Observer & Busness 13 Feb 2012 - Oman Observer

HM greets Finland president 

HIS Majesty Sultan Qaboos has sent a cable of congratulations 

to President Sauli Niinisto on the occasion of him winning the 

presidential elections in Finland. In his cable, His Majesty expressed 

his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes 

of success to President Niinisto in leading the friendly people of 

Finland to further progress and prosperity and the friendly relations 

between the two countries further progress. — ONA 

Monday, February 13, 2012/Rabee al Awwal 20, 1433 AH 

www.omanobserver.om editor@omanobserver.om 

BOOST TO DENTAL CARE: The newly-opened Oman Dental College campus provides high-level teaching and healthcare services. Details, P2 

Opens greater vistas for tourism sector 

Wadi Sahtin road a 

public utility project 

MUSCAT — His Majesty Sultan 

Qaboos issued a Royal Decree 

No 4/2012 declaring the 

construction of Wadi Al Sahtin 

Road in the Wilayat of Rustaq 

as a Public Utility Project. 

Article 1 declares the construction 

of Wadi Al Sahtin 

Road specified in the attached 

memo and diagram as a Public 

Utility Project. 

Article 2 empowers the authorities 

concerned to expropriate 

through direct implementation 

the properties and relevant 

lands needed for the aforesaid 

project and installations in accordance 

with the provisions 

of the aforesaid Public Utility 

Expropriation Law. 

The Decree comes into 

force from its date of issue. 

The construction work on 

the 30-km road is due to commence 

shortly. When fully 

operational tentatively by the 

first quarter of 2015, the carriageway 

promises to open up 

an inaccessible mountainous 

swathe of the Wilayat of Rustaq 

to economic and tourism 

development. 

The two-lane carriageway 

will replace a graded track that 

runs most part along the route 

of Wadi Sahtin. 

Wadi Sahtin, with its plunging 

ravines, mountain profiles 

and rocky landscapes, attracts 

significant numbers of nature 

lovers and adventure tourists. 

The Ministry of Tourism 

has identified a number of 

sites that are proposed to be 

Top priority to jobs Focus on education 

MUSCAT — A Committee 

on Job-seekers at the Majlis 

Ash’shura chaired by Shaikh 

Khalid bin Hilal al Maawali, 

Chairman of the Majlis held a 

meeting yesterday. 

During the meeting, the 

committee hosted Shaikh 

Abdul Rahman al Abri, Under- 

Secretary of the Civil Service 

Ministry for Civil Service Employees 

Affairs, and a number 

of officials at the ministry. 

This comes within the 

framework of the committee’s 

current study on job-seekers 

and the efforts made by the 

government to employ national 

manpower. 

The meeting also touched 

on the Royal orders of His 

Majesty Sultan Qaboos to 

employ 50,000 Omanis last 

year, the mechanisms used by 

the ministry to implement the 

orders, the stance of the ministry 

on employing 63,000 jobseekers 

this year. 

It also discussed the mechanisms 

between the ministry 

and the respective public authority 

including the Public 

Authority for National Manpower 

Register. To page 3 

Outage hits Muscat 

MUSCAT — Large swathes 

of central Muscat plunged in 

darkness yesterday evening 

following a glitch in a transformer 

feeding these areas. 

The blackout began at 

6.45 pm affecting parts of Al 

Khuwair, Madinat al Sultan 

Qaboos, Madinat al Ilam, 

Al Sarooj and surrounding 

areas. Power was restored 

at 7.35 pm. According to an 

official of Muscat Electricity 

Distribution Company, 

supply to affected areas was 

cut as part of an emergency 

shutdown triggered by transformer 

fault. To P4 

New urban planning set 

MUSCAT — The Supreme 

Committee for Town Planning 

yesterday reviewed a number 

of urban planning projects, including 

initiatives for the redevelopment 

of Masirah Island 

and Ghala Industrial Area. 

Meeting for the first time 

this year with Housing Minister 

Shaikh Saif bin Mohammed 

al Shabibi in the chair, the 

panel evaluated the progress 

made in the implementation 

of decisions taken with regard 

to the Masirah and Ghala Industrial 

Area projects. Both 

areas have been identified for 

an extensive redevelopment 

complete with infrastructural 

improvements designed to 

enhance their investment and 

urban appeal. 

The Supreme Committee 

also deliberated on a strategy 

for regulating construction 

activity in North and 

South Batinah Governorates. 

Members also discussed recommendations 

for resolving 

layout issues relating to a 

coastal swathe stretching from 

the Wilayat of Barka to the 

Wilayat of Shinas and extending 

from the shoreline up to 

the rail alignment. 

Also on the agenda was a 

proposal for conserving areas 

for future development while 

adhering to environmental 

safeguards. In this regard, the 

committee decided to task the 

Secretariat-General with finalising 

broad guidelines governing 

land use. It required the 

Secretariat-General to carry 

out this task in close co-ordination 

with the authorities 

concerned, namely the Ministries 

of Housing and Regional 

Municipalities and Water Resources, 

To page 4 

$600m Musandam gas plant 

MUSCAT — Korean giant 

Hyundai Engineering and 

Construction has pledged to 

deploy its formidable resources 

and capabilities in ensuring 

the timely implementation 

of the Musandam Gas Plant 

project — an investment of 

vital importance to the gover- 

norate’s long-term economic 

and social development. 

Oman Oil Company Exploration 

and Production, the 

upstream subsidiary of the 

government owned energy 

investment firm Oman Oil 

Company, is ploughing around 

$600 million in the develop- 

ment of the integrated oil and 

gas processing scheme. 

As the first major energy 

infrastructure development in 

the governorate, the project 

will catalyse growth in this 

strategically important Omani 

enclave overlooking the Strait 

of Hormuz. Details, P21 

MUSCAT — The Higher 

Education Council held its 

first session for 2012 under 

the chairmanship of Sayyid 

Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidy, 

Minister of the Diwan of the 

Royal Court and Chairman of 

the Higher Education Council, 

yesterday. 

In implementation of the 

Royal directives of His Majesty 

Sultan Qaboos, the Council 

discussed two reports prepared 

by the Majlis Addawla 

on the follow-up of the higher 

education sector during the 

last four years of the 7th Five- 

 

MUSCAT — Oman’s first industrial 

scale bakery, owned 

by Oman Flour Mills Company, 

will shortly commence operations, 

said the chairperson 

of the joint stock company. 

Manal bint Mohammed al 

Year Plan (2006-2010). 

The Council also discussed 

the reports, conclusions 

and recommendations. 

It also discussed the circular 

prepared by the planning and 

follow-up committee of the 

Council on the contents of the 

two reports. 

The Council also revised 

the circular of the team in 

charge of revising the draft 

education strategy of the Sultanate 

and decided to complete 

the requirements for it in 

co-ordination with all respective 

departments. To P4 

Abdwani said the facility recently 

underwent successful 

trial operations. “We are planning 

to launch our products 

in the market during February 

2012,” she stated in the 

Chairperson’s Report of the 

company’s performance during 

the six months ending on 

developed into full-fledged 

tourist attractions. Many of 

these sites are located along 

the route of the existing wadi 

and will be incorporated into 

an overall design plan for the 

area’s general development. 

Al Batinah South Governorate 

with its geographical location 

has played a significant 

role in the history of Oman. 

It is also distinguished for 

its landmarks and natural attractions 

in most of its wilayats 

including Al Rustaq, Al Awabi, 

Nakhl, Wadi Al Maawil, Barka 

and Musannah. The centre of 

the governorate is the Wilayat 

of Rustaq which is about 150 

km far from Muscat. To P2 

Stunning beauty — P25 

THE Tour of Oman, 

being held as part of 

Muscat Festival, begins 

tomorrow. See P20 

First industrial bakery soon 

December 31, 2011. 

Meanwhile, Oman Flour 

Mills, which is partly owned 

by the Omani government, reported 

a hefty 22 per cent rise 

in its sales turnover during 

the six months under review, 

compared to the corresponding 

period of 2010. To P4 

Prayer timing Fajr Dhuhr Asr Magrib Isha Weather W Muscat Musc Nizwa Sohar Al Buraimi Sur Khasab Salalah 

EXCHANGE RATES 

GOLD 

Dollar per Omani Rial 

PRICE 

Muscat 05:25 am 12:26 pm 03:41 pm 06:06 pm 07:17 pm Max ax 28 31 27 29 30 30 29 

Min 16 13 18 15 19 26 18 

Buying 0.382 Selling 0.388 $1,718.00

By Bader al Kiyumi 

MUSCAT – The new building 

of Oman Dental College 

(ODC) in Wattayah will help 

the institution meet the growing 

demand for healthcare professionals 

in Oman, senior faculty 

members have said. 

The 6,300 sqm built premises 

of the first and only dental 

school in Oman was formally 

opened under the auspices of 

His Highness Sayyid Shihab 

bin Tareq al Said, Adviser to 

His Majesty, who also unveiled 

a commemorative plaque in the 

auditorium. 

Addressing the audience, 

Dr Rahul Arora, dean of ODC, 

said “the quality of education 

received at ODC is intended to 

ensure our graduates are equally 

positioned with their international 

counterparts. We are cultivating 

skilled, competent and 

caring professionals who are 

able to advance the science, art 

and ethics of dentistry thereby 

producing sustainable value for 

the Sultanate of Oman and its 

residents.” 

In addition to the latest cutting-edge 

dental simulator technology, 

diagnostic and clinical 

equipment available today, the 

new ODC building has both a 

day care operating theatre and 

capacity for nearly 70 dental 

chairs in its outpatient clinical 

teaching facility that offers dental 

care across all specialities 

including oral surgery, conservative 

dentistry and endodontics, 

prosthodontics, child dental 

health and orthodontics. 

Clinical students, under the 

supervision of a team of experienced 

faculty, treat members 

of the public as an integral part 

of their learning experience to 

prepare them for independent 

clinical practice. 

Today the college plays a 

pivotal role in positively shaping 

the dental profession with 

almost 370 students registered 

for its dental degree from 13 

nationalities. 

Dr Mohammed al Ismaily, 

Chairman of the Board of Directors, 

ODC, said in his speech 

that the inauguration of the new 

premises was a particularly 

major milestone in the life of 

Oman Dental College. 

The college provides a nurturing 

and stimulating academic 

and clinical environment for 

training both Omani and expatriate 

professionals who will be 

able to enhance the provision of 

dental care in the country. 

The ongoing co-operation 

between the college and the 

Ministry of Health in the clinical 

training of our students at 

outreach centres and the recent 

interim relocation of the dental 

services from Al Nahdha Hospital 

is representative of the 

healthy relationship between 

the private and government 

sectors. 

In order to ensure dental 

learning and teaching of international 

standards, combined 

with the introduction of the 

most advanced practices in dental 

education and the promotion 

of continuing professional 

development, an International 

Advisory Panel comprising 

three globally renowned leaders 

in the dental profession was 

formed early on to oversee all 

aspects of ODC’s development. 

The panel is currently 

chaired by Professor Nairn Wilson, 

Co-chair of the Federation 

of European Heads and Deans 

of Dental Schools, Immediate 

Past Dean of King’s College 

London Dental Institute in the 

UK and former President of the 

UK General Dental Council. 

The other two members are 

Professor Lakshman Samaranayake, 

Dean of the Faculty 

of Dentistry at the University 

of Hong Kong, Director of the 

Prince Philip Dental Hospital, 

King James IV Professor at 

2 OMAN 

OMAN DAILY Observer 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 

ODC’s new building inaugurated 

the Royal College of Surgeons 

of Edinburgh and Professor 

Mariano Sanz, Dean and Head 

of the Faculty of Odontology 

at the University Complutense 

of Madrid, Spain and former 

President of the Association for 

Dental Education in Europe. 

Majlis Ash’shura training course begins 

MUSCAT — A training course 

entitled the "Implementation 

of Procedural Tools for Managing 

Classified Documents" 

began at Majlis Ash’shura yesterday. 

The course is organised 

by Majlis Secretariat General 

in collaboration with the National 

Records and Archives 

Authority (NRAA). 

The themes of the course 

include steps of implementing 

procedural tools by practical 

application of how to open 

files according to approved 

mechanism in a modernised 

archive system and a review 

of some examples of how to 

arrange files and encode them 

and how to transfer current 

records to the intermediate 

records depository. 

The course aims at keep- 

ing up with the national efforts 

to prepare and apply a 

modernised system for records 

management in governmental 

units covered by the Records 

and Archives Law issued in 

Royal Decree No 60/2007, as 

Majlis Ash’shura approved 

procedural tools for classification 

and retaining the Majlis' 

classified records. 

This course is part of the 

Majlis General Secretariat 

to put this system into use so 

that officials responsible for 

records and archives system 

can benefit from. 

Several officials from different 

administrative units at 

Majlis Ash’shura take part in 

this one-week course which 

is run by Sami Mali, an expert 

from the NRAA. — ONA 

First world meet on autism to be held in Muscat 

MUSCAT — To shed light on 

the various obstacles that the 

parents of an autistic child are 

currently facing while improving 

the life standards of the 

affected child, the first international 

conference on autism 

titled "Accepting Difference" 

will be held in Muscat on March 

21, 2012. 

Organised by the Language 

Center Social Committee in collaboration 

with the Collage of 

Medicine and Health Sciences 

at Sultan Qaboos University 

(SQU) the conference will further 

focus autism as a disorder 

of brain development and it can 

be associated with intellectual 

disability. 

“An Autistic person would 

have difficulties in social interaction, 

verbal and nonverbal 

communication and repetitive 

behavior. Our aim in conducting 

such a conference is to improve 

the lives and futures of children 

and adults affected by autism by 

raising public awareness and effecting 

decision makers”, Anfal 

Wuhaibiya (pictured), Executive 

Chairperson of the Conference 

told the Observer, adding 

“Our aim at this conference to 

highlight the importance of this 

disorder and to come up with a 

convincing plan to start a well 

developed and equipped Autism 

Centre. We need those kids to 

be enrolled in our schools. They 

all have the rights to get their 

free education as any other disa- 

bled children and side by side, 

this conference will also take a 

closer look at short and longerterm 

strategies to make the best 

use of resources we have here in 

Oman”. 

This conference will provide 

professionals and parents with 

a clearer understanding of the 

diagnostic criteria and essential 

strategies for education, behaviour 

management and communication 

associate with Autism. It 

will also present delegates with 

a greater understanding of Autism 

and an opportunity to discuss 

strategies and techniques 

that will help in their support of 

people with the disorder, both 

at school and at home. The attendance 

of many international 

speakers to talk about the latest 

issues through case studies and 

practical workshops are currently 

at the confirmation stage. 

Anfal, who is also the Language 

Center Social Commit- 

tee, Chair, Language Center, 

SQU said many private companies 

have come forward offering 

support to this event. “We're 

happy for our achievements as 

an organising team in getting 

generous support of many companies 

in the private sector such 

as Al Habib Group”. 

The conference organising 

committee is working out plans 

to open registration to more than 

500 attendees including parents, 

teachers, health care professionals 

in the fields of psychology, 

social work, mental health, 

clinical services, home health 

care services, training and human 

resources, early childhood 

education, disability and special 

education. 

Wadi Sahtin road a public utility project 

From page 1 

The wilayat comprises 

numerous enchanting wadis 

where visitor can walk among 

springs and lush palm trees 

and bushes. Among the best 

famous of the wadis in the 

wilayat are Wadi Al Sahtin, 

Wadi Bani Ghafer, Wadi Bani 

Auwf, Wadi Al Haimli and 

Wadi Hajir Bani Umar. 

Of all the spectacular wadis 

in the wilayat, Wadi Al Sahtin 

is the most attractive and adventurous 

wadi and this makes 

it more popular especially 

to adventure enthusiasts in 

Oman. 

This wadi has tonnes of exploring 

potentials. Due to its 

uniqueness, some people refer 

to this wadi as the “Treasure 

Chest” of Oman. 

What distinguishes Wadi Al 

Sahtin more than other wadis 

in the wilayat is the regular 

flowing of its water as well as 

natural water springs. 

The wadi during its course 

links Al Batinah Governorate 

to Al Dhahirah Governorates 

through the Wilayat of Al Rustaq 

and across the series of 

Western Al Hajar Mountains. 

To reach the highest peak of 

the wadi it might take a couple 

of hours. The wadi attracts 

residents and visitors alike 

because it marks an oasis endowed 

with date palms and 

various other fruits and plantations. 

Wadi Al Sahtan also comprises 

some old traditional 

houses that were built hundreds 

of years ago. 

These kinds of traditional 

buildings present picturesque 

architecture along with gardens 

and other natural landscapes 

that reflects the natural 

and historical richness of this 

beautiful wadi. 

— ONA/Abdulaziz 

al Jahdhami 

National Museum of African 

Art delegation received 

MUSCAT —- Abdulaziz bin 

Mohammed al Rowas, Adviser 

to His Majesty the Sultan for 

Cultural Affairs, received in his 

office here yesterday a delegation 

of the National Museum of 

African Art, Smithsonian Insti- 

MUSCAT — Activities of the 

4th Small and Medium Enterprises 

(SMEs) Exhibition and 

Conference will kick off today 

at Oman International Exhibition 

Centre (OIEC) under the 

auspices of Shaikh Saad bin 

Mohammed al Saadi, Commerce 

and Industry Minister. 

The three-day event 

themed ‘Self-Employment 

and Training’ is organised by 

the Commerce and Industry 

Ministry in collaboration with 

Trifoil Expo. 

The Commerce and Industry 

Minister will deliver 

a speech highlighting the importance 

of SMEs as the main 

base for the national economy. 

He will also shed light on the 

role played by SMEs to create 

jobs with the social and economic 

updates. 

Salah bin Hilal al Maawali, 

Director General of Small and 

Medium Enterprises Develop- 

tution in Washington led by Dr 

Johnnetta Cole, Director of the 

Museum and a delegation of 

the Santa Fe Community Foundation 

in New Mexico led by 

Judith A, currently visiting the 

Sultanate as per the invitation 

ment at the Commerce and Industry 

Ministry, said that the 

conference is a good opportunity 

to discuss a number of 

insisting important topics pertaining 

to activities of SMEs. 

At a press conference held 

at the Commerce and Industry 

Ministry yesterday, he added 

that participant experts will 

present their ideas and experience 

related to challenges 

facing SMEs, how to tackle 

them and future prospects of 

SMEs. 

During the conference, 

Khalfan al Aysari will give a 

speech during which he will 

present visions on SMEs development 

and their importance 

in the upcoming period. 

Working papers from a 

number of governmental departments, 

supporting and 

financing entities will be presented 

during the conference. 

On the sidelines of the confer- 

of Sultan Qaboos Culture Centre 

(SQCC) in Washington. 

The meeting discussed the 

cultural relations between the 

two sides and means of enhancing 

and promoting future 

co-operation. — ONA 

4th SMEs exhibition and 

Conference begins today 

MUSCAT — The National 

Human Rights Commission 

(NHRC) yesterday held its 

first meeting of the year under 

the chairmanship of Mohammed 

bin Abdullah al Riyami, 

Chairman of NHRC. 

The meeting discussed the 

report of the secretariat and 

reviewed the awareness plan 

implemented last year. Programmes 

for this year also 

ence, SMEs Exhibition will 

be organised in which a large 

number of establishments, authorities 

and individuals interested 

in and directly involved 

with SMEs sector will take 

part. 

The exhibition will display 

a wide range of SMEs 

products and services including 

commercial and financial 

services, banks, finance and 

audit companies, legal companies, 

intellectual property 

companies, air carriers and 

car renting companies, ministries 

and governmental institutions, 

telecommunication 

companies, Internet providers 

and web designers and e-commerce. 

They will show the promising 

opportunities, which 

SMEs sector can provide 

within the framework of government 

plans to support more 

national job-seekers. — ONA 

NHRC meet discusses report, plans 

MUSCAT — The first gathering 

of the Medical Laboratory 

Science Group (MLSG) 

at Sultan Qaboos University 

(SQU) was opened under the 

patronage of Dr Taher Ba 

Omar, Academic Affairs Advisor 

to the Vice-Chancellor. 

The highlight of this three 

-day event is an exhibition by 

Medical Laboratory Science 

students attached to the College 

of Medicine and Health 

Sciences and representatives 

from other academic and 

business institutions dealing 

with Medical Laboratory Science. 

A blood donation camp 

is also organised on the sidelines 

of the gathering held at 

the exhibition hall of the university. 

Through the exhibition, 

the students spread the message 

that Medical Laboratory 

Science combines the use of 

sophisticated instruments and 

techniques with the application 

of theoretical knowledge 

to perform complex proce- 

came up for discussion. 

The meeting also discussed 

preparations for the second 

Gulf Human Rights Forum to 

be hosted by the Sultanate on 

March 11 and 12. — ONA 

Focus on Medical Laboratory Science 

dures on tissue specimens, 

blood samples and other body 

fluids. 

The tests and procedures 

that Medical Laboratory 

Technologists perform provide 

critical information enabling 

physicians to diagnose, 

treat and monitor a patient's 

condition. 

The students underlined 

the fact that Medical Laboratory 

Technology is a constantly 

evolving and rewarding 

career.

MUSCAT — Sayyid 

Badr bin Saud al Busaidy, 

Minister Responsible 

for Defence Affairs, accompanied 

by a military 

delegation comprising 

Air Vice Marshal Mattar 

bin Ali al Obaidani, 

Commander of the Royal 

Air Force of Oman 

(RAFO), and senior officers 

at the Sultan’s Armed 

Forces (SAF) left here yesterday 

for Singapore to 

take part in the opening of 

Singapore Airshow 2012. 

The minister and his 

delegation were seen off at 

A’Seeb Air Base by Rear 

Admiral Abdullah bin 

Khamis al Raisi, Commander 

of the Royal Navy 

of Oman (RNA) and SAF 

senior officers. — ONA 

3 OMAN 



Defence minister leaves for Singapore DOHA — The Sultanate yesterday took 

part in the deliberations of the third ministerial 

meeting for the Non-Aligned Movement 

(NAM) on the Advancement of Women, 

which began in Doha with participation 

of more than 500 officials representing 80 

Omani entrepreneur to be part of global award event 

By Kaushalendra Singh 

MUSCAT — Ernst & Young 

yesterday announced the finalists 

of the Omani ‘Entrepreneur 

of the Year’ (EOY) and 

‘Emerging Entrepreneur of the 

Year’ awards. The winner of 

the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ 

award will be part of the global 

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur 

of the Year Award event to be 

held in Monte Carlo in June. 

There will be participants from 

not less than 50 countries at 

the world EOY event in Monte 

Carlo. 

The idea behind both the 

awards is to encourage young 

Omani entrepreneurs while 

giving global exposure to big 

business houses and recognition 

to emerging entrepreneurs 

for adopting good business 

practices and achieving success 

in their areas of business. 

The finalists were announced 

jointly by Ernst & 

Young’s Sridhar Sridharan, 

Managing Partner; Rajiv 

Singh, Partner; and Nader 

Nasser Hamood al Rawahy, 

Associate Director Advisory 

Services and Head of Government 

and Public Sector. 

The finalists in the Omani 

Entrepreneur of the Year 

Award are: Dr Mohammed al 

Barwani, Samir J Fancy, Hussain 

Salman al Lawati and 

Maqbool Hameed Mohd al 

Saleh. In the local award category 

for the Emerging Entrepreneur 

of the Year, there are 

three finalists: Jinesh Ashwin 

Dharamsey, Abdulla Ahmad 

Sulaiman al Hadi and Nabeel 

Abdullah al Riyami and Mohammed 

Said al Marjabi (as 

joint entry). 

Deliberating upon the 

awards, Rajeev Singh said: 

“We are delighted to launch 

Meetings with WFE inspectors 

MUSCAT — A number of 

officials in the public sector, 

Capital Market Authority 

(CMA), Muscat Securities 

Market (MSM), brokers, pension 

funds and representatives 

of the investment banks 

yesterday held separate meetings 

with inspectors from 

the World Federation of Exchanges 

(WFE). 

The meeting was attended 

by Shaikh Abdullah bin Salim 

al Salmi, Acting Chairman of 

CMA, Ahmed bin Saleh al 

Marhoon, Director-General 

RAJIV Singh, Sridhar Sridharan and Nader Nasser Hamood al Rawahy. 

of MSM, officials at the Finance 

Ministry and OCCI, in 

addition to representatives of 

the brokerage companies, the 

pension funds and investment 

banks. 

The meeting was attended 

by WFE Secretary-General, 

Fadi Khalaf, Secretary-General 

of the Arab Federation 

of Exchanges, members of 

the WFS and representatives 

of stock exchanges in 

Oman, Saudi Arabia, NAS- 

DAQ, Istanbul and Turkey. 

— ONA 

this global award programme 

for the first time in Oman, this 

year. Having launched this 

programme in the first week 

of January 2012, we are encouraged 

by the strong interest. 

The quality of applications 

received is really impressive, 

and strong testimony to the 

track record of entrepreneurs 

in Oman. I have no doubt that 

these awards will be closely 

contested between the finalists.” 

He elaborated that each 

finalist will be submitting a 

detailed Information Pack by 

the end of this month, which 

will be submitted to an independent 

panel of judges. After 

an initial evaluation of the 

Information Pack, the judges 

will meet the finalists briefly 

on the day of the gala award 

programme on March 17. The 

award event will take place on 

the same day (March 17) at the 

Ritz Carlton Al Bustan Palace 

Hotel. 

For over two decades the 

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur 

of the Year Award has cel- 

Top priority to providing jobs 

From page 1 

The meeting covered plans 

and strategies designed and 

pursued by the Civil Service 

Ministry in addressing the jobseekers’ 

problem in the Sultanate, 

evaluation of the problem 

in terms of its size, annual 

growth rates, future vision in 

addressing it, the accuracy of 

information and data on which 

the ministry relies in calculating 

the number of Omanis working 

for the public sector, number 

of expatriates, efforts made to 

address job-seekers’ problems, 

Sultanate participates in NAM meet 

ebrated entrepreneurship in all 

its forms, all over the world. It 

is one of the most prestigious 

global business awards and 

recognises the contribution of 

individuals who inspire others 

with their vision, leadership 

and achievements. 

“The EOY award programme 

in Oman has been run 

at two levels, with one award 

each for the Entrepreneur of 

the Year and the Emerging 

Entrepreneur of the Year. The 

primary award, Entrepreneur 

of the Year, is for well-established 

individuals running successful 

companies. The winner 

in this category will be the 

Omani entry for the World Entrepreneur 

of the Year Award, 

in June 2012 at Monte Carlo. 

The Emerging Entrepreneur 

of the Year is a local competition 

restricted to Oman,” said 

Sridharan. 

Individuals who have best 

demonstrated entrepreneurial 

spirit, innovation and strategic 

vision are the finalists in 

both these competitions. Other 

criteria included financial performance, 

their impact on the 

local community and/or international 

arena as well as their 

personal integrity and influence. 

annual vacancies in the public 

sector organisations as per the 

profession and the contribution 

of the same in absorbing the 

job-seekers. 

It also discussed the general 

and higher education outputs, 

the supervision and evaluation 

made by the ministry of the 

workers in the public sector, 

ministry’s plans on training of 

new employees or those due 

to be employed, importance 

of having carefully studied 

plan on this issue to promote 

performance, co-operation as- 

pects among the Civil Service 

Ministry and the educational 

establishments with regard to 

focusing on certain specialties 

for which the public sector has 

a shortage at and still relies on 

expatriates to supply this shortage. 

The meeting covered the 

reasons and causes for Omanis 

leaving the private sector and 

join public sector, the efforts 

made by the ministry to ensure 

proper Omanisation rate in the 

independent governmental organisations 

that are not under 

countries. The meet concludes on February 

14. The Sultanate's delegation to the 

meeting was led by Dr Yahya bin Badr al 

Ma'awali, Under-Secretary at the Social 

Development Ministry. 

The meeting began with a speech by 

the Civil Service. 

This hosting comes as completion 

of previous hosting for 

public officials to listen from 

them on the employment of 

national manpower to come 

out with suitable visions and 

recommendations towards the 

employment and recruitment 

issue. 

The committee will today 

host the under-secretaries of 

the Manpower Ministry and the 

Director-General of Social Insurance 

to listen from them on 

this issue. — ONA 

Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al Thani, 

Qatari Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs 

for International Cooperation, who pointed 

out that the meeting reflects the interests of 

NAM countries in women advancement issues. 

— ONA

Council focuses on higher education 

From page 1 

The Council discussed issues 

including following up 

the decisions taken by the 

council in 2011, the executive 

steps taken by the respective 

authorities to implement the 

decisions taken by the council 

and the draft report of the 

Higher Education Council that 

will be submitted to the Council 

of Ministers. 

The report includes a statement 

on the major achievements 

in the higher education 

sector last year and the qualitative 

development it witnessed, 

thanks to the Royal 

care to the sector. 

It also reviewed a number 

of other memoranda from different 

authorities concerned 

with education and took appropriate 

decisions. — ONA 

First industrial bakery soon 

From page 1 

awaiting the mechanism of its the subsdy) and diminution in RO 181K versus RO 103K 

computation, hence we have value of investments are the during the same period a year 

However, net profit after 

not been able to compute the main reasons for lower net earlier. 

tax declined to RO 1,340K as 

subsidy amount. As a result, profit.” 

The improved performance 

compared to RO 3,679K in the impact of subsidy has not The Group, which includes was the result of increasing 

the previous year. 

been accounted in these finan- subsidiary Modern Poultry output and falling bird mortal- 

The chairperson attributed cial results,” Manal said. Farms and associate firm Soity, she said. 

the decline in profit to losses She further stated: “The har Poultry, posted a net profit Sohar Poultry posted a 

on feed products, which will flour mill operating profit after tax of RO 1,168K during six-month profit of RO 111K. 

be offset via a subsidy ap- has improved by 25 per cent the six months in question, “The farm continues to face 

proved by the government. as compared to the previous against earnings of RO 3,328K health challenges, however 

“The government has ap- year. 

during the previous year. continuous efforts are being 

proved the subsidy on feed However, the loss on feed Modern Poultry, which is made to overcome them and 

effective from January 1, products (which would be 86 per cent owned by Oman reduce mortality,” the chair- 

2011. However, we are still compensated on receipt of Flour Mills, made a profit of person said. 

Muscat outage 

From page 1 

Filling stations in the affected 

areas temporarily halted 

dispensing fuel during the 

blackout. Diners and eateries 

too briefly went into shutdown 

mode, but were back in 

business when power supply 

was restored. 

Headlights blazed along 

Sultan Qaboos Street and the 

adjoining carriageways as 

streetlights went dark, forcing 

motorists to drive cautiously. 

Urban planning 

From page 1 

Agriculture and Fisheries, 

Ministry of Environment and 

Climate Affairs, Sohar Municipality, 

and other agencies. 

The committee also 

approved recommendations 

for the construction of flood 

channels and other flood 

protection systems in populated 

areas. In this regard, it 

mooted a review of the sites 

of some dam projects. 

The committee also gave 

its assent to new guidelines 

applicable during road construction 

work. It approved 

new rules governing construction 

along main roads. 

Members urged called for 

greater efforts for the establishment 

of a GIS Centre. 

— ONA 

CSI bishop 

begins tour 

MUSCAT — Rt Rev Thomas 

K Oommen, who was 

recently consecrated as the 

12th Bishop of the CSI Central 

Kerala Diocese, will be 

in Muscat on a six-day visit 

starting today. 

The bishop, who is very 

active in Kerala in the antiliquor 

movement and in 

many social action groups 

for the downtrodden, will 

also be visiting Salalah. 

After obtaining his degree 

in divinity from Leonard 

Theological College, 

Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, 

the bishop took his Doctor 

of Ministry degree from San 

Francisco Theological Seminary. 

He was ordained deacon 

in 1982 and was made 

presbyter the next year. 

4 OMAN 



Sailing Arabia launched 

By A Staff Reporter 

MUSCAT — Against the 

beautiful backdrop of Bahrain’s 

Amwaj Marina, dignitaries, 

officials and sailors 

yesterday witnessed the official 

launch of the 2012 Sailing 

Arabia — The Tour. 

Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad 

al Khalifa, President of 

Bahrain Olympics committee 

and Shaikh Khalifa bin 

Abdulla al Khalifa, Supreme 

Council for Youth and Sports 

and President of Bahrain 

Maritime Sports Association, 

were among those who 

joined Oman Sail CEO David 

Graham at the ceremony, to 

officially inaugurate the 2012 

edition of the race. 

Now in its second year, the 

race is a unique event, which 

not only joins the nations of 

the Gulf together, but is also 

a significant step towards establishing 

the region within 

the international sailing arena. 

For the second year, Bahrain 

has been chosen as the 

starting point for the Tour, 

and Shaikh Nasser reflected 

on the significance of the race 

within the region: “Sailing 

Arabia — the Tour reflects 

the historic and cultural maritime 

heritage within the Arabian 

countries. The event is 

unique — it goes beyond the 

competitive sporting element 

and serves to highlight the 

strong relations between the 

GCC countries, and to preserve 

our maritime heritage 

that is driven from our past, 

connecting our strong history 

with the seas to the modern 

day. 

“It is a great platform to 

reflect the amazing sailing 

talents within the region and 

to test their skills in a true 

international sailing test. The 

participation of the sailing 

team from Bahrain is also 

significant evidence of the 

development of sailing within 

Bahrain.” 

Oman Sail’s CEO David 

Graham went on to speak 

about the objectives of Sailing 

Arabia-The Tour and mirrored 

Shaikh Nasser thoughts 

on why SATT is such an important 

event for development 

regional sailing talent. 

“One of the main objectives 

of SATT is to develop a 

truly international event that 

provides an opportunity for 

sailing talents from within 

the region to compete on their 

home waters and develop 

their skills with international 

expertise. The addition of the 

Bahraini team is a perfect 

example of that, and reflects 

their commitment to developing 

the sport within the region 

and also in developing the talents 

of their young sailors,” 

Graham said. 

In addition to hosting the 

opening of Sailing Arabia – 

the Tour, Bahrain will for the 

first time enter a team into the 

race, Team Bahrain, with the 

support of the General Or- 

ganisation of Sea Ports and 

the Bahrain Economic Development 

Board. 

Team Bahrain is led by 

Shaikh Mohammed bin Daij 

al Khalifa, who has been integral 

in the development of 

the team. Shaikh Mohammed 

commented: “It is great to see 

Bahrain host the event for the 

second time. Oman Sail have 

a done a great job in organising 

the event and we are very 

pleased to put a team of Bahrain’s 

together to represent the 

Kingdom on Bahrain. This is 

in line with the Kingdoms’ 

aspirations in developing out 

national talent and promoting 

Bahrain as a host for world 

class sports events.” 

Nine teams representing 

six nations were scheduled to 

set sail yesterday, but due to 

strong winds forecast within 

the region, the race start has 

been delayed to 0700 hours 

local time today, February 

13. Once underway, the 

teams will race over 14 days 

visiting seven stopovers, and 

covering 1,408 kilometres on 

their way. 

The teams will race around 

the top of Qatar before head- 

ing south to the first stopover 

at The Pearl-Qatar. They will 

then undertake their longest 

leg to Abu Dhabi, before 

heading to Ras Al Khaimah, 

Musandam, Musannah and 

the finish in Muscat on February 

27. 

Amongst the teams is 

the incredibly talented, and 

only, all women’s sailing Al 

Thuraya BankMuscat. At the 

opening ceremony, Dee Caffari 

the teams British Skipper 

and record breaking round 

the world yachtswomen said: 

“It is really exciting for me to 

be involved in SATT for the 

first time, and to be sailing 

with such a fantastic group of 

women. The other teams better 

watch out — the women 

on board are extremely talented 

and we are completely 

prepared for this race.” 

Mohsin al Busaidy, skipper 

of Team Muscat 2012, a 

team supported by the Oman 

Ministry of Tourism as part 

of their promotional activities 

related to Muscat’s selection 

as the Arab Capital for Tourism 

in 2012, spoke about how 

he has seen the race develop 

since its inaugural year. 

“In the 2011 edition I 

sailed abroad Team CommercialBank 

and we finished 

in third place. The depth of 

talent in the fleet this year is 

much tougher, but we have an 

extremely talented group of 

sailors on board and we are 

aiming to be on the podium. 

Last year I sailed with Ahmed 

al Maamari, who is an around 

the world sailor — this year 

he will skipper his own team, 

Team Renaissance! It is incredible 

to see so many talented 

Omani sailors from so 

many backgrounds competing 

in this race against some 

of best international sailing 

talent. It makes me very 

proud.”

By Maryam Khalfan 

MUSCAT — In a move to 

further develop palliative care 

for cancer patients, the National 

Association for Cancer 

Awareness (NACA) has taken 

a significant step to introduce 

community palliative care for 

cancer patients, said an official. 

The initiative, the first of 

its kind to be taken by Naca 

at such a scale, is designed at 

relieving the psycho-oncology 

related emotions, distress and 

anxiety among cancer patients. 

This initiative was declared at 

the launch of the introductory 

palliative care course, which 

is currently in progress at 

the City Season’s Hotel until 

February 15. The event was 

opened under the auspices of 

Dr Ali bin Talib al Hinai, Under-Secretary 

of the Ministry 

of Health (MoH) for Planning 

Affairs yesterday. 

In remarks to the media, 

Yuthar bint Mohammed al 

Rawahiya, Founder and Chairperson 

of NACA’s Board of 

Directors said: “The Sultanate 

boasts of having some of the 

most advanced means of treatment 

of cancer and the ministry 

plays a significant role 

in facilitating treatment and 

other services for oncology patients. 

But, the need for having 

an experienced team of community 

palliative care nurses 

is significantly important in 

relieving the psycho-oncology 

related anxiety among patients. 

"In spite of the fact that the 

doctors and nurses are doing 

a lot in support of the cancer 

patients, we need a team of 

nurses who can provide ‘community 

palliative care that is 

designed for cancer patients. 

We need to establish a team 

of nurses that can interactively 

counsel the patients through 

the diverse phases of health 

care they encounter as they attempt 

to challenge the illness”, 

said the official who is also a 

member of Majlis Addawla. 

“In this context, ‘to make 

our ambition a success, the 

association, will invest on 

empowering a team of two 

to three professional nurses 

to study about palliative care 

and to qualify them as master 

trainers. 

“We know, the MoH has gigantic 

plans on advancing the 

overall health sector and its 

keenness on investing in human 

resources of the Sultanate. 

But, as partners on addressing 

the issue of cancer, NACA is 

committed to consider the issue 

of community palliative 

care for cancer patients as one 

of its priorities in support of 

the patients. 

“However, to make the 

project a success, we will 

have to open an account specifically 

designed for ‘raising 

funds for the cause. The funds 

will be utilised for financing 

the education of the palliative 

care master trainers, who will 

in turn train a huge number of 

nurses on the same. 

“Once, accomplished, this 

project will significantly contribute 

to identifying some of 

the hidden psycho-oncology 

effects of anxiety and to improve 

the patient’s healthcare 

within their home and family 

environment. This project 

is similar to a series of major 

projects, which the association 

initially embarked on and 

proved to be successful. The 

association equally plans to encourage 

the concept of support 

groups, which is unfortunately 

swindling as compared to the 

previous times”, remarked Al 

Rawahiya. 

The course, which is being 

participated by 47 nurses from 

all regions of the country has 

been organised by NACA in 

collaboration with the MoH, 

Middle East Cancer Consortium 

(MECC) and the Oncology 

Nursing Society of America 

(ONS). 

In an introductory speech, 

Professor Michael Silbermann, 

Executive Director at 

MECC highlighted on the significance 

of palliative care, 

which, according to World 

Health Organisation (WHO) 

is an approach that improves 

the quality of life of patients 

and their families facing the 

problems associated with lifethreatening 

illness, through the 

prevention and relief of suffering 

by means of early identification 

and impeccable assessment, 

and treatment of pain 

and other problems associated 

with the physical, psychologi- 

5 OMAN 



NACA to introduce community 

palliative care for cancer patients 

Ed experts to visit Muscat 

By Kabeer Yousuf 

MUSCAT — Dr VRS Sampath 

and Dr Armoogum Parsuramen, 

two acclaimed educationists 

and scholars who 

have proved their expertise 

in their fields will visit the 

country this month. 

They are hosted by the 

Middle East Nursery in 

Muscat in connection with 

its anniversary where the 

duo is expected to deliver 

the key note speeches on 

February 17. This will be 

followed by a Business meet 

on February 16. 

D r 

ArmoogumParsuraman, 

GOSK 

(Grand 

Officer 

of the 

Order of 

the Star 

and Key 

of the Indian Ocean), was a 

minister of Education, Arts, 

and Culture and Minister 

of Education and Science 

of Mauritius between 1983 

and 1995, and Director and 

Representative of Unesco 

between 1998 and 2011. 

He is currently the 

Founder and Chairman of 

the Global Rainbow Foun- 

dation (GRF), a charitable 

trust dedicated to the relief 

of poverty, the advancement 

of education, assistance 

to children and adults 

suffering from physical 

and mental handicaps as 

well as to abandoned and 

disadvantaged children, 

adults and orphans and any 

other purpose beneficial to 

the public in general, and 

the poor and most disadvantaged. 

Dr V R S Sampath, PhD, 

is a Doctor of Philosophy 

from the University of Madras 

on ‘Judicial Institutions 

in Tamil 

Nadu up 

to 18th 

Century’ 

and he 

also holds 

an ML, 

Master 

of Law 

in International 

Law and Constitutional 

Law, University of Madras. 

He is a post graduate in Arts 

in History from Madurai 

Kamaraj University. 

He is a practising advocate 

for Independent Legal 

Practitioner and Adviser, 

and advocate in the panel 

of several banks such as Indian 

Overseas Bank, Canara 

Bank, and Indian Bank in 

various capacities that vary 

from legal advice, legal 

opinion while conducting 

cases. 

Born in 1951 in Mauritius, 

Dr Parsuramen, after highly 

appreciated services in Mauritius 

in various roles including 

as an elected Member 

of the Mauritius Parliament 

from 1982 to 1995 for four 

consecutive terms, became a 

dedicated and renowned International 

Civil Servant. 

He joined the World Bank 

in 1997, as Education Policy 

Adviser and Co-ordinator of 

the education component of 

the United Nations Special 

Initiative for Africa (UN- 

SIA) administered by the 

World Bank. 

In 1998, he was appointed 

Director of Unesco’s Division 

for the Renovation of 

Secondary and Vocational 

Education; and in 2000 he 

became Director of the same 

organisation’s Regional Bureau 

for Education in Africa 

before returning to Unesco 

headquarters in Paris in 2004 

to lead both the Secretariat 

of Unesco Executive Board 

and that of its Governing 

Bodies; serving therefore as 

Secretary of both the Executive 

Board and the General 

Conference. 

Three missing expats found 

SUR — Al Sharqiyah South Governorate 

Police Command yesterday found three missing 

expatriates in a mountainous area at Tiwi 

here. 

Two of them were found in Haloot, located 

between Tiwi and the Wilayat of Wadi Bani 

Khalid, and the third was found in Holm. 

The three were transferred on board a Royal 

Oman Police helicopter to Sur Referral Hos- 

pital. They are in good condition. 

An ROP source said the three expats 

working in Sur left on Thursday on foot to 

the mountains of Tiwi, planning to return to 

Sur on Friday. But they lost their way. 

One of their colleagues informed the police 

who immediately launched a search mission, 

assisted by citizens well acquainted with 

the terrain. — ONA 

MUSCAT — The Regional 

Municipalities and Water Resources 

Ministry celebrated at 

Crowne Plaza Hotel the launch 

of the integration plan for the 

self-appraisal of the ministry 

employees under the auspices 

of Ahmed bin Abdullah al 

Shuhi, Regional Municipalities 

and Water Resources Minister, 

in the presence of officials and 

employees at the ministry. 

Al Shuhi affirmed that the 

MUSCAT — As many as 

14 people lost their lives in 

traffic accidents during February 

4 to 10. 

The Al Dakhiliyah Governorate 

witnessed the 

highest toll with 14 deaths, 

followed by Al Batinah 

North and Al Batinah South 

with three deaths each, Al 

Buraimi two and one each 

in Muscat and Al Sharqiyah 

North Governorates. 

Most accidents, a total 

of 56, involved collisions. 

Other reported forms of ac- 

cal and spiritual aspects. 

“In this aspect, considering 

that nearly 70-80 per cent of 

cancer patients in the region 

see doctors at a time when it is 

too late, the need for palliative 

care should be an integral part 

of cancer care with emphasis 

on decreasing the suffering of 

patients throughout the processes 

of nursing and treatment 

of patients”, said the professor. 

Likewise, since, the need 

for palliative care annually 

increases due to the growing 

incidents of cancer patients 

particularly in the developing 

world, palliative care among 

such patients should start 

from the first day of diagnosis. 

Also, given the fact that nearly 

40 per cent of cancer patients 

suffer psychological and emotional 

problems, like anxiety 

and depression, palliative care 

among such patients should 

not either rely on the stage of 

prognosis — whether the cancer 

is treatable or not. Instead, 

attention should be given to 

maintaining the patient’s dignity 

to the last breath”, added 

Prof Silbermann. 

plan for integrating the selfappraisal 

has been approved 

within the framework of enhancing 

the self-appraisal of 

the ministry employees at different 

levels, revising and improving 

the career performance 

criteria, integrating the concept 

of career values and giving incentives 

to employees. 

He added that the plan included 

enhancing some aspects 

related to the employee, such 

14 killed in road 

crashes last week 

cidents were colliding with 

stationary objects 35, turnovers 

28 and runovers 18. 

Two passengers were 

killed and three others injured 

when their vehicle hit 

a stationary object in the 

most fatal accident of the 

week in the Wilayat of Suwaiq 

due to wrong overtaking. 

Royal Oman Police has 

urged motorists to observe 

speed limits and pedestrians 

to cross the road only at 

designated areas. 

UNHCR representative 

presents credentials 

MUSCAT — Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, 

Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry, 

received here yesterday Imran Riza, Regional 

Representative of the United Nations 

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 

who presented his credentials as a non-resident 

Regional Representative of the UNHCR in the 

Sultanate. 

