TUESDAY | OCTOBER 3, 2017 | MUHARRAM 12, 1439 AH
323 | PAGES 28 | BAISAS 200
N KOREA? TRUMP? AMERICANS KEEP CALM AND SHOP P17
OMAN
Part of Bidbid-Sur
road to open soon
IBRA: The Ministry of Transport and
Communications in a statement said that
the ministry will open the first part of the
second stage of the 131-km-long Bidbid-
Sur road dualisation project, which starts
from Masroon in the Wilayat of Ibra in the
Governorate of North Al Sharqiyah to the
Wilayat of Sur in the Governorate of South
Al Sharqiyah. The part to be opened this
month is 18-km in the Wilayat of Bidiyah
in the Governorate of North Al Sharqiyah.
This part includes three flyovers and two
tunnels to ease traffic in the Wilayat of
Bidiyah. REPORT ON P5
WORLD
Refugees can return,
Myanmar tells UN
GENEVA: Myanmar told the United
Nations refugee agency that its top
priority was to bring back Rohingyas
who have fled to Bangladesh. Dhaka
and Myanmar agreed on Monday to
set up a “working group” to plan the
repatriation of more than half a million
Rohingyas refugees who have fled to
Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi foreign
minister said. Win Myat Aye, Myanmar’s
Union Minister, Minister of Social
Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, said:
“Our next immediate priority is to bring
back the refugees.”
Observer spotlight
HOW ABOUT CARS GOING
ELECTRIC IN OMAN?
As fuel prices are not what it was a
couple of years ago. It is at its all-time
high now. Already, there are signs
of people swapping fuel-guzzlers
for smaller and compact cars. In a
country where public transport is still
in the development stages, it gives
scope for electric and hybrid cars to
make their way into the market.
DETAILS ON PAGE 4
INSIDESTORIES
P7
DEADLY TWIN ATTACK HITS
DAMASCUS POLICE STATION
US BODY CLOCK GENETICISTS
TAKE NOBEL MEDICINE PRIZE P8
P10
SWACHH BHARAT CAMPAIGN NOW A
MASS MOVEMENT: MODI
WEATHER TODAY
MUSCAT SALALAH NIZWA
MAX: 330C MAX: 300C MAX: 410C
MIN: 270C MIN: 230C MIN: 240C
SUNRISE 05.58 AM
PRAYER TIMINGS
FAJR: 04:42
DHUHR: 11:55
ASR: 15:18
MAGHRIB: 17:51
ISHA: 19:21
HIS MAJESTY GIVES AUDIENCE TO ZARIF
IRAN FM HAILS SULTANATE’S CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN REGION
MANAH: His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos gave an audience at Hisn Al
Shomoukh on Monday evening to Dr
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic
of Iran.
The audience reviewed aspects of
the existing cooperation between the
Sultanate and the Islamic Republic
of Iran in various spheres to serve
the joint interests of the Omani and
Iranian friendly peoples, in addition
to discussing a number of matters
in light of the current regional and
international developments.
The audience was attended by Yusuf
bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister
Responsible for Foreign Affairs, and
the delegation accompanying the
guest.
Earlier, Zarif hailed the policy
being adopted by the Sultanate under
the wise leadership of His Majesty
the Sultan, as well as His Majesty’s
constructive role in the region, which
faces several challenges.
58 killed in Las Vegas attack Sultanate has lowest
LAS VEGAS: A 64-year-old man
armed with more than 10 rifles rained
down gunfire on a Las Vegas country
music festival on Sunday, slaughtering
at least 58 people in the largest mass
shooting in US history before killing
himself.
The barrage from a 32nd-floor
window in the Mandalay Bay hotel
into a crowd of 22,000 people lasted
several minutes, causing panic. Some
fleeing fans trampled each other as
police scrambled to find the gunman.
More than 500 people were injured.
On Monday, police identified the
gunman as Stephen Paddock, who
lived in a retirement community in
Mesquite, Nevada, and said they had
no sense of what prompted his attack.
The IS group claimed responsibility
for the massacre, but US officials
expressed skepticism of that claim.
The preliminary death toll, which
officials said could rise, eclipsed last
year’s massacre of 49 people at an
Orlando night club by a gunman who
pledged allegiance to IS militants.
Shocked concertgoers, some with
Palestinian PM pledges
Gaza control in first visit
People celebrate as Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah arrives in Gaza
Strip on Monday. — Reuters
BEIT HANUN: Palestinian Prime
Minister Rami Hamdallah arrived
in Gaza on Monday for his first visit
in two years, saying the Palestinian
Authority would assume control of
the strip after a decade of factional
strife. Hamdallah crossed the border
with dozens of ministers and officials
from the West Bank-based PA into the
Hamas-run coastal enclave at around
‘LUCKY’ HAMILTON FEARS FERRARI BACKLASH IN JAPANESE GP P21
blood on their clothing, wandered
streets, where the flashing lights of
the city’s gaudy casinos blended with
those of emergency vehicles.
Police said they had no
information about Paddock’s motive,
that he had no criminal record and
was not believed to be connected to
any militant group.
Paddock killed himself before
noon. The Hamas has controlled Gaza
since a 2007 split but recently agreed
to hand over civilian power to a unity
government.
“The government began to
exercise its roles in Gaza from today,”
Hamdallah said at a press conference
at the crossing. “We return to Gaza
again to end the division and achieve
unity.” SEE ALSO P7
HM GREETS GERMAN PRESIDENT
HIS MAJESTY SULTAN QABOOS HAS SENT A CABLE OF GREETINGS TO
PRESIDENT DR FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC
OF GERMANY ON THE OCCASION OF HIS COUNTRY’S NATIONAL DAY.
IN HIS CABLE, HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN EXPRESSED HIS SINCERE
GREETINGS ALONG WITH HIS BEST WISHES OF GOOD HEALTH AND
HAPPINESS TO PRESIDENT STEINMEIER AND THE FRIENDLY PEOPLE OF
GERMANY FURTHER PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY.
THE SEASON OF GENTLE GIANTS P26-27
police entered the hotel room he was
firing from, Clark County Sheriff
Joseph Lombardo told reporters.
“We have no idea what his belief
system was,” Lombardo said. “I can’t
get into the mind of a psychopath.”
Federal officials said there was
no evidence to link Paddock to
international militant groups.
SEE ALSO P11
Time out: The dangers of
disrupting your body clock
PARIS: Messing with your body’s clock
is dangerous business, in fact it could
make you sick — or worse.
The inner timekeeper dubbed the
“circadian clock”, governs the day-
night cycle that guides sleep and eating
patterns, hormones and even body
temperature.
It is important enough that the
Nobel Medicine Prize was awarded on
Monday to three US scientists whose
work illuminated the fundamentals of
how it ticks.
The trio identified genes that
regulate the clock, and the mechanism
by which light can synchronise it.
Yet humans have a long history of
overriding the circadian-driven need
for sleep, Russell Foster, a professor
of circadian neuroscience at Oxford
University said — the most obvious
VOL. 36 NO.
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editor@omanobserver.om
PHOTO BY
MOHAMED
MUSTAFA
adult HIV cases
SAMUEL KUTTY
MUSCAT, OCT 2
The Sultanate has been ranked one
of the top ten countries in the world
with the least number of HIV/Aids
cases among adults.
According to the latest 2017
UNAIDS statistics, covering 160
countries, the prevalence of HIV
cases in the Sultanate is found to be
0.1 per cent.
“This demonstrates the enormous
gains the country has made in
fighting the deadly epidemic,” the
global agency said in its report.
According to the report, countries
in the Middle East and North Africa
(MENA) region have the lowest rates
of HIV occurrence among adults.
“The decline in new HIV
infections among adults have slowed
in recent years, with the estimated
annual number of new infections
among adults remaining nearly
static,” UNAIDS said in the report.
example being night work.
Such tinkering with Mother Nature
can have serious consequences ranging
from impulsive behaviour to life-
threatening conditions such as obesity
and cancer, the experts say.
Just look at the poor health records
of shift workers such as nurses or
factory labourers.
The World Health Organization
www.omanobserver.om
In a statement to Oman News
Agency (ONA), Zarif affirmed that
both countries are bound by good
relations.
He added that they endeavour to
expand these relations in different
fields particularly in economy, energy
and transit fields.
Zarif pointed out that his visit
comes within the framework of the
continuous consultation with the
Sultanate on wide range of issues of
concern to the region.
Regarding the transport of Iranian
gas to India through the Sultanate, he
pointed out that the trilateral meetings
held recently in New York with the
Minster Responsible for Foreign
Affairs and the Indian External Affairs
Minister discussed cooperation in
energy and gas fields.
They also discussed the possibility
of tripartite cooperation in gas fields.
The Iranian minister hoped that
cooperation among these countries
would be maintained. TURN TO P2
The low HIV prevalence among
the general population in MENA is
thought to be due to religious and
cultural values, which discourage
pre-marital sex, encourage married
people to be faithful, and emphasise
universal male circumcision, the
report adds.
However, this is in contrast to
sub-Saharan Africa, which has the
highest HIV prevalence rate among
all regions with 7.1 per cent.
TURN TO P6
has already raised the red flag, with
a 2007 report noting that “circadian
disruption” is “probably carcinogenic”
-- which means cancer-causing.
The trouble is that the human body
never really adapts to operating outside
the normal cycle of working by day,
and sleeping at night.
Like everyone else, shift workers’
biological clocks are set by the rising
and setting of the Sun — not their
work schedule. “There is no medicine
in the world that allows you to... speed
up or slow down your body clock,” said
Claude Gronfier, a neurobiologist at
France’s Inserm research institute.
When workers force themselves
to stay awake, it triggers the release of
stress hormones such as cortisol — the
same one that rushes into your blood
in a life-or-death situation. — AFP
insideoman
2 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7

HM grants audience to Iranian Foreign Minister

Zarif hails
Sultanate’s
wise policy
FROM PAGE 1
As for as the nuclear file is
concerned, Zarif pointed out that
the Sultanate has played a major role
in the recent accord.
He noted that Iran does not
have communication channels
with the current US administration
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos gave an audience at Hisn Al Shomoukh on Monday
and explained that coordination is evening to Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic
maintained through the ministerial Republic of Iran. The audience was attended by Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah,
meetings only, within the framework Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, and the delegation accompanying the
of the P5+1 Group. guest. — PICTURES BY MOHAMED MUSTAFA
He hoped that the US
Administration would commit to
the agreement.
Earlier, Yusuf bin Alawi bin
Abdallah, Minister Responsible for
Foreign Affairs, received Zarif.
The meeting discussed aspects of
the bilateral relations and means of
enhancing them.
The meeting also discussed the
ongoing developments in the region
and the regional and international
issues.
The meeting was attended
by a number of senior officials
at the Foreign Ministry, Iranian
Ambassador to the Sultanate and the
official delegation accompanying the
guest.
— ONA

TRC organises workshop

on technology transfer
MUSCAT: A three-day workshop on ‘Activating a National
Technology Transfer System in the Sultanate of Oman’
started on Monday with aims to increase the efficiency of
the system of development and transfer of technology at
the national level and strengthen the link between research,
and academic institutions and the industrial and productive
sectors.
Dr Hilal bin Ali
al Hinai, Secretary-
General of the
Research Council
(TRC), said that
the workshop is
aimed at linking
the production of
knowledge and
the exploitation of
information, pointing out that academic institutions are
institutions for the production of knowledge.
He added that scientific research councils around the
world support the production of knowledge, stressing the
importance of the existence of knowledge transfer offices
to the community in general and to the private sector,
explaining that when TRC was established it was thought
that the role of the research council was to fund research to
produce knowledge.
The workshop included a number of topics, the first of
which was about the accomplished stages of the project.
Shaikha bint Nasser al Ahkzamiyah, Project Advisor, gave
a presentation entitled “Studying the Reality of Innovation
and the Guide to Establishing Technology Transfer Offices
in the Sultanate of Oman”.
Dr Ali al Shithani, Project Adviser, gave a presentation
on the Operational Vision, future vision of the National
Technology Transfer Network and the National Bureau of
Technology Transfer.
— ONA
 insideoman
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7 3

Book on His Majesty launched

MUSCAT: The book titled Adjacent Dimensions
in the Thinking of Sultan Qaboos was launched on
Monday at the Diplomatic Club under the auspices
of His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tareq al Said,
Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations
and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative
of His Majesty the Sultan, in the presence of a number
of their highnesses, their excellencies and accredited
ambassadors of sisterly and friendly countries.
HH Sayyid Asaad, the chief guest, launched the
book and watched a visual show on the chapters of
the book and an overview about the author, Dr Majdi
al Afifi.
Afterwards, the author, Dr Afifi delivered a speech
where he expressed sincere gratitude and respect to
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. He pointed out that the
600-page book falls in three chapters.
He then signed the first version of the book to His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos and delivered it to the chief
guest. He then presented another copy to HH Sayyid
Asaad, the chief guest. It should be noted that the 600-
page book is published by Dar Al Maarif in Egypt. It
includes three parts and 10 chapters.
The author has been working in Akhbar Al Youm
newspaper since 1976 and is Editor In-Chief of Akhbar
al Adab. He occupied a number of media positions in
the Sultanate during the period from 1984 to 2010. He
is a writer, a poet, critic, lecturer and member of both
the Journalists Syndicate and Egypt Writers Union.
— ONA

OMAN, US BILATERAL TIES REVIEWED

MUSCAT: Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of the Diwan of the Royal Court, received in his office on Monday Marc J
Sievers, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Sultanate. The meeting exchanged cordial conversations and
reviewed the bilateral relations between the Sultanate and USA, and means of enhancing them in various fields. — ONA

Renovated visitor centre at Ras

Al Jinz Turtle Museum opens
SUR: The Ministry of Tourism and
Oman LNG officially inaugurated
the renovation of Ras Al Jinz Turtle
Reserve Museum (Turtle Visitor
Centre).
The initiative is aimed at enhancing
information-sharing, and promote
education materials and resources of
turtles and their habitat to visitors,
researchers and concerned parties.
Despite the turtle’s existence in
the oceans for millions of years, they
are in danger of extinction. The main
aim of Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve is
to boost environmental awareness
among people in Oman and protect
the future of turtles.
The Turtle Reserve offers a
variety of tourist services to guests
and researchers, provided by the
renowned ‘Turtle Visitor Centre’.
The Centre was recently renovated
through the joint efforts between the
Ministry of Tourism and Oman LNG.
The scientific museum was
equipped with cutting-edge
technologies to lure visitors’
experience and to have a closer look
on the life cycle of sea turtles, and
to highlight the most prominent
archaeological sites in the Sultanate.
The reason behind choosing such a
unique geographical location is the
clear water surrounding the museum
where these endangered species breed.
Protecting the environment
tops Oman LNG’s priorities. In
addition to the Ras Al Jinz Turtle
Reserve, the company has supported
many initiatives to conserve the
environment. These initiatives include
several campaigns to reduce the use
of plastic bags and beach cleaning
activities to ensure the company meets
the highest of standards, regulations
and commitments towards protecting
the environment.
Accordingly, Oman LNG funded
advanced cleaning equipment in
Jaalan Bani Bu Ali and Masirah in Al
Sharqiyah South Governorate. Such
initiatives leave a great impact on the
environment, especially on the coastal
areas; where the cleaning equipment
helps to preserve the beauty of the
beaches.
“This project represents another
milestone in our journey to protect
the environment, as it has always been
on the forefront of our interest.
Such efforts do not only reside
within our company, but also through
many initiatives and projects which
the company previously funded.
Most recently, our contribution to
renovate Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve
Museum, which attracts many
visitors, researchers and interested
parties around the globe”, said Shaikh
Khalid bin Abdullah al Massan,
CEO of Oman LNG Development
Corporation. — ONA
4 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7
What about
electric cars
in Oman?
With fuel prices rising, we are already seeing people
swapping fuel-guzzlers for smaller and compact cars
A
VINOD NAIR
recent report quoting
a top BHP official said
2017 is the tipping
point for electric cars.
Europe has begun
a shift away from the
internal combustion
engine, although globally there are only one
million electric cars out of a global fleet of
close to 1.1 billion, the report said.
But it added that electric cars are expected
to soon cost the same as traditional vehicles —
as early as next year, by some estimates.
Many governments have announced plans
to promote all-electric cars in the coming years.
The BHP official said he expected the electric
vehicle boom would be felt by producers first
in copper.
The market, he said, may have
underestimated the impact on the red metal
— fully electric vehicles require four times as
much copper as cars that run on combustion
engines.
Coming to Oman, fuel prices are not what
it was a couple of years ago.
It is at its all-time high now.
Already, there are signs of people swapping
fuel-guzzlers for smaller and compact cars.
In a country where public transport is still
in the development stages, it gives scope for
electric and hybrid cars to make their way into
the market.
While the inflated fuel bills may encourage
people to look for alternatives, electric cars
need a certain type of infrastructure to be in
.K
place for it to become a common sight on our
roads.
The cars need charging stations just like fuel
stations.
Also, motorists should be convinced that
there is no compromise on the safety and
reliability factors over long distances.
One of the leading brands in Oman,
Hyundai was quoted globally that it was
placing electric vehicles at the centre of its
spotlight
product strategy — one that includes plans for
a premium long-distance electric car as it seeks
to catch up with Tesla and other rivals.
Toyota is also working on long distance,
fast-charging electric vehicles.
Hyundai plans to launch an electric sedan
in 2021 with a range of 500 km per charge.
It will also introduce a small sports utility
vehicle (SUV) with a range of 390 km in the
first half of next year.
“In Oman, it is just a matter of time that we
see more electric vehicles on roads, especially
in the wake of rising fuel prices.
“Greens may not come cheap but customers
are interested provided they have some decent
options,” said a senior official at a popular car
brand in Oman.
He added that climatic conditions are
Differences between gasoline and
electric cars:
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extreme and people are apprehensive about
their sustainability.
“I prefer electric cars in the long run and
it is time that Oman takes initiatives in this
matter,” said Yosuf Ahmed, a student at Sultan
Qaboos University (SQU).
“Oman, as a country, is not known for
pollution but still we can contribute to climate
change in a big way.
I think the government should encourage
the use of electric cars through concessions
or green points,” said Arpita, who returned
to Oman after completing studies in the Far-
East.
“I saw a lot of focus on the electric cars in
countries like Singapore, Malaysia and even
India. We should also be talking more about it
here,” she said..
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 insideoman
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7 5
PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR RECEIVED WHO warns of MERS again
ZAINAB AL NASSRI
Student hub inaugurated
MUSCAT, OCT 2

A new World Health Organization (WHO) report has

at Middle East College
warned of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
(MERS) saying “the virus is in camels everywhere”.
According to Maria Van Kerkhove, an expert on disease
outbreak, MERS virus is in Qatar and the United Arab
Emirates. However, there’s no official information about
the existence of the disease in camels in Oman.
“We don’t have any infection in the country so far.
If there is, we will take proper measures,” said Dr Hadi
al Lawati, Director of Animal Resources Department at
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. “Two camel vaccines
have been developed, but only one, developed by the
Jenner Institute, is in field trials,” said Kerkhove.
Almost all outbreaks have so far originated in Arabian
Gulf, but MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) can infect
humans wherever there are one-humped dromedary
camels. Two-humped bactrians are not affected. LAKSHMI KOTHANETH
All camels should be diagnosed, quarantined and students. In addition to Omani students, it
MUSCAT, OCT 2
vaccinated before they enter the Gulf from the Horn of has students from 10 nationalities.
Africa, where the disease surveillance is poor. The Middle East College’s (MEC) Student Dr Abdullah al Sabahy, Co-Founder and
MERS-CoV appears to have originated in Arabian Gulf Hub was inaugurated on Monday by Dr Chairperson of the Middle East College,
Gen Sultan bin Mohammed al Numani, Minister of the Royal Office, received in his office on
in 2012. In Oman, the first case of MERS was detected in
Monday Ahmed Abbas Ramadhan, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Sultanate. The Rawya bint Saud al Busaidiya, Minister of said: “This is one of the fundamentals of
meeting exchanged cordial conversations and discussed topics of concern to the two 2013. Only one case was reported this year in a 54-year-
old man from the Governorate of Al Batinah, registering Higher Education. education. The stress is not just on lectures
brotherly countries. The two sides reviewed march of the good bilateral relations binding the The college has 75 companies run by and being in a classroom where people
Sultanate and the sisterly Palestine to serve the joint interests, besides touching on a number a total of eight MERS cases in Oman since the outbreak of
of issues of common concern. — ONA the disease. students continuing their studies, while the learn, but having an infrastructure such as a
7,000-square metre student hub is meant to student hub, where there are sports facilities
nourish the trend, according to the MEC and space where they can meet to have
authorities. corridor discussions where lot of ideas can

Copies of
ambassadors’
Part of Bidbid-Sur road to After inaugurating the student hub, the
minister said: “It is a great place to showcase
students’ achievements and projects. There’s
an excellent bond between students and the
be generated. This is part of the educational
philosophy we have adopted at MEC.”
The student hub, designed by world-
renowned Italian architects Ramon Pascolat

credentials be opened this month staff. I would like to invite other heads of
universities and deans to visit this hub. It is
not just a place for leisure and entertainment,
but there are also elements of science,
and Moira Morsut, houses a full-fledged
1,055 sqm sports hall that has facilities
for playing football, basketball, volley ball
and badminton. It also hosts a 1,150 sqm

received technology and artistic achievements.”

MUSCAT: Sayyid Badr bin Hamad
al Busaidy, Secretary-General of
the Foreign Ministry, received in
his office on Monday copies of
credentials of Mohammad Golam
Sarwar, Ambassador of Bangladesh
appointed to the Sultanate, Hassan
Abdullah Ali, Ambassador of
Ethiopia appointed to the Sultanate,
and Renaud Salins, Ambassador of
France appointed to the Sultanate.
Sayyid Badr welcomed the
ambassadors, wishing them success
in their missions and the bilateral
relations between the Sultanate
and their countries continuous
progress and growth in various
areas to benefit the joint interests.
Meanwhile, Sayyid Badr
also received Lana Khalil,
Representative of the United
Nations Children’s (UNICEF) to
the Sultanate, wishing her success
in her new tour of duty.
The meetings were attended by
a number of officials at the Foreign
Ministry. — ONA
IBRA: Salim bin Mohammed al Nuaimi, Under-
Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and
Communications for Transportation, said in a
statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the
ministry is about to open the first part of the second
stage of the 131 km long Bidbid-Sur road dualisation
project, which starts from Masroon in the Wilayat
of Ibra in the Governorate of North Al Sharqiyah to
the Wilayat of Sur in the Governorate of South Al
Sharqiyah. He pointed out that the part to be opened
this month is 18 km, in the Wilayat of Bidiya in the
Governorate of North Al Sharqiyah.
He added, the route of this part has been amended
to avoid passing inside the wilaya.
“This part includes three flyovers and two tunnels
to serve the traffic activity for Al Dhahir, Al Wasil,
Al Ghabbi, Al Shariq, Al Muntarib, Al Hawiyah and
Helat Al Wabariyah villages in the Wilayat of Bidiya,”
he furthered.
At the same time, the ministry completed the
second part of the first stage of the Bidbid-Sur road
dualisation project as the last 6 km of the 115 km long
of the dualisation of Al Rusayl-Nizwa road dualisation
project, between Masroon in the Wilayat of Ibra in the
Governorate of North Al Sharqiyah, has been opened
before traffic. — ONA
The Middle East College, which opened
in 2002, today has more than 5,000
SU holds orientation day
MUSALLAM AL SAIDI
MUSCAT, OCT 2
Sohar University on Sunday held an
orientation day for the new students
admitted to various programmes for
academic year 2017-18.
The orientation programme was held at
the Great Hall of the Learning Resources
Centre in order to introduce students to the
university, its facilities and services.
It began with a video presentation on the
university, its annexes and services.
multipurpose hall, student lounges, student-
run souvenir and stationery shop, prayer
halls and food court.
It was followed by a welcome speech
by the Vice-Chancellor Prof Barry Win
and a talk by Deputy Vice-Chancellor for
Academic Affairs Prof Hamza Idris.
An overview of the missions and
their systems was presented by Head of
Internal Missions at the Ministry of Higher
Education, Khalil al Farsi.
The total number of students at the
university has reached more than 7,000
students for different courses: Diploma,
Advanced Diploma, BA and MA.

WOMEN IN POLICING Workshop on

media, crises
management
MUSCAT: A two-day
workshop on media
and crises management
organised by the Omani
Journalists Association
(OJA) began on Monday
with the aim of shedding
light on the correct media
concepts in dealing with
crises.
The workshop aims to
identify the concepts and
the arts of the press work in
dealing with any important
media event, how to
deal with it in terms of
different specialised testing
methods and to introduce
the concept of crisis as a
media event that media is
The Royal Oman Police took part in the international conference on women in policing in Cairns city in Australia. The conference interested in.
discussed the role of the military woman in combating corruption, maintaining order and achieving security and peace. — ONA The workshop dealt with
defining the concepts and
positive elements that the
media should undertake

Children in hospital get gifts

towards the various means
of these crises, how these
crises are managed and
contained, the role and
contribution of the media
STAFF REPORTER regarding the immediacy of
Held in collaboration with Wattayah Motors, the transferring the event from
MUSCAT, OCT 2
event saw members of Volkswagen Owners Club Oman its location with depth and
As a gesture of providing comfort to the sick, children gathering at the hospital and spending time with the sick comprehensiveness that
admitted to the Royal Hospital were recently given gifts by children. helps to understand the
members of Volkswagen Owners Club Oman. “At Volkswagen Oman, we work towards getting dimensions of the crisis and
A total of 30 children were gifted with electronic tablets closer to the communities in which we operate. We also its various developments
and effects.
to keep them relaxed and entertained during their time at believe that sometimes it’s the simplest of things that can Thirty-five people
the hospital. make a profound difference and that was the focus of our participated in the
“I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to collaboration with the Owners Club for this visit and the workshop from various
Volkswagen Oman for their support in this endeavour,” gifts — nothing more than to put a smile on the faces of media outlets in the
said Muntaser al Barwani, a member of Volkswagen children who are having a difficult time,” said David Ryan, Sultanate and a number of
Owners Club Oman. General Manager of Volkswagen Oman. members of OJA. — ONA
insideoman
6 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7

Forum puts stress on safe, IPA BOARD HOLDS MEETING

effective use of medicines

PHARMACISTS DAY: Role of pharmacists in enhancing the level
of health services highlighted
KAUSHALENDRA SINGH
SALALAH, OCT. 2
The role of the pharmacists
in providing comprehensive
pharmaceutical care and enhancing
the level of health services were
discussed during the Dhofar
Pharmacy Forum held in presence of
senior health officials, medical experts
and pharmacists drawn from different MUSCAT: The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) the Board administrative system and some projects implemented to some
parts of Oman. of Directors on Monday held its 3rd meeting at the Ministry of public agencies. The most notable of these projects include
The event highlighted safe Civil Service HQs’ under the chairmanship of Shaikh Khalid bin the training project for the middle administrative managers,
and effective use of medicines Omar al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service and Chairman of the developing the performance indicators for the Institute in the
and importance of pharmacy IPA. field of providing administrative advice and researches. The
The board reviewed the report on the Institute activities activities reflected the good performance of the Institute in
professionals, who play major role during the training year 2017, as well as the efforts made terms of quality and quantity. The Board also approved IPA’s
in health management of patients. to meet the training needs of the employees of the State’s draft organisational chart. — ONA
It also exhorted the pharmacists to
keep on upgrading their knowledge
about developments in the health
sector.
Said bin Ahmed Jaboob, Director- Sultanate has ESO contest to raise
General of Pharmacy, explained the
special position occupied by the lowest adult
pharmaceutical sector in the medical
system and said it reflected in this
year’s global theme of ‘Scientific
research on pharmaceutical care,
HIV cases green awareness
pharmacist at your service’. FROM PAGE 1
The event, according to him, pharmaceutical work in line with the event organisers for their commitment Adolescent girls and young
coincided with the International Day main role of the pharmacists as one to a right cause. “This initiative is in women aged between 15 and 24
of Pharmacy. He gave an outline of of the main pillars of the healthcare line with the Sultanate’s commitment years are at particularly high risk of
strategy being adopted by the Ministry structure. to bring about a qualitative change in HIV infection, accounting for 20 per
of Health to upgrade the performance The event opened under the the healthcare sector,” he said. cent of new HIV infections among
of the sector and sense the challenges auspices of Mohammed bin Abu Bakr Topics like quality indicators of adults globally in 2015, despite
being faced by the pharmacy al Ghassani, Vice-Chairman of Majlis pharmaceutical care; Impact of drug accounting for just 11 per cent of the
professionals and staff to make Ash’shura. Dr Khalid bin Mohammed policy and impact on patient care; adult population in this region.
pace with the rapid developments al Mashaikhi, Director-General of Anti-Microbial stewardship; Supply “In geographical areas with
in all areas of professional practices Health Services in Dhofar, exhorted chain management; and Cold chain higher HIV prevalence, gender
and the application of the latest the pharmacy staff to have a passionate management were covered during the imbalance is more pronounced.
quality standards to improve the feeling for the patients and hailed the forum. In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent
KABEER YOUSUF
girls and young women account for Municipality, to accomplish this task.
MUSCAT, OCT 2
25 per cent of new HIV infections The ESO has been distributing jute

