Foreign investment law is being revised - Oman Observer

A major 

shift in 

stance 

Page 10 

MONDAY, March 11, 2013/Rabee al Thani 28, 1434 AH 

Business 

Dollar bond issue 

AS part of its Euro Medium Term 

Note programme to augment the dollar 

resources, Bank Muscat is conducting 

roadshows in different countries for a 

benchmark-sized bond issue. P22 

His Majesty 

thanked by 

Thai king 

HIS Majesty Sultan 

Qaboos has received a 

cable of thanks from King 

Bhumibol Adulyadej 

of Thailand in reply to 

His Majesty the Sultan’s 

greetings on the occasion 

of his country’s National 

Day. King Bhumibol 

expressed his utmost 

thanks and appreciation 

for His Majesty’s sincere 

sentiments. He wished His 

Majesty good health and 

happiness and the Omani 

people further progress and 

prosperity. 

706 Omanis 

to receive 

training 

TWENTY-SEVEN 

agreements were signed 

yesterday to train 706 

Omanis. These agreements 

come within the framework 

of development of human 

resources and attracting 

Omani youth to work in the 

private sector. 

261 illegal 

workers 

deported 

P3 

THE Ministry of Manpower 

said the number of workers 

violating Labour Law from 

March 2-8 stood at 267, 

including 156 commercial 

workers, 20 farm workers 

and 91 housemaids. 

Statistics showed that 261 

expatriate workers were 

deported for violating the 

Labour Law. 

A JAPANESE woman 

lights candles for tsunami 

victims in Natori, Miyagi 

Prefecture, one day before 

the second anniversary of 

the March 11 earthquake. 

US-Afghan 

ties under 

strain 

P4 

THE top US general in 

Afghanistan expressed 

dismay at remarks by 

President Hamid Karzai, 

who suggested that 

Washington benefited 

from Taliban attacks on his 

country. Karzai’s remarks 

further strained already 

fraught ties between Karzai 

and the Western allies who 

are fighting to protect his 

government. 

P7 

Features Sport 

A new bracelet 

THE term Macro Trend has become 

quite common in the jewellery business. 

It basically means that there are trends 

that endure for many seasons and last for 

many years. P27 

Foreign investment 

law is being revised 

 

MUSCAT — The Ministry 

of Commerce and Industry is 

revising the Foreign Capital 

Investment Law with a view 

to projecting the Sultanate as 

a more attractive investment 

destination. 

In the meantime, the Ministry 

is working to address the 

 

MUSCAT — The total of 

number of cases dealt by the 

Public Persecution in 2012 

stood at 34,480 of them 

31,456 were misdemeanours 

(91.2 per cent), while felonies 

stood at 3,024 (8.8 per cent). 

The Public Prosecution 

handled 34,480 case in 2012 

compared to 26,741, a rise of 

7,739 cases (28.9 per cent). 

Last year saw 3,452 cases 

because of growing legal 

awareness among citizens. 

 

MUSCAT — The boy who went missing 

since last Friday night in Wadi Kabir 

was found after 24 hours of anxiety 

and frantic search at the same location 

just metres away from where he was 

abducted. 

He was found semi-conscious, exhausted 

and drained out and his hands 

and legs were tied and gagged atop a 

mountain behind the Wadi Kabir Lulu 

outlet near a huge transformer. 

Fifteen-year-old Noel Sam Abraham, 

a class 10 student of the Indian 

School Darsait was abducted by some 

strangers at the parking lot of the su- 

challenges facing the national 

industry to tackle a trend among 

some advanced and developing 

countries to impose protectionism 

against foreign goods and 

provide subsidy for their goods 

against Omani products. 

This came in a statement 

here yesterday by Commerce 

and Industry Minister Dr Ali 

bin Masoud al Sunaidy be- 

34,480 cases handled in 2012 

Addressing a press conference 

here yesterday, Mohammed 

bin Said al Yahya’ee and 

Khamis bin Salim al Khalili, 

assistants to the attorney general, 

spoke of the jurisdictional 

system in the country as is 

reaffirmed by Royal speech of 

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, 

the Chairman of the Supreme 

Judicial Council. 

They said when the judicial 

authority is able to 

perform its role at its best, it 

certainly contributes in shaping 

the future of the country 

Missing student found 

Need to address illicit trade 

More industrial estates soon 

SME sector growth stunted 

Rafd fund to be rationalised 

Oman brands face barriers 

permarket while he was in the car as 

his parents went for shopping. 

“God is great!! Noel is back. We are 

happy and thank all those who prayed 

for us,” said Samuel Abraham, Noel’s 

father, and Gracy, his mother, as they 

were heading home from Al Nahda 

Hospital where he was admitted by 

the Royal Oman Police for necessary 

medical examination and treatment. 

Noel was not physically harmed 

but for the mental torture and exhaustion 

for more than 24 hours. He was 

taken atop the mountain and those 

who took him by force were laughing 

at the boy’s helplessness, according to 

sources close to the family. 

fore Majlis Ash’shura, adding 

that two new industrial estates 

will be set up in the Wilayat 

of Ibri and the Wilayat of Al 

Mudhaibi. 

The minister said that attention 

is accorded to small 

and medium enterprises, but it 

is necessary to tackle all sorts 

of manipulation that may depelete 

the support offered to 

and presents a positive image 

in the comity of nations. 

“This helps in establishing 

diverse political, economical 

and social relationships in the 

country, besides boosting the 

competitive ability of the nation 

at the regional and international 

levels,” they added. 

The officials also shed 

light on the important role 

played by Public Persecution 

as it protects freedom and 

rights of every individual living 

in this country. 

Later, they released the 

small investors. 

The minister said that the 

mining sector is witnessing 

unusual rush to obtain licences 

without any indications for 

productivity, but the ministry 

is focusing more on privatelyowned 

crushers which take the 

shape of closed or general partnerships 

in a bid to regularise 

mining operations. To P3 

statistics of the cases dealt by 

the Pubic Persecution in 2012. 

Directorates in Muscat has 

recorded the highest percentage 

of cases at 11,531 (33.4 

per cent), followed by directorates 

in Al Batinah North 

Governorate with 6,213 cases 

(18 per cent). 

On the other hand, the 

directorate in Seeb has registered 

the highest percentage 

of cases in terms of the directorates 

as it received 2,637 

cases in 2012 (7.6 per cent), 

they added. To page 3 

MUSCAT — The monthly report released by 

the Oil and Gas Ministry indicates that the 

Sultanate’s crude oil and condensates production 

in February 2013 stood at 25,946,031 

barrels, an average of 926,644 barrel a day, a 

rise of 0.50 per cent compared to January. 

The report shows that total exported crude 

oil in February stood at 24,593,794 barrels, an 

average of 878,350 bpd, a 11.39 per cent rise 

in comparison with last month. 

The report also shows that the Asian markets 

have received, as usual, the bulk share 

of the Omani crude oil exports. China topped 

the list of Omani crude importers in February 

with 49.79 per cent followed by Japan with 

14.08 per cent. The average price for American 

crude oil stood at $95.69 per barrel. 

SOHAR Industrial Port Company held a traffic drill to enhance emergency response in the SIP area. See P4 

Long, Baun lift titles 

World No 1 Lee Chong Wei, who deferred 

retirement after the Olympics to make a 

few last attempts on the major titles, found 

himself denied in yesterday’s final of the 

All-England Open. P16 

Port eyes huge share 

 

AL DUQM — The commercial 

activities at Duqm Port 

in Wusta Governorate, were 

opened yesterday giving the 

port a major boost in achieving 

its full potential in the 

coming years. This will take 

the Sultanate one step closer 

to becoming a leading player 

in shipping and logistics sector 

in the region. 

Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed 

al Futaisi, Minister of 

Transport and Communica- 

Crude output up Refugees 

DUQM Port launched commercial activities yesterday. — Picture by Khalfan al Ruzaiki 

from Syria 

to double 

ANKARA — The number of 

Syrian refugees, already past 

the million mark, could double 

or triple by the end of the 

year if no solution is found 

to the conflict, the UN High 

Commissioner for Refugees 

said yesterday. 

Antonio Guterres said the 

UNHCR could only “mitigate” 

the suffering of the 

people but the responsibility 

to find a solution fell on 

“those that have political responsibilities.” 

“Now if this escalation 

goes on and nothing happens 

to solve the problem we 

might have in the end of the 

year a much larger number 

of refugees: twice or three 

times the present level,” Guterres 

said in Ankara. 

The warning came days 

after the UN said the number 

of Syrian refugees had hit 

one million, two years after 

the revolt erupted. 

A year ago, the UN 

agency had only registered 

33,000 refugees, but the 

numbers escalated as the war 

intensified. 

“Everything depends 

whether we’ll have or not a 

political solution,” Guterres 

said. “But we need to be 

prepared for a very strong 

increase of the present numbers.” 

See also P5 

tions, who presided over the 

ceremony, said that launching 

of the operations will give 

momentum to the port and 

achieve the Sultanate’s aim of 

developing marine transport 

and logistic services. He said 

the project will support the 

development of the area, open 

the door for attracting mega 

investments and encourage 

trade and industry activities 

around the area. 

He also said that the soft 

operations include receiving 

containers loaded with equip- 

LAGOS — Britain, Italy and 

Greece yesterday said that 

a claim by a Nigerian group 

that it had killed seven foreign 

hostages appeared to be true, 

while London denied it had 

sought to stage a rescue. 

Restive northern Nigeria 

has seen scores of people 

killed from violence, but the 

hostage executions marked 

the deadliest kidnapping targeting 

foreigners in the region 

in recent memory. 

The group Ansaru said in 

its statement announcing the 

deaths on Saturday that it car- 

LONDON — The magnitude-9 

earthquake in Japan 

two years ago was so big that 

its effects were even felt in 

space, the BBC reported. 

Scientists say the March 

11, 2011 tremor sent a ripple 

of sound through the atmosphere 

that was picked up by 

the Goce satellite. 

The super-sensitive instrument 

was able to detect 

the disturbance as it passed 

through the thin wisps of air 

still present 255 km above the 

Earth. The observation has 

been reported in the journal 

Geophysical Research Letters. 

Major quakes generate 

very low-frequency acoustic 

waves, or infrasound, below 

those discernible to the hu- 

ment and tools that are used in 

port area. The launching of the 

commercial operations marks 

the beginning of the operations 

of the first commercial 

quay at the port. 

The minister said that the 

early start to the project will 

help in attracting companies 

and train the workforce in a 

better way and when companies 

learn about the activities 

of the port, they will increasingly 

send their proposals. 

He added that the port has 

been designed To page 4 

7 hostages killed 

ried out the executions in part 

because British planes had 

arrived in Nigeria in recent 

weeks to attempt a rescue, citing 

local media reports. 

But Britain’s Defence Ministry 

said there had been no 

rescue attempt and suggested 

the planes were in Nigeria to 

transport troops for the military 

effort in nearby Mali. 

Ansaru on Saturday announced 

the deaths of all the 

expatriates abducted from a 

construction site on February 

16 in Bauchi state in Nigeria’s 

north. See also page 6 

Quake felt in space 

man ear. But no spacecraft in 

orbit has had the capability to 

record them until now. 

“We’ve looked for this 

signal before with other satellites 

and haven’t seen it, and I 

think that’s because you need 

an incredibly fine instrument,” 

said Rune Floberghagen from 

the European Space Agency. 

“Goce’s accelerometers 

are about a hundred times 

more sensitive than any previous 

instrumentation and we 

detected the acoustic wave 

not once, but twice — passing 

through it over the Pacific 

and over Europe,” the mission 

manager told BBC. 

Goce’s prime purpose is to 

map very subtle differences in 

the pull of gravity. — IANS 

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

EXCHANGE RATES 

GOLD 

Omani Rial/Euro, Dollar 

PRICE 

Muscat 05:05 am 12:22 pm 03:46 pm 06:19 pm 07:29 pm Max 

ax 31 

34 29 28 35 31 32 

Min 21 17 17 12 23 20 22 

RO 1 €2.00075 $2.60078 $1,577.00

Oman, Iran ties reviewed 

MUSCAT — Yusuf bin Alawi 

bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible 

for Foreign Affairs, 

received in his office here yesterday 

Dr Ramin Mehmanparast, 

Spokesman of the Ministry 

of Foreign Affairs of Iran and 

his accompanying delegation. 

The meeting reviewed the 

bilateral relations between the 

two friendly countries and 

means of promoting them in 

various spheres, as well as exchanging 

viewpoints on the re- 

gional and international issues 

of common concern. 

The meeting was attended 

by Ali Akbar Sibeveih, Ambassador 

of Iran to the Sultanate 

and officials at the Foreign 

Ministry. — ONA 

Armed forces cooperation discussed 

MUSCAT — Lt Gen Ahmed 

bin Harith al Nabhani, Chief 

of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed 

Forces (SAF), received in his 

office at Mu'askar Al Murtafa' 

yesterday Rear Admiral 

Habiballah Sayyari, Commander 

of Iranian Navy. 

During the meeting, cooperation 

and a number of 

issues of common concern 

between the armed forces 

in the two friendly countries 

were discussed. 

The Iranian guest was 

also received separately 

by Rear Admiral Abdullah 

bin Khamis al Raisi, Commander 

of the Royal Navy 

of Oman (RNO), Maj Gen 

Mattar bin Salim al Balushy, 

Commander of the Royal 

Army of Oman (RAO), and 

Air Commodore Al Zubair 

bin Mohammed al Zubair, 

acting Commander of the 

Royal Air Force of Oman 

(RAFO). 

Meanwhile, Maj Gen Sulaiman 

bin Mohammed al 

Harthy, Assistant Inspector 

General of Police and Customs 

for Administrative and 

Financial Affairs, received 

at the General Command 

of Police in Al Qurum yesterday 

S Al Norian, Deputy 

Director General of Boarder 

Affairs of Iran, and his accompanying 

delegation currently 

visiting the Sultanate 

to take part in 12th meeting 

of the coast guard officials 

between Sultanate and Iran. 

— ONA 

2 OMAN 

OMAN DAILY Observer 

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 

Academic progress at 

CAS, DU evaluated 

SALALAH — Dr Rawya 

bint Saud al Busaidiyah, 

Minister of Higher Education, 

and her accompanying 

delegation yesterday visited 

the College of Applied Sciences 

(CAS) in Salalah during 

which she met with Dr 

Ahmed bin Said al Bahatnah, 

Dean of CAS Salalah. 

The meeting reviewed 

the developments in academic 

work at CAS Salalah, 

plans of the college for the 

next period, the progress of 

work and the abilities of the 

college's graduates to compete 

in the labour market. 

The Minister of Higher 

Education met with the College's 

Academic Council 

during which she stressed 

the importance of the council 

in the preparation of 

qualified students, which 

would entitle them to be a 

real addition to the labour 

sector in the Sultanate. 

The Minister also met 

with several members of the 

College's Student Council. 

She affirmed role of the student 

councils in communication 

between the student 

community and the College's 

academic and administrative 

bodies. 

The visit comes as a continuation 

of a series of visits 

by officials of the Ministry 

of Higher Education with a 

view to identifying the most 

important developments in 

the work of the government 

and private higher education 

institutions and explore 

the challenges and work to 

find effective solutions to 

them. 

Dr Rawya also visited 

Dhofar University during 

which she met with Dr Hassan 

Said Kashoob, President 

of the university. 

Dr Kashoob briefed the 

Minister on the major im- 

portant developments in the 

university in terms of academic 

programmes (24 in 

number), which the university 

seeks to raise their quality 

through a series of steps 

including co-operation with 

Sultan Qaboos University 

(SQU) for evaluation, in addition 

to internally work to 

achieve higher quality, taking 

into account the human 

inputs of the university, 

academic support staff and 

equipment at the level of the 

buildings and equipment. 

He added that they completed 

the university campus 

of the university in 2010, 

saying that the university is 

currently working to raise 

the entrepreneurial culture 

among its students, so that 

the students will start their 

own projects that could be 

successfully developed in 

the future. 

The Minister met with 

the deans and heads of departments 

in the university 

during which she listened to 

a detailed explanation of the 

university foundation year 

programme and services for 

students. 

She said that it is important, 

at the current stage, to 

identify the main challenges 

to achieving quality and 

work collectively, systematically 

and scientifically to 

overcome those challenges, 

affirming that good academic 

potential will pave the 

way for quality leadership 

in these institutions. 

The Minister also met 

with a number of the university's 

student council's 

members and listened to 

their ideas and opinions on 

various academic aspects 

and the student activities, 

in addition to discussing the 

challenges facing them. 

— ONA 

Gains of Sanad, Paci 

programmes viewed 

MUSCAT — Shaikh Abdullah 

bin Nasser al Bakri, 

Minister of Manpower, receives 

in his office here yesterday 

Dr Yousef Hamad al 

Othaimeen, Minister of Social 

Affairs and Chairman 

of the Charity Fund in Saudi 

Arabia. 

The meeting discussed 


between the two brotherly 

countries, such as providing 

job opportunities for the 

youth, particularly self-employment, 

as well as steps 

needed by the labour market 

that may avail a number 

of job opportunities for the 

youth. 

The guest and his accompanying 

delegation viewed 

a presentation on Sanad 

Programme and its stages 

of progress, as well as the 

importance of small enterprises, 

self-employment and 

the government departments 

that support the small and 

medium enterprises (SMEs) 

in the Sultanate. The guest 

also toured Sanad Programme 

exhibition at the 

Ministry and acquainted 

with some of the successful 

experiences. 

The meeting was attended 

by the Minister of Social 

Development and Under- 

Secretary of the Ministry of 

Agriculture and Fisheries 

for Fisheries. 

Meanwhile, Shaikha Aisha 

bint Khalfan al Siyabiyah, 

Chairperson of the 

Public Authority for Craft 

Industries (PACI), received 

in her office yesterday Dr 

Yusuf al Otheimin who is 

currently visiting the Sultanate. 

The meeting discussed 

topics pertaining to the promotion 

and development of 

existing areas of co-operation 

between the Sultanate 

and Saudi Arabia, especially 

in areas related to the development 

of craft-producing 

families and community 

initiatives aimed at ensuring 

income for craftsmen. 

The meeting also discussed 

the Sultanate’s efforts 

to develop human resources 

and reviewed a number of 

projects and programmes 

implemented by PACI to develop 

Omani craftsmanship. 

The Saudi Minister expressed 

his deep delight to 

visit the Sultanate and see 

the cultural landmarks of 

the development in various 

aspects of life in the prosperous 

reign of His Majesty 

Sultan Qaboos, especially 

the Omani experience in the 

field of social development, 

crafts development and the 

role of PACI through various 

regional and international 

events and occasions. 

— ONA 

SHAIKHA Aisha bint Khalfan al Siyabiyah receives Dr Yusuf bin Ahmad al Otheimin.

From page 1 

He underlined the need to 

issue a new mining law in the 

Sultanate and pay more attention 

to technical aspects. 

The minister described as 

impractical attempts to raise 

national manpower pay ceiling 

at private establishments 

above the recommended RO 

235. 

In his statement, the minister 

said that the Capital Market 

Authority finalised a study to 

address the challenges facing 

the stock market in the Sultanate, 

namely the shallowness 

of liquidity and initiatives that 

can be used as tools for financing. 

The session was opened 

by Shaikh Khalid bin Hilal al 

Maawali, Chairman of Majlis 

Ash’shura. 

Al Sunaidy said in his statement 

that the Omani economy 

has been able to withstand the 

international economic crisis 

which impacted the world 

MUSCAT — Twenty-seven 

agreements worth RO 

2,283,215 were signed at the 

Ministry of Manpower yesterday 

to train 706 national manpower 

in various professions. 

The agreements were 

signed on behalf of the government 

by Shaikh Abdullah 

bin Nasser al Bakri, Minister 

of Manpower, while they were 

signed on behalf of the private 

training establishments 

by their directors general and 

officials. 

Al Bakri said that these 

agreements come within the 

framework of interest in human 

resources development 

and attracting a large number 

of Omani youth to work in 

various fields of the private 

sector, pointing out that the 

period of training extends 

MUSCAT — Dr Abdullah 

bin Nassir al Harrasi, Chairman 

of the Public Authority 

for Radio and Television 

(PART), received in his office 

here yesterday a delegation of 

the Arab journalists Union, led 

by Mu'ayadd al Lami, First 

Deputy Chairman of the Union, 

and Hatem Zakaria, Secretary 

General of the Union, 

who are currently visiting the 

Sultanate. 

During the meeting, Dr Al 

Harrasi welcomed them and 

reviewed levels of progress 

being witnessed by PART in 

terms of the content, radio and 

TV techniques and training. 

He stressed the impor- 

economy in 2011 and had its 

repercussions in 2012. In fact, 

the Omani economy achieved 

stability, even progress over 

2011 and 2012, with the 

GDP rising by 19 per cent to 

RO 26,904 compared to RO 

22,614. 

Meanwhile, domestic trade 

witnessed good growth over 

the past two years due to a 

number of factors, including 

an increase in spending 

and purchasing power among 

consumers in the backrops 

of increased employment of 

from six to nine months. 

In a statement to the 

journalists, he said that the 

Ministry of Manpower has 

expanded the capacity of the 

vocational training centres 

to absorb 4,700 trainees, ex- 

tance of role being played by 

the media, which requires the 

media men to be aware and responsible 

in forming the social 

awareness and reality. 

Omanis in the government and 

private sectors, said the Minis- 

ter, noting that the contribution 

of the wholesale/retail trade 

to the GDP at current prices 

rose from RO 1.735 million in 

2010 to RO 1.945 million in 

2011, an increase of about 12 

per cent. 

Speaking about the commercial 

uses of ports and their 

adjoining areas, Al Sunaidy 

said that, despite the availability 

of advanced logistic 

infrastructure in Omani ports, 

many related activitities are 

plaining that the ministry is 

promoting and upgrading the 

training plans according to 

requirements of the labour 

market. 

He added that each trainee 

will receive RO 150 per month 

The delegation expressed 

their admiration of the 

progress being witnessed by 

the Omani media. The meeting 

was attended by Awadh bin 

still centred in cities, like 

warehouses in Al Wadi al 

Kabeer and Ghala in Muscat 

Governorate, which compels 

companies to limit their storage 

to limited space and face 

the problem of high cost of 

transportation. 

Foreign trade, fortunately, 

witnessed good progress, with 

its volume rising by 25.4 per 

cent in 2011 compared to 2010 

figures, said the Minister, adding 

that oil exports rose by 

32.2 per cent in 2011 compared 

to 2010 figures, while 

as training allowance. The 

government will pay cost of 

training at the private training 

centres whilst the trainees at 

the vocational training centres 

living 50 km away from the 

centre will receive RO 45 per 

month and those living more 

than 50 km away from the 

centre will receive RO 90. 

He further said that the 

training programmes at the 

ministry are open for 20,000 

trainees as the ministry seeks, 

within the framework of training 

programmes coupled with 

employment, to train 7,000 

male and female citizens. 

The signing ceremony was 

attended by a number of directors 

general at the Ministry of 

Manpower and representatives 

of the private training establishments. 

— ONA 

Said Baqwair, Chairman of the 

Omani Journalists Association 

(OJA), and Salim bin Hamad 

al Jahwari, Deputy Chairman 

of the OJA. — ONA 

3 OMAN 



Foreign investment law being revised 

The small and medium enterprises sector is still 

unorganised due to its inability to offer more 

employment opportunities to Omanis in a sustainable 

way. While First Class establishments sector 

employes more that 200,000 Omanis, the number of 

Omanis in SMEs does not exceed 10,000 

27 pacts to train 706 citizens 

34,480 cases handled in 2012 

From page 1 

The statistics also showed 

that the number of cases recorded 

in the directorates of 

Thamarit, Yanqul and Adam 

doubled compared to those in 

2011. 

The total number of cases 

in 2012 has increased to 7,739 

(28.9 per cent) compared to 

2011. Besides, the number of 

cases pursued to courts in 2012 

stood at 15,396 compared to 

13,328 in 2011,an increase of 

2,068. 

At the same level, 18,420 

KHAMIS Al Khalili MOHAMMED Al Yahya’ee 

cases were not pursued to 

court in 2012 because of various 

reasons, while there were 

only 12,822 cases in 2011, an 

increase of 5,598 cases. 

Both the officials pointed 

out the importance of being 

aware of all regulations and 

judicial process because of the 

impact in determining people’s 

relations. The number of offenders 

has gone up in 2012 to 

40,839 compared to 33,797 in 

2011, an increase of 7,042. 

“The Public Prosecution 

has dealt with most of the cases 

it received in 2012 as only 

664 cases were left by the end 

of the year." 

They said specialised directorates 

were established 

for traffic cases, labour, drugs 

cases and consumer protection 

cases. 

Arab journalists hail media progress 

non-oil exports rose by 20.8 

per cent over 2010 figures. In 

the meantime, the ratio of converting 

industries to the GDP 

rose per cent by 20 about RO 

2419. Emphasis in the future 

stage focuses on expanding 

existing industrial estates and 

setting up new ones in Al Dhahirah 

Governorate and North 

Sharqiyah Governorate, in addition 

to increasing integration 

among ports activities and industrial 

estates activities, particularly 

in Sohar, Salalah and 

Duqm. 

The Sultanate has faced a 

number of issues with EU and 

India with relation to exporting 

the Omani petrochemical 

products. It faced some issues 

also with US with relation to 

exporting steel pipes and with 

Ecuador and Pakistan with 

relation to exporting packing 

materials. The Sultanate, 

represented by the Ministry 

of Commerce and Industry 

addressed these issues in collaboration 

with an internation- 

al law office and some private 

and public organisations. 

Speaking about small and 

medium enterprises, the minister 

said that the sector is still 

unorganised due to its inability 

to offer more employment 

opportunities to Omanis in a 

sustainable way. While First 

Class establishments sector 

employes more that 200,000 

Omanis, the number of Omanis 

in SMEs (second, third and 

fourth classes) does not exceed 

10,000, most of whom operate 

in modest environments lacking 

in technology and invested 

with types of illicit trade, with 

expatrates in this sector standing 

at more than 600,000 due 

to low pay. 

The SME sector, he said, 

failed to utilise the good economic 

growth in the country 

to generate new jobs, said the 

Minister, noting that work is 

under way to form a special 

body to undertake small and 

medium enterprises. 

In his statement, the Minister 

also spoke about the Consumer 

Protection Authority 

which, he said, plays a role 

different from its counterparts 

in other countries at times. 

The consumer authority in- 

terferes with price ceilings in 

a bid to "fill the vacuum" left 

The Consumer Protection Authority plays a role different 

from its counterparts in other countries at times. 

The consumer authority interferes with price 

ceilings in a bid to “fill the vacuum” left by the lack 

legislations against monopoly 

by the lack legislations against 

monopoly. This role works 

contrary to the mechanisms of 

free market economy based on 

demand and display, except in 

exclusive cases. 

“All efforts should be concerted 

to limit the illicit trade 

by encouraging entrepreneurship 

culture and ensure full 

time management of private 

projects,” he said. 

The Minister encouraged 

the use of electronic one-stopshop 

in commercial transactions.

From page 1 

to receive millions of containers 

and handle general, bulk 

and liquid cargo. It will also 

support the industrial, trade 

and tourism activities that will 

be set up as per the preset plans 

and programmes of the Special 

Economic Zone Authority. 

He affirmed that the opening 

of the 300-metre-long 

quay will contribute in promoting 

commercial operation 

and linking it to international 

marine activities. 

The minister said that after 

the launch of commercial operations 

the port has started receiving 

offers from companies. 

An agreement has been signed 

yesterday for the production of 

bitumen, which is used in the 

construction of marine quays 

and roads. 

Another agreement related 

to providing readymade 

concrete for the construction 

works related to the port, was 

also signed. 

The port started early operations 

few months ago and is a 

joint venture between the government 

and Consortium Ant- 

werp Port (CAP) of Belgium, 

as per a concession agreement 

for the operation and management 

of Duqm Port. 

4 OMAN 



Port of Duqm eyes huge share 

MUSCAT — The 29th GCC Traffic 

Week began yesterday under 

the theme "Your Safety is Our 

Goal" with the aim of spreading 

the traffic culture amongst road users 

and compliance with rules and 

regulations. 

Shaikh Salim bin Oufait al 

Shanfari, Head of Dhofar Municipality, 

presided over the opening 

ceremony of the traffic exhibition 

which aims to spread traffic awareness 

by displaying brochures, 

booklets and instructional videos. 

The Public Authority for Civil 

Defence and Ambulance takes part 

in the exhibition by displaying a 

set of fittings in dealing with traffic 

accidents, like how to cut off 

a vehicle, rescue the injured and 

trapped persons inside the vehicles, 

and vehicle fire extinguishing 

and other equipment that will deal 

with those injured in traffic acci- 

The first stage of the agreement 

has been completed 

dents. 

The occasion was attended by 

a number of Royal Oman Police 

(ROP) senior officers and officers 

of the Sultan's Armed Forces and 

the Gulf delegations participating 

in the events. 

On the other hand, the GCC 

which includes two 8.6 km 

of breakwater, developing the 

southern part of the port basin 

to 18 metre, construction of 

commercial quays, (2,250 metre-long 

and 18-metre deep), 

in addition to government and 

service quays. 

The first stage also includes 

the implementation of the road 

network, which is currently 

under way. The government 

will complete the infra and 

supra structure projects for 

the port and will float these 

projects through a number of 

packages soon. 

The future layouts of the 

port will allow for building 

scores of different types of 

quays including those for liquid, 

bulk and solid materials. 

There will be vast areas for future 

expansions as well. 

The ceremony was attended 

by Yahya bin Saeed 

al Jabri, Chairman of SEZ in 

Duqm Authority, governor of 

the Al Wusta Governorate, and 

a number of CEOs of companies 

operating in the port. 

Array of activities promote road safety 

delegations visited the building of 

the General Directorate of Traffic, 

where they met with Brigadier 

Mohammad bin Awadh al Rowas, 

Director-General of Traffic, and 

toured the departments and sections 

of the Directorate General of 

Traffic. — ONA 

EU naval vessel escorts 

freed ship to Oman 

By A Staff Reporter 

MUSCAT — EU Naval Force 

(EU NAVFOR) flagship 

ESPS Méndez Núnez provided 

much-needed assistance to 

the crew of chemical tanker 

MV Royal Grace after the 

vessel was unexpectedly released 

by Somali pirates. The 

pirates had held the vessel 

after attacking it over a year 

earlier, on March 2, in the Sea 

of Oman. 

Early on Friday morning, 

ESPS Mendez Nunez was 

conducting counter-piracy 

patrols 20 nautical miles off 

the northern Somali coast, 

when she sighted MV Royal 

Grace sailing north from her 

pirate anchorage at a speed of 

4 knots. Shortly afterwards, 

ESPS Méndez Núñez received 

a radio call from the 

master of MV Royal Grace, 

who confirmed that his ship 

was now free of pirates and 

MUSCAT — The weekly 

report of the joint inspection 

team at the Ministry of 

Manpower showed that the 

number of workers violating 

the labour law, from March 

2 till 8, stood at 267 including 

156 commercial workers, 

20 farm workers and 91 

housemaids. 

The Governorate of Muscat 

witnessed the largest 

number of workers violating 

that his 20-man crew were in 

need of food, water and medical 

assistance. 

ESPS Méndez Núnez 

quickly sent her boarding 

and medical teams across to 

the Royal Grace, and after 

proving the crew with food 

and water, they were checked 

over, with two being given 

medical treatment. 

MV Royal Grace is currently 

en route to Muscat under 

the watchful eye of another 

EU Naval Force warship, 

ESPS Rayo. 

Speaking about the assistance 

given to MV Royal 

Grace, Rear Admiral Bob 

Tarrant, who is the operation 

commander of the EU Naval 

Force said “I am relieved 

that the crew of MV Royal 

Grace are now safe and on 

their way home. It has been 

an extremely worrying time 

for the men and their families.” 

267 violate labour law 

MUSCAT — Sayyid Said bin 

Ibrahim al Busaidy, Deputy 

Governor of Muscat yesterday 

received Commander of 

the Indian vessel Samudra 

Prahari, which is currently 

visiting the Sultanate. 

During the meeting, cor- 

the law with 131, followed 

by the governorates of North 

and South Al Batinah with 

39 workers. 

On the other hand, the 

Manpower Ministry statistics 

showed that 261 expatriate 

workers were deported 

for violating provisions of 

the Labour Law and ministerial 

decisions executing 

the law. — ONA 

Indian commander received 

MUSCAT — Muscat Securities 

Market (MSM) general 

index 30 yesterday added 

7.87 points, comprising a rise 

by 0.13 per cent to close at 

6001.23 points. 

The trading value yesterday 

stood at RO 7.76 million, 

comprising a rise by 31.19 per 

cent compared to the last session, 

which stood at RO 5.91 

million. 

The market value rose by 

dial conversations were exchanged 

and a number of 


were discussed. Muscat Deputy 

Governor affirmed the 

deep-rooted existing relations 

between the two friendly 

countries. — ONA 

MSM index up 7.87 points 


MUSCAT — Sohar Industrial 

Port Company (SIPC) 

conducted a traffic incident 

drill in conjunction with the 

Royal Oman Police (ROP) in 

order to enhance emergency 

response preparedness in the 

SIP area. Players in the drill, 

which took place last week,d 

include SIPC, Civil Defence, 

OGIS, ROP Ambulance, 

ROP (Traffic), ROP (Sohar), 

Vale medical team, and L&T 

Modular Fabrication Yard. 

During the exercise scenario, 

the drill administrators 

tested the efficacy of 

procedures specified in the 

SIPC Emergency Response 

Plan, as well as the efficiency 

of communications 

between all parties. In addition 

to making a note of all 

of the worst case outcomes 

emerging from the exercise, 

administrators also reviewed 

the responsibilities of all 

parties in incidents response 

and set goals for improving 

the SIPC Emergency Response 

Plan. 

The SIPC Emergency 

Management Team executed 

the assigned tasks in a highly 

professional and timely 

manner which gained the 

appreciation and satisfaction 

of the specialised observers 

and visitors from participating 

authorities and port tenants. 

Lieutenant Darwish bin 

Kudoom al Saadi from Oil 

& Gas Installation Security 

Police Station in Sohar 

Industrial Port, said it was 

very important that such 

exercises were conducted 

in industrial areas and ports 

in order to test the level of 

emergency preparedness and 

0.14 per cent since last trading 

to reach about RO 12.2 

billion. 

The value of shares bought 

by non-Omani investors 

reached RO 1,570,000, comprising 

20.24 per cent. The 

value of shares sold by non- 

Omani investors reached RO 

1,364,000, comprising 17.59 

per cent. The net non-Omani 

investment rose by 2.65 per 

cent to RO 206,000. — ONA 

Traffic incident drill 

at Port of Sohar 

to develop the capabilities of 

participants. He also emphasized 

the importance of regular 

emergency exercises. 

Lt Abdullah bin Salim al 

Kalbani of the Civil Defence 

Center in Sohar Industrial 

Port noted that the exercise 

was a real opportunity for 

everyone involved to test 

their readiness to deal with 

traffic accidents. He also 

pointed to the importance 

for all companies in organising 

such exercises. 

Suwaid al Shamaisi, Executive 

Manager of Corporate 

Affairs for the Sohar 

Industrial Port Company, 

stated: “In line with the social 

responsibility that the 

Sohar Industrial Port is 

committed to, this exercise 

has been planned and executed.” 

Al Shamaisi indicated 

that the primary objective of 

this exercise was to enhance 

the level of emergency respond 

preparedness in SIP 

area. He also added: “The 

exercise was a good platform 

to enhance the interaction 

and cooperation between the 

various stakeholders and relevant 

parties.” 

He said the drill was the 

first in a series of exercises 

aimed at enhancing emergency 

preparedness and 

that exercises of different 

tiers shall be conducted on 

a regular basis. “I would 

like to thank all those who 

participated in planning and 

executing the exercise. The 

level of cooperation and 

participation was very good. 

Such exercises greatly contribute 

to the development of 

trained cadres that are able 

to deal with incidents on the 

national scale,” he added.

Egypt urges end to 'rumours' 

CAIRO — Egypt's interior 

minister yesterday pleaded for 

an end to "rumours" of police 

abuse, saying his forces had 

never fired a single shot at 

protesters since the start of the 

2011 uprising. 

Mohammed Ibrahim, who 

is facing an unprecedented 

strike by thousands of police 

officers across the country 

calling for his resignation, 

told reporters the media was 

waging an attack against the 

ministry and spreading lies. 

"We are the ones being hit 

with stones. We are the ones 

being hit with live bullets... 

this is putting too much psychological 

pressure on officers," 

Ibrahim said. 

"The police is being attacked 

all day in the media. 

Why the rumours? Why the 

attacks?" 

He said people were making 

up stories of torture in police 

custody and accusing the 

police of shooting protesters, 

which is "untrue." 

The police have been engaged 

in violent clashes with 

protesters across the country 

for months, and local and international 

rights groups have 

accused the force of unlawful 

killings. Clashes in the canal 

city of Port Said in January 

following 21 death sentences 

handed down to supporters of 

a local football team left more 

than 40 people dead. — AFP 

5 REGION 



Syrian refugees could triple 

ANKARA — The number of 

refugees outside Syria could 

triple by the end of the year 

from the 1 million registered 

now if there is no political solution 

to the conflict, the head 

of the UN refugee agency said 

yesterday. 

The millionth Syrian refugee 

was registered in Jordan 

on Wednesday, following a 

dramatic acceleration in the 

number of civilians fleeing 

fighting in their homeland in 

the first two months of this 

year. 

Syrians started trickling out 

of the country nearly two years 

ago when President Bashar Al 

Assad's forces shot at pro-democracy 

protests. 

The uprising has since 

turned into an increasingly 

sectarian struggle between opposition 

fighters and government 

soldiers and militias. An 

estimated 70,000 people have 

been killed. 

The UN refugee body, UN- 

HCR, says more than 400,000 

Syrian refugees — nearly half 

the total — have fled Syria 

since January 1. 

Around half the refugees 

are children, most of them under 

11. 

In December, there were 

3,000 refugees on average a 

day. In January, it had risen to 

5,000. By February, there were 

8,000. 

"If this escalation goes on 

... we might have in the end of 

the year a much larger number 

of refugees, two or three times 

the present level," High Commissioner 

for Refugees Antonio 

Guterres told reporters in 

Ankara. 

"Everything depends on 

whether or not we will have 

a political solution but we 

Tunisia to hold vote of 

confidence tomorrow 

TUNIS — Tunisia faces major 

hurdles this week, with 

parliament set to vote on a 

new government and agree a 

calendar for a long-delayed 

constitution, as opposition activists 

mark the assassination 

of a leftist leader. 

More than two years after 

mass protests, Tunisia has 

been grappling with a political 

crisis triggered by the 

killing last month of Chokri 

Belaid. 

There are hopes that it may 

finally be able to overcome 

this crisis, which brought 

down the government of Hamadi 

Jabali, when parliament 

holds a vote of confidence 

tomorrow for the new cabinet 

line-up of premier-designate 

Ali Larayedh. 

His Ennahda party and its 

two secular partners in the 

outgoing coalition control 

109 out of the 217 seats in 

the National Constituent Assembly. 

But hopes of a breakthrough 

in Tunisia's political 

impasse are mitigated by 

deadlock over the new constitution. 

The assembly must today 

draw up a calendar for the 

drafting and adoption of the 

text, as well as for parliamentary 

and presidential elections. 

But several political timetables 

drawn up since Ennahda's 

sweeping election victory 

in the first post-revolution poll 

have not been respected. 

— AFP 

need to be prepared for a very 

strong increase of the present 

numbers," he said. 

Most refugees have fled to 

Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq 

and Egypt and some to North 

Africa and Europe. In addition 

to the refugees, the UNHCR 

says more than 2 million of 

Syria's 22 million people have 

been internally displaced. 

Guterres, who is on a 4-day 

visit to Turkey, also warned of 

the risk of an "explosion" in 

the Middle East if there was no 

political end to the conflict in 

Syria, which has increasingly 

spilled beyond its borders. He 

did not explain his comments 

further. 

Guterres will meet Turkish 

leaders during his trip as well 

as visiting a refugee camp near 

the Syrian border. 

