MALE-FEMALE RATIO STANDS AT 104-100

SUNDAY | JANUARY 11, 2015 | RABEE AL AWWAL 20, 1436 AH
P19 US House overwhelmingly okays bill for oil pipeline
VOL. 34 NO. 58 | PAGES 32 | BAISAS 200
P32 Many melodies from many civilisations
P25 Le Guen rages as South Korea edge Oman
Chief Executive Officer
DR IBRAHIM BIN AHMED AL KINDI
Editor-in-Chief
ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI
Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising
PO Box 974, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
www.omanobserver.om
FOLLOW US ON:
editor@omanobserver.om
STAGE SET FOR MUSCAT FESTIVAL
OMAN
HM, Kerry discuss
bilateral relations
GCC rail network to
attract $200 billion
Muscat: The GCC Rail and Metro
Conference 2015 will kick off at Al Bustan
Palace Hotel today under the auspices of
His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tareq al
Said. The two-day event is hosted by the
Sultanate, represented by the Ministry
of Transport and Communications.
The conference, which will attract
more than 500 personalities from 25
countries around the world, will discuss
socioeconomic opportunities.
SEE ALSO PAGE 17
Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos yesterday
received US Secretary of State John Kerry at his
residential home in Germany. The two leaders
discussed the latest regional and international
political developments. His Majesty and Kerry
also discussed the bilateral relations between
Oman and the US and the ways of fostering the
existing ties between the two countries. — ONA
Market value of bonds
up at RO 1.36 billion
ASIA
Rajapakse ‘pressed’
army after defeat
Colombo: Mahinda Rajapakse tried
to persuade the army chief to deploy
troops when it became clear he had lost
Sri Lanka’s election, a spokesman for the
country’s new president said yesterday.
Rajapakse has been widely praised
for conceding defeat early on Friday,
even before the last votes had been
counted, when he realised that his rival
Maithripala Sirisena had an unassailable
lead. But in a press conference yesterday,
a top aide to Sirisena said that Lt Gen
Daya Ratnayake, who is the head of the
armed forces, had come under pressure
to intervene.
REPORT ON P7
INTERNATIONAL
The organising committee of Muscat Festival 2015 will announce major events and activities as well as venues and other details of the festival at a
press conference to be held at Grand Hyatt Muscat Hotel at 11:00 am today.
DETAILS ON PAGE 2
YOUNG OMAN: Children account for 35pc of population
AirAsia jet’s tail lifted,
no trace of black box
MALE-FEMALE RATIO
STANDS AT 104-100
Falcon 9 recycle
attempt fails
Miami: A first-ever attempt to recycle
a rocket by guiding the Falcon 9’s first
stage down to a precision landing on an
ocean platform failed yesterday,
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said. “Rocket
made it to drone spaceport ship but
landed hard,” he wrote on Twitter.
SpaceX had given the test landing a
50-50 chance of success. The launch’s
primary mission was to send the
unmanned Dragon cargo ship
to orbit, and that went smoothly after
two delays due to rocket problems.
REPORT ON P15
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
Wreckage from AirAsia flight is lifted into the Crest Onyx ship at sea.
INSIDESTORIES
FRANCE HUNTS FOR MOST
WANTED WOMAN
P12
BOMBINGS KILL EIGHT
IN IRAQ
P13
PANGKALAN BUN: A tail section
from the AirAsia plane that crashed
into the Java Sea late last month, killing all 162 people on board, became the
first major wreckage lifted off the ocean
floor yesterday, but the all-important
black boxes were not found inside.
The red metal chunk, with the words
“AirAsia” clearly visible across it, was
brought to the surface using inflatable
balloons. The cockpit voice and flight
data recorders, located in the plane’s
rear, must have detached when the Airbus A320 plummeted into the waters
December 28, said Indonesian military
commander Gen Moeldoko.
— AFP
Their recovery is essential to finding
out why Flight 8501 crashed. However,
Moeldoko, who like many Indonesians
uses only one name, said pings believed
to be coming from the black boxes were
detected yesterday.
Their beacons emit signals for about
30 days until the batteries die, meaning divers have about two weeks left to
find them. “I am fully confident that
the black boxes are still not far from
the tail,” Moeldoko said. The debris was
brought up from a depth of about 30
metres and towed to a ship, where it was
hoisted onto the deck.
MORE DETAILS ON PAGE 6
Jan 10: Children accounted for 35 per
cent of the total population of Oman till
the first half of last year. Children were
41 per cent of the overall population in
the governorates of Muscat and North
Al Batinah.
Three fourth of the preschoolers
(aged 4 to 5) study in private kindergartens. The number of juvenile delinquents (9-14 years of age) dropped significantly over the last number of years
and the majority of them (97 per cent)
are male, according to reports by the
National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
Once children under the age of 14
constituted more than one third of the
population in 2014, the government exerted huge efforts and spent much of the
funds educating and qualifying them in
line with the Royal Decree No 22/2014
which guaranteed various rights for this
very important age bracket.
The number of Omani children under 14 stood at 793,907 in mid-2014 or
35.1 per cent of the total Omani population. The majority of them were under
four years of age and the male-female
ratio was 104-100. The NCSI statistics
showed that 35 per cent of the Omani
male population were children and almost the same for female population.
As far as the geographical distri-
Oman’s strategic location gives it edge over neighbours
Logistics hub to boost economy
P15
CUBA DISSIDENTS SAY 38
ACITIVISTS FREED
WEATHER TODAY
MUSCAT
MAX: 250C
MIN: 200C
SALALAH
MAX: 270C
MIN: 200C
SUNRISE 06.51 AM
PRAYER TIMINGS
FAJR: 05:31
DHUHR: 12:19
ASR: 15:23
MAGHRIB: 17:43
ISHA: 18:58
NIZWA
MAX: 250C
MIN: 100C
Muscat: The market value of the bonds traded on Muscat Securities Market (MSM) as at the end of 2014 increased to RO
1.365 billion, a growth of RO 140 million, compared to the
corresponding period the previous year.
Bonds are financial tools which allow companies to get
finance for their projects. They also provide investors with
the opportunity to increase their savings and get fixed returns
without having to take risks. The trading activity is not that
big compared to other markets.
SEE ALSO PAGE 3
ALI AHMED AL RIYAMI
MUSCAT
Jan 10: From old and newly established air and seaports and their adjacent industrial zones, to highway
road networks and the latest highly
ambitious Oman Rail/GCC-wide
railroad network project — the
icing on the cake for the Sultanate’s endeavour of becoming the
region’s communication hub and
‘Gateway of the Arabian Gulf ’ —
His Majesty’s government has invested heavily in this part of the
country’s economy.
Thanks to Oman’s strategic lo-
Duqm Port
cation, overlooking the three commercially important waterways of
the Straits of Hormuz and Arabian
Gulf to the north, the Arabian Sea
to the east and the Indian Ocean
in the southern-most part of the
country, it is no wonder that so
much attention is being given to
communications infrastructural
development. Once the rail link is
operational it will bring in a new
era of communications development in the Sultanate.
To learn more about these latest exiting advances that will provide a quantum leap in this ‘era of
golden renaissance’, the Observer
interviewed an expert in the field,
Warith al Kharusi, Chairman of
OLSCA (Oman Logistics and Supply Chain Association — under
formation) and the Executive Director of Al Safwa Group and Partners.
TO PAGE 4
bution is concerned the majority of
child population is concentrated in the
governorates of Muscat and North Al
Batinah which together accounted for
41 per cent of the total child population under 14, while the governments of
Musandam and Dhofar have just 2 per
cent of child population. Children constituted 35 per cent of the total population in each governorate.
North Korea hints at
N-test moratorium
SEOUL: North Korea has told the United States that it is willing to impose a temporary moratorium on its nuclear tests
if Washington scraps planned military drills with South Korea this year, the North’s official news agency said yesterday.
Washington called the linking of the military drills with a
possible nuclear test “an implicit threat,” but said it was open
to dialogue with North Korea.
The US has previously refused to cancel military drills
with South Korea, even at times of high tensions, and has
said the North must first demonstrate how sincere it is about
nuclear disarmament before serious talks can resume. The
North’s reported proposal comes at a time of animosity between North Korea and the US over a Sony movie depicting
the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The US blames the North for crippling hacking attacks on Sony Entertainment and subsequently imposed
new sanctions on the country, inviting an angry response
from Pyongyang, which has denied responsibility for the cyberattacks.
MORE DETAILS ON P6
2
HORSE & CAMEL EXPO
S U N DAY l J A N U A R Y 1 1 l 2 0 1 5
NEW GENERATION GROUP VISITS MUSCAT
The 4th edition of the International
Horse, Camel and Heritage Expo
will take place at the Oman
International Exhibition Centre
during January 13 to 15. The
opening ceremony will be presided
over by HH Sayyid Taymour bin
Asaad bin Tareq al Said.
OMAN
The New Generation Group (NGG)
of the Anglo-Omani Society
arrived in Muscat for their fourth
annual gathering. The mission of
the group is to continue Britain
and Oman’s historic friendship into
the younger generations of both
countries.
Preparations on for 15th edition of Muscat Festival
The festival’s promotional
advertisements will also
be highlighted on the
websites of Muscat Festival,
Tour of Oman and on social
networking sites like Twitter,
Facebook and YouTube
A STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT
Jan 10: The organising committee of
Muscat Festival 2015 will announce the
major events and activities as well as
venues and other details of the festival at
a press conference to be held at Grand
Hyatt Muscat Hotel at 11 am today.
Meanwhile, the organising committee of the festival held a meeting during
which it discussed the preparations for
the 15th edition of the annual festival
under the chairmanship of Mohsin bin
Mohammed al Shaikh, Chairman of
Muscat Municipality and Head of the
Organising Committee.
The committee reviewed the technical and administrative preparations and
the readiness of Al Naseem Public Park,
Al Amerat Park, Al Hail beach and other
venues which will be hosting the festival activities. The committee approved
a number of entertainment, sports and
commercial activities, and reviewed promotional campaign in media and other
means.
Hamad bin Salim al Rasbi, Head of the
Marketing and Promotion Committee,
said that 470 advertisements have been
released to promote the festival abroad
through various media with some of the
world’s well-known channels such as Al
Jazeera, CNN, BBC, MBC 1 and ZTV set
to broadcast advertisements from January 15 to February 14.
This is in addition to advertisement
campaign in Oman TV and some radio stations such as Al Wisal, Al Shabab
Programme, DFM radio, Emirates Halal
FM and Gulf Radio.
The festival’s promotional advertisements will also be highlighted on the
websites of Muscat Festival, Tour of
Oman and on social networking sites
like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Besides, advertisements will be published in the local English and Arabic
language newspapers and publications
and also in regional newspapers such as
the Middle East daily, Gulf Daily, Al Ittihad Daily and English-language dailies
Gulf Times and Gulf News.
Advertisements will highlight the
festival by the world’s biggest aviation
companies such as Air France, British
Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates as
well as Oman Air, Al Rasbi adding that
the committee’s work began a long time
ago with the preparation, planning, outlining the work plan, and formulating a
programme for promotional activities
through media.
As far as the marketing aspect is concerned, Al Rasbi said that the committee is tasked with extending invitations
to private sector firms to take part in the
festival in return for obtaining special
advertising offers.
The major sponsors of this year’s
festival are the Ministry of Tourism,
Omantel and Bank Muscat.
GCC education ministers committee meets
MUSCAT: The Minister of Education, Dr Madeeha
bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah took part in first founding meeting of the GCC Education Ministers Committee which was held in Qatar under the chairmanship of Mohammad AbdulWahid al Hamadi,
Minister of Education and Higher Education of
Qatar.
The meeting discussed the decisions of the ministerial council taken in its 127th session concerning the setting up of the committee and its decisions
taken in the 129th session on the unified internal
system of the ministerial commissions. — ONA
ITALY CHIEF OF STAFF BEGINS VISIT
Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli, Chief of Defence Staff of Italy, and his accompanying delegation arrived in the Sultanate for a
several-day official visit. The guests were welcomed at Muscat International Airport by Lt Gen Ahmed bin Harith al Nabhani,
Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces.
— ONA
OMAN
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
Value of bonds traded at MSM rises
to RO 1.3 billion by end of 2014
MUSCAT: The market value of the bonds traded at
Muscat Securities Market (MSM), as at the end of
2014, increased to RO 1.365 billion; a growth by RO
140 million, compared to the corresponding period
in the previous year.
Bonds are financial tools that allow companies to
get finance of their projects. They also provide investors with the opportunity to increase their savings
and get fixed returns without having to take risks.
The trading activity in MSM is not that big compared
to markets known for attracting many investors.
Over the past few years, the Capital Market Authority (CMA) sought to activate the bonds market. Work is also under way now by the Authority
to draft the legislation of Sukuk; Sharia compatible
financial tools that can be enlisted at MSM to help
investors diversify their investment portfolios.
The value of bonds trading at MSM as of the end
of 2014 stood at RO 33.8 million or 1.5 per cent of
the gross volume of trading of the market in 2014
(about RO 2.2 billion). In 2013, the value of traded
bonds stood at RO 46.8 million or 2 per cent of the
gross value of trading.
The bonds listed at MSM include government
development bonds, banks and corporate bonds.
The 45th issue of the government development
bonds was the highest in terms of the value of trading with RO 19.8 million or 58 per cent of the total
value of trading.
Bank Muscat convertible bonds, which provide
4.5 per cent interest rate, came in the second place in
terms of the value of trading with RO 7 million, followed by the Bank Muscat secondary bonds, which
provide 8 per cent interest rate, with RO 3.7 million.
— ONA
SEZAD to hold seminar for local investors
MUSANDAM: The Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD) will organise an orientation
seminar on the zone as part of its efforts to familiarise local investors with investment opportunities
available in the zone on Monday at Oman Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), Khasab Branch
in the Governorate of Musandam.
The seminar is part of a programme organised
by SEZAD, in cooperation with OCCI. The programme covers all governorates and will continue
until next August.
The seminar, to be held under the auspices of
Sayyid Khalifa bin Al Murdas al Busaidy, Governor
of Musandam, will include a number of presentations that review the available investment opportunities in Special Economic Zone of Duqm (SEZD),
the major completed projects, incentives and facili-
Current SEZD investment is
estimated at RO 2 billion, including
RO 1.7 billion as government
investments in infrastructure and
about RO 300 million as local
private sector investments
ties offered to investors.
The seminar also addresses the services rendered by SEZAD one-stop-station, which provides
various investment applications, the completion
of various applications and obtaining licences required for practicing commercial, tourist and in-
dustrial activities.
SEZAD seeks to reach businessmen and businesswomen, wherever they are in the various governorates of the Sultanate and meet with them and
encourage them to invest in the zone, as part of its
plan to increase domestic investments and encourage businesspersons to localise their projects in the
country.
Last week, the zone hosted a delegation from the
State Council, headed by Dr Yahya bin Mahfoudh
al Mantheri, Chairman of the State Council. The
delegation was briefed on the implemented projects
and toured a number of sites in the zone.
Current SEZD investments estimated at RO 2
billion, including RO 1.7 billion as government investments in infrastructure and about RO 300 million as local private sector investments.
— ONA
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3
Horizons of private education
MUSCAT: Meethaq Islamic Banking, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, will
organise a seminar under the theme “Horizons
of Private Education with Meethaq Finance
Solutions” on Wednesday. The opening ceremony, which will be held under the auspices
of Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah,
Minister of Education, will be attended by officials from private education sector and repre-
sentatives of a number of private schools from
different governorates and wilayats.
The seminar includes a number of working
papers by officials from the public and private
organisations. An exhibition of the modern
services and technologies that can be utilised
by the school in developing their utilities will
also be organised on the sidelines of the semi— ONA
nar.
4
omandailyobserver
OMAN
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
SHOW CAVE: Dhofar’s mountains riddled with caves add to the rich archaeological attractions
Sultanate’s biggest natural and ecological heritage
They are also unique in terms of the calcified sediments in the rood.
Bats or Hamran water spring cave
has a large number of bats inside, located about 40 Km from Salalah.
Al Marneef cave in Al Mughsail
area is one of the most beautiful caves
and a major attraction for tourists and
residents. The cave, about 40 km from
Salalah, overlooks the sea.
The wilayats of Rakhyut and Dhalkut
in the Governorate of Dhofar have
a number of caves, such as Sharoot,
Akhart, Hartoum, Shesaa, Mashloul,
Asbeer.
Oman caves are part and parcel of
the Omani natural and ecological heritage and tourist attractions. — ONA
SALALAH: Governorate of Dhofar is
known for having many caves that attract tourists who love adventure and
nature. The Dhofar Mountains are riddled with caves that add to the rich ecology and archeological attractions of the
governorate.
Teiq sinkhole, which was discovered
by a number of Slovenian adventurers,
in collaboration with Sultan Qaboos
University, is one of the biggest sinkholes in the world, about 975,000 cubic
meters in size, (130-150 meters in diam-
eter and about 211 meters deep). The
sinkhole can accommodate 70-storey
building.
Teiq cave is found on the top of the
sinkhole. The 170,000 cubic meter in
size cave, has 6 chimneys, the biggest
of which is on the western entrance and
wall. Mountain residents used caves as
shelter for themselves and their animals
as well.
Suhoor cave in Wadi Naheez, about
12.5 km from Salalah, is one of the limestone rock caves.
The ayoon (water springs) in Dhofar
have many caves near to them, such as
Itteen cave near Garzeez spa, which is
the biggest in size in Garzeez Spa area.
The cave is 10 km from Salalah and
can be accessed through Salalah-Itteen
main road.
Razat cave, one of the biggest attractions for residents and visitors, is in the
middle of the mountain overlooking
Ain Razat about 25 km from Salalah.
Wadi Darbat caves are also known
for their natural arches and decorations.
Oman — a gateway
of Arabian gulf
FROM PAGE 1
He noted, “Oman, due to
its maritime history and strategic geographical location,
has geopolitical importance to
the region and it is now repositioning itself, yet again, for
geopolitical significance and
impact on global trade.”
Commenting on the greater
significance of these develop- Warith al Kharusi,
ments, within Oman and as Chairman of OLSCA
part of the GCC, he said, “These are interesting times and
His Majesty’s insightful vision, over the past four decades,
is now bearing fruit. Now that the infrastructure is well established, what we need is to make it effective. Everyone
operating within the infrastructure has to ensure the hub
is there; if it is then you’ll have a gateway to the GCC and
trade-corridors into other areas such as Iran and Pakistan,
as well and other areas which are not there yet but they will
be. The Indian Ocean rim, the East African market and the
Indian market — where there is huge bilateral trade with
Oman, are other important trade corridors.
“The more we have better connectivity with better airports and marine-hubs, then the more trade will flow freely
and more access will be made available.”
Commenting on his understanding of logistics, he
opined, “It is not only about vehicle movements, it’s also
about pipelines, cables and telecom cables that allow for
improved communications. These are major areas that will
give Oman a significant advantage in becoming a regional
communications hub.
“With the natural gift of being in a strategic position,
it’s up to all of us now to make this a significantly important factor that will add to diversification of the economy
and lessen over-dependence on oil income. For example,
Dubai is not dependent on oil, the biggest contribution to
their economy is logistics and tourism; these are the major
contributors.
“If Dubai can successfully achieve this internally in the
Arabian Gulf region and we are here with a greater external
strategic position, we should be able to better strategically
position ourselves; we can complement Dubai, complement Abu Dhabi and we complement Qatar. The way we
are growing now, I think that in 50-years’ time we can be a
regional leader in the field.”
The more we have better connectivity with better airports
and marine-hubs, then the more trade will flow freely and
more access will be made available.
OMAN
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
5
Anglo-Omani new generation group Sultanate to host ISO meeting
visits Muscat to foster friendship
MUSCAT: The New Generation Group (NGG)
of the Anglo-Omani Society arrived here for their
fourth annual gathering from January 10th to 12th
at the Shangri-La Resort.
Last year’s delegation involved 24 British and
Omani high flyers from a variety of public and
private sector organisations visiting Oxford University’s famous Pembroke College for a two day
seminar on East African commercial development.
This year, the theme of the conference which
is mainly sponsored by BP-Oman, is focused
on Oman: A Gateway to Asia and will involve a
number of prominent Omani and British speakers
addressing the prestigious group.
During their cultural introduction, the new
Omani and British delegates heard from Shaikh
Aflah bin Hamad al Rawahi on understanding the
reality of Islam before a visit to the historic Muttrah
harbour and its surrounding forts.
The UK Chairman of the Anglo-Omani New
Generation Group, Oliver Blake said, “The aim of
the delegation is first and foremost to maintain our
historic friendship into the younger generations of
both our countries.
These annual gatherings are also an excellent
opportunity to develop our special relationship,
exchange ideas and explore new areas for further
cooperation.
We would like to thank our headline sponsors,
BP-Oman, who continue to show great dedication to the development of Oman’s youth and the
Shangri-La for their generous support.”
Speaking on behalf of the New Generation
Group Oman, Chairman Shaikh Ma’an al Rawahi
said he was “hugely pleased to welcome the British
delegation to the Sultanate.
As with our fathers before us, we have become
close friends with our colleagues from the UK and
always greatly look forward to these gatherings and
opportunities to exchange ideas.”
2 students take top honours in UniSim design challenge
MUSCAT: Two students and a supervisor from Sultan Qaboos University
were named winners of the annual Honeywell UniSim Design Student Challenge for the Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) region.
Ahmed Abdullah al Maimani and Mohammed Nasr al Kindi, both engineering students and Dr Ashish M Gujrathi, Asst Professor at Petroleum and
Chemical Engineering Department at Sultan Qaboos University, showcased
their winning submission to the more than 1,000 attendees at the 2014 Honeywell Users Group (HUG) EMEA meeting in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The research paper investigated ways to reduce the emissions of hydrogen
and carbon dioxide, which are main by-products in ammonia production.
“This project embodies the sort of creative yet considered thinking we need
more of in the process industries,” said Ali Raza, Vice-President and General
Manager of Honeywell Process Solutions’ Advanced Solutions business. “Using UniSim Design, al Maimani, al Kindi and Dr Gujrathi have created a clever
solution for the process efficiency of ammonia plants. Potentially this could
benefit a wide range of global companies.”
The paper, entitled “Production of Synthetic Methane Hydrogen & Carbon
Dioxide by-products from Ammonia Plants,” concluded it is possible to produce synthetic methane from these by-products and recycle it back into the
plant in order to reduce the amount of natural gas required for certain production levels. The students’ research was supported by Dr Ashish M Gujarathi.
Honeywell’s UniSim Design Student Challenge seeks to recognise some of
the most talented engineering students around the world. It challenges students to solve real-world problems facing industrial processing plants by using
Honeywell’s UniSim Design process simulation and design software, which
is used by manufacturers throughout the globe. Winners earn the chance to
present their research projects to many of the world’s top manufacturers, and
potential employers, at HUG.
Honeywell’s UniSim Design Suite provides an interactive process model
MUSCAT: Sultan Qaboos University (SQU),
in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, tomorrow will host the
2nd meeting of the working group of the
Committee on Quality Management System
in educational institutions of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Sayyidah Dr Muna bint Fahd al Said (pictured), SQU Assistant Vice-Chancellor for
External Cooperation, said that the university
welcomes hosting the three-day meeting, noting that holding the meeting in the Sultanate
reflects the trust of ISO in the Sultanate in
organising such international meetings as 20
experts will participate in the meeting.
Dr Hamoud bin Abdullah al Muqbali
noted that SQU has formed a special working
group to prepare for the meeting chaired by
SQU Assistant Vice-Chancellor for External
Cooperation and the membership of some
specialists from the university, the Ministry
of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry
of Higher Education.
He added that the group has completed
all the preparations for hosting the meeting,
which will be attended by a group of experts
from a number of countries around the world
and some officials from the ISO, in addition
to representatives of the Sultanate in the committee.
The first meeting of the working group
of the Committee on Quality Management
System in educational institutions of the
ISO was held in the Portuguese capital of
Lisbon.
— ONA
Envoy to Comoros presents credentials
MORONI: Dr Ikililou Dhoinine, President of the Union of the Comoros, yesterday received the credentials of Saud
bin Ali bin Mohammed al Ruqaishi as
non-resident ambassador extraordinary
and plenipotentiary of the Sultanate of
Oman to the Comoros. The president
praised the deep relations between the two
friendly countries and expressed his utmost
appreciation to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos
wishing him good health and happiness
and the Omani people further progress and
prosperity.
— ONA
SQU Prof wins Arab researcher award
MUSCAT: The Association of Arab Universities selected Prof Imaddin Ali al Omari (pictured), Professor in the Department of Physics of the College of Science at Sultan Qaboos
University, for the “Distinguished Arab Researcher Award” in the fields of science and
engineering for the year 2014.
Mohammed Nasr al Kindi (2nd R) and Ahmed Abdullah al Maimani (3rd R),
together with their supervisor at Sultan Qaboos University, Dr Ashish M
Gujarathi (R) being honoured for their work on reducing emissions from
ammonia plants. Honeywell’s Hedwig Leemans (L) presented the award.
that allows engineers to create steady-state and dynamic models and is used
extensively for plant design, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, operational improvement, business planning, and asset management around the
world. UniSim Design models may be leveraged into advanced training and
optimization solutions provided by the UniSim Operations and UniSim Optimization suites.
RO 216.4m worth CDs tendered
MUSCAT: Certificates of deposit tender was
held at the Central Bank of Oman (CBO).
The total amount allotted for issue No 899
was RO 216.4 million.
A bulletin issued by the CBO stated that
the average interest rate of these certificates
was 0.13 per cent while the maximum accepted interest rate was 0.13 per cent. The
tenor of these certificates is 28 days, so their
maturity date is on February 4th.
The certificates of deposit issued to licensed banks by the CBO as a monetary
policy instrument aimed at absorbing excess
liquidity at the banking sector in particular
and maintaining stability of the interest rate
and the money market in general.
The Repo rate during January 7th till 13th
is 1 per cent.
— ONA
PACI strategy to upgrade crafts
industries to be discussed
MUSCAT: Shaikh Ali bin Nasser al Mahrouqi, SecretaryGeneral of Majlis Ash’shura, said that the council will hold
its 6th and 7th ordinary sessions of the 4th annual sitting on
Monday and Tuesday during which the council will discuss
a visual display that will be presented by Aisha bint Khalfan
al Siyabiyah, Chairperson of the Public Authority for Craft
Industries (PACI).
The visual display will clarify PACI’s strategy to upgrade
the crafts industries sector and boost its contribution to the
national economy, correlations with the other economic sectors and the job opportunities it provides for national jobseekers, al Mahrouqi said.
The of Majlis Ash’shura will also discuss amendments to
some provisos of the Traffic Law presented by Council of
Ministers and will discuss the observations of the joint committee of Majlis Ash’shura and the State Council. — ONA
CLEAN OMAN
The scouts group of Al Itifaq sports club in the Wilayat of Ibra
in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate in coordination with the
Directorate of Environment and Climate Affairs organised a
cleaning campaign to mark the Omani Environment Day.
The award was announced in Amman,
Jordan, during the meeting of the executive
council of the Association of Arab Universities which was held on 5 January.
Prof Al Omari will receive the award during the General Conference of the Association of Arab Universities to be held on March
25. The award includes a certificate from the
Association of Arab Universities and a cash
prize of $7,500.
Prof Al Omari has been working in Sultan Qaboos University for 14–years and this
award is based on his achievements in teaching, students’ training, research, service to the
scientific community, and for
the development of science
in the Arab world during his
entire academic career, especially in the past 10 years.
In addition to teaching
physics for undergraduate and postgraduate students for the past 19 years in Sultan
Qaboos University, University of Nebraska–
Lincoln (USA), and Jordan University of Science and Technology (Jordan), Prof Imaddin
Ali has published 103 scientific research papers in international referred, indexed, and
recognised journals. He has also presented
40 papers in an international conferences and
delivered several seminars at an international
institutions. He also served as principal investigator of more than 10 research projects and
as member of the editorial board of the two
international Journals.
6
BRIGHT HOPES
CONSERVING THE SPECIES
S U N DAY l J A N U A R Y 1 1 l 2 0 1 5
Male orangutan Leuser,
blinded after being shot at
least 62 times with an air
rifle before being brought
into the programme’s care,
looks on in the rainforests
of Indonesia’s Sumatra
island.
ASIA
Tulsi Tanti, chairman and
managing director of Suzlon
Energy, speaks during a news
conference in the western Indian
city of Ahmedabad, yesterday.
Tulsi hopes to see his company out
of red and making profits as soon
as next financial year.
Tail of crashed AirAsia lifted from seabed
ABOARD KRI BANDA ACEH: The
tail of an AirAsia plane that crashed into
the Java Sea was lifted to the surface using floating balloons on Saturday, but
apparently without the crucial black box
recorders, Indonesian authorities said.
The Airbus jet, carrying 162 people,
went missing in stormy weather on December 28 as it flew from the Indonesian
city of Surabaya to Singapore, and all
aboard died.
The tail, which is where the black box
data recorders were kept, was found in
the seabed 100 feet below the surface
and was finally lifted on to a vessel on
Saturday using giant floating balloons
and a crane.
“We have lifted the tail onto the ship
It’s red and white and a big part of the
AirAsia logo can be seen,” Navy spokesman Manahan Simorangkir said.
On board the KRI Banda Aceh that
is one of the Indonesian Navy vessels
involved in the search effort, sailors
cheered as the tail first emerged at the
surface, according to an AFP photographer on board.
The tail is the biggest part of the
plane’s wreckage found and could give
clues to why it crashed.
But the black boxes, which are crucial
to explaining the disaster as they should
contain the pilots’ final words as well as
various flight data, had likely been dislodged from the tail, according to S B
Supriyadi, a director with the National
Crest Onyc ship with part of AirAsia flight QZ8501 in Java sea yesterday.
Search and Rescue Agency.
Pings from the boxes were detected
on Friday, raising hopes of quickly retrieving them.
But the search took a frustrating twist
when authorities realised the pings were
likely coming from elsewhere than the
tail, and the boxes appeared to be buried
deep into the sea floor.
“Last night, our divers had opened
the door of the tail cabin, searched
around but found nothing,” Supriyadi
said on Friday morning.
“But the boat above detected faint
ping sounds believed to be from the
black boxes about 1.6 kilometres southeast of the tail... and covered in mud.”
Supriyadi said the divers, from an
elite Marines unit, returned on Saturday
morning to the area believed to be where
— AFP
the pings were emanating from.
“They are searching within a radius
of 500 metres from where the pings are
emitted.
The challenge is that these sounds are
very faint.
If a ship passes by, the sounds will be
drowned out.
So we really need calm waters,” he
said.
“So far, our divers still have not been
able to determine the coordinates of the
black box.”
After the tail was found, Supriyadi
said authorities remained confident the
black boxes remained underwater.
“There’s a team examining the tail
again to see if the black boxes are not
there,” he said.
“But the chances they might find any-
thing there are slim.
We still strongly believe that the black
boxes are in the sea and our divers are
still searching for them.”
Meanwhile, search efforts also involving foreign naval ships continued
for other parts of the plane’s wreckage, as
well as for the bodies of the passengers
and crew.
Just 48 bodies have been found so far,
according to Indonesian authorities.
All but seven of those on board were
Indonesian.
The non-Indonesians were three
South Koreans, one Singaporean, one
Malaysian, one Briton and a Frenchman
— co-pilot Remi Plesel.
The Indonesian meteorological agency has said weather was the “triggering
factor” for the crash, with ice likely damaging the engines of the Airbus A320200.
Before take-off, the plane’s pilot, Captain Iriyanto, had asked for permission
to fly at a higher altitude to avoid a major
storm.
But the request was not approved due
to other planes above him on the popular route, according to AirNav, Indonesia’s air traffic control.
In his last communication, the experienced former air force pilot said he
wanted to change course to avoid the
storm.
Then all contact was lost, about 40
minutes after take-off.
— AFP
TEMPORARY MORATORIUM: The proposal comes at a time of tensions between N Korea and the US
IN BRIEF
North Korea hints at nuclear test moratorium
2 men die in
Manila parade
ahead of
pope’s visit
SEOUL: North Korea has told the United States that it’s willing to impose a
temporary moratorium on nuclear tests
if Washington scraps planned military
drills with South Korea this year, the
North’s official news agency said on Saturday.
The reported proposal comes at a
time of tensions between North Korea
and the US over a Sony movie depicting
an assassination attempt on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The US blames the North for crippling hacking attacks on Sony Entertainment and subsequently imposed
new sanctions on the country, inviting
an angry response from Pyongyang,
which has denied responsibility for the
cyber attacks.
The US blames the North for
The North’s official Korean Central
News Agency said the government pro- crippling hacking attacks
posed to the US what it calls a “crucial on Sony Entertainment and
step” to ease animosities and remove
subsequently imposed new
the danger of war, prompted by desires
to pave the way for a reunification with sanctions on the country,
South Korea this year, which marks the inviting an angry response
70th anniversary of the rivals’ division.
from Pyongyang, which
The message “proposed the US to
contribute to easing tension on the Ko- has denied responsibility
rean Peninsula by temporarily suspend- for the cyber attacks
ing joint military exercises in South
Korea and its vicinity this year, and said
that in this case (North Korea) is ready port said.
to take such responsive step as tempo“Now is the time for the US to make
rarily suspending the nuclear test over a bold decision for peace and stability on
which the US is concerned,” KCNA’s re- the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast
PURIFICATION FOR BODY, SOUL
A believer pours cold water over herself to purify the body and soul during a New Years event at the Kanda Shrine in Tokyo
yesterday. Forty-two people took part in the annual purification event.
— AFP
Asia.”
It said the message was conveyed to
the US on Friday through an unspecified
relevant channel. Pyongyang has called
the annual US-South Korean military
drills a rehearsal for an invasion, though
the allies have repeatedly said they have
no intentions of attacking the North.
North Korea conducted nuclear tests in
2006, 2009 and 2013.
A fourth test would mark another
defiant response to US-led international
pressure on Pyongyang to abandon its
nuclear programme.
Western experts believe North Korea
has a handful of rudimentary bombs,
though it is not believed to be capable
yet of producing warheads small enough
to mount on a long-range missile that
could threaten the US.
