Aped 23, Elaborate 25,
Centenary 26, Toys 27, Elopes 29,
Against 32, Notorious 34, First-rate
35, Unicorn 36, Change 37, Alas 38,
Sightseer 39, Tin-opener.
DOWN: 1, Handicap, 2, Lollipop lady
3, Numerous 4, Strain 5, Unbeaten 6,
Occupation 7, Malaise 8, Repeatedly
11, Image 16, Icebox 19, Tee 21, Plain
sailing 22, Depart 23, Extinguish 24,
All-rounder 25, Cos 28, Postcard 29,
Arrogant 30, Treasure 31, Prior to 33,
Thing 34, Feasts.
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 question of
property may
cause you
some concern
in the coming
year and it will
be advisable
to enlist the
services of
a competent
expert for
professional
advice. You
have a good
chance of
making a nice
profit, providing
the matter is
handled right.
Don’t be too
greedy.
Viper (5)
Distant (3)
Fundamental (7)
Bed (3)
Heaped (5)
Prepared (5)
Denial (7)
Hovels (5)
Sword (5)
Entourage (7)
Salty (6)
Label (3)
Freshwater mammal (5)
Understood (5)
Afterwards (5)
Gentle (4)
Trophy (3)
Haima . . . . . . . . 23436013 . . . . 23436055
Sohar . . . . . . . . . 26840022 . . . . 26840099
Al Buraimi. . . . . 25650855 . . . . 25652319
Sur . . . . . . . . . . . 25440244 . . . . 25461373
Tanam . . . . . . . . 25499011 . . . . 25499033
Masirah . . . . . . . 25404018 . . . . 25404018
Ibra. . . . . . . . . . . 25470533 . . . . 25470535
Adam. . . . . . . . . 25434167 . . . . 25434055
Bidiya . . . . . . . . 25483535 . . . . 25483535
Ibri . . . . . . . . . . . 25491011 . . . . 25491990
Saham . . . . . . . . 26854427 . . . . 26855148
Khasab . . . . . . . 26830187 . . . . 26830187
Dibba. . . . . . . . . 26836443 . . . . 26836443
Burkha. . . . . . . . 26828397 . . . . 26828397
Sinaw. . . . . . . . . 25474338
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
March 21April 20
April 21May 20
May 21June 21
June 22July 21
July 22August 21
August 22September 22
You are wasting time and energy trying to decide between two
courses of action. Make up your
mind now and stick to your
decision.
Don’t underestimate the intelligence of one of your
colleagues, who may greatly resent your tendency to talk down
to him.
This may be your lucky day for
swinging a deal which you have
hesitated over in the past. If you
have made up your mind, go with
confidence.
You could be happier if you
forgot the luxuries you may
never be able to afford, and made
the best of the simple pleasures of
life.
An
absorbing
new
interest will provide an antidote for
the constant worry you feel about
things you are in no position to
change.
There should be come good
news soon in connection with
a long standing financial matter
and you will begin to feel more
confident about your future.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
September 23October 22
October 23November 21
November 22December 21
December 22January 20
January 21February 19
February 20March 20
Once you make up your mind to
do without certain luxuries, you
will be surprised how little you
miss them, even though you have
misgivings at present about it.
Impatience
on
your
part
may lead to time-consuming
complications,
which
easily
could have the effect of delaying
your progress.
Don’t break up a useful connection in a moment of
annoyance,
if
by
doing
so you are likely to hinder your
progress.
You are most fortunate in being
able to enjoy even the smallest
pleasure in life in spite of the fact
that things are not always going
too well.
It would make for a much better atmosphere at home if you
undertook your fair share of
household chores without trying to avoid them by making
excuses.
Have confident in your own opinion and don’t let others persuade
you that they know better. Your
ideas are as good as theirs until
proved otherwise.
CLASSIFIEDS
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
omandailyobserver
23
Situation Wanted
MANAGER/ Business
†‡˜‡Ž‘’‡–‘ˆϐ‹…‡”ǡ
young, talented,
enthusiastic Indian
male, MBA having
excellent managerial
experience (Around
5 years) in MultiNational companies,
including GCC
experience. Ready
to join immediately.
Contact 92700670.
E-mail: fardhaan@
gmail.com
·····
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.
·····
Lost
Situation Vacant
URGENTLY required
IT Teacher male or
female for a school in
Oman. 24696254,
24491912, 99547714.
·····
SENIOR marketing
executive required
for leading shopping
complex is Salalah
for immediate
appointment.
Experience in same
ϐ‹‡Ž†’”‡ˆ‡””‡†Ǥ‘–ƒ…–ǣ
E-mail: mctbookings@
gmail.com
·····
LOOKING for an Indian
Legal Adviser (Ghanim
al Saidi Advocates and
‡‰ƒŽ†˜‹•‘”•ˆϐ‹…‡Ȍ
97283490, 95555393.
·····
WANTED
1. Expert in marketing
lab equipment.
2. Pathologist for
managing lab referral
service.
™ Males only.
™ Driving Licence.
Send CV with photo to:
mubasu23@gmail.com.
·····
REQUIRED Chief
welder - minimum 4
years experience. Fax:
25437122.
·····
WANTED Professional
Trainer for soft skills.
Send your CV to eetco@
yahoo.com
·····
REQUIRED Salesman
ˆ‘”‘‹Žϐ‹‡Ž†•…‘’ƒ›ǡ
must have experience
‘‘‹Žϐ‹‡Ž†•ƒ††”‹˜‹‰
licence. Contact:
alkhatwa2009@hotmail.
com
·····
REQUIRED
Salesman cum
Hardware Engineer
for Computer
Shop at Ruwi with
minimum 2 years
experience. E-mail:
strns1@gmail.
com 98825805/
98825806.
·····
REQUIRED (M/F)
waiters and a captain
with Gulf experience.
If in Oman, local NOC
required. Contact
95339249.
VACANCY — Light
driver (1), Heavy
driver (1), and a
diploma holder in Civil
Engineering.
Interested in the
vacancies may call .
97299373.
·····
WANTED: 1. A/C
Mechanic; 2. Electrician
plumber; 3. Computer
hardware Tec. Contact
No. 99447257/
97014234 mansur75@
hotmail.co.uk.
SYRIAN Mashavi Cook
and Moroccan Lady
Cook for Qurum Beach
Hotel.24704994 or
99238012.
·····
WE need HSE personal,
Salesman and Electrical
Supervisor with Omani
Driving licence. Apply to:
grandmuscat@yahoo.
com Contact No: 00968
95714746.
·····
SALESPERSON with
‘—–†‘‘”Ȁϐ‹‡Ž†‡š’‡”‹‡…‡ǡ
NEW International School minimum 5 years
in building material
in Oman begins in Sept
industry, having valid
·····
2015. The announced
Omani driving licence.
vacancies
are
as
follows:
1. WANTED an
Contact 99467248,
1. Principal, 2, Early
experienced Window
Years & Foundation Stage 99232901
Tint and body paint
and Cambridge Primary · · · · ·
protection installer to
work for a well known
Teachers (Homeroom
SALES Manager of
brand.
and Co-teachers), 3.
Medical
device, GCC
2. Wanted an experienced Operational Manager,
Manager and Marketing 4. Parents Relationship experience driving
licence, preferably
employee to work for
Manager, 5. Admission
pharmaceutical based.
a well known window
Manager. Please submit
tinting business.
a resume/CV and open
Biomedical Technician
3. Wanted an
letters of references to:
with sales experience
experienced Engineer to gharsoman@gmail.com
in medical devices,
manage a new elevator
marwa@amjad.com.
GCC experience,
installation
kw or contact us on:
driving licence.
and maintenance
0069555789779/
Contact 24520056.
business. Call:
0096894665998.
E-mail:
info@
93332224. e-mail:
khalidmedicalsupplies.
abdullah.alhinai86@
·····
com
gmail.com.
FILIPINA Housemaid,
·····
·····
with release required
WANTED Sales Manager, for a family in Medinat
Required
Al Alam. 24704994,
for a leading Interior
99238012.
Fitout and Furniture
Reputed engineering
Supply Company in
·····
consultancy firm in Muscat
Oman. Experience:
REQUIRED family driver looking for following
7+ years, preferably in
with valid Omani driving placement:
Oman. Salary:
licence. Accommodation
negotiable.
1. Omani Secretary
will be provided.
Preference for Omani
(Female)
92230282.
nationals. Interested
2. Autocad Technician
candidates may please
·····
(Omani female)
forward their resume to
REQUIRED Public
e-mail id: recruitment.
3. Civil Engineer min 5
‡Žƒ–‹‘ˆϐ‹…‡” with
hr73@gamil.com
years experience having
7 years experience.
driving licence
·····
95955041.
4. Electrical Engineer
URGENTLY required
·····
degree/diploma min 3
Accountant/Accounts
years experience.
Executive with 7 to 10
CIVIL Engineer min 4
years experience. Send
yrs experience. Send CV:
E-mail: alfurjar06@gmail.
the CV to hr-gdm@
ansari_eruv@yahoo.co.in com/ hope4u99@icloud.
outlook.com
99194949.
com
·····
·····
·····
·····
MUHAMMED Aslam
Kalliath Kunjahamed
has lost Indian
passport No
G6936910. Finder
please handover to
ROP.
·····
MOHAMMED Aseef
has lost Bangladeshi
passport No
KG567757. Finder
please handover to
ROP.
·····
NOOR Mohammed
has lost Bangladeshi
passport No
AF9887070. Finder
please handover to
ROP.
·····
Car for Sale
4WD Chevrolet
Suburban 2013 is
offered for sale by the
owner. Only instalment
payment is required.
contact.96778877.
·····
BMW 745i, 2002, silver
with black, very good
condition, good price.
99328280.
·····
For Sale
USED portacabin (5
Nos) for sale.
Interested parties
may contact Mr Arif
on GSM No
99259157/
92332088 at NTS
Ghala Camp for
inspection. Sealed
offers should be
submitted on or
before 17.03.2015.
·····
SHOP vacant for sale in
Muscat City Centre
Seeb (MCC) 52 sq
metres. Best for
restaurant, Cafe, Juices,
price is negotiable for
any further quires.
99886656.
·····
BICYCLE stocks
clarance sales to be
brands of bicycles in
Sohar. 99416824.
·····
2 PRIME Movers Man
2008 with 40 ton petrol
tank each working at
the moment in Al Maha.
Price RO 35,000,000
each. 97000155 or
92688692.
·····
23, 886 sq mtrs
agriculture land with
water well in Al Salwa,
Barka, RO 260,000,000.
99333479 or
95215360.
·····
RUNNING Scrap
Business Sale with 60
Ton weigh bridge, press
machine and cutting
sets, cylinders etc.
92295780. e-mail:
abh67@Live.com
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†͸
ϐŽƒ–•ǡʹ͹ͲǡͲͲͲǡͲͲͲǤ
99333479 or
95215360.
·····
·····
Scrap Business Sale
INDIAN male,
mechanical
engineering, 2
years experience
in fabrication and
erection of heavy
structures as a
project engineer now
on visit visa seeks
suitable placement.
92151818. E-mail:
krishnakumarkkq@
gmail.com
·····
PAKISTAN Civil
Diploma, 3 years
experience in Oman as
a building Site Engineer,
shop drawing, building
quantity, building
layouting, maintenance
dumpy levelling.
Having driving licence,
seeks suitable job.
99012590.
·····
MALE, 22 years,
B.Tech in Mechanical
Engineering Fresher,
seeks suitable
opportunity to gain
experience. Currently
on Visit Visa. Contact:
98067184, Email :
calvinjsp@gmail.com.
com
·····
MALE, 25 years, MBA
IT + BSC electronics.
Having 3 years
experience in TI support
currently on visit visa.
Looking for suitable
placement. Contact
92364368. e-mail:
noble008kochethu@
yahoo.com
·····
BE, graduate civil
engineer, 5 years
experience in Oman in
building construction
and having valid Omani
driving licence. NOC
available, seeking
suitable placement,
preferred location
Muscat, please.
