S - Oman Daily Observer

Tech Inc’s 

hopes are 

fading 

Page 7 

�� Thursday, July 12, 2012/Shaaban 22, 1433 AH 

www.omanobserver.om ��editor@omanobserver.om 

Space tourism programme 

FLAMBOYANT British businessman Richard 

Branson, whose Virgin empire has encompassed 

airlines, music stores and mobile phones, is turning his 

hand to launching satellites. He is working on taking 

passengers into suborbital space, said yesterday the 

carrier jet for those commercial flights would double up 

as an aerial platform for launching small satellites. 

3 suspects 

in ROP net 

MUSCAT — The Royal 

Oman Police (ROP), represented 

by the Arab and International 

Police Liaison 

Directorate (Interpol Muscat) 

at the Directorate-General of 

Inquiries and Criminal Investigations 

received suspects 

wanted by the Sultanate in 

different criminal cases, after 

been arrested according to the 

international circular issued 

in this regard. 

Two Asian suspects were 

received on July 9, 2012 from 

the Qatari authorities. The first 

suspect is wanted for a case 

of issuing cheques without 

sufficient funds to one of the 

finance companies whereas 

the second suspect is wanted 

for a case of breach of trust, 

as he used to work as an electrician. 

He embezzled money 

from the company where he 

worked and left the Sultanate. 

An Asian suspect was 

also received from Bahraini 

authorities after committing 

a robbery. He was internationally 

tracked immediately 

upon receiving a complaint 

from his ex-employer. Coordination 

was maintained 

with Interpol Manama, which 

HM Cup goes to 

North Al Batinah 

MUSCAT — Dr Madeeha bint 

Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Education 

Minister, announced that 

the Governorate of North Al 

Batinah won His Majesty the 

Sultan’s Cup for Scouts and 

Guides Excellence. 

In a press statement yesterday, 

Dr Madeeha said that 

the Scouting and Guidance 

Commission in the Governorate 

of North Al Batinah came 

first at the Sultanate level for 

the school year 2011/2012 

and thus qualified to win His 

Majesty Sultan Qaboos Cup. 

The Scouts and Guides Commission 

in the Governorate 

of South Al Sharqiyah came 

second, the Governorate of 

Muscat came third, the Governorate 

of Al Dakhiliyah came 

fourth, the Governorate of Al 

Dhahirah and the Governorate 

of Dhofar shared the fifth position. 

The Education Minister 

Inside 

led to the arrest of the accused 

at Bahrain International 

Airport on the same day that 

he intended to leave for his 

country. This comes within 

the framework of the existing 

co-operation between the Sultanate 

and the GCC countries 

to combat crime and continue 

extradition of criminals. 

Meanwhile, policemen at 

the Directorate-General for 

Combating Drugs and Psychotropic 

Substances caught 

two Asians for pushing and 

administering drugs in Al 

Khoudh in the Governorate of 

Muscat. 

Investigations conducted 

by the Directorate-General of 

Combating Drugs and Psychotropic 

Substances after 

receiving information that an 

Asian expatriate has received 

an amount of drugs. The two 

Asians were caught red-handed 

while selling the drugs. 

The policemen found 

an amount of RO 996, cell 

phones, as well as four heroin 

capsules in their posession. 

The accused were referred 

to the Public Prosecution for 

investigation to refer them to 

the Court. 

added that dedicating a cup in 

the name of His Majesty is a 

recognition of the importance 

of the scouting work. 

She added that the competition 

for the Cup of the 

Supreme Scout, which His 

Majesty the Sultan dedicated, 

is recognition by His Majesty 

of the importance of scouting 

and guidance work in building 

students capacities and developing 

competitiveness among 

teams and scouting commissions. 

She stressed the importance 

of the competition in instilling 

values and directing their energies 

towards values, physical, 

mental and social capacities, as 

well as deepening concepts of 

loyalty to the country and the 

Sultan. Dr Madeeha pointed 

out to the constant evaluation 

by the Centralised Committee 

for Scouts and Guides Commission. 

� To page 3 

Enhancing skills 

�� 

MUSCAT — As part of activities 

marking Muscat as the 

capital of Arab Tourism 2012, 

the Ministry of Tourism and 

Oman Journalists Association, 

in co-operation with the 

Municipality of Dhofar, the 

Arab Journalists Union and 

the Arab Tourism Organisation, 

are organising a Tourism 

Information Week programme 

for some 60 Omani and fellow 

Arab journalists that is set to 

take place from July 15 to 17 

in the Dhofar Governorate. 

The course’s objective is 

to develop the skills of the 

journalists in tourism information, 

enhance Arab media 

communications and also give 

journalists a chance to experience 

the climatic changes that 

occur in the Dhofar Governorate. 

� See page 3 

Spain’s austerity package — P7 Markets in Asia rebound — P8 

Nolan is unique director — P14 Death of wealthy heiress — P18 

5 14 20 

MUSCAT has been selected as the Capital of Arab Tourism this year. Muscat will be the tourism capital not just for 

Oman, but the whole Arab region. In view of this coveted position of the Capital of Arab Tourism 2012, the 

Ministry of Tourism has announced programmes of various activities during July-August-September this 

year as part of its efforts to celebrate this occasion. � See Features — Picture by Mohammed al Mahjoub 

Musandam-Oman Sail keeps up pace 

MUSCAT — Improvisation on board 

Musandam-Oman Sail has allowed Sidney 

Gavignet’s crew to maintain healthy 

speeds in the 2012 Krys Ocean Race as 

Delhi tops in 

Indian cities 

NEW DELHI — India’s 

capital has emerged the most 

competitive city in the country 

for the third straight time 

with the commercial hub of 

Mumbai retaining the second 

spot, according to a report by 

an international think-tank 

released yesterday. 

Chennai, Hyderabad and 

Kolkata, in that order, make 

up the top five in rankings of 

the India City Competitiveness 

Report-2012, compiled 

by the Institute for Competitiveness 

(IFC) that conducts 

studies in this area for use 

by businesses and governments. 

Regarding New Delhi, 

the report says the city has 

managed to demonstrate a 

phenomenal growth over a 

period of time by balancing 

demand and development in 

equal measure. 

The two areas it is found 

lagging in are administrative 

and institutional support. 

� See page 16 

they approach the half way mark. 

With only one foil remaining, 

following the failure on Sunday of the 

port foil, the crew is having to switch it 

Portal on e-media services 

MUSCAT — A visual presentation 

was made at the Information 

Ministry yesterday for 

the construction and design 

of the e-media services portal 

and the development of media 

websites for Oman News 

Agency (ONA), the Public 

Authority for Radio and TV 

(PART), Oman Centre for Traditional 

Music (OCTM) and 

the websites of the media units. 

The presentation was made by 

the International Information 

Technology Company. 

The presentation was attended 

by Dr Abdulmunim bin 

Mansour al Hasani, Information 

Minister, and officials at 

the Information Ministry. 

Abdullah bin Mubarak al 

Nu’aimi, Director of Omanet, 

said in a statement to ONA 

that the project aims at ensuring 

more interactive relation 

among the websites of the media 

departments included in the 

project. 

He added that the project 

will be a window and a communication 

link through which 

the Sultanate will have a window 

over the world. � To P2 

Remittances on record high 

KARACHI — With an impressive 

17.7 per cent annual 

growth, remittances sent home 

by overseas Pakistanis surged 

to a record high and crossed 

the psychological mark of $13 

billion in the previous fiscal 

year 2011-12, the State Bank 

of Pakistan (SBP) announced 

yesterday. 

Continuous growth in remittances 

is being billed as a 

lifeline for Pakistan’s economy, 

especially when energy 

shortages and high inflation 

have hurt gross domestic 

product (GDP) growth. 

“Remittances have been 

playing a key role in the country’s 

economic performance,” 

said Muzammil Aslam, Managing 

Director of Emerging 

Economics Consultancy. 

“One can safely say that 

the continuous rise in remittances 

in the last few years has 

saved Pakistan from serious 

economic problems including 

from side to side every time they gybe. 

This added workload, while tiring, has 

allowed them to hold onto their fourth 

place. � See page 4 

default on debt repayments.” 

Aslam suggested that the 

government can further increase 

the flow of remittances 

if it reduces the difference 

between interbank and open 

market exchange rates for the 

US dollar from the present one 

rupee to 10 to 15 paisa. 

“This will encourage overseas 

workers to send more and 

more dollars through banking 

channels instead of illegal 

means.” � See page 6 

SL on top despite Azhar’s ton 

PAKISTAN’S Azhar Ali defiantly scored his fourth 

Test hundred but hosts Sri Lanka still scented victory 

in the third and final Test with the tourists leading by 

188 in their second innings at the end of the fourth day. 

Asad Shafiq, who shared a fifth wicket partnership of 

100 with Azhar at the Pallekele Stadium, was unbeaten 

on 55 off 134 balls, having hit five fours. 

China way to 

find rich 

husbands 

Page 14 

Spotlight on 

safe driving 

MUSCAT — The dangers of 

driver fatigue will be highlighted 

at the Traffic Safety 

Expo due to take place at the 

Oman International Exhibition 

Centre from October 16- 

20. 

Experts point out that the 

four major causes for road accidents 

can be pinned down 

to speeding, usage of mobile 

phones, neglecting the usage 

of seatbelts and driver fatigue. 

Fatigue although related to 

many fields is especially a 

concern when tied down to 

transportation, be it of oneself 

or others, as injuries received 

during the same tend to be 

more serious and fatal. 

A driver suffering from 

fatigue displays certain symptoms 

indicating fatigue which 

can be used to alert him or his 

passengers (in the instance 

that he isn’t alone) to the situation 

at hand, allowing him to 

take certain steps which could 

prevent the incident of an accident. 

Signs include constant 

yawning, tired/burning/ 

sore eyes, restlessness or 

unnecessary aggressive attitude, 

aching back or hips, 

day dreaming, delayed reac- 

Call to maintain 

hygiene norms 

�� 

MUSCAT — As the Holy 

Month of Ramadhan is round 

the corner, the civic authorities 

have warned butcheries 

and others dealing in red 

meat to observe strict hygiene 

standards in view of the concerns 

over public health. 

A source at the Muscat 

Municipality said that violators 

would be dealt with in 

accordance with the country’s 

civil penal code. 

“We have instructed all 

the butcheries and other retail 

outlets dealing in foodstuff 

and red meat to observe high 

standards of hygiene failing of 

which would invite strict punishments 

in accordance with 

the law. Consumer Protection 

Law No 49/2007 criminalises 

anyone who attempts to cheat 

or defraud consumers,” he 

tions including difficulties in 

remembering, difficulty in 

keeping one’s head upright, 

drifting over lanes and variations 

in driving speed. 

ROP reports show that 

traffic accidents always increase 

during the holy month 

of Ramadhan. Drivers are 

urged to be ever vigilant and 

exercise caution during the 

holy month and at all times 

to prevent accidents due to 

fatigue and lack of concentration. 

“It’s not only people with 

their own private cars that 

need to pay heed to the dangers 

of road fatigue but taxi 

drivers, bus drivers as well as 

heavy vehicle drivers, because 

although most cases point to 

the driver under fatigue being 

alone in the car when the accident 

happens, he may also 

cause vigilant drivers and 

innocent pedestrians their 

lives, while putting his own 

life on the line,” says Alawi 

Almurazza, a representative 

from The Traffic Safety Expo 

2012. 

The cure for driver fatigue 

is present in the causes 

itself. Since the causes of 

drivers’ � To page 2 

was speaking to the Observer 

in the wake of the recent incident 

in Ibra where a slaughterer 

of a corpse was punished 

with fine and warning. 

The First Instance Court 

in Ibra has recently issued its 

rule against a butcher accused 

of trying to cheat consumers 

by trying to get a dead animal 

slaughtered, according to Article 

(3/a) of the Regulations 

under the Consumer Protection 

Law. 

Based on Article (21) of 

Consumer Protection Law No 

81/2002, the court sentenced 

him to pay a fine of RO 1,000, 

for trying to slay a dead ox at 

a place reserved to the slaughter 

of livestock. 

The Administration of the 

Public Authority for Consumer 

Protection (PACP) in Al 

Sharqiyah North Governorate 

received � To page 3 

TEN people died and 14 others were wounded in 34 

sea-related incidents that occurred in the first five 

months of this year, according to the statistics of the 

Directorate-General of Civil Defence. 

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

EXCHANGE RATES 

GOLD 

Dollar per Omani Rial 

PRICE 

Muscat 04:02 am 12:18 pm 03:37 pm 07:02 pm 08:23 pm Max ax 36 44 35 43 36 33 29 

Min 29 31 30 30 29 23 26 

Buying 0.382 Selling 0.388 $1,574.30

MUSCAT — A visual presentation 

was made at the Information Ministry 

yesterday for the construction and 

design of the e-media services portal 

and the development of media websites 

for Oman News Agency (ONA), 

the Public Authority for Radio and TV 

(PART), Oman Centre for Traditional 

Music (OCTM) and the websites of 

media units. 

The presentation was made by the 

International Information Technology 

Company. 

The presentation was attended by 

Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansour al Hasani, 

Minister of Information and officials 

at the Information Ministry. 

Abdullah bin Mubarak al Nuaimi, 

Director of Omanet, said in a statement 

to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the 

project aims at ensuring more interactive 

relations among the websites of 

the media departments included in the 

project. He added that the project will 

be a window and a communication 

link through which the Sultanate will 

have a window over the world. 

It will also be a platform to process 

all media transactions and achieve the 

aims of the Omani media man’s message. 

The e-media services portal project 

includes e-book library, video library, 

2 OMAN 

OMAN DAILY Observer 

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2012 

Design of e-media services portal for media depts soon 

Traffic campaign in Adam raises awareness 

ADAM — The traffic 

awareness campaign 

organised by the Traffic 

Safety Committee in the 

Wilayat of Adam concluded 

yesterday. 

The 5-day campaign 

aimed at raising awareness 

among road users especially 

those who travel on the 

Adam-Thamrait highway. 

The campaigners 

distributed brochures and 

leaflets to motorists urging 

them to abide by the traffic 

rules, not to overtake in 

no-overtaking areas and to 

comply with the speed limit. 

Motorists from 

neighbouring GCC countries 

who use the highway on their 

way to Salalah were also 

briefed about the campaign 

aspects. They also actively 

took part and appreciated the 

awareness campaign. 

Shaikh Awadh bin 

Abdullah al Manthari, the 

Wali of Adam and Chairman 

of Traffic Safety Committee 

hailed the success of the 

campaign noting that it has 

achieved the desired 

effect which is raising 

awareness about road safety 

issues. — ONA 

From page 1 

fatigue are lack of quality 

sleep, sleeping disorders, 

driving at a time when biological 

clocks are programmed 

to be resting (for example: 1 

am-6 am and 2 pm-4 pm) and 

length of time performing a 

task, the answer to all these 

problems are a good night’s 

rest. 

Nothing can contribute to 

a driver’s stamina and alertness 

more than proper sleeping 

habits. 

However should anyone 

find themselves a victim of 

fatigue on the road, accident 

picture library, e-archive, e-media 

services, reports and articles, in addition 

to comments or enquiries on the 

materials published by news editors. 

The project also includes the design 

of an interactive front page. The 

site will be easily browsed and will 

provide interfaces in more than one 

language. 

The project, which takes up to 10 

months, will begin soon. — ONA 

ROP arrests 

4 for fraud 

MUSCAT — The Directorate-General 

of Inquiries and 

Criminal Investigation at the 

Royal Oman Police (ROP) 

arrested four people charged 

with fraud. 

The defendants hired 

cars from citizens and later 

spirited the cars out of the 

country. The charged are being 

investigated by the Public 

Prosecution and they will 

appear before court. 

The criminals had opened 

a car hire office at Seeb after 

they obtained a commercial 

register. They convinced 

their clients to take their cars 

on rent against tantalising 

sums of money if they gave 

their consent to the office to 

hire the cars outside the Sultanate 

for tourism and commercial 

purposes. 

Being convinced, the 

clients issued authorisation 

to the office agents to take 

the cars out of the country 

via land ports. The miscreants 

signed contracts with 

the clients and handed them 

cheques with sums equal to 

the car value payable after 

two or three years from the 

date of taking the car. 

Lieutenant Colonel Saif 

al Maamari said the Directorate-General 

of Inquiries 

and Criminal Investigation 

launched the investigation 

a short time after receiving 

information about it. 

Traffic Safety Expo 2012 

to focus on driver fatigue 

preventive measures would 

include making stops to 

catch one’s strength, raising 

the music in the vehicle to a 

loud volume, rolling down 

the windows and letting fresh 

air circulate the vehicle’s interiors 

and sharing the driving 

with a passenger (if possible). 

“Even the most experienced 

driver should be wary 

of driver fatigue. Experience 

will not save you if your 

body yearns to follow the 

path of slumber. Take care of 

your health. Sleep well, drive 

safe,” concludes Almurazza. 

OWA distributes food packages 

to low-income families 

MUSCAT — The Omani 

Women’s Association in the 

Wilayat of Seeb in co-ordination 

with the Department 

of Social Development gave 

away 700 packages containing 

food items to low-income 

families at the Association’s 

headquarters in South Al 

Mawaleh. 

Jokha al Farsiyah, the 

Deputy Chairman of the 

Omani Women’s Association, 

said the Association 

has for many years been distributing 

assistance to needy 

families prior to the advent 

of the Holy Month of Ramadhan 

adding that the Association 

has received the food 

packages yesterday from the 

Omani Charitable Organisation 

and distributed them to 

the families according to a 

list prepared earlier in coordination 

with the Ministry 

of Social Development. 

— ONA 

Seminar stresses on design of 

document management system 

SALALAH — The National 

Records and Archives Authority 

(NRAA) organised at 

Oman Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry (OCCI) in the 

Governorate of Dhofar yesterday 

a seminar entitled “Role of 

Public and Private Documents 

in Shaping National Memory,” 

as part of the programme associating 

with the documentary 

exhibition themed “Document 

is a History of a Country and 

a Culture of a Nation,” which 

was held at the Municipality’s 

Recreational Centre as part 

of Salalah Tourism Festival 

2012. 

The seminar was patronised 

by Salim bin Ali al Kathiri, 

Majlis Ash’shura member and 

Representative of the Wilayat 

of Salalah in the presence of 

Dr Juma bin Khalifa al Bu- 

NIZWA — Maxim Minchev, 

Director-General for the 

Bulgarian News Agency 

(BTA), paid a visit yesterday 

to the Wilayat of Nizwa in 

Al Dakhiliyah Governorate 

during which he toured the 

wilayat’s historic and civilisation 

landmarks. 

The Bulgarian media official 

visited Nizwa Souq, 

Nizwa Fort and Falaj Daris. 

He also travelled to Niyabat 

of Al Jabal al Akhdhar which 

is famed for being a major 

tourist attraction in the Sultanate. 

— ONA 

saidy, Director-General of the 

Directorate-General for Research 

and Circulation of Documents 

in NRAA, government 

officials in the Governorate of 

Dhofar, officials in-charge of 

document departments in governmental 

entities governed by 

the Documents and Archives 

Law, as well as personnel interested 

in documentation and 

the history of Oman. 

The seminar’s programme 

included two working papers. 

The first one related to the 

ideal method in dealing with 

documents and information, 

which was presented by Is’haq 

bin Ya’aqoub al Saqri, Head of 

the NRAA Technical Support 

Department. 

The second paper was presented 

by Hamoud bin Salim al 

Hinai, Head of the NRAA Pri- 

vate Document Department, 

and dealt with the design of a 

document management system 

in respective entities, familiarising 

with the private document 

management programme 

and the general framework of 

the private document management 

in implementation to the 

requirements of the National 

Records and Archives Law 

promulgated by the Royal Decree 

No 60/2007 and its executive 

by-law. 

This seminar comes as 

part of NRAA’s keenness to 

educate the society about the 

role played by NRAA through 

building document management 

system in respective entities, 

in addition to the work on 

the draft of private documents 

for the conservation of the Sultanate’s 

heritage. — ONA 

BTA chief visits Nizwa

Key topics discussed as 70 attend Student 

Forum of Colleges of Technology 

SALALAH — The 1st Student 

Forum of Colleges of Technology 

concluded at Salalah College 

of Technology yesterday 

with the participation of 70 

outstanding students, besides 

representatives of student 

councils and distinguished 

students in activities. 

Today’s activities included 

a number of lectures and 

workshops where Dr Dhafir 

bin Awadh al Shanfari lectured 

By A Staff Reporter 

MUSCAT — Gulf equity 

markets witnessed almost the 

same level of attention in the 

first half of this year, compared 

to the previous year, 

the Kuwait Financial Centre 

(Markaz) stated in its recent 

report, titled ‘GCC Research 

Statistics’. 

A total of 19 brokers published 

218 research notes 

on 89 companies during the 

1H12, compared to 208 research 

notes published in 

2H11, Markaz said. 

on “How to Start Your Own 

Project”. 

The participating students 

also listened to a lecture by Dr 

Abdulfattah Khawaja on “How 

to Deal with Challenges and 

Pressures in Life and Study”. 

A meeting was held on the 

sidelines of the Forum, which 

was held by Dr Muna bint 

Salim al Jardaniyah, Under- 

Secretary of the Manpower 

Ministry for Technical Educa- 

The report noted that during 

the first half of 2012, 13 

per cent of all GCC companies 

received research coverage, 

representing 69 per cent 

of the total market cap. 

Saudi Arabia, which continued 

to attract the most attention, 

accounted for 44 per 

cent of research notes, followed 

by the UAE with 18 

per cent. 

According to Markaz’s 

report, UAE, after Bahrain, 

was the most preferred equity 

market in 1H12, with 80 per 

cent of the reports receiving 

tion and Vocational Training 

with representatives of the 

students’ councils in the presence 

of Deans of the Colleges 

of Technology in the Sultanate. 

The meeting discussed 

the importance of students 

councils, the success of the 

idea and the role of councils’ 

members in conveying views 

and suggestions of students 

regarding their study and 

“Buy” ratings. On the flip 

side, Kuwait had a majority 

of “Hold” calls, at 47 per 

cent. 

In terms of top researched 

stocks, Qatar Telecom and 

Almarai topped the list with 

nine research notes followed 

by Savola Group Company 

and Eithad Etisalat. 

The latter and Riyadh 

Bank feature among stocks 

with the highest upside potential 

going forward, as per 

broker recommendations. 

As for market capitalisation 

coverage, Qatar has the 

academic needs, as well as a 

bridge between the administration 

and the students. 

The Forum was held to 

strengthen the role of the students’ 

councils in the Colleges 

of Technology and providing 

the opportunity to exercise 

various cultural, social, 

sporting and artistic activities 

within a framework of Islamic 

values, principles and ethics. 

— ONA 

highest coverage in the first 

half of 2012 (86 per cent) followed 

by Saudi Arabia and 

Oman with 79 per cent and 73 

per cent market cap coverage, 

respectively. 

On a quarterly basis also, 

Qatar leads in terms of market 

cap coverage with 84 per cent 

in the 1st and 2nd Quarters. 

Markaz report indicates 

that Qatar was the most researched 

country in terms of 

percentage of companies covered 

to total companies listed 

in the country. 

About 27 per cent of all 

3 OMAN 



Japanese maritime vessels anchor at Port of Salalah 

SALALAH — Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan al 

Busaidy, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar 

received in his office here yesterday commanders of 

the two vessels Ikazuche and Sawagiri affiliated to 

Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force while anchored 

at Port of Salalah. 

Call to maintain hygiene norms 

From page 1 

a tip off from a citizen that a 

man had brought to the place 

reserved to the slaughter of 

livestock the carcass of an ox 

and tried to convince the person 

in charge to slay it for him. 

Two of officers went to the 

crime scene and questioned the 

defendant. After being asked 

about the violation, he claimed 

that his ox was alive and died 

only after reaching the slaughter 

house, hence he dragged it 

to the garbage container. 

What the convicted said 

contradicted with what the 

eye-witnesses, the slaughter 

man and some citizens, said. 

The two judicial officers took 

the legal procedures, and then 

the convicted was referred to 

the Attorney General. After investigations, 

the case has been 

forwarded to the competent 

court. 

“We have a dedicated 

team of inspectors who pays 

lightning visits to the various 

butcheries across the country 

from time to time. If anyone is 

found violating the country’s 

During the meeting, cordial conversations were 

exchanged and matters of common concern to the 

two friendly countries were discussed. — ONA 

rules governing public health 

and hygiene standards, he will 

be fined and warned and if the 

crime is of recurrent nature, he 

will be deported,” the source 

added. He also said that the 

various butcheries in Hamriya 

have been reported of violating 

the standards and are resorting 

to open slaughters which will 

be dealt with accordingly. 

Exhibition on 

counterfeit 

goods at STF 


MUSCAT — As part of its 

activities at Salalah Tourism 

Festival 2012, Public Authority 

for Consumer Protection 

(PACP) has organised 

an exhibition on counterfeit, 

prohibited and original 

goods at the Municipal Recreational 

Centre. 

The exhibition opening 

ceremony was held under the 

sponsorship of Shaikh Salem 

bin Oufeet al Shanfari, Head 

of Dhofar Municipality and 

Chairman of Organising 

Committee of Salalah Festival 

in the presence of Dr 

Saeed bin Khamis al Kabee, 

Chairman of the Public Authority 

for Consumer Protection. 

The exhibition, which 

runs until July 18, has been 

divided into three divisions; 

where the first one is for the 

counterfeit goods, electrical 

and sanitary items and autos 

spare parts. 

The second division is for 

prohibited goods and clothes 

decorated with immoral slogans, 

writing and logos. 

The third division is for 

original goods and products 

that are counterfeited widely. 

PACP aims to educate 

customers about the difference 

in price and raise awareness 

of the damage to economy 

if customers promoted 

the counterfeited goods and 

products by buying them. 

GCC equity research for 1H12 in trend with 2H11 

listed companies in Qatar, accounting 

for 86 per cent of the 

local market capitalisation, 

received coverage in 1H12. 

Banking continues to be 

the most researched sector 

with 65 notes; 52 of these 65 

were “Buy” calls, 12 were 

“Hold” calls, while the remaining 

were “Sell”. 

After Banking, Telecommunications 

sector was the 

most researched sector, with 

32 “Buy” recommendations 

and 2 “Sell” calls. 

The Industrial Services 

sector received only 3 “Sell” 

recommendations. 

The top five “Buy” stocks 

included two from Oman, 

two from Saudi Arabia and 

one from Qatar. Raysut Cement 

Company gained 80.8 

per cent since the first recommendation 

and emerged as 

the best “Buy” pick. 

Oman Cement Company 

emerged as the second best 

“Buy” stock with 40 per cent 

gain since the first recommendation. 

The worst “Buy” call was 

on Banque Saudi Fransi, 

which lost 20.71 per cent 

since the call. This was followed 

by Saudi British Bank, 

which lost -20.54 per cent 

since the first recommendation. 

60 Omani-Arab scribes to take 

part in Tourism Info Week 

By Ali Ahmed al Riyami 

MUSCAT — As part of activities 

marking Muscat as the 

capital of Arab Tourism 2012, 

the Ministry of Tourism and 

Oman Journalists Association, 


Municipality of Dhofar, the 

Arab Journalists Union and 

the Arab Tourism Organisation, 

are organising a Tourism 

Information Week programme 

for some 60 Omani and fellow 

Arab journalists that is set to 

take place from July 15 to 17 

in the Dhofar Governorate. 

The course’s main objective 

is to develop the skills of 

the journalists in the field of 

tourism information, enhance 

Arab media communications 

and also give the journalists a 

chance to experience the extraordinary 

climatic changes 

that occur in the Dhofar Governorate 

during the annually 

occurring Khareef season. 

Giving his comments about 

the course, Salim bin Hamed 

al Jahwari, Deputy Chairman 

of the Oman Journalists 

Association, said: We aim to 

establish an advanced tour- 

MUSCAT — The Directorate-General 

of Civil Defence 

is holding a course on 

safe driving of heavy military 

vehicles for a number 

of Civil Defence affiliates, 

at the Directorate of Training 

in the Air Port Heights in the 

Wilayat of Seeb. 

The course is aimed at 

From page 1 

She added that the remarks 

made by the committee will 

enable the ministry to develop 

the work of the scouting and 

guidance commissions in line 

with the global trends in this 

field. 

Khamis bin Salim al Rasbi, 

acting Director-General of 

ist information network and 

this programme comes in the 

framework of the efforts made 

by the journalists association 

forums for the updating and 

training of journalists — 

which is one of the objectives 

of our Association. 

The idea is to update them 

on the role of ‘media tourism’ 

as one of the cornerstones of 

mass media today. In this regard, 

the objectives of the Association 

coincide with the desire 

of the Ministry of Tourism 

to establish a course in tourism 

information within the sphere 

of ‘Muscat, the capital of Arab 

Tourism 2012’. 

The combined efforts of 

all concerned has led to a high 

level of participation by media 

professionals and journalists 

from the Sultanate and other 

Arab countries, which will 

help to achieve many outlined 

objectives with regard to tourism 

information throughout 

the Arab World. Many of the 

vital and important issues in 

this area will be addressed and 

the journalists will take part in 

exploratory tours of the fascinating 

Dhofar Governorate, 

training the participants 

on the skills of safe driving 

and familiarising them with 

the proper ways of driving 

and maintaining heavy 

trucks. 

It also includes lectures 

on the concepts of protective 

driving, the safety equipment 

in heavy trucks in addition 

Scouts and Guides stressed the 

importance of the competition 

in activating the scouting and 

guidance activities and programmes. 

He further said that the 

scouting and guidance competition 

helped in activating the 

scouting curricula and encouraged 

those supervising it to 

where the Salalah Tourism 

Festival is already under way. 

The Ministry of Tourism’s 

Assistant Director-General for 

Planning and Follow-up, and 

Team Leader for sub-events 

— Muscat, the capital of Arab 

Tourism — Marhoon bin Said 

al Amri, noted: It is an excellent 

opportunity to brief Arab 

journalists on the basics of the 

Sultanate’s tourism drive. 

The ministry’s part in organising 

the course is within 

the framework of activities 

for the celebration of ‘Muscat, 

the capital of Arab Tourism 

2012’. 

The course will contribute 

to the establishment of a 

central role for the media in 

tourism with concurrent deliberations, 

discussions and recommendations 

being made by 

the participants. 

Al Amri thanked the Omani 

Journalists Association for 

their great efforts in inviting 

journalists from the Sultanate 

and abroad and for their coordination 

work with the Arab 

Journalists Union and media 

personnel seeking to take part 

in the upcoming course. 

Civil Defence holds course in 

safe driving of military vehicles 

to practical training on safe 

driving. 

The course which started 

at the end of June and runs 

until the end of August is part 

of the annual training programme 

carried out by the 

Directorate-General of Civil 

Defence and aims at qualifying 

its personnel. 

HM Cup goes to North Al Batinah 

exert more efforts to develop 

the scouting programmes and 

activities to meet needs of the 

scouts, guides and the society 

aspirations as well. 

