VOL. 37 NO. 54 | PAGES 28 | BAISAS 200SUNDAY | JANUARY 7, 2018 | RABEE AL THANI 19, 1439 AH

PRAYER TIMINGS

WEATHER TODAY

MUSCATMAX: 250CMIN: 150C

SALALAHMAX: 280CMIN: 210C

NIZWAMAX: 280C

MIN: 140C

SUNRISE 06.49 AM

FAJR: 05:27DHUHR: 12:12ASR: 15:15MAGHRIB: 17:35ISHA: 19:05

I AM A ‘VERY STABLE GENIUS’ AND ‘LIKE, VERY SMART’ P11

CHINA REMAINS ON ALERT AS SNOWSTORMS KILL 13 P8

SAUDI GIVES BONUS FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES P7

INSIDESTORIES

OMAN

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has sent greetings Emperor Akihito of Japan on the 29th anniversary of his accession to the throne. His Majesty wished good health and happiness to the Emperor and the friendly Japanese people further progress and prosperity. — ONA

His Majesty greets Emperor Akihito

editor@omanobserver.om www.omanobserver.om

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SAMUEL KUTTYMUSCAT, JAN 6

A drifting stunt that went wrong

claimed a life and left two others

injured in Oman on Friday. The

video of the accident, released by

the Royal Oman Police (ROP),

shows a car drifting on a road before

ramming into another car.

“Two vehicles involved in the

drifting collided and one of the

vehicles caught fire in Al Suwaiq.

This led to the death of one person

and injuries to two others,” said a

statement from the police.

Despite strict warnings by the

police, youngsters attempt to engage

in this dangerous sport.

According to the amended traffic

law, drivers who perform drifting

on road can face jail terms of up

to three months and a fine of up to

RO 500. Their vehicles could also be

confiscated.

People who film such events

can also be fined, jailed and their

licences revoked by the police.

Following reports of a large number

of accidents involving drifting,

dedicated areas with maximum

safety standards are being developed

at different locations, including

Musannah, Ibri, Thamrait, Adam

and Shinas.

One killed, two hurt while drifting

PARIS: Amazon, Google and now

Apple — as the list of digital giants

hit by the “Spectre” and “Meltdown”

computer security flaws grows

longer, the race is on to limit the

damage.

“All Mac systems and iOS devices

are affected, but there are no known

exploits impacting customers at this

time,” Apple — whose devices are

usually regarded as secure — said in

a post on an online support page on

Thursday.

Almost all microprocessors

produced over the past 10 years by

Intel, AMD and ARM are affected.

No PC or mobile device can

function without the miniature

components that are effectively

nerve centres for executing

computer programmes and apps.

And that is what distinguishes

them from previous security alerts

that have tended to involve software

rather than hardware.

In theory, Spectre and Meltdown

could enable a user to “access

kernel level memory access,

exposing critical information

that would be stored there, like

system passwords,” said Chris

Morales, head of security analytics

at Vectra.

Luke Wagner, a software engineer

at Mozilla, wrote on a security blog

that it was “possible to use similar

techniques from web content to

read private information”. — AFP

Tech firms battle to resolve major security flaw

Almost all microprocessors produced over the past 10 years by Intel, AMD and ARM are affected.

RED WARRIORS RETURN AS CHAMPSMINISTER OF DIWAN LEADS RECEPTION TO GULF CUP WINNERS; BONANZA OF AWARDS ANNOUNCED

ANUROOP ATHIPARAMBATHMUSCAT, JAN 6

Oman, champions of the 23rd

Arabian Gulf Cup, arrived

to a great home reception on

Saturday evening.

The special Royal Air

Force flight carrying the team

delegation reached the Muscat

International Airport at 5.30

pm. Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal

bin Saud al Busaidy, Minister

of Diwan of Royal Court,

received the delegation at the

airport.

Shaikh Saad bin Mohammed

al Saadi, Minister of Sports

Affairs, and Shaikh Rashad

al Hinai, Undersectretary at

the Ministry of Sports Affairs,

were also present.

SEE FULL REPORT ON P21

COMPLETE COVERAGE

ON P2,4,22,23,24

S; O O S OU C

MUSCAT: Weather predictions issued by the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre show that the Sultanate will face a weak trough of low pressure from Monday until Thursday. Cloudy conditions could prevail over Musandam and the coastal governorates overlooking the Sea of Oman as well as Hajar Mountains bringing light to moderate showers.

There are chances of fogs and low visibility in on some parts of Al Buraimi, Al Dhahirah, Al Wusta, South Al Sharqiayh and North Al Sharqiayh governorates.

Rains, fog likely from tomorrow

MUSCAT: All procedures have been

taken to employ 25,000 job-seekers

electronically so that no employee

can interfere with the process, said

the Public Authority for Manpower

Register (PAMR).

The Ministry of Manpower, in

coordination with the companies, will

set the dates and places for interviews

for the applicants.

PAMR will send an SMS to the

applicants notifying them about the

interviews. A number of job-seekers

will be recruited directly through

the ministry depending on the

information available in the PAMR

database.

Yahya bin Mohammed al Battashi,

Director, Units Affairs at PAMR, said

a job-seeker can log on to the PAMR

website on employment to view his/

her information and the number of

applicants for the job. Job-seekers can

opt for another job if he/she finds too

many applications for the same job.

According to statements made by

officials, the recruitment process for

25,000 job-seekers will continue until

the end of May 2018, which constitutes

the first phase of employment.

The private sector will employ

22,000 job-seekers and the remaining

4,000 by the government, said Al

Battashi. — ONA

Hiring 25,000 Omanis goes electronic

PICTURES BY MOHAMMED MAHJOUB, KHALFAN AL TOOBI AND

SALEH AL SHARJI

SIX WAYS OF GETTING FIT IN OMAN

WINTER IS THE PERFECT TIME OF THE YEAR TO WORK ON BEING FIT WHILE DISCOVERING OMAN’S INNUMERABLE BLESSINGS. TOURISTS, ADVENTURE-SEEKERS AND EVEN ATHLETES FLOCK TO OMAN TO ENJOY ITS NATURAL VISTAS AND EXPERIENCE ITS STRIKING BEAUTY, BOTH ON LAND AND SEA. SEE P6

80 flights to Kuwait in 2 daysSTAFF REPORTERMUSCAT, JAN 6

The Kuwait airport handled 130 additional flights (80 from Oman and 50 from UAE) in the past two days carrying 27,607 passengers, its Directorate-General of Civil Aviation said on Saturday.

Oman’s budget airline, SalamAir also took part in the exercise.

Kuwait’s local agency KUNA, citing a top official, praised the roles of various stakeholders who facilitated the movement of guests to and from Kuwait during Gulf Cup tournament which concluded on Friday.

The Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) lauded the efforts of all

stakeholders in the civil aviation sector for providing extra flights to transport the Omani fans for the tournament.

For the finals, Oman Air announced nine flights, which added up to 1,790 seats. One aircraft took off from Salalah.

The company also arranged holiday packages to Kuwait, including airport transfers, daily breakfast buffets and two nights’ accommodation on a twin-sharing basis.

SalamAir added eight flights to Kuwait — six from Muscat and one each from Salalah and Suhar.

Several companies had stepped in to sponsor these additional flights for the Gulf Cup.

Injured Oman fans to be dischargedVINOD NAIRMUSCAT, JAN 6

Omani fans who were injured in an

accident during celebrations at Jaber

al Ahmad International Stadium

in Kuwait will be discharged in a

few days, Oman’s Ambassador to

Kuwait has said.

Some of the fans who sustained

minor injuries in the accident have

already left the hospital, said the

official sources.

Forty football fans from Oman,

including children, were injured

when a glass barrier broke during

celebrations following Oman’s win

over UAE in the Gulf Cup.

The barrier broke as Omani fans

pressed against the glass during the

celebrations.

Anas Khalid al Saleh, Kuwait

Deputy Prime Minister and

Minister of Finance, visited the

hospital and met the injured fans.

Top officials from Oman,

including the chairman of Majlis

Ash’shura, visited them.

KUWAIT 2017

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A YJ A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 82

Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, led the welcome for the winning Oman football team at the airport along with Shaikh Saad bin Mohammed al Saadi, Minister of Sports Affairs, and Rashad bin Ahmed al Hinai, Under-Secretary, Ministry of Sports Affairs. — PICTURES BY THANI AL SIYABI, KHALFAN AL TOOBI, SALEH AL SHARJI

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 8 3

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Al Beit Al Gharbi — a tourist and cultural destination

AL RUSTAQ: Al Beit Al Gharbi in

the village of Qasra in the Wilayat of

Al Rustaq, the Governorate of South

Al Batinah, is a tourist and cultural

destination of the wilayat.

Zakiya bint Nasser al Lamkiya,

Founder of Al Beit Al Gharbi, has

been able to transform her old family’s

house into an ancient museum that

contains many historical artifacts that

were part of the tools of Oman.

She has made great efforts to

show case the house into a tourist

and archaeological landmark in the

wilayat.

She said: “The idea of creating

an archaeological house came

through my passion for the past,

its components and details, and

of my keenness to preserve the

archaeological components left by

our ancestors. The idea began two

years back when I visited our house,

abandoned several parts and some of

it collapsed, including the ceilings. At

that time, the idea came to my mind to

turn the house into an archaeological

one and fill it with old possessions.

I restored the house to the best of

my ability, and worked to develop

archaeological holdings with the help

of parents, neighbours and citizens of

the wilayat to become ready to receive

visitors.”

She says: “The house contains

many antique collections, such as old

books, coins, cooking utensils and old

utensils, such as coffee cup and food

utensils, handicrafts of all kinds, and

tools for women’s decoration, such

as perfume, incense and objects like

silverware, bracelets, old mattresses,

pottery, Omani Mandoos (boxes) and

old bags.”

She added that Al Beit Al Gharbi

has become a significant presence in

exhibitions, events and tourism and

cultural events held in the Wilayat

of Al Rustaq and the Governorate of

South Al Batinah.

Ali bin Abbas al Ajmi, Director

of Tourism Department in the

Governorate of South Al Batinah,

says: “Al Beit Al Gharbi has become

a tourist and cultural destination

for visitors not only from within the

Sultanate but also from abroad. It is

located in the centre of the wilayat and

is about two kilometres away from Al

Rustaq Castle.

“The house participated in a

number of tourist events organised by

the Department of Tourism in South

Al Batinah, and impressed all the

visitors who came to the wilayat for its

archaeological contents that reflect the

old Omani life.”

He encourages citizens of the

governorate to establish such houses

due to their role in preserving

the heritage of Oman, especially

the recently held World Tourism

Conference which focused on the

importance of preserving heritage.

— ONA

SAMUEL KUTTY MUSCAT JAN 6

The Gulf Cup champions were given a rousing reception

on their return from Kuwait on Saturday.

The national team, which won 5-4 in a dramatic

penalty shootout over neighboring UAE, was taken on

an open top bus from the Muscat airport to the Sultan

Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher.

The team members went around the flood-lit stadium

with the trophy, acknowledging the welcome and

thanking fans for their support.

Leading telecom operator Omantel and financial

service provider, BankMuscat announced a cash award of

RO 100,000 each to the winners.

Special prizes were announced by a company during a

ceremony held to honour the team at the stadium.

Jubilant Omani fans took to the streets on Friday, with

young men spilling out of cars and waving the white,

green and red flags. “It is time for celebration. We are

champions,” shouted Hameed al Wahaibi in Ruwi.

All across the capital city, a cavalcade of cars was seen

driving through the night in celebration, hooting horns

and shouting slogans.

“It’s a huge success for Oman and it’s very, very good

news,” said Saif al Balushi, who had been following the

match on television and rushed on to the streets along

with friends to celebrate.

The present win is Oman’s second-ever victory in the

Cup, with the last one coming in 2009.

All the praise went to Omani goalkeeper Fayez

al Rashidi who produced an excellent save to block

Abdulrahman’s shot, which paved the way for the win.

“We are really celebrating from our hearts. This is like

a dream. It means everything to us,” said Khalid, another

fan. The penalties were a tough moment but they made

me and the whole of Oman happy.

“We had good control on our performances. I thought

there was a lot of good play. We have come out worthy

winners,” said Khalid.

It was not only nationals who took to the streets. A

number of expatriates joined the celebrations on Saturday.

“The team was full of confidence. Oman has shown its

strength. The game was intensive,” said Praful Bhatt.

KUWAIT 2017

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A YJ A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 84

SULTANATE WELCOMES ARABIAN GULF CUP CHAMPIONS

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 8 5

Crackdown on street vendors in MuttrahSTAFF REPORTERMUSCAT, JAN 6

The Muscat Municipality

inspectors continued their

crackdown on a number of

street vendors in Muttrah and

Ruwi.

The vendors were found

selling vegetables and other

accessories in violation of the

guidelines stipulated by the

authorities.

The team has been

conducting raids following

violations in Bausher, including

disposal of waste in parks and

restrooms, and the destruction

of green areas. Violators were

fined.

The Observer had reported

earlier that street vendors had

continued to illegally operate

despite the municipality’s efforts

to regulate such practices.

For the last few years, the

Ministry of Commerce and

Industry (MoCI) has been

inviting applications from

Omanis interested in registering

as street vendors through its

Invest Easy Portal.

Finnish paper describes Oman as must see destination

MUSCAT: The Omani Students’ Society in

Malaysia recently organised a workshop at the

Cultural Attaché Office in Kuala Lumpur.

Titled ‘Women’s Economic Empowerment’

the workshop targeted Omani students in

Malaysia and their families.

The workshop highlighted the importance of

upgrading the level of Muslim women all over

the world in the economic, scientific and health

fields.

The workshop also enabled women to fulfil

their duties towards their families and societies

and to become a productive individual capable

of overcoming challenges such as undertaking

their roles as mothers and homemakers as well

the other challenges that arise from the social

conditions, traditions and the requirements of

the labour market.

HELSINKI: Visit Finland

newspaper described the

Sultanate as a country that

is rich in attractive natural

scenery and monument

and that it is a meeting

point between Asia and

Africa at the Southern

East part of the Arabian

Peninsula.

The newspaper advised

tourists from the different

parts of the world to make

the Sultanate on their

“Must to See Destinations”

in 2018. It pointed out that

the Sultanate has long vir-

gin and attractive beaches,

desert, caves, mountains

and wadis.

Moreover, the Sultan-

ate has historic cities and

villages whose residents

maintain the true Omani

traditions and values.

It also pointed out that

the Sultanate enjoys warm

and sunny weather dur-

ing January, especially

in Muscat, which makes

Oman an ideal destina-

tion during this time of

the year.

It also noted that Mus-

cat Festival, a fun filled

event, will be held at Al

Amerat and Al Naseem

Parks during the period

from January 18 to Febru-

ary 10. — ONA

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Omani Students Society in Malaysia holds workshop

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 86

insideoman

Hotels occupancy declines 0.4pcMUSCAT: Occupancy rate of hotels

which come under three-star and five-

star categories in the Sultanate by the

end of November 2017 declined by

0.4 per cent to reach to 56.5 per cent,

compared to 56.7 per cent in the same

period in 2016, while the revenue

increased by 2.4 per cent to reach

to RO 174,49,000, compared to RO

169,961,000 during the same period of

2016.

The statistics released by the National

Centre for Statistics and Information

(NCSI) on the main indicators of hotels

which come under the categories of

three to five stars indicated that the

total number of guests who occupied

these hotels was 1,394,942 guests by

the end of November 2017, comprising

a decline by 4 per cent, compared

to 1,452,842 guests during the same

period in 2016.

These statistics also revealed the

number of European guests increased

by 15.4 per cent the total number of

518,629 till the end of November 2017,

compared to 449,348 during the same

period in 2016.

The Omani guests came the second

with 348,161 at the end of November

2017, comprising a decline by 18.8 per

cent, compared to 473,159 during the

same period in 2016.

The GCC guests came third with

199,342, the Asians fourth with 145,183,

other Arabs from non-GCC countries

came fifth with 59,880, American

guests came sixth with 48,158, guests

from Ocean countries came seventh

with 13,421, Africans guests came

eighth with 9,636 and 16,531 guests

from other nationalities. — ONA

NCSI DATA: Number of European guests increased by 15.4pc while Omani guests came second

MSM to host lectures on financial planning

MSM trading approaches RO 1 billion in 2017

MoCI urges pvt sector to enhance economic growth

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Higher

Education and the Ministry of

Sports Affairs are hosting lectures

on ‘Financial Planning’, which are

being conducted by Muscat Securities

Market (MSM) within its national

initiative (How Many Riyals) that aims

towards teaching financial planning

culture among individuals and

families.

Sayyid Dr Munthir bin Hilal al

Busaidy, Assistant Professor in the

Accounting Department at the College

of Economics and Political Science

(CEPS) in Sultan Qaboos University

(SQU), will present a lecture to the

employees of the Ministry of Higher

Education tomorrow at the conference

hall in the ministry.

While Raed bin Hussein al

Houti, Director of the Office of the

Acting Director of the Information

Department at the MSM, will give a

lecture on financial planning for the

employees of the Ministry of Sports

Affairs on January 9 at the lecture hall

of the ministry.

During the lectures, the participants

will be familiarised with the concepts of

financial planning and its importance

in public life and the steps taken in

sound financial planning, the role and

importance of financial stability at the

individual and family level, as well as

the identification and planning for

future financial objectives. — ONA

MUSCAT: The value of trading in

the Muscat Securities Market (MSM)

last year approached RO 1 billion

and amounted to RO 992.7 million,

recording an increase of 3.5 per cent

from its level in 2016 of RO 958.8

million.

This increase was supported by

higher turnover in the bond and Sukuk

market, which rose to RO 76.1 million,

compared to RO 13.4 million in 2016.

The value of trading in the stock market

declined by 3 per cent to RO 916.6

million, compared to RO 945.4 million

in 2016.

The market last year recorded a

decline in the number of executed

transactions, which amounted to about

164,000 transactions, compared to more

than 200 thousand transactions in 2016.

Muscat Securities Market in 2017

witnessed a number of domestic and

regional pressures that pushed stocks to

decline, such as the impact of oil prices

on the Gulf economies, the decline in the

profits of a number of listed companies

in the market and the decline of investor

confidence with the continued decline

in stock prices, which led the main

index to lose 683 points and closed at

5,099 points, down 11.8 per cent.

All the sectoral indices recorded

a decline. The industry sector index

declined by 573 points, the services

sector index shed 415 points, the

financial sector index dropped 197

points and the Sharia’s index declined by

155 points.

During the past year, prices of 75

securities declined compared to 22

securities which rose in prices and 22

others remained their previous levels.

Oman Fisheries was the top gainer,

closing at 147 baisas, up 141 per cent

from its 2016 level of 61 baisas. Oman

Textile Holding rose up 83.8 per cent

and closed at 570 baisas. Oman Oryx

Leasing rose to 175 baisas, up 40 per

cent.

In contrast, National Securities

Company recorded the highest losses

and closed at 40 baisas, down about 60

per cent from its 2016 level of 98 baisas.

Muscat Insurance was second among

the most losers and closed at 856 baisas,

down 52.1 per cent from 2016 of 1 riyal

and 790 baisas. National gas shares fell

to 285 baisas, down 50.1 per cent from

the end of 2016 to 572 baisas.

Banks and telecoms led the way in

terms of turnover. Bank Sohar came

first with RO 105.1 million representing

10.6 per cent of total turnover. Bank

Muscat was second with RO 101 million

representing 10.1 per cent of the total

value of trading.

Ominvest ranked third with RO 87.2

million, Omantel with RO 78.3 million

and Ooredoo with RO 59.1 million.

The market value of listed companies

at the end of last year witnessed an

increase of 3.8 per cent to reach RO 17.9

billion, compared to RO 17.3 billion at

the end of 2016.

This increase was due to the increase

in the market value of closed companies

which jumped to RO 1.7 billion,

compared to RO 6.3 billion in 2016.