91228110, 95386955
·····
BANGLADESHI male, 30
years, 1 year experience
in driving.98072199.
·····
WORKING, 8 years
experience in Kuwait
I know to make Thai,
Italian, Arabian and
Chinese food. Contact
98854305.
·····
FINANCE Manager CA
Rank Holder, young
talented Indian Female
having 5.5 years
‡š’‡”‹‡…‡‹–Š‡ϐ‹‡Ž†•
of Accounts/ Auditing/
Finance. Ready to join
immediately. Contact
92530131. E-mail:
catanalur131@gmail.
com
·····
MANAGEMENT
professional, resultsoriented with
strategic thinking,
integrity. 11 years
Oman experience.
Excellent track
record in EPC/
Media/ Services/
Health Care handling
admin, operations,
Credit, management,
international
procurement,
etc. Immediate,
release. Contact:
98179887.
·····
INSTRUMENTATION
B-Tech Indian Engineer,
4 years experience in
various production
companies Automation
work. (Steel plant,
Fertilizer, Chemical,
‡ϐ‹‡”›ǡ’‘™‡”’Žƒ–
Project) in coordination
with Honeywell,
Yokagawa etc. In India
and Middle East project.
Excellent skill in PLC,
DCS site commissioning
work, looking for good
opportunity. Contact
93670890. E-mail:
mojin.a.kabeer@gmail.com
·····
MALE, 24, BCom, MBA
™‹–Šϐ‹ƒ…‡ƒ†ǡ
currently working in
ƒƒ•ϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ
associate since 1
year and 2 months, 6
months experience as
operational manager,
good communication
skills, need challenging
carrier. Wish to come
on visiting visa, if any
good opportunities.
91265020,
+919645776761. e-mail:
jijosrgo@gmail.com
·····
PAKISTANI male, 26
years, B Com, looking
for job in IT support.
Worked with Central
Bank of Oman as a
Resident Engineer in
Help Desk Support. Also
I have administration
experience. Visa
with NoC. Contact.
97849053. E-mail:
owaiskhan9@hotmail.
com
·····
FEMALE, 27 years,
‘ǡˆϐ‹…‡ǡš…‡Žǡ
and Tally. 3 years
work experience in an
ƒ—†‹–‹‰ϐ‹”ǡ•‡‡‹‰
suitable placement.
Contact 94298075.
e-mail: nisha_mohanj@
yahoo.co.in
·····
LOGISTICS, Indian
male having 20 years
experience in IAF and 10
years in Oman staying at
Thumrait, seeks suitable
placement.92346087.
·····
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: a.almashari@omandaily.om
SUNDAY l APRIL 19, 2015 l JUMADA AL THANIA 29, 1436 AH
editor@omanobserver.om
www.omanobserver.om
RENTING & LEASING
Tours and Airport Transfer
Tel: 24582663
GSM: 95859497,
Fax: 24582664,
abcrent@omantel.net.om
·····
AHAD 2000 for rent car.
93203481, 93204595.
·····
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.
·····
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.
·····
Tourism
ARE you looking for a
voyage with your
family on a legacyboat, including
buffet? Only with RO
15/-. For more info@
ƒŽƒ‹ƒ‹–‘—”‹•Ǥ
com 92808636.
·····
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: pcomctom@omantel.net.om
P. O. Box: 565, Wadi Kabir,
Postal Code: 117,
SULTANATE OF OMAN
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.
Investment
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
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.
·····
INVESTOR required.
New project under
process. Gourmet
sweet brand. Call:
91131398.
·····
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.
·····
Announcement
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.
SANDOS of Babel
Transport Trading
And Contacting
(recommendation),
announces that
it is intending to
convert its name
to Line Spectrum
International L.L.C.
(recommendation).
Beneficiaries should
be informed of the
changes.
·····
·····
AYURVEDIC
Treatment, Yoga
Massage &
slimming. Web
address: www.
siddhayur.com
92504980/
24475280.
·····
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
SPECIAL Rates on
New Cars & 4 WDs
For Sale/Rent
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
PEST CONTROL
OMAN CO. LLC.
CCTV & IT solution
CCTV, Time
Attendance,
LAN, Wan, DSL,
PABX Exchange
installation, Laptop,
Printers and Copiers
repairing. Contact
99161542,
96092925.
·····
on UNBEATABLE prices
AII HP, Epson, Canon,
Lexmark, Samsung
Cartridges also available
Ruwi: 24792-792
comsuply@omantel.net.om
QURUM BEACH
HOTEL24564070.
·····
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
For Rent
For Rent
VILLA for rent in
Wattayah 3 bedroom,
sitting room, garage.
99071071.
·····
1 BEDROOM, 2
bedroom +
showroom, 18
November road, Al
Athaiba.
999565364,
99617786.
·····
VILLA in Al
Ansab consists
of 6 bedrooms, 6
toilets and a large
kitchen is for rent.
99363504.
·····
4 BEDROOM villa at
Madinat Al Alam RO
1100/-.
NEW 2BHK flat with split
A/C G floor behind
Khimjimart Darsait RO
400/ONE BHK at Ruwi Opp
police station RO 300/24790449. E-mail:
infoajest@gmail.com
·····
ONE flat in Al Saada Salalah, 3 bedrooms + 3
bathrooms + sitting room +
kitchen + store. monthly RO
200. 99290277.
·····
VILLA for rent in Misfa Bausher 99203083.
·····
A FLAT in Al Maabela
encompasses 3
bedrooms, majlis, living
room, kitchen (spacious)
and 4 toilets. Contact
99357404.
·····
A ǧhouse in Al
Maabela encompasses 2
bedrooms, kitchen, living
room, and 3 toilets.
Contact 99357404.
CLASSIFIED SECTION:
All Cartridges also available
COMPUTER SUPPLIES
Guest House
·····
1510 Printer
RO 11.000 only
HP
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
Rent a Car
2 STOREY villa
encompasses 2 majlis
along with toilets, 2 living
rooms and 3 bedrooms
along with toilets and
located in a nearby place
in Maabela supplied with
water service. Contact
99357404.
·····
BEDROOM furniture villa
at Maabela 5. For more
details pls call
99382752.
·····
LIVING room & utilities in
Al Hail, 3 bedrooms,
sitting room
92817777.
·····
FURNISHED flat in South
Al Maabela. 3 bedrooms +
living room + kitchen + 3
bathrooms. Area 185
sqm, Price: RO 400.
99354052.
·····
A 1,500 M2 commercialresidential plot is offered
for rent or investment in
Al Maabela. Interested,
please call 95646045.
·····
FLATS for rent 1 BHK in
Al Khuwair 33.
99800494.
·····
NEW 2 BHK flat with split
A/C Ground floor behind
Khimjimart Darsait. RO
400. One BHK at Ruwi
Opp police station RO
300. Details Tel Office.
24790449 or email:
infoajest@gmail.com
·····
300 sqmts available in
Wadi Kabir. Suitable for
workshop or warehouse.
96001855.
·····
1 B/R available in Rex
Road, Ruwi. 99889590.
·····
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.
·····
2 BEDROOM flat in Al
Ghubra near Oman Oil 18
November Street, RO 330
monthly. 99333479 or
95215360.
·····
A FLAT for rent, 2
bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,
1 sitting room, kitchen for
RO 350. Location: At Al
Ghubrah North, near to Al
Ghubrah Health Centre.
92277043/ 95347854.
·····
MAWALEH 6, commercial
2 flats, 5 rooms and its
belongings 99350213.
·····
Services
ONE STOP SHOP
BUSINESS SERVICES
Public relation
Services (PRO),
Auditing, Formation
New Companies,
Foreign Investors
Visa, Legal Services.
Contact Saleh:
96723485.
·····
ȍ͵
VILLAS for sale/
rents WADI
KABIR/AL
KHUWAIR),
ȋŠ‘’•Ȁ‘ˆϐ‹…‡•ˆ‘”
rent/ Al Khuwair)
(Flats for rent/
Wadi Kabir).
ͻ͸ͷͻ͸͵ͶͺǤ
·····
Sale and Buy
OFFICE & Household
furniture and
electronics items.
99834373,
97102699.
·····
Services
ͳǤ AC maintenance
and servicing.
ʹǤFridge, washing
machine and dish
washer repairing.
͵ǤPainting and
cleaning services. ͶǤ
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 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.
·····
ͳǤ
SERVICES
ʹǤ
TRANSLATION
SERVICES
STOP!!!
Good News to all our dear
customers: Our PRO will
˜‹•‹–›‘—”‘ˆϐ‹…‡ȀŠ‘—•‡
to collect documents for
typing or clearing and
will deliver the same on
completion.
Our services include
typing all forms related
to Ministry of Manpower,
Immigration, eg, visas,
renewal of visas, all
services related to
Ministry of Commerce &
Industry, eg, 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 of
”ƒˆϐ‹…Ǣƒ†ƒŠƒ„‡”
of Commerce & Industry.
Translation of legal
documents. Medical
reports, commercial agency
agreements, literature,
catalogues (Languages:
Arabic, English, French,
Spanish & Italian)
Our Address: Ruwi,
Adjacent to Gulf Transport
Co. (GTC).
Telephones: 24793331
/24794286
GSM: 99231500
/96777170/ 95959838
Managed by: Salim
Khalfan al Hadi (33
years of experience in
management)
·····
Ali al Maashari: 99639264 ali.almashari@omandaily.om
e-mail: classified@omandaily.om
Mohammed al Rashdi: 99841230 m.alrahdi86@yahoo.com
DIRECT: 24649595 — FAX : 24649590
SUNDAY | APRIL 19, 2015 | JUMADA AL THANIA 29, 1436 AH
P26
P27
P28
Inside
McCullum, Smith star in CSK win City aim to avoid Hammer blow up Kiradech late stutter keeps Uhlein in the game FOLLOW US ON:
www.omanobserver.om
editor@omanobserver.om
GCC CUP: Leading the charge for the Sultanate in Kuwait will be the experienced Azaan al Rumhy, Ali Hameed and Amjad al Toky
High hopes for Oman golfers at GCC Cup
MUSCAT: An Omani team, comprising
a total of nine players, is confident of
making its presence felt at the 2015 GCC
Cup golf championship, which will be
played in Kuwait City, Kuwait, from
April 22nd to 25th.
Coach Milo Breitenwischer will travel
to Kuwait with the Omani side, along
with Mundhir al Barwani, Chairman of
the OGC, and Ahmed al Jhdhamy, ViceChairman of the OGC.
Leading the charge for Oman will
be the Sultanate’s premier golfer, the
experienced Azaan al Rumhy, who will
spearhead the senior team. The fourmember senior side will also feature
Hamed al Rumhy, ali Hameed and
Amjad Al Toky.
The Omani contingent, which
has been selected by the Oman Golf
Committee (OGC), also includes a
ladies’ team as well as a junior team. The
Omani ladies’ team includes Huwaida
Mansour al Barwani and Asma al
Rashdi. Oman’s three-member junior
team, meanwhile, consists of Hamood a
Harthy, Rashad al Harthy and Fahad al
Kitani.
The action will take place at the
Sahara Kuwait Golf Course and the
competition will be played on the stroke
play format. The men’s event will have 24
participants, while the junior circuit will
involve 18 players. The women’s play will
have a total of eight competitors — from
Oman, UAE and Qatar.
Al Barwani, who announced the
team at a press conference held in the
Ministry of Sports Affairs, said: “It’s yet
another opportunity for Omani golfers
to showcase their talent at the GCC
level. They have done well in the past
and I have every reason to believe Azaan
and the others as well will put in their
best efforts.”
Al Jhdhamy observed: “The level of
competition in GCC golf tournaments
is quite high these days. I am sure our
players will enjoy the challenges in
Kuwait while also picking up some
invaluable experience along the way.”
The Omani squad will reach Kuwait
City on April 20th and will go through
a practice session the next day. The
competition will begin on April 22nd;
with the ladies’ and juniors’ events
lasting three days and the seniors’
Hamood al Harthy (left) and Rashad al Harthy
competition lasting four days.