He added that it promoted 

a healthy competition among 

the scouting and guidance 

units, as well as teams all over 

the Sultanate. — ONA

4 OMAN 



Omani girl, 6, undergoes free heart surgery in Kerala 

By Ashraf Padanna 

KOZHIKODE (Kerala) — 

Six-year-old Omani girl Aala 

Saud al Fadhi, who underwent 

a complicated surgery for a rare 

heart condition at the Malabar 

Institute of Medical Sciences 

(MIMS) here, is back home in 

good health. 

"Aala is well on her way to 

good health after undergoing a 

Musandam-Oman Sail keeps up 

the pace in Krys Ocean Race 


MUSCAT — Improvisation 

on board Musandam-Oman 

Sail has allowed Sidney 

Gavignet’s crew to maintain 

healthy speeds in the 2012 

Krys Ocean Race as they approach 

the half way mark. 

With only one foil remaining, 

following the failure on 

Sunday of the port foil, the 

crew is having to switch it 

from side to side every time 

they gybe. 

This added workload, 

while tiring, has allowed 

them to hold onto their fourth 

place, managing speeds of 

around 25 knots in their 

sprint across the Atlantic. 

Moshin al Busaidy from 

Oman, the first Arab to sail 

around the world non stop, 

said moral was good onboard 

and that everyone is carrying 

on as normal and looking 

forward to the remaining 

1,500 miles. 

“We’ve had a little prob- 

MUSCAT — The Sultan 

Qaboos Academy for Police 

Sciences has received 

the 30th batch of graduate 

officers which comprises 

51 cadets of both sexes specialising 

in different disciples. 

A celebration was held 

successful procedure for atrial 

septal defect in the wall separating 

the right and left atria 

of the heart. She is now back 

home and looking forward to 

leading a healthy life," the hospital 

authorities said in a statement 

here yesterday. 

DM Foundation, the charity 

arm of the Dubai-based 

healthcare conglomerate DM 

Healthcare, sponsored her 

lem with the foil which has 

affected our position in the 

race but there isn’t much we 

can do. We are still going 

fast but not fast enough. But 

so far it has been good,” he 

said. 

It is warm, the seas are 

relatively flat and the wind 

is blowing in the right direction, 

said American Ryan 

Breymaier as Musandam- 

Oman Sail reported a position 

some 150 miles behind 

the leading boat. 

“We are going well at the 

moment — pretty much full 

speed. When the foil failed, 

we had to take it out because 

there was a lot of turbulence 

and drag and the boat was 

very slow — about 22 knots 

— though when it came out 

completely, the bow dug in a 

lot so we had to reduce sail. 

“We didn’t feel comfortable 

trying to change the foil 

from one side to the other 

during the night but now we 

have the foil from the star- 

treatment as part of its initiative 

Save the Little Hearts to 

sponsor free cardiac surgeries 

in India, through ASTER Hospitals, 

Oman. 

"Aala is the first of the fifty 

patients to be selected as part 

of this initiative with the aim 

of meeting the medical needs 

of those who really need it and 

are unable to afford it," it said. 

The patients, who would be 

board side on the port side 

which makes things normal 

again. 

“The guys are getting 

tired as it weighs 100 kgs 

and takes three crew plus one 

on the halyard every time we 

change it over, but hopefully 

we will only have to do it 

twice more during the race. 

“We have 25 knots of 

breeze and flat water downwind. 

Overcast. It’s not beautiful 

but its warm which is 

nice and we have wind in the 

right direction so we are making 

good miles for the finish, 

which is what matters. In the 

next 24 hours, conditions are 

not expected to change.” 

When Musandam-Oman 

Sail crosses the finish line 

in Brest during the famous 

maritime festival, Tonnerres 

de Brest on July 14, it will be 

to a hero’s welcome from the 

Sultanate of Oman. 

The Ministry of Tourism 

of Oman is hosting an exhibition 

pavilion at the Krys 

on the occasion under the 

auspices of Col Rashid bin 

Salim al Badi (pictured), the 

Academy Commander. 

The programme will include 

courses on law, police 

sciences as well as fitness 

and military training. 

The Academy com- 

selected after an initial screening 

at DM Healthcare’s facilities 

in Oman, will be given 

free treatment, including heart 

surgery performed by the most 

experienced and qualified 

doctors at the 600-bed super 

specialty tertiary care hospital 

here. 

“Aala is a sweet and deserving 

child and we are very happy 

we could help her get her 

Ocean Race Village in partnership 

with Oman Sail. 

The pavilion will be open 

to the public visiting the Tonnerres 

from July 13-19 and 

is to be located close to the 

country’s flagship Multi One 

Design 70 on the dock. 

The Oman pavilion is designed 

as a journey through 

the Sultanate; the booth will 

allow visitors to discover 

the natural diversity of the 

country with its 3,165 km 

of coastline, mountains of 

over 3,000m, and two great 

deserts. 

There will be plenty to 

taste, read and smell, as no 

Omani pavilion would be 

complete without the traditional 

scent of Frankincense. 

Guests can enter a competition 

to visit the country, 

courtesy of the Omani Ministry 

of Tourism and Oman 

Sail, in partnership with 

Oman Air, the national airline 

and the hotel Shangri-La 

Barr al Jissah. 

Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police 

Sciences receives new graduates 

mander delivered a speech 

congratulating the cadets for 

passing the tests required for 

joining the police academy 

and urging them to do their 

utmost to achieve excellent 

results and to benefit from 

the academic and training 

programmes. 

life and health back. We hope 

that we can continue helping 

people through this initiative 

in Oman,” said Dr Sajan Koshy, 

Senior Consultant Paediatric 

Cardiac Surgeon. 

DM Foundation authorities 

said it aims to help many 

children like Aala and sponsor 

their treatment. Patients 

in Oman can contact Aster 

Hospitals in Muscat and Sohar 

and they will be screened by 

the specially set panel of doctors 

and eligible candidates are 

provided free air tickets sponsored 

by Emirates. 

“This initiative is a small 

step that we have taken to 

ensure the welfare of people, 

who cannot afford good medical 

treatment. We are happy to 

be able to help them in a small 

way. We are grateful for the 

support of Ministry of Health 

and the Government of Oman, 

without which this mission 

would not have been possible," 

said Dr Azad Moopen, Founder 

of DM Foundation. 

He thanked Khalid Hilal al 

Shaqsi, Health Attaché, Consulate 

General of the Sultanate 

of Oman and his team for having 

supported this initiative by 

sponsoring the travel, stay and 

hospitalisation of the first child 

treated in India. 

"Their backing would go 

a long way in changing the 

life of a child for the better," 

he said. “Let me take this opportunity 

to appeal to all corporates 

and philanthropists in 

Oman to come forward and 

support the patients to take 

care of their travel needs and 

incidental expenses during the 

treatment phase”. 

The Malabar Institute of 

Medical Sciences is the first 

National Accreditation Bureau 

of Hospitals accredited multispecialty 

hospital in Kerala 

and is renowned for its excellent 

medical expertise, nursing 

care and quality of diagnostic 

services. 

The statement said the hospital 

has earned a very good 

recognition as a leader in pro- 

MSM index loses 

over 40 points 

MUSCAT — Muscat Securities Market (MSM) general 

index 30 yesterday lost more than 40 points, 

constituting a decline by 0.74 per cent to close at 

5,456 points compared to 5,496 points previously. 

The MSM daily report pointed out that the financial 

sector declined by 0.72 per cent to close at 6,000 

points compared to 6,044 points previously. 

This was followed by the services sector, which fell by 

0.16 per cent to close at 2,582 points compared to 

2,586 points previously. 

The industrial sector also declined by 0.05 per cent to 

close at 6,589 points compared to 6,593 points previously. 

The trading value yesterday stood at RO 2.2 million, 

comprising a rise by 27.01 per cent compared to 

yesterday session, which stood at RO 1.7 million. 

The market value declined by 0.56 per cent to reach 

about RO 11 billion. 

MSM report pointed out that the value of shares bought 

by non-Omani investors reached RO 205,000, comprising 

9.52 per cent. 

The value of shares sold by non-Omani investors 

reached RO 392,000 comprising 18.23 per cent. 

The net non-Omani investment declined by 8.71 per 

cent to RO 187,000. 

Out of the 41 companies of which shares changed 

hands today, 10 companies rose, 15 companies declined 

and 16 companies remained unchanged. 

Surgery through DM Foundation as part 

of its Save the Little Hearts campaign 

viding world-class healthcare 

services to the common man at 

an affordable cost and is continuously 

in tune with the latest 

technology that promotes 

the healthcare and well-being 

of the patient and the best 

comfort offered to overseas 

patients through its Overseas 

Patient Desk including to and 

fro airport transfer. 

DM Foundation is the 

Charitable and Corporate Social 

Responsibility (CSR) Division 

of DM Healthcare. 

Established by Dr Azad 

Moopen, the Foundation is involved 

in many charity works 

in the GCC and India, 

The goals of the organisation 

include extending support 

to the North Indian states as 

well as to African countries, 

where there is acute requirement 

for intervention in the 

delivery of healthcare and education 

to the poor. 

DM Foundation is actively 

involved in conducting various 

health awareness campaigns 

and free medical camps 

through Community Good 

Health Programmes (CGHP) 

in the Gulf Countries, through 

DM Healthcare. 

Other not-for-profit activities 

of DM Foundation is the 

ongoing free Paediatric and 

Adult Cardiac Surgery Programme, 

in association with 

MIMS Charitable Trust. 

The Foundation is establishing 

Community Dialysis 

Centres across Kerala. 

It is also establishing Early 

Cancer Detection Centres 

across Kerala and is setting 

up Free Radiation Oncology 

Centres for the benefits of the 


MUSCAT — The Indian 

Embassy here has announced 

that the BLS International, 

to whom the 

Embassy of India, Muscat 

has outsourced passports, 

visa and passport-related 

miscellaneous services, is 

opening mobile collection 

centres at eight locations. 

These are across the 

Sultanate namely in Salalah, 

Jaalan, Sohar, Sur, 

Nizwa, Ibri, Buraimi and 

Khasab with effect from 

July 16. 

The mobile collection 

centres will operate from 

4 pm to 6 pm Saturdays to 

Wednesdays (except government 

holidays). 

The applicants are required 

to pay the normal 

Service Provider Fee (70 

baisas for passports/miscellaneous 

services and 

RO 3.050 for visas) and 

weaker section of the society. 

Other initiatives include 

Village Adoption Programme 

for ensuring Free Medical 

Services to the below poverty 

line (BPL) population, 

establishment of Free Mobile 

Healthcare Services in remote 

villages in underdeveloped 

North Indian States, extending 

Education and Empowerment 

Programme through Moopen 

Institute for Local Empowerment 

(MILES) to mould a 

strong, determined and aware 

citizenry in the villages of India 

— with a lead project at 

Kalpakanchery, a north Kerala 

village — and running of a 

Special Needs Schools for the 

Physically and Mentally challenged. 

Apart from healthcare related 

charitable activities, DM 

Foundation extends financial 

support to many NGOs 

and needy individuals. DM 

Foundation works in tandem 

with sister organisations like 

MIMS Charitable Trust (www. 

mimstrust.com) and Social 

Advancement Foundation of 

India (www.safiindia.org). 

The DM network presently 

consists of more than 125 establishments, 

providing primary, 

secondary and tertiary 

healthcare with management 

and consultancy services, 

treating more than 20,000 patients 

per day. 

The Group is in the midst 

of an exponential expansion 

in the GCC and India with 

the number of units set to 

grow to 300 by the year 2015 

with investments of $ 500 

million across Middle East 

and India. 

Eight mobile collection 

centres open for India 

passport-related services 

Indian Community Welfare 

Fee of RO 1 for each 

application along with the 

prescribed fee for passport/visa 

service. 

Other services such as 

SMS, Courier service are 

optional and not mandatory. 

The address of the mobile 

collection centres are: 

Salalah 612, Al Nahda 

Street, Police Station 

Road; Jaalan: Al Satmi 

Building, Shop No 1, Bldg 

No E475, Near Jaalan Bani 

Bu Ali Post Office; Sohar: 

Bldg No 171, Al Humbar 

Street, Opp Habeeb 

Bank P B No 379 PC 311; 

Nizwa: Alfoura Commercial 

Complex, First Floor, 

Room No 15, Nizwa Souk; 

Khasab: Lulu Hypermarket 

LLC Shop 11, PB No 

238, PC 811; and Ibri: 

Souk Road, Near Musandam 

Exchange.

5 THE WORLD 



DAUGHTER of Richard Branson, Holly, holds up a toy astronaut on top of a model of the LauncherOne cargo spacecraft. — Reuters 

Branson to launch space tourism programme 

FARNBOROUGH, England — Flamboyant 

British businessman Richard 

Branson, whose Virgin empire has encompassed 

airlines, music stores and 

mobile phones, is turning his hand to 

launching satellites. 

The serial entrepreneur and parttime 

daredevil, who is already working 

on taking passengers into suborbital 

space, said yesterday the carrier jet for 

those commercial flights would double 

up as an aerial platform for launching 

small satellites. 

Fresh from kite surfing across the 

English Channel, Branson took the 

stage at the Farnborough Airshow yesterday 

to unveil LauncherOne, a companion 

satellite-launching business to 

Virgin Galactic’s passenger suborbital 

spaceflight service. 

“I believe this new vehicle will 

create a long-overdue shake-up of the 

SANAA — A suicide bomber blew himself up outside 

a police academy in the Yemeni capital yesterday, 

killing at least 22 people — many of them 

young police cadets — in an attack investigators 

said bore the hallmarks of Al Qaeda. 

Policeman Fadel Ali said the cadets were leaving 

the college when the bomber attacked. “We ran to the 

place and found dozens of cadets covered in blood. 

Blood was everywhere. The scene was horrific.” 

Another witness said he saw a man in his 20s enter 

the crowd as cadets gathered in front of the academy. 

“A loud explosion shook the area and I saw 

cadets lying on the ground with blood everywhere.” 

The bombing in Sanaa followed a similar attack 

whole satellite industry, disrupting current 

norms and limitations in exactly 

the way SpaceShipTwo has for human 

space travel and space-based science 

research,” he said. 

Virgin Galactic has taken deposits 

from 529 people for rides on Space- 

ShipTwo, which cost $200,000. 

The six-passenger, two-pilot spaceship, 

currently undergoing testing, is 

based on Scaled Composites’ prototype 

SpaceShipOne, which clinched 

the $10 million Ansari X Prize in 2004 

for the first privately-funded human 

spaceflights. 

Like SpaceShipTwo, LauncherOne 

will be flown into the air beneath a carrier 

jet and released. Once separated, 

the vehicle’s rocket engine will fire to 

carry it into space. 

SpaceShipTwo passengers will experience 

few minutes of weightlessness 

and see the curve of Earth set against 

the blackness of space before returning 

through the atmosphere. Nasa’s first 

two manned spaceflights in 1961, by 

Alan Shepard and Virgil “Gus” Grissom, 

were similar suborbital flights. 

LauncherOne, which is designed 

for cargo only, will be able to put satellites 

weighing up to 500 pounds into 

orbit for less than $10 million. 

Virgin Galactic president George 

Whitesides said four companies, including 

Planetary Resources, a newly 

unveiled venture to build and fly privately-funded 

space telescopes, have 

put down deposits for LauncherOne 

flights. 

Initially, both SpaceShipTwo and 

LauncherOne missions will be staged 

from Spaceport America, a new commercial 

spaceport in New Mexico. 

Virgin Galactic’s initial fleet in- 

in the capital in May, when a suicide bomber in army 

uniform killed more than 90 people during a rehearsal 

for a military parade. 

That attack — claimed by Al Qaeda in the Arabian 

Peninsula (AQAP) — along with yesterday’s 

bombing — showed quite how far the Yemeni government 

is from defeating the insurgents despite a 

US-backed military offensive which drove them out 

of their southern strongholds. 

The insurgents have vowed to carry their fight 

across Yemen. 

Theodore Karasik, director of research and development 

at the Institute for Near East and Gulf 

Military Analysis, said AQAP appeared to be adopt- 

cludes five spaceships and three White 

Knight carrier aircraft. 

LauncherOne, a two-stage liquidfuelled 

rocket being developed by The 

Spaceship Company (TSC) of Mojave, 

California, is expected to debut in 2016. 

TSC is a partnership of Virgin Galactic 

and Mojave, California-based Scaled 

Composites, a subsidiary of Northrop 

Grumman. 

“Next year Holly and Sam (respectively 

his daughter and son) will 

be joining me for a first voyage into 

space,” he told a press conference at 

the show southwest of London. 

Around 120 people have already 

signed up to make the 96 km, twohour 

journey into space — at a cost of 

£128,000 each. 

LauncherOne is expected to begin 

operations in 2016 and can carry up to 

227 kilos of weight. — Reuters/AFP 

At least 22 dead in Yemen police academy bombing 

Parliament in legal limbo 

in Egypt power struggle 

CAIRO — Egypt’s parliament 

was hanging in legal limbo 

yesterday after a top court 

overruled a presidential decree 

reinstating the dissolved 

house, stepping up a power 

struggle between the president 

and the army. 

“The battle for power centred 

around the judiciary,” 

read the headline of independent 

daily Al Watan. 

The Supreme Constitutional 

Court on Tuesday annulled a 

decree by newly-elected President 

Mohamed Morsi reinstating 

the lower house of parliament, 

after the top court last 

month ruled it was invalid. 

Libya’s former PM Jibril has vote lead 

TRIPOLI — Libya’s wartime prime 

minister Mahmoud Jibril extended his 

lead in landmark elections, vote tallies 

showed yesterday, but traditionalist 

rivals predicted their score would be 

boosted by allied independent candidates. 

Jibril’s National Forces Alliance 

headed for a landslide win in the eastern 

district covering the towns of Tobruk 

and Derna, seen as a hardline traditionalist 

stronghold, suggesting his support 

was broader than urban areas such as the 

capital Tripoli. 

However Western-educated Jibril’s 

gains do not automatically translate into 

dominance of the 200-seat national as- 

“The court ordered the 

freeze of the president’s decree,” 

a judicial source said, 

adding that it “ordered that 

its previous ruling be implemented.” 

Morsi had on Sunday ordered 

back parliament and 

invited it to convene. Taking 

its cue from the president, the 

People’s Assembly met on 

Tuesday. 

“We are gathered today to 

review the court rulings, the 

ruling of the Supreme Constitutional 

Court,” speaker Saad 

al Katatni said. 

“I want to stress, we are not 

contradicting the ruling, but 

looking at a mechanism for the 

implementation of the ruling 

of the respected court. There is 

no other agenda today.” 

It was not immediately 

clear how the new ruling 

would be implemented. 

“There have been no instructions 

to prevent MPs 

from entering the parliament 

building,” the lower house’s 

secretariat said in a statement. 

The origins of the battle 

for parliament lay in a constitutional 

declaration issued by 

the Supreme Council of the 

Armed Forces (SCAF), which 

ruled Egypt during its transition 

after president Hosni Mu- 

sembly which is set to choose a prime 

minister and cabinet before setting the 

stage for full parliamentary elections in 

2013. 

Candidates on party lists have only 

been allotted 80 seats, meaning they will 

be outnumbered by independent candidates 

whose allegiances are hard to pin 

down. 

“With our own numbers we are almost 

certain that we have the majority 

in the independent seats,” said Mohammed 

Sawan, the head of the Justice and 

Construction Party, the political wing of 

Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood. 

“Maybe the final result will show 

that Justice and Construction is the lead- 

ing party,” he said. 

Libya’s first free national vote in six 

decades has been hailed as a success by 

observers despite election-day violence 

that claimed at least two lives. 

Analysts say Jibril has benefited 

from his prominence as one of the main 

figures of last year’s uprising to end 42 

years of dictatorship under Muammar 

Gaddafi, and is perceived by many Libyans 

as a safe pair of hands for rebuilding 

the economy. 

He was also leading in Sabha, the 

main town of the south. Justice and Construction 

led in the central town of Shati 

— one of the few areas where Jibril’s alliance 

did not stand. — Reuters 

ing methods used in Iraq. 

“It’s the same kind of tactics that we see Al 

Qaeda using in Iraq, targeting police academies and 

the military. There is a migration of tactics from Al 

Qaeda in Iraq to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” 

he said. 

The insurgents had been emboldened by waning 

government control over Yemen during last year’s 

protests that ousted former president Ali Abdullah 

Saleh, seizing several southern cities before being 

driven out this year. 

A police source said that the suicide bomber in 

yesterday’s attack was not killed instantly, but died 

later in a police hospital. — Reuters 

barak was ousted last year. 

The declaration, which 

acts as a temporary constitution 

until a new one is drafted, 

granted the military sweeping 

powers, including legislative 

control, rendering the presidential 

post little more than 

symbolic. 

The SCAF consists of generals 

appointed by Mubarak, 

as was the head of the constitutional 

court which annulled 

parliament because it found 

that certain articles of the law 

governing its election invalid. 

Critics said the decision 

was politically motivated. 

— AFP 

Russia firm 

on Syria GENEVA 

DAMASCUS — Syria’s opposition 

failed yesterday to 

persuade Russia to drop ally 

President Bashar al Assad 

and warned that this will only 

prolong the violence, as peace 

envoy Kofi Annan prepared to 

brief the UN Security Council. 

As fresh clashes across the 

country challenged Assad’s 

beleaguered government, 

Russia refused to shift its 

stand on the conflict, the Syrian 

National Council (SNC) 

said after talks in Moscow 

with Foreign Minister Sergei 

Lavrov. 

Abdel Basset Sayda, head 

of the exiled SNC, reacted angrily 

to the failure. 

“We reject the Russian 

policy — however it is presented 

— as this policy of 

supporting the government is 

allowing the violence to continue,” 

he told reporters after 

the talks. 

“The Syrian people continue 

to suffer because of the 

position of Russia at the UN 

Security Council where Russia 

has used its veto” to block 

two resolutions against Assad’s 

government, he said. 

“As a result, the killings 

and shootings continue and 

the Syrian government is using 

these weapons that Russia 

gave to Syria against its own 

people.” 

Sixteen months into a conflict 

which monitors say has 

cost more than 17,000 lives, 

dissident fighters and government 

forces clashed in the 

Damascus district of Qadam, 

the Syrian Observatory for 

Human Rights said, but gave 

no further details. 

In the commercial hub 

of Aleppo, at least two soldiers 

were killed as dissidents 

attacked a checkpoint 

overnight, the Britain-based 

watchdog said. 

The Observatory also re- 

LONDON — Two British tabloid journalists 

were arrested yesterday in a probe into illegal 

payments to public officials, the first confirmed 

cases of such alleged corruption at titles unconnected 

to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. 

Media group Trinity Mirror said it was cooperating 

with police after officers detained Justin 

Penrose from its Sunday Mirror newspaper, 

while Sky News named the other journalist as 

Tom Savage from the Daily Star Sunday. 

The two were arrested at their homes in southern 

England as part of an inquiry into inappropriate 

payments to police which were uncovered 

by a wider probe into phone-hacking that forced 

Murdoch to close his News of the World tabloid 

ported an attack in the northwestern 

province of Idlib on a 

bus transporting soldiers, killing 

as many as 11 troops although 

the exact number was 

impossible to verify. 

It added that 82 people 

were killed in violence across 

Syria on Tuesday. 

Underlining the gulf between 

the SNC and Moscow, 

Lavrov said Russia wanted to 

understand in the talks if there 

were “prospects” of the opposition 

groups uniting and joining 

a platform for dialogue 

with the Syrian government. 

Moscow has repeatedly 

said Assad’s fate is up to the 

Syrian people and defied calls 

by the West and the SNC to 

urge him to step down. 

On Tuesday, Moscow 

proposed a Security Council 

resolution on Syria that would 

extend the UN observer mission 

in the country without 

any threat of sanctions, diplomats 

in New York said. 

The resolution was sent to 

the council’s other 14 members 

ahead of a briefing yesterday 

by UN-Arab League 

envoy Annan on efforts to revive 

his peace plan, Russia’s 

deputy UN envoy Igor Pankin 

told reporters. 

The French foreign ministry 

said however the proposed 

resolution does not meet the 

expectations of the international 

community. 

“It is clear that the Russian 

resolution is below the expectations 

of most of the international 

community,” ministry 

spokesman Bernard Valero 

said in Paris. 

Valero said it was “essential 

to immediately implement 

... a full transfer of executive 

powers to a transitional body 

able to establish the neutral 

environment needed for 

the democratic transition.” 

— AFP 

54 die of 

thirst 

— Fifty-four migrants 

trying to reach Italy 

died of thirst when their inflatable 

boat ruptured in the 

Mediterranean, according 

to testimony from the sole 

survivor, Abbes Settou, the 

UN refugee agency said yesterday. 

Settou, who drank sea 

water to survive, was spotted 

clinging to a jerry can and 

the remains of the stricken 

boat off the Tunisian coast 

on Monday night by fishermen 

who alerted the coast 

guard, the UNHCR said. 

The man, who is being 

treated in a Tunisian hospital, 

said there was no fresh 

water on board and people 

started to perish within days, 

including three members of 

his family. 

He said 55 people boarded 

the boat in the Libyan 

capital Tripoli in late June, 

and that more than half were 

from Eritrea, including himself. 

They were unable to call 

for help because the boat’s 

satellite phone was broken, 

according to Father Mussie 

Zerai, an Eritrean priest who 

spoke to the survivor by telephone 

yesterday. 

“He said they were at 

sea for 15 days in total,” the 

priest said. “They had apparently 

reached Italian waters 

but they weren’t able to call 

for help because the satellite 

phone was broken, so the 

wind pushed them back out 

into open sea. 

“During those 15 days 

the people on board slowly 

began dying of hunger and 

thirst. They were lost, they 

could not orient themselves. 

“He is recovering. In a 

few days he said he would be 

moving to a refugee camp.” 

In his account of the ordeal 

to the UN High Commissioner 

for Refugees (UN- 

HCR), the survivor said the 

boat had punctured and air 

started to leak out. — AFP 

2 UK journalists held in corruption probe 

last year. Trinity Mirror has previously said it 

carried out a review of its editorial controls and 

procedures and had obtained written confirmation 

from its senior editorial executives that they 

had not engaged in phone-hacking or bribery. 

However a former Mirror journalist, Greig 

Box-Turnbull, was arrested earlier this month 

on suspicion of bribery and causing misconduct 

in a public office. 

A police statement said yesterday: “The two, 

both journalists, are being questioned at police 

stations in Kent and south-east London.” 

About 40 people have now been arrested 

in the inquiry into paying officials for tip-offs. 

— Reuters

Six dead, 22 

hurt in ambush 

ZAMBOANGA — Gunmen 

ambushed a convoy carrying 

farm workers in the southern 

Philippines yesterday, killing 

six and wounding 22 others, 

the army said. 

The four-vehicle convoy, 

which also carried armed security 

escorts from a government 

militia, was on its way 

to a remote rubber plantation 

when it was attacked, Army 

spokesman Major Harold 

Cabunoc said. 

“The (militia) members 

who escorted the civilian 

workers managed to return 

�re, forcing the lawless elements 

to retreat in different 

directions with their own 

casualties,” Cabunoc said in 

a statement. 

Six workers were killed, 

while 22 others, including 

two militiamen, were 

wounded, he said. 

No group claimed responsibility 

for the attack on 

Basilan island. — AFP 

82 held for 

6 

THE PHILIPPINES/SUBCONTINENT 



BANGLADESHI pedestrians walk on an overpass on World Population Day in Dhaka yesterday. Africa and Asia are the continents that will see the 

fastest urban population growth in the next 40 years, a UN report said earlier in the year noting that India and China are leading the surge. — AFP 

Local security 

handed over 

KUNDUZ — Afghan security 

forces yesterday of�cially 

took security responsibility 

for a relatively peaceful province 

in northern Afghanistan, 

as part of the third phase of 

security transition from the 

international troops. 

Completion of the third 

phase, announced in May, 

will give Afghan forces the 

lead responsibility over 75 per 

cent of the population. 

The Nato-led International 

Security Assistance Force 

handed over security responsibility 

in �ve of the six districts 

of Kunduz province, and 

in the capital of the same. 

“Security forces took the 

security responsibility of Ali 

Abad, Char Dara, Qala-e-Zal, 

Imam Saheb and Dasht-e- 

Archi in addition to the security 

of Kunduz city,” Interior 

Minister Besmellah Mohammadi 

said at a ceremony in 

Kunduz airport. — dpa 

Remittances jump to record high 

KARACHI — With an impressive 

17.7 per cent annual 

growth, remittances sent 

home by overseas Pakistanis 

surged to a record high and 

crossed the psychological 

mark of $13 billion in the previous 

�scal year 2011-12, the 

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) 

announced yesterday. 

Continuous growth in remittances 

is being billed as a 

lifeline for Pakistan’s economy, 

especially when energy 

shortages and high in�ation 

have hurt gross domestic 

product (GDP) growth. 

“Remittances have been 

playing a key role in the country’s 

economic performance,” 

said Muzammil Aslam, Managing 

Director of Emerging 

Economics Consultancy. 

“One can safely say that 

the continuous rise in remittances 

in the last few years has 

saved Pakistan from serious 

economic problems including 

default on debt repayments.” 

Aslam suggested that the 

government can further increase 

the �ow of remittances 

if it reduces the difference 

between interbank and open 

market exchange rates for the 

US dollar from the present 

one rupee to 10 to 15 paisa. 

“This will encourage overseas 

workers to send more 

and more dollars through 

banking channels instead of 

illegal means.” 

Invest Capital Markets analyst 

Khurram Schehzad commented 

that the continuous 

rise in remittances is signi�cantly 

positive for the country 

as the money supported the 

economy in different forms. 

Overseas Pakistani workers 

remitted a record amount 

of $13.186 billion in the last 

�scal year ended June 30, 

2012, compared with $11.201 

billion received a year earlier, 

the SBP said. 

Except for September 

($890.42 million) and November 

($924.92 million), 

Pakistanis remitted more than 

$1 billion in each of the remaining 

10 months. Monthly 

average of remittances rose 

17.73 per cent to $1.099 billion 

compared with $933.41 

million a year earlier. 

In June overseas Pakistanis 

sent home $1.117 billion 

compared to $1.104 billion 

received in the same month of 

2010-11. In the same month, 

remittances from Saudi Arabia, 

UAE, USA, UK, GCC 

countries and EU countries 

amounted to $333.68 million, 

$219.14 million, $206.60 

million, $128.12 million, 

$126.72 million and $29.24 

million respectively. In comparison, 

remittances from 

these countries were $291.55 

million, $270.04 million, 

$204.64 million, $121.35 

million, $106.20 million and 

$33.83 million respectively 

in June 2011. 

Analysts believe that the 

SBP’s initiative for facilitation 

of remittances, called the 

Pakistan Remittance Initiative 

(PRI), has signi�cantly 

contributed to the growth of 

remittances. Since its inception 

in April 2009, PRI has 

taken a number of steps to enhance 

the �ow of remittances 

through legal channels. 

