Times Of Oman - March 1, 2015

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SUNDAY, March 1, 2015 /10 Jumada Al Ula 1436 AH

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Oman convention centre will add 24,000 new jobs water piping from the energy centre to the staff accommodation plot has also been installed,” said Al Lawati.

He said that there has been significant engagement with the international and regional organisations for securing business prior to the opening of the OCEC in 2016 and many more exhibitions and conventions will be announced in due course.

“The official opening of the convention centre, including both, the four-star Crowne Plaza Hotel and five-star JW Marriott Hotel are scheduled for 2017,” he added.

The project will not only bolster Oman’s image as a top tourist destination but also earn huge revenue, said the CEO of Omran

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rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) project is expected to generate OMR295 million in local spending, create an additional 24,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute between OMR200 million and OMR240 million to the economy, a major chunk coming from the tourism sector by 2030, says a Booz & Co study.

More than 12,000 workers will be required when the construction of the convention centre project reaches its peak in 2015, according to an impact assessment study by the group.

“OCEC will not only bolster Oman’s image and accessibil-

PRESTIGIOUS PROJECT: An artist’s impression of the proposed Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre.

ity as a tourist destination, but it will also generate significant economic stimulus and revenue and in doing so, contribute to the national economy,” Eng. Wael Ahmed Al Lawati, CEO of Omran, told the Times of Oman in an exclusive interview.

The OCEC is committed to the Omanisation process with a target of 60 per cent by the end of 2015.

The number of new recruits is

The focus of OCEC

Post-budget, flying becomes costlier for NRIs

Roof

REJIMON K

en Screen

reji@timesofoman.com

Levels

Stage 2

1

Stairs

3

Auditorium foyer

Omran’s Area iconic project to be 3,200 4,909 people square ready bym. 2017 Capacity Ca apacity

Project on time The work for the OCEC progressed on schedule in 2014 and as per the budget, it is on track for 2015.

“The concourse roof steelwork BUDGET BLUES

The auditorium, designed to attract world-class entertainers and performers, will be the highlight of Omran's iconic project

Stairs

147 and they are expected to join OCEC by the end of 2015. With 20 employees already on board, the total number of employees will reach 167 in 2015.

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Graphics

MUSCAT: Non-resident Indians (NRIs) will have to pay more for their tickets as the Indian government hiked marginally the service tax on airfares in its union budget for the financial year 2015-2016, on Saturday.

According to the budget, flying is set to become marginally dearer in the next financial year thanks to the hike in service tax from 12.36 per cent to 14 per cent, but it will be applicable only for tickets purchased in India.

Airlines officials and travel agents say that the hike will be nearly 2 per cent of the ticket price. >A3

TEAM ORGANISED CHAOS WINS SOUQ TREASURE HUNT Marquite Holmes, Suzanne Weiss and Ruth Wilford of Team Organised Chaos became the winners of the Mutrah Souq Treasure Hunt organised by Centre for Omani Dress in association with Times of Oman and Al Shabiba, on Saturday. Krishna Udani, Prem Kumar and Sameer Gadgil of Team Macho Muscateers were declared the first runners up and Team GE Oilers comprising Nat Vora, Puranjay, Murali Ramaswamy and Yasser Khalid were the second runners up. More than 59 teams participated in the event that was held at the Mutrah Souq and Riyam Park. Read full report in Monday’s edition. Photo-Cio Datan

has been completed and the concourse mechanical equipment has been placed. The service trenches in the exhibition halls have also been completed together with the car park retaining walls, which feature lobbies in the foreground and exhibition halls in the background. The energy centre structure has also been completed with major MEP equipment having been already delivered. Chilled

Tourism impact Regarding the tourism impact, the official said that Oman has been actively involved with international and regional associations, societies and organisations for decades.

With 50 per cent of the world’s population within only seven hours flying time from the Muscat airport, the Sultanate has in recent times captured the world’s attention, being named as one of the world’s most exciting, emerging tourist destinations.

“In fact, the Sultanate has been approached to host many of the world’s most prestigious world congresses and events but did not have a suitable venue to do so.

That is, of course, until the development of the new OCEC. It is being developed by Omran as a fully integrated convention precinct, supported by four hotels — a fivestar, two four-star and a threestar, with a combined capacity of 1,000 rooms,” said the CEO of Omran. >A5

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TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Firms compromising on safety of workers

1

As the government continues to spend hundreds of millions of Omani rials on awarding contracts to companies to build the infrastructure, companies push their workers to increase productivity and compromise on their safety. >A3

OMAN

National in custody of Indian police

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An Omani national and a Saudi national are in police custody in Mumbai for allegedly molesting an American woman, said Indian police officials. “Both the Arab nationals will be in custody until March 2. The consulate officials are in touch,” an officer from the Colaba police station in Mumbai, where the molestation case has been lodged, told the Times of Oman over phone. >A5

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Jebel Shams freezes in sub-zero weather

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Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in Oman, recorded sub-zero temperatures on Friday evening and Saturday morning, according to sources. “It was shivering cold on Friday evening and today morning. On the summit, we heard that there was snowfall.

Here the temperature dipped to -3 degree Celsius,” an official from one of the resorts said. >A5

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SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

OMAN Don’t litter a beautiful country like OMAN. Ensure proper disposal of garbage.

Almost three-quarters, or 72 per cent, of respondents believe it is likely that their companies will expand or invest in Oman in the coming three years EMIR e-poll of multinationals

Oil price slump fails to hit business prospects Investments in Oman

(In %)

of multinational

In your opinion which of the following factors will most likely impact your decision to invest in Oman?

0 100 Government regulation 55 Quality of the Labour force 31

companies expect to

Size of the regional consumer market

Regional bosses

31

Size of the regional business base

invest in Oman in the coming three years

28 24

International market access

22

Transport infrastructure 14

Incentives offered by the government

10

Taxes

despite lower oil prices, according to an EMIR briefing

Times News Service MUSCAT: A recent Emerging Markets Intelligence & Research (EMIR) Boardroom briefing hosted at the Burj Al Arab brought together more than 120 senior executives from some of the world’s largest multinational companies for a private meeting with a highprofile Omani delegation led by Dr. Salem bin Nasser Al Ismaily, chairman of Ithraa.

The purpose of the briefing was to create a conducive environment where CEOs and senior public sector officials could candidly discuss Oman’s business climate and investment opportunities.

“The EMIR Boardroom was a hugely effective platform for us to talk directly to business leaders on their perceptions of do-

Energy supply / price

8

Access to capital markets / financing

7

Proximity to your headquarters

7

Commercial / industrial land

7

Which of the three following issues concerns you most about investing in Oman?

Obtaining Skilled Employees

45

Omanisation

45

Oman’s and the region’s economic performance

38

Regulatory environment

38

Gaining the necessary permits

26

Political stability

24

Labour costs

21

To what extent are you confident that Oman’s economy is heading in the right direction?

49 Moderately confident

7 Not confident

Source: Emerging Market Intelligence & Research (EMIR) board room

ing business in Oman, while at the same time highlighting the Sultanate’s future development plans, particularly the plethora of investment opportunities,” said Dr. Al Ismaily.

According to an EMIR e-poll of multinationals, almost threequarters, or 72 per cent, of respondents believe it is likely that

44 Confident

Graphics

their companies will expand or invest in Oman in the coming three years.

When asked to what extent lower oil prices would impact their decision, the same number of respondents said crude receipts are important, but not a deal breaker when it comes to investing in the Sultanate.

Almost one-fifth, or 19 per cent, of the respondents said they would invest irrespective of oil prices. “Many of our clients said this was the best EMIR briefing to date because it had the right balance between strategy insights, government interaction and high-profile networking,” said Trevor McFarlane, founder and CEO of EMIR. More investment Dr. Al Ismaily spoke to EMIR’s Csuite audience about the Omani government’s strategy to attract more investment to the Sultanate, while the private sector also heard from key Omani business representatives, including Ahmed Akaak, deputy CEO of Salalah Port, Jamal Aziz, CEO of Sohar Free Zone (and deputy CEO of Sohar Port) and Ismael Al Balushi, vice CEO of Duqm Special Economic Zone.

Oman’s delegation also used the opportunity to better understand the views of multinationals, all of whom participated in EMIR’s electronic pulse survey.

The findings of the poll will help Omani government officials shape policy on foreign direct investment and empower the private sector to the benefit from the national economy.

Not only will these insights offer the government better input for policy outcomes, but they will also form the foundation for on-going collaboration between EMIR and Ithraa on other issues of importance to the growing Omani economy.

ROUGH SEAS

Ship with cattle sinks off Ras Al Hadd FAHAD AL MUKRASHI fahad@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: An overloaded ship with cattle on board sank near the Ras Al Hadd shore of South Sharqiyah governorate on Saturday afternoon.

According to the information available, the ship, carrying more than 350 cattleheads, sank due to strong winds and rough waves.

All the cattle and the crew were rescued by the residents of Ras Al

Hadd. No causalities were reported, an official at the ROP, told the Times of Oman.

Witnesses said that most of the cattle swam to the shore — a sight that left many amazed.

Sources said the owner of the ship, which was coming from Somalia and heading to United Arab Emirates, is an Emirati national, while the crew comprised Pakistani nationals. The ship turned into a wreckage due to the water that entered its deck.

WEATHER WOES: The ship, carrying more than 350 cattleheads,

sank due to the strong winds and rough waves.–Supplied photo

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C O M M E N TA RY

Companies compromise safety of workers for higher production SUNDAY BEAT

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s the government continues to spend hundreds of millions of rials a year awarding contracts to companies to build the infrastructure, companies push their workers to increase productivity and compromise their safety standards. Most companies are practically interested in staying ahead of their competitors and making huge turnover and in doing so put the welfare of their staff on a low priority.

There is no official statistics of how many company workers get hurt in the course of their duties but according to the individual Health and Safety Environment’s (HSE) records of top 10 contractors, more than 3,700 of them needed medical treatment in 2014. The injured workers who get hospitalised made up nearly 10 per cent of the total workers on this list.

Sadly, about 18 per cent of them died either at the sites or in hospitals last year.

In comparison to the previous year, 246 more workers got injured in 2014 but for obvious reason, company directors do not want this part of the record to be made public.

In this scale of seriousness,

it is obvious that top contractors who get big money from the government must do much more to protect their most important stakeholders. For the sake of productivity and competition, company directors make their staff work longer, pay them little and many times, in harsh environments.

For example, four years ago the government introduced a longer summer afternoon break, but very few companies follow the rule. To avoid paying penalties for not completing the project in time, workers have only one-hour lunch break.

They go back to work at 2pm when the sun is the hottest and stay at work up to 8pm. At construction companies, their day begins at 6am.

According to doctors in most hospitals, majority of the workers sustained injuries while carrying out their duties after collapsing, due to dehydration from intense heat. Fatigue and

exhaustion are the other two items on the list. Another fact company directors would not like to publicise and on the danger list of HSE, is psychological problems workers go through.

Doctors treating some of these cases, say workers go through trauma of working in a long stretch in unhealthy environment. Such workers rarely receive treatment because it is not a physical injury but a mental one.

They are simply packed back home for their families to deal with the problem with very little compensation. Most of them, according to the word trickling down back to their colleagues, never recover from the ordeal.

These workers would also tell you that they get very little comfort after long punishing hours when they go back to their sleeping quarters. It is not uncommon that hundreds of workers sleep in limited place,

Air India Express to add new flights Air India Express may add Lucknow and Amritsar to its growing network from Muscat

Times News Service MUSCAT: More Indian cities will be connected by Air India Express, the low-cost arm of the national carrier of India, Air India from Muscat.

Speaking to Times of Oman, B B Kulkarni, country manager of Air India and Air India Express, said that they are planning to add a few more destinations from Muscat.

“These destinations will be added once they lease new aircraft,” he said.

It was learnt that Air India Express may add Lucknow and Amritsar to its growing network from Muscat. While Oman Air currently flies to Lucknow, there are no direct flights to Amritsar which is home to Sikhism’s holiest shrine, the Golden Temple, one of India’s most serene and humbling sights.

“No time period has been fixed but we are planning to add Lucknow while a route study for an Amritsar-Muscat flight is under way,” added Kulkarni.

Air India Express will lease eight new aircraft between 2016 and 2017, increasing its fleet strength to 25. Officials said that while the low cost carrier has already signed three leases, five more are in the pipeline. “They will be taking these brand new aircraft from leasing companies,” said an official.

Officials said that Air India Express is looking at a fleet of 36 aircraft in the next five years, adding 11 more planes which have been approved by the government.

Air India Express is deploying new economy class 189-seater aircraft and is increasing destinations from India to Southeast Asia and the Gulf countries including Muscat.

With a load factor of about 90 per cent, the airline is witnessing a strong growth in passenger traffic, averaging around 2.6 million passengers a year, he added.

Air India Express currently flies 19 times a week from Muscat to destinations like Calicut, Cochin, Trivandrum and Mangalore. From Salalah, it flies twice a week to Calicut and once a week to Trivandrum and Cochin (which is a combined fight). “From the summer we will be increasing one more flight from Salalah,” said the country manager.

NAT I O NA L B U D G E T

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Indian air fares hiked

Which means, a Kochi–Muscat one-way economy fare costing around OMR199 on an airline on Saturday, will cost around OMR4 more.

The impact on business and first class travel will be more due to high base fares which would lead to heftier hikes.

“The increase in service tax will result in a marginal increase in the price of air tickets. Now, citing this reason, if airlines had any plans to cut the airfare due to dip in oil prices they will not do it,” said Raji Demonte, general manager at Universal Travels.

According to Raji, hotels and tour packages in India will also cost more.

“Again, the union budget proposed to increase service tax, without a guarantee that we will get better service from providers.

The service tax hike will increase

the burden on ordinary people.

This will have a marginal effect on airline tickets as they also have a component of service tax,” said Jose Chacko, a financial expert in Muscat.

Generally, the cost components of an air ticket issued by an airline operator broadly cover base fare, fuel surcharge to compensate aviation turbine fuel (ATF), service tax on base fare and ATF and passenger service fee (PSF), apart from user development fee (UDF), which is collected on behalf of the Airport Authority of India.

The base fare is essentially collected towards transportation of passengers from one location to another and as per the definition, it is a taxable service and, accordingly, service tax is payable on such base fares.

Charges collected by airlines

towards domestic and international travel originating from India are subject to service tax at an effective rate of 4.94 per cent.

Even though there is no service tax on airfares and charges collected by airlines for journeys originating from outside India, all other incidental services such as ticketing, ground handling, catering, etc. provided by airline operators are also subject to service tax.

Purchase of air-tickets through agents involves two elements of service tax and also service tax on the commission earned by agents from airline operators.

Service tax laws clearly state that airfares are excluded from the value of taxable services provided by agents for the purpose of discharging service tax, thereby confirming that service tax on airfare is the liability of airline operators and not agents.

packed up like sardines in a tin.

There are also sanitation and dietary problems, both in and out of the construction sites.

In many countries, this negligence by directors of contracting companies would be put down to human rights abuse. Perhaps, more is needed to be done about it. Government’s project supervisors say it is not their problem if workers are subjected to harsh working environment. It is the problem of the contractors. We know contractors only care for the profit margin and how much money they would save from cutting safety corners. In any contract, about 80 per cent of total workers are labourers and they are the ones who get abused the most — most of the time from their own compatriots. If the government does not give them protection they need and their companies are only interested to exploit them, then who is on their side?

Overworked workers also make easy mistakes. Such accidents make up the bulk of all incidents at construction sites. Walk to any construction site and you would see half of the workers not wearing hard helmets or safety boots. Some of them go in higher elevations without safety harness. If a contractor has thousands of workers toiling at a site such as at the Muscat airport, oil wells or road constructions, buying each one safety boots and helmets are expenses that would erode the profitability.

In conclusion, it is the responsibility of the government to send out inspectors to every site to make sure that safety is adhered to and the contractors, who abuse it, must be severely punished without any exception. saleh@timesofoman.com

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SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

OMAN GUtech team clears track tech test Hard work of the GUtech students paid off and after the second round of inspections, Team Megalodon was given the green light to take their car to the track.

Now, it’s all on the drivers on the track

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SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com MANILA: A year of hard work by a dozen GUtech students paid off on Saturday when they became the first Omani team to pass the technical inspections and test their car’s fuel-efficiency at the Shell Eco-Marathon Asia in Manila.

The GUtech students, called Team Megalodon, as well as teams from SQU and Caledonian College of Engineering are competing in the event with 126 other teams from Asia, the Middle East and Australia. The aim of the contest is to design and build a car that will drive the furthest distance on the smallest amount of fuel or battery power.

Extra effort Mohammad Mohammadi, from Team Megalodon, said it took some extra effort to make sure their diesel-powered car made it onto the track. Following the first round of inspections on Friday

ECO-TESTS: GUtech students, called Team Megalodon, as well as teams from SQU and Caledonian

College of Engineering are competing in the event with 126 other teams from Asia, the Middle East and Australia. –Photos, videos by Sarah MacDonald/TIMES OF OMAN

the team had to fix some problems with the seatbelt, brakes, sharp edges and fuel lines. Luckily their hard work paid off and after the second round of inspections Team Megalodon was given the green light to take their car to the track.

“It was unbelievable! Everyone was so happy because from the beginning after shipping the car (to Manila) we were worried about the inspection. We’ve heard a lot of stories about people losing just because not passing the inspection after building a car for eight months. Now it’s all on the drivers,” Mohammadi said.

Around 1pm Saturday afternoon Team Megalodon was finally ready to make their first attempt driving around the track, with Mobashar Kabir at the wheel. His mission was to complete 10 laps of the track within 29 minutes, which he did with ease. The first attempt resulted in a fuel efficiency of 88 km per litre.

“It’s one year of work and it comes down to 30 minutes. It’s in-

tense. It gives you that adrenaline overdose, but we like it. That’s why we came,” said Kabir.

SQU’s Eco Wheel team had to change the location of the gas tank in their car before it became the second Omani-made car to pass the inspections and be allowed onto the track. It didn’t take long before the excited students took their car out to the practice area for a short spin.

Driver Marwan Al Mamari was confident that he had the proper techniques to drive the car as efficiently as possible. “I should follow the direction of the wind and when I accelerate it should be constant.

I’m feeling good. Inshallah it will be good,” he commented.

Caledonian College of Engineering’s Team Sadarah struggled a bit with the computer system that controls the battery-electric system that powers their car, but they passed the safety inspections with flying colours.

As they spent much of Saturday trying to fix the complex system,

YOUR BIGGEST ROAD HAZARD IS IN YOUR HAND A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING

they also turned to other students for advice since 35 teams are competing in the batter-electric category and they weren’t the only ones with problems.

“It’s a very good learning experience for us. There are teams which have already participated for the past four or five years and they’ve really done a good job,” explained team member Osama Mazher.

Each team which passes the technical and safety inspection has four attempts to drive around the track and their best results will be included to determine the winners in the on-track awards. There are also six off-track awards for communications, design, technical innovation, safety, spirit and use of Shell Helix Tribology lubricant.

Team Sadarah’s Sloum Al Shukery said their team applied for the design and safety awards.

“I think we’ve got a good position for designing. We hope to get a prize,” he said before joining the team for another round of inspections.

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Jebel Shams freezes at -5.5 Celsius hud, Ibra and Yaaloni along with Thumrait, Ibri and Ibra will witness dust and sandstorms,” added the forecast.

On Friday evening, rains lashed the northern parts of Oman flooding the wadis and slowing down traffic on the roads for a while.

In its latest forecast for Sunday, the meteorological department has predicted chances of rain over the coastal areas of Oman Sea and over Al Hajar Mountains, with a drop in temperature COLD AND FOGGY: Even though there was no snowfall in Jebel Akdhar, it is extremely foggy. ‘It is cold and the visibility is also very poor,’

REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in Oman, at 3005 metres, recorded sub-zero temperatures on Friday evening and Saturday morning, according to forecast data and sources.

“It was very cold on Friday even-

said residents.– TIMES OF OMAN

ing and this morning. Above the summit, we heard that there was snowfall. Here, the temperature dipped to -3°Celsius,” said an official from one of the resorts in Jebel Shams.

The Oman meteorological data reveals that on Friday evening, the

temperature at Jebel Shams was -5.5°Celsius.

Meanwhile, sources in Jebel Akdhar said that even though there was no snowfall, it is extremely foggy.

“It is cold and the visibility is also very poor,” said residents.

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Convention centre will boost tourism

He believed that destinations such as the OCEC have an important role to play in the government’s strategy to increase domestic tourism in Oman.

“Omran is committed to providing more attractive hospitality, retail and recreation facilities for residents here in Oman, to further develop the home tourism market as well as catering to increasing visitors from outside.

Developments such as the OCEC, our joint ventures such as Saraya Bandar Jissah and the recently announced Ras Al Hadd project will help transform the hospitality and tourist offerings for visitors to Oman, and will also give residents greater lifestyle destinations, rather than have them travelling outside Oman.”

He also said, “The OCEC may not be the largest convention centre in the Middle East, but it will be by far one of the most advanced in the region. It is a world-class purpose built convention and exhibition centre with flexible space and the very latest in communications and audio visual technology - for conferences, exhibitions, meetings, weddings and special events. It is also a fully integrated precinct offering one of the most comprehensive lists of facilities, features and on-site accommodations in the region. The centre is architecturally advanced in design and capability, and will be among the first to be built to meet the rigorous LEED certification.

Furthermore, the OCEC is located only four kilometres from the Muscat International Airport, a

of the Sultanate. “Muscat, Rustaq, Madha and, Khasab in addition to Sohar, Saiq, Samail and Qalhat will witness rain. The other areas that will see rain are Dibba, Muttrah, Suwaiq, Saiq and Ras Al Hadd along with Amerat, Baushar, Shinas and Saham. Buraimi, Fa-

OVERSEAS CRIME

INFRASTRUCTURE

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In its latest forecast for Sunday, the meteorological department has predicted chances of rain over the coastal areas of Oman Sea and over Al Hajar Mountains with a noticeable drop in the temperature and horizontal visibility due to dust-generating wind over most

Met forecast The Sultanate’s meteorological department had forecast rain on Friday and Saturday due to low pressure in the Sea of Oman in Muscat, Musandam, north and south Batinah, north Sharkiyah and Al Hajar mountains.

Dark clouds brought muchneeded respite from the heat to residents who have been advised caution during the adverse weather conditions particularly while crossing wadis.

Fishermen have also been advised against venturing out to sea during the rains as the sea will be rough.

Last week, Oman witnessed reduced visibility as a result of the dust storm and cloudy weather due to strong and moderate winds.

After 48 hours, the sandstorms started dissipating bringing in cooler weather. From February 20 to 24, the temperature dipped from 38°Celsius to 20° Celsius.

highly sought-after feature that few convention centres worldwide provide.”

OCEC will also include several other facilities that will significantly augment its operational capabilities and functionality.

“It will include a 3,200 tiered lyric-style auditorium set over three levels with advanced projection and riggings, orchestra pit and acoustic systems designed to attract world-class entertainers and performers, while also catering to international congress delegations.

In addition, this versatile venue offers the flexibility to host meetings, seminars or gala banquets both small and large thanks to 14 meeting rooms which can seat between 70 and 360 delegates. It also has two ballrooms.

The grand ballroom seats up to 2,300 people in theatre style, 1,400 in classroom style or 1,350 in banquet style, using a system of acoustically rated movable walls.

There is also an additional junior ballroom that splits into two equal spaces and caters for up to 1,000 people in theatre style, 600 in classroom style and 570 for a banquet.

The design of the centre will ensure a flow of meeting space to suit the most discerning conference and exhibition organisers.

It has also incorporated expansive concourse areas to enable ease of large delegations with floor to ceiling windows overlooking landscaped gardens and water features.

Finally, OCEC provides more

than 22,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space, divided into five separate halls.

Of these, Halls 1 and 2 have a superior fit out.

They offer specialised acoustic treatment, advanced lighting and rigging requirements to act as a multipurpose space for larger plenary sessions, concerts or performances seating up to 10,000 in theatre style. Each individual hall also offers a dedicated registration desk, hospitality suites and separate offices for conference organisers.

The CEO also said that it is the cultural diversity, rich heritage and political stability of Oman that makes it such an attractive tourist destination.

“The natural beauty of Oman and the range of unique and breathtaking destinations are an enticing draw for tourists all year round, and we believe this is an aspect of the Sultanate that will no doubt tempt OCEC visitors to extend their stay. As a result, it is Oman’s hotel and infrastructure projects that will work to complement not just OCEC but tourism as a whole here in Oman,” he said.

“In this respect, the expansion of the Muscat International Airport is well placed to handle the influx of greater visitor numbers, together with other airports being built in other regions of the country. This is further complemented by several other road infrastructure improvements including the widening and reconstruction projects of several roads across the country,” he summed up.

Omani national arrested in India over woman’s alleged molestation REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: An Omani national and a Saudi national are under police custody in Mumbai for allegedly molesting an American woman, said Indian police officials.

“Both the Arab nationals will be under custody until March 2. The consulate officials are in touch,” an officer from the Colaba police station in Mumbai, where the molestation case has been lodged, told

the Times of Oman over phone.

The incident took place early on Thursday at a five-star hotel in South Mumbai.

“In her statement, the Saudi national, introduced by the Omani, grabbed and molested the woman in her room. Somehow, she managed to call the hotel employees who helped her to call the police.

The Saudi national was arrested first and the Omani national was arrested later on,” said the official.

According to Indian media re-

ports, the woman, a resident of Florida, is the owner of a big firm in the US. She arrived at the hotel on February 22 and during her stay met the Omani national who introduced her to the Saudi national early in the morning last Thursday.

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T IME S O F O MAN

SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

OMAN A PILLAR IN OMAN'S TOURISM DEVELOPMENT LOCATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

WADI PARK

Located in the Hayy Al Irfan district, four kilometres from Muscat International Airport, and overlooks a nature reserve and wadi.

1,690,000

Muttrah Ruwi Darsait

Madinat Sultan Qaboos

Brazilian Pepper Indian Lilac Lebbek tree Savannah Oak

Featu

Olive Lemon tree Pomergranate Common fig

Cra Ind Jav Pin

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LOCATE THE PROJECT IN YOUR PHONE

Al Kuwair From OCEC to: 28 km

Al Ansab

Ghala

Gubrah

OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE

Al Azaiba

Sea of Oman Qurum R/A

Fruit trees

MUSCAT

Qurum

Muttrah Corniche

Shade trees

All the precinct is split by a Wadi which will be a perfect place for exotic bird life A Dam will allow to have a lagoon in the middle of the complex surrounded by the different tree species.

Total Area (Square meters)

Wadi Kabir

MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT

The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) will serve as a key pivot in developing a thriving meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry in the country. The Centre is situated within a well organised, fully integrated business precinct and has been designed to accommodate world congresses, exhibitions, regional meetings, banquets, gala events and concerts. It will also include 1,000 hotel rooms and is set to become an iconic landmark for Oman.

Omran's iconic OCEC project

Muscat International Airport

18.9 km

All LED Street lights for all internal roads is a first in Oman.

To Nizwa

C CE

its

lim

O

JW Marriott Hotel

(300 rooms) Al Khuwair R/A

12 km

Grand Mosque

7.5 km

Airport

4 km

East Bank Hotel apartments Seeb 5km

Wadi Park Helicopter Pad

4-star Hotel

3-star Hotel

ort

irp

at

usc

n

tio

na

er Int

al A

Crowne Plaza Hotel

M To

(296 rooms)

Dam

West Bank Hotel apartments

AUDI

The foc will be a 3,200 theatre

Retail Mall

W ad ib rid ge

100m

Business Park 1 Set over three levels with advanced projection and riggings, orchestra pit and acoustic systems

The Retail Mall will be strategically located adjacent to the convention & exhibition centre. It includes the first IKEA store in Muscat and other global brands. It will also include a food court complex.

Al

Business Park 2

Ja m

aA

lA

kh

ba

rS

Levels

t.

on an area of 40 hectares, will offer around 100,000 BUSINESS PARK Set square meters of office space

Stairs Designed to attract world-class entertainers and performers, while also catering for international congress delegations.

To Ba nk

2

1

3

M us ca tr ou nd ab ou t Auditorium

SUSTAINABILITY Buildings are designed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) sustainability standard.

Treated sewage effluent is being used for plant irrigation and for the cooling tower water makeup.

CONVENTION CENTRE

Solar heating will power the industrial kitchen hot water supply, and measures have been introduced to make sure buildings are reflective and well-insulated.

DIMENSIONS & CAPACITY

Building Name

Buildings for conventions and events have an enormous capacity and space efficient distribution, the numbers here are not including hotels, Business Park buildings and shopping mall

Capacity

Grand Ballroom

900

Square meters Source: OMRAN, Oman Convention & Exhibition Center reports, Booz & Company analysis

35,000

refrigeration tons

2,590 910

780

Hall A

Hall B

Hall C

720

730

630

final capacity of the District Cooling Plant to be built in 3 phases to meet the phased completion of the precinct.

Junior Ballroom

Meeting rooms (14)

Exhibition Halls: Hall 1

Hall 2

Hall 3

1,120

1,520

5,490

4,730

4,730

900

1,490

4,880

4,210

4,210

T I MES OF OM AN

OMAN Completion date

2015

Road Infrastructure and Utilities (completed)

2016 Exhibition Halls, Car Park and Energy Centre

2017

Four star Crowne Plaza hotel

Five star JW Marriott hotel

2018 Auditorium, Meeting Rooms and Ballrooms

Business Park 1

IMPACT ON SULTANATE'S ECONOMY

The project, with strategic significance, promises to spawn socio-economic benefits. It will help in creation of direct and indirect jobs, and development of medium and small enterprises.

DIRECT JOBS CREATION (IN THOUSANDS)

99%

Construction sector

ature trees

Wadi trees

Halls 1 and 2 have specialised acoustics plus advanced lighting and rigging to serve as a multi- purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances, and gala events for up to 10,000.

Acacia Arabica Frankinsense Tree Mexican Palo Verde

Auditorium

Grand and Junior Ballrooms

Business operations

Construction sector

17%

Tourism sector

24,000

folding walls

12

Each Hall is around 4,800 sqm divided by a vertically folding partitions, which allows to modify the capacity of the building

direct and indirect jobs to be generated

7.5

Energy Centre

6

6

6

4

4

4

5.5

4

To

Parking

73%

94%

14

EXHIBITION HALLS

Date palm

Include 22,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space, divisible into five separate halls.

Crape myrtle Indian Beech Java Cassia Pink Shower

From

2

YEAR

2013

2015

2017

2020

2025

2030

12

11

17

32

32

32

88

89

83

68

68

68

% Omani

Hall 1 Hall 2

Meeting rooms

Hall 3

Exhibition Halls

Outdoor exhibition space 12,000 sqm, the concourse has floor to ceiling windows that look out over Muscat and Sea of Oman. (carpark is dropped down for uninterrupted views)

Expats

Hall 4

Co nc ou rse

Hall 5

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES Potential is measured by assessing the opportunity size, number of jobs created and quality of jobs

Outdoor Exhibition Garden

Highest potential

Medium potential

Exhibition halls

Truck Marshalling yard

4,200 Cars

To Muscat Express Highway

Multi- storey Car park

Lowest potential

Hospitality Business Park

Mall

Facility management Event management Printing & Stationery Retail Shops Taxi/Limo services Maintenance & operations Marketing Firm Stand Design

Nocturnal v view

Restaurants , Coffe shops

The roof structure structur allows the output of the inner light

Travel Agents

UDITORIUM

Security IT Services

EC e focus of the OCEC m, l be the auditorium, 200-seat tiered atre

Equipment Rental Catering Services

Roof

Postage & Courier Tourism/Sightseeing Entertainment services Car Rentals Adventure Centres Convenience Services Food Supply Legal Firms

SSULTAN QABOOS ROSE T identity for the OCEC The is based on the roof design of the auditorium.

Fitness Centre Shop Design Shop Fit-Out Clinics Logistic Services

Screen

150

Annual direct GDP contribution

Stairs Stair airs rss

(OR Millions)

Stage

105

100

It is an interpretation of the Sultan Qaboos Rose, the image is a graphic intricate symbol, reminiscent of arabesque artwork which has a strong and obvious tie-in to the building itself

80 60

Interior view

um foyer

To

20

From

15 2013

A discovered rose has been named after him, to be known as ‘Sultan Qaboos Rose’. It is an initiative of the World Rose Society (based in the Netherlands) in recognition of His Majesty's personal contribution for the progress and welfare of his people.

By sector %

100

112

130

85

200-240

million Rial annual contribution to Oman GDP by 2030

2015

2017

2020

2025

2030

49

46

42

38

33

37

41

8

13

12

11

5

5

5

6

86 44

Construction

Business

TOTAL

3

Hall 4

Hall 5

Auditorium

30

4,730

5,490

3,200

0

A7

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

33,600

Tourism

RENT Real Estate

4,210

4,880

4,909

31,769

5

Convention Centre

Graphics

A8

SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

REGION IRAQ

IS fighters attack Samarra ahead of army offensive BAGHDAD: IS suicide bombers and fighters struck targets on Saturday in the northern Iraqi city of Samarra, where security forces and their majority sect militia allies have been gathering for an offensive against the radical minority sect militants.

Security sources and residents said the attack on Samarra was launched at 5.30 am (0230 GMT) when two IS suicide bombers blew up their cars in the northern area of Sur Shnas. At the same time a man drove a Humvee rigged with explosives into the south of the city and detonated it, while IS fighters attacked security forces to the west with sniper fire, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. Medical sources said Samarra hospital received the bodies of 14 majority sect militia fighters and policemen.

Residents reported seeing black smoke over parts of the city and hearing powerful explosions.

After heavy clashes in the morning, the fighting appeared to have subsided by the afternoon.

Thousands of troops and fighters from majority sect militias known as Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) have gathered around Samarra for a campaign

Iraq reopens museum as IS razes artefacts

to drive IS out of nearby strongholds on the Tigris River, including the city of Tikrit 50 km (30 miles) to the north.

The army shelled northern and western districts of Tikrit on Saturday, but did not send troops into the city, security sources said. Army helicopters had also fired rockets at IS militants around Sur Shnas, they said.

In the town of Ishaaqi, about 20 km (10 miles) southeast of Samarra, snipers shot dead two Hashid Shaabi men as they tried to set up a sand barrier on the main highway linking Samarra to the capital Baghdad.

Twin car bombing Further east in Diyala province, 11 people were killed in a twin car bombing in the town of Balad Roz on Saturday. One of those killed was a judge, security and medical sources said. The army and majority sect militias have driven IS out of nearly all of Diyala province, which lies to the north-east of Baghdad, on the border with Iran. But Saturday’s blasts showed that militants could still launch attacks there, just as they regularly do in the Iraqi capital itself. -Reuters

SENDING A SIGNAL: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi, second left, at the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad on Saturday. -Reuters

The much-delayed reopening was brought forward in what officials said was a response to the destruction of priceless artefacts by IS group extremists

VIGIL: Iraqis take part in a candlelight vigil in Iraq’s central city of Najaf on Friday, in memory of those killed by the IS group. IS is accused of multiple abuses against minorities in the areas under its control in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. -AFP

in Mosul

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s national museum officially reopened on Saturday after 12 years of painstaking efforts during which close to a third of 15,000 stolen pieces were recovered.

The much-delayed reopening was brought forward in what officials said was a response to the destruction of priceless artefacts

by IS group extremists in the northern city of Mosul.

“We have been preparing to reopen for the past couple of months, the museum should be open to everyone,” Deputy Tourism and Antiquities Minister Qais Hussein Rashid said.

“The events in Mosul led us to speed up our work and we wanted

to open it today as a response to what the gangs of Daesh did,” he said, using an Arabic acronym for the IS group.

On Thursday, the extremists who have occupied Iraq’s second city of Mosul since June last year released a video in which militants smash ancient statues with sledgehammers.

Militants are also seen defacing a colossal Assyrian winged bull in an archaeological park in Mosul with a jackhammer.

The destruction sparked global outrage, calls for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and fears over the fate of other major heritage sites in areas under IS control.

The destruction was the worst disaster to strike Iraq’s treasure since the national museum in Baghdad was looted in the chaos that followed the US-led toppling of Saddam Hussein.

The destruction of priceless Assyrian and other artefacts from the main museum and an archeological site in Mosul drew comparisons with the 2001 dynamiting of the Bamiyan buddhas in Afghanistan.

Archaeologists and heritage experts on Friday called for urgent action to protect the remains of some of oldest civilisations in the world. After demanding an emergency meeting of the Security Council, the head of the United Nations’ cultural body said the International Criminal Court should also take action.

DESTRUCTION: A man topples a statue in a museum at a location said to be Mosul in this still image taken from an undated video published by IS on Thursday. -Reuters/Social media Web site via Reuters TV

UNESCO chief Irina Bokova described the destruction as “cultural cleansing”.

Some of the statues destroyed in the video were likely replicas of pieces that had been moved to safety or are kept in museums in the West, experts say.

But several were originals, including the colossal granite Assyrian winged bull at Nergal gate in central Mosul which extremists armed with a jackhammer can

be seen defacing. After wrecking the giant statue, IS militants reportedly told the guards of the vast archaeological site that the ancient city of Nimrud, south of Mosul, was next on their list.

“It is one of the very important Assyrian capitals. There are reliefs and winged bulls there...

This would be a real disaster,” said Abdelamir Hamdani, an Iraqi archaeologist at New York’s Stony Brook University. -AFP

DIPLOMACY

Iran shrugs off Netanyahu bid to block nuclear deal TEHRAN: Iran on Saturday shrugged off a bid by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to abort a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers by lobbying opposition in a speech to the US Congress.

“I believe this effort is fruitless and it should not be an impediment to an agreement,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at a joint press conference with his visiting Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni.

“It is unfortunate that there is a group which sees its interests in tension and crisis.” Netanyahu’s bid was “an attempt to utilise a fabricated crisis to cover up realities in the region, including occupation, the suppression of Palestinians and the violation of their rights”, he said.

“It is an on old policy to intimidate and spread lies ... in order to prevent peace in the region,” said Zarif. Netanyahu will travel next week to Washington to denounce a possible agreement in the Iranian nuclear talks, which he considers contrary to the interests of Israel.

The Israeli leader said Wednesday that his speech before Congress was part of his “duty” to protect his country’s security.

“Under the agreement that is being prepared, we have reason to worry ... if the world powers have apparently found common ground with Iran,” he said. The so-called P5+1 group of Britain,

PUSHING AHEAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, and his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni at a press conference following a meeting in Tehran on Saturday. Gentiloni is on a two-day visit for talks with Iranian officials. -AFP

China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany are trying to strike an accord that would prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.