The market value of bonds and

Sukuk rose from RO 1.9 billion to RO

2.6 billion. The market value of public

shareholding companies declined to RO

8.4 billion, compared to RO 8.9 billion

at the end of 2016. — ONA

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) urged the private sector to enhance its efforts to contribute to the growth of national economy and avail job opportunities for Omanis. The ministry seeks to enhance the capabilities of the commerce and industry sectors by developing general policies, studies and legislations and ensure their effective implementation.

MoCI’s Statistics Department pointed out the number of commercial registrations registered during the third quarter of 2017 stood at 6,415 including 3,941 entrepreneurs, 25 errand sellers, 485 domestic business, 353 partnership companies, 254 commandite companies, 1,162 limited liability companies, 3 commercial representation offices, 173 investment companies, 12 branches for international companies, 4 closed joint stock companies and 3 public organisations.

The ministry affirmed that it is going ahead in its plan for e-transformation through Invest Easy Portal which processes transactions very quickly with high accuracy in sharing information among relevant stakeholders.

The Portal helps decision makers to take informed decisions that address the individual registrations and reduce illicit trade. The e-transformation will play a key role in improving business environment in the Sultanate. — ONA

391 patent applications by companies, individualsMUSCAT: The number of patent applications by individuals and companies in the Sultanate in 2017 stood at 391, compared to 369 in 2016.

The patent applications covered chemical installations, pharmacy, mechanics, electronics, IT&C and oil & gas technologies.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) seeks to increase the number of applications submitted to it, especially by Omani investors. In this connection, the Intellectual Property Department at the MoCI developed a plan for organising a number of awareness raising seminars at the universities, colleges and industrial estates about the importance of protecting inventions and creative ideas.

Rasha Hamdi Abdul Hameed, Patency Expert at the Intellectual Property Department, said that MoCI seeks to provide the competitive

environment for the private sector to play an active role in the growth of the national economy.

The department plans to organise a number of seminars and lectures to highlight the role played by the ministry in this area and encourage researchers and workers at the research and scientific organisations, as well as other beneficiaries to submit and implement their creative ideas and project.

The seminars will also urge them to facilitate the transfer of technology from the scientific and research organisations to industrial sectors.

She added that the aim of registering patency is to protect the inventor against manipulation of his or her invention by others without prior licence. The patency certificate is an official certificate issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to protect the inventor’s right. — ONA

Broad money supply stands at RO 16.1 billionMUSCAT: With regard to monetary aggregates as at the end of October 2017, narrow money stock (M1) registered a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 1.9 per cent to RO 5 billion.

However, quasi-money (Rial Omani saving and time deposits, certificates of deposit issued by banks, margin deposits and foreign currency denominated deposits) witnessed a growth of 6.4 per cent during the period. Broad money supply M2 (M1 plus quasi-money) stood at RO 16.1 billion as at the end of October 2017 and grew by 3.7 per cent during the same period.

In respect of the domestic interest rate structure of conventional banks, the weighted average interest rate on RO deposits increased to 1.670 per cent in October 2017 from 1.384 per cent a year ago, while the weighted average RO lending rate increased to 5.190 per cent from 5.040 per cent during the same period.

The overnight Rial Omani domestic inter-bank lending rate stood at 1.146 per cent in October 2017, much higher as compared to 0.463 per cent a year ago.

The average Repo rate for liquidity injection by the CHO stood at 1.736 per cent per annum during the month of October 2017. The overall hardening of interest rates reflects some tightening of liquidity in the banking system. — ONA

Six ways of getting fit while discovering OmanMUSCAT: Winter is the perfect time of the year

to work on being fit while discovering Oman’s

innumerable blessings. Tourists, adventure-

seekers and even athletes flock to Oman to enjoy

its natural vistas and experience its striking

beauty, both on land and sea. The Sultanate’s

biodiversity is one factor that continues to shape

nature-inspired experiences for tourists and

visitors. Whether it is the spectacular marine life,

the indigenous wildlife or the exotic migrating

birds, Oman is a one-stop travel destination that

can fit in every travel requirement, even fitness

enthusiasts.

1. Trekking in Muttrah Mountains

Muttrah mountains are one of the perfect

spots for trekking and hiking. The Muttrah

Geo Trek, commonly known as Riyam Walk,

encompasses a route that was made ages ago and

used by miners to travel between the different

areas of Muttrah. It overlooks the charming

Corniche promenade and opens up a panorama

of the town from the top.

2. Swimming in Wadi Bani Khalid

Wadi Bani Khalid is one of the most beautiful

Omani wadis. Located in Al Sharqiyah North

Governorate, it is surrounded by a beautiful

landscape that perfectly merges with the clear

blue waters. Although the waters are beckoning,

one needs to be a good swimmer to go swimming

in these pools, as some of them are quite deep.

Professional swimmers and divers do flock to the

impressive Wadi Bani Khalid to get a taste of an

exhilarating swimming and diving experience.

3. Climbing in Hadash

Hadash, located in the Wilayat of Nakhl in

Al Batinah South Governorate, is blessed with

a beautiful range of colourful mountains, which

are in harmony with the few old houses and

neighbourhoods in the vicinity. It is a perfect

place for mountain climbers, given the fact that it

has interesting terrains and rocky facades.

4. Quad biking in Touq sands

The desert life in Oman is replete with

stunning biodiversity; it is a unique world

worth discovering from close quarters. Located

between Barka and Nakhl in Al Batinah South

Governorate, Touq is a perfect place to enjoy an

exciting desert experience on a quad bike. Quad

biking is one activity that you can completely

enjoy in Oman’s deserts this winter, especially in

Touq sands.

5. Diving in Al Duqm beach

Al Wusta Governorate holds some of Oman’s

finest beaches, and Al Duqm is one of those must-

visit beaches in Oman. Professional divers can look

forward to an underwater paradise in Al Duqm,

as it is home to some rare and colourful marine

life. The less adventurous could simply walk or run

along the beautiful beach to enjoy nature.

6. Cycling in Dhofar

Dhofar Governorate is one of the best places

to cycle in Oman. It has many breathtaking

landmarks and natural vistas in its wilayats such

as Rakhyout, Salalah, Mirbat and Taqah. Aside

from its serene landscapes, visitors could also

find a host of cultural heritage elements along the

old souq, antiquated houses, mosques, forts and

tours to its designated sites.

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 8 7

Saudi gives bonus for government employeesRIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced

on Saturday it had boosted stipends

and benefits for citizens to cushion the

impact of economic reforms including

the kingdom’s first ever taxes after an

oil price slump.

Most working Saudi Arabians

are employed by the state and, like

nationals in other energy-flush Gulf

monarchies, have long benefited from

a generous welfare system.

After the 2014 oil market crash,

Saudi Arabia as well as the UAE

announced a five-per cent value-added

tax on most goods and services which

took effect at the start of this year.

In a move that aims to “soften the

impact of economic reforms on Saudi

households,” King Salman issued a

royal decree late on Friday ordering a

1,000-riyal monthly living allowance

for military personnel and public

servants for a period of one year.

Student stipends will be increased

by 10 per cent, an official statement

said. The oil-rich Gulf has long been

a tax-free haven for both high-income

households and migrant labourers,

who frequently rely on remittances to

support their families back home.

But countries in the region have

introduced a series of austerity

measures over the past two years to

boost revenues and cut spending as

the slump in world oil prices led to

ballooning budget deficits.

Saudi Arabia has also intensified

efforts to boost employment of its own

citizens. The jobless rate among Saudis

aged 15 to 24 stood at 32.6 per cent last

year, according to the International

Labour Organization.

Saudi Arabia posted an economic

contraction in 2017 for the first time

in eight years due to severe austerity

measures. The coming year’s budget

envisions record spending for the

kingdom, a move meant to return the

economy to positive growth.

Under Friday’s royal decree, troops

serving at the border with Yemen,

where Saudi Arabia is allied with the

government in a war against Ansar

Allah, will receive a bonus of 5,000

riyals ($1,333).

The state will also cover up to

850,000 riyals ($227,000) of the tax on

any citizen’s first home purchase.

The statement said the measures

were based on “information provided

by” Crown Prince Mohammed bin

Salman, the king’s powerful son who

has steadily consolidated his grip on

power since his shock appointment

as heir to the throne in June. Income

remains tax exempt. — AFP

VAT CUSHION: 1,000 riyals monthly living allowance for a period of one year; Troops in Yemen border to get 5,000 riyals

Iranian parliament may hold session on anti-govt protestsTEHRAN: The Iranian parliament

could hold a special session as early

as Sunday to look into the causes of

anti-government protests that have

gripped the country, several state-run

news agencies said.

The interior minister, the head of

intelligence and the security council

chief are all expected to attend, added

the ISNA news agency in reports on

Saturday. Hardliners in Iran have put

the blame for the demonstrations

squarely on foreign conspirators,

a sentiment echoed by Iranian

President Hassan Rouhani and his

reformers, though admitting that

not all the demonstrations could be

steered from the outside by “Iran’s

enemies.”

Hence the parliament’s desire to

find “the roots” or the protest. Jailed

demonstrators will receive legal

assistance as well.

A special commission has also

been set up to track the fates of those

arrested in recent demonstrations

in Iran, especially that of detained

students, said a spokesman for Tehran

University on Saturday, according to

ISNA. While there are no official

numbers regarding how many people

have been arrested over the past week

during anti-government protests that

have swept the country, an estimated

1,000 to 1,800 people are being

detained nationwide, with about 100

of them said to be students.

Science Minister Mansour

Gholami said that about a quarter of

the students arrested have since been

released, though he failed to give any

exact numbers.

The fate of those arrested has been

the topic of serious concern since

Iranian cleric Ahmad Khatami urged

worshippers in a sermon on Friday to

treat protesters as enemies of Islam,

adding that”there should be no mercy

for them,” particularly flag-burners.

The sentiments of Khatami and

other staunch government supporters

were heavily criticised by Rouhani

and his reformists in the parliament.

Posts on social media on Saturday

supposedly showed demonstrations

across the country overnight, though

they can’t be independently verified.

Iran’s other media outlets did not

report on protests.

The UN Security Council

held a meeting on Iran on Friday

under heavy pressure from the US

that mostly featured criticism of

Washington.

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily

Nebenzia said the US move to call

the meeting was a “bogus pretext”

to include “purely political issues”

surrounding Iran on the Security

Council agenda and said that outside

countries should not interfere with

the demonstrations there. Nebenzia

went on to ask mockingly whether

the Security Council should have

had meetings to discuss internal US

issues such as protests in Ferguson,

Missouri, or the Occupy Wall Street

movement. — dpa

region

After the 2014 oil market crash, Saudi Arabia as well as the UAE announced a five-per cent value-added tax on most goods and services which took effect at the start of this year. — AFP file picture

17 SYRIAN KILLED IN AIR STRIKES

A Syrian girl who was injured in bombardment cries as she receives treatment at a make-shift hospital in Douma, on the outskirts of the capital Damascus on Saturday. The deadliest of Syrian regime and Russian air strikes on the Eastern Ghouta region hit the Hammuriyeh district, leaving 17 civilians dead including two children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. — AFP

Hardliners have put the blame for the demonstrations squarely on foreign conspirators, a sentiment echoed by President Rouhani and his reformers, though admitting that not all the demonstrations could be steered from the outside

A protester during a demonstration in support of the Iranian people amid a wave of protests spreading throughout Iran, on Friday in Paris. — AFP

Protest in Sudan against rising bread prices; bakeries and shops closedKHARTOUM: Police fired tear gas

on Saturday at groups of students

protesting in a central Sudanese

town against soaring bread prices,

witnesses said, as opposition

parties called for anti-government

demonstrations.

Bread prices almost doubled

on Friday across Sudan after flour

manufacturers raised prices amid

dwindling supply of wheat following

a government decision to stop

importing the grain and allow private

companies to do so.

“Citizens, demand your rights,”

shouted university students in the

central Sudanese town of Sennar as

dozens of residents joined them in

a sporadic march against the rise in

bread prices, witnesses said.

Police fired tear gas to break the

protest while shopkeepers closed

their shops in the town’s main market,

witnesses and residents from Sennar

said.

“The police fired tear gas at

protesters. I had to close my shop

as demonstrators approached the

market,” a shopkeeper said.

Pictures and videos of protesters

chanting anti-government slogans

and burning tyres in the streets were

uploaded on several social media

websites.

Flour manufacturers have raised

the price of a 50-kilo (110 pounds)

sack of wheat flour from 167 to 450

Sudanese pounds ($65), Mohamed al

Saeed, a member of a barky owners’

union, has said

That sent bread prices soaring and

in response leading opposition groups

have called for anti-government

protests across the country.

“The Umma Party calls on all its

members and Sudanese citizens to

protest peacefully against the rise in

bread prices,” the main opposition

party said in a statement.

“The only way to solve this problem

is to overthrow the regime,” it said.

The opposition Communist Party

and the Sudanese Congress Party also

called for anti-government protests.

“The only way to defeat this regime

is to go in the streets and demonstrate

to get back the dignity of Sudanese

people and their freedoms,” the

Communist Party said.

“People have to protest against

these economic policies.”

Sudan had witnessed sporadic

protests in late 2016 after a government

decision to cut fuel subsidies.

The authorities had cracked down

on those protests in an attempt to

prevent a repeat of the deadly unrest

that followed a similar round of

subsidy cuts in 2013.

Dozens of people were killed in

2013 protests when security forces

crushed large street demonstrations,

drawing international condemnation.

— AFP

LUXOR: Egyptian prosecutors have

ordered four people to be detained

as part of an investigation into a hot-

air balloon crash that killed a foreign

tourist in the southern city of Luxor,

a judicial source said.

The detainees, all Egyptians, are

the balloon’s pilot, the manager of

the balloon airport in western Luxor

and two officials of the company

that owns the crashed balloon.

The balloon hit the ground

during an emergency landing in the

western section of the historical city

on Friday morning, also wounding

15 others, mostly foreign tourists.

The dead tourist was a 34-year-

old South African man, while the

injured included five Australians,

four French nationals, two South

Africans, two Argentinians and a

Brazilian. The pilot was also injured.

A team from the Egyptian Civil

Aviation Authority is investigating

the incident and examining the

other balloons owned by the

company. Air balloon trips are

popular in Luxor, which has many

of historical monuments. — dpa

4 in custody over hot-air balloon crash

A man hands a bag of bread to a costumer at a bakery in the capital Khartoum on Friday. — AFP

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 88

asia

Abbasi calls US aid ‘insignificant’

China remains on alert as snowstorms kill 13N Korea ‘likely’ to join Winter

Games, says IOC official

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime

Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has

declared himself mystified by the US

threats to cut off funding, saying that

Washington’s financial assistance was

“very, very insignificant” and that

Islamabad was “on the forefront of the

war on terror”.

In an interview with The Guardian,

Abbasi said that reports about the

US was considering cuts of up to $2

billion in security assistance were

bewildering because of the total aid

Pakistan — civilian and military —

actually received was a tiny fraction of

that amount.

“I am not sure what US aid has

been talked here,” Abbasi said in his

office in Islamabad.

“The aid in the last five years at least

has been less than $10 million a year.

It is a very, very insignificant amount.

So when I read in the paper that aid at

the level of $250 million or 500 or 900

has been cut, we at least are not aware

of that aid.”

US President Donald Trump used

his first tweet of 2018 to threaten to

withhold aid to Pakistan because of

what he called its “lies and deceit”

over terrorism, claiming: “They give

safe haven to the terrorists we hunt

in Afghanistan, with little help.”

The President said that the US had

“foolishly” given Pakistan $33 billion

over the past 15 years.

According to the US Agency

for International Development, the

US gave $778 million to Pakistan

in assistance in 2016, of which 35

per cent was military and the rest

economic.

Abbasi rejected Trump’s charge

of duplicity over the fight against

terrorism, calling his claim that

Pakistan was harbouring terrorists a

“fallacy”.

“Pakistan is a sovereign country and

it has always abided by international

conventions,” he said.

“We are today fighting the largest

war on terror in the world. We are

fighting the world’s war on terror with

our own resources... That is something

the world has to appreciate.

“Today we are fighting terrorists.

So if somebody says we are harbouring

terrorists, there is no greater fallacy,”

Abbasi said.

“We have engaged US at every level

from President Trump down. We have

explained to them… what Pakistan

has done we have explained to the rest

of the world also.” — IANS

BEIJING: China has maintained its blue alert for intense snowfall in the central

parts of the country, which has so far killed 13 people, the National Meteorological

Centre said on Saturday.

The NMC issued a blue snowstorm alert, the least severe of its four-tiered

alert system after red, orange and yellow, for both Saturday and Sunday.

The agency said it expected blizzards to dump 4 to 8 centimetres of snow in

parts of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Anhui and Hubei provinces and some areas

could be hit with more than 10 centimetres, Xinhua news agency reported.

The NMC warned residents of the affected areas to stay indoors and asked

authorities to take precautionary measures for roads, highways and electric and

telecommunication systems.

The first snow of 2018 affected large parts of northwestern, central and

eastern China since Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and damaging houses,

agriculture and power facilities, according to local authorities.

The affected area was spread over 13,100 hectares of farmland, out of which

more than 900 hectares had been destroyed, causing an estimated loss of $78.6

million. — IANS

MANILA: A former Philippine

official charged with the murder

of a prominent environmentalist

has been freed after a court

voided the case against him, his

lawyer said on Saturday.

Joel Reyes, the ex-governor

of the western island of Palawan,

was arrested in 2015 for the

killing of Gerry Ortega, a

prominent campaigner and radio

host who frequently accused

Reyes of massive corruption.

Demetrio Custodio said his

client was released late on Friday

after the court decision.

Ortega was shot dead while

shopping in the capital of

Palawan, one of the Philippines’

biggest islands and a popular

tourist destination, famed for

its lush forests and pristine

landscapes.

But it has also suffered from

illegal logging, mining and

fishing.

Ortega had accused Reyes

of corruption linked to alleged

environmental crimes on the

island.

While there have been many

cases of environmental activists

and journalists being murdered,

the brazen killing of Ortega

shocked the Philippines.

Reyes and his brother Mario,

who was also implicated, went

missing in 2012 after an arrest

warrant was issued for them.

They were caught in Thailand

in 2015.

Custodio said on Saturday an

appellate court upheld a petition

to void the arrest warrant against

Reyes, challenging the testimony

of a key witness in the case.

The court said the testimony

linking Reyes to the killing was

“riddled with inconsistencies,”

according to Custodio.

“On that basis, the finding of

probable cause and the issuance

of a warrant of arrest was wrong,”

the lawyer cited the court ruling

as saying.

Mario Reyes was freed on bail

in 2016.

Custodio said the latest ruling

— which effectively dismisses the

case — would also apply to him.

Reviving the case would be

difficult unless the matter is

taken to the Supreme Court

or if the prosecutor finds new

evidence, he added.

— AFP

BEIJING: North Korea’s Olympic

representative said on Saturday

the reclusive nation was “likely to

participate” in next month’s Winter

Games in South Korea, Kyodo news

agency reported, in the latest sign of a

thaw in tensions on the peninsula.

The comments by Chang Ung,

Pyongyang’s representative to the

International Olympic Committee

(IOC), come a day after the North

and South agreed to hold rare talks

next week and follow Seoul and

Washington’s announcement that

they would postpone joint military

exercises that rile North Korea.

The Japanese news agency said

Chang made the brief comment to

reporters during a stopover at Beijing’s

international airport.

Kyodo said Chang was believed

to be travelling to Switzerland, where

the IOC is based, quoting unnamed

sources as saying the trip may be aimed

at meeting the committee to discuss

the North’s potential participation in

the Games at Pyeongchang.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-

Un said in a new year speech that

his country wished success for the

Olympics, to be held from February

9-25, and would consider sending a

delegation.

The two Koreas have been

separated by the world’s most heavily

militarised border since the Korean

War ended in a stalemate in 1953.

Seoul and organisers are keen for

the North to take part in the Games

to help ease worsening tensions on

the Korean peninsula stemming

from Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile

programmes.

In recent months, North Korea has

held multiple missile launches and its

sixth and most powerful nuclear test

— purportedly of a hydrogen bomb

— in violation of UN resolutions

banning such activity by the isolated

nation. The region has been further

rattled by tit-for-tat threats and insults

between Kim and US President

Donald Trump.