‘Rosberg lacks backing, must stay cool’
BAHRAIN GP
SAKHIR, BAHRAIN: Former Formula
One driver Gerhard Berger believes
Nico Rosberg lacks “the complete
mental and emotional backing” in the
Mercedes team in the battle with teammate Lewis Hamilton.
The world title last season has
boosted Hamilton’s position in the team
which “is a disadvantage for Nico,” the
Austrian told Germany’s Sueddeutsche
Zeitung in an interview published on
Saturday.
Rosberg, beaten by Hamilton to the
title last season and behind the Briton in
all three races and qualifying so far this
season, “must keep his nerve,” Berger
said.
“He has to exploit Lewis’s weaknesses
and look to see when the time plays
right for him,” Berger said.
Hamilton leads the drivers’ standings
on 68 points going into Sunday’s Bahrain
Grand Prix.
Rosberg is on 51 behind Ferrari’s
Sebastian Vettel on 55.
Rosberg is “under pressure” because
Hamilton is again leading.
The German could get back in front
“but in the last few weeks I have not
liked his body language,” Berger said.
There was tension between the two
Mercedes drivers after Rosberg accused
Hamilton of compromising his race in
China last Sunday by driving too slowly
while leading.
Mercedes AMG Petronas German driver Nico Rosberg stands in the pits during the
Berger said Rosberg’s complaint third practice session ahead of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir
— AFP
“was not helpful” to him, adding: “In circuit in the desert south of the Bahraini capital, Manama.
‘For a racing driver it is
incredibly difficult to be
second. You think in that
moment the world is
collapsing. The main thing is
to stay very cool and carry on
doing your thing’
principle everyone drives for himself.
In a race Nico wouldn’t also be
considering how he can help Lewis.”
Berger, 55, experienced a similar
situation to Rosberg when he was
second best to McLaren team-mate
Ayrton Senna when the Brazilian won
the 1990 and 1991 titles.
“For a racing driver it is incredibly
difficult to be second.
You think in that moment the world
is collapsing,” he said.
The main thing is “to stay very cool”
and “carry on doing his thing.”
Rosberg now has to use this tactic
“but I fear he has not yet got that far.”
Berger said there had been many
seasons when the championship was
won not by the strongest driver but “the
one that calculated the coolest.”
In 1984, fellow Austrian Niki Lauda
just beat McLaren team-mate Alain
Prost, and Prost did the same to Senna
with McLaren in 1989 when Senna “was
clearly the quickest,” Berger said.
— dpa
BAHRAIN
GP
F1 committed to
‘human rights’
DUBAI: Formula One has committed
itself to respecting human rights ahead
of Sunday’s controversial Grand Prix in
Bahrain, which Amnesty International
has accused of rampant rights abuses.
The group is “committed to
respecting internationally recognised
human rights in its operations globally,”
according to a statement on its website.
Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s
Fifth Fleet, has been rocked by unrest
since security forces crushed Shiiteled protests in 2011 demanding a
constitutional monarchy and an elected
prime minister.
The tiny Gulf state banned public
demonstrations in 2013 but Bahraini
rights activists’ seek to highlight the
situation each year as the annual event
gets underway outside Manama.
In a “Statement of Commitment to
Respect for Human Rights,” Formula
One said that while “respecting human
rights in all of our activities, we focus
our efforts in relation to those areas
which are within our own direct
influence.”
It said the group would take
“proportionate steps” to “understand
and monitor through our due diligence
processes the potential human rights
impacts of our activities.”
That would identify and assess “any
actual or potential adverse human
rights impacts with which we may
be involved either through our own
activities or as a result of our business
relationships, including but not limited
to our suppliers and promoters.”
The statement makes no reference
to any place in particular, including
Bahrain.
Amnesty’s Middle East and North
Africa deputy head Said Boumedouha
said on Thursday that “four years
on from the uprising, repression is
widespread and rampant abuses by the
security forces continues.
Bahrain’s authorities must prove that
the promises of reform they have made
are more than empty rhetoric.”
“As the world’s eyes fall on Bahrain
during the Grand Prix this weekend,
few will realise that the international
images the authorities have attempted
to project of the country as a progressive
reformist state committed to human
rights masks a far more sinister truth,”
said Boumedouha.
— AFP
Raikkonen’s Ferrari future depends on performance
MANAMA: Ferrari have told 2007
world champion Kimi Raikkonen that
performance and results will decide
whether he stays with the team after this
season.
The Finn is out of contract at the
end of the year, although Ferrari have a
further option on his services, but has
indicated he wants to stay on alongside
Sebastian Vettel.
Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene,
who has been complimentary towards
the 35-year-old, said he had made the
situation clear. “You want to know what
I said to Kimi? He was telling me about
the contract and I said to him ‘it depends
on your performance’,” he told reporters
at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
“And Kimi, he’s the kind of person
that appreciates when you’re talking
with him in a very transparent way and
straight to his face. Kimi knows, now it’s
early to talk about this at the moment.
“I’m happy about the performance of
Kimi but he needs to push and he knows
that,” added the Italian, whose team
have made a big step forward this year
and are now the closest challengers to
champions Mercedes.
Four-times champion Vettel joined
from Red Bull at the end of last year and
won the second grand prix of the season
in Malaysia while Raikkonen has yet to
stand on the podium in three races.
However, the Finn has been far
more competitive than in 2014 and
was quicker than Vettel in both Friday
practice sessions in Bahrain.
There has also been speculation
about world champion Lewis Hamilton’s
future at Mercedes, with the 30-yearold Briton out of contract at the end of
the year and yet to sign a new deal —
although that is said to be a formality.
Formula One supremo Bernie
Ecclestone stirred the pot when he
suggested Hamilton would be a perfect
fit for Ferrari.
— Reuters
26
omandailyobserver
SPORT
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
IPL: Mumbai Indians’ luckless campaign continued as they slumped to their fourth straight defeat
Smith, McCullum star in Super Kings win
MUMBAI: Openers Dwayne Smith and
Brendon McCullum gave an explosive
start, as Chennai Super Kings carved
out an emphatic six wicket win over
a lacklustre Mumbai Indians with 20
balls to spare at the Wankhede Stadium
here.
Dwayne Bravo (13; 5 b, 1 x4,1x6)
struck the winning runs with a
over boundary, as Chennai reached
189/4 in 16.4 overs, in reply to a
challenging 183/7 posted by Mumbai on
Friday.
Suresh Raina remained unconquered
on 43 (29 b, 4 x4, 2x6 ), to enable his side
register their third consecutive victory
in the ongoing tournament.
In contrast, Mumbai Indians’ luckless
campaign continued, as they slumped to
their fourth straight defeat in as many
matches.
The visitors got off to an electrifying
start with Smith and McCullum striking
SCOREBOARD
Mumbai Indians: L Simmons c du Plessis b
Pandey 5; P Patel lbw Nehra 0; C Anderson c
du Plessis b Nehra 4; R Sharma c Bravo b Nehra
50; H Singh c Jadeja b Sharma 24; K Pollard c
Smith b Bravo 64; A Rayudu c Jadeja b Bravo
29; J Suchith (not out) 0; R Vinay Kumar (not
out) 0. Extras (B-2, LB-1, W-4) 7. Total (for 7
wkts, 20 overs)183.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-6, 3-12, 4-57, 5-132,
6-181, 7-181
Bowling: A Nehra 4-0-23-3, I Pandey 3-1-221, M Sharma 4-0-43-1, R Jadeja 4-0-49-0, R
Ashwin 1-0-13-0. D Bravo 4-0-30-2.
Chennai Super Kings: D Smith c Sharma b
H Singh 62; B McCullum c Vinay Kumar b H
Singh 46; S Raina (not out) 43; F du Plessis b
Malinga 11; MS Dhoni c&b Pollard 3; D Bravo
(not out) 13. Extras (W-8, NB-3)11. Total (For
4 wkts, 16.4 overs)189.
Fall of wickets: 1-109, 2-115, 3-144, 4-166.
Bowling: P Suyal 3-0-28-0, L Malinga 4-0-401, J Suchith 2-0-33-0, H Singh 4-0-44-2, R Vinay
Kumar 2-0-18-0, K Pollard 1.4-0-26-1
the ball to all parts of the park.
The first fifty came in just four overs.
Smith and McCullum continued the
assault making a mockery of Mumbai’s
bowlers to pile up 90 runs in just six
overs.
Smith (62; 30b, 8 x4, 4x6) brought up
his half century in just 22 balls, whereas
McCullum (46; 20b, 6x4, 2x6) helped his
side reach the 100 run mark in just 6.5
overs.
With the duo smacking the ball
ruthlessly, Mumbai looked in sheer
pressure.
All Mumbai bowlers — R Vinay
Kumar, Jagadeesha Suchith, Pawan
Suyal, Lasith Malinga leaked heavy runs.
But skipper Rohit’s finally got success
by bringing in seasoned offspinner
Harbhajan
Singh,
who
evicted
McCullum off his second delivery.
It was double delight for Mumbai,
as the spinner in the same over got the
crucial wicket of Smith who was looking
really dangerous.
Chennai were then 115/2, but the
foundation laid by the openers made
it easier for the incoming batsman to
successfully hunt down the opponent
score.
Earlier, late assault by Kieron Pollard
(64 off 30 balls) and a timely knock
by skipper Rohit Sharma (50 off 31
balls) helped Mumbai Indians post a
challenging score.
The Mumbai duo rescued the
hosts from a jittery 57/4 by scripting a
rollicking 33-ball 75-run stand.
Opting to bat first, Mumbai got off to
a worst possible start after losing opener
Parthiv Patel (0)
Corey Anderson (4), and opener
Lendl Simmons (5) inside four overs.
Brendon McCullum
Tottering at 12/3, the hosts tried to
retrieve the situation by using the pinch
hitting capability of Harbhajan Singh
who had nearly pulled off an improbable
victory against Kings XI Punjab last
week.
Harbhajan straight away took on
the bowlers scoring a quickfire 24 off
21 balls, which included two fours
and one six. But Harbhajan’s short
innings came to an end in the 10th over,
which brought together Pollard and
Kuznetsova puts Russia into the lead
SOCHI, RUSSIA: Svetlana Kuznetsova
beat Julia Goerges in straight sets to
put Russia 1-0 up in their Fed Cup
World Group semi-final tie with visitors
Germany on Saturday.
The 29-year-old Kuznetsova won
6-4, 6-4 her fifth head-to-head meeting
with the world number 63 in one hour
four minutes to improve her win-loss
record to 4-1.
“It was a very nervous match as we
both wanted to show our best tennis
today,” Kuznetsova said.
“The key moment of the match was
in the middle of the second set when
Julia (Goerges) broke back to level.
“Luckily I managed to gather my
strength to win the first point for my
team.” With this win Kuznetsova,
currently 24th in the WTA rankings,
became Russia’s most successful player
in Fed Cup history with 27 wins so far.
The opponents both looked a bit
nervous from the start on the red clay
court of the Adler Arena producing a
catalogue of unforced errors.
But Kuznetsova, who enjoyed vocal
support from the local crowd, broke her
opponent’s serve twice for a one-set lead
in 42 minutes, while Goerges broke back
on just one occasion.
Kuznetsova started the second set
with an immediate break but Goerges,
26, who made 45 unforced errors in the
match, broke back in the fourth game to
Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova returns a ball to Germany’s Julia Georges during their Federation Cup World Group semifinal in
Sochi.
— AFP
level at 2-2. But Russia’s two-time Grand
Slam title winner produced the deciding
break in the ninth game minutes before
she won the set and the match on her
first match point.
The next match between Russia’s
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Sabine
Lisicki of Germany will feature the
second singles’ rubber.
In
Sunday’s
reverse
singles,
Kuznetsova will first play against Lisicki
and Pavlyuchenkova is then due to face
Goerges.
In Sunday’s last rubber Elena Vesnina
and Vera Zvonareva, a replacement for
injured Maria Sharapova, will play
Angelique Kerber and Andrea Petkovic
in the doubles.
— AFP
Sharma.
Rohit and Pollard went on the
offensive and fifty of the partnership was
completed in just 23 balls.