Turkey, which has more 

than 185,000 Syrians regis- 

tered in camps on its territory, 

and tens of thousands more 

living in towns and cities, has 

long advocated setting up internationally 

protected zones 

inside Syria to protect fleeing 

civilians. 

However, the notion has 

gained little traction in Western 

countries, who do not want 

to get further embroiled in the 

Syrian conflict. 

Guterres said his agency 

was not against such safe zones 

in general but that they should 

not undermine the right for refugees 

to seek asylum in other 

countries. Despite pledges of 

$1.5 billion by international 

donors for a UN response plan 

to help Syria's displaced, only 

25 per cent has been funded, 

UNHCR has said. 

Turkey alone says it has 

spent some $700 million setting 

up 17 refugee camps, with 

more under construction. But 

the country's disaster and relief 

management body, AFAD, 

said last week the actual cost 

of caring for the refugees was 

closer to $1.5 billion. 

There is no end in sight to 

the conflict in Syria, which has 

divided world powers. 

Yesterday, opposition fighters 

launched a surprise dawn 

raid to retake a key district of 

the central city of Homs. The 

raid sparked fierce fighting on 

the ground and saw Al Assad’s 

forces call in air strikes in a bid 

to repulse the fighters. 

They said offensive was a 

bid to take pressure off other 

opposition-held areas following 

the launch last week of an 

widescale army offensive in 

Homs, which has been dubbed 

‘capital of the revolution’ 

against Assad’s forces. 

— Reuters

YANGON — Aung San Suu 

Kyi was re-elected as Myanmar 

opposition chief yesterday 

at a landmark congress 

that disappointed some members 

hoping for new blood in 

the wider leadership ahead of 

a key 2015 election. 

Hundreds of National 

League for Democracy (NLD) 

members gathered in Yangon 

for their first national conference 

— a display of political 

strength that would have been 

unthinkable under the former 

junta. 

The meeting highlighted 

the myriad challenges facing 

the hugely popular opposition, 

including its lack of experience 

as well as party infighting, as 

it eyes victory in key elections 

due to be held in 2015. 

"We have to seize the 

chance," Suu Kyi, a former 

political prisoner who entered 

parliament last year, urged the 

estimated 850 representatives 

who attended the three days 

of talks. 

"I thank the members who 

struggled hand-in-hand with 

the NLD for 25 years, and I 

also welcome our new mem- 

6 THE WORLD 


bers," she said. "A party can be 

energetic if it's refreshed with 

new blood all the time." 

The party had faced calls 

among younger members 

to rejuvenate its leadership, 

dominated by elderly activists 

including some in their 80s 

and 90s known as the "NLD 

uncles". 

But it held back from a substantial 

revamp, instead selecting 

older veteran party members 

for a core executive of 15 

and unanimously reappointing 

Suu Kyi as chairwoman. 

"We are not completely 


PEOPLE hold banners and placards as they march during a protest against government austerity measures in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday. — Reuters 

Fresh protests against austerity policies 

MADRID — Protests were staged across Spain 

yesterday against social spending cuts and record 

unemployment, media reports said. 

Protesters took to the streets in more than 60 cities, 

heeding a call that came from trade union confederations 

CCOO and UGT, as well as around 150 

other organisations. 

They called for an "urgent and radical change" 

in the austerity policies of the Conservative govern- 

Apartment 

fire kills 8 

of a family 

GERMANY — Seven children 

and woman, all believed 

to be from the same 

family, were killed when a 

fire broke out yesterday at 

an apartment building in the 

south-western German town 

of Backnang, police said. 

The children ranged in 

age from six months to 16 

and all the victims were of 

Turkish origin, said police 

spokesman Klaus Hinderer. 

Police said the seven died 

of smoke inhalation and 

were all found on the building's 

second floor. 

A Turkish-German cultural 

association was located 

on the ground floor of the 

building, which is part of a 

larger building complex that 

once was a leather factory. 

Turkey's Ambassador 

to Germany, Huseyin Avni 

Karslioglu, was on his way 

to the site, his spokesman 

said. Mustafa Turker Ari, the 

Turkish consulate general in 

Stuttgart, visited the scene 

early yesterday. 

The exact cause of the 

fire, which swept through 

the building around 4:30 am 

(0330 GMT), was unknown. 

However, investigators suspected 

a malfunctioning 

wood furnace was to blame. 

— dpa 

Merkel 

partners pick 

poll candidate 

BERLIN — German Chancellor 

Angela Merkel's coalition 

partners yesterday chose 

a former economy minister 

as their candidate in national 

elections in September, as 

the party battles for its political 

survival. 

The pro-business Free 

Democrats (FDP), which 

has governed with Merkel's 

conservative Christian Democratic 

Union since 2009, 

selected Rainer Bruederle, 

67, to represent them in the 

September 22 vote in Europe' 

top economy. 

"People want a strong 

voice for freedom. The 

chance is there for us. We 

should use it and we want to 

use it," said Bruederle during 

a 75-minute speech at the 

party conference in Berlin. 

"I know you will all fight 

with me," he told the 600 

delegates, who responded 

by giving him a five-minute 

standing ovation. 

"Let's go into battle," he 

shouted. Bruederle has a 

tough scrap ahead of him, 

as the party struggles to turn 

around its fortunes following 

years of internal bickering 

and plunging support. 

— AFP 

ment of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, which have 

come at the behest of the European Union. 

At the main event in Madrid, a peaceful protest 

march ended at the Puerta del Sol in the city centre. 

Among those taking part were members of the 

main opposition parties, which say the policies have 

brought Spain to the brink. 

Protesters carried signs bearing slogans like "Vi- 

Cardinals pray before 

conclave to choose pope 

VATICAN CITY — Roman 

Catholic Cardinals prayed 

yesterday for spiritual guidance 

ahead of a closed-door 

conclave to choose a new 

pope to lead the Church at one 

of the most difficult periods in 

its history. 

Cardinals will hold a final 

pre-conclave meeting today 

to discuss the state of their 

Church, left reeling by the 

abdication last month of Pope 

Benedict and struggling to deal 

with a string of sexual abuse 

and corruption scandals. 

The 115 cardinals who 

will take part in the secret ballots, 

which start on March 12, 

fanned out around Rome yesterday 

to hold myriad Masses, 

either in the quiet of private 

chapels or in the grandeur of 

Rome's great cathedrals and 

basilicas. 

Each cardinal is traditionally 

assigned to a church in 

the Italian capital and congregations 

swelled in parishes 

visited by those considered 

the most likely papal contenders 

— such as Cardinal Odilo 

Pedro Scherer of Sao Paulo, 

Brazil. 

"We're all preparing for 

the conclave because we need 

to make the right decision 

to decide who is going to be 

the new pope," Scherer told a 

small Baroque church in the 

heart of Rome, crammed with 

well-wishers. 

He was later driven away 

in a minivan with darkened 

windows, declining to speak 

to the waiting hoards of reporters 

— a taste of the pressures 

to come if he should become 

the first non-European to be 

elected pope in some 1,300 

years. 

Just up the road, another 

non-European touted as a possible 

candidate, US Cardinal 

Sean O'Malley, also received 

star treatment as he arrived for 

Mass in ornate vestments. 

"I say sincerely that we 

hope this is your last visit as 

cardinal," said parish priest father 

Rocco Visca, prompting 

loud applause and cheers from 

the well-heeled congregation. 

A coach load of faithful 

from northern Italy travelled 

down to Rome to hear Milan's 

cardinal, Angelo Scola, give 

a sermon at the monumental 

Santi Apostoli church. 

"Let us pray that the Holy 

Spirit gives the Church a man 

who can lead her in the footsteps 

of the great pontiffs of 

the past 150 years," said Scola, 

seen as the leading Italian 

candidate. 

olence is when you get a 600-euro salary." "Poverty 

in this country is rising at an alarming rate, we must 

say enough, right now," said Purificacion Garcia, 

secretary for equality for the Socialist Worker's 

Party PSOE. 

UGT Secretary-General Candido Mendez meanwhile 

warned that record unemployment of 27 per 

cent was driving people into poverty and "away 

from democratic institutions". — dpa 

Like fellow cardinals, he 

appeared eager not to draw 

too much attention to himself 

and exited quietly via a back 

door. 

Some cardinals, such as 

Manila's Luis Antonio Tagle, 

who is considered a longshot 

because of his relatively 

young age, 55, kept an even 

lower profile, mostly staying 

inside the walls of seminaries 

or other religious institutions. 

Open canvassing is 

frowned upon in the run-up 

to the conclave, with prelates 

aware of the Rome saying 

"he who enters the conclave a 

pope comes out a cardinal". 

Vatican spokesman Father 

Federico Lombardi said 

the so-called princes of the 

church had been in constant 

contact in recent days and had 

reached initial conclusions. 

"They therefore feel ready 

to confront the decisive step 

of electing a new pope," he 

told Vatican Radio. 

The 115 cardinal electors 

under the age of 80 will enter 

the Sistine Chapel tomorrow 

afternoon and hold one vote 

that evening. They will vote 

up to four times day thereafter 

until one of their number receives 

a two-thirds majority, 

or 77 votes. — Reuters 

Falklands 

residents vote 

on Britain ties 

LONDON — Residents of 

the Falklands yesterday began 

voting in a referendum 

on whether they want the 

island in the South Atlantic 

remain a British Overseas 

Territory. 

The outcome of the poll 

in which 1,500 people are 

eligible to vote is expected 

to be an overwhelming yes 

vote. 

Argentina, the neighbour 

460 km has long claimed 

sovereignty over the archipelago 

it calls las Islas 

Malvinas. Britain and Argentina 

went to war over the 

islands in 1982. 

Argentina has rejected 

the referendum, with President 

Cristina Fernandez de 

Kirchner saying she will not 

recognise the result. 

Falklands assembly 

member Dick Sawle told the 

BBC the goal was to send a 

signal to Argentina and the 

international community 

with the vote. 

"I would hope that, whilst 

the government of Argentina 

may not listen to us, I hope 

the people... will listen to 

us, because I think there are 

many people within Argentina 

who are not in tune with 

their government," he said. 

— dpa 

MYANMAR democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to the media during the National League for Democracy's 

(NLD) first ever party conference at the Royal Rose Hall in Yangon yesterday. — AFP 

Suu Kyi reappointed as oppn leader 

satisfied. We accept their decision 

and we will support 

it. But we do want more new 

blood among the leadership," 

said an NLD youth member 

who asked not to be named. 

"We want to see people in 

their 40s and 50s who are educated 

and have experience in 

politics being more involved." 

NLD spokesman Han Tha 

Myint said the party recognised 

the need to gradually 

promote younger activists. 

"That's our main concern 

— most of our senior leaders 

are getting old," he said. 

Foreign hostages 

killed in Nigeria 

LONDON — Britain, Italy 

and Greece yesterday admitted 

that a claim by a Nigerian 

group it had killed seven foreign 

hostages appeared to be 

true and condemned the act as 

barbaric and cold-blooded. 

The Ansaru group on Saturday 

announced the deaths 

of all the expatriates abducted 

from a construction site of 

Lebanese company Setraco on 

February 16 in Bauchi state in 

Nigeria's restive north. 

Ansaru, considered an offshoot 

of the Nigerian group 

Boko Haram, backed up its 

claim with "screen captures of 

a forthcoming video showing 

the dead hostages," SITE Intelligence 

Group said. 

"In the communique, the 

group stated that the attempts 

by the British and Nigerian 

governments to rescue the 

hostages, and their alleged 

arrest and killing of people, 

forced it to carry out the execution," 

SITE said. 

Nigeria police last month 

said the hostages were four 

Lebanese, one Briton, a Greek 

citizen and an Italian. A company 

official later said the 

Middle Eastern hostages included 

two Lebanese and two 

Syrians. 

British Foreign Secretary 

William Hague said all the 

hostages were "likely to have 

been killed" by their captors. 

"This was an act of coldblooded 

murder, which I condemn 

in the strongest terms," 

he said, expressing his determination 

to work with the Nigerian 

authorities "to hold the 

perpetrators of this heinous 

act to account, and to combat 

the terrorism which so blights 

the lives of people in northern 

Nigeria and in the wider region." 

The Italian foreign ministry 

in a statement branded it 

"a horrific act of terrorism for 

which there is no explanation 

except barbaric and blind violence." 

"No military intervention 

to free the hostages was ever 

attempted by the interested 

government," it said, adding 

that the killings were "the aberrant 

expression of a hateful 

and intolerable fanaticism." 

The Greek foreign ministry 

also said the "available 

information suggests that the 

Greek citizen abducted in Nigeria 

alongside six nationals 

of other countries is dead." 

"Based on the information 

we have, there was no rescue 

operation," it added. 

In an e-mail statement sent 

to journalists announcing the 

kidnapping two days later, 

Ansaru said the motives were 

"the transgressions and atrocities 

done to the religion ... 

by the European countries in 

many places such as Afghanistan 

and Mali". 

Ansaru has been linked to 

several kidnappings, including 

the May 2011 abductions of a 

Briton and an Italian working 

for a construction firm in 

Kebbi state, near the border 

with Niger. The victims were 

killed in March 2012 in neighbouring 

Sokoto state during a 

botched rescue operation. 

It also claimed the December 

kidnapping of a French 

engineer in Katsina state, 

bordering Niger. The victim's 

whereabouts remain unknown. 

Seven members of a 

French family, including four 

children, were also abducted 

last month in Cameroon, and 

Cameroon authorities said 

they were then taken over the 

border into restive northeastern 

Nigeria. — AFP 

MALTA Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat is greeted by supporters in the counting hall 

in Naxxar after first samples indicated victory for his party yesterday. — AFP 

Malta’s oppn wins poll 

VALLETTA — Malta's opposition 

Labour party has 

won a general election for 

the first time in over 15 years, 

with leader Joseph Muscat 

claiming a "landslide victory" 

yesterday in the euro zone's 

smallest member. 

Early results based on a 

sample of ballots from Saturday's 

vote showed Labour 

ahead with 55 per cent to 43 

per cent for the incumbent Nationalist 

Party led by outgoing 

Prime Minister Lawrence 

Gonzi. 

The provisional results 

suggest Labour could clinch 

one of the most comfortable 

majorities in the 65-seat parliament 

since the tiny Mediterranean 

island became independent 

in 1964. 

"I wasn't expecting such a 

landslide victory for Labour. 

We must all remain calm, 

tomorrow is another day," 

Muscat, a 39-year-old former 

journalist, said in reaction to 

the results. 

Gonzi immediately conceded 

defeat and vowed to 

step down from the party lead- 

JOHANNESBURG — Former South African 

president Nelson Mandela has been discharged 

from hospital after routine tests and is well, the 

government said yesterday. 

"The doctors have completed the tests. He 

is well and as before, his health remains under 

the management of the medical team," it said 

in a statement. 

The 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader was 

admitted to hospital on Saturday for a scheduled 

medical check-up. He spent the night in hospital 

in the capital, Pretoria, and had returned to 

his Johannesburg home, the statement said. 

ership as a result of his poor 

showing. 

"I personally take full responsibility 

for this result and 

I will not seek reelection when 

the party chooses its new leadership," 

he said at a press conference. 

"The Nationalist Party 

needs to begin a reform process 

and at the same remain 

rooted in its values," he said, 

adding that future prime minister 

Muscat deserved respect 

as he prepared to tackle new 

national challenges. 

The tiny island state is a 

rare example of a euro zone 

state with low unemployment, 

respectable economic growth 

and solid public finances. 

The unemployment rate is 

6.0 per cent and, according to 

the latest estimates, the country 

clocked 1.5 per cent economic 

growth last year. 

Gonzi, who has been at 

the helm of the Nationalist 

Party since 2004, had told 

the electorate throughout the 

nine-week campaign to judge 

him on his achievements, 

although he has admitted to 

mistakes. 

Muscat has run a slick 

US-style campaign calling 

for change, charging that the 

outgoing government's economic 

figures were wrong 

and accusing his rival of failing 

to ensure stability by ruling 

with a one-seat majority. 

Originally an opponent 

to Malta joining the European 

Union, Muscat has since 

changed his views and is a 

former member of the European 

Parliament. 

Malta has not had a Labour 

government in 25 years 

— apart from a 22-month 

stint when it ruled between 

1996 and 1998. 

Despite Malta's minuscule 

size, just 316 square kilometres, 

the political divide 

between the Labour and the 

Nationalist parties has been 

there for most of its history. 

In 1964, the Nationalists 

achieved independence from 

British rule but in 1979, it 

was long-term leader Dom 

Mintoff's Labour government 

who pushed British troops off 

the island. — AFP 

Mandela discharged from 

hospital after routine tests 

A spokesman for President Jacob Zuma said 

doctors treated Mandela for a pre-existing condition 

consistent with his age. 

He spent nearly three weeks in hospital in 

December with a lung infection and after surgery 

to remove gallstones. It was his longest 

stay in hospital since his release from prison 

in 1990 after serving 27 years for conspiring to 

overthrow the government under the apartheid 

regime. 

Since his release from that stay in hospital 

on December 26 he had been receiving treatment 

at his Johannesburg home. — Reuters

RESIDENTS of Tanjung Labian leave their village where Filipino gunmen were locked down in a stand 

off in the surrounding villages of Tanduo in Sabah yesterday. — AFP 

Teen dies, 3 hurt in incursion 

Philippines alarmed over alleged abuse in Malaysia 

FELDA SAHABAT, Malaysia 

— Malaysian police shot dead 

a teenager and injured a man 

yesterday as they tried to end a 

month-long incursion by Filipino 

gunmen in remote Sabah 

state that has seen 62 people 

killed. 

The death of the teen, 

whose identity and nationality 

has not yet been confirmed, 

came on the same day that police 

said two officers were hurt 

in clashes with armed Filipino 

gunmen. 

The group landed in the 

state on Borneo island to 

resurrect long-dormant land 

claims by a self-proclaimed 

Philippine sultan. 

Malaysia, facing its worst 

security crisis in years, insists 

the gunmen must surrender 

and has launched air- and 

ground strikes against them, 

but they continue to hide within 

a security cordon around 

two villages and farm land. 

Malaysian police shot the 

boy, believed to be between 12 

and 15 years old, and the man 

in his 30s when they noticed 

movement in some bushes 

while frisking a group of five 

near the battle zone, federal 

police chief Ismail Omar said. 

Gunmen have traded fresh 

fire with security forces since 

late Saturday, also injuring 

two policemen who have been 

hospitalised. Eight policemen 

were killed in clashes before 

the Malaysian military assault 

began. 

Police said earlier yesterday 

that they have arrested a 

total of 85 people in the state 

under a security law and are 

investigating them for “committing 

terrorist acts”. 

Concern: Meanwhile, the 

Philippines expressed “grave 

concern” over allegations that 

innocent Filipinos in Malaysia 

are being abused after being 

caught up in fighting in Sabah 

with followers of an obscure 

sultanate. 

Fears have also been raised 

of wider infiltration by other 

gunmen or sympathisers already 

in Malaysia following 

a shootout in a coastal town, 

several hours by car from the 

battle zone. 

Local press reports in the 

Philippines have claimed 

that innocent Filipinos were 

being beaten and shot by 

Malaysian security forces. 

Sabah police have denied the 

allegations. — Agencies 

China unveils restructuring plan 

BEIJING — China unveiled 

a government restructuring 

plan yesterday, cutting 

cabinet-level entities by two 

and dissolving its powerful 

Railways Ministry, as the 

country's new leaders look to 

boost efficiency and combat 

corruption. 

The reforms mark the 

biggest reduction in ministries 

since 1998 when then-premier 

Zhu Rongji oversaw the overhaul 

of the State Council, and 

coincides with growing public 

concern over transparency 

and overlapping bureaucracies. 

The government will join 

the Family Planning Commission 

— the agency that 

controls the controversial 

one-child policy — with the 

Health Ministry, and strengthen 

the powers of the food 

and drug regulators, it said in 

a report released during the 

on-going annual meeting of 

parliament. 

"Currently, numerous operational, 

organisational and 

division of labour problems 

exist in State Council ministries," 

State Council Secretary-General 

Ma Kai said in 

a speech on the plan to the 

National People's Congress. 

Ma added that "breach 

of duty, using positions for 

personal gain and corruption" 

under the structure had not 

been effectively constrained. 

China's president-inwaiting 

Xi Jinping and 

premier-designate Li Keqiang 

assume their new roles after 

the annual congress concludes 

next week. 

The Railways Ministry and 

Family Planning Commission 

have been particularly 

unpopular, and their restructuring 

was widely expected. 

The Railways Ministry 

has faced numerous problems 

over the past few years, 

including heavy debts from 

funding new high-speed lines, 

waste and fraud. 

Railways planning will be 

coordinated under the broader 

transport ministry. The government 

has pledged to open 

the rail industry to private 

investment on an unprecedented 

scale. 

Family planning officials, 

meanwhile, have been known 

to compel women to have 

abortions to meet birth-rate 

targets. High profile cases 

have sparked national fury, 

such as when a woman in 

inland Shaanxi province was 

forced to abort her 7-month 

pregnancy last year. 

Some analysts have said 

the merger of the health and 

family planning agencies 

would be a blow to the political 

base needed to maintain 

the one-child policy, which 

many demographers say 

should be relaxed. — Reuters 

Bangladesh 

cop shot dead 

in clashes 

DHAKA — A policeman 

was killed early yesterday in 

a gunfight with dissidents in 

a remote southern village, as 

violence over war crime convictions 

of its leaders continued 

to mount in Bangladesh. 

Police said a constable 

was hit by a bullet after 

around 1,000 supporters of 

Jamaat-e-Islami attacked 

police entering a village in 

Khulna district and tried to 

detain a Jamaat activist on 

charges of violence. 

“They attacked us with 

firearms. We also fired from 

shotguns. Constable Mofizur 

Rahman was hit by a bullet 

and died after we took him 

to a hospital,” inspector Mominur 

Rahman said, adding 

several policemen were also 

injured. 

The killing raised the 

death toll to 85, including 

eight policemen, in clashes 

with dissidents since a Bangladesh 

tribunal announced 

its first war crimes verdict 

on January 21. 

Sixty-nine of the dead 

have been killed since Delwar 

Hossain Sayedee, the 

vice-president of Jamaat, 

was sentenced to death on 

February 28. 

Three convictions by the 

state-appointed tribunal have 

triggered the worst violence 

in the impoverished country 

since independence. — AFP 

7ASIA 



Nato general 

takes hard line 

on dispute 

KABUL — The head of the 

Nato-led force in Afghanistan 

has vowed that the longdelayed 

transfer of detainees 

from US to Afghan control 

will not take place if they 

pose a threat to international 

troops. 

The transfer of a final 

group of detainees at Bagram 

jail has been a cause of friction 

between President Hamid 

Karzai and the coalition, 

and a handover ceremony 

was abruptly cancelled on 

Saturday. 

“There’s probably a difference 

of opinion. We certainly 

don’t have anyone in 

the detention facility that we 

think doesn’t deserve to be 

there,” General Joseph Dunford, 

commander of Nato 

forces, said. 

“If there’s a threat to the 

force, we will not conduct the 

transfer,” he said in a pool interview 

late on Saturday. “If 

there are people that need to 

be detained, we will make 

sure they are detained.” 

Dunford’s stance is likely 

to anger Karzai, who on Saturday 

insisted that the controversial 

Bagram jail, 50 km 

north of Kabul, was put in 

Afghan control within days. 

“President Karzai stressed 

that all efforts must be made 

to make sure the handover 

happens this week and that 

Afghanistan’s sovereignty 

comes into full exercise,” 

a statement from his office 

said. Last September, the 

United States passed the Afghan 

authorities control of 

more than 3,000 detainees at 

Bagram. 

But the Americans continued 

to guard 50 foreigners 

not covered by the 

agreement and hundreds of 

Afghans arrested since the 

transfer deal was signed in 

March 2012. — AFP 

Karzai criticises US, 

exposing tension 

KABUL — Afghan President 

Hamid Karzai yesterday 

ratcheted up his criticism of 

Washington during a visit of 

the US defence secretary, underscoring 

tension between allies 

struggling to stabilise the 

country ahead of a Nato troop 

withdrawal. 

Karzai accused the United 

States and the Taliban of colluding 

to convince Afghans 

that foreign forces were 

needed to maintain peace in 

the country beyond next year, 

when most foreign combat 

forces are due to leave. 

Then, his government alleged 

US-led forces and Afghans 

working with them 

were abusing and arresting 

university students and urged 

them to stop. 

Referring to two bomb attacks 

on Saturday that killed 

17 people, Karzai said the 

blasts were aimed at convincing 

people that the Taliban 

would return if US forces 

withdrew. 

“Those bombs ... were in 

the service of the Americans 

to keep foreigners in Afghanistan 

longer, to keep them 

here,” Karzai told a gathering 

to mark International Women’s 

Day. 

The Taliban have for years 

demanded the withdrawal of 

foreign forces and have never 

suggested that they wanted 

them to stay. 

Karzai has a history of 

making inflammatory remarks, 

particularly railing 

against the United States with 

which he has an uneasy relationship. 

The issue of US troop levels 

after most US-led Nato 

combat troops withdraw by 

the end of 2014 will be one of 

the main subjects on the agenda 

at talks between Karzai and 

KARZAI speaks at a gathering of women to mark 

International Women's Day in Kabul yesterday. — AFP 

US Defence Secretary Chuck 

Hagel, who is in Afghanistan 

to visit US troops. 

A joint news conference 

that had been scheduled for 

them was cancelled because 

of security worries, a US official 

said. 

Karzai also said the Taliban 

and the United States had 

been holding talks in Qatar on 

a “daily basis”, but the militant 

group and Washington 

denied they had resumed efforts 

on dialogue that stalled a 

year ago. 

The US government has 

said it remained committed 

to political reconciliation 

involving talks with the 

Taliban but progress would 

require agreement between 

the Afghan government and 

the insurgents. 

“This is simply incorrect,” 

said a US official, who declined 

to be identified, when 

asked about Karzai’s remarks 

about the talks. 

The Taliban spokesman 

in Afghanistan, Zabihullah 

Mujahid, also denied that 

negotiations with the United 

States had resumed and said 

no progress had been made 

since they were suspended. 

“The Taliban strongly rejects 

Karzai’s comments,” he 

said. 

The Kabul government 

has been pushing hard to get 

the Taliban to the negotiating 

table before foreign troops 

withdraw. 

Afghan officials have not 

held direct talks with the militants, 

who were toppled in 

2001 and have proven resilient 

after more than a decade 

of war with Western forces. 

US diplomats have been 

seeking to broaden exploratory 

talks with the Taliban 

that began clandestinely in 

Germany in late 2010 after 

the Taliban offered to open 

a representative office in Qatar. 

Regional power Pakistan 

indicated a few months ago 

that it would support the 

peace process by releasing 

Afghan Taliban detainees 

who may help promote the 

peace process. But there have 

been no tangible signs the 

move advanced reconciliation. 

— Reuters

MUMBAI — As the crucial 

budget session of the Maharashtra 

legislature opens here 

today, the opposition is set to 

attack the ruling Congress- 

NCP government on issues 

like the Bhandara assault and 

murder case, drought, and the 

irrigation scam. 

The recent incidents of alleged 

assault-cum-murder 

of three minor sisters in 

Bhandara, the killing of three 

Dalit youths in Ahmednagar 

and growing crimes against 

women will be part of opposition 

charge against the Democratic 

Front government. 

The government will also 

face fire over worsening 

drought situation in the state 

due to faulty and allegedly 

corrupt irrigation planning, 

continuing suicides of farmers 

and crisis in the farm sector. 

The recent clashes between 

activists of the Nationalist 

Congress Party (NCP) and 

Raj Thackeray's Maharash- 

tra Navnirman Sena (MNS) 

would add fuel to the opposition 

fire. 

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit 

Pawar, who is allegedly linked 

to the Rs 70,000 crore irrigation 

scam, has been facing the 

combined attack of the Shiv 

Sena, the Bharatiya Janata 

Party and the MNS weeks before 

the budget session. 

Shiv Sena president Uddhav 

Thackeray on Saturday 

sounded the war bugle in Amravati 

by demanding ‘an account 

of the Rs 70,000 crore’ 

and claimed that his party-led 

alliance would form the next 

government in the state. 

The budget session 2013- 

14, starting here today with an 

address by Governor K Sankaranarayanan 

has assumed added 

significance as it will be the 

last before the next Lok Sabha 

elections, scheduled next year. 

The economic survey for 

the country's most industrialised 

state shall be presented 

HHYDERABAD — A 

showdown is likely between 

authorities of the English 

and Foreign Languages University 

(EFLU) and the students 

today as the latter are 

determined to continue their 

protests over the suicide of a 

Kashmiri student. 

Seeking suspension of the 

proctor and compensation for 

the family of the deceased, 

various student groups are 

planning to continue their 

protests today even as the 

vice-chancellor has threatened 

to call police and even 

shut down the university. 

No classes could be conducted 

during the last week 

with the students continuing 

protests over the suicide of 

Mudassir Kamran on March 

2. The 29-year-old PhD student, 

a native of Pulwama 

district of Kashmir, was 

found hanging in his hostel 

room on the EFLU campus. 

Police initially said the 

on March 19, followed by the 

budget the next day. 

Since January, the state 

has been facing severe water 

crisis, considered even worse 

than the great drought of 1972 

and affecting 6,000 villages 

across the state. 

The immediate fallout has 

been increased rural influx 

into urban areas, which are already 

facing resource crunch. 

According to official data, 

123 talukas spread across 

15 of the state's 35 districts 

are gripped by the current 

drought-like crisis, with three 

months more to go for the 

monsoon. 

The central government 

has extended a relief package 

of Rs 5.74 billion, but political 

parties have demanded more 

to help tide over the crisis. 

On the irrigation scam 

front, the opposition has reservations 

over the nature of 

the probe announced at the 

fag end of the winter session 

mental depression due to 

quarrel with his roommate 

Vasim Salim drove him to 

suicide but on a complaint by 

some students booked proctor 

Harish Vijra for abetting 

the suicide. 

Three days later, the police 

revealed that Kamran was 

in "love" with his roommate 

and had even made several 

physical advances. Vasim had 

shifted to another room and 

had complained to university 

authorities, police said. 

Students' organisations, 

however, blame the proctor, 

saying he called Kamran "insane" 

and took the issue to 

police instead of solving it in 

the university. 

"Kamran felt humiliated 

as he was called to the police 

station," Srinivas, a classmate 

of the Kashmiri student, said. 

Banners and posters contradicting 

the police claims 

and condemning the attitude 

of university authorities have 

of the legislature in December 

2012 in Nagpur. 

In a letter to Chief Minister 

Prithviraj Chavan, Leader of 

the Opposition in the council 

Vinod Tawde has demanded 

amendments to the terms of 

reference given to the Special 

Investigating Team (SIT) 

probing the irrigation scam. 

One of the points of reference 

says that the executive 

directors of various state irrigation 

corporations shall 

furnish all information and 

facilities required by the SIT 

for its probe. 

The officials heading these 

irrigation corporations are at 

the receiving end of the allegations 

of irregularities along 

with their political masters. 

Tawde's letter came after 

the SIT head and water management 

expert Madhav Chitale 

recently said that it had 

no powers to probe the officials 

involved in the irrigation 

scams. — IANS 

come up on the campus. "Arrest 

and suspend Vijra" is the 

slogan written on one poster. 

Foreign students are also 

supporting the ongoing protest. 

"Our demands are justified. 

The university should 

pay compensation to Kamran's 

family," an Afghan student, 

who did not wish to be 

named, said. 

Vice-Chancellor Sunaina 

Singh has threatened to call 

police to the campus if the 

protests are not stopped from 

today. She has even warned 

the protesters of shutting 

down the university. 

Interestingly, a section of 

teachers have pledged support 

to the agitation and have 

made it clear that they would 

not conduct classes in the 

presence of police. 

The university authorities 

have rejected the demands 

for the proctor's suspension 

and for compensation to 

Kamran's family. — IANS 

8 INDIA 



PEOPLE gather to take a holy dip in the waters of the river Ganges early yesterday on the last day of "Kumbh Mela" in Allahabad. — Reuters 

2-month-long Kumbh festival ends 

ALLAHABAD — The twomonth-long 

Kumbh Mela, a 

religious festival, concluded 

yesterday with nearly two million 

pilgrims taking a dip in 

a river where a reported 120 

million people visited over the 

last 60 days. 

The Kumbh Mela, celebrated 

every 12 years at the 

conjunction of two sacred 

rivers on the outskirts of Allahabad, 

drew massive crowds 

of devotees, ascetics and foreign 

tourists. 

The two-month-long Kumbh 

Mela ended on the occasion 

of Mahashivratri, a major Hindu 

festival celebrated across 

India and Nepal. 

Authorities at the festival 

yesterday said the last batch 

of holy men marked the end of 

the Kumbh by plunging into 

the river Ganges and other 

Maharashtra budget session from today 

Tortoise 

smuggling 

plan foiled 

MUMBAI — An alert security 

staffer at the Mumbai 

International Airport Ltd. 

(MIAL) helped save 97 

tortoises which were being 

smuggled to Bangkok on a 

Thai Airlines flight, an official 

said here yesterday. 

The incident happened 

on Saturday when a Patnabased 

passenger checked-in 

to board Bangkok-bound 

flight at 11:20 pm with one 

hand baggage and another 

registered luggage. 

While screening one of 

the bags of Arif, an MIAL 

security staffer grew suspicious 

and sent it for a physical 

check. As many as 97 

live tortoises of different 

sizes were found concealed 

in eight pouches in the bag. 

The customs and Central 

Industrial Security Force 

officials were alerted. Arif, 

who had already boarded the 

flight, was ordered to alight 

and taken for questioning. 

pilgrims filled the "Ganga Jal" 

(holy water) in plastic bottles 

for ceremonies at home. 

Many saints smeared their 

bodies with ashes and sand, 

chanted final prayers and departed 

from the venue. 

"Over 60 million people attended 

the festival in 2001 and 

this time we believe 120 million 

people have participated," 

festival chief Mani Prasad 

Mishra said late on Saturday. 

The festival involves crowd 

management on a major scale. 

Despite the efforts, it was hit 

by tragedy last month when a 

stampede at a train station in 

Allahabad killed 36 people 

who were returning home. 

Assorted dreadlocked, 

holy men, priests and self-proclaimed 

saints from all over 

the country assembled for the 

spectacle. 

Despite the hardships of 

waking early, plunging into 

the polluted river water and the 

relentless crush of the crowds, 

pilgrims from all over the 

world described feeling spiritually 

uplifted and amazed by 

the scale of the event. 

"There is a sense of relief 

because the festival finally is 

coming to an end. Most of the 

pilgrims have returned back 

home," said Mishra. 

He said the job of dismantling 

the infrastructure that 

sprawled over 5,000 acres to 

house the pilgrims had already 

begun. 

"We built a tent city to celebrate 

the Kumbh Mela and 

now we are tearing it down," 

he said. 

Mishra said five electrical 

sub-stations and tens of 

thousands of streetlights that 

gave the city its yellow glow 

between dusk and dawn would 

be removed. 

All police stations, mobile 

field hospitals, fire stations, 

shops, and cafes were now 

shut and more than 35,000 

makeshift toilets had been removed, 

he said. 

The Kumbh Mela has its 

origins in Hindu mythology, 

which describes how a few 

drops of the nectar of immortality 

fell on the four places 

that host the festival — Allahabad, 

Nashik, Ujjain and 

Haridwar. 

The "Mother Ganges" is 

worshipped as a god and is 

seen as the giver and taker of 

life. In many cases, pilgrims 

used up all their money to 

come to the Kumbh Mela, 

hoping that their prayers could 

come true. — AFP 

Kashmiri student’s suicide: EFLU 

students to continue protests 

Tripura 

Congress 

sacks leader 

AGARTALA — Former 

minister Jahar Saha was 

expelled yesterday from the 

Congress for six years after 

he blasted the state leadership 

for losing the assembly 

elections to the Marxists. 

Saha was denied party 

ticket in the February 14 

election. The Congress won 

only 10 of the 60 seats in the 

state. The ruling Communist 

Party of India-Marxist retained 

power for a seventh 

time winning 50 seats. 

"Saha has been expelled 

for speaking against the state 

leadership, raising questions 

about their integrity," state 

Congress General Secretary 

Ashish Saha told reporters. 

Probe sought 

as youth 

jumps off 

building 

KOLKATA — A mentally 

challenged youth fell to his 

death after climbing atop a 

building in West Bengal, police 

said yesterday. 

Following allegations that 

the youth died due to "faulty" 

rescue efforts, a probe has 

been ordered. 

"We have received complaints 

that a water cannon 

was used while trying to 

bring him down. Unfortunately, 

he fell down and died. 

I have ordered the director 

general (fire) to conduct an 

inquiry into the incident," 

Fire Services Minister Javed 

Khan said. 

The youth climbed atop 

a residential building in Purulia 

town, some 250 km 

from here, and started pelting 

stones at passersby late Saturday. 

After attempts by family 

members failed, they informed 

the police. — IANS 

Kerala party leaders, 

crowds greet Madaani 

KOLLAM (Kerala) — Traffic 

stopped, crowds went delirious 

and Kerala politicians 

shook hands with Abdul Nasser 

Madaani as the jailed leader 

out on bail arrived here to attend 

his daughter's wedding 

solemnised yesterday. 

The People's Democratic 

Party leader, under custody 

in Karnataka for his alleged 

involvement in the 2008 Bangalore 

bomb blasts, was given 

parole to attend the "nikah". 

Traffic on the main road 

outside a hall where the event 

took place was blocked for an 

hour. It took 15 minutes for 

Madaani to alight from the 

van and reach the podium at 

the venue. 

Kerala's top politicians exchanged 

greetings with him. 

Leading from the front was 

CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi 

Vijayan, who sat to Madaani's 

right side. On his left was Indian 

Union Muslim League's 

Lok Sabha member E T Mohammed 

Basheer. 

BANGALORE — Ahead of 

the Karnataka assembly polls in 

May, political parties, particularly 

the ruling BJP and main 

challenger Congress, will know 

today their hold on the state's 

urban voters as results of the 

urban local bodies poll will be 

out. 

Around 70 per cent of 8.5 

millon voters out of total electorate 

of more than 40 million 

had voted on Thursday to elect 

207 urban local bodies. Though 

voting was scheduled for 208 

local bodies, polling did not 

take place in one because of 

boycott by the people demanding 

various facilities for the 

area, according to the state election 

commission. 

A good showing in the poll is 

KOLKATA — Firing a fresh 

salvo at the State Election 

Commission, West Bengal's 

ruling Trinamool Congress 

yesterday accused its chief of 

favouring the Left Front and 

deliberately trying to defer the 

upcoming rural polls to save it 

from "an inevitable defeat". 

"The state government had 

made all preparations for the 

panchayat (rural body) polls 

in February, but for some unexplained 

reasons and beyond 

our comprehension, the state 

election commission deferred 

the polls from February," Trinamool 

Lgeneral Secretary 

Mukul Roy told the media 

here. 

The Trinamool and the 

state poll panel, which conducts 

the elections to local 

bodies like the panchayats 

and the civic bodies, have for 

months locked horns over the 

panchayat polls. 

While the commission 

wants a three-phase voting 

and deployment of central 

paramilitary forces, the state 

Among the others who sat 

with him were Congress MPs 

M I Shahnawaz and Peethamabara 

Kurup, Kerala legislators 

C Divakaran, Thomas 

Issac, Varkala Kahar, and Left 

Democratic Front convenor 

Vaikom Viswan. 

When the groom, dressed 

in a black suit, came up to the 

dais, there was a huge cheer as 

he paid his respect to Madaani. 

Karnataka police officials 

accompanying Madaani were 

seen speaking to him when he 

took the mike to address the 

gathering. 

Dressed in his customary 

black cap and sun glasses with 

his thick salt and pepper beard 

intact, Madaani began the religious 

function with a small 

prayer. 

"All of you know that I am 

unable to deliver a speech," he 

said. "When I sit in the darkness 

of the jail, the one thing 

that keeps me going is the love 

and affection I get from Kerala 

of particular importance to the 

Bharatiya Janata Party to boost 

its morale to face the assembly 

elections as the party's image 

stands battered by corruption 

scandals and dissidence. 

While no scandal has broken 

out after Jagadish Shettar 

became the BJP's third chief 

minister in over four years last 

July, there is no end to disunity 

in the state unit. 