Another nuclear test could put the
North a step closer to that goal. The Korean Peninsula remains divided along
the world’s most heavily armed border
because the 1950-53 Korean War ended
with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
About 28,500 American troops are
deployed in South Korea as a buttress
against potential North Korean aggression.
In the spring of 2013, tensions dramatically spiked after Pyongyang made
a torrent of threats to launch nuclear
strikes against Seoul and Washington in
protest of UN sanctions that were toughened following its third bomb test. — AP
South Korea deports
American over positive
North comments
SEOUL: A Korean-American woman
accused of praising rival North Korea in a recent lecture was deported
from South Korea on Saturday, in the
latest in a series of cases that critics say
infringe on the country’s freedom of
speech.
The Korea Immigration Service decided to deport Shin Eun-Mi, a California resident, after prosecutors determined that her comments violated
South Korea’s National Security Law,
agency official Kim Du-Yeol said. Shin
departed the country on a flight to the
US on Saturday evening, an immigration official said on condition of anonymity, citing department rules. Shin
said she hopes to be able to return to
both Koreas.
The Korean Peninsula remains technically in a state of war, split along the
world’s most heavily fortified border,
because the 1950-53 Korean War ended
with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
In South Korea, praising North
Korea can be punished by up to seven
years in prison under the National
Security Law. In Washington, State
Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki
The Korean Peninsula
remains technically
in a state of war, split
along the world’s
most heavily fortified
border, because the
1950-53 Korean War ended
with an armistice, not a
peace treaty.
said Shin had been barred from exiting South Korea for three weeks, and
the US has seen reports indicating the
prosecution has asked for her to be deported and banned from the country
for five years. I
n a rare note of criticism of a key
ally, Psaki said that despite South Korea’s generally strong record on human
rights, the security law limits freedom
of expression and restricts access to the
Internet. Supporters argue that the law
is needed because of continuing threats
from North Korea. But critics want it
scrapped.
— AP
MANILA: A raucous Roman Catholic procession in which up to a million Filipinos packed the streets of the
capital for a chance to get close to a
centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ left
two men dead and about 1,000 hurt, officials said on Saturday, in a prelude to
a much larger turnout expected during
next week’s visit by Pope Francis. Huge
crowds jostled for 20 hours on Friday
around a carriage carrying the wooden Black Nazarene with a cross along
Manila’s streets.
The faithful threw small towels
at volunteers on the carriage to wipe
parts of the cross and the statue in
the belief that the Nazarene’s mystical
powers to cure ailments and provide
good health and fortune will rub off
on them. One volunteer accompanying the statue died of a heart attack.
Another man was found lifeless on
the ground, apparently pinned by the
people’s massive surge toward Quiapo
Church at the end of procession before dawn on Saturday, said Francis
Tolentino, Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Nearly 1,000 were treated for cuts,
bruises, dizziness and hypertension,
said Gwen Pang, Secretary-General of
the Philippine Red Cross. Authorities
saw the annual festival as a dry run for
the January 15-19 papal visit.
President Benigno Aquino III said
6 million people are expected to flock
to Manila to see the pope, who will be
secured by 25,000 police and soldiers.
“But with 25,000 against 6 million,
the government cannot do it alone,”
Aquino told reporters on Friday.
So we want to repeat this message:
with cooperation from the church and
various groups and the private sector,
we will be able to achieve our goal of
a peaceful and meaningful visit by the
pope.”
Police Senior Superintendent Jigs
Coronel said officials were able to test
security plans, crowd control, anticrime measures, and emergency and
medical response.
— AP
SUBCONTINENT
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
7
Lanka’s new president welcomes dissidents home
NEW PAGE: Sirisena promises to end censorship and enact right to information law
COLOMBO: New President Maithripala Sirisena
invited exiled dissidents back to Sri Lanka and
promised to end censorship yesterday as he began to
turn the page on the authoritarian rule of his toppled
predecessor.
A day after his shock victory over veteran incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse, Sirisena began assembling
a cabinet to deliver his pledges to repair the warscarred nation’s diplomatic standing and implement
a raft of reforms.
Sirisena, who was sworn in Friday evening after
ending Rajapakse’s decade-long rule, was trying to
form a “national unity” cabinet that would include
members from a cross section of parties, an aide
said. “He will name some ministers next week and
the balance after the pope’s visit,” from January 13 to
15, said Sirisena’s top aide Rajitha Senaratne, who is
tipped to become health minister.
He said that Sirisena has ordered the immediate
lifting of censorship on dissident websites, an end to
phone tapping, surveillance of journalists and politicians, and the establishment of a right to information law.
There was also an invitation to dozens of Sri
Lankan journalists and other dissidents who have
fled the country fearing attack from the previous administration to “come back immediately”.
“From now on, you have the freedom to criticise
us. We will take strong action against anyone who
tries to undermine media freedom,” Senaratne told
reporters in Colombo. Sirisena had promised a 100day programme to carry out urgent political and
economic reforms, including moves to cut back on
the powers of the president that Rajapakse gave himself during a decade in office.
Although there was no word from the new presi-
A Sri Lankan man looks at newspapers for sale at a stall in Colombo yesterday leading with headlines
about the Sri Lanka’s new president Maithripala Sirisena.
— AFP
dent himself yesterday, Sirisena is expected to make
an address to the nation from the historic hill resort
of Kandy today. Shortly after being sworn in, Sirisena appointed parliamentary opposition leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe as his prime minister.
Wickremesinghe, who is expected to wield considerable power, is seen as having significantly better relations with the West and regional powerhouse
India than Rajapakse.
In a previous stint as prime minister between
2002 and 2004, he managed to secure international
support for a peace process designed to end the island’s long-running Tamil separatist conflict.
The efforts ultimately failed as Norwegianbrokered negotiations fell apart when Tamil Tiger
rebels broke off talks and returned to fighting in
2006, soon after the hardline nationalist Rajapakse
came to power. Rajapakse came to be shunned by
many Western nations, who accused him of turning
a blind eye to large-scale human rights abuses.
Several leaders, including the Indian and Canadian prime ministers, boycotted a Commonwealth
summit hosted by the strongman leader in November 2013 over his refusal to allow an international
investigation into claims of massacres at the end of
Sri Lanka’s 37-year war in May 2009.
— AFP
‘Imran’s resignation will be accepted’
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly
(NA) Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq yesterday said the resignation of Imran Khan
will be accepted if he himself appears
before him for the verification of his resignation.
“If Imran Khan appears before me
for the verification of his resignation, I
will immediately accept his resignation,”
he said, while talking informally to the
newsmen at his Chamber at the Parliament House.
The NA Speaker said that Imran
Khan’s seat will be vacated under the
Rule 40 of the Rules of Procedure of the
National Assembly 2007 when he himself appears before the Speaker for the
verification of his resignation.
Ayaz Sadiq, said so far the NA Secretariat did not receive any motion against
“If Imran Khan appears
before me for the
verification of his
resignation, I will
immediately accept his
resignation,” National
Assembly Speaker said
the continuous absence of Imran Khan
from the National Assembly.
“Though the Lower House of the Parliament has been informed about forty
days absence of Imran Khan from the
House yet it was discretion of members
of the National Assembly whether they
bring any motion against Imran Khan
continuous absence from the House or
not,” he said.
Sadiq said he would also inform the
Lower House over continuous absence
of other PTI members from the House
in the next sitting of the National Assembly.
Imran Khan tied the knot with BBC
journalist Reham Khan in a low-key
affair ceremony at his Islamabad residence on Thursday.
Imran’s bride Reham Khan is a British Pakistani journalist who started her
career in the BBC as a weather forecaster. Later, she worked for the network as
a broadcast journalist. She is currently
working as an anchor at DawnNews.
Imran Khan was previously married
to English journalist and activist Jemima
Goldsmith for nine years. — Internews
IN BRIEF
US, Myanmar
to discuss
human rights
WASHINGTON:
The
United States is hoping to
nudge Myanmar’s quasicivilian government on
stalled reforms during a
high-level human rights
dialogue, yet expectations
are limited as the former
pariah nation enters a
crucial election year. International scrutiny of
Myanmar’s rights record is
intensifying as it gears up
for its first nationwide vote
since a repressive junta
ceded power in 2011.
Optimism that greeted
its initial opening and release of hundreds of political prisoners has faded,
and scepticism is growing
over its transition to democracy.
The military is resisting constitutional reform
and Buddhist nationalism
is growing. Top State Department human rights
envoy Tom Malinowski’s
trip, beginning today, will
coincide with a 10-day
visit by UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee.
— AP
4 Bangladeshis
suffocate
in Lebanon
BEIRUT: Four Bangladeshi
workers suffocated as a result of faulty heating in their
room in a mountainous region in northern Lebanon,
the state-run National News
Agency said yesterday.
The agency said the four
were found dead in the Dinniyeh region. NNA gave no
further details.
The Middle East has
been hit with a severe winter storm since Tuesday, affecting tens of thousands
of Syrian refugees living in
tents around the region.
The latest deaths raise to
seven the number of people killed by the weather in
Lebanon since Tuesday, including three Syrians.
Rajapakse ‘pressed’ army
after election defeat
COLOMBO: Mahinda Rajapakse tried to
persuade the army chief to deploy troops
when it became clear he had lost Sri Lanka’s
election, a spokesman for the country’s new
president said yesterday.
Rajapakse has been widely praised for
conceding defeat early on Friday, even before
the last votes had been counted, when he realised that his rival Maithripala Sirisena had
an unassailable lead.
But in a press conference yesterday, a top
aide to Sirisena said that Lt Gen Daya Ratnayake, who is the head of the armed forces,
had come under pressure to intervene shortly before the concession.
“The army chief was under pressure to
deploy but he did not. He declined to do
anything illegal,” Rajitha Senaratne, the chief
spokesman for the new president, told reporters in Colombo.
“Even in the last hour, he (Rajapakse)
tried to remain in office. Only when he realised that he had no other option, he decided
to go.” There was no immediate comment
from the military.
Senaratne, who is tipped to become
health minister, declined to say whether the
deposed president himself tried to contact
the military chief or used his younger brother Gotabhaya.
Gotabhaya Rajapakse has often been ac-
The army chief was
under pressure to deploy
but he did not. He
declined to do anything
illegal
RAJITHA SENARATNE
Chief spokesman for new president
cused of meddling in his officially neutral
role as defence secretary.
“There was a defence ministry conspiracy
for Rajapakse to remain in office. Gotabhaya
had openly defied election laws and addressed election rallies,” Senaratne said, adding the new administration would put a stop
to public servants dabbling in politics.
Senaratne said the defence ministry had
also tried to deploy troops in the island’s
former war zone and stage explosions in a
bid to discourage ethnic Tamils from voting.
Despite two explosions that caused no
harm, the northern region voted overwhelmingly to support Sirisena.
Rajapakse was reviled by many members
of Sri Lanka’s largest ethnic minority for allegedly ordering the brutal military suppression of a separatist insurgency in which
thousands of civilians died.
— AP
8
ANALYSIS
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
A BIG THANK YOU TO
ROYAL OMAN POLICE
ABDULAZIZ AL JAHDHAMI
aljahdhami22@gmail.com
W
arm and sincere congratulations to all employees of the Royal Oman Police (ROP)
on celebrating their day. The 5th of January is the day of honour and pride for all
of you dear policemen and policewomen. Honestly, the whole country is really
proud of you all, heroes of the country. Congratulations!
With respect to all other military and armed forces parties in the country, Royal Oman Police are having special respect and love in everyone’s heart. Can you
imagine how would be your day if you don’t see police on roads?! I’m not overstating this to say that your day would be abnormal in fact; you feel a very essential
thing in your life is missing on that day. Nobody can deny the fact that whenever
there is a police officer, safety and stability are observed.
I still recall the days during my childhood when teachers and parents used to
ask kids: What do you want to be in the future? The very common answer of every
child is “I want to be a policeman”. This is very true indeed! This answer from
every child was very forthright. Every child regards policemen as a role model
and feels proud to be one someday. Being a
policeman was everyone’s wish.
“I want to be a policeman when I finish Royal Oman Police is
school to help catch thieves”, this was the honoured indeed as
children’s frank justification for their wish.
To be a policeman was and still is the most His Majesty has
desirable profession among kids. They are accorded special
extremely longing to get privileged and join attention and
the Royal Oman Police someday. Lucky for
you dear police personnel for being loved by designated January
people!
5 as ROP’s Annual
I know that some of you might not be Day. This day was
in good terms with ROP personnel due to
some previous unpleasant experiences per- first announced on
haps. You might have got into trouble with November 4, 1974
an officer; you might have got a traffic ticket
for over speeding or for not fastening a seatbelt while commuting to the office or driving
back home. Other than that you got trapped by speed control radar and received
a couple of frustrating fines when renewing your car’s registration. This is just to
name a few cases why some people are getting annoyed by the police.
Regardless of the above mentioned situations, police officers just do their job
and mind their must-to-do daily duties. Some of these tasks and responsibilities
are undesirable by some people, but rules are rules. Rules are set to be implemented and obeyed otherwise there is no use of having legislative authorities.
Royal Oman Police is very much honoured indeed as His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos has accorded special attention and designated 5th of January as the ROP
Annual Day. This day was first announced in a special occasion held on November 4, 1974 when the police force received its flag from His Majesty the Sultan.
On this day, His Majesty, the Supreme Commander, addressed the police personnel saying: “In handing you our and your flag today, we have decided to confer
a new name on the police force. From now on you will be known as the Royal
Oman Police.”
In a very inspiring note to highlight the privilege of ROP personnel, His Majesty said: “Although the policeman’s job is difficult, he is proud of it. The work first
requires him to be sincere, honest and also to continue the efforts pleasantly, smilingly and good-hearted”. All these Royal gestures of His Majesty to Royal Oman
Police are a source of pride and honour to all its personnel as well as a real motivation to devote more efforts in their tasks and responsibilities. Being a police officer
is not an easy job, but we all trust that ROP are up to it.
The ROP Annual Day is an event for all ROP members to express their allegiance, loyalty to His Majesty the Supreme Commander, the country and the
people. The words of thanks and gratitude are not event enough to thank all the
personnel of the ROP for sparing no efforts in helping citizens and residents alike
as well as striving to ensure public stability and security.
A peasant from the village of Selbo village gestures near grass.
— AFP
Beating back field by field
I
The shift to sustainable techniques has also expanded
n Burkina Faso, what was once stony semi-wasteland is
now covered in verdant crop fields, rescued from relentless the supply of arable land. In the past, farmers scrambled for
desertification. Using simple agricultural techniques large- plots on the banks of rivers, where the soil is most fertile.
Now they can grow food “on any kind of soil, no matly spread by word-of-mouth, this tiny West African state
has rejuvenated vast stretches of scrubby soil over the past ter how degraded”, said 38-year-old Souleymane Porgo,
30 years, proving they are not doomed and giving hope to a hoe slung over his shoulder. Farm yields are also vastly
improved.
other vulnerable areas in the region.
“At the moment, my store is full of grain I haven’t
One success story is Rim, a peaceful hamlet of about
3,000 people in the country’s north, close to the border touched. I also have plenty of beans,” Souleymane’s father,
with Mali. Below the village as far as the eye can see, tall Saidou, who heads a family of 11 children and several
stalks groan under the weight of fat cobs of “baniga”, a grandchildren, said. His yields have made him a man of
means, with goats, a motorbike and cattle, which can be
white sorghum grown in this part of the country.
“This place was a desert. But the people succeeded in re- sold to pay for food if a harvest fails.
“All of this helps me properly care for my family,” Saidou
greening the region,” said Amanda Lenhardt, a researcher
said with pride. Around 30 producers
with Britain’s Overseas Development Inin Rim have converted to “zai” farming,
stitute (ODI), who authored a report on
Called ‘zai,’ the
out of around 700,000 nationwide, said
farming developments in Burkina Faso.
low-cost techniques Joel Ouedraogo, Director of the FederaCalled “zai” or “stone contour”, the
tion Nationale des Groupements Naam,
low-cost techniques were devised from
were devised from
a non-governmental organisation that
some of the region’s traditional farming
some of the region’s works with farmers.
techniques, nudged along with some outtraditional farming
Between 500,000 and 740,000 acres of
side help. They have gained favour in difbarren land — an area roughly the size of
ferent parts of the Sahel region — a semimethods, writes
Luxembourg — have been rehabilitated,
arid band that spans the continent with
ROMARIC OLLO HIEN he estimated.
the Sahara Desert to the north and AfriIn a region threatened by the advanccan savannah lands to the south — but
ing Sahara sands, the results are impreshave seen particular success in Burkina
Faso. In Rim, as in other parts of the country’s north, farm- sive, the ODI’s Lenhardt said.
Burkina Faso shows it is “possible” to combat climate
ers now swear by “zai” after again producing food on land
considered lost to agriculture — the occupation of at least change, said the Canadian, who credits the rapid adoption
of the new techniques to word-of-mouth.
80 per cent of the population.
Seen from the sky the change is dramatic. The parched,
The technique consists of building little stone barriers
to trap runoff water and ensure it seeps into the ground, ochre-coloured stretches are the areas where “zai” farming
has yet to take root. The green tracts in between are the
preventing erosion, agronomist Paulin Drabo explained.
Holes for planting are then dug next to the stones and newly fertile zones.
Nutrition is always a concern in Burkina Faso but the
packed with fertiliser, which together with the improved
bid to beat back the desert goes beyond food security alone.
hydration, helps crops sprout up quickly.
Like many developing countries the impoverished
“Before, when we planted on bare ground, we harvested
nothing. Now, with the technique they showed us, the meal former French colony is grappling with a rural exodus,
which is straining resources in urban centres.
grows well,” Sita Rouamba, a female farmer, said happily.
Pope’s Asia trip to address poverty, dialogue and climate
P
ope Francis returns to Asia for the second
time in less than six months, travelling to
Sri Lanka and the Philippines in coming
days to underscore his concern for interreligious dialogue, poverty and the environment.
Security will be a main issue in both
countries, particularly in the Philippines,
Asia’s only majority Catholic country,
where up to six million people are expected to attend an outdoor Mass on January
18. Up to 40,000 police, troops and reservists will take part in what military Chief
General Gregorio Catapang has called the
country’s biggest ever security operation.
“There will be soldiers rappelling
up and down helicopters to rescue the
pope in case he will be pinned down by a
sea of people. We may airlift or use naval
boats to bring the pope to safety if necessary,” he said.
When Pope John Paul visited Manila in
1995, security perimeters were breached
and he had to be taken by helicopter to
a Mass site because his car could not get
through a sea of some 5 million people.
One theme of the January 12-19 trip will
be climate change.
During his stay in the Philippines he
will visit Tacloban, where Typhoon Haiyan killed 6,300 people in 2013.
Sri Lanka is among the Asian countries
experts say will see sea level rises likely to
displace people and adversely affect tourism and fisheries.
The Vatican says Francis, who is preparing an encyclical on the environment,
will speak about the issue several times.
While Pope John Paul made a number
of trips to Asia — visiting both countries
in 1995 — Francis’ immediate predecessor Benedict, who resigned in 2013, made
none to a region the Vatican sees as a potential growth area.
“We have to recover the presence of a
pope in this preponderant area of humanity,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico
Lombardi said.
“This continent in many ways represents a frontier for the Church,” said Father Antonio Spadaro, Editor of the Italian
Jesuit magazine Civilta Cattolica. “Interreligious dialogue is tested every day and
young Churches there are growing”.
The 78-year-old arrives on Tuesday
morning in the Sri Lankan capital, Colom-
During his stay in the
Philippines, the Pope will
visit Tacloban, where Typhoon
Haiyan killed 6,300 people in
2013, and will interact with
the victims, notes
SHIHAR ANEEZ
bo, days after president Mahinda Rajapaksa lost his bid for a third term, ending a
decade of rule that critics say had become
authoritarian and marred by nepotism
and corruption. Lombardi said he hoped
the surprise election result in the former
British colony would not give rise to any
“inconveniences that will affect the serenity and tranquillity of the trip”.
The main purpose of the three-day stop
in Sri Lanka is to canonise Joseph Vaz, a
Catholic priest credited with rebuilding
the Church there in the 17th and 18th
centuries after Dutch occupiers imposed
Calvinism as the official religion. The
Indian Ocean island nation is about 70
per cent Buddhist, 13 per cent Hindu, 10
per cent Muslim and only about 7 per cent
Catholic.
Francis will stress the need for worldwide inter-religious dialogue, and, speaking after the recent attacks in France, again
condemn the concept of violence in God’s
name. He will also preach a message of
reconciliation during a visit to Madhu, in
the north that was the centre of a 26-year
civil war that ended with the defeat of ethnic Tamil rebels in 2009.
Vatican officials say that despite its
minority status, the Church in Sri Lanka
can help reconciliation because it includes
members of both ethnic groups — Sinhalese and Tamil.
A Lankan policeman walks past a billboard of Pope Francis in Colombo yesterday as the
country prepares to host the pope who is due to visit the island from January 13-15. — AFP
ANALYSIS
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
9
Sports can be a ‘cash cow’ for Sultanate of Oman
A
RAY PETERSEN
petersen_ray@hotmail.com
s a family, my wife, daughter and myself often
travel to the United Arab Emirates for sporting,
seasonal and cultural events. In recent years we
have seen the drama, and the excitement, as the
tension builds up towards the Dubai World Cup,
on World Cup night at the Meydan Racecourse.
Although Shaeikh Mohammed Al Maktoum’s
Godolphin Racing Team is usually favoured, they
have found wins difficult to come by in recent
years as the $5 million tempts more and more of
the global superstars to try their luck.
It’s not only a racing event however. It is a
‘proper’ night out, an occasion. The glitz and
glamour of the hoi polloi coming out to play is really something! Women in their beautiful raceday
wear sparkle with jewellery and vivacity. Their
hats take pride of place with the evening a milliner’s delight. What is impressive to note is the
cultural appreciation that 99 per cent of racegoers
accord this occasion by dressing not only to impress, but within societal expectations.
Down the road about 30 km is “The Sevens”
a purpose built rugby venue, which has become
the ‘let-your-hair-down’ event for a significant
number of expatriates. South Africans, Aussies,
Kiwis, and of course thousands of expatriate Brits
roll up for three days of on, and off, field entertainment, constrained only by their consumptive
abilities and the success of their teams. It’s all good teams travelling to Pakistan.
So where am I going with this? If you follow
natured fun, but from the other end of the sartothe old adage that you have to spend money to
rial spectrum to the Meydan.
Abu Dhabi hits the high notes a couple of times make money, then Oman must lift its global proa year, and most notably at Yas Island, where the file and provide local businesses with an opportuFormula One Racing, Grand Prix takes place. Take nity to make money! Oman must get in-country
your pick, and support a sulky Lewis Hamilton value from tourism. Sporting events are the best
way to do this, as sportsmen
or an arrogant Nico Rosberg
and women, and sports supdriving a Mercedes, Daniel Riporters are good spenders,
ciardo, the likeable Aussie in a
Look at the beauty of
and they spend ‘in-country!’
Red Bull, or ‘whoevaaaa!’ in a
Whether it’s food, drinks,
Ferrari. F1, as it’s known is no
Oman all around you,
services, entertainment, or
longer for ‘petrol-heads’ but is
and tell me that the
in-country tourism once they
a fashionable place to be seen,
Tour of Oman cannot be are here. Sports followers have
wherever you are on the track.
Dress smart (read cool!) casbigger and better. Our big wallets! Compare, for example, the financial benefit of
ual, but you must wear your
tourism people must
having a major sporting event
team poloshirt and cap. That
be more progressive
in Oman, to a cruise ship on a
part is obligatory.
12-hour stopover.
Also in Abu Dhabi are
and visionary.
On a cruise, the onboard
regular sports events such as
component is included in the
the Volvo Round-the-World
fully paid original price, so
yacht race, which has a stopover every three years. The Red Bull flying races those on cruises will rarely eat or drink in their
are a spectator favourite, because you can watch ports-of-call. The most likely scenario is for cruise
without leaving your deck chair. Currently, the liner patrons to have their breakfast aboard, and
UAE is hosting cricket test matches in Abu Dhabi, take a stroll around Muttrah sea road and souk,
Dubai and Sharjah due to security concerns for returning to their ship for a lunch when the souk
closes for the afternoon. Once on board, they will
not move again prior to the evening departure.
A Lincoln University (NZ) study, in May
2013, found that there is an inequality in tourist
spending, dependent upon whether the tourists
remained ‘in port’ or ventured further afield on
excursions. Not surprisingly, ‘day trippers’ spend,
on souvenirs, food, drink, and the likes, because
they are more active people! The issue, with cruise
liner operators, is that they don’t actually want
dollars spent ashore. They want the tourists to see
Oman, but preferably ‘from’ the ship, or at least
restricted to Muttrah, and spending their cash on
board. Where I am going with this is that activity
tourism, and sporting events are the best way to
encourage ‘big bucks’ spending.
Look at Oman, the roads and streets of Muscat,
and tell me that this is not a perfect “Ironman” or
triathlon venue! Look at the beauty of Oman all
around you, and tell me that the Tour of Oman
cannot be bigger and better. Then also tell me that
we cannot also have more World Championship
Yachting, World Match Racing Series Yachting,
and so on. Our tourism people must be more progressive, enthusiastic and visionary. These events
are up for grabs … Go and get them. Oman needs
income diversity and the onshore spending of
sports, and sports supporters is a sure bet!
FIGHT WITH CONGRESS
STEVEN R HURST
battle over an oil pipeline has become the opening salvo in a power
struggle between newly empowered Republicans and President Barack
Obama that could consume his final two years in office and shape his
legacy. The outcome of the dispute over the Keystone XL oil pipeline will
test who really is in charge in Washington: The Democratic president or
Republicans who won control of the Senate and expanded their House
majority in November elections.
It will set the tone for fights ahead over Obama’s signature initiatives:
diminishing carbon emissions, changing immigration policies and protecting his cherished health care law. Shrugging off a White House veto
threat, the House overwhelmingly passed legislation Friday to build the
pipeline, which would carry Canadian tar sands oil across the US midsection to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.
It was the 10th vote the House has taken since July 2011 to advance
the $7 billion project. The difference this time is that the measure is virtually certain to clear the Senate — in the first major Republican show of
power since the taking control of the upper chamber last week.
Two months ago, with the Democrats still in control, the Senate narrowly turned back the legislation. Obama has not publicly expressed his
opinion on the merits of the pipeline project.
In threatening the veto, the president cited unfinished studies about
the economic and environmental effects of the pipeline. Environmentalists and other opponents argue that any leaks could contaminate water
supplies, and that the project would increase air pollution around refineries and harm wildlife.
Republicans, the oil industry and other backers say those fears are exaggerated, and that the pipeline would generate jobs and ease American
dependence on oil from the Middle East. They note a US State Department report raised no major environmental objections.
The pipeline requires Obama’s approval because it would cross the
US-Canada border. The pipeline legislation has the support of at least
six Senate Democrats, however, the Republicans are unlikely to be able
to muster the two-thirds votes needed in each chamber to override a
presidential veto.
Still, the Republicans are using the measure to portray themselves
as championing bipartisan legislation — 28 House Democrats voted in
favour of the pipeline Friday — and Obama as obstructionist. Also undercutting Obama’s stance, the Supreme Court of Nebraska last Friday
rejected a lawsuit challenging the pipeline’s route, an obstacle the White
House had said must be removed.
A
Part of the tail of AirAsia QZ8501 floats on the surface in the Java Sea yesterday.
— Reuters
After jet crashes, a struggle to re-train pilots
A
s investigators hunt for what caused an
AirAsia jet to crash in an equatorial storm
on December 28, the aviation industry is still
struggling to apply the lessons of accidents
in similar weather over the past decade.
It is too early to say whether the Airbus
A320 crashed into the Java Sea due to pilot
error, mechanical problems, freak weather
or — as most often happens in aviation disasters — a combination of factors.
But its apparently uncontrolled plunge,
coming after a series of other fatal crashes
blamed at least in part on loss of control, has
refocused attention on whether pilot training programmes need to improve.
Critics say pilots don’t get enough training on how to react when an airliner stalls or
loses lift, and that changes in guidance about
best practices have been slow.
“The lessons have not been learned to
this day,” said David Learmount, one of the
aviation industry’s leading safety commentators. “Everyone knows what the problem
is, but nobody is doing anything about it.”
Though rare, loss of pilot control ranks as
the single biggest cause of air travel deaths.
Two crashes in particular forced the issue — the 2009 losses of an Air France flight
from Rio De Janeiro to Paris, and a Colgan
Air turboprop near Buffalo, New York.
In both, confused pilots ignored or countermanded warnings of an impending stall,
a condition where a plane loses lift because
the air flow over its wings is too slow.
The Air France jet took a four-minute,
38,000 feet plunge into the ocean.
Despite repeated stall alarms, the control
stick was fatally yanked backwards. Classic
stall training calls for pilots to push the control stick forward, nosing the plane down so
it will swoop lower and regain speed, which
is effective but uncomfortable.
But over the last 30 years, most airlines
encouraged their pilots to hold the control
stick broadly steady and gun the engines to
power their way out of a stall, trying to keep
the ride as level as possible.
In examining stall crashes from that period, that procedure “wouldn’t have helped
and would have led to more accidents than
it prevented,” said Claude Lelaie, a retired
former chief test pilot at Airbus.
In a rare joint move from 2009, Airbus
and Boeing called for a return to robust
cockpit procedures that prevailed “when the
old guys like me were being trained,” Lelaie
said. “We were told to push the stick at the
first sign of a stall.”
But it took several years to set rules that
ensure pilots receive regular refresher training and to root out the disputed cockpit procedures of past decades.
The new voluntary guidelines by the
United Nations International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO), which coordinates
safety, took effect just six weeks before the
loss of AirAsia Flight QZ8501, and will take
years to be implemented around the globe.
New US rules on pilot training do not
take effect until 2019.
Regulators will require flight simulators
to better model stall behaviour, changes that
will also take years to implement. ICAO also
has proposed that pilots refresh their stall
training by flying small aerobatic planes.
The apparently uncontrolled
plunge of AirAsia jet, coming
after a series of other fatal
crashes, has refocused
attention on whether pilot
training needs to be improved,
reports ALWYN SCOTT
But Learmount and others said most airlines would be reluctant to pay for it. Changes in training cannot be made overnight because they can create other risks.
Even minor adjustments must be thoroughly researched to avoid sowing the seeds
of future accidents. The industry is wrestling
with a steep drop in the time pilots spend
manually flying.
Pilots now typically steer for only a few
minutes at takeoff and landing, and rely on
autopilot for the lengthy, boring cruise phase
of flight. When a sudden upset occurs —
such as icing or powerful air currents from a
storm — even the best pilots can experience
a “startle effect” and may struggle to recall
manual flying skills for that rare situation.
A study by Australia’s Griffith University
found a person’s ability to process information is significantly impaired for 30 seconds
after being startled, so being trained to cope
with the unexpected is as important as
knowing cockpit theory. Flight simulators
pose another challenge.
The machines are crucial because pilots
get little or no in-flight training for stalls after basic training. But most simulators still
cannot accurately model a plane’s behaviour
in a full stall.
The Federal Aviation Administration has
pressing to make them better in a rule-making process that closed last week.
Simulator makers want better data about
stalls to improve their machines.
But plane makers say airliner stalls are so
unpredictable that the data would be of little
value — a dispute that could also have implications for any potential liabilities.
“It’s not clear how the simulation data
will be collected,” said Pat Anderson, Director of flight research at Embry-Riddle
Aeronautic University, the largest US flight
training school.
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10
INDIA
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
Modi promises uninterrupted power
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi Saturday made a slew of
promises to the people of Delhi, including round-the-clock power, housing for
all, electricity portability, and targeted
Arvind Kejriwal for his “anarchist” remarks and asked voters to punish the
AAP in the upcoming assembly election
in the capital.
Launching the Bharatiya Janata
Party’s election campaign at Ramlila
Maidan here, Modi sought the people’s
support for a “new” Delhi and a “strong,
stable” government.
The rally, for which the BJP had
made elaborate arrangements, was attended by some union ministers and the
party’s chief ministers of Maharashtra,
Jharkhand and Haryana where the party recorded unprecedented success in
the last six months.
Modi, who spoke for about 35 minutes, targeted the Congress but focused
mainly on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Modi did not name Kejriwal or the AAP
but accused the party of spreading lies.
Attacking Kejriwal for his “anarchist”
remark, Modi said “if anarchy has to be
practised, (he should) join Naxalites
(Maoists) in jungles”.Modi wondered if
people had seen a politician who spoke
such language.
“Anarchy cannot prevail in Delhi.
It (Delhi) should have a sense of
pride,” he said.
AAP leader Yogendra Yadav later
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he addresses a public rally in New Delhi.
— AFP
pected to be held next month.
BJP chief Amit Shah, whom Modi
described as the “most successful” party president, asked the opposition to
“respect the mandate of the people” in
the Rajya Sabha and defended the ordinances brought by the central government.
He said black money stashed abroad
was a “complex” issue but the Modi
government was doing its best to bring
it back. Modi said a rumour was being
spread that a BJP government will bring
down the retirement age of government
officials in Delhi to 58 from 60.
“People of Delhi, a new lie will be
responded to Modi’s comments, saying:
“It seems the prime minister is scared of
our popularity.”
The AAP finished close behind the
BJP in the 2013 Delhi polls and won 28
seats.
The party is seen as the main rival
of the BJP in the assembly election ex-
Warring Thackeray cousins
meet again — at an art gallery
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray at the photography exhibition of
Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, organised to raise funds for drought affected
farmers, in Mumbai.
— IANS
MUMBAI: It was bonhomie and back-patting time once again for the warring
Thackeray cousins - Uddhav and Raj- at an unusual venue, the Jehangir Art Gallery, here Saturday.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray dropped in to view Shiv
Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s ongoing exhibition of photographs which has
been drawing huge crowds, both celebs and commoners.
Warmly welcomed by Uddhav, Raj was taken around the exhibition hall where
around 70 big and small photographs are on display, and given a brief explanation
about some of the exhibits. Raj, an acclaimed cartoonist himself, was visibly impressed and appreciated Uddhav’s efforts and excellence in photography.
“We have grown up together and we have seen each other’s talents over the
years...we know the levels we have achieved in our respective fields,” Raj told media persons.
— IANS
manufactured every day.