During the meeting, humanitarian efforts 

being carried out by UNHCR in various sites 

in conjunction with host countries were reviewed. 

Riza commended the existing co-operation 

Self-appraisal programme for 

RMWR Ministry employees 

as revising the career performance 

standards, enhancing the 

skills and knowledge of employees, 

as well as improving 

their performance, efficiency 

and production. 

Khalfan bin Mohammed al 

Assiri, member of the Majlis 

Addawla, delivered a speech 

in which he highlighted the 

importance of human resource 

and promoting performance in 

the governmental sector. 

between the Sultanate and UNHCR and the 

support being rendered by the Sultanate to a 

number of humanitarian programmes and initiatives 

in the world. 

On his turn, the Foreign Ministry's Secretary-General 

welcomed the UNHCR Regional 

Representative. 

He also expressed the Sultanate's wishes of 

success to him in his tasks. 

The meeting was attended by Arafa bin Friegon 

Samir, Deputy Head of the Global Affairs 

Department and the delegation accompanying 

the guest. — ONA 

Panel reviews tourism 

investment potentials 

MUSCAT — The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry 

(OCCI) Tourism Committee yesterday reviewed the difficulties 

and problems facing the tourism sector in the Sultanate 

and hinder its development. 

The committee attendees stressed that the governorates are 

rich in tourism potentials and it is necessary to promote, develop 

and support internal tourism to contribute to the GDP. 

Internal tourism is seen as an important pillar for cultural 

and developmental advancement, a significant pillar to economic 

growth and achieving comprehensive development. 

The meeting discussed the obstacles facing the tourism sector, 

opportunities of tourism investment, how to promote these 

opportunities locally and internationally and what prevents the 

development of tourism investment in the Sultanate, exchange 

of experience and expertise among committee members as the 

committee attempts to put tourism industry and operational 

regulation under one umbrella to avoid marginalising the private 

sector. 

The meeting also reviewed its responsibilities, its 2012 action 

plan, how to diagnose the obstacles and challenges that 

face the industry, finding joint and final solutions for tourism 

problems, co-ordinating with relevant authorities and submit 

proposals to respective bodies. 

The committee referred to the importance and role of the 

basic potential elements of tourism industry in the governorates, 

how to promote and market the nature and history of the 

Sultanate as a tourism product, training and qualifying Omani 

youths to work in different tourism activities and raise tourism 

awareness among social categories and at all levels. — ONA

6 THE WORLD 



Japan emperor to undergo heart bypass surgery 

TOKYO — Japanese Emperor Akihito 

will undergo heart bypass surgery 

this week after a detailed examination 

found a heart problem had worsened, 

the Imperial Household Agency was 

quoted as saying yesterday. 

Kyodo news agency, quoting the 

Imperial Household Agency, said the 

emperor, 78, would have the surgery 

on February 18. 

Akihito had undergone an angiogram 

on Saturday which showed 

that blood vessels had narrowed over 

the past year. He had been treated in 

hospital for three weeks in November 

for cold, fever and symptoms of 

bronchitis. 

The Imperial Household Agency 

was unavailable for comment. 

Kyodo said the test was performed 

after the emperor experienced difficulty 

while engaging in light exercise. 

Television footage yesterday 

showed the emperor greeting doctors 

after being discharged from hospital 

following the examination. 

Akihito had surgery for prostate 

cancer in 2003 and suffered stressrelated 

health issues in late 2008, including 

irregular pulse and stomach 

bleeding. The following year, the 

royal agency said he would cut back 

on official duties such as speeches 

and meeting foreign dignitaries. 

Akihito ascended to the throne 

after the death of his father Hirohito 

in 1989. He has spent much of the 

past two decades working to heal the 

wounds of a war waged across Asia 

in his father’s name and helped to 

bring the monarchy closer to ordinary 

citizens. 

Having witnessed as a boy the rise 

of Japanese militarism and its defeat 

in 1945, the soft-spoken Akihito said 

he wanted to deepen international 

understanding through visits abroad, 

sometimes defying protests to do so. 

One of his more controversial 

trips came in 1992, when he became 

the first Japanese monarch in living 

memory to visit China, where bitter 

memories of Japan’s invasion and occupation 

in the 1930s and 1940s run 

deep. 

Another defining moment came 

in 2001 when Akihito tried to smooth 

relations with South Korea, at times 

strained by lingering resentment over 

Japan’s 1910-1945 colonisation of 

the Korean Peninsula. 

At a news conference marking 

his birthday, he said he felt “a certain 

kinship” with Korea because one of 

his ancestors had come from there, 

an unprecedented statement from a 

Japanese royal that made front page 

headlines in Seoul. 

Save for such rare occasions, the 

Japanese imperial family is not an object 

of such intense public attention 

or media scrutiny as the British royals. 

It serves as important link with 

tradition and a comforting presence 

at times of distress. 

A WOMAN casts her ballot for the presidential election at a polling station in Ashgabat yesterday. Right: Women wearing traditional dresses 

welcome voters with refreshments at a polling station in Ashgabat. — AFP/Reuters 

Turkmen leader set for win 

ASHGABAT — Turkmenistan 

yesterday voted in presidential 

elections expected to see 

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov 

cruise to a new 

term at the helm of the isolated 

state challenged only by token 

opposition. 

Seven candidates are standing 

against the president, who 

took power after the death 

in 2006 of eccentric dictator 

Saparmurat Niyazov, but all 

are loyal members of the elite 

who have not sounded a note 

of criticism in the campaign. 

Voting took place in a festive 

atmosphere with bands 

playing traditional music 

while food and even presents 

were handed to voters. 

With the authorities making 

clear that voting was a national 

duty, the election commission 

said over 68 per cent of the 

electorate had cast their ballot 

by 0900 GMT in what is set to 

be a mass turnout. 

In a clear nudge to voters, 

the anchor on state television 

proclaimed: “Aware of their 

great responsibility for the 

future of the motherland, the 

people will choose the most 

worthy of the eight candidates.” 

Berdymukhamedov cast his 

vote alongside his son, grandson 

and his father Myalikguly 

Berdymukhamedov, who with 

conspicuous timing last week 

was given the honour of having 

a police unit named after 

him, official media said. 

“Our hero president is the 

only one to take us along the 

true path. He is the Protector 

and pillar of the people,” voter 

Gozel Sopyyeva, 60, said at a 

polling station outside Ashgabat. 

Berdymukhamedov, an exdentist 

who became Niyazov’s 

health minister after rising 

through the ranks of dentistry, 

won the last polls in 2007 with 

over 89 per cent and it would 

be a major surprise if he polled 

much less this time. 

The elections are just the 

Blizzards, house fires 

continue in Europe 

WARSAW — Storms, blizzards and road closures struck Europe 

as the continent continued yesterday to battle with subzero 

temperatures, while record house fires were reported in 

Poland as people struggled to keep warm. 

A massive storm had continued whipping the Balkans for 

more than 30 hours by yesterday morning, depositing a huge 

amount of snow and triggering an avalanche in Kosovo that 

killed at least seven people. 

Several were still missing in the southern Kosovo village of 

Restelice after an avalanche buried 15 houses under up to 10 

metres of snow on Saturday afternoon, the daily Koha Ditore 

said. 

All of the victims and the missing were apparently members 

of one family. Only one survivor, a 7-year-old child, was 

rescued. 

To the north, Montenegro declared a state of emergency 

to deal with the massive blizzard that has blanketed the small 

central European country with up to two metres of snow. 

By yesterday morning, the height of deposited snow in 

the ski resort of Zabljak had reached 202 cm, while 168 cm 

were measured in Kolasin, in central Montenegro, and 57 in 

Podgorica. 

Many roads were impassable and villages, particularly in 

the north, inaccessible. 

A train with 45 passengers was stuck between avalanches 

in the centre of the country since Friday afternoon, with one of 

the passengers dying, apparently of a heart attack, TV Vijesti 

said yesterday. 

Still on board were 30 police commandos who reached the 

train in a rescue attempt, but also became stuck. The train was 

parked in a tunnel, for shelter from avalanches. 

In Poland, officials called Saturday’s the most “tragic night” 

of this season after nine people died in house fires and another 

26 were injured in ill-fated attempts to heat their homes. More 

than 100 people have now died this year in fires in Poland, 

with half of those deaths occurring since the cold snap began 

last month, police said. 

Firefighters appealed for people to keep their space heaters 

well away from the furniture, and to turn them off when leaving 

their homes. 

In Serbia, the authorities reported a 20th death caused by 

freezing. — dpa 

third in Turkmenistan’s post- 

Soviet history: Niyazov won 

a notorious ballot in 1992 in 

which he was the sole candidate 

with 99.5 per cent and was 

then declared by parliament 

president for life in 1999. 

While energy-rich Turkmenistan 

is promoting the 

elections as a new step in a 

programme of democratic reforms, 

Berdymukhamedov’s 

promise last summer to include 

genuine opposition in 

the polls appears not to have 

been fulfilled. 

“Even though there are 

eight candidates, there was no 

real election campaign. The 

authorities want to show competition 

but it is just between 

themselves,” a Western diplomat 

said. 

The figurehead rival candidates 

include Energy and 

Industry Minister Yarmukhammet 

Orazgulyev as well as 

a state energy boss, the water 

resources minister and the director 

of a cotton factory. 

Just under three million 

people have the right to vote 

across the vast ex-Soviet state 

that extends from the Caspian 

Sea to Afghanistan and is one 

of the most secretive nations 

in the world along with North 

Korea. 

Berdymukhamedov has 

started cautious reform after 

the excesses of the notorious 

personality cult under Niyazov, 

which extended to installing 

a golden statue of himself 

in Ashgabat that rotated to always 

face the sun. 

In a half decade that Turkmenistan 

calls the “Era of 

Rebirth”, Berdymukhamedov 

had reopened cinemas, theatres 

and research institutes and 

started to encourage foreign 

majors to help exploit its vast 

energy reserves. 

But the president still presides 

over an autocratic state 

that cracks down on dissent 

and he has not been shy of creating 

a personality cult of his 

own with his image ubiquitous 

around the country. 

As Niyazov called himself 

“Turkmenbashi” (Father of All 

Turkmens), Berdymukhamedov 

is known as the “Arkadag” 

(Protector). 

Turkmenistan has issued no 

invitation for Western observers 

to assess the elections on 

a full-scale mission while human 

rights workers and journalists 

have also been denied 

access to the country. 

Amnesty International 

said ahead of the polls that 

Turkmenistan was still perpetrating 

“serious human rights 

violations” including torture in 

jails and severe restrictions on 

political and religious expression. 

It said rights activists Annakurban 

Amanklychev and 

Sapardurdy Khadzhiev, convicted 

in 2007 of firearms 

charges, were still in custody 

while dissident Gulgeldy Annaniyazov 

has been held in incommunicado 

detention since 

being jailed in 2008. — AFP 

Ex-president rejects 

US compromise call 

MALE — Ousted Maldives 

president Mohamed Nasheed 

yesterday rejected a US call 

for compromise and dismissed 

proposals for a unity government 

to end political unrest in 

the Indian Ocean nation. 

Nasheed, who insists he 

was removed in a coup, told 

supporters overnight in the 

capital Male that he would 

press for snap elections instead 

of recommending his 

party consider a coalition with 

his former deputy who succeeded 

him. 

“We want an election and 

we will campaign for it,” 

Nasheed told large, cheering 

crowds, who later dispersed 

peacefully. 

Nasheed said his Maldivian 

Democratic Party (MDP) 

did not accept the new government 

as legitimate. 

He also repeated his calls 

for an independent investigation 

into the alleged coup that 

toppled him and he accused 

the police and military of carrying 

out arrests of MDP supporters 

and those linked to his 

administration. 

His remarks came after US 

assistant secretary of state for 

South Asian affairs Robert 

Blake spoke out against snap 

polls and asked both sides to 

make “compromises.” 

SUPPORTERS of Nasheed 

cheer during a party 

meeting in Male. — AFP 

The United States is backing 

calls from the new president, 

Mohamed Waheed, for a 

national unity government to 

be formed. 

Legislator Eva Abdulla, 

from Nasheed’s MDP, said 

they were maintaining their 

stance that there should be an 

investigation into what they 

call a coup and that there 

should be elections immediately. 

“He (Nasheed) is sticking 

to his position,” Abdulla said. 

Blake had said it was too 

early to hold an election and 

he wanted Maldivian institutions 

such as the police, the judiciary 

and the elections commission 

strengthened before 

the next vote due in November 

2013. 

“I don’t think anyone believes 

that elections can be 

properly held right now,” 

Blake told reporters on Saturday 

at the end of a 12-hour 

visit for talks with Waheed, 

Nasheed and other figures. 

The new president has 

ruled out elections before his 

term ends in 2013. 

Nasheed, who claims a military-backed 

coup forced him 

to step down last Tuesday, has 

insisted snap polls were crucial 

to end the political crisis. 

“In a situation like this 

everyone must compromise,” 

Blake said. “In the days ahead, 

everyone should look for ways 

to bridge the differences.” 

Blake blamed both Nasheed’s 

MDP party and the police 

under the new president 

for violence that swept across 

the nation on Wednesday. 

“I expressed concern 

about reports of violence and 

destruction of property by 

some MDP supporters, and 

violence by police in Male, 

Addu, and Thinadhoo,” Blake 

said. — AFP 

Five days after last year’s March 

11 earthquake and tsunami that struck 

Japan’s northeast, Akihito made a 

rare televised address and in April 

travelled to the ravaged area with 

Empress Michiko. 

Akihito’s hospital stay in November 

gave the Japanese a rare opportunity 

to see Akihito’s designated 

successor, Crown Prince Naruhito, 

51, step in for his father and perform 

public duties. 

While Akihito’s reign was defined 

by his reconciliation efforts, it is 

less clear what role the scholarly 

Naruhito may play, though royal 

commentators expect him to continue 

his father’s efforts to reach out to ordinary 

citizens. — Reuters 

Cruise ship 

victims 

mourned 

GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy — 

A month after the Costa Concordia 

grounded with 4,229 

people from 60 countries on 

board, Italy is remembering 

the victims of one of the 

worst disasters on a luxury 

liner since the Titanic. 

Thirty-two people are 

now believed to have died in 

the tragedy on the Tuscan island 

of Giglio, even though 

the families of 15 still officially 

missing are clinging 

to the desperate hope that 

their loved ones may still be 

alive. 

Survivors have meanwhile 

launched legal action 

in France, Germany and the 

United States, while prosecutors 

in Italy investigate 

the widely ridiculed captain, 

Francesco Schettino, nicknamed 

“Captain Coward” in 

the press. 

On the picturesque island 

itself, residents are increasingly 

worried that the 2,380 

tonnes of heavy fuel oil in the 

ship’s tanks which still have 

to be pumped out could leak 

and contaminate Europe’s 

biggest marine sanctuary. 

There is concern too that 

plans to remove the 114,500tonne 

ship — more than 

twice the size of the Titanic 

which sank in 1912 — are 

dragging on and that its 

presence could ruin the tourist 

season vital for the local 

economy. 

“Well, yes, it has to be 

taken away. It’s like having 

a car in your living room!” 

said one frustrated local fisherman. 

A pensioner walking 

by said: “It’s not nice to look 

at but it might attract some 

people who are curious.” 

A special remembrance 

mass yesterday in a Roman 

basilica was celebrated 

by the head of the Catholic 

Church in Italy. — AFP 

Flood loss 

minimal 

SYDNEY — Australia’s latest 

floods disaster will have 

a minimal economic impact 

nationally despite some 

damage to rail lines, mines 

and crops in certain areas, 

Treasurer Wayne Swan said 

yesterday. 

In recent weeks record 

floods have swamped large 

areas of New South Wales 

and Queensland states, 

prompting fears of a repeat 

of last year’s historic disaster, 

which put a significant 

dent in Australia’s GDP for 

the financial year to June 

2011. 

“Despite the terrible impact 

on affected communities, 

we’re not expecting the 

flooding to have a significant 

impact on the national 

economy at this stage,” 

Swan wrote in a regular economic 

note. 

“While the heavy rainfall 

has resulted in the temporary 

closure of several rail 

lines and caused disruption 

to some coal mines, it hasn’t 

caused any significant disruptions 

to major coal mining 

operations in the Bowen 

Basin or the Hunter Valley. 

“And while some crops 

are likely to be affected by 

the damage to farm land, 

Treasury advises the impact 

on the supply and prices of 

fresh produce is not expected 

to be great.” — Reuters 

IRANIAN President Mahmood Ahmadinejad with 

Ismail Haniya, Palestinian Hamas premier in the 

Gaza Strip, as Iran’s First Vice-President Mohammad 

Reza Rahimi (C) looks on during a meeting in 

Tehran yesterday. — AFP 

A PALESTINIAN woman mourns during the funeral 

of Abdel Karim Zatuniya in Gaza City yesterday. 

Zatuniya, an elderly man serving as a guard at the 

barracks in the Zeitun area, southeast of Gaza city, 

died after being wounded following a series of Israeli 

airstrikes late on Saturday night that left four 

others wounded. — AFP 

A LEBANESE soldier on a military vehicle patrols 

after the army was deployed following two days of 

clashes near the Bab al Tabbaneh neighbourhood in 

Tripoli, northern Lebanon, yesterday. Two people 

were killed and at least eight wounded in street battles 

in Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli on Saturday, a 

security source said, during a second day of clashes 

between supporters and opponents of Syrian 

President Bashar al Assad. — Reuters 

SOUTH African Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana 

Dlamini-Zuma (L) and current South African 

Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane attend 

the Southern African Development Community 

Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting at Cape Town 

International Convention Centre in 

Cape Town yesterday. — AFP 

A PROTESTER shouts during a slow walk protesting 

against a government scheme that would allow 

mainland-registered cars into the territory 

in Hong Kong yesterday. — Reuters

REVELLERS attend a samba parade during pre-carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. — Reuters 

Police in Brazil’s Bahia end strike 

SAO PAULO — Police in 

Brazil’s Bahia state voted on 

Saturday to end a strike that 

unleashed a crime wave, raising 

hopes for peaceful carnival 

celebrations. 

The last holdouts among 

Bahia’s military police agreed 

to give up their walkout, state 

spokesman Robinson Almeida 

said after 11 days of chaos in 

Brazil’s third-largest city. 

Fears of the violence 

spreading also eased in Rio 

de Janeiro after a police strike 

there showed signs of flagging 

in its second day. 

Rio’s civil police, one 

branch of striking security 

forces, agreed on Saturday 

to suspend their walkout, ac- 

cording to state news service 

Agencia Brasil. 

The news brought relief 

just one week before Rio’s famous 

carnival celebrations and 

allowed for a peaceful start to 

hundreds of the city’s informal 

street parades, known as blocos. 

As many as 850,000 tourists 

are expected to hit the 

beaches and palm-tree lined 

promenades of Brazil’s second-biggest 

city for the festivities, 

which officially run 

from February 17 to February 

22. 

Determined to avoid a repeat 

of the chaos in Salvador, 

Rio’s senior police officials reacted 

swiftly to the declaration 

of a walkout on Friday, detaining 

dozens of striking workers 

and charging them with disobedience. 

Authorities were also ready 

with emergency plans to deploy 

federal troops in Rio and 

across the country amid calls 

for nationwide protests by police 

officers demanding higher 

salaries. 

President Dilma Rousseff 

last week sent more than 4,000 

troops to Salvador to restore 

order amid the strike there. 

In Bahia, roughly 6,000 

officers, about a fifth of the 

state’s overall police force, 

have taken part. 

Out of Rio’s 70,000-strong 

force, which also includes fire- 

men and state prison guards, 

only about 3,000 assembled in 

the city’s colonial centre late 

on Thursday in an initial protest 

to launch the strike. 

For Bahia Governor 

Jaques Wagner, a star of Brazil’s 

ruling Workers’ Party 

and a key ally of President 

Dilma Rousseff, the strike 

has led to marathon negotiations 

with the striking police, 

who say they are underpaid 

and overburdened by the rising 

crime. 

The governor already 

agreed to a 6.5 per cent salary 

increase for the police but has 

refused to grant an amnesty 

for striking workers who have 

committed crimes. — Reuters 

Fidel Castro in marathon meeting 

HAVANA — Former Cuban leader Fidel 

Castro held his second lengthy public 

event in a week, this time a nine-hour session 

with writers and intellectuals, Cuban 

state media said on Saturday. 

“Fidel with intellectuals: More than 

nine hours of dialogue with the infinite,” 

said the headline on government website 

Cubadebate.cu. 

The story described the meeting in 

which representatives from 22 countries 

discussed topics ranging from the sad 

state of the world, as Castro views it, to 

the 85-year-old comandante’s health. 

‘Health plan stays unchanged’ 

WASHINGTON — President 

Barack Obama will not make 

any more changes to the rule 

announced last week requiring 

health insurance plans to provide 

women with coverage for 

contraception, although US 

Catholic bishops have said it 

violates the Church’s religious 

principles. 

“We put out the plan that 

reflects where the president 

intended to go. This is our 

plan,” White House chief 

of staff Jacob Lew said on 

CNN’s “State of the Union” 

yesterday. 

Lew said no religious organisation 

will be required to 

pay for or facilitate the coverage 

that it disagrees with since 

the insurance companies are 

the ones who will pay. 

Asked what incentive insurance 

companies would 

have to provide contraception, 

Lew — Obama’s budget director 

until a few weeks ago 

— said it would be cost effective 

just like other preventive 

“We have to fight. We can’t let pessimism 

win. It’s our duty,” he was quoted 

as saying. 

The story said that everyone was “impressed 

by the vitality and enthusiasm of 

Fidel,” and that those who spoke congratulated 

him “for his visible recovery.” 

The session was part of Havana’s annual 

international book fair. 

A week ago, Cuban media reported on 

a six-hour appearance before a group of 

admirers where the leader pitched a new 

two-volume biography of his early life, 

called “Guerrilla of Time.” 

healthcare coverage. 

“As somebody who’s done 

budgets for a lot of years, 

when people tell me things 

don’t cost money, I ask a lot 

of questions,” Lew said on 

ABC News’s “This Week with 

George Stephanopoulos”. 

“This is actually one of 

those exceptions to the rule. 

If you look at the overall cost 

of providing healthcare to a 

woman, the cost goes up, not 

down, if you take contraceptives 

out.” 

Lew said the White House 

had not expected universal 

support for contraceptive coverage, 

but did find backing 

from several affected groups, 

including Catholic hospitals 

and charities. 

“We didn’t expect to get the 

support of the bishops or all 

Catholics,” Lew said on “Fox 

News Sunday.” He added on 

CBS’s “Face the Nation” that 

the White House has “broad 

consensus, not universal consensus. 

This is an approach 

that’s right.” 

The US Conference of 

Catholic Bishops has issued 

a statement saying Obama’s 

proposal involves “needless 

government intrusion in the 

internal governance of religious 

institutions”. 

The Catholic leaders urged 

Congress to overturn the rule 

and indicated they would also 

take up the issue in the courts. 

The regulation at the center 

of the controversy requires religious-affiliated 

groups such 

as charities, hospitals and 

universities, but not churches 

themselves, to provide employees 

with coverage for 

birth control as other health 

insurance providers must do. 

After an outcry from 

Catholic groups and Obama’s 

Republican opponents, the 

president announced that religious 

employers would not 

be required to offer free birth 

control to workers and the 

onus would instead fall on insurers. 

CADETS of the Fuerza Civil (Civil Force) stand in formation during a graduation 

ceremony at the 7th military zone on the outskirts of Monterrey on Saturday. — Reuters 

Cuban television showed a videotape 

of that appearance and in which Castro 

had to be helped to his chair, but was energetic, 

witty and totally in control of a 

rapt audience. 

Cubadebate.cu had numerous photos 

of Friday’s event, but so far no video has 

been shown. 

Before these latest two events, he was 

last seen publicly at a Communist Party 

congress in April, where he sat wordlessly 

as his brother took over as chairman of 

the party, the position he had held since 

its inception. — Reuters 

7 AMERICAS 


Peru finds 

insurgent’s 

body 

LIMA — Peru’s military has 

recovered the body of “Artemio,” 

leader of the once 

feared Shining Path guerrillas, 

President Ollanta Humala 

announced yesterday. 

“I am certain that (the 

body) found belongs to the 

terrorist Artemio,” the president 

told Peruvian radio, announcing 

his plans to travel 

to the southeastern region 

where the rebel leader’s 

body was recovered. 

A military offensive was 

launched last week to capture 

Artemio, 47, whose real 

name was Florindo Flores. 

Defence officials said they 

were trailing the guerrilla 

leader, who was apparently 

wounded in a battle with 

police. 

Artemio was pursued by 

special forces in southeastern 

Peru’s Puerto Pizana area. 


NEW YORK — Mitt Romney got a 

sorely needed boost in the rocky race 

for the Republican presidential nomination 

on Saturday, winning a nonbinding 

contest in Maine and a straw 

poll among conservatives after a trio of 

unnerving losses. 

The former Massachusetts governor 

edged out Texas congressman Ron Paul 

by fewer than 200 votes in the Maine 

caucuses, and outpolled former senator 

Rick Santorum in the straw poll at the 

Conservative Political Action Conference 

in Washington. 

Though largely symbolic, those 

wins spelled relief for a candidate 

whose frontrunner status was again put 

in question on Tuesday when Santorum 

scored upset victories in Colorado, 

White House defends deficit 

WASHINGTON — President Barack 

Obama’s chief of staff, Jacob Lew, defended 

his boss yesterday for failing to 

cut the US budget deficit, arguing that 

now was the wrong time for austerity 

measures as he urged Congress to extend 

a soon-to-expire payroll tax cut. 

Republicans have slammed Democrat 

Obama for laying out a budget plan that 

they say is designed to help his campaign 

for re-election in November, rather than 

controlling the growth of the US deficit 

and debt. 

But Lew, speaking on Sunday television 

news shows on the eve of Obama’s 

2013 budget proposal to Congress, said 

the plan would outline $4 trillion in 10 

year deficit reductions, alongside measures 

to deliver essential suport to nearterm 

growth. 

“I think there is pretty broad agreement 

that the time for austerity is not 

today,” Lew, Obama’s budget chief until 

few weeks ago, told NBC’s “Meet the 

Press”. 

The White House says that Obama’s 

budget will request over $800 billion in 

multi-year spending for job creation and 

infrastructure programmes, including tax 

Venezuela 

vote for 

Chavez 

challenge 

CARACAS — Venezuelan 

opposition parties were 

holding their first primary 

yesterday to pick a unity 

candidate to battle ailing 

President Hugo Chavez in 

an October vote. 

Five candidates are running 

in the opposition contest 

with the favourite Henrique 

Capriles, 39, the energetic 

governor of Miranda state, 

polls show. 

The 57-year-old Chavez, 

who last year underwent 

chemotherapy in Caracas 

and Havana and now claims 

to be cancer-free, is seeking 

a third six-year term in the 

October 7 vote. A fiery critic 

of the United States, Chavez 

is the main political and economic 

ally of Cuba. 

Capriles, telegenic and 

energetic, has been in politics 

since 25. His campaign 

got a boost last month when 

Leopoldo Lopez, a popular 

former mayor, dropped out 

and endorsed him. 

He describes his politics 

as centre-left, and has 

argued that Venezuela can 

“replicate” Brazil’s model of 

economic development. 

Missouri and Minnesota. 

“He just doesn’t have the enthusiasm 

that I think we have been able to 

get in our crowds, you know, really 

excited about what he believes in. I 

think that’s his biggest problem,” Paul 

told CNN after losing to Romney in 

Maine. 

“But I would say, yes, he is out in 

front and people are picking away at 

him. He lost a few but he picked up a 

little steam today. You have to give him 

credit for that,” he said. 

Despite Romney’s wins, however, 

the Republican race to pick a standard 

bearer to run against Obama in November 

remained unsettled. 

Sarah Palin, the former vice-presidential 

candidate and conservative 

breaks for companies and individuals 

worth more than $300 billion in 2012 if 

passed into law. 

Congress is free to ignore the president’s 

proposals and Republicans have 

said Obama’s budget will be dead on arrival. 

The budget, which will delivered to 

Congress today, projects the deficit at 

$1.33 trillion this fiscal year or 8.5 per 

cent of gross domestic product, declining 

to $901 billion, or 5.5 per cent of GDP, 

in 2013. 

Obama pledged in 2009 to have halved 

the deficit by next year, earning the ire of 

Republicans. 

“On this issue — the debt — this 

president has been completely AWOL. 

Republicans have had to fight tooth and 

nail for every dime in savings we’ve 

secured,” Mitch McConnell, the top 

Republican in the US Senate, said on 

Thursday. 

Lew, however, argued that Obama’s 

deficit promise was made before his 

administration truly understood the 

depth of the recession it had inherited 

from Republican President George W 

Bush. 

SAO PAULO — A medical 

examination of former Brazilian 

president Luiz Inacio Lula 

da Silva has shown that a cancerous 

tumour in his larynx 

has disappeared, one of his 

doctors told a local newspaper 

yesterday. 

Oncologist Artur Katz told 

Folha newspaper that “from 

a tomographic point of view, 

the tumour can no longer be 

seen.” 

However, he pointed out 

that a definitive answer will 

be known after an endoscopy 

that will be performed at the 

end of radiation therapy that 

should be concluded in four to 

six weeks. 

MEXICO CITY — An angry 

mob of villagers in central 

Mexico attacked and killed 

three men on Friday they accused 

of trying to kidnap a local 

resident. 

So far, 23 people have been 

arrested for the mob attack, 

prosecutors said. 

A spokesman for the Mexico 

State Security Secretariat 

said the mob numbered “more 

than 500 people.” 

An initial investigation 

“Endoscopy is a better 

procedure to determine this,” 

Katz is quoted as saying. “Tomography 

can miss some of 

the cancerous cells... But this 

is good news anyway. It makes 

us more certain that we are 

following the right course.” 

Lula was hospitalised here 

Saturday complaining of loss 

of appetite and fatigue as a result 

of his cancer treatment. 

The doctors said they found 

a “small presence of inflammation 

of the laryngeal and 

oesophageal mucosa, resulting 

from radiation therapy,” a 

bulletin posted on the website 

of Syrian-Lebanese Hospital 

said. 

showed “a group of six women 

incited local residents to attack 

three men, who they set 

on fire,” said a statement from 

the Mexico state attorney general’s 

office. 

Police tried to rescue the 

three men but succeeded in 

pulling only one of them away 

from the mob. He died Saturday 

morning at a hospital. 

The incident occurred in 

the village of San Mateo Huitzilzingo, 

which has about 

firebrand, told conservatives meeting 

in Washington not to settle too quickly 

on a candidate, but to let them fight 

on. 

“We have all heard from these experts 

that we have to name our nominee 

right now. Wrap it up. No debate 

for you. Cut it off. As if competition 

weakens our nominee. 

“In America, we believe competition 

strengthens us. Competition elevates 

our game,” she said. “Competition 

will lead us to victory in 2012. 

I believe that the competition has to 

keep going.” 

A prolonged Republican nominating 

fight would be more likely to hurt 

Romney and help come-from-behind 

contenders like Santorum or House 

“When we took office, the economy 

was falling so fast that the first thing 

we had to do was put a bottom in... It 

cost money in terms of lost revenue and 

slower economic growth. We’re on track 

now,” Lew told ABC News. 

The White House said the funding 

gap will shrink to 2.8 per cent of GDP by 

2018, below the 3 per cent/GDP threshold 

that credit rating agencies and investors 

see as the goal for stabilising the growth 

in national debt as a share of the economy. 

Lew, who was the president’s chief 

budget adviser until a few weeks ago, 

said Congress and the administration 

are working this weekend to see 

if a compromise can be reached over 

extending the payroll tax cut for 

160 million Americans, which will expire 

on February 29 unless Congress 

acts. 

“They have two weeks now to do the 

important business so they don’t get in 

the way of our economic recovery,” he 

told NBC. The White House estimated 

extending the payroll tax cut for all of 

2012 could add a percentage point to 

growth this year. — Reuters 

Lula’s exam shows cancerous 

tumour disappeared: report 

Lula is scheduled to remain 

at the hospital until today, according 

to Brazilian media 

reports. 

The former president 

underwent a third round of 

chemotherapy in December. 

Doctors rejected a surgery 

option after the December 

chemotherapy treatment reduced 

the cancerous tumour 

by 75 per cent. 

A former lathe operator 

and union leader, Lula was the 

first leftist president in the history 

of Brazil. 

He served two consecutive 

terms of office between 

January 2003 and December 

2010. — AFP 

3 alleged kidnappers killed 

14,000 residents. 

Villagers said the men 

they attacked tried to kidnap 

a young man, the newspaper 

Reforma reported on its website. 

Some police officers who 

rushed to the scene were 

wounded, the report said. 

The State of Mexico prosecutor’s 

office condemned the 

attack and said it would not 

allow anyone to take “justice 

into their own hands.” — AFP 

THOUSANDS of Bolivian musicians dressed in colourful uniforms performed in Oruro, about 200 km south of La Paz, 

on Saturday. Trumpet music and beating drums reverberated through the streets of the Bolivian city of 

Oruro to kick off pre-Carnival festivities. — Reuters 

Romney candidacy gets boost with Maine win 

speaker Newt Gingrich. 

Still, participants in the CPAC meeting 

in Washington voted for Romney 

over Santorum, 38 per cent to 31 per 

cent. Gingrich came in third with 15 

per cent and Texas congressman Ron 

Paul last at 12 per cent. 

In the Maine caucuses, Romney 

won 39 per cent of the vote to 36 per 

cent for Paul, who spent much time 

campaigning in the state even though 

no delegates were at stake. 

Santorum received 18 per cent of 

the vote, and former House speaker 

Newt Gingrich won just eight per cent, 

party officials said. 

With only about 5,000 votes cast 

in the caucuses, Romney beat Paul by 

196 votes. — AFP

Gilani defends self 

in Zardari issue 

ISLAMABAD — Prime 

Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, 

in an interview broadcast 

on Saturday, said corruption 

charges against President Asif 

Ali Zardari were “politically 

motivated” and that the president 

had immunity as head of 

state. 

In the wide-ranging interview 

with Al Jazeera television, 

he also criticised US 

drone attacks near the Afghan 

border as counter-productive 

and said Pakistan never authorised 

them. 

Pakistan, he said, backed 

any Afghan-led peace plan to 

establish peace in the neighbouring 

country and in no 

way supported Taliban insurgents. 

Gilani’s statements were 

aired on the eve of a hearing 

at which the premier faces 

indictment for contempt of 

court over his refusal to request 

the reopening of corruption 

cases against the 

president, co-chairman of the 

premier’s Pakistan People’s 

Party (PPP). 

“There had been a lot of 

cases against him, and they 

were all politically motivated,” 

Gilani said, referring to 

Zardari. 

“He has got immunity. 

And he has not got immunity 

only in Pakistan, he has transnational 

immunity, even all 

over the world.” 

ISLAMABAD — It will be 

the “replay” of the previous 

appearance of Prime Minister 

Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani 

in the Supreme Court tomorrow 

(Monday) as he would 

be taking same number of 

the people with him that accompanied 

him last month 

when he appeared in contempt 

proceedings before the 

apex court. 

The prime minister, who 

has returned from Faisalabad 

after addressing a mammoth 

public gathering at Jaranwa- 

YANGON — The European 

Union Development Commissioner 

arrived in Myanmar 

yesterday where he 

is expected to announce a 

150-million-euro aid package 

to the former pariah state. 

Andris Piebalgs arrived in 

Yangon, and planned to travel 

to the capital of Naypyitaw 

today for talks with President 

Thein Sein and senior government 

officials. 

He is also scheduled to 

meet with opposition leader 

Aung San Suu Kyi tomorrow. 

Piebalgs’ trip is a response 

to several reforms that Thein 

Sein has initiated since coming 

to power in March. 

The former army general 

and member of the junta that 

“Whatever the charges 

that were levelled against 

him, he fought those cases in 

the court, he was exonerated,” 

Gilani said. 

Zardari and his late wife, 

prime minister Benazir 

Bhutto, were suspected of using 

Swiss bank accounts to 

launder about $12 million in 

alleged bribes paid by companies 

seeking customs inspection 

contracts in Pakistan in 

the 1990s. 

The Swiss shelved the 

cases in 2008, when Zardari 

became head of state, and a 

prosecutor in Switzerland has 

said it will be impossible to 

re-open them as long as he 

remains head of state and is 

immune from prosecution. 

Asked if he would rather 

resign for the sake of the 

president, Gilani said if convicted 

of contempt, he would 

automatically lose office. 

“There’s no need to step 

down,” he said. “If I’m convicted, 

then I’m not supposed 

to be a member of the parliament.” 

Gilani said authorities in 

Islamabad gave no approval 

for US drone strikes. 

“I want to inform you that 

we did not allow or give permission 

to fly drones from 

Pakistan,” he said. 

“Number two, drones are 

counter-productive. And we 

had discussed thoroughly 

la, had extensive discussions 

with legal experts about the 

case after returning here. 

Well-placed sources said 

that Gilani has asked his 

colleagues in the parliament 

to stay calm during and after 

his appearance in the 

court and they are required 

to demonstrate even better 

conduct during his presence 

in the highest court of the 

country. 

The Prime Minister Secretariat 

has dispatched the list 

of 44 persons to the authori- 

ruled Myanmar for two decades 

has taken a progressive 

tack since winning the November 

2010 election. 

He began political dialogue 

with Suu Kyi and paved 

the way for her party to contest 

a by-election scheduled 

on April 1. 

Thein Sein has also freed 

about 600 political prisoners, 

although hundreds more 

remain, and signed ceasefires 

with six ethnic minority insurgencies. 

“The momentum of 

change in Burma, Myanmar 

is impressive and the EU recognises 

the need to do all it 

can to support the country at 

this time,” Piebalgs said in 

Brussels prior to his departure. 

8 

THE PHILIPPINES/SUBCONTINENT 


with the US administration 

that we at times make a lot 

of efforts to very successfully 

isolate militants from the local 

tribes.” 

Drone attacks generated 

negative reaction, he said, 

with tribesmen in areas bordering 

Afghanistan. 

“Then the local tribes and 

the militants, they get united 

again,” he said. “They make 

our jobs extremely difficult. 

Then there is less political 

space for us.” 

Gilani also said he had 

“good relations” with the 

military “at the moment”. 

That was a reference to tensions 

pitting the government 

against the military over a 

controversial memo. 

Asked about the future 

of Afghanistan, Gilani said 

Pakistan would support any 

Afghan-led peace initiative 

and did not back the Afghan 

Taliban to take over. 

“We are not supporting 

them. It’s not our job. Why 

should we support them?” 

Gilani also said that regional 

rivals India and Pakistan 

could not afford more 

conflict and were ready to 

discuss the issues that have 

long hampered the normalisation 

of relations. 

“We have agreed to discuss 

all our core issues, including 

the issue of Kashmir,” he 

said. — Reuters 

PEOPLE take pictures as the hot air balloons take-off during the annual Hot Air Balloon 

Festival at Clark airbase, a former US base in Angeles city, Pampanga, north of Manila 

yesterday. At least 26 hot air balloons, including six specially shaped balloons took part in a 

four-day event, considered the biggest aviation event in the country, local media reported. 

Contempt case hearing today 

ties concerned who will be 

accompanying the premier 

during his appearance before 

the court. The number was 

43 when he appeared last 

time. The list also includes 

security personnel. 

The sources pointed out 

that Gilani has asked the Interior 

Ministry not to create 

undue dread on the occasion 

and arrangements should be 

made in the manner that the 

occasion must not become 

source of trouble for the people. 

— Internews 

EU development chief 

arrives in Myanmar 

He is expected to announce 

an aid package to 

support democratic reforms 

in the country. 

EU foreign ministers last 

month decided to waive visa 

bans on Myanmar’s leaders, 

but sanctions remain on dozens 

of members of the former 

military regime. 

The EU also bans investments 

in state-owned enterprises 

and has embargoes 

against arm exports to the 

country as well as imports 

of hardwood, gems and precious 

metal. 

On April 23, EU foreign 

ministers will “look at a 

possible new substantial reduction 

or even the ending 

of sanctions,” a diplomatic 

source in Brussels said. 


THREE Taliban fighters and two teenage would-be attackers are presented to media 

representatives with seized weapons in Kandahar yesterday. — AFP 

Two bodies recovered at Philippine 

quake site, 67 still missing 

MANILA — The death toll in 

a magnitude-6.9 earthquake in 

the central Philippines rose to 

41, with 67 people still missing 

and feared dead, the Office 

of Civil Defence said yesterday. 

The toll rose after rescue 

teams recovered two bodies 

from landslides caused by 

February 6 quake in Negros 

Oriental province, 570 kilometres 

south of Manila. 

The civil defence office 

said 28 were still missing in 

the village of Planas in Guihulngan 

City and 39 in the village 

of Solonggon in nearby 

La Libertad town. 

Rescue operations were be- 

YANGON — Myanmar’s 

president pledged to seek 

“lasting peace” with armed 

rebels and issued a plea for 

the nation’s support yesterday, 

as ethnic unrest continues to 

marr reforms. 

Thein Sein, a former general 

who came to power last 

year when outright military 

rule ended, has launched efforts 

to end decades of ethnic 

conflict as part a raft of 

landmark reforms in recent 

months. 

Myanmar’s quasi-civilian 

regime has reached tentative 

peace deals with several rebel 

ing hampered by strong aftershocks 

and intermittent heavy 

rains threatening to cause more 

landslides, authorities said. 

Civil defence chief Benito 

Ramos earlier said he feared 

the chance of finding survivors 

among the missing was 

slim because of the landslides. 

Captain Anacito Naz, civilmilitary 

operations chief of 

the army in the province, said 

heavy equipment had reached 

the two landslide sites to help 

in rescue operations. 

The military has also been 

distributing relief goods to 

more than 80,000 residents, 

who were staying in makeshift 

tents or evacuation centres for 

groups including in eastern 

Karen and Shan states, but 

fighting in Kachin which borders 

China in the north has 

created uncertainty over the 

progress of reconciliation efforts. 

“Participation of the entire 

national people is sorely 

needed to bring internal armed 

conflicts to an end and build 

lasting peace, and in nationbuilding 

endeavours,” Thein 

Sein said in a message carried 

by state media. 

The address for Union 

Day, which marks the signing 

of a historic agreement with 

fear the aftershocks would 

cause their houses to collapse. 

The quake destroyed more 

than 5,600 houses, while partially 

damaged 5,002. 

Many roads cracked while 

three key bridges in the province 

collapsed. 

Damages caused by the 

tremor were estimated to cost 

at least 365.36 million pesos 

($8.69 million), the OCD said. 

The Philippines, located 

along the Pacific “Ring of 

Fire,” suffered its worst earthquake 

in 1990 when a 7.7-magnitude 

tremor killed nearly 

2,000 people on the northern 

island of Luzon. — dpa 

New labour law aims to keep 

children away from harm 

ISLAMABAD — The provincial 

labour department will 

draft a new law prohibiting 

child labour that will replace 

the existing Employment of 

Children Act (ECA) 1991, 

according to a press release 

yesterday. 

The proposed new law 

which is in compliance with 

the ILO Conventions No. 138 

and No. 182, will ban the employment 

of children below 

14 years of age, and also restrict 

the employment of chil- 

dren less than 18 years of age 

in hazardous occupations and 

processes. 

This has been agreed to at a 

two-day workshop organised 

by the ILO with the financial 

assistance of the European 

Union. The workshop was 

facilitated by a technical team 

led by Chief Technical Adviser 

of the Combating Abusive 

Child Labour II Project, Sujeewa 

Fonseka. 

The goal of this consultation 

was to enable officials 

of Child Labour Units (CLU) 

from four provincial labour 

departments, to jointly formulate 

and enact legislation to 

prohibit and regulate employment 

of children and adolescents 

in Pakistan. 

The existing ECA 1991 

is not in line with Pakistan’s 

commitment made on the ratified 

ILO Convention 138 on 

Minimum Age of Employment 

and Convention 182 on 

Worst Forms of Child Labour. 

— Internews 

Pledge to end conflict 

the country’s disparate ethnic 

minority groups in 1947, said 

the government was “determined 

to keep on promoting 

democracy peacefully”. 

He said people would be 

“overjoyed” to see democratic 

elections and “equal participation 

in state affairs”, reiterating 

a vow to focus on good 

governance and improve the 

rule of law. 

The regime has won cautious 

applause — and a slight 

lifting of Western sanctions 

— for reforms including the 

release of political prisoners. 

— AFP 

PEOPLE watch horse fighting in the town of Kidapawan, North Cotabato, in the 

southern island of Mindanao yesterday as part of celebrations marking the 14th founding 

anniversary of the city. The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called on 

local officials in Mindanao to scrap the practice of featuring horse fighting as one of the 

highlights during celebrations, saying it is a centuries-old barbaric tradition. — AFP 

Four Tajiks killed in 

Afghan copter crash 

KABUL — Four Tajiks were killed when a civilian helicopter 

contracted to carry supplies to foreign forces crashed in southern 

Afghanistan, officials said yesterday. 

The helicopter went down in Shinkay district of Zabul 

province late on Saturday killing all on board, deputy provincial 

governor Mohammad Jan Rasuli said. 

“Last night, a civilian helicopter contracted by (Nato’s 

International Security Assistance Force) went down due to 

technical problems,” he said, adding that the crew were from 

Tajikistan. But the Taliban in an online statement claimed its 

fighters had shot down the helicopter. 

The Russian-made EY-106 helicopter belonged to the global 

logistic company Supreme Group, which provides services 

for the international troops stationed in the war-torn country. 

The company in a statement said that four crew members 

of the helicopter who were killed in the Saturday crash were 

Tajik nationals. 

The helicopter was transporting food and water, it said. 

“Investigations as to the cause of the crash are ongoing but 

no other parties appear to have been involved in the incident,” 

the company said. 

