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New duties rain on Indians’ TV party
New duties rain on Indians’ TV party Muaz Shabandri / 21 August 2013 Travelling to India with a television set will soon become a thing of the past as the Indian government announced plans to impose custom duties on ‘non-essential’ imports. Non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Indian tourists going back to India with TV sets would be asked to pay a 10 per cent customs duty and 12.5 per cent countervailing duty as part of the new rules. The move is expected to discourage Indians from spending on non-essential products outside India. Till now, most Indian expatriates would carry a 32” or 42” TV in their free-baggage allowance as the Indian government was allowing a duty-free import of TV sets up to the value of Rs35,000. However, the new rules, taking effect from August 26, would affect NRIs. Television sales across the UAE are expected to dip by more than 20 per cent over the next three to six months. The availability of cheap television sets in the UAE, Thailand and Singapore had created a huge market from India as tourists took advantage of the price difference due to the baggage allowance. “The Indian consumers looked at TV sets as a nice gift for friends or relatives. It was one of the most popular products which one would take back to their home country,” said Ashish Panjabi, chief operating officer for UAE’s Jacky’s Group, a major electronic retailer. The LCD and LED TV sets by major brands like Samsung, LG and Sony are priced almost 30 to 40 per cent cheaper in the UAE market. The new rules are aimed at reducing the cost-benefit for retail consumers who will end up paying as much as they would for a TV set in the Indian market. Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Emax Electronics, also expressed concerns over the decision to impose customs duties on TV sets as he said, “With the devaluation of the Indian currency, major electronic manufacturers will also have to increase prices of products in the Indian market.” Every day, more than 3,000 flat-screen TV sets land at Indian airports. The number increases to almost 10,000 during the sale season and Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) when special offers are provided to retail customers. The UAE is a popular tourist stop for Indian residents who look at Dubai as a shopping destination. Electronics and gold products are a hit with this consumer segment. “We have already seen a dip in the flow of Indian tourists coming to our stores. For any customer taking back an electronic product to their home country, they need to make a saving of at least 25 per cent. Warranty and installation issues also affect the buying sentiment sometimes,” added Bhatnagar. Sliding Indian rupee has forced economists and policy-makers to take corrective measures and reduce the current-account deficit (CAD). Taxes on gold imports were also raised for the third time in eight months, again targeting NRIs. The government increased the customs duty by 10 per cent from 8 per cent per 300 grams of the precious metal. P.K. Abdul Salam, executive director of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, said gold retailers in the UAE would definitely be affected as sales were expected to slump. “It will definitely affect gold sales in the UAE. The margin of difference when importing gold is very obvious now. Also, some states in India have local taxes which add to the end retail cost,” he said. Gold is hugely popular in India, especially during religious festivals and wedding seasons, as middle-income families look at gold as a safe investment. “People are now willing to send money rather than invest in gold because of the falling Indian rupee. It is a dull season and we are hoping sales would pick up during the festive seasons of Eid and Diwali,” added Abdul Salam. In January 2012, the duty on gold stood at 2 per cent. It has been steadily increasing since then, causing fears of an increase in gold smuggling. muaz@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Special Report : Emiratis crazy on gaming
Emiratis crazy on gaming Mustafa Al Zarooni / 21 August 2013 Many locals are abandoning social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, in favour of photo-sharing and gaming sites — with many even prepared to dig deep and spend thousands for the privilege. Fed up of the intense political discussions and heated exchange of views often sprawled across the usually popular social networking sites, people are turning to gaming as a form of escapism from their everyday problems. One particular game, which has garnered huge popularity of late is ‘Clash of Clans’ — an epic combat strategy game, where any member of the community can join in. The game, which only completed its first year weeks ago, allows enthusiasts to form close-knit groups with one another, enabling them to interact with each other, whether chatting amongst themselves or devising plans to excel in their current position in the game. One local, 29-year-old Ahmed Miftah said he has spent more than Dh20,000 in only seven months trying to reach the highest position domestically first, then internationally. “What I have spent is little compared to the hefty amounts of money others have invested in the game”, he said. It has been noticed recently that many Emiratis are moving towards these games where they build camps and combatant armies under the banner of the clan’s castle. The castle is their symbol and enhances the force of the group by bagging a number of trophies they have collected, to prove self assertiveness and stature. So consumed by the game, many even name their castle’s after the names of their countries/regions, so the more power they get, the more recognition their region gets globally. Several gamers have even spent thousands of dirhams purchasing barricks and armies, in turn strengthening their status and position in