As Rohit was aiming to finish it off
for Mumbai, Nehra struck again. The
MONTE
batsman went for a slog to a slower
delivery, and finished in the hands of
Dwayne Bravo in the deep.
For Chennai Super Kings Ashish
Nehra was again the pick of the bowlers
with figures of 4-0-23-3.
CARLO
Berdych bursts
Monfils bubble
MONTE CARLO: Tomas Berdych
deflated the Monte Carlo Masters finals
dream of Gael Monfils as he posted a
6-1, 6-4 win on Saturday in just over an
hour.
Monfils showed little of the
surprising form that took him to upset
wins this week against second seed
Roger Federer and Bulgarian Grigor
Dimitrov.
Instead, the Frenchman slumped to
23 unforced errors and lost serve four
times.
The first set was a command
performance for Berdych, the Czech
emerged with the 2-1 lead as the second
set began with three straight breaks and
took victory in 68 minutes.
Berdych will be playing in his third
final of the season after losing title bids
in Doha and Rotteredm.
The sixth seed will on Sunday face
the winner from former champions
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal,
meeting later for a record 43rd time.
Berdych will be competing in a
fourth career Masters 1000 final and
first since losing to Federer in Madrid
three years ago.
‘I’m really glad to be in this
final. My serve was working
well and was key for me.
I’m so happy to have won,
this is something that I’ve
always had in my mind at
this event’
“I’m really glad to be in this final,”
said Berdych, who kept Monfils from
becoming the first Frenchman into the
final in the principality since Cedric
Pioline, a champion a decade and a half
ago.
“My serve was working well and was
key for me. I’m so happy to have won,
this is something that I’ve always had in
my mind at this event.”
The win was the sixth out of seven
for Berdych over Monfils, who had his
only success on the Roland Garros clay
in 2012.
Berdych has reached the final
without losing a set as he plays the
tournament for the 11th time.
— AFP
On the hardcourt of the CEZ Arena in Ostrava, world number 13 Safarova took an hour and 58 minutes to beat Caroline Garcia 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1
Safarova puts Czech Republic ahead of France in Fed Cup
Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic returns to Caroline Garcia of France during the
Federation Cup semifinal in Ostrava.
— AFP
Ostrava, Czech Republic: Lucie
Safarova handed holders the Czech
Republic a 1-0 lead over France in
the Fed Cup semi-finals after beating
Caroline Garcia in three sets in the
opening rubber on Saturday.
On the hardcourt of the CEZ Arena
in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava,
world number 13 Safarova took an hour
and 58 minutes to beat 29th-ranked
Garcia 4-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-1.
The Czech Republic’s world number
four Petra Kvitova will now face 58thranked Kristina Mladenovic in the
second rubber.
Safarova and Garcia held serve until
‘I’m terribly happy I
managed to come back
from those match points
in the second set and that
I brought the first point to
the locker room’
the tenth game of set one when an
aggressive, well-serving Garcia broke
her rival and closed out the set 6-4.
The second set went exactly the
same way but the 21-year-old Garcia
squandered five match points against
Safarova’s serve and the game changed
dramatically.
The 28-year-old leftie Safarova took
the set in tie-break after sweeping Garcia
7/1 and never looked back to breeze past
the stunned French youngster 6-1 in the
third set. “It was pretty wild, wasn’t it?”
Safarova beamed after the game.
“I’m terribly happy I managed to
come back from those match points in
the second set and that I brought the
first point to the locker room.”
“Of course I was nervous... but I kept
hoping, in tennis it’s not over until it’s
over, you can always come back, so I
played more aggressively and hoped it
would turn out differently in the end.”
In Sunday’s reverse singles, Kvitova
will first play against Garcia and Safarova
is then due to take on Mladenovic.
Karolina Pliskova and Barbora
Strycova were drawn against Cornet
and Pauline Parmentier for Sunday’s
doubles. The Czechs have won three Fed
Cup titles in the past four years, in 2011,
2012 and 2014.
The French, who last won the trophy
in 2003, are appearing in the Fed Cup
semi-finals for the first time since 2007
and attempting to reach the final, an
achievement they last pulled off in 2005.
—AFP
SPORT
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
omandailyobserver
27
EPL: City will be without Kompany, strikers Stevan Jovetic, Wilfried Bony, medio James Milner, defender Gael Clichy
PREMIER LEAGUE
City aim to avoid Hammer blow in top-4
No separating
top four and
FA Cup for
Mignolet
MANCHESTER,
UNITED
KINGDOM: Manchester City’s attempt
to remain in the top four of the Premier
League has been hampered by a fiveman injury list and the news that captain
Vincent Kompany may not play again
this season.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who
have slipped to the fourth and final
Champions League qualifying place, will
be without Kompany, strikers Stevan
Jovetic and Wilfried Bony, in-form
midfielder James Milner and defender
Gael Clichy for the home game against
West Ham United at Eastlands on
Sunday.
Belgium defender Kompany injured
his groin in last weekend’s devastating
4-2 Manchester derby defeat at Old
Trafford and Pellegrini conceded he
cannot say whether he will play again
over the remaining six games of a
disappointing campaign.
“He is injured,” said Pellegrini. “It’s
very difficult to know the way you will
improve if you are injured.
“We don’t know how many weeks he
will be out for,” the Chilean added. “He
has a muscle injury. We don’t know if
he will be fit from now to the end of the
season.”
City’s hopes of a successful
Premier League title defence had all
but evaporated before their defeat by
Manchester United last weekend —
their sixth loss in eight games in all
competitions.
‘He is injured. It’s very
difficult to know the way
you will improve if you
are injured’
Pellegrini is shaping up for a vital
six-game run to the end of the season
which will decide the fate of his team
— and possibly even his own job status,
as pressure mounts with every setback
and the names of Pep Guardiola, Patrick
Vieira and Jurgen Klopp thrust forward
as potential replacements.
“That is why every time you finish a
season you must analyse things, whether
you win or lose, that is important,” said
Pellegrini.
“I don’t think if we lost the next six
games it would be the same analysis as if
we won the next six games.
“If we win the next six games we
maybe finish second, if we lose the next
six games then maybe we finish eighth!
“After that, you must review the
complete season, make the correct
diagnosis and make the correct solution.”
TOURE TROUBLE
Pellegrini has also refused to
comment on speculation that key
players, such as under-performing
midfielder Yaya Toure, will be allowed
to leave the club after the season and
the manager insisted the Ivory Coast
international could still be an important
figure at City.
Manchester United’s Daley Blind in action with Manchester City’s Samir Nasri.
“I don’t think he’s happy with his
—Reuters
performance this year — and nor am
I,” said Pellegrini. “But we must support
him and return him to his normal
performance.
“Maybe if we play without Yaya when
he was at the Africa Cup and we’d won
all the games, then he comes back and
we start losing, maybe then you think
that.
“Yaya needs support, he’s a very
important player and he will have my
support until the end of the season.”
West Ham have won just two of their
last 15 league games and their hopes of
ending the season on a high have been
hit by an injury to Diafra Sakho, the
striker who tore a thigh muscle in last
weekend’s 1-1 draw with Stoke City.
Sakho is likely to miss the remainder
of the season, paving the way for Carlton
Cole to play a more prominent role in
the final weeks.
“Sakho has a thigh problem. He’ll be
out until maybe the end of the season,”
said Hammers manager Sam Allardyce.
“With Sahko out, we are a little short
in the goal-scoring department. So, I
am expecting Carlton to play a big role
for us in the next few games and he can
deliver for us against Man City.”
Allardyce, whose side are ninth,
added: “We want to finish in the top 10
because that would mean our highest
place in the three seasons since we got
back in the Premier League. That would
mean we have had a good season and
progressed in the right manner.” — AFP
LONDON: Liverpool goalkeeper
Simon Mignolet has said being
given a choice between a top-four
finish in the Premier League and
FA Cup victory is like being asked
to prefer one of his parents over the
other.
The Merseysiders face top-flight
rivals Aston Villa in a Wembley
semifinal on Sunday and by the
time they kick-off in London the
gap between them and fourth place,
currently occupied by Manchester
City, could have grown to seven
points. But with Liverpool yet to win
a trophy under manager Brendan
Rodgers, the chance to bring the FA
Cup to Anfield for what would be
the Northern Irish boss’s first piece
of silverware in charge of the Reds is
an important consideration as well.
However, Mignolet said: “The
next game is the FA Cup semifinal
so the focus is on that but you don’t
really choose between your mum
and dad so we still have two things
to play for and we will try to do
that from now until the end of the
season. “We want to do both — let’s
hope we can do both. We have the
FA Cup and league still to play for
and we want to do well in every
single game.”
— AFP
Report shows extent Gerrard eyes one last bid for FA Cup glory
of Balotelli abuse
FA CUP
LONDON: Liverpool and Italy striker
Mario Balotelli has received more than
4,000 racist messages via social media
this season, according to new research
from British anti-discrimination body
Kick It Out.
Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck
and Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge have
also been targeted with more than a
thousand discriminatory messages.
In total, Kick it Out’s research
estimates there have been 134,000
discriminatory posts this season,
and 39,000 of these directed towards
Premier League players.
English football has long prided
itself on its anti-racism policies,
contrasting them with what has
often been seen as a less enlightened
approach in other European countries
where racist chanting against black
players during matches — something
no longer commonplace in England —
still takes place.
However, Kick it Out’s evidence
suggests the anonymity of social media
is providing a new platform for racist
abuse of footballers in England.
Liverpool
manager
Brendan
Rodgers said he was taken aback
by the extent of the abuse directed
Balotelli’s way, saying: “I was aware of
the findings and I was surprised and
shocked.
“I think one message is one too
many to be honest. We support all
the relevant organisations who are
working to stamp all of this out.
“In the modern world and modern
football it is something which is very
much there, but we need to eradicate
all of it out of social life and professional
sport,” the Northern Irishman
added.
“I think it is the responsibility of us
all to help all the various organisations
stamp it out.”
Earlier, Kick It Out director Roisin
Wood told Britain’s Press Association:
“It is really shocking. We knew there
was an issue but even we were shocked
by how many the players have received.
For one player to have received
over 8,000 abusive messages is
phenomenally awful.
“We don’t see the problem going
away. Some of the perpetrators are
young people and they need educating
that you cannot sit in your room and
abuse people like this.”
Balotelli, who has suffered racist
abuse throughout a career which
started in Italy, was himself banned
for one match and fined £25,000
($37,548, 34,775 euros) in December
after being found guilty of breaching
Football Association rules by posting
a controversial image of Super Mario
on Instagram.
He was charged by the FA over an
image he reposted on the social media
site that contained the words “jumps
like a black man and grabs coins like
a jew” underneath a picture of the
Nintendo games console character.
— AFP
LONDON: Steven Gerrard is gunning
to lead Liverpool against fellow Premier
League side Aston Villa in an FA Cup
semifinal at London’s Wembley Stadium
on Sunday.
The Reds captain, in his final season,
with the Anfield club, is available after
missing Liverpool’s last three matches
through suspension, having been sent off
for stamping on Ander Herrera during a
2-1 league defeat at home to bitter rivals
Manchester United on March 22.
But now the question is how
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers
will deploy veteran midfielder Gerrard.
Liverpool native Gerrard has been a
one-club man in his 17-year professional
career so far, but he is set to bring down
the curtain on his time at Anfield come
the end of the season when he joins
Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles
Galaxy.
For Liverpool fans, the fairytale
finish would see former England captain
Gerrard lifting the FA Cup in a Wembley
final on May 30 — his 35th birthday.
Reds’ staff organised a behindclosed-doors friendly on Monday to
help assess Gerrard’s fitness but Rodgers
was in no doubt he could feature against
Villa
‘SPECIAL FOOTBALLER’
“Steven is definitely ready. We had a
game here on Monday that he played in,”
said Rodgers.
“He’s a special footballer. He has
always produced big goals and big
moments. The most important thing
is having him back for Sunday,” the
Northern Irishman added.
“He knows Wembley well. He’s got
‘He’s a special footballer.
