WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 1, 2017 | JUMADA AL ULA 4, 1438 AH VOL. 36 NO.

79 | PAGES 28 | BAISAS 200

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ASIAN SHARES RATTLED BY TRUMP POLICY WORRIES, DOLLAR P16 WHISTLEBLOWER DOUBTS RUSSIAN ATTITUDE CHANGED P22 DOWN THE MEMORY LANE P25

900 km 144 18
OMAN
TEAMS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES, INCLUDING
HM thanked by TOTAL DISTANCE NUMBER OF CYCLISTS TWO ARAB TEAMS (ABU DHABI AND BAHRAIN)

King Salman STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 6

February 14 February 15 February 16 February 17 February 18 February 19
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos
has received a cable of thanks from the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud of
Saudi Arabia in reply to His Majestys
condolences cable on the death of
Prince Mohammed bin Faisal bin
Abdulaziz al Saud. In his cable, King DISTANCE
Salman expressed his thanks for His
Majestys generous feelings and sincere
prayers, praying to Allah the Almighty to 176.5 km 146.5 km 162 km 119.5 km 165 km 130.5 km
protect His Majesty against all harms. Al Sawadi Nakhl Sultan Al Sifah Sultan The

TOUR OF OMAN
Beach Fort to Cultural Resort Qaboos Wave to
in the Bandar Centre to Mosque Muttrah
Wilayat of al to Ministry in Samayil sea
Renaissance Village Barka, to Rouda Aqabat of to Al road

FROM FEBRUARY 14
Al Naseem Qurayat Tourism Jabal al

Duqm opens today Public

Park
Akhdar
road COMPLETE ROUTE
DUQM: Stephen Thomas, Chief Executive

8QLHG$GGUHVV6\VWHPIRU2PDQ
Officer of Renaissance Services Company
said that the Renaissance Village Duqm,
accommodating 16,000 beds, will begin
initial operations from Wednesday. The
Mountain
village is a residential project allocated
for workers of the companies operating areas may
in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm.
REPORT ON P2 THE CONSOLIDATED ADDRESS SYSTEM SEEKS TO UNIFY STANDARDS see sub-zero
ACCORDING TO THE BEST GLOBAL PRACTICES
REGION
KABEER YOUSUF
temperature
Al Qaeda chief in Way 1143 MUSCAT, JAN 31
Khalifa al Barwani, CEO of
National Centre for Statistics
channels, he said.
Dr Khalifa, in his visual
LAKSHMI KOTHANETH
MUSCAT, JAN 31
Yemen killed Locating a place or guiding and Information (NCSI). presentation to the State
the Civil Defence in the event One of the most prominent Council titled Who We Are, The mountainous regions of the
ADEN: Yemeni security forces killed an of an emergency will soon be projects being undertaken by said the project aims to establish Sultanate are expected to see very

Way 3326
Al Qaeda leader in the province of Lahj easy as Oman is planning a the NCSI is Unified Address an integrated system that uses low temperatures, at times even
during a raid on Tuesday, police said. Unified Address System that System, besides the census, latest scientific technology such sub-zero levels, from Thursday to
Ammar Qaid, known as Al Qaedas emir
in Lahj, was killed in an exchange of will uniquely identify every mail, population and housing, as geographic information Saturday, according to the Met office.
fire with counter-terrorism forces after location in the country. said Dr Al Barwani. systems (GIS) and digital maps. The National Multi-Hazard Early
refusing to surrender, said provincial
Way 324 For the first time in the The consolidated address The need for such a Warning Centre of Public Authority

7
police chief Saleh Sayed. Sultanates history, each
place will be distinctively
demarcated and will
INSIGHT include the building
system seeks to unify standards system was felt because both for Civil Aviation attributes it to the
and specifications in the individuals and emergency trough of low pressure on these days.
Sultanate according to the service providers found it The trough is expected to have
best global practices. It allows difficult and time-consuming to an influence over Musandam

Way 1058
TRADE BETWEEN number, street name, city everyone to use government locate some places. Governorate, the coastal areas of
name, the governorate, services in an effective and TURN TO P2 Oman Sea and Al Hajar mountains.
OMAN AND IRAN
the wilayat and the postal secure manner across multiple Isolated thundershowers are
TO GET IMPETUS code, according to Dr expected at times.
HAIDER AL LAWATI | PAGE 9 It is also expected to have its
influence over the governorates of
IMPEDIMENTS TO Musandam, Al Buraimi, North Al
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS Batinah, South Al Batinah, Muscat,
IN ARAB STATES Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhiliyah, North
LOAI BATAINEH | PAGE 17 and South Al Sharqiyah.
Partly cloudy skies have been
predicted over the governorates of
Musandam, North Al Batinah and
INSIDESTORIES Al Buraimi with chance of isolated
rain.
Clear skies are expected over
most of the Sultanate with a chance

Part-time work cant FUEL PRICE

MYANMAR HAILS TAXI DRIVER WHO
DIED CONFRONTING ASSASSIN
of late night to early morning low-
level clouds or fog over Al Dhahirah,
Fresh fuel prices for February were announced Al Dakhiliyah, South and North Al
P7 exceed 25 hrs a week by Ministry of Oil and Gas on Tuesday.

JANUARY
2017
FEBRUARY
Sharqiyah, Al Wusta and Dhofar and
the coastal areas of Oman Sea.

VINOD NAIR & MAJED

MUSCAT, JAN 31
The minimum M91 176 186
Tech firms
The Ministry of Manpower on
Tuesday announced a decision wage should be
M95 186 196
to challenge
regulating part-time work based RO 3 per hour,
TRUMP FIRES TOP LAWYER
WHO DEFIED ORDER P10
on recommendations made by
Tanfeedhs labour labs.
and the employee
DIESEL 195 205
Trump order
The labs had said flexible part-
should be at least 15 All in baisa WASHINGTON: A broad coalition
time and temporary employment years, according to of US technology firms has begun
a decision issued by
policies were a necessity in order to
meet the demand for manpower in
the country.
the Ministry of SLIGHT RISE IN FUEL planning a joint legal strategy
challenging President
Trumps executive order barring
Donald

Manpower
According to the ministry,
Omanis employed for part-time
PRICES FOR FEBRUARY refugees and many Muslims from
American soil, sources say.
P11
POLICE SEARCH FILLONS OFFICE AS jobs can work for not less than four MUSCAT: The official website at 186 baisas and the diesel price More than 20 firms from the
FAKE PAY AFFAIR GATHERS PACE
hours a day and not more than 25 of the Oil and Gas Ministry said was fixed at 205 baisas. sector were expected to attend a
hours a week. specify the number of daily and that the sale price of fuel products Meanwhile, Dubai Mercantile meeting to discuss legal options
WEATHER TODAY The minimum wage should be weekly work hours for an agreed in the Sultanate during February Exchange (DME) said that Oman on the ban, which was expected to
RO 3 per hour, and the employee wage. witnessed a rise of 10 baisa for oil price for March delivery have a large impact on Silicon Valley
MUSCAT SALALAH NIZWA
MAX: 260C MAX: 270C MAX: 280C should be at least 15 years of age. As per the decision, both the M-95, M-91 and diesel compared reached $53.26. and other tech firms which employ
MIN: 180C MIN: 200C MIN: 170C Working hours should be between 6 employer and the employee should to January prices. The DME statement said that thousands of immigrants.
am and 6 pm. be allowed to terminate the contract The committee in-charge of the price of Oman oil declined 17 Its still very early, but the strategy
SUNRISE 06.46 AM While 20 per cent of part- through a written notification seven studying and fixing the sale price cents from the price of Monday, would probably be similar to the San
time workers should be Omanis, days in advance. of fuel products in the Sultanate which was $53.43. Bernardino iPhone briefs, said one
PRAYER TIMINGS
exception has been made for SMEs, Tanfeedh labs had suggested that on Tuesday approved the new The average price of Oman tech sector employee familiar with
FAJR: 05:27 where the director is an Omani and the Ministry of Higher Education is pricing for February. oil for February delivery has talks on condition of anonymity.
DHUHR: 12:20 partners are full-time employees. to raise awareness about taking up The committee fixed the cost stabilised at $52.72, thus $8.18 Participating in the talks were
ASR: 15:30 Insurance cover should be part-time work. Tanfeedh had set a of M-95 petrol per litre at 196 per barrel higher than January Google parent Alphabet, Netflix,
MAGHRIB: 17:53 provided to the workers and the target of 29,500 part-time workers baisas. The price for M-91 was set delivery. ONA Airbnb and Twitter, the source
ISHA: 19:23 employment contract should by 2020, from 26,000 in 2017. indicated. SEE ALSO P10
 insideoman
oman
2 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
BILATERAL TIES WITH QATAR REVIEWED
MUSCAT: Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidy, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs, received in his office at Bait Al Falaj
Camp on Tuesday Ali bin Fahd al Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Sultanate. The Qatari Ambassador handed
over a written message to Sayyid Badr from Dr Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, related
to the existing cooperation between the two countries. The two sides reviewed the strong fraternal relations binding the two
countries and discussed several matters of common concern. ONA
Renaissance Village
Duqm begins
operations
DUQM: Stephen Thomas, Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of Renaissance Services
Company, says that the Renaissance Village
Duqm, accommodating 16,000 beds, will
commence initial operation today. This was
announced during a visit of the participants
at the 4th Reporter Forum to the Renaissance
Village Duqm yesterday.
The forum is being held at the Special
Economic Zone in Duqm (SEZD) under
the patronage of Ali bin Khalfan al Jabri,
Under-Secretary, of the Ministry of
Information. The forums activities conclude
today. The Renaissance Village Duqm is a
residential project allocated for workers at
the companies operating in the SEZD. The
participants viewed the high-level facilities
at the Village. They also visited economic
projects that included Duqm Refinery,
Sebacic Acid Production Refinery, Oman
Drydock Company, Duqm Port and other
projects. ONA
Majlis Ashshura legal
committee meets
MUSCAT: The Legislative and Legal
Committee at Majlis Ashshura on
Tuesday held its 3rd regular meeting
of the 2nd annual sitting (2016-2017)
of the 8th term (2015-2019) under
the chairmanship of Khalid bin
Ahmed al Saadi, Deputy Head of the
Committee.
The committee discussed remarks
presented by some committees, as
well as their visions on articles of the
MSM index gains 24 points
Muscat Securities Market general index 30 added 24.8 points,
comprising a rise by 0.43 per cent to close at 5,776.17 points, compared
to the last session, which stood at 5,751.38 points.
Sultanate, Unesco sign MoU
MUSCAT: The Sultanate signed a General for Social and Human Sciences
memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Unesco signed the memorandum.
with the United Nations Educational, The memorandum stipulates several
Scientific and Cultural Organisation items that include training and capacity
(Unesco) on the promotion of Bioethics building for members of NBC, develop
programmes. NBC work mechanisms and guiding
Dr Ali bin Saud al Bimani, Vice- its members on the best training
Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University resources in the world. The Unesco will
(SQU), Chairman of the National also provide information and training
Bioethics Committee (NBC), and Dr programmes in the field of bioethics to
Nada al Nashif, Assistant Director- NBC members. ONA
Oman to have unified address system
FROM PAGE 1
The present system is mainly used by engineers and
utility companies and requires people to know and remember
various minute details of locations. Not only that, many streets
are only numbered. Streets in different areas have the same
internal bylaw of the Majlis. number. The addresses are too complicated for the ordinary
The committee will complete people, especially tourists, to locate, said a cartographer.
revising the final amendments to the The new address system involves unified naming of
bylaw today. Further, the committee streets and the development of an address standards
discussed its study on Municipal manual.
Councils Law, which was adopted for NCSI is responsible for formulating a long-term national
the current annual sitting. strategy for statistical development. It is committed to
The committee decided to host providing updates concerned to authorities and decision-
several concerned agencies, as well makers with the latest statistics and information, Dr Al
as some members of the Municipal Barwani added.
Councils. ONA
Sultanate to host GCC Quran, Hadith
contest for youth from February 25
MUSCAT: The Main Committee of
the 28th GCC Quran and Hadith
Competition for Youth held its first
meeting to discuss topics related to the
Sultanates hosting of the competition
during February 25 to March 3, 2017 in
Muscat.
The committee reviewed
arrangements of technical and
administrative aspects and preparations
for the hosting and approving the
competitions programme, as well
as discussing and determining the
financial and in-kind bonuses allocated competition, reviewed its requirements The main committee will hold a
to the first three winners on the level of and preparation in a manner that meeting with the teams formed to
teams and individuals. enables it to represent the Sultanate in follow the preparations required in
The committee also approved the most appropriate way and to achieve advance before the competition kicks
the Sultanates delegation in the advanced positions in the competition. off. ONA
Al Ghasham
releases 2 books
for children
MUSCAT: Al Ghasham
House for Publishing
and Translation recently
released two books for
children. The first one
Sami and the Blue Quilt by
Sumaya al Kindi and the
second The Tree Luban and
the Strong Wind by Asma
bint Ali bin Mohammed
Aidroos.
Sami and the Blue
Quilt is in Arabic and
English and is in 15 colour
pages, accompanied with
attracting drawings that
address the taste of the
child. The Tree Luban and
the Strong Wind has 15
colour pages and includes
drawings that are inspired
by the atmosphere of the
story. ONA
 insideoman

NATIONAL OIL SPILL DRILL BEGINS

oman OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7 3

MUSCAT: The Ministry of

Environment and Climate Affairs
in collaboration with Petroleum

Groundbreaking ceremony for Development Oman (PDO) began a

national oil spill drill, yesterday.
The two-day drill, dubbed
Nawras 2017, is aimed at testing the

Maritime Security Centre held preparedness of the parties involved

MUSCAT: Lt Gen Ahmed bin Harith al Nabhani, Chief of
Staff of the Sultans Armed Forces (SAF), on Tuesday laid
the foundation stone for starting construction works for the
main building of the Maritime Security Centre. Present at
the groundbreaking ceremony were commanders of SAF
Corps, senior officers of SAF, and members of the Maritime
Security Committee.
The project was assigned to a local company and it is
hoped that all construction works of the building and
various facilities will be completed in February 2018.
Commodore Abdullah bin Ali al Sulaimi, Head of the
Maritime Security Centre said: The Security Centre is one
of the marine centers at the national level, whose national
tasks has been activated earlier. ONA
in the pollution control operations.
It is carried out in Qurm
Beach, Mina Al Fahal, Al Ghubra
Desalination Plant and near Al Fahal
Island.
The exercise began with routine following which a report was sent
operation by loading an oil tanker at to the maritime operations and
Mina Al Fahal by using the mooring PDO control room. Instructions for
buoy No 2 as oil began spilling from an emergent stop of the pumping
a submarine pipeline due to an operations and closure of all valves
unknown reason. were given to all the mooring buoys.
The leak remained undetected Beaches in Muscat city at Al Qurm,

CBO issues treasury bills worth RO 40m
MUSCAT: A tender of Government
Treasury Bills, issue number 24 was
held at the Central Bank of Oman
(CBO) this week. The results of issue
are as follows: The total value of the
allotted Treasury bills amounted to
RO 40 million, for a maturity period
of 28 days, from 1st February until
March 1, 2017. The average accepted
price reached 99.965 for every RO 100
while the minimum accepted price
arrived at 99.965 per RO 100. The
average discount rate and the average
yield reached 0.45625 per cent and
0.45641 per cent respectively.
The interest rate on the Repo
operations with CBO is 1.28 per cent
for the period from January 31, 2017
to February 6, 2017 while the discount
rate on the Treasury Bills Discounting
Facility with CBO is 2.03 per cent for
the same period.
The Treasury Bills are short-term
highly secured financial instruments
issued by the CBO on behalf of the
Government, which helps the licensed
commercial banks to gainfully invest
their surplus funds, with added
advantage of ready liquidity through
discounting and repurchase facilities
(Repo) offered by the Central Bank.
Furthermore, the Treasury Bills
promote the local money market by
creating a benchmark yield curve for
short-term interest rates. Additionally,
the Government (MOF) may also
resort to this instrument whenever felt
necessary for financing its recurrent
expenditures. ONA
until huge amounts of oil began to
spread forming a large oil slick. It was
ascertained that the oil tanker was
Al Ghubra and Mina al Fahal were
closed on Tuesday for general public
and visitors as part of the national oil
not the source of the oil spill then spill drill.
the tanker was removed from the The programme has been
mooring buoy zone. conducted by the Ministry of
The oil slick was spotted at 0600 Environment and Climate Affairs in
hours around the mooring buoy No cooperation with the PDO Oman.
2 at Petroleum Development Oman The programme will continue on
(PDO) during a routine inspection Wednesday.
 muscat festival
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R UA RY 1 l 2 0 1 7
5
HERITAGE VILLAGE SHOWCASES FRANKINCENSE
Recreation of rural Oman
VINOD NAIR
MUSCAT, JAN 31
Focus on rural Oman continued
to be a thump card for Muscat
Festival this year. Be it the corridor
preparing Omani food, the souq
selling accessories or the rural
Oman that have been recreated on The Heritage Village at Al Amirat Park, a Muscat Festival venue, showcases various types of Omani frankincense
the festival grounds of Amirat. including a special type used for medicinal purposes and can cure certain ailments such as coughing and asthma
I would prefer the festival to be and others.
this way but perhaps on a slightly
bigger scale. There is no point in
spending money to organise and
bring people from other cultures
here. Foreign visitors to Oman
would like to see the culture of the
Sultanate, Rebecca Chris, a UK-
based visitor currently on a GCC
tour.
I would prefer venues to be
bigger with more varieties but
everything should be traditional.
This is fine as everything looks
natural, only that it should be
bigger. But Omans population
is less than five million.
We have to keep that in mind, she
added.
HISTORY OF SHIPS IN OMAN
I have come from India STAFF REPORTER
specifically for this festival on MUSCAT, JAN 31
request by children based here.
It is difficult to know about the The Cultural Club is
traditional culture and food if organising a night on History
you are staying in a modern of Ships in Oman as part of
city like Muscat. Recreating Rural the Muscat Festival 2017.
Oman is a best thing I would like Several experts are taking
to see here and this is a great idea, part in this festival where
Dibankar Bhat, who hails from the Omani sailors will showcase
Indian city of Kolkata said. a group of ships and models,
and navigational tools. Books
about ships and navigation
in Oman are being displayed.
Hamoud bin Hamad al
Ghailani of the Ministry of
Heritage and Culture will
give a lecture.
Captain Saleh bin Said
al Jabri will present a
documentary about Jawharat
Muscat Ship, highlighting its
voyage and history.
Discussions will be held
for the audience around the
history of ships in Oman and
exhibition will be open till
February 2.

Tour of Oman
from February 14

MUSCAT: The Main Committee of the 6th Tour of

Oman 2017 on Tuesday unveiled routes of the six
stages of the tour, which will be from February 14-19.
Salim bin Mubarak al Hassani, Head of Tour of
Oman Committee, said that the total distance of the
six stages stands at 900 km.
He said in an interview with Oman News Agency
(ONA) that 144 cyclists representing 18 teams
from various countries will participate in the tour,
including two Arab teams (Abu Dhabi and Bahrain).
He added that the tour includes six stages.
The first stage is on February 14 for a distance
of 176.5 km, starting from Al Sawadi Beach in the
Wilayat of Barka, to Al Naseem Public Park.
The cyclists will cover in the second stage a
distance of 146.5 km with the starting line at Nakhl
Fort till the park opposite to Bandar al Rouda.
The third stage will be from February 16 for a
distance of 162 km from the Sultan Cultural Centre
at Sultan Qaboos University till Aqabat Qurayat,
where awards will be given to winners.
The fourth stage begins on February 17 for a
distance of 119.5 km from Al Sifah Resort and
finishes at the Ministry of Tourism.
The fifth stage begins on February 18 covering a
distance of 165 km from Sultan Qaboos Mosque in
Samayil, and ending at Al Jabal al Akhdar road.
The last stage will be on February 19 for a distance
of 130.5 km from The Wave project and finishes at
Muttrah Sea Road. ONA
omanregion
oman 6 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
PEACE IN OMAN
biggest charm for tourists
KAUSHALENDRA SINGH
SALALAH, JAN 31
Most of the tourists endorsed this val-
ue of the country in addition to other
factors like the countrys focus on en-
vironment and care for heritage and
culture.
Marco Capitani, Contracting Man-
ager of Veratour, sounded convinced
about the destination, as two previous
seasons were quite a success.
We are promoting Oman as the
most peaceful and cultural destination
of the Middle East. We have upgraded
our facilities and joint venture with
the Marriott is working in a very good
way. Our strength is our kitchen which
is offering typical Italian food for full
season.
We had a very positive feedback
from our guests last year. The average
satisfaction level was 98 per cent.
They liked the wild situation in
Mirbat area... The sales forecast is very
positive this year. We will increase our
Oman geological field guide launched
STAFF REPORTER
MUSCAT, JAN 31
Under the auspices of Ahmed bin
Nasser al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism,
the Field Guide to the Geology of
Northeastern Oman was officially
launched at the Annual General
Meeting of the Geological Society of
Oman (GSO) held at Crowne Plaza
Muscat on Monday.
The publication is the product of
a joint effort between GSO members
and the German Geological Society
(DGGV). The authors of the
283-pages field guide are Prof Dr
Gsta Hoffmann of the Departments
of Geoscience (GUtech and University
of Bonn/Germany), as well as Prof
Dr Martin Meschede (University
of Greifswald/Germany), Dr Anne
Zacke (University of Bonn) and
Dr Mohammed al Kindi, former
President of GSO.
The book was published by
Borntraeger Science Publisher and is
available internationally.
Oman is like a museum. In
Oman you can study the geology like
nowhere else in the world. In contrast
to many other countries, the rocks are
accessible and visible on the surface,
said Prof Dr Gsta Hoffmann,
Fine artists exhibition opens
MUSCAT: Young Fine Artists Exhibition was opened at Stal Gallery in Muscat
on Monday under the auspices of Sayyidah Afra bint Talal al Said.
Hassan bin Mir, Executive Director, of Stal Gallery said that the exhibition
hosts works of 12 artists, mostly dominated by modernism, and experimentation
of different materials.
He said that one of the young artist will be crowned with the grand award
while two awards will be given to the best show and the best two artworks. The
exhibition will last for two weeks.
numbers, as we advanced our season
almost by two months. Last year the
season started in December, this year
we started in October. It is going to
make a difference, said Marco, while
talking about client satisfaction about
the destination.
Similar were the views of Bengt
Egmalu, a tourist from Sweden.
Bengt loves to steal time for Salalah,
as this was his sixth visit to Salalah
along with his wife.
Now I am leading a retired life. I
travel a lot, but in every visit outside
my country I keep Salalah in mind be-
cause I love its serene atmosphere, land
and people. They have plenty of things
to offer to a tourist and the prime thing
is safety and security, he said.
A tourist from Germany recounted
her experience in Salalah as unique
and one of the most memorable. In
her comments through email Ricarda
said, she was lucky for her visit during
the countrys National Day celebra-
Dr Mohammed al Kindi, Prof Dr Goesta Hoffmann and Ahmed bin Nasser al
Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism, during the book launch on Monday.
adding that the geology of Oman is
spectacular for the touristic layman
and the geologist alike.
Exceptionally well exposed rocks
offer a fascinating outcrop experience,
second to none. The scenery is
unique, and often breathtaking. As
the field guide is written in a textbook
style and presents the geology in
a comprehensible way, a broad
understanding is facilitated. Therefore,
this book not only addresses geologists
but also amateurs, visitors and
travellers exploring the beauty and
ONA
tions.
She claimed to have encountered
the true spirit of the country and said:
I came along with a group from Ger-
many in a charter flight without know-
ing that among the tourists we would
the significance of Omans geology, he
remarked.
The idea behind the field guide
emerged during the academic stints
of Prof Goesta Hoffmann and Anne
Zacke at GUtech.
During numerous field trips and
excursions that were conducted with
the support of GSO, the geoscientists
started to collect rocks.
They then set-up a special rock
collection at GUtech, comprising
around 1500 specimen of rocks.
The geological guidebook has two
Delegation from Majlis Ashshura visits Octal
MUSCAT: A delegation from the
Majlis Ashshura, led by Dr Saleh bin
Said Masan, Head of the Economic and
Financial Committee, recently visited
Octals state-of-the-art PET complex
in the Salalah Free Zone to gain
insight into the export powerhouses
contribution to the national economy.
The members were welcomed by
Octal CEO Nicholas Barakat and
joined a comprehensive tour of the
companys facilities, which contributes
2 per cent of Omans GDP and 7.3 per
cent of the Sultanates non-oil exports.
Representing the future of
manufacturing in the Sultanate, Octal
has earned a reputation as one of the
largest direct employers in Salalah and
a leading choice for talented Omani
youth. The company has maintained
a long-term commitment to providing
Omani graduates with enriching
opportunities to succeed and achieve
their professional aspirations both in
Oman as well as in Octals offshore
be the lucky ones and our visit would
coincide with Omans National Day.
We were able to experience the
authentic Omani expressions, espe-
cially their love for His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos. This would not be an exag-
parts: The first provides a general
introduction to the geology of Oman,
and enables the reader to put the
variety of geological phenomena and
observations into a scientific context.
The authors emphasise describing
the processes that led to the formation
of Omans rocks and landscapes
formed over millennia of Earths
history.
Following the introductory
chapters on archaeology, climate, and
vegetation, the geomorphological
and geological aspects of Oman are
presented.
The second and largest part of
the guide consists of meticulous
descriptions of 99 excursion points
located across the northeast of the
country.
The authors, have carefully selected
the most interesting and important
sites.
The excursion points can easily
be located by their coordinates, or
may also be visited using the detailed
roadmaps provided for each single
outcrop.
A large number of colour
illustrations, a geological overview
map, an index, and a list of references
complete the content of the guide.
facilities. Octal is the worlds largest
producer of PET sheet and resin on
a single site and the worlds leading
clear rigid packing material supplier,
producing nearly 1 million metric
geration if I say that everyone was
either having his/ her dress done in
Omani flag style with the Sultans pic-
ture or cars made up in National Day
fashion.
IT professional Nikolaus Hievo-
Delayed Palestinian local
poll to be held on May 13
JERUSALEM: The Palestinian
Authority said on Tuesday that
local elections delayed last Octo-
ber after a spat between political
factions will now take place in
the West Bank and Gaza on May
13.
The Hamas movement which
controls the Gaza Strip has been
at odds with President Mahmud
Abbass Fatah party over the or-
ganisation of their first competi-
tive polls in a decade.
Today, at a regular meeting,
the council of ministers decided
to hold elections on May 13, to
be held in the West Bank and
Gaza, local government minis-
ter Hussein al Araj said.
The rival parties have not con-
tested an election since 2006 par-
liamentary polls, which Hamas
won sparking a conflict that
led to near civil war in Gaza the
following year.
Reconciliation attempts have
repeatedly failed, and Hamas
boycotted the most recent mu-
nicipal elections in 2012.
tons of bottle grade PET per year.
Transporting more than 50,000
containers per year from the Port
of Salalah, the company exports its
products to more than 80 markets
nymi from Germany endorsed Omans
peace, safety and security as the most
charming thing that attracted him to
come. At a time when something or
the other is happening around the
world, I am finding Oman an oasis of
peace. I pray it remains like this and
we can have many more visits to the
country, he said.
Tourists Sabine and Edda, both
from Germany, were very much im-
pressed with the country and its cul-
ture.
It is very nice to see concern for
heritage and culture at a time when
countries around the world are losing
their identity in the name of develop-
ment. We preferred to come to Salalah
to experience authentic Arab life.
Tall buildings and malls are avail-
able everywhere, but our purpose of
being here is entirely different and
here lies the success of the country. We
wish all the best to the country and its
people, they said.
Hamas rejected the an-
nouncement. Spokesman Fawzy
Barhoum said in a statement it
strengthens divisions and serves
Fatah politically.
Any upcoming elections
must be part of a reconciliation,
he added.
The elections will choose
municipal councils in some 416
cities and towns in Gaza and the
Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The delay was sparked by the
disqualification of a number of
Fatah candidates in Gaza by the
courts there.
Shortly afterwards rival
courts in the West Bank labelled
the ruling unlawful, and said the
elections would go ahead only in
the West Bank prompting the
government to postpone them.
Fatah and Hamas traded
blame over the delay.
Salem Barahmeh, a Palestin-
ian commentator, said if Hamas
wanted to the group could pre-
vent the elections from taking
place in Gaza. AFP
around the world.
Its longlist of customers feature
some of the most prestigious brands,
including Walmart, Coca-Cola, Nestl,
Proctor & Gamble, and Unilever.