But the new year has witnessed a

marked softening of tone.

Seoul has reacted warmly to Kim’s

Olympic overture and the two Koreas

this past week restored a cross-border

hotline that had been shut down

since 2016 and agreed to hold high-

level talks next week — the first since

December 2015.

Those talks are expected to focus

on matters including Olympic

participation.

Also in recent days, the United

States and South Korea agreed to delay

their joint military exercises until after

the Games, apparently to help ease

nerves. The regular joint drills have

been criticised by some as adding to

regional tensions.

North Korea’s young leader has

shrugged off multiple sets of new

UN Security Council sanctions as

his regime drives forward with its

weapons programmes, which it says

are needed to defend against US

aggression.

— AFP

ALLY: Pakistan PM says Islamabad is fighting the largest war on terror in the world

KATHMANDU: Elections for Nepal’s National Assembly, also known as the Upper House of the Federal Parliament, will take place on February 8, authorities announced on Saturday.

An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers presided over by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba made the decision as per the recommendation of the Election Commission, Commerce Minister Min Bishwakarma told the media.

The decision has come nearly a week after President Bidya Devi Bhandari approved the National Assembly Act to pave the way for holding the elections, reports Xinhua news agency.

The National Assembly will have a total of 59 members.

Of them, 56 will be elected by an electoral college comprising assembly members of the seven provinces and chiefs and deputy chiefs of municipalities and rural municipalities.

Three will be nominated by the President as per the recommendation of the government.

The decision to hold the National Assembly elections comes after Nepal concluded elections to the House of Representatives, the lower house. — IANS

Nepal to hold assembly elections on February 8

A selection of stamps commemorating North Korea’s participation in past winter Olympic Games is displayed at a stamp shop in Pyongyang. — AFP

The Moragahakanda hydro-electricity and irrigation dam and reservoir is seen from the air in Moragahakanda in central Sri Lanka. President Maithripala Sirisena is due to commission the $440-million irrigation and power generating project next week. — AFP

DAM READY

People visit illuminated ice sculptures at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. — Reuters

Joel Reyes, accused of killing a prominent environmental activist, was caught in Thailand in 2015. — AFP

Suspect in murder of prominent Philippine environmentalist freed

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 8 9

analysis

Oman’s warriors in red set nation afirehe outpouring of national pride and

emotion must have been evident

around the Sultanate as the fifth Omani

penalty taker, Mohsin al Khaldi, slotted

home the winning goal, the winning

penalty, at the end of a dramatic final to

the Arabian Gulf Cup on Friday night.

We were at the Mouriya Al Sifah

Resort, and the wide interest in the

match was evident as we saw groups,

no, large groups of people gathered

around screens large and small, to

watch the match, from the Sifawy

Boutique Hotel, to the Sky Lounge, and

the Bank Beach Resort.

The initial nervousness gave way to

more confident urgings as the match

wore on, with all of the drama reaching

its crescendo in the 90th minute when

Omani goalkeeper Fayez al Rushaidi

managed to pummel away the penalty

attempt of tousle haired Emirati Omar

Abdulrahman.

Then, after 106 minutes, during

extra time, the Emirati goalie, Khalid

Essa was forced into a dramatic save

when Al Khaldi struck a free kick from

just outside the penalty area to the top-

right corner of the goal with unerring

accuracy. Essa came from nowhere to

tip the ball around the corner with a

save that must have broken hearts all

over Oman.

Fahmi Rajab Durbein then saved

the team, and the nation, with a

perfectly timed sliding tackle on an

Emirati striker who appeared to have

broken free, and suddenly, the game

was anyone’s to win. Then, in no time

at all, a long blast of the whistle by the

referee heralded penalties to decide the

winners of the 23rd Gulf Cup.

The penalties were nail-biters, but

neither goalkeeper actually looked like

saving one, until Abdulrahman stepped

up. He was a player English Premier

League clubs had shown interest in,

and had been the Emirates’ best player

of the tournament.

Surely, he had in mind the earlier

kick the yellow clad keeper had saved

and it must have prayed on his mind

when he chose to strike towards the

other side of the keeper. In any case,

Al Rushaidi guessed correctly, and

incredibly, for the second time in the

match saved the star’s penalty, leaving

a confident Al Khaldi to convert the

winning, fifth, penalty with aplomb.

I was watching with no English

commentary, no subtitles, and I’m only

a resident of Oman, not an Omani, yet

I think in that moment, I took as much

satisfaction as any local from winning,

against the odds. The cacophony of

noise and celebration that lit the Omani

night, after 137 minutes of heroic

football must have been deeply felt by

the players, and certainly was by their

supporters.

Certainly, this Omani side, under

Coach Peter Tim van Verbeek, known

as Pim, has improved since he took

over from Juan Lopez Caro, and before

him, the long serving Paul Le Guen.

The technical issues around ball

retention, and their discretion as to

where and when to play the ball to ‘free’

players, are both still hesitant. However,

the players had certainly bought into a

specific ‘game plan,’ which relied upon a

quick transition of the ball through the

midfield, where the Emirati’s appeared

stronger.

If the team can use this magnificent

win as a vindication of the effective

merging of their own skill levels, fitness,

and ability to implement the coach’s

strategies, then the upcoming Asia

Cup offers yet another opportunity

to display consistency, maturity and

mental strength.

Omani football has always had a

talented player base, and a unique 95

per cent youth involvement in the sport

which must be the envy of the world.

The challenge now is to build on that,

utilise the feelgood factor, and make

these young men believe that they can

be that good, if they work hard enough.

In fact, it is a clarion call to all

Omanis, whatever they are doing, to be

better than they are now, however good

they are now.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this page are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the opinion of the Observer.

MARTINE PAUWELS

n picturesque Windsor, in the shadow of the castle where Queen

Elizabeth II spends her weekends, a dozen homeless people shelter from

the cold in a jumble of blankets and cardboard boxes.

But with less than five months to go until the May 19 wedding of her

grandson Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle in the mediaeval

castle’s chapel, the local authority’s bid to sweep the homeless off the

streets has triggered indignation.

Simon Dudley, the Conservative leader of the Royal Borough

of Windsor and Maidenhead council, has urged the local Thames

Valley Police force to take action against their “aggressive begging and

intimidation”.

“This is creating a concerning and hostile atmosphere for our residents

and the seven million tourists who come to Windsor each year.”

The level of interest in Windsor, some 35 km west of London, is “set to

multiply” ahead of the royal wedding, he added.

According to the business valuation consultancy Brand Finance, the

event should draw hundreds of thousands of extra tourists to the town,

normally home to just 30,000 people, in 2018.

Dudley said the genuinely homeless, having rejected help, were on the

streets by “voluntary choice”.

Stephanie, who has been in the town centre for two years after

suffering mental illness, insisted: “I don’t choose to sit here.”

“Whatever people give me, they give me. I don’t choose to ask for

money to get given something to eat, like sandwiches,” she said.

The council’s plans have been condemned by, among others, the

Conservative MP for Maidenhead — Prime Minister Theresa May.

Murray James, Windsor Homeless Project manager, was all the more

shocked by the proposed clampdown as Harry and his brother Prince

William have long been involved in work with the homeless.

Regardless of the royal marriage, the authorities should pursue the

reasons why people end up on the streets rather than the homeless

themselves, he said.

He claimed there was a lack of emergency accommodation in the town

and deplored the state of the housing provided by the local authority —

often “infested with rats”.

Many passers-by in Windsor barely take notice of its homeless

population.

Peggy Outhwaite said she was uncomfortable waiting for the bus

while a homeless man took up residence in the bus shelter.

“I don’t think that they should be here,” she said of the homeless.

“This is a royal town and Harry should have his day,” said the

pensioner. — AFP

Homeless clampdown sparks UK royal wedding row

A tribute to Oman’s championsongratulations Oman’s football

champions for winning the Gulf Cup

held in Kuwait. This is a commendable

achievement for the country and its

people from a team which excelled in

its performance. Well done team!

You have done great by sparing

no effort in winning every match you

have played in the past weeks. Word

of thanks are not enough to express

people’s appreciation and gratitude to

each of the players.

Successful people always keep

trying till they get it right. Our

champions did. Since the 19th Gulf

Cup that was held in Muscat, our

team has been trying its best to bring

the trophy back home again. However,

the right time has just come for them

and all of us to celebrate the victory

again here.

Since then, we all have been

dreaming to win the championship

again and repeat the history. As the

saying goes, “Success comes only to

those who believe in their dreams”

and here it comes.

We all believed the time has not

come yet for another victory. When

the time came, we actually won and

achieved success.

The dream eventually came true

because we all believed it will happen

sooner or later. It’s all a matter of time.

Thanks to Oman’s champions for

making it come true. It’s a translation

of all their efforts and hard work.

It’s also the team work between

players themselves and the coach

and administration team too. Thanks

extended as well to the management

of Oman Football Association.

Friday was a historic day indeed.

People’s feelings were a mix of stress,

panic and desire to win the match.

They were stressed because the match

was extremely tough between the two

teams, Oman and UAE.

Simultaneously, people were

passionately looking forward to a win.

Our champions won the match after

a hard-fought battle. Of course to get

to the first place, they fought long and

hard. Like the saying goes, ‘No pain,

no gain’.

However, we all believe that where

there is a will, there is a way and as

Walt Disney said: “If you can dream

it, you can do it.” Because we all were

confident that we will be winning this

year’s edition of the Gulf Cup, the

outcome was obvious.

The players were confident they

could make it. We believed in them.

Omani fans left no stone unturned

to be with the players in Kuwait.

Some had been staying there and

supporting the team, while others

were commuting whenever our team

was playing a match.

As a matter of fact, the collective

support that has been witnessed from

individuals, government and private

bodies has been commendable. Each

one of them was playing a significant

role in urging the champions to play

well and win matches.

Such support played a very

important role in supporting the

team and inspiring them to excel. It’s

always great to see such cooperation

to support Omani talent in different

spheres.

It’s thrilling all what we have heard

about the rewards that are being

presented to our champions in return

for the win they have achieved. Cash

and other awards are granted to the

team by various government and

private entities. These are another

way of expressing appreciation to

the team for bringing victory to the

country and recording another sports

achievement to the Sultanate. Well-

deserved indeed.

Special thanks and appreciation

to all those in charge of making

the excellent team who have been

crowned Gulf Champions.

Congratulations to the champions

and all Omanis for winning the Gulf

Cup 23.

ESTABLISHED ON 15 NOVEMBER 1981

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Abdullah bin Salim al Shueili

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T

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RAY PETERSENpetersen_ray@hotmail.com

ABDULAZIZ AL JAHDHAMIaljahdhami22@gmail.com

Omani football has always had

a talented player base, and a unique 95 per cent youth

involvement in the sport which must be the envy of the

world

Thanks to Oman’s champions for

making it come true. It’s a translation of all their efforts and

hard work

A fan celebrates Oman’s GCC cup victory in Muscat on Saturday. PHOTO BY MOHAMMED MAHJOUB

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 810

SLOWDOWN: Congress president targets both Modi and Jaitley

india

Fodder scam: Lalu gets 3.5 years in jail

Rahul dubs GDP as Modi’s Gross Divisive Politics

Solar modules stuck at ports due to import duty dispute

Thousands hit as TN transport strike enters second day

Kerala health minister faces vigilance probe

Four policemen killed in Kashmir bombing

NEW DELHI: Key Indian opposition

leader Lalu Prasad Yadav was jailed

on Saturday for three and a half years

over his role in a multi-million dollar

corruption case.

Lalu Prasad, 69, is a former railways

minister and ex-chief minister of the

impoverished eastern state of Bihar

where he enjoys huge popular support

for championing lower castes.

Last month the anti-corruption

court found Yadav guilty of fraudulently

withdrawing nearly $140,000 from the

state treasury in a larger fraud dubbed

the “fodder scam”, which was worth

about Rs 10 billion ($157 million).

Some 60 criminal cases were filed

against dozens of politicians and public

officials for colluding and defrauding

the government in a scheme that was

meant to help livestock farmers.

They are accused of inventing vast

herds of livestock to obtain public

money for fodder and medicines for

them.

Lalu Prasad denies the allegations,

calling them a “political vendetta” by

the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“We are confident that he (Lalu

Prasad) will get bail. We have full faith

in the judiciary.

We are not going to be cowed

down,” Lalu Prasad’s son Tej Pratap told

reporters after the sentence.

Lalu Prasad, a vocal critic of

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was

convicted in a first fodder scam case in

2013 and sentenced to five years in jail.

After spending two months in jail,

he was granted bail. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on

Saturday attacked the Centre for the economic slump in

the country and described “GDP” as the “Gross Divisive

Politics” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rahul Gandhi targeted both Modi and Finance Minister

Arun Jaitley for the slowdown in investment, bank credit

growth, job creation and agricultural growth.

“FM Jaitley’s genius combines with Modi’s Gross

Divisive Politics (GDP) to give India: New Investments: 13

year (low), Bank credit Growth: 63 year (low), Job creation:

8 year (low), Agriculture GVA growth: 1.7 per cent (low)

Fiscal Deficit: 8 year (high), Stalled Projects (high),” Rahul

Gandhi tweeted.

Rahul also tweeted a news report in which the Central

Statistics Office (CSO) has projected that economic growth

rate for 2017-18 will be lower than the 7.1 per cent that was

achieved in 2016-17.

Implementation of the Goods and Services Tax and

subsequent slowdown in the manufacturing sector was

expected to drag down India’s growth to 6.5 per cent in

2017-18, official data showed. — IANS

NEW DELHI: Solar modules worth

more than $150 million are stuck at

various Indian ports due to a dispute

over their classification and the import

tax applicable to them, sources said,

which could delay Prime Minister

Narendra Modi’s clean energy goals.

Modi has set an ambitious target

of nearly tripling the country’s total

renewable energy capacity to 175

gigawatt (GW) by 2022, spurring

global firms including Japan’s

SoftBank and Goldman Sachs to

invest in solar projects in the country.

Most of the solar modules come

from China, but several consignments

are now held up because customs

officials have demanded that some of

them be classified as “electric motors

and generators”, attracting a 7.5 per

cent duty, not as “diodes, transistors

and similar semi-conductor devices”

with no duty.

Two customs officials in the

southern port of Chennai confirmed

the issue regarding the classification.

C Narasimhan, president of the

Indian Solar Association, said that up

to 2,000 solar module containers are

now stranded at four major ports.

“Port disruptions like this will

hamper the country’s progress towards

achieving the target of 100 GW in

installed solar capacity by 2022,” said

Narasimhan, a former lawmaker.

The Indian unit of Germany’s

Enerparc had 30 of its containers

stuck at Chennai for three weeks as it

finished some “paperwork” and paid

a demurrage — a charge for failing

to discharge the ship on time — of

about 7 million rupees ($110,471), its

Managing Director Santosh Khatelsal

said.

The renewable energy ministry has

already asked the finance ministry to

resolve the matter without disrupting

business, said a government official

with direct knowledge of the matter.

Any duty is bad news for project

developers such as SoftBank-backed

SB Energy but good for local solar

component makers such as Indosolar

and Moser Baer.

Indian manufacturers have

struggled to compete with Chinese

companies such as Trina Solar and

Yingli and have sought anti-dumping

duties as well as long-term safeguards.

“The interests of domestic

manufacturers and developers should

be protected with least harm,” said the

government official, who declined to

be named.

“The dispute has the potential to

disrupt deployment by increasing

the cost of projects but at the same

time might protect the domestic

manufacturers.” — Reuters

CHENNAI: Thousands of people were affected across Tamil Nadu as most buses remained off the road on the second day of the transport workers strike on Saturday while talks between the government and the protesters failed to break the deadlock.

Over 40 trade unions affiliated to the state transport corporations have decided to intensify the protest as another round of talks between the striking employees and Transport Minister M R Vijayabaskar failed while opposition parties urged the AIADMK government to solve the issue immediately.

Though associations affiliated to the AIADMK operated bus services as usual, more than 70 per cent of state roadways were off the roads hitting thousands of commuters. To deal with the crisis, Southern Railway operated extra EMU services in the capital city. However, passengers in other districts could not commute as the private operators refused to operate in rural areas.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami also held discussions with the Transport Department authorities on Saturday afternoon to solve the transport strikers issue as the situation going worse. — IANS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption

Bureau here on Saturday started a

preliminary probe into the medical

bills claimed by Kerala Health

Minister K K Shailaja.

The probe was effected after

complaints were registered against

the Minister by senior BJP leader

K Surendran and K M Shajahan,

who is a former secretary to CPI-M

veteran V S Achuthanandan.

Shajahan alleged that the Minister

and a few medical professionals were

engaged in a criminal conspiracy to

fabricate documents to cheat the

public exchequer of Rs 390,250.

This was a blatant violation of

The Members of Kerala Legislative

Assembly (Medical Facilities)

Rules, 1994 with regard to claim

reimbursement of cost of treatment/

medical attendance by members, the

complaint added.

The issue has caused

embracement not just for the

Minister but for the CPI-M party

after the media took it up and it went

viral across the social media as well.

Shailaja on her part has gone on

record and said that she has done no

wrong. She has said that she has only

“claimed that which she is eligible

for”.

The preliminary probe will look

whether rules were breached.

If probe results came out against

the Minister it could lead to more

embarrassment for the ruling party

in the assembly session that begins

on January 22. — IANS

SRINAGAR: Four policemen,

including an assistant sub-inspector,

were killed and two others injured

in a powerful bomb blast that ripped

through a market place in north

Kashmir’s Sopore town on Saturday,

police said.

The improvised explosive device

(IED) blast damaged three shops

in the Gole Market, a police officer

said. Once a hotbed of militancy and

separatist politics, Sopore town lies 50

km north of Srinagar.

Inspector General of Police (IGP)

Kashmir Munir Khan said four

policemen were killed in the explosion.

The IED was planted by militants

near a shop, the police said. But it was

not immediately known which group

carried out the attack.

“Searches are on and the area was

cordoned off. The two injured were

shifted to hospital,” a police officer

said.

The otherwise busy market was

closed for the day in response to a

shutdown called by the separatists

to mark the 19th anniversary of the

killings of some 55 people following

a militant attack on security forces in

1993.

Authorities had deployed a large

number of security forces in the

market and other areas of Sopore to

maintain law and order situation in

the wake of the protest shutdown.

9 DEAD IN AVALANCHE

Nine persons were killed and two,

including an eight-year-old, were

rescued after the vehicle in which

they were travelling was caught in an

avalanche in a north Kashmir border

area, police said on Saturday.

The avalanche occurred at

3,000-metre Sadhna Pass of Tangdhar

region in Kupwara district.

“Nine dead bodies have been

recovered by rescue teams. The

deadinc lude an engineer of the BRO

(Border Roads Organisation) and

eight locals,” a police officer said.

The BRO engineer was identified as

Mangla Prasad Singh.

Rescue teams rescued the child

and a 50-old man from the avalanche

debris. — IANS

People wrap themselves in blankets and shawls as they wait for trains at a railway station on a foggy winter morning on the outskirts of Agartala on Saturday. — Reuters

Relatives and neighbours of slain Indian policeman Ghulam Nabi react during his funeral procession at village Rohama Rafiabad, some 70 kms north of Srinagar, on Saturday. — AFP

Season’s coldest day in DelhiNEW DELHI: Delhi on Saturday experienced its first coldest day of this season as the minimum temperature dropped to 4.2 degree Celsius, three notches below the average.

The Railways had to cancel 18 trains while 49 were delayed and 13 rescheduled due to fog in several parts of northern India. Operations at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here were also affected in the morning due to the low visibility.

“Due to poor visibility in #fog at Delhi, Patna, Varanasi, Chandigarh and Lucknow some of our flights are affected,” Jet Airways tweeted.

On early Saturday morning, SpiceJet in a tweet said: “Due to bad weather at Delhi, all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. All passengers are requested to cross-check their flight status before leaving for the airport.”