To misguide, spread lies, this is their
way of politics. Modi is not a person
who will ever back stab.
If lies are spread, do not believe
them,” he said.
Referring to Kejriwal resigning from
office after 49 days in power, Modi said
a year was wasted in Delhi.
“Those who destroyed a year, will
you punish them?” he asked the gathering.
Referring to the AAP’s agitational
politics, he said people specialise in a
particular task and that should be given
to them.
“Those who have specialisation in
blocking roads, staging sit-ins, launching agitations, give them that work.
Our specialisation is in running a
good government.
Give us that task,” Modi said.
The prime minister alleged that the
past governments in Delhi had done little for the poor and were indecisive.
He said the BJP government at the
centre has taken measures to solve the
water woes of Delhi and nearly 20 lakh
bank accounts of the poor in the national capital have been opened under
the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
(PMGDY). Referring to corruption at
the grassroots level, Modi said he has
started the work of cleaning from the
top and will ensure that it goes down to
— IANS
the lowest level.
Sanjay Dutt back in jail after
furlough extension declined
MUMBAI/PUNE: Film star Sanjay
Dutt Saturday evening returned to
Pune’s Yerawada Central Jail after the
Maharashtra government rejected his
application to extend his furlough by 14
days.
Dutt, whose 14-day furlough had begun Dec 24, returned to the jail around
5 pm, an official said.
His lawyer Hitesh Jain earlier had
told IANS that his application has been
rejected and he will return to jail Saturday itself.
Prior to this departure, his family members, including wife Manyata,
bid him a tearful farewell at his Bandra
home.
Dutt briefly addressed the media
and expressed his unhappiness over the
controversy erupting each time he got
furlough.
“Every prisoner is entitled to it and
so am I. The authorities have done nothing wrong. They are doing it within the
legal framework,” he said.
He castigated the media for accusing the government and jail authorities
of meting out partial treatment to Dutt
vis-a-vis others.
“I am also a common man. I respect
the media and you should also respect
me,” he commented before boarding his
vehicle.
Dutt’s latest furlough of 14 days ended Thursday, but he did not return to the
jail as the decision on his extension application of December 27 was pending.
Meanwhile, he continued to live with
his family for the past three days.
On Thursday, Dutt, 55, flew to Pune
and went up to jail, spent a few hours
in the vicinity of the prison and later
returned home in Mumbai. The development followed a confusion created
by the utterances of some officials that
it was not necessary for him to go back
to jail till a decision was taken on his application for an extension.
Questions have been raised from
several quarters about the repeated furloughs granted to the actor, including
the latest 14-day leave which saw him
attending a special show of the latest
Aamir Khan megahit, PK, and celeb
parties, while exhibiting his new set of
eight abs built up in prison.
Earlier, Dutt was released on furlough in October 2013 for two weeks
on health reasons, followed by a similar
leave in December 2013 to tend to his
ailing wife, Maanyata, attracting charges
of favouritism.
In February last year, the Bombay
High Court had commented on the diligence in granting the actor’s requests for
furloughy which was not visible in case
of other convicts who applied for leave.
Dutt was convicted in 2007 for illegal
possession of an AK-56 assault rifle during the 1992-1993 Mumbai communal
conflagration before the March 12, 1993
serial bomb blasts in the city and sentenced to six years jail.
The Supreme Court had upheld the
conviction in 2013 but reduced the sentence to five years, less the time already
served.
Dutt surrendered on May 16, 2013,
and was moved to the high-security jail
in Pune to serve the remainder of his
42-month sentence. Production in India was hit yesterday as around five lakh
workers began a five-day strike to protest moves towards commercial mining
of the fuel.
Trade union leader Jibon Roy called
it the second biggest industrial action
in almost four decades and put the estimated daily loss at Rs 1,500 crore.
State-run Coal India Ltd (CIL) has
near monopoly over coal production
and accounts for nearly 82 per cent of
domestic output.
— IANS
Samajwadi Party MP demands from the government the steps taken to mitigate the shortage
India woefully short of career diplomats: Govt
R A K SINGH
NEW DELHI
Jan 10: India faces a woeful shortage of career diplomats who man overseas missions and posts and
serve as the first crucial point of official contact for
Indians abroad in needs of sudden support and
care from motherland, besides performing multifarious, onerous tasks to project and protect India’s
interests.
The government made this candid admission
in the Rajya Sabha recently in response to a query
by Samajwadi Party member Jaya Bachchan (pictured). Responding to the eminent actor’s query,
Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh also
admitted that India recruits much less diplomats,
compared to other major countries in the world.
He, however, added that the government is working on a 10-year-plan to mitigate the shortage of
career diplomats.
“The size of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
from which the Indian diplomats are deployed in
our Missions or Posts abroad is smaller than the
size of Foreign Services of other major countries,”
said Singh.
“A number of Task Force and Committees
formed to look into the issue have recommended
the need for enhanced strength of Indian diplo-
The size of the Indian
Foreign Service (IFS)
from which the Indian
diplomats are deployed in
Missions or Posts abroad is
smaller than the size of Foreign
Services of other
major countries.”
mats,” he said adding “the Government has taken
steps to address the shortage of diplomats by implementing the IFS Expansion plan approved by the
Union Cabinet in 2008.”
“The plan envisages phased expansion of IFS
strength over a period of 10 years till 2018,” said
Singh.
“The Ministry has also carried out a comprehensive Cadre Review of Indian Foreign Service
Branch ‘B’. These two measures should adequately
address the Ministry’s manpower requirements in
the short to medium term,” he added.
Bachchan had asked the minister is it was a fact that
there was a shortage of career diplomats in India in
comparison to other major countries.
Seeking details of the shortage, she had also demanded from the government the steps taken by it
to mitigate the shortage.
The present cadre strength of the Indian Foreign
Service officers, who are nurtured into career diplomats, stands at approximately 600 officers manning around 162 Indian missions and posts abroad,
besides various posts in the External Affairs Ministry at home. The IFS officers are nurtured into
career diplomats after they compete the prestigious Civil Service examination, held annually by
Union Public Service Commission to appoint all
top Central services officers, including those for
Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police
Service.
In recent years, the intake into the IFS has averaged between 8-15 persons annually, said an internal MEA note on the strength of IFS officers.
As a career diplomat, the IFS officers are required to project India’s interests, both at home and
abroad on a wide variety of issues, which include
bilateral political and economic cooperation, trade
and investment promotion, cultural interaction,
press and media liaison as well as a whole host of
multilateral issues.
The Indian diplomats represent India in its embassies, high commissions, consulates, and permanent missions to multilateral organisations like
UN; besides protecting India’s national interests in
the country of his or her posting.
They are also tasked to promoting friendly relations with the receiving state as also its people including NRIs and PIOs, says the note adding they
are also supposed to reporting accurately on developments in the country of posting which are likely
to influence the formulation of India’s policies.
They are also tasked to negotiate agreements on
various issues with the authorities of the receiving
state and extend consular facilities to foreigners
and Indian nationals abroad.
IN BRIEF
Navy fully
prepared to
protect coastal
region
BENGALURU: India is fully prepared to protect its long coastal
region and secure its maritime interests with round-the-clock surveillance, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan said Saturday.
“As we operate in a challenging environment, we ensure to
maintain all aspects of coastal surveillance because we have a huge
coastline of 7,516 km, an exclusive economic zone of two-million
square km, thousands of merchant
ships and about 240,000 fishing
boats at any given time in our region,” Dhowan told reporters here.
Admitting that dealing with
non-state actors was always a difficult situation, the navy chief said
patrolling was already stepped up
in the coastal region much before
the December 31 incident in which
a boat laden with explosives blew
up when the Indian Coast Guard
intercepted it and chased it.
“We have been on a heightened state of alert over the last two
months with our units, including warships, aircraft carrier and
UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)
deployed in our waters,” Dhowan
said in his inaugural remarks at
the second Admiral R L Pereira
Memorial Lecture. The lecture
on
“Accelerating
Technology
Change and National Security” was
delivered by Arogyaswami Paulraj,
emeritus professor at Stanford University.
After the Nov 26, 2008 terror attack in Mumbai, the navy
set up a national command, control and communications and
intelligence centre (NC3I) at
Gurgaon in Haryana at a cost of Rs
450 crore to beef up surveillance
and patrolling.
As an Information Management
Analysis Centre (IMAC), the command post with next-generation intelligence system tracks movement
of all ships and fishing boats sailing
in the waters along the country’s
long coastline.
— IANS
Yamuna activists
to protest
in Delhi
AGRA/MATHURA: Green activists plan to stage protests in the Indian capital February 1 to demand
that the Narendra Modi government act fast to clean up the highly
polluted Yamuna river.
The activists say that Modi
government has given a lot of assurances but has failed to clean up
the Yamuna despite being in office
around eight months.
According to them, the ghats in
Mathura and Vrindavan, used by
millions of pilgrims, stink.
“They are not bothered about
the Yamuna, the lifeline of cities down the line from Haryana
to Agra,” lamented Vrindavan’s
Yamuna activist Madhu Mangal
Shukla.
On Feb 1, thousands of activists and devotees will demonstrate
in New Delhi to draw the government’s attention to the neglect of
the Yamuna.
The protest will be led by Swami
Vigyanacharya, who has been campaigning for saving the Yamuna in
the Braj area.
The national president of the
Yamuna Rakshak Dal, Jai Krishan
Das, told IANS that the polluted
Yamuna was a threat to the lives
of millions living downstream of
Delhi.
The Yamuna, flowing through
Mathura, Vrindavan and Agra,
has been reduced to a sewer canal
these days, choked with piles of accumulated garbage and industrial
effluents.
The pollutants are mostly discharged by industrial clusters upstream of Vrindavan, Delhi and
Haryana.
— IANS
INDIA
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
11
Kejriwal, Bhushan mount scathing attack on Modi govt
NEW DELHI: Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, saying
that those who wanted to be anarchists
should go join the Naxalites in the jungles and not talk about anarchy in Delhi,
Kejriwal said that he has never indulged
in such personal attacks.
“The BJP had no positive agenda for
Delhi. The PM spoke negatively of the
15 years that the Congress was in power.
But did not utter a single negative thing
about our 49-day rule. This means we
did a good job, “ AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said at a news conference.
“It doesn’t make a difference what I
am. At least I am not corrupt,” Arvind
Kejriwal said.
Arvind Kejriwal said that they could
see that BJP is nervous. “They do not
have any positive agenda for the Delhi
polls,” the AAP chief added.
“They neither know how to protest
nor to govern. We know both. Only we
can end corruption,” Kejriwal said. The
AAP leader added, “We ended corruption in Delhi in 49 days. What has BJP
done at the Centre?”
Earlier
on
Saturday
in
Thiruvananthapuram, lawyer and senior
APP leader Prashant Bhushan alleged
that the Modi government was trying
to implement “four dangers of communalism, obscurantism, fascism and
anti-people pro-corporate economic
policies.”
Bhushan, who was in the capital of
Kerala to campaign on the platform of
anti-corruption movement, said the to rollback some progressive legislations
He said, “There are four dangers unNarendra Modi government had plans brought in by the previous UPA regime. der this rule. They are communalism,
‘The changing threat
environment and
accelerating technology
requires a revolution in
what defines a solider’
rate. Diffusion of civilian technologies
the world over will empower irregular
forces and sometimes give the latter an
edge over regular armies,” he said in the
lecture on “Accelerating Technology
Change and National Security”.
Observing that the next few decades
would be an era of frequent conflict,
involving state, non-state and even individual actors who are willing to use
violence to achieve their political and
ideological ends, he said such conflicts
could result in friction in the world,
particularly in the equatorial belt cutting across Latin America, Africa and
South Asia.
“Conflicts could arise unpredictably,
last from months to years, and be riven
by surprises and ambiguities. Future
threats can defy simple categorisations
- conventional versus unconventional
or symmetric versus asymmetric. In a
more complicated global security envi-
ronment, India is among the very vulnerable form a geo-political and technological position,” Paulraj noted.
In this context, the Padma Bhushan
awardee called for deeper and broader
education of the Indian soldier, as they
would need understanding of science
and technology (S&T).
“If a soldier, who wields the sword,
delegates S&T to different or lower tier
of soldiers, something vital will be lost,
and the soldier will get a sword built for
a wrong battle. I also believe that all general officers should have broader education beyond S&T to include humanities,
which illuminates how societies and
countries function.”
Asserting that all general officers
should have a master’s degree and some
of them should go to the top global universities, Paulraj said if a country wanted best weapons, its soldiers also should
study at the world’s best universities.
“Military training schools or colleges
play some role in developing strategic
depth, but military needs intellectual
inputs. Hence, In India, university think
tanks funded by the military can be useful,” he said, noting Stanford has such a
centre where many former US defense
secretaries are professors.
— IANS
VISIT TO BOOST TIES
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and wife Yoo Soon-taek upon arrival at the airport in New Delhi.
— Reuters
A fire breaks out in an oil wagon rake belonging to Indian Oil while transferring fuel at a depot in Belagavi, Karnataka. — IANS
Singing maestro
Yesudas turns 75
MANGALARU: Veteran playback
singer K J Yesudas, who has over 45,000
film songs in 14 languages and 22,000
other songs in his kitty, turned 75 Saturday.
As has been his practice, on every
birthday, he and his family visits the
Kollur Mookambika temple near here
and takes part in the musical tribute
there.
Dressed in a flowing white kurta and
a white dhoti, the seven-time national
award winner conducted the customary musical session Saturday morning
at the temple where he sang hymns.
Yesudas is a recipient of the Padma
Shri and the Padma Bhushan, besides
winning 17 state film awards.
He shuttles between Chennai and
Florida, and sometimes visits Kerala
capital Thiruvananthapuram.
Recently he was in the news when
he said “What should be covered must
be covered. Women should not trouble
others by wearing jeans.” The musician, said this in Thiruvananthapuram
inviting protests from political leaders,
women’s groups and the public.
He was speaking at the inauguration
of the Gandhi Jayanthi cleanliness drive
at the Sri Swathi Thirunal College of
Music in the state capital when he made
those comments.
When women wear jeans, people
are tempted to pay attention to what is
beyond it, thus forcing them to do undesirable things, the well-known singer
said. “They [women] should not try
to become like men but must behave
modestly,” he continued. The attire, he
said, is unbecoming of Indian culture
and what lends beauty to a woman is
her demureness.
Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has
recorded more than 70,000 songs in
many languages including Malayalam,
Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,
Sanskrit, Tulu, Malay, Russian, Arabic,
Latin and English during a career spanning five decades.
He has performed in most Indian
languages except Assamese, Konkani
and Kashmiri.
He also composed a number of
Malayalam film songs in the 1970s and
1980s.
Yesudas is fondly called Gana Gandharvan (The Celestial Singer).
Business conferences, convention centre also planned to come up
Kashmir targets Mumbai corporates for meetings in Ladakh
CHENNAI: The Jammu and Kashmir
tourism department will target Mumbai-based corporates for promoting
Ladakh as an ideal location for meetings, conferences and exhibitions, an official said.
The Kashmir government is also
looking at the possibility of allowing the
private sector that manages some ho-
tels and cottages owned by Jammu and
Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (J&KTDC).
“This year, we are focussing on the
Mumbai corporate sector for the meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE) segment. Many business
conferences are being held in Ladakh.
A convention centre is also being built
said.
Though no major scam had hit the
government in its seven-month rule yet,
nothing appeared to have happened at
the institutional level to check corruption, he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, without naming Kejriwal or his
party, said at a rally in Ramlila Maidan
that if the AAP leader wants to be an
“anarchist” as he has claimed to be, he
should go to jungles to join naxals as
Delhi cannot have anarchy. Kejriwal had
said about a year ago that he is an “anarchist”.
Modi suggested that Kejriwal has
“mastery” in “lies” and dharnas and protests and should be given that role only
and that power should be given to BJP
which has “mastery” in administration.
BLAZE IN OIL WAGON
Tech key to military
preparedness: Paulraj
BENGALURU: With global security
environment rapidly changing due to
the weakening of nation states and
rise of asymmetric threats, technology
would be key to military preparedness,
Stanford University emeritus professor
Arogyaswami Paulraj said Saturday.
“The changing threat environment
and accelerating technology requires a
revolution in what defines a soldier, how
policy is made and how the intellectual
and material capacity for the armed
forces is created,” the India-born Paulraj
said in his keynote address at the second
Admiral R L Pereira Memorial Lecture,
organised by the Navy Foundation and
the Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL).
Admiral Pereira was the ninth naval
chief from 1979 to 1982.
Noting that rapidly accelerating technology in the areas of biology, robotics,
information, nanotechnology and energy offered a new set of challenges due
to asymmetry in the rate of advance of
civil versus military technology, Paulraj
said lines in the role of military between
conventional war fighting and political
functions were getting blurred.
“Moreover, new technologies are
dual use and what is military versus
what is civilian can be hard to sepa-
obscurantism, fascism and anti-people
pro-corporate economic policies.”
Accusing the affiliates of the BJP
of indulging in rampant communalism, Bhushan told reporters that Prime
Minister Narendra Modi might not
have direct involvement in this but was
“granting permission to his ground-level
workers to do this thing.”
Taking a dig at the government’s approach towards science and history, he
said, “those in the government are consciously replacing experts with obscurantist people in institutions and they
are pushing us to the stone age.”
Some people-friendly legislations
like RTI Act, MNREGA schemes, Forest Right Act and amendments to Land
Acquisition Act brought out by the previous government were under threat, he
there,” Talat Parvez, Kashmir tourism
department director told reporters here
late Friday.
He said business conventions take
place in Ladakh in good numbers.
Expressing satisfaction over the
performance of cottages owned by
J&KTDC, Parvez said the department
was looking at the option of allowing the
private sector to manage some of its cottages.
“We have got an offer from a Malaysian party for this,” he said.
He said many hotel projects were
coming up in Kashmir, and the number
of rooms — currently around 25,000 - is
expected to go up to 40,000 in the next
two years.
“Similarly, homestay outlets would
also go up to 20,000 units from the current 12,000,” he said.
He said though October-November
earlier used to be a lean season for tourism, the situation changed in the last
couple of years as a large number of
tourists came from Malaysia and Singapore.
— IANS
BIO DIVERSITY
Kerala to be
first state with
green ABS
policy
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
:
Kerala is all set to become the first
state in the country to have a policy
document on biodiversity conservation related “access and benefit sharing (ABS)”, a UN green expert has
revealed.
Balakrishna Pisupati, currently
heading a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Norway, is in the
state’s capital city to finalise a draft ABS
policy being prepared by the Kerala
State Biodiversity Board (KSBB).
Pisupati said in an online interview
that the progress that Kerala has made
for biodiversity conservation has to be
lauded and “even though the concept
of ABS is old, for bio resources the
ABS is something new”.
“Today, we have a Biodiversity Act
in the country and when it comes to
ABS, states can chalk out their own
plans. The KSBB will be ready with a
full-fledged ABS policy shortly,” said
Pisupati, the UN expert and former
chairman of the National Biodiversity
Authority.
He said, “In simple terms, ABS becomes applicable “if there is any commercial utilisation of biological resources and in traditional knowledge,
where a fee would be levied.”
Kerala is home to a rich variety of
flora and fauna and among the other
segments where ABS will be applicable include the seafood sector, seeds,
spices, plantation sector to name a few.
“The policy that’s being readied will
include the guidelines on how ABS is
made applicable. One thing that would
be very clear is that this is not meant to
make money for the KSBB by taxing
the Ayurveda manufacturers, the seafood industry and others who use the
resources,” Pisupati said.
This is just to ensure that the stakeholders are made aware that conservation is needed because if they have
to continue their business, conservation has to take place, he said. “There
would be no wielding the stick, but
(we will be) taking all the stakeholders
on board,” Pisupati said.
EUROPE
12
ROMNEY MAY RUN FOR WHITE HOUSE AGAIN
PERU’S FUJIMORI CONVICTED OF GRAFT
S U N DAY l J A N U A R Y 1 1 l 2 0 1 5
A court in Peru convicted jailed
former president Alberto
Fujimori of funnelling more than
$40 million in public funds to
newspapers that smeared his
opponents during his 2000 reelection campaign. The conviction
was the fifth for the 76-year-old
WORLD
Mitt Romney, the
Republican US
presidential nominee
in 2012, told a meeting
of donors on Friday
that he is considering
another White House
run in 2016
HIGH ALERT: “These madmen have nothing to do with religion... France yet to see end of the threats,” said Hollande
France hunts for terror suspect’s girl friend
PARIS: French police searched for a
woman accomplice to militants behind
deadly attacks on a satirical magazine
and supermarket and maintained a toplevel anti-terrorist alert ahead of a Paris
gathering with European leaders set for
Sunday.
In the worst assault on France’s
homeland security for decades, 17 victims lost their lives in three days of violence that began with an attack on the
Charlie Hebdo weekly on Wednesday
and ended with Friday’s dual hostagetaking at a print works outside Paris and
kosher supermarket in the city.
French security forces shot dead the
two brothers behind the Hebdo killings
after they took refuge in the print works,
and a Kalashnikov-armed associate who
had planted explosives at the Paris deli
in a siege that claimed the lives of four
hostages. On Saturday morning, there
was still a visible police presence around
the French capital, with patrols at sensitive sites including media offices.
There was a false bomb alert at the
Eurodisney fairground to the east of the
capital. “It’s no longer like before,” said
Maria Pinto, on a street in central Paris.
“You work a whole life through and because of these madmen, you leave your
house to go shopping, go to work, and
you don’t know if you’ll come home.”
The attack on Charlie Hebdo, a journal
that satirised Islam as well as other religions and politicians, raised sensitive
questions about freedom of speech, religion and security in a country struggling to integrate a five-million Muslim
minority.
Participation of European leaders in-
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads Je suis Charlie (I am Charlie), referring to the movement in solidarity with the victims
of the attack on Charlie Hebdo, and “Freedom of speech” in east London on Saturday.
— Reuters
cluding Germany’s Angela Merkel, Britain’s David Cameron and Italy’s Matteo
Renzi in a silent march through Paris
with President Francois Hollande will
pose further demands for security forces
on Sunday. Arab League representatives
and some Muslim African leaders as
well as Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu will also attend.
“French people need to know that all
measures will be taken for this demonstration to be held in a spirit of mourning and respect, and in full security,” Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said
after an emergency cabinet meeting.
“Given the context, we remain at risk
and we will maintain the highest level of
security in comings weeks.”
Political and security chiefs were reviewing how two French-born brothers
of Algerian extraction could have carried out the Charlie Hebdo attacks despite having been on surveillance and
“no-fly” lists for many years. They said
before they were killed they had been
acting on behalf of al Qaeda in Yemen.
Paris chief prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters on Friday the three attackers had had a large arsenal of weapons and had set up booby traps.
POWER OF WORDS
He said they had a loaded M82 rocket launcher, two Kalashnikov machine
guns and two automatic pistols on them.
The whereabouts of the partner of the
deli attacker, 26-year-old Hayat Boumeddiene, remained unknown. Police
listed her as a suspect in that strike and
an earlier shooting of a policewoman,
describing her as “armed and dangerous”.
An official police photograph shows
a young woman with long dark hair
hitched back over her ears. French media, however, released photos purporting to be of a fully-veiled Boumeddiene,
posing with a cross-bow, in what they
said was a 2010 training session in the
mountainous Cantal region. Le Monde
daily said Boumeddiene wed Amedy
Coulibaly in a religious ceremony not
formally recognised by French civil authorities in 2009 and was questioned by
police over suspicions of links to militant Islamists in 2010. With one of the
gunmen saying shortly before his death
that he was funded by al Qaeda, Hollande warned that the danger to France
— home to the European Union’s biggest
communities of both Muslims and Jews
— was not over yet. “These madmen, fanatics, have nothing to do with the Muslim religion,” Hollande said.
“France has not seen the end of the
threats it faces,” said Hollande, facing
record unpopularity over his handling
of the economy but whose government
has received praise from at least one
senior opposition leader for its handling
of the crisis. An audio recording posted
on YouTube attributed to a leader of the
Yemeni branch of al Qaeda (AQAP) said
the attack in France was prompted by
insults to prophets but stopped short of
claiming responsibility for the assault on
the offices of Charlie Hebdo.
Cherif Kouachi and his brother Said,
both in their thirties, died when security
forces raided a print shop in the small
town of Dammartin-en-Goele, northeast of Paris, where the chief suspects in
Wednesday’s attack had been holed up.
The hostage they had taken was unhurt. Before his death at the printing
works, Cherif Kouachi told a television
station he had received financing from
an al Qaeda preacher in Yemen. —AFP
Nervous
visit for Paris
tourists after
terror attacks
PARIS: It was an unnerving week to
be a visitor in the tourist capital of the
world but despite a few worrying moments, most refused to let the violence
spoil their trip to the City of Light.
“We went to lunch on Friday and
all the police were going past and the
woman who was serving us was crying — we just sat eating our croque
monsieurs in silence,” said Kitty Wilcox, visiting as part of a large group of
British art students.
They had arrived on Thursday, a
day after a massacre at the Charlie
Hebdo office left 12 dead, to a country
gripped by a manhunt for three killers
that ended on Friday in two violent
hostage dramas in and around the
capital.
“I spent half the day before crying
and deciding whether to come.
Quite a few people dropped out of
the trip,” said another of the students,
Elizabeth Ranson. “My mum was frantic but in the end it was fine and I’m
glad we came.” A major terror drama
will do little to help the French tourist
board, currently in the midst of an action plan to boost visitor numbers to
100 million per year, up from 83 million in 2012. At the Eiffel Tower, the
crowds were thin on Saturday morning, although the wet weather seemed
more to blame than fear.
“The atmosphere has been strange
but with so many police around, we
have felt safe,” said Matt Gerhardt, 25,
visiting from Germany with his girlfriend.
— AFP
AROUND THE GLOBE
Merkel raises bar for lifting of Russia sanctions
Neo-realist film
director Francesco
Rosi dies aged 92
People hold up giant pencils at a vigil outside The French Institute in London on Friday for the 12 victims of the attack on the
Paris offices of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
— AFP
Expresses his solidarity with the families of the Charlie Hebdo victims
A sad birthday, Tintin turns 86
PARIS: Fictional detective Tintin on
Saturday turned 86 and used the occasion to express his solidarity with the
families of the Charlie Hebdo attack victims.
The rallying cry for the birthday is Je
suis Charlie and Tintin expresses solidarity with the families of the victims!”,
according to his website.
It says the occasion is marked by the
most horrible recent attacks against,
among others, employees of Charlie
Hebdo. Tintin, the amazing reporter and
sleuth with the iconic quiff created by
Georges Remi, better known as Herge,
appeared for the first time in 1929, January 10 in the comic strip called “Le Petit
Vingtieme”, together with his trusted canine companion Snowy.
Among his friends, Snowy comes
first — the faithful companion with a
generous spirit.
Secondly, Tchang appears in the family circle and becomes a lifelong friend
of Tintin and almost a brother.
Thirdly, Captain Haddock whose debut was to come a good 10 years later is
ready to sacrifice his own life for Tintin.
Not forgetting all the others, Cas-
tafiore, Calculus, Thomson and Thompson who form Tintin’s family circle.
Since 1929, more than 230 million
Tintin copies have been sold.
The Tintin adventures have been
translated in more than 70 languages.
Reprinted and published in ever
greater numbers, the books are a source
of inspiration for artists, writers, producers, and directors.
Tintin has indisputably earned his
place among the great figures in world
literature. In 1999, following a survey
by Le Monde, readers ranked The Blue
Lotus 18th among books that left their
mark on the 20th century.
Tintin found himself in distinguished company with Aldous Huxley, Alexandr Solzhenitsyn and Anne
Frank.
—Agencies
ROME: Italian neo-realist film director
Francesco Rosi, known for his trenchant documentaries and exposes, died
Saturday in Rome, media reports said.
He was 92.
Rosi gained international fame
with his 1962 film Salvatore Giuliano
about the Sicilian gangster.
Ten years later The Mattei Affair
investigating the mysterious death
of an Italian oil magnate earned Rosi
the Grand Prix at Cannes. His 1981
film Three Brothers was nominated for
an Academy award for best foreign
language film.
Born on November 15, 1922, in
Naples, Rosi studied law before going
into show business, starting with
the stage before going into cinema,
apprenticing with director Luchino
Visconti.
Rosi’s 1963 Hands Over the City
starring Rod Steiger won the top prize
Golden Lion at the Venice film festival.
At the beginning of “Hands over the
City”, Rosi describes his cinematic
approach on screen, as words appear
overlayed on panoramic images of the
city below, reading: “The people and
facts in this narrative are imaginary,
but the social and environmental reality that produces them is authentic.”
In 2009 he won a career Golden
Bear in Berlin, followed three years
later by a career Golden Lion in Venice.
The Italian daily Corriere della Sera
said Rosi died in his sleep after suffering a bout of bronchitis.
Rosi’s politically hued films resonated deeply in Italy during the 1970s,
when the country was torn by rightist
and leftist violence — the so-called
“Years of Lead”.
— AFP
BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday that Europe could
not consider lifting sanctions against Russia until all elements of a 12-point peace
agreement signed in September between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels were fully
implemented.
In her clearest comments yet on the sanctions issue, the German leader adopted a
more hawkish stance than that set out by senior politicians from her coalition partner,
the Social Democrats (SPD), and European leaders like French President Francois Hollande in recent days. Worried about a deterioration of the Russian economy, they have
suggested that progress on the so-called Minsk protocol agreed in September, rather
than full implementation, would be sufficient to consider easing the sanctions.
Speaking at a news conference in Berlin with visiting Ukrainian Prime Minister
Arseny Yatseniuk, Merkel said she had “little hope” that a first round of sanctions
introduced in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea could be lifted. And she
placed a high bar for easing a second round of punitive EU measures tied to Russia’s
intervention in eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies backing the separatist rebels in the
conflict, which has killed more than 4,700 people, despite what Ukraine and Western
governments say is overwhelming evidence to the contrary. “The entire Minsk agreement must be implemented before we can say these sanctions can be lifted,” she said,
specifically ruling out a step-by-step easing based on progress on the 12 points, which
include a ceasefire, monitoring of the Ukraine-Russia border, security zones and the
release of hostages. Top SPD politicians have sounded a more dovish note in recent
weeks, with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressing concern that Russia
could be destabilised if EU sanctions were not eased.
— Reuters
People take a photo using a “selfie” stick on Westminster Bridge in London
on Friday.
— Reuters
Protest for better hepatitis C treatment
Madrid: Thousands of people affected by hepatitis C have marched in several Spanish cities to press for easier access to latest-generation medicines for the deadly liver
disease. The Platform of People Affected by Hepatitis C, which organised the protests,
says the government is applying a “confused and selective” approach to treatment by
not providing expensive drugs to all patients equally.
It claims the latest drugs, that have up to a 95 per cent cure rate, are being supplied
to patients with the highest survival potential and not to those in the later stages of
the illness. One protest started early on Saturday at Madrid’s 12 de Octubre hospital
and marched 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s office. Rajoy
has said anyone with a proven case will receive the appropriate treatment.
— AP
REGION
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
Syrian oppn
groups divided
over Moscow
peace talks
TARGETING TERROR
An Iraqi policeman looks through a range finder during a training session at a camp in the Bardarash district, 30 kilometres northeast of Mosul as they prepare to
recapture the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, currently under the control of IS group fighters.
— AFP
UN to host Libya peace talks in Geneva
BENGHAZI: The United Nations announced Saturday a new round of peace
talks in Geneva next week between
Libya’s warring factions, as the European Union warned the country was at a
“crucial juncture”.
It came as fighting between troops
and militia killed 13 people in eastern
Libya.
“This dialogue is an important opportunity for the Libyans to restore
stability and prevent the country’s slide
towards deeper conflict and economic
collapse that should not be missed,” the
UN mission in Libya said.
UN envoy Bernardino Leon has proposed a freeze in military operations for
a few days “in order to create a conducive environment for the dialogue,” the
UN statement said.
Leon had earlier urged a resumption
of talks “before it is too late”.
The talks are aimed at reaching an
agreement on the formation of a unity
government and to create “a stable environment” for the adoption of a new permanent constitution, the statement said.
13
“Discussions will also seek to put in
place the necessary security arrangements in order to bring an end to the
armed hostilities raging in different
parts of the country,” it added.
It did not give a specific date for the
talks.
The announcement came after Leon
held talks for the first time Thursday
with General Khalifa Haftar, who is
spearheading a government-backed offensive to recapture the second city of
Benghazi from mainly militia.
Leon also met with representatives of
Libya’s internationally recognised government, which has taken refuge in the
remote east, and with rival officials in
the militia-held capital Tripoli.
More than three years after
Muammar Gaddhafi was toppled and
killed in a Western-backed revolt, the
North African nation is engulfed in
chaos with rival governments and parliaments as well as powerful militias
fighting for territory.
The IS group that has seized large areas in Iraq and Syria is also thought to
have gained a foothold in eastern Libya,
and recently claimed to have executed
two Tunisian journalists there.
The European Union said the Geneva meeting “represents a last chance
which must be seized”.
“Libya is at a crucial juncture; the
different actors should be in no doubt
of the gravity of the situation that the
country finds itself in.
The opportunity to establish a ceasefire and find a political solution should
not be wasted,” said Federica Mogherini,
the EU’s top diplomat.
A new round of talks had been scheduled for December 9 but was repeatedly
delayed as fighting intensified between
the internationally recognised government and -backed militias.
Leon chaired a first round of talks between rival lawmakers in the oasis town
of Ghadames in September.
The UN Security Council warned the
following month that it would impose
sanctions on any party that undermined
the process.
Difficulties finding a safe venue for
the talks contributed to the delay to the
new round, the UN said.
The militia alliance that controls
the capital and Libya’s third largest
city Misrata launched an offensive last
month to try to capture the country’s
main eastern oil export terminals.
Loyalists of the internationally recognised government responded with their
first air strikes on Misrata.
On Saturday, five soldiers and eight
militants were killed in fighting in Ain
Marah, near the far eastern bastion of
Derna, a government spokesman said.
The United Nations says that since
fighting intensified in May, hundreds
of civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands more have fled their
homes.
Libya’s neighbours, fearful of a spillover of the violence, have repeatedly
called for international intervention.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
visited the Libyan capital in October for
a trip aimed at bolstering talks between
political parties.