These include preparation 

of strategies on remittances, 

taking all necessary steps to 

implement the overall strategy, 

playing an advisory role 

for the �nancial sector in 

terms of preparing a business 

case, relationship building 

with overseas correspondents, 

creating separate and ef�cient 

remittance payment highways 

and becoming a national focal 

point for overseas Pakistanis 

through a round-the-clock 

call centre. — Internews 

MEMBERS of Myanmar parliament attend the lower house of parliament session in Naypyidaw yesterday. — AFP 

illegal sail US envoy arrives in Myanmar 

NAYPYIDAW — The �rst loosening of economic and �- “It was only a year ago that recognised by the junta. 

COLOMBO — The Sri US ambassador to Myanmar nancial embargoes after April we essentially had absolutely But a recent slew of posi- 

Lankan navy arrested 82 in over two decades arrived to by-elections saw Aung San no contact with this country, tive changes from Thein Sein’s 

people, including two chil- take up his post yesterday as Suu Kyi elected to parliament. almost no interaction. And quasi-civilian government, 

dren, on suspicion of at- Washington prepares to reward An of�cial brie�ng on Sec- now we’re working with them which took power last year, 

tempting to migrate illegally reforms in the formerly armyretary of State Hillary Clin- on so many different areas.” have surprised the West and 

to Australia, police said. run nation by further easing ton’s ongoing visit to Asia said Mitchell arrived in Nay- driven hopes of a democratic 

The group were travelling sanctions. 

she was expected to make an pyidaw days after Suu Kyi future for the country. 

in two boats off Trincoma- Derek Mitchell, a veteran announcement on sanctions — whose democracy struggle Key US demands have 

lee, 240 kilometres north- US policymaker on Asia, met this week in Cambodia, where saw her locked up for 15 of the been answered to a certain 

east of the capital Colombo, President Thein Sein in the she will meet regional leaders. last 23 years by the generals — extent by the reforms, which 

when they were intercepted, capital Naypyidaw, a Myan- “She will also be laying made her debut in parliament, have included the release of 

police said. They were headmar government of�cial said, out... plans for how the process lending legitimacy to a legis- hundreds of political prisoning 

towards a trawler which marking the latest olive branch of sanctions easing will prolature that remains dominated ers, the seeking of cease�res 

was due to take them to Aus- from the US as relations beceed, and she will be engaging by the army and its political with ethnics and the ushering 

tralia.tween 

the two countries warm. with members of the American allies. 

of Suu Kyi’s party into main- 

During recent weeks Mitchell was nominated to business community who are “He not only has an interstream politics. 

there has been a sudden in- the role by President Barack anxious and interested in the est in Myanmar, but he knows “As an iron �st has uncrease 

in attempts by Sri Obama, who has pursued a prospect of participating in the a lot about the country so it is clenched in Burma, we have 

Lankans to migrate illegally policy of greater engagement economic opening,” said an good that he has become the extended our hand, and are en- 

to Australia by boat. 

with Myanmar as the South- of�cial quoted on the State De- ambassador,” Suu Kyi said of tering a new phase in our en- 

At least 10 attempts have east Asian nation emerges partment website on Monday. Mitchell yesterday. 

gagement on behalf of a more 

been intercepted during the from decades of junta rule, The of�cial said the US Washington withdrew its democratic and prosperous fu- 

past two months by the po- which ended last year. would be working “very ambassador to Myanmar after ture for the Burmese people,” 

lice and navy and more than Washington this week in- closely” with Myanmar in the a crackdown on a democracy Obama said in May when he 

150 people have been arrestdicated it could ease more of coming months, but conceded uprising in 1988 and elections named his new ambassador 

ed, including 41 who were its strict sanctions against the that “enormous challenges” re- won by Suu Kyi’s democracy and announced an easing of in- 

detained on Friday. — dpa country, following a tentative mained in the country. party in 1990 that were never vestment sanctions. — AFP 

Philippines to bid out 3 

South China Sea blocs 

MANILA — The Philippines 

will bid out oil exploration 

contracts in the South China 

Sea despite recent tensions 

with China over con�icting 

territorial claims in those waters, 

an of�cial said yesterday. 

The three blocs in the 

South China Sea, off the coast 

of the western Philippine island 

of Palawan, are believed 

to be the most promising for 

oil and gas deposits, said Energy 

Under-Secretary James 

Layug. 

“All reserves in that area 

belong to the Philippines. We 

will only offer areas within our 

exclusive economic zone,” he 

said at the sidelines of an energy 

forum in Manila. 

The area, known as the 

northwest Palawan basin, is 

just beside the Philippines’ existing 

natural gas �elds, which 

already provide 40 per cent 

of the electrical power of the 

main Philippine island of Luzon, 

said Layug. 

PESHAWAR — Women from 

different backgrounds from 

Pakistan’s northwestern province 

of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 

said yesterday that they had 

de�ed all the odds to become 

businesswomen since it gave 

them �nancial as well as social 

empowerment. 

“Women are not allowed 

to go out of house and do job. 

I think there is nothing wrong 

in starting a business and becoming 

�nancially independent,” 

said Shakira Afridi, a 

young woman from tribal 

area who had started a boutique 

after doing her MBA. 

Other women who have 

displayed their products at 

an exhibition organised by 

Women Business Development 

Centre (WBDC) here 

at a local hotel also expressed 

similar view. Around 50 

stalls all displaying women’s 

products and handicrafts on 

“These are all beside our 

existing service contracts so 

there is no doubt that these areas 

belong to the Philippines,” 

he added. 

He said historically Philippine 

energy exploration 

had the most success in these 

areas off Palawan, indicating 

the three new blocs might 

also hold large oil and gas reserves. 

The exploration contracts 

for the three blocs will be bidded 

out on July 31, he said. 

Tensions between the Philippines 

and China have recently 

risen due to con�icting 

claims over parts of the South 

China Sea. 

The focus of the latest con- 

�ict is the Scarborough Shoal, 

which the Philippines insists is 

well within its exclusive economic 

zone but which China 

claims along with most of the 

South China Sea. 

Another South China Sea 

area, the potentially-oil-rich 

the opening day of three-day 

exhibition showed that women 

could prove their talent if 

they got encouragement from 

the family and government. 

The centre, set up by 

Small and Medium Enterprise 

Development Authority 

of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has 

been holding such exhibitions 

to facilitate businesswomen 

display their products and 

develop market linkages. The 

women entrepreneurs were 

seen asking visitors for feedback 

to bring improvements 

in their products. 

Saima, hailing from Charsadda, 

said that she started a 

few years ago making arti�cial 

jewellery. She said that 

even her family resisted the 

idea in the beginning as they 

thought she would not be able 

to market it. 

“Now I have employed 

25 women and we all make 

Reed Bank, is also due for 

development by the Philippines 

but has been claimed by 

China. 

Last year, the Philippines 

accused China of harassing an 

oil exploration ship at Reed 

Bank. 

Layug said China had not 

objected to the plans to bid 

out the contracts for the three 

blocs. 

China claims nearly all of 

the South China Sea even up 

to the coast of its neighbours. 

The Philippines has cited international 

law to bolster its 

claims. 

Ministers and diplomats 

representing China and Southeast 

Asian countries including 

the Philippines were meanwhile 

yesterday meeting at an 

Asean summit in Cambodia, 

working on a code of conduct 

designed to ease tensions in 

the South China Sea, but were 

struggling to reach agreement. 

— AFP 

CATHERINE Ashton, EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and 

Philippines’ Foreign Minister Alber del Rosario exchange documents on partnership 

and co-operation between EU and Philippines in Phnom Penh yesterday. — AFP 

Women from NW province 

keen to start own businesses 

handmade jewellery. Families 

should support and trust 

their women in such endeavours,” 

she said. 

Zarmina who runs a boutique 

and enjoys support of 

her family said that other 

hurdles could easily be overcome 

by women entrepreneurs 

if they got the muchneeded 

family support for 

their work. 

Maria, a married woman 

and boutique owner, said 

that when a woman started to 

work she had to sacri�ce a lot 

as she had to take care of both 

her house and business. She 

believes that men and women 

both should work to give a 

better life to their children. 

“A woman should do what 

she wants to do instead of wasting 

time. Yes, one has to sacri- 

�ce a lot, but nothing comes 

easy,” she said in response to a 

question. — Internews 

A RESIDENT asks �remen to douse water on his shanty which is engulfed by �re in 

Tramo, Pasay city, metro Manila, yesterday. More than 40 houses were burned 

and hundreds of families lost their shanties during the incident. — Reuters

Britain’s FTSE falls 

as growth woes cap 

momentum 

� Page 8 

Asian markets up on Wall St lead 

ASIAN markets were mixed yesterday, recovering from earlier 

losses sparked by a fall on Wall Street and concerns about Italy’s 

finances which stoked fresh fears about the euro zone. Stocks had 

also been pushed lower by the prospect that Germany may delay 

the launch of a permanent bailout fund for the euro zone. � Page 8 

Thursday, July 12, 2012 

Pipeline to link Tethys Oil 

blocks with govt system 


MUSCAT — Swedish-based 

international oil company 

Tethys Oil has announced that 

test production from the Early 

Production System (EPS) on 

Blocks 3 and 4 onshore Oman 

continues and amounted in 

June 2012 to 336,803 barrels 

of oil, corresponding to 11,227 

barrels of oil per day (BOPD). 

MADRID — Spain's Prime 

Minister Mariano Rajoy announced 

yesterday a 65 billion 

euro ($80 billion) austerity 

package to avert financial collapse 

as angry miners rallied 

against subsidy cuts. 

Rajoy, interrupted by 

howls from opposition members 

as he outlined the cuts, 

performed a U-turn by ramp- 

HOPES are evaporating 

that leading technology 

companies will offer 

a safe harbour this year from 

the economic storms swirling 

across Europe, Asia and the 

United States. 

Investors should brace for 

some of the biggest names in 

US software and hardware — 

from Microsoft Corp and IBM 

to Intel Corp — to disappoint 

when Big Tech begins reporting 

quarterly earnings next 

week, analysts said. 

The trio's shares are all in 

the red for July, in the wake 

of earnings warnings over the 

past week from smaller peers, 

including Advanced Micro Devices 

Inc, Applied Materials 

Inc and Informatica Corp. 

Corporate IT budgets have 

historically proved more resilient 

to worsening macroeconomic 

conditions than other 

kinds of spending, because 

businesses invest on the assumption 

that technology 

boosts productivity and helps 

save them costs over the long 

term. 

But investors may have 

Tethys’ share of the production 

before government take, 

amounts to 30 per cent of the 

total, or 101,041 barrels. 

By the end of May, the 

preparation work was initiated 

for the launch of the export 

pipeline, connecting the oil 

fields with the national Omani 

pipeline system. 

The work partially affected 

the production both in May and 

ing up value added sales tax 

having promised he would 

not raise it, and took an axe to 

state expenditure. 

"These are not pleasant 

measures but they are necessary," 

said the bearded 57year-old 

leader of the conservative 

Popular Party. 

Rajoy reminded parliament 

that Spain is going through 

misjudged the depth of the European 

crisis, and with oncereliable-as-clockwork 

Chinese 

growth waning, demand in 

other emerging markets has not 

picked up enough of the slack. 

The profit warnings could 

signal a broader pullback in 

orders, which means that Wall 

Street's earnings projections 

now appear over-optimistic to 

some outside experts. 

"I don't think the companies 

or the market anticipated 

the kind of slowdown like the 

one we are going to see in the 

second half," said Fred Hickey, 

editor of the High-Tech Strategist 

Newsletter for investors. 

"Companies haven't had a 

chance to adjust estimates yet 

and they will. That's coming," 

said Hickey, who has been following 

the tech industry since 

the 1980s. 

The sense of impending 

gloom is not confined to the 

United States. 

Samsung Electronics, Asia's 

top-earning tech company and 

the world's leading maker of 

smartphones, TVs and memory 

chips, has predicted record 

in June. This pipeline was fully 

operational by the end of June, 

and all trucking activities have 

ceased. Installation of processing 

facilities and other infrastructure 

relating to the permanent 

production system is 

continuing, the company said. 

Long term production tests 

have been carried out on wells 

from both the Saiwan East oil 

field on Block 4 and the Farha 

$80bn austerity package in Spain’s budget 

SPAIN’S Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in the parliament in Madrid yesterday. — Reuters 

one of its worst recessions in 

history, with unemployment at 

24.4 per cent, and economic 

activity set to decline by 1.7 

per cent this year. 

Spain's premier said new 

spending cuts and other measures 

including notably a rise in 

value-added tax would bring 

in 65 billion euros by the end 

of 2014 to help trim the annual 

quarterly profit of $5.9 billion 

for April-June — but its stock 

has slumped more than a fifth 

since May on concerns about 

the broader outlook for chip 

demand and the impact of the 

euro zone crisis on sales of its 

TVs and home appliances. 

Since mid-June, analysts 

have cut by more than a quarter 

their earnings forecasts for LG 

South oil field on Block 3. Production 

rates continue to vary 

depending on test programme 

design and available capacity. 

Tethys has a 30 per cent interest 

in Blocks 3 and 4. Partners 

are Mitsui E&P Middle 

East BV with 20 per cent and 

the operator CC Energy Development 

SAL (Oman branch) 

holding the remaining 50 per 

cent. 

deficit. 

The European Union had 

demanded a VAT rise along 

with a series of other tough 

measures as it gave Spain an 

extra year to bring its bulging 

public deficit back to agreed 

limits. 

The interest rate which 

Spain has to pay to borrow for 

10 years eased fractionally as 

the measures were announced 

but remained at a crippling 

level of 6.743 per cent from 

6.773 per cent on Tuesday. 

Key measures announced 

by Rajoy: 

� VAT goes up to 21 per 

cent from 18 per cent, and the 

reduced rate on some products 

Electronics, South Korea's other 

tech heavyweight, according 

to Thomson Reuters Starmine 

SmartEstimates, which accords 

higher weight to the timeliest 

forecasts from historically 

more accurate analysts. 

Shares of China's Lenovo, 

the world's No 2 PC maker 

behind Hewlett Packard, have 

retreated to 5-month lows with 


MUSCAT — HSBC Bank 

Oman SAOG held its first 

Board of Directors’ meeting 

under the chairmanship of Simon 

Cooper, CEO of HSBC 

Middle East. Board members 

discussed the latest developments 

in the integration process, 

along with other strategic 

developments to better meet 

the growing needs of retail, 

corporate and institutional 

customers. 

“The integration process 

remains firmly on track. Customers 

will soon begin to enjoy 

the full benefits of banking 

with a trusted partner that 

offers a diverse range of customised 

products and services 

such as food goes up to 10 per 

cent from eight per cent. A 

special four-per cent rate on 

basic needs such as bread is 

untouched. 

� Public administration is 

to be reformed to save 3.5 billion 

euros, including a drastic 

cut in the number of publically 

owned enterprises and a 30 per 

cent cut in the number of local 

councillors. 

� For the newly unemployed, 

benefits will be cut 

after six months from 70 per 

cent of basic salary to 50 per 

cent. Previously, the benefit 

had been reduced after six 

months to 60 per cent of salary. 

brokers downgrading their outlooks 

for the company as global 

economic weakness damps 

demand for personal computers. 

In Japan, a fast fading powerhouse 

in consumer electronics 

and technological innovation, 

shares in Sony Corp and 

Panasonic Corp are mired near 

more than three-decade lows as 

Al Kanz draw attracts large crowds 

NATIONAL Bank of Oman’s Al Kanz mega draw of RO 500,000 

was held recently during the bank’s Carnival, at the Muscat Grand 

Mall, in Al Ghubra. Chief Guest Shaikh Muhanaa al Maawali, 

Wali of Al Amerat, conducted the NBO Al Kanz Mega Draw in 

the presence of customers and general public. � Page 9 

which will help our customers 

achieve their financial goals in 

life,” said Cooper. 

He added, “Everyone at 

HSBC Bank Oman is fully 

committed to ensuring a 

smooth and seamless transition 

for customers and we 

look forward to offering an 

enhanced banking experience 

in Oman." 

The Board Meeting was 

followed by a private dinner 

at CEO Ewan Stirling’s residence, 

where members of the 

bank’s senior management 

team had an opportunity to 

meet with the Board and exchange 

ideas and experiences 

in addition to forge new relationships. 

HSBC Bank Oman SAOG 

� Certain bonuses paid to 

top civil servants will be cut, 

and the Christmas bonuses 

for top public officials will be 

eliminated. 

In Brussels, euro zone ministers 

agreed the previous day 

to provide a first slice of 30 

billion euros for Spain's banks 

this month, with 100 billion 

euros potentially available in 

all. 

The 17-nation single currency 

bloc agreed, also, to 

extend a deadline for Spain 

to cut its public deficit to the 

European Union's limit of 3 

per cent of gross domestic 

product by one year to 2014. 

— AFP 

investors fret over their ability 

to regain profitability in today's 

hostile macro environment and 

against tough competition from 

nimbler rivals in South Korea 

and Taiwan. 

The one bright spot is Apple 

Inc, which still has many fans 

on Wall Street. The iPhone 

and iPad maker is one of the 

few major tech stocks to have 

gained in July, up 4 per cent. 

Apple has beaten analysts' 

earnings forecasts in seven of 

the past eight quarters by at 

least 12 per cent. Last quarter, it 

reported earnings 22.5 per cent 

above Wall Street estimates. Its 

performance has propped up 

the entire sector and analysts 

expect a new iPhone this year 

to keep that up. 

Apple is likely to report 

earnings of more than 1 per 

cent above the Street's average 

forecast, according to 

StarMine SmartEstimates. In 

contrast, Microsoft, which is 

preparing to launch the Windows 

8 operating system and 

its first tablet computers, may 

report earnings 0.7 per cent 

below the average. 

now enjoys a larger ATM and 

branch network across the 

Sultanate, with the added advantage 

of being connected to 

an extensive network that cov- 

"Guidance could turn out 

to be very conservative given 

momentum with new Macs, 

a potential iPad mini and ongoing 

success with the new 

iPad," Barclays analyst Ben 

Reitzes said in a research note. 

Apple said the latest iPad will 

hit Chinese store shelves on 

July 20. 

Apple aside, market watchers 

expect the economic malaise 

will broadly hit technology 

companies in the second 

half of the year, even at firms 

that managed to squeak by in 

the second quarter and avoid 

issuing preliminary earnings 

warnings. 

Over the past three months, 

analysts have largely held on 

to their second-quarter earnings 

forecasts for technology 

and telecommunications companies, 

while cutting estimates 

in other sectors. Now many 

may have to make up for that 

oversight. 

An IDC survey of chief 

information officers (CIOs) at 

about 250 US companies conducted 

two weeks ago found, 

on average, that they expected 

BankMuscat fetes al 

Mazyona 

prize winner 

� Page 10 

HSBC Bank holds first board meet 

ers 85 countries and territories 

in Europe, the Asia-Pacific 

region, the Middle East, Africa, 

North America and Latin 

America. 

SNR Denton advises USG on partnership 


MUSCAT — SNR Denton advised USG 

Corporation (USG), the Chicago-based 

manufacturer of building materials, 

on their partnership with Oman based 

Zawawi Minerals. 

This strategic and multifaceted partnership 

has been developed to meet the 

growing demand for USG's building 

products in the Middle East and India and 

USG expects the investment of approximately 

$60 million to be incurred over 

two years, with the majority in 2012. 

Based in the Salalah Free Zone in the 

Coal miners rally in Madrid 

MADRID — Spanish coal 

miners and tens of thousands 

of fellow workers massed in 

Madrid yesterday, yelling their 

anger at crisis subsidy cuts that 

they say will destroy entire 

communities. 

Hundreds of miners who 

had hiked for two weeks from 

northern coal regions were 

joined by masses of workers 

from other sectors, waving 

flags amid the blare of horns 

and the boom of firecrackers. 

"Join all our struggles with 

the miners'," read one banner 

hoisted in the crowd outside 

the Industry Ministry. 

Some of the miners at the 

rally had emerged the previous 

day from more than a week 

spent underground in the pits 

to protest the drastic cuts to 

state subsidies on which the 

industry depends. 

Violent clashes have broken 

out between miners and 

police in more than a month 

of protests over Madrid's decision 

to slash coal industry sub- 

South of Oman, the partnership will initially 

develop infrastructure and operate 

a gypsum quarry. A second joint venture 

company will build and operate a new 

low cost wallboard plant in the Free Zone. 

Salalah has shipping access to many ports 

in India and is an ideal location for providing 

gypsum to future USG wallboard 

plants. 

"This strategic partnership is a key 

step for USG providing access to both 

growth markets of the Middle East and 

India," said Rick Lowes of USG Corporation, 

"and positions us well to enhance 

our success in these markets." 

sidies this year to 111 million 

euros from 301 million euros 

last year. 

Unions say the cuts will destroy 

coal mining, which relies 

on state aid to compete with 

cheaper imports, and threaten 

the jobs of around 8,000 coal 

miners and up to 30,000 other 

people indirectly employed by 

the sector. 

Protesters in Madrid walked 

in the hot sun to the sound of 

firecrackers and whistles to the 

Industry Ministry. — AFP 

Dan Gordon, USG's in-house legal 

counsel, added: "SNR Denton's deep understanding 

of the mining sector in Oman 

and legal and practical issues involved 

with mining, manufacturing and distribution 

joint ventures in Oman and the wider 

Gulf has helped us to bring our discussions 

with Zawawi Minerals to a successful 

conclusion." 

SNR Denton's team was led by Paul 

Sheridan in Muscat and included Rachel 

Oxby, Ahmed al Barwani and Andrew 

Steele also from SNR Denton's Muscat 

office as well as Iain Black and Simar 

Berrached from the firm's Dubai office. 

Xstrata sets date 

for Glencore vote 

LONDON — Xstrata said shareholders will now vote on September 

7 on the miner's planned $26 billion takeover by Glencore, 

after changes to unpopular retention deals for top executives 

forced it to push back a meeting scheduled for this week. 

A new date had been expected after deals to tie in Xstrata's top 

managers were overhauled at the end of last month, following 

shareholder protests over mostly cash packages that were not 

tied to performance. 

But a vote on September 7, later than strictly required, will 

also give commodities trader Glencore, Xstrata's largest investor, 

six more weeks to hammer out a deal over the terms of 

the takeover with rival shareholder Qatar Holding, which is 

demanding better terms — easing speculation that the current 

deadlock between the two could put the tie-up on ice. 

While the September date is still moveable, sources familiar 

with the matter and analysts said it marked a deadline of 

sorts and a goal for the talks between Glencore and Qatar's 

sovereign wealth fund, which owns 11 per cent of the miner. 

Qatar, which has built the second-largest stake in the miner, 

said last week it was firm in its demand for Glencore to improve 

its offer to 3.25 new Glencore shares for every Xstrata 

share held, up from the 2.8 on offer. 

Glencore, for its part, has indicated it could walk away. 

Under takeover rules, Glencore has until two weeks before 

the vote date to alter the terms of its offer — a later move is 

possible but would push the date back again. 

Xstrata — which was caught in a "shareholder spring" that 

has seen shareholder protest over pay across sectors — said 

yesterday its new retention packages for top executives would 

be in shares only and be dependent on executives reaching a 

further $300 million of cost savings beyond planned synergies. 

Xstrata also said it continued to expect the merger to complete 

in the fourth quarter. 

Antitrust reviews were progressing, the miner said, with an 

ongoing process in China and South Africa and constructive 

discussions with the European Union ahead of a formal notification, 

expected in coming weeks. — Reuters 

Tech Inc’s invincible aura fades after spate of profit warnings 

their budgets to decrease for 

the first time since early 2009. 

"There is this sense among 

CIOs that things have slowed 

down and they are going to 

have to think about ways of 

cutting back," said IDC analyst 

Stephen Minton. 

Analysts currently forecast 

companies in the S&P 500 Index 

will report profit growth 

of 5.8 per cent in the second 

quarter, with technology earnings 

growing at 7.9 per cent, 

according to Thomson Reuters 

data. 

They are more optimistic 

about prospects for the second 

half and that's where some expect 

cuts to come. 

Analysts forecast thirdquarter 

earnings growth of 

12.9 per cent for the S&P 

500's technology index and 

fourth-quarter growth of 14.9 

per cent. 

Companies at risk in the 

second half include services 

giant IBM, No 1 chipmaker 

Intel, as well as software makers 

including Microsoft and 

VMware Inc, analysts said. 

— Reuters

Asian markets rebound 

after Wall Street lead 

FOREIGN exchange brokers monitor Japanese yen’s exchange in Tokyo. — Reuters 

HONG KONG — Asian markets 

were mixed yesterday, 

recovering from earlier losses 

sparked by a fall on Wall Street 

and concerns about Italy's 

finances which stoked fresh 

fears about the euro zone. 

Stocks had also been 

pushed lower by the prospect 

that Germany may delay the 

launch of a permanent bailout 

fund for the euro zone. 

The euro held steady in Asian 

trade. 

Tokyo closed flat, edging 

down 0.08 per cent, or 6.73 

points, to end at 8,851, while 

Sydney lost 0.04 per cent, 

or 1.52 points, to finish at 

4,096.50 points. 

Hong Kong put on 0.12 per 

cent, or 23.51 points, to finish 

at 19,419.87, while Shanghai 

ended up 0.51 per cent, or 

10.94 points, at 2,175.38. 

Seoul lost 0.17 per cent, 

or 3.06 points, to close at 

1,826.39. 

US stocks closed sharply 

lower on Tuesday on concerns 

over American corporate earnings 

and a slump in confidence 

registered by a US small-busi- 

ness survey. 

The Dow Jones Industrial 

Average dropped 0.65 per 

cent, while The S&P 500 fell 

0.81 per cent and the tech-rich 

Nasdaq slipped 1 per cent. 

In Europe, this week's deal 

to help crisis-hit Spain was 

quickly overshadowed by 

concerns that Italy, also struggling 

with enormous debts, 

may have to tap a regional rescue 

fund. 

At the end of a euro zone 

meeting in Brussels, Italian 

Prime Minister Mario Monti 

said Rome may one day ask 

for the euro zone rescue fund 

to intervene in the bond market 

in order to ease his country's 

borrowing costs. 

"It is very difficult to say 

that Italy will never need help 

from one fund or another and 

caution compels me not to 

talk about such things," Monti 

said, after previously insisting 

that Rome did not need such 

an intervention. 

Meanwhile fears grew that 

the German constitutional 

court may delay ratification 

of the euro zone's permanent 

bailout fund, which is to be 

used to recapitalise Spanish 

banks. 

The court was expected to 

rule by the end of the month 

whether the president should 

be permitted under constitutional 

law to sign the legislation, 

but has hinted at a possible 

further delay. 

Investors were sceptical 

about the deal to help Spain, 

also announced in Brussels, 

which will channel 30 billion 

euros ($37 billion) this month 

to its banks and give Madrid 

an extension to a deadline to 

cut its public deficit. 

"There is a broad framework 

to deal with the crisis, 

but uncertainty remains over 

whether it will work," said 

Kenichi Hirano, operating officer 

at Tachibana Securities. 

"Participants will likely 

maintain their wait-and-see 

approach over the European 

situation." 

On currency markets, the 

euro bought $1.2263 and 97.34 

yen in Tokyo afternoon trade, 

from $1.2251 and 97.26 yen 

in New York late Tuesday. 

FTSE falls on growth woes 

LONDON — Britain's top 

share index fell yesterday, 

paring the previous session's 

gains as investors worried 

about waning global economic 

growth and company 

earnings. 

London's blue chip index 

was down 24.91 points, or 0.4 

per cent, at 5,639.16 points in 

light volumes, having added 

0.7 per cent on Tuesday as 

investors bought on the dips 

after two consecutive trading 

days of losses. 

The fall tracked overnight 

losses for Wall Street, which 

has been in bearish territory 

since a disappointing set of 

US jobs figures last Friday. 

News from the euro zone's 

debt crisis and global growth 

engine China has also done 

little to lighten the mood. 

A sales warning from engine 

maker Cummins Inc was 

the latest worrying signal from 

the US corporate sector overnight, 

on top of weak forecasts 

from chipmakers Applied Materials 

Inc and Advanced Micro 

Devices. 

"There is an earnings per 

share risk at the moment and it 

will continue because there is 

just too much uncertainty going 

on," Edo Brasecke, strategist 

at Investec, said. 

"The risk at the moment is 

that although the probability 

might be small if something 

does go wrong in Europe it 

is going to be massive so you 

can not really price it in to 

anything, so in the short-tomedium 

term the main players 

(portfolio managers) are just 

going to sit on their hands, 

which will increase volatility," 

he said. 

UK-listed British luxury 

brand Burberry was the major 

local casualty yesterday, down 

5 per cent, after the company 

reported a slowdown in quarterly 

sales growth as trading 

conditions worsened in its 

markets. 

"What is more worrying 

is the slowdown at Burberry 

is being felt across the luxury 

brands industry, with the market 

further scaling back estimates 

for peers LVMH and 

Luxottica," Ishaq Siddiqi, a 

market strategist, at ETX Capital, 

says. 

Shares in Burberry, Luxottica 

and luxury goods peer 

LVMH were trading at between 

18.1 and 19.6 times 

the company's expected earnings 

for the next 12 months 

— a premium to the broader 

market at 17.1 — implying a 

9.8-10.4 per cent compound 

annual growth rate in earnings 

per share, according to 

Starmine data. 

ICAP was hovering near 

more than 2 year lows as the 

world's largest derivatives 

broker brought forward plans 

to slash £50 million ($77.5 

million) of annual costs to 

counter a trading slowdown 

that forced the brokerage's 

revenue down 9 per cent in the 

last quarter. — Reuters 

Barratt sees profit rising 

LONDON — British housebuilder 

Barratt Developments 

forecast a big rise in 

full-year profit, and said its 

drive to build new homes on 

higher-margin land would allow 

more progress as long as 

the housing market remained 

relatively stable. 

The group said that at its 

annual results on September 

12 it expected to post a 41 per 

cent jump in operating profit 

before exceptional items to 

around £191 million ($296 

million) for its 2011/12 year 

to end-June. 

The leap in profitability 

was due to a move towards 

building on high-margin land, 

a focus on containing costs 

and a significant increase 

in volumes — with 12,637 

completions compared with 

11,078 in the year-earlier period, 

chief financial officer 

David Thomas told reporters 

on a conference call. 

"We feel we have certainly 

outperformed slightly compared 

with our expectations 

and the market's expectations," 

Thomas said, adding 

that about a third of completions 

came from new land 

contracts with gross margins 

above 20 per cent. 

That would rise to about 50 

per cent next year and around 

two thirds in 2014. "We feel 

that we have already acquired 

the land to give us that improving 

operating profit profile as 

long as the market backdrop 

remains relatively stable," 

Thomas said. 

A lack of available new 

homes in Britain and government 

schemes to spur the market 

have been helping prop 

up demand, despite flagging 

consumer sentiment and difficulties 

in obtaining mortgage 

financing. 

Barratt said it saw government 

initiatives, including the 

NewBuy scheme, continuing 

to support the industry. 

"Generally what we have 

seen in the last 18 months is 

that consumer confidence has 

remained at reasonable levels 

vis-a-vis housing," Thomas 

said. 

"More importantly we 

have seen some improvement 

in terms of mortgage availability. 

I think that mortgage 

availability is the key driver 

for the new-build sector." 