This is the first major election 

the party faced after coming 

to power in the state for the 

first time in May 2008. 

In the last urban local bodies 

poll held in 2007, the Congress 

was the biggest winner followed 

by the Janata Dal-Secular 

(JD-S) with the BJP taking 

the third spot. 

‘WB state poll panel chief 

favouring Left Front’ 

government is pitching for a 

two-phase poll by pressing 

into service only the state police 

personnel. 

Maintaining that it was the 

constitutional right of the state 

government to not only notify 

the rural polls but also fix the 

schedule, Roy accused state 

Chief Election Commissioner 

Meera Pandey of favouring 

the Left Front during whose 

regime she was appointed to 

the post. 

"She (Pandey) was appointed 

in 2010 during the 

rule of the Left Front, which 

had recommended her to the 

post. It now seems she is taking 

all the measures to save 

them from an inevitable loss 

in the polls," he said. 

"The state government will 

notify the polls as also fixing 

the date. There are no two 

ways about this," added Roy 

quoting the Constitution. 

— IANS 

cutting across religions. 

"I know that when I suffer, 

I am aware that there are so 

many others who suffer more 

than me." 

He added: "I take this 

opportunity to thank Chief 

Minister Oommen Chandy 

and opposition leader V S 

Achuthanandan for their efforts 

to see that I get permission 

to attend my daughter's 

'nikah'." 

Madaani was given parole 

till March 13 by a court in 

Bangalore to attend the wedding. 

He was told not to speak 

to the media or his supporters. 

He arrived here on Saturday 

night from Thiruvananthapuram 

after his departure 

from Bangalore was delayed 

by more than 10 hours. 

Conspicuous by their absence 

were ministers in the 

Chandy cabinet. 

Madaani, also a religious 

leader here, has been in police 

custody in Karnataka since 

August 2010. — IANS 

Karnataka major political leaders 

set to know urban opinion today 

Shettar, who has been declared 

by the BJP as its chief 

ministerial candidate for the assembly 

polls, is confident of his 

party winning a majority of the 

over 4,800 seats for which balloting 

took place on Thursday. 

The Congress claims it will 

win around 60 per cent of the 

seats while the JD-S says it will 

take the first place. 

The Congress has fielded 

the highest number of candidates 

— 4,492, followed by the 

BJP (3,954) and JD-S (3,651). 

Two new outfits — the Karnataka 

Janata Party (KJP) and 

BSR (Badavara Shramikara 

Mattu Raithara or poor, workers 

and farmers) Congress — both 

floated by former BJP men, are 

also in the fray. — IANS 

DEVOTEES carry a cake onto a mini truck, to distribute to the devotees during the Maha Shivaratri festival dedicated 

to the Hindu God Lord Shiva, in Amritsar yesterday. Maha Shivaratri is marked by Hindus through fasting and offering 

prayers in a night long vigil. — AFP 

Odisha BJP 

gets new 

president 

BHUBANESWAR — Senior 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 

leader Kanak Vardhan Singh 

Deo has been appointed as 

the president of the party's 

Odisha unit, the party announced 

here yesterday. 

Singh Deo, 54, is a fourtime 

legislator. He is also 

leader of the BJP in the state 

assembly. He served as a 

cabinet minister twice in the 

Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata 

Dal-BJP alliance government 

from 2000 to 2009. 

BJP president Rajnath 

Singh appointed Singh Deo 

after state party leaders could 

not arrive at a consensus on 

the issue of state leadership, a 

senior party leader said. 

For the past few months, 

a large number of party leaders 

from the state had been 

camping in Delhi, requesting 

the central leadership to 

intervene after the tenure of 

its state president Jual Oram 

ended in December.

JAMMU and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) supporters carry party chief Mohammad Yasin Malik on their 

shoulders as he arrived at his home in Srinagar yesterday. — AFP 

New double-decker train to ply this month 

BANGALORE — The muchawaited 

air-conditioned double-decker 

train linking Bangalore 

and Chennai is set to 

debut this month. 

Indian Railways have 

been operating double-deckers 

on three routes: Howrah- 

Dhanbad; New Delhi-Jaipur 

and Mumbai-Ahmedabad 

since 2011-12. 

The Bangalore-Chennai 

service is expected to lure 

more passengers to take the 

train, rather than ride a bus 

on the 360-km route. The trip 

will take six hours. 

"The double-decker train 

is on trial run for a fortnight, 

and its operations are being 

Police to 

summon 

boxer over 

drugs haul 

NEW DELHI — Police 

said yesterday they will 

question Olympic bronzemedallist 

boxer Vijender 

Singh over alleged links 

to a man who was arrested 

after heroin worth $24 million 

was seized from his 

house. 

Police said the arrested 

man had named Vijender 

and fellow boxer Ram 

Singh, both unrelated, as 

his "clients". 

"It is crucial for us to 

question Vijender Singh 

because the peddler has 

named the boxer as his client. 

Even Vijender's friend, 

Ram Singh has told us 

that they were both using 

heroin," senior officer H S 

Mann said. 

Police seized 26 kilograms 

of heroin worth 

Rs1.3 billion ($24 million) 

from the alleged peddler in 

the northern state of Punjab. 

He was arrested along 

with five others, including 

an Indian man based in 

Canada. 

Mann, who heads the 

investigation, said Vijender 

will be summoned next 

week. The star boxer has 

strongly denied links with 

the alleged peddler, slamming 

the "ridiculous charges" 

against him. 

He won a bronze medal 

in the middleweight category 

at the 2008 Beijing 

Games. His achievement 

helped raise boxing's profile 

in India. 

Ram Singh, who is a 

super heavyweight boxer, 

told reporters that both he 

and Vijender had "experimented 

with drugs thinking 

that they were food supplements". 

"We did not know that 

we were taking drugs. We 

were told that we were consuming 

food supplements 

meant to increase strength 

and stamina," he said. 

There have been a 

number of major drug seizures 

in Punjab in recent 

years. A Punjab university 

study in 2011 suggested 

that up to 70 per cent of 

the state's youth were addicted 

to drugs or alcohol. 

— AFP 

fine-tuned in terms of safety, 

speed, halts and other technical 

parameters. Once we get 

statutory clearances, we will 

introduce the service before 

this month-end," Bangalore 

division railway manager A K 

Agarwal said. 

To be operated daily, the 

train will initially have 10 AC 

chair cars and two power cars 

for air-conditioning, lights 

and auxiliary services. 

"Each coach will have 120 

reclining seats, with 50 in the 

upper deck, 48 in the lower 

and 22 in the middle. Being 

a double-decker, it will carry 

42 more passengers in each 

coach as against 78 per coach 

PATNA — Rashtriya Janata 

Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad 

yesterday said he would do 

everything to stop Gujarat 

Chief Minister Narendra Modi 

from becoming the country's 

prime minister. 

"For as long as blood runs 

in my veins, I will not allow 

Modi to become prime min- 

in a Shatabdi," Agarwal said. 

Unlike in Shatabdi, where 

food service is included in the 

fare, passengers in the doubledecker 

will have the choice of 

ordering a-la-carte menu from 

pantry service in each coach 

as in other superfast trains 

like Brindavan Express and 

Lalbagh Express. 

"As the fare to travel in 

double-decker will be same 

(Rs 440) as in AC chair car 

of Brindavan or Lalbagh, we 

are confident of attracting 

more passengers to travel by 

this train than bus or other 

modes of transport," Agarwal 

said. 

With 1,200 seats in the 

ister," Lalu Prasad told the 

media here. The former Bihar 

chief minister vowed to mobilise 

secular forces and other 

like-minded parties to form a 

secular government after the 

2014 Lok Sabha election. 

"How can a politician who 

has created hatred between 

two communities and is re- 

double-decker, the railways 

will not only be able to ferry 

more passengers to Chennai 

or eight other destinations in 

between the two metros, but 

also offer a choice of travelling 

in AC comfort. 

"Though we are operating 

seven mail/express trains, including 

two Shatabdis daily 

between the two cities, we 

are unable to meet the surging 

demand, as evident from 

long waiting-lists, especially 

during the peak season. A 

double-decker will meet the 

shortage and tap the huge potential 

passenger traffic from 

the road sector," Agarwal 

noted. — IANS 

Kerala to probe how Odisha police 

official’s son obtained fake papers 

KANNUR (Kerala) — Rajasthan 

Police may have to wait 

to take custody of Bitti Mohantyconvict 

of sexual assault 

as he is in judicial custody and 

Kerala Police want to question 

him, police said yesterday. 

Kerala's Additional Director 

General of Police N 

Shankar Reddy said that they 

have sought police custody of 

Bitti Mohanty from the court 

which remanded him to 14 

days' judicial custody on Saturday. 

"Bitti Mohanty's crime in 

Kerala is that he used forged 

documents. He studied in a 

college here and then got a job 

in the State Bank of Travancore 

as a probationary officer 

using the alias Raghav Raj 

from Andhra Pradesh. Rajasthan 

Police can take him only 

after we complete our investigation," 

Reddy said. 

Bitti is son of B B Mohanty, 

a former director general 

of police in Odisha. He 

was sentenced to seven years 

imprisonment in 2006 for 

raping a 26-year-old German 

woman in Alwar. He jumped 

parole the same year and had 

been on the run ever since. 

B B Mohanty was accused 

of aiding his son's escape and 

was suspended but later reinstated. 

He retired in 2012. 

Sub-inspector M Anil, who 

arrested Mohanty in Kannur 

in Kerala, said that initially he 

Lalu: Won’t let Modi be PM 

Congress rules out any 

tie-up with Trinamool 

KOLKATA — Ruling out any 

alliance between his party and 

the Trinamool Congress in 

the current political scenario, 

Congress General Secretary 

Oscar Fernandes said here 

yesterday that contrary to 

Trinamool supremo Mamata 

Banerjee's assertion, the UPA 

government would complete 

its term. 

"We have enough MPs. 

So I don't think there is any 

possibility of the next general 

elections being held in the 

next two-three months. 

"We will complete our 

term. Our term will expire 

only in the month of May 

2014. And then only the 

next round of elections will 

be held," Fernandes told reporters 

at the state Congress 

headquarters Vidhan Bhawan. 

Two days back Banerjee 

had predicted that the Lok 

Sabha polls would be held 

within the next two-three 

months. 

Ruling out any chance of 

a tie-up with Trinamool now, 

Fernandes said: "If you see 

the present political situation, 

there is no such plan or contingency. 

We cannot see such 

things." 

The Trinamool and the 

Congress had fought the 2009 

Lok Sabha and the 2011 West 

Bengal assembly elections in 

alliance and were partners in 

the central and state governments. 

However, their ties 

snapped — both at the centre 

and in the state — in September 

last year. 

Fernandes also countered 

Banerjee's claim that her party 

will get back the railway 

portfolio, which it held for 28 

months since May 2009. 

"I don't see any such 

possibility now," he added. 

— IANS 

denied he was Bitti Mohanty 

but later accepted his true 

identity. 

"Our job is to investigate 

how he got documents and 

certificates in the name of 

Raghav Raj. Our first job is 

to find out if there is anyone 

called Raghav Raj and if he is 

alive," Anil said. 

Bitti Mohanty was picked 

up by police based on a complaint 

from the head office 

of State Bank of Travancore, 

which asked them to confirm 

his identity. 

He showed police his passport 

and an electoral identity 

card in the name of Raghav 

Raj. — IANS 

sponsible for killing hundreds 

in Gujarat in 2002 become the 

prime minister of a secular 

country like India?" he asked. 

Lalu Prasad insisted that 

Modi's dream of becoming 

prime minister would never 

come true as he did not enjoy 

wide support across India. 

— IANS 

Maha 

Shivratri 

celebrated 

NEW DELHI — Maha 

Shivratri was yesterday celebrated 

as millions offered 

prayers to Lord Shiva and 

many fasted during the day. 

Large crowds began 

thronging Shiva temples in 

all towns, cities and villages 

from early in the morning 

with their offerings. By 

early afternoon, many shops 

across Delhi ran out of milk. 

"Around 8,000 devotees 

have offered prayers to 

Bhole Nath (Lord Shiva) and 

many more will be coming," 

Ravindra Nagar, head priest 

at Birla Mandir in the heart 

of the city, said. 

According to Ramnath 

Tripathy, a priest at the Shiv 

Mandir on Pusa Road, prasad 

made of wheat flour, sugar, 

ghee and dry fruits along 

with fresh fruits was distributed 

to visitors. — IANS 

9 INDIA 



Yasin Malik placed under 

house arrest after return 

SRINAGAR — Jammu and 

Kashmir Liberation Front 

(JKLF) Chairman Muhammad 

Yasin Malik said he was 

placed under house arrest 

yesterday after his arrival in 

Srinagar from a neighbouring 

country. 

A posse of local police 

detained Malik and escorted 

him to his Maisuma residence 

in the city. 

This was the first time 

Malik came to Srinagar after 

the hanging of Afzal Guru 

on February 9 oncharges of 

attack on parliament. 

In Pakistan to visit his 

wife and daughter, he had 

been caught up in controversy 

following the presence of 

Jamaat-ud-Dawa and 26/11 

attack accused chief Hafiz 

Muhammad Saeed at a JKLF 

function in Pakistan which 

Malik also had attended. 

CAMBRIDGE (Massachusetts) 

— How to involve the 

massive middle class and its 

rich and hefty diaspora in 

the country's growth story? 

Where to find a place for thusfar-marginalised 

rural India in 

its growth narrative? How to 

drive systemic change in education 

and why is the political 

scene so unattractive to its 

young people? 

These were some of the 

questions that panellists grappled 

with on the first day of 

the two-day India Conference, 

the largest student-run Indiafocussed 

conference in the 

US, organised by the students 

of Harvard University. 

NEW DELHI — The Congress party Vice- 

President Rahul Gandhi is gradually expanding 

his role as top leader of the party as it prepares 

for six assembly polls this year and the 2014 

general elections. 

He has started taking over the role of 

his mother and party Chief Sonia Gandhi, 

who used to interact with party MPs during 

parliament sessions. Rahul has met the 

All India Congress Committee functionaries 

and state leaders, including chief ministers, 

over the past few weeks. Officially, he 

heads the party's co-ordination panel for the 

2014 Lok Sabha polls and will lead its poll 

campaign. 

Gandhi, who was made No 2 in the party on 

January 19 at the party's 'chintan shivir' strategy 

session at Jaipur, is expected to announce the 

much-awaited organisational reshuffle soon. 

He chose not to rush with the changes and has 

since been hearing party leaders from across the 

country on what ails the organisation and what 

needs to be done to strengthen it. He recently 

said his main priority is to strengthen and democratise 

party and not be the prime ministerial 

candidate, that his party wants him to be. 

"Rahul is assessing the state-wise opportunities 

as he has realised the reality of coalitions 

in Indian politics," political commentator 

N Bhaskara Rao said, adding, "He is preparing 

the leaders for the future." 

"The discussions helped the leaders understand 

the problems of different states and get a 

national perspective," a Congress general secretary 

said, not wishing to be named as he was 

Speaking to media persons 

at his home, Malik 

clarified that he had been to 

Pakistan on a personal visit 

to meet his wife and daughter. 

"I was in Pakistan when I 

learnt about Afzal's hanging 

in Tihar jail. Afzal's hanging 

was the murder of justice 

and the judicial process. I 

sat on a 24-hour-long hunger 

strike to attract international 

attention towards the 

plight of Kashmiris and the 

denial of a fair trial to Afzal 

Guru." 

"During a JKLF function, 

which was attended by many 

people, Hafeez Muhammad 

Saeed also came there," he 

said saying that the presence 

of Saeed's was highlighted 

in order to divert world attention 

from what was happenings 

within Kashmir. 

Now in its tenth year, the 

conference with the theme 

of India vs India — Local 

Strength or Global Growth? 

was attended on the first day 

by 22 speakers. 

The theme refers to the decision 

to embrace the country's 

complexity rather than oversimplifying 

the hackneyed 

‘growth story’, according to 

the organisers. 

Focusing on government 

and development issues on Saturday 

at the Harvard Kennedy 

School in Cambridge, panellists 

alluded again and again to 

the reality of the many stories. 

There was the economist's 

story of India, the politician's, 

Malik also said that if the 

authorities had decided to 

arrest him in Delhi after his 

arrival from Pakistan, there 

would have been nothing 

new in that. 

"There is hardly a prison 

in India where I have not 

been detained in," he said. 

Revocation of AF- 

SPA: The patron of the main 

opposition Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP) in Jammu 

and Kashmir Mufti Mohammad 

Sayeed yesterday asked 

for the repeal of the Armed 

Forces Special Powers Act 

(AFSPA) from the state. 

"The government of India 

cannot escape its primary 

duty towards the people 

of the state without further 

complicating the problems. 

Removal of AFSPA and 

complete restoration of dem- 

the student's, and, bit by bit, 

a more multilayered narrative 

Indian story than any of these. 

The nature of complex 

problems and challenges were 

described in great detail by 

each of the conference's four 

keynotes on Saturday. Ashok 

Alexander, formerly country 

director of the Bill and Melinda 

Gates Foundation, spoke 

about the need to rise above the 

standard reaction of paralysis. 

Arun Singh, Deputy Chief 

of mission at the Indian embassy 

in Washington, mentioned 

the many colours of India and 

the difficulty they pose when 

viewed through the lens of US 

co-operation, but closed on a 

not an authorised spokesperson of the party. 

So far he has met MPs from Delhi, Chhattisgarh, 

Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan, 

where assembly polls are due later this 

year, besides those from Tamil Nadu, Haryana 

and Goa during the ongoing budget session. 

Interactions with other states will follow, party 

leaders said. 

"He heard the leaders patiently and told 

them not to feel insecure during ticket distribution 

if they followed the rules," a Congress MP 

from Rajasthan said. 

During another interaction with leaders of 

the faction-ridden Haryana Congress, Gandhi 

firmly told them not to criticise Chief Minister 

Bhupinder Singh Hooda in public as it exposed 

chinks in the party ranks. 

Party insiders said the interactive sessions 

have been a reality check for Rahul Gandhi, 

who told the senior leaders to strengthen party 

units down to the booth level and bridge their 

communication gap with the local workers to 

brace up for future challenges. 

"He told Madhya Pradesh leaders that 

they were fighting the BJP as a party and not 

the faces that represent it," a Madhya Pradesh 

MP said. This was after state Congress leaders 

raised the issue of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh 

Chouhan's publicity drive. 

Significantly, Rahul Gandhi has not confined 

himself to discussions in Delhi alone. He 

has been travelling across the country after becoming 

vice president and recently met workers 

and leaders of Odisha and Uttarakhand, as 

also Mumbai. — IANS 

ocratic institutions and spirit 

are the first essential steps in 

resolution of the problem," 

he said. 

Former Jammu and Kashmir 

chief minister Sayeed 

underlined "continuing the 

law to operate in the changed 

circumstances when the 

militancy is substantially 

reduced and people have 

overwhelmingly participated 

in democratic process is a 

hurdle in complete normalcy 

and a setback to the peace 

process". 

Referring to latest incidents 

of protests, violence 

and clashes in the Kashmir 

valley post Afzal Guru's 

hanging on February 9, Sayeed 

said: "The government 

is trying to terrorise people 

into silence. All norms of decency 

have been violated." 

— IANS 

Complex growth story under scanner 

Rahul expanding influence, 

taking over mother’s role 

hopeful note, touching briefly 

on the portfolio of internationally 

cooperative research 

achieved nonetheless. 

Ajay Maken, Minister of 

Housing and Urban Poverty 

Alleviation, talked about how 

the policy-makers took a decade 

to accept that urbanisation 

is inevitable, but today everybody 

understands that urbanisation 

is actually desirable. 

Sam Pitroda, adviser to the 

prime minister on public information 

infrastructure, spoke 

about radicalising democracy 

through making information 

more radically available to 

a new generation of Indians. 

— IANS 

Biggest 

shopping 

mall unveiled 

By Ashraf Padanna 

KOCHI — India's largest 

shopping mall, promoted by 

Dubai-based EMKE group 

was unveiled in this Kerala 

port city yesterday offering 

"unmatched shopping experience 

for the first time in the 

region" and huge tax revenue 

to the regional government. 

LuLu Mall, spread over 

l2.5 million square-feet builtup 

space in the busiest centre 

of the city, was inaugurated 

by Chief Minister Oommen 

Chandy in the presence of 

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Saleh, 

the UAE's deputy minister 

of foreign trade and several 

federal and state ministers. 

Overseas Indian Affairs 

Minister Vayalar Ravi and 

former chief minister V S 

Achuthanandan cut a cake 

to mark the occasion. Federal 

food minister Prof K V 

Thomas launched the LuLu 

loyalty card, industries and 

information technology 

minister P K Kunhalikutty 

the mall's website and TKA 

Nair, advisor to Prime Minister 

Dr Manmohan Singh a 

small guide. 

A SIKH man holds a snake in a procession during a religious festival in Amritsar yesterday. — AFP

10 ANALYSIS 



A DELEGATE is photographed as she arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. — AFP 

A major shift in stance 

By Sui-Lee Wee 

SIX months ago China’s state 

media was lauding North Korea 

as a great place to invest as both 

countries tried to promote a cross-border 

economic zone. 

One nuclear test, a long-range 

rocket launch and much sabre-rattling 

later and China is a central player in 

new UN sanctions against Pyongyang, 

something Chinese experts say marks 

a major shift in Beijing’s policy towards 

its neighbour. 

At the same time, Chinese newspapers 

have been calling North Korea 

an ungrateful and unreliable liability. 

Businessmen and officials charged 

with building commercial ties don’t 

even want to talk about the country. 

No one is suggesting China will 

abandon the regime of leader Kim 

Jong-un or even implement the new 

sanctions to the letter, but a relationship 

once regarded “as close as lips 

and teeth” is on thin ice as China’s 

frustration grows. 

“I think it’s remarkable and identifiable, 

the change in China’s policy 

towards the Korean peninsula,” said 

Zhu Feng, director of the International 

Security Programme at the elite Peking 

University. 

Zhu said China was now putting its 

hopes on diplomatic coercion to get 

North Korea to change its behaviour. 

“Beijing has ultimately woken up 

to reality ... At the UN Security Council, 

Beijing very noticeably shifted to a 

By Hezron Ochiel 

STRONGHOLDS of defeated presidential candidate 

Raila Odinga were peaceful yesterday, 

apparently reflecting a desire by Kenyans to 

avoid a repeat of the bloodshed that followed the last 

election five years ago. 

Odinga has refused to concede the election to rival 

Uhuru Kenyatta, but said he would challenge the 

result in the courts and urged his supporters to refrain 

from the violence that convulsed Kenya when 

he lost the disputed vote of 2007. 

A smooth handover of power this time around is 

seen as critical to restoring Kenya’s reputation as a 

stable democracy and safe investment destination 

— an image that was shattered by the mayhem that 

followed the last election. 

In Kisumu, the biggest city in Odinga’s tribal 

heartland, business owners yesterday made plans 

for a full resumption of trading after many had run 

down their stocks in the run-up to the vote because 

of fears of unrest and looting. 

“Look, I’m preparing a budget to order more 

stock tomorrow. There is calm and no more fear of 

losing property,” hardware store owner Linus Omog 

said. Nestled on the shores of Lake Victoria in the 

west of Kenya, Kisumu was a flashpoint in the postelection 

violence five years ago that left more than 

1,200 people dead, hundreds of thousands uprooted 

from their homes and properties destroyed. 

From Lake Victoria’s lush banks to Kenya’s Indian 

Ocean coastline, Kenyans from across the political 

divide said lessons had been learned in a country 

where political support tends to derive from ethnic 

identity rather than ideology. 

“The Kenyan people have grown up and realised 

that politics is just politics,” said IT worker Timothy 

Kamau in the port city of Mombasa. “We just want 

to get on with things.” 

Kenyatta avoided a run-off vote by a razor-thin 

margin, just edging above the 50 per cent-mark, 

Chinese newspapers 

have been calling North 

Korea an ungrateful and 

unreliable liability and even 

businessmen don’t want to 

talk about that country 

harder policy to get North Korea very 

badly hurt.” 

China has backed previous sanctions 

against North Korea’s nuclear 

and ballistic missile programmes. 

China also officially says it does not 

believe sanctions will resolve the latest 

crisis over North Korea, a position 

repeated by Foreign Minister Yang 

Jiechi on Saturday. 

But after North Korea’s third nuclear 

test, on February 12, China 

negotiated the new sanctions with 

Washington and said it wanted them 

implemented fully. The measures, 

announced last Thursday, tighten financial 

curbs on North Korea, order 

mandatory checks of suspicious cargo 

and strengthen a ban on luxury goods 

entering the country. 

An exasperated China appears to 

have run out of patience after years of 

trying to coax Pyongyang out of isolation 

and to embrace economic reform. 

To top it off, Kim Jong-un has 

failed to pay fealty to China, as his 

father and grandfather did. He has not 

visited China since taking over when 

his father Kim Jong-il died at the end 

of 2011. Even the modicum of affection 

Chinese used to feel towards 

North Koreans, brothers-in-arms during 

the 1950-53 Korean War, has all 

but vanished, the country and its leader 

becoming an object of derision and 

incomprehension, especially as China 

powers ahead economically. 

The Global Times, an influential 

tabloid published by Communist Party 

mouthpiece the People’s Daily, has 

meaning he won outright. The tiny margin was 

enough to raise concerns that Odinga supporters 

could take to the streets, even though Kenyatta was 

more than 800,000 votes ahead of his rival. 

Western nations now face a diplomatic dilemma 

about how to deal with a president who is indicted 

for crimes against humanity, but will be relieved by 

a calm vote in a nation they view as vital to regional 

stability and an ally in the fight against violence in 

the Horn of Africa. 

Television channels filled the airwaves with music 

videos and gospel prayer, signs of a regular yesterday 

morning and signalling that the nation wants 

a swift return to normal after the back-to-back election 

coverage and appeals by presenters for Kenyans 

to accept the outcome calmly. 

Odinga said that the election was “tainted”, an 

echo of his claims that the 2007 vote he lost to the 

now-outgoing president, Mwai Kibaki, was stolen. 

But he also said he would fight it in the courts, not 

on the streets. 

Five years ago Odinga called for peaceful mass 

action from supporters because he did not trust the 

called for China to cut North Korea off 

completely. It warned last Friday that 

Pyongyang should not underestimate 

China’s anger. 

“The ‘friendship’ between China 

and North Korea ... obviously cannot 

be decided by Pyongyang’s temper,” 

the widely read newspaper wrote in an 

editorial. Back in August, an editorial 

by a Chinese Commerce Ministry official 

in the People’s Daily said China 

needed to encourage and support its 

companies to invest in North Korea. 

The China Daily cited another official 

as praising North’s growth prospects. 

At this month’s annual meeting 

of China’s largely rubber stamp parliament, 

Chinese with North Korea 

links wanted to talk about anything 

but North Korea. A question from a 

reporter at a news conference by officials 

from Jilin province, which 

borders North Korea and does a lot of 

business with the country including 

trying to develop the Rason economic 

zone, caused consternation. 

Asked if the central government 

had ordered Jilin to reduce trade and 

investment with North Korea in the 

wake of the February 12 nuclear test, 

officials looked flustered and finally 

asked a low-ranking bureaucrat to answer. 

“Regarding international trade, 

I haven’t noticed anything in particular. 

As for the next step, the Chinese 

government has already expressed its 

attitude on this issue. I’ll leave my response 

at that,” said an ethnic Korean 

legislator from part of Jilin. 

Strong desire for peace 

A smooth handover of power this 

time in Kenya is seen as critical in 

restoring the country’s reputation 

as a stable democracy, an image 

that was shattered by the violence 

following last elections 

courts to be fair. But a new constitution was a cornerstone 

of a deal brokered by former UN chief Kofi 

Annan to end the 2007/08 post-election violence and 

has built public confidence in the courts. 

Odinga said on Saturday his CORD alliance and 

most Kenyans had faith in a reformed judiciary and 

he would accept the Supreme Court’s ruling on his 

petition. His comments quickly defused tensions in 

Kisumu and elsewhere. 

“We believe in our leader Raila Odinga and 

now that he has instructed us to remain calm, we 

will honour him. We will wait for a court verdict, 

we trust our reformed judiciary,” shopkeeper Nick 

Ogolla said shortly after Odinga’s statement. 

Meanwhile, Kenya’s press called for reconciliation 

between the winners and losers in the presidential 

election, but calm prevailed in the country the 

day after results were declared, in striking contrast 

to the aftermath of the 2007 polls. 

“The country is split right down the middle on 

tribal and economic lines,” the Standard said in an 

editorial, calling on president-elect Uhuru Kenya to 

mend the divisions. 

Bonus restriction 

on British banks 

NEWSLETTER By Andy Jalil, Foreign Correspondent 

THOSE who have long 

been against Britain 

remaining a member 

of the European Union 

(EU) must get increasingly 

impatient waiting for the 

referendum on membership 

which Prime Minister David 

Cameron, has hesitatingly 

agreed to hold after 2015 

if the Conservatives are reelected 

to power. 

Among the various 

restrictions and guidelines 

imposed by the EU which 

affect the UK, is the EU’s 

planned bonus cap for 

bankers but affecting various 

financial institutions such as, 

asset management, brokers, 

corporate financiers and 

many others. 

It is being seen as EU’s 

attempt to seize ever more 

power, this time in the name 

of “financial stability.” 

Opposing the restrictions, 

Chancellor George Osborne 

lost his fight to stop the plan, 

being outvoted at a summit 

of finance ministers last 

week when he was unable to 

convince any of the other 26 

states the cap is a bad idea. 

It marks an unprecedented 

development in the UK’s 

relationship with the EU 

over financial services. 

Spokesman for the Treasury 

as well as officials in the 

financial district of London 

have said that the new 

rules being brought in by 

the EU are likely to apply 

to 2,700 firms covered 

by the Financial Services 

Authority’s remuneration 

code which is a huge increase 

on the initial plans to target 

just the banks. 

With grabbing increasing 

power, the HQ in Brussels 

wants the pay controls to 

cover European finance 

companies’ staff across the 

world, not just those in the 

European Union. 

For Britain it will mean 

the restriction will be a 

blow to financial firms’ 

competitiveness, leaving 

them struggling to attract 

top-class workers when other 

emerging market companies 

and America will be able to 

pay more generous bonuses. 

Senior staff at the 

companies affected is already 

subject to strict rules that 

ensure most of their bonus 

is paid in shares, most 

of it deferred, and stops 

guarantees of future bonuses 

given to make sure pay is 

based on performance. 

The new plans will see 

CAMERON has hesitatingly agreed to hold referendum. 

bonuses capped at the level 

of salaries, unless a supermajority 

of shareholders 

votes to double that cap. 

Bankers feel the cap will 

push up salaries as bonuses 

fall, reducing lenders’ 

flexibility and stability in any 

future crisis that may arise. 

“The wide group of 

firms caught have very 

different business models, 

risk profiles, growth and 

revenue numbers. However, 

it seems the cap is built 

specifically for banks and we 

are therefore worried about 

unintended consequences,” 

said a senior figure in 

London’s financial centre. 

He added: “We strongly 

suspect that the Europeans 

have not considered the 

impact of the cap on nonbanks, 

let alone done a 

proper cost/benefit analysis. 

This will lead to dramatically 

higher base salaries, less 

flexibility and ultimately a 

divergence of the interests of 

employees and shareholders.” 

Before a vote by the EU 

countries takes place later 

this month, the plan will 

see further negotiation, but 

Britain has no veto and is 

unlikely to gain any ground 

on bonuses. “However, 

the Mayor of London, 

Boris Johnson, in a furious 

response to the plan said that 

it “is a vengeful and selfdefeating 

attempt to pick on 

London (the financial hub).” 

Johnson put himself 

at odds with Osborne by 

calling on the chancellor to 

invoke little-used European 

rules to delay the proposal. 

The so-called Luxembourg 

compromise can be deployed 

to stop a country being 

outvoted on a matter of 

major national interest. But 

the Treasury has indicated 

that the rule is unlikely to be 

invoked as it is little-used. 

Bank of England 

governor, Sir Mervyn King 

also opposed the EU’s bank 

bonus cap as a huge waste of 

time. He said it would force 

regulators to spend “vast 

amounts of time” monitoring 

individual pay packages 

when the real need was to 

tackle serious structural 

problems in the banking 

industry. 

Speaking to the 

Parliamentary Commission 

on Banking Standards, Sir 

Mervyn said that the finance 

industry will be badly 

damaged by the plan to cap 

bonuses at 100 per cent of 

salary, or a maximum 200 per 

cent after a shareholder vote. 

He forecast that 

bankers would use their 

“imagination” to find ways 

around the cap. 

“I guess this is one of 

those measures that will 

neither have the intended 

effects which its proponents 

believe, nor will it be as 

damaging as its detractors 

fear. The risk is it will simply 

deflect attention away from 

what are the real issues.” he 

said. 

A SUPPORTER of Uhuru Kenyatta cheers in Nairobi. — Reuters

By Alvise Armellini 

THE new pope will be expected to 

have energy, tough management 

skills, a willingness to shake up the 

scandal-tainted administration of the Catholic 

Church, and world-class charisma, 

Vatican experts say. 

The New York Times has quipped that a 

“Pope Rambo I” would be the ticket. 

Outgoing pope Benedict XVI, a distinguished 

theological scholar, was seen as a 

strong intellectual and spiritual leader, but a 

poor manager of everyday affairs. He also 

lacked the popular touch of his predecessor 

John Paul II. 

Last month, the German-born Joseph 

Ratzinger became the first pope in 600 

years to leave office. Explaining his shock 

resignation, he said the world’s 1.2 billion 

Catholics needed a stronger leader. 

“Both strength of mind and body are 

necessary, strength which in the last few 

months has deteriorated in me to the extent 

that I have had to recognise my incapacity,” 

Benedict said on February 11. 

When he was elected in 2005, at 78, 

Ratzinger was the oldest man to rise to the 

papacy since Clement XII in the 18th century. 

This time, cardinals want to go for 

someone younger. 

Benedict’s successor “should be aged 

between 60 and 67,” South African Cardinal 

Wilfrid Fox Napier told the La Stampa 

newspaper, effectively striking off from the 

list of contenders 94 of the 115 cardinals 

that are due to sit in the conclave. 

A pope with a longer life expectancy 

would be able to launch a more sustained 

attack on the Church’s discredited governing 

machine. 

Last year the VatiLeaks affair — the 

leaking of confidential papal papers — exposed 

internal alleged power struggles and 

instances of financial impropriety, raising 

concern that under Ratzinger the Roman 

Curia, the Church’s government body, fell 

in disarray. 

Famiglia Cristiana, a progressive 

Catholic weekly, has urged the new pope to 

make away with the Institute of Religious 

Works (IOR), the Vatican’s bank, which has 

repeatedly been embroiled in money laundering 

allegations. 

That may be too radical a solution, but 

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi 

did acknowledge that “improving the 

work of the Curia” was one of the themes 

discussed by cardinals during their pre-conclave 

General Congregations. 

There is also pressure from cardinals 

from the US and elsewhere in the world to 

decentralise the Church’s structure, giving 

11 ANALYSIS 



Needed: A strong pope to tackle scandals 

more say to bishops from regions where 

Catholicism is on the rise, such as Latin 

America and Africa. 

“A community of more than 1 billion 

people cannot be governed like an absolute 

monarchy,” says Marco Politi, a veteran 

Vatican correspondent who writes for Italian 

newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano. 

Regardless of who is elected pope, the 

Catholic Church is unlikely to dramatically 

alter its conservative views on issues like 

marriage, women’s ordination, clerical celi- 

A GENERAL view of the port in Nuuk, Greenland — Reuters 

Mining rights, the central issue 

By Lennart Simonsson 

GREENLAND voters go to the 

polls tomorrow amid high 

interest in the Arctic island’s 

untapped mineral riches that could 

one day finance its independence 

from Demark. 

The parliamentary vote in selfruling 

Greenland has been dubbed a 

referendum on how to exploit the resources 

now being opened up by the 

effects of climate change. 

Receding sea ice and melting glaciers 

offer opportunities to tap into 

potential reserves of oil, natural gas 

and minerals, and foreign companies 

are flocking to Greenland. 

At the same time, the warming 

seas have impacted shrimp and halibut 

fishing, so far the economic mainstays 

for the population of 57,000 living 

on the vast island. 

Greenland’s Premier Kuupik 

Kleist recently told reporters in the 

Danish capital Copenhagen that the 

fish “stocks are moving north” to 

cooler waters as the sea warms. 

Politicians in Greenland and many 

economists say there is a need to diversify 

the economy and generate 

new jobs. 

Kleist said “the obvious opportunities 

are in the sector of mineral resources, 

but we are eager to establish 

any kind of new activities” to spur the 

economy. 

Greenland gained more say over its 

affairs in 2009, the year after voters approved 

enhanced self-rule. Denmark 

remains in charge of foreign affairs, 

defence and the monetary system. 

Aside from its fisheries revenue, 

Greenland relies on a package of 

Danish subsidies, known as the block 

grant, worth about 3.2 billion kroner 

($ 558 million) a year. 

The parliamentary 

vote in self-ruling 

Greenland has 

been dubbed a 

referendum on 

how to exploit the 

resources now 

being opened up 

by the effects of 

climate change 

Now many hope that a minerals 

boom will mean income from royalties 

and corporate taxes could over 

time replace the Danish subsidies and 

secure autonomy. 

Over 50 companies are registered 

in Greenland to prospect for minerals, 

including gold, iron ore and rare earth 

minerals, as well as oil and gas, Danish 

daily Information reported. 

One theme in the election campaign 

has been when to charge royalties 

for mining companies. 

Kleist’s left-leaning party Inuit 

Ataqatigiit (IA) has said it wanted to 

wait, fearing such a move could deter 

investors. 

Other parties, including the main 

THE dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica is seen at the Vatican. — Reuters 

opposition party, Siumut, favour a 

speedier introduction. 

A survey of 796 people polled on 

March 2-3 suggested a tight race between 

Kleist’s IA and Siumut in the 

31-seat legislature. 

The poll, published in Friday’s edition 

of Greenland weekly Sermitsiaq, 

suggested IA would get 13 seats, one 

less than in 2009. 

That put Kleist’s party just one seat 

ahead of Siumut, which traditionally 

has dominated Greenland politics. 

Support for Kleist’s two coalition 

partners, the Democrats and Kattusseqatigiit, 

also dropped, the survey said. 

But about a fourth of voters were still 

undecided, the weekly said. 

To help the economy, Siumut’s 

female leader Aleqa Hammond, a 

former finance minister, has also 

urged that more of Greenland’s fish 

catches be processed there. 

But it is mining which promises the 

really big returns — including in rare 

earth metals, used in products from 

wind turbines and hybrid car batteries 

to laptops and smart phones. 

Promising finds have been reported 

by, among others, the Australianbased 

Greenland Mineral and Energy. 

Exploiting the potential finds requires 

major investments in infrastructure, 

and also the import of foreign 

labour. 

Legislation adopted by Greenland’s 

parliament, Inatsisartut, in 

December stipulated terms for largescale 

mining projects. 

Critics have voiced concern that 

the bill allows foreign workers to receive 

lower wages than those usually 

offered in Greenland. 

Kleist has said the bill secured 

sufficient protection for workers and 

was in line with international conventions. 

A first test will likely be an iron 

ore mine about 150 kms north-east of 

Greenland’s capital, Nuuk. 

London Mining Group, mainly 

financed by China, plans to deploy 

several thousand Chinese workers to 

construct the mine when all permits 

are granted. 

Greenland’s prime minister recently 

warned the European Union he 

could scrap a preliminary deal intended 

to safeguard the bloc’s access to 

his country’s huge mineral resources, 

saying Brussels has failed to follow 

through. 

“I don’t understand the behaviour 

of the (European) Commission,” 

leftist Kuupik Kleist said in his office 

over looking snow-capped hills 

around the capital Nuuk. 

Kleist’s comments signal Greenland 

may be increasingly willing to 

play off rival powers from Brussels to 

Beijing that are drawn by its minerals 

as global warming opens up sea 

routes and mining prospects. 

Kleist, who grew up harpooning 

whales from a remote village in 

northern Greenland, faces the general 

election which is widely seen as a 

referendum on his opening up of the 

country to foreign investment, especially 

in minerals and oil. 

