Six Congo Virus Cases Resurface in Oman: Over Half A Million Attend Classes in 1,053 Schools

MUSCAT A delegation of the National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) yesterday visited the Childhood Care Centre in Al Khoudh, af-

filiateu to the Biiectoiate ueneial foi Family Bevelopment at the Nin-
istiy of Social Bevelopment, to ieview the conuition of the two chil-
uien of unknown paients who weie founu at one of the public paiks.
The uelegation, which was biiefeu on the uetails of the case, is
following the issue with the iespective uepaitments. 0NA
Vol. 33 No. 291 | 200 baisas | 32 pages www.omanobserver.om

editor@omanobserver.om
Over half a million attend
classes in 1,053 schools
REGION
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Putin seeks statehood for eastern Ukarine
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The Cut to piemieie at venice Film Festival
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Aiiciaft uemanu spuis iecoiu gain
DR IBRAHIM BIN AHMED AL KINDI Chief Executive Ofcer
ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI Editor-in-Chief
Oman Establishment for Press, Publication andAdvertising
POBox 974, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Monday SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 | DHUL QA'ADA 6, 1435 AH
Bouchard
passes tough
test
P26
OMAN
SUBCONTINENT
Pakistan rallies
turn violent
The greatest
escape
His Majesty
greets leaders
Shrimp season
begins today
AT least thiee people weie killeu
anu hunuieus injuieu when Paki-
stani police fiieu iubbei bullets anu
teai gas at piotesteis calling foi the
resignation of Prime Minister Na-
waz Shaiif, officials yesteiuay.
The violence took place uuiing
pitcheu battles in Islamabau
between piotesteis leu by
opposition politician Imian Khan
anu Tahiiul Qauii, anu police.
B0ZENS of Filipino 0N peacekeep-
eis peifoimeu the "gieatest escape"
fiom besieging Syiian iebels, slip-
ping away unuei the covei of night
aftei iebels iammeu theii uolan
Beights outpost with aimeu tiucks,
the Philippine militaiy saiu Sunuay.
All 7S soluieis seiving with
a 0niteu Nations peacekeeping
foice in the Niuule East flashpoint
zone ieacheu safety aftei the
iebels, some linkeu to Al-Qaeua,
surrounded them and demanded
theii weapons on Thuisuay, militaiy
chief ueneial uiegoiio Catapang
saiu.
BIS Najesty Sultan Qaboos has sent
a cable of gieetings to Nalaysian
King anu piesiuents of Kyigyzstan,
Republic of Tiiniuau anu Tobago,
0zbekistan, anu Slovakia on the
occasion of theii countiies National
Bay. In his cable, Bis Najesty the
Sultan expiesseu his best wishes to
the leaueis anu the fiienuly people.
A LARuE numbei of fisheimen
will heau to the sea in Al Wusta, Al
Shaiqiyah anu Bhofai uoveinoiate
as the shiimp fishing season along
the coast of the Sultanate staits to-
uay. The Ninistiy of Agiicultuie anu
Fisheiies has conuucteu ieseaich
foi the uevelopment of fishing geai
useu in fishing anu the collection of
shiimps to inciease the efficiency of
fisheimen uuiing the season which
iuns till the enu of Novembei.
FULL REPORT ON PAGE 7
Paris building collapses
R0SNY-S00S-B0IS, Fiance A foui-stoiey
builuing in a Paiis subuib collapseu aftei
an explosion yesteiuay killing a chilu anu an
elueily woman, anu emeigency teams weie
seaiching the iubble foi otheis still missing.
About 1Su emeigency woikeis weie
on hanu with sniffei uogs tiying to finu six
people unaccounteu foi, saiu the piefect of
Saint-Seine-Benis, Philippe ualli.
An 8-yeai-olu chilu uieu in the builuing's
collapse, anu fiiefighteis founu an uncon-
scious 8u-yeai-olu woman in the uebiis who
uieu while being taken out, fiie uepaitment
spokesman uabiiel Plus saiu.
Ten people, foui of them seiiously
wounueu, weie pulleu out of the iubble, he
saiu. Inteiioi Ninistei Beinaiu Cazeneuve,
speaking to iepoiteis at the scene, saiu the
explosion appeaieu to have been causeu by
a gas leak.
"We shoulu be piuuent, because theie aie
investigations ongoing. Theie is no ceitain-
ty," he saiu. Reuteis
Six Congo virus cases
resurface in Oman
By Kabeer Yousuf
N0SCAT As many as six cases of
CCBF (Ciimean-Congo Bemoiihagic
Fevei, a wiuespieau tick-boine viial
uisease) have been iepoiteu in 0man
this yeai against the 1u cases last
year, four in 2012 and three in 1995,
accoiuing to a key official at the Nin-
istiy of Bealth.
"We got as many as thiee cases in
199S-96 anu then aftei theie weie
none till last yeai when 1u cases
weie appeaieu anu this yeai theie
aie six cases fiom uiffeient aieas
of the countiy till touay", Bi Shyam
Bawikai, auvisoi-epiuemiologist,
uepaitment of communicable uis-
ease suiveillance anu contiol, Bu
of Health Affairs at the Ministry of
Bealth.
Known among the meuics as the
Asian veision of Ebola, Ciimean-
Congo fevei is a zoonotic uiesease.
Zoonosis iefeis to uiseases that can
travel from non-human animals to
humans. They incluue all uiseases
that people can catch fiom animals
such as wilulife, uomestic animals,
insects, piimates, anu biius. Some
zoonoses can tiavel the othei way as
well, fiom humans to othei animals.
The main symptoms aie fevei anu
hemorrhage, multi-organ failure and
the moitality iate is 4u peicent anu
above, accoiuing to the uoctoi.
Although CCBF uoesn't spieau
very easily, in terms of mortality and
chances of communicability within
the healthcaie institutions, CCBF
shaies similaiities with Ebola with
only exception of tiansmission is
contiacting but in CCBF it is by the
insects ticks. To page 2
Deal imminent on $2 billion
Omagine tourism project
N0SCAT The Sultanate, iep-
iesenteu by the Ninistiy of Re-
gional Nunicipalities anu Watei
Resouices, has been selecteu as
the host foi the 0ffice of the Sec-
ietaiiat ueneial foi the Aiab Net-
woik foi Watei Resouices Nan-
agement in Arid and Semi-Arid
Aieas of the 0NESC0.
The 0ffice is pait of the ulo-
bal Netwoik on Watei anu Be-
velopment Infoimation in Aiiu
lanus (u-WABI), affiliateu to the
Inteinational Byuiological Pio-
giamme (IBP).
See page 3
MUSCAT A formal agreement on
the establishment of the $2 billion
0magine ieal estate, touiism anu en-
teitainment pioject, planneu just off
Nuscat Inteinational Aiipoit at Seeb,
is at hanu, accoiuing to its piomot-
eis.
In a uisclosuie notification to the
Secuiities anu Exchange Commis-
sion (SEC) of the 0niteu States, Fiank
} Biohan, Piesiuent of 0magine LLC,
revealed that draft agreements had
alieauy been finaliseu with 0man's
Ninistiy of Touiism with the uocu-
ments now ieauy foi signatuie.
Accoiuing to 0magine, the actual
uesign anu uevelopment stage of the
pioject can only be initiateu once the
all-impoitant Bevelopment Agiee-
ment is inkeu by the two siues.
"The contiact between the Ninis-
tiy of Touiism of the uoveinment of
0man anu 0magine LLC goveining
the uevelopment anu owneiship of
the 0magine Pioject is the "Bevelop-
ment Agieement" (BA). The Bevelop-
ment Agieement has been appioveu
by all the iequiieu ministiies of the
uoveinment of 0man. The BA must
be signeu by 0magine LLC anu the
uoveinment of 0man in oiuei to
begin uevelopment of the 0magine
Pioject," the company saiu in a state-
ment. FULL REPORT ON PAGE 17
NHRC checks wellbeing
of two abandoned kids
By Khalid bin Rashid al Adawi
MUSCAT As many as 526,469 male
anu female stuuents went to schools
in all governorates of the Sultanate
yesteiuay maiking the beginning of
the new acauemic yeai 2u14-2u1S.
Nale stuuents accounteu foi
267,S47 anu 12,S78 new stuuents.
This yeai theie aie 1,uSS schools
acioss the Sultanate.
Stuuents weie seateu in theii
classiooms accoiuing to the lists anu
ieceiveu textbooks on the fiist uay of
the new school yeai. Eailiei, the ui-
iectoiate geneials of euucation in the
goveinoiates announceu that they
have completeu theii peipetiations
foi the new school yeai. The schools
have been equippeu with fuinituie
anu equipment to the tune of R0 7
million incluuing computeis, uesks,
laboiatoiy equipment anu euucation-
al supplies.
The Royal 0man Police (R0P) pa-
tiols weie seen neai schools vicini-
ties to stieamline tiaffic anu make
suie that school vehicles aie iunning
smoothly. Police also uistiibuteu bio-
chuies anu booklets to stuuents to
iaise theii tiaffic safety awaieness.
Neanwhile, iegistiation foi the
seconu soiting foi the acauemic yeai
2u14-2u1S will begin tomoiiow.
Stuuents will be able to apply foi
vacancies anu the newly-intiouuceu
piogiammes at the highei euucation
institutions starting from 8:00 am
tomoiiow until 12:Su noon on
Nonuay Septembei 8.
Buua bint Saif al Baithiya,
Biiectoi of Aumission Bepaitment
saiu that a numbei of oppoitunities
aie available in both vacant seats
anu new piogiammes. Theie aie 2S
euucational piogiammes 12 of them
aie in inteinal scholaiships at the
Inteinational College of Engineeiing
which will pioviue specializations
such as mechanical engineeiing,
auto technology, electionics,
communications, softwaie
Engineeiing. This is in auuition to
inteinal scholaiships pioviueu by
the piivate sectoi, Al Baithiya saiu
auuing that the stuuents who uiu not
register at the e-admission system
have a chance to apply foi these
piogiammes which will be announce
latei anu the stuuents who aie
alieauy iegisteieu can apply foi the
vacancies iegaiuless of whethei oi
not they weie given seats in the fiist
soiting. Stuuents can apply foi up to
4u piogiamme howevei they cannot
ieoiuei theii pievious optiomns.
Registration for higher education vacancies begins tomorrow
INDUSTRY-ACADEMIA INTERFACE
KEY TO BRIDGING SKILLS GAP
CLIFF-SIDE HOUSES OF AL MAAWIL CAVE
SULTANATE TO
HOUSE ARAB
WATER OFFICE
MO N D A Y, S E P T E MB E R 1 , 2 0 1 4
2
OMAN
His Majesty
sends cables
of greetings
HM congratulates
Uzbekistan Prez
HMs greetings to
Slovakian Prez
MUSCAT His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos has sent a cable of greetings
to King Almutasimu Billahi Abdul
Halim Muadzam Shah of Malaysia
on the occasion of his countrys Na-
tional Day.
In his cable, His Majesty the Sul-
tan expressed his sincere greet-
ings along with his best wishes of
good health and happiness to King
Muadzam Shah and the friendly
Malaysian people further progress
and growth.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin
Said has also sent a cable of con-
gratulations to President Almazbek
Atambayev of the Kyrgyz Republic
on the occasion of his countrys In-
dependence Anniversary.
In his cable, His Majesty ex-
pressed his congratulations and
best wishes of good health and hap-
piness to President Atambayev and
the friendly people of his country
further progress and prosperity.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin
Said has also sent a cable of con-
gratulations to President Anthony
Thomas Carmona of the Republic
of Trinidad and Tobago on the occa-
sion of his countrys Independence
Anniversary.
pressed his congratulations along
with his best wishes to President
Carmona and his countrys friendly
people.
Qaboos Bin Said has sent a cable
of congratulations to President Is-
lam Karimov of the Republic of
Uzbekistan on the occasion of his
countrys Independence Anniver-
sary.
In his cable, His Majesty wished
President Karimov continuous
health and happiness and the
friendly people of Uzbekistan fur-
ther progress and welfare.
Qaboos Bin Said has sent a cable of
greetings to President Andrej Kiska
of the Republic of Slovakia on the
occasion of his countrys National
Day.
pressed his sincere greetings along
with his best wishes to President
Kiska and the friendly people of his
country. ONA
Salalah lensman brings laurels for Oman
By Kaushalendra Singh
SALALAH A photographer from
Salalah brought laurels for the Sul-
tanate by winning a gold medal from
Paris-based Fdration Internationale
de lArt Photographique (FIAP). Also
known as the International Federa-
tion of Photographic Art, the FIAP is
an international representative body
of photographers with nearly one
million photographers as members.
Sami Khamis Sanjoor Alqawal,
who harbours the passion of becom-
ing a professional photographer,
landed in the hospitality industry and
works as a Chief Steward in Crowne
Plaza Salalah.
An amateur photographer, Sami
loves to capture various dimensions
of nature and human life. His pho-
tograph titled Hard worker bagged
the FIAP Gold among a total of 5,092
pictures by 512 lensmen from 70
countries. All received photos were
fabulous with special cultural charac-
teristics that make our photo contest
step up to a higher level of artistic
quality, said a FIAP source.
Photography, according to Sami, is
part and parcel of his life since early
childhood. He inherited the skill from
his father, who used to take the whole
family for weekend trips and allowed
Sami to click pictures.
He learnt photography techniques
with small digital camera and in 2009
when he graduated to understand-
ing level, Sami switched over to one
of the best professional cameras and
then continued learning advanced
skills.
While wandering in Salalah Festi-
val ground in 2011, I saw a sign indi-
cating the opening of an exhibition of
photography. I met the organiser, who
took me to photographs and artworks
on display. He invited me to become
member of the Omani Society of Fine
Aits (0SFA). This was the fiist step of
my professional photography career,
said Sami.
Since then, there is no looking
back as he has bagged many awards,
recognitions and invitations to par-
ticipate in major exhibitions.
His association with the OSFA
helped him a lot. The Society sent him
to Muscat to the learn the basics of
photography, image processing, etc.
He started taking part in exhibitions
anu baggeu fiist place in spoits pho-
tography contest of Salalah Tourism
Festival 2u1S. Be also baggeu fiist
place in Dhofar in the Youth Innova-
tion Competition organised by the
Ministry of Sports Affairs.
Before FIAP 2014, he got honor
ribbon from the Photographic Soci-
ety of America at the International
Exhibition of Home in Egypt in 2014
image of sea chore. He also holds an
honorary ribbon international prize
from an international photography
exhibition in Egypt.
Sami Khamis Sanjoor Alqawal
Samis picture that bagged FIAP Gold
Over 415,000 visit
Salalah during Khareef
MUSCAT The National Centre for Statistics and In-
formation (NCSI) reports that the total number of local
and international Khareef Salalah visitors recorded from
June 21st to August 30th, 2014 stood at 415,209 visi-
tors, compared to 399,747 visitors recorded during the
same period in 2013, representing an increase of 3.9
per cent. The majority of Khareef Salalah visitors were
Omani, representing 76.2 per cent of total visitor num-
bers while other GCC citizens represent 16.1 per cent of
the total visitor count.
Bieaking uown the visitoi figuies by geogiaphic oii-
gin, the NCSI statistics shows that the total number of
GCC visitors (including Omanis) increased over the stat-
ed period this year by 3.9 percent, standing at 383,434
visitors, compared with 369,139 visitors over the same
period in 2013.
Meanwhile, the total number of visitors from other
Aiab non-uCC countiies iecoiueu a significant inciease
of 71.5 per cent, standing at 7,129 visitors compared
with 4,157 visitors recorded over the same period last
year. On the other hand, the total number of visitors
from Asian countries decreased by 8.9 per cent from
24,178 visitors in 2013 to 22,021 visitors this year.
However, the total number of visitors from Europe in-
creased by 2.1 per cent recording 1,634 visitors in 2014,
compared with 1,600 visitors last year. Also, the total
number of visitors from American Continents increased
by 33 percent, recording 556 visitors this year, com-
pared with 418 visitors in 2013. ONA
Six Congo virus cases resurface in Oman
From page 1
CCHF is the result of unhygienic
conditions where animals are kept,
and slaughters need to be educated
and made aware to use precaution-
ary measures such as usage of gloves
while slaughtering animals and to
keep animals away from ticks. How-
ever, doctor said this practice be-
comes near to impossible because a
large number of herds of sheep and
goats aie finuing theii way into the
country through illegal ways as their
owners resort to such ways to export
them to Oman.
These illegally imported animals
are mixed up with the legally existing
ones and one may not be able to iden-
tify as to which one is carrying virus
and which one not, he added.
While legally, these animals are
subject to stringent measures of the
concerned ministries in the country,
the illegal ones are left unchecked
and they can be the carriers of this
disease.
A large number of such cattle stock
have been reported earlier in Bausher
and other interior places in the heart
of the city itself at times of festivities
such as Eid days. Their seasonal trade
is flouiishing at the cost of public
health.
No safe and effective vaccine avail-
able for human use till today against
CCHF. However, limited use of inacti-
vated, mouse brain-derived vaccine is
reported in Eastern Europe.
Personal protection, preven-
tion of tick bites, avoidance, use of
repellents, use of gloves, protective
clothing by animal handlers are to
be observed by the public while the
medical practitioners and healthcare
workers need to observe universal
precautions for sample collection, pa-
tient isolation, barrier nursing, use of
PPE, prevention of needle-stick injury,
decontamination of wastes etc, Dr
Bawikar added.
In Oman, animals are imported
from different countries and the
number of animals is also on the rise
year after year. The spread of the
CCHF virus is continuous as it is com-
municated from one animal to anoth-
er and so on and so forth.
Since the virus is not easily trans-
missible, we get less number of cases
although the human infection rate is
high in Oman. So far, no transmission
to the healthcare workers reported.
CCBF was fiist uesciibeu in 'Cii-
mea in 1944 and given the name
Crimean Haemorrhagic Fever. In
1969 it was recognised that the same
pathogen caused the Haemorrhagic
fever in the Congo in 1956. Linking
the two place names, this disease has
been named CCHF and is endemic in
many countries of Africa, Asia, the
Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Clinical aspects:
-Incubation: With tick bite 1-S
days (9 maximum) with blood/tissue
exposure 5-6 days (13 maximum)
-Noitality: appiox. Su-Su pei cent,
usually in 2nd week of illness. High
mortality in nosocomial infections
than after tick bites
-Biagnosis: CCBFv-specific anti-
body detection in blood. IgM+ after
day 6 (until 4 m) and IgG up to 5yrs.
In some fatal cases, patients die with-
out developing antibodies
- Noleculai uiagnosis: by RT-PCR
in the initial viiaemic phase (fiist S
days), highly sensitive (single set of
primers cannot detect all virus vari-
ants)
-Tieatment: suppoitive, oialIv
iibaviiin may be beneficial if given
eaily (efficacy contioveisial)
Dr Shyam Bawikar
In Oman, animals are
imported from different
countries and the
number of animals is
also on the rise year after
year. The spread of the
CCHF virus is continuous
as it is communicated
from one animal to
another
New ferry service
MUSCAT A ferry Al Halaniyat,
made its maiden journey from Shi-
as Port to Daba Port yesterday.
The jouiney maikeu the fiist
step of the Oman Ferries Companys
plan to link the Wilayat of Daba to
rest of the Sultanates ports.
The ferry was received upon ar-
rival at Daba port by a number of
goveinment officials anu citizens
who felt delighted at the launch of
this passenger transport service.
ONA
3
OMAN
New system to manage
documents cleared
MUSCAT Private documents management system has
been approved by Attorney General Hussein bin Ali al
Bilali at the Public Piosecution 0ffice in the piesence of
Dr. Hamad bin Mohammad al Dhoyani, Chairman of the
National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA), yes-
terday.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Al Dhoyani said that the
approval of this system comes after continuous efforts
of the Main Committee, representing the Public Pros-
ecution and NRAA, to streamline the public prosecution
system. He said the new system will help regulate Public
Prosecution documents, noting that the system was ap-
proved by 28 governmental agencies.
Al Hilali explained that signing the private document
management system of the Public Prosecution with
NRAA stems from the keenness of the Public Prosecu-
tion on the importance of document as a work tool that
occurs in the exercise of the entities that subject to the
Records and Archives Law of their functions. It also
helps saving the resources of the rights of individuals
and groups and facilitate retrieving them for follow-up,
oversight and evaluation purposes. He added that these
procedural tools are the cornerstone for building a mod-
ern system in accordance with the latest international
standards in this area. ONA
Attorney General Hussein bin Ali al Hilali and Dr
Hamad bin Mohammad al Dhoyani, Chairman of
the National Records and Archives Authority at the
Publlc Proxecutlon Offlce ln Muxcut yexterJuy.
MSM index rises by six points
MUSCAT Muscat Securities Market (MSM) general in-
dex 30 yesterday added 6.01 points, comprising a rise by
0.08 per cent to close at 7367.16 points.
The trading value yesterday stood at RO 6.67 million,
comprising a rise by 13.74 per cent compared to the last
session, which stood at RO 5.86 million.
The report released by MSM pointed out that the
market value rose by 0.06 per cent to reach about RO
15.41 billion. The report added that the value of shares
bought by non-Omani investors reached RO 1,078,000
comprising 16.17 per cent. ONA
Sultanate selected to bost water resource office
MUSCAT The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and
Watei Resouices, has been selecteu as the host foi the 0ffice of the Secietaiiat ueneial
for the Arab Network for Water Resources Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of
the 0nesco. The 0ffice is pait of the ulobal Netwoik on Watei anu Bevelopment Infoi-
mation in Aiiu lanus, affiliateu to the Inteinational Byuiological Piogiamme. 0NA
4
OMAN
Love adventure? Just dive in
MUSCAT Muriya, one of Omans
leading tourism development com-
panies, has launched a dive centre at
Jebel Sifah, as the array of exciting lei-
sure activities at the destination con-
tinues to grow.
Located within walking distance
of the Sifawy Boutique Hotel, Extra
Divers is operated by German dive
tour operators Extra Divers World-
wide and will offer guests and visi-
tors unforgettable dives to nearby
sites such as the Munassir wreck and
Fahal Islands, as well as the reefs at
Ras Abu Daoud.
The new dive centre at Jebel Sifah
offers residents, guests and visitors
a host of exciting underwater adven-
tures, for both the novice and expe-
rienced, and the opportunity to take
part in water sports as part of their
stay at the destination.
We are committed to develop-
ing Jebel Sifah into a fully-integrated
town by introducing new facilities
that combine the natural beauty of
the coastline with an ever-expanding
variety of attractions.
The dive centre will bring new
visitors to Jebel Sifah and enhance
Omans reputation as one of the most
popular diving destinations in the re-
gion, said Bahaa Hefzallah, Market-
ing Director of Muriya.
Yaqoob al Wahibi, General Manag-
er of Extra Divers Oman said, Extra
Divers Sifah is an important addition
to our portfolio of locations in Oman.
We offer guests the chance to learn
from experienced male and female
instiuctois, who aie fluent in Aiabic,
English and German, while swim-
ming amongst laige schools of fish,
turtles, stingrays, leopard sharks, mo-
ray eels and nudibranchs that thrive
beneath the surface in the Gulf of
Oman.
"Bepaiting fiom }ebel Sifah's fiist
inland marina, we organise daily dive
sessions where guests can visit a va-
riety of dive sites each day as part of
their stay at the destination.
Extra Divers Sifah operates in line
with Scuba Schools International
(SSI) and Professional Association of
Diving Instructors (PADI) standards
with all required equipment available
on rent at the site. On offer is also
kayaking, snorkelling and jet skiing.
The centre allows guests to be in-
spired by the spectacular scenery and
explore the unique underwater eco-
system before returning to spend the
evening in the relaxing ambiance of
Jebel Sifah, complete with dining op-
tions and retail outlets in the heart of
the bustling marina town.
Exciting aquatic sports await visitors at new centre Jebel Sifah
Thrill in the water
Brigadier Ibrahim bin Sulaiman al Rehaili with Maj.
Gen Hassan bin Hamza al Shehri, Commander of the
Peninsula Shield Forces yesterday.
Air Vice Marshal Matar bin Ali al Obaidani with Maj.
Gen Hassan bin Hamza al Shehri yesterday.
Top Aimy, Aii officeis meet
head of Peninsula Forces
MUSCAT Air Vice Marshal Matar bin Ali al Obaidani,
Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) re-
ceiveu in his office at Nu'askai Al Nuitafa' yesteiuay
Maj.Gen Hassan bin Hamza al Shehri, Commander of
the Peninsula Shield Forces, who is currently visiting
the Sultanate. A number of matters of common concern
that serve the march of the GCC military work were dis-
cussed at the meeting.
Brigadier Ibrahim bin Sulaiman al Rehaili, Acting
Commander of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) too re-
ceiveu in his office at Nu'askai Al Nuitafa' yesteiuay
Naj.uen Bassan bin Bamza al-Shehii. The two officeis
exchanged greetings and discussed a number of matters
of common to the region. The meeting was attended by
a numbei of RA0 senioi officeis. 0NA
SUR The 1st international forum on Teach-
ing Science and Math will begin tomorrow un-
der the auspices of Sheikh Khalid bin Omar al
Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service.
The two-day forum is organized by the
Directorate General of Education in South Al
Sharqiyah under the theme Towards Better
Education in Science and Math.
The forum aims at exchanging views with
expeits about uifficulties faceu in teaching
science anu math, finuing solutions to such
problems, introducing the latest strategies in
euucation those with leaining uifficulty anu the
use of modern technology.
Speakers from the Sultanate, USA, China,
Japan, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan and GCC countries
will take part at the forum.
The forum expects more than 300 math and
science teachers and supervisors from different
goveinoiates to paiticipate in the event. 0NA
Global meet on teaching
science, math tomorrow
5
OMAN
Indian Ocean maritime
meet opens today
MUSCAT The Ministry
of Transport and Commu-
nications, represented by
the Directorate General
of Maritime Affairs, will
host the 17th meeting of
the Indian Oceans Memo-
randum of Understanding
(IOMOU) Committee today
under the chairmanship
of Said bin Hamdoun al
Harthy, Under-Secretary of
the Ministry of Transport
and Communications for
Ports and Maritime Affairs.
About 15 states will
participate in the meet-
ing, as well as a number of
specialists in the Directo-
rate-General for Maritime
Affairs and several inter-
national entities.
The meeting will ad-
dress several themes relat-
ed to inspections and the
safety of life at sea. It will
also discuss the latest de-
velopments in the fielu of
inspection and protection
of the marine environment
from pollution by ships,
ceitification anu licensing
for sea workers and the
investigation of maritime
accidents and work on
board of ships, as well as
national and international
maritime laws and legisla-
tions ONA
Sbrimp fisbing season starts today
N0SCAT The season foi shiimp fish-
ing on the coasts of the Sultanate will
start today and run till the end of No-
vembei. A laige numbei of fisheimen will
head to the sea in Al Wusta and South Al
Sharqiyah Governorates and a number of
wilayats in Dhofar Governorate to engage
in shiimp fishing.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisher-
ies has completed its preparations for this
season, including the administrative and
technical procedures, guidance, aware-
ness, regulatory and statistical efforts re-
lateu to woik uuiing the shiimps fishing
season for the sustainability of this wealth
and optimising exploitation of the season.
Research centres of the Ministry of Ag-
riculture and Fisheries have conducted
numeious scientific stuuies anu ieseaich
projects about the shrimps in order to in-
crease production.
The Ministry has also conducted scien-
tific ieseaich foi the uevelopment of fish-
ing geai useu in fishing anu collection of
shiimps to inciease the efficiency of fish-
ermen during this season. ONA
Information Ministry organises
training course in legal matters
MUSCAT A training course entitled De-
velopment of Legal and Administrative
Skills and Application of Laws and Regula-
tions, started at the Ministry of Informa-
tion yesterday with the participation of
20 staff from various departments of the
Ministry.
Sheikh Majeed bin Mohammed al
Rowas, Director-General of Information
presided over the opening ceremony.
The five-uay couise aims at familiaiis-
ing the participants with the most impor-
tant information and practical applica-
tions to develop legal and administrative
skills in their service, especially with re-
gard to investigation principles, prepara-
tion of notes, good preparation and draft-
ing of contracts and regulations together
with the interpretation and application of
laws and regulations.
The couise also aims at uefining con-
tract, its types, and most important sec-
tions upon which the administrative
contract is based, discrepancies in the
contract, as well as identifying the most
important privileges enjoyed by the legal
affaiis officei.
The training course will touch upon
several topics including the principles of
preparing and revising of administrative
contracts, advanced principles in adminis-
trative investigation, ways to prepare and
draft legal memoranda, administrative de-
cisions and regulations, as well as terms of
reference of the Legal Affairs Department
and its role in clarifying the competences
of juuicial officeis' woik.
The course also included workshops
and practical applications on the main
course. Dr Faris Amran, Legal Training
Expert will deliver lectures during the
course. ONA
Staff from various departments at a training course on legal matters at the
Ministry of Information yesterday. ONA
The meeting will
address several
themes related to
inspections and
the safety of
life at sea
6
REGION
Philippines UN soliders
escape, no trace of Fijians
UNITED NATIONS/GOLAN HEIGHTS
The head of the Fijian army said
yesterday negotiations for the release
of 44 soldiers seized by an al Qaeda-
linked group on the Syrian side of
the Golan Heights were being pur-
sued but he worried there had been
no word on where his men are being
held.
The UN peacekeepers from Fiji
were detained by rebels on Thursday,
one of several groups attacked in the
volatile frontier between Syria and
Israel.
The United Nations and Manila
said yesterday all of more than 70
Philippine troops trapped by rebels
in a different area of the frontier were
now safe, but it is still not known
where the Fijians are being held.
We still at this stage cannot con-
fiim the exact location of oui tioops.
We are continuing negotiations at
all levels, Fijian Army Commander
Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga
told a media conference in Fiji yester-
day.
He said they had been assured
that the men were being treated well
and had come to no harm, he said.
However, we are still very con-
ceineu that we cannot confiim at this
stage theii exact location, whethei
they are still in Syria or whether they
have been moved to neighbouring
countries, Tikoitoga said.
The Fijian and Philippine troops
are serving with UNDOF in the Golan
Heights, a strategic plateau captured
by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War.
Syria and Israel technically remain
at war and UNDOF monitors the area
of separation, a narrow strip of land
running about 70 km (45 miles) from
Mount Hermon on the Lebanese bor-
der to the Yarmouk River frontier
with Jordan.
The United Nations said earlier on
Sunday that 40 Philippine troops had
been moved to safety during a cease-
fiie agieeu with "aimeu elements" in
the area shortly after midnight local
time.
In Manila, General Gregorio Cata-
pang, the Philippines armed forces
chief, told a news conference that Is-
rael and Syria helped in what was the
greatest escape of Filipino troops
after engaging about 100 militants
surrounding them in a seven-hour
fiiefight.
The troops escaped in the mid-
dle of the night while the rebels were
sleeping, he said.
This attack prompted UNDOF
to reposition our troops to a more
secure position within the mission
area, Catapang said.
He said all Philippine troops from
two camps, known as Position 68
and Position 69, in the area had been
moved to a third location, known as
Camp Ziuoani.
On Saturday, 32 Philippine peace-
keepers were rescued from rebels
who fiieu on Position 69 anu tiappeu
them for two days, the United Na-
tions said. Catapang said Irish UND-
OF troops helped in the rescue. It was
not known if any rebels were killed
or wounded in the operation.
But later that day, UN diplomatic
sources said militants had reinforced
their siege of the other 40 Philippine
peacekeepers still trapped at Position
68.
The 0N meuia office saiu in a
statement that shortly after mid-
night local time on 31 August, during
a ceasefiie agieeu with the aimeu
elements, all the 40 Filipino peace-
keepers from UN Position 68 left the
position.
The 40 peacekeepers arrived in a
safe location one hour later. Earlier
on Saturday, a Reuters cameraman
spotted 11 UN armoured vehicles
returning to their base in Israeli-con-
trolled territory about 12 hours after
the peacekeepeis came unuei fiie
at around 6 am (0300 GMT).The 44
UNDOF peacekeepers from Fiji were
detained by militants 8 km (5 miles)
away from the Philippine troops.
A commander with the Islam-
ist Nusra Front, a group linked to al
Qaeda, said the Fijian peacekeepers
had been detained because UNDOF
was aiding the government of Presi-
dent Bashar al-Assad and had ig-
nored the suffering of the Syrian peo-
ple.
Rebels of al Qaeda-linked Nusra
Front have been battling the Syrian
army in the area and have wrested
control of the border crossing at
Quneitra, which is operated by the
United Nations.
UNDOF has been deployed since
1974 to ensure the safety and pro-
tection of the borders with (Israel),
the usurper of the lands of the Mus-
lims, at the same time it completely
ignored the daily shedding of the
Muslims blood on the other side of
the border, part of a Nusra Twitter
message said. It said the Fijian troops
were being treated well and were in
good health.
A 0N official saiu a numbei of
UNDOF contingents participated in
the rescue on Saturday, assisted by Is-
raeli and Syrian forces.
UNDOF has 1,223 peacekeepers
in the zone fiom six countiies: Fiji,
India, Ireland, Nepal, the Netherlands
and the Philippines. Reuters
Irish members of United Nations Disengagement Observer Force convoy
maneuver, near the border of Syrian territory, close to the town of
Buqaata in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on yesterday. Reuters
Assad swears in government,
urges security, reconstruction
DAMASCUS Syrias embattled
President Bashar al-Assad swore
in his new government yesterday,
saying security and reconstruction
would be top priorities and urging
ministers to tackle corruption.
The new government, appointed
earlier this week after Assads June
ie-election, takes office as the ueath
toll in the countiy's conflict since
March 2011 soars past 191,000.
The crippling violence has deci-
mated the countrys economy and
uisplaceu appioximately half its pop-
ulation, including three million Syr-
ians who have taken refugee abroad.
Assad urged the new government
to provide a new vision, state news
agency Sana reported, and to avoid
the negatives of the previous stage.
He said the governments success
would depend on earning the trust
of citizens through transparency and
credibility, Sana said.
He acknowledged that security re-
mained the primary concern for the
country, which has been torn apart
by the violence that erupted after
government crackdowns on anti-As-
sad protesters.
This issue is being addressed by
the defence ministry and the army...
At the same time, it is important
to continue with national reconcilia-
tion.
The new government includes
11 new ministers, with most of the
changes involving finance anu the
economy.
Assad selected the new cabinet af-
tei being electeu in the countiy's fiist
multi-candidate presidential vote
earlier this year.
The vote was dismissed as a
farce by much of the international
community and the opposition and
was held only in government-con-
trolled territory. Reuters
Israel downs
drone from Syria
over occupied
Golan Heights
JERUSALEM Israel downed a
drone over the occupied Golan
Heights yesterday, the army said,
amid mounting tension on the UN-
patrolled armistice line with Syria
on the strategic plateau.
Air defences successfully inter-
cepted an unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) that breached Israel airspace
above the border with Syria, an
army statement said.
We have said several times that
we shall respond to any violation of
our sovereignty, it added.
Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon
meanwhile toured the region, as
the army sent reinforcements along
the armistice line and deployed
armoured troop carriers, an AFP
photographer said. Yaalon warned
that Israeli tolerance should not
be tested. These past weeks we
have proven that our tolerance
is minimal when our integrity is
struck, either intentionally or unin-
tentionally," he saiu. Beavy fighting
between Syrian government troops
anu opposition foices oveifloweu
into the buffer zone separating Syr-
ian and Israeli-occupied territory at
the weekend.
Israel closed off the area around
the Quneitra crossing on the Golan
on Weunesuay aftei an officei was
wounueu by stiay fiie as Syiian
rebels seized control of the site.
0n August 24, iocket fiie fiom
Syria hit several points in the Israe-
li-controlled zone but there were no
casualties. In June, Israeli warplanes
attacked Syrian military headquar-
ters and positions after an Israeli
teenager was killed in what the Jew-
ish state said was a cross-border at-
tack by forces loyal to Syrian Presi-
dent Bashar al-Assad.
Some incidents have been put
uown to stiay fiie fiom fighting be-
tween Syrian government troops
and rebel forces. AFP
13 killed in bomb attacks
on Iraq forces in Ramadi
RAMADI Two suicide bombers deto-
nateu explosives-iiggeu vehicles neai
positions of security forces in the city of
Ramadi yesterday, killing 13 people and
wounding 17, Iraqi police and a doctor
said. One blast hit an under-construc-
tion building manned by Iraqi special
forces in the city west of Baghdad, while
the second struck a joint special forces-
police checkpoint, the sources said.
Iraqi forces have struggled to regain
control of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar
province, from militants who have held
shifting areas of the city since early this
year. Fallujah, a city east of Ramadi, has
been completely out of government
hands since January, while militants
also seized other parts of Anbar dur-
ing a sweeping jihadist-led offensive
launched in June, when they overran
chunks of five piovinces.
The blasts in Ramadi came as Iraqi
security forces, Shiite militias and Kurd-
ish fighteis bioke a months-long jihauist
siege of the town of Amerli, the govern-
ments biggest offensive victory since
the militant drive began. AFP
The wreckage of a Humvee belonging to militants lies along a road
after it was targeted by Iraqi security forces and volunteers, in the
town of Sulaiman Pek in Salahuddin province, yesterday. Reuters
KurJlxh Peoplex Protectlon Unltx (YP0) flghterx eut wutermelonx
while resting in villages surrounding Jazaa, in Qamishli
countryside, after they seized control of the area from militants,
on the Iraqi-Syrian border on Saturday. Reuters
ISLAMABAD Paki-
stans Defence Min-
ister Khawaja Asif
has said that the end-
game of the protest
sit-ins of the Pakistan
Awami Tehreek and
Pakistan Tehreek-e-
Insaf has begun.
Speaking to Express
News by phone, the
minister said that the
Parliament House has
been cleared of pro-
testers but women
and children have
been allowed to stay
there for safety.
PTI chairman Imran
Khan and PAT lead-
er Dr Tahirul Qadri
would not be allowed
to stay in the red zone
either.
We will get Imran
and Qadri to leave
this place one will
go back to Canada,
the other to Banni
Gala, he added.
Asif also questioned
the whereabouts of
the leaders of the pro-
testing parties, partic-
ularly the Chaudhrys
of Gujrat, Asad Umer
and Sheikh Rasheed
Ahmed. Asked about
the status of negotia-
tions, he said, If the
two leaders are still
willing to enter into
dialogue, we will wel-
come them. Howev-
er, he added that with
a situation like this,
dialogue was unlikely.
The minister said
Prime Minister Na-
waz Sharif would
not resign as this de-
mand was an insult
to the parliament
and the Constitution.
The mandate given
by the people cannot
be surrendered be-
fore 10,000 to 20,000
people, he said.
Internews
7
SUBCONTINENT
Looking for job, car, fat and furniture? Check out the
Observer classifed page. t's where buyers meet sellers.
Afghanistan may send
defence minister to
attend Nato meet
Nawaz
govt sees
endgame
of sit-ins
KABUL Aghanistan may have to send
only its defence minister to a Nato summit
that will decide on future support because
of an impasse over the presidential election,
officials saiu yesteiuay.
The deadlock over the fraud-tainted
election has left Afghanistan in paralysis as
two rival candidates battle to succeed out-
going President Hamid Karzai, who has de-
clined to attend the Nato gathering.
Natos combat mission against the
Taliban insurgents ends this year and the
summit, starting in Britain on Thursday, is
set to decide on a follow-up support mis-
sion widely seen as crucial to maintaining
fragile nationwide stability.
But unless a president is chosen soon,
Afghan Defence Minister Bismillah Moham-
madi will attend the meeting alongside US
President Barack Obama, German Chancel-
lor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minis-
ter David Cameron.
We are preparing to send the minister
of defence to the Nato summit to represent
the Afghan government, Karzais spokes-
man Aimal Faizi said.
If the president-elect is declared just
before the summit and we do not have time
for the inauguration, then the president-
elect will be given an authorisation letter by
the current president to attend.
AFP
Kban vows to figbt
on till Sharif goes
ISLAMABAD Pakistani
opposition leader Imran
Khan called on his sup-
porters yesterday to take
to the streets across the
country after at least three
people were killed in
clashes between protest-
ers and police in the capi-
tal overnight.
The violence erupted
late on Saturday after
thousands of protesters
tried to march on Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharifs
residence, prompting po-
lice to fiie teai gas to stop
them.
Demonstrators de-
manding his resignation
have camped outside gov-
einment offices foi moie
than two weeks but it was
the fiist time violence
broke out as protesters,
some armed with sticks
and wearing gas masks,
tried to break through po-
lice lines.
The eruption of vio-
lence has unnerved many
in the coup-prone coun-
try, with Sharif looking in-
creasingly cornered amid
relentless calls by the op-
position for him to step
down.
Small skirmishes con-
tinued yesterday and pro-
testers were also expected
to rally in the streets of
Karachi later in the day but
no major acts of violence
were reported.
Khan, an outspoken
cricketer-turned-politician,
told his supporters yes-
terday he would not back
down from his demand for
Sharif to resign and called
on more protesters to join
him. I am prepared to
die here. I have learnt that
government plans a major
crackdown against us to-
night, he said. I am here
till my last breath.
Reuters
Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-
e-Insaf party, addresses supporters in Islamabad
yesterday. Reuters
Damned if you do and
damned if you dont
H
E doesnt bluster and he doesnt strut and President Barack Obama cer-
tainly isnt panicking, though he admits it feels like the world is falling
apart.
But Obamas cool-in-a-crisis style and disdain for the impulsive use of mili-
tary force is fuelling criticism of his leadership, as crises stagger the Middle
East and Ukraine.
If you watch the nightly news, it feels like the world is falling apart, the
sanguine US leader told supporters.
I can see why a lot of folks are troubled, he said, while counselling that the
US military, standing tall amid IS violence and geopolitical threats, had nev-
er been mightier. The world has always been messy were just noticing it
now in part because of social media.
With world crises bursting around him and political opponents apoplectic,
Obama has yet to lash out in response, and refuses to act on anyones timeta-
ble but his own.
His methodical crisis management, long Situation Room seminars and
skepticism that US force can remake a tumultuous world, has sustained him
through nearly six tough White House years.
With IS radicals dug into a caliphate in Iraq and Syria, and Russian Presi-
dent Vladimir Putins shadow ever lengthening over Ukraine, Obama is shrug-
ging off a whirl of hostile news cycles and political attacks on his leadership.
But even Obama allies may be forgiven for wondering, after another trying
week, whether the presidents approach is becoming a political liability, as his
once high foreign policy ratings ebb.
A buist of honesty on Syiia put the piesiuent in a new fix anu iaiseu the
stakes for his trip to the Nato summit and Estonia beginning tomorrow.
We dont have a strategy yet, Obama told reporters, trying to quell a war-
like mood in Washington, which expected to hear US attacks on IS in Syria
were imminent.
But the uamaging sounubite spaikeu a Washington fiiestoim, as it ap-
peared to validate Republican attacks that the president, disengaged and ob-
livious to rising threats, is not up to facing down the worlds hard men like
Vladimir Putin.
Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham warned in a New
York Times article on Saturday headlined stop dithering that Obamas failure
to act quickly against IS in Syria was startling and dangerous.
Potential 2016 Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry said Obamas
remarks revealed a president always one step behind the next crisis, and ac-
cused him of dithering and debating over what to do about IS.
Aides protested Obama was talking only about an operational plan for mili-
tary action in Syria not the wider battle against a group US jets are already
bombing in Iraq. But in political spats like this, context is lost.
While it infuiiates his enemies, 0bama's appioach is a ieflection of his own
personality, his post-Iraq war era and the historical lens through which he in-
creasingly peers as his presidency enters its twilight.
His drawn out decision-making and habit of testing of every scenario that
could follow military action is familiar Obama agonised for months before
uoubling uown with an Afghan tioop suige in his fiist teim.
But in probing complexity and nuance, is Obamas zeal for decisive action
dimmed? His defenders reply with three words Osama bin Laden recall-
ing the long-planned and daring raid into Pakistan which killed the Al Qaeda
chief and helped Obama win reelection.
0bama iecently took to telling confiuants the coie of his foieign policy is
not to do stupid things and holds up the disastrous Iraq war as Exhibit
A in his case.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest explained that Obama, wary of being
sucked into Syrias civil war, refuses to simply launch an impulsive attack to
appease Washington, seeking vengeance after the IS murder of US journalist
James Foley.
There are some who probably would make the case that its OK to not
have a formulated, comprehensive strategy, Earnest said.
L
IKE many of her neigh-
bours, Satomi Inokoshi
worries that her gritty
hometown is being spoiled by
the newcomers and the money
that have rolled into Iwaki since
the Fukushima nuclear disaster
almost three and a half years ago.
Iwaki is changing and
not for the good, said Inoko-
shi, 55, who echoes a sentiment
widely heard in this town of
almost 300,000 where the eco-
nomic boom that followed the
worst nuclear accident since
Chernobyl has brought its own
disruption.
Property prices in Iwaki,
about 60 km south of the
wrecked nuclear plant, have
jumped as evacuees forced from
homes in more heavily contami-
nated areas snatch up apart-
ments and land. Hundreds of
workers, who have arrived to
work in the nuclear clean-up,
crowd downtown hotels.
But long-time residents have
also come to resent evacuees
and the government compensa-
tion that has made the newcom-
ers relatively rich in a blue-collar
town built on coal mining and ac-
cess to a nearby port. Locals have
stopped coming to the entertain-
ment district where Inokoshi
runs a pub, she says, scared off
by the nuclear workers and their
rowdy reputation.
The situation around Iwaki is
unsettled and unruly, said Ryo-
suke Takaki, a professor of soci-
ology at Iwaki Meisei University,
who has studied the towns de-
veloping divide. There are many
people who have evacuated to
Iwaki, and there are all kinds of
incidents caused by friction.
Residents across Fukushima
piefectuie haileu the fiist wave
of workers who arrived to con-
tain the nuclear disaster in 2011
as heroes. Cities like Iwaki also
welcomed evacuees from towns
closer to the meltdowns and
explosions. At the time, Japans
stoicism and sense of community
were praised around the world
for helping those who survived
an earthquake and tsunami that
killed nearly 19,000 and trig-
gered explosions at the nuclear
plant.
But that solidarity and sense
of shared purpose has frayed, ac-
cording to dozens of interviews.
Many Iwaki residents say they
have grown weary of hosting
evacuees in temporary housing.
And the newcomers them-
selves are frightened, says Hideo
Hasegawa, who heads a non-
piofit gioup looking aftei evacu-
ees at the largest temporary
housing complex in Iwaki.
When they move in to an
apartment, they dont talk to
neighbours and hide, said Haseg-
awa, who works from a small of-
fice locateu between iows of giey,
prefabricated shacks housing the
evacuees. You hear this hate talk
everywhere you go: restaurants,
shops, pubs. Its relentless.
The 2011 nuclear crisis forced
more than 160,000 people in
Fukushima prefecture to evacu-
ate and leave their homes. Half of
them are still not allowed to re-
turn to the most badly contami-
nated townships within 20 kms
of the destroyed plant known as
the exclusion zone.
Since April, the government
has allowed some residents to
return to parts of the evacua-
tion zone. But the area remains
sparsely populated and riddled
with hot spots where radiation
is as much as four times the gov-
ernments target for public safety.
Work crews in white decontami-
nation suits have poured radia-
tion-tainted topsoil and debris
into black-plastic bags piled at
improvised storage sites on road-
sides and public parks awaiting a
shift to a more permanent nucle-
ar waste dump.
By contrast, Iwaki has pros-
pered. On a recent Saturday,
parking lots near downtown
were packed along with res-
taurants near Taira, the citys
downtown. Chuo-dai Kashima,
a newly developed area in Iwaki
where many of the temporary
housing units have been built,
saw an almost 12 per cent rise
in land prices in the past year, ac-
cording to government data. That
was among the highest increases
across Japan and behind only
Ishinomaki, Miyagi, a coastal city
that was destroyed by the 2011
tsunami and has only just begun
to rebuild.