Private education makes big leap among adults, and women account
for 56 per cent of new HIV infections
among adults,” points out the report.
Harmful gender norms and
Littering is one of the biggest
problems dogging the cities these
days, says Yusra M Jaffer, Public
bags to its members to discourage the
use of plastic bags.
“We have many ongoing
Relations Manager, Environment campaigns to reduce littering in

towards academic excellence inequalities, insufficient access

to education and sexual and
reproductive health services, poverty,
Society of Oman (ESO).
Speaking on the sidelines of ESO’s
Public Speaking Campaign press
public places. However, enforcement
of the littering legislation can bring in
positive changes and our environment
food insecurity and violence, are at briefing, she welcomed the law that can breathe easy if littering is fully
SALEH AL SHAIBANY
services and quality of education to the root of the increased HIV risk of makes littering a punishable offence. stopped,” she said.
MUSCAT, OCT 2
comply with the 21st century needs young women and adolescent girls. The public speaking contest “While legislation can impose rules
The Department of Private Schools is as well as fulfil students’ and parents’ Despite the low number of cases aims at raising public awareness on and regulations, I strongly believe
making a big push in keeping up with aspirations,” she said. involving surviving patients, Oman environmental issues and envisages it is the self-imposed control that is
the latest education developments in She also emphasised that private has demonstrated a commitment youth as brand ambassadors for most desired. Unless an individual
an effort to comply with the global schools play a crucial role in the to the prevention of the disease and Oman’s clean environment drive. decides to change himself/ herself, a
teaching standards. development of the country and the has succeeded in exerting maximum She said there were a number society cannot be changed. Hence,
In an exclusive interview with ministry always seeks ways to move control on HIV transmission of environment-related problems, keeping our environment clean is
Oman Observer, Fatma bint Abdul forward by following international via blood and blood products in most of which were due to reckless the prime responsibility of every
Abbas al Noorani, the Director- practices. It also aims to develop healthcare settings. behaviour of the people. Among these single citizen and resident,” Yusra
General of Private Schools at the Fatma al Noorani teaching methods in order to provide In the past four years, Oman has are littering of parks, beaches and added.
Ministry of Education, said there has students with the scientific knowledge, established a strong programme to places of touristic importance. Meanwhile, there have been calls
been a considerable progress in private “For example, we consult school practical skills and methods that eliminate HIV transmission from According to her, a change in for increasing fines on littering and
schools to improve the teaching of owners on our by-laws so they can will help them be innovative for the mothers to their children, offering the habits of people can cause a sea implementing the civic authority’s
curriculums. contribute their opinions and advices. benefit of the country. HIV testing to all pregnant women change in the way Oman looks. prerogative to punish offenders with
“The ministry has taken private The by-laws give them the support “Right curriculum and good with an acceptance rate of 99 per Yusra said the ESO is coordinating stricter actions. Currently, litterbugs
education in Oman to a different level. and guidance they need to make teaching methods will make our cent and with almost universal with several ministries and the public are fined RO 200-500. If the offence is
We are constantly monitoring private progress in the right direction,” the students well-prepared for higher antenatal care. authorities, including the Muscat repeated, the fine is doubled.
schools to make sure they comply director-general pointed out. education and eventually compete
with the acceptable standards. It does “We fully acknowledged the better when they go look for jobs.
not mean we impose on them, but we
work together with school owners to
improve the quality of education,” Al
Noorani told the Observer.
challenges they face as providers of
private education. So, it is important
for us to offer our advice, and at the
same time attend to their needs.
A sound basic education is what
is needed to develop a nation,” the
director-general added.
Statistics show the number of
Oman Air’s supply chain unit
She explained that the partnership
of merit between the ministry and
private educators in the past decade
has paid good dividends.
These meetings also are aimed at
informing private schools owners of
the importance of adhering to the
general requirements to improve their
students in private schools in the new
academic year 2017-18 increased by
seven per cent to 110,078 compared
with the same period last year.
wins ISO certification
MUSCAT: Oman Air’s Supply
Chain Management (SCM) has
been awarded the ISO 9001:2015
National Cyber Security Competition session kicks off at SQU certification by Bureau Veritas under
UKAS accreditation, with certificate
MUSCAT: The orientation session of Oman National Cyber be during October 26-28, and the final round will be held in
number IND17.4532 U/Q.
Security CTF Competition hosted by the SQU Information November 11 at Sultan Qaboos University.
Systems Department started on Monday. The competition is organised by Cyber Talent and Arab ISO 9001:2015 is the latest
Winners of the competition will qualify to play in the Regional Cyber Security Centre, and hosted by Oman CERT, internationally recognised standard
Arab Finals in December. with Micro Trend strategic partner and the Information for quality management, ensuring
The CTF will be a Jeopardy style where every team will Systems Department, at CEPS, SQU as the supporting that organisations have proven
have a list of challenges in different categories like reverse partner. Dr Mohammed al Fairuz, the SQU focal contact of processes in place to meet customer
engineering, web security, digital forensics, network the competition, indicated that this contest allows students requirements.
security and others. For every challenge solved, the team to get hands-on cyber security. It is an opportunity for
The accreditation is granted maintained.” growth, sales margins and competitive
will get a certain amount of points depending on the the students to demonstrate their skills and apply their
difficulty of the challenges. The team who will get the knowledge in scenario-based challenges. He also added independently and signifies the “The effective management of our advantage, improve employee
highest score at the end of the day will be the winning that CTF is a world recognised competition, and exposing high quality of the participating supply chain is vital to the overall motivation, awareness and morale
team. The winner team will get ticket and accommodation Omani students to such contest will help organisations organisation’s work. effectiveness of the airline whilst it and enhance customer satisfaction.
to travel to Egypt to compete with other regional teams. to identify the players’ strengths and therefore ease the Imad al Lawati, Oman Air’s may not be visible to our customers, ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management
More information and competition registration can be procurement process accordingly. Vice-President for Supply Chain it has played a key role in Oman Air’s System (QMS) is internationally
found at: https://cybertalents.com/. The site also has several Dr Kamla al Busaidi, the Head of the Information Management, said: “Oman Air is continuing success.” recognised as the world’s leading
exercises that participants can practice and prepare for the Systems Department, said that hosting the final round
proud to announce that Supply Chain ISO (International Standards quality management standard
competition. of Oman National Cyber Security CTF Competition is to
The competition orientation sessions were held in promote awareness and knowledge sharing in the cyber Management operation has gained Organization) certification is aimed systematic approach to management,
different colleges and universities in Oman between security and information systems security field among ISO 9001:2015 certification, which to help improve business efficiency continual improvement and factual
September 25-28. The completion online qualification will students in SQU and Oman. is a clear demonstration of the high and often has positive impact on approach to decision-making.
standard that has been achieved and investment, market share, sales — ONA
 region
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7 7
Deadly twin suicide attack hits Damascus IN BRIEF

BEIRUT: Two suicide bombers
attacked a police station in Damascus
on Monday, killing a number of
civilians and policemen, the interior
minister said, in the first such attack in
the Syrian capital since July.
Four militants carried out the
attack, killing more than 10 people,
the pro-Damascus TV channel Al
Mayadeen said. Russia’s RIA news
agency reported that 15 people were
killed.
Militants targeted the station in
the Al Midan neighbourhood and
clashed with police officers there,
Interior Minister Mohammad al Shaar
said in comments broadcast by state
television from the police station.
One attacker blew himself up at the
main entrance and another detonated
his explosive device on the first floor,
he said. There was no immediate claim
of responsibility for the attack.
Footage broadcast by state TV
showed bodies wrapped in shrouds at
the scene and fire fighters putting out
flames. Previous attacks in Damascus
have been claimed by both IS and the
Tahrir al Sham alliance, which is led
by the group formerly known as the
Nusra Front.
Meanwhile, Raqa’s hospital, a big
complex pocked with bullets holes,
whose capture will signal the end of
Palestinian PM visits Gaza in
reconciliation move with Hamas
GAZA: The Palestinian prime
minister crossed into the Gaza Strip
on Monday in a move towards
reconciliation between the
mainstream Fatah party and Hamas,
a decade after the group seized the
territory in a civil war.
Rami al Hamdallah said at
a welcome ceremony his unity
government would begin assuming
control of Gaza’s administrative
affairs, as well as “security
responsibilities and responsibility for
crossings and borders”.
Hamas made its dramatic
step towards unity last month,
disbanding its Gaza shadow
government.
Under previous understandings,
some 3,000 Fatah security men
would be integrated gradually
into a Gaza police force overseen
Smoke billows from buildings following a reported air strike on Ain Tarma in the Eastern Ghouta area, a rebel
stronghold east of the Syrian capital, on Monday.
IS’s crumbling Syrian capital, lies just
200 yards from a front-line base of the
Syrian Democratic Forces.
Beyond it, a roundabout where the
militants once displayed the heads of
their enemies, crucified people and
by an Interior Ministry headed by
Hamdallah.
That deployment would still
leave Hamas’s armed wing —
analysts say it has at least 25,000
well-equipped fighters — the
dominant power in the Palestinian
enclave of 2 million people.
“We return to Gaza in order to
conclude reconciliation and national
unity and end the painful impacts of
divisions and to rebuild Gaza brick
by brick,” said Hamdallah, who is an
independent.
Forces loyal to Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas lost
control of Gaza in fighting with
Hamas in 2007.
Hamas’s reversal is the most
significant step towards Palestinian
reconciliation since the unity
government was formed in 2014.
held military parades at the height of
their expansion is another strategic
prize sought by the US-backed militia
alliance.
Commanders directing the battle
on the ground say seizing these and a
TURKISH CHIEF OF STAFF IN IRAN
Turkish Chief of Staff General Hulusi Akar with his Iranian counterpart Major General Mohammad Baqeri in Tehran,
Iran, on Monday.
— AFP
nearby stadium, IS’s last strongholds
in the city, could take as little as a week
once a final assault begins against just
a few hundred remaining militants.
But the ultra-hardline group
is holding civilian hostages in the
hospital and stadium and using sniper
fire, booby traps and tunnels that
emerge behind SDF lines to slow the
battle.
The SDF faces a tough final
showdown with IS which commanders
say will end at the hospital, now almost
completely surrounded.
“There are many civilians being
held. We can’t use heavy weaponry
or air strikes around the hospital or
stadium, so we’ll encircle them as we
advance,” commander Haval Gabar
said at the front-line base, a home that
SDF units captured last week.
“The hospital will be the last point
(in Raqa) to be freed,” he said on
Saturday, as bullets coming from the
sprawling medical complex whizzed
over the base.
The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish
and Arab militias dominated by the
Kurdish YPG, has been fighting since
June to drive IS from Raqa city, backed
by air strikes and special forces from a
US-led coalition.
The assault, which YPG officials
initially predicted would take weeks,
has dragged on as IS bogs down forces
with tactics used in other bastions
such as Iraq’s Mosul.
Senior Kurdish commanders
recently said Raqa would fall by the
end of October. — Agencies
— Reuters
African migrants
to Yemen tortured
for ransom
DUBAI: Migrants making their way
from the Horn of Africa to Yemen are
frequently abducted and tortured by
“criminal gangs”, the UN Migration
Agency warned on Monday.
Despite a war that has killed
thousands and pushed Yemen to the
brink of famine, some 6,000 migrants
enter the country every month,
according to the UN’s International
Organization for Migration (IOM).
They often come from Ethiopia and
Somalia, hoping to make their way
overland to the more prosperous Gulf
countries to find work.
Many are abducted by criminal
gangs upon arrival in Yemen and
tortured for ransom, according to IOM.
“A common technique is to call
the migrant’s family while allowing
burning plastic from an empty water
bottle (to) drip on a migrant’s skin
causing burns and excruciating pain,”
said IOM director general William Lacy
Swing.
IS torches oil wells
in northern Iraq
BAGHDAD: IS militants set fire to
three oil wells near Hawija, west of the
oil city of Kirkuk, one of two areas of
Iraq still under their control, military
and oil officials said on Monday.
Iraqi security forces were using
bulldozers to control the fires started
by the militants in the early hours of
Saturday to slow the advance of US-
backed Iraqi forces and militia groups
towards Hawija town, military officials
said. The Allas oilfield, 35 km south of
Hawija, was one of the main sources of
revenue for IS, which in 2014 declared
a caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq.
“Terrorists are trying to use the
rising smoke to avert air strikes
while retreating from the area
towards Hawija,” said army Colonel
Mohammed al Jabouri.
Military officials said the fire had
been brought under control at one of
the wells, while the other two were still
burning. They said it would take about
three days to put out the fires.
Court clears
Binladin Group in
deadly crane crash
RIYADH: A Saudi Arabian court
has cleared the Binladin Group of
responsibility for the 2015 collapse
of a crane in Mecca which killed 100

In first, Saudi king set for Russia visit
MOSCOW: King Salman of Saudi Arabia will arrive in
Russia this week to conduct the first official visit to the
country by a Saudi king, a senior Kremlin aide said on
Monday.
“We are awaiting the king’s visit on Thursday,” President
Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, was
quoted by the state TASS news agency as saying.
Saudi Arabia’s ministry of information called the visit by
King Salman “historic” as it would be the first official visit
to Russia by a Saudi monarch. Putin visited Riyadh in 2007.
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah arrives to take control of Gaza The visit comes a month before members of the Opec
from the Hamas group, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Monday. — Reuters oil cartel, of which Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer, are
due to meet with the other nations that have joined them in
people, the Saudi press reported on
Monday.
The Saudi-based Binladin
construction firm belongs to the
cutting crude output, including Russia, to discuss extending
family of the late Al Qaeda leader
the pact that has helped prop up prices. Osama bin Laden. At least 107 people
King Salman is expected to ask Russia’s support and were killed and some 400 injured on
commitment to ensure that the production cuts deal September 11, 2015, when the crane
continues, following Saudi Arabia’s cut of its output to toppled over near the Grand Mosque
around 10 million barrels per day to help control a glut in in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site, just days
world oil supplies. before the annual Haj pilgrimage.
The Binladin Group’s defence team
Opec and its allies agreed from the beginning of 2017
claimed the group could not have
to cut their production by around 1.8 million barrels per predicted the severe thunderstorm
day for six months. It was subsequently extended through and violent winds that caused the
March 2018. The pact has helped reduce crude supplies crane to fall, according to the Arabic-
on the market and the price to climb to around $55 language Asharq al Awsat daily.
per barrel currently. — AFP — Agencies

Hard choices for Syrian industrialists in ruins of Aleppo

AMMAN/ALEPPO: When Syria’s civil war
came to the industrial city of Aleppo in 2012,
two textile makers had to choose whether to
stay or move their businesses away.
Nine months after fighting in Aleppo ended,
the struggle of the one who stayed in the city to
reopen his factory shows why the other will not
return yet from the security of neighbouring
Jordan. Restoring the Aleppo industries that
have for decades underpinned economy is vital
if President Bashar al Assad is to turn battlefield
success into a fuller return of state power.
Moustafa Kawai, who remained in Aleppo,
moved his cotton-weaving machines to a
temporary site but now has workers clearing
his battered factory of debris to reopen it.
“Our biggest problem is electricity. There
are also very few workers because everyone’s in
the army. Sanctions affect the work. Customers
can’t come here. Transferring money is difficult.
It’s hard to buy spare parts,” he said.
Mahmoud Akkad, a carpet manufacturer
who like many Aleppo industrialists left Syria
Nine months after
fighting in Aleppo
ended, the struggle of
those who stayed in the
city shows why others
will not return yet from
the security of neigh-
bouring Jordan
during the war, faces no such problems in
Jordan where he has rebuilt his plant and kept
up exports to old customers around the world.
“What do I benefit if I want to set up a factory
and there is no safety,” he said, explaining the
benefits of moving to an industrial zone in a
country unaffected by Middle East turmoil.
The International Monetary Fund estimated
last year that Syria’s economy had shrunk
A employee works at Akkad’s carpet factory in Jordan Industrial Estates Company in Al Muwaqar
south of Amman, Jordan.
by 57 per cent during the conflict and its
manufacturing sector by 77 per cent.
The war has since gone better for Assad
— Reuters
as his army and its allies pushed rebels from
Aleppo and other enclaves near important
cities, and IS from energy fields.
Growing confidence is evident in a new
banknote bearing Assad’s face for the first time
and in Damascus holding its once-annual trade
fair after a long hiatus.
But the war still dominates Syria’s economy,
even where the fighting has stopped.
Most Aleppo factories were destroyed,
badly damaged or looted. Their workers fled as
refugees or became combatants.
Despite a new power line to the city, there
is little electricity, leaving people reliant on
expensive diesel generators. Water must
be pumped electrically. Fighting continues
outside Aleppo. The army and allied militias
who control the city operate checkpoints that
some Syrians say demand bribes to let goods or
workers pass, a charge the military denies.
Travel outside the city means using
narrow roads to bypass rebel territory and
more checkpoints. Western sanctions make
foreign trade much harder, hindering the
purchase of new equipment and payments for
commercial deals. — Reuters
world
8 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
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Body clock geneticists take 2 women deny murdering North

Nobel Medicine Prize
STOCKHOLM: US geneticists
Jeffrey C Hall, Michael Rosbash
and Michael W Young were
awarded the Nobel Medicine Prize
Monday for shedding light on the
biological clock that governs the
sleep-wake cycles of most living
things.
The team’s work revealed
the role of genes in setting the
“circadian clock” which regulates
sleep and eating patterns,
hormones and body temperature,
the Nobel Assembly said.
“Their discoveries explain how
plants, animals and humans adapt
their biological rhythm so that it
is synchronised with the Earth’s
revolutions.”
All life on Earth is tuned to the
rotation of our planet. Scientists
have long known that living
organisms, including humans,
have an internal timekeeper that
helps them anticipate and adapt to
the rhythm of the day.
Hall, 72, Rosbash, 73, and
Young, 68, “were able to peek
inside our biological clock and
elucidate its inner workings,” the
Nobel jury said.
They identified genes that
regulate the clock, and the
mechanism by which light can
synchronise it. Rosbash told
Swedish Radio he was rattled
when the committee’s call woke
him from his sleep at 5:10 am.
“I was called on the landline
next to my bed which never
rings unless someone has died
2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or
Medicine winner Michael Rosbash,
a Brandeis University professor.
or something of this magnitude
happens,” he recounted. “I
was restless, both literally and
figuratively. My wife said: ‘Please
start to breathe’.”
The circadian clock is what
causes jetlag — which happens
when our internal clock and
external environment move out of
sync as we change time zones.
It also regulates sleep, which is
critical for normal brain function.
Circadian dysfunction has been
linked to depression, bipolar
disorder, cognitive function,
memory formation and some
neurological diseases.
Studies have indicated that a
chronic misalignment between
our lifestyle and circadian clock —
irregular shift work for example —
may be associated with an increased
risk for cancer, neurodegenerative
diseases, metabolic disorders and
inflammation. — AFP
Korean leader’s half-brother
HIGH-PROFILE TRIAL: Indonesian, Vietnamese women plead not guilty to murder
KUALA LUMPUR: Two women
accused of murdering the estranged
half-brother of North Korean leader
Kim Jong Un with a banned nerve
agent pleaded not guilty at the start
of a high-profile murder trial in a
Malaysian court on Monday.
Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and
Doan Thi Huong, 28, a Vietnamese,
are charged with killing Kim Jong
Nam by smearing his face with VX, a
chemical poison banned by the United
Nations, at Kuala Lumpur airport
on February 13. Both women wore
bullet-proof vests as they were led
into the court on the outskirts of the
Malaysian capital. They face the death
penalty if convicted.
Police have also named four North
Koreans as suspects in the case and an
Interpol red notice, an international
alert just short of an arrest warrant,
has been issued for the North Koreans,
who remain at large.
Defence lawyers demanded that
the prosecution immediately name
the four other suspects, who have also
been charged, so they can prepare their
case. Judge Azmi Ariffin dismissed
their request. The two women nodded
their heads when the charges were
read out by two interpreters. They
pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution said the women’s
actions showed “intent to kill the
Hisyam Teh Toh Teik (R), one of the lawyers for Vietnamese woman Doan Thi
Huong, speaks to journalists during a break in the trial for Huong and Indonesian
woman Siti Aisyah, at the Shah Alam High Court in Shah Alam, outside Kuala
Lumpur. — AFP
victim” by smearing his face and
eyes with VX nerve agent, which a
Malaysian post-mortem confirmed
had killed Kim.
The women told their lawyers they
did not know they were participating
in a deadly attack and believed they
were carrying out a prank for a reality
TV show.
“The prank practice carried out by
the first and second accused with the
supervision of the four who are still at
large was preparation to see through
their common intention to kill the
victim,” lead prosecutor Muhamad
Iskandar Ahmad said in his opening
statement.
The two women sat quietly in the
packed courtroom. Siti was dressed in
a black floral suit, while Huong wore
a white long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans.
Juliana Idris, who works at
the airport, told the court a man
later identified as Kim Jong Nam
approached her and asked her to take
him to a police station.
She said the man, who spoke
English, told her he had been “attacked
by a woman from behind ... another
one closed his eyes”. “His hands were
shaking a bit, I don’t know why,” she
said. Police Lance Corporal Mohd
Zulkarnain Sanudin, who was on duty
at the airport, said Juliana had brought
Kim Jong Nam to him.
He said Kim told him a substance
had been wiped on his face. Kim’s eyes
Police have also were red and he could see some liquid
on his face, Zulkarnain said. He also
named four North said the he had wrongly recorded Kim
Koreans as suspects ‘nationality as South Korean.
in the case and an “The police report I made showed
the nationality as South Korean, while
Interpol red notice, on the passport, it was written DPR
an international alert Korea, whereby I did not know what
just short of an arrest DPR meant. I was only sure that Korea
warrant was South Korea,” he told the court.
The case continues on Tuesday.
— Reuters

FRENCH MPS TO VOTE ON SECURE BEFORE VOLCANO

TOUGH ANTI-TERROR LAW

PARIS: French lawmakers will vote Tuesday on a tough
new counter-terrorism law designed to end the country’s
two-year state of emergency which critics say expands
police powers at a cost to civil liberties.
The vote comes following a string of attacks in France
since 2015 and just two days after more bloodshed in the
southern port city of Marseille when a suspected knifeman
killed two women.
While Interior Minister Gerard Collomb defends the
bill as a “lasting response to a lasting threat”, it has come
under fire from the French left and human rights groups.
“What makes us angry is that it’s a state of emergency that
would become permanent and roll back our freedoms,” said
Christine Lazerges, the head of the National Consultative
Committee on Human Rights, a state body.
The law, designed to replace the state of emergency
that France has been under since the November 2015 Paris
attacks, would come into force on November 1 if approved
by both houses of parliament.
The lower house will vote Tuesday on the bill which
will give authorities the power to place people under house
arrest, order house searches and ban public gatherings
without the prior approval of a judge.
The state of emergency was meant to be temporary
but was extended six times for various reasons, such as the
need to protect major sporting and cultural events, as well
as presidential and parliamentary elections earlier this year.
The vote comes after a knifeman stabbed two women to
death on Sunday at the main train station in Marseille. He
was shot dead by soldiers.
The IS claimed the attacker was one of its “soldiers”,
though a source close to the investigation said no solid
evidence linked him to the group.
The stabbings bring to 241 the number of people killed
in attacks in France since January 2015, while Collomb said
last month that 12 planned attacks have been foiled since
the start of the year.
In an environment of widespread fear about violence,
extensions of the state of emergency have met with little
public opposition, with critics of the new law limited to the
hard left and human rights groups. A fisherman carries diving gear used by foreign tourists from a boat on Jemeluk beach, some 15 km away from Mount
— AFP Agung, a volcano on the highest alert level, in Amed, on the resort island of Bali. — Reuters

Carles Puigdemont says vote is binding, demands police withdraw in Madrid stand-off
Catalan leader calls for international mediation
MADRID: The leader of Catalonia
called for international mediation on
Monday to resolve a stand-off with
Madrid, the day after hundreds were
injured as police tried to forcibly
disrupt a referendum on independence
that had been ruled illegal.
“It is not a domestic matter,” Carles
Puigdemont told a news conference
on Monday. “It’s obvious that we need
mediation.”
Sunday’s events in the autonomous
region dramatically raised the
temperature in a festering split
between Madrid and Barcelona and
made it harder for the two sides to
sit down to try to find a political
compromise.
Images of riot police using rubber
bullets and batons in a show of force
to stop the vote shocked Spain and
drew international condemnation.
Authorities said almost 900 people
had been injured.
Puigdemont had gone ahead with
the referendum in defiance of a court
order. On Monday, he said the vote
was valid and binding, and had to be
applied.
He urged Prime Minister Mariano
Sunday’s events
dramatically raised
the temperature in
a festering split be-
tween Madrid and
Barcelona and made
it harder for the two
sides to sit down to
try to find a political
compromise.
Rajoy to say whether he was in favour
of mediation in talks over the region’s
future, which he said should be
overseen by the European Union.
He added that he had received no
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont speaks during a news conference at
Generalitat Palace in Barcelona. — Reuters
indication that the EU could sponsor
this mediating role, and said Brussels
had been timid and lacked courage on
the matter.
In a statement issued shortly before
Puigdemont made his proposal, the
European Commission said: “We call
on all relevant players to now move
very swiftly from confrontation to
dialogue. Violence can never be an
instrument in politics.”
The ballot, which asked voters if
they wanted an independent republic,
has no legal status as it was banned by
Spain’s Constitutional Court for being
at odds with the 1978 constitution,
which states Spain cannot be broken
up.
The overwhelming “Yes” vote
among the 42 per cent who authorities
said had made it to the polls was not a
surprise as those favouring continued
union had been expected to stay at
home en masse. Opinion polls in the
run-up to the vote had put support
for independence at only around
40 per cent. On Monday, Justice
Minister Rafael Catala said Spain
could use its constitutional power to
suspend Catalan’s existing autonomy
if the regional parliament declared
independence.
“We will use the entire force of
the law. Our obligation is to resolve
problems and we’ll do it, even though
using certain measures might hurt,” he
said in a television interview.
— Reuters
Hungarian oppn
leader resigns as
2018 poll looms
BUDAPEST: Hungarian Socialist Party
(MSZP) leader Laszlo Botka announced
his resignation Monday, after he
failed to unify political opposition to
conservative Prime Minister Viktor
Orban ahead of the country’s 2018
parliamentary election.
“Democratic parties don’t want
to win, but only to claim a handful
of seats in the parliament of Orban’s
regime,” Botka said in an email
distributed to Hungarian media.
The elections are due to take place
by April, with the exact date yetto be
set and Orban’s Fidesz party tipped as
the clear favourite.
The 44-year-old Botka, who has
been mayor of the city of Szeged
since2002, was elected MSZP leader in
May. Since then, he has not managed
to boost the party’s popularity, nor
persuade the fragmented centre-left
and liberal parties to unify into a single
opposition bloc. The latest polls place
the MSZP in third place, behind Fidesz
and the far-right radical nationalist
Jobbik party. He faces criticism
from within Hungary as well as
internationally over moves to restrict
political opposition and clamp down
on critical media outlets. — dpa
 analysis
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7 9
Power of peace has the capacity to multiply
et another day of the year, but the title In the process of going through and facilities, and best of family

Y
is International Day of Non-Violence
declared by the United Nations.
Violence continues as it has for
centuries. But more than ever, there are
people trying to be aware of traits of
violence, not just in actions but in words
as well.
A conversation with Sister Jayanthi
from the Rajya Yoga Foundation for
Self-Development, who arrived from
the United Kingdom to observe the
International Day of Non-Violence,
gave the deeper meaning of violence.
Violence originates from thoughts.
A knife can be used to stab the body,
but medically the physical wound can
be healed. What about violence in
words? Harsh words can cut a heart
and it can cause lifelong injury, she
explained while being interviewed live
LAKSHMI KOTHANETH
(@omanobserver) on Facebook page of
lakshmiobserver@gmail.com Oman Observer.
anxiety or fear, our body goes through members and colleagues to work with,
changes, resulting in many ailments, but if our thoughts are not peaceful and
Almost all of us carry at least one strain of whose symptoms which may not be our heart is not content, we cannot have
fear or anxiety. But where there is fear, it is visible immediately. a life of fulfilment,” she added.
difficult for peace to exist Many of the diagnoses have been I have often thought about this. Is
defined as “stress-related”. there anyone completely content with
We think finding peace is somebody life? Somehow we seemed to be looking
else’s business. On the other hand, we at that one next thing that is going to
We can always blame it on our of Mahatma Gandhi, who campaigned think our objective in life is to find our make us content and happy.
surrounding, but whom can we blame for non-violence, is the day to check and ambitions and achieve them. But there And so, days go by and another year
for our thoughts? change on ways. is more. comes by for us to observe a day on the
The answer is us. Sister Jayanthi Almost all of us carry at least one Sister Jayanthi says: “If I can calendar.
says: “We need to ask ourselves strain of fear or anxiety. But where there maintain inner peace, it begins to reflect “Be it and then you can radiate it.”
questions especially on this day — Are is fear, it is difficult for peace to exist. on my face, behaviour and words. From When she said that, it rang a bell. How
my thoughts non-violent? Are my “Fear and peace are infectious. Almost personal peace, I create peace within often do we jump to our surroundings?
words non-violent? Or are they based 90 per cent of my fears are unreal. It is family, community and the country. If A honk from a car behind us while
on bitterness? Am I able to keep my in my imagination,” says Sister Jayanthi. there are a number of people in that level waiting at the traffic signal makes us leap
thoughts noble and pure?” “Peace isn’t something you can seek who can practise peace, I believe the forward or skip a heartbeat. Yet, there
Only when we ask these questions by going to the seaside, mountains or power of peace can multiply. I believe in are people who can maintain peace
ourselves are we truly contributing for shopping. It is something inside me. that vision because the original state of even during the worst of situations. So
to the culture of non-violence? That’s If I can connect with that, then I am every human being is peace.” next time, remember: Be the peace and
why October 2, the birth anniversary peaceful.” “We might have the best of resources radiate it.