Barratt shares rose 1.7 per 

cent to 139.61 pence. 

Panmure Gordon analysts 

described the company's statement 

as "positive" and edged 

up their target price to 169 

pence from 168 pence, saying 

"the stock remains our key 

sector pick". 

Full-year profit before 

tax and exceptional items 

should surge 158 per cent to 

£110 million, Barratt said. 

— Reuters 

8 

OMAN/THE WORLD THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2012


MUSCAT — National Bank of 

Oman’s (NBO) Al Kanz Mega 

Draw of RO 500,000 was held recently 

during the bank’s Carnival, 

at the Muscat Grand Mall, in Al 

Ghubra. 

Chief Guest Shaikh Muhanaa 

al Maawali, Wali of Al Amerat, 

conducted the NBO Al Kanz Mega 

Draw in the presence of custom- 

9 OMAN THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2012 

NBO Al Kanz mega draw attracts large crowds 

ers, general public, NBO’s Senior 

Management and staff. 

The exciting and fun evening 

was well attended by over five hundred 

guests. 

Muscat Grand Mall’s ground 

floor area was brightly decorated to 

attract members of the public and 

its customers to join in and enjoy 

NBO’s exciting Carnival activities! 

However, the main highlight of 

the evening was the NBO Al Kanz 

Mega Draw for RO 500,000. All 

guests eagerly waited to witness 

the draw proceedings, which declared 

the lucky winner of half a 

million Omani riyals. 

The evening also included a host 

of interesting and exciting carnival 

events comprising an illusionist; 

acrobats; stilt walkers; jugglers; 

clowns; character artist; jewellery 

making; nail and bandana expert; 

face painting; balloon artist; raffle 

draws, on-the-spot-prizes; games; 

and many more thrilling family 

activities, all of which kept visitors 

fully engaged and engrossed. Free 

popcorn, ice cream and steamed 

sweet corn was also available — 

much to the delight of all present! 

NBO always takes pride in 

organising unique and exciting 

events for the community, as the 

bank believes it is very important to 

provide opportunities for members 

to meet informally — in a casual 

and relaxed atmosphere. NBO’s 

Carnivals are an ideal opportunity 

for both young and old to have an 

entertaining and enjoyable evening 

out, with family and friends. 

Speaking on the occasion, 

Harshdeep Munjal, NBO’s General 

Manager Retail, Private and 

Overseas Banking Division said: 

“It is indeed very encouraging to 

see such a huge gathering. We are 

delighted that our efforts to provide 

a fun evening for all ages are truly 

appreciated. 

The Al Kanz Mega Draw added 

to the evening’s excitement as 

our Al Kanz Scheme provides our 

customers with opportunities to 

change their lives overnight! Our 

big prize structure attracts them to 

invest more in Al Kanz. 

Our focus is aimed at encouraging 

the savings habit among our 

customers and we will continue to 

innovate and upgrade our products 

and services to meet the growing 

expectations of our customers”.

10 

OMAN/INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2012 

BankMuscat fetes al Mazyona RO 300,000 prize winner 


MUSCAT — BankMuscat 

marked a moment of big celebration 

for Amor bin Mohammed 

Salmin al Harthy 

from Samad Al Shan branch 

in Sharqiyah Governorate who 

won RO 300,000 al Mazyona 

Savings Scheme prize for the 

second quarter. 

Yousuf al Rawahi, Regional 

Manager — Sharqiyah Governorate, 

visited Al Harthy at his 

house and presented the prize 

cheque. 

Al Harthy commented on 

the life-changing experience: 

“I am delighted to win this big 

prize from BankMuscat. This 

is an exciting scheme reflecting 

the dreams and ambitions 

of people. I always dreamt of 

winning a big prize and it has 

totally changed not only my 

life but also the future of my 

family.” 

Al Harthy, who worked as 

a security guard with the Ministry 

of Education, has been 

banking with BankMuscat for 

many years and benefited from 

the loyalty bonus and got his 

chances multiplied, thereby 

giving him a big chance to 

win the RO 300,000 prize. 

He is second time lucky with 

BankMuscat as he had won 

RO 2,000 al Mazyona prize 10 

years ago. 

Al Harthy has four sons who 

are married and settled in life. 

He said he will utilise the prize 

money to benefit his sons and 

BUSINESS ALERT 

grandchildren. Al Harthy is familiar 

with BankMuscat products 

and services. Personally, 

he recommends BankMuscat to 

friends and relatives because of 

the many value-added services 

provided by the bank. “I am 

very happy with the banking 

facilities and the helpful and 

courteous approach by staff.” 

Yousuf al Rawahi said: “We 

congratulate Al Harthy for winning 

the al Mazyona quarterly 

prize. He represents the seasoned 

generation aware of the 

need to maintain prudent savings 

habits. Notably, customers 

banking with BankMuscat 

in all parts of the country are 

rewarded with attractive prizes 

and personalised services.” 

Reckoned the savings 

BankDhofar gold sponsor of STF 2012 

BANKDHOFAR is reinforcing its commitment to the Salalah Tourism Festival by taking on 

Gold Sponsorship. 

The festival is traditionally a family orientated event with a host of activities on offer. Bank- 

Dhofar’s stand at the festival is focusing on the young generation with face painters and games 

to enhance the fun factor. It also provides an opportunity for visitors to learn more about its 

strongest products including its savings accounts for the young customers, Mazen & Mazoon. 

The bank is also showcasing their female suite of products, Hawa, which includes an account 

for their female customers. Also, an offer for a limited time only is the bank’s housing loan at a 

special rate of 4.5 per cent the lowest in the market today. 

Ahmed bin Salim al Ibrahim, AGM, Government Relations, BankDhofar, said of the sponsorship 

agreement “We sponsor this festival every year because we believe that the tourism industry 

is one of the most important arms of the Omani economy. We support His Majesty the Sultan’s 

directives on the diversification of national income through different types of resources. This 

festival enables us to present our products and services to our customers. Our team is participating 

in this event and will interact with visitors and explain the various services provided by 

BankDhofar.” 

Bank Sohar holds customer awareness meet 

AS part of its efforts in developing further awareness and educating the public on Islamic banking, 

Bank Sohar recently conducted a customer awareness programme in Muscat. The bank, 

which is gearing up to launch Islamic banking service, held the second awareness campaign and 

customers from various parts of Muscat attended the interactive programme. 

The awareness programme was attended by branch managers from Muscat along with invited 

customers, including some customers from Privilege Banking. The event commenced with a 

welcome speech by Talal al Zadjali, MBD branch manager, followed by a presentation on Islamic 

banking which was presented by Dr Ghazi from Dar al Sharia. 

‘‘We consider our customers as assets and are fully committed to educating them about Islamic 

banking service. We believe our customers ought to know the details of Islamic banking 

service prior to its introduction, and this is precisely the reason why we have launched a nationwide 

campaign to educate them,’’ Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz Kalmoor, CEO — Bank Sohar said. 

‘‘In line with the bank’s Islamic Banking Window pre-launch preparations, Bank Sohar has 

recently signed a pact with Path Solutions, a global provider of software solutions to introduce 

its Islamic banking system iMAL to enable the bank to extend Islamic banking services,’’ Dr 

Kalmoor said. 

scheme of the nation, al 

Mazyona offers one of the biggest 

prize money in the savings 

scheme history in Oman. This 

year, BankMuscat sprung a big 

surprise, taking the total prize 

money of al Mazyona Savings 

Scheme to a whopping RO 6 

million with unparalleled winning 

chances for all segments 

across the Sultanate. 

Notably, the 2012 al 

Mazyona stands out as ‘My 

scheme’ for all individual segments 

as attractive prizes are 

earmarked for ladies, children, 

salaried employees and 

high savings balance customers 

in all regions. As on date, 

the scheme offers the biggest 

prize money in Oman and the 

region. 

al Mazyona 2012 scheme 

reflects innovative customer 

segmentation based on two 

principles — region and demographics 

— ensuring a higher 

winning chance to all customers 

across the Sultanate, including 

ladies, children and salaried 

employees. The 2012 al 

Mazyona scheme offers exciting 

weekly, monthly, quarterly 

and grand prizes. Winning with 

al Mazyona has never been 

simpler as customers are not required 

to block their money for 

long or wait for a long time to 

win that big prize. 

The weekly prizes include 

RO 3,000 each for 10 

guaranteed winners from the 

governorates, including one 

lady customer holding Zeinah 

savings account. Customers 

are required to maintain RO 

100 minimum balance for the 

weekly prize. Keeping in mind 

the large percentage of customers 

from Muscat and Batinah, 

three weekly prizes are given 

away to customers from Muscat, 

two prizes to customers 

from Batinah and one prize 

each to Dhakhiliyah, Wusta, 

Dhahirah, Musandam, Dhofar 

and Sharqiyah governorates. 

The monthly prize is an exciting 

RO 30,000 each for nine 

winners covering the governorates. 

For eligibility, customers 


1,000 minimum balance for 

one month. Three weekly prizes 

are given away to customers 

from Muscat, two prizes 

to customers from Batinah and 

one prize each to Dhakhiliyah, 

Wusta, Dhahirah, Musandam, 

Dhofar and Sharqiyah governorates. 

Already, 9 customers 

have won the prize last month 

from the governorates and they 

can now participate in the other 

upcoming draws. 

The quarterly prize significantly 

raises the appeal of al 

Mazyona, particularly for high 

savers. The big prize is RO 

300,000 every three months. 

For eligibility, customers are 

required to maintain RO 1,000 

minimum balance for three 

months. For every RO 1,000 

balance maintained by them, 

they get 10 chances each. 

The climax of al Mazyona 

is the year-end grand prize of 

RO 1 million. For the grand 

prize eligibility, customers 


1,000 minimum balance for all 

months. This prize is earmarked 

for customers who consistently 

maintain a healthy savings of 

at least RO 1,000 every month. 

Mitsubishi to sell Dutch vehicle plant 

TOKYO — Japan’s Mitsubishi 

Motors said yesterday that it 

would sell its sole European 

plant to a Dutch industrial 

group for one euro in a deal 

that calls on the buyer to keep 

1,500 jobs at the facility. 

The announcement comes 

as new buyer VDL Groep confirmed 

they were in talks with 

German auto giant BMW to 

produce Minis at the southern 

Dutch factory. 

Mitsubishi had earlier this 

year announced plans to end 

production at the factory by 

the end of the year, blaming 

a difficult operating environment 

in the debt-hit continent. 

In a statement yesterday, 

the Japanese firm said it would 

sell Netherlands Car BV, 

or NedCar, to VDL Groep, 

which makes buses and a 

range of industrial products, 

for a token one euro ($1.20) 

in exchange for keeping the 

plant running. 

“(Mitsubishi) had carried 

out discussions with the related 

parties to explore the possibility 

of the future continuation 

of NedCar while making 

it a top priority to assure the 

employment of its employees,” 

it said. 

“As a result, (Mitsubishi) 

has reached a principal agreement 

with VDL on the share 

transfer,” it added. 

Mitsubishi said it expected 

to book a 28 billion yen ($353 

million) loss on the plant to be 

included in its current fiscal 

year earnings through March 

2013. 

“We wanted to avoid a 

situation where the workers 

would lose their jobs after 

we cease production,” a 

Mitsubishi spokesman said. 

Their chances keep on increasing 

month after month with a 

minimum of 10 chances every 

month. 

A continuing attraction is 

that the winning chances get 

multiplied by the number of 

years customers are associated 

with al Mazyona savings 

scheme. For example, a customer 

who has been saving for 

5 years will multiply his winning 

chances by 5 times, while 

another customer who has 

been saving for 20 years will 

be able to multiply his winning 

chances by 20 times and so on. 

This benefit is unique only to 

al Mazyona savings scheme 

holders and no other bank offers 

this, as on date. 

In order to maintain the tra- 

dition of providing complete 

transparency of the scheme, 

BankMuscat will continue 

to conduct al Mazyona prize 

draws at public places and get 

these tested and certified by 

external auditors — Ernst & 

Young — a member of the Big 

5 consulting firms. BankMuscat 

pioneered this proactive step 

and is proud to continue this 

tradition in Oman. This is a 

good step in communicating 

good governance and transparency. 

Over the years, al Mazyona 

has succeeded in inculcating a 

savings culture in Oman. The 

flexible scheme makes regular 

saving easier and is available 

across the largest network of 

131 branches in Oman. 

TEL: 24601003, 24600586 • FAX: 24600736 

• WEBSITE: www.salalahport.com

By Hiba al Busaidiya 

MUSCAT has been 

selected as the Capital 

of Arab Tourism 

this year. Muscat will be the 

tourism capital not just for 

Oman, but the whole Arab region. 

Today, the city has improved 

beyond recognition, 

but has never lost its pride in 

its pristine Omani heritage 

and culture. 

It is a leading example of 

intelligent and artistic development 

that combines the ancient 

and modern modes of a 

city. Selecting Muscat as the 

Capital of the Arab Tourism 

will attract more visitors to the 

Sultanate this year. 

The city and its suburbs 

have achieved a pride and 

grandeur of their own by suc- 

Talk on weight might 

give kids eating disorder 

� Page 12 

cessfully blending the best of 

its ancient past and the modern 

development. The city has 

picturesque beaches, beautiful 

mosques, forts that are reminiscent 

of Muscat’s glorious 

past and scenic gardens and 

natural parks. 

In view of this coveted position 

of the capital of Arab 

tourism 2012, the Ministry of 

Tourism has announced programmes 

of various activities 

of during July-August- 

September this year, as part 

of its efforts to celebrate this 

occasion. 

In July, the programme includes 

a number of exciting 

cultural, religious and traditional 

sports and arts events, 

and many others. The ministry 

aims to organise different 

events to shed light on its 

programme of commemorat- 

Laughing yoga cultivates merry 

mindfulness, makes you feel good 

� Page 12 

ing Muscat as the Capital of 

Arab Tourism and to show its 

components and features of 

tourism. 

The programmes will not 

be confined to the capital city 

only, rather it will organise 

How to find rich 

husbands! 

� Page 14 

Dark Knight biggest 

story I’ve told: Nolan 

� Page 14 

Fea ures 

Thursday, July 12, 2012 

events in a number of governorates 

of the Sultanate to 

shape a wider concept of tourism 

development. 

The Ministry of Tourism, 

in co-operation with 

the Omani Journalists Association, 

the Administration 

of Salalah Tourism Festival, 

the Journalists’ Union and the 

Organization of Arab Tourism 

will conduct a workshop 

in tourism information in 

the Hilton Hotel, Salalah, 

Dhofar Governorate, from 

July 15-17. 

This event will host a 

number of Arab journalists 

and media professionals from 

Arab and foreign countries in 

order to introduce the concept 

of tourism information and to 

plan how to deal with tourism 

news releases. 

In addition to media coverage 

in other places, the ministry 


General Authority for Radio 

and Television is organising a 

contest to broadcast in the television 

during the holy month 

of Ramadhan, from July 21 to 

August 18, to introduce the 

community to the heritage of 

Oman and the tourism fea- 

tures by offering a number of 

questions and giving prizes 

to ten winners each day. The 

episode will be broadcast at 

eleven in the night on every 

Saturday. 

On July 23, the Ministry of 

The less you sit the 

longer you live 

� Page 13 

Muscat, the Capital of Arab Tourism 2012 

The Ministry of Tourism is 

organising several events to 

celebrate Muscat, the Capital 

of Arab Tourism 2012 

The beautiful Al Alam Palace 

stands on the head of a natural 

deep water harbour and is 

guarded on either side by the 

twin forts of Mirani and Jelali. 

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque 

is the third largest mosque in the 

world. Must sees in the mosque 

include the Swarovski crystal 

chandelier, the second largest 

hand-made Persian carpet in the 

world and the marble panelling. 

Thus the tourist attractions are 

gradually making the city a 

favourite destination 

among the tourists 

Tourism will launch a contest 

entitled ‘Muscat, the Capital 

of Arab Tourism 2012’ in 

the building of the ministry. 

The Ministry of Tourism will 

also release a special stamp 

to commemorate the occasion. 

It will launch the stamp 

on July 30. It will hold on the 

same day a lecture on tourism 

to spread tourism education, 

and a religious lecture entitled 

“Tourism and its impact on 

the individual and the community” 

in the Sultan Qaboos 

Grand Mosque. 

On September 27 and 28 

the ministry will organise a 

tourist convoy to Al Hamra 

for two consecutive days 

of walking in the wilayat to 

encourage adventures and 

entertainment tourism. The 

convoy starts from Al Hoota 

Cave to Wadi Hat and Wadi 

Bani Ouf. 

The selection of the city as 

the Arab Capital for Tourism 

is a recognition for its tourism 

potential as it has the facilities 

and attractions of any other 

international destination. 

High-profile museums, forts, 

palaces, mosques, parks and 

gardens, pristine beaches, the 

city has everything one can 

imagine. The addition of the 

Opera House in Muscat has 

added something extra and 

essential to an already good 

situation thus making it even 

better and more attractive to 

the visitors. 

Muscat has a large number 

of small and large parks, 

the largest being the Qurum 

Natural Park which includes 

a large man-made waterfall, a 

lake and an amusement park. 

Most of the museums in 

the country is located in the 

capital city of Muscat. 

Natural History Museum 

in Al Khuwair; Omani French 

Museum in Muscat; Omani 

Museum, near Ministry of 

Information; The Sultan’s 

Armed Forces Museum, Bait 

al Falaj; Bait Al Zubair in 

Muscat; Children’s Museum, 

Shatti al Qurum; Marine Science 

and Fisheries Centre in 

Muscat; National Museum in 

Ruwi. 

Muttrah Souk in Muscat 

is another attraction of the 

capital. The maze-like souq is 

often described as the best in 

the Gulf region. The souq has 

several shops for jewellery, 

traditional Omani handicrafts 

and Omani food.

PEOPLE’S 

PLATFORM 

WE read with interest that the visitor 

turnout to Salalah Tourism Festival 

is up by 10 per cent this year. As many 

as 31,335 tourists visited the Governorate 

of Dhofar since the start of the monsoon 

season from June 21 till July 4, according 

the Tourism Ministry. 

The increase in number of visitors to 

Dhofar during the past period of the monsoon 

season stands at 10.6 per cent over 

last year’s figure of 28,331 visitors. 

Among the visitors, Omanis constituted 

46.9 per cent, while visitors from 

the UAE, were 13.4 per cent and tourists 

from other GCC countries 20.4 per 

cent. Salalah Airport has been witnessing 

a growing tourism activity since the beginning 

of the Khareef season in terms of 

the number of domestic and international 

flights. 

The Khareef Visitors Survey 2011 

showed that 99 per cent of visitors to 

Dhofar come from GCC states, including 

Omanis and residents in member states. 

All these figures show that Salalah 

Tourism Festival has enormous potential 

to attract visitors in large numbers which 

is a boon to the tourism sector in the country. 

We need to promote this festival more 

and more. 

— Saleem al Kiyumi 

Editor: Salalah and Dhofar Governorate 

are round the year tourism destinations 

of Oman and a star attraction in the 

Middle East. 

Sultanate’s aid to Yemen, Palestine 

IT was heartening to read in your July 

10 edition news item that following 

the directives of His Majesty, the Oman 

Charitable Organisation (OCO) will 

distribute foodstuff to 10,000 Yemeni 

families during the month of Ramadhan. 

The OCO team for distribution work has 

already left for Yemen. 

The OCO also signed last week a MoU 

to set up three schools in Gaza. Many of 

12 

LETTERS/HEALTH THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2012 

Salalah Tourism Festival gaining popularity 

us are confident that one of the main reasons 

for the continued prosperity, peace 

and security and all round development in 

Oman is part of the blessings it receives 

on account of extending support to the 

oppressed people in different parts of the 

world. Oman has always lived up to the 

adage “A friend in need is a friend in indeed” 

by being at the forefront of humanitarian 

and peace-making programmes. 

The Government of Oman as well as 

its private sector and the public have in 

the past responded with great enthusiasm 

to mobilise funds for building schools, 

orphanages, hospitals and mosques in 

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

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

Talking about weight might 

give kids eating disorder 

By Dorene Internicola 

CAN'T touch your toes? Laugh it 

off. Laughter yoga, unlike Pilates 

yoga, water yoga, aerial yoga 

and other offshoots of the ancient eastern 

practice of uniting body and breath, 

doesn't aspire to sculpted arms and bendy 

backs. 

Laughter yoga just wants you to be 

happy. 

"You may not lose fat, but you will 

lose the idea that you're fat," said Sebastien 

Gendry, Founder and Executive Director 

of the American School of Laughter 

Yoga. 

"People come because it's the exercise 

they can do and it makes them feel good," 

said Gendry, who founded the school in 

2004. "It's the easiest form of yoga. They 

can't twist, they can't bend, but they can 

do this." 

A blend of yogic deep breathing, 

stretching, and laughter exercises that 

cultivate child-like playfulness, Laugh- 

ter Yoga was developed 17 years ago in 

Mumbai, India by Dr Madan Kataria. 

Laughter Yoga International now claims 

600 clubs in 60 countries. 

Gendry, who was born in France, was 

the first American to train as a certified 

Laughter Yoga teacher. 

Central to Laughter Yoga is the tenet 

that the body cannot differentiate between 

pretend and genuine laughter. 

"We fake it," Gendry said of the group 

classes he leads. "We simulate to stimulate. 

We go through the motions of joy to 

create the chemistry of joy." 

In one exercise attendees are instructed 

to repeat "ho-ho, ha-ha-ha" while clapping 

hands; in another they are directed 

to "picture yourself jumping for joy." 

The exercises are unapologetically silly 

and very short-20 to 40 seconds each in 

an hour-long class, Gendry said, to facilitate 

the shift from thinking to feeling. 

"The goal is not to work on muscle 

mass," he said. "It is to overcome critical 

thinking." 

Another goal is to connect with class- 

Tel: 24649451, Fax: 24649469; e-mail: observerfeatures@gmail.com 

TWO out of three parents fear that 

talking to their kids about their weight 

might give them an eating disorder. 

The findings come from a survey conducted 

by the healthy lifestyles organisation 

Mend (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition. Do 

it!) and the Netmums parenting website to 

mark National Childhood Obesity Week. 

The latest figures from the schools 

child measurement programme show a 

third of 11-year-olds are overweight or 

obese — so fat it threatens their health, the 

Daily Mail reports. 

More than a third of parents (37 per 

cent) feel that talking to their children 

about their weight might lower their selfesteem. 

Two thirds of parents want more 

support in talking to their children about 

weight, increasing to 85 per cent of those 

with fat children. Almost three quarters of 

parents with overweight children said they 

found it difficult to help them stay healthy, 

mainly because they wanted to eat fatty 

and sugary foods. 

Although they often talked to them 

about their eating habits — asking them to 

eat less junk food and more fruit and vegetables 

— more than half had never talked 

to them about their weight. 

More than 1,000 parents with a child 

aged five to 16 responded to Netmums' 

Let's Talk About Weight survey, with one 

in six (15 per cent) reporting that their 

child was overweight. 

A third of all parents identified their 

children's weight by looking at them or 

comparing them with others their age, 

rather than measuring it or getting it confirmed 

by a doctor. Research shows that 

sizing up' a child by sight alone often results 

in parents of fat youngsters wrongly 

believing they are a healthy weight. 

Paul Sacher of Mend said: "It can be 

very difficult for parents to tell if their 

child is a healthy weight or not simply by 

looking at them." 

mates. 

"Laughter is a means to an end," he 

explained. "In hatha yoga (the yoga commonly 

taught in studios and health clubs), 

the focus is the breath. In laughter yoga, 

the focus is the "dristi," or gaze, of the 

other. It builds community." 

It's also easy. Gendry said it usually 

takes two days to master the fundamentals 

of the method. 

"For those who want to teach, it takes 

a week," he said. "Truly, this is not rocket 

science." 

New York City-based fitness expert 

Lashaun Dale, who has been teaching 

movement, fitness and yoga for over 20 

years, said she really enjoyed the Laughter 

Yoga class she attended. 

"It's a hoot," said Dale. "It releases 

so much stress. You can't help but laugh. 

First, there's discomfort; then it's hard to 

stop." 

Dale said the class favoured gentle, 

healing movement over the intense 

stretching and exertion of the vinyasa 

flow of typical yoga classes. 

QUITTING smoking leads 

to an average weight gain 

of four to five kilogrammes 

(nine to 11 pounds) in the first 

year — "significantly" more 

than previously thought, a 

study said yesterday. 

Most of the pounds are 

piled on in the first three 

months, a team of medical researchers 

wrote in the online 

journal bmj.com, as another 

group stressed that the health 

benefits of quitting far outweighed 

the risks of putting 

on weight. 

For quitters who did not 

use nicotine replacement therapy, 

the average weight gain 

was 1.1 kilos at one month, 2.3 

kilos at two, 2.9 kilos at three, 

4.2 kilos at six months and 4.7 

kilos after a year. 

This was "substantially 

higher than the 2.9 kg often 

quoted in smoking cessation 

advice leaflets," wrote the 

THE world's first 

anti-obesity vaccine 

has shown promising 

results in boosting weight 

loss, according to a study. 

Keith Haffer from 

Braasch Biotech LLC, south 

Dakota, who developed the 

vaccines in two versions 

JH17 and JH18, derived 

from a peptide hormone 

somatostatin, tested them in 

two groups of diet induced 

obese male mice, and 

compared with a group of 

mice that received saline 

injections. 

Somatostatin inhibits the 

action of growth hormone 

team from France and Britain. 

"Moreover, this mean 

weight gain is greater than the 

2.3 kg gain that female smokers 

report being willing to tolerate, 

on average, before embarking 

on a quit attempt." 

Earlier research showed 

that nicotine is an appetite 

suppressant and may increase 

the metabolic rate. 

(GH) and insulin like growth 

factor (IGF1), both of which 

increase metabolism and 

result in weight loss. 

Obesity and obesity 

related disease is a growing 

health issue worldwide. 

Mice in all groups had 

been fed a high fat diet 

for eight weeks prior to 

the study and continued to 

eat the same food for the 

duration of the six week 

study. The vaccinations were 

administered twice at the 

start of the study followed by 

a booster vaccination on day 

22, the Journal of Animal 

Science and Biotechnology 

For the latest paper, the researchers 

collated data from 

earlier studies conducted between 

1989 and 2011 in the 

United States, Europe, Australia 

and east Asia to assess 

weight changes among successful 

quitters. 

The researchers stressed 

that changes in body weight 

varied greatly, with about 

reported. 

Four days after the 

first injection of modified 

somatostatin, the vaccinated 

mice had a 10 per cent drop 

in body weight (not seen in 

the mice receiving saline 

shots), said a university 

statement. 

Later, results showed 

that both vaccines induced 

antibodies to somatostatin 

and significantly reduced 

body weight, sustaining the 

lower body weight, without 

affecting normal levels of the 

growth hormone IGF1, or 

insulin levels. 

"This study demonstrates 

Palestine. Palestinian children have faced 

great hardships and atrocities in the recent 

Israeli attacks and Oman’s move to build 

orphanages and schools of these children 

has been greatly appreciated by Palestinian 

authorities as well as all well-wishers 

of peace. Realising and understanding 

one’s duty towards others who are under 

oppression is an important feature of 

aware and awakened people. The Sultanate’s 

aid to Somalia, Libya, Japan and 

Syria in recent times is a case in point. 

— S A Farooq 

Editor: Oman believes in helping nations 

during natural disasters and other 

crises and has been very kind to its brotherly 

people of Palestine. 

GED pass rate at 82 per cent 

WE read with interest in your front 

page news (dated July 11) that the 

overall pass rate of students who sat for 

the General Education Diploma (GED) 

during the second semester of this school 

year 2011-2012 was 82.04 per cent in 

regular education schools. The pass rate 

of those who sat for the Islamic Sciences 

Diploma was 94.64 per cent, bilingual 

schools 95.8 per cent, while the GED’s 

pass rate at the Technical College of the 

Royal Guard of Oman was 100. 

The results are indeed encouraging 

and one hopes the youth are given even 

more facilities to advance in the field of 

education and training. 

— Adnan 

Editor: It is indeed encouraging to 

note that Omani youth have put up a good 

performance in school education. Thanks 

to the government’s heavy investment and 

decades of planning, the educational sector 

is moving forward and showing results 

now. 

Quitting smoking adds more pounds 

16 per cent of quitters losing 

weight and 13 per cent gaining 

more than 10 kilos in the first 

year. 

In an editorial accompanying 

the paper, experts from 

Spain and Australia said modest 

weight gain was far less 

life-threatening than smoking. 

"Tobacco is the main cause 

of premature death worldwide, 

being responsible for 5.1 million 

deaths each year. Obesity, 

together with overweight, 

causes 2.8 million deaths," 

they wrote. 

"Cohort studies indicate 

that modest weight gain does 

not increase the risk of death; 

smoking does." 

They stressed that fears of 

getting fat could deter some 

people from quitting and 

called for further research to 

identify those most at risk of 

gaining weight to be targeted 

for counselling. — AFP 

World’s first anti-obesity shot promising 

the possibility of treating 

obesity with vaccination," 

Keith explained. "Treatment 

of human obesity with 

vaccination would provide 

physicians with a drug and 

surgical free option against 

the weight epidemic." 

Braasch Biotech 

LLC is a privately held 

company that specialises 

in the development of bio 

pharmaceutical vaccine 

products for the human 

and veterinary health care 

markets. Specifically, 

Braasch has developed 

the world first anti-obesity 

vaccine. 