A spokesman for ISAF confirmed the crash and that the 

helicopter was contracted to deliver supplies to foreign forces 

in southern Afghanistan. He added there was no hostile activity 

reported in the area. — Agencies 

Cross-border kidnapping, 

murder reported: officials 

QUETTA, Pakistan — Afghan security forces kidnapped two 

Pakistanis in southwestern Baluchistan province in Pakistan and 

later killed them, officials said yesterday. 

Some two dozen Afghan security force officers crossed the 

border into southwestern Pakistan on Friday and kidnapped the 

two Pakistanis, taking them back into Afghanistan, secretary of 

tribal affairs Naseebullah Bazai said. 

“Two Pakistanis were taken away by Afghan forces and shot 

dead inside Afghanistan,” Bazai said, adding that the government 

had called an immediate meeting with the Afghan Consulate 

General in Quetta. 

“We have demanded immediate return of bodies and we 

shall lodge a strong protest with Afghanistan on Monday,” he 

said and added that the foreign ministry had been alerted about 

the incident. Local intelligence officials confirmed the incident. 

TV bomb kills seven 

near Peshawar: police 

PESHAWAR — A bomb hidden in a television set exploded in 

a house in northwest Pakistan early yesterday, killing at least 

seven people, in an attack police believe was part of a local 

feud. 

The blast took place in a neighbourhood on the outskirts of 

Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which 

borders Afghanistan. 

“At least seven people, two children, one woman and four 

men, were killed in a bomb blast which took place inside a 

house,” senior police official Kalam Khan said. 

Three others were wounded in the blast, he added. 

Initial investigations showed the bomb was planted in a 

rented television set which exploded in a guest room of the 

house, Khan said. 

“The attack appears to be motivated by some personal dispute 

or enmity,” he said. — AFP 

Gunmen shoot dead 

judge and his son 

KABUL — An Afghan judge and his 8-year-old son have been 

killed in an attack by unknown gunmen, a government spokesman 


Abdul Basir, a judge at the appeals court in the volatile eastern 

province of Kunar, was travelling in Nangarhar province 

with his family at the time of the attack, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai 

from the provincial governor’s office. 

Two women and three children were injured in the attack 

that took place in the Chino area of Khogyani district, he said. 

According to a witness, two motorcyclists opened fire on 

their vehicle and fled. 

Basir died at the scene, while his son died in hospital. 

Dozens of government officials and pro-government tribal 

elders have been targeted by the armed opposition groups and 

Taliban militants in the recent years. — dpa 

Pakistan Railways looking 

for private sector funds 

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Railways (PR) plans to target 

private sector for funds. It has recently decided to enter into 

joint ventures with the private sector. 

Among its new plans, four of its hospitals in the country 

will be handed over to private sector as medical teaching 

institutions in private or semi-government sector. The aim 

is to upgrade these hospitals to the level of teaching and tertiary 

healthcare centres as per requirements and standards 

of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). 

Chief medical and health officer of Pakistan Railways 

Dr Sibte Hassan Gardezi said the process of involving private 

and semi-government institutions under the public-private 

partnership mode has been started. Within next three 

months, the management of the hospitals will be transferred 

to the partner organisations, it was expected. 

The PR hospitals include 30-bed hospital in Peshawar, 

210-bed Cairns hospital in Lahore, 84-bed hospital in Multan 

and the 120-bed Hassan hospital in Karachi. 

Pakistan Railways has eight major hospitals in the country, 

and progressing on the mode of engaging private sector, 

its remaining hospitals in Quetta and Sukkur may also land 

in the hands of private sector. 

In a similar move, the department decided to seek the 

help of private companies for improving its Rawalpindi and 

Golra railway stations and the railway reservation office. 

Sources said the move was meant to improve the condition 

of the two railway stations and railway reservation 

office. 

The railway divisional office, Rawalpindi, had requested 

the authorities in Lahore to release funds for improving the 

conditions at the stations. The division was asked to involve 

private firms for refurbishing the railway stations. In return, 

they would be offered to display their billboards and advertisements 

on the platforms. — Internews

9 REGION 



LEBANESE soldiers secure an area in the neighbourhood of Bab al Tabbaneh in the northern city of Tripoli yesterday following fierce clashes between Lebanese hostile 

to Syria’s government and others who support it. Right: Syrian soldiers who defected to join the Free Syrian Army are seen in Jerjenaz, near Idlib. — Reuters 

Arab League ends Syrian mission 

Seeks joint UN force Calls for providing all forms of political and material support to the opposition 

CAIRO — The Arab League 

called yesterday for the UN 

Security Council to send a 

joint UN-Arab peacekeeping 

mission to Syria and decided 

to scrap its own monitoring 

team, according to a resolution 

approved by ministers and obtained 

by Reuters. 

Arab ministers met in Cairo 

to revive diplomatic efforts after 

Russia and China vetoed a 

UN resolution that called for 

President Bashar al Assad to 

step aside. That resolution was 

based on an Arab peace plan 

and had Western backing. 

The Arab League called 

for “opening communication 

channels with the Syrian 

opposition and providing all 

forms of political and material 

support to it”. It also urged the 

opposition to unify its ranks. 

As part of the Arab efforts, 

Tunisia said it would host the 

first meeting on February 24 

of a “Friends of Syria” contact 

group made up of Arab 

and other states and backed by 

Western powers. 

“How long will we stay as 

onlookers to what is happening 

to the brotherly Syrian people, 

and how much longer will we 

grant the Syrian government 

one period after another so it 

can commit more massacres 

against its people?” Saudi Foreign 

Minister Saud al Faisal 

asked ministers at the start of 

the League session. 

“At our meeting today I call 

for decisive measures, after the 

failure of the half-solutions,” 

he said. “The Arab League 

should ... open all channels of 

communication with the Syrian 

opposition and give all 

forms of support to it.” 

The resolution said Arabs 

would scrap their monitoring 

mission which had been sent 

to Syria in late December but 

which was criticised by Syria’s 

opposition as ineffective from 

the outset. It also faced internal 

dissent and logistical prob- 

lems. 

The Sudanese general leading 

the observers quit yesterday. 

“I won’t work one more 

time in the framework of the 

Arab League,” General Mohammed 

al Dabi, whose appointment 

had been criticised 

because of Sudan’s own rights 

record, said. 

“I performed my job with 

full integrity and transparency 

but I won’t work here again 

as the situation is skewed,” he 

added. 

In place of the Arab team, 

the League called for the UN 

Security Council to issue a resolution 

setting up a joint UN- 

Arab peacekeeping mission to 

go to Syria. 

League chief Nabil al Araby 

has already proposed such 

a joint mission to the UN secretary-general 

but the plan has 

drawn lukewarm support from 

diplomats at the United Nations 

in New York. The United 

Egypt detains Australian 

journalist, US student 

CAIRO — Egyptian authorities 

have detained an Australian 

journalist and an American 

student on suspicion they had 

distributed cash to workers 

and incited them to take part 

in a strike demanding an end 

to army rule, the state news 

agency said. 

The pair was detained on 

Saturday along with their 

Egyptian translator and a local 

labour activist in the industrial 

city of Al Mahalla al Kubra 

north of Cairo. 

They were referred to the 

prosecutor general for investigation, 

the agency said. It 

identified the American student 

as Derek Ludovici and 

the Australian journalist as 

Austin Mackell. The labour 

activist was named as Kamal 

el Fayoumi. 

The Australian Foreign 

Ministry said an Australian national 

was detained in Mahalla 

and that the embassy in Cairo 

was seeking advice from Egyptian 

police on possible charges 

arising from the arrest. 

The ministry did not confirm 

the name of the detainee. 

“Consular officials from 

the Australian embassy in Cairo 

have spoken to the man ... 

He has confirmed he is being 

treated appropriately by local 

police authorities,” the Australian 

Foreign Ministry said 

in a statement. 

Meanwhile, three South 

Separatists set fire to 

Yemen protest camp 

ADEN — Southern separatists in Yemen set fire to a tent camp 

housing anti-government protesters in the port city of Aden, 

witnesses said yesterday, in opposition to an election this 

month to replace outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh. 

Southern separatists joined protesters calling for Saleh to 

leave last year, but the two sides have since grown apart. 

The separatists want to revive a southern socialist state that 

was united with the north in 1990. They fear the February 21 

election will not serve their goal. 

Anti-Saleh demonstrators broadly back the vote as a step 

towards ending his 33-year rule. 

Witnesses said hundreds of separatists marched through 

Aden late on Saturday, setting fire to tents in the camp of about 

100 protesters. About 10 people were injured. 

Weakened by months of protests, the Yemeni government 

has lost control of whole chunks of the country. 

Northern dissidents have said they too will boycott the 

vote, in which acting leader Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi is the 

sole candidate to fill Saleh’s position. 

Meanwhile, activists executed early yesterday three men 

they accused of giving the United States information used to 

carry out drone strikes in the area, a spokesman for the group 

said in a text message. 

Al Qaeda’s Yemen branch, strongly active in the south of 

the nation, executed two of its members yesterday accusing 

them of spying on its operations, witnesses said. 

The pair was accused of planting tracking devices in the 

vehicles of fellow Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula militants 

and of providing Yemeni authorities, and the Saudi and US 

intelligence services, with information. 

They were publicly shot dead in front of dozens of residents 

after the accusations against them were read out, the witnesses 

said. — Reuters/AFP 

Koreans released by armed 

Bedouin in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula 

after a day-long seizure 

said they were unharmed 

and would continue a religious 

trip, a report said yesterday. 

The three South Koreans, 

two men and a female tour 

guide, were kidnapped on Friday 

along with an Egyptian 

guide while returning from the 

historic monastery of St Catherine. 

Earlier reports had said 

the tourists were all women. 

They were part of a group 

of 31 tourists visiting Christian 

pilgrimage sites. It was 

not immediately clear whether 

the Bedouin’s demand was 

met. — Reuters/AFP 

States and Germany said they 

were studying it. 

The resolution said violence 

against civilians in Syria 

had violated international law 

and “perpetrators deserve punishment”. 

It also reaffirmed a 

call for Arabs to implement 

economic sanctions on Syria 

and decided on ending diplomatic 

co-operation with Damascus. 

Analysts and diplomats say 

sanctions that Arabs agreed to 

impose last year had limited 

impact so far because Iraq and 

other neighbours have not implemented 

them. 

Although the ministers lent 

their support to the opposition, 

the resolution did not recognise 

the opposition. 

Tunisian Foreign Minister 

Rafik Ben Abdessalem told 

reporters that recognising the 

Syrian National Council was 

“premature and requires the 

opposition get unified”. 

Earlier he had told minis- 

ters: “The Syrian people deserve 

freedom as much as their 

brothers in Tunisia, Egypt, 

Libya and other Arab states 

that witnessed major political 

change.” 

Ben Abdessalem also announced 

that Tunisia would 

host the meeting of “Friends 

of Syria”, a plan proposed 

by France and the United 

States after Russia and China 

blocked the Security Council 

resolution. 

Qatari Prime Minister 

Shaikh Hamad bin Jassim 

al Thani said the new forum 

would provide “a good opportunity 

to try to create a clear 

international direction to help 

the Syrian people to exit the 

crisis”. 

Egypt’s news agency said 

Al Araby had proposed appointing 

former Jordanian 

minister and UN envoy to 

Libya, Abdel Elah al Khatib, 

as the League’s special envoy 

to Syria. But a source in the 

meeting said Khatib’s name 

was not put forward. 

The Saudi minister criticised 

the Security Council’s 

failure to back the Arab plan 

for Syria. 

Al Araby said the veto, 

cause of much Arab frustration, 

exposed the failings of 

the Council’s voting system. 

The League resolution expressed 

the “disappointment 

towards the Russia and Chinese 

stance which used a veto 

against supporting the Arab 

peace plan”. 

Diplomats at the United 

Nations said Saudi Arabia had 

circulated a new draft resolution 

backing the Arab plan for 

the General Assembly, rather 

than the Security Council, to 

consider. Assembly resolutions 

are non-binding but cannot 

be vetoed. 

However, Riyadh denied 

yesterday reports that it had formally 

presented the resolution 

to the assembly. — Reuters 

AIN Draham village after a snowfall in north-western Tunisia yesterday. This week all 

roads that led right to the north and northwest of Tunisia were cut off by snow. — AFP 

Iran warns Hamas against any 

‘compromise’ with Israel 

TEHRAN — Iran’s supreme 

leader Ali Khamenei yesterday 

warned Hamas against 

any “compromise” in its fight 

against Israel, his official website 

reported. 

“Always be wary of infiltration 

by the compromisers 

in a resistance organisation, 

which will gradually weaken 

it,” Khamenei told the visiting 

Hamas Gaza Prime Minister 

Ismail Haniya, according to 

the leader.ir website. 

“We have no doubt about 

your resistance and that of 

many of your brothers, and the 

people only have this expectation 

of you,” said Khamenei, 

reaffirming that Iran “will always 

be alongside the Palestinian 

resistance.” 

Khamenei’s comments 

come as divisions within Hamas 

have emerged on a possible 

overhaul of the organisation’s 

strategy. 

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal 

signed an agreement 

with Palestinian President 

Mahmud Abbas earlier this 

month placing Abbas at the 

head of an interim government 

charged with organising elections 

later this year. 

The agreement struck by 

Meshaal’s foreign-based leadership 

with Abbas’s Fatah faction 

has run into serious opposition 

from Hamas members 

inside the Gaza Strip, which 

the movement has controlled 

since ousting the president’s 

loyalists in 2007. 

In November, Meshaal 

called for “peaceful popular 

resistance,” which would represent 

a shift in the movement 

away from armed struggle. 

He also expressed support 

for the establishment of a 

Palestinian state on territories 

occupied in 1967 in the West 

Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem 

as its capital. 

Haniya was quoted as telling 

Khamenei that the goal of 

Hamas remained “freedom of 

all the Palestinian land from 

the (Mediterranean) Sea to 

the (Jordan) river, the refusal 

of peace talks and the Islamic 

character of the Palestinian 

struggle.” 

On Saturday, Haniya said 

in a speech in Tehran that 

Hamas “will never recognise 

Israel.” 

“They want us to recognise 

the Israeli occupation and 

cease resistance but, as the 

representative of the Palestinian 

people and in the name of 

all the world’s freedom seekers, 

I am announcing from 

Azadi Square in Tehran that 

we will never recognise Israel,” 

Haniya said. 

Israel, which views Hamas 

as a terrorist organisation and 

Iran as its sponsor and weapons 

supplier, has warned Fatah 

against efforts to reconcile 

with the movement. 

Meanwhile, senior Hamas 

official Mahmud Zahar 

slammed a Palestinian unity 

deal as a “mistake” that has 

thrown the movement into 

crisis, in an interview with 

Egypt’s official Mena agency 

published yesterday. 

The decision to have Abbas 

head the government “is a 

mistake,” Zahar said. “No one 

inside the Hamas movement 

was consulted.” 

The deal signed in Qatar 

ends a long-running disagreement 

over the premiership 

that stalled Palestinian reconciliation, 

but Zahar said that 

“practically it cannot be implemented.” 

“If the consultations took 

place among the small circle 

around the political bureau 

(headed by Meshaal abroad), 

then this is unacceptable.” 

The agreement “needs to 

be reviewed, so Hamas leaders 

at home and abroad will meet 

over the issue in the coming 

two days.” 

He said after a series of discussions 

with Hamas officials 

and MPs “we found that many 

feel there is a real crisis.” 

The agreement struck 

by Meshaal’s foreign-based 

leadership with Abbas’s secular 

Fatah faction has run into 

serious opposition from Hamas 

members inside the Gaza 

Strip, which the movement 

has controlled since ousting 

the president’s loyalists in 

2007. — AFP 

Turkey hits PKK 

targets in N Iraq 

ANKARA — Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes on suspected 

Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq overnight, Turkey’s 

general staff said yesterday. 

In a brief statement on its website, it said warplanes had 

struck the Zab and Hakurk areas, targeting caves and hideouts 

belonging to the “separatist terror organisation”, a term used 

by the government to describe the Kurdistan Workers Party 

(PKK). 

The general staff did not say whether the strikes had caused 

any casualties. It said all its planes had returned safely to their 

bases after completing their mission “successfully”. 

Kirmanj Azaat Suliyman, mayor of the Sorran district in 

the northern Iraqi city of Arbil, confirmed areas along the border 

with Turkey had been bombed on Saturday night, and said 

there were no reports of casualties. 

On December 28, Turkish warplanes killed 35 civilian 

smugglers in northern Iraq after mistaking them for Kurdish 

militants. 

Turkey has stepped up air operations on suspected PKK 

dissidents in northern Iraq over the past six months after an 

increase in PKK attacks on Turkish security forces inside Turkey. 

The raids have fuelled tension between Turkey and the 

semi-autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq and triggered protests 

in northern Iraq and in Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish 

southeast. 

Relations between Ankara and Iraq’s central government in 

Baghdad have also become strained over the past few weeks. 

Turkey fears Iraq is heading towards sectarian war while Baghdad 

has accused Ankara of meddling in its affairs. 

The new wave of Turkish strikes, which began in August, 

was the first in more than a year on suspected PKK dissident 

bases in Iraq, and marked an escalation of the conflict that has 

spanned nearly three decades. 

More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK 

took up arms for Kurdish self-rule in 1984. 

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the 

United States and the European Union. 

The December 28 incident, which Turkey’s largest pro- 

Kurdish party, the BDP, called a “crime against humanity”, 

sparked clashes between hundreds of stone-throwing protesters 

and police in Diyarbakir, the largest city in Turkey’s restive 

southeast. 

The incident threatens to spoil efforts to forge Turkish- 

Kurdish consensus for a planned new constitution expected to 

partly address the issue of rights for the Kurdish minority. 

Ankara says it is conducting a full investigation into the 

attack and the BDP has referred the incident to the UN human 

rights committee and the International Criminal Court (ICC) 

in The Hague, a move it says is aimed to avoid a government 

cover-up. 

With most Turks favouring a hardline military response 

against the PKK, the incident is unlikely to hurt the popularity 

of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who won a third 

term in office in a June vote. 

Earlier this month, the Turkish military said it had 

bombed militant targets in northern Iraq and that Turkish security 

forces had killed five Kurdish insurgents in Turkey’s 

southeastern Batman province after discovering them hiding 

in a cave. — Reuters 

Bahrain king dismisses 

opposition as disunited 

MAMAMA — Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa dismissed 

the country’s opposition movement as disunited and said 

the threat of Iran had compelled him to call in foreign troops to 

crush last year’s uprising. 

“In a sense there is no ‘opposition’ in Bahrain, as the phrase 

implies one unified block with the same views,” the king said in 

extracts from an interview with Der Spiegel. 

“Such a phrase is not in our constitution, unlike say the 

United Kingdom. We only have people with different views and 

that’s okay,” he said in the article. The king said the protesters’ 

refrain “Down with Hamad”, sounded by trumpets and car 

horns and chanted at rallies, was simply a case of bad manners 

and no reason to imprison people. 

But he said chants in favour of Iran’s Supreme Ruler Ali 

Khamenei were a concern, echoing the government’s charge 

that Iran helped foment the uprising which, it says, had sectarian 

motives. 

“It’s just a case of manners. But when they shout ‘Down with 

the king and up with Khamenei’ that’s a problem for national 

unity,” he said. The king said he brought in emergency law to 

protect women and expatriates, some of whom were attacked. 

“Also our women were very scared and it is the duty of a gentleman 

to protect women, so I had to protect them.” — Reuters 

Central bank ups dollar 

supply after gold sale 

KHARTOUM — Sudan’s central bank is increasing dollar 

supplies to local banks to stop a slide of the Sudanese pound 

after it generated more than $300 million from gold sales, a 

central bank official said yesterday. 

The African country is undergoing a severe economic crisis 

after losing three-quarters of its oil production when South Sudan 

became independent in July under a 2005 peace deal. Oil 

is the lifeline of both economies. 

Sudan has avoided an Arab spring like Egypt or Tunisia 

but the economic crisis has sparked small protests against high 

food price inflation. 

The pound hit a historic low on the black market last week 

after losing more than 70 per cent of its value since July as the 

loss of oil has cut off the main source of dollars. 

“The central bank has sold 6.5 tonnes of gold since January 

which has generated more than $300 million,” central bank 

spokesman Hazem Abdul-Qadir said. 

“Therefore we are increasing dollar supplies to banks and 

foreign exchange offices,” he said. 

He gave no figures but said dollar supplies would top the 

$35 million banks currently get per week from the central 

bank. 

He said Sudan had managed to get some foreign aid but declined 

to elaborate. Sudanese media have said that Qatar will 

grant a substantial loan but nothing has been confirmed so far. 

Sudan is locked in a row with South Sudan over oil payments 

as the landlocked new nation needs to export its crude 

through northern facilities. 

Both sides have failed to agree on a transit fee. South Sudan 

shut down its entire output last month after Sudan seized 

southern oil as compensation for what it calls unpaid fees. 

Sudan hopes rising gold exports will replace oil revenues 

but experts are sceptical since much of the gold comes from 

small-scale miners whose output is hard to verify. — Reuters

NEWS IN BRIEF 

Tamil Nadu to sign MoUs 

with Japanese firms: Jaya 

TAMIL Nadu Chief Minister J 

Jayalalithaa yesterday said her 

government would soon sign Memoranda 

of Understanding (MoU) with a couple 

of Japanese companies willing to invest 

in production bases in Tamil Nadu. 

Inaugurating the plant of Toshiba JSW 

Turbine & Generator Pvt Ltd in Chennai, 

she said: "At present some large Japanese 

companies are considering substantial 

investments in Tamil Nadu. My 

government will soon sign MoUs with 

these companies." 

She said Japanese companies had been 

evincing interest mainly in the manufacturing 

sector where Tamil Nadu is a 

leading state. "The auto sector accounts 

for about 60 per cent of Japanese foreign 

direct investment in Tamil Nadu. I am 

confident that Chennai will emerge as the 

world's largest auto cluster," Jayalalithaa 

said. 

Four workers electrocuted 

during poll campaigning 

IN a freak accident, four Nationalist 

Congress Party (NCP) workers were 

electrocuted yesterday when the party 

flag one of them was holding came in 

touch with an overhead electric wire, 

a party official said. The four were 

participating in an election campaign in 

Thane ahead of the upcoming civic polls 

in Maharashtra. 

“The incident occurred this morning 

when the victims were preparing for 

a candidate’s procession. Ten people 

suffered from severe electric shock, 

four of who were killed immediately,” 

Thane NCP Chief Jitendra Avhad said. 

“The party workers raised a party flag, 

which accidentally touched the overhead 

electric wire. The current immediately 

passed on to the metal pole on which the 

flag was tied,” Avhad added. According 

to eyewitness, the person who raised 

the party flag received massive electric 

shock and the ones who tried to rescue 

him also suffered the shock. 

Maramon convention 

gets under way 

THE Maramon Convention got 

underway yesterday afternoon on the 

banks of the Pampa river. The weeklong 

event will see around three million 

people attending and will be addressed 

by prominent speakers from across the 

world. Philipose Mar Chrysostum, senior 

metropolitan, of the Mar Thoma Church 

led the opening worship of the 117th 

edition of the convention. 

Maramon is situated on the banks 

of the Pampa river, about 20 km from 

Thiruvalla and the convention takes 

place on the river bed under a temporary 

shed made out of coconut leaves, which 

can seat a lakh of people. A record three 

million believers are expected to visit the 

convention. 

Online tutorial for entrance 

examinations launched 

WITH the entrance exams for 

professional courses just a few months 

away, Technopark-based Oztern 

Technology in Thiruvananthapuram has 

developed an online tutorial for students 

appearing for engineering and medical 

exams. For it has joined hands with one 

of the most sought-after educational 

training institutes, that of P C Thomas. 

The tutorial would be made available 

through all the 2,200 state-run Akshaya 

IT centres. 

Saiju V Stella, CEO of Oztern 

said, “Now, students have the added 

convenience of visiting their nearest 

Akshaya centre to practise or purchase 

this valuable P C Thomas Online Crash 

Course Entrance course. Students can 

also purchase a subscription for this crash 

course from www.EntranceWisdom.com. 

There are around 40,000 seats in the 

professional colleges in the state and this 

time, more than 100,000 students have 

already registered to take the entrance 

examination in April. 

Five killed in West Bengal 

road accident 

FIVE people, mostly labourers, were 

killed and nine others injured yesterday 

in West Bengal’s Bankura district when 

their vehicle collided head on with 

another vehicle, police said in Kolkata. 

Two women were among the dead in 

the accident on Tarapith Station Road. 

Three of them died at the spot and two at 

a nearby hospital, police said. — IANS 

NEW DELHI — The proposed 

National Food Security 

Bill (NFSB) will not entail 

“large” financial implications 

for the government, Minister 

of State for Food, Public 

Distribution and Consumer 

Affairs K V Thomas said 

yesterday. 

“The additional financial 

implication of the NFSB is 

not going to be large,” said 

Thomas at the All-India Editors’ 

Conference on Social 

Sector Issues (ECSSI) in 

Puducherry on Saturday, according 

to an official release. 

Explaining his point, the 

minister said that with the 

current coverage and entitlement 

and taking into account 

estimated allocations under 

other welfare schemes, the 

food subsidy bill for financial 

year 2012-13 is expected to 

be about Rs 88,997 crore. 

The major impact of NFSB 

will be in terms of food subsidy, 

which is estimated to be 

additional Rs 23,228 crore in 

2012-13, he said. 

According to Thomas, if 

the government were to just 

update the coverage under 

Targeted Public Distribution 

System (TPDS) using 

2011 census provisional data, 

the food subsidy will be Rs 

109,795 crore. 

With the estimated subsidy 

requirement under the NFSB 

at Rs 112,205 crore, the minister 

said this was an addition 

of just Rs 2,410 crore. 

Finance Minister Pranab 

Mukherjee had resaid he was 

“losing sleep” over the rising 

subsidy bill of the country, 

including the proposed right 

to food law. 

10 INDIA 



Food security bill burden 

won’t be ‘large’: minister 

The major impact will be in terms of food subsidy 

‘Maya responsible for 

plight of women in UP’ 

JAUNPUR — Congress leader 

Rahul Gandhi yesterday 

blamed Uttar Pradesh Chief 

Minister Mayawati for the 

sorry plight of women in the 

state. 

“Even though this state is 

ruled by a woman chief minister, 

there is no one to hear 

the voice of women,” Gandhi 

said, addressing a pubic rally 

in this Uttar Pradesh district 

where polling is due on Feb 

ruary 15 in the third phase 

of the seven-phase assembly 

election. 

“With a view to ensuring 

participation of women right 

down to the grassroots level, 

the Congress made it a point 

to give reservation to women 

in panchayats, but that is not 

being implemented in the 

true spirit in this state,” he alleged. 

Citing a examples of injustice 

to women in the state, 

Gandhi said: “I was told by 

an old woman how her agricultural 

land was forcibly 

acquired for some builders. 

When the builder demanded 

immediate vacation of the 

plot, the woman complained 

to the local police station but 

to no avail. 

“Police not only refused 

NEW DELHI — As the number 

of middle-income families going 

on domestic vacations and business 

travellers on a tight budget 

keeps rising, international hoteliers 

are rushing in to capture the 

mid-market segment bridging the 

gap between luxury and budget 

hotels in India. 

The concept of mid-market 

hotels is relatively new to India. 

Industry experts say there exists 

a whole range of tourists between 

the budget travellers and 

the well-heeled. 

The bulk of leisure travellers 

are from the middle class and 

a large proportion of corporate 

travellers in India is mid-level 

executives. They want all the 

trappings of a luxury hotel but at 

an affordable price. 

to intervene but even went 

to the extent of setting fire to 

the standing crop on the poor 

woman’s land,” he alleged. 

Stressing he was not here 

to make promises like other 

political parties, he said: 

“When one has clear intentions, 

he need not make promises. 

I have not come here to 

make promises but to take UP 

on the path for change and I 

am sure that we will win this 

battle.” 

“Ask Mayawati and (Samajwadi 

Party chief) Mulayam 

Singh Yadav whether 

they cared to visit any village 

in the last five years, but 

when they go about addressing 

election rallies, they were 

busy making tall promises,” 

he said, adding he wondered 

why they had not done so 

when in power. 

Flaying successive non- 

Congress governments in Uttar 

Pradish where Congress 

had been out of power for 22 

years, Gandhi asserted he was 

committed to the cause of Uttar 

Pradesh’s development. 

“And I will not budge 

from here. Let me tell you 

that when I choose to take up 

something, I do not leave it 

halfway,” he said. 

“With companies continuing 

to be more cost-conscious, and 

leisure travellers looking for value-for-money 

options that do not 

compromise on quality, there is a 

clear gap in the mid-scale market,” 

said Chris Moloney, chief 

operating officer, South West 

Asia, Intercontinental Hotels 

Group (IHG). 

One of the key drivers behind 

the booming Indian tourism, 

Moloney said, was the burgeoning 

numbers of middle class 

“which has incredible headroom 

for growth”. 

A recent survey by the Confederation 

of Indian Industry and 

PricewaterhouseCoopers also 

identified the mid-market and 

budget segments as growth areas. 

Thomas further said the 

perception of some states that 

the coverage under TPDS 

provided in the bill is restrictive 

and will come in the 

way of universal PDS being 

implemented by them is misplaced. 

He said the rural development 

ministry and Planning 

Commission will consult the 

states to arrive at a consensus 

on the methodology that will 

seek to ensure that no poor 

or deprived household is excluded 

from coverage under 

different government programmes 

and schemes. 

The National Food Security 

Bill, a dream project 

of United Progressive Alliance 

chairperson Sonia 

Gandhi, is currently before a 

parliamentary standing committee. 

— IANS 

Special rural 

roads scheme 

for northeast 

GUWAHATI — A central 

rural roads scheme would 

be specially tailored for the 

northeastern states, where 

the low population in habitations 

prevents the launch of 

new projects, Minister for 

Rural Development Jairam 

Ramesh said yesterday. 

The ministry is going to 

add a special dispensation 

in the Pradhan Mantri Gram 

Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in 

the northeastern states in 

view of their topographical 

difference with the rest of the 

country, Ramesh said here. 

“The primary objective 

of the PMGSY is to provide 

connectivity to unconnected 

habitations with a population 

of 250 persons and above. 

However, the population is 

below 250 in a majority of 

the habitations in hilly states 

of the region,” he said. 

In Arunachal Pradesh, the 

population was less than 250 

in 76 per cent of the state’s 

total habitations, he said. 

“Nagaland too faces a 

similar problem. So, we 

need to add a special dispensation 

in the PMGSY in the 

northeastern states for better 

implementation. — IANS 

A DRIVER cleans a car during a vintage car parade in New Delhi yesterday. More than 

60 vintage automobiles were on display and flagged off during the 46th car rally. — AFP 

IHG has signed a joint venture 

with Duet India Hotels Group 

(DIHL) to develop 19 new Holiday 

Inn Express hotels in more 

than 12 key cities by 2016 to cater 

to this segment. 

“We have taken 24 per cent 

equity stake, making a multi-year 

investment of $30 million into 

the partnership,” said Moloney. 

According to the data released 

by the government’s tourism department, 

740.21 million Indians 

travelled inside the country in 

2010 (up by 18.8 per cent against 

2009) while foreign tourist arrivals 

(FTAs) were 5.78 million (up 

by 11.8 per cent against 2009). 

These numbers are expected to 

go up to 1,451.46 million and 

11.24 million respectively by the 

end of 12th Plan. 

GIRLS walk beneath a row of parched tress on a winter day in Jammu yesterday. — Reuters 

Railways running into 

big earnings shortfall 

NEW DELHI — With passenger 

fares on a freeze for years and little 

money to expand the world’s 

second largest railroad network under 

a single management, Minister 

Dinesh Trivedi has an unenviable 

task when he presents the annual 

Railway Budget on March 14. 

Poor financial management 

over the past few years has left 

Indian Railways staring at an earnings 

shortfall of Rs 7,000 crore 

despite gross budgetary support of 

Rs 20,000 crore last year and a Rs 

3,000-crore loan approved by the 

finance ministry on February 6. 

“Revision of passenger fares is 

long overdue. The railways need to 

invest in additional lines and build 

more rakes,” former Railway Board 

chairman R K Singh said even as 

experts said populist measures of 

the Trinamool Congress have held 

the railways hostage. 

As per estimates, a 25 per cent 

fare hike can generate Rs 12,500 

crore and is crucial to Indian Railways 

that runs 10,500 trains and 

ferries 22 million passengers daily 

over 114,000 track km. The fares 

were last hiked in 2002-03. 

“It is an unprecedented situation,” 

a senior railway official com- 

Baby Falak back on 

ventilator, still critical 

NEW DELHI — After showing 

marginal improvement in her condition, 

two-year-old baby Falak is 

back on the ventilator after difficulty 

in breathing, doctors at the 

All India Institute of Medical Sciences 

(AIIMS) said yesterday. 

The baby was abandoned in a 

battered condition at the AIIMS 

over three weeks ago. 

“The baby was put off the ventilator 

as the chest infection had 

cleared and the blood infection had 

also subsided. But she developed 

some difficulty in breathing on 

Saturday and had to be put back 

on it,” said Deepak Agrawal, assistant 

professor of neurosurgery 

at the AIIMS trauma centre. 

Falak was brought to AIIMS 

by a teenager on January 18 with 

a fractured skull, bruises and human 

bite marks all over her tiny 

In comparison, the country 

has just 15 per cent of its 117,800 

hotel rooms that fall under the 

mid-market segment, compared 

to 43 per cent in the United States 

and 35 per cent in Britain. 

“There is a huge demandsupply 

gap in the Indian market. 

And with increasing opportunities 

even in tier-II and tier-III 

markets, I am optimistic that by 

2015 all the international brands 

will be in India offering services 

at different price points,” said 

P R Srinivas, senior consultant, 

research and advisory firm 

Deloitte. 

Mid-market hotels, which 

bridge the gap between luxury 

and quality budget hotels, are also 

a win-win proposition for owners 

and operators because of lower 

mented on condition of anonymity 

while describing the financial crisis, 

adding that it will certainly not 

help since Trivedi belongs to the 

Trinamool Congress, which is opposed 

to any fare hike move. 

With 19 members in the Lok 

Sabha, the lower house of parliament, 

the Trinamool Congress is a 

crucial ally of the United Progressive 

Alliance (UPA) government of 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 

and has often shelved key reforms 

such as foreign equity in retail. 

The last fare rationalisation exercise 

was in 2002-03, when the 

minimum fare for second class 

mail and express trains was hiked 

by Rs 1 from Rs 15 to Rs 16. For 

long distance trains, up to 341 km, 

the hike ranged from Rs 1 to Rs 6. 

As a result of the moderate 

nature of the hike, as opposed 

to a more realistic exercise, the 

operating ratio now stands at 100 

per cent, up from 75 per cent in 

2008-09. 

This means every rupee generated 

is spent on running the network, 

with no room for expansion. 

“All big projects are at a standstill. 

The railways are unable to 

maximise earnings,” said Singh, 

frame. The girl who claimed to 

be her mother is now in a juvenile 

home. 

Nine people, including keyaccused 

Raj Kumar Gupta who 

had handed over the baby to the 

juvenile, have been arrested in the 

case. 

The police probe delves into human 

trafficking angle. 

The team of doctors monitoring 

the toddler’s condition had said 

the chest and blood infection have 

subsided, but the brain infection is 

still a cause for concern. 

Her condition had shown “marginal 

improvement”, according to 

doctors. 

The baby has undergone three 

surgeries so far. Doctors say the 

baby is stable, but critical. 

“She continues to be critical, but 

stable,” said Agrawal. — IANS 

International hotel chains make a beeline to the country 

cost of construction and services, 

especially in smaller cities. 

Sonia Mohindra, director, Under 

One Roof Hotel Consultants, 

said the cost of land was far more 

cheaper in smaller cities. Land 

was also more easily available 

there as compared to the metro 

cities, which is driving these international 

chains to establish 

their business in the mid-market 

segment there. 

Srinivas also said big brands 

were venturing into India because 

of China, which he said had already 

achieved its peak with over 

one million rooms. “In a product 

life cycle, if international chains 

feel they have set up enough hotels 

in the market, they will go to 

other markets.” 

Brand building was another 

adding there is no money left to address 

crucial areas like the renewal 

and replacement of existing assets 

and taking up further development 

projects. 

For the record, the working expenditure 

of railways, which was 

Rs 73,000 crore in 2010-11, is likely 

to shoot by over Rs 6,000 crore 

during this financial year, ministry 

sources said. 

This, together with a carryover 

of Rs 2,000 crore shortfall in the 

earnings in 2011-12, is expected 

to dent the internal resource-generation 

exercise by Rs 8,000 crore 

during this fiscal, they said. 

Several representations have 

been made to revise passenger 

fares since this is seen as the only 

way. Those in favour include the 

Parliamentary Railway Convention 

Committee, the Planning Commission 

and even trade unions within 

the establishment. 

Will Trinamool Congress chief 

and West Bengal Chief Minister 

Mamata Banerjee — herself the railway 

minister till last year — permit 

such as move? An answer to this will 

come only on March 14 when her 

party colleague Trivedi presents his 

maiden Railway Budget. — IANS 

Warm, sunny 

day in Delhi 

NEW DELHI — The week 

ended on a warm and sunny 

note for Delhi residents as 

the maximum temperature 

was recorded three notches 

above average at 26.1 degrees 

Celsius. 

The day’s minimum temperature 

was a notch below 

average at 9.2 degrees and 

the maximum and minimum 

humidity was recorded at 82 

and 26 per cent. 

According to the India 

Meteorological Department 

(IMD), Delhi residents can 

expect similar weather today 

with clear and sunny 

skies in store. However, 

there will be light mist early 

morning. 

“The maximum and 

minimum temperatures are 

expected to hover around 26 

and 9 degrees Celsius,” said 

the IMD official. — IANS 

major reason for international 

hotels venturing into India. “A 

majority of customers who pay 

Rs 4,000 or Rs 6,000 for these 

rooms are frequent foreign business 

travellers. These hotels find 

it easy to give them a taste of 

their services in India, so that 

when they go abroad their brand 

loyalty exists,” said Srinivas. 

Last month Starwood Hotels 

& Resorts Worldwide, which 

operates 33 hotels under brands 

such as Le Meridian, announced 

setting up of 20 new hotels by 

2015. 

Another top global hotel 

chain, Accor, has also said it will 

launch over 80 hotels in India by 

2015. It currently has nine hotels 

under the brand name Mercure, 

Ibis and Novotel. — IANS

NEWS IN BRIEF 

Minister: special rural 

roads scheme for NE 

A CENTRAL rural roads scheme 

would be specially tailored for the 

northeastern states, where the low 

population in habitations prevents the 

launch of new projects, Minister for 

Rural Development Jairam Ramesh said 

yesterday. The ministry is going to add 

a special dispensation in the Pradhan 

Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) 

in the northeastern states in view of their 

topographical difference with the rest of 

the country, Ramesh said in Guwahati. 

“The primary objective of the 

PMGSY is to provide connectivity 

to unconnected habitations with a 

population of 250 persons and above. 

However, the population is below 

250 in a majority of the habitations in 

hilly states of the region,” he said. In 

Arunachal Pradesh, the population was 

less than 250 in 76 per cent of the state’s 

total habitations, he said. 

Hospitality industry 

hobbled by land costs 

HIGH real estate costs, lack of any 

tax incentive and bureaucratic hurdles 

are huge problems for the growth of 

the hospitality industry that is one 

of the country’s top job earners, a 

survey revealed yesterday. “The high 

costs of real estate and lack of any tax 

incentives by the government are acting 

as hurdles for the hospitality sector. 

These challenges are further accentuated 

by overall infrastructure deficit in the 

country,” said a Confederation of Indian 

Industry PriceWaterhouseCoopers survey. 

The survey covered the top of the 

mind issues that chief executive officers 

(CEOs) of various companies face in the 

hospitality business — from managing 

costs to developing synergies across 

multi-format, multi-location functions 

in the business. At present, a hotel 

needs almost 80-100 licences before it 

starts its operations in India. Almost all 

CEOs interviewed voiced the need for 

“effective single window clearance” to 

make the process smooth and avoid the 

untimely delays. 

‘Maoists may undertake 

offensive in Jharkhand’ 

CHASED away from two of their 

key sanctuaries in Jharkhand, the 

Maoists may carry out a series of major 

attacks in the state to regain their lost 

position, police said yesterday. “As per 

information, Maoists may carry out 

major attacks in the state. In December 

and January, Maoists have triggered 

landmine blasts in Garwah and Latehar 

districts and killed nearly 30 policemen, 

a police officer involved in anti-Maoist 

operations said. 

According to the officer, the top 

leaders of banned Communist Party of 

India-Maoist are concerned over losing 

their safe dens — Sarju region of Latehar 

district and Sarada jungle in West 

Singhbhum district — in the stepped-up 

police drive and aiming to regain control 

there. Jharkhand Police spokesperson R 

K Mallik also admitted that police feared 

major attacks by the Maoists. “There 

could be major offensive by the Maoists 

in the state,” he said. He, however, 

denied Maoist incidents have gone up 

alarming way in the state. “There were 

516, 486, 506 Maoist incidents in 2009, 

2010 and 2011 respectively,” said Mallik. 

Attacked Indian student’s 

family gets British visa 

THE family members of an Indian 

student critically injured in an attack in 

Britain have got visas to go and visit 

him. British visas have been given to 

the family of Praveen Reddy, diplomatic 

sources said yesterday. The 26-yearold 

MBA student, who hailed from 

Hyderabad, was critically injured by 

unidentified assailants in London late 

on Friday night. At least 11 people have 

been arrested in connection with the 

incident. 

His family received information from 

the hospital authorities, who asked them 

to rush to London. According to reports, 

Praveen Reddy was stabbed in the neck, 

chest and abdomen several times and 

thrown out of the apartment where he 

lived. A quarrel between two groups of 

students hailing from Andhra Pradesh 

is believed to have led to the attack. 

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna 

had spoken to acting Indian High 

Commissioner in Britain Rajesh Prasad, 

asking him to extend all possible help to 

the stabbed student. He also spoke to the 

victim’s father in Hyderabad. — IANS 

NEW DELHI — India will kick 

off its year-long intense engagements 

with the Association of South 

East Asian Nations (Asean) with a 

high-level dialogue, beginning here 

today, on critical economic, security 

and capacity-building issues 

between them. 

The comprehensive engagement, 

a principal instrument for 

taking India’s Look East policy of 

the last two decades to new heights, 

will culminate in the India-Asean 

summit at the end of 2012, when 

India will host the heads of states 

or governments of the 10-nation 

grouping. 

The two-day Delhi Dialogue, 

the fourth in the series that began 

in 2009, will focus on ‘India and 

Asean: Partners for Peace, Progress 

and Stability’. 

The event, to be held at Hotel 

Taj Palace, has been divided into 

four thematic sessions which would 

address economic co-operation, 

regional security, non-traditional 

security threats and networks of 

knowledge and science. 

The two-day intense deliberations 

are being hosted by the Indian 

Council of World Affairs (ICWA), 

the think-tank of the External Affairs 

Ministry, and the Federation of 

Indian Chambers of Commerce and 

Industry (FICCI). 

“The Delhi Dialogue is a significant 

step forward in India’s fastgrowing 

relations with Asean. It is 

an important event since Asean ministers 

are taking part at the invitation 

of our external affairs minister. This 

11 INDIA 



Delhi Dialogue eyes 

Asean engagement 

Cong distances from 

remarks on quota 

NEW DELHI — The Congress yesterday 

sought to distance itself from Law 

Minister Salman Khurshid after the 

poll panel complained to the president 

about his defiance on a quota for Muslims 

in Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister 

Manmohan Singh may discuss the issue 

today, said informed sources. 

A day after Chief Election Commissioner 

S Y Quraishi wrote to President 

Pratibha Patil saying the poll 

panel found Khurshid’s latest remarks 

“utterly contemptuous about the commission’s 

lawful direction to him”, a 

cautious Congress said it expected the 

law minister to follow law of the land. 

“EC (Election Commission) is a 

constitutional body...Congress always 

wants that all the Congressmen should 

speak as per norms of public life and 

law of the land,” Congress General 

Secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters 

here. 

Avoiding a direct comment, Communications 

Minister Kapil Sibal 

meanwhile urged the poll panel to be 

By Ashraf Padanna 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — 

The crisis in Kerala’s opposition 

Left Democratic Front (LDF) deepened 

yesterday with the two leading 

partners Communist Party of India- 

Marxist (CPM) and Communist Party 

of India (CPI) continuing their verbal 

duel for the fourth consecutive day. 

C K Chandrappan, secretary of 

the CPI Kerala unit who is said to 

be lenient towards the Congress 

party, threatened to quit LDF after 

his counterpart in the CPM, Pinarayi 

Vijayan, issued a statement against 

his language, “spoken as well as political”. 

Citing the recent controversy 

over a morphed Last Supper poster 

erected by the CPM, which leads 

the LDF, Chandrappan also accused 

the ‘big brother’ of being not 

straightforward in its relations with 

the religious minorities, especially 

the Christians. 

concerned over things happening in 

Uttar Pradesh. 

“Somebody gave a statement and 

there must be some thought behind 

it. EC has its own view and they are 

taking their action. I cannot comment 

more,” he said. 

“PM should take action against 

Khurshid without losing any time and 

seek his resignation immediately,” 

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj told reporters 

in Varanasi. 

“If Salman doesn’t quit, then he 

should be sacked. PM should ask the 

president to sack him,” she said. 

Other parties and legal experts also 

criticised Khurshid’s actions. 

The Communist Party of India- 

Marxist also said Khurshid should not 

have made the remarks. 

“EC has slammed Khurshid and he 

should not have repeated it. He is a union 

minister but Congress leaders can 

do these things,” CPM General Secretary 

Prakash Karat said in Allahabad. 

— IANS 

is the fourth edition of the annual 

dialogue. The leaders of the region 

will think of new ideas to substantially 

increase the co-operation in 

key areas for the mutual benefit of 

their peoples,” ICWA Director-General 

Sudhir T Devare said. 