To the dismay of many European 

politicians, China has been eyeing investments 

in the former Cold War ally 

of the West, which include iron, zinc 

and the rare earth minerals that are 

crucial for technology products such 

as smart phones. 

EU Vice-President Antonio Tajani 

flew to Greenland last year to sign 

a memorandum of understanding 

(MOU) over its raw materials. Greenland 

has large deposits of 6 of the 14 

raw materials seen as crucial to European 

industry. 

Benedict’s successor 

‘should be aged 

between 60 and 

67,’ South African 

Cardinal Wilfrid Fox 

Napier said, effectively 

striking off from the list 

of 94 contenders of 

the 115 cardinals who 

are due to sit in the 

conclave 

bacy, abortion and euthanasia. 

The successor to the Chair of Saint Peter 

will be expected to continue Ratzinger’s 

work on speaking out against the persecution 

of Christians around the world, confronting 

the mounting wave of secularism 

in Europe, and reaching out to other religions. 

But he would also have to be more inspiring, 

according to Sandro Magister, a 

Vatican expert from L’Espresso weekly. 

He told Italia Oggi, a newspaper, that the 

By Rob Lever 

HOW important were Twitter, Facebook 

and other social media 

in toppling governments in the 

Arab Spring uprisings? 

Amid a fierce debate in academic 

circles, an upcoming book argues that 

social media and new technology made 

a key difference in successful uprisings 

in Tunisia and Egypt and helped foster 

grassroots movements in other Arab nations. 

The book by Philip Howard and colleagues 

concludes that digital media was 

“consistently one of the most important 

sufficient and necessary conditions” for 

the Arab Spring movements. 

“There was a longstanding democracy 

movement in these countries that for 

many years tried many tactics but none 

of them worked,” Howard said. 

He maintained that new media made 

a difference because it “has so fundamentally 

changed the way people think 

about their options.” 

The Arab Spring movements “involved 

a networked public of generally 

younger folks,” which was “structurally 

different” than prior movements headed 

by a charismatic leader, Howard said. 

Howard, a University of Washington 

communications professor who is visiting 

at Princeton, said authoritarian regimes 

had been accustomed to controls 

on traditional media but were unable to 

keep up with the rapid pace of Twitter 

and Facebook organising at that time. 

Democracy’s Fourth Wave? Digital 

Media and the Arab Spring, written with 

Muzammil Hussain, counters the conclusions 

of other academics who found that 

the impact of social media were exaggerated 

in the West. 

Earlier research led by Sean Aday 

of George Washington University concluded 

that new media “did not appear to 

play a significant role in either in-country 

collective action or regional diffusion” 

during the 2011 uprisings. 

“This lack of impact does not mean 

that social media or digital media generally 

were unimportant,” they said in a 

report for the US Institute of Peace last 

year. 

“But it does mean that at least in terms 

of media... (especially Twitter), data do 

not provide strong support for claims of 

significant new media impact on Arab 

Spring political protests.” 

The 2012 study said the tweets and 

Facebook posts probably did more to 

spread information outside the affected 

countries and could have led to “a boomerang 

effect that brought international 

pressure to bear on autocratic regimes.” 

A separate study led by Juergen Pfeffer 

and Kathleen Carley at Carnegie Mellon 

University found that “the pattern of 

spread of the revolutions was not related 

to the pattern of social media usage.” 

“In other words, the social media did 

not cause the revolutions,” they wrote. 

Many activists in the region maintain 

that social media helped keep up the momentum 

of the protests that began in Tunisia, 

toppled two more rulers in Egypt 

and Libya, and continue to shake the 

search was on for “a smiling pope, not a sad 

one, who can preach with joy and is able to 

attract crowds.” Several cardinals have said 

that they would back someone with episcopal 

experience — meaning someone good 

at preaching to the faithful — over a candidate 

with a more bureaucratic background 

in the Roman Curia. 

The ideal candidate would also have to 

be above reproach on the paedophile scandal. 

The Survivors Network of those Abused 

by Priests (SNAP), a US-based group, has 

blacklisted most of the papal frontrunners, 

accusing them of having either covered up 

paedophile priest cases or made insensitive 

remarks about the issue. 

Vatican watchers say that while most 

prelates recognise the need for change, 

some are trying to limit it. “There is a desire 

to turn over a new page, but we don’t know 

how strong it is,” Politi says. 

For example, the old guard of the Roman 

Curia is said to be planning to vote for 

a non-European pope — a major innovation 

— on condition that he appoints one 

of their allies as Secretary of State, a post 

equivalent to prime minister in the Vatican’s 

hierarchy. The pope is elected in a secluded 

conclave, with the eligible cardinals gathering 

in Rome within 15 to 20 days after the 

death — or, as in this case, resignation — 

of the previous holder of the post. 

Since 1878 the election has been conducted 

in the Sistine Chapel. 

The last pope, Benedict XVI, laid down 

in 2007 that a two-thirds majority would 

always be needed to elect the head of the 

Catholic Church. 

This means that at least 77 of the 115 

cardinals taking part in the conclave will 

have to give their backing to the new pope. 

The key role played 

by social media 

region. 

And a study by Zeynep Tufekci of the 

University of North Carolina and Christopher 

Wilson of the United Nations 

Development Programme supported that 

notion. 

“Social media in general, and Facebook 

in particular, provided new sources 

of information the regime could not easily 

control and were crucial in shaping 

how citizens made individual decisions 

about participating in protests, the logistics 

of protest, and the likelihood of success,” 

they wrote in the Journal of Communication. 

Some researchers point out that social 

media’s power appeared to be limited 

to organising protests and failed to help 

those people create a stable government 

after the uprisings. 

George Washington University’s 

Marc Lynch said social media became 

polarising after governments fell in 

Egypt and Tunisia. 

“While social media boosters envisioned 

the creation of a new public 

sphere based on dialogue and mutual respect, 

the reality is that fundamentalists 

and their adversaries retreat to their respective 

camps, reinforcing each other’s 

prejudices while throwing the occasional 

rhetorical bomb across the no-man’s land 

that the centre has become,” he said in a 

Foreign Policy magazine blog. 

Even those who credit social media 

in the Arab Spring say it seems unlikely 

that the popular uprisings can be replicated 

in other places, because governments 

have found new ways to control 

and track dissidents. 

“It is a bit of a game,” Howard said. 

“Democracy activists used digital media 

to catch dictators off guard, but we’re 

now in a situation in the ‘late spring’ 

countries where the regimes figured out 

some of the tricks.” 

The book by 

Philip Howard 

and colleagues 

concludes that 

digital media 

was “consistently 

one of the most 

important sufficient 

and necessary 

conditions” for the 

movements

12 AMERICAS 



Venezuela election race starts, 

opposition at disadvantage 

Poll set for April 14 Maduro hopes to win Oppn’s Capriles to contest 

CARACAS — Venezuela's 

charged election race kicked 

off yesterday with throngs attending 

mass at the coffin of 

deceased leader Hugo Chavez 

and vowing to back his preferred 

successor, Nicolas Maduro, 

over likely opposition 

contender Henrique Capriles. 

The pair have until Monday 

to register their candidacies for 

the April 14 vote, which will 

determine whether Chavez's 

self-styled nationalist-socialist 

revolution will live on in the 

OPEC nation, home to the 

world's largest proven oil reserves. 

Chavez died on Tuesday at 

age 58 after a two-year battle 

with cancer. 

Former vice-president Maduro, 

50, a hulking one-time 

bus driver and union leader 

turned politician who echoes 

Chavez's anti-imperialist rhetoric, 

is seen winning the election 

comfortably, according to two 

recent polls. 

Maduro pushed a snap election 

to cash in on a wave of 

empathy triggered by Chavez's 

death, and was sworn in as acting 

president on Friday to the 

fury of Capriles. 

The boyish 40-year-old Miranda 

state governor, who often 

wears a baseball cap and tennis 

shoes, lost to Chavez in October. 

But he won 44 per cent 

of the vote — the strongest 

showing ever by the opposition 

against Chavez. 

Capriles has accused the 

government and Supreme 

Court of fraud for letting Maduro 

campaign without stepping 

down. 

Although the ruling Socialist 

Party is favoured to win, opposition 

supporters are trying 

to raise their spirits for a month 

of campaigning. 

"There's no reason to think 

that the opposition is condemned 

to defeat," Teodoro 

Petkoff, an anti-government 

newspaper editor, said on his 

Sunday morning talk show. 

Maduro has vowed to carry 

on where Chavez left off. His 

first official meeting on Saturday 

was with officials from 

China, who Chavez courted 

to provide an alternative to 

investment that traditionally 

came from the United States. 

He has adopted his mentor's 

touch for the theatrical, 

accusing imperialists, often 

a Chavez euphemism for the 

United States, of killing the 

charismatic but divisive leader 

by infecting him with cancer. 

Former paratrooper Chavez 

was immensely popular among 

Venezuela's poor for funneling 

vast oil wealth into social programmes 

and handouts but he 

railed against the wealthy and 

scared investors with nationalisations. 

Thousands were still queueing 

to see Chavez's coffin lying 

in state, and emotional tributes 

were paid at yesterday's religious 

service at the military 

academy housing the casket. 

Capriles says, if elected, he 

would copy Brazil's "modern 

left" model of economic and 

social policies. 

Venezuela's opposition coalition 

backed Capriles as its 

ly accept the nomination later 

yesterday. 

"I am analysing the declaration 

of the president of the national 

election commission and 

will tell the country about my 

decision in the coming hours," 

Capriles said on Twitter. 

With candidates assigned 

a campaigning window of just 

10 days, and at an immediate 

disadvantage given the state 

resources at Maduro's disposal, 

Capriles faces an uphill battle. 

Some argue he has nothing 

to gain in running, but could 

also commit political suicide 

if he opts to sit out the race 

and effectively hand the presi- 

dency, and a raft of economic 

problems like sky-high inflation 

and a devalued currency, 

to Maduro. 

The opposition rank-andfile 

is already heavily demoralised 

after losing last year's 

presidential race and taking a 

hammering in gubernatorial 

elections in December, stoking 

internal party divisions. 

"There's no doubt that it's 

an uphill race for Capriles," 

said local political analyst Luis 

Vicente Leon. "Maduro is not 

Chavez. ... (But) the trouble is 

that given the race is so close 

to Chavez's death, emotions 

get inflamed and the candi- 

date probably continues to be 

Chavez rather than Maduro. 

"The big challenge for 

Capriles is not to campaign 

against Chavez but to try to 

take the fight to Maduro ... trying 

to show the huge gap (with 

Chavez) and relate it to the 

daily problems Venezuelans 

face." 

With Chavez still looming 

large as his remains lie in state, 

already visited by several million 

people, that will be tough. 

As with communist leaders 

Lenin, Stalin and Mao, 

Chavez's corpse is to be embalmed 

and put on display "for 

eternity." — Reuters 

SUPPORTERS of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez queue outside the Military 

candidate on Saturday, and he 

Academy in Caracas yesterday to pay their last respects to their leader. — AFP was widely expected to formal- SUPPORTERS of Chavez paying their last respects to their leader. — AFP 

Earth gets a rush 

of asteroid visitors 

CAPE CANAVERAL — An 

asteroid as big as a city block 

shot relatively close by the 

Earth on Saturday, the latest 

in a series of visiting celestial 

objects including an asteroid 

the size of a bus that exploded 

over Russia last month, injuring 

1,500. 

Discovered just six days 

ago, the 460-foot long Asteroid 

2013 ET passed about 

950,000 km from Earth at 

3:30 pm EST (2030 GMT). 

That's about 2-1/2 times as far 

as the moon, fairly close on a 

cosmic yardstick. 

"The scary part of this one 

is that it's something we didn't 

even know about," Patrick 

Paolucci, President of Slooh 

Space Camera, said during 

a webcast featuring live images 

of the asteroid from a telescope 

in the Canary Islands. 

Moving at a speed of about 

26,000 mph, the asteroid could 

have wiped out a large city if it 

Backlash over move to allow 

knives back on US planes 

WASHINGTON — A decision 

to scrap a post-9/11 ban 

on pocket knives being carried 

by passengers on US aircraft 

has triggered an angry backlash 

from pilots, flight attendants 

and airline chiefs. 

Starting from April 25, 

travellers will be able to carry 

small knives with folding 

blades on US planes following 

a shift in security strategy 

by the federal Transportation 

Security Administration. 

TSA chief John Pistole 

said the new guidelines would 

bring US security regulations 

into line with international 

standards and were designed 

to help airport staff find more 

dangerous items such as explosives. 

"This is part of an overall 

risk-based security approach, 

which allows Transportation 

Security Officers to better 

focus their efforts on finding 

higher threat items such as 

explosives," Pistole said this 

week. 

The shift comes against the 

had impacted the Earth, added 

Slooh telescope engineer Paul 

Cox. 

Asteroid 2013 ET is nearly 

eight times larger than the bussized 

asteroid that exploded 

over Chelyabinsk, Russia, on 

February 15. The force of the 

explosion, equivalent to about 

440 kilotons of dynamite, created 

a shock wave that shattered 

windows and damaged 

buildings, injuring more than 

1,5000 people. 

Later that day, another 

small asteroid, known as 

DA14, passed about 27,680 

km from Earth, closer than the 

orbiting networks of communications 

and weather satellites. 

"One of the reasons why 

we're finding more of these 

objects is that there are more 

people looking," Cox said. 

Two other small asteroids, 

both about the size of the 

Russian meteor, will also be 

backdrop of the US sequester 

crisis that has seen dramatic 

budget cuts force federal 

agencies to look at different 

ways of reducing costs. 

The TSA has already 

frozen its hiring policy and 

eliminated overtime with 

Homeland Security Secretary 

Janet Napolitano warning the 

sequester cuts could lead to a 

doubling of queues and wait 

times. 

While box cutters of the 

kind used by hijackers in the 

September 11, 2001 attacks 

remain banned, the TSA's 

decision to relax the rules on 

pocket knives has appalled 

airline officials and staff. 

"These items have been 

banned for more than 11 years 

and will add little value to 

the customer security process 

flow in relation to the additional 

risk for our cabin staff 

and customers," Delta Air 

Lines chief executive Richard 

Anderson wrote in a letter to 

the TSA. 

"If the purpose is to in- 

in Earth's neighborhood this 

weekend. Asteroid 2013 EC 

20 passed just 150,000 km 

away on Saturday - "a stone's 

thrown," said Cox. 

Yesterday, Asteroid 2013 

EN 20 will fly about 449,007 

km from Earth. Both were 

discovered just three days 

ago. "We know that the solar 

system is a busy place," said 

Cox. 

"We're not sitting here on 

our pale, blue dot on our own 

in nice safety ... This should 

be a wakeup call to governments." 

NASA has been tasked by 

the US Congress to find and 

track all near-Earth objects 1 

km or larger in diameter, and 

estimates about 95 per cent 

have been identified. 

However, only about 10 

per cent of smaller asteroids 

have been discovered, 

NASA scientists have said. 

— Reuters 

crease security checkpoint 

flow, there are much more 

effective steps we can take together 

to streamline the security 

checkpoints with risk-based 

screening mechanisms." 

The Flight Attendants Union 

Coalition, which represents 

some 90,000 workers, 

said its members were "outraged." 

"The continued ban on 

dangerous objects is an integral 

layer in aviation security 

and must remain in place," the 

group said. 

A nationwide petition 

against the TSA changes 

lodged on the White House 

website had garnered 15,000 

signatures by Saturday. 

The Coalition of Airline 

Pilots Associations has also 

spoken out against the move. 

"We believe the threat is 

still real and the removal of 

any layer of security will put 

crewmembers and the flying 

public unnecessarily in harm's 

way," CAPA President Mike 

Karn warned. — AFP 

Obama: budget cuts send 

joke writers packing PANAMA 

WASHINGTON — US President 

Barack Obama took a satirical swipe at 

the political drama over an $85 billion 

austerity drive clutching at the US 

economy on Saturday, at a cozy dinner 

for the Washington establishment. 

Obama attended the 128th Gridiron 

Club banquet, a week after the cuts, 

known as the sequester, came into force 

when he and Republicans failed to 

agree a deficit cutting deal as political 

acrimony haunts the US capital. 

"My joke writers have been placed 

on furlough," Obama joked to the exclusive 

off-camera, white tie gathering 

of top Washington journalists, cabinet 

members, lawmakers and military 

brass. 

"There is one thing in Washington 

that didn't get cut: the length of this 

dinner," Obama said. "Yet more proof 

that the sequester makes no sense." 

The president also took a good natured 

jab at America's new secretary of 

state John Kerry, who is seeking to get 

out from the shadow of the former top 

US diplomat Hillary Clinton. 

"Let's face it, Hillary is a tough act 

MEXICO CITY — The new 

minister of tourism in one of 

Mexico's biggest states was 

shot and killed on Saturday afternoon 

in an upscale neighborhood 

of Guadalajara, the country's 

second most populous 

city, local officials said. 

Jose de Jesus Gallegos, 

tourism minister for Jalisco 

was stopped in his vehicle by 

armed men and gunned down 

with a pistol, state Interior 

Minister Arturo Zamora told 

reporters. 

Gallegos had been in office 

only a week in the state, which 

President Enrique Pena Nieto's 

Institutional Revolutionary Party 

recaptured in a 2012 election 

after 18 years in opposition. 

The new state government took 

office on March 1. 

Zamora said the initial investigation 

suggested the killing 

was related to Gallegos' 

business activities and had 

nothing to do with his government 

post. 

Gallegos was the founder of 

Jegal Project and Construction 

Management, which developed 

expensive resorts and luxury 

to follow — frankly, though, I think 

it's time for him to stop showing up at 

work in pant suits. It's a disturbing image. 

I don't know where he buys them. 

He's a tall guy." 

Obama also ribbed rising star 

Senator Marco Rubio, now famous for 

taking an undignified gulp of water as 

he delivered the Republican response 

to the president's State of the Union 

address. 

"Of course, as I begin my second 

term, our country is still facing enormous 

challenges," Obama said, before 

taking a long draw on a glass of water. 

"That, Marco Rubio, is how you 

take a sip of water," Obama said. 

Obama also skewered Vice-President 

Joe Biden, as rumours swirl that 

despite hitting 70, the veteran politician 

is considering a run at the Democratic 

presidential nomination in 2016. 

"It's no secret that my vice-president 

is still ambitious. But let's face it, his 

age is an issue. Just the other day I had 

to take Joe aside and say, Joe you are 

way too young to be the pope." 

The dinner, which features comic 

towers across Mexico, according 

to the company website. 

Home to 7.5 million people 

and dominated by Guadalajara, 

Jalisco is Mexico's fourth most 

populous state, accounting for 

roughly 6.5 per cent of gross 

domestic product. 

Jalisco's government has 

not named any suspects in 

the killing of Gallegos, which 

Pena Nieto condemned in a 

statement from his Twitter account, 

pledging to investigate 

skits and songs, seems more suited to 

the Music Hall era than the Twitter age, 

but provides a chance for politicians 

and journalists, normally at each other's 

throats, to poke fun at one another. 

For the first time, at the traditionally 

off-the-record event, the club permitted 

a White House pool reporter to pass on 

the jokes to his peers. 

The decision appeared to be a 

recognition that journalists can hardly 

complain at the White House limiting 

access to Obama if it maintains an 

exclusive tag on its own clubby night 

with Washington's political elite. 

Gridiron President Charles Lewis 

ensured that Obama did not have the 

evening all his own way, poking fun at 

the White House's penchant for bypassing 

traditional media with its own high 

powered multimedia message machine. 

"As we were walking in, I thought 

I heard (Obama) say... 'so many newspaper 

reporters, so many interviews to 

turn down," Lewis said. 

Active membership of the organisation 

is limited to 65 Washington journalists. 

— AFP 

the crime. 

Gang-related killings rose 

during the 2006-2012 rule 

of Pena Nieto's predecessor, 

Felipe Calderon, who staked 

his reputation on crushing 

Mexico's violent drug cartels. 

Protests over 

planned dam 

turn violent 

CITY — Police 

clashed with farmers and indigenous 

people in western 

Panama for a second day on 

Saturday over a planned dam 

that locals fear will wipe out 

their way of life. 

Demonstrators in the 

town of Vigui threw up barricades 

with three trunks 

and branches, some on the 

Pan-American Highway, the 

main road to neighbouring 

Costa Rica. 

They say the planned 

Barro Blanco hydroelectric 

dam, near the borders of 

Veraguas and Chiriqui provinces, 

will displace at least 

36,000 people. 

Many local indigenous 

people's traditional way of 

life is based on fishing from 

the river and transport on the 

waterway. 

Police in riot gear seeking 

to reopen the highway 

cracked down on dozens of 

demonstrators who fought 

back with rocks and other 

blunt objects. — AFP 

Mexican state’s tourism minister shot dead 

INVESTIGATORS and members of a forensic team gather around a car where the minister was shot dead. — Reuters 

But instead, gang violence 

worsened, and the number of 

homicides in Jalisco rose to 

about 1,200 in each of the past 

two years, from less than 400 

in 2007, according to police 

data. — Reuters

FLIGHT LIGHT SSCHEDULE 

CHEDULE 

ARRIVALS ALS — MONDAY 

Flight No Aircraft From om / 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 

Success or failure depends more 

upon attitude than upon capacity. 

Successful men act as though they have 

accomplished or are enjoying something. 

Soon it becomes a reality. Act, look, feel 

successful, conduct yourself accordingly, 

and you will be amazed at the positive 

results. 

— William James 

CINEMA 

FILM INFORMATION 

www.citycinemaoman.net 

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 

06.00 am Opening, Royal Anthem, The Holy 

Quran, Preview of Morning Programme, Weather 

Forecast, Pharmacies on Duty; 06.15 Good 

Morning Oman; 07.00 News Bulletin; 07.10 Good 

Morning Oman (Sat-Wed); 10.00 News 

Headlines; 10.02 Classical Music; 12.00 News 

Headlines; 12.02 Most Wanted (June); 02.30 

News Bulletin; 02.40 Afternoon Buzz; 04.00 

News Headlines; 04.02 Planet Earth — Laxmi; 

06.30 News Bulletin; 06.40 Herbs and Health 

(Huda Sultan); 07.00 Spanish League (Murtadha) 

Live; 08.00 News Headlines; 08.02 The Super 

Happy Fun Hours (Robert) Live; 10.00 News 

Bulletin; 10.10 Our Night (Abdulhafedh al Harthi) 

Live; 12.40 News Summary; 12.45 The Holy 

Quran; 01.00 National Anthem, Close Down. 

DEPARTURES 

Flight No Aircraft To / Via STD 

BA072 B777 Abu Dhabi-London Heathrow 0001 

AI986 A321 Bombay-Ahmedabad 0005 

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 

WY223 B737-8 Cochin 0120 



WY661 E175AR Doha 0130 

WY241 B737-8 Delhi 0130 

9W529 B737-8 Trivandrum 0130 

WY201 B737-8 Bombay 0130 

WY285 B737-8 Bangalore 0135 

WY651 B737-7 Bahrain 0140 

WY711 B737-8 Zanzibar-Dar-es-Salaam 0145 

WY329 B737-8 Lahore 0200 

WY273 B737-8 Jaipur 0205 

TK859 B737-8 Istanbul 0220 

WY335 B737-8 Kathmandu 0235 

WY813 A330-200 Bangkok 0250 

PK226 A310 Karachi 0300 

EK867 B777 Dubai 0500 


QR171 A320 Doha 0550 




FZ044 B737-8 Dubai 0820 

WY315 B737-8 Chittagong 0900 

WY915 E175AR Salalah 0905 

NL769 B737-2 Lahore 0945 

WY297 B737-8 Calicut 1005 

WY263 B737-8 Lucknow 1010 

WY323 B737-8 Karachi 1020 

WY917 ATR42 Khasab 1030 

WY605 B737-8 Dubai 1030 

WY923 B737-8 Salalah 1035 

G9114 A320 Sharjah 1035 

WY203 B737-8 Bombay 1040 

EK863 B777 Dubai 1045 


QR167 A321 Doha 1055 

9W533 B737-8 Cochin 1145 

WY653 E175AR Bahrain 1215 

IX542 B737-8 Trivandrum 1220 

WY645 B737-8 Kuwait 1255 

WY145 A330-200 Malpensa 1300 

WY425 B737-8 Amman-Beirut 1300 

WY113 A330-300 Frankfurt 1300 

WY405 B737-8 Cairo 1310 


WY131 A330-200 Paris 1330 


WY663 E175AR Doha 1350 

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 

PISCES 

(February 20- 

March 20) 

Helping a neighbour out 

of a tight spot will not only be very 

much appreciated, but also make a 

friend which you may some day 

badly need. 

ARIES 

(March 21-April 20) 

Don’t hesitate to voice 

your candid opinion 

when with a friend, be perfectly 

frank about his behaviour. He values 

your views and will accept your 

criticism. 

TAURUS 

(April 21-May 20) 

Make a serious attempt 

to bring two quarrelling 

friends together again; you know full 

well that they are both too proud to 

make the first move towards reconciliation. 

GEMINI 

(May 21-June 21) 

Postpone a new venture 

for a few days if you are 

not quite certain of the details, as you 

may be asking for trouble by going 

ahead without proper preparation. 

13 

INFORMATION/LEISURE MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 

PHARMACIES 

PHARM 

24-HOUR SERVICE 

Al Hashar ph, ph Ruwi 24783334 

Muscat ph, Ruwi, 24702542 

Al Sarooj, 24695536 

Scientific ph, Qurum, 24566601 

DAY DUTY 

Muscat Al Tadawi 24450670 

Ahmed 24541856 

Ibn Sina 24490394 

Dar el Shafa 24713736 

Sur Sur 25545298 

Ibri Muscat 25689216 

Buraimi Modern 25650755 

Nizwa Al Hathfa 25431650 

Salalah Ibn Sina 23296112 

Sohar Scientific 26841174 

NIGHT DUTY 

Muscat Al Farooq 24451347 

Starcare 24557222 

Atlas 24503585 

Muscat 24702542 

Sur Muscat 25543660 

Ibri Al Huda 25692604 

Buraimi Yaas 25653855 

Barka Al Farooq 26884553 

Rustaq Muscat 26878631 

Nizwa Muscat 25410235 

Samayil Al Huriya 25351453 

Salalah Al Riyadh 23295296 

Mudhaibi Al Enayah 25524650 

Ibra Al Lama 25571878 

Sohar Muscat 26840211 

Saham Al Shifa 26854997 

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 

YOUR STARS 

IF IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY: Avoid making any hasty decisions or promises in the coming year if you can help 

it. They may sometimes be difficult to keep. Your personal prestige will be greatly enhanced by some new and 

original ideas of yours in connection with your work, and will eventually be acknowledged by a pay rise. 

CANCER 

(June 22-July 21) 

You may have the 

choice of two invitations 

for the same evening and you 

will probably pick the one, which 

gives you greater scope for displaying 

your social talents. 

LEO 

(July 22-August 21) 

Life can be a bit contrary 

at times and if 

you feel that you are doing the 

best you can, there is not a lot 

you can do about the knocks life 

gives you except be philosophical 

about it. 

VIRGO 

(August 22- 

September 22) 

Once you come to realise 

the hopelessness of a romantic 

attachment, it would be best for you 

both to terminate the relationship 

without letting it drag on. 

LIBRA 

(September 23- 

October 22) 

If you are serious about 

a romance recently started and have 

definite plans for the future, it is not 

too soon to start saving money with 

this in mind 

CCARTOONS A R T O O N S 

SCORPIO 

(October 23- 

November 21) 

A good chance for promotion 

could easily be missed unless 

you use your initiative to catch the 

attention of the person who has the 

final say. 

SAGITTARIUS 

(November 22- 

December 21) 

An evening’s entertainment 

will be sprung on you tonight, 

giving you great pleasure. You will 

feel that you haven’t a care in the 

world. 

CAPRICORN 

(December 22- 

January 20) 

If you let petty annoyance 

upset you too easily, those 

around you will be affected by your 

attitude and the quality of your work 

will suffer. 

AQUARIUS 

(January 21- 

February 19) 

You will soon have an 

opportunity to be proud of a happy 

turn of events in your family and 

won’t lose a chance to brag about it. 

ADAM @ HOME by Brian Basset 

CALVIN AND HOBBES by Bill Watterson 

GARFIELD by Jim Davis 

STONE SOUP by Jan Eliot 

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 

OTHER HOSPITALS 

CRYPTIC PUZZLE 

ACROSS 

4 Simply fabulous, 

priceless material! (6) 

7 Tea — the black stuff 

— can be used as fuel! 

(8) 

8 Eighth of the month, by 

the way (6) 

10 Choose not to go all 

electric (5) 

13 Gosh, a Middle Eastern 

bird! (4) 

14 Info bringing many a 

word of thanks (4) 

15 Forecast great conflict 

by the end of autumn 

(4) 

16 Modern verse? (3) 

17 He’s part Dutch, 

apparently (4) 

19 Lie terribly to the bitter 

end, hence annoy (4) 

21 The writing of a snappy 

assistant (9) 

23 With this, better not be 

teetotal! (4) 

24 A one woman opera (4) 

26 There’s no way at 

present (3) 

27 Eager to help out 

around the civic centre 

(4) 

29 He’s a bit of a 

toxophilite (4) 

32 Read ‘The Last of the 

Mohicans’ if you are 

able (4) 

33 It has its own door, or 

maybe gates (5) 

34 In a batting side, the 

openers? (3,3) 

35 Possibly angry lad? 

(5,3) 

36 A name of dramatically 

legal character (6) 

DOWN 

1 Deputised on stage? (5) 

2 It shows where there’s 

something missing (5) 

3 Jazzy singing by crazy 

cats (4) 

4 Where to dance with a 

novice in raising the 

roof! (5) 

5 Large cask, but with a 

tiny top (4) 

ACROSS 

3 Factory (5) 

9 Fear (6) 

10 Vent (6) 

11 Fabric (5) 

12 Evaluate (4) 

15 Enjoy (4) 

17 Everlasting (7) 

20 Purge (3) 

21 Labourer (5) 

23 Image (4) 

25 Acquire (4) 

26 Bellows (5) 

28 Implore (3) 

30 Asses (7) 

33 Modify (4) 

35 Ribbon (4) 

36 Plank (5) 

38 Production (6) 

39 Necklace (6) 

40 Brightness (5) 

DOWN 

1 Extra (5) 

2 Course (5) 

3 Badge (3) 

4 Amateur (6) 

5 Recess (4) 

6 Cask (3) 

Sohar . . . . . .26840022 . . 26840099 

Al Buraimi . . .25650855 . . 25652319 

Sur . . . . . . . .25440244 . . 25461373 

Tanam. . . . . .25499011 . . 25499033 

Masirah. . . . .25404018 . . 25404018 

Ibra . . . . . . . .25470533 . . 25470535 

Adam . . . . . .25434167 . . 25434055 

Bidiya . . . . . .25483535 . . 25483535 

Ibri. . . . . . . . .25491011 . . 25491990 

Saham . . . . .26854427 . . 26855148 

Khasab . . . . .26830187 . . 26830187 

Dibba . . . . . .26836443 . . 26836443 

Burkha . . . . .26828397 . . 26828397 

Sinaw . . . . . .25474338 

6 Having the wrong idea 

about Nevada, violate 

the border (6) 

9 Nominally, he may be 

after Joseph (6) 

11 Put those eggs down! 

(3) 

12 Something like a stash 

(5) 

13 Leader likely to be 

taken in by a murderer 

(7) 

15 Endlessly cautious 

campaign (3) 

16 Seasoned in soldiering 

(3) 

18 Could it be a chore to 

edit him? (6) 

20 Not suitable for mixing 

paint (5) 

21 Join in quarters (3) 

22 Covered in rawhide (3) 

23 Part of one’s costume 

for a dance (6) 

25 Gear in a girl’s getup 

(3) 

28 Chekhov’s stage Uncle 

(5) 

30 A game for Henry to 

master (5) 

31 Was inclined to let out 

just one (5) 

32 Must change into 

something black (4) 

M USEUMS IN OMAN 

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 PLANETARIUM, 

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. 

CROSSWORD 

33 Such castles are by the 

sea (4) 

EASY PUZZLE 

ACROSS 

4 Zone (6) 

7 Booming (8) 

8 Wore away (6) 

10 Form (5) 

13 Ship’s company (4) 

14 Fish (4) 

15 Canvas shelter (4) 

16 Wager (3) 

17 Bridge (4) 

19 Was indebted to (4) 

21 Stammered (9) 

23 Regarded (4) 

24 Speed (4) 

26 Loose (3) 

27 Rip (4) 

29 Canine mammals (4) 

32 Close (4) 

33 Electricity support (5) 

34 Colliers (6) 

35 Etched (8) 

36 Disclose (6) 

DOWN 

1 Shell (5) 

2 Continental (5) 

3 On one occasion (4) 

4 Severe (5) 

5 Black bird (4) 

6 Unwrapped (6) 

9 Answer (6) 

11 Embrace (3) 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

7 Aptitude (5) 

8 Horse (5) 

13 Dressed (7) 

14 Mistake (5) 

16 Organs (7) 

18 Landowner (5) 

19 Evening (3) 

22 Pulls (5) 

24 Record (3) 

27 Origin (6) 

28 Under (5) 

29 Presents (5) 

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 

12 Glue (5) 

13 Fundamental (7) 

15 Rubbish (3) 

16 Cot (3) 

18 Gambler (6) 

20 Feeble (5) 

21 Gender (3) 

22 Organ (3) 

23 Salty (6) 

25 Self-image (3) 

28 Artist’s stand (5) 

30 Small fruit (5) 

31 Derisive (5) 

32 Arid (4) 

33 Harbour (4) 

YESTERDAY’S 

CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS 

ACROSS: 1, Bridge 7, 

Write off 8, Mile 10, 

P-lover 11, Car-a-f-e 14, 

Ned 16, Nylo-N 17, Re-ar 

19, Bad-ge 21, Na-C-re 22, 

Catty 23, Isle(-worth) 26, 

D-ebut 28, Ant 29, Ere-bus 

30, A-stern 31, Chap 32, 

The earth 33, Ex-tort. 

DOWN: 1, Bumper 2, 

Driver 3, Ewer 4, Strange 

5, Tot-a-L 6, O-ft.-en 8, 

Mona 9, LED 12, Rye 13, 

Focal 15, F-acts 18, Eider 

(Ida) 19, Bat 20, Dr.-y 21, 

Nat-Ural 22, Cub 23, Intact 

24, Step 25, Ernest 26, 

D-ebts 27, Beret 28, A-sh 

30, Ache. 

YESTERDAY’S EASY 

SOLUTIONS 

ACROSS: 1, Encase 7, 

Reverent 8, Gala 10, 

Gratis 11, Dilute 14, Let 

16, Zones 17, Aged 19, 

Beret 21, Melon 22, Digit 

23, Blot 26, Ripen 28, Ira 

29, Hernia 30, Trends 31, 

Read 32, Nocturne 33, 

Kettle. 

DOWN: 1, Enigma 2, 

Abated 3, Eras 4, Denizen 

5, Begun 6, Sties 8, Gale 

9, Lit 12, Lot 13, Tempo 

15, Relic 18, Genie 19, 

Beg 20, Rot 21, Minimum 

22, Den 23, Breast 24, 

Land 25, Tussle 26, Rhine 

27, Price 28, Ire 30, Trek. 

31 Bird (5) 

32 Brief (5) 

34 Insect (4) 

36 Vehicle (3) 

37 Professor (3) 

YESTERDAY’S QUICK 

SOLUTIONS 

ACROSS: 1, Ground 5, 

Posted 9, Aimed 10, Acidic 

11, Revive 12, Leeks 14, 

Club 17, Dry 18, Vial 20, 

Eases 22, Heads 23, Lampoon 

24, Reply 26, Doors 

29, Aloe 30, Gem 32, Mink 

33, Dodos 35, Bistro 36, 

Review 37, Adder 38, Endows 

39, Ledger. 

DOWN: 1, Glance 2, Odious 

3, Nail 4, Diced 5, 

Perky 6, Odes 7, Trivia 

8, Dwells 13, Erupted 15, 

Label 16, Belle 18, Venom 

19, Adorn 21, Say 22, Hod 

24, Rabble 25, Poised 27, 

Oiling 28, Skewer 30, 

Goods 31, Morel 33, Draw 

34, Sere

PORTA CABINS / TURNKEY CAMPS 

Our Services Manufacturing, Erection, Mobilization. 

Our Products Camps, Kitchens, Offices, Ablutions 

Phone 24503725 Fax 24503723 

Mobile 95228450 Mobile 99277505 

e-mail info@speedhouseoman.com 

Web www.speedhouseoman.com 

SPEED HOUSE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION LLC 

R 

S 

ENT-A-CAR 

ENT-A-C 

Luxury Cars 

BMW 750il Mercedes 430SL 

on hourly & daily basis 

with chauffeur. 

Contact: 

Contact: 99337159/99359628 

CLASSIFIED SECTION 

RUWI: 24785668 

ERVICES 

SERVICES 

MARBLE Marble M 

polishing and 

crystallisation building, 

cleaning floor, floor 

polishing, carpet, sofa 

shampooing, pest 

control, anti-termite, 

shifting, maintenance. 

99504275. 

FOR Building 

maintenances and 

repairs 95218056. 

HOOPOE SMART 

CARD SERVICES 

Sanad Service Centre 

We provide the 

following services: 

Typing, clearing all 

transactions related to 

government departments 

and private sector, eg 

labour agreement for 

Omanis and expatriates, 

typing of labour 

card for expatriates, 

typing of visas and 

document clearing from 

immigration department, 

Ministry of Commerce 

& Industry, Ministry of 

Manpower, Commercial 

names reservation, 

renewal of commercial 

registration, renewal 

of OCCI membership, 

attestation of all 

documents from OCCI 

& Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs. Renewal of 

labour cards through 

electronic payment or 

cash payment. Please 

note you may deliver 

your transaction 

through our e-mail 

and our representative 

will deliver it to your 

office personally after 

completion. Our address 

is: Ruwi, near Gulf 

Transport Co. (GTC), 

Fax: 24793331, GSM: 

98793665 (Direct) 

99231500. 

E-mail: hoopoeoman@ 

gmail.com 

AL FAHAD 

TRANSLATION 

SERVICES 

Translation of all kinds 

of legal, medical, 

and other types of 

documents, Commercial 

Agencies, etc. Ruwi, 

near Gulf Transport Co 

(GTC), 

Fax: 24794286. GSM: 

98793665 (Direct) 

95959838. E-mail: 

bptland@gmail.com 

LANDRAIL TRADING 

& SERVICES (Smart 

Card) Ruwi, near 

Gulf Transport Co. 

(GTC), Tel: 24789117, 

GSM 98793666 (Dir), 

96777170. E-mail: 

landrailoman@gmail. 

com 

1. AC, Fridge & Washing 

Machine Servicing & 

Repairing 2. Painting, 

Plumbing, Electrical 

& Carpentry Works. 

Contact: 97014234/ 

97123569, 24504281. 

G 

ALL ALLL Season cclinic 

Ayurvedic Treatment, Tre 

Yoga massage massage & 

slimming. Contact: 

92504980/24475280, 

LUXURIOUS cars 

for delivering from 

home to home, for more 

information, Contact: 

93204595. 

P.C.O. (PEST 

CONTROL OMAN 

CO. LLC) 

Professionals who 

specialise in all types 

of Pest Control 

Services & Snake 

control and 

Guaranteed Termite 

Control. Also 

available Gel 

treatment for 

Cockroaches. 

Suppliers of UK 

Pesticides Chemicals, 

Snake Repellent, 

Cockroach Gels and 

Peripel treated 

Mosquito Nets. 

24787606, 

24787503, 

Fax: 24787607. 

F 

OOD NEWS NEW 

PICK-UP car for 

carrying furniture. 

92299583. 

FREE 

INFORMATION 

ABOUT ISLAM 

If you would like to 

know more about 

Islam, please call: 

Tel : 99425598, 

96050000, 99353988, 

99253818, 99341395, 

99379133, For ladies: 

99415818, 99321360, 

99730723 

Or visit: www. 

islamfact.com 

OR REN RENT FOR RENT 

SAVILLS OMAN 

QUALITY homes 

for rent throughout 

Capital Area 

Muscat. Contact: 

24692151. 

www.sav-oman.com 

OFFICES, shops, villa 

at Al Khuwair, flats 

at Al Khuwair, Wadi 

Kabir, MBD, Mumtaz, 

furnished/unfurnished. 