The next round of talks is to start next week in Switzerland.

In return, the West would ease curbs imposed on Tehran over its nuclear programme, which Iran insists is purely civilian. A March 31 deadline for a political framework for the deal is looming with negotiators saying they will aim to pin down the final technical details by June 30.

Zarif said that Iranian and US delegations meeting in Geneva last week had made “significant

progress” on technical issues.

“But still differences remain on many other topics, both on nuclear issues and on sanctions ... The United States and the West must realise that sanctions are an obstacle to reaching an agreement,” he said. Italy’s foreign minister, for his part, called for “a solution on the nuclear issue” to allow for “expanded relations” between Tehran and Rome, according to a Persian translation of his remarks.

“Iran’s help will be effective in finding solutions to regional problems, including the fight against the extremism of Daesh,” said Gentiloni, using the Arabic acronym for the IS group. -AFP

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

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A9

INDIA

FA L L E N O U T

Trinamool Congress sacks Mukul Roy as general secretary KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress on Saturday sacked Mukul Roy — once party supremo Mamata Banerjee’s second-in-command — as its national general secretary.

Mamata’s close aide Subrata Bakshi, who was appointed national general secretary a few days back, will be the only one to hold the post.

“Subrata Bakshi has been ap-

pointed as the national general secretary,” Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee announced after the party’s working committee meeting at Mamata’s residence here.

“There is only one general secretary — Subrata Bakshi,” replied Chatterjee to media queries about Roy’s fate. Bakshi has also been entrusted with the responsibility of

representing the party at the Election Commission.

“All matters relating to the EC will be handled by Bakshi. He will represent the party at the Election Commission,” senior party leader and state Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee said.

Former railway minister Dinesh Trivedi and Sultan Ahmed have been made national vice presidents,

Heavy security in Jammu ahead of Mufti swearing-in Watched by Modi, 79-year-old Mufti Mohammed Sayeed will take oath as the J&K chief minister along with 12

VIGIL: Security personnel keep vigil during high alert on eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, in Jammu, on Saturday. - PTI

ministers each from PDP and BJP today

JAMMU: A multi-tier security cover has been put in place in the city for the swearing-in today of the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed-led BJP-PDP government with the ceremony to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Massive security arrangement has been made in and around Jammu city for the swearing-in ceremony and Prime Minister’s visit tomorrow,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP),

Uttam Chand. The swearing-inceremony will be held at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium at Jammu University.

The venue has been declared out of bounds for the public and sanitation operations with metal detectors and sniffer dogs have been launched while an SPG team is already in Jammu for the function. A meeting was held by the Chief Secretary on Saturday to review the measures, said Shant Manu, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Division.

Watched by Modi, 79-year-old Sayeed will take oath as the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister

along with 12 members each from PDP and BJP. BJP’s Nirmal Singh is expected to be the deputy chief Minister.

The two parties were engaged in intense negotiations since December, after the elections threw up a hung Assembly, as part of efforts to put together a coalition government on the basis of a Common Minimum Programme (CMP), which will be released on Sunday.

The Common Minimum Programme will cover all controversial issues like Article 370, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and resettlement of refugees. - PTI

while MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Subhendu Adhikari, Rajya Sabha chief whip Derek O’Brien, and state Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim have been made national joint secretaries.

The development comes a day after Roy - a former union minister - was replaced as the leader of Trinamool in the Rajya Sabha by Derek O’Brien.

Roy, a former railway minister, has seemingly fallen out with Mamata Banerjee after his interrogation by the CBI in connection with the multi-crore-rupee Saradha ponzi scam.

A founding member of the Trinamool, he has distanced himself from the party and shied away from attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party of late.- IANS

SHOWN THE DOOR : Mukul Roy

A10

SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

INDIA

The budget is not special from any point of view. Government talks a lot about poor but nothing has been done in the budget about the poor. Common man will have to pay for service tax and other similar proposals of the government Janardan Dwivedi, All India Congress Committee General Secretary

Budget seeks to boost investment, growth; fails to address deficit BUDGET AT A GLANCE Capitalising on

windfall savings

Next

stemming from

Promises

cheaper oil

Hikes

imports, Jaitley

Subsidy

was able to ramp

up infrastructure

Atal

investment without

slashing spending on

UPBEAT: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presenting the Union Budget 2015-16 at the Lok Sabha in New Delhi on Saturday. - PTI

Economy seen growing 8.0-8.5% in 2015/16 year‘s fiscal deficit set at 3.9% of GDP, not 3.6% cut in corporate tax to 25%, over four years

road and rail investment by $11 billion regime to be made more efficient

Personal income tax rates unchanged

Wealth Tax to be abolished and additional two per cent tax on super rich to yield Rs90 billion annually Government to soon launch National Skills Mission

schemes

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday announced a budget that put boosting growth before painful reforms, slowing the pace of fiscal deficit cuts and seeking to put domestic and foreign capital to work.

In his first full-year budget since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landslide election victory last May, Jaitley said India’s economy was about to take off. Modi tweeted that the budget would “further reignite our growth engine”. Billed as a test of the nationalist premier’s willingness to reform a $2 trillion economy with a bloated public sector and weak private investment, the budget was short on structural reforms and contained revenue targets some called unrealistic.

It drew a mixed reception from

Infrastructure in focus “People who urged us to undertake ‘big bang’ reforms also say the Indian economy is a super giant, which moves slowly but surely,” Jaitley told parliament as he wrapped up a 90-minute speech.

Jaitley promised higher investment in India’s decrepit roads and railways, offered the carrot of tax cuts to global companies and the stick of tighter rules to get Indian tycoons to invest at home rather than stash wealth abroad.

10-year jail for tax evasion Tax evaders face jail sentences of up to 10 years, he warned. The tax changes and tougher enforcement would raise $2.5 billion next year, he said. Tax receipts overall would rise 15 per cent and government asset sales would raise $11 billion — goals that past experience shows may be hard to meet.

Although Jaitley forecast that growth would accelerate to 8-8.5 per cent in the fiscal year starting in April, up from 7.4 per cent this year, the budget contained little obvious support for Modi’s call

Range of measures In a key passage, Jaitley said he would cut the tax on company profits to 25 per cent over four years from the current 30 per cent, high by international standards.

Pension Yojna for economically disadvantaged

subsidies and welfare

economists, with some calling it a path to an investor-friendly India, but others seeing a missed opportunity to tackle deep-seated structural problems. “Definitely far from what some were hoping would be an event similar to the game-changing budget of 1991 which ushered in India’s economic liberalisation,” said Devika Mehndiratta, senior economist at ANZ research. Apparently anticipating such barbs, Jaitley, 62, said his government had acted “rapidly” to right the course of Indian economy.

India’s budget concentrates a year’s economic policymaking into a single speech, and the range of measures Jaitley announced included a monetary policy overhaul, a bankruptcy code and the creation of a public debt management agency.

to “Make in India”. “It assumes a questionable growth rate, relies too heavily on divestment to meet fiscal targets, does not address the revenue deficit issue head on and leaves the good things for the future,” said Arvind Sethi, CEO of Tata Asset Management.

Capitalising on windfall savings stemming from cheaper oil imports, Jaitley was able to ramp up infrastructure investment without slashing spending on politically sensitive subsidies and welfare schemes. Jaitley forecast inflation at 5 per cent by the end of the fiscal year ending March 2016, undershooting the Reserve Bank of India’s 6 per cent target and creating room to cut interest rates.

Annual inflation was 5.1 per cent in January. But he pushed back by a year, to 2017/18, a deadline for cutting the fiscal deficit to 3 per

cent of gross domestic product.

Credit neutral In 2015/16, the deficit will be 3.9 per cent of GDP, above the 3.6 per cent target inherited from the last government. In volatile trading, India’s NSE share index ended 0.7 per cent higher after having briefly fallen into the red on his comment that the fiscal deficit would slip.

Ratings agency Moody’s gave the budget a cool reception, saying it was neutral for India’s credit and left stabilising government finances at the mercy of economic growth. Moody’s rates India at the lowest notch of investment grade.

“We were not expecting big bang reforms,” said Atsi Sheth, a Moody’s sovereign ratings analyst.”The big bang reforms are also not desirable because they have a higher chance of rollback.”

Simplified regulation A national goods and services tax would enter force, as planned, in April 2016 and a controversial set of new rules to fight tax avoidance would be delayed by two years, he said. Jaitley scrapped a distinction between direct and portfolio investors, in a move to encourage foreign investors to take strategic stakes in Indian firms. He also simplified regulation of financial markets.

“This clear statement of intent should bring cheer to industry,” said Krupa Venkatesh, a partner at Deloitte. The government shied away from politically sensitive cuts in its $37 billion subsidy bill, seeking instead to boost efficiency of a rural jobs scheme that is India’s costliest welfare programme. It will also boost direct welfare payments into bank accounts, and gradually replace benefits in kind.

“My proposals... lay down the roadmap for accelerating growth, enhancing investment, passing on the benefit of growth process to the common man, woman, youth and child,” said Jaitley. “This is the path we will doggedly and relentlessly pursue.” - Reuters

REACTION

Congress calls budget NDA’s ‘return-gift’ to the corporates NEW DELHI:Dubbing the Union Budget as “pro-corporate and antipoor,” Congress on Saturday said it was a “dhanwapsi (repayment)” by the National Democratic Alliance to the big corporates for their support in Lok Sabha polls.

“It is a pro-corporate budget,” Congress President Sonia Gandhi said when asked about her reaction on it.

Slamming the budget as one that promises nothing new, party leaders said the plan to bring a new law on black money meant that the government was not bringing illegal money stashed abroad on which it had made tall promises.

“Finance Minister Arun Jaitely

is a good lawyer.

But he presented the government’s case on Saturday as a very bad lawyer,” remarked Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

He charged that the budget was a “repayment by the BJP government to the rich and corporates who had supported them during Lok Sabha polls”. Former Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said the budget was a “dhanwapsi” programme.” You (BJP) had taken in elections. You are paying back,” he charged.

The allusion was to the controversial “gharwapasi” programme by saffron parties.

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Ramesh also said the “budget has (SIMI) in it...Skill India, Make India.”

The Congress President’s political secretary Ahmed Patel said, “The hype over the budget had created lot of hope but the outcome is disappointing”.

“Allocation for Sarvashiksha Abhiyan is cut. Farmers get nothing. Service tax increase hurts the poor and the rich will pay less tax,”

Patel said. Holding that the budget lacked any substantial investment in the social sector, Kharge charged that it was “pro-industrialist”, “pro-corporate” and not meant for the poor.

“The government got a lot of money because of the fall of prices in crude oil. But you did not use it for the poor for inclusive development. The budget was also made keeping in mind the future state elections in Bihar and West Bengal in mind,” he said.

“The budget fills the coffers of the rich and empties that of the poor. It has not launched any new programme and repackaged old schemes with cosmetic changes.

“The budget does not give an answer sheet. He has only given a question paper,” Kharge said, adding that Jaitley’s promise for special packages for states raises doubts as they have been announced for states where elections are due.

Former Parliamentary Affairs Kamal Nath said the budget does not bring the stimulus that should have come in the country’s economy.

“The budget is a great disappointment. It does nothing that stimulates the rural economy or growth or generate employment.

It’s a budget that promises setting up committee, commissions.

“This is a hollow budget, a budget

of event management. There is nothing in this budget which will increase the purchase capacity of the youth. Corporate tax has been reduced, which will only benefit the rich,” he said, adding he will not give more than 2 or 3 out of 10 to Jaitley if the budget is rated like this.

All India Congress Committee General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi said the budget is “very ordinary”.

“The budget is not special from any point of view. Government talks a lot about poor but nothing has been done in the budget about the poor. Common man will have to pay for service tax and other similar proposals of the government.” - PTI

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

INDIA

Though I was chief minister for nine months, I actually worked only for 12 days from February 7 to 19 Jitan Manjhi, Former Bihar chief minister

RISE IN CRUDE PRICES

Petrol, diesel costlier NEW DELHI: Petrol price was on Saturday hiked by Rs3.18 per litre and diesel by Rs3.09, the second increase in rates this month on rising international oil rates.

The increase was effective from midnight on Saturday.

A litre of petrol in Delhi will cost Rs60.49 from today as against Rs 57.31 currently while diesel will cost Rs 49.71 per litre as against Rs 46.62 at present, oil companies announced here on Saturday.

Prior to the increases this month, petrol price had been cut on ten occasions since August 2014 and diesel six times since October 2014.

Cumulatively, petrol price had been cut by Rs17.11 per litre in ten reductions since August and diesel by Rs12.96 a litre since its deregulation in October.

This trend was reversed when rates were raised on February 16.

“Prices of petrol and diesel were last revised upwards with effect from February 16 by Rs 0.82 per litre and Rs 0.61 a litre respectively (including state levSEASONAL INFLUENZA

Flu claims 36 more lives, over 19,000 affected

PRECAUTIONARY STEP:

A health official gives flu vaccine drops to students at a school at Bikaner in Rajasthan on Friday. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Flu has claimed 36 more lives raising the toll to 1,041 even as the number of people affected by the H1N1 virus in the country breached the 19,000 mark on Saturday.

As per data collated by the Health Ministry, the total number of deaths due to flu was 1,041 till Friday while the number of people affected were 19,046.

The Health Ministry had on Friday given the figure of those affected to be 18,105.

In Rajasthan, the death toll has climbed to 257 while the number of those affected stood at 5,403. As many as 256 people have died of the disease in Gujarat, which is among the worst affected states. So far, 4,162 people have been affected in the state.

In Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the total number of deaths has been reported to be 151 and 131 respectively.

The disease has claimed 56 and 42 lives in Telangana and Punjab respectively.

Shortage of laboratories Health Minister J. P. Nadda had on Friday admitted that the country was facing a shortage of laboratories for testing swine flu and had assured that efforts were being made to set up such facilities in all states.

The government has been repeatedly asserting that it is“very serious” on combating the challenge and has asked people not to panic but be alert. -PTI C O R P O R AT E E S P I O NAG E

Court extends Lokesh’s police custody NEW DELHI: Names of private secretaries and private assistants of bureaucrats have cropped up in corporate espionage case which need to be probed, Delhi police told a court here which extended by three days the police custody of a person arrested for allegedly procuring sensitive documents from ministries.

Lokesh Sharma, an employee of a Noida-based consultancy firm, was produced before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Satish Kumar Arora after completion of his five-day police remand. -PTI

ies at Delhi)... Since the above price revision, there has been further steep increase in international prices of both petrol and diesel,” Indian Oil Corp (IOC) said in a statement.

Also, the slight depreciation in rupee-dollar exchange rate together with firming international rates warrant increase in retail selling price of petrol and diesel, it said.

Fuel prices would have been lower but for four consecutive excise duty hikes since November totalling Rs 7.75 a litre on petrol and Rs 7.50 on diesel.

Congress on Saturday reacted sharply to the hike in petrol and diesel prices saying that government has added insult to injury to the common man by the steep post-Budget increase.

“Modi government has added insult to injury by first ignoring the common man and farmer in the Union Budget and then giving a steep shock by the post budget increase.... It is arrogance of ‘achhe din’,” party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said. - PTI

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Manjhi launches new party to ‘expose’ Nitish The Hindustani Awam Morcha is being seen as the first step to counter Nitish Kumar and his JD(U) ahead of state elections to be

REALIGNMENT: Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and

other leaders at a meeting in Patna on Saturday. - PTI

held this year

PATNA: Nearly a week after he was forced to quit as Bihar’s chief minister, Jitan Ram Manjhi Saturday launched a new political front to “expose the real face” of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The Hindustani Awam Morcha

(HAM) is being seen as the first step to counter Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal-United ahead of state elections to be held this year.

“We have decided to launch HAM after marathon meetings and discussions with supporters and sympathisers including former ministers,” said Manjhi,

expelled from the JD-U before he resigned as chief minister.

Manjhi’s supporters mostly belong to Mahadalits — his caste — and backward and extreme backward castes.

Manjhi said he and his supporters would “expose the real face of Nitish Kumar and the JD-U”.

He said he could work as chief minister for just 12 days out of his nine-month tenure because verbal fights claimed most of his time.

“Though I was chief minister for nine months, I actually worked only for 12 days from February 7 to 19,” Manjhi said.

Earlier, he said that after becoming the chief minister last year, he had to be “a rubber stamp” for two to three months.

“I used to get a list of transfer and posting of officials from Nitish Kumar on which I had to simply put my signature. I was not even consulted who would be my ministers.

“Then I realised that I shouldn’t compromise on the issue of self respect and then from there the problems started,” he said.

Manjhi, who was made chief minister in May 2014, resigned on February 20 this year after a bitter leadership row involving Nitish Kumar. - IANS

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Threats posed by North Korea’s nuclear expansion

N

orth Korea could be on track to have an arsenal of 100 nuclear weapons by 2020, according to a new research report. The prediction, from experts on North Korea, goes well beyond past estimates and should force renewed attention on a threat that has been eclipsed by other crises. At the moment, the United States and five other major powers are negotiating an agreement that would constrain the nuclear programme in Iran, which does not possess any nuclear weapons.

North Korea, on the other hand, is estimated to have already produced 10 to 16 weapons since 2003. The new assessment comes from Joel Wit, a former American negotiator with North Korea who is now a senior fellow with the US-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and David Albright, head of the Institute for Science and International Security. They conclude that North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes have been growing since 2009 and are now “poised for significant expansion over the next five years.” That poses serious threats for other countries in Asia and for the United States.

Details about the programmes are hard to come by given North Korea’s closed system. As a result, the researchers have outlined possible scenarios for the next five years, ranging from 20 nuclear weapons to 100, which would put North Korea on a par with India, Pakistan and Israel.

Independently, China has also estimated the programme to be capable of producing the higher range of weapons, another expert on North Korea said. North Korea already has 1,000 ballistic missiles including the medium-range land-based Nodong missile, which is mobile and accurate enough to attack cities, ports and military bases in Japan and South Korea. The country may also possess limited long-range missiles that can reach targets in the United States, the report said. It has also succeeded in miniaturising nuclear weapons so they can fit on both medium-range and long-range missiles.

Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a speech in Tokyo, called North Korea “the most significant source of instability in the region” and denounced its “reckless pursuit of a larger and larger nuclear programme and the missiles to deliver those weapons around the world.”

The more missiles and nuclear weapons North Korea produces, the more likely the government will seek to sell them. Just this week, Reuters reported that United Nations experts have found new evidence that a North Korean shipping company has renamed most of its vessels to disguise their origin and continue illicit shipments in violation of United Nations sanctions.. The Obama administration and its partners (China, the North’s major supplier of food and fuel; South Korea; Japan; and Russia) have failed to find a way to address the problem or engage the North in sustained negotiations to curb its nuclear weapon and missile production. They cannot merely keep talking about having talks. Wit’s and Albright’s research shows the growing danger if they cannot bring North Korea back to the bargaining table- The New York Times News Service

MATTER OF FACT

Oromos face chilling oppression in Ethiopia

I

DEBASISH MITRA

A long and slow battle

T

he fight to make Pakistan polio-free is bitter, bloody and far from over. As recently as eight years ago victory seemed to be within reach, but no longer. Every polio vaccination drive that gets under way is attacked somewhere in the country, lives are lost both of the vaccinators and those whose job is to provide them with security. Now there is a report that in the second nationwide polio drive of 2015 as many as 367,181 children have missed out for a range of reasons. On the up side there was an eight per cent decline in the number of children who could not be vaccinated, but taken as a whole the picture is bleak and bleaker in some parts than others. Of those children under the age of five years who missed out, 35,818 were direct refusals and 331,363 were simply not at home when the vaccinators came calling. The decline in the number of refusals is being taken as a good omen, but there have been good omens in the past that came to naught.

Within the welter of data one figure stands out — there was not a single parental refusal in the whole of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B). Given the difficulties of terrain and the remoteness of many mountain communities as well as thin health service coverage generally, this is worthy of note. As is usual Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa topped the list of parental refusals with 27,742, and there is clearly a mountain to climb in turning around the mindset that underlies the high refusal rate.

The province is a significant obstacle to those tasked with eradication, and the global community that is following the battle closely rightly expresses concern via United Nations agencies about Pakistan’s proliferation of the virus. The Ministry of National Health admits that there is a lack of accurate data on the number of children living in 497 high-risk union councils, adding to the difficulty of formulating strategies to reach them and not only for polio vaccination but other childhood diseases as well. But the battle continues and has to be won — for the sake of all our children.

- The Express Tribune

Businessmen are often forced to hire illegal expats This refers to the news story, Deportation raids back on for expats (February 26). Illegal expatriate workers are bane for any country as they eat into the employment opportunities of legal workers and nationals.

Therefore, if the authorities are undertaking raids to flush them out of the Sultanate, the move certainly deserves all praise.

At the same time we have to remember why there are so many expat workers in Oman doing jobs not mentioned on their resident cards. Many are often seen doing odd jobs. In a way, they are keeping many works going and flushing them out of the country may lead to serious problems.

There are many businessmen, locals and foreigners, who are

denied of the actual number of manpower that they need. They are often forced to hire such expatriates so as to keep their businesses running.

Nadeem Al Ghubra

Some employers also flout laws and abuse contracts This refers to the news story, Deportation raids back on for expats (February 26). Where can one report the acts of contract abuse because I have been brought into the country as a waiter, and even my resident card says so, but I am made to work as a cleaner. I am also being denied a full day off as indicated in my contract and for the half day that I work on my day off day, I am not compensated adequately. The

Plurality, respect for basic democratic values and tolerance for dissent have never been the fortes for which Ethiopia is known in the world. It is for reasons on the contrary the country has already earned a massive notoriety internationally

n Ethiopia they live like animals, relentlessly persecuted, hunted down like games, killed at will and incarcerated en masse. No mercy is shown even to women and children. They are the Oromos — the largest ethnic group, the most marginalised in Ethiopia and arguably one among the most oppressed people in our planet. Despite their numerical majority, the Oromos, much like the Palestinians, are facing xenophobic oppression.

Amnesty International’s report on the state of existence of the Oromos, published last year, has been damning. It painted a chilling picture of the brutality unleashed by Ethiopian government on the hapless community to which the country’s President, Mulatu Teshome, belongs. The rights group, based in London, said: “At least 5,000 Oromos have been arrested based on their actual or suspected peaceful opposition to the government”. And most of them have been “subjected to treatment amounting to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment”.

Amnesty researcher Claire Beston has been scathing. She said, “The Ethiopian government’s relentless crackdown on real or imagined dissent among the Oromo is sweeping in its scale and often shocking in its brutality. This is apparently intended to warn, control or silence all signs of ‘political disobedience’ in the region”. Beston, in her report, said in no uncertain terms that she saw “signs of torture, including scars and burns, as well as missing fingers, ears and teeth” on those Oromos she interviewed.

The scenario in the country is perhaps far more terrifying. The United States, in its 2013 Human Rights Report, has pointed out that at least 70,000 persons, including some 2,500 women and nearly 600 children are incarcerated with their mothers, in severely overcrowded six federal and 120 regional prisons. “There also were many unofficial detention centres throughout the country, including in Dedessa, Bir Sheleko, Tolay, Hormat, Blate, Tatek, Jijiga, Holeta, and Senkele,” the report added further.

Plurality, respect for basic democratic values and tolerance for dissent have never been the fortes for which Ethiopia is known in the world. It is for reasons on the contrary the country has already earned a massive notoriety internationally. Corruptions are rampant and behind the façade of development the government in Ethiopia is infamous for selling out the country to the western world and foreign corporations and, of course, for its blatant violation of basic human rights.

What defines Ethiopia today is the greed and corruption of its politicians, especially those in power.

The brazenness with which the government is trying to sell out Omo Valley to foreign corporation is a shame and a heinous crime. Twice the size of France and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Omo

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Courage is the power to let go of the familiar RAYMOND LINDQUIST

Valley is known as the ‘cradle of mankind’ which, according to ancient-origins.net, has the world’s largest alkaline lake as well as the world’s largest permanent desert lake.

The Ecologist says, Lake Turkana in Omo Valley was a prehistoric centre for early hominids. Some 20,000 fossil specimens have been collected from the Turkana Basin. Anthropological digs have led to the discovery of important fossilised remains, most notably, the skeleton of the Turkana Boy, (or Nariokotome Boy). Finding Turkana Boy was one of the most spectacular discoveries in palaeoanthropology. His reconstruction comes from the almost perfectly preserved skeleton found in 1984 at Nariokotome near Lake Turkana.

Discovery of the fossilised Turkana Boy, aged between seven and fifteen who lived approximately 1.6 million years ago was a milestone in the study of our origin and ancestry. Yet, to the corrupt, shameless and avaricious Ethiopian government it is of no significance. And neither is the welfare of the indigenous people of the valley who are believed to be the living descendants of the early hominids.

Alas! Ethiopian government wants to sell out this important archaeological treasure trove to foreign corporations where they want to develop sugar, cotton and biofuel plantations. A shameless land grab is underway in Omo Valley where hundreds of more fossilised skeletons of our forefathers are expected to be found and retrieved.

Misrule, human rights violations, hubris, arrogance and corruption plagues Ethiopia. Continuous demagoguery against the Oromos has made Ethiopia sit atop a huge mound of gun powder waiting for a spark to explode. The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the armed wing of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) is getting ready for yet another armed struggle to overthrow the present political dispensation in power. And given the history of insurgency in Ethiopia the country today seems to be heading fast towards a fresh bout of armed insurrection.

A low intensity struggle has already started as the Oromos are no more in mood to take the oppression, they are in no mood to suffer in silence their marginalisation. The ethnic fire the Ethiopian government has been stoking is gradually turning into an inferno.

We know human stupidity is endless and that of Ethiopia is infinite and dark. It cannot achieve growth and progress keeping its people delegitimised and aggrieved. The oppressed and tortured shall one day erupt to claim what legitimately belongs to them as well.

The author is the Opinion Editor of Times of Oman.

All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman. He can be reached at opinioneditor@ timesofoman.com

supervisor insists that it is the policy of the company.

Joseph Muscat

The runaway workers pose even bigger problems This refers to the news story, Deportation raids back on for expats (February 26). Illegal expatriate workers are problems everywhere and not just in Oman. The runaways are even a bigger problem for the employers as they cannot hire a replacement until the man or the woman who has run away is not traced and deported. What happens is that the visa gets blocked.

Even in the UK and Australia, they conduct regular raids against such illegal expat workers.

Aziza Al Busaidy Dubai

India denied opportunity to create new ODI record India was denied of an opportunity to create a world record. It was unfortunate that Dhoni lost the toss and the UAE opted to bat first.

I am sure that if India had batted first, the men in blue would have certainly scored at least 500 runs against UAE and set a new world record. Never ever has 500 runs been scored in an ODI. By batting first the UAE were bowled out for a paltry 102. We all knew that the UAE would be no match to the mighty Indians but there still was an academic interest in the match because India could have created a world record if they had batted first. The UAE should have invited Dhoni and his boys to bat first and make history.

Centhil Ruwi

Letters, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by mail (Times of Oman, P.O. Box 770, P.C. 112, Ruwi), by fax (24813153) or by e-mail (times@omantel.net.om)

T I M E S OF OM A N

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

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PERSPEC IVE PM faces ire as ‘political sport’ mars the fortunes I

KAMRAN REHMAT

It would seem outlandish to apportion the blame of a cricketing nation’s misfortunes on her prime minister, for instance, but Pakistan regularly contrives to make headlines for the ridiculous upending the sublime in how it approaches the sport

n a general sense, where the stakes are high some sort of power play in political form is inevitable. It is evident more so in the developing world, and certainly in the South Asian region, a quartet of which — Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — are the current full members of the International Cricket Conference (ICC).

Political intrusion in sport in these countries is a stark reality; in some, it dominates the sport per se; in others, it is just standard fare.

It would seem outlandish to apportion the blame of a cricketing nation’s misfortunes on her prime minister, for instance, but Pakistan regularly contrives to make headlines for the ridiculous upending the sublime in how it approaches the sport — with an unabashed political mien.

Even as the world has descended upon Australia and New Zealand — tens of thousands as spectators and millions of others tuning into television — for the sport’s greatest show, Pakistan has become a laughing stock with the conduct of its officials and team on and off the field. It resembles a near-nadir with politics of all shades dwarfing the sport itself.

Consider. Shahryar Khan, the current chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is a respected former diplomat who served as ambassador to Jordan, Britain and France before assuming charge as the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to Rwanda at the peak of conflict in the African nation. He retired as the country’s foreign secretary in 1994 and has already served one term as the PCB chief from 2003-2006.

Because of his diplomatic nous, Nawaz Sharif in his last term as prime minister, also appointed him the manager of the touring Pakistani cricket team for a breakthrough series with India in 1998.

However, in his latest stint, Khan is encumbered by the presence of Najam Sethi, a controversial media figure, who now refuses to fade after tasting ‘political power’ as the interim chief minister of Punjab during the 2013 general elections that led to allegations of him fixing results in 35 constituencies from Imran Khan, chairman of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf(PTI).

The general impression is that Sethi, as Prime Minister Sharif’s pointman, is undercutting Khan and it was no more evident as when Sethi recently astonished Pakistani fans livid over the team’s dismal performanceat the World Cup by

advising them “not to have expectations from a seventh ranked outfit”.

As if this spectacle was not enough, the ‘political sport’ was compounded by commotion over finding that Moin Khan, the team’s chief selector and a blue eyed of Sethi, who appointed the ex-wicketkeeper to the post before being forced to give up the PCB stewardship in favour of a court-ordered election at the board — had been to a casino ahead of an important fixture against the West Indies.

Moin Khan has since returned home after being recalled to explain the casino visit that he claims was undertaken only for dinner with his wife and the couple’s friends. Khan was summoned after some senators offended by the act took to the floor of the Upper House of the parliament even as the media went into a predictable overdrive.

Clearly, the gloves are off in a fading winter of discontent with some ‘enterprising’ folks even knocking the doors of the Lahore High Court and making the prime minister a respondent in seeking an explanation for Pakistan cricket’s woes!

Hopefully, the premier, who has fendedoff a more demanding — and mentally, draining — challenge posed to his office last year by arch rival Imran Khan, the country’s only World Cup winning captain, would eventually survive the ire.

But whether Shaharyar Khan and Najam Sethi, the other political appointees, will also escape the rising mercury depends considerably on how an embattled captain Misbah-ul-Haq leads his green shirts in a do-or-die battle to save face.

It is a measure of how politicised the sport and its administration is in this part of the world that Colonel (retired) Naveed Akram Cheema, who retired as the Punjab chief secretary, was reappointed the team’s manager for the World Cup, and after Moin Khan’s recall, will discharge duties as the chief selector, too!

Cheema is close to Shahbaz Sharif, the prime minister’s brother, and chief minister of Punjab province. Rumours are already rife that the Sharifs may be paving the way for Cheema to helm the PCB, if the cookie crumbles postWorld Cup! The author is a senior journalist based in Islamabad. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely his and not of Times of Oman.

Is privacy dead in today’s world?

I SABINA KHAN

am not a crook. This infamous statement was broadcast over live television by US President Richard Nixon during the 1970s when he was suspected to be involved in spying on rival party campaign headquarters.

Ironically, it was his next sentence, “I earned everything I got” that proved more truthful since he was forced to resign when White House audiotapes revealed his involvement in a cover-up. The topic of ‘national security’ was used multiple times to hinder the investigation into Nixon’s involvement.

If Nixon’s people were willing to plant physical bugs in order to gain political advantages, it’s reckless to assume that instant access to global data today won’t be exploited. US administrations, along with their Five Eyes partners, have taken it upon themselves to intrude deeper into the personal lives of their citizens along with perceived threats around the world.

This month, the Russian-based Kaspersky lab has exposed new complex cyberespionage tactics conducted by the West. The Kaspersky report implied that the NSA hides spyware deep within hard drives produced by popular manufacturers such as

Toshiba, Seagate, etc., allowing them to spy on the world’s computers. Some of the countries that are highly targeted include Iran, Pakistan and Russia, due to their nuclear programmes.

The report mentioned that the techniques used were similar to those of Stuxnet, a cyber-weapon that was used to attack Iran’s nuclear programme. The Stuxnet worm was a joint effort between Israel and the US. US-based tech firms have suffered immediate drops in business since the leaks began in 2013.

When a government has possession of a large amount of data, it poses a threat to progress as well.

The impressive civil rights advancements over the last century would have faced much stronger resistance from governments had they been armed with the tools that the present-day powers have amassed. Changing the status quo will prove difficult when they can read your messages and track every movement.

Regarding the time-tested ‘national security’ justification, the NSA only claims 54 instances which have contributed to the US government’s understanding of terrorism activities. Ensuring that

your nation is protected from attacks is an understandable responsibility. However, the NSA appears to be going above and beyond that duty. The agency targeted a Brazilian oil company, Chinese universities and the World Bank.

Those headlines were bold, but are damaging when coupled with the discovery of a 2009 US intelligence report, which discusses stealing proprietary information from foreign targets to evaluate usefulness for the US industry.

The recently retired NSA head is selling his services for a rumoured amount of $1 million per month.

The combined negative effect that this news is having on the US tech industry, media and personal sense of freedom is significant.

Nearly two years have passed since Edward Snowden began leaking details of NSA capabilities and leaders have yet to respond with any meaningful reforms.

We can hope that the consequences of intelligence agencies running amok will motivate them to dial back their operations, but there are no signs of that thus far.

For now, we can only be thankful that the details of their deceit are finally available and open to public scrutiny.- The Express Tribune

Pakistan still trapped in its labyrinth Some Uighurs have embraced extremism, an ideology for which plentiful schooling and terrorist training is available in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. In this light, reining in the Taliban looks a little more attractive to the Chinese than it once did. And, as the United States learned long ago, if you want to do something about the Taliban, you’d better do something about Pakistan.

All this forms the backdrop to an interesting question: Does rising China make its formal entrance to the world diplomatic stage by trying to mediate talks between the Afghan Taliban, the Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani, and a Pakistani ally sobered by the very belated realisation that the Taliban it has fostered for “strategic depth” is also a mortal danger to Pakistan itself ? Is it here that President Xi Jinping’s China begins to punch its strategic weight?

The United States cannot carry the weight of the world; it has other priorities right now. China could be helpful as American combat troops withdraw. Ghani wants to begin talks with the Taliban. An Afghan-Pakistani thaw has begun since he took office.

That Peshawar school attack has focused minds on the costs to Islamabad of imagining there could be a “good Taliban” in Afghanistan and “a bad Taliban” in Pakistan: One of course feeds the other. China is talking to the Taliban. It has leverage over Pakistan.

Scepticism is in order. The Afghan war is a long story now.

But the change in American strategic priorities, the change of government in Afghanistan, the change of mood in Islamabad, and the change of needs in China have created space.

This is an issue on which President Obama and President Xi can find common cause.

Pakistan will not extricate itself from dysfunction through an Afghan resolution, but it would help. The nonsense of “strategic depth” must give way to the wisdom of commercial breadth — and not just on the western border.

Chinese-Indian pragmatism can be a beacon for PakistaniIndian pragmatism — maybe.

There is a wealth of talent and energy in Pakistan. A Taliban suicide bomber killed five people in Lahore this month. The people of Lahore responded by bravely hosting the Lahore Literary Festival, a wonder of creativity, eclecticism, ideas and dialogue.

Openness is what Pakistan needs. It is time to emerge from the fog and lay to rest outdated ghosts.

ROGER COHEN

T

here is a bit of a hermetic feel to Pakistan these days, as if the country that lies on the ancient road from the West to Asia, a natural bridge, had somehow contorted itself into a self-imposed isolation. The border with India, dividing the Punjab, lies not far from this great city. It is a barrier rather than a gateway. The border with Afghanistan is problematic in its nonexistence.

The beast nurtured in the name of Islamabad’s policy of “strategic depth”, the Taliban in its Pakistani iteration, massacred 134 children at Peshawar’s Army Public School late last year.

Not surprising then that tourism is down to a trickle. I made my way to the Badshahi Mosque and the Lahore Fort — high-walled, dusky-red, magnificent in extent. There was not a foreigner in sight, not a camera clicking.

President Obama goes to India and Pakistan is way down on his agenda — if it is there at all. Nobody in Washington frets any longer about balancing visits to New Delhi and Islamabad.

Oh, yes, Afghanistan, American treasure and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence directorate (ISI), or top spy agency: Well, the less said about that, the better.

India is a democracy and a great power rising. Pakistan is a Muslim homeland that lost half its territory in 1971, bounced back and forth between military and nominally democratic rule, never quite clear of annihilation angst despite its nuclear weapons, its prime ministers as susceptible to a violent end as Henry VIII’s wives, struggling to define its identity almost 68 years after it came into being. The fog of war is rivalled only by the fog of Pakistan, in which Osama bin Laden lived and paced for several years.

But perhaps something new is stirring in the penumbra.

There is much chatter about Beijing. China needs Pakistan to keep India busy; it does not want an India freed of its Pakistani headache. So Beijing helps Pakistan with military technology. It builds nuclear power stations.

Interests shift, however.

China needs Pakistan on another front now. This month a Uighur bomber killed as many as eight people in the volatile Chinese region of Xinjiang, near the border of Pakistan. It was the latest in a series of attacks by Uighurs resentful of domination by the Han Chinese.

- The New York Times News Service

Cyprus deal allows Russian navy to use ports Cyprus-russia agreements

Northern Cyprus Under Turkish military occupation since 1974

Cypriot ports Russian navy ships allowed regular access, primarily for international counter terrorism and anti-piracy missions Limassol Port already used by Russian ships for refuelling and astransit station for supply of arms to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Airports Russian military aircraft able to use Papandreou Air Base, adjacent to Paphos International Airport, for humanitarian efforts

Nicosia Paphos Dhekelia CYPRUS Akrotiri

Larnaca

Warming eu-russia relations Hungary Kremlin-friendly government has secured more favourable terms for supplies of Russian gas

Source: Wire agencies

French minister Charles Gravier advises his Spanish counterpart to support the American rebels against the English.

1808

In France, Napoleon creates an imperial nobility.

50km

Finance Russia has restructured €2.5bn ($2.8bn) loan to Cyprus signed in 2011, cutting annual interest rate from 4.5 to 2.5 %

Military equipment Cypriot National Guard has replaced many of its French AMX-30 tanks with Russian made T-80, and purchased 11 Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters

1776

Limassol

Sovereign Base Areas UK military facilities United Nations buffer zone

Greece Leftist, anti-austerity Syriza-led government has distanced itself from calls to broaden sanctions on Moscow. Could seek Russian aid if EU bailout talks fail Graphic News /

Graphics

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TODAY IN HISTORY

1871

German troops enter Paris, France, during the Franco-Prussian War.