— AFP
Storm brings misery
for Syrian refugees
Saudi men make a snowman in the Aleghan Heights, located some 1,500
km northwest of the Saudi capital Riyadh in the Tabuk region, after a heavy
snow storm hit parts of the Middle East.
— AFP
CAIRO: A winter storm battering the eastern Mediterranean has brought misery
to tens of thousands of displaced Syrians, but a group that tallies deaths in the
country’s conflict said on Thursday the weather had also brought about a rare respite from fighting.
With rain, snow and high winds assailing the war-torn country, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that, for the first time in three years, it had documented no direct deaths from fighting or bombardment the previous day.
The storm has caused its own victims, however, with four Syrians dying in
neighbouring Lebanon and two inside northern Syria as a result of weather conditions, the Britain-based group said.
The Syrian opposition’s government in exile declared the entire country a “disaster zone” and appealed for international aid.
Its premier, Ahmed Tomeh, put the death toll due to the harsh weather at ten.A
Beirut-based spokesman for the UN refugee agency said they were concerned
about another night of freezing temperatures.
There were up to 50 centimetres of snow in parts of the Bekaa valley in eastern
Lebanon, where Syrian refugees are living in “rough” conditions in some 800 informal settlements, Ron Redmond of the UNHCR said.
Local municipalities were distributing winter aid that UNHCR had put in position ahead of the storm, Redmond said, and three had asked for additional supplies. In the mountain town of Arsal near the Syrian border, refugees were moving
to a collective shelter and a local NGO was distributing 10,000 hot meals daily, he
said.
1 KILLED IN TURKEY: Officials say an avalanche has killed a worker at a
construction site in northern Turkey and trapped four other people. Gov. Abdul
Celil Oz said the avalanche on Saturday hit a hydroelectricity plant construction
site near the town of Caykara, in the Black Sea coastal province of Trabzon.
He said rescuers and villagers recovered the body of one worker and were
searching for four others. Oz told NTV television by telephone: “God willing we
will reach them alive but the avalanche was huge and dangerous.” Turkey has been
hit by a cold snap this week that has blanketed much of the country with snow.
— Agencies
BEIRUT: A Syrian opposition group
announced Saturday it will attend a proposed peace conference in Moscow later
this month, further highlighting the
splits between those opposing President
Bashar Assad’s government amid the
country’s grinding civil war.
The announcement by the Popular Front of Change and Liberation of
former Deputy Prime Minister Qadri
Jamil, which called the talks “a glimmer
of hope,” came only a day after leading
opposition politician Mouaz al Khatib
declined to go to Moscow.
A Khatib, the former president of the
western-baked Syrian National Coalition, said in a statement posted on his
Facebook page Friday that he turned
down the Russian invitation because
there could be no talks with the government “without releasing detainees, especially women and children.”
“The circumstances that we believe
are necessary to make the meeting successful are not available,” Al Khatib
said. On Thursday, the Damascus-based
Building the Syrian State party of imprisoned politician Louay Hussein also
said it would not participate in the Moscow talks.
Last week, the Syrian National Coalition elected Khalid Khoja as its new
leader, who announced Monday that his
group is not yet willing to go to Moscow.
The fractured opposition’s opposing
decisions make it unclear whether anything will come of the Russian proposal
to hold talks after January 20.
Assad’s government had said it is prepared to participate. Russia is a staunch
ally of Assad. The Western-backed Syrian opposition has insisted that any negotiated settlement include the formation of a transitional governing body
with full executive powers, a demand
rejected by Assad’s government. Syria’s
nearly four-year conflict has killed over
200,000 people.
It also gave birth to the IS group,
which now controls a third of Syria and
neighboring Iraq.
Meanwhile, a key Syrian opposition
official said in a statement on Friday that
he has declined an invitation to take part
in a Russian-led bid for new talks to end
the conflict.
Moaz al Khatib, ex-leader of the main
opposition Syrian National Coalition,
who recently established his own dissident movement, had visited Russia last
year for discussions.
But on Friday, he said via his
Facebook page that “the necessary conditions” for a dialogue have not yet been
met.
Khatib also cited the regime’s ongoing shelling of opposition-held areas in
Syria as a reason for his refusal to attend
the Moscow talks slated for later this
month.
“I received a written invitation from
the Russian leadership to meet with several Syrian personalities in Moscow this
month, and after consultation with the
gathering I work with, I decided to decline,” said Khatib.
“The conditions we believe are necessary for success have not been met, neither has the call for the shelling and killing of our people been heard,” he said.
Khatib added: “While we do not reject the prospect of any future meeting
with a regime delegation, we would require the regime to release the detainees,
especially the women and children.”
Khatib’s statement comes four days
after the newly elected head of the National Coalition, Khaled Khoja, said the
main opposition grouping had ruled out
taking part in the talks.
— Agencies
2 bombings kill 8
people in Iraq
BAGHDAD: Iraqi authorities say two separate bombings on commercial streets
have killed eight people in and around Baghdad. Police officials say a bomb exploded Saturday at a wholesale market in Baghdad’s western district of Baiyaa,
killing five people and wounding 11 others. Later on, a bomb blast inside on a
commercial street killed three people and wounded nine others in the town of
Madian, about 20 kilometres southeast of the capital. Medics confirmed the casualty figures.
All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized
to speak to the media. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.
Iraq is facing its worst crisis since the 2011 withdrawal of US troops as the IS group
is in control of about a third of the country.
Meanwhile, Turkish police on Saturday defused a bomb outside a shopping
centre in Istanbul, with the city on a high security alert following a suicide bombing earlier this week.
The homemade device was found in a suspect package in front of a shopping
centre in the western suburb of Basaksehir after a passer-by raised the alarm, the
official Anatolia news agency reported.
Police defused the device and took it to a laboratory for further investigation, it
said. Reports described the device as a fragmentation bomb.
— Agencies
Arab League Secretary General Nabil al Araby signs a book of condolence for the
victims of deadly attacks in France, at the French embassy in Cairo. — Reuters
14
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INTERNATIONAL
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
AFRICA’S PRIDE
Mitt Romney says he’s
considering a 2016 run
THIRD SHOT: Romney’s statement comes as some of the party’s top
donors begin to line up behind Ex-Florida Governor Jeb Bush
A mascot is carried around Cape Town Stadium during South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party’s 103rd
birthday celebrations in Cape Town on Saturday.
— AFP
Australia mourns 8 murdered kids
CAIRNS: Thousands of people on Saturday flocked to the funeral of eight
children found dead at their home in
the northern Australian city of Cairns,
in a crime that shocked the country.
The mother of seven of the children
and aunt to the other has been charged
with murder after their bodies were
found, reportedly with stab wounds, at
her house a few days before Christmas.
The children — four boys and four
girls aged between two and 14 from the
tight-knit Torres Strait Islander community — were laid to rest side-by-side
on Saturday after a traditional mourning period.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott attended the christian service, saying ahead
of the funeral that he would be going
in “solidarity with the people of Cairns
and with all victims of family violence”.
“We know that sometimes people
break.
We also know that there are difficult
circumstances that people deal with,” he
told radio station 2UE.
“This is a social issue as well as a law
enforcement issue, but I will be there in
solidarity with the people of Cairns.”
Hundreds of people lined an intersection near the house where the children died as eight hearses, each carrying
a white coffin, drove past with a police
escort.
The house is expected to be demolished and a permanent memorial built
on the site.
WASHINGTON: Mitt Romney, the
Republican US presidential nominee
in 2012, told a meeting of donors on
Friday that he is considering another
White House run in 2016, a source familiar with the comments said.
The former Massachusetts governor,
who has sent mixed signals about the
likelihood of another campaign, told a
small group of donors in New York that
he was thinking about running and to
“tell your friends” he was considering it,
the source said.
The Wall Street Journal, which first
reported the comments, said Romney
did not give a timetable for making a
decision about whether to launch what
would be his third presidential campaign.
Romney failed to win the nomination in 2008 and lost the general election
to President Barack Obama in 2012.
Romney’s statement comes as some
of the party’s top donors begin to line
up behind former Florida Governor Jeb
Bush, who said in December he would
actively explore a presidential run.
If Romney entered the race, he would
be competing with Bush for many of the
party’s most established major donors.
Romney has equivocated about another presidential campaign, going
from absolutely ruling it out after his
2012 loss to sounding more uncertain
recently.
The comments in New York appear
to be his most open admission that he is
seriously considering it.
“He’s more open to it, based on all the
encouragement he’s received,” a senior
Romney adviser said of a possible run.
The Journal said one of the attendees at the meeting asked Romney if he
wanted to be president, and he said “yes,
of course.”
The topic of whether Romney would
run for the White House came up at a
dinner he had with former advisers on
Wednesday night in Menlo Park, California. “The sense I got from him was
that he was leaving his options open,”
said a former adviser who attended the
dinner. The former adviser emphasised
that the dinner was a social occasion,
not a strategy session, however.
As to whether Romney feels the likelihood of Bush running makes it harder
for him to enter the fray, the former adviser said Romney believes the Republican field is in the “formational stages”
and he would not be deterred from
jumping in.
Romney’s entrance in the race would
dramatically reshape what promises to
be a crowded and competitive field.
Polls show him at or near the top of
the Republican race along with Bush.
Bush and his allies on Tuesday
formed a pair of political committees
that allow him to speak with donors and
raise money, formalising his political
activity and putting pressure on Romney, with whom he would compete for
donors. A handful of former Romney
donors and operatives have committed
to help Bush’s likely bid.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike
Huckabee left his Fox News show over
the weekend to ponder a bid, and more
than a dozen other possible serious contenders could still run.
Romney would likely compete for
financial support with Bush and New
Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is
also considered a member of the party’s
“establishment” wing.
A Romney bid could similarly complicate the aspirations of Florida Senator
Marco Rubio, who was vetted by Romney’s campaign in 2012 as a vice-presidential possibility.
A Romney candidacy would make
it very difficult for Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan, who was the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 2012,
to run for the White House.
Others considering a White House
bid include senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas, as well as
governors Scott Walker of Wisconsin,
Rick Perry of Texas, John Kasich of
Ohio, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and
Mike Pence of Indiana.
Great skepticism remains among key
Republican Party figures that Romney,
67, will actually run, however.”I just
think a lot of the money has already
drifted away to other candidates,” a
former Romney adviser said. —Reuters
GLOBE TROTTER
Mourners and family members leave the Cairns Convention Centre as the bodies of
eight children leave in hearses for burial after a service in Cairns on Saturday. — AFP
Queensland state Premier Campbell
Newman said the tragedy of the young
lives lost on December 19 had been felt
right across Australia.
“No words can take away the pain or
ease the sorrow of that loss,” he said.
The funeral was called Keriba
Omasker, meaning “our children” in
the Torres Strait Islander dialect that
was the ancestral language of the children.
The mother of seven of the children
and aunt to the other, 37-year-old Raina
Mersane Ina Thaiday, has been charged
with eight counts of murder over the
deaths.
Police have not revealed how the
children died and have said they were
looking into various scenarios, including suffocation.
They also said knives were found at
the scene.
Cairns is a northern tropical city
with a population of more than 150,000
people and is popular with international
tourists as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia’s biggest tourist sites.
— AFP
US Secretary of State John Kerry reacts to the blustery weather on his arrival in Munich yesterday. Kerry is flying to India after a
brief stopover.
— Reuters
Boko Haram launched renewed attacks around a captured town in restive northeast Nigeria this week, razing at least 16 towns and villages
‘I kept stepping on dead bodies’, says Boko Haram hostage
KANO: Yanaye Grema hid for three days between a wall and his neighbours’ house, as Boko
Haram fighters ransacked his hometown of Baga
on the shore of Lake Chad in Nigeria’s far northeast.
The 38-year-old fisherman already knew the
attack was serious: he joined civilian vigilantes to
defend the town but their simple weapons were
no match for the radicals’ superior firepower.
“People fled into the bush while some shut
themselves indoors,” he said of last Saturday’s attack. “The gunmen pursued fleeing residents into
the bush, shooting them dead,” he said from the
Borno state capital, Maiduguri.
But it was only after breaking cover on Tuesday night that he realised the true scale of the attack, which it is feared may be one of the worst
in the six-year insurgency. “For five kilometres
(three miles), I kept stepping on dead bodies until I reached Malam Karanti village, which was
also deserted and burnt,” he said. Local officials
this week said the attack forced at least 20,000
people from Baga and other settlements in and
around Lake Chad to flee, many of them across
the border.
Security analysts believe the targets of last weekend’s attack were the civilian vigilantes helping the
military in the counter-insurgency.
— AFP
Nearly 600 others had been stranded on an people were killed in April 2013, when militants
island on the lake without food, water or shelter. stormed the town and set much of it on fire,
The attack wasn’t the first on Baga. Nearly 200 prompting fierce fighting with the Nigerian mili-
tary. This time, the radicals met less resistance
and were able to take over the town and overrun
the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task
Force, which is based there. At least 16 towns and
villages in the area were razed. Security analysts
believe the targets of last weekend’s attack were
the civilian vigilantes helping the military in the
counter-insurgency.
Hiding from view between the wall and the
house, behind a roadside stall and the cover of
a thick neem tree, Grema said the rampaging
radicals unleashed mayhem. “All I could hear
were ceaseless gunshots, explosions, screams
from people and chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God
is greatest) from the Boko Haram gunmen,” he
added. “I remained in my hiding place until
Tuesday evening. “Every night when it was dark,
I would furtively scale the fence into my house
to quickly eat garri (processed cassava granules)
and drink water and go back to my hideout.”
His family was not at home. They were in
Kukawa, 40 kilometres (25 miles) away, paying
their respects after Boko Haram killed his wife’s
cousin about two months ago. “Some of the Boko
Haram gunmen camped outside the Baga main
market just 700 metres from my hideout,” he
explained. “At night I could see lights from the
power generator they ran. I could also hear their
cheering and laughter. “Luckily on Monday some
of the gunmen withdrew while others stayed
in the town. This reduced their number, which
made it difficult for them to patrol the whole
town. It worked to my advantage. I thanked him
and moved on,” he said. “I quickened my pace. I
soon caught up with... four women. One of them
was carrying a baby on her back. “They told me
they were among hundreds of women that were
arrested by Boko Haram and detained in the
home of the district head which Boko Haram
had converted into a women’s detention centre.”
Three of the women had been separated from
their children, he added.
Grema said he pushed out on his own, as the
women were “too slow”, running and walking
throughout the night, before arriving at Kekeno
village near Monguno, 65km away, the following
morning. On Thursday, he took a bus from Monguno to Maiduguri. “I will never forget this experience and I will forever be grateful to the old
Fulani nomad for his life-saving advice.” — AFP
AMERICAS
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
15
COST CUT HOPE DASHED: SpaceX hoped to bring the rocket back to Earth, aiming to land it on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean
Falcon lifts off cargo to space station, fails to reland
CAPE CANAVERAL: An unmanned
Space Exploration Technologies mission blasted off on Saturday carrying
cargo for the International Space Station, but efforts to reland the rocket on
a sea platform failed, the firm said.
“Rocket made it to drone spaceport
ship, but landed hard. Close, but no cigar this time,” Elon Musk, Founder and
Chief Executive of SpaceX, as the company is called, said on Twitter.“Bodes
well for the future,” he said.
The Dragon cargo capsule itself was
successfully launched into space and is
expected to dock with the space station
on Monday.
Seeking to cut the cost of space
launches, SpaceX hoped to bring the
rocket back to Earth, aiming to land it
on a floating platform in the Atlantic
Ocean some 200 miles (322 km) off
Jacksonville, Fla., north of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station launch site.
A ship stationed near the platform tried to capture the touchdown
on video, but it was too dark and
foggy, Musk said. Engineers will look
to work out what went wrong by studying data relayed during the descent,
as well as pieces of the rocket itself, he
added.
“Ship itself is fine. Some of the support equipment on the deck will need
to be replaced,” said Musk, who prior to
the launch had put the odds of a successful touchdown on the first attempt
at just 50 per cent.
The primary purpose of Saturday’s
mission was to deliver cargo to the
space station, a $100-billion labora-
Rocket made it to
drone spaceport ship,
but landed hard.
Close, but no cigar
this time... Bodes well for
the future... Ship itself is
fine. Some of the support
equipment on the deck will
need to be replaced,
ELON MUSK
FOUNDER AND CEO , SPACEX
tory that flies about 260 miles (418 km)
above Earth.
The capsule is loaded with more
than 5,100 pounds (2,300 kg) of food,
supplies and equipment, including an
instrument to measure clouds and aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere.
SpaceX is one of two companies
hired by Nasa to fly cargo to the station
following the retirement of the space
shuttles in 2011.
However, the second firm, Orbital
Sciences Corp, was sidelined in October after its Antares rocket exploded
minutes after liftoff.
Saturday’s launch was SpaceX’s
14th Falcon 9 flight and the fifth of 12
planned station resupply missions under its $1.6 billion contract with Nasa.
The launch had been scheduled for
last Tuesday, but was called off less than
two minutes before liftoff due to a technical problem with the rocket’s upper— Reuters
stage motor.
The unmanned Falcon 9 rocket launched by SpaceX, on a cargo resupply service mission to the International Space Station, lifts off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Saturday.
— Reuters
Cuba dissidents say 38 activists released
HAVANA: Cuba has freed 38 opposition activists from prison over the past
two days, including a popular hip-hop
artist, as part of a deal to improve relations with the United States, dissident
groups said on Friday.
The dissident Patriotic Union of
Cuba (UNPACU) said 29 of its members were among those released, and
that most had been warned by the communist government they would be sent
back to prison if they continued their
opposition activities.
“Our freed prisoners are committed
to continue fighting for the democratic
Cuba which we all want,” UNPACU’s
leader Jose Daniel Ferrer said in a
statement.“The UNPACU activists have
left prison with more energy, force and
motivation than they had when they
were jailed.”
Cuba’s commitment to free 53
prisoners was a key part of the historic deal announced on December
17 under which the Cuban and US
governments agreed to renew diplomatic relations after more than 50 years of
hostilities.
Almost all of those freed so far appear on an informal list of more than
100 political prisoners drawn up several
months ago by dissidents, but it is not
known if they were all on the list of 53
that the United States negotiated with
Cuba.
Details about who will be freed
have been withheld by both gov-
Cuba’s commitment to free 53 prisoners was a key part of
the historic deal announced on December 17 under
which the Cuban and US governments agreed to renew
diplomatic relations after more than 50 years of hostilities.
ernments, providing ammunition
for US opponents of the detente,
who have complained that President
Barack Obama has not pushed Cuba
hard enough on human rights and that
the government in Havana was not living up to its side of the bargain. The
White House hailed the “substantial and
ongoing” releases.” So good to see people reunited with their families,” senior
White House official Ben Rhodes said
on Twitter.
Elizardo Sanchez, founder of
the dissident Cuban Commission for Human Rights and Nation-
al Reconciliation, which monitors
detentions, said the releases to date were
“very good news,” but that activists remained concerned about those still behind bars. Several Cuban exiles from
Miami are also in Cuban prisons serving
sentences of up to 30 years on terrorismrelated charges after they attempted to
infiltrate the island with weapons.
It is not clear if Washington argued
for their release, or for the freedom of
Cubans jailed for passing secrets to the
United States. Sanchez highlighted the
cases of former high-ranking Cuban
government official Miguel Alvarez and
his wife, Mercedes Arce, a noted academic, who were jailed in 2012 for undisclosed crimes against the state.
Alvarez was sentenced to 25 years,
while Arce was given a 15-year term,
sources close to their families said.
Most of those released this week were
accused of offenses such as resisting arrest and threatening police officers, and
had been given shorter sentences of two
to five years.
The hip-hop artist Angel Yunier Remon, known as “The Critic”, was serving
the longest prison term, eight years.
He staged several hunger strikes behind bars, and said unsanitary prison
conditions gave him cholera.
“I’m so happy to be back with my
family, my children, and my wife,” Remon said, adding that he had no plans
to give up working for the opposition.
“Our country is still a dictatorship,”
he said.”We’re going to keep battling for
an independent and truly free Cuba.”
Opposition groups say most of those
released over the last couple of days were
set free on the condition that they report
regularly to the authorities.
US Senator Marco Rubio, a leading
critic of Obama’s new Cuba policy, said
those terms did not amount to freedom.
“The administration must answer
if these conditional, potentially shortlived releases are, in fact, what it agreed
to with the regime and why it took so
long for them to be released,” Rubio said
in a statement.
— Reuters
Hamza jailed for life in
US for Yemen kidnap
NEW YORK: A US judge on Friday
sentenced British hate preacher Abu
Hamza to life behind
bars for the deadly
kidnapping of Western
tourists in Yemen and
terrorism, calling his
crimes “evil” and “barbaric.”
The hook-handed
imam, blind in one
eye and a double-hand
amputee, was a tabloid
bogeyman in Britain
after the 9/11 attacks
for preaching vitriolic,
anti-American sermons at the Finsbury
Park mosque in north London.
The 56-year-old stared impassively
at the table and pursed his lips as Judge
Katherine Forrest sentenced him to life
behind bars, eight months after he was
convicted by a jury on May 19 after a
four-week trial.
Abu Hamza would be committed to
life imprisonment in US custody, Forrest decided, saying the world could not
be safe with such a man at liberty exhorting others to acts of violence.
Blind in one eye and with both
hands blown off by an explosives experiment in Pakistan, Abu Hamza, whose
real name is Mustafa Kemal Mustafa,
alarmed the jury for professing to love
al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden. Forrest said she had thought long
and hard about the severity of the sentence,
for a complicated man
who was a loved father
but who showed no remorse.
“Evil comes in many
forms but doesn’t always show itself immediately in all its darkness,” Forrest said.
There is “a side of
you that this court
views as evil.”
She said he played a leadership role
in 1998 kidnapping of 16 Western tourists in Yemen, four of whom were killed,
and in trying to set up a terror training
camp in Oregon in 1999. She called
his crimes “barbaric” and “unacceptable in a civilised society.” He provided
material support to al Qaeda, assisted
the Taliban, sent terror recruits to Afghanistan and perjured himself at trial,
she said. Although he was not on the
ground in Yemen, he provided the kidnappers with a “indispensable” satellite
phone, Forrest said. She sentenced him
to two life sentences over the kidnapping, and a combined total of 100 years
on the nine other counts all to be served
concurrently.
— AFP
If convicted of all charges, Heather Cook, 58, could face more than 20 years in prison for a hit and run crash that killed a cyclist in Baltimore
Woman bishop faces drunken driving charge in cyclist death
BALTIMORE: An Episcopal bishop will be
charged with vehicular manslaughter, drunken
driving and texting in a hit-and-run crash that
killed a bicyclist on a sunny weekend afternoon,
Baltimore’s top prosecutor said on Friday.
An arrest warrant will be issued for Bishop
Suffragan Heather Cook (pictured), 58, the second-highest leader of the Episcopal Diocese of
Maryland.
Her blood-alcohol content was 22 after the
wreck, nearly triple Maryland’s legal limit for
driving, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said at a news conference.
Cook’s attorney, David Irwin, said he had not
received the charges but was working on the details of her surrender.
Cook, the diocese’s first female bishop, was
driving a car that hit Tom Palermo, 41, on De-
Cook is being charged with
criminal negligent manslaughter,
failure to remain at the scene
of an accident resulting in
serious injury and death,
using a text messaging device
that resulted in an accident
cember 27. Palermo died from head injuries.
Cook veered into a bike line, hitting Palermo
from behind and throwing him onto the car’s
hood and windshield, Mosby said.
He then landed on a curb in a residential
neighbourhood in northern Baltimore.
Mosby said Cook left the scene for about 30
minutes, going to her nearby apartment, before
returning. Mosby said Cook then spoke with detectives and was taken to a police station, where
she took a breath test.
In addition to felony vehicular manslaughter,
Cook is being charged with criminal negligent
manslaughter, failure to remain at the scene of
an accident resulting in serious injury and death,
using a text messaging device that resulted in an
accident and three drunken driving charges.
If convicted of all charges, Cook could face
more than 20 years in prison.
The national Episcopal Church started
investigating Cook last week to determine
whether she violated church law, said diocesan
spokeswoman Sharon Tillman. This is not the
first time Cook has been charged with drunken
driving.
In 2010, a sheriff ’s deputy on Maryland’s Eastern Shore wrote in a police report that Cook was
driving on the shoulder with a shredded front
tire. The car smelled of alcohol, Cook had vomit
down the front of her shirt, and there was marijuana, a bottle of wine and a bottle of liquor in the
vehicle, the report said.
Cook’s blood-alcohol content was 27 per cent.
Cook pleaded guilty to drunken driving, and the
drug possession charges were dropped. Tillman
said Cook disclosed the earlier case when she
was vetted by a search committee while seeking
the office of bishop. She was elected as bishop in
September.
A small makeshift memorial was created
near the road where Palermo was killed on
27 December. The road had a designated bike
lane. An eyewitness said he found Mr Palermo
on the road and while other witnesses called
emergency services he went looking for the vehicle and found it at a light. “The windshield
was completely smashed in, with a hole on the
passenger side, and from the damage of the car,
there was no doubt in my mind that was the car,”
Moncure Lyon said.
— Agencies
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
Marc Coma of Spain rides during the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally 2015, from Antofagasta to Iquique.
PANORAMA
omandailyobserver
16
— Reuters
A stray dog
chases India’s
Border
Security Force
(BSF)
“Daredevils”
motorcycle riders as they
perform during a rehearsal
for the
Republic Day
parade on a
winter morning in New
Delhi.
— Reuters
A model presents a creation by Kit Neale on the opening day of the Autumn/Winter 2015
London Collections: Men fashion event in London.
— AFP
Spanish painter Joan Miro’s works at Christie’s in London.
— Reuters
A man bites a
trout during
an event
promoting
the Ice
Festival in
Hwacheon,
near
demilitarized
zone
separating
the two
Koreas.
— Reuters
Long-tailed macaque babies are pictured inside a basket as police seized a truck smuggling
them from Vietnam to China, in Changsha, Hunan province.
— Reuters
SUNDAY | JANUARY 11, 2015 | RABEE AL AWWAL 20, 1436 AH
P18
P19
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Inside
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Oman Rail lists opportunities for ICV creation
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT
Jan 10: Oman Rail, the national rail
company, has identified a wide array of
products and services for local procurement during the execution and operational phases of the country’s ambitious
rail project.
A far-reaching In-Country Value
(ICV) creation strategy drawn up by the
wholly state-owned rail company envisions opportunities for localisation —
both in the procurement of goods and
services, as well as Omanisation and
training — across numerous facets of the
estimated $15 billion undertaking.
In order to maximise the impact of
the procurement plan, Oman Rail has
asked bidders to differentiate between
three categories of ICV creation initiatives depending on the availability of
different products and services from
Omani subcontractors.
Category 1 initiatives cover products
and services that can be procured from
Omani subcontractors provided they
meet the quality specs prescribed by
Oman Rail. Included in this category are
work packages relating to: Engineering
consulting, Design consulting, Project
management, Construction earthworks,
Tunnel design, Tunnel construction,
Bridge design, Bridge construction,
Passenger terminal design, Passenger
terminal construction, Freight terminal
design, Freight terminal construction,
Storage yard/ depot/ marshalling yard
design, Storage yard/ depot/ marshalling yard construction, Surveying and
topography, Geotechnical analysis, Environmental impact analysis, Auditing
services, Administrative services, Concrete supply, Furniture supply, Corporate clothing supply, Stationery supply,
Surveillance technology and systems,
Alarm systems, Sound systems (incl. PA
systems), Office IT, Insurance provision,
Logistics services, Cleaning services, Security, Brokerage, IT services, Financial
services, Marketing and communications, Waste management, Plumbing,
and Travel services.
Listed in Category 2 are ICV creation
opportunities linked to the development
of potential Omani subcontractors in areas such as the supply of steel rails, sleepers, ballast, track installation, training,
and HR services. Bidders are required
to detail proposals on how the capabili-
ties of registered Omani subcontractors
can be suitably upgraded (for example,
through an investment in production
assets or through the establishment of
a partnership or joint venture between
a foreign company and the Omani subcontractor).
Finally, identified in Category 3 are
opportunities for ‘alternative ICV creation’ centring on products and services
that cannot be supplied by Omani subcontractors, but will need to be supplied
by non-Omani subcontractors. Here,
bidders are required to submit proposals
for alternative initiatives for ICV creation either directly or indirectly related
to the following products or services:
Switches and turnouts, Fastenings supply, Signalling and telecoms systems
supply, Ticket vending machine supply
Passenger information systems, and Legal advisory.
Significantly, a bidder’s ability to create sizeable opportunities for ICV generation — notably through localisation
of industries, manufacturing activities,
employment generation, and training of
Omanis — is an advantage in the con-
test for the keenly anticipated Design &
Build package covering Segment 1 of the
national rail network. Segment 1, covering a 207 km stretch from Sohar Port
to Buraimi on Oman’s border with the
United Arab Emirates (UAE), also links
the Omani network with the pan-GCC
rail system integrating the national rail
networks of all six Gulf states.
All 18 consortiums and joint ventures
prequalified by Oman Rail are understood to be working on their bids for the
multibillion dollar Segment 1 package.
Technical bids are due in by January 18,
although the deadline for submission of
commercial bids has been extended to
March 1, 2015.
Bidders are required to provide a
clear description of their proposed plan
for the creation of In-Country Value in
Oman through the rail project, according to Oman Rail. “Oman Rail’s aspiration is to maximise as much as possible
the share of the project’s expenditure
which is spent in Oman. The fulfilment
of this aspiration requires a focused ICV
strategy. By implementing an effective
ICV strategy, Oman Rail will not only
foster the development of the transportation sector, but will also contribute to
the development of human capabilities
and stimulate the productivity of Oman’s
economy. Hence, Oman Rail is structuring its organisation, project requirements and processes around the maximisation of ICV creation,” the national
rail company said.
Oman Rail defines ICV as the total
proportionate spend in Oman that benefits business development, contributes
to human capability development, and
facilitates technology transfer, thus ensuring the sustainable competitiveness
of Omani Subcontractors and increasing
the productivity of Oman’s economy.
Importantly, a minimum of 10 per cent
of the Offered Lump Sum Price needs to
be procured from Omani Subcontractors, says Oman Rail, while stressing that
bidders who do not meet this minimum
threshold will be disqualified from the
tendering process. In fact, Oman Rail’s
aspiration is to, at a minimum, capture 20
per cent of the Offered Lump Sum Price
locally, it has pointed out. Additionally,
bidders must procure a certain share of
products and services from Omani micro,
small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),
the company has emphasised. (OEPPA
Business Development Dept)
18
omandailyobserver
OMAN/INTERNATIONAL
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
Bank Muscat to lead business UK’s first private NHS hospital
provider Circle throws in towel
delegation to Malta
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT
JAN 10: Bank Muscat, the flagship
financial services provider in the Sultanate, in pursuance of the private sector role in the economic development
of Oman, is leading a business delegation to Malta to explore investment
and trade opportunities between the
two countries. The delegation led by
AbdulRazak Ali Issa, (pictured) Chief
Executive, will visit the Mediterranean
island nation connecting Europe with
African markets from 12 to 15 January.
Oman and Malta enjoy growing
trade relations. Malta is a strategically
located offshore financial centre with
world-class facilities in ports, logistics
and education. During the visit, the
delegation comprising representatives
from key sectors will meet the Prime
Minister of Malta, the Governor of the
Central Bank of Malta and high-level
officials of Malta Freeport, Malta Financial Services Authority, Fimbank
and Grand Harbour Regeneartion
Corporation. Based on the findings
of the delegation, possible avenues for
investment and trade will be identified and an appropriate strategy for-
mulated
for
initiating potential trade
and business
relations between Oman
and Malta.
Ab du lR azak Ali Issa
said: “Oman is
a forward looking nation that is proud
of its friendly relations with countries
across the world. Given the structural
shift in the way how international
trade and investment works due to
globalisation, Oman seeks to explore
new opportunities for mutual economic benefits and strengthening of
friendly ties. Bank Muscat looks forward to embarking on a new frontier
of mutually beneficial association with
counterparts in Malta, thereby contributing to strengthening of relations
between Oman and Malta.”
Bank Muscat is very active in trade
finance and financial institution (FI)
business, with FI risk appetite covering prominent countries in Asia as
well as parts of Africa. Bank Muscat is
among few GCC based banks in a position to provide customers and counterparts pan-GCC coverage. With
direct and indirect presence in all the
GCC states, Bank Muscat is uniquely
positioned to serve their requirements
in the GCC region.
BUSINESS ALERT
Nissan Altima — born with special powers
MUSCAT: The Nissan Altima, which breaks new ground
for the mid-size sedan segment is hands-down the most
engaging vehicle in its class.
And if you’ve never driven
an Altima before, get ready to
have your notion of a mid-size
sedan redefined.
Nissan has taken one of
their most successful model,
the Nissan Altima — kept its DNA and changed nearly everything — the visual
appeal, the driving experience and, of course, the technology. Nissan Altima offers numerous segment defining attributes that enhance the ownership experience and provide real customer value.
The 2015 Altima comes with the Nissan Intelligent Key® that allows the owners to drive in comfort and style regardless of the rising temperatures of the Sultanate. The Nissan Intelligent Key® allows drivers with a tap of a button on the
door handle or trunk to unlock them, while the keys stay inside a pocket or purse.
Drivers can start a car from up to 60 metres away with the Remote Engine Start
System. This convenient solution lets drivers cool down the vehicle before it’s
time to get in, provided they set the climate control functions when they step out.
Suhail Bahwan Automobiles offers wide range of after sales service with modern technology and state-of-the-art facilities in strategic locations. Their practice
of Total Ownership Experience and customer-centric approach will ensure that
customers of the Nissan Altima are given par excellence professional services for
all car related needs.
SBA is largely committed to supporting Nissan’s growth in the Sultanate
through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class
after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more than 19 showrooms, 22 service centres and 35 spare parts outlets, SBA has further built upon
its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to
each of its customers.
Lifeline Hospital holds symposium
UNDER the auspices of Ministry of Health, an international symposium titled ‘Universal
Health Insurance — Oman
Perspective’ was presented
by Lifeline Hospitals with the
support of major healthcare
and insurance providers in
the Sultanate of Oman at Al
Bustan Palace Hotel recently.