Protests as Pakistan holds alleged
mastermind of Mumbai attacks
CRACKDOWN: Haz Saeed is to be placed under preventative detention
LAHORE: A militant group held
protests in Pakistans major cities on
Tuesday after its leader, one of the
alleged masterminds of the 2008
Mumbai attacks, was put under house
arrest following years of foreign
pressure.
Firebrand cleric Hafiz Saeed,
who heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawa
(JuD) group and has a $10 million
bounty on his head, was placed under
preventative detention, according to
an order from the interior ministry.
Police took Saeed away from a
mosque in Lahore late on Monday and
escorted him to his residence, hours
after Interior Minister Chaudhry
Nisar had hinted action against him
was imminent.
But India on Tuesday expressed
scepticism at the move. Exercises
such as yesterdays orders against
Hafiz Saeed and others have been
carried out by Pakistan in the past
also, a foreign office statement said.
Only a credible crackdown on the
mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist
attack and terrorist organisations
involved in cross-border terrorism
would be proof of Pakistans sincerity.
JuD, listed as a terror outfit by
the United Nations, is considered
by the US and India to be a front for
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant
group blamed for the attack on Indias
financial capital which killed more
than 160 people.
Protests by the groups followers
broke out in some major cities on
Tuesday afternoon.
Some 300 JuD activists staged a
demonstration in Islamabad, burning
the flags of India and the United States,
while a similar number protested in
the central city of Multan.
In Pakistani Kashmir, the group
staged a joint rally with the Hizbul
Cambodian premier threatens Myanmar hails taxi driver
to sell opposition headquarters who died confronting assassin
PHNOM PENH: Cambodian
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday
threatened to seize the property of
opposition leader Sam Rainsy and
sell the partys headquarters if he wins
a defamation case against the exiled
politician.
The one-million-dollar lawsuit
is the latest in a string of legal cases
targeting Cambodian opposition
leaders trying to break Hun Sens 32-
year grip on power.
Rights groups say the strongman
is trying to keep his opponents under
pressure ahead of local elections this
year and a general election in 2018.
Hun Sen filed the latest defamation
case against top foe Rainsy after he
accused the premier of bribery in a
speech several weeks ago.
I am waiting for the verdict to be
finalised. This time, I will take money...
I am demanding $1,000,000, the
A man uses a smartphone to take a picture of Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen from a television screen during a plenary
session at the National Assembly of Cambodia in central Phnom Penh on Tuesday. Reuters
Duterte for sea patrols to stop kidnapping
President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday he has asked China to send sea patrols to help
stop militants abducting sailors and attacking vessels off the southern Philippines. Duterte
said he would like Beijing to dispatch a fleet like it did in 2009 when it sent a naval convoy
to the Gulf of Aden to protect Chinese ships from Somali pirates.
Pakistani policemen stand guard outside the home of the leader of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) organisation Hafiz Saeed after
he was placed under house arrest by authorities in Lahore on Tuesday. AFP
Police took
Saeed away from
a mosque and
escorted him to
his residence,
hours after Interior
Minister had
hinted action
against him was
imminent
Mujahideen militant group.
JuD has also announced it will
challenge in court the detention
premier said during a parliamentary
session on Tuesday. I heard the partys
headquarters is registered under the
name of Sam Rainsy, so the partys
headquarters will be auctioned, he
told the assembly, adding that the
politicians personal property would
also be frozen... and sold.
The money would be used to build
houses for handicapped people, he
added. Rainsy, who currently lives
in France and faces several lawsuits,
was sentenced to five years in prison
in December over a post on his
Facebook page, a conviction that
makes his return from self-imposed
exile unlikely.
On Tuesday Hun Sen also
proposed amending a political party
law to bar convicts from serving as
party leaders a clear dig at Rainsy
and his Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP). The premiers ruling
order, which places the group and a
foundation tied to it on a watch list
and also places four other men under
arrest.
Islamabad has not officially
commented on the moves timing.
Following a brief period of house
arrest in 2008, Saaed led a high-profile
public life and regularly delivered fiery
anti-India speeches. JuD has operated
freely across the country and is
popular for its charity work, especially
in the wake of natural disasters.
But a senior security source based
in Islamabad said the decision was
in response to US pressure as well as
a global perception that Pakistan has
refused to tackle groups which pose
no risk at home but carry out attacks
party also voted to strip the CNRPs
acting head Kem Sokha of his title of
minority leader.
Responding on Twitter, Rainsy
sought to brand Hun Sens threats as
signs that he was panicking ahead of
looming elections.
Hun Sen can no longer appeal to
electorate, so personally hounds me,
as symbol of resistance to autocratic,
corrupt power, he wrote.
Hun Sen has amassed extensive
control over Cambodias government
and economy during his three decades
in power. He claims to have brought
much needed peace and stability to
a nation ravaged by civil war and the
genocidal Khmer Rouge regime.
Rainsys opposition party made
huge gains in the 2013 elections and
say they only lost because the vote
was stolen a claim Hun Sen has
vigorously rejected. AFP
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
abroad.Yesterdays actions were in
fact a huge event, he said.
Theres been increasing US
pressure on the issue, which compelled
Pakistan to take this action. There has
also been Indian pressure. They have
always said unless you take certain
steps things cant move forward.
So the move effectively kills two
beasts with one arrow. Now India
wont have a chance to say, Pakistan
isnt serious.
Amir Rana, a security analyst, said
Islamabad had come to realise it was
facing increasing isolation over its
alleged dealings with proxy fighters.
There was some stress on
Pakistans foreign policy especially
around this group, he said.AFP
YANGON: A Myanmar taxi driver
was hailed as a national hero at his
funeral on Tuesday, two days after he
was killed trying to stop a gunman
who murdered a prominent Muslim
lawyer.
Father-of-three Ne Win was shot
dead outside Yangon airport as he
chased a man who moments earlier
had slain Ko Ni, an adviser to Aung
San Suu Kyi, in what her party said
was a political assassination.
The daylight murders, in a
country where political killings are
rare, sent shockwaves through both
Myanmars already hard-pressed
Muslim community and Suu Kyis
National League for Democracy
(NLD) party.
There were emotional scenes on
Tuesday as hundreds of mourners
crammed into a Yangon cemetery
to bury Ne Win, whose coffin was
draped in the NLDs famous fighting
peacock flag. His bereaved wife was
swamped as mourners, monks and
NLD figures crowded around the
open coffin that bore his body.
He tried to catch an evil man
without thinking for his own life,
the elderly patron of the NLD, Tin
Oo, told mourners.
I praise Ne Win today for his
brave work for the country on behalf
of the NLD, other democratic forces
and those who want peace.
Min Ko Naing, a student leader
from the crushed 1988 anti-junta
protests, described the taxi driver
as part of a long line of Myanmar
citizens who have sacrificed for a
country that suffered under years of
army rule.
Some people who give for the
asia
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
Smokers face tighter
rules as Tokyo eyes
smoke-free Olympics
TOKYO: Japan must make
public places in Tokyo smoke-
free by the time it hosts the 2020
Summer Olympics or risk falling
afoul of International Olympic
Committee (IOC) rules that call
for a healthy games, activists said
on Tuesday.
Japans health minister has
said the government is eager to
stamp out smoking in public
by the time the capital hosts the
Olympics. But smoking remains
so entrenched there is still a
cigarette vending machine in a
Health Ministry annex.
The IOC requires tobacco-
free games and all recent host
cities have passed legislation
to ban smoking in indoor and
enclosed public spaces, including
restaurants, bars and cafes.
Japanese laws encourage
restaurants and other public
areas to limit exposure to
secondhand smoke by setting up
barriers or separate smoking and
non-smoking areas, but there
are no punishments for non-
compliance.
Smokers can even light up
on the grounds of schools and
hospitals.
The situation for preventing
passive smoking in Japan
is on a level with that in a
developing nation, said Manabu
Sakuta, chairman of the non-
governmental organisation Japan
Society for Tobacco Control.
We hope for improvement
so there will not be lots of
problems with passive smoking
in all the parts of Tokyo that do
not meet the Olympic standards,
as well as the games venues after
they are built.
Su Thet Khine
holds a
photograph of
her husband Ne
Win, who was
shot dead
outside Yangon
airport while
trying to stop
the gunman
who
assassinated
Muslim lawyer
Ko Ni, at his
funeral in
Yangon on
Tuesday. AFP
country become famous but there
are many people who give for the
country silently, he said.
The alleged assassin, 53-year-
old Kyi Lin, was arrested at the
scene. Police have not said what his
motivations were.
Ko Ni was a prominent Muslim
figure who spoke out against the
increasingly vocal anti-Islamic
sentiments of Buddhist hardliners
and criticised the militarys lingering
grip on power.
He served as a legal adviser to
Suu Kyi and had just returned from a
government trip to Indonesia.
asia
7
Smoking rates
have fallen in
Japan due to
greater health
awareness and
higher cigarette
prices, health
ministry data
shows
Health Minister Yasuhisa
Shiozaki told a news conference
in January his ministry aimed
to submit a bill on preventing
passive smoking during the
current session of parliament.
According to the World
Health Organization, Japans
measures to prevent passive
smoking are among the worlds
worst, he said.
But tightening up the
rules faces strong opposition
from restaurant management
organisations, which fear the
impact on their business.
Smoking rates have fallen
in Japan due to greater health
awareness and higher cigarette
prices, health ministry data
shows, and about 30 per cent of
men and 7.9 per cent of women
smoke.
Keisuke Kurimoto, a deputy
director of the ministrys Health
Services Section, said it was too
early to say what the contents
of the proposed bill will be or
if it would be ready before the
current session ends, probably in
June. Reuters
Both the NLD and Ko Nis family
suspect he was targeted because of
his politics, with the ruling party
describing the murder as a terrorist
act.
Eyewitnesses gave harrowing
details of how Ne Win lost his life.
He saw the shooting and was part
of a group of airport taxi drivers who
chased after the killer.
Ne Win threw a brick at the
gunman while running after him.
The man turned and fired at him,
and he was shot dead, Soe Myint,
another taxi driver who gave chase
told the Irrawaddy news site. AFP
india

india
Parrikar blames Cong for casinos in Goa

8 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
Criticised for the BJPs inability to live up to its promise of pulling the curtains
down on the offshore casinos parked in the Mandovi River, Defence Minister
Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday blamed the Congress for granting them licences.

Govt plays down hit to

growth from cash ban
OPTIMISTIC: Forecasts growth rebound to 6.75-7.5 pc in 2017/18
NEW DELHI: Countrys growth rate
will slow by up to half a percentage
point due to the governments decision
to scrap high-value banknotes, the
top finance ministry economist said
on Tuesday, challenging independent
estimates of a far bigger impact.
Chief Economic Adviser Arvind
Subramanian rejected the view of the
International Monetary Fund, where
he used to work, that growth would be
knocked a full percentage point lower
by Prime Minister Narendra Modis
shock decision in November to scrap
86 per cent of the cash in circulation.
Modi launched
demonetisation drive to expose
untaxed wealth and the proceeds of
the
crime and corruption. Yet the measure
unprecedented in a stable, modern,
peacetime democracy has caused
huge disruption to daily and business
life in Asias third-largest economy.
It will also complicate the fiscal
arithmetic in Finance Minister Arun
Jaitleys fourth annual budget, which
he will present to parliament on
Wednesday.
Presenting Indias pre-budget
Economic Survey, which combines
analysis and forecasts with a broader
look at policy issues, Subramanian
called demonetisation a radical
currency-cum-governance-cum
social-engineering measure.
He also maintained the currency
squeeze was less severe than is
commonly perceived.
Still, Subramanian acknowledged
that official GDP figures may not
fully reflect the real and significant
hardships experienced by the
informal sector, in which an estimated
nine out of 10 Indian workers are
This is perhaps the
first acknowledgement
coming from the
government. Otherwise
so far there has been a
denial
ANEESH SRIVASTAVA
IDBI Federal Life Insurance Co
employed.
Without giving a figure for
growth in the fiscal year that ends
in March, Subramanian said it was
likely to be between one-quarter and
one-half percentage point below an
earlier official forecast of around 7 per
cent.
Growth is expected to return to
normal in 2017/18, when it is forecast
in a 6.75-7.5 per cent range, as cash
liquidity is restored to the economy,
according to the 335-page report.
By contrast, the IMF slashed its
India growth forecast for the current
fiscal year by a full point to 6.6 per
cent, handing the title of the worlds
fastest-growing economy back to
China, which reported 6.7 per cent
growth for 2016.
Subramanian pointedly declined
to comment on whether there had
been failings in the planning and
President Pranab Mukherjee (R) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive at Parliament for the opening of the Budget session
implementation of the banknote ban.
in New Delhi on Tuesday. AFP
He expected that a shortage of new
500 rupee ($7.40) and 2,000 rupee
notes to end by April.
The new notes are being issued
to replace high-value ones scrapped
Special initiatives for NE, new routes
overnight on November 8.
Despite Subramanians cautious
assessment, private sector economists
to neighbouring nations: President
said it was important he at least
recognised that demonetisation had NEW DELHI: President Pranab to broad-gauge. Sponsored Schemed and 80:20 for the
taken a toll on the Indian economy. Mukherjee on Tuesday said the We are opening up road and rail non-Centrally Sponsored Schemes in
This is perhaps the first government is taking special routes to our neighbouring countries the North East region.
acknowledgement coming from initiatives to develop the North East to boost the economic development My government is taking special
the government. Otherwise so far region, including opening up new of the region, said Mukherjee during initiatives to develop the northeast
there has been a denial, said Aneesh road and rail routes to neighbouring what he termed a historic session region.
Srivastava, chief investment office at countries for boosting the economic of parliament as for the first time Special attention is being given to
IDBI Federal Life Insurance Co in development of the region. in India, the Union Budget will be provide financial assistance with the
Mumbai. On the other initiatives for the presented on February 1. ratio of 90:10 for the central Centrally
Jaitley is expected in Wednesdays region, Mukherjee told a joint sitting Mukherjee said that as part of Sponsored Schemes and 80:20 for
budget to offer some tax sops of parliament on the opening day development in the region, railway the non-core Centrally Sponsored
to individuals to ease the pain of of the budget session: Arunachal projects worth Rs 10,000 has been Schemes, said Mukherjee Under the
demonetisation, and ramp up public Pradesh has been brought on the started. Act East policy,the President said that
sector investment to offset weak railway map... By the end of the He said that government was the government was also focussing on
consumption and private capital year, all meter-gauge tracks in the following a special financial assistance reducing the isolation of the eastern
investment. Reuters northeastern states will be converted pattern of 90:10 for the Centrally region and the northeast. IANS

Shivpal to form THE BUDGET-MAN

new party in UP Panel to probe Jallikattu violence

LUCKNOW: Former Uttar Pradesh
Samajwadi Party President Shivpal Yadav
on Tuesday said he will form a new party
after March 11 when the assembly election
results will be announced.
He made the announcement after
filing his nomination from his traditional
Jaswantnagar seat on SP ticket.
Shivpal Yadav, young brother of party
patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, said he
had been back-stabbed in the feud with
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. In 2012,
Shivpal Yadav won from Jaswantnagar by
1.33 lakh votes. As of now I have got the
party symbol and am fighting the election...
I did not want to but had to give in to the
demands of the people, he said.
Unable to hide his disappointment over
the way he has been marginalised in the
party after Akhilesh Yadav took charge as
President, he reiterated his allegiance to
Mulayam Singh. IANS
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
O Panneerselvam on Tuesday said a
Commission of Inquiry will probe the
circumstances leading to violence here
over Jallikattu.
Announcing this in the assembly,
Panneerselvam said the Commission
would be headed by a retired judge.
The violence left private properties
damaged.
He said the Commission would also
study whether police used appropriate
force to quell the violence, violations if
any by the police and the precautions to
be taken to prevent such happenings in
future.
The Commission would be advised to
submit its report in three months.
According to Panneerselvam, 487
people were arrested in connection with
the violence on January 23 across the
state.
He said 36 students against
whom cases were lodged for violence
would be freed taking into account their
future.
He said compensation would be paid
to fishermen for the damage to their
equipments due to the violence indulged
in by anti-social elements.
Police invaded the Marina Beach and
forcibly removed thousands of young
men and women demanding an end to
the ban on Jallikattu the traditional
bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu.
This triggered large-scale violence in
parts of Chennai, leaving many people
injured.
SC refuses to stay Tamil Nadu
amendment Meanwhile, the Supreme
Court on Tuesday refused to stay the
Tamil Nadu government amendment
permitting Jallikattu and told the state
government that it was its primary
responsibility to maintain law and
order.
Issuing notice on a plea seeking stay on
the amendment permitting the popular
bull-taming sport, the bench comprising
Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Rohinton
Nariman, took exception to the manner
in which the Supreme Court verdict was
sought to be openly defied.
We are only concerned with the
courts honour, which we all share, the
bench told the senior counsel appearing
for Tamil Nadu government. IANS Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is pictured in his office the
day before presenting the Union Budget 2017-2018 in New
Delhi on Tuesday. AFP

Report weighs idea of cash handouts to fight poverty
NEW DELHI: Handing cash to
Indians rather than providing the poor
with cheap food or guaranteed jobs
would nearly eradicate poverty but at a
cost of 4 to 5 per cent of gross domestic
product, a government report said on
Tuesday.
Universal basic income (UBI), a
radical idea that is gaining attention
in countries such as Finland and
France, proposes giving every citizen
an income to cover their basic needs.
Several economists advocate
cash transfers in Asias third-largest
economy, where despite rapid
economic growth one in three of
the worlds extreme poor reside. An
emergency medical payment or bad
harvest risks a return to poverty for
millions more.
The annual Economic Survey,
which forms the basis of the annual
Indian budget Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley will present on Wednesday,
said UBI was a persuasive alternative
for replacing existing welfare
programmes. Yet it warned about
implementation risks and the potential
Several economists
advocate cash transfers
in Asias third-largest
economy, where despite
rapid economic growth
one in three of the worlds
extreme poor reside.
An emergency medical
payment or bad harvest
risks a return to poverty
for millions more
cost to government.
The key merit of it is that it has
the potential to improve the weak
targeting of current schemes, Arvind
Subramanian, the ministrys chief
economic adviser, told a news briefing.
Under the surveys calculation, a
UBI that cuts the poverty rate to 0.5
per cent of the population would cost
4 to 5 per cent of GDP. The calculation
presumes that the richest quarter
of Indians do not get the income,
because it says any programme cannot
A man reads a newspaper as he waits for public transport at a bus stop in Mumbai
on Tuesday. Reuters
in practive strive for strict universality.
At 2011/12 prices, the basic
income would amount to 5,400 rupees
($79.59) per person per year. Some
economists have questioned whether
payments of that size could eliminate
poverty.
Tackling entrenched poverty has
preoccupied policymakers since India
improve identification schemes to
ended colonial rule in 1947, and in
the survey Subramanian said he drew
on the wisdom of independence hero
Mahatma Gandhi in weighing the
social justice of a basic income.
India currently spends 3 per cent
of GDP on subsidies, much of them
for the middle class. It pays billions of
dollars for some of the worlds largest
welfare schemes, including cheap food
for more than 800 million people and
jobs for 50 million households.
Our main fear is that Universal
Basic Income is just being used to
replace existing social schemes, said
Reetika Khera, an economist at the
Indian Institute of Technology in
Delhi. This is a system that is tried
and tested and showing signs of
improvement.
The survey cautioned that it was
not yet advocating introduction of
UBI.
A basic income risked becoming
too costly, and India would need to
ensure transfers reached beneficiaries,
it said.
Critics of Indias existing
programmes say they are undermined
by corruption and leakages.
Subramanian cited research
showing schemes reached more
people in the areas where they were
least needed, because of the weak
capacity of the state in less developed
ones. Reuters
Migration higher
than previous
estimates: Survey
NEW DELHI: The inter-state
migration in India is two to
three times higher than previous
estimates with around five to nine
million people migrating annually,
according to the Economic Survey
2016-17.
The report, tabled in Parliament
by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on
Tuesday, added that the acceleration
of migration in the 2000s was
particularly pronounced for females
and increased at nearly twice the rate
of male migration.
It also said that language doesnt
seem to be a significant barrier in
the migration of people according
to preliminary evidence. Citing
two different surveys the Cohort
based Migration Metric (CMM) and
first-ever estimate using railways
data the report said that estimates
using both are significantly higher
than any previous study including
the annual average number of about
3.3 million suggested by successive
Censuses.
IANS
 analysis

analysis
Trade between Oman and Iran to get impetus
ith the recent opening of the new
Oman Conferences and Exhibitions
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7 9
coming years. require concerted efforts by all parties challenges that lie ahead regarding visas
Iranian participants believe the to promote it. He said 2015 statistics and travels of businessmen between the

W
Center, it is now convenient to organise
various exhibitions at once. Omani
businessmen and foreign companies
can host more specialised exhibitions
to benefit more Omani traders and
entrepreneurs entering the market.
A few days ago, the centre hosted the
Iranian products exhibition in Muscat
held by the Iranian Embassy in Muscat
in cooperation with Omani Exhibition
Business Company Oman Expo under
the auspices of Dr Ali bin Masoud al
Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and
Industry, and Eng Mohamed Reza
Nimat Zadeh, Iranian Minister of
Industry, Commerce and Mining.
Iranian businessmen participating
in the exhibition expressed satisfaction
with this latest business activity, as they
formed strong relations with Omani
businessmen by finding more agents
for their products in the country.
They said the Omani market can
HAIDER AL LAWATI contain more Iranian products within
haiderdawood@hotmail.com
existing official relations between
Oman and Iran in various fields in the
upcoming phase will see more trade
and banking cooperation between
the two nations following the lifting
of economic embargo on Iran and
allowing global banks to deal with
Iranian banks directly.
According to Iranian participants,
the step taken by Bank Muscat to open
an office in Tehran with the support
of the Central Bank of Oman and the
Central Bank of Iran will boost future
foreign trade operations through direct
flights between the two countries,
in addition to enhanced ferry traffic
between ports of Oman and Iran.
They think the Omani market can
accommodate more products it needs
in light of the concerns expressed by the
government for industrial, agricultural
and service sectors.
They noted that Oman has various
logistics components in the form
of seaports, airports and service
institutions, including the conferences
and exhibition centre similar to global
centres in advanced countries.
Economic ties between
Oman and Iran have
made great strides over
the past few years in
the form of industrial
initiatives. From
$560 million in 2015,
bilateral trade between
the two countries
increased by the end
of 2016 to cross the
$1 billion mark
The Iranian exhibition was recently
launched in Muscat with participation
from a host of officials, ambassadors
and businessmen from both countries.
Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy
stressed that commercial relations
between Oman and Iran are
experiencing continued growth, but
indicate that bilateral trade between
the two countries stood at $560 million
and increased by the end of December
2016 to surpass the $1 billion mark.
The Iranian side confirmed this
trend, as Eng Mohamed Reza Nimat
Zadeh, Iranian Minister of Industry,
Mining and Trade, noted that the
expo aims at developing trade and
economic ties between Oman and
Iran whilst promoting possibilities and
opportunities in Iran and developing
relationships with the private sector
through the Chambers of Commerce
and industry.
Economic ties between Oman and
Iran have made great strides over the
past few years in the form of a number
of bilateral industrial initiatives.
In this respect, Yahya bin Said bin
Abdullah al Jabri, Chairman of the
Special Economic Zone Duqm, met
Iranian Minister Mohamed Reza
Nimat Zadeh to address several issues
of concern to some industrial projects
aimed at Irans initiative, and to discuss
two countries.
Meanwhile, both sides wish to
proceed with the establishment of the
Iranian car assembly plant in Duqm
city, providing necessary ground
and infrastructure for the plant and
boosting the activities of Irans Khodro
Car Manufacturing Company and
Oman Investment Fund.
Projects between the two countries
are currently underway, such as the
Oman-Iran Gas Pipeline Project to be
implemented in the near future.
Through these projects, the two
countries are embarking on a new
phase of economic cooperation
under the political and economic
mobility.
Meanwhile, the Oman-Iran joint
Economic Committee is driving
forward these relations between
officials of the two governments on the
one hand and strengthening synergies
with officials from Omani and Iranian
institutions and companies on the
other.