1915

The Allies announce their aim to cut off all German supplies and assure the safety of the neutrals.

1992

Bosnian Serbs begin sniping in Sarajevo, after Croats and Moslems vote for Bosnian independence.

HISTORYNET.COM

FROM OUR ARCHIVES AGREEMENT FOR SEWAGE PLANT IN BARKA

MUSCAT: Dr Khamis bin Mubarak Al Alawi, minister of regional municipalities and environment, in his office signed an agreement for the construction of a sewage processing plant in wilayat of Barka. The project is part of a number of infrastructure projects the ministry plans to implement during this year. In a statement, after the signing ceremony, the minister said, new sewage plant would have an initial processing capacity of 250 cubic metres per day and would be constructed on 40,000 square metres of land.

Will deportation of illegal expat workers streamline labour market and create fresh job opportunities in Oman?

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SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

PAKISTAN INSURGENCY

12 security personnel injured in blast PESHAWAR: Twelve security personnel were injured on Saturday when a security forces convoy came under an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in the Sarwakai area of South Waziristan, a security official confirmed to The Express Tribune.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, and the injured have been shifted for treatment. Assistant Political Agent South Waziristan Nawab Safi told The Express Tribune that repatriation of the internally displace people (IDP) is set to commence from March 16 this year after a gap of about 15 months. The IDPs’ families will be sent back to 14 villages of the Sarwakai and Sarrarugha Tehsils (collection of towns) of South Waziristan.

Operation Reh-a-Nejat They will be registered from March 8 to March 11 at the Political Compound South Waziristan, the official added. The official says that in the new phase about 8,000 families will be repatriated to their homes in South Waziristan.

The five tehsils of the Mehsud area of South Waziristan, the Sararogha, Sarwakai, Tayarza, Makin, and Lahda tribes got displaced as a result of Operation Reh-a-Nejat in 2009. — Express Tribune

To express solidarity with the Afghan brethren affected by the avalanche, two C-130 aircraft were dispatched today from Nur Khan airbase to Panjsher province, said an Inter Services Public Relations press release

Parents to face arrest if found obstructing polio vaccination were reported in the country, breaking the previous record of 199 new cases in 2000.

“This was due to complacency and a very bad security situation,” said head of the government’s polio monitoring group in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Imtiaz Ali Shah.

Shah said the outbreak of the disease was particularly bad in North and South Waziristan.

The refugees “took the virus with them everywhere they went — in K-P, Balochistan and Sindh,” Shah said.

“There was a ping-pong, cases popping up here, cases popping up there.”

There is total determination on our part. We shall convince parents of the good of vaccinating their children, but if they refuse, we shall detain them, said a Peshawar police official PESHAWAR: In a bid to fight polio in the province, KhyberPakhtunkhwa (K-P) police officials said on Friday that they have started issuing arrest warrants for parents refusing to vaccinate their children, The New York Times reported.

“We had 13,000 to 16,000 refusal cases,” the deputy police

TOUGH TASK: A Pakistani child receives polio vaccination drops from a medical volunteer

at a school in Rawalpindi on January 21, 2014. — AFP file photo

commissioner for Peshawar Riaz Khan Mahsud said in an interview.

“There is total determination on our part. We shall convince parents of the good of vaccinating their children, but if they refuse, we shall detain them. There is no leniency.”

In other districts of the prov-

ince, the police has also reported issuing warrants, though no official figure was released.

“The number keeps fluctuating,” said a senior government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

“We are applying different laws.

You have to resort to coercive measures when persuasion fails.”

The official further said that “the application of laws is working. Some parents readily agree to vaccinate children to avoid detention. Others take a few days behind the bars to see reason.

We take an affidavit from them and let them go if they bring kids for vaccination.”

In 2014, 306 new polio cases

Military operation However, Dr Shah said the recent military operation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) gave officials a chance for polio teams to make progress.

So far, there have been 13 new cases in all of Pakistan this year, 11 of which are from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa or Fata.

“We have better access and better monitoring now,” Shah said.

“The quality of the campaign has improved. I am confident the cases would come down to less than 100 this year.” — Express Tribune

HELP

Pakistan sends relief goods to Afghan avalanche victims ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday dispatched two C-130 aircraft loaded with relief goods for victims of the avalanches in Afghanistan.

“To express solidarity with the Afghan brethren affected by the avalanche, two C-130 aircraft were dispatched today from Nur Khan airbase to Panjsher province,” says an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release.

The goods included tents, blankets, bottled water, stoves and foodstuff.

On February 26, avalanches triggered by heavy snow killed more than 100 people in mountainous areas of northern Afghanistan, officials said as rescuers battled to save dozens more trapped in the snow.

More than 250 people have been killed in a series of avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall around Afghanistan this week, provincial authorities said.

Almost all of the victims were in Panjshir province, approxi-

More than 250 people have been killed in a series of avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall around Afghanistan this week

mately 150 kilometres north of Kabul, acting governor Abdul Rahman Kabiri told AFP. The avalanches came after two days of heavy snow destroyed more than 100 homes in the province and blocked main roads, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the stricken villages.

“Ordinary people and government employees are using shov-

els and bare hands to rescue those who are still trapped under the snow,” Kabiri said, warning that the toll could rise without emergency help.

“We have gathered 300 people to help with the rescue, but we don’t have the equipment we need,” he added.

As temperatures plunged well below freezing, workers continued to toil into the night to rescue at least 28 people still believed to be trapped in their houses buried under the snow.

Around 30 people also suffered from frostbite and other injuries after being rescued, the acting governor said.

“We will continue the rescue operation throughout the night,” Kabiri added. — Express Tribune

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S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5 People wear masks of Uruguayan President Jose Mujica as they attend his farewell ceremony in Montevideo on Friday, two days before the swearing in ceremony of the president-elect Tabare Vazquez. — AFP

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GLOBAL EYE

HONG KONG: Pedestrians are seen walking on a promenade that runs along Victoria harbour in Hong Kong on Friday. —AFP

AFGHANISTAN: Afghan and foreign competitors cross the finish line of the 5th Afghan Ski Challenge

in the Chapdara Valley of the Bamiyan province. The 5th annual ski challenge event, funded by Agha Khan Foundation, was held in Bamiyan with more than 31 skiers including 14 foreigners from US, UK, Belgium, France, Switzerland and New Zealand taking part and some 300-400 locals walking up the hills to support and watch the ski event. — AFP

JAPAN: Britain’s Prince William, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, wearing ‘yukata’,

or kimono-style pajamas, pose together before a dinner in Koriyama, Japan’s northeastern prefecture of Fukushima on Saturday. Prince William is on a four-day visit to Japan. — AFP/JAPAN POOL

THE MALDIVES: Maldives police arrest an opposition supporter during a rally to protest the detention of former President Mohamed Nasheed in Male on Friday. Maldives police said on Saturday they arrested 31 supporters of Nasheed during a mass rally in the capital to protest his detention on terror charges. —AFP

IRAQ: An Iraqi driver takes part in a drift race in Arbil, in the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq, on Friday. — AFP

FRANCE: A van drives past a huge rock that fell on Friday on the N117 main road leading to the ski resorts of Moutiers, Les Menuires and Val Thorens in the Tarentaise valley on Saturday. As vacationers are expected to cross, some departing and others reaching the resorts in the French Alps, the road has been closed to traffic. — AFP

UNITED STATES: A man dresses up as ‘Statue of Liberty’ at Times

Square in New York on Friday. Dozens of men and women earn their livelihood dressing up as cartoon characters and super heroes every day to pose with customers, mostly tourists, and then coax them for tips at Manhattan’s Times Square. — AFP

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SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

WORLD Don’t litter a beautiful country like OMAN. Ensure proper disposal of garbage.

Yasar Kemal began writing poetry when he was at primary school but burst on to the Turkish literary scene in 1955 with his first novel ‘Memed, My Hawk’ which was translated into about 40 languages and earned him rapid international fame

‘ G R E AT D I S G R AC E ’

Hamas is a ‘terrorist’ movement: Egypt court CAIRO: An Egyptian court on Saturday called the Palestinian movement Hamas a “terrorist” group over its alleged links with extremists behind deadly attacks on security forces in the Sinai Peninsula.

The ruling took ties between Hamas and the authorities which ousted Egypt’s elected extremist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 to a new low.

Hamas condemned what it called “a great disgrace which soils the reputation of Egypt”.

It came almost a month after a court on January 31 designated Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, a “terrorist” group.

Attacks in Sinai Since the military toppled Morsi, the authorities in Egypt have accused Hamas of aiding extremists who have staged a string of bloody attacks on security forces in the Sinai.

Egypt also accuses Hamas, which controls the neighbouring Gaza Strip, of supporting Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement. Last March, Egypt banned all Hamas activities on its soil and froze its assets. — AFP

REMEMBRANCE: People gather at the site where Boris Nemtsov was murdered, in central Moscow, on Saturday. St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin walls are seen in the background, — Reuters

Putin foe Nemtsov murdered The 55-year-old former deputy premier during Boris Yelstin’s era was shot in the back several times shortly before midnight on Friday as he walked across a bridge a stone’s throw from the Kremlin

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin on Saturday vowed to bring the “vile” killers of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov to justice as Western leaders and Russia’s opposition roundly condemned the drive-by shooting near the Kremlin walls.

Putin, who earlier blamed the assassination on foes trying to discredit the Kremlin, said in a message to Nemtsov’s mother: “Everything will be done so that the organisers and perpetrators of a vile and cynical murder get the punishment they deserve,” The 55-year-old former deputy premier who was a vocal critic of Putin, was shot in the back several times shortly before midnight Friday as he walked across a bridge a stone’s throw from the Kremlin.

Hours later on Saturday a steady stream of mourners, many in tears, filed by on the bridge, heaping flowers and photos of Nemtsov at the spot where he fell.

Police closed off a lane of traffic to let them through.

Shot in the back Investigators said Nemtsov was shot in the back while walking with a woman, who was not injured. She was later identified as 23-year-old Ukrainian model, Anna Duritskaya, by Russian state television.

The murder, investigators added, was the work of one or more gunmen who shot seven or eight times at the opposition figure who in the 1990s served as deputy premier under then president Boris Yeltsin.

He “left his trace in Russia’s history, in politics and public life,” Putin said in the message to his 86-year-old mother, Dina Eidman.

“He always directly and honestly announced his position, stood up for his point of view,” Putin added.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev praised Nemtsov as a “principled person” who “acted openly, consistently and never betrayed his views.”

Hours earlier the Putin critic and anti-corruption crusader had called on Russians to join an opposition rally on Sunday against the Kremlin stance in Ukraine.

US President Barack Obama condemned a “brutal” and “vi-

Boris Nemtsov

cious murder” and urged a probe and British Prime Minister David Cameron said the “callous murder” must be investigated “fully, rapidly and transparently”.

Provocation The brazen assassination is one of the highest-profile killings in Putin’s 15 years in power and recalls the shooting of anti-Kremlin reporter Anna Politkovskaya, who was gunned down on Putin’s birthday in October 2006.

Earlier, Putin and other officials suggested the crime was aimed at smearing the authorities.

It “had all the hallmarks of a contract killing and is entirely provocative in nature,” he was quoted as saying by the Kremlin.

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Kommersant FM radio station that the crime “can look very much like a provocation” since “Boris Nemtsov was known as being in opposition to the Russian leadership.”

Malicious intent Even the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev believed the killing was aimed at “destabilising the situation in the country, at heightening confrontation” with the West.

And the powerful Investigative Committee leading the probe said it was looking into a possible “provocation to destabilise the political situation in the country.”

Nemtsov could have been “offered as a sacrifice” by those who are “not averse to using such a method to reach their political aims,” it suggested. — AFP

TRADITIONAL STORYTELLER

Legendary Turkish writer Kemal dies ISTANBUL: Yasar Kemal, who was one of Turkey’s most celebrated writers, a traditional storyteller and an outspoken champion of the Kurdish cause, died on Saturday at the age of 92, state media reported.

Kemal died in an Istanbul hospital where he was being treated

for pulmonary complications, respiratory problems and cardiac arrhythmia since January 14, the official Anatolia news agency said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the death of Kemal. — AFP

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5 We found opposing us an axis of powers ... led by the governments of Spain and Portugal which for obvious political reasons attempted to lead the entire negotiations to the brink. Their plan was and is to wear down, topple or bring our government to unconditional surrender before our work begins to bear fruit and before the Greek example affects other countries. And mainly before the elections in Spain Alexis Tsipras, Greece’s Prime Minister

Police teargas Nepal charter change protests Amid growing anger over the planned vote, protesters threw bricks and stones in brief clashes with security forces who responded with about 20 rounds of teargas,

SHOW OF SUPPORT: People gather to hear their leaders give

a speech during the mass demonstration organised by the opposition alliance led by Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in Kathmandu on Saturday. — Reuters

eyewitnesses said

KATHMANDU: Nepalese police on Saturday fired teargas and water cannon at thousands of opposition supporters who converged on the capital to protest controversial plans to vote on a disputed new national constitution.

Amid growing anger over the planned vote, protesters threw bricks and stones in brief clashes with security forces who responded with about 20 rounds of teargas, police and an AFP reporter on the scene said.

“We estimate that around 35,000 people are participating in today’s rally,” Kathmandu police spokesman Dinesh Acharya told AFP, while another officer said 4,000 police were lining the route through Kathmandu.

Years of squabbling have seen Nepal’s politicians miss a series of deadlines to draft the charter

which was designed to draw a line under a decade of civil war.

The government’s push last month to hold a vote, rather than seek agreement on disputed terms of the constitution, sparked protests including inside parliament itself, deepening discord between ruling parties and the opposition led by former Maoist rebels.

Based on consensus On Saturday, flag-waving demonstrators, riding motorcycles and travelling on foot, packed Kathmandu’s narrow streets and shouted slogans calling for a constitution based on consensus.

An AFP reporter said the situation briefly turned violent when protesters tried to enter a restricted area near parliament and police moved in to disperse them.

Gopal KC, a doctor at Kathmandu’s Civil Service Hospital, said “24 people have been admit-

H A R D L I N E I N N E G O T I AT I O N S

ON A MISSION: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, left, speaks

to Deputy Prime Minister Giannis Dragasakis, right, before delivering a speech at the Syriza party headquarters, in Athens on Saturday. — AFP

Greece PM sees anti-Athens ‘axis’ in Madrid, Lisbon ATHENS: Greece’s leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused Spain and Portugal on Saturday of leading a conservative conspiracy to topple his anti-austerity government, saying they feared their own radical forces before elections this year.

Tsipras also rejected criticism that Athens had staged a climbdown to secure an extension of its financial lifeline from the euro zone, saying anger among German conservatives showed that his government had won concessions.

Greeks have directed much of their fury about years of austerity dictated by international creditors at Germany, the biggest contributor to their country’s 240-billion-euro bailout.

But in a speech to his Syriza party, Tsipras turned on Madrid and Lisbon, accusing them of taking a hard line in negotiations which led to the euro zone extending the bailout programme last week for four months.

Spain’s new anti-establishment Podemos movement has topped some opinion polls, making it a serious threat to the conservative People’s Party of Prime

Minister Mariano Rajoy in an election which must be held by the end of this year.

Rajoy went to Athens less than a fortnight before the Greek election to warn voters against believing the “impossible” promises of Syriza. His appeal fell on deaf ears and voters swept the previous conservative premier from power.

Portugal will also have elections after the summer but no anti-austerity force as potent as Syriza or Podemos has so far emerged there.

In an interview published before Tsipras made his speech, Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho denied that Portugal had taken a hard line in negotiations on the Greek deal at the Eurogroup of euro zone finance ministers.

“There may have been a political intention to create this idea, but it is not true,” he told the Expresso weekly newspaper.

Passos Coelho aligned himself with euro zone governments which have called for policies to promote economic growth but without trying to walk away from austerity as in Greece. — Reuters

ted here, all with minor injuries”.

Police spokesman Acharya told AFP that four officers were also wounded after protestors threw stones at them.

Not to be underestimated As thousands poured into an open meeting ground in the heart of Kathmandu, Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known better as Prachanda, addressed cheering supporters and said, “today’s demonstration clearly shows how powerful we are”.

“Our strength should not be underestimated, otherwise the ruling parties should be prepared to face the upcoming challenge,” he said.

Man Bahadur Khadka, a 52-year-old farmer from eastern Nepal, took an overnight bus to the capital to join the rally and pressure lawmakers to draft a charter that is “friendly to the poor”. — AFP

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9 1 S T B I R T H D AY

Million dollar bash for Mugabe VICTORIA FALLS (ZIMBABWE): Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Saturday celebrated his 91st birthday with a lavish million-dollar bash that was slammed by the opposition as “obscene” in a country wracked by poverty.

Thousands of supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF, sang and danced as he arrived for the jamboree at a

luxury hotel in the famed Victoria Falls resort.

Assisted by his wife Grace, the elderly liberation leader, who wore a black suit, white shirt and red tie, threw 91 balloons into the air.

The party, which comes a week after Mugabe’s birthday, was held on the hotel golf course, with white marquees housing the guests. — AFP

Robert Mugabe

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SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

WORLD

The Lake Chad region nations threatened by Boko Haram, Nigeria along with Cameroon, Niger and Chad, have launched a joint offensive to quell the rebellion and claim to have retaken territory from group in recent weeks

Southern Yemen separatists pull out of UN-backed talks We have suspended our participation in the (UN-backed) national dialogue until it is moved out of the country, Southern Movement member Yassin Mekkawi said

ADEN: Separatists from southern Yemen suspended their participation in UN-sponsored talks on the future of the crisis-hit country as nine soldiers were wounded Saturday in a clash with secessionist fighters.

The violence coincided with a drone strike that killed three suspected Al Qaeda militants in southern Yemen, tribal sources said.

An official in the southern province of Lahij told AFP that separatists opened fire on an army convoy and three soldiers were wounded in a gunbattle.

The separatists last week abducted 12 soldiers and threatened to kill them unless the army handed over a military base to offset the growing influence of the Houthi militia that has seized Sanaa.

Soaring tensions Tensions in Yemen have soared since the Houthis overran the presidential palace in the capital in February and placed Western-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, a southerner, under house arrest. Hadi escaped last week to Aden, where he has been reconsolidating his grip on power buoyed by support from Gulf countries which

NO TO COUP: Yemeni protesters hold a banner reading in Arabic ‘No to the coup’ during a demonstration against the Houthi movement,

which overran the capital in September, on Saturday in Sanaa. — AFP

have relocated their embassies to the southern city.

Several countries, including Britain and the United States, closed their embassies in Sanaa over security fears following the Houthi takeover. Yemen has never managed to achieve stability since longtime president Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in early 2012 after a bloody year-long popular uprising.

Hadi’s escape to Aden has turned what was the capital of an independent south Yemen before unification in 1990 into a diplomatic hub. Kuwait became the latest nation to reopen its Yemeni embassy

in Aden, instead of the militia-controlled capital, following similar moves by Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

Aden was the capital of an independent south Yemen before unification in 1990. The Southern Movement, which seeks the secession of the regions of the formerly independent south, announced overnight Friday that it was pulling out of UN-brokered talks.

“We have suspended our participation in the (UN-backed) national dialogue until it is moved out of the country,” Southern Movement member Yassin Mekkawi told AFP.

He said negotiators were facing mounting “political and psychological pressure”.

Widespread disagreement UN envoy Jamal Benomar has been shuttling between Yemeni parties to secure an end to the country’s political deadlock and to persuade them to return to the negotiating table in Sanaa. But there has been widespread disagreement on the venue.

Benomar met Hadi in Aden on Thursday and said the latter wanted the talks moved to a “safe place to which the parties should agree”.

Saleh’s party, however, insists the talks resume in Sanaa, warning of a boycott.

The Houthis, who have long clashed with central authorities, descended from their power base in northern Yemen to seize Sanaa in September.

The militia were checked by fierce resistance from Al Qaeda and from majority sect tribesmen when it moved to expand into southern and central Yemen. On Saturday, three suspected Al Qaeda militants were killed in a drone strike in the southern province of Shabwa, tribal sources said. — AFP

POLITICAL SCANDAL

Former China president’s aide expelled from key body BEIJING: China expelled a disgraced senior aide to former president Hu Jintao from a high-profile advisory body on Saturday, the official Xinhua news agency reported on its website, marking the latest step in a significant political scandal.

Ling Jihua heads a Communist Party body charged with reaching out to non-Communists and holds a rank equivalent to vice premier. The largely ceremonial advisory council also dismissed former spy boss Ma Jian and Zhu Mingguo, once a senior official in the southern export powerhouse province of Guangdong, according to media reports.

Both have been accused of graft.

Ling was demoted in September 2012 after sources said his son was involved in a deadly crash involving an expensive sports car in an embarassment to the party, which is sensitive to public criticism that its officials and their families lead lifestyles of excess.

Ling was dropped from his post as head of the party’s General Office of the Central Committee, a powerful post similar to cabinet secretary in governments modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom, such as Australia and Canada.

The country’s National People’s Congress, a largely rubber-stamp parliament, also cast out Liu Zheng, a former deputy director of the powerful General Logistics Department of the People’s Liberation Army, who is being investigated for corruption, state media reported on Saturday.

Anti-corruption drive The development, which comes as China’s leadership pursues a campaign to weed out corruption and excess in its armed forces, is significant because it means Liu has been stripped of immunity from prosecution as a member of parliament. Liu is being probed, the Ministry of Defence said in January, accused of “seriously violating party discipline”, a euphemism for graft. — Reuters

CONFLICT

Thousands protest Boko Haram militants in Cameroon YAOUNDE: Thousands of people marched in Cameroon’s capital on Saturday to protest against Nigeria’s Boko Haram insurgency and support the central African nation’s army, which is fighting alongside regional neighbours to defeat the extremist group.

The march in Yaounde was aimed at informing the public, especially

in the southern regions, about the threat posed by Boko Haram, which has carried out regular cross-border raids in the far north, one of the organisers said. Yaounde is located in the central region of the country.

“It was important to tell Cameroonians that we are at war and a part of the country is suffering,” said Gubai Gatama, a newspaper editor

who was among the march’s organisers. “About 150,000 people have been displaced by the conflict.”

In addition to its own citizens forced to flee the violence, thousands of refugees have poured into Cameroon from northeastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram is seeking to carve out an extremist emirate.

“Some 170 schools in Cameroon’s

northern region have been closed,” Gatama said.

Burning villages Boko Haram’s six-year insurgency in Nigeria has spread to neighbouring countries, where the group has launched attacks over the past year, burning villages and kidnapping residents.

The Lake Chad region nations threatened by Boko Haram, Nigeria along with Cameroon, Niger and Chad, have launched a joint offensive to quell the rebellion and claim to have retaken territory from group in recent weeks.

Muhamadou Labara Awal, 27, was among the 5,000 people who organisers estimated marched on

the May.20 boulevard in Yaounde, chanting and waving the flags of the regional coalition.

“It was important for me to be here because I’m not a soldier to be deployed to Fotokol. The only way I could pay homage to our troops was to be here,” Awal said, referring to a northern town regularly targeted by Boko Haram. — Reuters

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5 During the run up to the last presidential campaign the people of Sri Lanka raised many, many questions about the interest rates especially, and also in certain cases about the manner in which these loans were raised Mangala Samaraweera, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister

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Colombo to renegotiate China loans New Sri Lankan President Sirisena is re-examining certain projects that China has invested in, including a $1.5 billion ‘port city’ project in the capital WORTH $150,000

Lupita Nyong’o

Thief returns Lupita’s Oscar gown LOS ANGELES: The $150,000 Oscar gown worn by actress Lupita Nyong’o that was stolen two days ago was returned on Friday by the thief, who tipped off celebrity news site TMZ.com after learning the pearls on the dress were fake, according to officials and the website.

TMZ said the thief took the Calvin Klein dress from Nyong’o’s hotel room on Wednesday after finding the door ajar.

The Kenyan actress had worn the dress adorned with 6,000 pearls to Sunday’s Academy Awards in one of the most commented looks of the night. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Michael White told reporters at a Friday news conference that they received a call around 3pm local time from a media outlet who reported hearing from an anonymous caller that the dress had been returned to the London Hotel.

Not real The media source said the thief removed two pearls from the dress and took them to the Garment District in downtown Los Angeles where they were told they were not real, according to White. Nicole Nishida, a spokeswoman with the department, later confirmed that the media source was TMZ. The thief then took the dress back to the London West Hollywood hotel and said it was in a garment bag inside a trash bag in a bathroom, White said.

Grand theft TMZ then tipped off the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in West Hollywood, which was investigating the theft. The website shows grainy footage of an unidentified person opening the bag and finding a white dress.

White said the investigation into the theft would continue whether the jewels were authentic or fake. “If we found out that they were not real, we still have a burglary and we still have a grand theft,” White said. — Reuters U N I T E D S TAT E S

Toddler shoots himself by accident, dies WASHINGTON: A three-yearold Texas boy died after accidentally shooting himself in the head at home on Friday, US media said.

The little boy, who was home in Houston with his mother and brother at the time, was rushed by helicopter to a hospital in critical condition but later died, said the NBC news station KPRC. “I think it’s horrible. I think it’s horrible when any child gets shot,” said neighbour Kristine Longwood. — AFP

BEIJING: Sri Lanka is concerned with the roughly $5 billion in Chinese loans it has and will send its finance minister to Beijing to discuss the issue, the foreign minister said on Saturday, as he also ruled out future Chinese submarine visits to the country.

New Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has unnerved China with his re-examination of certain projects that China has invested in, including a $1.5 billion “port city” project in the capital Colombo.

India, which lost out to China in infrastructure development on the Indian Ocean island, was in particular concerned about the security

The country’s finance minister will visit Beijing after President Sirisena’s state visit to China, slated for March 26-28

threat posed by Chinese ownership of land, aggravated by the docking of Chinese submarines in Colombo last year.

India had grown increasingly wary of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s pursuit of closer ties with China, which became a

key supporter of the island’s economy after its 26-year-civil war ended in 2009.

Speaking in Beijing at the end of a two-day visit, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said there were concerns about the manner in which the some $5 billion

Chinese loans for his country had been raised.

“During the run up to the last presidential campaign the people of Sri Lanka raised many, many questions about the interest rates especially, and also in certain cases about the manner in which these loans were raised,” he told a news conference.

“So we will, as a government committed to transparency, want to go into each of these matters.”

The country’s finance minister will visit Beijing after President Sirisena’s state visit to China, slated for March 26-28, Samaraweera said.

China has built a seaport and air-

port in the south of the country, raising fears it is seeking influence in a country with which India has traditionally had deep ties.

India’s concern grew after the Rajapaksa government allowed the Chinese submarines to dock.

Asked whether there would be any Chinese submarine visits in the near future, Samaraweera said: “I don’t see any”.

“I really don’t know which circumstances lead to some submarines coming to the port of Colombo on the very day the Japanese prime minister was visiting Sri Lanka, but we will ensure that such incidents -- from whatever quarters -- do not happen during our tenure.” — Reuters

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SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

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Ocalan calls on Kurdish rebels to lay down arms We are in the process of ending the 30-year conflict in the form of a perpetual peace, and our primary goal is to reach a democratic solution, Onder quoted Ocalan as saying

ISTANBUL: The jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Saturday urged the separatists to take a “historic” decision to lay down arms, a key step in efforts to end Turkey’s longrunning Kurdish insurgency.

Reading a statement live on television, Sirri Sureyya Onder, a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), relayed a message from Abdullah Ocalan calling on the Kurdish rebels to hold a congress on disarmament in the spring.

“We are in the process of ending the 30-year conflict in the form of a perpetual peace, and our primary goal is to reach a democratic solution,” Onder quoted Ocalan as saying in a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan.

“I’m calling on the PKK to hold an extraordinary congress in the spring months to take the strategic

CONCILIATORY MOVE: People’s Democratic Party (HDP) representative and Istanbul MP Sirri Sureyya Onder, right, speaks as Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan looks on during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s office in Istanbul. The handout picture was issued by the Turkish prime minister’s press office on Saturday. - AFP

and historic decision on disarmament,” Ocalan’s message said.

“This is a historic call to replace armed struggle with democratic politics.”

Closer than ever to peace Onder, who spoke alongside Akdogan and Interior Minister Efkan Ala following a brief meeting with the two ministers in Istanbul, said the both sides were “closer than ever to peace.”

The press conference was of significance because it was the first time a message by Ocalan was read out in the presence of Turkish government officials.

Akdogan emphasised the importance of a ceasefire and said: “We have reached an important and historical phase in the peace process. Silencing arms will contribute to the development of democracy,” he said.

The statement came after an HDP delegation met with PKK rebels for talks at their base in the Kandil Mountains in Iraq on February 23 and met Ocalan himself

on his prison island of Imrali on the Marmara Sea on Friday.

The statement also listed 10 measures that the government must agree to ensure peace, including drafting a new constitution.

“Today, a critical point has been reached in Turkey’s democratisation, the expansion of freedoms and for lasting peace,” said HDP chairman Selahattin Demirtas.

Demirtas said that the congress would be held after a consensus on the measures cited in the statement was reached but did not make clear who would attend the conference nor whether it would bring about an immediate disarmament.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also hailed the statement as the start of a new phase, saying the language of violence would now “cease to exist.” In 2013, Ocalan called for a “historic” ceasefire, after months of secret negotiations with the Turkish government aimed at ending a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people since 1984. - AFP

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Stakeholders of the bank unanimously approved the options, subject to regulatory approvals, and authorised the Board of Directors to – Supplied picture

ECONOMY

Oman’s ratings reflect robust monetary system MUSCAT: Oman maintained its advanced position at the credit ratings published by a number of reputable international rating agencies that monitors the economic developments in various countries of the world.

Moody’s credit rating maintained the Sultanate’s rating at A+, an advanced level equal to the rating earned by some advanced European countries with stable outlook.

The rating reflects the sound financial position for the Sultanate’s government and forecasts of continuous economic growth.

The agency’s report, which was published by the end of 2014 said that the rating took into consideration the efforts made by the government to diversify sources of national economy through the various economic activities and reduce reliance on oil and gas revenues.

Non–oil sector Moody’s report also pointed out that the non–oil sector has major contribution to the growth of the national economy due to the government’s constant focus on investment in infrastructure.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects that the growth of the Omani economy will take an upward trajectory starting from 3.6 per cent during the period from 2014 to 2018.

Standard & Poor’s Agency affirmed that the Sultanate’s foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on long and short term at A/A-1 with stable outlook.

At a statement that was recently published, the agency attributed the rating to the good government assets and the sound investment policies.

The statement added that assuming the oil prices will remain below $100 up to 2017, the per capita share of GDP in the Sultanate of Oman and the fiscal and foreign assets will remain unaffected.

The rating by the international credit rating agencies is based on the stability and credibility of the Sultanate’s public finance and that the Sultanate’s finance provided a high added value to the GDP and fosters economic strength of the state. It was also based on the fact that the monetary system of the Sultanate is one of the most trusted systems

This confidence is affirmed by the CBO, which made the local banks liable to maintain the Sultanate’s currency strength inside and outside the Sultanate

in the world; thanks to the political stability of the Sultanate.

This confidence is affirmed by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), which made the local banks liable to maintain the Sultanate’s currency strength inside and outside the Sultanate. CBO also promotes the development of the financial sector to ensure the growth of the national economy and ensure that the Sultanate’s fiscal policies are sound.

The production, service and business activities are directed to diversify its activities supported by the sound fiscal system. The monetary swap is the dominate practice of the market. This activity is the basic factor that regularise this type of economic activities. The CBO tends to regularise money exchange operations to ensure the growth and development of the national economy.

Rules of money exchange It may be said that the rules of money exchange in the Omani economic environment develops in line with the developments witnessed by the market and economic activities.

The Sultanate’s ability to maintain its high ranking on the global level is attributed to the sound management of the monetary system. This contributed to achieving the aims of the economic policy namely ensuring economic stability in general and enhancing the economic growth. It was also achieved by ensuring the stability of the value of the currency at the Omani Riyal exchange market. — ONA

take action

MUSCAT: BankDhofar shareholders unanimously approved options for raising the bank’s capital up to $300 million at its recently held extraordinary meeting.

The meeting — which took place on February 26, 2015 — approved the option of issuing Additional Tier 1 (AT1) Capital Securities in the form of perpetual bonds with a coupon to be determined at the time of issue based on market conditions to raise up to $300 million or equivalent in Omani Rial outside Oman, subject to regulatory approvals.

If the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) and regulatory approvals are not obtained for the proposed Additional Tier 1 Issue or if it becomes apparent that the Bank is not able to finalise the Additional Tier 1 Issue by March 31, 2015, the Bank will consider increasing its regulatory capital by issue of convertible bonds to raise up to OMR100 million with a coupon to be determined at the time of issue based on market conditions, subject to regulatory approval.

Third option The third option for capital raising that was approved during the

meeting was to consider the establishment of the programme of Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) in the next 12 months to issue noncapital instruments up to $500 million with a likely term of up to five years and with a coupon to be determined at the time of issue based on market conditions and to be listed outside Oman within the next four years, subject to Regulatory Approvals as applicable.

BankDhofar shareholders at the extraordinary meeting unanimously authorised the Board of Directors to take the required procedures and actions to implement the above.

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SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

MARKET TRAINING COURSE

Forum to discuss WTO rules and impact on Gulf industries DOHA: Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) will organise a training course titled “WTO Rules and their Impact on the Industrial Sector in the GCC Countries” at the Organisation’s headquarters in Doha, Qatar from May 25 till May 28, 2015.

GOIC organises this course as part of its endeavour to build

capacities of workers in the industrial sector in GCC countries.

Participants will get to know the rules and regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and their repercussions on the sectors of industries and services in GCC countries. It will also be a suitable opportunity for representatives of the private sector and officials

MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS

Phone firms look beyond the handset MADRID: Phone makers will seek to seduce new buyers with even smarter Internet-connected watches and other wireless gadgets as they wrestle for dominance at the world’s biggest mobile fair starting on Monday.

Along with the launches of numerous new smartphones — dominated by South Korean giant Samsung — tech firms are trying to conquer users’ bodies and connect their environments.

Several makers are set to unveil new “smartwatches”, some of which will have users chattering into their cuffs or getting onwrist email updates, at the fourday Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in northeastern Spain.

Tech executives and regulators will meanwhile seek to chart a course for a new age of wireless networks that could lead to billions of objects being connected, from cars to refrigerators.

‘Wearable’ gadgets On Sunday evening, Samsung is expected to unveil its Galaxy S6 smartphone, the larger Galaxy S6 Edge “phablet”, and the latest in its series of watches. Samsung is the world’s biggest seller of smartphones but saw its share of the world market fall in 2014 from 34 per cent to 20 per cent, according to research group IDC. It faces a squeeze by Chinese

phone makers on one side and on the other by US titan Apple, which released its iPhone 6 last year.

Apple, as usual, is steering clear of the show in Barcelona, but is set to launch its own smartwatch in April.

Several other Asian heavyweights also plan launches of “wearable” gadgets on the eve of the congress, such as Korean firm LG, Chinese contender Huawei and Taiwanese makers Asus and HTC.

Designers have come up with numerous gadgets that can connect to an application on your mobile, from popular “fitness tracker” wristbands to measure your heart rate.

Now they hope some big product launches this year can make smartwatches a mainstream gadget and boost sales of other wearables.

This year could be a “tipping point for wearables”, research firm CCS Insight said in a report.

In Barcelona, “low-cost smartphones will feature prominently, as will wearables”, it said. “We expect an avalanche of new products,” it further added. — AFP

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Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

from institutions in charge of standards in the area of understanding and using WTO rules and mechanisms to exchange opinions and expertise.

This course targets representatives of the private sector and of institutions in charge of specifications and standards, in addition to parties interested in WTO rules.

The training course includes various topics, such as introducing WTO rules that affect the industrial sector the most during all phases related to production, marketing, importing and exporting, going through detailed rules of WTO agreements and aspects related to understanding and using the available rules and mecha-

nisms by government institutions and organisations in charge of standards and specifications and the private sector for the benefit of the industrial sector and the services sector.

Furthermore, the course focuses on available capabilities within the context of the WTO, notably in terms of developing the indus-

trial sector and adopting exporting strategies. Participants will familiarise themselves with the available mechanisms to protect branches of industrial production in the GCC countries, and they will become familiar with methods allowing them to access information on the markets and the capacity to access new markets. — ONA

Muzn Islamic Banking holds review meeting Sharia Supervisory Board also reviewed the new Islamic financing product paper and concepts presented by the Muzn Islamic Banking team

Times News Service MUSCAT: National Bank of Oman’s Sharia-compliant window, Muzn Islamic Banking, held its 12th Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB) meeting in Muscat, Oman.

The meeting was led by the Chairman of the SSB, Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Ali El-Gari, and attended by SSB Member, Sheikh Datuk Dr Muhammad Daud Bakar.

Amjad Bangash, Head of Sharia at Muzn Islamic Banking, presented important agenda items including the Sharia Audit

review conducted for the previous quarter. It was affirmed that Muzn Islamic Banking was Sharia compliant in its day-to-day financings, operations, deposit management and services.

New products The SSB also reviewed the new Islamic financing product paper and concepts presented by the Muzn Islamic Banking team, while examining efforts for developing new Sharia compliant products which will serve the various segments of the market.

The 12th Sharia Supervisory Board meeting will provide further momentum for Muzn Islamic Banking in the coming months. The Muzn Islamic Banking window has shown robust growth in 2014, the Sharia Supervisory Board is extremely well-placed to oversee this important objective and will continue to ensure that customers receive the very best that Muzn Islamic Banking has to offer.

The meeting was also attended by Sayyidah Rawan Al Said, Member of the Board; Nasser Salim Said Al Rashdi, General Manager, chief SME officer and head of international business; as well as Muzn’s senior management team.

New branch opens in Sohar

– Supplied picture

Times News Service MUSCAT: National Bank of Oman (NBO) opened a new Muzn Islamic Banking outlet, in Sohar. The Muzn Sohar Branch, will be operating Sunday to Thursdays and the opening hours are 8:00am to 2:00pm. The branch will serve all Islamic banking customers in Sohar and the surrounding areas, providing a complete range of Sharia compliant products and services.

The branch was inaugurated under the auspices of the Wali of Sohar, Sheikh

Ali Bin Ahmed bin Mishari Al Shamsi and attended by senior officials from the bank.

The branch will have experienced staff and robust systems in place to offer services to institutional, corporate and retail customers.