Laughing yoga cultivates merry mindfulness, makes you feel good

FLIGHT LIGHT SSCHEDULE 

CHEDULE 

ARRIVALS S — THURSDAY 

Flight No Aircraft From om / Via STA 

WY614 B737-8 Dubai 0005 

WY682 B737-8 Riyadh 0015 

WY648 B737-8 Kuwait 0015 

PK229 B737-3 Sialkot 0030 

TK858 B737-8 Istanbul 0130 

BG021 DC10 Dacca-Chittagong 0130 

QR170 A320 Doha 0315 

EY384 A320 Abu Dhabi 0350 

EK866 B777 Dubai 0355 

GF560 E190 Bahrain 0425 

MS930 B737-8 Cairo 0500 

RJ600 A319 Amman 0505 

WY114 A330-200 Frankfurt 0645 

WY652 E175AR Bahrain 0700 

WY662 E175AR Doha 0700 

FZ043 B737-8 Dubai 0740 

NL771 B737-2 Peshawar 0800 

WY202 B737-8 Bombay 0800 

WY674 B737-8 Jeddah 0800 

WY632 ATR42 Abu Dhabi 0800 

WY602 B737-8 Dubai 0825 

WY274 B737-8 Jaipur 0840 

NL768 B737-2 Lahore 0845 

WY238 B737-8 Hyderabad 0850 

WY102 A330-300 London Heathrow 0900 

WY254 B737-8 Madras 0920 

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EK862 B777 Dubai 0930 

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G9113 A320 Sharjah 0955 


9W530 B737-8 Trivandrum 1045 

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PK233 B737-3 Karachi 1110 

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IX543 B737-8 Trivandrum-Cochin 1130 

WY336 B737-8 Kathmandu 1140 

PK291 A310 Lahore 1140 

WY916 E175AR Salalah 1200 

WY3302 ATR42 Mukhaizna 1230 


IX337 B737-8 Calicut 1255 

WY918 ATR42 Khasab 1315 

WY606 B737-8 Dubai 1330 

IX815 B737-8 Mangalore 1425 

WY924 B737-8 Salalah 1440 

WY324 B737-8 Karachi 1440 

FZ045 B737-8 Dubai 1545 

WY664 E175AR Doha 1615 

WY826 A330-300 Kuala Lumpur 1635 

WY204 B737-8 Bombay 1655 




QR164 A321 Doha 1735 

WY608 B737-8 Dubai 1740 

WY298 B737-8 Calicut 1750 

WY264 B737-8 Lucknow 1755 

WY646 B737-8 Kuwait 1805 

GF564 A319 Bahrain 1810 

TG507 A330 Bangkok-Karachi 1900 

G9117 A320 Sharjah 1905 

WY316 B737-8 Chittagong 1910 

WY926 B737-8 Salalah 1945 

UL205 A320 Colombo 2020 


FZ047 B737-8 Dubai 2020 

KL449 A330 Amsterdam-Abu Dhabi 2045 

AI973 A320 Delhi 2125 

BA073 B777 London Heathrow-Abu Dhabi 2130 

WY616 B737-8 Dubai 2145 

AI907 A319 Madras 2200 

WY3928 B737-8 Salalah 2205 

WY406 B737-8 Cairo 2215 

LH618 A330 Frankfurt-Abu Dhabi 2215 


LX242 A330 Zurich-Dubai 2235 

QR168 A320 Doha 2235 

GF566 B737-7 Bahrain 2250 

WY624 ATR42 Al Ain 2305 

WY656 B737-7 Bahrain 2305 

WY668 B737-8 Doha 2310 

WY928 B737-8 Salalah 2310 

AI985 A321 Ahmedabad-Bombay 2310 

WY672 A330-300 Jeddah 2315 

WY636 E175AR Abu Dhabi 2315 

WY686 B737-8 Dammam 2320 

WY425 B737-8 Amman-Beirut 2325 

9W534 B737-8 Cochin 2330 

9W540 B737-8 Bombay 2340 

QUOTATIONS FOR TODAY 

As a great man’s influence never ends, so 

also there is not definite finality, no end, to a 

great survey; it runs along for centuries, ever 

responsive to the strain of the increasing 

needs of a growing population and an 

enlarging domain. 

— Cleveland Abbe 

A mind that is stretched by a new experience 

can never go back to its old dimensions. 

— Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr 

CINEMA 

FILM INFORMATION 

www.citycinemaoman.net 

AL BAHJA CINEMA: 

24540856, 24540855. 

AL NASR CINEMA: 

24831358, 24831809 (after 3pm) 

AL SHATTI PLAZA: 

24607360, 24692656 (after 2pm) 

STARS CINEMA: 

24791641, 24792360 

MAJLIS A’SHURA 

ADDRESSES 

Keep in touch with Majlis Ash’shura’s news. 

Log on to the Majlis’s website: 

www.shura.om 

and the Majlis’s 

e-mail: info@shura.om 

Or write to the Majlis’s postal address: 

P O Box 981 

Postal Code 111, Muscat 

Tel: 24510344 / 24521427/ 

Fax 24510560 

INFORMATION 

MINISTRY WEBSITES 

Ministry: www.omanet.om 

Oman TV: 

www.oman-tv.gov.om 

Oman Radio: 

www.oman-radio.gov.om 

Omani Centre for Traditional Music: www. 

octm-folk.gov.om 

OMAN RADIO 

06.00 am Opening, Royal Anthem, The Holy Quran, 

Preview of Morning Programme, Weather Forecast, 

Pharmacies on Duty; 06.15 Morning Tea; 07.00 

News Bulletin; 07.10 Morning Tea; 10.00 News 

Headlines; 10.02 Piano; 11.00 Instrumental Music; 

11.30 Light Classical Music; 12.00 News Headlines; 

12.02 Country Music (June); 12.45 Words in Action 

(Monday 6.40pm); 01.00 Jazz Cafe (Suhail) (Sat 

12pm); 02.30 News Bulletin; 02.40 Mix Music; 03.00 

World Chart Show (Repeated); 05.00 Kidz Zone 

(Live) Anika - (Live); 06.00 Mix Music; 06.30 News 

Bulletin; 06.40 Out in Oman; 07.00 The Thursday 

Night Show-(Abdulhafedh al Harthi) Live; 08.00 

News Headlines; 08.02 The Thursday Night Show- 

(Abdulhafedh al Harthi) Live; 10.00 News Bulletin; 

10.10 Hollywood Hamiltons Remix Top 30; 12.40 

News Summary; 12.45 The Holy Quran; 01.00 

National Anthem, Close Down. 

DEPARTURES 

Flight No Aircraft To / Via STD 

BA072 B777 Abu Ab Dhabi-London Dh bi L d Heathrow H th 0001 

AI986 A321 Bombay-Ahmedabad 0005 

WY371 A330-300 Colombo-Male 0025 

9W539 B737-8 Bombay 0045 

KQ318 B737-8 Nairobi 0050 

WY601 B737-8 Dubai 0115 

WY217 B737-8 Trivandrum 0115 

WY253 B737-8 Madras 0115 

WY237 B737-8 Hyderabad 0120 

WY223 B737-8 Cochin 0120 



WY661 E175AR Doha 0130 

WY201 B737-8 Bombay 0130 

PK230 B737-3 Sialkot 0130 

9W529 B737-8 Trivandrum 0130 

WY241 B737-8 Delhi 0130 

WY285 B737-8 Bangalore 0135 


WY273 B737-8 Jaipur 0205 

TK859 B737-8 Istanbul 0220 

WY335 B737-8 Kathmandu 0235 

BG022 DC10 Chittagong-Dacca 0300 

EK867 B777 Dubai 0500 


QR171 A320 Doha 0550 

MS931 B737-8 Cairo 0600 


RJ601 A319 Amman 0715 


WY915 E175AR Salalah 0800 

FZ044 B737-8 Dubai 0820 


WY315 B737-8 Chittagong 0900 

NL772 B737-2 Peshawar 0900 

NL769 B737-2 Lahore 0945 

WY717 B737-8 Zanzibar-Dar-es-Salaam 1000 

WY297 B737-8 Calicut 1005 


WY815 A330-200 Bangkok 1010 

WY263 B737-8 Lucknow 1010 

WY323 B737-8 Karachi 1020 

WY917 ATR42 Khasab 1030 

WY605 B737-8 Dubai 1030 

WY923 B737-8 Salalah 1035 

G9114 A320 Sharjah 1035 

WY203 B737-8 Bombay 1040 

EK863 B777 Dubai 1045 


QR167 A321 Doha 1055 

9W533 B737-8 Cochin 1145 

PK234 B737-3 Karachi 1210 

WY663 E175AR Doha 1215 

IX542 B737-8 Trivandrum 1220 

PK292 A310 Lahore-Islamabad 1240 

WY645 B737-8 Kuwait 1255 

WY425 B737-8 Amman-Beirut 1300 

WY405 B737-8 Cairo 1310 



WY115 A330-200 Frankfurt 1325 



IX350 B737-8 Calicut 1355 

WY101 A330-300 London Heathrow 1400 

WY607 B737-8 Dubai 1440 

IX142 B737-8 Abu Dhabi-Amritsar 1515 

WY925 B737-8 Salalah 1540 

WY671 A330-300 Jeddah 1540 

FZ046 B737-8 Dubai 1630 


WY3927 B737-8 Salalah 1800 

WY615 B737-8 Dubai 1805 

QR165 A321 Doha 1840 

GF565 A319 Bahrain 1855 

WY685 B737-8 Dammam 1905 

WY647 B737-8 Kuwait 1905 

WY927 B737-8 Salalah 1905 

WY667 B737-8 Doha 1910 

WY681 B737-8 Riyadh 1910 

WY655 B737-7 Bahrain 1915 

G9118 A320 Sharjah 1945 

TG508 A330 Karachi-Bangkok 2005 

WY623 ATR42 Al Ain 2015 

WY635 E175AR Abu Dhabi 2015 

WY613 B737-8 Dubai 2045 

FZ048 B737-8 Dubai 2105 

UL206 A320 Colombo 2120 

KL450 A330 Abu Dhabi-Amsterdam 2200 

WY913 B737-8 Salalah 2245 

AI908 A319 Madras 2300 

AI974 A320 Delhi 2310 


LX243 A330 Dubai-Zurich 2335 

LH619 A330 Abu Dhabi-Frankfurt 2335 

QR169 A320 Doha 2335 

GF567 B737-7 Bahrain 2345 

CANCER 

(June 22-July 21) 

It is not too late to 

change your ways if 

you realise that certain aspects of 

your behaviour causes difficulties 

with others. Adapt yourself to 

present conditions. 

LEO 

(July 22-August 21) 

If you are attracted to 

a new acquaintance 

you won’t want to hear anything 

against that person but it would be 

wise to listen to those who know 

more than you do in this case. 

VIRGO 

(August 22- Sept 22) 

Someone close to you 

has had a bad time 

lately and needs your sympathy. 

He will be warmly comforted by 

a few understanding words from 

you. 

LIBRA 

(Sept 23-October 22) 

A friend who seems 

to have plenty of time 

to spare should not be allowed to 

distract you from your work. You 

won’t have time to catch up later. 

13 

INFORMATION/LEISURE THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2012 

PHARMACIES 

PHARM 

24-HOUR SERVICE 

Al Hashar ph, Ruwi 24783334 

Muscat ph, Ruwi, 24702542 

Al Sarooj, 24695536 

Scientific ph, Qurum, 24566601 

Ruwi, 24702850 

DAY DUTY 

Muscat Dar al Dawa 

24700391 

Al Masaa 

Al Waleed 24485542 

A’Seeb 24420294 

Sur Al Jawi 25541188 

Ibri Sara 25691424 

Buraimi Yaas 25653855 

Nizwa Al Qala 25431666 

Salalah Al Waleed 23294905 

Sohar Muscat 26840211 

NIGHT DUTY 

Muscat Al Hashar 24833115 

Muscat 24535977 

Muscat 24485740 

Al Badiya 24425024 

Sur Al Saka 25542240 

Ibri Al Mukhtar 

25689839 

Buraimi Fajr al Khaleej 

25654321 

Rustaq Al Rustaq 26875045 

Barka Balqis 26884541 

Samayil Al Horiya 25359435 

Nizwa Al Qala 25410076 

Salalah Muscat 23291635 

Sohar Al Naqa 26847519 

KHOULA HOSPITAL VISITING HOURS 

Private & Other Wards 

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

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

ICU 

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

Holidays: 16:00-17:00 

Special Care Baby Unit 

Working Days: Parents may visit at any time. 

Weekends & Public Holidays: Parents may visit 

at any time 

� YOUR STARS � 

IF IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY: If you are free and can let matters at home slide for a while you should jump at a chance 

to do some travelling in the coming year. You will gain a new perspective on things in general and your life in 

particular and you will return home refreshed and ready to take on the world. 

SCORPIO 

(October 23-Nov. 21) 

Avoid unnecessary 

friction with an unpleasant 

neighbour by keeping out 

of his way as much as you possibly 

can. 

SAGITTARIUS 

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) 

If you are offered a 

position in a very large 

organisation, you will have to 

weigh the disadvantages against 

the prestige the appointment will 

bring. 

CAPRICORN 

(December 22-Jan 

20) 

If a daily routine task 

is beginning to get on your nerves 

neglect it for a day or two and devote 

your time to some completely 

different activity. 

AQUARIUS 

(January 21- 

February 19) 

An unexpected chance 

to get away for the weekend will 

give you a respite from the arduous 

time you have just been through. 

CARTOONS 

PISCES 

(February 20- 

March 20) 

Negotiations with an 

apparently amicable person may 

prove tougher than anticipated but 

thee will be a successful conclusion. 

ARIES 

(March 21-April 20) 

After some strenuous 

but thankless efforts 

you will at long last see some 

satisfactory results. Continue to 

build on the progress made. 

TAURUS 

(April 21-May 20) 

Don’t be disheartened 

by an unexpected setback 

in your work. You have overcome 

much more serious ones in 

the past and can now benefit from 

the experience. 

GEMINI 

(May 21-June 21) 

Sometimes friendships 

have to end on 

an unhappy note and you may feel 

let down for a while but you will 

soon get over it and make new 

friends. 

ADAM @ HOME by Brian Basset 

CALVIN AND HOBBES by Bill Watterson 

GARFIELD by Jim Davis 

STONE SOUP by Jan Eliot 

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

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

Health Services Department 

Muttrah . . . . .24797602 

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RESTRICTING the time you 

are seated to less than three 

hours daily might boost your 

life expectancy by two years, says 

an analytical study. 

Similarly, cutting down TV time 

to less than two 2 hours daily might 

extend life by almost 1.4 years. Several 

previous studies have linked 

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extended periods spent sitting down 

and/or watching TV to poor health, 

such as diabetes and death from 

heart disease/stroke. 

The researchers used data collected 

for the National Health and 

Nutrition Examination Survey 

(NHANES) for 2005/6 and 2009/10, 

to calculate the amount of time US 

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net and 

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The less you sit the longer you live 

Scientists detect radio 

SURPRISINGLY, scientists 

have for the first time ever 

detected the radio waves 

emanating from a mid-sized black 

hole, called the HLX-1, around 

300 million light years away, 

located in a galaxy called ESO 

243-49. 

A team led by Sean Farrell 

from the University of Sydney's 

School of Physics, which detected 

those signals, said these also allow 

them to estimate the size of the 

newly discovered black hole. 

"Black holes are areas where 

the matter is so densely squeezed 

into a small space that it makes 

gravity pull strongly enough to 

stop light from escaping," said 

Farrell, in the journal Nature. 

"Astronomers have classified 

black holes into stellar mass black 

holes, which are up to tens of 

times the mass of our sun, and 

super massive black holes, which 

are millions to billions of times 

the mass of our sun," said Farrell, 

according to a Sydney statement. 

"HLX-1 lies in between these 

two sizes at around 20,000 times 

the mass of our sun. So we've 

called it an intermediate mass 

black hole," said Farrell. 

"HLX-1 is located in a galaxy 

called ESO 243-49 about 300 

million light years away from us," 

he added. 

Using the Australia Telescope 

Compact Array and Nasa's Swift 

satellite, the team that included 

scientists from France, Britain and 

the US examined radio emissions 

during two state transitions of the 

black hole HLX-1 in 2010 and 

2011. 

Emil Lenc, Farrell's 

counterpart at the School of 

Physics, said: "So, what we tend 

to see is the X-ray emission and 

then, a day or two or even a few 

days later, the source flares up in 

radio waves." 

adults spent watching TV and sitting 

down on a daily basis, the online 

journal BMJ Open reports. 

NHANES regularly surveys a 

large representative sample of the 

US population on various aspects of 

their health and lifestyle, according 

to a NHANES statement. 

They trawled the research database 

MEDLINE, looking for published 

studies on sitting time and 

deaths from all causes, and pooled 

the different relative risk data from 

the five relevant studies, involving 

almost 167,000 adults. The database 

was then re-analysed, taking 

account of age and sex. 

They combined these data and 

the NHANES figures to come up 

with a population attributable fraction 

(PAF) an estimate of the theoretical 

effects of a risk factor at a 

population, rather than an individual 

level to calculate the number of 

deaths associated with time spent 

sitting down. The PAFs for deaths 

from all causes linked to sitting time 

and TV viewing were 27 per cent 

and 19 per cent, respectively. 

The results of life table analyses 

indicates that cutting the amount of 

time spent sitting down every day 

to under three hours would add an 

extra two years to life expectancy. 

Similarly, restricting time spent 

watching TV to under two hours 

daily would extend life expectancy 

by an extra 1.38 years. 

"The results of this study indicate 

that extended sitting time and 

TV viewing may have the potential 

to reduce life expectancy in the US," 

write study authors. 

African tribesmen 

steal lions’ lunch 

DRAMATIC video shows 

waves from black hole A how three African tribesmen 

snatched a chunk of meat from 

a pride of lions, the Daily Mail 

reported on Tuesday. 

Incredibly, tribespeople in 

Africa are now regularly stealing 

food from packs of lions, as these 

three hungry men demonstrate. 

Their hunt for dinner begins 

by finding the tracks of a lion 

pride on the hunt for food. 

The oldest member of the 

group — at 65 — leads the way, 

and it's not long before they come 

across the signs of a fresh kill. 

In images which would otherwise 

terrify most of us, the trio 

soon stumble across 15 lions tearing 

into a dead wildebeest. 

But instead of making a sharp 

exit, the men — who are massively 

outnumbered by one of the 

world's most feared predators — 

begin to plan their attack.Acting 

as one to hopefully intimidate the 

pack, the trio all stand up together 

and confidently walk towards the 

lions, according to the Mail.

14 SHOWBIZ THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2012 

Dark Knight biggest story I’ve told: Nolan 

By Priyanka Sharma 

THE Dark Knight Rises, 

the final part of his 

Batman trilogy, is the 

biggest story he has told so 

far, says maverick Hollywood 

film-maker Christopher Nolan, 

known for his intriguing 

films Inception and Insomnia. 

“It’s the biggest story I’ve 

told and I’m very excited 

about it. It’s got an enormous 

Chinese tutorial on how 

to find rich husbands! 

CHINESE woman who married a multimillionaire 

A has started tutoring other women on how to find a 

rich husband. The class covers topics like how to approach 

rich men, how to date them and when to begin an intimate 

relationship.The class in Chengdu in southwest China’s 

Sichuan province costs around 10,000 yuan ($1,600), the 

Shanghai Daily reported. 

Taught by a 42-year-old woman named Su Fei, the class 

promises to provide opportunities to women students to 

meet rich men as part of the course. 

Su Fei says she married a multimillionaire when she 

was 37. The class had a successful run in Shenzhen in 

Guangdong province seven years ago when more than 100 

women applied to attend similar lessons, the daily said. 

“If you want to approach a rich man, learn his hobbies 

and venues he would frequently visit. Then you pretend 

to meet him at the venues accidentally and you happen to 

have the same hobbies,” the woman tells her class. 

“During the first date, you should choose a seat carefully 

to let the light illuminate behind you at an angle of 

30 to 45 degrees. This will make your face look prettier,” 

she says. 

The course teaches women not to order very expensive 

food at high-end restaurants or accept luxury gifts. 

By Madhusree Chatterjee 

THE itinerant Roma gypsies 

in Europe trace their 

genetic roots to the north 

and northwestern Indian subcontinent 

from where they migrated 

to Europe nearly 1,000 

years ago. 

A new Indo-European production, 

Prague which will 

premiere at the coming Osian’s 

Cinefan Film Festival 

beginning on July 27 in New 

Delhi has built its narrative — 

a cross-cultural love story — in 

the backdrop of the history of 

the atrocities on the Roma gypsies 

in what was Czechoslovakia 

during World War II. 

The movie will feature in 

the Indian competition section. 

The movie, directed by 

young film-maker Ashish 

Shukla is set in Prague, the 

capital of the modern day 

amount of things in it that I’m 

very passionate about it. So, 

at the moment I’m just really 

enjoying it,” Nolan said in an 

e-mail interview. 

“By all accounts, The Dark 

Knight Rises is the definition 

of epic — shooting on location 

across three continents, 

with a daring aerial stunt 

sequence, a massive crowd 

scene involving explosions 

and over 10,000 extras, and 

a full complement of new 

gadgets and vehicles. 

Czech Republic where the minority 

ethnic Roma community 

— the few of the surviving bastions 

— still clash with the local 

people. 

At the centre of the unusual 

story is a young Indian architect 

Chandan, who comes to Prague 

to work on a project with friend 

Gulshan. 

Chandan meets a gypsy girl 

Elena, who wants to build a 

memorial for the gypsies who 

died in World War II. Chandan 

cannot trust Elena, because of 

her gypsy blood... He suspects 

her motives. The protagonists’ 

insecurities are fanned by 

friend Gulshan’s hostility and 

needling. 

The only person the architect 

can seek solace from is a 

man who does not exist. Director 

Ashish Shukla describes his 

movie as a psychological thriller 

with a powerful message. 

“But for me, the massive 

scale is almost secondary to 

the emotional headwinds the 

characters are facing. They 

(characters) are larger than 

life and I will miss that because 

that is not something 

you can apply to an ordinary 

story,” he added. 

Slated for a July 20 release, 

the film will see Christian 

Bale reprising his role 

as caped crusader Batman. 

The cast also includes Anne 

Hathaway, Morgan Freeman 

Kareena to catwalk at LFW finale? 

BOLLYWOOD actress 

Kareena Kapoor 

is likely to walk the 

Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) 

winter-festive 2012 runway at 

the grand finale to be jointly 

presented by designer Kallol 

Dutta and duo Pankaj-Nidhi. 

The forthcoming edition 

will be held in Mumbai from 

August 3 to 7. 

“Kareena walked for Manish 

Malhotra two seasons ago 

and we have shared the work 

with her. We are already working 

with her (for this season). 

Kareena is taking out time for 

that,” Purnima Lamba, head 

(Innovations), Lakme said. 

However, Lamba says 

nothing is finalised for Kareena’s 

grand finale catwalk. 

“At this point we haven’t 

decided the prospect of it, but 

she (Kareena) is very excited 

to walk for us. So Kareena 

might be the showstopper,” 

said Lamba. 

In the last season, veteran 

designer Rohit Bal presented 

an outstanding finale. But this 

time fairly new designers like 

Kallol Dutta and Pankaj-Nidhi 

Real to reel: Adhuna’s hairstyling passion extended 

DHUNA Akhtar is ready 

A to roll out her small 

screen stint — “Be Blunt With 

Adhuna Akhtar” — a six-part 

series where she will give 

striking makeovers to a select 

few girls. She says the show is 

the natural progression of her 

passion. 

“The show is a natural extension 

of my passion for styling, 

which also happens to be 

my job,” Adhuna, wife of actor-film-maker 

Farhan Akhtar, 

said in a press statement. 

She has joined hands with 

her brother Osh Bhabani for 

the show, to be aired on lifestyle 

channel TLC starting on 

July 16. 

“Teaming up with my 

The persecution of Roma 

gypsies in pre-war and wartime 

Europe is a prickly reality 

of racial and political hate 

crimes. 

An estimate by the United 

States Holocaust Memorial 

Museum says of the slightly 

less than one million gypsies 

living in Europe before the 

war, the German Nazis and 

their Axis partners killed up to 

220,000. 

“It is not an unusual story and 

it does have cross-cultural elements 

as backdrop of the films. 

Prague in a brief section does 

deal with the gypsies (Roma) 

history where we explain the 

atrocities that happened against 

the gypsies during World War 

II, when a concentration camp 

was established for gypsies as 

they were discriminated against 

and called habitual criminals,” 

Shukla said. 

and Liam Neeson. 

Nolan admits he had never 

thought of making a trilogy. 

“When I started this journey 

with ‘Batman’, I didn’t 

anticipate that I’d now be 

finishing up the third film. 

But stories have a beginning, 

middle, and an end, and a trilogy 

of films naturally lends 

itself to telling a complete 

story.” 

From ‘Batman Begins to 

The Dark Knight to, now, The 

Dark Knight Rises, I feel a 

great sense of completion for 

affording the rare opportunity 

to tell a complete story with 

such depth and breadth. I’ve 

managed to put everything 

into the movie that I wanted 

to do with the character. It’s 

done for me,” he added. 

Nolan is one of the rare 

are getting the chance. 

Lamba said: “I don’t see 

there is any risk. As somebody 

brother Osh and giving our 

passion a new dimension has 

The director says the “gypsies 

were Indian nomads from 

the northern borders of Afghanistan, 

Kashmir, Pakistan, 

Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan 

who migrated to Europe around 

the 13th century via Egypt”. 

It’s the biggest story 

I’ve told and I’m very 

excited about it. It’s got an 

enormous amount of things 

in it that I’m very passionate 

about it. So, at the moment 

I’m just really enjoying it 

directors who has used the 

conventional film method to 

shoot The Dark Knight Rises 

rather opting for the digital 

format. 

who has invested in the future 

of fashion, it is my responsibility 

to give them a voice... 

been a very fulfilling experience. 

We hope that viewers 

“They were first called 

Egypties. After further relocation, 

they spread across 

northern Europe and Russia. 

In fact, in 1983 Indian prime 

minister Indira Gandhi, while 

inaugurating the second In- 

Nolan is moving from one 

superhero flick to another as 

he gears to produce Man of 

Steel (Superman movie) to be 

directed by Zach Snyder. 

Christopher Nolan (C) poses with cast members attending his Hand and Foot print 

ceremony in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in California. — AFP 

The concept of bringing 

fresh perspective to the finale 

was very exciting. So we 

were very thrilled to get them 

on board and they both have 

very individual takes on fashion.” 

In its 13th year, Lakme 

Fashion Week has lined up 

86 designers, including veterans 

Pallavi Jaikishan and Ritu 

Beri, from across the country. 

From big names such as 

Wendell Rodricks, Neeta 

Lulla, Anita Dongre, Krishna 

Mehta to young talents Pooja 

Kapoor, Atithi Gupta, Roma 

Narsinghani, Isabelle Mittal 

have been roped in to present 

exotic designs on the ramp 

at the upcoming edition of 

winter-festive 2012 starting on 

August 3. 

“Buoyed by extremely 

positive industry feedback at 

LFW Summer-Resort 2012, 

we are now resolved to make 

the upcoming season even 

more successful with a formidable 

mix of relevant designers,” 

Anjana Sharma, directorfashion 

at IMG Reliance, said 

in a statement. — IANS 

enjoy watching the show as 

much as we enjoyed making 

it,” added the celebrity hairstylist. 

Apart from a hair makeover, 

the participating girls will 

also get a chance to meet their 

favourite Bollywood stars 

like Shah Rukh Khan, Farhan 

Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Arjun 

Rampal, Preity Zinta and Chitrangada 

Singh. 

The series also captures 

Adhuna in real-life action as 

she goes to various shoots and 

events, attends to her distinct 

clients and how she and her 

brother Osh make Bollywood 

celebrities look good all the 

time. 

Connecting Roma gypsies to their Indian roots, via screen 

ternational Romani Festival 

in Chandigarh, said she had 

felt kinship towards the Roma 

gypsies — their sense of adventure 

and fortitude,” Shukla 

said about India’s stand on the 

gypsies. 

But now, due to their habitual 

nomadic nature, they kept 

losing their racial identity, the 

film-maker said. 

“They were called refugees 

or minorities. They were no 

schools or jobs for them. So 

most of them are still illiterate 

which makes them uncivilised 

for the Europeans. The only 

option for them was performing 

arts such as music, dance or 

petty crimes,” the film-maker, 

who has researched on the ethnic 

nomads, said. 

The film-maker said 

his team “has tried to keep 

Pragueas a deep rooted story 

with a cultural mix”. 

Middleton likes my songs: Cole 

INGER Cheryl Cole (pictured) says Duchess of 

S Cambridge likes her songs. 

“Kate is really down to earth. We talked about fashion 

and she said she loved my music. She was incredibly girly 

and sweet,” Cole told Britain’s Grazia magazine. The 29year-old 

singer met her at Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee 

concert in June. 

‘My only competition is myself’ 

SINGER-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham 

says her only competitor is herself, not other 

designers. 

The 38-year-old has established herself as a successful 

fashion designer and while she admires the work of others, 

she insists she doesn’t see them as competition. 

Khloe to host The X Factor? 

REALITY TV star Khloe Kardashian is being lined 

up to present the next series of US version of The X 

Factor. 

The 28-year-old is one of a number of big names in the 

running to replace Steve Jones as the host of the singing 

reality show. The other names that have been finalised by 

music moghul Simon Cowell are Kelly Osbourne, Mario 

Lopez and Stacy Keibler. 

‘I’m keen on women centric films’ 

DEEPIKA Padukone, who would like to work in 

women-centric films, says that her journey towards 

such films has already begun with Cocktail, which is 

releasing tomorrow. “I would like to do women-centric 

movies. In fact, for me I feel Veronica (her character in 

Cocktail) is that. I think, for me, the journey has already 

begun,” she said.

Court blocks letters 

on Gujarat violence 

NEW DELHI — The Delhi 

High Court yesterday set 

aside the Central Information 

Commission (CIC) order allowing 

disclosure of the correspondence 

between then 

president K R Narayanan and 

prime minister A B Vajpayee 

on the Gujarat riots of 2002. 

Justice Anil Kumar allowed 

the central government’s 

plea �led against the 

CIC order of August 8, 2006. 

The CIC had asked the 

government to disclose all the 

letters sent by Narayanan to 

Vajpayee from February 28, 

2002, to March 15, 2002, relating 

to the Gujarat riots. 

The release of letters was 

sought by C Ramesh through 

the Right to Information Act. 

“The order of the CIC dated 

August 8, 2006, is liable 

to be set aside and the CIC 

cannot direct the petitioner 

(government) to produce the 

correspondence between the 

president and the prime minister,” 

said the judge. 

“Respondent No 2 (C 

Ramesh) is not entitled for 

the correspondence sought by 

him, which was exchanged 

between the president and the 

prime minister relating to the 

Gujarat riots,” ruled Justice 

Kumar, who retired yester- 

day. The government, quoting 

Articles 74 and 78 of the 

constitution, submitted that 

any advice tendered by the 

union council of ministers or 

correspondence exchanged 

between the president and 

the prime minister enjoyed 

immunity from public scrutiny. 

The government said the 

correspondence between the 

president and the prime minister 

were “classi�ed” and 

“privileged” documents under 

Article 74 and hence the 

provisions of the RTI could 

not override the same. 

“By virtue of Article 361 

of the constitution, the deliberations 

between the prime 

minister and the president 

enjoy complete immunity as 

the documents are ‘classi�ed 

documents’ and thus enjoy 

immunity from disclosure not 

because of their contents but 

because of the class to which 

they belong, and therefore the 

disclosure of the same is protected 

in public interest,” the 

government said. 

It complained that the CIC 

erroneously applied the provisions 

of Section 6 of the RTI 

Act in seeking the classi�ed 

documents from the government. 

— IANS 

15 INDIA 



SINGAPORE’S Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as his wife Ho Ching and Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur 

look on at a ceremonial reception for Lee at the presidential palace in New Delhi yesterday. Lee is on a three-day state visit to India. — Reuters 

Lawyers’ stir hits court proceedings 

NEW DELHI — Work in 

courts across the country was 

badly affected yesterday as 

around 17 lakh lawyers joined 

a two-day strike called by the 

Bar Council of India (BCI) to 

protest a proposed legislation 

that could affect its autonomy 

and allow entry of foreign law 

institutes and universities in 

India. 

The strike called yesterday 

and today is to protest four 

proposed legislations, including 

the National Accreditation 

Regulatory Authority for 

Higher Educational Institutions 

Bill, 2010 

The strike was “successful”, 

advocate Vijay Bhatt, 

associate managing trustee 

‘Pranab responsible 

for economic mess’ 

LUCKNOW — Presidential 

candidate P A Sangma, who 

is being backed by the BJP 

among other parties, yesterday 

renewed his attack on 

the UPA’s candidate Pranab 

Mukherjee and said he was 

responsible for the economic 

mess in the country. 