Divisions in Italy may crimp

chances of early elections
ISLA BINNIE
idening divisions in Italys ruling Democratic Party (PD) may reduce
the chance of the early elections its leader Matteo Renzi has been calling

W
for since he was toppled as prime minister last month.
Rivals in the PD threaten to break away and two opinion polls this
week suggest they would take lots of votes with them, sharply reducing
Renzis chances of returning to power.
Renzi, who stepped down as premier when Italians threw out his
proposals for constitution reform in a referendum, has been pushing for
a vote by June, around a year ahead of schedule. Italys main opposition
parties also want a snap vote.
But a sizeable minority of Renzis critics in the PD want to challenge
his leadership before any return to the polls.
Massimo DAlema, a former prime minister and one of Renzis
fiercest critics, said if early elections are called he and his followers
would consider ourselves free and split off.
A poll published by Tecne said the PD would win 29 per cent of
the vote. But it would slump to 20 per cent if DAlema and fellow
traditionalist Pier Luigi Bersani formed an alternative left-wing
movement, which would take 14 per cent.
The poll said the anti-system 5-Star Movement is Italys most popular
party, at 30.5 per cent. 5-Stars appeal to Italians tired of corruption
and economic stagnation shows no sign of diminishing despite the
difficulties plaguing Romes Mayor Virginia Raggi, who holds one of
the partys most high-profile public roles.
Another poll, by IPR, put the PD and 5-Star neck-and-neck at 30 per
cent and said the PD would fall to 22 per cent if DAlema and Bersani
were to go it alone.
However, both polls said no party would win a parliamentary

Maize alternatives face challenges in Zimbabwe
TONDERAYI MUKEREDZI
fter years of bad maize harvests as a result
Faced with failing maize
harvests, Zimbabwes
majority under the current proportional electoral system, probably
dooming Italy to the sort of unwieldy coalition long blamed for political
instability.
DAlema and his allies say it would be irresponsible to topple current
We can produce more if we have Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, a PD member who is widely seen as
appropriate harvesting and processing Renzis proxy, without first changing the electoral law.
technologies, she said. Having gone to ground after the referendum defeat, the fast-

A
of worsening drought, farmer Dorothy
Chihota switched a few seasons back
to growing sorghum, millet, cowpeas
and groundnuts on her 50-acre farm in
Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe district.
Since then she has had only good
harvests, she said, but that doesnt always
mean she has had good years as a farmer.
Small grains are giving us better
yields but our problem is that there are
no markets to sell our produce, she said.
Prices for the grains are poor, and seeds
are not available in shops.
Faced with failing maize harvests as
climate change brings more droughts
and other severe weather, Zimbabwes
government and aid agencies have
urged farmers to diversify the countrys
agriculture and plant more drought-hardy
alternatives to maize, the staple crop.
But the systems to support farming
such alternative grains have not kept up,
say farmers.
Figures from Seed Services, a
Zimbabwean institute focused on
improving agricultural production, show
that in 2016-2017 only 460 hectares of
certified sorghum seed were likely to be
grown in the country, compared with
400,000 hectares of certified maize seed.
Mujaju said a big problem holding back
wider use of grains such as sorghum and
millet is the tradition of holding onto part
of last years harvest to replant or sell to
government and aid
agencies have urged
farmers to diversify the
countrys agriculture
and plant more drought-
hardy alternatives to
maize, the staple crop.
neighbours as seed in the coming season.
A lot of small grain is retained (to
replant), and because the quality of seed
tends to degenerate, that affects yields.
Because of seed retention, the power of
seed companies to produce more seed is
not there, he said in Harare last month.
To them, there is no guarantee if they
produce more their seed will be bought,
he said.
A lack of research funding to develop
better varieties of small grains also is a
worry, he said. Since 2000, only 11 new
varieties of sorghum have been developed
in Zimbabwe, compared with more than
140 varieties of maize, Mujaju said.
Marjory Jeke, a small-scale farmer in
Murehwa, said another problem is that
harvesting small grains can be a more
tedious task than bringing in maize.
But Kizito Mazvimavi, a crop expert talking Renzi reignited a public relations campaign last week, and on
with ICRISAT the International Crops Monday raised the prospect of a return to government, pledging to fix
Research Institute for the Semi-arid notoriously high taxes if elected. Reuters
Tropics said the technology needed to
harvest small grains already exists.
According to the Andrew Mushita,
executive director of the Harare-based
Community Technology Development
Centre (CTDC), farmers in low-rainfall
areas of Zimbabwe already grow and eat a
lot of small grains.
Mushita estimates they are cultivated
on more than 400,000 hectares of land ESTABLISHED ON 15 NOVEMBER 1981
(13 per cent) in the countrys arable
land. If we invest more in research and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Abdullah bin Salim al Shueili
crop improvement, small grains will
perform very well. They can indeed be a
replacement to maize, he said. HEAD OFFICE ADVERTISING
Charles Dhewa, a markets expert and Tel: 24649444, 24649450, AL OMANEYA ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS, P.O. Box 3303,
the CEO of Knowledge Transfer Africa, 24649451, 24604563, 24699437 P.C. 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman
believes a good market for small grains Fax: 24699643 Tel: SWITCHBOARD: 24649444
exists because people prefer to eat healthier DIRECT: 24649430/24649437/24649401
SALALAH OFFICE
food and most small grains are nutritious. Fax: 24649434
Growing more sorghum, millet and Tel: 23292633
other small grains is part of Zimbabwes Fax: 23293909 DISTRIBUTION AGENT
national climate change policy. Al OMANEYA for Distribution & Marketing, P.O. Box 974,
NIZWA OFFICE P.C. 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Under the Presidential Input
Tel: 25411099 Tel: 24649351/24649360
Support Scheme, farmers each season
P.O. Box 955, P.C. 611 Fax: 24649379
are entitled to 10 kg of either maize or
small grain seed, said Pardon Njerere,
Website: omanobserver.om e-mail: editor@omanobserver.om
an agricultural economist with the
Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising
P.O. Box 974, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
and Irrigation Development.
subscribe@omanobserver.om
Thomson Reuters Foundation

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this page are solely those of the authors and do not reect the opinion of the Observer.
world
world
10 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
Trump res top Ban strands six Iranians in Amsterdam
lawyer who
deed order
RARE STEP: Sally refused to back travel curbs
WASHINGTON: US President
Donald Trump fired top federal
government lawyer Sally Yates
late on Monday after she took the
extraordinarily rare step of defying the
White House and refused to defend
new travel restrictions targeting seven
Muslim-majority nations.
It was another dramatic twist in the
unusually raucous roll-out of Trumps
directive that put a 120-day hold on
allowing refugees into the country, an
indefinite ban on refugees from Syria
and a 90-day bar on citizens from
Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan,
Syria and Yemen.
The Friday night ban prompted
protests and chaos at airports on
the weekend as customs officials
struggled to put the order into
practise, and the fallout spread to US
markets on Monday, where stocks
suffered their biggest drop of 2017
and companies affected by the change
spoke out against it.
Yates said late on Monday that
the Justice Department would not
defend the order against court
challenges, saying that she did not
believe it would be consistent with
this institutions solemn obligation to
always seek justice and stand for what
is right.
Hours later, she was fired. The
White House said Yates has betrayed
the Department of Justice by refusing
to enforce a legal order designed to
protect the citizens of the United
States and portrayed her actions as
REVIVING THE VIKING PAST
Participants dressed as Vikings pose by a long boat in the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, on Tuesday.
Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000
guizers (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. AFP
Institute says Walesa collaborated with communist secret police
WARSAW: Polands government-
affiliated history institute said on
Tuesday it had new evidence that Lech
Walesa, who led protests and strikes
that shook communist rule in the
1980s, had been a paid informant for
the secret police in the 1970s.
A lawyer for Walesa, whose
leadership of the Solidarity trade union
contributed to the fall of communism
throughout eastern Europe, said the
evidence could be faulty and asked to
question the assessors.
The Institute of National
Remembrance (IPN) said a by workers occupying the Gdansk
handwriting study had proved the
authenticity of documents suggesting
that Walesa, who was awarded the
Nobel Peace prize and became Polish
US Deputy Attorney-General Sally
Quillian Yates
political.
Trump has argued tougher
vetting of immigrants is needed to
protect America from terror attacks
but critics complain that his order
unfairly singles out Muslims and
defiles Americas historic reputation
as a welcoming place for immigrants.
Yates, an appointee of former
Democratic president Barack Obama,
was days away from being replaced
by Trumps pick for the top spot at
the Justice Department, Republican
Senator Jeff Sessions, who is awaiting
Senate confirmation.
Ms Yates is an Obama
Administration appointee who is
weak on borders and very weak on
illegal immigration, the White House
said in a statement. The White House
said that Dana Boente, US Attorney
for the Eastern District of Virginia,
was sworn in at 9 pm ET and would
be acting US attorney-general until
Sessions is approved. Reuters
president, had collaborated with
communist rulers.
It said he had provided at least 29
reports signed Bolek, a codename
long ascribed to Walesa, but did not
say what they contained.
There is no doubt, investigator
Andrzej Pozorski told a news
conference. A handwritten agreement
to collaborate with the Security Police
from December 21, 1970, was written
in its entirety by Lech Walesa.
Pictures of the moustachioed
former electrician being borne aloft
shipyards became an inspiration for
anti-communist movements across
the Soviet bloc.
Walesa, now 73, has acknowledged
A man holds a sign Quebec mourning during a rally near the Islamic
Cultural Centre in Quebec City, Canada on Monday. Gunmen stormed into a
Quebec mosque during evening prayers on January 29 and opened fire on
THE HAGUE: Six Iranians travelling
to the US have spent three nights stuck
in transit at Amsterdam airport, angry
and humiliated by the sudden decision
to deny them entry.
This is a very confusing and
contradictory state to be in, Pedram,
a 33-year-old doctor, said on Tuesday,
speaking by phone from the transit
lounge at Schiphol airport.
He and the five others a PhD
student, and two married couples
heading to visit their children and
grandchildren in the United States
have been left stunned by President
Donald Trumps executive order
blocking entry to citizens from seven
Muslim-majority countries, including
Iran.
The group was transiting through
Schiphol one of Europes busiest
travel hubs on a KLM flight
from Tehran to catch connecting
flights to different cities in the United
States.
When we set off from Tehran
nothing was said about Trumps
new rules. They gave me a boarding
pass and everything was OK, said
another of the group, a 29-year
PhD student, who asked to remain
anonymous.
But when he landed at Schiphol
airport on Saturday he had to go
through another security check and
was pulled to one side.
An officer from the US immigration
services told me that I no longer had
the allowance to go into the country,
he said, adding he was embarrassed by
the whole ordeal.
He was travelling to Minnesota
on his first visit to the US to Donald Trump has drawn criticism
begin a six-month collaboration at the
university researching water treatment
systems, on a valid non-immigrant J1
visa.
He spent an estimated $2,000 to
get his visa, which took him several
months and trips to Dubai and
Armenia to secure. His return flight
home was booked for October.
once signing a commitment to inform,
but he insists he never fulfilled it, and a
special court exonerated him in 2000.
The issue has flared up again since
the conservative, nationalist Law
and Justice (PiS) party of Jaroslaw
Kaczynski, also a former anti-
communist activist who fell out with
Walesa in the 1990s, won power in
2015.
The PiS argues that Poland lost
sight of its Catholic national identity
and of social justice in the transition to
democracy and eventual membership
of the European Union.
Any suggestion that Poland
remained under communist influence
despite ending totalitarian rule in 1989
notably that Walesa might have
Quebec mourning
dozens of worshippers, killing six and wounding eight people.
Demonstrators protest against President Donald Trump and his administrations ban of travellers from seven countries, during
a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on Monday. AFP
Air France union urges members to
refuse work on US flights
PARIS: The hardline CGT trade union
at Air France has called on its members
to refuse to work on US-bound flights
in protest against the US immigration
order that temporarily prevents refugees
and travellers from seven Muslim-
majority countries from entering the
United States.
The executive order by President
French broadcaster BFM TV.
from airlines body IATA, which said its
members were struggling to enforce
unclear rules, faced additional costs and
were worried they could be fined if they
get it wrong.
Airlines have already juggled crew
rosters to make sure staff holding
passports from the affected countries
dont fall foul of the new rules.
EU states can
reject refuge to
terror-linked
LUXEMBOURG: EU nations can
reject asylum-seekers who have
taken part in a terrorist groups
activities even if their role was
confined to logistics, the blocs top
court ruled on Tuesday.
The European Court of Justice
ruled against a Moroccan whose
request for asylum in Belgium
was rejected after a Belgian court
convicted him in 2006 of forging
passports for a Moroccan group
recruiting militants for Iraq.
It said the Moroccan, Mostafa
Lounani, had applied for refugee
status expressing fears of persecution
if he were returned to his home
country which would likely view
him as a radical and militant.
An application for asylum can
be rejected if the asylum-seeker has
participated in the activities of a
terrorist network, the court ruled.
AFP
Former Polish president Lech Walesa gestures during a conference organised by
Polands government-affiliated Institute of National Remembrance, in Warsaw on
January 20. Reuters
On Tuesday, the CGT said Air France
employees were within their rights to
decline to work on US-bound flights to
object against what the union described
as anti-humanist practices.
Staff should let their managers
know that they dont want to work
on affected flights, Miguel Fortea,
Secretary-General of CGT Air France, told
Staff have a conscience; with
political action, by refusing to apply the
Trump order on French territory we can
make start to make a change, he added.
Air France, part of the Air France-KLM
group, has come under fire on social
media for preventing passengers from
boarding as a result of the new rules.
Reuters
Asylum-seekers face shameful
housing conditions in Britain
LONDON: Many asylum-seekers
in Britain are forced to live in filthy,
poorly maintained houses infested
with vermin under a system run
by contractors that needs major
reforms, a parliamentary report
said. An investigation found
problems including inadequate
support for vulnerable people
and infestations of mice, rats and
bedbugs in homes so unclean that
some families were unable to
put their children down on dirty
carpets and rotten sofas, said the
report by the cross-party Home
Affairs Committee.
Some of this accommodation
is a disgrace and it is shameful that
some very vulnerable people have
been placed in such conditions,
the report said.
Yvette Cooper, a Labour
lawmaker who chairs the
IRAQI FAMILYS
PLANS GO AWRY
ARBIL: If they had known what
would happen, Fuad Sharif and his
wife would have waited before quitting
their jobs, selling their belongings and
leaving Iraq with their children for the
US. After two years of waiting... they
confirmed that I do not represent any
danger to the United States and the
American people, Sharif, 51, said.
On this basis, they gave me an
immigration visa, said Sharif, who
worked with RTI International, a
US-based non-profit organisation
contracted by the American
government to work on issues
including local governance in Iraq.
Sharif said he was hoping for a
new life in the US, but now he and
his family are back in Iraq. AFP
committee, said the current system
of providing accommodation
through private contractors just
isnt working, calling for major
reforms.
Even where better quality
housing and support are provided,
it is still far too concentrated in
the most deprived areas, Cooper
said.
It is completely unfair on those
local authorities and communities
that have signed up and are
now taking many more people,
when so many local authorities
in more affluent areas are still
doing nothing at all, she said. The
report recommended immediate
action to improve standards and
monitoring, including stronger
inspection powers for local
authorities, higher standards and
tougher penalties. dpa
been controlled by former secret police
as president in 1990-95 strengthens
the PiS narrative.
We dont want to remove Walesa
from history books, IPN head
Jaroslaw Szarek told reporters. What
changes is how he can be evaluated.
Starting today, we can ask a
new question: ...to what extent Lech
Walesas collaboration in the early
1970s determined his subsequent
decisions... in the 1980s and after 1989.
This question remains open.
Pozorski said the IPN, set up in
1998 to investigate crimes against
the Polish nation, had reviewed 17
cash receipts and concluded they were
written by Walesa.
Reuters
 europe

europe
Fillons ofce raided as fake pay affair gathers pace
SETBACK: The case has eroded support for Fillon and boosted rival Macron; Socialist split a threat after leftist Hamon wins ticket
PARIS: Financial police searched French
presidential candidate Francois Fillons office in
parliament on Tuesday, a parliamentary source
said, part of an inquiry into his wifes income
that has thrown the election wide open.
Fillon had been favourite to win the presidency
for conservative party The Republicans until a
week ago when a newspaper reported that his
wife Penelope drew hundreds of thousands of
euros in pay without doing any work.
Fillon has said she did work for the money,
but an official inquiry has been opened, and an
opinion poll published on Sunday showed rival
independent centrist Emmanuel Macron has
caught him up.
The scandal has also coincided with the
choice of a hard-left presidential candidate by
the Socialist party in Benoit Hamon, a move also
seen as good for Macrons prospects.
A group of right-leaning Socialist lawmakers
wrote in Le Monde newspaper on Tuesday that
they could not back Hamon, the clearest sign
yet that his appointment could tear the party
apart, with some lawmakers tempted to join the
Macron camp.
But it was the Fillon fake pay scandal, and
his teams attempts to control it, that was centre-
stage on Tuesday.
The Canard Enchaines story on fake pay calls
into question the squeaky-clean image that won
him the party ticket for The Republicans over
rivals who had legal issues overhanging their
campaigns.
Separately from the search of his office,
Fillons lawyer sought to explain the payments
on Tuesday.
Francois Fillon had no constituency office
while he was a member of parliament, his
A photo taken on Tuesday shows the National Assembly in Paris. AFP
lawyer Antonin Levy told RTL radio.
That role was filled from their home, and in
your view who is at home... if there is no office-
Penelope Fillon of course.
Le Canard Enchaine reported that Penelope
Fillon who had previously said in interviews
that she did not get involved in her husbands
political affairs had been paid 500,000 euros
($534,000) from state funds as a parliamentary
assistant to Fillon and his successor.
The newspaper said it could find no evidence
that she had actually done any work. It also said
she was paid a further 100,000 euros for very
little work by a literary review, whose owner
Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere was a family friend.
The payments involved were made over a
period between ranging between 1998 and 2013,
the newspaper said.
The Fillons and Ladreit de Lacharriere were
all interviewed by the police leading the inquiry
on Monday. Fillon has not denied the payments
but has said her work was not fake.
He has said he will step down as presidential
candidate should he be put under formal
investigation.
An opinion poll by Kantor-Sofres on Sunday
put Macron and Fillon almost neck-and-neck on
20-21 and 21-22 per cent respectively in the first
round of the presidential election on April 23,
with Fillon having lost ground compared with a
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7 11
Le Pen defiant as
EU seeks return of
misspent money
BRUSSELS: Frances far-
right candidate for president,
Marine Le Pen, was set to lose
7,000 euros a month from her
European Parliament earnings
from Wednesday after defying a
Fillon had been demand to repay nearly 300,000
euros of EU funds an investigation
favourite to win says she misspent.
the presidency for The parliament concluded that,
conservative party. in her role as French National
Front leader, Le Pen had during
The Republicans until the 2011-12 legislature paid party
a week ago when a staff with the funds, which EU
newspaper reported that rules say should be used only to
pay EU lawmakers assistants.
his wife Penelope drew Le Pen, locked in an
hundreds of thousands increasingly tight three-way race
to succeed Francois Hollande this
of euros in pay without spring, said she would not submit
doing any work to persecution by paying the
money back.
month ago. In a statement texted to
Only one of them would go through to the Reuters, she described the demand
second-round runoff on May 7 against predicted as a unilateral decision taken
first-round winner, Marine Le Pen of the far- by political opponents... without
right National Front. proof and without waiting for a
There, either man would win the run-off judgement from the court action I
easily with over 60 per cent of the vote, the poll have started. Reuters
said. Reuters

DUTY-BOUND EU urged to act on

Clashes in Ukraine
flashpoint town rage
UKRAINE: Ukrainian forces
and Russian-backed rebels
clashed heavily for a third
straight day at a flashpoint town
on Tuesday, as thousands of
locals remained without power
after a deadly surge in fighting.
The industrial hub of Avdiivka
came under attack on Sunday
from insurgents seeking to wrest
back territory controlled by Kiev
during the nearly three-year war.
The Avdiivka clashes have
claimed the lives of at least 13
civilians and fighters on both
sides since Sunday.
Ukrainian President Petro
Poroshenko underscored the
urgency of the situation by
cutting short a visit to Berlin on
Monday.
Poroshenko is worried that
A postman delivers letters after a snowfall in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday. Reuters
Donald Trumps victory in the
US presidential election and
praise for Russias Vladimir Putin
may add fuel to a conflict that
began shortly after Ukraines
2014 ouster of its Moscow-
backed leader and tilt towards
the West.
Putins spokesman Dmitry
Peskov told reporters the
Kremlin was extremely worried
but had reliable information
that renegade units of pro-Kiev
fighters and not the army itself
were in fact responsible for the
initial attacks.
A reporter saw the separatists
shell the town of about 20,000
people with repeated rounds of
Grad multiple rocket systems
and artillery fire from the early
morning. AFP
lawmakers taking
lobbying jobs
BRUSSELS: The European
Parliament must bar departing
members from moving directly
to lobbying former colleagues,
Transparency International said on
Tuesday after finding dozens of ex-
MEPs had taken jobs with lobbyists.
Citing France and Canada as
models for the supervision of the
risks from revolving doors when
officials and elected representatives
move between the public and private
sector the watchdog group also
called on the European Commission,
the EU executive, to tighten its own
rules after a recent controversy.
It recommended extending
cooling off periods after public
service, during which new jobs must
be approved by a regulator with
many more powers and resources
than any today in Brussels.
At present, the Parliament places
no restrictions on former members,
although it does on their staff.
Reuters