Apart from External Affairs 

Minister S M Krishna, other foreign 

ministers to join the discussions 

include Cambodian Deputy Prime 

Minister and Foreign Minister Hor 

Namhong, Malaysian Foreign Minister 

Sri Anifah Aman and Thai Foreign 

Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul. 

This high-powered gathering of 

foreign ministers from the region 

will be joined by the deputy foreign 

ministers of Myanmar, Singapore 

and Vietnam. — IANS 

LDF crisis deepens as war of 

words continues for 4th day 

“They should learn from their 

failures and the defeat in West Bengal. 

If things are being conducted 

like this, we would be forced to 

think about parting ways,” said the 

veteran CPI leader, who was reelected 

last week to lead the party 

for another three years. 

In his statement, Vijayan had also 

denounced Chandrappan’s statement 

favouring expansion of the LDF by 

bringing back those who left its fold 

to join the Congress-led United 

Democratic Front (UDF) before the 

elections, saying his party was not in 

favour of toppling the UDF government 

through defections. 

“I expressed the views of (CPM 

General Secretary Prakash) Karat 

that the Left’s base should be expanded 

but he was contradicting the 

statement of his own party leader,” 

Chandrappan said. “In a literate 

state like Kerala, you should learn 

not to hurt feelings of others. You 

should mind your language”. 

Job scheme causing farm 

labour shortage: study 

BANGALORE — India’s flagship 

rural job scheme is causing a labour 

shortage, besides increasing farm production 

costs by about 20 per cent, a 

study by a city-based research institute 


The study by Institute for Social 

and Economic Change (ISEC) said 

that the national rural employment 

guarantee scheme launched in 2006 

“has weaned away agriculture labour 

during the khareef sowing season that 

lasts from July to August during the 

southwest monsoon period”. 

ISEC professor Pramod Kumar 

said, in a statement here citing the 

study report titled ‘Impact of NREGA 

on wage rate, food security and ruralurban 

migration in Karnataka’, that 

farm labour shortage had led to higher 

costs of production. 

He said that farm labour should be 

employed under the scheme only after 

the end of the sowing and harvesting 

seasons of rabi and khareef to mitigate 

the crisis on the farm front. 

On the positive side, the study 

found that the scheme empowered 

women and saved the rural people 

from extreme poverty while helping 

in reducing distress migration to urban 

areas. 

“Ever since the scheme came into 

being, daily wages in the farm sector 

have shot up by a whopping 50 per 

cent. Though the stipulated minimum 

wage for unskilled labour is fixed at 

Rs 119 per day, the average wage paid 

is recorded as Rs 86, which is Rs 33 

less,” said Pramod Kumar, who heads 

the agriculture development and rural 

transformation centre at the institute. 

For the study, he conducted field 

survey along with his associate I 

Maruthi in the villages of Bidar, Bellary, 

Chamarajanagar, Chikmagalur 

and Dharwad districts. 

“A majority of households indicated 

that the scheme has not been 

successful in raising their living standards 

or their consumption levels as 

the number of days of work were not 

enough to make a difference on the 

poverty level,” he said. 

According to the data collected by 

the researchers, against 100 days of 

guaranteed employment, the state provided 

work for 35 days in fiscal 2008- 

09, 57 days in 2009-10 and 32 days in 

2010-11 (up to November). 

CPM: Mamata 

trying to gag 

opposition 

KOLKATA — The Communist 

Party of India-Marxist 

(CPM) yesterday accused 

the West Bengal government 

of attempting to gag 

the opposition and slammed 

assembly Speaker Biman 

Bandyopadhyay’s ban on 

press meets in the house 

premises when it is not in 

session. 

An editorial carried in 

the CPM mouthpiece Ganashakti 

not only accused 

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee 

of undermining the opposition’s 

presence but also 

of attacking sections in the 

media which dared to stand 

up against her. 

It charged the Banerjee 

government with attempts 

to dry up government advertisement 

revenue to these 

sections of media to make 

them fall in line. — IANS 

The UDF government is surviving 

on a thin majority of just three 

seats and there is a strong view 

within the LDF that it should woo 

breakaway groups led by Irrigation 

Minister P J Joseph and Janata Dal’s 

Veerendra Kumar and topple the 10month-old 

government. 

If the LDF succeeds, it would 

mean another four years for arch 

rival, the leader of opposition V S 

Achuthanandan, in office as chief 

minister, which would be difficult 

for Vijayan and the dominant faction 

in the party to digest if not detrimental. 

“Expansion of the front is not 

on our agenda and we have decided 

to go back to the people with 

the charges against this government,” 

Vijayan reiterated his position. 

“And if bad language is used 

against us, we would be retaliating 

strongly. We don’t require lessons 

from anybody on good behaviour”. 

Army chief to 

visit Britain 

from today 

NEW DELHI — Just three 

days after the Supreme 

Court rejected his plea to 

reconcile his birth date in 

official records as May 10, 

1951, Indian Army chief 

General V K Singh is all 

set to undertake a four-day 

visit to Britain from today, 

indicating that he may not 

quit his post. 

The Indian Army’s official 

spokesperson said in a 

release here yesterday that 

Gen Singh will be in Britain 

till February 17 to interact 

with the senior British military 

and civilian leadership 

and discuss defence-related 

bilateral relations between 

the two nations. 

“During his visit, the army 

chief will be interacting with 

the senior military and civilian 

hierarchy and will discuss 

various defence-related 

issues to strengthen existing 

defence ties with United 

Kingdom,” the spokesperson 

said. — IANS 

AN orchid, Vanda Usha, named after the wife of India's former president K R Narayanan 

in the year 2000 to commemorate their visit at the National Orchid Garden in Singapore. 

The tropical city-state cultivates special orchid varieties and names them after a motley 

mix of foreign leaders and celebrities as part of its diplomatic repertoire. — AFP 

Streamline visa, infrastructure 

to tap tourism potential: experts 

NEW DELHI — As tourism 

becomes a key driver of 

the Indian economy with its 

growing foreign exchange 

earnings and income generating 

potential, the government 

has to streamline infrastructure 

and visa procedures to 

tap the segment’s full potential, 

experts across the industry 

say. 

“Travel and tourism is the 

second largest employer in 

India and the second largest 

revenue earner. It needs no 

introduction. The country is 

a continent in itself. But the 

government has to sort out 

the visa road blocks and infrastructure 

loopholes,” Iqbal 

Mulla, president of the Travel 

Agents Association of India 

(TAAI), said on the sidelines 

of a South Asia Travel and 

Tourism Exchange (SATTE) 

business forum. 

Mulla said: “India gets the 

second highest tourist traffic 

from the UK but the new 

Indian visa regulations stipulate 

that a visitor from UK 

cannot return to India within 

two months of visiting the 

country”. 

“You need easier visa policy 

so that foreign tourists can 

stay longer or return on repeat 

trips. India cannot be seen in 

a week’s time,” Mulla said. 

He said TAAI has taken it 

up with the tourism and civil 

aviation ministries. 

Like other countries in the 

west, India too must introduce 

visa on arrival, Harkripal 

Singh, chief representative of 

the TAAI said. 

Pointing to a mismatch between 

inbound and outbound 

tourism arising from visa controls 

and poor infrastructure, 

Mulla said “outbound tour- 

ism was growing by 25 per 

cent and all tourism boards 

were buying from India”. 

The outbound tourism 

figure from India is expected 

to touch 50 million by 2020, 

estimates by leading South 

Asian tourism monitors say. 

India should do much 

more to attract foreign tourists 

to the country, Timmy S 

Kandhari, executive director 

of leader, hospitality and 

leisure of PriceWaterhouse- 

Coopers, said. 

“India gets only 6 million 

tourists while Istanbul alone 

gets 13 to 15 million tourists. 

India lacks infrastructure 

and rooms. We currently have 

120,000 rooms and are short 

of 150,000 rooms. Land acquisition 

for new properties 

is a major problem as well as 

connectivity to smaller cities,” 

Kandhari said. — IANS

No handouts 

By Danny Kemp 

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron is facing 

growing calls to cut huge aid handouts to India after a 

series of perceived snubs from the former jewel in the 

crown of London’s colonial empire. 

Britain was stunned this month when New Delhi announced 

a big contract to buy French warplanes instead of the 

UK-backed Eurofighter Typhoon, despite intense efforts by 

the British government to boost trade. 

Angry lawmakers then stepped up pressure on Cameron 

to axe the more than £1 billion ($1.6 billion) aid budget for 

India after reports that the Indian finance minister described 

the handouts as “a peanut”. 

Cameron — who led a huge business delegation to India 

soon after taking office in 2010 — has pledged to press New 

Delhi to reverse its decision on the warplanes. 

“I’m very disappointed by what has happened in India, but 

Eurofighter is not out of the contest and we need to re-engage 

as hard as we can,” Cameron told parliament last week when 

questioned about the deal. 

The fighter jets’ setback was particularly bruising as it 

came during a war of words between France and Britain over 

the strength of their economies. 

Downing Street meanwhile insisted that its aid commitments 

to India would remain unchanged despite the furore. 

“The government has always been very clear about sticking 

to its aid commitments and the fact that it would not balance 

the books on the backs of the poorest people in the world,” a 

spokesman said. 

But the handouts to Asia’s third-largest economy have 

sparked anger at home, where austerity measures are biting as 

Britain tries to curb a record budget deficit. 

Cameron’s Conservative-led coalition government has 

committed £280 million aid a year for five years until 2015 

for the Indian states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. 

Stoked by the jet debacle, the issue flared up last week 

when British media republished quotes from 2010 by Indian 

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee dismissing the aid. 

“It is a peanut in our total development (expenditure),” the 

Sunday Telegraph quoted Mukherjee as telling parliament. 

Sense of pride 

By Catherine Bremer 

IN February 2007, a fiery Nicolas Sarkozy had millions 

convinced that he — a go-getter abandoned as an infant 

by his Hungarian father — would break with the past, end 

chronic unemployment and restore a sense of pride to France. 

His lustre began fading within hours of his May 6 election 

win, as he celebrated with corporate chiefs and pop stars at a 

gaudy nightspot and set a presidential tone many French people 

soon felt was showy, impulsive and even vulgar. 

Now rated France’s most unpopular president, he trails 

Socialist Francois Hollande in opinion polls for an April-May 

election at a critical moment for Europe. Sarkozy will struggle 

to recover in time for a vote whose outcome may well influence 

economic reform in France and across the euro area. 

Aides say when he launches his campaign in the next few 

days Sarkozy will apologise for failing to keep pledges derailed 

by the debt crisis but insist he is the best person to revive the 

French economy. He will champion reforms to boost competitiveness 

and slim the welfare state. 

That may not be enough to overcome a visceral dislike of 

Sarkozy among many voters, even in his own conservative 

camp, an issue that weighs on him, members of his inner circle 

say. Painstaking efforts to project a calmer, more presidential 

manner have so far failed to convince the public. 

Three years have passed since the most striking episodes — 

his penchant for flashy watches and yachts, his public wooing 

of model Carla Bruni, an attempt to give his student son a public 

job and his telling a man in a crowd to “Get lost, jerk”. 

He has worked to diminish an early impression of being impatient, 

pushy, fidgety and brusque. But the passion with which 

many French people vilify him is extraordinary and suggests 

the magic he worked in 2007, filling auditoriums with thunderous 

applause, may not work again. 

“He knows he is disliked and he suffers internally from this 

personal rejection,” one of Sarkozy’s advisers said on condition 

of anonymity. “Of course we talk about it with him but it’s very 

awkward and it will be hard to overcome it in the campaign. 

The French don’t want some kind of sentimental circus.” 

While his hands-on style of governing won Sarkozy plaudits 

during the 2008 financial crisis and last year’s Libyan uprising 

and his micromanaging of ministries. 

A stiff test 

By Bill Smith 

THE man anointed to lead China for the next decade 

faces a stiff test this week on what could be his final 

visit to Washington before rising to the top of the 80 

million-member Chinese Communist Party. 

Protests are expected by Free Tibet supporters during Vice- 

President Xi Jinping’s visit, adding to US officials’ pressure 

over Syria, Iran, North Korea, China’s currency, trade and human 

rights. 

The visit comes amid US President Barack Obama’s strategic 

pivot to the Asia-Pacific region, with plans to boost the US 

military presence there and steadily increase pressure on China 

to level the economic playing field. 

Washington is keen to give China’s future leader an intense 

exposure to all sides of America. 

In addition to meetings with Obama and Vice-President Joe 

Biden — who made a splash in Beijing last August by eating a 

down-to-earth noodle lunch — Xi will make what US officials 

called a “significant” visit to the Pentagon, have lunch at the 

State Department and dinner at Biden’s home. 

He will also hear from the US business community about 

the difficulty of doing business in China. He will stop in Iowa, 

where Xi visited in 1985. And he will visit Los Angeles, along 

with Biden, before heading home. 

The main purpose of Xi’s trip is to reduce the long-standing 

“trust deficit” between the two nations, Chinese Vice Foreign 

Minister Cui Tiankai said. 

But Shi Yinhong, an international relations analyst and 

director of American Studies at Renmin University of China, 

says Obama’s efforts to build “strategic trust” with China have 

not been matched by his actions. 

“I think if we look at what the US has done ... selling weapons 

to Taiwan — and in Syria, Libya, and what it will do in 

Iran, how can the US expect China to trust the US?” Shi said. 

Xi, 58, is expected to succeed Hu Jintao as Communist 

Party leader in November and as president in March 2013. He 

is known as a “princeling” — one of several prominent leaders 

who are the sons of former top party members. 

But despite differences with the US, Xi’s visit could be this 

year’s most important Sino-US diplomatic event, spurred by 

the need for economic co-operation, said Tao Wenzhao, an 

American expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 

a state-run think-tank. 

AFRICA is a dark continent. 

Look at it from a satellite at 

night. Most of it is dark with 

only blotches of light in the south, the 

north and a little bit in the west. For 

the rest electricity is a rare and precious 

resource, limited to villages that 

line a main road or in the small towns. 

They are infrequent points of light. 

They don’t light up the sky. From 

above all we see is darkness. 

I have been to a conference in 

Oslo, “Energy for All — financing 

access for the poor.” 

Most of the participants were men 

in business suits. Not more than 20 

per cent were women which was a 

slap in the face for emancipated Norway 

where women are 50 per cent of 

nearly everything — politics, doctors 

and increasingly business. 

Nevertheless, the conference was 

a useful getting together of energy 

endeavours from very big to very 

small. Many trumpeted the rapid 

12 

ANALYSIS/OPINION 



How long Africa will remain in darkness 

A MAN stands on a safari boat near Kurumba Resort in the Maldives. — Reuters 

Relax amid political fray 

By C Bryson Hull 

TOURISTS enjoying the sun and 

sand at the Maldives’ luxury island 

resorts have barely put down 

their fun during the political crisis rocking 

Asia’s newest democracy, oblivious 

to behind-the-scenes links of tourism to 

the tumult. 

Just a 10-minute boat ride from the 

capital island of Male, site of a police 

mutiny that led to ex-president Mohamed 

Nasheed’s departure last week and ensuing 

clashes, lies the paradise most visitors 

associate with the Indian Ocean archipelago. 

Step off the 15-metre power boat, replete 

with an air-conditioned cabin and 

leather seats, that whisks you to the dock 

at Kurumba resort on Vihamanafushi, and 

you are immediately in a land of luxury, 

water sports and relaxation. 

The political turmoil, as far as American 

literature professor Jerzy Sobieraj 

was concerned, was an ocean away across 

the glassine turquoise waters at his feet. 

“We are having a great time. We heard 

about the coup, but it doesn’t matter to 

us. It hasn’t affected us at all,” Sobieraj 

said, sipping a glass of water alongside 

his wife, lawyer Ewa Korzan-Sobieraj, 

on a chaise longue. 

“And even if there is trouble, the airport 

is on another island, so no trouble,” 

he said, gesturing to the nearby airport 

from where most tourists leave directly 

for their resorts without ever reaching 

By Ammu Kannampilly 

LATER this month, India will 

be removed from a dwindling 

list of countries where polio is 

considered endemic, a huge achievement 

made possible by people like 

Madara, a 76-year-old street hawker. 

At a temporary immunisation 

camp in a slum in the northern district 

of Ghaziabad, 23 km from New 

Delhi, he is busy at work shepherding 

boisterous children into queues. 

All around, social workers break 

open tiny bottles containing a polio 

vaccine, selecting children from the 

thronging crowd of toddlers and babies 

and squirting two drops into their 

mouths. 

Madara, a stick-thin resident from 

a nearby slum, says he began volunteering 

to help with the vaccination 

efforts six years ago when he realised 

NEWSLETTER By Jonathan Power, Foreign Correspondent 

progress they were making in the use 

of solar energy, a system whose time 

has come as the price of solar panels 

sharply falls and oil prices have risen 

to the forbidding $100 a barrel. 

Into this high-tech, male-dominated 

gathering, stepped a frail old 

woman from the village of Dunkassa 

in Benin, Africa — Madame Gueroi 

Comigue. Until now she had never 

been further than the nearby town. She 

grew up and lives in a village with a 

primary school but no healthcare, no 

electricity and the water supply coming 

from wells which the women had 

to porter on their heads. Malnutrition 

was often present and the growing of 

fruit trees and green vegetables limited. 

She told the tale of the village 

as well as showing us a film that the 

village’s sponsor, the Washington 

DC-based Solar Electric Light Fund, 

had made. 

Male. The couple was on a 10-day escape 

from winter’s bite in Poland. 

Kurumba is the genesis of the luxury 

tourism concept that changed the face 

and economy of the Maldives, a chain 

of 1,192 coral-ringed islands located to 

India’s southwest. 

The explosion of resorts after Kurumba 

transformed the islands from a 

remote outpost reliant on fishing to a 

destination favoured by Hollywood stars, 

honeymooners and others who can afford 

hideaway holidays where huts suspended 

over the water routinely cost more than 

$1,000 a night. 

At the five-star Kurumba, a basic 

room costs $225 a night, while a private 

villa replete with butler and a private 

pool costs $2,200. On the menus, a 

quarter-hour on a jet ski will set you back 

$70, a pizza around $25. 

Tourism officially accounts for 30 per 

cent of the Maldives’ $2.1 billion economy, 

but Sim Mohamed Ibrahim, secretary-general 

of the Maldives Association 

of Tourism Industry, said it was closer to 

75-80 per cent. 

The Maldives now has 101 resorts, 

nearly all of them on uninhabited islands 

reached by speedboat or seaplanes that 

criss-cross the skies over the 90,000 sqkm 

archipelago. 

That segregation is by design, both as 

part of the Robinson Crusoe get-awayfrom-it-all 

experience the resorts offer, 

and to protect the religious sensibilities 

of Maldivians. 

he could use his authority as an elderly 

figure to encourage participation. 

“I decided to get involved as I 

wanted to do something for the future 

of our children here,” Madara said. 

Most of the youngsters, whose parents 

are often rag-pickers or hawkers, 

live in the nearby tarpaulin-covered 

homes, a cramped zone of shanties 

where sanitation and awareness about 

hygiene is poor. 

Polio, which can be deadly and 

also causes deformed limbs, spreads 

via the faecal matter of victims, making 

slums particularly high-risk areas. 

Lured by the offer of bright plastic 

whistles and paper masks, children 

were keen to leave their homes, 

forming a disorderly crowd around 

the vaccinators as they dispensed the 

drops to infants and under-fives. 

India last reported a fresh polio 

case more than 12 months ago after 

She is the chair of the village 

women and they have worked together 

to install energy panels which power 

a drip feed irrigation system which 

waters their food crops. This is a dry 

area with only seasonal rainfall and 

the difference irrigation makes is substantial 

— at least in village terms. 

Now production has increased, 

they have a surplus to sell, their standard 

of living and nutrition has risen, 

they are eating more green vegetables 

and they spend half as much time watering 

as they did before. They have 

money saved to buy during the dry 

season the staples they are short of. 

Before the project got off the ground 

only 4 per cent could pay the fees to 

send their children to school; now it is 

22 per cent. 

The project also gives employment 

to men — five technicians to install 

and maintain the power pumps, 

The Maldives’ “one island, one resort” 

concept has been a saving grace amid the 

turmoil, said Jason Kruse, Kurumba’s 

general manager. 

“The local islands and the tourist islands 

are a world apart,” he said. “There 

have been some cancellations, but that is 

a result of people not understanding the 

destination.” 

The resorts, which cater primarily to 

Western tourists and, increasingly, Chinese 

holidaymakers, are placed on uninhabited 

islands. That provides a crucial 

loophole: the ability to serve alcohol. It 

is banned on inhabited islands. 

Nasheed’s plans to put new resorts 

on inhabited islands drew condemnation 

from political opponents who exploited 

rising conservative sentiment to savage 

his religious credentials. 

Pressure from pro-religious parties 

also prompted the government to briefly 

shut down resort parlours in January. 

Nasheed also drew fire for tax reforms 

that would have plugged some holes that 

allow potentially hundreds of millions of 

dollars brought in by tourism to escape 

taxation. 

Nasheed recently flatly blamed a 

cabal of resort owners for engineering 

what he maintains was his forced exit, 

although he gave few specifics as to why 

they wanted him out. 

“The coup was largely financed by 

resort owners,” Nasheed told journalists. 

Asked why, he responded: “I suppose 

they liked the old order of corruption.” 

monumental efforts by millions of social 

workers and volunteers who have 

administered 900 million doses of the 

vaccine in the last year alone. 

If all pending lab tests for the 

virus return negative as expected, 

the World Health Organisation will 

remove India from its list of “polio 

endemic” countries this month, leaving 

just Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria 

in this category. As well as polio 

camps like this one in Ghaziabad, 

teams have travelled door-to-door, 

educating families about the illness 

and delivering the vaccine. 

They have put up makeshift booths 

in crowded public areas such as train 

stations, bus stands and markets, and 

in other locations, including construction 

sites where they can catch migrant 

workers and their children. 

A “vaccination on wheels” service 

was rolled out across the north Indian 

a local management team, a manager, 

an agricultural technician and 

a solar technician, and three masons 

to help build small reservoirs. They 

no longer need to use the old diesel 

generators that consumed growingly 

expensive oil and often broke down. 

The solar panels are non-polluting. 

So successful has this project 

been that there are plans to replicate 

it in eight more villages and to reach 

around 100,000 people. But success 

does not come cheaply. 

The project has cost $135,000, 

mainly spent on borehole surveys and 

drilling, on training in farming expertise 

and for the solar equipment. There 

is no way that Benin could afford this 

on a wide scale. The aid has to come 

from abroad and one can wonder how 

far into the future it can be sustained 

and, if there is success, does this 

American NGO have the resources to 

spread the concept far and wide? 

Despite the cost and the hurdles 

state of Bihar in which social workers 

jumped on trains and vaccinated all 

the children on board. 

“We had to make a detailed, dynamic 

map of the area and send workers 

in boats to try and get across to 

stranded families,” Lieven Desomer, 

head of the polio unit at UN children’s 

agency Unicef in India, said. 

As well as the problems of access, 

the government and international 

agencies behind the immunisation 

drive faced problems of ignorance 

and prejudice. 

Vaccinators were attacked, anxious 

parents would hide their babies from 

social workers, and there was particular 

resistance from the some communities 

in the north of the country. 

“There was a general perception 

that the vaccine was not clean or safe 

because it came from the West, and 

that somehow, taking it would make 

it is possible to think of development 

ideas like this beginning to spread in 

a significant way. The time has never 

been more ripe. 

After years of mismanagement, financial 

ineptitude, a long-term decline 

in prices for the main agricultural and 

mineral exports and, not least, civil 

wars, the largest part of sub-Saharan 

Africa is now on the up. 

Civil war is limited to Somalia 

and Sudan. There is a boom in the 

price of commodities for export and 

most countries have got or are getting 

their financial and monetary affairs 

in order. The result is that economic 

growth is averaging 5-6 per cent and 

in some countries more than that like 

Nigeria with over 8 per cent. 

India has been able to increase its 

electricity supply in the last few years 

from 57 per cent coverage of the rural 

population to 67 per cent. In Vietnam 

it has increased from 3 per cent to 98 

per cent. So why not Africa? 

NEW CHALLENGES 

Murdoch flying 

into Sun storm 

By Danny Kemp 

RUPERT Murdoch 

will fly to London 

this week in a bid to 

quell the crisis threatening 

The Sun after five staff at his 

flagship British tabloid were 

arrested over bribery allegations, 

sources said yesterday. 

The Australian-born media 

baron has, according 

to his pointman in Britain, 

given a “personal assurance” 

that The Sun will not face 

the same fate as the News of 

the World, which he closed 

in July amid a scandal over 

phone hacking. 

But the new storm over 

alleged payments by Sun 

journalists to police and 

public officials in exchange 

for information has sparked 

fears that it may be too late to 

save Britain’s biggest selling 

newspaper. 

The US-based Murdoch 

will come to London “later in 

the week”, a person familiar 

with the matter said. The person 

said Murdoch’s visit had 

already been planned before 

the arrests happened. 

Another source close to 

the matter said he would 

meet with journalists at The 

Sun, Britain’s biggest selling 

newspaper. 

News International, the 

British newspaper arm of 

his global News Corporation 

empire, would not comment 

on the trip. Murdoch himself 

has not made any comment 

despite being an avid user of 

the social networking website 

Twitter. 

The Sun journalists arrested 

on Saturday were deputy 

editor Geoff Webster, picture 

editor John Edwards, chief reporter 

John Kay, chief foreign 

correspondent Nick Parker 

and reporter John Sturgis. 

A Ministry of Defence official, 

a member of the armed 

forces and a policeman were 

also arrested over allegations 

that journalists paid officials 

for information. All eight 

were later released on bail. 

In an e-mail to staff on 

Saturday, News International 

chief executive Tom Mockridge 

said that Murdoch 

would stand by The Sun in 

the hour of its “greatest chal- 

lenge”. 

“You should know that 

I have had a personal assurance 

today from Rupert Murdoch 

about his total commitment 

to continue to own and 

publish The Sun newspaper,” 

Mockridge said. 

A News International 

spokeswoman said: “The 

statement sets out News Corporation 

and Rupert’s position 

and support for News 

International and The Sun.” 

The arrests on Saturday 

were part of a widening Scotland 

Yard probe into alleged 

corrupt payments, and come 

a fortnight after another four 

current and former Sun journalists 

were arrested over 

similar allegations. 

Media reported that many 

journalists at The Sun were 

furious over the so-called 

“witch-hunt”, and at the fact 

that News Corp had handed 

over the information to police 

that led to the arrests. 

US-based News Corp 

set up the Management and 

Standards Committee, an 

independent committee, last 

year to investigate wrongdoing 

at Murdoch’s British papers. 

Commentators said News 

Corp would be keen to stop 

its operations in the United 

States and other countries 

from being contaminated by 

the problems at The Sun and 

the News of the World. 

The Observer — the weekly 

sister paper of the Guardian 

which led investigations 

into hacking — said there 

were fears in News Corp that 

the bribery allegations could 

trigger an investigation by 

US authorities under legislation 

prohibiting corrupt payments 

to foreign officials. 

The heroes of India’s quest in polio fight 

their women and children infertile,” 

Unicef’s Desomer said. 

India’s crushing summer heat also 

caused difficulties because vaccines 

have to be kept at a low temperature 

to prevent them expiring. 

Five years ago, campaigners decided 

to ensure that vials were only 

carried in special carriers equipped 

with ice packs. 

Desomer credited “the dogged 

persistence” of the Indian government 

for the fall in infections, and said that 

in 2011 alone, the state contributed 80 

per cent of the $264 million committed 

to the fight against polio. 

The results of innovation, human 

endeavour, as well as planning and 

spending, are reflected in the number 

of infections. In 2009, India accounted 

for half of all cases in the world, 

but infections plummeted to 42 in 

2010 and none in the last 12 months.

DID you shelve love after marriage? Experts suggest that 

this Valentine's Day, with some planning, time management 

and surprises, couples can rekindle romance and 

brush away boredom from married life. 

TV actor Pawan Shankar, married to Yukti for more than 

eight years, feels that priorities change after having kids, but it's 

the responsibility of the couples to keep the romance alive. 

Shankar said: "It often happens that after having kids a gap 

comes in between husband and wife because priorities change. 

To revive that love, efforts have to be made from both the 

sides." 

He believes that women make more efforts, adding, "Ninety 

per cent of the women try to revive love in the marriage, while 

only ten per cent men make that effort. This is because men are 

not expressive. If there is a synergy at the mental level, then 

marriage is a bliss." 

His views seem to be similar to his new show Kyaa Hua Tera 

Wada, a story of a married couple with three children and how 

they try to revive romance in their married life. 

Financial issue and parental interference sometimes mar the 

romance and divorce lawyer Shiksha Kushwaha feels it could be 

avoided if the spouses spend some quality time together and be 

honest while accepting the truth. 

"Feeling of incompatibility, financial issues, parental interference 

and extra-marital affairs are some of the prominent issues 

but all of these can be avoided if the couple take care of a 

few things. 

"Show genuine love and affection towards the other person. 

Pamper him or her and spend more time together. Also, avoid 

ego, during fights avoid calling names, and be genuine towards 

each other," Kushwaha said. 

There is no guarantee that in a love marriage adjustment issues 

won't mess up the romance factor. 

A young professional, Veta Ratra, who married businessman 

Sahil after 10 years of courtship, says that post-marriage couples 

get more time together but waste it in finding faults with each 

other. 

"I was into a relationship for 10 years before I got married. I 

am married for two-and-a-half-years. Marriage is an institution 

that both partners have to take care of. 

13 

ENTERTAINMENT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 

Whitney’s death casts a shadow over Grammys 

WHITNEY Houston's (pictured) death 

was expected to cast a sombre shadow 

over the 54th annual Grammy Awards 

in Los Angeles, where singer Jennifer Hudson 

will lead a tribute to the 1980's pop superstar. 

"It's too fresh in everyone's memory to do 

more at this time, but we would be remiss if we 

didn't recognise Whitney's remarkable contribution 

to music fans," Grammy executive producer 

Ken Ehrlich told the Los Angeles Times. Prior to 

Houston's death, British singer Adele had been 

expected to dominate the show. 

Not only is the so-called Heartbreak superstar 

one of the leading nominees of the night, she has 

dominated album and singles sales this last year 

with her album 21 and deeply emotional songs 

such as Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like 

You. 

Adele will also be among the performers taking 

the stage, an event expected to be an emotional 

moment after she was forced to cancel her 

North American tour last year due to a problem 

with her vocal chords. 

She's had surgery and marks her return to the 

stage on Grammy night. 

Other performers due to take the stage during 

the three-hour-plus show include Bruce Springsteen, 

Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, 

Coldplay, Rihanna, Chris Brown and Bruno 

Mars. 

The awards are decided by approximately 

20,000 members of the National Academy of 

Recording Arts. Adele has garnered six nominations, 

including for the night's top prize, Album 

of the Year. 

The top nominee is Kanye West, who earned 

seven nominations, all in the rap category, except 

his best song salute for All of the Lights. Also 

earning six nominations was the new prince of 

pop, Bruno Mars, and the Foo Fighters. 

Competing with Adele for Album of the Year 

are the Foo Fighters for Wasting Light, Lady 

Gaga for Born This Way, Bruno Mars for Doo- 

THE battle between the generations has always 

made for enticing cinema. Yet nowhere in history 

has the generation gap between the young 

and the little older been more apparent than in our 

technologically advanced world where there are so 

many websites to 'connect' us all yet so less 'human' 

connection. 

LOL navigates in the no man's land between the 

two generations and though there's really nothing new, 

its light, breezy manner and gentle humour that thankfully 

works to push the drama forward than trying to 

force you to laugh and works to make a pleasant and 

fulfilling film. And with its various shades of love — 

between teenagers, people way past their romantic 

prime, mother and daughter etc, it becomes the perfect 

film to watch on Valentine's Day. 

As if dealing with her complicated love life with 

a cheating boyfriend, who she breaks up with wasn't 

enough, under-18 Lola has to content with her divorcee 

mother having an affair with her father. 

To 'complicate' things further, she finds herself fall- 

SPANISH psychological thriller 

Dictado (Childish Games), depicting 

a man spooked by a little 

girl who revives a dark secret from his 

childhood, had viewers also on edge at 

its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival 

on Saturday. 

When Daniel's childhood friend 

commits suicide, he takes the man's 

seven-year-old daughter into his care. 

But some of the girl's simplest actions 

put him on edge as they recall ominous 

childhood memories. 

"My character is afraid of a descent 

into madness because of the ghosts of 

the past," said Juan Diego Botto, who 

plays Daniel. "He is making a huge effort 

to save himself, to remain healthy... 

but he cannot avoid the fact this trauma, 

that he never confronted, fully comes 

Wops and Hooligans and Rihanna for Loud. 

Musicians, many already in Los Angeles 

ahead of the Grammys, lined up to pay tribute 

to the singer, who sold over 170 million records 

before descending into a very public battle with 

substance abuse. 

“She was one of the greatest singers I ever 

heard,” said veteran crooner Tony Bennett, on 

the red carpet at the Beverly Hills hotel, where 

Houston’s body was found in her fourth floor 

room. 

Police confirmed her death in a brief statement 

outside the hotel. “At 3:55 pm, Whitney Houston 

was pronounced dead at the Beverly Hilton ho- 

ing for the best friend of her ex-boyfriend. 

Lola navigates the minefield that is teenage life, 

through the complicated multiple lives she lives on so- 

back in a monstrous form." 

Daniel is a gentle schoolteacher, 

in a loving relationship with Laura, 

played by Barbara Lennie who recently 

starred in Pedro Almodovar's La piel 

que habito (The skin I live in). 

But like his friend, he is increasingly 

engulfed by irrational fears and 

memories of the past. During the day, 

he manages to repress his demons and 

carry on as usual, but at night they 

come back with a vengeance in his macabre 

dreams. 

"It is about the shadows our childhood 

project across our lives, from 

which we are never freed," said director 

Antonio Chavarrias. "The nightmares 

help to show what is going on 

inside him and the irrational elements 

of his feelings." 

tel,” said Mark Rosen, a police spokesman. 

A member of her entourage called 911 after 

the singer was found on the floor of her room. 

Attempts were made to resuscitate her, but failed. 

The cause of death was not immediately known. 

“There were no obvious signs of criminal intent 

at this time, and it is being investigated by 

the Beverly Hills police department,” said the 

police spokesman. 

But The Los Angeles Times reported that days 

before her death, Houston behaved erratically 

during an appearance on Thursday at a rehearsal 

for a Grammy awards party. 

Though she greeted people with a warm smile, 

LOL predictable but fun Valentine’s Day watch 

 

Film Review 

Film: LOL; Cast: Miley Cyrus, Demi Moore, 

Ashley Greene and Douglas Booth; Director: 

Lisa Azuelos; Rating: *** 1/2 

"He is a perfectly balanced character, 

or thinks he is. He thinks he has a 

logical explanation for what has happened 

in his childhood, he has been 

convinced it was an accident which has 

no further consequences, but when he 

sleeps he loses that control." 

The symphonic music, which recalls 

the scores of classic American 

thrillers from the 1940s and 1950s, 

such as those of Alfred Hitchcock, 

heightens the tension and threat that ultimately 

engulfs Daniel. Certain motifs 

are repeated in many variations like a 

growing obsession. 

"An echoing melody can be pretty 

but also become very nightmarish," 

said Chavarrias, who filmed the main 

plot in his hometown of Barcelona, in 

northeastern Spain. 

cial media and in school that result in sometimes tearful 

and at other, poignant moments. 

It shows in very interesting manner how despite 

so much technology that is meant to 'connect' them, 

teenagers often find it difficult to connect with those 

around, be it their lovers, friends or parents. 

LOL, a remake of a 2008 French film of the same 

name, navigates its material well. 

Though there are many subplots, it does not lose 

way or get too gregariously close with any one of 

them. It resolves them with a lightness of writing and 

direction that makes it a very pleasing watch. 

There is no attempt at making a melodrama and 

neither does it dwell on the seemingly frivolous complaints 

and heartbreaks of the kids in the film. This 

command perhaps comes because writer and director 

Lisa Azuelos's last film was the original French. 

If there were any mistake in the original, she obviously 

has had enough time to improve upon it. 

Demi Moore plays a conflicted and overwhelmed 

single mom unsure when to be strict and when to be 

lenient with her daughter. She confidently sheds her 

'sexy' image in a role that will perhaps herald the second 

innings of her acting career. 

Though the film is about love and generation-gap, 

it is something everyone would relate to in their own 

way. It could have been made anytime and would have 

worked. However, in our times of too much technology 

with sufficient technology infused in the film, it 

works even better. — IANS 

Spanish thriller dredges up dark childhood secret 

"Juan's character is a very difficult 

one because... his life is undergoing 

terrible change, and he cannot express 

it fully, so we thought we could use 

the score to help channel those emotions." 

Daniel's torment increasingly drives 

a wedge between him and his girlfriend, 

who desperately wants a child 

of her own and grows attached to the 

little girl. He becomes isolated, trapped 

within his own fears and jealousy. 

The girl, played by Magica Perez, 

appears innocent but is somehow also 

unsettling. 

Director Chavarrias said it was 

challenging to make a film about evil 

without any villains — and it is precisely 

that which makes it less easy to 

define as a genre. — Reuters 

she appeared dishevelled, with mismatched 

clothes and dripping-wet hair, the paper said. 

According to the report, the singer flailed her 

hands frenetically as she spoke, skipped around 

the ballroom in a childlike fashion and wandered 

aimlessly about in the lobby. 

People magazine and the TMZ celebrity 

website reported that Houston had been due to 

attend the Saturday night dinner, hosted by Davis 

— who developed the young singer who made a 

string of 11 number one hits in the 1980s and 90s. 

Condolences poured in on Twitter from shocked 

fans and from the famous, as sadness over the 

news spread through the entertainment world. 

“Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking 

death of my friend... She will never be forgotten 

as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the 

earth,” wrote Mariah Carey. 

Grammys organising chief Neil Portnow 

called Houston “one of the world’s greatest pop 

singers of all time who leaves behind a robust 

musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades. 

“A light has been dimmed in our music community 

today, and we extend our deepest condolences 

to her family, friends, fans and all who 

have been touched by her beautiful voice,” said 

the head of the Recording Academy. 

Smokey Robinson told CNN: “I will always 

love her. She is one of the greatest voices in the 

history of music.” 

The Recording Academy is scrambling to 

include some kind of tribute to Houston in Sunday 

evening’s show at the Staples Center in Los 

Angeles, according to CNN. 

The tribute could involve singer Jennifer 

Hudson, it added, while Grammys producer Ken 

Ehrlich told the broadcaster whatever was staged 

would be “respectful” while highlighting her 

stunning music. 

“Knowing Whitney as I did... she knew the 

importance of thrilling an audience, and that’s 

what we still plan to do.” — dpa/AFP 

Zanjeer remake 

launch in April 

ILM-MAKER Apoorva 

F Lakhia who made 

films like Shootout at 

Lokhandwala is set to 

remake Amitabh Bachchan 

starrer Zanjeer, and the film 

will go on floors in April. 

"My film starts from 

April 20 so I am going to 

start working on it, it is the 

remake of Zanjeer and next 

week I am going to shoot 

for an ad in Thailand," Lakhia 

said on the sidelines of 

the semifinals of Celebrity 

Cricket League. 

The film-maker has 

roped in Southern superstar 

Chiranjeevi's son Ram Charan 

Teja, who will step into 

the shoes of Amitabh for the 

remake. Ram Charan is already 

an icon for Southern 

fans. His film Magadheera 

has become one of the biggest 

hits of all times in the 

Telugu industry 

The 1973 classic, also 

starred Jaya Bhaduri and 

Pran, played a pivotal role in 

Amitabh's career. This film 

not only catapulted him to 

fame, it also gave Amitabh 

the title of "angry young 

man" at that time. 

Bennett to be honoured: 

California residents are set 

to honour the 50th anniversary 

of Tony Bennett’s hit 

song I Left My Heart in San 

Francisco with a city-wide 

tribute. 

The 85-year-old recorded 

the popular tune in 1962 and 

now local lawmakers are 

holding a public sing-along 

at the City Hall Rotunda to 

celebrate its origin on February 

14. 

Mayor Ed Lee has asked 

every radio station to play I 

Left My Heart at 12 pm. It is 

not yet known whether Bennett 

will participate in the 

festivities. — IANS 

How to revive romance in marriage? Take tips from experts! 

"But when you start living together, you tend to notice even 

the minutest things and complain about those things, which are 

irrelevant. But if you are content and satisfied with your achievements, 

marriage can be the most beautiful thing," Ratra said. 

But there is a solution to every problem, says Samir Parikh, 

a psychiatrist in Max Healthcare, and suggests that some quality 

time with each other can work wonders. 

"Couples need a regular boost to their love life in terms of 

spending good, intimate and fun moments together. At the same 

time, one also needs to appreciate that merely enjoying occasion 

is not good enough, and they should try and find time for each 

other in the chores of routine life," he said. 

But at the same time he cautions not to go out of the way to 

impress partners as it could have an adverse effect. 

"One doesn't need to impress! Do what both of you enjoy doing 

together. A gesture is an extension of a relationship. Last but 

not the least, some intimate moments could bring freshness to a 

monotonous life," he added. 

So this Valentine, rekindle romance with little surprises. 

"Love is not lost but shelved back after marriage, hence surprises 

help in keeping the marriage alive. As one grows, the romance 

also matures. In the initial years, giving a rose bud might 

look highly romantic but at a different stage it might look kiddish. 

"But the things that remain evergreen are that you know your 

partner's interest and become a part of it. Get involved, don't do 

things just for the heck of it. Your partner can distinguish real 

from fake. So, show genuine interest," said marriage counsellor 

Vikhyat Singh. — IANS 

Still trying to figure out 

love, says Liv Tyler 

ACTRESS Liv Tyler has admitted she is constantly 

attempting to understand love. 

The 34-year-old is dating photographer Theo 

Wenner for the past six months. 

"Am I happy in love? I'm still trying to figure love out. 

I'm honestly still trying to figure it all out. Life and love 

and my ideas of love. And what love really is. And how 

it works and what it all means," femalefirst.co.uk quoted 

Tyler as saying. 

Paltrow’s Valentine’s tips 

ACTRESS Gwyneth 

Paltrow has 

tips for couples 

to make Valentine's 

Day special with oils, 

feather and a lovemaking 

guide. 

The 39-year-old, 

married to Coldplay's 

Chris Martin, also says 

couples should provide 

a string of romantic 

surprises throughout 

the day, reports thesun. 

co.uk. 

Paltrow suggests the 

day should begin with 

breakfast and swapping 

love notes before making a string of hearts out of coloured 

paper, or couples could make up romantic playlists for 

each other's iPods or heat things up with a love book. 

She added: "At 3 pm, you should arrange delivery of a 

bouquet of flowers, followed by a simple dinner of chicken 

paillard with avocados. Later at 10pm — for over-18s 

only! Get the Kama Sutra original weekender kit at £16." 

"This little kit includes love oil, a pleasure balm and 

even some honey dust with a titillating little feather applicator 

for some fun wherever you end up." 

Singer Kelly loves the Bible 

SI NGER 

Kelly Rowland 

says 

she doesn't have 

many backstage 

demands but always 

insists on 

having her Bible 

with her. 

"The only thing 

I asked for is Fiji 

Water. When I'm 

on tour the only 

thing I can't be 

without is my Bible,"contactmusic.com 

quoted 

the 30- year-old as 

saying. 

Beyonce introduces Carter 

SINGER Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z have shared 

the first pictures of their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, 

with the world. 

The couple, who welcomed their first child on January 

7, unveiled a set of intimate family shots on social networking 

site Tumblr, which show Beyonce tenderly cradling 

the tot in her arms and the rapper comforting his adorable 

daughter as she sleeps, reports contactmusic.com. 

In an accompanying message, the couple wrote: "We 

welcome you to share our joy. Thank you for respecting our 

privacy during this beautiful time in our lives." — IANS

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— With a host of 

services including 

the following: Hiring 

luxurious coaches, 

arranging weekly 

trips, preparing 

visas for expats at 

cost-effective price, 

including transport, 

housing, meals 

and visits to shrine 

locations. Land and 

air trips weekly. 

(99311310, 24566016, 

99361982, 99707248, 

99322124. 

S 

ITUATION WANTED 

INDIAN, male, 

Mechanical diploma with 

AutoCad experience, 

6 years pipeline and 

structural drawings. 

Contact 98182408 

B.Tech, electronics & 

telecommunication 1st 

class engineer, Indian 

male, 26 years, looking 

for suitable placement 

with school teaching. 

Pls contact 93605854. 

E-mail: pmvipi@gmail. 

com 

INDIAN male, 26 yrs, 

MBA completed, with 

more than 5 years of work 

experience in customer 

care, administrative 

and sales/marketing 

fields, having excellent 

computer knowledge and 

communication skill. 

Currently on visit visa, 

seeks suitable placement. 

98150733, e-mail: 

ramtnair@gmail.com 

W 

ANTED 

WANTED for 

Omani 

family female driver 

with Omani or GCC 

driving licence. 

Accommodation, food, 

car, tickets and visa 

are offered. Salary is 

around RO 120. Contact: 

99340050. 

COMPUTER SUPPLIES 

Ruwi: 24792792 

GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! 

DIRECT: 24649594 - FAX : 24649590 

e-mail: classified@omandaily.om 

CONTACT: 99310448 /99333506 /24505994 

FAX: 24504023. E-mail: afaqwadi@yahoo.com 

G 

OOD NEWS NEW 

FREE FRE 

INFORMATION 

ABOUT ISLAM 

GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! 

If you would like to 

know more about 

Islam, please call: 

Tel : 99425598, 

96050000, 99353988, 

99253818, 99341395, 

99379133, 

For ladies: 99415818, 

99321360, 99730723 

Or visit: 

www.islamfact.com 

AYURVEDIC 

Treatment, Yoga massage 

& slimming. Contact: 

92504980/ 24475280 , 

www.drsajjay.com 

B.TECH IT graduate 

having good knowledge 

in Oracle DBA with OCP 

certified, seeks suitable 

placement, currently 

on visit visa. Contact: 

95829462. 