As �nance minister of the 

country, Mukherjee was behind 

a host of problems, including 

price rise, a poor FDI 

scenario, rising in�ation and 

negative growth of the industry, 

Sangma said. 

Sangma was on a day-long 

visit to the state capital to 

meet BJP legislators. 

The former Lok Sabha 

speaker said he was con�dent 

of a victory in the July 19 

presidential poll. He appealed 

to legislators and MPs of all 

of the BCI, said. “Judicial 

proceedings across the country 

were affected due to the 

nationwide lawyers strike,” 

Bhatt said. 

In the national capital, over 

40,000 lawyers joined the 

strike, paralysing the functioning 

of six district courts in 

Delhi. 

Around 50,000 cases were 

affected by the strike, said R 

N Vats, chairman of the Delhi 

District Courts Bar Association 

Co-ordination Committee 

and president of the Delhi Bar 

Association. 

However, the Delhi High 

Court Bar Association did not 

observe the strike yesterday. 

The association president, 

parties to rise above political 

considerations and vote as per 

their conscience. 

“I am sure this election 

would be a repeat of 1969 

when V V Giri won on conscience 

vote,” he told reporters. 

No whip has issued in this 

election. Even if some parties 

have, it has no legal sanctity, 

he told the media. 

Escorted by state BJP president 

Laxmikant Bajpayi, senior 

BJP leader Kalraj Mishra 

and MP from Lucknow Lalji 

Tandon, Sangma said he was 

a democrat and contesting for 

the post was his birthright. 

He was responding to a 

question on whether he was 

making the election for the 

highest of�ce in the country 

a bitter political battle. 

— IANS 

Amarjit Singh Chandhiok, 

said that they would observe 

the strike today. 

The lawyers strike badly 

hit work in all the higher and 

lower courts across Maharashtra 

and Goa which wore a 

deserted look yesterday with 

around 1.4 lakh lawyers joining 

the strike. 

Bar Council of Maharashtra 

and Goa (BCMG) vicepresident 

Ashish P Deshmukh 

said the response to the strike 

in the Maharashtra and Goa 

was “100 per cent”. 

Deshmukh said that lawyers 

plan to make a bon�re of 

copies of the Higher Education 

and Research Bill, 2011, 

outside the Bombay High 

HYDERABAD — Names of 

two more judges have surfaced 

during investigations 

in the cash-for-bail scandal 

involving former Karnataka 

minister Gali Janardhana 

Reddy. 

The Anti-Corruption 

Bureau (ACB) yesterday 

searched the residences of a 

city civil court judge, whose 

identity has not been disclosed 

yet, and suspended 

district and sessions judge 

D Prabhakar Rao in Hyderabad. 

The ACB has already arrested 

suspended CBI judge 

T Pattabhirama Rao, his son 

Ravichandra, retired judge T 

V Chalapathi Rao and rowdy 

sheeter Yadagiri Rao. Ravi 

Suryaprakash Babu, a realtor, 

Court to register their protest. 

The bill will lead to privatisation 

and commercialisation 

of law education in the country, 

and will curtail the power 

of the BCI, which is the authority 

to grant accreditation 

to law colleges, said Vats. 

Work in courts all across 

the northeastern states was 

total and successful, Gauhati 

High Court Bar Association 

president Pijush Biswas told 

reporters in Agartala: 

Reports from various 

northeastern states said the 

strike crippled functioning 

of lower and district courts 

besides the Sikkim and Gauhati 

High Court principal and 

state level benches in various 

was arrested on Tuesday. 

The Andhra Pradesh High 

Court on Friday suspended 

Prabhakar Rao following allegations 

that he too tried to 

mediate with Pattabhirama 

Rao for bail. The investigations 

have revealed that Prabhakar 

Rao with the help of 

a city civil court judge approached 

the CBI judge for 

bail to Janardhana Reddy in 

Obulapuram Mining Company 

(OMC) illegal mining 

case. 

The judges reportedly 

met the relatives of Janardhana 

Reddy at the residence 

of Suryaprakash Babu. They 

reportedly conveyed to the 

sitting judge that Janardhana 

Reddy’s brother Somsekhara 

Reddy is ready to pay Rs 10 

northeastern states. 

Gauhati High Court Bar 

Association secretary Arindam 

Lodh said the bills proposed 

to be introduced were “against 

the federal structure of the 

country and all educational 

institutions were sought to be 

regulated by a few nominees 

of the union human resources 

development ministry”. 

The three other bills proposed 

by the union government 

and objected to by the 

lawyers are the Higher Education 

and Research Bill, 2011, 

the Foreign Educational Institutions 

(Regulations of Entry 

and Operations) Bill, 2010, 

and the National Law School 

Bill, 2011. — IANS 

Cash-for-bail scam: Names 

of two more judges surface 

crore. However, they failed 

to clinch the deal. 

Yadagiri Rao has confessed 

before the ACB that he 

succeeded in striking the deal 

for Rs 20 crore through Chalapathi 

Rao. Of this, Rs 9.5 

crore was paid as advance. 

The ACB judge, the retired 

judge, Yadagiri and others 

shared the amount. 

The ACB had last month 

booked eight persons in the 

case, including Janardhana 

Reddy’s brother Somasekhara 

Reddy and Suresh Babu, both 

legislators from Karnataka, 

and Janardhana Reddy’s relative 

Dasarathrami Reddy. 

Then chief justice of high 

court Madan B Lokur on May 

31 suspended Pattabhirama 

Rao. — IANS 

FARMERS plough a �eld in preparation for sowing cotton seeds in Nani Kisol village, 

around 70 km from Ahmedabad yesterday. Agriculture contributes about 15 per cent to 

India’s GDP but only 40 per cent of farms are irrigated. The livelihood of hundreds of 

millions in the country of 1.2 billion people is dependent on the farming sector. — AFP 

Drinking water for Delhi: 

HP project clears hurdle 

SHIMLA — With the National 

Green Tribunal (NGT) 

giving its clearance for awarding 

compensations, Himachal 

Pradesh will speed up the 

construction of a multi-billion-rupee 

dam project that is 

supposed to quench the thirst 

of Delhiites, an of�cial said 

yesterday. 

The NGT principal bench, 

a judicial body hearing environment-related 

cases, on 

Tuesday vacated its interim 

stay on awarding compensations 

for acquisition of private 

lands for the Rs 3,600 crore 

Renuka hydro-power project, 

to be constructed on a tributary 

of the Yamuna River. 

However, the stay would 

continue for land covered under 

the Forest Conservation 

Act. The tribunal has listed 

the matter for �nal hearing on 

August 14. B K Kaushal, general 

manager of the Himachal 

LUCKNOW — Embarrassments 

for the ruling Samajwadi 

Party (SP) from its 

own cadres and legislators 

show no signs of abating. 

A few days after its legislator 

from Bhadohi Vijay 

Mishra, jailed for crimes 

like murder, showed up at 

the chief minister’s of�cial 

residence during a lunch 

hosted for UPA presidential 

candidate Pranab Mukherjee, 

Mishra again left the government 

red faced late on Tuesday 

when he walked into a 

famous Hanuman temple. 

While law does not bar 

any legislator from visiting 

either a temple or the residence 

of the chief minister, 

the controversy here has 

erupted because Mishra is 

FOREIGN Minister S M Krishna attends the Asean-India ministerial meeting at 

the of�ce of the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh yesterday. — Reuters 

Strike call 

in Tripura 

AGARTALA — The main 

opposition Congress party’s 

youth and students wings 

have called a 12-hour shutdown 

in Tripura tomorrow to 

protest alleged irregularities 

in medical and engineering 

examinations in the state. 

Supported by the Congress, 

the state Youth Congress 

and National Students’ 

Union of India (NSUI) yesterday 

jointly called for the 

strike to protest what they 

called “planned and conspiratorial 

devaluation of 

merit and gross nepotism” 

in the Tripura Joint Entrance 

Board (TJEB) exam. 

The TJEB examinations 

were held in April for selecting 

students for medical, 

engineering and other technical 

courses in institutions 

in Tripura and other states. 

The results were declared 

last month. 

“The NSUI, Youth Congress 

and Congress activists 

have been organising demonstrations, 

protest rallies and 

burning of ef�gies of chief 

minister and ministers since 

Monday across Tripura,” 

Youth Congress president 

Sushanta Chowdhury said. 

Congress also demanded a 

judicial probe by a sitting 

high court judge. — IANS 

Pradesh Power Corporation 

Limited (HPPCL), a public 

sector undertaking executing 

the project, said: We have 

been allowed to award land 

compensations worth Rs 200 

crore.” 

The bench headed by Justice 

C V Ramalu said: “Since 

land acquisition was �nalised 

in respect of some land owners 

and compensation was 

paid, we think it is desirable 

that other similarly-placed 

persons also should get compensation.” 

“The counsel for the appellant, 

however, states that land 

in question was probably covered 

under the Forest (Conservation) 

Act, 1980. Under 

these circumstances, we direct 

the land acquisition of�cer to 

consider payment of compensation 

after �nalising of award 

in respect of lands of the true 

owners, who are the owners 

behind bars and cannot roam 

around freely, like he has 

done twice in a short time 

span of a week. 

Senior opposition leaders 

accused the government of 

paying lip service to law and 

order while its own workers 

and legislators break law 

every now and then. 

Vijaya Bahadur Pathak, 

spokesman of the state unit 

of the Bharatiya Janata Party 

(BJP), said the government 

was “helpless” in controlling 

their own men as they show 

wanton disregard for the law 

of the land. 

Mishra late on Tuesday 

walked into the Hanuman 

Setu near the university, 

overruling the two subinspectors 

and the ten Ut- 

Road safety to �gure 

in school curricula 

NEW DELHI — As India 

maintains the dubious distinction 

of having one of the 

worst road safety records 

in the world, re�ecting the 

lack of a culture in “road 

use behaviour”, road safety 

is belatedly being set to be 

included in the school syllabus, 

but not as a “boring” 

subject. 

According to Nitin R 

Gokarn, Joint Secretary, 

Ministry of Road Transport 

and Highways, road safety 

is being related to all the 

subjects for Classes 8-12 

as part of the Central Board 

of Secondary Education 

(CBSE) syllabus. 

“It won’t be a boring 

chapter on road traf�c rules, 

but related to science, civics, 

history. It will be incorporated 

as interesting snippets 

so that students keep 

it in their mind,” Gokarn 

said on the sidelines of an 

event organised by FICCI 

Ladies Organisation here on 

Tuesday at the FICCI Auditorium. 

“The NCERT syllabus 

committee is �xing up the 

text. It will be very practical,” 

he said, adding that the 

core committee on the sylla- 

of the said land, wherever it 

does not attract the provisions 

of Forest (Conservation) Act,” 

the bench comprising D K 

Agrawal, an expert, said. 

The tribunal in July last 

year directed the HPPCL to 

stop the land acquisition process. 

It had also restrained the 

public sector undertaking 

from carrying out construction 

activity on both non-forest and 

forest land. Petitioner Durga 

Ram has challenged the environmental 

clearances awarded 

to the project by the Ministry 

of Environment and Forests in 

October 2009. 

He argued that the environment 

impact assessment 

(EIA) report for the project 

was inadequate and there 

were several discrepancies in 

the �gures of the total area to 

be acquired for the project and 

the total number of families to 

be affected. — IANS 

UP govt embarrassed again 

tar Pradesh policemen who 

wanted him not to tread out 

of the Balrampur hospital, 

where he is being treated under 

custody. 

Mishra is close to the 

Samajwadi party (SP) leadership 

and has been in jail 

during the Mayawati rule for 

his alleged role in a bomb attack 

on Nand Gopal Nandi, 

former minister in the Bahujan 

Samaj Party (BSP) government. 

After a political and public 

outcry over his attendance 

at the lunch for Pranab 

Mukherjee, the home department 

ordered a probe into 

the jailed don-turned-legislator’s 

entry into the 5, Kalidas 

Marg residence of the 

chief minister. — IANS 

bus of the human resources 

ministry would take a �nal 

call. 

Giving an example, 

he said students would be 

asked to ponder over what 

the impact would be if a 

motorbike driven at speed 

of 80 kmph swerves off the 

road during a turn, relating 

it to physics. 

Earlier, speaking at the 

event, he pointed out that 

there was a fatality every 

nine minutes due to road accidents 

in the country. 

“There are 5 lakh 

(500,000) accidents in the 

country every year and 1.4 

lakh (140,000) deaths due 

to accidents. This works out 

to an accident every four 

minutes and a fatality every 

nine minutes,” he said. 

The major proportion of 

accidents was from Tier-II 

cities. Stating that people 

tend to �out road rules with 

impunity, Gokarn said one 

reason was “lack of enforcement”. 

Gokarn said people 

in the country don’t have 

the culture of “road user behaviour” 

and tend to ignore 

rules relating to right of way, 

use of service roads among 

other things. — IANS

GUWAHATI — The Asom 

government is planning to 

bring around 5 lakh hectares 

under double cropping pattern 

next season to boost the 

agriculture production of the 

state, Agriculture Minister 

Nilamoni Sen Deka said yesterday. 

Last year, the agriculture 

department had initiated double 

cropping in about 290,000 

hectares of mono-cropping 

land to boost production as 

well as to attain self-suf�ciency 

in agriculture. 

Deka said various other 

steps have been taken to boost 

the agricultural production. 

While the department has 

�xed the production target for 

autumn rice as 360,000 tonnes 

this year, the target for winter 

rice production is 4,800,000 

tonnes. 

The department also seeks 

to produce 1,473,090 tonnes 

of jute, 1,468,800 tonnes of 

vegetables and 1,602,660 

tonnes of sugarcane this year. 

“The current wave of 

�oods has affected 254,000 

hectares of cropland across 

the state affecting over 10 

lakh farmers’ family. As per 

the estimate, the state had lost 

a total crop worth over Rs 992 

16 INDIA 



PEOPLE gather near the wreckage of a bus carrying schoolchildren after an accident in Nambalnar, 55 km north of Srinagar, yesterday. At least three 

people including a student were killed and 50 others hurt when the bus carrying students on a picnic trip fell into a gorge in north Kashmir. — Reuters 

Delhi retains status as most competitive city 

NEW DELHI — Country’s 

capital has emerged the most 

competitive city in the country 

for the third straight time with 

the commercial hub of Mumbai 

retaining the second spot, 

according to a report by an international 

think-tank released 

yesterday. 

Chennai, Hyderabad and 

Kolkata, in that order, make up 

the top �ve in rankings of the 

India City Competitiveness 

Report-2012, compiled by the 

Institute for Competitiveness 

(IFC) that conducts studies in 

this area for use by businesses 

and governments. 

“Faridabad, with its high 

growth has drastically improved 

in its ranking and holds 

the 29th spot. Similarly Guwa- 

WASHINGTON — The fullyloaded 

version of the �rst of 

the eight long-range maritime 

reconnaissance and anti-submarine 

warfare aircraft Boeing 

is building for the Indian 

Navy has begun its of�cial 

�ight test programme. 

The plane had �rst �own 

last September but without 

any equipment on board. 

The test programme began 

with the �rst P-8I built for India 

as part of a contract awarded 

in January 2009 taking off 

from Boeing Field in Seattle at 

9.15 am on Saturday and landing 

three hours and 49 minutes 

later after demonstrating 

�ying qualities and handling 

characteristics. 

The �ight went as planned 

with all test objectives met, 

hati recorded a wide improvement 

in its position,” says the 

report. 

The �fth edition of the 

India City Competitiveness 

Report is based on a model 

that has been established by 

celebrated management guru, 

Michael E Porter, Bishop William 

Lawrance University 

Professor, based at Harvard 

Business School. 

Regarding New Delhi, the 

report says the city has managed 

to demonstrate a phenomenal 

growth over a period 

of time by balancing demand 

and development in equal 

measure. 

The two areas it is found 

lagging in are administrative 

and institutional support. 

the St Louis headquartered 

$32 billion Boeing Defence, 

Space & Security unit of the 

company said in a press release 

yesterday. 

During the coming months, 

Boeing test pilots will put 

the P-8I, a Next-Generation 

B-737-800 derivative, through 

its paces over a US Navy test 

range west of Neah Bay, Washington, 

and a joint US/Canadian 

test range in the Strait of 

Georgia, Boeing said. 

“Today’s �ight is another 

on-time milestone for the programme,” 

said Leland Wight, 

Boeing P-8I programme manager. 

“We’ll start out testing the 

P-8I’s mission system, which 

includes its sensors and communication 

systems. The team 

The report also says that 

Noida, another city with close 

proximity to New Delhi, is 

now giving tough competition 

to the metros, even as Pune 

and Ahmedabad, which had 

very high potential slipped a 

few notches, but remained in 

top 10 slots. 

Among the smaller cities, 

while Coimbatore, Mysore, 

Madurai and Guwahati 

climbed up, Surat, Lucknow, 

Agra and Allahabad dropped 

in their rankings. 

“Undoubtedly, Indian cities 

have the required potential 

to make their mark across the 

globe. 

This is clearly evident with 

the urbanisation rate of these 

cities and by the trend of their 

New reconnaissance plane for 

Indian Navy begins �ight tests 

then will transition to ‘stores’ 

tests during which the P-8I 

will carry inert weapon shapes 

under its wings to demonstrate 

that the aircraft is capable of 

carrying all the weapons the 

Indian Navy will use during 

regular missions.” 

The stores the P-8I will 

carry will have the identical 

shape and size of real weapons, 

including the Harpoon 

anti-ship missile, depth bombs 

and torpedoes. 

“This is an important milestone 

for the programme and 

sets the stage for operational 

testing and weapons certi�cation 

as we move closer to 

P-8I aircraft joining the Indian 

Navy,” said Rear Admiral D 

M Sudan, assistant chief of 

naval staff (Air). — IANS 

MACEDONIAN Foreign Minister Nikola Popovski with India’s Minister of State 

for External Affairs Preneet Kaur during her visit to Macedonia yesterday. — Reuters 

growth,” says the report. 

“However, it is required 

that Indian cities work on their 

strong areas and use it constructively 

to attract people 

from different genres. They 

should build a brand of their 

own and not follow some other 

global city.” 

Porter’s model is founded 

on four pillars — the factor 

conditions, demand conditions, 

context for strategy and 

rivalry, and the quality of supporting 

and related industries. 

These are further divided into 

12 sub-pillars to give information 

on 50 top cities. 

“Cities are drivers of any 

economy. Their growth will 

enhance the growth of states 

and eventually that of the 

Forces killed villagers, 

claim rights groups 

NEW DELHI — Human rights 

groups said yesterday that 

17 people killed last month 

by government paramilitary 

forces in the central state of 

Chhattisgarh were tribal villagers 

and not Maoists. 

The report by the Coordination 

of Democratic Rights Organizations 

(CDRO) said the 

villagers, who had gathered 

for a meeting, were unarmed 

and had been “slaughtered.” 

The paramilitary Central Reserve 

Police Force maintained 

that 17 people killed in a clash 

on June 29 in the Bijapur district 

were insurgents. 

But after media reports 

blamed the force of extra-judicial 

killings, of�cials admitted 

that civilians had also been 

killed. 

They however maintain 

country. In the past few years, 

they have risen from their ageold 

shells and proving their 

potential on the global front,” 

says IFC chair Amit Kapoor. 

When benchmarked globally, 

Indian cities have much 

to catch up. Delhi, which takes 

the top slot in the country, is 

benchmarked at 46.7 — which 

is way below 71.4 for New 

York, 70.4 for London, 55.2 

for Shanghai and 69.3 for 

Hong Kong. 

Here’s the ranking of top 

10 cities and their score: 

Delhi: 69.732, Mumbai: 

67.856, Chennai: 62.323, 

Hyderabad: 61.782, Kolkata: 

61.464, Gurgaon: 61.167, Bengaluru: 

61.100, Noida: 60.406, 

Pune: 59.854. — IANS 

the deaths occurred during a 

gunbattle and that the villagers 

were used by Maoists as 

“human shields.” 

“The tribals stated emphatically 

that there were no Maoists 

present in their gathering 

and all of those attending the 

meeting that night were unarmed,” 

the report said. 

The villagers also told activists 

that they were shot at 

“without warning. 

“Those who did not die 

from the bullet wounds were 

killed by police with axes,” 

villagers said. 

Among those killed were a 

12-year-old girl, a 15-year-old 

boy and two teenage school 

students. The state government 

has already ordered a 

judicial inquiry into the killings. 

— dpa 

More land under 

double cropping 

crore,” he said, adding that 

the extension of double cropping 

to more lands will also 

help the state meet its targeted 

production this year. 

A total of 57,000 quintals 

of seeds had been distributed 

among the �ood-affected 

farmers and the process is on 

to procure more seeds from 

various sources to be distributed 

among the affected farmers. 

The minister said that the 

state government has sanctioned 

Rs 109 crore to help the 

�ood-affected farmers. “The 

department has been framing 

the guidelines for giving 

compensation to the affected 

farmers and the distribution 

of the compensation will start 

immediately,” Deka said. 

“We have also started the 

process of procuring seedling 

to be distributed among the 

�ood-hit farmers. The government 

had already sanctioned 

Rs 1.66 crore for procurement 

of seedlings through the Deputy 

Commissioners in each 

districts.” 

“The government has also 

decided to sanction another 

amount of Rs 2 crore to relieve 

farmers engaged in horticulture,” 

he said. — IANS 

Gowda quits as CM, 

Shettar to form govt 

BANGALORE — D V Sadananda 

Gowda yesterday quit as 

Karnataka chief minister and 

Jagadish Shettar staked claim 

to form the new government 

as the ruling Bharatiya Janata 

Party grappled with forming a 

ministry satisfactory to various 

factions. 

High drama preceded 

Gowda’s resignation as his 

supporters tried to block him 

from driving to Raj Bhavan to 

submit his quit letter to Governor 

H R Bhardwaj. 

Several among the hundreds 

of supporters gathered 

at the chief minister’s of�cial 

residence ‘Anugraha’ in the 

city centre squatted on the 

road to prevent Gowda from 

moving out. 

Police had a tough time in 

clearing the way for the onekm 

drive even after Gowda 

appealed to his supporters to 

NEW DELHI — Under �re 

for remarks allegedly mocking 

the urban middle class on 

rising prices, Home Minister 

P Chidambaram yesterday 

said he had made a “matterof-fact” 

statement that had 

been distorted by the media 

and had not taken a dig at the 

common man. 

But his opponents, including 

the ruling ally Nationalist 

Congress Party (NCP), refused 

to buy the Chidambaram 

clari�cation, saying the 

remarks by the senior minister 

were uncalled for. 

In a statement, Chidambaram 

said he was “shocked and 

disgusted by the deliberate 

distortion of the relevant 

question and answer at the 

media brie�ng in Bangalore 

Actress murder case resolved 

MUMBAI — The mystery of 

the missing Bollywood startlet 

Laila Khan and her family was 

resolved yesterday with police 

announcing the discovery of 

six skeletons and arresting her 

stepfather for the murders. 

Although Parvez Tak had 

confessed to killing the actor 

and her �ve family members 

in a �t of rage, Mumbai Police 

said the murders could have 

been pre-planned. 

Making a breakthrough in 

the case that had baf�ed everyone 

for months, the Crime 

Branch recovered the skeletons 

from Laila Khan's farmhouse 

in Igatpuri near Nashik, 

around 130 km from here. 

Preliminary forensic reports 

reveal that �ve of the 

skeletons were of women and 

one of a man. Pieces of jewellery, 

synthetic clothing and 

underclothing were found on 

the skeletons. 

According to police, Parvez 

Tak, the third husband of Laila 

Khan's mother Selina, said he 

�rst killed her (Selina) in a �t 

of rage. Laila and her siblings 

witnessed Selina's murder and 

so he killed them too, said police. 

"Parvez Tak said he had a 

heated argument with Selina 

and killed her. Laila and her 

siblings were on the �rst �oor 

and came down after hearing 

stay calm and that he would 

convey their views to the 

BJP’s national leaders. 

About half-an-hour after 

Gowda submitted the resignation 

letter, Shettar drove to Raj 

Bhavan along with state BJP 

chief K S Eshwarappa, party’s 

�rst chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, 

party general secretary 

and Bangalore South Lok 

Sabha member H N Ananth 

Kumar to stake claim to form 

the new government. 

A Raj Bhavan release said 

Bhardwaj had accepted Gowda’s 

resignation and invited 

Shettar to form the new government. 

Shettar will be sworn 

in today. 

It is still not clear whether 

only he will take oath or 

how many will be sworn in 

as ministers along with him. 

Gowda’s supporters are insisting 

that the full ministry be 

on Tuesday”. The statement 

quoted the minister as saying 

in response to a question 

on rising price burden on the 

common man: “We are prepared 

to pay 15 rupees for a 

bottle of water but we will 

not bear one rupee increase 

in the price of a kilo of wheat 

or a kilo of rice.” 

“We are prepared to pay 

Rs 20 for an ice cream cone, 

but won’t pay one rupee 

more for a kilo of wheat or 

rice.” 

“The home minister made 

a matter-of-fact statement. 

He did not ‘mock’ or ‘chide’ 

anyone. If the interview is 

viewed, it will be seen that 

he spoke in a matter-of-fact 

manner,” the statement said. 

The minister said that in 

loud voices. He then killed 

them with the help of a watchman, 

Shakir," Joint Commissioner 

of Police (Crime) 

Himanshu Roy told reporters. 

Roy said police were not 

ruling out the possibility of 

the murders having being 

premeditated. "Parvez Tak 

was insecure about the fact 

that Selina was still in touch 

with her second husband Asif 

Shaikh and that she relied on 

him and trusted him," Roy 

said. 

"Moreover, Laila was married 

to a man who reportedly 

said the family would have a 

better life if they settled in Dubai. 

Selina trusted Shaikh to 

dispose of the family's properties 

in Mumbai," he said. 

Parvez Tak did not possess 

a passport and felt he would 

be left stranded in India if the 

family moved to Dubai. 

Also, two months before 

the incident in February 2011, 

Parvez Tak had sacked the 

watchman of the farmhouse 

and hired Shakir Wani Hussain, 

a resident of Kishtwar in 

Jammu and Kashmir. 

Parvez Tak, also from 

Kishtwar, was a small-time 

road contractor. He is also a 

suspected member of the militant 

out�t Lashkar-e-Taiba. 

Police said that after the 

murders, Parvez Tak and Hus- 

formed at one go today — that 

is, the chief minister and 33 

ministers. Karnataka can have 

a 34-member ministry, including 

the chief minister. 

They had on Tuesday delayed 

for over �ve hours the 

meeting of the party’s legislature 

wing to elect Shettar as its 

leader, insisting that Gowda 

be named state party chief and 

incumbent Eshwarappa the 

deputy chief minister ahead of 

the meet. 

However, they relented after 

an assurance from BJP senior 

leaders Arun Jaitley and 

Rajnath Singh. Consultations 

were on among Shettar, Yeddyurappa, 

Gowda, Eshwarappa, 

Ananth Kumar and several 

other party leaders to resolve 

contentious issues. Shettar 

will be the third chief minister 

in the four years of BJP’s rule 

in Karnataka. — IANS 

Chidambaram remark resented 

his Bangalore brie�ng he had 

referred to the price of crude 

oil and how the government 

was constrained to �rst raise 

petrol prices and then how 

the prices were reduced twice 

to bene�t the middle class. 

Admitting that food in�ation 

was high, the minister 

said that higher procurement 

prices would bene�t millions 

of farmers though there 

would be slight increase in 

food prices. 

“The minister used the 

word ‘we’. He did not use the 

words ‘why do they make so 

much noise about price rise’. 

He did not say ‘There needn’t 

be any complaint for price 

rise when things are on the 

side of poor farmers’,” the 

statement said. — IANS 

RAJBIR Kaur rests with her newborn baby boy at a government hospital in Amritsar 

on World Population Day yesterday. Africa and Asia are the continents that will see the 

fastest urban population growth in the next 40 years, a UN report said earlier. — AFP 

sain �rst went to Laila Khan's 

�at in Andheri in Mumbai in 

a sports utility vehicle, packed 

items of day-to-day use and 

went back to Igatpuri. 

"In Igatpuri, they also took 

with them Laila's sports utility 

vehicle Mitsubishi Outlander. 

Police in Jammu recovered the 

abandoned Scorpio last year. 

The Outlander was recovered 

earlier this year from outside 

Tak's of�ce in Kishtwar," Roy 

said. 

Five units of the Crime 

Branch along with forensic 

experts and toxicology doctors 

from J J Hospital in Mumbai 

were part of the search operation 

that started on Tuesday 

after Tak agreed to point out 

the crime scene. 

Roy said the farmhouse 

was set on �re with diesel 

taken from generators. "This 

must have been done to destroy 

�ngerprints, blood stains 

and other evidences of murder," 

he said. 

Roy said it would take time 

before the police reconstruct 

the crime as the entire family 

had been wiped out. 

A court remanded Parvez 

Tak to police custody till July 

19. Laila Khan, whose real 

name was Reshma Patel, was 

last seen in the 2008 �lm Wafaa 

with veteran actor Rajesh 

Khanna. — IANS

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labour agreement for 

Omanis and expatriates, 

typing of labour 

card for expatriates, 

typing of visas and 

document clearing from 

immigration department, 

Ministry of Commerce 

& Industry, Ministry of 

Manpower, Commercial 

names reservation, 

renewal of commercial 

registration, renewal 

of OCCI membership, 

attestation of all 

documents from OCCI 

& Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs. Renewal of 

labour cards through 

electronic payment or 

cash payment. 

Please note you may 

deliver your transaction 

through our e-mail 

and our representative 

will deliver it to your 

office personally after 

completion. Our address 

is: Ruwi, near Gulf 

Transport Co. (GTC), 

Fax: 24793331, GSM: 

98793665 (Direct) 

99231500. 

E-mail: hoopoeoman@ 

gmail.com 

AL FAHAD 

TRANSLATION 

SERVICES 

Translation of all kinds 

of legal, medical, and 

other types of documents, 

Commercial Agencies, 

etc. Ruwi, near Gulf 

Transport Co (GTC), 

Fax: 24794286. GSM : 

98793665 (Direct) 

95959838. E-mail: 

bptland@gmail.com 

LANDRAIL 

TRADING & 

SERVICES 

(Smart Card) 

Ruwi, near Gulf 

Transport Co. (GTC), 

Fax: 24780244, Tel: 

24789117, GSM 

98793666 (Dir), 

96777170. E-mail: 

landrailoman@ 

gmail.com 

1. A/C, Fridge & 

Washing Machine 

Servicing & Repairing 

2. Painting, Plumbing, 

Electrical & Carpentry 

Works. Contact: 

�97014234/ 97123569, 

24504281. 

SHAMPOO cleaning 

of mosque carpet and 

house majlis, sofa carpet 

and curtains, general 

cleaning all types of 

old and new building, 

gardening mosaic tiles 

polishing marbles and 

granites, house painting 

�96642500. 