Teens died due to

carbon monoxide
poisoning
MUNICH: Six teenagers who were
found dead in an allotment shed in
the German town of Arnstein at the
weekend died of carbon monoxide
poisoning, police said on Tuesday.
The women and men found dead
were aged between 18 and 19 and
had met up on Saturday evening in
the shed on a remote plot of land in
the Lower Franconia of Bavaria.
The bodies were found on Sunday
after the owner of the plot, whose
son and daughter were among the
dead, went to check on the group.
He had started to worry after not
hearing from them by morning.
Officials have not confirmed
whether a wood-fired heater that
the youth had been using to heat the
shed is linked to the deaths.
The cause of the toxic gas
leak is still the subject of a
criminal investigation, police and
prosecutors said in a joint statement
released on Tuesday. Friends and
relatives of the victims attended an
ecumenical service at a local church
late on Monday. dpa
Theresa Mays government is seeking approval for a new law giving her the right to trigger Article 50
Brexit plan likely to survive parliamentary assault
LONDON: Prime Minister Theresa Mays plan to
leave the European Union is expected to survive
weeks of intense parliamentary scrutiny, which
started on Tuesday, despite pro-EU lawmakers
attempts to force the government to rethink its
strategy.
Mays government is seeking approval for a
new law giving her the right to trigger Article 50
the legal process for leaving the bloc after
the Supreme Court ruled last week that she could
not take that decision unilaterally.
This bill simply seeks to deliver the outcome
of the referendum a decision the people of
the UK have already made. They will view any
attempt to halt its progress dimly, Brexit minister
David Davis told lawmakers at the start of a two-
day debate on the bill the first stage in the
lawmaking process.
Some lawmakers will try to use the legislative
process to press May to reveal closely-guarded
details of her negotiating strategy, give parliament
and devolved governments more say over the exit
talks, or even block Brexit entirely.
But Conservative leader Mays majority
in parliament means her plan to start Brexit
negotiations by the end of March is currently
The second largest party, Labour, called
for more parliamentary scrutiny of the Brexit
process, but has said it will not ultimately try to
Lawmakers who thwart it. Several Labour MPs disagree with this
disagree with the stance and will oppose the law.
Lawmakers who disagree with the
governments plan to governments plan to leave the EUs single market
leave the EUs single and negotiate a free trade deal with the bloc a
strategy described by some as a hard Brexit
market and negotiate are gearing up for a fight.
a free trade deal with Five separate amendments designed to halt the
bill before it can become law have been submitted
the bloc a strategy by lawmakers from different opposition parties.
described by some as One of these motions, written by the pro-EU
Scottish National Party, will be put to a vote on
a hard Brexit are Wednesday.
gearing up for a fight Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Todays debate falls shamefully short in
Street, London, on Tuesday. Reuters time and in detail and that is why SNP MPs
will be voting against the bill proceeding, SNP
expected to pass through parliaments legislative many of whom campaigned for Britain to remain lawmaker Stephen Gethins said in a statement
process relatively unchanged and on time. I in the EU, has so far been contained after May before the debate.
suspect at the moment there isnt going to be last week bowed to pressure to set out her Brexit In addition, 85 pages of proposed amendments
enough for a majority for any amendment, a plan in a formal policy document. The bottom to the short two-clause bill have been submitted
source close to cross-party discussions on the line is that there is very, very, very little appetite for debate at later stages in the parliamentary
legislation said. for Conservative MPs (Members of Parliament) process, seeking to change the law for a wide
Disquiet among Conservative lawmakers, to back any amendments, the source said. range of reasons. Reuters
worldinpictures

panorama
12 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7

DARING STEP: Afghan members of a Wushu martial arts group led by trainer Sima Azimi (C), 20, pose for a photograph at the Shahrak Haji Nabi UNDERWATER DINING : Belgians Florence Lutje Spelberg and Nicolas Mouchart dive into The Pearl, a spheric
hilltop overlooking Kabul. Afghanistans first female Wushu trainer, Sima Azimi, 20, is training 20 Afghan girls aged between 14 - 20 at a dining room placed 5 metres underwater in the NEMO33 diving centre, one of the worlds deepest pools (33
Wushu club in Kabul, after learning the sport while living as a refugee in Iran. AFP metres) built to train professional divers, before enjoying a meal inside, in Brussels, Belgium. Reuters

Thai art snatcher arrested in Japan apologises, resigns from office

BANGKOK: A senior Thai official
arrested in Japan last week for stealing
paintings from his hotel issued a public
statement on Tuesday, apologising to
the Thai people and his colleagues,
while announcing his resignation from
office.
Suphat Sa-nguandeekul, deputy
director-general of Thailands
Department of Intellectual Property,
was caught stealing three paintings
valued at a total of 15,000 yen ($132)
from a hotel in Kyoto last week.
He was on an official trip to Japan
to discuss intellectual property rights,
Wiboonlak Ruamrak, permanent
secretary at the Thai Commerce
Ministry said.
According to Japanese newspaper
Sankei, the arrest came after hotel staff
noticed that paintings hanging on
the wall were missing and alerted the
police. Suphat was about to check out
of the hotel when he was detained.
In the statement, Suphat said he
was under the influence of alcohol
while committing the crime, adding
that he had no record of misconduct
throughout his 33 years in government
service. I am deeply sorry for this
incident, and for damaging the
reputation of the Department of
Intellectual Property, the Commerce
Ministry and Thailand, Suphat said.
The incident caused public outrage
in Thailand, with some fearing a setback
in Thai-Japanese diplomatic relations.
Suphat was released by Japanese
prosecutors and sent back to Thailand
on Friday, after having apologised
and compensated the hotel, with the
assistance of the Thai consulate in
Japan.
Despite his resignation, Suphat will
be subject to a disciplinary action by
the commerce ministry, pending an
ongoing investigation in Thailand, Thai
authorities said. dpa

Smoking costs $1.4 tn in

healthcare, labour loss
PARIS: Smoking cost the world economy They included UN and World Bank
more than $1.4 trillion (1.3 trillion euros) data on illness and death attributable to
in 2012, and sucked up a twentieth of smoking, national employment rates and
health care spending, a study said on national GDP.
Tuesday. In 2012, they found, diseases caused
The killer habit consumed the equivalent by smoking accounted for 12 per cent
of nearly two per cent of global economic (2.1 million) of all deaths among working
output or GDP, according to experts from age adults aged 30-69 with the highest
the World Health Organization (WHO) proportion in Europe and the Americas.
and the American Cancer Society, with Almost 40 per cent of the global
almost 40 per cent of the burden falling on economic cost was borne by low- and
developing countries. middle-income countries a quarter by
These included a $422 billion price tag Brazil, Russia, India and China alone.
for treatment and hospitalisation, as well China consumes over a third of the
as indirect costs from labour lost to illness worlds cigarettes and has a sixth of the
and death. global smoking death toll.
Smoking imposes a heavy economic The researchers said the real cost was
burden throughout likely much higher.
the world, particularly They did not
in Europe and North include data on the
America, where the CHINA CONSUMES health and economic
tobacco epidemic is OVER A THIRD OF THE harm caused by
most advanced, said WORLDS CIGARETTES second-hand smoke
the study published inhalation, or by
in the journal Tobacco
AND HAS A SIXTH OF smokeless forms of
Control. THE GLOBAL SMOKING tobacco use, such as
These findings DEATH TOLL chewing.
highlight the urgent Second-hand
need for countries to smoke, the team
implement stronger wrote, was responsible
tobacco control measures to address these for an estimated six million deaths per year.
costs. Their inclusion would thus have a
The authors say the study is the first measurable impact on our estimate of the
ever to include low- and middle-income economic cost of smoking.
countries in a more accurate estimate of And smokeless use, particularly in
the tobacco epidemics total, global cost. southeast Asia, may account for as much
Most previous work has focused on rich as 30 per cent of medical expenditure
nations. attributed to tobacco.
The team used data from 152 countries Curbing the habit globally would go
representing 97 per cent of the worlds a long way towards achieving one of the
smokers in Africa, the Americas, the UNs Sustainable Development Goals to
Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast cut premature deaths from non-infectious
Asia and the Western Pacific. diseases by a third by 2030. AFP

LEAST AFRAID!: A boy sits on a sculpture of a polar bear at an amusement fair in a park during
the Spring Festival holidays in Beijing on Tuesday. AFP
WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 1, 2017 | JUMADA AL ULA 4, 1438 AH
business
WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABILITY, CSR KICKS OFF AT KOM P14
Oman Oil Co capex to
exceed $1bn in 2017
DIVERSE INTERESTS: Projects set to advance include gas
pipelines, LPG extraction and ammonia projects
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT, JAN 31
Oman Oil Company SAOC (OOC),
the governments energy and strategic
investment arm, is planning a com-
bined capital investment in excess of
$1 billion across its substantial portfo-
lio subsidiaries this year.
Also expected to make headway
this year is the development of a string
of strategic gas pipelines, and mid-
stream and downstream petrochemi-
cal projects.
The investments underscore the
wholly government-owned entitys
commitment to catalysing industrial
and economic growth notwithstand-
ing the challenging fiscal environ-
ment.
Insights into OOCs investment
and development strategy for 2017
were shared by the groups Chief Exec-
utive Officer, Eng Isam Saud al Zadjali
(pictured) in comments to local jour-
nalists yesterday.
Capital investments being weighed
by the Group across the four verticals
into which its diverse subsidiaries
have been grouped are roughly north
of one billion dollars, Al Zadjali said.
Among the first ventures to ad-
vance will be the LPG Extraction
Project of Salalah LPG SFZCO LLC
(SLPG), a wholly owned subsidiary
of Oman Oil Facilities Development
Company LLC (OOFDC), one of the
four verticals of the Group.
UK-based international oil serv-
ices contractor Petrofac has been
awarded a contract to construct the
81pc of Omani CEOs confident
of business growth: KPMG
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, JAN 31
A vast majority of Oman CEOs are
confident of their organisations
growth over the next three years
despite a period of prolonged reduced
oil prices, KPMGs 2017 Oman CEO
Outlook Survey has found.
96 per cent of Oman CEOs believe
that their organisations will continue
to focus on certain core competencies
to grow their business over the next
three years including innovation.
Almost two-thirds 62 per cent
believe that their organisations will
have undergone real change during
this period.
Almost half the CEOs interviewed
in Oman indicated that their
organisation took a strategic approach
327,000 tonnes per year capacity plant
at the Salalah Free Zone at a cost of
around $600 million.
The Salalah LPG project has been
approved by the Board, and we are
negotiating with the banks right now
on a financial close in the next few
weeks, Al Zadjali said.
Next off the blocks is a 1,000 met-
ric tonnes per day capacity ammonia
plant, also planned in the free zone
alongside the Groups wholly owned
subsidiary Salalah Methanol Com-
pany.
Besides being used as an ingredi-
ent in the production of fertilisers,
ammonia is also an important inter-
mediate chemical in the manufacture
of synthetic resins (urea based), syn-
thetic fibres (acrylics and nylons, and
polyurethanes, among other applica-
tions.
We are going to make a recom-
mendation to our Board on the im-
plementation of the ammonia project,
which is an expansion of Salalah
Methanol, the CEO said.
Importantly, several gas infrastruc-
96 per cent of Oman
CEOs believe that
their organisations
will continue to
focus on certain core
competencies to grow
their business over the
next three years
to innovation, although 16 per
cent indicated that lack of internal
resources or intellectual property
has meant that innovation had to be
brought in either through alliances
or acquisitions.
The study titled Now or Never
follow us @oman_biz
www.omanobserver.om
editor@omanobserver.om
VISA ROW OVERSHADOWS IRANIAN PLANE DEALS P17 THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF CAR EXTRAS P20
PACT INKED FOR BLOCK 48
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, JAN 31
Omans Ministry of Oil & Gas
yesterday signed an Exploration
& Production Sharing Agreement
(EPSA) with Oman Oil Company
Exploration and Production
(OOCEP) for Block 48.
Dr Mohammed bin Hamad
al Rumhy, Minister of Oil & Gas,
A world-scale crude signed the pact on behalf of the
oil storage park government, while OOCEP was
represented by Eng Isam al Zadjali,
planned at Ras CEO of Oman Oil Company, the
Markaz, just south energy and strategic investment arm
of the Duqm SEZ, is of the government. TO PAGE 15
also planned to make
headway this year,
according to the CEO.
ture projects are expected to progress
during the course of 2017, according
to the official. Most notable is the
much-anticipated gas pipeline supply-
ing natural gas from Saih Nihayda in
central Oman to Duqm Special Eco-
nomic Zone. Also in the works, said
Al Zadjali, is a Northern Pipeline
linking Sohar with Wadi Jizzi.
A world-scale crude oil stor-
age park planned at Ras Markaz,
just south of the Duqm SEZ, is also
planned to make headway this year,
according to the CEO.
The facility will also double as a
second crude export terminal for the
Sultanate, after Mina Al Fahal in Mus-
cat, which has long served as the na-
tions principal export terminal.
Additionally, Oman Oils upstream
energy investment arm, Oman Oil
Company Exploration and Produc-
tion (OOCEP), is moving aggressively
to expand its portfolio of assets in the
hydrocarbons sector.
TURN TO PAGE 15
also found that, in an increasingly
challenging economic environment,
Oman CEOs are embracing change
through policies that are in the
national interest, including the
Tanfeedh programme which aims to
diversify the economy in the short and
long term.
Vikas Papriwal, Head of Markets
for KPMG in the UAE and Oman,
commented: GCC economies
have been experiencing almost
unprecedented change in the wake
of a prolonged period of low oil
prices; however, as Oman embraces a
robust national strategy of economic
diversification, its CEOs have
expressed a very encouraging level
of confidence in their business in the
next three years. TURN TO PAGE 15
insideoman
business
14 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
Private sector can help
GCC states save $165bn
in capital expenditures
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, JAN 31
GCC savings projected across utilities,
airports, healthcare, and education
by involving the private sector, with
a further $287 billion expected from
sales of shares in publicly listed
companies
If GCC states increase private
sector involvement in their
economies, they could avoid $165
billion in capital expenditures by 2021,
says a recent study by management
consultancy Strategy& (formerly
Booz & Company) issued by the
Ideation Center, the leading think-
thank for Strategy& in the Middle
East. They could also generate $114
billion in revenues from sales of utility
and airport assets, and up to $287
billion from sales of shares in publicly
listed companies. GCC states could
also narrow the innovation gap with
other countries, enhance the delivery
of and access to government services,
and improve their infrastructure.
With more Private Sector
Participation (PSP), these countries
can achieve operational efficiencies
of 10 to 20 per cent, reducing
government budget deficits. Greater
PSP could also help them close their
innovation gap with other countries.
Between 2013 and 2015, 70 per cent
of global innovations stemmed from
the private sector, versus 13 per cent
from the nonprofit sector and only 8
per cent from the public sector.
Recently, GCC countries have
been facing a few long-term
challenges to the sustainability of
their economies: a high dependence
on oil for government revenues (73
per cent of revenues and 82 per cent
of exports are linked to oil); a lack of
workforce diversity and skills creating
unbalanced labour markets (e.g., 78
per cent of women in Saudi Arabia do
not participate in the workforce, and
54 per cent of the workforce is made
up of expatriates); a growing need for
public services such as healthcare,
infrastructure, and education (e.g.,
the UAE is investing $300 billion
in infrastructure until 2030); and
an under-developed ecosystem for
innovation, which is a key driver of
Workshop on sustainability,
CSR kicks off at KOM
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, JAN 31
A masterclass workshop on CSR and
sustainability kicked off yesterday at
the National Business Centre (NBC)
in the Knowledge Oasis Muscat
(KOM). This programme, organised
by Xeem-Fatma Al Riyami Consul-
tancy, TUV SUD ME and Tawasul/
Global Connection Centre, is funded
by Oman LNG Development Founda-
tion, and in cooperation with the Sus-
tainability Knowledge Group.
The primary drive for the workshop
is to provide guidance on sustainabil-
ity and CSR related issues, along with
an opportunity to explore ISO 26000
and introduce the best practices of re-
porting around the globe.
Additionally, this workshop em-
phasises the significance of innovative
social and sustainable approaches,
particularly as it relates to how organi-
sations can persevere during the eco-
nomic slowdown.
The 3-day programme is anticipat-
ed to nurture and create a network of
sustainability professionals and enable
participants to gain skills and build
knowledge that will ultimately enable
them to contribute towards imple-
menting sustainability in their organi-
sations and to benefit Oman at large.
Khalid al Massan, CEO of Oman
national competitiveness.
Increasing PSP through the
establishment of publicprivate
partnerships (PPPs) and the
privatisation of government assets is
an ideal response to these challenges,
suggests Strategy&. Most GCC
countries, including Kuwait, UAE,
Oman, and Bahrain, recognise
the importance of PSP and have
incorporated it in their national plans.
However, there is a lack of a
dedicated PSP policy and legal
framework, as well as an effective
institutional set up.
Salim Ghazaly, Partner at
Strategy& in Beirut, discussed past
approaches to PSP and how countries
can benefit from it today: Past Private
Sector Participation (PSP) in GCC
countries occurred on an ad-hoc
basis and in most cases without strong
commitment from stakeholders
(largely due to high oil prices).
However, currently, we are witnessing
a serious and structured approach
to Private Sector Participation
supported by well-defined national
programmes, proper legal and
regulatory frameworks, and best-in-
class institutional models.
If properly implemented, these
programmes could yield significant
benefits to the region, including
increased job creation, enhanced
quality of services, faster localisation of
industries, better innovation, foreign
direct investment, and government
expenditure rationalisation.
To realise these benefits, GCC
LNG Development Foundation
shared, Developing skills in the field
of sustainability and Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) are essential to
continue to deliver value to the com-
munities of Oman.
We are grateful for the partnership
and we will continue to translate the
vision of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos,
and continue to collaborate with the
government, private sector and in-
dividuals in order to enhance the
Omani society by fostering abilities
and knowledge to maximise value for
the people of Oman.
With the increased need for CSR
conscience businesses such topics
are required to be addressed and at-
tended to, moreover we are most de-
lighted seeing our SMEs collaborating
Salim Ghazaly
governments will need a rigorous
and comprehensive approach to
PSP and a clearly-articulated, long-
term implementation plan that
encompasses all economic sectors.
Strategy& suggests three foundational
elements to ensure PSP success: (i)
developing a governing PSP policy, (ii)
supporting it with a legal framework,
and (iii) developing an institutional
setup dedicated to driving PSP on the
national level.
A PSP policy articulates the
governments goals with regards to
private sector participation, aligns
PSP with the countrys broader
national policy, and allows for a
more streamlined process. The legal
framework, which encompasses the
new laws or modifications to existing
laws to facilitate PSP activities, will
increase transparency and will outline
the roles of all involved parties.
The level of depth of the PSP legal
framework depends on existing laws
and regulations but, in general, GCC
countries should avoid overly rigid
legal frameworks.
to bring such programmes in Oman,
said Malak al Shaibani, Director- Gen-
eral of the National Business Centre.
The organisers assert the CSR
Masterclass is important for Oman,
especially in the pertaining economic
situation and according to the Dow
Jones Sustainability Group Index,
businesses that adopt sustainability
and CSR practices stand in fare po-
sition during economic crisis than
those that have not yet embraced CSR,
as it assists in improving business
performance especially in managing
long-term risks.
The workshop shall highlight the
benefits of CSR for businesses and
will underscore its profound value
as it applies to the current business
arena.
BUSINESS ALERT
Ahlibank revamps MyHassad Savings Account Prize scheme
MUSCAT: Ahlibank, announced the revamped launch of its MyHassad Savings
Account Prize draw scheme, which will provide the winner with a Salary for Life.
The revamped scheme also contains valuable cash prizes distributed throughout
the year in a range of weekly, monthly, quarterly, special occasions and year end
bumper prizes.
Hanaa al Hinai (pictured) Deputy General Manager Retail Banking
Product Development & Private Banking said: For the first time in the Sultanate,
a customer of ahlibank will win the prize of a lifetime providing a monthly income
of RO 1,000 for 25 years . This amount can be passed down from generation to
generation in that same period of time. The bank will also reward one lucky winner with a bumper year end prize of
RO 250,000. Customers need to maintain RO 1,000 average balance in their MyHassad savings account to be eligible.
In addition, each of ahlibanks 13 branches across the Sultanate will have one winner each of RO 500 weekly to
ensure we reward as many of our loyal customers as possible. Our monthly prizes focus on rewarding our customers in
3 categories which consist of all retail customers with one winner of RO 5,000, Premium & Private Banking customers
with one winner of RO10,000 and 5 Female customers winning RO 500 each.
Malabar Gold unveils Heart
to Heart jewellery collection
MALABAR Gold & Diamonds, one of the big 5 jewellery
retailers globally launched a special collection of
diamond and 18K gold jewellery named Heart to Heart
to celebrate the season of love. Heart to Heart jewellery
collection showcases the exclusive heart shaped jewellery Customers can also choose from the diamond
which symbolises the best way to express your love. As jewellery sets comprising of beautifully crafted pendant
the demand for heart shaped jewellery increases during with chain, pair of earrings and finger ring, available
this season of love, the jewellery retailer launched the from an affordable price of RO 190 onwards. The
exclusive collection to cater to the customer demand. company has also launched a special necklace in 18K
This unique jewellery collection is a perfect gift to gold jewellery which can be worn in 28 different ways.
express true emotions to your loved ones. With prices To add more delight to this occasion, the customers can
starting from RO 65 to RO 310, there is something to fit also avail a branded Esprit or Westar watch absolutely
everyones budget. free with this limited edition jewellery.
Bank Sohar honours employees completing ten years of service
COMMEMORATING ten years of successful operations in Oman,
Bank Sohar recently held a special ceremony where all staff that had
been with the company since inception were presented with a token
of appreciation in recognition of their loyalty to the bank and their
dedication to their work.
The honouring ceremony took place at the recently held staff party
at the Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Muscat, and was
attended by members of the Bank Sohar staff. The ceremony, which
took place near the end of the evenings proceedings, saw Sasi Kumar,
Acting CEO of Bank Sohar, together with Munira Abdulnabi Macki,
the GM of Human Resource and Corporate Support, hand over the certificates of appreciation to the respective staff
members. Commenting on the role long-term staff play in the success of the bank, Sasi Kumar said, As a team-driven
organisation, we at Bank Sohar place a lot of emphasis on creating a culture of teamwork and mutual growth where
every staff member feels like an integral part of the company. Bank Sohar is truly fortunate to have so many dedicated
employees who have served both our customers and the bank loyally and professionally for a decade. They have been
instrumental to our growth and our progress on our path towards banking excellence.
Z-Corp organises session
on Omani labour law
THE Zubair Corporation (Z-Corp) organised a
comprehensive awareness session on Omani labour law,
for the speech and hearing impaired employees of the
group, at Zubair Furnishing premises recently.
The session, which focused on enriching the
employees knowledge on the principles of Omani labour laws dedicated to our speech and hearing impaired
labour law, was conducted using the sign language. The employees. We felt they should be aware of their rights
session was aimed at making employees understand the and responsibilities and about what are the concessions
importance of compliance to the Omani labour law. that the Omani labour law offers them.
Waleed Nasser al Yarubi head of HR at The Zubair He added, As an employer, we are aware of our
Corporation said, The Zubair Corporation has created obligations around supporting our speech and hearing
an inclusive environment that is welcoming to all
employees regardless of disability. That is why we felt it
was important to organise an exclusive session on Omani
impaired employees. We make regulations for employees
with disabilities, so that they are not put at any kind of
disadvantage with non-disabled people.
Startup Grind hosts Tarig El-Sheikh, Founder of Beneple
STARTUP Oman (www.startupoman.om), the Sultanates only online platform
created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs and the designated chapter of Startup
Grind in Oman, hosted Startup Grind on Sunday, January 29.
Startup Grind featured Tarig El-Sheikh, Dubai based serial entrepreneur and
tech expert, founder of Beneple a premium online platform that enables SMEs
to manage all their HR needs payroll, benefits, compliance, and much more all
online, in one simple dashboard and for free (www.beneple.com). He managed to
sell Beneple in a $15m deal only eight months after the beta launch in January 2015.
Tarig has developed a series of projects which have enjoyed quick success. Istashir,
a corporate finance and management consulting firm he set up in the UAE in 2011,
was acquired two years and three months after it was established. His second UAE-
based venture, Knot Standard, an e-commerce custom menswear company, opened branch offices in New York City
and Washington DC in just a few years. Over 30 entrepreneurs, students and young professionals gathered at Al
Rudha space in Ghala to hear Tarigs story to entrepreneurship. To become an entrepreneur means constantly asking
why, and finding problems to fix. Entrepreneurship ultimately means creating value first, and then finding a way to
monetise on that value. The driver for becoming an entrepreneur should be the desire to make the world a better place
or fixing a problem, not for the sake of financial gain, said Tarig during the event.
Festive offer on 17 Kia Optima tempting
due to the
THE season to celebrate with Kia and its range of special offer.
offers is here and it is adding to our delight, remarks The all-new
an enthusiast at the Muscat Festival. Admiring the new O pt i m a
Optima, he asks about its offer (exact details at the features a
showroom) and the spokesperson explains, We are modern,
offering every Optima customer a Cash Gift up to RO new exterior,
1,700. In lieu of this, the customer may opt for 1 year a bold
Insurance together with Service for 2 years/30,000Kms interior design with more space for all occupants, an
(whichever is earlier) in addition to Cash Gift of up to array of new technologies and a wide choice of efficient
RO 1,000. The spokesperson points out that the 0 per powertrains. Retaining the sporty image that has helped
cent interest EMI offer is available only on 24 months the Optima become one of Kias best-selling models
deals. (Terms and Conditions apply, exact details at the worldwide, the latest generation of the car offers greater
showroom). This promotion ends on February 11, 2017. refinement, improved ride and handling and higher
Indeed, the offer leaves no doubt that the car to own quality over the outgoing model, as well as a new high-
is a stylish and much awarded Optima, now even more powered Optima GT model.
 insideoman
business
Shaikh Majeds visit to boost tourism to the Sultanate
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7 15
MUSCAT: Shaikh Majed al Sabah, one
of the most influential personalities
on social media in the Arab world,
who has played a very crucial role in
building awareness for the Sultanate
on social media, has returned to Oman
with plans to explore the countrys
stunning natural beauty.
On his last visit in 2016, Shaikh
Majed visited the National Museum,
Majlis Al Jinn cave, some bedouin
settlements in Al Sharqiyah Sands,
the Dhofar mountains and the Royal
Opera House.
His stunning portrayal of Oman
evoked tremendous response among
social media followers.
Within the framework of
promoting the Sultanates sustainable
tourism industry, the Ministry of
Tourism, along with Bank Muscat,
are delighted to welcome and host
Shaikh Majed al Sabah once more
to experience the many wonders of
Oman during this visit that will cover
some unique and unexplored outdoor
attractions. promote the Sultanates heritage and as remarkable social and economic believe in social medias unifying role different cultures around the world. driving high-end travellers from the
He has played a very important culture to millions of followers on developments across the world. as evident from the portrayal of the In fact, his active participation on neighbouring GCC and European
role helping grow the profile of Oman his social media channels, especially Bank Muscat is closely involved in country by Shaikh Majed. Snapchat earned him the title of the markets to Muscat.
as a unique destination in the region Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram. the countrys tourism development Shaikh Majed is known to utilise 50 most effective personalities on Varied attractions in Oman,
and both locally and internationally During his many travels, Shaikh projects, complementing the social media to tell unknown travel social media worldwide. including the National Museum and
through his social media channels. Majed is known to engage with people government and the Ministrys stories. His social channel Snapchat, Omans appeal as a unique the Royal Opera House, are giving
This stems from Shaikh Majeds of all backgrounds through social endeavours to promote Oman as a for instance, captures real people destination in the region and repeat visitors more reasons to explore
genuine passion and enthusiasm for media posts that highlight unique unique destination and boost the with real experiences and is aimed at internationally is only growing Oman and Shaikh Majed al Sabahs
Oman and his continued efforts to Arab traditions and values as well national economy and strongly helping followers gain knowledge of with new airline flight connections visit this year reinforces this.