He has always produced big
goals and big moments.
The most important thing is
having him back for Sunday.
He knows Wembley well.
He’s got special quality’
Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (second left) and manager Brendan Rodgers arrive for a
memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool on April 15, 2015, on the 26th anniversary
of the Hillsborough Disaster, where 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA
Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough football
ground in Sheffield.
— AFP
special quality.”
Liverpool also have a chance of
finishing in the top four and qualifying
for next season’s Champions League
but goalkeeper Simon Mignolet said
they shouldn’t have to decide between
dreams of Europe or FA Cup success.
“The next game is the FA Cup semifinal so the focus is on that but you don’t
really choose between your mum and
dad so we still have two things to play
for and we will try to do that from now
until the end of the season,” Mignolet
said.
“We want to do both — let’s hope we
can do both. We have the FA Cup and
league still to play for and we want to do
well in every single game.”
Both Liverpool and Villa have won
the FA Cup seven times, but whereas
the Reds most recent success was in
2006, you have to go back to 1957 for
the last of the Birmingham club’s Cup
triumphs.
This has been a gruelling season
for Villa, who sacked manager Paul
Lambert and brought in Tim Sherwood
but are currently just six points above
the bottom three and still not safe from
relegation
However, they head into Sunday’s
match with key striker Christian
Benteke, a Belgium team-mate of
Mignolet, on a run of nine goals in his
last eight games for club and country,
including he winner in last week’s 1-0
victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
“I still think I can do more, in
everything. I can’t say I’m happy to be
there now, I want to do more and more
and more,” said Benteke, who ruptured
his Achilles 12 months ago.
He added everyone connected
with the club was desperate their Cup
adventure didn’t end on Sunday.
“I think when you play a semifinal
you want to get to the end. You can’t
say you’re just happy to be there even if
you lose, you want to go until the end.”
Sunday’s winners will play either
Arsenal, currently second in the Premier
League or Championship side Reading,
who meet at Wembley on Saturday, in
the final.
— AFP
Some home supporters are planning to boycott the game in protest at the way the club has been run, but that will be a sideshow for Tottenham
Newcastle protest set to overshadow Spurs’ Europe push
Newcastle United’s Tim Krul (second right) punches the ball under
pressure from Liverpool’s Emre Can during the English Premier
League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in
Liverpool.
— AFP
NEWCASTLE, UNITED KINGDOM:
Tottenham Hotspur will attempt to get
their challenge for a top six finish back
on track against the backdrop of a fans’
demonstration at Newcastle United on
Sunday.
Some home supporters are planning
to boycott the game in protest at the way
the club has been run, but that will be a
sideshow for Mauricio Pochettino’s side,
who are bidding to bounce back following
the 1-0 home defeat by Aston Villa.
That loss left Spurs in seventh place and
seven points adrift of the top four, meaning
the north London club’s hopes of claiming
a place in next season’s Champions League
are effectively over.
Pochettino and his players will not give
up on the main prize until the mathematics
tell them otherwise, but their more realistic
target is to ensure a place in the Europa
League.
And after a run of one win in the last
four games, they must recover form quickly
if they are not to allow the season to fizzle
out tamely.
Tottenham centre-back Federico Fazio
said: “We need to think only about the last
six games now and try to get 18 points. It’s
difficult, but we can do it and we have the
team to do it.
“We need to be positive and to be
confident, that’s most important. We can
win these six games, it’s possible.”
Spurs will again look to striker Harry
Kane, who heads into the weekend joint
top-scorer in the Premier League with 19
goals and Pochettino maintained the young
England forward’s impact should earn him
the player of the year award ahead of Eden
Hazard, instrumental in Chelsea’s rise to the
top of the table.
“Hazard is a very good player. He
is fantastic,” said Tottenham manager
Pochettino.
“But I think not too many people
expected that Harry Kane would show the
performances that he has this season. This
is the difference I believe.”
The Spurs trio of Hugo Lloris, Jan
Vertonghen and Kyle Walker all face late
fitness tests.
CARVER CONCERN
For Newcastle, only two statistics will
matter. The scoreline will be crucial as
they attempt to end a miserable run of five
successive defeats, but the size of the crowd
will be studied as an accurate barometer
of the anger on Tyneside over the regime
of the club’s multi-millionaire owner Mike
Ashley.
There has been a growing groundswell
of support for a fans’ boycott of the match
in the past few days and even head coach
John Carver understands why unhappy
supporters are calling for the owner to
invest heavily in the team.
— AFP
28
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S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
SHENZEN INTL: The burly 25-year-old Thai was 15-under with a six-shot lead over playing partner Peter Uihlein by the time they got on tee
Kiradech late stutter keeps Uihlein in the game
SHENZHEN, CHINA:
Kiradech
Aphibarnrat will take a two-shot lead
into the final day of the Shenzhen
International, but knows he should have
a much bigger cushion after a disastrous
close to his third round on Saturday.
The burly 25-year-old Thai, who
started the day at eight-under par, was
15-under with a six-shot lead over
playing partner Peter Uihlein of the US
by the time the pair stood on tee at the
par-five 17th.
Kiradech pulled his driver left into a
fairway bunker. His third found more
sand at the greenside and a poor splash
shot left a 20-footer for par. The putt
slid three feet past and he inexplicably
missed a simple one back to record a
double-bogey seven.
Meanwhile, Uihlein was enjoying
some outrageous good fortune. He
hooked his drive even further left than
Kiradech but a ricochet off a golf cart
and the path upon which it was parked
catapulted his ball so far forward he
could go for the putting surface with his
second. Despite coming up short of the
green, a chip and a confident 18-footer
for birdie meant the lead was suddenly
reduced to three strokes.
Again Kiradech was wayward on 18
and failed to get up and down from right
of the green as Uihlein tapped in for par.
Kiradech signed for a four-under
par round of 68 and a 12-under total of
204 but his lead over Uihlein, who had
led overnight by one, was down to two
shots. “The way I played 16 holes was
great golf today,” said Kiradech after his
round. “It was mistake on the 17th, the
bogey putt. I think it was like too easy,
just knock it in, but that’s golf.”
He admitted he may have got
complacent with such a big lead after
trailing Uihlein by a stroke overnight.
‘SLOPPY BOGEYS’
“After great shots on 15 and 16 I was
thinking the game is done,” he added. “I
missed a couple of putts, but I’m still in
great shape.”
Uihlein wasn’t happy with his day’s
work despite a tidy finish to a round of
71. “I just made too many sloppy bogeys.
Four bogeys is a bit rough,” he said.
The round of the day belonged to
19-year-old Chinese number one Li
Haotong, who thrilled the spectators
at Genzon Golf Club in the southern
Chinese city with a seven-under par 65
to rise into a share of eighth place on
209. It was matched only by Spain’s Pablo
Larrazabal, who took sole possession of
third place with a total of nine-under
207 after his own 65.
Li, the world number 189, was
playing for the third day running in
the vaunted company of fourth ranked
Bubba Watson, but he comprehensively
outshone the double Masters champion
who stuttered to a two-over 74 after both
started the day at even par.
Kiradech has shown good form this
year, finishing in the top six at the US
PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational
Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand tees off during the third round of the European Tour’s Shenzhen International at Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen, southern China’s
Guangdong province.
in March. Now he wants to add to his at the 2013 Malaysian Open.
tomorrow. Get the score low and get the but after I go to sleep tomorrow is a new
sole European Tour victory which came
“I’ll try to do the same thing job done,” he said. “I made a bad finish, day.” — AFP
Fairtrade, Sinha qualify for Senior Cup finals
MUSCAT: Fairtrade recorded a
thrilling 1 wicket win with a delivery
to spare against OCT Seeb to book a
place in the finals. The 2 teams clashed
in the semifinal of the Khimji Ramdas
sponsored Senior Cup knock-out T20
match played in the morning session
during the week end at the Municipality
Ground No 1 at Al Amerat.
Invited to bat OCT Seeb were bowled
out for 157 off 19.5 overs thanks to a
brilliant 64 (40b, 1x6 and 5x4) from
skipper Yousuf Abdulrahim Bakhsh
Mahmood. Opening the batting Issa
Abdul Rahim Mahmood contributed a
useful 28 (27b, 6x4).
Prabhakaran K with figures of 4 for
23 off 4 overs was the pick of the bowlers.
Requiring 158 for a win and a place
in the finals Fairtrade were well placed
with the score on 103 for 2 wickets off
11 overs. With the exit of the openers
Salim Shaikh 35 (19b, 1x6 and 5x4), his
partner Prabhakaran K 32 (24b, 3x4)
and No 3 batsman skipper Ibrahim
Kutty 57 (33b, 3x4) wickets tumbled
and Fairtrade were reeling at 155 for the
loss of 9 wickets at the end of the 19th
over but managed to get to 160 without
further loss off 19.5 overs.
Abbas Abdul Aziz Mohamed al
Balushi bowled a tidy spell ending with
figures of 3/12 off 3 overs.
Brief scores: OCT Seeb: 157 all out off 19.5 overs
(Yousuf Abdulrahim Bakhsh Mahmood 64, Issa Abdul
Rahim Bakhsh Mahmood 28; Prabhakaran K 4-23) lt
to Fairtrade: 160/9 off 19.5 overs (Ibrahim Kutty 57,
Salim Shaikh 35, Prabhakaran K 32; Abbas Abdul Aziz
Sinha team
al Balushi 3-12).
SINHA OVERPOWER Z-AXIZ
In another Khimji Ramdas sponsored
T20 Senior Cup knock-out semifinal
match played in the afternoon session
at the same venue, Sinha overpowered
Z-Axis Media by 44 runs and earn a
place in the finals.
Opting to bat after winning the toss
Sinha aided by an opening partnership
of 102 runs off 11 overs between
Rangajeewa Perera 55 (39b, 4x6 and
— AFP
2x4) and his partner Nalaka Pathum 51
(32b, 2x6 and 4x4) piled up a mammoth
197 runs for the loss of 5 wickets at the
end of the 20 stipulated overs. Coming
at the fall of the first wicket Dhammika
Premadasa made a brilliant 49 (29b,
7x4). Vijeesh C Velunni picked up 2
wickets giving away 24 runs off 2 overs.
Z-Axis Media in their turn were
bowled out for 153 off 17.3 overs with
Vijeesh C Velunni opening the batting
top scoring with 48 (29b, 7x4). Kimberly
G Bentick 26 (13b, 5x4) and Sajith
Gopalakrishnan 21 (14b, 4x4) making
useful contributions.
Prabath Indika with figures of 3 for
36 off 4 overs was the pick of the bowlers
whilst Suresh Wethewa ended with
figures of 2 for 23 off 3 overs.
Brief scores: Sinha – 197/5 off 20 overs (Rangajeewa
Perera 55, Nalaka Pathum 51, Dhammika Premadasa
49; Vijeesh C Velunni 2-24) bt Z-Axis Media: 153 all
out off 17.3 overs (Vijeesh C Valunni 48, Kimberly
G Bentick 26; Prabath India 3-36, Suresh Wethewa
2-23)
RBC
HERITAGE
Laird two ahead,
Woods shoots 82
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, UNITED
STATES: Troy Merritt fired a recordequalling 10-under-par 61 on Friday as
he goes after a first US PGA Tour title,
out-shining the 62 of Masters champion
Jordan Spieth to seize the RBC Heritage
lead.
Merritt’s 12-under-par total of 130
put him four strokes ahead of defending
champion Matt Kuchar, who posted a
66, and John Merrick, who signed for
a 65.
“I had my tempo down the stretch,
especially with the irons,” said Merritt,
whose 10 birdies included seven on the
back nine — four in a row to end his
round with a bang. “It was fun to see
the putts roll in,” added Merritt, who
matched the course record set by South
African David Frost in 1994. “I plan to
enjoy the moment, hit some good shots,
not think about it too much and just
add them up at the end of the day,” he
said of his approach to the weekend.
Spieth helped get Friday’s birdie
bonanza going at Harbour Town, South
Carolina with nine birdies in his nineunder effort.