T 

OURS 

MARINE Tourism 

� 92808636, e-mail: 

info@alainain.com 

P.C.O. (PEST 

CONTROL OMAN 

CO. LLC) 

Professionals who 

specialise in all types 

of Pest Control 

Services & Snake 

control and 

Guaranteed Termite 

Control. Also 

available Gel 

treatment for 

Cockroaches. 

Suppliers of UK 

Pesticides Chemicals, 

Snake Repellent, 

Cockroach Gels and 

Peripel treated 

Mosquito Nets. 

�24787606, 

24787503, 

Fax: 24787607. 

F 

OR SALE 

CARAVANS and 

building materials in 

good condition for sale. 

�95414115/95164903. 

REFURBISHED 

Portacabin for sale in 

good condition, easy 

for installation, easy for 

transportation. For 

specifications or 

quotation request please 

contact Eng Badr Saif 

Al Kharusi at: 

�99419099. 

800 sqm commercial 

plot, Al Athaiba near 

Airport. �99251777. 

80,000 sqm commercial 

plot, Barka RO 40 per 

sqm. �99251777. 

RESIDENTIAL/ 

commercial land in Al 

Maabela (8), 1,500sqm. 

�92758030. 

FOR NRIs — 4 BHK + 

maid + study room, row 

house villa in Bangalore. 

Contact: �92210391. 

BIG villa for sale, 

RO 270,000 at Al 

Ghubra, 9 bedrooms with 

bathrooms, 2 halls, 2 

sitting rooms, 2 kitchens, 

with all split units. 

Contact �97711405, 

99332907. 

M 

ANPOWER ANPOWE 

FRIENDS 

MANPOWER: Filipino 

housemaids and all kinds 

of workers. �24489268 

Tel/Fax: 24478153. 

G 

FREE FRE 

INFORMATION 

INFORM 

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 

AYURVEDIC Treatment, 

Yoga massage & 

slimming. Contact: 

�92504980/ 24475280 , 

www.drsajjay.com 

FOR NRI. BOOKING 

open for villas in Aluva, 

Kochi, Kerala. Rs 50 

lacs onwards near UC 

College. Contact: 

�98934705, or 

skprealty@yahoo.com. 

F 

C 

ARGO 

HURRY! Ramadhan 

sailing. Cargo for 

ZANZIBAR, DAR 

ES SALAAM & 

MOMBASA. 

Maritime Shipping 

Agency. 

�24834850/ 

99323513 

CARGO transfer with 

attractive price to all 

areas in the Sultanate 

and outside of Oman 

(by truck). 

Contact: �00968- 

99171758 

G 

OR RENT/INVEST. 

RENT 

INDUSTRIAL land in 

Rusayil, 400m 2 divided 

1,000 m 2 , divided 1,000 

m2 for each land. Ready 

for industrial workshops 

�99323957, 95490842, 

96554668. 

UEST HOUSE HO 

MURAHIB HOTEL H 

APARTMENTS 

APARTMEN 

welcome our valuable 

GUESTS to our 

excellent location, 

AL KHUWAIR, near 

AL ZAWAWI 

MOSQUE, a single 

bedroom, a bedroom & 

majlis, two bedrooms & 

majlis �24478087, 

Fax: 24482454. 

QURUM BEACH 

HOTEL. �24564070. 

CLASSIFIED SECTION: 

OMAN DAILY Observer � THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2012 

F 

SAVILLS OMAN 

QUALITY homes for 

rent throughout 

Capital Area Muscat. 

Contact: �24692151. 

www.sav-oman.com 

A FLAT consists of 

a bedroom, a toilet 

and a small kitchen. 

ACs provided at Al 

Khoudh 3. Contact: 

�93366421. 

FLAT 1 & 2 bedrooms 

at Wadi Adai. Contact 

�99377249 

FAMILY flat for rent. 

3 bedrooms, majlis 

and family hall at 

Ghubra south, RO 425. 

�99801515 

VILLA at Ansab Phase 

3 with split unit A/C, 6 

bedroom + sitting room 

+ 7 toilets + kitchen. 

�99416559 

BIG villa for rent behind 

Indian School Muscat at 

Darsait. �99340327. 

3 BEDROOM flat at 

Al Athaiba (deluxe). 

RO 600 per month. 

�99251777. 

FLAT for rent in 

Wattayah behind 

Honda showroom 

consists of 2 rooms, 2 

bathrooms, sitting hall 

and kitchen with balcony 

�98444802 

2 BEDROOM flat 

at Medinat al Alam 

with a small garden 

�24704994, 99238012. 

VILLA at Medinat al 

Alam with sea view 

�24704994, 99238012. 

HOUSE for rent — RO 

400 p.m. containing 

six large rooms and 

two bathrooms at Wadi 

Kabir. If you cannot 

afford the rent, please do 

not contact me, thanks. 

�93957245. 

FAMILY flat in Al 

Ghubra south, 3 

bedrooms, Majlis and 

family hall RO 425. 

�99801515. 

ACCOMMODATION 

for camp at Al Khuwair 

33, RO 600. Contact 

�97711403, 93961672. 

VILLA for rent at Al 

Hail North, 3 bedrooms 

with bath, 1 big hall, 

1 sitting room, outside 

kitchen, car parking, 

RO 550. Contact 

�97711403, 93961672. 

FLATS — 2 BHK for 

rent in Wadi Kabir, 

behind Sanaa, RO 300. 

�95122188. 

VILLAS AT AMERAT: 

Furnished 6 bedrooms 

with servant quarter & 

new 7 bedrooms with 

excellent finish. Contact 

�99884921, 99345914. 

SUPER deluxe villa 

for rent (European 

style) Al Hail South 

(land 2,900 sq m), 3 

bedrooms with attached 

bath, 1 hall, kitchen, big 

garden, RO 800. Contact 

�97711405, 93961672. 

VILLA for rent at 

Maabela �92282277. 

FLAT for rent at Al 

Qurum opposite Qurum 

garden, 3 bedrooms, 

1 hall, 1 sitting room, 

kitchen. Contact 

�97711403, 99361672, 

97711405 

NEW villa for rent RO 

400, St Falaj al Shams, 

Al Ansab, 4 bedrooms 

with attached bathrooms, 

2 halls, 2 sitting rooms, 

kitchen, pantry. Contact 

�97711403, 93961672. 

FROM owner: New 

building with 5 flats of 

3 bedrooms and family 

hall with AC split units 

in Seh al Ahmer Fanja, 

RO 1,300 monthly 

�99237822. 

QUALITY 2, 3 BHK 

apartments with security 

parking at North Al 

Ghubra. �97711553. 

OFFICES, shops, villa 

at Al Khuwair, flats 

at Al Khuwair, Wadi 

Kabir, MBD, Mumtaz, 

furnished/unfurnished. 

� 96596348. 

C 

HANGE OOF 

NAME 

I, ABDUL Rehman Re 

Mohammad sson 

of 

Mohammad AAbdul 

Qader presently residing 

at the following address 

in Al Khuwair, P B 

No 936, PC No. 133, 

Sultanate of Oman 

and having permanent 

address in India, Qatar 

Manzil, Muttam, 

Bengara, Mangalpady, 

Kasargode, Kerala, 

holder of Passport No. 

E-5835125, date of issue 

24/09/2003, place of 

issue Muscat, solemnly 

affirm and declare that 

I have changed my 

name as Abdul Rahman 

Mohammad for all 

purposes. 

Sulaiman Awlad Thani: 95181747 

Ali al Maashari: 99639264 

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

S 

S 

17 

GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! 

Available on very GOOD prices 

HP 1050 3 in 1 Printer 

RO 15.500 only 

HP 2050 3 in 1 Printer 


HP OJ 4500 Printer 


HP Colour Laser M175a 3 in 1 

RO 109.900 only 

AII HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung 

Cartridges also available. 

ITUATION VACANT 

REQUIRED an expe- 

rienced Female Fema sales 

Executive for Medical 

Equipments & Supplies 

Co. Please Fax your CV 

to 24701278 or mail it to 

spint555@gmail.com 

REQUIRED Site 

Engineer - Civil; Site 

Foreman - Civil. Please 

contact: 24813961, 

Fax: 24814760, 

GSM: 99357089 

INVITING CVs for 

Waste Management, 

required 4-7 years of 

experience. Send CV by 

e-mail: info@ 

awamventures.com 

LOOKING for an Omani 

girl, fluent in Arabic and 

English languages 

and computer skills 

to work for a herbal 

shop in Al Khuwair. 

�97218466. 

A 

NNOUNCEMENT 

NNOUNC 

MOTIVATED team of 

experienced national 

and international 

lawyers provide legal 

advice and consultancy 

— efficient, prompt, 

all fields of local and 

international law. 

�00968 96441968, 

0041 786120068. 

E-mail: alex@ 

marlawfirm.com 

PROVISION of 

exclusive contacts for 

business co-operation 

with SWISS and 

GERMAN companies. 

Legal and Marketing 

Consultancy. �00968 

96441968, 0041 

786120068. E-mail: choman@bluewin.ch 

IT WANT WANTED 

INDIAN female, 26, B 

Sc/MBA, seeks job in 

HR/Admin, Customer 

service, secretarial, back 

office support. 

�96715884, e-mail: 

seena7005@gmail.com 

INDIAN male, 26 years, 

2 years experience in 

sales in Oman. Arabic 

and English speaking 

looking for a suitable job 

as sales executive or 

storekeeper currently on 

visit visa. Contact 

�93396959 

COMPUTER SUPPLIES 

Ruwi: 24792792 

GOOD PRICE!!! GOOD PRICE!!! 

R 

D 

OST 

DIRECT: 24649594 - FAX : 24649590 

e-mail: classified@omandaily.om 

L 

CLASSIFIED SECTION 

RUWI: � 24785668 

Behind Royal Oman Police 

Adjacent to 

Dhofar Building 

EQUIRE EQUIRED 

RIVING SSCHOOL 

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

Investor is required: 

For Commercial/ 

Resident land at 

wilayat Al Suwaiq (Al 

Tharmad), 4,893 sq 

m on Muscat, Sohar 

road + a building (13 

shops + 4 flats (all 

are for rent). Annual 

income RO 24,000. 

A big surrounded 

space suitable for a lot 

of activities and for 

long-term investment. 

Contact �99221466, 

0097150-6676406. 

MORNING STAR 

DRIVING SCHOOL S 

— — Learn driv driving 

manual/ automatic with 

professionally qualified 

male/ female trainees in 

brand new cars and 

flexible payments. Call: 

�99043283, 

24478589, 24478505, 

www.chamberman.com/ 

member/morningstar 

www.morningstar.com 

V 

EHICLE SALE 

ELANTRA, model 

2001, full auto, 480,000 

km, red colour. Wanted 

price RO 800. Contact: 

�95050009. 

TUHIN Miah Balan 

Miah has lost 

Bangladeshi Passport 

No. B-1546181. Finder 

please handover to 

ROP. 

Presents 

1. Tourism journeys to all around 

the Sultanate's areas. 

2. Delivery service from/to Dubai. 

3. Delivery service from/to the airport. 

In association with Thrifty Rent-A-Car 

For enquiries: 24478902/99337159 

ILYA MANPOWER 

HOUSEMAIDS 

available from 

Philippines, 

Sri Lanka & 

Africa. All 

types of skilled 

workers (waiters, 

cooks, drivers, 

constructions, 

industrials, hotels 

& ministries.....) 

Tel/Fax 

22050086 — Hail 

Shimaly Al Jabri 

Blg. next to 

Bahja Mall. 

AR BUY & 

SELL 

IF you are in interested 

to sell your ccars, 

send 

SMS, we pay cash 

�99333088. 

CLASSIFIED 

SECTION 

RUWI: 24785668 

FOR LEASE 

WAREHOUSE/LIGHT INDUSTRY 

— RUMAIS/BARKA 

Newly built, good quality 

property available for lease 

in Rumais/Barka, opposite 

Naseem Garden for 

warehousing/light 

industry available from 

3,300 to 8,400 sqmtr area 

@ RO 2.000 per Sqmtr 

by end of August 2012 

C 

Contact: Vasant on 

�92818099 

CLASSIFIEDS 

Continued on P-18

TEHRAN — An Iranian woman who 

had only ever wanted �owers from 

her husband got her wish ful�lled to 

the extreme as the court ordered him 

to buy her 777 roses, the ISNA news 

agency reported yesterday. 

The woman, 27, from Tehran had 

�led for divorce because her husband 

had, before marriage, promised to 

S 

ITUATION WANTED SITUATION WANTED SITUATION WANTED 

INDIAN female, 28 years, 

Commerce graduate, 

having 3 years work 

experience as a secretary/ 

sales co-ordinator in an 

esteemed company in 

Muscat is looking for a 

better opportunity. 

�92228789, E-mail: 

vinod_ elayath@rediffmail. 

com 

INDIAN female, 22 years 

BTech (IT) with SAP 

ABAP certified C++ Java. 

Looking for suitable 

placement, now on visit 

visa and staying with 

parents. Release date: 

11-07-12 one week. 

Contact: �93214845 

e-mail: kcthambi@yahoo. 

com. 

INDIAN male, 8 years 

experience, BSc 

(chemistry), MBA, 

presently working as 

business development 

manager in India, seeks 

suitable placement. 

Contact: 

�+919995026711 e-mail: 

ajitlal24@gmail.com 

M-TECH Project Manager, 


project/people 

management, design, 

certified 6Sigma green belt 

with valid Oman driving 

licence, seeks suitable 

placement in Muscat. 

Contact: �92283707 

e-mail: ashokan745@ 

gmail.com 

LOOKING job in retailing 

and outdoor sales, 2½ 

years experience in Qatar 

market, Qatar valid D/L 

holder. Contact: 

�97420506 E-mail: 

shirumck@gmail.com and 

shiru_mck@yahoo.co.in 

INDIAN male graduate 

having 6 years experience 

in logistics, seeks 

immediate placement. 

�99894757. 

SEEKING vacant job for 

store manager, retailing 

working experience in 

Saudi Arabia, 6 years. . 

Contact: �93473367 

E-mail: Asifthatan@gmail. 

com. 

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

Location: OEPPA HEAD OFFICE, Medinat Al Alam, 

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

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

18 

LIFESTYLE/CLASSIFIEDS 


BIG store management 

and accounts, 6 years 

experience and in food 

companies marketing as 

sales officer, 7 years 

experience. Other abilities: 

team leading accounting, 

salesmanship, showroom 

management, as purchaser. 

�94086932. 

A WELL experienced HSE 

Adviser, having NEBOSH, 

OSHAS, ISO certificates 

and worked under PDO, 

seeks immediate 

placement. Contact: 

�97906991 e-mail: 

bharathanac@gmail.com. 

30 YEARS Indian male 

PGDBA operations, 

having 8 years experience 

in sales co-ordinator and 

logistics looking for 


�92337137. 

INDIAN male, BSc, 

computer science + 

MCSE, CEH in 

networking and 

information security 

courses, 6 years 

experience as system 

administrator in India, 

seeks suitable placement. 

�98344993. 

BE, electrical & electronics 

engineer with 2 years 

experience in MEP, seeks 


�99790427, 

e-mail: genius6551@yahoo. 

com. 

EXECUTIVE Secretary 

cum Sales Co-ordinator, 


Oman. �99011423. 

INDIAN male, qualified 

and 14 years experience in 

Accounts and Finance, 11 

years in Oman. Contact: 

Zubin �92177046. E-mail: 

zubindiva@gmail.com 


A POLICEMAN stands guard in front of the home of Eva Rausing in London yesterday. — Reuters 

Divorce avoided: court orders husband to buy wife 777 roses 

constantly buy her roses. However, he 

never kept the promise. 

The woman’s desire for roses was 

long-standing. In her mehrieh — an 

obligation the husband must ful�l, not 

only in case of divorce, but anytime the 

wife desires — she had demanded 777 

roses. Usually such mehrieh demands 

involve money, gold coins, land or real 

estate. 

In Iran, the mehrieh is legally binding 

for the husband, who can be sued at 

any time if he fails to uphold it. In the 

worst case scenario, husbands in abeyance 

can even be jailed. 

At the court, the woman said her 

38-year-old husband must either get 

her the promised 777 roses, otherwise 

she would �le for divorce. 

A family court judge upheld the 

wife’s ultimatum and directed the husband 

to buy her the 777 roses, ISNA 

said. In Iran, 777 roses would run between 

the equivalent of $2,500 and 

$3,000. 

After the verdict, the wife cancelled 

the divorce petition. — dpa 

QUALIFIED �nance 

controller with 10 years 

experience in manufacturing, 

trading & 

construction in Oman 

looking for an opportunity 

�96341326. 

FINANCE manager, 15 

+ years (Oman, India), 

experience in business 

management, project 

�nance accounts & costing, 

business development, 

feasibility study, ERP, 

systems & procedures, 

business process, versatile 

industry experience, seeks 

suitable placement. Contact 

92439941. 

INDIAN male, 32 years 

‘Steel Foreman’ having 

7 years Gulf experience 

in well reputed company 

working as cutting, 

bending and �xing 

supervision of steel. 

Seeking immediately 

placement in well reputed 

company. Contact 

�94105072. 

BE with MBA (Marketing 

and Operations), having 

1½ years experience in 

Sales/marketing now on 

visit looks for a suitable 

opening in Sales/Logistics/ 

Operations etc. 

Contact �93949203, 

e-mail: jm.hassan86@ 

gmail.com 

ACCOUNTANT having 

five years experience, 

knowledge up to 

finalisation, seeks 

placement �93396879. 

BE (Electronics & 

Communication) 24 yrs 

Indian male, on-going 

MBA, CCNA, experience 

in India on visit, seeks 


Contact: �93807203/ 

thejus2310@gmail.com 

American wife of Tetra Pak 

heir found dead in London 

LONDON — London murder 

detectives are investigating the 

death of the American wife of 

an heir to the Tetra Pak drinks 

carton fortune and have arrested 

a man reported to be her 

husband. 

Eva Rausing, 48, (pictured) 

daughter of US businessman 

Tom Kemeny, led a gilded 

life marred by drug addiction 

and had a host of connections 

with royal patrons of anti-drug 

charities to which she and her 

husband, Hans Kristian Rausing, 

49, devoted millions from 

the fortune his Swedish grandfather 

made from packaging. 

Police said on Tuesday 

they were holding a 49-yearold 

man in connection with 

the death of Eva Rausing, who 

was found dead on Monday 

in her home in the capital’s 

wealthy Belgravia district. He 

was also being investigated for 

drug possession. But they declined 

to con�rm British media 

reports that he was Hans Kristian 

Rausing. 

Statements from both 

spouses’ parents made no mention 

of him in expressing sadness, 

shock and admiration for 

the mother of his four children, 

and for her charity work to 

curb drub abuse. 

The couple, who were reported 

to have met while undergoing 

rehab in the United 

States, hit headlines in 2008 

HR manager/ 

administration manager 

with 25 years experience 

in Oman. Contact 

�92719485. 

HEAVY & light driver, 

experience 8 years 

�92112432, 96164017. 

INDIAN female,36 years, 

MCA, 6 years experience 

in real estate in India 

looking for job in 

accounts, admin, 

documentation, customer 

service, secretary. 

Contact �92643204. 

INDIAN female, BBA in 

Finance available for 

immediate placement 

under finance/ banking/ 

back office/ accounts/ 

administration. Contact: 

�95910427. 

SALES & purchase 

executive, Indian male, 39 

years, 15 years experience 

in building materials, in 

Saudi Arabia, China, 

Thailand, India seeks 

suitable placement in 

Oman. Contact 

�92781754. 

BE Civil Engineer, 25, 

male, Indian, 3.5 years 

experience in Oman with 

valid driving licence seeks 


Release possible. Contact: 

�97109219. E-mail: 

sharath007m@gmail.com 

INDIAN female having 15 

years experience as 

Secretary and 3 years as 

designer, seeks suitable 

placement. �92911634. 

INDIAN female graduate 

+ 8 years exp seeks a job 

under banking & finance, 

co-ordinator, secretary, 

back office. Contact: 

�95433987. 

when Eva Rausing was found 

carrying heroin and the “ghetto 

drug” crack cocaine into 

the US Embassy in London. 

Charges against her and her 

husband were later dropped. 

Her father-in-law, Hans 

Rausing, 86, is one of the 

world’s wealthiest men, ranked 

88th in the Forbes rich list with 

a fortune estimated at $10 billion. 

Based in Britain since 

quitting high-tax Sweden 30 

years ago, he sold his interest in 

the private Tetra Pak business 

to his brother in the 1990s. 

Police declined to comment 

on newspaper reports that the 

mystery of Rausing’s death 

began with her husband’s arrest 

after driving erratically in 

London on Monday. 

When police went to the 

couple’s white-stuccoed townhouse 

in Cadogan Place they 

found his wife dead in an upstairs 

bedroom, several news- 

MEP procurement 

Engineer, Indian, 8 years 

experience (5 years in 

UAE and Oman), having 

Omani driving licence, 

looking for suitable 

opportunities. Contact 

�96964915. 

INDIAN, BBA, MBA 

(marketing), experience 

2½ years looking for 

suitable placement 

�96766971, E-mail: 

rahulvrkdl@gmail.com 

INDIAN male, logistics 

in-charge, 4 years 

experience in Oil & Gas 

sector, Oman; and 9 

years in Dubai, seeks 


�96976133/ 92882081. 

E-mail: 

reji_nm@yahoo.com; 

lijirajiv@yahoo.com 

BE, Mechanical 

Engineer, male, 22 years 

experience, 7 years in 

Oman with valid Omani 

driving licence. Business 

development, marketing, 

sales �97851969, e-mail: 

esteem605@gmail.com 

DIPLOMA civil engineer 

Indian male 26, 3.5 years 

experience in building 

construction, 1.5 years 

in Oman with Oman 

driving licence. Contact 

�95989500. E-mail: 

cv.shihabedappal@gmail. 

com 

B TECH Mechanical 

Engineer with two years 

experience, seeks suitable 

job. Contact e-mail: 

sujithadoor@yahoo.com 

�97345248. 

PHARMACIST with MoH 

licence, seeks suitable 

placement in Muscat area 

�99566311. 

papers said, adding that a post 

mortem on Monday had been 

inconclusive but that a drug 

overdose was suspected. 

Eva Rausing’s parents, Tom 

and Nancy Kemeny of Hilton 

Head Island, South Carolina, 

said in a statement that they 

were “deeply saddened by the 

death of their beloved daughter”. 

“Eva was a devoted wife 

for 20 years and mother of four 

much loved and wonderful 

children,” they said. 

“During her short lifetime 

she made a huge philanthropic 

impact, supporting a large 

number of charitable causes, 

not only �nancially, but also 

using her own personal experiences. 

She bravely fought her 

health issues for many years.” 

In 2008, after the embassy 

drugs incident, their daughter 

told reporters: “I have made a 

grave error and consider myself 

to have taken a wrong turn 

in the course of my life.” 

Police said the man they 

had detained was receiving 

medical attention. Of�cers had 

sealed off the couple’s house 

in an area, near Sloane Square, 

which is home to some of Britain’s 

— and increasingly the 

world’s — wealthiest people 

seeking the lifestyle, relatively 

low taxes, security and anonymity 

that London offers. 

— Reuters 

INDIAN male, BCom 

graduate, 10 years Oman 

experience in 

Administration and 

Accounts seeks suitable 

placement. Can join 

immediately. Contact: 

�93989230. 

MBA male, 6 + years 

of experience in human 

resource, training & 

development, admin and 

projects. Looking for 

suitable position. Contact 

�97603723. 

ACCOUNTANT, Indian 

male, 27 years, MBA 

Finance with 6 years 

of working experience 

(2 years in Oman) in 

accounts, �nance & 

purchase, seeks 


Contact: 

�93750815. 

MALE, having 5 years 

working experience as 

an of�ce assistant and 

having bachelor degree, 

computer literate, MS 

Of�ce, looking for suitable 

placement in Oman. 

Contact �92758192. 

E-mail: asifbhatti_53@ 

hotmail.com 

U 

MRAH/HAJ MRAH/HA 

AL Hikmani 

for HAJ 

and UMRAH — With 

a host of services 

including the following: 

Hiring luxurious 

coaches, arranging 

weekly trips, preparing 

visas for expats at costeffective 

price, including 

transport, housing, 

meals and visits to 

shrine locations. Land 

and air trips weekly. 

(99311310, 24566016, 

99361982, 99707248, 

99322124.

From Andy Jalil 

at Old Trafford 

MANCHESTER — It would 

not even have been a passing 

thought to the world No 1 

ranked one-day international 

(ODI) side that they would 

lose the five-match ODI series 

with a 4-nil whitewash after 

the last game on Tuesday saw 

England victorious by seven 

wickets. Had one match (the 

third) not been washed out 

it seems a certainty, on their 

present showing, that it would 

have been a 5-nil drubbing and 

with that Australia would have 

been knocked off their perch 

at the top of the rankings. 

As it happens they just about 

cling on to it but not for long 

unless there is a total turnaround 

in their performance 

both with bat and ball. 

Australia captain, Michael 

Clarke said: “We certainly 

didn’t come here hoping to 

lose, we wanted to win and 

wanted to play well throughout 

the series.” He added: “For 

our young guys who have not 

19 SPORT 



Bopara shines as England rout Australia 4-0 

ENGLAND’S Ravi Bopara plays a shot during the fifth ODI against Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester on Tuesday. — AFP 

National League cruise to 8-0 

win over AL in All-Star game 

KANSAS CITY — The National 

League erupted for five 

runs in the first inning and 

limited the American League 

to just six singles to win the 

All-Star baseball game 8-0 on 

Tuesday, the first shutout in 

the Midsummer Classic since 

1996. 

A 382-foot, two-run homer 

by San Francisco Giants outfielder 

Melky Cabrera and a 

three-run triple by his Giants 

team-mate Pablo Sandoval 

highlighted the NL attack. 

The NL battered starter 

Justin Verlander in the top of 

the first on a run-scoring double 

by Ryan Braun, Sandoval's 

game-turning triple that stayed 

just inside the foul pole and an 

RBI infield single by Dan Uggla. 

Verlander threw 35 pitches, 

surrendering four hits and 

two walks in his only inning 

of work and was tagged with 

the loss. The NL's first-inning 

fireworks sapped the enthusiasm 

from the crowd of 40,933 

on a 90-degree (32 o C) night 

inside 39-year-old Kauffman 

Stadium. 

LONDON — Manchester 

City midfielder Yaya Toure 

has promised to follow boss 

Roberto Mancini's example 

by dedicating his future to the 

Premier League champions. 

Toure was delighted to 

see Mancini sign a new fiveyear 

contract on Tuesday and 

the Ivory Coast international 

responded by shrugging off 

links with a move back to Barcelona. 

The 29-year-old left 

the Camp Nou to join City in 

2010 and recent reports have 

claimed he could be tempted 

to return to Spain. 

But Toure, who played a 

DUBAI — Former Argentina 

World Cup-winning captain 

Diego Maradona has been 

sacked as coach of United 

Arab Emirates club Al Wasl. 

The 51-year-old, who 

agreed a two-year contract 

with Al Wasl in May 2011, 

was dismissed following a 

meeting of the club's board on 

Tuesday. 

Al Wasl failed to win any 

silverware under Maradona 

during his season at the helm, 

slipping to eighth in the 12team 

UAE Pro League from 

sixth the previous season. 

They also lost in the final 

of the Gulf Champions League 

NATIONAL League All-Star Melky Cabrera of the San 

Francisco Giants holds the MVP trophy after the NL 

defeated the AL in Kansas City on Tuesday. — Reuters 

An RBI single by Matt 

Holliday and Cabrera's shot 

into the left-field bullpen off 

Texas's Matt Harrison hiked 

the NL's lead to 8-0 in the 

fourth. 

The AL's best chance to get 

back into the game occurred 

in the fifth but Texas Rangers 

second baseman Ian Kinsler 

flied out to left with the bases 

loaded to end the threat. NL 

starter Matt Cain of the Giants, 

who surrendered two hits 

in two innings, got the win. 

The National League's 

victory gives them the homefield 

advantage in the World 

Series, a bonus not lost on the 

St Louis Cardinals, who won 

Game Seven of the Fall Classic 

a year ago on their home 

turf against the Texas Rangers. 

— Reuters 

Toure vows to stick with City 

key role in City winning their 

first English league title for 44 

years, told the club's website: 

"I was very happy to hear the 

news that our manager has 

signed a new five-year deal. 

"It is important for this club 

to have stability at all levels, 

especially after we have just 

won the title and the FA Cup 

the season before. 

"It means there will be no 

changes or disruption to what 

has proved a winning formula 

and, for the long term, that can 

only be good for Manchester 

City. 

"Now the manager can 

to Bahrain side Al Muharraq 

and enjoyed little success in 

domestic cup competitions. 

Under Maradona, Al Wasl 

were knocked out of the UAE 

league cup at the semifinal 

stage by Al Ahli, the eventual 

winners, and failed to progress 

past the second round of the 

President's Cup. 

Maradona's sacking con- 

continue to build this club and 

plan for the future — let's not 

forget Sir Alex Ferguson has 

been at Manchester United for 

25 years and they haven't done 

too badly over the years. 

"On a personal level, I'm 

very happy because I want to 

win many more trophies with 

City and the manager has the 

same mentality as I do — he 

wants to win everything with 

this club and so do I. 

"Of course, it's not only 

me — we have a whole squad 

who are hungry for more success 

and we are pulling in the 

same direction." — AFP 

Maradona sacked by Al Wasl 

tinued his modest record as a 

coach, in complete contrast to 

his playing career. 

Maradona led his country 

to the 1986 World Cup and enjoyed 

domestic title successes 

in Argentina, Italy and Spain 

but as a coach he has yet to 

achieve any such highs. 

He had brief spells with 

Mandiyu and Racing Club in 

his home country in 1994 and 

1995 respectively but neither 

proved fruitful, and although 

he led Argentina to the World 

Cup finals in 2010 his side, including 

Lionel Messi, lost 4-0 

to Germany in the quarterfinals. 

— Reuters 

had much time in English conditions, 

it was good for them, 

and for us older guys it was a 

good reminder of what a good 

team they (England) are and 

how we’ll have to be at our 

best (next year in the Ashes series). 

We are the No 1 ranked 

Australia send 

smallest team since 

1992 to London 

SYDNEY — Australia is 

sending its smallest team to a 

Summer Olympics since the 

1992 Games, with 410 athletes 

set to compete in London 

with the goal of a top five 

finish on the medals table. 

The team, finalised yesterday 

and supported by 319 officials, 

is 25 members smaller 

than the party which won 14 

gold, 15 silver, 17 bronze 

medals in Beijing to finish 

sixth. 

It is comfortably bigger, 

however, than the 290 who 

competed at the Barcelona 

Games 20 years ago when 

Australia last finished outside 

the top seven (10th). 

The AOC's target at the 

July 27-August 12 Games is a 

tough task given hosts Britain 

will expect the medal boost 

that comes from home advantage 

and China, the United 

States and Russia are again 

likely to occupy the top three 

spots. 