WELDER 6G (SMAW) 

— Indian male, more 

than 10 yrs experience in 

India and Gulf presently 

working in Oman, 

seeks placement. 

Contact 92177850. 

L 

OST 

MOHAMMED Sagheer 

Khan Rafeeq has lost 

Pakistani passport No. NV- 

4113721. Finder please 

handover to ROP. 

JASHIM Uddin has lost 

Bangladeshi passport No 

Q-0364295. Finder please 


CHEMBRAMMARIL 

MANIKANDAN has 

lost Indian passport No 

G-3170688. Finder please 


GOURI Kandavalli has 

lost Indian passport No 

E-2531007. Finder please 


al-haditha 

centre 

AUTO REPAIR 

CENTRE 

F 

S 

OR SALE/RENT 

SAL 

ITUATION VACANT 

CLASSIFIEDS 

Continued on P-15 

F 

O 

R 

H 

I 

R 

E 

Quality Repairs & Maintenance of all 

types of Cars and Heavy vehicles 

(ROP approved Grade A Workshop) 

Telephone: 24595951/1414, Fax: 24597979. 

A HOUSE for sale or rent 

at Al Khuwair, north area 

92589594. 

STEWARDS required to 

join team in pprivate 

villa. 

Must have ho hotel training 

in F&B or housekeeping, 

good salary & terms. Fax 

bio-data and experience 

to 24696646. 

SENIOR Steward over 

45 years old required 

to supervise team in 

private villa, Must have 

hotel training in F&B 

or housekeeping, good 

salary & terms. Fax biodata 

and experience to 

24696646. 

WAITERS: Darbat 

Restaurant looking for 

qualified waiter. Interested 

party please call Mohamed 

99084042. for interview 

and information. 

AL Dhahira Tarmac 

SAOC are currently 

seeking for the 

following candidates. 

1. 1 Mechanic HD 

Diesel — Omani 

national or expatriate 

candidates preferably 

used to working on large 

earthmoving equipment 

such as excavators, 

dump trucks and loading 

shovels. 2. 7 Heavy 

Duty Drivers — Omani 

nationals to operate our 

Man Dump Trucks at our 

Quarry in Wadi Ajran 

Al Buraimi. Candidates 

should be a minimum of 

21 years of age and have 

a minimum of 6 months 

truck driving experience. 

For more information or 

to apply please contact 

Mr Ammar Ali on 

25659011 or mobile 

99334604 or e-mail to 

ammarali@tarmac.ae 

PHYSIOTHERAPIST 

and nurse required 

to work in a private 

medical centre 

99611618, 99362088

Sharma, 150-strong business 

team leave for Pakistan talks NEW 

NEW DELHI — The largest 

Indian business delegation 

to Pakistan, consisting 

of some 150 members and 

led by Commerce and Industry 

Minister Anand Sharma 

(pictured), will take part in a 

series of events, including an 

“India Show” in Lahore, over 

four days starting today. 

Co-hosted by the two leading 

Indian business chambers, 

the event will mark the first 

visit of an Indian trade minister 

to Pakistan in 30 years in 

an exercise aimed at ramping 

bilateral trade to $10 billion in 

three years. 

The delegation includes 

some top names from India’s 

corporate world, including 

Rajan Bharti Mittal, vice 

chairman and managing director, 

Bharti Enterprises; 

Sunil Kant Munjal, chairman, 

Hero Corporate Services; K K 

Modi, chairman, Modi Enterprises; 

Harsh Pati Singhania, 

managing director, JK Paper; 

Naresh Goyal, chairman, Jet 

Airways; Jyotsna Suri, chairperson 

and managing direc- 

S 

BCOM graduate gradua d with 

good Oman experience ex in 

HR Admin/rent-a-car & 

leasing/sales support & 

back office management. 

Seeks immediate 

placement. 24812857/ 

98731659. 

B.Tech IT graduate having 

good knowledge in oracle 

DBA with OCP certified. 

Seeks suitable placement. 

Currently on visit visa. 

Contact: 95829462. 

CHIEF Executive Officer/ 

General Manager with 

MBA, Engineering 

background & over 20 

years international exp 

(including Oman, Middle 

East & United States 

of America) in General 

Management, Marketing, 

Business Development 

for Automotive, Consumer 

durables, FMCG is 

looking for suitable 

assignment. Contact 


tor, Bharat Hotels; and Arun 

Nanda, chairman, Mahindra 

Holidays and Resorts. 

Federation of Indian 

Chambers of Commerce and 

Industry (FICCI) president 

R V Kanoria and Confederation 

of Indian Industry (CII) 

president B Muthuraman will 

lead the delegations of their 

respective chambers. 

The delegations will visit 

Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad 

for close interaction with 

Pakistani CEOs and officials 

in what is being described as 

a “landmark initiative” for 

removing the barriers so that 

WAREHOUSE stores 

& logistics manager 

currently working with 

corporate management in 

Muscat having immense 

experience. Seeks 

challenging opportunity. 

94211162. 

8 YEARS experience 

with .Net,Oracle,PL SQL, 

Sql Server, Business 

Objects,VB & Crystal 

Reports, using share-point 

& moodle for E-Learning 

seeks suitable job. 

96932038 

INDIAN male, 22 years, 

BE ECE completed and 

having certifications in 

CCNA & Microsoft with 

excellent computer and 

communication skills 

looking for suitable 

placement. Contact 

99676386, e-mail: 

thousi4jb@gmail.com 

the volume of two-way trade 

reaches its potential of $10 

billion in the next three years. 

“Any delegation to Pakistan 

goes beyond business 

and trade. It will help deepen 

overall ties and improve people-to-people 

contact between 

the two countries,” said FICCI 

president Kanoria, who is also 

chairman of Kanoria Chemicals 

and Industries. 

Kanoria said besides senior 

officials, chief executives 

of over 100 companies would 

visit Pakistan to explore 

business opportunities. “There 

will be a lot of participation 

from small and medium enterprises 

as well,” he said. 

Commerce Secretary 

Rahul Khullar, chairman and 

managing director of India 

Trade Promotion Organisation 

(ITPO) Rita Menon and 

senior officials from the department 

of customs and the 

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 

will also be part of the delegation 

that will visit Pakistan 

from February 13-16. 

The delegation will have 


BSc graduate with 25 yrs 

exp out of 8 yrs working 

in Oman in a perfume 

co, having working exp 

in stores, sales & general 

accounting, purchase, 

computer operation, seeks 

suitable job. Contact: 

92540909. 

INDIAN male, B Com, 

having 9 years experience 

in Gulf as an accountant 

with computer knowledge 

looking for an accountant 

or any suitable position 

currently on visit visa. 

Contact 98735924. 

BE Electronics & 

Communication Engineer, 

Indian male 23 yrs, on visit 

with certificate in CCNA 

and Industrial automotion 


Contact: 99457898, 

e-mail: joeljames89@ 

gmail.com 

Mailing Address: OBSERVER CLASSIFIEDS SECTION, P.O. Box 974, Muscat, P.C. 100 

Location: OEPPA HEAD OFFICE, Medinat Al Alam, 

Near Ministry of Information 24649 593, 594, 594, 595, 596, 597 

& OEPPA Ruwi Office, Next to Dhofar Bldg, Behind Ruwi Police Station 24785668 

15 

INDIA/CLASSIFIEDS 


a series of meetings with 

business leaders and government 

officials of Pakistan, including 

Prime Minister Yusuf 

Raza Gilani and Commerce 

Minister Makhdoom Amin 

Fahim. 

Bilateral trade between India 

and Pakistan was recorded 

at $2.7 billion in 2010-11. 

Trade balance is heavily in favour 

of India with its exports 

at $2.3 billion and imports 

from Pakistan at $332 million. 

Major items of export from 

India to Pakistan are sugar, 

cotton, man-made filaments 

and chemicals, while its top 

imports from Pakistan include 

edible fruit, mineral fuels and 

organic chemicals. 

“The trade potential 

between our two countries is 

very high and based on strong 

fundamental complementarities. 

One step of opening up 

of the Wagah border for all 

tradeable items would double 

bilateral trade,” said Chandrajit 

Banerjee, director-general, 

CII. — IANS 

SUDANESE Civil 

Engineer, one year 

experience in Oman. 

92273940. 

LOOKING for job — 

House cleaning, labour 

works. 99529342. 

JORDANIAN, (CIS, MBA 

qualified), seeks job in 

reputed companies in 

Oman or Gulf. Contact 

99273600. 

FEMALE Jordanian 

(Bachelor degree in dental 

technology and MBA), 

seeks job in reputed 

companies in Oman or 

Gulf. Contact 99273600 


MBA. B.Com with 

3 years experience in 

accounts and marketing, 

visit visa, seeks suitable 

placement . Contact 

99687951. 

EXECUTIVE Secretary/ 

Admn Assistant having 12 

yrs exp in multinational 

companies (3 yrs Oman 

exp), seeks suitable 

placement in reputed 

companies. Contact: 

99091047. 

AN Egyptian chef with 

long experience at hotels 

and hypermarkets looking 

for a suitable job. Contact 

92319591, 98766269. 

INDIAN female, MSc 

(bio-tech) qualified, 5 

years teaching experience 

in India, CBSE syllabus 

at school and pre-college 

level. (Expert in EVS, 

Science, Maths). Contact 

98046628, 93567940. 

E-mail: shulesen07@ 

gmail.com (or) kumar. 

senthil71@yahoo.com 


INDIAN male, Masters 

degree in IT, MCSE, 

CCNA, CCNP, ITIL V3 

certified with 8 years of 

experience, seeks suitable 

placement. Contact 

99059728. 

INDIAN male, graduate 

with over 12 years 

experience in Sales & 

Marketing in Oman, 


Holds valid Omani D/L. 

92302187. 

MALE, 23 yrs, Indian, 

MCA, PGDCA, B.Sc 

computer science, 

looking for suitable job. 

97310219. e-mail: 

vineeth1000@gmail.com. 


MBA. B.Com with 

3 years experience in 

accounts and marketing, 

visit visa, seeks suitable 

placement . Contact 

99687951. 

BANGLADESHI having 

a valid Omani driving 

licence searching for 

a job opportunity as a 

driver or cook. For info 

92895563. 

INDIAN male, more than 

30 years of experience in 

a leading airline in Oman 

as senior commercial sales 

officer, seeks placement. 

Contact 99332596. 

CIVIL Draftsman (Auto- 

Cad 2D, 3D) cum Arabic 

technical translator looking 

for a suitable position in 

civil, environmental field 

(construction, consulting) 

93282986, E-mail: 

ahdajmal.gmail.com 

B.COM MBA qualified 

accountant, Indian male, 

with one year experience, 

knowledge of Tally, ERP9 

MS Office, seeks suitable 

placement. Contact: 

92116105/99062642. 

INDIAN male, 20 yrs 

of Gulf experience in 

HR, logistics, stores, 

warehouses and 

inventory, having Oman 

driving licence. Contact 

98685237. 

MAINTENANCE 

supervisor, electrical, 

plumbing, civil, good 

experience in Oman with 

driving licence. Able to 

handle jobs independently, 

knowledge in materials 

and purchase. Contact 

95798713. 

ACCOUNTANT: A well 

experienced accountant, 

B Com, very good in 

computer and English, 

presently working in India, 

looking for a job in 

Oman. Ready to join 

immediately. Contact: 

99087175. 

BE Civil, MBA const. 

management (2012), 5 

yrs Oman experience in 

building const, swimming 

pools, Oman D/L, seeks 

suitable placement 

98448454. e-mail: 

civilengr12@gmail.com 

MALE servant: a well 

Gulf experienced male 

servant, can do all 

domestic works in house/ 

office/apartment, good in 

English, presently in India, 

looking for a job in Oman, 

can join immediately. 

Contact 99235823. 

ZAJEL weekly magazine evry saturday along with OMAN DAILY 

for advertising contact 

Mobile 96224397 95181747 

Tel 24649593 Fax 24649590 Email zajeloman@yahoocom 

Business as usual for companies in Maldives 

DELHI — It is business 

as usual for Indian companies 

and the economic interests 

of India are safe in the Maldives, 

wracked by political 

tumult and violence after the 

deposition of former president 

Mohamed Nasheed, diplomats 

and others said. 

India is one of the largest 

investors in the chain of mainly 

coral islands. Its business 

and economic relations with 

the island nation have upped 

significantly in the past few 

years. Till December 2011, 

India had commitment and 

pipeline investments of about 

$900-950 million. 

"It is our first priority to 

make the Maldives the preferred 

destination for Indian 

investment. From our side, we 

have all the safeguards, all the 

policies for making business 

more enterprising for India in 

the Maldives," High Commissioner 

Abdul Azeez Yoosuf 

said. 

Major Indian companies 

like the Tata Group, infrastructure 

firm GMR, wind turbine 

maker Suzlon and others have 

invested in the Maldives. 

The largest chunk of Indian 

private investment has been 

made by the Bangalore-based 

GMR Group, which is modernising 

the international airport 

in Male. The total cost of 

the modernisation and operation 

of the project is estimated 

at $511 million. 

"We are watching the developments 

in the Maldives. 

The airport is functioning normally," 

a GMR spokesperson 

said. 

The Tatas are present with 

their Taj brand of hotels in 

the archipelago, where tourists 

stream to, seeking sun and 

sand. "We have invested $2 

million per annum in the Maldives 

since 2001 and we will 

continue to invest in our properties 

there. We have an 18 per 

cent revenue growth with 80 

per cent occupancy rate in our 

properties there," said Girish 

Sehgal, general manager, Taj 

Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives. 

According to the High 

Commissioner, the current 

political turmoil had not affected 

the interests of Indian 

business houses in several 

market segments, including 

housing, education and hospitality. 

While the Sriram Group 

has set up a public-private 

project in education, the Su- 

ITUATION WANTED SITUATION WANTED SITUATION WANTED 

SAP F1 certified 

consultant attended 

training ‘siemens’ MBA 

finance. Experience in 

accounting softwares, 

Tally, ERP 9.0, peachtree, 

quick books. focus 

reach, seeking suitable 

placement. Contact: 

95609792, e-mail: 

Jayaramsohanlal@ 

gmail.com 

zlon and Bommidala groups 

have a presence in the renewable 

energy sector. There were 

reports that an Indian company 

was going to start a university 

there apart from building a 

wellness resort. 

"Big players have shown 

interest and we are in touch 

with them," Yoosuf said. 

"India is our very strong 

(economic) partner... We are 

entirely dependent on India 

for all our essential items like 

rice, sugar and white goods. 

We benefit immensely from 

India." 

Online travel portal makemytrip.com's 

chief operating 

officer Keyur Joshi said that 

the uncertainty and "fear psychosis 

will go away in days". 

"The Maldives is heavily 

dependent on tourism and they 

will not do anything to jeopardise 

their main industry. We 

expect to take 2,500 tourists on 

charter service from Mumbai 

to the Maldives in three 

months starting April 15. It's a 

paradise only 45 minutes away 

from Thiruvananthapuram that 

has not yet been discovered by 

most Indians." 

The country was voted 

the world's number one island 

destination by readers of 

ARABIAN accountant 

has 7 years experience 

in constructions & 

Contracting companies 

looking for job. 

968 96470036. 

INDIAN male with 

B.Com, MBA, 17 years 

of experience which 

includes 15 years of local 

experience and holds 

a valid Omani driving 

license seeks suitable 

placement in accounts 

or finance department. 

Contact: 99705790. 

FINANCE & Accounts 

Manager, MBA (Finance), 

CA Inter with more than 

20 years Oman experience 

seeks suitable position in 

reputable organisation. 

Contact: 94103929. 

INDIAN male, 26 yrs, 

diploma in fire & safety, 

engineering, certified 

with occupational safety 

& health administration 

and medic first aid intel, 

3 yrs experience. Contact 

95415520. 

MORE than 15 years 

Oman experienced 

Storekeeper/Salesman 

having valid Driving 

licence, on visit, seeks 


99284879. 

11 YEARS Gulf 

experienced Electrician 

looking for a suitable 

position. 93389441. 

YOUNG male Indian 

graduate with one and a 

half years local experience, 

currently pursuing CIMA, 

holds valid Omani driving 

license with excellent 

communication skills 

seeks suitable placement 

in accounts or finance 

department. Contact : 

97098973. 

Conde Nast Traveller in 2011. 

The tourist sector accounts 

for one third of the Maldives' 

gross domestic product (GDP) 

and more than 60 per cent of 

foreign currency earnings. 

The High Commissioner 

said the Indian government 

has major plans to promote 

the Maldives' tourism in India 

and would open a tourism promotion 

office in Mumbai. It 

would also give incentives to 

Indian carriers willing to fly to 

the Maldives. 

Currently, Air India 

connects Bangalore and 

Thiruvananthapuram to the 

Ibrahim Nasir International 

Airport in Male. Sri Lankan 

airlines connect New Delhi to 

Male via Colombo. 

A ferry service from Cochin 

is also planned to start soon to 

boost trade and investment. 

Two-way trade between 

India and the Maldives was 

around Rs 400 crore in 2009- 

10. India's state-owned banks 

have invested in the Maldives 

economy by extending credits 

to sectors such as housing. 

"India is our very strong 

development partner, especially 

in areas like housing, 

defence and education," said 

Yoosuf. — IANS 

LINUX Professional 

looking for a Job | Skills: 

Linux/Open Solaris/ 

Windows Server/C/PHP/ 

BASH/C++/Python/ACL 

(ACL 105,201 and 303)/ 

ADA95/Java Script/ 

MySQL/PostgreSQL/ 

Redis | Lang:German/ 

English/Malayalam/ 

French/Hindi. Contact 

968 92834702, E-mail: 

maxice@gmail.com 

PRODUCTION engineer, 

6 years Gulf experience in 

false ceiling, fibre 

glass and rubber 

moulding, valid 

Omani driving licence. 

95952104. 

INDIAN male, 25 

yrs, dynamic, B.Tech 

graduate (electronic & 

communication), seeks 


99065827. 

MALE, 52 yrs, Indian, 

ex-service man (Indian 

Army), 4 years experience 

in Oman, looking for 

suitable job. Contact 

96994858, e-mail: 

vineethofcl@gmail.com. 

INDIAN male 24, with 

ITI-electrical qualification 

and 4 years experience 

in all electrical works 

in Oman & India, seeks 

better placement. Contact: 

98818419. 

INDIAN male, marketing 

executive, 15 yrs 

experience in Saudi 

Arabia, Thailand, China, 

India in building materials, 

seeks good placement 

in Oman. Contact 

92781754.

FLIGHT LIGHT SSCHEDULE 

CHEDULE 

ARRIVALS ALS S — MONDAY 

O 

Flight No Aircraft From om /Via / Via STA 

WY114 A330-200 Frankfurt 0005 

WY614 B737-7 Dubai 0005 

WY648 B737-8 Kuwait 0015 

PK229 B737-3 Lahore 0015 

WY716 B737-8 Dar-es-Salaam 0015 

WY928 B737-8 Salalah 0015 

WY682 B737-8 Riyadh 0015 

TK858 B737-8 Istanbul 0130 

PK225 A310 Karachi 0200 

QR170 A320 Doha 0315 

EY384 A320 Abu Dhabi 0350 

EK866 B777 Dubai 0355 

GF560 E190 Bahrain 0425 

WY652 B737-8 Bahrain 0600 

WY662 E175AR Doha 0700 

FZ043 B737-8 Dubai 0740 

WY202 B737-8 Bombay 0800 

WY914 B737-8 Salalah 0800 

WY632 ATR42 Abu Dhabi 0800 

WY602 E175AR Dubai 0825 

WY274 B737-8 Jaipur 0840 

WY330 B737-8 Lahore 0840 

NL768 B737-2 Lahore 0845 

WY238 B737-8 Hyderabad 0850 

WY102 A330-300 London Heathrow 0900 

WY286 B737-8 Bangalore 0920 

WY254 B737-8 Madras 0920 

WY224 B737-8 Cochin 0925 

WY218 B737-8 Trivandrum 0925 

EK862 B777 Dubai 0930 

WY824 A330-300 Kuala Lumpur 0935 

WY242 B737-8 Delhi 0945 

QR166 A321 Doha 0950 

G9113 A320 Sharjah 0955 


9W530 B737-8 Trivandrum 1045 


WY3302 ATR42 Mukhaizna 1100 

IX543 B737-8 Trivandrum-Cochin 1130 

WY371 A330-200 Colombo-Male 1130 

WY336 B737-8 Kathmandu 1140 

WY818 A330-300 Bangkok 1155 


IX337 B737-8 Calicut 1255 

WY916 E175AR Salalah 1300 

WY918 ATR42 Khasab 1315 

WY606 B737-8 Dubai 1330 

PK259 A310 Islamabad-Sialkot 1410 

WY924 B737-8 Salalah 1440 

WY324 B737-8 Karachi 1440 

WY711 B737-8 Zanzibar-Dar-es-Salaam 1600 

WY654 E175AR Bahrain 1615 

ED450 A319 Lahore 1630 



WY204 B737-8 Bombay 1655 

WY814 A330-200 Bangkok 1705 

IX817 B737-8 Mangalore-Abu Dhabi 1725 

WY608 B737-8 Dubai 1740 

WY298 B737-8 Calicut 1750 

WY264 B737-8 Lucknow 1755 


WY664 E175AR Doha 1800 

WY646 B737-8 Kuwait 1805 

GF564 A319 Bahrain 1810 

G9117 A320 Sharjah 1905 

WY316 B737-8 Chittagong 1910 


FZ047 B737-8 Dubai 2020 

AI977 A319 Bangalore-Hyderabad 2025 

KL449 A330 Amsterdam-Abu Dhabi 2045 

AI973 A320 Delhi 2125 

BA073 B777 London Heathrow-Abu Dhabi 2130 

UL205 A320 Colombo 2140 

WY616 B737-8 Dubai 2145 

AI907 A319 Madras 2200 

WY406 B737-8 Cairo 2215 

LH618 A340 Frankfurt-Abu Dhabi 2225 

QR168 A320 Doha 2235 


LX242 A330 Zurich-Dubai 2235 

GF566 B737-7 Bahrain 2250 

WY624 ATR42 Al Ain 2305 

WY656 B737-7 Bahrain 2305 

AI985 A321 Ahmedabad-Bombay 2310 

WY668 B737-8 Doha 2310 

WY928 B737-8 Salalah 2310 

WY672 B737-8 Jeddah 2315 

WY636 E175AR Abu Dhabi 2315 

WY686 B737-8 Dammam 2320 

WY425 B737-8 Amman-Beirut 2325 

9W534 B737-8 Cochin 2330 

9W540 B737-8 Bombay 2340 

KQ318 B737-8 Nairobi-Dubai 2350 

QUOTATIONS FOR TODAY 

It was character that got us out of bed, 

commitment that moved us into action, and 

discipline that enabled us to follow through. 

— Zig Ziglar 

When we see persons of worth, we should 

think of equaling them; when we see persons 

of a contrary character, we should turn inwards 

and examine ourselves. 

— Confucius 

CINEMA 

FILM INFORMATION 

AL BAHJA CINEMA: 

24540856, 24540855. 

AL NASR CINEMA: 

24831358, 24831809 (after 3pm) 

AL SHATTI PLAZA: 

24607360, 24692656 (after 2pm) 

STARS CINEMA: 

24791641, 24792360 

MAJLIS A’SHURA 

ADDRESSES 

Keep in touch with Majlis Ash’shura’s 

news. 

Log on to the Majlis’s website: 

www.shura.om 

and the Majlis’s 

e-mail: info@shura.om 

Or write to the Majlis’s postal address: 

P O Box 981 

Postal Code 111, Muscat 

Tel: 24510344 / 24521427/ 

Fax 24510560 

INFORMATION 

MINISTRY WEBSITES 

Ministry: www.omanet.om 

Oman TV: 

www.oman-tv.gov.om 

Oman Radio: 

www.oman-radio.gov.om 

Omani Centre for Traditional Music: 

www.octm-folk.gov.om 

OMAN RADIO 

6.00 Opening, Royal Anthem, The Holy Quran, Preview of 

Morning Programme, Weather Forecast and Pharmacies on 

Duty; 6.15 Morning Tea; 7.00 News Bulletin; 7.10 Morning 

Tea; 9.00 News Headlines; 9.02 Piano; 10.00 Instrumental 

Music; 11.00 Light Classical Music; 12.00 News Headlines, 

12.02 The Holy Quran; 12.15 Pioneers of Civilization; 12.45 

Slow Mix Music; 01.00 Top 10 (Laxmi) Repeat on Thursday 

5.30; 2.00 Let’s Talk Business — Nisham Repeat of Sat 3.00 

& Sunday 6.00; 2:20 Radio Station Jingles And Programmes; 

2.30 News Bulletin; 2.40 Forts and Castles of Oman — Laxmi 

Repeat of Monday 3.00 & Tuesday 6.00; 3.00 Short Stories 

(Judith) Repeat on Saturday 6.00; 3.20 Radio Station Jingles 

and Programmes; 3.25 Mix Music; 3.30 Women in Focus — 

Nisham Repeat on Tuesday 3.00 & Thursday 6.40; 03.50 

Radio Station Jingles and Programmes; 4.00 News 

Headlines; 4.02 Around The World Live; 6.30 News Bulletin; 

6.40 Words in Action (Judith) Repeat of Sunday 3.00 & Mon 

6pm; 7.00 Night Groove; 8.00 News Headlines; 8.02 Night 

Groove; 10.00 News Bulletin; 10.10 Oman in Focus (5 mins) 

Daily; 10.15 D J Rock Special; 11.15 Mix Music; 12.40 News 

Summary; 12.45 The Holy Quran; 01.00 National Anthem, 

Close Down. 

DEPARTURES 

Flight No Aircraft To / Via STD 

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9W539 B737-8 Bombay 0045 

WY371 A330-200 Colombo-Male 0050 

WY217 B737-8 Trivandrum 0115 

PK230 B737-3 Lahore 0115 

WY253 B737-8 Madras 0115 


WY237 B737-8 Hyderabad 0120 

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QR171 A320 Doha 0550 




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NL769 B737-2 Lahore 0945 

WY297 B737-8 Calicut 1005 

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WY923 B737-8 Salalah 1035 

G9114 A320 Sharjah 1035 

WY203 B737-8 Bombay 1040 

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QR167 A321 Doha 1055 

9W533 B737-8 Cochin 1145 

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IX542 B737-8 Trivandrum 1220 

WY645 B737-8 Kuwait 1255 

WY145 A330-200 Malpensa 1300 

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WY113 A330-300 Frankfurt 1300 

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GF563 E190 Bahrain 1315 

WY131 A330-200 Paris 1330 

WY637 ATR42 Abu Dhabi 1345 

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IX350 B737-8 Calicut 1355 

WY101 A330-300 London Heathrow 1400 

WY121 A330-300 Munich 1405 


WY607 B737-8 Dubai 1440 

PK260 A310 Islamabad-Sialkot 1510 

WY671 B737-8 Jeddah 1540 

WY925 B737-8 Salalah 1540 


ED451 A319 Lahore 1730 

WY615 B737-8 Dubai 1805 

IX146 B737-8 Amritsar 1815 

GF565 A319 Bahrain 1855 

WY647 B737-8 Kuwait 1905 

WY685 B737-8 Dammam 1905 

WY927 B737-8 Salalah 1905 

WY667 B737-8 Doha 1910 

WY681 B737-8 Riyadh 1910 

WY655 B737-8 Bahrain 1915 

G9118 A320 Sharjah 1945 

WY635 E175AR Abu Dhabi 2015 

WY623 ATR42 Al Ain 2015 

WY613 B737-8 Dubai 2045 

FZ048 B737-8 Dubai 2105 

KL450 A330 Abu Dhabi-Amsterdam 2200 

AI978 A319 Hyderabad-Bangalore 2200 

UL206 A320 Colombo 2240 

WY913 B737-8 Salalah 2245 

AI908 A319 Madras 2300 

AI974 A320 Delhi 2310 


QR169 A320 Doha 2335 

LX243 A330 Dubai-Zurich 2335 

WY673 B737-8 Jeddah 2340 

GF567 B737-7 Bahrain 2345 

LH619 A340 Abu Dhabi-Frankfurt 2345 

CRYPTIC PUZZLE 

ACROSS 

1 The one question? (5) 

6 It’s a bit doubtful getting a 

jump start in a moment (5) 

9 What a golfer aims to do 

for half an hour in a bad 

hotel (4,3) 

10 Dark until changed (5) 

11 Go up note by note? (5) 

12 A questionable stinger in 

the end (5) 

13 Peter’s vendors (7) 

15 Sound and smell (3) 

17 As a try out, one could 

have tea on it (4) 

18 Jam, yes, but not much 

butter (6) 

19 Form untidy heaps (5) 

20 Quick — what happened 

to Preston North End? (6) 

22 Trio not sighted, as 

children know (4) 

24 Turning his back, teacher 

takes a bit of a risk (3) 

25 Nat rose to become a 

legislator (7) 

26 Written by a misguided 

deputy, no union leader (5) 

27 Should she use stronger 

elastic? (3-2) 

28 All to give a child a name 

(5) 

29 Bad man, but he may get 

the right result (7) 

30 A man with a mole, maybe 

(5) 

31 One team standing out 

from the rest? (5) 

DOWN 

2 Add to the difficulties of a 

female monarch (6) 

3 Cold as we’re told a 

foreign country is (6) 

4 Like an emergency line on 

the house telephone 

initially? (3) 

5 The old people seem’d 

upset (5) 

6 In fairness, it’s merely hard 

water (7) 

7 Will it scratch away? (4) 

8 Having no further capacity 

in one’s occupation? (4,2) 

12 This character, out of 

16 

INFORMATION/LEISURE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 

PHARMACIES 

PHARM 

24-HOUR SERVICE 

Al Hashar ph ph, Ruwi 24783334 

Muscat ph, Ruwi, 24702542 

Al Sarooj, 24695536 

Scientific ph, Qurum, 24566601 

Ruwi, 24702850 

DAY DUTY 

Muscat Thaiba 24421213 

National 24712714 

Crown 24542118 

Al Rimah Medical 

Center 24479664 

Sur Badr Al Samaa 

25546112 

Buraimi City 25653373 

Ibri Al Aryaf Al Omania 

25689715 

Nizwa Nizwa 25412323 

Salalah Al Mawasa 23294400 

NIGHT DUTY 

Muscat Scientific 24451195 

Al Hashar 24833115 

Middle East 

24540924 

Muscat 24695536 

Sur Eibn Al Yafai 

25542267 

Buraimi Al Hayah 25654188 

Ibri Muscat 25689025 

Barka Al Farooq 26884553 

Rustaq Bader Al Jashmi 

26876523 

Samayil Al Hurriya 25359435 

Nizwa Basmat Nizwa 

25431060 

Salalah Muscat 23291635 

KHOULA HOSPITAL VISITING HOURS 

Private & Other Wards 

Working Days: 16:00-18:00. Weekends & Public 

Holidays: 10:-12:00, 16:00-18:00 

ICU 

Working Days: 16:00-17:00. Weekends & Public 

Holidays: 16:00-17:00 

Special Care Baby Unit 

Working Days: Parents may visit at any time. 

Weekends & Public Holidays: Parents may visit 

at any time 

CROSSWORD 

breath, wildly spread the 

word (2,3) 

13 Measures to encourage 

climbers? (5) 

14 Arkle, perhaps, historically 

famous in sport (5) 

15 The custom of going to 

Southend a little? (5) 

16 You need money to feed 

one (5) 

18 Rushed out of the way 

with rapidity (5) 

19 A supporter placed so as 

not to move (4,3) 

21 Increasing abuse of gin, sir 

(6) 

22 Does most studiously in 

the army? (6) 

23 No great fighter in the cod 

war! (6) 

25 At bottom, they support 

our MPs (5) 

26 Tip right into a vessel (4) 

28 Arrange to eat a meal (3) 

EASY PUZZLE 

ACROSS 

1 Scum (5) 

6 Treatise (5) 

9 Relevant circumstances 

(7) 

10 Race meeting (5) 

11 Indicate (5) 

12 Underneath (5) 

13 Stuck (7) 

15 Single (3) 

17 Dregs (4) 

18 Creatures (6) 

19 Facial hair (5) 

20 Young bird (6) 

22 Yield (4) 

24 Fish eggs (3) 

25 Exhaust (7) 

26 Condition (5) 

27 Take unlawfully (5) 

28 Hesitate (5) 

29 Young hare (7) 

30 Donkeys (5) 

31 Informs (5) 

DOWN 

2 Dwell (6) 

3 Gains a point (6) 

4 Drunkard (3) 

5 War-horse (5) 

6 Revealed (7) 

7 Store (4) 

8 Canvas roof (6) 

12 Brimless cap (5) 

13 Change (5) 

14 Border (5) 

15 Beginning (5) 

Hospital. . . . . . Board . . . . . . . Emergency 

Royal. . . . . . . .24599000 . . . .24590491 

Health Services Department 

Muttrah . . . . . .24797602 

Quriyat . . . . . .24845001 . . . .24845003 

SQH, Salalah .23211555 . . . .23211151 

Police . . . . . . .24603988 . . . .24603980 

Al Nahda. . . . .24831255 . . . .24837800 

Ibn Sina . . . . .24876322 . . . .24877361 

Nizwa . . . . . . .25439361 . . . .25425033 

Al Rustaq . . . .26875055 . . . .26877186 

Sumayil. . . . . .25350055 . . . .25350022 

Izki . . . . . . . . .25340033 . . . .25340033 

Haima . . . . . . .23436013 . . . .23436055 

Sohar . . . . . . .26840022 . . . .26840099 

16 County (5) 

18 Courageous (5) 

19 Insects (7) 

21 Main arteries (6) 

22 Invent (6) 

23 Maiden (6) 

25 Freshwater mammal (5) 

26 Offer of discounts (4) 

28 Favourite (3) 

YESTERDAY’S CRYPTIC 

SOLUTIONS 

ACROSS: 1, Tosca 6, F-resh 

9,Rig-idly 10, Offer 11, 

Oddly 12, Flute 13,S-crib-es 

15, Mob 17, Peat 18, Marina 

19, Tot-’em 20, Driven 22, 

Tube 24, So-D 25, Cla-uses 

26, Tries 27, Serif 28, Logos 

29, Lucifer 30, Stall 31, 

Ashes. 

DOWN: 2, Off-ice 3, Credit 

4, AI-R 5, Wills 6, Flotsa-M 

7, Ryde 8, Salmon 12, 

Felon 13, Spuds 14,Rabid 

15, Minus 16, BA-Les 18, 

Meals 19, Tearful 21, Rober-t 

22, Tutors 23, Before 

25, Celia 26, Till 28, Lea. 

YESTERDAY’S EASY 

SOLUTIONS 

ACROSS: 1, Waist 6, Daisy 

9, Trapper 10, Glory 11, 

Girls 12, Beard 13, Meddled 

15, Sew 17, Epee 18, Reside 

19, Aches 20, Dearth 22, 

Desk 24, Say 25, Repents 

26, Tiber 27, Stair 28, Rites 

29, Readier 30, Irked 31, 

Petty. 

DOWN: 2, Asleep 3, Stride 

4, Try 5, Speed 6, Degrees 7, 

Arid 8, Salted 12, Bench 13, 

Mends 14, Delay 15, Siren 

16, Weeks 18, Refer 19, 

Attired 21, Easter 22, Desire 

23, Street 25, Reads 26, Tire 

28, Rep. 

IF IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY: A romantic disappointment in the coming year must not make you lose 

confidence in human relationships. You are capable of arousing true feelings in the right person, and there 

is plenty of time to find the happiness you seek. So stick to your old friends for the time being. 

AQUARIUS 

(January 21-February 19) 

Don’t be too strongly influenced 

by a letter from a 

friend living abroad. He may be too far 

away to understand your situation. 

PISCES 

(February 20-March 20) 

Don’t let a recent increase 

in earnings make you forget 

your decision to be careful. It is 

still not wise to spend your money on 

useless trifles. 

ARIES 

(March 21-April 20) 

Your personal relationship 

with a person of the opposite 

sex needs improving, and you 

ought to go out of your way to put it on 

a firmer basis. 

TAURUS 

(April 21-May 20) 

Your hard work will soon 

be rewarded with a nice pay 

increase which will enable you to buy a 

few luxuries you have not been able to 

afford in the past. 

YOUR STARS 

GEMINI 

(May 21-June 21) 

If you get into the spirit of 

the occasion, you will 

derive unexpected pleasure from a family 

gathering to which you had not been 

looking forward. 

CANCER 

(June 22-July 21) 

Readjustment of your financial 

position will ease your 

present worries and you ought to attack 

the problem with proper speed and consideration 

for the future. 

LEO 

(July 22-August 21) 

After completing a business 

deal very successfully, don’t talk about it 

too much, but concentrate your efforts on 

reaping the benefit of the transaction. 

VIRGO 

(August 22-September 22) 

With your exceptional endurance 

and ambition you 

must eventually succeed, even though 

results so far have not been too encouraging 

for you. 

LIBRA 

(September 23-October 22) 

You will be greatly relieved 

that a disquieting report you 

heard about a close relative has proved 

completely unfounded. 

SCORPIO 

(October 23-November 21) 

Past practical experience, 

rather than untried theory 

would be a much better guide to the job 

which you will have to tackle today. 

SAGITTARIUS 

(November 22- 

December 21) 

Take care not to embarrass 

a sensitive person and refrain 

from mentioning an unpleasant matter 

which he isn’t aware of. 

CAPRICORN 

(December 22- 

January 20) 

Somebody is taking advantage 

of your generous nature and getting 

money from you which you can 

ill afford. Put a stop to it once and for 

all. 

OTHER HOSPITALS 

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 

ACROSS 

1 Kidnap (6) 

5 Fuel-tanker (6) 

9 Wanderer (5) 

10 Cushion (6) 

11 Attic (6) 

12 Foot-lever (5) 

14 Cipher (4) 

17 Managed (3) 

18 Heap (4) 

20 Handle (5) 

22 Transparent (5) 

23 Fit (7) 

24 Number (5) 

26 Sail-boat (5) 

29 Poke (4) 

30 Married (3) 

32 Caribou (4) 

33 Hell (5) 

35 Crept (6) 

36 Absconded (6) 

37 Royal (5) 

38 Furnished (6) 

39 Ebb (6) 

DOWN 

1 View (6) 

2 Deceive (6) 

3 Harvest (4) 

FAISAL BIN ALI AL SAID MUSEUM, 

Tel: 24641650 

MUSEUM OF OMANI HERITAGE, 

Tel: 24600946 

CHILDREN’S SCIENCE MUSEUM. 

Tel: 24605368 

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, 

Tel: 24641374 

NATIONAL MUSEUM, Tel: 24701289 

SULTAN’S ARMED FORCES 

MUSEUM, Tel: 24312646 

CURRENCY MUSEUM, 

Tel: 24796102 

MUSCAT GATE MUSEUM, 

Tel: 24739005. 

OMANI-FRENCH MUSEUM (Bait 

Fransa), Tel: 24736613 

BAIT AL ZUBAIR, Tel: 24736688 

BAIT A’NAMAN, Tel: 24641300 

SOHAR FORT MUSEUM. 

Tel: 26844758 

NAHKAL FORT, Tel: 26781384 

BAIT AL MAKHAM. Tel: 24641300 

BAIT ADAM MUSEUM, QURUM, 

Tel: 24605033, 24605013 

OIL AND GAS EXHIBITION 

CENTRE AND PLANE-TARIUM, 

Tel: 24677834. 

PLANETARIUM, Tel: 24675542. 

AQUARIUM at the Marine Science 

and Fisheries Centre (located next to 

Marina Bandar Rowdha, Sidab). 

SALALAH MUSEUM, Tel: 23294549 

CULTURAL CENTRE, Tel: 23294549. 

SUR MARITIME MUSEUM, 

Tel: 24541466. 

BAIT AL BARANDA, Tel: 24714262. 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

4 Soar (5) 

5 Started (5) 

6 Spoken (4) 

7 Sally (6) 

8 Cad (6) 

13 Blinded (7) 

15 Command (5) 

M USEUMS IN OMAN 

16 Relaxed (5) 

18 Beg (5) 

19 Machine (5) 

21 Number (3) 

22 Weep (3) 

24 Elf (6) 

25 Uttered (6) 

CARTOONS 

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 

EMERGENCY 9 9 9 9 

DG of Passports & Residency, 24569603 

DG of Customs, 24714626 

Traffic offences, 24510227/228 

ROP Public Relations, 24569270 

Consumer Complaints Cell, 24817013 

Muscat Governorate Headquarters, 24560021 

Muscat, 24736611 

Wattayah, 24677990 

Ruwi, 24701099 

Muttrah, 24712211 

Bausher, 24600099 

Al Amerat, 24875999 

Qurayat, 24845555 

A’Seeb, 24420099 

Al-Athaiba, 24521099 

AI-Khodh, 24425012 

Directorate of the University Security, 24513999 

Directorate of Traffic Muscat, 24567898 

Al Batinah Headquarters, 26840096 

Al Rustaq Division, 26875099 

Al Dakhiliyah, 25425099 

Nizwa Division, 25425099 

Samayil Division, 25350099 

Al Sharqiyah Headquarters, 25545070 

Ibra Division, 25570100 

Al Dhahirah Headquarters, 25650099 

Al Buraimi Division, 25650199 

Ibri Division, 25689099 

Al Wusta Headquarters, 23436099 

Haima Division, 23436211 

Special Task Force, 24560088 

Coastguard Headquarters, 24714888 

Dhofar Governorate Headquarters, 23234599 

Salalah Police Station, 23290099 

Thamrait Division, 23279099 

Musandam Governorate Headquarters, 

26730299 

Khasab Division, 26731502 

ROP websites: www.rop.gov.om, www.ropoman. 

net and 

e-mail: ropnet@omantel.net.om 

27 Middle (6) 

28 Plod (6) 

30 Paddled (5) 

31 Prevent (5) 

33 Present (4) 

34 Only (4) 

YESTERDAY’S QUICK 

SOLUTION 

ACROSS: 1, Grip 4, Dim 

6, Care 9, Lie 10, Encircle 

11, Alas 14, Ban 16, 

Shame 19, Confused 21, 

Sever 23, Deceived 24, 

Needy 27, Rip 31, Purr 

33, Imitated 34, Due 35, 

Heed 36, Tan 37, Yarn. 

DOWN: 2, Rank 3, Pail 

4, Deceased 5, Meet 6, 

Clash 7, Ail 8, Realm 12, 

Scorn 13, Angle 14, Bus 

15, Never 17, Alive 18, 

Evade 20, Decision 22, 

Rep 25, Exude 26, Dared 

28, Wilt 29, Lady 30, 

Bear 32, Rue. 

ADAM @ HOME by Brian Basset 

CALVIN AND HOBBES by Bill Watterson 

GARFIELD by Jim Davis 

STONE SOUP by Jan Eliot

Wi looks for first PGA 

win at Pebble Beach 

PEBBLE BEACH, California 

— Charlie Wi is the first 

to admit he has always had a 

penchant for folding under 

pressure. 

The 40-year-old South Korean 

is in his seventh year and 

still looking for his first victory 

on the PGA Tour. 

"I am sure I will be fighting 

my demons all day tomorrow," 

said Wi. "It is how 

I handle myself that is going 

to be the outcome of this 

tournament." 

Wi, who shot a tournament 

course record nine-under 61 

on Thursday, fired a threeunder 

69 Saturday to maintain 

his slim lead heading into Sunday's 

final round of the Pebble 

Beach National Pro-Am. 

Wi has a three-stroke margin 

over American Ken Duke 

after a bogey-free round that 

featured three birdies under 

rainy conditions on the 

more difficult Spyglass Hill 

course. 

He has had four runner-up 

finishes on the PGA Tour and 

was in contention as recently 

as three months ago at the 

Frys.com Open. 

The last time Wi had the 

lead heading the final round 

was last year when he had a 

one-shot cushion but lost to 

Davis Love at the Crowne 

Plaza Invitational. 

Wi said he has been working 

on preparing himself mentally 

for tournaments with a 

sports psychologist and he is 

just now seeing the results. 

"By demons, I mean I tend 

to get ahead of myself a lot," 

he said. "Meaning self-doubt 

— can I really hit that shot or 

am I going to be nervous. 

"Something turned over the 

last couple of months where I 

really started to feel comfortable 

with myself out there on 

the course." 

Wi said he found his game 

slipping a few times on Saturday 

but was able to reel in his 

emotions. 

"I definitely caught myself 

getting ahead today but I was 

able to get back to what I was 

doing and I am really happy 

about that," Wi said. 

But it won't help on Sunday 

that Wi has some heavy 

hitters breathing down his 

neck, including Tiger Woods 

and Phil Mickelson, who will 

be playing in the group right 

behind Wi and Duke. 

"He's won 70-some times 

and I am trying to get my first 

and I have a lot more pressure 

on me than he does," said Wi 

of Woods. "I am sure I won't 

sleep as well tonight as if I am 

in 50th place." 

Wi was born in Seoul but 

moved with his family to Los 

Angeles when he was 10 years 

old where his father set up an 

import-export business. 

He attended college on a 

golf scholarship at the University 

of California at Berkeley 

and now lives just outside of 

Los Angeles in the suburb of 

Westlake Village. 

Wi has 16 top 10 finishes 

in his PGA Tour career and 

nine wins internationally so 

he isn't a complete stranger to 

winning. 

His first victory came in 

1997 at the Kuala Lumpur 

Open in Malaysia but his last 

international triumph was 

more than five years ago at the 

Malaysian Open. 

"I have won all over the 

world, even in Europe," he 

said. "I know how to win 

when I am in contention. So 

we will see how it plays out 

tomorrow." 

"It is just a matter of how 

I handle myself emotionally 

tomorrow.’’ 

‘‘That is going to make the 

difference." — AFP 

17 SPORT 



England fight back to edge Italy in Six-Nations 

ROME — Holders England 

needed Owen Farrell’s assured 

boot and Charlie Hodgson's 

opportunism to survive a Six- 

Nations fright and beat Italy 

19-15 on Saturday For their 

second straight win under interim 

coach Stuart Lancaster. 