Armed with smartphones,

Niger youths map flood risks
MORGANE LE CAM

atima Alher watches her step, careful not to sink knee-deep in the water

F
flooding the rice fields of Kirkisoy, a neighbourhood in Niger’s capital.
Her colleagues help lift her over the biggest puddles — a task
complicated by the fact that they barely take their eyes off their
smartphones.
“Never without a phone, that’s our motto,” Alher says.
Flooding has killed at least 56 people and destroyed thousands of
homes since the rainy season began in June, according to the interior
ministry. Efforts to rebuild flood-hit areas are not progressing fast
enough, residents complain.
But since July, a team of 20 “investigators” from OpenStreetMap
Niger — a community of students and young professionals who are
developing a digital map of the country — have been plotting flood-
prone areas on their smartphones in two of Niamey’s districts.
“Flooding devastates the country every year, and yet no effort has
been made to chart the most vulnerable areas,” Alher, a geography
student and leader of the group, said.
Using GeoODK, an app that allows users to collect geo-referenced
information, researchers gather details such as the number of residents
and buildings, construction materials used and the location of electric
poles. “By the end of August we had drawn up a list of 15,000 properties
and buildings,” Alher said. “We then send the data to the interior
ministry, so it can better target its relief efforts in times of flooding.”
The three-month initiative is managed by the government Disaster
Risk Management and Urban Development Project, and funded by the
World Bank.
Standing in the middle of his flooded rice fields, Mohamed Moktar
Innocent says he has given up planting anything this season, and expects
further flooding to wipe out what little harvest he has left.

Skin and bones: Docs fear for Rohingya kids
SAM JAHAN AND NICK PERRY
he five-year-old Rohingya boy was so
In a field clinic for infants suffering the
severest malnutrition, Monura tried to
soothe her gaunt 13-month-old daughter
Researchers from OpenStreetMap researchers have plotted his fields,
which Innocent hopes will allow him to understand when it might be
safe to start planting.
Once the data has been collected and analysed, the mapping project
malnutrition and pneumonia contracted aims to alert populations living in particularly flood-prone areas.
in her enfeebled state. The OpenStreetMap project says it is the first of its kind to map flood-
“Skin and bones,” lamented Shaheen prone areas in Niger, but other initiatives in the area aim to prevent

T
emaciated that doctors could not insert a
drip into his tiny arm, one of thousands
of children facing life-threatening
malnutrition in overstretched Bangladeshi
refugee camps.
“He said he hadn’t eaten anything in
eight days,” said Dr SK Jahidur Rahman
at a clinic run by Bangladeshi medical
charity Gonoshasthaya Kendra.
The lucky ones make it to the
overwhelmed clinics just in time. But
some are not so fortunate, dying before
help can reach them or forced to beg by
the roadside.
The UN says more than 14,100 children
are at risk of dying from malnutrition
in camps where half a million mainly
Rohingya refugees depend entirely on
charities for survival.
Food distribution in the settlements is
still ad hoc and uncoordinated, the UN
says.
Many go hungry as charities scramble
to feed 500,000 mouths every day.
Children make up the bulk of new
arrivals and are most vulnerable to the
paucity of food, with 145,500 infants
under five needing urgent intervention to
stave off malnutrition, aid agencies say.
“Lots of children are showing all the
signs of hunger and malnutrition, which
is an alarming prospect when they’ve
just fled so much horror,” said Save the
Children’s emergency health unit director
Dr Unni Krishnan.
Rian Bebe, whose cheekbones jutted out
below sunken eyes.
A nurse wrapped a measuring tape
around her pencil-thin arm and placed
her tiny frame on the scales — 5.5 kg, less
than the weight of a healthy child half her
age.
UN says more than
14,100 children are
at risk of dying from
malnutrition
in camps
Monura, who like many Rohingya uses
one name, said she had little to feed her
desperately hungry child on the five-day
trek from Myanmar.
“Most sip a little water and walk five
days,” said Dr Rahman.
Monura’s little girl, chewing on a high-
calorie paste, has been rescued just in time
and should make a slow recovery.
But for others it is a different story.
In the largest district hospital in Cox’s
Bazar, a skeletal eight-month-old girl
died after being admitted with severe
Abdur Rahman, the hospital’s resident flooding and minimise any damage.
medical officer, of the dying girl brought One of them has set up an information network among 136 villages,
to his ward. with field agents regularly travelling between flood- or drought-hit
Others drift through the camps zones and the capital. — Thomas Reuters Foundation
desperately seeking food among the
chaotic throngs and begging people in
passing cars for morsels.
On a roadside near rolling hills of
refugee shanties, 15-year-old Sitara Banu
worried endlessly about her weak five-
month-old son Jahidur Rahman.
“He can’t get enough milk. I can’t
manage to get any food for myself either. I
fed him a little banana someone gave me,
but that made him sicker,” she said. ESTABLISHED ON 15 NOVEMBER 1981
In a nearby canteen, men in singlets
sweated over huge cauldrons, toiling EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Abdullah bin Salim al Shueili
throughout the night to make rice, meat
and lentils.
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overseeing the kitchen run by Turkish Fax: 24699643 Tel: SWITCHBOARD: 24649444
government aid body Tika. DIRECT: 24649430/24649437/24649401
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It is a drop in the ocean given the sheer Fax: 24649434
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But for thousands of children, most of Fax: 23293909 DISTRIBUTION AGENT
whom survive on boiled rice and high- Al OMANEYA for Distribution & Marketing, P.O. Box 974,
NIZWA OFFICE P.C. 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
energy biscuits when they can get them,
Tel: 25411099 Tel: 24649351/24649360
this could be their only proper meal of the
P.O. Box 955, P.C. 611 Fax: 24649379
day.
“It makes me feel good,” said head chef
Website: omanobserver.om e-mail: editor@omanobserver.om
Manzar Alam of his part in feeding the
youngsters, who carefully take their curry PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising
P.O. Box 974, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
and rice back to their shanties. — AFP
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india
10 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7
President Ram Nath Kovind paying floral tributes at the Samadhi of the former
Prime Minister, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, at Vijay Ghat, in Delhi.
Kovind, Modi remember Gandhi
on his 148th birth anniversary
NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath
Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Monday remembered the
Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi
on his 148th birth anniversary.
“Bow to beloved ‘Bapu’ on Gandhi
Jayanti.
His noble ideals motivate millions
across the world,” Modi tweeted
sharing a video of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Prime Minister also visited
Rajghat and laid a wreath.
Kovind, Vice President M.
Venkaiah Naidu, former Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh also paid
floral tributes to ‘Bapu’ at Rajghat.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
was born on October 2, 1869, in
Porbandar in Gujarat to Putlibai and
Karamchand Gandhi.
His birthday is also observed as the
International Day of Non-Violence.
Gandhi was assassinated on
January 30, 1948, by Nathuram
Godse, a Hindu nationalist during
a prayer meeting at the Birla House
here.
Gandhi is admired across the
world for his non-violent philosophy
SCRIBES HOLD PEACE PROTEST
Journalists participate in a peace protest near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. — AFP
Karnataka unveils scheme to feed 12 lakh pregnant women
BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief
Minister Siddaramaiah (pictured)
on Monday launched the “Mathru
Purna” scheme, which aims to
provide nutritious meals to about 12
lakh pregnant women and lactating
mothers in the state.
“The scheme aims at reducing
under-nutrition among women and
children,” the Chief Minister said
while announcing the launch of the
scheme here, serving food to pregnant
women in the banquet hall of Vidhan
Soudha, the state secretariat.
“Besides nutritional supplements,
counselling and other maternity
benefits will also be provided at the
of passive resistance. He was known
to his many followers as Mahatma.
President Kovind and Prime
Minister Modi also paid tributes
to the country’s late second Prime
Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his
113th birth anniversary.
“My respects to Shastri ji, who
inspired farmers, jawans and gave the
nation able leadership. Remembering
Lal Bahadur Shastri ji on his Jayanti,”
Modi tweeted along with a video.
Modi, Kovind and Vice President
M Venkaiah Naidu also visited Vijay
Ghat and paid floral tributes to the
former Prime Minister.
Shastri was born to Sharada
Prasad and Ramdulari Devi in Uttar
Pradesh’s Varanasi on October 2,
1904.
On January 11, 1966, he took his
last breath in Tashkent, Uzbekistan,
the day after signing the Tashkent
Declaration, reportedly due to cardiac
arrest.
He was the first person to be
posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna,
India’s highest civilian award.
— IANS
Anganwadi centres under the scheme,”
Siddaramaiah said.
A provision of Rs 302 crore has
been made by the state government
during the 2017-18 financial year for
the implementation of the scheme in
all the 30 districts of Karnataka.
“We’ve had phenomenal response
from the pilot run of the scheme in
four taluks last year, and have decided
to roll out the project across the state,”
Karnataka state Women and Child
Development Minister Umashree said
here on Monday.
One hot cooked meal consisting of
rice, dal with leafy vegetables/sambar,
a boiled egg/sprouted legumes along
Camel expedition at Wagah border
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along with Indian Air force (IAF) brave
women personnels ride during the closing ceremony of the Camel Safari
Swachh Bharat campaign now
a mass movement, says Modi
LAUDABLE: PM recalls how the campaign was making good progress despite criticism
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event to mark the Swachh Bharat Diwas: the 3rd anniversary of the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission and the conclusion of
‘Swachhata hi Sewa’ fortnight, in New Delhi.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Monday said the
Swachh Bharat campaign launched by
him three years ago has today become
a “mass movement”.
“Today, the Swachh Bharat
Abhiyaan (Clean India campaign) is
no longer that of Bapu, nor that of the
government or municipalities.
I have no claims to make that this is
the government’s achievement.
In fact, this is an achievement of
those Indians who seek cleanliness
(Swachhagrahis),” Modi said here, on
the third anniversary of the campaign.
The Prime Minister recalled how he
drew criticism from all quarters when
he first started the campaign three
years ago.
However, he said, all that was behind
him and the campaign was making
The scheme aims at
reducing under-nutrition
among women
and children
SIDDARAMAIAH
Karnataka Chief Minister
with 200 ml of milk would be provided
to women for 25 days a month,
expedition at the Indian Pakistan Wagah Border post. — AFP
good progress as per the available data.
He said that India got independence
through the tool of Satyagrah.Now to
become the best country, India would
have to adopt “swachhta” (cleanliness)
as its tool.
Modi said today there was a
competition between various states and
cities to go higher on the cleanliness
scale and there was pressure on the
governments and administration in
the states/cities which were lagging
behind.
“An environment of positive,
healthy competition has evolved and
its results are visible,” Modi said.
He said “ideological revolution” or
changing of mindset was also required
for cleanliness.
“The development of system can’t
do a thing until there is ideological
Got clues on
Lankesh killers,
says minister
BENGALURU: Karnataka Home
Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday
said the investigation team probing
the killing of journalist-activist Gauri
Lankesh has got “some clues” on the
killers and knows who is behind it, but
is waiting to gather more concrete
evidence.
“The Special Investigation Team
(SIT) got some clues on the killers of
Lankesh.
It’s gathering evidence.
We know about them (killers)
but can’t go public without
evidence,” Reddy told reporters at
Chikkaballapura town, about 60 km
from Bengaluru.
Lankesh, 55, was found dead on
September 5 night in front of her
home in the city’s south-west suburb
after she was shot from close range
by unidentified assailants who fled
from the spot on a motorbike within
minutes.
“We need hard evidence against
the suspects to file even a charge-
sheet against them in a court.
Otherwise, the case will not stand
for trial,” asserted Reddy on the
margins of a Gandhi Jayanti function.
— IANS
according to an official release.
“Despite the Supplementary
Nutrition Programme (of the Ministry
of Women and Child Development),
the improvement in the maternal and
child health indicators of Karnataka
revolution,” he said.
The Prime Minister further said:
“Clean India won’t come true even
if 1,000 Mahatma Gandhis, one
lakh Narendra Modis, all CMs and
governments come together...
It will be done by 125 crore Indians.”
Slamming those who relieve
themselves in the open, Modi said
such men should learn from women
who never relieve in the open even if
they had an urge to when they were
out.
He also stressed on building and
use of toilets by all in rural and slum
areas where women have to go far
from their place early in the morning
or after dusk to relieve and could not
do it in the daylight.
Modi said due to poor hygiene,
people often fell ill and ended up
Sasikala likely to come
out of jail on parole
CHENNAI: V K Sasikala, who
is currently in Bengaluru prison
following her conviction in a
disproportionate assets case, is likely
to come out soon on parole to visit
her ailing husband M Natarajan.
She has applied for parole and
might come out on Tuesday, her
nephew and leader of one of the
AIADMK factions T T V Dinakaran
told reporters here.
“We have applied for parole for
our General Secretary.
She might come out on
parole tomorrow (Tuesday) most
probably,” he said.
Dinakaran said advocates have
sought for a 15-day parole but he
was not sure how many days she
would be granted leave.
Asked about the health condition
of Mr Natarajan, who is awaiting
a liver transplant in a hospital in
Chennai, Dinakaran said he was
“stable”.A recent statement from
Gleneagles Global Health City,
where Natarajan is admitted, said he
has been slow compared to the rest of
the south Indian states,” the statement
said, giving the reason to launch the
“Mathru Purna” scheme.
The scheme aims to bridge the gap
between the recommended dietary
allowance and the average daily intake
of pregnant women and lactating
mothers in the state, while trying to
reduce the prevalence of anaemia
among the pregnant women.
Aanganwadi workers would also
benefit from the scheme, according to
the statement.
But the implementation of the
scheme had many challenges, said
S Varalakshmi, the president of the
spending several thousand rupees
on medical treatment. This cost, he
said, could be saved if people made
cleanliness their “dharma” (duty) and
their work.
He also said that children were the
biggest ambassadors of the Clean India
Mission.
Modi also praised the media for
supporting the Mission.
Urging people to take out some
time for the Clean India Mission, he
said the Indians must see their country
from the eyes of the outsiders.
“On the occasion of birth
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and
Lal Bahadur Shastri, let us devote
ourselves to the nation, give primacy
to cleanliness and take part in this
mission,” the Prime Minister said.
— IANS
has a history of chronic liver disease
and he has been receiving treatment
for the last six months for his illness.
He has been registered with the
Tamilnadu Organ Sharing (TNOS)
waiting list for deceased donor liver
transplantation.
“Currently, he is admitted at
the Liver Intensive Care Unit with
decompensated liver disease leading
to liver failure, kidney failure and
lung congestion”, it said, adding
he is receiving dialysis and other
intensive care therapies.
Liver specialists headed by world
renowned liver transplant surgeon
Mohamed Rela are overseeing his
case. — IANS
Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers’
Association.
“In a lot of Anganwadi centres, we
are very short-staffed, with just one
worker and a helper.
It makes it very hard for such
centres to cook these meals and
provide,” Varalakshmi said.
A lot of women hesitated to take
meals that were cooked by a Scheduled
Caste or Scheduled Tribe Anganwadi
worker, she said.
“We’ve seen during the mid-day
meal scheme implementation that
many children are kept away from
eating the meals if they are prepared
by an SC or ST worker. — IANS
 US SHOOTING OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7 11
W O R S T I N U S H I S T O R Y: S H O O T I N G T O O K P L A C E D U R I N G C O U N T R Y M U S I C F E S T I V A L

TRUMP:
LAS VEGAS MASSACRE WAS
‘ACT OF PURE EVIL’
US President Donald
Trump makes a statement
on the mass shooting in
Las Vegas in front of a
portrait of President
George Washington in
the Diplomatic Room at
the White House in
Washington. — Reuters

WASHINGTON: US President
Donald Trump called the Las Vegas
concert massacre “an act of pure
evil” in a televised address after the
shooting, which left at least 50 dead
and more than 400 wounded.
Speaking from the White
House, he said the country was
feeling”sadness, shock and grief.”
He praised the efforts of police,
who located the gunman on the
32nd floor of a hotel and stormed
his room within minutes, and other
first responders.
“The speed with which they
acted is miraculous and prevented
further loss of life,” Trump said. “To
have found the shooter so quickly
after the first shots were fired is
something for which we will always
be thankful and grateful. It shows
what true professionalism is all
about.”
A 64-year-old man armed
with more than 10 rifles rained
down gunfire on a Las Vegas
country music festival on Sunday,
slaughtering at least 50 people in
the largest mass shooting in US
history before killing himself.
The barrage from a 32nd-floor
window in the Mandalay Bay hotel
into a crowd of 22,000 people lasted
several minutes, causing panic.
Some fleeing fans trampled each
other as police scrambled to find
the gunman. More than 400 people
were injured.
Police identified the gunman
as Stephen Paddock, who lived in a
retirement community in Mesquite,
Image released by the Las Vegas
Metropolitan Police Department of
Marilou Danley in connection to a
shooting at the Route 91 Harvest
Music Festival in Las Vegas. Reuters
Nevada, and said they had no
sense of what prompted his attack.
The IS militant group claimed
responsibility for the massacre, but
US officials expressed scepticism of
that claim.
The death toll, which police
emphasized was preliminary,
eclipsed last year’s massacre of 49
people at an Orlando night club by
a gunman who pledged allegiance
to IS militants.
Shocked concertgoers, some
with blood on their clothing,
wandered the streets afterwards.
Police said they had no
information about Paddock’s
motive, that he had no criminal
record and was not believed to be
connected to any militant group.
Paddock killed himself before
police entered the hotel room he
was firing from, Clark County
Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told
reporters.
“We have no idea what his belief
system was,” Lombardo said.
Two senior US government
officials said that Paddock’s
name was not on any database of
suspected terrorists and that there
was no evidence linking him to any
international militant group.
One of the two US officials
discounted a claim of responsibility
that was made by IS. There was
reason to believe that Paddock had
a history of psychological problems,
the official said.
In its claim, IS State said
that the gunman was a recent
convert, according to the group’s
news agency Amaq. Its claim did
not include the gunman’s name
and showed no proof. In the
past, the group has also claimed
responsibility for attacks without
providing evidence.
Lombardo said there were more
than 10 rifles in the room where
Paddock killed himself. He had
checked into the hotel on Thursday.
Police found several more
weapons when they searched
Paddock’s home in Mesquite, which
is about 145 km northeast of Las
Vegas, Mesquite police spokesman
Quinn Averett told reporters.
The dead included one off-
duty police officer, Lombardo
said. Two on-duty officers were
injured, including one who was in
stable condition after surgery and
one who sustained minor injuries,
Lombardo said. — Reuters, dpa

IN BRIEF
US shooting:
Gunman’s What we know
home being LAS VEGAS: At least 50 people were killed and
more than 400 injured when a gunman opened
fire on concertgoers Thursday night in Las Vegas.
checked for Here’s what we know:

WHAT HAPPENED
bombs before A crowd of more than 22,000 people was
listening to country music star Jason Aldean at
the Route 91 Harvest Festival when there was
search a burst of automatic gunfire around 10:08 pm
(0508 GMT).
Police said a lone gunman opened fire on
WASHINGTON: Police searching the
concertgoers from his 32nd floor room at the
home of the gunman who shot festival-
Mandalay Bay hotel-casino across the street on
goers in Las Vegas are conducting a
the famed Las Vegas Strip.
precautionary check for explosives,
Robert Hayes, a firefighter from Los Angeles
Sheriff Joe Lombardo of the Las Vegas
who was attending the concert, said it resembled
Metropolitan Police Department says.
a “war scene.” “It was kind of like shooting
Investigators arrived early at the home
goldfish,” Hayes said.
of 64-year-old Stephen Craig Paddock in
Mesquite, Nevada, Lombardo said. “We Police form a perimeter around the road leading to the THE TOLL
have officers now there serving a search Mandalay Hotel (background) after a gunman killed at least 50
Police said at least 50 people were killed and
warrant,” he said. people and wounded more than 400 others when he opened
fire on a country music concert in Las Vegas. Reuters approximately 406 were transported to hospital.
Mesquite, population 18,000, is
The authorities launched an appeal for blood
near the Arizona state line, about1 40
donors.
kilometres north-east of Las Vegas.
“We’re gonna clear the residence first
THE GUNMAN
for any possible explosives,so that will
Police identified the gunman as Stephen
be slow and methodical, and it will take
Craig Paddock, a 64-year-old white man from
us quite sometime before we conduct a
Mesquite, Nevada, around 130 kilometres
search phase,” Lombardo said. dpa
northeast of Las Vegas. Paddock was the lone
suspect in the shooting, according to the
authorities. He was found dead in his hotel room
Pope ‘deeply when a police SWAT team breached the room.
Police said they believe Paddock killed himself.
Police said they recovered at least eight rifles

saddened’ from his room. Little else was immediately known

about Paddock, who did not appear to have a
criminal record.

by ‘senseless FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino on

tragedy’
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Monday
described a deadly shooting at a Las
Vegas concert as a “senseless tragedy”
after at least 50 people were gunned
down and over 200 others wounded.
“Deeply saddened to learn of the
shooting in Las Vegas, Pope Francis sends
the assurance of his spiritual closeness
to all those affected by this senseless
tragedy,” the Vatican said in a telegram.
“He commends the efforts of the
police and emergency service personnel,
and offers the promise of his prayers for
the injured and for all who have died,” it
added.
October 2, 2017, after a mass shooting during a music
festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas. Reuters
A pair of cowboy boots is shown in the street outside the
concert venue after a mass shooting at a music festival on
the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas. Reuters
REACTION
President Donald Trump sent his “warmest
condolences and sympathies” to the victims
and families affected by the shooting. The White
House said Trump was to make televised remarks
to the nation at 10:30 am (1430 GMT).
Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened”
by the “senseless tragedy.”
DEADLIEST US MASS SHOOTING EVER
Although the final toll has yet to be
confirmed, the Las Vegas Strip shooting is already
the deadliest ever in the United States.
The previous deadliest shooting was in June
2016 when 49 people were killed at the Pulse
nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
A student killed 32 people in 2007 at Virginia
Tech university before shooting himself. — AFP
A heavily armed policeman leaves the area around the Mandalay
Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP
panorama
12 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7
A LOOK-ALIKE: A man dressed as the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat walks in the street as the convoy of Palestinian
Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and his ministers arrive in the northern Gaza Strip in Beit Hanun on Monday. — AFP
ON THE EDGE: Protesters wave a giant Catalan pro-
independence ‘Estelada’ flag atop a sculpture during a
demonstration in Barcelona on Monday a day after
hundreds were injured in a police crackdown during
Catalonia’s banned independence referendum. — AFP
PING PONG ROBOT
TAKES ON OLYMPIAN
AT TOKYO TECH FAIR
CHIBA, Japan: A ping-pong-
playing robot served up a hit at a
top Tokyo tech fair on Monday,
while a barely-moving machine
in the shape of a sloth aimed to
provide a relaxing change of pace.
The alien-looking table-tennis
star, named FORPHEUS, had a
tough opponent, in the shape of
Japan’s first-ever Olympic singles
medal-winner in a man-versus-
machine clash.
Technicians have worked
on FORPHEUS’s robotics and
artificial intelligence technology
and had hoped it would be able to
return a smash from the Olympian,
Jun Mizutani.
“This machine now has the
ability to react to a smash by
observing the other player’s
movement,” said Masayuki
Koizumi in charge of sensing
technology research at Omron, the
robot’s creator.
“We hope people with advanced
ping pong skills will play with the
machine,” he said.
But Mizutani appeared to have
little reason to hang up his bat yet,
as the robot failed to retrieve his
attacking shot. “One day it might
hit back,” Mizutani, 28, said after
the match.
Omron also showcased a new
censor that can detect whether a
driver is concentrating or dozing
off in a self-driving car.
The company aims to
commercialise its technology by
2020, it said at the Cutting-Edge
IT & Electronics Comprehensive
Exhibition (CEATEC) near Tokyo.
Meanwhile, a new Tokyo start-
up aims to help budding gymnasts
and ballet dancers with a mirror
that streams the movements of
professional athletes.
Using the augmented reality
(AR) technology, would-be prima
ballerinas can imitate the correct
techniques when practising in
front of the mirror by following
the images of real experts.
“You can consider it as a
cyber coach,” said Fujio Tamaki,
founder of FunLife start-up, after
demonstrating a pirouette by
watching the teacher’s moves in
the mirror. — AFP
Syrian girl documents
horrors in new memoir
BEIRUT: A Syrian girl, whose tweets
from war-torn Aleppo captured a
worldwide audience, has written
a harrowing memoir of life under
siege, recalling her terror of daily
bombardments and her sorrow at
being kept out of class.
In Dear World, to be published on
Tuesday, eight-year-old Bana Alabed,
who now lives in Turkey, delivers an
unadulterated account of war through
the eyes of a child. She writes vividly
about the death of her best friend
and neighbour Yasmin, killed when a
bomb fell near her house.
“Then one of the men lifted a body
out of the rocks, and there was more
screaming from Yasmin’s mum. It was
Yasmin. She was floppy like she was
asleep, and had a lot of blood and dust
on her,” Bana writes in the book.
“I couldn’t move or breathe because
I was so scared seeing my friend like
that.”
Bana drew around 360,000
followers after she joined Twitter
in September 2016 aged seven,
documenting life in her embattled
city through tweets and pictures from
her @AlabedBana handle, an account
managed by her mother Fatemah.
Bana drew the attention of some
famous Tweeters, including Harry
Potter author J K Rowling, who along
with her agent sent the young girl
e-books about the famous boy wizard. in Syria they don’t have school, they when she was a toddler.
But her tweets also sparked aren’t learning anything. They (stay) “I can go to school now and I am
controversy after some critics in their house and are dying every not afraid. It’s not scary,” Bana said in
questioned the legitimacy of the day,” Bana told the Thomson Reuters a phone interview.
account and accused Fatemah of using Foundation in an interview from the More than six years of conflict
her daughter for propaganda. capital Ankara. have forced an estimated 1.7 million
During a ceasefire last December, Bana is now in third grade after children in Syria out of school,
Bana and her family were evacuated missing more than a year of school according to the United Nations
from eastern Aleppo to Turkey, where at the height of the bombardment of children’s agency Unicef.
they were greeted by Turkish President Aleppo. Her education was patchy In the book, Bana describes the
Tayyip Erdogan at his palace. even before that, due to the dangers moment a bomb fell near her house,
“I am sad because the children posed by the civil war that erupted and took her best friend. — Reuters
WAIT FOR A LIFELINE: This picture shows Bangladeshi people waiting for boats in Teknaf. Bangladesh is to move to a camp at least 15,000 Rohingya refugees who have
settled in a restive hill district near the border with Myanmar, a local official said on Monday. — AFP
SUPERFLEX: Visitors are reflected in a silver coloured swinging pendulum as they
lie on a huge carpet to view it, which forms part of the new installation ‘One Two
Three Swing!’ by Danish art collective SUPERFLEX, at the Tate Modern in London, HOVERING CLOUDS: Rain clouds gather over central Bangkok, Thailand, on
Britain, on Monday. — Reuters Monday. — Reuters
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 3, 2017 | MUHARRAM 12, 1439 AH

business
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EURO RUFFLED BY SPANISH VOTE; ASIA DATA CHEER STOCKS P16 N KOREA? TRUMP? AMERICANS KEEP CALM AND SHOP P17 SPECTRE OF ZIMBABWE HYPERINFLATION TRIGGERS PANIC-BUYING P20

Construction sector mulls major real estate projects

NEW STRATEGY: Oman Society of Contractors (OSC) looks to initiate development of two major schemes on behalf of the sector
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT, OCT 2
With infrastructure spending by
the government having all but dried
up, the Sultanate’s cash-strapped by
hugely important construction section
is exploring large-scale real estate
development opportunities aimed at
averting what has been characterised
as a looming “crisis” in the industry.
The initiative is being spearheaded
by the Oman Society of Contractors
(OSC), the umbrella grouping of
construction contractors and service
providers in the Sultanate, a top official
of the non-governmental organisation
said.
Shahswar al Balushi, Chief
Executive Officer, said the Society
is presently looking at “two major
projects” that he hopes will open
up business opportunities for
Oman-based contractors currently
starved of any work in the wake of
the fiscal downturn that has all but
squeezed government investment in
infrastructure projects.
have to be sold to local, regional and
“In the
(Picture for illustration purposes only)
construction international markets. And in order
sector, we to attract international buyers, they
have started have to be given some incentives, to
to take the make the projects more competitive,
bull by the for example, price-wise, logistics-wise,
horns,” Al and so on.”
Balushi said. With many contractors having
“As there are accrued large outstandings against
no projects completed infrastructure projects, the
from the cash-hit sector has no alternative but
governments, the idea is for us to do to explore new opportunities in order
some business ourselves and take to stay afloat, said Al Balushi, stressing
some projects forward. We are right the importance of this industry to the
now talking to the government to national economy.
give the construction sector the ability The construction sector is one
to do large projects. The sector will of the largest employers with a
go out and look for funding. The significant multiplier effect on the
current initiative concerns two major wider economy, he said. Any country
projects, details about which cannot needs a strong construction sector to
be discussed due to confidentiality Monday. The discussion, moderated Regulation Oman; Hatem al Shanfari, inject new business opportunities in keep the economy ticking alone. After
reasons.” by well-known ex-BBC business noted economist and Chairman — the construction sector by initiating all, large infrastructure projects such
The revelation came during a news presenter Nima Abu Wardeh, GCBM; and Srinivas Rao Edupall, projects itself. “We are telling the as roads, airports, seaports and so on,
panel discussion on Public Private also included the following panelists: Project Finance & Syndication — government that the construction can be undertaken only by a dynamic
Partnerships organised as part of Pankaj Khimji, Director — Khimji Bank Sohar. sector is ready to do projects, but there construction sector, Al Balushi noted.
the OER Business Summit 2017 Ramdas; Qais al Zakwani, Executive The Oman Society of Contractors are certain conditions involved. At OER Business Summit 2017 was
held at the Sheraton Oman Hotel on Director — Authority for Electricity (OSC), Al Balushi said, is keen to help the end of the day, these projects will organised by UMS Events.