At the heart of the tensions is
an unresolved debate about how
much people across Fukushima
should be compensated for the
suffering, dislocation and uncer-
tainty that followed the nuclear
accident.
Some Iwaki residents grumble
they are being forced to shoulder
the burden of hosting evacuees
who receive far more compensa-
tion from the government and do
not have to pay rent on their gov-
ernment-provided prefab tempo-
rary homes.
In January 2013, vandals
threw paint and broke windows
on cars parked in evacuee hous-
ing at multiple locations. Less
than a month earlier, someone
hau painteu giaffiti ieauing,
Evacuees Go Home at the en-
tiance to a city office.
Tokyo Electric Power, the op-
erator of the Fukushima plant,
has paid almost $41 billion in
compensation as a result of the
nuclear accident. Payments vary
depending on the amount of ra-
diation recorded in a particular
area, a system that evacuees have
complained appears arbitrary.
A family of four in one part of an
evacuated town might receive
$1 million, while a similar fam-
ily in a less contaminated part of
the same evacuated town would
get just over half of that amount,
according to data from Japans
trade ministry.
The radioactive plume that
erupted after a partial meltdown
at the Fukushima plant travelled
northwest, missing Iwaki. Most
of Iwakis residents evacuated for
a while, but most then returned.
Their compensation was also
limited: the majority received
about $1,200 each.
Hosts weary, guests frightened
Some Iwaki
residents
grumble as
they are forced
to shoulder
the burden of
rich evacuees,
report Mari
Saito and
Antoni
Slodkowski
With world crises bursting around him
and political opponents apoplectic,
Obama has yet to lash out in response,
and refuses to act on anyones timetable
but his own, writes Stephen Collinson
O
PINION polls, financial mai-
kets and bookmakers are
unanimous Scotland will
reject independence in a historic
referendum next month and the
United Kingdom will endure.
But what if, as Scots nationalists
believe, the polls are wrong? Ex-
perts say it is a possibility.
The Septembei 18 vote, the fiist
of its kind in British history, has
thrown up unique circumstances
which make forecasting the out-
come unusually uifficult. Suiveys
are consistent on trends but diverge
when it comes to the size of the gap
between the two campaigns.
Few are ready to exclude an up-
set. Pollsters are particularly nerv-
ous given the disparity between
them, John Curtice, a professor at
Strathclyde University and a leading
authority on polling, said.
"Some of the polls aie uefinitely
wrong because they dont agree. We
just dont know which ones yet. This
is a pretty tough call for the polling
industry.
Scots pollsters recall 2011, when
the pro-independence Scottish Na-
tional Party confounded expecta-
tions to win its fiist oveiall majoiity
in the Scottish parliament.
That election was conducted us-
ing a different electoral system to
the referendum, but the memory
of what was a major political shock
lingers.
Pollsters are also haunted by two
occasions when they called national
Britain-wide elections spectacularly
wrong in 1970 and 1992, won by
Edward Heath and John Major re-
spectively. The dates are etched on
pollsters hearts, said Curtice.
Yet the current picture, if aver-
aged out, looks unambiguous.
The most recent poll of polls,
on August 15, based on an average
of the last six polls and excluding
undecided respondents, put sup-
port for independence at 43 per
cent against 57 per cent for stay-
ing in the United Kingdom, a hefty
14-point gap.
And only one poll in the last year,
in August 2013, gave the pro-inde-
pendence campaign a lead over the
anti-independence side (by a slen-
der 1 per cent). The validity of that
survey, regarded as an outlier, was
questioned by some experts.
There is a wrinkle, though. The
campaigns six pollsters have come
up with sharply different esti-
mates of the gap separating the two
camps, ranging from 3 to 32 per-
centage points in the last year. They
also differ widely on the number of
undecided voters from 7 to 33
per cent.
Such variations raise awkward
questions about who is right.
If the pollsters who say the gap
is slimmer and the number of un-
decideds is higher are correct, there
is more scope for volatility. A rela-
tively modest swing to Yes in an
electorate of 4 million voters could
be significant.
But for now, Equanimity prevails.
Apart from a glimmer of turbu-
lence in currency markets, there is
scant eviuence that financial mai-
kets expect a shock.
Many still see it as too remote a
possibility to worry about. Others
say even the volatility caused by a
Yes vote would not be enough to
justify the cost and complexity of in-
suring their positions against it.
Some bookmakers put odds of a
Yes vote at around 9/2.
The most recent opinion poll,
published on Friday by the Scottish
Daily Mail, put the pro-independ-
ence camp on 47 per cent against
53 per cent for the anti-independ-
ence camp, excluding undecided
voters.
Yes or No? The suspense builds as Scotland referendum nears
Pollsters say they carefully weigh
their polls after taking into account
numerous variables, but this time
the quantity and nature of
those variables are more complex,
writes Andrew Osborn
8
ANALYSIS
Pr-independence goodies are distributed by supporters outside the
Birnam Highland Games in Perthshire, Scotland. AFP
The temporary housing estate, where 200 former Tomioka town residents were evacuated after the
Fukushima nuclear disaster, in Iwaki. Reuters
P
RIME Minister David Cameron has had to face the
harsh political reality after being jolted twice within the
month with the dramatic defection of Conservative MP
Douglas Carswell, following the earlier unexpected resigna-
tion of Baroness Warsi from the government. The two politi-
cians, did of course, have different agenda. While Warsis was
based primarily on the governments lack of action on the sit-
uation in the Middle-East, Carswells focus has been on UKips
major gripe with the government on Europe and immigration
in particular.
The uefection came at a time when the 0ffice foi National
Statistics showed net migration to Britain in 2013 rose by 40
per cent to 243,000 which included a big increase from Ro-
mania and Bulgaria as well as 20,000 people seeking asylum
from various trouble-spots in the world. It showed the prime
minister has little chance to keeping his pledge to cut net im-
migration to below 100,000 a year.
Such figuies will only give suppoit to Caiswell's move
which is also going to trigger a by-election in his constituency
of Clacton where he was elected with a huge 12,000 major-
ity in 2u1u. Conseivatives will finu it haiu to uefenu the seat
when the by-election is held in early October after the partys
annual conference.
0Kip leauei, Nigel Faiage, useu the uefection to claim that
other MPs were considering joining his party. It is thought
that eight more Tory MPs have held discussions with UKip
about defecting but generally eurosceptics have been quick to
distance themselves from UKip and have hit out at Carswells
decision.
Bob Neill NP saiu: "This is a totally counteipiouuctive ue-
cision and the timing is odd. Eurosceptics in the party feel let
down. We should be uniting the party on this and not dividing
it. John Redwood MP, a long-standing critic of Brussels said
of Caiswell: "Six months ago he was uiging us all to stick to-
gether. Its curious. I know of nobody else who would follow
his lead.
Carswell is popular in his constituency but he has taken
a chance with his bold decision. Unlike most other MPs who
change siues, he has iesigneu fiist anu will then fight foi the
seat in a by-election. If he loses, out goes his platform. But
he will uo 0Kip a huge seivice if he wins. Faiage's paity pei-
formed well in Euro elections this year but has not had the
support necessary to win parliamentary seats.
Cameion, who was taken aback at the uefection saiu: "It's
obviously deeply regrettable when things happen like this,
when people behave in this way." Be auueu: "It's also, in my
view, counterproductive. If you want a referendum on Brit-
ains future in the EU whether we should stay or go the
only way to get that is to have a Conservative government
after the next election. And that is what until very recently
Douglas Carswell himself was saying.
Despite his surprise and disappointment, Cameron has
himself to an extent and his advisors to blame for not taking
Ukip and Carswell more seriously. The Conservative whips
who impose discipline had washed their hands of Car-
swell, who has rebelled against the government line 62 times
since the election and disobeyed the party 21 times in 820
votes in the previous parliament.
In 2012, he allegedly held secret talks with Labour as part
of a plot to defeat the prime minister in a vote over the EU and
campaigned in 2009 to remove Speaker of the House of Com-
mons Michael Martin. So with his sort of history of rebellion
many Tories will be happy not to have him among their ranks,
nevertheless, this defection, as any, is a blow to the leader.
However, the party seems to be united behind Cameron
uespite the bombshell that flummoxeu ministeis anu back-
benchers. Carswell apparently lacks sympathy from former
colleagues some of whom have regarded him a thorn in the
side.
Eurosceptic MPs feel their cause has suffered a setback
after a rash and badly timed decision coming in the lead up
to the 2015 general election. Had there been support from
Carswells former colleagues, the situation would have been
a nightmare for the prime minister, not just a serious concern
as it is at present.
Even the Labour partys attempt to spin the defection as a
result of as they would say Camerons weak leadership
faileu to have an impact. Faiage, uelighteu with Caiswell's ac-
tion, cheekily said the Labour leader Ed Miliband will now be
concerned that the next MP to change sides could be from the
Labour party.
B
ACK in 2006, Joe Biden, then a Senate
candidate ran into trouble for a remark
that "you cannot go to a 7-Eleven oi a
Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian
accent.
Gaffe-prone Biden got away by explaining
that it wasn't a iacial slui but "was meant as a
compliment" foi the "vibiant Inuian-Ameiican
community" making "a significant contiibution
to the national economy as well.
A spin or not, Biden who went on become
vice president in 2008, was speaking a home
truth as according to the Asian-American Con-
venience Store Owners Association its 50,000
members own over 80,000 convenience stores.
Thats more than half the US convenience
store count of 151,282 as of December 31,
2013. These small retail businesses provide the
public a convenient location to buy daily neces-
sities (predominantly food and gasoline) and
services. There is one convenience store for an
average of every 2,100 residents all over the US
with non-fuel sales of $205 billion, according to
National Association of Convenience Stoies.
Then there are what have come to be known
as Potels or motels owned by Patels from In-
dias Gujarat state in practically every single
small town of America.
The Asian American Hotel Owners Asso-
ciation (AAHOA) is currently headed by Pratik
Patel. It claims its 12,500 members, largely In-
dian-American, own more than 20,000 proper-
ties making up more than 40 percent of all ho-
tels in the US.
They employ nearly 600,000 workers, ac-
counting for over $9.4 billion in payroll annu-
ally.
But this very ubiquitous presence of Indian-
owned convenience store often makes them the
taiget of attacks as it happeneu in Feiguson, a
small pre-dominantly black town in Missouri
which erupted into violent protests after a
White policeman shot dead an unarmed black
teenager on August 9.
Police released a controversial hazy surveil-
lance video implying that the slain teen Michael
Brown had robbed a Patel-run convenience
store in the days or hours before the incident,
but later acknowledged that the alleged rob-
bery had nothing to do with the shooting inci-
dent.
The Feiguson Naiket, wheie Biown allegeu-
ly grabbed a handful of cigars before his deadly
encounter with police, looters twice targeted
the store owned by a Patel family along with
several other Asian-American owned stores, ac-
cording to the Daily Beast.
At least eight stores were looted in nearby
Dellwood too with Pakistani American Mumtaz
Lalanis Dellwood Market among those ran-
sacked and almost burnt down by dozens of
looters, according to South Asian Times.
Jay Kanzler, the Patels lawyer, told the Beast
he believed that law enforcement authorities
alloweu the looting of Feiguson Naiket in pait
because it is a minority-owned small business.
However, local Asian-American business
owners cited by the Beast said they dont think
looters targeted them because of their race.
Robberies appear to be an occupational haz-
ard for those running a convenience store.
Accoiuing to the non-piofit ieseaich think
tank Center for Problem-Oriented Policing
(POP Center), convenience store robberies ac-
count for approximately 6 percent of all robber-
ies known to the police.
Convenience store employees suffer from
high rates of workplace homicide, second only
to taxicab uiiveis, it says citing FBI uata. victims
include Indian students taking up overnight jobs
at gas stations to pay for their studies.
Just a couple of days before Brown was
killed, Rajinder Kumar, 49, an Indian-American
convenience store clerk at an Exxon gas station
in Hanover, Maryland, was shot in cold blood by
a masked man.
Meanwhile, as hundreds rallied on Satur-
uay in Feiguson foi slain Nichael Biown with
a pledge to continue national discourse about
police tactics and race many of the businesses
windows remain boarded up, though most have
reopened, according to local media reports.
Cameron concerned by MPs defection but has backing of party
9
ANALYSIS
Demonstrators protest outside the Ferguson Police Department during the national march. AFP
A convenient target of crimes
The Potels or motels
owned by Patels
from Indias Gujarat
state are seen in
every single small
town of America.
They employ nearly
600,000 workers,
accounting for over
$9.4 billion in payroll
annually. But this
very ubiquitous
presence often
makes them the
target of attacks
as it happened in
Ferguson, opines
Arun Kumar
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these pages are solely those of the authors and do not refect the opinion of the Observer.
Andy Jalil
Foreign Correspondent
AndyJalil@aol.com
By Ljubomir Milasin
I
TALYS Feueiica Nogheiini, nameu the Euiopean 0nion's new foieign pol-
icy chief, is a member of what Prime Minister Matteo Renzi calls the up-
anu-coming "Eiasmus geneiation".
The 41-year-old former foreign minister represents the kind of Europe that
Italy is aiming foi: open an Internet-savvy, closer to young people and based
more on common values than the single currency.
Bei canuiuacy initially ian into uifficulties as Eastein Euiopean countiies
criticised her for being both too inexperienced and too close to Moscow a
key issue given the crisis in Ukraine.
But careful lobbying by Renzi has softened the opposition, with Rome back-
ing toughened sanctions against Moscow over its actions in Ukraine, even
though Russia is one of Italys key trading partners.
Fiench Piesiuent Fiancois Bollanue haileu Nogheiini as a "goou canuiuate,
not just because shes a Social Democrat.
"She's also young but she alieauy has expeiience."
Mogherini is one of the youngest ministers in a youthful cabinet announced
by Renzi when his centie-left Bemociatic Paity took powei in Febiuaiy.
Her appointment surprised everyone reportedly including President
uioigio Napolitano, who was uoubtful about hei as a ieplacement foi the fai
more experienced Emma Bonino.
Following the Bemociatic Paity's ciushing victoiy in Nay's Euiopean Pai-
liament elections with 40.8 per cent of the vote, Renzi pushed for Mogherinis
nomination.
But her relations with the Renzi have not always been good.
In a 2012 tweet she later deleted, Mogherini said the up-and-coming left-
ist leauei then the mayoi of Floience anu with no national expeiience
"neeus to stuuy a lot moie foieign policy, I feai he woulu not pass an exam".
With little expeiience heiself, but aimeu with plenty of self-confiuence,
Mogherini has ramped up her foreign travel in recent days, including to hot
spots such as Russia, Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
She has pushed for integration of more Balkan states into the European Un-
ion, met with vatican Secietaiy of State Pietio Paiolin anu helu talks in Nos-
cow anu Kiev with the Russian anu 0kiainian piesiuents on the conflict in
eastern Ukraine.
Nogheiini was boin in Rome in }une 197S anu lost hei fathei, a costume
anu set uesignei on film sets, when she was 1u.
She studied in the Italian capital, where she graduated in political science
from La Sapienza university.
She wrote her degree thesis on Islam and politics during an Erasmus ex-
change piogiamme to Aix-en-Piovence in Fiance.
Mogherini got into politics in the early 1990s and took part in campaigns
against iacism anu xenophobia, incluuing the Council of Euiope's "All uiffei-
ent, all equal project.
She was vice-piesiuent of the Euiopean Youth Foium anu a membei of Eco-
sy, a European Socialists youth group.
She worked on foreign policy for the Democratic Party, heading up its Euro-
pean and international affairs wing.
Mogherinis blog www.blogmog.it claims she speaks English and
Fiench well, as well as a bit of Spanish.
A young rising star
Federica Mogherini: the new woman in charge of EU foreign policy.
GURGAON A drunk Haryana
tiaffic police constable, who uiove
away the official vehicle of a sta-
tion house officei (SB0) anu injuieu
foui people in an acciuent, has been
chaigeu with iobbeiy anu attempt to
cause ueath, police saiu yesteiuay.
Constable Suiinuei Singh, in a
uiunken state Satuiuay, uiove away
the official vehicle of Sauai police sta-
tion SB0 vijay Kumai, anu hit a man
on a bicycle, a peuestiian anu an auto-
iickshaw caiiying at least two people.
Be was caught by the public aftei
the cai hit a footpath neai Fazilpui
Chowk.
Two ciitically injuieu people weie
aumitteu to hospital.
"The constable was ueployeu at
Subhash Chowk neai the Sauai police
station anu took away the police vehi-
cle foicibly," saiu SB0 vijay Kumai.
Be was bookeu foi iash uiiving, en-
uangeiing life of people, causing huit,
causing uamage to piopeity anu iob-
beiy with an attempt to cause ueath,
unuei vaiious sections of the Inuian
Penal Coue.
The constable was Sunuay pie-
senteu in a magisteiial couit which
sent him to juuicial custouy foi 14
uays.
10
INDIA
Women carry earthen water pots as they take part in a Jhulelal Chaliha procession in Ahmedabad yesterday.
Jhulelal Chaliha, a 40-day-long fasting festival of the Sindhi community, ended yesterday with a colourful
procession of earthen pots carried by hundreds of devotees on their heads for what they say to be the
betterment of their family and society. Reuters
PM Abe meets Modi in Kyoto
KY0T0 T0KY0 Piime Ninis-
tei Naienuia Noui flew to Tokyo
yesteiuay aftei a busy uay in the
foimei }apanese capital Kyoto
wheie he visiteu two ancient Buu-
uhist temples anu sought }apan's
help to combat sickle cell uisease
pievalent in tiibal iegions of Inuia.
0n the fiist full uay of his five-
uay tiip to }apan aimeu at boosting
economic anu secuiity ties, Noui
also exchangeu notes on heiitage
conseivation with Kyoto Nayoi
Baisaku Kauokawa, showing him
a uetaileu map of vaianasi, the
Binuu holy city he iepiesents in
the Lok Sabha. Noui, who aiiiveu
in Kyoto on Satuiuay anu was ie-
ceiveu by his }apanese counteipait
Shinzo Abe, began Sunuay by visit-
ing the Toji anu Kinkaku-ji temples.
Biesseu in a white kuita pyjama
anu banuhgala, Noui fiist went to
the Toji temple with Abe, who flew
uown to Kyoto specially to ieceive
the Inuian leauei. Abe guiueu Noui
aiounu the Toji temple to take a
look at its Buuuhist statues anu
five-stoiieu pagoua, which is a na-
tional tieasuie, Kyouo news agency
iepoiteu.
Noui also walkeu thiough the
temple piemises. Abe saiu: "Look-
ing at statutes of Buuuha, we weie
ieminueu of the ueep histoiical
ties between }apan anu Inuia."
The chief monk of the S7 me-
teis tall eighth centuiy shiine ex-
plaineu to him the featuies of the
temple, a 0nesco Beiitage site.
The two piime ministeis "iekinule
ancient Inuia-}apan civilisational
bonus with visit to Toji temple", an
exteinal affaiis ministiy spokes-
man tweeteu.
Noui then went to the Kinkaku-
ji temple, which was built in 1S97
anu wheie he inteiacteu with a
numbei of visitois who gieeteu
him enthusiastically, an Inuian offi-
cial statement saiu. To its 8S-yeai-
olu heau piiest Yasu Nagamoii,
Noui saiu: "I am Noui anu you aie
Noii."
At Kyoto 0niveisity, Noui met
stem cell pioneei Shinya Yamana-
ka, the Nobel winnei in 2u12. They
uiscusseu the "possibilities of sick-
le cell anaemia cuie" anu "pios-
pects of coopeiation among Inuian
anu }apanese institutes", tweeteu
the exteinal affaiis ministiy.
"The piime ministei expiesseu
concein ovei the pievalence of
sickle cell anaemia, especially
among the tiibal communities
acioss Inuia."
Sickling uecieases the cells'
flexibility anu iesults in a iisk of
vaiious life thieatening complica-
tions.It mostly occuis in iegions
wheie malaiia is iampant. "The
piime ministei uigeu Yamanaka
to woik towaius a cuie foi this,"
the statement saiu. Yamanaka saiu
theie weie cuiiently no Inuian
ieseaicheis at his institute, the
Centie foi iPS Cell Reseaich anu
Application, anu "he woulu like In-
uian scientists to conuuct ieseaich
at the institute". Nayoi Kauokawa
biiefeu Noui about "gieen, smait
anu mouein yet histoiic Kyoto".
IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe visit to Toji Buddhist temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in
Kyoto, yesterday. Reuters
Nalanda varsity's first
session begins today
PATNA The ieviveu Nalanua 0nivei-
sity, an ancient inteinational centie foi
leaining in Bihai which has attiacteu ovei
1,uuu applications fiom aiounu the woilu,
will begin its fiist acauemic session on
Septembei 1 with 1S stuuents, incluuing
five women, anu 1u faculty membeis, its
vice chancelloi saiu.
"We aie ieauy to stait the acauemic
session of Nalanua 0niveisity Nonuay,"
vice Chancelloi uopa Sabhiawal saiu.
Sabhiawal saiu a thiee-uay stuuent
oiientation piogiamme foi the School of
Bistoiical Sciences anu the School of Envi-
ionment anu Ecology foi the fiist session
2u14-1S commenceu Fiiuay in the make-
shift campus at the Buuuhist pilgiim town
of Rajgii, about 1uu km fiom Patna.
The univeisity will come up in Rajgii,
12 km fiom wheie the ancient Nalanua
0niveiisty stoou till the 12th centuiy,
when it was iazeu by an invauing Tuikish
aimy. The foimal inauguiation is expecteu
in miu-Septembei, Sabhiawal saiu.
The fully-iesiuential univeisity, to be
completeu by 2u2u, will eventually have
seven schools, all foi post-giauuate anu
uoctoial stuuents, offeiing couises in sci-
ence, philosophy anu spiiituality anu so-
cial sciences.
"0vei 1,uuu stuuents fiom 4u countiies
have sought aumission in Nalanua 0nivei-
sity.
But only 1S stuuents have been se-
lecteu, incluuing one each fiom }apan anu
Bhutan anu otheis fiom Inuia," Sabhaiwal
saiu. Noie stuuents will be eniolleu in
Septembei as the selection piocess is still
unuei way, she auueu.
It was initially ueciueu to eniol 4u stu-
uents 2u each in the two schools but
aftei sciutiny anu inteiview only the best
stuuents have been selecteu, Sabhaiwal
saiu. Applications have been ieceiveu
fiom the 0S, Russia, Englanu, Spain, uei-
many, }apan, Nyanmai, Austiia anu Sii
Lanka, among otheis, as also fiom West
Asian anu Southeast Asian countiies.
Those 1S selecteu stuuents will be
houseu in Botel Tathagat, owneu by the
Bihai State Touiism Bevelopment Coipo-
iation (BSTBC) in Rajgii.
The classes will be helu in the neaiby
convention hall of the state goveinment.
Rajgii attiacts thousanus of touiists fiom
all ovei the woilu eveiy yeai.
It is the seconu most visiteu touiist
place in the Buuuhist ciicuit in Bihai aftei
Bouh uaya, consiueieu as the biithplace
of Buuuhism, wheie uautam Buuuha at-
taineu enlightenment ovei 2,Suu yeais
ago. Rajgii (then Rajagiiha) was the fiist
capital of the Nagauha kinguom anu one
of the favouiite places of the Buuuha.
The univeisity is an initiative of the
Inuian goveinment anu the 18 East Asia
Summit (EAS) countiies.
China has committeu $1 million foi the
pioject anu a N00 on this was signeu uui-
ing Nanmohan Singh's visit to Beijing in
Novembei 2u1S. Singapoie has pleugeu
$S-6 million anu Austialia about $1 mil-
lion Austialian uollais.
In Nay 2u1S, the Nalanua boaiu hau
appioveu the aichitectuial plan of the
univeisity, pioposing a massive lake at the
centie of the campus.
A libiaiy, a huge uome-shapeu stiuc-
tuie, woulu come up in the miuule of the
lake anu be half submeigeu.
The cental goveinment has sanctioneu
Rs 2,7uu cioie ($44S million) cost foi the
univeisity, to be spent ovei 1u yeais.
Establisheu in the fifth centuiy uuiing
the uupta uynasty, the ancient Nalanua
0niveisity was once flockeu by thousanus
of scholais anu thinkeis fiom acioss the
woilu.
It was uestioyeu by the invauing Tuik-
ish aimy of Bakhtiyai Khilji, a geneial of
Qutbuuuin Aibak anu the blaze in the huge
libiaiy is believeu to have iageu foi sevei-
al uays. IANS
B}P to keep tab on
NLAs in Belhi to
biing in gieatei
accountability
NEW BELBI B}P's Belhi unit
piesiuent Satish 0pauhyay has saiu
the paity will keep a tab on the
woik of its legislatois anu council-
lois in the state to biing in gieatei
accountability.
The Bhaiatiya }anata Paity (B}P)
will seek uetails of the money spent
by NLAs anu councillois in welfaie
activities, 0pauhyay tolu saiu.
"We will ask them the uetails of
money sanctioneu foi the welfaie
activities anu the amount spent by
them," 0pauhyay saiu.
The Bhaiatiya }anata Paity iules
all thiee municipal coipoiations in
Belhi anu has a total of 1S8 council-
lois.
The Bhaiatiya }anata Paity paity
has 28 NLAs in the 7u-membei
state assembly.
B}P leaueis saiu wiitten expla-
nations will be sought in case the
woik of an NLA oi a councilloi is
not founu satisfactoiy.
The Bhaiatiya }anata Paity has
askeu the councillois not to uelay
uecisions anu maintain tianspai-
ency in theii woik.
Tieating the councillois as the
"most impoitant link" of the paity
at the giassioot level, the paity
leaueiship has askeu them to see
whethei the benefits of the govein-
ment schemes ieach the taiget.
The Bhaiatiya }anata Paity has
also askeu its councillois to keep
piessuie on the officeis of the mu-
nicipal coipoiations foi speeuy ue-
cisions anu its implementation.
The leaueis saiu goou peifoim-
ance by the councillois will help the
B}P in the assembly election, when-
evei it is helu. The Belhi assembly
was placeu unuei suspenueu ani-
mation aftei the Aam Aaumi Paity
(AAP) goveinment iesigneu Feb 14.
The Bhaiatiya }anata Pai-
ty hau won S1 seats in the as-
sembly election anu thiee of its
NLAs Baish vaiuhan, Ramesh
Biuhuii anu Paivesh veima
The Bhaiatiya }anata Paity aie now
NPs. IANS
Not apt for former CJI to become
governor in Kerala, says Congress
TBIR0vANANTBAP0RAN The
Congiess in Keiala yesteiuay ex-
piesseu uoubt ovei the aptness
of a foimei chief justice of Inuia
taking ovei as the goveinoi of a
state.
The state's iuling paity's ie-
sponse came following iepoits that
foimei C}I P Sathasivam woulu
ieplace Sheila Bikshit who last
week announceu that she is quit-
ting. Theie has been no official an-
nouncement of the new goveinoi's
name yet. "It's the chief justice
of the countiy that sweais in the
piesiuent of oui countiy. Aftei that
a peison in that post going to seive
unuei the piesiuent uoes not augui
well," state Congiess piesiuent vN
Suuheeian saiu. "I feel this aspect
shoulu be open to uebate by all, in-
cluuing constitutional expeits.
I uo not think it's apt," he saiu.
Sathasivam, 6S, who hails fiom
the neighbouiing state of Tamil
Nauu, was the 4uth chief justice
of Inuia, holuing office fiom }uly
2u1S to Apiil 2u14. IANS
Drunk constable steals
police car, hits four people
The university will
come up in Rajgir,
12 km from where
the ancient Nalanda
Univeristy stood till
the 12th century, when
it was razed by an
invading Turkish army
P Sathasivam
Renowned Telugu filmmaker
Sattiraju Narayana is no more
CBENNAI Renowneu Telugu film-
makei Sattiiaju Lakshmi Naiayana
aka Bapu uieu heie at his iesiuence
yesteiuay, his family saiu. Be was 8u.
"Be passeu away following a cai-
uiac aiiest.
Be was stiuggling with illness foi
the last few months," Bapu's biothei
Sattiiaju Shankai Naiayana saiu.
Boin Bec 1S, 19SS, Bapu staiteu
his caieei as a caitoonist foi Telugu
newspapei Andhra Patrika.
Bis filmmaking caieei staiteu
with 196u Telugu film Sakshi, whose
stoiy anu uialogues weie by his best
fiienu Nullapuui venkata Ramana.
Bapu anu Ramana woikeu to-
gethei in seveial memoiable Telugu
films such as Mutyala Muggu, Mister
Pellam, Pelli Pusthakam and Seetha
Kalyanam. An aiuent uevotee of Loiu
Ram, Bapu's stoiies weie mostly in-
spiieu fiom the Ramayana.
Some of his best films on Loiu Ram
incluue Sampoorna Ramayanam,
Ramanjeneya Yuddham and Seetha
Kalyanam. Bapu's last uiiectoiial was
2u11 Telugu mythological uiama Sri
Rama Rajyam. Ramana passeu away
a few months aftei the film's ielease.
Since Ramana's uemise, Bapu was
not in his pink of health.
"The ueath of Ramana came as a
shock to my biothei.
Be was shaken fiom the insiue be-
cause it was the enu of ovei 6u yeais
of fiienuship," Bapu's biothei saiu.
Bapu hau also uiiecteu a few Bin-
ui films such as Hum Paanch, Seeta
Swayamwar, Woh Saat Din and Mera
Dharam". In his ovei foui-uecaue-
long caieei, Bapu uiiecteu S1 films.
Be was honouieu with the Pauma
Shii in 2u1S. Be won the nation-
al awaius twice anu the Anuhia
Piauesh state Nanui Awaius six
times. Bapu is suiviveu by two sons
anu a uaughtei. IANS
Sattiraju Lakshmi Narayana
11
INDIA
A devotee immerses an idol of the Hindu elephant god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, in river Ganga
during the ten-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Kolkata yesterday. Ganesh idols are taken through
the streets in a procession, and later immersed in a river or the sea, symbolising a ritual seeing-off of his
journey towards his abode, taking away with him the misfortunes of all mankind. Reuters
Schoolchildren hold placards as they welcome Bindeshwari Pathak, founder and chairman of NGO Sulabh International, at Katra
Sahadatgunj village in Badaun yesterday. More than 100 new toilets were opened yesterday in a poverty-stricken and scandal-hit
village in northern India, where fearful and vulnerable women have long been forced to defecate in the open. Sanitation charity
Sulabh International handed over the brightly coloured structures to cheering villagers in Uttar Pradesh state, just weeks after
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced every household should have a toilet within four years. AFP
Photo journalist
sues Reuters for
sacking him after
19 years of service
By R A K Singh
NEW DELHI A senior photojour-
nalist has dragged the international
media giant Reuters to a Delhi court
accusing it of sacking him out of
racial bias and professional rivalry
with his immediate boss after 19
years of service to the news agency.
In his petition to the labour court
of S K Gupta, seeking his reinstate-
ment with Reuters, photojournal-
ist Kamal Kishore has accused the
global news agency of summarily
dismissing him in November 2006
on the basis of fake, flimsy anu ficti-
tious allegations.
Kishore has alleged the news
agency sacked him in gross viola-
tion of the principles of natural jus-
tice, without even giving him any
opportunity to refute the allega-
tions of underperformance levelled
against him.
Kishore said the allegations of
professional underperformance
suddenly began against him since
April 2006 after an eventful tenure
with the agency for nearly 20 years
and within months after his new
immediate boss Desmond Boylan
joined Reuters in New Delhi.
Currently working with a promi-
nent Indian news agency, but at
a much lower salary what he had
been drawing as deputy chief pho-
tographer at Reuters, Kishore has
pointed out in his petition to the
court that the recognising his meri-
torious service for 19 years, the
agency had repeatedly given him
letters of appreciation respectively
in August 1999, January 2002 and
January 2003.
Confiuent of his piofessional
abilities, the agency even sent him
to countries like England, Sin-
gapore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and
Bhutan repeatedly with high con-
stitutional dignitaries like prime
minister and president of India.
Kishore in his petition to the court
said that owing to his high level of
professional works, he was awarded
2nd prize for photography cover-
age of the Kargil War. Yet the agency,
misguided by the false bogey of un-
derperformance, raised by his im-
mediate boss Boylan out of racial
bias, began questioning the quality
of his work and sacked him.
UN book to feature anti-child marriage crusader Rekha
K0LKATA Bei uefiance against an
age-old custom developed into a cam-
paign that caught the imagination of
the nation.
And now anti-child marriage cru-
sader Rekha Kalindi (pictured) will
rub shoulders with Malala Yousafzai
and Anne Frank in a book that tells the
tales of how they changed the world.
The story of this braveheart from
West Bengals Purulia district, con-
ferred the National Bravery Award
for refusing to be a child bride and in-
spiring many of her ilk, features in the
Kinderen Die De Wereled Hebben Ve-
randerd (Children Who Changed the
World), a Dutch book to be released
on November 20 to mark the 25th an-
niversary of the UN Declaration of the
Rights of the Child.
Written by renowned Dutch jour-
nalists and historians, the book por-
trays the heroics of 20 children who
stood up against injustice or became a
symbol of injustice done to them and
includes the likes of Pakistani educa-
tion activist Malala Yousafzai and hol-
ocaust diarist Anne Frank.
Talking about Rekhas story the
only one from India Aletta Andre
who has penned the chapter on her,
elaborated about the 16-year-olds
efforts to inspire nearly 10,000 girls
in the district to pursue their studies
and not to concede to their families
demand of an early marriage.
"It's not only about hei own uefi-
ance but also about how she coun-
selled and inspired a lot of other girls
to do the same.
At least 10,000 in Purulia district
have resisted child marriage and her
story has been also mentioned in
a Class V textbook, Andre, a Delhi-
based Dutch journalist, said on the
phone.
Considered a liability, her parents
had planned to marry Rekha off at 11
to get rid of their burden.But having
seen her elder sister suffer as she be-
came a mother at 12, the idea of mar-
iiage teiiifieu Rekha anu eventually
led her to revolt that created history.
Conferring the Bravery award in
2009, the then president Pratibha
Patil had described Rekha as a mes-
senger of social change.At the age of
four Rekha started working, rolling
beedis along with her mother.
Now a class 10 student of Jhalda
Satyabhama Vidyapith, she actively
campaigns against child labour and
child marriage.
Ecstatic about being part of the
book, Rekha at the same time is dis-
traught for she can read only Bengali
and not Dutch.
I heard the book is in some other
language which I cannot read.
I am sad at that, but I am also very
happy that my story will be read by
foreigners, Rekha said.
Aspiring to be a teacher and pre-
paring hard for her board exams,
Rekha insists her job has just begun.
There is so much poverty; many
girls have to work because of which
they dont get time to study.
I wish a day comes when all of us
will go to school without having to
worry about work, added Rekha.
Unicef, which has been working to
curb the menace of child marriage, ex-
pressed happiness at Rekhas contri-
bution getting international recogni-
tion and hoped this would inspire and
create many a crusader like her.
This is surely a proud moment for
all of us and I hope it creates many
a Rekhas to fight out the menace of
child marriage and child labour, Asa-
uui Rahman, heau of 0nicef's fielu of-
fice, saiu.
Others featuring in the book in-
clude Pakistani child labour hero Iqbal
Masih who helped over 3,000 minor
bonded labourers to escape before he
was murdered in 1995 and South Afri-
can Nkosi Johnson, who made a pow-
erful impact on public perceptions of
HIV/AIDS and its effects before his
eventual death at the age of 12 from
the pandemic.
Philippines seeks better
defence ties with India
MANILA Worried over increasing-
ly aggressive moves of China to stake
claim on disputed reefs in the South
China Sea, the Philippines is looking
at establishing defence cooperation
with allies, including India, a top of-
ficial saiu heie.
The Philippines is watching with
heightened concern Chinas moves at
reclamation work on four reefs in the
Spratly Islands that Manila says fall in
its exclusive territorial waters.
China has transformed one of the
reefs, called Mabini Reef, in the South
China Sea into a fully equipped naval
base, complete with refuelling and
weapons loading facility, and with a
suspecteu aii stiip, officials saiu heie.
Philippines Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Charles C.
Jose said that Manila had lodged
a protest with Beijing over the recla-
mation work, but China rejected it
and said it is their territory.He said
from the size of the structures that
China was building on Mabini Reef,
we can surmise they are building
military structures.The Philippine
Star this week came out with a front-
page news item along with satellite
images of Chinas construction activi-
ties on the reefs in the South China
Sea. Besides Mabini, which is also
called Johnson South Reef, China has
begun full-scale reclamation projects
on three other nearby reefs on
Burgos, Kennan and Calderon reefs.
These fall in the Kalayaan Island
Group (KIG) in the Spratlys Islands.
China is a signatory to the 2002
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties
in the South China Sea with the 10
Asean countries, according to which
the countries are to resolve their ter-
ritorial disputes through peaceful
means and also refrain from inhabit-
ing the uninhabited islets and reefs
in the disputed waters. However, the
document is non-binding in nature.
A military base on Mabini Reef, lo-
cated 600 km from the Chinese main-
land where it has a military base on
Hainan Island, would give China a na-
val-air force base strategically located
in the middle of the sea.
China began its moves to occupy
reefs in the disputed sea right from
1995 when it built structures on
Mischief Reef, which is 230 km from
Palawan in the Philippines, while in
2012 it occupied Scarborough Shoal,
a coral reef off the coast of Zambales
in Luzon piovince, saiu the official.
These reefs and islets are part
of Philippines territorial entitle-
ment, according to the United Na-
tions Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, to which China
too is a signatoiy. Nanila has fileu an
arbitration petition before the Inter-
national Tribunal on the Law of the
Sea (ITLOS) over Chinas violation of
the UNCLOS provisions, said Jose. The
Philippines is seeking to establish de-
fence cooperation with allies, and it
would be holding joint defence com-
mission meetings later this year with
India, he said.Defence issues would
be discussed, including exchange of
training, he said.He said the Philip-
pines welcomes the intervention by
third parties who can help to bring
stability to the region. He said the
Philippines was keen to schedule a
visit by President Pranab Mukherjee
to the island nation this year, but last-
minute scheduling problems caused
the visit to be put off for next year.
Jose said the Philippines is also full
of praise for the way in which India
and Bangladesh settled their mari-
time boundary dispute, with a UN tri-
bunal in July this year announcing its
verdict. IANS
The Philippines is watching with
heightened concern Chinas moves at
reclamation work on four reefs in the
Spratly Islands that Manila says fall in its
exclusive territorial waters.
Written by renowned
Dutch journalists and
historians, the book
portrays the heroics of 20
children who stood up
against injustice or became
a symbol of injustice done
to them and includes the
likes of Pakistani education
activist Malala Yousafzai
and holocaust diarist Anne
Frank.
CBSE evaluation system needs
thorough review, says report
NEW DELHI The CBSEs Continu-
ous and Comprehensive Evaluation
(CCE) system, which entails frequent
evaluation of students, needs a thor-
ough review in design and appro-
priateness, as well as in teaching
training and implementation, says
an impact evaluation report carried
out in various government schools in
Haryana.
The CCE, which intends to help
improve a students performance by
iuentifying hishei leaining uifficul-
ties at regular intervals and employ-
ing suitable remedial measures, was
introduced by the Central Board of
Secondary Education (CBSE) in 2009
under the Right to Education (RTE)
Act.
The evaluation was funded by 3ie,
an international organisation which
focusses on generating high quality
evidence that contributes to effective
policies for the poor.
Carried out in 500 government
primary and upper primary schools
in Haryana, the evaluation intended
to quantify the effect of CCE and
NGO Prathams Learning Enhance-
ment Programme (LEP) that pro-
vides teachers with the right tools
and space enabling them to teach
according to a childs competency
level. There are a variety of issues
that affect the Indian education sys-
tem - lack of physical, human re-
souices anu financial inputs, lack of
teacher accountability, inappropriate
pedagogy and curriculum, health,
knowledge barriers of students and
parents, Shobhini Mukerji, executive
director, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty
Action Lab (J-PAL), South Asia, said
To understand the effectiveness of
both the programmes, the Haryana
government partnered with research
centre J-PAL to conduct a rigorous
randomised impact evaluation of
both CCE and LEP in two districts
Mahendragarh and Kurukshetra. The
CCE has to be adopted by all Indian
states. Haryana introduced the pro-
gramme in 2011.
The primary schools evaluated
were divided into four groups of 100
each. Group one received only CCE
treatment, group two received only
LEP, group three received both pro-
grammes simultaneously and group
four received neither. The students
were tested on their abilities in basic
Hindi and basic math written and
oral. IANS
Will see Trinamool only
at the battleground: CPM
KOLKATA Describing West Bengals ruling Trinamool
Congress as a party full of antisocials, CPM veteran
Buddhadeb Bhattcharjee yesterday ruled out any kind of
talks with the Mamata Banerjee-led party.
Bhattcharjees comments come in the wake of his
Chief Minister Banerjee opining that she was not averse
to the idea of tying up with the Communist Party of In-
dia-Marxist to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Talks with the Trinamool... never, a party which is
top to bottom full of anti-socials, a party which is de-
stioying the state. It has finisheu off law anu oiuei, in-
dustry, culture, morality, Trinamool is destroying every-
thing.There can never be any talks with them. We will
see them only in the battle ground, Bhattcharjee said at
a party programme here.
Earlier in the day, Left Front chairman and party state
secretary Biman Bose too had ruled out any truck with
the Trinamool.
Trinamool pursues soft communal politics; we will
never have any kind of talks with a party which has been
destroying the state through its politics, Bose told me-
dia persons. Averring that no one is untouchable in
politics, Banerjee on Friday said her Trinamool would
consider and discuss the matter if a proposal for a tie-up
came from her long-time foe CPI-M.
While Left Front including partners the Forward Bloc
and RSP have rejected the idea of an alliance with the
Trinamool, the BJP has ridiculed Banerjee saying her
statement was an acknowledgment of the partys surge
in the state. IANS
12
AMERICAS
Brazil poll favourite rows back on liberal policy
RIO DE JANEIRO Brazilian
surprise package Marina Silva,
whom polls suggest could oust
incumbent Dilma Rousseff in
October presidential elections,
rowed back on liberal social policy.
Silva, an ecologist and evangelical
Christian who once served for
the ruling Workers Party as
environment minister, holds
conservative opinions on abortion as
well as marriage but says she backs
civil unions for unconventional
couples.
On Friday, her campaign team had
brought out a detailed plan should
she, as latest polls suggest, oust
Rousseff, whom polls show her as
defeating in a likely October 26 run-
off.
The programme initially
contained, in a chapter entitled
citizenship and identities, a direct
pledge to back proposals defending
civil marriage but her team on
Saturday sent out a communication
saying "claiification" was iequiieu.
The new version reads that Silva
will defend rights relating to civil
unions.
Civil unions bestow less rights
than marriage for instance, a
surviving partner does not enjoy
rights of estate inheritance.
The wording was amended as
Silva, the daughter of rubber tappers
who only learned to write in her
teens and wants to become in her
woius Biazil's fiist "pooi, black"
president, visited Rios Rocinha slum
accompanied by former soccer star
and would-be Rio senator Romario.
The text (initially) published
was not the text which had been
discussed, Silva explained, adding
it had been sent back to correct
the mistake. Her team blamed an
editorial error.
Silvas programme indicates she
will defend the rights of all sections
of people, many of whom suffer
often violent persecution in Brazil.
She also stressed that, despite her
strong religious background she
received a Catholic education from
nuns she backed a lay state.
We are committed to the defence
of the lay state, defence of personal
freedom and the respect of religious
freedom. The lay state is there
to defend the interests of all, the
interests of those who believe or
do not, independent of their social
standing or orientation.
A further hint of controversy
crept into Saturdays debate as the
Silva team also edited out an initial
mention of nuclear power as a
means of bolstering Brazils energy
generation capacity.
Brazil has just one plant for a
sector which accounts for barely
three per cent of the giant nations
electricity generation.
But as a noted campaigner on
green issues Silva, who has shot to
prominence since original party
candidate Eduardo Campos died
in an August 13 plane crash, is
pinning her faith on increased use of
renewable energy sources, notably
wind power. AFP
Foreign ghters
in Syria very
serious threat
WASHINGTON Hundreds of US,
British and Canadian citizens who
have tiaineu with Islamic State fight-
ers trying to carve out their own
state in Iiaq anu Syiia pose a "veiy
serious threat to the United States,
a top Republican lawmaker said yes-
terday.
Representative Mike Rogers,
chairman of the House Intelligence
Committee, urged the Obama admin-
istration to aggressively prosecute
US citizens who had trained overseas
as it weighed options for how to re-
spond to escalating violence by Is-
lamic State militants in Iiaq.
He said an attack on the Jew-
ish museum in Brussels in May had
shown a new push by extremist
groups to carry out attacks on West-
ern targets, and growing efforts to
recruit backers on social media.
Im very concerned because we
dont know every single person who
has gone and trained and learned
how to fight," Rogeis tolu "Fox News
yesterday.
The United States carried out
three air strikes on Saturday against
Islamic State fighteis neai the be-
sieged town of Amerli in northern
Iiaq anu aiiuioppeu moie than hun-
dred additional bundles of humani-
tarian aid to civilians trapped there,
the Pentagon said.
President Barack Obama last
week authorised the new military
action, broadening US operations in
Iiaq amiu an inteinational outciy
over the threat to Amerlis mostly
ethnic Turkmen population. Wash-
ington is seeking to build an interna-
tional coalition to fight against Islam-
ic State forces.
Rogers said he believed hundreds
of US citizens had trained with Islam-
ic State at least once, in addition to
an estimated 500 British citizens and
hundreds more from Canada, with
their passports essentially allow-
ing them free travel to the United
States to carry out extremist attacks.
The chances of error are greater
than our ability to track every sin-
gle area. Its a very serious threat,
he said, noting that U.S. intelligence
agencies were also tracking pretty
serious threats of planned attacks in
the West by Al Qaeda.
Concerns about Americans as-
sociating with Islamic State militant
fighteis have giown in iecent weeks
after the deaths of two US citizens in
Syria.
US Attorney General Eric Holder
said in July dozens of Americans
were among roughly 7,000 foreign
fighteis that 0S intelligence agencies
estimate to be operating in Syria, out
of roughly 23,000 violent extremists.
Rogers said the number of Ameri-
cans who had traveled and trained
overseas at least once was considera-
bly higher. He said US efforts to tamp
down on such travel by US citizens
needed to be handled carefully to
avoid restricting the ability of other
Americans to travel overseas.
But aggressive prosecution of
those who trained with extremist
groups could have a deterrent effect,
he said. Representative Dutch Rup-
persberger, the top Democrat on the
House Intelligence Committee, ech-
oed Rogers concerns.
The biggest threat that I see
to the United States right now are
Americans and Brits who have pass-
ports that have the ability to come
into our country without getting
a visa, Ruppersberger told CNNs
State of the Union programme.
Reuters
US Senator calls for arming Ukraine
WASHINGTON Senator Robert
Menendez, Chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, called
yesterday for the United States to arm
Ukraine in its effort to repel what he
called a Russian invasion.
We ... should be providing the
Ukrainians with the types of defen-
sive weapons that will impose a cost
upon (Russian President Vladimir)
Putin for further aggression, the New
Jersey Democrat told CNNs State of
the Union programme from Kiev.
He said the European Union, Nato
and the United States should work
together to arm Kiev, which has been
fighting Russian-backeu iebels in
eastern Ukraine for several month.
Asked whether the Obama admin-
istration is considering such a move,
Menendez said: I think that may very
well be on the table right now. These
are changed circumstances.
President Barack Obama last week
again ruled out US military action
over Ukraine and said there must be a
diplomatic solution.
The Obama administration has
stopped short of calling Moscows in-
tensifieu suppoit foi sepaiatist foices
in eastern Ukraine an invasion, and
has said sanctions are the most effec-
tive tool in dealing with Russias ac-
tions in Ukraine. epresentative Mike
Rogers, chairman of the House Intelli-
gence Committee, said it was impera-
tive for the United States and Europe
to provide strategic help to Ukraine
now to halt what he called Russias
increasingly aggressive actions.
If we dont provide small and ef-
fective now, youre going to get very
big and very ugly later, Rogers, a
Michigan Republican, said on Fox
News yesterday. Now is the oppor-
tunity to make that decision and ...
not make the same mistake the presi-
dent made in Syria.
Menendez called for stepping up
sanctions on Russia, saying that the
United States should impose sectoral
sanctions on Russian companies in
the financial anu eneigy inuustiies.
Putin called yesterday for immedi-