No change in Duqm IN BRIEF MENA hospitality markets witness

Refinery project timeline
(For illustration only)
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT, JAN 31
Construction work on a giant green-
field refinery complex at Duqm is
expected to kick off before the end of
this year or early in 2018, according to
a top official of Oman Oil Company
(OOC), the 50 per cent joint venture
partner in the multibillion dollar
venture.
Eng Isam al Zajdali, CEO of Oman
Oil Company, the state-owned energy
and strategic investment arm, said
the timeline for the implementation
of the scheme, which will anchor
the growth of a mammoth Special
Economic Zone (SEZ) at Duqm,
remains unchanged despite the exit of
a key shareholder.
Last November, Oman Oil
Company signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Kuwait
Petroleum International (KPI), the
international subsidiary of Kuwait
Petroleum Corporation (KPC), for
the development of the estimated $6
billion Duqm Refinery and Petroleum
Complex in Duqm.
The pact effectively formalised
Kuwait Petroleum Internationals role
as a 50 per cent joint venture partner
in the project, following the departure
of longstanding shareholder, the Abu
Dhabi-based International Petroleum
Investment Company (IPIC).
The plan for Duqm Refinery
remains as is, said Al Zadjali. We are
finalising the shareholder agreement
with Kuwait Petroleum International
and we envision we will have financial
close by around mid-year (2017). We
are hoping that construction activities
will start before the end of this year or
early next year.
Speaking to journalists at the
Ministry of Oil & Gas yesterday, the
official said that the change in the
partnership status of the project will
have no impact on the schedule for
its implementation. No, we have
no plans whatsoever to delay the
timeline that we have agreed. The
Kuwaitis have already agreed (to this
schedule), he pointed out.
While declining to comment on
the reasons for IPICs exit from the
venture, the CEO stressed however:
We know this is a very good project,
and we have more than one party that
is interested to join us.
A 900-hectare site at Duqm has
already been readied for construction
work to begin in earnest on this
strategically important venture.
CMA deregisters
audit firm, tells
others to adjust
situation
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, JAN 31
The Capital Market Authority took
harsh measures against a number of
audit firms licensed by CMA to audit
the entities regulated by CMA.
UTC International was
deregistered as an accredited audit
firm by CMA and three others were
told to adjust their situation in not
more than two months.
The move comes as part of
the measures taken by CMA to
enhance the efficiency of audit firms
accredited by CMA to audit the
financial statements of the issuers in
accordance with best international
accounting standards to ensure the
compliance of the entities regulated by
CMA with the laws and regulations.
CMAs audit and inspection
revealed that UTC failed to meet
a number of the requirements for
accreditations of audit firms to audit
the account of the entities regulated
by CMA provided for in the Auditors
Accreditation Directives.
CMA emphasised that auditors
must abide by the professional terms
and conditions to create highly
efficient and professional audit
environment.
CMA considers the auditors as
the first line of defence to protect the
participants of the stock market to
review the soundness of the financial
statements of the companies on
which the investors rely in taking
their investment decisions.
revenue decline in 2016
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, JAN 31
Hospitality markets across the Middle
East and North Africa (MENA) region
witnessed a negative performance in
2016 compared to 2015, according to
the EY Middle East Hotel Benchmark
Survey Report.
The majority of markets
experienced a drop in RevPAR
(revenue per available room) due to a
slower global economy, making 2016
a challenging year for the hospitality
industry, the report said.
Muscats hospitality market saw no
change in its occupancy from 2015 to
2016. However, average room rates
fell by 13.3 per cent from $214 in 2015
to $185 in 2016 leading to an overall
average room yield of $122 in 2016, a
13.2 per cent drop from $140 in 2015.
The Middle East Hotel Benchmark
Survey Report, produced by EY,
provides a monthly and year-to-date
performance overview of leading
hotels in the Middle East. The hotel
set includes international branded
and operated properties across the
five-star and four-star segments.
Yousef Wahbah, MENA Head of
Transaction Real Estate at EY says:
Oman Oil Co capex to exceed $1bn
FROM PAGE 13
Having signed an Exploration
and Production Sharing Agreement
(EPSA) with the government for
Block 48 onshore Oman, the company
has also submitted a bid jointly with
Occidental for Block 30, a gas block
currently up for grabs as part of the
2016 Oman Licensing Round.
The hospitality market was greatly
affected by the drop in oil prices over
2015 and 2016 forcing many hotels
to lower their room rates whilst also
suffering from lower occupancy.
However, some cities, such as Cairo
and Ras Al Khaimah, managed to
increase both occupancy and room
rates for overall higher revenues per
room.
During 2016, the Dubai market
registered the highest RevPAR of
$200, followed by Jeddah, which
registered a RevPAR of $196. Dubai
also had the highest occupancy rate
in 2016 at 80 per cent while Ras Al
Khaimah achieved the second highest
Explaining the companys
underlying vision for the upstream
sector, Al Zadjali said: Our strategy
is two-fold: one is to become a
competent operator, and at the same
time, join forces with international
oil companies to work together in
various blocks we have in Oman. We
have already partnered with (energy
occupancy at 72.1 per cent.
The highest room rates of 2016
were recorded in Saudi Arabia,
with an average daily rate of $287 in
Mecca and Jeddah averaging at $277.
Cairos hospitality market experienced
a growth across all KPIs in 2016,
resulting in the highest increase in
room yield compared to 2015 and
a RevPAR of 62.7 per cent, due to
continued political stability in the
country.
The hospitality market across
MENA in 2017 is expected to have
a slow performance as the economy
slowly adjusts to new trade agreements
and currency fluctuations, he added.
majors) BP (in Block 61) and Oxy
(Blocks 62 and 9). This trend will
continue, but we wish to operate in
Oman alongside International Oil
Companies (IOCs).
OOCEPs assets in the Sultanate
also include: Block 60 (Abu Tubul),
and Block 42 (100 per cent owned).

81pc of Omani CEOs confident of business growth
FROM PAGE 13
The findings of our first Oman CEO
Outlook indicate that Oman businesses
are far more optimistic than their global
counterparts.
We attribute this to a very strong
generational change across the Sultanate
with an increasing number of CEOs,
especially young Omanis within the 30-40
age bracket, driving decision-making.
Ashok Hariharan, a partner with KPMG
in Oman and Head of Tax in the Lower Gulf,
said: It is very encouraging that Oman
CEOs across key sectors remain confident
of their ability to successfully transform
Vikas Papriwal
their business despite a challenging
economic backdrop. Oman CEOs know
what they need to do to stay successful in
the short term and emerge as winners. The
Ashok Hariharan
time for change really is as our outlook
suggests now or never.
Twenty one per cent of Oman CEOs
identified talent development and
management as their most important
strategic priority compared with 18 per
cent of their global peers but substantially
more than their UAE peers only four per
cent of whom saw this as a top priority.
Diversifying into new business areas was
also cited as a strategic priority for Oman
CEOs at 19 per cent compared with 14 per
cent of UAE CEOs.
Interestingly, while UAE CEOs
suggested external factors from global
economic to geo-political factors were
most likely to affect growth over the
next few years, Oman CEOs believe
domestic economic factors outweigh all
other factors.
Pact inked for Block 48
FROM PAGE 13
Covering an area of 2,995 sq kilometres, Block 48 (also
called the Malih block) straddles the Dhahirah and Wusta
governorates of the Sultanate. It is the latest addition to
OOCEPs expanding portfolio of upstream assets located
within the Sultanate and internationally as well.
Speaking to reporters after the signing, Eng Al Zadjali
said: Block 48 represents a (promising) opportunity as it
adjoins Block 60, which OOCEP operates, and we believe
there is potential there based on the discoveries we found
in Block 60. We are planning to drill a few wells and shoot
some seismic, and once we do that, we will review our next
steps.
Also present at the signing were Salim al Aufi, Under-
Secretary of the Ministry of Oil & Gas; John Malcolm, CEO
OOCEP, and a number of officials of the Ministry and
OOCEP.
international

business
16 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7

Asian shares rattled by Trump policy worries, dollar

TOKYO: Asian shares slipped on
Tuesday as stringent curbs on travel
to the United States ordered by
President Donald Trump brought
home to investors that he is serious
about carrying out his controversial
campaign pledges.
Global stocks posted their biggest
loss in six weeks on Monday after
Trump signed an executive order
to bar Syrian refugees indefinitely
and suspend travel to the United
States from seven Muslim-majority
countries, sparking widespread
protests.
European bourse are expected
to remain fragile after big losses on
Monday, with spread-betters seeing
opening losses of as much as 0.1 per
cent in major indexes, including
Britains FTSE Germanys DAX and
Frances CAC.
Investors are becoming worried
as it appears as if he was setting fire
to geopolitical risks that already
exist, said Yoshinori Shigemi, Global
Market Strategist at JPMorgan Asset
Management.
Trumps move drew criticism from
some US policymakers, and business
leaders, with technology companies,
which depend on talent from around
the world, planning to discuss a legal
challenge.
His stance is really inward-
looking, making investors nervous
about his moderateness, said
Masahiro Ichikawa, Senior Strategist at
Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management.
Pedestrians walk in front of an electric quotation board flashing share prices of the world in Tokyo on Tuesday. AFP
MSCIs broadest index of Asia-
Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.5 per
cent while Japans Nikkei dropped 1.7
per cent, its biggest fall in almost three
months.
On Monday, the US S&P 500 Index
fell 0.6 per cent, its biggest fall in a
month, though it remained well above
levels seen before the November 8
presidential election.
MSCIs gauge of the worlds 46
stock markets shed 0.6 per cent, its
largest loss in a month and a half.
The mood soured further when
Trump fired the federal governments
top lawyer after she took the
extraordinarily rare step of defying the
White House.
US stock futures shed 0.3 per cent
on Tuesday and the dollar extended
losses against the yen.
Still, most share prices were up
on the month, supported by signs of
accelerating momentum in the global
economy and hopes of large fiscal
stimulus from Trump.
MSCIs ex-Japan Asian shares index
was up 5.7 per cent this month while
its index of world markets was up 2.5
per cent. They were also higher than
their levels before the US elections.
In the currency market, the dollar
was broadly weak and fell 0.3 per cent
against the yen to 113.49 yen. It was
down 3.1 per cent so far this month,
after three straight months of sizable
gains.
The Japanese currency showed no
reaction after the Bank of Japan kept
its policy on hold, as expected. A
string of recent data has suggested the
economy is slowly regaining traction.
The euro edged up to $1.0710,
consolidating after its rebound this
month from its 14-year low of $1.0340
set on Jan 3.
In a possible sign of increased
anxiety among investors, the safe-
haven Swiss franc strengthened to a
seven-month high of 1.0637 franc per
euro on Monday.
Worries are also growing about a
political shift to populist leaders in
Europe. French bond yields rose to the
highest level since September 2015, on
rising uncertainty over the Presidential
election later this year.
Conservative leader Francois
Fillon, seen as the front-runner, is
now battling to contain a scandal over
allegedly unlawful payments to his
wife while the Socialists on Sunday
picked a hard-left candidate, possibly
helping popular far-right leader
Marine Le Pen.
Italian debt yields climbed to 1
1
/2-year highs partly as early elections
could be called following a ruling from
the countrys constitutional court last
week. Italian assets have also been hit
by worries over its banking sector after
UniCredit, the countrys biggest bank,
revealed on Monday it expects to book
a net loss of around 11.8 billion euros
($12.6 billion) for 2016 and fall short
of European Central Bank capital
requirements.
By contrast, the yield on German
debt fell on Monday even as data
showed inflation in Germany hit a 3
1
/2-year high in January.
News that Germany posted a
national inflation rate of 1.9 per
cent stoked talk of an unwinding of
monetary stimulus by the ECB, even
though the inflation outcome was
below expectations.
Elevated uncertainty about Trumps
policies, including a lack of detail so
far on his plans for tax cuts and fiscal
spending, offset optimism on the US
economy.
Data on Monday showed US
consumer spending accelerated in
December while inflation showed
some signs of picking up last month.
The core PCE price index, the
Federal Reserves preferred inflation
measure, rose 1.7 per cent on a year-
on-year basis after a similar gain in
November.
Weve seen a jump in US economic
sentiment after Trumps victory. But
the improvement in hard economic
data remains moderate, said Haruka
Kazama, Senior Economist at Mizuho
Research Institute. And if Trump
takes more steps to limit permits for
immigrants, that would surely boost
inflation as the US is now near a full
employment, she added. Reuters

Deutsche Bank fined $630m IN BRIEF Oil slips as US output

over money laundering
Flags of Deutsche Bank are pictured outside its headquarters ahead of the banks
annual general meeting in Frankfurt.
NEW YORK: New York and British
authorities on Monday slapped nearly
$630 million in fines on German
banking giant Deutsche Bank over
alleged money laundering in Russia,
New York States Department of
Financial Services announced.
The scheme illegally moved $10
billion out of Russia, using so-called
mirror trades among the banks
Moscow, London and New York
offices, authorities said.
The US Justice Department also is
Reuters
investigating the matter.
The fines were the latest
development in the string of legal
woes for the German banking giant,
coming less than two weeks after the
bank finalized a $7.2 billion settlement
with the US Justice Department over
its role in the 2008 global financial
crisis.
The New York authorities said
in a statement they were joined by
Britains Financial Conduct Authority
in penalizing the bank after finding
pervasive weaknesses in Deutsche
Banks internal safeguards for money
laundering and client risk.
DFS fined the bank $425 million,
while FCAs fine was 163 million
pounds, or about $204 million.
This Russian mirror-trading
scheme occurred while the bank
was on clear notice of serious and
widespread compliance issues dating
back a decade, DFS Superintendent
Maria Vullo said in the statement.
Bank units tasked with legal
compliance and preventing money
laundering were understaffed and
ineffective, the DFS said.
In mirror trades, clients would
purchase stocks in rubles in Moscow
while other clients who were related
or even had the same owner would
sell the same stock at the same price
through the banks London branch.
By converting rubles into dollars
through security trades that had no
discernible economic purpose, the
scheme was a means for bad actors
within a financial institution to
achieve improper ends while evading
compliance with applicable laws,
according to the legal document
detailing the settlement with DFS as
shown to the media. AFP
Indias growth
to return to
normal after
cash crunch
NEW DELHI: Indias economy is
expected to grow by between 6.75
and 7.5 per cent in the coming fiscal
year, the finance ministry said in
its pre-budget Economic Survey on
Tuesday, roughly in line with this
years expected 7.1 per cent.
Asias third-largest economy
should steady after a hit from Prime
Minister Narendra Modis decision
in November to scrap most cash in
circulation in a strike against black
money untaxed wealth and the
proceeds of crime and corruption.
Economic growth expected to
return to normal as new currency
notes in required quantities come
back into circulation, the finance
ministry tweeted.
The surveys forecasts will
underpin Finance Minister
Arun Jaitleys annual budget on
Wednesday, in which he is expected
to offer some tax sops to voters
to soothe the blow to jobs and
business inflicted by so-called
demonetisation. Reuters
offsets Opec-led cuts
LONDON: Oil prices slipped on
Tuesday as rising US drilling activity
undermined efforts by Opec and
other producers to cut output in a
move to prop up the market.
Brent crude oil was down 20 cents
a barrel at $55.03 by 0900 GMT. US
light crude was down 30 cents a barrel
at $52.33.
Both benchmarks have traded
within fairly narrow ranges over
the last two months, since the
Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries agreed to cut
output by almost 1.8 barrel per day
(bpd) in an attempt to clear a global
glut.
After an initial price rise on hopes
that markets would rebalance quickly,
Brent and US crude futures have both
been held back by evidence of higher
US oil drilling and forecasts of a
rebound in shale production.
Support from Opec cuts and
pressure from shale are still
dominating the global oil market,
keeping Brent close to $55 a barrel
and US crude not far from $52.50.
Opec adherence to production
targets has been strong, said US
investment bank Jefferies, but added
that US drilling activity levels are
already picking up.
As a result, Jefferies said it was not
Pump Jacks are seen at sunrise near
Bakersfield, California. Reuters
inclined to change our Brent price
forecast $57.75 per barrel in 2017,
$71.75 per barrel in 2018.
Following months of increased
drilling, US oil production has risen
by 6.3 per cent since July last year to
almost 9 million bpd, according to
data from the US Energy Information
Administration.
Goldman Sachs estimates that
year-on-year US oil production
will rise by 290,000 bpd in 2017 if a
backlog on rigs that are still to become
operational is accounted for.
The differing outlook between
global oil markets and the US market
has focused attention on the spread
between Brent and US crude oil
futures, also known as West Texas
Intermediate or WTI. Reuters

MENA BRIEF
Algeria opens bids for oil plants for $6 bn
ALGIERS: Algerias state energy firm Sonatrach on Monday launched invitations
for international engineering firms to bid on four major petrochemical plants
worth a total of up to $6 billion, a source at state energy firm Sonatrach said.
The firms selected will carry out construction work on the four refineries
located in Tiaret, Hassi Messaoud and two in Skikda, including a fuel oil cracking
plant, and another Nafta processing plant.
The plants in Tiaret and Hassi Messaoud will have 5 million tonnes capacity
each, the source said. Opec member Algeria, hit hard by the crash in oil prices,
plans to build more refineries to boost its revenues. It currently produces 30
million tonnes of oil refined products per year.
Saudi suspends domestic bond issues
RIYADH: Saudi Arabias government has decided to suspend its monthly issue
of domestic bonds in January, refraining from issuing local currency bonds for
the fourth month in a row, the Maaal financial news service reported.
The suspension is possible because higher oil prices have improved
government revenues and the governments $17.5 billion issue of international
bonds last October was successful, Maaal quoted unnamed official sources as
saying.
Liquidity at banks is now good, after the government started to make
delayed payments of its debts to the private sector, and banks would be able to
cover any local bond issue if one occurred, the sources added. Reuters
Kuwait Oil Tanker Companys new oil tanker Kazimah III sits in the Ahmadi North
Pier in Kuwait. Royal Dutch Shell said on Tuesday it will sell its stake in Thailands
Bongkot gas field to Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company for $900
million. The transaction will include Shells 22.2 per cent equity stake in the
Bongkot field and adjoining acreage offshore Thailand consisting of Blocks 15,
16 and 17 and Block G12/48, Shell said in a statement. Reuters
Tunisia needs $2.85 bn in external financing
TUNIS: Tunisia needs around $2.85 billion in external financing this year and plans
to issue a Sukuk Islamic bond worth around $500 million to help cover the deficit,
Finance Minister Lamia Zribi said.
Zribi also confirmed a report that Tunis plans to sell 1 billion euros worth of Euro
bonds and hold a roadshow on February 5. More Eurobond issues later in the year
are possible depending on how the countrys external financing needs are covered,
she said.
After a delay of a few years, our plan this year is to issue $500 million to
diversify our resources and cover the deficit of 2017, Zribi said on the sidelines of a
government development presentation, referring to the sukuk issue.
It is the first time the government has given details of the sukuk issue plan.
We are going with 1 billion euros in the European market, and we will start with
the roadshow on February 5, the minister said, confirming earlier reports on the
initial Euro bond plan.
If we dont manage to fulfil our external financing needs of 6.5 billion dinars
($2.85 billion) then without a doubt well go to capital markets again this year.
Since its 2011 uprising that led to a transition to democracy, Tunisia has struggled
to enact economic reforms meant to curb public spending and help create jobs,
while two major militant attacks in 2015 hit its tourism industry, a major source of
income.
A government source said last Thursday that the North African state would start a
road show on February 5 for a 1 billion Euro bond.
He said the government could then go to capital markets twice more for a further
2 billion euros in total, although it was still undecided whether that would be in
dollars or euros. Reuters
perspective
business OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7 17
*Impediments to foreign investments in Arab states
DOWNWARD MOVEMENT

ttracting foreign investments and  Lack of confidence by exchange rates especially in the

A
providing investors with the conducive
milieu have been and are still among
the hot issues for any conversation
among critics and analysts especially
these days were the foreign investment
levels have recorded unprecedented
low levels.
The Arab and Gulf countries are
seriously considering the reasons
behind this downward movement
in order to take necessary corrective
measures that bring investors and
investment back to Arab states. Many
initiatives have been done to enhance
confidence of investors from the
different parts of the world.
It should be noted that the share
of Arab countries from the total
investment flows is low compared to
their abundant natural resources and
high quality infrastructure especially
in the GCC states.
Foreign direct investment (FDI)
flows to the Arab states is still low
with many of the Arab states failing to
attract the investments they seek.
As per the report on the investment
environment in the Arab states
2016, which was issued by the
Arab Organization for Investment
Guarantee and Export Credit, the
LOAI BATAINEH FDI flow to the Arab states declined
Lbb_65@yahoo.com by 10 per cent from $44.3 billion in
Some Arab states have already investors, restrictions on land freehold, countries that have floated their
capital gains transfer, mandating currencies against the foreign
dedicated ministries or organisations foreign investors to have local partner currencies.
for the promotion of investments and and improper nationalisation of many To put it in a nutshell, investors
jobs and profession. These challenges face many impediments including but
eliminating whatever difficulties that may limit the utilisation of the available not limited to lack of clarity by some
face investors. investment opportunities. Arab governments about FDI, lack of
 Red tape and sophistication foreign currency in the local market
in processing transactions. and the deprecation of some Arab
2014 to $40 billion in 2015 with the impediments facing investors to iron  Difficulty in getting permits currencies which has great effect on
FDI flow level remaining at humble them out. Many of these challenges are and licenses from public organisations. the real value of investments valuated
rates compared to their record level in now known by heart to most economic  Lack of transparency. in foreign currencies and on investors
2008 ($96.3 billion). Arab countries decision makers, analysts and critics.  Lack of preferred land profits when transferred outside the
import constituted 2.3 per cent of the Some Arab states have already spaces near the ports, airports and country.
global GDP, estimated at $1.76 trillion dedicated ministries or organisations highways and if they are available, they Many press agencies published
and 5.2 per cent of the GDP of the for the promotion of investments and are offered at non-attractive prices. statements by one of the foreign
developing countries ($765 billion). eliminating whatever difficulties that  Lack of quality infrastructure ambassadors to an Arab country at
The share of the Arab countries in may face investors. in some countries which may increase the end of his saying the government
the world flows has been fluctuating. Although many countries operational costs. policies discourage investment and
The share increased remarkably from have sought to improve business  Lack of banking facilities. cannot attract foreign investments.
0.4 per cent in 2000 to 6.6 per cent environment by providing investors  Lack of clarity about tax He added that many businessmen
in 2009; the record level it reached. It with scores of incentives and exemption with some tax exemption from his country failed to start
decreased once again to 3.2 per cent in guarantees, still the FDI flows are unsustainable. The exemptions are cooperation and investment relations
2013 as the average between 2000 and below the prospective level due not linked in a way that attract more despite the fact that his government
2015 staying at about 3.5 per cent. to the many legal, legislative and investments especially to export- was encouraging investors to invest
While many Arab countries administrative challenges which oriented industries. The lack of skills in the country he was serving as
have already introduced reforms to include but not limited to: at the custom departments and public ambassador.
improve the investment environment,  Legislative challenges organisation add to the burden facing He also noted that some other
still many impediments hamper the The laws, regulations and practices investors from red tape. governments managed to attract 3000
growth of FDI flows to the Arab at many Arab countries are still  Lack of clarity in the labour companies and 300,000 businessmen
countries. below level. Low maturity of these law, difficulty in getting recruitment and traders from his home country
Many studies have been made legislation will have negative visas and labour permit. although his government did not
to identify the challenges and effects on the interests of investors .  Instability of the foreign encourage them to go there.