Monarch Airlines collapses;

110,000 stranded abroad

Monarch aircraft are seen parked after the airline ceased trading, at Luton airport in Britain.

LONDON: Monarch Airlines ceased
trading on Monday, triggering a move
by the British government to bring home
110,000 customers stranded abroad.
The British airline and its holidays
business entered administration, with
KPMG appointed to oversee the financial
chaos. The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority
described the situation as “the biggest ever
UK airline failure,” adding that “all future
holidays and flights provided by these
companies have been cancelled and are no
longer operating”.
It added in a statement that “the
government has asked the CAA to support
Monarch customers currently abroad to get
back to the UK at the end of their holiday at
no extra cost to them”.
The government meanwhile said that it
was overseeing what it said was the biggest
repatriation since the end of World War II.
“This is a hugely distressing situation for
British holidaymakers abroad and my first
priority is to help them get back to the UK,”
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said in
a statement.
“That is why I have immediately ordered
the country’s biggest ever peacetime
repatriation to fly about 110,000 passengers
who could otherwise have been left stranded
abroad.”
He added: “This is an unprecedented
response to an unprecedented situation.”
Affected parties used social media to
get their messages across, mirroring the
situation a week ago when Ryanair cancelled
thousands of flights as it battles to overcome
a shortage of pilots.
“Monarch customers in the UK: don’t
go to the airport. There will be no more
Monarch flights,” the budget carrier said
on Twitter. Meanwhile customer Holly-Rae
Copeland tweeted: “Just when you think
you’ve avoided ryanair’s flight cancellations,
#monarchairlines go into administration on
the day of your flight.” — AFP
advertorial
business
14 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7
SUBARU XV
with EyeSight driver assist
technology unveiled in Oman
S
ubaru Corporation and OTE Group unveiled
the all-new 2018 Subaru XV in Oman
recently. The car was unveiled by Makoto
Inoue, General Manager, Sales & Marketing
Department 1, Overseas Sales and Marketing
Division 2, Subaru Corporation, Japan and
Shaikh Salim Saad Suhail Bahwan, in the presence of
officials from Subaru Corporation, Japan and OTE Group.
Combining a compact body with real SUV capabilities
underpinned by Subaru’s original symmetrical AWD
system and a rugged and sporty design, the Subaru XV
is a crossover SUV suited to a multitude of settings, from
urban driving to the great outdoors.
The new XV offers distinctive design and enhanced
drivability on poor road surfaces, while adopting the
all-new Subaru global platform to achieve world-class
collision safety and superior hazard avoidance as well as
dramatic advances in driver-responsive handling and ride
comfort.
All-new XV has been launched in select markets across
the globe and is well accepted. In Japan, orders for the all-
new Subaru XV surpass 10,000 units in first one month of
its launch!
Design package of the all-new XV is distinctively
rugged and sporty, while remaining true to the Subaru
identity. Distinctive design unique to the rugged and
sporty Subaru XV reflects Subaru’s dynamic and solid
design philosophy.
The quality of interior and exterior finishes shows a
sharp eye for detail, while Subaru’s signature functionality
has been taken to all-new levels.
The Subaru look is seen in the wide and low stance
with its sporty impression, and in the unified three-
dimensional structure extending from the hexagonal
grille that symbolises the Subaru identity to the hawk-eye
headlights.
The front face plays the role of starting point from
which the front flows via the sides to the rear, with each
part uniting into a solid form.
The rich inflection of the character line extending from
the front fender to the door panels and rear shoulder, and
the line rising energetically towards the rear from the lower
door panel, give dynamism to the solid body surface.
The powerfully extended fender flares express the
reliability of Subaru all-wheel drive. The matte-black
cladding running from the front bumper over the wheel
arches and side sills to the rear bumper creates a dynamic
form expressing all the enjoyment to be expected from a
crossover vehicle.
The rear combination lights sharing the same motif
as the headlights express a wide and low stance similar
to the front. The tightened cabin silhouette and powerful
shoulders thrusting above the rear combination lights
create a nimble, sporty design.
Its contrast with the rugged flavour imparted by the
All-new 2018
black rear spoiler and matte-black cladding on the rear
bumper emphasises the distinctive character of the Subaru
XV, which is equally at home in a range of settings.
The new model also combines the Subaru performance
essentials of superior aerodynamics and visibility with
advanced styling. The aluminium wheels feature a new
design embodying the sporty, casual, and rugged character
of the Subaru XV.
New exterior paint schemes offer a choice of two
fresh solid colours: cool gray khaki and sunshine orange.
Both tones set off the matte-black cladding to maximum
advantage, spotlighting the active and functional image of
the Subaru XV.
The combination of sporty and advanced design and
sophisticated construction delivers an interior that far
surpasses its class.
The spacious design flows from the instrument panel
through the door trim for a feeling of refinement. The
seats’ structures that are made more fitting to the bodies
of passengers have been revamped to far surpass the
quality of its class. Moreover, breathable seat covering and
varying shades of gray emphasise the active character of
the Subaru XV.
In the centre of the instrument panel is an 8.0-inch
touch-screen display for the infotainment system, which
can connect with smartphones.
The multifunction display offers a comprehensive
range of content. New screen design clearly communicates
fun, useful information to all passengers. Detailed orange
stitching on the instrument panel complements the quality
feel while expressing the model’s active character.
In addition to the enhanced interior design, signature
Subaru functionalities have been further strengthened
including the excellent all-round visibility, spacious cabin,
and cargo room. A new, smaller-diameter steering wheel
delivers ease of manoeuvrability and snappy steering.
The new platform dramatically increases rigidity
throughout the body and chassis and incorporates
substantial improvements to the suspension system and
achieves a lower centre of gravity, bringing about highly
responsive steering that allows drivers to control the
vehicle precisely as they want.
The eradication of unnecessary movement in handling
offers superior straight-line stability and cornering
performance to grip the road surface while maintaining
the ample 220 mm road clearance required of an SUV.
Optimised frame structure and stronger joints between
parts allow the new platform to improve overall torsional
rigidity. This distributes the resonance and distortion
throughout the body, greatly reducing vibrations from the
steering wheel, floor, and seats. It achieves a quietness that
goes beyond vehicle class.
The new platform increases the rigidity of the
suspension mounting, improving the absorption of the
suspension without warping the body of the car, and
providing a smooth and comfortable drive.
By mounting the rear stabiliser directly to the body,
the new platform reduces the body roll of the vehicle
significantly.
The steering gear ratio has been quickened, further
enhancing the Subaru XV’s characteristic strengths as an
SUV with agile manoeuvrability. Active torque vectoring
enhances turning and steering performance. An electronic
parking brake boosts convenience.
In addition to Subaru’s unique symmetrical AWD
system, the new Subaru XV is equipped with x-mode,
capable of enhancing driving performance on poor roads
through optimised integrated control of engine, four-
wheel drive, braking, and other functions on slippery
surfaces. The hill descent control setting gives drivers
greater peace of mind by maintaining low speeds on
downhill slopes.
A 2.0-litre direct injection boxer engine has been
completely revamped to deliver more power and fuel
economy.
The improved lineartronic transmission boosts
acceleration and fuel economy. As well as employing auto-
step shift control on all models, the Subaru XV features a
7-speed manual mode function that allows the driver to
accelerate as desired.
Noise and vibration are greatly reduced on both the
engine and transmission, for more pleasant sounds and a
dynamic feel.
Subaru’s safety performance has continuously been
highly rated by third-party organisations.
The new Subaru XV has adopted technologies to
further enhance its safety including the new platform and
the advanced preventive safety system. The new platform
achieves a centre of gravity that is 5 mm lower than present
models. Together with the major improvements in rigidity
and the evolution of the suspension system, this lower
centre of gravity offers outstanding hazard avoidance
capabilities on a level with a high-performance sports car.
Available in select trims, EyeSight, Subaru’s innovative
and highly acclaimed driver assist technology, delivers
extremely reliable preventive safety and reduces driver
burdens through features such as pre-collision braking
control, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist
function.
High beam assist technology, which uses a monocular
camera, is integrated into the interior rear view mirror. It
detects preceding and oncoming vehicles and automatically
switches headlights between high and low beam. The
automatic anti-glare function on the interior mirror uses
a sensor to detect strong light from sources such as the
headlights of following vehicles and automatically adjusts
reflectivity to reduce glare and make night-driving safer.
Steering responsive headlights moves the beam right
or left when turning at corners and intersections to
illuminate the direction of travel. The Subaru XV employs
the two headlight controls for the first time, dramatically
improving night-time visibility and recognition
capabilities of EyeSight.
The Subaru rear vehicle detection has been newly
employed, offering blind spot detection, lane change
assistance and reversing assistance to enhance all-round
preventive safety.
Subaru has a strong presence in the passenger vehicles
category in Oman and the current line-up of Subaru
include Impreza, Legacy, Forester, Outback, XV and
WRX models.
OTE Group is the distributor for Subaru in Oman with
sales and aftersales outlets spread across the Sultanate,
offering excellent service. For more details on Subaru,
please call 800 50004 (toll free).
 insideoman

Chinese investments in Duqm

SEZ under detailed design
AMBITIOUS HUB: Investors seeking competitively price gas as
feedstock for petrochemical industries
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT, OCT 2
All 10 industrial and petrochemical
projects earmarked for development
at the China-Oman Industrial Park
in the Duqm Special Economic Zone
(SEZ) are currently under detailed
design, according to the head of
the consortium overseeing the
implementation of the ambitious hub.
Ali Shah (pictured), CEO of
Wanfang LLC, said the design of
the projects — which include a
mega methanol and methanol-to-
olefins (MTO) scheme, major power
plant, world-scale solar equipment
manufacturing facility, oilfield goods
and pipeline plants, and a sprawling
hospitality venture — will lead to sub-
usufruct agreements being inked with
the individual investors.
Invited to comment on the status of
the massive undertaking, which will
see up to $10.7 billion of investment
flowing into the hub, Ali Shah said
Oman Wanfang, the main developer
of the 1,172 hectare industrial park at
the SEZ, was working closely with the
SEZ Authority at Duqm (SEZAD) to
take the initiative through to fruition.
Speaking at the OER Business
Summit, organised by UMS Events,
on Monday, he however noted that
the lack of commitment towards the
allocation of gas for the 10 projects
was still an
issue.
‘We would
want gas for
our heavy
industries,
and although
Khazzan gas
has now come
on stream, there is no commitment yet
for gas from the Omani side’, he said.
Later, speaking to the Observer,
Ali Shah noted that some of the large
petrochemical plants planned at the
China-Oman Industrial Park would
require gas as feedstock for their
operations. The investors in question,
he explained, are not expecting
natural gas for “cheap”, but rather at a
“competitive price”.
“We are talking about gas not as
a fuel resource but as feedstock for
BUSINESS ALERT
these industries. So if we do not have
competitively priced gas, we cannot
go to the investors,” he said.
Ahead of the start of actual
construction work on the projects,
Oman Wanfang is currently
developing the infrastructure and
utilities across the sprawling park,
said Ali Shah. “Right now, we are
doing the land levelling, roads, water
and electricity utilities, and corridors.
We are working closely with SEZAD
to achieve these goals.”
Lined up for initial development
in the heavy industrial zone, the
Chairman said, is a mega methanol-
to-olefin (MTO) plant alongside a
giant greenfield methanol scheme
promoted by Chinese petrochemicals
corporation Mingyuan Holdings
Group Co Ltd with an investment of
around $2.3 billion.
business
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7 15
Bank Muscat launches Sayyarati offer to mark National Day
MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in
the Sultanate, has launched an attractive Sayyarati vehicle finance
coinciding with the 47th National Day celebrations. The feature-rich
Sayyarati finance is available at a low interest rate of 4.7 per cent.
Guaranteeing the fastest turnaround, the popular Sayyarati
package includes financing up to 8 years for new and used vehicles,
the lowest monthly payment option, on-the-spot approvals and
option for motor insurance funding with the lowest monthly payment in the market. Customers are not required to
furnish post-dated cheques, making Sayyarati the easy, convenient and completely hassle-free way to own a new car.
Notably, Sayyarati finance can be obtained from all Bank Muscat branches spread across Oman and exclusive
Sayyarati Centre at Wattayah. Customers can also apply for Sayyarati finance through Saed sales unit.
Abdullah Tamman al Mashani, DGM — Institutional Sales & Product Development, said, “Unique in all aspects
with unparalleled benefits, Sayyarati is the preferred vehicle finance facility in Oman for both citizens and expatriates.
The National Day offer includes various unique benefits, making it quicker, easier and more affordable to own one’s
dream vehicle. Oman is home to the world’s best known automobile brands.”
OQIC attracts investor the relationships
we have built in the
interest in Salalah Dhofar region, and
it is only right for us
FOLLOWING the successful investor roadshow held to extend our IPO
in Muscat, Oman Qatar Insurance Company SAOG offer to our partners,
(under transformation) — OQIC, held a dinner meeting customers and other
with investors from the Dhofar region in Salalah on stakeholders in
September 26, 2017. The meeting was well attended by a Salalah and other
large group comprising institutional investors and high adjoining places.
net worth individuals who expressed strong interest in It is our way of
the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of OQIC. expressing our gratitude to our customers and partners
Elaborating on the extension of their IPO campaign that have made us successful over the years. I am
to Salalah, Navin Kumar, CEO — OQIC said, “As a extremely pleased with the interest and enthusiasm
leading insurance company in the country, we serve that we witnessed, both in our meetings in Salalah
a large base of loyal customers in the Dhofar region and in Muscat, which truly underlines the persuasive
through our strategic presence in Salalah. We value investment case we have in the OQIC IPO.”
Second generation of Audi Q5, SQ5 arrives in the Middle East
AUDI presents another two successful models: The new Q5 and SQ5 are now
available in the Middle East markets including Bahrain, KSA, Kuwait, Oman,
Qatar, UAE, Lebanon and Jordan. The SUV with the four rings combines the
sportiness of an Audi sedan with a multifaceted character of an SUV and a
highly flexible interior. Whether its connectivity, efficiency or driver assistance
systems — the new Audi Q5 and SQ5 once again set standards in its segment.
“The first Audi Q5 was for many years the world’s best-selling SUV in its
class. It was no easy task to design its successor, but that is precisely why it is

Meethaq inks RO 31.5 million deal so very exciting,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management
at Audi AG. “With the new Q5 we are setting the bar a notch higher. Among
the great innovations are the quattro drive system with ultra technology, highly efficient engine, the air suspension

to finance A’Saffa Foods expansion
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, OCT 2
A’Saffa Foods SAOG, Oman’s largest fully integrated
poultry and processed food producer and Bank Muscat’s
Islamic Banking window Meethaq, signed on Sunday
an agreement covering RO 31.5 Million in financing
facilities to fund the expansion of A’Saffa Foods.
Dr Nasser Zahir al Maawali — CEO of A’Saffa Foods
SAOG, and Sulaiman al Harthy, Deputy Chief Executive
Officer from Meethaq Islamic Banking, signed the
financing agreement at a ceremony that was held at the
Bank Muscat Headquarters in Seeb, in the presence
of Shaikh Rashid al Saadi; Chairman of A’Saffa Foods;
Rafique Chaudhary — CFO; Sidhartha Lenka — Head
of Marketing & Sales, and senior management from
both A’Saffa Foods and Bank Muscat.
The massive expansion project will double the
production capacity of A’Saffa Foods from the current
capacity of 20 million birds per annum production to 40
million birds per annum.
Ooredoo
with damper control and a comprehensive line-up of infotainment and assistance systems.”
The new SUV from Audi takes a sporty and taut stance on the street. A sculpturally flared single frame grille with
a solid frame dominates its aerodynamically flat front end. It is available with headlights that are either in LED or
high-resolution Matrix LED technology with dynamic turn lights.
SalamAir introduces flight to capital at
20:00.
Dubai International Airport Captain
Mohamed
SALAMAIR, Oman’s first budget airline, will start Ahmed,
operating daily flights to Dubai International Airport CEO of
(DXB) on October 8, 2017. With prices starting from SalamAir,
just under RO 49 (return), guests can now book their said “The addition of flights to DXB is in response to
tickets on www.SalamAir.com our guests’ requests and the growing demand for an
The new route will complement SalamAir’s current affordable alternative to this popular destination. Dubai
flight to Al Maktoum International Airport until October International Airport is one of the most prominent
28 when the airline has set plans re-route all flights to hubs in the region and we are in negotiations with some
DXB. SalamAir will be operating daily morning and of the city’s tourism and business attraction to offer our
evening services to and from Terminal 2 with the first guests even more value-added services. This new route
flight departing Muscat at 8:30 and departing DXB at will not only capitalise on Dubai’s wider international
10:50. The evening flight is scheduled to depart Muscat network and economic position but also further
at 17:30 and depart DXB heading back to the Sultanate’s increase the connectivity between Oman and UAE.”

continues Ford’s attractive offer ending soon

long distance
bundles offer
MUSCAT: Delivering
even greater value with
every call, Ooredoo gives
customers the ability to
talk more for less with
their long-distance and
cost-effective international
bundles.
The new tariffs apply to
some of the most popular
calling destinations for
Omani residents including
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan,
Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
Philippines, Ethiopia, Egypt,
Yemen, Tanzania, Sudan,
Kenya and the GCC’s five
other member states.
Feras al Sheikh
(pictured), Director
of Consumer Sales at
Ooredoo, said, “With a
considerable amount of our
customers regularly calling
international destinations,
this is an opportunity for
them to enrich their lives
with savings every time
they call their loved ones.”
IF you are in search of a Ford vehicle or have desired a Built
Ford Tough four wheel drive, then now is the time to make the
most of it. Ford Oman, is offering customers an opportunity
to own a Ford with offers that best suit them. Option one —
discounts from 8 per cent up to 35 per cent; or option two —
0 per cent interest for 4 years plus cash gift from RO 300 to
RO 3000. (Conditions apply. Please visit Ford showroom for
details). This offer will end on October 5, 2017. So rush to a
Ford showroom today. World over, Ford vehicles have been renowned for their technological advancements and
unparalleled safety features. Their renewed focus on eye-catching designs too have a played a large role in making
Ford vehicles a joy to own.
In Oman, customers can choose from the Ford Figo, Focus, Fusion, Taurus and Mustang in the passenger car
range and the EcoSport, Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition, Ranger and F-150 in the SUV range.
Ford’s peppy compact sedan, Figo, is a popular choice for customers who desire the most out of a car for much
less. Figo is offered in three trim levels: entry-level Ambiente, mid-level Trend and top-of-the-line Titanium.
Startup Grind hosts Louis still considering
to be one of
Lebbos of AstroLabs the SMEs in
the MENA
STARTUP Oman (www.startupoman.om), the region. Louis’s
Sultanate’s only online platform created by entrepreneurs current work is
for entrepreneurs and the designated chapter of Startup aimed towards
Grind in Oman, has hosted Startup Grind on September enabling
27. Featured on Startup Grind’s stage was Louis entrepreneurs
Lebbos, a founding member of AstroLabs. AstroLabs and helping
is the region’s premier co-working space and learning them reach their full potential by mentoring them and
academy for digital technology companies. Their providing them with the space, tools and coaching they
mission is to create a thriving technology ecosystem in need at AstroLabs.
the MENA region. Over 80 entrepreneurs, students and young
Prior to his work with AstroLabs, Lebbos launched professionals joined the event at Innovation Factory
Namshi, an online fashion shopping website that grew space in Knowledge Oasis to hear Lebbos’s story to
to become the region’s biggest fashion online shop and is entrepreneurship.
omaninternational

business
16 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7

Euro ruffled by Spanish vote; Asia data cheer stocks

S&P 500 rose 0.11 per cent.
Australia’s main index jumped 1
per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei inched
up 0.14 per cent after a survey of
manufacturers produced the strongest
Oil prices edge lower
sentiment reading in a decade.
China’s manufacturing activity
grew at the fastest pace since 2012 in
after strong third-quarter
September as factories cranked up TOKYO: Oil prices edged lower
output to take advantage of strong on Monday in early Asian trading,
demand and high prices. pausing for breath after posting
The official Purchasing Managers’ gains of as much as 20 per cent in
Index (PMI) released on Saturday the third quarter, after a survey
rose to 52.4 in September, from 51.7 pointed to a slight increase in Opec
in August. “This was the first time new production in September.
orders beat output this year, suggesting US crude was down 2 cents at
a potential ‘excess demand’ to some $51.65 a barrel at 0057 GMT.
extent,” an analysts at ANZ said. “It The US benchmark on Friday A worker fills a car with gasoline at a
also provides upside risk for Q3 GDP posted its strongest quarterly gain gas station in Rio de Janeiro. — AFP
and our forecast of 6.7 per cent for since the second quarter of 2016
2017.” and the longest streak of weekly operations after shutdowns due to
Brokers chat inside the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) in Makati, Philippines. — Reuters Higher memory chip and steel gains since January. Hurricane Harvey.
product sales helped South Korea’s Global benchmark, Brent crude But oil output from the
SYDNEY: The euro took a knock in Madrid with a huge challenge to calm choose former Federal Reserve exports surge 35 per cent year-on-year for December delivery, was down 6 Organization of Petroleum
Asia on Monday as investors kept an tensions in the region. Governor Kevin Warsh to head the to a record in September, notching cents at $56.73 a barrel. Exporting Countries rose last
anxious eye on an independence vote The situation was fluid, with the central bank. the longest stretch of expansion since On Friday, Brent for November month by 50,000 barrels per day
in Spain’s Catalonia, while surprisingly head of the regional government Warsh is considered more hawkish 2011. delivery closed 13 cents higher at (bpd), a survey found, as Iraqi
strong economic news out of China opening the door to a potential than current chair Janet Yellen so his China’s central bank also cut the $57.54 a barrel, notching up a third- exports increased and production
and Japan offered support to equities declaration of independence from appointment might lead to faster hikes amount of cash that some banks must quarter gain of around 20 per cent, edged higher in Libya, one of the
and commodities. Spain. in interest rates. hold as reserves for the first time since the biggest gain in five quarters. producers exempt from a deal to
The euro fell 0.3 per cent after Dealers emphasised there had The risk was enough to nudge February 2016 in a bid to encourage It was the biggest third-quarter curb output and support prices.
the violence-marred vote to trade at been no major selling of euros as yet yields on two-year Treasuries up to more lending to struggling smaller increase since 2004. Middle Eastern oil producers
$1.1773, though European bourses and neither was there any flow to 1.503 per cent, ground not visited firms and energise its lacklustre private The contract reached its are concerned the recent price rise
seemed less troubled with financial safe havens, with investors reserving since late 2008. sector. highest in more than two years will only stir US shale producers
bookmakers pointing to small opening judgement. Asian shares were faring better than All of which was considered early last week, and posted its fifth into more drilling and push prices
gains for the major indices. As a result, the dollar was firmer bonds after upbeat economic data positive for commodity demand. consecutive weekly gain. lower again.
Spanish police used batons on the Japanese yen at 112.86 and up from China, Japan and South Korea Copper enjoyed its fifth consecutive It was Brent’s longest weekly bull US energy companies added
and rubber bullets to thwart an 0.3 per cent on a basket of currencies augured well for a sustained pickup in quarterly gain on expectations of run since June 2016. oil rigs for the first week in seven
independence vote in Catalonia at 93.349. Gold eased in response to global growth. strong demand from top metals The price gains have been after a 14-month drilling recovery
on Sunday in a show of force that $1,274.24. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia- consumer China. Three-month copper supported by anticipated demand stalled in August, energy services
left hundreds injured, according The dollar was aided by speculation Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.27 rose a further 0.8 per cent on Monday from US refiners resuming firm Baker Hughes said. — Reuters
to Catalan officials, and presented President Donald Trump might per cent, while E-Mini futures for the to stand at $6,534 a tonne. — Reuters

BIZ BRIEF
MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET US delivers first crude oil shipment to India
NEW DELHI: The first shipment of US crude oil to India arrived at Paradip Port in
MSM Daily Bulletin As on 02/10/2017 Odisha, as part of the two million barrels contracted by India.
The shipment follows recent commitments to US oil purchases by Indian Oil
Regular Market
Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), both of which have placed orders for
Close
ISIN Security Name Volume Turnover Trades Open Price High Low
Pr.
Prev.
Close
Diff
(RO)
Diff %
Last
Pr
Last
Bid
Last
Offer
Par
Value
Market Cap over 2 million barrels from the US. US crude oil shipments to India have the potential
OM0000003026 OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION 685,752 925,459 95 1.300 1.360 1.300 1.350 1.300 0.050 3.846 1.360 1.360 1.365 0.100 1,012,500,000 to boost bilateral trade by up to $2 billion.
OM0000003968 OOREDOO 886,824 449,867 83 0.490 0.514 0.490 0.508 0.490 0.018 3.673 0.510 0.504 0.510 0.100 330,679,669 The shipment at Paradip was met by US Consul General to Hyderabad, Katherine
OM0000002796 BANK MUSCAT 1,108,923 436,055 67 0.390 0.396 0.390 0.394 0.392 0.002 0.510 0.394 0.394 0.396 0.100 1,067,488,570 Hadda; Joint Secretary for International Cooperation from the Ministry for Petroleum
OM0000001483 NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN 5,100 1,061 2 0.208 0.208 0.208 0.208 0.207 0.001 0.483 0.208 0.206 0.208 0.100 322,092,231 and Natural Gas, Sunjay Sudhir; and Joint Secretary, Americas Division, from the
OMAN UNITED INSURANCE 620,500 0.340
OM0000001087 1,825,000 20 0.340 0.340 0.340 0.340 0.000 0.000 0.340 0.340 0.358 0.100 34,000,000
The sign of Walt Disney Studios Park Ministry of External Affairs, Munu Mahawar. This is one of the first shipments to India
OMAN FLOUR MILLS 196 0.932
OM0000001400 233 1 0.840 0.840 0.840 0.932 0.000 0.000 0.840 0.000 0.932 0.100 146,790,000
is seen at the entrance at Disneyland since the United States stopped oil exports in 1975.
RAYSUT CEMENT 18,878 0.912
OM0000001418 20,700 4 0.912 0.912 0.912 0.912 0.000 0.000 0.912 0.000 0.912 0.100 182,400,000
Paris, in this file photo. — Reuters MaryKay Carlson, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in New Delhi said, “This
OM0000001517 HSBC BANK OMAN 4,055 453 3 0.112 0.112 0.111 0.120 0.120 0.000 0.000 0.111 0.111 0.112 0.100 240,037,535

OM0000001962 AL MADINA INVESTMENT 657,000 40,907 20 0.063 0.063 0.061 0.062 0.062 0.000 0.000 0.062 0.061 0.063 0.100 12,843,386
event marks a significant milestone in the growing partnership between the United
States and India. The US and India are elevating our cooperation in the field of
OM0000002440

OM0000003398
AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING

BANK SOHAR
344,091

323,953
36,848

51,781
29

25
0.109

0.160
0.109

0.160
0.104

0.158
0.107

0.160
0.107

0.160
0.000

0.000
0.000

0.000
0.106

0.158
0.105

0.158
0.106

0.160
0.100

0.100
9,630,000

285,543,399
Walt Disney and energy, including plans for cleaner fossil fuels, renewables, nuclear, and cutting edge
storage and energy efficiency technologies. We look forward to working together on
OM0000005005

OM0000001525
ALMAHA CERAMICS

OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE

4,524

670,896
1,334

109,492
2

64
0.294

0.165
0.295

0.165
0.294

0.162
0.294

0.163
0.294

0.164
0.000

-0.001
0.000

-0.610
0.295

0.162
0.294

0.161
0.295

0.162
0.100

0.100
16,170,000

32,600,000 Altice USA reach further sales of US crude and exploring opportunities to expand the role of natural
OM0000001160 NATIONAL GAS 32,113 9,238 6 0.290 0.290 0.285 0.288 0.290 -0.002 -0.690 0.285 0.276 0.285 0.100 17,280,000 gas in India.”
OM0000003281

OM0000004768
TAAGEER FINANCE

AL MADINA TAKAFUL
62,000

2,083,555
7,081

207,043
8

60
0.116

0.100
0.117

0.101
0.113

0.099
0.114

0.099
0.115

0.100
-0.001

-0.001
-0.870

-1.000
0.113

0.100
0.113

0.099
0.115

0.100
0.100

0.100
28,909,260

17,325,000
deal that avoids During their June 26 meeting in Washington, President Donald Trump and Prime
Minister Narendra Modi committed to expanding and elevating bilateral energy
OM0000003000

OM0000002226
ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS M

AL JAZEERA SERVICES
10,000

5,950
11,600

916
1

2
1.160

0.154
1.160

0.154
1.160

0.154
1.160

0.154
1.180

0.157
-0.020

-0.003
-1.695

-1.911
1.160

0.154
0.000

0.150
1.160

0.154
0.100

0.100
80,040,000

9,425,458
ESPN blackout cooperation through a Strategic Energy Partnership. — IANS
OM0000001772 AL ANWAR HOLDING 534,870 80,294 25 0.152 0.152 0.150 0.150 0.153 -0.003 -1.961 0.150 0.149 0.150 0.100 30,000,000

AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES 20,155 0.134

OM0000002168 150,263 17 0.135 0.136 0.132 0.138 -0.004 -2.899 0.132 0.132 0.134 0.100 39,692,633
LOS ANGELES: Walt Disney Co and
Total 20 9,415,802 3,029,158 534
cable operator Altice USA reached
a tentative programming deal that
Parallel Market keeps ESPN and other networks
ISIN Security Name Volume Turnover Trades Open Price High Low
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Pr.
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Market Cap in the homes of millions of New
Close (RO) Pr Bid Offer Value
OM0000001152 OMAN NATIONAL ENGINE. INVT. 1,991,855 330,510 147 0.161 0.172 0.160 0.166 0.157 0.009 5.732 0.171 0.170 0.171 0.100 16,600,000
York-area pay TV customers, the
OM0000006920 VISION INSURANCE 15,000 2,140 2 0.143 0.143 0.142 0.143 0.142 0.001 0.704 0.142 0.143 0.145 0.100 14,300,000 companies said in a statement on
OM0000001590 MUSCAT FINANCE 31,800 3,593 3 0.113 0.113 0.113 0.113 0.113 0.000 0.000 0.113 0.112 0.113 0.100 32,248,581 Sunday.
OM0000001681 OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING 180,586 15,530 9 0.086 0.086 0.086 0.086 0.086 0.000 0.000 0.086 0.085 0.086 0.100 10,481,250 Disney and Altice have been
OM0000001889 SALALAH MILLS 500 600 1 1.200 1.200 1.200 1.330 1.330 0.000 0.000 1.200 0.000 1.290 0.100 64,056,875 sparring over how much the cable
OM0000002267 GULF MUSHROOM PRODUCTS 5,000 1,530 1 0.306 0.306 0.306 0.306 0.306 0.000 0.000 0.306 0.000 0.306 0.100 11,573,830 operator would pay to continue
OM0000002549 BANK DHOFAR 91,203 19,428 4 0.215 0.215 0.210 0.213 0.213 0.000 0.000 0.210 0.205 0.213 0.100 434,869,641
carrying ESPN, ABC and other
OM0000002820 GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES 8,572 711 1 0.083 0.083 0.083 0.083 0.083 0.000 0.000 0.083 0.080 0.083 0.100 4,883,987
channels on its Optimum cable
OM0000003521 GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. 6,269,457 589,133 234 0.096 0.097 0.092 0.094 0.094 0.000 0.000 0.093 0.092 0.093 0.100 27,258,180

OM0000003711 SOHAR POWER 1,905,230 333,407 2 0.159 0.175 0.159 0.159 0.159 0.000 0.000 0.159 0.157 0.000 0.100 35,140,590
service. Both sides are under pressure
OM0000004420 BANK NIZWA 930,640 84,797 33 0.091 0.092 0.091 0.091 0.091 0.000 0.000 0.092 0.091 0.092 0.100 136,500,000
from cord cutting, or dropping of
OM0000004735 SEMBCORP SALALAH 343,630 76,295 6 0.222 0.223 0.222 0.222 0.222 0.000 0.000 0.223 0.223 0.229 0.100 211,914,973
pay TV service, as audiences flock to
OM0000004925 AL BATINAH POWER 25,542 3,320 5 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.000 0.000 0.130 0.130 0.135 0.100 87,735,366 cheaper streaming services.
OM0000004933 AL SUWADI POWER 12,255 1,691 2 0.138 0.138 0.138 0.138 0.138 0.000 0.000 0.138 0.136 0.138 0.100 98,588,075 “We have reached an agreement
OM0000006912 AL AHLIA INSURANCE 41,769 13,089 20 0.312 0.314 0.312 0.314 0.314 0.000 0.000 0.314 0.314 0.318 0.100 31,400,000 in principle and have extended the
OM0000002200 AHLI BANK 105,000 17,535 3 0.167 0.167 0.167 0.167 0.168 -0.001 -0.595 0.167 0.164 0.167 0.100 237,981,036 deadline accordingly to try and
OM0000004511 ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK 430,245 30,018 21 0.071 0.071 0.069 0.070 0.071 -0.001 -1.408 0.071 0.069 0.071 0.100 70,000,000 finalise the terms,” a joint statement A man talks on a phone in front of Reliance Communications logo in Kolkata,
OM0000001145 PORT SERVICES CORPORATION 25,800 5,278 5 0.204 0.206 0.204 0.205 0.208 -0.003 -1.442 0.206 0.195 0.206 0.100 19,483,200
from the companies said. India. Indian billionaire Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications has called off a
OM0000001566 OMAN FISHERIES 540,542 59,239 27 0.112 0.112 0.108 0.110 0.112 -0.002 -1.786 0.108 0.107 0.108 0.100 13,750,000
The deal came as Disney was merger deal with smaller rival Aircel over “legal and regulatory uncertainties”,
OM0000003224 RENAISSANCE SERVICES 270,000 60,750 11 0.225 0.225 0.225 0.225 0.233 -0.008 -3.433 0.225 0.220 0.227 0.100 82,636,369

Total 20 13,224,626 1,648,596 537

preparing to pull its networks from throwing its debt repayment plans into doubt. — AFP
Optimum. That could have deprived
customers from seeing Tuesday’s
Under Monitoring Market

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baseball playoff game between
the Minnesota Twins and New York Oona seals alliance with Telkom Indonesia
OM0000001368 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. 20,000 600 1 0.030 0.030 0.030 0.031 0.031 0.000 0.000 0.030 0.030 0.031 0.100 2,635,000 Yankees as well as “Monday Night
Total 1 20,000 600 1 Football” and other programming. A SINGAPORE: Oona, the company behind the cutting-edge OTT Oona Mobile App
blackout could have sent customers that can deliver exciting content and live TV to millions of people in developing
Bonds and Sukuk Market fleeing to other options. countries via 3G and 4G connectivity, has recently fulfilled a key milestone by signing
ISIN Security Name Volume Turnover Trades Open Price High Low
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Disney secured fee increases for a partnership with the world’s largest telecom company, Telkom Indonesia.
Pr. Close (RO) Pr Bid Offer Value
ESPN, local affiliate WABC and other Both companies share the same dynamic vision and drive to offer high quality
OM0000005971 B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 281,692 29,578 2 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.000 0.000 0.105 0.105 0.110 0.100 34,036,969

OM0000004628 BANK SOHAR BONDS 4.5 893 85 1 0.095 0.095 0.095 0.095 0.100 -0.005 -5.000 0.095 0.095 0.000 0.100 2,264,167
major networks, according to sources free entertainment to emerging markets including the 135,000,000 plus Indonesians
Total 2 282,585 29,662 3
familiar with the talks who requested who will be able to enjoy free mobile TV anytime, anywhere, with Oona from
anonymity because the negotiations December of this year.
were private. Recently, at the partnership ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, the CEO and
Trading Summary
The amount of the increases founder of Oona, entrepreneur, Christophe Hochart, expressed his delight at the full
Volume Turnover Trades Market Cap. Up Down Equal Sec. Traded was not disclosed. Altice said in collaboration between the two parties, noting that this kind of co-operation can be a
22,943,013 4,708,017 1,075 17,943,957,130 6 14 23 43 September it had offered to pay starting point leading to a more substantial partnership in the future.
higher fees but called Disney’s Joddy Hernady, SVP of Media and Digital Business Telkom Indonesia, said that he
Indecies Nationalities Trading proposal at the time “outrageous.” hoped it would be a long life partnership. Hochart is also the founder and group CEO
Index High Low Value Prev.
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Diff Diff % Nationality Buy %
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Altice USA is the fourth-largest of technology start ups BOOSST.com, ScanAd.tv and Chillmob.com.
MSM30 Index 5,190.68 5,152.14 5,186.20 5,155.56 30.64 0.59 OMANIS 90.59 % 88.97 % 91.37 % 90.06 % US cable operator, formed by He has also built up an extensive technology portfolio which has enabled
Financial Index 7,500.30 7,483.18 7,483.18 7,493.43 -10.25 -0.14 GCC 1.97 % 2.17 % 4.50 % 4.59 % Netherlands-based Altice NV through the execution of various business transformation projects that he has acted as a
Industrial Index 7,104.41 7,064.61 7,064.61 7,091.86 -27.25 -0.38 ARABS 2.63 % 1.60 % 1.56 % 1.61 % its acquisitions of Cablevision — consultant for over the past decade. Hochart is extremely confident that the sky
Services Index 2,585.08 2,565.00 2,567.92 2,564.86 3.06 0.12 OTHERS 4.80 % 7.26 % 2.57 % 3.74 % now Optimum — and Suddenlink is no longer the limit when it comes to the developing market, its rise in mobile
MSM SHARIAH INDEX 758.58 753.65 758.10 754.72 3.38 0.45
Communications. — Reuters entertainment, the very low cost of data, and his own unique strategies. — Reuters
perspective

GENDER BALANCE
business OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7 17
Pressure on Ireland for lack of women in boardrooms
ith the issue of equality of sexes on the A further 45 per cent said there was approach.

W
increase, companies all over are under
pressure to increase the number of
senior female staff on their boards.
It comes as no surprise that corporate
boards in Ireland — as indeed elsewhere
— are lacking in diversity.
But what is of real concern is that
little action is being taken at board level
to address this.
As European Union regulations came
into effect last month, requiring large
listed companies to disclose information
relating to board diversity policies,
many boards in Ireland remain male-
dominated comprising directors who
have similar backgrounds, qualifications
and skills.
Private companies, in particular, are
now lagging behind the public sector
when it comes to board diversity.
The ‘who you know’ culture which
was so prevalent and damaging in the
period leading up to the financial crisis,
dominates the appointment process,
with a tendency by boards to appoint
directors who are in their own contacts.
Informal networks and personal
connections drive homogeneity, limit
ANDY JALIL the potential for diversity of thought
and expose boards to the risky decision-
no rotation system in place for board Yet for many, appointment based on
The ‘who you know’ culture which was so prevalent membership. merit continues to be the key driver to
and damaging in the period leading up to the financial The report also found an apparent securing a board position.
lack of understanding among directors However, 44 per cent of men believe
crisis, dominates the appointment process, with a as to who is responsible for board there is an insufficient pool of suitably
tendency by boards to appoint directors who are in diversity. qualified women for board positions.
their own contacts It is not the chairperson but the Thus in so many instances, women
board as a whole that should take do not even come into consideration, as
responsibility for delivering on board boards either don’t know where to find
making processes associated with enhancing company performance, one diversity and take action to address them or fail to look beyond their own
group-think. needs to see an endorsement of diversity imbalances through the implementation peer group.
The recent controversies regarding that goes beyond mere recognition of its of formal policies which are regularly Women need to take a more active
executive pay equality at the BBC and merits, with boards developing policies monitored. role in this regard and seek to increase
RTE (Irish station) have brought the to promote diversity and inclusion, with The IoD report found very low their visibility.
gender debate into focus. proper targets. levels of female representation on The value of a balanced board is
When it comes to Ireland’s So many companies are quick to private boards in Ireland, with more significant and greater effort is needed to
boardrooms, women are losing out to promote their commitments to diversity than a quarter of respondents surveyed source candidates, through independent
men at a ratio of almost three to one. in the workforce, yet this commitment reporting less than 10 per cent female appointment practices, who can offer
Unconscious bias, interlocking and leadership are often absent at board membership on their board and more diverse perspectives and bring distinct
directorships and lack of access to level. In many regulated and State than two-thirds reporting less than 30 contributions and challenge to board
networks all contribute to preventing environments, board diversity policies per cent female representation. decision-making.
women from getting a seat at the board are a governance requirement. Gender targets have been more It is time that boards recognise these
table. However, according to a recent successful in the UK increasing the benefits and take action.
The pace of change in achieving Diversity in the Boardroom report by the number of women on boards. They must show leadership in driving
gender balance on boards is not good Institute of Directors in Ireland (IoD), In Ireland, as a consequence of the the diversity agenda and putting the
enough, with female representation at a 70 per cent of the directors surveyed, the new regime for appointments to State policies and practices in place to bring
far from optimum level. largest proportion of whom represented boards, progress has clearly been made, about meaningful change.
While business leaders often extol the private companies, said their board had with the current figure of just under 40 (The author is our foreign
benefits of a diverse board as being good no diversity or admitted that they didn’t per cent female representation on State correspondent based in the UK. He can
for business, improving effectiveness and know whether it did or not. boards lending credence to such an be reached at andyjalil@aol.com)

* POWER CONSUMER
* CASHED-UP BUYERS

Australian realtors hope new

rules don’t spoil Golden Week
ustralia’s real estate industry is hoping recent rule changes for

A
foreign buyers haven’t dimmed Chinese appetites too much, as they
eagerly awaited an influx of big-spending tourists during China’s
Golden Week holiday which began on Sunday.
Chinese vacationers, six million of whom travelled overseas
during last year’s Golden Week, have become increasingly
important to Australia.
In the year through June they accounted for almost a quarter of
the $31.8 billion spent by foreign holiday makers in the country,
while only accounting for less than one-sixth of the total number
of visitors.
As Golden Week began on Sunday, Australia’s real estate agents
prepared to roll out the red carpet for cashed-up Chinese visitors,
offering them helicopter rides and limousine tours to show off
prestige properties in the A$10 million to A$25 million range.
Michael Pallier, managing director of Sydney Sotheby’s
International Realty, said just a few deals stemming from Golden
People ride escalators inside a shopping mall in Florida, USA. — Reuters
Week alone could translate to A$40 million ($31.33 million) in
sales for his business as people who have flown in to visit family

N Korea? Trump? Americans keep calm and shop
DELPHINE TOUITOU
onsumer sentiment in the United States
at George Washington University, the
deadly violence at a far-right march in
Charlottesville, Virginia in August was
take a look at property while they are in the country.
Pallier, who wines and dines Chinese investors and chauffeurs
them round in a Rolls Royce Phantom, said tax increases and rule
changes aimed at restricting foreign buyers had made the market
becomes a refuge for us here in the US.” more difficult.
Confident consumers with rising “There’s not the amount of activity say from two years ago
incomes spend more. because of what’s happened,” Pallier said.

C
is riding high on a tide of good economic
news, despite political turmoil at home
and inflamed geopolitical tensions abroad.
Analysts say consumers remain
confident despite catastrophic storms,
deepening political alienation, violent
marches and talk of war — things that
might otherwise make households cut
spending and hunker down for safety —
because such events are far from their day-
to-day economic lives.
“In the past year, there has been
a long list of issues that could have
derailed consumer confidence, including
the unprecedented partisan divide,
North Korea, Charlottesville, as well as
the hurricanes,” Richard Curtin, chief
economist at the University of Michigan’s
Surveys of Consumers, said in a statement.
Curtin released the university’s twice-
monthly index of consumer sentiment,
which slipped 1.6 points between August
and September but remained elevated
even though three hurricanes had struck
US territory in the space of a month.
“Confidence has nonetheless remained
very favourable,” he said.
In the first nine months of the year, the
index even hit its highest level in 17 years.
“One of the reasons Americans can be
optimistic is the extent to which many of
these events have not affected what they
are able to do and what they are not,”
Frederick Wherry, a professor of sociology
at Princeton University, said.
According to Edward Berkowitz,
professor of history and public policy
“not a major enough event to influence
the national psyche or interrupt economic
trends.”
Consumer spending
is a prime driver of
growth in the world’s
largest economy and it is
estimated it will grow by
2.6 per cent this year and
in the first half of 2018
Consumers do have reasons to be
optimistic.
The economy grew by 3.1 per cent
in the second quarter, its fastest pace in
nearly two years, and unemployment,
currently estimated at 4.4 per cent, is at
historically low levels.
The economic devastation of
Hurricanes Harvey, which slammed into
Florida and Southeast Texas in a two-week
period, “was quite small and has already
begun to fade,” according to Curtin.
For the fourth straight month,
consumers also reported improving
personal finances, he added.
Two thirds of homeowners surveyed,
the highest level in ten years, also reported
rising property values.
“Historically people enter the
marketplace as a place for practicing our
freedom,” said Wherry. “The marketplace
Consumer spending is a prime driver Australia’s two most populous states, New South Wales and
of growth in the world’s largest economy Victoria, have this year increased their surcharges on home sales
and Curtin estimates it will grow by 2.6 for foreign investors, while the national government announced
per cent this year and in the first half of fines for foreign owners who leave properties vacant for at least six
2018. months of the year.
But according to Berkowitz, a few Real estate agents reported an instant response from Chinese
weeks of rising gasoline or grocery prices investors.
could reverse the trend and “contribute to Daryl Guppy, president of the Australia China Business Council
an overall sense that the economy, and the
Northern Territory said China’s new capital controls restricting
nation itself, are sputtering.” overseas investment meant Australia had to compete harder.
Berkowitz said it would be wise to wait “If it’s difficult to get your money out then you’ll go to places
before concluding that current confidence where it’s easier to spend, and Australia is no longer on that list,”
levels are sustainable. he said.
“I would say stick around and see what Chinese travellers, who spent $261 billion overseas last year, are
happens,” he added. also increasingly opting for ‘staycations’ and making more holiday
Tom Smith of the University of trips within China. — Reuters
Chicago’s National Opinion Research
Center said consumer sentiment surveys
were narrowly focused and should not
obscure broader public opinion.
“Given the objective economic situation
and the narrow focus of the measures you
mention, I am not surprised that they had
generally been positive,” he said.
“But the other measures tell us that
these consumer confidence measures are
only part of the larger picture.”
President Donald Trump’s current
public approval is among the lowest of any
modern US president.
“Even with a small recent uptick it is
and has been low by historical standards,”
Smith said.
Most American voters, or 56 per cent,
say Donald Trump is not fit to be president,
according to a Quinnipiac University Poll Chinese tourists take pictures of themselves standing in front of the Sydney Opera
released last week. — AFP House in Sydney, Australia. — Reuters
 TUESDAY | OCTOBER 3, 2017 | MUHARRAM 12, 1439 AH

www.omanobserver.om editor@omanobserver.om

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”‘—†ϐŽ‘‘”ǡͳ•–ƒ†ʹ† Š—™ƒ‹”ǡŽƒ‹Žǡƒ†‹ƒ„‹”ǡ Žƒ”‰‡ƒ”‡ƒ•‹—•…ƒ–ƒ† ’ƒ••’‘”–ǡŠ‘Ž†‡”‘ˆ
…‘•‹•–•‘ˆͷ„‡†”‘‘•ǡʹ ͻͺͶͶͺͶ͸͸ȀͻͻͲͲͲͲͲ͸Ȁ
·····
ʹˆŽƒ–ǤŽ
Š—™ƒ‹”Ǥͻͻ͹ͺ͸ͳͻͺǤ
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Ž‹˜‹‰”‘‘•ǡ͵‹–…Š‡•ǡ͹
ͻͻͳͳͻ͸ͻͻȀͻͷʹͷͲ͵ͲͲȀ
•’ƒ…‹‘—•ϐŽƒ–‹‘—–ŠŽ †‹”‡…–Ž›‘–Š‡„‡ƒ…ŠǤ Ͷͻͻͺ͹͸ʹȌƒ†
ƒƒ„‡Žƒ…‘•‹•–•‘ˆ͵ ····· „ƒ–Š”‘‘•ǡŽƒ—†”›”‘‘ǡ ·····
ʹͶͺͳ͵ͲͲʹǤ ‡ƒŽ•‘Šƒ˜‡”‡–‡†ƒ†
„‡†”‘‘•ǡ•‹––‹‰”‘‘ƒ† ͳȌʹ„‡†”‘‘•ǡʹ„ƒ–Š”‘‘ǡ ›ƒ”†Ǥ‘–ŠŽ›”‡–ͳǡͷͲͲ ‘Ǧ”‡–‡†„—‹Ž†‹‰• ”ƒ•‡‡–ŠƒŠ‡‡–Š‹Ž
–‘‹Ž‡–•ˆ‘”‡ƒ…Š”‘‘Ϊ•‹––‹‰ ‹–…Š‡ǡŽ‹˜‹‰”‘‘ǡ•–‘”‡ Ϊ‰—ƒ”ƒ–‡‡…Š‡“—‡Ǥ‘–ƒ…–Ǥ ····· ǧǡ‘—„Ž‡ƒ„‹ǡ ™‹–Š†‹ˆˆ‡”‡–ϐŽ‘‘”•ƒ† ƒ‡‘ˆ‘–Š‡”ƒ•’‡”
····· ”‘‘ƒ†‹–…Š‡ ͻͶ͸͸Ͷ͸͵ͷǡͻͷͺͷͲ͵ͶͷǤ —•‡•ǡ”ƒ‡•ǡ”‹‘˜‡”Ƭ ’—”’‘•‡•ǤͻͶ͵ͺͲͲͲʹǤ
™‹–Š•’Ž‹–—‹–‹”…‘†‹–‹‘Ǧ ͵ǡ͵„ƒ–Š•ͳ‹–…Š‡ǡ ”ƒ‹Ž‡”•ǤͻͻͶ͸ͷ͵ͷͺƬ –Š‡’ƒ••’‘”–Š‘Ž†‡”
5 ‹ŽŽƒ‹–Šƒ‹„ƒ …Ž‘•‡–‘™ƒ–‡”•‘—”…‡Ǥ ·····
‡”‹—™‹‡š”‘ƒ†ǤʹȌ ’ƒ”‹‰ˆ‘”ʹ…ƒ”•ƒ† ͻͻͶͷͶ͸͸ͲǤ ····· ‘ˆ†‹ƒ’ƒ••’‘”–‘
ˆ‘””‡–Ǥͻͷͻͷͺ͵ͳͷǤ ͻͻ͹ͲͲͻͲͺǤ
ƒ•‡‡–ͷͺͲ•“—ƒ”‡‡–”‡ ‹Žƒ†‹Žƒ„‹”
–‡””ƒ…‡Ǥ‘…ƒ–‹‘ǣŽ‡”ƒ–ǡ ····· Ͷ͹ͻ͵Ͳʹ͸Šƒ˜‹‰
····· ȋ‡™„—‹Ž†‹‰ȌǤ‘–ƒ…–Ǥ 

•‹‰Ž‡
····· ‡ƒ”–‘–Š‡Ž—™ƒ‹–‹ ŽƒŠƒŒǤ͹ͳͳͲͻ͹ͻʹǤ ’‡”ƒ‡–ƒ††”‡••
ͻͻͺ͵͵͵͸ͻǤ …‘Ž‘—”ǡ͵͸…šͷʹ…Ƭ
”‡•‹†‡–‹ƒŽˆ‘” ‘•“—‡ǤͻͻͶʹͷͻͷͺǤ ‹ƒ
ˆ‘””‡–‹—•…ƒ– Žƒ„‘—”…ƒ’ƒ˜ƒ‹Žƒ„Ž‡Ǥ‡ƒ” ····· ‡š…‡ŽŽ‡–Ž‘…ƒ–‹‘ ‘”ƒ…Š‹‡ǡ•‹‰Ž‡ ‹Mundirikkal
͵ǡ͵„ƒ–Š•ͳ‹–…Š‡ǡ · · · · · ····· …‘Ž‘—”ǡͷʹ…š͹Ͷ…Ǥ
‘Šƒ”‘”–Ǥ”‡ƒͳͷǡͲͲͲ2Ǥ ‹ƒŽƒŽƒŠ™‹–Š ‘—•‡ǡ„ƒŽƒ’ƒ”ƒ
’ƒ”‹‰ˆ‘”ʹ…ƒ”•ƒ† ƒ–‡”ƒ†‡Ž‡…–”‹…‹–› …‘•‹•–•‘ˆƒ ˆ‘””‡–‹Ž‡”ƒ– ‡“—‹’‡–ƒ†™‘”‡”•Ǥ ͻͻ͵͸ͻͺͺͲȀͻʹͺͷ͹͵ͷͷǤ
–‡””ƒ…‡Ǥ‘…ƒ–‹‘ǣŽ‡”ƒ–ǡ ƒ˜ƒ‹Žƒ„Ž‡Ǥ ‘” 
ǡ‡ƒ”ƒ”•
ŽƒŠƒŒǤͻͻ͵ͶͳͳʹǤ ––ƒ’ƒŽƒ‹ƒ
ʹǦ•–‘”‡›˜‹ŽŽƒǡͷ”‘‘•ǡʹ ›’‡”ƒ”‡–ǣ—‹Ž†‹‰ǡ ͻ͵͵ͻ͹ͺͳʹǤ ·····
ŽƒŠƒŒǤ͹ͳͳͲͻ͹ͻʹǤ …‘–ƒ…–ͻͳͷ͹͹͹͹Ͷǡ ƒŒŽ‹•ƒ†ʹƒ’ƒ”–‡–•Ǥ ƒŽƒƒ†‡”ƒŽƒ
ͻ͸ͳͻͺͶ͸ͲǤ
ͳͳϐŽƒ–•Ȅ–™‘„‡†”‘‘ ····· ····· ͳȎ  ͸͹ͻͷͳʹȋ…‘’Ž‡–‡
····· ƒ…ŠϐŽƒ–Šƒ•͵”‘‘•ƒ† ϐŽƒ–ǡ„ƒ–Šƒ––ƒ…Š‡†ǡŠƒŽŽǡ
ƒŒŽ‹•‹‘—–ŠŽƒƒ„‡ŽƒǤ WE •—’’Ž›“—ƒ–‹–‹‡•‘ˆ „‡Š‹†
–‡…Š‹•‘ˆˆ‡”‡† ’‘•–ƒŽƒ††”‡••‹†‹ƒȌ
NEW ˆƒ‹Ž›ϐŽƒ–•‹ ····· ‹–…Š‡ƒ†‰—‡•––‘‹Ž‡–Ǥ ϐŽ‘‘”Š‘—•‡‹Žƒ‹Ž
ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡ǤŠ‡Žƒ†‡Œ‘›•
”‹‘”‹–›‹•ˆ‘”…‘’ƒ‹‡•Ǥ ‡„‡†”‘‘ϐŽƒ–Ȅ„ƒ–Š ƒ†ʹˆ”‘ƒ˜‡—•…ƒ–ǡ ‡š…‡ŽŽ‡–‘—–ƒ‹‘—• ƒ†’”‡•‡–Ž›”‡•‹†‹‰
ƒ”•ƒ‹–‡ƒ”–Š‡„‡ƒ…Šǡͷ 
‡ƒ”—™‹ƒ”‡–ǡ ͻͻͶʹͲͳͶͲǤ •‘‹Ž‹ƒ—•Š‡”ȋ•—‹–ƒ„Ž‡ ƒ’‡”‹–ˆ‘”–™‹Ǧ˜‹ŽŽƒǤ
„‡†”‘‘•ǡŠƒŽŽ™‹–ŠǡͶ ƒ––ƒ…Š‡†ǡŠƒŽŽǡ‹–…Š‡ƒ† …‘–ƒ‹•Ͷ„‡†”‘‘•ǡŽ‹˜‹‰ ƒ––Š‡ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰ƒ††”‡••
͸ Žƒ–•ǡ͵„‡†”‘‘•ǡ͵–‘‹Ž‡–• ˆ‘”…‘’ƒ…–‹‘ƒ† ʹȌ ‹•ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡‹
„ƒ–Š”‘‘•ǡ„ƒŽ…‘›™‹–Š Ƭ‹–…Š‡ǡ’Ž‹–‹–ȋȌǡ · · · · · ‰—‡•––‘‹Ž‡–ǤŽ
Š—„”ƒ ”‘‘ǡƒ‹–…Š‡ƒ†ʹ–‘‹Ž‡–•ǡ
—‹Ž†‹‰ǡʹ͵ϐŽƒ–•Ǥ‘–ƒ…– ϐ‹ŽŽ‹‰ȌͻͻʹͶʹͶͶͷǡ Žƒƒ„‡Žƒͺ‘™‡”Ǥ ‹ƒ‘ǤǤǤǤǤ
•‡ƒ˜‹‡™ǡͶͷͲ’‡”‘–ŠǤ ˆƒ‹Ž›‘Ž›ǤͻͻͶʹͺʹͺͶǡ ͵ͲͲǤͻͻͲ͹͹͹ʹʹǤ
NEW ˜‹ŽŽƒ‹ŽŠ‘—†Š͸‹•
ǣͻʹͻͲʹ͵ͳ͵Ǥ ͻͻ͵ʹ͹ͻ͵ͻǤ ͻͷͻͷͻͳ͸͸Ǥ ‘ǤǤǤǤǤǤ—Ž–ƒƒ–‡‘ˆƒǡ
ͻͻ͵ͳͷͻͺ͸Ǥ ͻʹͶʹͷͶͷͶǤ
‘ˆˆ‡”‡†ˆ‘””‡–ǤŠ‡ ····· ····· ····· Š‡”‡„›•‘Ž‡Ž›ƒˆϐ‹”
····· ····· ’”‡‹•‡…‘’”‹•‡•͸ ·····
„‡†”‘‘•ǡƒŽ‡ƒŒŽ‹•ǡ ϐŽƒ–•ˆ‘””‡– ‹Ž •ƒŽ‡ǣš–”ƒ˜ƒ‰ƒ– ƒ††‡…Žƒ”‡–‘…Šƒ‰‡
 ϐŽƒ–‹Ž‡”ƒ–ǣ
ˆ‡ƒŽ‡ƒŒŽ‹•ǡƒ•’Ž‹–—‹– ™‘„‡†”‘‘•ΪƒŒŽ‹•Ϊ ‹—•…ƒ–
”ƒ†ƒŽŽ —”—‹•–”ƒ–‡‰‹… ƒ†ˆ—”‹•Š‡†”‡•‹†‡…‡• –Š‡ƒ‡‘ˆ‘—”…Š‹Ž†
ƒ‹”Ǧ…‘†‹–‹‘‡†ˆƒ‹Ž›Ž‹˜‹‰ •‹––‹‰”‘‘Ϊ–™‘–‘‹Ž‡–• ͻͻͶͶͷ͹͹ͳǡͻ͵ʹͲͶͷͻͷ Ž‘…ƒ–‹‘™‹–Š‡š–”ƒ˜ƒ‰ƒ– ˆ‘”ˆ‡ƒŽ‡•–—†‡–•‹Ž ‹••Ȁƒ•–‡”„Š‹ƒ˜
”‘‘ƒ†ͺ–‘‹Ž‡–•Ǥ ȋϐ‹”•–ϐŽ‘‘”Ȍƒ–ʹͲͲǤ ͻ͵ʹͲ͵ͶͺͳǤ ‹–‡”‹‘”†‡•‹‰‘ʹͺͲ Š—™ƒ‹”ǡŽƒ™ƒŽ‡Šƒ†
•“‹•‘ˆˆ‡”‡†ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡ƒ– ȋƒ‡ƒ•’‡”’”‡•‡–
ͻͻ͸͸ͺ͸ͺ͸Ǥ ͻͻ͵ʹͻͻͶͻǤ ŽŠ‘—†ŠƒŽ‘‰™‹–ŠƒŽŽ
····· ʹͷǡͲͲͲǤͻʹͶ͹ͲͲʹͶǤ ƒ••‡–•ǤͻͻͲͲͳ͵͵ʹǤ ’ƒ••’‘”–ȌǡŠ‘Ž†‡”‘ˆ
····· ····· †‹ƒ’ƒ••’‘”–‘
ˆ‘”ˆƒ‹Ž›ˆ‘””‡–ǡ ····· ·····
‹Žƒ™ƒŽ‡ŠȋͷȌǡ ͳƬʹˆŽƒ–•ˆ‘””‡– ƒŽƒ‘ŽŠ–ƒ”•Š‘’ǡ Ͳͻͷ͵ͳͲͶ†ƒ–‡‘ˆ‹••—‡
ͷ”‘‘•Ϊ–‘‹Ž‡–•ΪƒŒŽ‹• ƒ–—™‹ƒ†ŽŠ‘—†ŠǤ „‡Š‹†”ƒ‹ƒǡ„— ͲͺǦͲ͸ǦʹͲͳ͹‹••—‡†ƒ–
ƒ†ˆƒ‹Ž›Ž‹˜‹‰”‘‘Ǥ ͻ͵ͻͻͶͶͲʹǡͻ͵ͻͻͶͶͲ͵ǡ „†—ŽŽƒŠͻͻ͸ʹ͹͹ʹͶǡ„— CochinǤŠ‡ƒ‡‘ˆ‘—”
ͻʹͺͺͲͻ͹͹Ǥ ʹͶͺ͵Ͷ͸ͶͶǤ
„†—Ž”ƒŠƒͻͻ͵ͳͷͶͻͲǤ …Š‹Ž†™‹ŽŽ„‡Š‡…‡ˆ‘”–Š
····· ·· · · · · ‘™ƒ•„Š‹ƒ˜
·····
 ˆ‘”•‡†ƒ–‹˜‡ 
„‡†”‘‘ϐŽƒ–ǡŽ Mundirikkal Vinod
‹˜‡•–‡–‹ƒŽƒŽƒŠ Š—™ƒ‹”ƒ† ˆ—”‹•Š‡†ʹƬ͵ Ȉ ƒ”•ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡ Ȉ ƒŒŒƒ†”ƒ
Ȉ ‘””‡– Ȉ •‡†ˆ—”‹–—”‡ˆ‘”•ƒŽ‡ ȋ‡™ƒ‡Ȍˆ‘”ƒŽŽ
‹–”‘†—…‡•–Š‡„‡•–’”‹…‡ Ž
Š—„”ƒǡˆƒ‹Ž›‘Ž›Ǥ ˆŽƒ–•ƒ–ƒ—•Š‡”Ȅ‡ƒ”
ƒ†—–‹Ž‹–‹‡•ǡˆ‘””‡–ǣ ͻʹͻ͸͹ͺͷ͵Ǥ –Žƒ•‘•’‹–ƒŽǤ
Ȉ
‘„ƒ’’Ž‹…ƒ–‹‘ Ȉ ƒ—…Š…‡”‡‘‹‡•‘ˆȋ”‡•–ƒ—”ƒ–•Ǧ ’—”’‘•‡•Ǥ›‘„Œ‡…–‹‘
Ȉ Šƒ”‹‰”‡•‹†‡…‡ •Š‘’•Ǧ…Ž‹‹…•Ȍ –‘™ƒ”†•…Šƒ‰‡‘ˆƒ‡
—’‡”ˆ—”‹•Š‡†ϐŽƒ–•ǡ ͻͻ͵ͶͺͶͻ͵Ȁͻ͵ʹͲͲͶʹͶȀ
····· Ȉ ”ƒ•’‘”–…ƒ”• Ȉ
‘„ƒ†•
†ƒ‹Ž›ǡ‘–ŠŽ›ƒ†›‡ƒ”Ž›Ǥ ʹͶͷͲʹʹͷͶǤ Ȉ ‡ƒŽ•–ƒ–‡ȋ•ƒŽ‡Ǧ Ȉ ‡ƒ…Š‹‰†”‹˜‹‰ ‘ˆ‘—”‹‘”…Š‹Ž†ƒ›
ͻͺͲ͵ͷͳ͵ͷȀͻ͸ͳ͹͹͵ͲͶȀ  •Š‘’™‹–ŠƒŽŽ ”‡–Ǧ‹˜‡•–‡–• Ȉ ‘—•‡•…Ž‡ƒ‹‰Ǧ•‡”˜‹…‡•ƒ†’‡•– ’Ž‡ƒ•‡„‡…‘—‹…ƒ–‡†
ͻͳ͹ͺͺͻͻͻǤ ‡“—‹’‡–‹‘—–ŠŽƒ‹Ž · · · · · …‘–”‘Ž
‡ƒ”ƒ‹ŽŽ™ƒ‹”
·····
NEW ƒ’ƒ”–‡–‹—™‹
‡ƒ”…Š—”…Š…‘•‹•–•‘ˆʹ
”‘‘•™‹–Š‹–•ˆƒ…‹Ž‹–‹‡•Ǥ
‘–ƒ…–ǤͻͶ͸͸Ͷ͸͵ͷǡ
ͻͷͺͷͲ͵ͶͷǤ
·····
…Š‘‘ŽǤͻͻͶ͸ͻͻͲͲǤ
·····
ʹ™‹–Š–‘‹Ž‡–•ǡ –‘ȋ—•…ƒ–Š‹˜ƒ‡’Ž‡Ȍǡ
‘‡•‹––‹‰”‘‘™‹–Š–‘‹Ǧ
Ž‡–Ǥ‘–ƒ…–Ǥͻͻ͵ͺͲ͵Ͷ͸ͷǤ
·····
–‘„ƒ••›‘ˆ†‹ƒǡ
ˆ‘””‡–‡ƒ”‹™ƒ For information, please call: —•…ƒ–ǡ‹’Ž‘ƒ–‹…
ƒˆ”ƒ‹›ƒƒ”‡ƒ‡†‘ˆ 99841230-95919344
—ƒ”–‡”•ǡŽŠ—™ƒ‹”ǡ
—––”ƒŠ‘”‹…Š‡…Ž‘•‡ 92721879 - 99639264
Ǥ‘š‘Ǥͳ͹ʹ͹ǡ‘•–ƒŽ
Tel: 24649597, Fax: 24649590
ˆƒ‹Ž›ǡ„ƒ…Š‡Ž‘”Ǥ‘–ƒ…– BankMuscat account: 0397003776610011 ‘†‡ͳͳʹǡ—™‹ǡ
ͻͻͲͺ͵Ͳ͹ͳǡͻͻ͵ʹ͵ͲͳͷǤ Bank Dhofar account: 01040141195001 —Ž–ƒƒ–‡‘ˆƒǤ
E-mail: a.almashari@omandaily.om
····· ·····