96596348. 

INDUSTRIAL shops 

and workshops (under 

construction) for 

reservation. 

99486118, 99323957. 

FLAT / Al Khod / Family 

only. 3 bedrooms + 

kitchen + 2 toilets. 

RO 260 per month. 

99385957. 

APARTMENT for rent in 

Al Amerat - Al Nahda 6, 

3 bedrooms + majlis+ 3 

bathrooms+ kitchen. RO 

260 per month only. 

92509363. 

FLAT at Madinat Al 

Nahdha 7/2 (Al Amerat). 

99367797, 96913000. 

VILLA for rent in Al 

Mawaleh South, 6 

bedrooms, sitting room, 

living room, kitchen and 

6 WC. 99229940. 

VILLA in Al Ansab, 

4 bedrooms, sitting 

room, 2 halls, office, 

kitchen, AC split unit 

and car park. 

99473323. 

I 

NVESTMENT 

NVESTM 

AN apartment apartme hotel 

in Bausher ( (new 

commercial and 

residential complex) 

near new Bahwan 

Mosque, 7 floors 

with 18 apartments, 

an open showroom is 

below the complex. 

The apartment hotel is 

located in an excellent 

place. Contact us: 

99387455, 99213341. 

ONE room + toilet 

behind Burger King 

Qurum contact.: 

99654530. 

FAMILY flats for rent Al 

Khuwair, Wadi Kabir, 

Hamriya, twin villa in 

Souq al Hadid in Seeb & 

small villa at Al Bustan. 

99119699/ 96055889/ 

99355265. 

TWO bedroom flat at 

Qurum PDO Road, near 

to CCC. 99203954, 

24789769. 

HOUSE for rent, south 

Al Hail, 4 bedrooms, 

servant quarters, large 

living room, storage 

rooms, car shade, RO 

600 p/m 94003838. 

FLAT for rent in 

Darsait. 92299583. 

A BRAND new flat in 

Al Mawaleh South 2 B 

R - Living room 2 

bathrooms, kitchen and 

5 split ACs. 

94004000/97222272. 

APARTMENT in Al 

Athaiba (6). 

97744212. 

CLASSIFIED SECTION: 

OMAN DAILY Observer MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 

SPECIAL Rates on 

New Cars & 4 WDs 

RENTING & LEASING 

Tours and Airport Transfer 

Tel: 24582663 

GSM: 95859497, 

Fax: 24582664, 

abcrent@omantel.net.om 

VILLA at Al All 

Athaiba, 

7 7 rooms, 6 to toilets, 9 

ACs AC with i h good 

condition. 

99323242. 

2 RESIDENT RESIDENTIAL Lands 

together, one 6610 

and the 

other 600 sq mmtrs, 

in Al 

Haram on way to Barka 

RO 26 Thousand both. 

99333479 or 95215360. 

558 SQ mtrs residential 

land in Barka behind 

LuLu and near to school. 

RO 15 Thousand. 

99333479 or 95215360. 

884 SQ mtrs Residential/ 

Commercial land in Al 

Ghubra North behind 

Waleed Pharmacy and 

near to Shell. RO 275 

Thousand. 99333479 

or 95215360. 

600 SQ mtrs residential 

land in Al Ghubra South 

behind Al Waseet. The 

land has a 3 bedroom 

single story house. 

RO 155 Thousand. 

99333479 or 95215360. 

4 VILLAS (under 

construction) in one plot 

in Al Ansab phase 3. One 

has 5 bedrooms and 4 

bedrooms in each of the 3 

villas. All have extra maid 

room on the 3rd floor. RO 

149 Thousand for the big 

villa and RO 99 Thousand 

each for the small villas. 

The big villa has 

provision for lift and 

small/kids swimming 

pool. 99333479 or 

95215360. 

400 SQ mtrs Commercial/ 

Residential land in 

Mowelah commercial 

area Sohar. RO 19 

Thousand. 99333479 

or 95215360. 

COFFEE shop with full 

equipment and Labour in 

Mawaleh, after Burj Al 

Sahwa roundabout, 

behind Oman Oil Petrol 

Station. Interested 

buyers can contact: 

96203333. 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTOR 

Must have ALL of the following requirements: 

From UK, USA/Canada, South Africa, Australia or 

New Zealand - NO EXCEPTIONS 

Age limit: 30-55 years 

CELTA certified 

Teach basic, advanced and technical English 

A generous package is offered to the right candidate. 

E-mail: newappointmentsoman@gmail.com 

S 

F 

ALE/RENT 

ALE/REN 

OR SALE 

FOR SALE 

300 SQ mtrs Commercial/ 

Residential land in 

Mowelah commercial 

area 2 in Sohar. RO 17 

Thousand. 99333479 or 

95215360. 

TWIN villa in Al Ghubra 

north between Al Maya 

super market and Chedi 

hotel. Each side has 3 

bedrooms RO 170 


95215360 

4 FLOOR building behind 

Mawaleh fruit and 

vegetable market with 

monthly income of RO 

4,300 it has 14 one 

bedroom apartments 

and 4 shops. RO 535 


95215360. 

8 FLOOR new building in 

Bausher Muscat private 

hospital area. It has 28 

flats of one bedroom, 26 

flats of 2 bedrooms, 11 

shops and 18 private 

parking. Projected income 

RO 20,100 Price: RO 2.3 

million. 99333479 or 

95215360 

3 VILLAS in Al Argan 

compound behind Seeb 

city centre, all the 3 villas 

are next to each other and 

are identical. Each villa 

has 3 bedrooms, 3 floors. 

2 villas have rental 

income of RO 450 and 1 

villa RO 425 price for 

each villa 

RO 98 Thousand. 

99333479 or 95215360 

GOOD quality solid 

Meranti doors from 

Indonesia. Different 

sizes.: 99333479 or 

95215360 

S 

ALE/RENT/PURCHASE 

ALE/RENT/P 

REQUIRED immediately 

on sale, lease 

or purchase 

plots in Seeb 

or nearest 

places. We sell your 

industrial and commercial 

land. 

95490842, 99323957. 

Ali al Maashari: 99639264 

Salim al Naamani: 99355675 

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

S 

14 

GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! 

Available on very GOOD prices 

HP 1050 Wireless Printer 

RO 13.900 only 

HP 4620 3 in 1 Printer 


HP LJ 1212nf laser 4 in 1 Printer 


HP LED 18.5" Monitor 


AII HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung 

Cartridges also available 

ITUATION VACANT 

REQUIRED for Omani 

family: COOK with 

valid Omani driving 

licence (Muslims 

only). Salary RO 250+ 

accommodation+food. 

Contact: 24501569. 

Fax: 24501571. E-mail: 

hr@metalengg.com 

REQUIRED for 

a reputed club the 

following staff 

1- Head Tennis Coach. 

2- Tennis Coach 

Candidates having 

requisite qualification 

and experience Please 

send CV by email to 

oceanint@omantel.net. 

om , or by fax to fax no. 

24832193 

JOB vacancies at 

Ahd 2000 Trading & 

Contracting Co: 

1. Marketing Manager 

2. An employee at the 

office of renting auto 

motors. 

3. A private Driver. 

93204595. 

COOK/WAITERESS 

for Qurum Beach Hotel, 

preferably Arabic 

speaking. 24704994. 

PHLIPPINES female 

Waiter, at least two 

years experience. Turkish 

male Grill Chef, at 

least 3 years experience. 

99022990. 

A NEWLY opening 

Iranian restaurant is 

urgently looking for a 

staff, expert in making 

juices, coffee and 

sandwiches. Please call: 

94336394/92883131 

to set up an interview. 

W 

ANTED 

QUALIFIED and 

experienced Oil and 

Gas Sales Executive 

Engineer for local 

firm. Send CV: 

bardeej@omantel. 

net.om 

SALES & MARKETING SPECIALIST 

Must have following requirements: 

At least five years certifiable experience 

Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in the 

relevant discipline 

Able to provide extensive sales and market support 

in a target-based environment 

Note: All degrees and certificates will be checked and 

verified for authenticity by an independent research agency 

E-mail: newappointmentsoman@gmail.com 

COMPUTER SUPPLIES 

Ruwi: 24792792 

GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! 

A 

DIRECT: 24649595 — FAX : 24649590 

e-mail: classified@omandaily.om 

CLASSIFIED SECTION 

RUWI: 24785668 

Behind Royal Oman Police 

Adjacent to Dhofar Building and 

KM Hypermarket 

NNOUNC NNOUNCEMENT 

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

COMPANY Izki I 

Modern Bakery Bake (Asso), 

announces restricted 

the commercial register 

at the department of 

trade and industry — 

interior under number: 

(5144353). It's in the 

process of amending 

trade name: IZKI 

MARKETS & BAKERY. 

So shall inform any 

interested party. 

ILYA MANPOWER 

HOUSEMAIDS 

available from 

Philippines, Sri 

Lanka & Africa. 

All types of SKILLED 

WORKERS 

(Waiters, 

Cooks, Drivers, 

Constructions, 

Industrials, Hotels 

& Ministries...) 

Tel/Fax: 22050086 

Hail Shimaly al Jabri 

Blg, next to Bahja Mall 

al-haditha 

centre 

AUTO REPAIR 

CENTRE 

Quality Repairs & Maintenance of all 

types of Cars and Heavy vehicles 

(ROP approved Grade A Workshop) 

Telephone: 24595951/1414, Fax: 24597979. 

M 

T 

ANPOWER 

ANPOWE 

FRIENDS 

MANPOWER: 

Filipino housemaids 

and all kinds of 

workers. 24489268 

Tel/Fax: 24478153. 

OURS 

MARINE Tou Tourism 

92808636, 92808636 e-mail: 

info@alainain.com 

i f @ l i i 

DOLPHIN watching in 

Muscat. 93323551, 

93323558. 

alraheebooog@yahoo. 

com 

C 

IF you are interested in 

to sell your cars, c send 

SMS, we pay cash. 

Contact: 99333088. 

G 

AR BUY & 

SELL 

UEST HO HOUSE 

MURAHIB HOTEL 

APARTMENTS 

APARTMEN 

welcome our valuable 

GUESTS to our 

excellent location, 

AL KHUWAIR, near 

AL ZAWAWI 

MOSQUE, a single 

bedroom, a bedroom 

& majlis, two 

bedrooms & majlis. 

24478087, 

Fax: 24482454. 

QURUM BEACH 

HOTEL. 24564070. 

ANNOUNCEMENT – NO 1 

A well reputed Contracting Company in Oman is 

looking for potential candidates for the following post 

with Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) experience in 

their respective fields in Bulk Earth Works and Road 

Construction Works only: 

1) PROJECT MANAGER – 1 NO. 

(15 years exp or more in Sultanate of Oman). 

Interested candidates may send their CV’s by Fax at: 

+968-24592015 or Contact: Mr Varghese P J – 99212061. 

ANNOUNCEMENT – NO 2 

A well reputed Contracting Company in Oman is looking for 

experienced SUB CONTRACTOR for civil works approx. 

4,500m3/month (works in Road). 

Interested contractors may send their Company Profile with 

labour strength by Fax to: +968 - 24592015 or 

Contact: Mr Varghese P J – 99212061. 

No. Description 

1 

Vacancies 

 

 

 

Structural 

Engineer 

No. of 

Vacancies 

Minimum 

uaication 

Minimum 

Experience 

1 Bachelor 3 yrs 

2 Draftsman 3 Diploma 2 yrs 

3 Architect 2 Bachelor 2 yrs 

 

 

 

 

 

CLASSIFIEDS 

Continued on P-15

S 

15 

PAKISTAN/CLASSIFIEDS 



ITUATION WANTED SITUATION WANTED SITUATION WANTED 

INDIAN male, 26 years, 

MBA with 2 years 

experience, currently on 

visit visa, looking for 

immediate placement. 

Contact: 94269756. 

PROCUREMENT/ 

Purchase officer Post 

Graduate in Business 

Management with 6+ 

years experiences . Valid 

UAE D/L, seeks suitable 

placement anywhere in 

Gulf.98010784, email: 

mmaltaff@gmail.com. 

PEOPLE shout slogans during a protest against attacks on homes in a colony in Karachi’s neighbourhood. — AFP 

All set for Iran-Pak 

gas pipeline opening 

TEHRAN — The presidents 

of Iran and Pakistan are set 

to inaugurate a gas pipeline 

project between the two countries 

today, Iranian state media 

reported. 

Iranian President Mahmoud 

Ahmadinejad and his Pakistani 

counterpart Asif Ali 

Zardari, along with several of 

their ministers, are to kick off 

the project along the shared 

border in Iran’s south-western 

Sistan-Beluchistan province 

today, the reports said. 

The Iranian part of the 

pipeline has already been built. 

The ceremony is to commemorate 

construction of work up 

to the Pakistani border. 

The 1,600-km pipeline 

would enable export of 21.5 

million cubic metres of Irani- 

an natural gas per day to Pakistan. 

The entire project has an 

estimated cost of $1.5 billion. 

After finishing more than 

900 km of the pipeline on its 

soil, Iran has said it is prepared 

to take charge of the 

construction for the rest on the 

Pakistani side of the border. 

Meanwhile, the diplomatic 

community is buzzing over 

which of the foreign heads of 

state invited to the ceremony 

would be turning up. 

Zardari and Ahmadinejad, 

who are hosting the ceremony, 

are reported to have sent invitations 

to eight heads of state 

and government. 

Neither of the countries 

would divulge the guest list 

for the event being held at 

Gabd Zero point on the Ira- 

B TECH (electrical & 

electronics) Engineer 

with 2 years exp in MEP 

projects, proficient in 

AutoCad, Primavera, seeks 

suitable placement 

9979047. 

INDIAN male, MBA, 15 

year in Oman, have exp 

in supply chain mgmt, 

logistics, import export 

mgmt, purchase domestic 

and export sales, seeks 

change in career. Contact: 

91141206. 

nian border but diplomatic 

sources say they include leaders 

from Central Asian states 

and Afghanistan. 

According to one source, 

China too has been invited. 

Afghanistan is so far the 

only country to have declined 

to attend the ceremony. 

President Hamid Karzai’s 

regrets, a diplomatic source 

said, had more to do with renewed 

tensions with Pakistan 

than his US connection. 

The Afghan president does 

not have the best of relations 

with Iran either. 

The confirmations received 

by the Iranian government, according 

to a Foreign Ministry 

official, were from Kuwait, 

Iraq, Qatar and United Arab 

Emirates. — dpa/Internews 

MBA with 13+ yrs exp in 

liner shipping (containers) 

FRT forwarding (sea & air) 

VSL operations vehicle or 

contract logistics/SCM. 

Contact: 95032789. 

INTERIOR Architecture 

Decorating, Designer — 5 

years experience 2 years 

in Oman + site experience 

(Auto cade 2D 3D) (3D 

max-vray) Photoshop. 

Valid D/L, e-mail: 

interioromandesigner@ 

gmail.com .96407540. 

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 

US drone strike 

kills top fighter 

MIRANSHAH — A US 

drone strike yesterday killed 

at least one fighter riding on 

horseback in a mountainous 

area of the northwestern tribal 

belt, officials said. 

The missile attack, the 

first by an unmanned American 

drone in Pakistan for at 

least a month, came in Dehgan 

village, 30 km west of 

Miranshah, the main town in 

lawless North Waziristan. 

“A US drone fired one missile, 

killing a militant travelling 

on horseback,” a security 

official said. 

Local intelligence officials 

said the drones fired two missiles 

killing two fighters. 

Officials in Peshawar, 

which lies on the edge of the 

tribal region, said the man 

was believed to be a “foreign 

national”. 

INDIAN female, 15 yrs of 

teaching exp in Business 

in college in India, 3 yrs 

in business studies in 

international school in 

Oman, seeks placement in 

school, college. Contact: 

96040624. 

INDIAN male, 23, CNC 

operator, mechanical 

engineering, computer 

numerical control & 

mechanical AutoCad. 

Contact: 99678941. 

INDIAN male, B Sc IT 

with MBA in marketing 

& management, 28 yrs, 

presently working in 

Godrej & Boyce in India, 

seeks suitable position. 

Contact: 99341622. 

INDIAN female 26 yrs, 

(diploma nursing) with 

MoH licence, 5 yrs exp, 

presently working in 

Oman, seeks suitable 

placement in hospital. 

Contact: 96114228. 

B E Electrical & 

Electronics engineer with 4 

years experience, in Oman 

2 years experience in MEP 

project, seeks suitable 

placement. 93797378, 

96681536, e-mail: 

morshed602@gmail.com. 

NOC (Release) available, 

Indian male, B Com, 29 

yrs, 7 yrs experience. 

in payroll & payable 

accounting. Last 5½ yrs 

working at Oman. Looking 

for suitable placement 

can join immediately. 

98738602/96979350. 

The last reported drone 

strike was on February 8 and 

killed nine fighters, though 

unnamed American officials 

quoted by the New York Times 

last week said the incident 

was not a US attack. 

Few of the victims are publicly 

identified, but on January 

3 Pakistani officials said warlord 

Mullah Nazir was killed 

in a strike on neighbouring 

South Waziristan. 

Nazir used to send fighters 

into battle in Afghanistan 

and was accused of sheltering 

Al Qaeda affiliates in South 

Waziristan. 

According to the Londonbased 

Bureau of Investigative 

Journalism, between 

2,627 and 3,457 people have 

been reportedly killed by US 

drones in Pakistan since 2004, 

including 475 civilians. 

FILIPINO female, BS 

in commerce graduate, 

1 year exp in Oman as 

PA/executive secretary 

and 4 yrs exp in UAE 

as operation officer with 

secretarial skills in line 

with tourism mainly in 

transportation industry, 

knowledge in MS office, 

business correspondence 

and customer service 

oriented. Contact: 

93261158. 

INDIAN male, chartered 

accountant, now available 

in Muscat, having 6 

years experience, seeks 

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Deadlock continues 

on caretaker setup 

ISLAMABAD — As the 

deadlock persists between 

government and opposition on 

the appointment of the caretaker 

prime minister, Speaker 

of National Assembly Dr Fehmida 

Mirza has started the 

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the constitution of the parliamentary 

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Sources said the National 

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according to which the decision 

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would elect its chairman and 

approved the rules for terms 

of reference of the function of 

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and the leader of the opposition 

in the outgoing National 

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any person to be appointed 

as the care-taker prime minister, 

within three days of the 

dissolution of the National 

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two nominees each to a committee 

to be immediately 

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the National Assembly, comprising 

eight members of the 

outgoing National Assembly, 

or the Senate, or both, having 

equal representation from the 

Treasury and the Opposition, 

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opposition respectively.” 

The deadlock still persist 

between PPP and PML (N) 

on dissolution of Punjab Assembly 

on same day with 

the National Assembly as the 

PML (N) has forwarded a 

condition to the government 

for agreeing their nominee for 

the caretaker prime minister if 

they wanted to dissolution of 

Punjab Assembly on a same 

day of National Assembly to 

pave the way for holding elections 

of National Assembly 

and provincial Assembly on 

same day. 

The talks between the PPP 

and PML (N) failed to make 

any headway for holding the 

elections of the National Assembly 

and Provincial Assembly 

on same day as the PML 

(N) using the nomination of 

the caretaker PM from their 

list of nominee as bargaining 

chip for this purpose. 

Want a passport be 

a VIP or know one 

ISLAMABAD — You need 

to either be or know a VIP or 

a journalist to get a passport 

these days. Merely submitting 

a fee is not enough. 

“Requests for ordinary 

passports are not on priority 

for the moment,” said an 

official at the Passport and 

Immigration Office in Islamabad. 

More than 500,000 

applications have piled up, 

but a little over 2,000 passports 

are being printed daily, 

he added. 

A colleague of his, however, 

placed the number 

much lower at less than 500 

passports a day. 

“No passport has been issued 

on an application with 

urgent fee since January 28 

this year, while ordinary 

passports have been pending 

since November last year,” 

he added. 

The official said the problem 

is deep-rooted and could 

not be resolved for at least 

another two to three months. 

“The lamination required 

for printing passports is 

not available the Interior 

Ministry and National Accountability 

Bureau (NAB) 

cancelled the tender for the 

procurement of lamination,” 

he revealed. 

The accountability body 

stopped the immigration office 

from going ahead with 

its procurement deal with a 

company that had provided it 

lamination before, declaring 

it illegal. 

NAB maintained the deal 

was made without publishing 

a fresh tender, a violation of 

Public Procurement Regulatory 

Authority rules, the official 

said. He added that the 

passport office had the capacity 

to print around 8,000 

passports daily, but without 

lamination and ink ‘nothing 

could be done.’ 

Another official, however, 

said the problem was 

much more complicated than 

it appeared. “The office and 

staff’s services have been 

overstretched due to the establishment 

of unnecessary 

sub-offices across the country,” 

he maintained. 

According to the official, 

five years ago, there were no 

more than 27 passport offices 

in the country. — Internews 

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Behind Royal 

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to Dhofar Building

MIAMI — An on-fire Tiger 

Woods will take a four-stroke 

lead over Graeme McDowell 

into Sunday's final round of the 

WGC-Cadillac Championship 

after shooting a five-under-par 

67 at Doral on Saturday. 

Woods, searching for his 

76th PGA Tour victory, finished 

his third round in fine 

style with a 16-foot birdie putt 

on the 18th, highlighting his 

outstanding work on the greens 

so far in the tournament. 

The 14-times major winner 

finished the day at 18-under 

for a 198 total, while McDowell's 

three-under par 69 put him 

on 14-under at 202. 

The debate over whether 

Woods is "back" will not be 

over until he wins a major 

championship again, but on 

this display he will be the favourite, 

on form and not just 

Ashraful, Rahim 

in record stand 

against Sri Lanka 

Page 18 

reputation, at the Masters next 

month. 

Woods, who won in January 

at Torrey Pines, has made 24 

birdies through 54 holes — a 

personal record at this stage in 

a tournament and he has never 

lost a final round where he has 

led by three or more strokes. 

"He putted fantastically 

today," said playing partner 

McDowell. "He controlled 

every part of his game very 

well, very few loose shots. 

He's going to be a tough man 

to catch tomorrow." 

Woods, who started 

with a two-stroke lead over 

McDowell, began his round in 

blistering fashion by collecting 

birdies on his first three holes 

and added four more before 

heading to the clubhouse with 

only two blemishes on his card, 

a bogey on the fifth and on the 

17th. The bogey on the penultimate 

hole came courtesy of a 

freak incident where his ball 

stuck in the top of a palm tree, 

forcing him to take unplayable 

lie and a penalty stroke. 


Woods was powerful and 

mostly accurate off the tee but 

also was outstanding with his 

short irons. 

"I'm hitting the ball further 

and it is just about adjustments. 

I had to re-establish the 

new numbers and new feels 

and it took a little bit of time 

and I worked on it. It is starting 

to pay off," said the world 

number two. 

McDowell, also striding the 

course in confidence, made an 

equally lightning start with an 

eagle on the first and a birdie 

on the third, reaching the turn 

at four-under. 

The Northern Irishman lost 

his momentum with a bogey 

on the 11th and a double on the 

14th, where he got in trouble in 

the rough. 

The 2010 US Open winner 

bounced back though with a 

superb eagle on the par-four 

16th, where he drove over the 

back of the green and then 

superbly chipped in from 22 

feet. 

Phil Mickelson and Steve 

Stricker are both five shots off 

the lead, tied for third place, 

after shooting rounds of 69. 

Mickelson had hoped for a 

final round pairing with Woods 

and a chance to avenge him for 

the defeat in the 'Duel at Doral' 

in the 2005 Ford Open but he 

still believes he can catch his 

old rival. 

"I'm going to have to play 

a really incredible round on 

Sunday but I really don't have 

to play that different than I 

played today," said Mickelson. 

"I threw away five or six shots 

on and around the greens. I just 

can't afford to give away those 

shots." 

England salvage 

draw against 

New Zealand 

Page 18 

England scrape past Italy in Six-Nations 

ITALY’S Edoardo Gori kicks the ball during the Six-Nations against England at Twickenham Stadium yesterday. — AFP 

Nadal defeats Harrison easily 

INDIAN WELLS — With the tennis 

world watching closely, Rafa Nadal made 

a successful return to Indian Wells with a 

7-6, 6-2 victory over Ryan Harrison in the 

second round of the BNP Paribas Open 

on Saturday. 

Though initially looking a little rusty, 

the Spanish left-hander showed no visible 

sign of discomfort after being sidelined 

for seven months last year by a left knee 

injury before sealing a commanding win 

in just over an hour and a half. 

Playing his first match on a hardcourt 

surface in 346 days, Nadal edged a close 

first set 7-3 in the tiebreak, then broke 

Harrison's serve in the third and fifth 

games of the second to take firm control. 

The Spanish world number five, who 

had his left knee taped up through the 

match, served out to book his place in the 

third round, ending Harrison's brave challenge 

with an overhead smash to spark 

loud roars from the crowd. 

"It was a good victory for me today 

against a good opponent," Nadal, who 

clinched the Indian Wells title in 2007 

and 2009, told reporters. "I am satisfied 

to be in the next round. That's the most 

important thing. 

"Two weeks ago, I didn't really know 

if I would be here playing. I am happy 

to be here. I am happy to be in the third 

round." 

Asked how he felt after the match, 

Nadal replied: "I am fine. My physical 

performance needs to improve. My movements 

need to improve. Matches like this 

help for me sure, no? 

Nadal, who has enjoyed a successful 

tournament run on clay in recent weeks, 

was given an electrifying welcome by a 

vocal crowd when he first walked out on 

to the showpiece Stadium Court at the Indian 

Wells Tennis Garden. 

He made a confident start, racing into 

a 4-1 lead before his 73rd-ranked opponent 

broke back in the seventh game to 

take the opening set into a tiebreak. 

Nadal, who had occasionally blasted 

his ground strokes long as he tried to find 

his range, stormed 5-1 ahead in the tiebreak 

before wrapping up the set in 54 

RAFAEL Nadal waves to the crowd 

after defeating Ryan Harrison in 

Indian Wells on Saturday. — Reuters 

minutes after he struck a deep forehand 

which forced an error by Harrison. 

The Spaniard did not look back, 

breaking Harrison in the third game of 

the second set with a stunning crosscourt 

pass and also in the fifth with a dipping 

forehand service return which the American 

could not retrieve. 

While Nadal did not attempt to slide in 

his customary manner as he moved from 

side to side in some of the longer baseline 

rallies, he did not appear to be in any discomfort 

on the surface expected to trouble 

him most following his knee injury. 

The Spaniard, who returned to the 

ATP circuit last month in South America 

where he competed in three relatively 

minor claycourt events, winning two of 

them after reaching all three finals, will 

next face Leonardo Mayer of Argentina. 

Mayer brushed aside Russian Mikhail 

Youzhny 6-2, 6-3 earlier in the day. 

AZARENKA BEATS HANTUCHOVA 

Australian Open champion and top 

seed Victoria Azarenka recovered from a 

sluggish start to beat Slovakia’s Daniela 

Hantuchova 6-4 6-1 in the second round. 

Trailing 1-4 in the opening set, the 

pony-tailed Belarusian then gave herself 

a wake-up call and seized control by winning 

11 of the next 12 games to improve 

her record this season to 15-0. 

Azarenka clinched the first set with an 

ace, then broke Hantuchova for a sixth 

time in the seventh game of the second 

when the twice former champion dumped 

a backhand into the net. 

In other matches, former U.S. Open 

champion Samantha Stosur eased into the 

third round with a commanding 6-3 6-4 

victory over American teenager Madison 

Keys while fourth-seeded German Angelique 

Kerber swept past Romania’s Irina 

Begu 6-3 6-2. 

Results: Men’s 2nd round: Benoit Paire 

(FRA) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER x21) 6-4, 

6-2 Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) bt Fernando Verdasco 

(ESP x29) 6-1, 6-0 Kevin Anderson (RSA) bt 

David Ferrer (ESP x4) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 Leonardo 

Mayer (ARG) bt Mikhail Youzhny (RUS x30) 

6-2, 6-3 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x18) bt Wayne 

Odesnik (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 Roger Federer (SUI 

x2) bt Denis Istomin (UZB) 6-2, 6-3 Jerzy Janowicz 

(POL x24) bt David Nalbandian (ARG) 7-6 

(7/4), 4-6, 6-3 Gilles Simon (FRA x13) bt Paolo 

Lorenzi (ITA) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 

bt John Isner (USA x15) 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-4 Ivan 

Dodig (CRO) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA x28) 6-4, 

6-2 Andreas Seppi (ITA x20) bt Daniel Brands 

(GER) 7-5, 6-4 Florian Mayer (GER x27) bt David 

Goffin (BEL) 6-4, 6-2 Richard Gasquet (FRA 

x10) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 Ernests 

Gulbis (LAT) bt Janko Tipsarevic (SRB x9) 

6-2, 6-0 Rafael Nadal (ESP x5) bt Ryan Harrison 

(USA) 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 Tomas Berdych (CZE x6) bt 

Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-2, 6-4 

Women’s 2nd round: Jamie Hampton (USA) 

bt Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE x20) 6-3, 6-3 Julia Goerges 

(GER x21) bt Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 6-3, 6-3 Angelique 

Kerber (GER x4) bt Irina-Camelia Begu 

(ROM) 6-3, 6-2 Yanina Wickmayer (BEL x30) 

bt Mirjana Lucic (CRO) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 Peng Shuai 

(CHN x32) bt Alexandra Dulgheru (ROM) 6-0, 

4-6, 6-3 Samantha Stosur (AUS x7) bt Madison 

Keys (USA) 6-3, 6-4 Nadia Petrova (RUS x10) 

bt Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 6-2, 6-3 Garbine Muguruza 

(ESP) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x17) 

6-3, 1-6, 6-4 Ana Ivanovic (SRB x11) bt Taylor 

Townsend (USA) 6-1, 6-2 Magdalena Rybarikova 

(SVK) bt Lucie Safarova (CZE x16) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL x28) bt Monica Niculescu 

(ROM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. — Reuters/AFP 

LONDON — A disjointed and 

error-strewn England needed 

a brilliant goalkicking display 

by Toby Flood to beat Italy 18- 

11 at Twickenham yesterday 

and set up a Six-Nations championship 

decider against Wales 

in Cardiff next Saturday. 

England will have to play 

a lot better to secure a win 

that would give them their 

first Grand Slam since 2003 

and their second title in three 

years while Wales, who beat 

Scotland 28-18 on Saturday 

for their third tournament win, 

would retain their title if they 

won by eight points. 

Flyhalf Flood, playing instead 

of the injured Owen Farrell, 

scored England’s points as 

he landed all six of his penalty 

attempts but Italy played most 

of the rugby and completely 

dominated the second half, 

scoring the only try through 

winger Luke McLean. 

England led 12-3 at halftime 

but, instead of pouring 

on the points to make Wales’ 

task tougher, they were forced 

to defend for long periods, often 

desperately, against a team 

who had lost by an average 

of almost 35 points on every 

previous Twickenham Six- 

Nations visit. 

“We will have to be a lot 

better than that,” England 

coach Stuart Lancaster told 

the BBC looking ahead to next 

week’s showdown. 

“It will be a big step up. 

“I’m disappointed we weren’t 

quite accurate enough. We let 

the control slip in the second 

half and Italy pushed us right 

to the end.” 

England actually started 

full of running as, despite a 

freezing arctic wind blowing 

through Twickenham, it was 

dry and firm underfoot. 

However, they struggled 

to turn that early dominance 

into points and lost their way, 

even when Italy were reduced 

to 14 men. Four Flood penalties 

to one by Luciano Orquera 

had the hosts 12-3 ahead at the 

break with the crowd ruing 

three excellent try-scoring opportunities 

wasted by poor execution 

or decision-making. 

A try eventually arrived 10 

minutes after the restart but it 

was Italy who claimed it, and 

deservedly so, as they were 

well on top. A horribly-sliced 

clearance kick by Danny Care 

went straight to an unchallenged 

Alessandro Zanni and 

Orquera then chipped wide for 

McLean to score in the corner. 

Orquera missed the conversion 

and a penalty soon after 

but Italy kept their spirits up 

and, instead of fading in the 

final quarter as they have so 

often before, they stepped up 

their game and took charge. 

Showing some crisp passing 

and real aggression at the 

breakdown, the Italians poured 

forward and forced England to 

defend their own line for long 

spells while barely venturing 

over the halfway line themselves. 

That defence held firm, 

however, to prevent what could 

have been a match-drawing try 

and leave the fifth-placed Italians 

frustrated at being unable 

to add to the two points gained 

from their first-day victory 

over France. 

“It was important to get 

the win,” said England captain 

Chris Robshaw. “We were 

under no illusions, especially 

after last year in Rome (when 

England won 19-15). 

“There were moments we 

played very well but a little bit 

of execution let us down.” 

A seven-point win for 

Wales would leave the teams 

level on points and points difference 

and see the championship 

decided on tries scored. 

Wales have scored seven to 

England’s five in the first four 

rounds. If the two end level 

on tries too, the title would 

be shared. Italy have now lost 

three in a row and host Ireland 

in their final game. 

Their fullback Andrea Masi 

was named man of the match 

and was frustrated not to have 

taken something from the 

game. “It was a very good performance,” 

he said. “We came 

from two poor games and we 

played better rugby with much 

more physicality.” — Reuter 

Sizzling Woods takes commanding lead at Doral 

TIGER Woods and Graeme McDowell walk off the 18th 

green after the third round of play in Doral. — Reuters 

Long, Baun lift All-England titles 

CHINA’S Chen Long and Denmark’s Tine Baun poses with their trophies yesterday. — AFP 

BIRMINGHAM — World No 1 Lee Chong 

Wei, who deferred retirement after the Olympics 

to make a few last attempts on the major 

titles, found himself denied in yesterday’s final 

of the All-England Open. 

Lee also found himself with an impressive 

new rival, Chen Long, a 24-year-old, who 

fought off brave fight-backs by the favourite in 

each game to triumph 21-17, 21-18. 

Last year Lee lost the title to Lin Dan. Now 

the Chinese legend may have a good successor, 

on the evidence of Chen's marvellous 

containment and rallying ability, and increasing 

patience and judgement on when to make 

pouncing attacks. 

Chen also carried himself like a champion. 

He never panicked when the match got tight, 

and handled the pressure like a player who 

may go on to win many more big titles. 

"This is very important — a top, world class 

tournament, and winning it has given me a lot 

of experience," he said. "I am very excited 

about that." 

It suggests that Lin may not need to come 

out of semi-retirement and make an attempt to 

defend the world title in Guangzhou in August 

for China to win it again. 

For Lee this was a disappointment. The 30- 

year-old started both games slowly. He was 0-7 

down before he got going, and 1-6 down in the 

second game, and both deficits proved a little 

too much to make up. He moved beautifully as 

usual, but could not force his attacks through 

Chen's brilliant defence when he tried to ambush 

the second seed, and did not have quite 

enough energy in the tank to apply pressure 

with a few extra-fast rallies. He did fight hard, 

getting back to 17-19 in the first game and to 

a brief lead at 15-14 in the second. But Chen's 

speed and consistency never slackened or wavered 

and proved decisive, as Lee conceded. 

"This was my best," said Lee. 

Earlier, Tine Baun became the oldest All- 

England women's singles winner of the open 

era when she beat the youngest singles finalist, 

Ratchanok Intanon, in an uniquely emotional 

final. 

The 33-year-old's 21-14, 16-21, 21-10 win 

over the 18-year-old brought to an end the career 

of one of the outstanding players of the 

past ten years, and the only one to threaten Chinese 

dominance. 

The Dane decided to compete this year as 

a "last adventure" but instead, as seventh seed, 

surprised herself by winning the All-England 

title back and taking it a third time. —AFP 

Stricker, who gave putting 

lessons to Woods on the eve 

of this tournament, may privately 

wonder if that was the 

best-timed gesture and he conceded 

that Woods looks hard 

to budge. 

"You know what kind of 

closer he is. When he gets a 

lead in a tournament it is tough. 

He doesn't let too many guys 

in usually," said Stricker. 

World number one Rory 

McIlroy made six birdies as 

he recovered from a poor start 

of a bogey on the third and 

a double-bogey on the next 

hole. 

McIlroy, still feeling his 

way back to form after intensive 

work on his swing, carded 

a one-under 71 and is threeunder 

for the tournament, 15 

strokes behind Woods and tied 

in 30th place. — Reuters 

Brumbies 

power to 

victory 

SYDNEY — Jake White's 

ACT Brumbies swept aside 

the New South Wales Waratahs 

to extend their lead at 

the top of rugby's Super 15 

series as defending champions 

Waikato Chiefs lost for 

the first time this weekend. 

The Brumbies, rocked by 

a season-ending knee injury 

to Wallaby breakdown ace 

David Pocock, smashed the 

Waratahs in a bonus point 

35-6 win to charge to a fivepoint 

lead at the top of the 

southern hemisphere provincial 

championship. 

The Chiefs, who beat the 

Sharks in last year's final, 

lost ground going down 36- 

34 to the Western Stormers 

in a thriller in Cape Town, 

but came away with two bonus 

points to lead the New 

Zealand conference. The 

2011 champions Queensland 

Reds kept in touch with the 

leaders with a 23-13 win 

over the Rebels in an Australian 

derby in Melbourne. 

Seven-time champions 

Canterbury Crusaders have 

yet to win this season after 

falling 29-28 to the Hurricanes 

in Wellington, while 

South Africa's Central Cheetahs 

won their first game 

of the campaign against 

the Otago Highlanders 

36-19. —AFP 

Northern Bulls 

down Blues 

AUCKLAND — The Northern 

Bulls completed a South 

African whitewash over New 

Zealand sides with an upset 

28-21 win over the Auckland 

Blues in their Super 15 clash 

at Eden Park yesterday. 

"It's pretty good, I must 

say," declared Bulls skipper 

Pierre Spies. 

"It's a great day for us. 

I'm thankful and humble and 

it was a great team effort. 

It's not easy coming here 

to win." Both the Bulls and 

Blues went into the match 

brimming with confidence 

after winning their opening 

two matches, but the Aucklanders 

could not reproduce 

the forward power they had 

previously shown. 

Coach John Kirwan had 

raised eyebrows with a raft 

of changes to his side, including 

starting five debutants. 

It was a gamble that 

did not pay off a week before 

the Blues have a bye, 

leaving captain Ali Williams 

distraught. 

"We just didn't turn up. 

I'm gutted," he said. "We 

had earned some respect 

(with two wins) and then we 

lost it just like that. We've 

got ourselves to blame. We 

didn't attack, we didn't play 

the game we trained for." 

The Blues had first points 

on the board with a penalty 

by fly-half Baden Kerr, playing 

only his second Super 

Rugby match, in an early 

kicking duel with Morne 

Steyn which saw the Blues 

take a 6-3 lead. 

However, the Bulls were 

always threatening, and a 

quarter of the way into the 

game they produced two 

tries in five minutes to go 

15-6 ahead. — AFP 

Knicks crush 

Utah Jazz 

LOS ANGELES — The 

New York Knicks were without 

Carmelo Anthony and 

Amar'e Stoudemire, while 

the Utah Jazz were without 

direction or passion. 

The Knicks easily overcame 

the absence of their 

star forwards on Saturday 

night and rode a huge game 

from their reserves to a 113- 

84 home victory over the 

listless Jazz, who completed 

a winless road trip. 

J R Smith scored 24 

points and Steve Novak added 

a season-high 20 for the 

Knicks. 

Results: NY Knicks bt Utah 

Jazz 113-84, Brooklyn Nets bt 

Atlanta Hawks 93-80, Washington 

Wizards bt Charlotte Bobcats 

104-87, Memphis Heat bt New 

Orleans 96-85, Denver Nuggets bt 

Minnesota Timberwolves 111-88. 

— Reuters

17 SPORT 



Ibrahimovic leads PSG to win 

PARIS Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) in action Nancy during the match at the Parc-des-Princes Stadium in Paris. — AFP 

PARIS — Zlatan Ibrahimovic 

returned to action with a flourish 

by scoring his sixth league 

double this season to give below-par 

Paris St Germain a 2-1 

home win over AS Nancy and 

a five-point lead atop Ligue 1 

on Saturday. 