ate talks on statehood for southern
and eastern Ukraine, although his
spokesman said this did not mean
Moscow now endorsed rebel calls for
independence for territory they have
seized. Kiev and its allies in Europe
and the United States, who have im-
posed sanctions against Russia over
its role in Ukraine, say a new sepa-
ratist offensive in its east has been
backed by armored columns of more
than 1,000 Russian troops.
This is a direct invasion by Russia.
Its not rebels, its Russian soldiers,
Menendez said.
Senator Diane Feinstein, chair of
the Senate Intelligence Committee,
said sanctions may fail to sway Mos-
cow because the restrictions would
be slow to affect the Russian people,
who are standing behind Putin.
Im not sure they will work. Im
not sure that it shakes the people that
much. And its the people that have
to be spoken to, she said on NBCs
Meet the Press programme.
Feinstein, a Democrat from Califor-
nia, said Washington needs to engage
directly with Putin.
I think there ought to be steps
taken to send people to talk with
him, to have our secretary of state
talk with him personally, she said.
Reuters
Supporters of the presidential candidate for the Brazilian Socialist Party, Marina Silva, take part in a campaign
rally at the Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
Marine One breaks off from decoy helicopters as it approaches the South Lawn of the White House to pick up
US President Barack Obama in Washington, DC. Obama was travelling to New York to attend the wedding of
his personal chef and advisor Sam Kass. AFP
Sullorx Jlrectlng un F,A-18C Hornet uttucheJ to the Vullonx of Strlke Flghter SquuJron (VFA) 1S on the fllght Jeck of the ulrcruft currler USS 0eorge H
W Buxh (CVN 77) Jurlng fllght operutlonx. 0eorge H W Buxh lx xupportlng murltlme xecurlty operutlonx unJ theutre xecurlty cooperutlon effortx ln
the US 5th Fleet area of responsibility. AFP
US swimmer gets Cuba award
HAVANA US swimmer Di-
ana Nyau the fiist to swim
across the Florida Straits
without a shark cage was
presented with Cubas Order
of Sporting Merit on Saturday,
the fiist Ameiican athlete to
receive the award.
Nyad, after four failed at-
tempts, successfully swam
from Cuba to Key West Flor-
ida in September 2013 with-
out a shark cage, in a 53-hour
feat.
Speaking in Spanish, the
65-year-old said the Cuban
award was the most precious
honour of my whole life.
The dream is also to con-
nect our great countries one
day its my dream and
that of millions of people,
she said, referring to the half-
century-long dispute between
Washington and the Ameri-
cas only communist govern-
ment in Havana.
First Vice President Miguel
Diaz-Canel, also head of
Cubas Olympic Committee,
said Nyad had been given
the award in recognition of
her prowess, as a symbol of
friendship between our peo-
ples.
Nyad said her next at-
tempted feat of endurance
will be to walk across the
United States from Califor-
nia to Washington to draw
attention to the problem of
obesity, followed by another
project in Cuba to try to boost
US-Cuba relations.
She also said she wanted to
build an Olympic pool in Cuba
for swimmers to have a bet-
ter chance to train. AFP
Record cocaine
seizure in Peru
LIMA Perus interior ministry
saiu the final tally of a iecoiu co-
caine seizure this week totalled
7.6 tonnes, valued at more than
$300,000 million.
This is the largest drug seizure
ever in Peru. Its historic, said Inte-
rior Minister Daniel Urresti.
The stack of cocaine was found
hidden in a shipment of coal in the
Peruvian city of Trujillo and was to
have been moved on to Spain and
Belgium. Authorities said it be-
longed to a Mexican drug cartel op-
erating in the country, but did not
specify which one. AFP
9 die in bus crash
LA PAZ Nine people were killed
and another 24 injured after a
bus packed with foreign tourists
crashed in southwest Bolivia on Sat-
urday, police said. The bus, return-
ing from a visit to Bolivias famed
Salai ue 0yuni salt flats, oveituineu
shortly before dawn.
The bus, which had set out from
Uyuni, stopped in Potosi en route
to La Paz, was carrying about 35
people mostly foreigners such as
Egyptians, Italians and Brazilians,
0iuio tiansit police officei Aituio
Gutierrez told Radio Erbol.
Cubas Sports Minister Cristian Jimenez (R)
awards the Order of Sporting Merit from the
Cuban government to Diana Nyad. Reuters
13
ASIA
uncerx perform wlth nutlonul flugx Jurlng InJepenJence uy or MerJeku uy celebrutlonx ln Kuulu
Iumpur yexterJuy. Muluyxlu celebruteJ ltx S7th Nutlonul uy to commemorute the lnJepenJence of
the FeJerutlon of Muluyu from Brltlxh rule ln 19S7 - Reuterx
New Thailand PM stacks one
third of cabinet with soldiers
BANGKOK Thailands coup leader
and newly appointed premier Prayut
Chan-O-Cha yesterday received royal
endorsement for a cabinet stacked
with soldiers, as the military extend-
ed its reach into the kingdoms poli-
tics.
Nearly a third of the 32-strong
cabinet aie senioi militaiy officeis.
Among them are Prayuts close allies
and key players in the recent years of
political turbulence, including gen-
erals involved in the bloody 2010
crackdown on Red Shirt activists.
Former and serving generals will
head the defence, justice, foreign af-
fairs and commerce ministries, while
an air marshal will take the top post
at the transport department.
The civilian portion of the cabi-
net includes longstanding allies of
the military, such as Sommai Pasri
who will leau the finance ministiy
where he was deputy minister
following the nations last coup in
2006.
His majesty has endorsed the
cabinet members, put forward by
Prayut, according to a royal decree
released late on Sunday. Last week
revered but ailing King Bhumibol
Adulyadej, 86, formally endorsed
Prayut as premier.Prayuts predeces-
sor as army chief, General Anupong
Paochinda, was appointed interior
minister responsible for internal
security. Thailands junta has muz-
zled dissent since seizing power in
May. The appointment of Anupong,
who played a key role in the crack-
down on Red Shirts protesting in
Bangkok four years ago, is likely to be
seen as a sign of a continuing tough
line on political opponents.
Another close ally, retired General
Prawit Wongsuwan, returns to the
defence ministry which he headed
under the government of Abhisit Ve-
jjajiva, which was humbled at the
polls by Yingluck Shinawatra in 2011.
Prayut says he was forced to
take power after months of protests
against Yinglucks elected government
left nearly 30 people dead and hun-
dreds more wounded, paralysing pol-
icy-making, cramping the economy
and frightening off tourists. AFP
No open poll for Hong Kong leader: China
BEIJING/HONG KONG Pro-democracy ac-
tivists vowed yesterday to bring Hong Kongs
financial hub to a stanustill aftei China's pai-
liament rejected their demands for the right to
freely choose the former British colonys next
leader in 2017.
The Standing Committee of the National Peo-
ples Congress (NPC) endorsed a framework to
let only two or three candidates run in the 2017
leaueiship vote. All canuiuates must fiist obtain
majority backing from a nominating committee
likely to be stacked with Beijing loyalists.
The relatively tough decision by the NPC
China's final aibitei on the city's uemociatic af-
fairs makes it almost impossible for opposi-
tion democrats to get on the ballot.
This is a legal, fair and reasonable decision.
It is a uignifieu, piuuent uecision, anu its le-
gal effect is beyond doubt, Li Fei, deputy sec-
retary general of the NPC standing committee,
told reporters after the decision.
Hundreds of Occupy Central activists, who
demand Beijing allow a real, free election, pre-
pared to stage a small protest late on Sunday
to formally launch a campaign of civil disobedi-
ence that will climax with a blockade at some
time of the citys important Central business
district.
Today is not only the darkest day in the his-
tory of Hong Kongs democratic development,
today is also the darkest day of one country, two
systems, said Benny Tai, a law professor and one
of Occupy Centrals main leaders, referring to the
formula under which capitalist Hong Kong, with
a population of around 7.2 million, was returned
to Communist Chinese rule in 1997.
The Occupy movement said in a statement
that all chances of dialogue have been exhaust-
eu anu the occupation of Cential will uefinitely
happen. It gave no timeframe for its action.
A spokesman for Hong Kong Exchanges and
Clearing, which operates the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange, said contingency planning was taken
very seriously.We have long had a specialist
team that coordinates group response plans for
scenarios that put at risk the continuing opera-
tion of the exchange or threaten the well-being
or safety of our staff.
Hong Kongs current chief executive Le-
ung Chun-ying said Beijings decision repre-
sented a major step forward in Hong Kongs
development.Universal suffrage for the (chief
executive) election through one person, one
vote by Hong Kong people is not only a big step
forward for Hong Kong, but also a historic mile-
stone for our country, he said, adding people
should express their opinion through peaceful
and legal methods.
Political reform has been a constant source
of friction between Hong Kongs pro-democracy
movement and the mainland since Britain re-
turned the city to China 17 years ago. AFP
In nearby Macau, another special adminis-
trative region, leader and sole candidate Fern-
ando Chui was re-elected yesterday by a select
panel of 400 largely pro-China loyalists in the
tiny but wealthy former Portuguese colony.
Scores of police vehicles and hundreds of
officeis weie ueployeu outsiue Bong Kong
government headquarters as people began to
gather late yesterday, braving heavy rain at
times, with some chanting slogans. Key govern-
ment buildings, including the Chief Executives
office anu a People's Libeiation Aimy baiiacks
nearby, were also ringed by high fences and bar-
ricades. It (the NPC decision) leaves no room
foi us to fight foi a genuinely uemociatic sys-
tem, and we will begin our campaign for peace-
ful, non-violent struggle, said Joseph Cheng, the
convenor of the Alliance for True Democracy,
a coalition of groups advocating universal suf-
frage in Hong Kong. Reuters
Unchallenged China
man elected for a
second term as
Macau chief executive
HONG KONG Macau re-elected
its incumbent leader in an unchal-
lenged contest yesterday as the
gambling hub faces growing calls
for democracy amid anger over de-
teriorating living conditions and
government accountability.
The booming citys sole chief ex-
ecutive candidate Fernando Chui
was voted in for a second term by
95 per cent of a 400-strong pro-
Beijing electoral committee, in a
foregone contest which democracy
advocates have called ridiculous.
Chui was elected by 380 votes,
a Macau government spokesman
said. There were 13 blank and three
invalid ballots among the 396 com-
mittee members who voted.
More than a dozen people
marched and bowed in protest out-
side the venue where the vote was
taking place. Every time we bow
down we would like it to be a re-
minder that Macau people have no
choice (in this election), protester
Sulu Sou told reporters. The former
Portuguese colony has grown
wealthy off the proceeds of its gam-
bling industry, which rakes in enor-
mous sums of cash, predominantly
from wealthy Chinese mainlanders.
Compared to its more vocal neigh-
bour Hong Kong, Macau has tradi-
tionally been politically apathetic as
long as business continues to boom.
But there have been signs of po-
litical discontent as concerns grow
over the citys future and how it will
be decided. In the past week more
than 8,500 people have cast votes in
an unofficial iefeienuum calling foi
greater rights which activists says is
part of their nascent attempt to es-
tablish a democratic system.
When there are only 400 people
that are voting and when these 400 peo-
ple have no choice, this is ridiculous,
Sou, a member of the pro-democracy
group Macau Conscience, said. AFP
Pro-Jemocrucy protexterx holJ up thelr moblle phonex Jurlng u cumpulgn to klck off the
Occupy Centrul clvll JlxobeJlence event ln front of the flnunclul Centrul Jlxtrlct ln Hong Kong
yexterJuy. 1houxunJx of "Occupy Centrul" uctlvlxtx, who ure JemunJlng Beljlng ullow u reul,
free electlon, ure threutenlng to blockuJe the cltyx buxlnexx Jlxtrlct ln retullutlon ux purt of
u cumpulgn of clvll JlxobeJlence. - Reuterx
FernunJo Chul
North Koreun leuJer Klm jong Un vlxltx the October 8 Fuctory ln Pyongyung
yexterJuy. - Reuterx
N Korea slams UK TV show on nuclear arms
SEOUL North Korea yesterday slammed a
new British TV drama series revolving around
its nuclear weapons programme, urging the
British government to scrap the slanderous
farce if it wants to maintain diplomatic ties.
Opposite Number a series commissioned
by Channel 4 features a British nuclear sci-
entist captured in the North during a covert
mission and forced to help weaponise its nu-
clear technology.
The 10-part series will take viewers inside
the closed worlds of North Korea with op-
posing CIA and MI6 agents secretly deployed on
the ground in Pyongyang, as the clock ticks on
a global-scale nuclear crisis, Channel 4 said on
its website.
The TV show is nothing but a slanderous
farce to insult and distort the Norths nuclear
capability, said the countrys top military body,
the National Defence Commission (NDC).The
North is already armed with unimaginably
powerful nuclear weaponry and has no need
to steal foreign technology to further develop it,
the NDC spokesman said in a statement carried
by the state news agency.
Those who are talking about illegal acqui-
sition of nuclear technology are no more than
blind fools and idiots bereft of even elementary
ability to uiscein the tiuth," saiu the official.
The impoverished but nuclear-armed state
has staged three atomic tests, most recently in
2013, and has often threatened nuclear strikes
against major foes Seoul and Washington.
No matter how desperately the producers
of the above-said TV channel, hooligans and
rogues under the guise of artistes, may work to
falsify the reality, they can never hide the truth,
saiu the official.
He also accused Downing Street of conniv-
ing at the perceived provocations, urging it
to throw reactionary movies... into a dump-
ing ground without delay and punish the chief
culprits. This would help...preserve the hard-
won diplomatic relations between the (North)
and Britain, the spokesman said. The isolated
Stalinist state always bristles at foreign movies
mocking its system or leadership, especially the
Kim family that has ruled the country for some
six uecaues with an iion fist anu peivasive pei-
sonality cult.
In June the North denounced a new Holly-
woou film about a biu to assassinate its leauei
Kim Jong-Un as a wanton act of terror and
warned of a merciless response unless the US
goveinment banneu the film.
The Interview stars Seth Rogen and James
Franco as two tabloid TV reporters who land an
interview with Kim in Pyongyang and are then
tasked with killing him.
The Norths United Nations envoy lodged a
formal protest at the UN against the movie, call-
ing it the most undisguised sponsoring of ter-
rorism. AFP
A mutch ln progrexx Jurlng Klngx Cup Flephunt Polo 1ournument ln Sumut Prukun provlnce, on the
outxklrtx of Bungkok on SuturJuy. A totul of 16 lnternutlonul teumx unJ S1 1hul elephuntx purtlclputeJ
ln the tournument thut enJeJ yexterJuy. - Reuterx
UN issues fresh call to Japan
over WWII women victims
GENEVA A UN watchdog issued a
fresh call yesterday to Japan to take
full blame for forcing women from
Korea and elsewhere in Asia to work
as sex slaves during World War II.
The UN Committee on the Elimi-
nation of Racial Discrimination said
that by failing to treat the ageing sur-
vivors properly, Japan had let their
suffering drag on for decades.
What were asking the Japanese
government is to conclude investiga-
tions into the violations of the rights
of comfort women by the military
and to bring to justice those respon-
sible and to pursue a comprehensive
and lasting resolution to these is-
sues, said Anastasia Crickley, deputy
head of the committee.
Were asking them to provide
apologies and provision of adequate
reparation to surviving comfort
women and their families, Crickley
told reporters. We also believe its
very important that denial of these
events is not countenanced, she add-
ed, noting that Japan also lacked leg-
islation banning racist hate speech.
The UN panel, made up of 18 in-
dependent human rights experts,
earlier this month reviewed Japans
respect for an international anti-
racism accord. All UN members that
have signed the accord are assessed
at regular intervals.
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay,
who retired yesterday, has repeat-
edly called Tokyo out over wartime
sexual slavery. Last month the UN
Human Rights Committee, which
monitors compliance with a treaty
on civil rights, also pressed Japan on
the issue. Around 200,000 women,
mainly from Korea but also China,
Taiwan, Indonesia and other Asian
countries, were forced to work in
Japanese military brothels as com-
fort women.The victims have failed
to obtain redress for their treatment
despite repeated efforts since the
war, and their numbers are dwin-
dling as the years pass. AFP
Pruyut Chun-O-Chu
14
EUROPE
Putin seeks statehood for eastern Ukraine
MOSCOW Russian President
Vladimir Putin yesterday sharply
raised the stakes in the Ukraine
conflict by calling foi the fiist time
foi statehoou to be consiueieu foi the
iestive east of the foimei Soviet state.
Putin's uefiant iemaiks came just
houis aftei the Euiopean 0nion gave
Noscow which the bloc accuses of
uiiect involvement in the insuigency
a week to change couise oi face
new sanctions.
"We neeu to immeuiately begin
substantive talks... on questions of the
political oiganisation of society anu
statehood in southeastern Ukraine,
the Russian leauei was quoteu by
Russian news agencies as saying.
Moscow has previously only
calleu foi gieatei iights unuei a
uecentialiseu feueial system to be
accoiueu to the eastein iegions
of 0kiaine, wheie pieuominantly
Russian-speakeis live.
But Putin has this week sparked
renewed speculation that he may
be seeking to cieate a statelet
in south-east 0kiaine, aftei he
employed a loaded Tsarist-era name
"Novoiossiya" to iefei to the iegion.
Putin's tough talk also comes as
iebels tuineu the tiue on auvancing
0kiainian tioops, by snatching a
seiies of towns anu tiapping the aimy
in some.
Kiev has warned that it was on the
biink of "full-scale wai" with Noscow
that Euiope feais woulu put all of the
continent at iisk of conflict.
The Euiopean 0nion agieeu to
take "fuithei significant steps" if
Noscow uiu not iein in its suppoit foi
the iebels, with new sanctions to be
uiawn up within a week.
Kiev saiu the invigoiateu iebel
push of the past uays has incluueu
substantial numbeis of Russian
iegulai aimy contingents who aie
now concentiating foices in big
towns acioss the iegion.
Terrorists and Russian soldiers
continue to concentrate personnel
anu equipment in iegional centies,"
said security spokesman Andriy
Lysenko.
A iagtag mix of volunteei
battalions anu local iesiuents weie
meanwhile biacing foi a uespeiate
uefence of Naiiupol, a stiategic poit
city on the Azov Sea coast.
"We can holu them off, but foi how
long. We uon't have the stiength to
beat them," saiu Panthei, a tattooeu
fightei with the Azov battalion,
saiu to be one of the most iauical
nationalist gioups fighting in the aiea.
Nato last week accuseu Noscow of
senuing at least 1,uuu tioops to fight
alongsiue the iebels, anu piesenteu
satellite imageiy showing aitilleiy,
tanks anu aimouieu vehicles ciossing
the boiuei.
Lithuanias President Dalia
uiybauskaite, whose Baltic nation is
waiy of the iesuigent powei on its
eastein boiuei, waineu that "Russia
is piactically in a state of wai against
Euiope" anu uigeu E0 militaiy
assistance to Kiev.
Ukrainian President Petro
Poioshenko uigeu in Biussels to
take toughei steps against Russia's
"militaiy aggiession anu teiioi" anu
waineu that a "full-scale wai" with
Noscow is closei than evei.
"Touay we aie talking about the
fate of 0kiaine, tomoiiow it coulu be
foi all Euiope."
Poioshenko saiu he expecteu the
West to ramp up its arms supplies to
0kiaine aftei uiscussions at a Nato
summit in Wales on Thursday and
Fiiuay.
Although Russia continues to ueny
uiiect involvement in the conflict,
theie have been meuia iepoits of
seciet militaiy funeials foi those sent
to fight in 0kiaine.
Moscow admitted that Russian
paiatioopeis hau been captuieu in
0kiaine, but allegeu they ciosseu the
boiuei by acciuent.
Ukraine and Russia swapped
soldiers who had entered each
othei's teiiitoiy neai the battlefielu
in eastern Ukraine, where Kiev says
Noscow's foices have come to the aiu
of pio-Russian insuigents auvancing
foi an assault on a majoi poit.
Ukrainian troops and local
iesiuents weie ieinfoicing the poit of
Naiiupol yesteiuay, the next big city
in the path of pio-Russian fighteis
who pusheu back goveinment foices
along the Azov Sea this past week in
an offensive on a new fiont.
The new iebel auvance has uiawn
incieasing concein fiom 0kiaine's
Western allies, who say its success
is a iesult of ieinfoicement by
aimouieu columns of Russian tioops.
Euiopean 0nion leaueis agieeu on
Saturday to draw up new economic
sanctions against Noscow, a move
haileu by the 0niteu States, which is
planning tightei sanctions of its own
anu wants to act jointly with Euiope.
Some iesiuents of Naiiupol have
taken to the streets to show support
foi the 0kiainian goveinment as the
pio-Russian foices gain giounu. Nany
otheis have fleu fiom the piospect of
an all-out assault on the city of neaily
Suu,uuu people.
"We aie piouu to be fiom this city
anu we aie ieauy to uefenu it fiom
the occupieis," saiu Alexanuia, 28, a
post office cleik weaiing a iibbon in
blue anu yellow 0kiainian colouis.
The swap of soluieis oveinight at
the fiontiei was a iaie gestuie to ease
tension, but Kiev anu Noscow have
given staikly opposing accounts of
how theii tioops came to be on each
othei's teiiitoiy.
A Russian paratroop commander
saiu an unspecifieu numbei of
Russian paratroops were swapped
foi 6S 0kiainian soluieis. A 0kiainian
military source said the Russian
soluieis numbeieu 1S.
Kiev anu its allies in Euiope
and the United States say the new
iebel offensive has been backeu by
aimouieu columns of moie than
1,uuu Russian tioops fighting openly
to suppoit the insuigents. The iebels
themselves say thousanus of Russian
tioops have fought on theii behalf
while "on leave". Agencies
Benmaik iejigs
cabinet, ministei
given E0 post
C0PENBAuEN Benmaik's piime
minister has nominated her econo-
my ministei, Naigiethe vestagei, foi
a post in the Euiopean Commission,
leauing to a small cabinet ieshuffle
in which the economy poitfolio is
expecteu to be filleu by the cuiient
tax ministei, Noiten 0steigaaiu.
Piime Ninistei Belle Thoining-
Schmiut tolu Banish television Tv2
News of the move in the eaily houis
of yesteiuay aftei failing to be ap-
pointeu heiself as the new piesi-
uent of the Euiopean Council. That
post went to Polish Prime Minister
Bonalu Tusk.
The ieshuffle in the economic
posts comes as Benmaik stiuggles
with a slowuown a yeai befoie an
election.
vestagei leaus the Social Libeial
Party, a coalition partner to Thorn-
ing-Schmiut's Social Bemociats. It is
not yet cleai what post she will get
in the commission.
The paity selecteu 0steigaaiu to
be its new leauei at a meeting yes-
terday and he told Danish media
that he woulu ieplace vestagei as
the economy ministei.
While a junioi paitnei in the
coalition, the Social Libeial Paity
has been the uiiving foice behinu
iefoims taken by the goveinment
incluuing cutting unemployment
benefits to weathei the lingeiing fi-
nancial ciisis anu economic malaise.
0steigaaiu, who is expecteu
to be foimally nameu the new
economy minister today or tomor-
iow, saiu he woulu not veei fiom
the paity's line, accoiuing to news
websites. The Social Bemociats will
then fill his foimei post of tax min-
istei.
Benmaik's economy unexpect-
euly slippeu into negative giowth
in the seconu quaitei, thiowing into
question the goveinment's econom-
ic foiecasts anu ability to meet E0
buuget iequiiements. .
The coalition paitneis may face a
tough choice of eithei bieaking the
E0's S pei cent of gioss uomestic
piouuct buuget ueficit limit oi cut-
ting spenuing fuithei uue to weak
giowth uuiing an election yeai.
Polls show the parties that tend
to ally themselves with the Social
Bemociats tiailing by almost 1u pei
cent to those that gioup aiounu the
opposition Libeial Paity. Reuteis
A man walks past cutting boards, that have been painted with images of Russias President Vladimir Putin, at
a street store in the centre of St Petersburg, yesterday. Reuters
A balloon bearing the picture of Britains Princess Diana is placed outside Kensington Palace
along with other tributes marking the 17th anniversary of her death in London yesterday. The
Princess of Wales died in 1997 in a Paris car crash. AFP
Noscow, Kiev swap tioops as 0kiaine poit giius up foi pio-Russian assault
E0 split ovei
new Russia
sanctions
BR0SSELS The Euiopean 0nion
threatened Russia with new trade
sanctions if Noscow fails to stait
ieveising its action in 0kiaine, but
shaip uivisions among leaueis at a
summit in Biussels left the timing of
any measuies unceitain.
Aftei a lengthy biiefing by
Ukrainian President Petro Porosh-
enko, who waineu "full-scale wai"
was imminent if Russian tioops
continued an advance in support
of pio-Noscow iebels, the leaueis
agieeu yesteiuay to have E0 offi-
cials uiaw up within a week a list of
new measuies that coulu hit a iange
of sectois.
The Euiopean Council calleu on
Russia to immediately withdraw all
its militaiy assets anu foices fiom
0kiaine" anu uigeu a ceasefiie. The
leaueis askeu the E0's executive
arm, the Commission, to prepare
pioposals on new sanctions foi
them to review within a week, in-
cluuing measuies that woulu penal-
ise any peison oi bouy which uealt
with 0kiaine's eastein sepaiatists.
ueiman Chancelloi Angela
Neikel noteu measuies woulu be
ready within a week and said Putin
must act to avoid them: There will
be uecisions about new sanctions, if
the cuiient situation goes on oi ue-
teiioiates."
She saiu the penalties coulu be in
any of the business sectois the E0
has alieauy saiu coulu be taigeteu.
But askeu about a ueauline foi
E0 action, the summit chaiiman,
E0 Council Piesiuent Beiman van
Rompuy, saiu: "It uepenus, fuithei
steps, on uevelopment of the situ-
ation on the giounu. Theie is no
piecise ciiteiia, but I can assuie you
that eveiybouy is assuieu that we
have to move quickly."
0nueilining uivision among the
28 membei states uuiing talks, the
Slovak piime ministei, Robeit Fico,
calleu sanctions "meaningless anu
countei-piouuctive". Reuteis
Paients of Biitish biain tumoui
boy to go befoie Spain juuge
NABRIB The aiiesteu paients
of a five-yeai-olu Biitish boy with a
biain tumoui who was taken fiom
hospital without medical consent and
founu in Spain will appeai befoie a
Spanish juuge touay, a juuicial souice
saiu.
Biett King, S1, anu Naghemeh
King, 4S, will appeai in a Nauiiu
couit following theii aiiest on Satui-
uay evening, a juuicial souice saiu.
A police spokesman said that
"the chilu is ieceiving hospital caie,
the parents are in detention, add-
ing that the othei six chiluien in the
family aie staying in an unuiscloseu
location, lookeu aftei by the auults
among them.
Five-yeai-olu Ashya King was ie-
moveu fiom a hospital in Southamp-
ton in southein Englanu on Thuisuay,
leauing police to issue a Euiopean ai-
iest waiiant foi his paients.
They were tracked down to a
guesthouse, Bostal Espeianza on the
Costa uel Sol, aiounu Su kilometies
fiom Nalaga in southein Spain, aftei
they weie iecogniseu by an employ-
ee.
"It's my colleague that aleiteu
the police, an employee at the hos-
tel saiu by telephone. "She hau seen
them on an online newspapei."
Authorities in Britain, France and
Spain have been iacing against the
clock to locate Ashya, who was op-
eiateu on just one week ago anu ie-
quiies feeuing thiough a nasal tube
anu a machine, iaising feais that it
coulu iun out of batteiies.
"As you can see, theie's nothing
wiong with him," saiu the fathei Biett
King in a viueo on YouTube posteu on
Satuiuay by one of the othei chiluien.
"Be's veiy happy since we took
him out of hospital, he's been smiling
a lot moie."
The viueo shows Ashya sitting on
his fathei's knees anu hookeu up to
the feeuing machine.
King says he pulleu his son out
of hospital because he was upset
with the caie he was ieceiving, anu
wanteu to seek uiffeient tieatments
abioau that weie not offeieu by the
Biitish public healthcaie system.
Be uoes not explain in the viueo
why the family chose to visit south-
ein Spain but police hau eailiei inui-
cateu the family hau "stiong links" to
the aiea.
There are no winners in this
situation. I've saiu all along that this
must be a teiiibly uistiessing time
foi Ashya's family anu I stanu by that
now," saiu Chiis Sheau fiom Biitain's
Bampshiie police.
Be saiu the aiiest waiiant was
baseu aiounu "neglect" but auueu:
That does not necessarily mean they
woulu be chaigeu with that offence.
"It puiely gives us the powei to
aiiest anu then we'll be able to speak
to them."
King's paients, who aie }ehovah's
Witnesses, weie seen boaiuing a fei-
iy to Cheibouig in Fiance aftei taking
the boy.
0n the Bampshiie police's
Facebook page, one postei, Katie
Fletcher, wrote: This is my mothers
fiienu, she has iun away in uespeia-
tion because they cannot accept that
theie is nothing that can be uone foi
theii son anu want to look foi help
abioau. AFP
New fissure eruption
at Iceland volcano
ST0CKB0LN A small new fis-
suie eiuption in an ice-fiee aiea
of Icelanu's Baiuaibunga volcano
system prompted authorities to
iaise theii waining of the iisk of
ash to aviation to the highest level
yesteiuay.
Icelanu's laigest volcanic sys-
tem, which cuts a 19u km long anu
up to 2S km wiue swathe acioss
the Noith Atlantic islanu, has been
hit by thousanus of eaithquakes
over the last two weeks and scien-
tists have been on high aleit.
In 2u1u, an ash clouu fiom the
Eyjafjallajokull volcano, in a uiffei-
ent iegion of Icelanu, closeu much
of Euiope's aii space foi six uays.
The eruption is a very calm
lava eiuption anu can haiuly been
seen on seismometeis," the Icelan-
uic Neteoiological 0ffice saiu in a
statement.
"Theie is no ash, only lava," Eg-
geit Nagnusson at the National
Ciisis Cooiuination Centie saiu.
The eiuption began aiounu
u6uu uNT piompting the Icelan-
uic Net 0ffice to iaise the aviation
waining coue to ieu foi the Baiu-
aibungaBoluhiaun aiea, the Be-
paitment of Civil Piotection anu
Emeigency Nanagement saiu in a
statement.
Reu is the highest level on a
five-coloui scale anu inuicates that
an eruption is imminent or under
way, with a iisk of spewing ash.
Icelanu's aviation authoiities
have ueclaieu a uangei aiea which
ieaches fiom the giounu to 6,uuu
feet aiounu the volcano.
0n Fiiuay, a 6uu metie-long
fissuie in a lava fielu noith of the
vatnajokull glaciei, which coveis
pait of the Baiuaibunga system,
eiupteu.
That eiuption only lasteu foi a
few houis anu was not in an aiea
coveieu by ice. The iisk of an ash
clouu is highest when theie is a
sub-glacial eiuption as meltwatei
anu magma mix to piouuce ash
paiticles.
The new eruption is very close
to Fiiuay's.
"It is almost in the same loca-
tion. The ciack has only extenueu
a little bit fuithei to the noith,"
Nagnusson at the National Cii-
sis Cooiuination Centie saiu.
Reuters
Iuvu flowx from cruckx ln the grounJ ufter the BurJubungu
volcano erupted again in the early hours yesterday. AFP
15
THE WORLD
Poll shows Britains
UKIP to win
parliamentary seat
LONDON Britains anti-EU UK
Independence Party (UKIP) will
win its fiist uiiectly electeu pailia-
mentary seat after the defection of a
lawmaker from Prime Minister Dav-
id Camerons Conservative party
last week, an opinion poll yesterday
showed.
Last week Douglas Carswell
switched allegiance to UKIP, say-
ing he no longer believed Cam-
eron wanted major reforms to
Britains ties with the European
Union.
Carswell, 43, triggered a fresh
election in his southern England
constituency by resigning on Thurs-
day, saying he wanted to be re-elect-
ed under the UKIP banner to vali-
date his switch.
A poll of 700 residents in the
constituency forecast a landslide
victory for UKIP and Carswell over
the Conservatives. The poll by Sur-
vation, published in the Mail yes-
terday, put UKIP on 64 per cent, 44
percentage points ahead of the Con-
servatives. Reuters
Somalia intelligence
site attacked, 11 die
MOGADISHU Hardliners blew up a car bomb and gunmen attacked a
national-intelligence site in Somalias capital where suspected militants are
helu, in an assault yesteiuay that left 11 people ueau, goveinment officials
and the rebel group said.
Three soldiers and one civilian were killed along with seven militants,
including the suicide bomber who detonated the vehicle packed with explo-
sives, Security Ministry spokesman Mohamed Yusuf told reporters at the site.
After the initial blast, gunmen stormed the compound but did not reach
the underground cells where suspected militants were being detained, Yusuf
said.
0ne intelligence officei, who iuentifieu himself only as Nui, saiu the gun-
men hau enteieu one builuing, foicing secuiity peisonnel to fight ioom-to-
room to clear them out. All the attackers perished in the end, Nur said.
It seems their target was to cause a mess here and thus free their militant
colleagues held in the underground cells, but that will not happen, Nur said.
Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaabs spokesman for military opera-
tions, said the group was behind the attack, the latest in a series of raids in
Mogadishu in recent months, including a July assault on the presidential
compound.
The presidential compound, which is situated near the national-intelli-
gence site, was also attacked using what has become a familiar tactic: a ve-
hicle tries to blast its way through perimeter security and gunmen charge in
afterwards. The president was not present during the July raid.
Al Shabaab, which wants to impose its own strict version of Islam, con-
trolled Mogadishu and the southern region of Somalia from 2006 to 2011. It
was driven out of the capital by peacekeeping forces deployed by the African
Union.
African forces launched a new offensive this year to drive the Islamists
out of towns and other areas they still control. Several centres have been re-
taken, but al Shabaab remains in control of some towns and swathes of coun-
tryside. Reuters
Lesothos deputy
premier in charge
aftei PN flees 'coup'
MASERU Lesotho Prime Minister
Thomas Thabane accused Deputy
Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing
of helping to plan a coup by the army
that foiceu the piime ministei to flee
the country.
Metsing took charge of the gov-
einment once Thabane hau fleu the
country for neighbouring South Af-
rica. Thabane left on Saturday, after
the army surrounded his residence
and police stations in Lesothos capi-
tal, Maseru.
Gunshots were heard in Mase-
ru, where one policeman was shot
dead and four others wounded,
said senior police superintendent
Mofokeng Kolo. But the army de-
nied trying to force out Thabane,
saying it had moved against police
suspected of planning to arm a po-
litical faction in the small southern
African kingdom.
Diplomats in Maseru said the
army was largely seen as loyal to the
deputy prime minister and the police
force mostly supported the prime
minister.
Regional power South Africa con-
demned the armys actions and in-
vited the deputy prime minister to
talks there yesterday, Lesothos Min-
ister of Communications, Science and
Technology, Selibe Mochoboroane,
said. He did not specify who the talks
would be with.
Constitutionally, in the absence of
the prime minister, the deputy prime
minister takes the reins, said Mo-
choboroane, who is also spokesman
for Metsings party.
For now there hasnt been any ar-
rangement, but it goes without say-
ing the deputy prime minister will
still oversee other issues that need to
be taken care of until the prime min-
ister returns, he added. On Saturday,
Mochoboroane echoed the armys
assurance that no coup had taken
place.
The prime minister, who expect-
ed to be back in Maseru in two days
time, said he believed his deputy was
behind the plans for a coup. The two
would not be holding talks in South
Africa, he said.
I have no much reason to ab-
solve him from blame, Thabane said.
Looking from a distance, he is very
active in this show.
Relations have been stormy be-
tween Thabanes All Basotho Con-
vention party and Metsings Lesotho
Congress for Democsracy (LCD)
group, which formed a coalition with
another party after elections in 2012.
Thabane dissolved parliament in
}une to avoiu a no-confiuence vote
against him amid feuding among
the ruling parties. Metsing later said
he would form a new coalition that
would oust Thabane. The African Un-
ion said yesterday it would not toler-
ate any illegal seizure of power.
Thabane said on Saturday he had
fiieu an aimy commanuei, Lieuten-
ant-General Kennedy Tlali Kamoli,
and appointed Brigadier Maa-
parankoe Mahao to replace him. But
yesterday Kamoli said he was still in
charge of the military.
I havent gotten any formal letter
from anybody and that is to say that I
am still the commander of the Lesot-
ho Defence Force, Kamoli said.
Lesotho, a mountainous state
of two million people encircled
by South Africa, has undergone a
number of military coups since in-
dependence from Britain in 1966. At
least 58 locals and eight South Afri-
can soldiers died during a political
stanu-off anu subsequent fighting in
1998. Reuters
Health workers death toll mounts
in West Africa as Ebola spreads
LAGOS Nigeria yesterday con-
fiimeu a fiesh case of Ebola in a uoc-
tor whose husband died from the
virus, adding to a growing list of
healthcare workers in West Africa hit
by the epidemic.
The womans husband was also
a doctor and died in the city of Port
Harcourt on August 22 after treating
a patient who had contact with a Li-
berian man who brought the virus to
Nigeria in late July.
She was in stable condition at an
isolation unit in the financial capi-
tal, Lagos, said Sampson Parker, the
health commissioner of Rivers State,
of which Port Harcourt is the capital.
Nigerias medics have paid a
heavy price in the outbreak: of the six
people who have died from the dis-
ease in Africas most populous nation,
two have been doctors and two oth-
ers nurses.
Another doctor and a pharmacist
were put into isolation at a unit out-
side Port Harcourt, Parker said.
"They have not been confiimeu
(as having Ebola) and we are await-
ing the result of investigation, he told
a news conference.
The World Health Organization
has voiced concern about the number
of healthcare workers hit by the Eb-
ola outbreak: more than 120 health
workers have died and over 240 oth-
ers infected so far.
The disease has killed a total of
1,552 people and infected 3,062 as of
August 26, accoiuing to WB0 figuies.
In Guinea, where 430 people have
died in all, nurses said they lacked
basic medical equipment to treat
patients and had even bought items
such as gloves and protective clothing
themselves.
In Senegal, doctors were treating a
young Guinean man who became the
countiy's fiist confiimeu case of the
disease. He was said to be in a satis-
factory condition in hospital on Sat-
urday.
The case lends credence to fears
that the haemorrhagic fever, for
which there is currently no vaccine, is
spreading rapidly.
At current infection rates, it could
take six to nine months and at least
$490 million to bring under con-
trol, by which time over 20,000 peo-
ple could be affected, the WHO has
warned.
In Liberia, hardest hit by the
outbreak with 694 deaths, the gov-
ernment has denied permission for
any crew to disembark from ships
docking at any of the countrys four
ports.
Medical screening of passengers
was also causing long delays at Mon-
rovias International Airport but a 21-
day quarantine thrown around the
citys West Point neighbourhood was
lifted on Saturday.
Air travel to West Africa has been
badly hit by the disease. Eight of the
11 international airlines serving
Noniovia have suspenueu flights,
including British Airways and Air
France.
The WHO and the West African re-
gional bloc ECOWAS have both called
for travel bans to be lifted, saying
medical screening should identify at-
risk passengers instead.
The Ebola crisis has cast doubt
over a number of international foot-
ball fixtuies involving the woist-hit
countries, with qualifying beginning
next week for the 2015 Africa Cup of
Nations.
Sierra Leone, where 422 people
have died so far, named a 20-man
squad consisting entirely of foreign-
based players for its matches against
Ivory Coast and the DR Congo.
But Ivory Coasts government
has refused to allow the game to be
played in Abidjan and not announced
an alternative venue. The Ivorians
risk forfeiting the match if they fail to
show up.
Ebola-linked restrictions have led
to sporadic violence in recent weeks.
In Guinea, 55 people were injured in
NZerekore after two days of protests
this week over a government-im-
posed curfew.
The WHO has credited public
health campaigns, especially in Guin-
ea and Nigeria, for limiting the trans-
mission of Ebola. AFP
Residents gather near a destroyed car after an attack by suspected
militants at the Jilacow underground cell inside a national security
compound in Mogadishu yesterday. Reuters
Boys wash their hands before entering a church for mass in Monrovia, Liberia, yesterday. AFP
Tusks close ally Ewa Kopacz seen
as favourite for Polands new PM
WARSAW The Polish ruling
partys second-in-command, Ewa
Kopacz, has emerged as clear fa-
vourite to be the next prime minis-
ter after incumbent Donald Tusks
departure to Brussels, where he is
to take over as president of the Eu-
ropean Council.
Kopacz, who has been a mem-
ber of parliament since 2001, when
Tusks Civic Platform (PO) party was
created, is one of his close allies and
has served as parliamentary speaker.
Although she has already declared
her readiness to take over the pre-
miership, she faces a daunting task
succeeding her boss.
Tusk, a fiim but conciliatoiy politi-
cian, has been the main driving force
behind the success of Civic Platform
and some analysts believe his depar-
ture could drag his party to defeat at
next years domestic elections.
The party is already trailing in
opinion polls to the largest opposi-
tion party, the conservative Law and
Justice (PiS).
Kopacz, 56, a paediatrician and the
divorced mother of an adult daugh-
tei, was a health ministei in the fiist
Tusks government, retaining the
sensitive post for the whole term.
Ewa Kopacz is the most serious
candidate for the Prime Ministers job
for political reasons, a senior ruling
party source said. What helps her
is that she is a fiist ueputy chaiiman
in PO and also a very close ally of the
PM.
Kopacz would become Polands
second female prime minister in
history, after Hanna Suchocka who
governed for less than 11 months in
1992-93.
The next most likely successor to
Tusk is defence minister Tomasz Sie-
moniak, coalition politicians say.
A senior junior coalition partner
source said Kopacz has the advantage
of having fiim ioots within the iuling
party, while Siemoniak has proved
himself to be a great organiser by re-
structuring the Polish army.
When it comes to the PM job, the
players bench in PO is long. All we
need to do is to make sure everything
is conducted in a smooth manner,
Civic Platforms respected European
Parliament MP Dariusz Rosati told
public broadcaster TVP Info.
We have heavyweights such as
Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski,
former PM Jan Krzysztof Bielecki,
Ewa Kopacz, Tomasz Siemoniak,
former European Parliament head
Jerzy Buzek, he added.
Polish media has also speculated
about the chances of the foreign min-
ister, Radoslaw Sikorski, but he is
highly regarded in his current post,
crucial for Poland during the Ukraine
crisis. At the same time, he is also vul-
nerable to opposition attack as one
of the main figuies in a leakeu tape
scandal. Reuters
Tungurahua volcano erupts near Banos, Ecuador, yesterday. Tungurahua, which means Throat of
Flre" ln the locul quechuu lunguuge, hux been cluxxlfleJ ux uctlve xlnce 1999. - Reuterx
'Fiienuly' China
will help: Mugabe
HARARE Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe, returning from a
state visit to China, said yesterday
Beijing had pledged to assist his
southern African countrys ailing
economy to the best of its ability.
China will continue to be as
friendly to us as it was before ... The
support we have asked for in the
various areas, China will provide to
the best of its ability, Mugabe said
in comments carried on Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) tel-
evision after his arrival.
Mugabe, who won disputed elec-
tions last year, made a 13th trip to
China this week to drum up invest-
ment for energy, infrastructure de-
velopment and transport sectors in
his impoverished state.
The 90-year-old, a former guer-
rilla and Africas longest-serving
leader, and his ministers signed var-
ious agreements in Beijing.
Zimbabwe faces a severe liquid-
ity crunch, high unemployment and
minimal economic activity. AFP
16
PANORAMA
Flgurlnex of pro-Ruxxlun xepurutlxt flghterx from
the collectlon entltleJ 1oy SolJlerx of Novoroxxlyu
ure on Jlxpluy ut u workxhop ln Moxcow. A Moxcow-
buxeJ muker of toy xolJlerx hux xought lnxplrutlon
for hlx creutlonx from Ukrulnlun rebelx flghtlng
government troopx ln the euxt of Ukrulne. - Reuterx
Spunlxh Alr Force Putrullu Agullu performx Jurlng the Alr14 ulrxhow ut the
ulrport ln Puyerne yexterJuy. 1he Swlxx Alr Force celebrutex thelr 100th
unnlverxury wlth the blggext ulrxhow ln Furope thlx yeur. - Reuterx
A 41-yeur-olJ mun golng by the nume of Chlbutmun
rlJex hlx ChlbutpoJ on the rouJ ln Chlbu, euxt of
1okyo, yexterJuy. 1he mun, who Jrexxex up ux the
comlc book xuperhero Butmun, cume up wlth hlx
monlker ufter uJJlng u preflx of the flrxt three letterx
of the clty nume, of whlch he roumx on hlx three-
wheeleJ motorcycle. However, unllke the hero from
the Butmun xerlex, he rlJex urounJ ln hlx muchlne,
JexlgneJ from lnxplrutlon of the ButpoJ from
the movlex 1he urk Knlght unJ 1he urk Knlght
Rlxex, Jellverlng xmllex lnxteuJ of flghtlng crlme. -
Reuters
Kyrgyz Juncerx ln truJltlonul coxtumex perform Jurlng celebrutlonx murklng the
2SrJ unnlverxury of Kyrgyzxtunx lnJepenJence from the Sovlet Unlon ut the Alu-
1oo Squure ln Blxhkek yexterJuy. - AFP
Flreworkx llght the xky ubove Sulnt Buxllx CutheJrul Jurlng the Spuxxkuyu
1ower lnternutlonul mllltury unJ muxlc fextlvul on ReJ Squure ln Moxcow. 1he
fextlvul wlll be helJ untll September 7. - AFP
14 detained trying to
prevent dolphin hunt
Guatemalan, US singers
win opera contest
STOCKHOLM Fourteen animal rights
activists have been detained on the Faroe
island of Sandoy in the North Atlantic
while trying to stop a controversial dol-
phin hunt, their organisation said yester-
day.
The activists were detained on Satur-
day when attempting to save a pod of 33
pilot whales, members of the dolphin fam-
ily, as the mammals were driven to shore
to be killed by waiting hunting parties, ac-
cording to environmental group Sea Shep-
herd.
The 14 have been under arrest since
Saturday, and three of our boats have also
been seized, Lamya Essemlali, president
of Sea Shepherd France, said.
Large numbers of pilot whales are
slaughtered each year on the Faroe Is-
lands, an autonomous territory within the
kingdom of Denmark.
The method involves the mammals be-
ing foiceu into a bay by flotillas of small
boats before being hacked to death with
hooks and knives. While many locals de-
fend the hunt as a cultural right, animal
rights campaigners have denounced it as a
brutal and archaic mass slaughter.
The group detained on Saturday in-
cluded six Sea Shepherd members on
shore on Sandoy, and eight who were on
three small boats near the island.
Sea Shepherd said a ship from the Dan-
ish Navy ordered the environmental or-
ganisations three boats to stand off and
later seized the vessels.
A spokesman for the Danish Armed
Forces Arctic Command, which is respon-
sible for the Faroe Islands, said it was
standard procedure for the Danish Navy
to assist the Faroese police in its work.
Faroese police could not immediately be
reached for comment.
Those arrested were eight French citi-
zens, two South Africans, two Spaniards,
one Italian and one Australian, according
to Essemlali.
After their arrest, the hunt went ahead
and all 33 pilot whales were killed, ac-
cording to Sea Shepherd. AFP
LOS ANGELES A Gua-
temalan tenor and a US
soprano have won the lat-
est edition of Operalia, a
competition created by
maestro Placido Domingo
to showcase young opera
talent.
The contest was founded
in 1993, and this year 40
singers from around the
world took part.
The jury was made of up
of an international panel
from some of the worlds
most prestigious music
houses.
The top prizes went to
28-year-old Mario Chang, a
tenor from Guatemala, and
US soprano Rachel Willis-
Soiensen, Su, uuiing a final
round held in Los Angeles.
This competition is sport.
This is the Olympics of the
opera, Domingo told a re-
cent news conference.
It was the third time that
the competition was held
in Los Angeles. Previous
venues have included Ma-
drid, Paris and Hamburg
and the 2015 edition will
take place in Londons Cov-
ent Garden.
Participation is seen as a
stepping stone for careers
of young operatic talent,
with previous winners in-
cluding Rolando Villazon.
AFP
WASHINGTON Orders for long-
lasting US manufactured goods post-
ed their biggest gain on record in July
on strong overseas demand for air-
craft and the underlying trend also
iemaineu fiim pointing to brisk eco-
nomic growth.
Durable goods orders items rang-
ing from toasters to aircraft that are
meant to last three years or more
jumped 22.6 per cent in July after
an upwardly revised 2.7 per cent in-
crease in June the Commerce Depart-
ment said last Tuesday.
Transportation orders rose a
record 74.2 per cent as bookings for
civilian aircraft more than tripled.
Boeing had said earlier it received
a record 324 aircraft orders in July.
At the same time orders for autos
loggeu the biggest gain in five yeais.
Outside of transportation de-
mand was decidedly softer. Still up-
ward revisions to the data for June
as well as a pick-up in business in-
vestment plans shipments and order
backlogs suggested a strong under-
pinning for growth.
This report reinforces the mes-
sage that manufacturing growth is
picking up and is likely to support
stronger GDP growth in the second
half of the year said John Ryding
Chief Economist at RDQ Economics in
New York.
US stocks traded higher with the
Dow Jones industrial average reach-
ing an all-time intra-day high with
Boeing shares up 0.4 per cent. Prices
for US Treasury debt rose while the
uollai was flat against a basket of cui-
rencies.
Helping bolster investors spirits
the Conference Board said consumer
confiuence hit its highest level in
nearly seven years in August. A gauge
of households perceptions of the la-
bour market touched its best level
since July 2008.
A separate report however
showed house price growth continued
to slow in June. The S&P/Case Shillers
national house price index rose 6.2
per cent from a year ago the smallest
gain since November 2012 and down
from a 7 per cent rise in May.
P 23
Booming electiic cai sales unuei fiie in Noiway
P 24
US coal stocks could gain on Russia tension
>>Inside
P23
P18 P24
Monday
SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 | DHUL QAADA 6, 1435 AH
Inside
British funding fails to boost lending
Japan ghting costs of mercury treaty
Wipro plans expansion in Oman