Ahmed Al Musalmi, Chief Executive Officer of NBO, said: “Muzn Islamic Banking continues to be a key growth area for the Bank and, by providing an all-encompassing range of Sharia compliant banking services to deliver financial solutions to a growing customer base.”

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

MARKET LAST YEAR

27 new fuel filling stations opened MUSCAT: Total number of fuel filling stations in the different governorates of the Sultanate of Oman as of the end of 2014 increased to 520 with the addition of 27 new stations during the year.

The three companies operating in fuel products marketing doubled their efforts to diversify their investments, increase their sales and enhance the size of their investments.

The three companies benefited from the growing demand for oil products and increasing the number of vehicles. The statistics point out that the number of vehicles that have been registered in the Sultanate stood at more than 143,000 — a growth by 8.6 per P R I VAT E S E C T O R

Capital Markets Forum to stress

sustainability

MUSCAT: Third Capital Markets Forum, organised by Muscat Securities Market (MSM), will be held on Monday at the Grand Hyatt Muscat under the title ‘Empowering private businesses towards long-term sustainability’.

Dr Ali bin Masud Al Sunaidi, minister of commerce and industry will grace the occasion.

Ahmed bin Saleh Al Marhoon, director general of MSM said that the forum aims to empower private and family companies in achieving growth and ensuring sustainability.

He further said that private sector plays a pivotal role in world economies. Statistics point out that the sector contributes 70 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The contribution of this sector in the Sultanate is very low, therefore, he said, these companies should maximise the role they play in economic growth to be in line with the Sultanate’s aspirations.

He pointed out that the private sector can play a bigger role in the national economy, especially since the Sultanate is offering various opportunities that can be utilised by the private sector. He said that the message of the forum focuses on inviting private companies to consider the best practices that ensure their sustainability.

The official called upon the private companies to expand their businesses by getting more liquidity through initial public offerings (IPOs) and by circulating their funds. This will ensure establishing a new entity that maximises its interests and serves the national economy with its new projects, he added. - ONA OMAN-US

Seminar on free trade MUSCAT: A seminar on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Sultanate and the United States will be held on Tuesday at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) under the patronage of Said bin Saleh Al Kayoumi, chairman of OCCI. The seminar aims at shedding more light on the opportunities of the two countries under the agreement in the areas of trade and investment.

It will address the legal provisions in the FTA between the two countries. - ONA

cent compared to the numbers registered in 2013.

Growth rate Statistics also showed that the oil price decline starting from the last quarter of 2014 has not affected the performance of these companies. They expect to maintain the growth rates achieved last year this year as well. They attributed this to the government commitment to spend on the infrastructure projects and provide new job opportunities, in addition to the expected growth rates in the passenger and cargo traffic through Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport, as well as the increase in the number of incoming

vessels to the Sultanate.

The value of the gross sales of the three companies increased to more than OMR1.09 billion compared to OMR1.05 billion in 2013. The net profits increased from OMR32.6 million in 2013 to OMR34.2 million in 2014.

The value of the assets of the three companies, as of the end of last year, increased to OMR279.5 million compared to OMR250.5 million as of the end of 2013. The gross capital of the three companies is OMR23.3 million.

Al Maha Oil Marketing Company said that during 2014, it has expanded its station network to meet the growing demand for oil products. It pointed out that the

commercial sales sector performance has been good at a competitive environment.

Positive outlook The three companies have positive outlook toward the future with forecasts of growth in demand for oil products, in line with the expected growth in the national economy. They also said that despite the positive forecasts, they expect tough competition at the different sectors.

Shell Oil Marketing said that the fuel products sale sector is always correlated with the macroeconomic conditions therefore it expects further growth with economic activities. - ONA

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SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

MARKET Google to redesign its headquarters campus Company’s new plan includes lush public gardens, looping covered bikeways and futuristiclooking buildings that can be moved about like toy blocks

FUTURISTIC PLAN: This architectural rendering shows the company’s plan for a new headquarters

campus in California. - AFP

WASHINGTON: Google unveiled plans on Friday for a new campus headquarters integrating wildlife and sweeping waterways, aiming to make a big statement in Silicon Valley — which is already seeing ambitious projects from Apple and Facebook.

The design also includes lush public gardens, looping covered bikeways and futuristic-looking buildings that can be moved about like toy blocks.

The redesign on the Google property in Mountain View, California, by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels and London-based Thomas Heatherwick, was submitted to local officials, with details released on the company’s official blog.

The latest huge design project in Silicon Valley comes as Apple is in the midst of building its ‘spaceship’ campus and Facebook is using renowned architect Frank

Gehry for its campus expansion.

Google —which has faced opposition from locals — said its new design is aimed at ‘rethinking office space’.

“As we’ve inhabited a variety of workplaces — including a garage in California, a farmhouse in Denmark and an entire New York city block — we’ve learned something about what makes an office space great,” Google vice-president for real estate David Radcliffe said in a blog post. Radcliffe said the new campus will “lead to a better way of working.”

He added that “instead of constructing immoveable concrete buildings, we’ll create lightweight block-like structures which can be moved around easily as we invest in new product areas.”

The plan includes large canopies over the campus which “regulate climate, pollution, and sound,

while freeing spaces from traditional architectural limitations like walls, windows and roofs.”

It aims “to blur the distinction between our buildings and nature,” added Radcliffe.

One rendering shows a loop for bicycles and pedestrians going through the centre of one building, connecting with cafes and local shops.

Concerns The New York Times, which first reported on the Google campus plan this week, said the project has raised concerns in the oncesleepy community of Mountain View about being overrun by the technology behemoth. The expansion of the wealthy tech giants in the region has led to increased congestion as well as an explosion in the area’s real estate prices.

Radcliffe said the new Google

campus will see it do “more with the local community.” “We’re adding lots of bike paths and retail opportunities, like restaurants, for local businesses,” he noted.

“We also hope to bring new life to the unique local environment, from enhancing burrowing owl habitats to widening creek beds.”

In nearby Cupertino, Apple won approval in 2013 for a shimmering flying-saucer-shaped headquarters after a tax break granted the technology titan was trimmed. “Apple Campus 2” is described as a 21st Century creation designed for research, collaboration, and innovation.

Apple enlisted world-famous architect Norman Foster to transform a 176-acre site dominated by asphalt and old buildings into “sustainable, state-of-the-art office, research and development facilities.” - AFP

TELECOM SERVICES

Fixed phones in Oman increase by 6.8% in 2014 MUSCAT: Subscribers of fixed phone service in the Sultanate crossed 375,000 in 2014. GSM lines touched more than 6 million, while the number of subscribers in broadband internet rose to reach more than 2.8 million.

The latest statistics issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) said that subscribers of fixed phone service in the Sultanate stood at 375,196 at the end of 2014 against 351.411 subscribers at the end of 2013, constituting a rise of 6.8 per cent.

Subscribers of pre-paid fixed phone service (Sahl) stood at 33,066 against 25,829 at the end of 2013, a rise by 2.8 per cent. The billed fixed phone lines stood at 287,995 in 2014, compared to 271,400 in 2013.

The number of public phones all over the Sultanate stood at 6,801.

The number of integrated services digital networks (ISDN) and the number of fixed wireless lines witnessed a slight decline.

Subscribers of billed GSM service stood at 6,194.169 by the end of 2014 against 5,617.426 during 2013, constituting an increase of 10.3 per cent.

Pre-paid GSM Subscribers of pre-paid GSM service stood at 5,665,471 at the end of 2014, compared to 5,121.723 by the end of 2013, constituting a rise of 10.6 per cent.

The statistics also pointed out that the total subscribers of in-

Subscribers of fixed phone service in the Sultanate stood at 375,196 at the end of 2014 against 351.411 subscribers at the end of 2013, constituting a rise of 6.8 per cent

ternet at the end of 2014 stood at 180,144 compared to 158,678 subscribers at the end of 2013. Subscribers of DSL, leased lines and wimax stood at 177.063 at the end of 2014, compared to 154,290 at the end of 2013, a rise by 14.8 per cent.

The number of active subscribers of mobile broadband stood at 2,893,561 at the end of 2014 compared to 2,443,296 at the end of 2013, constituting an increase of 18.4 per cent. — ONA

SOCIAL INVESTMENT

BP Oman project to assist 32 entrepreneurs to develop small and medium businesses Times News Service MUSCAT: Khazzan growth finance project will provide 32 entrepreneurs with business mentorship for two months at Falaj Daris Hotel in Nizwa, as part of BP Oman’s social investment programme.

The programme, which officially started this week, aims to empower local entrepreneurs and small and medium enter- HONING SKILLS: The participating entrepreneurs in the project have prises (SMEs) sector as a part been in business for approximately 36 months and are therefore of BP Oman’s commitment to classified as start-up. - Supplied photo developing Oman’s In Country Value (ICV). The project is project’s associate implementing managed by implementing part- Business plan By the end of the programme, partner, have worked on selecting, ners Sharakah.

Abdullah Al Jufaili, general each of them will have a complete training, evaluating and now menmanager of Sharakah, said, “The business plan focused on the fi- toring a segment of entrepreneurs Khazzan growth finance project nancial aspects of the business, in Oman, with a particular emis the flagship of the BP Oman a brand for the company, social phasis on the Al Dakhiliyah and Al enterprise development projects. media accounts and email ser- Dhahirah regions.

William R. Crew, chief execuThirty-two candidates from the vices. Further, 22 candidates will governorates of Al Dakhiliya and be awarded OMR5,000 grant from tive of Inspired Solutions, said, “Inspired Solutions is excited to be Al Dhahirah will undergo exten- BP Oman to set up the business.

Inspired Solutions, an SME able to bring world class MBA style sive two- to three-month entreconsultancy in Oman and the entrepreneur training to the small preneurship training.

business owners of the Al Dakhiliyah and Al Dhahirah areas. The trainees are from all sectors and all ages. We are very impressed to see the level of motivation which we see in these areas.”

Training workshops The first phase of the project included the application and community outreach in Nizwa and Ibri, which registered 140 people from across Al Dhakhiliyah and Al Dhahirah. The second phase narrowed down 45 of the top eligible candidates that were interviewed.

Now in their third phase, Inspired Solutions will conduct training workshops for the entrepreneurs.

The participating entrepreneurs in the project have been in business for approximately 36 months and are therefore classified as a start-up.

According to Crew, this stage is a very sensitive time in the life cycle of small businesses as most fail within 60 months. Inspired Solutions will offer training.

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

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ROUND-UP

Lexus RC wins kbb.com best resale value title The 2015 Best Resale Value Awards are based not on a feeling or a guess or a simple calculation, but instead on what we consider to be the best research and analysis process in the industry

MUSCAT: The brand-new Lexus RC is the first Lexus coupe in more than 15 years, and it’s already a predicted resale value champion.

That’s the power of a good reputation. The latest award won by the Lexus RC was in the Entry Level – Luxury Car Segment in kbb.com’s ‘2015 Best Resale Value’ awards, says a press release.

The 2015 Best Resale Value

Awards are based not on a feeling or a guess or a simple calculation, but instead on what we consider to be the best research and analysis process in the industry. kbb.com’s resale value projections take into account current vehicle data, sales data, market conditions for each vehicle, competition within vehicle segments, expectations of the future economy and the combined experience of Kelley Blue Book’s team of market and pricing analysts.

The design of the RC coupe is described by Lexus as “coolness over utility”. It has deeply contoured body lines - never before seen in the Lexus line-up - with the widest and lowest application yet of the Lexus spindle grille which is evidence of the brand’s aggressive new design direction.

Producing power output per litre second only to the LFA supercar in the Lexus range, the RC

signals the next evolution of Lexus powertrain engineering. The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine produces maximum power of 314 HP at 6,400 rpm, and peak torque of 38.5 Kg.M at 4,800 rpm, to provide a passionate driving experience. It is matched to direct-shift transmissions with Manual Mode, allowing full torque-converter lock-up from second to eighth gears for ‘clutchless’ manual shifting.

An eight-speed Sports Direct Shift with paddle shift transmission optimises power delivery and economy. In manual mode, full torque converter lock-up from second to eighth gears allows for down changes in just 0.2 sec.

The spirit of the RC is audible in the note of its engine, specially tuned to deliver an evocative sports car sound.

A new five-layer paint process used for the first time in true mass

P R O M O T I N G TA L E N T

‘Yamaha Music Festival’ held at MGM

— PHOTOS; A. R. RAJKUMAR/TIMES OF OMAN

MUSCAT: Omasco’s Music Sales and Services (MSS) division, authorised distributor of Yamaha Music and AV, organised a 'Yamaha Music Festival 2015' on February 25 and 26 at Muscat Grand Mall (MGM).

This event displayed some of the latest products from the Yamaha Stable and feature performances from ace European drummer Patti Ballinas and Oman’s favourite music son, Nadeem Al Balushi performed songs from his recently launched album.

Patti Ballinas is the first drummer from Spain representing Yamaha Drums worldwide. Patti started to play drums at the age of 8. She played many concerts in Scotland and her band ‘Angels’ Delight’ appeared on Scot-

tish television. By the time Patti moved to Mallorca (Spain) the band was working under the name ‘Aqua Vitae’. In a few good years of concert experience Patti Ballinas worked with several musicians and bands in Mallorca and Madrid and became a wellknown drummer in Spain. At the same time Patti formed a ‘Motown Show’ singing with her sisters she also started her career as a session drummer and soon became a Yamaha Drums Endorser.

Nadeem Al Balushi has grown to become a popular singer and keyboard performer amongst both local as well as expatriate population of Oman. Nadeem’s incredible ability to sing in six different languages and perform as a One-Man-Band has made him a

sought after musician. Nadeem’s amazing keyboard playing and singing in Arabic, Hindi, English, Punjabi and Baluchi, showcases his versatility.

In line with Yamaha’s philosophy to provide platforms and opportunities to increase awareness about music and promote local talent in Oman, Omasco has conducted free drum clinics at the Indian School Muscat and the British School Muscat where, young and aspiring music and percussion students witnessed Patti’s skill and talent on the latest Yamaha electronic and acoustic drum kits.

For the music enthusiast, entire range of Yamaha Music and AV is available at its flagship store in MQ.

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production is at the heart of the brilliant colours of Lexus RC. The extraordinarily complex multilayered, twice-baked process has been used before – but only on the very best of show cars, such as concept vehicles at motor shows or at specialty show-and-shine exhibits. Radiant Red Contrast Layering has been chosen by Lexus as the signature colour for RC. Lexus developed 10 exterior colours for RC which is the white nova, radiant red, radiant blue, lava orange, white pearl, platinum silver, sonic titanium, mercury gray, starlight black, and black.

The RC benefits from the same comprehensive array of safety features that is characteristic of today’s Lexus range, and comes equipped with airbags which includes a dual-stage driver’s airbag, dual-stage and dual-chamber front passenger airbag, driver’s and front passenger’s knee airbags, front-seat side airbags and fulllength side curtain-shield airbags.

The side-curtain airbag size has been enlarged for increased sidecollision compatibility. Additional safety features include remote anti-theft alarm system, front and rear parking sensors, child seat anchors, engine immobiliser, and stability and traction control.

NEW COLLECTION

Spring surprises await customers at ‘Twenty4’ MUSCAT: Fashion is all about constantly changing ideas and moods and with each season the desire to add the latest trends or the season’s best pieces to our wardrobes becomes essential.

This spring, Twenty4 interprets the trends that have been the talk of the town and launches them with an all-new perspective.

From florals to bold geometric patterns, head-to-toe monotones to bespoke sporty the Twenty4 collection is an interesting mix of dramatic atmosphere and varied styles. With this, Twenty4 also launches a limited period offer exclusively on the latest spring collection for shopaholics and fashionistas, says a press release.

“The spring season calls for lighter textures and materials but not without a dose of iridescent coatings and embellishments,”

explains Nasser Kunnummal, Country Head of Twenty4.

“It’s true when said that women trends are a revolution season after season, while fashion for men is an evolution; we hence invite one and all to come experience this spring’s revolution and evolution at our store. With the ushering of the spring month, customers who purchase full price merchandise worth OMR20 and more will be eligible to get OMR4 voucher. With Twenty4’s latest offering, we want to make shopping during this month even more fun and satisfying for customers.

At Twenty4, shoppers will find all the amazing savings on spring merchandise we are known for, in addition to finding all our stores across Oman refreshed with new, bright and colourful must-have items,” Nasser added.

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SUN DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

ROUND-UP Varun Bahl, Masaba Gupta: The finale designers at couture show showcase in a new way.

Internationallyrenowned designers will dress some of the region’s top models — handpicked from six countries at the Signature Couture Show to be held on March 5

MUSCAT: The Signature Couture Show is all set to be held at the Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa on March 5, and will once again draw attention to new emerging talent and give way to growth of the industry across the capital. Internationally-renowned designers will dress some of the region’s top models — handpicked from six countries. For the first time ever, Varun Bahl and Masaba Gupta will debut their creations in the Sultanate of Oman, says a press release.

Masaba creates waves in Indian fashion scene Masaba a diffusion line – unique and revolutionary in essence is one of the most successful fashion labels under Masaba Gupta.

‘Masaba’, launched in 2009 has created waves in the Indian fashion scene showcasing outfits for women from 18-30 years of age.

The strength of the label lies in the ability to marry traditional Indian sensibilities and aesthetics while keeping the modern context alive.

The label currently retails in India from four stores in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

Masaba’s accolades and achievements are numerous which include being featured by Forbes as a young achiever in the category “Forbes India 30 under 30” and being covered by Vogue Italia as one of India’s most promising talents.

She collaborated with automobile heavy weight Tata Motors to design a limited edition Nano. She was the youngest Creative director of India’s oldest iconic label Satya Paul. In 2014 Masaba was appointed as creative director by ecommerce giant Myntra and is expected to bring across ‘Anouk’ their new Indian apparel brand.

Masaba’s journey in fashion has been documented on Star World in a show – ‘Lakme Fashion Week Designer.

Masaba designed an all new, affordable line ‘Masaba Lite’ to reach out to her teenage audience. It is a vibrant, young, peppy but pocket friendly line of chic and affordable clothing and accessories, catering to “young girls on tight budgets”.

Masaba’s style is always fierce and bold with a strong play of colour and cut, but traditionally rooted.

Masaba works with organic fabrics, bright colours and the classical Indian weaves.

In an interview, Masaba Gupta shares her excitement about showcasing her work in Oman.

What is different about your collection for the Signature Couture Show as compared to your other lines?

We are bringing in the festive mood in the collection, through a touch of gold! Also, we have made sure that the styles and silhouettes have been altered and created keeping in mind the body type of women in Oman, and their specific tastes in fashion.

Oman is a very different market when compared to its neighbours. What is your initial impression of this market?

It’s my first time in Oman, so I am quite excited to do a show there.

I have been to Dubai and we’d thought that people would be very conservative, but I found that they are open to fashion and I was elated to bring my collection. I am expecting Oman, too, will embrace our style! The Middle East on the whole is a very fashion-forward market. Women may be conservative when it comes to dressing, but they are still very particular about what they wear.

Prints and bold colours are your forte. How do you constantly engage new consumers?

At House of Masaba, we constantly work on developing new statement prints and different colour lines with every collection. Our motto is to give our clients new quirky prints and styles every time we launch a new collection. We aim to keep the design philosophy of the brand the same and, yet, we want to keep finding interesting motifs from everyday life that we can evolve and

Varun Bahl designs embody glamour, sophistication Varun Bahl, is one of the few remaining true artists and couturiers’ in the Indian fashion industry.

He is one of a handful of designers who has stuck true to his style and artistry in the onslaught of tasteless commercialisation of the fashion design business. He is best known for creating style signatures within global styling cues so that his clothes are fashionable but unique.

Best known for his expertise in blending the classic with the contemporary, the antique with the new and innovative use of fabrics to create a dreamy love affair for today’s kind of customer- a reflection of elegance, avant-garde, non-conformist yet rooted in classics. Most of his clients swear his clothes are their heirlooms like jewellery because of their classic sensibility and incredible quality.

Varun Bahl designs embody glamour, sophistication and are an inherently sexy luxe style statement. A design graduate from the National Institute of fashion Technology, New Delhi, Varun launched his label in 2001.

Varun showcased his Spring/ Summer 2004 collection at White in Milan to international acclaim and great commercial success. He was also chosen by Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana, Milano to showcase his SS ‘07 and AW ‘07/’08 at Milan Fashion Week, making him one of the first few Indian designers to have participated in the event.

Varun Bahl has a commercially successful menswear prêt label with acclaimed Indian filmmaker Karan Johar called Karan Johar + Varun Bahl since 2010.

In an interview Varun talks about his signature styles.

What’s so special about your collection for the Signature

Varun’s trunk show on March 6, 7 at Mrunal’s Boutique MUSCAT: Varun Bahl’s designs will be a visual treat for the audience to experience the trails of India through a carefully curated collection by the designer.

His collection would showcase an array of almost 30 couture pieces in the women’s wear segment and 12 men’s wear outfits from the Karan Johar + Varun Bahl (KJ+VB) label. The designer’s signature rose motif and the latest from the French Floral Story Collection make their way to the ramp in Muscat.

The collection for the Signature Couture Show emphasises on elegance and is focused on intricate embroidery, embellishments with

Couture Show?

The collection has some of my signature styles, with intricate embroidery and floral motifs perfectly blending the vintage with the modern. It will be a visual treat for the audience to experience the trails of India through this carefully curated collection.

We have an array of 30 couture pieces in the womenswear segment and 12 menswear outfits from the Karan Johar + VarunBahl (KJ+VB) label. My signature rose motif and the latest from the French Floral Story collection will make their way to the ramp in Muscat, and I will add that the collection emphasises elegance.

The show is divided into three segments, starting with black and transitioning towards ivory, and

T R A D E FA I R

clean cuts and silhouettes.

The show is divided into three segments, starting with Black and transitioning towards Ivory, and then giving way to a burst of colours on the runway with the ‘French Floral Story’ in shades of old rose, pinks, gold and peach etc.

The collection consists of Anarkalis, sarees, saree gowns, gowns and lehengas, and a capsule collection of Sherwani’s and Indian men’s wear.

The show is on March 5 at the Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa in Muscat, followed by a trunk show on March 6 and 7 at the Mrunal’s Boutique, Muscat.

then giving way to a burst of colours – old rose, pinks, etc.

Oman is a traditional market where we feel your silhouettes and your embellishments will be highly appreciated. What are your initial reactions to this market?

I think the Asian community as well as the local Diaspora of Oman will appreciate the collection. The Abaya-inspired silhouettes, the anarkalis, sarees, saree gowns, lehengas, gowns, kurtas and jumpsuits signify the beauty of the region and its people.

In addition, I feel that the fabrics – silks, net, georgette, velvet appliqué and satin – are also quite well-suited to the region’s overall style sensibilities.

MEETING

Sadolin adds a splash of colour to IDF show Taageer holds branch managers’ conference MUSCAT: AkzoNobel Oman’s flagship brand Sadolin was a platinum sponsor at the recently concluded second edition of the Interior Design, Décor & Furniture Exhibition (IDF) show in Muscat.

As the only global paints and coatings brand to participate in the event, the Sadolin exhibit attracted a large number of visitors. On display was an attractive range of special effect premium wall finishes by Sadolin’s Velvet Touch range, launched recently in the Sultanate, says a press release.

“Specialised trade fairs such as IDF give us an effective platform to exhibit our world-class products and finishes to our local business customers and to the general consumer at large. The attractive panels in our stand showcase a range of colours and premium finishes that effectively demonstrate AkzoNobel’s strides in Research & Development(R&D)

in the decorative coatings field,” commented, N. Balachandran, GM, AkzoNobel Oman.

Sadolin’s ‘Let’s Colour’ campaign is all about Creating Brighter Futures. So, whether it is offering the customer an imaginative colour palette or creating premium textures and decorative finishes that express individuality and aesthetics, Sadolin’s wall coatings inspire customers to bring colour into their living and working environment.

“As a market leader, AkzoNobel is committed to introducing new products that reflect our focus on R&D and offering customer delight. Oman is a growing market for us. Our manufacturing facility here gives us the advantage of keeping pace with the increasing demand of our customers, as we continue to introduce new and improved products,” added, Peter Tomlinson, Managing Director AkzoNobel Middle East.

MUSCAT: Taageer Finance recently held its branch managers’ conference at its head office in Al Khuwair in line with its vision to be the best Non-Banking Finance Company for the customers. The branch managers and the department heads met to discuss mutual ways to further stream line their approaches to accomplish the company’s goals and objectives, says a press release.

The prevailing market developments were discussed in detail. CEO, Mohammed Redha Jawad addressed the conference and stressed upon the importance of quality business, good customer service and the development of human resources to help them achieve the business targets. Jawad also emphasised on Taageer Finance’s continuous efforts in supporting the SME sector based on proper due diligence and credit policies/norms.

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BANKING SECTOR

ahlibank hosts first Risk Officers Committee meet of year MUSCAT: ahlibank hosted the first meeting of the Risk Officers Committee (ROC) in 2015 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel recently.

The banking sector in Oman formed the ROC in 2011 comprising Chief Risk Officers of local as well as foreign banks operating in the country, with a view to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and keep abreast with the latest

developments in the ever-evolving field of risk management, says a press release.

The committee meets every quarter and discusses topics ranging from operational risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, market risk and business continuity management.

External consultants, as well as members make presentations in various risk management areas on

Mistal showcases new De Bethune watches The DB25T Zodiac, DB28 GSAnglais and the DB28 Maxichrono Titane were showcased in the zenith of its glorious conception at the Mistal showroom in Darsait

MUSCAT: Skilled with supreme technical mastery and blessed with the artistic vein of the rare few, De Bethune, the Swiss watchmaking wonders have launched the DB25T Zodiac, DB28 GSAnglais and the DB28 Maxichrono Titane that add to their noble 2015 collection.

For the connoisseurs who respect the true quintessence of mechanical horology, De Bethune has found its place in the world of the aristocrats. Each timepiece

is a work of art created from inspirations drawn from the centuries lapsed while simultaneously infusing the highest technical standards brought about by years of cautious research and development, says a press release.

The three new models were showcased in the zenith of its glorious conception at the Mistal showroom in Darsait. To showcase these exclusive watches, Pierre Jacques, CEO, De Bethune himself attended the occasion with his presence alongside Dharmesh Ajit Khimji, Managing Director, Mistal Watches as they addressed the media in a one to one interactive press conference held at the same venue amidst much enthused reporters.

“De Bethune speaks of only the finest craftsmanship and aes-

thetic excellence that embodies each authentic timepiece,” said Dharmesh Ajit Khimji. “With only a limited few manufactured worldwide, we are indeed proud to display three of these exclusive creations at our showroom.”

The Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix honoured De Bethune with the most coveted title, the ‘Aiguille d’Or’ or the ‘Golden Hand’ that has been sought after by esteemed watch manufacturers from the world over. Awarded for their exceptional brilliance in combining with supreme perfection the art and science of watchmaking, De Bethune has produced timepieces that combine comfortable sturdiness along with the innovations that surround the sheer weightlessness, impeccable accuracy and distinct readability

of each piece.

The DB25 Zodiac and its elegantly openworked lugs frame a polished and blued titanium sky adorned with hand-engravings on solid gold representing the 12 zodiac signs. These symbols lend a sense of infinity to the depth of the De Bethune star-studded sky. The radiance instilled by the silvertoned guilloché decoration radiating from the dial centre contributes to the multiple shimmering light effects on the finely grained rings, and on the open-worked polished yellow gold hands.

On the occasion, Pierre Jacques, CEO, De Bethune said, “At De Bethune we stand by the belief - ‘Not Doing More, but Instead Doing Better’. Each of our creations is timeless and bears no relation to the ephemeral trends and demands of the market. Our work is centred on innovation as we endeavour to create materials that are still being discovered in the watch industry.

Each watch is conjured with utmost precision, paying attention to the minutest detail perfecting it to its most magnificent form.”

Mistal, a part of the Ajit Khimji group, with its showrooms located at Sabco Commercial Centre, Qurum and Darsait, Mistal houses the most prized watch brands made for the elite fortunate few.

the latest happenings in risk, and each aspect of risk management is discussed and deliberated thoroughly in the ROC meetings.

“The ROC has been established with the aim to create a platform to bring together Chief Risk Officers of the major banks in Oman.

We understand that effective risk management is the foundation for a robust banking system, and are

pleased to host the ROC’s meetings this year,” said Lloyd Maddock, CEO of ahlibank, on the sidelines of the meeting.

The ROC’s meeting came to a close with the forum’s participants thanking ahlibank for hosting the first meeting of this year, and acknowledging that the meeting’s deliberations will be beneficial to all.

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Zubair’s ‘For Them’ holds training for parents of autistic children Initiative from The Zubair comes within the framework of social responsibility and community duty MUSCAT: The Zubair Corporation has begun to implement community workshops for families’ who have children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The training programme called ‘For Them’ provides workshops on ways parents can positively communicate and engage with children diagnosed with ASD, says a press release.

The workshops are held under the supervision of specialised trainers who themselves are parents of children living with ASD and who have undergone numerous comprehensive training sessions in well-known institutions overseas. The trainers share their insights and experiences with the families raising children with ASD. The initiative was officially launched in early February in the presence of Khalid M. Al Zubair – Managing Director of The Zubair Corporation, together with Corporation’s Social Advisory Committee, and a group of autistic children and their families.

The ‘For Them’ initiative was championed by the social advisory committee of The Zubair Corporation, and the corporation then sent parents of children diagnosed with ASD to undertake a training course at a specialised institute in the USA and return to share their

knowledge and experience with fellow Omani families.

This was followed by the social advisory committee’s formation of a supervision team to track, supervise and evaluate the implementation of the project.

The programme teaches parents how to deal and communicate with autistic children, and will run throughout 2015 in different provinces of the Sultanate, helping par-

ents to effectively communicate with their children and cope with their challenges more rationally.

Ibrahim Al Salmi, Social Communication Manager noted, “It’s an essential aim of The Zubair Corporation to achieve a meaningful social responsibility strategy, through the ‘For Them’ initiative, we not only aim to help parents raise children with ASD but spread awareness about this neurodevelopmen-

tal disorder throughout society.”

He added, “We encourage families of autistic children to join the training programme and learn from experiences of prior trainees in dealing with their autistic children. It is indeed a beneficial initiative for our autistic children, and I would like to thank all members of social advisory committee in The Zubair.”

Twenty families have registered initially, and parents from each family will join a workshop to ensure a benefit their autistic children.

Zahra Al Jardani, member of the Social Advisory Committee at The Zubair Corporation commented, “After we finished the first workshop, which is the first of many throughout the Sultanate, I’m very proud to see hope in the trainees and trainers faces, this pushes us to pursue the rest of the programme for 2015, hoping that

we see further good results for this initiative adopted by The Zubair Corporation. I hope all my colleagues who have an autistic child will participate, the programme will continue with various training workshop in many provinces, each session will have 20 people, comprised two parents or siblings for each autistic child. As parents of children diagnosed with ASD we all know that we can’t provide such workshops without the support from the private sector.

Walid Al Blushi, who is the father of an autistic child noted, “One of the things I learned from the sessions is that it was described to me like a climbing a mountain, with the choice of many different paths to take to reach your goal, and the one I chose was the easiest for me to deal with my child. We are all expected to transfer our experience and knowledge to our beloved country.”

TREND-SETTING EXCLUSIVITY

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class offers extrovert luxury MUSCAT: The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class melds the perfection of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class with the exclusivity of Maybach, from impressive spaciousness and elegant design to premium craftsmanship and extrovert luxury, says a press release.

At 5453 mm long and with a wheelbase of 3365 mm, the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz model range is 20 cm larger in both dimensions than the S-Class Saloon with long wheelbase.

Rear passengers benefit from this increased size as well as from standard equipment that includes executive seats on both left and right, innovative voice amplification and the extended rear trim elements with ambient lighting. In the rear, the Mercedes Maybach S-Class is also the world’s quietest production saloon vehicle.

Mercedes-Maybach vehicles epitomise peerless exclusivity.

Some of the features that distinguish these vehicles from production models include extra spaciousness with lavishly designed, prestigious interiors offering extensive scope for individualisation. As a result, the vehicles fulfil the requirements of even the most discerning customers worldwide.

Mercedes-Maybach is not an equipment line – it is a sub-brand that in future will provide Mercedes-Benz vehicles in an even more exclusive form. Alongside Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach is thus the second sub-brand

base by 200 mm are felt entirely in the back of the vehicle where the specification has been refined even more. Due to the roofline, it was also possible to further raise the head clearance.

in the Mercedes-Benz brand world. Providing both prestige and exclusivity, it is aimed at customers for whom status is important.

To enhance the exclusivity, all Mercedes-Maybach S-Class vehicles will be S 600 fitted with its top of the range V12 biturbo engine and output of 390kW (530 hp). It completes the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds.

With a displacement of 5980 cc, the maximum torque of 830 Nm is available from 1900 rpm. As standard, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is fitted with a panoramic sliding sunroof. This roof system and its large glass areas make an especially bright and friendly ambience in the interior. For the first time, the sliding sunroof is available with optional MAGIC SKY CONTROL technology from Mercedes-Benz: the glass can be switched to light or dark at the touch of a button.

“The Mercedes-Maybach SClass is a vehicle that creates its own niche in the luxury segment,

outside the existing market divisions, raising the benchmark to an entirely new level. This is also a car that delivers in equal measure the comfort of being chauffer driven or driven by our customers themselves. Strictly speaking, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class has no direct competitors because it is positioned in a class of its own.

We are confident this vehicle will have immediate appeal for our Middle East markets customers, offering all the technologies and features that our customers are used to from the new S-Class, plus significantly extra on luxury, exclusivity and space,” said Dirk Fetzer, Director of Sales & Marketing at Daimler Middle East & Levant.

A sense of spaciousness The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is not necessarily to be chauffeurdriven. Owners can also enjoy the comfortable driving of this special vehicle. On the other hand, the benefits of extending the wheel-

SOCIAL SUPPORT

FINANCIAL REPORT

alizz bank organises meeting of Sharia Supervisory Board MUSCAT: alizz islamic bank, a leading full-fledge Islamic bank in the Sultanate, held recently its first Sharia Supervisory Board meeting for 2015 in its head office located in Ruwi, Central Business District area.

The meeting was chaired by Sheikh Dr Mohammed Abdul Rahim Sultan Al Olama and attended by Sheikh Dr Osama Mohammed Saad Bahar and Sheikh Nasser Al Azri, in addition to Sufyan Maysara Yassin, Head of Sharia Audit and Compliance and Moosa Al Jadidi, Head of Retail Banking at the bank, says a press release.

During the meeting, the board established the guidelines for both the Wakala and Mudraraba financing for corporate banking, approved the Annual Sharia Audit plan for 2015, and issued

Interior design In the interior of the MercedesMaybach S-Class, passengers are enveloped in lounge-style, modern luxury. With its clear architecture, refined materials and stylish controls, the vehicle embodies a sensuous elegance.

For an exclusive look, the front centre armrests with nappa leather or exclusive nappa leather upholstery feature embossed Maybach crests (and also the armrests in the rear in conjunction with the First-Class rear suite). Another special feature in the dashboard is the analogue clock with an IWC design. The high quality standards of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class are evident from the doors, which even have handstitched door trim as part of the standard equipment.

As part of its exclusive interior touches, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class comes with the bespoke Maybach perfume AGARWOOD as part of the AIR-BALANCE package. It also has Voice amplification which makes it much easier for occupants in the front to communicate with the rear passengers as well as HD Voice for telephone calls which provides better, more natural voice quality.

the Annual Sharia report. The Board also reviewed the Sharia audit reports for 2014, Sharia audit and compliance policy, and the financial statements of 2014.

On the occasion, Salaam Al Shaksy, Chief Executive Officer of alizz islamic bank commented, “This meeting is held regularly to obtain the Sharia Supervisory Board’s opinion about the bank’s commitment to its decisions and to ensure the avoidance of any violations to the Sharia principles.

“I would like to thank the Sharia Supervisory Board for all their efforts aiming to ensure that the transactions at alizz islamic bank are not conflicting with the various Islamic principles, enhancing the value of our products and the transparency of our transactions and performance.”

A’Saffa supports Teacher’s Day celebration at Al Waha School MUSCAT: In reinforcing its commitment to support community initiatives, A’Saffa Foods supported the Teacher’s Day celebration held recently at the Al Waha School in Al Hail, says a press release.

A’Saffa is always keen in supporting initiatives that support and strengthen the community.

“As a leading Omani company we are fully committed to supporting a broad range of community and corporate social responsibility initiatives – especially those that are related to the family and children. All of our products are designed to help create fit, healthy and happy families and this is why we are always keen to support events like Teacher’s Day organised at the Al Waha School,” said, Sidhartha Lenka, A’Saffa Foods, Head of Sales and Marketing.

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SECTION

SPOR YOUR GAME

‘ G R E AT H O N OU R ’

Crowe inducted into Cricket’s Hall of Fame AUCKLAND: New Zealand great Martin Crowe was inducted into Cricket’s Hall of Fame on Saturday, the terminally ill former batsman describing it as a “great honour” and prompting a standing ovation from 40,000 fans at Eden Park.

Known as one of the game’s most stylish batsmen, the 52-year-old became the third New Zealander behind Richard Hadlee and Debbie Hockley, and 79th in the world, to receive the honour. “I am pleased to get this prestigious award, especially joining my friend Richard Hadlee,” said Crowe, after being awarded his commemorative cap from International Cricket Council (ICC) director and chairman of Cricket Australia, Wally Edwards.

Crowe dedicated the award to his father Dave and mother Audrey. “I wish to dedicate this award to my father and mother who supported the game for 40 years,” said cancer-stricken Crowe who had been diagnosed with a rare blood disease, double-hit lymphoma.

Crowe made his international debut against Australia in Wellington in February 1982 at the age of 19. He retired 13 years later after playing 77 Tests, having scored 5,444 runs at an average of 45.36. This included 17 centuries, the most by a New Zealand cricketer, while his 299 against Sri Lanka in Wellington in January 1991 stood as a national record until Brendon McCullum scored 302 against India in Wellington last year.