* BLOCKED CONTRACTS
*Tax ideas roil oil markets,
BORDER PROFITS

favour Gulf Coast refiners

s with many industries now fretting over the uncertain future of

A
US trade policy, the oil business is sizing up the potential impact
of the various protectionist measures being bandied about
Washington which have sent crude markets into a tizzy.
The trade proposal with the most momentum may be the
controversial tax reform, pushed by Republicans in Congress,
that could slap a tax of up to 20 per cent on all imports, including
crude oil.
That would spark a rise in fuel costs across the country that
would hurt East and West Coast refiners more than those near
the Gulf of Mexico.
It would also hit the pocketbooks of drivers and airline
passengers, as refiners pass on the nearly $30 billion that the tax
could cost them each year on crude imports.
The consumer is really the one that suffers, Cynthia Warner,
Executive Vice President for Operations at refiner Tesoro Corp,
The IranAir Boeing 747SP aircraft which is pictured before leaving Tehrans Mehrabad airport en route to New York. Reuters
said earlier this month at a conference in Houston.
Tesoro operates seven refineries: Two in California, two in

Visa row overshadows Iranian plane deals North Dakota and one each in Utah, Alaska and Washington.
The border adjustment tax could also redraw trade maps for
global flows of crude and refined products.
US crude producers would be the obvious beneficiaries as

A
row over US visa bans may further weaken
Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis
efforts to attract foreign investors to Iran,
particularly if it slows the implementation
of deals for Western aircraft, officials and
analysts said.
The deals for 80 Boeing jets and 100
from Europes Airbus struck last year are
seen by Western investors as a crucial test
as they seek business in Iran in the wake
of the nuclear deal that led to the lifting of
most sanctions.
People involved in the airline deals
say it is too early to assess the impact
of the United States visa ban but worry
that hardening rhetoric in Tehran and
Washington can only add to a list of
complications that could slow, if not
endanger, the jet sales.
While Airbus planes come from
Europe, the administration of US
President Donald Trump can veto the
sale of all the planes to Iran because of the
widespread use of US parts in the aircraft
which need US export licenses.
The visa ban could also prolong a
hiatus in talks about financing deliveries
of jets, with European and Chinese banks
reluctant to put up money to back Iranian
jet purchases for fear of a backlash against
their US operations.
It will make people more nervous,
more risk-averse, more inclined to wait
and see, said a senior Western financier,
who asked not to be named.
Iranian officials say that even before
Trump imposed restrictions on travel
to the United States from seven mainly
Muslim countries, concerns about what
the new US president might do had
already put the brakes on post-sanctions
The deals for 80 Boeing
jets and 100 from
Europes Airbus struck
last year are seen by
Western investors as a
crucial test as they seek
business in Iran.
business.
During his election campaign, Trump
criticised the nuclear accord six major
powers struck with Iran and his victory in
November increased uncertainty around
Irans investment drive.
The process has been very slow...
foreign investors were very interested to
work in Iran, but since Trumps election
the process has almost stopped.
Investors are worried about possible
US punishments if they work with Iran, a
senior economy ministry official said.
Final decisions on whether the plane
deals go ahead may well lie with Trump
and Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei, the ultimate broker in the
countrys politics who has the last say on
key matters.
Since taking office this month, Trump
has largely ignored the Iranian jet deals
in public, even as he lambasted US
aerospace firms including Boeing about
other projects.
For now, at least, Boeing appears
comfortable that Trump wont
automatically block its deal, though
questions also remain over further
approvals from Iran, two industry sources
said.
Still, any long-term US travel curbs
could also undermine the case for long-
distance jets capable of linking Tehran
with expatriate communities in cities
such as Los Angeles.
Boeing plans to start delivering its
large 777 jets in 2018.
IranAir has already cancelled orders
for Airbus A380 superjumbos, initially
meant to signal its ambitions to compete
on equal terms with the hubs of Gulf
rivals.
Besides the Boeing and Airbus orders,
state airline IranAir is planning to buy 20
small Franco-Italian ATR turboprops to
help expand economic development to
smaller Iranian cities.
But officials say a final deal has been
held up due to uncertainty over some
licences for engines made by a Canadian
subsidiary of Pratt & Whitney, Americas
top military engine maker and supplier to
the F-35 fighter project. Reuters
their overseas rivals bear heavy taxes on imports, which are used
often by coastal refiners, especially those without direct access to
US pipelines.
Higher prices for domestic crude would make pumping from
more US fields economically viable encouraging higher output
from the shale patch and giving more momentum to a nascent
recovery in the US shale industry after a brutal international
price war.
While that likely would not put a big dent in the 7.9 million
barrels per day (bpd) that the US imports, Goldman Sachs
estimates that US oil exploration and production firms would
benefit to the tune of $20 billion from higher domestic crude
price and increased production.
Crude markets have been buffeted by the public back-and-
forth between President Donald Trump and the Republican
party over various tax proposals. Contradictory signals from
Trump sent the oil markets up and down in recent days.
US crude fell to its biggest discount to Brent crude in five
months last week after Trump appeared to poured cold water on
the idea as too complex. Reuters
Dark clouds
stretch across a
refinery as
Hurricane Ike
approaches
the Gulf of
Mexico near
Houston, Texas.
Reuters
 WEDNESDAY l FEBRUARY 1, 2017 l JUMADA AL ULA 4, 1438 AH

www.omanobserver.om editor@omanobserver.om

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A RESIDENTIAL land in Al
Athaiba. Close to the sea,
850 sqm. 94380002.
Al Ghubra at RO 320.
For Rent
2 BR & 3 BR ground

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SULTANATE OF OMAN
CLASSIFIED SECTION
Ruwi : 24785668 Behind Royal
Oman Police, Adjacent to
Dhofar Building
For Rent
FLAT for rent in Maabela 3
master rooms. 96088926.
Mina al Fahal. Contact.
FLAT for rent with
air-conditioner, two
bedrooms, sitting
room, medium-sized
sitting room, two toilets
and kitchen near the
healthcare centre of North
bedrooms, living room,
95548774.
AN 
two bedrooms + majlis +
ELFAYED for sedative
medium sitting room +
and get an extra free the following:
Hiring luxurious
day.
coaches, arranging
Rent for one month
and get 5 days free.
weekly trips,
preparing visas
All the cars are 2016 for expats at
brand new special prices cost-effective
for public departments, price, including
transport, housing,
companies and long-
meals and visits to
term contracts. shrine locations.
972494490. Land and air
trips weekly.
99311310,
Al Shorooq Car Rent 24566016,
location opposite to 99361982,
99707248,
Al Nahda Hospital.
90777858.
99222617.
For Rent
TWO new apartment for SEMI furnished 2 & 3
BHK flats at Bausher
rent in Al Qurum near
near Atlas Hospital.
99348493/ 93200424/
94664635, 95850345.
24502254.
floor house behind
A FLAT in North Al Hail
German University of
TECHNOLOGY in Halban consists of 4 bedrooms
with toilets for each,
is offered for rent.
sitting room and kitchen.
The house contains 4 99700908.
a kitchen and 3 toilets.
91239119.
NEW apartment in Ruwi
near church consists of 2
rooms with its facilities.
Contact. 94664635,
investment in Salalah
RO 10.900 only ),

for rent/ Al
All Cartridges also Khuwair)
(Flats for rent/
available Wadi Kabir).
on UNBEATABLE prices 
AII HP, Epson, Canon,
Lexmark, Samsung
Cartridges also available
COMPUTER SUPPLIES
Ruwi: 24792-792
comsuply@omantel.net.om
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
For Rent
FREE
A FLAT in South Al
Maabela consists of 3 INFORMATION
bedrooms with toilets
for each room + sitting ABOUT ISLAM
room and kitchen with
air-condition. The flat is
If you would like
to know more
near a public water
source and in excellent about
location. 99700408.
Islam, please
call:
SHOWROOM in Al Tel : 99425598,
Khoudh Market for rent. For Rent For Rent 99250777,
94887300. 99353988,
FLATS for rent in Al VILLA for rent in North
99253818,
Khuwair, Al Hail, Wadi Al Hail consists of 4
99341395,
Kabir, Al Falaj, MBD and bedrooms with toilets
al Alam near Brazilian
Embassy 24704994,
99238012.
A HOUSE in Al Maabela
near NESTO (ground
 FLATS in Al Wadi Al
sitting room + kitchen
+ toilet for each room.
99700908.
NEW building in
Maabela Industrial
Area available for
rent. Corner location
for showroom,
hypermarket or bank.
 rent near Mina al Fahal
 consists of 5 bedrooms, 2
99323030
yard. Monthly rent RO
2 FLOOR house at Al
Hail North. Each floor: 3
bedrooms, 3 bathrooms,
kitchen, store, 1 sitting
room. 92133551,
95067585
and family living room.
A PREMISE consists
of a 2-storey villa, 5
rooms, 2 majlis and
2 apartments. Each

majlis in South Al
Maabela. Priority
is for companies.
99420140.
A FAMILY 
Amerat: Two bedrooms
+ majlis + sitting
room + two toilets
 99842992. 10 am - 6
99329949.
95850345. and for each room + majlis. 99379133,
two toilets and kitchen, introduces the best price Muttrah. 99119699/
close to North Al Ghubrah  95250300/ 24813002. 99760908 For ladies:
and utilities, for rent: Maabela consists of 3
Health Centre is offered 99415818,
for rent at RO 330.  FLATS for rent in Salalah bedrooms, sitting room
daily, monthly and yearly. European design, farm 99321360, 99730723
95548774. and toilets for each room 1BHK & 2 BHK flats for 2-STOREY villa in South
98035135/ 96177304/ view, good situation in Or visit:
the centre near the sea, + sitting room and kitchen rent at Ruwi and Al Al Maabela consists of
91788999. majlis, 4 bedrooms with
92181524 close to water source. Khoudh. 93994402, www.iicoman.om
99700908. 93994403, 24834644. toilets for each + 2 sitting
Kabeer near to the
WhatsApp. www.islamfact.com
rooms and kitchen,
Al Kuwaiti Mosque. FLAT for rent in Al located near a public
99425958. Mawaleh South. 3 water source. Contact
bedroom + 3 toilets + 1 999700908 FURNISHED 
family hall + 1 kitchen.
Grand Mall Muscat.
SHOP in Seeb market. Monthly rent RO 270,
95250300/ 99110600/ for family only. Contact. 93204595/
2 BEDROOM flat in Al
24182000. 99882551. Ghubra near Oman Oil 18 93203481.
November Street, RO 330
monthly. 99333479 or
LUXURIOUS villa for NEW villa in Al Khoudh 6 95215360.
is offered for rent. The SINGLE
premise comprises 6 Al Khuwair and Al
living rooms, 3 kitchens, 7 bedrooms, male majlis,
bathrooms, laundry room, Ghubra, family only.
female majlis, a split unit 2 BEDROOMS with
toilets, one sitting room 92967853.
1,500 + guarantee cheque. air-conditioned family
living room and 8 toilets. with toilet. Contact.
Contact. 94664635,
99668686. 993803465.
95850345. FULLY maintained, 4
bedrooms with toilets in
A COFFEE shop with all FLATS for rent near
VILLA in Al Mawaleh (5), every room, family hall,
5 rooms + toilets + majlis equipment in South Al Diwan Zafraniya area end kitchen and covered
Hail near Hail Al Awamir of Muttrah Corniche close
92880977. School. 99469900. to (Muscat Shiva Temple), parking in Al Hail north
family, bachelor. Contact RO 230 negotiable.
99083071, 99323015.
99316900.
1) 2 bedrooms, 2 AN apartment consists
bathroom, kitchen, living
of two bedrooms, two
room, store with split unit toilets, a kitchen and a 4 BEDROOM villa at
Air conditioner in Ruwi 
living room is offered Darsait near to Ministry Madinat Qaboos, RO
Rex road. 2) Basement for rent in Sidab.
580 square metre (new of Sports, Mumtaz area. 1000.000. One bedroom
99455397, 99181929. 
building). Contact. 
99833369. living room, 2 bedroom,
kitchen, 3 toilets. Every LULU RO 200/RO 225
ONE  rooms with split AC and 
FULLY furnished 2 BR Al Hail and 2km from  at Ruwi with AC and
apartment in Al Khuwair Wave Muscat, contains 4 
bedrooms, living room, a 320/-. Interested parties 2 toilets RO 275. Opp
33 with private entrance.
kitchen and 2 toilets, RO please contact 00968- police station, Ruwi.
pm 300. 99077722. 92225523. 24790449.
Saada al Rashdi: 95919344
94501166
CLASSIFIED SECTION: Ali al Maashari: 99639264 ali.almashari@omandaily.om
Mohammed al Rashdi: 99841230 m.alrahdi86@yahoo.com DIRECT: 24649595 FAX : 24649590
classieds
Situation Vacant
URGENTLY required
experienced MEP Engineers
and Estimators. Contact
95229608, 93214092 or
gulfemaar@gmail.com
URGENTLY required
experienced Home Nurse
classieds OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7 19
Situation Vacant Services For Rent
1. AC maintenance and FLAT in Wattayah,
OMANI company seeks servicing.
URGENTLY required behind Honda
packing staff male/female Natural Cosmetics Maker 2. Fridge, washing
(experience in making machine and dish washer Showroom, consists of
experienced in gift wrapping,
box making, etc. Please call natural soap, liquid soap, repairing. 2 bedrooms, 2 toilets,
shampoo, body lotion a hall and kitchen with
99336196 3. Painting and cleaning
and hand cream. tasweeq.
business@gmail.com services. 4. Electrical, balcony. 99428161.
plumbing and carpentry
work 97014234,

Buraimi requires staff, IATA 99447257, 24504281.
OMANI public relation
(part-time) for an Omani
family in Muscat area.
Contact. 24708602.
Contact 95311112.
REQUIRED Dental
Nurse, General Nurse,
Female X-ray Technician.
24540056, e-mail:
alexcenter@live.com
Submit your CV to dapco@
REQUIRED job vacancies for
Goharat Al-Sharqiya Medical
Center. t Dermatologist
with an experience in
using laser. t Internal
Medicine Physician.
0096892637808, email:
east.medical.jewel.comp@
gmail.com
REQUIRED Marketing/
URGENTLY required
Building Technician.
  
manager/ marketing
ticketing and knowing how 
to make tourist packages. manager required for an
offered for rent. The 1st
  AL SUMRI AC 
job. Omani citizens with maintenance. We are
sitting room and kitchen.
 ready to repair and
A REPUTABLE real estate 
or marketing experience install all types of
and construction company rooms. Total building area;
only need to apply with Air-Conditioner within
looking for an experienced Muscat Governorate. 115sq.m. 92890630.
Civil Project Engineer. English CV and photo to:
94301888.
arabhealth@alhakkim.com WITH attached bath,
dapcooman.com kitchen, A/C, opposite
GENERAL Nurse Zakar Mall. 98041133,
MAINTENANCE: 1. AC
WANTED Salesman, 24540056, e-mail: Maintenance & Servicing; 91537907.
Merchandiser, minimum alexcenter@live.com 2. Fridge, Washing Machine
experience 3 years with & Dish washer repairing; 3. IN Wattayah villa for
driving licence. Call Painting & cleaning services; rent, 3 bedroom, one
99440252. A NEW medical complex in 4. Electrical & Plumbing sitting room, large garage.
Izki required medical staff: Carpentry work. Contact:
99071071.
99447257, 97014234,
- 2 General doctors. 24504281.
PR Manager for a modern - 1 Specialist obstetrician Situation Wanted Situation Wanted NEW 
restaurant group in Oman. and gynaecologist. WE offer you the Business Darsait, 5 rooms, hall
98111363.
Photoshop. Charismatic,
REQUIRED for reputed
club. Electrician cum
Setup Coordinator. Job
requirements: Skilled
electrician able to do
electrical works and
coordination with events
organizers. Candidates with

experience, please email to:
oceanint@omantel.net.om
following specialities:
URGENTLY required
electrician with electrical
licence (DCRP). Omani
or expatriate (3 years
 93553245.

Proactive, creative and
 - 1 Dermatologist.
editing skills. Degree
in relevant area. Fluent
in English. Send CV to
marketingpr2016@gmail.com
PRIVATE medical centre
in Mudhaibi requires
females physicians in the
REQUIRED Sales Executive
Obstetrics and gynaecology
1, Dermatologists &
Cosmetologist 1, Dentist
1, Pharmacist 1, Nurses 3
satisfy the above require-
- 2 Paediatrician and
specialist.
- 1 Spec phys
otorhinolaryngology.
- 2 X-Ray technicians.
- 2 LAB technicians.
- 2 Pharmacists.
94359172.
priyakthomas@gmail.
com
IT Solution, minimum 2

English and Hindi with valid
Omani driving licence. If you
(Chartered Accountant,
LOOKING for suitable
placement, Indian
female, Master in
computer application
with 11 years of
experience in data
warehousing, Teradata
and date modelling
with top management of
looking for suitable
leading companies in Oman,
placement in Muscat.
91192543. E-mail:
FINANCIAL Controller
looking for Accounts/
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
SUITABLY qualified high
profile Executive Secretary
(male, Indian), having more
than 20 years of experience
rufaid09@gmail.com
lookig for placement.
Contact (95962269
INDIAN, male MBA
Finacne, 35 years
 active directory mails and
experience in India,
Oracle programs. Salalah
Services: Maintenance of
buildings and villas for paint
INDIAN Male, fresh
Mechanical Engineer
looking for job in
mechanical field, special
interest in QA, QC and
NDT on visit visa.
93487822, e-mail:
INFORMATION technology
works, LLC registration,
engineer looking for work
in company has experience
in servers networks pop3,
with A/C, 4 bathrooms,
balcony, overlooking the
and carpentry and decoration
works and installation of
sea, RO 550 per month.
99315986.
material water proof and
cleaning services building
management and leasing DELUXE villa M/Sultan
of real estate (Out motto is Qaboos Road. Flats,
to provide quality in all our 

MBD & Walja, Ruwi.
Development and Investment.
97167846/24815404.
99070093.
PROVIDES all kinds of legal TWO 
attached with hall, kitchen
agreements, contracts. Takes
and guest toilet. Near Mars
all kinds of cases of companies.
Hyper Market, Al Ghubrah.
97351649.
92902313.
ONE 
99337587, 99043127,
99348493.
teacher required for primary
HIGH Pressure Trading

for Accounts Clerk and
PRO with one or two years
experience in Sohar kindly
send your CV with expected

THE White Pearl Enterprises
urgently need experienced
beautician lady & henna
artist for a beauty salon in
Bausher. They should be
honest and hardworking.
Limas Beauty Centre. If
you are interested, please
99350707 or 99250707.
WANTED expat with at least
a diploma in accounting
 with at least
3 years of experience in
a construction company
working in GCC. To apply
email your CV to: abdullah.
alhinai86@gmail.com
URGENTLY required
Expatriate Heavy Duty
Drivers, JCB Operators
with valid Omani licence.
Send your CV to gdsoman@
gdsoman.com. Contact:
99890076, 93894018,
Fax: 24590866.
FEMALE Maths and Science
level in a private school, with
minimum 3 years experience
and inlets. Contact
99353961.

ments please e-mail your
Muscat, looking for
CV along with your scanned suitable change. Oman
 driving licence & NOC Contact. 98104991.
available. 97728130
E-mail:
wadhifa@gmail.com before vinoth77ca@gmail.com
October 1, 2016.
INDIAN male, having 13
years IT management
experience in Muscat with
skills on Oracle, Database,
Oracle Forms/Reports,
ERP Administration,
E-Commerce, E-learning,
VMWARE & Desktop
Virtualization, seeks
suitable work opportunity
in Muscat. E-mail:
upendrav2003@gmail.com
+968 94672201.
M Com in Accounting and
INFORMATION Technology
Engineer looking for work
in company has experience
in servers networks pop3,
active director mails, and
Oracle programs. Salalah
95940103
B TECH Civil Engineer
with 5+ years experience.
Having valid D/L. Contact
93850440. E-mail:
shahadat003@gmail.com
REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY FOR A REPUTED
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING COMPANY
1. Project Manager: B.E. or BTech in Electronics and
Telecommunication Engineering having experience in Fiber
95940103.

related jobs. Currently in
Muscat on Family visa.
INDIAN male, diploma in
BA economics, PG diploma
sureshkrol@gmail.com
in logistics & shipping,
ASLAM Shareef V, Indian
looking for an accounts


Corporate Accounts, have
two years experience.
Languages known: English
and Tamil. 99379287,
e-mail: aslamshareef61@
gmail.com.
PAKISTANI, male, 25 years,
Finance. 1 year experience
in accounts and billing
valid. Experience in
softwares like Tally ERP9,
Quick Book and Peachtree.
Looking for suitable
placment. Presently
on visit visa. Contact
0096897249603,
e-mail:
years in Oman, looking
Indian School Darsait.
For Sale 
kitchen and 2 toilets near
Indian School Darsait.
SHOP FOR SALE 92902313.
Tiles & sanitary wares
looking for suitable showroom, Rustaq FLAT for rent. 4
Sanaiya (before Jabreen
opening in shipping & Bedrooms, hall with 3
logistics 96211447, 97844477,
baths, kitchen + 2 balcony.
97844474.
Al Khuwair, near Rawasco.
E-mail: bensakkariya@
92902313.
gmail.com
DIESEL Tanker, 1,600
SPACIOUS 
gallon Volvo, 1987. Khuwair 25. 3 bedrooms,
31 YEARS experience
92836774. sitting and dining room,
in ERP, Database
Administration, IT dept family lounge, kitchen and
management systems store, three toilets. Family
only. 99207840.
analysis, looking for job. WE have tourism, residential,
commercial lands and farms
92723818 existing in large areas in

Muscat and Barka and over Maabella, 4 bedrooms, 4
looking directly on the beach.
INDIAN Project Engineer We also have rented and
toilets, UPVC Windows,
LED lights 95739000.
 non-rented buildings with

experience in building 94380002.
construction, 4 years in
Oman, looking for suitable
change. Oman driving RESTAURANT in an excellent
Guest House
location in Salalah with
licence & NOC available.
equipment and workers.
Contact 99871853, 93397812.
QURUM Beach
vev300@gmail.com Hotel24564070.
BEAUTY Salon, Maabela
INDIAN Accountant, total South. 96232236.
8 years experience in Property Wanted
construction company, 5 HEIDELBERG GTO single
colour, 36cm x 52cm & REQUIRED Industrial Land
Sorm Machine, single colour, measuring 3,000 sqmt at
for suitable change. 52cm x 74cm.99369880/ Misfah Industrial Area.
NOC available. Contact
97603259,
92857355. Interested sellers please
contact 98571309 or mail
sanojkalarickal@gmail. WE supply quantities of
the details to
icebergconsultancyoman@
com excellent mountainous soil gmail.com
in Bausher (suitable for

Optic cables and GSM tower works with minimum experience of  99242445, 99327939.
    10 to 15 years. PDO experience also preferred. total 15 years experience,
   
2. Senior Electrical Engineer: B.E. or BTech having experience
5 years in Oman, seeks   Land for Investment
in 11KV & 33KV overhead line & underground cable works with behind GUtech is offered

   minimum experience of 10 to 15 years experience and CEP placement. 90818100
for sale. The land enjoys a AN agricultural land,
   from any of the regional electricity companies in Oman. Persons anuybinoy4@gmail.com permit for twin-villa. 5,410 sqm, in Wilayat
  
 having PDO experience will be preferred.  A LAND is for sale in Samayil, Hasas area is
3. Electrical Engineer: Diploma in electrical engineering with Al Maabela 8 owner.
    95959166.
advertised for investment.
experience in 11KV & 33KV overhead line & underground cable
   works. Persons having CEP from any of the regional Electricity Lost
99450960.

Companies in Oman will be preferred. FOR sale: Extravagant
4. Electrician: Technical Training Certicate wih experience in SAROJAINI Gadi has and furnished residences
For information, please call: panel works and electro mechanical works with experience in lost Indian passport No for female students in Al Announcement
cable joining works. K-7117759. Finder please Khuwair, Al Mawaleh and Al
99841230-95919344 handover to ROP. Khoudh along with all assets.
5. Lineman: Technical Training Certicate with experience in
92721879 - 99639264 11KV & 33KV overhead lines. 99001332. LOOKING for investor
or partner for an
Tel: 24649597, Fax: 24649590 All the candidates (from 3-5) should have minimum 7 to 10 years Established Media
experience. Experience of Oman/Gulf and GCC driving licence will WAHEED Ahmad has lost A SHOWROOM in Al Qurum advertising publishing
BankMuscat account: 0397003776610011 be an added advantage. Indian passport No YP- in strategic location with
company, 5 visa available.
Interested candidates call on 91370133 or 1160131. Finder please extravagant interior design
Bank Dhofar account: 01040141195001 on 280 sqm is offered for sale
Contact: 93946622/
mail to: ots07@omantel.net.om handover to ROP. 98881335.
E-mail: a.almashari@omandaily.om at RO 25,000. 92470024.


international
business
20 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
Bentley Bentayga SUV 2016 has a master tackle station, a refreshment case, and waterproof stowage trunk.
STEFAN WEISSENBORN
R
orty engine sounds from the
cigarette lighter socket and a
luxury picnic hamper which costs
as much as a small SUV: The
world of car accessories is weird,
wonderful and in some cases
downright dangerous.
So what can you buy for your car? The choice is
often very personal.
A portable powerbank, useful to jump-start a car
with a flat battery when no help is in sight if nice to
have if you often park your car for days and forget
the sidelights are on.
The fake burbling sound of a V8 engine is not
quite as essential. You plug it into the cigarette
lighter and tiny FM transmitters send the music of a
mighty engine to the cars stereo loudspeakers.
It can turn a humble hatchback into a fire
breather at least in acoustic terms. The effect
is bound to startle friends and sounds amazing at
high speeds, but requires a good stereo to sound
convincing.
Arguably less essential are hair dryers which
use the cigarette lighter socket to get their power.
Billed as a convenient lifestyle boon, the dryer risks
blowing the lighter fuses.
As a rule nothing more powerful than 100 watts
should be run from the battery and then for only 10
minutes at a time, say experts.
A food tray that hooks onto the steering wheel
may seem like a good idea and these can ordered
from several suppliers via the Internet.
The opulent Bentley Bentayga SUV offers the ideal extra for a tailgate lunch a sumptuous picnic hamper.
HAIR DRYERS AND HAMPERS
the weird and wonderful world of car extras
Naturally it should only be They include motorized lunch coffee, a cappuccino or a macchiato with no need to
used when the car is stationary, tables. get out of the car.
as gadget tester Thomas Schuster Accessories offered The opulent Bentley For drivers who do not want an air refresher
from the Kues type approval by the car companies Bentayga SUV offers the ideal dangling from the rear-view mirror on a string, there
organisation points out. themselves are extra for a tailgate lunch a are fragrance dispensers which pump perfume into
In theory any add-on which is sumptuous picnic hamper. It the cockpit. They too plug into the lighter socket.
not attached to something inside
generally the better fits snugly into the boot of the The rear massage seats featured in the luxurious
the car can be hazardous, said buy, since they have new off-roader and costs just Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousine can be bought
Arnulf Thiemel, a technology been properly tried 24,990 euros. aftermarket. Aftermarket models also use electric
expert who works for the ADAC and tested. The quality The set contains fine Linley motors to operate panels which soothe away back
car club. china crockery, silver cutlery pains and create that spa feeling in the back of the
Even novelty nodding dogs is reflected in the and crystal glass. It includes car.
or umbrellas on the rear parcel higher price. an illuminated cooling In some countries strict laws govern what extras
shelf can fly around the cockpit compartment to ensure that may be installed in cars.
and injure an occupant if a driver drinks are served chilled. Dry In any case it is worth ensuring that picnic trays
needs to brake hard or take foods and a cashmere rug and accessories attached to seats do not prevent side
avoiding action. ensure a cosy al fresco lunch in airbags from inflating properly, said the German
Accessories offered by the car companies the countryside. expert.
themselves are generally the better buy, since they The Rolls-Royce version is even more expensive. Plastic smartphone holders which can be
have been properly tried and tested. The quality is Volkswagen will sell owners a more mundane clamped to the steering wheel are dangerous. If an
reflected in the higher price. insulated storage box for a fraction of the price, airbag in the steering wheel inflates in an emergency,
Some of the most exclusive car accessories on while for coffee fans there is a compact, portable the telephone holder gets pressed into the drivers
the market come from British luxury automakers. coffee maker. It uses pads to brew either a long face. dpa
The Mercedez-Benz S-Class rear seat package adds a 43-degree recline to go with power calf- and footrests. Whether you
drive or are driven, the S-Class sedan is stupendously comfortable.
WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 1, 2017 | JUMADA AL ULA 4, 1438 AH
ECCLESTONE DISMISSES

sport
RIVAL SERIES RUMOURS
Former chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed
speculation that he might set up a rival series to Formula
One and said he would never want to undermine the
existing championship. Breaking a long silence, the follow us @observersportz
86-year-old Briton said he wished to clear up rumours that
spread after he was replaced at the helm by American www.omanobserver.om
Chase Carey on Monday. I have built the championship editor@omanobserver.om
over the last near 50 years, which is something I am proud
of, and the last thing I want is to see it damaged, he said.