PSG seemed set for another 

shock defeat when Benjamin 

Moukandjo deservedly put the 

struggling visitors ahead in the 

36th minute. 

But PSG capitalised on 

Nancy's mistakes as Ligue 1 

leading scorer Ibrahimovic, 

who missed the midweek 

Champions League clash with 

Valencia through suspension, 

pounced twice in four minutes 

around the hour to take 

CRICKET 

By Rex Berhardt 

MUSCAT — Zeeshan Maqsood 

with bowling figures of 

four for 14 off four overs and 

scoring 36 (32b, 5x4) helped 

Assarain ‘A’ record a 56-run 

win against Arabian Industries 

and earn a place in the finals 

of the Khimji Ramdas sponsored 

Senior Cup T20 tournament. 

The match was played 

in the morning session during 

the week end at the Ministry 

of Sports Turf Grounds at Al 

Amerat. 

Opting to bat after winning 

the toss Assarain ‘A’ scored 

153 runs for the loss of 8 wickets 

at the end of their quota of 

20 overs. Opening batsman 

Arun Poulose chipped in with 

a useful 21 (12b, 5x4) and departed 

with the score on 34 off 

4 overs. Opening the batting 

Zeeshan Maqsood together 

with skipper Arif Hussain 42 

(32b, 6x4) put together 67 runs 

off 8.5 overs to help swell the 

score. 

Bowlers Jaspreet Singh and 

David Samrot bagged 3 wickets 

each conceding 23 and 30 

runs respectively off 4 overs 

each. 

Requiring a fraction of under 

8 run per over Arabian Industries 

were bowled out for 99 

off 18.1 overs. Major contributors 

came from opening batsman 

Muhammed Khalid 23 

(17, 4x4), No.3 batsman Shane 

MUSCAT — Oman Cricket’s junior 

league (Under-19 and Under-16) 

inter-school winners were felicitated 

at a prize distribution ceremony 

at the Muscat Club Grounds on 

Wednesday evening. 

The awards for the junior league 

Under-16 tournament were presented 

by Kiran Asher whilst the 

Under-19 awards were presented 

by Oman Cricket Chairman Kanak 

Khimji. 

Also present at the ceremony 

were Dad Mohammed al Balushi 

(board member), head of the junior 

tournament committee M V Manjunath 

and A R Srinivasan head of the 

senior tournament committee. 

Awards: Under-16: Win- 

his league total to 24 goals. 

PSG have 57 points from 28 

games. 

The Qatari-backed club, 

who reached the quarterfinals 

of Europe's elite competition 

for the first time in 18 years, 

looked far less comfortable 

against Nancy, who are now 

bottom of the standings and 

still six points from the safety 

zone. 

"We know that it's a tough 

league and that it's hard to play 

as often as we have done," 

goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu 

told French channel Canal 

Plus. 

"If everything was done already, 

the sport would not be 

so great. We have to write our 

Alam Faridi 22 (29b, 1x4) and 

Jaspreet Singh batting at No 9 

made 22 (16b, 1x4). 

Zeeshan received valuable 

support from Sindo Michael 3 

for 20 off 4 overs and Shiju V 

S 2 for 14 off 14 off 3.1 overs. 

Brief scores: Assarain ‘A’ 155 

for the loss of 8 wickets off 20 overs 

(Arif Hussain 42, Zeeshan Maqsood 

36 and Arun Poulose 21; Jaspreet 

Singh 3/23 and David Samrot 3/30) 

bt Arabian Industries 99 all out off 

18.1 overs (Muhammed Khalid 23, 

Shane Alam Faridi 22 and Jaspreet 

Singh 22; Zeeshan Maqsood 4/14, 

Sind Michael 3/20 and Shiju V.S. 

2/14). 

JAYMIN, RAJESH SHINE 

Passage to India thanks to 

a brilliant 79 (47bb , 4x6 and 

5x4) from opening batsman 

Jaymin Tailor and an excellent 

spell of bowling from skipper 

Rajesh Panchal who bagged 4 

for 17 off 4 overs registered 

a 41-run win against Al Turki 

NMC. The Khimji Ramdas 

ners: Indian School Muscat ‘A’. 

Runner-Up: Bangladesh School 

own history," he added when 

asked why his team has struggled 

against unfancied opponents. 

Lille also recovered 

from a goal down to record a 

fifth consecutive league win, 

3-1 at neighbours Valenciennes, 

and climbed to fifth on 

46 points. 

The home team went ahead 

thanks to Maor Melikson's 

first league goal in the 24th 

minute. 

Lille's Ronny Rodelin made 

it 1-1 in the 55th following a 

corner and Tulio De Melo also 

headed home to put the visitors 

in front with 10 minutes left. 

Benoit Pedretti wrapped 

up the victory with a late goal 

as the 2011 champions cut the 

sponsored Senior Cup Knock 

out T20 match was played 

in the afternoon at the same 

venue. 

Winning the toss and batting 

first Passage to India 

reached 170 for the loss of 8 

wickets at the end of the 20th 

over. Other valuable contributions 

came from Abdulahad 

Malek 22 (23b, 3x4) and Zeeshan 

Ahmed 21 (13b, 3x4). 

The bowlers to be amongst 

the wickets were Brijesh Patel 

and skipper Ajay Lalcheta who 

ended with 3 wickets each conceding 

18 and 46 runs respectively 

off 4 overs each. 

Set a target of 171 runs for 

victory and a place in the finals 

Al Turki NMC were off to a 

solid start with openers skipper 

Ajay Lalcheta 60 (41b, 

3x6 and 7x4) and his partner 

Twinkle Bhandari 29 (35b, 

3x4) being associated in a 91 

Muscat; Best batsman and all 

rounder Abishek Ramesh (ISM 

gap to the third and last Champions 

League qualifying spot 

to three points. 

In Paris, PSG's Sweden 

striker Ibrahimovic and Italy 

midfielder Marco Verratti 

were back after being banned 

for the 1-1 Champions League 

draw with Valencia but the 

hosts produced a mediocre 

first period. 

Nancy almost opened the 

scoring in the 27th but Yassine 

Jebbour's curling strike 

was parried on to the post by 

Sirigu. 

The Italy reserve keeper 

then saved Moukandjo's low 

strike nine minutes later but 

could not prevent the forward 

heading the loose ball home 

Zeeshan bowls Assarain ‘A’ to victory 

AFSAL K RAJESH PANCHAL ZEESHAN MAQSOOD 

run opening partnership off 12 

overs. With the exit of the duo 

in quick succession wickets 

tumbled and the team could 

only manage 129 for the loss 

of 9 wickets at the end of the 

stipulated 20 overs. 

Brief scores: Passage to India 

170 for the loss of 8 wickets off 20 

overs (Jaymin Tailor 79, Abdulahad 

Malek 22 and Zeeshan Ahmed 21; 

Brijesh Patel 3/18 and Ajay Lalcheta 

3/46) bt Al Turki NMC 129 for the 

loss 9 wickets off 20 overs (Ajay 

Lalcheta 60 and Twinkle Bhandari 

29; Rajesh Panchal 4/17). 

Assarain ‘A’ will meet 

Passage to India in the Senior 

Cup Finals at the Ministry 

of Sports Turf ground at Al 

Amerat on Friday commencing 

at 1.30 p.m. 

STARS LIGHT IN FINAL 

Stars Light qualified for 

the Khimji Ramdas sponsored 

Intermediate Cup T20 knock 

finals when they chalked up an 

easy four-wicket win against 

to give the visitors a surprise 

lead. PSG's France winger 

Jeremy Menez replaced the 

ineffective Javier Pastore after 

the break and proved decisive 

when he set up Ibrahimovic in 

the area to equalise in the 59th 

minute after centre back Sebastien 

Puygrenier chested the 

ball into his path. 

Four minutes later, the 

Swede ran through on goal 

from Verratti's neat long pass 

and tucked the ball into an 

empty net for his 24th league 

goal of the season as goalkeeper 

Damien Gregorini failed to 

clear. 

David Beckham came off 

the bench for the last few minutes. 

— Reuters 

Enhance Eagles in a semi-final 

match played during the morning 

session at the adjoining 

ground No.1 at Al Amerat. 

Invited to bat Enhance Eagles 

were bowled out for 120 

off 19.1 overs with a top score 

of 25 (21b) from Deep Jayawant. 

Skipper Mohsin Raza was 

the pick of the bowlers ending 

with figures of 3 for 16 off 3 

overs whilst Usman Haider 2 

for 20, Rana Zeeshan 2 for 23 

and Irtaza Ahmed 2 for 28. 

Requiring a fraction of over 

a run a ball Stars Light were 

precariously placed with the 

score on 70 for the loss of 7 

wickets off 11 overs with opening 

batsman Mujtaba Ahmed 

chipping in with 25 (18b, 6x4). 

Ateeq Ahmed coming in at the 

fall of the 4th wicket remained 

unbeaten on 42 (36b, 2x6 and 

2x4) and together with No.8 

batsman Rajesh Khetani 27 

not out (13b, 5x4) put together 

51 runs to take the score to 

121 without further loss with 

5 overs to spare. 

Afsal K bowled a tidy 

spell to end with 4 for 20 off 

4 overs. 

Brief scores: E n h a n c e 

Eagles 120 all out off 19.1 overs 

(Deep Jayawant 25; Mohsin Raza 

3/16, Usman Haider 2/20, Rana 

Zeeshan 2/23 and Irtaza Ahmed 

2/28) lost to Stars Light 121 for the 

loss of 6 wickets off 15 overs (Ateeq 

Ahmed 42 n.o., Rajesh Khetani 27 

n.o. and Mujtaba Ahmed 25; Afsal 

K. 4/20). 

‘A’); Best bowler Mohamed Sohil 

(ISAS). 

Substitute Messi on target 

MADRID — Lionel Messi 

came off the bench to score 

a stunning goal that sealed a 

2-0 home win for Barcelona 

over bottom club Deportivo 

La Coruna on Saturday and 

stretched their lead at the top 

of La Liga to 14 points. 

With an eye on AC Milan's 

Champions League visit 

tomorrow, Barca left World 

Player of the Year Messi and 

five Spanish internationals out 

of the starting line-up at the 

Nou Camp. 

Chile forward Alexis 

Sanchez put them in front in 

the 38th minute when Depor 

goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia 

could only palm his powerful 

downward header into the 

roof of the net. 

Spain's record scorer David 

Villa, still not back to his 

best after breaking his leg at 

the end of 2011, had earlier 

squandered a golden chance 

and made way for Messi with 

about half an hour left. 

The Argentina forward 

fluffed one effort five minutes 

from time but drew gasps 

from the home crowd in the 

88th minute when he exchanged 

passes with Alexis 

and dinked a delightful chip 

over the onrushing Aranzubia 

into the net. 

It was Messi's 40th goal of 

the la Liga campaign, his 51st 

in 41 appearances in all competitions 

and the 17th straight 

league match in which he has 

scored, which Barca said was 

a world record. 

The club said on its website 

that Messi had overhauled 

Polish forward Teodor Pewterek, 

who scored in 16 straight 

outings for Ruch Chorzow at 

the end of the 1930s. 

Messi has 11 matches in 

which to beat his La Liga 

record tally of 50 goals from 

last season. 

Assistant Barca coach Jordi 

Roura, standing in for Tito 

Vilanova while he has cancer 

treatment in New York, said 

beating Depor was the best 

way to prepare for the Milan 

match. 

Azzan crowned champion 

MUSCAT — Azzan al Rumhy 

was crowned champion for 

the fourth time in the Muscat 

Open Golf Championship, organised 

by Ras al Hamra Golf 

Club and hosted by Muscat 

Hills. 

Over 100 of the best golfers 

in Oman competed in the 

event. A professional and a 

junior category were added 

for the first time contributing 

to the largest field ever for the 

tournament, including golfers 

from the region and overseas. 

During the two-day competition 

Azzan had a close 

contest with the Oman Open 

champion Jeff Campbell. Being 

two shots ahead after day 

one, Azzan managed to maintain 

his lead during day two, to 

win on a final score of 151. 

Jeff, who scored a magnificent 

birdie on the last hole and 

came second in his maiden 

Muscat Open with a score 

of 153. The third place was 

fiercely competed between 

two former champions, Ed 

Edwards from Doha and local 

star Puli Sharma. 

They both scored 160, 

however, Ed had a better result 

on day two and came third 

on count-back. Mike Bulliman 

had a good second day and 

managed to capture the fifth 

place with a 162 score. 

Azzan was really delighted 

to have won for the fourth 

time and now being the most 

successful champion in the 

Under 19: Winners: Pakistan 

School Muscat; Runner-Up: Indian 

BARCELONA’S Lionel Messi (left) celebrates with his teammates 

after scoring against Deportivo La Coruna. — AFP 

"We played with a lot of 

intensity and had a lot of presence 

in their penalty area but 

they are two completely different 

competitions," he told a 

news conference. 

"The players seem in good 

shape and we will do everything 

humanly possible to get 

past Milan," he added. 

Barca went into the game 

following three defeats in 

their last four outings including 

a 2-0 loss in their Champions 

League last-16, first leg 

tie at Milan last month and bitter 

reverses to arch-rivals Real 

Madrid in the King's Cup and 

La Liga. 

Their return to winning 

ways and a first clean sheet 

in 14 games puts them on 71 

points from 27 of 38 matches, 

with second-placed Atletico 

Madrid on 57 ahead of their 

home fixture against Real Sociedad. 

Champions Real, in third 

spot two points behind their 

city rivals and on a high after 

securing a place in the Champions 

League quarterfinals by 

history of Muscat Open. At 

the prize-giving ceremony he 

thanked the RAHGC organisers 

and volunteers, the staff of 

Muscat Hills and all the sponsors 

for providing such a great 

event. 

In the professional category, 

Trevor Marshall from the 

Sharjah Golf and Shooting 

Club held off the challenge 

from last year’s Muscat Open 

champion Jay Townsend and 

the club professionals from 

Muscat Hills. 

Trevor played two rounds 

of superb golf and managed a 

score of 144, equal to the par 

of Muscat Hills. Trevor was 

impressed with the tournament, 

promising to come back 

next year and to encourage 

School al Seeb; Best batsman Miyuru 

Wickramratne (MCCC); Best 

beating Manchester United, 

visit relegation-threatened 

Celta Vigo. 

Malaga were denied a morale-boosting 

win before their 

Champions League game 

against Porto on Wednesday 

when they were held to a 1-1 

draw at Real Valladolid earlier 

on Saturday. 

The Qatari-owned club 

must overturn a 1-0 deficit to 

reach the Champions League 

quarterfinals on their competition 

debut. 

Coach Manuel Pellegrini 

initially left playmaker Isco 

on the bench and did not use 

Joaquin for the game at Valladolid's 

rain-lashed Jose Zorrilla 

stadium. 

Argentine defender Martin 

Demichelis nodded Malaga 

ahead in the eighth minute before 

Angola striker Manucho 

headed the equaliser four minutes 

before halftime. 

The draw leaves Malaga 

on 44 points in the fourth 

qualification spot for next 

season's Champions League. 

— Reuters 

other club professionals from 

UAE to join him. 

One of Oman’s rising stars, 

Hamood Salim al Harthy 

won the junior category with 

a gross score of 178, a score 

which put him ahead of the 

majority of the more senior 

golfers. 

For the nett prizes the result 

was also very close with 

Mohamad Nasaruddin claiming 

first spot with a score of 

142, just one shot ahead of 

Mohammed Fauzi Adnan on 

143. 

Vishal Dhawan came third 

on 147 followed by Ahmed 

Abdulla al Balushi on 148 and 

Gary Battersby on 150. The 

plate winner was Ian Felton 

on 153. 

Oman Cricket’s inter-school junior league prize-winners felicitated 

UNDER-16 champions Indian School Muscat ‘A’ players pose with their trophy. PICTURE RIGHT: Pakistan School Muscat team with the Under-19 trophy. 

bowler and all-rounder: Hamza Yunus 

Nagory (ISAS).

LONDON — Tottenham 

Hotspur self-destructed in 

losing 3-2 at Liverpool in the 

Premier League yesterday 

to bring their 12-game unbeaten 

run to an end. 

They looked set to go five 

points clear of Chelsea in 

third as two Jan Vertonghen 

strikes gave them the lead 

after Luis Suarez had put 

Liverpool ahead. 

But two defensive errors 

gifted a goal to Stewart 

Downing and a penalty to 

Steven Gerrard as Liverpool 

climbed above neighbours 

Everton in the table. 

Suarez scored his 50th 

Liverpool goal after 21 minutes, 

running on to Philippe 

Coutinho's through-ball and 

flicking the ball first time 

past Hugo Lloris with the 

outside of his right foot. 

Vertonghen levelled in 

first-half injury-time, heading 

in Bale's cross. Eight 

minutes into the second 

half he got his second, firing 

in after Jamie Carragher 

had headed Bale's corner 

clear. 

It could have been 3-1 

four minutes later, Bale's 

break and cross finding 

Gylfi Sigurdsson, whose 

shot was deflected onto the 

post by Glen Johnson. 

Downing marked his 

300th Premier League game 

after 66 minutes, dispossessing 

Lloris as he came out 

of his box to deal with a 

wayward Kyle walker backpass. 

It was another Tottenham 

error that handed Liverpool 

the winner with eight 

minutes remaining. Jermain 

18 SPORT 



Ashraful-Rahim record stand frustrates Sri Lanka 

GALLE, Sri Lanka — Mohammed 

Ashraful made the highest 

score by a Bangladesh batsman 

in Test cricket when he scored a 

magnificent unbeaten 189 on the 

third day of the first Test against 

Sri Lanka yesterday. 

Together with captain Mushfiqur 

Rahim, who also made a 

career best score of 152 not out, 

Ashraful figured in an all-time 

record partnership for his country 

of 261 as Bangladesh reached 438 

for four replying to Sri Lanka's 

first innings of 570 for four declared. 

Bangladesh trail Sri Lanka by 

132 runs with two days left. 

DUNEDIN — England's batsmen 

showed the resilience they had been 

lacking in their first innings to battle to 

a draw in the first of three Tests against 

New Zealand at University Oval here 

yesterday. 

The tourists, who had been bundled 

out for 167 in their first innings, 

were 421 for six with a lead of 128 

runs when captains Alastair Cook and 

Brendon McCullum agreed a result 

was unlikely in the remaining 15 overs 

available on the final day. 

Ian Bell, on 26, and wicketkeeper 

Matt Prior on 23 were at the crease 

when the match ended, having snuffed 

out New Zealand's slim hopes of victory 

in the final session. 

Those hopes had been briefly 

roused after the tea break when nightwatchman 

Steven Finn was trapped in 

front by left-arm spinner Bruce Martin 

for 56 and Joe Root was run out for a 

duck. 

Root's dismissal left England on 

390 for six, a lead of 97 runs with a 

minimum 31 overs remaining in the 

day. 

"I thought even up until the last 

couple of overs there we were a red hot 

crack if we could get into those bowlers 

with the ball still new," McCullum 

told reporters. 

"We did everything we possibly 

could to get the result but we came up 

against a team that was hell bent on ensuring 

they didn't lose, and on a surface 

like that they would have had to make 

a few mistakes in the second innings. 

"Even then we still went past the 

bat numerous occasions and there were 

many times when things could have 

fallen our way on a different day." 

"This is the first time I spent so 

much time in the nineties and I felt 

like batting all day," Ashraful told 

reporters. 

"I made 35 runs in the second 

session today but it wasn't boring. 

I told myself that this is Test cricket. 

I enjoyed every moment of it. I 

am just thankful that they selected 

me. I am just 11 runs away, I want 

to be the first Bangladeshi to score 

a double century." 

Sri Lanka grabbed two wickets 

in the first session but Ashraful 

and Mushfiqur then batted together 

through the rest of the day 

to frustrate the home bowlers on a 

flat track that hardly offered any 

Finn's first Test half century and 

highest first class score exemplified 

England's doggedness in their second 

innings as he played the nightwatchman's 

role to perfection. 

Prior to his first innings knock of 20 

at University Oval, his previous highest 

Test score was 19 against Sri Lanka 

at Lord's in 2011. 

The tall fast bowler faced 203 balls 

and batted for almost five hours as he 

held up one end while the more established 

batsmen chipped away at what 

was remaining of New Zealand's imposing 

293-run first innings lead after 

McCullum had declared their first innings 

at 460 for nine. 

"The way Steven applied himself 

was fantastic, I certainly didn't know 

assistance. The ball rarely beat the 

bat and Sri Lanka also missed a 

few half chances that came their 

way with Ashraful on 110 and 143 

and Mushfiqur on 103. 

Ashraful, selected for the 

tour only because of an injury to 

Shariar Nafees, went past his own 

previous highest score for Bangladesh 

— 158 not out against India 

at Chittagong in 2004 — and by 

the close had faced 398 balls and 

hit 20 fours and a six. 

Mushfiqur provided him with 

excellent support, striking 18 fours 

and one six in his 236-ball knock. 

Ashraful celebrated his return 

to Test cricket after a 15-month 

he had that in him," Cook said, adding 

that Finn had been 'bribed' to take the 

role with inducements if he reached 

score milestones or lasted a set number 

of overs. 

"I don't think he did either but it 

shows when you really put your mind 

to something and are really disciplined 

on a flat wicket, anyone can make 

themselves hard to get out." 

The tourists had resumed on 234 

for one, a deficit of 59 runs, after Cook 

(116) had been dismissed just before 

stumps on Saturday. 

Nick Compton was the only batsman 

out before lunch, trapped lbw by 

Wagner for 117, but he was able to 

head back to the pavillion safe in the 

knowledge that his partnership with 

absence by reaching his sixth century 

in the morning session, having 

moved on from his overnight 

score of 65. 

It was his fifth ton against Sri 

Lanka and he raised his bat and 

punched the air in delight. 

Ashraful had enjoyed a third 

wicket stand of 105 with overnight 

partner Mominul Haque before 

the hosts made a quick double 

strike. 

Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara 

managed to find the edge of Mominul's 

bat and Angelo Mathews 

took the catch at first slip to send 

him on his way for 55. 

Seven runs later, Mahmudullah 

England salvage draw against NZ 

Chelsea hit back to 

hold Man United 

LONDON — Chelsea staged 

a dramatic second-half fightback 

to rescue a 2-2 draw 

at Manchester United in the 

FA Cup quarterfinals yesterday. 

Rafael Benitez's Cup holders 

were set to surrender the 

trophy after falling two goals 

behind within the first 11 

minutes. 

Javier Hernandez got the 

first for United with a looping 

header and Wayne Rooney, 

back in the starting line-up 

after being controversially 

dropped in the midweek 

Champions League defeat 

against Real Madrid, netted 

the second with a curling 

free-kick. 

However, Eden Hazard 

came off the bench to give 

Chelsea a lifeline with a fine 

finish in the 59th minute and 

Brazil midfielder Ramires 

slotted home the equaliser 

NEW Zealand’s captain Brendon McCullum (right) shakes hands with 

England’s Kevin Pietersen as they walk off the ground at the end of their 

drawn first Test at the University Oval in Dunedin yesterday. — Reuters 

nine minutes later to set up a 

replay at Stamford Bridge. 

In the day's other quarterfinal, 

Indian-owned Blackburn 

earned an FA Cup quarterfinal 

replay against Millwall after 

riding their luck in a 0-0 draw 

at the Den. 

Michael Appleton's team 

were second best for long 

periods of the last eight clash 

between two out of form 

Championship clubs, but they 

enjoyed their share of good 

fortune to set up a replay at 

Ewood Park on Wednesday. 

Andy Keogh's first half 

header struck a post before Lions 

striker Rob Hulse missed 

an absolute sitter from closerange 

in the second half. 

In Saturday's quarterfinals, 

Manchester City had routed 

Championship side Barnsley 

5-0 at Eastlands, while Wigan 

enjoyed a surprise 3-0 win at 

Everton. — AFP 

Cook on Saturday had resurrected 

England's position in the match. 

The pair put on a stubborn 231-run 

opening stand, taking a massive chunk 

out of New Zealand's first innings 

lead. 

"It's a case of 'right, we got away 

with that one guys but we're going to 

have to turn on for the next game'," 

Compton told reporters. 

"We put ourselves in this position, 

we're well aware of that. We weren't 

good enough in the first innings and 

New Zealand were right on it. They 

batted brilliantly, they bowled well. 

"So it was a bit of a kick up the proverbial, 

if you know what I mean. It 

was a case of really trying to get back 

into it. We're aware that if we play to 

our capabilities then we've got a good 

chance, no doubt." 

The series resumes in Wellington 

next week with the third Test taking 

place in Auckland from March 22. 

SCOREBOARD 

England 1st innings 167 

New Zealand 1st innings 

460 for 9 decl 

England 2nd innings 

(234 for 1 overnight) 

N Compton lbw Wagner ............................117 

S Finn lbw Martin ........................................56 

J Trott c&b Wagner ......................................52 

K Pietersen c Watling b Wagner ..................12 

I Bell (not out) ..............................................26 

J Root run out .................................................0 

M Prior (not out) ..........................................23 

Extras: (b-6, lb-11, w-1, nb-1) ....................19 

Total: (6 wkts, 170.0 overs) .......................421 

Fall of wickets: 1-231, 2-265, 3-355, 4-367, 

5-386, 6-390. 

Bowling: Southee 36-8-94-0 (nb-1), Boult 35- 

12-49-1, Wagner 43-9-141-3 (w-1), Martin 44- 

13-90-1, Williamson 12-3-30-0. 

Self-inflicted wounds bring 

Spurs down vs Liverpool 

Defoe knocked the ball back 

into his box where Suarez 

was bundled over by Benoit 

Assou-Ekotto. 

Gerrard converted the 

penalty low to Lloris's left. 

Stoke City's run without 

an away win stands at seven 

games after they went down 

2-1 at Newcastle United, who 

stand nine points clear of the 

drop zone and are surely 

safe from relegation. 

Jon Walters put Stoke 

City ahead after 67 minutes, 

converting a penalty after 

being fouled by Cheick Tiote. 

A Yohan Cabaye freekick 

levelled the scores five 

minutes later and Papiss 

Cisse notched the winner 

in injury-time after substitute 

Sylvain Marveux had 

opened Stoke up. — dpa 

(0) gave the charge to left-arm spinner 

Rangana Herath but missed to 

offer wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal 

an easy stumping. 

Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford 

said that there was a lot of cricket 

to be played in the test in the remaining 

two days. 

"When we came to the ground 

this morning we were hoping 

for a better day but all credit to 

Bangladesh and those two batsmen 

particularly, they batted superbly 

and played Bangladesh 

into a pretty strong position," said 

Ford. 

"It's up to us to break this partnership 

early in the morning and if 

BLOEMFONTEIN, South 

Africa — Colin Ingram hit 

an unbeaten century to set up 

a comfortable 125-run win 

for South Africa in the first 

one-day international (ODI) 

against Pakistan at Chevrolet 

Park yesterday. 

The left-handed Ingram 

made 105 not out as South 

Africa piled up 315 for four 

after being sent in to bat. Pakistan 

could only make 190 in 

reply. 

South African captain A 

B de Villiers described the 

win as 'a huge step in the 

right direction' after what 

he admitted had been 'worrying 

and frustrating' recent 

one-day performances by the 

team. 

Pakistan captain Misbahul 

Haq said his side had been 

unable to exploit helpful 

bowling conditions early on. 

Misbah said an opening 

partnership of 72 by Graeme 

Smith and Hashim Amla had 

set up the South African innings. 

"The way the ball was 

seaming, they played really 

well. We were looking to get 

early wickets. If South Africa 

had scored 270 or 280 it could 

have been a good game," he 

said. 

Ingram made his runs off 

103 balls with ten fours. It 

was his third one-day international 

century and his second 

against Pakistan. 

He shared partnerships 

of 120 for the third wicket 

with captain A B de Villiers 

(65), 62 for the fourth wicket 

with Faf du Plessis (26) and 

50 off only 23 balls with 

Farhaan Behardien, who 

hammered 34 not out off 14 

deliveries. 

Smith and Amla set an aggressive 

tone with their opening 

partnership stand, with 

both batsmen going for their 

shots against Junaid Khan 

and Umar Gul despite the 

Pakistan new ball bowlers 

getting some early assistance 

from the pitch. 

The South Africans opted 

for the batting power play 

immediately after the compulsory 

first ten overs but 

lost Smith when he gloved 

an attempted reverse sweep 

to be caught behind off Saeed 

Ajmal, one of four spin bowlers 

in the six-man bowling attack, 

for 30. 

Amla made 43 before he 

was caught at deep square leg 

off Mohammed Hafeez. 

De Villiers and Ingram 

Al Nasr beat Libya’s Al Najm 22-0, Ahli-Sidab held 

AL Nasr thrashed a hapless Al Najm of Libya 22-0 as the inaugural Arab Clubs Hockey Championship got off to a rousing start at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex yesterday. 

In the next match of the evening, Ahli-Sidab were held to a 2-2 draw by Al Ittihad of the UAE. In today’s matches, Al Nasr face another Libyan outfit Al Shumoh and 

Egypt’s Al Sharqiya will start their campaign against UAE’s Al Ittihad. — Pictures by Mohammed Mahjoub 

we can get a couple of wickets the 

game can change quite quickly." 

SCOREBOARD 

Sri Lanka 1st innings 

570 for 4 declared 

Bangladesh 1st innings 

(135 for 2 overnight) 

M Ashraful (not out) .......................... 189 

M Haque c Mathews 

b Kulasekara ....................... 55 

M st Chandimal b Herath ....................... 0 

M Rahim (not out) ............................. 152 

Extras: (b-2, lb-1, nb-6) ........................ 9 

Total: (4 wkts, 136 overs) ................. 438 

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-65, 3-170, 4-177. 

Bowling: Kulasekara 21-3-76-1 (nb-1), 

Eranga 22-3-80-1 (nb-5), Herath 42-9- 

103-1, Mendis 23-2-92-1, Mathews 6-1- 

16-0, Dilshan 20-3-55-0, Thirimanne 

2-0-13-0. 

Ingram hits unbeaten ton, 

SA beat Pak by 125 runs 

COLIN Ingram of South Africa celebrates after 

completing a century during their one-dayer against 

Pakistan in Bloemfontein yesterday. — Reuters 

then set South Africa on the 

way to a big total with a runa-ball 

stand during which 

they kept the score moving 

quickly against the Pakistan 

spin bowlers with deft placement 

and good running between 

wickets. 

Pakistan made a bright 

start with Mohammad Hafeez 

and Nasir Jamshed putting on 

42 for the first wicket off 43 

balls before they suffered a 

double blow. 

Jamshed was caught at slip 

by Graeme Smith off Rory 

Kleinveldt for 25 and Hafeez 

fell for the same score in unlucky 

fashion when a drive by 

Younis Khan was deflected 

by bowler Kleinveldt into the 

stumps for Hafeez to be run 

out. 

Asad Shafiq fell cheaply 

and Pakistan were unable to 

build substantial partnerships 

with captain Misbah-ul-Haq 

top-scoring with 38. 

Shahid Afridi hit 34 off 16 

balls before he was last man 

out but his innings was never 

likely to alter the outcome. 

Afridi hit three sixes, including 

a massive strike which 

sailed out of the ground and 

into a car park. 

Kleinveldt, whose first 

two balls were hit for four, 

came back strongly to finish 

with four for 22 in 5.2 overs, 

while Ryan McLaren took 

three for 19. 

MILAN — Serie A top scorer 

Edinson Cavani missed 

a penalty and extended his 

scoreless run to eight games 

as second-placed Napoli's 

title hopes suffered another 

blow in a 2-0 defeat at Chievo 

yesterday. 

Leaders Juventus took 

full advantage when a stoppage 

time goal by Emanuele 

Giaccherini gave them a 1-0 

win at home to Catania, taking 

them nine points clear 

with 10 games each to play. 

Colombian Victor Ibarbo 

scored a hat-trick to give 

Cagliari a 3-1 win over 

Sampdoria, although as in 

their previous games, there 

were no fans there to watch 

it due to safety problems at 

their improvised Is Arenas 

home. 

At the bottom, Siena came 

from behind to win 2-1 at 

Palermo in a meeting of two 

The win gave South Africa 

a 1-0 lead in the fivematch 

series. The second 

match will be in Centurion on 

Friday. 

SCOREBOARD 

South Africa 

G Smith c K Akmal b S Ajmal ... 30 

H Amla c S Malik b M Hafeez ... 43 

A B de Villiers c Y Khan 

b S Ajmal ........... 65 

C Ingram (not out) .................... 105 

F du Plessis c U Gul b J Khan .... 26 

F Behardien (not out) .................. 34 

Extras: (b-1, lb-5, w-6) .............. 12 

Total: (4 wkts, 50 overs) ........... 315 

Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-83, 3-203, 

4-265. 

Bowling: J Khan 9-0-59-0, U Gul 

10-1-68-0 (w-1), M Hafeez 10- 

0-48-1 (w-3), S Ajmal 10-0-53-2 

(w-1), S Afridi 8-0-60-0 (w-1), S 

Malik 3-0-21-0. 

Pakistan 

M Hafeez run out ........................ 25 

N Jamshed c Smith b Kleinveldt 25 

Y Khan c De Villiers 

b Abbott ......................... 30 

A Shafiq c Abbott b McLaren ....... 5 

Misbah c De Villiers b McLaren 38 

S Malik c McLaren b Tsotsobe ... 19 

K Akmal c Smith b McLaren ........ 2 

S Afridi c Behardien 

b Kleinveldt ................... 34 

U Gul c&b Kleinveldt ................... 2 

S Ajmal lbw Kleinveldt ................ 0 

J Khan (not out) ............................ 0 

Extras: (lb-6, w-4) ..................... 10 

Total: (all out, 36.2 overs) ........ 190 

Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-52, 3-65, 

4-114, 5-135, 6-148, 7-165, 8-178, 

9-178. 

Bowling: Tsotsobe 9-0-52-1 (w-3), 

Abbott 6-0-35-1, Kleinveldt 5.2- 

2-22-4 (w-1), Peterson 8-0-47-0, 

McLaren 7-0-19-3, Behardien 1-0- 

9-0. 

Napoli lose, Juve win 

teams mired in the relegation 

zone and Pescara's new 

coach Cristian Bucchi made 

a losing start as the bottom 

side lost 2-1 at Atalanta. 

Mid-table Parma scored 

four goals, including a brilliant 

Amauri ha-trick, in the 

last quarter of an hour to 

beat Torino 4-1 at home. 

Defending champions 

Juventus have 62 points 

while Napoli, on 53, are only 

two clear of third-placed 

AC Milan, who won 2-0 at 

Genoa on Friday. 

Napoli coach Walter 

Mazzarri, who needs a toptwo 

finish to qualify directly 

for the Champions League, 

was philosophical in defeat. 

"They had two shots, two 

goals," he said. "It's football, 

there are times when things 

go well and times when 

things go badly."

19 SPORT 



Musannah Race Week officially inaugurated 

MUSCAT — The official opening 

ceremony, which took place 

along the waterfront of Al Musannah’s 

Millennium Hotel yesterday, 

marks the beginning of the Oman 

Sail’s third annual Al Musannah 

Race Week. 

This year is set to be the best 

yet, with a host of world renowned 

names participating in the sevenday 

event, there will be fierce competition 

in the Laser Standard class, 

where the likes of British Olympic 

gold medallist Paul Goodison will 

be taking on Australia’s Tom Burton, 

who is currently ranked No 1 

in the world, alongside New Zea- 

MUSCAT — After spending 

five year calling out pace 

notes to guide someone else 

to success, Zakariya Ahmed 

al Aufi is delighted to be back 

in the driving seat and holding 

the early lead in the inaugural 

Oman Youth Rally Cup. 

Partnered by 19-year-old 

co-driver Issa Mohammed 

Ahmed al Wardi, Al Aufi tops 

the OYRC standings after producing 

a controlled performance 

when the new series got 

under way within the opening 

round of the 2013 Oman Rally 

Championship at the weekend. 

Claiming fourth place overall, 

they finished one minute 

and 17 secs ahead of their 

nearest OYRC rivals, Ehab 

Ahmed al Zadjali and Mazin 

Muhanna al Nadabi, who took 

sixth place overall. 

Just 37 seconds further 

adrift and claiming third place 

in the OYRC were 23-year-old 

Yaqdhan Mubarak al Rashdi 

and co-driver Ahmed Saud al 

Sibani. 

Driving the fourth locally 

built Toyota Yaris specially 

designed for the OYRC series, 

Said Rashid al Ghaithi and codriver 

Mannan al Rawahi were 

forced to retire after rolling on 

the fifth of eight special stages. 

land’s top competitors Sam Meech 

and Andy Maloney, and many 

more. This outstanding level of 

competition will make for close 

and intense racing among the 222 

competitors representing 27 different 

nations. 

Issa al Ismaili, Oman Sail’s 

Director of Events, comments: 

“Oman Sail’s Musannah Race 

Week has grown year on year, it 

has become an internationally renowned 

event with some of the 

world’s top dinghy sailors competing 

and a professional race committee 

in place to ensure the event 

is run at the highest standard. It is 

They were unhurt, and with 

four more rounds to come and 

a year-long series of community 

events also contributing 

to the final OYRC standings, 

have plenty of time to make 

their mark on the series, which 

is officially supported by 

Oman Air Cargo, Oman Sail, 

DR Karts and Sparco. 

For Al Aufi, entering a rally 

for the first time as a driver, it 

was a perfect start after sitting 

our aim to receive ISAF (International 

Sailing Federation) credibility 

and recognition as a top class 

event, thus helping Oman earn its 

place on the world map of sailing 

venues, whilst continuing to 

inspire the growing talent which 

we are nurturing among our local 

sailors.” 

Tom Burton, currently ranked 

No 1 in the world in the Laser 

Standard class, comments on his 

first impressions of the venue and 

the ever increasing level of competition 

that the event plays host 

to: “This is a great location, the 

perfect conditions took me a bit 

in the navigator’s seat for 22 

events over the last five years. 

“I started in motor sport as a 

driver taking part in autocross, 

drifting and karting, and I won 

of a lot of trophies,” said the 

telecommunications engineering 

student. “For me rallying 

was always the dream, and the 

only thing that stopped me was 

a lack of finance.” 

Turning to co-driving as a 

step into rallying, he accompa- 

by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to 

see such good breeze, and the temperature 

makes a nice change from 

some of the colder locations we 

race in. I’m looking forward to the 

event and another opportunity to 

race against a collection of the top 

Laser sailors in the world.” 

During the winter months, Al 

Musannah boasts consistently 

good weather, steady sea breeze 

averaging around 14 knots, sunny 

23 degree C temperatures and 

warm 20 degree C water. Not only 

is the climate welcoming for the 

sailors, but the venue also offers a 

fully equipped gym facility, superb 

Al Aufi makes winning start at OYRC 

IPOH — World champions Australia 

put on a strong showing yesterday 

to whip Pakistan 6-0 in the 

second match of the Sultan Azlan 

Shah Cup. South Korea secured 

their first win when they defeated 

India 2-1 in a closely fought match, 

while host Malaysia kept up their 

winning ways to defeat defending 

champions New Zealand 2-1. 

In a show of clinical finishing, 

which was helped by an insipid Pakistan 

team, Australia, aiming for a 

seventh cup title, had little trouble 

collecting full points to lead the 

standings after two days. 

The world No 2 took the lead 

through Daniel Mirecki, and Matt 

Gohdes increased the gap with another 

field goal. Goalie Imran Butt 

was a bundle of nerves. It got worse 

for the Pakistanis as the Australians 

rang up another two goals by Jacob 

Whetton for a 4-0 first half lead. 

Daniel Beale and then Nick 

Budgeon completed the rout, the 

latter with a penalty corner goal. 

nied a number of drivers in the 

Oman Championships, including 

OYRC founder Hamed al 

Wahaibi. His biggest success 

came alongside Khalid Soomar 

— the outright rally winner at 

the weekend — helping him to 

titles in 2008 and 2011. 

“I learned a lot from them, 

and I was very happy to get 

my chance to drive in the 

Oman Youth Rally Cup,” said 

Al Aufi. 

“I was aiming high in the 

first event. After the super special 

stage on the first day I was 

five seconds behind Yaqdhan 

(al Rashdi), but I know you 

don’t win or lose rallies at that 

stage. 