editor@omanobserver.om www.omanobserver.om
Deal imminent on $2bn Omagine project
By Conrad Prabhu
MUSCAT A formal agreement on
the establishment of the $2 billion
Omagine real estate, tourism and en-
tertainment project, planned just off
Muscat International Airport at Seeb,
is at hand, according to its promoters.
Representatives of Omagine LLC, a
subsidiary of Omagine Inc a public-
ly tiaueu Belawaie 0SA fiim were
in Nuscat iecently to finalise aiiange-
ments aimed at paving the way for
the signing of two key pacts the
Development Agreement and Usuf-
ruct Agreement which are key to
kickstarting construction work on the
high-end scheme.
In a uisclosuie notification to
the Securities and Exchange Com-
mission (SEC) of the United States,
Frank J Drohan, President of Omag-
ine LLC, revealed that draft agree-
ments hau alieauy been finaliseu
with Omans Ministry of Tourism
with the documents now ready for
signature. It follows a series of
meetings held in recent weeks with
senioi Touiism Ninistiy officials
aimed at pinning down a date and
venue for the long-awaited signing.
According to Omagine, the actual
design and development stage of the
project can only be initiated once the
all-important Development Agree-
ment is inked by the two sides.
The contract between the Minis-
try of Tourism of the Government of
Oman and Omagine LLC governing the
development and ownership of the
Omagine Project is the Development
Agreement (DA). The Development
Agreement has been approved by all
the required ministries of the Govern-
ment of Oman. The DA must be signed
by Omagine LLC and the Government
of Oman in order to begin develop-
ment of the Omagine Project, the
company said in a statement.
The ambitious development is
proposed to come up on a 1 million
square metre beachfront site over-
looking the Sea of Oman approxi-
mately 10 kilometres from Muscat
International Airport. Conceptual de-
signs drawn up by Omagine envisage
a lavish development that integrates
various cultural, heritage, educational,
entertainment and residential compo-
nents.
The centrepiece is a high culture
theme park featuring seven pearl
shaped buildings, each approximately
60-feet in diameter, associated exhibi-
tion buildings, a boardwalk, an open
air amphitheatre and stage; open space
green areas; a canal and an enclosed
harbour and marina area; associated
retail shops and restaurants, entertain-
ment venues, boat slips and docking
facilities; a five-stai iesoit hotel, a foui-
star resort hotel and possibly a three or
foui-stai hotel; commeicial office builu-
ings; and shopping and retail establish-
ments integrated with the hotels. In ad-
dition, around 2,000 residential units
will be constructed for sale as part of
the prestigious development.
New York-headquartered Omagine
Inc has a 60 per cent ownership stake
in the project development company
Omagine LLC, while 25 per cent is
held by Royal Court Affairs.
The balance is held by CCC-Panama
(10 per cent) and CCC-Oman (5 per
cent), both wholly owned subsidiar-
ies of Consolidated Contractors Inter-
national Company SAL (CCIC), a mul-
tinational energy, infrastructure and
engineeiing fiim with aiounu 12u,uuu
employees worldwide.
Some of the largest banks in the
Middle East as well as prominent Eu-
ropean lenders are expected to pro-
viue pioject finance foi the piestig-
ious uevelopment. Pioject financing
is expected to be in place within 12
months after the signing of the Devel-
opment Agreement, according to the
promoters.
Together with The Wave, Mus-
cat and other high-end mixed used
schemes under development around
the capital city, the Omagine Project
is set to further underpin Muscats
appeal as a destination for tourism
and leisure investment, say industry
experts. (OEPPA Business Develop-
ment Dept)
Pearl-shaped buildings that will form the centrepiece of the $2bn
Omagine mixed use residential and leisure development planned near
Muscat International Airport.
Panasonic and Tata Group join
hands in water treatment
TOKYO Japans Panasonic will de-
velop a watei puiification system
together with Indias Tata Group, tap-
ping into a fast-growing market in
Asia, a media report said.
The electronics giant has devel-
oped a prototype of a device that
will detoxify harmful substances in
groundwater, making it potentially
safe to drink, the Japanese economic
daily Nikkei said.
The system, which is compact
enough be carried in a small truck,
has been designed to serve small ru-
ral communities in India where wa-
ter-supply infrastructure is underde-
veloped, the report said.
The prototype produces three
tonnes of drinking water per day
enough to supply 20 households of
average size.
Panasonic, which regards water
puiification technology as a pillai
of its new operations, and Tata will
work to lower the cost to less than
100 yen ($0.95) per tonne of water,
Nikkei said.
Tata, strong in the automotive and
steelmaking sectors, will offer its ex-
pertise and business networks in re-
examining design and procuring ma-
terials locally, the report added.
The two partners are aiming to
commercialise the system by March
2019, Nikkei said.
The value of water related busi-
nesses in Asia and Oceania is project-
ed to reach $90 billion in 2020, tri-
pling in a decade and topping Europe
as the largest regional market, the
daily said citing a private think-tank.
Nearly 80 per cent of the demand
will be related to water supply and
sewage treatment as rapid population
growth and industrialisation in India,
China and other emerging economies
are causing severe shortages of drink-
ing water in the region, the report
said.
}apanese watei tieatment fiim
Metawater has been entrusted
with the task of updating facili-
ties for Cambodias Phnom Penh
Water Supply Authority, Nikkei said.
In China, Japanese shipbuilder
Hitachi Zosen is developing low-cost
sewage treatment systems for mu-
nicipalities, using a technology that
breaks down nitrogen with microbes,
the daily added.
While European and US compa-
nies like Veolia Environment, Suez
Environment and General Electric
are leaders in the business of building
and managing water plants, Japanese
players are working to strengthen
their presence in Asia by capitalising
on unique competitive technologies in
watei puiification, Nikkei said. AFP
Aircraft demand spurs record gain
in US durable goods orders
An American Airlines Boeing 737 airplane takes off from a runway at
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington. AFP
The ambitious
development is
proposed to come up
on a 1 million square
metre beachfront
site overlooking
the Sea of Oman
approximately 10
kilometres from
Muscat International
Airport
18
OMAN/INTERNATIONAL
MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET
Wipro planning to expand
presence, hire more staff
By A Business Reporter
MUSCAT Wipro Ltd (NYSE:WIT), a
leading global information technology,
consulting and business process services
company, yesterday announced that it
plans to expand its workforce in Muscat to
meet increasing business requirements.
Wipro Gulf LLC, the entity established
in 2011 in Oman to serve local clients, has
been growing rapidly over the last 3 years,
delivering critical projects across Oil &
Gas, Aviation, Engineering, Banks and
Government sectors within the Sultanate
of Oman. Wipro Oman currently employs
70 professionals and has provided servic-
es to more than 25 clients across sectors.
Buoyed by the rising demand for services,
Wipro plans to double the headcount over
the next 12 - 18 months
Mukund Seetharaman, General Man-
ager and business head Gulf, Wipro
Ltd said, In continuation of our long-term
business outlook for Oman, we are seeing
a lot of interest from clients in the region
for services around business enablement,
simplification anu analytics. We aie com-
mitted to delivering world class solutions
and building on our existing footprint to
create new job opportunities in the local
market.
Wipro, a leading Information Tech-
nology, Consulting and Business Process
Services company, has a workforce of over
140,000, serving clients in 175+ cities
across 6 continents.
Pakistans production
of petroleum products
rises 8.35 per cent
ISLAMABAD The production of petro-
leum products rose 8.35 per cent during
fiscal yeai 2u1S-14 compaieu to the out-
put achieved a year earlier.
On a year-on-year basis, oil production
increased 1.31 per cent in June, according
to data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau
of Statistics (PBS).
The products that contributed to the
positive production growth included jet
fuel oil, up 6.36 per cent compared to its
output in 2012-13. Similarly, the output
of motor spirit (petrol) increased 5.58 per
cent while production of high-speed die-
sel rose 11 per cent.
Diesel oil and furnace oil also recorded
a rise of 52.08 per cent and 9.48 per cent
respectively in their production whereas
solvent naphtha registered output growth
of 12.19 per cent.
The products that recorded a negative
growth in production included kerosene
oil, down 2.32 per cent while output of
jute batching oil, liquefieu petioleum gas
(LPG) and lubricating oil decreased 20.08
per cent, 9.48 per cent and 0.10 per cent
respectively.
Meanwhile, on a year-on-year basis,
the production of kerosene oil was higher
by 19.5 per cent in June, the data revealed.
Similarly, diesel oil output surged 44.83
per cent and solvent naphtha rose 24.10
per cent.
The products that registered a fall in
June included jet fuel, output of which
edged down 1.18 per cent. Similarly, the
production of motor spirit fell 3.3 per
cent, high-speed diesel 1.33 per cent, lu-
bricating oil 13.86 per cent, jute batching
oil 41.67 per cent and LPG 7.84 per cent.
The countrys large-scale manufactur-
ing (LSM) output grew 3.95 per cent com-
pared to the previous year. The Quantum
Index Numbers of LSM stood at 121.66
points at the end of 2013-14 against
117.04 points in 2012-13.
In another development, the State
Bank of Pakistan has asked all banks to
prepare their own framework for con-
sumer protection.
The need for consumer protection
arises from asymmetry of power, infor-
mation and resources between banks and
their customers, said a circular issued by
the bank.
The circular said that if customers with
pooi financial knowleuge anu skills make
pooi financial choices, this will not only
leau to financial fiagility of that customei,
but on a macro level, will result in greater
market susceptibility to fraud and abuse.
This will tarnish customers trust in
financial maikets anu ultimately the play-
fielu foi the financial institutions will
shrink.
On the contrary, an effective Financial
Consumer Protection regime will empow-
er customers to obtain fair information
while enhancing their capabilities to make
infoimeu financial uecisions, ultimately
leading to a greater transparency and ef-
ficiency, saiu the SBP ciiculai.
In the wake of the financial ciisis, a
great deal of attention has turned to the
Consumer Protection agenda.
Internews
A woman sells fruit at the Central Market in Lima, Peru. Reuters
Co-op backs radical reform plans
LONDON Members of the Co-operative
Group endorsed a radical shake-up of its
board structure on Saturday, designed
to avoid a repeat of the mistakes that
brought Britains biggest mutual to its
knees, the group said.
A string of poor decisions at the super-
markets-to-funerals group, such as the ill-
fated 2009 takeover of Britannia building
society, culminated in it losing control of
its bank and a 2.5 billion ($4.15 billion)
loss last year.
Earlier this year, Paul Myners, a former
government minister, set out a raft of re-
forms he said were necessary to ensure
the groups survival. The biggest change
was ditching the Co-ops large board
drawn from regional co-operatives in fa-
vour of one containing professional execu-
tives.
Co-op Group Chairwoman Ursula Lid-
better said earlier this month that the pil-
lars of Myners proposals were retained in
the changes put to the vote, but the new
board would still include three directors
nominated by members.
The Co-operative Group members
have today voted in favour of a resolu-
tion on the adoption of a new Rulebook to
radically reform the groups governance
structure, a spokesman said.
The changes put to the members also
included the establishment of a council of
100 members to uphold the groups co-
operative principle, and introducing a one
member one vote structure. Reuters
19
OMAN/INTERNATIONAL
Bank Muscat extends lead support
to Oman restaurant awards
N0SCAT Bank Nuscat, the flagship
financial seivices pioviuei in the Sul-
tanate, has announceu leau suppoit to
0man Restauiant Awaius 2u14. The
bank's continuing suppoit to the an-
nual competition stems fiom its com-
mitment to piomoting touiism anu
the hospitality sectoi in 0man. The
awaiu is ieckoneu a benchmaik to
uiive up quality anu stanuaius at ies-
tauiants in Nuscat.
Following public voting, the top
thiee establishments in each of the
awaiu categoiies will be shoitlisteu
among the finalists fiom whom 14
winneis will be announceu at a gala
event. The finalists aie juugeu on key
aspects, incluuing the iange anu taste
of foou, ambience, oiueiing expeii-
ence, value foi money, seivice anu so
on.
Taiiq Atiq, AuN Caius & eBank-
ing, saiu: "Bank Nuscat is piouu to
continue the association with 0man
Restauiant Awaius 2u14, which ue-
fine a culinaiy benchmaik foi the hos-
pitality sectoi in 0man. As the nation's
leauing bank-
ing paitnei,
Bank Muscat
attaches gieat
i mpoi t ance
to initiatives
aimeu at con-
tiibuting to
the countiy's
piogiess anu
uevelopment
in all aienas,
i n c l u u i n g
touiism. Bank Nuscat iemains com-
mitteu to piomoting the touiism sec-
toi, which is witnessing significant ue-
velopments in the countiy."
Taiiq Atiq auueu: "Bank Nuscat
caius, which spell convenience anu
secuiity, is the piefeiieu moue of
payment in all leauing iestauiants
in 0man. The wiuest iange of caius
fiom Bank Nuscat enhances a fine
uining expeiience anu contiibutes
to piomoting the bianu 0man. The
bank's stiategy is to motivate a change
in consumei behavioui that makes
'payment by caius' both a habit anu
piefeience, theieby piomoting elec-
tionic payment in the countiy in line
with the goveinment's e-goveinance
initiative. To achieve this objective, the
bank focuses on innovative technol-
ogy anu new piouucts. We wish goou
luck to all the iestauiants vying foi
the awaius."
Time anu again, Bank Nuscat
launches novel campaigns anu piomo-
tions that pioviue value foi money as
well as cieate unique oppoitunities
that eniich life.
The bank encouiages the use of
caius which help inuiviuuals to uis-
cipline theii spenuing anu keep tiack
of all tiansactions thiough electionic
monthly statements.
Bank Nuscat caius pioviue con-
venience anu flexibility foi custom-
eis in theii uay-to-uay tiansactions at
shopping malls, iestauiants oi holiuay
abioau. Embeuueu with electionic
chip, the caius ensuie maximum pio-
tection anu peace of minu to Bank
Nuscat customeis.
Business Alert
Special ENI on Nissan Sentia 1.6S
MUSCAT As SBA celebiates theii 1u yeais of successful opeiations in 0man,
Nissan has iolleu out an aiiay of exclusive offeis on theii sleek iange of ve-
hicles with auueu benefits anu attiactions that will make puichasing exciting
anu fun foi theii valueu customeis.
Nissan 0man has intiouuceu a special ENI foi Nissan Sentia 1.6S. With an
ENI of R0 9S customeis will be entitleu to pay only 2u pei cent uown pay-
ment anu enjoy 6 yeais loan tenuie with the lowest inteiest iate. Eligible cus-
tomeis can now avail this unique ENI that will make theii puichasing conven-
ient anu woithwhile.
Nissan Sentia focuses on class-above uesign stanuaius insiue anu out. Au-
tomatic uual-zone climate contiol system with ieai passengei aii vents, navi-
gation system, ieai view cameia, intelligent key anu push engine stait, anu
leathei seats on selecteu mouels aie just some of the featuies Sentia intio-
uuces to the segment. Bowevei, all mouels benefit fiom the stanuaiu fitment
of soft inteiioi tiims, anu a wiue iange of safety equipment incluuing uual aii-
bags, ABS (anti-lock Biaking System), EBB (Electionic Biake foice Bistiibu-
tion), anu BA (Biake Assist).
The piesence of the new Nissan Sentia vehicles on the ioau is aptly
suppoiteu by Nissan 0man's woilu-class seivice facilities anu tiaineu man-
powei. The Nissan Sentia 1.6L anu 1.8L taxi offei uiiveis the spaciousness anu
comfoit of cais usually founu in the laigei segment, as well as technology usu-
ally associateu with much moie expensive cais.
The Nissan Sentia's lightweight bouy suiiounus an inteiioi offeiing class-
leauing ioominess. All passengeis can spieau out comfoitably whethei in the
fiont oi the ieai which boasts legioom to match mouels in the highei miu-
size seuan segment. Luggage is equally well accommouateu thanks to Sentia's
S1u-litie boot again, much biggei than mouels in its class anu matching
those in the miu-size seuan segment.
The Nissan Sentia comes stanuaiu with antilock biakes, stability contiol,
fiont-seat siue aiibags, full-length siue cuitain aiibags anu active fiont heau
iestiaints. Nost Sentia mouels come with ieai uium biakes, although ieai
uiscs aie an option.
Renault Fluence is an all-iounuei
S0BAIL Bahwan Automobiles, the sole uistiibutois of Renault vehicles in
0man has gaineu iave ieviews fiom auto fanatics in the iegion on theii Phase
2 Renault Fluence. The Renault Fluence builus on the comfoit anu ioomy in-
teiioi of its pieuecessoi but places the emphasis on technology anu uesign
enhancement with moie uynamic lines. Now, the new Renault Fluence is avail-
able acioss 0man with the new 1.6 16v 112 CvT X-Tionic automatic geaibox
anu the 2.u 16v 14S CvT X-Tionic Automatic geaibox.
The uesign of the fiont bumpei is boluei, with a laige lowei aii intake
that bioauens towaius the base: fog lights set against a gloss black suiiounu
have the effect of visually wiuening this lowei intake, giving the fiont a spoity
touch. Finally, wheel aich openings that aie two centimeties tightei than on
the pievious veision pioviues the new Renault Fluence with an even moie uy-
namic alluie.
The insiues of the heaulamp units have been iewoikeu in oiuei to convey a
moie expiessive anu moie upmaiket effect. The heaulight mouule is equippeu
with a lens, which concentiates the beam of light anu ensuies supeib qual-
ity illumination at night. The metal-effect 'eyeliu' anu uaik-colouieu heaulight
mask auu fuithei uepth to new Renault Fluence's look. The highei-enu equip-
ment levels aie uistinguisheu by the auuition of a seiies of gloss black tiim fea-
tuies, as well as biight-effect chiome.
The Renault Fluence is packeu with high-enu technologies uesigneu to
make uiiving simplei. The piincipal instiument insiue the cabin incoipoiates
a laige iounu LCB scieen, the main functions of which incluue a uigital speeu
uisplay anu the visual component of the paiking assistant function. White seg-
ments aiounu the ciicumfeience of the LCB scieen inuicate the settings of the
ciuise contiol anu the speeu limitei systems.
The multimeuia functions on the new Renault Fluence incluue hanus fiee
mobile phone connectivity anu auuio stieaming music with Bluetooth oi
with 0SB}ack connection. In a fiist foi the mouel, the new Renault Fluence
featuies a 4x2uW auuio system with a thiee-line uisplay anu an NPS-compat-
ible CB playei, }ack0SB sockets, iemote contiol on steeiing wheel anu Blue-
tooth. SB sounu by Aikamys is fitteu at the LE equipment level. In auuition,
this system has a iemote AS scieen anu uual tunei. Bose piemium iauio is
available as an option in the highei equipment at LE level.
The vehicle also offeis a iange of uiivei-assistance technologies, incluuing
the hanus-fiee key caiu foi no-touch locking anu unlocking of uoois, as well as
push-button ignition.
NcBonalu's celebiates local flavoui
NCB0NALB'S 0man (Al Bauu Restauiants LLC) announceu the launch of the
NcAiabia Kofta anu NcAiabia Ciispy Chicken, the latest auuitions to the popu-
lai NcAiabia family. The tasty NcAiabia Kofta sanuwiches featuies juicy beef
patties with tomato, fiesh ieu onions, caiiots, lettuce anu mayo wiappeu in
waim Aiabic flatbieau. Customeis who choose the NcAiabia Ciispy Chicken
sanuwich will enjoy a combination of Spicy NcChicken patties with tomato,
salau anu mustaiu mayo all in a flatbieau wiap. These uelicious new sanu-
wiches iepiesent NcBonalu's commitment to balancing its menu with a blenu
of iconic favouiites anu familiai local tastes.
Ali K Bauu, Bevelopment Licensee anu Piesiuent of NcBonalu's 0man,
commenteu: "At NcBonalu's, we aie committeu to pioviuing customeis with
new choices, which means balancing oui menu with options that suit oui cus-
tomeis' uiveise tastes. These exciting auuitions to oui menu offei a unique
take on a tiauitional Aiabic favouiite, which combines familiai flavouis in a
fiesh new way." These new choices complement NcBonalu's signatuie NcAia-
bia uiilleu Chicken sanuwich, which has been a favouiite on the NcBonalu's
0man menu foi many yeais. The classic NcAiabia combines giilleu chicken
patties toppeu with fiesh lettuce, tomato, onions anu gailic mayo, all wiappeu
togethei in a waim Aiabic flatbieau.
Focus on best of 0mani, intl cuisine
TBE seconu euition of Best Chef 0man, the biggest culinaiy competition in
0man foi amateui cooks anu aspiiing chefs, will highlight tiauitional 0mani
anu inteinational faie while showcasing the best of local culinaiy talent at the
9th Foou & Bospitality 0man fiom Septembei 9 to 11 at the 0man Inteina-
tional Exhibition Centie.
Best Chef 0man was fiist launcheu at 0manexpo's 2u1S euition of Foou &
Bospitality 0man, an initiative iesulting fiom the pioneei oiganisei's aims to
auvance the foou anu hospitality inuustiies by way of an enteitainment-cum-
euucation platfoim.
The competition, oiganiseu in coopeiation with 0man Touiism College, will
place paiticipants in a challenge baseu on skill, cieativity, piesentation, anu
talent wheie they aie iequiieu to piepaie a two-couise menu each unuei the
0mani anu inteinational menu categoiies.
Exhibition Nanagei foi Foou & Bospitality 0man Ammai Ahmau says, "We
aie pleaseu with the enthusiastic iesponse to Best Chef 0man in its inauguial
euition. This has uigeu us to continue it in this euition of Foou & Bospitality
0man anu make it a peimanent featuie of the show."
"This also uemonstiates the show's value to the inuustiy, which has been
iecogniseu since its fiist euition in 2uuS. We aie continuously finuing ways to
pioviue the best show possible foi oui visitois."
NuN to host Bino show
MUSCAT uianu Nall (NuN), the Sultanate's most populai shopping anu entei-
tainment uestination, in collaboiation with the 0S Embassy anu as pait of its
'0utieach Piogiamme', iecently oiganiseu a special evening of enteitainment
foi mall visitois.
The successful event, which incluueu enteitaining peifoimances by Ameii-
ca's uefacto Bluegiass Ambassauois the Big Billbilly Bluegiass Banu as well
as woilu famous puppeteei Kaien Konneith, maikeu the beginning of a sea-
son of enteitainment at Nuscat uianu Nall with numeious shows anu cam-
paigns to be hosteu ovei the next foui months.
In the upcoming months, staiting with Septembei, Nuscat uianu Nall will
be hosting a laige numbei of events; the fiist of which will be an amazing ani-
mationic Bino Show.
This is to be followeu by an Banuiciafts Exhibition by PACI, the thiiu In-
jaz Stuuent Piojects exhibition, an enviionment awaieness campaign by the
Enviionment AssociationES0, anu the thiiu evei uiugs awaieness cam-
paign by the R0P. Also in Septembei, NuN is to play host to the fiist official
alumni gatheiing foi the uCC aiea foi the 0niveisity of South Caiolina Alumni
Club.
In the following month a joint cancei awaieness campaign will be oigan-
iseu by the 0man Cancei Association anu NuN foi the seconu time. In Novem-
bei, NuN, in collaboiation with the Lawyei's Association, will once again be
collecting uonations foi those who aie in piison uue to unpaiu uebts. In auui-
tion, they will also be showcasing some intiiguing cases that have taken place
in iecent yeais.
Soon aftei, National Bay celebiations will be hosteu at the mall in collaboia-
tion with the R0P. The last of the events to take place in Novembei will be an
awaieness exhibition on the Biioshima anu Nagasaki Bombings.
Tariq Atiq
Tablet sales slow as PCs finu footing
SAN FRANCISC0 Tablets won't
eclipse peisonal computeis as fast
as once thought, accoiuing to stuuies
by maiket tiackei Inteinational Bata
Coipoiation (IBC).
IBC has cut its foiecast foi ship-
ments of tablets anu "two-in-one" ue-
vices combining tablet anu laptop fea-
tuies to 2SS.1 million, saying giowth
woulu be about half of what was oiigi-
nally pieuicteu.
"When we look at the global pic-
tuie, it woulu be easy to say that the
tablet maiket is slowing uown," saiu
IBC ieseaich uiiectoi foi tablets }ean
Philippe Bouchaiu.
"But, when we stait uigging into
the iegional uynamics, we iealize that
theie is still a goou appetite foi this
piouuct categoiy."
While shipments in matuie mai-
kets such as Noith Ameiica anu West-
ein Euiope weie foiecast to iemain
flat, those in emeiging iegions weie
expecteu to climb oveiall by 12 pei
cent.
Neanwhile, the outlook foi pei-
sonal computei (PC) shipments was
less uieaiy than oiiginally envisioneu,
uue in pait to businesses ieplacing
machines poweieu by outuateu Win-
uows XP softwaie.
IBC foiecast that woiluwiue PC
shipments woulu fall by S.7 pei cent
this yeai insteau of by six pei cent as
it hau pieuicteu eailiei.
uiowth in shipments of uesktop
anu laptop computeis in matuie mai-
kets woulu be moie than offset by ie-
uuction in emeiging maikets such as
Asia, Latin Ameiica anu the Niuule
East, accoiuing to IBC.
"Piogiams to ieuuce PC piices,
such as Winuows 8.1 with Bing, have
helpeu to impiove PC shipments in
some segments," saiu IBC senioi ie-
seaich analyst }ay Chou. "Neveithe-
less, the piospects foi significant PC
giowth in the long teim iemain tenu-
ous, as useis incieasingly see PCs as
only one of seveial computing uevic-
es."
People seem to be waiting longei
to ieplace PCs anu aie incieasingly
tempteu by alteinate computing plat-
foims, accoiuing to IBC. A sepaiate
IBC iepoit this week estimateu that
moie that 1.2S billion smaitphones
woulu ship woiluwiue this yeai in a
jump of neaily 24 pei cent fiom the
1.u1 billion shippeu last yeai. AFP
Monday, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 | DHUL QAADA, 6, 1435 AH
CLASSIFIED SECTION:
Ali al Maashari: 99639264 ali.almashari@omandaily.om
Mohammed al Rashdi: 99841230 m.alrahdi86@yahoo.com
DIRECT: 24649595 FAX : 24649590
e-mail: classified@omandaily.om