The event began with a
prayer recitation from the
Holy Quran by Zaid Mussab al Waleed al Saadi. Following which, Dr Retnakumar, CEO of Lifeline Hospital Group in Oman gave a welcome address where he
welcomed Dr Sultan al Busaidi, Adviser for Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Dr
Mazin al Khabouri, Adviser for Clinical Affairs, Ministry of Health, media personnel and all participants from various medical and insurance backgrounds to
the symposium. The keynote speakers of the event were: Dr Sven Rohte, Chief
Commercial Officer, National Health Insurance Company — Daman, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates; Dr Naeema Aziz, Chief Operating Officer, Apex Medical
Group; Dr Ahmed al Irani Deputy General Manager, GlobeMed, Saudi Arabia; Dr
LONDON: The British government’s
winter healthcare problems deepened
as the company which won the firstever deal to run a general hospital
for the state-funded National Health
Service pulled out, saying the contract
was not sustainable.
Circle Holdings Plc said it would
walk away from running Hinchingbrooke hospital in eastern England,
adding to the pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron over the running
of the National Health Service (NHS),
which is expected to be a central issue
in campaigning for this May’s national
election.
Accident and emergency (A&E)
services, cited by Circle as a key pressure point at Hinchingbrooke, have
become a national concern in recent
days with a number of hospitals declaring “major incidents”, complaining
they are unable to handle the number
of patients seeking care.
Both main British political parties
have looked to bring in private companies to run parts of the NHS and
£10 billion ($15 billion) was spent on
buying healthcare services from private companies in 2013-2014, out of a
total expenditure of 119.5 billion, according to a report from the National
Audit Office (NAO).
But the extent of private company
involvement remains contentious and
opposition health spokesman Andy
Burnham tweeted to say the current
government had appointed Circle and
its policy on the NHS was “unravelling before our eyes”. Shares in Circle,
partly owned by its doctors, closed
down 25 per cent at 50 pence.
Circle, which took over the running
of the hospital in 2012, said it could
not afford the extra funding needed
to cope with a jump in accident and
emergency (A&E) admissions.
“Like most hospitals, over the past
year Hinchingbrooke saw unprec-
edented A&E attendances and not
enough care places for healthy patients
awaiting discharge,” said Chief Executive Steve Melton. The Department
of Health said it was disappointed by
Circle’s decision and there would be
a managed transfer of the running of
the trust back into state hands.
Later on Friday, the Chief Inspector of Hospitals recommended
Hinchingbrooke be put into special measures after an inspection
reported significant failings and
judged it “inadequate” with regard to
whether services were safe, with particular concerns over A&E staffing.
— Reuters
Mohammed Ezzat Agamy, Corporate Hospitals Director, VPS Health Group; Dr
Prakash Subbarayan, Executive Director, Star Heath and Allied Insurance Company; Adil Idris Mukthar, Chief Medical Officer, Wafa Insurance, Saudi Arabia; Dr
Nishant Jain, Consultant to Government of India, Deputy Programme Director,
Indo-German Social Security Programme and Subramoni J B, Head — Sales and
Marketing, National Life and General Insurance Company.
Moderated by Dr Mazin al Khabouri, Adviser for Clinical Affairs to Minister of
Health, the discussions at this year’s symposium were underpinned by the fundamental principle of the right to health for all the residents of Oman.
Dr Retnakumar Jenardanan said, “It is a matter of pride to have been able to
present this workshop in conjunction with the Ministry of Health. On behalf of
Lifeline Hospitals I would like to thank everyone who participated in the symposium and helped make it a huge success.”
sure absolutely fluid motion.
3D sound to match a concert
hall and appearing to come
from every direction, an Audi
tablet as a multimedia control panel and simple wireless
communication between your
mobile devices and your car all
demonstrate how diverse the
future of the automobile is at
Audi. All this and convenience, too: piloted parking and innovative Audi wireless
charging (AWC) technology pave the way for electric mobility. A laser headlight
shining ahead hundreds of feet and a car that can drive for 900 km without a driver
— Audi is a leading and driving force in all technology areas relating to electronics
and electrics. At CES in Las Vegas, the world’s most important electronics exhibition, Audi made a splash with a host of new technologies.
Even today, many customers view their car as more than just a vehicle — it is a
“mobile device”. Audi drives forward networking of its models both inside and outFORD’S answer to carrying
side the car. At CES, Audi presented a wide range of innovations in the technology
out tough work with ease —
fields of controls and displays, infotainment, connectivity and lighting technology,
the Ranger is known to work
in driver assistance systems and in piloted driving.
wonders under various terrain
To mark 2015 CES, an Audi A7 piloted driving concept motored from Stanford
conditions. The ranger workin Silicon Valley to Las Vegas. The long-distance test drive of the Audi A7 piloted
horse started as a clean sheet of
driving concept car showed that unprecedented performance can be achieved with
paper, giving the team at Ford
series production technology. The drive took place from Silicon Valley/California
the freedom to build exactly
to Las Vegas/Nevada.
what they wanted. As a result,
“The test drive from the west coast of California to Las Vegas demonstrates our
the Ranger is taller, longer and
leadership role in piloted driving “, said Prof Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Board
wider. Plus it comes with a
Member and Head of Technical Development. The test drive in real world trafchassis that is twice the stifffic and road conditions represents a joint effort by the Volkswagen Electronics
ness of its replacement.
The Ford Ranger is very much a work truck that can tackle the worst on and Research Laboratory (ERL) and Volkswagen Group Research and Development,
off road conditions. Crash through weather-beaten terrain and eroded trucks and began on Sunday in Stanford, CA. The Audi A7 piloted driving concept will drive
you’ll find that this product of Ford’s Built Tough category can take the rough with approximately 900 kilometres.
the smooth.
The Ford Ranger looks rugged and well built and is always ready for work. The
exterior provides a purposeful and shortly look which will appeal to most tastes.
Rugged and yet sophisticated, the new Ford Ranger seats up to five large adults in
relative comfort.
A’SAFFA Foods, Oman’s largest
So, whether it is towing your boat to the sea or taking home a carriage load of fully integrated poultry project
materials for your home, the Ford Ranger is one of the most preferred pick-ups to has worked since it was estabdo the job without a fuss.
lished on the principle that the
Ford Ranger is available in a range of options which include 2.5L Petrol Single quality, taste, hygiene and nutriCab 4x2; 2.2L, Diesel Double Cab 4x4; 2.5L Petrol Double Cab 4x2; 2.5L Petrol, 4x4 tion of its chicken products is
Double Cab 4x4, 2.5L Petrol Double Cab XLT; 3.2L Diesel Double Cab XLT; 3.2L only as good as the way its chickDiesel Double Cab and 3.2L Diesel Double Cab WildTrak.
ens are naturally fed, bred and
The Ford Ranger’s car like interior is a pleasant place to spend plenty of hours cared for in its state-of-the-art
whether at work or on a weekend drive beyond the city limits. The interior benefits production facility. A’Saffa, the
from a stylish design and luxury fitments like an audio system with a CD player, Sultanate’s leading producer of
front bucket seats, powerful air-conditioning and much more.
chicken and allied products thus employs strict biosecurity measures throughout
Ford vehicles are known the world over for their exceptional safety, luxury and its entire poultry production process, from breeding to poultry production, as
unsurpassed technological superiority. Ford ploughs in millions of dollars into well as fodder production facilities in order to minimise the risk of contaminaR&D each year to ensure that every Ford offers maximum safety and motoring tion and disease at its chicken production facilities.
pleasure for its customers. In Oman, Ford vehicles are brought to you by Arabian
These measures include, amongst other things, keeping chickens within indoor
Car Marketing Co LLC.
production facilities, and regularly monitoring the health of livestock and employees. In addition, unlike many other producers which acquire chicks or chickens
from third party suppliers, A’Saffa’s chickens are hatched, grown-out and processed
within a single chicken farm. Infact, management at A’Saffa Foods believes that
their biosecurity system not only complies with the laws of Oman legislation but is
A FOUR core processor processing eight billion operations per second. A vir- in line with international best practices, ensuring that customers get the most 100
tual tachometer with a needle that is rendered anew 60 times per second to en- per cent natural, healthy and tasty halal chicken products possible.
Ford Ranger: Tough becomes easy
A’Saffa products keep global standards
Audi at 2015 CES — 900 km piloted drive
INTERNATIONAL
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
19
ECONOMY: Mixed employment report leaves possible June rate hike on the table z Jobless rate falls to 6-1/2-year low as labour force shrinks
US payrolls rise solidly; weak wages dim limelight
Leaflets lie on a table at a booth at a military veterans’ job fair in Carson, California.
WASHINGTON: US job growth increased briskly in December, but wages
posted their biggest decline in at least
eight years in a sign the tightening labour market has yet to give much of a
boost to workers.
Nonfarm payrolls increased by
252,000 last month after an upwardly revised jump of 353,000 in November, the
Labor Department said on Friday.
The jobless rate fell 0.2 percentage
point to a 6-1/2-year low of 5.6 per cent,
but that was mainly because people left
the labour force. The drop in labour
participation and a surprise five-cent, or
0.2 per cent, decrease in average hourly
earnings, which nearly erased November’s gains, took some shine off the otherwise upbeat report.
December marked the 11th straight
month of payroll increases above
200,000, the longest stretch since 1994.
For last year as a whole, the economy
generated 2.95 million new jobs, the
strongest annual showing since 1999.
The softness in earnings, however, is
puzzling.
Some economists wondered whether
last month’s broad-based fall, which was
led by a record 1.2 per cent plunge in the
— Reuters
retail trade sector, was a seasonal fluke
that would be revised away.
“There is no obvious fundamental
economic factor that would contribute
to today’s number,” said Michael Feroli,
an economist at JPMorgan in New York.
“We are disposed to view this decline as
a one-off.”
The drop in earnings was the biggest
on record dating back to 2006.
A separate, narrower gauge posted its
largest percentage decline since 1983.
The fall exacerbated a soft trend that
has been in place since the 2007-2009 recession. Over the past year, earnings rose
Cyprus Airways stops flying after EU ruling
NICOSIA: Cyprus announced an immediate halt to flights by its national
carrier after EU regulators ordered Nicosia to recover illegal state aid granted
to the holiday island’s ailing airline.
Cyprus Airways ticket-holders will
be offered alternative arrangements, the
government of the small recession-hit
EU member state said.
Finance Minister Harris Georgiades
told a press conference Cyprus Airways
was no longer “economically viable” after the decision from Brussels and was
ceasing operations. The 68-year-old
carrier made its last flight on Friday
night. “We are saddened by the turn of
events, and the government will seek to
maintain air links between the island
and abroad,” said Communications
Minister Marios Demetriades.
Demetriades had warned the airline could not survive if the EU decided
Cyprus broke the rules by giving it a
31-million-euro ($37 million) capital
increase and a 34-million-euro rescue
loan.
He said the government was looking into the prospects of creating a new
airline if they could find serious investors and had already bought the Cyprus
Airways logo for such a scenario.
“Following today’s decision for immediate termination of the flight programme of Cyprus Airways, the Cyprus
government decided to offer alternative
arrangements to all passengers who
have in their possession tickets of Cyprus Airways flights,” an official statement said.
— AFP
Pipeline would move oil from Canada to refineries on Gulf of Mexico Coast
US House overwhelmingly
okays bill for oil pipeline
WASHINGTON: The US House overwhelmingly passed a bill on Friday authorising a major oil pipeline, despite a
renewed pledge by the White House to
veto the legislation after a state court removed a major obstacle.
The Keystone XL pipeline has been
one of the biggest areas of conflict between President Barack Obama and
Congress, which Republicans took full
control of this week for the first time
since he took office.
The pipeline would move tar sands
oil from Canada 1,900 kilometres south
to refineries on Gulf of Mexico Coast.
Supporters say it would create jobs and
ease American dependence on Middle
East oil. Critics argue that the drilling
is environmentally harmful, and said
much of the Canadian crude would be
exported with little or no impact on
America’s drive to reduce oil imports,
which have already been greatly reduced
because of record US oil production.
The House on Friday approved the
measure 266-152, with 28 Democrats
voting in support. It was one of the
first pieces of legislation considered by
the Republican-controlled Congress
and the 10th vote the House had taken
since July 2011 to advance the $8 billion
project.
“We shouldn’t be debating it, we
should be building it,” said House Ma-
File photo shows US President Barack Obama speaks at the southern site of the
Keystone XL pipeline on March 22, 2012 in Cushing, Oklahoma.
jority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who noted that more than 2,000 days had passed
since the pipeline was first proposed in
2008.
The Senate has a test vote on Monday
with enough support to pass an identical bill.
Hours before the House vote, Nebraska’s highest court tossed out a lawsuit challenging the pipeline’s route, an
obstacle the White House said it needed
removed to make a decision.
The White House veto threat was
based partly on the outstanding Ne-
braska case. Obama has said he needed
the state court ruling before deciding
whether the cross-border pipeline is in
the national interest.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, following the court’s decision,
renewed a call for Obama to reconsider his promise to veto the measure.
“Today’s ruling provides the perfect
opportunity for the president to change
his unproductive posture on this jobs
project and reverse his veto threat,” McConnell said. “The president now has
every reason to sign it.”
only 1.7 per cent, the smallest 12-month
gain since October 2012.
While December’s earnings decline
bolstered the case for the Federal Reserve to take a go-slow approach to raising interest rates, it did not remove a
possible June hike from the table, economists said.
A Reuters survey of big banks showed
many economists are sticking to their
June rate call. But financial markets were
less convinced.
The dollar fell against a basket of currencies and prices for US Treasury debt
rose as traders pushed back their expectations for when rates would rise.
US stocks lost nearly 1 per cent after
a two-day rally. The Fed has kept overnight borrowing costs near zero since
December 2008.
“We have not changed our Fed call
for a June tightening, but it just puts the
risks later as opposed to sooner,” said
Dana Saporta, a senior economist at
Credit Suisse in New York.
THE GOOD AND THE BAD: All
sectors of the economy had employment
gains last month and, in another sign of
strength, 50,000 more jobs were created
in October and November than previously thought.
Overall, the data suggested the economy was positioned for strong growth
this year despite troubling weakness in
some economies overseas.
Construction employment rose
by 48,000, the largest gain since January, while manufacturers added 17,000
workers. Government employment increased by 12,000 positions.
In addition, the length of the average
work week held at a 6-1/2-year high of
34.6 hours, suggesting further job gains
are in store. The softness in wages is
striking given the tightening jobs market. The unemployment rate dropped by
more than a percentage point last year,
and is now near territory Fed officials
consider commensurate with full employment.
A San Francisco Federal Reserve
Bank research paper published this
week suggested wage growth was tepid
because many firms were unable to reduce wages during the recession and are
holding the line on increases in return.
Even so, economists expect to see a
spark soon as the labour market continues to tighten. About 21 states are raising
their minimum wage this year.
“The wage story should look much
better at the end of 2015,” said Dan
Greenhaus, chief strategist at BTIG in
New York.
Most of the measures tracked by Fed
Chair Janet Yellen to gauge the amount
of slack in the labour market continued
to point to tightening conditions in December.
A broad measure of joblessness that
includes people who want to work but
have given up searching and those working part-time because they cannot find
full-time employment fell two-tenths of
a percentage point, to 11.2 per cent, the
lowest level since September 2008.
The ranks of the long-term unemployed continued to shrink in December. Almost two-thirds of the decline in
the level of unemployment last year was
among the long-term unemployed.
But the labour force participation
rate, the percentage of the working age
population who either have a job or are
looking for one, dropped back to the 36year low of 62.7 per cent reached in September.
— Reuters
BIZ BRIEF
Aer Lingus rejects IAG’s revised approach
Infosys Chief Executive Officer Vishal
Sikka smiles during the announcement of the company’s quarterly
financial results at its headquarters
in Bengaluru.
— Reuters
India’s software
giant Infosys net
profit climbs 13pc
BANGALORE: Indian software giant Infosys announced on Friday a
better-than-expected 13 per cent
jump in third-quarter net profit,
helped by strong demand for services
in the United States. The country’s
second-largest IT services exporter
said October-December net profit hit
Rs 32.50 billion ($521 million), up from
Rs 28.75 billion in the same period
last year.
Analysts had expected profits to
be about Rs 31.5 billion.
“We are seeing good demand
from North America while Europe
is a bit muted,” said Vishal Sikka,
Infosys chief executive and managing
director. Infosys shares cheered the
earnings, gaining 4.99 per cent to Rs
2,073.00. They had hit a intra-day low
of Rs 1,914.10 before the profit news
was announced.
The company, created by seven
software professionals around a
kitchen table in the 1980s, said it was
confident of expanding revenues by
seven to nine per cent in the current
year ending March 31.
In the just ended quarter, Infosys’
revenues rose to Rs 137.96 billion
($2.21 billion) from Rs 130.03 billion a
year ago. The company, based in the
southern high-tech hub of Bangalore,
announced it has more than $5.5
billion in cash reserves, but top management did not detail how the firm
planned to spend it.
Infosys, once known as the “bellwether” of India’s flagship outsourcing
industry and billed as the country’s
equivalent of Microsoft, is listed in
Mumbai and New York.
Sikka replaced co-founder
Narayana Murthy, who had been
recalled from retirement last year to
help Infosys, once the star of India’s
information technology sector,
regain market share. Sikka, a former
executive of SAP AG, is trying to revive
Infosys including by focusing on innovation and creating higher-earning
opportunities in fields such as data
analytics.
— AFP
LONDON: The owner of British Airways said that Aer Lingus had rejected a revised
takeover approach that valued the Irish airline at 2.40 euros per share.
International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), which also owns Spanish carrier
Iberia, said it had lifted its cash offer from an earlier 2.30 euros.
“There can be no certainty that any further proposal or offer will be forthcoming,”
the IAG statement said. But investors seemed to expect IAG to go further, with the
stock price ending up 10 per cent at 2.50 euros.
A spokesman for Aer Lingus said it did not plan to comment on the IAG staement.
Aer Lingus in December rejected a takeover approach from its larger rival, a competitor for flights between Dublin and London, one of the world’s busiest international
routes. It said the offer undervalued the business.
Buying Aer Lingus would give British Airways more take-off and landing slots at
Heathrow, its home base and a top European hub for profitable long-haul routes.
The airport is operating at close to capacity, preventing BA from adding more
flights. IAG’s Irish chief executive, Willie Walsh, knows Aer Lingus well.
He started his career as a pilot there and was the former national carrier’s chief
executive between 2001 and 2005.
US President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden (R) take a look at a
3D printed Shelby Cobra car during a tour of Techmer PM, a plastics manufacturing company in Clinton, Tennessee on Friday. At left are Managing
Director of Techmer ES Tom Drye, Shelby Cobra 3d print designer Lonne
Love (2nd L).
— Reuters
Brazil posts 2014 inflation rate of 6.41pc
Brasília: Inflation in Brazil hit 6.41 per cent in 2014, marginally below a government
ceiling of 6.5 per cent but still the highest annual figure since 2011, the National Statistical Institute (IBGE) said.
Prices rose in December by 0.78 per cent, above November’s 0.51 per cent, but
below the 0.92 per cent rise of December 2013, IBGE revealed.
The official annual target is 4.5 per cent, with a tolerance margin of two per cent
beyond that, but the central target has been missed several times in recent years. The
2013 annual figure was 5.91 per cent.
The IBGE said food, beverages, transport and housing costs fuelled last year’s rise
— with the cost of meat alone up 22.21 per cent compared to a year earlier.
Price rises slowed marginally in August, which saw an increase of 0.25 per cent. But
September’s figure was 0.5 per cent, for an annualised rate of 6.7 per cent, sparking
concern.
President Dilma Rousseff, who began a second term in office this month, has
vowed to rein in spending, and on Thursday unveiled budget cuts expected to total
$8.4 billion a year, to dampen price pressures in the world’s seventh largest economy.
Analysts believe the central bank will also gradually hike interest rates, which are
already high at 11.75 per cent.
Brazil is facing a fifth straight year of low growth, and last month Brasilia cut its
own 2015 forecast from 2 to 0.8 per cent, in line with market forecasts.
Growth is expected to take off slowly by 2016, with predictions of 2 per cent
growth next year followed by 2.3 per cent in 2017.
But Latin America’s biggest economy shows little sign of returning to the heady
heights of the 7.5 per cent growth rate seen in 2010, which dropped dramatically
thereafter amid fading Chinese-led demand for commodities.
— AFP
20
omandailyobserver
COMMODITIES
INTERNATIONAL
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
MARKET
Facts and fantasies about global commodities
JOHN KEMP
LONDON
Jan 10: Commodities were the worst
performing asset class for the third year
running in 2014.
Investors, including some of the
world’s largest pension funds, have seen
billions of dollars of wealth disappear as
a result of investing in commodity index
products over the last decade.
So it is essential to understand what
went wrong to help prevent a similar
problem recurring in future.
“Facts and fantasies about commodity futures,” first published in 2004 by
Gary Gorton and Geert Rouwenhorst,
proved one of the most influential research papers in 21st century finance.
It provided the intellectual underpinning for the investment boom in commodity derivatives which followed over
the next eight years until roughly 2012.
Gorton and Rouwenhorst concluded
“the risk premium on commodity futures is essentially the same as equities”
and better than bonds.
“In addition to offering high returns,
the historical risk of an investment in
commodity futures has been relatively
low” and “they are an attractive asset
class to diversify traditional portfolios of
stocks and bonds.”
Yet all of those propositions have
come under scrutiny as returns on commodity index products have disappointed investors over the last three years and
in some cases longer.
Several high-profile investors and
commodity index fund operators have
recently closed down their operations
File photo shows traders react in the Euro Dollar pit at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to an announcement by the United
States Federal Reserve on interest rates.
citing returns which failed to match the
complexity and risk involved in running
the programmes.
PAST PERFORMANCE: “Facts and
fantasies” was based on an analysis of returns that would have been available to
an investor in an equally-weighted index
of commodity futures fully collateralised
by US Treasury bonds between July 1959
and March 2004 (NBER Working Paper
10595).
“Facts and fantasies,” and similar
papers written later by others, played
a pivotal role popularising investment
in commodities and making commodity indices respectable for a much wider
group of investors.
Previously, commodity investment
was the preserve of investors and hedge
funds with a high appetite for risk and
willingness to endure volatility.
“Facts and fantasies” helped convince
even conservative investors, such as pension funds, that commodity derivatives,
especially indices, were a prudent addition to their portfolios.
Commodity derivatives were not
just a directional bet on boom-bust but
an “asset class” that could be a source of
long-term returns across the business
cycle.
DISAPPOINTING RETURNS: Initially, the performance of commodity
indices was in line with the historical research, and even exceeded expectations.
Commodity indices soared between
early 2002 and July 2008.
Hit-hard when the global financial crisis intensified in third quarter
of 2008, they staged a moderate comeback in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Since then,
however, performance has been con-
OIL TRADE
Oil glut spurs top traders to book
supertankers for storage at sea
JONATHAN SAUL AND CLAIRE MILHENCH
LONDON
Jan 10: Some of the world’s largest oil
traders have this week hired supertankers to store crude at sea, marking a
milestone in the build-up of the global
glut.
Trading firms including Vitol,
Trafigura and energy major Shell have
all booked crude tankers for up to 12
months, freight brokers and shipping
sources said.
They said the flurry of long-term
bookings was unusual and suggested
traders could use the vessels to store
excess crude at sea until prices rebound, repeating a popular 2009 trading gambit when prices last crashed.
The more than 50 per cent fall in
spot prices now allows traders to make
money by storing the crude for delivery months down the line, when prices
are expected to recover.
The price of Brent crude is now
around $8 a barrel higher for delivery
at the end of 2015, with its premium
rising sharply over spot prices this
week due to forecasts for a large surplus
in the first half of this year, in a market
structure known as contango.
Brent hit a 5 1/2-year low of $49.66
a barrel on Wednesday. It was trading
around $51 a barrel on Thursday.
While major energy traders will often hire vessels for long periods as part
of their day-to-day operations, industry sources said the fixtures booked in
the last week had the option to hold oil
in storage. Some could still be used for
conventional oil transportation.
Vitol, the world’s largest independent oil trader, has booked the TI Oceania Ultra Large Crude Carrier, a 3
million barrel capacity mega-ship that
is one of the biggest ocean going vessels
in the world by dead weight tonnage
(DWT).
The fixture lists, provided to
Reuters by tanker brokers and oil traders, also showed Vitol has booked the
2 million barrel Maran Corona Very
Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), while
Swiss-based trader Trafigura has hired
at least one VLCC, the Nave Synergy.
Shell has taken two VLCCs, the Xin
Run Yang and Xin Tong Yang, the lists
showed.
Vitol, Trafigura and Shell all declined to comment.
LONGER BOOKINGS, CHEAPER
RATES: The shipping lists indicate the
trading firms have been able to hire the
VLCCs for less than $40,000 a day —
well below spot rates closer to $97,000
a day, the highest in years, which had
so far put off many oil traders.
The lower rate has been possible to
arrange, brokers said, by agreeing to
take some older and less fuel-efficient
vessels for up to 12 months.
“In 2009 freight rates were extremely low and owners were willing
to put their ships out on charter in order to mitigate weak spot rates,” said
Christian Waldegrave at leading tanker
owner Teekay.
“In a rising freight market, such
as we are in now, I would think that
owners would be more hesitant to fix
out their ships on time charter unless
they felt strongly that rates were about
to decline.”
Initial indications are around 12-15
million barrels of floating storage have
“In 2009 freight rates were extremely low and owners were
willing to put their ships out on charter in order to mitigate
weak spot rates. In a rising freight market, such as we are in
now, I would think that owners would be more hesitant to
fix out their ships on time charter unless they felt strongly
that rates were about to decline”
been booked so far. In 2009 at least 100
million barrels of oil ended up being
stored at sea.
Shipping sources said more oil
traders have also been making enquiries in the past week.
Analysts at JBC Energy in Vienna
said floating storage, while a sign of
an oversupplied market, may provide some temporary support for oil
prices in the coming weeks now that
traders were able to move crude on to
tankers.
“This will not only release some
pressure on front-end prices, but also
allow for the physical market to clear
somewhat,” JBC Energy said in a note.
“The physical market could also
turn temporarily supportive over the
coming months thanks to the balancing effect of floating storage.”
— Reuters
sistently disappointing. Between June
2004 and June 2014, the compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) for the
S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI) was -1.8 per cent. The Light
Energy and Non-Energy versions of the
GSCI performed little better, eking out
meagre returns of +1 per cent and +2 per
cent per year respectively.
By December 23, however, returns
on the GSCI averaged -3.7 per cent per
year since the middle of 2004, -1.3 per
cent for the Light Energy version, and
just +1.2 per cent for the Non-Energy
variant. Returns have been poor compared with stocks. The S&P 500 equity
index achieved total returns of around
+7 per cent per year between June 2004
and June 2014, increasing to about +7.9
per cent by December 2014.
In practice, commodity derivatives
have exhibited all of the volatility of
other asset classes (and often more) but
none of the returns.
WHAT EXACTLY WENT
WRONG?: The most widely invested
commodity indices were the two families known originally as the GSCI and
the Dow Jones AIG index. Both have
changed ownership and been rebranded
over time and are now controlled by
Dow Jones S&P Indices and Bloombeg
Indexes respectively.
None of the most commonly tracked
benchmarks is an exact replica of the
equal-weighted basket of commodity
futures analysed by Gorton and Rouwenhorst between 1959 and 2004.
For all sorts of reasons, not least the
small scale of some futures contracts, it
is difficult to exactly replicate the “Facts
and fantasies” type index as an investable index in the real world.
Most index families, but especially
the main GSCI, are heavily weighted
towards petroleum futures (crude oil,
gasoline and distillate fuel oil), which
tends to limit their diversification.
But the fact most commodity indices
have produced similarly disappointing
returns since 2004, including variants
with a much lighter weighting towards
crude oil and refined fuels, suggests index composition and the process for
rolling maturing contracts forward on
its own cannot explain the poor performance. There is a tendency in the
financial services industry to celebrate
successful products and try to quickly
forget the unsuccessful ones: why dwell
on the failures of the past?
The basic explanations for the poor
performance of the indices can be recounted easily enough. Index returns
comprise three components: (1) the
spot price of the commodity; (2) the
yield from the Treasury securities used
as collateral; and (3) the roll return from
swapping a position in maturing contracts into longer dated ones.
The problem with spot prices is obvious given the fading of the so-called
“super-cycle” and the decline in prices
for a broad-range of commodities.
But the case for investing in commodities, and treating commodity derivatives as an asset class, was never
supposed to rely on rising spot prices, a
point which “Facts and fantasies” makes
clear.
— Reuters
MARKET FORECAST
Tokyo investors look
to US data this week
TOKYO: Tokyo investors will eye US data this week, including the Fed’s
key Beige Book regional economies report, after euro zone worries helped
drag the Japanese market lower in the first trading week of 2015.
On Friday, the Nikkei 225 at the Tokyo Stock Exchange added 0.18 per
cent, or 30.63 points, to finish at 17,197.73 — but the benchmark index
slipped 1.45 per cent over the week.
The Topix index of all first-section shares ended up 0.21 per cent, or
2.91 points, at 1,380.58. It fell 1.91 per cent in the first five days of trading
this year.
The Nikkei came under heavy pressure from a global selloff fuelled by
worries the euro zone was slipping into deflation and political turmoil in
Greece, which has fanned fears it could exit the currency bloc.
Debt-addled Greece is holding elections later this month that could
see a victory for a party opposed to austerity measures required under an
international bailout.
The collapse of global oil prices, which slid below $50 a barrel during
the week, also weighed on sentiment.
Next week, US data is expected to set the tone for Tokyo trading, including retail sales for December as well as the Beige Book.
“US holiday sales reportedly had a slow start, but gradually heated up
shortly before Christmas,” Daiwa Securities said in a client note.
“If (retail data) come out better than expected, it could lift spirits in US
and Japanese markets.”
US jobs figures, to be released later on Friday, will be another key gauge
for the market next week, the brokerage house said.
The Tokyo stock exchange will resume trading on Tuesday, after a public holiday on Monday.
In Friday trade, Fast Retailing shares ended 0.79 per cent higher at
44,760 yen, off from an intraday high of 46,325 yen, after it reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter earnings.
Profit soared 64 per cent to 68.8 billion yen, helped by strong sales at its
cheap chic Uniqlo clothing chain.
Honda rose 1.14 per cent to 3,531.5 yen, despite news that US auto
safety regulators fined the automaker a record $70 million for failing to
report driver deaths, injuries and vehicle complaints to the government.
Rival Toyota added 0.72 per cent to 7,609 yen while Sony rose 1.33 per
cent to 2,599 yen.
— AFP
A passerby looks at an electronic board displaying stock prices at an
exchange in Tokyo.
TECHNOLOGY
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
omandailyobserver
21
GADGET
SMARTWATCHES
Smart and pretty! Fashion designers
spruce up smartwatches
SMARTWATCHES don’t have to look ugly to be
functional. Clothing and accessories designers are
collaborating with engineers to produce computerised wristwatches that people will want to wear
all day and night.
With Apple Inc preparing to release a watch
line that includes an 18-carat gold edition, rivals
know they need to think beyond devices that look
like miniature computers — with their rectangular
screens and wristbands made of rubber-like materials. If the watches aren’t attractive, the market
won’t grow beyond a small niche of users.
“The big brick on the wrist is not what a fashionable person is going to wear on a day-to-day
basis,” says Cindy Livingston, CEO of Sequel, a
Timex business that makes traditional watches
under the Guess clothing brand. Many of the existing smartwatches are simply too big for women’s
wrists.
At the International CES gadget show in Las
Vegas last week, Guess said it’s partnering with
Martian Watches to make a line of fashionable
smartwatches. Guess took its leading line of traditional watches, Rigor, and incorporated Martian’s
technology. From a distance, the new Guess Connect watch looks like a Rigor, with analog hands
and a crown, or dial, on the right. Closer inspection reveals the addition of two control buttons
and a small, one-line display for notifications near
6 o’clock.
LG, meanwhile, consulted with outside design
experts and a sister company that makes fashion
and home-decor products. Its first smartwatch
was rectangular primarily because of production
constraints. A round model followed just months
later.
Other companies took fashion into account
from the start. Burg’s Dutch founder, Hermen van
den Burg, has had 20 years of work in design. At
CES, the company showcased new stainless-steel
models and one with Swarovski crystals, both due
out in March. Van den Burg says a watch, as something you wear, is highly personal and must fit
your lifestyle. Cogito filled an in-house design studio in Paris with people from the fashion industry.
The Consumer Electronics Association projects
that US sales of wearable devices will reach 31 million this year, up 61 per cent.
Tech never sleeps in
quest for better slumber
THIS new technology is staying up all night, so you don’t have to.
Among the new gadgetry on display at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas were a number of solutions to a problem
faced by many: a lack of sleep, or what experts call a lack of “quality”
sleep that allows you to feel refreshed.
Some new devices monitor nocturnal activity to get a better handle on the issue, while others offer aid through techniques such as
light and sound.
One of the critical elements is getting good data that can be analysed, said Terry Duesterhoeft, president of medical equipment group
A&D Medical, which works with partners that make wristbands and
other devices to collect data during the night.
‘We can get a great deal of analytics on sleep quality,’ Duesterhoeft
said on the floor of the electronics show.
By working with
partners
which
crunch these numbers for solutions,
“we hope to figure
out what to do with
this information,”
he added.
California-based
A&D provides an The Sproutling Baby Monitor is among the
app that monitors innovation award honorees in wearable tech
at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las
activity throughVegas Nevada. Sproutling is the first baby
out the day using a monitor that senses, learns and predicts a
tracker, and an up- baby’s sleep patterns and optimal sleep con— AFP
grade will be able ditions.
to detect REM or
rapid eye movement sleep, seen as an important component of a restful night. Other products look for a speedier solution to poor sleep
habits. French startup Holi displayed its programmable LED light
aimed at inducing sleep for those who need it.
“It’s the first solution that combines a colour-changing LED lightbulb designed for sleep and a sleep application,” said Gregoire Gerard,
chief executive of the Lyon-based group.
“The bulb communicates with the smartphone and can be programmed in several ways.” A reddish light helps the user produce
melatonin, a hormone seen as important in sleep cycles.