On January 4 this year, the mercury dipped to 5 degree Celsius while on January 1 the minimum temperature settled at 5.7 degree Celsius.

On Friday minimum and maximum temperature was swinging between 7.2 and 18.1 degrees Celsius.

“The sky will remain clear on Sunday with moderate fog in the morning and mist during the day,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.

Monday’s maximum and minimum temperature would be around 20 and 5 degree Celsius respectively.

There was slight relief during Saturday’s noon as the maximum temperature settled at 20.8, a notch above the season’s average.

On Saturday, humidity oscillated between 100 and 42 per cent while visibility at 8.30 am was 400 metres.

— IANS

Rahul, who had coined terms like ‘Gabbar Singh Tax’ for GST and ‘Fake in India’ for Make in India, came up with one more, ‘Gross Divisive Politics’ to describe Modi’s GDP.

Farmers work in a field on the outskirts of Kolkata. Rahul Gandhi on Saturday targeted both Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for the slowdown in agricultural growth. — AFP

Farmers throw potatoes outside UP CM’s houseLUCKNOW: The Yogi

Adityanath government in Uttar

Pradesh faced an embarrassing

situation on Saturday as quintals

of potatoes were thrown by the

farmers in front of the Vidhan

Sabha building and outside

Chief Minister’s residence.

The VIP and high-security

zone in front of the state

assembly building was strewn

with potatoes in the morning.

The scene was similar outside

Raj Bhawan which houses Uttar

Pradesh Governor Ram Naik

and his family and outside the

5, Kalidas Marg high-security

residence of Chief Minister

Adityanath.

The development sent the

district administration and

security officials in a tizzy as

the act was carried out in high-

security zones.

Senior Superintendent of

Police (SSP) Lucknow Deepak

Kumar said the vehicles of the

farmers, who were involved in

throwing potatoes have been

identified and that they would

be acted upon.

Farmers, however, said they

have not done anything wrong

as this was a symbolic protest

against the government and its

policies.

Farmers are angry at their

crops being wasted and said the

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led

government is doing nothing to

arrest the decay. — IANS

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 8 11

FIRE AND FURY: US President Trump rejects author Michael Wolff’s accusations that he is mentally unfit for office

Two jets collide on ground at Toronto airport

I am a ‘very stable genius’ and ‘like, very smart’

MONTREAL: Two jets collided on

the ground at a Toronto airport setting

the tail of one aircraft alight and

prompting passengers to evacuate the

other via an emergency slide.

Both WestJet and Sunwing

confirmed that their planes were

involved in the collision at Toronto

Pearson International, the second such

incident at the airport in five months.

Several hours after the collision

the airport said all WestJet passengers

were safely at the terminal, adding that

one of the airport’s fire and emergency

service personnel was undergoing

hospital treatment.

“At this time, airport operations

have not been significantly affected

by the incident but continue to be

challenged by the extreme cold

weather conditions,” the airport’s

statement said.

The panicked shouts and cries of

those aboard were audible on one

Instagram video shot by a passenger

inside the WestJet plane.

The clip showed flames erupting

from the Sunwing aircraft, sending

black smoke spewing into the frigid

night air.

“Our plane was crashed into by

another plane right after the pilot

announced they were ‘low on staff,’”

wrote the user who posted the video,

under the handle stephen_belford.

WestJet said on Twitter that the

Boeing 737-800 plane had 168 guests

and six crew onboard, and had arrived

in Toronto via Cancun.

Waiting to proceed to the gate,

the aircraft “was struck by a Sunwing

aircraft pushing back from the gate,”

WestJet said.

“Due to the position of the aircraft

on the laneway, WestJet guests

required evacuation via emergency

slide.

Emergency crews were on hand

and responded immediately,” the

airline tweeted.

The company did not specify if

the incident resulted in injuries but

said “all 168 guests and six crew are

accounted for.”

“We can confirm guests are safely

in the terminal and they are in the

process of clearing customs.”

In a statement posted on its social

media pages Sunwing said “there

were no Sunwing crew or passengers

onboard at the time of the incident,”

adding that its aircraft had been

“under tow by our ground handling

service provider” prior to the collision.

Toronto’s weather was clear but

overnight the temperature plunged

below -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees

Fahrenheit).

The Transportation Safety Board

had arrived at the scene and launched

an investigation. — AFP

WASHINGTON: US President Don-

ald Trump on Saturday praised him-

self as “a very stable genius,” following

the release of a bombshell book that

calls into doubt his mental health.

But Trump’s response to the book’s

allegations had Washington focusing

anew on the question of his stability.

In a series of extraordinary early-

morning tweets, Trump said that

“throughout my life, my two greatest

assets have been mental stability and

being, like, really smart.”

“I went from VERY successful busi-

nessman, to top TV Star to President

of the United States (on my first try). I

think that would qualify as not smart,

but genius.... and a very stable genius

at that!”

The new supposed tell-all book —

Michael Wolff ’s “Fire and Fury: In-

side the Trump White House” — was

rushed into stores on Friday after the

Trump administration failed to sup-

press it.

The book quickly sold out in Wash-

ington and has been the talk of the

town.

Trump has decried the instant best-

seller as “phony” and “full of lies” as

the White House issued a scorched-

earth dismissal of “Fire and Fury”

along with its author and his sources.

Trump’s stability has been ques-

tioned by critics almost since he de-

clared his candidacy for the presi-

dency.

In March 2016, former Republican

presidential candidate Mitt Romney

said Trump lacked the “temperament

of a stable, thoughtful leader.” And

Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary

Clinton regularly declared him “tem-

peramentally unfit” for a job requiring

“knowledge, stability and immense re-

sponsibility.”

Trump’s tweets came ahead of his

meetings on Saturday with top Repub-

lican lawmakers and Cabinet members

at the Camp David presidential retreat

to discuss party priorities ahead of the

crucial 2018 midterm elections.

Yet the sensational details in the

new book and Trump’s continued

defence of his mental health have

wrenched attention away from policy

and news of US financial markets

hitting all-time highs, bringing even

more scrutiny over whether the US

leader is fit for office.

On Friday, Washington’s chief dip-

lomat Rex Tillerson was obliged to

defend Trump after being asked dur-

ing an interview about claims that the

president has a short attention span,

regularly repeats himself and refuses

to read briefing notes.

“I’ve never questioned his mental

fitness. I’ve had no reason to ques-

tion his mental fitness,” said Tillerson,

whose office was last year forced to

deny reports that he had referred to

Trump as a “moron” after a national

security meeting.

Even in defending Trump, the

former ExxonMobil chief executive

told CNN he has had to learn how

to effectively relay information to the

president.

Journalist Wolff, no stranger to

controversy, quotes several key Trump

aides expressing doubt about Trump’s

ability to lead the world’s largest econ-

omy and military hegemon.

“Let me put a marker in the sand

here. One hundred per cent of the

people around him” question Trump’s

fitness for office, Wolff told NBC’s “To-

day” show.

“They all say he is like a child. And

what they mean by that is he has a

need for immediate gratification.

It’s all about him.”

The book includes extensive quotes

from Steve Bannon, Trump’s former

chief strategist, who accuses Trump’s

eldest son Don Jr of “treasonous”

contacts with a Kremlin-connected

lawyer, and saying the president’s

daughter Ivanka, who imagines her-

self running for president one day, is

“dumb as a brick.”

But it is Trump himself who is cast

in the most unfavourable light.

Wolff also says he detected signs

that some believe could point to in-

cipient dementia, or at least mental

deterioration — his repetition of the

same stories and anecdotes, some-

times within minutes.

The book’s publication came as

news emerged that at least a dozen

members of the US Congress were

briefed last month by Yale University

professor of psychiatry Bandy Lee on

Trump’s mental health.

Assessments questioning Trump’s

stability have grown throughout his

first year in office, fueled by what crit-

ics said were his often petulant, and

even childish, reactions to criticism.

Last November, Lee wrote to The

New York Times that she and several

other “concerned mental health pro-

fessionals” were detecting “more than

his usual state of instability,” with

“characteristics (that) place our coun-

try and the world at extreme risk of

danger.”

The White House has regularly dis-

missed such criticism, saying it is no

secret that the president has a strong

personality, but that it makes him a

more — not less — effective leader.

— AFP

Court rejects Putin foe’s appeal against poll ban

BELFAST: A Catholic dio-

cese in Northern Ireland

has suspended the “sign

of peace” handshake in its

masses due to the risk of

infection from a strain of

the flu first discovered in

Australia, a media report

said on Saturday.

At least 170,000 cases

were confirmed at the end

of the Australian winter,

more than twice as many

as in 2016. According to

health officials, there 72

flu-related deaths, the

Guardian report said.

The H3N2 virus, which

is also referred to as “Aus-

tralian flu” or “Aussie flu”,

has spread across the UK

and Ireland.

A statement from the

office of Bishop Noel Tre-

anor said: “Having received

medical advice concerning

the increasing risk and im-

pact of Australian flu, the

diocese of Down and Con-

nor has decided to reacti-

vate precautionary meas-

ures originally established

by the diocese in response

to the swine flu epidemic.

“The customary sign

of peace handshake ex-

changed during mass is

suspended until the risk

of infection is significantly

reduced... Other provisions

will be made for those who

suffer from a coeliac condi-

tion, such as separate chal-

ices.”

The statement also paid

tribute to those working

within the medical field,

acknowledging that “hos-

pitals across Northern

Ireland are currently expe-

riencing high numbers of

patient admissions of those

suffering from respiratory

illnesses directly linked to

the flu virus”, reports the

Guardian. — IANS

MOSCOW: Russia’s Supreme Court

on Saturday turned down an appeal

by opposition politician Alexei

Navalny to overturn a controversial

ruling barring him from running

in the March presidential election

against Vladimir Putin.

On December 31, the Supreme

Court upheld the Central Election

Commission’s decision that Navalny

cannot register as a candidate due to

an embezzlement conviction which

the opposition politician says is

politically motivated.

Opposed only by token candidates,

Putin is widely expected to win a

fourth presidential term in the March

election, making him the longest

serving Russian leader since dictator

Josef Stalin.

Russian agencies said Navalny’s

campaign team will continue to seek

a reversal of the ban.

“We will appeal today’s Supreme

Court ruling at the Presidium

but also at Russia’s Constitutional

Court,” Navalny’s representative Ivan

Zhdanov told Interfax news agency.

“In theory, Navalny still has a

chance of taking part in the election,

but in reality they are negligible,” he

added.

Navalny, who has campaigned

across Russia in recent months,

argued earlier in front of the Central

Election Commission banning him

from participation would make the

election illegitimate.

The ban prompted the 41-year-old

protest leader to call for a poll boycott.

Navalny, who has built a sizeable

campaign through his blog and

YouTube on an anti-corruption

platform, has called several mass

rallies across Russia last year that

saw a high number of young people

participate.

He has called on his supporters to

take to the streets again on January

28. Putin and other top Russian

officials to not refer to Navalny by

name. — AFP

world

Emergency services arrive at a site where two planes collided at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. — Reuters

Copies of the ‘Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House’ by author Michael Wolff are seen at a book store in New York. — Reuters

The Seine river bursting its banks near the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Saturday. The young female diver vanished on Friday in the river, swollen after days of rain brought by Storm Eleanor. — AFP

SWOLLEN SEINE

I went from VERY successful businessman, to top TV Star to President of the United States (on my first try

DONALD TRUMPUS President

Flu prompts handshake ban in N Ireland churches

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 812

panorama

ROME: It was mocked for its

wilting needles and bare branches,

but Rome’s Christmas tree has

captured the hearts of locals and

tourists alike and there are now

plans afoot to save it from the

chipper.

The Eternal City’s tree,

affectionately nicknamed

‘Spelacchio’, which translates as

‘Mangy’or ‘Baldy’, may end up

on display in Rome’s MAXXI

modern art museum, the Corriere

della Sera and Messaggero dailies

said on Saturday.

The Norway spruce — which

was estimated to have cost the city

some 48,000 euros — was declared

dead on its arrival in Rome from

northern Italy in December, with

many saying it was a metaphor for

the state of the capital.

But the underdog, pitifully

weedy incomparison with the

majestic trees at the Vatican

and rival cities like Milan, soon

built up a following of devoted

supporters, as well as a Twitter

account of its own.

“They say they want to put

me in a museum. Move over

Caravaggio,” it tweeted, in a

reference to the Italian Baroque

painter.

Fans have been hanging

messages of encouragement

on the tree, with one naming

it the “9th king of Rome, after

(Francesco) Toti,” the city’s most

famous football player.

Should a second life in a

museum be out of the question,

Rome council is exploring a Plan

B to turn the tree into a wooden

house to be used by breastfeeding

mothers, or thousands of

pencils for the city’s schools, the

newspapers said. — AFP

Rome’s ‘mangy’ Christmas tree offered eternal life

JUMBO CHRISTMAS: Female elephants Rada and Tefi get a Christmas tree from their keeper at the Allwetterzoo zoo in Muenster, western Germany, on Friday. — AFP

MASS YOGA: Indian schoolchildren take part in a yoga routine during a rehearsal ahead of the International Kite Festival 2018 in Ahmedabad on Saturday. — AFP

ICE FISHING: People fish for trout on a frozen river during the Ice Festival in Hwacheon, south of the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, South Korea, on Saturday. — Reuters

BALANCING ACT: Members of the Edo Firemanship Preservation Association display their balancing skills atop bamboo ladders during Tokyo Fire Department’s New Year’s Fire review in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday. — Reuters

CHILLING DRIVE: An aerial view shows a car driving along a forest road during sunset, with the air temperature at about minus 27 degrees Celsius in the Siberian Taiga area outside the village of Balakhta, in Krasnoyarsk region, Russia, on Saturday. — Reuters

DANCING IN WATER: Bulgarian men dance in the waters of the Tundzha River during a celebration to commemorate

Epiphany Day in the town of Kalofer, Bulgaria, on Saturday. — Reuters

SUNDAY | JANUARY 7, 2018 | RABEE AL THANI 19, 1439 AH

Award for PDO’s 100 MW solar energy project in JuneCONRAD PRABHUMUSCAT, JAN 6

Petroleum Development Oman

(PDO) has invited Expressions of

Interest (EoI) from international firms

eager to participate in a competitive

tender for a 100 MW utility scale solar

photovoltaic project to be located in

Amin in southern Oman.

The project is the second such

utility-scale solar PV venture unveiled

in as many weeks, and underscores

a rapidly intensifying push towards

renewable and sustainable energy

resource development in the Sultanate.

The project is set to be majority

government-owned PDO’s first

renewable energy venture being

developed as an Independent Power

Producer (IPP). Electricity output

from the plant will be lifted by PDO

as the sole offtaker under a 23-year

power purchase agreement (PPA) with

the developer.

The successful bidder will be

awarded a long-term concession to

design, construct, finance, operate and

maintain the solar plant for the duration

of the PPA term. “It is envisaged that

the Project will be privately financed

through a combination of sponsor and

third party equity and non / limited

recourse debt under a similar structure

to previous IPPs. It is intended that

PDO will sign a direct agreement

with the Project’s lenders setting out

financial commitments,” said PDO in

a backgrounder on the project.

Competitive tendering and

procurement of the solar project is

envisaged under the Independent Power

Producer (IPP) structure, which has

served as the model for the procurement

of almost all of the 6,000 MW of gas-

based power generation capacity

currently in place around Oman.

According to a timeline drawn up

by PDO for the implementation of

the project, a Request for Proposals

(RfP) will be issued before the end

of this month, with the award of a

concession slated in June this year. A

two-year timeframe is envisioned for

the construction phase.

NEW MILESTONE: Utility-scale solar photovoltaic venture to come up in Amin, northwest of Salalah

business editor@omanobserver.om www.omanobserver.omfollow us @oman_biz

businessOMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 814

insideoman

BUSINESS ALERT

Bank Sohar sponsors Indian Social Club event

MUSCAT: Bank Sohar recently sponsored a literary event hosted by the

Urdu Wing of the Indian Social Club as part of its programme to support

the youth, communities and cultural organisations. The event titled,

‘Mushairah’ was organised at the Ministry of Education Auditorium at

Watayah and was a celebration of Urdu poets, well-known among the

Indian diaspora in Oman and abroad.

Commenting on the bank’s sponsorship, Mustafa Ali Mukhtar, DGM

and Acting Head Wholesale Banking said, “Bank Sohar always strives to

play an active role in the community by engaging in events that celebrate

the diverse culture of our clients. Such occasions are opportunities that offer

better insight into our customers’ financial habits, their banking requirements allowing us to develop better solutions for

them. The bank is also presented with different perspectives of potential clients within their respective cultural and social

milieu. This again helps in network and relationship building for the development of enhanced products and services.”

Genesis names new General Manager for Africa and Middle East

ALTAR Yilmaz has been named as General Manager for luxury car brand Genesis in the

Africa and Middle East region, bringing 20 years’ experience in the luxury automotive sector

to the role. Yilmaz spent more than 15 years at Mercedes-Benz, beginning in the late 1990s,

followed by senior roles with the Porsche and Cadillac brands. His career includes positions

both with international carmakers and national distributors in the UAE and Saudi Arabia,

giving him a deep understanding of the market.

“I am very excited to be joining Genesis, and look forward to contributing to the brand’s

growth in Africa and the Middle East,” Altar Yilmaz said. “The luxury car market is very

competitive, but also has enormous potential for growth. With its commitment to excellence

in design, technology and quality, Genesis has a bright future in this region and globally.”

Genesis launched in the region during 2016 with its first model, the flagship G90 large sedan. It now also offers the

mid-sized G80 and G80 Sport, and is preparing to begin sales of the compact G70 sedan.

Infiniti Q60 gets ‘Dynamic Coupe of the year’ award

THE Infiniti Q60, the premium sports coupe that combines expressive design with

exhilarating performance and dynamics, won the ‘Dynamic Coupe of the year’ at

The Luxury 100, a unique initiative by Signature magazine, during a ceremony held

at Muscat Bay, recently.

The Luxury 100 features a list of 100 premium brands that have been curated by

a team comprising of UMS Editors, journalists from various parts of the world and

selected connoisseurs of luxury. The list features brands that have made their mark

in 2017 through their brand appeal, brand value and overall growth. The Infiniti Q60 was selected for its beautiful design,

new technology, safety features and outstanding performance.

A spokesperson for Infiniti Oman said, “We are incredibly proud that Infiniti brand is once again in The Luxury 100

list this year. It makes us feel proud to be in the country’s and the region’s only list of iconic luxury products of the year.

The Q60’s qualities and core strengths — the way it looks and drives — has been impressing buyers in the premium sports

coupe segment in the Sultanate. Infiniti Q60 has made it to The Luxury 100 for being at the forefront of daring design and

pioneering technology.”

Refreshed and impressive Kia Sorento now in Oman

THE Sorento has always stood out for its impressive looks and unique appeal

boldly making a mark on every appearance. The latest and refreshed Sorento

continues to take this legacy forward with its distinctive looks and sophisticated

style.

The Sorento moves up notches with a well-sculpted exterior and an impressive

performance, offering you enough room to make a lasting impression on a night

out or an exhilarating getaway around town. Striking and new-design projection

headlamps, aggressive-looking front grille, front fog lamps projection type, tinted

glass, attractive alloy wheels and eye-catching rear combination lamps enhance the overall appearance of the Sorento.

Options of exciting colours add to the profile of the Sorento making it instantly desirable at a single glance.

Powering this head-turner further on every journey is a powerful 3.5L MPI Euro4 engine that is paired to an 8-speed

A/T. Go ahead and let your imagination soar. The all-wheel drive Sorento’s outstanding performance offers you enough

opportunities to make the most of life both on weekdays as well as the weekends. Its outstanding suspension provides

wishfully smooth drives across terrains, making every drive a pleasure.

Bridgestone participates in PDO Tyre Safety campaign

BRIDGESTONE participated in the Tyre Safety awareness campaign conducted

by Petroleum Development Oman at the PDO facility in Mina Al Fahal on

December 19, 2017. The campaign was open from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm, where

Bridgestone’s professionally trained technical team drew attention of motorists

towards importance of regular tyre check, maintenance, observing road safety,

among others topics. The team received excellent response from the visitors. Free

assessment of tyres was done by checking tyre pressure, visual damages, wear

pattern etc as a part of the campaign.