The round vaulted him into
contention after an opening 74 in which
he looked to be feeling a let-down after
capturing his first major title at Augusta
National on Sunday.
“I found something in my ball
position on the range this morning
and it made a significant difference in
my ball-striking and in my putting,” the
21-year-old Texan said.
He walked off the course with a
share of third on a leaderboard topped
by Kuchar, before Merritt roared to the
top.
Jim Furyk, the 2010 champion,
carded a seven-under 64 to join a group
sharing fourth place on 135, alongside
2013 winner Graeme McDowell (69)
and Kevin Kisner (67).
Spieth finished the day in a group
on 136 that also included South Africa’s
Louis Oosthuizen and Americans
Morgan Hoffmann, Matt Every and
Kevin Streelman.
He said his disappointing opening
round motivated him “a lot,” as did
playing alongside Kuchar.
“The hole looked bigger out there
with the putts he was making and I was
just trying to keep up,” Spieth said.
Kuchar finished the day with six
birdies and one bogey and enjoyed
his close-up view of golf ’s newest
sensation. — AFP
The Southern Italy club are on the back of eight consecutive league victories that has seen them take their goal tally to 58 for the season
Lazio play down title chances before Juventus clash
Lazio’s forward Miroslav Klose (left) controls the ball during the Serie A match
against Empoli at Rome’s Olympic stadium.
— AFP
MILAN: Lazio coach Stefano Pioli has
played down suggestions that equalling
Sven Goran Eriksson’s club record of
nine consecutive wins will put them
within sight of challenging Juventus for
the Serie A title.
Lazio have replaced city rivals Roma
in second spot in the Italian top flight
and sit 12 points behind Juventus ahead
of their top-of-the-table clash in Turin
later on Saturday.
Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri
underlined the danger of Pioli’s visitors
when he said the game was a “title
decider”.
But Pioli said: “Juventus have too
much of a lead for us to become a threat.
Even a win in Turin for us would change
little.”
Nevertheless, Lazio travel north on
the back of eight consecutive league
wins that has seen Pioli’s men take their
goals tally to 58 for the season — one
more than Juve’s total of 57.
A ninth consecutive win would
see Pioli equal a club record set by
Sven Goran Eriksson, who led the
Biancocelesti to their second scudetto
in 2000.
Pioli, meanwhile, claims a “more
mature” Lazio have learned their lesson
from a 3-0 defeat to Juventus in the
Italian capital at the end of November.
“That game served as a lesson for us.
We were far too generous and made the
mistake of trying not to concede goals,
and we lost our focus,” he added.
“Now, the squad is more intelligent
and more mature. This time, we’ll be a
lot more compact and that will allow us
‘Juventus have too much
of a lead for us to become a
threat. Even a win in Turin
for us would change little.
Now the squad is more
intelligent and mature.’
to concentrate on our own game.
“We have a chance to win this game
and we’ll certainly try. But trying to
equal the record (of nine wins) has
never been on our minds, we simply try
to focus on one match at a time.”
Juventus are looking to make up
for last week’s shock 1-0 defeat away to
Parma, and the Bianconeri were also in
action in midweek when they laboured
to a 1-0 win over Monaco in the first leg
of their Champions League quarter-final.
Allegri, for one, is not underestimating
the task against a side which he said is
having an “extraordinary season”.
“Tomorrow’s game could decide
the scudetto. Lazio are having an
extraordinary season and will come here
on the back of eight straight wins.
“At the start of the season nobody
would have imagined they’d be where
they are now. They can still reach 82
points and Roma 81, so nothing’s settled
yet.”
Allegri will still be without injured
Paul Pogba but is set to hand Andrea
Pirlo a start at the centre of midfield
after the Italy international made his
return from a five-week injury lay-off in
midweek.
— AFP
ENTERTAINMENT
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
Gwyneth Paltrow flunks
food stamp challenge
omandailyobserver
29
TINSELTOWN
Freida Pinto avoids
mirrors
F
our days proved too much for Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow when she tried
to get by on a $29 food-stamp budget, only to give up when chicken and
black licorice beckoned.
The “Iron Man” and “Shakespeare in Love” star was challenged by
celebrity chef Mario Batali to live on the equivalent of the average US
government food stipend for low-income families.
The goal was to raise funds and public awareness for the Food Bank For New
York City, which provides millions of free meals to New Yorkers in need.
With $29, Paltrow filled her grocery basket with a healthy-looking mix of
eggs, black beans, lettuce, kale, a tomato, some avocados and corn tortillas.
“As I suspected, we only made it through about four days, when I
personally broke and had some chicken and fresh vegetables (and in full
transparency, half a bag of black licorice),” she wrote on her Goop.com blog
on Thursday.
Giving herself a C minus for her efforts, Paltrow blamed income
inequality between men and women for the difficulties that “hardworking
mothers” face in feeding their families.
Paltrow, a mother of two, was seen on Tuesday at a Los Angeles film
promotion event that featured with an $80-a-head prix fixe menu —
although it’s unclear if she ate from it, the E! showbiz network reported.
One in seven Americans, or 46 million people, live on what the US
government officially calls the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Programme, or SNAP.
The US Department of Agriculture, which
oversees SNAP, puts the weekly cost of food for a
young family of four at between $151 to $247.
If Paltrow, 42, was trying to prove the nearimpossibility of living on food stamps alone, the
point was missed by many critics on social media.
“Looks like Paltrow did some conscious
uncoupling from her food stamp week,” snickered
one cynic on Twitter, riffing off the way she and
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin labelled their 2014
divorce.
Achingly hip New York feminist blog Jezebel.
com summarily dissed the oft-derided Paltrow as
“typically clueless.”
But all was not lost: Paltrow duly posted on Goop
three recipes for turning her food-stamp grocery
shopping into appealing meals.
They included black bean taquitos, black bean
cakes with grilled corn salsa and brown rice, kale and
roasted sweet potato saute with poached eggs. — AFP
A
ctress Freida Pinto says she isn’t interested in the way she looks and
often avoids looking at her reflection in the mirror.
The “Slumdog Millionaire” star isn’t interested in constantly
checking her appearance and is aware her beauty often works against her
when it comes to landing gritty roles, although she is keen to change people’s
opinions of her in the industry, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
“It’s not necessarily the way I see myself. In fact, I don’t even like to look
at myself in the mirror. But I’m aware of the perception and I always say that
if it’s because of that one line in ‘Slumdog...’ where Latika is described as ‘the
most beautiful girl in the world’, then I have to do everything that I can to
change that perception,” Pinto said.
Rumer Willis left feeling ‘awful’
A
ctress Rumer Willis says she
felt “awful” after getting bullied
online. The 26-year-old, eldest
daughter of Hollywood stars Bruce
Willis and Demi Moore, juggled
working part-time at a Marc Jacobs
boutique with acting and voice lessons
and auditioning for roles after leaving
college, but still felt judged for her
looks and celebrity parents.
“It was really hard. I would read
that stuff and feel awful.
I thought, ‘I don’t even get a
chance?’ People still don’t necessarily
know that I work, they just have
Meghan Trainor to
endorse plus-size brand
Shah Rukh wins Asian
Award in London
S
B
inger Meghan Trainor, known for her
voluptuous figure, has been unveiled as the
new ambassador of FullBeauty, an online
destination where plus-size men and women
can find style advice, inspiration and clothing
specially for their shape.
The 21-year-old revealed that she is thrilled
with the collaboration as the brand shares in
her desire to inspire and empower women
“no matter what shape or size”, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
“I want women to feel inspired by my
music and feel confident and beautiful, no
matter what shape or size.
My songs are all about loving yourself
for who you are and feeling confident.
I would tell anyone who is hearing
criticism to ignore it, to remind yourself
that you are special and beautiful.
“I believe that all women should fully love how they are and how they look.
I am proud to partner with FullBeauty brands, a company that embodies this same
message,” Trainor said.
The singer is a huge fan of FullBeauty’s swimwear range and revealed she may even
try her hand at designing her own line in the future.
“At the moment, I want to have fun with fashion in a not-so-serious way. I only love
to wear clothes that make me feel comfortable and beautiful.
ollywood superstar Shah Rukh
Khan won an Outstanding
Contribution
to
Cinema
honour in London at the fifth annual
The Asian Awards, where he was
seen partying with the likes of One
Direction’s former band member Zayn
Malik.
The event was held at the Grosvenor
House Hotel on Friday.
Shah Rukh said he felt “humbled
and honoured” to receive the award.
“I say this very often that my
stardom belongs to most South East
Asians who reside abroad who have
made the Indian cinema and me
known around the world.
I congratulate all the winners at the
Asian Awards as well.”
“There is so much talent around Asia and so many achievers, whether is
was Dr Amar Bose, the Hinduja Brothers or Zayn Malik.
I am glad to have been a part of such a wonderful celebration of hard work
by people in different field but similar passion,” he said in a statement.
Hosted by fashion icon Gok Wan and founded by entrepreneur Paul Sagoo,
the Asian Awards dazzled with an array of global celebrities, dignitaries and
influencers.
opinions,” Rumer told people.com.
The “House Bunny” star admits she was sometimes “ill-prepared” for life
in the spotlight but still took the online abuse “really personally”.
“I would go to an event and I didn’t realise I needed to do my make-up.
Online, people really started getting ugly.
People always say, ‘You signed up for this, you’re an actor,’ but I used to
take it really personally,” she said.
But these days, Rumer, who is competing on the current season of
“Dancing With the Stars”, has learned not to worry too much about what
other people think of her.
She added: “If you let your value be determined by what other people
think, you’re screwed.”
Your dressing
says a lot, says
Alia Bhatt
B
ollywood actress Alia Bhatt, who
has launched the spring summer
2015 line of ladies fashion accessories
brand Caprese, agrees that a person’s
dressing reflects one’s personality.
She suggests a complete look,
taking care of even the handbag that
you carry.
“I feel a lot can be said from your dressing, and a nice accessory such as a
good handbag always completes the look.
The new collection depicts the light colours, apt for the summer and is
very fashionable.
INTERVIEW
Looks count more than talent in India, says Marzi Pestonji
A
Q NATALIA NINGTHOUJAM
ce choreographer Shiamak
Davar’s former students like
Shahid Kapoor and Sushant
Singh Rajput are now among soughtafter Bollywood actors.
But Marzi Pestonji, who assists
Davar, is in no mood to join the league
as he believes “good looks” come first in
Indian showbiz.
Pestonji has been associated with
Davar for almost two decades.
Asked if he would follow in their
footsteps, Pestonji said: “Do I look like
an actor? Do you want a film to flop
before it releases? In India, talent is not
that great (a factor).You don’t need to
have talent. You need to have good looks
first.
It’s not happening with me.”
“I’ve accepted it and I’m happy about
it. Acting is not happening. Besides, you
need to learn up so many words in one
time and speak not possible,” added the
former “Dance India Dance” judge.
Hence, he is content making small
screen appearance as judge on dance
based shows.“I’am happy doing this. I
don’t want more,” said the choreographer,
who will co-judge Star Plus’ upcoming
dance reality show “Nach Baliye 7” with
actress Preity Zinta and author Chetan
Bhagat.
How is it teaming up with them? “It’s
been awesome because I know Preity
for a long time. I’ve known her because
we have done work together. I work for
Shiamak, so I’ve done a lot of award
shows with her and also tours. Chetan,
I don’t know.
I’ve heard of him. This is the first time
we are meeting,” he said.
What about his approach towards
judging the celebrity contestants?
“My approach might be a little
different because they are not that great
dancers. They are celebrity couples.
Keeping that in mind, my approach will
be little different towards judging them.
I think I will be more strict so
that I can take out the best in them,”
said Pestonji, who will be assisting
Davar on “Jagga Jasoos”. The jazz and
contemporary dance expert says he is
involved in “everything” that Davar does
and has no interest in doing individual
project.
“I’m not adventurous. I’m not
ambitious. I’ve been with Shiamak for
almost 20 years. It’s been a long time to
say that ‘Now, I want to do something of
my own’. He has done the hard work.
I’ve had the fruit of his hard work,” he
said.