“The next morning, the light switches from blue to white for gentle
awakening,” he said of the product, which is being sold in Europe and
will be available in March in the United States.
SONYWALKMAN
Walkman rises from the ashes with huge price tag
TWOWHEELER
Mahindra unveils Gusto
FOR those who have been wondering whatever happened
to the Walkman, here’s your answer — it’s morphed into
a sleek, high-quality, digital version that would fall right
in step with these modern times. It also comes with an
unusually high price tag.
The company unveiled its Walkman NW-ZX2 highdefinition music player this week at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week.
While the device is getting a modern makeover, its no
longer the low-cost music player of the past. The new 128
GB Walkman comes with a $1,119.99 price tag.
The new Walkman can reproduce master quality recordings just as the artists originally intended, the company said in a news release.
It also packs plenty of power, giving users up to
60-hours of MP3 listening time and as many as 33-hours
of high resolution playback — all from a single charge.
The Walkman is not yet available for preorders, but
Sony said it expects the device will be in consumers’ hands
sometime during Spring 2015. This isn’t the first time the
Walkman has risen from the ashes. Sony released the petite NWZ-A17 Walkman last year at a $300 price point.
Milled from solid aluminium alloy and packed with goldplated copper wiring and circuitry to cut electrical impedance and boost sound quality, the Walkman supports
all of the major 24-bit audio formats including FLAC and
Apple Lossless for offering better than CD-quality playback.
Chief of Operations Mahindra Two Wheelers Viren Popli at the launch of ‘Gusto’
in Bengaluru.
— IANS
MAHINDRA Two Wheelers Ltd, a division of popular Indian SUV vehicle
maker Mahindra and Mahindra launched the global unisex ‘Gusto’ scooter in
India last week. The Gusto scooter has been launched at introductory price of
about Rs 48,400 for the base model, whereas the top end Gusto Vx variant is
priced at Rs 50,400. Dharmendra Mishra, Vice-President for sales and customer Care, Mahindra Two Wheelers said, “The Italian styled Gusto is powered
by the smooth & fuel efficient M-TEC engine. It is India’s first scooter with a
Height Adjustable Seat.”
SMARTPHONE
Kodak throws its hat into smartphone arena, unveils IM5
KODAK has officially thrown its hat into
the smartphone arena. Kodak officially announced its first smartphone, the Kodak IM5
smartphone, at CES 2015. The 5-inch Full
HD smartphone was created with a unique
and simple user interface that allows the
handset to be very consumer friendly. Kodak
also approached the issue of having photos on
smartphones that never leave the device.
“Too many memories stay stuck on mobile phones, often because the process for
sharing them is too complicated for users,”
said Eileen Murphy, VP of brand licensing
at Kodak. “That’s why we’ve partnered on
the IM5, the first device in a range of mobile products that takes our heritage and
experience in photographic technology and
combines it with Bullitt’s expertise in designing high-quality devices for a specific target
consumer.”
Since Kodak is an expert when it comes
to cameras, it has included a 13-megapixel
front-facing camera and unique imagemanagement software that allows users to
easily edit the images and share them with
family, friends, and social networks via a
customised app. The company licensed its
trademark to Bullitt Group, which has expertise in making speciality devices.
The Kodak IM5 features a 5-inch 1920 x
1080 Full HD display and runs Android 4.4
Kit Kat with a custom built UI, although Kodak has confirmed that it will release an Android 5.0 Lollipop update. The smartphone
is powered by a 1.7 GHz octa-core MediaTek
processor and 1 GB of RAM.
Kodak has included 8 GB of internal
storage and a microSD expansion slot up
to 32 GB. Its camera capabilities consist of a
13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel
front-facing shooter for video chat and selfies. The smartphone will have its own dedicated app store; it’s unclear if the Kodak IM5
will have access to Google’s Play Store. The
Kodak IM5 will be offered in choice of white
or black and will begin to roll out in Europe in the first quarter of 2015 and globally
shortly after.
22
LEISURE
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
Online Editor’s Choice
CARTOONS
ADAM @ HOME
by Brian Basset
1
6
9
10
11
12
13
CALVIN AND HOBBES
by Bill Watterson
15
17
18
19
20
22
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
GARFIELD
by Jim Davis
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
12
13
14
15
STONE SOUP
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
ACROSS
It might liken vanity to insanity
(5)
Belief in a girl (5)
The advent of sound competition
(7)
Used bad language possibly
worse (5)
College girl (5)
Can such women never be
dogged? (5)
If lit up, can appear deplorable
(7)
Ready to turn the tap (3)
Major shareholder? (4)
Roy, going round with Jack (6)
Simple saint? (5)
Occupant getting in with a
partner (6)
Punishing weather? (4)
In any style, a refusal (3)
Looked again at the girl in the
matted reeds (7)
It goes at its own pace (5)
Hit 150 before being dismissed
(5)
A clean one’s still pretty black (5)
Much admired though always in
the red (7)
Furthermore, dead wrong about
the end of the world (5)
When female, is white (5)
DOWN
Where aloha means love (6)
He’s got his wings (6)
Sooner than finish nowhere (3)
Opposition from 9 Across (5)
Fatheaded strike by a minority
group (7)
A telly part for a mate (4)
Sailors’ sort of sauce (6)
Rudely ignored, that is, by an
attractive girl (5)
‘That’s flat!’ is such speaking (5)
Soldier boy (5)
Where to arrange airs for piano
(5)
5
6
7
8
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
21
22
23
25
26
28
CR O SSW O R D
16 Written stylishly, with character?
(5)
18 Is down at heel, possibly lower
(5)
19 Astonish a fellow, being so
underdeveloped (7)
21 Caught in a misguided denial (6)
22 Country areas where there’s
opposition to bats (6)
23 Something that stings in bed (6)
25 Rural ones have been booked (5)
26 Bound to get a half share of the
treasure (4)
28 It has its holidaymaking side (3)
1
6
9
10
EASY PUZZLE
ACROSS
Young sheep (5)
Snake (5)
Rented transport (4-3)
Information seeker (5)
THURSDAY’S CRYPTIC
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 3, Heav-y 8, Baste 10,
Apri-L 11, Lie 12, Chair 13, Parapet 15, N-evil 18, Ma-N 19, Alsace
21, Century 22, Hair 23, Rear 24,
Sutures 26, Soccer 29, Sam 31, Ether
32, Reports 34, Lived 35, VAT 36,
Della 37, Rem-it 38, Older.
DOWN: 1, Sal-ad 2, St-E-amer 4,
Echt 5, Vainl-y 6, Ypres 7, Mi-mi-c
9, Si-R 12, Centaur 14, Pan 16, Vases
17, L-earn 19, Aro-use-d 20, Phase
21, C-inch 23, Removed 24, Serial
25, Rap 27, Ot-her 28, Cello 30,
A-TT-ic 32, RE-ME 33, Ram.
11
12
13
15
17
18
19
20
22
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Bad-tempered (5)
Neighbouring (5)
Embedded (7)
Farm animal (3)
Thin (4)
Blacken (6)
Wallow (5)
Hand tool (6)
Weeps (4)
Weight (3)
Gossip (7)
Car race (5)
Threesomes (5)
Without (5)
Dwarfed (7)
Attempts (5)
Principle (5)
DOWN
2 Secret (6)
3 Asian kingdom (6)
4 Be seated (3)
THURSDAY’S EASY SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 3, Swear 8, Party 10, Never
11, Fir 12, Sifts 13, Deposit 15, Liver
18, Bat 19, Denote 21, Meddler 22,
Eros 23, Tend 24, Sweater 26, Barren
29, Tor 31, Steer 32, Peerage 34,
Fetid 35, Ago 36, Haven 37, Fiend
38, Reply.
DOWN: 1, Wafer 2, Strobes 4, Wait
5, Antler 6, Resin 7, Beret 9, Rip 12,
Sit down 14, Sad 16, Voter 17, Ready
19, Debated 20, Verbs 21, Moire 23,
Terrain 24, Serene 25, Toe 27, Atlas
28, Refer 30, Agony 32, Pill 33, Age.
Hospitals
by Jan Eliot
Hospital. . . . . Board . . . . . . . Emergency
Royal . . . . . . . 24599000 . . . 24590491
Health Services Department
‘ YOUR 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:
Friendship will
play an important
part in your activities in the coming year. You
will be sorry to
lose some pleasant associations
owing to inevitable changes,
but on the other
hand a number
of new and valuable contacts will
be established
which
could
mean a happy
social life and
some financial
advantages.
Biblical king (5)
Burnt sugar (7)
Spoken (4)
Sell (6)
Even (5)
Choose (5)
Ship’s room (5)
Aviator (5)
Long-necked birds (5)
Denigrate (5)
Meals (7)
Terror (6)
Pace (6)
Woman’s shirt (6)
Organism (5)
Flower (4)
Encountered (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
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
December 22January 20
January 21February 19
February 20March 20
March 21April 20
April 21May 20
May 21June 21
If you are unable just now to make
up your mind about an important
step, don’t act impulsively, but take
your time in considering the matter.
Why not ring up that friend today who has not been too well,
find out what the situation is now
and whether an outing would be
welcomed.
Somebody’s advice may throw an
entirely different aspect on a certain part of your work, which has
given you some difficulties in the
past.
You will at long last succeed in getting
an introduction to someone you have
been anxious to meet for a long time,
and you will not be disappointed by
him.
No matter how dull a new job may
sound initially you can make a
success of anything you attempt.
Don’t be in too much of a hurry to
make a final decision.
If you are feeling somewhat depressed, cheer yourself up by spending a moderate sum of money on an
entirely frivolous purchase this afternoon.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
June 22July 21
July 22August 21
August 22September 22
September 23October 22
October 23November 21
November 22December 21
Your social life will be improving through the contracts you
have made recently. These changes
seemed most unlikely a week ago.
You never know what’s in store for
you.
A friend whom you did not consider
to be very dependable will prove his
real worth when he responds to an
urgent appeal from you without a
moment’s hesitation.
Be careful not to put down anything in writing today which
could possibly commit you to an
outlay of an unspecified amount
of cash.
Only by frank discussion will you
come to a satisfactory working
agreement with a colleague who
tends to brood over imaginary details.
A close tie with a very old friend
seems to be weakening, but no
blame attaches to you for anything you may or may not have
done.
If you are aspiring to a better
position, do your best in your
present one, and be ready to accept added responsibility when it
comes.
CLASSIFIEDS
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
Situation Wanted
INDIAN male, 2 years
experience in oil
accounting, oil supply
chain management and
ϐ‹ƒŽ‹•ƒ–‹‘‘ˆƒ……‘—–•ǡ
looking for a suitable
position. Contact:
96534120. E-mail:
miruknuddin@gmail.
com
INDIAN male, BE
Mechanical
Engineer with
3-month
…‡”–‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‡…‘—”•‡
in QA/QC,
Pipeline and NDT.
In Oman on visist
visa, seeks
suitable
placement. Please
contact:
95803035.
E-mail:
jittenvjacob@
gmail.com
·····
INDIAN male, BE
wireless Networks,
CCNA & MCSE trained,
3 years experience as
IT support assistant
at a leading higher
education institution
in Oman, seeking
a position as a
Network/Systems
Engineer. Contact:
96008737. E-mail:
m.anas365@outlook.
com
EXPERIENCED
Journalist,
knowledge of Arabic
and English.
98563322.
·····
·····
·····
Situation Vacant
omandailyobserver
INDUSTRIAL area
land in Rusayil,
5,000 Sq.mt and
building with 8
shops. Contact
95490842,
92702891.
·····
For Sale
FOR NRIs only:
PLOTS (4.5/9 cents)
(Rs 5.5 lacs/cent)
and villas near Aluwa
Metro Station (Kerala)
for sale. Contact
98934705. E-mail:
skprealtor@yahoo.
com
·····
TWO twin villas in
Al Khuwair 33. Total
built area 526m2. RO
178,000 (for both).
Negotiable, from the
owner. 99414767.
·····
Situation Wanted
INDIAN male QA/QC
Engineer-Civil (BE,
ACQE) in Oman on
visit visa, overall 10
years of experience in
Š‹‰Š”‹•‡–‘™‡”ǡ‘ˆϐ‹…‡
building and
residential
construction project
in Qatar and UAE,
holding valid GCC
driving licence
00968 93958533,
e-mail: sheikhnavid@
yahoo.com
·····
INDIAN female, 31 years,
MSC computer science,
8 years experience in
software development
and delivery, Oracle, PL/
SQL, C, UNIX and JAVA.
Contact 92930934.
·····
QUALIFIED accountant
ACCA, CPA with 20
years experience with
hands on experience
‹”ƒ…Ž‡ϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ•
R12 ERB and Hyperion
planning forecasting/
budgeting available for
employment. Contact
98934705, E-mail:
sanjeevcga@gmail.com
·····
INDIAN male BE
mechanical engineer
™‹–Š͵Ǧ‘–Š…‡”–‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‡
course in QA/QC,
pipeline and NDT. In
Oman on visit visa, seeks
suitable placement.
Contact 95803035,
E-mail: jittenvjacob@
gmail.com
Situation Wanted
ACCOUNTS assistant: B
Com, having 4 years of
experience in accounts,
well versed with
computer languages
like C, C++, SQL, HTML,
VB Networking seeks
suitable placement.
Contact 93995483.
·····
INDIAN male, 12 years
experience in printing
and advt production and
Marketing, seeks suitable
placement. 92972898.
·····
INDIAN male 30, DCP,
B Com, having total 12
yrs exp and 7 years exp
in Oman construction
procurement, Civil and
MEP, interior decoration
& waterline division
looking for suitable
placement 98653189.
·····
INDIAN mechanical
engineer, B Tech, 2 years
experience in mechanical
maintenance at leading
tyre manufacturing
company. Contact.
95910749, e-mail:
svrohit_001@yahoo.co.in
·····
CIVIL Draughtsman:
Indian male, 23 years
with 3 years experience
in AutoCad, 2D & 3D,
MEP, HVAC, 3DSMAX and
Photoshop, looking for
suitable position,
presently in Muscat on
visit visa. Contact:
91764358.
mohdsiraj02@yahoo.com
INDIAN male, 15
years GCC experience
in Accounts and Sales
on visit visa, seeks
suitable placement.
Contact 93897395.
·····
SMART, talented,
excellent English,
Masters in
Journalism, Mass
Communication,
Finance, 11 years
Oman exp in Admin,
operations,
Management,
communication,
Customer Relations,
International
Procurement,
Business
Development. NOC.
98179887.
·····
CIVIL Engineer (BTech),
Indian male, 24 years
with 1+years Indian
‡š’‡”‹‡…‡ȋ…‡”–‹ϐ‹‡†‹
Quantity Survey/
Primavera/AutoCad).
Looking for a suitable
position. Available in
Sultanate of Oman
(Muscat) on visit visa.
Contact: 91303860.
e-mail: mdayubmak@
gmail.com
·····
Situation Wanted
STOREKEEPER with 7
years of experience in
…‘•–”—…–‹‘ϐ‹‡Ž†
looking for a suitable
job. Have good
knowledge for ERP
ƒ†‘ˆϐ‹…‡Ǥ‹•
available. Contact
94491272
Situation Wanted
SUDANESE, Business
Development
Manager, 17 years
Gulf experience in
furniture, plastic
industries of
detergents, seeks
suitable placement in
reputable companies.
94636722.
·····
INDIAN male, Executive
Secretary/Document
Controller, 15 years
experience in Oman,
looking for suitable job.
91091963, e-mail:
pkmr24@yahoo.com
A TUTOR holder of
Bachelor in English
language and a Bachelor
degree in Education.
Contact 98599631.
INDIAN male, 26 years,
BCom, CA Inter
completed and pursuing
MBA. 4 years experience.
Currently in Riyadh as
·····
Cost Accountant, seeks
INDIAN, male, 27 years,
B Tech Mechanical, 1 year placement. 94390660,
arunram_88@yahoo.co.in
pipeline experience, 6
months experience as
·····
service engineer, seeking
INDIAN male, 22 years,
job in any mechanical
BE Mechanical Engineer,
ϐ‹‡Ž†Ǥ‘–ƒ…–†‡–ƒ‹Ž•ǣ
seeks suitable placement.
95982207. E-mail:
rahman.taus@gmail.com Contact: 95020044.
e-mail: sameemsm2009
·····
@gmail.com
DIPLOMA in Civil
·····
Engineer looking for
suitable job. 95659028. MBA (SCM), 1 year
·····
‡š’‡”‹‡…‡‹ϐ‹ƒ…‡ƒ•
Accounts Assistant,
INDIAN male, 24 years,
”‡Žƒ–‡†ϐ‹‡Ž†ǣƒ……‘—–•
Sales Executive, 3 years
and warehouse. Contact:
experience with degree,
91795092. e-mail:
looking for suitable job.
jameel6345@gmail.com
Contact: 91732818.
TELECOMMUNICATION
Technician having 3
IT assistant, BSc
years exp in software
computer science with 4
programming (PABX,
years experience, MCP,
CCTV...) and marketing
MCITP. 95874315
looking for a job in
·····
technical area or
HR, Admin, sales,
ELECTRONICS/Telecom
marketing. Contact:
Technician: A well
“—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡†ƒ†‡š’‡”‹‡…‡† 91706132. E-mail:
Indian male, 26 years old, mbousaad@gmail.com
Diploma in Electronics
·····
& Telecommunication
QUALIFIED CMA (ICWA),
Engineering, having
MCom with 2 yrs
4 years experience in
experience in Accounts,
Electronic & Telecom
costing, auditing &
ϐ‹‡Ž†™‹–ŠƒŽ‡ƒ†‹‰
SAP in reputed listed
international telecom
companies, seeks
company, presently
working in India, looking suitable placement.
94619453.
for a job in Oman. Ready
to join immediately.
E-mail: cmashahidkt@
Contact: 99087175.
gmail.com
·····
·····
·····
·····
ELECTRONICS/Telecom
‡…Š‹…‹ƒǡƒ“—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡†
and experienced Indian
male, 27 years old,
Diploma in Electronics
engineering, having
4 years experience in
India, presently working
in India, looking for a
job in Oman. Contact
99087175.
·····
·····
22 YEARS female,
completed MBA,
looking for job in
any organisation.
Contact92441525 or
E-mail: talathfatima38@
gmail.com
·····
IRAQI Civil Engineer
·····
with more than 22
years’ experience in
FEMALE, MBA, looking
buildings construction
for work part/full-time
& projects management
PAKISTANI male, MSc
job. With prior
with BSc Civil
Social Science with two
experience of HR Domain
Engineering, BSc
year computer software
in Muscat. 98460262.
Computer Science,
diploma, seeks suitable
very good skills in
·····
placement. Contact:
engineering programs
91748911. E-mail:
ȋǡˆϐ‹…‡
atif5310@yahoo.com.
INDIAN male, 24 years,
package, Primavera
BE Electrical and
·····
project management,
electronics having 15
STAAD Pro, SAP2000 &
INDIAN male, accounts
months experience,
SolidWords). Speaking
Ƭϐ‹ƒ…‡ǡ“—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡† ”ƒ„‹…ƬϐŽ—‡–‰Ž‹•ŠǤ
seeking suitable
placement. Now available (ICWA), M.Com with 2
95648045. E-mail:
years experience in
in Oman. Contact.
ƒ—ϐ„ƒ”‹ƒ•̷‰ƒ‹ŽǤ…‘
accounts, costing,
92453891, e-mail:
·····
jestinjose007@gmail.com auditing & SAP in
reputed
listed
·····
companies, seeks
BE, Civil Graduate (fresh), suitable placement.
Indian looking for
94619453. E-mail:
suitable position. Contact: cmashahidkt@gmail.
95117509.
com
·····
·····
INDIAN male, graduate,
looking for suitable job
in sales/ marketing/
admin having 9 years
experience. Currently
on visit visa in Oman
upto 31st Dec. Contact:
97287485. E-mail:
inayathsss@yahoo.com
·····
·····
·····
23
Ȉ ƒ”•ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡
Ȉ ‘””‡–
Ȉ ‘„ƒ’’Ž‹…ƒ–‹‘
Ȉ Šƒ”‹‰”‡•‹†‡…‡
Ȉ ”ƒ•’‘”–…ƒ”•
Ȉ ‡ƒŽ•–ƒ–‡ȋ•ƒŽ‡Ǧ
”‡–Ǧ‹˜‡•–‡–•
Situation Wanted
INDIAN male, 30, D.C.P.,
B.Com having total 12
yrs exp & 7 yrs exp in
Oman. Construction,
procurement, civil &
MEP, interior decoration
& waterline division,
looking for suitable
placement. Contact:
98653189.
·····
·····
INDIAN male, BCom
with 2 years experience INDIAN male, 24 years
old, on visit visa, 3
in purchase section
years diploma in civil
in Oman (studied
engineering, 8 years exin Oman), currently
perience. 98515106.
on visit visa seeks
·····
suitable position in
capital region in Oman.
95902965.
M.Sc geologist from IIT
Kharagpur with 2 yr.
experience in petroleum
ƒ†‰‡‘Ž‘‰‹…ƒŽϐ‹‡Ž†‘
visit seeks immediate
placement in a prestigious organisation.
98856981
·····
IRAQI Mechanical Engineer with more than 20
years of experience in MEP
contracting, buildings construction & projects management, Air Conditioning
design and contracts with
BSc Mechanical Engineering, Computer skills (Auto
ǡ‹…”‘•‘ˆ–ˆϐ‹…‡Ƭ
Microsoft Project). Arabic
‘–Š‡”–‘‰—‡ƒ†ϐŽ—‡–
English speaking. +6017
2104430 KL, Malaysia.
E-mail: sabahna2003@
yahoo.com
·····
Good News
AYURVEDIC
Treatment, Yoga
Massage &
slimming. Web
address: www.
siddhayur.com
92504980/
24475280.
·····
Buying or Selling
BUYING/Selling car
for cash. Contact:
94614333.
·····
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
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, JANUARY 11, 2015 | RABEE AL AWWAL 20, 1436 AH
editor@omanobserver.om
www.omanobserver.om
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·····
Lost
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·····
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·····
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·····
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lost Indian Passport
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ROP.
·····
ƒŠ‡†—Ž
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ƒ‰Žƒ†‡•Š‹ƒ••’‘”–
No Ǧͷʹʹͺͻ͵ͲǤ‹†‡”
’Ž‡ƒ•‡Šƒ†‘˜‡”–‘
ROP.
·····
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RUWI
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Supply
of
Pesticides,
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chemicals,
Agriculture
chemicals,
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other insect
repellent from
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Ltd UK.
PROFESSIONALS
in Pest Control Service,
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Tel: 24787606 / 24787503
Fax: 24787607
E-mail: pcomctom@omantel.net.om
P. O. Box: 565, Wadi Kabir,
Postal Code: 117,
SULTANATE OF OMAN
Umrah/Haj
AL ‹ƒ‹ˆ‘”
HAJ and UMRAH
Ȅ‹–ŠƒŠ‘•–‘ˆ
services includǦ
‹‰–Š‡ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰ǣ
‹”‹‰luxurious
coaches, arrangǦ
‹‰™‡‡Ž›–”‹’•ǡ
preparing visas
ˆ‘”‡š’ƒ–•ƒ–…‘•–Ǧ
effective price, inǦ
cluding transport,
Š‘—•‹‰ǡ‡ƒŽ•ƒ†
˜‹•‹–•–‘•Š”‹‡Ž‘Ǧ
cations. Land and
air trips weekly.
ȋͻͻ͵ͳͳ͵ͳͲǡ
ʹͶͷ͸͸Ͳͳ͸ǡ
ͻͻ͵͸ͳͻͺʹǡ
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·····
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Our services include
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SUNDAY | JANUARY 11, 2015 | RABEE ALAWWAL 20, 1436 AH
P26
P27
P28
Inside
Australia denied in Sydney as India dig deep United seek spark as Southampton close in Henry grabs lead over Bae in PGA Tour FOLLOW US ON:
www.omanobserver.om
editor@omanobserver.om
ASIAN CUP: Koreans get off to winning start in their quest for first
crown since 1960 with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over the Sultanate
Le Guen rages as South
Korea edge Oman
CANBERRA: Oman coach Paul Le
Guen launched a furious tirade at the
referee for not giving a “100 per cent”
penalty in South Korea’s 1-0 Asian Cup
win over his side on Saturday.
The Koreans got off to a winning
start in their quest for a first Asian Cup
trophy in 55 years thanks to a solitary
goal from forward Cho Young-Cheol in
first-half injury time.
South Korea dominated possession
at Canberra Stadium and had several
chances to kill the game, but were lucky
to take all three points after Oman almost snatched a draw late on.
Frenchman Le Guen insisted the
outcome could have been different if
New Zealand official Peter O’Leary had
awarded a spot kick when striker Qasim
Saeed looked to have been scythed
down in the box.
“I don’t want to have an advantage —
no, no. I ask for equity,” he fumed. “It’s a
100 per cent penalty, no hesitation. But
(we didn’t get it) because of what? Because we are Oman? It’s a very, very bad
decision at this level.”
“Sometimes you can have a debate,
but in this case there is no debate, no
discussion. It’s a penalty, 100 per cent,”
the former Lyon boss added. “The game
could have been different after. If you
are 1-0 up it’s definitely different.”
South Korea were quickest out of the
traps and Bayer Leverkusen star Son
Heung-Min came closest to opening
the scoring after seven minutes when he
dinked the ball over Oman goalkeeper
Al Habsi, only for it to come back off the
crossbar.
Al Habsi pushed away a stinging
free-kick five minutes before halftime
and it looked as if Oman were going
to go into the break level before Cho
South Korea’s Cho Young-cheol (right) scores a goal past Oman’s goalkeeper Ali
Al-Habsi (left) and Oman’s Mohammed Al-Musalami during their Asian Cup Group
A match at the Canberra stadium in Canberra.
— Reuters
popped up with his goal.
The Qatar-based marksman broke
the deadlock when he reacted quickest
to bury a rebound after a parry from Al
Habsi, a poacher’s goal that delighted a
crowd overwhelmingly cheering for the
Taeguk Warriors.
Oman were largely on the back foot
and their best attempt in the first-half
came when Eid Al Farsi curled a freekick wide.
Le Guen was livid at not being
awarded the penalty but when told
about his angry rant, South Korea coach
Uli Stielike appeared mystified.
‘REFEREE WAS RIGHT’
“I saw the game like the referee saw
it,” said the German. “I don’t know
which situation he is talking about.
There cannot be a clear penalty or I
would remember the situation.”
More South Korea goals seemed certain after the interval but resolute Oman
defending kept the scoreline at 1-0.
Midfielder Lee Chung-Yong shaved
the post before Al Habsi atoned for his
earlier mistake by tipping over a powerful Koo Ja-Cheol header just short of the
hour mark.
South Korea pushed for a second
but were unable to capitalise on their
possession and almost paid for it at the
death.
Oman substitute Imad Al Hosni almost snatched an unlikely draw when
his header was superbly tipped onto the
crossbar by goalkeeper Kim Jin-Hyeon.
“I prefer starting the tournament
with a hard game like today rather than
5-0 win,” said Stielike. “Then everyone
thinks you are already going to win the
cup so maybe this is the better way.”
South Korea, one of the tournament
favourites and World Cup semifinalists
in 2002, last won the Asian Cup in 1960.
— AFP
Nesterov stars in Uzbek victory
SYDNEY: Goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov’s lightning late save spared Uzbekistan’s blushes as the 2011 semifinalists beat North Korea 1-0 in a rain-hit
Asian Cup clash on Saturday.
Nesterov saw little action in the
Group B tie but he was alert enough to
palm away Pak Song-Chol’s powerful
header just before the final whistle.
Man-of-the-match Igor Sergeev’s
62nd-minute header was the only score
of a game hit by a mid-match downpour, but Uzbekistan deserved their win
in Sydney.
Two-time Asian player of the year
Server Djeparov set up the goal as Uzbekistan showed they could be ready for
another assault on the Asian Cup’s latter
stages. I’d like to thank our goalkeeper,
it was a great save,” said Uzbek coach
Mirdjalal Kasimov. “But it was a victory
of the whole team, I’m happy with all my
players.”
In a tepid first half, Timur Kapadze
recovered from a nasty clash of heads
while defending a corner before coming
close at the other end minutes later.
The big midfielder saw his header
come off the upright and into the grateful arms of North Korea’s Ri MyongGuk, who later had to be alert to keep
out Sanjar Tursunov.
North Korean striker Pak Song-Chol
nodded his team’s best chance of the
first period wide, and team-mate Jon
Kwang-Ik was grateful to see his clearance go over the bar.
Steady rain turned torrential during
half-time but it didn’t stop Uzbekistan
from raising the tempo as Kapadze, Vitaliy Denisov and Djeparov all had sight
of goal. And it was captain Djeparov
who created Uzbekistan’s opener, lofting
a cross for Sergeev to leap and nod past
the stranded Ri in the North Korean
goal. Sergeev could have added a second
from substitute Sardor Rashidov’s cross,
and Tursunov drew a point-blank save
from Ri as the Uzbeks pressed until the
final whistle.
In the final seconds, Park would have
rescued a point for North Korea with
his header from a corner, if not for the
reflexes of the diving Nesterov.
FOOTBALL
North Korea’s Cha Jong Hyok (left) is tackled by Uzbekistan’s Server Djeparov during their Asian Cup Group B match at the Stadium Australia in Sydney.
— Reuters
“I really think it was unfortunate,
but the result is the result,” said North
Korea’s coach Jo Tong-Sop, when asked
about Pak’s late effort.
“If we make better chances and attack much more than tonight, we’ll have
a better chance.”
The result sets back North Korea’s
hopes of progressing from the group
stage for the first time since 1980, when
they finished fourth.
But Uzbekistan will have high
hopes of reaching the knock-outs for
the fourth time in a row, with further
Group B games to come against China
and Saudi Arabia.
— AFP
The 2014 Gulf Cup finalists lost all three of their matches at the last Asian Cup in 2011 and lost their first in 2015 against China yesterday
Loss to China compounds Saudi Arabia’s woes at Cup
Yasir Alshahrani (right) of Saudi Arabia clutter’s his leg as he is fouled
by Ji Xiang (left) of China during the first round Asian Cup match
against China at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
— AFP
BRISBANE: It has not been a good start to
the Asian Cup for Saudi Arabia. After just
one match the Green Falcons are in trouble
and luck seems against them.
Once a powerhouse of Asian football,
winning the title three times and making
the final three more times between 1984
and 2007, the Saudis are suddenly struggling, much of it caused by their own doing.
They lost all three of their matches at the
last Asian Cup in 2011 and lost their first in
2015 - beaten 1-0 by a fortuitous China on
Saturday night.
Misfortune played a part in their defeat.
They had more possession than the Chinese but failed to produce any meaningful
attacks.
The goal they conceded, 10 minutes
from the end, came off a wicked deflection
off one of their own defenders. But they
also contributed to their own defeat when
striker Naif Hazazi missed a penalty.
Hazazi’s miss was compounded by
the loss of their most experienced striker
Nasser Al Shamrani, the reigning Asian
player of the year, who was ruled out of the
tournament on Saturday with an injury.
Now Saudi Arabia, without their best
player, are facing an uphill battle getting
past the group stage, already looking flat after a haphazard build-up.
Even before the first match, their new
coach Cosmin Olaroiu said his players were
feeling fatigued. The Romanian was only
drafted in last month on a loan from Emirati club Al Ahli after Juan Ramon Lopez
‘We have not finished the
group after the first game. But
we have to win the next two
games. We can do it and I hope
that we will. I hope the players
have the same determination’.
Caro was sacked.
“We have not finished the group after
the first game,” Olaroiu said. “But we have
to win the next two games. “We can do it
and I hope that we will. I hope the players
have the same determination.”
The mood in the Chinese camp could
hardly have been different. The world’s
most populated nation has not made much
of mark in men’s soccer yet, although they
did reach the Asian Cup final in 1984 and
2004.
But Saturday’s win at Lang Park has given them renewed confidence they can make
a good run this time with matches against
Uzbekistan and North Korea to come after
they had a long preparation for the event.
“It was a very important for the team
because we need points to advance from
the group,” said China’s French-born coach
Alain Perrin. “For the confidence as well this
is very good, because to play Uzbekistan for
us it’s a final. If we win, we qualify.
“To start with a win is very good.”
— Reuters
26
omandailyobserver
SPORT
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
CRICKET
Australia denied in Sydney as India dig deep
SYDNEY: Australia were denied a dramatic victory and forced to settle for a
2-0 series win when India survived a
nervous final session to force a draw
in the fourth test at the Sydney Cricket
Ground on Saturday.
Steve Smith’s side were aggressive
to the very last ball but unable to break
the eighth wicket pairing of Ajinkya
Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and
grab a third win to go with those they
achieved in Adelaide and Brisbane.
The tourists, who were handed a
victory target of 349 when Australia
declared on their overnight score of
251-6, collapsed from 160-2 at tea to
217-7 but Virat Kohli had promised his
team would never throw in the towel
and they were true to his word.
They had reached 252-7 when
Australia ran out of overs in the early
evening gloom.
“It would have been nice to have got
the win today,” said Smith, who was
named man of the match and the series
for his batting exploits.
“I thought we were going to be a
good chance to win this game, but today wasn’t to be. The boys toiled really
hard today and it was disappointing
not to get the result in the end.”
There was a period around the tea
break when Kohli and opener Murali
Vijay flirted with going for the victory,
which would have smashed the previous record for a successful fourth innings run chase in a test at the ground.
Once their third wicket partnership
was broken with the departure of Vijay
for 80, however, it was damage limitation all the way as Kohli (46), the luckless Suresh Raina (0), Wriddhiman
Saha (0) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1)
all quickly followed.
That the last three were all out leg
before wicket was an indication that
the pitch was finally producing some
turn and movement after being something of a batsman’s paradise for much
of the match.
It was also fitting reward for Australia’s bowlers, particularly paceman
Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan
Lyon, who had bowled with discipline
and accuracy in the first two sessions
without being able to claim more than
two wickets.
The field closed in around Rahane
(38 not out) and Kumar (20 not out)
with often just one Australian outside
the cordon but the Indian batsmen
held firm to secure a second successive draw after the Boxing Day test in
Melbourne.
PROUD KOHLI
Given the lack of success for both
sides in each other’s countries in recent
years, that could be considered something of an achievement for India.