Crowe also played 143 ODIs scoring 4,704 runs at an average of 38.55 with four centuries. - AFP

New Zealand reached the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday after a nail-biting one-wicket victory over Australia in an Eden Park classic which saw them almost suffer an embarrassing collapse in pursuit of just 152 runs. >C5

Rooney strikes, United go third

AL MUSANNAH, SUR WIN

Al Musannah defeated Bausher by a solitary goal in an Omantel Professional League match played at the Seeb Sports Stadium on Saturday. The win helped Al Musannah to take their points tally to 22 and occupy the eighth place in the standings. Meanwhile, Sur edged Al Nasr 2-1 at Al Saada Sports Complex in Salalah. Sur, with 29 points, are now in second place behind leaders Al Arouba, who have 32 points. Al Nasr are in third with 26 points. — JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

Rooney ended his scoring drought as Manchester United beat Sunderland 2-0

LONDON: Wayne Rooney ended his eight-game English Premier League scoring drought with a brace as Manchester United climbed back above Arsenal into third with a 2-0 victory against a dogged Sunderland on Saturday.

United were booed during stages of another underwhelming first half at Old Trafford but Rooney, restored to his favoured forward position, dispatched a 66th minute penalty after Radamel Falcao was impeded by John O’Shea.

Fellow former United man Wes Brown was wrongly shown the red card instead of O’Shea despite the

NEAT CONVERSION: Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring a penalty during their English Premier League match against Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday. – AFP

remonstrations of Sunderland’s players before Rooney added his second with a simple finish in the 84th minute. United’s top-four rivals Southampton continued their recent slump after they were beaten 1-0 at improving West Bromwich Albion courtesy of Saido Berahino’s early goal.

Earlier Glenn Murray scored twice and was sent off as resurgent Crystal Palace registered a 3-1 Pre-

mier League win at a toothless West Ham United to heap more woe on the stuttering east London side.

Newcastle United extended Aston Villa’s winless Premier League run to 12 games with a 1-0 victory at St James’ Park thanks to Papiss Cisse’s goal.

Swansea City climbed to eighth after a 1-0 win at struggling Burnley while Stoke City were 1-0 victors at home against Hull City. - Reuters

LA LIGA

TENNIS

Suarez shines in Barca victory

Federer stuns Djokovic to clinch Dubai crown

MADRID: Barcelona closed within a point of leaders Real Madrid after in-form forward Luis Suarez played a part in all three of their goals in a scrappy 3-1 victory at Granada in La Liga on Saturday.

Barca took the lead when Ivan Rakitic smashed the ball into the net from close range in the 25th minute. Suarez ran on to a chipped

DUBAI: Roger Federer scored the 84th title win of his career, kept his nose in front in his personal rivalry with Novak Djokovic, and equalled his best achievement at any tournament by winning the Dubai Open for the seventh time.

The Grand Slam record-holder from Switzerland beat the world

Rakitic pass and slipped the ball under home goalkeeper Oier to make it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.

Granada pulled a goal back five minutes later when Marc Bartra felled Lassane Bangoura in the penalty area. Fran Rico confidently stroked his spot kick past Claudio Bravo before Barca restored

MOTORSPORT

OPTIMISTIC: After unlucky outing, Ahmad Al Harthy is hoping for ‘some more luck’ in Race 2.

Al Harthy unlucky to retire after great start in Dubai Autodrome DUBAI: Ahmed Al Harthy was extremely unlucky to have to retire from Race 1 of Round 5 in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East having made a blistering start to the race which saw the Omani driver claim fourth before ultimately being forced out at the Dubai Autodrome.

The drivers took to the track in full knowledge that the Round 5 weekend could be the most critical yet as the penultimate of Season 6. With the slightest margins between every spot in both the drivers’ and teams’ competitions, each race represents a crucial opportunity to gain points in the race to victory.

Al Harthy built on his solid sixth place finish in qualifying by steam rolling to fourth early in the first lap. With his Al Nabooda Racing teammate Clemens Schmid starting from pole position, the early signs were extremely promising for the UAE based team.

The Omani driver was showing the sort of form and rhythm he is usually so accustomed to and will feel extremely unlucky to have been forced from the race in after a spin which ultimately led to his retirement.

Speaking after Race 1 in Round 5 Al Harthy said: “It’s not the easi-

S

NEW ZEALAND DEFEAT AUSTRALIA IN THRILLER

est position to have to find myself in. After such a great start here on home soil I was really setting my sights on a great finish but luck just wasn’t on my side today.

“I had a wonderful start after beginning from sixth position in the grid and was hoping to make a push for the top three places after securing fourth so early on but it wasn’t to be my day. I am optimistic though and look forward to tomorrow’s challenge as I hope to find some more luck in Race 2.”

In blustery conditions Race 1 of Round 5 got off to a flying start with Clemens Schmid taking an early lead from first with Zaid Ashkanani close behind.

Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum of the Skydive Dubai Falcons will feel he suffered most from the start as Fahad Algosaibi and Ahmad Al Harthy immediately closed on his third position, the three steaming towards the first corner side by side. Powerful moves saw Algosaibi steal third with Al Harthy fourth and the Skydive duo including Saeed Al Mehairi fifth and sixth in the first lap.

Up front Ashkanani pressured Schmid hard with the front three, including Algosaibi powering away from the pack. Lap three saw championship leader Schmid

drop down to third as Algosaibi led with Ashkanani close behind pressuring for the top spot.

So often the scene of drama the third-to-last corner saw both Al Nabooda Racing cars lock up with Schmid recovering well while his teammate Ahmad Al Harthy dropped down to fifth.

After leading for a number of laps Fahad Algosaibi was forced from first to third with Zaid Ashkanani securing the lead ahead of Clemens Schmid.

Huge pressure from Schmid forced a mistake as Ashkanani gave up his lead and slipped down to third, but it was Algosaibi who snatched the lead ahead of Schmid. The Al Nabooda man was on a mission for the win and eventually squeezed past to take lead.

Further down the pack in the closing stages Ahmad Al Harthy was forced from the track and unable to return in a scene which also cost Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum five places as he fell down to ninth.

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East returns for Race 2 of Round 5 on Sunday ahead of the final and most decisive round of racing at the Bahrain International Circuit in April as the support race for the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix.

their two-goal lead in the 70th minute when Suarez set up Messi to find the empty net.

Barca have 59 points from 25 matches with Real on 60 from 24 ahead of their game at home to sixth-placed Villarreal on Sunday.

Champions Atletico Madrid are six points adrift of Barca in third and visit Sevilla on Sunday. - Reuters

No. 1 from Serbia 6-4, 7-5 in a colourful success which took Federer’s title haul here equal to those of Halle and Wimbledon.

It also put him 20-17 up against Djokovic Federer served superbly, his 12 aces taking his career total past 9,000, something only three other players have done since 1991. - AFP

C2

SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

SPORTS

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Fairtrade down Z-Axis

SAILING

VOR supports SATT with launch of Rookie Award

ing - 2 (6 games, 6 pts), Arrow Overseas - Nil (7 games, 6 pts).

Opting to bat first,

Abu Maather post win Abu Maather defeated Prime Trading by four wickets in a H Division T20 match.

Fairtrade scored 178 for five in 20 overs.

Z-Axis Media, in reply, managed to

C DIVISION: Fairtrade pose for a group photo after their victory

over Z-Axis Media. – Supplied photo

score to 160 for eight in 20 overs

MUSCAT: Fairtrade registered an 18-run win against Z-Axis Media in an Al Ansari Group of Companiessponsored C Division T20 match.

Opting to bat first, Fairtrade scored 178 for five wickets in 20 overs thanks to a brilliant 89 from opening batsman Salim Shaikh.

Z-Axis Media, in reply, managed to score to 160 for eight in 20 overs.

Brief scores: Fairtrade 178 for 5 in 20 overs (Salim Shaikh 89, Ganesh Sadasiva 24; Vijeesh C.Velunni 2/27) bt Z-Axis Media 160 for 8 in 20 overs (Kimberly G. Bentick 40, Krishna Chaitanya 28, Melwin Mathew 26, Wajid Ali 25; Anoop 2/18, Arun Kumar S. 2/30, Neelakandan Arjun 2/35). Points: Fairtrade - 2 (6 games, 6 pts), X-Axis Media - Nil (7 games, 10 pts).

Al Daam International win In an F Division T20 match, Al Daam International recorded a one-wicket win against a 10-member Oasis Water team. Biju Krishnan ended with bowling figures of three for 36 in four overs.

Shiju stars for Assarain A MUSCAT: V.S. Shiju claimed eight wickets as Assarain A recorded a nine-wicket win against winless OCT Muscat A in a Muscat Pharmacy & Stores-sponsored A Division 50 overs-a-side league match.

Brief scores: OCT Muscat A 68 in 23.1 overs (V.S. Shiju 8/19) lost to Assarain A 70 for 1 in 5.5 overs (M. Nadeem 37 n.o., Arun Poulose

Brief scores: Oasis Water 159 in 18.5 overs (Rohan Kurian Alex 37, Kannan 23, Nazer 22; Biju Krishnan 3/36, Deepesh O.K. 2/28) lost to Al Daam International 160 for 9 in 19.5 overs (Jayakumar 32; Ratheesh P.P. 2/13, Shibin 2/18, Shyju 2/20). Points: Al Daam International - 2 (7 games, 7 pts), Oman Oasis – Nil (6 games, 4 pts).

Easy for Powertech In an Al Ansari Group of Com-

MAN OF THE MATCH: As-

sarain team manager Vinu, left, honours Shiju.

30 n.o). Points: Assarain A - 5 (7 games, 25 pts), OCT Muscat A - Nil (7 games, Nil).

panies-sponsored C Division T20, Powertech Engineering defeated Arrow Overseas easily by seven wickets.

Brief scores: Arrow Overseas 136 in 18.1 overs (Abdul Rahim 27, Anil Lalji 23; N. Anantha R. 3/10, A. Anburaj 3/20, K. Prabhakaran 2/26, S. Aravindan 2/39) lost to Powertech Engineering 139 for 3 in 18.2 overs (K. Prabhakaran 66 n.o., A. Anburaj 43 n.o., Aroan D. 20; Vijay Madhav 2/22). Points: Powertech Engineer-

Brief scores: Prime Trading 129 for 9 in 20 overs (Anoop V. 28; Mohammed Rizwan 3/21, Zahirul Islam 2/9, Wasim Jamadar 2/16) lost to Abu Maather 131 for 6 in 17.4 overs (Wasim Jamadar 33, Suhail Khot 29 n.o., Mohammed Rizwan 23; Brijish Kumar 3/31). Points: Abu Maather - 2 (7 games, 9 pts), Prime Trading - Nil (7 games, 5 pts).

Kiran Joshi shines Opening batsman Kiran Joshi scored a brilliant unbeaten 94 off 73 balls to steer ISC Kutchi Wing to a massive nine-wicket win against OCT Al Nahdha in a J Division T20 match.

Brief scores: OCT Al Nahdha 161 for 6 in 20 overs (Faisal Al Balushi 66, Khalil Al Balushi 28 n.o.; Narshis Ganpat 2/25) lost to ISC Kutchi Wing 162 for 1 in 19.2 overs (Kiran Joshi 94 n.o., Ashish Jethwa 41 n.o). Points: ISC Kutchi Wing - 2 (8 games, 2 pts), OCT Al Nahdha - Nil (7 games, 1 pt).

King Travels beat Teejan King Travels & Tours defeated a 10man Teejan Beatrice team by five wickets in a G Division T20 match.

MUSCAT: The Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) has recognised EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour (SATT) as a leading development race for young offshore sailors by launching a Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) Rookie Award for the two best under-30 sailors competing in the event.

The new Volvo Ocean Race Rookie Award was announced at the prize-giving for the in-shore racing in Doha.

“We are thrilled that EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour has attracted this recognition from the Volvo Ocean Race as being a valuable feeder event for young offshore sailors and we look forward to working closely together to promote the sport of sailing

among young local and regional audiences,” David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail, said.

The Volvo Ocean Race will offer an economy return trip to Newport, accommodation and hospitality for the full stopover race weekend and pro-am day to the two top EFG SATT Under 30 sailors .

“We are delighted to launch this award since the Volvo Ocean Race works hard to promote the development of young offshore sailors and also fully supports the initiatives and programmes that are being launched by emerging nations in the sport of sailing,” said Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad.

SINDO IS PLAYER OF THE MONTH Assarain A team’s Sindo Michael was adjudged the ‘player of the month’ for January following his century against NYDT and 58 runs against OCT Muscat A. The award was presented to Sindo Michael by Oman Cricket Secretary Madhu Jesrani in the presence of Chief Development Officer Duleep Mendis and Office Manager Rex Berhardt. — Supplied photo

Brief scores: Teejan Beatrice 186 for 7 in 20 overs (Feroz O.V. 55, Muhammad Akthar Sharfeer 26, Shanavas Ummer 24; Anup Rajan 2/19) lost to King Travels & Tours 187 for 5 in 18 overs (Anup Rajan 59, Jayson Delboy 48, Praveen Shetty 20; Saif Ur Rehman 2/29). Points: King Travels & Tours - 2 (8 games, 9 pts), Teejan Beatrice - Nil (7 games, 1 pt).

G R E E N I N G I N I T I AT I V E

Bank Muscat presents green playground to Al Watan Team MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, handed over a green playground developed as part of the Green Sports initiative to Al Watan Team in the wilayat of Shinas under the auspices of Dr. Said bin Khamis Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Public Authority for Consumer Protection.

Dr. Al Kaabi congratulated Bank Muscat for the success achieved by the greening initiative. He said: “The Green Sports initiative complements the government efforts in building a sporting nation by providing the youth the required infrastructure facilities.”

“The initiative benefiting communities, especially youth, contributes to sustainable development and protection of the environment, thereby ensuring all-round development in Oman,” he added.

Aimed at promoting Oman as a sporting nation, the Green Sports CSR programme was launched by the bank in 2012 to lay the foundation at the grass-root level for a sustainable sports infrastructure.

In a record time, the bank has achieved notable success in developing green fields in all parts of the Sultanate, thus contributing to re-

alising the sporting dreams of clubs and teams. Till date in the first three years of the programme, 34 sports clubs have been given support to green their playing fields.

Saif Al Flaiti, Acting Regional Manager — North Batinah Region, said: “The inauguration of the green playground in Shinas endorses the bank’s commitment to support the

youth representing the country’s future. We congratulate Al Watan Team for seizing the opportunity to green their playing field, thereby setting a fine example for other clubs and teams in Oman to promote Oman as a sporting nation.”

The funding criteria for the programme include that sports clubs/ teams should have been in existence for three years with a minimum membership of 300 youth from the local community. Bank Muscat will lay turf grass and hand over the fields to beneficiary clubs/ teams. The bank recognises that local clubs wield immense influ-

ence on neighbourhood communities, especially youth, hence clubs with modern infrastructure facilities can help raise sporting heroes for the country.

Dr. Abdullah Ali Al Farsi, Deputy President of Al Watan Team, said: “The Green Sports initiative has made vital contributions to create an environment encouraging Omani sports talents.

“The unique initiative is a big support for the country’s youth and we are confident that many youngsters will benefit from this programme and become sporting heroes for the country.”

FOOTBALL

IFAB rejects fourth sub proposal BELFAST: Football’s rule-making body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), rejected the idea of a fourth substitution in extra-time on Saturday but is considering dropping the one-match ban for so-called “triple punishments”.

The body also wants more time to discuss video trials being carried out in the Netherlands by the Dutch FA (KNVB).

The fourth substitute proposal, requiring a change to Law 3, did not get approval but will be referred back for further analysis by IFAB’s newly-introduced advisory panels.

The controversial triple punishment applies when a player concedes a penalty, is sent off and is then banned for one match for denying a clear scoring chance in the penalty area.

IFAB agreed, in principle, that the one-match ban was too strong a sanction and could be dropped. - Reuters

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

TODAY’S MATCHES

POOL A: SRI LANKA V ENGLAND (2:00AM OMAN TIME) POOL B: PAKISTAN V ZIMBABWE (7:30AM OMAN TIME)

BOWLERS DAY IN AUCKLAND

THRILLER MITCHELL STARC

6 wickets for 28

MATCH REPORT ON C5

TRENT BOULT

5 wickets for 27

C3

C4

SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

India enjoy a stroll at Perth SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

The defending

PHOTO GALLERY

champions made

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

it three wins from

SCOREBOARD

as many matches

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Amjad Ali c Dhoni b Kumar 4 A. Berenger c Dhoni b Yadav 4 K. Chandran c Raina b Ashwin 4 Khurram Khan c Raina b Ashwin 14 S. Patil c Dhawan b Ashwin 7 Shaiman Anwar b Yadav 35 R. Mustafa lbw b Sharma 2 Amjad Javed c Raina b Jadeja 2 Mohammead Naveed b Ashwin 6 Mohammed Tauqir b Jadeja 1 M. Guruge not out 10 Extras: (lb-4, w-9) 13 Total: (all out, 31.3 overs) 102 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-13, 3-28, 4-41, 5-44, 6-52, 7-61, 8-68, 9-71, 10-102 Bowling: Kumar 5-0-19-1 (2w); Yadav 6.3-2-15-2 (3w); Ashwin 10-1-25-4 (1w); Sharma 5-1-16-1 (2w); Jadeja 5-0-23-2; INDIA R. Sharma not out 57 S. Dhawan c Mustafa b Naveed 14 V. Kohli not out 33 Extras 0 Total (1 wkt, 18.5 overs) 104 Did not bat: A. Rahane, S. Raina, M.S .

Dhoni, R. Jadeja, R. Ashwin, B. Kumar, U. Yadav, M .Sharma Fall of wicket: 1-29 (Dhawan) Bowling: Naveed 5-0-35-1; Guruge 6-119-0; Javed 2-0-12-0; Chandran 3-0-17-0; Tauqir 2.5-0-21-0; Result: India won by nine wickets Man of the match: R. Ashwin Toss: UAE Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL), Michael Gough (ENG) Tv umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRL)

when they cruised to their meagre victory target in 18.5 overs

PERTH: India’s World Cup confidence continued to climb as they thrashed the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets in their Pool B match at Perth’s WACA Ground on Saturday.

The UAE managed just 102 after winning the toss and electing to bat, the lowest ever total against India at a World Cup. The defending champions then made it three wins from as many matches in the tournament when they cruised to their meagre victory target in just 18.5 overs.

Although opener Shikhar Dhawan fell cheaply to a brilliant catch in gully, Rohit Sharma (57 not out) and Virat Kohli (33 not out) enjoyed some batting practice out in the middle as they guided India to the win.

India’s impeccable form is a far cry from their indifferent efforts leading into the World Cup. The Indians were at long odds to defend the title they won in 2011 after failing to reach the final of the triangular One-day series against Australia and England just prior to this tournament.

However, their title defence has been flawless so far, with emphatic wins over Pakistan and South Africa prior to beating the United Arab Emirates.

While they weren’t expected to be troubled by the amateurs from the Middle East on Saturday, even on a pitch that has rarely been kind to Indian teams, the way they dismantled the UAE batting line-up was impressive. UAE skipper Mohammed Tauqir won the toss and batted, hoping his side could set India a competitive target. However, that rarely looked likely from the time they lost opener Andri Berenger in just the second over.

Berenger failed to cope with the typical WACA bounce and topedged a short ball from Umesh Yadav through to wicketkeeper Ma-

JOB DONE: India’s batsmen Rohit Sharma, left, and Virat Kohli embrace after defeating United Arab

Emirates at their Cricket World Cup match in Perth. – Reuters

hendra Singh Dhoni to fall for just four. Amjad Ali and Krishna Chandran, the other two batsmen in the UAE top three, both fell for the same score as their side slumped

to 28 for three in the 11th over.

Ali, like Berenger, fell victim to a short ball, caught behind by India captain Dhoni off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who replaced injured fel-

low seamer Mohammed Shami (knee). Just when it seemed pace would be the undoing of the UAE, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin tore the heart out of their batting

order. Spin rarely plays a significant role at the WACA, but manof-the-match Ashwin claimed the wickets of Chandran, Khurram Khan (14) and Swapnil Patil (7) in quick succession as the UAE collapsed to 44 for five, a position from which they could not recover.

Ashwin finished with careerbest figures of four for 25 from his 10 overs as the UAE added at least a hint of respectability to their batting performance with an inningshigh last wicket stand of 31.

Dhawan, coming off a blazing century against South Africa, made just 14 before he was brilliantly caught with one hand by Rohan Mustafa off Mohammad Naveed in a lone match highlight for the UAE. - AFP

PLEASED

Dhoni hails bowlers PERTH: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted Saturday that his bowling attack, so often over-shadowed by the team’s legion of batting superstars, will be key if they are to successfully defend their World Cup title. India hardly broke sweat at Perth’s WACA ground as they cruised past the part-timers of the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets.

But unlike their two opening wins at the tournament which yielded totals of 300 and over against Pakistan and South Africa, Saturday gave India’s bowlers the chance to make decisive contributions against a UAE side who won the toss and chose to bat. “The bowlers have really stepped up and this has led to improvements in other parts of the side,” said Dhoni.

“When we were losing games outside the sub-continent it was a concern and we couldn’t get wickets in the middle overs,” he added. “Now we are getting wickets with the new ball and the spinners are able to put more pressure on in the middle overs. As a unit they are doing well. They have shown they can do it game after game.”

Ravichandran Ashwin took a career best of four for 25 with fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja claiming two wickets.

Ashwin said he was delighted to have his moment in the spotlight after his team’s batmen had ran riot in the first two games, with Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan making centuries against Pakistan and South Africe respectively.

Suresh Raina and Dhawan also hit half-centuries against Pakistan while Ajinkya Rahane went past the 50 mark against South Africa. In a reminder of the team’s batting strength, Saturday saw opener Rohit Sharma make an undefeated fifty. “I usually bowl at phases of the game when you are trying to buy wickets or cut the runs down but today went well,” said Ashwin.

UAE skipper Mohammed Tauqir had seen his team lose two close games to Zimbabwe and Ireland but on Saturday they were simply outclassed by the champions with only Shaiman Anwar, who hit a century against the Irish, showing any resistance with a tidy 35 before being last man out. - AFP

I N FA S T B O W L E R S PA R A D I S E

Ashwin makes most use of bouncy pitch PERTH: The bouncy WACA track traditionally offers the fast bowlers extra help but it was tall India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who made most use of the conditions against United Arab Emirates on Saturday.

Ashwin came on early and bowled unchanged for his 10over spell, picking up four for 25 to inspire India to a ninewicket victory.

The 28-year-old mixed up his pace, length and flight to scythe through the UAE middle order and post his best figures in Oneday Internationals as UAE were skittled for 102 in 31.3 overs after batting first.

Ashwin had played just one of the four matches India lost in the Tri-series against Australia and England in the build-up to the defence of their World Cup title, signalling he might not be an automatic choice.

But he silenced the critics with three wickets against South Africa in Melbourne last weekend and underlined his worth with a match-winning performance on Saturday.

S TA N D I N G S POOL A

Teams New Zealand Sri Lanka Bangladesh Australia Afghanistan England Scotland

M 4 3 3 3 3 3 3

W 4 2 1 1 1 1 0

L 0 1 1 1 2 2 3

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

N/R 0 0 1 1 0 0 0

Pts 8 4 3 3 2 2 0

Net RR +3.589 +0.047 +0.130 -0.305 -0.760 -1.415 -1.735

3 3 2 4 3 3 2

3 2 2 2 1 0 0

0 1 0 2 2 3 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

6 4 4 4 2 0 0

+2.630 +1.260 +0.338 -0.313 -0.827 -1.326 -2.260

POOL B

India South Africa Ireland West Indies Zimbabwe UAE Pakistan

MATCH-WINNER: Ravichandran

Ashwin, centre, scalped four

It was the bounce Ashwin found in Perth, widely considered the fastest in the world, that created most problems for the UAE. “He bowled extremely well,” beaten captain Mohammed Tauqir told reporters. “More than his turn I think it was the bounce that created the problems for us.

“He won them the game,” added off-spinner Tauqir.

India have often preferred leftarm spinner Ravindra Jadeja to

Ashwin overseas but his displays UAE wickets to shine. – AFP against South Africa and UAE have shown that he has figured out the right strategy to bowl the arm ball was much better,” Ashwin said.

Down Under.

“The breeze across the ground Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was pleased with Ashwin’s line also helped a bit today. You’ve got and length and lauded the spinner to be perfect with your length here in Australia. for his variety and pace.

“If you are just a wee bit forward “My wrist is much better positioned right now. I am able to or back you are going to get scored vary my pace at will and as a re- off plenty. That’s something I have sult of that the seam position of worked plenty on.” - Reuters

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

C5

Black Caps clinch nail-biter Sitting comfortably at 78-1, the Black Caps were crippled by sudden stage-fright as their next eight wickets fell for just 68 runs with 40,000 fans on edge of seats

SYDNEY: New Zealand reached the World Cup quarterfinals Saturday in a nail-biting one-wicket win over Australia in an Eden Park classic which saw them almost suffer an embarrassing collapse in pursuit of just 152. Sitting comfortably at 78-1, the Black Caps were crippled by sudden stagefright as their next eight wickets fell for just 68 runs with 40,000 fans on the edge of their seats.

But Kane Williamson (45 not out) smashed the winning runs with a mighty six off Pat Cummins from the first ball of the 24th over, having watched helplessly as Australian left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc wreaked havoc with a career-best six for 28.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum had hit a 21-ball fifty at the top of the innings as the home side cruised towards their total and even at 131 fore four, they were still in pole position. But the slide started with Glenn Maxwell dismissing Corey Anderson for 26. Starc then took the wickets of Luke Ronchi (six), Daniel Vettori (two), Adam Milne (0) and Tim Southee (0) to give Australia a sniff of an unexpected win before Williamson held his nerve.

Earlier, Trent Boult claimed career-best figures of five for 27 as New Zealand dismissed the fourtime champions for just 151. From 80 for one, Australia lost eight wickets for 26 runs before Brad Haddin (43) and Cummins (seven not out) put on 45 for the last wicket. “Trent Boult was outstanding for us, and so was Mitchell Starc for Australia,” said McCullum.

“Some of the batting wasn’t as good as it should have been but that can happen when you are up against high-class seam bowling.”

Australia captain Michael Clarke, back in the team for the

TROPHY BEFORE THE PRIZED PENNANT: New Zealand celebrate with the Chappell–Hadlee Trophy after beating Australia during their 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool A match

at Eden Park in Auckland. – AFP

BRAVE SHOT: Kane Williamson

hits the winning runs. – AFP

ALL AGGRESSION: Brendon McCullum’s aggression gave New Zealand a perfect start to run chase. – AFP

first time since December after a hamstring injury, said the batting had let his side down. “It was horrendous,” he said. “The tension was there all game. It was very entertaining and we would have liked the result to go the other way but

credit to New Zealand.”

Left-arm seamer Boult’s five wickets came in the space of 18 balls for just one run as New Zealand condemned Australia to their second-lowest World Cup total.

Southee took two for 65 while

left-arm spinner Vettori finished with two for 41 as New Zealand’s bowling maintained the same momentum which helped them dismiss England for 123 in Wellington.

Australia, who beat England in their opener two weeks ago before

FROM THE LEGEND: Sir Richard Hadlee presents Brendon

McCullum with the Chappell–Hadlee Trophy. – AFP

seeing the clash with Bangladesh rained off in Brisbane, are now fourth in the pool with three points, five behind New Zealand, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also ahead of them. The top four in each pool qualify for the quarterfinals. - AFP

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

PHOTO GALLERY W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

FEELING PROUD

Williamson, Boult delighted to be last men standing AUCKLAND: New Zealand’s last pair of Kane Williamson and Trent Boult said their edge-ofthe-seat, one-wicket World Cup triumph over Australia on Saturday will live in the memory for a long time. Chasing a modest 152run target, New Zealand were facing an improbable defeat at 146-9 with number 11 batsman Boult walking in to face the last two deliveries from a rampaging Mitchell Starc who had nearly turned the tables with a career best 6-28.

But Boult survived both balls leaving it to Williamson to hit Pat Cummins for a straight six to bring up the win as a packed 40,000 Eden Park crowd gave them a standing ovation.

“I was looking to hit a boundary, ideally a six after the new batsman came in. It was tough so my plan was to hit it and I did,” said Williamson, who made 45 not out as New Zealand sealed victory

after 23.1 overs. Boult, who had earlier taken a career best 5-27 which sent Australia crashing to 151, said he was desperate not to let his side down. “I was pretty pumped up but Kane quickly slowed it down for me, simplified it for me that if I play the two balls then we could move forward.”

New Zealand were cruising along with Williamson and Corey Anderson (26) involved in a 52-run stand for the fifth wicket before Starc pushed them back as five wickets fell for just 15 runs.

“I was just trying to keep that total out of my mind, I suppose, and just bat long enough to have a chance of getting across the line,” said Williamson.

“I think Australia bowled outstandingly and made it difficult for us. Starc was superb and swung the ball throughout but it was nice to cross the line, it doesn’t matter how you do it. We

had a scare but it’s nice to win.”

Williamson said he didn’t realise the damage Starc would cause when he took a single in the 23rd over and the Australian dismissed Adam Milne and Tim Southee.

“Every run looked quite significant and with three wickets left I thought it was okay to get a single but obviously it became tough,” he said. “But Trent showed a cool nerve and kept out those two balls and gave me an opportunity, so it was a team effort.”

Boult said he just tried to bowl in the right areas when he ripped through the Australians.

“I am just trying to do what I have been doing for the last five or six months. I swung the ball and had some luck with some drag-ons, but definitely I will remember it as it set up a reasonably low total and we chased that down.”

Williamson said the win over Australia means a lot to New Zealand. - AFP

AUSTRALIA A. Finch b Southee 14 D. Warner lbw b Southee 34 S. Watson c Southee b Vettori 23 M. Clarke c Williamson b Boult 12 S. Smith c Ronchi b Vettori 4 G. Maxwell b Boult 1 M. Marsh b Boult 0 B. Haddin c Taylor b Anderson 43 M. Johnson c Williamson b Boult 1 M. Starc b Boult 0 P. Cummins not out 7 Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-6) 12 Total (all out, 32.2 overs) 151 Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-80, 3-80, 4-95, 5-96,

6-97, 7-104, 8-106, 9-106.

Bowling: Southee 9-0-65-2 (4w); Boult 10-327-5 (2w); Vettori 10-0-41-2; Milne 3-0-6-0, Anderson 0.2-0-6-1.

NEW ZEALAND M. Guptill c Cummin s b Starc 11 B. McCullum c Starcb Cummins 50 K. Williamson not out 45 R. Taylor b Starc 1 G. Elliott b Starc 0 C. Anderson c Cummins b Maxwell 26 L. Ronchi c Haddin b Starc 6 D. Vettori c Warner b Cummins 2 A. Milne b Starc 0 T. Southee b Starc 0

T. Boult not out 0 Extras (w-10, nb-1) 11 Total (9 wkts, 23.1 overs) 152 Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-78, 3-79, 4-79, 5-131, 6-139, 7-145, 8-146, 9-146.

Bowling: Johnson 6-1-68-0 (1nb); Starc 9-028-6 (4w); Cummins 6.1-0-38-2 (6w); Marsh 1-0-11-0; Maxwell 1-0-7-0.

Result: New Zealand won by one wicket Man of the match: Trent Boult Toss: Australia Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Richard Illingworth (ENG) TV umpire: Sundaram Ravi (IND) Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

C6

SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

Dhoni slams door on minnows’ big dreams With controversy over the make-up of

I don’t see India playing any more games. We can’t, unless we play two games in one day, which is just not possible

the 2019 World Cup —where the number of teams is set to be slashed from 14 to 10 — threatening to overshadow the ongoing tournament,

MS Dhoni

Dhoni slammed the

India captain

door on minnows’ aspirations

PERTH: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni dealt a huge blow to cricket’s non-Test nations Saturday when he warned that his world champions have no plans to play regular fixtures against them.

With controversy over the make-up of the 2019 World Cup — where the number of teams is set to be slashed from 14 to 10 — threatening to overshadow the ongoing tournament, Dhoni slammed the door on minnows’ aspirations.

The 10 teams who will feature in England in 2019 will be based on a rankings system with the top eight as of September 30, 2017, booking their places with the other two slots decided by a qualifying tournament.

As all the Test nations play regular fixtures against each other in one-dayers, it will leave the likes of Afghanistan and Ireland struggling to make the tournament as the major teams are not obliged to play Associate sides.

After brushing aside the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets on Saturday to record their third win in three games at this World Cup, Dhoni said demands on Indian cricketers were too high to add any more fixtures.

“I don’t see India playing any more games,” he said. “We can’t, unless we play two games in one day, which is just not possible. India can’t play any more games.”

Despite the magnitude of Saturday’s defeat, UAE skipper Mohammad Tauqir said it was important for his side to get the opportunity

to test themselves against the best.

“I think the more we play against these bigger nations, the more we learn and the more we perform,” said Tauqir, whose team have been beaten in all three games although they pushed Zimbabwe and Ireland before losing narrowly.

“The more we play, the better for the associate nations.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been widely criticised for the decision to reduce the number of teams in future World Cups with claims that the tournament will become a ‘closed-shop’ for the games major powers. It has also been seen as a regressive move for a body expected to grow the game globally.

On Friday, however, ICC chief executive David Richardson told AFP that the size of the 2019

World Cup has yet to be decided.

“I’ve learnt never to say never to anything. I’m sure the format of the next World Cup will be debated after this one has finished,” he said.

Ireland beat one of the elite Test match nations for the third successive World Cup when they defeated the West Indies by four wickets in their 2015 opener. On Thursday, tournament debutants Afghanistan beat Scotland by one wicket to record their first World Cup win.

“I’m pleased with the performances of the qualifiers so far, but the bigger tests are still to come,” said Richardson.

“The question is what do you want the World Cup to be? Do you want it to be a jamboree of world cricket or the pinnacle of the oneday game?” - AFP

MISMATCH: United Arab Emirates captain Mohammed Tauqir leads his players off the ground after their defeat to India. – AFP

C O M M E N TA RY

Another fearless show by McCullum’s New Zealand

T

he two games played on Saturday had contrasting features.

While India reeled off an easy win over United Arab Emirates, the clash between the Trans Tasman neighbours Australia and New Zealand was nail biting stuff. UAE were simply no match for the Indians and looked clueless not only against pace but also against spin. Ashwin finished with figures of 4 for 25 and with Yadav and Jadeja also chipping in, the UAE were dismissed for just over 100.

Just like the India-Pakistan rivalry is legendary, the rivalry between New Zealand and Australia goes back a long way too. In fact, it is difficult to say who the Australians love to beat more, England or New Zealand.

England, of course, technically still rules Australia, with the Queen being the head of the country which bugs many Aussies, while the Aussies have treated New Zealand as younger brothers and that has riled the Kiwis no end.

The Australians batted first, and the opening overs were full of action with boundaries and a huge six coming from the Australian openers.

Then Tim Southee, who seemed a bit nervous and excited in his first over, soon found the line and length which had helped him dismiss England for not too many and knocked back Finch’s stumps.

Thereafter, with Vettori being brought into the attack cleverly by McCullum, the Kiwis were able to pick two important wickets. McCullum once again showed how good a skipper he is by stationing a fielder at short cover for Michael Clarke, and the Aussie skipper perished at that very position.

Trent Boult was getting the ball to swing quite nicely, and he attacked the stumps relentlessly to grab five wickets, and but for the last wicket partnership between Haddin and Cum-

The Kiwis are now pretty sure to finish on top of their group, and India, after their performance against UAE, also look as if they will top theirs mins, the Australians would have ended up with an even lesser score. The manner in which McCullum began the chase for the Kiwis, it appeared that he was keen on smashing the record for the fastest 50, but after he was dismissed for exactly 50, the Kiwis slumped to the pace and swing of Mitchell Starc.

Starc made good use of his height to get the ball to dip in to bowl four batsmen and get two others caught.

His six wicket haul brought Australia close to an improbable win, and it took a bold six from Kane Williamson to finish the match with just one wicket left.

He smashed the six going down the pitch to pacer Cummins, and that takes some courage. That is what the Kiwis have showed in this tournament, and it is this fearless approach that now makes them the favourites, especially after their win against the inform Australians.

The Aussies had no cricket for almost two weeks, since their game against Bangladesh was washed out, and they were definitely unprepared for such a fine bowling performance from the Kiwis.

The Kiwis are now pretty sure to finish on top of their group, and India, after their performance against UAE, also look as if they will top theirs. — PMG

F O R M E R PA K I S TA N P L AY E R S R E A C T

Shoaib feels onus on Misbah to change Pakistan’s fortunes KARACHI: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar believes that the national team can win the World Cup despite enduring a poor start but for that to happen skipper Misbah Ul-haq has to play a bigger role.

“Pakistan can still win this World Cup but for this to happen Misbah Ul-Haq has to play a lead role and take total responsibility for the team. He must come up to bat at number three,” Akhtar said.

Pakistan, searching for their first points in the World Cup, play a do-or-die match against Zimbabwe on Sunday in Brisbane.

“This team is down right now and we don’t have the batsmen to play for say 30 to 40 overs.

They are more comfortable playing T20 style cricket. So Misbah must bat at number three and hold the innings together for atleast 30 overs to give the others a chance to play freely,” he said.

“The others are struggling and need to be protected in the batting order. Our mantra should be

to not lose wickets in the first 30 overs and then adapt T20 style cricket in the last 20 overs.”

Akhtar said Misbah had a golden opportunity to become a legend for Pakistan by changing his attitude and taking charge starting against Zimbabwe.

“He can bring joy to millions of Pakistanis. And I tell you once this team reaches the quarterfinals anything can happen.”

He pointed out that in 1992 Imran Khan had taken responsibility and shown the way to the other players. “Misbah has to spearhead a change in attitude in this team.

We need a fearless attitude like the other teams have displayed so far,” he said.

Akhtar pointed out that Mahendra Singh Dhoni had with his aggressive and positive captaincy turned the Indian team around in the World Cup. “I tell Misbah take our criticism positively learn from it because we also want to see you doing well and Pakistan winning the World Cup,” Akhtar

said. Akhtar had described Misbah as a “selfish” and “coward” captain after Pakistan were thrashed by the West Indies by 150 runs.

Meanwhile, former cricketers on Saturday lashed out at Misbah as the Pakistan captain spoke about the difficulties he was finding in selecting a right combinations in the World Cup. “A lot is being said about the performance and what combination should have been played. Also references are given to the 1992 World Cup. I just think people should look at the 1992 squad and understand how difficult it is for us to settle on a combination right now,” Misbah said in Brisbane.

But his remarks irked a number of former players including Mohammed Yousuf. “If he is saying it is difficult to select the team or combination whose fault is it.

He has been captain for last four years and why couldn’t he settle upon a World Cup combination until now,” Yousuf questioned. - PTI

S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

C7

Beleaguered Pakistan summon spirit of Imran Khan and 1992 FA C T B O X

Twenty-three years ago, Imran Khan’s Pakistan team were also staring at early elimination. They lost to West Indies, beat Zimbabwe, had a no-result when about to be defeated by England before two more losses to India and South Africa.