NEW OOC BOARD TAKES CHARGE

The new board of Oman Olympic Committee.
PICTURES BY MOHAMMED MAHJOUB

Khalid al Zubair OOC chairman calls to standardise Sultanates

re-elected as sports system, produce more champions
Excerpts
from the
We are absolutely

OOC chairman
BOARD: Shaikh Saif al Hosni was elected
vice-chairman, Taha al Kishry is secretary
general and Khalid al Aadi is treasurer
HARIDEV PUSHPARAJ
MUSCAT, JAN 31
Oman Olympic Committee (OOC)
re-elected Shaikh Khalid bin
Mohammad al Zubair as chairman
for a four-year term after the
conclusion of its General Assembly
and board elections at the City
Seasons Hotel on Tuesday.
Shaikh Saif bin Hilal al Hosni
will be the vice-chairman, Taha
bin Sulaiman al Kishry will be the
secretary general and Khalid bin Ali
al Aadi will be the treasurer.
The board members will be Oman
Basketball Association chairman
Fareed bin Khamis al Zadjali,
Oman Football Association first
vice-chairman Mohsin bin Hamad
al Masroori, Oman Volleyball
Association chairman Sheikh Badr
bin Ali al Rawas and Saada bint
Salim al Ismailiyah, who will be
representative of Oman Womens
Sport Committee.
International Olympic
Committee (IOC) had nominated
Hussain al Musallam, Director-
General of Olympic Council of Asia
(OCA) to attend the event.
Oman Football Association
(OFA) chairman Shaikh Salim al
Wahaibi, who was present at the
General Assembly, wished the new
OOC board the very best.
It was fast and smooth (the
assembly and election). I would like
Shaikh Khalid al Zubair
to wish the new board all the best,
he said.
Shaikh Salim said Oman sport
will go forward irrespective of the
challenges it may face.
There might be obstacles
sometimes but we are working
hard along with the ministry and
other stakeholders. We will work
on a strategy and move forward,
the Oman Football Association
chairman added.
s p e e c h
of Oman
Olympic
Committee
chairman
Khalid bin
Mohammed
al Zubair
As we are exploring a new tenure
of the board of directors of Oman
Olympic Committee (OOC), it fills
me with great pleasure to express my
sincerest thanks and appreciation to
the members of the OOCs General
Assembly for the valuable trust and
mandate that they have vested on
the OOCs Board by recommending
election of the Board candidates.
This trend features a wider space
of understanding and culture of
partnership that is being experienced
within the Omani sports scene.
There is apparently a firm belief that
all have taken part in one form or
another in the process of development
that OOC is now undergoing. The
Communication and Interaction
Policy that the former board
pursued whether through its
supporting committees or through
consultation with and involvement
of all contributors in the functional
system of sport had created an
approach where all, both individuals
and organisations, feel that they are
partners in action and that they do
not need to just race for candidacy.
Under such circumstances, the
new OOCs Board realises the value
of responsibility bestowed upon it
by the General Assembly towards
conceptualising the objective of
developing an efficient operational
sports system.
The trend is now about
strengthening the trust accorded to
us by the General Assembly.
Dear members of the General
Assembly and guests,
Our previous experience in the
management of OOCs affairs has
made our mission statement more
ambitious and clearer. Hence, as a
new Board entrusted with the task
of leading the upcoming stage, we
must say with more clarity and
transparency that our objective is not
only to continue for another term.
Rather, that desire stemmed from our
conviction that our continuation for
further term of office must go in line
with our ability to achieve consistence
and accord with all the concerned
parties on a specific vision, our aim
being to build an effective national
plan for promotion and development
of sports.
We are absolutely certain that
we do possess the managerial
competences, technical talents and
interested organisations to achieve
the desirable fundamental goals in
the area of our activity. However,
much remains to be done and such
aspirations cannot be attained unless
we work together in an organised
and concerted fashion in consistence
with a solid system that is capable
of accomodating all the parties
concerned with the cause of sport in
our country, including employees of
Oman Olympic Committee, Ministry
certain that we do
possess the manage-
rial competences,
technical talents and
interested organisa-
tions to achieve the
desirable funda-
mental goals in the
area of our activity
of Sports Affairs, sports associations
and committees and school sports
association.
We should also take advantage of
the experiences of retired individuals.
It is through this setting that we
can effectively develop sports and
Olympic movement in Oman. With
this in mind, our immediate and
pressing requirement is to put in place
an effective national plan with the
participation of all parties concerned
with propagation, development and
growth of sport. For this specific
reason, we must have to work jointly
in an integrated manner with a view
to building and making champions
in various Olympic sports.
Persuaded that there are diverse
challenges to what we would like to
achieve, we are trustful that all of
you, the new Board, each and every
member of the General Assembly
and all related sectors are capable of
mitigating and positively reversing
the impact of such challenges. The
eventual result of this endeavour
must be to standardise Omans
sports system, identify priorities,
consolidate the values of partnership
and cooperation and consolidate the
spirit of team-work with everyone
playing their role as required in this
essential process.
athletics
sport
22 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
Russian whistleblower and
runner Yulia Stepanova
competes as a neutral
athlete in the 800 metre
race at the Boston Indoor
Grand Prix in Boston on
Saturday. Reuters
DENIAL MODE
Coe denies
misleading doping
committee
LONDON: The head of world athletics Sebastian
Coe has denied that he misled a British Parliamentary
committee investigating doping in sport when he
appeared before it last December.
Central to Coes evidence was his insistence that
he did not know the specific detail of an email sent to
him by former London Marathon race director David
Bedford, which Coe says he sent to the IAAF Ethics
Commission without opening the attachments.
Bedford told the Parliamentary Committee this
month that he was surprised to hear that Coe had not
read the attachments of the 2014 mail and committee
chairman Damian Collins said Bedfords evidence had
raised questions over the timing and extent of Lord
Coes knowledge of these allegations.
A mail sent by Coe to Michael Beloff, head of the
Ethics Committee, and released by the Parliamentary
Committee on Wednesday, suggested the IAAF
President was aware of the detail of the allegations.
Coes mail to Beloff referred to the receipt
documentation of serious allegations being made by
and on behalf of the Russian female athlete (Liliya)
Shobukhova from David Bedford.
The purpose of this note is of course to advise you
that I have now been made aware of the allegations,
Coe added. Coe, however, said he did not know the
specifics of Bedfords claim and explained why in
a four-page email to Collins this week which was
made public by the committee (www.parliament.uk/
documents/commons-committees/culture-media-
an d-sport/Correspondence/Lord-Coe-to-Chair-re-
David-Bedford-eviden ce-26-01-2017.pdf). I wish to
confirm that to the best of my recollection I was not
aware prior to December 2014 of the allegations that
Papa Massata Diack/others associated with the IAAF
were involved in covering up Russian doping, Coe,
who was an IAAF vice-president at the time before
being elected president in 2015, wrote. Reuters
Sebastian Coe
WHISTLEBLOWER DOUBTS
Russian attitude changed
BOSTON: The woman who helped years Rio Olympics.
blow the whistle on Russian doping Revelations by Although Russia has made changes in their athletics and
doubts her countrys attitude toward anti-doping programmes and officials continue to deny
performance-enhancing drugs has
Stepanova and state-sponsored doping, the athletics ban remains in effect.
changed fundamentally in the three years husband Vitaly So does Russian hatred toward the couple, who now live
since she and her husband exposed the to anti-doping in an undisclosed location in the United State after having
massive problem. officials and their lives threatened and called traitors.
It will be hard to change because you need Here in the States I feel safe because I know I am
to change the mentality, Yulia Stepanova said
German media in physically very far from Russia, Stepanova said.
through a translator on Saturday minutes 2014 helped expose I thought the attitude in Russia (toward the couple)
after finishing last in an 800 metres at the major doping would change, she said.
Boston Indoor Grand Prix in her first That I was trying to help the sport, that I was trying to
international indoor competition in
problems in Russia help the athletes, but unfortunately that is still not the case.
two years. Even international athletes are not always friendly.
A lot of coaches in Russia were They always say hello but I know a lot of athletes at the
athletes themselves, and they were coached in the USSR top level are against me and sometimes I can see it in their eyes, Stepanova
system, the convicted drugs said.
cheat said. Its hard for them to She was never a factor in Saturdays race, finishing in two minutes, 5.14
believe that theres another seconds, more than three seconds behind American winner Charlene Lipsey.
way to do it. But the 800 metres specialist said she was not disappointed with the
Revelations by showing. Her main goal was not to fall too far behind, she said.
Stepanova and The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) cleared
husband Vitaly to her return to competition as a neutral athlete last year after serving a doping
anti-doping officials suspension but her European Championships appearance in Amsterdam
and German media ended with a torn tendon.
in 2014 helped expose She hopes this outdoor season will be more fruitful, climaxing with racing
major doping problems in Augusts IAAF world championships in London as a neutral athlete.
in Russia that led to the She also believes she can again run 800 metres in less than two minutes.
countrys athletics team being When I was running in Russia, everyone was saying it was impossible to
banned from international do without doping, Stepanova said. I want to prove that wrong.
competition, including last Reuters
Olympic champs Centrowitz, Stefanidi win in Boston
Matthew Centrowitz
Ekaterini Stefanidi
NEW YORK: Reigning Olympic back out there racing, Centrowitz said. I in his favor. Obiri, the 2012 world indoor
1,500-metre champion Matthew Centrowitz was pretty happy. Could have gone a little 3,000m crown, won the womens 3,000 in
of the United States and Rio womens pole bit quicker. I was feeling it out until I made Centrowitz, also 8:39.08 with Dutch reigning world 1,500m
vault gold medalist Ekaterini Stefanidi of my move. Stefanidi cleared 4.63m to win reigning world indoor indoor champion Sifan Hassan second, 1.91
Greece were among Saturdays winners at but an expected battle with 2012 Olympic seconds back.
the Boston Indoor Grand Prix athletics champion Jenn Suhr never materialised
champion, won Chelimo won the mens 3,000 in 7:42.39,
meet. after the American took one failed attempt at the mile in 3:55.78, edging Britains Andrew Butchart, sixth in
British sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, 4.53m and withdrew with muscle tightness. edging Kenyas the Rio 5,000 final, by .58 of a second.
Australian long jumper Fabrice Lapierre Aikines-Aryeetey, third at 100m in the Training has been great. Now its all
Vincent Kibet
and Rio 5,000m runners-up Hellen Obiri 2014 European Championships, edged about confidence, Chelimo said. Ive got
of Kenya and Paul Chelimo of the United Chinas Xie Zhenye at the tape to win the by .31 of a second the confidence. Im ready now. Im learning
States were also winners at the first event in mens 60 metres, his time of 6.654 seconds every day. Its great.
the five-city IAAF World Indoor Tour. taking the victory by .003 of a second. GARDNER STUMBLES BUT WINS
Centrowitz, also reigning world indoor I just kept pushing to the line, said English Gardner, on the US gold medal
champion, won the mile in 3:55.78, edging Aikines-Aryeetey. Im a strong guy, lot of former Commonwealth Games and world 4x100 relay at Rio, won the 60 in 7.17
Kenyas Vincent Kibet by .31 of a second. muscles. I just thought, Ive got to keep indoor champion, was level with Swede seconds, edging compatriot Dezerea Bryant
Definitely enjoyed my off-season a little going to the finish. Michel Torneus at 7.80m but Lapierres by .02 in her lone planned indoor start of
bit more after the Olympics but happy to get Lapierre, a 33-year-old Mauritian-born second-best effort of 7.75 broke the deadlock the season. AFP
Two-hour marathon not possible, says Cheruiyot
ELDORET, Kenya: Running a The world record can be Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba third.
Vivian Cheruiyot
marathon in under two hours broken... Kipchoge can do it. The Olympics need meticulous
is not possible, Kenyas Olympic time can still come down from planning, knowing the advanced
5,000 and world 10,000 champion the current (2:02:57), but 1:59:59 level of competition. She (Aprot)
Vivian Cheruiyot has said in is setting the bar too high. They declined (our plan) and we did
response to an initiative by could have set it below the current not run as a team, Cheruiyot said.
sportswear manufacturer Nike to world record, she said. She is now focused preparing
achieve that feat. Running a marathon in under for the London Marathon on April
Nike has enlisted Kenyas two hours is impossible. It doesnt 23 and will run another marathon
Olympic marathon champion look real. They should have set in September.
Eliud Kipchoge, Ethiopian Lelisa the bar at slightly under (Dennis) I want to run well in London
Desisa Bekele and Eritrean Kimettos 2:02:57, she said. and I am feeling no pressure,
Zersenay Tadesse in a bid to break Cheruiyot, who won two despite the strong line-up.
the two-hour mark this year. gold medals at the 2011 world Mary (Keitany) and (defending
I have no problem with the championships in Daegu, South She said she would have won leaving Cheruiyot and Betsy Saina champion) Jemimah (Sumgong)
project, but I am very sceptical Korea, took time off to have a the 10,000m as well if her team on their own. Ethiopias Almaz are there, but because I have not
about it, Cheruiyot, 33, said baby before returning to claim the mates had co-operated, suggesting Ayana won in a world record competed with them and I have
during a break in training for the Olympic 5,000m title in Rio last that Alice Aprot blundered by time of 29 minutes 17.45 seconds. not run the marathon, I dont feel
London Marathon. year. running too fast too early and Cheruiyot was second and any anxiety, she said. Reuters

BANCE, BURKINA FASOS GLOBE-TROTTING GOAL-GETTER
LIBREVILLE: With his giant
frame and his instantly recognisable
hairstyle, it is hard to miss Aristide
Bance, the man who fired Burkina
Faso into the semifinals of the Africa
Cup of Nations.
And yet it has been a case of blink
and you might miss him when it
comes to his club career, which has
seen the 32-year-old turn out for sides
in a dozen different countries.
The player who came off the bench
in Saturdays quarterfinal in Libreville
against Tunisia and fired his side into a
last-four tie against Egypt is a veritable
globe-trotter.
In fact even he has lost count of the
number of clubs he has played for, but
a glance at his CV shows spells in the
Ivory Coast, Latvia, Germany, Dubai,
Ukraine and Kazakhstan, among
BACK IN ACTION
Fernandinho return
can fortify City
LONDON: Kevin De Bruyne
believes Fernandinhos return
from suspension will provide the
foundation for Manchester City to
get their spluttering Premier League
campaign back on track at West Ham
on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiolas side have dropped
out of the top four and trail leaders
Chelsea by 12 points after winning
just one of their last four league
games.
Guardiola wrote off Citys titles
hopes during that unexpected slump,
but a comfortable 3-0 victory at Crystal
Palace in the FA Cup fourth round on
Saturday was a much needed tonic
and De Bruyne anticipates the return
of Brazil midfielder Fernandinho will
be even more significant.
Fernandinho has served a four-
match ban after receiving his third
red card in six games in a win against
Burnley on January 2.
During Fernandinhos absence,
City looked alarmingly vulnerable
and were thrashed 4-0 at Everton in
Guardiolas heaviest league defeat as a
manager.
But the 31-year-old is expected
to return to the starting line-up
at the London Stadium, with De
Ulloa issues strike threat on quiet start to deadline day
LONDON: Traditionally renowned
for frantic activity among Premier
League clubs, the most notable
incident in the early hours of Tuesdays
transfer deadline day was Leicester
striker Leonardo Ulloas strike threat.
The Argentina forward issued the
dramatic warning in a bid to force a
move from the defending champions.
Bottom-of-the-table Sunderland
are reported to have made a 7 million
($8.7 million, 8.1 million euros) bid
for the 30-year-old player.
But with Leicester themselves just
five points above the relegation zone,
the Foxes appear reluctant to sell to
one of their rivals in the struggle to
remain among English footballs elite.
Ulloa, also the target of reported
interest from Spanish side Alaves,
said he was threatening strike action
because Leicester manager Claudio
Ranieri had reneged on a promise
he could leave if the Midlands club
Burkina Fasos Aristide Bance (left), Cyrille Bayala and Patrick Malo (right) attend a
training session in Libreville on Tuesday. AFP
Bruyne predicting an upturn in Citys
fortunes.
Obviously weve missed him. De
Bruyne said. Hes been an important
player throughout his time at City.
He plays a pivotal role for us in
midfield and helps keep everything
organised, plus hes also very good on
the ball.
Now hes served his ban and is
available for us again, so its a big
boost for the team because hes missed
seven games this season through
suspension.
If you get a red card in England
youre banned for three or sometimes
four games which is unbelievable, but
theres not much you can do about it.
I think one game is enough but those
are the rules, I suppose.
I think Fernas one of the best
holding midfielders Ive ever played
with. We are very lucky to have him.
WINNING STREAK
Fifth placed City are two points
adrift of the top four and find
themselves in a battle just to secure
a Champions League spot after being
widely tipped as likely champions
following a blistering start to the
season.
AFP
Leonardo Ulloa
Weary Egypt seek another
seminal triumph at ANC
LIBREVILLE: Weariness will worry
Egypt as they seek to extend an
Africa Cup of Nations semifinals
winning streak to six matches by
beating Burkina Faso in Libreville on
Wednesday.
Surprise survivors Burkina
Faso overcame Tunisia in the first
quarterfinal last Saturday evening,
more than 24 hours before
Egypt edged Morocco in
the last.
Many pundits believe
this could give the west
Africans an advantage at
Stade de lAmitie in the
Gabonese capital, especially
if the match went to extra
time.
Argentina-born Egypt coach
Hector Cuper admitted he was
concerned about the shorter recovery
time his team have compared to
Burkina Faso.
It is not an ideal situation, but we
have no choice but to adapt, said the
greying 61-year-old former Valencia
and Inter Millan manager.
The players will be given time to
rehabilitate and hopefully they will be
ready come Wednesday night.
A calf injury rules out Arsenal
midfielder Mohamed Elneny and
striker Marwan Mohsen is a doubtful
starter owing to a knee problem.
Despite the disadvantages, record
seven-time African champions
Egypt will be expected to continue a
remarkably successful semifinals run
spanning 31 years.
The Pharaohs eliminated Morocco
(1986), Burkina Faso (1998), Senegal
(2006), the Ivory Coast (2008) and
Algeria (2010) to reach finals, all of
which they won.
Egypt have reserved some of their
finest performances for the last-four
stage, thrashing Didier Drogba-led
Ivory Coast 4-1 in Ghana and Algeria
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
Aristide Bance. AFP
others.
Twelve clubs, something like that.
I have travelled a bit. I have a lot of
Moroccos Manuel Da Costa (right) challenges Egypts Ahmed Fathi during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal in Port-
Gentil on Sunday. AFP
4-0 in Angola.
A wide winning margin against
the Burkinabe Stallions is unlikely,
however, as Egypt have clawed rather
than cruised past opponents in Gabon.
Following a 0-0 draw with Mali,
they achieved three consecutive
1-0 victories against Uganda, 2015
runners-up Ghana and Herve Renard-
coached Morocco.
ROCK SOLID DEFENCE
While scoring only three goals
an average of one every 120 minutes
must trouble Cuper, his team are
the only one not to concede a goal in
this tournament. Much credit for that
goes to goalkeeper Essam El Hadary,
who turned 44 this month and became
the oldest footballer to play at a Cup of
Nations.
football
sport
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
experience, the man with the blonde
mohawk said.
In fact it is more like 20 clubs in
12 different countries for a player
who was born in the Ivory Coast and
moved to Ouagadougou in 2002, at the
height of the Ivorian civil war.
It was, he admitted recently, a move
made to protect our lives.
After several months spent at local
club Santos, Bance took off for Europe,
joining Lokeren in Belgium, the first
on a whistle-stop footballing tour of
the world. There are some countries
where I didnt have much luck. When
I went to Dubai, at the beginning
everything went well, he said.
After four months I started to have
problems with my pay. When a club
stops paying you, its a way of saying
you are no longer in the coachs plans,
Despite some
disadvantages, record
ANC champions
Egypt will be
expected to continue
a remarkable
successful semifinals
run spanning 31
years
He is first on to the training field
and the last to leave, said Cuper in
admiration of an Egyptian chasing a
fifth Cup of Nations winners medal.
received an offer of 4-5 million for
him.
With all respect for LCFC FANS. I
feel betrayed by Ranieri and let down
by the club. I will not play again for
them, Ulloa tweeted.
Ulloa is unhappy after starting just
once in the Premier League this season
and he has not been offered a new deal
after helping the Foxes win the title last
season. He later told Sky Sports News:
I cant understand the situation or
why they dont let me continue playing
my football somewhere else. If I stay at
the club its going to affect seriously my
career and my future. The best thing
for both parties is that they sell me to
another club.
Meanwhile there were suggestions
Premier League champions Chelsea
would try to sign the Celtic duo
of forward Moussa Dembele and
goalkeeper Craig Gordone.
But the Scottish champions are
23
so I had real problems there.
I went to Finland (HJK Helsinki)
to play in the Europa League, and in
Latvia they were very professional too.
I got paid there. I was already used
to the cold after a spell in Ukraine,
added Bance, who retains particularly
happy memories of his time spent in
Germany with Mainz.
His most recent move, from Riga
back to Africa with ASEC Abidjan,
had a more practical explanation to it.
In Latvia the season does not start
again until March. For me the most
important thing was to play.
He says he masters English enough
to get by, wherever he might be,
from Samsunspor in Turkey to Irtysh
Pavlodar in Kazakhstan. Even if, for
all the countries he has played in, he is
not a great adventurer. AFP
El Hadary was part of the squad
that went to Burkina Faso 19 years ago,
and beat the hosts 2-0 in the semifinals
en route to lifting the trophy.
Morocco did give the veteran shot-
stopper moments of severe anxiety
from crosses a fact that will not
have gone unnoticed by Burkina Faso
coach Paulo Duarte.
Given the outstanding semifinals
record of Egypt, the Portuguese
handler studiously avoided making
any gung-ho predictions.
We dream of doing better than in
2013, he said, referring to the 1-0 final
defeat by Nigeria in South Africa after
a giant-killing run.
My team is capable of producing
fantastic football. There is quality and
confidence among the boys. AFP
said to want at least 40 million
for Dembele, with Celtic manager
Brendan Rodgers making it clear he
wants Gordon to stay at Parkhead.
Elsewhere, second-bottom Hull
said they had signed defender Andrea
Ranocchia on loan from Inter Milan
until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old could make his
Hull debut against Manchester United
at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
He is Hulls sixth recruit of the
transfer window, joining fellow loan
signings Oumar Niasse, Evandro,
Omar Elabdellaoui and Lazar
Markovic.
Markus Henriksen has also arrived
for an undisclosed fee from Dutch side
AZ Alkmaar, while Jake Livermore
and Robert Snodgrass have left to
join Hulls fellow Premier League
sides West Brom and West Ham
respectively.
AFP
nba/local
sport
24
Russia ban Olympic champion Trunenkov
OMANDAILYOBSERVER The Russian Bobsleigh Federation has banned 2014 Olympic champion Dmitry Trunenkov for four years due
to a positive doping test, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) said on Tuesday. Trunenkov, who was part
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7 of the victorious four-man bob team at the Sochi Games, tested positive for an unnamed banned substance
last year. His ban has been back-dated to start on April 19, 2016, though he has subsequently retired.