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
classifieds
Situation Vacant
URGENTLY required
packing staff male/
female experienced in gift
wrapping, box making, etc.
Please call 99336196
·····
A LEGAL translation
‘ˆϐ‹…‡‡‡†•Marketeers.
Contact E-mail:
oman4n@gmail.com
·····
URGENTLY required
Native English speaking
lady teachers for a
leading kindergarten
at Al Khuwair. Only
candidates from US/UK/
AUS/ Canada/ South
Africa/ New Zealand/
Ireland etc, can apply
for this position. Please
contact urgently on
93331056 and CV at
cv4muscat@gmail.com
·····
SENIOR Civil Engineer
 Graduate in Civil
Engineering with 10
years experience in the
”‡Ž‡˜ƒ–ϐ‹‡Ž†ȋ—•–Šƒ˜‡
Oman experience.)
 Only preferable if having
NOC/release letter.
Interested candidates
send resume to:
hr@aljood-oman.com
Fax: 24437007.
·····
REQUIRED Marketing/
PR Manager for a modern
restaurant group in Oman.
Situation Vacant
OMANI company seeks
Natural Cosmetics
Maker (experience in
making natural soap,
liquid soap, shampoo,
body lotion and hand
cream. tasweeq.
business@gmail.com
URGENTLY required
beautician. Visa will
be provided. Contact
94939252.
REQUIRED Gulf experienced
Aluminium Fabricators
ˆ‘”‡™Ž›•–ƒ”–‡†ϐ‹”Ǥ
95060980.
·····
URGENTLY required:
 A/C G.I duct fabrication
supervisor with good
experience in all type
of AC duct and Auto
machine and knowledge
of AutoCAD. No: 1
 Duct fabricator
experience in all type of
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No: 2. 95703680/
97356554 or mail to
uceoman@gmail.com
·····
CATERING Supervisor,
Diploma in Catering or Five
years experience in food
related job. Fluent in English
language is must. Contact
99428310. E-mail:
alshehisons@yahoo.com
·····
THE White Pearl Enterprises
urgently need experienced
Situation Vacant
classifieds Situation Wanted
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7 19
AC TECHNICIAN
Ras Al Hamra PHYSIOTHERAPIST INDIAN female architect INDIAN female, BBA LOOKING for suitable Company based in
(B. Arch), fresher (23 fresher (Oman), with placement, Indian Muscat urgently
PDO Club (Female) years) on visit, looking valid Omani driving female, Master in requires
for suitable placement. licence, seeks suitable computer application
Requires
Portfolio can be sent via placement to gain with 11 years of AC TECHNICIAN
Bar Administrator
Company based email on request. Please experience. 95175386 experience in data
with at least 3 years
Qualification: Diploma Food & contact 95471174, ····· warehousing, Teradata
Beverage, Fluent
spoken & written
in Muscat email: tiageo.123@gmail. and date modelling experience.
com. looking for suitable
English
Experience: 5 years as Senior
urgently requires LOOKING for driving job, placement in Muscat. Terms and Conditions:
·····
Barman. speaks Hindi, Arabic, 91192543. E-mail: Driving licence
Candidates to attend interviews and
31 YEARS old 2.1 years experience. priyakthomas@gmail.com 3 years experience
test. Please email CV to: PHYSIOTHERAPIST male Diploma Civil 93841591. ·····
oceanint@omantel.net.om
(Female) Engineer having 8
Accommodation and
years experience in
····· Transportation
PRIVATE medical centre in EXPERIENCED light driver/
Mudhaibi requires females with at least 3 …‘•–”—…–‹‘ϐ‹‡Ž†‘™
in India, seeking suitable
20 YEARS experienced supervisor. Fluent in
provided by company.
physicians in the following Indian Chartered Age 25-35
specialities: Obstetrics years experience. job in Oman. Can join Accountant and Cost &
English/Arabic with good
knowledge of Oman roads/
immediately, contact Management Accountant Interested candidates
and gynaecology 1, areas, seeks job. Contact.
Interested candidates GSM 0091-9943126501, looking for change of job.
Dermatologists & 97950869. can contact us
Cosmetologist 1, Dentist can contact us email: shiva.drprk@ NOC Available. Contact
1, Pharmacist 1, Nurses 3 gmail.com and if any 99884291, 99741875 ····· 92919135
92919135, …Žƒ”‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘›‘—…ƒ Send your CV to:
93553245.
95537973 contact my brother in ····· 39 YEARS old male albahrani999@yahoo.com
····· Muscat. GSM - 97676177 Diploma Civil Engineer
Send your CV to: DRIVING/Electrical
& s.erbbkannan@gmail.com having 16 years experience
HOUSE driver needed albahrani999@yahoo.com job wanted. Language
‹…‘•–”—…–‹‘ϐ‹‡Ž†Ǥ‘™
for Omani family (Indian ····· ’”‘ϐ‹…‹‡…›ǣ”ƒ„‹…ǡ‹†‹ in India, seeking suitable
preferred). Contact & Bengali. ( 94563012, job in Oman. Can join SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
99203954. INDIAN male, MBA 94514599.
immediately, contact GSM Indian male with more than
····· Buying (HRM) good knowledge in
····· 0091-9843113232, email: 11 years of work experience
Arabic, typing & computer karunanithi@gmail.com
skills, presently in Oman. (7 years in Oman) in
DIPLOMA in Electrical ƒ†‹ˆƒ›…Žƒ”‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘›‘—
AL Awsad Modern
71507386. Engineering, Indian can contact my brother in Accounts/Finance, seeking
LLC, electronic and
Services furniture used.
····· male with more than 18 Muscat - GSM - 97676177 suitable placement. Holding
years Oman experience & s.erbbkannan@gmail. valid Oman driving licence.
99834373. INDIAN male, B.Tech in IT in facilities management
with 2 years experience,
com Release/NOC available. Kindly
and purchase department.
1. AC maintenance and …‡”–‹ϐ‹‡†ǡ…—””‡–Ž› ····· contact on
Contact 98622766 or
servicing. Sit Wanted on visit visa, seeking for
vijisag2003@yahoo.com 32 YEARS old female 97326761 or email at
2. Fridge, washing suitable placement. Contact
machine and dish washer 96020326. Email: ····· Graduate B.Sc & MBA shajikpallam007@gmail.com
INDIAN Male 28, M.Com (Fashion Tech) having 6
repairing. mikhdar@gmail.com
Finance, rank holder with SRI Lankan male, 33 yrs exp in India & Oman
3. Painting and cleaning
2 yrs corporate experience ····· (CMA & BBA Fin), a seeking for co-ordinator or
services. 4. Electrical,
in order management & ”‡•—Ž–Ǧ‘”‹‡–‡†ϐ‹ƒ…‡
Matrimony
plumbing and carpentry 20 YEARS old male Diploma suitable job immediately.
work 97014234, supply chain, looking for Mechanical Engineer having professional having Contact 91317975.
99447257, 24504281. suitable opening. Contact around 2 years experience 10 years experience of
····· HINDU Ezhava girl,
····· 91764576. E-mail: sahil. in Automobile industry. which 8 years in Oman, in
27 years, Karthika,
nms89@gmail.com Now in India, seeking ϐ‹ƒŽ‹•ƒ–‹‘‘ˆƒ……‘—–•ǡ INDIAN male, civil engineer
”‘ϐ‹…‹‡–‹ŽŽ—•–”ƒ–‘”ƒ†
Photoshop. Charismatic,
Proactive, creative and
ϐŽ‡š‹„Ž‡Ǥš…‡ŽŽ‡–™”‹–‹‰Ȁ
editing skills. Degree
in relevant area. Fluent
in English. Send CV to
marketingpr2016@gmail.
com
·····
GENERAL Nurse
24540056, e-mail:
alexcenter@live.com
·····
URGENTLY required
electrician with electrical
licence (DCRP). Omani
or expatriate (3 years
experience). Contact
99337587, 99043127,
99348493.
·····
A NURSE Required with
experience to work
in a School, spoken
English and Arabic.
92297695,92742116,
24797116.
·····
PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
A new physiotherapy centre
located in Bausher, Muscat
requires physiotherapists.
Male and female, newly
beautician lady & henna
artist for a beauty salon
in Bausher. They should be
honest and hardworking.
Limas. Beauty Centre. If you
are interested, 99350707
or 99250707.
·····
URGENTLY required
Expatriate Heavy Duty
Drivers, JCB Operators
with valid Omani licence.
Send your CV to gdsoman@
gdsoman.com. Contact:
99890076, 93894018,
Fax: 24590866.
·····
WANTED expat with at least
a diploma in accounting
‘”ϐ‹ƒ…‡ with at least
3 years of experience in
a construction company
working in GCC. To
apply email your CV to:
abdullah.be-different-s@
hotmail.com
·····
GRADUATE salesperson
required for a high-end
luxury store. Must be
ϐŽ—‡–‹‰Ž‹•ŠǤ”‡˜‹‘—•
experience is a privilege.
Send CV to hena 82@
hotmail.com
AL SUMRI AC
maintenance. We are
ready to repair and
install all types of
Air-Conditioner within
Muscat Governorate.
94301888.
·····
ORIENT Trading LLC,
Shampooing, sofa,
…ƒ”’‡–ǡϐŽ‘‘”’‘Ž‹•Š‹‰Ǥ
Old house repairing.
99834373.
·····
MAINTENANCE: 1. AC
Maintenance & Servicing;
2. Fridge, Washing Machine
& Dish washer repairing;
3. Painting & cleaning
services; 4. Electrical &
Plumbing Carpentry work.
Contact: 99447257,
97014234, 24504281.
·····
WE offer you the Business
Services: Maintenance
of buildings and villas
for paint and carpentry
and decoration works
·····
SAFETY ‘ˆϐ‹…‡”ǡ‡‰”‡‡
NEBOSH, 10SH, Medic
First. Born and brought
Oman. Oman driving
licence. 98929663.
·····
FASHION Technology
Degree (Marketing)
NEBOSH, 10SH, Medic
First. Born and brought
Oman. Oman driving
licence. 90398996.
·····
MECHANICAL Engineer,
fresh graduate from India.
Now in Oman on visiting
visa. Having diploma in
oil & gas, QA/QC, piping,
ǡǡϐ‹”‡ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ǡ
MEP and RIVET. Contact:
93258307. Email:
maanaspark@gmail.com
·····
INDIAN, well experienced
ϐ‹ƒ…‡ƒ†‘’‡”ƒ–‹‘•
manager looking for a
suitable opportunity.
Contact 95362046.
e-mail: srjobsinoman@
yahoo.com
·····
suitable job in automobile
and manufacturing
industries in Oman. Can join
immediately, contact GSM
0091-8098322372, email:
muruganantham088182@
gmail.com and if any
…Žƒ”‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘›‘—…ƒ
contact my brother in
Muscat -GSM -97676177 &
s.erbbkannan@gmail.com
·····
ELECTRICAL engineer,
Sudanese, speaks English
and Arabic well, I’m using
Primavera & AutoCad
programme well. I have
experience in electrical
generators (33KV- 100KV)
& Automation (PLC, Scada)
& Sensors 95424284.
·····
31 YEARS old male
Diploma Civil Engineer
having 8 years experience
‹…‘•–”—…–‹‘ϐ‹‡Ž†‘™
in India, seeking suitable
job in Oman. Can join
immediately, contact GSM
0091-9943126501, email:
shiva.drprk@gmail.com
ƒ†‹ˆƒ›…Žƒ”‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘›‘—
can contact my brother in
Muscat. GSM - 97676177 &
s.erbbkannan@gmail.com
·····
cost and management
accounting, MIS reporting,
ǡ’”‘ϐ‹…‹‡–‹‹…”‘•‘ˆ–
GP, looking for suitable
placement. NOC & D/L
available. 90740999
E-mail: faabidh@gmail.com
·····
LIGHT Driver with NOC
(required visa), Pakistani
male 27, have 2 years exp
in Oman and 8 years in
Pakistan. I can speak only
Hindi/Urdu, seeks job.
Please contact my brother
95204469.
·····
35 YEARS old male senior
technician (mechanical &
Instrumentation) having 6
years Singapore experience
in all type of R.O Plats.
Now in India, seeking
suitable job in Oman. Can
join immediately, contact
GSM 0091-8189912848,
email: snk_nims@gmail.
…‘ƒ†‹ˆƒ›…Žƒ”‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘
you can contact my
friend in 97676177 &
s.erbbkannan@gmail.com
·····
31 YEARS old male BE
Civil Engineer having 8
B.Com, CA, hailing
(passed in First class) seeks
from Idukki District.
suitable employment in
Employed at an
construction industry in
International Audit
Oman. He is on visit visa,
Firm Kochi, Planning
available on  92648820
for migration to
····· Canada seeks
suitable alliance
INDIAN Engineer with
from the parents
MBA, more than 20
of professionally
years of experience in
sales, operations, general “—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡†„‘›•Ǥ
management in telecom Contact:
and security systems in 00968-99896610,
O&G and industrial sectors, 0091-9946048790,
presently working in 0091-8086299163
Oman seeks suitable job
·····
opportunity. NOC available.
71504793, email:
akpillai68@gmail.com
·····
Wanted
INDIAN male, BE in E&C, A CAREGIVER needed for
…‡”–‹ϐ‹‡†’”‘ˆ‡••‹‘ƒŽ an elderly lady in Muscat.
Preferred a Nurse or a
seeks suitable job,
specialised caregiver
preferably as network
for elderly. Salary is
engineer/system admin/
negotiable. Contact: 
IT help desk, having
99324680.
4 years experience as
quality analyst, trainer
·····
& IT help desk, on visit
visa 98611846.
abdulm4288@live.com
Lost
·····
MOHAMMED Mahmood
INDIAN male, Mechanical
has lost Bangladeshi
Engineer + MEP, 1 year
passport No AF9810405.
experience in BPCL
Finder please handover to
graduates and experienced
physiotherapist applications
are accepted. Applicants
must be licensed to work
in Sultanate of Oman, or
“—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡†–‘ƒ’’Ž›ˆ‘”–Š‡
licence. Please e-mail your
CV with a recent coloured
personal photo to: info@
·····
FEMALE Maths and
Science teacher required
for primary level in a private management and leasing
school, with minimum 3
years
experience and inlets.
Contact 99353961.
and installation of
material water proof and
cleaning services building
of real estate (Out motto
is to provide quality in
all our business). Muscat
Renaissance Development
and Investment.
INDIAN male 24 B Tech in
Mechanical Engineering,
2 years experience as
maintenance engineer
in a chemical plant,
…‡”–‹ϐ‹‡†‹Ȁ‘
visit visa 91134622,
irfanmami.123@gmail.com
·····
NEED driving job, 6
years experience in
Oman, speaking language
English, Hindi and Arabic.
996144041/ 99803431.
·····
YOUNG Omani national,
Bachelor degree in Graphic
Designing, excellent
years Singapore experience
‹…‘•–”—…–‹‘ϐ‹‡Ž†ƒ•
Quantity Surveyor and site
project engineer & now in
Singapore, seeking suitable
job in Oman. Can join
immediately, contact GSM
0065-82683272, email:
raja_yuv@yahoo.com and
‡ϐ‹‡”›ƒ•”‘Œ‡…–Ǧ
ROP.
charge. Strong academic
history from reputed ·····
university on visit visa,
seeking relevant job
94828318 Sit Wanted
·····
Young Indian, 4 years
YOUNG Indian (Male, 25 experienced Digital
alanzoor.com. Applications
are accepted until
9th March 2017.
· · · · ·.
HIGH Pressure Trading
ǡ›†”‘ϐŽ‘™ǡŽ‘‘‹‰
for Accounts Clerk and
PRO with one or two years
experience in Sohar kindly
send your CV with expected
•ƒŽƒ”›ƒ–ǣƒŽœ—Žϐ‹̷‡‹Ǥƒ‡
·····
·····
99070093.
A REPUTABLE real estate
and construction company
looking for an experienced
Civil Project Engineer.
Submit your CV to dapco@
dapcooman.com
·····
REQUIRED marketing
manager, engineering
products and services.
Preference engineering
degree in mechanical
engineering, with minimum
·····
PROVIDES all kinds of legal
works, LLC registration,
agreements, contracts.
Takes all kinds of cases of
companies.97351649.
·····
Sit Wanted
INDIAN male 28, M.Com
ϐ‹ƒ…‡Ǧ”ƒŠ‘Ž†‡”
with 2 years corporate
experience, now on
visit, looking for suitable
opening. Contact
91764576. Email: sahil.
nms89@gmail.com
·····
GRAPHIC Designer with
16 years’ experience in
media and advertising
ϐ‹‡Ž†Ǥ–ƒ›‹‰‹ƒˆ‘”
knowledge in Illustrator,
Photoshop, InDesign, After
Effect, Premiere Pro and
Photography having 1 year
experience in a reputed
company looking for an
immediate placement.
Contact 92366698/
96622019.
·····
DRIVER, Pakistani, looking
for job. 5 years experience.
Call 97422325.
·····
ˆƒ›…Žƒ”‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘›‘—
can contact my friend in
Muscat - GSM - 97676177
& s.erbbkannan@gmail.
com
·····
24 YEARS old male BE
Civil Engineer having
2 years experience in
…‘•–”—…–‹‘ϐ‹‡Ž†Ƭ‘™
in India, seeking suitable
job in Oman. Can joint
immediately, contact GSM
0091-9843393689, email:
arunpandian6434@gmail.
yrs, B Sc Electronics Engr) Analytics Executive,
also experienced in QA,
PGDM, BMS (Marketing)
O&M of DG Sets etc, on
on visit looking for
visit visa seeks immediate
suitable job. Contact
opening.  99702383
 97557413, E-mail:
prabhapisharody@gmail.
ashleyseq@gmail.com
com / Karthik S Pishardoy
·····
 98557019. karthime7@
gmail.com
·····
CLASSIFIED
PAKISTANI male, 28
SECTION
years with diploma in
mechanical engineering
and 6 years of experience RUWI
†‡•‹‰‘ˆϐ‹…‡‹•
looking for Interior & 3D
Visualisation Designer.
Experience:5 years. E-mail
CV to: info@epcoman.com
·····
15-20 years experience in
Oman. NOC required, driving
licence essential. Contact
email: kutetur1940@yahoo.
co. in 99458194.
·····
the last 10 years. Looking
for suitable opportunity.
DRIVER Pakistani
E-mail: jaydhns@gmail.
experience 4 years looking com or
for job. 95204346.  96283931
·····
·····
LOOKING for driving job,
speaks English, Arabic,
Hindi, 4 years experience.
96262935.
·····
…‘ƒ†‹ˆƒ›…Žƒ”‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘
you can contact my brother
in Muscat- GSM-97676177
& s.erbbkannan@gmail.com
·····
in Oman working for : 24785668
production company
looking for a suitable job.
99841230
Having valid Oman driving Behind Royal Oman Police,
Adjacent
licence. 92482415.
to Dhofar Building,
····· Ruwi.
international
business
20 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7
ZIMBABWE
hyperinflation
triggers panic-buying
A DECADE AGO, HYPERINFLATION IN ZIMBABWE WIPED OUT
PERSONAL SAVINGS, LEFT SHOPS EMPTY AND MADE IT ALL BUT
IMPOSSIBLE TO BUY A TANK OF PETROL OR DAILY GROCERIES.
FANUEL JONGWE
D
riving to work last week,
Dennis Zhemi found his
usually busy neighbourhood
garage in the Zimbabwean
capital Harare deserted
and a forecourt attendant
signalling “no fuel”. For Zhemi, it was a worrying
sign that Zimbabwe’s chronic economic collapse
could be heading for another vicious downwards
spiral of basic shortages, hyperinflation and social
chaos.
Zhemi’s heart sank as he drove on, hoping to
refuel at the next station, but at least 40 other cars
were queueing on the side of the road towards the
petrol pumps.
“Immediately, I was reminded of 2008 when
we slept in fuel queues and I prayed silently that
we don’t return to those days,” the 43-year-old
human resources consultant said.
He left his car at the garage as he did not have
enough fuel to reach his office, and caught a bus
to work.
A decade ago, hyperinflation in Zimbabwe
wiped out personal savings, left shops empty and
made it all but impossible to buy a tank of petrol
or daily groceries.
Inflation peaked at 500 billion per cent before
the national currency was abandoned in a
favour of the US dollar, and the economy never
recovered.
Fears of a repeat of those desperate days have
grown in recent weeks in Zimbabwe, and panic-
buying has seen prices rocket.
WORTHLESS MONEY
The stockpiling has been driven by a collapse
in confidence in the parallel “bond note” currency
that was launched by 93-year-old President
Spectre of
Robert Mugabe’s government nearly a year ago.
Bond notes dispersed by banks and ATMs are
in theory worth the same as the US dollar, but
consumers worry the currency could be rendered
worthless like the old Zimbabwe dollar that was
scrapped in 2009.
“We are already witnessing shortages of basic
commodities,” Peter Mutasa, president of the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, said.
“The situation has been triggered by lack
of confidence in the bond notes. We are being
driven to barter for goods as there is no hard
currency in the banks.”
Currency traders who gather near the foreign
bus terminal in Harare now offer to exchange
one US dollar for 1.37 bond notes — an illegal
transaction that underlines the bond note’s
weakness.
For non-cash bank transfers, the traders offer
to pay 1.50 in bond notes for each US dollar,
reporters witnessed.
Like many shops in Zimbabwe, one small
supermarket in Harare offers several different
prices for goods — an illegal but common
practice.
A 175-gramme bar of Protex soap costs one
US dollar, but 1.30 in bond notes or if you pay by
swipe card.
A two-litre bottle of Pure Drop cooking oil
sells for 3.20 US dollars, but its price has jumped
suddenly to 4.50 in bond notes and five dollars —
or sometimes even seven dollars — when paying
by card.
Mugabe, whose land policies are widely blamed
for Zimbabwe’s economic collapse since 2000,
this week railed against currency “saboteurs” and
vowed that the “price hikes would be dealt with”.
Further economic breakdown could reignite
street protests that shook Mugabe’s regime last
year, and the president used a speech on Thursday
to acknowledge the inflation threat.
“There are those eager to manipulate the
currency so that they can trigger inflation (and)
cause panic-buying,” he said. “Those are the
mischief-makers in our midst.”
BARTER TO SURVIVE
Harare-based economist Prosper Chitambara
said Zimbabwe’s economic problems were likely
to worsen ahead of next year’s election, when
Mugabe will again stand despite his weakening
health.
“There is a lot of uncertainty due to the
political situation,” Chitambara said.
“That is why we have seen the re-emergence
of the parallel market and a multi-tier pricing
structure. As we approach the elections, the
uncertainty will increase.”
A brief demonstration on Friday in Harare by
anti-Mugabe activists over the economic crisis
was dispersed by police using teargas.
Unemployment in Zimbabwe is estimated
at over 90 per cent, and at least 80 per cent of
government revenue is used to pay state workers’
wages.
With cash so scarce, many Zimbabweans
have resorted to bartering — exchanging goods
directly — to survive.
Brenda Mpofu, who runs a second-hand
clothes stall in Harare, said she now travels to
rural areas to swap clothes for maize and later
sells the maize or exchanges it for other goods.
“I used to be able to afford to pay rent, buy
food and clothes and send my children to school,”
she said. “But these days I am barely managing.
There is no money and business is just so low,” she
added . — AFP
 TUESDAY | OCTOBER 3, 2017 | MUHARRAM 12, 1439 AH

sport follow us @observersportz

www.omanobserver.om
editor@omanobserver.om

Garbine Muguruza of Spain hits a return

during her women’s singles match
against Barbora Strycova. — AFP

BEIJING: World number one Garbine I had more days to “Obviously not a great match so just forget
Muguruza retired ill with a virus in the first rest. about it and move on, try to have a better level
round of the China Open on Monday and US “But in fact, I for the next tournament (Hong Kong).”