“On the first stage on the 

next day I opened a lead of 

18 seconds, took another 25 

seconds on the next stage and 

was comfortable after that. 

By the second service I had a 

lead of around one minute and 

25 seconds, and I was able to 

slow down over the last two 

stages and bring the car to the 

finish.” 

Al Aufi was grateful to 

technicians Hassan al Barashdi, 

Marwan al Subhi, Ayoob 

al Mahrami, Bader al Sibani, 

Moath al Riyami for helping 

him survive his one scare. 

“The only issue I had was 

a leak of oil from the clutch, 

but I luckily discovered it at 

the entrance to the service area 

and not on the stages,” he said. 

“The mechanics were able to 

rectify the problem immediately.” 

The Oman Youth Rally 

Cup runs as a special category 

within Oman Rally Championship 

which stages its second 

of five rounds on April 11-12. 

Pakistan chief coach Akhtar 

Rasool said the players were tired 

and worn down by the humidity. He 

added Butt might be replaced by 

Imran Shah. 

"We can only improve, and hopefully 

the rest day (Monday) will do 

the team some good," he said. 

Australia's coach Ric Char- 

waterfront accommodation only a 

stone’s throw from where the boats 

are kept, and array of cultural 

evening social events, to allow the 

visiting competitors to sample the 

local traditions. 

This event has a unique and 

innovative approach to sailing in 

that it combines two days of world 

class coaching clinics for each of 

the disciplines (including: Laser 

Standard, Radial, 4.7, F18, Optimist 

and RSX Windsurfing) as part 

of the seven day regatta format, 

allowing competitors the rare opportunity 

to learn from the masters 

themselves. In the Laser Radial 

MUSCAT — Oman’s Yosra 

bint Khamis won a gold medal 

in the taekwondo while the 

Sultanate spikers settled for 

the silver in the third GCC 

Women’s Games in Manama 

yesterday. 

According to information 

received here, Yosra defeated 

Bahrain’s Hanin al Busta 

21-0 to clinch the gold in the 

and Laser 4.7, Oman Sail’s youth 

team will be battling it out alongside 

a collection of racers from the 

Gulf and Europe. By introducing a 

new generation to sailing the Youth 

Programme supports Oman Sail’s 

overall objective of promoting national 

pride by succeeding on the 

world’s sporting stage, promoting 

elite Omani sailors as role models 

to inspire the youth of Oman, 

and this event provides the ideal 

platform to allow youth sailors to 

train and compete in Olympic class 

events. 

Al Musannah, as a racing venue 

is rapidly growing in popular- 

under-53kg category of the 

taekwondo competition. 

In the five-team round 

robin volleyball competition, 

the Omani girls lost to 

the UAE 25-18, 25-12, 25-14 

but they managed to clinch 

silver thanks to their earlier 

victories. 

Meanwhile in basketball, 

Oman were beaten 76-13 

ity, paying testament to this, it 

has been chosen to host the Laser 

World Championships in November 

2013. Some of the sailing elite 

recognise the value of using Al 

Musannah Race Week as training 

ground for the Worlds, Burton 

states: “Recently I have been sailing 

in other boats, and I am using 

this event as a kick start in the lead 

up to the European circuit and as 

preparation for the Laser Worlds.” 

The competitors and the committee 

are looking forward to an 

action packed week of quality racing 

by some of the most talented 

sailors in the world. 

Yosra wins taekwondo gold 

at GCC Women’s Games 

lesworth downplayed the rival's 

thrashing. Australia already beat 

India on Saturday. 

"Beating Pakistan at any time is 

a welcome moment," he said. "The 

big score is not that big a deal as 

it can happen in an international 

match. The next minute you may 

end up losing to the same team." 

RAYYAN al Mujaini (left) and Shaikha al Hammadi 

Meanwhile, Kang Moon-Kweon 

scored twice for South Korea, while 

India earned their goal via Malak 

Singh. India went on to waste six 

penalty corners in the second half 

through poor execution and good 

defending by the Koreans. 

In the last match of the day, the 

goals came from Malaysia's Chua 

by defending champions Qatar. 

Later in the day, Oman’s 

disabled athletes Rayyan 

al Mujaini and Shaikha al 

Hammadi also bagged medals. 

Taking part in the discuss 

throw, Rayyan took gold 

while Shaikha al Hammadi 

won silver medal. 

Australia thrash Pakistan, South Korea edge India at Azlan Shah Cup 

Boon Huat and Ahmad Tajuddin 

Jalil, although the Kiwis pulled a 

goal back through Shay Neal. 

Malaysia now rank second with 

six points, like the Australians, having 

won both their games, ahead of 

South Korea and Pakistan. India 

and New Zealand have no points so 

far. — AFP

COMPETITORS prepare to take part in the ‘VI Carrera 

de los Heroes’ in Bogota yesterday. More than 

10,000 people participated in the event, in 

tribute to soldiers who have lost their limbs 

after stepping on landmines. — Reuters 

Device to 

prevent 

clotting 

WASHINGTON — An 

implant device designed by 

US firm Boston Scientific 

to prevent strokes in high 

risk people helps avert blood 

clotting, a new study said. 

The umbrella-shaped 

device called ‘Watchman’ 

can also serve as an 

alternative to treatment with 

anticoagulants of patients 

suffering from arterial 

fibrillation, a study by the 

manufacturer said. 

The trials involved 407 

patients at 41 sites, said the 

study, which was presented 

on Saturday. Of the 

people surveyed, 269 used 

“Watchman” and 138 took a 

blood thinner warfarin. 

The results show that “the 

device performed similar 

to warfarin with a rate ratio 

of 1.07”, said the report, 

presented at an annual 

conference of the American 

College of Cardiology. 

“The results ... add to 

the wealth of published data 

confirming the utility of the 

‘Watchmen’ device as an 

option for the reduction of 

stroke risk,” said Kenneth 

Stein, with the Boston 

Scientific. 

20 

PANORAMA 



BRIDES and grooms during a mass marriage ceremony in Karachi yesterday organised 

by the Pakistan Hindu Council where a total of 22 couples residing in Pakistan’s Sindh 

province took their wedding vows, according to the council. — Reuters 

A GRAFFITI as part of a protest against Israel at the north beach in Durban yesterday 

ahead of the Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) from today in South Africa. The annual 

international series of events includes rallies, lectures, cultural performances, multimedia 

displays and boycott of Israel actions held in cities and campuses across the globe. — AFP 

‘Sin tax’ on tobacco 

NEW DELHI — The health 

ministry has proposed a “sin 

tax” on tobacco products 

to deter people from using 

them. 

“The proceeds from this 

tax can be used for tobacco 

control,” a health ministry 

official said. 

“The new tax has been 

suggested to the Department 

of Revenue of the Ministry 

of Finance as part of the 

government’s exercise to 

increase taxes on all tobacco 

products to prevent people 

from using them,” the official 

said. 

Studies by the World 

A MAN carries a sofa on his motorcycle on a highway 

near Kenya’s capital Nairobi yesterday. — Reuters 

Tokyo shrouded in ‘haze’ 

TOKYO — A huge dust 

storm hit Tokyo yesterday, 

blanketing the city with 

brown dust that darkened 

the skies and rapidly 

transformed what had been a 

clear and sunny day. 

Visibility in the capital 

deteriorated quickly as 

dry dust particles whirled 

through the air. 

Meteorologists said the 

phenomenon was caused by 

a sudden cold front. 

“A rapidly developing 

low pressure system in the 

north was moving down 

Health Organisation (WHO) 

suggest that increase in 

price or tax on tobacco 

products is likely to reduce 

their consumption and also 

premature tobacco-related 

deaths in the country. 

WHO has been 

extending technical support 

to the government in 

implementation of the WHO- 

Framework Convention on 

Tobacco Control. 

Tobacco is one of the 

largest killers in India killing 

900,000 people every year 

and unless corrective action 

is taken, the number will 

increase. — IANS 

DANIEL Alvarez of Tallahasse, Florida exits his kayak 

after concluding a paddling journey of some 4,000 

miles finishing in Key West, Florida. Alvarez began his 

kayaking trek in Minnesota’s Northwest Angle on June 

11, 2012, paddling about 20 miles most days stopping 

along the way to conduct presentations on 

waterway conservation. — Reuters 

Wrinkled-look decorations 

FRANKFURT — Judging 

by the latest designs in vases 

on display at the recent 

Ambiente consumer goods 

fair in Frankfurt the word to 

describe the latest trend is 

creased. 

Across the spectrum of 

decorative elements made 

from hard materials such as 

porcelain and precious metal, 

soft and crumpled could also 

describe the look designers 

are aiming for. 

Italian kitchenware 

company Alessi has brought 

out its Liconi range that 

looks like crumpled paper. 

south. It was bringing a 

snow storm in the north, and 

strong winds in Tokyo and 

surrounding areas,” said a 

meteorologist working at 

the Japan Meteorological 

Agency. 

“In the Kanto region 

(Tokyo and surrounding 

areas), the strong winds 

picked up dry dust particles 

from the ground, which 

lowered visibility,” he said. 

The phenomenon was 

expected to be temporary, 

and rain should strip the dust 

from the air, he said. — AFP 

However, the designers were 

not just trying to copy the 

look of squashed paper; the 

bowl in the range is based on 

the glacial lake Lago Liconi 

in Italy’s Aosta Valley. 

The new tableware piece 

Kyu from Kiwa Design is an 

example of a simple, long 

platter made from black cast 

iron. 

There is a fold in the 

metal on the platter to 

provide a place to rest 

chopsticks. The platter can 

also be used to serve food 

or simply as a decorative 

element on a table. — dpa 

A SQUIRREL looks for food in a bird feeder after a 

heavy snowfall. Meteorologists forecast snowfall for the 

upcoming days in Germany. — AFP

Seychelles explores 

trade, investment 

opportunities 

Page 23 

British Festival at Lulu kicks off 

LULU Hypermarkets announced the start of British Festival 

across all its outlets in the Sultanate. Offering the best 

products from the United Kingdom, the British Festival is 

one of Lulu’s many innovative promotions that accentuate 

the product’s country of origin. Page 22 

Monday, March 11, 2013 

Plan for bunkering services at 

Port of Duqm before year-end 

By Conrad Prabhu 

MUSCAT — Having formally 

gone commercial, Port 

of Duqm is now moving rapidly 

on multiple fronts to build 

the trappings of a world-class 

maritime gateway on the 

country’s southeastern coast. 

Plans are on the anvil for the 

development of a number of 

terminal facilities, as well as 

the appointment of service 

providers, according to a senior 

representative of the port 

authority. 

In the short term, Port of 

Duqm is optimistic about 

snagging an international operator 

to provide bunkering 

services to commercial vessels 

and other ships calling at the 

gateway. 

“We are in final negotia- 

tions with some key players 

for the bunkering business,” 

said Reggy Vermeulen, Commercial 

Director. “We will 

have some bunkering services 

available at the port before the 

end of this year. In fact, we are 

in the final stages of negotiations 

with an interested party, 

and we hope to sign with the 

service provider before the 

end of this year,” he added in 

comments to the Observer. 

Also on the cards is a Liquids 

Terminals aimed at supporting 

the growth of a future 

petroleum and petrochemicals 

based industry at the adjoining 

Special Economic Zone, said 

Vermeulen. 

“The design of the Liquids 

Terminal is under finalisation 

and tenders will go out this 

year. The goal is to support the 

development of a major oil refinery 

at Duqm, as well as the 

region’s oil industry. We want 

to target completion of the terminal 

in time for the launch of 

the refinery.” 

Additionally, the port is 

also looking to attract investors 

to exploit and commercialise 

high-value minerals found in 

abundance in the hinterland of 

the port. “We are discussing 

with a number of potential users 

of our proposed Minerals / 

Bulk Commodities Terminal. 

But as you are probably aware, 

mining activities across Oman 

are currently under a full review 

by the government. This 

means we cannot pinpoint a 

timeframe (to take this initiative 

forward). But we have potential 

clients who are looking 

at a minerals export base here 

at Duqm.” 

In this context, the port authority, 

he said, would not rule 

out a possible arrangement 

will a capable operator to run 

the Minerals Terminal. “As 

Duqm Port is gearing to be a 

state-of-the-art gateway, we 

would want to attract the right 

people for this terminal, so we 

are not closing the door to any 

attractive options (in the operation 

of the terminal).” 

The Commercial Director’s 

comments came soon after the 

signing of a pair of landmark 

agreements for the establishment 

of a Bitumen Terminal 

and Logistics Park at Duqm. 

Top officials of the Ministry 

of Transport and Communications 

and the Special Economic 

Zone of Duqm attended the 

To Page 23 

MHD signs Eneos distributor pact 

THE Tyres and Batteries division of Mohsin Haider Darwish 

LLC has signed an agreement with JX Nippon Oil and Energy, 

Middle East and North Africa FZE ( NOEMA) for distribution of 

its Eneos lubricants in the Sultanate of Oman. MHD LLC will be 

the 3rd Eneos distributor in the Middle East. Page 24

British Festival at Lulu kicks off 

MUSCAT — Lulu Hypermarkets 

announced the start 

of British Festival across all 

its outlets in the Sultanate 

of Oman. Offering the best 

products from Great Britain, 

the British Festival is one of 

Lulu’s many innovative promotions 

that accentuate the 

product’s country of origin. 

Lulu is known to add an 

entire new dimension to regular 

shopping and make it more 

fun and exciting. Great Britain 

is the largest European island 

and also the most popular 

one. The festival celebrates 

the spirit and essence of the 

country and presents an opportunity 

for customers who 

can now enjoy products that 

have earned worldwide recognition. 

From muffins, tea cakes, 

pies to salmon and roast turkey, 

fans of British food will 

have a chance to savour and 

relish many of the special food 

products that are on display at 

the British Festival. The excellence 

of the British market is 

not just limited to food items; 

but also on sale are oral hygiene 

and various other products. 

Ananth AV, the Regional 

Director of Lulu Hypermarkets, 

Oman said,” the British 

Festival brings to fore the 

popularity of British goods in 

Oman. Though an extension 

of our varied promotions, this 

in itself is a very unique promotion 

as the products have 

been specially imported for 

this festival. This helps enable 

us showcase the best products 

directly from there and makes 

sure our customers get genuine 

products that also meet the 

highest quality standards.” 

The varieties of products 

on sale were definitely a testimony 

to the effort put in by 

the management and staff of 

Lulu to ensure their customers 

enjoy every bit of the British 

experience. 

Also on display was a special 

sugar free section for the 

health and calorie conscious. 

Now you won’t have any excuse 

to not indulge in your favourite 

British treats. 

With more than a decade 

long presence in the Sultanate 

of Oman, Lulu has firmly 

established itself as a leader 

in the retail segment. Lulu 

Hypermarket is the retail division 

of the multidimensional 

and multinational EMKE 

Group and with more than 104 

stores it is the largest retail 

chain in the region. They are 

immensely popular with all 

their customers for the unique 

shopping experience they provide 

at each and every outlet 

of theirs. 

With its pleasant and novel 

variation from the usual, run 

of the mill super markets, Lulu 

stands out for its extensively 

laid out counters, sprawling 

parking space, children’s play 

area, food court, money exchange 

and the array of international 

and regional brands at 

affordable prices. True to its 

tagline, Lulu is indeed where 

the world comes to shop. 

22 OMAN MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 

NBO to build new headquarters 

By A Business Reporter 

MUSCAT — The National 

Bank of Oman, one of the Sultanate's 

leading financial institutions, 

revealed yesterday its 

plans to build an iconic structure 

at Al Athaiba in Muscat 

following innovative sustainability 

approaches. The building 

is intended to house the 

bank's headquarters and will 

be built on 10,000 sq.mtrs, in 

a prime location in the heart of 

the capital. 

National Bank of Oman's 

new headquarters is designed 

to be a Muscat landmark. The 

sustainable design is inspired 

by Oman’s topography with 

all its natural elements while 

truly reflecting the organisa- 

By Samuel Kutty 

MUSCAT — As part of its 

Euro Medium Term Note 

(EMTN) programme to augment 

the dollar resources, 

Bank Muscat is conducting 

roadshows in different countries 

to meet the fixed income 

investors for a benchmarksized 

bond issue. 

Starting with Riyadh in 

Saudi Arabia, the roadshows 

will take place in Singapore, 

Hong Kong, the United Arab 

Emirates, Switzerland and 

London from March 12 to 18. 

It was in February 2011 

that the bank’s shareholders 

had approved a $800 million 

Euro Medium Term Note programme 

allowing the bank to 

launch a series of bond issues 

over a 10-year period with 

varying maturities, currencies 

and terms through public subscription 

or private placement. 

The type of bonds that can 

be issued include fixed rate, 

floating rate, zero coupon and 

index-linked notes, is listed 

on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. 

By A Business Reporter 

MUSCAT — Nawras, Oman’s 

customer friendly communications 

provider, is putting 

smiles on faces by caring for 

the community in many different 

ways. This includes 

improving the quality of life 

for people with special needs 

in the Sultanate, participating 

in the popular Muscat Festival 

and presenting a concert 

by one of Bollywood’s top 

names. 

By contributing wheelchairs 

for the Oman Association 

for the Disabled in Sohar 

and Muscat and supporting an 

awareness drive by the Down 

Syndrome Parent Support 

Group, Nawras continues to 

provide support for charitable 

organisations and to highlight 

the dedication and efforts put 

into the important work they 

do every day. 

Khalid al Zadjali, Nawras 

Events and Protocol Manager, 

said, “Nawras continues to 

partner with non-government 

organisations to enhance and 

better the lives of those with 

special needs. Everyone is a 

valued member of our society 

and we are pleased to be 

able to play our small role in 

improving lives and providing 

assistance to those who most 

need it. We are known for the 

annual Nawras Goodwill Journey 

during the Holy Month of 

Ramadan but being caring and 

compassionate is a year round 

commitment we make to the 

community.” 

Supporting the cultural developments 

in the country and 

tion's values and vision. 

Mohammed al Ardhi, Vice 

Chairman of the National 

Bank of Oman said: "Our 

commitment to this country 

and our responsibility towards 

our stakeholders are the main 

drivers behind the development 

of each element of this 

project". 

The building is designed 

according to global sustainability 

approaches and best 

practices that will enable the 

Bank to further enhance its 

functionality as an organisation 

and serve clients more 

effectively, while minimizing 

its environmental impact and 

ensuring the building fits with 

its surroundings with design 

elements inspired by Oman 

To be the first Omani lender 

to issue bonds in US dollar, 

the proposed issue comes at a 

time when Bank Muscat, the 

leading bank in the country, 

is among twelve banks in the 

Gulf Co-operation Council, is 

placed on watch for a probable 

downgrade at Moody’s Investors 

Service due to new capital 

rules that may come into effect. 

According to a market 

source, the move by the 

Moody’s is likely to have a 

as a Gold Sponsor of Muscat 

Festival 2013, the vibrant and 

interactive Nawras stands in Al 

Amerat Park and Al Naseem 

Gardens welcomed thousands 

of customers throughout the 

month long event. Visitors to 

the Nawras stalls expressed 

their great interest in the new, 

faster 3G+ broadband as well 

as the recent launch of superfast 

4G mobile broadband 

services. 

Nawras also recently delighted 

Bollywood fans by 

presenting megastar, Shah 

Rukh Khan, the ‘King of 

Bollywood’, who thrilled the 

audience in Muscat. As one 

of India’s most famous actors, 

producers and television 

presenters, Shah Rukh Khan 

rocked the ‘Temptations Reloaded 

2013’ concert for over 

MOHAMMED AL ARDHI 

natural assets. 

The announcement comes 

in time with the bank celebrating 

its 40th anniversary with 

annual growth in profit ex- 

Roadshows abroad to mark 

Bank Muscat dollar bond issue 

negative impact on the bank’s 

bond issue. 

“The success of the dollar 

bond issue, up to a large 

extend, depends on how the 

investors react to the Moody’s 

ratings. What is to be noticed 

is that the bank is kept under 

watch relating to its Tier II 

bonds”, says an analyst at a 

brokerage firm who does not 

want to be identified. 

The Moody’s last week 

said that while government 

support for banks in the GCC 

18,000 fans. Khan was joined 

by equally popular actors Katrina 

Kaif, Preity Zinta, Ali Zafar 

and Anusha Dandekar who 

charmed the crowd during one 

of the best concerts in Oman 

which will be remembered by 

audiences for years to come. 

Al Zadjali added, “Muscat 

countries is high, the review 

of the debt ratings is “driven 

by the growing risk of bail-ins 

for subordinated debt instruments.” 

Investors always look for 

attractive returns on the funds 

they invest in. In this regard, 

the analyst says: “Bank Muscat 

will have to consider increasing 

the rates in return to 

the investors”. 

The bank has picked six 

leading banks — Citigroup, 

Credit Agricole, Deutsche 

Bank , HSBC , National Bank 

of Abu Dhabi and Standard 

Chartered — for arranging 

meetings with the investors. 

The EMTN programme 

was approved by the bank’s 

shareholders in 2004. However, 

in view of the expiry of 

the EGM approval in 2009, 

the bank updated the $800 

million EMTN programme in 

2010 and sought the mandatory 

EGM approval. 

The currency of bonds 

ranges from US dollars, euro 

or any other currency subject 

to compliance with all legal 

and regulatory requirements. 

Nawras supports communities 

with charitable donations 

KHALID al Zadjali 

ceeding 19 per cent for 2012. 

Al Ardhi further added: 

"Our success over the last few 

years needs to be translated to 

growth and expansion in order 

to meet market needs. National 

Bank of Oman's new headquarters 

is not just a building; 

it is a testimony to our commitment 

to the sustainable 

development of our nation 

and aligns with the ambitious 

growth plans of this country 

and its people". 

The building is going to be 

sustainably developed using 

the best resources, skills and 

talents from both Oman and 

around the world to ensure it 

is delivered according to plan 

and at par with global best 

standards. 

Festival is a very popular social 

and cultural event in the 

capital’s calendar and is an 

excellent platform to reach as 

many people as possible. The 

highly anticipated Shah Rukh 

Khan concert was another 

example of the top class entertainment 

that Nawras has 

presented for the people of 

Oman. We are delighted that 

so many members of the community 

enjoyed the show and 

festivities.” 

Nawras is an integral member 

of Omani society and the 

company is committed to 

investing in a wide range of 

charitable projects and cultural, 

sporting, entertainment 

and community activities 

throughout the year to further 

enrich the daily lives of people 

in Oman.

Seychelles explores 

investment in Oman 


MUSCAT — A high profile 

delegation from the Republic 

of Seychelles expressed keen 

interest to expand its trade, 

commercial and investment relations 

with Oman, which may 

generate a significant growth 

for both countries. This was 

stated by Pierre Laporte, Minister 

of Finance, Trade and 

Investment in the Republic of 

Seychelles, during his visit to 

the Public Establishment for 

Industrial Estates (PEIE) yesterday 

within the framework 

of his current visit to the Sultanate. 

The delegation was received 

by Hilal bin Hamad 

al Hasani, CEO of the Public 

Establishment for Industrial 

Estates, and senior officials 

from PEIE. 

The two sides discussed aspects 

of co-operation between 

the Sultanate and the Republic 

of Seychelles in boosting trade 

and investment exchange. On 

his part, Hilal bin Hamad al 

Hasani briefed the minister on 

the history of the Public Establishment 

for Industrial Estates, 

its vision, mission, main 

services, academic system, 

and highlighted the various industrial 

estates that fall under 

the umbrella of PEIE throughout 

the Sultanate in addition to 

Knowledge Oasis Muscat and 

Al Mazunah Free Zone. 

Laporte underlined the 

significance of strengthening 

bilateral relations between 

Oman and the Republic of 

Seychelles in several fields. 

"Both countries have to look 

into ways to reinforce mutual 

economic and trade relations," 

he noted, adding: "The Republic 

of Seychelles is a small 

island state in the western Indian 

Ocean, and our two major 

industries in the Seychelles 

are fishing and tourism." 

Taiwan, US wrap first trade talks since 2007 

TAIPEI — Taiwan and major 

trading partner the United 

States concluded their stalled 

trade talks — the first since 

2007 — as the politically isolated 

island seeks to join regional 

trade blocs. 

Officials from the two 

sides were tight-lipped on the 

agenda of the Trade and Investment 

Framework Agreement, 

which kicked off at 9:00 

am in Taipei. 

Earlier, the state Central 

News Agency said Taiwanese 

negotiators plan to seek US 

support of Taiwan's bids to 

join the Trans-Pacific Partnership 

while raising the idea of 

Innovative culture 

Addressing the Seychelles 

delegation, Dr Abdullah al Zakwani, 

Industrial Innovation 

Centre (IIC) Executive Director, 

briefed on the aims of IIC, 

which endeavours to develop 

sustainable models for creating 

an innovative culture within 

the industrial sector of the 

country. "The main objective 

of the centre, which is a joint 

venture between The Research 

Council (TRC) and PEIE, is to 

build a knowledge-rich culture 

within the industrial sector in 

Oman through highlighting 

mutual benefits of collaboration 

with the research community 

including universities, 

labs, institutes, and science 

centres. This is being achieved 

by activating connections between 

industrial and academic 

communities, which eventually 

develops Oman's industry 

through Research and Development 

(R&D)," Al Zakwani 

pointed out. 

Supporting start-ups 

The delegates were also 

introduced to the objectives of 

The Knowledge Mine (TKM), 

which was initiated in 2004 

to support Omani youth and 

emerging companies to invest 

in information and communication 

technology, support 

start-up residents through 

signing a bilateral investment 

deal and a comprehensive free 

trade agreement. 

The US delegation was led 

by Deputy US Trade Representative 

Demetrios Marantis, 

according to a statement 

released by the American Institute 

in Taiwan, the de facto 

embassy. 

Taiwan's chief negotiator 

Cho Shih-chao, who is also 

the vice economic affairs minister, 

on Saturday reassured 

the island's pig farmers, who 

have a strong political lobby, 

that pork would not be on the 

agenda of the one-day discussions. 

guidance and experienced advice, 

and qualify a new generation 

of Omani entrepreneurs. 

Mohamed al Hinai, Director 

of TKM, underscored the objectives 

of TKM in motivating, 

encouraging and embracing 

innovative small business 

ideas of Omani youth. 

"Due to the significant 

success triggered by TKM, 

the National Business Centre 

(NBC) was initiated to further 

spread the culture of business 

incubation in Oman," Al Hinai 

said. The centre seeks to facilitate 

and support the growth 

of investable ideas into successful 

businesses; build entrepreneurial 

skills through 

dedicated and focused training, 

coaching and mentoring; 

and provide business support 

facilities from office space, 

administrative support, financial 

support and consultancy 

services that are crucial in 

ensuring the success and survival 

of new ventures. 

The delegation also visited 

Graphix and Golden Eagle 

Eye (GEE) Companies, which 

are based in TKM. Laporte 

applauded the quality of efforts 

and initiatives undertaken 

by PEIE and expressed 

his admiration for the friendly 

investment environment and 

the availability of high-quality 

infrastructure and services, 

which are offered by PEIE. 

Pig farmers had been worried 

that Taipei might yield to 

US pressure and lift a ban on 

imports of US pork containing 

the controversial additive ractopamine 

in exchange for the 

reopening of the talks. 

Negotiations on the trade 

talks, seen as a precursor to a 

full free trade agreement, had 

been dormant since 2007. 

The hiatus was prompted 

when Taiwan banned US 

beef containing ractopamine, 

a drug used in animal feed 

to promote lean meat. Taipei 

amended the law in July 2012 

to allow imports of beef to 

resume. — AFP 

Plan for bunkering services at 

Port of Duqm before year-end 

From Page 21 

signing ceremonies at the Port 

of Duqm yesterday. 

The UAE-based Richmond 

Group, which is an established 

leader in the supply of bulk 

and drummed bitumen, has 

clinched a deal to set up a Bitumen 

Terminal catering not 

only to Wusta Governorate, 

but the entire country. 

Rishad Moloobhoy, Managing 

Director of Richmond 

Mercantile Limited FSC, said 

the facility is envisaged to 

handle a throughput of 5,000 

tons of bitumen per annum, 

equating to the import of 

roughly 50,000 tons per year 

of bitumen. 

“We are developing a stateof-the-art 

terminal for the 

storage of bitumen and polymer 

modified bitumen which 

is specially used for roads, 

runways, highways and port 

roads. Our goal is to initially 

invest around $3 million in the 

facility, which will undertake 

the import and distribution of 

REGGY Vermeulen, 

Commercial Director, 

Port of Duqm 

bitumen and the making of 

polymer modified bitumen. 

Over time, we should be servicing 

the south of Oman, as 

well as the north,” Moloobhoy 

told the Observer. 

In another boost for the 

port, the joint venture of global 

logistics giant DHL and 

Bahwan CyberTek is setting 

up a Logistics Park at Duqm. 

The facility will be equipped 

to offer a full range of standard 

logistics services typically 

available to customers 

in and around ports, such as 

heavy lifting, loading and offloading, 

warehousing, and 

so on. 

“We see Duqm as the key 

for us in offering services 

both to the Duqm region and 

to oilfields where we operate 

extensively across Oman. We 

see Duqm as a long-term strategic 

opportunity for ourselves 

within Oman,” said Paul Spyropoulos, 

Managing Director, 

Bahwan Excel LLC. 

“We will be looking at 

putting in a logistics hub so 

we can receive oversized 

over-dimensioned cargo destined 

for the oil fields. We will 

be looking to provide infrastructure 

support in the region 

— anything from inventory 

management to IT systems, 

and health and safety opportunities,” 

Spyropoulous stated, 

adding that the hub would be 

operational within the next 3 

— 4 months. 

23 

OMAN/THE WORLD MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

‘Toyota Dream Car’ art contest a success 

MUSCAT — In co-operation with the Ministry of Education, the Wattayah episode of 

the 7th Toyota Dream Car art contest was held on March 9 and 10 at Toyota’s landmark 

facility in Wattayah, Muscat. “We were ready for a large number of people,” smiled the 

spokesperson, “Even so, the staggering numbers exceeded everyone’s estimates. This 

is the index of Toyota’s popularity in Oman. Indeed, nothing else comes close.” 

Kids up to 15-years old, visited the Toyota showroom in Muscat on the 9th and 10th 

of March between 6 to 8 pm to take part in the contest. Popular cartoon characters welcomed 

them and drawing sheets and kits, light refreshments and snacks were provided 

to them. Each contestant got a Certificate of Participation and later, the talented ones 

will stand to win exciting prizes such as iPAD, Xbox, laptops, apart from thrilling gaming 

devices. The competition was held on a massive scale in Oman to foster not just an 

interest in cars but about the role they play in people’s lives. 

The participants are from three age categories with the top three entries from each 

being put forward for the World Contest. The winners of the World Contest will go 

on a trip-of-a-lifetime to Japan.” Toyota has great hopes for the dream cars from the 

children’s rich imaginative powers. 

In the Sultanate, Toyota is the most admired and coveted brand having the highest 

level of customer loyalty. Toyota offers genuine quality, dependability and reliability 

and nothing comes close to Toyota in terms of valPue for money and range. Add to it 

the 6-years unlimited mileage protection plan, the nationwide sales, service and parts 

network after care offerings of the Saud Bahwan Group, and its easy to see why Toyota 

soars so far above the rest. 

New look for Kia Suwaiq showroom 

BY opening the doors to its upgraded showroom in Suwaiq, Kia has further enhanced 

its presence in the Batinah Governorate of the country. 

“We have laid out the welcome mat for our valued patrons,” remarked the spokesperson, 

“Our presence in the remote areas gives our customers convenient locations to 

visit and experience the wide array of world class Kia cars and SUVs.” 

The spokesperson continued, “Reliable International Automotive is committed to 

providing the best purchasing experience to its customers in line with Kia’s global 

standards. Our upgraded Suwaiq showroom is in keeping with the Kia’s Space Identity 

programme. The programme is unique in that it aims to project a uniform and welldefined 

environment to Kia customers, thus reflecting Kia's high standards across the 

world. Being a part of Saud Bahwan group, Kia operations in Oman reflect the group’s 

decades-old tradition of ‘putting customers first, always’. 

“As you can see, our newly designed fascia, entrance gate and interior decor reflects 

the Space identity programme of Kia,” said the local showroom in-charge, “However, 

it’s not the size or girth but the ‘warmth of welcome’ inside the showroom that matters. 

A smiling customer is our greatest reward — our daily endeavour.” 

“As of now, 12 showrooms across Oman have been upgraded to Kia's new Space 

Identity program. I am confident that Kia will do very well in Suwaiq, which is a grow- 

24 OMAN MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 

BUSINESS ALERT 

ing market for Kia vehicles,” informed the spokesperson. 

Kia is investing substantially to ensure it has the right location and the right staff to 

satisfy and delight its discerning customers. The spacious showroom displays the entire 

range of vehicles in a very comfortable and modern environment. The sales operations 

are supported by elaborate after sales facilities. Apart from the upgraded premises, Kia 

has recently launched the upgraded Sorento, the new Cerato and the amazing Quoris. 

Reliable International Automotive, the distributor for Kia in Oman provides a 

rewarding ownership experience for customers. Excellent product attributes and unmatched 

18 facilities easily ensure their absolute satisfaction, every mile of the way. No 

wonder then that Reliable International Automotive has been ranked amongst the top 

Kia distributors worldwide and has been honoured with prestigious accolades including 

the Kia 'Dealer of the Year' award; Kia 'Distributor of Distinction' award, 'Family 

Like Care' Service award and the 'Zenith Club' award for excellent performance. The 

prestigious 'Kia Award for Overall Excellence and Outstanding Performance' amongst 

Kia distributors worldwide was bestowed most deservingly. 

Land Rover to display latest technology 

LAND Rover will demonstrate the latest in a long line of technical firsts at the 2013 

Geneva Motor Show with the announcement of the world’s first 9-speed automatic 

transmission for a passenger car. The ZF 9HP transmission is specifically designed 

for transverse applications, and is one of the most efficient and technically advanced 

transmissions ever used in a production vehicle. 

Land Rover is the lead partner on the project, working together with ZF who are 

widely recognised as the world leader in transmission technology. 

Increasing the number of gear ratios from six to nine gives significant improvement 

in fuel economy and a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions. Smaller ratio steps 

give improved response during acceleration, improved shift quality, drive and refinement. 

The higher top gear not only reduces fuel consumption but the lower engine revs 

improve comfort and reduce noise when cruising at high speed. 

The 9HP is extremely robust and perfectly complements Land Rover’s rugged allterrain 

ability whilst delivering exceptionally high levels of refinement and efficiency. 

The lowest ratio in the 9HP is far lower than the existing six-speed transmission and 

is specifically designed for off-road use, towing and more extreme on-road conditions 

like gradients and altitude, giving the driver a heightened sense of control. 

With extremely fast gear changes described by ZF as being; ‘below the threshold of 

perception’, the 9HP is not only highly responsive but versatile too. Whereas the existing 

six-speed transmission makes shifts sequentially, the 9HP has a skip-shift function 

for much swifter downshifting under rapid deceleration or from greater driver input 

demands. The torque converter incorporates a multi-stage damper system for smoother 

pulling away and improved refinement. 

“We are extremely excited about the 9HP which has been tailored exactly to dovetail 

with the unique attributes of our vehicles. It will add another layer of performance, 

refinement and efficiency, further enhancing Land Rover’s world class abilities,” said 

John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director. 

The 9HP is a masterpiece of packaging and despite the extra three gear ratios is 

only 6mm longer and weighs 7.5kg less than the outgoing six-speed transmission. The 

small package space is achieved by a number of innovative design features including 

a new hydraulic vane-type pump which also contributes to improved efficiency, two, 

patented, dog clutches replacing bulkier conventional clutch packs, and an Intelligently 

Nested gear set. 

Land Rover was chosen by ZF, one of the world’s most technically advanced transmission 

manufacturers, to be the lead partner on the 9HP and Land Rover engineers 

have worked in partnership with ZF engineers to jointly develop the transmission to 

suit the brand. The Land Rover transmission engineering team is already extremely 

experienced in engineering ZF products to suit Land Rover vehicles having integrated 

the 8HP with the Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery 4 and Range Rover Sport. The 

9HP is produced at ZF’s Gray Court facility in South Carolina. 

MHD signs Eneos distributor agreement 

THE Tyres and Batteries division of Mohsin Haider Darwish LLC has signed an agreement 

with JX Nippon Oil and Energy, Middle East and North Africa FZE ( NOEMA) 

for distribution of its Eneos lubricants in the Sultanate of Oman. MHD LLC will be the 

3rd Eneos distributor in the Middle East. 

The agreement was signed by Tomohiko Kagawa, Managing Director of NOEMA 

and Mohsin Haider Darwish, Chairman of the MHD LLC group of companies. JX 

TEL: 24601003, 24600586 • FAX: 24600736 

• WEBSITE: www.salalahport.com 

Nippon Oil and Energy, Middle 

East and North Africa FZE 

(NOEMA) belongs to JX Group, 

one of the world’s largest energy, 

resources and materials business 

groups. 

Eneos, the high quality Japanese 

technology lubricants will 

now shortly be available in the 

Sultanate of Oman. Eneos “Sustina” 

a fully synthetic oil produced 

from JX’s specially formulated 

“W Base” oil with “ZP” cutting 

edge technology will be one of the 

revolutionary new Japanese products 

to be launched in the Oman 

market. 

The JX Group is expanding its 

network across the Middle East 

and distributors will be appointed 

in other markets shortly. In Japan, 

JX operates a huge network 

of around 10,000 service stations 

operating under the brand name 

Eneos and leads the Japanese market for petroleum products (petrol, diesel, kerosene 

and fuel oil) with a 37 per cent market share. 

Ahlibank Islamic banking services 

AL Hilal Islamic Banking 

Services from Ahlibank 

offers its customers a wide 

range of products and services 

to cater to their banking 

needs through Sharia 

compliant products built 

on the tenants of truth and 

transparency in Banking. 

Al Hilal Islamic Banking 

services currently offers 

the largest branch network 

for any Islamic Banking 

service provider in the 

country and also offer of 

the largest selection of financial 

products and services 

available in the Omani banking market. 

Abdullah al Jabry, Head of Al Hilal Islamic Banking Services commented on the 

products and services being offered by Al Hilal, “We wanted to insure that when we 

launch our Islamic Banking services we would be able to cater to the needs of both individuals 

and corporate alike. Our concentration has always been on quality of service 

and the adaptability of our products to the needs of the local market. Our savings account 

is one of the products that we spent a large amount of time developing in order to 

insure that it would not just meet but would also exceed our client’s expectations.” 

By investing in the bank’s savings account the depositor (Rabb ul Mal) authorised 

the bank (Mudarib) to invest his/her funds under the unrestricted Mudaraba contract. 

The bank invests these deposits in its Mudaraba pool along with other deposits and the 

equity. The profit on the Mudarabah pool is distributed amongst the investors, taking 

into consideration the tenor, amount of the deposit and profit payment frequency for 

the account. The account also offers other value added services including, easy and 

flexible remittance services both locally and internationally as well as access to your 

funds through the banks Internet banking service. 

Orpic launches new Facebook page 

ORPIC, Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum 

Industries Company, yesterday 

launched its new Facebook page, 

as part of its on-going commitment to 

improving communications with its 

local communities and with key stakeholders. 

The page, at http://www.facebook. 

com/Orpic, is in Arabic and English, 

and contains details of Orpic’s operations 

and community activities. 

The launch of the page follows a series 

of initiatives to widen communications from Oman’s refining and Petrochemicals 

Company, including a new Visitor Centre at Sohar Refinery, a new showroom in Sohar 

and regular meetings with community leaders. 

Dr Hilal al Hinai, General Manager of Corporate Support Services of Orpic, said: 

“We have many, many projects under way which will directly impact upon our local 

communities, from our new local supplier initiatives which will deliver more business 

to local SMEs, to our OMR 18 million investment in environmental improvements, 

which is already resulting in lower emissions and less odours. 

“The Orpic Facebook page is a great way for people in our local communities to 

learn about these activities. It is also a great way to learn about our business and the 

critically important role it plays in the national economy. We hope everyone 'Likes' our 

new page.” 

A’Saffa Foods unveils new beef products 

THE new range of Khayrat beef products from the house of A’Saffa Foods marks a 

successful entry in the meat category for consumers 

A’Saffa Foods, Oman’s fastest growing and leading home-grown food producer, 

has a tasty line up of beef products under its Khayrat brand that promises to offer a 

tantalising dining experience to prospective consumers. 