“We took them to the end on three
occasions, two were draws and one was
a loss that could have gone either way,”
Kohli, who deputised for Mahendra
Singh Dhoni in Adelaide and took over
permanently in Sydney after the wicketkeeper called time on his test career.
“I’m really, really proud of the way
the guys have played in this series.
Australia has had to earn both the victories they’ve had.”
The series started late with a schedule rejigged and compacted after the
death of former Australian batsmen
Phillip Hughes.
With 5,870 runs scored by both
sides, it featured more runs than any
other four-match test series with Smith
(769) and Kohli (682) leading the way
with four centuries apiece.
Both got their fourth in Sydney,
Smith’s 117 leading his side to their
imposing first innings tally of 572-7
declared and Kohli’s 147 the gel in India’s 475.
India learned yet again, however,
that you cannot win tests in Australia
without disciplined and accurate pace
bowling to take 20 wickets, however
strong a batting line-up you possess.
“There is a lot for us to improve on
as a test side, especially seeing the way
the Australians bowl,” Kohli added.
“I think that’s something we need to
learn from, big time to be honest. If we
‘Flat pitches, dropped
catches didn’t help us’
SYDNEY: Flat pitches and dropped
catches made it tough going for Australia’s bowlers in the four-Test series against
India, skipper Steve Smith said on Saturday. The Australians took the series 2-0,
but plucky India held on for a second
successive draw over five days in the final
Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
This year’s result is a turnaround for
Australia after a humiliating 4-0 defeat
by India on their home turf in 2013.
But Smith said the Aussies might
have won by a greater margin if not for
the unresponsive pitches and bungled
catches. Shaun Marsh’s dropped catch on
Saturday when Murali Vijay was on 42 —
on the way to 80 — was Australia’s 17th
missed fielding opportunity in the series.
“I think the wickets have been extremely
flat and it’s been tough to take 20 wickets,” he said.
“Throughout this season we’ve let
ourselves down in the field. Perhaps if we
had taken a few more chances, it might
have been a little bit different.
“They are not the standards we set as
an Australian cricket team.
“We have a lot of work to do on our
fielding, with one-day series and the
World Cup coming up, to get our standards up where we want them to be.”
‘TOUGH TO GET WICKETS’
Australia won the opening two Tests
in Adelaide and Brisbane, but could not
take 20 Indian wickets in the remaining
Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, which
finished in draws.
“It has been tough to get 20 wickets in
this Test series,” he said.
“The wickets haven’t broken up quite
as much as we thought they would. I
don’t know the reasons for that.
“The bowlers have toiled extremely
hard throughout these four Test matches
and I’m really proud of the way they gone
through these games.” It was a batsmen’s
series with a total of 15 centuries scored,
four each to Smith and Indian counterpart Virat Kohli. Smith finished as the
player of the series. Apart from his hundreds he took some exceptional catches,
none better than his brilliant flying righthanded grasp at second slip to dismiss
Rohit Sharma for 39 on Saturday. “It was
just one of those ones. I think (former
Australia Test captain) Mark Taylor
talked to me about three he dropped in
Adelaide,” Smith said.
— AFP
Australia’s captain Steven Smith (left) receives the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from
Sunil Gavaskar (right) and Allan Border after Australia won the four-Test series
against India 2-0 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
— Reuters
VICTORY IS OURS
Australia’s captain Steven Smith (centre) holds the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after his team won the four-Test series against India 2-0 after the final day of the fourth Test at the
Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
— Reuters
can improve on that we’re going to be a
very strong test team moving forward.”
Smith has clearly marked himself
out as permanent test captain when
Michael Clarke’s back finally forces him
“I’ve really enjoyed it, I’ve had a great and I couldn’t be prouder of them for
out of the game, even if he will return time,” Smith said. “The boys have done the way they’ve performed in this seto the ranks for next month’s 50-over everything I’ve asked of them. They’ve ries.”
World Cup.
worked their backsides off every day
— Reuters
‘India must learn from Aussie
bowlers to win more away Tests’
SYDNEY: Virat Kohli said India must
learn from Australia’s bowlers if they
are to improve as a Test side after holding the Australians to a draw in the final
Sydney Test on Saturday.
Kohli, who took over the Test captaincy after Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s
shock retirement following the third
Melbourne Test, said he was proud that
India made Australia earn their 2-0 win
in the four-Test series.
“At the international level there is a
lot for us to improve on as a Test side,
especially seeing the way the Australians
bowl. I think that’s something we need
to learn from big time,” he said.
“If we can improve on that we’re going to be a very strong Test team moving
forward.”
Kohli, who scored an Indian record
series aggregate of 692 runs at 86.50
against Australia, said his team made
the home side fight all the way.
“The result has not gone our way
but we have played the kind of cricket
that we wanted to and honestly Australia have had to earn both the victories
they’ve had,” he said.
“When we get more composure and
improve on a few areas, you will see
us cashing in on those important moments.
“What matters is they won the series.
We did not. But the way we played in
this series is something very exciting for
us and something to look forward to in
the future.”
Kohli said India must learn from
Australia’s bowlers if they are to win
Tests away from home.
India have won only one of their last
23 Tests overseas.
“Especially someone like Josh Hazlewood who has put the ball in the right
spot in all three of his Test matches,”
Kohli said.
“That’s something we need to work
on big time if you want to take 20 wickets and win Test matches.”
India’s captain Virat Kohli (front) is jeered by Australian fans after he failed to save a
boundary during day four of the fourth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket
Ground (SCG).
— AFP
Kohli said it had been challenging
yet enjoyable playing against a competitive Australian team in front of vocal crowds. “I had a couple of incidents
the last time but this time they (crowds)
haven’t been disrespectful,” Kohli said.
“They have booed me but I know
they have liked the way we have played
our cricket.
“They have liked the way I go out
there and annoy the opposition.
“To have the whole Australian
crowd and 11 players who want to irritate me and get me out has been challenging but it has been enjoyable.
“It has brought out the best in me.
This is certainly the best Test series that
I have had so far.
“There were a lot of things that went
on during the series but eventually we
all shook hands.
“We respect the way they play and
both teams know this was a strong fight
and enjoyed it equally.”
— AFP
SCOREBOARD
Australia first innings: 572/7
India first innings: 475
Australia second innings (O/n: 251/6)
C Rogers c Raina b Kumar ------------------------56
D Warner c Vijay b Ashwin ------------------------- 4
S Watson b Ashwin ----------------------------------16
S Smith lbw Shami-----------------------------------71
S Marsh c Vijay b Ashwin---------------------------- 1
J Burns c Yadav b Ashwin -------------------------66
B Haddin (not out) -----------------------------------31
R Harris (not out)---------------------------------------- 0
Extras: (B-2, LB-2, NB-2)---------------------------- 6
Total: (6 wickets dec; 40 overs) ------------251
Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Warner), 2-46
(Watson), 3-126 (Rogers), 4-139 (Marsh),
5-165 (Smith), 6-251 (Burns)
Bowling: Kumar 8-0-46-1, Ashwin 19-2105-4, Shami 6-0-33-1 (1nb), Yadav 3-0-450 (1nb), Raina 4-0-18-0
India second innings
M Vijay c Haddin b Hazlewood ---------------80
L Rahul c Warner b Lyon --------------------------16
R Sharma c Smith b Watson ---------------------39
V Kohli c Watson b Starc --------------------------46
A Rahane not out -------------------------------------38
S Raina lbw Starc---------------------------------------- 0
W Saha lbw Lyon ---------------------------------------- 0
R Ashwin lbw Hazlewood--------------------------- 1
B Kumar (not out) ------------------------------------20
Extras (B-6, LB-6)-------------------------------------12
Total (for 7 wkts, 89.5 overs) -----------------252
Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-104, 3-178, 4-201,
5-203, 6-208, 7-217.
Bowling: Starc 19-7-36-2, Harris 13-3-34-0,
Lyon 30.5-5-110-2, Hazlewood 17-7-31-2,
Smith 2-0-7-0, Watson 8-2-22-1.(7/2)
‘At the international
level there is a lot for us to
improve on as Test side, especially seeing the way the
Australians bowl. I think
we need to learn that. If
we improve that we arev
going to be a very strong
Test team moving forward.
The result has not gone our
way but we have played
the kind of cricket that we
wanted to and honestly
Australia have had to earn
both the victories they’ve
had. When we get more
composure and improve on
a few areas , you will see us
cashing in.’
SPORT
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
EPL: United have gone 10 games without defeat since losing 1-0 at
City but they have taken only six points from a possible 12 points
United seek spark as
Southampton close in
LONDON: Manchester United will
attempt to stave off an assault on their
third-place position in the Premier
League table when they welcome closest pursuers Southampton to Old Trafford on Sunday.
United have gone 10 games without
defeat since losing 1-0 at joint-leaders
Manchester City on November 2, but
they have taken only six points from a
possible 12 after drawing three of their
last four matches.
It has prevented Louis van Gaal’s
side from fully exploiting recent slipups by co-leaders Chelsea, who they
trail by nine points, and has allowed
Southampton to close to within one
point.
After a run of four straight defeats
in late November and early December,
including a 2-1 loss in the reverse fixture, Ronald Koeman’s side have won
three and drawn one of their last four
games.
United were fortunate to claim victory at St Mary’s last month, with Robin van Persie’s brace representing two
of the three shots on goal they managed to muster in the 90 minutes.
But United are in much finer fettle
than they were a month ago.
Their injury glut has cleared to the
extent that Ashley Young (hamstring)
is the only player currently unavailable, while the squad was bolstered on
Thursday with the eye-catching acquisition of former Barcelona goalkeeper
Victor Valdes.
It leaves Van Gaal with an enviable
selection dilemma on his hands.
Over the festive period, the Dutchman devised a system that accommodated Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Van
Persie and Radamel Falcao, and he
must now find a way of fitting Angel di
Maria into his team as well.
The Argentine winger made a goalscoring return from a pelvic injury
in United’s 2-0 win at third-tier Yeovil Town in the FA Cup third round
last weekend and could start against
Yeovil Town’s Kieffer Moore (right) controls the ball under pressure from
Manchester United’s Chris Smalling (left) and Darren Fletcher (centre) during the
English FA Cup third round match at Huish Park in Yeovil, Somerset, southwest
England.
— AFP
Southampton.
DEBUT FOR ELIA?
“Angel di Maria has played only 20
minutes and that’s because of the match
rhythm that I gave,” said Van Gaal.
“I have said I have only one injured
player (Young), but I don’t have 100
percent match-fit players. That’s a different thing. “But of course Di Maria
is for example further than Daley Blind
or (Marcos) Rojo.
“I have to select the best team and
also I have to watch the qualities of
Southampton, how I can reduce that
quality by my line-up, but also by our
game-plan.”
Left-back Luke Shaw is expected to
overcome an ankle problem and play,
while Dutch utility man Blind could
make his return from a two-month absence due to a knee injury.
United have taken 25 points from
a possible 27 at home since losing to
Swansea City on the season’s opening
weekend, while Southampton have
not won at Old Trafford since January
1998.
But Koeman, who fell out with Van
Gaal during their time at Ajax, believes
that United should not be satisfied with
their current position in the table.
“They have great players. It is normal that they will fight for titles, I think.
They have to,” the Southampton coach
told his pre-match press conference.
“How you can spend that money,
how you can sign that kind of players
and not be fighting to win titles?
“Everything is up to Man United.
They have a very successful coach, they
have great players, they have money,
they have got great public (fans), great
stadium. It is normal that you win titles.”
Koeman could hand a debut to
skilful Dutch winger Eljero Elia, who
signed on loan from Werder Bremen
last month, while right-back Nathaniel
Clyne and midfielder Jack Cork have
both overcome ankle injuries.
However, centre-back Maya Yoshida is on international duty with Japan and winger Sadio Mane has been
named in Senegal’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, despite currently
suffering from a calf problem. — AFP
omandailyobserver
27
Wenger has chance to erase pain
LONDON: Arsenal’s clash with Stoke
at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday offers Arsene Wenger with the chance to
erase the bitter taste of one of his most
testing days as Gunners manager.
Wenger has increasingly found himself under fire from Arsenal supporters in recent seasons but the criticism
reached new levels of vitriol after last
month’s 3-2 defeat at the Britannia Stadium.
The game summed up the inconsistency that has dogged Wenger’s side for
years and the Frenchman was forced
to run a gauntlet of abuse from furious
fans when he boarded the club’s train
home at Stoke station.
The Gunners’ form briefly improved
after that dispiriting loss, but another
lacklustre defeat at Southampton triggered familiar complaints from fans and
pundits and anything less than victory
against Mark Hughes’ side this weekend
will again throw the focus on Wenger’s
position.
Arsenal lie sixth, three points off the
Champions League places, and must put
together an improved run if they are to
reclaim their familiar position in the top
four.
Wenger insists fortune is now swinging in his side’s favour after a difficult
run of injuries during the first half of
the season.
Defenders Laurent Koscielny and
Mathieu Debuchy are fit again while
midfielders Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil
and Mathieu Flamini all returned to
training this week.
“I feel we are getting stronger now.
We could benefit from that because
these are players who are not overloaded with games,” Wenger said.
“Some of our players have played 26
or 27 games, whereas some have played
four or five.
“These players coming back can give
us some impact for the coming months.”
GIROUD RETURNS
Olivier Giroud is available again after
serving a three-match ban and Wenger
may be tempted to go with the Frenchman’s physical presence up front rather
than use the more lightweight Alexis
Sanchez as the main striker.
“Our game is a bit more orientated
on crosses when Giroud plays and
sometimes it’s a bit more direct as well
because we know we can find him and
he can win headers, especially from the
goalkeeper,” Wenger said.
“Both options are very interesting
FOOTBALL
Alexis Sanchez (right) of Arsenal celebrates with team-mate Alex OxladeChamberlain after scoring his team’s second goal against Hull during their FA Cup
third round match at the Emirates Stadium in London.
— Reuters
and sometimes one is more suited to the
game than the other, so Olivier gives us
something different.
“He’s sometimes what makes us a bit
more dangerous and gives us a different
pattern of play.”
Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny
could return to the side after apologising to the manager for smoking in the
showers after the Southampton loss.
Szczesny missed the FA Cup game
victory over Hull last weekend and
Wenger said: “He made a mistake, he is
not the first one or the last one.
“I like Wojciech as a person and
when he makes a mistake he stands up
for it.”
Meanwhile, Stoke manager Hughes
now believes his side can match the bigger clubs in the transfer market.
The Potters came close to an auda-
cious signing of Bayern Munich winger
Xherdan Shaqiri this week.
The Swiss international joined Inter
Milan instead but Hughes is pleased his
side are able to attract players of higher
calibre.
“We will continue to look at the market,” he said. “That was the case with
Shaqiri. If it does not happen it does not
happen. “We know the reality is highly
unlikely we will get everyone.
“But they were very impressed in us
and what we had to offer. It was not dismissed, that’s what we take from it.”
Hughes could play Victor Moses at
Arsenal on Sunday after the Nigerian
winger spent six weeks out with a thigh
problem.
“Victor looks good but whether or
not he’s ready to start is something I
need to mull over,” he said.
— AFP
China’s smash-and-grab tactics work a treat Lazar-guided Liverpool
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: China’s
plan of absorbing pressure and hitting
on the break worked to perfection as
they upset Saudi Arabia 1-0 at the Asian
Cup on Saturday.
Midfielder Yu Hai struck in the 81st
minute to break the stalemate and give
China victory over the three-time champions in Brisbane.
A Group B game between two evenly
matched sides appeared to be headed
for a draw until Yu’s free kick from 30
metres out took a wicked deflection
and left Saudi keeper Waleed Abdullah
stranded.
“Our tactics worked very well, we
counter-attacked well and caused a lot
of trouble for our opponents,” China
coach Alain Perrin told reporters. “The
match was very, very difficult for us but
we gained a lot of joy from it. We’ve been
preparing for this tournament for a long
time.”
China dominated the first half, but
Saudi Arabia improved after the interval and should have taken the lead in
the 59th minute after Naif Hazazi was
awarded a penalty, but his tame spot
kick allowed goalkeeper Wang Dalei to
save with his legs.
Saudi coach Cosmin Olaroiu insisted
he had no regrets about Hazazi taking
the spot kick.
“I asked him to take the penalty because he was the one who was fouled,”
he said.
Wang, who was celebrating his 26th
birthday Saturday, was later named man
of the match for his heroics between the
posts.
“Before the match I got a lot of courage from my coach,” a beaming Wang
said. “I remember in the past few days
a journalist asked if I was ready for the
match. I said wait until after January 10
‘Before the match I got a lot
of courage from my coach.
I remember in the past few
days a journalist asked if I
was ready for the match. I
said wait until after January
10 and I will give you the answer. I asked him to take the
penalty because he was the
one who was fouled.
FOOTBALL
Ji Xiang (right) embraces Yu Hai (left) of China celebrate a goal during the first
round Asian Cup match between China and Saudi Arabia at the Suncorp Stadium
in Brisbane.
— AFP
and I will give you the answer.”
LACK OF PRECISION
The Saudis paid for their lack of precision in front of goal, Salem Aldawsari
and Mustafa Albassas squandering good
early opportunities.
China gradually began to assert control in the opening period and found
space out wide, Zhang Chengdong particularly dangerous down the right, and
he was instrumental in several of China’s
best moves.
They were unlucky not to go into halftime leading, with Wu Xi twice failing
to convert just before the break.
Saudi Arabia, who won the last of
their three Asian Cup titles in 1996,
emerged with more purpose after the
team talk and were by far the more
threatening side.
Saeed Almuwallad went close after
56 minutes before Hazizi’s glaring penalty miss, while Salem and Omar Howsawi went close.
But the Chinese, runners-up in 1984
and 2004, defended superbly and caught
their opponents with a classic sucker
punch, leaving the former champions
with little time to mount a response.
“Even though we won the match we
still have a lot of work to do,” Perrin conceded. “The next step for us is preparing
for the next match against Uzbekistan.
We are moving forward step by step.”
Olaroiu remained defiant.
“You’re not out after the first game,”
he said. “I hope the players keep playing
with the same determination and the
same spirit. The next match is a different game. We have to win the next two
games and we can do it.”
— AFP
close on top four
LONDON: Lazar Markovic scored the
only goal as improving Liverpool provisionally closed to within four points of
the Premier League’s top four by winning 1-0 at Sunderland on Saturday.
At a gusty Stadium of Light, the
20-year-old Serbia winger’s ninthminute strike — his first Premier
League goal — enabled Liverpool to
extend their unbeaten run to five league
games.
Gus Poyet’s Sunderland, who had
Liam Bridcutt sent off for two bookable
offences, remain three points above the
relegation zone with only one win from
their last 11 games.
Having earlier seen a penalty appeal waved away after tumbling under
a challenge from Wes Brown, Markovic
put Liverpool ahead when he gathered a
pass from Fabio Borini and prodded the
ball between Costel Pantilimon’s legs.
Markovic then hit the bar with
a spectacular, improvised scissors
kick as Liverpool dominated, while
former Sunderland loanee Borini
rounded Pantilimon, only to find the
side-netting.
The visitors lost Steven Gerrard at
half-time, with Dejan Lovren coming
on, but their position was strengthened
in the 49th minute when Bridcutt was
shown a second yellow card for impeding Emre Can.
Moments later, Adam Johnson left
the Liverpool crossbar shuddering with
a swerving drive from distance, but
Brendan Rodgers’s side finished strongly, with Pantilimon saving from Mario
Balotelli and Philippe Coutinho.
Co-leaders Chelsea and Manchester
City are both in action later on Saturday, with Chelsea hosting managerless
Newcastle United and City visiting outof-form Everton.
The two pace-setters were left deadlevel on points, goal difference, goals
scored and goals conceded after the
New Year’s Day fixtures.
Tottenham Hotspur can move into
the top four if they win at Crystal Palace,
with third-place Manchester United and
fourth-place Southampton facing off at
Old Trafford on Sunday.
— AFP
Liverpool’s Lazar Markovic (centre) celebrates after scoring the opening goal
during the English Premier League match against Sunderland at The Stadium of
Light in Sunderland.
— AFP
28
SPORT
omandailyobserver
US PGA TOUR: Henry birdied five of the first seven holes on the
par-73 Kapalua Plantation Course and gained sole possession of lead
Henley grabs lead
over Bae in PGA Tour
KAPALUA, UNITED STATES: Russell Henley had eight birdies in an
eight-under 65 on Friday to grab a
narrow lead over early pace-setter Bae
Sang-Moon at the first round of the US
PGA Tour Tournament of Champions.
Henley birdied five of the first seven
holes on the par-73 Kapalua Plantation Course, and gained sole possession of the lead with a birdie at the last.
The birdie gave him a one-shot lead
over Bae.
“Today was good,” said Henley,
whose birdies included a 20-footer at
the 12th.
“It’s not every day you’re going to
hit the putts right where you want to
and read them correctly, but I did today.”
Henley won The Honda Classic last
season to earn his spot in the winnersonly field.
The tournament is the first of 2015,
as the 2014-15 campaign resumes after
a December break.
Henley, 25, played the tournament
last year after winning the 2013 Sony
Open in Hawaii. He failed to break 70
en route to a 27th-place finish but is
feeling much more comfortable this
time around. “I feel good,” Henley
said. “I like Bermuda grass. I’ve putted
well on Bermuda grass — both of my
wins have come on Bermuda grass.”
South Korea’s Bae also mastered the
big, grainy greens at Kapalua.
“I think I was in a zone,” said Bae,
who birdied six of the first eight holes
but gave a shot back with a bogey at 11
before back-to-back birdies at 14 and
15.
Bae said the greens were hard to
read but some help from his caddie
did the trick.
“He’s really good,” said Bae, who
won the first tournament of the 201415 campaign, the Frys.com Open back
in October and finished tied for fifth at
the CIMB Classic in Malaysia.
Jimmy Walker, a three-time winner
last season, carded a six-under 67 and
shared third place with Patrick Reed,
Scott Stallings, Ben Martin and Robert
Streb.
Defending champion Zach Johnson opened with a five-under par 68.
He shared eighth place with world
number 11 Matt Kuchar, Australian
John Senden and Chris Kirk.
It was a further stroke back to a
group of six on 69: Canadian Nick
Taylor, Australians Steven Bowditch
and Matt Jones, Kevin Streelman, J.B.
Holmes, and Brendon Todd.
Reigning Masters champion Bubba
Watson headed a group of seven players on three-under 70 that also included Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and
Australian Jason Day. Watson won the
World Golf Championships HSBC
Champions at Shanghai in November, a victory that helped boost him to
fourth in the world.
He’s the highest-ranked player in
Golden goalies
shine brightly at
Asian Cup
SYDNEY: Birthday boy Wang Dalei’s
penalty stop helped China upset Saudi Arabia 1-0 as a string of top saves
made all the difference at the Asian
Cup on Saturday.
South Korea and Uzbekistan also
had their goalkeepers to thank as they
both won by the same 1-0 scoreline on
a cliff-hanging day two in Australia.
Surprise result of the day belonged
to China, who edged three-time winners Saudi Arabia in Brisbane courtesy of Yu Hai’s deflected second-half
free kick.
Just moments before the goal
Wang, who was celebrating his 26th
birthday, kept China in it when he
dived to his left to save Naif Hazazi’s
tame penalty.
Victory put a huge smiles on the
faces of Alain Perrin’s China, who
have never won the Asian Cup and
will now be eyeing their first appearance in the knockout stages since
hosting the tournament in 2004.
“Our tactics worked very well, we
hit them on the counter-attackeding
and caused a lot of trouble for our
opponents,” Perrin told reporters.
“The match was very, very difficult for
us but we gained a lot of joy from it.
We’ve been preparing for this tournament for a long time.”
South Korea, World Cup semifinalists in 2002 but seeking a first Asian
title in 55 years, got off to an unconvincing start as they beat Oman 1-0
through Cho Young-Cheol’s strike in
stoppage time at the end of the first
half in Canberra. English-based goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi produced some
quality saves but had a moment to
forget as he parried a rebound to Cho,
who gobbled up the chance with a
clinical finish.
But Korean shot-stopper Kim JinHyeon later superbly tipped Imad Al
Hosni’s header onto the bar to ensure
the Taeguk Warriors came away with
all three points.
Oman coach Paul Le Guen was left
fuming at referee Peter O’Leary’s decision to wave away a penalty appeal
when Qasim Saeed looked to have
been brought down in the box.
PENALTY STORM
“I don’t want to have an advantage
— no, no. I ask for equity,” stormed
the Frenchman. “It’s a 100 percent
penalty, no hesitation. But (we didn’t
get it) because of what? Because we are
Oman? It’s a very, very bad decision at
this level.”
Uzbekistan also relied heavily on
goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov as they
ground out a 1-0 win over unfancied
North Korea in torrential rain.
Nesterov saw little action in the
Group B tie but he was alert enough to
acrobatically palm away Pak KwangRyong’s powerful header just before
the final whistle.
Man-of-the-match Igor Sergeev’s
62nd-minute header was the only
score of a game hit by a mid-match
downpour, but Uzbekistan deserved
their win in Sydney.
Twice Asian player of the year
Server Djeparov set up the goal as the
2011 semifinalists showed they could
be ready for another assault on the
Asian Cup’s latter stages.
“I’d like to thank our goalkeeper,
it was a great save,” said Uzbek coach
Mirdjalal Kasimov. “But it was a victory of the whole team, I’m happy with
all my players.” Hosts Australia got the
16-nation tournament underway with
a 4-1 win over Kuwait on Friday. The
Asian Cup features 32 matches and
concludes in Sydney on January 31.
—AFP
‘I don’t want to have
an advantage — no, no.
I ask for equity. It’s a
100 percent penalty, no
hesitation. But because
of what?..Because we are
Oman?.. It’s a very bad
decision at this level
this week’s $5.7 million tournament,
which concludes on Monday. — AFP
Scores after first round:
65 Russell Henley (U.S.) 65
66 Bae Sang-Moon (South Korea) 66
67 Scott Stallings (U.S.) 67
Robert Streb (U.S.) 67
Ben Martin (U.S.) 67
Patrick Reed (U.S.) 67
Jimmy Walker (U.S.) 67
68 Chris Kirk (U.S.) 68
Zach Johnson (U.S.) 68
Matt Kuchar (U.S.) 68
John Senden (Australia) 68
69 Brendon Todd (U.S.) 69
Matt Jones (Australia) 69
Steven Bowditch (Australia) 69
Nick Taylor (Canada) 69
Kevin Streelman (U.S.) 69
J.B. Holmes (U.S.) 69
70 Charley Hoffman (U.S.) 70
Chesson Hadley (U.S.) 70
Tim Clark (South Africa) 70
Brian Harman (U.S.) 70
Jason Day (Australia) 70
Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 70
Bubba Watson (U.S.) 70
71 Hunter Mahan (U.S.) 71
Noh Seung-Yul (South Korea) 71
Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 71
Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 71
Ryan Moore (U.S.) 71
72 Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 72
Billy Horschel (U.S.) 72
73 Matt Every (U.S.) 73
74 Kevin Stadler (U.S.) 74
Ben Crane (U.S.) 74
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
Sindo, Vinu shine in Assarain win
MUSCAT: In the Muscat Pharmacy
and Stores sponsored Oman Cricket
Organised 50 overs a side A division
game played on Friday, Assarain beat
the all Omani players team of OCT
Muscat ‘A’ by a massive 222 runs,
thanks to a superb knock of 100 by
Sindo Michael and match winning
bowling figures of five wickets for six
runs in 2.4 overs that included a wicket
maiden by Vinu Kumar.
Put into bat first, Assarain put on a
82 runs stand for the first wicket until
the dismissal of Naseem Khushi for 34.
Other opener Arun Poulose was the
next to go after scoring 62. Zeeshan
Maqsood and Sindo Michael together
put on a 83 runs partnetship for the
fourth wicket which was then followed
by a 97 runs stand between Sindo and
Fiaz Ulhassan. Zeeshan made 34 while
Fiaz contributed 33.Rafiq Mohammed
was the most successful bowler for
OCT Muscat with 4 wickets in the 10
overs he bowled.
Defending a massive target, Assarain bowled out OCT Muscat for 93
in 29.4 overs, winning the game by a bonus point. 39 runs by the young Shoaib
Ismail and 20 by Rafiq Mhoammed
were the highest runs score for their
side as all others fell prey to the mesmerizing spell of Vinu Kumar in which
he bowled 2.4 overs conceding only 6
runs and picked up 5 wickets, which
included maiden with two wickets. V.
S. Shiju and Zeeshan Maqsood scalped
two wickets each.
Both Vinu Kumar for his bowling
and Sindo Michael for his century were
declared as the Man of the match.
Scores: Assarain 315 all out in 47.5
overs (Sindo 100, Naseem 34, Zeeshan
34, Fiaz 33, Rafiq 4/48, Ali 2/55) beat
OCT Muscat ‘A’ 93 all out in 29.4 overs
(Shoaib 39, Rafiz 20, Vinu 5/6, Shiju
2/17, Zeeshan 236).
CRICKET
In the Khimji Ramdas sponsored 30
over a side B division game played at
the Ministry of Sport ground, MCCC
‘A’ beat Galfar Engineering by 9 wickets. Batting first after winning the toss,
Galfar made 165 in 28 overs with Khalil Ahmed and Tizwan Afgan scoring
31 and 25 respectively. For the MCCC
team, Karan Pandya was the most successful bowler with four wickets for 32
runs. Bhavesh Mehta gave away only
six run while scalping two wickets. Required to score at 5.5 runs an over for
a win, MCCC openers, Paritosh Bhatt
and Ivan Majila, gave a superb start for
their side with a 112 runs stand for the
first wicket in which the latter made 48.
Paritosh then combined with one drop
bat Gayash Dias to score the remaining runs. Paritosh was unbeaten on 62
while Gayash was not out on 25 as they
reached the target to score 166 for 1 in
27.4 overs.
Scores: Galfar Engineering: 165 all
out in 28 overs (Khalil 31, Rizwan 25,
Karan 4-32, Bhavesh 2-6) lt to MCCC
‘A’ 166 for 1 in 27.4 overs (Paritosh 62
n.o., Ivan 48, Gayash 25 n.o.).
In the Raha Polyproducts sponsored T20 D division game, Assarain
B beat FAP UTSC by 5 wickets after
having restricted the latter to 138 for
7 in 20 overs. With a score of 76 for 5
in 13 overs, FAP UTSC was in troubled
waters but recovered as Mohammed
Dilwan and Wazir Ali stood good for
a 56 runs sixth wicket stand until the
former was sent back for 38. DWazir
remained unbeaten on 24 while Shanidh Kouttara made 23 earlier. Mohd
Sahil got two wickets in the two overs
he bowled for Assarain ‘B’.
Assarain ‘B’ also was in similar situation with only 64 runs on the board
for the loss of 5 wickets but a superb
timely innings between Hafeez Infan
and Mohammed Sahil ensured a comfortable win for the side by scoring 142
wickets 5 wickets in hand and 7 balls
to spare. Hafeez was unbeaten on 59
made in 34 balls while Sahil made 30 in
25 balls without losing his wicket when
their side scored 142. Shanidh was the
only bowler to scalp two wickets for
FAP UTSC.
Scores: FAP TUSC 138 for 7 in 20
overs (Dilwan 38, Wazir 24 n.o., Shanidh 23, Sahil 2-22) lt to Assarain ‘B’
142 for 5 in 18.5 overs (Hafeez 59 n.o.,
Sahil 30 n.o., Shanidh 2-26)
In the Enhance sponsored E division game, Landscape Architectures
won their match against SARCO,
thanks to a superb unbeaten century
by opener Prasad Peruli. Batting first,
Sarco scored 156 for 6 in their allotted
20 overs. Mohamed Hafiz with 37, Sha
Murtaza Haider on unbeaten 31 and
Tousim Khan with 28 were the main
run getters for Sarco.
Chasing an achievable target, Landscape’s opener Prasad Peruli played a
match winning innings to remain not
out on 103 scored in only 68 balls that
included right boundaries and one
maximum. With the score on 35 for
5, Prasad combined with Laiju Joise to
return victorious having raised their
side’s score to 160 for 5 in 19.2 overs.
Laiju remained not out on 37. Said
Khan was the most successful bowler
capturing three wickets.
Scores: SARCO: 156/6 in 20 overs
(Hafiz 37, Sha Murataza 31 n.o.,
Tousim 28) lt to Landscape Engineering 160 for 5 in 19.2 overs (Prasad 103
n.o., Laiju 37 NO, Said 3-22).
Boston claims frontrunner spot for 2024
BERLIN: Boston joined the race to host
the 2024 Olympics, instantly claiming
the favourites tag as the United States
look to land their first summer Games
since 1996.
It is not so much what the city is offering that gives it an edge at the start of
the two-year race but rather the timing
of its candidacy and improved ties between US Olympic Committee (USOC)
chiefs and the International Olympic
Committee.
Germany will bid with either Hamburg or Berlin while Rome has also confirmed it will campaign for the biggest
sports event in the world with a decision
set for 2017.
But Boston looks to be the city to
beat as it seeks to bring the Games back
to the United States some 28 years since
the Atlanta 96 Games, with IOC President Thomas Bach welcoming what he
said was a strong candidacy.
“The Boston bid will be a strong one.
Bostonians are well known for their
enthusiasm for sport and the city has a
great heritage in sport, science and education,” Bach said on Friday.
“The bid also has the great potential
to build on the strength of the athletes
from the US Olympic Team — US athletes have a worldwide reputation and
will be a huge asset for the bid.”
Boston, the first US city to bid after
failed attempts by New York in 2005 for
the 2012 Games and Chicago in 2009 for
the 2016 Olympics, was unveiled over
two-time host Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington on Thursday.
MAJOR ROW
When Chicago was spectacularly
eliminated in the first round of voting
for the 2016 Olympics, it was the culmination of a clash between the IOC and
the USOC that had been brewing on
several fronts for years.
A bitter row between the two sides
over an old sponsorship and television
rights revenue sharing agreement that
the IOC wanted to update to reflect current market conditions and the USOC
opposing it had reached boiling point.
A unilateral 2009 announcement by
the USOC of plans to set up an Olympic channel without consulting the IOC
added further oil to the fire that led to
the sensational snubbing of Chicago despite US President Barack Obama’s personal pitch at its session in Copenhagen.