They then went on a roll, seeing off Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand to

IN GOOD SPIRITS: Pakistan players, from left, Mohammed Irfan, Rahat Adil and Ehsan Adil get themselves photographed during a training session on the eve of their Pool B match against Zimbabwe at the Gabba Cricket Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday. – AFP

make the semifinals

BRISBANE: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq summoned up the spirit of Imran Khan and his 1992 World Cup warriors on Saturday as the strife-hit Asian giants look to salvage their 2015 campaign.

Pakistan, engulfed by a series of on and off-field controversies, have lost both of their opening two games — by 76 runs to India and 150 runs against the West Indies.

They are bottom of Pool B and defeat by Zimbabwe at the Gabba

on Sunday will virtually condemn them to an early exit.

But Pakistan have been down this road before.

Twenty-three years ago, when the World Cup was last played in Australia and New Zealand, Imran Khan’s team were also staring at early elimination.

They lost by 10 wickets to West Indies, beat Zimbabwe, had a noresult when about to be defeated

by England before two more losses to India and South Africa.

They then went on a roll, seeing off Australia, Sri Lanka and New

Zealand to make the semifinals.

New Zealand were defeated again in the last-four before the title was clinched in Melbourne courtesy of a 22-run win against England.

“The important lesson is never give up,” said Misbah.

“That’s what you need to do as a player and as a team. That’s what Imran Khan usually says about 1992. Even when the team was in difficult times, they never gave up.

“They just kept trying, kept trying, and kept trying. At last they just managed to do what they real-

ly wanted to do in that World Cup. “So, that’s what we are trying to do. We just have to do the things and we have to work hard, and that’s what we’re trying to do”.

Misbah insists that his team are trying to forget their two defeats as well as off-field diversions which have seen eight players fined for breaking a curfew, reports of a bust-up in training and chief selector Moin Khan being sent home in disgrace for visiting a casino.

“It’s always like that,” said Misbah, when asked to reflect on the deluge of criticism his team has

endured for their woeful form.

“They always say that they are with the team all the time, but never do it. You could say it’s always like that in Pakistan. We are always with the winning team, but when our team is in difficult times, we’re here (on their own.)”

Misbah added that Pakistan’s slow start could be partly attributed to the damage caused by the late withdrawals of three key men — spinner Saeed Ajmal, veteran batsman Mohammed Hafeez and seamer Junaid Khan.

As a result, Pakistan’s tactics

PAKISTAN Captain: Misbah-ul Haq Coach: Waqar Younis Squad: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Younus Khan, Misbah, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Ehsan Adil, Rahat Ali, Yasir Shah Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Lost to India by 76 runs; lost to West Indies by 150 runs Remaining Pool B matches: vs United Arab Emirates (March 4); vs South Africa (March 7); vs Ireland (March 15) Top performers: Misbah (83 runs); Sohail Khan (six wickets) *** ZIMBABWE Captain: Elton Chigumbura Coach: Dav Whatmore Squad: Elton Chigumbura, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Lost to South Africa by 62 runs; beat United Arab Emirates by four wickets; lost to West Indies by 73 runs Remaining Pool B matches: vs Ireland (March 7); vs India (March 14) Top performers: Sean Williams (160 runs), Brendan Taylor (124 runs); Tendai Chatara (four wickets) *** Head to head: Total played: 47; Pakistan won 42; Zimbabwe won 3; Tied 1; No result 1 Last match: August 31, 2013 - Pakistan won by 108 runs in Harare

and strategy had to be tweaked.

“We are playing with a different set-up. We were relying on spin and different bowlers, especially Junaid Khan. He was a main bowler for us,” said Misbah. - AFP

A LOT OF POSITIVES

Whatmore’s inside knowledge key for Zimbabwe: Chigumbura BRISBANE: Zimbabwe are pinning their hopes on coach Dav Whatmore’s inside knowledge of Pakistan’s talent and well-known frailties when the teams meet in the World Cup on Sunday.

Whatmore was at the helm of Pakistan for two years from 2012.

But the much-travelled coach was signed up by Zimbabwe for the 2015 World Cup and has so far overseen a win over the United Arab Emirates and two losses to South Africa and West Indies.

Defeat for either side at Brisbane’s Gabba ground on Sunday

is likely to be fatal to their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals from Pool B. Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura believes the 60-yearold Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to the 1996 world title, knows where Pakistan are at their most vulnerable.

“He knows almost everyone on the team, so when it comes to strategies and stuff, it’s much better to have someone who has been working with Pakistan guys,” said Chigumbura.

“So we’ve got more information.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

We just have to go and execute our plans tomorrow.,” he added.

“He’s brought a lot of positives into the team, and everyone is comfortable in the way he’s sharing his experience, it’s been good,” Chigumbura said of Whatmore.

“Everyone just wants to express themselves and play the best cricket that they’re capable of.”

Zimbabwe have serious concerns over their own bowling attack, having been punished in all three matches so far.

West Indies, on the back of Chris Gayle’s World Cup record

double century, piled up 372, South Africa helped themselves to 339 while even the amateurs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) managed a respectable 285.

“Yeah, these couple of days we’re working hard on finishing off with the ball,” said Chigumbura, concerned by the runs his bowlers have been giving away in the closing stages.

“Hopefully, tomorrow we can execute our plans. Obviously it was a big concern looking at the games that we’ve played and where we didn’t bowl well.” - AFP

DON’T WASTE A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY LIKE OMAN.

Plastic takes 1,000 years or more to break down

INSIDE INFO: Zimbabwe’s Chamu Chibhabha listens to coach Dave

Whatmore during their training session on Saturday. – AFP

C8

SU N DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

England out to silence critics FA C T B O X

ENGLAND Captain: Eoin Morgan Coach: Peter Moores Squad: Morgan, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Balance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes *** Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Lost to Australia by 111 runs, Lost to New Zealand by eight wickets, Beat Scotland by 119 runs

A loss to Sri Lanka would leave England facing an early exit if the group throws up any upset results

WELLINGTON: England are determined to restore their World Cup credibility in a crunch Pool A match Sunday against an improving Sri Lanka.

Eoin Morgan’s men return to Wellington’s Westpac stadium for the fixture, scene of a humiliating eight-wicket loss to New Zealand on February 20.

That defeat, a day-nighter in which England folded so quickly that ground staff did not need to turn on the floodlights, followed a 111-run drubbing by Australia in their opening match.

A subsequent win over minnows Scotland was greeted with relief rather than jubilation, and opening batsman Moeen Ali said England needed to make a statement against Sri Lanka. Ali said victory against the 1996 champions would restore the battered self-belief of the team, which has been flayed in the British media. “(It’s) a very important game, if we can win that it will give the team a lot more confidence of being a very good one-day side and a major side in the competition.” he said.

Sri Lanka made a shaky start to their own campaign, suffering a 98-run loss to New Zealand and a real scare against Afghanistan.

But they clicked in a 92-run win over Bangladesh last Thursday which included centuries for Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara.

Sri Lanka defeated England 5-2 on home soil late last year in a series that prompted Morgan’s predecessor Alastair Cook to be axed as one-day captain.

But paceman Steve Finn said England would not be dwelling on that series as conditions in Wellington would be completely different. “We got beat by Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka so it’s important we go out there and try to stamp our authority in conditions that should favour us,” he said.

Finn said England’s poor start

PEP TALK: England players listen to coach Peter Moores during training ahead of their 2015 Cricket World Cup Group A match against Sri

Lanka. – AFP

Sri Lanka coach Atapattu wary of England threat WELLINGTON: Sri Lanka coach Marvan Atapattu has insisted his side won’t underestimate a faltering England when the teams meet in the World Cup in Wellington on Sunday.

England have yet to beat a Test nation at the tournament so far, having been thrashed by co-hosts Australia (111 runs) and New Zealand (eight wickets) before seeing off Scotland last time out.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, were also beaten by New Zealand before defeating Afghanistan and Bangladesh to leave them second in Pool A heading into this weekend’s matches.

“They have a fantastic seam bowling line-up there,” Atapattu said Saturday of England’s attack.

meant they were treating all their remaining pool fixtures — against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan — as must wins.

“It’s very important for us and

“The format is such that we’ve got to guard against being complacent. We’ve just got to play the best cricket that we can on the day.

“They (England) are a balanced side. It is just that I don’t think they can be very happy about how things have unrolled for them in the recent past,” the former Sri Lanka batsman added.

“Having said that, they have made it to the (tri-series) final against Australia in Australia.

That’s always a positive.

“Having mentioned about peaking at the right time, I think India is a classic example,” Atapattu said of the defending champions, who have put poor pre-tournament form behind them with Pool B wins over Pakistan and South Africa

these three games are almost each like a quarterfinal, but we thrive on that sort of pressure and hopefully it will bring the best out of us.”

After three matches, England

“A victory against good opposition, a good performance would obviously boost, and I’m sure England is looking forward to that.

“It can be their batting — they’ve got some terrific batsmen in their first seven, and if not, they’ve got the best seaming attack on the day.”

So far so good Reflecting on Sri Lanka’s form, Atapattu said: “The last two games have been good for us, although it was a very close game against Afghanistan.

“Having said that, we would expect our No. 8 to score the way he scored in the Dunedin game.”

When England played at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium last week they were shot out for just

are placed beneath Bangladesh and Afghanistan on the Pool A table. A loss to Sri Lanka would leave them facing an early exit if the group throws up any upset results.

123 by New Zealand, with Tim Southee getting plenty of swing on his way to a stunning haul of seven for 33.

England captain Eoin Morgan has suggested he hopes there’s as much swing on offer on Sunday, although the Sri Lankans could yet do some damage in those conditions if Lasith Malinga is at his best.

“Any batsman wouldn’t like the ball swinging too much, our batsmen, their batsmen,” said Atapattu.

“At the end of the day, it’s the skill Southee had. Not too many bowlers in that line-up apart from Southee swung the ball on that day.

“If it swings, I think any batsman would struggle. He won’t be in his comfort zone.” - AFP

Sunday’s match will be Sri Lanka’s third in eight days, having played Afghanistan last Sunday and Bangladesh on Thursday.

Former Sri Lanka great Muttiah

Top performers: Moeen Ali (158 runs), James Taylor (115 runs); Steve Finn (eight wickets), Chris Woakes (five wickets); Joe Root (three catches) Remaining Pool A matches: v Bangladesh (March 9); v Afghanistan (March 13) *** SRI LANKA Captain: Angelo Mathews Coach: Marvan Atapattu Squad: Mathews, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Upul Tharanga (replaced Jeevan Mendis), Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera (replaced Dhammika Prasad) *** Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Lost to New Zealand by 98 runs, Beat Afghanistan by four wickets, Beat Bangladesh by 92 runs Top performers: Tillakaratne Dilshan (185 runs), Kumar Sangakkara (151 runs); Suranga Lakmal and Lasith Malinga (six wickets); Jeevan Mendis and Rangana Herath (three catches) Remaining Pool A matches: v Australia (March 8); v Scotland (March 11) *** Head to head: Total played: 63 England won 30, Sri Lanka won 33 Last match: December 16, 2014 - Sri Lanka won by 87 runs in Colombo

Muralitharan said the schedule was “not ideal” preparation for a dangerous encounter against an England side keen to prove a point.

But he said Sri Lanka’s batting looked “ominous” against Bangladesh and sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga finally appeared to be finding form.

“He looked much more like his old self, his bowling had some of that old zip about it and that is a great sign for a team that really needs him to fire,” he said. - AFP

X FA C T O R

Malinga gamble starting to pay dividends for Sri Lanka WELLINGTON: The toe-crusher is hitting the target, the bouncer is coming out well and, most importantly, the wicket column is swelling again. Three games into the World Cup and Sri Lanka’s calculated gamble on Lasith Malinga appears to be paying off.

Sanath Jayasuria knew exactly what he and his colleagues on the selection committee were doing when they picked the paceman with bleached, straw-coloured hair in the World Cup squad even though he was still recovering from ankle surgery.

“A player like Malinga, we have to take a gamble because he is a match-winner,” Jayasuriya explained after naming the 15-strong squad. The 31-year-old pacer with a weird low-slung action has not let him down and three games into the campaign, Jayasuriya has grounds for feeling some vindication.

True, the rust showed in Sri Lanka’s tournament opener

Lasith Malinga.

against New Zealand in which Malinga bled 84 runs in his 10 wicketless overs. Against Afghanistan, while not the strongest of opponents, Malinga took 3-41 and looked more in control of his craft.

The three wickets he claimed against Bangladesh on Thursday, however, suggested a return to his once devastating best was not that far away.

“He’s getting there. He and Sri Lanka will be encouraged by what he did,” Sunil Gavaskar told STAR Sports channel.

Gavaskar was impressed by Malinga’s last few overs, particularly the way he sealed Sri Lanka’s comprehensive win by trapping Taskin Ahmed plumb lbw, leaving the tail-ender with some sore toes in the process. “Towards the end, he was really bowling quick, he was getting those yorkers on target as we saw with the poor, hapless number 11,” the former India captain said.

Angelo Mathews has seen the toil behind the turnaround from close quarters. “If you watch Malinga in the nets, he’s the one who is working the hardest,” Mathews said on Wednesday of his pace spearhead.

“He bowls three types of deliveries. The bouncer, the fast yorker and then the slow yorker. It’s very, very difficult to pick up,” former Australia batsman Dean Jones said. “He bowls two lengths -- it’s very full or very, very short. Brilliant bowler, best in the world bowling in the death.” - Reuters

C

LIFE & STYLE

SECTION

T

he actor, famous for playing the role of logical science officer Mr Spock in the long-running sci-fi series, passed away at his Bel Air home on Friday. His wife Susan confirmed the news. Nimoy was taken to UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles on Thursday 19 February. He has entered hospital a number of times over the last few months. In a tweet from Nimoy's account, his grandson Dani paid tribute to the wellloved actor, which signed off using Spock's phrase "Live Long and Prosper".

"He was an extraordinary man, husband, grandfather, brother, actor, author-the list goes on- and friend. Thank you for the warm condolences." Dani added that the family will be selling special commemorative shirts online, with proceeds going to the COPD Foundation.

Last year, he revealed he was suffering from chronic lung disease, despite stopping smoking more than 30 years ago.

Nimoy was recently pictured looking frail and using an oxygen cylinder as he was wheeled through JFK airport.

Though he stopped attending Star Trek conventions in 2011, he made a cameo as

Star Trek legend Leonard Nimoy, has passed away at the age of 83.

Spock in the 2013 film Star Trek Into Darkness, and a number of guest appearances in the science fiction series Fringe, which ran until 2012. Nimoy has played the famous Vulcan character since 1966 and was the only actor from the original series to return for JJ Abrams’ recent film versions.

Born in Boston, Nimoy was raised in the city's Italian quarter.

At age 17 he was cast in a local production of Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing as the son in a Jewish family, and went on to win a drama scholarship at Boston College. However he later decided to drop out and moved to California and where he took acting lessons at the Pasadena Playhouse. The budding actor quickly lost his Boston accent, enlisted the help of an agent and began playing small

roles in TV series and movies.

In 1954 he married Sandra Zober, a fellow student at the Pasadena Playhouse, and they had two children, Julie and Adam. The couple divorced, and in 1988 he married Susan Bay, a film production executive. After service in the Army, he returned to Hollywood, where he worked as a taxi driver, vacuum cleaner salesman, movie theatre usher and other jobs while looking for acting roles.

The actor found his big break as Spock in TV series Star Trek, which ran from 1966 to 1969. After the cult series ended in 1969, he immediately joined the adventure show Mission Impossible as the master of disguise, Paris.

Starring as Mr Spock in the original TV series of Star Trek. Starring as Mr Spock

in the original TV series of Star Trek. From 1976 to 1982 he hosted the syndicated TV series In Search of... which attempted to probe such mysteries as the legend of the Loch Ness Monster and the disappearance of aviator Amelia Earhart. Other roles included Israeli leader Golda Meir's husband opposite Ingrid Bergman in the TV drama A Woman Called Golda. Nimoy also turned his talents to director, including the hit comedy Three Men and a Baby, as well as treading the boards in plays such as A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tim Roof, Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, My Fair Lady, Equus and Vincent van Gogh in one-man stage show Vincent.

More recently, he played the moneyed genius William Bell in the Fox series Fringe.

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

As a writer he penned poems, children's stories, and also enjoyed photography. But while the actor enjoyed a rich career, fan’s would always remember his first as Spock.

Trekkies often greet one another with the Vulcan salute and the Vulcan motto, “Live Long and Prosper” - both of which Nimoy was credited with bringing to the character.

He pointed out, however, that the hand gesture was actually derived from one used by rabbis during Hebraic benedictions. In 2009, he returned to play an older version of his iconic character in the film Star Trek, who meets his younger self, played by Zachary Quinto. Critic Roger Ebert called the older Spock “the most human character in the film.”

When the movie was released, Nimoy told The Associated Press that in his late 70s he was probably closer than ever to being as comfortable with himself as the logical Spock always appeared to be.

"I know where I'm going, and I know where I've been," he said. A touching message the actor sent on Twitter last Sunday has now become his last public words.

- Jenn Selby/The Independent

C10

SUN DAY, MARCH 1, 2015

PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you are likely to live your life exclusively in a single sphere, doing one thing throughout the years and enjoying tremendous success as a result of that singular, all-consuming dedication. Of course, it is anyone’s guess what that sphere will turn out to be; you are likely to stumble into something when you are young that develops quickly into the very thing that shapes and defines your life — and neither you, nor your parents, nor anyone else may be able to anticipate what this will be. Indeed, you may not even recognize it for what it is until you have traveled very far down life’s path. Only by looking back and seeing where you came from and where you have traveled will you know what you’ve really been doing!

Your success in life is sure to be unequaled. You have been endowed with a great talent — or set of talents — that will enable you to soar to the heights of your chosen profession.

Indeed, you may redefine what kinds of success are possible in your line of work. The sky’s the limit!

Also born on this date are: Ron Howard, actor and filmmaker; Justin Bieber, singer; Daniella Monet, actress; Frederic Chopin, composer; Roger Daltrey, singer; Alan Thicke, actor; Robert Conrad, actor; Harry Belafonte, singer; George Eads, actor; Catherine Bach, actress and model; Glenn Miller, musician and bandleader; Harry Caray, announcer; David Niven, actor; Russell Wong, actor.

W E AT H E R

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lear to partly cloudy skies over the coastal areas of Oman sea and over al-Hajar mountains with chance of isolated rain with noticeable decreasing in temperature and horizontal visibility due to dust rising wind over most of the Sultanate.

EXPECTED WINDS: Over most of the Sultanate winds will be northerly to northeasterly moderate to fresh during day changing to become light to moderate at night.

SEA STATE: Rough along coastal area of Oman sea and

WORLD

Max 26 Min 16 Max 3 Min -1

Max 18 Min 17

Max 24 Min 18 Max 10 Min 2

Max 24 Min 14

Max 3 Min 0

Max 28 Min 11

Max 27 Min 11

Max 27 Min 10

Max 25 Min 13

Max 23 Min 13

[Feb. 19-March 20] Max 29 Min 19

Max 17 Min 8

-www.met.gov.om

Max 32 Min 21 Max 35 Min 19

Min

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

28 25 24 28 24 32

18 17 14 13 18 16

WORLD Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Boston Cairo Colombo Frankfurt Hong Kong Istanbul Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur Lisbon Paris Perth Singapore Tokyo Toronto

16 24 12 7 1 23 31 9 23 12 23 32 17 12 29 31 9 -5

6 9 -4 3 -2 9 23 8 16 6 12 23 13 1 17 24 6 -6

L O N G D I S TA N C E B U S T I M I N G S ( O M A N N AT I O N A L T R A N S P O R T C O M PA N Y S A O C ) * S U B J E C T T O C H A N G E

[March 21-APRIL 19] You may be able to fit in a little something extra just for yourself, but it all depends on how you use the time available to you.

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] Gather your available resources and take stock of what is possible before heading off on a journey of discovery and accomplishment.

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20] A newcomer may put everyone to shame by performing well above par, though you are sure to give him a run for his money.

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] An early start affords you the opportunity to stop and reverse course if necessary, without sacrificing all forward motion.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] You can have a great deal of fun with someone else, and not at his or her expense. The laughter is likely to be quite contagious.

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Time Time 15:00 Quriyat 16:30 15:00 Sur 18:00 15:00 Jaalan 19:30 TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 06:30 Sohar 06:30 Buraimi 08:00 Buraimi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Buraimi 16.00 Sohar 16.00 Buraimi TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

[AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] Your ability to process information quickly will come in very handy, as a great deal of it comes at you all at once.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] Though you don’t wish to put anyone in a tight spot, you’re going to have to demand a decision one way or the other before nightfall.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] You can help someone in charge make the decisions that will affect everyone involved for the duration of a developing project.

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You must be clear about what you are willing to do — and, more important, what you’re not willing to do. Lines must be drawn.

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] The rules may be quite simple, but you are not likely to find many of them conducive to the creative endeavor you wish to begin.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You and a longtime partner are not in sync the way you usually are, but this is an obstacle that is easily surmounted.

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily 05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily 05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

08:50 11:00 14:30 15:45 17:40 18.35 20:20

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

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TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 07:00 Sohar 07:00 Ruwi 13:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 17:00 Ruwi TO SINAW (Route 52) 07:00 Ruwi

To Yanqul (Route 54) 14:30 Nizwa 14:30 Yanqul

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 08:00 Nizwa 08:00 Al Araqi

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (Route 55) 07:30 Sur 14:30 Sur TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62) 06:30 Fahud 06:30 Yibal

08:55 11:40 20:20 14:55 17:40 19:20 22:15

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 06:00 Nizwa 06:00 Ruwi

08:40 11:00

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Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 15:40 Nizwa 15:40 Ruwi

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10:45 19:00

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TO YIBAL - FAHUD (Route 62) 12:30 Fahud 12:30 Ruwi

13:15 17:30

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TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

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DUBAI TO SALALAH (Route 102) 15:00 Salalah 07:00

Daily

16:50

SALALAH TO DUBAI (Route 102) 15:00 Dubai 07:00

VIRGO

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow)

6:09pm 6:29am

High tide Low tide

6:18am 1:1oam

7:27pm 12.10pm

southern al-Sharqiya governorate with maximum wave height of 3.0 meters and moderate over rest of the coast with maximum wave height of 2.0 meters.

HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Moderate over most of the sultanate becoming poor during rain and dust raising.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Mainly clear skies and hazy conditions over most of the sultanate. Slight to moderate sea along most of the coast with maximum wave height of 1.5 meters.

Max

OMAN

ARIES

12.24pm 3.45pm 6.14pm 7.25pm 5.14am

AIRLINES

PISCES Your choice of words may be much more important than anticipated.

You’re ready to deliver a message, but don’t be in a hurry.

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 06:00 Sohar 06:00 Dubai 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Dubai 15:00 Sohar 15:00 Dubai

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily 07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily 07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 07:30 Sohar 07:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 15:30 Sohar 15:30 Ruwi

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily 16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily 16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

LISTINGS

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 24537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah.

Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128, MBD: 24799077, Al Khuwair: 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital: 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital: 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair: 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC: 22004000 ROYAL OMAN POLICE Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence: 24569603 Directorate General of Customs: 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries: 24510228 Public Relations Admin: 24560099 ACCOMMODATION Al Bahjah Hotel: 24424400 Al Bustan Palace: 24764000 Al Khuwair Hotel Apartments: 24478171 Al Madina Holiday Inn: 24596400 Al Maha International Hotel: 24494949 Al Fanar Hotel: 24712385 Al Falaj Hotel: 24702311 Al Qurum Resort: 24605945 Azaiba Hotel Apartments: 24490979 Beach Hotel: 24696601 Bowshar Hotel: 24491105 Coral Hotel Muscat: 24692121 Crowne Plaza Muscat: 24660660 Crystal Suites: 24826100 Golden Tulip Seeb: 24510300 Grand Hyatt Muscat: 24641234 Haffa House Hotel: 24707207 Hotel Muscat Holiday: 24487123 InterContinental Muscat: 24680000 Majan Continental Hotel: 24592900 Marina Hotel: 24711711 Midan Hotel Suites: 24499565 Mina Hotel: 24711828 Muttrah Hotel: 24798401

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199 Oman Dive Centre: 24824240 Park Inn: 24507888 Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777 Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399 Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443 Ruwi Hotel: 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200 Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666 The Chedi Muscat: 24524400 The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours): 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot: 24704455, Air Arabia: 24700828, Air France: 24562153, Air India: 24799801, Air New Zealand: 24700732, Biman Bangladesh Airlines: 24701128, British Airways: 24568777, Cathay Pacific: 24789818, Egypt Air: 24794113, Emirates Air: 24404400, Ethiopian Airlines: 24660313, Gulf Air: 80072424, Indian: 24791914, Iran Air: 24787423, Japan Airlines: 24704455, Jazeera Airways: 23294848, Jet Airways: 24787248, Kenya Airways: 24660300, KML Royal Dutch Airlines: 24566737, Kuwait Airways: 24701262, LOT Polish Airlines: 24796387, Lufthansa: 24796692, Malaysian Airlines: 24560796, Middle East Airlines: 24796680, Oman Air: 24531111, Pakistan International Airlines: 24792471, Qatar Airways: 24771900, Qantas: 24559941, Royal Jordanian: 24796693, Saudi Arabian Airlines: 24789485, Singapore Airlines: 24791233, Shaheen Air: 24816565, SriLankan Airlines:

24784545, Swiss International Airlines: 24796692, Thai Airways: 24705934, Turkish Airlines: 24703033 MUSEUMS Bait Al Baranda: Corniche (seafront opp fish market), Open from Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 6pm Natural History Museum: Al Khuwair, Tel: 24604957, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm; Thursday: 9am to 1pm Museum of Omani Heritage: (former Omani Museum), Madinat Al Alam, Sat-Wed 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday 9am to 1pm, Tel: 24600946 Armed Forces Museum: Bait Al Falaj, Tel: 24312651, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm; Thurs 9-12pm and 3-6pm; Fri 9-11am and 3-6pm. Al Hoota Caves 24498258; Turtle Beach 96550606/96550707 Children’s Science Museum: Shatti Al Qurum, Tel: 24605368, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Oman-French Museum: near Muscat Police Station, Tel: 24736613, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Bait Al Zubair, Muscat: Tel: 24736688, Al Saidiya St., Muscat museum@baitalzubairmuseum.com Open from Sat to Thurs: 9:30am to 6pm.

National Museum Ruwi: Tel: 24701289, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Sohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pm Muscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

SUNDAY

MONDAY FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

CAIRO 0005 RIYADH 0005 JEDDAH 0005 KUWAIT 0010 BANGKOK 0015 SALALAH 0030 SALALAH 0125 SIALKOT 0200 KARACHI 0210 ISTANBUL-BAHRAIN 0255 DOHA 0345 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0355 BAHRAIN 0405 ABU DHABI 0405 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0630 LUXORE 0635 BAHRAIN 0640 JEDDAH 0645 ABU DHABI 0650 SALALAH 0655 RIYADH 0700 KARACHI 0700 MALPENSA 0720 ZURICH 0720 DAMMAM 0725 JEDDAH 0730 KUWAIT 0735 DOHA 0735 PARIS 0800 DUBAI 0805 SOHAR 0815 BOMBAY 0815 LONDON HEATHROW 0820 DUBAI 0850 JAIPUR 0855 LAHORE 0900 SHARJAH 0915 LAHORE 0920 HYDERABAD 0920 DELHI 0920 COCHIN 0930 TRIVANDRUM 0940 MADRAS 0940 DUBAI 0940 BANGALORE 1000 DOHA 1010 ABU DHABI 1015 TRIVANDRUM 1020 DUQUM OMAN 1045 MUKHAIZNA 1045 DUBAI 1110 KHASAB 1115 RAS AL KHAIMA 1120 DUBAI 1200 MALE 1205 CALICUT 1210 SALALAH 1215 BANGKOK 1305 DUBAI 1330 SALALAH 1445 KHASAB 1445 KHASAB 1445 ABU DHABI 1530 DUBAI 1555 DOHA 1600 ISLAM ABBAD 1625 BOMBAY 1710 CALICUT 1720 DUBAI 1730 DELHI 1730 LUCKNOW 1735 HYDERABAD 1740 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1750 BAHRAIN 1810 MUKHAIZNA 1845 KUALA LUMPUR 1910 SHARJAH 1915 MADRAS 1920 KUWAIT 1925 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1935 TEHRAN 1940 DUBAI 1945 KATHMANDU 2010 DUBAI 2030 JAKARTA 2055 MUNICH 2105 MALE 2110 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2120 DELHI 2125 DUBAI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 COLOMBO 2140 CHITTAGONG 2140 DUBAI 2145 MADRAS 2200 AMMAN 2205 DOHA 2210 2225 COLOMBO BAHRAIN 2240 MEDINA 2250 MEDINA 2250 ABU DHABI 2250 KARACHI 2255 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2255 SALALAH 2305 AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH-DUBAI 2320 BOMBAY 2325 FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI 2330 DUBAI 2335 DUBAI 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 DAMMAM 2350 DAMMAM 2350 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2355

WY682 WY406 WY636 WY648 WY816 WY910 BG021 4H583 WY3916 PK229 TK776 QR1132 EK866 EY384 GF560 FZ041 WY114 WY658 WY638 WY902 WY154 WY144 WY674 WY668 WY644 WY602 WY202 WY102 FZ043 WY272 G9114 WY342 WY242 WY236 WY346 WY226 WY212 EK862 WY252 WY282 QR1128 EY382 9W530 WY604 WY844 WY918 GF562 WY372 FZ037 WY384 IX337 WY902 PA450 WY716 WY3302 WY324 WY818 WY606 WY906 WY920 WY632 FZ045 WY204 WY292 WY3304 WY610 WY246 WY264 WY284 WY232 WY664 QR1126 EK864 WY3922 GF564 WY822 WY694 WY684 G9116 WY254 WY646 WY434 FZ047 WY338 WY614 WY848 WY124 AI977 4H561 KL441 WY624 AI973 6.00E+81 WY312 WY914 9W534 FZ049 AI907 WY414 QR1134 WY928 GF566 BA073 EY388 WY326 SG061 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 LH618 WY612 WY654 WY696

RIYADH 0005 CAIRO 0005 ABU DHABI 0005 KUWAIT 0010 BANGKOK 0015 SALALAH 0030 DACCA-CHITTAGONG 0100 DACCA 0145 SALALAH 0205 LAHORE 0215 ISTANBUL-BAHRAIN 0255 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0355 ABU DHABI 0405 BAHRAIN 0405 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0610 BAHRAIN 0640 ABU DHABI 0650 SALALAH 0655 ZURICH 0720 MALPENSA 0720 JEDDAH 0730 DOHA 0735 KUWAIT 0735 DUBAI 0805 BOMBAY 0815 LONDON HEATHROW 0820 DUBAI 0850 JAIPUR 0855 SHARJAH 0915 LAHORE 0920 DELHI 0920 HYDERABAD 0920 ISLAM ABBAD 0930 COCHIN 0930 TRIVANDRUM 0940 DUBAI 0940 MADRAS 0940 BANGALORE 1000 DOHA 1010 ABU DHABI 1015 TRIVANDRUM 1035 DUBAI 1110 MANILA 1110 KHASAB 1115 BAHRAIN 1130 COLOMBO 1140 DUBAI 1200 MALE 1205 CALICUT 1210 SALALAH 1215 LAHORE 1215 ZANZIBAR 1225 MUKHAIZNA 1230 KARACHI 1230 BANGKOK 1305 DUBAI 1330 SALALAH 1445 KHASAB 1445 ABU DHABI 1530 DUBAI 1555 BOMBAY 1710 CALICUT 1720 MUKHAIZNA 1730 DUBAI 1730 DELHI 1730 LUCKNOW 1735 BANGALORE 1740 HYDERABAD 1740 DOHA 1745 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1750 DUQUM OMAN 1755 BAHRAIN 1810 KUALA LUMPUR 1910 DAMMAM 1910 RIYADH 1910 SHARJAH 1915 MADRAS 1920 KUWAIT 1925 TEHRAN 1940 DUBAI 1945 KATHMANDU 2010 DUBAI 2030 JAKARTA 2055 MUNICH 2105 BANGALORE-HYDERABAD 2105 DACCA 2115 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2120 DUBAI 2125 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 CHITTAGONG 2140 SALALAH 2140 COCHIN 2140 DUBAI 2145 MADRAS 2200 AMMAN 2205 DOHA 2210 SALALAH 2220 BAHRAIN 2240 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2250 ABU DHABI 2250 KARACHI 2255 AHMEDABAD 2300 SALALAH 2305 AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH-DUBAI 2320 BOMBAY 2325 FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI 2330 DUBAI 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 DAMMAM 2350

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DEPARTURES TO

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DEPARTURES TO

AI986 LX243 9W539 BA072 LH619 WY685 WY211 WY251 WY201 WY225 WY235 WY341 WY281 WY601 WY241 WY271 WY643 WY637 WY821 WY657 WY123 WY667 WY323 WY691 WY383 WY901 WY847 PK260 NL772 TK777 ET625 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 WY3931 WY3301 WY3921 4H562 GF561 WY903 WY603 CV732 WY917 WY291 WY263 WY347 FZ044 WY385 WY231 WY245 WY843 G9115 WY815 NL769 WY905 WY203 WY605 WY373 WY253 WY337 WY717 EK863 WY311 EY383 IX554 QR1129 WY3303 WY919 WY663 G9842 WY631 IX350 FZ038 WY433 WY113 WY101 WY413 WY645 WY153 WY143 WY927 WY609 WY405 WY3305 WY671 WY675 WY613 FZ046 WY913 WY623 WY325 QR1127 WY681 WY907 GF565 WY647 WY661 EK865 WY695 G9117 WY909 WY611 WY635 FZ048 TG508 WY915 FZ050 KL442 WY817 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 QR1135 GF567 UL206 EY381

BOMBAY 0005 DUBAI-ZURICH 0020 BOMBAY 0025 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 0025 ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT 0050 RIYADH 0105 TRIVANDRUM 0110 MADRAS 0110 BOMBAY 0120 COCHIN 0125 HYDERABAD 0135 LAHORE 0150 BANGALORE 0150 DUBAI 0150 DELHI 0155 JAIPUR 0200 KUWAIT 0200 ABU DHABI 0205 KUALA LUMPUR 0205 BAHRAIN 0205 MUNICH 0210 DOHA 0225 KARACHI 0225 DAMMAM 0235 MALE 0235 SALALAH 0240 JAKARTA 0245 PESHAWAR 0310 PESHAWAR 0330 BAHRAIN-ISTANBUL 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0450 DUBAI 0455 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0520 ABU DHABI 0525 SOHAR 0600 MUKHAIZNA 0715 DUQUM OMAN 0745 DACCA 0745 BAHRAIN 0745 SALALAH 0800 DUBAI 0800 HONG KONG 0805 KHASAB 0815 CALICUT 0920 LUCKNOW 0920 ISLAM ABBAD 0920 DUBAI 0935 MALE 0940 HYDERABAD 0955 DELHI 0955 MANILA 1000 SHARJAH 1005 BANGKOK 1010 LAHORE 1030 SALALAH 1030 BOMBAY 1030 DUBAI 1030 COLOMBO 1040 MADRAS 1040 KATHMANDU 1040 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 1045 DUBAI 1055 CHITTAGONG 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 TRIVANDRUM 1110 DOHA 1115 MUKHAIZNA 1115 KHASAB 1145 DOHA 1145 RAS AL KHAIMA 1210 ABU DHABI 1220 CALICUT 1310 DUBAI 1315 TEHRAN 1330 FRANKFURT 1400 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 AMMAN 1405 KUWAIT 1405 ZURICH 1405 MALPENSA 1415 SALALAH 1415 DUBAI 1420 CAIRO 1430 MUKHAIZNA 1515 MEDINA 1535 JEDDAH 1630 DUBAI 1700 DUBAI 1700 SALALAH 1810 DUBAI 1820 KARACHI 1830 DOHA 1845 RIYADH 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 KUWAIT 1900 DOHA 1900 DUBAI 1905 DAMMAM 1910 SHARJAH 2005 SALALAH 2015 DUBAI 2025 ABU DHABI 2040 DUBAI 2040 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2040 SALALAH 2110 DUBAI 2225 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2230 BANGKOK 2235 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 DOHA 2320 BAHRAIN 2325 COLOMBO 2335 ABU DHABI 2350

AI986 LX243 9W539 BA072 WY715 LH619 WY211 WY251 WY201 WY225 WY235 WY601 WY281 WY345 WY341 WY241 WY271 WY643 WY637 WY657 WY821 WY123 WY371 WY667 WY383 WY901 WY847 4H584 BG022 PK230 TK777 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 GF561 WY603 WY3301 WY903 WY323 WY917 WY263 WY291 FZ044 WY283 WY245 WY231 G9115 WY815 WY203 WY905 WY605 WY337 WY253 EK863 WY311 EY383 QR1129 9W533 WY919 GF563 WY631 IX350 FZ038 PA451 WY683 WY3303 WY433 WY663 WY113 WY101 WY645 WY413 WY153 WY143 WY131 WY609 WY405 WY693 WY3921 WY675 WY613 FZ046 WY913 WY623 WY325 QR1127 WY681 WY907 GF565 WY647 WY661 EK865 WY695 WY653 WY653 G9117 WY909 WY611 FZ048 WY635 WY915 AI978 4H561 FZ050 KL442 WY817 9W529 WY411 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 WY677 QR1135 GF567 WY673 EY381