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1. HOOPOE SMART
CARD SERVICES
2. AL FAHAD
TRANSLATION
SERVICES
STOP!!!
Good News to all our
dear customers: Our
PRO will visit your
officehouse to collect
documents for typing or
clearing and will deliver
the same on completion.
Our services include
typing all forms
related to Ministry
of Manpower,
Immigiation, e.g.,
visas, renewal of
visas, all services
related to Ministry of
Commerce & Industry,
e.g., ieseivation of
commercial names,
amendment of activities
of the company anu
all services related to
Royal Oman Police;
Cancellation of
visas at the Nuscat
International Airport
for repatriation of
employees; Directorate
ueneial of Tiaffic; anu
0man Chambei of
Commeice & Inuustiy.
Translation of legal
uocuments. Neuical
reports, commercial
agency agreements,
literature, catalogues
(Languages: Aiabic,
English, Fiench, Spanish
& Italian)
Our Address: Ruwi,
Adjacent to Gulf
Tianspoit Co. (uTC).
Telephones: 2479SSS1
24794286
uSN: 992S1Suu
9677717u9S9S98S8
Nanageu by: Salim
Khalfan al Baui
(SS yeais of expeiience
in management)

PESTCONTROL
OMANCO. LLC.
PROFESSIONALS
inPest Control Service, Bedbug
Treatment, Rodent
Treatment, SnakeTreatment
andTermiteTreatment
(PreandPost Construction).
Tel: 24787606 / 24787503
Fax: 24787607
E-mail: pcomctom@omantel.net.om
P. O. Box: 565, Wadi Kabir,
Postal Code: 117,
SULTANATEOFOMAN
Supplyof
Pesticides,
Gel (Cock-
roaches),
Public Health
chemicals,
Agriculture
chemicals,
Snakerepel-
lent, Rodent
baits and
other insect
repellent from
Agropharm
LtdUK.
Available on very GOOD prices
HP 1510 3 i n 1 Pr i nt er
RO 12.500 onl y
HP 3515 3 i n 1 Pr i nt er
RO 20.900 onl y
LOGI TECH M100 Mouse
RO 1.800 onl y
LOGI TECH K120 Keyboar d
RO 2.800 onl y
AII HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark,
Samsung Cartridges also available
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!!
G
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COMPUTER SUPPLIES
Ruwi: 24792792
comsuply@omantel.net.om
SPECIAL Rates on
New Cars & 4 WDs
RENTING & LEASING
Tours and Airport Transfer
Tel: 24582663
GSM: 95859497,
Fax: 24582664,
abcrent@omantel.net.om
1. AC maintenance
anu seivicing.
2. Fiiuge, washing
machine anu uish
washei iepaiiing.
3. Painting and
cleaning seivices.
4. Electrical
anu plumbing.
97u142S4,
994472S7, 24Su4281.

All bianu new cais
94475478, 24478505
24478589
MORNING STAR
RENT A CAR
SAVILLS
QUALITY homes
for rent throughout
Capital Area Muscat.
Contact: 24692151.
savills.om

(NEW 3 STUREY
VILLAS foi saleients
WADI KABIRJAL
KHUWAIR), (Shops
offices foi ient Al
Khuwaii) (Flats foi
ientWaui Kabii).
965963438.

For Rent For Rent
FLAT at Waui Rabait,
S iooms + sitting
ioom. Shop at Al
Nobaila Inuustiial 14x4
sqm. 97889SS1,
96264uu9.

TW0 iooms flat with
hall + 2 toilets, behinu
Al Ahli Bank, Al
Khouuh. 9418664S,
99S79S1u.

1 BEBR00N flat neai
uhubia Inuian School.
997S47u6.

FLAT 1 BBK with
AC neai Chuich
Baisait. 921u7267,
9SS47496.

SINuLE beuioom
available in Rex Roau
suitable foi bachelois.
99889S9u.

FLAT at Al Ansab.
92488SS8,
969992u1.

BRANB new two
beuioom flat at Baisait
available foi ient.
994498u1.

ONE stuuio fuinisheu
beuioom in Al
Wattayah with open
hall, kitchen, two
stoies, anu bathioom.
Contact 99S77992,
99SS1SS9.

NARBLE polishing &
ciystalisation builuing
cleaning flooi, flooi
polishing, caipet, sofa
shampooing, pest
control, anti termite,
shifting, maintenance.
99Su427S.

AL MATANI
International for
cleanliness provides
cleaning contract to all
sectois. 97S79uuu,
97811111.

FRIENDS
MANPUWER: Filipino
housemaius anu all
kinus of woikeis.
24489268 Tel:Fax:
244781SS.

KBALIFA Al-Sinani
Manpower
labouieis & housemaiu
from Indonesia, Kenya,
0ganua anu othei
countiies. Al Suwaiq.
To communicate
2671SSuu,
2671S6uu.

Manpower
Good News
AYURVEDIC
Treatment, Yoga
Massage &
slimming.
92Su498u
2447S28u.

Situation Vacant
LEADING transporting
company requires
Accountant & Credit
Controller having 2
years relevant
expeiience. Please senu
iesume: jobscaigomct
gmail.com

PRIVATE Driver for
0mani family with valiu
uiiving licence.
922Su282.

INDIAN Cook for Omani
family with expeiience
in Aiabic foous.
922Su282.

TEACHERS required
for Primary Level -
Naths & Science anu
Montessori Ielts
ceitificate is necessaiy.
Contact: 99SSS961.

UMANIJArabic male
Singer for Qurum
Beach Botel. Senu Cv
ayouboghanna
hotmail.com Contact:
247u4994,
247u7217.

NEW Medical Ployclinic
in Salalah neeu
DoctorsJ
PaediatricianJ
CynaecologistJ
DermatologyJ
Internal-PbysicianJ
Dentist anu (4) Filipino
Nurse. 988168uu.

REQUIRED Chef (Cook)
excellent in Shami-
Aiabic foou. Contact:
99S11SS8.

INDIANJFilipino
waiter, at least S yeais
expeiience in
Restaurants and
Bospitality fielu.
99u2299u, Fax:
268427uu. E-mail:
azzanalkhatei-
iestauiant.com

SITE Engineer Civil.
Graduate in Civil
Engineeiing with S+
yeais of expeiience.
Piefeiably in 0man
with valiu uulf uiiving
licence. Inteiesteu
candidates send resume
to hialjoou-oman.com

MARKETINC Manager
foi heavy uuty
machineiies sale. Nale
with uiiving licence,
can speak English,
Aiabic. E-mail: kelvin.
xunhotmail.com
96uu942S XuNing.

SCB00L in Al Bail
(Seeb) wanteu IT
teacher (female).
24S41266
96996427.

al-haditha
centre
Telephone: 24595951/1414, Fax: 24597979.
AUTO REPAIR
CENTRE
Quality Repairs & Maintenance of all
types of Cars and Heavy vehicles
(ROP approved Grade A Workshop)
Tourism
ARE you looking foi
a voyage with youi
family on a legacy-
boat, incluuing
buffet. 0nly with R0
1S-. Foi moie
information visit us
on www.alainain.
com. 928u86S6.

VILLA at Al Amerat (Al
Nahuha). 9691Suuu.

0FFICES - shops -
showioom, stoie
in NBB Ruwi.
9212S648,
99119699.

FANILY flats in Al
Bustan, NBB, Al Falaj,
Al Khuwaii, Al Bail anu
Seeb. 9212S648,
96uSS889, 9S2SuSuu.

B00SE for rent in
Quiayat Bayy al Baii,
consists of S iooms.
9979u47u.

NEW flat foi ient,
Al Sahai Builuing. S
beuiooms + 1 Sitting +
kitchen + S bathiooms.
99S26197.

2 BEBR00N villa at
NSQ, fully fuinisheu
with ieasonable ient.
Contact 2448u487,
99SS9942.

F0RNISBEB flat anu
rooms in a good
location near Al
Khouuh Co Souq
994224SS,
98SSSS8u.

LAND for rent
Industrial plot at
Naabela foi ient,
2,4uum with S77m
showioom, iueally foi
supeimaiket, stoie oi
gaiage, nice location.
992468SS.

2 BEBR00NS flat fiom
ownei neai Al uhubiah
Bealth Centei. R0 S4u.
99S46417.

FLAT in Baisait, 1
beuioom, sitting ioom,
kitchen, 1 toilet, R0
1Su. 94u11266

FLATS at Al Khuwaii,
1 & 2 Bioom with A
Cs anu Walja-Ruwi.
99SS618S

Accom Available
ONE ioom with bath,
small kitchen, hall in
Bamiiya. R0 1SS
incluuing electiicity
watei. Contact:
99489S48.

Lux ur y Car s
BMW750il Mercedes430SL
onhourly&dailybasis
withchauffeur.
Contact:
Contact: 99337159/99359628
QURIYAT CLEANING
SERVICES
Contract and one
time cleaning pest
control professional
anu affoiuable
iate.9692674S
98S79u2u.

Guest House
Q0R0N BEACB
B0TEL 24S64u7u.

REAL ESTATE C0
requires Broker,
Male & female,
full-time & part-
time, expeiience
is not impoitant.
99S42667.
eastuuqmgmail.
com

SBARINu
accommodation
available foi executive
bachelois neai CBB
aiea. 996S1214.
A FLAT 2 beuiooms,
2 bathiooms, living
ioom, kitchen +
stoie foi R0 Suu at
Al uhubiah Noith
neai to Al uhubiah
Bealth Centie. Please
call: 9SS478S4,
92277u4S.

TESTINu anu
Commissioning
Electrical
Engineer with
expeiience & Q.S.
Electiical. Contact:
uu9689S2u66S6.
Fax: 24Su4uS4.

CHINA Blue Star Int
Travel & Tourism
is the Fiist Chinese
Travel company in
0man. We aie seivice
foi: Woiluwiue
Aii Tickets &
Boliuays, City Touis
& Bay Excuision,
China Business
Arrangement, Visa,
Boliuays & Botel
Booking.
Foi booking contact us:
Tel: +968-2449S871,
+968-2449S872
Fax: +968-2449S87S
uSN: +968-9S891888,
+968-9S892888,
+968-9S894888
RECEPTIONIST: 1S
yeais expeiience.
Merchandisers:
6 months - 4
yeais expeiience
in mobile phone
sales. 0manis with
English speaking
ability shoulu apply
to: abhijit.haluei
jumbo-oman.com oi
call on: 998412Su.

REQUIRED
expeiienceu
Manager for a Travel
Agency and
expeiienceu
Marketing Manager
for Petroleum
equipment. Contact:
9S891888,
9S896888.

ABAB 2uuu foi
Rent Cais 24
houis. 9S2uS481,
9S2u4S9S, 24487827.
Car for Rent
FENCEB inuustiial
plot (1uuu m
2
) in
Al Nisfah Noith in
Baushei (seconu
phase), behinu
Khanko incluues
ioom, kitchen, toilet
and non-roofed
room (one rial for
metie) negotiable.
961227uu.

21
CLASSIFIEDS
Situation Wanted Situation Wanted Situation Wanted
ENGLISH Teacher
Cambridge University
ceitifieu (Celta, NA, B.Eu)
English Teachei, S7,
Inuian, 1S teais ESL
expeiience (Colleges anu
Schools) on visit is
looking foi ESL jobs
(colleges oi schools)
Contact:99S126u4.

AvAILABLE a Sudanese
with a bacheloi uegiee at
Neuical Laboiatoiies
with 6 yeais expeiience
anu a licence.
9618u164.

FILIPIN0, female, 29,
bacheloi of science in
business auministiation,
majoi in management
accounting with NBA
units, S.S yeais 0man
expeiience in accounting,
2.S yeais stoie opeiations
anu maiketing, 2 yeais
banking, with uiiving
licence.9982144S.

ACC00NTANT having S
yeais plus woiking
expeiience up to
finalisation, looking foi
suitable place, N0C
available. Contact:
9S244u86.

IT ENuINEER, BSc
Computei Science, +2
yeais 0man expeiience,
0mani uiiving licence
NCSE, CCNA, NCITP.
Contact:
94u676S7.

PROJECT co-oiuinatoi,
Inuian female
expeiienceu in oil-fielu
company, S yeais.
Contact: 99629SS2.

AN Iiaqi electiical
engineei, long expeiience
in constiuction woiks
anu factoiy maintenance
getting electiical woiks
anu uiiving licence,
looking foi suitable
placement. Eng Emau
989S9u4S.

INBIAN female, NTech
in Inuustiial Bio-
technology (BTech
Biotech) with
specialisation in safety
in piocess plants, uesign
of biological tieatment
piocess plant technology
& excellent acauemic
achievements, seeks
placement. Contact:
979u641u.

INBIAN male, Naths
Teachei, NSc (Naths),
BEu (Naths), SET
(Naths), 1S yeais
teaching expeiience (1u
years Entrance Training
with Coaching Centie,
Piof P C Thomas, Tiissui,
Keiala, Inuia) & 4 yeais
with ueneial Euucation
Bept, Keiala), seeking
suitable placement in
teaching. Contact:
uu91 9847447791.
E-mail:
piofantonyjoseph
gmail.com Ref in 0man:
9S21S724, 2449u184.

CCNA ceitifieu anu 1u
years experience in
computei haiuwaie
maintenance and
netwoiking, computei
opeiatoi anu
piogiamming assistance
(ITI). Piesently on visit
visa, seeks suitable
placement. E-mail:
jesineigmail.com
99286S82, 96966241.

IT Giauuate (BE systems
auministiation) with 1
year experience in
teaching college stuuents,
seeking suitable position
in euucationtiaining
inuustiy. 9S414u91.

INBIAN male, 24, NSc.
Constiuction Pioject
Nanagement (0K),
giauuate in Civil
Engineeiing anu also
uiploma in Quantity
Suiveying. Looking foi
suitable placement.
Contact: 9117S87S.
E-mail: nahez2421
gmail.com

BE Nechanical Engineei,
Inuian passpoit holuei,
2S, male, S yeais
expeiience in Bubai,
looking foi job
placement. 96117612,
92uu4S69. e-mail:
kevinpanickeihotmail.
com

FILIPINO female, 29
bacheloi of science in
business auministiation
majoi in management
accounting with NBA
units, S-S yeais 0man
expeiience in accounting
2.S yeais stoie opeiations
anu maiketing 2 yeais
banking with uiiving
licence. 9689982144S.

S0BANESE male S1
yeais, BSc uegiee in
Computei Science, S
years experience with
the 0niteu Nations in
Logistics, 0peiations,
Auministiation &
Infoimation
Nanagement, Resiuence
in 0man with valiu
0mani uiiving licence
available in Nuscat.
Contact: 91uS99u9,
9699682S.

NALE, NSc Lonuon
uegiee, IT suppoitei, IT
engineei on visit visa,
boin anu biought up
0man, stuuy in 0man,
Begiee 0K, one yeai
expeiience. Contact:
991S619192u9S8S1.
(Inuian National)

2S YEARS Oman
expeiience in jewelleiy
salesman looking job,
language known Aiabic,
English, Balouchi, Binui
anu Nalayalam. Contact:
928SS22S, 912S718S.

INBIAN male 29, BE
Nechanical Engineei, S
years experience in
fabiication of pipe &
steel stiuctuie piojects,
looking fio a suitable
placement. Contact:
9611S46S.
jijoiajuu8Syahoo.com

INBIAN female, 26 yeais,
Chaiteieu Accountant,
Finance Nanagei, high
acauemic qualifications &
goou expeiience, looking
foi suitable placement.
Contact: 92SSu1S1,
2478S7S7, mf96uS91
gmail.com.

S0BANESE male, 22, BBN
uegiee in inteinational
business, (expoit &
impoit etc).9S82SSu2.

0NANI nationality has
goou expeiience anu
ielations in the fielu of
public ielations in
goveinment uepaitments
anu othei authoiities foi
moie than 1u yeais.
9SSSS16u, 9226SSu2.

BARBWARE anu Netwoik
Technician with S yeais
expeiience, goou
experience in security
system,
looking foi suitable
placement. Contact:
99uSS2S7.

NECBANICAL Engineei, 2
yeais of expeiience in
watei pipelines anu
plumbing, seeks suitable
job, (N0C available)
94uu89u8 e-mail:
mu.niyamathu7gmail.
com.

SENIOR Accountant
Commeicial, Inuian male,
S4 yis, NBA (Finance) 9
yeais in 0man, valiu
0mani uiiving licence,
N0C available, ieauy to
join immeuiately. Contact:
9242S174.

PAKISTANI piofessional
civil engineei. Seeking a
Senioi Level Nanagement
placement in 0man
Sauui Aiabia. Su yeais
expeiience in uulf anu
Pakistan with consultants
constiuctois in
executing and managing
laige builuing piojects.
Piesently woiking
in 0man. N0C available.
Please Contact: uu968-
99S7u179.

STRUCTURED cabling
technician, with 2 yeais
expeiience on voice uata,
fibei, telecom, EPABX,
CCTv, looking foi suitable
placement: 9Su8S48u.

BE mechanical engineei,
Inuian passpoit holuei, S
years experience in
Bubai, seeking
ieplacement. 0n visit
visa. Contact: uu968
96117612 92uu4S69,
e-mail:
IB-kevinpanickeigmail.
com.

INBIAN female teachei:
BA, BEu having 6 yeais
experience in teaching
Ku-1 to giaue S all
subjects, English, Naths,
Science anu Social, seeks
suitable psotion in school
cuiiently on visit visa.
Contact: 98u94899.

Y00Nu Egyptian
Telecommunication
Engineei (S yeais
expeiience) with Cisco
ceitifieu netwoik
piofessionaliouting,
Niciosoft ceitifieu IT
piofessional, foiefiont
TNu fiiewall 2u1u anu
studying Red hat
Enteipiise LinuxRBCE
seeks suitable placement.
99789S61.

BE Civil Engineei, Inuian
male with S yeais uulf
experience and having
valiu 0mani uiiving
licence,
seeks suitable job.
Contact: 9888S962.
e-mail: muthu_muscat
yahoo.com

BSC (Civil Engineei)
about one yeai
experience in the same
fielu seeks suitable place.
Contact: 9S929S1u.

C0RP0RATE
Communications
Nanagei, masteis in
jouinalism & mass
communication, masteis
finance, excellent
English wiiting, euiting,
copy wiiting, 0man exp
in oiganisational ,
coipoiate & maiketing
communication, CSR
piogiammes, meuia
ielation, piess ieleases,
speeches. N0C.
Immeuiate joining.
98179887.

BANuLABESBI male, 27
yeais, electiician & office
boy, knowing English,
Aiabic, Binui, seeks
suitable job. Contact:
98942u2S.

SRI LANKAN, Electiical
Engineei, 7 yeais
expeiience in Telecom
anu 0il anu uas inuustiy,
woikeu in Etisalat anu
Aiamco powei piojects.
Looking foi a suitable
placement. Contact:
+9472229uu42,
947S8SSuS71 e-mail:
ahameu182uu4gmail.
com

SENIOR Electiical
Engineei & NEP
co-oiuinatoi looking foi
senioi position with
consultants. vast
expeiience in electiical
designing and
supeivision in laige
piojects. Available foi
woik fiom 0ctobei
onwaius. Contact:
92489727.

Mai l i ng Addr ess: OBSERVER CLASSI FI EDS SECTI ON,
P.O. Box 974, Musc at , P.C. 100.
Location: OEPPA HEAD OFFICE, Medinat Al Alam,
Near Ministry of Information.
24649 593, 594, 594, 595, 596, 597
& OEPPA Ruwi Office, Next to Dhofar Bldg,
Behind Ruwi Police Station. 24785668
FREE
INFORMATION
ABOUT ISLAM
If you would like
to know more
about
Islam, please
call:
Tel : 99425598,
96050000,
99353988,
99253818,
99341395,
99379133, For ladies:
99415818,
99321360, 99730723
Or visit:
www.islamfact.com
CBENICAL Engineei,
Inuian, female, with 1
yeai expeiience, seeks
suitable placement.
9147S482.

INBIAN female, 24,
BBA, uCC BL, uulf
expeiienceu aumin
piocuiement sales &
mktg. Also aiiline
experience as cabin
ciew seeks suitable
placement.
9S2u11SS.

Al Nahdha United Trading Company-association
announces its intention to clear out a shop
for selling aluminiumslides, accessories and
alloys and, thus all companies or persons
having any objection or demands shall contact
99353632 within 10 days of the announcement.
After this period, the Company is not bound to
respond to any objection or demand.
ANNOUNCEMENT
AL Bikmani foi
HAJ and UMRAH
With a host of
seivices incluuing
the following: Biiing
luxurious coaches,
aiianging weekly
tiips, piepaiing
visas foi expats
at cost-effective
piice, incluuing
tianspoit, housing,
meals anu visits to
shiine locations.
Land and air trips
weekly. (99S11S1u,
24S66u16, 99S61982,
997u7248, 99S22124.

Umrah/Haj
For Sale
A LANB in the Sea Roau
in Al Remais aiea 6S1
sq m.
Piice: R0 28,uuu.
A lanu behinu the
ueiman 0niveisity, open
fiom thiee siues. Aiea
6uu sq m.
Piice: R0 41,uuu.
A lanu at the enu of the
Nuscat Expiess Roau,
besiues a Felaij Tank
Coinei.
Piice: R0 S2,uuu.
996uu9u9.

USED Porta Cabin.
0man Floui Nills (SA0u)
is intenuing to sell two
useu poita cabins. 0ne
of these can be useu as
a hall anu the othei one
as a toilet anu showei.
Those who wish to buy
may submit theii quote
before 17/08/2014
and inspect the same
which is available in the
piemises of the company.
Foi fuithei uetails kinuly
contact: Mr Pavan GSM:
93219663 between 7
am to 3.30 pm Sunday
to Thursday.

Lost
N0NEERA Apaz Abueeja
has lost Ethiopian
Passpoit No EP 269Su61.
Finuei please hanuovei
to R0P.

N0BNNEB Shahzau has
lost Pakistani Passpoit
No LA S14Su81. Finuei
please hanuovei to R0P.

Change of Name
I, SUNDEEP Agaiwal
(holuei of Inuian Passpoit
No F79S6714) son of
Nahenuei Pal Agaiwal
having permanent
iesiuence in 11AF-S1,
Nehiu Nagai, uhaziabau,
0P, (complete postal
auuiess in Inuia) anu
piesently iesiuing in P
B No S1, P C No S27, SIE
Sohai, 0man (complete
postal auuiess in 0man)
intenu to change my name
fiom Sunueep Agaiwal
(olu name) to Sunueep
Aggaiwal (new name)
foi all piactical puiposes.
Any objection towaius my
name change may please
be communicateu to
Embassy of Inuia, Nuscat,
Biplomatic Quaiteis, Al
Khuwaii, P Box No 1727,
Postal Coue 112, Ruwi,
Sultanate of 0man.

22
LEISURE
Hospital. . . . . Board. . . . . . . Emergency
Royal . . . . . . . 24599000. . . 24590491
Health Services Department
Muttrah. . . . . . . 24797602
Quriyat . . . . . . . 24845001. . . . 24845003
SQH, Salalah. . . 23211555. . . . 23211151
Police. . . . . . . . . 24603988. . . . 24603980
Al Nahda . . . . . . 24831255. . . . 24837800
Ibn Sina. . . . . . . 24876322. . . . 24877361
Nizwa. . . . . . . . . 25439361. . . . 25425033
Al Rustaq. . . . . . 26875055. . . . 26877186
Sumayil . . . . . . . 25350055. . . . 25350022
Izki . . . . . . . . . . . 25340033. . . . 25340033
Haima . . . . . . . . 23436013. . . . 23436055
Sohar . . . . . . . . . 26840022. . . . 26840099
Al Buraimi . . . . . 25650855. . . . 25652319
Sur . . . . . . . . . . . 25440244. . . . 25461373
Tanam . . . . . . . . 25499011. . . . 25499033
Masirah. . . . . . . 25404018. . . . 25404018
Ibra. . . . . . . . . . . 25470533. . . . 25470535
Adam. . . . . . . . . 25434167. . . . 25434055
Bidiya . . . . . . . . 25483535. . . . 25483535
Ibri . . . . . . . . . . . 25491011. . . . 25491990
Saham. . . . . . . . 26854427. . . . 26855148
Khasab . . . . . . . 26830187. . . . 26830187
Dibba. . . . . . . . . 26836443. . . . 26836443
Burkha. . . . . . . . 26828397. . . . 26828397
Sinaw. . . . . . . . . 25474338
Hospitals
CART OONS
STONE SOUP by Jan Eliot
GARFIELD by Jim Davis
CALVIN AND HOBBES by Bill Watterson
ADAM @ HOME by Brian Basset
IF ITS YOUR
BIRTHDAY:
The start of the
coming year
will create a
certain amount
of confusion in
your mind about
the direction
your private and
professional life
should take.
Some activities
you will be glad
to continue but
on the other
hand there will
be others, which
you would
rather forget.