Italy threatened to secure 

their first victory over England 

in 18 tests when they took a 

15-6 lead early in the second 

half before flyhalf Hodgson's 

try started a fightback. 

Farrell, who was flawless 

when offered a chance to kick 

at goal, added the other 14 

points on his second test start. 

"We recognise we still have 

a long way to go," Lancaster 

told the BBC. "The most pleasing 

thing was that there was no 

sense of panic." 

Hodgson said England had 

kept their composure despite 

conceding two tries late in the 

first half. 

"We felt we dominated in 

the first half but they got a 

lucky try," he said. "We kept 

plugging away, kept our heads 

and it came good in the end." 

"To show the resolve we 

have from 15-6 down, to be 

successful in a place like this 

we've shown what we have." 

A dour opening half on a 

pitch partially covered in snow 

burst into life when Italy, trailing 

to two Farrell penalties, 

stunned England with two 

tries in the final three minutes 

through Giovanbattista Venditti 

and Tommaso Benvenuti 

to lead 12-6 at the break. 

Hodgson got England back 

into the game when he scored 

a try for the second week running 

after charging down a 

clearance and Farrell's boot 

then proved the difference as 

Lancaster's side followed up 

their opening 13-6 win over 

Scotland with another scrappy 

victory. 

The match was the first in 

the Six Nations to be played 

at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, 

home of soccer's AS Roma and 

Lazio, but the conditions were 

hardly ideal for an expansive 

game. 

England had begun with 

that intention, spinning the ball 

wide in two promising early 

attacks which floundered with 

poor handling, setting the tone 

for much of a first half punctuated 

by some aimless kicking 

and territorial exchange. 

Farrell's first two penalties 

had nosed England ahead before 

the hosts, who lost battering 

ram prop Martin Castrogiovanni 

to a rib injury, exploded 

late in the half. 

With Italy pressing, England 

failed to diffuse two 

kicks and, after the ball ricocheted 

off Ben Foden's chest, 

right winger Venditti gleefully 

pounced to dive over in the 

corner. 

Kristopher Burton missed 

the conversion but the Italian 

fans who had braved the bitter 

cold and falling sleet were on 

their feet again just moments 

later when Foden's pass was 

intercepted by Benvenuti who 

burst clear to score under the 

posts. 

Burton extended Italy's lead 

to 15-6 by squeezing over an 

early second-half penalty but 

minutes later the game turned 

after Hodgson's intervention. 

The England flyhalf scored 

the only try of the game in the 

win over Scotland when he 

charged down and gathered 

Dan Parks' clearance and this 

time he got his hand's on Andrea 

Masi's hack before a kindly 

bounce gave him the chance to 

cross for his eighth try in 38 

tests. 

Farrell converted and then 

kicked another penalty to nose 

England ahead 16-15. 

Another straightforward 

three points from in front of 

the posts from Farrell gave 

England breathing space, his 

unerring accuracy in direct 

contrast to Italy's replacement 

flyhalf Tobias Botes who was 

wayward with two penalties 

that could have put his side 

ahead. 

The misses proved costly 

as England, like they had done 

away to Scotland, defended 

CHARLIE Wi of South Korea hits a tee shot during the third round of the in Pebble 

Beach, California, on Saturday. — AFP 

ITALY’S Luke McLean (left) catches the ball during their Six-Nations match against England at the 

Olympic Stadium in Rome on Saturday. — Reuters 

resolutely to the end. 

England next face Wales at 

Twickenham on February 25 

while winless Italy travel to 

Dublin to face Ireland. 

FRENCH-IRELAND 

MATCH POSTPONED 

The match between France 

and Ireland was postponed just 

before kick-off at the Stade de 

France on Saturday because of 

Scrappy win 

for Flames 

TORONTO — With a 

breakaway in the final few 

minutes of the game, Jarome 

Iginla was hoping to salt 

away a victory. Turns out he 

just needed a little extra time 

to make it happen. 

Roberto Luongo got his 

glove on Iginla’s shot late 

in the third period but had 

no answer to the Calgary 

Flames captain’s shoot-out 

as the hosts came away with 

a 3-2 win in the NHL. 

Results: Boston Bruins bt 

Nashville Predators 4-3, Florida 

Panthers bt New Jersey Devils 3-1, 

NY Islanders bt Los Angeles Kings 

2-1, NY Rangers bt Philadelphia 

Flyers 5-2, Pittsburgh Penguins bt 

Winnipeg Jets 8-5, Edmonton Oilers 

bt Ottawa Senators 4-3, Tampa 

Bay Lightning bt Buffalo Sabres 

2-1, Montreal Canadiens bt Toronto 

Maple Leafs 5-0, St Louis 

Blues bt Colorado Avlanche 3-2, 

Columbus Blue Jackets bt Minnesota 

Wild 3-1, Phoenix Coyotes bt 

Chicago Blackhawks 3-0, Calgary 

Flames bt Vancouver Canucks 

3-2. — Reuters 

Holiday helps 76ers cruise past injury-hit Cavaliers 

PHILADELPHIA — An evenly 

balanced offense helped the 

Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia 

76ers easily defeat 

the under-manned Cleveland 

Cavaliers 99-84 in the NBA on 

Saturday. 

Six players scored 10 or 

more points for the 76ers 

(19-9) with Jrue Holiday leading 

the way with 20. Reserves 

Lou Williams and Thaddeus 

Young added 19 and 16 points 

in the victory which followed 

their first two-game losing 

streak of the season. 

The Cavaliers (10-16) 

struggled in the absence of 

rookie guard Kyrie Irving, who 

missed his third consecutive 

game because of concussion, 

and centre Anderson Varejao, 

who has a right wrist injury. 

"I told our guys that the 

worst thing they could possibly 

do would be to come in 

here and overlook a team like 

Cleveland, with all of its injuries," 

76ers coach Doug Collins 

told reporters. 

"That would have been a 

huge mistake. They didn't and 

I'm very proud of the guys." 

The 76ers took control 

of the contest late in the first 

quarter when they went on a 

14-2 run after a timeout to grab 

a commanding 30-19 lead. 

concerns over the safety of the 

pitch, leaving a capacity crowd 

fuming. 

English referee Dave 

Pearson had passed it fit 90 

minutes before the 2000 GMT 

kick-off, but temperatures 

of -5 degrees Celsius, with a 

wind chill of -11C, had made it 

rock hard by the time the teams 

were preparing to come out. 

MALABO — Cheick Diabate scored in 

each half as Mali defeated 10-man Ghana 

2-0 in a play-off on Saturday to finish 

third at the 2012 Africa Nations Cup. 

The big Bordeaux striker poked in a 

rebound midway through the opening 

half and tapped home a cross with 10 

minutes left after Ghana defender Isaac 

Vorsah had been red carded for a second 

caution. 

Diabate now tops the scoring charts 

on three goals with six others, including 

Chris Katongo and Emmanuel Mayuka 

of Zambia and Didier Drogba of Ivory 

Coast, who could increase their tallies 

Sunday in the Libreville final. 

It was fourth time lucky for the Malian 

Eagles as they lost three previous 

third place matches in the African football 

showpiece while the Ghanaian Black 

Stars were suffering a second loss in three 

play-off appearances. 

Striker Asamoah Gyan was a notable 

omission as Ghana made four changes. 

Mali also had four new faces compared to 

the side that took Ivory Coast to the wire in 

the other semifinal with goalkeeper Oumar 

Sissoko, defenders Ousmane Coulibaly 

and Abdoulaye Maiga and striker Garra 

Dembele coming in. — AFP 

It was much of the same 

in the second quarter as the 

visitors built up a 21 point lead 

before settling for a 58-41 advantage 

at halftime. 

Antawn Jamison led the 

Cavaliers with 20 points while 

Ramon Sessions added 19 

Both teams came out on to 

the pitch to vainly salute the 

furious spectators, including 

thousands of Irish fans who’d 

made the long trip over. 

“It’s a real shame for you 

all but unfortunately the match 

has had to be cancelled,” said 

French captain Thierry Dusautoir. 

“I hope you will all come 

points for the home side, who 

had lost in overtime to Milwaukee 

on Friday. 

"The energy wasn't there 

from the start to the finish. I 

kind of expected that watching 

the guys in the locker room 

before the game," Cavaliers 

and support us next time. The 

decision has been taken, and 

now we will prepare for the 

next time.” 

France coach Philippe 

Saint-Andre added: “We would 

have preferred to play. 

“The changing room was 

electric, the players were really 

ready to play but you have to 

respect the referee’s decision, 

it’s he who is in charge of players’ 

safety.” 

The match is now slated to 

be played either next weekend, 

a planned Six Nations rest 

when the Stade de France is in 

use on Saturday for a Top 14 

match between Stade Francais 

and Toulon scheduled at 

1500 GMT, or the weekend of 

March 3-4. 

If the teams do play on 

March 3-4, it would mean 

them having to play on four 

consecutive weekends. 

It is first time since 1985 

that a Five-Nations/Six-Nations 

match has been called off 

because of the weather. 

And the 2001 tournament 

saw three Ireland matches 

postponed until September and 

October of that year because of 

an epidemic of foot-and-mouth 

disease. 

“The pitch was unsafe. The 

referee had to take the decision 

and it was tough for one man 

to do it,” Ireland coach Declan 

told the BBC. 

“In fairness it was the right 

decision. The players were 

pumped up but it will be a new 

experience for them. 

“The game will be rearranged 

— next week might 

be a bit tight, but it’s up to the 

Six Nations to decide. We will 

have to talk about it. I wouldn’t 

like to guess.” 

One fan left furious was 

Mark Kelly, a salesman from 

Dublin. 

“You wouldn’t get this in 

schoolboy rugby!” Kelly said. 

coach Byron Scott told reporters. 

"I told them, 'I understand,' 

but it doesn't take away from 

the fact we need to compete at 

a high level like we're capable 

of doing." 

Results: LA Clippers bt Charlotte 

Bobcats 111-86, Denver Nuggets bt 

“Me and my wife have been 

planning this for a year, St 

Valentine’s weekend and all 

that. 

“These French friends came 

over last year to Dublin and we 

said we’d come this year. 

“The first we knew was 

10 minutes after it was meant 

to kick off. The referee didn’t 

have the courtesy to come and 

announce it himself. I can’t 

come back as I can’t take another 

day off.” 

French rugby federation 

president Pierre Camou expressed 

his “massive disappointment” 

at the cancellation, 

choosing his words carefully 

in fear of badmouthing the Six 

Nations organising committee. 

“I’m sad for all the fans 

who’ve travelled, those who’ve 

come here from outside Paris,” 

he said. 

Frazzled-looking Six-Nations 

representative Christine 

Connolly, fielding no questions, 

told reporters: “Unfortunately 

on the advice of the 

referee it was decided that it 

was unplayable. 

“He came here yesterday 

and inspected it under the 

covers and then again at 1930 

(1830GMT) this evening and it 

was playable. However, sadly 

in the 90 minutes after the covers 

were drawn back it froze 

over in several areas and was 

unplayable.” 

Camou couldn’t resist a pop 

at the nationality of Pearson, 

who did not appear even to 

give a statement. 

“I cannot speak for the referee 

as he for his own reasons 

has chosen not to appear to explain 

himself,” said Camou. 

“I watched the Italy 

versus England game earlier 

on where the pitch 

was covered in snow in 

places, and I would like to remind 

you that the referee was 

French!” — Reuters/AFP 

Diabate scores brace as Mali finish third 

JOHN Pantsil (right) of Ghana fights for the ball with Cheick Diabate of 

Mali during their third-place match at the African Nations Cup 

in Malabo on Saturday. — Reuters 

LOS Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul shoots the ball against Charlotte Bobcats during their 

NBA game in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday. — Reuters 

Indiana Pacers 113-109, Philadelphia 

76ers bt Cleveland Cavs 99-84, NY 

Knicks bt Minnesota Timberwolves 

100-98, San Antonio Spurs bt New 

Jersey Nets 103-89, Dallas Mavericks 

bt Portland Trailblazers 97-94, 

Orlando Magic bt Milwaukee Bucks 

99-94, Phoenix Suns bt Sacremento 

Kings 98-84. — Reuters

PARIS — Serbia shrugged off 

the absence of Novak Djokovic 

to reach the Davis Cup last 

eight yesterday with the 2010 

champions confidently setting 

their sights on dethroning 

Spain in November's final. 

Janko Tipsarevic secured 

an unassailable 3-1 lead over 

Sweden in the World Group 

first round tie in Nis with a 

6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 win over 

Michael Ryderstedt. 

Victory gave Serbia a quarterfinal 

tie in April against the 

Czech Republic, but captain 

Bogdan Obradovic believes 

that with world No 1 Djokovic 

back in the side for that clash, 

his country can start dreaming 

of a second title. The United 

States, the 32-time champions, 

completed a 5-0 whitewash 

over Switzerland in Fribourg. 

MADRID — Barcelona's fading hopes 

of capturing a fourth consecutive La Liga 

crown suffered a major setback when they 

lost 3-2 at Osasuna on Saturday to leave 

Real Madrid seven points clear at the top 

with a game in hand. 

In freezing conditions in Pamplona, 

Osasuna striker Dejan Lekic scored twice 

inside the first 22 minutes and Barca, who 

have struggled on the road all season, 

waited too long to react. 

Spanish World Cup winners Xavi, Andres 

Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas started on 

the bench, and although Alexis Sanchez 

pulled one back for the visitors in the 

52nd minute, Raul Garcia quickly restored 

Osasuna's advantage. 

Ryan Harrison beat 

Michael Lammer 7-6 (7/0), 

7-6 (7/4) and John Isner, who 

condemned Roger Federer to 

his first defeat in the tournament 

in nine years on Friday, 

saw off Marco Chiudinelli 

6-3, 6-4. 

The US will face either 

France or Canada in the last 

eight. France were 2-1 ahead 

of the Canadians in Vancouver 

after Saturday's doubles. 

Austria made the quarterfinals 

— where they will tackle 

Spain — for the first time in 

17 years with a 3-2 win over 

two-time champions Russia 

in Wiener Neustadt. Jurgen 

Melzer secured the vital point, 

beating debutant Alex Bogomolov 

6-2, 6-4, 6-1. 

Spain, playing without Rafael 

Nadal, who is skipping 

the tournament this year, had 

already made sure of their 

sixth successive appearance 

in the quarter-finals by taking 

an unassailable 3-0 lead on 

Saturday against Kazakhstan 

in Oviedo. 

They completed a 5-0 

rout with singles wins for 

Nicolas Almagro and Marcel 

Granollers. The Czech Republic 

wrapped up a 4-1 win 

over Italy in Ostrava while last 

year's runners-up Argentina 

were also 4-1 winners over 

Germany in Bamberg. 

Argentina will have a home 

tie against Croatia, who beat 

Japan 3-2. RESULTS 

Spain 5 Kazakhstan 0: Nicolas 

Almagro (ESP) bt Evgeny Korolev 

(KAZ) 6-3, 6-4; Marcel Granollers 

(ESP) bt Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 

6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3. 

Barca's youth team winger Cristian 

Tello grabbed a second in the 73rd but 

a late charge just failed to produce the 

equaliser. 

The world and European champions' 

second defeat of the season left them on 

48 points, seven short of leaders Real. 

"The league is much tougher now, 

and I suppose tomorrow we will see the 

gap grow even larger, " Barca coach Pep 

Guardiola told reporters. 

"If we could play well on this pitch in 

the second half we should have done so 

in the first as well. We found it hard to get 

into the game." 

Atletico Madrid climbed to sixth with 

31 points despite being held to a 0-0 

18 SPORT 



OAA gear up for inaugural GCC eve’s youth athletic meet 

By Our Sports Reporter 

MUSCAT — Thirteen promising Omani 

talents will get an opportunity to display 

their wares when the Oman Athletic Association 

(OAA) hosts the inaugural 

GCC women’s youth (Under-18) athletics 

championships later this month. 

The two-day championships, scheduled 

for February 23 and 24, will see the 

best young women athletes from all the 

GCC countries, expect the Saudi Arabia, 

in action. 

The championships came into the existence 

thanks to the forward thinking of 

the leaders of the five participating countries 

who wanted to develop the women 

sports. 

Explaining the circumstances that led 

to the launch of the championships and the 

reasons for awarding the first edition to 

the Sultanate, the OAA Chairman Hamad 

al Jabri said: “This championships came 

into being because the leaders of the GCC 

nations wanted proper attention given to 

the girl athletes and provide them with a 

competition that helps them realise their 

potential and further develop it. 

“And we are thankful to the GCC 

committee for showing faith in the OAA’s 

organisational abilities and awarding the 

LONDON — Joleon Lescott's 

62nd minute goal and a brilliant 

late save by goalkeeper 

Joe Hart sent Manchester City 

back to the top of the English 

Premier League with a tense 

1-0 win at Aston Villa yesterday. 

Manchester United's 2-1 

win over Liverpool on Saturday 

had put City under pressure 

and after they had dominated 

the first hour's play Lescott 

eased their nerves when he 

hooked in former Villa midfielder 

Gareth Barry's far-post 

header from a corner. 

Adam Johnson also hit a 

post in the first half for City 

while Villa threatened little until 

the final stages when Carlos 

Cuellar headed over and Hart 

made a superb point-blank 

save from Darren Bent. 

The England number one's 

stop, as much as Lescott's goal, 

could be a moment City fans 

look back on with glee come 

May if they get their hands 

on a first English league title 

since 1968. 

City top the table with 60 

points from 25 games, two 

ahead of United while toothless 

Villa are looking anxiously 

over their shoulders down 

in 15th. 

"It's always difficult playing 

second throughout the 

weekend," man-of-the-match 

Barry told Sky Sports. 

"(United) obviously put a 

bit of pressure on, any away 

game in the Premier League 

is really tough. But to come to 

first edition to Oman. We are also thankful 

to Shaikha Naima al Ahmed al Sabah, 

Chairperson of the GCC Women’s Sports 

Organising Committee,” he added while 

addressing a press conference at the Sul- 

Villa Park is a massive three 

points for us, we are delighted 

today. 

"We've got to back ourselves 

now although they are 

a club who have won many 

championships recently. We 

are a team full of experience 

and have players that have 

won championships elsewhere. 

We know what it is all 

about." 

CUTTING EDGE 

Mancini, whose side went 

into to a league game not as 

leaders for the first time since 

October, was thrilled. 

"This evening was a difficult 

game, we knew this before 

the game but I think the guys 

played fantastic football," he 

said. 

Mancini's side lacked a bit 

of a cutting edge with Sergio 

tan Qaboos Sports Complex yesterday. 

The OFA chief also expressed his gratitude 

to the Ministry of Sports Affairs and 

Minister of Sports Affairs Ali bin Masoud 

al Sunaidy for their ‘complete support’ 

Aguero wasteful, David Silva 

showing his tricks but failing 

to finish and Edin Dzeko on 

the bench despite Mario Balotelli's 

suspension. 

Carlos Tevez could be 

making a surprise return to 

City after a January move fell 

through and Mancini softened 

his opposition to a player who 

refused to warm up as a substitute 

in a game in September. 

and hoped that the championships will be 

a great success. 

Hamad al Jabri, who also unveiled the 

championship logo on the occasion, said: 

“The upcoming girl athletes from all GCC 

The Argentine's reintegration 

could be a key point in the 

season but England defender 

Lescott, a boyhood Villa fan, 

made his mark by scoring 

his fifth goal against the Birmingham 

side to make City's 

dominance pay having earlier 

headed wide. 

Lescott was watched by 

caretaker England coach Stuart 

Pearce, who dashed down 

the motorway having earlier 

witnessed West Bromwich 

Albion maul Wolverhampton 

Wanders 5-1 away. 

Nigerian striker Peter 

Odemwingie scored a hattrick 

as West Brom moved further 

away from danger and left 

their beleaguered local rivals 

inside the drop zone. 

Roy Hodgson's side continued 

their strong away form to 

jump eight points clear of 18thplaced 

Wolves, who endured a 

fourth straight home defeat to 

put manager Mick McCarthy 

under increased pressure as the 

boos rang out at fulltime. 

Odemwingie's deflected effort 

put West Brom ahead before 

Steven Fletcher's superb 

turn-and-shot on the stroke 

of halftime brought the hosts 

level. 

Jonas Olsson's shot slipped 

through Wayne Hennessey's 

hands to give the visitors the 

lead and West Brom then ran 

riot with Odemwingie's second 

and third coming either 

side of former Wolves man 

Keith Andrews netting on his 

debut. — Reuters 

Austria 3 Russia 2: Jurgen 

Melzer (AUT) bt Alex Bogomolov 

(RUS) 6-2, 6-4, 6-1; Igor Kunitsyn 

(RUS) bt Andreas Haider-Maurer 

(AUT) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4). 

Switzerland 0 USA 5: Ryan 

Harrison (USA) bt Michael Lammer 

(SUI) 7-6 (7/0), 7-6 (7/4); John Isner 

(USA) bt Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 

6-3, 6-4. 

Czech Republic 4 Italy 1: Lukas 

Rosol (CZE) bt Andreas Seppi 

(ITA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Simone Bolelli 

(ITA) bt Frantisek Cermak (CZE) 

6-4, 6-4. 

Serbia 4 Sweden 1: Janko Tipsarevic 

(SRB) bt Michael Ryderstedt 

(SWE) 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5; Dusan 

Lajovic (SRB) bt Filip Prpic (SWE) 

6-4, 6-4. 

Japan 2 Croatia 3: Kei Nishikori 

(JPN) bt Ivan Dodig (CRO) 7-5, 7-6 

(7/4), 6-3; Ivo Karlovic (CRO) bt Go 

Soeda (JPN) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-4. 

Germany 1 Argentina 4: 

Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) bt Florian 

Mayer (GER) 7-5, 7-5; Cedrik- 

Marcel Stebe (GER) bt Eduardo 

Schwank (ARG) 7-6 (7/1), 7-5. 

Barca freeze and title slips away in Pamplona 

draw at Racing Santander. Home keeper 

Tono was man-of-the-match as he pulled 

off a string of saves to deny Atletico, 

who are unbeaten in the six games since 

Argentine Diego Simeone took the helm 

and have yet to concede a goal in that 

time. 

Osasuna are seventh also with 31 

points, one ahead of King's Cup finalists 

Athletic Bilbao, who suffered a 2-1 defeat 

at Real Betis in the late game. 

Nelson struck a rasping last-minute 

winner for Betis, who played the last 25 

minutes against 10 men after Bilbao defender 

Javi Martinez, the scorer of the 

equaliser, was sent off for a second bookable 

offence. — Reuters 

nations, expect Saudi Arabia, will be competing 

in 12 events during the two days.” 

Speaking about the local participation, 

he said: “We will be fielding 13 athletes, 

including the talented sprinter Shnoona al 

By A Seshagiri Rao 

MUSCAT — Following in the footsteps of 

Buthaina al Yaqoubi, sprinter Shnoona al 

Habsi is likely to become an Olympian if she 

gets the nod to take part in the London Olympics 

later this year. 

Though only two Omani athletes, both 

men sprinters, achieved the qualifying mark 

for the London Games, Shnoona is expected 

to be picked to represent the Sultanate at the 

Olympics just like Buthaina did at Beijing 

Games in 2008. 

If the Oman Athletic Association (OAA) 

sources are to be believed, the Oman Olympic 

Committee (OOC) had written to the 

athletics body to nominate an athlete for the 

Games and the OAA board is thinking of 

picking Shnoona al Habsi for the London 

trip. 

After having won the 200m gold at the 

GCC Women Games in March 2011, Shnoona 

certainly deserves the honour but the 

OAA chief Hamad al Jabri, while confirming 

receiving the OOC letter, said the board is yet 

to finalise the name. 

“We did receive the letter from OOC but 

we are yet to write back to them,” he said. 

Asked whether Shnoona will be the one 

to travel along with men athletes Barakat al 

Harthy and Ahmed al Merjabi who qualified 

for the Games, he said: “It is most likely that 

Shnoona’s name will be finalised.” 

“If she gets the nod it will do a world of 

good to her career and personality. Take the 

case of Buthaina al Yaqoubi and see how she 

gained in confidence from her Olympic experience,” 

he said referring to the development 

of Oman’s first and only woman Olympian. 

“The participation in the Beijing Games 

has boosted Buthaina’s confidence. That con- 

DUBAI — Rafael Cabrera- 

Bello was the surprise winner 

of the Dubai Desert Classic 

yesterday after sinking a 

nerveless birdie on the 17th 

hole to end on 18 under par 

and beat Lee Westwood and 

Scottish veteran Stephen 

Gallacher by a single shot. 

The unfancied Spaniard, 

27, had started the day one 

stroke behind overnight leader 

Westwood, but made three 

birdies on the back nine to 

clinch his second European 

Tour title, belying his lowly 

world ranking of 119. 

Westwood had teed off 

last along with Gallacher, 37, 

while Cabrera-Bello was one 

hole ahead. 

The amiable Spaniard, 

who had shot a blistering nineunder 

63 in the opening round, 

retook the lead on the final day 

with successive birdies on the 

11th and 12th holes, but on the 

13th Gallacher sank an eagle 

and Westwood a birdie to join 

him on 17 under. 

The trio remained tied until 

Cabrera-Bello's decisive putt 

on 17. One hole earlier, the 

Spaniard had scrambled for 

par after shanking his tee shot 

into the trees, his ball ending 

in the sandy void between the 

fairways, while Westwood 

would rue a missed birdie 

chance on 16th, his nine-foot 

effort stopping short. 

The world No 3 was also 

found wanting on the 17th, 

rolling a seven-foot birdie putt 

inches wide, while Cabrera- 

Bello was on the par-five 

18th. 

His final tee shot missed 

the fairway, but he reached the 

green edge for three and eventually 

putted for par. 

That meant Westwood, 38, 

and Gallacher needed to make 

birdies on the final hole to 

force a play-off. Westwood's 

second shot left him just off 

the green, but he then played 

a clumsy chip that stopped 20 

feet from the pin. 

Now needing to putt to stay 

in the tournament, the Englishman's 

final effort drifted 

left, while Gallacher fluffed a 

12-foot birdie chance, handing 

Cabrera-Bello the title. 

Habsi. They will be competing in sprints, 

jumps, discus and javelin throws.” 

“We had trials last Thursday and we 

will ahve another session next Thursday. 

These athletes have been training hard 

and we expect good results from them,” 

he said. 

Shnoon and other Omani girls, who 

underwent a monthlong training, are encouraged 

by the presence of Buthaina 

al Yaqoobi who became the first Omani 

woman to compete at the Olympics when 

she took part in Beijing Games in 2008. 

Buthaina, who will not be competing 

in this inaugural GCC youth championships 

as she crossed the 18 year age limit, 

said she was happy to be with the team 

and expecting big things for her compatriots 

in the two-day event. 

“They have been training hard and they 

have improved their timings and performances. 

And having known the standard in 

the region, I believe our girls can get good 

results,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Shnoona al Habsi, who 

did well at the GCC and Arab level in the 

past, said she is hoping to win gold in the 

sprint events. 

Shnoona will be competing in the 

100m and 200m as well as the relay competitions. 

Lescott sends City back to the top Shnoona likely to get nod 

Wales make 

it two out 

of two 

CARDIFF — Leigh 

Halfpenny scored two 

tries in a second-half 

surge as Wales made it 

two wins out of two in 

this season's Six-Nations 

with a 27-13 victory 

over Scotland at the 

Millennium Stadium 

here yesterday. 

The match was level 

at 3-3 at half-time but 

tries from wing Alex 

Cuthbert and full- 

back Halfpenny, who 

crossed twice on his 

way to a match haul of 

22 points, saw Wales 

pull away. 

For Scotland, defeat 

left them searching 

for a first win in 

Cardiff since 2002 and 

facing another battle 

to avoid the wooden 

spoon following last 

weekend's 13-7 loss to 

England. 

But new fly-half 

Greig Laidlaw, in for 

the retired Dan Parks, 

did score Scotland's 

first try in five Tests 

and was responsible for 

all their points. 

Scarlets flanker 

Aaron Shingler was 

handed his Wales debut 

in Warburton's place 

on the openside, with 

former skipper Ryan 

Jones taking over as 

captain. — AFP 

OAA Chairman Hamad al Jabri (centre) speaks during a press conference organised to brief the media about the inaugural GCC women’s youth 

athletics championships at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher yesterday. — Picture by Huda al Bahri 

MANCHESTER City’s Joleon Lescott (second left) celebrates after scoring a goal against 

Aston Villa during their Premier League match at Villa Park in Birmingham yesterday. 

for London Olympics 

fidence can be seen in the way she presents 

herself and the way she speaks, not just on 

track but off it as well.” 

“Now she is even helping the juniors who 

will be taking part in the inaugural GCC 

women’s under-18 athletic championships, 

which we will be hosting. She has been training 

with them and supporting them in all aspects. 

I hope it will be same with Shnoona if 

she gets nominated.” 

Buthaina, meanwhile, expressed delight 

at the prospect of Shnoona’s Olympic participation. 

“I am happy for her. She will be the second 

Omani woman Olympian. In Beijing 

it was me. In London hopefully it will be 

Shnoona,” she said. 

BARAKAT, AHMED TO 

TRAIN IN EUROPE 

Asked about the future training programme 

of both Barakat al Harthy and 

Ahmed al Merjabi, OAA chief said: “Both of 

them have been given a 10-day break after 

the recent hectic schedule. They deserved the 

rest as they were involved in several activities, 

including three big events GCC, Arab 

athletic championships and the Arab Games, 

in a short span of time. 

“Now they will be training here at the Sultan 

Qaboos Sports Complex. This domestic 

training camps are a continuous process. But 

they will definitely be camping abroad ahead 

of the London Games,” he said. 

“For about two months before the Olympics, 

they will be in an European country. 

That’s the period which is ideal for training 

and also that’s when the athletics season 

starts there. So it will be a good time for Barakat 

and Ahmed to train as well as compete, 

which I think is an ideal preparation for the 

Olympics,” he said. 

Serbia reach quarterfinals sans Djokovic Cabrera-Bello sinks late 

birdie to lift Dubai title 

He became the third Spaniard 

in a row to hold the title 

after Miguel Jimenez and Alvaro 

Quiros had triumphed in 

2010 and 2011. 

Westwood had started 

the day on 15 under, one 

shot ahead, while Ulsterman 

Rory McIlroy and Germany's 

Martin Kaymer, who sandwich 

him in the world rankings, 

were two strokes behind. 

The two Britons had wanted 

tougher conditions to make 

the Majlis course bare its teeth 

following a birdie bonanza 

on the tranquil opening two 

days and they got their wish 

on the final round as swirling 

gusts of wind buffeted the 

fairways. 

That made for a tougher 

day around the 7,344-yard 

course and the leaderboard 

saw little movement as the final 

round progressed. 

Westwood rolled in a 35foot 

eagle putt from the fairway 

on the second hole, but 

bogeyed the fifth after fading 

his tee shot into the rough to 

go into the back nine one shot 

ahead. 

McIlroy, the leader after 

two rounds, was three over 

for the day after the front nine, 

picking up four birdies on the 

final nine holes to end on 14 

under in joint fifth. 

Kaymer struggled, shooting 

two over for the day to slip 

off the leaderboard. 

— Reuters

19 



Dhoni’s cool takes India home 

INDIAN players shake hands with the Australians as they celebrate their victory in a tri-series match in Adelaide yesterday. — AFP 

ADELAIDE — Gautam Gambhir's 

92 at the top and some 

smart batting by captain Mahendra 

Singh Dhoni at the finish 

helped India chase down 

a 270-run target against Australia 

here yesterday for their 

second win in the triangular 

series. 

The visitors, needing 13 

runs in the last over, reached 

the mark with four wickets in 

hand and two balls to spare, 

aided by a huge straight six by 

Dhoni who remained unbeaten 

on 44 to see India through. 

Clint McKay, the most successful 

bowler for Australia 

with three for 53, made it easier 

for the Indians by bowling a 

no-ball in the last over. 

Gambhir, who was rested 

against Sri Lanka in India's 

ABU DHABI — England will 

bid to put their woeful showing 

in the Test series behind 

them when they take on Pakistan 

in the four-match one-day 

series which kicks off here 

today, captain Alastair Cook 


Pakistan blanked England 

3-0 in Tests on the back of superb 

performance from their 

spinners with Saeed Ajmal 

(24 wickets), Abdul Rehman 

(19) and Mohammed Hafeez 

(5) plaguing rival batsmen no 

end. 

Pakistan have been further 

boosted by the return of legspinner 

Shahid Afridi who 

took five wickets in their seven-wicket 

win in the lead-up 

match against Afghanistan in 

Sharjah on Friday. 

Cook, who took over as 

captain after the 2011 World 

Cup, suffered a 5-0 thrashing 

in India but hoped that loss 

and defeat in Tests against Pakistan 

were forgotten. 

"It's been a tough five 

weeks as a Test tour but this 

is now a different, fresh side 

and hopefully we can bring 

that enthusiasm into the game 

tomorrow," said Cook. 

"It was a while ago (losing 

to India) but we tried as hard 

as we could and we came up 

short against India. There's no 

shame in that but there will be 

shame if we don't learn from 

that." 

Cook hoped his team would 

better cope with Pakistan's 

last match, was drafted in for 

Sachin Tendulkar yesterday as 

part of India's rotation policy. 

Left-handed Gambhir laid 

the foundation for India, stitching 

together two 50-run stands 

with fellow opener Virender 

Sehwag (20) and later with 

Rohit Sharma (33) for the third 

wicket. 

Suresh Raina (30-ball 38) 

and Dhoni then added 61 runs 

for the fifth wicket before Raina 

fell with India still needing 

31 runs for victory. 

Ravindra Jadeja also departed 

soon but Dhoni, known 

for his calm demeanour on the 

field, stayed till the end to ensure 

there were no further hiccups. 

Earlier, solid half centuries 

from David Hussey (72) and 

spinners. "Certainly the oneday 

game dictates you have to 

be more positive and we're not 

going to have men around the 

bat all the time so it changes 

your mentality as a batter, it 

frees you up," he said. 

"We've got a good record 

against Pakistan and have had 

success against these bowlers 

before in one-day cricket so 

hopefully, we won't banish 

memories of what happened 

in the Test matches, but you 

get to free up a little bit and 

attack." 

Cook said Pakistan were 

deservedly high on confidence. 

"They're a confident team 

and winning breeds confidence. 

We're not worried about 

what they do we'll just try and 

do well in that first hour and 

Pakistan will do the same." 

Cook added that he was excited 

at the prospect of opening 

the innings with Kevin 

Pietersen. 

"It went well. I think we 

got 90-odd together and it felt 

comfortable straight away," 

said Cook of opening with 

Pietersen during the easy win 

over the Lions here on Friday. 

"It's a new challenge for KP 

— and we both are excited." 

Pakistan may counter England's 

ploy of using Pietersen 

at the top by opening the bowling 

with left-armer Rehman. 

Rehman opened the bowling 

in a World Cup match against 

Australia last year. 

debutant Peter Forrest (66) 

took Australia to 269 for eight 

after captain Michael Clarke 

opted to bat after winning the 

toss. The hosts, who had won 

both their earlier matches in 

the tournament, lost openers 

Ricky Ponting and David 

Warner within the first 10 

overs. 

Clarke was also dismissed 

trying to boost the run rate after 

making a brisk 38, which 

reduced Australia to 81 for 

three wickets. Forrest and 

Hussey then added 98 runs 

for the fourth wicket to lay a 

solid foundation and Australia 

looked set for a 300-plus score 

from there. 

But India pulled things 

back with some tight bowling 

and quick wickets in the last 

England bid to bury Test 

form in ODIs vs Pakistan 

PAKISTAN captain Misbah-ul Haq (left) and England counterpart Alastair Cook hold 

the ODI trophy at the Shaikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday. — AFP 

"Of course we do have plan 

for every game but the main 

plan is to do our basics well so 

we are going to stick to that," 

said Pakistan captain Misbahil 

Haq who has won 13 of the 

14 one-day he captained since 

June last year. 

Misbah said his team was 

confident after winning the 

Tests, but starts afresh in onedays. 

"We are high on confidence 

but at times it is also harmful 

so we have to guard against 

that," said Misbah, whose sole 

one-day loss came against 

Sri Lanka last year. "England 

are a good side, so we have 

to play tough, hard cricket to 

beat them." 

The remaining matches 

will be played in Abu Dhabi 

(February 15) Dubai (February 

18 and 21). 

The teams will also play 

three Twenty20 internationals 

in Dubai (February 23 and 

25) and Abu Dhabi (February 

27). Pakistan (from): Misbah-ul 

Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Shahid 

Afridi, Mohammed Hafeez, Imran 

Farhat, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, 

Adnan Akmal, Umer Gul, Junaid 

Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Saeed Ajmal, 

Abdul Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Azhar 

Ali, Hammad Azam, Shoaib Malik 

England (from): Alastair Cook 

(capt), James Anderson, Jonny 

Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, 

Danny Briggs, Stuart Broad, 

Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig 

Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit 

Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme 

Swann, Jonathan Trott. 

10 overs to restrict Australia to 

a smaller total. 

All-rounder Daniel Christian's 

run out, one of the three 

in the innings, in the 48th over 

also robbed Australia of some 

vital momentum in the closing 

overs. 

India play Sri Lanka at the 

same venue in the fifth match 

of the triangular series tomorrow. 

SCOREBOARD 

Australia 

D Warner run out .........................18 

R Ponting c Kohli b V Kumar .......6 

M Clarke b Yadav ........................38 

P Forrest c V Kumar b Yadav ......66 

D Hussey c Sehwag b Zaheer ......72 

D Christian run out ......................39 

M Wade b V Kumar .....................16 

R Harris (not out) ...........................2 

C McKay run out ...........................3 

Indian cricket 

chiefs attempts 

to win back 

angry sponsor 

NEW DELHI — India's 

cricket chiefs yesterday met 

Sahara Group bosses yesterday 

in a bid to woo back 

their disgruntled long-time 

sponsor, amid speculation a 

truce was on the cards. 

Sahara had severed ties 

with the Board of Control 

for Cricket in India (BCCI) 

on February 4 for what it 

said was a 'one-sided emotional 

relationship' with the 

governing body. 

Sahara is not only the national 

team's sponsor since 

2000, but also owns the 

Pune Warriors franchise in 

the Indian Premier League 

which the group had bought 

last year for $370 million. 

BCCI President 

Narayanaswamy Srinivasan 

met Sahara chief Subrata 

Roy in Mumbai at a highlevel 

meeting yesterday 

which was also attended by 

senior officials from both 

sides. 

A joint-statement issued 

after the 90-minute meeting 

said 'all outstanding issues' 

were discussed and the matter 

will now be taken up by 

the BCCI's working committee 

in Chennai tomorrow. 

"Sahara and the BCCI 

met today and discussed 

all outstanding issues," 

the statement read. "It was 

agreed that the subject will 

be further discussed in the 

BCCI working committee 

meeting.” 

Local media have speculated 

over the last few days 

that Sahara may allow Pune 

Warriors to rejoin the IPL for 

the fifth edition of the glitzy 

Twenty20 event starting on 

April 4. 

But reports said Sahara 

are unlikely to continue the 

sponsorship of the Indian 

team, which was renewed 

for a four-year term in 2010 

for an estimated $115 million. 

Sahara's withdrawal was 

sparked by the BCCI's refusal 

to allow the $1.80 million 

salary of cancer-stricken 

Pune skipper Yuvraj Singh 

to be added to the franchise's 

$2 million cap for the IPL 

auction in Bangalore on February 

4. 

Extras: (lb-4, w-4, nb-1) ...............9 

Total: (8 wkts, 50 overs) ...........269 

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-53, 3-81, 

4-179, 5-235, 6-254, 7-265, 8-269. 

Bowling: Zaheer 10-0-46-1, V 

Kumar 10-1-58-2 (nb-1, w-1), Jadeja 

10-0-50-0 (w-1), Yadav 10-1-49-2 

(w-1), Ashwin 8-0-47-0, Sharma 

2-0-15-0. 

India 

G Gambhir lbw McKay ...............92 

V Sehwag c Hussey b Mckay ......20 

V Kohli c Forrest b McKay .........18 

R Sharma c Starc b Harris ...........33 

S Raina b Doherty ........................38 

M S Dhoni (not out) .....................44 

R Jadeja c Ponting b Doherty ......12 

R Ashwin (not out) .........................1 

Extras: (lb-2, w-9, nb-1) .............12 

Total: (6 wkts, 49.4 overs) ........270 

Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-90, 3-166, 

4-178, 5-239, 6-257. 

Bowling: Harris 10-0-57-1 (w-1), 

Starc 8-0-49-0 (w-1), McKay 9.4- 

1-53-3 (nb-1, w-2), Christian 10- 

0-45-0, Hussey 3-0-13-0, Doherty 

9-0-51-2 (w-2). 

Looking for job, accommodation, vehicle, flats, furniture etc? 

Check out Classifieds page. It’s where buyers meet sellers.

Lescott fires 

City back 

to the top 

Page 18 

Tour of Oman from tomorrow 

Cavendish cynosure as top riders descend on Oman 

SAIF Suba’a al Rashidi addresses the international media as cycling legend Eddy Merckx (right) looks on during 

a press conference organised at the Barr Al Jissah yesterday. — Picture by Mohammed Mahjoub 

By Sanjay Chakhaiyar 

MUSCAT — Come Tuesday and the 

Tour of Oman will take the centrestage 

with some of the world’s top cyclists, 

who have already arrived here, will 

go all out to clinch each stage of this 

elite event, main sporting fixture of the 

Muscat Festival. 

Giving details of the route and the arrangements 

for February 14-19 championship, 

Saif Bin Suba’a al Rashidi, head 

of the Tour of Oman Communications 

Committee, said: “We are delighted 

to host the world’s elite cyclists once 

again. The dedication and determination 

shown by all the cyclists is an inspiration 

for all of us. The Tour of Oman is 

a fitting highlight to our annual Muscat 

Festival.” 

Al Rashidi also felt that the weather 

during this time was also conducive for 

holding such an event 

‘‘The weather is fantastic and I am 

sure the cyclists will enjoy every moment 

of their stay in Oman,’’ said Al Rashidi. 

Legendary cyclist and five-time winner 

of the Tour de France Eddy Merckx 

said: “With its magnificent roads that run 

along the sea of Oman coast coupled with 

the spectacular beauty of the country’s 

steep terrain, the 2012 edition of the Tour 

of Oman will offer the 128 riders both a 

tough and varied route. With the line-up 

that includes world champion Mark Cavendish, 

Fabian Cancellara, former world 

champion Tom Boonen and Luxembourg 

star Andy Shleck, the third edition promises 

to provide a fantastic show.” 

Pierre-Yves Thouault, Deputy Director 

of Amaury Sport Organisation, said: 

“The Tour of Oman has already become 

a major cycling race. People from all 

around the world, in 180 different countries, 

will be able to follow this third edition 

on television and admire the beauties 

of this beautiful country.” 

BOASSON HAGEN TO MISS 

Nick Howes, the press officer of Sky 

Pro Cycling team, said: “Edvald Boasson 

Hagen of Norway, who stood second 

overall during the Tour of Oman 2011 

will not be participating this time. 

‘‘Edvald is taking rest after participating 

in Maraca (Spain),’’ said Howes. 

But once again all eyes will be on British 

sprinter and UK Sports Personality of 

the Year, Mark Cavendish, who recently 

won two stages in the Tour of Qatar. 

‘‘Mark is basically a sprinter and thus 

performs exceedingly well on flat surfaces 

and hopefully will be winning some 

stages here too,’’ opined Howes. 

‘‘But our team was relying on Canada’s 

Michael Barry, who broke his elbow 

during a crash at the end of stage four of 

the Tour of Qatar last week. He is very 

good climber and would have been useful 

for the Sky Pro Cycling team especially 

during the fifth round of the race 

on Saturday while climbing the Jabal al 

Akhdhar (green mountain),’’ elaborated 

Howes 

The Sky Pro Cycling team will be 

represented by Mark Cavendish (GBR), 

Luke Rowe (GBR, Chris Sutton (AUS), 

Ian Stannard (GBR), Jeremy Hunt (GBR) 

Mathew Hayman (AUS) and Bernhard 

Eisec (AUT). 

Route: Stage 1: Tuesday: Al Alam Palace-Wadi 

Al Huwqayn (159 km); Stage 

2, Wednesday: Sur-Wadi Dayqah Dam 

(140.5 km); Stage 3, Thursday: Al Awabi 

(Al Alya)- Bank Muscat HQ (144.5 km); 

Stage 4, Friday: Bidbid (Nafa’a)-Al Wadi 

al Kabir ; Stage 5, Saturday: Royal Opera 

House-Jabal Al Akhdhar (158 km); Stage 

6, Sunday: Al Khawd-Matrah Corniche 

(130,5 km). 


By Our Sports Reporter 

MUSCAT — With a number 

of international matches lined 

up, including two crucial competitive 

ties that are likely to 

change the status of Omani 

football, and the scheduled arrival 

English Premier League 

Wigan Athletic as well as Indian 

and Uzbekistan teams, the 

Oman Football Association 

(OFA) is gearing up for one of 

the most exciting period in the 

Sultanate’s soccer history. 

Starting with the visit of 

Ali al Habsi’s Wigan team, 

the first ever trip to Oman 

by a Premier League side, on 

February 15 and until Oman- 

Thailand World Cup qualifier 

on February 29, it will be a 

hectic period of activities for 

the Sultanate’s soccer governing 

body. 

And if the soccer chiefs are 

to be believed the OFA is not 

only geared up for the huge 

challenge but are ready to help 

the national teams achieve 

historic results while trying to 

make the best out of the situation, 

both commercially and 

professionally. 

The OFA CEO and General 

Secretary Hazzaa al Saadi 

said: “This February is a big 

month in Omani football history. 

I should say this month 

is the most important time for 

Omani football and the OFA, 

even the fans.” 