That is likely to leave the 

Australians battling it out 

with big-spending countries 

like France, Germany, Italy 

and Japan for the fifth spot. 

The AOC's own benchmark 

projection in February 

last year predicted an eighth 

place finish in London but 

president John Coates has received 

better news with this 

year's analysis. 

"I wasn't that confident last 

year when I saw the benchmark 

results coming in and 

saw that we'd dropped back 

from the 40 to 46 overall medals 

we'd need to be in the mix 

for the top five to 35," he told 

a news conference last week. 

"I've been pleased with 

what I've seen so far this year, 

particularly in sailing and in 

cycling and in rowing, and 

I'm aware that we'll get bet- 

ter results this year than we 

did last year in equestrian and 

shooting. 

"The swimming results at 

the trials were better, albeit 

we're still going to be counting 

on some improvement 

on the times they were doing 

at our trials compared to the 

times the Americans are doing 

now to get up to 15 medals 

in the pool." 

Coates has long seen the 

pool, always one of Australia's 

strengths and the venue for 20 

Australia medals in Beijing, 

as the key battleground in 

his team's bid to reach their 

medal target. 

If all else fails, however, 

he should at least have the satisfaction 

of watching James 

Magnussen bring the gold for 

the blue riband 100 metres 

freestyle sprint back to Australia 

for the first time since 

Michael Wenden in 1968. 

Another key battleground 

is the velodrome where Anna 

Meares will be out to become 

the first female cyclist to win 

four Olympic track medals 

and the first to medal at three 

Games. 

When it comes to longevity 

at the Olympic, however, 

Meares is a mere neophyte 

compared to equestrian competitor 

Andrew Hoy, who will 

be competing at an Australian 

record seventh Games. 

Hoy's team-mate Mary 

Hanna, one of 186 women 

in the team compared to 224 

men, is the oldest Australian 

at the age of 57, while 

16-year-old diver Brittany 

Broben is the youngest. 

The Australian team also 

features a father-daughter 

combination for the first time 

with David and Hayley Chapman 

taking part in the shooting. 

— Reuters 

Bayern sell out all 17 home 

games next season 

BERLIN — Bayern Munich may have gone without any silverware 

in the past two seasons but can be proud of their huge 

support base after selling out all 17 home games for the coming 

Bundesliga season, a month and a half before the start. Season 

tickets sales were stopped at 39,500 for their 69,000-Allianz 

Arena in what looks set to be another profit-making season, the 

20th in a row, for Bayern, who lost to Chelsea in the Champions 

League final in May. 

"I want to thank the fans for this magnificent interest," said 

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge yesterday. 

"This shows how attractive and well supported Bayern are." 

The club, also beaten in the league and the German Cup 

final by Borussia Dortmund last season, pride themselves on 

having made a profit for 19 years in a row. 

They posted a 1.3 million euro profit for the 2010/2011 

season with a turnover of 290.9 million euros compared to 

312 million in 2009/2010 and a merchandising revenues jump 

more than 10 per cent to 43.9 million, up from 38.9 million. 

(ODI) side but we’ll have to 

work hard to stay there.” 

This has been one of the 

wettest summers on record in 

the UK and with rain from the 

start of the day the match was 

shortened to 32 overs a side 

with the Duckworth-Lewis 

method coming into play later 

in the England innings after 

a 15-minute rain interruption 

which reduced England’s innings 

to 29 overs with 138 runs 

still required. After being sent 

in to bat, Australia put up 43 

for the opening stand but neither 

batsman looked comfortable 

with England enjoying the 

fine bowling conditions. In the 

absence of first choice spinner 

Graeme Swann, off-spinner 

James Tredwell was included 

and he bowled with excellent 

control to take two for 23 from 

seven overs. 

David Warner, having been 

dropped earlier at third man 

was trapped leg before wicket 

by Tredwell for 32 — scored 

at the rate of a-run-a-ball — 

and then on the total of 49 two 

wickets fell with Peter Forrest 

run out for three. Tredwell then 

removed Matthew Wade with 

the help of a smart stumping 

after the batsman had struggled 

to 12 from 41 balls and 

having been dropped earlier 

at slip. With Clarke run out 

for 1 and Ravi Bopara having 

Steve Smith and David 

Hussey caught behind for 21 

and 9 respectively the tourists 

were reduced to 86 for six. An 

STANFORD, California — 

Poland's Urszula Radwanska 

took a leaf out of her older 

sister Agnieszka's book by delivering 

a battling 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 

win over Eleni Daniilidou in 

the first round of the Stanford 

Classic on Tuesday. 

Urszula had to watch her 

older sister contest the Wimbledon 

final on television on 

Saturday, and while it was an 

emotional day watching the 

new world No 2 lose to Serena 

Williams in three sets, it did 

not deter her from own task on 

Tuesday. 

She struggled for most of 

the match against the veteran 

Daniilidou, but in the end was 

the more aggressive and accurate 

player on the big points. 

The 20-year-old will face 

eighth seed Marina Erakovic 

in the second round after the 

New Zealander beat Jana Juricova 

of Slovakia 6-2, 6-2. 

"“It was a very tough 

match," Radwanska said. “"I 

played her in Tashkent and it 

was also 6-4 in the third set. 

unbeaten 46 from 41 balls by 

George Bailey brought about 

some recovery with the seventh 

wicket falling on 120 before 

the innings finally ended 

on 145. 

England lost two quick 

wickets in their reply. Ian Bell, 

who has batted superbly in 

this series and fully deserved 

the man-of-the-series award, 

fell in the first over for 4 when 

he chipped for a catch at midwicket. 

Jonathan Trott, on 10, 

was beaten by the turning ball 

from left arm spin of Clarke 

and that was 34 for two. But a 

stand of 92 from 98 balls between 

Cook and Ravi Bopara 

took the game away from Australia. 

With just 12 runs needed 

Cook, on 58 from 78 balls, 

was dismissed leaving manof-the-match 

Bopara to see 

England home. In addition to 

scoring a brilliant unbeaten 52 

from 56 balls, Bopara claimed 

two wickets for just eight runs 

from four overs. 

A delighted England captain, 

Cook said: “At the beginning 

of the series you would 

take a series win, so to have 

won the series 4-nil has been 

a credit to the lads and their 

hunger and determination to 

not let Australia back in the series.” 

He went on to say: “If we 

want to win tournaments, we 

have to play as well as we’ve 

played in this series when we 

enter those tournaments. I’m 

sure we’ll enjoy this, but we 

want to keep building on this 

I was trying to be solid and 

attack her backhand and hold 

my serve. 

"She plays more like a man 

with a big serve and big forehand 

and a slice backhand." 

Radwanska, who reached a 

career high ranking of No 54 

last month, is a more aggressive 

player than her older sister, 

who relies more on guile 

and speed to win matches. 

Urszula mixed in some serve 

and volley with her baseline 

game. 

“"My dad always said in 

important moments to serve 

and go to the net and the girls 

will be surprised, they won't 

know what to do," she said. 

Urszula said it had been an 

emotional day watching her 

older sister lose in her first 

Grand Slam final. 

"“I wish I could have been 

there with her, but I have my 

own career and had to come 

here," she said. "“When she 

cried, I started crying. It was 

emotional. She's usually not 

that emotional. On court usu- 

and keep expanding our skills 

so we can get better as a side.” 

On Bopara’s fine all-round 

performance in the series, the 

England captain commented: 

“We know what a quality 

player he is and he has started 

to deliver in the last couple of 

years for England.” There is 

little doubt that Bopara will be 

brought back into the England 

Test side in the series against 

South Africa starting next 

week. It is a much anticipated 

series between the world’s two 

top ranked Test teams. 

SCOREBOARD 

Australia 

M Wade st Kieswetter b Tredwell 12 

D Warner lbw Tredwell ................32 

P Forrest run out .............................3 

M Clarke run out ............................1 

S Smith c Kieswetter b Bopara ....21 

D Hussey c Kieswetter b Bopara ...9 

G Bailey (not out) ........................46 

J Pattinson c Kieswetter b Finn ....13 

C McKay (not out) .........................5 

Extras: (lb-1, w-2) .........................3 

Total: (7 wkts, 32 overs) ............145 

Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-49, 3-49, 

4-55, 5-77, 6-86, 7-120. 

Bowling: Anderson 5-1-22-0; Finn 

6-0-35-1 (w-1); Broad 7-0-39-0 

(w-1); Tredwell 7-1-23-2; Patel 

3-0-17-0; Bopara 4-0-8-2. 

England 

A Cook c Clarke b Hilfenhaus .....58 

I Bell c Bailey b McKay ................4 

J Trott b Clarke.............................10 

R Bopara (not out) .......................52 

E Morgan (not out) .........................9 

Extras: (lb-1, w-4) .........................5 

Total: (3 wkts, 27.1 overs) .........138 

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-34, 3-126. 

Bowling: McKay 6-0-27-1 (w-1); 

Hilfenhaus 5.1-0-19-1 (w-2); Pattinson 

6-0-34-0 (w-1); Clarke 3-0-14-1; 

Doherty 5-0-34-0; Smith 2-0-9-0. 

Success for younger Radwanska 

in Stanford Classic tourney 

URSZULA Radwanska of Poland serves to Eleni Daniilidou of Greece during the 

Stanford Classic tennis tournament on Tuesday. — AFP 

LONDON — South Africa 

wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile 

has been called up to replace 

Mark Boucher ahead of 

the forthcoming Test series 

against England following 

the veteran's enforced retirement. 

Boucher decided to end his 

15-year international career 

on Tuesday after a serious eye 

injury suffered during a warmup 

game against Somerset left 

him needing three hours of 

surgery. 

The 35-year-old was struck 

by a flying bail while standing 

up to the stumps and was immediately 

taken to hospital 

with blood apparently coming 

from his eye. 

Boucher is set to return to 

South Africa to begin his recovery 

and Tsolekile will join 

up with the squad ahead of the 

three-Test series which starts 

at The Oval next week. 

However, the 31-year-old 

is unlikely to play in the first 

Test after coach Gary Kirsten 

claimed AB de Villiers 

would initially take over the 

gloves. 

Tsolekile's call-up had been 

expected after he was handed 

a central contract earlier this 

year. 

"Thami has done very well 

ally she's serious, a poker face 

and not showing emotions at 

all." 

Romanian Sorana Cirstea 

also advanced on Tuesday, 

beating American Vania King 

7-5, 6-4. 

Nicole Gibbs, who plays at 

Stanford University, overcame 

Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 

of Thailand 6-4, 6-4 and will 

face top seed and Wimbledon 

champion Serena Williams. 

Gibbs' doubles partner, 

Mallory Burdette, defeated 

Britain's Anne Keothavong 

2-6, 7-5, 6-4. 

Results (x denotes seeding): 

1st round: Marina Erakovic (NZL 

x8) bt Jana Juricova (SVK) 6-2, 

6-2; Nicole Gibbs (USA) bt Noppawan 

Lertcheewakarn (THA) 

6-4, 6-4; Erika Sema (JPN) bt 

Alexa Glatch (USA) 6-2, 6-3; 

Zheng Saisai (CHN) bt Ayumi 

Morita (JPN) 4-2, retired; Urszula 

Radwanska (POL) bt Eleni 

Daniilidou (GRE) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; 

Mallory Burdette (USA) bt Anne 

Keothavong (GBR) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4; 

Sorana Cirstea (ROM x9) bt Vania 

King (USA) 7-5, 6-4. — Reuters 

Tsolekile to replace Boucher 

with both the Lions and South 

Africa A for a couple of seasons, 

culminating in his South 

African record eight catches 

in an innings this past week," 

said Cricket South Africa 

selection convener Andrew 

Hudson. 

"With AB de Villiers also 

able to fill the role of wicketkeeper 

in the Test series it 

gives the tour selectors options 

in this important position." 

Tsolekile has three Test 

caps, all of which came in 

2004 when Boucher was sidelined, 

while he has 132 firstclass 

appearances. — AFP

National League 

cruise to 8-0 

win over AL 

Page 19 


Champs Brazil given a fright by Egypt 

Oman in consolation group after losing to Ukraine 

BRAZIL versus Egypt clash in the second stage of the beach handball worlds yesterday. 

Malaysian tycoon offers golden 

carrot to badminton team 

KUALA LUMPUR — A Malaysian mining magnate has offered 

the country's Olympic badminton team a gold bar worth 

2 million ringgit ($630,000) if they can bring home a first gold 

medal from the London Games. 

The steamy Southeast Asian country has never won gold 

at a Games dating back to their first in 1956, but has won two 

bronze and two silver medals, all in badminton. 

Andrew Kam, a badminton enthusiast and chairman of the 

Kuala Lumpur Racquet Club Berhad (KLRC), offered the additional 

sweetener to the team, who have already been offered 

1 million ringgit by the government and a separate private firm 

to win gold. "KLRC would like to play a part in helping this 

dream become a reality — and that is to capture the elusive 

gold medal which our country has yet to achieve," Kam said in 

a statement carried by local media. 

"Towards this end, on behalf of KLRC Berhad, I would like 

to throw a challenge to our Malaysian badminton team: If any 

of you brings home a gold medal from London 2012, there is a 

2 million ringgit gold bar waiting for you here. Gold for gold! 

"Please see this as an incentive and work hard to achieve 

this dream." 

Men's singles silver medallist Lee Chong Wei, who lost the 

gold medal match to China's badminton great Lin Dan at the 

Beijing Games, is likely to be Malaysia's greatest hope of a 

maiden gold. Lee, however, is scrambling to be fit in time for 

the July 28-August 5 tournament at Wembley Arena after suffering 

an ankle injury in May. 

"There is no question that this is the kind of reward that will 

help the players rise to the occasion," Lee told local media. 

US Open boosts prize money 

NEW YORK — US Open prize money will jump by more than 

$2 million this year to a record $25.5 million with another $2.6 

million in potential bonuses available, the US Tennis Association 

announced yesterday. 

For the 40th year in a row, women and men will 

receive equal prize money, with each singles champion taking 

home a record $1.9 million and potentially up to $1 million 

each in bonus money for performance in US Open tune-up 

events. 

This year's US Open prize purse features an 11 per cent 

overall increase in men's and women's singles draws. Firstround 

prize money will be boosted by 21 per cent over last 

year. Second-round prize money will jump 19 per cent. 

BELLEGARDE SUR VAL- 

SERINE, France — Britain's 

Bradley Wiggins masterfully 

fended off the challenges of 

his rivals to retain the Tour de 

France yellow jersey into the 

Alps yesterday. 

Escorted by his Sky teammates, 

Wiggins stayed out of 

trouble in the 194.5-km ride 

from Macon to Bellegarde 

sur Valserine, leaving Thomas 

Voeckler to win the stage after 

a long breakaway. 

“The team were fantastic 

again today. They made my 

life a lot easier," said Wiggins, 

who retained his lead of 

one minute 53 seconds over 

defending champion Cadel 

Evans of Australia. 

Wiggins' team-mate Chris 

Froome stayed third, 2:07 

adrift. 

Fourth overall last year, 

Voeckler spent the whole day 

in the front and amply deserved 

the third Tour stage vic- 

tory of his career, especially as 

he nearly did not start this edition 

because of an injury to his 

right knee. 

“I'm 33, I'm riding my 10th 

Tour so I can tell you I do realise 

what it means," said the 

Frenchman, who outwitted 

breakaway companion Michel 

Scarponi and veteran German 

Jens Voigt in the tough finale. 

“My knee was hurting, 

the team were spat on before 

the start. There was no way I 

could give up," said Voeckler, 

who also took the King of the 

Mountains polka-dot jersey. 

The Frenchman's Europcar 

team had been under fire 

before the start of the Tour in 

Liege when it was revealed 

they were being investigated 

on doping suspicions. 

“It really got on my nerves 

and I really wanted to reply 

on the road," said Voeckler, 

who pulled out of the French 

championship a week before 

PALLAKELE, Sri Lanka — 

Pakistan's Azhar Ali defiantly 

scored his fourth Test hundred 

but hosts Sri Lanka still scented 

victory in the third and final 

Test with the tourists leading 

by 188 in their second innings 

at the end of the fourth day 

yesterday. 

Asad Shafiq, who shared a 

fifth wicket partnership of 100 

with Azhar at the Pallekele 

Stadium, was unbeaten on 55 

off 134 balls, having hit five 

fours, with Adnan Akmal on 

nought to leave Pakistan on 

299 for eight wickets at the 

close. 

Akmal, who suffered a 

hairline fracture on his left 

ring finger on the opening 

day of the final Test, came in 

to bat at the fall of the eighth 

wicket and held out for the 

last 13 minutes to see Pakistan 

through to the close. 

After being rewarded with 

only three wickets in the first 

two sessions, Sri Lanka, who 

lead the three-match series 

1-0, picked up four wickets in 

the final session as Pakistan 

battled to save the Test match 

and the series. 

The second new ball taken 

after 80 overs produced two 

wickets for Dilhara Fernando 

who had Azhar playing a tired 

shot to be caught behind by 

Prasanna Jayawardene for a 

well compiled 136 off 284 

balls (13 fours). 

Fernando followed that up 

with the wicket of Mohammed 

Sami, trapped lbw for 

three, which brought him his 

100th Test wicket and made 

him the fifth Sri Lanka bowler 

the Tour because of his knee 

inflammation. 

NO PANIC 

Tuesday's rest day obviously 

worked miracles for 

MUSCAT — Men’s holders 

Brazil were given a fright 

by a determined Egypt while 

Russia and Croatia notched 

straight wins in the second 

stage of the fifth World Men’s 

and Women’s Beach Handball 

Championships at the 

Musannah Sports City yesterday. 

Brazil, surprised by Russia 

in their last preliminary clash 

on Tuesday, were once again 

staring the barrel before coming 

out unscathed in the shootout 

to win 15-16, 15-13, 10-5. 

In-form Russia downed 

Spain 2-0 (17-12, 16-12) 

while Croatia put out Ukraine, 

who doused hosts’ hopes the 

previous day, 23-14, 19-18. 

Oman who had to beat 

Ukraine in their last preliminary 

Group ‘A’ match on 

Tuesday night to book a place 

in the main Group 1, were 

thwarted by Ukraine after a 

thrilling tussle. 

Oman lost the first period 

narrowly, won the second after 

a good struggle but lost the 

shoot-out by a whisker to go 

down 2-1 (14-13, 18-20, 7-6). 

to achieve the feat. 

Herath then turned on the 

heat by snapping up the wickets 

of Umar Gul (0) and Saeed 

Ajmal (5), both lbw victims, as 

Pakistan slid from a promising 

position of 276-4 to 299-8. 

HERATH MILESTONE 

Pakistan lost two crucial 

wickets in the second session 

to reach 210 for four at tea. 

Herath removed Younis Khan 

(19) and skipper Misbah-ul 

Haq (five) to put Sri Lanka on 

top. 

Dropped by wicketkeeper 

the Frenchman, who became 

a national hero in 2004 when 

he held the yellow jersey for 

10 days, a feat he repeated a 

year ago before finishing just 

Yesterday in the women’s 

main Group 1, Denmark and 

defending champions Norway 

recorded wins, the former 

convincingly beating Hungary 

2-0 (20-5, 22-18) while the 

latter after a pitched battle 

against Croatia, winning 2-1 

(14-15, 19-18, 7-2). 

Also winning in Group 1 

were Brazilian eves, the only 

undefeated outfit so far in the 

competition, who subdued 

Uruguay 2-1 (14-4, 12-14, 

6-4). 

After the preliminaries, 

Russia, Brazil and Ukraine 

from Group ‘A’ and Croatia, 

Egypt and Spain progressed to 

the main Group 1 in the men’s 

section, while Denmark, 

Croatia and Uruguay from 

Group ‘A’ and Brazil, Norway 

and Hungary from Group ‘B’ 

entered main Group 1 in the 

women’s category. 

In this main round each 

team will play three matches 

and the top four will enter the 

semifinals. 

The fourth, fifth and sixth 

place of each group are in the 

consolation Group 2 and play 

Prasanna Jayawardene off Angelo 

Mathews when he was on 

12, Younis could not make the 

most of the reprieve and edged 

Herath to Tharanga Paranavitana 

at silly point to give the 

bowler his 150th Test wicket. 

Herath returned to toss one 

up to Misbah whose attempted 

push ended in a catch to Mahela 

Jayawardene at slip. 

Earlier, Mohammed Hafeez 

(52) and Azhar shared a 

second wicket stand of 94 runs 

as Pakistan bravely fought 

back. 

outside the podium. 

Voeckler was first at the 

top of the Grand Colombier, 

the first out-of-category climb 

in this Tour, during which 

some of Wiggins' rivals tried 

in vain to destabilise him and 

his team. 

“I like Voeckler, he's a good 

guy. He's a rider who was not 

sure to be at the start. It's good 

to see. He's a crowd pleaser," 

Wiggins said. 

On the way up the Grand 

Colombier, Belgium's Jurgen 

van den Broeck, one of the 

peloton's best climbers, surged 

three times from the pack to 

try and unsettle Team Sky, but 

he was reined in easily and had 

to be content with grabbing 

32 seconds on the finish line 

thanks to a last gasp move. 

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, 

fourth overall 2:23 off the 

pace, was expected to use his 

downhiller's skills to attack in 

the descent and he did, taking 

for 7-12 places. In this round 

each team will play three 

matches. 

Oman, Bahrain, Australia, 

Qatar, Kuwait and Uruguay 

are in the men’s consolation 

while Italy, Australia, China, 

Poland, Thailand and Singapore 

are in the consolation 

round. 

Results: Men: Main 

Group 1: Russia bt Spain 

2-0 (17-12, 16-12); Brazil 

bt Egypt 2-1 (15-16, 15-13, 

10-5); Croatia bt Ukraine 2-0 

(23-14, 19-18). 

Consolation Group 2: 

Oman bt Uruguay 2-0 (17-16, 

16-10); Qatar bt Australia 2-0 

(22-8, 21-14); IOC bt Bahrain 

2-1 (12-18, 17-14, 7-6). 

Women: Main Group 1: 

Denmark bt Hungary 2-0 (20- 

15, 22-18); Norway bt Croatia 

2-1 (14-15, 19-18, 7-2); Brazil 

bt Uruguay 2-1 (14-4, 12-14, 

6-4). 

Consolation Group 2: 

Italy bt Singapore 2-0 (25-1, 

20-6; Thailand bt Australia 

2-0 (13-8, 12-10); China bt 

Poland 2-0 (17-11, 15-11). 

Lanka on top despite Azhar’s defiant ton 

Having conceded a 111-run 

first-innings lead, the overnight 

pair of Hafeez and Azhar 

looked like they would bat 

through the morning session 

having survived some testing 

bowling by Sri Lanka's seamers, 

especially Nuwan Kulasekara 

who had no luck. 

They batted without any 

discomfort and were about 

to wipe out the deficit when 

Fernando gave Sri Lanka the 

breakthrough they had been 

seeking since play began under 

bright sunshine. 

Hafeez, who completed 

a half-century off 93 balls, 

chased a wide delivery 10 

minutes before the lunch break 

and presented a thick edge to 

lone slip fielder Paranavitana. 

SCOREBOARD 

Pakistan 1st innings ................ 226 

Sri Lanka 1st innings .............. 337 

Pakistan 2nd innings 

(overnight 27 for one) 

Mohd Hafeez c Paranavitana 

b Fernando ........... 52 

Taufiq Umar lbw Kulasekara ........ 4 

Azhar Ali c P Jayawardene 

b Fernando ............... 136 

Younis Khan c Paranavitana 

b Herath ................. 19 

Misbah-ul Haq c M Jayawardene 

b Herath ............... 5 

Asad Shafiq (not out) .................. 55 

Mohammed Sami lbw Fernando ... 3 

Umar Gul lbw Herath .................... 0 

Saeed Ajmal lbw Herath ............... 5 

Adnan Akmal (not out) ................. 0 

Extras: (b-6, lb-8, w-6) .............. 20 

Total: (8 wkts; 104 overs) ......... 299 

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-110, 3-158, 

4-176, 5-276, 6-280, 7-281, 8-299. 

Bowling: Kulasekara 22-8-50-1; 

Perera 17-1-66-0 (w-1); Herath 32- 

4-64-4; Fernando 20-1-65-3 (w-1); 

Mathews 12-0-38-0, T Samaraweera 

1-0-2-0. — Reuters 

Wiggins fends off attacks to retain Tour de France lead 

BRADLEY Wiggins cycles during the tenth stage. — Reuters 

PAKISTAN’S Azhar Ali plays a shot yesterday. — Reuters 

a minute off the Wiggins group 

before being caught in the valley. 

“It's the same in every Tour. 

The yellow jersey is always attacked. 

It would be sad otherwise," 

said Wiggins. 

“We certainly expected 

him (Nibali) to do that today. 

But he wasn't away long and 

we knew that towards the finish, 

he would need quite a big 

effort to stay away. We didn't 

panic too much." 

Today's 148-km 11th stage 

to La Toussuire is the second 

mountain top finish this year, 

the first at high altitude and the 

British Tour leader said he expected 

a tough day. 

“Tomorrow is not long, 

but with many climbs it's the 

hardest stage in the second 

week. There will probably be 

attacks from all sides again 

but it's good for the show," he 

said. — Reuters 

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Page 19 

Pakistan recall cleared 

Kamran for World T20 

KARACHI — Pakistan yesterday 

named Kamran Akmal 

in their provisional 30-man 

squad for this year's World 

Twenty20, after the wicketkeeper-batsman 

was cleared 

of suspicions of spot-fixing. 

A Pakistan Cricket Board 

(PCB) integrity committee 

last week questioned Kamran 

before approving him for the 

squad for the tournament in 

Sri Lanka in September and 

October. 

"Kamran has been selected 

after he was cleared by the 

committee and we feel that he 

can still deliver as keeper and 

an opener in the Twenty20 

cricket," chief selector Iqbal 

Qasim told reporters. 

The 30-year-old has not 

been selected for Pakistan 

since the 2011 World Cup. 

His name was mentioned 

at the trial in England last year 

of three Pakistani Test players 

over spot-fixing allegations 

but he was neither summoned 

by the London court nor 

banned by the International 

Cricket Council (ICC). 

Former Test captain 

Salman Butt and pacemen 

Mohammed Asif and Mohammed 

Aamir were banned 

and jailed for contriving deliberate 

no-balls during the 

Lord's Test against England 

in 2010. 

Kamran was also ac- 

SYDNEY — The Federation 

of International Cricketers' 

Association (FICA) said yesterday 

it will join players in 

legal action over unpaid wages 

by the Bangladesh Premier 

League, calling the situation 

"a joke". 

Bangladesh's inaugural 

Twenty20 league was held in 

February and attracted a host 

of overseas players, including 

Australians, but at least 

12 have not been paid their 

full dues, amounting to over 

US$600,000, FICA said. 

In addition, local Bangladeshi 

players have received, 

on average, less than 60 per 

cent of their wages, with 

only eight paid what they are 

owed. 

FICA's Australian chief 

executive Tim May said that 

despite numerous assurances 

from the BPL, the Bangladesh 

Cricket Board and its 

president Mustafa Kamal, 

they had proven to be "broken 

promises and empty public 

pronouncements". 

"It is obvious that the BPL 

franchises and the BCB are 

either unable or unwilling to 

meet these financial obligations," 

he said in a statement. 

cused of deliberately underperforming 

during Pakistan's 

surprise defeat against Australia 

in the 2010 Sydney Test, 

where he failed to run out 

Shane Watson and dropped 

three chances from Michael 

Hussey. 

The ICC directed the PCB 

to form an integrity committee 

to check players' conduct 

and their assets in the wake of 

the 2010 spot-fixing scandal. 

Pakistan appointed Mohammed 

Hafeez as their 

Twenty20 captain in May to 

replace the ageing Misbah-ul 

Haq. 

Misbah, who lost his 

Twenty20 place, is still missing 

from the preliminary 

squad despite vowing to get 

back in the shortest form. 

Also recalled in the preliminary 

squad are all-rounder 

Abdul Razzaq and opener 

Imran Nazir. A final squad of 

15 will be announced by mid- 

August. 

Preliminary squad: Mohammed 

Hafeez, Ahmed Shahzad, 

Khalid Latif, Nasir Jamshed, Imran 

Nazir, Shahzaib Hasan, Awais Zia, 

Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal, Asad 

Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, 

Rameez Raja, Shahid Afridi, Hammad 

Azam, Abdul Razzaq, Umar 

Gul, Mohammed Sami, Sohail Tanvir, 

Yasir Arafat, Wahab Riaz, Junaid 

Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Anwar 

Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, 

Raza Hasan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Kamran 

Akmal, Shakeel Ansar. — AFP 

Top players sue Bangladesh 

over unpaid wages 

LONDON — Singapore denied 

yesterday that a deal had 

been agreed with Formula 

One to extend the country's 

grand prix contract for five 

years after September's race. 

Commercial supremo 

Bernie Ecclestone had earlier 

been quoted in the Today 

newspaper as saying the contract 

extension was all set and 

that the timing of the official 

announcement would be decided 

by the Singapore government. 

Organisers Singapore GP 

(SGP) said in a statement that 

negotiations on the terms of 

a second five-year contract 

were continuing. 

"What is presently on offer 

from Formula One Administration 

is insufficient for us 

to commit to a full five-year 

extension," they said. 

SGP said the talks had 

been going on for almost a 

year but the terms had to "offer 

commercial viability for 

the full five years. 

"We remain hopeful at 

reaching an outcome that is 

mutually beneficial to all par- 

"FICA is left with no 

choice but to support the unpaid 

players in legal action 

against the franchises and 

BCB in Bangladesh." 

May said the credibility 

of the BPL and the BCB had 

been seriously damaged. 

"The process of the payment 

of players has deteriorated 

into a joke and the 

unprofessionalism of its handling 

is massively short of 

that required standard of an 

ICC full member country." 

He added that FICA, 

which was set up in 1998 to 

protect the interests of professional 

cricketers throughout 

the world, had recommended 

its members not play in the 

tournament again. 

"It goes without saying 

that FICA will be strongly 

recommending to all players, 

both in and outside Bangladesh, 

that they should not 

contemplate participating in 

this tournament in the coming 

years," he said. 

"They (BPL and BCB) 

have no one to blame but 

themselves." — AFP 

No deal yet on Singapore 

Grand Prix renewal 

ties," SGP added. 

Ecclestone had told the 

Singapore-based newspaper 

that obstacles to a deal had 

been cleared. "I'm happy that 

this is out of the way because 

Singapore has been good to 

F1 and the night race has also 

been equally good for Singapore," 

he said. 

The race was first held in 

2008 on the Marina Bay street 

circuit and has become a social 

highlight of the Formula 

One calendar that rivals Monaco 

and Abu Dhabi as a draw 

for deal-makers and corporate 

heavy-hitters. 

Formula One had also 

planned a flotation worth up 

to $3 billion in Singapore but 

that has been put on hold due 

to weak and volatile financial 

markets. 

Today said the rights fee 

for hosting the grand prix 

was believed to have cost 

Singapore organisers US$35 

million initially with yearly 

increases rising to US$42 

million last year. 

This year's race is on September 

23. — Reuters

S - Oman Daily Observer

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