Y
O
U
R

S
T
A
R
S

SCORPIO
October 23-
November 21
TAURUS
April 21-
May 20
GEMINI
May 21-
June 21
CANCER
June 22-
July 21
LEO
July 22-
August 21
VIRGO
August 22-
September 22
LIBRA
September 23-
October 22
SAGITTARIUS
November 22-
December 21
CAPRICORN
December 22-
January 20
AQUARIUS
January 21-
February 19
PISCES
February 20-
March 20
ARIES
March 21-
April 20
If you make up your mind today to
concentrate on a pressing prob-
lem, you will still finu a satisfac-
tory solution. Dont let anybody
interrupt your thought processes.
You will meet a person recently
arrived from overseas with whom
you have much in common. Fur-
ther meetings will be most enjoy-
able and the foretaste of a long-
lasting relationship.
A casual remark overheard in
public could give you a clue about
some activities you had heard
about but were not ready to be-
lieve.
If you want to avoid being bur-
dened with other peoples trou-
bles, you must discourage their
attempts to come to you with
their tales of woe.
You will have an early opportu-
nity to further a friends career
without any sacrifices on your
part, and you will be glad of the
chance to help him.
Everything should run today ex-
actly as planned, although your
partner may have some objec-
tions if you are getting things all
your own way.
If you take the trouble to observe
other peoples experiences you
will be able to learn a great deal
from them and save yourself
many a headache.
You will have to finu a way of liv-
ing within your means. It will en-
tail certain economies and miss-
ing some luxuries but in the end
you will feel much happier.
An unexpected invitation
will give you an insight into the
lives of people completely re-
moved from your usual social
sphere.
You will have to be satisfieu
for a while with praise for
your work instead of the
tangible appreciation you feel you
deserve.
A sum of money due to you may
be delayed. If the person who
does it is otherwise reliable, a
gentle reminder may be all that is
necessary to make him pay up.
You will finu on closei acquaint-
ance that a person born under
PISCES could eventually become
a very congenial companion, so
give the friendship time to de-
velop.
Online Editors Choice
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
ACROSS
1 Is a current forename (5)
6 Because its a bad thing to go at
half pace (5)
9 Bad information? (7)
10 Class-conscious Poles starting
to be obsequious. (S)
11 He soon gets out a tin opener
(5)
12 As drawn up for some new
esplanade? (5)
13 Employees money for bread?
(7)
15 You do it, you can be sure! (3)
17 Anger, as shown in the theatre
(4)
18 If you live somewhere in Herts,
look out! (6)
19 In many a part of Asia (5)
20 Seemupset about a church plot
(6)
22 Bowto fly loose, almost, out of
control? (4)
24 What to do or die in the
attempt (3)
25 Not one of the dirtier jobs (7)
26 However ancient, it can be
oiled (5)
27 Where a novel prisoner went
North in a fuddled daze (5)
28 Small number in a space
station (5)
29 Lacking faith in Castro (7)
30 The head of security is not a
nice person! (5)
31 Steer the short way (5)
DOWN
2 Something to eat and use
cleverly (6)
3 Chain two boys together (6)
4 0fficei's contiibution to a
vegetarian diet (3)
5 Poetically pastoral part of
Piccadilly, perhaps (5)
6 Place a bird on the water (7)
7 Theyre accommodating in
more ways than one (4)
8 Its not so hot in the nick (6)
12 Fliers directions to a confused
pal (5)
13 The stage at which mushy peas
are just about hot (5)
14 Something that floats, as the
river rises around a companion
(5)
15 As saved, only to be eaten? (5)
16 Singer highly thought of (5)
18 For many, a good read (5)
19 One given a patient reception
in surgery? (7)
21 Brownie, perhaps, a long time
on the river (6)
22 Rowresulting when you save
only about one pound! (6)
23 Theyre bitter and can be
solemn (6)
25 Figures to be of service (5)
26 Brooding deity? (4)
28 Came together with little force
(3)
EASY PUZZLE
ACROSS
1 Fight (5)
6 Alloy (5)
9 Compose (7)
10 Treatise (5)
11 Change (5)
12 Mad (5)
13 Comfort (7)
15 Eggs (3)
17 Item(4)
18 Bomb-hole (6)
19 Practises boxing (5)
20 Morals (6)
22 S American country (4)
24 Personal pronoun (3)
25 Dream(7)
26 Avarice (5)
27 Essential (5)
28 Vision (5)
29 OT book (7)
30 Creature (5)
31 Pursue (5)
DOWN
2 Box (6)
3 Attack (6)
4 Cooking vessel (3)
5 Surplus (5)
6 Jackets (7)
7 Depend (4)
8 Veer (6)
12 Applauds (5)
13 Dices (5)
14 Recess (5)
15 Different (5)
16 Row(5)
18 Wept (5)
19 Shade of red (7)
21 Three times (6)
22 Die (6)
23 Claims (6)
25 Allude (5)
26 Jokes (4)
28 Thus (3)
YESTERDAYS CRYPTIC
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 1, Fa-U-st 6, Pass-E 9,
Phar-a-oh 10, Pad-re 11, Log-
OS 12, Holly 13, Sing-les 15, Sic
17, Us-E-S 18, Breath 19, Brood
20, Teapot 22, Bali 24, E-LL 25,
Starter 26, Te-NT-h 27, Gelid 28,
Sneak 29, Not-iced 30, Islam 31,
By-Ron.
DOWN: 2, Aramis 3, Sprogs 4,
The 5, Trios 6, Po-lla-rd (rev.) 7,
Ah-O-y 8, Stop it 12, Heart 13,
Suite 14, Ne-pal 15, Sad-at 16,
Ch.-air 18, Booth 19, Boredom
21, Elders 22, BR-Andy 23, Legato
25, Strip 26, Tina 28, Seb.
YESTERDAYS EASY SOLUTIONS
ACROSS: 1, Spoon 6, Catch 9,
Refusal 10, Trait 11, Plead 12,
Catty 13, Capital 15, Leg 17, Elan
18, Divine 19, Sheen 20, Astute
22, Char 24, Ray 25, Millers 26,
Dream 27, Rabid 28, Avoid 29,
Condone 30, Harem 31, Drags.
DOWN: 2, Portal 3, Origin 4, Net
5, Mural 6, Captain 7, Ally 8,
Craven 12, Cache 13, Cedar 14,
Party 15, Lithe 16, Gears 18,
Denim 19, Stardom 21, Sahara
22, Clever 23, Arming 25, Maids
26, Dice 28, And.
CROSSWORD
Regulation
Commodities Update
23
PERSPECTIVE
By Pierre-Henry Deshayes
M
INISTERS in Norway a major and rich oil-producing
country are under increasing public pressure to reduce
perks and tax breaks for booming electric car sales.
Its become a problem, said Erik Haugstad, a bus driver in the
Oslo region who complains about the numerous electric cars clog-
ging bus lanes, which they have the right to use in Norway.
The cars are also exempt from urban toll payments or fees at
public parking spaces, where they can recharge batteries without
cost.
But above all, they are exempt from Norways sky high sales tax-
es and VAT.
Norway brought in the generous incentives to cut back on
gieenhouse gas emissions fiom tiaffic, which accounts foi 1u pei
cent of total emissions in the Nordic nation.
The policy has been so successful that S2,uuu electiic cais aie
now on the road by far the highest rate per capita in the world, in
a countiy with a S.1 million population.
Im a bus driver and I want to transport my passengers as
quickly as possible. So, Id like electric cars to leave the bus lanes,
where theyre getting in my way, Haugstad said.
These delays have a
cost for society. Time lost
by thousands of our pas-
sengeis in tiaffic is fai
greater than that gained
by a few dozen electric
car drivers.
He said the cars can
create a vicious circle
tired of being stuck in
tiaffic, bus useis coulu
be tempted to buy an
electric car themselves,
worsening the conges-
tion problem.
Electric cars already
represent 85 per cent
of tiaffic in bus lanes uuiing iush houi, accoiuing to a stuuy by the
Norwegian Public Roads Administration on a busy stretch of road
outside Oslo.
Its a subject we discuss very often with colleagues during
lunch break. Many of them are far more aggressive and dont meas-
ure their words as much as me, Haugstad said.
No decision has been made so far, but it looks increasingly likely
that authorities will take action to unclog congested areas espe-
cially during rush hour.
In the meantime, electric car sales keep growing. From the pop-
ular Leaf by Japans Nissan to high-end US-made Tesla S they have
accounteu foi 1S pei cent of new cai sales since the beginning of
2u14, fai aheau of the iest of the woilu.
In March, the Tesla became the highest selling car in a single
month in Norways history, despite its relatively high price.
Although a basic mouel costs about 6u,uuu euios ($79,uuu), it
still sounds like a bargain considering that a price including taxes
would be roughly double.
The popularity of electric cars has caught the authorities off
guaiu, as they expecteu to keep the incentives in place until 2u17,
oi until they numbei Su,uuu.
Booming electric car sales
unuei fiie in Noiway
By Yuka Obayashi and Minami
Funakoshi
J
APANS government lobbied hard
for a global pact that limits mer-
cury use and to name the result-
ing treaty after Minamata the site
of a homegrown industrial disaster
fiom the 19Sus when the toxic metal
poured into a river poisoning thou-
sands.
But a year after the Minamata
Convention on Mercury was agreed in
southwestern Japan Japanese indus-
tries from smelters to cement makers
aie uigging in to fight stoiage costs
and emission curbs the still-pending
treaty would impose.
The international pact so far only
iatifieu by the 0niteu States as othei
nations take time to iron out domestic
regulations would require countries
to ban nearly all exports of the poi-
sonous material.
Industry pressure in Japan could
prevent the government doing much
more than the bare minimum to com-
ply with the treatys legal framework
leaving the door open to at least some
mercury exports from the country
and weakening the global crackdown
on the metals use.
At issue is how far Japan will go
under the more business-friendly
Liberal Democratic Party of Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe towards shut-
ting down a system that has made its
economy Asias largest net exporter
of the material typically churned out
as a by-product.
If Japans mercury exports are
scaled back to virtually nothing as
proposed industries will need to se-
cure disposal sites for tonnes of the
poisonous metal in an earthquake-
prone country where storing hazard-
ous waste has become an especially
fraught issue since the Fukushima nu-
clear crisis.
Japans effort to play a leading role
in the international drive to curb mer-
cuiy use uates back to 2u1u when the
now-opposition Democratic Party of
Japan was in power pushing an image
of the country as a green powerhouse.
But unlike the United States and
the European Union Japan has not
unilaterally banned exports of mer-
cury widely used in small-scale gold
mining operations in developing
economies such as Indonesia and
linked to environmental and health
risks. That was largely due to worries
over storage.
Our top priority is to make and
change laws so that we can comply
with the treaty said Shuji Tamura
head of chemical substance control at
Japans trade ministry.
Debate on storage and issues such
as the investment needed to reduce
meicuiy emissions by coal-fiieu pow-
er plants waste incineration plants
and cement factories is taking shape
in three government advisory panels
due to submit recommendations by
year-end. Legislation is expected to be
intiouuceu as eaily as 2u1S.
The Japan Mining Industry Asso-
ciation which represents big smelters
like JX Nippon Mining & Metals a unit
of JX Holdings Inc and Sumitomo Met-
al Mining in July asked the govern-
ment for a limited change to current
regulations.
One government panel estimates
Japan would need to secure total stor-
age space equivalent to around the
size of an Olympic swimming pool
foi meicuiy waste collecteu ovei Su
years if it limits exports.
That assumes Japan would keep
iecycling about Su tonnes of the met-
al each yeai as it uiu in 2u1u using
that meicuiy in items such as fluoies-
cent lights.
With the chance that storage could
be dotted around the country indus-
try lobbyists say convincing local
communities to host disposal sites
would be a major challenge in one of
the worlds most seismically active
regions. Japans government expects
to spenu up to $2u billion to builu
storage facilities for radioactive waste
fiom the 2u11 nucleai uisastei.
No one wants to even talk about
mercury disposal facilities said Yasu-
shi Fujiwara president of Nomura
Kohsan a fiim that once opeiateu one
of Asias biggest mercury mines. The
company has emerged as the hub of
Japans mercury trade and is its only
specialist in recycling the metal.
Japans net mercury exports were
69 tonnes in 2u12 higher than any
other country in Asia and worth
about $6 million according to the
United Nations.
That climbeu to 7S tonnes last
year but compaiative figuies aie not
available for the whole region.
Nomura Kohsan expects to be put
in charge of mercury storage in Japan
but warns that imposing high costs
coulu backfiie. "What I'm most afiaiu
about is seeing a rise in illegal dump-
ing of mercury due to higher disposal
fees Fujiwara said.
Japans steel industry is also lob-
bying against broad emission regula-
tions that would push up its costs.
Steel plants were responsible for
25 per cent of Japans mercury emis-
sions in 2u1u second only to cement
factories government data shows.
The Minamata treaty requires the
cement industry to cut emissions but
not steel producers although some
members of one government panel
are expected to push for steelmakers
to take measuies such as installing fil-
tering equipment.
The cement industry which uses
steel slag anu ash fiom coal-fiieu
power plants containing mercury as
raw materials also asked the panel
last month to set rules that will not
impose an excessive burden.
The Minamata treaty aims to re-
duce the use of mercury in small-
scale gold mining in Asia South
America and Africa. The metal is used
in small mines to separate gold from
ore creating toxic fumes and pollut-
ing soil and river systems.
)apan industry figbting costs of mercury treaty
A
NEW report from the US En-
ergy Information Administra-
tion highlights the extraordi-
nary rise in US liquid fuel production
over the past few years and how it
has helped off-set unplanned supply
disruptions which are running at the
highest level since the Iraq-Kuwait
wai some 24 yeais ago.
The report has done a very good
job in clearly describing what we
already knew, namely that oil mar-
kets since 2u11 have become less
price sensitive to actual and poten-
tial supply disruptions. Especially to
those numerous geopolitical events
that has taken place since the Arab
spring and the overthrow of Libyas
Nuammai uauuafi in 2u11.
Fiom 2u11 up until this }uly, 0S
production of liquid fuels crude
oil, gas liquids and biofuels grew
by more than four million barrels
per day. Of this, three million barrels
came from the growth in crude oil
production, primarily from new un-
conventional production techniques
such as shale oil extraction.
The rise in shale oil production
is currently expected to continue up
until 2u2u aftei which time it will sta-
bilise before falling the next decade.
Continued high prices or a reduction
in extraction cost from continued in-
novations in production techniques
will be required for this to happen.
Turning to supply disruptions,
the EIA estimates that global un-
planned supply disruptions averaged
S.2 million bu uuiing the fiist seven
months of 2u14. 0f these, a vast ma-
jority came from Opec producing
nations, especially Libya, Iran and
Iraq. Libya saw its production col-
lapse last August when rebels began
a year-long harbour blockade which
has only now begun to be lifted. Irans
piouuction was cut back in 2u12
following the introduction of West-
ern sanctions in response to the un-
certainty over the countrys nuclear
intentions.
Talks between Iran and a group
of Western countries together with
China and Russia have been ongoing
since last year and today, the Russian
Foreign Ministry in a statement ex-
pressed some optimism that the talks
could lead to an eventual lifting.
The result of increased US produc-
tion and subsequent rise in exports
of products have triggered reduced
demand for foreign imports, espe-
cially from producers in Africa. This
has helped to create a supply glut in
the Atlantic basin which is the main
reason why crude oil has come un-
der some selling pressure in recent
weeks and why Brent crude oil has
seen the price of spot crude fall below
uefeiieu foi the fiist time since 2u1u.
Brent crude oil, the current bench-
mark for the price setting of a major-
ity of global oil transaction has now
been aveiaging $11ub since 2u11.
While we have seen price spikes and
major sell-offs during this time, vola-
tility has continued to come down as
the increase in non-Opec production
has helped reduce the risk in the mar-
ket.
The chart shows how the oil price
has behaved during numerous geo-
political events since 2u11 anu what
is telling is that peaks have become
more and more shallow with big
producers such as Saudi Arabia hav-
ing been able to meet any potential
short falls and thereby help maintain
a steady price. Following each peak,
speculative traders such as hedge
funds were forced to exit loss-making
positions and this, at least up un-
til the current sell-off, has been the
main driver behind the price slumps.
{UEPPA Business Development
Dept]
(The author is the Head of Com-
modity Strategy at Saxo Bank)
How US found an extraordinary
solution to oil supply risk
The Minamata treaty aims to reduce
the use of mercury in small-scale gold
mining in Asia, South America and Africa
By Ole S Hansen
24
INTERNATIONAL
HONG KONG China Southern Airlines,
the countiy's biggest aiiline by fleet size,
said it swung to a net loss of 1.02 billion
yuan ($16S.7S million) in the fiist half of
the year owing to foreign exchange losses.
The figuie compaieu to a net piofit of
302 million yuan a year earlier, based on
Chinese accounting standards, the airline
saiu in a filing to the Shanghai stock ex-
change. Revenue foi the uuangzhou-baseu
aiiline iose to Su.21 billion yuan, up 9.1S
pei cent fiom the pievious yeai, it saiu.
The iesults weie in line with a compa-
ny forecast in July of a net loss of between
u.9 billion yuan anu 1.1 billion yuan, owing
to slower growth in the Chinese economy
and exchange losses.
State iival Aii China this week iepoiteu
a S8 pei cent uiop in fiist-half net piofit,
using Chinese accounting standards.
L0NB0N Euiopean piivate equity fiim
Biiugepoint has bought Biitish foieign ex-
change pioviuei Noneycoip foi 212 million
($351.8 million), the fund said.
Noneycoip is owneu by S0F Investments,
which was spun out of Royal Bank of Scotlanu
in 2u1S as pait of the state-owneu bank's
plans to sheu non-coie uivisions.
Noneycoip focuses on both small busi-
nesses anu piivate consumeis thiough seiv-
ices that incluue an online payments anu tele-
phone platfoim, as well as buieaux ue change
at Beathiow anu uatwick aiipoits. The gioup
is aiming for a bigger share of the foreign cur-
rency and money transfer business, where
banks have tiauitionally been majoi playeis.
Noneycoip hau gioss income of 97.2 mil-
lion in 2u1S anu hanuleu moie than 1u bil-
lion of currency trades across almost 100 cur-
rencies.
K0ALA L0NP0R Nalaysian conglom-
eiate Sime Baiby saiu its net piofit fell
nine pei cent yeai-on-yeai in the fouith
quaitei as a setback in its inuustiial uivi-
sion offset gains in its key plantation busi-
ness.
The woilu's laigest listeu palm oil pio-
uucei by acieage saiu net piofit foi the
Apiil-}une quaitei was 1.2 billion iinggit
($S8u million), uown 9 pei cent fiom the
same quaitei last yeai.
Foi the full financial yeai the gioup ie-
coiueu a S.4 billion net piofit, also uown 9
pei cent fiom the pievious financial yeai,
but exceeding its target of 2.8 billion ring-
git.
"The gioup has been able to withstanu
a tough maiket enviionment in the past fi-
nancial yeai," gioup Chief Executive Bakke
Salleh said in a statement.
China Southern
swings to net loss
Biiugepoint buys foiex
pioviuei Noneycoip
Sime Darbys Q4
profit down 9pc
Business Briefs
urrell 1orchlo (R) helpx u cuxtomer plck out flowerx ut the Sun Frunclxco
Flower Murt ln Sun Frunclxco, Cullfornlu. 1he future of more thun 100 flower
buxlnexxex ut the hlxtorlc Sun Frunclxco Flower Murt hungx ln the bulunce ux Iox
Angelex-buxeJ reulty group Kllroy Reulty Corp lx plunnlng on purchuxlng the
Flower Murt property. - AFP
LONDON Com-
mercial laundry com-
pany Beienusen Plc
iepoiteu a tepiu 8 pei
cent iise in fiist-half
piofit but saiu it ex-
pects a yeai of "goou
unueilying piogiess"
as cost cuts and efforts
to boost piouuctivity
take effect.
The company,
which also rents linens
and uniforms, made
a number of invest-
ments in the fiist six
months to impiove
opeiations, anu signeu
up piocuiement con-
tiacts at lowei iates amiu a slump in consumei
spenuing that huit business foi its clients.
Beienusen, which counts Coca-Cola Euiope,
Tesco Plc anu Aiibus uioup Nv among clients,
blameu a stiong pounu anu weakness in Euiopean
cuiiencies foi a 1 pei cent uiop in ievenue to S17.S
million in the fiist half enueu on }une Su. Excluuing
the impact of cuiiency fluctuations, ievenue giew S
pei cent. "We still see oppoitunity to not only im-
piove oui opeiational peifoimance, but also the
maigin in some of the company's (maikets) wheie
we aie uoing less well than oui best piactice coun-
tiies," Chief Executive Petei ventiess saiu.
ventiess saiu he expecteu maigins to impiove by
2u-4u basis points acioss Beienusen's business this
year. Berendsen cautioned the currency translation
would continue to hurt results but said its underly-
ing piogiess woulu be in line with the expectations.
"Foieign exchange, investment anu above the
line one-off costs are
maskeu in fiist-half by
unueilying opeiation-
al impiovement anu
maiket effectiveness,"
Oriel Securities ana-
lyst Bectoi Foisythe
said.
Second-half
will see smoother
piogiess." Beienu-
sen, which iepoits its
iesults in pounus, in
Febiuaiy cautioneu
that weakness in the
euio, the Banish kio-
ne and the Swedish
kiona coulu weigh on
its iesults. The pounu
iose moie than S.S pei cent against the uollai in the
fiist six months of the yeai. 0BS analysts saiu they
expecteu Beienusen's full-yeai ievenue to take a 2.2
pei cent hit uue to cuiiency fluctuations.
Analysts on an aveiage aie expecting ievenue of
1.u6 billion foi the full yeai, accoiuing to Thomson
Reuteis IBES. In the fiist half, Beienusen's pie-
tax piofit iose to Su.6 million ($8S.9u million) fiom
46.7 million a yeai eailiei.
The company took a 1.2 million hit uue to one-
off costs associated with the closure of a laundry
plant in the 0niteu Kinguom as well as stait-up ex-
penses ielateu to its flat linen business outsiue the
countiy. Fiist-half opeiating maigin acioss Beienu-
sen's coie businesses Woikweai, Facility anu 0K
flat linen iose to 18.S pei cent befoie amoitisa-
tion of customei contiacts, fiom 18.2 pei cent a yeai
eailiei. uioup opeiating maigin impioveu by 1u ba-
sis points to 1S.9 pei cent. Reuteis
Beienusen's fiist-half piofit up
LONDON Britains much-herald-
eu scheme to encouiage banks to
make moie cieuit available to house-
holds and businesses failed to boost
lenuing in the seconu quaitei, uata
showeu, as banks focuseu on meeting
toughei capital uemanus fiom iegu-
latois. The Bank of Englanu launcheu
its Funuing foi Lenuing Scheme (FLS)
in August 2u12 as a key pait of gov-
ernment efforts to stimulate the
economy, with banks having since
uiawn uown a total of 4S.7 billion
($75.8 billion) of funding.
The scheme was tweakeu last No-
vember to end incentives for mort-
gage lending with the intention of
peisuauing banks to focus on busi-
nesses, but uata fiom the Bank of
England on Thursday showed that
net lenuing to businesses fell by S.9
billion in the seconu quaitei of this
yeai, wiuening fiom a 2.7 billion
uiop in the fiist quaitei.
Lending to small businesses fell
by 4uu million, though that was an
impiovement on a uecline of 719 mil-
lion in the fiist quaitei.
Biitain's biggest banks have cut
back on lenuing anu sheu assets to
meet tough iules on capital that weie
imposeu by iegulatois to pievent a
iepeat of the 2uu8 financial ciisis.
Banks have also pointeu to a lack of
demand from borrowers.
"Funuing foi Lenuing is failing to
help the thousanus of Biitish busi-
nesses that neeu finance but can't
access it," saiu }ames Neekings,
co-founuei of Funuing Ciicle, one of
Biitain's biggest online lenuing plat-
forms.
"Insteau, alteinative souices of fi-
nance, like peei-to-peei lenuing, aie
pioving to be a bettei way foi the
goveinment to get finance thiough to
Biitish businesses," Neekings auueu.
Fewei smallei businesses in Biit-
ain are using traditional forms of
bank financing, such as oveiuiafts,
loans and credit cards, a survey
showed on Thursday.
The data showed that the biggest
declines in lending came at state-
backeu Lloyus Banking uioup anu
Royal Bank of Scotlanu, wheie net
lenuing contiacteu by 2.1 billion anu
1.S billion iespectively.
The decline at Lloyds was driven
by a 2.4S billion uiop in lenuing to
laige companies. Lenuing to small
businesses iose by S84 million,
making it the scheme's biggest pio-
vider of credit to small businesses.
RBS, which is majoiity owneu by
the British government, cut lending
to big business by 1.1S billion anu to
small businesses by S6u million.
The biggest rise in net lending came
at Santanuei 0K, which lent 2S4
million to businesses, including an
inciease of 99 million foi small busi-
nesses. The next-highest lender was
new bank Alueimoie, with net lenu-
ing totalling 118 million. Reuteis
Britisb funding scbeme fails to
boost business lending
NEW Y0RK Beaten-uown 0S coal
company stocks may ieceive a lift in
coming weeks if ueteiioiating iela-
tions between Russia anu the West
push Piesiuent vlauimii Putin to shut
off Euiope's natuial gas supply.
The ciisis in eastein 0kiaine has
embolueneu Euiope anu the 0niteu
States to impose bioau sanctions on
Russia. But Euiope finus itself in a pie-
caiious position, with almost a thiiu
of the natural gas the continent con-
sumeu in 2u1S flowing fiom Russia,
accoiuing to the 0S Eneigy Infoima-
tion Administration.
Euiope's heighteneu conceins
about eneigy secuiity coulu pioviue
an oppoitunity foi 0S coal companies,
which have been hurt by declining do-
mestic consumption, to step in anu fill
the gap as wintei appioaches. Noie
than half of 0S coal expoits alieauy
ieach Euiope.
"Expoit uemanu will ceitainly in-
crease, with the situation in Russia
anu 0kiaine having a big impact on
Euiope with iespect to natuial gas,"
said Ernie Cecilia, chief investment
officei at Biyn Nawi Tiust in Biyn
Nawi, Pennsylvania.
"In the shoit-teim, theie's no ques-
tion that a iise in expoit uemanu will
be helpful to coal stocks."
Yet significant heauwinus at home
woulu likely make any comeback in
coal companies' stocks shoit-liveu
and hard-fought. Even as the broader
stock maiket has iebounueu fiom the
lows seen uuiing the financial ciisis,
coal stocks have languisheu.
Shaies of Peabouy Eneigy Coip,
the biggest 0S piouucei of coal, have
ueclineu moie than 27 pei cent since
Naich 9, 2uu9, when the S&P Suu
hit its financial ciisis nauii, closing at
676.SS points.
While the S&P has neaily tiipleu
from that day, the Dow Jones US Coal
Inuex has lost 7.7 pei cent in that time.
The last thiee-plus yeais have been
paiticulaily bau foi the coal inuex,
which has lost neaily thiee-quaiteis of
its value since Apiil 2u11.
The inuex incluues just thiee
stocks Peabouy, C0NS0L Eneigy
anu Alpha Natuial Resouices. C0N-
S0L, which is moie uiveisifieu anu
derives around a third of its revenue
fiom natuial gas, is the only one up
on the yeai so fai. It has gaineu S.S pei
cent, but still lags the wiuei S&P Suu,
which is up moie than 8 pei cent.
Peabouy is uown aiounu 2u pei
cent this yeai, anu Alpha Natuial has
swooneu 4S pei cent.
CONSOL is the only one of the
thiee expecteu to show a piofit in the
next two years, according to Thomson
Reuteis StaiNine, which tiacks coipo-
iate piofit estimates.
Competition with natuial gas,
the emergence of renewable energy
technologies and new environmental
regulations contributed to a fall in US
coal piouuction in 2u1S to the lowest
levels since 199S, accoiuing to the En-
eigy Infoimation Auministiation.
Bomestic coal consumption is slat-
eu to uecline by 2.7 pei cent in 2u1S,
as feueial stanuaius iequiiing powei
plants to ieuuce aii pollution expe-
uites a shutteiing of coal powei plants.
0S coal consumption peakeu in 2uu7
anu has ueclineu neaily S7 pei cent
since then, EIA uata shows.
That may tempei any gains in coal
stocks, both in scale anu uuiation.
"I just uon't know if any of this
the situation in Russia anu 0kiaine
woulu be sufficient enough to ovei-
come significant piessuie in the uo-
mestic maiket," Cecilia saiu.
Eneigy stocks have oveiall ie-
mained favourable for investors, but
not necessarily those with money in
coal. The S&P Suu eneigy sectoi is out-
peifoiming the wiuei inuex with a 9.S
pei cent gain so fai in 2u14.
"We look at the uomestic eneigy
lanuscape, anu the abunuant supply
of natuial gas has impacteu coal uia-
matically, said Timothy Rooney, vice
piesiuent of piouuct management anu
ieseaich foi Nationwiue Funus.
Generally, energy in the US is a
good long-term investment, but thats
really being driven by oil and natural
gas."0n Fiiuay uata showeu consumei
spenuing fell off u.1 pei cent in }uly.
While that came aftei a stiong }une,
analysts saiu it unueiscoieu a key
weakness in giowth, iooteu in the lack
of wage gains since the economic cri-
sis.
"News that consumei spenuing fell
in }uly ianks as a majoi-league uisap-
pointment," saiu Sal uuatieii at BN0
Capital maikets.
"The main culpiit appeais to be
weak wages. Aveiage houily eainings
have haiuly incieaseu aftei inflation,
while ieal pei capita uisposable in-
come is up a miuuling 1.9 pei cent."
There has been a certain acclima-
tion to geopolitical iisks" in the mai-
ket, saiu Evaiiste Lefeuvie at Natixis.
Even so, "it coulu always come back,"
he noted.
Nichael }ames of Weubush Secu-
iities saiu the maiket was still full of
playeis making beaiish bets, only to be
pulleu back in by positive news.
"We'ie uue foi a pause. Is theie any
catalyst to cause that." he askeu.
The coming shoit tiauing week
after the Labour Day holiday today
brings a raft of new data on the US
economy's peifoimance in August,
cappeu by Fiiuay's monthly iepoit on
employment.
That will be watched closely for evi-
uence foi oi against Feueial Reseive
Chaii }anet Yellen's aigument that con-
tinueu slack in laboui maikets meiits
holding off on any increase in the fed-
eial funus iate, at zeio since late 2uu8.
ReuteisAFP
US coal stocks could gain on Russia tension
1ruJerx work on the floor of the New York Stock Fxchunge. - AFP
Wall St Week Ahead
Competition with natural gas, the
emergence of renewable energy
technologies and new environmental
regulations contributed to a fall in
US coal production in 2013 to the
lowest levels since 1993
Monday
Inside
Chelseas Costa must respect opponents
Atletico struggle past Eibar for rst win
India spin to win against England