Jaishankar, General Manager — Bridgestone Tyres at Towell Auto Centre said, “We are excited to organise such safety

campaigns to create awareness on tyre safety and educate consumers on regular tyre maintenance. We are proud to

partner with the PDO which is playing a vital role in spreading the message about road safety and safe driving in Oman.”

“We have and will always extend our support to promote tyre and road safety through such medium. Bridgestone

being one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, road safety is of prime (paramount) importance to us and we look

forward to taking ample steps to promote safe driving in Oman” he added.

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship

financial services provider in the

Sultanate, and leading healthcare

provider Apollo Hospital Muscat

have joined hands to facilitate

affordable healthcare services with an

easy payment plan (EPP) scheme.

The new facility allows Bank

Muscat credit card customers to

avail services at Apollo Hospital

Muscat, which can be paid in 12

equal monthly instalments with

zero interest. All Bank Muscat credit

cardholders, excluding Meethaq and

Corporate credit cardholders, are

eligible for this offer.

The EPP is a scheme where

customers can avail goods and

services through credit card and

repay in fixed equal monthly

instalments at zero per cent interest.

The EPP agreement was signed at

the bank’s head office by Amjad al

Lawati, Assistant General Manager

— Cards and eBanking, and V T

Saileswaran, Managing Director of

Apollo Hospital Muscat.

Amjad al Lawati said: “Bank

Muscat is delighted to join hands with

Apollo Hospital Muscat to launch

the EPP scheme that enhances value

for customers and promotes healthy

lifestyle.

The partnership with Apollo

Hospital Muscat will enable

customers using Bank Muscat

credit cards to avail a wide range of

healthcare services. Bank Muscat

credit cards, which spell convenience

and security, are a preferred mode of

payment in Oman. The EPP scheme

reiterates the bank’s commitment to

promoting secure card payment in

Oman.”

Customers can use all Bank

Muscat credit cards, excluding

Meethaq and Corporate credit cards,

at Apollo Hospital Muscat for any

treatment, cosmetic surgery, dental

and other health services costing

RO 100 and above and pay in equal

instalments for 12 months at zero per

cent interest.

VT Saileswaran said: “Aimed at

promoting a healthy lifestyle, Apollo

Hospital Muscat is proud to extend the

EPP scheme in partnership with Bank

Muscat. The association between the

two institutions will give a boost and

affordability to high end healthcare

services. The key benefits of the EPP

scheme include zero per cent interest,

allowing customers to avail services

and pay later for a period of 12

months. Customers are not required

to provide any additional documents

and the scheme ensures affordability

for high end medical care.”

Bank Muscat, Apollo Hospital join hands on easy payment plan

137,333 e-transactions through Invest Easy portal last yearBUSINESS REPORTERMUSCAT, JAN 6

There were 137,333 electronic

transactions made electronically

through the Invest Easy portal till

the end of December 2017. These

transactions were made for new

registries, renewal of commercial

registries, addition of activities and

changes in trade names, licenses of

commercial and personal import and

certificates of release and origin.

The Ministry of Commerce and

Industry has said that there were

15,588 e-transactions recorded in

Muscat Governorate, 25,884 in

North Batinah, 18,143 in Al Buraimi

Governorate and 19,255 in Al

Dhahirah Governorate. There were

168,20 e-transactions done in South

Al Sharqiyah Governorate, 17,159 in

Al Dakhiliyah, 9,682 in Dhofar, 6,716

e- transactions in North Al Sharqiyah,

2,766 in South Al Batinah, 4,184 in

Musandam and 1,128 in Al Wusta

Governorate. Only nine transactions

were made in the General Authority

for Investment Promotion and Export

Development.

The ministry has pointed out that

investors inclination towards the use

of electronic services contributes

to the increase in the number of

transactions, speedy completion of

applications, clarity in the procedures

and updating of all the company’s data

electronically.

This also saves time and effort as

well as increases confidence among

investors. The Easy Invest portal

currently provides 78 services round

the clock through the link www.

investeasy.gov.om or through the

Arabic domain of Invest Easy Oman.

The ministry also said that the

portal can detect illegal transactions,

like entering incorrect information

about investors and forged bank

statements. Also it can uncover people

who have registries to practice hidden

commercial activities, which are

considered wrong practices and have

negative implications on the local

economy.

This portal is one of the best systems

in the world in terms of commercial

registration. It is smart and innovative

in processing the registration and

doing its follow-up.

It has the ability to deliver all

data and statistics on the movement

of commercial registration in the

Sultanate to the officials and decision

makers of the country, through a

single window.

The Ministry of Commerce and

Industry urges investors to abide by the

law and cooperate with government

agencies to end the practice of hidden

trade. The portal Invest Easy can block

any company and the owner of the

company will not be able to do any

transactions with the government

organisations linked with the system.

This system follows the companies

and catches those who violate the law.

MOCI URGES INVESTORS TO ABIDE BY THE LAW AND COOPERATE

WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO END THE PRACTICE OF HIDDEN

TRADE.

OCFM Conference & Exhibition 2018 to focus on smart FM technologyMUSCAT: With an eye on the

future of facilities management in

Oman, the 2nd edition of the Oman

Cleaning and Facilities Management

Conference & Exhibition — OCFM,

patronised by the Ministry of

Manpower, Occupational Safety and

Health and Muscat Municipality and

s u p p o r t e d

by Middle

East Facility

Management

Ass o ciat ion

( M E F M A )

will be held

from February

5 to 7, 2018

at Sheraton

Oman Hotel,

Muscat.

The latest edition to OITE’s (Oman

International Trade & Exhibitions)

event portfolio launched in 2016,

OCFM is Oman’s dedicated Confex

for FM and Cleaning.

Recent participants at OCFM

include Oman International Group

SAOC (OIG) & Oman Shapoorji

Company LLC as Gold Sponsors; Sur

Overseas — Professional Pest Control

Services, Krishi Rasayan/Agrolife

Sciences, UPL, TAE IL Company,

ORMA, Engineering Techniques

Service (ETS) & Roots Multiclean

Ltd as Silver Sponsors, Nano Soft

Engineers & Mutrah Shipping &

Trading LLC.

“The OCFM Exhibition &

Conference will explore top products,

technology and processes that provide

cleaner environments, efficient

w o r k p l a c e s

and facility

management

services.

A new

avenue being

e x p l o r e d

this year is

Smart FM

Te c h n o l o g y

focusing on

smart building and scope for future

applications in managing building

conditions” says Ashit Barnes,

Exhibitions Director, OITE.

Ushering in a new era of increased

productivity in property management

through soft services integration

and technological advancement, the

‘Conference’ will house informative

speaker sessions spanning two

days and covering themes under

the broader topics of Facilities

Management and Pest Control and

Pesticides.

businessOMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 8 15

insideoman

OMAN Budget 2018 highlightsThe recent recovery in oil prices has not

changed the government’s resolve to continue

with its prudent fiscal management, including

controlling public and in particular current

spending. It also realises that diversification

away from oil has to be pursued vigorously

with the help of the private sector investment to

contain the budget deficit and the rising public

debt.

In this backdrop, the budget has tried to

maintain balance by cutting public expenditure

without compromising on funding of key

development projects. Given that the private

sector is expected to play a pivotal role in

capital formation, the focus of the government

is not only to improve the investment climate

and promote public private partnership but

also to give significant support to the small

and medium enterprises by allocating some

of the government projects to this sector and

to ensure the swift implementation of the

National Program for Enhancing Economic

Diversification (‘Tanfeedh’) initiatives.

REVENUEOil and gas revenue represents 71 per cent of total government revenue

Oil and gas revenue is expected to increase

by 9 per cent compared to the 2017 budget.

The 2018 budget is based on a oil price of $50/

bbl compared to $45/bbl used in the 2017

budget. The budgeted oil price of $50/bbl for

2018 corresponds to the average price actually

realised during 2017. Revenue estimates also

reflect reduced production pledged by the

government in line with the Opec production

agreement and anticipated production from

the Khazzan-Makarem gas field.

Non-oil and gas revenue represents 29 per cent of total government revenue

Non-oil and gas revenue is projected to be

RO2.7bn amounting to an increase of 5 per cent

from the 2017 budgeted revenue. Corporate

tax revenue is projected to increase by 25 per

cent to RO500m in 2018 compared to RO400m

budgeted in 2017. The increase is due to raise

in corporate tax rate from 12 per cent to 15 per

cent and abolition of the exemption limit of RO

30,000. Increase to the scope of withholding

taxes is also expected to contribute in higher

tax collections.

The substantial increase in corporate taxes

is offset by a 23 per cent decrease projected in

customs revenue to RO 286m in 2018 from RO

370m budgeted for 2017. Municipality fees on

property rentals is anticipated to reduce by RO

12.8m i.e. by 17.8 per cent compared to 2017

budget which may imply slowdown in renting

of real estates due to the overall economic

downturn.

The government has also indicated its

intention to introduce Excise taxes during 2018

on selective goods in line with the other Gulf

Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Saudi

Arabia, UAE and Bahrain introduced Excise

tax of 100 per cent on tobacco, and alcohol

and 50 per cent on energy drinks. On the other

hand, VAT implementation has been delayed

to 2019 although Saudi Arabia and the UAE

implemented VAT from 1 January 2018.

Income from government investments is

projected to reduce by RO 40m.

EXPENDITUREWhilst the total expenditure is projected to

increase by RO 800m to RO 12.5bn compared

to the 2017 budget, this is infact 2 per cent

lower than the actual projected spending of RO

12.7bn in 2017.

The government has committed to limit the

total public spending to not more than 40-45

per cent of the GDP.

Defence and security expenditure is

marginally increased by 3 per cent. Expenditure

on development projects is estimated at

RO1.365bn, almost unchanged from the 2017

budget.

Allocations have been made for several

infrastructure projects in Oman and

development projects in Duqm. Expenditure

on education, health, housing and social

welfare is reported to be at 38 per cent of the

total public spending and reflects continued

increased allocation compared to previous

years.

Interest on loans is projected to increase by

81 per cent to RO 480m in 2018 from RO 265m

budgeted in 2017 which indicates increased

debt servicing to manage the fiscal deficit.

BUDGET DEFICIT IS 10 PER CENT OF GDPThe 2018 budget deficit is projected to be

RO 3bn compared to an actual 2017 deficit of

RO 3.5bn.

The 2018 deficit is expected to be financed

from borrowings (84 per cent) and reserves (16

per cent).

KEY DEVELOPMENTSTANFEEDH

The Tanfeedh programme continues to

be the key focus area on the manufacturing,

logistics and tourism sectors being

assigned priority during the first phase. An

Implementation Support and Follow-up Unit

(ISFU) was formed during 2017 to ensure the

implementation of the initiatives on a timely

basis.

The government allocated RO 86.2m

for implementing the initiatives/projects of

Tanfeedh during 2017.

PRIVATISATIONSix state owned enterprises are being

planned for privatisation during 2018. PPP

projects like Khazzan natural gas project ($

16bn project operated by BP in partnership

with Oman Oil Company Exploration and

Production) and Duqm Refinery, (50:50 joint

venture between Oman Oil Company and

Kuwait Petroleum) are progressing well.

Private sector contribution to the

implementation of investment projects was

60 per cent in 2017. The government plans to

attract further private investment by improving

the investment climate and enacting new PPP,

foreign capital investment and bankruptcy

laws. Projects selected within the Tanfeedh

framework are proposed to be financed in

partnership with the private sector.

INVESTMENTSA number of strategic projects are ongoing

with an intent of the government not to cut

development spending. Projects such as the

new international airport, expressways, water

networks, hospitals and renewable energy

generation would continue to get government

funding. Proposals to set up free zones in

Buraimi, Musandam are under discussion.

TAXATIONWith the amendment to the tax legislation

in February 2017, no significant amendments

are anticipated to the corporate tax regime.

It is expected that Executive Regulations to

implement the recent amendments to the Tax

Law may be issued.

Oman has recently joined the Base Erosion

and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Inclusive Framework

of OECD. In the GCC region, Saudi Arabia and

Qatar are the other countries who have joined

the BEPS Inclusive Framework.

By joining the BEPS Inclusive Framework,

Oman has committed to implement the four

minimum standards of the BEPS Package.

Furthermore, members of the Inclusive

Framework agree to work together on an equal

footing to develop further the BEPS measures,

commit to participate in peer reviews on BEPS

measures’ consistent implementation.

The European Union has put Oman

in the grey list of non co-operative tax

jurisdictions. As it is not black listed it would

not face any sanctions. However, with proper

implementation of BEPS measures, Oman

should be able to get out of the grey list.

Based on insights provided by KPMG]

Revenue Expenditure Deficit Deficit Financing

2018 budget 2017 budget 2017 actual

ROm % of total (%) from 2017 budget

(%) from 2017 actual

ROm % of total ROm (%) from 2017 budget

Revenue

Oil 4,870 51 9 4,450 51

Gas 1,910 20 15 1,660 19

Oil & Gas revenue

6,780 71 11 - 6,110 70 6,760 11

Taxes and fees 1,413 15 - 1,423 16

Other non-tax revenues

1,147 12 - 1,127 13

Capital revenues and repayments

160 2 400 40 1

Non-oil & Gas revenue

2,720 29 5 11 2,590 30 2,440 (6)

Total revenue 9,500 100 9 3 8,700 100 9,200 6

Expenditure

Defense and security

(3,440) 28 3 (3,340) 29

Oil and gas production

(2,100) 17 15 (1,820) 16

Civil ministries (4,350) 34 (1) (4,400) 38

Development (1,365) 11 2 (1,340) 11

Subsidies (725) 6 84 (395) 3

Interest on loans

(480) 3 81 (265) 2

Others (40) 1 (71) (140) 1

Total expenditure

(12,500) 100 7 (2) (11,700) 100 (12,700) 9

Deficit (3,000) (14) (3,000) (3,500) 17

Deficit (% of total revenue)

32% (6) (16) 34% 38% 12

Actual oil and gas revenues for 2017 are up by 11% as compared to the budgeted figures for 2017. This is on account of increase in realized oil price to USD 50/bbl as compared to the budgeted price of USD 45/bbl.

Non oil and gas revenues have declined by 6% as compared to the budget due to lower tax and non tax revenues including investment income.

Actual public spending surpassed the budgeted figures by RO 1b and reached RO 12.7b.

The 9% excess spending is attributed to rise in investment spending on development projects and oil and gas sector projects, electricity sector subsidy and public debt servicing costs.

Actual deficit for 2017 stood at RO 3.5b being 38% of actual revenue. The increase in expenditure of RO 1b is off-set with the increased revenue of RO 500m, which resulted in an excess deficit of RO 500m as compared to budgeted deficit of RO 3b.

The Government financed 90% of the deficit by domestic and foreign borrowings. The balance 10% of the deficit was covered by drawing on reserves. The Government relied primarily upon borrowings from external sources to reduce the pressure on the private sector’s financing needs as well as to enhance foreign currency cash flows and reserves.

Oil revenue budget reduced by 11%Oil revenue is budgeted to decline by 11 percent from the RO 5.48b planned in FYP9 to RO 4.87b in 2018. FYP9 had assumed a price of US$55/ bbl versus US$50/bbl considered in Budget 2018. The decline in oil revenue is due to the steep decline in oil price in late 2014 and the relatively slow price recovery coupled with Oman’s commitment to cut oil production in line with the OPEC production agreement.

Gas revenue budgeted to rise by 4%Gas revenue is budgeted to increase by 4% from RO 1.84b planned in FYP9 to RO 1.91b in 2018. This is due to the expected increase in gas production from the Khazzan gas project.

Overall expenditure budget cut by 6%Expenditure is set to decline by RO 800m from the planned RO 13.3b in FYP9 to RO 12.5b in 2018 but higher compared to the 2017 budget of RO 11.7b. This is in line with the approach of rationalizing expenditure to contain the fiscal deficit.

Oil and gas expenditure budget cut by 15%Oil and gas expenditure is to decrease from RO 2.46b planned in FYP9 to RO 2.1b in 2018. However, the expenditure is up by 15% as compared to the 2017 budget.

Development expenditure cut by 17%Budget for development expenditure is reduced by 17% from the RO 1.65b planned in FYP9 to RO 1.37b in 2018. The reduction is expected to be offset by increasing investment from private sector.

2018 budget Ninth five year plan - 2018

ROm % of total (%) from FYP9

ROm % of total

Revenue

Oil 4,870 51 (11) 5,480 53

Gas 1,910 20 4 1,840 18

Other revenues 2,720 29 (9) 2,980 29

Total revenue 9,500 100 (8) 10,300 100

Expenditure

Defense and security (3,440) 28 (7) (3,700) 28

Oil and gas production (2,100) 17 (15) (2,460) 19

Civil ministries (4,350) 34 (10) (4,820) 36

Development (1,365) 11 (17) (1,650) 12

Others (1,245) 10 86 (670) 5

Total expenditure (12,500) 100 (6) (13,300) 100

Deficit (3,000) (3,000)

Deficit (% of total revenue) 32% 10 29%

Average price per barrel (US$) 50 (9) 55

KPMG comment Prudent fiscal management continues in 2018 as the budgeted deficit is kept on track as planned in FYP9. The budget is based on a conservative oil price of US$ 50/bbl, which is the average realized price in 2017. Government’s continued rationalization of government expenditure and focus on increasing non oil revenues is helping bring down the break even price of oil (now less than US$ 75/bbl) required to have a zero deficit. Despite the continued economic challenges posed by geo-economic factors, GDP growth of 3% is achievable if the Government accelerates the reform process including issuing the new public private partnership (PPP), foreign capital investment and bankruptcy laws to foster private sector participation.

Other expenses increased significantly by 86%Other expenses include subsidies and interest on loans. Increase in subsidies is primarily towards electricity. Subsidies also cover cooking gas, housing and development loans and support to state owned enterprises.

Overall budget deficit is 32% of total revenuesThe 2018 budget projects a deficit of RO 3b (10 percent of GDP) which is as envisaged by the FYP9. The 8% decline in revenue as compared to FYP9 has been compensated by a 6% cut in overall expenditure.

GDP projected to grow by 3%The projected GDP growth of 3% is in line with FYP9 estimates.

Focus on controlling public spending and increasing non oil revenues continues

businessbusinessOMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 816

international

NEW YORK: Companies in New York

state are “open to the idea” of moving

the state income tax code to a payroll

tax system, a senior state official said

on Friday.

Governor Andrew Cuomo

earlier this week said the state was

exploring using a payroll tax as an

alternative to the income tax in order

to help residents hurt by new limits on

deductions of state taxes from federal

returns, under a sweeping overhaul

of the US tax code passed in late

December.

Cuomo, along with governors of

other high-tax states such as California,

has railed against the provision of the

federal tax overhaul that introduced

an annual cap, of $10,000, on the

deduction of state and local income

and property taxes, known as SALT.

The $10,000 limit, which became

effective for the 2018 tax year, will hit

many taxpayers in states with high

incomes, property values and taxes.

Paying New York state taxes out

of corporate payroll rather than an

income tax would help ease the effect

on residents of the new cap.

New York state residents, however,

would still face a $10,000 cap on

deductions of local and property taxes.

According to the Cuomo

administration official, who spoke on

condition of anonymity because the

ongoing discussions have not yet been

formalised, the chief executives of the

largest employers in New York City

are willing to consider the move to a

payroll tax system.

“Yes, they want to be part of it.

They want to be part of how we put it

together because their employees are

negatively impacted,” the official said,

giving greater detail for the first time

to plans broadly outlined by Cuomo in

his 2018 State of the State address on

Wednesday.

“Make no mistake, they

(Washington) are aiming to hurt us,”

Cuomo said in his State of the State

address.“This could cause people to

leave the state of New York.

And it could reduce our ability to

attract business.”

The high-tax states facing the most

pain from the new limits on SALT

deductions, including New York, New

Jersey and California, are generally

Democratic leaning.