BOMBAY 0005 DUBAI-ZURICH 0020 BOMBAY 0025 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 0025 ZANZIBAR 0040 ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT 0050 TRIVANDRUM 0110 MADRAS 0110 BOMBAY 0120 COCHIN 0125 HYDERABAD 0135 DUBAI 0150 BANGALORE 0150 ISLAM ABBAD 0150 LAHORE 0150 DELHI 0155 JAIPUR 0200 KUWAIT 0200 ABU DHABI 0205 BAHRAIN 0205 KUALA LUMPUR 0205 MUNICH 0210 COLOMBO 0210 DOHA 0225 MALE 0235 SALALAH 0240 JAKARTA 0245 DACCA 0245 CHITTAGONG-DACCA 0250 LAHORE 0315 BAHRAIN-ISTANBUL 0350 DUBAI 0455 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0520 ABU DHABI 0525 BAHRAIN 0745 DUBAI 0800 MUKHAIZNA 0800 SALALAH 0800 KARACHI 0800 KHASAB 0815 LUCKNOW 0920 CALICUT 0920 DUBAI 0935 BANGALORE 0940 DELHI 0955 HYDERABAD 0955 SHARJAH 1005 BANGKOK 1010 BOMBAY 1030 SALALAH 1030 DUBAI 1030 KATHMANDU 1040 MADRAS 1040 DUBAI 1055 CHITTAGONG 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 DOHA 1115 COCHIN 1135 KHASAB 1145 BAHRAIN 1215 ABU DHABI 1220 CALICUT 1310 DUBAI 1315 LAHORE 1315 RIYADH 1320 MUKHAIZNA 1330 TEHRAN 1330 DOHA 1330 FRANKFURT 1400 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 KUWAIT 1405 AMMAN 1405 ZURICH 1405 MALPENSA 1415 PARIS 1420 DUBAI 1420 CAIRO 1430 DAMMAM 1430 DUQUM OMAN 1455 JEDDAH 1630 DUBAI 1700 DUBAI 1700 SALALAH 1735 DUBAI 1820 KARACHI 1830 DOHA 1845 RIYADH 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 KUWAIT 1900 DOHA 1900 DUBAI 1905 DAMMAM 1910 BAHRAIN 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 2005 SALALAH 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2040 ABU DHABI 2040 SALALAH 2110 HYDERABAD-BANGALORE 2200 JEDDAH 2215 DUBAI 2225 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2230 BANGKOK 2235 TRIVANDRUM 2240 AMMAN 2240 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 MEDINA 2310 DOHA 2320 BAHRAIN 2325 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2350

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

WY406 WY682 WY676 WY648 WY816 WY910 WY916 NL669 PK225 TK776 QR1132 ET624 EK866 GF560 EY384 FZ041 WY114 CV732 WY658 4H562 WY638 WY902 WY686 WY324 WY144 WY154 WY692 WY674 WY644 WY668 WY132 WY602 WY3932 WY202 WY102 FZ043 WY272 NL768 G9114 WY342 WY236 WY242 WY226 WY212 WY252 EK862 WY282 QR1128 EY382 IX549 WY3922 WY3302 WY604 WY918 G9841 FZ037 WY384 IX337 WY904 WY818 WY606 WY906 WY920 WY920 WY632 FZ045 WY664 WY348 WY204 WY292 WY610 WY246 WY264 WY232 QR1126 EK864 GF564 WY3306 WY822 G9116 WY254 WY646 TG507 WY434 FZ047 WY338 WY614 WY848 WY124 WY386 KL441 AI973 WY624 6.00E+81 WY374 WY312 FZ049 AI907 WY414 QR1134 UL205 GF566 WY672 WY672 EY388 WY326 BA073 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 LH618 WY612 WY612 WY654 WY696 WY696 WY717

ETA

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S U N DAY, MAR C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

C11

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA Focus (2D) (Comedy | Crime) (18+) Cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie 3:00, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45 PM Combustion (2D) (Action) (15+) Cast: Adriana Ugarte, Álex González 11:45 PM Protector 2 (2D) (Action) (15+) Cast: Tony Jaa, RZA, 9:30, 11:30 PM Captain Sabertooth (2D)(Act)(PG12) Cast: Fridtjov Såheim, Tuva Novotny, 3:30, 7:45 PM Black or White (2D) (Drama) (PG12) Cast: Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, 5:30 PM Fort Bliss (2D) (Drama/War) (15+) Cast: Michelle Monaghan, 7:15 PM The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2D) (Animation) (PG) 1:45 PM Boys of Abu Ghraib (2D) (Dr) (15+) Cast: Luke Moran, Sara Paxton 9:30 PM The Wedding Ringer (2D) (Co) (TBC) Cast: Kevin Hart, Josh Gad,5:15 PM Plan B (2D) (Thriller) (12+) Cast: Khaled El Nabawy, 5:15 PM Kingsman: The Secret Service (2D) (Action | Adventure) (15+) Cast: Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson 2:45 PM

The Wedding Ringer (2D)(Com)(15+) Cast: Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, Gold Class: 05:00 PM Focus (2D)(Comedy/Crime) (18+) Cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie 03:00 PM, 07:15 PM & 09:30 PM Gold Class: 2:45, 9:00 & 11:15 PM

Akshara Haasan, 3.45 pm Badlapur – (Action | Drama) – 15+ Cast: Varun Dhawan, huma qureshi, Yami Gautam 6.45 pm Dragon Blade – English (Act) – PG12 Cast: Jackie Chan, Adrien Brody, John Cusack 9.45 pm

Boys Of Abu Gharib (2D)(War) (15+) Gold Class: 07:00 PM The Protector (2D) (Action) (15+) Cast: Tony Jaa, RZA 03:30 PM & 11:45 PM Combustion (2D)(Act/Adv) (15+) Cast: Adriana Ugarte, Álex González 05:30 PM Zarafa (2D): (Animation) (PG) Cast: Max Renaudin Pratt, 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM & 01:30 PM The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water (2D) (Animation/Co) (PG) 11:30 AM & 01:30 PM Serana (2D) (Drama) (15+) Cast: Bradley C, Jennifer Lawrence, 05:15 PM Black or White (2D) (Drama) (PG12) Cast: Kevin Costner; 07:15 PM Fort Bliss (2D) (Drama/War) (15+) 09:30 PM Captain Sabertooth (2D)(Act)(PG12) Cast: Fridtjov Såheim 11:45 PM

The Protector 2 – 2D (15+) Action Cast: Tony Jaa, RZA, 03:30 , 07:45 , 09:45 , 11:45 PM Fort Bliss – 2D (15+) Drama | War Cast: Michelle Monaghan, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Pablo 05:30 , 11:30 PM Zarafa – 2D (PG) Animation | Family Cast: Max Renaudin Pratt, Simon Abkarian, 2:45 , 05:15 PM Focus– 2D (18+) Comedy | Crime Cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie 04:15 , 09:45 , 11:45 PM Combustion – 2D (15+) Action Cast: Adriana Ugarte, Álex González 03:15, 06:15 PM Captain Sabertooth and the Treasure of Lama Rama– 2D (PG12) Action | Adventure Cast: Fridtjov Såheim, Tuva Novotny 08:00 , 09:45 PM Serena – 2D (15+) Drama Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Sam Reid ; 3:15 PM Kaaki Sattai – 2D (PG12) Act | Com Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Sri Divya, Prabhu Ganesan, Imman; 06:45 PM Fireman – 2D (PG) Act | Dr | Cast: Mammootty, Andrea Jeremiah, Salim Kumar; 07:15 PM Youm Malosh Lazma– 2D (12+) (Arb) Comedy

SCREEN 1 Ab Tak Chhappan 2 – Hindi(Act)12+ Cast: Nana Patekar, Gul Panag 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM SCREEN 2 Badlapur – (Action | Drama) – 15+ Cast: Varun Dhawan, Huma Qureshi, Yami Gautam 3.45 pm Kaaki Sattai – Tamil(Act) – PG12 Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Prabhu, Sri Divya 6.45, 9.45 PM SCREEN 3 Shamitabh - Hindi (Drama) - (PG) Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush,

Cast: Noah Taylor, Kodi SmitMcPhee, Jacki Weaver; 5:15 PM Ab Tak Chhappan 2 – 2D (12+) Action | Crime Cast: Nana Patekar, Ashutosh Rana, Gul Panag; 9:30 , 11:35 PM

Focus ( Comedy / Crime ) (18+) Cast : Will Smith, Margot Robbie 5:00, 7:00, 9:15 PM Fireman (Malayalam – Act(PG) Cast : Mammootty, Nyla Usha, Andrea Jeremiah, Salim Kumar, Siddique

The Protector 2 – 2D (15+) Action Cast: Tony Jaa, RZA, 03:45, 05:45, 07:45, 09:45, 11:45PM Focus – 2D (18) Com | Crime Cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie 03:15, 05:15, 09:30, 11:30PM Dragon Blade – 2D (PG12) Act | Ad Cast: John Cusack, Jackie Chan 07:15, 11:45 PM The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water – 2D (PG) Animation | Cast: Tom Kenny, Antonio Banderas, 03:45, 05:30 PM Fireman – 2D (PG) Act | Thriller Cast: Mammootty, Nyla Usha, Andrea Jeremiah, Salim Kumar, Siddique 07:15, 09:30 PM

Dragon Blade ( Act / Adv ) (PG12) Cast : John Cusack, Jackie Chan 7:00 PM The Protector 2 ( Action) (15+) Cast : Tony Jaa, RZA, 5:00, 9:00, 11:15 PM

11:15PM

Focus (2D) (18+) (Com| Crime) Cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, 11:00 AM /5:00/ 9:00/11:15 PM Dragon Blade (2D/PG12) (Act | Adv) Cast: John Cusack, Jackie Chan 1:00/4:30 PM Combustion (2D/15+) (Action) Cast: Adriana Ugarte, Álex 5:30/11:45 PM The Protector 2 (2D/15+) (Action) Cast: Tony Jaa, RZA, 11:30 AM/2:30/7:00/9:30 /11:30 Zarafa (2D/PG) (Animation) Cast: Max Renaudin Pratt, Simon Abkarian, 11:30AM/1:00/3:15 PM Captain Sabertooth and the Treasure of Lama Rama (2D/PG) (Action | Adventure Comedy) 1:30 /3:30 PM Fireman (2D/PG) (Act | Drama ) 9:30 PM Kaaki Sattai (2D/PG12) (Act | Co) Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Prabhu Ganesan, Imman; 6:45 PM Youm Maloush Lazmah(2D)(12+) (Comedy) Cast: Noah Taylor, Jacki Weaver 7:15 PM

FOCUS ( Comedy ) Cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie 2.00, 6.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm CP No: 559 ( 18+ ) FORT BLISS : (Drama ) Cast: Michelle Monaghan, 10.00 & 11.55 pm; CP No: 560 ( 15+ ) COMBUSTION ( Action ) Cast: Adriana Ugarte, Alex Gozales 4.00 & 8.00 pm; CP No: 562 (15+) SERENA ( Drama ) Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Sam Reid 2.00, 5.45 pm; CP No: 558 (15+) THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER : (Animation ) Cast: Tom Kenny, Glancy Brown 4.00 pm; CP No: 474 ( PG ) DRAGON BLADE: ( Action ) Cast: Jackie Chan,John Cusack 7.45 pm; CP No: 473 ( PG 12 )

Film Information - 24540856 / Advance Booking - 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Fire Man (Mal ) (Act/ Thriller ) Cast: Mammootty,Unni Mukundan & Nyla Usha 3:30 & 9:30 pm at Cinema Main 6:45pm at Cinema -3 Kakki Sattai (Tamil) (Com/Rom ) Cast: Shiva Karthikeyan, Sri Diya; 3:45 & 9:45 at Cinema -3 6:30pm at Cinema Main Temper -Telugu (Act) 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30pm at Cinema 2 Badlapur (Hindi) (Act) Cast: Varun Dhawan, Yami Gauthami 3:45, 9:45pm at Cinema 4 Yennai Arindhaal(Tamil)(Act) Cast: Ajit Kumar,Trisha, Anushka Shetty, 6:45 pm at Cinema- 4

For More Information 24789032, 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

ACES ON BRIDGE

It is an easy trap to fall into

SUDOKU

HOW TO PLAY Fill the empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column and area.

— Seven Galaxies

1 4 5

1 7

2

9 1 5 4 3 2 6 1 3 9 4 5 8 4 5 8 6 5 8 9 1 3

3 4 3 8 6 1

2 3 1 5 9 7 6 4 8 7 8 5 3 6 4 2 1 9 6 9 4 8 2 1 7 5 3

9

4 2 7 6 8 5 9 3 1 9 5 3 7 1 2 4 8 6 8 1 6 9 4 3 5 2 7

MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

1 Male cat or turkey 4 Online auction site 8 Recover from an injury 12 “Scandal” network 13 Insignificant 14 Sherpa’s sighting 15 Photo 16 NASA’s cape 18 Made waterproof 20 She broods a lot 21 Grain crop 22 Consumer advocate Ralph — 26 Fawn on 28 Change the decor 31 401(k) cousin 32 Kept in shape 33 Billiards shot 34 Just a taste 35 Gulped down 36 This place 37 Tpks.

38 Kitchen herb 40 Apiece 41 Murmur of contentment

43 46 50 51 52 53 54 55 56

Meat on skewers Crossroads Mushroom morsel Bombay nanny Too compliant Hex halved Famous clinic Glimpse Arm the alarm

25 26 27 28 29 30 33 37 39 40

Talks to a beat Confound it!

Four-letter word “Norma —” Get wrong Mother rabbit Not play fair Civil War soldier Like a he-man Annoying

42 Scottish philosopher 43 Hang onto 44 Make public 45 Mini-peninsula 46 Berry product 47 Ms. Thurman 48 Thumbs-down vote 49 Lawyer’s thing

BORN LOSER

DOWN 1 Knocks gently 2 NYC theater award 3 Paul of the Fab Four 4 Show host 5 One on a string 6 Prince Valiant’s son 7 Slangy affirmative 8 “Laughing” animal 9 Always, in poems 10 — — loss 11 Mae West role 17 Rattler’s defense 19 Strong alkali 23 Sidetracks 24 Pennsylvania port

Answer to previous puzzle

ACROSS

SYED AYAAN RIZVI March 1, 2009

S.HAEMAL DANUSH March 1, 2007

VAISHNAVI PRAVEEN March 1, 2006

5 4 8 1 7 9 3 6 2 3 6 9 2 5 8 1 7 4 1 7 2 4 3 6 8 9 5

Previous puzzle Solution

ERIK Weihenmayer, who, on May 25, 2001, became the only blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, said, “People get trapped into thinking about just one way of doing things.”

That applies to a lot of inexperienced bridge players. They learn “rules” like cover an honor with an honour or third hand high and always follow them, even when it is wrong. Yes, all right, that is what sorts out the good players from the less capable, but usually, especially in the card play, you have only two choices — Play high or low, or discard or ruff. Take a few moments to consider both, and you are likely to realise which is correct.

In this deal, South is in four spades. West leads his diamond two. South takes East’s seven with his ace and leads the spade queen.

East wins with his ace and returns the diamond jack. How should South continue?

South’s three-spade rebid was game-invitational.

Declarer seems to have 10 easy tricks: five spades, two hearts, two diamonds and one club. So, when East returns the diamond jack, it looks obvious for South to win the trick with his king. Here, though, West ruffs away the king, and declarer later loses two diamond tricks to go down one.

Instead, South should let East take the trick. Then declarer’s 10 tricks are safe, South being sure of a second diamond trick even if East leads a third diamond.

Finally, note that if West could overtake his partner’s diamond jack from an initial holding of queenthird and give his partner a ruff, the defenders would take only those three tricks.

Phillip Alder

WITH LOVE

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

KIDSPOT

H E A LT H C A P S U L E

D

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S U N DAY, M A R C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

D2

VACANCY

D4

CARGO

D7

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

D2

S U N DAY, M A R C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

FOR RENT

OFFICES FOR RENT Premium offices to let a very good location on the main road very close to Zakher Mall, Al Khawiar. Business Center has offices with sizes of 50m2, 110m2, 180m2, 207m2, 230m2, 437m2.

Showroom also available at Business Center, Area 500m2 with central A/c.

Offices with Central Air-conditions, Security System with CCTV cameras, and Security presence in the building.

Contact: 97377355 / 97307476, Email id: aaleem@ggcoman.com

Full furniture for rent for family.

Contact 99251975 2BHK /1BHK Commercial & residential flat at Honda road.

Contact 98087644 Prime location Showroom in Qurum Available for Rent. Main roan facing.

Please contact: 92944717 We have entire building for rent comprising of 7 bedrooms front villa and three flats attachments in the same compound. It is suitable for office / clinic or affiliated accommodation. The building is located along the vicinity area of North Ghobra commercial area (behind private preparatory Science School) Interested party. Contact 99411607 3BHK, 2BHK and 1 BHK flats with split air conditioners are available for rent in new building in Al Qurum, near rose Garden. Interested persons may contact on 99244577

Showroom, 1BHK, 2BHK, Al – Azaiba North behind Al - Fair. Contact 99565364 / 95497323 Industrial /commercial shops at Wadi Kabir 4 x 5.6 x 4.6 MTR height.

Showroom with mezzanine & office at Al Noor Street near Switz bakery & Al Masa hall corner building all on roads & parkings in front of shops & show room. Contact 99065900 or 99354975 Fully furnished 1 bedroom penthouse Wadi Kabir behind Sana Hassan, monthly RO 300/-.

Contact 99349990 85 SQM shops in Ruwi only on 350/- OMR. Contact – 95122188 / 96441499 Spacious 2 BHK flats in Ruwi MBD area only on 350/- OMR.Contact – 95122188 / 96441499

Villas & flats at Ansab.

Contact 98458542

Beautiful office space available in Ruwi MBD area only on 2/- OMR per sqm.Contact – 95122188 / 96441499

1bedroom attached toilet Al Khuwair area only for ladies or husband and wife without children. Contact 9:00 pm to 7:00 am 95765719

Deluxe apartments in Azaiba villas & office space.

Contact 99120014. E mail: www.dreamhomesoman.com

4 BHK Wadi Kabeer near Lulu Hypermarket. Contact 97007934 / 92629232

Flats in Mumtaz 2 bedrooms sitting room, kitchen, toilet, Way no 3352 building no 3447 & 3668 .

Contact 98003444

2BHK in Muttrah near Oman house with split ac. Contact 97007934 / 92629232 Attached single bedroom with A/C at Al Khuwair for Exe - bachelors.

Contact 99636550 Furnished room with AC for expatriate in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99689315 2BHK Al Hail North near main road. Contact 99330385

Villa with 6 rooms + 2hall, Majlis, 7 toilets, studio in Shatti Al Qurum 2500/- R.O. Contact + (968) 99738881 1BHK new bldg with A/C curtains, near Khimji Mart MBD. Contact 99061408 / 99024039 Flat at Athaiba near Al fair, 3BHK living room, 3bath rooms, split ac for family only 430/- R.O Ground floor. Contact 92479515

We have all kind of crockery items for rent. Items include: tables, buffet tables, chair, buffet, plates, glasses, spoons, table clothes, carpets.

Call 97180999 Commercial Building in Al Khodh, 35 Apartments and shops.

Contact 95202340

Villa for rent with 4 bedroom at Al Khodh, Rent 950/-RO. Contact 92888115 Furnished flats in taqah (salalah) for ro 150/-only. the offer is limited. contact - 97035662 / 94268564 Prim location, nice finishing villa for RENT. 2 big bedrooms . Main large sitting room. Small maid room. Kitchen and 3 bathrooms.

At Alkhuwair. near Holiday Inn & Oman Club. 99426662, PDC only.

For families & college girls.

We have commercial villa in Al Khuwair 33 New villa 2 floor bedroom, with lift very nice location, ideal for big company. Contact 93782735 We have 150 sqm office in Ghubra main road prime location Glass partition ready with 2 toilets & pantry, ideal for office. Contact 93782735 2BHK with split A/C in W.K behind Sana furnishing. Contact 96708000 2BHK Wadi Kabeer R.O 300/-.

Contact 92144045

Studio with A/C Darsait R.O 200/-.

Contact 92144045

4 & 5 Bhk Villa for Rent in Qurum.

Contact 99792181

Studio commercial / Darsait, RO 200/-. Contact 92144045

Flat at Athaiba near Horizon Gym, first floor 3BHK, hall living room, 3bathrooms split ac 550/- R.O family only. Contact 92479515

1,2,3 BHK Flats & villas.

Contact 92144045 1 bedroom attached toilet in Al Khuwair bachelors / family R.O 140/- . Contact 95154331

1 & 2 Bhk Flat in Ruwi.

Contact 99792181 Labour Camp for Rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99792181

New flats Wadi Kabeer 1BHK, hall, kitchen, bathroom with split a/c for family only 250/- R.O. Contact 92479515

2 Bhk flat in bowsher.

Contact 99792181

2BHK with A.C Darsait R.O 300/-.

Contact 92144045

Shop in Wadi Kabeer behind Sana Fashion, ground & mezzanine floor, bathroom & store. 350 Riyals.

Contact: 99445192

1BHK Al Falaj R.O 200/-.

Contact 92144045 House for rent in behind Oman house Muttrah R.O 120/- BHK. Contact 99354340

New Building in Mutrah, 2 B/D Room Flat + Setting Room,3 Baths+ Kitchen with split unit Ac’s. Behind Khimiji’s main office/opposite to Oman House Call 99419712

We have brand new villa in ANSAB, for rent 4 bedroom, sitting hall, majlis, dining hall, maid room laundry room covered car parking.

Contact 93782735 We have 2BHK, 3BHK, flats, office & 4 BHK villas available for rent at Ghubra, Ghala, Ruwi , Mabela7 and Darsait. Contact 93329476 2BHK flat in Muttrah for rent (R.O 290/-) immediate occupancy.

Contact 99321580 Separate room sharing with a Hyderabadi family in flat plus separate bathroom and small kitchen , Al Ghubra South, near Sultan Qaboos sports complex R.O 150/-.

Contact 99310551 (Said) 1BHK, 2BHK at Honda road Ruwi at Muscat services building no.

2324 Way - 4331.

Contact 99224748 / 99332297 5 BHK villas for rent at Al Ghoubra North 18th November Street near new Mars Hypermarket.

Contact 97681599 2BHK bldg #1619 Way # 1322 adjacent to Indian Nursery Darsait RO 340/-. Contact 99476728 1 & 2 bhk flat in Alkhuwair.

Contact 99792181 For rent 2 shops area 4 x 10 mtr good location main road new bldg in whole sale Al Amerat.

Contact 92877449

For rent 2 bed room, flat 1 sitting, 2 toilets, 1 kitchen new bldg good location behind in whole sale Al Amerat. Contact 92877449 1000 sq mtrs industrial land for rent in Ghala suitable for Ware house workshop. Contact 24700120 / 92584715 Flats room, hall, kitchen, toilet in Bowsher. Contact 96961306 2 B/R Luxury Fully Furnished @ AZAIBA. 2 B/R Luxury Fully Furnished @ Al Khuwair 33.

1 B/R Luxury Fully Furnished @ Al Khuwair. 5 B/R Fully Furnished villa @ Madinat Al Ilam.

3 B/R Furnished flat at Al Khuwair 25. Available for Daily, Weekly and Yearly Lease Contract.

Contact: Atlas Real Estate & Rent A Car LLC. 99249069 / 93201688/92888376, Email: info@alshahiintl.com 4 Bedrooms villa with 2 hall, 4 bathrooms in Darsait, behind Kimijis mart. Contact 92584715/ 24700120 Flat located in Al Muhaj Square Al Amerat on the main road.

Contact 98895553 480 sqm commercial / residential land for rent in Bawshar Phase 2, near Express Highway.

Contact 92788004 / 92269674 Villa in Al Khuwair, rent R.O 1300/-. Contact 99776071 / 99057348

S U N DAY, M A R C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

D3

DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE

FOR RENT 2 bedrooms flat with hall, 2bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality. Contact 24700120 / 92584715 2BHK apartment fro at Qurum near PDO, Gate 2. Contact 94057023 2BHK apartment for rent at Al Khuwair 33. Contact 94057023 Covered workshop in Misfa near NCPT 100 sq mt with separate office and accom. Contact 93965831 Well maintained 3 BHK (R.O 350/-) 2 BHK (R.O 300/-) for rent in Rex Road. Contact 92227165 3BR Top class fitting flat ideal for top executives Mumtaz area, Ruwi.

Contact 91287824 For rent flat and showroom in Al Khuwair, Ghala, Ghubrah and Darsait. Contact 24485240, 24485241, 93651633, 92109563 Flat deluxe in Al Amerat Mahaj 4,3 rooms with 3 toilets.

Contact 99672604 1 / 3 BHK Flat Ghobrah, close to ISG Way 4041, building 4390.

Contact 99319880 3 B/R flat in Ruwi Mumtaz industrial land in Misfah. Contact 99776071 /99057348 Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879 Villa Al Khuwair, 8 bedroom, 7 bathroom, 3kittchen. 950/-.

Contact 99358589/ 5121126/95570288 6 bedroom villa for rent at Al Mawalah near City Center Seeb.

Contact 99654252

Brand new highly finished luxury twin villa for sale in Mawaleh Phase -1 land area for each villa 300,00 m2 builtup area for each villa 433.50 sqm both villas with separate krooki. Contact 99164959 Want Company engaged in selling food to sell coolers non repairable (scrap) quantity: 192 pieces. Contact 93650084 Offices: 24614874 Dental Clinic with license for sale in Sohar. Contact 92816015 Steel fabrication work shop for sale, 1500 sqm ready for use with all equipment . serious buyers. Location: Falaj Al Ouhi . Ind Area. Contact: +971558662772 /95179637 Commercial registration with excellent name Grade A for business software for sale. Contact 92959251 Barbar shop in Al Khuwair good running business, location : near Al Akhtham Restaurant.

Contact +968- 99616650 Shop for sale prime location at Al Khoud Souq Tejari.

Contact 99083308

M.V. FOR SALE

Running super market & coffee shop for sale in Muscat.

Contact 93471848

ACC. AVAILABLE

Commercial land 1100 m in Ghoubra North good for hyper market.

Contact 99070093

Flats in Darsait of 1 room, hall, 2 toilets and kitchen.

Contact 99357586 / 97500025

Lands, villas & buildings.

Contact 99070093

Full furnished Executive bachelor at W.Kabir. Contact 99325387

USED construction material for sale scaffolding tower hoist steel cutting & bending machine Contact 99209181 Building materials shop for sale on 20% discount. Items only or full shop for sale at Ruwi including jotun paint mixing machine. Contact 99421228

Single room with attached bathroom, kitchen near Muscat Palace family or bachelor OMR 90/-. #95094028

AVAILABLE

Office space (100sq.m) for sale on service road to exhibition centre Ghala. Contact 91277703

Established Restaurant for rent with sponsorship.

Contact 97628242

1BHK flat available at Darsait near medical. Contact 24705742/24705639

A well running coffee shop with 4 clearance for sale at Wadi Kabir Sanayya. Brokers also.

Contact 94159356

One bedroom flats @Al Khuwair 33. Owner - 92800007

Coffee Shop for sale in North Al Ghubrah. Contact 95256009

Villa OPP Grand Mall 2 living room, 2 hall + 3 rooms, kitchen & maid room with AC. Contact 99738881

Port cabins – New & refurnished Porta cabin for sale and rent.

Contact 96723468

Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. www.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

2BHK flat Al Khuwair with split A/C. 350/- Contact 95121126/99358589/97079146

Family flats and villas at Ansab.

Contact 98458542 1B/R available for Bachelors in REX ROAD, Ruwi. Contact 99889590 Industrial shops in Misfah RO 150/-, RO 350/-, RO 500/-.

Contact 99876161 Industrial Land in Misfah.

Contact 93009999 Flats and shops. Contact 93009999 Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat.

Contact 99349526 If require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send messages through Whatsapp or call – 99376454

Shop for sale at Ruwi.

Contact 99103077 We are dealing with sale of all beauty salon equipments, furnitures & cosmetics. Contact 942 888 61 / 942 888 63

BUYING/SELLING Looking for purchase of Used Portable Compressor (350 CFM, 7 Bar Pressure) powered with Diesel run Generator.

Kindly Contact 99014686 or operation@khancogroup.com

ACC. WANTED Wanted a 2 bedroom flat in around Ruwi area. Gsm 99761216

ACC. AVAILABLE Spacious room with attached bath available for Executive bachelor in Ruwi near Al Maha filling station.

Contact 98290299 Furnished 1 bed room available near Indian School, Seeb for small family.

Contact 91354846 Ro-130, big room in Darsait for family / ladies with Kerala family.

Contact 95323562

Furnished single /sharing room for EXE bachelor at Rex Road (Kannada, Telugu, Tamil). Contact 92873832 Single furnished room in Ruwi.

Contact 24833609 Rooms for bachelors with A/C bed near CBD/ ONTC, Ruwi R.O 100/-.

Contact 96585123 Excellent room, kitchen available near ONTC bus station (Ruwi).

Contact 95569740 Sharing family flat near Indian School Wadi Kabir. Contact 99335057 Independent rooms in Qurum/Al Hail. Contact 95529970 Staff accommodation available for rent in Azaiba, 15 rooms with attached bath and kitchen including big store / full office space / parking and yard. Contact 95526871 Accommodation available for South Indian family, one bedroom with attached toilet, kitchen, hall in a villa, Al Ghubrah. Contact 99209160 Room for SRI LANKAN Executive at Al Khuwair. Tel 96536307 Fully furnished at W. Kabir.

Contact 99325387

Car sale Land Rover L.R 3 & model 2008 K.M 140000, company maintenance. Single person Use (doctor). Contact 99372860 Trucks & cars for sale quantity: 16 vehicles. Contact 96724225 / 99513419 office: 24614949 Hyundai full star, hatch back white color model 2015, manufacturing 2014, 22,000 km. Contact 99318585 Toyota corolla XLI 2012 model 1.8 L, 38500 KM, automatic for sale.

Contact 99501046 Prado TXL 2.7L, 2014 km, 27 k for sale. Contact 96498674

NOTICE Al Munjiz Trading & contracting L.L.C. It is informed that our administrative office is shifted from Hamariyah to Ruwi. New address is as follows: Sadik house, building No. 488, Mezzanine floor, Office No. 13, Ruwi. Our new telephone numbers are : 24705660/ 24705662. Our new fax number is – 24705661 Email id is: almunjiz@yahoo.com

LOST

Room for executive bachelors (no Kitchen) including W/E. 125 RO. Contact 98949724

Furnished room + bath Darsait R.O 140/-. Contact 93289652

Aswathy Punnackal Anilkumar has lost her Indian Passport No. L 3749240 expiring on 28.07.2023, issued from Cochin, Kerala. Finder please handover to ROP

Furnished room with attached bath for non-cooking bachelor in Ruwi, R.O 150/-. Contact 92478852

3 rooms, 3 bath flat. Darsait coast near Indian School like new.

Contact 99715042

Roopel Mayh has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. E 1399949. Finder please handover to ROP.

Toyota car sale 2011, kms 80000, fully automatic 1.6.

Contact 99354340 Vehicles /Equipments, Toyota Camry 2007, Toyota Corolla 2003, Daihatsu Charade 2006, Nissan XTrail 2008, Forklift Hyster, all agency maintained. Contact 99202278 / 94652485 / 99273774 Nissan Sunny Auto 2009, 100 k, RO 2500. Contact 93289652

CHANGE OF NAME I Medabala Salini (holder of Indian passport No. K9230058) daughter of M. Prakash having permanent residence in Ponnamanda, Razole, East Godavari Dist, A.P, Pin : 533248 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing in Al Ansab, near Bank Muscat, P.O . Box: 723, P.C 130, Sultanate of Oman (complete postal address in Oman) intend to change my name from Medabala Salini (old name) to Medabala Shalini (new name) for all practical purposes.

Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No, 1727 Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

D4

S U N DAY, M A R C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED ADMIN/HR

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Urgently required a leading construction company required qualified male Accountant with experience between 10 – 15 years and possibility to join immediately.

Email: alfayafy@outlook.com Fax: 24479675

Indian female with excellent communication skills, confident, dedicated to work and enthusiastic.

Knowledge about ms office. Has 6 years of experience in customer service, telecommunication, HR.Looking for immediate placement. Contact # 97348819

Required an experienced Accountant for a reputed supermarket chain, preference for the relevant arena, visa available. Contact +968- 99462429

Indian male, 27 yrs, MBA(HR & Finance) having 3 yrs experience in advertising company and have through knowledge in office coordination & administration, good computer proficiency on visit visa looking for suitable placement Contact 91361534, sreejith.mv63@gmail.com

Looking for an employee with has experience in AutoCad, basic Microsoft office and can handle accounts preference to who had worked in decoration field. Contact 95342240 Email CV at : venice.decoration@gmail.com

ARCHI./ DRAUGHTSMAN

ADMIN/HR Required male Admin & Secretary to work under Senior Management with Min. 3 to 5 years exp. with excellent computer knowledge and good office co-ordination and capable to work independent. Basic Accounts knowledge will be preferable. Email: vacancyinoman123@gmail.com

CATERING Urgently required experienced Staff for a reputed hotel apartments in muscat Arabic Cook. e- mail : noronhagj27@gmail.com, tel # 97677211 Chef / Cook (Muslim) - at least (3) years experience, experience in cooking (Arab European and Indian). Please send your CV to email address: info@albatnapp.com, please call GSM: 99202531 Shawarma BBQ, Tandoor makers wanted. Contact 95529970

DRAUGHTSMAN AutoCAD Draftsman having Oman experience. Contact 99370565 Urgently required, AutoCAD Draughts man with knowledge of interior design. Minimum 1-2 years experience. Interested candidate may please send CV to fax: 24694998 Email: fareedadesign@gmail.com

DRIVER Looking for a House Driver with at least 3 years experience.

Contact : 92807807 Requires Indian Light Duty driver for a Omani family. Visa will be provided. Contact 95225662 Required Omani driver for 3 ton vehicle. Contact 99247218 / 92248407 Required light driver, present in Oman for a mechanical company in Ghala 170+ accommodation no food. Contact 99454425 Wanted driver. Contact 95112461 Required a private driver from India. Contact 92345861

DOMESTIC HELPER Require House maid in Mabela.

Contact. 95200180 Required a Filipino Housemaid for two months work (March & April) in Ruwi for husband and wife, no children. Contact Vivian : 99130693

ENGI./ELECT./TECH..

Required Sales Engineer for the sale of building Material, with 3-5 years experience in Oman, holding a valid Omani driving license.

Qualified candidates mail in your CV to migc.vacancies@gmail.com Leading metal fabrication group requires Sales Engineer, minimum 2 yrs exp. with valid Oman D/L. Contact: hr@khancogroup.com 99102383 Civil Engineer (1 No.) , Electrical Engineer (1No) 5- 10 years experience with Omani driving license.

Contact 99222137 Required Civil Foreman with electrical / plumbing experience having valid Omani driving license with 5 years experience. Contact 99202278 / 94652485/ 99273774 Required Structural Engineer, graphic designer and accountant.

Email: alasalaheng@gmail.com

IT

SALES / MARKETING

IT Sales Executive GCC Experience - 2+ Years Valid Driving license Graduate in IT With MBA or Marketing back ground in IT field.

E mail : towers70@gmail.com, info@towersinternationalgroups. com

Required Business Development Executive for a clearing and forwarding company. Please mail CV to wisal.international@gmail.com

Required IT Technician for computer shop. Send your CV at khalid@rayyancomputer.com

MISCELLANEOUS Required tailor, barber.

Contact 96964767

MEDICAL Hala Medical Center, Sinaw require G.P, Gynecologist, Pediatrician, Staff Nurse, Lab Technician Radiographer & Lady Receptionist.

Contact 99795113 Email: halamedicalgroup@gmail.com Required Nurse for a clinic in Al Buraimi, S. of Oman. Contact 00968 92737149. Send CV to drpkabbas@yahoo.co.in Required for a reputed medical center in Al Khuwair, General Practitioner Doctor, Gastroenterologist , Neurophysiology Technician (EEG, EMG), X- Ray Technician, Marketing Executive. Please send CV: absmc2013@gmail.com Fax: 24488660 Wanted Doctor with or without MOH license for a Polyclinic.

Excellent salary with accommodation and commission.

Contact: 97091664.

Email: mmcmuscat@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING Sohar based manufacturing company is looking for an experienced Young Sales Person with MBA qualification. Only candidates with immediate local release & D/L need apply. Email CV to – edelweissprasad@rediffmail.com.

Wanted Salesman with driving licence and car. Gsm : 98805474 or email id: jobssales2015@gmail.com

Urgently required SALES EXECUTIVES for a reputed company dealing in TRUCK SPARE PARTS. Fresh graduates are also welcome.

Attractive salary packages. Send CV: Jibalmansur@gmail.com 97988908/ 95415900 Reputed building materials company looking for Outdoor Sales Executive having valid Omani driving license with more than 2 years local sales experience in tiles / sanitary ware. Please fax your CV to 24798709 Email: united@omantel.net.om Wanted young and energetic Sales Executive for a Muscat based companies sales operations in Dubai.

Work experiences in Dubai preferred.

Contact 92269674 Email: info@mwpoman.net A well reputed trading company urgently requires experienced sales executive for their Curtain Division having at least 5 years of relevant experience in retail with good communication and negotiation skills and age not more than 40 years. Interested candidates may send CV’s to Fax 24482231 Urgently required an excellent grade construction firm based in Muscat has immediate vacancy for Marketing Executive minimum 5 years experience with D/L. Email your CV to info@omannc.com

TOURS Sales Manager for luxury yacht in Muscat. Experience in Oman market preferred. Email cv and photo: alibadawy@gmail.com.

Temporary boatman wanted for month of April and May 2015.

Contact 99466062 Experienced Travel and Tourism Staff (IATA Certificate holder) 2 nos, Senior Accountant (male) 1 no. Send CV : atsanildev@gmail.com / naushad_ sulaiman@yahoo.com

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male 24 yrs M.B.A having 2 yrs of experience in financial accounting up to finalization having knowledge of tally ERP 9, focus, wings, peach tree, MS Excel, Pay roll currently on visit visa seeking suitable placement available immediately. Contact 91058205 Email: aslammohammed10@gmail.com B.com doing CA Accounts/ office job male now working in Oman Noc, release available. Contact 92715465 Email: alsabathehm@gmail.com Indian male- B.Com/B.Ed/15 years Exp – 5 in Oman, seeks job in Accts/Sales/Logistics have NOC and Oman D/L with car.

Contact – 92919625/93511425/ 93424828; Emailseshadricpioman@gmail.com Male, total 17 years experience in India & Oman - India - 9 years & Oman - 8 years In the field of procurement, material controller and accountancy - Local release available (Noc) Cont no. 91680124 , 98606546

ACCA finalist and BSc from Oxford Brookes University UK, having 18 months working experience, currently in Muscat on visit, seeking immediate and suitable position.

Contact : 95375282 India Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placement. Contact:93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com Indian male, 32 years, M. Com. 7 out of 9 years experience in Oman in Accounts/finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact 98277143, Email: anzarks@gmail.com Indian Male, MBA 2 yrs experience in Accounts, Admin & HR on visit visa. Contact 92045306 Accountant 8 yrs experience looking for part time job. # 99867456 Accounting up to finalization, auditing & contact for tally ERP software Contact– 91720465

Sudanese male, Architect 3 years experience in Oman as an Architectural designer and Site Supervisor, designing software known (Auto CAD, 3D Max, revit, ArchiCAD, photo shop and primavera.