P26
Murray, Djokovic sail on in US Open
P28
Day, Palmer share lead at Deutsche Championship
>>TENNIS >>GOLF
P27 P28
P26 P26
FOOTBALL
MANCHESTER Manchester City
manager Manuel Pellegrini said his
side were entering the international
bieak uissatisfieu with theii stait to
the season following a surprise 1-0
home defeat by Stoke City.
City were well short of the form
that delivered the Premier League
title to the Etihad Stadium last sea-
son, falling to a fine seconu-half goal
from former Manchester United for-
ward Mame Biram Diouf in Satur-
days game.
Pellegrini confessed his target
had been to reach the international
break with a maximum return from
Citys opening three games; an aim
that seemed well within their grasp
following an impressive win over
Liverpool on their last home outing.
It is always serious to lose three
points at home, he said. It was
very important for our team to try
and win nine points before the in-
ternational break. AFP
LOME Emmanuel Adebayor has
been recalled by Togo to play for
the national team foi the fiist time
in some 18 months as they get their
African Nations Cup qualifying cam-
paign underway next week.
The 30-year-old Tottenham Hot-
spur striker had refused call ups
foi last yeai's Woilu Cup qualifieis
in the wake of a public spat with
coach Didier Six following the 2013
Afiican Nations Cup finals in South
Africa. Adebayor was critical of the
former French internationals work
even after Togo broke new ground
by reaching the Nations Cup quar-
tei-finals foi the fiist time aftei sev-
en previous failed attempts.
Six has departed and Togos new
coach Tchakala Tchanile named
Adebayor for the Group E matches
against Guinea on Friday and Ghana
on Sept. 10 in a list released by the
Togo Football Federation on Sunday.
The tall forward has been a talis-
manic influence foi Togo stietching
back a decade now, having been the
catalyst when the small west Afri-
can countiy weie suipiise qualifi-
ers for the 2006 World Cup in Ger-
many. Reuters
Pellegrini
expects better
Togo recalls
Adebayor
FOOTBALL
Spurs stroll gets Reds back on track
LONDON Liverpool reasserted
their Premier League title credentials
with a breezy 3-0 win at Tottenham
Hotspur yesterday as Mario Balotelli
made his return to English football.
After Raheem Sterling had put
Liverpool ahead in the early stages,
Steven Gerrard scored a penalty and
Albeito Noieno netteu his fiist goal
for the club to give Brendan Rodgers
victory in his 100th game as manager.
Balotelli started for Liverpool after
his 16 million ($26.5 million, 20.1
million euros) move from AC Milan
on Monday and he produced an en-
terprising display before being with-
drawn in the 62nd minute.
The result saw Liverpool bounce
back from a 3-1 defeat at Manchester
City in their previous outing and end-
ed Tottenhams 100 per cent start to
the campaign under new coach Mau-
ricio Pochettino.
Back in England after a 19-month
stint in Milan, former City striker Ba-
lotelli almost crowned his return with
an early goal, only for Hugo Lloris to
parry his header from Daniel Stur-
ridges cross.
The 24-year-old Italy strikers
finishing was to piove waywaiu
throughout the afternoon, but it did
not prevent his side from taking con-
trol of the game.
They made the breakthrough in
the eighth minute. Sturridge released
Jordan Henderson with a ball down
the iight flank anu the Englanu miu-
fieluei playeu a low cioss acioss the
box that Sterling tucked away at the
far post.
After Emmanuel Adebayor had
lobbed over and Liverpool goalkeeper
Simon Nignolet hau paiiieu a fieice
drive from Nacer Chadli, Gerrard dou-
bled the visitors lead from the spot
in the 49th minute after Eric Dier had
held back Joe Allen.
Moreno sealed victory on the hour
with a memoiable fiist goal foi Livei-
pool, dispossessing Spurs substitute
Andros Townsend on halfway and
surging into the box before drilling a
shot into the bottom-right corner.
In the days other early game, As-
ton Villa won 2-1 at home to Hull City
to preserve their unbeaten start to
the campaign.
Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas
Weimann put the hosts two up at
half-time at Villa Park, with Nikica
Jelavic replying for previously unbeat-
en Hull in the 74th minute.
Arsenal visit promoted Leices-
tei City latei yesteiuay foi theii fiist
league game since striker Olivier
Giroud was ruled out for up to four
months with a broken tibia.
Chelsea are guaranteed to go into
the international break on top of the
table after an engrossing 6-3 win at
Everton on Saturday, in which close-
season signing Diego Costa scored
twice. Mame Biram Diouf claimed
the only goal as Stoke City pulled off
a surprise 1-0 win at Manchester City,
while Angel di Maria made his debut
for Manchester United in a 0-0 draw
at Burnley. AFP
Liverpools Steven Gerrard (left) celebrates scoring a penalty for their second goal with Daniel Sturridge (right) during the English Premier League
match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in London. AFP
Goals from Agbonlahor, Weimann
help Aston Villa edge Hull
BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom
Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas We-
imann scored as Aston Villa extended
their unbeaten start to the Premier
League season with a 2-1 victory at
home to Hull City yesterday.
Villa had been dumped out of the
League Cup by third-tier Leyton Ori-
ent in miu-week, but fiist-half effoits
from Agbonlahor and Weimann got
them back to winning ways and end-
ed Hulls own unbeaten record.
Nikica Jelavic replied for Hull with
16 minutes to play, but although it
prevented Villa from opening the sea-
son with three clean sheets for the
fiist time since 19uu, Paul Lambeit's
side held on for the three points.
It was a second successive set-
back for Steve Bruces Hull, who were
knocked out of the Europa League by
Belgian side Lokeren on Thursday,
and a ninth win in 10 games for Villa
against the East Yorkshire club.
Both sides made seven changes
to their starting XIs, with captain
Ron Vlaar and Fabian Delph among
the players returning for Villa, and
Michael Dawson making his Hull de-
but in place of the suspended James
Chester.
Belph was awaiueu his fiist Eng-
land call-up on Thursday and he al-
most marked the achievement with
an early goal, sending a shot against
the crossbar from the left in the sec-
ond minute after being found by Wei-
mann.
Twelve minutes later Villa made
the breakthrough, with Agonlahor
tucking away a low strike from Wei-
mann's lay-off to iegistei his fiist goal
at Villa Park in 2014. AFP
Gabriel-Agbonlahor
Van Gaal demands more
from spluttering ManU
BURNLEY Louis Van Gaal admit-
ted Manchester United are playing
well below the standards he de-
mands after his spluttering side were
held to a 0-0 draw by Burnley on Sat-
urday.
Van Gaal heads into the interna-
tional bieak still waiting foi the fiist
victory of his United reign after two
draws and a defeat in the Premier
League, as well as a humiliating loss
at third-tier Milton Keynes Dons
in the League Cup. Managers often
complain about the fiist inteina-
tional break, resenting the intrusion
that interrupts their schedule and
momentum before it has barely had
chance to pick up speed.
But van Gaal could be forgiven for
ielishing the oppoitunity to iefine
his plans for United over the next
two weeks following their latest lack-
lustre effort against a Burnley team,
who cost just 5 million to assemble.
The former Netherlands boss had
already warned it will take several
months at least to fix the fallen giants
following the ill-fated reign of David
Moyes and he offered a distinctly un-
impressed review of Uniteds current
status after they failed to break down
newly-promoted Burnley.
Van Gaal, whose team will be
stuck on two points their worst
start since 2007 until they face
promoted Queens Park Rangers on
September 14, admitted: We dont
look world-class at the moment.
We shall have to wait and believe
it will happen. We shall see where we
are in a month or so.
EXPENSIVE OVERHAUL
However, having scanned the
fixtuie list to ieveal games against
Leicester City and West Ham United
before the end of September, the
Dutchman will expect his team to
have hoisted themselves towards the
right end of the table sooner rather
than later. AFP
26
SPORT
Djokovic, Murray sail on, so does Serena
NEW YORK Novak Djokovic and
Andy Murray stayed on course for a
mouth-wateiing 0S 0pen quaiteifinal
showuown on Satuiuay as five-time
women's champion Seiena Williams
stoou alone as Ameiica's last singles
title hope.
But as the heavyweights of the
sport eased into the fourth round, the
women's uiaw was blown open again
when Wimbleuon champion Petia
Kvitova became the fifth top 1u seeu
to exit in the fiist week.
Kvitovas misery was shared by
American tennis after John Isner and
Sam Querrey were both knocked out
in the thiiu iounu leaving the hosts
still without a men's uianu Slam
champion since Andy Roddick tri-
umpheu in New Yoik in 2uuS.
Bjokovic, the 2u11 champion,
brushed aside Querrey for the eighth
time in nine meetings, with a 6-S, 6-2,
6-2 win taking the woilu numbei one
into the fourth round at a major for
the 22nu consecutive time.
Sam is big server, very power-
ful. But he uoesn't move that well so
I wanted to keep him moving around
the court, mix up the pace and get
as many ietuins as possible back,"
said Djokovic after an 85-minute win
which was never in doubt from the
time he iaceu into a S-u leau in the
fiist set.
Wimbleuon champion anu seven-
time majoi winnei Bjokovic will next
face ueimany's Philipp Kohlschieibei
who ended US hopes with a 7-6 (7-
4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4) win over
Isnei uespite the Ameiican 1Sth seeu
fiiing 42 aces anu 77 winneis.
It was the third successive year
that Kohlschieibei hau uefeateu Isnei
in the thiiu iounu.
Its a disappointment for me per-
sonally, not the 0niteu States as a
whole," saiu Isnei.
Williams iackeu up hei 7Sth vic-
tory at the US Open when she eased
past her third successive American
compatiiot, 0zbekistan-boin left-
hanuei vaivaia Lepchenko, 6-S, 6-S
anu will tackle tough Estonian Kaia
Kanepi foi a quaiteifinal beith.
I had to make some adjustments
because of the wind but I got some
excellent auvice fiom my coach," saiu
S2-yeai-olu Williams, playing in hei
1Sth 0S 0pen anu aiming to become
just the second woman after Chris
Eveit in the 197us to win thiee New
Yoik titles in succession.
"Ny opponent playeu at an un-
believable level but I tiieu to hang in
theie anu uo what I neeueu to uo."
Nuiiay, the 2u12 champion, hit 47
winneis in a 6-1, 7-S, 4-6, 6-2 victoiy
over Russias Andrey Kuznetsov, the
woilu 96, to book a seventh appeai-
ance in the fourth round and goes on
to face Fiench ninth seeu }o-Wilfiieu
Tsonga who beat Pablo Caiieno-Bus-
ta of Spain, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
I got off to a good start and then
had a cushion when he got back
into the match in the thiiu set," saiu
27-yeai-olu Nuiiay.
WAWRINKA GETS WALKOVER
Third seeded Stan Wawrinka, the
Austialian 0pen champion, ieacheu
the fourth round without hitting a
ball when Slovenian opponent Blaz
Kavcic withdrew with a right foot in-
juiy.
That took the number of retire-
ments anu walkoveis at this yeai's
0S 0pen to 1u in the men's event anu
two in the women's.
Wawiinka next faces 16th-seeueu
Spaniaiu Tommy Robieuo, a S-6, 6-S,
7-6 (7-4), 6-S winnei ovei Austialian
Nick Kyigios, who hau shockeu Rafael
Naual in the fouith iounu at Wimble-
uon.
Women's thiiu seeueu Kvitova lost
her third round tie 6-4, 6-4 to pint-
sizeu Seibian, 21-yeai-olu Aleksanuia
Kiunic, who came thiough qualifying.
Kvitova joins second seed Simona
Balep, fouith-seeueu Agnieszka Rau-
wanska, Angelique Keibei, the sixth
seed, and eighth-seeded Ana Ivanovic
in failing to make the fouith iounu.
The 24-yeai-olu Kvitova uioppeu
seive five times anu committeu S4
unforced errors against the 5ft 4in
(1.6Sm) Kiunic who uiviues hei time
between the pro tour and studying for
a univeisity economics uegiee.
"It was an honoui to play on the
same couit as Petia, she's a gieat
champion. I watcheu both hei wins
at Wimbleuon," saiu Kiunic, who next
plays foimei woilu numbei one vic-
toiia Azaienka, the iunnei-up to Wil-
liams in the last two yeais.
Kvitova said she was taken by sur-
prise by her opponents poise and
powei.
"I uiun't ieally expect how she
playeu so well. Suuuenly she just
pusheu the ball veiy haiu," saiu the
Czech.
Also going thiough to the last-16
of the men's singles foi a thiiu suc-
cessive yeai was Canauian fifth seeu
Nilos Raonic who beat victoi Estiella
Buigos, the S4-yeai-olu touinament
debutant from the Dominican Repub-
lic, 7-6 (7-S), 7-6 (7-S), 7-6 (7-S).
Be will face }apanese 1uth seeu
Kei Nishikori who reached the fourth
iounu foi the fiist time since his 2uu8
uebut with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-S victoiy ovei
Leonaiuo Nayei of Aigentina. AFP
Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates after winning the second set against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia during their mens singles third round
match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in New York City. AFP
Bouchard passes tough test
NEW Y0RK Wimbleuon iunnei-up
Eugenie Bouchard turned back the
challenge of ueteimineu Czech Bai-
boia Zahlavova Stiycova to ieach the
fourth round of the US Open on Sat-
uiuay.
The 2u-yeai-olu seventh seeu
fiom Canaua oveicame S9 unfoiceu
errors on a windy Arthur Ashe Stadi-
um couit to beat Zahlavova Stiycova
6-2, 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 anu book a last-16
clash with Russian 17th seeu Ekatei-
ina Nakaiova of Russia.
I did way more unforced errors
than I expecteu myself to. So that uef-
initely uiun't help my case in the sec-
onu set," saiu Bouchaiu, who saiu she
let the fiustiation get to hei.''
To just give away so many free
points is ieally fiustiating to me. So I
was uefinitely uisappointeu with that.
I iealiseu in the thiiu I can still stay
with her, I dont have to go for crazy
shots all the time. I think I was a bit
too impatient, basically, in the seconu
set."
The hard-fought victory keeps
alive Bouchaiu's hopes of going ueep
in a fouith uianu Slam this yeai.
She ieacheu the semifinals of the
Austialian 0pen in a scintillating ue-
but Bown 0nuei, anu also maue the
final foui at Rolanu uaiios befoie hei
iun to the final at Wimbleuon.
Tipped as the games next big star,
with potential to iival Naiia Shaia-
pova and Li Na as a sponsors dar-
ling, Bouchaiu has stiuggleu since a
ciushing loss to Petia Kvitova in the
final at the All Englanu Club, anu hau
won just one match in three tourna-
ments coming into the 0S 0pen.
Now, howevei, she staiting to feel
at home on the massive anu louu
Ashe court, where she has won back-
to-back night matches.
The screaming, the chants, its
amazing. It's so motivating," she saiu.
"I wish I coulu play on a couit like
this eveiy uay. AFP
US Open Results
Results {tbird round, prefix denotes seed-
ings): Men: 1-Novak Bjokovic (Sib) bt Sam
Queiiey (0S) 6-S, 6-2, 6-2; 22-Philipp Kohls-
chieibei (uei) bt 1S-}ohn Isnei (0S) 7-6 (7-4),
4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4); 9-}o-Wilfiieu Tsonga
(Fia) bt Pablo Caiieno-Busta (Esp) 6-4, 6-4,
6-4; 8-Anuy Nuiiay (ubi) bt Anuiey Kuznetsov
(Rus) 6-1, 7-S, 4-6, 6-2; S-Stan Wawiinka (Sui)
wo Blaz Kavcic (Slo); 16-Tommy Robieuo (Esp)
bt Nick Kyigios (Aus) S-6, 6-S, 7-6 (7-4), 6-S; 1u-
Kei Nishikoii (}pn) bt 2S-Leonaiuo Nayei (Aig)
6-4, 6-2, 6-S; S-Nilos Raonic (Can) bt victoi Es-
tiella (Bom) 7-6 (7-S), 7-6 (7-S), 7-6 (7-S).
Women (third round): 1-Seiena Williams (0S)
bt vaivaia Lepchenko (0S) 6-S, 6-S; Kaia Kanepi
(Est) bt 1S-Caila Suaiez Navaiio (Esp) 7-S, 6-u;
11-Flavia Pennetta (Ita) bt Nicole uibbs (0S)
6-4, 6-u; 29-Casey Bellacqua (Aus) bt Kaioli na
Pliskova (Cze) 6-S, S-6, 6-4; Aleksanuia Kiunic
(Sib) bt S-Petia Kvitova (Cze) 6-4, 6-4; 16-vic-
toiia Azaienka (Bli) bt Elena vesnina (Rus) 6-1,
6-1; 17-Ekateiina Nakaiova (Rus) bt Zaiina Bi-
yas (Kaz) 6-2, 6-4; 7-Eugenie Bouchaiu (Can) bt
Su-Baiboia Zahlavova Stiycova (Cze) 6-2, 6-7
(2-7), 6-4.
Eugenie Bouchard of Canada celebrates match point over Barbora
Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic in New York. AFP
South Africa-born Roy gets England T20 call for India match
N0TTINuBAN, 0niteu Kinguom
Uncapped South African-born bats-
man }ason Roy was incluueu in the
14-man Englanu squau announceu
yesterday for next weekends one-off
Twenty2u inteinational against Inuia
at Eugbaston.
The 24-yeai-olu iising stai was
selecteu aftei topping the iun-chaits
in this season's uomestic T2u compe-
tition with 677 runs at an average of
48.SS anu a stiike iate of neaily 16u.
The Surrey batsman was joined in
the squad for next Sundays match at
Eugbaston by thiee othei playeis not
yet involveu in the ongoing one-uay
seiies with Inuia.
All-iounuei Ravi Bopaia, suipiis-
ingly omitteu fiom the 0BI squau,
was incluueu with expeiienceu
Yorkshire seamer Tim Bresnan and
Nottinghamshire batsman James Tay-
loi also selecteu.
Eoin Noigan will captain Englanu
in the injury-enforced absence of reg-
ulai T2u skippei Stuait Bioau who is
about to unueigo knee suigeiy.
Foimei Iielanu batsman Noigan
also leu Englanu in theii pievious T2u
inteinational, a nine-iun uefeat by Sii
Lanka at The 0val in Nay.
Nichael Caibeiiy anu Ian Bell, who
playeu in that match, have both been
uioppeu in favoui of Roy anu Tayloi.
Tayloi has not playeu foi Englanu
since theii 0BI win ovei Iielanu in
Bublin in Septembei last yeai with
uouble Ashes-winnei Biesnan's most
iecent inteinational appeaiance the
humiliating uefeat by the Netheilanus
at the Woilu Twenty2u in Chittagong
five months ago.
Englanu national selectoi }ames
Whittaker said: This one-off Twen-
ty2u pioviues us with an oppoi-
tunity to look at playeis who have
impiesseu iecently in uomestic
cricket and gives them a chance to
test themselves on the inteinational
stage against high-quality opposi-
tion.
"I woulu like to wish Eoin Noigan
anu his squau all the veiy best against
a stiong Inuian siue."
Tayloi's availability will uepenu
upon Nottinghamshires One-Day
Cup semi-final away to Buiham on
Saturday, September 6, being com-
pleteu without the neeu foi a ie-
seive uay.
Inuia leau the five-match 0BI se-
iies 2-u aftei theii six-wicket win at
Tient Biiuge on Satuiuay.
The ODI campaign continues at
Eugbaston on Tuesuay befoie finish-
ing at Beauingley on Fiiuay.
Englanu T2u squau to play Inuia at
Edgbaston on Sunday, September 7:
Squad: EoinNoigan(Niuulesex, capt), NoeenAli
(Worcestershire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Tim Bre-
snan (Yoikshiie), }os Buttlei (Lancashiie, wkt),
Steven Finn (Niuulesex), Baiiy uuiney (Notting-
hamshiie), Alex Bales (Nottinghamshiie), Chiis
Jordan (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy
(Suiiey), }ames Tayloi (Nottinghamshiie), }ames
Tieuwell (Kent), Chiis Woakes (Waiwickshiie) Jason Roy
Chelseas Costa must
respect opponents
L0NB0N Chelsea stiikei Biego
Costa neeus to leain to show ie-
spect to opponents after the Span-
iaiu goaueu Eveiton playeis uuiing
theii pulsating 6-S English Piemiei
League win on Saturday, Toffees
coach Robeito Naitinez saiu.
New signing Costa taunted Sea-
mus Coleman aftei the Iiish uefenu-
ei's own goal put Chelsea S-1 aheau
at uoouison Paik which piompteu
an angry reaction from a number of
Eveiton playeis, in paiticulai Ameii-
can goalkeepei Tim Bowaiu.
"Theie aie ceitain foieign play-
eis who come to the Piemiei League
who need to understand the ethics
anu the cultuie," Eveiton boss Nai-
tinez tolu iepoiteis.
The behaviour in the British
game is unique. The last thing you
want to see is uisiespect fiom a play-
ei to anothei playei anu I am suie he
will leain that veiy quickly.
"Theie is a ieal piofessionalism
anu iespect in the league so you can
unueistanu why the playeis weien't
happy with that, in the same way as
trying to buy free kicks with the way
he plays."
Costa has been impiessive in fii-
ing Chelsea to the top of the table
aftei scoiing foui goals in his fiist
three games since signing from Span-
ish champions Atletico Nauiiu in the
close season.
But he has also been accuseu of
gamesmanship. Chelsea managei
}ose Nouiinho thought his Biazil-
ian-boin stiikei was being unfaiily
taigeteu.
To be chasing cards against a
playei who once moie hau goou be-
havioui anu was just heie to play
football is uisappointing," the Poitu-
guese saiu.
At the end of the story, Diego is
maybe the best playei in the Piemiei
League in the fiist thiee matches anu
he has two yellow caius - one against
Buinley wheie he uiun't simulate, it
was a penalty, anu one against Evei-
ton, when everyone was chasing him
to get him in tiouble. That is uisap-
pointing." Reuteis
Chelseas Diego Costa celebrates
scoring his teams sixth. AFP
uascoigne vows
to beat alcohol
pioblems
L0NB0N Tioubleu foimei Eng-
lanu stai Paul uascoigne has tolu
a Biitish newspapei he will ovei-
come his pioblems with alcoholism
aftei iecently being hospitaliseu
following a uiinking binge.
Pictuies emeigeu last week of
the 47-yeai-olu foimei miufieluei
looking haggaiu anu fiail as he was
leu to an ambulance following a ie-
lapse in his battle to stay cleai of
alcohol. uascoigne saiu he hau been
clean foi seven months, but hau
tuineu to alcohol aftei uiscoveiing
that the lease on his apaitment in
the south-coast town of Poole was
not being ieneweu.
"I know I can oveicome this. I am
an alcoholic so I am taking one uay
at a time, but I will get theie," uas-
coigne tolu the Sunuay Niiioi.
"0p until a few weeks ago, I was
uoing gieat. I have an illness anu I
hau a bau moment. Now I want to
make suie it uoesn't happen again."
uascoigne is one of the most tal-
enteu footballeis Englanu has evei
piouuceu. Populaily known as
'uazza', staiieu foi Newcastle 0nit-
ed, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and
Rangeis uuiing his playing uays.
He produced iconic moments
with Englanu, ciying aftei being
bookeu against West ueimany in
the semifinals of the 199u Woilu
Cup, which woulu have iuleu
him out of the final, anu scoiing
a memoiable volley against Scot-
lanu at the 1996 Euiopean Cham-
pionship. AFP
27
SPORT
Chelsea hit Everton for six in goalfest
LONDON It was a day of role re-
versal as Jose Mourinhos often cau-
tious Chelsea thumped Everton 6-3
in a thriller on Saturday while cham-
pions Manchester Citys attacking
talents were blunted in a shock 1-0
home defeat by Stoke City.
New signing Diego Costa was on
target twice, scoring for the third Pre-
mier League game in a row, as Chel-
sea produced a swashbuckling per-
formance to overwhelm Everton at
Goodison Park.
It was wonderful for everyone
at the stadium and people watching
television around the world but not
for me, Mourinho told the BBC. We
cannot make so many defensive mis-
takes.
We want to improve as a team by
keeping our defensive strength and
quality and improving in other areas.
Today we showed we are improving
in other areas but not keeping the
balance in defence.
Manchester City dropped their
fiist points of the season when Name
Biram Diouf scored a superb individ-
ual goal to silence the home fans who
have become used to seeing one-sid-
ed romps at the Etihad Stadium.
It was also another miserable day
for Manchester United, their frus-
trations continuing after a 0-0 draw
at promoted Burnley with British
record signing Angel Di Maria unable
to spark an improvement in their for-
tunes.
Swansea Citys excellent start to
the season continued as they swept
aside West Bromwich Albion 3-0 and
they are level on a maximum nine
points with Chelsea at the top of the
fleugling table.
Southampton came from behind to
beat West Ham United 3-1 while Crys-
tal Palace, playing theii fiist game
under new manager Neil Warnock,
scored through on-loan Wilfried Zaha
in the fifth minute of stoppage time to
grab a 3-3 draw at Newcastle United.
Queens Park Rangers beat Sunder-
lanu 1-u to collect theii fiist win since
gaining promotion while the goals
floweu foi west Lonuon iivals Chelsea
in a dynamic display by the normally
pragmatic and defensively-sound
Blues.
Everton were caught cold as Costa
put the visitors ahead after 35 sec-
onds and Branislav Ivanovic scored
two minutes later, incensing the hosts
who felt he had strayed offside.
The home side hit back seconds
before halftime when Kevin Miral-
las powered a header past keeper
Thibaut Courtois but a Seamus Cole-
man own goal, after an excellent drib-
ble by Eden Hazard, restored Chel-
seas cushion.
BASKETBALL MATCH
It then had the feel of a basketball
match as Steven Naismiths effort
gave Everton hope before Nemanja
Natic ieplieu with his fiist goal foi
Chelsea.
Samuel Etoo scored on his debut
for the hosts, against his former club,
only to see Ramires and Costa com-
plete the rout for the visitors.
Games at Manchester City have
frequently resembled carefully script-
ed affairs with their glittering array of
footballers showering the supporters
with goals and entertainment.
Both were in short supply against
a rugged and resilient Stoke who
scored 13 minutes into the second
half when Senegal international Diouf
raced 60 metres before beating keep-
er Joe Hart.
It was only the second time in 71
games that Manchester City, who
were ruthless in Mondays 3-1 win
over Liverpool, had failed to score at
home and it ended a run of seven con-
secutive league wins stretching back
to last seasons title triumph.
Its a surprising defeat because
we dont expect to lose against Stoke
but these games sometimes happen,
said manager Manuel Pellegrini.
We were not very creative, we
uiu not finu the spaces anu that is
credit to Stoke.There was more
gloom for manager Louis van Gaal
as Manchester United, who were
embarrassed 4-0 in the League Cup
by third tier MK Dons on Tuesday,
again looked uncomfortable with
their new three centre back system
against Burnley.
With cameras panning to former
boss Alex Ferguson yawning in the
stands, questions are already being
asked of Van Gaal who is struggling
to implement his playing style and
scrambling to recruit players before
the transfer window shuts today.
The progress is there, the Dutch-
man told BT Sport, but ... a club like
Manchester United has to win. We
have two points from nine and thats
disappointing.
ENCOURAGING FLASHES
Di Maria, signed from Real Madrid
for 59.7 million ($99 million) on
Tuesuay, showeu encouiaging flashes
in a 70-minute debut but United gen-
erally looked short of attacking ideas.
The Argentina winger was Uniteds
most uangeious playei in the fiist half
and the architect of their best chance
with a searching long ball that found
Robin van Persie who could not beat
Burnley keeper Tom Heaton.
Swansea, who had beaten Man-
chester United and Burnley in their
opening two games, completed a
comfortable win over West Brom.
Nathan Dyer rounded the keeper
and slotted the ball into an empty
net after two minutes before Wayne
Routledge volleyed home beautifully
miuway thiough the fiist half.
Byei then stiokeu home a uylfi
Sigurdsson pass to complete the scor-
ing for Swansea.
Newcastle thought they had sup-
pressed a spirited Palace when Mike
Williamson put them 3-2 ahead in the
88th minute but Zaha, returning from
Manchester United for a second spell
at the club, levelled at the end.
West Ham paraded loan signing
Alex Song before kick off and took the
lead against Southampton when Mark
Noble stiuck with a ueflecteu shot af-
ter 27 minutes.
Morgan Schneiderlin then scored
twice for Saints and Graziano Pelle
added a third to hand manager Ron-
alu Koeman his fiist Piemiei League
win. Reuters
Chelseas Diego Costa celebrates after scoring a second goal against Everton during their English Premier League match at Goodison Park in
Liverpool. Reuters
La Liga champions Atletico struggle past
Eibar for first win of tbe campaign
MADRID La Liga champions Atleti-
co Nauiiu iecoiueu theii fiist victoiy
of the campaign with a hard-fought
2-1 win over newly-promoted Eibar
on Saturday.
First-half headers from Miranda
and Mario Mandzukic ultimately
proved decisive, but Atletico were
given a scare after Abrahams brilliant
strike had brought Eibar back into
the game.
The visitors had a great chance to
level the game three minutes from
time, but Angels effort trickled inch-
es past the far post as Atletico held
on.
Games at the beginning of the
season aie always uifficult," saiu
Atletico boss Diego Simeone, who
was serving the second of an eight-
match touchline ban.
The start of the match was good,
we went in front but we lacked
rhythm after that.
In the second-half we were anx-
ious to get the three points and they
were the better side.
We are aware that we have to
work and improve. I didnt like the
game, but it is always good to win, he
added.
Simeones men had been held 0-0
at local rivals Rayo Vallecano in their
league opener on Monday but nor-
mal service appeared to have been
resumed by two set-piece goals in-
siue the fiist 2S minutes of the haiu-
fought match.
Brazilian defender Miranda put
the hosts in front when he met Kokes
corner at the near post and the ball
flew into the net via the unueisiue of
the bar.
Eibar had produced an upset in
beating near neighbours Real Socie-
uau in theii fiist evei Spanish top-
flight match last weekenu, but they
were punished for their defending 15
minutes later when Mandzukic plant-
ed a header from Gabis free-kick into
the far corner.
However, the Basques responded
in fine style anu aftei Niguel Angel
Moya had beaten away Javi Laras
free-kick, they produced a moment
of sheer quality to get back into the
match.
A flowing move iesulteu in left-
back Abraham curling Mikel Arrua-
barrenas backheel into the top cor-
ner from outside the area with his
right foot.
Atletico tried to restore their two-
goal cushion before the break and
only a fine save fiom Xabi Iiuieta
prevented Raul Garcia from celebrat-
ing his call-up to the Spanish national
team on Friday with a goal.
Eibar, though, were clearly the
dominant side in the second period
and Moya had to be alert to divert
Angels low drive for a corner be-
foie Eneko Boveua's heauei flew just
wide.
And Angel had a golden chance
to equalise three minutes from time
when he was played in after an un-
characteristic error from Diego Go-
din, but he prodded the ball just wide
of the target.
Earlier in the day, Athletic Bilbao
celebiateu theii qualification to the
group stage of the Champions League
with a comfortable 3-0 win over Le-
vante.
Two-goal hero from their triumph
over Napoli in midweek, Aritz Aduriz
headed home the opener just after
the half-hour mark.
Ander Iturraspe doubled the
Basques advantage just after the
break before Iker Muniain rounded
off the scoring.
Celta Vigo also continued their un-
beaten start to the campaign despite
the absence of departed coach Luis
Enrique as they drew 1-1 at Cordoba
in a drab draw. AFP
Atletico Madrids Mario Mandzukic celebrates his goal against Eibar
Jurlng thelr Spunlxh flrxt Jlvlxlon mutch ln MuJrlJ. - Reuterx
Mourinho unhappy
at Chelsea defence
LONDON Television viewers
around the world were treated to a
dazzling exhibition of attacking foot-
ball when Chelsea beat Everton 6-3
in an extraordinary game on Satur-
day but visiting manager Jose Mour-
inho was hardly purring with joy.
Mourinhos teams are tradition-
ally rock solid at the back and he was
disappointed Chelsea let in three
goals in the Premier League thriller
at Goodison Park.
I know they are a good offensive
side but to concede three goals is too
much, the outspoken Portuguese
told Sky TV. All of them I can clearly
uefine the mistakes, the people in-
volved and where we failed.
We were killers in attack, espe-
cially on the counter-attack, so when
you come to this stadium and get
three points it is a reason to be hap-
py. When you come here and score
six goals, obviously my players did
well. I want to be different in that
we play better football, score more
goals, but I dont want to be different
in the sense that we concede goals,
said Mourinho. To concede three
goals and identify the mistakes we
made is something I have to work at.
New signing Diego Costa contin-
ued his excellent start to the season
with two goals while Chelseas other
efforts came from Branislav Ivanovic,
an own goal from Seamus Coleman,
Nemanja Matic and Ramires.
CHASING CARDS
Mourinho accused Everton of
trying to goad Brazilian-born Spain
striker Costa who has inspired Chel-
seas 100 percent start to the season
with four goals in the opening three
league games.
The thing I didnt like in this game
apart from some of our defen-
sive mistakes was the way some
Everton players were trying to create
problems for him (Costa), he said.
I dont think this is English foot-
ball. There is a good tradition with
Everton teams because everything is
good, everything is positive, the man-
ager, the quality of their football.
But to be chasing cards to a
player who once more had good be-
haviour and was just here to play
football is disappointing. Today eve-
ryone was chasing him to get him in
trouble.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez
said his teams defending was sim-
ply not good enough. I dont think
many teams will score three against
Chelsea this season, said the Span-
iard, but the two boxes are going to
dictate the scoreline and we were too
soft with our defending.
Every time the ball was around
our 18-yard box we had a real sense
of fear of it ending up in the back of
the net.We have conceded 10 goals
in three games and thats not like us
at all. Everton have two points from
their opening three matches.
Reuters Jose Mourinho. AFP
28
SPORT
Day, Palmer share lead at Deutsche
NORTON, United States Australias
}ason Bay fiieu a thiee-unuei pai
68 to match Ameiican Ryan Palmei
foi the leau aftei Satuiuay's seconu
iounu of the 0S PuA Beutsche Bank
Championship.
Bay anu Palmei, who fiieu a pai
71, stoou on eight-unuei pai 1S4 af-
tei S6 holes with Ameiicans Natt Ku-
chai anu Billy Boischel on 1SS anu
Ameiicans Bill Baas, Patiick Reeu,
Webb Simpson, Russell Benley anu
Keegan Biauley on 1S6.
0nly the 7u points leaueis aftei
this week's seconu event of the 0S
toui's season-enuing playoffs with
auvance to next week's BNW Cham-
pionship in Benvei, which will ueciue
the Su qualifieis foi the Toui Champi-
onship in two weeks.
Bay sizzleu at the stait with five
biiuie putts on the fiont nine, the
longest a 4u-footei at the pai-4 sixth.
Be also uioppeu a paii of six-foot
biiuies at the fouith anu ninth anu
1S-footeis at the pai-S seconu anu
seventh holes. But Bay took a bogey
at 12 aftei a penalty uiop anu an-
othei at 14 aftei finishing a gieensiue
bunkei. Be sank a seven-foot biiuie
putt at the pai-S 16th to giab the leau
alone but took a bogey at the pai-S
18th, missing a six-foot pai putt on
the seconu-easiest-playing hole on
the couise.
"It's not playing easy," Bay saiu. "I
maue it look easy on the fiont nine,
iolleu in a lot of goou biiuie chances.
"0n the back nine I just maue a
few eiiois. I got off to a ciacking stait
anu came home a little iough. But I'm
confiuent heauing into tomoiiow."
Bay seeks his fiist PuA victoiy af-
tei shaiing oi leauing aftei S6 holes.
"veiy encouiageu," Bay saiu.
"0veiall I'm veiy happy with how I'm
playing.''
"I've got to keep my heau uown,
stay aggiessive anu hopefully I win
this one."Palmei enuuieu a iollei-
coastei iounu that began with a biiu-
ie followeu by a uouble bogey at the
seconu anu a bogey at the pai-S thiiu.
Be followeu with back-to-back biiu-
ies at foui anu five but stumbleu with
a bogey at the pai-S eighth.
Palmei began the back nine with
a bogey but answeieu with a 19-foot
biiuie putt at 12 anu a closing biiuie
aftei putting his appioach inches
fiom the cup.
K0CBAR BAS BIRBIE BINuE
Kuchai began on the back nine
anu fiieu six biiuies in a iow foi the
fiist time in a PuA event, making nine
in all on his way to a 66.
Aftei two biiuies anu two bogeys
in his fiist six holes, Kuchai began
his biiuie iun at 17 anu moveu into
contention befoie stumbling late with
bogeys at seven anu nine aiounu a
biiuie at eight. "It was a goou stietch,"
Kuchei saiu. "A lot of those aie biiuie
holes. That stietch is one you woulu
hope to take auvantage of."
Kuchai has been playing with a
heavy heait in the wake of the unex-
pecteu ueath of his cauuie Lance Ben-
nett's wife, Angela, on Weunesuay af-
tei suffeiing a seizuie.
"Touay was easiei," he saiu. "Still
felt like Angela was on my minu al-
most eveiy hole, eveiy shot. But yes-
teiuay I hau a haiu time following
thiough a couple of times."
Bennett was not at the event, stay-
ing at home in Ballas making plans
foi Tuesuay's funeial even as Ku-
chai felt something special aiounu
his game. "I ceitainly feel like theie's
some fate woiking, balls going in,
balls to stay wheie they shoulu," Ku-
chai saiu. "I hope theie's some inspi-
iation anu some fate woiking foi me
out heie."Baas figuies he neeus a win
a iunnei-up effoit to gain a Ryuei
Cup captain's pick.
"I uiun't put myself in position to
be a lock oi anything like that," Baas
saiu. "So I'm just going out anu tiying
to play my best." AFP
Jason Day pitches his ball onto the 12th hole after an errant second shot but could not save par during the
second round of the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC of Boston. USA Today Sports
India spin to win against England
N0TTINuBAN, 0niteu Kinguom
Inuia's spinneis again pioveu
Englanu's unuoing as the touiists
won the thiiu one-uay inteinational
at Tient Biiuge on Satuiuay by six
wickets to take a 2-u leau in the five-
match seiies.
Woilu champions Inuia, chasing
a mouest 228 foi victoiy, ciuiseu
to 228 foi foui with seven oveis to
spaie.
Ambati Rayuuu, only playing be-
cause of Rohit Shaima's toui-enuing
fingei injuiy, was an 0BI-best 64 not
out.
Togethei with Suiesh Raina, who
followeu up his 1uu in Inuia's equally
uominant 1SS-iun victoiy in Cai-
uiff on Weunesuay with a iun-a-ball
42, Rayuuu put on 87 foi the fouith
wicket.
But it was the fiist innings that
ueciueu the couise of the match,
with Englanu uismisseu foi a meagie
227 aftei losing the toss.
They weie 82 without loss thanks
to unuei-fiie captain Alastaii Cook
(44) anu Alex Bales (42).
But Englanu, as happeneu in Cai-
uiff, again succumbeu to spin as they
lost thiee wickets foi 1S iuns in six
oveis to be 97 foi thiee.
0ff-spinnei Ravichanuian Ash-
win, the man-of-the-match, took
thiee foi S9, with only }os Buttlei
(42), apait fiom Cook anu Bales,
passing 4u in the innings.
Englanu manageu just one foui
in 26 oveis miuway thiough theii
innings anu uiun't hit a six until the
last ovei.
"The spinneis uiu it foi us Ash-
win anu (Ravinuia) }aueja bowleu
ieally well but also Raina's spell was
impoitant," Inuia captain Nahenuia
Singh Bhoni tolu Sky Spoits.
"Rayuuu bowleu anu batteu well,
he's a goou playei of spin anu we'ie
still looking foi a numbei foui bats-
man to bat thiough the innings,"
Bhoni auueu.
Foi Cook it was an all-too familiai
scenaiio.
"We uiun't play veiy well," he saiu.
"We got off to anothei goou stait but,
fiom 8u-u, you expect to get moie
than 2Su."
As foi Englanu's ongoing piob-
lems against spin, Cook auueu: "It's
something we'ie not uoing veiy well
at the moment but we've got to keep
woiking at it."
Englanu's opening stanu enueu
when Bales, on his Nottinghamshiie
home giounu, top-eugeu a sweep off
Raina's sixth ball anu was caught by
wicketkeepei Bhoni.
Bales hau also fallen to the sweep
aftei making 4u on 0BI uebut in
Caiuiff anu his exit was the cue foi
Englanu to again get boggeu uown
against spin.
Rayuuu took his fiist inteina-
tional wicket when he hau Cook
stumpeu uown the legsiue by Bhoni.
Cook, whom foimei Englanu
team-mate uiaeme Swann suggesteu
this week shoulu quit one-uay ciick-
et because he scoies too slowly, took
6S balls to get his iuns on Satuiuay.
Anothei Bhoni stumping, off }aue-
ja, saw }oe Root fall foi two.
Eoin Noigan (1u) was also un-
uone by spin, Ashwin tuining the
ball away fiom the left-hanuei anu
Bhoni holuing the euge to complete
his fouith uismissal of the innings.
An ambling Ian Bell (28) was then
iun out by Nohit Shaima's uiamatic
uiiect hit fiom wiue long-off.
All-iounuei Ben Stokes (two)
auueu to his giowing list of low
scoies foi Englanu when Raina helu
a biilliant low, one-hanueu, slip catch
off Ashwin.
Stokes's exit left Englanu 149 foi
six anu, unsuipiisingly, the lowei oi-
uei coulu not iepaii the uamage.
Ajinkya Rahane, piomoteu to
open in place of Rohit Shaima,
showeu his class with a textbook
covei-uiiven foui off }ames Anuei-
son.
Rahane hau maue 4S, featuiing
six fouis anu a six, when fast bowlei
Steven Finn, playing his fiist intei-
national match in neaily a yeai, hau
him caught behinu.
viiat Kohli aveiageu just 1S.4
in Inuia's pieceuing S-1 Test seiies
uefeat anu was out foi a uuck on
Weunesuay.
But he founu his foim with 4u
his best inteinational scoie of a
tough toui befoie flicking Stokes
stiaight to Tieuwell at miu-on.
Inuia weie now 12u foi thiee but
the iaiely tioubleu Rayuuu went on
to complete an impiessive fifty when
he uelibeiately uppeicut Finn foi his
fifth foui in 6S balls.
The seiies continues at Biiming-
ham's Eugbaston giounu tomoiiow.
AFP
England
A Cook st Bhoni b Rayuuu......................................44
A Bales c Bhoni b Raina ..........................................42
I Bell (iun out) .............................................................28
} Root st Bhoni b }aueja ............................................. 2
E Noigan c Bhoni b Ashwin..................................1u
} Buttlei b Ashwin......................................................42
B Stokes c Raina b Ashwin ....................................... 2
C Woakes c Shaima b Shami ..................................1S
} Tieuwell c & b Kumai ............................................Su
S Finn (iun out) ............................................................ 6
} Anueison (not out) ................................................... u
Extias (lbS, w2, nb1) .................................................. 6
Total (all out, 50 overs)227
Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-9S, S-97, 4-12u, S-1S8,
6-149, 7-182, 8-2u2, 9-226.
Bowling: Kumai 8-u-4S-1, Shaima S-u-17-u,
Shami 9-u-4u-1, Ashwin 1u-u-S9-S, Raina 8-u-
S7-1, Rayuuu 2-u-8-1, }aueja 1u-u-S8-1.
India
A Rahane c Buttlei b Finn...................................... 4S
S Bhawan c Noigan b Woakes ............................. 16
v Kohli c Tieuwell b Stokes................................... 4u
A Rayuuu (not out) ................................................... 64
S Raina c Woakes b Tieuwell................................ 42
R }aueja (not out) ...................................................... 12
Extras (lb2, w7) ...................................................9
Total (for 4 wkts, 43 overs) ........................228
Fall of wickets: 1-SS, 2-8S, S-12u, 4-2u7.
Bowling: Anueison 7-u-29-u, Woakes 8-1-4S-1,
Tieuwell 1u-1-46-1, Finn 8-u-Su-1, Stokes 6-u-
S1-1, Root 4-u-27-u.
Indias Ambati Rayudu plays a shot during the third one-day
international against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. AFP
Korean Hur shares
lead at Portland
P0RTLANB Bui Ni-}ung leu a Ko-
iean assault on the leaueiboaiu Sat-
uiuay with a two-unuei 7u to giab
a shaie of the leau aftei the thiiu
iounu of the LPuA Toui's Poitlanu
Classic.
Bui ieacheu 11-unuei 2uS aftei
S4 holes making hei the co-leauei
along with uefenuing champ Suzann
Petteisen (67) anu Spain's Cailota
Ciganua (7u).
Ryu So-Yeon also shot a 7u anu is
tieu foi fouith just one stioke back
of Bui as thiee of the top six anu five
of the top 1S playeis aie fiom South
Koiea.
"I hau a goou iounu," saiu Bui,
who is using a Poitlanu-aiea cauuie
this week. "Ny shoit game was ieally
gieat.
"I hit a lot of chip shots, because
I misseu a lot of gieens. I think I hit
only 1u gieens touay. Ny putting anu
chipping saveu me."
Seconu iounu leauei Kim In-
Kyung, of South Koiea, anu China's
Lin Xi Yu (7u) aie tieu with Ryu foi
fouith. Aftei iounus of 6S anu 67,
Kim stiuggleu to a two-ovei 74 on
Satuiuay. Eight playeis aie within
two shots of the leaueis, incluu-
ing Ryu who is seeking hei seconu-
stiaight victoiy on the Toui.
Ciganua, who is playing some of
the best golf in hei caieei this week,
is competing with a heavy heait
following the ueath of hei long-time
coach a few weeks ago.
Rogelio Echeveiiia hau woikeu
with Ciganua foi the past 2u yeais.
Be passeu away at age 7S as a iesult
of an aggiessive stomach cancei.
"I can't speak," Ciganua saiu. "Be's
the one who taught me eveiything. I
am heie because of him. Be means
eveiything to me. I love him, it's
haiu."
Echeveiiia woulu have been
piouu of Ciganua's impiessive iounu
Satuiuay which incluueu eight biiu-
ies anu a bogey.
"I just want to play foi him. I
woulu love to win foi him," Ciganua
saiu.
Petteisen has finisheu with a win
the last five times she's helu at least a
shaie of the S4-hole leau anu will be
looking to not only uefenu hei title
but post hei fiist win of the season.
Colombia's Naiiajo 0iibe posteu
a six-unuei 66, vaulting hei into a
shaie of seventh place at nine-unuei
2u7. 0iibe sits alongsiue Ameiican
Lauia Biaz (72), South Koiea's }i
Eun-Bee (67), Austin Einst (69), of
the 0S, anu Line veuel (69) of Ben-
maik. AFP
Leading scores after the third round (par 72,
USA unless noted):
2uS - Suzann Petteisen (Noi) 71-67-67, Cailota
Ciganua (Esp) 7u-6S-7u, Bui Ni-}ung (Koi) 7u-
6S-7u
2u6 - IK Kim (Koi) 6S-67-74, So Yeon Ryu (Koi)
7u-66-7u, Xi Yu Lin (Chn) 68-68-7u
2u7 - Lauia Biaz 67-68-72, Eun-Bee }i (Koi)
71-69-67, Naiiajo 0iibe (Col) 69-72-66, Austin
Einst 69-69-69, Line veuel (Ben) 69-69-69
2u8 - Nina Baiigae 67-69-72, Chella Choi (Koi)
68-7u-7u
2u9 - Na Yeon Choi (Koi) 7u-69-7u, Lizette Salas
69-72-68, }acqui Concolino 68-71-7u
21u - }uli Inkstei 68-7u-72, Noigan Piessel 7S-
67-7u, Bee Young Paik (Koi) 7S-7u-6S, Shan-
shan Feng (Chn) 72-67-71, Tiffany }oh 71-67-
72, Ilhee Lee (Koi) 71-72-67, }aye Naiie uieen
72-66-72,
Caioline Nasson (uei) 72-67-71, Biianna Bo
7u-7S-67, Paula Reto (RSA) 67-69-74.
Hur Mi-Jung of South Korea tees off on the 3rd hole during the third
round of the LPGA Portland Classic in Portland, Oregon. AFP
Sept 4 will be last day for
Oman Cricket registration
Nuscat 0man Ciicket wishes to
ieminu that the iegistiation of teams
foi the foithcoming season (2u14-
1S) will close on Thuisuay, 4th Sep-
tembei 2u14. The Team iegistiation
forms can be obtained from Oman
Ciicket office uuiing its woiking
houis fiom Satuiuay to Thuisuay,
8.uu am to 1.uu pm anu 4.uu pm to
7.Su pm.
All teams wishing to paiticipate
in the league touinaments stait-
ing thiiu week of Septembei aie ie-
quiieu to submit the completeu ieg-
istiation foims without fuithei uelay.
Foi fuithei uetails con-
tact Rex Beihaiut on
24787u8S24787u87927S78S4.
Japanese star Kagawa
returns to Dortmund
BERLIN }apanese inteinational
Shinji Kagawa has ie-signeu foi
foimei club Boiussia Boitmunu
foi a iepoiteu fee of 8million euios
($1u.Smillion, 6.Smillion) enuing
an unhappy two yeai spell with Nan-
chestei 0niteu, ueiman publication
Bilu claimeu yesteiuay.
The 2S-yeai-olu miufieluei -- who
playeu 71 games foi 0niteu aftei
moving theie foi 16million euios --
has signeu a 4 yeai contiact with the
ueiman giants, with whom he won
the 2u12 uomestic uouble as well as
the 2u11 league title aftei he joineu
them foi just SSu,uuu euios in 2u1u.
Kagawa hau lookeu to have a
shaky futuie at 0niteu with van uaal
saying he uiu not fit his philosophy of
football. AFP
I still have
hungei foi the
game: Alonso
N0NICB Bayein Nunich's Xabi
Alonso saiu he was still hungiy foi
success uespite two Champions
League wins, a Woilu Cup victoiy
anu two Euiopean championship
titles.
The S2-yeai-olu Spaniaiu sui-
piisingly joineu ambitious Bayein
Nunich on Fiiuay on a two-yeai
ueal fiom Real Nauiiu anu saiu it
was his uesiie to keep playing anu
winning that leu him to the 2u1S
Champions League winneis.
"I thought I neeueu a new chal-
lenge anu theie is nothing biggei
than playing foi Bayein," holuing
miufieluei Alonso tolu Reuteis Tel-
evision on Sunuay, a uay aftei his
Bayein uebut in theii 1-1 uiaw
against Schalke.
"This was a huge oppoitunity
foi me. I talkeu with (coach) Pep
uuaiuiola anu he explaineu what
he wants fiom me. I felt this hungei
insiue me that is necessaiy to play
football anu that is why I am heie."
The miufieluei, who won the
Champions League with Liveipool
in 2uuS anu Real Nauiiu last sea-
son, showeu he neeueu no time to
settle in, playing a neai flawless fiist
half at Schalke on Satuiuay with the
most ball contacts than any othei
Bayein playei in the fiist half. Alon-
so, biought in as a uefensive miu-
fielu option aftei injuiies to Bastian
Schweinsteigei, Thiago Alcantaia
anu }avi Naitinez, hau only signeu
foi Bayein on Fiiuay. Reuteis
S
INGER Lily Allen believes she writes her songs
well when she is not in the best of her moods.
The 29-year-old took a break from the industry
in 2009, when she married painter and decorator
Sam Cooper. She now has two children, Ethel,
two, and 19-month-old Marnie.
She says having a settled family life is not con-
ducive to making her best music, reports contact-
music.com. I kind of feel like I want to be happy
in my mind, but at the same time I want to be un-
happy so I can write some good songs, she told a
radio station.
While Allen is happy in her life away from the
music industry, she concedes that spending ex-
tended periods of time away from her young fam-
ily during tours inspires her to write new mate-
rial.
"I finu that when I'm soit of stiuggling emo-
tionally, words come a little bit easier in the stu-
uio. So maybe that's why I've ueciueu to stait
wiiting now, because I'm sau when I'm not with
my family, she said.
Alba too independent
to stay at home
A
CTRESS Jessica Alba says she is too
independent to be a stay-at-home mother.
The 33-year-old, who has children Honor, six,
and two-year-old Haven, with husband Cash War-
ren, says she still likes to do movies because she
wants to set an example for her children to show
them they can go out and work to pay their own
way in life, reports contactmusic.com.
"I think it's uiffeient foi eveiyone. Some mums
ieally uon't want to woik anu that's fine," she
said.
"Foi me, I woulun't know what that is like be-
cause that's a pait of who I am. I have aspiiations.
I want to be with my kids so they can see that in
their life they can be anything they want and they
can do their own thing and pay their own way.
The independence that you gain from work-
ing is pretty awesome. My kids might be different
when they giow up, but that's up to them," she
added.
Taylor Swift joins The Voice
S
INGER Taylor Swift will join the upcoming
seventh season of the reality TV singing show
The Voice as an adviser.
The 24-year-old will reportedly advise con-
testants across all four teams coached by musi-
cians Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani
and Pharrell Williams, reports usmagazine.com.
Taylor was an absolute pleasure to work with.
She had great feedback for all the contestants.
She made for an amazing mentor, said a source.
Swift had previously performed on the fourth
season of The Voice.
The ielease of Swift's self-titleu uebut album
in 2006 established her as a country music star.
'0ui Song', hei thiiu single, maue hei the young-
est person to single-handedly write and perform
a number one song on the Hot Country Songs
chart. IANS
Lily Allen pens good
songs when unhappy
PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS
Oman Establishment for Press,
Publication and Advertising
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24649444, DIRECT: 24649430/24649437/24649401, Fax: 24649434 DISTRIBUTION AGENT: AL OMANEYA FOR DISTRIBUTION & MARKETING, P.O. Box 974, P.C. 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Tel: 24649351/24649360, Fax: 24649379, subscribe@omandaily.om
29
ENTERTAINMENT
Actress-turned-director Divya Khosla Kumars directorial debut
Yaariyan may have failed to impress the critics, but she is all
xet to wlelJ the meguphone for the xeconJ fllm. - IANS
The Cut to premiere
at Venice Film Festival
Lovato praises Knowles, Lopez
for redening beauty
A
HOTLY anticipated drama about the Ar-
menian genocide was due to premiere
at the Venice Film Festival, along with
two other contenders for the top Golden Lion
award and a whimsical Berlusconi documen-
tary.
The Cut follows a genocide survivor trav-
elling around the world in the search for his
daughters. German-Turkish director Fatih Akin
says it is the last instalment of a Love, Death
and the Devil trilogy, coming after Head On and
The Edge of Heaven.
"The film may be set a hunuieu yeais ago,
but it could not be more topical: it tells a tale
of war and displacement, as well as portraying
the power of love and hope, which enables us
to achieve the unimaginable, Akin said in pro-
duction notes.
The film is one of 2u top piize-hopefuls in
venice. It is Akin's biggest-evei pioject, his
fiist in English, anu it stais Fiench actoi Tahai
Rahim, who made his breakthrough with his
film in 2uu9.
It has already sparked controversy in Tur-
key, where authorities refuse to recognise the
1915 mass killings by Ottoman troops as geno-
cide. A Turkish-Armenian daily that carried an
interview with Akin in late July has received
death threats.
"I'm neivous anu exciteu. I spent too much
time on it usually you spend two years with
a film, but on this film I spent seven yeais, the
last foui yeais I was woiking eveiy uay. Yes, I'm
nervous, the director told The New York Times.
Fiance's Loin ues Bommes, an auapta-
tion of an Albert Camus novel featuring Viggo
Mortensen as a teacher caught in the middle of
the Algerian civil war, was one of two other in
competition movies set for debut.
The other was Hungry Hearts, directed by
Italy's Saveiio Costanzo, shot in English anu set
in New York. Dealing with an extreme eating
disorder, it stars Adam Driver, best known for
his role in the TV series Girls.
Italians were also anticipating Belluscone.
Una storia siciliana: a quixotic look at the links
between Sicily, its mafia, anu foimei piime
minister Silvio Berlusconi, which allegedly
drove director Franco Maresco almost mad.
Priyanka polishing her skills: Actress
Priyanka Chopra (pictured) is excited about
hei youngei biothei Siuuhaith's new ventuie
in the hospitality industry and is trying her
best to support it. He is coming up with The
Mugshot Lounge in Pune.
"Ny baby biothei Siuuhaith's new place in
Pune! Can't wait to kick stait it. Polishing my
bartending skills. Chk it out, the 32-year-old
tweeted.
She also shared a link of The Mugshot
Lounge. It leads to an invitation that gives a
chance to her fans to meet and greet her on
September 7 at the lounge.
The same week is also important for
Piiyanka as hei much-awaiteu film 'Naiy Kom',
on five-time Woilu Champion boxei NC Naiy
Kom, will hit the scieens on Septembei S.
Recently she was touring Lucknow to pro-
mote 'Naiy Kom', which will have its woilu
premiere at Toronto International Film Festival
(TIFF), starting September 3.
Clooney to have bachelor party: Actor
George Clooney is set to marry Amal Alamud-
din next month in Italy and his friends are said
to be keen to throw him a stag do at a strip club
near his house in Santa Barbara, California, to
celebrate. dpa/IANS
S
INGER Demi Lovato (pictured) applauds
fellow musicians like Beyonc Knowles
and Jennifer Lopez for making realistic and
achievable" figuie in vogue.
The 22-year-old recently posted an image
on Instagiam that showeu hei figuie ovei the
years starting when she was 16.
She expressed how beautiful she feels and
how happy she feels not to be forced to con-
form to an ideal (size zero), which is impossible
to acquire.
She wrote in the Instagram caption: It
makes me sad because I wasted so many years
ashameu of my bouy when I coulu've been liv-
ing the happy and healthy life I live today. It tru-
ly just goes to show you that your perceptions
can lie to you.
In a recent interview, Lovato explained her
thinking behind her Instagram post saying a
fan had created a similar image and she real-
ised how she had truly looked and felt at 16.
She also shared her views on how the per-
ception of beauty has changed from extremely
underweight models and actresses to women
such as Knowles anu Kim Kaiuashian, who
have revolutionised what our generations
view, and perception, of what beautiful is, re-
ports contactmusic.com.
Lovato praised Lopez and actresses Scarlett
}ohansson anu Sofia veigaia foi having "amaz-
ing" yet "iealistic anu achievable" figuies.
Want to have 100 kids: Adam Levine: Sing-
er Adam Levine says his recent marriage to su-
permodel Behati Prinsloo has changed him for-
ever. He also plans to start a family soon.
During an interview with Ryan Seacrest,
the Maroon 5 frontman, who walked down the
aisle }uly 19, saiu that "the ielationship uoesn't
change, but he himself has changed in a great
way, reports people.com. IANS
V
ETERAN actoi Bimple Kapauia, who will be
soon seen on the big screen when the English-
language film 'Finuing Fanny' hits the scieens
on Septembei 12, says she founu the sciipt of the film
brilliant and her role lovely.
Theie aie not too many film-makeis in Binui
filmuom who attempt to make a film in English, but
Bimple says, "It uiun't mattei to me whethei it's an
English film as long as I was woiking with Bomi Aua-
jania.
The script was brilliant and the role was lovely,
which I thoioughly enjoyeu uoing. So, it uiun't ieally
mattei to me. Anu wheie it's going to ieach is not my
concein. Ny concein is with what I'm uoing, anu I'm
happy doing that, Dimple, who had worked in the
uiiectoi's uaik uiama 'Being Cyius', saiu in an intei-
view.
Anu she's happiei that the family is loving the
promos of Finding Fanny. Dimple may be seen as an
accomplisheu anu stiong actiess, but the 'Kaash' anu
'Ruuaali' stai, who uisplayeu hei veisatility in films
like 'Zakhmi Shei', 'Aijun', 'Aitbaai' anu 'Biishti', is not
yet cieatively satisfieu.
"I'm not satisfieu in the sense I am not looking foi
any roles, but I do make peace with myself saying that
'I am not the best in the woilu'. But I have tiieu to give
my best and I want to get better. That struggle will
remain till the time I really feel that I have achieved it
in my head. I keep falling short, the 57-year-old said.
But she is happy to get good scripts at this age.
At the moment I am very happy and the kind of
scripts I am getting and the feedback I am getting is
making me feel happier and makes me feel that what-
ever I am doing is right. It just helps me to choose my
roles better, she added.
Over the years, a lot of things change. You start off
when you are young and you are fearless. And then
a lot of things keep happening and a little bit of fear
sets in and you are not as brazen as you have been.
0veiall, (it's) okay," auueu the actiess whose life has
seen many ups and downs.She utilises her free time
travelling and hunting for antiques. IANS
Finding Fanny has a brilliant script: Dimple
Britneys ex banned from contacting her?
B
RITNEY Speais' ex-boyfiienu
David Lucado wants to have one
last conversation with the singer, but
her team, led by father Jamie Spears,
is reportedly blocking him from
contacting her.
Lucado is reportedly telling
friends that he and Britney were not
100 per cent together a few weeks
ago when he was videotaped danc-
ing and making out with a girl. And
he wants to explain himself, but he's
running into a brick wall in the form
of Team Brit, reports tmz.com,
A souice saiu: "Baviu won't be
getting thiough because he's peisona
non grata at her show in Las Vegas,
at her home in Thousand Oaks, CA
... anu his phone numbei's been
blocked.
It is even said that Lucado never
heard about the break-up directly
from Britney and he wants to have
that talk.
The 'Piece of Ne' hitmakei iecent-
ly took to Twittei to shaie that she'u
dumped her beau.
Kims daughter to follow her
beauty ritual soon?: It seems like
ieality Tv stai Kim Kaiuashian's
14-month-old daughter North will
take after her mother when it comes
to maintaining a strict beauty routine
as the little one already likes comb-
ing her own tresses.
North likes to brush her own
hair. You start with a brush and then
you have to get a second brush for
her. Right when you get it all perfect,
she takes the brush and starts doing
it heiself," Kim was quoteu by fema-
lefiist.co.uk as saying.
Meanwhile, the wife of rapper
Kanye West believes she's ielaxeu
her own make-up routine since be-
coming a mother.
She said: Ever since I had the
baby, there was at least four months
I went without make-up or hair
products. I loved it. You can kiss your
baby and you can snuggle. I am less
on the make-up since I had a baby for
sure because it makes it hard to kiss.
30
SPOTLIGHT
Industry-academia interface
key to bridging skills gap
By Hasan Kamoonpuri
F
OR many years the issue of quality in Omans higher
education has been a topic of interest to all stake-
holders, including academics, policy makers and the
students community.
That explains why the 7th Observer Roundtable
conference on Whats the Future of Quality in Omans
Higher Education held at Modern College of Business and
Science (MCBS) was a big hit with the audience.
The participants feel Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) must be geared to provide a well-rounded
euucation that incluues job-specific piepaiation as well as
the ability to think critically.
If higher education is on tract making sure that it serves
both, the needs of the job market, and the Sultanates long-
term goals of development, then the future of the youth
and the nation at large is insured.
A panel of experts comprising Dr Asadullah al Ajmi,
Academic Programmes Adviser, Ministry of Higher
Education; Dr Tess Goodliffe, Deputy CEO,
Oman Academic Accreditation Authority
(OAAA); Abdullah bin Salim al
Shueili, Editor-in-Chief, Oman
Daily Observer; Dr Jassim
M Jaber, Dean, Bayan
College; and Dr
Ahmed al
Naamany,
Dean, MCBS, led
the brainstorming on the
topic, while an august audience of academics, journalists
and students, who represented a broad spectrum of
acauemic fielus, joineu the wiue-ianging uiscussion with
valuable inputs and relevant questions.
The roundtable was timely and important because
the government is presently working on a new education
policy, which will be announced before the end of 2014.
Abdullah al Shueili said Omans education sector has
giown significantly with a lot of new BEIs coming up in the
country. High quality
HEIs are needed so
as to play the role
of powerhouses for
economic growth,
research, and
innovation. They can
be a vital part of the
governments long-
term economic plan to
build a more resilient
economy and create
jobs, he added.
Dr Tess said as per the requirements of the Government
of Oman, the quality of HEIs must be on a par with
international standards. Accreditation of academic
institutions ensure this, be it institutional accreditation or
programme accreditation.
She pointed out that solid data is needed through
feedbacks from industries as well as graduates on the
usefulness or failings of the academic programmes so that
effective remedies can be designed. Student destination
surveys are needed to collect information about patterns
of graduates employment and further study or training.
Incorporating career
readiness into
institutional
s t r a t e g i c
planning is
also important. Connecting the dots between
college and career is important to for students. Campus
recruitment fairs are the need of the hour, she added.
Dr Ahmad al Naamany holds that in-house quality
checks on the programmes and delivery modes are
important, and the Ministry of Higher Education, OAAA,
and colleges all have respective roles in ensuring high
standards and quality of HEIs in Oman. He also laid
emphasis on the need for parents and the community in
general to have the right perspective about the principles
of academic quality. They should understand that to
receive a degree the student must possess the minimum
knowledge and skills expected from the course. Using
influence to give pass maiks to a faileu stuuent is not
acceptable at any cost, he added.
Dr Jassim highlighted the challenges faced by
journalists and journalism courses in todays world owing
to the radical changes brought about by the advent of
social media and new reporting styles. HEIs must offer
programmes that impart relevant market skills along with
pure knowledge.
Industry-Academia interface
A major challenge for the country is to absorb the
large numbers of young job-seekers entering the labour
market. Around 50,000 new job-seekers enter the Omani
labour market each year. Under Vision 2020, Oman will
continue to inciease the measuies of uiveisification into
the seivice, inuustiial anu financial sectois.
The puisuit of economic uiveisification anu multi-
billion dollar investment in national infrastructure
development, including industrial, tourism and
commercial property projects, has important implications
for the education system and labour market, in terms of
the supply and demand of the right skills needed to take
Oman forward.
Biveisification iequiies a moie ielevant anu iesponsive
higher education system, where institutions offer courses
in disciplines that are demanded by employers and
pioviue cuiiicula that equip stuuents with the specific
skills needed to become productive members of the
workforce.
But HEIs, says Dr Al Naamany, are mostly operating
in the dark due to weak HEI-industry interaction. The
ministry needs to put in place a mechanism to ensure
their regular and close coordination so that HEIs are able
to provide the kind of workforce Oman needs 15 years
down the road.
The general conclusion was that there are not
many opportunities for fresh graduates to hone
their practical skills as industries are reluctant to
take in interns. Industries and colleges must interact more
effectively so that academic programmes with the right
stress on skills needed by the market can be offered.
With exciting, large-scale new projects coming up in
sectors like ports, airports and railways, the HEIs as well
as the ministry must work closely to identify the skills
anu qualifications these piojects may neeu, anu uesign
appropriate courses, says Dr Al Naamany.
The captains of HEIs sometimes do not think enough
about how best to prepare their students for the jobs that
will be available when they graduate. And employers do
not always communicate clearly enough to HEIs what
skills employees need.
Dr Al Naamany emphasised the importance of
setting up an advisory team of experts from the
industry and academies to meet regularly
for updating the stakeholders on
the new projects and
the manpower
requirements
so that relevant
programmes
focusing on the
right skills are
offered to the
students.
U n l e s s
i ndustry-HEI
partnership and
c oordi nat i on
is developed higher
education is not going to
provide the kind of workforce
Oman needs 10 or 20 years down the road
it will continue to be dependent on expatriate
workforce.
In the increasingly skills-based economy of Oman, the
importance of equipping the graduates in accordance
with the requirements of huge national projects being
launched from time to time cannot be overemphasised.
Dr Al Naamany says there should be separate national
conferences on skill requirements and national projects
such as Duqm, railways, ports, healthcare etc.
Securing a brighter future for the Sultanate is, for most
part, investing in the skills of the next generation. One way
the country can achieve this is through regular industry-
HEIs interface. This concept and role of HEIs as partners
in progress is gathering pace.
This means, in future Omans higher education sector
should be a more active economic actor creating
employment, working with industry, providing skills,
and driving innovation thus rising to the challenge of
meeting the standards needed for progress.
New educational strategy
According to Dr Asadullah al Ajmi, quality improvement
and assessment is a continuous process, and the ministry
will be launching a new educational strategy by the end
of this year, to address all shortcomings being felt now.
That our graduates lack in essential skills sought after by
industries cant be overlooked, he added. The industry-
academic link is weak today, and this needs to change.
The new strategy is being designed to join the Ministry
of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education in a
way that they work in a more co-ordinated manner, he
said.
The strategy, yet to be discussed at a national level,
will address a number of challenges facing the countrys
educational system, such as the standard of English in
Omani schools, mismatch between graduates skills and
job market requirements and quality of education, among
other things.
The Education Strategy, which is still at a draft stage
and under discussion, is being developed by the Education
Council along with the OAAA, Ministers of Education,
Higher Education, Manpower and others.
The National Strategy for Education 2040 seeks to
put in place an effective mechanism for the management
and governance of the education sector, boost enrolment
at vaiious euucational levels anu uefine ioles anu
iesponsibilities of ielevant goveinment bouies to fulfil the
requirements of the job market.
The issues of affordability of higher education, and the
pathetic English language skills of Omani graduates were
also debated.
Lakshmi Kothaneth, an Oman Observer journalist,
who moderated the conference, said the panellists as
well as audience agreed that should the two ministries
of education, HEIs, and industry work in a coordinated
manner based on regular dialogue, all the challenges
facing higher education will be resolved and Omani
graduates will have a much brighter future.
Pictures by Huda al Bahri
New Educational Strategy under way
Dr Tess Goodliffe,
who joined Oman Ac-
ademic Accreditation
Authority (OAAA) in
2007, was appointed
Deputy CEO Techni-
cal Affairs of OAAA
in 2013. Her role in
the OAAA supports
the work of the institutional and academic
programme accreditation departments; the
founuation piogiamme; anu the qualification
frameworks department.
Tess oiiginally tiaineu in the fielu of
English language teaching and teacher
training, apart from working in Turkey, Italy,
South America, Japan, France, Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia before running a teaching and
training centre in Oman.
Tess obtained her Doctorate in Social
Sciences and MSc in Training from the
University of Leicester, UK.
Dr Asadullah
Ahmed al Ajmi
holds a PhD degree
from the University
of Reading in UK. In
2010, Al Ajmi was ap-
pointed by the Minis-
try of Higher Educa-
tion in Oman as an
Adviser on Academic Programmes Assess-
ment and Development.
He is involved in various aspects of qual-
ity assurance in Omans private HEIs. Prior to
this, he worked for the Arabian Gulf Univer-
sity in Bahrain as an associate professor of
soils and irrigation.
Dr Al Ajmi has over 20 years of experience
in research design, implementation and anal-
yses, apart from publishing over 10 papers in
international journals, six in conference pro-
ceedings and several technical reports and
chapters.
Dr Ahmed al Naa-
many, a Professor in
Information Commu-
nication Technology,
started his career at
Sultan Qaboos Uni-
versity and latter at
Arab Open University
where he was Vice
Rector for Education-
al and Information Technology. Presently he
is Dean of MCBS as well as Managing Direc-
tor of Global Computer Services. He earned
a PhD in 1995 from the University of Man-
chester, UK; MSc (EE-Computer Controls)
from Drexel University (US) 1990; BSc (Mul-
ti-Disciplinary Engineering) from Widener
University, 1986; and another BSc (EE) from
Widener University, 1986, with Honors. Dr
Al Naamany has contributed to more than
70 conference and journal papers as well as
patents. Dr Al Naamany is also a recipient of a
Fulbright Scholarship.
Prof Jassim M Jaber,
Dean, Bayan College,
earned his PhD in
Public Relations from
Baghdad University
in 1995. He obtained
his MEd in Journalism
from the University of
Cardiff, United King-
dom in1984.
Be is a membei of 0man Qualifications
Framework Development Project Committee
and is known for expertise in Public Rela-
tion and Media as a practitioner and consult-
ant. His research and publications pertain to
Mass Communication, New Journalism, Pub-
lic Relations, Higher Education and Quality
Assurance.
Abdullah bin Salim
al Shueili, Editor-in-
Chief, Oman Daily Ob-
server, is the moving
spirit behind the suc-
cess of the monthly
Observer roundtable
conferences.
He has launched
a number of new and reader-friendly ini-
tiatives since assuming the leadership of
Observer last year. Besides adding value to
the newspapers website, he has been pro-
moting Observers online edition through
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Abdullah holds that knowledge can help us
gain self-awareness. The root cause of most
pioblems anu conflicts lies in oui ignoiance
about ourselves. If one looks within to un-
ueistanu oneself, one will finu a fathomless
ocean of knowledge that could help avoid pit-
falls.
PROFILES OF SPEAKERS
31
LIFESTYLE
I used to believe that
marriage would diminish
me, reduce my options. That
you had to be someone less to
live with someone else when,
of course, you have to be
someone more.
Candice Bergen, actress
It is the spirit and not the
form of law that keeps justice
alive.
Earl Warren, jurist &
politician
Ideas are like rabbits. You
get a couple and learn how to
handle them, and pretty soon
you have a dozen.
John Steinbeck, novelist
Quotes of the day
By Lakshmi Kothaneth
lkairwaves@gmail.com
On The
Airwaves
Feeling of cyber
insecurity
T
HE email has been hacked what do you do?
It is one of those cases where you think it can happen to
someone else but nevei you. The fiist sign was a fiienu of mine call-
ing me at night asking if I hau sent hei a mail on safety.
Although thoughts ian thiough my heau I uiu not imagine the im-
pact this question was going to have the next moining. Next uay, I
ieceiveu a wakeup call fiom anothei fiienu, "Biu you senu me a mail
on safety?
I sat up anu this time I knew theie was something wiong. When I
ieplieu negative, my fiienu saiu, "You have been hackeu."
I posteu on my wall on facebook anu tiieu senuing it out on so-
cial meuia tools. Immeuiately my fiienus weie senuing out solutions
such as change all youi passwoius. Tiying to change the passwoiu I
got lost with all the uiffeient questions the website askeu me. I text-
ed one of my friends to alert about the fake mail because the person
is not active on so-
cial media. The re-
ply came piomptly,
"saw it. Kept it
aside to read it
later. Thanks for in-
foiming."
I could not im-
agine how many
people must be
ieauing this mail.
Reaching the office,
my colleagues tolu
me about the mail.
And that meant the
mail has gone to eveiyone in my mailing list. A fiienu of mine saiu,
"It uiu not look like youi style of wiiting so I uiu not open it."
I was ielieveu anu just then I ieceiveu a text message saying you
have been hacked because I have received a mail from you so please
change youi passwoiu. I iealiseu the saga is not going to enu veiy
soon. I coulu not unueistanu why it hau happeneu in the fiist place.
Another friend of mine said it is a virus. Another one consoled by
saying it happens to eveiyone so uo not woiiy about it too much.
Taking the coiiection measuies was an eye openei once again. I
have wiitten about it anu talkeu about it on the Rauio. Neveitheless
when it happens to you it is a uiffeient expeiience all togethei. Foi
one, I knew the fault was mine. Ny passwoiu was weak. As an ex-
peit who is also a fiienu pointeu out, the passwoiu shoulu consist
of big anu small scale alphabets anu uigits as well as a best piactice.
That is when a fiienu came in saying you have not been hackeu
but it is a viius. Beie we go again, I thought to myself. I ieally want-
eu to know what the uiffeience between Backing anu a viius attack
was. 0ne explanation says a viius is theie to annoy you; wheieas
hacking is involveu in stealing. Thankfully the lettei that was going
out of my mail box uiu not talk about money. The final blow was a
colleague walking in anu telling me he hau gone foi a meeting anu
his host showeu him a stiange mail fiom a peison calleu Lakshmi.
Ny colleague tolu him who the senuei was. Now I am embaiiasseu
beyonu woius. Why woulu I be talking about Safety uocument to
stiangeis! So was it just a viius that got into a once uownloaueu file
oi was it a hacking that is supposeu to steal. I suppose it stole the
identity.
The passwoiu has been changeu. But the feeling of cybei insecu-
iity is not going to leave me foi a while I am suie.
Flat shoe trend marches on
T
BIS summers Paris Haute Couture shows
weie iemaikable foi the high visibility of flat
shoes. Nany of the female guests attenuing
the shows woie ioman sanuals oi balleiinas, while
men came in biogues.
The female piess officeis foi the talenteu
uesignei Bouchia }aiiai woie veiy uown-to-
eaith laceu shoes. The only people in high heels
weie eithei lauies of a ceitain age oi Bollywoou
celebiities who can't weai anything else.
It appeais that theie is moie to the flat shoe
tienu than a meie flash in the pan. Last }anuaiy
Kail Lageifelu sent his mouels uown the iunway in
flat sneakeis. Besignei Raf Simons integiateu spoit
shoes into his Bioi collection. That was iegaiueu as
a sensation at the time. Now, Lageifelu has paiieu
flip-flops with Chanel, inuicating flat sanuals may
become a cult couture item.
Seveial of the online uesignei fashion platfoims
such as Net-A-Porter anu Nytheiesa have incieaseu
theii ianges of flat shoes. "}ust a couple of yeais
ago theie was not such a big vaiiety," says Sasha
Saiokin, senioi buyei in Lonuon foi Net-A-Poitei.
"It was mainly balleiinas anu tiaining shoes, which
people weie weaiing in theii fiee time oi at the
weekend.
Touay it's much easiei to play aiounu anu finu a
paii of flat shoes foi the look you'ie tiying to cieate.
It's not just in the shoe categoiy that a change in
establisheu thinking is happening. Theie aie signs
that a completely new female image has slowly
developed and will make its full appearance this
season.
The new look consists of a soft oveisize coat,
A-shapeu calf-length pants with a matching tunic
top oi a well-maue blouse. Sweuish label Acne oi
The Row fiom the 0S have embiaceu this style.
But the look can be saiu to have oiiginateu with
one woman: Phoebe Philo, uesignei at Celine. "The
woman who knows what women want," is how the
New York Times described Philo earlier this year.
}ouinalist Whitney vaigas wiote that Philo hau
changeu the couise of fashion in each of the six
yeais she has been uesigning foi Celine. Accoiuing
to vaigas, Philo has maue comfoit the ultimate
fashion luxuiy.
In contiast to the 198us anu 199us when }il
Sanuei anu uioigio Aimani cieateu clothes foi
women boiioweu fiom men's business suits, male
anu female uiess coues no longei play a iole in
fashion. The ciossoveis have uisappeaieu. "Clothes
aie no longei about looking chic," says Sasha
Saiokin. "They aie comfoitable so you can weai the
same outfit the entiie uay: fiom stiolling in the city
to uinnei with fiienus in the evening."
The main thing is that youi outfit looks cool anu
comfoitable. Even victoiia Beckham, who maue
stilettos pait of hei look, is tuining away fiom high
heels. In an inteiview foi Net-A-Poitei's online
magazine, Beckham auvises ieaueis to go beyonu
high heels.
"Tiust youiself in flats. It woulu be impossible
foi me to iun aftei my kius in high heels oi to iun
aiounu my Lonuon stuuio." upa
Christian Dior Spring Summer 2014 Runway Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week
T
AKINu the iight uecision in a mattei of
seconus is ciucial when uealing with
heart attacks or acute heart diseases.
The process will become a lot easier with the
help of a new app.
Researchers have developed a mobile
application that allows people to have instant
access to the best recommendations on their
mobile uevices. Bevelopeu by the Acute
Cardiovascular Care Association (ACCA) of
the Euiopean Society of Caiuiology (ESC), the
user-friendly interactive application allows
immeuiate access to uiagnostics pathways on
mobile phones.
"We have cieateu the fiist tool to help all
healthcare professionals who treat patients
with acute cardiovascular syndromes to make
the coiiect uecisions fast," saiu piofessoi
Bectoi Bueno, piesiuent elect anu acting
president of ACCA.
The ACCA clinical uecision making tool-kit
is baseu on ESC clinical piactice guiuelines
(15-) anu was wiitten by Euiopean expeits
in acute cardiovascular care. The seven
chapteis covei symptoms (chest pain), acute
coionaiy synuiomes, caiuiac aiiest anu
caiuio-pulmonaiy iesuscitation (CPR), ihythm
disturbances and acute vascular syndromes.
"The ACCA tool-kit will help us save lives,
which is the main goal of uoctois in eveiy
countiy," noteu vaya Aglauze, a meuical
piactitionei fiom Tbilisi, ueoigia.
"The chaits anu tables cleaily show the
tieatment a patient neeus anu a quick guiue
foi paiameuics in ambulances, uoctois anu
nuises in emeigency iooms anu caiuiologists,"
Aglauze auueu.
The mobile app is now available on the
Apple App Stoie anu uoogle Play. IANS
How peoples brains get
synchronised during movies
K
N0W what happens inside
peoples brains when they
watch movies togethei in a
theatie. Theii biain activity gets
synchronised as they watch in-
tense scenes.
Stiuctuieu movies that use
a lot of cinematic devices and
carefully composed shots do the
synchionising effect to the biain
in a better way than movies of
unstiuctuieu ieality, ieseaicheis
say.
0ii Basson, a psychologist at
Princeton University analysed
brain scan data his team collected
as people watched several
different video clips.
When people watcheu tense
scenes, theie was a significant
coiielation in activity acioss neaily 7u pei cent of theii coitex.
"The movie takes ovei the biain iesponses of the vieweis," Basson was quoteu as saying.
Be showeu his finuings to a team of ienowneu film-makeis at an event iecently hosteu by the
Acauemy of Notion Pictuie Aits anu Sciences.
"If people's biains weie out of sync uuiing a movie, that might be a sign that theii minus weie
wanueiing," Basson saiu.
Accoiuing to him, film-makeis in the futuie can use biain scans to gauge how vieweis' biains
iesponu to uiffeient aspects of a movie, wiieu.com iepoiteu. IANS
ISM student wins Green Olympiad
K
RISBNA Chetlui of Class X u, maue In-
uian School Nuscat piouu by emeig-
ing the 'Countiy Winnei' fiom the
Sultanate of 0man in Inuia's Piemiei In-
teinational Enviionmental 0lympiau 'The
uieen 0lympiau', oiganiseu by The Eneigy
anu Resouices Institute (Teii), which is In-
uia's national level enviionment examina-
tion for schoolchildren held annually in In-
dia and abroad.
The uieen 0lympiau, enuoiseu by 0nesco
BESB, NoEF, CBSE, NvS anu KvS, anu seveial
state boaius anu othei euucation tiusts,
coveis a bioau iange of topics such as
watei, eneigy, aii, foiest, bio-uiveisity, climate, global waiming, sustainable
uevelopment, cultuie anu cuiient affaiis peitaining to enviionment. Stuuents
of Classes vIII, IX anu X fiom the affiliateu schools in Inuia anu oveiseas,
participated in the Olympiad.
Kiishna ieceiveu a scholaiship, ceitificate of meiit anu uistinction foi his
stupenuous peifoimance, outshining thousanus of othei contenueis. Inuian
School Nuscat congiatulateu him on his biilliant peifoimance anu wisheu
him success in all his endeavours.
ISC Salalah hosts NDC team
I
NBIAN Social Club Salalah oiganiseu a cultuial evening in honoui of visiting uelegates fiom Inuia's
National Befence College (NBC) at the Sultan Qaboos Nulti-Puipose Ball on Weunesuay. The event
was attenueu by }S Nukul, Inuian Ambassauoi in 0man; NBC team leauei Najoi ueneial vivek
Piatap Singh; Biigauiei Saif bin Nohammeu bin Saiu al Sheui; Aii Commouoie Ahmeu bin Saiu bin
Rashiu, Al Baloushi of Salalah Aii Base Commanuei; Biigauiei Awau bin Sulaiman al Nazwani of
Fiiqat Foice Commanuei anu; Wing Commanuei Zahian bin Ali Ambousaiui.
A laige numbei of Inuian community membeis, local uignitaiies anu NBC uelegates took pait in it.
Inuian Social Club Salalah (ISC-S) Chaiiman Nanpieet Singh welcomeu the guests fiom 0man,
Inuia, Nepal, Biunei, Biazil anu Sii Lanka.
App to help deal
with emergency
heart conditions
P29
The Cut to premiere at Venice Film Festival Lily Allen pens good songs when unhappy >>Entertainment
P30 P31
P29
Monday
Britneys ex banned from contacting her?
New educational strategy under way
Flat shoe trend marches on
Inside