On Thursday in California a state

lawmaker introduced legislation

that would allow residents to make

donations instead of paying taxes to

avoid the cap on deductions of state

taxes.

White House economic adviser

Gary Cohn said the federal

government might try to block

attempts to circumvent the cap,

Bloomberg reported on Friday.

Cuomo on Wednesday said he

will challenge the new law in court as

unconstitutional on the grounds that

the first federal double taxation in US

history violates states’ rights and equal

protection.

The New York corporations want

to be included in the plan to move to

a payroll tax, but the administration

source declined to name companies,

citing instead the Partnership for New

York City, which represents business

leaders and employers.

The partnership on Wednesday

said in a statement that its members

“applaud” the governor’s commitment

to address the loss of state and local

tax deductibility. Members of the

partnership include American Express,

Bank of America and BlackRock.

For a tax code restructuring, New

York state is also assessing whether to

create new opportunities for charitable

contributions to support public

programmes.

The senior official said that, per case

law, a contribution to a state and local

government for a specific purpose is a

charitable contribution.

“So if you want to contribute to a

school, a public school specifically,

or a not-for-profit that supports a

government purpose... you get a tax

deduction,” the official said.“Or the

state can create a charity that also gives

to hospitals.”

“You can create incentives for

people to contribute to charities that

would replace some government

funding,” the official added.

The state will also assess how

individuals would build in tax

preferences in a new system, the official

said. “But if you just turn yourself into

a corp, limited liability corporation,

and pay yourself, then you magically

are now able to deduct your state and

local taxes. We’re looking at all of these

options.” — Reuters

New York companies ‘open’ to new payroll tax systemPAYING NEW YORK

STATE TAXES OUT OF CORPORATE PAYROLL RATHER THAN AN

INCOME TAX WOULD HELP EASE THE EFFECT ON

RESIDENTS OF THE NEW CAP

China bans steel exports to N Korea

BEIJING: China on Saturday

implemented a ban on exports of

steel and other metals to North Korea

and placed limits on the supply of

crude oil and petroleum products to

the country in line with UN Security

Council resolutions.

In a statement on Friday, the

Ministry of Commerce announced

a complete ban on the sale of iron,

steel and other metals, industrial

machinery and transport vehicles to

North Korea, reports Efe news.

It also said that crude oil exports

to the country should not exceed four

million barrels or 525,000 tonnes

during any given 12-month period,

while the sale of refined petroleum

products would be stopped after

reaching the imposed limit of 500,000

barrels for 2018.

China also banned imports of

some products from North Korea,

including cereal, soy, and other

agricultural products, some minerals,

wood and electrical equipment.

These measures were announced

by China in order to implement

Resolution 2397 of the Security

Council, adopted in December in

response to the ballistic missile tested

by the Kim Jong-Un regime. — IANS

CARACAS: President Nicolas

Maduro said on Friday that Venezuela

would issue 100 million units of its

new oil-backed cryptocurrency in

coming days, although it is unclear

whether any investors will want to

purchase the “petro” at a time when

the Opec member is going through

a deep economic crisis and its leftist

government has little credibility.

Socialist Maduro surprised many

last month when he announced the

launch of the cryptocurrency, to

be backed by Venezuela’s oil, gas,

gold and diamond reserves, as a

way to circumvent US sanctions

that have hurt Venezuela’s access to

international banks.

Maduro specified on Friday that

each unit of the currency would be

pegged to Venezuela’s oil basket,

which this week averaged $59.07 per

barrel, according to the oil ministry.

That implies the total

cryptocurrency issued would be

worth just over $5.9 billion.

There is much confusion,

however, over how the mechanism

will work.

Opposition politicians have

already panned the project as a

fanciful idea doomed to fail and

useless at getting food to the millions

who are suffering from product

shortages and the world’s highest

inflation.

Maduro says the cryptocurrency

will usher in the “21st century” and

boost Venezuela’s access to hard

currency.

“I have ordered the emission of

100 million petros with the legal

sustenance of Venezuela’s certified

and legalised oil wealth,” said

Maduro in a state television address.

“Every petro will be equal in value

to Venezuela’s oil barrel.”

Venezuela has the world’s largest

oil reserves, according to Opec, and

makes some 95 per cent of its export

revenue from oil.

Critics say the government has

squandered wealth from a decade-

long oil boom and that without

reforms any influx of resources will

also be burned through.

Strict currency controls have

forced people onto the black market,

on which a dollar can buy 137,000

bolivars.

The country’s strongest official

rate, meanwhile, is 10 bolivars per

dollar. That fall in value combined

with money printing by the central

bank is behind what many analysts

are measuring as hyperinflation.

Local economic consultancy

Ecoanalitica said prices rose more

than 80 per cent in December alone.

Money supply, according to the

central bank, was up more than

1,000 per cent last year.

Maduro said the issuance would

take place through virtual exchanges

in the coming days, but did not give

further details. — Reuters

Nicolas Maduro says Venezuela will issue $5.9 billion in oil-backed cryptocurrency

WASHINGTON: The Internet Association, a trade

group representing companies such as Google parent

Alphabet Inc and Facebook Inc, said on Friday that it

intends to join an expected lawsuit against a decision to

roll back net neutrality rules.

One of the group’s members, e-commerce site Etsy

Inc, said that it would separately also join the legal effort.

Several states including New York, and public interest

advocacy groups have said they intend to sue to stop the

mid-December ruling by the Federal Communications

Commission.

The approval of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal

in a 3-2 vote marked a victory for Internet service

providers such as AT&T Inc, Comcast Corp and Verizon

Communications Inc, handing them power over what

content consumers can access.

Democrats, Hollywood and companies such as

Google and Facebook had urged Pai, a Republican

appointed by US President Donald Trump, to keep

the Obama-era rules barring service providers from

blocking, slowing access to or charging more for certain

content.

“The final version of Chairman Pai’s rule, as

expected, dismantles popular net neutrality protections

for consumers. This rule defies the will of a bipartisan

majority of Americans and fails to preserve a free and

open Internet,” the Internet Association said. Etsy called

the decision to overturn net neutrality rules “deeply

disappointing.”

“Etsy is continuing to fight for a free and open

Internet; that’s why we intend to challenge Chairman

Pai’s order in the courts,” Althea Erickson, Etsy’s head of

advocacy and impact, said in a statement.

The new rules give service providers sweeping powers

to change how consumers access the Internet but must

have new transparency requirements that will require

them to disclose any changes to consumers. — Reuters

Internet Association to join expected net neutrality lawsuit

Keystone XL pipeline rivals appeal route approvalNEBRASKA: Opponents of

TransCanada Corp’s proposed

Keystone XL pipeline appealed a

decision by Nebraska regulators to

approve a path for the project through

the state, a lawyer for the opponents

said on Friday.

The legal challenge throws up

another obstacle to the long-delayed

project, which environmentalists have

made a symbol of their fight against

climate change but which President

Donald Trump supports as a job

creator.

The Nebraska Public Service

Commission in November approved

a route for Keystone XL, lifting what

appeared to be the last big regulatory

hurdle for the 1,179-mile (1,897-

km) pipeline linking the oil fields

of Canada’s Alberta province to US

refineries, initially proposed nearly a

decade ago.

But the approval was not for

TransCanada’s preferred path, and

was instead for an alternative route

that shifted it eastward to an existing

pipeline right-of-way.

Lawyers for opponents of the

pipeline — which include landowners

along the route — have argued that

the commission was not permitted

to approve anything but the original

route TransCanada had requested in

its application.

Attorney David Domina said on

Friday that TransCanada’s approval

was for a “route not supported by

an application. So we appealed.” The

appeal was filed on December 29.

The proposed pipeline has been a

lightning rod of controversy for nearly

a decade, pitting environmentalists

worried about spills and global

warming against business advocates

who say the project will lower fuel

prices, shore up national security and

bring jobs.

The Trump administration granted

TransCanada a federal permit for the

pipeline in March, reversing a decision

by former President Barack Obama to

reject the project on environmental

grounds.

That left Nebraska — the only one

of three states that had not approved

a route for the line — as the final

hurdle. — Reuters

Workers make steel cages at a construction site in Huai’an, China. — Reuters

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with ministers in Caracas, Venezuela. — Reuters

A supporter of Net Neutrality protests the FCC’s recent decision to repeal the programme in Los Angeles. — Reuters A pipeline depot is seen in Gascoyne,

North Dakota. — Reuters

businessOMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 8 17

perspective

‘OWLING’ PRICE

HEATHER SCOTT

ikes in the minimum wage take effect this week in about 40 US

states and municipalities but they will not be enough to boost US

salaries more broadly, economists say.

Congress has not approved a federal minimum wage hike

since 2009, and it was not indexed to inflation, so state and local

governments stepped in to help workers on the lowest end of the

pay scale make up some lost ground.

Washington state’s minimum wage will rise to $11.50 an hour,

the highest in any state, while some are phasing in increases to get

to a “living wage” of $15, compared with the federal minimum of

$7.25.

In all, 18 states and nearly two dozen municipalities are raising

their base salaries, but economists say the move affects a relatively

small segment of the American labour force.

They say policies that could have a broader impact on wages

include direct employment programmes, like infrastructure

projects, especially in regions of the country that have not yet

recovered from the recession.

An expanded earned-income tax credit which would boost

earnings for higher-wage workers could also help, they say.

Other policies unrelated to wages include standardizing state

licensing criteria for professions like hair dressers.

This would allow professionals to move to areas with more

vibrant economies without having to pay to fulfil new licensing

requirements.

Another more technical change would be to clamp down on

the use of non-compete clauses which firms increasingly include

in employment contracts.

Such clauses keep workers from moving to competitors or

starting their own businesses.

Even with the US economy in its eighth year of recovery, and

with solid hiring pushing the unemployment rate to a 17-year

low of 4.1 per cent, wage gains have been far more sluggish than

economists and policymakers expected.

The gains have not been widely shared, either.

The US final employment report for 2017 showed average

hourly earnings increased 2.5 per cent to $25.63, just ahead of

consumer price increases. — AFP

n EU directive called “MiFID II”, the last

of the big reforms sparked by the financial

crisis, entered into force with the promise

of improving financial market transparency

and offering better protection to investors.

“MiFID II marks a real watershed

moment for financial regulation,” said

Catherine McGuinness, head of the City of

London Corporation lobby group.

“It will be the last major piece of

regulatory reform following the financial

crash of 2008,” she said, adding that

“financial and professional services firms

have worked hard in recent times to

implement these onerous and complex

changes”.

It is that very complexity that caused

the implementation of the directive, first

planned for January 2017, to be postponed

by a year to give companies time to adapt.

Some financial market operators in

Germany, Britain and France were given

even more time, in some cases until July

2020.

Adopted in May 2014 the new rules —

whose full name is “Markets in Financial

Instruments Directive” — are to address

the weaknesses that became apparent

during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009.

They also aim to give retail and

institutional investors extra layers of

protection.

“The new rules will subject all businesses

involved in the distribution and trading

of financial instruments across Europe

to a changed, and in many cases, more

stringent regulatory framework,” rating

agency Standard and Poor’s said.

“Over the longer-term, the disruptive

nature of this major regulatory change will

become more apparent, and the winners

and losers will likely emerge more clearly,”

said S&P analyst Giles Edwards. “There

will likely be more losers than winners.”

Banks, asset managers, brokers and

other market operators will all have to

grapple with the new measures and supply

proof to supervisory bodies that they are

playing by the rules.

This implies, among other things, major

new information technology capacity and

a deep transformation of workflows to

guarantee the viability of information.

For example, the directive forces

companies to identify their target investors

for each type of security on offer, and

measure the level of financial knowledge

of customers and their capacity to take on

risk.

It also extends protection measures to

professional investors that were previously

granted only to retail investors, and obliges

them to warn clients in the event of strong

volatility in their investments.

The directive also strengthens

transparency requirements for share

investments and broadens them out to

other financial instruments, including

bonds and derivatives, trades in which

must now be reported before and after each

transaction.

Failure to do so will result in fines.

Financial companies will also have to

provide detailed information to clients of

the cost of trading in financial instruments,

notably by separately identifying charges

and commissions.

The aim is to shed more light on the

earnings of intermediaries and limit over-

the-counter deals seen as too opaque.

There will also be additional controls

over electronic trading at great speeds, such

as high-frequency trading.

In addition, the directive obliges banks

and brokers to charge for research notes

written by their analysts for investment

fund clients and portfolio managers.

Such notes help investors make

informed decisions on companies or

economic data. Research is often used as a

marketing tool by banks and brokers when

they approach clients but its price is a topic

of debate, as is what goal banks and brokers

are actually pursuing by disseminating

their insights. — AFP

EU launches last crisis-battling finance reform

* WORK RATE

What if cryptocurrencies are not a bubble?n Italian language we have a funny

term: “Gufare”. It literally means “being

an owl” or rather “owling”. We use this

word when we want to refer to someone

whom day-and-night wishes someone

else to fail.

So for example in football, when

Juventus keeps winning, some

supporters of AC Milan and Inter

Milan would “gufare” against Juventus.

The term was actually conceived to

address this specific sport behaviour,

but soon became popular in other

aspects of life. So when an entrepreneur

is suddenly successful, some begin to

“gufare” against him or her. It is a sort

of “act of envy”. In Middle East, to my

knowledge, this is referred to as “the

eye”.

In “crypto-world” this has also taken

place. The website www.99bitcoins.

com for example collects and publishes

all the instance when Bitcoin has been

“owled” against.

In some cases it was defined as

“finished”. There are hundreds of such

Bitcoin obituaries published on the

website and it is really interesting to

browse down the list, back in time, and

read some of the silly ones.

For instance, the financial legend

Bloomberg, in August 2013, published

an article called “The SEC shows why

Bitcoin is doomed”. At that point the

cryptocurrency did not reach $100

yet. Even funnier was the August 2011

article published by Gizmodo Australia

titled “The Bitcoin Is Dying. Whatever.”

Back then the price was merely

$10. With hindsight, even sillier

was the article titled “Why Bitcoin

can’t be a currency”, published by

The Underground Economist when

Bitcoin’s price was just 23 cents.

It is obviously easier to look back

than looking ahead, so perhaps all

of these prophecies could eventually

become real one day. But in the

meantime Bitcoin scored big.

That is eventually the proof of how

useless is “gufare”. When AC Milan

and Inter Milan did it against Juventus,

the latter kept scoring and winning,

while the formers kept losing... and

kept “Gufare” of course. So even if

eventually Bitcoin will crash and

burn, it undoubtedly gave this world

an unprecedented number of new

millionaires.

So, at the cost of singing out of the

choir, I would — for a moment —

imagine that cryptos are not a bubble.

Why so?

Well, so far the “owls” kept

comparing Bitcoin (and other

cryptocurrencies) to the bubble in the

year 2000. Back then however, when

the stock market crashed and burned,

those holding stocks could only “sell

back” in USD.

So for those who saw their profit

growing in numbers, they were actually

holding onto a piece of paper that at

some point nobody was willing to buy

at a higher price. With cryptos it is

different. In fact, the most important

question is not “When will you cash

out”, but “How are you going to spend

it”.

The core difference between the

stock market bubble in 2000 and

cryptos, is that nobody back then

would have sold a house or paid rent

with some over inflated stocks, while

already now, properties are bought

and rented in cryptos. So although we

cannot (yet) buy coffee in cryptos at the

coffee shop behind the corner, we can

still find someone interested in taking

our cryptos in exchange for some goods

or services.

Just last week a friend told me that

he signed a new tenancy agreement to

be paid in Ethereum. This is already

happening.

The other aspect that might not

portray cryptos as a bubble could be

the adoption desire. Currently there are

very few individuals in this world who

own cryptocurrencies.

Do not get me wrong... some of

them owns very large quantities, but

the number of people that actually got

to buy and hold cryptos are relatively

few. Perhaps less than 0.1 per cent of

the world’s population. I imagine that

in some countries Bitcoin could be the

most desired gift for Christmas 2018 as

much as iPad used to be. Bitcoin (and

other cryptos) are desirable digital

objects that the-man-in-the-street

wants and wish to have.

Given the percentage of market

being covered so far, there is still a long

way to go. Maybe it will not be Bitcoin,

maybe there will be the emergence of

other cryptos (like the recent growth of

Ripple), but maybe they are here to stay,

and not to crash and burn.

Lastly, let us not forget that from the

bubbles we often inherit good “stuff”.

Facebook, Google and Twitter (to

mention just a handful) are a product

of the post-bubble.

Amazon as well as Alibaba (or rather

Jack Ma) went through the bubble

and grew to unimaginable size. What

about the subprime mortgage bubble

then? Well, that is the bubble that gave

birth to Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies

in general. So maybe, just maybe,

cryptocurrencies are not a bubble, but

maybe they are the awesome result

of what a bubble leaves behind after

bursting, whether the “owls” like it or

not.

A tall ship sails on the Thames near the Canary Wharf business district in central London. — Reuters

Wage hikes not enough to boost broader US salaries

I

A

H

* MONEY REGULATION

STEFANO VIRGILLIstefano@virgilli.com

NOBODY BACK THEN WOULD HAVE SOLD A HOUSE OR PAID RENT WITH SOME OVER INFLATED STOCKS, WHILE ALREADY NOW, PROPERTIES ARE BOUGHT AND

RENTED IN CRYPTOS

THE NEW RULES WILL SUBJECT ALL BUSINESSES

INVOLVED IN THE DISTRIBUTION AND

TRADING OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS ACROSS EUROPE TO A CHANGED,

AND IN MANY CASES, MORE STRINGENT REGULATORY

FRAMEWORK

Workers assemble appliances at the Whirlpool factory in Cleveland, Tennessee. — AFP

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editor@omanobserver.om www.omanobserver.om

SUNDAY | JANUARY 7, 2018 | RABEE AL THANI 19, 1439 AH

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98271980· · · · ·INDIAN male, 25 years, MBA (Logistics and Shipping) with one year experience, diploma in computerised accounting, Adobe

visit visa, seeks placement. Mob: 98817847 ashwinluiz001@gmail.com· · · · ·INDIAN management, many years experience in Oman, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95362046. e-mail: snjobsinoman@yahoo.com· · · · ·20 YEARS experienced Indian Chartered Accountant and Cost & Management Accountant looking for change of job. NOC Available. Contact 99884291, 99741875· · · · ·

OMANDAILYOBSERVER 19S U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 8

classifieds

OPTICIAN needed for an optical shop in Salalah, Oman. Contact

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A SPECIALISED company in the sale of building materials announces the availability of job opportunities:

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AN of car lease in Al Khuwair.