Speaking to the local media 

about the busy scheduled 

ahead of them, especially the 

historic visit of Wigan, at the 

OFA Headquarters in Seeb 

yesterday, he said: “The association 

is ready for this 

challenge of hosting a series 

of matches, including the crucial 

World Cup qualifier and 

London Games qualifier. And 

then we have this visit first 

ever visit of English Premier 

League team’s visit to Oman. 

“This is truly an exciting 

time for us and we believe that 

history will be made during 

this period. And on the field 

we are keen to achieve good 

results.” 

Wigan, who arrive on February 

15, are scheduled to play 

a friendly match against Oman 

senior national team, comprising 

mainly home-based players, 

on February 17. The national 

under-23 team will then 

play their London Olympics 

Group ‘A’ qualifier against 

South Korea on February 22. 

The following day the 

national team will face the 

visiting Indians in a friendly 

before their crucial and final 

third-round Group ‘D’ qualifier 

for the World Cup against 

Thailand on February 29. 

“We have four big matches 

coming up. Of course, the biggest 

match will be February 29 

World Cup qualifier against 

Thailand. We want our fans 

to fill the stadiums and support 

our team,” said Hazzaa al 

Saadi. 

England bid to 

bury Test form 

in ODI series 

Page 19 

OFA set for ‘big month’ of football 

Fans urged to help national teams get historic results 

OFA General-Secretary and CEO Hazzaa al Saadi (centre) speaks to the media during 

a press conference at the OFA Headquarters in Seeb yesterday. 

‘OMANI FANS KEEN 

TO WATCH WIGAN’ 

Speaking about the Indian 

team’s visit, he said: “We are 

working closely with the Indian 

Embassy officials, who 

have been very supportive. We 

want the Indian expatriates to 

turn up in big numbers for the 

match.” 

Giving the details of the 

Wigan team’s schedule, he 

said: “Wigan tie is the most 

looked forward to match by 

the Omani fans. Thanks to 

Ali al Habsi’s exploits, there 

is now a lot of following for 

this English club in Oman and 

the local fans are very keen to 

watch Wigan and Ali al Habsi. 

“They will be arriving at 

9.00 am on February 15 and 

they will be based here for a 

week, during which they will 

train at Muscat Club. The 

training session, on February 

16 (from 4.45 pm), will be 

open to public who can watch 

Ali al Habsi training in Wigan 

colours.” 

After the match on February 

17, selected fans will get 

an opportunity to take part in 

a ‘penalty shootout’ with Ali 

al Habsi. 

The interested fans can get 

further details by visiting the 

OFA website or their Facebook 

page Oman National Football 

Team. 

Meanwhile, the OFA’s 

Commercial Manager Nic 

Cartwright said: “Wigan’s 

visit is a good opportunity to 

showcase the country.” 

“Wigan are coming here 

thanks to Ali al Habsi and the 

relations between OFA and the 

club. We hope this trip will 

further strengthen the relations 

between the two organisations,” 

he added. 

He also informed that the 

general entry for the matches 

is free but the OFA has special 

offers for VIP seats, which 

are priced at RO 50 each. The 

corporate houses can buy bulk 

tickets at special prices with 

special facilities.

OPAL marks 10 

years of success 

Page 24 

Al Hassan fetes 5m safe man hours 

REAFFIRMING its commitment to Health, Safety, and 

Environment (HSE), Al Hassan Engineering Co SAOG (AHEC) 

recently celebrated its 5 million safe man hours at the Saih 

Nihayada Depletion Compression (SNDC) project site of 

Petroleum Development Oman . Page 22 

Hyundai well geared 

for Musandam Gas 

Plant execution 

By Conrad Prabhu 

MUSCAT — Korean construction 

giant Hyundai Engineering 

& Construction has 

pledged to deploy its formidable 

resources and capabilities 

in ensuring the timely implementation 

of the Musandam 

Gas Plant project – an investment 

of vital importance to 

the governorate’s long-term 

economic and social development. 

Oman Oil Company Exploration 

and Production 

(OOCEP), the upstream subsidiary 

of the government 

owned energy investment 

firm Oman Oil Company, is 

ploughing around $600 million 

in the development of the 

integrated oil and gas processing 

scheme. 

As the first major energy 

infrastructure development 

in the Musandam Governorate, 

the project will catalyse 

economic growth in this strategically 

important Omani enclave 

overlooking the Strait of 

Hormuz. 

Besides, gas volumes produced 

by the facility will not 

only provide energy feedstock 

for the governorate’s first gasbased 

power plant, but also 

potentially spur investments 

in industrial projects as well. 

As it approaches the 12month 

milestone in a threeyear 

timeframe stipulated by 

OOCEP for the completion 

of the project, Hyundai as 

the engineering-procurementconstruction 

(EPC) contractor, 

has vowed to bring its considerable 

expertise to bear on the 

expeditious execution of the 

plant. 

February 15 marks one year 

since construction work began 

SCHEMATIC diagram of the Musandam Gas Plant project. 

Iraq opens new crude export outlet 

FAW — Iraq opened a new Gulf crude export 

outlet in the southern oil hub of Basra yesterday, 

clearing the way for Baghdad to increase 

exports by around 300,000 barrels per day 

soon after crude begins loading. 

Loading at the Single Point Mooring or 

SPM outlet for tankers in the Gulf, part of 

Iraq's large-scale export facility expansion 

plan, has already been delayed several times 

by bad weather and technical hitches. 

Oil will be pumped through offshore pipelines 

in a last test procedure before tankers start 

loading in a week to 10 days, the head of staterun 

South Oil Company, Dhiya Jaffar, said at 

an opening ceremony for the SPM. 

"We expect that exports will increase not 

less than 250,000 or 300,000 barrels per day," 

he said. "The plan is to have the first oil inside 

the tanker within ten days." 

If the project goes according to plan, exports 

from Iraq's southern oilfields will rise 

to around 1.9 million bpd by March and bring 

Iraq's total shipments to 2.3 million bpd, the 

highest level since the 2003 invasion that oust- 

in earnest on the project. Plant 

commissioning and performance 

testing is slated to commence 

from September 2013. 

The project itself is scheduled 

to be handed over to OOCEP 

on February 15, 2014. 

The task before Hyundai, 

or for that matter any contractor 

operating in Musandam, is 

daunting, given especially the 

remote and extremely rugged 

topography of this mountainous 

region. Lack of suitable 

maritime-based and inland 

transport infrastructure also 

complicates matters on the 

logistics front. And further 

compounding the challenge 

before Hyundai is the limited 

area of the project site at Tibat, 

sandwiched between towering 

mountains on one side and the 

open sea on the other. 

But according to a senior 

project official, the contractor’s 

longstanding experience 

in executing technically 

complex plants in challenging 

environments, will stand 

Hyundai in good stead in 

meeting its project commitments. 

“Over the past 34 years, 

we have led change and innovation 

in the engineering 

construction field. Our deep 

and lengthy experience in industrial 

plant construction is 

our unique capability,” the official 

stated in remarks to the 

Observer. 

Rock excavation constitutes 

a sizeable and expensive 

component of Hyundai’s 

construction brief. Adjoining 

hills overlooking the project 

site will have to be cleared to 

make way for the Musandam 

Gas Plant – a task that must be 

completed within 12 months. 

At the same time, suitable 

spots must be readied in the 

proximity of the project for 

the storage of equipment and 

the facilitation of fabrication 

activities. 

Given the challenging 

timeframe for the completion 

of the project, Hyundai has 

mobilized an army of workers 

whose numbers will rise 

to 2,200 employees when construction 

peaks during 2013. 

As part of its brief, 

Hyundai will build an integrated 

processing plant with 

a capacity to treat 45 million 

standard cubic feet per day of 

gas and 20,000 barrels per day 

of crude oil. 

Single point mooring facilities 

and crude export pipelines 

are also included in the 

project scope. Additionally, 

the plant will yield 52 tons per 

day of sulphur and 80 tons per 

day of LPG. Worley Parsons 

are Project Management Consultants. 

The Musandam Gas Plant 

represents Hyundai’s first major 

energy infrastructure related 

contract in the Sultanate. 

In the Gulf region, Hyundai 

has successfully executed a 

number of large-scale ventures 

including the Dow-Pic Olefin 

2 project (Kuwait), KNPC 

berth 5/6 expansion (Kuwait), 

Khrais Central Processing 

Plant (S Arabia), Pearl GTL- 

LPU project (Qatar), Ethane 

Recovery Plant (Kuwait) and 

AAC Ethylene-amines project 

(Saudi Arabia). 

Other schemes currently 

under implementation are the 

Habshan-5 Utilities and Offshore 

project (S Arabia), Karan 

Gas Facilities (S Arabia), 

and Group III Base Oil Production 

Facilities (UAE). 

ed Saddam Hussein. Iraqi officials have said 

they are targeting 2.6 million bpd by May for 

total exports. 

That will require monthly increase of 

100,000 bpd in the south through mid-year 

when maximum rates of 2.2 million bpd are 

reached and exports from Iraq's north steady 

at 400,000 bpd. 

The Opec member has a $1.3 billion plan to 

expand its export facilities in the south, including 

two undersea pipelines, one offshore pipeline 

and four single-point mooring terminals. 

Another SPM could be ready in three to 

four months, Jaffar said. 

Iraq's infrastructure is outdated and lacks the 

capacity to handle increasing output from foreign 

companies such as Shell , Exxon and BP, 

who signed massive development contracts for 

its Rumaila, West Qurna-1 and Zubair oilfields. 

Bringing three SPMs online by the end of the 

year would expand Iraq's export capacity in the 

Gulf by 2.7 million bpd, more than double Basra's 

current capacity. Its current Gulf terminals 

can handle around 1.7 million bpd. — Reuters 

Monday, February 13, 2012 


MUSCAT — Al Omaniya 

Financial Services, the Sultanate’s 

largest non-banking 

financial company (NBFC), 

declared its audited results for 

the year 2011 showing a Net 

Profit of RO 4.831 million for 

the year ended December 31, 

2011, an increase of 16.94 per 

cent over the previous year. 

The total revenues of the 

company stood at RO 14.436 

million. The company has 

provided RO 1970K as provi- 

sion for doubtful debts. The 

cumulative provisions stand at 

RO 6.023 million. The Earnings 

per Share is RO 0.031, 

the highest in the industry. For 

regulatory limits, the net worth 

of the company stands at RO 

45.465 million. 

On the basis of its good 

performance, the Board has 

recommended a dividend of 

25 per cent comprising 20 per 

cent cash and 5 per cent stock 

dividend on the paid-up capital 

for the year 2011. This is 

subject to the approval of the 

CBO and the AGM. 

Omanoil signs with Port City 

OMAN Oil Marketing Company has signed an agreement with 

local community contractor, Port City Development, for the 

establishment of a state-of-the-art forecourt located in Sohar’s 

industrial area which will feature a filling station, ahlain convenience 

store and quick service restaurants. Page 24 

Al Omaniya Financial 2011 net jumps 16.94pc 

Aftab Patel (pictured), 

CEO, in his comments stated 

that the company has main- 

tained its track record of paying 

uninterrupted dividend 

since its inception and the 

cumulative percentage of 

dividend paid so far is 278 

per cent. The cash dividend is 

highest amongst all NBFCs in 


The book value of the share 

is RO 0.226 the highest in the 

industry. The company has a 

well diversified portfolio of assets 

with the lowest NPA ratio 

in the industry. The company 

focuses to strengthen its position 

as a specialised financial 

institution to meet the corpo- 

rate needs besides continuing 

the retail and micro finance 

business. The company has 

been posting higher earnings 

and profitability over the years 

and has been a consistent dividend 

payer since inception. 

On most of the parameters, 

the company stands at pole position 

viz. number one in Asset 

size, highest net worth, highest 

market capitalisation, highest 

profit, highest EPS, highest 

profit per employee and lowest 

non-performing loans and 

largest market capitalisation 

on the MSM in the sector.

Al Hassan completes 5m safe 

man hours at SNDC project 


MUSCAT — Reaffirming its 

commitment to Health, Safety 

and Environment (HSE), Al 

Hassan Engineering Co SAOG 

(AHEC) recently celebrated 

its 5 million safe man hours at 

the Saih Nihayada Depletion 

Compression (SNDC) project 

site of Petroleum Development 

Oman (PDO). 

The function was graced 

by Abla al Riyami, Gas Director 

PDO, Said al Maktoomi, 

Contract Holder — PDO, K 

S Jung, Site Manager — GS 

EandC and the AHEC team 

was led by Hassan bin Ali Salman, 

Chairman-AHEC 

Abla al Riyami congratulated 

AHEC on achieving this 

milestone and emphasised the 

ongoing need for developing 

HSE as part of work culture. 

Later, Al Riyami also presented 

Safety Excellence Award to 

Hassan bin Ali Salman. 

Commenting on the 

achievement, Hassan bin Ali 

Salman, said: "I distinctly recall 

that I had the privilege to 

attend the Safety Ceremony at 

the beginning of this project 

on November 8, 2010 wherein 

the entire site management 

had taken a solemn pledge 

for the safe completion of this 

project.” 

He added: “I am very 

pleased to note that the SNDC 

team is continuing to strictly 

adhere to its commitments on 

safety, which is of paramount 

importance to Al Hassan, as 

our motto is “Safety Comes 

First”. I am very happy to see 

that today we are celebrating 

the completion of 5 million 

safe working man-hours in 

this project, for which Al Hassan 

has contributed more than 

3.7 million man-hours and has 

safely driven 2.7 million kilometres. 

This achievement would 

not have been possible without 

your collective responsiveness 

and positive attitude towards 

Safety. 

Al Hassan Engineering Co 

SAOG (AHEC) is committed 

to maintaining the highest 

Toyota Zelas — exhilarating everyone 

MUSCAT — Since the launch of the brand new Zelas in Oman, sports coupe buyers 

have been truly exhilarated. 

The Brand New Zelas is indeed unparalleled in many ways...To quote a proud owner, 

“The sleek new interior is functional and contemporary, while the plush seats along 

with responsive steering and gear shift enhance driving comfort to a whole new level. 

The suspension can take on the bends and curves with confidence. Personally, I get 

the feeling that Toyota's highly trained and quality conscious team has worked hard to 

ensure that the classic brand values of Quality, Dependability and Reliability have been 

further enhanced in the brand new Zelas sports coupe. ” 

Zelas is powered by a 178 horsepower, 2.5-litre four-cylinder DVVT-i (Dual Variable 

Valve Timing with intelligence) engine. This power-plant is equipped with Roller 

Rocker Arms and a Variable-induction Intake Manifold System that supply greater 

torque ‘on demand’, thereby enhancing performance...belting-out a commanding performance. 

Its road-holding characteristics are amazing, making the ride feel sure and 

stable. Premium styling and top-class features further add to its appeal. 

The Zelas' six-speed automatic transmission boasts of sequential shifting, providing 

an additional fun-to-drive element. As a result, the Zelas has quicker acceleration and 

highest fuel economy in its segment. 

Zelas offers electric power-steering system that contributes to increased fuel efficiency. 

Riding on an enhanced McPherson strut front-suspension and a doublewishbone 

rear-suspension, it offers the driver a sporty ride that is both nimble and 

confident. 

Giving Zelas a broader stance and elevated handling characteristics are the 17-inch 

aluminium-alloy wheels wrapped in wider tyres. Disc brakes on all corners are standard. 

Inspired by the design of the famous racing helmet called ‘Calty’, Zelas has a bold, 

aggressive stance. One of its unique design features is the sleek cabin shape — the 

wrap-around window graphics adding to its sporty profile. 

The sleek front grille, aero bumper spoiler and projector type headlamps are complemented 

by protruding fender flares, which amplify its wider, lower stance. The front 

interlocks with the dynamic, muscular rear fenders. The shape of the rear tail lights 

flows cleanly into the overall shape of the trunk with a wing type rear spoiler, finalising 

the iconic and purposeful nature of the design. 

The sporty design of the new Zelas carries over to the interior with a look and feel 

that is sophisticated, sporty and functional. The front cabin design provides a drivercentred 

cockpit with spaciousness and freedom for the front passenger. 

A tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel features a unique flat bottom ‘D’ shape that 

provides additional thigh room. Dual illuminated combination meters for the speedometer 

and tachometer have a three-dimensional appearance with large meters and 

needle indicators for good visibility. The trip meters also include gauges for outside 

temperature, average fuel economy, and an ECO-drive indicator — helping maximiae 

fuel efficiency. 

Among the many interior comfort features are the driver and front passenger bucket 

seats and rear passenger seats, which are upholstered with premium leather. Added 

comfort is offered by thicker seats with firmer seat bolsters, while the driver seat is sixway 

adjustable. Entry and exit for rear passengers is made easy with a walk-in lever 

located at shoulder level on the front seats. For added comfort and utility, the rear seats 

are 60:40 split and recline up to 10 degrees. 

Staying true to Toyota’s tradition, the new Zelas has abundant storage space. Additional 

driver and passenger comforts include four bottle holders, a large console box 

that can hold up to 18 CDs, four cup holders, a flat storage area in front of the console, 

an assist grip handle, sun visors with vanity mirrors and a map light. 

The Zelas features a powerful standard audio system with a total of 300-watts 

feeding the eight-speaker sound package. With an emphasis on amazing sound quality, 

the Zelas stereo system shares some speaker components with the Lexus LX 570, and 

priority to Health, Safety and 

Environment (HSE) so as to 

protect and keep safe its employees 

and the work place 

as well as to strive to achieve 

world-class standards in HSE 

on a continuous basis. 

Keeping this in mind, 

AHEC has executed a number 

of projects in oil and gas, petrochemicals, 

power and water 

sectors without any lost time 

incidents (LTIs). 

22 OMAN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 

WE have, over the 

last two weeks, 

analysed the different 

provisions of the Executive 

Regulations (ERs) covering, 

amongst other things, 

rules for deducting expenses 

(including thin capitalisation 

rules, allowance for bad 

debts, contribution to pension 

and provident funds, donations, 

remuneration to owners 

and directors of companies 

and Head Office expenses), 

tax treatment of finance lease, 

exemption to small businesses 

from tax compliance, tax 

exemptions and their renewals 

and regulations governing 

tax assessments and payment 

and collection of taxes. 

In the history of Oman 

taxation (taxes were first 

introduced in 1971), this is 

the first time that the tax law 

has been accompanying ERs 

covering many aspects of tax 

compliance. This is a step in 

the right direction as, in the 

past, tax payers struggled to 

obtain and track the rules to 

be complied with in filing tax 

returns as there were many 

BUSINESS ALERT 

features mid-range and woofer speakers that are superior in quality and performance. 

The Zelas comes with a radio AM/FM/MP3/6-CD changer. The 160-watt Panasonic 

head unit powers the tweeters, mid-range and full-range speakers, while a separate 

74-watt, two-channel amplifier is designed to drive power to the 6x9-inch doormounted 

woofers. 

The Zelas has 10 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbags which include driver 

and front passenger, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side, driver knee, and 

front and rear seat side curtain airbags. 

Zelas comes standard with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution 

(EBD). Additional standard equipment in the Zelas includes vehicle stability 

control (VSC), traction control (TRC), brake assist (BA), and a brake override system. 

The Zelas will also feature a button that allows the driver to turn off the VSC feature. 

Additional safety features include newly adopted active front headrests. 

This outstanding performer comes from Toyota, Oman's most coveted brand. Toyota 

offers enduring quality and nothing comes close to it in terms of value-retention. It 

is no surprise; therefore, that Toyota soars far above the rest, with a dominant market 

share and ever-expanding customer base. 

The unmatched, nationwide parts and service support of Saud Bahwan Group 

makes Toyota's pride of place a reality. Toyota customers in Oman enjoy 6-year unlimited 

mileage protection, over 98 per cent parts availability and round-the-clock care, 

among many other exclusive privileges from the Group. 

Ahlibank backs Oman Environment Day 

KEEPING up with the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Ahlibank 

recently supported Oman Environment Day celebration by signing up as silver 

sponsor of the event. This sponsorship is yet another commitment from the bank supporting 

activities that raise awareness of local and global issues. 

“Our support of this year’s World Environment Day is another indicator of our 

commitment to the future and well-being of our country. World Environment Day is a 

day for people from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and 

brighter outlook for themselves and future generations. The bank strongly believes in 

the importance of supporting environmental initiatives that have a direct impact on the 

community and this has been showcased in our CSR calendar for 2012. We encourage 

organisations as well as individuals to participate in such eco-friendly causes, helping 

to raise the level of awareness amongst the society”, commented the CEO, Abdul Aziz 

al Balushi. 

The celebration, which falls on January 8 every year, comes in response to the 

directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos to protect the Omani environment and nature 

resources. Environment protection represents a strategic reserve for the sustainable 

development plans which cover all aspects of life. 

“ahlibank continues to demonstrate its leadership and social responsibility 

amongst the Omani social fabric through its commitment to support a wide range 

of activities and initiatives that contribute to the development of the society,” Al 

Balushi further added. 

Mazda organises Valentine’s roadshow 

IT is that time of the year again where Mazda kicks off its enthralling, fun for all roadshow 

spell. Specially designed in keeping with the Valentine’s season, the first wave of 

the Mazda roadshows has already begun at the Safeer Hypermarket, and has received 

a good response from automobile enthusiasts around the capital. 

“Maintaining a brand’s equity takes a lot of effort and creative thinking in order 

to be able to stand out. This belief is what we translate into our innovative branding 

and marketing strategies. A calendar event for us, the aim of our roadshows is to communicate 

the essence of the Mazda brand in a high-energy setting. Apart from taking 

New income tax regulations 

Implications of the new tax 

executive regulations 

ministerial decisions issued 

from time to time which were 

not consolidated. 

Of particular importance, 

is the regulation granting exemption 

to small businesses 

from filing tax payers’ data, 

returns and financial statements. 

The objective is to 

save small businesses from 

the rigours of tax compliance. 

It is also intended to allow the 

tax authorities to focus on the 

larger tax payers. In this respect, 

there is also a proposal 

to set up within the Secretariat 

General for Taxation 

a large tax payer unit which 

will comprise more senior tax 

officials dealing solely with 

the larger tax payers. Hopefully, 

these moves will help 

in better tax administration 

and also facilitate a reduction 

in the backlog of tax assessments 

which currently exist. 

INSIGHT 

By Ashok Hariharan 

The tax returns which are 

now required to be completed 

in different forms depending 

on the type of tax payer, require 

extensive disclosures, 

again intended to reduce the 

questions that may arise during 

the assessment process. 

Tax payers should, therefore, 

undertake the exercise of 

completing tax returns with 

due diligence. 

In this respect, it is important 

to note that the obligation 

to ensure that returns 

are completed accurately and 

properly rests with the Principal 

Officer. The tax law also 

defines who the principal officer 

should be for different 

types of companies. 

Another encouraging 

trend is the acceptance for tax 

purposes of the accounting 

treatment prescribed by International 

Financial Report- 

ing Standards (IFRS) as can 

be seen from the ERs dealing 

with treatment of finance 

leases. 

Another trend which is visible 

from the ERs is that the 

government wants to reduce 

the cases which qualify for 

renewal of tax exemptions. 

These are intended only to 

companies which, even after 

the expiry of the first five 

years of exemption, do not 

generate sufficient profits. 

Finally, the ERs demonstrate 

a desire to help tax 

payers who face genuine financial 

difficulties by providing 

the possibility of paying 

taxes in instalments and also 

providing for waiver of additional 

tax (interest) on delayed 

payment of taxes. 

We have, with this article, 

concluded our analysis of the 

new tax regulations. KPMG 

will also be organising a seminar 

tomorrow on the ERs, 

attendance to which is by invitation. 

(The writer is the Partner 

and Head of Tax at 

KPMG Oman) 

Mazda vehicles to the people, roadshows give us an opportunity to interact with our 

patrons, as well as provide them with unbeatable offers,” avers Annurag Chawla, Head 

of Marketing and Communications, Towell Auto Centre, sole distributors of Mazda in 

the Sultanate. 

The entire sporty range of Mazda cars were on display at the event. Big screens 

playing the Mazda brand videos, special displays of the Mazda2, and the presence 

of trained sales staff and promoters who gave out Mazda related information and answered 

customer queries made the roadshow a fun, interactive experience. 

Through innovative media choices, opening of new branches and service centres, 

and the application of unique marketing and promotional techniques Mazda is successfully 

taking its dynamic image to every corner of Oman. Events of this regard reinstate 

their constant tryst to keep getting ‘closer to their customers’ and highlights their commitment 

in raising brand awareness for their entire range of cars across the Sultanate. 

Swarovski offer for Valentine’s Day 

THE romance is blossoming 

and the weather 

is artful. Love is in 

the air and you can 

feel it everywhere. 

This Valentine’s Day 

Swarovski offers the 

perfect gift for the 

ones hit by Cupid’s arrow. 

You now have an 

ideal way to express 

your inner emotions 

and warm thoughts 

by choosing from a 

wide collection of 

exquisitely designed 

crystal jewellery from 

Swarovski. 

In honour of Valentine’s 

Day, Swarovski 

Oman is bringing to 

you a stunning selection 

of ‘Swing, Sing 

and Shine’, Spring/ 

Summer 2012 collection. 

The collection 

is a tribute to vintage 

styling and an ode to the lights, camera and action of the entertainment world — a topic 

that has been intrinsically linked to the company for many decades. As the chilly winter 

draws to an end, welcome spring with the brightness, warmth and happy colours. 

Rohit Shah, General Manager, Khimji’s Luxury and Lifestyle Stores says, “There 

has never been a perfect time to gift a Swarovski. We are creating another path for 

you to express to your love. Mesmerise your partner with the sparkling treasures 

from Swarovski. Avail the special Muscat Festival offer; get up-to 50 per cent off on 

Swarovski products only at Khimji’s Luxury and Lifestyle Outlets in Oman.” 

“Swing, Sing and Shine” Swarovski collection tells a story of a versatile young lady 

who is growing from an ambitious student into a glamorous leading lady ready for the 

spotlight; the tale comes to life with modern and vintage styling, in soft pastel colours, 

spherical and floral references, which is a nod to the golden era of the ’60s. Swarovski 

didn’t forget the men either with offerings that include cuff links, pendants/charms, 

bracelets and necklaces.

KR Building Materials launches new bathroom brands 


MUSCAT—Khimji’s Building 

Materials Division has 

added to its product portfolio, 

two brands in Bathroom 

technology – FRANKE from 

Switzerland and TECE from 

Germany. 

TECE is a German supplier 

of building service applications 

such as pipe systems, 

concealed flushing technology, 

drainage technology and 

grease separators. TECE produces 

diffusion-free plastic 

pipes for underfloor heating 

and its areas of competence 

encompass curtain wall, piping 

and cistern technology, as 

well as drainage technology 

and stainless steel processing. 

Holger Ruf, Head of Sales 

and Marketing at TECE Middle 

East, said, “We are very 

confident that this strategic 

partnership will end up in 

satisfied clients and positive 

results.” 

FRANKE provides solutions 

in public and semi-public 

sanitary facilities and offers a 

range of systems with components 

for various areas of 

application like water control 

and water management, water 

disinfection, hospital equipment, 

commercial sinks and 

WCs/Urinals. 

Reiterating their strong 

connection with the Khimji 

Ramdas Group, Michael Renninger, 

Head of Sales-Middle 

East, FRANKE, said “We believe 

this is the right time for 

such a strategic partnership 

to be established as there are 

some very interesting large- 

scale infrastructure developments 

happening in Oman and 

we look forward to be part of 

it”. 

Hritik Khimji, Director, 

Khimji Ramdas along with 

N S Vijaya Kumar, CEO Infrastructure 

Group, Khimji 

Ramdas, Ranjit Ravindran 

Pulparambath, Sr Asst Divisional 

Manager, Building 

Materials Division, Khimji 

Ramdas along with Karnakar 

Sanagonda, Head of Sanitaryware, 

Building Materials Division, 

Khimji Ramdas were 

23 OMAN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 

present during the event. 

Vijaya Kumar said, “KR 

Building Materials Division 

has been serving the growing 

needs of the industry for over 

35 years. This partnership will 

further strengthen our commitment 

to meet the growing 

infrastructure requirements in 

the country specific to Washroom 

Technology — both 

residential and commercial. 

Functionality, innovation and 

reliability of both the brands 

have encouraged us to bring 

these product lines to Oman.” 

Businesses need to re-think 

risk, says ACCA report 


MUSCAT — Businesses need 

to work harder to spread responsibility 

for risk management 

across the whole organisation, 

according to a new 

report from ACCA (the Association 

of Chartered Certified 

Accountants). The survey of 

over 2,000 ACCA members 

found accountants at the business 

coal-face have a vital role 

to play in successful risk management, 

and that they stand 

ready to do more. 

The survey also found a 

statistical link between the 

use of accounting practices 

that contribute to managing 

risk and lower occurrences of 

dysfunctional behaviour. The 

survey also found differences 

in the perception of a company’s 

exposure to risk between 

those at board level and those 

accountants working below 

board level. 

“Risk happens at all levels 

of business,” says Mohammed 

Sajid Khan, Country Manager 

— ACCA Oman. “It doesn’t 

sit in silos. Risk management 

needs to be something that is 

undertaken by everyone in an 

organisation so it is fully integrated. 

“The survey shows that accountants 

have an excellent 

grasp of the risks faced by 

their organisation and the steps 

needed to manage those risks. 

The survey also shows clear 

support amongst accountants 

for ‘challenging senior people’ 

as being part of good business 

culture. Accounting is really 

about providing information 

to help make good decisions, 

and good decisions mean less 

risk. The accountant’s day-today 

role is all about managing 

risk, even if people don’t 

think about what they do in 

that way. 

“The results are both encouraging, 

in terms of what 

accountants do and would 

THE Greek bailout package 

that should have 

been put in place by 

now continues to attract attention 

across financial markets. 

All week the talk about an imminent 

agreement helped support 

stocks and drove the dollar 

to the lowest level in two 

months, before the sentiment 

turned late on Thursday after 

Eurogroup sent the Greek 

delegation back to Athens demanding 

additional cuts and 

reassurances, something that 

looks increasingly unlikely to 

achieve. 

Commodities had a mixed 

week, with energy prices getting 

lifted by the extreme cold 

weather across Europe and 

improved economic outlook 

while agriculture commodities 

saw some light selling. The 

DJ-UBS index, which comprises 

20 major commodities, 

fell 0.3 per cent over the last 

week and is currently up 3.2 

per cent year to date. 

Gold looking for the 

next theme 

The strong rally in precious 

metals during January seems 

to have run out of steam, at 

least for now and further consolidation 

is needed before the 

eventual push higher. Even an 

11 per cent cut in margin for 

holding gold on the COMEX 

futures exchange failed to 

lift sentiment. Investments 

through exchange traded 

funds, which is viewed as 

long-term holdings, have risen 

by 40 tonnes from a recent 

low to a near record of 2,388 

tonnes while hedge funds 

have been slow in rebuilding 

speculative longs. 

Technically gold found 

support at $1,710 but the subsequent 

rally ran out of steam 

ahead of the recent high with 

sellers emerging around the 

$1,750 level. The steep uptrend 

from December 30 has 

been broken signalling consolidation 

and the likely test of 

support in the 1670-80 area. 

do more of, and frightening 

in terms of the extent of dysfunctional 

revealed. There is a 

big problem to be addressed. 

Businesses need to make sure 

they use the risk awareness 

and risk management skills 

of their qualified accountants, 

and not miss an opportunity to 

effectively integrate risk management.” 

The value of accountants’ 

contributions can be 

lost through their misuse. 

Accountants in the survey 

reported very high levels of 

‘bad behaviour’ around risk 

management. Examples include 

frequent ‘gaming’ of 

forecasts, providing optimistic 

versions to avoid criticism 

or pessimistic ones to reduce 

expectations. Only 1 per cent 

of respondents reported never 

seeing any of the bad behaviours 

asked about in the survey 

at their organisation. 

However, the survey did 

find a statistical link between 

the use of good risk management 

practices by accountants 

and incidences of dysfunctional 

behaviour: more good 

practices correspond with less 

dysfunctional behaviour. 

Types of good practice 

include aspects of management 

accounting, forecasting, 

reporting and quality controls, 

decision support and controls 

over wrongful behaviour. Accountants 

who thought dysfunctional 

behaviours most 

widespread most wanted to 

make more use of the good 

practices. 

Some of the highest scores 

for good practices were from 

small organisations. Their 

stereotype as unsophisticated 

is perhaps an oversimplification. 

The survey also found that 

those in more junior roles are 

more aware of both risks and 

‘bad behaviour’ than their 

board-level colleagues. 

“Non-execs were more 

likely than anyone else to 

identify ‘personality’ factors 

— such as planned dishonesty 

or the opportunistic abuse of 

power — as causes of problems 

rather than more controllable 

factors, such as financial 

pressure on an organisation,” 

explains Khan. 

“They were also much 

more optimistic about the 

Accounting is really about providing 

information to help make good decisions, 

and good decisions mean less risk. The 

accountant’s day-to-day role is all about 

managing risk, even if people don’t think 

about what they do in that way 

Platinum discount 

to gold fading 

Platinum has outperformed 

gold by 8 per cent since the 

beginning of the year and this 

week moved closer to price 

parity. After historically having 

traded around a 25 per cent 

premium over gold, platinum 

in early January dropped to a 

discount of 15 per cent before 

recovering to the current discount 

of 4.5 per cent. Being an 

important industrial commodity 

primarily used in automobile 

production, platinum has 

been finding support from the 

recent improvement in economic 

activity combined with 

supply disruptions in South 

Africa, the largest producing 

country. A prolonged strike 

and subsequent loss of production 

would help reduce the 

surplus of platinum thereby 

supporting the price. 

Brent outperforms 

WTI crude 

Brent crude hit a six-month 

high this week and came close 

to $120 per barrel, above 

which fundamentals are likely 

to weaken further and eventually 

trigger demand destruction 

just like we saw during 

the middle of last year. The 

drivers of the price of Brent 

crude, the benchmark for 

global oil transactions, are 

elevated winter demand in 

Europe, Iranian embargo beginning 

to be felt with Asian 

refiners looking for alternatives 

to Iranian crude oil and a 

general stronger than expected 

demand from emerging economies. 

This tight supply-demand 

balance has caused the 

price of Brent crude for immediate 

delivery to rise above 

future prices, a situation called 

backwardation. 

Technically Brent crude 

should be finding some 

tough resistance ahead of 

$120 per barrel, especially 

after having rallied $10 since 

January. Some consolidation 

now seems in order with the 

month-long trading range be- 

frequency of ‘bad behaviour’ 

than anyone else, and were 

more enthusiastic about management 

tools that the survey 

shows to have debatable effectiveness, 

such as budgetary 

controls. 

“It may be because senior 

levels are less involved in the 

day-to-day running of the organisation, 

or because they’re 

taking a broader view of the 

business. It might be that the 

way information is reported to 

them needs to be improved.” 

The survey findings have 

been used by ACCA to develop 

an online ‘risk healthcheck’ 

for businesses. Using 

this resource, businesses can 

compare themselves to the 

practices and experiences of 

businesses from the survey, 

and identify areas for improvement. 

Energy benefits from cold, 

gold waiting for next theme 

COMMODITIES UPDATE 

By Ole S Hansen 

tween $105 and $115 having 

been moved $5 higher. Initial 

support for the week ahead 

will therefore be centred on 

$115. 

Meanwhile WTI crude, the 

US land-based variety, continues 

to trade at a deep discount 

to Brent crude as deliveries 

into the US Midwest continues 

to rise. This is because 

strong Canadian production 

has no other place to go other 

than Cushing, Oklahoma, the 

storage and pipeline hub for 

crude oil in America. This 

week WTI crude recovered 

back towards $100 per barrel 

but most likely only due to the 

fact that Brent crude pulled 

it higher as it reached a six 

month high. 

UN FAO food price 

index rise 

Agriculture prices generally 

moved higher recently 

and this was reflected in the 

UN FAO Food Price Index 

for January. The index, which 

measures the monthly change 

in international prices of 55 

food commodities, rebounded. 

A US government report 

on the global supply and demand 

outlook for wheat, corn 

and soybeans were generally 

benign, with the impact 

of adverse weather in South 

America and Eastern Europe 

not being worse than already 

expected. Wheat prices fell 

and headed for its first weekly 

drop after the report predicted 

that world supplies would 

climb to a record. Profit-taking 

in corn and soybeans also was 

also seen after the strong rally 

seen this past month. Further 

cuts to South American corn 

and soybean crop estimates 

however are expected after 

high temperatures and dryness 

caused irreversible damage to 

crops across the region. This 

should provide both crops 

with support should the prices 

fall on further position adjustments. 

(The writer is a Senior 

Commodity Strategist 

at Saxo Bank)

BankMuscat Visa card campaign offers 

two packages for London Olympics 


MUSCAT — Offering a once 

in a lifetime chance to experience 

the electrifying live action 

of the 2012 London Olympics, 

BankMuscat in association 

with Visa has launched a campaign 

offering an opportunity 

to existing and new cardholders 

to win two packages to 

witness the world’s biggest 

sporting event. 

The ‘Go London’ campaign 

is part of efforts to provide 

value-added services for 

BankMuscat cardholders. The 

campaign entitles BankMuscat 

Visa debit and credit cardholders 

to pay with their cards in 

Oman or abroad and earn 

chances to enter a draw to win 

two packages offered to witness 

the London 2012 Olympic 

Games. 

The mechanism for the draw 

is that for every BankMuscat 

Visa card transaction, customers 

have a chance to win the 

Olympics package. Each transaction 

is equal to one chance, 

thus the more the card is used, 

the better the chances to win. 

The promotion is valid till 

March 5, 2012. The fully paid 

package to London Olympics 

includes return economy class 

air tickets for two to London, 

hotel accommodation and 

tickets to watch the Olympics 

events. BankMuscat’s existing 

and new Visa credit and debit 

cardholders can participate in 

the draw. 

Tariq Atiq (pictured), 

AGM — Cards and e-Banking, 

said: “Oman is a sporting 

nation. Hence, the opportunity 

offered to BankMuscat customers 

to witness the greatest 

sporting event endorses the 

national enthusiasm and fervour 

for sporting excellence. 

BankMuscat is committed to 

supporting varied sporting activities. 

The policy stems from 

the bank’s firm belief that 

citizens need to experience 

wholesome development.” 

Tariq Atiq added: 

“BankMuscat is delighted 

with the opportunity to choose 

the 2012 Olympics theme to 

reward and attract existing 

and new cardholders. Creating 

awareness on the wide range 

of BankMuscat card products 

and services, the campaign is 

expected to motivate a change 

in consumer behaviour that 

makes ‘payment by cards’ both 

a habit and a preference.” 

He further said: “The 

24 

OMAN/INTERNATIONAL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 

BankMuscat Visa Olympics 

campaign is promoted in all 

branches offering winning 

chances to customers across 

the Sultanate. The bank’s partnership 

with Visa is yet another 

example of its commitment 

to delivering memorable 

experiences that reward loyal 

customers. The campaign is 

an attempt to encourage and 

promote the e-Payment culture 

in Oman, thereby lending 

a strong support to the 

government’s e-Governance 

initiative. The campaign encourages 

customers to pay by 

cards, underscoring the fact 

that payment by cards is both 

convenient and secure.” 

Sales of top BMW models shoot up 


MUSCAT — Following an 

impressive performance over 

the past year, Al Jenaibi International 

Automobiles has 

achieved impressive sales 

growth across BMW and MINI 

top models in the Sultanate. 

The official importer of BMW 

Group vehicles in the Sultanate 

of Oman has sold more BMW 

and MINI vehicles in 2011 

over 2010, according to a press 

note, with impressive growth 

on higher-end models. 

The success signals the 

strength of the Omani market 

and the continued demand for 

BMW Group cars in the Sultanate. 

Contributing to the solid 

performance was the BMW 5 

Series with 12 per cent growth 

over 2010 sales. The BMW 

5 Series is a core product for 

BMW and combines sporting 

and elegant design, excellent 

comfort, the highest standard 

in efficiency in its class and 

sets the benchmark in driving 

dynamics and safety having 

achieved 5 stars in both the Euro 

NCAP and US NCAP vehicle 

safety assessment programmes. 

The company’s flagship BMW 

7 Series remained the highest 

volume selling model, accompanied 

by the BMW X5 and the 

BMW 3 Series. 

Additionally MINI’s popularity 

continues to grow in 

Oman with 10 per cent growth 

compared to 2010. Contributing 

to this impressive result 

was the new MINI Countryman, 

the fourth MINI model 

in the brand’s portfolio and the 

first MINI to feature four doors, 

space for up to five persons and 

an optional all-wheel drive. 

Commenting on the company’s 

exceptional performance, 

Rachid Zamani, General Manager 

of Al Jenaibi International 

Automobiles said: “Oman is 

enjoying robust growth across 

all sectors of the automotive 

industry. This combined with 

launching seven beautifullydesigned 

and technologicallyadvanced 

new models during 

2011, helped drive our sales 

growth. The increase in our 

sales confirms the trust our 

customers bestow on Al Jenaibi 

International Automobiles and 

the strength of the BMW brand 

in Oman.” 

“MINI enjoyed a successful 

year in Oman, with sales 

achieving outstanding results. 

One of the contributing factors 

to this growth was the launch 

of the new MINI Countryman, 

which opened up a new market 

segment for the brand and was 

warmly welcomed by MINI 

fans in Oman. Sales were further 

bolstered by the launch of 

the MINI Coupe towards the 

end of the year,” he added. 

Al Jenaibi International 

Automobiles will add some 

exciting new models in its 

portfolio this year, the models 

will include the all-new BMW 

3 Series and the BMW 6 Series 

Gran Coupé. 

There will also be another 

addition to the MINI family — 

the MINI Roadster. These will 

add an exciting new dimension 

to the brand’s portfolio and will 

help contribute to the growth 

of the BMW Group brands in 



MUSCAT — Oman Oil Marketing 

Company (omanoil) 

has signed an agreement with 

local community contractor, 

Port City Development (PCD), 

for the establishment of a stateof-the-art 

forecourt located in 

Sohar’s industrial area which 

will feature a filling station, 

ahlain convenience store and 

quick service restaurants to 

serve a perpetually growing 

demand. omanoil’s strategised 

retail network is matching the 

country’s aspiring economic 

development for a sustainable 

future while providing its 

customers throughout the Sultanate 

with excellent products 

and services. 

“The newest addition to 

our growing retail network 

realises our commitment to 

the nation and its people by 

enriching projects that fulfil 

His Majesty’s Vision 2020. By 

aligning and assimilating the 

nation’s ambitions with our 

own, we are pursuing parallel 

paths of progress and contrib- 

TEL: 24601003, 24600586 • FAX: 24600736 

• WEBSITE: www.salalahport.com 

Omanoil signs deal with PCD for new 

filling station in Sohar’s industrial zone 


MUSCAT — Commemorating 

a decade-long saga of service 

in enhancing the local workforce 

and thus providing value 

addition to the thriving oil and 

gas sector of the Sultanate of 

Oman, the Oman Society for 

Petroleum Services (OPAL) 

celebrated its tenth anniversary 

at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. 

The event was held under 

the auspices of Nasser bin 

Khamis al Jashmi, Under- 

Secretary of the Ministry of 

Oil and Gas and attended by 

a large audience comprising 

government officials and 

OPAL member companies, 

and was sponsored by some of 

OPAL members Attila Dogan, 

Consolidated Contractors Co, 

Dodsal, Galfar, Qatar Airways 

uting to the nation’s economic 

and social advancement,” said 

Hussain bin Jama al Ishaqi, 

omanoil Retail General Manager. 

“We will harness our 

strategic location in Sohar’s 

flourishing port and meet 

customer demands for quality 

products and innovative services 

through our philosophy of 

convenient one-stop-shopping 

experiences.” 

The first-rate infrastruc- 

and Technical and Administrative 

Training Institute. 

Speaking on the sidelines 

of the event, Al Jashmi said, 

“OPAL has been actively playing 

its role in ensuring oil and 

gas sector set agreed standards, 

comply and raise them to international 

levels. This is very 

important in demonstrating 

professionalism and in attracting 

foreign investments to our 

country”. He said OPAL has 

been active in helping provide 

chances for young Omanis 

through its various training for 

employment programmes. “Indeed, 

OPAL has been doing an 

excellent job in helping develop 

a well-informed community 

of workforce through its various 

initiatives”. 

Al Jashmi showed appreciation 

to OPAL members, the 

Online retailer Amazon 

tests waters in India 

NEW DELHI — US online 

retail giant Amazon has made 

its first foray into India with 

launch of a shopping website, 

Junglee.com, as it tests the 

waters for a possible full entry 

into the nation's e-commerce 

market. 

India's e-commerce business 

is set to boom as incomes 

and consumer demand climb 

in a country of 1.2 billion people 

with a steadily ballooning 

middle class, analysts say. 

Amazon's move, announced 

late last week, "is to 

get an insight into the Indian 

market," Asheesh Raina, a 

principal research analyst at 

global consultancy Gartner, 

said. 

"This market could be a 

game-changer for Amazon 

— these e-commerce retailers 

survive on volume. India with 

its large number of people 

could be a huge opportunity," 

he said. 

Junglee, which means 

"wild" in Hindi, is a modified 

version of the world's top online 

retailer's shopping portal, 

allowing customers to search 

for different products and 

compare prices. 

It will offer over 12 million 

products from more than 

14,000 Indian and global 

brands -- but buyers must 

make their purchases through 

a network of third-party suppliers 

either by ordering online 

or visiting them in person. 

The set-up allows Amazon's 

Indian website to sidestep 

government rules forbidding 

foreign multi-brand 

retailers from operating in In- 

ture of Sohar’s Industrial Port 

and advantageous geographic 

location is driving Oman’s 

vision for economic diversification. 

The port is a project 

inspiring an internationally 

recognised and robust Omani 

economy that is transforming 

the Al Batinah Governorate 

into the country’s industrial 

and economic powerhouse. 

omanoil’s forecourts are 

built to the highest industry 

Ministry of Manpower and other 

Social Funds who have been 

supportive and made it all happened. 