Contact 92327536 Email: ahmedstar89@hotmail.com

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian B.Com Graduate having 7 years of experience in logistics in Dubai and 2 years of Oman experience in accounts with valid D/L is looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 00968 91234320

Accountant B.Com CIMA finalist 8 yrs experience. Contact 95522109

Indian male (34), B. Com with computer application , 3 years experience in Muscat as Accountant .

Having valid Oman D/L, looking for a part time job. Contact 91586632

Pakistani male, 25 yrs, MBA Finance, 1.6 yrs exp in Accounts seeking placement in Accounts, Administration or Business Management. Contact 92651927 / 94250149

M. Com with Tally, 7 yrs exp in audit (sales tax conslt) and Accounting. Ph : 93213138

MBA HR&FINANCE Indian Female with 2 years work experience in leading MNC looking for suitable placement in HR / FINANCE, Contact: 99791008 / 93888576

Accounts part time works finalization, monthly report, P& L report, and balance sheet by 10 year Oman exp.

Contact 96247295

Part time Accountant, up to finalization, looking for job after 5 pm (location prefer - Qurum to Al Khoudh). Contact 92917574

Indian male 26 years, with 4 years experience in accounts and administration looking for suitable placement. Contact 93008891

Indian male Accountant looking for a suitable placement in Salalah.

More than 20 yrs experience in Accounting job (upto the finalization of accounts), 8 yrs working experience in Middle East in Dubai, Muscat & Salalah. Contact 91325029

Accountant with bachelor degree in Business Administration & Accounting from Majan College with 1 year experience in Oman.

Contact 96132149

Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting .

NOC available. Contact 96209331 Accountant (B.Com, MBA pursuing) Indian male, 25 years, 2 years experience as an Accountant in India seeking better placement on visit visa. Contact 97709327 12 years Oman experience Chief Accountant looking for immediate placement. Contact 97385562 Indian male 9 years experience in Accounts seeks suitable placement.

Contact 94080452 Young Indian male, holder of MBA from Whales University London (Finance and Information system) seeks suitable placement in Oman.

Contact 99594132 C.A with 11 years experience (6 years in Oman) with NOC. Contact 93731296 Indian 34 yrs B.Com CA Inter pass 12 yrs exp in Audit A/C, Finance on visit seeks suitable placement.

Contact 95585069 Indian Chartered Accountant 15 years Gulf experience in EPR Tally, Peachtree, SAP FOCUS Oracle MS. Contact India mobile 0091 8086469422.

Email: rahmanacc123@gmail.com Indian female B.Com CA INTER, 3 years internship completed, 2 years Accounting experience currently on visit visa seeking for suitable job. Contact 94682798/ 95736496 Email: giby2605@gmail.com Indian male, 25 yrs,MBA (Finance) 3 years experience as Accountant immediately available. #: 968 99485943, Email : hyd.mushu@gmail.com Sudanese Accountant & Coordinator looking for suitable job.

Contact 97325835 Indian male 28 yrs, B.Com 5 yrs experience in Oman in finance & accounting, Tally ERP. NOC is available with valid D/L. Contact 95960600

Accountant B.Com MBA, Indian male having 5 yrs GCC exp in similar field with valid Omani D/L & NOC available. Contact: 91719385 Email: shinuyesodharan@gmail.com, Female with MBA finance, financial and tax professional four and half years of experience seeks suitable opportunities in reputed organizations. Contact- 99792457 Email: msparveen1@gmail.com Indian male, B.Com, Accountant – 6yrs exp in Oman, NOC availableReady to join.contact: 98162671 ; email: prasanths3@gmail.com Indian Male, 25 yrs currently in Oman on visit looking for suitable vacancies in accounts, B.Com completed 1 yr experience. Contact 92024380

ADMIN/HR Indian male MBA 32 yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking suitable placement in Admin/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics etc. Holding valid Oman D/L .Contact - 99054786 Indian, Male, 30 Years, B.COM, 8 Years’ Experience as HR / Administration in Oman, seeks suitable placement, NOC Available, Contact No. 00968 94652591 Smart personality, professional, qualification excellent English, 10+ years Oman exp – operations, admin, management, business development, commercial available immediately. NOC. Contact 91229392 Indian male 8 yrs exp in travel arrangements & 13 yrs exp in admin, purchase, import & export business available on visit.

Contact # 96142830 / 94015234 Indian male MBA 35 years having 12 years of experience in Oman seeking placement in Admin /HR operations / accounts holding valid Oman D/L. Contact 96055815. NOC available can join immediately .

Email: shaiks111@gmail.com Young Indian male with 5 years Muscat experience in admin, purchase & Masters from UK seeks placement. Possess driving license.

Contact 94400671

Autocad D/man freelancer / part time experienced in MEP, security systems. Contact 96741935 Auotcad knows 3D,REVIT, MAX Ph : 97103168

ADVOCATE Experienced Indian Lawyer BA (Arabic) LLB,MBA on visit seeks opportunity. Contact 97351649, Email : advocatesharaf@gmail.com

BEAUTICIAN Beautician available Indian 33 yrs, female having 24 years experience in India now in Muscat looking for suitable position.

Contact 92003136

CATERING Indian cook, Tandoori cook, male, 32 yrs, having 4 yrs of experience in Muscat in India, looking for a cook job in Hotel. Contact 93753523 / 98744307 / 92175119.

DESIGNER Keralite Bachelor professional building designer with AutoCAD, 3D Max & Accounts. Contact: 96535497, email : bhaviwky90@gmail.com Indian female, 25yrs BscFASHION DESIGNING, 3yers experience in designing field and teaching. looking for a sutable placement. Contact: 98785310.

Email: vinaya.m.nair@gmail.com

DRIVER Light Driver having own visa looking for job as driver.Contact 92303692 Tower crane operator having visa NOC. Contact Atthar har 97377834 Light driver looking for job, 15+ years in Oman. Contact 95938733 Driver light foreman, construction experience 6 years in Oman.

Contact 94001751 Crane operator. Contact 99186264 Indian male 35 yrs Qatar GCC heavy equipment license knows Arabic, Hindi & English looking for a driver placement. Contact 98739710 now on visiting visa.

Light driver looking for job.

Contact 94035746 Light driver looking for job.

Contact 92791678 Driver light, Gulf exp, GCC license knows Arabic, Hindi, English.

Ph: 99505934 Light duty driver looking for job, 2 yrs exp. Contact 98356230 Light driver looking for a job 2 yrs Exp in Oman language Hindi & Arabic . NOC available.

Contact: 92108930 / 97002682 Light driver looking for job 15 yrs in SKA and 2 Qatar. Contact 95043437 Light driver looking for job.

Contact 91376612 Light driver looking for job, 3 yrs exp. in Oman, 5 yrs exp in Saudi Arabia, English, Arabic. #96088707 LV Driver- 2 yrs Exp-know English- Contact 95292064

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED SALES / MARKETING MBA (marketing & operations) with 2 years experience in marketing & operations looking for suitable placement, presently on visit visa.

Contact 97920125 Email: hareeshg111@gmail.com

EDUCATION

ENGG. / TECHNICAL B.E Civil Engineer Indian male 16 years exp in project mgmt site and construction mgmt computer skills valid Oman D/L seeking suitable placement with NOC can join immediately. Contact : 99446335 Civil Engineer, male 25 yrs, 3 years experience in site CAD, 3D, MS project, seeking job in Oman.

Contact 92887561 Email: jubincivileng@gmail.com Instrumentation Design Engineer degree holder having experience in smart plant Instrumentation (IN TOOLS 9.0) AutoCAD seeking placement in best position and having industrial maintenance experience.

Contact 97261387 Civil Engineer (Diploma) presently working as Project Manager having experience over 20 years in Oman seeks suitable placement. NOC available kindly Contact 95705980 Email: riyaspmd@yahoo.com Chemical engineer B.Tech Indian male 2+ years of experience seeking suitable placement. Contact 92545630 Email: vkarun77@gmail.com Sudanese Engineer bachelor of Mechanical Engineer have 8 years experience desalination water plant (design, operation and maintenance pump stations all rind of water pump and water line calculation.

Contact 97873794 Indian male, 28 diploma in fire and safety Engineering computer hardware net working 1 yr customer service experience trouble shooting technical support on visit visa.

Contact 91025050 / 98856803 Email: purujith8797@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B.E) Indian male, 1 year experience, (India) with knowledge of AutoCAD MS project MS Office seeking for suitable job in construction industry.

Contact 94350900

Civil Engineer B.Tech , MBA Indian male 7 years experience , Oman in project management and quantity survey and skilled with primavera 6 MS Project MS Office AutoCAD seeking suitable placement having Noc valid Oman driving license.

Immediately joining. Contact 98145441 / 97647060 Project Manager BSC Civil Engineering with MBA have Oman experience with 9+ years.

Contact 97046565 Quality Assurance Design, BTech Elec, MBA (TQM) , IT Infrastructure(WLAN , TETRA) Security systems(CCTV AACS),Project control Engineering, Document Control / CAD Managing /Change management, Exp in Major projects, NOC available Ph : 99506977 BE 2 yrs exp electrical projects AutoCAD design/ commission available attested. Contact 97835922 Email: anascadd11@gmail.com B.E Mechanical Engineer, Indian male, 4 yrs experience in sales, Seeking suitable job on visit visa.

Contact 96137079 , 93095565, Email : elangovivek@yahoo.co.in Manager project /construction management M.Tech in Civil Engineering, PMP trained total 18 yrs experience, 4 yrs experience in Dubai and 3 yrs in Oman profit centre head experience in handling multimillion projects, NOC available ready to join.

Contact 91158903 Email: luminousmercury@gmail.com BE/EEE Electrical Engineer Indian male 25 years having 2.5 years experience currently on visit visa looking for suitable placement.

Contact 00968-96522624 / 92770316 contact India +91- 9994024477 / 9597539520 Looking Part time Job in HVACContact - 93198128

Omani Citizen Mechanical Engineer with 1 yer exp looking for job .

Contact:95993315 email: eaz-s@hotmail.com

Quantity Surveyor (Civil Building) looking for Part time job Contact no:-94391712 E-mail addressinayathhussain@yahoo.com

Electrical Engineer Indian male 29 years, having 5 years of experience in Industrial Automation & utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) seeking suitable placement.

Contact 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com

Indian B.Tech Mechanical Engineer, 26 yrs, 4 yrs experience in HVAC/MEP. Contact 94669629, rajeevhpd15@yahoo.com

Electrical Engineer B.E Engineer, 6 years experience in Dubai, Bahrain with G.C.C. professional licenses holding GCC driving license.

Contact 98063081 Email: imran.engr08@gmail.com Arabic /English fluent Mechanical Engineer, MBA, PMP 8 yrs of experience, 5 yrs in project field (management and supervision familiar with primavera P6 on visit visa looking for a challenging job position . Email: abdelgader1982@gmail.com Contact 94687010 Bachelor in Telecommunication Engineering from CCE ,CCNA certificate IELTS, score 7 experience certificate from Central Bank of Oman.

Contact 95331455 / 92210958 Mechanical engineer (B.Tech in Mechanical) with certified quality controller –NDT level 2 qualified as per ASNT – SNT - TC - IA having experience in sales and marketing in India, presently on visiting visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92417032 Email: joel.aries@gmail.com B.Tech Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, female with approximately 2 years in medical field is seeking any job position.

Contact 94652908 mail id: aswathiraviraj@gmail.com Telecom Engineer with 4.5 years Oman experience looking for a suitable opportunity, interested even in Marketing also. Possess valid Oman driving license. Contact 94145460 Automobile Engineer (B.Com, PGDCA) Indian male 9 years experience 2 years in India technician 7 years in Saudi as coordinator in Quality controller seeking suitable placement with visiting visa. Contact 93973989/ 99572029. Email: sangeethvm4004@gmail.com

M. Sc Mechanical Engineer 5 years experience in crusher plants production manufacturing release visa CAD/CAM. Contact 92156387 / 97838220 BTECH ( ELECTRONICS), Automation Engineer,exp in control panels, test & commn ph : 93841820 Civil Engineer (Diploma) 7 yrs exp, 4 yrs work Oman, looking for job valid transferrable ID card.

Contact 98776073 Email: eng.naju@ymail.com Sudanese Civil Engineer Diploma, 2 years experience in construction markets seeking suitable placement.

Contact 98972282 Project / Contracts Manager, 31 yrs (with 25 yrs Oman) experience, in Govt / private sector on Multimillion R.O .Projects, Post Graduate in Civil Structural Engineering with Structural & QS background.

Contact 91400599 Electronics & Communication Engineer with 4 years Oman experience in telecom field looking for a suitable opportunity. Interested in marketing also. Possess valid Oman driving license. Contact 94145460 Indian female 24 yrs Computer Engineering Diploma, 2 yrs exp data entry MS Office, admin now on visit visa. Contact 96314974 DAE (Civil) having 3.5 years Experience 2 years from Oman with driving licences, seeking for suitable position in Construction field NOC and release available . Contact 96968554 Email: mehranahmad26@yahoo.com B. Tech Purchase Engineer 2 yrs experience in sales & purchasing currently on visit visa. #93629269 Email: amair4v@gmail.com Aeronautical Engineer 24 yrs, BE, Indian excellent knowledge in AutoCad, PRO - E. Contact 97847986

Civil Engineer B Tech, Site Engineer Experienced, Drafting on Visit Visa Ph : 91642050 Indian Male, 5 yrs exp.

Hardware & net working Engineer on short visit requires suitable placement. Contact 92458622 Quantity Surveyor, B.Tech & H.N.D with 4 yrs experience looking for suitable placement on visit visa.

Contact 96978752, 95751278, email : hmirfan527@gmail.com Sudanese Mechanical Engineer 11 years exp in oil & gas industry.

Contact - 95928035 Mechanical Engineer BE, 4 years experience in welding & inspection & erection in power oil & gas sector having CSWIP3.1 certificate seeking good placement.Contact : 92803878 Email: vijayanand.kvp@gmail.com 24 years Indian female diploma in computer science and engineering now on visit visa seek suitable placement. Contact 96314974/99107369 Sudanese Telecom Engineer working in Oman for two years, total experience 5 years experience on VSAT, installation and maintenance for towers also. Contact 93391008 Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Gulf Exp in Design and Manufacturing Ph: 97097688 Generator maintenance in charge with 4 yrs experience with Cummins, caterpillar, kirloskar and voltas. Contact - email: shibinmundakkal@gmail.com Aircraft Maintenance Technician with one year experience seeks suitable placement. Contact amaljohn2002@gmail.com Electrical Engineer experience 2008-2015 in Oman and experience 2004- 2008 outside Oman, 34 years.

Contact 96968275 / 97445304 Email: alsada_1981@yahoo.com B.Sc Electrical Engineer, more than 16 years experience, 3 years in Oman experience in EPC contract, power plant – grid station – primary substation – SCADA system – test and commissioning engineer – DCRP approval.

Contact 96964917 Muscat Arabic and English / Oman driving license Telecom Engineer with 4 yrs experience in Engineering & Sales VOIP. Contact 92577245 Diploma of Associate Civil Engineering, Diploma of AutoCad, having 3.5 yrs experience, 2 yrs experience of Oman in Building Construction, valid transferrable ID Card.

Contact 94378581 Experienced female Electrical Engineer. Contact 93800906 Civil Engineer with 12 years Experience Looking For Job. Contact 98162295 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Indian male, 26 yrs B-Tech (ECE) with MBA in Marketing / HR looking for a suitable placement. Currently on visit visa valid up to 30 January 2015. Contact 93754428, email : shijosirius709@gmail.com

EDUCATION Indian English teacher B.A, Tesol 4 years exp in India 3 years exp in Ministry School or Oman needs job.

Contact 99839385 / 95265767 Experienced Librarian seeks suitable position. Contact 92887119 Indian English Teacher male eligible for Senior Secondary College levels (MA, B.Ed, SET) 5+ years experience seeks placement in schools, colleges. # 95526395 now on visiting visa.

1 year experience in teaching all subject to KG classes, currently working as a teacher in Oman, seeking suitable placement, Family visa.

Contact 92178304 / 99036256

Indian Female (M.Com, B.ED) 2Yrs Experience in teaching seeks suitable placement . Specialization in ( Accounting, Business studies, Human resource management, Economics). Presently in Visit Visa Status. Contact:97342709, Email: sininair27@gmail.com

INFORMATION TECH MCA, MBA, CCNA, MCSE, Indian male with 10 years of experience, holding Oman driving license on visit visa seeks any suitable placement. Contact 92716116 / 91266535 Email: sijuayur@gmail.com BSc. Computer Engineer having skills in IT Support, Networking and Technical Sales. Looking for a job opportunity. Mobile: 9127 9617, Email: Javaid_iqbal1@hotmail.com Indian male IT prof, MCA, 2 yrs exp as System Administrator in Oman 3+ yrs exp in (hardware, networking, widows server, exchange server, SharePoint) and 1 yr exp in (PHP, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, Ajax, My SQL in India). NOC available.

Contact 97496998 ERP Software professional, Indian male, 20 yrs (5 yrs Oman) experienced. Interested in ERP/ CRM, Development, Implementation, support position. Contact 93501977 Email: go4nadeem@gmail.com Indian male 25 B.Tech (IT) Engineer 2.5 yrs exp in hardware networking.

Currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact – 94359564 IT Professional (25) (Srilankan), B. Tech dip, MCTS, MCP, CCNA, LINUX having 4 years experience, looking for suitable position (on visit visa).

Contact 93354526 Email: jamsith.pc@gmail.com MCITP Certified B. Sc Computer Science Indian male with 5 years experience in system administrator, active directory, hyper-v virtualization, SAN, storage and SCOM. Contact 95540976, 91- 8425879797.

Email: is_tombe@hotmail.com SAP BO/BODS consultant 6 years experience with EMBA (IT) B. Tech (IT) OCP, OCA, ITIL & AIX qualified seeks suitable posting.

Contact 92532996 / 95740250 Email: elango2840@gmail.com Sudanese computer Information System (CIS) Bachelor The American University in London 2.5 years experience. Contact 98178276 Email: khalidsme@gmail.com Hardware specialist B.Tech M.Tech electronics with 10 years experience seeks suitable opportunities in reputed organizations.

Contact 91289459 Email: shrn.shrf@gmail.com B.Tech IT Professional, Indian Male with 3 yrs of Exp. In System Admin, IT Support, Networking, Installing Active Directory, DHCP, DNS,RAS, configuring maintaining and managing servers, configuring cisco routers, Exp in handling SQL database, With Valid Driving Licence. Contact - 968 98863507 IT Prof, MCA having 6+ yrs exp, seeks suitable position.

Contact 94543668

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Indian male Graduate with 20+ years of Administration, Operations & Management experience in IT, Oil & Gas & Hospitality Industry. 12 years in Oman with vast contacts, very strong management, operational, communication and interpersonal skills, can handle any size of business and projects whether it’s in initial stage or established. Can join immediately.

Local release available on request.

Contact: 9906 4589 11years Oman exp, diverse responsibilities in reputed companies, smart, highly qualified, results oriented. Immediate joining, NOC. Contact 98179887 Qualified Manager: (12+ yrs. Oman Exp.) Vast knowledge in A/c & Admin, Costing, Banking, Credit Control, Insurance, International Purchase/ Logistics & Finance, With D/L looking for suitable position. Gsm: 93826090 Email: jskanchan01@gmail.com Indian female with nine years of experience in 5 Star hotels as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager looking for a suitable placement in a reputed Star hotel.

Contact: 91219787

MEDICAL Female Dentist Indian, 28 years Dental Surgeon, 3 years of experience, Oman prometric passed with 64%, looking for a suitable placement in Muscat region.

Contact 91377681 Email: hashmisarwat@gmail.com Female pharmacist with 3 years experience and MOH license currently in Oman , CONTACT 92455124 Medical- Indian female, 27 yrs, masters in hospital administration, fellowship in HTA studied in a super specialty medical sciences and research center in India and done project in an established hospital in sultanate of Oman.

Contact 93200827, 91026506 Indian female 29 years GNM Nurse with Oman prometric pass 7.8 experience in India currently on visit visa in Oman. Contact 93281598 Indian male Pharmacist (B.Pharma) 5 1/2 years experience in Oman seeking suitable placement in Muscat. NOC from the present employer available.

Contact +968 98525100 Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE Tunisian women looking for job, knows english, frensh, Italian and arabic. Contact: 91171838 Indian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement. Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com Indian female, well experienced in secretarial, administration, customer care & supervisory jobs.

5 years experience in Muscat.

Immediately available for joining.

Contact: 92139298

SKILLED / UNSKILLED MISCELLANEOUS Indian male M. Sc Graduate with telecom AV experience for 6 years looking for suitable position. Contact 00971-557041574 / 95135218 email: nazid83@gmail.com Store keeper 26 yrs, 6 yrs experience 4 yrs in Oman NOC/release available. Contact 97657823 Indian male young & enrject exp marine seaman with Indian CDC holder .oil tanker exp & V.L.O.O.C. NOC available. Contact: 94179164, Email: vivekkpushkaran@gmail.com Logistics Officer, Experience in Store keeping. Contact : 99505934 *Classified Advertisement space

booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

Paki male 26, 4 yrs experienced want job in Mechanic ac & electrician, driving job. Contact 93291664 WELDER, GULF EXP IN 6G 3G TIG, XRAY PH : 99506977 Welder, 3G, 6G, TIG, Exp in Fabrication , Gulf Exp Ph : 97103168 Care taker, Gulf Exp knows Hindi, Arabic Ph: 94238840

SALES / MARKETING Indian Male having 7 yrs in experience in Oman Sales & Marketing Office Automation Printer, Copier, MFP, IT products & Stationery. Looking for Suitable Placement NOC Available Contact :97384748 Van Salesman cum driver, 38 yrs, 10 yrs GCC exp. Contact 97265733

Purchase Manager with 14 years experience in construction industry with valid D/L & NOC. Contact 92884811, Email : bati.rajesh@gmail.com 19 years of UAE experience in sales, management & business development with UAE D/L presently on express visa in Oman seeking for a suitable job.

Contact 91602809 Email thomasalexander210@gmail.com Indian male, MBA-Operations & Marketing (Amity University) with approx 2 years exp and graduate in computer applications, seeking suitable jobs in Oman. Now on visit visa.

Contact: 99146720 ; Email: pmmahesh42@gmail.com Young female, having experience of working in Oman with expertise in the field of Event Management, Advertising, Marketing and Hotel Management. Currently on a visit visa. Seeking for a suitable Job. Contact 96153578 6 years Oman experience in Sales seeking suitable placement. NOC available. Contact 99669137 Indian male 22, holding BCA, seeking jobs in Desktop Supporting, data cable termination, cum Office Asst now on visit. Contact 95110487 Indian male 23 years BMS qualified with 2 years experience in Marketing is looking for suitable job, presently on express visa in Oman.

Contact 96724358, Email : asifrockz@yahoo.com Indian male 29 yrs having two yrs exp in sales seeking suitable replacement in sales store keeper back office support, warehouse assistant admin.

NOC available. Contact 94142747 Email: oasis0987@outlook.com 33 yrs Indian male, 8 yrs exp in Oman, 2 yrs sales & marketing exp have Oman driving license seeks suitable placement. Contact 99107369 Indian female 27 yrs BA English literature PG Mass communication basic computer knowledge looking for suitable position part-time full time. Contact 97497106 Email: namithashamjith@gmail.com Indian female 7 yrs experience in Admin /Sales Coordination in Oman with valid Oman driving license urgently seeks suitable placement.

Contact 94176308 Indian male, B.Com, 20 yrs experience in Sales & Marketing having UAE light D/L looking for suitable post. Contact +91 9946699062, email : sajim40@gmail.com Indian Male, 7 yrs experience in building materials trading having Oman D/L, immediate release available. Contact 98676713

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Male, MBA in Marketing and Finance, 10 years’ Sales & Business Development Experience with valid D/L of Oman & UAE looking for a suitable placement. NOC Available.

Contact 93969961 e-mail abhilash.pvrk@gmail.com Indian female, 25 yrs, bachelors of businesses management, having experience of 5 years as a fund/ financial administration, on visit visa,looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94662416 Apurwaverma@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer (Automobile)&Diploma in QC with 2yrs experience in oil & gas company seek suitable placement job currently on Visit Visa.

Contact no.96071081, 99214308 , Email: rahulvarikkat@gmail.com CAT (UK) , ACCA (UK) , 3 year experience. (including one year experience in EY world 3rd largest audit firm) looking for reputed company for a job of Internal Audit, Finance and Accounting.

Contact no: 00923008833525 Indian female, 24yrs, M.COM (Accounts) having 3yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proficiency seeking Suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available.

Contact: 99654913

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S U N DAY, M A R C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED ACCA-UK, having 2.5 years of experience in Accounts, Bookeeping and Audit. Looking for job in Accounts/Finance or Internal Audit department. Also worked on Oracle R12, Tally, Quick Books and PeachTree. Email: mr.shoaibaslam@gmail.com Gsm: +968-95459488

ACCA-UK, having 2.5 years of experience in accounts, Bookeeping and audit. Looking for job in Accounts/Finance or Internal Audit department, also worked on Oracle R12, Tally, Quick Books and PeachTree. Email: mr.shoaibaslam@gmail.com Gsm: +968-95459488

ACCA-UK and B.Sc (OBU-UK) Experienced, Male 25, looking for permanent job in Accounting, Finance and Auditing field. 2 years of practical experience with an audit firm in Pakistan. Email: AliRiazMughal@Outlook.com Gsm:+968-95459936

Diploma in Fire and Safety Engineering, 3.5 year experience as a Safety Advisor in Carillion Alawi 27 year Indian male also having valid Omani driving license, looking for job Email:govindansreejit@gmail. com, Contact:968 9808527, 968 96176872

Job seeker with ten years of experience in management, banking, and marketing. Muscat, mobile number: 91262609 Male 24,looking for permanent job in Computer, IT, or Communication field ,BSC in Computer and Communication Engg. from Dofar University, Salalah. Have some exp. in Telecom field. 4-month Practical training in Hayyat Communicatin company (subcontractor of ooredoo).

Email:adilbutt102@gmail.com.

Gsm:+968-92328726.

Indian Female, 24 yrs MS. Software Engg. Currently on family visa, 1 year experience in SAP WM & IT seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95490105 B.Tech Mechanical Engineer (Automobile) & Diploma in QC with 2yrs experience in oil & gas company seek suitable placement job currently on Visit Visa. Contact no.96071081, 99214308 Email: rahulvarikkat@gmail.com Diploma in Fire and Safety Engineering, Completed IOSH, have PDO Passport.3.5 year experience as a Safety Advisor in Carillion Alawi 27 year Indian male also having valid Omani driving license, looking for job. Email:govindansreejit@ gmail.com >Contact: 9689808527,96896176872 Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of Ms .Office & Tally, 4yrs experience in A/Cing & admin dept .looking for good placement in any field. Contact.98928220

Sudanese/Bsc IT/ 2 years experience/ excellent English-Arabic speaking/ Omani driving license/ Contact: 96387227, henrykarrar@gmail.com Indian female, 24yrs, M.Com (Accounts) having 3 yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proficiency seeks suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available. Contact: 99654913 Indian Female, B.tech bio-technology graduate. Knowledgeable in food processing techniques, having 2 yrs experieince as associate research analyst(media monitoring)in Nasdaq Omx, seeking for growth oriented job.

Contact 92044603, angeline.babithac@gmail.com.

Female, MSc Chemistry, BEd, with 1.5yrs of experience as research officer in a chemical manufacturing company in India. Ph: 95243584 Male 24, looking for job in Accounts/Finance or Internal Audit department. ACCA-UK. Experience: 2 years of experience from an audit firm, also worked on Oracle R12, Tally, Quick Books and PeachTree. Email: mr.shoaibaslam@gmail.com, Gsm: +968-95459488 Omani Citizen Mechanical Engineer with 1 yr exp looking for job.

Contact:95993315 email:eaz-s@hotmail.com

Part Time Accounting Job Complete Data Entry, Reporting and Finalization. Any Time Available.

Location Ruwi to Bharka. Please Contact- +968-92049215 Email:- aiafe.oman@gmail.com

ACCA-UK, having 2.5 years of experience in accounts, Bookeeping and audit. Looking for job in Accounts/Finance or Internal Audit department, also worked on Oracle R12, Tally, Quick Books and PeachTree. Email: mr.shoaibaslam@gmail.com, Gsm: +968-95459488

Indian female B.Com Graduate, 4yrs experience in accounts, admin dept looking for placement in any field 98928220

37 years Indian Male with 10 years PDO experience Store Keeper seeking suitable placement.Contact: 95849804

SITUATION WANTED Experienced, male 25, hardworking, looking for permanent job in Accounting, Finance and Auditing field, ACCA UK and B.Sc in applied accounting (OBU-UK). 2-years of practical experience with an audit firm in Pakistan. Email: AliRiazMughal@Outlook.com, Gsm:+968-95459936 Accountant , Indian Male,24 years , 3+ years experience in Finance and Accounts, M.com Finance , Exposure in SAP & Tally ERP 9 , Good communication skill, on visit Visa.

Contact ( 95366407 ,96921443) IT support 6 yrs experience, male, Filipino Desktop Support, Backup administrator, Wireless Networking, server admin, laptop support, DB admin.

Contact +96896126502 Indian Male, 31 years of Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Admistration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations. Seeking suitable Manager/ Supervisory Position. Visa transfer/ NOC Available. GSM: 95036410 Indian male, 31 years of Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations seeking suitable Manager/Supervisory Position.

Visa transfer/NOC Available.

GSM: 95036410 Young Indian with 8 years experience in Multi faceted exposure in various ITES domains is looking for job in IT client/sales/delivery relationship manager. Immediate availability 98885188, fahad079@gmail.com

Male 24, looking for permanent job in Computer, IT, or Communication field ,BSC in Computer and Communication Engineering.

Have some experience in Telecom field. 4-month Practical training in Hayyat Communication company (subcontractor of ooredoo).

Email:adilbutt102@gmail.com.

Gsm:+968-92328726.

Pakistani, Male 24, looking for job in Accounts, Finance or Internal Audit department. ACCA-UK. 2 years of experience from an audit firm, also worked on Oracle R12, Tally, Quick Books and PeachTree.

Email: mr.shoaibaslam@gmail. com, Gsm: +968-95459488 Male 24, looking for permanent job in Computer, IT, or Communication field ,BSC in Computer and Communication Engineering.

Have some experience in Telecom field. 4-month Practical training in Hayyat Communication company (subcontractor of ooredoo).

Email: adilbutt102@gmail.com.

Gsm:+968-92328726.

Accountant, Indian male, 24 years. Presently working in Oman as Accountant. 2 years experience in Accounts with Oman Driving license. NOC available seeks suitable opportunity.

GSM: 93409315 MBA graduate having more than 2 years of experience in event management company as event coordinator. Looking for a suitable job in your esteemed organization which will commensurate with my qualifications. Contact no:+96894560161, Email id:qaisebukhari@gmail.com Indian male 28 years, 4year exp in Oman .now on free visa looking for job as freelancer. Any field Contact 95642297 Indian male executive secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. Contact: 99514286, email: azimmohd@yahoo.co.in Indian male graduate with 9 years of experience in Procurement / Contract Management SAP/ARIBA on a visit visa seeking position.

Contact: 98483858.

Young, hardworking, Male 24, looking for permanent job in Computer and Communication field, BSC in Computer and Communication Engineering. 4-month Practical training in Hayat Communication company (subcontractor of ooredoo).Email:adilbutt102@gmail. com.Gsm:+968-92328726.

Indian Male, 31 years of Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations seeking suitable Manager/Supervisory Position.

Visa transfer/NOC Available.

GSM: 95036410 Male 25, hardworking, looking for permanent job in Accounting, Finance and Auditing field, ACCA UK and B.Sc in applied accounting (OBU-UK). 2-years of practical experience with an audit firm in Pakistan. Gsm: 95459936 Email: AliRiazMughal@Outlook.com Indian Female, B.Tech-IT, Fresher, currently in Visiting Visa, Having Computer Knowledge and Excellent Communication Skill, Seeking Suitable Position in IT also in other related fields.

Contact 97232497, 99108857, EMAIL: psharan24@gmail.com, parthipan61@gmail.com Pakistani, Male 24, looking for job in Accounts, Finance and Internal Audit department.Qualification: ACCA-UK. 2 years of audit and financial services experience from an audit firm. Also worked on Oracle R12, Tally, Quick Books and PeachTree. Gsm: +968-95459488 Email: mr.shoaibaslam@gmail. com

B.E. Electronics & Telecom, Having one year experience in Muscat in Electronic field of AV System Design and installation with good Pre-sales experience. Looking for more better opportunity on executive and managing level.

Contact 97423932Email: mzeeshanshaikh89@gmail.com Male 24, looking for permanent job in Computer and Communication field ,BSC in Computer and Communication Engineering.

4-month Practical training in Hayyat Communication company (subcontractor of ooredoo).

Gsm: 92328726.

Email: adilbutt102@gmail.com.

Male 24, looking for permanent job in Accounts, Finance or Internal Audit department, Qualification: ACCA-UK. Having experience of 2 years from an audit firm.

Worked on Oracle R12, Tally, Quick Books and PeachTree. Email: mr.shoaibaslam@gmail.com, Gsm: +968-95459488

BUSINESS

ELECTRICIAN : Indian male, 24 years old, a well experienced, ITI qualified, holding wireman license, 4 years experience in India, presently working in India, looking for a job in Oman. Ready to join immediately. Contact :99087175 Indian Female, as an Accountant. having +5 years experience in Oman till Nov 2014.

Seeking suitable placement.

NOC available. Currently in family visa. Contact:98447045 email:anilavandika@gmail.com PLANNING ENGINEER, 7 years of Experience in project planning and control in oil and gas, PDO & QP Approved Planner,PRIMAVERA6,B.Tech in Mechanical engineering from CUSAT. CONTACT- mail: ullasprabhakaran@yahoo.co.in, ph-00974 70230223 Srilankan male, 23 yrs, CIMA part qualified (completed Management level), 3 yrs experience in an American Company as an Internal Auditor/ management Trainee seeks suitable placement in Oman, good command of English in written & spoken. Contact 94633968 Indian male having valid Oman D/L, exp. in Accounts work seeks suitable placement. #95731665

Coffee shop sponsor with clearance available please call: 94542865 Investor required for about 5,000 Sq mtrs Industrial land in Buraimi industrial area. The owner/ sponsor have all the necessary approval and permits to start any industry/business. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

S U N DAY, M A R C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours Contact- 98029602, 92808636

TOURS

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

D8

S U N DAY, M A R C H 1 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

CLASSES

WEBSITE

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

Tutoring ACCA/CAT subjects, passing exams by expert lectures.

Contact +( 968) 99229700

MANPOWER

COMPUTER

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

GOOD NEWS

MATRIMONIAL

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba.Contact 99639695 / 99117987

Indian Sunni family with Omani nationality seeking proposals from Indians with Omani nationality for their daughter aged 23. Contact 99641047 Keralite RC boy, 27 years, Kanjirappally dioces, BHM Graduate Sales and Marketing professional seeks suitable alliance from parents of RC girls please. #99336720

NRI

Ezhava girl , 30, BTech, MBA, working in Kerala as deputy manager in a nationalized bank looking for a professionally qualified boys.interested please contact: 9727 1526

DRIVING New ready to occupy building 1,73000 sqft / 95 cents in M.G. Road, Kochi- Kerala. Contact Rajesh Mohan , +91 9446062636 /+ 91 9526692719 or mail to info@kenrichoverseas.com

FOR HIRE

TRUCK FOR HIRE Isuzu 10 ton cargo body truck (2012 FVR) with UAE experienced driver available for long term / short term rent.

Contact: 95346950 Running truck wash for rent in Ouhi Sunia Sohar. Serious people can. Contact on 97864747 50 seater bus with PDO specification for rent or lease. # 99839898

New 74,000 sqft building in N.H 47 ideal for hotel /hospital /service apartments 6 Kms from Kochi Airport. Contact Rajesh Mohan , +91 9446062636 /+ 91 9526692719 or mail to info@kenrichoverseas.com 4.85 acre waterside plot in Vyttila, Kochi adjacent to Sobha Isle project ideal for luxury apartments. Contact – Rajesh Mohan , +91 9446062636 / + 91 9526692719 or mail to info@kenrichoverseas.com Five star hotels /hi- tech malls in kochi & bangalore. Contact – Rajesh mohan , +919446062636 /+ 91 9526692719 or mail to info@kenrichoverseas.com

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 , www.siddhayur.com

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact 93405941 Transport available.

Contact. 95356877 Pick & drop anytime in al Khuwair.

Contact 99764307 Transportation available. Contact 95570429 Office staff & labour pick& drop 7, 15, 25 sites a vehicle auble any time.

Contact 92218001 School Transporter ISM Contact 96581664/ 92271238 Transportation. Contact 91310107 Transportation. Contact 91379976 Pick & Drop any time.

Contact 97014786

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. # 24793614/ 99314807 Cheapest prices all types window, curtains and Blinds.

Contact 99539521 Pest Control Treatments!!

Termites!!Cockroaches!!Bedbugs!!

Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99344723 Carpet & sofa shampooing. Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99884591 / 92682970 Cleaning services, carpet & sofa shampooing, marble restoration (grinding) and polishing, pest control, fogging service. Contact 99448057, 95401996 Cheapest Prices, all types window, curtains and blind.

Contact 99539521 Computer service/ AMC/ Networking. Contact 91339882 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

Split & window unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080 For All Your Maintenance Solutions, A/c Servicing & Fixing, Painting, Cleaning, Electric.Contact 99002390 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722 Door to Door Computers repair specialist laptop software Website cartridges. Contact 99199376 We serve Oman, all kind of building maintenance & stainless steel fabrication. Contact 91452233 Marble polishing & crystallization, building cleaning floor, floor polishing, carpet, sofa shampooing, pest control, anti termite shifting, maintenance. Contact 99504275 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting.

Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading.

L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130 House shifting packing.

Contact 99657644, 98518013

Window & spilt unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 96236476 Pest control & cleaning services professionals in pest control service bedbugs treatment, rodent, treatment, snake treatment and termite treatment, pre and post construction. Contact 93098450, 96408964, fax : 24472116 House shifting. Contact 99708138 For logistics & Container services for international exporting.

Contact 94697259 GULF INTERNATIONAL LLC. all kind of pest control. Contact 92326955 Feasibility study, market research, financial analysis of companies. (968) 99229700