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GENERAL Nurse 24540056, e-mail:

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WE are looking for Salesman in paint division as well as material division. Kindly send your CVs to the following e-mail: woejordan@gmail.com, mohansinghsoor@gmail.com. Contact: +968-93502050, 93206636

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URGENTLY required:

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THE White Pearl Enterprises urgently need experienced beautician lady & henna artist for a beauty salon in Bausher. They should be honest and hardworking. Limas. Beauty Centre. If you are interested,

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REQUIRED marketing manager, engineering products and services. Preference engineering degree in mechanical engineering, with minimum 15-20 years experience in Oman. NOC required, driving licence essential. Contact email: kutetur1940@yahoo.co.in

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Situation Vacant Situation Vacant Situation Vacant

URGENTLY required beautician. Visa will be provided. Contact

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URGENTLY required Native English speaking lady teachers for a leading kindergarten at Al Khuwair. Only candidates from US/UK/ AUS/ Canada/ South Africa/ New Zealand/ Ireland etc, can apply for this position. Please contact urgently on 93331056 and CV at cv4muscat@gmail.com

REQUIRED with 3 years experience for reputed electrical

of Management Safety, NEBOSH or OSHA —30 hours. Send the CV to: rashid.engineer@hotmail.com· · · · ·

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OMANI company seeks Natural Cosmetics Maker (experience in making natural soap, liquid soap, shampoo, body lotion and hand cream. tasweeq.business@gmail.com

Situation Wanted

Company based in Muscat urgently requires

AC TECHNICIANwith at least 3 years experience.Terms and Conditions:Driving licence3 years experienceAccommodation and Transportation provided by company.Age 25-35

Interested candidates can contact us

92919135Send your CV to:

albahrani999@yahoo.com

AC TECHNICIAN

Company based in Muscat

urgently requires

PHYSIOTHERAPIST (Female)

with at least 3 years experience.Interested candidates

can contact us 92919135,

95537973Send your CV to:

albahrani999@yahoo.com

PHYSIOTHERAPIST (Female) Indian male with more than 11

years of work experience (7 years in Oman) in Accounts/

Finance, seeking suitable placement. Holding valid

Oman driving licence. Release/NOC available. Kindly

contact on

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

97326761 or email at shajikpallam007@gmail.com

INDIAN female architect (B. Arch), fresher (23 years) on visit, looking for suitable placement. Portfolio can be sent via email on request. Please contact 95471174, email: tiageo.123@gmail.com.· · · · ·31 YEARS old male Diploma Civil Engineer having 8 years experience

in India, seeking suitable job in Oman. Can join immediately, contact GSM 0091-9943126501, email: shiva.drprk@gmail.com

can contact my brother in Muscat. GSM - 97676177 & s.erbbkannan@gmail.com· · · · ·

A LEGAL translation

Marketeers. Contact E-mail: oman4n@gmail.com

· · · · ·

AnnouncementFOR general information,Euro Optical Shop, in front of Zawia Mosque, is closing. Anyone has anything pending with the shop, please clear within 10 days. Contact: 98204042, 99873805. · · · · ·Announcement of Capital Reduction.In accordance with the provisions of Article 150 of the Commercial Companies Law. The company Green Field Projects & Services Co, which is registered with the Commercial Registration No. 1125583, hereby announces that it is going to reduce its capital from Omani Rials 150,000.000 to 25,000.000. Whoever has any objection to the foregoing shall present the reasons for such objections to the Secretariat of Commercial Registry at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry within 30 days from the date hereof.· · · · ·Announcement of Capital Reduction.In accordance with the provisions of Article 150 of the Commercial Companies Law. The company Precious Diamond Trading & Contracting Co, which is registered with the Commercial Registration No. 1043703, hereby announces that it is going to reduce its capital from Omani Rials 150,000.000 to 20,000.000. Whoever has any objection to the foregoing shall present the reasons for such objections to the Secretariat of Commercial Registry at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry within 30 days from the date hereof.· · · · ·

INDIAN male, BBA graduate, fresher, with valid Omani driving licence, seeks suitable placement to gain experience. 94729679

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NORTH Mawaleh corner behind Al muzn mall Meera Super Market Area 600 sqm Residential 99324455.· · · · ·WE have tourism, residen-tial, commercial lands and farms existing in large areas in Muscat and Barka and over looking directly on the beach. We also have rented and non-rented buildings

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behind GUtech is offered for sale. The land enjoys a permit for twin-villa.

2) A LAND is for sale in Al Maabela 8 owner.

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businessOMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 820

scitech

SOUNDBAR

LAPTOP

CROP TECHNIQUE BULLET PROOF

SMARTPHONE

LG unveils high-fidelity audio lineup

Samsung preparing high-end ‘Nautilus’ Chromebook

4GB Samsung ‘Galaxy On’ to cost nearly $237

IN a bid to take on Chinese smartphone

manufacturers in New Year, Samsung

India is set to launch a new “Galaxy On”

device in the third week of January.

Industry sources said that the latest

device will be priced at around $237 (Rs

15,000) — a key mid-price segment in the

highly-competitive Indian market.

“Galaxy On” will come in two variants

— both with 4GB RAM, the sources

added.

The new device is expected to be an

Amazon India exclusive, with a focus on

design, performance and photography

elements.

In 2017, Samsung India launched

“Galaxy On Max” for Rs 16,900.

The device was equipped with a best-

in-class camera tailor-made for low-light

photography, enabled by its flagship f/1.7

aperture, the company said in a statement.

With 5.7-inch full HD display, the

device was powered by a 2.39GHZ,

1.69GHz Octa-Core processor, 4GB

RAM and has 32GB internal memory

expandable up to 256GB via micro-SD

card.

“Galaxy On Max” sports 13MP rear

and front camera with LED flash.

With the new “Galaxy On”, Samsung

will look to strengthen its mid-range

segment where it has witnessed strong

competition from Chinese brands.

After registering a 27 per cent growth in

mobile business revenue for the financial

year 2016-17 — touching a mammoth

Rs 34,300 crore — Samsung has become

the undisputed leader in the highly

competitive and price-sensitive domestic

smartphone market.

With this kind of growth, Samsung has

eclipsed the sales of key Chinese brands

such as Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, Lenovo and

even the Cupertino-based giant Apple.

The South Korean giant had 60 per cent

market share (by value) in the premium

segment for the August-September-

October period, according to German

market research firm GfK. For the overall

smartphone market, Samsung had over

45 per cent market share (by value) from

October to December 2017.

‘Speed breeding’ method boosts wheat production

LG has just unveiled a new line of

audio-focused products, among them

are soundbars, a Bluetooth speaker,

and perhaps most surprisingly, a

smart speaker powered by Google

Assistant.

The LG ThinQ was unveiled ahead

of LG’s conference at CES this coming

January. The company worked

with Google to create the so-called

premium speaker that it boasts as a

voice-enabled interface for LG’s smart

home appliances. It’s able to control

a handful of devices, including LG’s

own ThinQ smart home line, which

includes door locks, smart lamps, and

a ton of others.

But this isn’t the first smart speaker

to come from LG. Last year, it released

a device called the SmartThinQ Hub,

which unlike the new ThinQ speaker,

was powered by Amazon Alexa.

Still, that wasn’t a proper smart

speaker because it had a number

of limitations. For instance, the

experience of using Alexa on the

device was not as smooth as, say, on

an Echo device. But it was primarily

a hub for LG’s smart home ecosystem,

and the ThinQ speaker continues that

principle, albeit with a new digital

assistant baked in.

Other details about the ThinQ

speaker are thin, but LG says its newly

announced audio products target

users who value premium sound and

smart capabilities.

GRAPHENE is flexible but is tougher than most materials despite

having the thickness of only a single atom. Aside from being an efficient

conductor of electricity, it acts as an extremely secure barrier preventing

even the lightest of gases from passing through.

While it has always been known that graphene is derived from

graphite, nobody had any knowledge of its extraction process until 2004

when two researchers from the University of Manchester were able to

isolate the material for the very first time.

Although the material is described to be 200 times stronger than

steel, a single layer is not

capable of taking a bullet.

Such characteristic is only

possessed by its product, the

two-atom thick diamene.

A recent statement by

the City University of New

York narrates the discovery

of diamene. Researchers first

theorized the development

of the material. They used

virtual simulations to test

possible results when pressure

is exerted on two layers of graphene. Various amounts of pressure were

used to form the correct calculations.

The team then used a specialized microscope to perform actual

experiments. With the device, they were able to apply pressure at specific

parts of diamene. These steps led researchers to the conclusion that

to form the material, only exactly two layers of graphene are needed.

More than or less than two layers will not yield the same diamond-like

characteristics.

Researchers have also said that diamene may possess “interesting”

electrical properties. With the absence of pressure, the material has

features similar to a film. It quickly changes into its diamond-like phase at

the moment of impact. During the transition process, the team observed

a drop in electric current suggesting diamene could have electrical

conducting capabilities.

CUNY points out that the recent findings would become useful in

creating protective wear and bullet-proof films that are ultra-lightweight.

A report even states that diamene’s application has the potential to save

lives.

Researchers in

Australia have

found a way to

increase wheat

production by up to

three times through

their “speed breeding” procedures

inspired by Nasa experiments to

grow the crop in space.

The Nasa experiments involved

using continuous light on wheat

which triggered early reproduction

in the plants, said Lee Hickey

(pictured) of University of

Queensland in Australia.

“We thought we could use the

Nasa idea to grow plants quickly back

on Earth, and in turn, accelerate the

genetic gain in our plant breeding

programmes,” Hickey said.

“By using speed breeding

techniques in specially modified

glasshouses we can grow six

generations of wheat, chickpea and

barley plants, and four generations

of canola plants in a single year — as

opposed to two or three generations

in a regular glasshouse, or a single

generation in the field,” he said.

The study, published in the

journal Nature Plants, showed that

the technique can cut the length of

plant breeding cycles.

“Our experiments showed that

the quality and yield of the plants

grown under controlled climate and

extended daylight conditions was

as good, or sometimes better, than

those grown in regular glasshouses,”

Hickey added.

Hickey said information on

how to use speed breeding was

increasingly in demand from other

researchers and industry.

“There has been a lot of interest

globally in this technique due to the

fact that the world has to produce

60-80 per cent more food by 2050 to

feed its nine billion people,” he said.

While the technique has largely

been used for research purposes

so far, it is now being adopted by

industry.

In partnership with the Australia

company Dow AgroSciences, the

scientists have used the technique to

develop the new “DS Faraday” wheat

variety due for release to industry in

2018.

“DS Faraday is a high protein,

milling wheat with tolerance to

pre-harvest sprouting,” Hickey said.

“We introduced genes for grain

dormancy so it can better handle wet

weather at harvest time — which has

been a problem wheat scientists in

Australia have been trying to solve

for 40 years,” Hickey said.

“We’ve finally had a breakthrough

in grain dormancy, and speed

breeding really helped us to do it,” he

said. — IANS

THE rumoured “Nautilus” 2-in-1 Chromebook from

Samsung will get a really nice camera, according to

reports.

Nautilus, believed as the first detachable

Chromebook to ever be released, will come equipped

with a Sony IMX258 camera sensor, which is literally

the same one that’s on the LG G6. Given that most

2-in-1 devices have a 720p camera at best, this might

just be the first Chromebook sporting a camera users

would actually enjoy taking pictures or recording

video with.

The detail about the camera sensor was spotted by

Chrome Unboxed, which was also the first to report

about the existence of Nautilus back in November

2017. Aside from what’s been mentioned above,

there aren’t many other hints to what Nautilus might

be. Featuring a detachable screen, it’s reportedly

going to have a design similar to that of the Microsoft

Surface Book.

Engadget speculates that it will come with a

12-inch screen, which is pretty typical in 2-in-1

territory. It could very well come with something

smaller, though, especially if it’s screen is meant to

double as a standalone tablet.

As for the spec sheet, earlier reports suggested it

might sport a seventh-generation Intel Kaby Lake

processor, which, if true, would make it on par with

other Microsoft devices in the same category, such as

the Surface Laptop.

Two-layer graphene material can stop bullets

SUNDAY | JANUARY 7, 2018 | RABEE AL THANI 19, 1439 AH

sport editor@omanobserver.om www.omanobserver.om

follow us @observersportzKUWAIT 2017

ANUROOP ATHIPARAMBATHMUSCAT, JAN 6

Oman, champions of the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup, arrived to a great home reception on Saturday evening.

The special Royal Air Force flight carrying the team delegation reached the Muscat International Airport at 5.30 pm. Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud al Busaidy, Minister of Diwan of Royal Court, received the delegation at the airport.

Shaikh Saad bin Mohammed al Saadi, Minister of Sports Affairs, and Shaikh Rashad al Hinai, Undersectretary at the Ministry of Sports Affairs, were also present.

Then, the team took an open bus to the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, where a grand reception was ready for the Sultanate’s heroes.

Oman captain Ahmed Mubarak ‘Kanu’, who stepped in first with the Gulf Cup from the flight, said the whole team has tried very hard to achieve the glory.

“We are so happy for the people of Oman. It wasn’t easy at all. All the players’ hardwork paid off in the group stages and we reached the semifinals”

“In the semifinals, we did our best against Bahrain and in the final we pushed ourselves to achieve the title.”

Oman’s hero for the final, goalkeeper Fayez al Rushaidi, said it was a very challenging tournament.

“In the final, it was a difficult moment for me when we conceded a penalty in the 90th minute. The thought about the dreams of the Omanis for the title pumped me up and I could save it.

“In the penalty shoot-out I thought we had four goal scored and it is the time for me to make my contribution. I was lucky enough to anticipate Omar Abdulrahman’s kick and could save it for the team.”

“Mohsin Jawhar al Khaldi then fired it in for Oman as clinched the crown,” Fayez said.

At the Bausher stadium, the fans filled the venue and the players arrived on chariots to the ground amidst loud cheers.

Later, they went around the ground with the title and posing for photographs with fans all around.

Ilyas, a sixth standard student at Al Andalus Private School in Mabelah, was all joy for Oman.

“I expected the title for Oman,” he said.“I’m a big fan of Said al Ruzaiqi, who scored a

brace against Saudi Arabia in the tournament,” the jubilant boy said.

Ilyas said this is a great win and he wants to celebrate as the champion feeling is still to sink in, summing up the mood of the night.

RED WARRIORS ARRIVE TO HEROES’ WELCOME

Ilyas with the flag at the stadium. PICTURE BY ANUROOP A

(From left) Oman goalkeeper Fayez al Rushaidi, Mohsin Jawhar and Jameel Saleem al Yahmadi walks among children during a celebration ceremony to welcome Oman’s national football team after they won the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup, in Muscat on Saturday. — AFP

KUWAIT 2017

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A YJ A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 822

HARIDEV PUSHPARAJMUSCAT, JAN 6

In the melee of Oman’s glorious triumph at the Arabian Gulf Cup, the Omani people certainly owe a huge gratitude to the leadership of coach Pim Verbeek.

Verbeek has been at the helm of affairs for the ‘Red Warriors’ since December 2016 and was entrusted with reviving the fortunes of the national team.

The Dutchman could not have asked for a better New Year gift from his players as they lifted their second Arabian Gulf Cup crown.

Verbeek’s tactics and strategy were spot on throughout the tournament and he

ensured the substitutions were made at the right time.

The formations used were effective except in the first game against UAE that resulted in a 1-0 defeat.

Thereafter, it was a huge comeback for Verbeek and the players.

Verbeek’s big contribution was his ability to motivate the players and keep them in good spirits while the chips were down for them.

The coach had faith in the players and that showed when it came to his selection of the starting elevens. Verbeek’s thought process was definitely helping Oman.

After stints as coach of South Korea and Australia, Verbeek had taken up a

new challenge after accepting the offer from Oman.

The challenge has now borne fruit in a year’s time with the Gulf Cup title and Verbeek’s stock in Oman and among the Oman Football Association (OFA) head honchos has certainly reached another level.

As the party in Muscat continues, the fans, the players and Verbeek would do well to remember that major challenges lie ahead. The 2019 AFC Asian Cup would be right on top of those challenges.

Oman and Verbeek have a lot of work to do before that and the Gulf Cup triumph will be a shot in the arm as they eye bigger goals.

Oman owes a debt of gratitude to coach Verbeek

MUSCAT: UAE leaders issued statements on twitter to congratulate Oman on winning the Gulf Cup final, held at Jaber al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai tweeted: “Congratulations to the Sultanate of Oman, its leadership and people for winning the Gulf Cup 23. A wonderful performance by the Omani team”

“We have seen elevated feelings from our brotherly Omani people. Our mutual love will further increase and flourish as time goes by. The Cup is for Oman, while the joy is for both the two brotherly people,” Sheikh Mohammed added.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has also congratulated the winners. “Congratulations to the UAE and Oman for the spirit of fraternity and sport that has prevailed the Gulf Cup finals. We are both winners and together we have earned the affection, love and the pleasure of high competition,” Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed tweeted.

“Congratulations to the Sultanate of Oman, its leadership and people for this achievement, and its team’s unique victory in the Gulf Cup 23. We have been pleased by such a high performance,” he added.

KUWAIT 2017

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y

J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 8 23

HARIDEV PUSHPARAJMUSCAT, JAN 6

Ahmed Mubarak al Mahajiri or as he is widely known Ahmed Kanu must be over the moon as he enjoys the glory of Oman’s second Arabian Gulf Cup

crown which is his second as well. Kanu would certainly be missing the

presence of his illustrious team-mate and Oman’s legendary goalkeeper Ali al Habsi since both of them made their national team debuts

together in 2003.

The 32-year-old veteran has 152 appearances for the ‘Red Warriors’ and is one of the pillars of the Oman team along with the likes of Ali al Habsi and Abdulaziz al Muqbali.

Kanu, who has stood in as captain in the absence of Ali al Habsi, has been a picture of

c a l m n e s s and composure

in pressure-cooker situations and led Oman ably

during their victorious march to their second Arabian Gulf Cup title. Kanu, who doubles up as defensive and holding midfielder, kept the spirits of the Oman team up and running during the course of the tournament and played the role of the senior statesman perfectly.

The relatively younger and less experienced

players including the goal-keeper Fayez al Rushaidi and Co certainly benefited from the reassuring presence of Kanu. Oman will consider themselves lucky that Kanu showed the temperament and resilience that was required of them to become champions.

UAE leaders congratulate Oman

HARIDEV PUV SHPAPP RAJRRMUSCAT, JAN 6

hmed Mubarak al Mahajiri or as he is widely known Ahmed Kanu must be over the moon as together in

c a l m n e s s and composure

in pressure-cooker situations and led Oman ably

playerrsincluddingthe goal-keeperr Fayez al Rushaidi

HIP, HIP, HURRAY!....

Oman fans celebrate Red Warriors’ victory on the streets of Muscat. — pictures by Mohammed Mahjoub

HOW THE PENDULUM SWUNG OMAN’S WAY

HARIDEV PUSHPARAJ MUSCAT, JAN 6

When the Arabian Gulf Cup began hopes were not too high on Oman lifting the highly coveted trophy but how things have turned around.

The preparations for the tournament began with friendlies against Palestine and Yemen and they were not too forthcoming in terms of performance.

When the first game against UAE ended in a 1-0 defeat, the critics were up in arms and started expressing their scepticism about the chances of the ‘Red Warriors’.

The frontline players like Abdulaziz al Muqbali, Khalid al Hajri, Jamil al Yahmadi and Mohsen Jowhar were struggling to convert their chances in the first game.

Coach Pim Verbeek certainly had a lot of work to do.

One of the striking aspects of this Oman squad is the resilience and doggedness that it is capable of showing. It became evident as the tournament progressed.

The defence was water-tight and need we say more about the magnificent efforts of Fayez al Rushaidi.

The 29-year-old has been the find of the tournament as far as Oman is concerned and their indisputable future star.

With stellar efforts against Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in the group stage matches, Fayez was the rock of the Oman defence rallying the rest of the defenders around him.

The tall man epitomised strength and resoluteness and that symbolised Oman’s character throughout this triumphant campaign at the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup.

Oman have certainly unearthed some emerging players for their future and the likes of Fayez and Khalid al Hajiri are right up there.

The quality of football in the GCC region is of a reasonably high standard and there are some players with tremendous amount of skill and flair, so for Oman to come through and clinch the title in such a scenario is quite an amazing achievement.

Oman are in good stead going forward and will need a similar resolve and effort to bring more Cups to their beloved fans.

Oman’s players celebrate after winning the Arabian Gulf Cup at the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait City on Friday — AFP

KUWAIT 2017

OMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A YJ A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 824

international

featuresOMANDAILYOBSERVERS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 7 25

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

ACROSS

4 A shifty tout may hold up production (6)

7 It’s obvious the cricket side has to leave (5,3)

8 A steady supporter (6)10 In Asia, reasonably enough,

they’re vast (5)13 Ring a friend about mid-

September (4)14 Figure to finish a repair (4)15 Requirement of a Western

social crawler (4)16 Be wrong in refusing? (3)17 Help someone in a bad way

(4)19 Ten volunteers for one little

letter (4)21 Book a police inspector good

accommodation (9)23 Rushed to a premature

conclusion (4)24 Like two of the legs of a deer

(4)26 Drink, little one (3)27 So carelessly shut (4)29 Utter in semitones (4)32 Old Bill conceals nothing in

the enclosure (4)

33 Would he be religiously early? (5)

34 Bewail mental distress (6)35 Merely ordinary all the time

(8)36 Left a learner at the entrance

(6)DOWN

1 A dismissive word from athletic Steve (5)

2 A female accepts me among the macho mob (2,3)

3 Having wings, he possibly rose (4)

4 Frequently comprising a net return (5)

5 Basil’s brush? (4)6 More work in a perfect place

(6)9 Share out in rota? (6)11 He’s in the nominal roll (3)12 A raid organized by Robin (5)13 Dress an injured dog better?