“It is impressing to see 

that, despite OPAL’s limited resources, 

its contribution to the 

sector has been significant and 

tangible”. He assured OPAL of 

his full support to make it even 

more effective and inclusive. 

“As one of the founding 

members who witness the 

drafting of its constitution, I 

am proud to see OPAL as an 

organisation that sets standards 

for the oil and gas sector. The 

secret of success of OPAL is 

that OPAL is its members. To 

continue on this path, member 

companies need to participate 

and engage themselves 

in the dynamic of OPAL’s 

activities, Majid al Toki, chairman, 

OPAL said. 

dia as it only directs shoppers 

to sites rather than selling the 

products directly. 

"It's a clever way of getting 

into the Indian market that 

works with the rules," Saloni 

Nangia, president of Indian 

research consultancy Technopak, 

said. 

The government announced 

last month it would allow foreign 

multi-brand retailers such 

as supermarkets into India but 

then did a U-turn over fears the 

move would hit small familyrun 

stores that dominate the 

retail landscape. 

Analysts say they believe 

the government still wants to 

ease regulations to let in multi-brand 

players but cannot say 

when it will happen. 

Amazon, which has operations 

in neighbouring China, 

is aiming to give customers "a 

single online starting point", 

Amazon.com vice president 

Amit Agarwal said last Thursday. 

"They can shop a wide 

selection of products sold by 

local and global retailers and 

specifications for construction 

and HSSE, ensuring efficient 

and cost-effective construction 

of quality design and resulting 

in a premier standard of finish. 

The pioneering fuel and 

lubricants marketing company 

is considered a leader in institutionalising 

concrete hard 

stands around pump islands 

and in implementing nonmetallic 

double-skin pipes, in 

addition to double-skin retail 

underground tanks with leak 

detection system in all filling 

stations as a preventative 

measure against pollution. 

omanoil encompasses a 

growing network of 132 filling 

stations and 74 ahlain convenience 

stores across the Sultanate. 

The company remains 

committed to empowering 

customers with greater choice 

of quality-integrated products 

and services, with convenience 

stores operating 24 hours that 

feature on-site ATM machines 

and QSRs that include some of 

the world’s most iconic names 

such as Burger King, Dunkin’ 

Donuts and Baskin Robbins. 

OPAL marks 10 years of success 

Mohamed al Harthy, CEO, 

OPAL said: “This event is an 

opportunity to show gratitude 

to those who had the vision 

of coming up with the idea of 

founding the society and those 

who worked hard to make it a 

proud organisation we all know 

today”. “We at OPAL are fully 

committed to continuously providing 

a platform for our more 

than 320 member companies 

while delivering the best training 

and development to the 

Omani youth”. He also added, 

“The future outlooks of OPAL 

include providing training and 

development programmes for 

more local youth, job creation, 

building capabilities, and 

promoting local content while 

protecting the interests of the 

member companies operating 

in the oil and gas sector”. 

make informed purchasing decisions," 

Agarwal said. 

The company did not reply 

to repeated requests by AFP 

for comment on its next step 

in India. 

Gartner's Raina said the 

move was a "low-cost way 

for Amazon to find out what 

the Indian market is about — 

build brand loyalty — and 

hopefully when the retail regulations 

loosen in India take 

their customers with them". 

The launch of Junglee 

comes after Amazon said last 

month it was setting up its 

first warehouses, known in its 

corporate parlance as "fulfilment 

centres", in India. The 

warehouses allow Amazon to 

store products and ship them 

swiftly. Some of Amazon's 

biggest competition in India 

will come from e-commerce 

portal Flipkart.com, set up 

in 2007 by two ex-Amazon 

employees and based in the 

southern city of Bangalore, 

that sells a range of goods 

from books to television sets, 

analysts say. — AFP

Whitney’s death casts 

shadow over Grammys 

Page 13 

Self-improvement promotes 

teamwork, social skills 

Page 27 

Official airline of 

Extreme Sailing 

Page 26 

Ornamental carvings with 

craftsmanship from Africa 

Page 28 

Fea ures 

Monday, February 13, 2012 

Still trying to figure out 

love, says Liv Tyler 

Page 13 

Stunningly beautiful Wadi Sahtin 

WADI Sahtin, with its plunging 

ravines, majestic mountain 

profiles and rocky landscapes, 

attracts significant numbers of nature lovers 

and adventure tourists. The Ministry 

of Tourism has identified a number of 

sites that are proposed to be developed 

into full-fledged tourist attractions. Many 

of these sites are located along the route 

of the existing wadi and will be incorporated 

into an overall design plan for the 

area’s general development. 

One such site pinpointed by the ministry 

for development is a fortified structure 

not far from Al Tabaqah village. It is pro- 

posed to be rehabilitated and converted 

into a tourist exhibition centre. Also located 

nearby is a bountiful natural spring 

which runs throughout the year. 

About 11 km into the route of the road 

project are samples of ancient rock art 

believed to be thousands of years old. A 

few kilometres down the road is a small 

mosque that stands near a tree popularly 

called A Sablah (majlis). The area is proposed 

to be developed to encourage local 

folks to market their farm produce to visitors. 

Also located a few hundred metres 

away is a hot spring that yields copious 

volumes of water all year round. 

Access roads and car park facilities 

will be provided at all of these sites in the 

next phase of the road project’s development, 

it is learnt. 

Wadi Sahtin has some exciting sights 

to offer as well. A short drive from Al 

Rostaq, on the Ibri route, brings you to 

one of the entrances of this wadi. It meanders 

for about 40 kilometres through 

the hilly terrain, scything a deep gorge in 

some places along its tortuous course. 

A crumbling fortification, poignant 

in ruins, stands sentinel at the mouth of 

Wadi Sahtin. Unlike many other wadis in 

Al Rostaq Wilayat, this wadi cuts a broad 

swathe, allowing date plantations to grow 

richly along the edges. Every so often, 

one comes upon streams of water fed by 

springs gushing from the rocky face of 

the wadi walls. 

But at Al Khadrah, a short distance 

from the wadi entrance, one of the most 

charming vistas of Wadi Sahtin unfolds. 

Date palm groves grow rich and thick in 

this part of the wadi, nourished by the 

refreshingly cool waters of a series of 

springs. The springs emerge either from 

the wadi bed or from the rocky wadi wall, 

unceasingly gushing out their goodness. 

Almost shielded from view, in the cool 

recesses of the plantations, are the homes 

of the wadi residents. Banana, lemon and 

fodder are among the crops cultivated 

here as well. 

Along its twisting course, the wadi 

yields interesting facets of rustic wadi 

life — farmers harvesting the season’s 

bountiful date crop, shepherds tending 

their flocks, and children having a romp 

in shallow pools of water. 

At one point, the wadi narrows considerably 

to form what is locally regarded 

as one of the ‘natural gates’ of Wadi Sahtin. 

Together with the other ‘natural gate’ 

accessible from Wadi Bani Auf, A’Sahtin 

has come to be known as mandoos or ‘the 

chest of Oman’, because of the natural security 

offered by the wadi. The brooding 

presence of the Western Hajar mountains, 

with its jagged peaks, is also a constant 

feature around the wadi, adding to the notion 

of security. 

Old-time residents are still fond of using 

the name ‘mandoos’ in reference to 

Wadi Sahtin, says Ali bin Hilal bin Ali al 

Abri, the wadi’s elderly shaikh. Many of 

its 40-odd oasis villages, strung along the 

40-km course of the wadi, are as old as 

the wadi itself. But four-wheel-drive vehicles 

and many other trappings of modern 

living have since vastly improved life 

in this wadi. Yet the essential tranquillity 

of these villages remains unchanged. 

Adding to the rustic charms of Sahtin’s 

oasis villages are ancient watchtowers, 

picturesque in ruins, at strategic 

locations along the wadi’s course. They 

are reminders of A’Sahtin’s importance 

in days bygone as sources of perennial 

streams and bountiful aflaj. 

There was a time when camels and 

donkeys were the only mode of transport 

through the wadi. Still perilous routes to 

other destinations could only be accessed 

on foot. 

Of late, it is Wadi Sahtin’s bee-keeping 

heritage that is drawing many tourists to 

these parts. In fact, the idea of bee-keeping 

as a lucrative cottage industry sits oddly 

with this arid, sparsely vegetated terrain. 

There are no rolling fields of flowers here 

or green pastoral land, save a sprinkling 

of wild trees and shrubs. 

Yet for many the fruits of their labour 

as bee-keepers are — literally — as 

sweet as the honey they produce. Sahtin’s 

honey is renowned for its rich, natural, 

mountain-variety of honey throughout 

the region. 

Deep in the heart of Wadi Sahtin, 

there are several hundred productive logs 

with nesting bees. Without any artificial 

additives or inputs, the honey is the purest 

in its natural form. The bees thrive 

on the tiny, wild flowers of sidr trees and 

mountain shrubs, travelling upto 10 kilometres 

to find their share of nectar. 

Of all the spectacular wadis in the 

wilayat, Wadi Al Sahtin is the most attractive 

and adventurous wadi and this 

makes it more popular especially to adventure 

enthusiasts in Oman. This wadi 

has tonnes of exploring potentials. What 

distinguishes Wadi Al Sahtin more than 

other wadis in the wilayat is the regular 

flowing of its water as well as having 

natural water springs. The wadi during 

The Wadi Sahtin Road Project 

in the Wilayat of of Rustaq Rustaq will 

will 

open up one of Oman’s most 

naturally endowed wilayats 

to tourism and economic 

development. The project is in 

implementation of the Royal 

directives of His Majesty Sultan 

Qaboos. The roughly 30-km- 30-km- 

long carriageway will replace a 

graded track that runs for the 

most part along the twisting 

course of a wadi which is often 

rendered impassable during a 

flood event 

Wadi Sahtin offers an array of sights that are unique to this part of the Sultanate 

its course links Al Batinah Governorate 

to Al Dhahira Governorate through the 

Wilayat of Al Rustaq and across the series 

of Western Al Hajar Mountains. 

Wadi Sahtin also comprises some old 

traditional houses that were built hundreds 

of years ago. These kinds of traditional 

buildings present picturesque architecture 

along with gardens and other 

natural landscapes that reflects the natural 

and historical richness of this beautiful 

wadi. 

The flowing water makes the wadi 

cooler and people can come here on 

picnic, especially on weekends and holidays 

to enjoy their time with family and 

friends. Many visitors come to the wadi 

to enjoy the nice weather while others 

come for camping and swimming in the 

pools. The flowing water is also used 

to irrigate the farms and gardens in the 

area.

PSM holds inter-school 

Naat competition 

PAKISTAN School Muscat held an Inter-Schools Naat 

competition last week in Dr A Q Khan Hall in view of the 

significance of the month of Rabee al Awaal in the Islamic 

calendar when the humanity has been blessed by the birth of 

the Holy Prophet (PBUH). 

Students from Pakistan schools in Oman participated in the 

event. Nawabzada Ameenullah Khan Raisani, the Ambassador 

of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Sultanate of Oman, 

was the chief guest. Zia ul Haq Siddiqui, Chairman BOD, M 

Zakariya Babur, Principal, PSM, and members of board of directors 

Imran Ashraf, Javaid Iqbal, principals, Embassy officials, 

Chairman and members Pakistan Social Club, elders and 

dignitaries of community, a large number of parents, faculty 

and students attended the event. 

The competition was won by Medhat Ahsan from Pakistan 

School Salalah while Samina Anwar from Pakistan School 

Musannah was declared the runner-up. The winner’s Trophy 

was given to Pakistan School Salalah. 

Aminallah Khan read the messages of President and Prime 

Minister of Pakistan and shared their feelings regarding 12th 

Rabee al Awaal. 

26 SPOTLIGHT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 

Oman Air: official airline 

of Extreme Sailing Series 

OMAN Air has been announced 

as the Official 

Airline of the Extreme 

Sailing Series, one of the most 

exciting elements in the yacht 

racing calendar. 

It takes the Sultanate of 

Oman’s national carrier to a 

higher, enhanced level. Oman 

Sail has had significant success 

in the Extreme Sailing Series 

over the last two years. 

Wayne Pearce, Chief Executive 

Officer, commented: 

“We at Oman Air are happy 

to be sponsoring Oman Sail 

again. We have been truly im- 

pressed by the visibility the 

Oman Sail events have generated. 

This year, by positioning 

Oman Air as the Official Airline 

of the Series, we hope to 

entice the sailing and marine 

sport communities and fans 

across the event venues to try 

the superior Oman Air experience 

and the uniqueness of 

Oman.” 

Having attracted over 

287,000 spectators in 2011, 

in addition to millions of media 

viewers and listeners, the 

Extreme Sailing Series brings 

the racing action inshore, with 

the format for each Act of the 

Series focusing on three days 

staged in a ‘stadium’, open 

to the public and VIP guests. 

This year’s Series will offer 

eight Acts across three continents, 

starting with Muscat, 

Oman, on February 28 to 

March 2, followed by Qingdao 

in China, Istanbul in Turkey, 

Porto in Portugal, Cardiff in 

Wales, United Kingdom, Trapani 

in Italy, Nice in France, 

and concluding in Brazil in 

November. 

Oman Air has sponsored 

Oman Sail for the last two 

years, including its participation 

in the Extreme Sailing 

Series, its bid for success in 

the Route Du Rhum and its 

successful smashing of Round 

Britain and Ireland world 

records. The sponsorship is part 

of Oman Air’s commitment to 

supporting Omani talent and 

helping young people within 

the Sultanate to achieve their 

full potential. The sponsorship 

also helps to raise awareness 

internationally of Oman as a 

unique, authentic and dramatically 

beautiful destination for 

tourism and business. 

British Council hosts Train the Trainers workshop 

BRITISH Council Oman held a Springboard 

‘Train the Trainer’ workshop at 

City Seasons Hotel Muscat recently. The 

training was delivered by Richard Frost, Corporate 

Training Manager of British Council Oman. 

The training opened the door for Springboard 

Trainers from Middle East Region and Oman 

to work together and share experiences over the 

two-day event. 

The aim of the Train the Trainer workshop 

was to enhance the training skills of Springboard 

Trainers by giving them the tools to be able to 

design and plan training sessions and make them 

more interactive. 

Shames al Abdali, Freelance Springboard 

Trainers from Saudi Arabia, said “This training 

has helped me learn effective ways of designing 

the training programme. I gain as well more 

Cartoon by Fahad al Zadjali 

THE American International 

School in 

Muscat hosted its 4th 

invitational Model United Nations 

(MUN) conference on 

its premises in Ghala. Over 60 

students from six local schools 

including British School Muscat, 

Sri Lankan School, Indian 

School Al Ghubra, Sultan’s 

School and Azzan bin Qais 

participated in the event. 

In October all student delegates 

were assigned specific 

countries for which they would 

serve as UN “ambassadors” at 

the TAISM conference. After 

studying the contemporary 

history and political structure 

of their assigned countries, the 

students focused on the three 

main issues selected for the 

conference: Improving Global 

Traffic Safety; Expanding Access 

to Clean Water; and Expanding 

Access to Education. 

Each student developed an informed 

and realistic position 

on each of these issues prior 

to the conference. 

The TAISM conference 

began with a thoughtful and 

inspiring speech delivered by 

Lamya Haroub from the office 

of the Secretary-General 

of Oman’s Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs. Lamya stressed 

the importance of breaking 

down stereotypes in society 

— whether they are based on 

age, gender, religion or ethnicity. 

She also urged the students 

to retain the key characteristics 

of being a student 

even as they move on into 

professional life. 

“The best ‘professional’ is 

a student at heart — one who 

embraces learning, accepts 

challenges, and asks questions. 

Being a ‘professional’ 

is not about what you do, but 

who you are.” Her uplifting 

talk was received with enthusiasm 

and warmth by the students, 

and it set an optimistic 

tone for the rest of the conference. 

Upon completion of the 

opening ceremonies, the students 

worked in groups to 

draft resolutions pertaining 

knowledge on how to implement interactive exercises.” 

Zuweina al Mammariya, Assistant Director of 

British Council Oman added, “It was very interesting 

to work with Springboard Trainers from 

different Omani organisations and Middle East 

regions. We hope through this kind of training we 

are able to fill in the gaps needed by trainers.” 

Richard Frost, Corporate Training Manager 

to the three main issues. Under 

the leadership of the two 

Chairs, Mariah Curtino and 

Daryna Dvirna, both TAISM 

seniors, the delegates adhered 

to strict parliamentary procedure 

as they spent the next two 

days debating and voting on 

resolutions and amendments 

pertaining to the issues. 

Although all the student 

delegates demonstrated impressive 

degrees of skill in 

public speaking, diplomacy, 

debating, and conflict resolution, 

two students were recognised 

for their exceptional 

performance. Madhura Patwardhan 

from Indian School 

Al Ghubra, representing the 

United Kingdom, earned the 

“Distinguished Delegate” 

award, while TAISM’s Daniel 

Jackson, earned the award for 

“Outstanding Delegate.” 

The conference was a challenging 

and rewarding experience 

for the students involved, 

and many are looking forward 

to participating in the event 

again next academic year. In 

the meantime, 11 selected 

TAISM MUN students will 

also participate in the Nevsky 

MUN conference in March in 

St Petersburg Russia. 

of British Council Oman said, “I really enjoyed 

delivering this training because the Springboard 

Trainers were such a pleasure to work with. We 

covered a lot of ground and worked hard over 

the two days. They were all very enthusiastic and 

made the workshop very rewarding. It’s good to 

work with people who show such commitment to 

a project. I hope we will all work together in the 

future again.” 

Gujarati Samaj organises annual picnic 

THE Muscat Gujarati 

Samaj of the Indian 

Social Club recently organised 

a grand annual picnic 

for its members. Family picnic 

is one of the most sought after 

event on the Samaj’s annual 

calendar of events. More than 

400 people participated in 

the event that was held at the 

Divya Farm in Barka. 

The delicious breakfast 

was followed by an array of 

exciting games which called 

for active participation from 

all cross sections of the crowd, 

including elders and children. 

There were a few group 

games, few couple games and 

also games for senior citizens 

and tiny-tots. 

After an opulent lunch, 

the picnickers were treated to 

a few leisurely games which 

brought out the best of creative 

skills amongst the par- 

ticipants. Few of the games 

which created utmost jubilation 

amongst the crowd were 

the animal family game, newspaper 

decoration game and 

the straw hair dressing game. 

Prizes were distributed at the 

end of the games session. 

WINDOWS 

IT is difficult to find an equation to this day regarding 

the dream of waving loans, which is an extension of another 

dream known by most of us. In the past we used to 

enquire about the health and the new things in life but today 

when we meet people we ask: any increase in salaries? Any 

loan waiver?” 

This situation opens up a window to the question: Why 

Omanis have lots of loans? Does this happen because we 

spend more than we can afford! 

We previously spoke about waiving loans as an unfair 

idea. This step may help those who have borrowed from 

banks for entertainment purposes but at the same time it 

denies the right of the poor people because they did not 

dare to borrow from banks as they did not want to put pressure 

on themselves. So let us be more realistic. It is better 

for the banks now to reconsider the interest rate for the 

loans, which is a disaster. The interest does not reach more 

than 3 per cent in some neighbouring countries, while in 

Oman it is up to 8 per cent, so why all this exaggeration? 

We are a country of only three million people, but the loan 

problem is getting worse. What will the situation be when 

the population increases in the future, given the potential 

of oil depletion! 

We can take the Housing Bank as an example, which is 

supposed to be a non-commercial bank, as it is backed by 

the government. The Ministry of Finance’s contribution to 

it at a rate of 61 per cent, and its primary purpose is to support 

housing and construction activities, by providing loans 

and facilities. We find that Article (8) of Royal Decree No 

36/2010, states: “The government can provide for the bank 

— in order to achieve the objectives A, B of Article I (1) 

of this law — long-term loans with a rate of return less 

than the commercial rate interest prevailing in the market 

or loans without interests if necessary. 

Article (1) stipulates the provision of loans and banking 

facilitations in the Sultanate for citizens for establishing 

private residences or purchasing houses, updating or 

expanding or maintaining them or the purchase of land to 

build houses. In Article (9), the government sets the percentage 

of loans offered by the bank to individuals at a low 

rate of interest, or no interest, so as to achieve the purposes 

we have mentioned earlier. The government has offered to 

bear the value of the interest for the loans it offers without 

interest. 

Long ago, the Housing Bank gave loans at zero per cent 

rate of interest, or 1 per cent and 2 per cent, but today it is 

8 per cent for those earning a salary of more than RO 600. 

The interest rate remains the same, it does not decrease over 

the years, making the local residents resort to commercial 

banks as he finds their offers more compassionate. 

French Harley Davidson bikers 

prepare to roar into Oman 

OMAN’S tranquil countryside is set to reverberate to 

the rumble of Harley-Davidson bikes taking part in 

a unique rally that promises to shine an international 

spotlight on the Sultanate’s distinctive appeal as an adventure 

tourism destination. 

The rally, which runs from February 14 to 19, features 

veteran bikers from the French-based Grand Lyon Harley 

Davidson Davids Club headed by its charismatic founder Jean-Marc 

Chapel. Chapel 

Muscat Mu Desert Adventures Tourism, a leading destination 

management company, is organising this prestigious event in 

partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the Royal Oman 

Police. 

The Sultanate of Oman, with its dramatic landscapes, is the 

venue of choice — along with the United Arab Emirates — 

for this year’s annual rally of the Grand Lyon Club, one of 

the largest groupings of Harley Davidson owners in France. 

The event — its first in the Middle East — is part of a wider 

Arabian-style Raid that began in Dubai on February 11 and 

ends back again in this gleaming commercial hub on February 

21 after leisurely halts in a number of delightful tourist locales 

across the border in Oman. 

Around 40 bikers are taking part in the roughly 10-day-long 

Raid, dubbed ‘The Incense Route’ because of the rich frankincense 

heritage associated with the destinations covered during 

the rally. Joining them during the Oman leg will be around 15 

biking enthusiasts from the UAE. 

In Oman, the Raid gets under way from Sohar on the morning 

of February 15. Cruising down the Batinah Highway on 

their iconic two-wheelers, the riders head for the historic town 

of Rustaq via Nakhal with its imposing hilltop fort. After taking 

in the delightful ambience of this popular tourist getaway, 

the party thunders onward to the capital city, Muscat. 

The picturesque landscapes of the Sharqiyah North and 

South Governorates await on Day 2 as the riders set out for the 

charming coastal village of Ajyah. En route, they make brief 

stopovers at tourist hotspots such as Wadi Bani Khalid and Sur 

for a flavour of the country’s varied holiday appeal. 

After an overnight pit-stop in Sur, the two-wheeler motorcade 

heads back to Muscat riding along the superb coastal road 

with its panoramic views of the Arabian Sea. In the capital, the 

visitors will drive through the historic quarter of Muscat before 

proceeding to Jebel Sifah for the night. 

Day 4 sees the riders roaring towards Oman’s tourist heartland 

set in the Interior. Crisscrossing this enchanting landscape, 

they pause briefly at historical landmarks in Nizwa, Jabrin and 

Birkat Al Mauz, among other attractions. 

A spokesperson for the Tourism Ministry added: “Our support 

for the rally stems from our belief that Oman is a leading 

destination to adventure-based sports. We are also delighted to 

host the event as part of the Muscat 2012 calendar of events.”

PEOPLE’S 

PLATFORM 

WE are living in a commercial 

age where 

everything is on sale 

including relationships. I am talking 

about various Days, which 

have become fashion statement 

in today’s society. 

From Valantine’s Day to Mother 

Day, Father Day and Sister 

Day… the list is becoming longer 

with every passing year. For my 

understanding a mother or father 

does need a day to be remembered 

and loved. These are all the tricks 

of commercial houses to sell their 

products. One should think twice 

before getting into the commercial 

trap. 

— Shamshad 

Editor: I agree with you that 

the whole world is in a commercial 

mode. At the same 

time there is no harm if the 

commercial houses are coming 

out with some idea to sell their 

products. 

It is up to an individual to 

decide what is right and what 

is wrong. And I am sure no one 

is compelling you to buy these 

stuff. 

Instead of telling them not 

to come out with such ideas we 

should exercise some level of self 

censorship. 

Capitalising own 

resources 

ALTHOUGH I find that the 

Sultanate already has a 

balanced economic standing, 

it is pleasing to know through 

WITH ayurveda becoming a hit among foreign tourists, 

the ancient Indian system of medicine has gone hitech 

with a new machine being developed for the popular 

'dhara' treatment, or the application of a continuous stream 

of mildly warm oil. 

"The dhara yanthram, is a pioneering attempt in the 

markets of Kerala, while such experimental attempts are 

yet to hit the markets elsewhere," said Venu of the Poornima 

Panchakarma Equipment, the designer group of the automatic 

dharayanthram. 

This product is now on display at the ongoing Ayurveda 

Festival being held here and has a price tag of Rs 20,000. 

Recommended for maladies such as insomnia, mental 

disorders, neurasthenia, memory loss and certain skin diseases, 

the dhara is a process by which herbal oil is allowed 

to flow on the forehead in a special method for about 45 

minutes in a day for 7 to 21 days. 

In the traditional manual dhara, the material used (oil, 

kuzhampu or thayilam) turns cold soon if it is not kept 

heated. 

"The automatic machine has two major advantages over 

the traditional method. In the first place, it has the possibil- 

ity of regulating temperature, as and when required," said 

Venu. 

The other advantage of this machine is a considerable 

amount of material can be saved as the mechanism 

progresses through a recycling process and two people can 

undergo the process simultaneously. 

"The 'oil' or kuzhampu can be used the required number 

of times, without must wastage of material and then be recovered," 

added Venu. — IANS 

‘Help smokers quit whether 

they ask or not’ 

DOCTORS should automatically offer smokers help 

with quitting, without waiting for signs that they're 

ready to kick the habit, researchers say. 

Right now, the general guidelines for doctors say that 

they should ask smokers about their willingness to quit. 

Then if the patient seems motivated, the doctor should offer 

help. 

But in a new research review, UK investigators found 

that offering quit help to all smokers seems more effective. 

Looking at 13 past clinical trials, the researchers found 

that some smokers at least attempted to quit after getting 

simple advice from their doctor — namely, that they should 

kick the habit for the sake of their health. 

But actual assistance in quitting — either counselling 

on behaviour changes or nicotine replacement therapy — 

worked better. 

Based on three studies, the researchers say, such help 

could prompt an additional 40 per cent to 60 per cent of 

smokers to at least try quitting, versus advice alone. And 

all three of the studies offered help to smokers without first 

checking their "willingness to quit." 

The findings are published in the journal Addiction. 

Many smokers need to try a few different tactics before 

they find the one that works for them. 

But by offering all smokers some help there will be 

more long-term quitters simply because there will be more 

people trying. — Reuters Health 

your newspaper that the 

government is taking initiatives 

to capitalise on its resources 

whilst simultaneously providing 

a better livelihood for fishermen 

in Oman. Further boosting the 

fishing Industry will serve as a 

27 

LETTERS/HEALTH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 

Getting into a commercial trap through commemorations 

great benefit and I hope that the 

trade limitations on export will 

allow for residents of Oman to 

enjoy more local fish. 

— Ahmed 

Editors: The Sultanate of 

Oman has always taken pride in 

developing the nation as a whole. 

Presenting fishermen of Oman 

with the opportunity to enhance 

their trade will undoubtedly be 

leading the fishing industry to 

greater heights. It is my firm belief 

that the trail to an enhanced 

thriving country in terms of fiscal, 

industrial and palatable 

progress has already been paved, 

and the journey is in motion. 

Omanisation rate 

MANPOWER is a vital issue 

in any country which means 

development. Its management is 

equally important. I appreciate the 

role of Ministry of Manpower for 

its pro-active role in this direction. 

It is also good to see that many 

big and small companies are 

offering jobs to local talents. This 

is one way to achieve sustainable 

development. 

— Abdullah 

Editor: Private sector plays a 

big role in training and employment 

of national manpower. The 

support should continue in the 

larger interest of the nation. 

Understanding Oman 

WAS following up the 80-day 

I journey that some Omani youths 

took from Salalah to Muscat. Such 

journeys give the participants some 

skills, which they cannot get in a 

classroom atmosphere. Such efforts 

require much determination and 

courage. I am proud to know about 

their commitment. I congratulate 

the participants for completing the 

journey successfully. 

— Huda 

Editor: Such journeys give the 

participants an opportunity to understand 

the country from close 

quarters. A rare and interesting 

journey indeed! 

Do you have a word of appreciation for any services you received? Or suggestions for improvement? Observer is 

giving you an opportunity to rant or rave about anything and everything around you: Please write to: 

Self-improvement promotes 

teamwork, social skills 

WINNING may have its 

uses, but playing in an 

environment that values 

self-improvement encourages 

teamwork and initiative, social 

skills and a sense of identity, a 

study reveals. 

Competitiveness fosters an 

ego-oriented climate, that focuses 

primarily on beating others and 

is linked with negative peer influences 

and inappropriate adult behaviours, 

the study says. 

"Our data suggests if coaches 

want to develop life skills and 

character in youth, it is important 

to focus on player self-improvement 

more so than winning," said 

researcher Daniel Gould. 

"Coaches should create a climate 

or atmosphere where kids 

feel cared about, valued, safe and 

supported," said Gould, who led the 

study with Larry Lauer, both from 

Michigan State University Institute 

for the Study of Youth Sports. 

"These positive things should 

occur while at the same time avoiding 

the creation of an ego-oriented 

climate focusing primary attention 

on comparing themselves to others," 

Gould was quoted as saying 

in the journal Psychology of Sport 

and Exercise. 

The study surveyed 239 young 

urban athletes aged 10 to 19 years 

Badr Mohammed al Thanawi, Co-ordinator, Office of the Editor-in-Chief Tel: 24649451, Fax: 24649469; 

e-mail: featuredesk@yahoo.co.in 

who completed the Youth Experiences 

Scale-2, which measures 

both positive and negative youth 

development experiences, a university 

statement said. 

They also completed a caring 

climate scale, a sport motivation 

climate scale and measures of the 

importance their coaches place on 

psychosocial development. 

The results clearly show that 

the more coaches create caring and 

task-oriented climates, the more 

likely important positive developmental 

gains will occur. Creating 

an "ego climate" was found to be 

the single most powerful predictor 

of negative youth experiences. 

Gene therapy boosts cell repair 

RESEARCHERS have found 

a way to help the brain replace 

damaged nerve cells 

or neurons, a study reveals. 

Myelin forms a protective 

sheath around the axons or fibres of 

our neurons so that they can send 

signals quickly and efficiently. 

But myelin and the specialised 

cells called oligodendrocytes that 

make it, become damaged in dis- 

orders like multiple sclerosis (MS), 

leaving neurons without their myelin 

sheaths, the Journal of Neuroscience 

reported. 

Consequently, the affected neurons 

can no longer communicate 

correctly and are prone to damage. 

Researchers from the California 

Institute of Technology (Caltech) 

now believe they have found a way 

to help the brain replace damaged 

oligodendrocytes and myelin, said 

a university statement. 

"We've developed a gene therapy 

to stimulate production of new 

oligodendrocytes from stem and 

progenitor cells — both of which 

can become more specialised cell 

types — that are resident in the 

adult central nervous system," said 

Benjamin Deverman, from Caltech, 

who led the study. — IANS 

HER SAY 

By Charlotte Makala 

LOOKING forward to meeting up with an old friend last week, I found 

myself feeling terribly excited and no amount of deep breaths could calm 

me down. After many tight embraces, a series of cheers and loudly exclaiming 

how delighted we were to see each after so long our afternoon revolved around 

adolescent memories, iced vanilla lattes and giggles. The quaint beach front 

at Shar Al Houb, otherwise known as Love Street complemented what was a 

pretty romantic girly evening; however there was an incessant interruption, a 

“beeping” noise supplemented with a light vibration of the coffee table. 

If you guessed mobile phone, then that is exactly it! Without hesitation my 

friend quickly answered her phone. It made me wonder, in a world rampant 

with means of communication and technological advancements, is it possible 

to say that we find it even harder to have proper heart-to-heart conversations? 

I’m sure we have answered a call or texted in the midst of having a faceto-face 

conversation with someone, yet do we ever take the time to question 

our behaviour or communication skills for that matter? Today I would like 

to discuss how our new means of communication may assist or dissolve our 

communication practices. 

It’s been said that Socially Interactive Technologies (SITs), such as instant 

messages and text messaging, are beginning to redefine the way our community 

develops socially. 

If something next to you is pulsating every few minutes, it makes it very 

difficult to be in a one-track state of mind. The messages received can modify 

ones reaction to the exterior world. By offering fast-paced, inexpensive, 

online communication, SITs allow for new online social networks to form 

and evolve. These online networks, in turn, may affect the offline social and 

friendship grids in which the community is immersed. 

It seems likely that relationships that exist only over the Internet will have 

less depth but will provide connections that are external to the participants' 

already existing social networks. In other words, people using the Internet 

will create less strong relationships, but there will be more of them. 

Most of us would agree that technology is neither good nor bad, yet it is 

entirely up to us the user, to select appropriate solutions and employ them 

effectively. 

Ever since the high demand for SITs users have experienced varying degrees 

of feeling isolated at their computers yet have also experienced information 

withdrawal syndrome, where a regular user of electronic networks 

feels overwhelmed and anxious without access to an electronic device to 

communicate or keep updated with others. Believe it or not, such feelings of 

isolation are common. 

Communication is not an automatic process that just involves transmitting 

information from a sender to a receiver. As a community we must understand 

that for communication to occur, the receiver must be willing to receive the 

information, must be listening, and must understand the meaning of what is 

being conveyed. Both verbal and physical communications are of profound 

significance as they develop our skills of understanding each other as a society. 

Although text messaging can be negative, not only disintegrating social 

interaction between humans, writing skills and expression, situations tend to 

become impersonal and too simplified. It may seem that technology is doing 

its job by simplifying things for us yet; perhaps we should take the time to 

assess whether we are too comfortable. For example, would you say that you 

prefer texting to verbal face-to-face interaction? Or does it depend on who 

you are communicating with? 

To me it does seem like many people find text messaging and chatting 

online easy rather than actually talking with another human, some may even 

argue that there is no awkwardness or vocal response involved when texting 

or chatting. People could virtually say anything through texts and don’t have 

to commit to engaging into the effects through a vocal conversation. People 

using this form of communication get accustomed to picturing words in the 

short text forms and multitasking, since when you are texting or chatting 

online you could also be performing a few other tasks on the side. 

Phone conversations on the other hand, can also be considered a distraction 

and interruption as the daily demands of what needs to be done continue 

as one is simultaneously talking on the phone. And the scenario described 

earlier, paints the perfect picture of how interfering a phone call can be. The 

ramifications could be that an individual commits less concentration to what 

another individual may be trying to say. 

Whilst pondering the consequences of technology and feeling a little bit 

ignored, I watched my dear friend mutter a quick goodbye into the receiver 

and apologise for the interruption, eager to resume our chat, I had almost 

uttered a sentence when I felt a slight vibration coming from my purse accompanied 

by my ringtone. 

As we learn to embrace the new ways of communication, I just hope the 

role of heart-to-heart; face-to-face conversations don’t simply become a distant 

faded practice.

By Hasan Kamoonpuri 

Catering to spiritual needs 

AT Naseem Park, you can lay your hands on things 

you have been searching for years but could not find 

yet, says Ahmed, a visitor from Nizwa. He found an audio 

CD with Asma al Husna (Allah’s 99 Beautiful names). 

Ahmed also found a host of very attractive beads used for 

the remembrance of Allah, the Exalted. Ali, a visitor from 

India, found elegantly designed Iranian headscarves for 

his young daughters. Similarly, a large number of Islamic 

products such as books, audio and video CDs, Hijab 

(modest Islamic dress), headgear, and works of calligraphy 

for interior décor are available at Naseem Park. 

Omani handicrafts 

THE demonstration of Omani handicrafts at Qurum 

Natural Park is a big draw at the festival. There are 

a number of Omani artisans and craftsmen who are 

showcasing their skills in various arts and crafts. Saleh 

is a skilled craftsman who makes ropes, slings and body 

scrubs, using natural fibre obtained from a reed which 

grows near wadis. The reed is locally knows as Masad and 

the fibre taken from it is stronger and durable than the fibre 

obtained from palm fronds. These natural fibres are still 

used in Omani villages to make various household items. 

Year of the Child 

DEDICATED as the ‘Year of the Child’ by Oman’s 

Council of Ministers, the current edition of Muscat 

Festival is particularly focused on presenting opportunities 

to children for fun, entertainment as well as learning. 

The success of any festival can be gauged from lasting 

impressions it leaves on the minds of children. 

A large number of Omanis and residents are bringing 

their children to the Qurum Natural Park to introduce the 

heritage aspect of Oman. There ample opportunities to enjoy 

horse and camel riding. The festival ground at QNP has 

a section for kids, aimed to entertain as well as educate on 

a variety of day-to-day aspects. 

Islamic dolls 

AT these stalls in Naseem Garden, visitors also buy in large 

numbers beautiful, lightweight dolls in Hijab. Playing 

with dolls in Hijab is an enjoyable way for children to learn 

about Islam and its teachings. These dolls are not dumb; they 

recite some essential Quranic verse, Allah’s names like Al 

Wadood (The Most Loving), Rahman (The Most Merciful), 

Al Muheet (Encompassing everything) and Al Razakh (One 

who gives provision to everyone). Razanne wears hijab and 

conservative clothing. She comes in a variety of skin, eye, 

and hair colours and is never scantily-dressed. 

By Vandana Jyotirmayee 

MUSCAT Festival 

brings in the opportunity 

of having different 

shades of art and culture 

on one platform, while satisfying 

the different needs of people 

where dance and music to 

food and clothing and handicrafts 

from various parts of the 

world are displayed. For art 

and craft lovers the stalls from 

some of the East African countries 

are worth visiting. 

Most of the objects that you 

see or buy are made of a single 

piece of wood or stone, without 

involving a big or small 

machine, what go together are 

just the natural objects with 

human hands. The skills and 

distinctiveness shine more 

than anything else and ebony 

and mahogany wood speak for 

themselves as you enter the 

world of art and crafts from 

Uganda and Kenya. 

Wandering in the great 

spread of stalls there are two 

stalls where a connoisseur 

would not just slow down but 

also have the delight of getting 

mesmerised by the dark brown 

n’ black and woody collections 

of artefacts at Naseem 

Garden. 

The stalls have exquisitely 

woven handbags, handmade 

wallets, showpieces, paint- 

28 

MUSCAT FESTIVEL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 

Ornamental carvings with 

craftsmanship from Africa 

ings and batiks, salad spoons 

to shakers for little children. 

Mary Njenga from Nairobi 

(Kenya) said that the items 

for sale from her stall basically 

were made of Mahogani 

wood, soap stone and banana 

fibers processed in a particular 

way. 

The Kenyan stall has a 

gamut of masks, Boabab trees, 

carvings made on Calabash 

and small wooden sculptures 

of a particular tribe named 

Maasai. This is one of the best 

known tribes of Kenya, who 

are semi-nomadic pastoralists 

also known for their mystical 

relationships with cattle and 

unique for their long preserved 

culture. Regarding her experiences 

in Oman, Mary said, “I 

never go to any other country 

for such festivals, I am here 

because this is Oman.” 

The wooden sculpture 

depicting the Maasai warriors 

had the same masculine 

features showing the brave 

and stubborn Maasai and the 

women wearing bangles and 

strings full of coloured beads. 

There are lots of big, small and 

medium sized giraffes made of 

wood which is also very much 

loved by the people of Kenya. 

The small huts and the women 

doing their household chores 

shown in the wall hangings 

and batiks portray the kind 

of life that the people in the 

villages lead. The tie and dye 

technique is used for colouring 

the batiks and wall hangings 

are made of banana fibers. 

These artefacts are worth 

buying as they add a sort of 

coziness when placed or hung 

in any part of your house. The 

products cater to all types of 

buyers ranging from 500 baisas 

to RO 50. 

The other East African 

stall is from Uganda with 

jewellery for ladies, key rings, 

small elephant heads and turtles 

of different sizes made of 

ebony and basket tree. The 

wooden sculptures on this 

stall depict the warriors from 

the Shona tribes as well as the 

Maasais. This stall has various 

sized masks and wooden 

sculptures. The craftsmanship 

of the artists can be seen in the 

details carved in the wooden 

sculptures of pairs of man 

and woman. Coasters made 

of tree barks are exquisite 

examples of handmade items 

with finesse and classiness. 

Dananai from Zimbabwe and 

Jane Rose from Uganda said 

that this was their third visit 

to Oman and every trip to 

Wandering in the 

great spread of 

stalls there are 

two stalls where a 

connoisseur would 

not just slow down 

but also have the 

delight of getting 

mesmerised by 

the dark brown 

n’ black and 

woody collections 

of artefacts at 

Naseem Garden 

this country substantiates the 

goodness of the Omani citizens. 

Dananai further added 

that there was a lot of stuff 

still to come in few days from 

their homeland which would 

really satisfy the real craft 

lovers of this country. 

Every country has distinctiveness 

in terms of its 

products but African arts and 

crafts, stand apart from others 

in terms of their authenticity. 

The dark hard wood colours 

don’t just catch the eyes but 

also compel you to own it. 

Chief Executive Officer ABDULLAH BIN NASSIR AL RAHBI. Editor-in-Chief FAHMY BIN KHALID AL HARTHY 

Printers and Publishers OMAN ESTABLISHMENT FOR PRESS, PUBLICATION AND ADVERTISING 

VIEWPOINT 

By Haider bin Abdul Redha 

al Lawati 

haiderdawood@hotmail.com 

THE issue of rising fish prices in the local markets 

has been observed and written about in 

several media outlets and other forums. Every 

week we are reminded of this issue due to the continued 

rise in the price of this commodity. Many people 

have been asking if the problem lies in the limited supply 

of fish in the country, or if it relates to a group of 

foreign entities that control this business in order to 

keep the prices high, and thus allocate large quantities 

for export. 

In my point of view the second opinion is more 

accurate since some companies monopolise the fish 

trade in the county depriving people the opportunity 

to buy fish products at normal prices. 

These operations need to be noted by the General 

Authority for Consumer Protection and other officials 

in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the 

Ministry of Trade and Industry. 

They must intervene if they want to keep the local 

markets stable and offer enough quantities of fish for 

local trade. Some believe that this responsibility must 

be taken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 

which only has the right to prevent fish products to 

be exported if there is a problem in the local markets. 

Most Omani catches are now exported through the 

borders and by air daily. A chat with big agents dealing 

with the fish trade revealed that since we live in a 

free world and the Sultanate is a member of the WTO 

the trade of any product must be free. 

They say the reason for the problem is due to 

globalisation. At the same time they forget that some 

countries impose economic and financial sanctions on 

others, like in the case of Iran, in order to stop them 

from obtaining nuclear energy for their social and 

economic programmes, thus depriving the Iranians of 

their daily necessities. 

People believe that some traders here are involved 

in efforts to absorb all the fish landed in the local markets 

for their own purpose. The quantities of fish that 

is landed in the market are high but because of the 

circuitous routes used by some merchants to get all 

the quantities offered, the prices flare up dramatically. 

According the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 

data, the average annual production of fish in Oman 

during the years (2005 to 2010) has reached about 

155,000 tonnes, and the average value of these products 

were RO 94 million during the same period. The 

total production for the year 2010 was about 164,000 

tonnes, valued at RO 117 million. 

These quantities are sufficient to provide the Omani 

market with enough fish and thus ease prices for local 

consumption, besides there are large quantities of surplus 

fish for export as well. But now the equation has 

changed so more catches go for export immediately, 

while only small quantities remain for the domestic 

markets, despite the fact that there are laws preventing 

the export of certain types of fish outside the country. 

Today there are about 36,000 Omani fishermen 

working around various Omani coasts. Some traders 

sell their catch to buyers who agree to procure their 

daily quantity at a reasonable price after which they 

are sold in the domestic markets. 

These traders ask for commitment and look for 

keen buyers to purchase all their fish quantities. Some 

of the foreign buyers and broker companies also buy 

fish for the commercial centres as well as for exports. 

Due to these methods of procurement the prices go up 

in the traditional market, and deprive the poor people 

of their share of fish. It is for these markets that we 

need more observers and monitors to keep a check on 

such operations in order to keep the prices stable for 

a while. 

The monitors should also keep a watch on the foreign 

fishing fleets that are fishing in Omani seas. We 

need to develop new ways to take advantage of the 

local markets and the consumers first. Today we pay 

high prices for local fish which is more than the value 

of meat imported from abroad. 

Everyone knows that the fisheries sector in the 

Sultanate is an important one that plays a pivotal role 

in providing many job opportunities for Omanis. We 

should make our local fisherman and merchants more 

aware of the necessities of the local markets than the 

foreign ones. 

The first priority of all countries is to maintain their 

food security before exporting outside. The fish is an 

important and necessary commodity because of its nutritional 

value. We require new institutions to speed 

up our fisheries projects and to fill the shortfall in the 

fish procurement, apart from infrastructure projects to 

develop fishing fleets in order to provide for the promotion 

and protection of fish stocks. 

We have to take advantage of the seasonal changes 

that affect the fishing industry and develop the fishery 

products industries to stock the local market throughout 

the year. Priority should be given to the local 

consumer after which the remaining can be exported 

abroad. 

Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising; P.O. Box 974, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman; Tel: 24649444, 24649450, 24649451, 24604563, 24699437 Fax: 24699643 Website: omanobserver.om 

e-mail: editor@omanobserver.om Salalah Office: Tel: 23292633, Fax: 23293909 Nizwa Office: Tel: 25411099, P.O. Box 955, P.C. 611 ADVERTISING: AL OMANEYA ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS, P.O. Box 3303, 

Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman, Tel: SWITCHBOARD: 24649444, DIRECT: 24649430/24649437/24649401, Fax: 24649434 DISTRIBUTION AGENT: AL OMANEYA FOR DISTRIBUTION & MARKETING, 

P.O. Box 974, P.C. 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Tel: 24649350/24649360, Fax: 24649379, subscribe@omandaily.om

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