Since then a new revenue sharing
deal between the two sides has been
‘The Boston bid will be a
strong one. Bostonians
are well known for their
enthusiasm for sport and the
city has a great heritage in
sport, science and education.
The bid also has the great
potential to build on the
strength of the athletes from
the US Olympic Team. US
athletes have a worldwide
reputation and will be a
huge asset for the bid.
GOLF
United States Olympic Committee president Lawrence F. Probst III flanked by
Boston mayor Martin J. Walsh (right) , talks about the USOC selecting Boston as its
applicant city to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Boston
Convention Center and Exhibition Center. USA Today Sports
forged, the IOC is setting up its own Olympic channel and the United States Olympic Committee has a new president
with Larry Probst.
“This is a very different USOC
from the one in 2009,” said Stratos
Safioleas, Olympics consultant for
the Pyeongchang 2018 winter Games,
who also worked on the Chicago candidacy.
“In the past five years USOC has
worked energetically to bridge differences with the IOC, it became more
internationalist in its outlook, it sought
and made friends in international federations and national Olympic committees.
“This effort culminated in getting
Probst elected as an IOC member. I
expected that the transformation in the
USOC will be reflected in the strategy
of Boston’s Olympic bid,” said Safioleas.
The IOC has also elected a new chief
with Bach replacing Jacques Rogge in
2013 and almost immediately ushering
in a string of reforms aimed at making
the Olympics a more attractive proposition.
BIG CHANGES
Voted in last month, the changes
named “Agenda 2020” make bidding
easier and cheaper, reducing costs which
in the past were as much as $100 million.
They also allow for greater flexibility for cities to integrate the Games into
their own urban development plans
rather than forcing the city to bend
them to fit the Olympics.
The United States still remain the
biggest cash cow for the IOC with
broadcaster NBC having signed a staggering $7.65 billion deal with the IOC
for North American broadcasting rights
of the Games until 2032, confirming this
as the single biggest source of revenue
for the Olympic movement.
US companies, such as General
Electric, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and
Procter & Gamble among other, have
continued as top sponsors of the IOC,
penning long-term deals and strengthening the argument for a US winner for
2024.
With the 2014 Sochi winter Games
drawing criticism over hosts Russia’s
human rights record, the IOC is eager
to polish up its prime product with top
bids, especially after four of six bidders
for the 2022 winter Games dropped out
over financial concerns or lack of public
support.
“Clearly to have four leading American cities actively bidding for being the
candidate shows that the concept and
the product is not broken,” sports marketing expert Michael Payne, former
longtime IOC marketing chief, told
Reuters on Friday.
“The recent reform process is also
making bidding easier, simpler and better.”
Boston, like most cities bidding for
the Olympics these days, will need to
gain wide public support for a project
seen by critics as too expensive and too
big for any city and with far-reaching
financial, social and environmental repercussions long after the Games have
come and gone.
“The big challenge Boston has got to
address is the question of public support
because that will make or break the bid,”
said Payne.
With more cities expected to join the
fray until the September deadline —
including possibly Doha, Dubai, Paris,
Istanbul, Budapest as well as an African
bid, Boston will face stiff competition
but it looks to have at least secured the
inside lane at the start.
— Reuters
ENTERTAINMENT
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
GLOBES V OSCARS
awards season prize-fight
Q VERONIQUE DUPONT
ditionally a much more amusing telprogramme,” as opposed
evision progra
“stodgy” Oscars, added
to the “stod
Thompson, a professor
Robert Thom
of pop culture
cultu at Syracuse University.
Globes’ success is all
The Gl
remarkable given the
the more re
relatively small size of the
relativel
HFPA.
Fo
Founded in 1943, the
body has only 90 journalist members from 55
countr
countries, compared to
the 6,000-plus
6
industry
voter
voters of the prestigious
Acad
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
(AM
(AMPAS), which organi
ganisers the Oscars.
T
he body which runs
the Golden Globes is
like David to the Oscars’ Academy’s Goliath — but it punches
above its weight due
to its marketing muscle and ability to put on a great show.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) was long
dogged by scandals —
it lost its TV broadcast
deal for several years — but
has pulled itself together in
spectacular form in recent years.
Tonight comic duo Tina Fey
and Amy Poehler will present
the Globes for a third and final
year, in what organisers hope
will continue its their ratings
winning streak.
“I’m not very good at predictions but I can guarantee
you 100 per cent about Tiny
Fey and Amy Poehler —
they are tremendous
hosts,” Tom Nunan of
the UCLA’s School of
Theater, Film and
Television said.
“The Golden
Globes is tra-
S
Scandals
Thompson said the
Glob
Globes, broadcast in
192 co
countries, is more influential because
b
its ceremony
is held w
while the Academy’s
members are still voting.
Som
Some 21 million TV
viewers watched
w
last year’s
show, les
less than half of the
Oscars’ 44
4 million, but “any
major award that comes
first ha
has some influence,”
he said
said.
N
Nunan highlighted
the importance of
th
the Globes for TV
shows — unlike the
O
Oscars, the HFPA
‘There was no discomfort with Karan’
A
raised quite a few eyebrows, but the
trailer and the film’s songs have grabbed
eyeballs before the movie’s release on
January 16.
Directed by Bhushan Patel, “Alone”
will see Bipasha in the role of conjoined
twins.
The shooting was tough for her.
“The shooting was difficult as I had
to be joined with my body double; first
as Sanjana, and after a change of hair
and make-up as Anjana.
Shooting for ‘Alone’ was a unique
experience as we had to take care of
the distances and other technicalities
while shooting the conjoined twins,” she
added.
ctress Bipasha Basu says
shooting steamy scenes
with Karan Singh Grover in
“Alone” was not an uncomfortable experience for her thanks to the
friendship the duo had struck up before
the shoot.
Bipasha calls Karan a “brat and a
chatterbox”.
“It’s a good thing because all the ice
broke on day one.
The question of discomfort is not
there as you already have a rapport.
Both of us had developed a friendship before we went to Kerala to shoot
the scenes and the ‘Katra’ song,” she said.
The scenes between the two have
Brad Pitt has organic veggie patch at home
A
ctor Brad Pitt, who raises six
children with wife Angelina
Jolie, reportedly got his whole
family involved in building an irrigation system and organic vegetable
patch at their home here.
“He spent hours outside with the
kids, showing them how to do things.
It’s incredible how he managed to juggle his crazy work schedule with being
a father.
He’s constantly coming up with new
games and projects for them,” a source
told OK! magazine, reports femalefirst.
co.uk.
“Brad had a very simple childhood
CINEMA AWARDS
in Missouri, so he’s determined to
raise strong, emotionally sound kids
who aren’t caught up in the crazy, vain
world he and Angie live in.”
Pitt admitted last year that since his
purchase of a French winery in 2012,
he enjoyed being a farmer.
“I’m a farmer now. I love learning about the land and which field is
most suitable for which grape, the
drama of September and October... I
enjoy cleaning the forest and walking
the land. (It is) the antithesis of the
drive, the want, the need to get ahead
indicative of life in Hollywood,” he had
said.
Cameron happy
with husband
29
TINSELTOWN
Nicole Kidman on
Jimmy Fallon:
‘It was awkward’
N
icole Kidman says
she wasn’t
exactly trying to “seduce” Jimmy
Fallon when the two
went on a date years ago.
The actress reminisced with “The Tonight Show” host about
their encounter at Fallon’s New York apartment in an “awkward”
interview this week.
“Um, was I trying
to seduce him? I don’t
know if seduction is part
of my repertoire. I think
I was more just kind of
open to the idea, which
never eventuated, so ...”
Kidman said while promoting her new movie
“Paddington,” which opens on January 16.
The two were set up by a mutual friend when both were single, a bit before
Kidman starred in 2005’s “Bewitched.” Both are now married with children.
Fallon said in the interview that he hadn’t realised the meeting was a date. He
blushed and dove under his desk at one point in embarrassment.
Kidman was apparently also embarrassed while telling the story.
“So not planned. I mean, that should be apparent because it was so, I mean.
Anyway, he’ll kill me. As I said, I’ll probably never be asked — I’ll never go
back on the show. No, just joking,” she said.
“Yeah, it was awkward. The whole thing was awkward. But anyway.” — AP
Felicity screamed
with joy over BAFTA
nomination
A
ctress Cameron Diaz is said to
have “found true happiness”
after her marriage with Benji
Madden, which took place earlier this
month.
The duo married on Monday.
“When you see them together you
can see how happy they are.
Cameron has found true happiness,” a close friend of the couple told
people.com.
The duo, who got married after just
seven months of dating, wanted their
nuptials to be romantic despite having
a star-studded ceremony at the “Sex
Tape” star’s lavish mansion here in
Beverly Hills.
“It all felt very down to earth and
sweet. It was a big wedding but still
managed to feel personal. Everyone
was excited to be part of it,” said another source.
A
ctress Felicity Jones
said she “ran
around her
hotel room screaming”
after finding out she was
nominated for the Leading Actress British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) 2015
award.
The actress was joyful after getting to know
that she was nominated
for her portrayal of
Stephen Hawking’s first
wife Jane Wilde Hawking in “The Theory Of
Everything”, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
“I’ve been running
round my hotel room
screaming.
It’s midnight here. We’re just about to go to bed, but we’ve all been emailing
each other and exclaiming with excitement.
I’m looking forward to celebrating with a glass of champagne and Skyping
my family,” BBC quoted her as saying.
Also nominated for the category are Rosamund Pike for “Gone Girl”,
Reese Witherspoon for “Wild”, Julianne Moore for “Still Alice” and Amy Adams for “Big Eyes”.
“I feel very lucky to be in such remarkable company.
I’ve watched those performances and I feel like they’re very exciting for
women in film because they are all revolutionary performances,” she added.
Her co-star Eddie Redmayne portrays Stephen Hawking in the film and he
is nominated for the Leading Actor prize too.
‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ leads BAFTA
Q MICHAEL RODDY
“
T
British actor Ralph Fiennes (L) and French actor Mathieu Amalric (R) pose before
the screening of The Grand Budapest Hotel, directed by US director Wes
Anderson (C), in Paris. — AFP file
hands out prizes for the small screen as
well as the big screen.
“They are solely responsible for
making ‘Veep’ the success it is,” he said,
referring to the comedy sitcom set in US
vice-president’s White House office.
But the Globes’ history is punctuated with scandals. “It was not that long
ago that the Golden Globes were considered a kind of a joke,” said Nunan.
In 1982 the starlet Pia Zadora raised
eyebrows everywhere by winning a
newcomer Globe for her role in “Butterfly.” The prize was widely seen as repaying the generosity of her billionaire husband Meshulam Riklis, who had treated
HFPA members to trips to Vegas and
hosted lavish evenings in Beverly Hills.
In 1968, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) admonished
the NBC network accusing it of misleading viewers about how Globes winners were chosen.
The FCC also alleged that the Globes
blackmailed celebrities into turning up
at the show — thus boosting ratings and
advertising revenues — by threatening
that otherwise their prizes would go to
someone else.
After pulling the broadcast from
1968-1974, NBC resumed airing the
show, which airs at 5:00 pm on Sunday
(0100 GMT Monday) live from the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills.
The prizes will be handed out by a
galaxy of Hollywood stars, including
Jennifer Aniston, Bryan Cranston, Jane
Fonda, Harrison Ford, Jennifer Lopez,
Gwyneth Paltrow and Matthew McConaughey. —AFP
omandailyobserver
he Grand Budapest Hotel”, an offbeat comedy
starring Ralph Fiennes as
the concierge of a luxury
hotel in a bygone Europe, topped the
shortlist for Britain’s BAFTA awards,
with 11 nominations, including for best
film.
Following is how the main films stack
up for the awards.
Nominations were announced on
Friday and the winners will be unveiled
by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts on February 8.
— “The Grand Budapest Hotel” was
nominated for best film, best director for
American Wes Anderson and original
screenplay; original music, cinematography, editing, production design, costume
design, make-up and hair and sound. Fiennes was nominated for leading actor.
— “Birdman”, a satire of show business by Mexican director Alejandro
Inarritu, was nominated for best film,
best director, original screenplay, original music, cinematography, editing and
sound.
Star Michael Keaton is nominated for
leading actor while co-star Edward Norton is up for best supporting actor and
Emma Stone is nominated for supporting actress.
— “The Theory of Everything”, a biopic of scientist Stephen Hawking by
British director James Marsh, received
nominations for best film, outstanding
British film, director, adapted screenplay,
original music, editing, costume design
and make-up and hair.
English actor Eddie Redmayne was
nominated for leading actor, while Felicity Jones received a nomination for leading actress.
— “The Imitation Game”, about
World War Two code-breaker Alan
Turing directed by Norway’s Morten
Tyldum, was nominated for best film,
outstanding British film, adapted screenplay, editing, production design, cos-
tume design and sound.
Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for leading actor and Keira Knightley
was nominated for supporting actress.
— American director Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age film “Boyhood”,
filmed over a 12-year period using the
same cast, received five nominations,
as did American director Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash”, which portrays a music instructor who pushes students beyond their limits.
— There were four nominations each
for “Mr Turner”, British director Mike
Leigh’s portrayal of landscape painter
JMW.
—Reuters
30
LIFESTYLE
omandailyobserver
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
‘Conserving our beautiful Oman’
EXHIBITION ENDS TODAY
Q MAI AL ABRIA
T
OMAN IS MAKING GREAT EFFORTS
FOR ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION
WITH A VIEW TO THE PROTECTION
OF THE DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT
OF THE COUNTRY. PROGRAMMES
ARE CONDUCTED TO UPDATE
THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR
THE PROTECTION OF THE OMANI
ENVIRONMENT AND PROMOTE
BIODIVERSITY
he photography competition “Conserving our beautiful Oman” was
inaugurated last Thursday under
the patronage of Mohammed bin
Salim al Toobi, Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs, at Muscat Grand Mall. The competition was organised by
Oman Environmental Services Holding Company
“be’ah” in cooperation with the Photography Association in Muscat as part of celebrating Oman’s Environment Day 2015, which falls on 8 January every year.
The exhibition ends today.
The minister opened the exhibition and viewed its
different sections that captured the beauty of Oman
through the lenses of the winners. The first section of
the exhibition is allocated for nature as part of the first
theme of the competition, highlighting the aesthetic
aspects of nature and the topography of the Sultanate
and aspects of its biodiversity such as plants, rare wild
birds and marine animals. The second section shows
the impact of waste on human health and the environment, highlighting the negative effects of waste
and the importance of managing it properly.
The third section shows the efforts undertaken
by be’ah in controlling the damages of current practices of waste management and the projects carried
out by the company such as constructing the required
infrastructure like the engineered landfills and waste
transfer stations.
The exhibition also has a corner for children to
practice drawing and painting hobbies on “waste reuse” themed booklets, aiming to instill environmentally friendly behaviours among children.
The minister emphasised on the awareness showcased by the Omani photographers in the themes of
their images.
“Their photos are considered a valued addition
towards raising the environmental awareness in the
community. These promising talents will build a
bright future for a safe environment. The message of
this exhibition is obviously to stress the need to combine efforts to save our country”.
Tariq bin Ali al Amri, CEO of “be’ah”, said,
“be’ah strives towards its vision and puts its effort in
reaching out to the community to celebrate Oman’s
Environment Day and promote the importance of
waste minimisation. This competition has witnessed
a large number of participants and over 500 photographs. This unique idea aims to give amateur and
professional photographers in the country a platform
to express their determination to conserve the biological resources of Oman from pollution and extinction”.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE
CHARITY sale raises RO 2,200 for Al Rahma Team
Q ALI AHMED AL RIYAMI
F
rom small beginnings
great accomplishments
can be made and for Razan bint Abdullah bin
Amer, an Omani student
at the Heriot Watt University Edinburgh, this proved to be
so after she made her idea of holding
a garage charity sale a reality and was
able to raise over RO 2,200 for the local
charity, Nidaa Al Kheir.
In comments given to the Observer,
she noted, “The idea of hosting a charity garage sale came about 2-years ago
while spring cleaning. A lot of the
things I didn’t want were in good condition or hadn’t even been used, so I
thought about selling them for the sake
of giving all proceeds to charity, which
would be better than giving the items
directly to a charity.
“This winter break started off with a
decision to finally follow through with
the sale, even with the little time we
had. Thankfully, my mother encouraged me and told me that no matter
how little time we had, it could be done
if we have faith.
She was the main drive behind the
whole sale and made me believe we
could get it done.
“Being part of the Arab society at the
Heriot Watt University Edinburgh, we
have hosted charity food fairs, which
better prepared me for this one and
helped prepare me for what to expect.”
About the preparations for the sale,
Razan said, “We had only a week to
gather all of the items and three days to
prepare them.
Some ten volunteers helped us tremendously with all of the preparations.
It was then that the idea of a garage
sale became a reality and thankfully it
was an out-and-out success.
“It required efforts from all corners
to, firstly let people know that we need
donations of any items they no longer
need and, secondly, to spread the word
and target garage sale goers.
Al-Rahma Charity Team were a
huge help with directing our marketing; it was one of their members who
posted our flyers on a facebook page for
Oman garage sales.
The rest of the marketing was
through word-of-mouth, broadcasts,
twitter and instagram.
Some volunteers would even snapchat the preparations process to advertise the cause.
It was wonderful to see everyone
working together; even some friends
and relatives, who did not volunteer,
came to support us and ended up helping out in some way.
The sale was due to start at 10:30 am
but people arrived at 9 am and began
collecting and buying.
By 12 pm items were clearing out
and we weren’t sure whether to be glad
or worried that sale items would run
out well before other buyers arrived
later on.
“Thankfully more donations arrived
midday and had to be priced and displayed on the spot.
Around 10 per cent of all donated
items remained, which was much better than any of us expected.
Most of the turnout was between
10:30 and 1pm.
Demand was mainly in the clothes
and bags section and that was what was
mostly donated.
With the effort of everyone present,
we managed to raise more than RO
2,200.
Razan noted some of the difficulties they had experienced included
gathering volunteers and contacting
them, ensuring their confirmation and
assigning them roles — volunteers were
mainly allocated on the day depending on where they were needed —
and keeping everything together
without being overwhelmed by the
turnout or the amount of things that
had to be done beforehand and on the
day.
She expressed her appreciation and
thanks to all of her family, relatives,
friends and neighbours who helped
make the event the success it was, adding that, Nidaa Al Kheir charity team
made huge efforts in spreading the
word and offering volunteers to help
with preparation and selling, while AlRahma Charity Team also made good
efforts in advertising.
PHOTOGRAPHY
S U N DAY
JANUARY 11 l 2015
THINK OF A CAMERA SO
EXQUISITELY DESIGNED,
SO TECHNOLOGICALLY
ADVANCED, SO
BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED
AND SO LIGHT AND
COMPACT THAT USING
IT IS SHEER ECSTASY.
NOW THINK OF THE
COMPLETE OPPOSITE
AND YOU WILL HAVE
SOME INKLING JUST
WHAT A DESIGN DEBACLE
AND TECHNOLOGICAL
DINOSAUR THE RUSSIANBUILT ZENIT E SLR
CAMERA REALLY WAS.
AND YET, TO A TEENAGED
BOY MAROONED IN THE
ARTISTIC BADLANDS
OF RURAL IRELAND IN
THE MID-1970S, IT WAS
THE IDEAL VEHICLE
FOR THE EARLY, BUMPY
STAGES OF THE JOURNEY
TO PHOTOGRAPHIC
ENLIGHTENMENT
Here is a rather extreme example of using ‘leading lines’ to draw the viewer to the main subject of
the picture, in this case the old man in Salvation Army uniform in a Belfast street.
omandailyobserver
31
Here is a very busy shot of my dear old dad out for a Sunday walk. This image rather too eagerly
enslaves itself to the ‘Rule of Thirds, ’ which involves placing the main subject on or near imaginary
horizontal or vertical lines that divides the image into thirds, or at the intersection of these imaginary
horizontal and vertical lines.
TO RUSSIA with Love!
I
Q CLIVE G
hewholuvsfotos@gmail.com
was already in my 14th year when I
came to the realisation that, in order to
fulfil my destiny of becoming the greatest photographer the world had ever
known, I needed a camera that would
allow me to have control over shutter
speed and aperture. In other words, I absolutely had to have an SLR camera. After all, it was
nothing short of humiliating going around taking photographs on his mother’s old Kodak Baby
Brownie dating from 1959, which had a fixed
shutter speed of 1/40 of a second, a fixed aperture
of f.11 and a viewfinder that was like looking at
the world through the wrong end of a telescope.
The SLR camera I really wanted was the Nikon
F2, the instrument of choice of many professional
photographers of the day. The problem was that it
came with a hefty price tag of £295. I knew that if
I asked my father to buy me a Nikon F2, he would
have pretended to laugh heartily and slapped his
thigh, as if I’d just told a ripping joke.
Then, during one of our biannual shopping
trips to Dublin in the spring of 1976, I had a look
at the “Photography Department” of a large department store on Grafton Street. In one of the
glass display cases, nestling between a Kodak
Instamatic and some rolls of film, I saw my photographic destiny — a Russian-built Zenit E SLR
camera complete with 50mm lens for the unbelievably low price of £35. There was also a Zenit
EM in the display case, a slightly more elaborate
model priced at £55, but it was the Zenit E that I
fell in love with there and then.
Nearly three-and-a-half million Zenit E cameras
were manufactured between 1965 and 1982, so I
guess I am not the only person alive today who
owes a huge debt of gratitude to the factory in
Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, that brought SLR
cameras within our reach. Would I recommend it
to a beginner photographer today? A thousand
times Yes!
My father wandered over just then and looked
at the objects in the display case with no hint of
interest on his face.
“Look Dad,” I said. “That’s the camera I really
want. And it’s only £35.”
“Only.”
“And it’s got a Selenium cell light meter that
doesn’t require a battery,” I gushed.
“So you will still be able to take photographs
after the collapse of civilisation. That should be
useful.”
“And you get three rolls of film free,” I went
on.
“Free. Well, it’s a bit early to be writing to
Santa Claus, don’t you think?” he said, then wan-
dered off in the direction of the Gardening Department.
I was not about to let the matter end there, as
my father well knew. When I next brought up the
subject of the Zenit E camera a couple of weeks
later, he was ready for me.
“Tell you what,” he said. “If you get an A in your
Maths O-Level exam, I’ll buy you the Zenit EM.”
(I was taking my Maths O-Level the following
month, a full year earlier than everyone else in
my class. This, I hasten to add, was not because I
was even remotely interested in Maths, but rather
because my father had a degree in Mathematics
and even read books on Pure Mathematics just
for pleasure, I kid you not. So not being good at
Maths was never an option in our house.)
“What if I get a B?” I said.
“Then you can have the Zenit E.”
“What do I get if I score a C?”
“C earns you a Kodak Instamatic.”
“And what if I fail?” I said, testing the water.
“If you fail, you won’t be needing a camera
where you’ll be going,” he said gaily, then ambled
off to put manure round the roots of his prize
roses.
The brown envelope with my Maths O-Level
result arrived one dazzlingly sunny day in June
and, as luck would have it, I’d got an A. That very
same day, my father drove me the 60 miles to
Dublin to buy the Zenit EM SLR camera in the
department store on Grafton Street. The look of
utter dismay on my dear old dad’s face when the
shop assistant told him the Zenith EM had sold
out!
“It’s OK,” I said. “The Zenith E is the one I
really wanted anyway.” And like a blink of sunshine on a relentlessly overcast day, smile rippled
briefly across his normally melancholy face, not,
I fancy, because he was going to save £20, but
because the A-Grade boy was man enough to be
content with second prize.
I recently had a look at the old black-andwhite negatives I took on that Zenit E camera
some 40 years ago. The images consist mostly
of dreary shots taken on my grandfather’s farm,
or in our house with its garish 1970s décor, or in
unlovely Belfast where I was attending boarding
school. To give credit where it is due, though, the
images are mostly sharp and well exposed. They
also show that I was really making a great effort
to put the so-called ‘rules’ of composition into
practice, for almost every shot is either framed,
has leading lines or uses the ‘Rule of Thirds.’ I include here three of those images from 40 years
ago to show you what I mean.
These days, it has to be said, I give no conscious thought to composition whatsoever when
I take a photograph. This could be for one of
two reasons: either I have so completely assimilated the so-called ‘rules’ of composition that I no
longer have to think about them, or that I have
reached the stage in my life when I no longer give
a monkey’s about rules of photography invented
by other people and am intent only on pleasing
myself. I rather fancy the latter is the case.
Shortly after starting my Fine Art degree
course at university in England in 1980, that large
and ugly Zenit E camera became an object of ridicule among some of my more well-heeled peers,
who themselves sported brand new Nikons, Can-
This is a portrait of my cousin Thomas with one of
his many puppies. The compositional technique
used here is ‘Framing,’ which again serves to
draw the viewer’s attention to the subject. The
crosshairs of the sash window immediately focus
us in on Thomas.
ons and Leicas. So I foolishly sold my Russian
behemoth and bought a light and ergonomically
designed Cosina SLR instead.
That execrable camera lasted all of two weeks
before it short-circuited and was rendered totally
useless.
Luckily, though, this past summer I was able
belatedly to atone for my stupidity when I found
a Zenit E camera at a bric-a-brac sale in Dublin
for the paltry price of €5 and in full working order. If my dear old dad were around today, I am
sure he would be amused to know that I am now
once again in a position to be able to take photographs after the collapse of civilisation!
SCIENCE
Chihira Aico shows the ‘human’ side of robots at electronics show
Q SOPHIE ESTIENNE
S
he stood on the floor of the Consumer Electronics Show, carried on conversations, blinked
her eyes and sang a convincing
rendition of “Take Me Home, Country
Roads.”
It would have been unremarkable if
Chihira Aico were not a robot. “Hello,
my name is Chihira Aico. I am 32 years
old, although, technically, I was born in
September 2014. Look how expressive I
am!” she said.
Robots like Toshiba’s are becoming
so eerily realistic they could be mistaken
at first glance for a human. She sings,
smiles, raises her hands and has lifelike
facial expressions controlled by 15 tiny
pneumatic actuators.
These robots are increasingly being
developed as personal assistants, companions, hosts and aides for medical
situations.
“We made her like a human being because true communication is also based
on facial expressions and gestures,” said
Toshiba’s Taihei Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi said a robot like Chihira
Aico could serve as a kind of hostess for
the 2020 Olympic Games but the design
is aimed for healthcare, where robots
can assist in monitoring and diagnoses.
But in her own words: “In the future, I want to take up the challenge of
a wide assignment of tasks: counsellor,
newscaster, cheerleader, entertainer and
many others!”
The speech was pre-programmed
and it will take time to develop the kinds
of science fiction robots which can respond to language and move autonomously, Yamaguchi said.
It is possible, as Toshiba showed, to
develop robots that look like humans.
ROBOTS LIKE TOSHIBA’S
ARE BECOMING SO
EERILY REALISTIC THEY
COULD BE MISTAKEN
AT FIRST GLANCE FOR
A HUMAN. SHE SINGS,
SMILES, RAISES HER HANDS
AND HAS LIFELIKE FACIAL
EXPRESSIONS CONTROLLED
BY 15 TINY PNEUMATIC
ACTUATORS
pieces with large lamps for eyes. It too
can speak from a pre-programmed text.
South Korean-based Future Robot
showed a whimsical wheeled robot that
was a cross between a mechanical and
human shape, with a face drawn on tablet computer for the head.
“It can move by itself,” said Future
Robot’s Si-Hyeon Kim, who adds that
the robot can recognise and speak to a
person who approaches.
Such a robot can offer several types
of services for business.
“You can customise it, it can do advertising, ticket printing, banking services,” he said.
‘Not scary’
oids, like in the film “Blade Runner,” or
Some of the other CES robots are
as mechanical ones like in “Star Wars.”
Another vision of the robot, “Mec- being marketed as personal home asBut there remains a debate whether canoid”, from the toymaker Spin Master, sistants, like the 70-centimetre (27-inch)
robots should be designed as human- has a body of polycarbonate Erector set hourglass robot Sopo from US-based
Chihira Aico sings John Denver’s
classic song “Take Me Home Country
Roads” — AFP
Optobotics.
“It can bring you a drink,” said Kevin
Shah, sales and marketing manager for
the firm.
“It can drive around by itself without
bumping on anything,” Shah added.
“Children and pets love it... thanks to
its welcoming feeling, it’s not scary.”
Some developers say a non-human,
playful design is more welcoming.
Jon-Michel Sereda at Five Elements
Robotics said the company’s Budgee
robot — a wheeled cylinder with an
oval cartoon-like head on a stick “looks
friendly, not too robotic, scary looking
or intimidating.”
The robot can follow someone and
carry things, which can be useful for elderly persons or hospital patients.
“We built it with the idea of helping
handicapped people in a wheelchair,” he
said. — AFP
SUNDAY | JANUARY 11, 2015 | RABEE AL AWWAL 20, 1436 AH
P29
P31
P30
Inside
Brad Pitt has organic veggie patch RO 2,200 for Al Rahma Team human side of robots FOLLOW US ON:
www.omanobserver.om
editor@omanobserver.om
MANY MELODIES
from many civilisations
Q MAURICE GENT
T
here was no doubt
about it. This was a
welcome visit. A visit
by a singer with a
highly infectious enthusiasm and energy,
determined to spread her love of vibrant
rhythms. There was a restless energy
that could not be denied.
It certainly brought back to me the
favelas of Lisbon forty years ago when
the fate of Portugal as a nation was being
decided. Should it remain an old style
colonial power with possessions in Angola, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique.
Or would it join other European
countries as the European Union expanded into a major alliance of progressive Western nations set to guide
the forces of economic and political
progress.
MELODY GARDOT IS OF COURSE ABOUT MANY OTHER
MELODIES FROM MANY CIVILISATIONS IN BOTH THE OLD
AND NEW WORLD BUT IT IS HER POWER TO STUDY AND
ABSORB MANY CULTURES IN BOTH THE OLD WORLD AND
THE NEW THAT RIGHTLY GETS HER APPLAUSE ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE TRANS-ATLANTIC POND
Music played a major role in a gradually evolving political process, which
ensured that the Portugal of the future
would be part of a forward looking Europe. It was for many weeks a battle of
two very different forces. A battle between those who supported the concept
of a strong colonial power in Africa and
those who looked to an entirely different
world with Portugal joining the world of
modern technology and political consultation and progress.
Music saved Portugal from what
is this, which gives her performance so
much force. Bringing together melodies
which had not been brought together
that way before, she has galvanised so
many cultures and traditions, some old
and new.
To this add an explosive dynamic,
one might also call it demonic spirit
as well, since it certainly brings such a
range of conflicting emotions together.
Her style reflects turbulence as well as
strength. It is certainly a voice of passion
and spirit, willing to face the spirits of
good and evil.
It has been the good fortune of the
ROHM Muscat to have as its first direcor
Christina Scheppelmann, who is shortly
moving to another significant and influential post in the world of music. She has
made a considerable contribution at the
time of its opening.
could have been an era of blood and
conflict. A fado break during the night
hours allowed everybody to adopt a
more thoughtful mood turning their
mind to thoughts of peace rather than
war.
Melody Gardot is of course about
many other melodies from many civilisations in both the old and new world
but it is her power to study and absorb
many cultures in both the Old World and
the New that rightly gets her applause on
both sides of the Trans-Atlantic Pond. It — Photos by Khalid al Busaidi, ROHM
BETTER LIFE
BE OPTIMISTIC TO HAVE A HEALTHY HEART
T
HE more optimistic you
are, the better it is for your
health.
Those who have an upbeat outlook on life have significantly
better cardiovascular health than that of
the pessimists, new research has found.
Optimism boosts overall health but
its positive impact on the heart is even
greater, the findings showed.
“Individuals with the highest levels of optimism have twice the odds
of being in ideal cardiovascular health
compared to their more pessimistic
counterparts,” said lead author Rosalba
Hernandez, a professor of social work at
the University of Illinois.
“This association remains significant
even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and poor mental
health,” Hernandez added.
The study examined associations
between optimism and heart health in
more than 5,100 adults.
Participants’ cardiovascular health
was assessed using seven metrics: blood
pressure, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose and serum cholesterol levels, dietary intake, physical activity and
tobacco use.
They also completed surveys that assessed their mental health, levels of optimism and physical health.
People who were the most optimistic were twice as likely to have ideal
cardiovascular health, and 55 per cent
more likely to have a total health score
in the intermediate range, the researchers found.
The study appeared in the journal daughter Sunitha Suresh when she was
Health Behavior and Policy Review.
a biomedical engineering student at
Northwestern’s McCormick School of
ÎÎÎÎ
Engineering and Applied Science.
During the study, the children, aged
nine to 14, chose from a playlist of top
music in different genres including pop,
country, rock and classical.
Short audio books were another opListening to just 30 minutes of songs tion in the study.
In the study, 60 paediatric patients
can significantly reduce pain in kids afreceived pain evaluations prior to and
ter major surgery.
“Audio therapy is an exciting, in- after receiving the audio therapy.
The children were divided into three
expensive opportunity and should be
considered by hospitals as an important groups; one heard 30 minutes of music
strategy to minimise pain in children of their choice, one heard 30 minutes of
undergoing major surgery,” explained stories of their choice and one listened
study senior author Santhanam Suresh, to 30 minutes of silence via noise-canprofessor of anaesthesiology and pae- celling headphones.
The patients in the music and story
diatrics at Northwestern University’s
Feinberg School of Medicine (known as groups had a significant reduction in
pain.
Northwestern Medicine).
The patients who heard silence did
Suresh conducted the study with his
MUSIC EASES KIDS’
PAIN AFTER SURGERY
not experience a change in pain.
According to Santhanam, the audio-therapy helped thwart a secondary
pathway in the prefrontal cortex involved in the memory of pain.
“The idea is, if you don’t think about
it (pain), maybe you won’t experience
it as much. We are trying to cheat the
brain a little bit.
We are trying to refocus mental
channels on to something else,” he
pointed out.
Letting patients choose their music
or stories is an important part of the
treatment.
After the study, several patients ended up bringing in their iPods and listening to their own music.
Some parents commented that their
young kids listening to audio books
would calm down and fall asleep.
The paper was published in the journal Pediatric Surgery.