The new range of food products represents 100 per cent natural and tasty range of 

beef products, which has been made using only the best quality ingredients. Hygienically 

processed and stringent quality control, Khayrat brings good health and great taste 

of farm fresh beef products at customers’ convenience. The new range of beef products 

are some of the latest offerings from the country’s most popular and largest local food 

manufacturer that has been introduced to families across the nation. The range consists 

of Beef Burgers, Beef Mortadella, Beef Franks, Tender Beef Cubes, Beef Mince, Beef 

Meatballs to name a few. The products are made and flavoured using exotic spices 

making them tasty and an appetising choice for families across the city. Some of the 

beef products can be used to prepare wide range of wholesome healthy dishes. 

Commenting on the beef product range, A’Saffa Foods Head of Marketing and 

Sales, Sidhartha Lenka said: “Over the past decade families across Oman have trusted 

us to bring them an exciting range of natural, healthy and protein packed products to 

the table and we are very proud to now introduce our tasty and enticing range of beef 

products to the market.” 

Nutritionist Dr Sarah Schenker said: “The name Khayrat means ‘the finest of crops’ 

or the ‘best quality ingredients’ and this is what we strive to provide for our customers 

in everything we produce. Everything will be produced using the finest and healthiest 

of ingredients and will strictly adhere to the Halal procedures A’Saffa is famous for 

using across our range of poultry products. Now we can bring families across the Sultanate 

a wide range of food choices that everyone can enjoy.” A’Saffa Foods is Oman’s 

leading poultry producer with its great tasting and high quality range of frozen and 

fresh 100 per cent Halal products comprising over 27 per cent of the market.

By Saif Khalfan al Kindi 

MINISTER of Education, 

Dr Madeeha 

bint Ahmed al 

Shaibaniya, presided over the 

conference held at Al Bustan 

Palace Hotel yesterday to discuss 

the results of the Trends in 

International Maths and Science 

Study (TIMSS) and the 

Progress in Reading Literacy 

Study (PIRLS). 

The opening ceremony was 

attended by under-secretaries 

and the adviser to MoE as well 

as many representatives from 

the government sector and officials 

from the educational 

offices from different governorates. 

The programme included a 

speech by Saud bin Salem al 

Balushi, Under-Secretary of 

Educational Planning and Human 

Resources. In his speech 

he appreciated the efforts 

made during the last few years 

including planning for the 

study, applying the study and 

the analysis stage followed by 

vital and essential recommen- 

SRK never differentiates: 

Deepika Padukone 

Page 28 

We need more transparency 

and reliable comparison with 

other similar countries, says 

Saud al Balushi 

 

563 schools and 10,411 

students from grade 

4 and 9,542 students from 

grade 8 participated 

in the study, says 

Dr Zuwainah al Maskariya 

 

Ali al Rasbi: Intensive 

analysis have been 

conducted to set 

these results 

dations. He also emphasised 

the importance of following 

up students’ levels compared 

with the international standard 

in students’ performance, 

including training of teachers. 

Although there are indications 

of some improvement in their 

performance, there is still an 

essential need to discuss the 

outcomes in a more transparent 

way and particularly when 

comparing our students’ results 

with students in countries with 

similar social and economic 

situations. 

Following that, the sessions 

went on starting with a plenary 

session chaired by Dr Saif bin 

Saeed al Maamari, adviser of 

Administrative Affairs. During 

that session, several papers 

have been presented by the 

participants in the study. The 

first presentation was conducted 

by Dr Zuwaina bint Saleh 

al Maskriya, Director-General 

of Assessment. Her paper was 

entitled ‘The Results of the International 

Studies 2011’. She 

talked about the steps of the 

study and the methods used 

Inter-Hotel ‘Mini Olympics’ 

concludes 

Page 26 

to select the random samples 

by the MoE in co-operation 

with the Statistic Centre. Dr 

Al Maskriya displayed graphics 

and database charts to show 

the total number of schools 

(563) and the total number of 

students involved in the study 

(10,411) from grade 4 and 

grade 8. 

She also spoke about the 

results of the studies in grade 

4 declaring that in PIRLS2011 

the Sultanate was placed 44th 

among forty five participating 

countries and 46 out of 50 in 

Maths and Science. 

She added that in grade 8 

TIMSS the Sultanate stands 41 

out of 42 in maths and 36 out 

of 42 in science. 

In addition, she briefed 

the audience on the international 

study to train teachers 

(TEDS-M 2008). 

Dr Massomah Habib al 

Ajmiah, advisor, presented the 

second paper entitled ‘The Factors 

Correlated with Students’ 

Performance in Reading’. 

She talked about the four 

forms used in PIRLS given 

Kelly in no rush 

to have kids 

Page 28 

A new bracelet for a new day — 

jewellery in times of change 

Page 27 

Fea ures 

Monday, March 11, 2013 

to teachers, students, principals 

and parents. These forms 

played a vital role in collecting 

data. In conclusion the study 

revealed that students who 

have been followed by their 

families performed better than 

those who were not supported 

at all. Furthermore, students 

who declared that they were 

reading outside school, significantly 

improved their performance 

compared to those 

who did not read at all. 

Ali bin Juma al Rasbi, 

Deputy Director of the International 

Studies Programme, 

MoE conducted another presentation 

showing graphs of the 

forms used in the study and the 

ways of the data treatment and 

analysis. 

He also showed statistical 

figures of schools that have 

difficulties. Furthermore, Al 

Rasbi presented the national 

reports of the two studies 

TIMSS and PIRLS. 

Updating the TIMSS assessment 

frameworks for 2011 

began in September of 2008, 

and has involved extensive in- 

put and reviews by individuals 

at the TIMSS & PIRLS International 

Study Center, the IEA, 

the TIMSS 2011 National Research 

Co-ordinators, and the 

two TIMSS expert committees 

— the TIMSS 2011 Science 

and Mathematics Item Review 

Committee and the TIMSS 

2011 Questionnaire Item Review 

Committee. 

Moreover, during the conference 

it was pointed out that 

to respond correctly to TIMSS 

test items students need to be 

familiar with the mathematics 

content being assessed, but 

they also need to draw on a 

range of cognitive skills. 

Describing that these skills 

play a crucial role in the development 

of an assessment like 

TIMSS 2011, since they are vital 

in ensuring that the survey 

covers the appropriate range of 

cognitive skills across the content 

domains already outlined. 

The first domain, knowing, 

covers the facts, concepts, and 

procedures students need to 

know, while the second, applying, 

focuses on the ability of 

students to apply knowledge 

and conceptual understanding 

to solve problems or answer 

questions. The third domain, 

reasoning, goes beyond the 

solution of routine problems 

to encompass unfamiliar situations, 

complex contexts, and 

multi-step problems. 

It was also indicated that 

these three cognitive domains 

are used for both grades, but 

the balance of testing time differs, 

reflecting the difference 

in age and experience of students 

in the two grades. 

For fourth and eighth 

grades, each content domain 

will include items developed to 

address each of the three cognitive 

domains. For example, 

the number of domain will include 

knowing, applying, and 

reasoning items as also the 

other content domains. 

In addition, it was also 

declared that within the framework 

of the study the science 

assessment framework for 

TIMSS 2011 consists of a 

content dimension specifying 

the subject matter domains to 

Nicole knows how 

to balance life 

Page 28 

Minister of Education Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniya, and the dignitaries at the conference 

TIMSS & PIRLS conference shows key outcomes 

Some of the team members of the study during the conference. Right: Participants from governorates and Ministry of Education 

Dr Zuwaina al Maskariya, DG of Assessment 

be assessed within science (for 

example, biology, chemistry, 

physics, and earth science at 

the eighth grade) and a cognitive 

dimension specifying the 

cognitive domains or skills 

and behaviours (that is, knowing, 

applying, and reasoning) 

expected of students as they 

engage with the science content. 

The content domains differ 

for the fourth and eighth 

grades, reflecting the nature 

and difficulty of the science 

taught at each grade. 

There is more emphasis on 

the fourth grade on life sci- 

ence than on its counterpart, 

biology, at the eighth grade. 

At the eighth grade, physics 

and chemistry are assessed as 

separate content domains, and 

receive more emphasis than at 

fourth grade, where they are 

assessed as one content domain, 

physical science. 

During the workshops all 

the participants were divided 

into four groups based on the 

subjects. 

They discussed the outcomes 

and came out with solutions 

for every item during an 

intensive discussion session. 

— Photos by Saif al Sa’adi

PEOPLE’S 

PLATFORM 

THE Information Technology 

Authority (ITA) is successful 

in implementing 

ambitious eOman initiatives comprising 

a wide range of initiatives 

and services that are designed and 

created to improve the efficiency 

of government services, enhance 

the activities of businesses and 

empower individuals with skills 

and knowledge, to meet society’s 

needs and expectations and to 

direct Oman towards becoming 

a sustainable Knowledge-based 

economy. The move will make 

governance easy and accessible to 

the people of the country. 

— Mohammed Ali 

Editor: The growth in IT sector 

is reflected in the Sultanate’s 

e-Governance initiative, which is 

rated as one of the best in the region. 

The Information Technology 

Authority (ITA) is making all possible 

efforts to reach to the grassroots 

the benefits of Information 

Technology. 

Uprooting of trees 

IT is very painful to witness 

cutting of so many trees in 

Salalah to widen the road near the 

wali’s office. 

Development is inevitable, but 

in this age of science there must 

be some technique, in which trees 

could be uprooted along with their 

roots and planted at a new location. 

As a regular walker, I am watch- 

ing those trees for the last so many 

years. I am really sad over this. 

— Jose Manu 

Editor: I agree with your emotional 

attachment with those trees 

and I also agree that it take so 

many years for a baby plant to 

turn into full grown tree. But we 

have to understand that with so 

many development works going 

on in Salalah, the widening of 

roads is inevitable. 

26 LETTERS MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 

ITA deserves praise for eOman initiatives 

Uncovered construction areas 

Many individuals and con- 

struction companies violate the 

civic norms by not covering the 

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

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facebook.com/oman observer twitter.com/omanobserver 

Inter-Hotel ‘Mini Olympics’ concludes 

THE Inter-Hotel Mini 

Olympics concluded 

with the active participation 

of five corporate 

teams, the inaugural event of 

which was held at Crowne 

Plaza Salalah. Teams vying 

for top honours in the event 

included all major hotels from 

Dhofar like, Juweira Boutique 

Hotel, Salalah Residency Hotel, 

Marriott Salalah Resort, 

Hilton Salalah Beach Resort 

and Crowne Plaza Salalah. 

Mini football, volleyball 

for men and women, badminton 

for men and women, badminton 

mixed, table tennis for 

men and women, basketball, 

relay and swimming were 

the highlights of the two-day 

sporting event. 

The host Crowne Plaza 

Salalah had done the arrangements 

nicely to ensure that the 

‘Niacin therapy unhelpful, 

occasionally harmful’ 

ACOMBINATION drug containing niacin failed to 

lower the risk of heart attacks or strokes and even 

proved harmful for some with vascular disease, a 

study released on Saturday reported. 

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, has for years been 

widely prescribed to lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and raise 

levels of “good” HDL cholesterol. 

The link between high levels of LDL cholesterol and 

heart disease is well-documented, and doctors work to mitigate 

that risk with diet and lifestyle changes as well as a 

variety of medications. 

But even with these protocols in place, heart disease and 

stroke claim lives and cause damage, so scientists continue 

searching for ways to improve the treatment. 

Niacin -- in doses about 100 times higher than the recommended 

amount from food -- was thought to be helpful. 

Indeed, the combination drug used in the study -- made 

by US pharmaceutical giant Merck and combining extended 

release niacin with laropiprant -- is already approved in 70 

countries, though not the US. 

But when tested against a placebo in more than 25,000 

patients, it failed to reduce the numbers of heart attacks, 

strokes or other serious cardiovascular problems. 

Even more worryingly, the study showed unexpectedly 

higher levels of bleeding and infections in the group taking 

the drug versus the placebo. And the group taking the study 

drug also showed higher levels of other side effects, including 

new cases of diabetes and complications for previouslydiagnosed 

diabetes, as well as rashes and diarrhea. 

“We are disappointed that these results did not show benefits 

for our patients”, said Jane Armitage, lead author of the 

study, which included more than 25,000 subjects. 

But she and her fellow authors said the result is important, 

because it gives evidence that the risks of niacin outweigh 

the benefits when used with current treatments. Armitage 

said it was unlikely the poor outcome could be linked 

to the second component of the drug, laropiprant, which was 

included to reduce the facial flushing caused by niacin. 

participants from the guest 

hotels get quality sporting as 

well as leisure moments to 

interact maximum with their 

counterparts. 

Manuel Levonian, General 

Manager of Crowne Plaza 

salalah, exhorted the participating 

hotels to keep aside 

business rivalry at least for 

two days and take advantage 

of the spirit of sports to enter 

into a far better relation in future. 

“During our busy schedule, 

we seldom get time to 

interact with each other and 

spend light moments. This is 

an opportunity for all of us 

to play and learn about each 

other and do something better 

for the hospitality industry in 

Dhofar,” he said. 

Hasan Ahmed Akil Ba- 

Omar, HR Manager at Marriott 

Resort termed this to be a 

good way to improve relation 

between the major players in 

the hospitality industry. He 

called upon the hotels to organise 

such events once in a 

year on a rotation basis. 

About 100 sports talents 

from the participating teams 

took part in the event. 

The first day was a full day 

event with matches like voleyball, 

football, tennis, table 

tennis, badminton and swimming. 

All the final matches were 

held on the second day along 

with relay and basket ball 

events. 

The closing day was an 

occasion when the general 

managers of almost all the hotels 

took part and stressed the 

need for more such events in 

near future. 

Filipino students win accolades 

STUDENTS of the International 

Philippine 

School in Al Khobar 

(IPSA) and Philippine School 

Doha (PSD) bagged first place 

in the art and literary competition 

for young children of 

Overseas Filipino Workers 

(OFWs) in the Middle East. 

IPSA’s Diana Mae R Utlang 

(3rd year high school) 

and Juliana Beatriz P Yamsuan 

(5th Grade) won first place in 

art; while PSD’s Julienne Q 

Bautista (4th year) and Anne 

Loren E Comia (6th Grade) 

won first in literary competition. 

With the theme, “Art as 

Reality: Young Lives in Transition”, 

the competition was 

launched by the Philippine 

Embassy in Muscat, Oman for 

children of overseas Filipinos 

in the Gulf region. 

It aimed to provide the 

children an opportunity to illustrate 

their experiences of 

embracing a new life in the 

Middle East through art, essays 

and poems. Over 550 

students from 21 different 

Philippine Schools in Bahrain, 

Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi 

Arabia and United Arab Emirates, 

participated in the com- 

petition. 

Filipino writers Prof Isagani 

R Cruz, Merlie M Alunan 

and Marjorie Evasco; NCCA 

visual artists Alma Quinto 

and Salvador Convocar; and 

Adonis Durado, visual artist 

and poet based in Oman, 

served as the judges. 

Julienne Bautista’s essay 

“demonstrates good narrative 

skills and a sense of structure 

of her journey to Qatar,” noted 

Evasco. 

“Her tale maps her adjustments 

to the Arab culture, 

guided by her father’s advice 

to be considerate and sensitive 

to the mores of the culture. 

This enabled her to learn 

how to appreciate Arab culture, 

as well as gain a clearer 

perspective of the lives of 

OFWs”. 

“The chosen pieces,” Alunan 

wrote, “are generally distinguished 

by freshness and 

specificity of observation, use 

of concrete details, and sincerity.” 

The winning entries and 

other work submissions will 

be displayed at an art exhibit 

and published in a coffee table 

book produced by the Philippine 

Embassy in Muscat. 

construction areas. They not only 

look like a patch on Oman’s beautiful 

cities, they also pose security 

threat to workers and people who 

pass by those areas. Sometimes 

the construction activities happen 

so close to the road that the 

vehicles have to lower their speed 

suddenly. 

There is always a risk of being 

hit by the vehicles coming from 

behind. The administration should 

deal sternly with such violators of 

civic law. 

— Awadh 

Editor: Keeping our cities 

beautiful and clean should not 

only be the responsibility of the 

civic authorities. As residents all 

of us are responsible to keep it 

safe and secure. We should not 

depend on the government for 

everything, and yes such violaters 

should be dealt with sternly. 

Raising farm output 

IT is very good idea to raise 

farm output in the Sultanate. 

There is no denying the fact 

that agriculture sector is one of 

the most important pillars of 

economic and social development 

in the Sultanate. Despite growth 

in other sectors, the Omani people 

are still attached to their land in 

various governorates. 

— Hasan 

Editor: Agriculture is the basis 

of any economy. As the progress 

of any country depends on the 

NIRANJAN Jayanath of 

Class 4 secured the second 

rank at the International Level 

and the First rank at the State 

Level in the International 

English Olympiad. Thousands 

of students participated in this 

competition across the globe 

and Niranjan has proved 

his skill in the language by 

displaying a high level of 

competence and intelligence. 

The International English 

Olympiad is a platform for 

promising students to explore 

their interest in the English 

language. 

progress and development of its 

villages, Omanis understand it 

better and love to protect their 

agricultural land for the future 

generations. 

Oman Motor Sports 

NO matter how old a man is 

give him a car and he will 

drive it like a little child. Some 

times when I see these rallies, 

it makes me think, this is why a 

lot of people drive fast here, but 

then I quickly remind myself 

that these rally drivers aren’t just 

random person they are trained 

professionals! I loved reading that 

“plans to host the Middle East 

Rally Champion in Oman are 

afoot.” 

Oman is such a strong country 

that allows for a lot of exciting 

things to happen in one place. Lets 

hope that more things are on the 

horizon for Oman. 

— Katie 

Editor: Boys and their toys! 

Yes men do turn into little children 

when they get to drive fast in a car 

and like you pointed out they are 

trained people. Those who aren’t 

and go to the streets with that attitude 

causes danger to life. Yes we 

do have a very diverse landscape 

and with that we are lucky to host 

and have hosted several international 

events. In the future, we 

will have more grand events coming 

up that will showcase Oman 

for diversity that it has. 

ISG student shines in 

English Olympiad 

A mother’s feeling for her 

growing daughter 

By Beena Mathew 

Yesterday you were a tiny seed, 

Today you turned sweet sixteen. 

Oh! so soon did this radical take place, 

All happened in a flash. 

You are my soul, so inseparable, 

You laugh, the world becomes the best place. 

You cry, the world changes to hell for me, 

You make me delighted, you make me proud. 

Being your mom I have taught you so many things, 

But being a daughter you taught me even more. 

A compassionate heart, can’t see any ones tears, 

A heart full of benevolence and so understanding. 

Full of sincerity, innocence, sweetness, 

Love, care, concern and prayerfulness. 

A delight to be with, you are a bundle of joy, 

At times silent , at times mischievous. 

May God keep all these unblemished, 

May you not innovate with the materialistic wind. 

For frivolous reasons we laugh. And roll till we get tears. 

For lame reasons we fight. And get our head hot. 

After minutes we are best friends. 

We settle down things on the bargain of kisses, 

Calling you with all sort of pet names. 

Finding fake reasons to embrace you. 

Making you irritated just for fun, 

Is my all time cherished time pass. 

You are the store house of all my feeling, my stories, 

My sentiments and shh.. my secrets too. 

I am so happy that we share such a strong bond, 

A ligature beyond words can explain. 

Today also you sleep tight, 

Embracing your dolls in the night. 

The way you become crazy, 

When you hear your favorite tune. 

I rejoice when I see you dancing, 

Forgetting the surrounding. 

You are so precarious, gets hurt so easily. 

Did you really grow up? 

Or still you are my teensy-weensy adorable baby? 

What ever you are no matter, 

You are mine only that matters. 

I am so lucky as God send you to be with me, 

You are the fruit of my good deeds. 

Do I need to ask more, when he gave you to me. 

You are God’s best gift for me. 

Jillions of love and scads of kisses, 

To the transcendent daughter in the world.

27 LIFESTYLE MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 

A new bracelet for a new day — jewellery in times of change 

By Britta Schmeis 

THE term Macro Trend 

has become quite common 

in the jewellery 

business. It basically means 

that there are trends that endure 

for many seasons and last 

for many years. And yet every 

year sees new tastes emerge. 

In 2013 the big trends are 

high-quality gemstones in different 

colours, silver and flower 

elements. 

At the recent Inhorgenta 

trade show for jewellery and 

watches in Munich it was clear 

that versatile jewellery that can 

look different everyday will be 

the next Macro Trend. 

Jewellery as a sheer acces- 

AWOMAN has been 

visiting the clinic for 

the past few months 

for vague symptoms of acidity 

and gastritis, but time and 

again I noticed that her mood 

was never good whenever she 

came for consultation. 

One fine day I just asked 

her one simple question, how 

is your son doing? Hope he is 

doing well in his studies. In a 

few seconds she burst out her 

feelings and as though it appeared 

that it was suppressed 

for a long time. She came out 

with the story that how very 

deeply she missed her son after 

he left for higher studies 

abroad. 

To cut the story short, I 

was able to identify what exactly 

was the problem with 

this woman; she was in severe 

depression because of her 

son’s absence from her day 

to day life. These happenings 

are common with most of the 

parents when their loved ones 

leave them for their higher 

sory is growing in importance, 

according to trend researcher 

Irmie Schuech-Schamburek, 

who is one of the fair’s consultants. 

Young people in particular 

like accessories that match 

their outfit and this is reflected 

in the wide range of unisexwatches 

with interchangeable 

plastic wristbands. 

For the first time the trade 

show’s focus was on lifestyle 

jewellery. Fashion brands are 

also investing in real gems, 

according to Professor Stefan 

Hencke, who was hired by the 

trade show to analyse the latest 

trends. 

Hair bands are definitely 

lifestyle jewellery products in 

Schuech-Schamburek’s opin- 

British women losing jobs 

after maternity leave 

AT least one in seven 

women in Britain face 

illegal discrimination 

at work when they get pregnant, 

and lose their jobs while 

they are on maternity leave, a 

study has found. 

Around 40 per cent of the 

women surveyed said their 

jobs had changed by the time 

they returned, with half reporting 

a cut in hours or demotion, 

the Guardian said. 

More than a tenth had been 

replaced in their jobs by the 

person who had covered their 

maternity leave, according to 

Slater and Gordon, the law 

firm which commissioned the 

research. Samantha Mangwana, 

an employment lawyer at 

the law firm, said the results 

were “sad and shocking”. 

“Women are suffering in 

silence,” she said. 

“A common case is that a 

woman goes back to her role 

and all her clients have been 

given to other people. And 

they are not returned. So eve- 

rything she has built up over 

the years is gone. Or they are 

simply being made redundant 

ahead of worse-performing 

men.” 

“Women are somehow 

seen as being less committed 

to their employers because 

they are now mothers,” she 

said. Research company 

OnePoll questioned 1,000 

women. 

On returning to their jobs, 

almost a third of the new 

mothers (30 per cent) felt they 

did not fit in any more, and 

two in five felt they lacked 

support. 

Almost 20 per cent felt that 

no one understood what it was 

like juggling work with new 

motherhood. 

However, only three per 

cent sought legal advice over 

maternity discrimination. 

In Britain, it is unlawful 

to dismiss or otherwise disadvantage 

an employee for a 

reason related to her pregnancy 

or maternity leave. 

Homeopathy treatment for depression and anxiety 

studies. 

Depression affects both 

women and men, but women 

experience depression at 

roughly twice the rate of men. 

Having some depressive 

symptoms does not mean a 

person is clinically depressed. 

It is not unusual for those who 

have lost a loved one to feel 

sad and disinterested in regular 

activities. Only when these 

symptoms persist for an unusually 

long time is there reason 

to suspect that grief has 

become depressive illness. 

Dimensions of Depression: 

Stress in general can 

contribute to depression. 

These stresses include major 

responsibilities at home and 

work, parenthood, and caring 

for children and aging parents. 

How these factors may 

uniquely affect women is not 

yet fully understood. 

For both women and men, 

rates of major depression are 

highest among the separated 

and divorced, and lowest 

ion. “They are made from 

leather, plastic, fabric or lace, 

with or without charms, either 

BRITISH archaeological 

landmark Stonehenge 

started its life as a fancy 

cemetery for a community, 

according to a new explanation 

by archaeologists. 

Experts studied cremated 

bones of 63 people, and the 

studies suggest that about 500 

years before Stonehenge was 

built, a larger stone circle was 

erected at the same site as a 

community graveyard, the Independent 

reported. 

“These were men, women, 

children, so presumably family 

groups. We’d thought that 

among the married, while 

remaining always higher for 

women than for men. 

In fact, rates of depression 

were shown to be highest 

among unhappily married 

women. Many factors contribute 

to the unique picture 

of depression in women, from 

reproductive hormones to social 

pressures to the female 

response to stress. 

Premenstrual problems, 

pregnancy and infertility, postpartum 

depression, perimenopause 

and menopause are 

the biological and hormonal 

causes of depression in wom- 

economically priced or a little 

more expensive.” Another 

focus according to Schuech- 

maybe it was a place where a 

dynasty of kings was buried, 

but this seemed to be much 

more of a community, a different 

kind of power structure,” 

said Mike Parker Pearson, 

a professor from University 

College London. 

Archaeologists studied cremated 

bones of 63 individuals, 

and believed that they were 

buried around 3,000 BC. 

The earlier circular enclosure, 

which measured 

around 300 feet across, could 

have been the burial ground 

for about 200 more people, 

HEALTHY 

LIFE 

By Dr Naeem Karnalkar 

en. Hormone fluctuations related 

to the reproductive cycle 

can have a profound influence 

on a woman’s mood. In light 

of this possibility, assessment 

should be made for connections 

between the depressive 

symptoms and the female reproductive 

cycle. 

Depression is a treatable 

illness: As with many illnesses, 

the earlier treatment 

begins, the more effective and 

the greater the likelihood of 

preventing serious recurrences. 

Of course, treatment will 

not eliminate life’s inevitable 

stresses and ups and downs. 

Schamburek is high-quality 

jewellery that matches its 

wearer perfectly. “That kind of 

jewellery has something to do 

with personality and original 

style,” Schuech-Schamburek 

says. “And this is where people 

become more courageous.” 

In the old days people chose 

classy, popular jewellery design 

in order to wear it for a 

long time. Today they choose 

something more individual. 

“People now want unique 

pieces,” says Rapahel Fischer 

from Germany’s Association 

of Jewellery Designers. 

“And they are willing to 

invest in silver due to the high 

gold price.” They are also 

spending their money on dia- 

Pearson said. 

The team, which included 

academics from more than a 

dozen British universities, also 

offered some theories about 

the purpose of the second 

Stonehenge, which still stands 

today in Wiltshire. 

Theories about Stonehenge 

say it was a place for Druid 

worship, an observatory for 

astronomical studies or a place 

of healing built by early inhabitants 

of Britain who roamed 

around with their herds. 

Pearson said the latest 

study suggests that Stonehenge 

But it can greatly enhance the 

ability to manage such challenges 

and lead to greater enjoyment 

of life. 

The first step in treatment 

for depression should be a 

thorough examination to rule 

out any physical illnesses that 

may cause depressive symptoms. 

Homeopathy: In the past 

few years, much interest has 

risen in the use of homeopathy 

in the treatment of both 

depression and anxiety. 

Balance can be achieved 

on emotional and physical 

levels with homeopathy, not 

only with the improvement 

of specific symptoms, but the 

person’s energy and overall 

sense of well-being. 

Depression is not something 

which you can just ignore 

or neglect. It is caused by 

an imbalance of brain chemicals, 

along with other factors. 

Like any serious medical condition, 

depression needs to be 

treated. 

monds. 

But despite the boom in 

the premium segment the high 

price of gold requires new production 

methods. 

A Japanese technique called 

Mokume Gane combines nonferrous 

heavy and precious 

metals in a way that resembles 

wood grain. 

“Rings and bracelets look 

like lace or crochet,” Schuech- 

Schamburek points out. 

The changing tastes of 

fashion are even influencing 

traditional jewellery items 

like wedding rings. Clients are 

asking for alterations and individualisation 

with pearls and 

gems to reflect their desire for 

individuality. — dpa 

Stonehenge was a graveyard, say experts 

should be seen less a temple of 

worship than a kind of building 

project that served to unite 

people from across Britain. 

The daily said that analysis 

of the remains of a Neolithic 

settlement near the monument 

showed that thousands of people 

travelled from far, bringing 

their livestock and families for 

huge feasts and celebrations. 

The team said that the 

builders did not live there all 

the time but converged seasonally 

to build Stonehenge, 

but not for very long, possibly 

for decade or so. 

Along with professional 

treatment, there are other 

things you can do to help 

yourself get better. 

It may also help to spend 

some time with other people 

and to participate in activities 

that make you feel better, 

such as mild exercise, travelling, 

sightseeing, meditation. 

Talk about your feelings to 

someone you trust, they can 

get you through this tough 

time. 

Try to keep up with social 

activities, being around other 

people will make you feel less 

depressed. One advise, when 

you are depressed, never 

take important decisions like 

getting married, divorce, or 

changing jobs. Postpone the 

important decisions of your 

life until you feel better. 

(The writer is a Homeopathic 

Consultant at 

Bait Al Dawa Homeopathy 

Clinic, Alkhuwair, Muscat 

24489031 drnaeemhk@ 

yahoo.com) 

Mohammed Al Balushi 

The economic crises 

and role of auditors 

SHOULD auditors play a role in fastening economic 

crises? Do economists forecast the risk before determining 

to start working on projects? Are auditors 

available in the circle of economy? If the auditors, whether 

internal or external, are backbone of any organisations 

for safeguarding their assets, then: why they can’t be the 

backbone of any state to safeguard its economy? Though, 

there are auditors who are called state auditors, likewise 

there should be economic auditors, too. Would there have 

been economic crises existed if auditors played their vital 

roles in micro levels before macro levels? Do auditors 

always ask right questions to identify the economic risk? 

Audit questions are one of the great tools of having an effective 

audit. Without right question, to the right people, 

and to the right time of the audit, the audit plan will not 

be succeeded. 

There might be a question in the way that how auditors 

can be involved in financial and other economic crises? 

Do they suppose to be blamed? Noticeably, most of the 

companies are not in a position to have their own capital 

to start a project for government like building roads, 

schools, hospital, and parks, in such circumstances, the 

government will not facilitate funds to those companies 

immediately, but there is a process and some other terms 

and conditions are involved in the loan process. On the 

other hands if there are companies which plan to expand 

their business, they obviously seek for funds. Banks will 

provide financial support to those companies, which is 

called corporate loans. Do banks (corporate employees) 

facilitate such funds without having the economic risk in 

their minds? May be they don’t reach 100 per cent to the 

risk point as they are mostly interested in finalising the 

deal and do business for the bank. How internal auditors 

look and study those risks and properly identify them to 

safeguard banks money? 

Do they follow traditional audit methodology or risk 

based audit methodology to identify the hidden risk? 

Fine, imagining that everything went smoothly and the 

deal finalised and the loan was sanctioned to those companies. 

After six months it was announced in the paper 

that the project had been failed. 

Now the company is not able to repay the loan to the 

bank, and unfortunately the security is not fully covering 

the loan amount. Here the economic crises exist 

and many banks have such real cases in their portfolio. 

The question that can be arisen once again that why the 

project failed? 

Did not the company have their internal auditors who 

can check the work and the working condition that how 

the project is going phase after phase? Auditors’ role 

should have been that: they must have audited the site/ 

location, workers that they are really working and should 

have found that the right person for the right task, the 

equipment and other machinery things with their quality 

and quantity, and the loan amount that how the company 

has received the amount and how these funds are being 

utilized for the sake of avoiding corruption. 

If it is noticed that there are many countries in the 

world suffering with the financial crises. So, do auditors 

suppose to be questioned, perhaps? Reading one of the 

reports of 2011 published in Financial Times, where it 

reported that: “Banks auditors and regulators had been 

guilty of a — dereliction of duty- by not sharing more 

information with each other on an informal basis before 

the crises”. 

Since today’s world is called the “world of information” 

meaning more information auditors have the financial 

system and organisations will be better safeguarded. 

The accurate information must be shared to the concerned 

people by the auditors, and there is no harm if the same 

information is discussed within the audit team in the bank 

or any audit firms, because it will bring more solutions 

and controls for mitigating future risks. 

Auditors must be expert in accounting and analysing 

the data in a most critical way. They must be able to identify 

the risk and keep that risk in the middle of the table 

and study it in four angles of NEWS (North, East, West 

and South) that what can be the risk if it falls in any area. 

Directly or indirectly auditors are involved in fixing the 

economic and financial crises. If not, then; they must be 

involved and play their vital roles for healthy economy. 

Psy to release new song, 

hold concert next month 

SOUTH Korean rapper 

Psy said he would release 

the highly-anticipated 

follow-up to his global 

hit “Gangnam Style” in April, 

and hold a large concert in 

Seoul to mark the occasion. 

Psy, sporting his signature 

sunglasses, announced the 

planned release in Korean and 

English in a video uploaded to 

YouTube, which featured subtitles 

in Chinese, Thai, Spanish, 

French, Portuguese and 

Indonesian. 

“April 2013 is a new single, 

worldwide all at the same 

time. And I’m gonna do a 

concert... you can see it live, 

on YouTube. Just for you,” 

he said before launching into 

new dance moves for the 

remixed version of “Gangnam 

Style”. 

Psy is currently touring 

Australia after a tour in Latin 

America and released this 

week the four-song “Gangnam 

Style” remix album featuring 

US rappers 2 Chainz 

and Tyga. 

The 35-year-old star, 

whose real name is Park Jae- 

Sang, was pushed to global 

stardom after “Gangnam 

Style” — a satire of luxurious 

lifestyle in an affluent 

Seoul district — went viral on 

YouTube and topped charts 

worldwide.

Dr Ibrahim bin Ahmed al Kindi, 

Chief Executive Officer 

Fahmi bin Khalid al Harthy, 

Editor-in-Chief 

THREE-FILM old Esha Gupta 

says that unlike Vidya Balan, she 

is not in a position to carry an entire 

movie on her shoulders. 

Esha made her debut thriller Jannat 

2, produced under Mahesh and Mukesh 

Bhatt’s Vishesh Films banner. Her second 

film Raaz 3D was also with them. 

She also played an important role in 

Chakravyuh, a film on Maoists. 

“I want to do various kinds of films, 

but no female oriented films right now,” 

Esha said. 

“I am not Vidya Balan and I don’t 

think right now I can pull an entire film 

on my shoulders. Vidya Balan did The 

Dirty Picture and Kahaani, which was 

completely on her shoulders. In future, 

I will definitely do such films, but not 

right now,” she added. 

After working with directors Vikram 

Bhatt and Prakash Jha, the 28-year-old 

now has a new wish list. 

She said: “I want to be part of good 

films. Script matters the most. I would 

like to do an Anurag Kashyap film, like 

Gangs Of Wasseypur or a glamorous 

film like Race.” 

28 

ENTERTAINMENT MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 

‘I can’t carry a film on my shoulders’ 

An outsider, Esha admits that her 

journey into filmdom has been “pretty 

rough”. 

“I had my own share of struggle. 

But I think I owe a lot to Mahesh and 

Mukesh Bhatt who gave me a break in 

the showbiz (with Jannat 2),” she said. 

She said she takes inspiration from 

the those who made it big without any 

film background. 

“There are many other actresses 

who don’t have filmy backup including 

Aishwarya Rai and 

Deepika Padukone. I take inspiration 

from these actresses,” she said. 

Esha has a three films contract with 

Vishesh Films, and soon she will be doing 

her third film with them. 

Model-actress Esha Gupta, last seen 

in Raaz 3, has a fetish for clothes by designers 

from Delhi, where she was born 

and brought up. 

The 27-year-old likes to wear clothes 

by designers from the city on significant 

occasions as she feels that the place 

produces contemporary yet ethnic apparels. 

“Esha being a Delhi girl has an affin- 

ity towards designers based there. She 

has a rapport with them and thus feels 

that they have a flair of representing 

her style and personality through their 

designs,” Esha’s spokesperson said in a 

statement. 

“Also, most of the designers are 

friends and she feels, this is a way of 

thanking them. Having said that, she is 

open and receptive to other designers as 

well,” the spokesperson confirmed. 

Before turning an actress, Esha was a 

successful model, and walked the ramp 

for several designers in the capital as 

well as Mumbai. 

Esha carved a niche for herself in 

the world of modeling and went on to 

became a Kingfisher Calender girl in 

2010. 

The actress made her Bollywood debut 

with the Bhatt camp’s Jannat 2, and 

later starred in Raaz 3D. Within a short 

span of time, she even experimented 

with a de-glam role in Prakash Jha’s 

Chakravyuh. 

Esha has also done a small screen 

project — technology-based show Supercars 

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SRK never differentiates: 

Deepika Padukone 

ACTRESS Deepika 

Padukone, who 

made her Bollywood 

debut opposite Shah 

Rukh Khan in "Om Shanti 

Om", says the superstar 

genuinely considers both 

genders equal. 

Shah Rukh recently 

announced that henceforth 

all his films will 

feature the actress' name 

first in the credits, and 

that has left Deepika 

even more impressed. 

She is currently working 

with him in "Chennai Express". 

"It's a wonderful 

initiative taken to prove 

that men and women are 

equal in all fields and professions. The way he interacts 

with us during shooting clearly shows that he doesn't differentiate. 

I've experienced that in 'Om Shanti Om' and now 

on 'Chennai Express. Thank you Shah," Deepika said in a 

statement. 

Kelly in no rush to have kids 

S INGER-ACTRESS 

Kelly Osbourne, who is 

dating Matthew Mosshart, 

says she is in no rush to 

have children. 

Her mother, singer 

Sharon Osbourne, 

used to ask when she 

was ready to start a 

family, but she is relieved 

the pressure is 

now off after her brother 

Jack and his wife Lisa 

welcomed their daughter 

Pearl last April. 

“Mum is besotted with her 

first grandchild — it’s taken the 

pressure off me. I’d love kids in the future, but I am in no 

rush,” contactmusic.com quoted Kelly as saying. 

The 27-year-old also says she is in no rush to get married. 

“I love being with Matthew, but I am not going to push 

him into proposing. These things have to happen naturally, 

I am a romantic,” she said. 

Nicole knows how to balance life 

POP singer Nicole Scherzinger, 

who is dating British racing 

driver Lewis Hamilton, says 

it is important to maintain 

balance in a romantic 

relationship. 

The 34-year-old 

says the key to a 

strong romantic life 

is by balancing things 

out. So she enjoys 

her own company on 

some days. 

“Taking time for 

yourself when you can, 

whether it’s working out or 

meditating or writing. Often, 

the only time I have for myself is 

when I’m on a flight, so I’ll have a date with myself on the 

plane,” contactmusic.com quote Scherzinger as saying. 

Adele crazy about her pet 

BRITISH singer Adele 

missed her pet Louie 

so much when she was 

here for the Oscars that 

she bought a lot of 

accessories for the 

dog. 

“Adele really 

missed her dog during 

her six weeks in 

America. Every time 

she was out in Los 

Angeles she kept buying 

him little doggie accessories. 

She loves all the 

upmarket Hollywood pampered 

pet stores and couldn’t believe 

how doggie-mad LA was,” dailystar.co.uk quoted a 

source as saying. 

“Adele spent hundreds (of dollars) on Louie, buying 

new clothes, collars, coats and scarves for him to wear in 

London. She even brought him a stylish new bed,” added 

the source. 

Styles falls for Megan lookalike 

S INGER Harry Styles is reportedly smitten with a girl 

named Shaniece Nesbitt, who looks like actress Megan 

Fox (pictured). 

Styles, 19, member of One Direction band, spotted Nesbitt 

during his gig and sent out a team to find her out and 

get her number. Later the duo hung out at the five-star Culloden 

Hotel until 5 am. 

“There were about six 

people partying with Harry 

and Shaniece back at the 

hotel but he only had 

eyes for her,” thesun. 

co.uk quoted a source 

as saying. “He was 

fixated on the fact she 

looked like Megan 

Fox. They spent hours 

flirting. She didn’t 

go up to his room, but 

Harry has kept in touch 

since and been texting 

her,” the source added. 

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