Virus-hit
Open winner Sloane Stephens went out in a couldn’t perform The comeback of the tournament so far
shock defeat. today.” belonged to the Belgian Elise Mertens.
Spain’s Muguruza suggested in the build-up Strycova faces Julia The 21-year-old recovered from 5-0 in the
that she was not fully fit and she lost the first set Goerges of Germany in the first set to trump the eighth seed Dominika

MUGURUZA
6-1 to unseeded Barbora Strycova of the Czech
Republic.
Muguruza, 23, the reigning Wimbledon
champion, called a medical timeout at 2-0 down
in the second set and then called it quits after
having her pulse taken on the side of the court.
Muguruza said afterwards she had been
second round.
Muguruza headed for the exit soon after
Stephens tumbled out in the first round for the
second week running, this time at the hands of
qualifier Christina McHale.
The 15th seed Stephens, wearing all pink, saw
her match delayed by rain falling on Beijing’s
Cibulkova 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.
The second seed Simona Halep saw her
second-round match against Magdalena
Rybarikova shelved after the morning drizzle.
NADAL PRIMED FOR OPENER
In the men’s draw, top seed and world
number one Rafael Nadal begins his China

retires in China
too unwell even to practise for her opener but
had been determined to play, having lost in the
quarter-finals last week in Wuhan, where she
struggled with a leg injury.
outdoor hardcourts. Open quest on Tuesday against Lucas Pouille.
When it finally got started she failed to The 23-year-old Frenchman has lost his last
fire, going out to her fellow American with a three matches on the trot, but he beat Nadal at
whimper, 6-3, 6-0 in just 62 minutes. the US Open last year — the last time they met

Open first round

“Since I’m in Beijing, I didn’t play at all. I
don’t know, I got a virus in Wuhan,” she said.
“I want to feel like giving the last chance,
going on the court, just hit a few balls, see how
I’m going to feel, try to turn things around.
“I don’t want to retire before the tournament
starts for me.”
Muguruza, yet to win a tournament since
reaching the top ranking in mid-September,
added: “It’s good that I could play on Monday,
The loss extends Stephens’ poor run after
sealing her first Grand Slam last month.
Last week, the 24-year-old similarly fell at
the first, losing to China’s Wang Qiang at the
Wuhan Open.
Stephens, ranked 17 in the world to McHale’s
79, refused to make any excuses during a post-
match press conference lasting less than 90
seconds.
“Tough day, not really much to say,” she said.
— and the Spanish legend anticipates a stern
test.
“He has a great level of tennis. Hopefully he
will not finish the season that well because I play
tomorrow against him,” Nadal said, smiling.
“But I am sure he will be fighting for
important things next year, he has the talent to
do it.
“He has the game, the right level of tennis to
make that happen if he wants to do it.” — AFP

‘Lucky’ Hamilton fears Ferrari FERRARI SPEED GIVES

backlash in Japanese GP
SEPANG, Malaysia: Lewis Hamilton rode
his luck for the second race in a row to stretch
his world championship lead over Sebastian
Vettel but said he fears a Ferrari backlash in
Japan this week. After finishing second in the
Malaysian Grand Prix, Hamilton was asked by
reporters if Ferrari’s pace was a big concern.
“Yeah, definitely,” he said.
“We have some work to do,” he added
before flying to Japan to prepare for Sunday’s
race at Suzuka. “These next races are going to
be crucial in terms of ironing out some of the
creases we have with the car.”
Hamilton took his lead to 34 points after
finishing behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at
the final running of the Malaysian Grand Prix
at Sepang on Sunday.
But the drive of the day was from the flying
Vettel who carved his way from the back of the
grid to finish fourth.
Hamilton’s Mercedes also struggled for raw
pace in Singapore a fortnight ago.
But there he took a surprise win from fifth
on the grid after avoiding the first-lap crash
that took out both Ferraris and Verstappen.
“We cannot be distracted by the fact we got
lucky again this weekend,” said Mercedes team
principal Toto Wolff.
“Benefiting from Ferrari’s problems
shouldn’t hide that they have caught up 30
seconds this race,” he said.
This file photo taken on September 30, 2017 shows Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (front) and
Sebastian Vettel driving during the third practice session of the Malaysia Grand Prix at the
Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur. — AFP
“It was clear after just a few laps that both
Red Bull and Ferrari had better cars than us
today.”
Hamilton could be handed another break
in Suzuka as Vettel may incur a grid penalty if
he needs a new gearbox after a crazy post-race
shunt with Lance Stroll.
The incident wrecked the rear of the
German’s car and he will be demoted five
places on the grid in Japan if the gearbox needs
changing.
In Malaysia an engine failure saw Vettel fail
to set a qualifying time, condemning him to
the back of the grid despite Ferrari having been
SOME HOPE TO VETTEL
SEPANG, Malaysia: Sebastian Vettel fourth, combined with Hamilton being
fell further behind Formula One beaten by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen,
championship leader Lewis Hamilton after meant Vettel limited the damage to six
Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix but the points.
Ferrari driver still saw cause for optimism While that still stretched Hamilton’s
in the title battle. overall advantage to a hefty 34 points with
Starting in last place after a power unit only five of the 20 races left, it was better
problem prevented him setting a time in than the German might have feared.
qualifying, with his Mercedes rival lining “I am still optimistic, because we know
up on pole position, the German made the that we have a quick car,” said Vettel, who
best of a bad situation. nearly snatched third from Red Bull’s
His remarkable recovery drive to Daniel Ricciardo. — Reuters
fastest in practice.
“It was a much better weekend than we had
anticipated after our Friday. Considering the
issues we did have with the car this is a good
result,” conceded Hamilton.
Mercedes have dominated Formula One
for the past four years but it seems their era of
supremacy could be coming to an end as both
Ferrari and Red Bull appear to have the better
car. “After a weekend where we have lacked a
significant chunk of performance, we couldn’t
have imagined such a good outcome, but we Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel sits in his car as crew members make adjustments during
can’t let that distract us from the job we have in practice. — Reuters
front of us,” said Wolff. — AFP
cricket
sport
22 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7
NAGPUR, India: Skipper Virat
Kohli on Sunday urged India to
be “relentless” after they thrashed
Australia by seven wickets in the fifth
one-day international, clinching the
series 4-1.
Chasing 243 for victory, the hosts
rode on opener Rohit Sharma’s 109-
ball 125 to achieve their target in 42.5
overs at Nagpur and get back to the top
of ODI world rankings table.
India, who reached the ODI
summit after three straight wins in the
series, had slipped behind South Africa
following their loss in the fourth game.
They were already the top Test team. “It
feels good. It was a really convincing
series win for us. Ticked all boxes... We
had a chance to retain the No 1 spot
and we ended up doing that,” Kohli
said at the presentation.
LOCAL FLAVOUR
ZAKIR, MAZHAR HELP PDO BEAT QBG
MUSCAT: Superb batting by opener
Mazhar Javed (55 off 29) and excellent
bowling by captain Zakir Khan (4 for 16)
saw PDO register a 5-run win against
QBG in a C Division match at Muscat
Municipality ground 3 in Al Amerat.
Making first use of the perfect batting
conditions, PDO reached a respectable
180 for 6 in 20 overs, thanks to a second
wicket partnership of 82 between
Mazhar and Tayyab Rasheed, who scored
44 off 38 balls. Rajesh Khetani batted
well too for his 26-ball 37. Shiyas Ibrahim
claimed two wickets for 21 runs.
QBG failed to get the start it needed
to chase down such a big total as
it slumped to 49 for 3 before being
ultimately bowled out for 130 in the 19th
over. Prem Kumar was the only notable
scorer with a fighting 58 off 48 balls.
Karim al Balushi scored 23. Apart from
Zakir, Naved Ahmed also bowled well to
claim three wickets.
Brief scores: PDO 180 for 6 in 20 overs (Mazhar
Javed Sr 55 – 7x4, 2x6, Tayyab Rasheed 44 – 3x4,
Rajesh Khetani 37 – 6x4) beat QBG 130 all out
in 18.3 overs (Prem Kumar 58 – 7x4, 1x6, Karim
al Balushi 23 – 1x4, 1x6. Zakir Khan 4-16, Naved
Ahmed 3-17) by 50 runs.
Qamar stars in win for Trust Oilfield
Brilliant bowling by Qamar Nazir, who
took four wickets, helped Trust Oilfield
Services defeat Waves Engineering
Consultancy by 17 runs in a D Division
game at Muscat Municipality ground 4.
Asked to bat first, Trust Oilfield were
“The management also plays a
massive part in motivating players after
being 3-0 up in the series. But we want
to be relentless,” he added.
It was a disciplined bowling effort
led by spinner Axar Patel, who claimed
three wickets, that set up India’s
comfortable victory after restricting the
visitors to 242-9. In reply, Sharma and
Ajinkya Rahane, who made 61, put on
a 124-run opening stand to lay a solid
foundation in another dominating
performance in recent times.
“We repeated the way we played
against Sri Lanka (beat them 9-0
across the three formats), proud of
that. Shows the quality of the side,
regardless of the opposition,” said
Kohli. Man of the match Sharma, who
opened his account with two successive
boundaries after 14 deliveries, was the
out for 162 in 20 overs. Dileep Chandran
(37 off 25) and Amal Rat Ratan (32 off 25)
were the notable scorers. Muhammed
Umar and Mohammed Muslim too two
wickets each.
Waves Engineering got a good start
but then suffered a middle order collapse,
slumping from 90 for 1 to 128 for 6,
before being bowled out for 145 in the
last over. Usman Asghar scored a fluent
59 off 44 balls while Muhammed Omar
(29) and Mohammed Wasim (25) also
contributed with the bat. Qamar Nazir
claimed four wickets for 25. Shakil Khan
and Ilyas Afridi took two wickets each.
Brief scores: Trust Oilfield Services 162 all out
in 20 overs (Dileep Chandran 37 – 4x4, 1x6,
Amal Rat Ratan 32 – 2x4, 1x6. Muhammed Umar
2-28, Mohammed Muslim 2-29) defeated Waves impressive 64-run win over OCT Al
Engineering Consultancy 145 all out in 19.2 overs
(Usman Asghar 59 – 9x4, Muhammed Omar 29 – Municipality ground 4.
4x4, Mohammed Wasim 25 – 2x4, 1x6. Qamar
Nazir 4-25, Shakil Khan 2-20, Ilyas Afridi 2-20) by
17 runs.
Kishore leads MSE to victory
Mustafa Sultan Enterprises (MSE)
rode on the 4-wicket spell of Kishore
Krishnan to defeat Majees CT by three
wickets in an F Division game at Muscat
Municipality ground 3.
Kishore did not allow Majees batsmen
to settle down, removing four top
batsmen in his four-over spell for just 23 Brief scores: Classic CT 196 for 4 in 20 overs
runs. Unnikrishnan Vishnu bowled well
too, to claim two wickets. Opener Aniq
Jassim (29) and Bhuvana Kumar (29) were (Mohammed Ali 26 – 4x4, 1x6, Abdullah al Balushi
the leading scorers for Majees CT.
Kohli tells
number one
India to be
‘RELENTLESS’
first to get to his fifty with a double off
Marcus Stoinis.
Rahane also got his fourth successive
50-plus score before being trapped
lbw by paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile,
who ended with 10 wickets in the five
matches.
Sharma went on to register his 14th
ODI ton during his 99-run partnership
with Kohli, who made a sedate 39.
He got to his hundred with a six off
Coulter-Nile.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa sent
Sharma, who hit 11 fours and 5 sixes,
and Kohli back to pavilion.
Kedar Jadhav, unbeaten on five, and
Manish Pandey, 11 not out, then saw
the team through.
WICKETS IN CLUMPS
Earlier, opener David Warner’s
62-ball 53 was not enough to inspire
Chasing 139 to win, MSE surpassed
the target in 19 overs, scoring 142 for
7. Unni Madhusudanan was the main
scorer with 36 off 25 balls. Nagendra
Kumar (33) and Abdullah Alam (30)
batted well too. Nanda Kumar and Lijo
Johnson took two wickets each for
Majees.
Brief scores: Majees 139 for 9 in 20 overs (Aniq
Jassim 29 – 3x4, Bhuvana Kumar 29 – 4x4. Kishore
Krishnan 4-23, Unni Vishnu 2-15) lost to MSE 142
for 7 in 19 overs (Unni Madhusudanan 36 – 5x4,
Nagendra Kumar 33 – 3x4, Abdullah Alam 30 –
5x4) by three wickets.
Aquib’s ton lifts Classic
A brilliant 111 off just 61 balls by
Aquibulla Shariff led Classic CT to an
Nahda in a G Division match at Muscat
Batting first after winning the toss,
Classic piled up 196 for 4 in 20 overs.
Apart from Aquib’s superb knock, Awais
scored 25.
Classic bowlers bowled beautifully to
skittle out OCT Al Nahda for 132 in 17.2
overs, with Mohammed Taufeeq taking
three wickets. Aquibulla, Latheef Abdul
and Abdul Suhan took two wickets each.
Mohammed Ali scored 26 and
Abdullah al Balushi 23 for OCT Al Nahda.
(Aquibulla Shariff 111 – 7x4, 5x6, Awais 25 –
4x4) beat OCT Al Nahda 132 all out in 17.2 overs
23 – 4x4) by 64 runs.
Australian batting as they ended on
a below-par total after electing to bat
first.
All-rounder, Hardik Pandya, who
struck first by getting Aaron Finch out
for 32, was given the man of the series
award for his six wickets and 222 runs
in the series.
Travis Head and Stoinis tried
hard to counter a persistent Indian
bowling with their 87-run fifth-wicket
partnership, but their departure spelt
further trouble for the visitors.
Head, who made 42, and Stoinis,
who scored 46, failed to convert their
starts into bigger scores as Australia
totally lost steam in the final five overs.
Left-arm spinner Patel returned
impressive figures of 3-38 while fast
bowler Jasprit Bumrah claimed two
wickets. — AFP
Wily Herath spins Sri Lanka
to fighting victory over Pak
ABU DHABI: Rangana Herath
became the second Sri Lankan to bag
400 wickets as his six-wicket haul
steered Sri Lanka to a thrilling 21-run
win over Pakistan in the first Test in
Abu Dhabi on Monday.
The veteran left-arm spinner took
6-43 — 11-136 in the match — to
scupper Pakistan, set a modest 136-
run target, for just 114 on a weary fifth
day Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.
The victory was achieved when
Herath trapped last man Mohammad
Abbas leg before for nought to give
Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the two-match
series.
Herath, a long-time nemesis of
Pakistan, also completed 100 wickets
in 20 Tests against them, during an
innings in which only debutant Haris
Sohail fought with some resolve for
his 34 runs.
Herath became the 14th most
successful bowler in all Test cricket and
fifth spinner behind his countryman
Muttiah Muralitharan, Australia’s
Shane Warne and the Indian duo of
Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh to
reach the 400-wicket milestone.
An unassuming Herath said he
didn’t know why he always took
wickets against Pakistan.
“I have no idea,” said Herath, who
took 22 wickets against Pakistan in
2014 — a world record for a two-
match series.
“Maybe I have played more against
them, that’s why.
“I am so happy with the remarkable
achievement (400 wickets).”
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed
called the defeat “disappointing”.
“We should have won this,” said
Ahmed, skippering his side for the
first time in a Test. “We have a few
Rabada, Maharaj star as
South Africa beat Bangladesh
POTCHEFSTROOM,
Africa: The pace of Kagiso Rabada
South
and the spin of Keshav Maharaj sent
Bangladesh crashing to a 333-run
Ahmed were both leg before to
Maharaj before Shafiul Islam was
run out when he and Mehedy Hasan
attempted a third run against the
defeat on the fifth day of the first Test strong fielding arm of Rabada after a
against South Africa at Senwes Park relay throw from twelfthman Wayne
on Monday. Parnell, who chased a ball to long-off.
Bangladesh lost seven wickets for Hasan and last batsman Mustafizur
41 runs in less than an hour and a half Rahman shared the best partnership
as they were bowled out for 90 after
being set 424 to win.
South Africa’s victory was
overshadowed by an injury to fast
bowler Morne Morkel, who is
of the morning, putting on 15 before
Mustafizur pushed back a return
catch to Maharaj.
Bangladesh’s rapid demise meant
that South Africa were hardly
expected to be out for six weeks. hampered by the absence of Morkel,
Rabada started the destruction by who suffered a side strain after taking
taking the first three wickets of the the first two wickets on Sunday.
morning. He finished with three for SCOREBOARD
South Africa first innings: 496-3 decl
33, while left-arm spinner Maharaj Bangladesh first innings: 320
took four for 25. South Africa second innings: 247-6 declared
Resuming on 49 for three, Bangladesh, second innings (O/n: 49-3):
T Iqbal b Morkel -------------------------------------------------- 0
Bangladesh lost their captain, I Kayes c De Kock b Maharaj------------------------------ 32
Mushfiqur Rahim, to the 12th ball M Haque lbw Morkel ------------------------------------------ 0
of the morning when he pushed at a M Rahim c Amla b Rabada -------------------------------- 16
Mahmudullah b Rabada ------------------------------------- 9
lifting delivery from Rabada and was L Das lbw Rabada ------------------------------------------------ 4
well caught above his head by Hashim S Rahman lbw Maharaj --------------------------------------- 4
Amla at first slip for 16. M Hasan (not out) --------------------------------------------- 15
T Ahmed lbw Maharaj ----------------------------------------- 4
Mahmudullah was bowled off an S Islam (run out) ------------------------------------------------- 2
inside edge when he played a tentative M Rahman c and b Maharaj -------------------------------- 1
Extras (B-1, NB-2)----------------------------------------------- 3
defensive shot against the fast bowler Total (32.4 overs) --------------------------------------------- 90
and Liton Das offered no shot and Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-49, 4-55, 5-62, 6-67,
was leg before wicket to a ball which 7-67, 8-71, 9-75.
Bowling: Morkel 5.2-2-19-2, Rabada 10-3-
slanted in to him. 33-3, Olivier 5.4-0-12-0, Maharaj 10.4-1-25-4,
Sabbir Rahman and Taskin Phehlukwayo 1-1-0-0.
South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj (right) celebrates the dismissal of Bangladesh
batsman Sabbir Rahman (not in picture) during the fifth day of the first Test in
Potchefstroom. — AFP
Rangana Herath (centre) of Sri Lanka celebrates with his team after victory on the
fifth day of the first Test against Pakistan at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on
Monday. — AFP
R Herath c Masood b Shah ----------------------------------- 0
issues, especially in the fifth day when L Sandakan c Amir b Shah ------------------------------------ 8
we come under pressure.” N Pradeep b H Ali------------------------------------------------- 0
The 136 set Pakistan was Sri Lanka’s Extras (LB-3 NB-1) ----------------------------------------------- 4
Total (all out, 66.5 overs) --------------------------------138
lowest defended target, improving on Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-33, 3-51, 4-65, 5-73,
6-86, 7-101, 8-101, 9-135.
the 168 they set the Pakistanis in the
Bowling: M Amir 12-4-27-0, M Abbas 12-3-22-2, Y
Galle Test in 2009. It was also a first Shah 27-5-51-5, H Ali 7.1-0-21-1, A Shafiq 3.4-0-7-
defeat for Pakistan at this venue in 10 1, H Sohail 5-2-7-1.
Tests. Pakistan second innings:
S Masood c K Silva b D Perera ------------------------------ 7
Earlier, leg-spinner Yasir Shah took S Aslam c Karunaratne b Herath -------------------------- 2
5-51 — his 32nd five wicket haul in A Ali c Dickwella b Lakmal ------------------------------------ 0
Tests — to dismiss Sri Lanka for 138 A Shafiq c Karunaratne b Herath ------------------------20
B Azam c Dickwella b D Perera ----------------------------- 3
in their second innings. — AFP
H Sohail lbw D Perera ----------------------------------------34
SCOREBOARD S Ahmed st Dickwella b Herath --------------------------19
H Ali b Herath ------------------------------------------------------ 8
Sri Lanka first innings: 419
M Amir b Herath -------------------------------------------------- 9
Pakistan first innings: 422
Sri Lanka second innings (O/n: 69-4): Y Shah (not out) --------------------------------------------------- 6
M Abbas lbw Herath -------------------------------------------- 0
D Karunaratne c Masood b Shah------------------------10
Extras (B-1 LB-4 NB-1)----------------------------------------- 6
K Silva lbw Sohail-----------------------------------------------25
L Thirimanne c S Ahmed b Shafiq ------------------------ 7 Total (all out, 47.4 overs) --------------------------------114
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-7, 3-16, 4-32, 5-36, 6-78,
K Mendis lbw Abbas ------------------------------------------18
7-98, 8-100, 9-111.
D Chandimal c Shafiq b Shah ------------------------------ 7
S Lakmal c B Azam b Abbas --------------------------------13 Bowling: S Lakmal 5-1-12-1, R Herath 21.4-4-
43-6, D Perera 18-4-46-3, N Pradeep 2-1-4-0, L
N Dickwella (not out) -----------------------------------------40
D Perera lbw Shah------------------------------------------------ 6 Sandakan 1-0-4-0.

Messi inspires Barca victory at empty
Nou Camp, Real win at home
BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Lionel
Messi scored twice in a 3-0 win
over Las Palmas on Sunday in
a Liga match played without
fans following clashes between
police and voters in Catalonia
over a banned independence
referendum.
In the late game, Real Madrid
earned their first home league
victory of the season by beating
Espanyol 2-0 with a goal in each
half by midfielder Isco, while
Valencia moved up to third in the
standings after beating visitors
Athletic Bilbao 3-2.
League leaders Barca tried to
have their game postponed, but
the request was turned down
by La Liga and the Catalan club
announced 25 minutes before
kickoff that the game would be
played behind closed doors.
Club president Josep Maria
Bartomeu said the stadium was
closed to show opposition to
police violence against voters
in Catalonia’s independence
referendum, which was banned
by the national government, and
not over safety concerns.
Spanish riot police on Sunday
burst into polling stations across
Catalonia to try to halt the
referendum on a split from Spain
and Catalan officials said more
than 800 people were injured in
the crackdown.
Barca’s Sergio Busquets scored
for the first time in the league in
three seasons to give the hosts the
lead in the 49th minute, leaping
to head in a curling corner from
Messi.
Argentine Messi then struck
his 10th league goal of the season
to double Barca’s advantage in the
70th.
He barely celebrated the strike,
adding to an atmosphere more
akin to a training ground exercise
than a league game.
Messi then latched onto a pass
from fellow forward Luis Suarez
to pounce again in the 77th,
sealing Barca’s seventh straight
domestic league win this season
and maintaining their 100 per
cent start in La Liga and the
Napoli top as Atalanta fightback frustrates Juventus
MILAN: Napoli took sole possession
of top spot in Serie A on Sunday with
a 3-0 win over Cagliari as champions
Juventus’s winning run stalled 2-2 at
Atalanta.
The stalemate ended the six-time
defending champions’ run of six
consecutive wins leaving them joint
second with Inter Milan — who beat
Benevento 2-1 — with big-scoring
Napoli top on a maximum 21 points.
“I was worried at the end, as we
could have lost it and every point
will be precious come the end of
the season,” said Juventus coach
Massimiliano Allegri.
Juventus had been two goals up in
Bergamo after Federico Bernardeschi
opened on 21 minutes and Gonzalo
Champions League. CIRCUMSTANCES
Barcelona lead the standings
on 21 points, five clear of Sevilla the Barcelona game appeared
in second, while Real are fifth on to affect the home side in the
14. Valencia, with 15, climbed first half as they lacked energy
above Atletico Madrid on goal and
difference.
BIZARRE
Higuain added a second four minutes
later. But on-loan Juventus defender
Mattia Caldara turned in a rebound to
pull one back for Atalanta after half an
hour to keep the hosts in touch at the
break.
Mario Mandzukic thought he had
scored for 3-1, but it was disallowed
when the video assistant referee ruled
Stephan Lichtsteiner had elbowed
Gomez in the face.
Bryan Cristante nodded in a
Alejandro Gomez cross to level on
67 minutes for Atalanta who finished
fourth in Serie A last season.
Paolo Dybala missed a chance to
grab the winner nine minutes from
time when Juventus were awarded
a penalty — also through the video
The bizarre circumstances of
imagination,
football
sport
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7 23
FRENCH LEAGUE
“It was very strange, of course
it’s not normal, but today’s
events overshadowed the game,”
Busquets said on playing behind
closed doors.
“Today was a special day, we
had to focus on the sporting part,
which wasn’t very nice for us, and
we were affected by everything as
other things were on our minds,”
he added.
In Madrid, Isco made the most Olympique de Marseille’s Lucas Ocampos celebrates
of a through ball from Cristiano after scoring a goal. — AFP
Ronaldo to coolly fire under Pau
Lopez and put Real ahead on the
half-hour mark.
A lapse from Madrid captain
Sergio Ramos in the second half
Ocampos brace
allowed Espanyol a chance to level
but his blushes were saved by team
mate Nacho, and moments later
helps Marseille
Isco killed off the Catalans.
Ronaldo again played an
important role in the move,
stun Nice
driving forward and slipping the
ball out to Asensio, who cut it PARIS: Ten-man Marseille moved up to third in Ligue
back for Isco to ram home low 1 after Lucas Ocampos hit a brace in a thrilling come-
into the far bottom corner. from-behind 4-2 win at Mediterranean rivals Nice on
“Isco is playing with a lot Sunday.
of confidence, he knows he’s Players joined fans in a minute’s applause in memory
a more important player now, of the two victims of a knife attack in Marseille earlier
even though he always has been on Sunday, after which the south coast rivals put on a
important, and he plays like he sparkling show.
Las Palmas’ Hernan
Santana (left)
is on the street, he doesn’t have a In an entertaining first half, Marseille hit back from
challenge Barcelona’s care in the world and I like that” two goals down to head into the break leading 3-2.
Argentinian Lionel said Zidane. Mario Balotelli opened the scoring with a close-
Messi. — AFP The French coach also praised range header from a Pierre Lees-Melou corner after
Ronaldo for his performance just four minutes while Jean Michael Serri doubled
and said the Portuguese, who Nice’s advantage with a heavily-deflected shot from
missed four league games through outside the area.
suspension, is desperate to get off Ocampos bagged his first soon before the half
the mark in La Liga. hour mark, prodding in from close range after Nice’s
“He’s not tired. He’s missed defence failed to deal with a cross.
a lot of games and he’s very Allan Saint-Maximin blazed over when one-on-
disappointed because he hasn’t one with goalkeeper
scored in La Liga yet, but that’s Steve Mandanda and
football,” Zidane added. “His pass Nice were made to
to Isco was phenomenal, and I pay. OCAMPOS
hope things change in the next Five minutes from
game.” — Reuters the break, a sliding
BAGGED HIS
mustering only two shots on Lees-Melou deflected FIRST SOON
goal — an early strike from Sergi a Florian Thauvin BEFORE THE
Roberto and a wayward header cross past his own HALF-HOUR
from Paulinho. goalkeeper.
And in the final
MARK, AFTER
minute of the half, NICE’S DEFENCE
Nice imploded again FAILED TO DEAL
as captain Dante gave WITH A CROSS
away the ball and
goalkeeper Yoann
Cardinale parried
Luiz Gustavo’s shot weakly into the air for Ocampos to
nod over the line.
Two minutes into the second period, more sloppy
play handed Gustavo a shooting opportunity the
Brazilian gleefully accepted to find the bottom corner.
Midway through the half, though, Gustavo was
shown a straight red for following through studs up
on Lees-Melou.
There was still time for Mandanda to save an
Alassane Plea penalty after Saint-Maximin was tripped
in the box but Marseille held out.
“It’s a great victory, we showed that we had
character,” said Ocampos. “We wanted to show that
the 6-1 loss to Monaco was an accident, that it wasn’t
fair.”
Earlier, Marcelo was controversially sent off as
General view as Barcelona’s Lionel Messi prepares to take Lyon’s winless streak extended to five matches after
a freekick in the empty stadium as the game is played letting a two-goal lead slip in a 3-3 draw at Angers.
behind closed doors. — Reuters — AFP
referee — after an Andrea Petagna record of 115 goals for the club.
handball in the box. Dries Mertens added a second from
But Albanian goalkeeper Etrit the spot on 40 minutes before Kalidou
Berisha saved the kick to frustrate the Koulibaly sealed the perfect seventh
Argentine striker who nevertheless victory two minutes after the break.
remains top of the Serie A goalscorers But despite a record of 25 goals in
with ten so far. “There are few teams seven games Napoli coach Maurizio
that can bother Juve and we’re among Sarri dismissed premature talk of
them,” said Gomez after a draw against challenging for the title.
the champions in April secured them “It’s been six years that I’ve heard
European football this season. talk that we can bother Juventus but
“We missed the first few minutes, in the end they’re the ones who win,”
but then we had an amazing game. I’m said Sarri. “That means they are a level
proud of this team.” above everyone else.”
‘ANOTHER LEVEL’ Marcelo Brozovic scored a quick-
Napoli’s Dries Mertens scores a
penalty kick during the Serie A
Napoli scored another big win fire first half brace as Inter scored a
match at San Paolo stadium in with skipper Marek Hamsik opening tight win at tailenders Benevento,
Naples. — AFP on four minutes to move one shy of who got one back through Marco
Argentine legend Diego Maradona’s D’Alessandro. — AFP
golf
sport
24 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7