LOVE-LESS CAVS NBA RESULTS

Dallas bt Cleveland 104-97
Minnesota bt Orlando 111-105 (OT)
Boston bt Detroit 113-109

FALL TO MAVS
Miami bt Brooklyn 104-96
Philadelphia bt Sacramento 122-119

WASHINGTON: Struggling with star Celtics over Detroit 113-109 despite

forward Kevin Love sidelined by back
spasms, the defending NBA champions
Cleveland Cavaliers were downed 104-
97 at Dallas on Monday.
LeBron James led the Cavaliers with
23 points on 9-of-19 shooting while
Kyrie Irving added 18 points and five
assists but made six turnovers, only one
fewer than the entire Mavericks squad.
But an up-tempo Dallas attack proved
more than the Cavaliers could stand a
night after defeating Oklahoma City. The
Mavericks seized a 100-85 edge with 4:18
to play on a 3-pointer by Yogi Ferrell and
coasted home from there.
Love, averaging 20.1 points and 11.1
rebounds, stayed home for medical tests
on Monday and no structural damage
was found in his back, but he will also
miss the Cavaliers home game on
Wednesday against Minnesota. Asked
if he thought the Cavaliers would make
a trade for another playmaker as he has
sought, James replied, If it happens, it
happens. Weve got what we got. Weve
got to get better every game.
Dallas forward Harrison Barnes had
a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds,
and guard Wesley Matthews added
21 points. Ferrell had 19 points and
Curry added 16 for the Mavericks. The
Cavaliers fell to 32-15 but still remained
the top team in the Eastern Conference
by 2.5 games over Boston, while the
Mavericks rose to 18-30, third-worst in
the Western Conference but only four
games out of the last West play-off spot.
THOMAS POWERS CELTICS WIN
Isaiah Thomas, the NBAs top fourth-
quarter scorer, netted 24 of his 41 points
in the last period to lift the Boston
squandering an 11-point lead.
Thomas was one point shy of joining
Larry Bird and Paul Pierce as the only
Celtics to average 33 points in an entire
month. I was close but I wasnt trying.
I was just trying to do what my team
needed me to do, Thomas said. It
doesnt sound real. To have my name up
there with those legends is unbelievable.
Boston improved to 30-18, a game
ahead of Toronto atop the Atlantic
division.
Pistons big man Andre Drummond
had a season high-tying 28 points and 22
rebounds in a losing effort.
At Phoenix, Mike Conley scored a
career-high 38 points, hitting 7-of-10
3-point shots, and Marc Gasol and Zach
Randolph each added 18 as the Memphis
Grizzlies downed the host Suns 115-96.
COUSINS HITS 46 IN LOSS
The Philadelphia 76ers, playing
without team points and rebounds
leader Joel Embiid, had 23 points and 10
rebounds from Robert Covington and 17
off the bench from Dario Saric in a 122-
119 home victory over Sacramento.
Sacramentos DeMarcus Cousins
produced 46 points, 15 rebounds and
five assists, but the Kings squandered
a 16-point second quarter lead and the
76ers finished January 10-5 their best
one-month mark since going 13-4 in
2012.
Embiid missed his fifth game of six
with a left knee bruise. A spectacular
left-handed slam dunk by James Johnson
in the final minute added an exclamation
point to Miamis eighth consecutive Dallas Mavericks Wesley Matthews (23)
victory, a 104-96 triumph over the drives to the basket past Cleveland
Cavaliers Richard Jefferson (24) and
visiting Brooklyn Nets. AFP LeBron James (23). USA Today Sports

Europe athletics chief denies crisis LOCAL FLAVOUR

despite Russian doping scandal
LONDON: Athletics is not in crisis
despite the horrendous publicity
following the exposure of state-
sponsored doping by Russia, European
Athletics Association president Svein-
Arne Hansen said on Monday.
The 70-year-old Norwegian added
the Russians would be back at some
point competing under their flag
instead of the neutral one they are
obliged to race under now.
Hansen admits the scandal
precipitating a blanket ban on Russias
athletes at last years Rio Olympics
save for those who met stringent
criteria which also implicated
officials from the sports governing
body the IAAF had left a lot of people
feeling let down.
We are not proud of the decision
(by the IAAF) to ban the Russian team
taken in Vienna in June last year but
we stand with it because it shows we
dont accept cheating in our sport,
said Hansen.
I think last years European
Championships in Amsterdam was a
real game changer, he added before
delivering the keynote speech to
the Sport Integrity Global Alliance
(SIGA) Forum.
Hansen, elected to his post in 2015
after years as director of the historic
Bislett Games meet, continued: The
stadium was full, there were good
performances and a good atmosphere.
European athletics is moving
forward and we have put in a lot of
things such as good governance.
When I travel around Europe it is
clear we are not a sport in crisis, we are
not in Europe at least.
We have so many people working
so hard for this and they feel let
down by what happened especially in
Monaco (IAAF headquarters) and we
are awaiting the outcome of the police
investigation for real answers.
Hansen said the criteria was in
place as stipulated last June in
Vienna and then further measures
were laid down last November for a
gradual return to athletic continental
European Athletic Association president Svein-Arne Hansen delivers a keynote
speech during a Sport Integrity Global Alliance conference in London. AFP
We have so many
people working so
hard for this and they
feel let down by what
happened especially
in Monaco (IAAF
headquarters) and
we are awaiting the
outcome of the police
investigation for real
answers
competition of Russian athletes this
year.
They (Russia as a nation) have to
come back at one stage, said Hansen,
who will learn more about the
progress being made by the Russian
authorities at next Mondays IAAF
Council meeting when the team
report back on their findings from a
trip there last week.
I know now that we are vetting
about 10 for Belgrade (the European
Indoor Championships March 3/5)
and there are 50-60 in pipeline
for London (World Athletics
Championships in August) but at
the moment they will compete under
a neutral flag. As a nation they will
not be back until we are satisfied
they have fulfilled the criteria, said
Hansen.
Hansen, who finds little free time
these days to build on his other love
his stamp collection largely made
up of Norwegian stamps with the
oldest one dating back to 1840,
still wants life-time bans on drugs
cheats and believes there are ways of
implementing them.
A lifetime ban is difficult but then
if you cant get that then impose 8-year
ban and they (the drugs cheats) will be
out (for good), he said.
Seb (Coe the president of the
IAAF) and I both told federations not
to send former dopers who served
two year suspensions or more to
championships.
Only Russia has made that a law
but they werent competing anyway.
Lifetime ban is very difficult but
it is in the pipeline, eight years is a
nuanced way of saying that.
Hansen, who says the era of sports
leaders feathering their own nests
and not for the good of their sport is
becoming a thing of the past, says a
sign of better times is there is someone
waiting to fill the vacuum a sponsor
left after pulling out because of the
scandal. AFP
New Level II coaches from Oman Cricket
MUSCAT: All five Level I participants
of coaching course Abdul Ghani al
Balushi, Haider Ali, Syed Tariq Hussain,
Mahesh Ramamoorthy and Mahi De
Silva successfully completed the
course and have qualified as Level II
coaches from Oman. Level II Coaching
course was held in Oman by Asian
Cricket Council in December 2016.
Level II coaching certificates were
distributed by Kiran Asher, Treasurer,
Oman Cricket at a function held at
Oman Cricket office. Also present were
Madhursinh Jesrani, General Secretary
and Duleep Mendis, CDO.
Separately, cash award for Man of
The Month for November/December
2016 was awarded to Khurram Khan of
Raha and Shahan Akram from Assarain. Khurram Khan receiving the man of the month award.
ISM POWER INTO SEMIS OC knockout
tournament
from Feb. 3
MUSCAT: The Oman Cricket Knock-
out Tournament 2017, sponsored by
Khimji Ramdas, will commence from
Friday, February 3.
This season 37 teams from B to
J Division will take part in Senior
Cup (12 teams) , Intermediate Cup (9
teams) and Junior Cup (16 teams).
ISM A thumped BOC A by 110 BOC could only reach 96-7 in 20 overs. Draws were held on January 25
runs to enter the semifinals of the For ISM, Ayman Ayaz Khan scored a during captain/managers meeting at
Under-13 Oman Cricket Junior league brilliant century (107) and Jayesh Anil Al Falaj Hotel. Finals for all groups will
championship 2016-17. ISM, batting made 40 not out. Bharat Srinivas and be played on March 10, followed by
first, scored 206-2 in 20 overs. In reply, Mithel Ravi took 2 wickets each. the prize distribution ceremony.

@ localscene
Down the memory lane
* crossword
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
ACROSS
9 Little time: theres not enough
of it (8)
10 Voice-over for a number (3)
11 The flat interior Ill re-do in
white (6)
12 Definitely, for the hip, action
must be taken (6)
13 As ever, found out a lie-in does
make it better (7)
14 Became, having got in a
muddle, wearing (4)
15 Looks at the actors to see any
needing grooming (5,2,3)
17 Foreigner on trial for cutting a
key to enter (8)
18 Fail to find the originator (7)
19 The foreigner is in menswear,
reportedly (4)
21 Wild game ones captured in
pictures (6)
24 Came up trumps as
transporters? (9,3,5)
27 Misinform about the animal
being a female (6)
29 Company for you when on your
cruise (4)
30 Clive is worried. He backed into
a car, or something! (7)
33 At home, a dog guards the
cradle (8)
35 Regarded as, one thought (10)
36 Up to Dont let the land go to
waste (4)
37 Making a gear change to low
and making it fast (7)
38 A danger of, that again is
concealed by (6)
40 As a host, is successful (6)
41 Author who had a try at writing
verse (3)
42 Only one? Thats odd (8)
DOWN
1 Tell us what you have in mind?
(5,5)
2 Spring rain theres a charge for
trapping (4)
3 Odd character a fledgling
doctor doesnt want to treat?
(4,4)
4 Like the phoney Santa Claus
one confronted? (7)
5 Are discovered, when you have
to brake, on the street (4,2,5)
6 The pet is doing the same
consuming its delicious (10)
7 Keep waving at, with the bottle
(6)
8 The dog, dry, is given a drink
(8)
10 Tell us to re-edit most of the
material (5)
Q MAZIN SHAIKHAN AL SHUKAILI
B
ahla Fort is one of the most
important forts in Oman and
was included in the World
Heritage List of Unesco in 1987.
The monument, also one of
the oldest forts in the Gulf, is
surrounded of palm trees, the traditional Bahla
Souq, old lanes and ancient mosques. The whole
castle is protected by a large wall that is 13 km
long.
The castle was said to be built before the
advent of Islam in Oman, probably in the third
millennium BC. Its deeply entrenched in Omans
history and was built for defence purposes to
protect the city from any external attack due to
its significant location.
The fort played a great role in expulsion of the
Portuguese rule during their occupation of the
country.
The fort is situated in the centre of Bahla on
24 Death penalty (7,10)
16 Doesnt get on with, which 22 One gets into trouble through
creates complications (7) having poison (7)
20 It shows just how far my 23 First-class service (5,6)
gardening goes! (5) 25 Compete against the same ten
features
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
The castle was said to be
built before the advent of
Islam in Oman, probably
in the third millennium
BC. Its deeply entrenched
in Omans history and was
built for defence purposes
to protect the city from any
external attack
the way to Nizwa and is easily visible for anyone
travelling on that route. It is an architectural
masterpiece situated at an elevated place
with the souq and traditional houses at its
footsteps.
assorted foreigners (10)
26 With the girl and boy gone,
saved (6,4)
28 If needs must, figure a hat-pin
might hold it (2,1,5)
31 Being old, I have got smart (8)
32 In the teens, dancing is great (7)
34 The pay, after a year,
unfortunately rises (6)
35 Nearly all the cowardly yearn to
(5)
39 Flight is right and wrong (4)
EASY PUZZLE
ACROSS
9 Annoy or anger (8)
10 Star sign (3)
11 Overseas (6)
12 Dazed state (6)
13 Lockjaw (7)
14 Attitude or opinion (4)
15 Essential (10)
17 Pulls out (8)
18 Type of boat or ship (7)
19 Leg part (4)
21 Tempt (6)
27 Come into sight (6)
29 Notion (4)
30 Cafeteria (7)
33 Old soldiers (8)
35 Afraid (10)
36 Skye, say (4)
insideOman
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
25
Bahla Fort attracts tourists from all over the
world and it is important for visitors who would
like to keep a tab on historical monuments.
As part of its tourism promotion efforts, the
government seeks to promote historical places
in Oman through traditional media like the TV
and in social networks.
According to Khalfan al Wardi, Oman has
lots of archaeological and historical sites, such as
Bahla Fort, the oldest fort in Oman and GCC, for
which we are very proud of our forefathers. We
have to maintain that legacy.
Mohammed al Shukaili feels, Bahla was the
capital of Oman in the past and thats the reason
the fort was built to protect the people who
occupied the wilayat.
The strategic location had made Oman
vulnerable to occupation from the Portuguese
and the Iranians, but Omani people were
protected from such external incursions because
of its forts sand castles like the Bahla Fort, said
Salim al Abri
37
38
40
Launch vehicle (7)
Conflict (6)
Dealer in fabrics (6)
19, Apes 21, Rounded up 23, Surf
24, RAs-p 26, Ate 27, Fret 29, P-L-
us 32, Mead 33, Hyena 34, Canary
41 Slippery fish (3)
35, Overd-one 36, Python.
42 Rotates (8)
DOWN DOWN: 1, Steps 2, Def-O-e 3,
1 Branch of maths (10) Mars 4, F-rail 5, Elbe 6, Cashes 9,
2 Speech defect (4) B-roads 11, Red 12, Prior 13, Mild-
3 Horse-drawn vehicle (8)
red 15, Son 16, Pep 18, Duff-er 20,
4 Sure (7)
5 Forged (11) Puppy 21, Rue 22, Eat 23, Stead-Y
6 Dentures (5,5) 25, Nun 28, Ray-on 30, Lemon 31,
7 Petty details (6) Safer 32, Ma-sh 33, Hard.
8 Grand (8) YESTERDAYS EASY
10 Turning tool (5) SOLUTIONS
16 Instance (7)
20 Shade of blue (5) ACROSS: 4, Biceps 7, Reporter 8,
22 Playhouse (7) Eclair 10, Spare 13, Mart 14, Hare
23 Candid (5-6) 15, Fade 16, Rib 17, Pair 19, Drop
25 Shabby (10) 21, Petrified 23, Toll 24, Nets 26,
26 From that time on (10) Cat 27, Anew 29, Even 32, Tsar 33,
28 Delectation (8)
31 Sticky (8) Stone 34, Hearts 35, Tentacle 36,
32 Collection of books (7) Stodgy.
34 Excuse (6) DOWN: 1, Trash 2, Spear 3, Urge
35 Death-dealing (5) 4, Bread 5, Colt 6, Philip 9, Credit
39 Govern (4) 11, Paw 12, Repel 13, Mariner 15,
YESTERDAYS CRYPTIC
SOLUTIONS Fir 16, Rod 18, At last 20, Reset
ACROSS: 4, French 7, The paper 8, 21, Pot 22, Few 23, Talent 25, Gen
AB-Bess 10, Props 13, M-ire 14, 28, Nasty 30, Voice 31, Never 32,
Seer 15, Silo 16, Peg 17, Idol(a-try) Trod 33, Site.
international

features
Baked Alaska Day

26 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7
American physicist Mr Benjamin Thompson, for discovering how to make
meringue back in the early 1800s! For meringue is a key component of Baked
Alaska, the spotlighted dish being celebrated on Baked Alaska Day.

@ globalpulse

As the winter reclaims its glory

BOUNTIFUL,
SNOWFUL
Q SHEIKH QAYOOM But, for those who understand the
logistics of living in the valley, these

H
eaps of snow,
razor-sharp
icicles, the
cackle of low-
flying geese and
the warmth of
families huddled together to ward off
the cold all these are markers of a
great winter in Kashmir.
The fear instilled by an
unprecedented six-month-long dry
spell is over. Kashmir is back to what it
has always been known and loved for.
Heavy snowfall has replenished the
perennial water reservoirs in the hills,
even as the plains are intermittently
lashed by moderate snowfall.
Farmers and apple growers have
heaved a sigh of relief. The dry spell
is no longer going to threaten their
future.
Springs, streams, lakes and rivers
are again flowing gracefully, even
though partially frozen due to the
bone-chilling cold.
Before the snowfall, the Jhelum
river (that cuts through the summer
capital Srinagar) had been flowing
at a record 40-year low. Other water
sources feeding drinking water
supplies, etc, had almost dried out.
Rural areas, dependent on
springs and streams, had been facing
serious water shortages. Thank God,
that situation has been reversed, said
a senior engineer of the Public Health
Engineering Department.
There are inherent hardships like
road closures, erratic power supply,
running noses and chilblains the
painful inflammation in skin due
to repeated exposure to cold that
come as a package with a heavy
snowfall in the Kashmir Valley.
are temporary troubles, immensely
compensated by what is commonly
called the harsh winter.
What is Kashmir without snow?
It is like living in a garden that has
no flowers. I vividly remember
the winters of my childhood. Our
village would remain cut off for
weeks without end during the
Chillai Kalan(40-day-long period of
extreme cold beginning December
21), said Haji Sidiq, 78, who lives in a
north Kashmir village.
Nobody ever died of cold or
hunger those days, even when
material affluence was nowhere near
what it is today. Every village home
had a cow, a small flock of sheep,
some poultry, stocks of grain, pulses that pageant of colour and sound was
and dried vegetables. nothing short of a royal parade, he
Kashmir was self-sufficient explained.
in more ways than one. No milk, Icicles hanging from thatch-
poultry products, mutton or grains roofed houses, long winter nights
came from outside. We had less, but and rooms dimly lit by an oil or
lasting supplies of these essentials kerosene lamp provided ideal setting
of life. Cooking the fat rooster with for the narratives of the traditional
turnips on the simmering heat of storytellers of Kashmir.
the firewood charged hearth by my Storytellers would visit villages
mother used to be an occasion elders and urban areas at periodic intervals
and children looked forward to in to amuse children and elders.
equal measure, Sidiq added. The storyteller was a master
His village is close to the famous narrator who would transport his
Shallabugh Wetland Reserve that has audience to fairylands where princes
been the winter home of migratory fought demons. The good inevitably
birds for hundreds of years. triumphed over evil this basic
Little wonder, Sidiq recalled the moral lesson was taught to us by the
cackle of low-flying geese, mallards storyteller, said Ghulam Nabi, 82, a
and teals during heavy snowfall in retired schoolteacher.
the past. As locals brave the vagaries of
Heavy snowfall made high flying bitter cold this season, they are
difficult for the migratory birds. They confident of the million flowers that
would fly almost at roof height in will bloom in spring and summer
snowstorms, cackling and flapping to because winter has been bountiful
keep track of each other. For children, and snowful this time.

Peanuts, home of Snoopy and Charlie Brown, up for sale

L
iana B Baker and Jessica
DiNapoli US brand
management company
Iconix Brand Group Inc (ICON.O)
is exploring a sale of its majority
stake in Peanuts Worldwide LLC,
which owns the rights to cartoon
strip characters Snoopy and Charlie
Brown, according to people familiar
with the matter.
The move comes three months
after US insurance company MetLife
Inc (MET.N) dropped the Peanuts
characters it had been using as
mascots for more than 30 years a
blow to debt-burdened Iconix.
The characters, which include
Lucy, Peppermint Patty and Pigpen,
A float depicting the animated Peanuts characters Snoopy and Woodstock
have attracted the interest of Chinese
proceed along 6th Ave as spectators watch from buildings during the 89th
Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in the Manhattan borough of New York. companies as well as other investors
keen to snap up US media and
licensing assets, the people said this
week.
Created by Charles Schulz and
licensed in over 100 countries, the
characters generate about $30 million
in 12-month earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization,
the people added. They declined
to comment on the expected deal
valuation.
Besides Peanuts, Iconix is also
looking to sell its Strawberry
Shortcake brand, which is based
on a character that rose to fame in
the 1980s as a doll for young girls,
the people said. They asked not to
be identified because the matter is
confidential.
The New York-based company
is working with investment bank
Guggenheim Partners LLC on an
auction process to sell the brands, the
people added, cautioning that there
was no certainty that any deal would
occur.
Iconix, which has a market
capitalization of $553 million, did not
respond to a request for comment,
while Guggenheim declined to
comment.
While MetLife will stop flying
blimps featuring Snoopy this year,
Peanuts has agreements with brands
such as chocolate maker Nestle
SA (NESN.S), stationary company
Hallmark Cards Inc, and retailer
Zara, according to a regulatory filing
by Iconix.
In 2015, Twenty-First Century Fox
Inc (FOXA.O) released The Peanuts
Movie, which was nominated for a
Golden Globe award and grossed
$246 million worldwide, according to
Box Office Mojo, a website that tracks
the revenue that movies generate.
Peanuts largest international
market is Japan, where a new Snoopy
museum opened last year, according
to the Iconix filing. The company
renewed a long-standing contract to
air the popular Peanuts holiday TV
specials on US network ABC in 2014
for five years.
Initially called Lil Folks, the
comic strip was renamed Peanuts
in 1950, when it became syndicated
in seven newspapers, according to the
Charles M Schulz Museum website.
Schulz passed away in 2000.

@ culturetradition
EXPERIENCING TOLERANCE
QLAKSHMI KOTHANETH
F
or a while now, Omans
exhibition has been
travelling across the
globe titled Tolerance,
Understanding,
Coexistence Omans
Message of Islam, which is an insight
into Islamic life in a modern Arab
Society.
The locations of Omans touring
exhibition are Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
South Korea, Kuwait, Lithuania,
Macedonia, Malta, Nepal, Netherlands,
Pakistan, Slovenia, Spain, United
Kingdom, USA and Albania.
The exhibition has been hosted in
various locations in Oman as well.
The exhibition shares Omans
experience on the tolerance practiced
in the Sultanate. The exhibition
also highlights the work of Omani
calligraphers. Oman has some Quranic
manuscripts produced by Omani
calligraphers.
They are characterised by simplicity
and clarity. Some manuscripts were
written with gold ink and embellished
with religious ornaments. Drawings of
living creatures are not featured, states
the exhibition.
An important manuscript is the
Oman Quran that was commissioned
by the Ministry of Endowments and
Religious Affairs. What is interesting is
that project was completed in 2006 after
eight years of continuous work. The
work is considered to be inspired by the
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
The exhibition also throws light on
cultural customs such as the birth of the
middleeast
features
Car Insurance Day
Car Insurance Day is a real day of celebration I assure you! For many
thinking about or talking about their car insurance is rather like
punishment rather than a party! but If you take a little time out once a year
to look at your policy you can happily forget about it the rest of the year.
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
W E D N E S DAY l F E B R U A R Y 1 l 2 0 1 7 27
child. For Omanis the birth of a child
is an important social occasion where
the whole family gathers, gifts are made
and congratulations are conveyed. It
is customary to put money into the
swaddling clothes of the new born. The
young mother takes her infant on visits
to her parents house, where everyone
gets involved in the happy event,
describes the exhibition.
Some of the rituals surrounding
the birth of a child are influenced by
religious rites.
Immediately after the birth of the
child, chewed dates are rubbed on
the babys gums, the call to prayer
is whispered in the right ear, and a
prayer of protection against the devil is
whispered in the left ear, as instructed
by the Prophet. (Peace Be Upon Him).
On the seventh day after birth the
babys head is shaved, the hair is weighed
and a donation of silver is made of the
equivalent weight. On that day the child
receives his or her name, and the family
gathers for a special meal.
What is remarkable is an old custom
in Oman which brings in the connection
with the nature. For each newborn a
date palm is planted. It slowly grows
to become the childs personal tree
because date palms live about as long as
people, they can keep their owners from
starvation. They are a traditional form
of life insurance.
The exhibition also has a collection of
calligraphy in wood, which incorporates
light and shadow effect to the delight of
visitors. All of the works depict worship
and gratitude as in the case of one
calligraphy which projects its shadow
on the wall displaying an infant and
parents on either sides.
WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 1, 2017 | JUMADA AL ULA 4, 1438 AH

follow us on instagram @omanobserver

www.omanobserver.om
editor@omanobserver.om

Experiencing
tolerance
The exhibition shares Omans experience
on the tolerance practiced in the
Sultanate. The exhibition also highlights
the work of Omani calligraphers. Oman
has some Quranic manuscripts produced
by Omani calligraphers. P27

filmwatch @ editorspick worldcelebration

U

happeningtoday
nowshowing
BIRD-FEEDING
RAEES
Bird-Feeding Month was established
in 1994 by John Porter, a man who so
STARRING: Shah Rukh cared about the health and welfare of
Khan, Nawazuddin the birds that he read a resolution
Siddiqui, (Mahira Khan into the Congressional record. I
would like to recognise February, one
Raees follows the 70s of the most difficult months in the
gangster film formula, United States for wild birds, as
complete with the honest National Bird-Feeding Month. These
police officer who will stop were the words he spoke to the
at nothing to capture his Speaker of the House, recognising
nemesis, the perfunctory the importance of birds both in our
romance, and the final ecology, as well as the hearts and
redemption that makes minds of people everywhere.
the audience root for the Nothing says spring like the singing
flawed hero. voices of our favourite wild birds.
Masked revellers ride a motorbike during carnival celebrations in Ituren, northern daysoftheyear.com
Spain . Reuters