(5,2)15 Like Willie Winkie, we note

(3)16 Tasty? No thanks! (3)18 Foreigner giving his brother a

start at Eton (6)20 In which to be working (to

succeed?) (5)

21 She has a point (3)

22 It’s possibly starting trouble on

an island (3)

23 To shoot duck in a W. Indian

island (6)

25 Where some Cariocans come from (3)

28 Ritzy place? (5)30 Dislikes nurses? (5)31 Stray vessels? (5)32 Only one in a hundred (4)33 A nice place to get out and

walk (4)EASY PUZZLE

ACROSS

4 Safe (6) 7 Large mammal (8) 8 Smells (6)10 Inclination (5)13 Sketched (4)14 Fish (4)15 Sense (4)16 Darn (3)17 Move (4)19 Dry (4)21 Meaningful number (9)23 Regarded (4)24 Contended (4)26 Wager (3)27 Profound (4)29 Revise (4)32 Group of cattle (4)33 Coarse (5)34 Continue (6)35 Whole (8)

36 Six-piece group (6)DOWN

1 Bully (5) 2 Wading bird (5) 3 Footwear item (4) 4 Look fixedly (5) 5 Boast (4) 6 Harvested (6) 9 Tell (6)11 Drag (3)12 Glue (5)13 Extracted (7)15 Suitable (3)16 Thus (3)18 Two-seater (6)20 Horseman (5)21 Ready (3)22 Drink daintily (3)23 Calm (6)25 Offer (3)28 Upright (5)30 Fooled (5)31 Principle (5)32 Forage (4)33 Manage (4)

THURSDAY’S CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 1, Apache 7, Shanghai 8, Snap 10, B-Randy 11, Ignore 14, MO-O 16, Rates 17, Eve-N

19, Strap 21, Salem 22, Nomad

23, Sent 26, Album 28, Nil 29,

Hal-Ted 30, Russia 31, Ante 32,

Alban-Ian 33, Thrown.

DOWN: 1, Ar-able 2, Can-n-on

3, E-spy 4, Anagram 5, Shoot 6,

Fives 8, Sam-e 9, A-do 12, Nap

13, Reign 15, Atlas 18, Villa 19,

Sam 20, R-E-d. 21, Someone 22,

Nut 23, Sister 24, Else 25, Tra-Jan

26, A-head 27, Blobs 28, Nun 30,

Rant.

THURSDAY’S EASY

SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 1, Bridge 7, Departed

8, Fine 10, Driven 11, Attire 14,

Let 16, Eider 17, Sell 19, Genre

21, Felon 22, Molar 23, Lard 26,

Medal 28, Fad 29, Adonis 30,

Tigers 31, Iron 32, Designed 33,

Yonder.

DOWN: 1, Blades 2, Drivel 3,

Eden 4, Pattern 5, Staid 6, Adder

8, Fill 9, Net 12, Tie 13, Refer 15,

Relax 18, Erred 19, Gel 20, Nor

21, Foliage 22, Man 23, Lagoon

24, Aden 25, Duster 26, Maids

27, Douse 28, Fir 30, Tidy.

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CROSSWORD

In a year of devastating hurricanes,

ubiquitous abuse scandals and a strikingly

candid presidential Twitter account, it

is little wonder that cinemagoers are

turning to escapist fantasy.

With fairy tale romance “The Shape of

Water” leading the nominations for the

Golden Globes, dark farce “Get Out” topping critics’

lists and horror movies making $1 billion at the box

office, 2017 may come to be seen as the year of the

genre movie.

Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” which satirizes

suburban white guilt over racial inequality in the

United States, is emblematic of the rise of genre

films in this year’s awards season.

It has been almost a year since its release, and most

movies brought out that far ahead of Hollywood’s

various prize-giving ceremonies are long forgotten

by the time the trophies are being polished.

Yet “Get Out” is up for two Globes on Sunday

and entertainment website Eonline.com has been

extolling its virtues as a genuine contender.

Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water,” a

hot favourite among the movies vying for the best

dramatic film Globe, has seven nominations in total.

The Cold War-era piece tells the story of a young,

mute woman (Sally Hawkins) who works at night

in a government laboratory and falls in love with a

captive merman-like amphibian creature.

Alexander Payne’s sci-fi satire “Downsizing”

and Edgar Wright’s heist thriller “Baby Driver” are

also seen as genre movies that would not normally

get a second glance on awards nights, yet both are

vying for Globes on Sunday.

In recent years, the Hollywood Foreign Press

Association, which runs the Globes, has rewarded

movies celebrating Tinseltown (“La La Land,” “The

Artist,” “Birdman”) or heartfelt rites-of-passage

flicks (“Boyhood,” “Moonlight”).

Historical or journalistic stories like “The King’s

Speech” and “Spotlight” are also firm favourites —

usually at the expense of more fantastical, escapist

movies.

At the genre end of the market, only westerns like

“The Revenant” and “Hell or High Water” have been

pulling their weight.

Sasha Stone, of the Awards Daily website, says

the arrival of Donald Trump at the White House can

largely explain why fantasy and horror have received

more attention than usual from audiences and prize

juries.

“In a different kind of year, probably ‘Get Out’

wouldn’t be such a strong contender,” she said.

“But with the combination of the nightmare that

is our president and the lack of any other major

movies to come along to overshadow it, ‘Get Out’

stands a really good chance at being the favourite

this year.”

While Peele’s film can be enjoyed as

straightforward horror, Stone argues that it steps

outside the limits of genre because it works equally

well as a “metaphor for the horrors in our culture.”

“The Shape of Water,” meanwhile, has been

welcomed more generously than many fantasy

movies because it comes from the mind of a master,

a director who has proved his skill at genre with the

triple Oscar-winning “Pan’s Labyrinth.”

The genre movie hasn’t always been an

endangered species.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Jonathan Demme’s

cult thriller “The Silence of the Lambs,” Peter

Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the

King” and musical gangster comedy “Chicago” all

won the best film Oscar.

In the 1970s, chillers like “Jaws” and “Rosemary’s

Baby” would be a fixture on the awards circuit.

Go back further still, and it becomes apparent

that the first Oscar winners of the 1920s and 1930s

were high-end genre films, according to Jonathan

Kuntz, a professor of film at the University of

California, Los Angeles.

The last decade or so have been unkind to

genre movies but they are on their way back, with

frightening films in particular regaining their mojo.

The New York Times magazine recently ran a

cover story describing 2017 as “The Year of Horror,”

dedicating several of its inside pages to the best

actors in recent examples of the genre.

The cover featured Australian Oscar winner

Nicole Kidman, one of the most popular actresses

of her generation, who diversified this year with a

starring part in the gory creep-fest “The Killing of

a Sacred Deer.”

Noting that horror films have made more than $1

billion in ticket sales over 12 months, the magazine

attributed the moviegoing public’s new bloodlust to

the torment of the daily news cycle.

“Horror movies probably don’t need the world to

be horrifying to be good,” it speculated.

“But when things are bad, the genre has a way of

telling you they could be worse.” — AFP

VERONIQUE DUPONT

Golden Globes

celebrating the year of

the genre movie

With fairy tale romance “The Shape

of Water” leading the nominations for the Golden Globes,

dark farce “Get Out” topping critics’ lists and horror movies making $1 billion at the box office, 2017

may come to be seen as the year of the

genre movie

Preparations are under way at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, for the 75th Annual Golden Globes Awards. — AFP

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instagram.com/omanobserver/ INSTAGRAMS U N D A Y l J A N U A R Y 7 l 2 0 1 7

People play with foam, talc and black paint during the ‘Black’s Day’, as part of the Carnival of Blacks and Whites in Pasto, the largest festivity in the south-western region of the country, on Friday. — AFP

COLOMBIA

Life as it happens

around the world5

A man reacts after catching a trout with his hands during an event promoting the Ice Festival in Hwacheon, south of the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, on Saturday. — Reuters

SOUTH KOREA

Firefighters descend from a helicopter as they perform their rescue drills during Tokyo Fire Department’s New Year’s Fire review in Tokyo, on Saturday. — Reuters

JAPAN

A man carries his harvest from his vegetable field, as Mount Sinabung spews thick smoke, in Karo, North Sumatra on Saturday. — AFP

INDONESIA

Caroline Zhang performs in the ladies free skate during the 2018 US Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center, San Jose. — Reuters

UNITED STATES

EDOUARD GUIHAIRE

Grappling with the digital

revolution upsetting all

corners of the industry,

Men’s Fashion Week

kicked off in London

on Saturday with fewer

shows and star names. But this fixture in

the British fashion calendar is attempting

to stay relevant by going back to its roots,

and promoting a more youthful image.

Burberry deserted the event last year

and now unveils its men’s wardrobe at

Women’s Fashion Week, riding the trend

towards less rigidity around gender.

JW Anderson, the label of Jonathan

Anderson, who is artistic director of the

Spanish luxury leather goods line Loewe,

has followed suit, choosing to present only

two runway shows per year instead of four.

Punk icon Vivienne Westwood has now

said she will be presenting her autumn-

winter 2018-19 collection not in a catwalk

but “through the form of film and imagery”,

according to a statement from her

company.

Designers have embraced a digital

transformation of the industry in recent

years, including the use of websites and

social networking platforms for advertising

and selling their latest collections.

“Not only are digital and combined

menswear and womenswear shows often

more cost-efficient, but such strategies also

present the brand in a cohesive manner,

whilst reaching new audiences,” Samantha

Dover, of the analysis firm Mintel, said.

Kristabel Plummer, editor of the fashion

blog I Want You To Know, said designers

are now more practical when it comes to

catwalks and called the changes “sensible

business decisions”.

“There’s no point doing things in the way

they’ve always been done, if that’s not right

for the brand.

“Increased flexibility and innovation can

only be a positive thing, in this challenging

consumer landscape,” she said.

“Brands need to move at the speed

the world does, and today that is fast,”

Anderson told The Guardian in a recent

interview.

“We live in the era of content. We put

something on Instagram and it gets

reposted and it’s everywhere and a minute

later it’s gone, over,” he added.

The drift away from London Men’s

Fashion Week by established designers

has seen the number of parades drop by a

dozen this year. It has led to questions over

whether the British event, the younger of

the annual fashion weeks, can still compete

with Paris, Milan and New York.

Organiser The British Fashion Council

hopes it can still flourish by allowing

young and upcoming local designers to

showcase their talents. Caroline Rush,

its chief executive, said the 2018 edition

will be “a celebration of discovery and the

creative diversity that has made London

an international hub for menswear.”

A raft of emerging names in British

fashion will feature their clothes during the

schedule, including the luxury streetwear

of Edward Crutchley — dubbed a “rising

star” by Vogue — and the bold neo-punk

hip-hop wardrobe of Liam Hodges.

They are joined by Christopher Raeburn,

a pioneer in ethical fashion and recycling

materials, and Astrid Andersen, who

designs sportswear.

“There’s a variety of brands on the

schedule,” said Plummer, pushing back

on notions London Men’s Fashion Week is

petering out. — AFP

FASHION

Stal Gallery presents the third

edition of its Annual Young

Emerging Artist Prize on

January 9 under the auspices

of Her Highness Sayyida

Hafidha bint Mahmood al Said.

The exhibition will feature Omani artists

Ayah Yousuf, Maher Abdulwahab, Nabaa

Baqir, Tariq al Hajri, Fatma Abdulaziz, Mazin

al Harthi, Muzn Meer, Mahmood Harib, Alaa

al Dhiyabi, Mahmood Noah, and Umayma al

Hinai.

In continuing to uphold its dedication

to support and motivate the young Omani

artists, Stal Gallery is thrilled to be in the

forefront of this initiative. Through the

Young Emerging Artist programme, which

started with an open call and a careful

selection of candidates, the artists have had

the opportunity to be mentored under Stal’s

Circle of Experimental Art.

The exhibition will feature a wide variety

of artwork that tackles issues on politics,

society, and religion through the eyes of

the next generation of young Omani artists.

At the award ceremony, one artist will be

heralded the Grand Prize Winner, with

three more receiving the Best Concept, Best

Presentation, and Best Use of Materials

awards.

Curator and Stal Gallery’s Artistic Director,

Hassan al Meer, says about the programme,

“It is an opportunity for both established and

emerging artists to engage in the thought

process and the conceptualisation of new

ideas towards effectively communicating

the concepts presented therein both

aesthetically and philosophically... which

provide enlightenment and deeper

understanding of the world that we live in.”

The Stal Gallery Young Emerging Artist

Prize 2017 exhibition will open on Tuesday at

7.30 pm at Stal Gallery in Madinat Qaboos.

Stal Gallery to present Young Emerging Artist Prize

“Brands need to move at the speed

the world does, and today that is

fast. We live in the era of content. We put something on Instagram and it

gets reposted and it’s everywhere

and a minute later it’s gone, over”

Short on stars, London aims to stay with youth

Gil regales with carnival spirit

insideoman

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CONCERT

Brazil came to Oman

on Thursday night,

transforming the

auditorium of Royal

Opera House Muscat

into the spirit of a New

Year Carnival from Rio

de Janeiro. Legendary singer, songwriter

and guitarist Gilberto Gil brought an

eclectic panorama of sounds from the

country which gave us Bossa Nova, Samba

and so many more dance rhythms, with his

6-piece band of astounding musicians.

The 75-year-old maestro is perhaps

best remembered for his collaboration

with Caetano Veloso in the 60s, and

the development of a movement

known as ‘Tropicalia’. It was considered

inflammatory by the dictatorship and led

to 9 months in prison and exile to London

for its founding performers. This explains

the diverse influences upon Gil’s music

and the spectrum of styles he brought to

ROHM. To some, he is loved for his work

with Joao Gilberto and his Bossa Nova jazz

album of the 80s, ‘Brasil’, so expectations

were high before curtain-up on Thursday.

The set opened ‘straight in’ with the full

band in three traditional Sambas — the

first, ‘Luxo So’, suggesting Tom Jobim’s

iconic Bossa Novas of Brazilian jazz. The

second, ‘Chiclete Com Banana’ featured

the wordless scat of the Be-bop era, and the

third took off with Gil’s personal stamp. A

percussion intro by 23-year-old wiz-kid,

Kaina (do Jeje) in ‘Andar Com Fe’ was

followed by some fine guitar solos from

Gilberto’s own son, Bem Gil, with whom

he has been working for 10 years. But the

signature sound of Gilberto’s singing is his

incredibly high falsetto obligatos which

pervade many of his recent numbers.

Gilberto was personable and delightful,

explaining to the assembled fans the subtle

variation in Latin rhythms, giving a neat

segue to the obvious African roots of the

call-and-echo form of ‘Maracatu’ over

his own guitar riff — and of course the

audience was invited to participate. Reggae

seems to play a large part in Gil’s music,

and next up were versions of Bob Marley’s

“Is this Love” in his own inimitable style,

followed by a beautiful, mellow version of

“No Woman, No Cry” sung in Portuguese,

giving such a sensuous interpretation of

the more up-beat English sections.

It led nicely into his Brazilian Reggae,

‘A Novidade’, featuring an evocative

accordion solo by Mestrinho (de Carira)

— you know you are top-class when you

can go by a single name! He comes from a

line of accordionists and has been playing

since he was five. The instrument lent

a sense of authenticity throughout the

whole programme, with its origin in Forro

music. There was some more wordless scat

acrobatics from Gil and fine percussion

from Kaina — another musician preferring

to use a single name. ‘Forro’ (pronounced

Foho) is Brazilian reggae, and this

number, ‘Esperando’, featured a very pretty

accordion solo, complementing the dulcet

sensuality of the Portuguese language.

The last two songs of the first part

moved to Gilberto Gil’s more recent rock

genre, with a Jobim-like Rock-Bossa

over a very chromatic accordion line in

‘Tempo Rei’, and an even more progressive

accordion solo in the Brazilian Rock,

‘Realce’. For some the first half was lively

enough to dance to, for others not jazzy

enough, and hopes were high for a more

traditional second half.

Those hopes were allowed to mellow

as the second part was delayed by a good

10 minutes. With baited breath punters

waited until the curtain rose to reveal

Gilberto Gil seated alone on stage with

a classical guitar and multiple spotlights

focused on him. Here was the legend we

had come to hear and expect; he opened

with three 1980s solos, ‘Prece’, ‘Flora’ —

for his wife — and ‘Yamandu’, reminiscent

of his collaboration with Caetano Veloso,

sultry and intimate, using his seminal low

vocal register which brought him fame in

the ‘60s. We were home; this is what people

wanted to experience and the gratification

was palpable.

The fourth song was Gil’s lengthy 1972

Tropicalia ballad, ‘Oriente’, exploring the

guitar technique he perfected in his youth

by accompanying the deep vocal line with

a descending chromatic bass riff. Out of

the shadows his band re-joined in a more

focused, serious set with younger son, Jose

Gil on drums, and 27-year-old electric bass

maestro, Magno Brito. ‘A Paz’ featured a

mellow and pretty accordion solo, followed

by the evocative ‘Drao’. Mestrinho moved

to Rhodes keyboard in a Gil original,

‘Tocarte’ and then back to accordion-vamp

in the Forro, “Palco”, featuring a fine guitar

solo from Gil Junior to fans’ great delight.

Things got livelier in the last two

numbers, the Rock “Barracos” involving

some signature falsetto scat singing from

Gilberto once again, and the even more

contemporary style of the Finale samba-

rock, “Toda Menina”. Gilberto Gil played

a Brazilian ‘Rock and Roll’ for his encore,

with Mestrinho back on Rhodes keyboard,

based on 12-Bar-Blues. It was a fine ending

to a rich and rewarding concert in which

there really was something for everyone.

A living legend became a reality for those

lucky people present at ROHM that

evening.

(Pictures by Khalid al Busaidi, ROHM)

GEORGINA BENISON

The set opened ‘straight in’ with the full band in three traditional Sambas — the first,

‘Luxo So’, suggesting Tom Jobim’s iconic

Bossa Novas of Brazilian jazz. The

second, ‘Chiclete Com Banana’ featured the wordless scat of the Be-bop era, and the

third took off with Gil’s personal stamp

After the glorious victory of the Omani national team at the 23rd Gulf Cup held in Kuwait, supporters, families and kids took to the road to celebrate their red warriors! Instagrammer @prismphotos.sunilrao captured this precious moment.

For your photos to be featured on this section, don’t forget to follow and tag us when you upload your photos on Instagram. Make sure to also use #BeanObserver and #OmanObserver so we can easily locate your submissions.

CELEBRATIONS KICK OFF

MOLLY’S GAME

Rating: 15+

Running Time: 145

Story Line: The true story of Molly Bloom, a beautiful, young, Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons.Direction and screenplay by Aaron Sorkin.

In a year of devastating hurricanes, ubiquitous abuse scandals and a strikingly candid presidential Twitter account, it is little wonder that cinemagoers are turning to escapist fantasy. With fairy tale romance “The Shape of Water” leading the nominations for the Golden Globes, dark farce “Get Out” topping critics’ lists and horror movies making $1 billion at the box office, 2017 may come to be seen as the year of the genre movie. P25

GOLDEN GLOBES CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF THE GENRE MOVIE

instagram.com/omanobserverPHOTO OF THE DAY MORENOW SHOWING

Brazil came to Oman on Thursday night, transforming the auditorium of Royal Opera House Muscat into the spirit of a New Year Carnival from Rio de Janeiro. Legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist Gilberto Gil brought an eclectic panorama of sounds from the country which gave us Bossa Nova, Samba and so many more dance rhythms, with his 6-piece band of astounding musicians... P27

GIL REGALES WITH BRAZILIAN

CARNIVAL SPIRIT

SUNDAY | JANUARY 7, 2018 | RABEE AL THANI 19, 1439 AH

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editor@omanobserver.om www.omanobserver.om