Volunteering
boosts health of
older adults
Soon batteries
to run on sugar
O
LDER adults who stay active
by volunteering are likely to
receive a health boost.
Volunteering is linked with
reductions in symptoms of
depression, better overall health,
fewer functional limitations and
greater longevity, a study indicated.
We discovered a number of
trends in the results that paint a
compelling picture of volunteering
as an important lifestyle component
for maintaining health and well-
being in later years, said lead
investigator Nicole Anderson from
the University of Toronto in Canada.
Feeling appreciated or needed as
a volunteer appears to amplify the
relationship between volunteering
and psycho-social well-being.
More vulnerable seniors (those
with chronic health conditions) may
benefit the most fiom volunteeiing.
Bowevei, health benefits uepenu
on a moderate level of volunteering.
There appears to be a tipping
point aftei which gieatei benefits
no longer accrue. The sweet spot
appears to be at about 100 annual
hours, or two to three hours per
week.
I
N a breakthrough to develop long-
lasting batteries for smartphones
and other gadgets, scientists
have successfully created a sugar
biobattery that completely converts
the chemical energy in sugar
substrates into electricity.
This biobattery can achieve an
energy-storage density of about 596
ampere-hours (A/h) per kg an
order of magnitude higher than
the 42 A/h/kg energy density of a
typical lithium-ion battery used in
various gadgets.
A sugar biobattery with such a
high-energy density could last at
least 10 times longer than existing
lithium-ion batteries of the same
weight, said YH Percival Zhang, an
associate professor of biological
systems engineering at Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State
University, popularly known as
Virginia Tech.
The biobattery is a type of
enzymatic fuel cell (EFC) an
electrobiochemical device that
converts chemical energy from fuels
such as starch and glycogen into
electricity.
"We aie fiist to uemonstiate
the complete oxidation of the
biobatterys sugar so we achieve a
near-theoretical energy conversion
yield that no one else has reported,
Zhang added.
The sugar biobattery is also less
costly than the lithium-ion battery
and environmentally friendly,
researchers reported in the journal
Nature Communications. IANS
In August 2012 we managed to
schedule the visit of what we
knew later was known as Kahf
al Maawil. I studied the terrain
on Google Earth and we packed
our backpacks and headed to Al
Soqrah where we had to park
our car and hike to what I later
named the Village cavern.
We flrxt croxxeJ u funtuxtlc
abandoned village called
Mkheyti, partially built in the
cliffs of the wadi. In some houses
we found old empty ammunition
boxes probably dating from the
1950s war of Jabal Akhdhar

Cliff-side houses of
O
N May 2012 on our way to Al Soqrah
in Jabal Akhdhar, along with Marta
(my wife) I spotted a cave on the oth-
er side of the wadi. When I checked
it with my binoculars I saw many
houses built inside the cavern. We
decided to come back to the area in the future and
try to reach it.
It was only in August the same year that we
managed with Marta to schedule the visit of what
we knew later was known as Kahf al Maawil.
I studied the terrain on Google Earth and one
Friday we packed our backpacks and headed to Al
Soqrah where we had to park our car and start our
hike to what I later named the Village cavern.
We fiist ciosseu a fantastic abanuoneu village
called Mkheyti, partially built in the cliffs of the wadi. In some houses we found
old empty ammunition boxes probably dating from the 1950s war of Jabal
Akhdhar.
We were following the trail I spotted on the satellite pictures but in some
places we had to improvise our way as the old track was completely erased by
the ravages of time.
The weather was quite hot, and the ascent to the grotto was quite strenuous.
On our way we passed by many places with houses built into the cliff beside
the trail. In the neighbourhood of some of them we saw few abandoned terraces
used for agriculture in the old days. The last part of our journey was very
uifficult as the slope was extiemely steep. We finally ieacheu the mouth of the
Promised hole after one-and-a-half hours of struggling in the heat!
We were not disappointed at all with what we found. The site is amazing!
The cave is perhaps 30m deep inside the mountain. It is wide and high
enough to host ten or even more houses, some of them with two stories!
We roamed around the place to take some pictures of this exceptional hidden
hamlet. The place was still alive, perhaps ten years ago and we thought how
fabulous it would have been to be there in the past and share a Qahwa with
the autochthones in this magical site and witness their way of living. After a
deserved break to savour some green tea and delicious sandwiches prepared by
my spouse aka my private cordon bleu, we hit the road back to our car.
We reached our vehicle around 4 pm where we met with Mohammed, our old
friend from Al Soqrah. He told us that people of his village are moving from the
old stone houses to the new concrete ones built lately at the end of the road.
It is true that for the people of Al Soqrah it is more comfortable to move in
these modern habitations but for us and the whole humanity it is another page
of the history of Oman that was about to be turned!
Our only wish is to see the authorities giving more attention to preserve
these jewels, otherwise they will slowly disintegrate and disappear forever.
AL MAAWIL CAVE
By Khaled H Abdul Malak
kamkam@omantel.net.om
Marta in the village of Mkheyti
Marta struggling in the last
steep ascent to reach the cave
Houses built in the cliff close to Al Maawil cave
Marta at the entrance of Al Maawil cave

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