President Donald J. Trump pose with the US team and the Presidents Cup trophy after the final round singles matches of The President’s Cup at Liberty National Golf Course. — USA Today Sports

US win Presidents Cup over International team

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey: The United States won their
seventh consecutive Presidents Cup over the International
team on Sunday even as the final margin of eight points
disguised the one-sided nature of the event.
A Sunday rally by the beleaguered Internationals, who won
six of the 12 singles matches and halved three others, allowed
the visitors to avoid a record defeat and escape Liberty National
with a little pride.
The US, led by unbeaten Dustin Johnson and Phil
Mickelson, prevailed 19-11 to claim the cup for the 10th time
in 12 stagings of the biennial event.
The record winning margin is 11½ points by the Americans
in 2000.
The result left the International team searching for ways
to make the event more competitive heading into the 2019
installment at Royal Melbourne in Australia.
But no matter what they had done it would not have been
enough to stop the home team this time.
“It’s tough to be on the receiving end of another loss for all
of us,” International captain Nick Price said after presiding over
his third straight defeat at the helm. “This is a juggernaut of a
U.S. team. They’re an overpowering team.”
The American team certainly impressed Donald Trump,
the first sitting US President to present the cup to the winning
captain.
“I’ve been watching this from the beginning, and I have to
say our team U.S.A., wow, did you play well,” Trump said.
Winning captain Steve Stricker concurred.
“U.S.A. team golf is in a great spot,” Stricker said of his team,
which has an average age of less than 32 years.
“Looks like they could be around together for a long time.
They played well all year long and they came here with a lot of
confidence. They continued it right through this tournament
here.” The International team of players from the rest of the
world, excluding Europe, started the final day needing to sweep
every match to snatch victory.
A touch embarrassed after performing miserably in the
foursomes and four-ball matches, the Internationals performed
much better in man-to-man play on Sunday, though it was too
little, too late.
“It was really weird being out there today, knowing there
was no chance of losing,” said world number one Johnson.
Among the International winners in singles were former
world number ones Jason Day and Adam Scott, as well as
Hideki Matsuyama, currently the team’s top-ranked player.
American losers included the past three major champions,
Jordan Spieth, who has not won a singles match in either
Presidents or Ryder Cup events, Justin Thomas and Brooks
Koepka.
Spieth won his first four matches this week, but he
still copped a friendly ribbing at the winning team’s press
conference.
President Donald J Trump (left) hands the Presidents Cup trophy to US team Captain Steve Stricker after the final round singles “I’ve got a question. How does it feel to be 0-5 in singles,”
matches of The President’s Cup at Liberty National Golf Course. — USA Today Sports Johnson asked Spieth. — Reuters

Presidents Cup ironman Mickelson

Henderson wins in New Zealand as Ko struggles
WELLINGTON: Canadian Brooke
Henderson excelled in appalling
conditions to win the New Zealand
Women’s Open on Monday, as
hometown favourite Lydia Ko faltered
in the stormy weather that forced the
LPGA event into a fifth day.
Henderson, who was leading when
wild winds stopped play at Auckland’s
Windross Farm on Sunday, took
charge when her interrupted final
round resumed, showing remarkable
consistency despite the conditions.
The world number 12 carded
a three-under 69 to finish the
tournament on 271, five shots ahead
of China’s Jing Yan in second place.
Korea’s Hee Young Park finished
third on 277, while American Jennifer
Song seized fourth after an impressive
68 in her final round.
Former world number one Ko, the
defending champion, ended with a
share of 22nd place on 283 after a
horror run saw her drop five shots on
her final two holes.
Ko, who has not won an LPGA
event since July last year, said playing
in front of her home crowd “gave me
goosebumps”.
But it failed to improve the 20-year-
old’s recent run of poor form as she
double-bogied the 17th and then
triple-bogied the 18th.
“I played really solid pretty much
apart from the last two holes,” she said.
“It was a tough finish but overall my
game was solid.
“I had hoped a few more putts
would have dropped but I think I am
saying that almost every week. There’s
always something left to improve.”
Phil Mickelson tees off on the
first hole during the final round
singles matches of The
President’s Cup at Liberty
National Golf Course.
— USA Today Sports
She was not the only player
unsettled by the bad weather and
delays, with round three leader Spain’s
Belen Mozo shooting a six-over final
round of 78 to finish tied on fifth.
Henderson, 20, said the conditions
were the most difficult she had played
in.
“I feel mentally drained by it but
running on adrenalin to know this
trophy is mine,” she said.
“This is so amazing to get my first
win outside of North America, my fifth
win on the LPGA Tour, it is incredible.”
The $1.3 million tournament is the
first LPGA event to be staged in New
Zealand.
It was previously co-sanctioned
by the Ladies European Tour, with Ko
winning in 2016, 2015 and 2013.
— AFP
eyes another Ryder Cup
JERSEY CITY, United States: The
United States’ 19-11 romp over the
International team in the 2017 Ryder
Cup only whetted Phil Mickelson’s
appetite for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
The 47-year-old American made
his 100th match in team competition
for the United States a win on Sunday
with a 2 & 1 victory over Canadian
Adam Hadwin.
Mickelson posted his 26th
Presidents Cup match win —
extending his record after tying and
then surpassing the 24-win mark of
Tiger Woods earlier in the week.
“This has been a fun, special week,”
Mickelson said. “I’ve never been a
part of a team all these years that’s
this talented and gone out and lit the
course up like this and had such a big
lead going into Sunday singles.”
The United States, up by 11 points
Phil Mickelson (left) and Adam Hadwin (right) pose for a picture before the final
round singles matches of The President’s Cup at Liberty National Golf Course.
on Saturday night, needed just one — USA Today Sports
point from Sunday’s singles to clinch
the Cup. Presidents Cup team as one of US
“This was a stress-free day for us, captain Steve Stricker’s wildcard picks.
and that’s just something we’ve never The 47-year-old He’s the same age as US Ryder Cup
had,” said Mickelson, the only man to American made his captain Jim Furyk, but even on a team
play in all 12 Presidents Cups and now packed with 20-something talent —
100th match in team
a veteran of 23 straight US match play including British Open champion
teams including Presidents and Ryder competition for the Jordan Spieth, US Open Champion
Cup appearances. United States a win Brooks Koepka and PGA Champion
Mickelson would dearly love to on Sunday with a Justin Thomas — the player they
make it 24 straight teams when the playfully dubbed “Grandpa” showed
United States take on Europe in the
2 & 1 victory over just how useful he can be.
Ryder Cup in France next year. Canadian Adam Mickelson finished with three
“Next year going to Paris and being Hadwin wins and one halved match for the
part of The Ryder Cup Team — it’s week, partnering with Presidents
been 25 years since we won a Ryder Cup newcomer Kevin Kisner to win
Cup over there. That would be a real one foursomes and one fourball and
big goal of mine,” he said. since his 2013 British Open triumph halve one foursomes match before his
Mickelson hasn’t won a tournament at Muirfield and only made the singles win over Hadwin. — AFP
 international

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features OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7 25
BHUVAN BAGGA

A
gallery opening
in northern
Tehran, and a
typical scene: silk
scarves barely
clinging to the
backs of women’s
heads, young hipsters, gentlemen in
that most unrevolutionary of items —
the tie.
Trendy, wealthy and in their
element, the packed crowd edges
around abstract sculptures,
somewhat grotesque portraits and
looped cartoons by US-based Iranian
artist Pouya Afshar.
The work has clear Iranian
and religious themes, drawing on
traditional mourning ceremonies, yet
the censorious rulers of the Islamic
republic — still deeply ambivalent
about the liberating and libertine
tendencies of the art world — feel a
world away. “There are these 2,000 people who But the numbers are still small and
Afshar, 33, himself epitomises the go from one gallery to another, from many obstacles remain, says Hormuz
globe-trotting Iranian middle and one pool party to another, living in Hematian, who founded the Dastan
upper classes. He teaches at a US LA while not really living in LA. It’s a Gallery in Tehran five years ago.
university yet is still drawn back “like psychosis,” he said. “Last year, the whole art scene
an itch I always need to scratch”. “You’re sedated by thinking that in Iran made just $35-50 million.
“When I’m here, I’m not completely you’re in a party when you’re really in The entirety of the masterpieces of
Iranian, and in the US I’m not a locked room.” contemporary Iranian art cannot be
completely American, but that helps But even he admits the atmosphere worth the same as one painting at
me cook my own stew,” he said. is much lighter than in the past, and Sotheby’s,” he said.
“I’m not trying to re-establish my that this is an exciting time to be “The problems are everything
roots with this work. I enjoy being part of the art scene as Iran slowly you can think of, including us — the
lost.” reacquires its traditional status as a galleries — the artists, the education
Such return trips have become paragon of world culture. system,” he added.
less fraught since 2013, when a new The freer atmosphere has pushed
moderate government eased social ordinary artistic concerns to the POTENTIAL GROWTH ‘HUGE’
pressures and rebuilt ties with the fore: about authenticity and funding, “We need writers, translators. We
West. and what it means to be an “Iranian need visitors not to feel scared to
“Even if I’m cynical, it feels more artist”. come here; hotels, entertainment and
inviting when you have people from restaurants.”
the government saying that Iranians ‘ART IS UNIVERSAL’ Hematian says the market could
from outside should come back and Nima Zaare-Nahandi, whose grow five or 10 times in the next
share something,” he said over coffee finely detailed abstract drawings decade if only the remaining US
in a north Tehran cafe that looked like feel unattached to any time or place, sanctions on Iran can be lifted.

Iran’s
it had been airlifted in from Brooklyn.
The past decade has seen the
number of galleries in the city explode
from just a handful to more than 100.
pushes back against the idea that his “There’s such a rich history
nationality should dictate his style. of visual culture to draw on —
“Art is universal. Can you say calligraphy, architecture, illustration.
biology belongs to somewhere. The “The minute the banking problems

blooming
IGNORING ‘BAD STUFF’
The clerical establishment still
meticulously monitors all art for
idea of creating an ‘Iranian school’ are solved and the American, French
is what Westerners demand to make or British markets open up to Iranian
it exotic,” said the 34-year-old in his art, the growth will be huge,” said
Tehran studio. Hematian.

art scene:
anything deemed un-Islamic or
obscene, but a public space has
opened up for young creatives to
live in a way that would have seemed
“Obviously local culture affects Of course, there is still the
Iranian artists, but we are so exposed censorship issue to deal with, though
to world cultures today,” said Zaare- many put that more on the level of
Nahandi, whose own influences lie “annoying” rather than repressive.

a bubble of
impossibly daring just a few years
ago.
Still, some worry they are just living
in a bubble, trying to wish away Iran’s
more with Japanese cinema, and his “It’s not fear — it’s more a
time training in Paris and Madrid. question of uncertainty, which is...
The challenge, he says, is not to yes, annoying,” said a Tehran gallery
create some single idea of Iranian manager, who also asked not to be

hope
harsh censorship and disapproving
authorities.
Some speak — off the record — of
stints in prison and friends who fled
the country for little more than their
artistic tastes.
“When bad stuff happens we just
ignore it. There’s no other way to
deal with it,” said one Tehran-based
curator, who asked not to be named.
art, but to build the institutions that
can nurture future talent.
“We need more than just galleries,
which are purely commercial. We
need education, museums, a good
review.”
Slowly, those elements are starting
to emerge, funded by a booming
interest from local and international
collectors.
identified.
“We have to be careful about how
much skin we’re showing and things
like that. It’s always an issue, although
censorship can also make people
more creative.
“But we are very optimistic
these days. Life is getting easier. It’s
blooming. This is the time to be here.”
— AFP

CROSSWORD
CRYPTIC PUZZLE spy pocketed it (9) take to market (8) 40 Fastener (4) Small-S 10, S-t-eam 13, Tea-M 14,
ACROSS 36 Doesn’t stop to get the papers 31 It’s in need of insurance, my love 41 Restaurant worker (8) Earn 15, B-urn 16, Bet 17, Deer 19,
one’s ordered (7,2) (8) 42 Large hairy spider (9) Thud 21, Seven-ties 23, P-is-a 24,
9 Admitted, he’s not well (2-7) 38 The brave man having a G and T 32 Heat has a parching effect on
10 Having reached your destination, Oast 26, Can 27, D-rum 29, Trim
outside (7) various things (8) DOWN
have to be picked up? (4,4) 32, H-eat 33, Kyoto 34, Breast 35,
39 He is, having taken the tram 33 Restores and finds another 1 Wait patiently (3,5)
12 Blinking, set to work with the back, at home (6) duplicate for (7) 2 Try extremely hard (6) Ever-more 36, Stages.
needle (4) 40 Take it for the animal (4) 35 Hurry up — it’s not a spray (4-2) 3 Buy (8) DOWN: 1, Ca-u-se 2, Alter 3,
13 Strive for variety (6) 41 A really good figure: a heavenly 36 Hotel worker having a drink (6) 4 Clothes, garments (6) Chum 4, Poser 5, Tram 6, Hal-Ted
14 Return and change it to a later body (4-4) 37 Look at, saying “Children will 5 K2, say (8) 9, Mantis 11, Tap 12, An-Des 13,
date (3,4) 42 Explain the clue I compiled to like this” (6) 6 Useful for many things (3-7) Turn-out 15, Be-e 16, Bus 18, Eva-
15 Don’t worry about the tough the girlfriend (9) 7 Loaf type (7)
guys recuperating (2,3,4) Des 20, Hetty 21, Sin 22, Tam 23,
EASY PUZZLE 8 Touch lightly (6)
17 The lucky period doesn’t last ACROSS Par-rot 25, Bit 28, Rates 30, R-obot
DOWN 11 Fate (7)
long — one doesn’t have enough 1 Learns — to phone before calling 16 Teachers (6) 31, Mode-L 32, Hang 33, Kirk.
9 Butt in (9)
(4,5) on you? (5,3) 10 Linoleum (8) 19 Mental picture (5)
18 Gets fed up and now interrupts 2 What’s in the bottle? That’s 12 Small branch (4) 20 Manage (3) YESTERDAY’S EASY
the long speeches (7) immaterial (6) 13 Deed (6) 22 Major artery (5) SOLUTIONS
20 Roughly only, as one provides for 3 Lacking support, is jittery (8) 14 Ask to marry (7) 23 Stink (6)
(4,2) ACROSS: 4, Aspect 7, Heptagon 8,
4 Leave just a wisp (6) 15 Large dog (5,4) 25 Goalie (10)
21 For the hunger, give it a little 26 Diocese (3) Gloves 10, Tribe 13, Peer 14, Saga
5 Hurt a boy in the aquarium (8) 17 Accord (9)
cheese (4) 6 Removing roughly when fleecing 27 Spouse (7) 15, Earn 16, Pro 17, Sari 19, Tray
18 Prickly plant (7)
24 Came back and were caught in a (7,3) 20 Kidnapper’s payment (6) 30 A prediction (8) 21, Financial 23, List 24, Talc 26, Rat
sand-storm (8) 7 Try to disprove — and do try (7) 21 Caution (4) 31 Strolls (8) 27, Leer 29, Edit 32, Dear 33, Aside
26 Gave, when one had the money 8 United in song, perhaps (6) 24 Aromatic herb (8) 32 Motorcycle sport (8) 34, Resort 35, Ecstatic 36, Stamen.
to give (8) 11 Roughly drawn small boat: a 26 Pullovers (8) 33 Quantities (7) DOWN: 1, Shots 2, Sprig 3, Game
28 Someone binding and creating a very little yacht (7) 28 Second-hand (4) 35 Child without living parents (6)
4, Anger 5, Poor 6, Cherry 9, Lentil
row (4) 16 Gives a party that gets into the 29 Type of lottery (6) 36 Shrewd, cunning (6)
29 An attempt, during a depression, 37 False or incorrect (6) 11, Ray 12, Basis 13, Painter 15, Era
news, unfortunately (6) 31 Light shoes (7)
to get food (6) 19 Big area of open land to wander 22 Among those present at that fantasise about buying? (4,6) 34 Turf accountant (9) 16, Pal 18, Antler 20, Races 21, Fit
31 An about turn in the jobs about in (5) point (5) 26 Painting a man (3) 36 Golf building (9) YESTERDAY’S CRYPTIC 22, Car 23, Latent 25, Lid 28, Eaten
advertisements (7) 20 The boy is a little smaller than 23 Levers gently and it comes up (6) 27 “19” is, by the way, odd (7) 38 Planet (7) SOLUTIONS 30, Ditto 31, Teach 32, Doom 33,
34 Yes; given a mere twinkling, the the woman (3) 25 Not those American houses you 30 Get the better of, forcing us to 39 Freewheels (6) ACROSS: 4, Pa-tch-y 7, All the go 8, Alto.
oman/world
features
26 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7

LOCAL SCENE
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BANGLADESH

A woman collapses from

exhaustion as Rohingya
refugees arrive by a wooden
boat from Myanmar to the
shore of Shah Porir Dwip, in
Teknaf, near Cox’s Bazar. —
Reuters

5
Life as it
happens
around
the world

The season of
SINGAPORE
Actor Aamir Khan speaks during a news conference to GENTLE
GIANTS
promote his movie “Secret Superstar” in Singapore. — Reuters

Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd’s concept robots, the

“Murata Cheerleaders”, demonstrate how they balance on JAPAN
balls and synchronise as a team by utilising sensing and
communication technology, at CEATEC (Combined
Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) JAPAN 2017 at the
Makuhari Messe in Chiba. — Reuters

ITALY tourism, fishermen and countries get to the end of November so trip bookings can
TITASH CHAKRABORTY enjoy them all year round. The in-come flows still be made through SeaOman website,”

The radiography of the oil painting on
canvas called “Ragazzo morso dal
ramarro” (Boy Bitten by a Lizard) by Italian
painter Michelangelo Merisi. — AFP
T
& YERU EBUEN
Sri Lanka’s Military officers he tour began with a
stand near the flag square at
sunset in Colombo. — Reuters short seminar. The group
leaders standing in front
giving out a brief back-
ground of who they are
and what they do. It was
SRI LANKA eight in the morning on
a Sunday but many of the attendees didn’t
seem to mind.
“What we are advocating is sustainable
marine tourism. People have to understand
that whale sharks are more useful alive than
they are dead,” Pierre Frolla, 43, holder of
four free diving world records and several
others, started.
“In many parts of the world, whale sharks
and sharks in general are being killed for
their fins. The number grows every year.
Once they are killed, that’s the end of it. They
don’t come back. In sustainable marine
and what we are about to do will show you
why it’s worth to see this gentle creatures of
the sea alive and in person,” he explained.
SEAOMAN, the marine leisure part of
Oman Sail that provides tourists and locals
an opportunity to get on, in and under the
water in various parts in the Sultanate had
made a massive social media campaign for
this event running from the last week of
September to the first week of October. It’s
all over the news and over our news feeds
and those who are closely watching environ-
mental and tourism updates in the country
would surely have seen it.
Whale Sharks, the biggest fish in the world,
makes this migratory journey every year and
Discover Sea Oman along with the famous
free diver and environmental educator Frolla
and his team made it their mission to give
the people in Oman the experience of a life
time. “The tour with Pierre ends on October
6 but the whale shark season continues until
Assim al Saqri, Public Relations Officer of the
company said.
September to November is the annual
whale shark season where these fish and
their pups migrate. In this short window,
divers and snorkelers have a high chance
of spotting these glorious giants. As one of
the wonders of the world, it is every marine
enthusiast and wildlife lover’s dream to
one day see and swim with these wonderful
creatures.
ONE ON THE BUCKET LIST
We reached the Al Mouj Marina and
saw the hundreds of boats and yachts
docked at the bay. One of the two SeaOman
establishments — Oman’s premier dive and
charter services — is also located at the
sophisticated Al Mouj Marina.
Pierre, during the brief seminar, shared
that he is working towards setting up an
academy where children and adults alike

Join the discussion on
TWITTER
can not only learn sports like free-diving
and deep sea diving but also give people the
opportunity to spread awareness about the
importance of keeping the marine life safe and
how countries and places can invest in more
sustainable methods of earning money whilst
saving the marine life.
Along with him was his wife and two
others from his team who all explained their
roles and what they wish to achieve with this
programme.
“Education is very important. What we
hope to do is whatever you learn today, you
will share it with people you know and in the
long run, create this network of awareness
regarding our marine resources,” he said.
After the briefing, the group headed to the
docks where each person was given flippers
and divided in groups of 10. Each group was
assigned a boat. Our team was assigned with
Pierre and Khalid, a highly trained seaman
from SeaOman.
They explained to the group what was to
be expected, how to prepare and wear the
snorkel and mask and how one must interact
with the marine life in a way that doesn’t
danger the animal or the person. Following the
map of the usual routes of the whale sharks,
we left shores on a speed boat excited for this
experience of a lifetime.
Moving from one spot to the other, all of us
along with the Khalid and Pierre kept an eye
out at the vast open waters looking for a sign of
the giants. After a while and no luck of finding
them, we anchored boat and were given the
chance to snorkel in the surrounding waters.
For one of the people on the boat, she
React on topics that affect you the most. Share your
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shared that it was on her bucket list.
“I’ve always wanted to swim with the whale
sharks, it’s a bucket list thing,” she shared.
The previous day, Pierre reported that they
saw a pod of 11 whale sharks. It also didn’t take
long for them to find where they were feeding.
“That’s why they are here — they are usually
feeding. When you swim with the whale sharks,
as much as possible, stay away where they are
headed. You are disrupting their natural cycle.
Al-ways stay on the side,” Pierre said.
September to
November is the
annual whale shark
season where this
fish and their pups
migrate
JUST NOT OUR DAY
Our team spend three hours in the water
trying to figure out where the whale sharks
are but for-tune didn’t favour us. On Sunday,
the whale sharks cannot be found anywhere.
We travelled for miles and miles in the
water, everyone hoping to just even find and
swim with one but we have to settle down that
it wasn’t our day.
“I’ve never been this disappointed in my
life,” says one of the attendees.
features
Although our team missed the whale
sharks, the group who went the day after and
before our trip were ecstatic about their own
personal experiences.
Tracey O’Donoghue who was part of
the Saturday group shared on SeaOman’s
Facebook page shared that it was a
truly memorable day for her. One of her
companions on the said trip, Catarina Castro,
thanked the team for their important message
of preserving the whale sharks.
The Monday group reported that they’ve
seen more than 15 whales in a pod with
attendees Anand Vinerkar and Lucie Lyons
both sharing that they had the most fantastic
of experience.
Although we didn’t see the sharks, taking a
few minutes to snorkel and seeing miles into
the deep waters and also spotting diverse
variety of fish, rays, eels and even a turtle
made the trip worth it!
Moving around looking below at the dark
abyss, floating and playing with the waves,
there was a something exciting and yet
calming about swimming and watching the
different marine life in their natural habitat.
Although deeply frustrated that our
journey wasn’t a fruitful one, we know
we shared the same sentiment with our
companions. We might not have seen and
experienced swimming with the gentle giants
on our designated day, there is still the whole
month of November to check them out. Even
better, we know that they will come back again,
if not the next season, the one after that — if
only Pierre’s message of sustainable marine
tourism is heard and paid attention to by all.
oman/world
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 3 l 2 0 1 7
EXHIBITIONS
Exhibit at New York’s
MoMA looks at iconic
garments
T
he Museum of Modern
Art is staging an exhibit
of iconic clothing
and accessories
to examine the
relationship between fashion and
society.
On display are 111 high-impact
items like Levi’s 501 jeans, the little
black dress, the sari, the pearl
necklace and even tattoos — all part
of the cultural heritage of the West
and elsewhere in this century and
the 20th.
In MoMA’s first exhibit on fashion
since 1944, the show features
garments that seem timeless, like
the Panama hat.
But it also includes items from
everyday life or those denoting
religious affiliation, such as the
yarmulke for Jewish men and the
headscarf for Muslim women.
The exhibit is called “Is Fashion
Modern-” It opens on Sunday and
runs through January 28.
It provides a chance to recall how
certain garments symbolised what
was considered modern in a given
period of history.
Although curators say the show
is about objects, rather than their
designers, the influence of Yves
Saint Laurent permeates.
His “Le Smoking” — the first
Oh, rats! Big tree-
dwelling rodent found
in Solomon Islands
P
eople living on the
Solomon Islands in the
Pacific Ocean long had
spoken of a big, tree-
dwelling rat called vika
that inhabited the rainforest, but the
remarkable rodent managed to elude
scientists — until now.
After searching for it for years
with cameras mounted in trees and
traps, scientists said they finally
caught up with the rat on Vangunu
Island, part of the Solomon Islands,
spotting one as it emerged from a
tree felled by loggers.
It instantly joined the list of the
biggest rats in the world, weighing
about four times more than an
ordinary rat and measuring about 1½
feet (about half a meter) long.
“Vika lives in a very thick, complex
forest, and it is up in the canopy so
it is difficult to find. It is also a rare
species. It is likely there are not many
of these rats left,” mammalogist
Tyrone Lavery of the Field Museum
in Chicago, who led the research, said
on Thursday.
The orange-brown rat dines
on nuts and fruit, has short ears,
a smooth tail with very fine scales
and wide feet that allow it to move
through the forest canopy.
The rat is reputed to chew holes in
coconuts to eat the inside. “I haven’t
27
tuxedo for women, introduced in
Paris in 1966 — crystallised the
evolution of women’s status and
their aspirations in life.
Saint Laurent’s signature black
boots and espadrilles are also on
display.
Modernity was also the very
1960s futuristic aspiration of Paco
Rabanne and his aluminium dress,
and that of Pierre Cardin as seen in
his bold Cosmos dress.
Fashion is also modern simply
because it reflects the spirit of the
times. This show looks at fashion’s
relationship to everyday street life
and all that it inspires.
The best illustration, however, is
the powerful world of sportswear,
born far from the catwalks of New
York and Paris but now nestled
intimately in every layer of society.
To wit: Converse All Star
sneakers, sports jerseys, Lacoste
polo shirts and track suits are
all part of the show, and basics of
many people’s wardrobes.
To accompany the exhibit, MoMA
commissioned the manufacture
and marketing of several garments
based on beloved clothing from the
past, such as a Breton sailor-style
shirt by Armor-Lux of France and a
seamless sweater by Issey Miyake.
— AFP
DISCOVERY
found proof of this yet, but I have
found that they can eat a very thick-
shelled nut called a ngali nut,” Lavery
said.
A small number of rat species
around the world rival vika’s size.
Lavery said a vika relative also
inhabiting the Solomon Islands,
called Poncelet’s giant rat, is twice
the size.
The world’s largest rodent is not
a rat, but rather South America’s
barrel-shaped capybara.
A phenomenon called the “island
effect” may help account for the size
of Vika and other big rat species in
the Solomon Islands.
“The island effect, or island
syndrome, relates to the effects
living on an island has on the
evolution of body size. On islands,
small species such as rats, evolve
to have larger body size, they attain
higher population densities and they
produce fewer offspring,” Lavery
said.
“Vika also probably arrived on an
island where there were no other
large mammals living in the canopy
eating fruits and nuts so the species
evolved to fill this niche,” Lavery said.
Lavery said vika should be
considered critically endangered,
with logging threatening its habitat..
— Reuters
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 3, 2017 | MUHARRAM 12, 1439 AH

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The season of the

GENTLE
GIANTS
Guided by freediving world record
holder Pierre Frollo of Monaco,
residents of Oman are given an
opportunity to swim with the gentle
giants of the sea — the whale sharks.
Passing through Oman for their
annual migration, check out Pierre
and his team’s message about
sustainable marine tourism... P26

PHOTO OF THE DAY NOW SHOWING MORE

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A DAY IN THE LIFE MARK FELT

OF A FRUIT SELLER Genre: Drama
Running Time: 105 min
“Souq” or the marketplace will
always remain as the heart of any Starring: Liam Neeson, Diane
city in Oman regardless of time. Lane and Maika Monroe
People travel miles from their
homes to reach the market to sell Based on a true story of the IRAN’S BLOOMING
their produce, share and show to
most famous anonymous man
in American history: Mark Felt, ART SCENE: A BUBBLE
others the products of their lands
or for some, to buy these products.
the FBI second-in-command
who was the ‘Deep Throat’
OF HOPE
Instagrammer @Imy7265 gives us whistle-blower in the 1970s A gallery opening in northern Tehran,
a bird’s eye view into the livelihood Watergate scandal. While his and a typical scene: silk scarves
name has been public for a barely clinging to the backs of
of a fruit seller. decade, few know about the women’s heads, young hipsters,
personal and professional life gentlemen in that most
For a chance to be featured, follow of the brilliant and unrevolutionary of items — the tie.
and tag us on Instagram. Don’t uncompromising Felt, who Trendy, wealthy and in their element,
forget to use #BeAnObserver and risked and ultimately the packed crowd edges around
#OmanObserver so we can find sacrificed everything, abstract sculptures, somewhat
including his family, career, grotesque portraits and looped
your submissions. and ultimately his freedom, to cartoons by US-based Iranian artist
bring what he knew to light. Pouya Afshar p25