the game. The leader board shows three UAE-based teams dominating the top ten list “Two Emirati players had managed to reach the top position in the world single-handedly, and not in the castle”, Miftah said, adding that, the pair had soon lost their place as it is difficult to maintain it, due to the large numbers of competitors. He said the game is very addictive: “It is a widely popular game and catches the attention of gamers rapidly.” He said some of his friends didn’t care about what was being discussed on social networking sites anymore, as they are concentrating on what’s happening in the game, and how powerful their clan is. He noted that most discussions raised on Clash of Clans are about the development of troops and barracks, not politics, like on other sites. He said it is the first-of-its-kind with such features, and it can be played on smartphones — which is convenient for many. Although similar games were on the market, like World of War, the features on Clash of Clash far outweighs its competitors. Miftah pointed out that he managed to reach 10th place on the UAE leader board, yet he has now lost that position because of its growing popularity. He stated that most of his friends, who are of different ages and educational backgrounds, pay money for this game, despite claiming they wouldn’t when they first joined — proving just how addictive the game is. Popular throughout the world, some of it’s most powerful clans are called United Arab Emirates UA and UI, Emirates Pirates and Heart of the Emirates — more proof that Emiratis are among the front runners when it comes to Clash of Clans. Emiratis outnumber participants from other countries and they are progressing quickly on the leader board, thanks to good strategy, teamwork and in many cases, the help of thousands of dirhams to jump to top positions in a short time. Another keen gamer, 28-year-old Ahmed Darwish, who describes himself as a “semi-addict” pointed out that the first thing he does when he checks his phone is examines his barracks and clan — ‘Dubai 187’ — looking for ways to strengthen its position on the leader board. “This game is the only thing which makes me carry my phone all the time, and I cannot do without it,” he said. Darwish affirmed that he is no longer interested in the likes of Facebook or Twitter because people discuss subjects, which they often know very little about. malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Egypt arrests Muslim Brotherhood chief
Egypt arrests Muslim Brotherhood chief (AFP) / 20 August 2013 Egypt’s government Tuesday pressed its fierce campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood of ousted president Mohammed Mursi, effectively decapitating the group by arresting its supreme guide. The detention of supreme guide Mohamed Badie could throw the Brotherhood into further disarray as it struggles to withstand an onslaught by the army-installed authorities. It also raises fears of new violence in the country, where nearly 900 people have died in days of clashes between security forces and the supporters of Mursi. In the latest bloodshed, militants killed 25 policemen just hours after 37 Muslim Brotherhood prisoners died in police custody. Judicial sources meanwhile said fresh accusations had been levelled against Mursi, who has been detained at a secret location since his July 3 ouster by the army. And former president Hosni Mubarak won conditional release in the third of four cases against him, but remained in detention on the last case. The interior ministry said police picked up Brotherhood chief Badie near Rabaa Al Adawiya square, where more than 280 Mursi supporters were killed on Wednesday as police cleared their protest camp. A senior Brotherhood official, Ahmed Aref, said on its website Monday that Badie’s arrest would change nothing. “The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood is just one individual… among the millions who oppose the coup,” he said. Dozens of senior Brotherhood members have been arrested or are at large, after being accused of crimes including inciting the deaths of protesters before Mursi’s ouster. Violence continued to rock the country and draw international opprobrium. On Monday morning, militants killed 25 riot police in two buses in the Sinai peninsula, in the deadliest such attack in decades. The interior ministry blamed the attack on “armed terrorist groups” and Egypt closed its border with the Palestinian Gaza strip, near where the attack occurred. Security sources said another policeman was killed in north Sinai, bringing the number of security force members killed in Sinai since Mursi’s ouster to 75. United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon said he was “deeply disturbed” by the deaths and called for a “full investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding this incident.” Egypt’s foreign minister Nabil Fahmy said Monday in Sudan that his country was on the “right path.” But the international community has fiercely condemned the violence, with rights group Amnesty International decrying it as “utter carnage”. The group’s secretary general Salil Shetty warned the country’s government had “stained its human rights record”. And Human Rights Watch called on Egypt’s rulers to “urgently reverse” instructions for police to use live ammunition against protesters. In response to the violence, EU ambassadors held an urgent meeting in Brussels and foreign ministers were due to review the bloc’s ties with Egypt on Wednesday. The European Union has said nearly five billion euros ($6.7 billion) in aid to Egypt is under review since Mursi’s ouster. The United States has cancelled joint military exercises with Egypt but stopped short of suspending $1.3 billion in annual aid. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel urged Egypt’s interim government to take an “inclusive approach to reconciliation” but admitted Washington’s influence was limited. Continue reading