“I teach dance. That’s my priority.
All the knowledge that you have, if
you don’t impart to others, what’s the
point of having it? I like to give back.
So that takes a lot of time.‘Nach
Baliye’ is just one day in a week, so that’s
nice. Had it been every day impossible.
I wouldn’t have taken up the project,”
he added.
The Commerce graduate also notes
that “dance has got more credibility
now”.
“Earlier dancers were looked down
upon. When I started off in 1992-1993,
my family also asked me if I was sure
about it.
But my father told me to finish my
graduation first,” he said. “Then in 1997,
‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ (choreographed by
Davar) came. — IANS
30
LIFESTYLE
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
BALLET
The Sultan’s School Art
Auction on Wednesday
T
he Sultan’s School Art Auction, now
in its fourth year is a fund raising
charity event. It is a CAS project,
organised by Heather Ford, Head of
Primary Art, and a dedicated team of
Year 12 IB students. CAS stands for
Creativity, Action and Service, and it is an essential
part of the International Baccalaureate diploma. The
CAS programme runs alongside their academic studies
and gives students the opportunity to make their mark
in the community. The students involved are Anisa al
Raisi, Mohammed al Hajri; Suhail al Mukhaini, Safwan
al Kathiri, Muhallab al Ismaily, Haitham Zakwani,
Salim al Barwani, Jowhar al Kharusi, Intisar al Habsi,
Fatma al Busaidi, Amira al Azry, Rawnaaq al Ismaili,
Tasnim al Maawali, Amani al Barwani and Usama al
Mughairi.
They have worked tirelessly for many months and
will be the hosts on the night.
The Sultan’s School Art Auction brings together
the whole community to celebrate the arts. Students
from the school, their parents, the staff and many
prestigious artists and photographers, have donated
original artworks to be sold in an auction for charity.
Last year they raised RO 5,500 for Dar al Hanan,
Oman Cancer Association, a home away from home,
for children with cancer, and their families. When
THE SULTAN’S SCHOOL ART
AUCTION BRINGS TOGETHER
THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO
CELEBRATE THE ARTS. STUDENTS,
PARENTS, THE STAFF AND
MANY PRESTIGIOUS ARTISTS
AND PHOTOGRAPHERS, HAVE
DONATED ORIGINAL ARTWORKS
TO BE SOLD IN AN AUCTION
FOR CHARITY
Heather and the students met Yuthar al Rawahy,
founder of Oman Cancer Association, and visited Dar
al Hanan they were overwhelmed by the warmth and
dedication of all involved. Cancer treatment is free to
all children, however treatment is often ongoing and
families, especially those living in the interiors, are not
able to afford the high costs of living in Muscat during
very difficult times. Dar al Hanan provides ongoing
practical and emotional support that is in constant
demand and needs more resources to expand their
valuable service. The Principal of The Sultan’s School,
Dr Glenn Canterford, wholeheartedly supports the
event and recognises that it would not be possible
without the generosity of the artists and photographers
in the community.
The Sultan’s School would like to thank prestigious
artists Saud al Hunaini, Abdullah al Hunaini, Khamis
al Hunaini, Hassan Meer, Anwar Sonya, Abdulmajeed
Karooh, Radhika Hamlai, Moosa Omar, Idris al Hooti,
Saleh al Shukairy, Mohammed al Maamari, Latifah al
Said, Juma al Harthy, Adnan al Raisi, Saleh al Alawi,
Anna Dudchenko, Said al Rawhaidi, Dr Mona al Baiti,
Suad al Aufy and Yousuf al Nahwi who have donated
their work. Also thanks goes to leading photographers
Ahmed al Shukaili, Ahmed al Harthy, Soud al Buhriy
and Qais Ayoob.
Sincere gratitude goes to Oman Air for advertising
the event on all flights during April. Director of
MuscArt Gallery, Ahmed al Harthy for promoting the
auction and the Omani Society for Fine Arts, Bait Al
Zubair, Gallery Sarah, Stal Gallery and Bait Muzna
have all supported the event.
Special thanks to the PTA who have helped set up
the event and to all the people in the community who
have generously made contributions.
The auction will be held in the auditorium on
April 22, 2015 and is open to the public. Doors open
at 6.30 pm.
Bayan College organises Oman’s first talent show
B
ayan College organised the
Sultanate’s first talent hunt show
— Oman’s Super Talent. The
show inaugurated at Oman Film Society
attracted many participants from
different parts of the country. Auditions
are currently recorded at the college
multimedia studios.
Dr Jassim M Jaber — Dean, Bayan
College said: “Bayan College always
tries to find or seize any opportunity to
explore and present Omani talents. We
wish this will be a successful attempt so
that we can take it to the next level and
have it on a regular basis.”
Modi Juma al Ghailani — Assistant
Dean said: “We have participants
from different nationalities who are
showcasing a wide variety of talents.
We are overwhelmed by the positive
response we have received and look
forward to a great show.” Dr Khalid
al Zadjali, Chairman of the Oman
Film Society and one of the judges of
Oman’s Super Talent said: “It is indeed
a good effort from Bayan College to
gather together a potpourri of Omani
talent and make them compete under
one umbrella. We look forward to the
performances at different levels as well
as the finale.”
Other judges include Media
Lecturers, Dr Fadhil Mohsen and
Wafa al Buraiki, from Bayan College;
Dr Richard Rupp, Professor — Purdue
University, Calumet, America (affiliate
to Bayan College) and Amin Shobaki
— Admin, Bayan College. Oman’s Super
Talent can be followed on Youtube
(Oman’s Super Talent), Instagram
(bayancollege) and Facebook (Oman’s
Super Talent).
Being fashionable may cause back pain
W
earing tight clothes or figurehugging shape wear may lead to
nerve compression in your back
and also restrict your hip bone movement,
putting pressure on your spine and leading
to backache, says an expert.
Suraj Bafna, spine consultant at Qi Spine
Clinic, lists a few back pain culprits:
* Form-fitting skirts: Close fitted skirts and
dresses pull your knees together, thereby
restricting movement.
Over time, the damage and strain can
aggravate and lead to a pulled muscle or
disc problems.
* Skinny jeans: Body-hugging jeans grip
tightly around the waist, hips, thighs and
calves and can create strain in the joints.
Also, having your phone or wallet in your
jeans’ back pocket imbalances the
alignment of the hips and can cause hip
or back pain.
* Oversized handbags: The bigger the bag,
the more stuff you will put in it.
Adding extra weight on one side of your
body is one of the biggest back pain causes.
Whenever you carry added weight on
one side of your body, it causes your spine to
curve and that leads to back pain symptoms.
* High heels: High heels can be bad for
your feet and back and can cause the calf
muscles to shorten, which can lead to
circulation problems, knee damage and
back pain.
It is important to wear comfortable shoes
if you plan to walk a distance.
* Heavy necklace: When you accessorise
your neck with heavy jewellery, it puts
pressure on the muscles, tendons and
joints of the neck.
Anything that pulls the neck tips the head
away from its point of neutral balance and
can create neck tension, pain and damage.
* Side hair parting: Wearing your hair on one
side may be fashionable but you are doing
a great disfavour to your neck.
It causes the head to tilt to one side and
the chin to the other and the condition is
known as wry neck.
The Love of
Chunhyang
Q MAURICE GENT
T
his was an usual visit to the Royal Opera House Muscat. The first
by a highly talented Korean ballet company exhibiting charm and
subtle skills to a delighted and diverse audience of little girls in their
very best dresses combined with more than a scattering of Asian diplomats
and business people living and working in Muscat.
The standard of dancing was superb, delicate, charming and precise.
The beauty came from the ordered but tight flow of movement. It was a
masterly flow, where direction of narrative and all sequences moved with
ease and logic.
The music came from a version first presented last year so we had
modernity and tradition in one score in one piece.
In the end of course the outcome is happy but it is as well a thoughtful
piece with delightful and well poised music. Standing out was a pas de deux
first played out in Act One and then when the lovers are triumphantly reunited at the end.
The principal female dancer on the opening night was Hymin Hang
trained in her skills in Korea, the United States and Monaco. She has held
the post of Principal Dancer since 2003, winning many plaudits on the way.
Certainly she had charm, grace and a commanding presence.
The highlight of the piece is the linking of two memorable dances by the
two lovers finally brought together after much trial and tribulation.
The dancing was at all times exquisitely graceful giving, I am sure, many
tips to the many little girls in the audience seeing for the first time the grace
and grandeur of world class dancing.
It was an imaginative presentation highly enjoyed by dancers and
audience alike. It was certainly a night that many little girls will remember
and recall perhaps many times in their dreams. This particular piece has
grown in favour in recent years winning fame as an ambassador of Korean
culture and dance.
— Pictures by Khalid al Busaidi, ROHM
SPOTLIGHT
S U N DAY
APRIL 19 l 2015
omandailyobserver
IF YOU GOT A COPY
OF MAZOON IN LAST
WEDNESDAY’S OMAN
OBSERVER, THEN IMAGES
YOU SEE HERE WILL
LOOK VAGUELY FAMILIAR
AS THESE WONDERFUL
OMANI MASTERPIECES
FEATURE PROMINENTLY
IN THAT MAGAZINE. AT
LAST THERE IS A QUALITY
PUBLICATION TO SHOWCASE
THE SULTANATE’S ANCIENT
HERITAGE, COLOURFUL
HISTORY, UNIQUE
CULTURE AND STUNNING
LANDSCAPES. SO WHAT ARE
YOU WAITING FOR?
31
HERITAGE
Replica of Hermione
sails again
A detail of the mihrab of Al Masjid Al Sharjah in Nizwa, carved by Abdullah bin Qasim bin Muhammad al Humaymi in 924
AH (corresponding to 1518-9 CE)
SOMETIMES A PICTURE
A
NEEDS A THOUSAND WORDS
The replica of the French frigate Hermione sails out of the old harbour in La
Rochelle. — AFP
Q MARIANNE BARRIAUX
Q CLIVE G
hewholuvsfotos@gmail.com
t would be my guess that the words “Mum
and Dad, I want to be a painter/film-maker/
photographer” would definitely not be music
to the ears of most parents of teenaged
children. Parental reactions would probably
be more along the lines of “Over our dead
bodies” than “Go for it!” I wonder, though, would
parents be so reluctant to have their children opt
for, say, photography, if it was coupled with a more
marketable skill.
My own dear father was momentarily struck dumb
when I informed him of my intention to study Fine Art
at university, but he quickly saw a way forward. “We
raised you to make your own decisions in life,” he said,
“So if that’s what you want to do, you have my blessing.
But remember, the man with a solid command of
spoken and written English will always be able to get a
job, no matter what degree he took.”
For reasons that probably have more to do with my
introverted personality and reclusive tendencies than
eagerness to heed my father’s counsel, I have spent
a huge amount of solitary time on writing practice
over the years. And truth be told, I have earned far
more money from writing than from photography.
Once in a while I take a picture that might be worth
a thousand words and a few hundred rials, but I know
from experience that regular, well-written, thousandword texts are a more reliable source of income.
In fact, writing has supported my photography for
decades. Without the money I’ve earned from writing,
I wouldn’t have a cupboard cram full of expensive
cameras standing resplendently in my bedroom.
I firmly believe that an ability to write well can
complement and strengthen our other creative
practices, and for that matter any other area of
worthwhile human endeavour we choose to turn our
hands to. To paint and also be able to write on aesthetic
issues helps you to think more critically about your
creative practice. To be a skilful photographer who is
also able to use photographs in conjunction with lucid
text is not only more employable but probably also a
more rounded individual. To be a parent and at the
same time to be able to reflect in writing on one’s own
and other’s parenting experiences surely helps you
become a more skilful and informed mum or dad.
Over the years, my photography and my writing
I
A Folk Ming dish, dating from the 1490s, set in the
rosette of the mihrab of Al Masjid Al Ayn in Harat Al
Bilad in Manah, carved by Abdullah bin Qasim bin
Muhammad al Humaymi in 911 AH (corresponding to
1505 CE).
The central rosette and Chinese dish of the mihrab
(prayer niche) of Al Masjid Al Ali in Harat Al Bilad in
Manah, carved by the master craftsman Abdullah bin
Qasim bin Muhammad al Humaymi in 909 AH
(corresponding to 1504 CE)
have developed a symbiotic relationship, one skill
feeding off and into the other, to the point where I
cannot imagine doing one without the other. When
I am not out taking photographs, which alas is most
of the time these days, I often think and write about
photography, or use my photographs in writing about
other topics. And when I am out in the field taking
photographs, I am constantly in search of topics and
themes to write about. My only problem, if problem
it was, related to dissemination. For years I wrote and
took photographs just for the shear pleasure I get from
both processes. But I have come to realize, mainly
through my experience writing this weekly column,
that it is also a pleasure to have one’s work seen, read
and appreciated by a wider audience.
Imagine my joy, then, when a couple of months ago,
the Editor-in-Chief of this illustrious publication called
me into his office and said, “Clive, I want to start a highquality monthly magazine dealing with the Heritage,
Culture, History, Fine Arts and Environments of the
Sultanate of Oman. Do you know anyone who could
manage such a project?”
“I do,” I said, hardly able to contain my excitement.
“That’s good. Who?”
“You’re looking at him,” I said. He raised his
eyebrows and stared at me as if I’d just sprouted donkey
ears.
“But you can only write about photography.”
“Far from it,” I said. “You have just listed my greatest
intellectual passions.”
“That’s great, but the magazine will not be called
Clive Monthly. It will be called Mazoon. You are
welcome to contribute, but you must find other good
writers and photographers provide material too. Can
you do that?”
“I’ll do my best,” I said while thinking — Struth!
Where the heck am I going to find people who can
write well and take great photographs?
The funny thing was that serendipity stepped
in and suddenly I began meeting such people all
over the place. How foolish of me to think that only
I have a tolerable ability in the written word and the
photographic arts. My guess is that there are a lot of
wordsmiths and image-makers out there who have just
been waiting for the right publication to come along
to showcase their work. Well, thanks to the Editor-inChief, our time has come.
So if you would like to be a part of Mazoon and share
your insights into particular aspects of the Heritage,
Culture, History, Fine Arts and Environments of the
Sultanate of Oman with an educated and cultured
audience, then we want to hear from you.
replica of the French navy frigate Hermione which brought General
Lafayette to America to rally rebels fighting Britain in the US war of
independence, set sail for the United States again yesterday, 235 years after
the original crossing, a trip exciting sailing and history fans on both sides of the
Atlantic.
Some 80 crew members will sail the three-masted 65-metre ship along the
route to Boston made by French General Gilbert du Motier — the Marquis de
Lafayette — to bolster revolutionaries fighting for an independent United States.
Back in 1778 Hermione took a mere six months to build. The new replica took
a painstaking 17 years to construct, mobilising hundreds of craftspeople from
around the world.
The crew plans to make landfall on June 5 in Yorktown in Virginia, where US
troops led by George Washington and French soldiers accompanied by General
Lafayette scored a decisive victory over the British in 1781.
“The Hermione, the ship that reunited Lafayette and Washington and sealed
our freedom, sails again for America,” trumpets the website promoting the
reconstruction of the epic journey.
The project is the brainchild of a group of history and sailing enthusiasts who
two decades ago embarked on the arduous task of recreating the vessel using only
eighteenth-century shipbuilding techniques.
The frigate is scheduled to make more than 10 stops in the United States as it
sails up the east coast, including in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston.
Hermione will also sail into the bay of New York just in time for July 4
independence celebrations, with an expected escort of hundreds of local yachts.
Yann Cariou, a veteran sailor who has already completed seven round-theworld trips in the military and civilian navy, will captain the imposing ship.
The project cost 25 million euros ($32 million), financed by more than four
million visitors to the shipyard in Rochefort in southwestern France where the
ship was built, as well as through crowd-funding initiatives for specific parts of
the ship.
It took Lafayette 38 days to cross the Atlantic, a voyage that confirmed his
renown as a hero of the American Revolution.
Even today, Lafayette remains a constant presence across the country he helped
transform from British colony into the energetic new state that would eventually
become today’s superpower.
At least 42 US counties and cities and hundreds of streets and squares —
including the famed Lafayette Square opposite the White House — are named
after him or after his ancestral home in France, La Grange. — AFP
FATAL
Shark attacks shake surfing in La Reunion
Q MAHDIA BENHAMLA
R
eunion, once a haven for surfers from
around the world, has become a deadly
black spot for the sport now plunged into
even deeper mourning after a shark mauled Elio
Canestri to death.
The 13-year-old, one of the Indian Ocean
island’s most promising young surfers, was killed
after he ignored an official ban and hit the waves
with friends.
Canestri left a note for his mother saying “don’t
worry”. But he was dragged off his surfboard by a
2.5 metre long bull shark and dragged out to sea.
The boy was the seventh fatal victim of shark
attacks around Reunion since 2011. Nine others
have miraculously survived surfing or swimming
near internationally known beaches such as St
Leu and La Pointe au Sel.
On Wednesday, three days after the killing,
Canestri’s father Giovanni joined 1,000 others at
a memorial for his son on the beach.
“I have two children left and I want them to
A graffiti reading “Shark’s area” seen in La Reunion. — AFP
stay alive and I want all of you here to stay alive,”
he said as he pleaded with Reunion’s youngsters
to stay out of the sea.
Two hundred of the mourners went to the
government office and tipped red paint on the
road to protest against the lack of official action
against the sharks. “Words can’t describe how
sad and angry I am,” commented Reunion’s best
known surfer Jeremy Flores on his instagram
account. Canestri was the second shark death
this year. A 22-year-old woman was killed as she
swam in the sea in February.
Most of Reunion’s surfers have already decided
not to take any more risks however.
The number of licensed surfers in Reunion
has fallen from 1,600 when bodyboard champion
Mathieu Schiller was killed in 2011, to 400 now.
Some have remained registered in Reunion
but do not go into the sea there, said Christophe
Mulquin, coach to the French youth and junior
surfing teams. Reunion has for years provided
the core of French teams.
Hugo Savalli, France’s surfing champion
in 2012, said he stopped going into the sea off
Reunion after the death of his friend Schiller.
“Last year I went into the water twice, but only
up to two metres and I was like a little child,” he
said.
Janique Hoarau, a silver medallist in the
European bodyboard championships, said she
left Reunion in 2013 “with three suitcases and
no work” because she was scared for her children
who were in the same surf club as Elio Canestri.
Now the Hoarau family live on France’s west
coast.
The number of surf schools in Reunion has
fallen from 14 to one.
Since 2013 when another leading local surfer
Fabien Bujon had his hand and right foot torn
off by a shark, the authorities have banned
swimming and water sports outside of monitored
areas.
Reunion now pays for its best surfers to go
train far from the island. “Last year, I only saw
my son for four month,” said Marc Bernard,
whose 15-year-old son Lucas is another leading
youth hope. The teenager spends most of his time
between South Africa and France.
The Reunion authorities had planned to
open up safe surfing zones with extra lifeguards,
observer boats and cameras. But the death of Elio
Canestri has halted such ideas.
Since the tragedy, no date has been spoken
of and many surfers say it will be difficult to get
back to the paradise surfing they enjoyed before
2011. — AFP
SUNDAY | APRIL 19, 2015 | JUMADA AL THANIA 29, 1436 AH
P29
P30
P31
Inside
Paltrow flunks food stamp challenge The Love of Chunhyang A picture needs a thousand words FOLLOW US ON:
Q MUNA AL SHANFARI
O
man is an ancient
civilisation where
traditional music
emerged and grew
with the start of
social
activity,
and these traditional arts and the love
for music were inherited through
generations which enriched the heritage
of the country and gave it a uniqueness
in its identity in the arts. Omanis love
their culture and arts as it is part of their
lives. On all happy occasions people
of Oman enjoy music and traditional
dances to express their joy.
As a son of this traditional heritage
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos grew with
the love of his society’s arts and music.
With the point of view that all kind of
arts are considered to be a valuable part
of any nation’s history and civilisation
His Majesty paid great attention to
maintain and develop this heritage so it
can meet the modern society to preserve
it alive among the new generations and
around the world.
As a result, the Royal Oman
Symphony Orchestra (ROSO) was born
which had a great impact on developing
the Omani traditional music as it
combined international classical music
with the Omani traditional music. The
ROSO performers are young Omanis
who were trained in the most prestigious
international musical institutes around
the world, with the goal that Omanis
themselves have to accommodate their
culture to the modern world and protect
it from fading away.
After His Majesty laid the foundation
stone of modern arts in Oman and
spread the taste of it among Omanis the
final step was necessary, this step was
the establishment of the “Royal Opera
House”. The “Royal Opera House” is a
pioneer project of its kind in the Gulf
region; it aims to combine traditional
music with classical music. The Royal
Opera House was the first opera house
in the world which is equipped with
Radio Marconi’s, multimedia interactive
display seatback system and Mode23.
Today the Royal Opera House Muscat
is considered as one of the most beautiful
www.omanobserver.om
editor@omanobserver.om
and valuable attractions in the Sultanate
for Omanis and tourists due to its
magnificent architecture and its unique
programmes which are highly structured
to combine between the wealth of
Omani heritage and the most famous
international musicians and artists. One
of the most memorable events which the
Royal Opera House held was the recent
event — the celebration of His Majesty’s
safe return after medical treatment.
The event continued for seven days,
starting from noon until midnight.
Latest techniques and sophisticated
equipment were used to generate the
best programme for the special occasion
regardless of the short time they had.
The celebration was held in front
of the Royal Opera House square. The
programme was open to the public to
give everyone in Oman a chance to enjoy
and celebrate this very special occasion.
Many different shows were preformed in
this event. There were wonderful parades
during the week by Air Force, Navy,
Royal Guard, Affairs of Royal Court and
the Royal Oman Police.
Finally, all these performances
culminated on the last day of the
event with high resolution of touching
presentations about His Majesty’s
achievements since he ascended the
throne.
is ‘one of a kind’
BEAUTY
Toxic Botox escapes into our nervous system: Scientists
B
otox users please take note!
Researchers from the University
of Queensland have found that the
potent toxin used for revamping our look
and personality is transported via our
nerves back to the central nervous system.
Botox — best known for its ability to
smooth wrinkles — has been extremely
useful for the treatment of over-active
muscles and spasticity which promotes
local and long-term paralysis.
“The discovery that some of the injected
toxin can travel through our nerves
is worrying, considering the extreme
potency of the toxin,” warned professor
Frederic Meunier from the University of
Queensland’s brain institute laboratory.
While no side-effects of using Botox
medically have been found yet, finding
out how this highly active toxin travels to
the central nervous system is vital because
this pathway is also hijacked by other
pathogens such as West Nile or rabies
viruses, he explained.
Tong Wang, post-doctoral research
fellow in professor Meunier’s lab,
discovered that most of the toxin is
transported to a cellular dump where it is
meant to be degraded upon reaching the
central nervous system.
“For the first time, we have been able
to visualise single molecules of Botox
toxin travelling at high speed through our
nerves,” Wang noted.
“We found that some of the active
toxins manage to escape this route and
intoxicate neighbouring cells so “we need
to investigate this further and find out
how,” he pointed out.
Also known as Botulinum neurotoxin
serotype A, Botox is derived from naturallyoccurring sources in the environment.
A detailed understanding of this
pathway is likely to lead to new treatments
for some of these diseases, the authors
noted.
The study was a collaboration between
scientists at the Queensland Brain Institute
and teams from the US, France and Britain.
The research was published in the
Journal of Neuroscience.
WHILE NO SIDE-EFFECTS OF
USING BOTOX MEDICALLY
HAVE BEEN FOUND YET,
FINDING OUT HOW THIS
HIGHLY ACTIVE TOXIN
TRAVELS TO THE CENTRAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM IS VITAL
BECAUSE THIS PATHWAY IS
ALSO HIJACKED BY OTHER
PATHOGENS SUCH AS WEST
NILE OR RABIES VIRUSES